So now that I'm done with school...

...I've had to find other ways to fill my time. Like looking at pretty cards that I pretend I'm going to buy to add to my collection. There's nothing quite like hand-written correspondence.

In 45 minutes, I will be a master.

I'm sitting in my last class of my entire Master's program. And yes, I'm blogging. I've been so excited to be done with papers and projects, but it's all comig to a close and I don't want it to end. What do I do now? Grow up?

Does this look familiar?

It's that time of year again. The time when I say goodbye to any reasonable amount of sleep and hello to lots of reading and writing. And diet coke.

One of my favorite photos of all time.

How cute are my parents during their dating years? I mean, you're still cute mom and dad (or, uh handsom), but man, you kids were adorable.

Preparing for Finals

I love when the U plans a large outdoor concert because it should be warm on April 15th, but then it snows all day. Didn't stop me from taking a break from my studies to brave the cold temps and dance my heart out.

This is how the U of U prepares for finals week.

Happy Easter!

Hailey to Me: "Auntie Lindsay, you should move here, California has a really good Easter bunny."

I didn't know the Easter bunny was regional these days. Hailey might be onto something.

Sorry for all of the heavy posts, it's been kind of a heavy month.

It still doesn't seem real. I mean, in some ways it feels like I was just talking to her yesterday and in others it feels like it's been an eternity. How can a whole year have already passed?

I'll be honest, some things haven't been as hard as I thought they were going to be, but other things have definitely been more difficult. Emotions are so weird. Most days I'm fine, but occasionally I cry.

I cry because while I know Robin is always close, it's not fair that Hailey doesn't have a mom to help her shop for a first day of school outfit (luckily she does have a grammy and a chickee, a great dad, and lots of other mommies who love her a lot). I cry because Jason had to pick out a headstone and he's too young. I cry because I'm afraid of forgetting. I don't want to forget the sound of her laugh or the way her face would light up when Hailey walked into the room.

Luckily I also laugh a lot. I laugh about the funny faces she would make in the mirror when she thought no one was watching. I laugh when I use one of her phrases like "snicky snack" or when I think about the times we snuck her out of the hospital to go on craft store runs (sorry nurses).

So on this yucky anniversary, I don't want to spend my time crying. I'm going to go shopping, eat a great meal, wear Robin's trademark lipstick, and enjoy the beautiful flowers I got from my best friend because I'm pretty sure that's what Robin would want me to do.

Sometimes being a girl makes me do things like...

...sleep with pepper spray next to my bed.

I couldn't find my shuffle.

So I went to the gym without it. Which means I had to keep myself occupied, which means I did math in my head for an hour. Weird, I know- but it brings me an odd sense of satisfaction. There are just so many numbers to play with on the treadmill, I can't help myself.

She would have been 32 today.

I know that the Lord has reasons for calling some of his children home earlier than others, but it doesn't stop me from missing my sister. It's her birthday today and we should be bickering over which restaurant to eat at. We should be sitting for hours and sipping diet cokes and laughing about the time I threw my lunch money at her because she made me get out of the car across the street from the high school because she was late for work. We should be going through her closet and throwing out all of the clothes I deem too "old" for her age while she tries to convince me that "those Naturalizer shoes are just so comfortable- just wait until you're a mom."

I definitely feel a little gypped, but at the same time I'm so grateful for the time I was able to spend with Robin. Sisterhood is truly one of the choicest blessings in my life.