If I get old, I WILL BE THIS AWESOME.

сестра Parker

I like to ride my bike.

She likes to ride her bike.

Thus, I will make a great sister missionary.  Get ready, because starting June 16, I'll be sending you guys sexy pictures like this home in the mail:

Oh yeah, and did I mention RUSSIA, ST. PETERSBURG?

Lots of hunger.

MY MOST SELFISH DESIRE:  To stumble upon an all expense paid trip for me, my family, and my chill buds to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.  I find myself subconsciously hungering for this.  Or even just go to South Africa during this time to witness the insane excitement that surrounds it.  If any of you have any hook-ups, feel free to hook.  Me.  UP!

Also, the Hunger Banquet is come and gone.  For those of you who weren't aware, I participated as a volunteer.  We helped set up, welcomed guests, served food and the like.  Leading up to the event, I often wondered to myself why I was wasting my time at the planning meetings, why I wore a sign on my backpack ("Ask me about the hunger banquet") and even if I would actually show up the nights I was supposed to help.

Well, I'll tell you.  I am SO glad that I helped.  The fun had, people inspired and money raised aside, I have discovered even more deeply MY passion for international development, and reaffirmed my role in helping the human race get "one inch better."

The combo of my world cup day dreams and the hunger banquet caused me to listen to this song  on repeat for the past few days (it's the theme song for the World Cup).  I think the song is great, and I love the excitement of the masses of people at the concert in this video.




Among other news, I've been working on my mission papers.  I called up my mother the other day in need of a photo I can send into THE BRETHREN.  Well, she felt a little low on options, but eventually came up with this:

Oh.  How sweet.  But do me a favor, and look at the original.

Ha.  Yes, that's a sunburn!  On a scale from 1 to 10, how obvious is that on the B&W version?

Well, happy Fast Sunday everybody.

I found this in my pocket today.  It's from at least 3 months ago and made me very glad.

I received this shortly before valentines day, in response to a lame picture text of "Will you be my valentine?"  Talk about being one-upped.

I like this a) for obvious reasons, and b) because I could take it as  - "being your valentine isn't socially acceptable."  Ha!  Funny and sweet.  The best kind of valentine.

I wish it was common in our culture to say "God bless."  I think it is such a nice thing to say.

I remember my Parker grandparents, who are Catholic, saying it to me when I was younger.  Because I didn't know what to say back, I'd just respond, "you too."

Yup.

Exceeding Expectations?

What am I allowed to expect from and require of other people?

This is a question I have found myself coming back to and wrestling over and over with, for at least the past 2 years, if not past 3.

Some real-world examples:
Is it fair for me to expect a returned phone call?
Is it fair for me to expect my friends to _____? (You fill in the blank: invite me, ask me how my day was, etc...)
Is it fair for me to expect people to keep their word?

These types of questions torment me most when I find myself feeling unjustified or unhappy with somebody or some situation.

After this thought process, I always come to the conclusion that it is best not to expect anything out of anybody, because then I'll never be disappointed.  After all, I didn't expect them to _____, so then I don't have to be mad.

But I think this is incorrect.  I just don't know why.

Comments from my (ahem, 2) readers are, dare I say it, expected?

Today I discovered wheat thins are the culprit for making my intestines feel like they house an overly active hamster.  It's more fun imagining this as my innards anyways.

Also, I think the kid who gets this is lucky, because he or she will feel like the owner of a happy hamster.