Called To Serve

Well, shoot... In case you were wondering, blogging is OBVIOUSLY NOT going to be my 2011 New Years Resolution. Because A) I would fail and B) I'm GOING ON A MISSION!

I opened my call on November 8th (After almost a month of waiting!)


(Kirsten and I both look so super freaked out!)

And I am going to...........



THE GEORGIA MACON MISSION!!!!!

Well, I know most of you guys already knew this but... I figured it was still blog worthy :)

I am so excited to be a missionary in Georgia! I will be reporting to the Missonary Training Center in Provo, UT on January 26th :)




ALSO...While I was waiting those endless days outside my empty mailbox, this song was a common occurance between me and my friends. It's pretty cute so I hope you enjoy!!!

Where you lead...I will follow.

In case you didn't know...I am obsessed with Gilmore Girls.

It is all because of this girl--->

My 2nd year of college was spent watching EVERY episode of the 7 seasons.

Sometimes I get sad that my life doesn't come with "La la...La la...laaaa ahhhh" music in the background.

Gilmore Girls ends up being my life in one way or another all the time. It's kind of awesome/depressing. I want to be Lorelai when I grow up (Minus the whole having a kid at 16 thing...) Gilmore Girls reminds me of Western (AKA The happiest time of my life) and the Vortex, and staying up on the magical couch of narcolepsy when I was sick or sad watching it all night long. I always sleep best with Gilmore Girls playing almost inaudibly in the background.

These guys are kind of my family--->


and laugh if you may, Brian Owen, but I am super connected to them. I just watched this and cried when Rory graduated from Chilton... I love their wittiness "Is it raining?" "No, it's National Baptism Day...Tie your tubes, idiot!" ..."He called me hot plates...he SO likes me"... "Amber BFF'd you!" "Well I feel truly blessed!" etc. etc.

So there is really no reason for this post... I just love it and have a freakish attachment to it. Oy with the poodles already!

The Story

"all of these lines across my face,

tell you the story of who I am,

so many stories of where I've been

and how I got to who I am..."

Today I had to write an autobiography for a school assignment.

This is my life. One page. 12 Font. Double Spaced.
My name is Emily Brooke and I was (accidentally) born in Montevideo, MN on March 7, 1988. I have lived in Wyoming my entire life and although I am not a “cowgirl” I feel that the Cowboy State’s culture, cuisine and climate have all had a role in shaping who I am today. I am tough and outspoken but my heart melts easily. I cry an awful lot! My passions are theatre, music performance and appreciation, service and children. I participated in almost every sport and activity imaginable as a child but excelled only in performing arts so that’s what I stuck with. I am learning how to cook and I love good food. I have great parents, an ambitious younger brother and a beautiful older sister who was “adopted” into our family growing up. I have a close bond with my aunts, uncles and cousins on both sides of the family, and I have wise, strong grandparents. My mom and sister are both teachers and I am no stranger to kids. For example, each summer since high school I have taught between 40 and 120 children at a 3 week long intensive theatre performance camp for children ages 8-18. I cannot describe the passion and energy that these students have, and their thirst for learning and adventure is contagious! I have not always been excited to be a teacher, but now I can’t wait. Following this semester, I will continue my education at UW in fall 2012. In the interim I will serve as a missionary for my church and I am so excited for all of the opportunities that are coming my way in the near future. I can’t wait to be a teacher, mother, wife and lifelong learner always!

'Cause Cold Nostalgia Chills Me To The Bone...

So, I was just listening to Owl City and it made me feel happy/sad...It reminded me of a time of the end of summer last year when my life was a little bit topsy turvy (and it wasn't just from riding the swings multiple times at the county fair). I feel that every summer around this time I feel a little "iffy"...I usually have a few weeks to slow down and re-assess my past 3 months and make new goals for the school year and adjust to people coming and going, while I seem to always stay pretty constant. So...I started this summer with a list of 87 new songs to discover, and a plethora of daily goals and a plan: to finish 2 books (just 2...haven't come even close to finishing either of them)... to lay out at the Econo Lodge as much as possible...to drink as much cherry limeade & diet coke as possible...to work out while watching One Tree Hill with Shallie as much as possible...and to make incredible memories during what I consider the last summer before "Growing Up". Looking back, I have only gotten to fall in love with about 1/2 of the songs so far, never once had the time to lay out or work out (seriously, I worked 18 hour days people!) but I drank enough Diet Coke to compensate for all of that! The one goal that I did meet was to make amazing memories!!! I had THE best little group of friends that I spent approximately 900 hours with this summer. I had 115 students who brightened my day for a month, and motivated me to work harder than ever before. I had good adventures with great people. I babysat. I spent quality time with my parents. I enjoyed learning new skills at a new job. And I've got the sketchy tye dyed t shirt to prove it :) Thanks, to all of you who were mentioned in this little note for being such an amazing part of my life! Here's some pics to recap the past couple months!!

Sometimes when you're shopping at the Rock Springs Mall...You get too tired to live anymore...Then this photo happens.

My Summer Besties watching fireworks on 4th of July...
I don't know what I would've done without my Shallie, Zack & Taylor Dawn!
A few of "The Telephone Hour" girls in "Bye Bye Birdie!



The 100 Ways Ballerinas...We kind of stole the show, no big deal :)

Super fun Opening Night Girls Night Sleepover that Taylor and I hosted for some of the high school girls! We were playing the Ugly, Uglier, Noise game WHILE doing the traditional feet in the bathtub soak (a Girls Night tradition!)


So the last moments before "Annie Jr." opens, Beau decides to add in Christmas decorations...Oh Beau! Which led to Tasha, Taylor and I making a huge dirty trashcan full of popcorn and stringing it until the wee hours of the morning :)


Just a few of our fabulous kids!!! LOVE them!

Once Upon A Time...

I was a horrible blogger. I'm somewhat certain nobody will even read this if there are no pictures...But I don't have access to any right now... Here's a little review of my life this summer (since April when I last posted...whoops!) And pictures will follow soon!


May:

• Crashed and burned at finals, I received one of every grade A, B, C, D, and I :) Haha. It takes talent to be as well rounded as me?
• Stayed in Laramie with no job for 2 weeks at the start of summer. Was a bum. Watched the touring cast of "In The Heights". Got a massage. Went to Grandma Thompson's 4+ times a week. Had a lot of fun helping my friends pack and move, and bonded with the Sisterhood (My 3 best girlfriends from Laramie!)
• Moved home on the 28 and got to watch Karissa and Sadie's senior recital, and then spent the weekend camping with the family

June:

• Got CRAZY sick while camping... After 4 days of DEATH and utter destruction, got tested for Mono and Strep Throat...Both came back negative. Illness remains a mystery.
• Kids show training for a week! Oh happiness! I love Summer Theatre for Youth more than most anything else.
• Sisterhood Trip (Rachel hates that I call it that!) to Salt Lake City. Temple Square festivities for 2 days, Hogle Zoo, Brazilian Dinner, Shopping at the Gateway, Garden Park Ward for church, and throwing Megan a bridal shower!
• Kids Show, Kids Show & more Kids Show!!! We had 115 kids in the program this summer! They performed 2 shows, "Annie Jr." for the little ones, and "Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr." for the older kids. They were absolutely phenomenal. More later with the pictures!
• Back to Utah for my best friend Megan's wedding. I was the maid of honor and had a ball helping the princess with her special day. Everything was perfect. Pictures soon!
• During the final week of the kids show I, on a whim, decided to be in "Bye Bye Birdie" AND got a full time job working for the Eye Institute in R.S. as a receptionist...All in the same day! Am I crazy? Maybe a little. From that point until this one life has been CRAZY busy, but fun. Bye Bye Birdie opened on Monday and it is going wonderful so far. Work is great too, it's a lot to take in all at once, but I feel like I am doing a good job and enjoying what I do.

PICTURES SOON!!!

Un Dia Sin Zapatos

Today 4/8/10 was an event sponsored by TOMS Shoes called, simply

"One Day Without Shoes"

I pledged to go barefoot for the entire day, and I did it! I was grateful for no snow in Laramie today, but I think I would've tried it anyway. I was a little nervous about what my experience would be, and I felt a little silly at first. I knew that it probably wouldn't be well known and publicized in Laramie, but it didn't matter. As the day went on, I stepped on a few rocks, dodged a few pieces of glass, and walked on some pretty cold concrete... But I was barely inconvenienced or discomforted.


Here are a few facts:

• In some developing nations, children must walk for miles to school, clean water and to seek medical help.
• Cuts and sores on feet can lead to serious infection.
• Often, children cannot attend school barefoot.
• In Ethiopia, approximately one million people are suffering from Podoconiosis, a debilitating and disfiguring disease caused by walking barefoot in volcanic soil.
• Podoconiosis is 100% preventable with basic foot hygiene and wearing shoes.

My situation walking on lovely paved roads, sidewalks, and nice soft grass on campus is nothing compared to the situation these people go through everyday. I am saving money to buy a pair of TOMS and do my part to give a child a pair of shoes! If you'd like to do the same please go to www.TOMS.com to learn more!

One Year Ago Today...

I "Asked a Mormon" :)

Six Months Later...












Six Months From Now :)

"Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass..."
-Alma 37:6