27 27 27

Lately I've been missing my very best friend so, so much.  Katie has been gone since August.  August! It's been way too long since I've last seen her face!  Even though we talk on the phone at least an hour every week, it's definitely not the same.  Holy cow, it's so weird with her gone!  I mean it when I say Katie is truly my other half.  She knows my whole life!  Every important moment in my life, Katie has been a part of, and I just miss my best friend always being right around the corner!

27 is my absolute favorite number, and it made my day when I realized there are only 27 days left until Katie comes home!  It seems like sooooo far away, but it's actually less than a month!  Woo! 

So... here are 27 pictures throughout the years of me and my bestie!  

I had too much fun looking through our old memories (and may have gotten a little teary-eyed), but it's only 27 short days until she's back in the 480!  So, Katie, the countdown starts  NOW!

It's always a good time...

...when Ally comes to town!  She was in town to do her mission papers (crazy!) and I'm so glad that she came!  I was going to have to wait until Christmas to see her... Way too long.  We went long boarding at Tempe Town Lake, got a pazookie from BJ's, played games with friends, and just caught up on each other's life.  Love me some quality A-Tay time.

 Oh, and Nate joined in on a little bit of bonding time!

 Fun times...  Next time I see her, she'll be opening her mission call!

Recent Happenings

Lately nothing big has happened that is blog-worthy.  But, lots of little stuff has happened, so here's a post for those!

Haley and I went to the lake a couple weeks ago with Tanner Goodman and Cameron Farnsworth.  The weather could not have been any more perfect for a day on the lake.  That's seriously one of my favorite things about Arizona- while it's freezing everywhere else, it's beautiful weather here.  The temperatures are starting to be in the low 90's, my ideal weather.

Nothing says a perfect day more than Fili's on the lake!

Getting all ready to wakeboard!

Yes, I can actually get up on a wakeboard.  It shouldn't be too surprising!

 So I've known I am a klutz for practically my whole life.  Seriously though, the past couple weeks have been bad! I have so many bruises and scratches, I don't even know where half of them came from!  About two weeks ago I was walking in the basement in the dark, and apparently I don't know my house as well as I thought I did!  I ran face-first into the TV and my leg of course jammed right into the corner of the entertainment center.  I literally didn't know what hit me when it happened.  I had to take a picture to document it!

See how far the TV moved? Yeah, my face did that all on its own.

The picture doesn't do it justice, but here's the bruise on my leg.  It's the size of a softball and really colorful. I'm not lying when I say that I'm known for my ugly bruises.

On Monday for FHE with our ward, we played kissing rugby.  Apparently, I take it very seriously... I found a huge burn on my arm from the cultural hall floor.

 Burn, baby, burn.

This right here is my stud of a little brother.  I went to the last swim meet of the season and watched Bennett easily take first place in his heat.  He makes me such a proud sister!

This week Haley has been watching two of the Mason kids, and while Haley was in an interview I watched Caroline.  I'm obsessed with her.  She's the cutest, most energetic little girl!

One minute she was laughing and playing and the next....

Totally zonked out.  So precious.  

It's the little things like this that make me really love life!

Big Changes

It's funny how in 3 seconds all of your plans for the next few years can change so dramatically.  General Conference is always such a great spiritual experience, and this past weekend was no difference, with a historic announcement made by President Monson.

Nick invited me to go up to Flagstaff with is family to watch conference at their cabin.  Fun people, beautiful weather, and a relaxing weekend... it was  a no-brainer.  We headed up Friday afternoon and were all settled in by Friday evening and ready for conference the next morning.  I forgot to set an alarm for the morning session, but I was woken up by my aunt Jen only a few minutes after it had started.  "News from Salt Lake!" she exclaimed as she burst into my room.  I sat up and rubbed my eyes as Jen sat down next to me and excitedly told me there had been a huge announcement made at the beginning of conference.  I honestly had no idea what it could be, I even thought maybe it was announced that now girls could hold the priesthood!  Jen then told me the big announcement: the minimum missionary age for boys has been changed to 18 years old, and 19 years old for girls.  I was in total disbelief.  This was great news for my friends, like Nick, who don't turn 19 for another 10 months!  And then it dawned on me.  I'm almost 19.  My mission papers can go in as fast as I can finish them!  Wow.  It's been all I can think about since hearing the news, and all of a sudden everyone wants to go on a mission... it's insane!  I know it's such a blessing to have the opportunity to serve the Lord, but I'm still trying to decide if it's the right decision for me.  Even though I can go on a mission now, I still have time to think about it and decide if I should go.  

I'm not sure yet if I want to serve a mission right now, but I still think it is so amazing that it's even an option.  Now it's not "If I'm 21 and not married, then maybe I'll go on a mission".  Since girls can serve a mission within a year of graduating high school, it can actually be a solid plan.  With this change, so many more sister missionaries will be out in the field and elders will be out much quicker.  It just goes to show how much the world needs the message that we have, because as Elder Holland said in his talk in April's General Conference, "It's getting late."

Homecoming Weekend

I'm so lucky to be home in Arizona so that I could go to all of the Toro Homecoming festivities, one of my favorite times of the year!  It was kinda sad not being involved in it on the Student Council side of things, but at the same time, so relieving to just enjoy what was going on instead of stressing about what could/has gone wrong.  

To kick off the homecoming traditions, Mom and I went to the Homecoming Assembly on Friday morning to support Carie who was in charge of it.  Since I was in charge of it 2 years ago (and by "in charge" I mean organizing pom/cheer/band/drumline/National Anthem performances, royalty games and interviews, and actually conducting the assembly in front of the entire school), I know how big of an accomplishment it is to successfully pull off an assembly at MVT.  Carie did such an awesome job!  Everything was timed perfectly and she didn't even seem nervous!  I remember when I was in charge, I was so terrified before the assembly, but once it got going it was so much fun!

Haley, Grandma Clark, and I after I conducted the HC Assembly 2 years ago

Me with the gorgeous Carie, who of course did a fabulous job!

I loved seeing Bennett and Clark at school!  Bennett actually sat by me at the assembly, but we could barely get Clark to stand by me long enough to get a picture!  After being back at this assembly, I concluded that I am so glad I am done with high school.  Don't get me wrong, it was fun while it lasted, but I'm glad it's over.

Later Friday night was the big Homecoming Football Game.  This was especially fun because not only does Clark get a lot of playing time, but he scored 2 touchdowns for the Toros, ultimately ending the game with a 57-7 victory over Westwood.  I love kicking some warrior trash.  After the game, the whole Clark Brown fan club met on the field to take some traditional pictures (although of not very good quality).

I love my #31!

It took more convincing than it should have to get this picture, but it was worth it!

The next day was the actual day of the dance and it was really weird that I could sleep in and not have to go to the MVT gym and decorate for several hours.  Actually, I didn't get to sleep in because I went to Celeste's and got my hair colored ombre (more blonde on the ends), but it was still weird not setting up!  My favorite part of all of the Homecoming festivities was going around to all the Clark cousins and seeing them before they left.  Sam, Hailey, and Carie all looked gorgeous!  I miss being able to get all dressed up for the dances, but it was nice being able to enjoy homecoming without all that stress of finding a modest dress, what jewelery/shoes to wear, etc.  

Clark and Caleb sending me off to my first Homecoming dance....

....and me and Haley sending Clark off to his first Homecoming dance!

Clark looked sharp in the shirt and tie Mom and I picked out for him and he had a great time at the dance!  Even though I didn't go to the actual dance, I still had a super fun homecoming weekend!