As of late

The weather in St. G has afforded us the great opportunity to spend plenty of time outside. Am and Alex took me to the driving range for the 3rd time in my life... and by the end i actually was doing pretty well.

 Welcome to my new home. Work has consumed most of my days.. and only part of my nights. The good news is.. i still thoroughly enjoy my job! It is fun and i am learning soo much.

I promise this looks worse than it actually was.. Amm is way better than me..but lately i have been getting lucky!

This has been a re-occurring alert on my iphone. I dont know when i decided to be half decent at Words With Friends.. but i think Ammon would appreciate it if i went back to my old ways. He use to cream me.

Whit. Hay. Kat. Min.

Tonight we had a bridal shower for my roommate Kat. She is getting married in two weeks in the San Diego temple! I am sooo excited for her. She is sooo great and you should all be excited for the post about her wedding.

Min. Am. Hay. Alex. Tyler

Dixie State won the Pac West Championship.. and unfortunately for me i missed out on the free shirts. Obviously. Sadly i am not a Dixie State College student, but i love to pretend like i am. 

Sometimes i joke that Am has a 'thing' for Japanese women. He is great and always plays along.. until one night when i came out of the bathroom with my eyes taped back, and my hair in a huge asian bun on top of my head. We were both laughing so hard we almost cried.

the coloring on this one is kinda weird.. but this was on Valentines Day! (promise my hair isnt greasy either)

Valentines day was awesomeee. This boy completely spoiled me. We went to dinner at Anasazi Steakhouse, and went to a movie. We exchanged gifts.. and it ended up that we got each other the exact same thing. Cute? hahah kinda. we are just glad we are on the same page!

CSSC Girls

This week i had the chance to get together with my old soccer team. I was seriously sooo excited to see all these girls--and you believe it has pretty much been 4 years since we have officially gotten together! These girls completely changed the way i viewed the game of soccer. Around my sophomore year of high school i realized that in order to move forward in my soccer career i was going to need to change teams. I was really stressed about the decision, because i really didnt want to play for any of the teams in the Sandy/Salt Lake area. I considered this team--Celtic Storm--but wasnt too serious about it seeming that they were located out of Orem. I went to try-outs anyway, and ended up making the team. I literally didnt know a single soul on the whole team. I was starting fresh and i was terrified. But these girls completely welcomed me with open arms and have become women that i look up to in more ways than just on the soccer field. They made me want to be a better person, a better member of the church, and a better soccer player. I seriously love these girls to pieces!

Needless to say it was crazy getting together and catching up with these ladies. I think there were about 12 of us that showed up. I figured out some stats of the girls there.. so here's some interesting facts for ya..

6:18 are married.. i think?
4:12 (the girls there... married)
10:12 will be engaged/married in the next 6 months
1:12 is considering a mission
2:12 are single and just hangin out
2:12 are still playing college soccer..(1 season left)
12:12 are playing soccer for fun :)

I am so sad that i didnt get a picture with all of us.. but i did get one of us girls that stayed and chatted! i love these girls and can't wait to see where they end up. They all have such strong testimonies of the gospel, and i left feeling uplifted and had a more positive outlook on my life. I am grateful for the advice shared, the testimonies born (not in a weird way), and the experiences and growth i have experienced with these girls. i already cant wait for our next get together! I guarantee someone will have a baby! crazyyyyy but oh so exciting :)

Jaime (uvu). Aly(weber). Dana (byu). KT (uvu). Kelsey(uvu). Hay (dixie).

Omega, and EggNog Eggstravaganza

Last night was such a fun night! First, I started off with a little Christmas get together with my old Omega sisters. It is always a good time catching up with those girls. Usually the conversation turns into one about Vampire Diaries or Pretty Little Liars.. Which, lets be honest i am completely ok with both of those topics. We even had a nice little white elephant gift exchange! It was and always is fun seeing those girls. But mostly it just made me really miss Omega. 

Clearly i meant to hold the "C" upside down

Hay. Nina. Scottie.
Africa Chickssss

The gang

After our Omega party, i went over to the Annual 'NOG' party at Tyson's. HOLY SMOKES. i was thoroughly impressed by the crowd and the overall planning of this party. Tyson and his friends made like 7 huge things of homemade eggnog. Normally i am not a big fan of holiday concoction, but after hearing numerous rants and raves about how yummy this eggnog was, i decided to test it out for myself. Umm OK? i fell in love. It was seriously the besttttt eggnog i have ever had. Over the last 6 years these boys have tweaked and mastered their own perfect recipe. Impressive? VERY. I love those boys and it was such a blast mingling with everyone.

Seriously though this party was so dang cute. On the lawn of the yard was the word "nog" spelled out perfectly in christmas lights. Then, on the door hung a sign that said "welcome please NOG". As soon as you knocked, the door flew open and there stood Zach with his high tech camera to photograph everyone who arrived. Then, guests were asked to sign in on the "naughty or nice list". After that it was straight to the kitchen to get your cup of eggnog. Oh and we can't forget the "NOG parade" and the visit from dear old St. Nic himself! How cute right?

Hay. Whit, Mandy. Love these two.
We grew up playing soccer together when we were little teens :)

Good ol Santa 

Paigey and I
 Omega sisters and dear friends 

The founders of the party. Zach and Tyson.
I love these boys so much. we go wayyy back. (oh and you can see the Naughty and nice list) 

The NOG man himself. look at that stache!

i feel loved

Well i had an epiphany the other day. I was driving home from st george and having my much needed thinking time. All of a sudden i started crying. Not a sad cry though, but tears of happiness. I was suddenly full of such love for all my great friends. Sure i have always known my friends were great, but really i am surrounded by the best. Within a matter of 24 hours my feelings went from feeling completely alone, to the exact opposite.. nothing near that. My friends care and they love me for who i am.

It all started Tuesday morning with a voicemail from my dear Whitley. All it said was.. "HALEYYYY J call meee backkkkkk." The simple tone of her voice alone made me so happy. Then i got a text from Preston telling me he was excited for me to watch him play. Then a phone call from Nate. It had been awhile since we talked, and a simple "how are you hay, we haven't talked in awhile" turned into an hour conversation. Next a phone call from my mother expressing her feelings for me and her opinions of my life. She is one wise woman i tell you! My 3rd grade teacher randomly wrote on my FB saying she was thinking about me. I arrived in St George and headed to get pedi's with Whit. Such a perfect catch up activity. She told me her latest news, and i told her mine. I love chats with whit.. she is so non-judgmental and such a good listener. We met up with Ammon and Luke for dinner.. which was way fun getting to know Luke a little more. I received a phone call from jess saying that she was having a BOY!!!! gahhhh i flipped!!! Later that night at the Dixie State vs Montana game i got to see Madison. Love that girl. And Court and Morgan too. Sooo many good friends i tell you! I even got to see some of my old 'baseball buddies'.. quinn and hanley. And of course, we can't forget Hesterly. And, i got to meet some of my friend's friends (does that even make sense?) .. Tyler, Luke, Tyler, Rhett. People i constantly hear stories about, and i finally got to put faces to the names. I got to talk to Prest and Chase very briefly after the game and it made me soo happy. i got a text from Eric Proctor asking me about Africa--always a happy subject, PLUS conversations with eric always turn out to be hilarious. Then, i had another amazing conversation with Ammon... seriously conversations with that boy are always the best. Heading home and walkin into the house to a little surprise from whit made me smile and reminisce about our freshman year. (Jacie... all fours ring a bell?) And the conversation to follow made me even happier. Somehow, whit, min, and i, ended up staying up til 5:15 in the morning just chatting about who even knows what. Love those girls like sisters. Naturally we watched wedding and engagement videos on vimeo... Ya know since we are all sooo close to getting married. bahahhahaah. We practically fell asleep on my little twin bed and woke up wayyy too early the next morning for various reasons. Definitely made for a happy morning.

The next day all the love continued. Anddd it continues! Seriously i dont know how i ever got so lucky to be surrounded by the best. I love my friends. And i am extremely grateful to my Heavenly Father for the wonderful people he has put in my life. Ya know that quote about being an answer to someone else's prayer if you are doing what is right? well i am soo grateful that my friends have been worthy to receive the revelation they have been given. Because, with out even knowing it they have been answers to my prayers in their own little way. I am grateful for the Lords timing and plan for me. I know that he hears and answers my prayers. Even if they don't come when i want them or think they should. He answers them in His time.. and sometimes all the answers come at once. Life is sooo GOOD people!

Feel free to skip the pics.. but it does provide a nice little look at my numerous hair colors over the years..

Madison and I in AZ my sophomore year 

The girls at Karaoke night 

Hesterly and I after we went rabbit hunting

Haley. Lexi. Haley. 

The gang at Carson's homecoming.
Jason. Brayden. Ky. Stets. Jess. Cars.Nate. Haley. Craig. Lace. Heath

The kicks at Jaim's wedding!
Jess. Haley. Jaim. Dut. Brooke. steph

Jess and Whit

Scottie and I

Min. Paige. Hay. Whit. 

Amm 

Flashback to high school! Cody and Presty :) 

first comes love.. then comes marriage.. then comes.....

Babies in the baby carriage. GAHH!! two of my besties are PREGGO! i have been waiting and waiting for the news to go public and finally i can share my joy with you! Jess and Ev are having their baby at the beginning of April, and Brooke and Dan's baby is due at the end of June! wow wow wow! i am so excited for both of these couples. Seriously Jess and Brooke are going to be amazing mothers, and Ev and Dan are going to be awesome fathers. I am still in shock that a lot of my friends are beginning to start their families. Seriously when did i get so old? Hellooooo permanent baby sitting job for Haley!

Brookie and Dan! 

Jess and Ev.. and their dog Sadie of course

Plus i really hope they dont mind that i stole these pictures from their facebooks.. Seriously i am soo happy for them!

She's just too great not to blog about

I am sure you get sick of hearing about the amazing people in my life. But really it's true.. i am surrounded by the absolute best. This post is going to talk about my dear old roomie Whitley. 

Aneeeewayyyy. This last saturday was her 22nd birthday. I hadnt seen her since July practically so i headed down saturday afternoon to visit. She had a game (yeah she is a champ.. stickin with college soccer for all four years unlike someone i know).. and what a better time to watch her play than on her birthday right? I was running a little late, as usual, when i got a text from Am saying "Whit just got hurt." I responded promptly with a "shut up that's not funny." ...when the response came my heart dropped "no it's not a joke.. it looks BAD." Immediately all sorts of swear words go flying through my mind.. and within the next ten minutes i pulled up to the field. One thing is for sure.. Whit doesn't get hurt. I dont think i have ever seen whit get taken off the field because of an injury. i mean, she is one tough cookie....and she neverrr gives up. It must be baddd. 

Sure enough when i got there whit was on the sideline getting help from the trainers. Through out the rest of the game i could tell she was in pain. Yet, sure enough, there she was laughing and joking with her teammates. After the game, the diagnosis didn't look great. A partial tear in her LCL. (knee ligament) but the trainers needed her to see a doctor on Monday for a more positive diagnosis.

I headed to the doctor with her.. and after a bunch of tests, the doctor ruled out the LCL. The only thing left that it could be was the ACL. Those three letters are the absolute worst diagnosis any athlete could ever hear. She went in for an MRI less than 30 minutes later, and we were left to wait. The results wouldn't come until the morning. 

Sure enough later that night i was out running errands, when i got a phone call from Ammon. He let me know that i should probably head back to Whit's and maybe prepare myself a little before getting there. He had just talked to whit and was heading over to give her a blessing. Well long story short, the diagnosis came back earlier than normal... a torn ACL and partially torn MCL. Am gave her a beautiful blessing, and shortly after whit, min, and i, were left to talk/cry it out.

Although moments like this are some of the hardest in life, i value conversations like the one we had so much. It is in times of trial that we get to see people's real character come through. And, it is in times like these that i realize i am surrounded by the best. Obviously the circumstance is devastating: Senior year of soccer, team captain, 4 year starter, regional honors, and everything is over with one badly planted foot. Watching whit handle the situation has taught me so much. I value her example more than anything. She was left to make a really difficult decision concerning the upcoming 10 day trip to hawaii. I was amazed at her surety in the Lord's plan for her, and the absolute need to be honest with her teammates and coach. She wasn't afraid of the consequences because she knew that if she told the truth whatever was supposed to happen would. What faith right? 

I am so sad for whitley, but i am just as impressed by her. Her example that day really taught me so much about what's important in life. Putting trust in the Lord and his plan is hard, but if we follow his example we will be blessed. I love whit so much and i am sure the road ahead will not be easy, but i know she will face it strongly. I am grateful for her steadfastness-- even in the worst of situations.

Happy Birthday to the newest and greatest 22 year old around! i love your guts and am jealous you are in Hawaii! :)

week of events

Last week was absolutely crazy! And his week is going to be even worse... but a good worse of course! Things are just busy. i feel like i have sooo much to update you on.

First off.. things with benjamin are so great. It is almost like he was never gone. I would have never expected it to be like that and thinking about how normal things are kinda weirds me out, but hey i am definitely not complaining. He is finally feeling better and isn't as sick anymore, so we have been able to do some fun things.

Thursday Mike and McKinzy got married. Ben was a groomsman--mike and him have been friends since they were tiny little guys. The bridal party was asked to learn a specific line dance to preform at the reception so of course, Benny and i were up late trying to learn the dance the night before the wedding. So funny. The wedding was so fun and unique. i LOVED it. I dont have a picture of the happy couple but just trust me on this one.. they looked fabulous and superrrr happy.

Just leaving the wedding with my handsome groomsman

Friday i had the much anticipated final Omega Retreat. We officers had put a lot of work into this weekend get away and everything turned out amazingly. It was so fun catching up with my fellow "O gals", relax, and party. Omega retreats are always filled with tons of food, games, music video making, and gossiping (only the good gossip of course). It was seriously a blast! We had already decided on our theme and designed our t-shirts for next year... so deciding what to spending our budget on was a no brainer! the theme?...."Just Do It"..  with the three ideals incorporated we thought...just do service, just do sisterhood, just do omega. I dunno it was going to be soo cute but i am really glad we still ended up doing our shirts for the year! The back of the shirt is my favorite and i didnt even get a picture of it! booo.

the cabin was decorated with all our cute Omega stuff... 

Some of the girls just before we went on our sunset walk

The whole crew besides our sweet advisor 

Scottie and i throwin up some cheers for OMEGA

The O girls in our cute shirts

 Saturday was also a busy day! My dear childhood friend Lindsey got married... [a beta girl of course, and she looked beautiful ps].. and i guest played in an indoor soccer game. PLUS it was Draper Days. Which means.. fireworks, lots of scantily dressed high schoolers, games, music, friends, food, and too many people crammed into a small area. Ben and i went together and met up with lots of our close friends. It was a fun night and we both went home exhausted.

sometimes we do the same faces on accident

Draper dayss 

Sunday was the day we have all been waiting for! Not only was it the world cup finals [which by the way sucked massively].. but it was also ben's homecoming. He did such a great job and i loved hearing him talk so dearly about his mission. He summed up the day pretty well when he whispered to me.. "Homecomings are just a whole lot better than farewells." I have to say, i couldn't agree more!

well this is the best i can do.. our pics from the homecoming didnt turn out great....

Well that sums up my life in the last week.. this week we have a possible boating trip, a quick vaca to st geez for Jacie's wedding, and the DERBY in Park city with Carson's family. I can't even waittttttttt

peace n blessingsssssss

Sister Conrow and BFF Haley

Well well well.. it seems as though i now have yet another missionary to write. i swear this list is never ending! just when i though i was going to be done writing one..in particular... i get to add another one to the list. This time i will be addressing my letters as 'Dear SISTER Conrow" instead of the usual 'Dear Elder so and soo'. I couldnt be more proud of this girl and i am so excited for her to serve in the Independence  Missouri Mission! Anyone know anyone else serving there? I love Paige and she is going to be the most amazing missionary!

The roommates of 6J... Whit. paige. Min. Hay.

Just ignore whit creepin in the window..

Now on to my next little bit of sad news.. my dear best friend Haley Dutson moved to Denver this week. It's a good thing we hit up 80's dancing for our last hoo-rah until August. Equipped with the overalls and all! Summer really isnt going to be the same with out her! This week has already been wayyyy tooooo slowwwww. But she is growing up and doing a sweet internship at a pharmacy up there. She is little miss smarty pants and will be applying to pharmacy school this fall! So cool.

In other Happy news! i leave for Kenya in one week. Can you say hello London, Kenya, and Italy?? WAYYY TOO EXCITED RIGHT NOW.

Just so. so. so. busy.