Bark like a Dog...

was the theme of our Hawaii trip.  You may wonder where this theme came from...well I'll tell ya. 
While driving around the island one of our first days there, we were informed by our 'Oahu Revealed' tour guide book, that if we happened to run into a wild hog (which are fairly common there) we were to immediately bark like a dog- and it would scare them off!  Did we run into one while hiking? No.  Did Dad see one while we were driving? Yes.   And we all started barking- scaring dear mother half to death. She was a little perplexed.

We kicked off the trip with the Polynesian Cultural Center, where we 'visited' all the different Polynesian islands and learned about their cultures.  I enjoyed it, but it was a long day.  We did get theee mooosssttttt delicious fruit smoothies in a pineapple at the luau!  They were also a million dollars, but they were soo good:)

We sure got to do lots of fun things while we were there!  Katie and I got to get up close and personal with a Whalphin (a mix of a dolphin and a whale--one of three in existence).  We got to pet it, and kiss it and pose for some pics with it. We were in the water, but we didn't actually swim with it. It  was actually really fun! When else am I gonna do that in my life?

We did some kayaking, snorkeling, paddle boarding, and body boarding.  I learned that I have absolutely NO talent when it comes to body boarding! Ah well, it was a good experience. While paddle boarding and snorkeling we got to see some Sea Turtles up close and personal!  One came up to Katie's foot and was real close! 

On our one day excursion to Maui- we took the Road to Hana- a scenic loop up through the mountains.  In addition to it's scenes that take your breath, the winding roads also take your stomach....we all got carsick--oh it was not fun. No one actually got sick- but mother had a towel wrapped around neck and was trying to not let herself sway even an inch on those roads. I had my sweatshirt wrapped around my whole head so I could stop looking at the winding road.  We all got a good giggle from it that evening, once it was over! Tara got a video that I'm sure is quite comical:)

First Sunday there- At the Chapel. So beautiful!

There was this sweet tree with branches hanging down. Can't remember what the tree is called- but we called it the Tarzan tree:)

 You pop that leg Tara! 

 Dad got pooped on by a bird...

 Look in the background and you can see the Black sand beach!

 Looking the other direction from the Black Sand Beach

 Katie looks like a midget in this picture...but she's really just on a slope!

 The Paddle Board!

 Sea Turtle up close and personal

 Favorite Picture.  Love that Sunset.

Katie's Coconut Water- they just chopped it right off and handed it to her.

My Mother

I don't know about you all...but my mother is the BEST!!! Don't know where I'd be without her.  She is my example and friend and I just love her so! I wish I could say that I wrote this, but I did not.  But it is completely accurate! Happy Mother's Day Mom!!! Thanks for all you've done to shape me and my life, and for all you will undoubtedly do in the future:)

A Mother's Love

Author Unkown

There is no love like a mother's love,     no stronger bond on earth Like the precious bond that comes from God,    to a mother when she gives birth. A mother's love is forever strong,     never changing for all time And when her children need her most,    a mother's love will shine. God bless these special mothers,    God bless them every one For all the tears and heartache,    and for the special work they've done. When her days on earth are over,    a mother's love lives on Through many generations,    with God's blessings on each one. Be thankful for our mothers,    for they love with a higher love From the power God has given,    and the strength from up above.

Picky

Although I have never thought of myself as a picky person...I think I am wrong. I did however, overcome being a picky eater on my mission.  Eating cow's tongue and intestine can make you see the good in mushrooms and coleslaw.  Food with hair in it and smothered in grease tells ya that the stuff you thought was bad- REALLY wasn't so bad after all:)

Guess how many times I've been shopping in the past week to find a new shirt?  And guess how many shirts I've come home with...Zero.  Which isn't horrible, I just really wanted a fun new one! But I just didn't 'love' any of them...and who wants to spend money on something if you aren't gonna love it??  --Not me! Picky.

Snapchat is a new acquisition of mine.  One that I am still getting used to...because I still don't fully understand the purpose of it.  Half the time I get one, I just want to respond to the person with a text.  but you can't send 'just text' - a picture HAS to be included. That is the nature of the app.  So then I sit and try to think of a clever way to respond with the required picture- but I don't like any of that I take.  So the I rarely end up responding. Picky.

And then there's dating.  I feel bad for those guys that have taken me out this semester- or with whom I've hung out. There either strong in the gospel- and I'm just not interested in them.  Or they're cute, but not strong enough in the Gospel.  Maybe I judge too quickly, but when I see a red flag having to do with worthiness or when the spirit leaves...it's not for me.  Gospel is the #1 requirement in my future companion.  Picky.  But that's a picky I'm okay with;)

 So to whomever loves me- thank you for accepting me and all my pickyness:)

Back with a BANG

It's been nearly four months since I stepped off the plane in the St George Airport and saw my beautiful family for the fist time in a year and a half.  I cannot believe how quickly the time passes!

Coming back to Provo has been an adjustment to say the least.  It is a very humbling experience to come to a city you know well, but to find that the majority of people you knew are no longer there.  But life is full of new beginnings- and this has definitely been a new one!


Since I've been home, I have been blessed immensely! I found a cheap place to leave, I bought a car for a steal of a deal, everything with all my classes just seemed to fall into place, AND I got a job that pays great and that I didn't even have to interview for.  Blessings!


Now that the semester is over, I can't help but get the feeling of, "And then what?".  I'm not taking classes, over the summer- just working 30-40 hours a week. The few friends I have in my ward are graduating and won't even live in Provo anymore- at least for the summer.  Linsey is graduating and moving to Arizona and having a baby soon.  And I- am just lookin' for fun things to do:)  Any ideas? I have looked into intramurals, but I am no good a soccer or tennis- so maybe I'll go with softball? That's all I've come up with so far.

I am EXCITED about our fun trips this summer- can't wait for Texas and Hawaii- they're gonna be great! Below are a couple photos from Easter with Ella and Ruby.  The latter is of me and Stacey on our way to my mission reunion--We were jammin' out;)

Onward, ever onward

This is it! MTC this Wednesday. If you want to follow me,go to hermanawhicker.blogspot.com for letters, pictures, addresses, and updates! Love you all and see you in 18 months:)

Doneski... for a year and a half

I am done with Finals, on the second day of finals.  Seriously, this has never happened to me before...BUT it's great:)  Now all there's left to do is to play with my friends before I leave, pack up and be out of my apt by Friday, and party at Lagoon on Saturday:)

Sunday was a bitter sweet day as the realization of leaving hit me. Many of my friends will be graduated and out of Provo by the time I get back, so it's been hard to say goodbye.  But, life must go on.  Change  has never really been fun for me, but I guess it's always necessary.  It has been especially great to be so close to Jami and Ali these past three years! Loved every minute of that:)  Ali and Per will most likely not be living here when I get back and I'm not sure what the plan is for Jami and James, but either way it'll be different when I return.  I am so blessed. Great family, awesome friends, and the gospel in my life.  It is great.

I'm excited to come home and spend time with the fam and swim and camp though, it'll be great. 
Here are some fun pics from life lately.  Most are from my birthday or Jami's birthday:)

 The lovelies...it was fun to catch up with everyone (Melinda, Me, Kimberly, Caitlin, and Lins)

 We are pretty cute:)

 Jami's delicious birthday dinner: Lettuce wraps and avacado egg rolls!

 She is loved by all:)

 The stache...now gone

 Fam dam

 

Jami's new gardening hat, courtesy of Alison

Linsey hadn't ever experienced "Shake Face" before...so of course I had to demonstrate:) Pretty darn good if  you ask me!;)

Assassins...

is quite the game. Stealth, planning, alliances, and paranoia all play a role in this life or death game.  Here's how it works: 40 people signed up to play. Each person gets a 'target' to kill be a certain deadline (pun intended;). To kill your target, you have to get some form of water onto your target. It can be a bucket of water, a sprinkle of water, a snowball, etc.
RULES are as follows:

• Can't kill on Sundays
• Can't kill at ward activities (however, to and from activities are free game)
• You can't kill you target in their apartment. 
• You can't kill your target if they are in contact with the opposite gender (ie: holding hands, linked arms, etc)
• You can't kill with any bodily fluids--ie: saliva, sweat, etc (yes these kinds of rules must be established with immature boys in the ward;)

Surprisingly I am still in the game:)  There are only three people left out of 35-40 that started. I am pretty proud that I have made it this far! I've only  made 2 kills total, but apparently I am VERY good at evading death!  The fact that I am very busy and rarely see people from the ward, except on Sundays and FHE on Monday, has nothing to do with it at all;)

Let's just say I've NEVER been so paranoid in my whole life. I am constantly clutching my syringe full of water that is always in my pocket, looking for my target as I walk across campus. At the same time I am keeping my eyes peeled for my own assassin that is after me. I always stay in close proximity to man as I walk on Campus...regardless if I actually know them or not, in case I need to gram there arm in an emergency.

Despite my singleness, I have still been able to reap the benefits of being escorted by a male to and from ward activities. It is a good thing my roommate Linsey has a boyfriend, because I would have dies long ago without Stephen. There have been countless times walking home from a ward activity where He and Linsey are holding hands...and I am clutching onto his other arm. Haha it is actually quite hilarious, but he has been a good sport about it:)

All in all it has been a really fun experience, but honestly I am ready for it to be done. I'm sick of being paranoid all day every day:)  I am proud of my two kills though! the first one I got his home teachee to call and ask him to come and pick her up from institute so she wouldn't have to walk home in the rain.  I was waiting next to his car for the kill. As soon as he saw me he started sprinting and I went after him. Don't worry, my little syringe squirts REALLY far;). I killed him and then proceeded to sprint the 3 blocks back to my house because I knew his roommate was trying to kill me and I didn't want to wait around in case he was nearby.  The Second kill I made was by sheer luck. I happened to walk into the HFAC at the same time he was getting out of class. But I got him:)

Here's to hoping I'm still alive at the end of the week...we'll see!!