Update!

Now that things have settled down a bit I feel like I can post about my crazy adventures to England. I'm here, I'm safe, and we have a place to live that is perfect for us! Now on with the fun stuff.

Let's go back to Saturday September 18th. I was in Spokane, packed, ready, and waiting on the UPS man to deliver my much anticipated UK Visa, and my passport. My flight is scheduled for 12:30 to Seattle, and everything was supposed to run smoothly. (We had paid 80$ for it to be overnighted to us and arrive by no later than 10am) Well 10 passed, as well as 11. My mom and I were frantically calling UPS trying to figure out what on earth had happened. The UPS agent told my mother that she would refund the 80 dollars and she could promise us that it would arrive my noon. That would do no good, because it was at least a half an hour drive to the Spokane airport from the Thorson home, and my flight was at 12:30. But there was nothing we could do but wait.


At 11:50 the UPS truck arrived at the Thorson home. We met him in the driveway and signed for the package. We were going to try to make it to my flight. If not we would go from there. We hit every traffic jam and construction sight known to man. Sadly we didn't make it for my first flight. We arrived at the airport at 12:20 and they wouldn't let me check in. However there was another flight leaving at 1:45. We scheduled my flight and checked me in. I gave Jesse's dad a hug and told him if he didn't hear from me that was a good thing and I made all my flights. That man really is a life saver!

I survived my first flight,and got to the baggage claim at SeaTac and grabbed a cart for all the giant bags I got to transport. Then I headed to the check in desk for IslandAir. By some miracle the "Mark" I was supposed to meet was working and remembered my situation. By another miracle I made it on the plane. I had to check my carry on luggage and pay for the extra bags. I really didn't care, it was better than buying a whole new ticket. And then I ran for the gate. I had to, they were checking people on as I ran.

By some miracle they had to stop boarding for a problems with the toilets. (For a 7 hour flight I am really glad that made sure those were working properly.) I sent a quick email to the school that I did made my flight and I was needing a lift from Heathrow. I also shared that I probably wouldn't be able to check my email until I landed in London. So I only prayed I would find them. Then I boarded the plane and thanked my lucky stars that I made it.

I now know why my plane ticket was so inexpensive. You have to buy anything you want to eat, and the only thing for free is the soda. But still I made it!

Landing in Heathrow was fine, and getting through the airport security was fine. I had to run around the baggage claim to find all my bags, and then I headed towards the exit. Then there was yet ANOTHER miracle. With hundreds of people around me I found the University of Kent people and knew that I would make it at least as far as campus. My only concern at that moment was finding Jesse, Kathleen, and Annie.

Again, another miracle.. they were right there at the school where the school dropped us off. I was finally here, with my friends, and we were all safe. I thought that would be the end of all the craziness, but little did I know that was only the beginning.

** I will post the next update soon, my hand is cramping, and it is close to lunch time! I love you all and hope you are well!

My So Called Life

Okay my life has been crazy like non other the past 3 weeks. I have lived in three states, moved out of an apartment, quite my job, visited family and friends, missed a flight, waited on UPS like a little kid trying to spot Santa on Christmas Eve, and watched three people I love leave the country without me.

Now before I go and be all depressed I just want to say that I know all of this has happened for a reason, and I know I will see the hand of the Lord in all of this very soon I am sure. I think I've seem glimpses already.

So here's where it gets really crazy. I now know that my visa was approved and being sent to me. (I found out about an hour after I dropped Annie, Kathleen,and Jesse at the airport.) My mom received it at 8 am this morning. She then turned around and overnighted it to me. I will receive it by 10 am tomorrow. Then I will catch a plane at Spokane at 12::30 that will land in Seattle at 1:30.

I then get to run to the Icelandic Air desk and speak to the manager that Jesse talked to and pray I get on that flight at 4:30 otherwise I will be stuck in the SeaTac airport without any phone or anyone within 6 hours of me. (FUN!!) I always pray for adventures and say I dislike "boring" but this may be a bit extreme.

**On a side note the reason I need to get to this flight is because Jesse talked to the manager at the airport yesterday and explained my situation. That manager said he works Saturday and if I could make it to the same flight on Saturday that he would put me on that flight, with my old itinerary.)

So yes it's crazy, and I really hope it works. Everyone keep their fingers crossed and say just a few more prayers for me! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for all your prayers and support! I really am just so close!

I will keep you updated as it all unfolds! For now I will go play with Mollie and Judd!

I Think I'm In Love

Last night Cherie, Erika, and I went to the cheap movie theater, and saw "A-Team" and oh my gosh I think it's my new favorite movie. I was laughing so hard. Now I have to say that before I watched this movie I was not a fan of Bradley Cooper. I just don't like the characters he has played and I have not been impressed by him... but that changed when watching this movie. I had a perma-grin all throughout the movie. He was fantastic, as were the rest of the actors.

I would recommend this movie to anyone who loves action movies!

Lessons Learned

As is obvious to anyone who has had the pleasure of my company for the last week, I have had a hard week. Anything and Everything that could go wrong DID. Now throughout the week, and still now (if I'm being honest) I am struggling to see the good in any of this.

At this point it is all out of my hands, but that ALSO is driving me crazy. I know that I am the one who chooses how to react, I just wish I had a better eternal perspective.

Heavenly Father has given me quite a few spiritual TIME OUTS where I can feel his peace, and feel rested in order to take on the next event, but really sometimes I wish I could just see the end of all of this. It really is getting funny at this point.

I will try to share a few of the experiences to prove my point, or to just share a giggle.

1. I order a book online, and it takes the longest time ever to get to me... spending 3 days in Denver.
2. I order a computer a week ago, it is still processing now. I have called every weekday since, to try and help it along... to no avail... every time I call it is still processing and there is nothing they can do about it.
3. I leave Utah next Friday and have to leave my apartment by the 31st, and that is the mailing address for the UK Border Agency to send my visa. (Did I mention I haven't been thinking to clearly... or maybe I could have avoided that.)
4. Went to the temple on Saturday, ended up running late and missed the session.
5. Got nasty blisters on my feet from the shoes I wore to the temple.
6. The poor guy who bought my motorcycle is now fighting with my bank to get the bike title, even though he paid for it. (I think my bad luck is now rubbing off on others.)
7. Got pink eye last week.
8. Face broke out all last week.

I really am waiting to hear of the next big upset. Now though I just giggle when these things happen. I think that that has been the best point of view for me to take at this point.

The amazing thing is that with all this negative I have been feeling an outpouring of love, and have been learning a lot spiritually. So maybe that is the good balance. My life is on a crazy tailspin, all except my spirituality, which is really making leaps and bounds in the positive!

So I thought I would share some of the great words of wisdom that have helped me in the past week. Who knows who else needs it!

"I can choose how I'm going to regard unfortunate circumstances in my life- whether I will see them as curses or opportunities (and on the occasions when I can't rise to the most optimistic viewpoint, because I'm feeling too damn sorry for myself, I can choose to keep trying to change my outlook.)"
--Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. P. 177

"Discouraging things will happen, but we will not get discouraged." --Johnathan Dippold, missionary of the SEM.

"I know God won't give me anything I can't handle. I just wish He didn't trust me so much." --Mother Teresa




"Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." D&C 123:17

Moment of Peace

So as you can see this week has been a bit stinky. I have been in a bad mood and just not fun to be around. Well yesterday when I got home, I decided to splurge on a Dr Pepper. I was wanting to wallow and wanted to do it with a giant DP.

So after going to the gas station near my house I decided to go for a walk on my usual running path. I brought my camera and decided to take some pictures if I saw anything I liked.

The Lord really blessed me with peace and joy as I walked by myself along this quiet street. I'm grateful for the tender mercy of peace... of stillness, and I was grateful for the opportunity to have the evening to myself.

On a good note I ran into someone from the ward who wondered if I wanted a ride to the Salt Lake Temple tomorrow morning for ward temple day. I said yes I would love a ride. And I am so excited to spend time in the Lord's house tomorrow. I need some closeness, peace, and comfort from my Heavenly Father.






This picture made me laugh, in a non blasphemous way... I like that there was a pillar of light with me. And I think it looks cool in the picture.

Grumble ALERT!

***WARNING: this blog entry is really whiny and dramatic. I apologize in advance. Proceed with caution.

Alright so today was a stinky day for several reasons... the most stressful was that I had NOT sent in all the required documents for my student visa yet. So I kind of freaked out... screamed into a pillow... cried... pulled myself together, and then gathered all the necessary documents. (And then some.)

This morning I overnighted it to the UK Border Agency in LA. They say they need 10 business days to process this. That doesn't seem like it should be an issue.. .however... 10 business days form when they will receive it will be September 2... and the big issue is I move from Utah SEPTEMBER 3rd! I'm out of my apartment on SEPTEMBER 1st.

I've filled out a change of address form for the post office online, and it should be in affect NOW... the only issue of THAT is in the fine print it says that government agency's don't really pay attention to that.

So in the package I sent to today I gave them my new address... let's just hope they send it to my parents! (I will have a friend checking my old mail box daily for me, and she will overnight it to me if need be.)

Let's just hope everything works out!



The next few weeks are crazy! I drive back to Cali on September 4th. Fly to Spokane on the 13th, and fly from Seattle to London on the 16th! I need my visa!!!!

I've done all of my parts. Now all I can do is wait... and I'm not very good at that.

Haircut!

So I realized I hadn't really told anyone that I had chopped my hair off!

My hair used to be really long, and it looked really really good if I took the time to straighten it or try to do something with it.


But more often that not I always had it in a ponytail or messy bun. Riding a motorcycle and wearing a helmet is not very conducive for good hair.


So finally I decided to chop it all off. I have been wanting to do this for awhile, and finally just got the nerve up to do it about two weeks ago. I love it and I feel like it is just more my personality.






What do you think? I love it!