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.

Favorite Part.

As I've been home from Paris, the question I constantly get is, of course, "So what was your favorite thing about Paris?"

Because a person can pick that.

As I've responded to all these people, I inevitably pick the same thing: church.
Yes, even in the most beautiful city on earth, my favorite thing was church.
Here's why.

We spent a lot of time at the church. Not only did we have the normal 3 hours every Sunday, but we always had religion there on Mondays, plus FHE, and most weeks, the 4 hours of normal class. We were constantly at the church, hanging out at the institute, taking advantage of the free wifi, and eating at the corner boulangerie. The institute quickly became our second home. We all felt comfortable there, we were friends with Elder and Sister Haward, we knew the missionaries who came in to email every monday afternoon, we knew where the comfiest seats were, where the best wifi was, and that the church would always have clean bathrooms with hot water to wash your hands in (both rarities in Paris). The church was safe, it was far from the hustle and bustle of Paris life and we could leave our purses anywhere without worrying about pick-pockets.

However, the actual congregation was also incredible to be around. Going to church every week, and being surrounded by the members of that congregation, who were doing their best to live the gospel in a place where most people think Mormons are Amish, was simply remarkable. I realized over those three months, that I can't even begin to comprehend how blessed I am, and how much I take for granted living in a place where the vast majority of my neighbors are members of the church. They proved to me that faith is so much more than just confessing that you believe, it's living like you believe each and every day. It's sharing the gospel with coworkers, people on the metro, and the people you meet in your apartment complex elevator. Faith is living each day as a representative of Christ, being aware that you are always being watched by those around you, and making sure that those who watch, can tell you believe. They showed me that no matter what your circumstances are in this life, you can love God with all you have, and then give him even more than you have.

I think the greatest thing I learned from the Paris 1st ward is that this gospel, is precious. The gospel changes people in ways that we cannot even begin to comprehend, and even if I've been a member my entire life, it's supposed to change my life, too. They taught me to truly put my faith in Christ, because through him, everything is possible. They taught me to never give up on a person, because everyone can change, it just has to be on God's timing. They taught me to love everyone: rich, poor, black, white, Harvard grad, or elementary school drop out. Above all, they taught me that this gospel means everything, and should never be taken for granted.

I hope that I can remember what I learned from those members.

Thank you, Paris 1st ward.

Love always,
Ems

Seeped in Memory.

As I prepare to leave Paris, I can't help but think of how seeped in memories this city has become. Everywhere I go in Paris, I have memories of the first time I visited it, or the time something funny happened, or a person I saw there who impacted my life. Everywhere I've walked, I've created memories. Every second of this study abroad has created memories. The city is drenched in memories.

I don't want to leave France, ever.  I cannot tell you how much I am going to miss this place. So much about it has become home now- even the ridiculously crowded RER train that always happens to be more packed than usual AND 20 minutes late when I must get to class. I'm going to miss the beautiful city, the way it shines in the rain, the way it sparkles at night. The river that's gushing with rain water right now. The storekeepers who always greet you with Bonjour and help you with anything you need. The boulangeries on every street corner. The adorable little children. The faithful members of the church. The cobblestone streets. The rushing of the metro. The calm of the Tuileries. The art of the Louvre, Orangerie, Orsay, Pompidou. 

There is just so much that I love and so much that I want to keep forever.

I want to stay. Or come back all the time. One of the two. Because America may be my home, but this feels like where I belong. I've found it, and it's Paris. Somehow I always knew it would be.

So as I say goodbye to my city tomorrow, I'll be holding back tears the entire time. Nothing will ever be able to replace this time in Paris, and no matter the new memories I create here, nothing will ever compare to the first memories I created here. 

As Earnest Hemingway said: 

There is never any ending to Paris and the memory of each person who has lived in it differs from that of any other. We always returned to it no matter who we were or how it was changed or with what difficulties, or ease, it could be reached. Paris was always worth it and you received return for whatever you brought to it. But this is how Paris was in the early days when we were very poor and very happy.

Love always,

Ems

Adventure Begins.

Those are the dying words of François Rabelais.  I only know that because of John Green's Looking for Alaska, but because I know that, I feel a lot cooler.

But that's not the point. The point is that in a few short hours I will board a plane that will stop in NYC before heading to Amsterdam which will lead me to my next great adventure: Paris. 

I wasn't scared. But I'm getting jittery. I don't know if it's because I'm nervous or just excited. But I'm jittery. And I really feel like I'm going to seek a great perhaps. Figure some things out in my life. Figure myself out (wouldn't that be a grand thing to accomplish). Time away from everything and everyone I know is much needed at this point in life.

So wish me luck.
I'll let you know how the journey goes.

Bon voyage! 

Love always,
Ems 

On Communities.

There are a lot of things I love about being Mormon. But one of the things I love the most is the way that Mormons join together. When people talk about ward families, it's not just the group of people you go to church with everyday, it really is an extension of your family. The picture above is of my ward family on the night of our seminary graduation; I can honestly say that they are family to me. We've grown up together, been awkward together, and stuck together through thick and thin because that's what we do as a ward family- we stick together.

I was recently thinking about this because I joined a group on facebook that's a little support network of girls who have missionaries (I know, I'm one of those girls now). I was so not going to ever do this because...Well, I'm not really "waiting" as is typical in mormon culture. I've been dating, enjoying life, and heck, even got really close to marriage with a boy! So I thought, "Can't join that community. I'm not one of them." But the thing is, I got over my pride, joined, and instantly found people in my same situation. It was amazing. With welcoming arms they let me into the group and I started enjoying feeling like I was part of a community again; we all have different "waiting" situations, but there is overlap in our experiences that make it possible for us to reach out to one another (plus, with the year mark rapidly approaching, I feel like a "wise one". ha!).

I think that it's great to have any sort of community. For me, I am lucky enough to find it in my church. For others, it may be through their blogs. And for still others, it may be in their actual community. Any way you find it, it boils down to this: we need each other. We can't just mosey through life alone. There's a reason we come to this world in families. There's a reason we find friends and stick to each other. There's a reason why we, as Mormons, are organized into ward units.

It's almost silly how common sense this all seems and yet it was like this huge realization for me this week. Communities rock. The end.

Love always,
Ems

Getting to Know People, Again.

Tonight, I went out on a date with a boy who used to  be in my home ward. I've probably known him for... ten plus years? It's funny, I actually ran into him at church a few weeks back: it was the first time I had seen him since he got home from his mission and the instant I saw him, all my memories of growing up with him (including the memories of having a HUGE crush on him) came flooding back to me.

As we were out and about tonight, it was easy, it was comfortable, it was just as it should have been after having known each other for so long. Once again, I was reminded of how good conversation is. I remembered that it's exhilarating to discuss dreams, beliefs, and interests. I love getting to know people, learning about the books they love, the things they've experienced, the people who have impacted their lives. There are few things that bring me greater joy in life.

Life is pretty great, folks.

Love always,
Ems