It began with a kiss and shall end with flashing lights. What a year! In the first few months I kicked loose in Footloose and sang my heart out with my first lead role in Pirates. I watched countless volleyball games and spent quality time with my siblings. Springtime brought a magical senior prom and graduation from the high school I had so grown to love, and summer began with an all-nighter followed only five hours later by a trip to Lake Powell. I explored the beautiful west coast of America and ventured into the emerald wildernesses of Canada, then took a second surprise trip to Powell. I watched my best friend leave on his mission and but six days later waved goodbye to my family and friends and exchanged my desert home for the tropical paradise of Oahu. BYU-Hawaii brought me brand new experiences found in new friends, first-time independence, island adventure and the graphic design field. I learned more about myself and the world and discovered the new dreams I had for the future. In the late fall, I received my mission call to the Alps, and in December I threw my arms around those people from home I'd come to realize I loved so much.
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| 2011 vs 2015 |
This week of Christmas was extra special, as I had the opportunity to enter the beautiful temple and make sacred covenants. This is something I've spent my whole life preparing for, and though I still feel too young and naive for all this {wait this was my twentieth Christmas?!} it made me appreciate the holiday all the greater. I am so grateful to be a part of this church and for the sacrifices of Jehovah. I couldn't imagine a better way to celebrate the birth of a Savior who allows for families to be eternal than to be with family.
This year most of my presents were for my mission, which is unbelievably in just over two months. That afternoon we shared a delicious meal with two sets of grandparents, two sets of uncles/aunts and the cousins. Us older girls watched Phantom of the Opera to bring some old memories and then I convinced the younger girls to carry probably twenty blankets/pillows/thermal sleeping bags out to the trampoline for a slumber party under the stars! Unfortunately Olivia and Megan were talked out of it {I guess the 32 degree weather didn't sound appealing?} but it ended up being one of my favorite moments I ever shared with just me and Soph. That girl has grown up so much since I left! She still seems like the baby of the family, but in reality she's the same grade as I when Kendall and I started co-writing a novel about the Titanic. I loved chit-chatting with her as well as making bizarre noises/faces at each other and snuggling under our ridiculous amount of comforters. Although we woke up with frost on the top layers, we were covered by so many layers that we were warm the whole night through!
This Christmas Eve we had the pleasure of watching Eric as Young Scrooge in Hale Theatre's A Christmas Carol. This is such a renowned production that they were featured on the news {figures, since Scrooge is played by Fox's weatherman} and all showings were booked! Oh how I missed my family's talent, and it was wonderful hearing him sing. I'll admit I shed some tears and was glad to feel the holiday spirit.
Later that night we headed over to the cousins' to open our PJs and listen to Uncle Dave tell the story of Luke 2. Although sadly the kids have grown too old to perform their annual Nativity scene, it was fun to track Santa Clause online and devour some good ole raspberry Danish dessert .
We couldn't sleep that night, so Liv and I stayed up shamelessly watching Barbie in a Christmas Carol because we haven't seen one of those films in probably seven years and why not? It's a magical time of year to snuggle up with your family members and enjoy every last moment.
"God bless us. God bless us every one."
Tonight we were beckoned outside by the nip in the air and the lights in the city. After getting drinks at the Soda Shop, Liv, Bri and I headed downtown for a little Christmastime explorations. Gosh I've missed my girls! Olivia Grace is the biggest goofball, and though I couldn't have been more different at her age, the older she gets the more people tell us we look like twins! We watched from the second floor of a building as a train got stuck on the tracks and tried to reverse, leaving dozens of incoming cars to almost crash into each other as they attempted illegal-U turns. We also picked up Eric from Hale Theatre where fake snow fluttered down from the sky and listened to his crazy British accents/beast groans/song renditions in the converstable while we drove around colorfully-lit neighborhoods. Basically, it's a never-ending party around this crew.
About Me
Katie Urness
SLP, Wife, and Mama
Welcome to Kate of the Desert! I've shared my life stories here since 2008. Here you may find the dramatic musings of an 11-year-old, the romanticized tales of a high schooler, the adventures of a young adult living in Hawaii and Europe, the journeys of marriage and motherhood, and all the ups and downs in between. Read More
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