Finnished part 1

ode to my family

just developed the last rolls of pentax film (man am i going to miss that)

.... only three days until i leave. i can't believe it.

this last week i've been doing so much to prepare, i've been so busy. but there's never a question of time when it's family, nothing can beat spending time with favorite kiddos. i've been staying at my brother and sister-in-law's house the last few days, and every day without fail one of my nephews or niece says "i'm so happy your going on a mission aunt lysse", or during family prayer, "please bless aunt lysse in finland". melts my heart.

a september playlist

29

i really miss this

and i really miss these

but i am SO excited to do this

source

source 

... unbelievable

29 days.

babys

bon iver - babys

old photos, stolen from my mother's basement. 

wasn't my mom a total dime?

so glad my parents were as into photos as i am, i think my dad may have loved his pentax back in the 70s almost as much as i love it now. i've been obsessed with that thing lately if you hadn't noticed.

 someday (far far far away), i hope i can be half as good as a parent as mine have been to me,

i've had one good life with them.

my family is pretty great.

strawberry

last week my big sister and i took a last-minute-decision road trip to one of our favorite places, strawberry reservoir. it was incredible, and then some of our relatives surprised us and joined us up in the mountains on our little trip. i was thrilled, i've missed my family so much and love it when i can spend time with them. sometimes i think i take for granted how great they all are. one of the nights when everyone was up there,  i looked around at us all together sitting on the shore and thought, i couldn't be any happier right now. seriously, i really am one lucky gal to beable to call them mine.  isn't it funny how as you get older, you value your family more and more? i mean, of course you've always loved them, but just in comparing the teenager-year's priorities to now. you know what i mean? well, these are my people, and i love them. 

& i've noticed that the closer september 28th comes, the more overly sentimental about my family and friends i become. it's pretty weird ... i mean, who is this girly girl? i don't know her... all nostalgic and actually cries during movies now ... what is this? & it's only six weeks until i leave, i can hardly believe it. it's crazy to think that i will have waited for five months since i've gotten my call by the time i leave. five months. & they have been the longest and hardest but at the same time the best and the happiest too. wow, i really am a girl. the mission process has been a roller coaster, but it's finally starting to get close and feel real. i can't even express my happiness and excitement when i think about it. 

can't wait.

uintah

this week, i got to spend the last several days with this cute boy. my nephew, uintah bryce.

that hair. i can't get over that hair.

Anna

a short film i made in film class about my little sister anna 

pops

to thirty years of fatherhood,

happy birthday papa nelson

you are great, and you are loved.

these days

photos from this past week ...

This past week has been incredible. One of those weeks where you wish you could just press a pause button, and soak up all the moments. I love summer. and it's been a pretty great summer if you ask me. I've been very lucky to be able to travel so much this summer and see/experience so many amazing places, in state and abroad. And I'm grateful to all those who have been willing to go on these adventures with me, thanks guys. It has been a memorable summer.