I know that this song isn't a hymn or even a church song at all, so technically it totally defeats the purpose of my "Sunday Songs" project- but it's okay though. This week I have especially noticed and recognized how greatly Heavenly Father has blessed me to be constantly surrounded by really, really, really amazing people who love & support me and believe in me even when I don't believe in myself. I'm surrounded by people who would drop everything to come and help me, are there for me when I need a hug or someone to talk to, and are always down for adventures even at three o' clock in the morning. I think that Heavenly Father is constantly aware of our needs and all the little details of our life and am eternally grateful for that and for the way that He has put these amazing people in my life's pathway.

This song has always been really special to me and I think that it perfectly exemplifies the power and influence of incredible friends.

I've heard it said

 that people come into our lives for a reason

bringing something we must learn and we are led

 to those who help us most to grow 

if we let them

and we help them in return 

Well, I don't know if I believe that's true

but I know I'm who I am today

because I knew you

Like a comet pulled from orbit

as it passes the sun

Like a stream that meets a boulder

halfway through the wood

Who can say if I've been changed for the better?

But because I knew you

I have changed for good

THANK YOU TO MY PEOPLE FOR BEING MY PEOPLE

Sorry that some of these photos are hard core throwbacks :)

Love your friends because they're pretty amazing.

Thank you to my constant support crew & cheering section.

You're seriously the greatest.

Love, Caitie

We Love to See the Temple

It's seriously like summer here in Logan. I didn't even wear a coat to church today! It's amazing. Allie, Abbey, Ashly, and I decided to go and take photos at the Logan temple of Abbey with her California flag as a practice for her actual mission photos that her aunt is taking of her in a few weeks. Sadly, the gates were closed and locked because the temple has been closed for a few weeks for cleaning.

Abbey reports to the Mexico MTC in 113 days
for her Spanish-Speaking mission in Anaheim, CA

my model+photo shoot assistants

I am so grateful for Abigail and the example that she is in my life. I absolutely adore her. Even when her "Circle of Life" alarm goes of at full volume every morning at 7am or when our room smells like the horse barn- I still love her. She makes me laugh so hard that I start crying and I will never not be impressed at her ability to throw down rap "Without Me" at any moment. Bless you Illene.

One of the talks from this past General Conference that I love is this one. It's from Elder Quentin L. Cook and he talks about being worthy to enter the temple all the time- in good times and in bad times. I absolutely love the temple and the Logan temple will always have a special place in my heart but not being able to go onto the temple grounds because of the gates being locked sucked. It reminded me about how not living worthy to enter the temple is just like having those gates locked around the temple. And that breaks my heart because I absolutely love the temple. I don't remember who told me this (it was probably like a Girl's Camp leader or something), but they told me that always living worthy to enter the temple would be one of the greatest blessings in my life. Because being locked out of the temple is awful and fun for nobody. 

my A team

WE LOVE TO SEE THE TEMPLE

"Life is not easy, nor was it meant to be. It is a time of testing and trial. Amid such trails, I promise you that living and maintaining temple-worthy lives will hold together all that really matters. The sweet blessings of peace, happiness, and joy, along with the blessings of eternal life and celestial glory with our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, will be realizes." -Elder Quentin L. Cook

Always live worthy of entering the temple.

Love, Caitie

SS: What Heaven Sees In You

This one is for Allie.

Allie has taught me a million and one things in just the few short months that I've known her and she is one of the greatest friends I have ever had. I am so, so, so grateful for her and the huge blessing she is to me and the way that she inspires me each and every day to become better. Allie is a spiritual giant and I love her for that. She showed me this song after Women's Conference back in October and this song will always remind me of her and her sweet spirit. Thank you Allie for being amazing and always being my cheerleader. I'll see you in the mission field homegirl. I love you so much.
Love, Caitie

Sisterhood Retreat

Mother Earth conquers all. Every time.

Even when your chapter has worked for months planning a super awesome Kappa Delta Sisterhood Retreat in Bear Lake. So it snows. Cool.

But don't worry! The chapter house will (almost) fit all 130 of us!

The weather Friday morning started out warm- it felt like spring! In fact, it felt so much like spring that Jackie & I missed CHEM 1110 because it was so nice outside. Oops. 

After classes were over, all the sisters showed up at the KD House around 5pm and at "Walking Tacos" (I've never had them before but they were brilliant, amazing, and delicious) then went down into the chapter room for games and etiquette lessons. Thanks to our etiquette lesson, I know where all the different types of wine glasses go and that the knife is supposed to defend the spoons from the forks.

fun fact: my pin number is #1980

things I learned about Wisconsin
today that I never would have learned
without Jackie: sometimes they eat raw hamburger meat
on tortilla chips and pretend it's okay and eating a solo
cup full of cheese with a spoon is acceptable too.

Jackie, Ashly, and I slept on the living room couch and then this morning we did more sisterhood activities before a major house clean up. I love Kappa Delta and am so grateful for all of the people led me to just in this short time span of a semester and a half. S/O to Jackie, my Big and Twin, Dinks, Daria, Lauren, Coach, and everyone really for being the bestest.

Love in AOT.

Love, 

Caitie the KD

Happy 16th Birthday Hannah Jane

#maxssisters

Today is Hannah Jane's sixteenth birthday. It's the first birthday I've ever missed of hers and it feels so weird not to be home tonight eating Sesame Chicken from Chinatown (oops it burned down) and chocolate cake with her. Having a sister is the greatest thing ever because you ALWAYS have a friend and that's something that I've really missed about being down here at Utah State. Even though I have some really awesome roomies and all my sisters in Kappa Delta are nothing short of some of the most amazing and inspiring people I've ever met, I really miss my Hannah Jane. 

I miss early morning drives in the cold and dark to seminary where we would shiver all the way into town because it took so long for Rosie's seat warmers to finally turn on. I miss passing her in the high school hallways with her crew of adorable freshman and stealing GoGo Squeezes from her locker. I miss the race to getting dressed first because we only had one clean flannel left to wear for Flannel Friday in our closet or the race to get shotgun in Mama Laura's car because no one wants to sit in the backseat anyways. I miss late night talks about remodeling our room and planning summertime adventures. I just miss having a person who knows everything about me but loves me and stays my #1 cheerleader anyways. 

Hannah Jane is a bundle of adventure-loving energy who never fails to make me laugh so hard I start crying, and maybe occasionally pee my pants a little bit. Hannah is smart and kind to everyone she meets and is sometimes shy when she has to tell the waiter her order at restaurants (like fried wontons at Bon Appe Thai). She is my all-time favorite swimmer on the JHHS Lady Bronc Swim Team and looks way good in a swim cap. Hannah Jane is brave because she's shaved her entire head multiple times in a row to raise money for St. Baldricks and children's cancer research. Hannah would make a killer DJ because her Spotify playlists are always fire and there's a new one about every week so stay connected people. She is my rock. Hannah Jane is wonderful and amazing and the greatest sister in the entire world. 

Hug your siblings so tight tonight because one day they will be two hundred miles away and that really sucks. 

Happy 16th birthday Hannah Jane, 

I love you with all my heart and soul.

Love, Caitie

Quick Stop in WyHOMEing

You know how sometimes you love Utah State University with all your heart & soul but sometimes you just miss your mountains and your people and cookies from Mama Laura so much that you just need to run home real quick? Because same. The search of finding a Subaru to replace Rosie is still on (RIP Rosie- you'll never truly be replaced homegirl) so Mama Laura and Hannah drove up to Logan Friday night to come and take me home for the weekend. 

On Saturday, my family and I went to watch the Jackson Hole High School basketball games and it was SO weird to be back in that gym because I hadn't been there since graduation. I spent a lot of my life in those high school gyms for dance team practice at the crack of dawn on Monday mornings, or being Coach Jenkins' teaching aide both my junior and senior year, or performing at all the home basketball game halftimes; it was just weird to be back there after all this time.

we will love basketball until the day we die
#wifeme #projectcupid

twinnie Blizzard dates as always

Mama Laura & Dad got a new mattress that's the bomb.com

One of my friends from forever ago, Marianne Galbraith, had her mission farewell at church on Sunday. She has been called to serve in the Nicaragua Managua North mission and leaves for the MTC on Wednesday! I am so excited for her and for all the people she is going to teach while she's there. Sister missionaries rock. Some other really cool things happened in my home ward on Sunday, but I'll tell you about them later on (yay for surprises).

On Valentines Day, Grace and I went for an adventure up to Slide Lake which was SO gorgeous. Wyoming is amazing. Except for Star Valley.

I don't know why, but I love taking photos of roads

Slide Lake 2/14/16

MERICA

 you ride those snow bikes boys

A few hours ago, my dad & Max dropped me off at Snow #208 and now I just need to survive the next eighteen days before we go to DISNEYLAND. I'm so excited and think about it all day, all the time. I've wanted to go to Disneyland ever since we left it's gates like a billion years ago. Also, Hannah Jane turns sixteen in two days so clear the roads up there Jackson Hole.

Love, Caitie