HALFWAY!!!

I know I'm getting a little crazy... two posts in one day but really the last one was from a couple days ago, I just posted it today!!
Life has definitely been an adventure!

here are the happenings from the past 6 weeks

I've tried playing Rugby

I realized that I don't really like Rehabilitation medicine as much as I thought I would

I have forgotten that I actually know things

I became FIM certified at REHAB hospital

I've remembered how much I love working with children

I've talked to one of my best friends after a month of phone tag (love you Jess!)

I've realized how much my friends on the mainland love me

I've gained a million pounds (as embarrassing as this is to admit it's true and I thought you should all know it)

I went to the Laie temple grounds

I've missed autumn season

I miss China even more

I miss being cold and wearing warm clothes

Here are is what I am looking forward to in the next 6 weeks

GOING HOME!!!

Finally taking me NCTRC exam on Monday

Finally being able to go to the beach

Finishing my internship

Graduating from college (FINALLY!!!!)

Seeing my friends again

Getting a big girl job.

This is what I wake up to every morning, really pictures don't do it justice.

Tender Mercies

I am such a slacker... but I have purposely not posted because I was waiting until I decided what I was going to do after my little stint in Hawaii is done. I figured the "I'm busy" excuse could only go so far. And despite my natural tendencies to whine and complain about all the different things that could be going better I wanted to share a neat experience I had last weekend. 
The whole time I have been here it has seemed as though anything that could go wrong... has gone wrong, despite the fact that I was reading my scriptures and praying everyday. As you may or may not know I have really struggled with making friends (among many other things) here in Hawaii. Until now I have never ever felt like I have had no one to talk to or confide in (even as a group leader in China, which until now is when I felt the loneliest). Now keep in mind I'm disclosing some information I wouldn't normally disclose, because let's face it who wants to admit to the whole world that they don't have any friends, but it's an integral part of the story and one of the biggest challenges I have had here. Well a couple weeks ago Amanda, a girl from the ward asked me if I wanted to do something on Saturday. Of course I said yes to her face but then I thought, "bless her heart, I probably won't call her." Well don't worry, she tracked me down and despite all of my excuses (my typical "I'm studying") I decided to meet up with her after work on Saturday. I was a little distraught because I had just done poorly on the practice test for my exam (which is now in 3 days!! YIKES!) A lot happened and all of a sudden I was crying in her living room explaining how lonely i felt and how the hardest part is that I knew that I was supposed to be here and I just don't know why. Well imagine my surprise when instead of saying, "but you're in Hawaii you should be enjoying it" (which is what everyone else says) she said, "I know exactly how you feel." We spent the rest of the night watching the Relief Society Broadcast (which was an answer to prayers!) and talking. It seriously feels like Heavenly Father placed her into my life to answer my prayers. She is getting married in a couple weeks so I won't be seeing her as often, but just knowing that she is there is an answer to prayers. I left her house humble and so grateful for the love the Lord has for me. As President Kimball said Heavenly Father does answer every prayer, but it is usually through another individual (and not always the way we want!)

The Week in Review...

This past week I've....
Ran on the beach three times
Signed up for my CTRS exam in October
Sent in my application to teach English in the Marshall Islands
Left the house by 6:45 so that I could walk 20 minutes, ride two buses, and arrive at work by 8:30am
Got told I looked like I was 17 years old
Eaten my body weight in food everyday (something I am slowly working on)
Made my bed everyday
Fallen in love with two of the patients at the hospital
Spent a lot of lonley nights missing my friends
Gotten a calling as the 4th Sunday Relief Society teacher
Played the piano for Rita almost every night
Not completed my goal to take a picture everyday
Started looking for jobs on the mainland
Read my scriptures everyday
Swept the driveway
Gone hiking
Collected beach glass in my backyard
Come to the realization that there is more to life than living some place "exciting and exotic," what matters most is that I surround myself by people who love me and who I love.

I realize this is a really bad picture of me, but it is the only one that I have of me with Hawaiian scenery. This is me in my backyard.