Stadium of Fire

Every year BYU puts on an amazing Fourth of July show at the football stadium, which becomes the Stadium of Fire, and they always get a big (well, that's sometimes debatable) celebrity to come. This year it's Carrie Underwood!!!!


I'm going to miss it obviously, because I will be in Jerusalem.


Sigh.

This Boot is Made for Walkin

I still have my crutches today, but now I also have a walking boot! It feels big and clunky and I hesitate still to put my weight on my left side, but I'm healing! Being able to put any weight on it at all feels a little bit like a miracle. The doctor told me the X-rays looked pretty good. Yay for progress!

I never before realized how much my attitude and self-esteem depends on my ability to move with ease--to run, to dance, to clean my room, to grab the newspaper with my free hand as I quickly pass by, to jump out of bed in the morning, to take a brief shower, to stand on 2 feet to cook a dinner (however amateur).

Now that the hardest part is behind me, I wish I had been more optimistic, but let me justify my attitude by saying that I tried hard, and on occasion achieved said optimism. But, at the time, I very sincerely felt almost irrevocably tired, frustrated, misunderstood, and perpetually behind.

But today there is a light at the end of the tunnel! I will be able to walk on my own again soon! I will be able to focus all my energy on my life goals and helping others rather than just trying to get up the stairs or open the door. I will be healed in time to go to Jerusalem.

Cheers to soon being able to do athletic things once again:

Instant Friends

Yesterday when I walked into the JKB I saw a girl on crutches. We were instant friends. We both stood there on one foot (with the support of our crutches) talking for a few minutes. I'm sure we were quite the sight. I'm pretty sure she only sprained her ankle because she had a cute little sock on her foot (I haven't yet found a sock I can fit over my splint). She had been ice skating when she got hurt. (Dang ice. Dang winter sports.) When she told me it just happened yesterday, I felt extremely grateful that I had a 3-day weekend to adjust before going back to school. It must have been a tough day for her but I told her not to worry...it gets easier!

Inspiration

If you've never read the Nie Nie Dialogues, you should. I've been reading it more often lately for its inspirational value. Click here to read Nie Nie's story.

Below is my favorite paragraph from the article. Being the religious and emotional person that I am, I cried. She will likely never see my blog, but thanks, Nie Nie, for being such an amazing example.

Stephanie says she had a vision while she was unconscious, and she was given a choice. "[I was] with somebody who told me that I could choose to live and have a hard life, you know, embarrassing at times and painful. Or, I could just stay there, and there's lots of work I could do there too," she says. "But I thought of my children and my husband, and it was easy. An easy choice."

Day 6

Jon once told me that your whole room looks cleaner when your bed is made and I really took it to heart. I've been extra sure to make my bed every day since I broke my ankle. Something about making my bed, even when I can't clean up the rest of my room fast enough, is inherently satisfying.

Day 4 of Having a Broken Ankle: First Day Back on Campus

For today, I will optimistically ignore the challenges and list blessings instead:

• Elevators.
  
• Lunch with Barbs. I will stay in touch with this girl forever. I love her so much.
• NPR in the morning. Always a good thing.
  
• People holding the door open for me. They probably have no idea how much that simple act means!
• Kimberly. She gave me a ride to campus and has the most positive attitude.
  
• My hometeacher. Spencer picked me up from my last class today. Thank goodness because I don't think I had enough strength left in me to hobble home.
  
• Sympathy. Well, this is good and bad. I actually hate getting so much attention because I don't know how to react, but I get sad when people ignore me.
• My philosophy class was canceled which gave me extra time.
• I'm learning how to be more efficient.
• I'm learning more empathy. I saw a boy in a wheelchair today and I really felt for him. I will never see handicapped people the same way.
  
• I'm learning patience and humility (although I don't remember ever praying for those...?)
  
• Lynne called me just to see how I was doing.
  

Best Brother Ever

Today I fractured my ankle while running. Fortunately, Joey was there to help me when I hurt. So here is a letter for him:

Dear Joey,

Thank you for helping me today when I needed it. Thanks for carrying me up the hill, for driving me to the emergency room, for holding my foot up and gently pressing ice on my ankle, for waiting patiently as I hobbled slowly up and down the stairs, for enduring my alternating fits of laughing and crying, for going grocery shopping for me, etc. I am blessed to have a brother as wonderful as you.

I love you,

Abby

happy news

This article gave me goosebumps, and the photographer did a great job of capturing the moment.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700007042/Utah-familys-dreams-come-true-Their-kids-are-home-from-Haiti.html?linkTrack=rss-30