Beautiful Sunday!

On sundays I go to church and this sunday was the first one in a new ward. Erica had arranged for her Brooke to pick me up and that was really nice so that I did not have to come to church the first time alone. The ward is a singles ward and had the sacrament meeting first. It is wonderful to have the church and it is the same all over the world and I felt very much a home.

My favorite part of church yesterday was relief society. It was such a good spirit and I felt that even though I might be older than many of the girls there I still would fit in.

During the meetings they announced that there was going to be two firesides that evening but didnt really say what they were and on relief society they announced that one of them was with Sister Heidi Swinton! that is my mission mom! I dont know why I thought it but I though: Oh I wont go, she wont have time to talk to me anyways and Ive heard here speak so many times...(I am ashamed to say that I thought it) However when I came home and have dinner with the most awesome Austin's in the world they thought that I should go so I called Brooke again and asked if I could go with her. She and her sister Amber came to pick me up 10 minutes later.

I am so happy I went, the things sister Swinton said and the feelings and impressions I had were wonderful! When it was over I went up to the stand, Sister Swinton was speaking to someone but President Swinton (her husband, my mission president) was not talking to anyone so I tugged a little on his sleeve and he turned around and it took a few seconds before he realized it was me and then I got a big hug! we spoke about my internship and about upcoming mission events, then I introduced Brooke and Amber as my friends and he spoke very nice things about me, then sister Swinton was available and I got the biggest hug from her, we spoke about her talk, about my internship and just anything and she gave me a kiss on the cheek and told me to call her so we could have lunch. President and Sister Swinton are two of the most amazing people I know. I love them with all my heart and I am so grateful that I got to serve in their mission.

It doesn't end there, after I had talked to them I went over to talk to Sheri Dew, I was companions with her niece Megan and I needed her phone-number. So the fact that I went to the fireside made it possible to meet some people who have inspired me so much and made it possible to reconnect with friends that can make this american stay even better than it already is.

Now I have to run off..I am going to the movies with Kathy. Tomorrow the internship starts for real...I will let you know how it goes!

My Birthday!

Yesterday was my birthday I want to tell you how it was.

I still have this jet lag so I woke up really early but that was fine because I got to take a really long shower and get ready. We were going to the Ogden Temple in the morning so we went there and tried to find parking and when I got in I met girl who served a mission in Sweden, (Shurtleff) quite random that you go to a place where you think you don't know anyone but turns out you do. It was nice to be in the temple, a perfect birthday activity. Afterwards Kathy and her friend took me to lunch up in the mountains and I got complimentary chocolate cake because it was my birthday, I made sure they wouldn't sing to me.

afterwards we walked around in this huge gift shop which was very nice, I think my mom would like it, we will go there when she comes to visit. On the way home we decided for me to take a nap so I would fight of the jet lag, when I woke up we went to SLC and Kathy took me shopping at Forever 21, she got me really cute clothes that I can wear at the court and we also went to Journeys and I got two new pair of Converse... White and red:) its ridiculously cheap here!!

we met up with rick and went to eat mexican, very nice!! I am very proud to announce that I was awake until 11.30pm and slept all the way until 7.30 am this morning... I am getting there. On todays agenda is having pancakes for breakfast, take a walk, visit my aunt and uncle and go to provo for a Carl Bloch exhibit! I think it will be a good day!

I crossed the pond

So, I am now in the United States of America. I got here yesterday after a long plane ride. I flew from Landvetter Gothenburg at 7 am and landed 16 hours later in Salt Lake City Utah with a quick stop in Utah. As I was going through customs and passport control here in SLC I had to stand in line for almost 2 hours and when it was finally my turn they said something was wrong with my fingerprints so I had to come and sit in a room and wait for my entrance in the US to be ok:ed. By this time I was so tired I could cry but I didnt but held my head high and ut seemed like there really wasnt a problem at all..I guess someone else just needed to look at my papers...it was very weird I must say.

But now I am here, I went to bed early and woke up at 2 am and was wide awake, Ive never had a jet lag coming this way before but now I know what it feels like. Eventually I fell asleep again and woke up with a beautiful view of the snow-covered mountains and the sun shining through my windows- A great feeling.

On my first day in the US I went to the courthouse and met with the judge and his law clerks. I think this internship will be very rewarding and I am certain I will learn alot. The people I will work with seem really nice!!

After that meeting I went to lunch with my adopted family, the Austen's, at Cheescake factory. I was so full afterwards I vowed never to eat that much again because if I do my clothes wont fit me for very long.

After lunch we went to get some things that I stood in need of such as a new wallet that fits american dollars and a Calvin Klein bag... I also got a phone that I will try to activate when Im done here.. So that has been my first day, it is 6.30 pm here and I am about ready to go to bed.. but I will not..

I just want to say that life never really turns out the way we plan it but if we live in a way that allows us to be in tune with Gods will things will, most certain, turn out for the best. I think this will be a good spring.

Back on track

Dear faithful readers of my blog (all three),
Now it is about time to get serious with this thing. Its been a while, there has not been a lot to write about since I last updated here. the whole fall and winter so far was spent writing my bachelor thesis. I will not speak of it here because honestly, I am pretty sick of it. So, what now? Well, the plan is to do my internship at the District courthouse in SLC. I am waiting for an interview at the American embassy and when that is done I will be on my way, return to beautiful Sweden in June.

To be honest, I am freaking out a little. In a couple of months I have an education and should be all wise and adult but I don't really see myself in that role yet. Perhaps in a couple of months...I don't know...

So now you must wonder what do I do during the days when I don't have any school work?? well, I will enlighten you. I go out for a walk. I watch a lot of movies, I knitted a scarf, all on my own, I'm shopping, to be honest- the days seem to blend together, its pretty sad really and rather boring actually but at the same time it is very nice not to have school work to worry about.

I have big plans for this year. I will be in the states during the spring and beginning of the summer, then I will go to Russia in the fall and hopefully get to go to Israel not to far ahead in the future. In my absolute near future I will figure out what I can write in this blog to entertain you.
k.bye

My Father

Today is Fathers-day in Sweden so I thought I'd write down a few lines about mine.
When I tell people about my dad I always say that I am his favorite daughter. He has never said that and I don't think he ever will but I feel like his favorite in the way he treats me.
I love how when I have a problem and comes to him for council that he doesn't tell me what to do, but guides me in how to know what to do.
I love that even thought he sits in an important meeting he takes the time to leave it in order to give me a hug and help me with something that is important to me.
I love how he calls me when one of my brothers or sisters is not feeling ok, and asks me to call them, because i feel needed
I love our deep gospel discussions, I can always come to him when I have a question about the scriptures or service in the church.
I love how he always puts my mom first in the family.
I love how he puts the Lord first in his life.
I love the fact that if I am out one night he always makes sure I am home safely.
I love it when someone comes to pick me up to take me somewhere he tells the driver to drive safely because there is precious cargo.
I love how people come up to me and ask if I am my fathers daughter.
I love that I am his daughter. I am so grateful for everything he does for me, I could not have asked for a better father. Now you know.

dobodobido

It is kind of bitter-sweet, but now I have finished my final exam, I have lots more to do but none of it is an exam...ok...its mostly sweet, all I have left now is my dissertation and then internship...oh life is good sometimes...

Shout-out to Ewan, who faithfully follows the blog, this update was for you! so HERE is one of the best songs in the world...it will be played on my funeral...k.bye

hej.

Alrightie...So I know it has happened again...it has taken way too long since I updated my blog but there are legitimate reasons for it.
First of all, I have been to the US of A for three weeks... I mean I could write a whole novel on my experiences there, but I wont. I will just tell you that when you feel you should do something, DO IT. I felt I should go to the States with my very best friends and I did and we had such a great time, I got to know so many wonderful people and got to deepen my friendship to more wonderful people. I learned things about myself and I made decisions that I hope can bless my life.
One of those decisions is to go back... I have been offered an internship with Federal Judge Benson and I am now in the process of my visa application..so the plan is 5 months in the States in the Spring...yeah.. that takes a lot of my thinking energy.
secondly, when you have been away from school for three weeks it is a lot of work when you get back. that is the case with me, but I know I can handle it. I am actually suppose to write on my home-exam now, but everyone needs a break, or two....or three... whatever...
thirdly...I can't think of a third reason for me not writing here...so let me instead write:
Life is wonderful! seriously, I have so much to be grateful for. I am grateful I have so much to do because it means that I can get an education, I have many friends, I have opportunities to go places. I am grateful I get distracted from writing my exam because it means I have many fun things to do. I am grateful I can get up at 6 in the morning because it means I have something to get up to. I am grateful for my phone bill, it means I have many friends I talk to. I am grateful I gained a little bit of weight in the states, it means I ate alot of good food....(ok maybe Im not grateful for the weight-gain but I am grateful for the food) I am grateful I am loosing that weight now that I am home, it means that I have a healthy body that gets rid of the extra fat when I exercise. I am grateful for my heavy bag, because it means I have books to read.
Most of all, I am grateful that I know that this life is a testing time, that I know who I am, and my destiny. That helps me know what is really important in life and helps me to prioritize that.
lovelovelovelove
k.bye.