Happy Birthday tooooo Me :)

Why the shocked face?






Very shocking, indeed.

I think of all the things I've lived through, both good and bad...
my Dad being baptized,
my family being sealed in the temple for time and all eternity,
September 11, 2001
moving to Utah,
the birth of my first nephew, and all the other babies that have blessed my life since then,
middle school
PMS (yikes)
IB PROGRAM (and getting the DIPLOMA...still a high light of my life)
SOMOS scholarship
first year of college
gaining a [real] testimony
going to Europe,
Papa Roy's passing....

All these things, and so many, many more.

Today, I have lived exactly 2o full years.

There have been times were I have been super bummed. Mornings that I literally had no motivation to get out of bed.

But MOSTLY, my life has been JOY.


I'd like to think I've spent most of my life smiling. I do have SO MUCH to smile about.


With friends like these, who wouldn't smile??? and new friends too...

This girl is amazing. Do you know, I was praying to have a friend my age in the ward, and Heavenly Father sent me you??? It's true.

How about FAMILY??? I have a pretty great one.


We may be a little dysfunctional, but we LOVE each other.


FACT: I feel JOY.

And yes, some days I feel a little more like this...
because I don't know exactly where the heck I'm going right now. Majors? Who knows! Boyfriend?...HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Or how about the fact that I have to teach a Sunday class tomorrow and I have NO IDEA what to do???

Oh, Brother.

But for the moooooost part, my life is pretty good. I am a happy camper :)

I thought being half-way to forty wouldn't feel so great, but DANG. I feel a-MAY-zing.

I love you all with every fiber of my being and my whole entire heart! Thank you for the birthday wishes and kind messages on fb :)

<3 Ellllli