Friday, February 24, 2012

dear angry parent.

i find people ridiculous at times. especially parents. who get mad about non-refundable fees. NON-REFUNDABLE. meaning if you call in, we can't refund it. we are not being "dishonest" for not refunding it- because we are actually being honest by doing what we would say we would do. crazy, right? he was the meanest. i put him on hold, correction, hung up on him on accident. it really was an accident. i called him back. he talked to a supervisor. i cried i was so mad. he hung up on the supervisor after hearing it was non-refundable 206 times. sorry your son made a mistake, please dont yell at us.

hmph.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Escaping Provo.

Do you ever have those days that you have no motivation to do anything. Meet my Saturday. It just felt like a perfect lazy day- even though it was beautiful weather outside. I remember thinking around 4 o'clock that I had done nothing with my day and was feeling like the laziest person ever. In telling my roommate this she asked me what I had done... my response: went to kneaders with efy friends, talked with roommates and Michael Ted, went to Walmart to get a birthday card, stopped by Matt and Keri's, and watched half a t.v. show. Oh- not lazy. hmph. Why was I feeling so bummish? I was still mozying around the house when I felt like I just needed to get up and do something. So I grabbed a book and headed for my car. I took one of my favorite drives up the canyon, found a place to park, rolled down my windows, cuddled up with a book, and just read. It was PERFECT. I loved being up there. It was just me and the mountains. I didn't have cell service and felt like I was separated from the world, even if it was just for a little bit. (I did have the brief fear of, what if something happens and I don't have service, that quickly went away as I realized I was close to a ranch and people.)

That was the break I needed to get me pumped for life again. That night Lauren and I went to a root beer float party that made me sicker than sick. But it was so great to see people from London and meet new people. Being the party hoppers we are we then went to an open mic night at the avocottage. How i love those! It was fun to see Kris (he dated my roommate last year who is now on a mission) and to just relax and listen to people play. It felt once again like I had left Provo.

the london crew. thanks amberly for throwing the party
my buddy for the night- whats going on with your smile there ellie.
The talent Kris Paries folks
Oh how break are needed from the bubble.

Random tidbits:

Today is Lorien's 10th birthday. She is SOOOO old.

Countdown to Chicago: 6 days.

Friday, February 10, 2012

9...1...1...


three numbers in a row. three numbers that hold a lot of meaning. three numbers that you learn at a very young age. on their own they are nothing but put them together and they provide the number for an emergency. fear runs through your heart if you accidentally dial the number. but for the first time in my life, i called it on purpose.

story time.

its friday night. it was an efy mini reunion night. rachel came down from chicago and tambrea came up from richfield. the night started at gurus were we consumed our body weight in sweet potato fries and laughed out heads off. what caused such laughter. well lots of things. one being the fact at one point we realized we were causing a scene as we all were yelling. there was live music which makes volume control hard. but we were full out yelling at one point. we talked about life, and updates in our personal lives. quotes from the night: "it was thin as crap" "i didn't know crap was thin", "you're like mother theresa on the runway". side note: friday night is date night in provo making parking impossible to find.

the night continued at a birthday party for an efy friend where we met up with the lovely morgan jones. side note: the trunk of my car is somehow broken. it wont open. devil. but the party was grand, even though we were only their for sub 15 minutes. eric made fun of us for never taking our coats off.

so the whole 911 part. what happened? are you on the edge of your seat yet?


so we are back at my apartment catching up on Morgan's life, when all of a sudden, clear as day we hear someone yelling outside. and not happy yells. f-bombs were flying like he was in a war. we turn off the lights and ran to the window. we saw people from the creepy house across the street walking back in. we sat there wondering what we should do when Rachel, who is besties with the Provo Police said to call them just to make sure everything is okay. so folks. i called 911. told them what we had heard and seen. they sent a car. the car drove past. came back. drove past. eventually stopped (we were all giving a commentary from the window). He got out of his car. looked around the house. got back in. drove away. yes, that's right they never even knocked on the door. We didn't feel very safe needless to say. So we watched Courageous, a movie about good cops. It's actually an extremely good movie, I highly recommend it.

and that is the story of the first time I called 911.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

gray.

i dont know what it is about gray days that seem to make the day gray.  i have this problem where I am in this great class that makes me analyze my life constantly. So as im walking home from the testing center thinking about how gray the day is and how gray i feel, I start trying to figure out why I could possibly feel this way. Im not going to lie I felt a little like a crazy person trying to psychoanalyze myself on the walk home.

The thought came that "it's just one of those days" but then I thought "no, im a moral agent. I am not a victim of my emotions." crazy? right. so as I walked down the hill like a crazy person with this back and forth going on in my head, I ran into a friend. There is something about seeing a familiar face and smile that is just great. we talked. and were awkward. and then decided we weren't awkward as we yelled to each other while walking away. Instantly I felt happier. Five seconds later I saw someone who looked familiar. We stopped had the "how do I know you" moment, caught up like we were old friends, and then I continued on my way.

I had plans to help out Keri (my sister-in-law) today with Ethan, while she and her mom worked on the house. First off, Ethan got his hair cut and now looks like a little kid rather than the baby I always thought of him as. He turns two in 11 days. But more importantly there is nothing better than a little kids laugh to make the world seem perfect. As we played hide and go seek around the couch and chased each other around the house, the day seemed a little less gray.

So the moral of the story. gray days will come. life isn't always as happy as you might hope. But surround yourself with good friends and family that loves you and those gray days seem quite manageable. Even enjoyable.

other random tidbits.

it is test season folks. two test last week. two tests today. but i am happy to say that last friday I got my first perfect in the testing center. thank you family finance for making that blessed even possible. and then today I got a 94 on my moral foundations test. I hope the good luck continues on to pioneers and persecution tonight.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

p.i.n.g....




I am proud to say that I know the best female ping-pong player at BYU. yes folks, that's right. I have friend's in high places.

the beautiful Maggie Sigler competed in BYU's Ping Pong Tournament and she dominated. I felt slightly bad for the boy she beat not once, but twice (it was double elimination). After that he cheered harder for her than I did. It was great to go and cheer her on. Did I avoid taking a test to go...yes. Did I miss a CAG meeting because of it...yes. Was it worth it to be there to cheer...yes!



Most intense part. Maggie and Matt's game for the championship. Friends faced off. it was epic. the score was 10-10. i didnt know what to do with my life. (you can tell how intense it was based on matt's walk away from the table during the game). Matt won at the last second. but it was wonderful!

Other random tidbits.

I had a water drinking competition with a friend. 110 ounces later, I won. However, I learned that drinking an entire water bottle before sitting in an hour long class is not the smartest thing in the world. What spurred this random competition, you ask. Well folks I realize I fail at drinking water and I am constantly dehydrated. Not healthy. Plus did you know half the time you are hungry you are actually thirsty. Amazing right.

Have you ever made a connection months later that blows your mind. Quick tangent story time. Tori (older sister's best friend growing up) has had this friend Maddie that I have heard about for the last forever. They went to EFY together and life was just great. I think I can even remember her coming to Chicago once and meeting her. Nate (boy I dated once upon a time) has a roommate Stu who has been dating and now is engaged to a girl named Maddie. Don't worry after 6 months of knowing her, and after years of hearing about Maddie. today the connection was made that they were one in the same. I freaked out for a good 10 minutes.

Dinner groups are the best thing ever. but really. Delicious home-cooked meals every night Monday through Thursday and you only cook once every two weeks. its perfect. but while the meals are wonderful, and not having to cook every night is grand, my favorite part might be having a group of people to eat with every night. People to talk to. Oh dinner groups how I love thee.

Swimming. there is something about swimming that I just love. It might be staring at the bottom of the pool. Or the feeling of being surrounded by water. It might be the complete exhaustion I feel with no pain. It might be that for thirty minutes my mind goes blank, or that I feel like I am doing something with my life, or that I strengthen relationships by going with people. It might be all of those things. This Tuesday when we went we saw one of the most inspirational guys ever. He must have weighed only 80 pounds, his body was literally skin and bones. Looking at him you could tell that physically something was wrong, and that he had struggled with health. Yet he hurled his body through the water. It was amazing to watch him just go and go and go. It seemed constant that he was swimming. I would stop and catch my breath, let my body rest, but I never once noticed him stopped. It was amazing. He was amazing.

Monday, February 6, 2012

14 hours later...

happy efy training this weekend.

it was wonderful. correction WONDERFUL.

problem: i love all the other coordinators and want to work with them all, all summer long. our solution to the problem. we will become a new team rotating around as counselors, BCs, and coordinators. genius, right? wrong. but still a dream.

the people there are all wonderful. and such good examples to me of the person I want to be. I remember at one point being so happy. In that situation I was exactly the person I wanted to be. It amazes me how people bring out different sides of you. How being comfortable and safe brings out who you are. Challenge to self: be that person all the time.

the weekend was full of food, games, debriefing, and learning how to be a better leader and teacher. i might have left more nervous for the summer that when I got there. I have so much to do to prepare myself for the summer, but there is no day like today to start.

side note: this is the song I am listening to as I write this- it might be one of my favorites. enjoy.



other fun efy excitement: on sunday we were invited to Greg Tanner's (the director of EFY) house for waffles. three of us coordinators went. slightly awkward at first. but wonderful to go. It was great to just talk to him one on one and then the group of us. we talked about how he got involved with EFY and then about the youth of the church. How difficult it is to keep the standards and stay strong in the gospel no matter where you live. moral of the story: the youth of the church are amazing.

countdown to chicago: 11 days.

oh this is the good life!

Friday, February 3, 2012

liar liar pants on fire.

i have been known to talk in my sleep. not often, but it has happen. Well folks, today I lied in my sleep. No worries it is honor week on BYU campus. My sub-conscience has no honor. I didn't wake up to my alarm today. I woke up looked at my phone and panicked when 8:00 was staring back at me. I have never gotten ready so fast in my life. 3 minutes flat. As I was rushing to brush my teeth my roommate told me she thought I had work and had tried to wake me up at 7:30. My response to her when she tried to wake me- "I get to go in late today"

NOT TRUE!!

i didn't get to go in late today. i dont get to go in late ever. but asleep ellie is very very tricky. and a very good liar.

other exciting news of the day:

*for the first time since coming to BYU I got a perfect score at the testing center. thank you family finance for making this event possible.

*at work I talked with a girl for close to an hour about her life and options she had. luckily it was slow so her wanting to talk wasn't a big deal. As she told me about her problems and we discussed different options, it made me think that that would be what my life would be like as a marriage and family therapist.

*we made valentine's day cards during work training. it was wonderful. i love being paid to do crafts.

*efy coordinator training is today and tomorrow. woowhoo.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

joy.

The Joy of Living.

*warning: the below post might be quite journal like and contains the many musings of my mind.

Adam fell that men might be
And men are that they might have JOY
2 Nephi 2:25

today has been a day of joy. rather this week has been one of joy. i choose that word specifically because it is the only word I can think of that adequately describes how I feel. It is a feeling of happiness and peace. I don't feel like I am overflowing giddiness about life. It is a very calm pure happiness.

It started on Sunday. i'm pretty sure sunday was one of the most edifying days of my life. As we discussed the atonement. The ability we have to repent, and how we have a friend in the Savior. He is our advocate. He knows exactly what we are going through. He is perfect, and understands me perfectly. A wonderful combined RS/EQ lead into a wonderful Sacrament Meeting. It doesn't matter how many times I hear about the atonement, i feel like I always learn something new. And every time the spirit confirms to me the truth of the matter. I have a heavenly father who loves me enough that he gave his only begotten son, Christ, to come and give his life so that I might return to live with my heavenly father again. He suffered for me, Elizabeth Jane Hall, personally. It leaves me bewildered at the love he must have for me. I feel like learning about the atonement puts life into perspective. We have trials in this life to refine us. To make me the person he would have me be. Sunday ended with an EFY fireside. As I was surrounded by friends who love and know me, I learned simple life lessons. I remembered how much I love EFY, and while I am still terrified for the summer and the unknowns it brings, I am excited to be surrounded by the gospel everyday.

Moday started out extremely stressful, but that stress was quickly removed by a loving roommate. She asked if there was anything she could do for me. While my normal answer is "thank you! but im okay" this time I needed help. I didn't know if I could do it all. As I asked if she would be willing to switch nights we cooked for dinner group this week, a stress was instantly removed from my shoulders when she said yes. It turned a potentially extremely stressful day into a very doable day. I was able to take a test with no worries about time constraints. I am so grateful for those tender mercies in life. The day continued to bring joy as FHE came. We celebrated the Chinese New Year with paper lanterns, music from the movie soundtrack tangled, and the human knot. But my favorite moment of FHE might be the lesson. I feel so old saying that, due to the fact when I was younger I hated it. But now I feel like any chance I have to talked about the gospel I just love. He talked about the challenge to become. It reminded me of a lesson given at the beginning of this year about George Albert Smith. He said when setting goals he would focus on what he wanted to become and that would be his goal. He would then set little goals to help him get there. It would not be something to do- because once you have completed that it is over. Rather a goal would be to BE something. Be more christlike. Be more charitable. Be an example. I love the reminder to constantly be improving and to be the person my heavenly father wants me to be. Oh yes, and on this joyous day Cannon Daines Hall entered this world. A beautiful boy was born to Michael and Rachel. I am so grateful for my family.



Tuesday brought joy in other ways. The temple. I am amazed at the peace I feel there. I am amazed at the kindness of the workers and the spirit of joy they bring with them. Their kind smiles and twinkling eyes brighten my day. My favorite might be the old man who was in the font. While I have been there before where they quickly rushed through each one. Very efficient. This man took his time, and was gentle in his words and how he baptized each person. It felt like he was thinking of each individual the work was being done for. While this might not have been the case, it gave me a chance to think of each individual. It reminded me of EFY in Nauvoo this last year. It was the saturday before and we all went to do baptisms at the temple. I sat waiting my turn. Words could not express how excited I was to be baptized in the Nauvoo Temple (dont worry I had been there multiple times before but I was still as excited as ever) My turn eventually came and I went to wait at the bottom of the stairs- however, it was not my turn. I went and sat back down. I thought it was my turn again and sat up with excitement, but yet again it was not my turn. My mind instantly went to those waiting for their work to be done. How long have they been waiting. I could picture them in heaven being just as anxious as I was. The day continued with the feeling that comes after a great run, and being physically active. That night a friend and I went swimming at the RB. I forgot how much I love swimming. There is something so refreshing that comes with the water. Pushing off the wall and reaching for it again at the end. The tiredness that your whole body feels after a good swim. But my favorite is that for the time we were swimming I thought about nothing besides swimming. When I swim my mind goes blank and only focuses on breathing and propelling myself through the water. I think of nothing else. The night ended with a long talk with a new friend. It didn't matter that we both had wet hair and were standing out in the cold. I loved standing at the bottom of the stairs learning about her life. And was amazed at the similarities we all have.

How one week can have sooooo much joy I just dont know. and it keeps getting better!

Today was a near perfect day. Scratch that. Today was a perfect day. I have been frustrated at work, and something as small as being recognized for the hard work I have done, made that frustration seem to disappear. I felt happy as I talked to different students and was able to do my job to the best of my ability. Also did I mention today was a spirit day meaning we got treats and got to wear jeans. woowhoo. And at staff meeting we played a game and our team one meaning we got to choose a prize from a bag. what did i get. a list notebook. yes, that is right. A notebook that is perfect for lists! I was in heaven. The day continued to get better as I learned I was getting a co-coordinator for efy, and decided I was going home in two weeks for the holiday. I will get to see almost my entire family (minus Matt and Keri). I love them SO very much. Thank you american airlines travel voucher for making the flight only 20 dollars. However, the day was topped off by one of the best nights I have had. Two friends from London and I went to Institute together. It was the same institute that I went to last year, that I told other people to go to last year, but it was not the same institute. There are new teachers and they are phenomenal. It was amazing the spirit that was there as we talked about the events leading up the Christ appearing in the Americas. We read of Nephi and the believers waiting on the sign that Samuel the Lamanite had told of. How it was the night that they were going to be killed when the sign finally came. They had to stay faithful to the end. I am sure it was not easy to face death as you believed in a prophesy from a prophet. But that stayed true to what they believed even in hard times. We don't always know when the answers will come. Sometimes I wish I could see what my life would be like five years down the road. If I just knew I would be happy it would make this time of uncertainty so easy. But where is the faith there? Where is the faith that heavenly father has a plan for me. They didn't know until the last possible second, when they thought all hope was lost, but the believed and the sign did come. We talked about how the Lord provides us with what we need, but there are times where we do not need what we think we need. The teacher talked of the Brother of Jared, and how somethings in our life are like the light. The brother of jared had to figure it our on his own. but some things are air. and heavenly father will not leave us stranded and will give us the answer. But we do not always know what is light and what is air. I thought this was amazing, and an interesting thought I had never had. As I look back on my life I can see how the Lord was there when I needed air, and how he has also let me figure things out of my own when it is light.

We went to the Awful Waffle to end the night with some hot chocolate. I was transported back to the Hampstead Creperie as I stood at the window to order my Cinnamon Infused hot chocolate.
Oh Hapstead Crepes how I miss you.
We went back to Amber's house to escape the cold and catch up on eachother's life. Out conversation quickly turned from "girl talk" into talking about the gospel. As we sat there talking about what we know to be true I was filled with such a sense of joy. It is these moments that count. These moments, in a basement apartment, that help us to become the people we are. I left not wanting to anything that would make that spirit go away. Lauren and I drove home listening to a CD of piano music a friend had made me. Both not knowing how to express what we were feeling besides stating how happy and joyful we were.

Today. Today was a perfect day.

I have talked a lot about what I believe in. My faith in my Heavenly father and the hope we are given through his eternal plan is what brings me this feeling of joy. If you don't know about what I believe in and want to know more talk to me, or visit lds.org.

Also this gem of a song joined my life today. Im in love.


oooo.... also enjoy this musical gem from 1998. gotta love EFY and I feel the theme fits perfectly with this post.