Lost in the...

I have been missing and this time I do not even have a good excuse. I guess you could say summer has gotten the best of me. I have been reading. I remember my first road trip with the lovely Andrea we spent a week in California over Christmas break. Unfortunately for her I read in any spare time I could find. I love reading books that do not require much brain power but instead take you to another place. Reading a good book allows you to get lost in someone's troubles and not dwell on your own. 

I read the Hunger Games. I fell in love with Katniss, Peeta and Gale. I also fell off of the work wagon. Often trading full days of work to finish my book. Work is on the outs for me. My Dad's company is not doing well and I will be going from full time to less than part time. I am stressed to find a job. I am not the only one looking for work and that is what scares me. I have been scared, stressed and a little lonely. The perfect combination to get lost in a world that is not your own. To cheer your favorite new characters through life dangering times. To laugh with them and cry with them. To want there safety and sanity even it means losing your own. 

I have been praying a lot lately, and not just for my new favorite heroine. I have been praying for myself so that I may have the strength to put myself out there and look for the things that are falling apart around me. Mainly a job and maybe if I am honest a little company. It is just that sometimes it is easier to lose yourself in the troubles of your favorite fictional character than do the things that truly scare you.

xoxo 

a very scared and prayerful 

Madison

A Week in Hawaii

I have been absent, but for good reason I promise. I spent the last week on the lovely island of Oahu with some amazing women. You see cousin Stacey is going on her mission (that is if the new boyfriend doesn't get to her first) in June and Aunt Cyndy invited my mom and I to join on their fabulous island get-a-way. They did lots of exercising, hiking and picture taking. I did lots of eating, reading, and sitting. I loved getting away and I loved getting home even more. Here are a few highlights and lowlights (see those stairs at the bottom? those were the stairs to hell I seriously thought I was going to pass out....maybe I should hit the gym) of the incredible vacation.

Second Times the Charm?

(me and bestie andrea isn't she lovely?)

I could not do it. I lived at home for a total of 13 days before deciding to move out again. I love my family and having my own room and not having to grocery shop (lets be real I love not having to drive to Orem to eat my parents groceries), I loved watching TV on demand, I loved talking to my mom before work and the brothers before bed, I loved having water pressure and soft water and  yet all these things was not enough to keep me home. I made the decision Sunday after attending my old singles ward. The energy was addicting. I called Monday and found an apartment completely empty. Perfect for my lovely bestie Andrea and I. I am going back to King Henry for round two. Once again I am excited and yet I still feel as if I have regressed in life going back to a place that I have already experienced.  But maybe that is what life is about. Returning to places, people and things that have made you happy in the past. I hope this is true. I hope I will enjoy myself this summer like I did last summer.I guess we will just have to see.

new found love

I don't know if you know this or not but I kinda like really totally love clothes. This is not a new thing it has been going on for as long as I remember. 

In fact just the other day Faith asked mom how I stayed so girly with all the brothers? Grace told Faith it is just the way I am. Oh so much truth to that. I love clothes, I love makeup, I love accessories, I love pretty hair, and lately I love wearing heels. I feel like such a lady when I wear them.

I especially love these found by one of my favorite fashionistas. They do not have them in her size so I guess I will just have to buy them for myself in my size (love nude, and purple).  Thanks for the find Jules.

xoxo 

your recently taller friend Madison

Dust, D, Dustin

(dustin and elise)

Today the oldest Call child turns 25. The oldest of 8 kids can never be an easy place to be. You are the example. You are the guinea pig. You are also the leader. Dustin was everyone of these things. He had an ability to demand the best out of each of the siblings. He demanded the best from himself. He led the way for many a teacher to love me. Dust was always reading, debating, having fun and living right. I can rember praying in the horrible years of Jr. High to be as cool, fun, outgoing, smart and good looking as my oldest brother (you think I am kidding...I am dead serious). 

Dustin has always set the standard high, and he did it again this November when he married Elise. They bring each other up. They make each other better and most importantly they are happy. I would be lying if I said D and I always got along. The truth is I always wanted to be the oldest, I would fight with Dust. I was even known to smack him across the face (I was hormonal?). Want to know what is so noble of Dust though? Yeah he yelled at me, and narked on me to mom but he never touched me. He never made me feel like he did not love me. That is the way Dustin is. He is kind, loving, funny, witty, smart, obedient, hard working, an example, giving but most of all he loves me and our family. What more could you ask from an oldest brother? 

So Dustin Happy Birthday. I  am gratefully for the example you have set for me and the rest of the family. I do not tell you enough just how much I love you. I hope you have a fabulous day.

xoxo your loving little sister Madison

past, present and future

(maybe a watch like this would help?)

I love my blog and if you ever hang out with me it does not take long to know how much I love my blog. The words "have you read my blog?!" are a constant in my life. I have even been known to answer questions in school by reading a blog post. Does this make me weird? Probably, but I kinda do not care. I do not claim to be a fabulous writer. In fact I claim the exact opposite. When it comes to spelling, grammar, and punctuation you can count me out. I do not know the rules of writing but I do know that I love to express myself through words. I find the way words can reveal emotion to be stunning. I love communicating how I truly feel about someone or something through the written word (or in this case typed). 

Now that I outlined why I love my blog so much I feel as if I can tell you what happens to me now. I think in blog posts. When something happens in my life I think to myself "this would make such a great blog post!" then I take the next minute thinking of the best way to phrase what just happened to make it coherent to those that may or may not read it. Let's be honest I realize the lack of pictures on this blog and the amount of words may scare some people (oh alright they scare me and they are my words). So as I celebrated a crazy wedding week end  with the family and a trip down memory lane with the bestie more than once a fabulous blog posts came to mind. I even started a list in my journal so I can remember to tell you all about the incredible insight I received into my own life. 

But you see this creates another problem. I want to live in the present and yet the whole time the present is happening I am thinking about the best way to remember the present while not forgetting the past and trying to control the future. All these thoughts cross my mind while thinking up the next blog post (I seriously hope this makes sense?). So now I have a question that I have been trying to find the answer to for awhile now and surprisingly enough I have come up with nothing. So I open the questions to my few blog friends and whoever else may stumble upon this crazy blog. How do you live in the present?

xoxo 

a trying to not miss out on anything but also remember everything 

Madison

Cousin Julie Ann

 (emily, me and julie ann we really are so much fun)

Tomorrow I am a bridesmaid again. It is cousin Julie Ann's wedding. She is marrying Kurt. Growing up I had no sisters. I had to wait until I was 12 before I had a sister to partner in crime with. So I decided I would claimed cousins Julie Ann and Emily as my sisters. They were the best sisters anyone could have asked for. I only had to see them a couple times a year so when I did see them I was actually excited. We always got to do pretty much whatever we wanted. We were exclusive. We were sweet. We were kinda mean. We did whatever we wanted. We were so much fun. 

It is crazy to think that Julie Ann is getting married tomorrow. She is then moving to New York for an incredible internship she will be the breadwinner. You see Julie Ann is smart, practical, kind, loving, beautiful, and fun. She will be a great asset to Citibank.  I am beyond happy for her. I just can not believe how fast time goes by and how much things change. I feel like it was yesterday we were flower girls at the aunt and uncle's weddings. Now it is your wedding and we will be bridesmaids while you are the gorgeous bride. Congratulations to Mrs. Julie Ann Hymas Frandsen!

xoxo your cousin, sister, bridesmaid, fashion consultant, and friend Madison