Why hello all!

I feel like my titles are never clever enough... oh well. Deal with it. That's the kind of the mood I've been in today. That's not very good... I know. I'm getting better. Maybe I need to eat something healthier than mac'n cheese and cheez-its. I cannot explain my apparent craving for fake cheese today. "It's not me talking, it's a scientific fact, girls can't beat boys, it's as simple as that." if you can name that movie I will give you something next time I see you (you name it), which, again, could be in a long time. That was a really random quote.

I've decided to be brave like Matt and post a picture of me from the sock hop. The downfall is that I wasn't actually at the sock hop when these pictures were taken...

I cannot explain to you why I look... stupid or why Sophie looks depressed. I guess you will have to make up a story to yourself of why that is.

"He's so handsome and rugged and chiseled and great!"- can you guess what movie I may or may not be watching right now...

I am really excited because today was Thursday and now that it is over I can be done with school. I guess I have a class tomorrow but it's pretty low-key and I am so sick of my Tuesday/Thursday classes. Well actually only one. Have you ever just been so fed up with a class that you feel like telling everyone in it to just... nevermind. It's been annoying. But I have to say that honestly this has been the only class for my whole first two years of college that I have felt this way. I feel like 1/21 is a pretty good ratio. I like the teacher... I guess I should've known when I signed up for it. Oh well... I'm almost done anyways.

ok I should stop bugging you all with my complaining. On the flip side: it was oober sunny today :[] that makes me soooo happy. I also get to go to the cabin this weekend. What is better than S. Whidbey in May.

Ok. who can believe it is already May? NOT ME! I only have 5 more weeks until I granulate! So ridiculous... what to do what to do.

So today on Becca's blog i read that she's not allowed to wear flip-flops anymore. ok, that is so depressing. I think I would cry... although I hate my feet so it wouldn't matter as much for me.

Ok.

I LOVE you all and wish that I had more time to travel around and visit you. Call me sometime and I will try to hang out.

have a wonderful night!

Maren :)

p.s. soak in as much vitamin d as you can, like i've said before... I am soooooooo deficient.

Writer's block

So it has been one week since Austin left, again... weird. How many missionaries can you say that about? How many missionaries do you want to say that about? The house is kind of empty and boring and now I am dying. I've been coughing like a fiend, my mother gave up finally and bought me cough medicine. I slept pretty much all day yesterday. My mean family took pictures of me too. I look like a vampire, maybe one day I'll post one. But they are kind of bad. i really do look disgusting.

...

I think the title says it all, goodnight!

love Maren :)

from chippy

Dear Austin,

I know that you probably know that I prayed you home. And I even was able to extend your stay by 4 days, but I want you home! Nobody pays attention to me here. I know that Maren takes me with her to Seminary sometimes and in the car I totally get loved by Liz. I even get a walk at least once a day... but YOU are the only one that I love. I want YOU to take me home with you, but we have to take the chickens with us. Maren's bed is pretty warm although whenever she tries to get comfortable or stretch out her legs she kicks me. IT'S SO ANNOYING!

I heard that my...cousin is making him/herself known to the world. I sure hope that when he/she is born that I still get LOTS of attention. well, I'm hungry so now I'm gonna go sleep cause I already got fed. It will keep my mind off my stomach.

Love, Chip

CAN YOU BELIEVE?

This gorgeous weather is making me so happy. Here is what is it like in Bellingham:
Well who wants to be inside on a day like today? not me...
see you later! gonna go catch some vitamin D because I am deficient... as is everyone in Bellingham :)

Maren :)

We've found Chip a new hobby

Staring at the chickens. my computer is totally freaking out! So I need to turn it off.
I LOVE my biology class. I have to say that even though I am probably procrastinating on my projects... I LOVE doing the research. Today I was researching for my MRSA project and came across some really nasty pictures. All I can say is that I am SO glad that I don't have any skin problems anymore. Click here if you would like to see the nastiest picture that I found. I must warn you that IT IS DISGUSTING, so you have been warned... If you get nauseous at all, DO NOT LOOK! I am getting really excited to get into med school and help people get over these sicknesses. It's weird how much I love this stuff all of a sudden!

Anyways. I better go. My computer is sad and I have to sew.

goodnight!

Love Maren

p.s. DON'T GET MRSA, you will be sad! Believe me :)

News of the day is....

Can anyone take a guess?















No, Hans did not propose. That's weird. And, he's orange. I try to stay away from fake bakers....


"On Friday, I will be here! My mind is so fried I don't even know what to say, that's all I have to say." p.s. that's Chile in case anyone couldn't see that.
I drove up from school and Sophie comes running out of the house and tell me "Austin is leaving on Thursday!" I am very sad but, it needs to happen. My mother has long been wanting a mute button. She is sad, especially since he leaves and then I leave. It will just be Her and Dad and Sophie. She thinks it will be quiet but I don't think so. I must admit, it has been absolutely amazing to have him home. I will miss his constant commentary in my life and will miss how he can make me pretty much pee my pants talking about snakes and bones. But quite honestly, it's time for all of us to move on.

Well, Goodnight!

Maren :)

So now I get to say a little bit, I can't say that I have loved being at home, but I can say that I wouldn't go back and change my experience. There have been days when i banged my head against the wall and wished that it had never happened. I definetely had a few days when I asked why to the heavens and raised my fist in anger, but I know that it was all for a purpose that i will probably never fully comprehend. I can say that God lives and that I was able to renew friendships and develop some new ones while I have been home....I cannot deny that God's hand has been in this whole thing from the minute that my mission president called me on the phone in Santiago and told me I was going home. I guess if I had to really say anything about the whole thing it would be that you can be doing everything right and then you wake up one day and you're on fire........GI JOE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I get to go back, but it still boggles my mind that in a few days I will be wearing a plaque again and speaking spanish and walking through the streets of Santiago talking to people about the Gospel. I am returning to the same mission but it will not be the same, at least not everything.

P.S. Nobody want to know what to do wit de busrida!

My new Boyfriend. Well...

I've had him since Christmas, I just chose to tell you all about him now. Actually I just met him a couple days ago. Would you like to meet him?Meet Hans! The only bummer is:

He has weak ankles. And, he and Austin don't really get along:
And that is why:


Austin fed him to the dog.

Here, I'll actually let you meet him. Better yet, I will let him introduce himself:





That is all.

Maren :)

Happy Easter!

Today was a goooooood day. That is all.

Just kidding. I just need to say that the past couple of days have been...

fattening.
Not really. I just feel really fat right now because my Easter feast was extraordinary. I still haven't been able to finish the strawberry shortcake that my mother made. It is so good. I can't really tell you, you have to try it. My family was gone for a few days while they went to the cabin and fixed all of the plumbing. I must say, it was great. I know that I should be lonely, but it was great to do my homework when I wanted to and hang out with people when I wanted to. I know that not every quarter in school will be like this. In fact, NO quarter will ever be like this because I will have to be working and doing LOTS of homework. But it was great while it lasted.

Easter church was really good. The talks were AAAmazing. I am so impressed by all of the speakers. I see so much potential in the singles ward. The problem is that I don't think many of them see it. I don't know how to fix that, but I guess that is not necessarily my job. To top that off, all of these friends that I haven't seen in a LONG time showed up. I was ecstatic. You have no idea. I probably looked crazy by the look on my face. Oh man. I was sooo happy. Anyways. Now I am trying to digest my food from dinner so that I can finish my dessert.

I hope we all remember the real meaning of Easter. It is hard to forget sometimes. The Atonement is the whole reason we are living. It is the only way we will be able to return to our Heavenly Father. Without it we would be lost and unhappy and not able to feel the peace.

I love the Gospel, I know the Church is true.

Maren :)

p.s. on a lighter note, I got a water bottle for Easter, did anybody else get anything fun?

Hate is a strong word

But valid. I think we overuse it sometimes. So right now I am sitting on this wonderful pillow that Kristine MADE me take home :) with me and thinking about the ironies of life. I hate science. It has pretty much always bothered me or given me bad grades or I have not been able to grasp whatever it is. Yet I want to be a doctor.... I hope you see where this is going. Why would she want to be a doctor if science is so frustrating to her? Funny thing is, my science ACT scores were better than my math scores... by A LOT. And since the science portion is last I pretty much guessed on the last couple sections... SO. What does this have to do with irony. Probably nothing. I am taking biology as you all have seen but I have to admit I thought I would hate. I LOVE IT! I start geeking out about the dumbest things and just love it. Oh man... it's crazy. When did the switch turn on? the English class that I thought I would love? Hate it. Ok. Hate is a very strong word since it is only the second day but let's just say that the subject matter is different than I expected. But it will be eye opeing... hehe

I just wanted to inform you all that I have gotten another email notice of a 2nd assualt incident at the UW Seattle campus. Just wanted to calm anyone's fears about me going there. I'm sure I will be fine... I hope... I 'll just sleep with a knife under my pillow. That's assuming that I will have a place to put my pillow. :)

I have to apologize for this post sounding sarcastic and like I am unhappy. To clear that up, I am happy. I'm content. Yes there are storms coming, I guess we are in the middle of a storm, but I feel peace. This quarter is going to be good. Only 9 more weeks until I can leave SQHS and move on with my life. Only 10 more weeks until I graduate with my associates...assuming that I pass my classes, which I plan on doing.

So today I came home from school and the grocery store and went into the garage to do the chickens. In the morning I had filled the food dish thingy with food which, by the way, they were very excited to get to eat. When I came home, they had kicked the dish FULL of wood chip so that they couldn't get to the food. While I was cleaning out their stuipidity, one of the chickens decided to attempt his great escape. Luckily his wings weren't strong enough. Even though chickens are kind of stupid and the pecking doesn't hurt (yet) they are kind of fun to pick up. I can see why people like them. However, in observing Sophie with these beasties, I have come to realize that she is the 4-H girl and I am the city girl. I think I just look so awkward trying to make nice with chickens. Yeah, it doesn't really fit my style.

I should stop boring you all. I need to eat and do homework... yes!

Love you all

Maren :)

p.s. I am really sorry for boring you people. Sometimes I just feel like writing...I guess that's what a personal journal is for

so what's new?

Classes, that's what.

Mom is surly. Austin and I are irreverant. Sophie is reading Calvin and Hobbes. Dad is on the computer. Pretty much nothing has changed. Oh, the weather was beautiful. I sat on a blanket on the grass and read some homework.

I guess that's all. Oh, THIS is why I love my family:
Yes, that is a raccoon on my head...so what?

Home Sweet Home

I have always observed that vacations are wonderful. Most times you feel like you've been able to do everything that you wanted and/or didn't do anything that you didn't want to. That's how this vacation has been. Reentry is always painful but then I always observe that coming home is a wonderful thing. Back in my own bed. Using my own toilet, shower and car. I know these things are trivial and random but I do so love being home.

I have to admit though that getting myself out of Bellingham was a necessity. I experienced MUCH Booth humor and have lost at least 2 or 3 pounds from laughing so much. Sometimes you just need to roll around on da flo a little bit. By the way I came back a gangsta or should I say wangsta. Fo SHo!

Just kidding. Well actually Austin and I did come back different than when we started. I am apparently now a wangsta and he is Jamaican. Although I think anyone from Kingston might protest ;)

But really. I did spend a ridiculous amount of time on the floor this week. My WHOLE family cracks me up. I even got to wear a raccoon on my head. :) And I heard stories about my cousin catching, killing and skinning a skunk. He is 11. They went into the forest. By themselves. No parental supervision. I really LOVE them. The 14 year old looks 18 and is HUGE. He is a football player I think and is definitely going to be (if he isn't already) a Lady Killer. The 15 year old that looks like Kirstin Dunst always amazes me with her poise and beauty and always looks at least 3 years older than she is. I could go on all night about how my family is amazing and cracks me up. But I won't bore you anymore. I am so content and wouldn't want another family for the world. They are THE BEST (despite all of our craziness).

Chippy did pee when we came home, but we strategically called him outside when we came home so that he wouldn't pee all over us. That would be gross and we wanted to avoid that happening a second time.

I am happy to be home. I do not regret leaving. I do not regret anything that happened there. I am ready for spring quarter. My life is changing and I think that I will be ready for it when it does.

Signing off.

Maren :)

p.s. The Church is true. Pray about it and you'll know! As far as I've seen it's the only place that i have felt that assurance that my family will be together forever. And I KNOW that they will and all can be!

Conference...and happy week

So this week I was able to get my scholarship application in AND I finished my online BYU health class that I had to do to graduate from high school. Now, all I have to do to finish the first stage of my education is pass the last 15 credits that I have. YAAY!!! I am sooo excited. So this week has been very productive good. Today we were privileged to go to the first session of conference at the conference center. Even though I had to wake up really early to go, it was a really good session. I got to Bex! Yaay. I know that she wanted me to stay for a while but I have been VERY cranky and mean today so it was probably a good thing that I didn't stay. Anyways. Conference was really good. Although I definitely fell asleep for a good portion of second session :(

Well maybe tomorrow will be better.

Maren :)

p.s. that was literally 30 seconds ago so if you're curious about what I'm doing, thats all.

Black and Tan: A crime of Fashion

"I beg you pardon? My name is black, his name is Tan... I can't believe you just made that assumption. You should be ashamed of yourself and your family."

"you don't remember where you were this afternoon?"
"No, it was yellow and boring. just write down that it was lame. I do like that jacket, somewhere a transient is shivering in the night."

"I'd rather shower with a bear."

"Dude, you thought I was gonna have trouble fitting in. I have this shirt, this shirt, this shirt and these are my exact Kenneth Coles and that picture of my mom parasailing in Montego bay?! You moved me in here?"
"dude we got lucky, they just threw somebody out. Now, help me set up the clapper"

"Hey guys whats up?"
"Initiation that's what. Give me your best shot. bleh"

"did you accomplish anything last night besides selling me out for vacant head?"

"sweet, let's call the chief and get paid!"

"Wow, she's really planting one on him huh?"


I am so excited because in a few short hours, and maybe already, Becca and I will only be 1/2 an hour apart. :[]

well. Now someone else needs to computer. I LOVE PSYCH. It makes me happy. Sometimes I wish I could be like him. You know, conscienceless and able to lie and have fun. I'm a TERRIBLE lier. I guess thats a good thing.

goodnight.

maren :)

Cryfest

So guess what I did today...we cried, the whole family.

that's all I have for you.

I'm exhausted.

goodnight


Maren :)