Count Your Blessings

So, this weekend was one of the most interesting weekends of my life. On Friday, I got up really early to go to Reno with my dad for the air races. I was a little hesitant to go and I wasn't sure if it was a feeling that I shouldn't, or just the fact that I still have A LOT to do before the 28th and hardly any time to do it. Either way, I still went because my mom didn't feel like she could take off and I didn't want my dad to go alone, I also LOVE airplanes so I thought it would be fun to do before I leave for the mission.
Flying to Reno, the weather wasn't super great, but not anything to fret about. We landed safely in Mindon, and 5 mins later my aunt and uncle landed safely too. We got in the van and drove to their house, and after a potty break my dad, me, my cousin Jim, and my sort of step cousin Wade, loaded back in the van and headed to the races.
When we got there, the Patriots were flying, they're kind of like the Blue Angels, but a little different - SO COOL. They fly so stinking close to each other it's insane! We saw three races and all the inbetween shows - super fun and neat.
The very last race was supposed to be the coolest. It was a bunch of pretty fast planes. Well the third lap was where the action was at. I was filming the first and second place planes when my dad suddenly made a comment that something didn't look right. Next thing I know my dad is swearing and jumping to his feet, I look over right in time to see the Galloping Ghost - an old war plane - headed straight for the ground...into the crowd. It was like slow -mo. It took a good 5 seconds to realize, oh crap, this is going to hit on us or near us. So I couldn't help but watch it hit, and then when I saw all the smoke and debris fly up (the plane practically disintegrated) was when I ran and dived onto the ground on top of my dad's back who had dived on top of a lady and her little baby. I screamed for my daddy because I was so so scared. After the debris hit, we got up and quickly assessed the situation. As I was standing up all I could do was say a curse and that the pilot was dead, that was all on my mind. I was okay. Dad was okay. Wade and Jim were okay. Lady and baby okay. Then we turned around and saw a lady in the stand next to us - not okay. I saw that she was covered in blood, and laying on the ground - her arm was blown almost all the way off. My dad told me to stay with lady and baby and not look at the hurt woman and he ran off to help. Luckily there was a doctor on our other side and a nurse and they came to help her. The people working there told us if we could walk, we needed to leave. So we left, got in the van, and drove back home. I didn't go into shock, and I only cried a little on the way home. Sketchiest, scariest thing that has EVER happened to me for sure. I feel so so so blessed. So far 9 are confirmed dead including the pilot. If you watch a video of it, just imagine being down by that impact - we were about 100 feet away, but that was closer than you would want to be. I am sure counting my blessings and so grateful to be home with my family tonight.

It'll be a Party

I'm doing 2 posts today - mostly because I'm bored.

BUT .... first of all, my mutti's 49th birthday is on Sunday! So tonight we are going to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse for dinner - if you've never heard of it, it's just the BEST steakhouse EVER. I can't even explain how deliciously delightfully delectable their food is. I've only eaten there twice because it's a little pricey - but SO SO worth it.

Second, since I'm missing HALLOWEEN and my birthday, my dad thinks we should have a party. I feel great about that idea! I'm thinking Harry Potter maybe. We're also dressing up - it will be the BEST early Halloween slash 22nd birthday party EVERRRRRR. I'm trying to talk one of my brothas into being MJ. They would be my hero for life. There will be an abundance of MJ Wii dancing, Just Dance 2, and possibly Glee Karaoke. We will also be watching a good scary movie - they are my favorite on Halloween - I love the adrenaline. I'm also thinking that the new haunted place in SLC sounds fun. Or possibly the haunted circus? Anyway - I'm very very excited for the next few weeks, but I know they'll go by fast, and before I know it, my parents will be dropping me off at the curb of the MTC.

Halloween 2009

Halloween 2010

The MISSion

Okay, so although going on a mission is very exciting for many reasons (such as):
*I get to learn a second language
*My testimony will grow so much and I will grow stronger as well
*I get to teach others about the Gospel who need it
*I get to live in California

There are also reasons why I'm not so excited:
*I will miss Halloween - it is my favorite holiday
*I will miss one of my oldest friend's weddings and probably some other friend's weddings as well
*I will probably miss the birth of at least one niece or nephew
*I will have been out of school for about three years - that makes me so bummed
*I will miss my crazy awesome family SO much

Some days, I really don't want to go. But other days I just can't wait to get out of here!

Last Halloween - we were 3 out of the 5 sober people at this party. Good old Harley friends.

I just talked to this fun girl last night - she lives in Anaheim now, and her wedding is next month! I bet it will be such an amazing beach wedding (they're getting married on Huntington Beach) and I wish her and her fiance Christopher the best of luck!!!!!! Love her.

This guy gets home from his mission in May. And I'm pretty sure he and his girlie Heather will get married - at least, I hope they do! - but it makes me sad that I'll miss it!!!! Alex, was one of our besties at Snow.

I'm sure at least two of these girls will too - Justine's missionary gets home in like two weeks!

But oh well - it will be such a great experience that it will totally make up for missing all that!!!

First of all, I finally watched Glee and I'm addicted. It took me about two days to watch season 1 and then I realized I should stop, or I wouldn't get my farewell talk written. Which I still haven't by the way.....
This brings me to my second of all, I am not totally ready for my talk tomorrow, but oh well. Hopefully it will turn out alright and not end up being a total disaster.