A Story of Coversion Part Two-The Wedding

Remember my friend Daniela from this post? Well, last summer she got engaged to the love of her life! I am thrilled that I was able to be a part of her special weekend. I flew out to Dallas the day after Christmas and from the moment I landed it was go time. I stayed at Daniela's house with her and her family. He mother is such a sweet and generous woman. I can see where Daniela gets her kindness from. I was given a warm welcome and practically pampered the rest of the weekend.

 After we had lunch, we headed to the Dallas Temple where Daniela went through for the first time. I heard a quote once that I'm going to paraphrase. It was something like, true conversion happens not at baptism but when the individual goes through the temple for the first time. I am so lucky that I got to witness Daniela's full conversion into the church. The picture above is of everyone who was there.

 The next day was the sealing. These two kids were meant for each other.

 Awe.

 The bride's parents were so proud.

 It was such a beautiful day in Dallas for a wedding.

 The grooms family.

 The grooms parents. I really enjoyed getting to know Blake's (groom) mother. Such a sweet lady.

 Groom and brides parents.

 Two families became one.

 The whole grooms family.

 The whole bride's family.

 I was so impressed with Daniela's grandmother. She is one awesome lady. On the morning of the wedding, she got up and went to a hot yoga class! Last year, she did this monstrous walk through Spain called the Camino which is like 500 miles long! On the morning that I left I said good-bye to her. She only speaks Spanish and I could only understand a little but during out good-bye I could tell she was expressing gratitude and love in the things that she said.

The boys, being boys.

The reception.

 Mmmmm. Red velvet wedding cake.

 There reception was at the Palace Arts Center next to the Palace Arts Theater. Inside, Elvis was strumming his guitar.

 This is the theater.

 Oh man. Main Street was so CUTE! It had such a small town feel with great old buildings and lots of Christmas decorations up. I was told more than once that it is the Christmas Capitol of Texas.

 I don't what this building is. It was across the street from the venue. Too cute.

 Water pumping windmill on Main Street.

Susan "hunka hunka burning love" B.

Friends For Life

I made a lot of friends while living in London, but there are only a few that I know I will be friends with for years to come. Two of those friends are Helen and Tim. I first met Helen on my first day in the Hyde Park Ward (least favorite ward ever). She asked if she could sit next to me and we have been friends since that day. She and Tim are from New Zealand and Australia respectively. They moved to London to find work and experience living in another country. Helen and I became friends at a crucial time in my life. I had been struggling with my beliefs and I was having trouble fitting in at church. If Helen hadn't been there in my ward, I'm afraid I would have stopped going altogether. I am really lucky to know both of them. They opened up their home to me, invited me for dinner, sat with me at church and taught me about their lives. 

I loved hanging out with Helen one on one, but I really liked being around the two of them together. They have such an honest and healthy relationship as far as I could tell. You can tell that they respect each other and are very much in love, but not in an over-the-top annoying way. What I liked the most was the expression on Tim's face when he looked at Helen. It seem to reveal what his heart was feeling. I could just see that he knew he had found the one and only girl that would make him happy. And she did. Every time I saw that I would think, I hope I find a man that looks at me, the same way Tim looks at Helen.

I miss them both terribly. But I know that I will see them again. Hopefully next year when they are in New York I can meet up with them. I regret not getting more pictures of us together. Helen had birthday breakfast with me and trimmed my hair. She met up with me for hot chocolate on one of my last nights in London to say good-bye which is where the above picture is from. I guess I will have to go to New York, if not to just get pictures of us together!

Susan "I get by with a little help from my friends" B.

Good-Bye London

My last semester at Richmond came to an end much faster than I wanted. My mom flew out to help me pack up and move back to the west coast. We played tourist for four days and it was nice to be able to say good-bye to all my favorite spots and to see the city one last time before I left. I spent a good portion of the weekend crying and fighting tears. London is my home. It has been for more than two years and I realize how incredibly lucky I am to have had the experience of living there. As much as I disliked the weather, I loved everything else. It wont be the last time I'm there. I will visit as often as life lets me.

 My last run through Hyde Park. I will miss the colors and vastness.

 On her first night, I took my mom to Winter Wonderland where we ate dinner and walked around.

 We went on a tour at The Tower of London and had lunch which is where I first had a good cry about leaving. I hadn't realized how much I would miss it until I had to say good-bye. My first visit to The Tower of London was on September 16, less than 1 month after I arrived the first time. It seemed appropriate to visit again before I left to bookend my time there.

 I showed my mom Richmond University on the hill and we went past Richmond Terrace.

 The weather was so beautiful that weekend. The sun came out and it was only a little chilly with no rain.

 We did a tour of Kensington Palace which I had been wanting to do all semester. I took a lot of pictures though out the Palace but I decided to only post a few. When I took the picture of my mom I was looking at the sun. That's why Queen Victoria does not have a head. OFF WITH HER HEAD!

 Inside you could put together a placard and present it to the chair and then when you sit down, the chair announces who you are. My mom's was: The Invincible Queen of the Castle. I was: The All-Powerful Princess of Everywhere. My photo was too blurry to post though. They give you a paper crown to wear during your tour. As if a paper crown would suffice for the All-Powerful Princess of Everywhere. Please.

 Listening to secrets of the Palace.

 So regal.

 We also toured Westminster Abbey and paid a visit to Big Ben.

 We walked along South Bank so my mom could see Cleopatra's Needle.

We went to Trafalgar Square to hear the carolers and they had put out memorials for Nelson Mandela in front of the fountains.

I'm back in the states and recovering from Christmas. I worked on my resume and have it all ready to send out to the masses in order to find a job. I'm ready to start working and be a big kid again. I will never forget my time spent in London and all the adventures I experienced. I have been so blessed and am grateful for the opportunity. I will always consider London my second home.

Susan "parting is such sweet sorrow" B.

Last Day of Uni

First Day of Uni

                                                                                                Last Day of Uni

Well, I am officially done with my University studies. (sad face) This has been the most AMAZING time of my life. I had no idea living in London would be so great. I learned more, experienced more, traveled more than I ever thought I would. I cannot believe how much fun and excitement I crammed in to two and half years. I have been working so hard toward this commencement and now that it has arrived I can't seem to stop crying that it is here.. My heart is broken. I love living in London so much. It has been my home, my teacher, and my safe haven. There will always be a deep love in my heart for this country and this city. Not to mention the people. I will miss watching people sleep on the tube, running through Hyde Park, Christmas markets, shopping on the high street, theatre outings, country hopping, pubs on every corner, Westfield Mall, free hugs at Trafalgar Square, the night bus, V&A Late, wearing my raincoat more than anything in my closet, Barclay's bike hire, Harrods, tea, oh and so much more!

My last class was held in a pub. We had a pub quiz and my professor started a tab. I ordered OJ. It was the perfect ending to a great education.

Murray Woodfield was my professor for two different semesters. He taught me a lot and took an interest in my life. He is a great teacher and great friend.

Prom picture pose.

We did Secret Santa at work and mine gave me CUPCAKES!

This really help make my last day of Uni a good one.

Graduating seniors at the Senior Reception. Olivia, Shannon, Me, Sammy.

The University hold a senior reception every December for those graduating. It was nothing to write home about really. There was wine, a ceremony that was about Alumni professors and then light snacks afterward. Not really worth it in my opinion. I hope to be back next May to walk with my class though.

So there were these guys at the reception.

Cheers to the seniors! (Mine is the water glass.)

Susan "I'm a big kid now" B.