positively one of the most random pen splotches i've had yet.

i absolutely can't believe there's less than a week left of july.  it's been such a frisbee of a month!  since coming home after my hectic spring semester, i've been completely caught up in work, projects, summer reading, cooking and baking, running running running, and catching up on some much-needed sleep.  but about four days ago, i remembered the feeling of the first week of a semester in provo (giddiness, new faces, old friends, my leopard-print backpack, etc.), and i was more than a tincy bit excited.  nervous, yes.  dreading the end of the glorious southern utah sun, of course.  but also energized.  i feel grounded, finally.  ready to take on a few new challenges (as i already know i'll be creating for myself this coming fall).

still, my emotions are pretty mixed (in a not quite typical way).  since superman left the states, i've never wanted to skip a summer more quickly, and i'm still counting the weeks until we're both back in provo again (five weeks, only five!).  but the last three consecutive semesters left me so physically and emotionally drained, i'm still apprehensive.  i keep telling myself, one year, just two semesters left and i'll have the bachelor's degree i set out to gain in three years.  i'm two-thirds of the way finished, and i can taste the end.  however.  this conflicts with my excitement for a new semester.  all i know right now is that the sun in my triple-digit home gives me so much energy!  running in these mountains gives me even more joy than i remembered.  i think i'm learning to live in the moment, which at the beginning of spring was one of the largest goals for this summer.

speaking of the moment (since i really don't want to think about all the reasons i do and don't want august to be here yet), i'm watching glenn beck right now.  a new-found summer love.  his passion is incredible, isn't it?

today, i finally started one of those sewing projects that have been below my bed for a month!  it should be finished tomorrow, pictures to come!  while i was laboriously measuring to make sure i really had enough room to cut out each piece on the bias, my sister natalie was reading out loud to me the Top Ten List of Militant Animals, and oh my goodness gracious did we have such a laugh.  dolphins, bats, and a pigeon in the smithsonian museum for being a war hero!  really, as much of a waste of time some things are like this, it's worth reading - just for the laugh.  unconsciously me (her blog) has a link to the hysterical essay.  after reading, it just gives me one more reason to go to d.c. this august.  i was already on board for a quick trip to rally at the feet of lincoln, but after knowing about the pigeon, buy me a ticket!

for the record, it's been an absolutely beautiful sunny day.  positive affirmations work.  the grandeur of the red mountains is surpassed by nothing.  i love blog friends.  these next five weeks are going to fly by just as quickly as this month has, and i'm going to enjoy every single moment of it.

with lots of yoga.

self-sewn skirts and dresses.

a few more spectacular books.

a couple more weddings.

a trip to the lake.

lots of naps with my kitties.

tea parties with my niece.

basketball with my nephews.

the slobber of my sister's pit bulls.

long laughs with my mother.

and so much more.

to close, i love summer.  but i can't wait for fall.  i love.  that's all i guess.  i love ivins, but i have quite enough love for provo, too!  i love these grounding summer days, but i have quite enough love for autumn and yes even winter (even provo winter).  i have enough love.  enough for myself.  enough for all the places in world i'll ever go and all the people in the world i'll ever meet.

that's my moment tonight, lots of moments of love.