Lake Powell and Birthday Celebrations

A few weeks ago my lovely family went on a little adventure known as Lake Powell.  On this trip there was much boating, burning, and bonding. 

And after all, isn't that what a successful family vacation consists of?

Me {being flag girl as usual}, Brock {trying to stand up on the knee board because chance said he'd give him $20 if he could do it}, Chance {asking why my family takes so many pictures}, and Coleson{being the adorable boy he is and waiting ever so patiently for his turn}. 

Look at all those smiles and freckles!

Dear Daddy informed us that he used to be quite a pro on the ski's and is now ready to try out the wake board and show us all how it's really done. 

Vacationing can be exhausting...

My man, being hot... in every sense of the word. Turns out that he really really likes cool weather, of which we saw none of!

Brock and Chance on the infamous tube... sorry your ride was so dang long boys. 

Jaden out for an afternoon stroll - turns out he's quite the fish {as long as he has his life jacket on}.

Enjoying an evening swim! 

Now, my birthday was actually on the Monday before Lake Powell, but in true Holman fashion we celebrated the Sunday after.

I had star shaped sugar cookies with fresh fruit - my latest summer obsession. 

And of course, a Holly-Cake with lots of frosting and candles. :) 

{I would like to mention that  I actually celebrated my birthday on the day of my supposed birth with my very thoughtful boyfriend.  Among all the things he did for me that day, he made it possible for me to see one of my best friends one last time before she starts her job in Chile.  What a thoughtful man I have, and what a wonderful way to start out my 25th year! :)}

Change your perspective

“It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree helping each other to one or the other of these destinations. It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all of our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations - These are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.” 

― C.S. Lewis, Weight of Glory

Manti and GNO

This weekend was rather eventful with lots and lots of pictures, so I thought I beter do a quick update.

On Friday night I went to the Mormon Miracle Pageant in Manti with Chance. I love going to the pageant. Even though there are some sort of cheesy parts, I still get excited to go. Chance was a good sport to go sit on a cold hard chair for 3 hours just so I could watch the show.... he was less of a good sport about having his picture taken, and therefore there are no visuals for this part of my weekend.

But don't you worry - the next part of my weekend was full of pictures!

Every other month, a few of my sorority sisters get together for a dinner group which usually results in us sitting around and talking long into the night and wondering why we don't meet every month because we obviously need to see each other more often! 

Last night it was Jessicas turn to host, and as she is living at Brighton Girls Camp for the summer {her and Doug are the maintenance couple} we had the lovely privilege to have our GNO at Camp. 

Mary, Rachel and I decided to head up early for a little hiking...

 We had no idea where we were going, so we made up a trail and went exploring.  Though Rachel was a little nervous about bears, we were extremely loud (as Upsilon girls often are) and I don't think any creatures wanted to get in our way.

After hiking we then got to play on the zip-line.  So Much Fun! {Thanks Pixel and Paisley for being such awesome camp staff!}

Pixel was in charge of getting us on the zip line...

Paisley was in charge of getting us off... with a little help from Rachel.

Rachels hardest part was climbing the ladder, but I was there to belay her. 

Erin was a little nervous to jump, but she had fun too! 

Doug was our honorary member of Dinner group for the night - he stood in for Kamille, although he may think twice before ever doing that again - we can get a little crazy!  

Thanks for the lovely evening in the woods ladys (and Doug) it was so much fun! Can't wait for our next dinner! :) 

Cry baby

Source

Well folks, i've been reading a lot lately, and it's been simply delightful. 

I finally read The Hunger Games, and by read I mean devoured. 

It took me a little while to get into the first one because I had to try to recreate characters in my head after already seeing the movie, but once I got the characters just perfect I couldn't be stopped. I read the second and third book in the space of 5 days. 

But on to the real point of this post... I cry over books. 

I'm actually really embarrassed by this because I kind of hate to cry. Mostly I hate to cry in public, which means that I cry more when I read a book than when I go to a movie.

{I'm not going to sit there and cry in front of all those strangers.}

I tend to get really attached to my characters. I feel like I know everything about them because I've put so much of me into them!

I thought this was normal, but after being caught crying over a few different books (Harry Potter, Hunger Games, The Help...) and having those individuals think i'm totally crazy ~ I'm starting to wonder.

Regardless of how normal / crazy this is, I think i'll continue to put my heart and soul into my characters so that I can feel what they feel... and read in private where I can cry freely. ;)

Right now i'm reading an old favorite, Pride and Prejudice, while I decide what new adventure to go on next. Any suggestions?   

A quick update on life

Lets be honest - being out of school has been simply delightful, but i'm ready for a little structure! I have loved having time to spend with Sky before he takes off to Cali and working on projects around the house with my mom is one of my very favorite things ever, but it is now time to start a new chapter of life. A big- girl stage. Also know as full-time employment. oh boy!

Before that little adventure I thought I would catch you up on all the things that have kept me busy while waiting for my background check to clear. {I know - you were all a little worried I wouldn't pass. ;)} And even further back when I was just too swamped to do things like blog about the highlights of my life. 

First a shout-out way back to the end of March at the Administrator of the Year Dinner.  To be totally honest I don't remember much about any of the speakers - just a lovely evening with some of my dearest Provo friends. 

Ben, Dianne, Morgan, Me, Patty, Laura, Matthias

I already miss so many of them, but it's fun to hear all the cool things they are accomplishing and the adventures life is taking us on!

Also end of March - I had the lovely opportunity to go visit the cutest Aggie I know! Thanks Girls for letting me crash your party.

Me & Marry

Jess even let me do homework in the car so that I could fit it all in - I'm not that fun of a road-trip buddy, but Jess is a great friend to let me come anyway. 

little blurry - the security guard is not a photographer in his spare time ;) 

Mary took me to the place my school adventures really began - 24 years ago I was an Aggie! I accompanied my dear daddy to all of his classes his senior year.  Don't worry, he graduated in spite of all of my help.  It was fun to return to a place that I know I spent a lot of time...even if I don't remember it. ;) 

Moving right along... here is a pic from the MPA closing social.  These are my carpool girls, and I was really missing them the other day when I was driving to Provo all on my own.  I wouldn't have made it without them!

Karla, (cute Ruby - honorary member of the carpool), Me, Marianne & Erin 

 Let's see, what else have I been up to in my little break...

We've celebrated birthdays

Gigi is 47...again :)

William is 9... and Jaden couldn't stop from helping blow out the candles 

Had some fun at the park

My favorite is the swing

The little boys actually made themselves sick by spending a little too much time on this

Even Brock had fun

A quick cabin trip

Bowling at the U - turns out my boyfriend is a professional bowler.  He says I bowl like a pageant girl...I don't think that's a compliment.

Me and Chance

Aug and Sky - serious bowlers 

 A fun IC reunion

Me & Rachel aka: TWIN

Sweet Jessi and her adorable son. 

Lots of fun cleaning / organizing projects (cleaning the pond is epic enough that it was documented with pictures - I guess the others weren't).

The pump exploded a couple of times and poor Sky was in the way every time. 

And of course celebrating Mothers Day with a call home from sweet Elder Landy-pants. My dad wasn't there so we had him on one phone and Landen on the other.

So there you go - the grand update on life after graduation. 

Grad school - CHECK

Ladies and Gentleman,

I am now a Master! This means I now have time to clean out my email, do laundry, take my car to the mechanic, go running, read for fun AND update my blog! {ah, the little things in life}

So, as you may remember, going to BYU was kind of a big deal for me. {See here if you don't remember}  But I am here to say that I LOVED my time down in good old p-town. Don't worry- there is still a place in my heart for the U but I am not a cougar hater any more.  In fact, I am proud to say that I Starlee Holman am a BYU alum!

Just a few things that won me over: praying in class, being surrounded by some of the most service centered individuals i've ever met, a beautiful campus (walking to school every day with Sky was my favorite), going to parties and knowing that these people are just that crazy - no drug or drink needed, having a phenomenal network (we call it the LDS church),  having gospel applications in every subject I study, professors that are nationally recognized and yet they are humble and concerned with each individual, outstanding extra curricular groups to get involved with, great religion courses, an inspirational message every Tuesday (or sometimes a much needed study break that people feel guilty scheduling anything in) and the most beautiful mountains in Utah, just to name a few.

I learned so much durring my time in P-town... some lessons I wanted and some I didn't.  However, all of these experiences have shaped who I am today and i'm grateful for the opportunity I had to grow.

Mostly I am grateful for the wonderful people I have met over the past two years. Here are a few of them:

Me, Kristin, Erin & Marianne
My lovely Salt Lake crew - who knew carpooling could be so much fun?! 

Me & Patty
I have been so blessed to have this AMAZING woman in my life. Sometimes I wonder if I was supposed to go to BYU just to meet her.  She has been my best friend, study buddy, tutor, Spanish teacher, comic relief, guardian angel, stand-in roommate, boy advisor, double date partner, and all around support system.  I am so blessed to have found this kindred spirit!   

Beautiful Laura - This gal is going places! She is so smart, kind and one of the most genuine people i've ever met! 

THE GINGERS - need I say more? 

Tommy, Dominique, Me & Hugh AKA The Mighty Maki's
This is my first semester team.  We knew how to work hard and play hard - they were my Provo family! 

When everything is accounted for, this redhead just may bleed a little blue after all.

 {Except when my cougars play my utes... some things never change}

THE 'to do' list

I'm DONE!!!!!!

This was my very last 'To Do' list in Grad School and I just crossed the last thing off!

Well, except for picking up my cap and gown (which I will do in about 4 hours) and GRADUATE!

I am a very happy girl right now!  

And here is a random photo of some of the people i've spent the last 2 years of my life with. What a wonderful group! :)