life's good.

Welcome to the post in which I talk about how good my life is. Yep. That's all I'm about to do so if you're hatin' on happiness right now, well...then...go watch The Fox and the Hound and just cry. Because that's all you can really do in that movie. Or you can stay here and revel in my life. Your choice is obvious, so just make sure to pop some popcorn and take a tissue box because when the words "when you're the best of friends" start being sung, you're going to need them.

Anyway. My life is great because I just ate two brown sugar cinnamon poptarts, which I got for free and are by far the best flavor of poptarts. I also woke up an hour late this morning but still managed to get a shower in and make it to class on time. that's right family. up, showered, and out in under 30 minutes. Plus I'm wearing poofy sleeves that I like to think make my muscles look "swoll." swole? swoul? i'm obviously not a man who goes to the gym. so...good news there! I ran into friends on campus, a cute boy said hi to me twice on separate occasions ok ok ok. i totally sat in the exact same spot where he walks but i mean that's alright and my phone battery lasted all day. I also got the most hilarious text from my little sister that totes made me lol right in the middle of my professor's long winded, jargon filled, intellectual rant about the weaknesses in the Progressivism ideas of reaching a perfect future and blah blah blah.

As a background, my sister is taking the same AP Literature course I took in high school from the same teacher I had. And I quoteth,

"Today in English Thackeray was asking all these questions about Our Mutual Friend and what the symbolism was for a character. I was the only one who knew all the answers every time because you had written them in book. I felt like Harry Potter using the Half Blood Prince's potion book."

I will grow up to be Professor Snape. Which is just one more reason to love my life.

oh hey sister. nice job on that jump.

love me some east millcreek.

peace and new socks
i submit that putting those on is one of the greatest feelings in the world
which, surprise surprise, was also part of my day today

rrw

happy thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving, and even though I'm not eating turkey or counting how many rolls my brother has had or sitting in a cabin with the rest of my family talking about the boys in my life, my dad's ongoing battle with the Christmas lights, and whether or not the nearby trail would be good for my mom's pony and cart, I am grateful. Yes, I wish I could be there to see my nephew's new jeans or tease Caroline about the next high school dance. But the great thing about being grateful is that I can feel this way no matter where I am. And I don't know what it is about this place, but I don't think I've ever been more grateful in my life.

............

I'm grateful for my family. I'm grateful for technology that allows me to talk with them from across the world. I'm grateful for our memories and jokes. I'm grateful for their support and encouragement for me coming to Ukraine. I'm grateful for my friends. I'm grateful for the little red square on facebook that tells me when I have a new message from one of them. I'm grateful that I miss my people back in America. I'm grateful that I love my Ukrainian people. I'm grateful that I get to be in Ukraine. I'm grateful for when a student says something in English perfectly and their parents hear it and are so happy. I'm grateful when that something is "I love Ms. Waychel."

I'm grateful for the places I've seen and the people I've met from around the world. I'm grateful for my camera and the memories I've been able to document with it. I'm grateful for adventures. I'm grateful for safety. I'm grateful that water is free in America. I'm grateful for complimentary peanuts on flights. I'm grateful for public transportation. I'm grateful that I don't have to use public transportation in America.

I'm grateful for shaving gel and my hairbrush. I'm grateful for my sandals and my warm boots. I'm grateful that I can read. I'm grateful for chocolate and pears, but not together. I'm grateful for emails. I'm grateful for pie and real whipped cream. I'm grateful for the fake whipped cream too.

I'm grateful that I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I'm grateful that even though I'm in Ukraine, I can still go to church. I'm grateful for the temple. I'm grateful for missionary work and for missionaries. I'm grateful for my ancestors and everything they went through so I can be here. I'm grateful that I am here. I'm grateful for my body and for my health.

I'm grateful for my Savior. I'm grateful for the many times I have felt His love surrounding me. I'm grateful for prayer. I'm grateful for the protection prayer has given me. I'm grateful that I can change. I'm grateful for a Plan that allows me to be with my family forever. Because I'm so grateful for my family.

.........

The thing is, once you start, you can't stop. 

So basically, gratitude is like eating a can of Pringles.
which i'm also grateful for.

peace and mashed potatoes

rrw

chill out rach

i left my apartment in a huff this evening.

yep. a huff. like, "i'll huff and i'll puff and i'll go all cray cray on all you all."

it wasn't pretty. here's why.

i was stressed. i felt like everything that had to be done was my responsibility and i didn't want to have that responsibility. i didn't want to be on hold, listening to that worse-than-elevator-music music, with the people who are supposed to be fixing our internet but seem to know about the same as me as to how to do it. 

nothing. 

they seem to know nothing.

and then i was frustrated with myself for getting so frustrated and then our couches look like a carpet bag that's been run over by a cattle truck and then i realized i had homework to do and then i was frustrated that i had to go back to campus to do it because my internet was broken and then it was raining and my hair was huge and then there wasn't a letter for me but only a utilities bill and then i was frustrated for eating so many cookies and frustrated that i couldn't eat any more cookies.

so i left in a huff with a "sorry i'm crazy, i'll be better tonight," thrown out to my roommates.

and i came here. and i didn't want to read.

so i looked at pictures from when i wasn't frustrated.

and i listened to music that makes me calm.

*jonsi *blind pilot *coldplay

but not gotye because that makes me stressed.

and now i feel a little more relaxed. and i'll get my reading done and then go home and sleep.

for now, here are some pictures from when i wasn't stressed.

things to be grateful for today:

*i woke up early enough to get to work on time even though i had turned my alarm clock off in my sleep

*a professor gave us root beer floats at work

*EMAIL FROM MY FAVORITE PERSON (holla atcha russia)(praying for you)(miss you)

*getting invited to an elite texting group

*got 100 on a surprise quiz in class

*sandals

*compliment on my outfit (surprising because i got dressed in the dark today. for reals)

*sandwiches for lunch and for dinner (i love a good sammich)

*umbrellas

*compliment from stranger on my hair (even more surprising than the outfit one. see above)

*talking to my brother, even for a little bit (see his crazy cool blog here)

*the fact that i just found the leftover ice cream from the root beer floats...

a list of things that make my life better

• Spotify
• snail mail and emails from around the world
• Coldplay. Always Coldplay
• Downton Abbey
• coworkers
• BYU track invitationals (let's go Caroline!)
• sister and brother-in-law living up the street
• roommates that make me smile in the morning (a difficult thing to do)
• excellent hiking weather
• a cute blue dress from Banana Republic
• bike trails
• new biking shorts from my dad. he is the coolest.
• a clean kitchen
• cute color on my nails
• vacations
• We're going here, here, here, here, here, and I must go back here to do this hike and this hike
• making money
• no homework
• meeting new people
• the arrival of a special gift I bought for myself. That's fun to do sometimes

FDA approved

Sometimes life is hard. Sometimes things happen unexpectedly. Sometimes finals are in a week and a half and you can't remember anything from the beginning of the semester.

But that's only sometimes. 

The reality of it is that there are always wonderful and hilarious friends/coworkers/bosses.

There is always a supportive, loving, understanding and funny family.

The sun is always shining, especially during this wonderful time of year.

I am always learning new things. Whether it be from class, experience, or wisdom of others.

My body is always hurting, in a satisfying way, because I am training for awesome events (1) (2) (3). 

There are always emails and letters coming to me from around the world.

I always have the opportunity to make a little money at a good job.

There are always chance run ins on campus.

There are also always planned run ins on campus. 

General Conference is always in April.

Sometimes you have to learn things and sometimes learning hurts your brain. But the good news is that there is always Ibuprofen in the form tender mercies. 

Now, that's a drug I approve of. 

Well that made me smile...

Earlier this evening I made the weekly trip to the grocery store. Personally, grocery shopping is one of my least favorite things to do, but as I have begun to cultivate my domestic skills while experimenting in the kitchen (no disasters thus far) it has become less gruesome. It helped today that I had a catchy song stuck in my head and that I had just spent the last 2 hours outside enjoying the nice weather.

The clerk at the checkout was nice as was the bagger. It just seemed like everyone was happy and it was making me happier. I didn't think much of my happy mood, just accepted it for what it was. As I began to load my groceries into the back of my car, something that's never happened to me before happened. Just as I went for the next bag of groceries, two hands appeared and took it before I could reach it. A little bit worried about the safety of my chicken, I looked up into the face of a very handsome stranger. I just kind of stood there as he continued to load the rest of my groceries into the back of my car. I was astounded. This type of thing doesn't happen to me. It's never happened to me. I finally got over my shock and found my words, thanking him for his help. He smiled and responded with a simple, "You're more than welcome," and proceeded to take my cart and return it for me.

After standing there for a few moments, I finally got into my car and drove away, kicking myself for not being more charming and social. Heck, I didn't even introduce myself to him! As sad as that is, I couldn't help but smile all the way home from the store.

Dear Handsome Stranger,
My name is Rachel. I'm sorry for not being able to talk while you helped me with my groceries. I was so astonished at what was happening. Thank you for restoring some of my hope in your gender. Feel free to call me.
Sincerely,
That awkward girl you just helped

P.S. Do you always go to Macey's on Thursday nights?