Wide Open Spaces

I am SOOO tired but I can't sleep. 

So, let's haul out the old New Years Resolutions! 

Before Christmas, people.

 It's a new record! 

Anyway, it's not so much resolutions as a goal in every area of my life. 

Spiritual: Attend church weekly, renew my Temple recommend and read the Book of Mormon three times over the course of the year 

Physical: Complete 2 more half marathons, be able to run 3 miles without stopping by end of year, exercise 5-6 days a week

Financial: Get out of all non student loan debt- which means paying off my car, any random bills, credit cards, etc. I don't really have that much, but its enough to be annoying. 

Emotional: Do something every single month that gets me COMPLETELY out of my comfort zone. Challenge myself. 

My motto for 2016 is 'Be your best self today" - I think if I look at these goals one day at a time, they are manageable. 

I want to push myself and not just drift along, not happy, not stimulated in any significant way, and kind of just existing. 

That Thoreau quote from Walden has always meant a lot to me- the one about not wanting to get to the end of his life and discover that he had not lived. 

I don't want to either. 

Carpe Diem, people. 

Lori Ann

Take back my life song

Me and the Sugar Cookie. One of us doesn't like selfies...it's probably hard to figure out :) 

So, 

I am posting at 2 am because that is when I get my best cleaning done. 

I accomplish more between midnight and 2 am than I do in the six hours prior. 

But I have to go to bed soon. 

But I wanted to say that I think I've determined a theme for 2016. 

It's "Be your best self today". 

Sounds cheesy, and it is- kind of. 

It's just a way for me to take each day, not get overwhelmed, and bring my A game, so that when I go to bed (hopefully not at 2 am!) I know I did everything I could in every domain of my life: 

Spiritual, Social, Work, Health, etc. 

We'll give this theme a whirl and see what happens! 

Also, side note, it is SO AMAZING having my own place. 

I always forget how peaceful I find it- no TV, no people everywhere, clean- and my parents are SO much more festive from a slight distance :) 

Lori Ann

If not by Christmas

People, it's almost Christmas. 

I am excited!!! 

Because all I asked for is a large bag of Meow Mix (to feed Sugar all year) and crazy Bingo Lottery tickets- which is my current obsession.

Last year it was pumpkin carving, this year it's Bingo!

And baking cookies with my very own Sugar December. 

I need to do a tribute post to my Irish twin..that's up next! :) 

Lori Ann

But I always thought that I'd see you again

I probably should have made these a slide show. 

Actually, I think I did a few posts ago. 

But whatever. 

Now you get the exciting story that goes with each picture :) 

The Spinster Chronicles does what it wants, baby!

I am organizing all my pictures and I realized I've taken about a billion jump shots. 

It's kind of an odd hobby..making people in religious service take pictures of themselves jumping in random locations. 

But it's my hobby, so deal with it :) 

Here are my favorites!!

Sister Simmons!  
I have jump shots of her in every single one of her areas.
I hope when she goes home (next week) that she marries a great (and hot, of course) guy and has a crazy happy life
Susquehanna - Fall 2015 

Bluemel, Lythgoe,Barlow,Minert, Roesch and Torres (aka Milford and Pottstown sisters)
City Trip # 5- July 2015

Bluemel and Udall
Valentines Day heart attacking
Winter 2015

Wilko and Simmons -Kutztown sisters
 (don't go to the train tracks in winter..you will run into creepy homeless men..which is what some other sisters and I learned when trying to return for more train track pics!)
Fall 2014

Aguilar and Barlow
They brought me a giant poster with things they loved about me! 
My Birthday- 2015

Udall, Roesch, and Bischoff
City Trip # 3- Jan. 2015

Adams!
Side trip to Valley Forge after 
City Trip #2, August 2014

Larson, Eckman, Brown, and Gomm
Sisters at the Priesthood Restoration Site
I probably knew them 10 minutes when I got them to participate in an impromptu jump shot photo shoot :) 
Susquehanna PA- Fall 2015

Hoffman, Bluemel, and Lythgoe
This was when Sister Bluemel started to openly refuse to jump for me, no matter how much I would shriek at her :) 
Summer 2015

The founders of the jump shot- Jensen and Adams
Both of these sisters were a few weeks from being done the mission and going home. On the way home, we talked about a lot of serious things. I honestly think Heavenly Father prompted me to take them to the city by themselves (my 2nd trip in one week) just so we could have that conversation. 
City Trip # 2- Summer 2014

Hoffman
The most patient and kind missionary I have ever met.
 Summer 2014

Sister Callaway, Kutztown sister
She has the most BEAUTIFUL long golden hair but she didn't like this picture, stating
"I look like a troll" :) 
Spring 2015

Little sister Lythgoe! 
She is the mission's official highest jumper...sometimes I felt like she'd jump too high and get carried away like a kite! She was just a few days into her mission when I took this picture ;)  
Summer 2015

Simmons and Larsen- Great Bend/Susquehanna sisters
Fall 2015 

Jensen and Adams
 I still miss these two! 
City Trip #2, August 2014

Sister Andrus (Reading STL)
 During the last few days of her mission on a rainy cold day, on a creepy, twisty back road of PA Summer 2014

The infamous Hoofman, Lythgoe and Bluemel trio :) 
 The day I FINALLY convinced them to go see the covered bridge!
 Summer 2015

Andrus and Nielson
 Funniest sisters EVER. Reading STLs.
Summer 2015

Roesch and Minert- Pottstown sisters
I keep track of Sister Roesch for her mom- she is an only child.
These two are bound to be life long best friends- they were SO much alike! 
Summer 2015

Jensen!! 
This is one of my favorite shots ever. 

Barlow and Lythgoe
Outside the still in construction Philadelphia Temple
City Trip # 5- Summer 2015

The sister who brought me back to the work- Sister Simmons
City Trip # 3- Jan 2015

Aguilar and Barlow
City Trip # 6, Fall 2015

McCuen and Kartchner- Reading STL's
Fall 2015

Elders need to work a little harder on their jumping skills
District jump shot with Barlow and Aguilar
 Summer 2015

Bluemel, Barlow, and Lythgoe- Milford sisters at sunset
Summer 2015

 Lythgoe, Bluemel and Andrus on the coldest June Day ever.
2015

One more Jensen and Adams
  On original Philly cobblestone streets- After we got lost trying to find Betsey Ross's house
City Trip # 2- Summer 2014 

Sister Roesch always looks like she is being lifted into a spaceship :) 
This was on the ground of Pennhurst in Pottstown- one of the most haunted places in PA. 
Summer 2015

Bluemel and Udall
 The only jump shot ever taken at the abandoned barn/creepy house
Winter 2015

Barlow and Aguilar- the Rickety Bridge picture
Early fall 2015

 Hoofman and Wilko
Sister Hoofman was leaving us and going to Vineland NJ to be a STL
Summer 2015 (the day I went to transfers!)

Bluemel, Lythgoe, and Barlow
The infamous confetti picture
Summer 2015

 Simmons and McCuen- Kutztown sisters
Sister Simmons first "daughter" (she has 4!)
December 2014

 Bischoff, Simmons, and Zeller- Milford West sisters
Sister Zeller is home now- she is getting married on New Years Eve! 
 Summer 2014

Roesch, Udall, and Bischoff
The day Bischoff almost set me on fire! 
Christmas Day 2014 

McCuen, Simmons, Udall, Roesch, and Bischoff
Honestly, their individual jump styles really reflect their personalities :)
City Trip # 3- Jan 2015

McCuen and Callaway- Kutztown sisters
Right after she was trained, Sister McCuen became a trainer!
I  will never forget dinner at Texas Roadhouse with these two, talking about Luke Bryant and why they decided to serve.
Spring 2015

McCuen, Simmons, McGuire, and ??? 
(we ran into them randomly!)
Jan 2015 

McCuen!
 She is a "gissionary"- A ginger Sister Missionary
City Trip # 3- Jan 2015

Udall and Bluemel
The day we flew kites and drew the Plan of Salvation in the park in chalk :) 
 Spring 2015

Jensen and Adams!
 (they might be kind of my favorites)
 Not only are they the founders of the jump shot- they are the only ones who have attempted to do it going down a fairly steep hill. 
Summer 2014

Sister Asi- Kutztown sister
 Spring 2014

Simmons and Ricks, Broomall STL's
Winter 2015
Sister Ricks served in Cape May and knew most of my family- they all loved her- she is amazing.  

Simmons and Foster- Broomall STL's
I got them 26 different donuts at this place they love- Sister Simmons kept trying all the odd flavors and saying "This is gross, you have to try it!" 
Spring 2015

Gomm and Larson- Susquehanna sisters
 Fall 2015

Simmons, Udall, Roesch, Bischoff, and McCuen
I still haven't forgiven Roesch for this- Everyone is perfectly in synch and it's the Philly skyline and she is doing her "I am being abducted by aliens pose' right in the middle! 
City Trip # 3- Jan 2015

Well, that wasn't excessive or anything. 

But I have the best memories of everything from jump shots in the city to teaching in the freezing cold with these missionaries. 

I don't want to forget them.

Lori Ann

Take me home

 My sunday school class. These kids are so much cooler than me :) 

 I keep driving home at sunset, due to the time change. I LOVE it! 

 This was a picture I took through a chain link fence in Philly- it's the skyline  (kinda) during fall! 

No picture could ever capture how amazing this looks in real life. 

In other news, I am moving into my own apartment again! 

Get ready for some late night crafting fiestas, people! 

I can't craft late at night at home because my dad has the WORLD'S BEST HEARING and will constantly yell "What the hell are you doing up at 2 am with all these stickers?"

You can't put art on a schedule, Dad. Did Van Gogh's dad tell him not to paint late at night on a work day?

No one understands crafting artists :) 

All my greatest scrapbooking collections have been made at night :)

More details to follow!

Lori Ann