Days 16-21

• Sleepover with Katelynn
• Discussed whether or not I would like to live in Salt Lake City
• Finished Sarah's Key. So good! Read it!
• Began A Jane Austen Education. I love it.  I read it with a pencil and mark all the fabulous things that Jane Austen teaches us.  I love her even more now!
• Celebrated the 24th of July in Utah, it's kind of a big deal here.  Had a yummy BBQ
• Had lunch at Zupas. It's now my new favorite place! So delicious!
• Had dinner with Holly.  We had a great conversation and it was so good to catch up!
• Researching ideas and choices for the future.  It's so overwhelming!
• Talked with Marisa's dad about speech pathology
• OLYMPICS!!!
• Phone chats with my long distance friends! More life discussions!
• Went shopping with Holly, did our nails, and watched a movie
• More thinking about the future. Job. Career. Schooling. Place to live.
• Sonic Slushies and people watching/creeping at 11:30 PM
• Late night chats with the girls

Katelynn gave me this zebra to keep me company.  He is big and soft and great for cuddling.

Happy Pioneer Day!

Holly and I

Day 15 Yes there is More...

From the previous post you all know I spent the day with Katelynn.  Well, after our LONG and THERAPEUTIC walk,   Katelynn and I went to visit our great friend Jessie.  I hadn't seen Jessie in ages so it was so great to be with her and to talk about life.  She also has an adorable little baby now that I just couldn't get enough of.

Here is Jess and Liam (wearing his cute little sun hat that was adorably too big)

Jessie is an amazing woman!  She is a great mother and is another one of my heroes!  She is working to support her family and takes care of her baby.  Wow.  She is superwoman.  I love her so much!!  It is so nice to be reunited with the friends that I haven't seen in forever!!

Katelynn, Me, Jessie

We took the above picture and then remembered one of us taken at graduation.  We found it and then decided to re-do it now.

Graduation June 2007

Now- 2012

I LOVE US.

Day 15 KATELYNN

Since the day I arrived in Utah I have waited, and waited, and waited with growing excitement for this day.  The day that I would be reunited with Katelynn Stark!  Katelynn is greatest friend I could ever ask for.  I am so grateful for her friendship!  I can't even say where I would be without her.  She is always there for me; without fail I know that I can go to Katelynn for anything and she will be there!

I feel like I should describe our history.  Katelynn and I have known each other for a long time.  We were in the same ward for most of our lives but were never friends.  We hardly ever talked, actually.  She intimidated me.  I didn't think she would like me and honestly I wasn't sure I would like her.  For 3 years we would both arrive 10 or so minutes early to seminary, try not to make eye contact, and avoid each other.  Then one day that all changed.  I was hanging out with my friend Jessie the summer before senior year and we decided to go to the mall.  Jessie invited Katelynn to come along.  I wasn't exactly sure how I felt about that but I wanted to be with Jess so I agreed to it.  I will be forever grateful that Jess invited Katelynn because who knows if we would've talked to each other.  It was a magical day at the mall! Katelynn needed to find something to wear to her brother's wedding in Hawaii, she also only had $2.  Seems impossible right?  Well, it wasn't because it was a magical day and I'm awesome.  I found a way cute skirt at Old Navy (of course) that was very Islandy and flowy, blue and green.  It didn't have a price tag so we asked a clerk the price to scan it.  It was only 97 cents.  Yes, you read that right.  97 CENTS!  Perfect!  And Katelynn had a dollar to spare.  It was also free pretzel day at the mall.  Purely magical.  And the rest is history.  Katelynn and I have been great friends from that day on. 

 We were super close our Senior year and spent lots of time together since we were both in drama.  We had lots of down time during rehearsals and we would eat the delicious frosting her mom would make.  We would go to Muchas Gracias and my burrito would leak all over me.  We sang at the top of our lungs to the radio in my car.  We would make instant mashed potatoes and eat while sitting on her kitchen floor.

 We have done so much together, we've laughed and cried together.  But my favorite thing we do together is WALK.  The most therapeutic walks EVER.  I would go to Katelynn's and we would walk her hill and talk about EVERYTHING!  Boys, school, work, fears, plans, the future, the stuff we love and the stuff we hate, people we knew, LIFE.  We have talked about all those things and more on our walks.  Even when I left for college, whenever I came home I would go to Katelynn's and we would walk.  I love our walks.  I have been saving up so many things to say to her since I arrive in Utah.  And we walked for at least an hour and I spilled my guts.  I'd be so lost without Katelynn.  She is AMAZING.  She has taught me so much.  She is one of the most encouraging people I know.  And the fact that she believes in me and loves me gives me so much strength.  I just can't even describe or say how important she is to me and how much I love her.  She has come so far.  I am so proud of her and all the things that she has overcome and accomplished in her life.  She's my hero.  I am so grateful we became friends.

Thank you Katelynn.  Thank you for being AMAZING, AWESOME, and my BEST FRIEND.

I LOVE YOU.

Days 12 & 13

Friday we headed to the Provo Mall for some browsing/shopping.  And miracle of miracles I found a swim suit.  I was quite shocked myself.  Now I shouldn't have to go swim suit shopping for a while.  It is seriously such a downer.  I am so not a fan of swim suit shopping, but then again what woman is?  I'm sure that even the most gorgeous and skinny girls see flaws when they look at themselves in a mirror.  But that is a conversation for another day.  I found a swim suit. YAY! (I will NOT be posting pictures, fyi...)

Then to Sonic for Happy Hour!!  1/2 off drinks and slushes.  I love their slushes!

Look! We're matchy matchy!  Not even planned. We're just THAT cool.

That night we introduced Emilee to Little Women.  She had NEVER seen it!?  Now that's just criminal!  Little Women is one of the best laughing, have a good cry, feel good movies.  Oh I love it so much!  And it is a movie that you can watch at any time in life.  No matter what is happening to you it applies.  I had some new insights to life that I will save for a later post.  Of course Emilee loved the movie.  How can you not?  It's even got Christian Bale.  Win Win.

Today was another relaxing day.  Mar went to visit her cousins so I had most of the afternoon to myself.  I spent it playing the piano, reading, thinking, exercising (I am getting fat from all the yummy food we eat!), painted my nails, and watched an episode of Sherlock.  

Tonight we went to Emilee's for dinner.  Her mom made a pancake kind of thing that I can't remember the name for the life of me.  It's a foreign name.  Eeplsneevers or something like that.  Most like spelled different.  They were like balls of dough cooked on the stove in a special pan.  Well, whatever they're called they were delicious! 

I am almost finished with Sarah's Key.  If you haven't read it then read it.  It is so good. Maybe I'll do a later post about it.

And Goodnight to my readers.  Whomever you are.

Day 11

We had planned to go to Park City but there was a change of plans and instead we took a drive through The Canyon.  We stopped at a park to do some reading.  Marisa made these fabulous roll out blankets, actually made of towels, with pillows that we take to parks for napping and reading on.

Here is a photo of it when it's rolled out.  It rolls up to look like a duffel bag and has handles.  

It is pretty much amazing.  Marisa is a crafty sewing genius.

This was my view from my blanket as I read.  It was really beautiful.

So we read for a while and then walked a little ways to the Bridal Veil Falls.

Don't you love my hair...awful...

There were lots of kids playing in the water, even though it wasn't a very warm day today.  Mar and I put our feet in the water but it was CHILLY!

On the way back home we stopped at a little shopping village with fun and expensive stores!

I just had to share this one.  "Called to Surf".  Get it?  Called to Surf?  Like "Called to Serve".  Just a little crazy Mormon humor...I thought it was a bit ridiculous.  Had some cute and REALLY expensive swim suits.

Last stop: Barnes and Noble because I have a $50 gift card burning a hole in my pocket!!!

Someday I will be rich and I will buy every book in the store.  Well, not every book but pretty much.  Today I settled on two books.  Both of them having to do with, yep you guessed it, JANE AUSTEN.  My obsession.  I already own her six major novels  but I always want to buy them again!  But today I didn't.

A Jane Austen Education (How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things that Really Matter) by William Deresiewicz.  How can this not be awesome?  I wish I could write something like this.

Lady Susan, The Watsons, and Sandition by Jane Austen.  A short novel and two unfinished novels written by Jane Austen.  I haven't read these and they aren't always easy to find so I am super excited!

YAY for Jane Austen!  I really am a nerd.

Day 10

Started a new book; Sarah's Key

Had lunch at JCWs - yummy delicious Hawaiin Burger with pineapple and Canadian bacon. Plus a Reese's Shake.

Colored some more while watching Pushing Daisies

Marisa made a pillow.  Super Cute!

Curled my hair and it stayed in place the whole day!  Miracle!

Hung out with Marisa and new friend Emilee:

Went and saw What to Expect When You're Expecting.  We laughed so hard!

Sat on Emilee's porch and talked.

Emilee, Mar, and I

Days 8 & 9

Monday and Tuesday were relaxing, do whatever days.  They consisted of coloring flashcards for Marisa's preschool class, browsing used book stores, reading in the park, FHE, root beer floats from Arctic Circle, shopping for a swim swuit (which was unsuccessful because of my bodacious curves, don't even get me started!), a walk around the block, and watching some movies.

Mar and I went to see Mirror Mirror at the Dollar Theater.  We loved it!  It is super cute and funny.  Julia Roberts cracks me up!  And instead of the Prince waking up the Princess from a spell, she had to wake him up.  I liked that.  Actually she saved him twice!  Power to the women!

Have you ever heard of Pushing Daisies?  Me neither.  It was a TV show that only ran for 2 seasons but Mar loves it so we watched the first two episodes.  It is quirky.  It's about a pie maker, Ned, who can bring people back to life with one touch.  But if he ever touches them again they die again.  He works alongside a Private Detective solving murders by bringing the victim back to life long enough for them to tell who killed them.  And of course he brings back to life the girl he loves but they can never touch.  It makes for an interesting and cute love story.

I have enjoyed just relaxing with my bestie Marisa.  We've got a trip to Park City planned for tomorrow!  I'm excited!!

This One is For Janelle!!

Janelle Anderson is one of my BESTEST friends!  We have known each other since we were 4 years old but we really became friends in high school.  She is always fun to be with and easy to talk to.  I am so grateful for her friendship.  Not only is she an amazing friend but she is also a GREAT photographer!!!

I look pretty good.  And it's all thanks to her!  I don't look that good on a regular basis!  Honestly, I can't stop looking at myself haha.  I thoroughly enjoy going out and doing photoshoots with Janelle.  It's always a good time!  And she has a great eye and  sees things that I never see!  I could never  be a photographer.  I'm not creative enough!

Here are some photos she took of David, my studly brother!

This was another fun photoshoot!  We had a good time.  And David looks great!

  

Well, Janelle is going to Washington for a couple weeks to photograph a wedding.  If you live in the Vancouver, WA/ Portland, OR area and want some pictures done then you should look her up!  She not only does great individual portraits but her family and couple portraits are also amazing!!!  

Check her out here on her blog.  She is only available for a limited time (August 3-4, 6-11) so if you are interested contact her ASAP.

Thanks Janelle for always being a great friend to me and for making me look fabulous!

You ROCK!

Day 7: Reflection

I hit a little bump in the road.  Last night was a little rough for me.  Not all of it was rough.  Mar and I went to a BBQ and movie night at Britton's place.  Met new people, played some games, had some laughs.  It didn't hit me until I had climbed into bed and was ready to welcome sleep.  Sleep didn't come.  Instead the tears came.  I thought I was past this.  This unknown, confusion, fear, this NOT having a plan.  For the past couple months I've told myself that I would survive until Utah and then Utah would be a time to have fun and just forget about life for a little bit before I have to figure out what the heck to do with myself.  But now I'm here.  In Utah.  And it hit me like a ton of bricks last night that I have 4 weeks.  4 weeks until I need to have something figured out.  4 weeks until I need to know where I'm going to live.  4 weeks until I need a job.  4 weeks until I need a plan.  I HATE not having a plan, although every day I tell myself that it's a new adventure and I don't really need a plan.  I had myself fooled until last night.  

So today was a day of reflection.  What do I want?  What do I need?  I just want to be happy.  I have had a fabulous first week here.  I have been reunited with friends.  There are new friends who welcomed me on my first day, who were willing to like me without even knowing me.  Marisa's family has taken me in, fed me, let me sleep on the plush cloud, and welcomed me.  I should be happy.  And I am, in a way.  But I'm not HAPPY.  I'm still crying myself to sleep.  Which is super uncomfortable and makes me look awful in the morning! (Thank goodness for makeup!)  So I am trying to figure out what will make me happy and how can I get there.  Because I want to be there so badly.  I want to be out of this weird funk!  A funk that I thought I had left behind a couple months ago.  I want to enjoy the journey and be happy now.  I can't tell myself that I'll be happy when everything has worked out.  Because it's been a year now and nothing is worked out.  I can't go another year like this.

Sorry to be Debbie Downer.  You don't even have to keep reading, you may have stopped sentences ago.  But I forgot my journal and I needed to get this out of my head and out into the void ("Good night dear void"   Guess that movie!)If you're still here then you are probably one of the people who still believes in me.  Thank you for that faith because some days it's others' belief in me that keeps me going.  Because on the bad days I don't have a whole lot of faith in myself and this plan I can't see.  I just want to do what God wants me to do.  I'm trying my best to figure it out.  

I will end on a good note.  I had a pretty good night playing Phase 10 and Human Twister.  I had a lot of laughs!  I am so grateful for these people who have accepted me into their group and made me feel apart.  The Lord has blessed me so much through the people He has placed in my life.  I am truly blessed!

Days 5 & 6

Days 5 and 6 have been rainy days.  I guess I brought the rain to Utah!  Which is good because apparently it's been on fire, literally, the past few weeks.  So YAY for rain!  

Day 6 was Britton day.  Which is something I have missed for the past year!  Everyone needs a little Britton day every once in a while.  It was great to talk with him again.  I love this guy, whom I have adopted as my big brother.  He's a great listener, which is how we became friends.  I pretty much poured out my whole life story the first time we met.  He's also got good advice.  I am so grateful for his friendship that has lasted the past few years.  And I'm excited to party it up with him in the next few weeks!  He will be joining our party to Lagoon in a few weeks (super excited!!)

Good to be reunited with my big brother Britton once again!

Day 4: Cove Fort

On the way home from Cedar City we took a little detour and visited Cove Fort.  In 1867 President Brigham Young (of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) asked Ira Hinckley(grandfather to President Gordon B. Hinckley) to build a fort on Cove Creek.  The Ira Hinckley family left their home and moved to the remote area of Cove Creek to build and run the fort.

A cute Elderly Missionary couple gave us a tour of the Fort and taught us a little bit about what life was like for the Hinckley family and those who passed through.  I gained such a great appreciation for these pioneers who gave up the comfort of their homes to go where the Lord asked them to go.  Life at the Fort wasn't easy!  We got to see the kitchen and the washroom and I am pretty sure I wouldn't survive.  Sister Hinckley made 10-12 loaves of 5 pound bread DAILY!  The girls were in charge of milking and taking care of the 30 cows every day!  They also made 10-12 pounds of butter daily.  Plus all the laundry, that was done by hand, using the lye soap they made themselves!  These people worked hard! I thought scrubbing the bathroom floor last week was hard!  But I have no room to complain! I am so grateful for their examples and sacrifices.  

Day 3: Utah Shakespeare Festival

When Marisa first mentioned going to the Shakespeare Festival a couple months ago, I readily agreed!  I have been so excited for this!  I love watching performances.  If I was rich I would go see plays and musicals  ALL THE TIME!  No joke.  For our trip to Cedar City we had two plays lined up for us.  We caught a matinee showing of The Merry Wives of Windsor and an evening performance of Les Miserables.  

They have an area on the Southern Utah University campus where they perform outside just like in Shakespeare's time.  It's pretty sweet!  But both our shows were inside.

Merry Wives was hilarious.  Who doesn't enjoy a good Shakespeare comedy?  Honestly.  

Les Mis was AMAZING!!  I have always wanted to see it and with the new movie coming out I really wanted to see it live first.  It was just as great as I thought it would be.  SEE IT!

I had a great time with Marisa and her Mom!  I am indebted to them for planning and paying for this trip!  I am so grateful to have such a great friend who enjoys the arts just as much as I do.  Thanks so much for letting me tag along!!  I had a blast!  It was a great experience!  I would definitely go again!

Day 2: Bryce Canyon

Tuesday morning Marisa, her mom, and I got in the car to head to Cedar City for the Utah Shakespeare Festival.  We took a detour to Bryce Canyon.  It was amazing and absolutely beautiful!

Before you reach Bryce Canyon you drive through Red Canyon.  These pictures don't really do it justice but it is gorgeous!  I was absolutely enthralled with the orange!  And we got to drive through that tunnel!  We stopped and I picked up a couple little orange rocks for Mom.

When we arrived at Bryce Canyon watched an informative video and then headed out to some view points and little trails.  Isn't it a great view!?

I loved all the orange!  It is amazing how nature created this!  Melting snow and flash floods formed all these rocks and trails!  I am in awe of God's creations.  It is truly beautiful!

I really wanted to go in these cave like things but we weren't sure how to get to them safely.  Aren't they cool?!

Marisa and I excited to be there!  

The canyon is HUGE!  And we could only see part of it!

These are called Hoodoos.  They are all over the canyon.  The Native Americans believed they were people who had been turned into stone by the tricky coyote.

There were people from all nationalities visiting!  I heard some French, Spanish, Chinese/Japanese, and some other European language that may have been Russian.  And we met a girl from Oklahoma!  People travel from so far to see this beautiful landscape!

On the way we had stopped at a little restaurant for some lunch.  They claimed to serve delicious pie but we were full from lunch so we decided to stop on our way back.

They didn't lie!  The pie was DELICIOUS!!  And look how big that piece is!  It's like as big as my face!!  After much deliberation, I chose coconut cream. Holy Smokes! YUM!  The whipped cream on top was literally 2 inches thick.  It was a great way to end our Bryce Canyon Adventure!

And So It Begins...

Today I arrived in Utah for my Epic Summer Adventure!!!  I have been reunited with my bestie, Marisa, and we are ready to party!  We aren't wasting any time and tomorrow we are headed to Cedar City for the Shakespeare Festival!  I am super excited!!  We'll stop on the way at Bryce Canyon for a scenic hike and I've been promised pie at a restaurant that supposedly has "the best pie in the world."  I'm stoked.  

LET THE FUN BEGIN!

Elder Henrikson

Meet my brother.  Sam Henrikson.  Now known as Elder Henrikson!  After 2 agonizing weeks of waiting, all of us swearing an oath to Sam that we wouldn't check the mail, (and for those of you who know that I LOVE to check the mail, you  must know was difficult that was for me) The Call finally came! It arrived on Thursday and Sam was home alone, so he opened it and told the rest of us it hadn't arrived (which is so Sam by the way...).  We continued our day as usual and when the whole family was finally ALL home (which wasn't until almost 11 pm) Sam pulls out the BIG WHITE ENVELOPE!!!  Of course this caused quite the uproar, as I'm sure you can imagine.  Dad even called Sam a "terd", which still makes me giggle... Anyways, Sam sat us all down and read the letter to us.

This next part shows my inner geek.   Sam begins and when he gets to the part (ya know the one that we're all holding our breath for!!!!) he says "You have been called to serve in the Shire, Middle Earth..." I stood up and screamed.  I heard "The Shire" and started wigging out and it took a second for it to dawn on me that Middle Earth doesn't exist.  The Shire doesn't exist.  Wow.  Hello, my name is Hannah and I'm obsessed with the Lord of the Rings.  It's amazing I still have friends.  Well, back to Sam.  After the laughter at my outburst died down, Sam told us where he is really going....

Are you ready?

MISSISSIPPI, JACKSON MISSION 

Sam will be a Missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Jackson Mississippi. It's not the Shire but it's probably just as foreign!  We are super excited!  I am so proud of my little brother.  I am proud and grateful that he has chosen to sacrifice 2 years of his life to serve the Lord.  He is an example to me of righteousness and of putting the Lord first in your life.  He has so much faith.  I don't know if I could do what he is about to do.  Sam has taught me so much and I am so grateful that he is my brother.  I love him so much!  I know that he and my family will be blessed for his sacrifice.  I also know that he is going to bless and influence so many people in Mississippi while he is on the Lord's errand.

  Sam, Thank you for your example.  I LOVE YOU!