17th Birfday.

Yesterday was 16.

Today is 17.

I don't know about you... but I can see the difference. :)

My birthday celebration started at midnight with the opening of a letter I received from my brother a week ago.  4 pages front and back.  I miss him so much!  His letter consisted mostly of ACT advice (I had actually already taken the ACT yesterday, but most of his advice I had followed unknowingly.) and multiple comments on why I shouldn't get a boyfriend.  (I don't think there is anything you need to worry about there, Matt.)  I cried as I read his letter.  The thing I am probably looking forward to most in the next 1 1/2 years' future isn't my 18th birthday, or senior prom, or graduation... but when Matt comes home, and I get to see him again.

Church.  Not as great a birthday spiritual feeding as I may have wished, but it was alright I guess.  And I got many birthday wishes.  Megan wished me happy birthday multiple times throughout the day.  I think it totaled 8... she counted. :) Haha.

Facebook.  50 posts on my wall.  :)  Sounds like quite a few.  But when you take into consideration 476 friends I have, 50 sounds wimpy and pathetic.  And he didn't even wish me a happy birthday at all.  Every single time my phone vibrated I hoped it had been him, but it never was.  And I know for a fact that he WAS on Facebook at some point.  Maybe he'll wish me a late birthday in person tomorrow?  Doubt it.  Hmmm... I really want to ask him to Sweethearts.  A bunch.

Dinner.  Birthday steak and potatoes.  Yumm, yumm, yumm.  I almost didn't have any room in my ever-growing stomach for my birthday chocolate cheesecake!  That woulda been a bummer!

Presents.  I got a purple jacket with a few sparkles scattered over it.  Pretty. :)  My mommy made it for me. :)  I also got a hard red cello case.  So exciting!  I ♥ cello.

Farewell 2011

*****The year in review.*****

JANUARY

The first thing that happened in 2011 was my good friend Russell (only 14 at the time) staying at my house until 3 in the morning. It was... interesting. After the youth New Year's Eve dance he came over to my house and we played Mario Kart, then my brother came home with his friend's Brett and Ronnie. When Russell's dad showed up at 1 to take Russell home, he talked to Ronnie in French for like 2 hours. Wow. Russell and I kinda just stood in my kitchen awkwardly while my brother kept telling me they had to leave. I didn't want to interrupt their conversation! But it was 3 in the morning! I wanted to go to sleep! Haha. Like I said, it was an... interesting experience. The picture is of me, Jessica, and Dan on our way to a Quiz Bowl thing. I was always a third wheel around them. They were a couple until just about a month ago. It pretty much destroyed my friendship with them. :( I never even hang out with either them anymore. They don't even invite me to their parties! :( They wouldn't have even met each other if it weren't for me, either. :(

Song: Just a Dream- Nelly

FEBRUARY

In February I turned 16! I went on my first date ON my birthday... Sweetheart's Dance. So fun. I went with Perrin Romney, Russell's brother. This picture is of me and Russell on the bus to a Quiz Bowl thing. Russell is big into taking phone pictures.

Song: Jar of Hearts- Christina Perri

MARCH

In March there was a Quiz Bowl tournament in Boise. Russell and I rocked it. You know, I have a lot of pictures with Russell in them. :P Haha. Love that kid. He's like my brother. In the Quiz Bowl tournament I was the team captain... we didn't beat anyone, but it was still super fun! We got to miss school and hang out with a bunch of nerds! Who'd pass up an opportunity like that?!

Song: Perfect- P!nk

APRIL

This is the only picture that was on my phone from April, so it'll have to do. It was taken when my family went to my cousin Nicole's wedding. Which was fun because I got to see most of my Ashby cousins. It was a vintage wedding; the reception was in an old theater! It was so cute. :) I would totally do the same thing if I was big into vintage. Prom was this month as well. I went with James Adamson... but I have no pictures on my phone. Oh well.

Song: Rolling in the Deep- Adele

MAY

In May I went to Lagoon with the music classes from my school. So fun! and Pa'a was there! --> He was my best friend in 8th grade, but after freshman year he moved to Salt Lake. :( But I saw him! Yay! And I totally love the Lagoon picture on the left. Frickin' love that picture. :)

Song: Party Rock Anthem- LMFAO

JUNE

In June I went to EFY with Tori. It was pretty fun. But for some strange reason, every time I go to EFY, I am stuck in a company that isn't very close. :( I want to be in an EFY company that grows super close like a family! Oh well, maybe next year. I also had Youth Conference in June. Super fun! We had a lot of fun activities planned. :D It was also the month I said bye to Matt. :( I cried. Sad.

Song: Price Tag- Jessie J

JULY

This was a very busy month. Our family went back east and saw a lot of church history sites like Nauvoo, Far West, Carthage, etc. Then

there was Girl's Camp. Hecka fun. I loved being a YCL. And it is so great having crazy hair. :D And then there was the midnight showing of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, for which I dressed up as Harry Potter. :D It was fun. :) But people DID call me names. :( Oh well, it was worth it.

Song: Tonight Tonight- Hot Chelle Rae

AUGUST

In August I met Tim Urban! YES!!! I just randomly heard that

he'd be at the mall, so I went. :D Yay! And after that I worked at the mall handing out flyers. Bleh. And earlier in August, I went to this Sun Valley music camp thing. It was a good experience, but I had NO friends... so I doubt I'll do it again. Yeah.

Song: Moves Like Jagger- Maroon 5 feat. Christina Aguilera

SEPTEMBER

In September was The Standards. And I think that was it. School started. I met some great people. I learned how much fun Jive was. Yup. September wasn't a very highlight-filled month.

Song: Stereo Hearts- Gym Class Heroes feat. Adam Levine

OCTOBER

Not a whole lot of stuff happened in October either. Although I did participate in the school "Haunted Hall", which explains my 'creepiness' in this picture. Yeah. Boo. October was mostly filled with blogging, something I didn't realize until I reviewed my blogs and noticed that a lot of them were in October. Yeah.

Song: What Makes You Beautiful- One Direction

NOVEMBER

<--This is a Teddy Graham that Emilee Gomske, Rachael Wilkinson, and I killed at Johnny Carino's during Choir Honor Clinic. Fun. :D In November I also had State. Also fun. Especially since we

won in water polo. And then there was Sadie's. Uber fun.

Song: Set Fire to the Rain- Adele

DECEMBER

Well, I can't really think of much to say regarding December

because for the most part I have been blogging all of it. December is full of concerts and recitals, giving and receiving.

Song: A Thousand Years- Christina Perri

Goodbye 2011. You've been good to me. But then again, we've also had our downs. It has been somewhat of a bipolar year. I made resolutions... but didn't accomplish them. I don't think I accomplished any. Not 1. Actually, I think I did do 1. "Maximize Kindness." I feel like I was able to do that. So yes. 1 of 5: accomplished. Pretty good, but not good enough. Next year I honestly want to accomplish my resolutions. I'll do the best I can, try my hardest.

2012 Resolutions:

1. Stop chewing on fingernails. This has been a habit of mine since I was born pretty much. I have tried to stop multiple times, to no avail. But in 2012 I will. I will finally achieve this feat.

2. Learn to SAVE MONEY. I get an allowance, yet I am pretty much broke. I spend SO much money on stupid little things; I want to be able to save enough money that I would actually be able to buy something valuable if I wanted to.

3. Lose my fat rolls. Yeah, I'm fat. I want this fat gone. And gone for good. This is a big one. Hopefully it will happen, and hopefully it will change people's perspective of me.

4. Have my first kiss. I know that if I want it to mean something then I have next to no control over it, but that doesn't mean I don't want it to happen. This was also my resolution this past year, but it obviously didn't happen. This is probably the one thing I want more than anything else. Please. Let it happen. Let it matter. Let it count. I want to fall in love, a love that is returned.

5. Be sincerely happy. I need to be more optimistic about things. I've been doing a really good job with this around other people; trying to get them to look at the bright side of things and acting all happy and such. But in my head I'm always negative. I need to stop dwelling on the rainy days and look at the sun.

2012

Another New Beginning

2012

A Good Year

2012

The Year My Dreams Come True

I will make it the best I can.

A Rather Forgettable Christmas

It may have been the fact that my presents weren't as great as expected.

It may have been the fact that it didn't feel like Christmas at all.

It may have been the fact that we didn't start unwrapping presents until noon.

...or it may have been the fact that Matt and Rachel weren't here.

Yup, I think that's it. Definitely it.

It's mostly Matt. I miss my brother so much. Yeah, he called. But it's not even close to the same. At least with Rachel we were able to Skype. I know that they are doing what is right, and there is no place else I'd rather they be, but I still miss them. So much.

I did get presents. (Duh. It's Christmas.) I got some things I love, others not as much. I got this beautiful plaque that has roses in the Young Women value colors and says "Elizabeth, Standing as a Witness." Except it doesn't say that. It says "Elisabeth, Standing as a Witness." So yeah. Horrible. Bleh. I got a jewelry rack that I neither asked for nor need. And my mom could tell I wasn't pleased, and offered to return it, but I always feel bad, so I said I'll use it. But in order to use it I'll be getting rid of my jewelry box and my earring holder. I got an awesome video camera that I asked for, and a gorgeous painting that I asked for. I also got Just Dance 3 (YES!!!), and a zebra print/turquoise alligator skin purse with a matching wallet (LOVE IT). I got a scarf and some tights and some other stuff. I'm so blessed, I have no

reason to complain about anything.

But there was just that one thing about this Christmas that didn't make it nearly as special or memorable. Without all of your family, Christmas just isn't the same.

Mi hermano mayor.

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. WHY?! Ughh... I miss my older brother so much! I know Matthew, a.k.a. Elder Ashby, is serving the Lord doing what he is supposed to do, but I just miss him! I don't know if I can wait over 600 more days to see him again. :( I know this isn't my 'spiritual blog,' but on my brother's last email he included his testimony, and I wanted to share it here.

"This church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not just an organized group of people following Christ in the way they feel is correct, nor is it just a church that is led by inspired men that encourage everyone to do good and to follow Christ. This Church literally is the Church that is led by Jesus Christ and it is His. He established it and continues to lead it today. That is one thing that I love saying to people we talk to on the street when they say that they´re Catholic or Evangelical or Jehovah´s Witnesses, because then we can say 'Somos de la Iglesia de Jesucristo' or 'We´re from the Church of Jesus Christ' or 'We´re from Jesus Christ´s Church.' Its just like, how can anyone say anything to counter that? Its like we acknowledge their church, but say (just by saying the name of the Church) 'Yeah your church may be good, but ours is the Church of Jesus Christ... So which do you think is the right church?' Its just super perfect."

I love Matt so much! He was my favorite brother, and he is the one member of my family that I really connected to. With him gone I feel somewhat alone. I feel like there is no reason for me to be home, and I don't like being at home. I'd rather be alone then with my family, which didn't used to be. I email him every week, and I'm so glad that he is bringing the gospel to the people of Mendoza, Argentina, but I still miss him a whole bunch.

Pondering and Procrastination.

-Previous blog

Oh Sundays. How peaceful they seem, but not so. I'm relaxing... but in my mind I am freaking out because there is so much I must get done before I go back to school tomorrow. Math assignments, English essays, books to read, etc. And yet here I am. Blogging. Don't you love how I prioritize?

I can't even begin to express how much I love having a laptop at my availability. It is so great to be able to just sit in my room and do whatever I please. Be it Facebook, Skype, Blogger, or even IDLA. It's just great. (It's not IDLA that's great; the fact that I can do anything at my leisure us great.)

Speaking of IDLA and homework and crap... that is exactly what I SHOULD be doing right now. :P Especially since my math teacher decided that she isn't going to accept any late work ever again. :/ And I have to write a creative writing essay. And I have to read a book. Ughh... homework.

So yeah. This past weekend my incredible brother Matthew came home because we were supposed to receive his mission call (along with his friend Rees's). But neither of their calls came... so Matt and all of his friends came up for nothing. But it was fun to hang out with them for a day or so. Friday night we all watched Robin Hood, which was fun. :)

Saturday pretty much all I did was fold laundry and work on my dress for Sweetheart's. :) I'm going to Sweetheart's with my friend Perrin Romney on Saturday! And Saturday is my birthday! :D :D :D I get to go to my first date on my 16th birthday. It's special. :)

I feel like I'm falling apart! My wrist has hurt like heck for the past week. I'm going to get it checked on Tuesday. I'm scared. :/ People keep saying they think something is really wrong with it. I might have to have physical therapy or surgery or something. :( If I'm crippled then I can't play the piano, or the cello, or percussion, or tennis! :( :( Awful!!! My stomach has been hurting a lot lately too. :/ And my knee starting hurting for a few days. I'm pretty much falling apart. My body= dead.

Lately I've also felt really depressed-ish... and I don't even know why! I've been really tired, even though I've been getting plenty of sleep. It seems like this whole past week just pretty much sucked. :/ I'm rally hoping this next week will be better. Chances are it will be, but you never know! Ta ta for now!