I remember you said...

So...the last few months have consisted of the following....

 Obsessing over various illness...I have had ear infections in BOTH ears.

(My mom said I have been "holding the family hostage with my ear issues") ") 

. Do you know how hard it is to be a therapist when you can't hear??

 (Actually not that hard...I just do my usual..."Uh-huh....well, I told you not to date bad boys...") 

 Hanging out with the sisters and forcing them into awkward photo shoots.

 This is Sister Aguilar. 

She is originally from Guatemala (where my trainer Hermana Monterroso was from!) and she scares me like Monterrroso did. 

Word of advice...do NOT go up against a Guatemalan woman when death (or anything really) is on the line! 

 Still taking strange selfies. 

This was the second hour of church, where I sat outside and prepared my lesson for the third hour. 

Because I plan ahead like that. 

So.... other than illness, selfies, hanging out with missionaries and my cat...my life has been less than thrilling.

 However..it is almost OFFICIALLY fall and my pumpkin carving mania is starting to emerge.

 My theme this year is going to be carving obscure movie quotes into pumpkins. 

It's going to be EPIC!

Talk to you soon, devils!

Lori Ann

Hasta Ver

I feel dumb starting every post this way but I really haven't given up blogging. 

I just need to get back into the habit. 

I need to get back into the habit with a lot of things in my life. 

But it's ALMOST fall people...it's just a little bit away....

Which means I can be happy again. 

Hang in there.

Lori Ann

p.s.- It's been 14 years since 9/11/01 but it's like yesterday in my mind. God bless America and keep us and good people everywhere safe and free. 

When, in the course of Human Events....

I know it might seem like I've given up on blogging...but I haven't.

I just need to get organized. 

I will never end this blog. 

I love looking back and seeing what I was doing last year..or 5 years ago. 

So, without further ado...I give you the month of June. 

An all picture post!

(I will only add captions to pics that need further explanation!)

I run "activity days"- it's a mid week lesson for 8-10 year old girls. Last time we talked about being 'daughters of a King" (God) and I had them pose with their tiaras and wands!  

We got a GOLDEN! Sister Lythgoe rocks!  

I love this one- it's my nod to Abbey Road.  

We had the coolest clouds one night. This isn't even filtered.  

Sister Hoofman hit her year mark!  

I turned my nasty ear infection into the DRAMA OF THE CENTURY. 

One reason I tolerate summer...my dad's infamous fruit mixes!  

My mother and her favorite child. The Hobsicle.  

Missionary work...in the rain.  

So June 2015 for me was all about ear pain, all girl Sunday school, and countless hours teaching with the sisters. 

It's been almost a year since I started helping the missionaries. 

It now seems odd to me that there was a time when I avoided them. 

We shall see what July brings. 

We almost got to see Jewish Fireworks tonight. 

ALMOST!

Lori Ann

Say something

So...here is my life lately. 

Brace yourselves. 

It's about to get REALLY REALLY crazy. 

(Ok, not REALLY crazy. Or evenly mildly crazy even)

I have been teaching with the sister missionaries from Kutztown on and off.

This lesson was with my cousin Deanna.

 This fulfills my goal to be a better cousin and a better member missionary. 

I made the Kutztown sisters take a bunch of pictures in this cool stone enclosure place.

 I ranted to them about not having a lot of pictures in my own mission scrapbook and how I wasn't going to let that happen to them :) 

Me and Sister Callaway.

 I actually saw her mission call on Instagram before she even got to the field.

 She is super cool and loves the Gospel so much.

She and Sister Asi are being double transferred out of Kutztown.

Who knows what weirdos we will get in there :) 

Awesome jump shot!! 

Teaching with the Milford sisters is my favorite though.

I love our Milford sisters! 

They will both be here for at least another six weeks. 

I could teach with them every day and never get tired. 

Not that this stops me from teaching with the Broomall sisters.

 I  owe Sister Simmons (on the right) SO MUCH.

 She was the one who never gave up on me and brought me back to missionary work after 12 years. 

I chopped my hair off.

Not many people notice.

 It's ok.

 I LOVE IT! 

I've been scrap booking my sister's wedding.

She is writing the story of her and her husband on her blog and it is the FUNNIEST THING I HAVE EVER READ.

So, my life has been missionary work, scrap booking, and work.

I've discovered that I get a lot done on weekends at the office, so I've been spending a few hours there every weekend to catch up.

Summer has been hard.
(to answer your question, Sarah).

I HATE IT.

I hate the heat.

But I am trying to focus on the things that are amazing about summer.

The fireflies.

The smell of camp fire at night.

The flowers and beautiful trees.

The realization that the next season is FALL.

My beautiful fall is just a few short months away.

I don't know though.

Maybe this will be the greatest summer of my life.

Let's hope so.

Lori Ann 

The wheels go round and round

I wish I had something super exciting to blog about. 

But I don't. 

I've been hanging out with these people lately...

The missionaries! 

I love our missionaries and they try sooooo hard and it's not easy to be a missionary in PA. 

People are pretty set in their ways. 

And it's summer now so it's hot. 

I try and go out with them a few times a week and remind them to take care of themselves. 

And I take a million pictures because every missionary should have a million pictures :) 

Other than that, my life is pretty much the same as always. 

Work. 

Fighting with my cat. 

Sleep. 

And REPEAT. 

I will work on getting the scandal going for you people. 

This blog needs a little livening up :) 

Lori Ann 

Love...True Love..is what brings us together today

You guys...it's been FOREVER since I updated this blog. 

My niece Katherine Danielle turned 7.

I met my now brother in law, Daniel Douglas Waters.

And MY SISTER ERIN GOT MARRIED!!!!!

There is so much to tell you. 

I was so blessed to be there and to be the maid of honor. 

Erin has some incredible, funny, helpful friends who really made this wedding happen. 

It was kind of surreal to see my sister as a bride. 

I am sooooooo happy for her though. 

She deserves to be SO HAPPY every day of her life. 

I hope this means I get more nieces and nephews but even if it doesn't, I did gain a brother in law. 

Erin gained a really cool niece and nephew. 

And I now have memories I will cherish all my life. 

I am going to post about everything. I don't want to forget any of the small, funny details. 

Look for that one next! (in the next day or two, I promise) 

Yours truly,

THE LAST HINSDALE SPINSTER!!

Lori Ann

The last picture I have with a Hinsdale sister :( 

And you're beautiful

So... 

My sister Erin is getting married! 

Before I talk about how excited I am, let's revel in the fact that I will soon be the very last of the 

Hinsdale spinsters!!!  

I don't think Erin will even be able to claim 'crazy cat lady' status once she is married. 

It's all mine! All the titles and honors of true spinsterhood will be all mine at last! 

ANYWAY....

She is getting married on May 8th to a man named Daniel Waters. 

I have been thinking of him as "Danny boy" in my mind for a long time. 

Similar to how I think of Danielle's husband as "Jackie boy". 

Not sure what is going on there. 

Her colors are black, red, and gray. 

She got a dress. 

It's beautiful. 

And most importantly....

She got a maid of honor. 

ME!!!!!!

You guys....we all know how long I've waited for this day. 

To be NOT just a bridesmaid, but a maid of honor. 

Missing my sister Danielle's wedding is one of the few things that I really regret about my life. 

I know I was where I needed to be (on my mission in Chicago) but I still feel a void where that wedding day and celebration of my sister should have been. 

I am glad that I won't have that same void when it comes to Erin. 

I am so happy for my sister. 

She is one of the best people in the whole world and I wish her all the happiness in the world. 

I am glad she has found a guy who appreciates her and is willing to stick with her in good times and in bad. 

Now to just get them to move out east....

Yours truly...

Lori Ann

Maid of Honor

(You know that is how I will be signing off during every entry between now and May)