North Carolina

When I say I miss North Carolina, I don't mean I want to move back there. I'm quite happy living here for awhile. 

What I mean is, I miss these guys

and these guys

and these guys

And sometimes even these guys

I don't know. You know?
My family is coming to Utah in a few weeks so...hey Mom, Dad-- mind bringing Myrtle Beach and Chick-fil-a here? I don't mean like sand in a bottle and a chicken sandwich. I mean the real stuff.
Yeah? No?

Oh, the violin!

I re-designed my gmail homepage. So I'm posting a picture of it here for you all to admire.

(You can click on it to see it bigger)
I'm just really excited about this, okay?


Also! Austin is taking me to my first concert ever next week! To see these guys! AH YEAH!
I really wish Laura Marling was still in the group, but alas. Maybe one day I'll be able to see her in concert.
Oh, how I love Laura Marling.

Learning is hard, Mom.

One day soon, I am going to be making this:

with creamed spinach on the side. I wanted to do it tonight...but its cold and raining and I don't feel like riding my bike down to the store to get 6 ears of corn. Oh, well.

I've been reading and thinking far too much for my own good recently, and although I've hit one of those walls where I know I'll surface as a more understanding and enlightened person, it's a helluvalot to pull through while the brain attempts to explode. Cheers to getting out of academia smarter and still alive.

Lately I've also been admiring how much of my education is comprised of things outside of academia. A broader social understanding, religious enlightenment, how to be a better cook, responsibility, work ethic, patience, what friends to cherish, the importance of family, how to appreciate myself more, appreciation for public transport...the list goes on, my friends. It looks like this Natalie will eventually emerge a much improved individual. So that's cool.

"A distinction must be made between the tragic and the pathetic. The pathetic is a life caught in a hopeless and helpless situation, without the least possibility of a response that can redeem or dignify the awfulness of the tragic event. The tragic, on the other hand, involves an unbreakable spirit that gives the beholder an inexplicable response of tragic pleasure. This is the mystery of great tragedy. There is an unyielding defiance in the sufferer that makes the beholder proud to be related, just as another human being." -Obert C. Tanner

Taken by Alex Christman

Sweet is the work

"Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind, and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day. Therefore if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work...And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work. Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence."
D&C 4


From here on out I don't want to make any decisions that will haunt me in the future. Every day we all have things we would do differently... be on time for work, skip dessert, floss a little better, pray a little harder... but I don't want my future self to lament who I am right now. I want to be good to people; I want to be a good example; I want to make the most of my opportunities; I want to be a hard and honest worker.

I think the best part about all of this is that it's possible. It's just gonna take a lot.

Just saying.

I see it.

The boy is an Elder!

D. Austin Dressman has been called to serve in...

Wait for it...

Wait for it...

It's lame if the call shows up in the main feed...

So I'm stalling...

So you have to open this to find out where he's called....

Here's a picture of a cat...

Ready?

THE ENGLAND LONDON SOUTH MISSION!

He reports to the England MTC August 26th!

In light of recent events

"I will mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that." -Martin Luther King Jr