My Weekend in Bullet Points

So! The last few days...

First, work-related:

- I watched an elderly couple race each other the other day. Like, ready-set-go status. They were probably about 80. He was running. She was driving a scooter.
- On my name tag, it says "Brigham Young University - Idaho" on the bottom so often times, people notice and comment on it. I have now developed this radar for these type of people. Some people read it, give me the once-over, and walk away. Some people look at it, ask where I'm from, say "Oh cool" and leave. And then all the others... they read it, they get this smug look on their face, they ask me where I go to school and I pretend to not know they already know, I tell them, and they say "Oh! We're from Utah!", they look at me and wait for the fellow-Mormon excitement, I become excited because it's my job and say "Awesome!", they expected more and they're like "Yeah!", then I smile and wait to see if they want to talk about General Conference or what new celebrity is taking the discussions, they never do, they walk away. It happens every time.
- I witnessed my first fight yesterday! We'll call the victims thing 1 and thing 2. So thing 1 comes back to its family with some food and they all get really excited. I spy thing 2 scamper slyly across the sidewalk and make its way over to thing 1 and family. Thing 2 goes in to try and steal the eggs. Thing 1 FREAKS out and screams/chases thing 2. Thing 2 retreats and tries to act like nothing happened. Thing 1 was a bird. Thing 2 was a squirrel.
- After fireworks one night, I was doing my job and sweeping all the trash around the pavilion. I was in an area that was rather shaded and hard to see so I continued to sweep things that had an abnormal shape to them. I came across this fist-sized object and didn't think twice but swept it into my pan. It was a little heavier and more dense than I had expected it to be, but oh well. I kept putting my pan up and down to sweep things into it. About 3 minutes later, I put my pan down and, to my surprise, a bull frog hopped right out. I hap swept and rattled a poor huge frog into my trash-filled pan. I stood there, watching it hop away with an incredulous look on my face for about two minutes straight. I am not used to my trash hopping out of my pan. That was a first.
- There is something else that I have kind of noticed my whole life but more-so in the last couple of weeks. After dark last night, I was walking back to the office to clock out and, like usual, I was walking in awe of the beauty of everything around me. Apparently, someone else noticed the same thing too. Let's call him Mr. Softy. So Mr. Softy had no idea I was watching him this whole time but he was walking and he rounded a corner and saw that huge golf-ball-like Epcot icon (it's actually a ride called spaceship earth). Let me tell you, at night it is breathtaking. It stands 180 feet above the ground (and 180 feet below ground to support it) and has beautiful bluish/purplish lights surrounding it against the dark, cloudy night sky. So Mr. Softy had his breath taken away by the sight of it. He pulls out his cell phone, goes to the camera, notices I am passing behind him, puts his phone down to pretend like he's texting, sees me pass by, lifts his phone again, and snaps a picture. I saw that, Mr. Softy.

Now, non-work-related:

- I got my first letter from Elder Chugg! I was shocked by how much he has grown already. My heart is so full and I couldn't be happier! Also concerning Elder Chugg, he has some medical concerns to make decisions on soon so it would be greatly appreciated to keep him in your prayers!
- I don't know if you knew this, but Florida is the lightning capital of the world. And they don't just say that to brag. It's a daily occurrence. Last night, it accompanied the fireworks show in Epcot perfectly.
- Speaking of fireworks, I spent an evening at Hollywood Studios this last week with a couple friends where (it poured the entire night and...) I got to see Fantasmic! I have seen it at Disneyland, but it has been a while and it is a little different here. So amazing! Also speaking of fireworks, the firework show at Epcot every night? Blows me away. I get chills every time. And I've seen it almost ten times now. It is so great! I just have a thing for colorful fire and the smell of sulfur...
- Today I got to go to Sacrament Meeting again! Yay! And the girls I get a ride with wanted to go early to choir practice. I have never sang in a church choir before but I figured it was more time that I could spend in the chapel, which is the closest place I have felt to being home while I have been here. So we get there and find out the song we're singing in Sacrament Meeting. It was the As Sisters In Zion/We'll Bring The World His Truth Medley. I was floored. Not only is this one of my favorite songs of all time and the soundtrack to some of the most spiritual moments I have ever had at EFY, but the last time I sang it was at stadium singing up at BYU-Idaho with Garrett and my roommates from the spring, all of whom I love and miss so dearly. So I was privileged to stand and sing this song in front of the entire congregation, including the Orlando Temple President and his wife. It was one of the most incredible moments I've had in my experience here. I've never been an avid singer, but have always enjoyed it. I have never before felt the true meaning to the words of a song and truly been able to sing it with everything that I am. It was my testimony and I was sharing it so freely and loudly. I felt the spirit with every single person in that room. It was an incredible feeling.
- So I'm doing pretty well! I love my job and have been talking with family of friends on the phone several times a day which really helps with everything. It lightens up my whole day to get a text or message or call from someone. I love it :) I still have my lonely moments where I see a plane flying away from the Orlando Airport and desperately wish I was on it. But that's natural! Thank you all for your love and support and friendship. It means the world to me! I love you! Have a beautiful Sunday!