Spring

"When spring came, even the false spring, there were no problems except where to be happiest."

-Ernest Hemingway-

Sometimes These Things Happen

Hello!

Sometimes your parents only invite their favorite children to Thanksgiving dinner. 

Sometimes it only takes two hours, four tree lots, and four opinions to get a Christmas tree!

Sometimes you want a new profile picture but then you can't use the one you take because it makes you look like you're engaged to your brother. 

Posting profile pictures that make you look like you're dating your siblings is against Rule #53 in the Pike Family Single Sibling Society (S.S.S.) Handbook, as it may be detrimental to dissolving said Society.

Sometimes you get to talk to Jonathan for a long time! 

(Side note: HE'S COMING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS SOOOOOON!!!!! :').

I feel like Fran (40:58). 

"We're to be together all Christmas long!" 

We'll play games, sing songs, dance around in circles, watch movies, eat chocolate, play in the snow, have good talks, laugh, and solve all of the world's problems.)

Sometimes you send Jono and Becca screenshots of the PandaCam, because pandas make life great.

#lightsaberpanda. Win.

Sometimes you have wonderful work-friends who get excited about snow with you.

Sometimes it's your favorite author's birthday tomorrow. 

Happy Birthday, Jack!

Sometimes, these things happen.

The Day We Died and Went to Heaven . . . and then some

Hello! 

We* finally did it!!!!!

We went to Pioneer Book!!!

Just look at those books! Aren't they beautiful!

If you're feeling a bit healthy and wealthy, you could buy this first edition copy of one of the greatest books ever written! 

I sufficed myself with these two gems: Draw to Learn Français! and Small is Still Beautiful: Economics as if Families Mattered. 

Books. Mmmm!

*We = Allison Barrett and me

Alli Barrett: A stellar individual.

stel·lar - ˈstelər

informal: exceptionally good; outstanding.

synonyms: marvelous, outstanding, superb, first-rate, out of this world, heavenly, dazzling

I have two more things to talk about.

1. So, I took this Buzzfeed which-Hogwarts-house-are-you-in quiz, and I got Hufflepuff.

I had a really hard time with this at first, but I learned to embrace it :).

But then, I took another quiz, and look what I got.

89% Gryffindor/89% Hufflepuff?

 What? 

I feel like Marty on Madagascar. "Alex, I don't know if I'm a black zebra with white stripes, or a white zebra with black stripes!"

I think I'll just take the best of both houses. It's like ice cream. I'll have a little bit of both :). #norealsortinghatprobs

2. Number two has two parts: 

(a) Graduating from college is hard. Period. 

(b) Jonathan (more affectionately known as Bumb) is the best.

We recently had a conversation that went something like this: 

Anna: Jonathan, can we just have an intellectually stimulating conversation!? I haven't had one for so long!

Jonathan: Sure Anna. Go get [insert C.S. Lewis book here], read it, and we'll discuss it.

Being born into a family of geniuses is the best. You get built in professors :). I'm glad I got to tag onto the back. #youngestchildperks

  

Well, I think that's all! Happy Friday tomorrow!

A Truly Grand Individual

Well friends, life’s been a bit meláncholy (#megamind). It’s great and exciting too, but we’ll get there another day. The reason for the current sadness is that my roommate, Rachel Connell the Grand, has moved out. Tears. Literally. I can only remember two other times (maybe three :)) that I’ve cried after I’ve stopped being roommates with someone, so that means she's kind of a big deal.

Anyways, let me just tell you a bit about the gem that is Rachel Connell.

 Here we are!

And, here’s a list of reasons I think she’s wonderful:

-She reminded me of the joy of reading before bed.

-Sea cucumbers. Yes.

-She eats popcorn with chopsticks.

-She does puzzles and art projects. :)

-Her family. They’re fantastic.

-She is a deep thinker with whom you can have conversations about things that really matter.

-Her painting of Paris that hung in our kitchen. <3

-She’s an excellent listener.

-She knows who she is and exudes confidence in a wonderful way.

-Her love of chairs.

-Anna: You know what, Rach, I think I’m just going to go to bed.

Rachel: I support that.

-She drove all the way to Delta, Utah to go trilobite hunting.

-Her flashlight, which doubles as a self-defense weapon, and her hammer

-Her EMT life-saving skills. Feel free to almost die anytime she’s around, she’ll probably be able to save you. Just don’t choose anything too complicated. :)

-She introduced me to this song:

 

 

-She’s a true friend that came along right when I needed her.

Rachel, thank you for enriching my life. 2 Corinthians 7:13 pretty well sums things up: 

Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of [Anna], because [her] spirit was refreshed by [you].   

Peaches, England, and Interstellar: A Conglomeration

Well hello, friends! It's been too long! These words are happy to see your faces. Beijos.

Here are some thoughts:

1. Peaches are really good.

Just look at those! Mmm.

2. Recent conversations with Mr. J have included the phrase “my flatmate and I were having a long conversation” and something about getting someone’s “details” (I’m pretty sure he was talking about their contact information.) #Britishbrother Isn’t it great! :)

3. Speaking of the motherland, I'm glad Emma isn't dating Harry.


4. Also, do you know who I love? C.S. Lewis. I'll probably name one of my sons after him. (But really.) I recently finished Mere Christianity (FINALLY!) and The Great Divorce! Mmm! I'm currently reading The Last Battle, and I really loved this sentence: "Anyway, one always feels better when one has made up one's mind." Amen.

5. The Sunday school lesson in Gospel Principles today was about the creation. When we talked about the water, Genesis 1:6-7 "And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. and God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so", I thought of Miller's planet on Interstellar. Maybe her planet was just still in the creation process :). Oh boy. Interstellar at church. No judging.

Well, I was going to go to ten, but I think I'll stop at five.

Happy Sabbath, everyone! 

Merry Christmas!

Silent night! Holy night!

All is calm, all is bright

Round yon virgin mother and Child.

Holy Infant, so tender and mild,

Sleep in heavenly peace;

Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night! Holy night!

Shepherds quake at the sight!

Glories stream from heaven afar;

Heav'nly hosts sing Alleluia!

Christ the Savior is born!

Christ the Savior is born!

Silent night! Holy night!

Son of God, love's pure light

Radiant beams from thy holy face,

With the dawn of redeeming grace,

Jesus, Lord, at thy birth;

Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

-Joseph Mohr-

I will be forever grateful to the holy Infant born on that sacred, silent night.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

-Isaiah 9:6-

Wisdom from Ralph

 "Rings and jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts. The only gift is a portion of thyself." 

-Ralph Waldo Emerson-