(6:45 AM)

Dear August, 

I am alone in my apartment. Everyone has left and the sun hasn't even begun to rise. My eyes are so heavy from a restless night on a crappy twin-sized mattress that should probably not have been shared by two full-grown humans, but we had to get a slumber party in before we parted ways. 

When I was in elementary school I cried every single last day of school. It got to the point where my dad (who is the biggest softy in the world) refused to pick me up on the last day because he couldn't handle how upset I would get. I have always dreaded goodbyes. I mean, no one enjoys them, but I think I always let them cut a little too deeply. 

There are so many things that I wish I would have done differently during my time here in Orlando, but at the same time I think what I would have done differently would have made the cut of goodbye a little too deep to actually handle. I know that's cryptic, but that's all I'm giving you for now. 

God's ways are not my own and right now I'll just put my trust in that.  I'll trust in the happiness that He has always provided in His own way that is perfect for me. 

The sun is starting to rise and I just heard my last roommate stirring in her room. I guess I'm not the last of the Mohicans just yet, but man it sure does feel like it.

Love, Jazmin

Letters to August - 6

Dear August,

Today will be my last day working for the Disney College Program and I am so excited.  It's been a great experience and I will miss so many people, but I am so ready to go home and then get back to school ASAP.

To commemorate the end of our program, Cassie and I decided to recreate a picture we took on one of our first days here when we were modeling our fabulous costumes for our roommates.  Mine was voted the ugliest in the apartment.  The vote was unanimous.

One of our first days

Today

I have nothing profound to say about any of this.  The only thing I am thinking about is the fact that after today my feet will no longer hate me for the torture I have put them through.

Love,

Jazmin

Summer Livin'

Things I have learned so far this summer:

1) Always get the warranty.
    a. If you're going to let your phone break, make sure it's before the
        warranty is up.
2) Never drink Florida tap water.
3) Always feed the missionaries.

If you're out of my loop, I am doing the Disney College Program this summer.  I started April 28th and the first couple of weeks were kind of rough with all the training and adjusting, but I finally feel settled into my routine at work and my life for the summer here in Orlando (which is almost halfway over already!).

I was lucky enough to get roommates that all go to BYU or BYU-I, which was a big weight off my shoulders.  I mean, I would have been happy to live with people who aren't members of the church, but I have never actually had that experience. Well, I did have one roommate my freshman year that wasn't a member, but she ended up getting baptized and was already living the same kind of lifestyle as a member.  So...

I really have grown to love these girls, though.  It's great that we're all LDS, but it's even greater that we're all LDS with the same goofy personalities.

Another great thing about these ladies is the fact that collectively they came with a car (because taking the bus everywhere becomes claustrophobic and painful), a water purifier (because Florida water is Satan's water), and a love for Chick Fil A (because everyone should possess such love).

The car has also come in handy when I have done the graceful things that I do like forget to get extra ingredients for that extra batch of something and when I accidentally drop my phone on the kitchen floor and it refuses to show its usual screen.

Another great thing about these gals is that they love missionary work.  We are fortunate enough to be in an awesome ward with awesome missionaries.  Our elders have the weird assignment of only being able to teach those in the Disney College Program.  So, they're around our apartments all the time and we have fed them twice in the past two weeks.

The second meal we had called for me being in charge of desserts.  I went big and tried these Mini Nutella Cheesecakes out for size.  They were delicious, but they were not very delicious to the eyes.

(The whipped cream melted shortly thereafter.)

(Cassie on the left was in charge of lemonade; Laurel on right was working on the salad)

As a gift we got the elders cereal.  I probably should preface that by explaining the first time they came over for dinner, we jokingly told them that we made them cereal.  We also thought it would be appropriate to wrap the cereal boxes in bright pink wrapping paper and complete with a pink fluffy bow.  I think they appreciated it.

It's been a great summer thus far.  I work a lot of hours, but when I have some days off or a few hours of freedom, I get to spend that time with these incredible people, and that's all I could ever really ask for.