When school's out...

I LOVE SUMMER.  I always have.  I love being warm, I love that it is light until 9:30pm, I love summer hikes and camping trips and road trips, and I love how Provo comes alive after the winter. One great thing about this summer is that, being a teacher, I have the summer off! Well, sort of.  I still work a little here and there but I have about two and a half months to choose how I spend each day.

This summer kicked off with an adventurous trip to Europe.  Spain, Switzerland, Austria, and England were beautiful and different.  I love seeing new places and getting out of my own little world.  Experiencing different cultures and ways of living are fun for me (not to say that I wasn't so excited to sleep in my own bed, eat food from my fridge again, and have a routine).  Travel is fun for a time...and then it's good to be home :)

Here are some of my favorite photos from the trip.

Rhonda, Spain.  So beautiful huh!

Talented people performing in the streets of Barcelona.

Touring Barcelona with my travel buddies

Pastries...gelato...patries...gelato...repeat.

Hallstatt, Austra - one of the coolest places I have been.  Clear water, swans, mountains, old churches, quaint homes. 

Flowers in Vienna

Welcome? Me? Well, thanks!!

You see old people riding bikes around town and hiking! They are quite in shape.  I am proud of this man we found on one of our hikes.  And look at that view!

Those sheep are some of the luckiest I know..

It was really nice to travel, and it was really nice to come home again.  I am grateful for this beautiful world.  Driving in to Provo from the airport I looked at our mountains and still thought they were majestic, even coming from Switzerland.  There really is beauty everywhere, and I hope to always see it wherever I go.

<3 Lex

Year in Review...as in Last Year

Hello!

It's late....for me, meaning it's 8:40pm on a Friday night after a full week and I can't keep my eyes open.  Haha.  This is me trying to stay up until at least 9 - almost there :) As I have relaxed tonight, I have invested my time organizing my photos from this last year and putting together playlists for my drives home from work.  As I have gathered photos, I have fully enjoyed looking through them and reflecting on memories.  It has been a great year...as in last year.  A lot of new things - a lot of new friendships, responsibilities, and learning opportunities.  And this new year has gotten off to a great start.  My intent is to simply post some pictures from the last year, but I also want to share what I have learned:
- Never let fears guide your choices
- God wants what it best for me
- Relax.  It's good for you
- Life is supposed to challenge us
- Relationships are more important than anything else
- Seeking advice, though intimidating and scary sometimes, can be exactly what you need
- Practice makes better
- Try to be good, and everything will work out
- Early to bed and early to rise hopefully makes a woman healthy, wealthy, and wise :)
- We are not perfect, and that is why we have Christ.  He enables us to do things we cannot do without Him.

I'm grateful for the gospel that guides my choices, my feelings, and my thoughts.  I am a better person because of Christ.

Family time at Thanksgiving - always wonderful

Sometimes we look good.

April 3rd 2015 - special temple day at Draper where I received my endowments the same day two years prior

Hawaii 2015 - :)

Back at BYU and back taking pictures on my walks to and from school because it is just. so. pretty. always.

My bro.  Love him and missing him miles away (living in Europe nowadays)

Some of the Hixson girls. 

Summer drives=Happy drives

More beach time

Some people you meet and you instantly love.  This girl is one of those people.  Love you Hermana Daniela <3

True contemplation..?

Learning pattern-making! So grateful I could finish up my BYU classes with this one!

Finally tried Chick-fil-A

Epic Hawaii picture

Spent a weekend with this my neices and nephew.  I enjoyed playing mom for a couple days and curled Bella's hair for church.

Roomed with some incredible girls and formed lasting friendships.  

Little mohawk going on.  Clara, my youngest neice.

Fun with friends!

Mission companions reuniting after much too long!

"Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured." Gordon B. Hinckley
<3 Lex