So I decided to change my blog name/picture and fix the formatting.  Changing the name went okay, but the picture is way more messed up now.  Whatever.  If you don't read my blog because the picture at the top is huge, I can deal with it.  :)

Anyway, I decided to change my blog because even though I really like the quote that I pulled my first title from, I decided that I didn't like the emphasis of what I was leaving behind, when in reality I keep doing things because of everything I am going to; the things I am doing.  The things I love.  And how simply wonderful this life is.

Yes, it's true.  I am feeling a little sick with all the meat I've eaten.  Yes, I was locked out of our apartment all day today. Yes, I have 8 blisters on my feet from so much walking in my church shoes..while I was locked out.  And yes, I am sporting a decent number of flea bites.

But ya know what?  I'm really happy.  Not like floating along in blissfulness, but just happy.  In a real way.  Does that even make sense?  Probably not.

Let me explain.

Despite the bug bites and blisters and feeling a bit sick, I have had a really good day.  Oh you want to know what was so fabulous about today?  Alright, you talked me into it :)

1.  I went to church today.  It reminded me a lot of Tonga (mostly in the sense that I sat through a full 3-hour block and didn't understand most of it), but also in the spirit I felt.  I love the church.  I love the gospel.  And I love the people who are a part of it.

2.  I played the piano at church today.  Remember how I absolutely hated performing for about the first 20 years of my life?  Oh yeah...that's because I think today was the first time EVER that I *VOLUNTEERED* (<-can't put enough emphasis on that word) to play the piano for something.  It was so weird.  Why would I even do something like that?  I still don't know.  But I DO know that it felt really good.  It's nice to feel that, despite being unable to share my testimony and feelings for the gospel in Portuguese (yet!), I was still able to participate and contribute to Sacrament meeting.

3.  I went to the beach.  Not swimming or anything, just a lovely walk with my new friend, Natalia. We stuck our feet in and tried to build a sand-castle version of the Salt Lake temple.  Ok, so maybe it mostly turned out looking like a military tank...but it's the thought that counts, right? :)

4.  I had a conversation with a stranger.  A cute girl came up to me while I was walking home and asked in English (just a little bit better than my portuguese) if I needed help.  It was so sweet.  We were walking the same direction, so we continued talking for about 5 minutes, going back and forth between languages.  It was great.  My Portuguese probably didn't get any better in those 5 minutes, and I probably won't ever see that girl again.  BUT, I am reminded of two things:  1, if practically the whole world can learn English as a second language AND be brave enough to use it, I can do the same with Portuguese, even if it seems hard.  2, People are good.  So very good.  Good people just don't get enough credit these days.

5.  I made a friend.  Remember Natalia?  (Not that you met her, or anything.. just see # 3)  She's great.  Her mom is our program director, and they live about a 5 minute walk from me so I spent most of the day at their house while I was locked out.  Some fun facts about Natalia, besides how awesome she is:  We like almost all the same movies.  Not only do we both enjoy them, we both quote them.  Fabulous, yes?  Despite the fact that we have only 2 mutual friends on facebook (both from this program), as we were talking we made several MUCH more interesting connections.  Like the fact that we both lived in Hinckley Hall, and then the Elms (I was just behind her!).  And that she was April's visiting teacher!  And that we both liked boys at BYU who are siblings.  And that she is in the Barry family's home war, and served with my friend Matt Barry in Brasilia.  CRAZY.  It's so fun to make all these bizzarre connections :)

Well, if you're still reading, congrats.  You now know why my life is wonderful.  I hope yours is just as fantastic, and that you recognize all the great things in your life.