Thanksgiving

Hello all, I'm just sitting here in my dorm, listening to Christmas music all alone and missing my family greatly. Unfortunately, I don't get to leave until tomorrow because my brother has to work. This week, and month, has been an interesting one that has really made me reflect on things. I am sitting here writing my paper because I couldn't do it yesterday because all of campus was shut down at 3 due to a "huge blizzard" coming to town (never happened). But then today, I was fortunate enough to witness my dorm area get flooded because some construction workers broke a water pipe and it spilled all down into our buildings. Luckily, only our building's basement was affected. But, I still had to get evacuated. This is where I'm EXTRA thankful for my second family who just happened to be in town today. I love these kids with all my heart and was in dire need of a Taylor fix:)

I only had them for a few hours, but that's all I needed to remember how blessed I am to have them in my life.

I'm also grateful for family. I know I say it all the time, but when I found out that I was really able to go home for Thanksgiving, it was then that I realized just how homesick I was. And as the moment gets closer and closer for me to make the journey home, I get more and more antsy and I just want to be there already! The one thing that will be missing from this holiday season is my sister and brother-in-law. Unfortunately, they won't be joining us for Thanksgiving OR Christmas (those vondrukes) and therefore, I won't see them till at least next April. I'm very sad because Christmas just won't be the same without everyone there. I'm thankful for my mom and how kind and loving she is. She never judges me when I'm feeling like a failure. She is my best friend and I can't wait to see her.

I love you, Mom

Then, I get to see my best friend in the entire world, Jessica Gillmore. She's another thing I'm so thankful for. She's been my best friend since that great day in Photo when we both discovered our shared love for A Goofy Movie. She is absolutely wonderful and I cherish every moment we've ever had together. We get each other and I don't think we'll ever lose that bond. She is my sister and I love her.

Well, it's a mere 4 and a half hours till I have to wake up and get in a car with my brother and his crazy friends and make that dreaded 12 hour drive to Mesa (for some reason, I'm not dreading it as much this time). I'm packed and SO ready to be with my family in my home and eat a lovely turkey dinner:) Tonight will be perfect.

countdown

4 days till Harry Potter 7 premiere
9 days till Taylor's are in town
10 days till Arizona and Thanksgiving with the fam
24 days till last day of classes
33 days till Christmas vacation and home and back to work
40 days till CHRISTMAS!!!!
41 days till P.B.
46 days till the New Year
and 50 days till L.O.N.D.O.N.


yay, could life get any better? I'm so happy with it
And..... I love Alice and don't know what I would do without her to vent to and have an AWESOME girls' night:)


~BYE!

from 84604 to W2 4LP (London, that is)

Okay, I think it's time I let you in on the exciting life of a Londoner... in the United States.

So, I applied really late and was put on the waiting list so that, in the case that any one dropped or got kicked out, then I would be officially accepted in. Well, on October 25th, I received an email from Professor D. and all it said was:

"Katie,
Good news, a spot has opened for winter. Are you still interested? If so, you are in!

Congratulations,
ERD"

Seriously, probably the best moment of my ENTIRE life. I was just sitting in English class and randomly decided to check my email and THAT^ came through. I almost screamed out loud. Of course, I IMMEDIATELY emailed him back saying "Yes, I'm still interested! I'll take it! Thank you so much! Katie" (haha, excited much?) Then, I sat quietly for another hour listening to my English professor (sarcasm hand) before I could go out and tell every single person I knew, pretty much, my big news! Here's the order in which I told people:

Jason (he was sitting right in front of me when I squealed)

Nathan (just sent him a quick text cuz we were talking anyways)

Mom (who had not read the email I forwarded her so I made her read it right then)

Dad (who was probably more excited than me and made me cry)

Jenna (who gave me a huge hug and we were exclaiming and so...)

Emma and Dylan (came into the room and it was awesome)

Cameron (who was happy but tried to hide it; and while I was on the phone with him...)

Courtenay (overheard and was soo excited too)

Chelsea (who weirdly enough answered the phone saying "sorry, I don't have $6000 you can borrow for London" and I thought someone had already told her haha)

and then everyone else kinda sorta (thank you, Facebook)

Well, ever since then, I've been a little nervous about traveling abroad by myself but every week I have this London Prep class that we have to go to just to, well, prepare us for London. And every week, we discuss new things about London and what to do while we're there and I get so excited, I call my mom every week after class and talk to her at like a million miles a minute about all the exciting things I learned and that we're going to be doing!

Like this week, we got our full agenda for the 3 and a half months that we'll be there, and, OH. MYGOSH. I can't believe how much we get to do!! If I could only tell you (maybe that'll be a separate post). But, also, we talked about the different classes that we're going to be taking over there and like, they seem SO awesome! Like, they might be hard classes but I think it'll just be so exciting learning about Stonehenge and ACTUALLY being right there looking at it!!! I can't believe how blessed I am.

And we get to spend St. Patrick's day IN Ireland!!! WOOOO!!

I can't believe it's really happening, two months from last Wednesday, I'll be in London, super jet-lagged and out of my mind with excitement:) I sit here now thinking about it all and I don't know how I'm maintaining my composure.. well, I'm sort of not cause I have this huge smile on my face and just had to explain myself to Launa. Every time I talk about it, I talk so fast, I get tongue-tied. Well, I gotta do some homework and try and get down from this incredible high:)

Loves!!

Kate

Quick Update

Hi all,

okay, really quick, i promise:

1. I was accepted into the London program!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2. cam came down for Mae concert; was AMAZING!!!!!!
3. Made some adjustments to my class schedule and am very very happy
4. I dyed my hair red... NBD
5. Nate's buying a new car and therefore, the Kia is up for grabs! (if only it worked right and I had money to maintain it)(oh, an knew how to drive stick)
6. Harry Potter premiere in 9 days, 16 hours, 56 minutes and 52 seconds:)
7. The Taylors are coming up in two weeks!! so excited!
8. Started packing some of my stuff for London
9. I'm finally starting to be not so sick (my sense of smell comes and goes now instead of being gone 100%)
and finally.......
10. L'il Wayne got out of jail last Thursday!!!!!!!!!!!

so, good times, overall. love life!!