Successful Week!

If a week could get an award for the busiest, craziest, and best, it would be this past one! Let me share with you what can happen in a week:

I FINALLY was able to spend some time with this girl, we got to catch up on each other's lives, and of course made it a classic Jannette/Lindsey reunion with chocolate covered strawberries and fritos and avocados. It was a much needed bonding night. :)

This handsome missionary served in my ward in London...

He is now home, and came to Provo to visit! We got to hang out and had a blast, and reminiscing about London and life and such. :)

Kristen and Alex graduated! Both his family and our family came into town, and we took lots of pictures and ate good food and enjoyed each other's company. Needless to say, it was all about them. ;)

Kristen and Alex climbed a tree.... Well Alex climbed a tree, pulled Kristen up, and then Kristen climbed down Dad. This picture doesn't quite capture the hilariousness of the moment, but just imagine.

Kristen and I drove her car home on Saturday. We left at 7am, and drove 15 hours, listening to good music and just talking. It was my last real bonding time before she left for Puerto Rico. Luckily I will see her in July, and hopefully fly out to visit in Puerto Rico soon!

I flew back to Provo 2 days after driving back to Texas (because I needed to now drive my car home!), and this awesome guy picked me up from the airport! We had a few direction mishaps, but hey, I made it home eventually, and it gave us some good time to talk and laugh. He loves me :)

Upon arriving back at my apartment to gather my last few things and snag a few Z's before driving my car back, I had a birthday package on my bed from William!... He sent me a banana. It didn't quite make it intact, I had to blow dry his letter, because it was covered with squished rotten banana. He is great. And he gets home in 84 days, in case anyone was curious! 

So I drove my car home on Tuesday (yes, drove home Saturday, flew back Monday, and drove home again Tuesday) with Keyan. It was my first time meeting him, and he needed a ride to Lubbock, so I obliged. He was a fun passenger and we made it! Once in Lubbock, I got to spend the night with Mandie, my longtime best friend, and we got to stay up talking like the old times. I'm excited to spend a few months with her while we are actually in the same state! :)

Wednesday was Ashleigh's 13th birthday! Man, I cannot believe my baby sister is actually a teenager! I remember watching her as a baby, carrying her around, taking her to nursery and primary at church, fixing her hair, and watching Barney with her. Now she is very independent and doesn't need big sister as much! But we still do fun things together. I painted her nails for her birthday and we watched a movie, and had lunch with her and our parents. It was a good day. :)

And, since I am such a wonderful sister, I made her an arrangement at Dairy Queen! She went to the restroom, and of course I had to do something nice for her when she came back since it was her birthday! Surprising her with a Blizzard would be too easy, and hiding in the car might not have made her a happy birthday girl. So, I made her an arrangement on her drink! As you can tell, she loved it. :)

 I've gotten to spend some quality time with my Mom. :) I love doing just about anything with her, and we got to talk about our Europe travels! She went when she was in college, and I got back in December, and we got to go through her album and see what she saw and what we both saw. It was a good time. And of course baby Eddie had to join in on the fun!

Last night I got to relax and watch a movie with my family, but I forgot everything was finders keepers here! Eddie and Evie took over my blanket, so I watched the movie blanket less. I didn't have the heart to take it from them.

While we are talking about pets, this old lady (17 years old!) has been taking advantage of me being home and my bedroom door not being all the way shut, and every time I go in, she is sleeping on my bed. 

Yes, all of this happened in just a week! I know, be amazed. Haha it was a wonderful way to end the semester and start the summer! I am now home in Texas for the next 4 months, and I am excited to see what adventures are coming my way!

21 Reasons the 21st Birthday is Different From all the Rest

1. going out with your friends is never embarrassing

2. your best friend gets you a minion!

3. Lots of friends to spend it with

 4. Your friends are crazier than you are

5. You get to reminisce about the days when you were young

6. Your best friend HAS to come and spend it with you

7. Awkward moments are a thing of the past

8. Everyone is nice to you!

9. ...I just thought this was a cute picture...

10. Epic moments are a regular occurrence 

11. There are mature ways to fight for the roommate's love and affection

12. Nobody fights

13. Everybody smiles for all the pictures

14. No drugs or alcohol but still getting high 

15. More bonding with the roommate

16. Anything and everything is a game

17. Your other best friend gets you little minions

18. Everyone bowls the right way

19. Competition is fun and light-hearted

20. Never a dull moment

 21. Your parents send you an edible arrangement

Okay... So maybe some things stay the same, and some things change, but regardless this was the ultimate success of a birthday! Thanks to all of my close friends and family for making it so memorable. 

Goodbye Robert!

My little brother Robert who is not so little anymore left on Wednesday for a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! He will be preaching the gospel to the good people of Recife, Brazil!

After many late night conversations and bonding times...

and many family functions..

and many vacations...

and many holidays...

and school activities together...

and many birthdays...

and a last family picture together...

It's time for you to serve the Lord for 2 years!

You're going to be a great missionary!

See you in two years Elder Hanna :)

Sometimes...

Sometimes I don't burn my grilled cheese sandwiches...

 Sometimes I go hiking with my Nicole in the snow and it looks like she isn't wearing any pants...

Sometimes Jeff joins us and we explore abandoned buildings

Sometimes we hike off the main trail and head up in the snow, and can't get down...

 Sometimes we have to sit on my jacket and scoot down the mountain....

Sometimes I get to bandage up people for a class...

Sometimes Nicole and Jared sit like a lot of the statues I saw in Europe...

Sometimes I think it is okay to use liquid soap in the dishwasher...

Sometimes I have to use bags, towels, bowls, hours, and google to fix it...

 And sometimes I get a letter that stops mid-sentence with no explanation...

...Okay so maybe these are all firsts and not sometimes... At least this didn't happen to me:

Oh wait... yes it did! Haha, happy weekend y'all! :)

Good News and More Good News!

This week has brought lots of good news, and I figured I would share it with y'all!

1. Congratulations to this guy, for getting into BYU! Looks like he will be up here with me in the fall!

2. I got a 96 on my test!

3. It is supposed to be in the 40s this next week!

4. Dani is a sweetheart and made me breakfast!

5. This kid is leaving for Brazil on his mission in 28 days!

6. Attractiveness is genetic.

7. ....and turns out humor is too.

 (Kristen sent this to me because she was looking out for me, what a kind sister! And her husband sent me a list of online dating services last week! Hahaha)

My Life>Your Life

Reason Number 1: My roommate is seriously the best. I get an ab workout every day with this girl. Here are a few quotes from her just tonight:

*Nicole: I'm going to steal your deodorant, and then say, "your secret is safe with me!"
(I have Secret deodorant, making this a "clean" and punny joke!)

*Lindsey: Goodnight Nickel!
Nicole: ... I just got the urge to say, "goodnight my beautiful muffin"
Lindsey:... Well then goodnight my gorgeous grape... and that's not a fat joke... unless you were calling me a muffin as a fat joke...
Nicole: Well, beautiful celery just doesn't have the same ring to it

Reason Number 2: I finally made chocolate covered strawberries this weekend, and they were absolutely amazing, with Kami and Dani!

Reason Number 3: Aside from my one class today, I only have class on Thursday this week!

Reason Number 4: After a very embarrassing (but funny) voicemail, I have some super awesome weekend plans!

Reason Number 5: I'm Lindsey Hanna. ;)

Need I say more? :)

That One Friend...

Ever have one of those days where your life is flipped upside down? Or maybe a week? A month? A year? One of those times where burdens get so heavy, that is is impossible to stand, mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually? One of those times where you are dragged down to your knees, to beg for help and mercy to see you through?

I'm sure you have, because if you are reading this, you have been a participant in this life for a good few years to know at least a little heartache or a few rough patches.

Luckily, there is a Friend I can ask for help. Someone who knows my heart, who hears my cry, who can heal the hurt in my heart, and that is my Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that He is the only one who knows exactly what I am feeling, and why I am feeling it. I know that He loves me, and though sometimes my burden is not taken away, it is lightened or shared. He is that one friend I can count on, anytime, for any reason.

I am also so deeply grateful for my friend and sister, Jannette. She has the light of Christ, and has been an instrument in His hands tonight, to help my tender and broken heart and spirit. She is that one friend on earth I can call, anytime, for any reason. 

This Christmas Season I urge you to draw closer to Him whose birth you celebrate every year. Mend a friendship, serve a fellow child of God, apologize to a family member, forgive someone you haven't been able to in the past. No matter how hard life can seem, I can promise you you have a best friend in Heaven looking out for you, and people here on earth that are willing to step in and help you.