Hawaii x's 4

I have been to Hawaii 4 times and 3 of those times were to visit my grandma Sonia.

The first time I went I was 2 years old. I don't remember that trip but I love looking at the pictures. I look like I belong in Hawaii!

My grandma and me on the Big Island

 

Grandma, me, and mom

I was born ready for Hawaii

Me and dad, I love this picture!

The second time I went I was 7 years old and papa took me to see grandma, Aunt Cola, and Dana.

I do remember that trip.

I remember only wanting to eat rice, shrimp, and ice cream.

I remember grandma braiding my hair every night.

I remember Dana and I setting up a bird trap and catching a bird.

And I remember going out on a fishing boat and getting so sea sick. 

Dana and me with the fish we caught.

The third time I went was a couple years later with mom and Amie.

I remember the airplane ride.

I remember swimming in the warm ocean.

I remember going on a little hike.

I remember it raining a lot.

And I remember being so afraid of homeless people 

{there's actually a pretty embarrassing story from this trip involving me freaking out in a restaurant}

Hawaii has a lot of rainbows

Me and my little sissy. 

The 4th and last time I was in Hawaii was with Andrea when we were 15 years old.

We went to visit her sister who was going to BYU.

It was my first time going to the island of Oahu and we did and saw so much.

We went to Pearl Harbor.

We went to the North Shore and got Matsomoto shaved ice. 

We ate shrip from a shrimp truck.

We went to the Dole Plantation and to the Polynesian Culture Center. 

We hiked and jumped off the Waimea falls.

And we went snorkeling. 

It was a very fun trip. 

At the Polynesian Culture Center

And now, in less than 2 weeks I'll be going to Hawaii again, this time to live! 

I'm so excited for this new adventure!! 

Letter to 16 year old me

Dear 16 year old Sara,

It's hard to believe you're turning 26 tomorrow!
You've done a lot in the past 10 years and let me tell you time flies.

I wish I could tell you to not take things so seriously.
Stop worrying so much about life.
Enjoy being young, get into a little trouble, and have fun because one day you’ll realize how fast your life has gone by and you’ll wish you would have done things a little differently.

I think the most important thing I want you to know is you are beautiful, both inside and out.
I wish you’d see it in yourself and believe it because one day it’ll hit you like a ton of bricks and you’ll wonder why you didn’t realize it earlier in life.
Believe in yourself, Sara.
Be confident because you are much stronger and braver than you’ve ever imagined.
You’ll be amazed at the things you do in your life.

You have amazing friends who love you.
So don’t let jealousy take away any time you have with them.
You’ll look back and smile when you fondly remember the times driving around town at night blasting music and laughing while following cute boys in their trucks.

Lose the attitude you get with the family.
Stop fighting with mom.
Be nice to Amie. Watch after her, be there for her, be her friend.
Cherish the time you spend with every family member.
Because family is important and one day you’ll truly miss being able to see them everyday.
You’ll miss living with mom and Amie.
You’ll miss going over to Dad and Berna’s for dinner.
You’ll miss family get-togethers.
Be open to listening to the family’s advice.

On New Years 2004 your world will be flipped up side down.
You’ll receive a new year’s kiss from someone you least expect and a month later you’ll officially have your first boyfriend.
You’ll fall head over heels in love with him.
2004 is a very special year for you.
One you’ll never forget and one you’ll remember so vividly.
You’ll have fun with him and he’ll show you a whole new side of life.
Embrace everything.
It’s an exciting, good time in your life.

One day he’ll break your heart and it will feel like your world has collapsed.

But you’ll get back together with him.
And he’ll break your heart again.
And this cycle will continue for 7 years.

I wish I could tell you to be smarter.
I wish I could tell you to dig deep and find strength and respect for yourself.
I wish I could tell you it’s okay to let him go.
But I know you can’t and you’ll have to go through all the back and forth, all the heartache, all the emotional pain to finally realize you can no longer have him in your life.

But it’s because of him that you’ll experience amazing things in life.

And it’s because of him you’ll eventually gain the strength you will need to let him go and move on with your life.

Life is an amazingly beautiful journey.
It's full of adventure, experience, opportunity, love, and hope.
And the tough times only make you stronger.

Sara, don’t rush to grow up--enjoy being a teenager.

Have faith in the world and in yourself.
Smile, laugh, and love more.

You have a good life.

Love,
older Sara

 

 We got our driver's licenses

 

Best Friends

 Junior Prom

Oldies

I found a few of my boxes in storage.
I hope to one day have all my things out of boxes and in a home of my own.
In those boxes I found a lot of old pictures and they brought back so many memories.
Seriously, where has the time gone?!

All ready for Junior Prom with Grammary & Poppy Steve
2003

My first unofficial date at City Walk
2003

Best of friends

Alaska cruise with my 2 best friends
2004

Pretty in Pink

Me & my sissy
Laughlin 2004

Senior Prom
2004

It's fun to look at old pictures...I am blessed to have so many fun, exciting, & adventurous memories.