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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) 

I wish I owned a three legged groundhog named sneakers

I spent a few hours hanging out with my cousins and scrapbooking today. 

And somehow the only picture I got was this awful selfie. 

Why do I have such a manly jawline? 

And eyes that are two different sizes?

ANYWAY, 

Then I went teaching with the sisters. 

My favorite thing about teaching with the sisters is this cat Trixie. 

She is the feisty calico of one of our new members. 

Trixie is the most mentally unbalanced cat I have ever encountered. 

She will be sweetly sitting on your lap (see above) and then BAM

She is scratching you across the face. 

So, another Saturday of scrapbooking, cats, and missionary work. 

It just got kind of wild up in here!

Lori Ann

(Cousin to some legit awesome girls!) 

(President, Founder, and currently only member of the Trixie Fan Club!)

I am Constance's granddaughter...

My dad has been organizing the basement. 

It looks amazing. 

And the coolest thing is the stuff he is finding. 

Like these pictures! 

Without further ado...a little of my Hinsdale Family History. 

 This is my Grandpa Hinsdale.

 He was a Marine Pilot in WW2.

 One of my few memories of him (he died in 1995) was him flying me in this little plane. 

He never talked about the war and it wasn't until after his death that we learned he had earned a Silver Star. 

I am so proud to be the granddaughter of an American solider. 

 This is my Grandma Hinsdale. 

(She died a few years ago). 

You can see where I get my crazy cat lady side from.

 She was a nurse and an amazing cook. 

My dad still talks about her cooking with a tone of intense fondness and nostalgia. 

 This is my Dad's grandpa Sparhawk. 

(My great grandpa).

 His name was Elmer. 

He looks like a total badass. 

 My dad!

 You can see how he looked like his decreased brother and you can see how my sister's sons look like him. 

I have 27 cousins on my mom's side.

 I have 2 on my dad's.

 Melanie and Tiffany

. Here is a picture of them and their husbands with my dad's brother Don and sister in law, my aunt Karen.

 (about 20 years ago) 

We have a book on Hinsdale Genealogy that dates back to the 1200's. 

 Hinsdales are known for their excellent memories and intelligence. 

(I got the memory thing...)

On my Hinsdale side I am a 14(?) generation American. 

Every day I am proud to be a Hinsdale. 

Coming tomorrow....my Wilson family history! 

Brace yourselves! 

Gingers, Irishness, and 27 cousins! 

Lori Ann

The cold never bothered me anyway

People,

It's a 'quasi' snow day. 

My office is scheduled to be open- tentatively- at 3 pm.

It might still close. 

Now, this might be more thrilling if I wasn't scheduled until 8 pm tonight. 

I have never been good with things in limbo.

It rackets up my anxiety. 

I need a yes or no. 

Yes, there is work.

Or, no there is not. 

When I am not sure, I feel frozen. 

But I am not going to let that stop me from baking some cookies right now. 

Let's do this!

And pray that we stay closed. 

Because I really, really need this snow day to stay sane. 

Lori Ann

This isn't the best picture but the drive home was foggy and awesome yesterday. I have said it before but I will say it again...I LOVE IT HERE. It's so beautiful and every day I thank my Heavenly Father that this place is where I call home.