"Jeanelle Loves History"

Jeanie: "Good ol' Abraham Lincoln."

Me: "...Thomas Jefferson?"

Jeanie: "Same difference."

Jeanie: "Didn't we bomb Pearl Harbor? And isn't it in Japan?"

Jeanie: "How did they get there? I thought Egypt was in South America...?"

Jeanie: "Didn't George Washington give the Gettysburg Address from a canoe?"

Jeanie: "Russia is the big one at the top of the earth. So, Russia and the North Pole are the same thing, right?"

Jeanie: {After talking about Alexander the Great} But then Brutus just up and killed him!

This is a test of YOUR history knowledge. Can you tell what's wrong with each one?

Oh, how I love best friends. They keep you alive when life gets dull. :)

{Photos are public domain.}

"ACCEPTED!"

{Photo via Tomo}

"I will write peace on your wings and you will fly all over the world."

-Sadako Sasaki

Packin' my bags--I'm off to Tokyo in January!

I opened my e-mail this morning, and what did I see?

"...we believe that you will be an ideal representative..."
"...great pleasure in offering you a position..."

I have been accepted as an Assistant Language Teacher of Interac.
OH. MY. GOLLY.

I cannot begin to describe the adrenaline rushing through me right now.

*barely-concealed squeak*

I'll be gone from the beginning of January until the end of March, unless my second application is accepted, in which case I'll stay until the middle of December.

Can you believe it?! I'm still trying to recover from the shock!

I'm going to Japan!!!

"Pumpkinland + Carving"

"At first cock-crow the ghosts must go, back to their quiet graves below."

-Theodosia Garrison

This is Halloween.

Everybody scream!

{Just kidding... but can you believe it's almost here?!}

On this holiday-spirited adventure, mates + I tra-la-la'd our way through Pumpkinland's cornmaze, crawled through rabbit holes & befriended the farm animals.

We also ate Sonic ice cream. It was to die for.

{*ku fu-fuuuu*} <--Japanese cackle.

Rob, Kevin, Kristen & friends all participated. It was uber lover-ly.

Can't wait for ghost tours with the McCabes on the big day itself!

{Music credit: "End Credits" by Bruno Coulais/The Children's Choir of Nice & "Sweet Dreams" by Beyonce}

"The Meadow (The Canal)"

"It's twilight." -Edward Cullen (Twilight)

Is purchasing an entire album for only one song something insane people do?

'Cuz if so, I'm certifiable.

Alexandre Desplat's "New Moon (The Meadow)" piano solo is so hauntingly beautiful, I felt compelled to respond to it in someway. {I chose film.}

Remember my "Walk in Spring Rain" post?

This is shot in the same location, with the same dog, same girl, different camera.

Even if Twilight isn't your cup o' tea, I hope this song provokes something inside you.

...Something good, of course. :)

{Music credit given above. Quote credit to Edward Cullen (Stephenie Meyer).}

Ready for some drama? You may push play now.

"Never Saw Blue"

"And no one else has ever shown me how to see the world the way I see it now. Oh, I never saw blue like that before." -Hayley Westenra (Never Saw Blue)

You know how your heart putters sometimes?

It's like somebody just reached their hand inside and gave a good squeeze.

Well, for me, this one was unwelcome.

I'm very grateful for those who love me, and even for those who don't.

I do hope I get to keep them. ♥

Apologies for the cryptic note . . .

We all have our down days I suppose.

"Sisters"

"I've been thinking, Hobbes--"

"On a weekend?"

"Well, it wasn't on purpose..." -Calvin & Hobbes

May your weekend be celebrated with the ones you love.

{And lots of cookies, too.}

It's time to party.

"Darcy's Wedding"

"Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue."

-Old English Rhyme

My childhood friend is married!

About 2 weeks or so before the big day, I got a phone call from the bride herself. She asked me if I'd like to be one of her bridesmaids {heck yes, I would!}.

And then, come the wedding day . . .

. . . I went to the wrong temple and was late for the pictures. {Rats!}

The Whitmers have known me since before I could count, so they were pretty forgiving. {They only teased me in healthy doses.} :)

In between the wedding and the reception, the other bridesmaids and I relaxed in the family's backyard. {In this video, you only see two of us, but there was one more.}

I was more than happy to help this beautiful gal celebrate her special day.

Congrats, hun. :)

"Pumpkin Date Night"

{Music: "Just a Phase" by Hana Pestle}

"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words." -Anonymous

The Bishopric came up with a fantastic idea: Bishopric Date Night.

Once a month, they'll hold an activity where you can only come if you have a date.

{Puts a little presh-yah on dem boyz, no?}

This month's date night was a pumpkin carving contest.

And guess who won?

Yep--we did! "Broom"-hilda got 9 beads (that's how we voted) and beat the rest!

*witchy cackle*

It was Matt's idea to use the carved-out mouth for a nose.

I think that's why we won... it was just so darn funny-lookin'.

"Deseret International Concert"

"We give hope when there is none." -Deseret International

Working at BYU Broadcasting certainly has its benefits.

While searching for community calendar events, I happened upon this concert.

When I found out the tickets were free, I quickly ordered 4 in hopes of taking friends.

...And I did take friends. :)

{Thanks so much for coming, guys! So sorry, Jeanie, you couldn't make it this time!}

The absolute highlight of this night {for me} was shaking a general authority's hand.

*squeaky scream*

Weeks prior, I had complained to my boss about never meeting an apostle before.

Now I have no complaint.

{But I can't die happy yet... not until Bryn comes home!}

Jenny Oaks Baker and Daniel Beck blessed us with jaw-dropping performances. There are so many talented people in this world, and my love for those people grows whenever they volunteer their gifts for good causes.

Happy birthday, Deseret International!

"Guitar Boys"

"You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them."

-Desmond Tutu

Sundays are music days in the house of Harmon.

Actually, every day is a music day. :) We be musical folk.

I love listening to and performing with Ali (Alec) and Pere (my father).

They are so talented.

I am so grateful for the gifts God gives us that help us reach out and touch one another.

These boys are beautifully gifted.

"Thank Heaven for Friends"

"...when thou art come into the hand of thy friend... go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend." -Proverbs 6:3

If it weren't for friends, I'd be stuck reading textbooks on Fridays.

{Oh, I mean... ahem.}

No, my grades are fine, promise.

...For now.

{tee hee}

{Music: "Living in a Bubble" by Eiffel 65}

Matt and Logan came over to play yesterday, and we had quite a rambunctious time.

And this morning, I was able to share couch cushions with even more wonderful people.

We ate delicious pancakes and watched General Conference together.

It was incredible. ♥