Memory Lane

Allllllriiiiiiight. I know it's been far too long and you are all wondering what's going on in my life, so here it is! Nothing really new is happening, I'm doing far better this semester then last and I've also been having SO much more fun these days! My best friend since forever decided to join me in the land of college life, and we have wayyy too much fun together. Lots of adventures, lots of tears and for some reason lots of movies... I can not wait for summer when I can do all those without thinking about my next test in BIO 100. Speaking of school, there is only three weeks left of class and then finals! Like where did the entire year go? To think I was just in high school, now I'm all grown up and doing my own taxes (which is way awesome btw because I'm about to get so much money back HOLLA!) I absolutely am loving my Book of Mormon, Strengthening Marriage and Families, Human Development, and Writing 150 classes... It's just biology that's killing me.

Aaaaanyways, who want's to talk about school? What really brought me here today was this weird thing that happened this morning. So last night my friends and I were hanging out (faaaaar too late, might I add), so I woke up real late too. The sun woke me up, since Carla and I have an East facing window, and I looked outside and thought to myself, "Why are you sleeping right now?!" It's WAY too beautiful outside to be inside. Then I got all summer sick, and allll I. Want. Is. Summer. For those who don't know, I'm moving home for the summer to save money and live with my sis one more time before she starts her career at school as Miss. Hamblin. I started thinking about all of my memories of days like these and they are alllll at home. I started thinking about Candace, Krystal, Allison, Georgia, Josh, Matt, Amy, Mary, Zach, Bubba, Clayton and all the other wardies who seriously make up all the memories of my childhood. I thought about the fence between the Parkers house and ours and how, because it had fallen over, was seriously the go-to shortcut for all things night games! I started thinking about how Sister Clement or Sister Harward would drop us off at Seven Peaks literally EVERY day of the summer and how we basically owned that place. I thought about steal the flag in the Greenwoods new huge back yard, and how Candace and I used to eat ham and cheese sandwiches with the mayo and mustard mixed together. I thought about the Kenny Chesney posters Katie had in her room and listening to 101.5 The Eagle every day with her and Krystal. I thought about how the Harwards shed was really all food and there was always the BEST stuff in there, including my personal favorite, bagel bites! I remembered climbing into Allison's boat with the cover still on and playing in there even though it was probably 120 degrees. I thought about how Matt and Mary used to come over every Sunday to give our family some of their dads famous chocolate chip cookies, and them staying way longer talking to me and getting in trouble every time! I thought about night games every night, and Bubba and Isaac rollin' up to my door everyday without fail to make quesadillas and orange julius'. I thought about the time it rained and we were playing in the mud in the field and it getting cold that we all (like seriously 18 of us) came and got in my hot tub (4 man hot tub) in our clothes! I thought about my one and only club soccer team and playing soccer all the time. I even started thinking about Mom and how much fun the few summer memories I have with her were. Well, geez, now y'all are gonna make me cry! The point I'm trying to make is, there is seriously no place like home. I mean after this summer that little house on Falcon Way will never be my house again, but it will always be home and the memories I have there are things I wouldn't trade for the world!

New Year, New Me!

Okay, everyone I have a proposition. This year we will be less judgmental and happier for other people! Could you imagine what a world we would live in if people could just be happy for others accomplishments? I know that sounds super cliché, BUT it's so true! I attend a university where almost everyone is a master/genius in their respective talents/activities. I spent a good portion of my first half of freshman year comparing myself to these incredibly talented people when (in retrospect) I should have been happy for these people and should have felt blessed to be amongst them. I've learned to appreciate others interests on such a deeper level than I ever had before.

People's dislike for other's interests is filling the world with negativity and hurt feelings. It's all over the internet, social media and in everyday conversation and the lack of understanding and appreciation for those talents and interests is causing major contention.

Let's look at a boy who (off the tope of my head) is an amazing artist. In his high school, painting and drawing isn't a cool thing to do (as a guy). He creates these beautiful pieces and is highly respected amongst his artistic community, but is made fun of by fellow classmates.

All that runs through my head when that happens is, "Let's see you try and do what he does!" The same goes for those who call football stars "dumb meatheads" or actors "drama freaks" or whatever! Everyone has something that they're good at, and no "thing" is more important or more difficult than another. Yes there are some things that world sees as more important, and that's why doctors are paid so much. But every "thing" is important to almost all of us.

For example, you may think cheerleaders are stupid and are only there to look pretty (which they always do look very pretty.) But let's think about the core of cheerleading. It's exercise and having control over your body. Which in fact you do need to do to stay healthy. Now let us look at computer or techie kids. Let's be real, if you aren't using a computer by now you will soon. Technology is becoming so important in our world and the fact that these people are making it easier, better and more entertaining is only benefiting our lives.

Don't get me wrong, I am by no means perfect in the area of love, compassion or non-judgemental-ness. BUT what I have become perfect in is my efforts to TRY and see the good in all fields and in all people.

There's no need to judge or compare. Be happy for others accomplishments and talents. Be a little selfish and feel happy for yourself sometimes! And always always recognize the blessings in your life. There are more there than you think!

Love you guys!

The Day Before Thanksgiving

Elder Will Barker 2012-2014

So yesterday was an awesome day! First thing in the morning we went up to Salt Lake to pick up my brilliantly handsome cousin Will! He served his mission in Brazil and we are so happy to see him home! He is so awesome and yesterday was really fun. After we greeted him home we all went to the Braza Grill (very much like Tucanos). It was awesome! I love that food haha anyways he was just really fun to talk to, now I just can't wait for tomorrow when we get to go up to Wyoming and hang out!! After we were finished with lunch we came home to Orem and kinda hung out for a little bit. We started doing some yard work, picking up leaves, etc. and these two kids had way too much fun with the leaves! After I started taking pictures of Luke, Emma got a little jealous... haha she started saying "Okay! My turn!" She's cute too I guess... ;) haha later in the day I went over to Josh and Kristen's home to help them decorate for a party they had. It's like classy Christmas over there! I love those two, I can't wait for Christmas just to hang out with them! When I was done over at Josh and Kristen's I came home and Emma and I had a slumber party! It was so fun! Emma really likes me I think haha! We made some Thanksgiving treats and popcorn and some other things and we made a giant bed in the living room with tons of blankets and pillows and watched a Tinkerbell movie (don't judge, they're pretty good ;)) and then we fell asleep! Anyways, that was kind of our day in a nut shell! Now we're all just getting ready for Thanksgiving dinner! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Happy Holidays everyone! "So Paige, you're a Christmas before Thanksgiving type of person?" More like a Christmas before Halloween type of person! K I won't actually start until after Halloween! I know most people hate that, but I just love Christmas so much! I am an absolute sucker for those super cheesy Hallmark Channel Christmas movies, and I love Christmas music especially Michael Buble's "Cold December Night!" I believe that starting Christmas early extends the season! Plus Thanksgiving and Christmas are basically the same. I mean it's all about gratitude, family and food right? I just love the holidays and can't wait for this Thursday! Real exciting news, my cousin Will is getting home from Brazil on Wednesday! Right before Thanksgiving! It's a real exciting time around here. So we'll go to the airport on Wednesday, have Thanksgiving in Orem on Thursday, have another Thanksgiving dinner Friday in Lyman, have another wedding open house in Evanston on Saturday and end the week with a homecoming talk from Will on Sunday. *oh yeah side-note, forgot to write about how Kenzee (partner in crime since day one, aka Gizmo, aka cousin) got married in October! It's crazy because we're basically the same age and now she's married! Brad (her new partner in crime) is awesome and we love them together! He loves her so much and I'm so glad that they have each other! Anyways I seriously can't wait for the rest of this week, all I have to do is write a quick two and a half page paper. Easy. Exciting news for after Thanksgiving also! So Will has decided to come to BYU for winter semester and we're all really excited. Him and two other friends are planning on living together, but it's really hard to find a contract for just winter semester. Because of this Will and his friends are moving in with Josh and Kristen in the "Mella Mansion!" How fun will that be? Also speaking of the Mella home, we are having Christmas there this year! Since I was a kid, we've done the Trifecta Christmas. The Barkers, Walkers and Hamblins join together all under one roof and have Christmas together! It's the best time. So us Hamblins unfortunately don't have the best means of hosting because of our lack of property... But! Good news, Josh and Kris are living in the Mella's house all alone and there is plenty of room for us all there! So we're having Trifecta Christmas at the Mellas and I'm so excited. I literally can't think of anything else. Now to just get through finals right...? "Better watch out, better not cry!"

Brigham Young University

Alright everyone I finally made it! I'm here at BYU and have made it through my first week of classes... I don't know how I feel about this whole thing though haha!  It's just so overwhelming and so much information hitting me in the brain. Ah! Okay, I can do this! Anyway, I've obviously met all my roommates now and they are awesome girls! Our apartment is so diverse and talented it makes me so happy! So there is Carla and I, and I've told you a lot about Carla haven't I? Well she's super nice, lots of fun and always super busy! Between classes and soccer I don't see her very often. Then there is Maron and Sarah! They are both beautiful singers and super sweet girls! Lastly there is Robbin and Maddy! Robbin is an acting major, and is so cool! I seriously love her. And Maddy is so funny! She is a player at comedy sports and is so stinkin' witty! I'm so excited to get to know all these girls better and to spend time with them! I can tell it'll be a great year!! All of the fun put aside though, BYU is hard. I'm trying to get good study habits early so that when we get in the full thick of it all I will be less stressed. Ah this is crazy! Wish me luck everyone...

Real Life Realization

Hey y'all, what's up?! Everything is same old up here in Garden City. Wake up, go to work, play, go to sleep. It's a hard life ;) I've been workin' over here at the Adventure Center lately, just to switch things up. It's weird because it is never nearly as busy as Ideal and that can be nice and really boring at the same time.

So I wanted to share with you guys my "Real Life Realization." Coming up here to work was kind of a culture shock. I am fully aware that not everywhere I go is going to be filled with great LDS kids for me to hang out with and watch Disney movies with on a Friday night, but it was way different then I was expecting. When I came up here hardly anyone knew me and so I wasn't being treated any different than anyone else, which was weird. There was no filter with anything, so I got everything all at once.

I am not naïve enough to think that everyone who smokes, swears, drinks, etc. are bad people, I just don't want to get sucked into it all. It's crazy how much it actually does affects me. I mean I really do love a lot of people up here that are all different types of people and it just goes to show that what a person does, or does not do does not define who they are. I believe that there is good in everyone, sometimes you just have to dig a little deeper to find it.

Seriously the worst thing you can do is to prejudge people... I mean use your judgment on how involved you feel like you should be with them because you never want to get yourself into a rough situation, but get to know everyone before you make any type of judgment. You never know what's going on in someone's life and even if/when you do you don't know how they handle it. Love everyone and it'll make you and them so much happier!

"Don't judge me because I sin differently than you."

A Night On The Lake

Yesterday was a way fun day! Work was not super busy and I got home and had dinner and took a nap (always)! Haha so after everyone was done with work we went out on the MB. That's the nicest/biggest boat we have. It has a v-drive so it gets a good wake. And good news! I got up on the wake board! It was such a rush! I loved it so much and the lake was seriously as glassy as a lake can be! It was perfect! Everyone was so cool and was helping me and I got up on the first try! Seriously right after I got out the lake turned way choppy and the wind started picking up. It was rough for everyone else... :) it got way cold and I was ticked but the sunset was beautiful and it was fun being out with my coworkers on that awesome boat!

First wake board!