Grateful

I just wanted to thank everyone for their sweet birthday wishes and for thinking of me on my birthday. I can honestly say it was one of the best I have had in a while! I felt truly loved and appreciated as I went throughout the day and those around me did small (and big) unexpected things to make my 21st special. One of many highlights was in lab, when one of the girls walked in with a piece of cake for me to celebrate my birthday with. It was unexpected and sweet and meant a lot that she would leave her comfort zone to do something thoughtful for me of all people. I also enjoyed the many calls and renditions of the birthday song throughout the day from my friends and family. Thanks for sending your love my way! And of course, the BIGGEST thanks EVER goes to my aunt, Ally. A few of my close friends and I had planned to go get Indian food at Bombay House to celebrate my birthday, and when we arrived at the restaurant, the host informed me that Ally had already called in to pay for our meal. She is so naughty in the nicest way! Thanks a ba-million!!!!! Thanks again to all those who made my birthday special in their various ways. You are the best!!

21 years and one day ago.

Happy Birthday, Cami!

Nineteen years ago, Camille Turley came into the world and made me a big sister for the first time. We wore matching clothes and shared a bed for the first several years of our lives and were generally attached at the hip. Throughout high school I ate lunch with Cami and her friends, she hung out on weekends with mine. Almost every night at one point she would read me her amusing journal entries, usually about funky dreams she had had the night before. I even dragged her to a memorable Winter Formal dance where she and her date ate the soap bubble snow.

When my mom died, she became the best friend my mom had continually promised she would be. We cried together at night in our bedroom. When I was being a pessimist and told her that life was too hard and not worth living, she encouraged me to go on and reminded me of what was important.

It was hard to go off to Provo the next year for school without Cami-Suzie, so you can imagine my delight when she decided to go BYU! I seriously could not have asked for a better sister. When we lived together her first summer in Provo, she would often do my laundry while I was out studying Anatomy for several hours each day. During Fall and Winter semesters she went to ALL of my orchestra concerts but one because it was the same night as a lu'au performance that she let me convince her to participate in with me. She would come over for Sunday dinner and stay chatting long after. She even drove herself home from my apartment on occasion (and she despises driving). Last, but CERTAINLY not least, Cami was my support team for my first half marathon which I ran in April. We had to be to the registration area by six that morning and it had snowed the few nights before. Needless to say, she got up without complaining and then did her homework in the frigid car while she waited for about two hours for me to run my race. Then she waited for me at the finish line with a camera and a congratulatory smile.

Honestly, I don't know how I got so spoiled with the best little sister ever! I don't know what I would do without her in my life. She makes the world a better place and adds some humor to every situation. I am so grateful that my parents were sealed for time and eternity in the temple of the Lord so that I spend eternity with my family and especially my fun, generous, smart, thougthful and beautiful Cami sister!

Three Days

A few weeks ago, as I sat pondering during Sacrament Meeting, I had somewhat of what I would consider to be an epiphany. My thought was simply: three days.

From what I have gathered, it looks like everybody has their three days. After Christ's death, the people in the Americas were in darkness for three days. For three days Jonah found himself in the belly of a fish. When Alma was racked with the pain of his sins, it was for three days he so suffered. Lastly and most importantly, for three days Christ laid in the tomb.

For three days is seems we are required to suffer. But after those three days, we find our rest. Sometimes our three days may actually only be for three hours. Other times our three days are three weeks, or three months, or three years. Regardless, we will always rise triumphant because of the Atonement of Christ. Our Savior understands exactly what it is like to be stuck in the middle of a three day spat with regret, pain, loneliness, despair, grief or whatever we may be battling. Through the love, comfort and forgiveness provided by Christ's Atonement, we can overcome those days and find ourselves in the rest of our Father. It may be a dark three days, but our rescue will come. We will find the relief we crave. We will overcome. Our three days are not forever, but just a short part of the adventure we call life.

No Bella Swan Here

Pardon the cheesy Twilight reference, but I thought it applied to this story. There is a part in one of the books (I don't care to remember which one) where Bella is in Biology, faints at the sight of blood and is conveniently looked after by her vampire boyfriend...

Regardless, during my physiology lab this past week, we were conducting an experiment in which we were to observe the effect of various solution tonicities on red blood cells. As such, one member of each group was required to act as a donor for the exercise. As the time came, one of the boys in my group asked, "Well, who want to stab themself?" The other boys looked around sheepishly, hoping someone else would volunteer. I perked up, "I do! I have no fear!" My exclamation was followed by a chorus of, "Oh, good"s, "Thank you"s and the like. So, I proceeded to collect a sample of my blood and conduct the experiment. After reassuring one of my group members that I literally felt next to nothing, he announced that maybe he would volunteer next time. After this experience, I think I can safely say that I picked the right major. I just had too much fun watching my rbc's shrink, lyse and run around doing their thing.

Thus, I am no Bella Swan.

Musical Therapy

Since beginning college, my number of piano playing opportunities (both practicing and performing) have dwindled in unbelief. So, when I found an open piano tonight, I whipped out my favorite piano solo and began banging away. Playing the piano is always a soothing and relaxing experience for me, but tonight it was especially therapeutic. I was able to forget the things that have been causing me to lose sleep and hair and find my "happy place." I will forever be thankful to the Lord for allowing us mere humans the heavenly capacity to make and experience music.

Me and my piano kids following our recital April 2010.