Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Support the Troops

I am from Washington. More specifically, I am from Lacey, which is basically Olympia. My point? I grew up in probably the most liberal town you can find in the United States. I am not heavy into politics but I pay enough attention. I am too liberal for conservatives and I am too conservative for liberals. I am very moderate. :) However, there is one thing that really bothers me--when people do NOT support the troops.

I was driving to get gas in my car the other day and I saw a protest. All of these people were against the war in Iraq. I am ok with that--you can express your opinion in any way that you feel. You can support the war or you can think it was the worst mistake the U.S. has made in a long time. But SUPPORT THE TROOPS. The reason I am so outraged is because some of the people were screaming and cussing about how horrible the troops were and how the soldiers were murderers and liars. I felt like I was in the Vietnam era...it was weird. But it made me so mad. Our American soldiers are out in the Middle East and they are doing their duty to God and to their country. They are doing their job. They are risking their lives. They are leaving behind their wives and their husbands and their children. They are sacrificing so much because they made an oath to be a soldier and be in the military. It is no an easy path. These people are courageous and every person should be thankful that there are so many people willing to defend our freedoms and to go wherever the government asks them to. The troops deserve love and prayers. So...whether you support the war in Iraq...I don't care...I don't know if I even do or not. All I know is that I am proud to be an American and I am proud to be protected by them.

As many of you know, Zach's dad, Gary, is a colonel in the Army. Gary has been my second father. For the last five years, he has been the father I needed and could turn to when I needed help. No matter whether I was his son's girlfriend or not, he always loved and supported me and gave me the loving, fatherly advice I craved. Gary left on July 19 for Iraq. Luckily, he should only be gone until the middle of November. He volunteered to go right now so that he would not miss his Nathaniel's wedding and Ben and Zach's return from their missions next summer. I love Gary...he has been the best father I could ask for. Please keep him and his family in your prayers.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

I Do So Promise . . .

I do so promise from this day forth to write a blog at least once a week so that my friends will stop harassing me! Haha. But I am sorry that I have not written since I left Utah and moved back to Washington! Here is what has happened:

Just so you know...I did graduate from BYU. :)

I still can't believe that I have my bachelor's degree.


My sister is so gorgeous...I am jealous.

This is Beth and Christy. I worked with both of them at the Religious Studies Center. I miss Beth so much (the one in the middle). I talked to her every day. She is going to law school this fall at the University of Idaho.

This is one of my all time favorite pictures! This is right after I got my diploma and I found my mom. I ran to her and was so happy. My sister was taking the picture and we didn't know it.

My brother graduated from high school too!! Believe me, it was a freaking miracle!!! :)

I have never seen him so happy in his life. I was so proud of him!

Eric asked Marissa and I to get dressed really early. He bought a shirt and tie...quite shocking...ironed his gown and was ready to go THREE HOURS before the ceremony. It was so cute to see how great it felt to accomplish his goal.

This is what I have been up to in Washington: I work full-time at the Western Institutional Review Board! It is a place that reviews drug studies and they make sure that all human subjects are protected. It is a great place to work; however, my job is not so much fun. I am their intern so I have to do whatever they tell me. Haha. But I have enjoyed having a job where I get to see my mom every day and eat lunch with her. My daily tasks include scanning sign-in sheets, data entry, shredding paper, and editing company policies.
I bought a car!! It is a 1998 Honda Accord. It is gold and silvery in color...some days I think it is silver, other days I think it is gold. I love it. It is automatic, it has a sun roof, a CD player, brand new tires, brakes, timing belt, transmission, etc. It should last me a long time! I get to drive all the way to New Jersey in it.
I went to Colorado to visit my friend, Justin, and his family. I had so much fun. His sisters, Cassie and Mikayla, are awesome! They made me feel at home and I was so sad to leave. But I now know that I love Colorado and maybe I can live there some day. I know I want to.
The greatest thing about being home this summer is that I have been able to spend so much time with my sister. She is now 14 and she will be starting Timberline in September. We have gone to movies, shopping, out to eat, we make cookies, we watch TV, we laugh, and we just get sister time. The last three years, I have been in Utah or I have been with Zach when I am home and we haven't had a lot of time to spend together. I am so grateful to have this time. Marissa is amazing and I love her. She is the best sister I could ask for. She has been through a lot but she keeps smiling and she is one of my best examples.

She even cut my hair and gave me bangs. She did a great job!

People say we look alike...but I don't know. :)