"They're certainly entitled to think that, and they're entitled to full respect for their opinions... 

but before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. 

The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience."

-Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

Once the leaves started changing colors, and the sun became a little bit more orange than yellow, Saturdays weren't our favorites anymore, but Sunday nights were. Fall is a favorite in so many ways, but so many of my reasons is simply because of home. Growing up, we had our ritual Sunday night walks, Sunday night movies, and best of all: Sunday night snacks like cinnamon and sugar toast, and marshmallows, and hot chocolate.

It somehow became a tradition along the lines that the first movie we'd always watch together as a family during the season was To Kill A Mockingbird. It was always my dad's favorite, and naturally, became one of mine too. My eyes always sting when I see Atticus sitting outside of Tom Robinson's jail, with his lamp, in his chair, reading his book. It just said so much. I always felt so much. I still do.

This movie, (and most especially), Atticus Finch has and always will be an out-of-the-ball-park-sort-of favorite; and with my dad in town for the weekend, Max gets to join in on the Christensen tradition and I just couldn't be any more excited for my Sunday nights again. Happy (conference) weekend!

wedding - family

I saved family for last, because that's what all of this is about. Everything. My mom and my dad, my sister who I love so much. My new family. My new brothers. My grandparents, my aunts, uncles, my faaavorite cousin Merbear. And the feeling that my family isn't some coincidence. That our relationships aren't something that just end with time or distance; we're sealed to one another. How grateful I am for that.

And most, most, most importantly, the most permanent and precious decision I ever made, was and is starting this new family with Max. With the boy who has been my best friend for the last six years, and who will be for the next million more. Such a big decision, yet it was the easiest one I ever made.

Some of the wonderful counsel we were given on our wedding day, was that out of all the titles and callings we have in this life, the only ones we will take with us hereafter are that of mother and father, husband and wife. Of families. I will never forget that. Maybe because I had never heard anything so wonderful, or because I was surrounded by all my family, both immediate and extended; but maybe it's because a part of heaven feels that way, too. I will never forget it.

family vaca.

Diet cokes and paddle boats, dole whips at Russells, go-kart and mini golf tournaments... I could go on and on about this place and my last week there. I could kick myself for not taking more pictures!

What was really great, this year especially, was having no cell reception/or wifi connection during our stay. I felt so disconnected (in such a good way,) that I came home trying to think of other ways I could simplify my life. But for now, I'll just have to look at these pictures. Something about the prettiest lake in all the world, the family memories, and re-realizing my own priorities... those are at least a start.

call me maybe?

A night with a cabin full of cousins, inspiration from our favorite Disney Channel stars, and a bunch of bruised bananas equals one Walch family music video. These kids were out of control. There is no such thing as babysitting, because I have just as much fun with them as I do with any of my friends at home!

And to make it all even that much better, I don't think I had ever laughed as hard or as much as I did when our parents decided to join in on the fun, too.  My cheeks hurt, my wrinkles disappeared, five more years were added onto my life. Making the Grown Up version of the music video ended up turning into a PG rated dance party -- which was way more fun than anything I had ever seen or been to in Provo. (but I guess that might not be saying much :) so all I can say is what I said before: out of control.

This years' vacation proved to me that the Walch family reunions are the highlights of not only my summer, but probably my year. To be in my favorite place in the world, with all my favorite people, even if I'm listening to my not-so-favorite song on repeat... its the best.

wallowa lake.

Growing up, summers always meant Wallowa Lake. The long drive, the cinnamon bears ice cream stop, the final stretch of the trip, finally getting to see the most beautiful lake in all the world! I love it. And after the last few days (Thursday in the ER, Friday in bed, and Saturday still recovering...) nothing sounds better. Nothing at all.

This year is extra special though, since Max will be a part of it, and I get to spend my 23rd birthday with the entire Walch fam. Wallowa Lake is my home away from home; that place just grabs my heart.

father of the bride.

Dear Dad,

Thank you for being my best friend.

Thank you for always making cinnamon and sugar toast before we watched a movie; for always making sure we listened to Christmas music all season long, (and for making us watch West Side Story even though we'd always complain.)

Thank you for raising us to believe potato chips were cancerous :) (haha) and for taking us to Arctic Circle for ice cream on Friday nights.

Thank you for sitting me down in your den, asking me on Sunday afternoons how things were going in my life. Thank you for always being interested, and never too busy to listen.

Thank you for coming into my bedroom and saying goodnight all those years I lived at home. Thank you texting me from far away to do the same thing :) Thank you for loving me, supporting me, and listening. Thank you for letting me know what matters most, by caring about those very same things yourself.

Thank you for being someone who I'd want to grow up and be like; and most especially, thank you for being someone who set a standard of what I would always look for in a husband one day, too.

You're the best kind of dad a girl could ask for, and I could never thank you enough. I love you more than you could possibly know.

--

When I think of my dad, I always think of the quote I once heard in the movie, The Happiest Millionaire, "When I was little, I used to think my dad was the smartest man I knew. But since I've grown older, I'm much, much wiser - because now I know he is."

Happy Fathers day to my hero and best friend and to my dad, I love you.

married august 25th, 1953

My sweet (and by that, I mean my favorite) Aunt Cindy gave me a few of these pictures of my Grandma and Grandpa Christensen a few months ago when my Grandpa passed away. Sometimes when I look at them, I wish that I would have been able to spend more of my evenings sitting in their living room, listening to my grandpa tell stories, while my grandma (always) busied herself in the kitchen cooking something for us both. When Elder Holland spoke at his funeral, he referred to my grandpa as being "the man that the word gentleman was created for." I miss him so much, and I can't wait to see him again someday.

The past few days I've caught myself looking over these pictures more, too. I just haven't been able to get over how beautiful they are! I'm convinced my grandma and grandpa had to have been the best looking couple back at the Y all those years ago :) And their wedding... goodness gracious! I don't think anybody could have looked or have been more lovely on their wedding day than these two.  They look so in love... that's my favorite part.

Happy Mothers Day.

I couldn't help but think of all that my mom has done for me (the last few months especially) as I watched this video. Knowing that I'll be leaving home in just a few weeks, and won't really ever live with my mom (and dad) again, makes this Mothers Day all that much more special. There's a reason why the First Presidency of the Church has said,

"Motherhood is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels."

Happy Mothers Day to all Mothers,

but to mine especially, who I love so much.

grandpa christensen.

"Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life." - Alma 40:11

"That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.” - D&C 76:24

As I sat in a hospital room for nearly 10 hours on Monday, surrounded by aunts, uncles, cousins, my sister and her husband, my parents and my grandparents, I felt tremendously grateful for the plan of happiness. Our joy can be full. Our lives are eternal. Families can be together forever. These are things I often say, and even testify of to other friends and family and even strangers that I meet. But for the first time, I realized how inexpressibly grateful I was for that knowledge, for the comfort and surety that the gospel brings.

President Gordon B. Hinckley once gave a talk entitled, "The Empty Tomb Bore Testimony," how truly thankful I am for those words, and for knowing that they're true.

I loved my Grandpa Christensen. He was the George Bailey in my life, and probably in the lives of so many others. He was the man with a million friends, someone who loved and accepted and cared for anyone he met. I am so grateful for his legacy of love, and for all that he has left his spouse, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren behind. We'll be seeing him again one day soon, I know it.

my dad.

My dad is special in many ways, mainly because he's mine.

The other week I was stressed out of my mind (unfortunately stress is sometimes an all too common factor in my life) but my dad knows that. It was about one in the morning, and he was all the way in Sydney (12 hour time difference) and we were texting. He was in the middle of a busy day, but said he'd run back to the hotel so we could Skype. We talked for two hours. He listened to all that I had to say, and gave me bits and pieces of advice. He referred me to about twelve different talks given by twelve different general authorities (like always) -- but then, like he always does before we say goodbye, he told me how much he loved me.

I don't know who else gets out a pen and paper to take down notes when they're on the phone with their dad, but I do. I don't know who else plans on making a quote book of their dad one day, but I do. I don't know who else could possibly be more proud of their dad, but I am and always have been. I can't think of anyone smarter, wiser and kinder than my dad - someone who is infinitely patient and understanding and loving. I love him more than I could ever say.

Happy Birthday (your today, my tomorrow) Dad! I love you.

don't carpe diem

Chances are, my days of motherhood are still a few years away. At least lets hope. I have a few things to work on, mainly cooking. I even got this email from my mom the other day after we heard about a girl on the news who only ate chicken mcnuggets for her entire. life.


Oh Kelsie Lou, it's time to eat more like a grown-up. I will be very proud of you if you will eat something new each week.

I don't want to be a grandmother to malnurished children with scurvy. They will be on the news as the orphans of the arrested

woman who only fed her children turkey and cheese. You could get life for that.....and if your in prison you will automatically

be excommunicated, your husband will most likely divorce you and you will be homeless when you get out as a ninety year old woman.

You will also be pennyless. You will end up living in Liberty Park and most likely you will be stabbed to death.

So PLEASE, to save yourself these miseries, eat like a grown-up.


It's a family joke that my children will grow up malnourished or that I will start turning into turkey, but when the boy you're dating includes a box of chocolates with a box of Vitamin C -- you know its probably time to stop eating turkey and cheese for every meal. He even gave me a bread basket for Christmas one year. What is wrong with me?

Anyway - the point of this post was actually to send those of you reading this somewhere else. I ran across this blog through another blog (can't seem to remember where though!) and laughed out loud and even related, despite not being a mom. And I can bet when I actually do have a family of my own, I'll relate a whole lot more.

Closer to Fine

Don't Carpe Diem

both via Momastery

A lot of you may have even ran across this blog before, but I like it mostly because of her honesty and humor.

Now time to make an early lunch. Happy Wednesday!

2011/2012

I will always be grateful for 2011. Sometimes I can hardly believe that 2010 was just the year before last, because so much has changed. We kid around, but we often make the joke that this year we were forced to grow up. I kind of think it's true.

I am grateful for a year that brought so much change, even for the parts that weren't perfectly perfect or what I was planning on (at the very least...) Because seeing my best friend after two years, and petting kangaroos and koalas with two parents who became more like two best friends was worth all the up and downs in between. Learning more of who I
thinkbelieve I am through friends, family, school, chances and opportunities (missed or taken) and understanding life better by bike riding and forgetting our cares, or sitting with those same friends realizing that life just got so much bigger than ourselves... and then knowing that although any of it may not get any easier from this point onward, it definitely gets more and more rewarding, and I only become more and more grateful.

I am most excited for 2012, though. I have been for a few reasons, but I decided that if the world is going to end anyway next December 21st (just like it was last May 15th?), I better make the most of it.

So cheers to a wonderful and magnificent, exciting, imperfect but perfect and happy year! And cheers to another 365 days beginning... now.

far apart.

If I could tell you one thing I learned this Christmas, it's that I could have had all the snow in the world, the biggest presents under the prettiest tree, and it still would have felt like something was missing without all my family around. Thank goodness for Skype and for parents who will read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas over the computer screen even though we're far apart.

your happiness will have no ends.

A few years ago, I remember reading a talk by President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and for me, it was one of those things you read once and remember for the rest of your life:

"My young friends, there is much happiness and joy to be found in this life. I can testify of that. I picture you with a companion whom you love and who loves you. I picture you at the marriage altar, entering into covenants that are sacred. I picture you in a home where love has its fulfillment, and I picture you with little children about you and see your love growing with them. I cannot frame this picture. I would not if I could, for it has no bounds. Your happiness will have no ends."

I've spent so much time "planning my own wedding" since I was six (just kidding, maybe like 12) and usually it included things like what flowers I wanted at the reception, or what "our wedding song" would be -- but I think so much of the little details go unnoticed anyway because you're so overwhelmingly happy and grateful for the feeling of love. And for family, too.

craig christensen (that's my dad)

Some of my friends have made the joke that if you were to call me and begin a conversation, you could put the phone down for at least three minutes, and three minutes later I'd still be talking unaware that the person on the other line had gone (ha...ha...) -- But ask me about either of my parents, and I'm sure that would be the case.

-- Except today I'd like to specifically dedicate to my dad, because that's just the sort of thing you do on fathers day.

I could tell you a million stories of a million different ways that my dad has been one of greatest examples in my life, but today I decided to share one of my favorite memories instead: my first kiss.

Because we weren't allowed to date in my home until age 16, my first kiss had to be kept secret because I was still fifteen and a half - and I was convinced that if my parents found out, I'd be banned from dating Spencer Beeston until college graduation (haha - dramatic now, but at the time I was truly convinced that would have been the case.) So I swore to myself that I'd never, ever tell my family -- and most especially, I'd never, ever tell my dad.

Well, all that changed when I made the exception and told my little sister about it (like fifteen seconds after I got home) and I guess I shouldn't have been all that surprised when she apparently went straightway and told my dad about it anyway.

And I still remember that Saturday morning -- walking into my bedroom, seeing my dad there sitting at my desk. Do you guys remember ever missing curfew? (oh the joy of junior year) My parents were always sitting at the kitchen table by the time I walked in the door - and worst of all, all they had to say was: We'll talk about it in the morning.

Well that particular Saturday morning was that same awkward/guilt/dang it feeling times a million, because as I slowly walked into my room, all my dad had to say was: "We need to have a talk."

And although I can't really remember what we specifically talked about, (other than my dad making me read a Jon Bytheway article entitled: "What Do Kisses Mean" - haha) what I remember the most was hugging my dad after a long, awkward, "I promise it won't happen until I'm at least 27" conversation, and my dad telling me that he loved me.

I'm biased, but my dad is the best person I know, the best basketball player I know, and most gratefully, the best father I know. And since today is fathers day, what better way to celebrate than by letting other people know what kind of a dad my dad is - because he's just the best.

happy fathers day!

--

ps. dad - after looking for half an hour, i swear this is the only picture in existence of just the two of us. (and it was taken like 18 years ago, and i take up 1/100 of it). depressing. time to change that this summer.

pss. best fathers day card. "like hunting down and killing his enemies."

psss. love (and watch!) this video.

ppsss. love you dad.

mother dearest.

All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.
-Abraham Lincoln

No matter where she is in the world, she is always putting others before herself.
And I'm lucky to have her as mine.
My best friend, my all-too-often advice giver, and my example day in and day out, of the woman and mother I hope to become one day too.

Happy Mothers Day Mom! I love you.

kenken.

We ate lunch this weekend on the floor.
We missed the Disney movie Prom.
We had two sleepovers.
We ate fried chicken in bed.
And we learned this dance.

If she didn't already have a boyfriend, I'd probably date her.
That's how much I love kenken.

you're the apple of my eye

Considering 70% of my posts have something to do with love, it shouldn't be surprising that it's something I probably think about more often than not -- Valentines Day is obviously no exception.

I've heard love defined by many people in many different ways, and I guess that makes sense because the way I've defined love has changed from the time I was fifteen, or eighteen, and even now at twenty-one. Maybe it's because love will always mean more to me the next year, than it did the year before.

But out of all the different ways I've thought about love, or have been told about love, the following idea about the words "I love you" has always made the most sense to me:

Because love is as much a verb as it is a noun, the phrase “I love you” is much more a promise of behavior and commitment than it is an expression of feeling...you can’t “fall out of love,” because love is something you decide.-Elder Lynn G. Robbins, "Agency & Love in Marriage"


I think this is perfect.
It means that love isn't fleeting, temporary or even conditional. It means that when things get hard or when I have gray hair, love won't somehow disappear. Those words don't just mean fireworks or boxes of chocolate. They promise something. In fact, they promise a lot. They promise that at the end of the day, things will always be okay. That love is going to take work, but that it is something we will make work day after day. That love is going to be about taking care of each other, even if that means doing things you really don't like to do, (and for me that will probably mean being willing to make something for dinner other than turkey and cheese sandwiches.)

All of that is a lot greater than whatever I had originally imagined love to be at fifteen. Or eighteen.

But it's what I like to think love is at 21.


So for Valentines Day this year, I will spend my time with my mom and dad. And we will watch An Affair to Remember, and my mom will make fun of something dramatic the actress says, and my dad will clear his throat (because that's what he does instead of crying) when Kerry Grant realizes why she couldn't meet him at the top of the Empire State building.


And then my mom might dance during the credits (not unusual).


And then I will go to bed, eating the rest of my Forrero Rochers, thinking about how grateful I am for two parents who love me and who love each other. I'll think about how happy I am for my friends who have found love in their own life, and how excited I am for the love I am going to find one day, too.


(And then I will watch this engagement video over and over again,
because it's darling,

and because I want to copy cat it!)


Happy Valentines Day everyone!



photo via

why i love my mom.

It's not Mothers day, and it's not her birthday, but I still love my mom today.

And I'm so happy because she's coming into town on Thursday, and after emailing her some things we could possibly do while she's here, she responded with the following trip itinerary:




I would like to see some movies, go to the Spoken Word, go to The Chocolate, and Tuilie's Bakery, and the Beehive Tea Room, I would like to go see where you got the Matilda cake and put your note, I might like to go get sandwiches at that one place in Alpine. I would like to get the oven fixed and make a turkey dinner and bake some bread. I would like to go to Walmart and cry at the prices, I would like to go to the Clinique counter and get some face soap. I would like to go to Banana Republic, JCrew and Ann Taylor. That is all. Thank you very much.

XOXOXO

Mom





My mom is fun,
And I am lucky.

living in thanksgiving.

Gratitude turns a meal into a feast and drudgery into delight. It softens our grief and heightens our pleasure. It turns the simple and common into the memorable and transcendent...Living in thanksgiving daily is a habit that will enrich our lives and the lives of those we love.
-Elder Wirthlin, "Live in Thanksgiving Daily"

My thankful Thanksgiving post I've been so excited to share.
Here I shall go:

Friends, family and most especially faith.

And I know I brag about the first two items on the list quite often,
but it's simply because I happen to have the most beautiful and incredible girlfriends,
And funny, strange, out of control boy-friends, (who like to talk just as much as girlfriends).

I have a family that loves, supports, and helps me become better each and every day.
Parents who, (believe it or not!) keep me up way past my bedtime just so we can talk on the phone at night about life 2,000 miles apart from each other.
I have a sister whose become an incredible young woman over the past year; and as we've grown up, the more we've doubled up on the time we spend talking and talking (and talking) about our joys and heartaches.

And finally, the first two wouldn't mean nearly as much to me if it wasn't for what I believe. That God does live, and that He is a loving Heavenly Father who perfectly knows and loves each and every one of His children.

Have I (or will I) ever win the lottery?
No.
Will I ever own that Anthropologie dress I've been vying for the past two weeks?
Never.
Am I insanely brilliant? Or is college graduation still taking forever and a half to complete?
It's taking forever and a half to complete.

But I do believe I have all that matters most in life, and that makes me so, so very grateful.
So, with that being said,
Happy Thanksgiving.