On Best Friends.

I got home to Mesa on Thursday and am just here for a mini vacation. As I've been home, I've had a lot of time to reflect on life and the friendships I've had for two reasons: 1. The celebration of Morgan's upcoming wedding, 2. Missionary friends returning. Reflecting on these things has brought me to such a thankful spot in my life for so many reasons.

I'm quick to call someone my best friend, which doesn't lessen the term to me. I have a lot of friends whom I love and cherish and really do consider my best friend. I realized that there are people I will continually fall back on for support, like Morgan and Jessika. We've been best friends since we were two, and despite our different friend groups, we get together again and it's like we never left each other's sides. Naomi is another friend like that. She's married, and I'm in Provo, but we can talk to each other on the phone for hours, and whenever I'm in town, it's like high school all over again. The thing is, I don't just have girlfriends like that. Zac Velarde has been such a good friend to me since we met, and every time I'm in Mesa, you can find us together, loving life and living like there's no tomorrow.

The thing I've come to realize  is that these people, Zac, Morgan, Naomi, Jacob, Jessika, Adam, Joey, Maeser- people I really know and love abundantly- have always been there for me. We've seen good and bad times, and somehow, miraculously, we come out on top, and that's not always the case with friends. Friendships don't always survive fights and disagreements, but when they do, they last forever. I think that one of the reasons I consistently come back to these people is because I know them so well, I know their stories, I know their worries (in a small way), I know their families, and I love everything about them. How could I not consider them my best friends?

Sometimes it's hard for me to watch my life change so much, and see everyone growing up, getting married, and having kids, but as I look at the friends I've been surrounded with, I know that the ones that really mean the world to me, the ones I've been with forever, they will always be right next to me, no matter where life takes us. I may have a fickle heart, but deep down, with my best friends, I'll always be loyal to those who have shown me loyalty. I happen to be blessed with a good group of people who've done that for me.

One down, One to Go.

I'm not normally one to gush about "my missionary" (although I know I've talked about him a lot lately) but today is quite literally a day of celebration for me. Today, Mr. Jacob Ladd has been gone for an entire year. Which means the countdown can officially begin. I couldn't be happier!

In a lot of ways, I feel like he hasn't been gone that long, but then in other ways, it feels like it's been an eternity. I've learned so much in the time that we've been apart (I realize everyone says that). I've grown and realized who I am and what I need and who's important to me- Jacob is certainly on that list. It's been all sorts of amazing to read his letters and watch him become an even better priesthood leader; I know that he has probably never been happier in his life, and that makes me happy. Even though he may be the slowest possible letter writer on the face of the Earth, every letter I get is better than anything I could ask for.

Anyway, I won't go on gushing. But, I will continue to celebrate all day! BOO to the YA!

Love always,
Ems

Sister Jordynn Louise Alston

One would think that since I've sent off all my guy friends on missions, that I would be better at this. But I'm not.
The only redeeming quality of the month of August is that next August, I will get Jacob back.
As for now,
I hate August for always stealing my favorite people.

Tonight, Jordynn was set apart as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
We had a great drive to and from Casa Grande to talk, try not to cry, and discuss spiritual matters.
But it didn't change our goodbye.
We tried out hardest not to cry,
but just like the night of graduation,
the tears came, and we parted through our craffing tears (cry/laughing).

Jordynn and I were "sisters" on our stake Exodus trek my ninth grade year.
Since then, we've been pretty inseparable, and we've stuck to the title of sisters.
There are few who know and understand me better than Jordynn.
Few who care more about me.
Few who I care more about.
I love Jordynn for all that she's taught me.
She's one of the most Christ-like people I know and she has carefully focused her whole life on Christ.

I wish I could more adequately describe my love for her, but tonight, my heart is simply full and stretched taunt as I face the next 18 months without my sister/side-kick/best friend.
I know that she will be the most amazing missionary.
I know that there are people waiting for her who she will find, love, and bring to the gospel.
I know that she's chosen the best path for herself, and I could not be more excited for her.

But I will miss her so much.
I already feel the gap in my life.

But she'll be back.
Until then....

God speed, Sister Alston.
I'll love you forever.

Love always,
Ems

Why not celebrate?

Anyone who has spent a significant amount of time as my friend knows that I love a good party. In fact, I was recently reminiscing with my good friend, Zac, and he reminded me that I threw him an awesome 18th birthday party our senior year (granted, I very much wanted to date him so I probably put in EXTRA work at the point (p.s it paid of)). Going away to college, I don't have an awesome back yard to throw mega parties like I used to- the kind of parties that are complete with Just Dance on the huge projector, swimming, tables for games, and a warm, crackling fire- but I do still find lots of reason to celebrate- like a good test score or a cute boy posting on my FB wall. I think that you should celebrate anything that is 1. Semi-related to to you in some sort of way or 2. A giant cause of happiness.

That being said, since Jacob's birthday was on the 20th of July, and considering that it was his GOLDEN birthday, I called up Morgan and told her that we had great cause to celebrate. But since I don't really have any friends here in Mesa (yet alone friends  in Mesa that know Jacob- except Morgan, of course) we decided that the best celebration was whipping up some good 'ole Oreo cupcakes (oh, deliciousness in a cupcake). It was a wonderful evening filled with plenty of laughter and a few almost-fatal mistakes (in her defense, Morgan doesn't bake as much as I do). We stuck 20 candles in 4 cupcakes, because we figured that 20 candles in one cupcake would probably be a major disaster, wished Jacob happy birthday with a smiling, glowing,  picture, and blew the candles out before sharing the cupcake love with my family.

I will always love celebrations. So if you have a reason to celebrate, let me know. I'll have a party of my own- I'm not kidding.

Love always,
Ems

A Golden Birthday!

Today it is the golden birthday of this cute Elder- Mr. Jacob Colton Ladd. How can you resist that smile? I find it impossible. He is 20 today, and seeing as it is the 20th of July, it is his golden birthday! I was always jealous of people who got golden birthdays when they understood what a golden birthday is. I had no clue about golden birthdays when I turned 6!

Anyway, seeing as it is his golden birthday, and seeing as I always love to celebrate and make cake, Morgan and I will be making a cake in honor of this great day and sharing it with my family. Who knows, we may even add candles (who am I kidding, of course there will be candles). I love a good birthday celebration, don't you?

Anyway, I'm sure he spent his day (since it was yesterday for him since he's in Australia and time is a weird thing like that) working really hard out in the field and enjoying the not-so-cold Australian winter. Hopefully somebody sang him Happy Birthday because as embarrassing as that always is, everyone needs it to be sung to them once. My bet is he didn't get it sung to him, because he probably didn't even tell anyone it was his birthday- because that's what Jacob does, he's a no fuss kind of person. Which I guess is part of the reason he's serving a mission and I'm not, because gosh dangit, I like my birthday to be celebrated! The Chinese speaking people of Australia sure are lucky to have such a wonderfully caring, loving, selfless, and kind person; I know he is loving every second of his service!

Happy birthday, Elder! You are very loved and missed over here in the states!

Love always,
Ems

On my Soapbox.

I am going to get on my soapbox for a moment or so- you've been warned. 

---

My love for reading began at a young age, and because of this, I was reading classics at a rather young age. Morgan and I tried to read Emma when we were about in third grade, but that, obviously, didn't work so well. However, I first read Pride and Prejudice on my own in about seventh grade. I instantly decided that I needed to find my own Mr. Darcy; that outlook on life never really changed. Occasionally, I would decide that I wanted a Knightly more so than a Darcy, but I was always looking for Austen's ideal romantic.

This being said, I was taunted a bit for my romantic ideals by friends, parents of friends, and even boyfriends. It's not that any of them were ever mean about it, it was just always, "Oh, Emma. So in love with Darcy. The hopeless romantic." As high school drew to an end, it became a bit irritating to me as people began to say, "You're such a hopeless romantic. You will be married right off the bat at BYU." A. Yes, I am a hopeless romantic B. Please don't make that sound like such a bad thing and C. What does that have to do with my being a teenage bride? Nothing. People said this to me constantly and I would just smile and laugh and say, "Ya.... probably not (insert big false grin here)".

Now, two years down the road, I'm not married, and I always just kind of wonder what all those people think. Do they think I had some great feminist awakening inside of me that made me determined to not get married "right off the bat"? Definitely not the case. Do they think that I lost my hopeless romantic side and saw reality and decided marriage wasn't as great as Austen portrays? Nope. Do they think that I just gave up on love? Try again. 

The real fact of the matter is, that rather than loose those hopeless romantic ideals that I've had since first reading P&P, I've learned that they're not just ideals, they are in fact, a possible part of reality. I've found love (even more so than I did in High School, because yes, I do believe I truly loved people in high school) and I decided that I wasn't going to give up on my Mr. Darcy because, why would I do that when I know he's out there? The boys I dated at BYU, specifically Jacob and Garrett, showed me that I can prove all those nay-sayers wrong: the modern Mr. Darcy-MY Mr. Darcy- is not a thing of fiction, and he's worth the wait to find him. There are boys that will still "write you lines", and dance with you, and bring you flowers, and quote you Shakespeare, and tell you that you have, bewitch them mind, body, and soul. 

The other fact of the matter is that being a hopeless romantic does not mean that we expect our men to be perfect. Quite the opposite, in fact. Any great romantic knows that the perfection of Darcy and Bingley and Knightly and Edward Ferrars is that they make mistakes. Neither the heros nor the heroines of Austen's novels fall perfectly in love. There are jilted hearts and mixed up emotions, months of separation and confessions of love that aren't always eloquent and beautiful. Their love is not perfect, and it takes work, and sometimes (as in Marianne's case in S&S) it feels as if your heart will never heal again. 

So yes, I am a hopeless romantic. No, that does not mean that I am out of touch with society, and no, it does not mean that I will get married the second I fall in love with someone. I can fall in love multiple times, and every time, it can be just as real and just as true. Please, just let me be a hopeless romantic. You don't have to believe in romance in the same manner that I do, but I would like to be respected and taken seriously. 

Sincerely, 

An unmarried, BYU Junior, Hopeless Romantic.

One Twelfth.

Sometimes, I feel like every day is an accomplishment. 

Let me rephrase that, everyday I feel like getting through the day is an accomplishment. 

There are lots of reasons.

One, sometimes it's really hard to get up and go to school when it's pitch black and 30 degrees outside (let's not talk about winter coming.)

Two, working for 20 hours a week. Sometimes I feel like work is my life.  (Good thing I love it)

Three, getting all my homework done and still having time to enjoy my friends. 

Four, getting to sleep at a decent hour. 

Five, not crying because I miss that darn good missionary. 

So ya, everyday is an accomplishment  and today, I've accomplished one twelfth of my ultimate accomplishment. That one twelfth feels like it's been five years already. 

Time is a funny thing, because I look back and I think, "Wow, I cannot believe it's already mid-October." 

Then I think, "Wait a second, shouldn't it already be Christmas?" 

And I end thinking, "Just keep moving on because the less you think about it, the faster it'll go."

But overall, life is good. 

I've got amazing roommates,

the best work friends on the planet, 

and I'm taking classes that I adore and can't wait to get to each day.  

Oh, and after my French speaking exam, my French teacher told me he was impressed with my fluidity. It made my day. I practically skipped out of the JKB. 

Life is good.

Love always,

Ems 

Made my Night.

This facebook conversation totally made my night.

What's not to love?

Love always,
Ems

Golly Gee.

As if the end of the Olympics weren't enough emotional sadness for the day, this wonderful boy was set apart for his mission today.

I'm so incredibly proud of him and cannot wait to hear of his success. Missions truly are an amazing blessing to all these boys; it's amazing to read their letters and see how much they've changed and matured. He will work miracles in the field, that I am sure of.

As for me, I think I'll snuggle up in bed and watch P.S. I Love You, because everyone needs a good cry now and again.

Here's to Elder  Jacob Colton Ladd! Take care of him, you Australians!

Love always,
Ems

A Belated Birthday Wish.

Jacob is going to be upset that's the picture I chose, but I'm quite in love with the pure happiness that it seems to capture. 

Onward. 

So, July 20th marked a most wonderful day. It was Jacob's birthday and he is FINALLY nineteen. Thank the sweet heavens above, I'm no longer the old lady. Anyway, Jacob is grand, wonderful, stupendous, marvelous, out-of-this-world, awesome, etc. He's definitely one of the greatest guys I have ever met and I owe him a heck of a lot. Here's the thing, Jacob is a waiter. Or at least, he's a waiter when it come to waiting on important things, let's say an important thing like... me. He waits for me a lot. From dating him, to going on a date with him, he always is waiting for me yet, he never ever complains. It really is quite the miracle, if I do say so. But golly gee, am I grateful that he waits. 

Jacob is one of a kind. He's intelligent beyond belief, and yet he's incredibly humble. He's musical, and artistic, and he can write poetry (dunno if he wants the world to know that, but....). Plus, he's tall, dark, and handsom. (I make myself laugh so hard, but really, he is.) He also is very logical which drives me insane sometimes but is something that I need in my life considering I'm one of the most illogical people I know. 

So, for his 19th Birthday, I am wishing that my birthday package makes it to his temporary house in Virginia, and I'm wishing extra hard that somehow the stars align and we get to see each other before he enters the MTC on August 15th. I also wish that his 19th year proves to be one of the best years of his life, and that while he is out serving the people of Australia, he is able to work miracles in the lives of the people there. I wish for his success in the mission field and know that at the very least, that wish will come true because he's going to be an amazing missionary. 

Happy (late) birthday, Mr. Jacob Colton Ladd! 

I miss you!

Love always, 

Ems

BYU Freshman Year

BYU Freshman Year from Emma Barton on Vimeo.

Obviously, it takes me a while to get around to making these. Alas, I am finally finished with the recap of my Freshman year. Making this movie made me so very excited to be back in Provo in about a month. Oh, how I miss my BYU. 

Also, special shout out to Mr. Jacob Ladd who had a birthday yesterday. A special post is coming in honor of him so watch out. 

Love always, 

Ems

Two Hours of Sleep, and Two Planes Later....

Well, ya'll, I'm finally in Orlando. Is that not crazy? Lemme tell ya, I felt so grown up being shipped off at Sky Harbor to start a life on the other side of the country.

(Me being Adultish and  Jet-setterish) 

I flew first to JFK (don't ask me why) and then to Orlando and learned that the most comfortable way to sleep was with my legs crossed and then sleeping on my legs... Only way I could sleep.

And then, after getting half way through Nienie's Heaven is Here (excellent, highly recommended), I was in Orlando and finding my shuttle to my apartments!

See, my ticket even says I'm an adult. That's when it hit me. I was an adult. And so I was off. Found my roommates and love them. Somehow our apartment of six girls has two rooms of a Emma and Katelynn pair. So things get pretty confusing sometimes around here. Luckily, my roommate's mom drove her here and so her mom took us all to Walmart and golly did we load up. Turns out that my roommate knows Jacob. The world is seriously tiny! Anyway, we spent a good hour at Walmart and got so many things... My cart.....

And, the back  of the car....

And then it was off to casting which stressed me out because when they ask me if I've committed a felony, I no the answer is no but they ask me as if I should rethink my answer. It's an issue. But the best part of the casting center was the main foyer with the statues of all the characters. My favorite was Goofy because it reminded me of Caleb....

Then easiest lifeguard test of my life. Turns out that if you're a shallow water lifeguard (which I am) then you only have to swim 50 yards (two lengths) and then retrieve a brick from 5 ft of water... When you're 5'9" this is a bit laughable and so my two friends, who are also shallow water lifeguards, and I, made it quite the entertainment for ourselves. 

  

Ah. I'm loving it here. It's going to be a blast and I cannot wait to get my front gate pass on Friday so that I can get into the parks. It's going to be the best day ever!! 

Also, please enjoy this picture with me. Jacob says that sometimes he pretends that his dog is a Sheep and he is the shepard. Every time I look at this picture, I just laugh. And also, notice that his smirk has been the same through the ages. Also another thing that makes me laugh all the time. 

Is his smirk not exactly the same?! 

Ah man, life is so good. 

Love always, 

Ems

The Latest on Life.

Goodness, I don't even remember the last time I posted about real life. So this may be difficult.


First off, my good friend Maeser got his mission call to Fortaleza, Brazil! We were very excited for him!

Maeser and I are movie going buds. Latest wonderful film we saw? Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. I highly recommend it.


Next, I went up to my Grandma's with Josh and Sarah the weekend after conference and my Grandma and I were able to find her family in the 1940's census! It was an amazing experience.

Then finals week came and I almost died. I've never spent so much time in the library. Luckily, I had this boy to help me through...

(This is my attempt at his smirk and Jacob laughing at me.. Needless to say, only Jacob can do the Jacob smirk.)

My Aunt Kelly has become quite the Instagramer and I was struck one day by the resemblance between my cousins and myself. I guess this is natural since we're related and Jacob didn't understand what was so amazing about it, I just am really in love with the fact that I have family resemblances in me. It's the good 'ole Barton blood! 

Also, the four of us girls went on an adventure to City Creek Mall in SLC and we loved it! We were especially smitten with the Disney store. Oh, Disney. 

Then, the final days of my Freshman year came to an end. We had graduation, saying goodbye to dear friends, and way too many emotions to express. 

My last night with Mr. Jarvis before the mish. 

(Yes, I tied my own bow-tie)

 My brother Josh is a college graduate! 

Still in shock over Australia. 

So happy I ran into my favorite SLC boy, 

Mr. David Robinson! 

Then we took the long drive home. Luckily I had my best friend Morgan to keep me company, oh, and my amazing book, Death Comes to Pemberley. I highly recommend it to those who love murder and the Darcys. 

I seriously love Arizona. Driving into Mesa and smelling the jasmine was heavenly. And the 102 degree weather makes me want to sit outside all day. That's why Seth and I took a bike ride then drove to the Gilbert Temple. I'm so excited for the dedication! It's going to be beautiful! 

Ah man, life is good. 

Love always, 

Ems

Australia.

So the call came and he's going to....

Brisbane, Australia speaking Mandarin! 

Wait, what? 

Yup, Mandarin speaking.

I am so excited for him. 

He headed off to Morocco today 

and boy am I going to miss him. 

However, I'm not over it. Australia! 

That is seriously awesome. 

And pretty soon, thanks to Wikipedia, 

he will know everything you would ever want (or not want) to know about Australia.

Those lucky Australians don't know the goodness in store for them .  

Also, in other news, 

it is my best friend's birthday.

Her name is Naomi Billings and I love her. 

Since it's summer and all, 

I'll be posting more regularly. 

And I'll catch up on the ending of school. 

Crazy how fast my Freshman year went by!

Happy Friday!

Love always, 

Ems 

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow....
That boy up there will open his mission call. To say I'm nervous would be an understatement.
Tomorrow...
He and I are one day closer to saying goodbye.
Tomorrow...
I am also saying goodbye to one of my dear friends, Mr. Jarvis.

BUT!

Tomorrow,
I am done with finals and I will walk out of Vilja's classroom singing songs or pure joy!
And tomorrow,
I will not be in the library till 2 a.m. Holy. Schnikies. Thank. You.

Tomorrow will be an emotional roller coaster.
This oughta be fun.

Love always,
Ems

p.s. I guess you could say I like that boy up there. I guess you could also call him Mr. Jacob Ladd.

Date Nights are Happy Nights.

After a long and crazy week, I had a wonderful double date night with Josh and Sarah, and Jacob and I. We made pizzas, played some games, made cookies, came up with a story about Harry Potter and mummies, and then watched Raising Helen. It was a night of good things. 

Here's the thing, I love Josh and Sarah (and Jacob isn't too shabby either) so spending a Friday night with those three people pretty much made my crazy week all worth it. I love Josh and Sarah because they're so in love and so crazy. Of course, they got in a flour fight. Jacob and me, being the responsible ones, restrained from such silly things, and just made our pizzas- Jacob to perfection, me to satisfaction. And even though they made a mess, we really didn't mind, because we just got to laugh at them. I love those two. 

 The couples. 

 The responsible ones. 

 Sarah's heart pizza on the right, my odd shaped pizza on the left. 

So Josh and Sarah have these goblets that have the cameos of Martha and George Washington on them and I think they're the dandiest things. Jacob apparently isn't as entertained with them as I am, but that's only normal, I'm easily entertained. Regardless, they're classy goblets. 

Life is still happy. And even happier is the sole month of school that is left. I'm desperately waiting for the Florida sunshine that is just over the horizon. I can't believe my first year of college is almost up. This is crazy business right here. 

Love always,

Ems