The other night I as lying awake and this little story came to me. I knew I had to write it down. It has very personal meaning to me--so I dedicate it to my best friend-who I was missing very much that night. love ya liss!

Leaves
by Rachel Byers


Once there was a small tree started to grow on a very large hill. As the tree grew two little leaves found themselves sharing a branch. Soon the leaves became the best of friends, sharing the wonders of the new world together.

On windy days, they danced together, letting the wind create music as it whistled past them. It was music unlike anything the world had heard before.

On sunny days, they stretched as wide as they could so that they joined together to create shade for the little boys and girls playing at their feet. On these days, people mistook them for being just one leaf.

On rainy days they sang and danced in the rain. At times when the rain seemed to beat down too much, they took turns protecting each other from the storm.

When fall arrived, they delighted in the beauty of the colors around them. One leaf turned a bright red. One a softer yellow. Each felt the other got the prettier color, but it was their beauty together that made the children stop and stare.

Winter came, and the leaves softly floated down to the ground for a long winters nap,

But winter doesn’t last. Soon the sun came out, and the leaves awoke to find themselves on the same tree—only now the tree was a little bigger and a little stronger. And so were the leaves.

Year after year the tree grew. Year after year the leaves Sang, danced, weathered storm and sun, changed colors, and fell to the ground, only to return in the spring.

One spring, however, something was different. As one of the leaves woke up, she realized she was all alone. She looked everywhere for her friend. But she was nowhere to be found.

That year, the wind blew a little harder, making a sad tune as it rushed by the leaf.

The sun seemed hotter than it ever had before.

The rain beat harder and more often then ever before, almost as if it was crying with the leaf. She missed her friend.

Fall came to the hill. The leaf looked around trying to appreciate the beauty of the colors around her. One by one leaves fell to the ground preparing for their winters nap. The leaf shivered in the crisp air. Until…

Something caught her eye.

On the other side of the hill a new small tree stretched toward the sky. On it was the most brilliant red leaf anyone had ever seen. It was surrounded by lots of little red leaves that seemed to be looking at it for guidance. The little yellow leaf smiled. She had found her friend.

A slight breeze picked up as the yellow leaf started to fall to the ground. In that breeze it seemed that the red leaf was waving to her old friend. The yellow leaf continued to fall, feeling happy again.

Now and Then

Tonight, as I wandered around facebook, and came across something that I think is pretty sweet, and that I think a few of my blog readers (yes I say that like I actually believe I have a following of people who wait with bated breath to read my blog) will appreciate as well. First off, let me give credit where credit is due. The pictures that follow were originally posted by my Uncle Chuck. I think he posted a treasure not to be overlooked.

Isn't it funny how time changes everything...and yet nothing at all?

Then...

Now...

Ahh...I love my family!

My new home!

Since I know you have all been dying to see my new apartment, and it looks lik no one is coming out here anytime soon to see it...I decided to post some pictures for you to see. In posting these, just keep in mind that the decorating is a work in progress. We are for sure going to need more pictures on the wall...and we still don't have a kitchen table...We just have to find one still! But all in all I love it and it is feeling like home! I didn't put pictures of the downstairs because there isn't really anything to show, just my roommates bedroom and another bathroom and a garage.

You can see that the kitchen is the smallest part of the apartment, but it is sufficent.

I really love my bedroom. It is open and roomy...and most importantly...my own room! I have had to share for so long I forgot what it was like to have a space all to my self. I love my bed--that I put together by my self--and my drsser was a great find! I also have a great bookshelf and desk, and tv/dvd player (thanks Meredith and Andrew for the desk and TV!)

The Living room is one of my favorite places! It really just makes it feel like home. We just added the bookcase (again I'd like to say I put it together!) and have a great collection of books started! We also origonally had 4 depictions of the Kirtland temple...however felt that might be a little over the top so we cut it down to three. Now when I walk into the living room, I look at the bookshelf and I am happy. There is just something about books that makes me feel at home!

I forgot to take pictures of my favorite part of the apartment--our deck with the nice GREEN view. So I will do that soon! hope you enjoy!

Bad Karma

I am just going to say...I have bad karma this week.

Exhibit A: On saturday, my nephew was having fun flying around an airplane in the living room. At least he was till his aim "missed" and he hit me in the face. He kept saying "It was a bad throw, it was a bad throw." I just felt like saying "it felt like a pretty good throw to me." I don't hold it against him--he really felt bad.

Exhibit B: Saturday night I go to turn on my computer. It starts booting up like normal. Until it hits a blue screen. "Dumping physicial memory, physical memory dumped. Contact system administrator." Not a good sign.

Exhibit C: This morning on my way out the door to head to work, I noticed something yello and while oozing down the side of my car. I look down. On the ground is what is left on an egg shell. Yeah....My car was egged last night. I have no idea who did it, and I have no idea why...I hope it was a mistake and that I haven't made anyone mad enough to egg my car. But I guess I'll never know.

WEll there you have it. Two or three wittnesses right? I have BAD karma. I think it is a hint that I just need to go back to bed and forget this stuff ever happened.

ahhh.....Spring....my long lost friend. Finally you have arrived in all your beautiful, warm glory.

?!

True Story

I have an exciting Job *cough* where I mostly sit in an office and set up appointments for costumers to get their houses sprayed for bugs. It may not be the most glamorous job, but I am ok with it, becuase I don't have to go out and deal with the bugs. However today, my boss thought it would be a good idea for me to go with the tech to get a feel for what he does. And it was. I now have a better idea of what I am selling people. But what is really interesting is the conversation I got in with the tech.

First, let me just point out that my boss is LDS, and this tech has worked with a lot of members, though he himself is Catholic. So we were riding along, and he started telling me about his girlfriend. Then he said, and I quote, "Not to sound stereotypical or anything, but shouldn't you be married. I mean you went to BYU-Idaho."

Yeah. nice.

That is BYU-Idaho. Its reputation is famous...and not just with members of the Church.

I am proud that I can say I did finish school. Not married.

Rachel's Randomness

Once you've been tagged, you write a post with 10 weird, random facts, habits or goals about yourself. At the end, choose 6 new victims to be tagged, list their names, and why you tagged them. Don't forget to leave them a comment saying ('You're It!') and to go read your blog. You cannot tag the person that tagged you so, let me know when you are done so that I can go read your blog answers. Here are my ten:



1. I am 25....yet am regularly mistaken for a teenager.



2. I have lived in seven different states (CO, UT, VA, ID, OH, NY, and currently MO) I don't have a favorite--I just like seeing new things, new places.



3. I am OCD about winning. I like to win. People don't often realize it at first sight, but I am very competitive--but mostly with my self. In school, I'd get mad if I didn't think I was getting a "good grade" which usually meant an A. If it was anything less I would wail that I was going to "fail." In sports, if my team is losing, I don't usually get mad at my teammates, but you can bet I am mad at myself. I am working on this one...



4. I am really quiet when you first meet me...then, people have a hard time shutting me up. So, I guess I just need time to warm up to you first. But once we are friends, Your stuck with me for life.



5. I love everything and anything related to books. reading, writing, editing, buying. yes, I love books.



6. Despite my stress level in school (see number three--you'll get the idea.) I really want to go back to school. I will probably go into something that has nothing to do with my bachelors. Like Graphic Design, or maybe counselling...(the last is just a random thought for those that are thinking "what the heck?")



7. I have always wanted a pretty big family--like six kids. But at the same time I think "Really? I don't think I can handle 1!" And having kids scares me to death. Crazy, I know.


8. When I was a baby, I was the perfect baby. I slept ALL the time, never cried, and easily entertained myself...That lasted till about the age of 11--then I made sure EVERYONE heard what I had to say.

9. Yes, I majored in English. No I have never read the Harry Potter series. I have watched all the movies thus far. I did not read them when they first became popular for the very reason that EVERYONE was reading them.

10. As you can see from 9. Sometimes I do things for the wrong reasons. I watched The Golden Compass because I was told at church that it was "from the devil" so I had to see why. Still don't see why. I read Twilight because my children's lit teacher said it was "inappropriate for teenagers," and that Edward was a stalker. (DON'T get mad at me, I'm not the one that said it!)

Well there you go. I don't tag anyone, if you want to do this, go ahead!