boots & floral blouses

Two of my favourite things, and I wore them both today. :)

I bought the boots yesterday, a bit of an impulse buy as I was searching for a birthday present for my brother's girlfriend. Luckily, I've cleaned my room during the uni break, so I actually have a spot to put them!

Rubi shoes Brodie boots, $15.

Oh, and I also bought a new cuff bracelet, and lost one of my favourite rings somewhere whilst shopping.

This week (starting from last Friday) has been rather wonderful. Temple baptisms, EFY training, Church with the best friend and his family, fireside, lots of extra work shifts, new friends, two whole days with the best friend, mission prep class, finishing the best friend's mission papers, four-leaf clovers, family time, Skype dinner dates and Preach My Gospel study, ward conference today and so much more.

We found SEVEN four-leaf clovers! We can well and truly cross that off the bucket list now! :)

We're not very good at getting both of us in photos.

He is so silly, but he loves taking photos of me.

So after my shower, when I quite closely resemble a drowned rat, he stares at me like this and says, "You are so beautiful." asfkjagljsl. <3

Speaking of best friends, I really want to improve my relationship with my little sister as she is, after all,  my birthday buddy. Today we started a little diary with letters to each other, which I suspect won't last very long but it's a start. At any rate, we're both focusing on being kinder and more patient with each other, because it has been pretty hard lately, which becomes a bit of a problem when we share a room! I just want her to be able to look up to me and know that I am always here for her. She is so beautiful, but she's at that stage where she doesn't even know it yet. Well, I don't know if you can really call it a stage, because some people never learn how wonderful they are, but I don't want her to end up like that. I want her to know it and show it and help others around her feel it about themselves, too. I know I'll need to be praying a lot for help with this, but I know that it's possible. After all, "I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13).  :)

<3 Sariah

Am I part of the cure, or am I part of the disease?

Lately for university, I've been reading up on the commercial exploitation and sexualisation of tweens, particularly in terms of dress and appearance. I was thinking about this as I walked into work, and I saw this girl, probably about 11 or 12, walking past in the teeniest top and shorts you can imagine. It barely covered anything. I just automatically kind of rolled my eyes to myself, feeling even more depressed about the state of the world and the products that are shoved in the faces of young girls through the media, whether they like them or not. In that moment, I felt like the most horrible person in the world. What if she had seen my expression? What if she thought I was laughing at her, at her style, at her brands, at her body? I'm sure she already has enough pressure to be perfect; she doesn't need any more of it. No matter what she is wearing, she is still a beautiful, precious daughter of God, and I wish I had made her feel like that.

I want to see the way we look from up there.

Sheryn Binks - Mr Galaxy.

Today I was blessed with so many reminders that Heavenly Father knows and loves me. He sent so many friendly faces and embraces and little joys to make me smile. And even though I realised I had lost my phone somewhere at uni when I was already on the bus home, He put so many blessings in my path to be able to just hop off, find it and get home safely, including bumping into my older brother on the way back up to uni, who stayed with me while it was getting dark. Then it was home to a delicious, warm chicken dinner, a loving family and a short but sweet email from my brother who only just left on his mission on Monday. And to top it all off, now I'm just sitting back, listening to newfound, soothing music as I wait for a Skype date with my best friend. Life is good.

moonlight musings

I miss you

for the future I know you won't be in

the memories you'll fade from

and the dreams we'll never share

trying to find the words to write this

is like holding on to air

in your bare hands

it slips from your grasp

without a trace

yet

it's still there

always

           hanging

like an unfinished sentence

in a silent conversation

with the moon.

I can't find a song to describe my current feelings, not even a Taylor Swift one. What even is this. All the words that I had planned to write have flown out the window of my mind and I have nothing.

This time of year, this weather, it always has a strange effect on me.

Faces and places fill my mind and empty my heart till I forget who I am and I feel things I didn't know that I remembered. But this time, it's different. All I can think of is your eyes and your smile and your hands in mine and the freckles dancing on your nose. There's too much light in the thought of you to let in any of the darkness that usually envelopes me. The warm, nostalgic breeze that usually taunts me is just you, running your fingers through my hair like you always do. The loneliness that always eats away at my soul is only missing you for a little while, before we meet again and you sweep me up in your arms like you haven't seen me in years. The tainted memories are replaced by those we haven't even made yet: walks on the beach and swimming when it's hot enough for you to convince me to come in the water, pickernicks in our secret spots, road trips, lazy afternoons reading, dancing in the park, and I don't even know what else. You bring music to my life, while the others made me forget the words to my own song. We might not end up in the same place, but there's nothing you can do to turn our friendship bitter. Even goodbye will be sweet, because you are so pure, so good, so strong, and the world needs what you have to offer. I wouldn't give you up for anything less than your honest, faithful desire to serve the Lord. I love you, best friend. :)

Well, I'm not sure where all that came from... awkies. Photo time!

YSA Bollywood themed ball, with the best friend and his cousin. He looked oh-so-handsome and I barely wanted to leave his side the whole night.

Just being silly with the best friend, modelling my new dress. :)

*oh dear, I just noticed that it looks shorter than it actually is in the bottom right-hand photo... it's down to my knees, don't worry :)

I felt really pretty on Sunday. On the inside too, I mean. It's such a wonderful way to feel :)

<3 Sariah