My dear dear cousin Ragen :)

Family can do wonders to your soul. Right now I'd like to blog about my wonderful cousin, Ragen. I often forget to include her in my list of best friends, simply because she's family. And family are made to be best friends, right? Ragen is one of my favorite people alive. What a lovely human being she is!

Just last night, I was having a really hard time. Lots of stress has been building in my life, and I tried to relax and let myself take a break from studying and worrying about life's problems by watching a movie instead. It was a movie I had never seen before, so I really had no idea what to expect, except "love" was in the title so I figured it must be some good romantic type of movie. On any other night, I think I would have loved it. But last night was not the night for me to watch it. Not even three minutes into the movie, the cute couple's baby died. And I lost control. I sobbed, and sobbed. And then I sobbed a little more. None of my roommates were at home, and I felt completely alone. I just felt so ALONE. I have lots of friends, but I didn't know who to talk to, because I knew I needed to talk to someone. So guess what?

I called Ragen.

We talked on the phone and skyped for 2 hours or more. I seriously LOVE that girl! I vented to her about what was going on, and she comforted me. It was like giving me a hug through the phone. After I let out all of my frustrations and woes, she helped me by changing the subject, and making me laugh instead. What a good friend is she?! Really, one of my best. I've already said that Chase and Stasia are my best friends, but Ragen is definitely up there in that list. I love her dearly, how great is she?! I feel so blessed with the friends and family I have in my life.

Now, about our younger years... :) Ragen and I kind of hated each other as children. But, because we lived so close in proximity, our mothers thought it would be a great idea for us to spend what felt like every other weekend together. I'm so glad they did though, it really helped us to become the great friends we are today. We love each other! :) If she weren't a girl.. or my cousin.. maybe we could have been a good couple together.

At sleepovers, we discussed Harry Potter. For hours. We talked about our theories of how it would end, and shared in the jealousy of wishing we could be Hermione. We pretended like the "Battleship" gameboards were our laptops, and we'd run around with them everywhere, imagining that a huge tornado was on its way.. "if our calculations were correct." :) We watched countless Disney movies together, had sleepovers ALL THE TIME, ate lettuce and mayo sandwiches (um gross), played in dress-ups, played with our Barbies, reenacted hit movies with our Polly dolls, played piano together. Seriously, even though we "hated" each other, we loved each other and had the times of our lives. I love my memories with Ragen! I'm so grateful for the wonderful friend she is for me and that I know she will always be there for me, no matter what.

Ragen, I love you. You make me smile :)

We go to the temple.
When we lived in Ephraim, we went weekly.

You're never too old to dress up :)
DI can be really fun.

Dancing 80s style is FUN

We love each other.
Can't you tell?

At my ward campout a few years back.
This really is one of my favorite pictures of us.
This picture describes us so well.

On A Scale of 1 to Voldemort..

While on Pinterest this afternoon, I found a phrase that really delighted my soul.

"On a scale of 1 to Voldemort..."

What? Who comes up with these things?! Whoever came up with this brilliant phrase, can we be best friends please? I enjoy laughing dearly, and the simple sayings such as these are what make life worth living. Seriously.

Shout out to Harry Potter: I miss you :( Post Potter Depression is real my friends, and it didn't really hit me until 11/11/11. In case any of you are unfamiliar with the significance of that date, let me refresh your memory: it was the date that The Deathly Hallows part 2 was released on dvd. Did my roommates and I participate in an epic all night Harry Potter marathon? Yes, yes we did. And you know why? It's quite simply really.

I love Harry Potter.

Harry Potter brings me back to the happiest memories of my childhood. Harry Potter, along with the Chronicles of Narnia, gave me the love and joy I have of reading. Harry Potter was the first book I couldn't put down. How does one describe their love for a book? I first read The Sorcerer's Stone when I was nine years old. Harry Potter was my first love. He will always have a place in my heart. I've read and reread those books dozens of times. One word to describe them: magical. Harry is not a fictional character, he is my best friend. He was there for me when I was sad, when I needed an escape, or when I wanted to have a fun time. And he will ALWAYS be there for me. I remember the nights I stayed up late in bed reading about the adventures of Harry, Ron, and Hermione and falling asleep with them in my hands. I remember feeling jealous of Hermione, and wishing that I could be her. I remember the disappointment I felt at age 13 when I realized I wouldn't be getting my Hogwarts letter because I was too old. I remember the tears I shed when Cedric Diggory died, when Sirius Black was murdered, when Snape betrayed Dumbledore, and when Snape turned out to be in love with Harry's mother and was good all along. Harry Potter, and all the characters, are still very real to me, and always will be. I don't care what anyone else has to say about it. Harry defines me, I love him and he loves me <3. Thank you Harry for what you have done for me and always being there to help me relive my childhood.

Harry, thank you. For the past 11 years, you have made me smile :)

Now that I'm legitimately depressed, I'm going to watch Moulin Rouge so I can have a good cry.

Oh, the library..

I sincerely love going to the library. Books, and therefore being surrounded by books, calms my soul. It's too bad that when I come to the library, I don't actually get as much done as I need to. Next week is Finals Week (AAHHHH!!!!) so therefore, this week is crunch week. I have so much to get done, and really not enough time to do it. I go to the library with every intention of getting my homework done, but for some reason nothing ever gets done. Why, may you ask? First off, I love books. I love perusing the shelves and looking at all the classic literature, seeing all the stories and adventures whispering my name as I walk past. I have so many books to read, and so little time to read them all. Right now I'm reading Jane Austen's Persuasion and oh, it is lovely. I'm such a book nerd, and I'm strongly considering buying glasses so I can look nerdier whilst I read. I have 20/20 vision, but I'm sure that glasses would make the whole reading experience much more enjoyable. Second reason why nothing gets done at the library: I have my Mac, which is the gateway to Facebook, Pinterest, and Blogger. I always log on to one of my accounts, thinking "Oh it'll just be 10 minutes, no biggie!" But then, hours have passed and I have no idea where the time has gone. Why is it that the closer that I get to Finals, the less I work on what needs to be finished? It's quite silly. I told myself I'd get some work done before finishing my final paper about the eternal battle between Satan and God illustrated through John Milton's Paradise Lost. Don't worry peeps, I shall triumph over my finals and prevail! Off to work I go.. consider my finals to be CONQUERED.

This is me "Studying":

P.S. On a side note, look how long my hair is getting! I'm so happy :)