Look how they shine for you

I am taking a brief pause in my fascinating travel posts to say 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 

to my amazing nephew Jack- Jack. 

Now that my blog is public again, I won't put his picture up. 

Even though it's all over this blog.

I am trying to be respectful of my sister. She claims there are pedophiles online...so odd, right? 

There aren't any weirdos online :) 

ANYWAY,

Jack Jack- when you read this one day I want you to know that:

I have loved you every minute of every day since October 8th, 2002. 

You changed our family in the best way. 

You made me an aunt, which has been the most important role I've ever had in my entire life. 

You make me smile every single time I see you. 

I love how thoughtful you can be. 

I love how loving you can be. 

I am so proud of the young man you are becoming. 

I can't wait to see you passing the sacrament. 

(Aaronic priesthood, baby!)

I am always here for you. 

Nothing could ever change that. 

Happy 12th, my sweet baby Jack!!

Lori Ann 

How I know you

 I have decided to break my Utah trip down into several posts. 

Because the only thing better than one tedious travel post is MULTIPLE tedious travel posts!!

I stayed with my sister Erin and her devil cats (who I love!) and they deserve and will get their whole own post. 

But since my first night there was the mission reunion, I thought I'd start there.

I saw 3 of my 7 companions. 

My favorite 3 actually. 

All of whom will get... you guessed it....their very own post. 

And of all of my favorites, Tyler is my most favorite. 

Here we were- 21 years old, living in a small town in Illinois. 

Teaching people about God. 

Here we are- 13 years later.

 She (damn her!) has not aged at all. 

Despite 10 plus years of marriage and 3 (ADORABLE) sons. 

I was the one who was supposed to still look 21, with my child free, man free lifestyle. 

Anyway, 

I love Tyler. 

(Whose real name is Shannon  Brewer but I can't call her that)

She changed my life. 

On the mission she was focused, fearless, and driven. 

I was the opposite. 

I was busily counting down the days until the end, endlessly fearful, and looking to avoid missionary work at every available opportunity. 

She taught me how to be brave. 

When people would half slam their doors in our faces
(Hispanic people are too nice to REALLY slam their doors)

, instead of feeling dejected and wanting to go home, she would pull out this little notebook she had and write down the new words she had heard and wanted to learn. 

"Sister Hinsdale, I think they just called us evil ducks...I'm not sure though, we can look it up!" 

She made me laugh, threw me a pirate themed birthday party, recreated the Dirty Dancing finale scene with our other companion, taught me how to add body to my hair, had the BEST sister speaking at Conference voice EVER, and supported me in all my crazy service project ideas. 

My new goal is to convince her to move out East. 

Thanks, Tyler for coming all the way out to Lindon.

 And for making me laugh.

 And meeting up with me for odd barbecue salad lunches. 

But most importantly, thank you for being who you are and thank you for changing my life. 

Even though years have passed and the mission (at times) seems almost like another life time, I still feel the same as I did then. 

Que somos hermanas.

Hinsdale

5

You guys, it's my birthday. 

And the 5 year anniversary of this blog. 

And in typical Spinster Chronicles traditions, I am going to list my 5 goals for the next year. 

But I also wanted to reflect on my favorite 5 moments in the last 5 years. 

It's about to get real. 

Let's start with my favorite 5 moments from the last 5 years. 

1. My 30th birthday party- it was exactly 5 years ago today that my family threw me the most epic surprise party in North Carolina. My parents showed up as a surprise and my sister Erin asked my friends for their favorite memories of me and my sister Danielle got me 30 gifts and had a chocolate fountain and everything. It was magical. 

Here is the link to my first blog post. 

2. Passing my clinicial licensure. I was SO freaked out and SO sure I would fail (though standardized testing is my only super power). It was an incredible moment when the screen flashed in front of me and said "Congratulations!" 

3. Getting the Sugar cookie. I've never really had a long term pet. And I wasn't sure about Sugar at first. She was an Amish cat who had escaped the farm and she made my life crazy from day one. But she has been one of the best decisions I've ever made.

4. Completing that first half marathon. The Love Run. Going from not being able to walk through the walmart without having to sit down to being able to complete a half marathon in the cold and rain was one of the most confidence building experiences of my life. 

5. My trip to Utah. I jut got back from visiting my sister in Salt Lake City. I also got to see my mission companions and it was awesome. (And like they said- kind of surreal). I hadn't realized how much I missed them until I saw them again.

And now for my five goals for this year.....

1. Lose the last 70 lbs. I've come a long way but I don't want to get complacent and just stay where I am. I want to be at my goal weight by this time next year.

2. Read all standard works- cover to cover. I got new English scriptures while I was in Utah and I want to spend the year immersing myself in God's words and guidance. 

3. Start and maintain a habit of doing my hair/makeup- I've never been consistent with my appearance but I know I can create a habit if I dedicate myself to it. 

4. Complete 10 bucket list goals- not sure which ones, but I want to keep myself focused on LIVING my life, not just exisisting. 

5. Serve. I am going to get more specific but I want this to be a year (and really a life) of service. 

We'll see how it goes. 

Wish me luck and here is to another 5 crazy years of the Spinster Chronicles! 

Lori Ann

For Pumpkin and Buster

You guys,

I just got back from one of the most epic trips of my life.

Salt Lake City, UT.

There were cats. 

And pastel de tres leches.

And fancy dinners.

And lunches with people who inspire me. 

And more cats.

I will have ALL the details (even the ones you don't want) in the upcoming week.

Also, this week we are celebrating this blog's 5th anniversary!!!

(And my unfortunate 35 anniversary of living..yikes, half way to 70!)

To celebrate this trip, this blogiversary, and my infamous b-day, I made this blog public again.

Tell your friends!

Unless your friends are pedophiles and weirdos.

Then, only tell them if you really, really trust them. 

Lori Ann

Might as well jump

I've been running around with our sister missionaries lately and haven't gotten to blog. 

I had a hard time talking them into 'jump shots' but once they agreed, it spiraled out of control!

Jump shot mania!!

 Sisters Jensen and Adams behind our church (no filter!)

 Sisters Zeller, Simmons, and Bischoff to the side of the church. 

 Sisters Jensen and Adams by the Milford Fall Festival

 Sisters Jensen and Adams in a 100 year old barn

 At the top of the Rocky Stairs! 

 In front of Independence Hall

 By the Bridge! 

 At the Art museum

On the cobblestone backstreets of PA. 

I tried to do a 'jump shot'....this was the horrific outcome. Brace yourselves!! 

 Standing on top of this weird stone things with the Philly skyline in the background. Good start. 

 Preparing to take the leap. 

I can't explain this picture. It's tragic and odd. I guess jump shots, 70 extra lbs and being in your mid 30's just don't mix :) 

I am going to Salt Lake City this weekend!

 I am excited to see my sister, her cats, and my mission companions!!

 Get ready for those posts (I am totally going to photoshop myself to look super hot and leave their side of the pictures untouched...yeah...(that's me saying "YEAH" in a smug, sing-songy way)

Lori Ann

I walked a thousand miles

Philadelphia- The Second Trip

So...yesterday I made my second trip to the city this week.

On this trip, I brought my trusty side kick-Jr

and the two other sister missionaries from my branch.

Sisters Jensen and Adams.

Both of whom are going home next week. :(

Can I just say that this trip ROCKED???



I got to see my only brother live out his dream of being Rocky.

(But better than Rocky because he was wearing a blue silky shirt and aggressive homeless people were trying to hassle him- which he survived quite well)

These sisters are honestly the coolest and best since the missionaries I knew on my mission.

And not only that, but they take an epic jump shot.

Not says "Birthplace of our Nation" like jumping for joy!! 

No city trip is complete without getting completely lost on the way to the Betsy Ross house.

 Because I trust my GPS more than I should.

 But we got Walt Whitman bridge pictures!!

Me and Sister Adams.

 I love this girl.

 She is literally young enough to be my daughter but she inspires me, listens to my long, rambling mission stories, and is such a genuinely kind person.

I kind of ruined this 'original cobblestone streets of Philadelphia' picture by looking like I only have one foot.

 Whatever.

 Like I've said before- 10 toes is overrated.

 We really only need 4 max.

For those of you that don't know, this is my new BFF.

 Her name is Shauri.

 She married this really cool guy from my branch and now she is stuck with me.

 We've already baked weird things together and I socially obligated her to come to the branch last night and have some Amish donuts.

Jr and I at Valley Forge.

 In about 3 weeks, I will have to come back.

 The leaves are just now starting to change.

Sister Jensen looking over the rolling hills at Valley Forge.

 This girl loves history and I wish I had time to show her everything that is historical and magical about PA.

 But she has to be a missionary and all. :)

Jump.

 Shot.

 Awesomeness.

And last but not least, this is my favorite.

I have been so blessed by the opportunities I have had recently to serve the sister missionaries and get to be part of their teaching people the Gospel.

I started rereading my Spanish book of Mormon for the first time in 10 years.

I feel God's love for me even more.

I have like 11 appointments today due to being out of work two days, but I would do it a million times over.

Being Mormon is the best thing that ever happened to me.

And not to get too preachy on you...

But I testify that the Gospel is true and it brings people so much happiness.

Like jumping in the middle of historic Philadelphia happiness.

Lori Ann

On the streets of Philadelphia

So...

I took the sisters to the city today. 

It was epic!!

 We ran into other missionaries at the Reading Terminal Market. 

And then at the T-shirt shop. 

 And we saw Independence Hall.

 The tour guide was HILARIOUS!!

And some crazy ginger told me I shouldn't talk to the sisters about marriage.

 Whatever.

 I'm planning their center pieces right now. 

 I kept trying to get them to take "action shots"- but it's like they had respect for the building and all. 

Gosh...you'd think it was where the Constitution was signed or something...wait...

These poor things.

 I had no idea where I was and I literally dragged them all over the city.

 We had to have walked at least 3 or 4 miles by the end. 

It's been such a blessing in my life to be part of the missionary work in my branch.

Whether it's teaching with the sisters or taking them to the city. 

(I take the other set of sisters to Philly on Wednesday)

If you haven't read your mission journal recently (or ever), I advise reading it again. 

I can't count how many times I wrote about feeling lost, alone, and so tired. 

It reminded me that I had promised myself to always help the missionaries.

Which I haven't ever really done. 

Until now.

Now, even if it's something small, I am going to help them. 

I am grateful to live near such a beautiful, historic city.

And I am grateful to see it through the eyes of people who are seeing it for the first time. 

And, most importantly, I am grateful for my religion. 

To be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

The same religion which sent me, 12 years ago, to a city I had never seen before. 

I learned more in those 18 months outside Chicago then I have learned before or since.

A part of me will always be there. 

the former

Hermana Hinsdale

p.s- Speaking of my mission, there was a couple at the Liberty Bell who asked me to take their picture. They were so sweet and I realized they were from Spain when I they said "Gra-THEE-is" after I took the picture. I was able to speak to them in spanish and help them figure out where they needed to go next. I love randomly helping people with my spanish. :)