My most recent mission card:

Dear Elder,

I am a bit concerned with your health elder. It seems that you have died. OR- both hands have been removed so that you cannot write. And I had always thought Denver a safe place- but I could be wrong. Or it could be the postal service. Our letter and packages COULD have gone astray. These are all different scenarios in the "mystery of the lost missionary." AJ and I have a great and faith however, that you in fact did NOT: die, get chopped up or that the United States Postal Service System is a hoax; you just must be a VERY popular missionary and have fallen behind on your letter writing. It is solely in this belief that we check our very sad and empty mailbox everyday. I hope that soon, through the great powers that pen and paper carry, our luck can be changed.

Take care! I hope you are well and everything is working out for you.
I know I will hear from you soon.

Love, brittany.

you have to do this right...

Cody picked me this flower while we were long boarding.
It honestly looks awesomely fake.

So I don't know if this is blog appropriate, but here it is . . .

Sometimes I think boys are clueless. Actually I always think that. They have their moments though. Whether I am dating them, talking to them, or just really good friends with them... sometimes pointing out the obvious is necessary. Tonight was a wonderful example of this. Let me tell you how it happened.

There is this boy Cody Miller. He is super funny and nice and I truly enjoy being in his company. But like most boys, Cody needs a blunt push in the right direction when it comes to certain things. His particular struggle is dating. His idea of this is, "Hey wanna go on a date? Institute is playing dodge ball."

Rule 1 for any boys reading this. If you are taking a normal sane girl out, don't have it involve ANYTHING that requires a ball being hurled at her head. It kinda sends out the message that you have hostile feelings towards her.

That was his attempt. And for the last week he has been fine with the "hangout." So tonight, as we sat on the wall by the chocolate river, I expressed my feelings in a way, that no matter how clueless he might be, it would not go unheard. I told him:

"There is a right way to do this. You have a plan. Then you go and you have a time. Then you have a date. That's what qualifies dating. You plan it. You have a time to pick the girl. And then it's a date. I need a plan, a time and date. Figure out this way. And then come see me."

I jumped off the wall, said, "Next time I see you we will be on a date" gave him a quick kiss and skipped up to my room. The look on his face was priceless. So just at I am writing this, about 30 minutes after the fact, Cody shows up at my door.

"OK. I have a plan. Are you working Thursday? Will you go on a date with me."

I can't help but smile.

my last week...

"I don't need a friend who changes when I change and who nods when I nod; my shadow does that much better."

-Plutarch

(hung by the "shanker")

My roommate is the GREATEST! I was having a bad day last week, and before she left for Phoenix, she left me a message. I laughed for about... well I haven't stopped laughing about it. I LOVE AJ! When she leaves I sleep in her bed.... shhh, don't tell. :]

Last Sunday AJ and I were laying in bed, dying of hunger. We called up the boys and asked (more like told) them to come make us breakfast for dinner. It was great, for them. They came over with the eggs and my roommates ended up making the food. I still didn't do anything, but eat, only cause I was SO hungry. Thanks guys....

I have the COOLEST married friends. Cody and I went and carved pumpkins with Ashli and Josh last week. They had a competition going, I just cleaned ours out and then Cody carved it. I know, who in their right mind would give Ashli and Cody a knife? It was scary.

Oh, I just love my life.
It seems that I am the LUCKIEST girl in the world.

I'll tell it like it is...

Per request, I will devote this post to being an update on my life.

Lately my life has been a bit more social than I can really afford. And by this I mean I have actually been social. So it is going to start getting a bit more intense these next few days as I have to get back into the school and homework mode.

But lets talk about that social stuff! Between carving pumpkins, watching meteor showers, walking by the chocolate river, rolling over laughing in my bed, improntu parties in our living room, and tickle fights, my days have been pretty full.

Cody is a boy that lives right next door to Rocky, but they claim to be roommates. I have to admit I never am at either of their apartments because 1. Rocky's smells and 2. you can't see the floor in Cody's. Cody and I have become great friends. Rocky leaves for home EVERY weekend... so most of the time I am without wheels. But that perfectly fine, I work all the time so there is really no need for a car in my life.

I have only been home once since school started and not coming back until Thanksgiving. So I talk about how much I miss my family and the CUTEST little girls all the time. Rocky just put in his mission papers so hopefully (fingers crossed) we will hear back mid November. We (my dad, AJ and I) all agree that it is time for Rocky to leave on his mission! I write Sister Black everyday, counting down the days till she can be home, with me!

School is flying by so fast and I love it so much. Thatcher is the most amazing place in my opinion. I don't think I will ever find any place in this world that can compete with the loving and caring atmosphere surrounding the Gila Valley. I love the people and places here. I am convinced that this will be where I retire. I want to live in this crazy small town, where everyone knows everyone. Wouldn't you want too?

This is my life. It might not be the most exciting thing, but every morning I wake up with a smile on face. I remember that although not everything goes my way, I am constantly being watched out for. I never know what tomorrow will bring.

It is a pretty extraordinary ride.

I have a crush on Cody Miller.

Hmmm.

Mr. Cody Miller is quite funny. Last night we watched Musketeers. I wanted watch The Proposal, for the 3rd time, but decided to watch his choice. Well [surprise] I fell asleep within the first 20 minutes. Cody woke me up sometime later and took me to my bed, and tucked me in. He is pretty good like that. This morning I received this message:

Dear Brittany-
I think I am supper lucky that I was able to put you in bed last night:)You make me SOOOOOOOO HAPPY:)I love it when I kiss you and you have your big grin on your face:)
Love Cody

Turns out, I really like this boy.

My BIG research picture- I mean paper....

me & cody

This is what we did instead of writing....

LOCKED OUT.

I am locked out of my house. It is dark. I am sitting in a pink camping chair. I am pretty sure there is at least one, if not more, bugs in my hair. My phone died. Everyone today seemed to want to be mean to me. I would probably cry, but my neighbors already think I am insane. I would like to talk to my mom. I have yet to eat today, and get enough water. I'll just wait till 9pm when my roommate gets out of class. I've been here since 6. It's 7 now.

Bye.

p.s. There is either a HUGE moth out here, or a small bat.
Awesome.

Remember how I am 19?

He knew my name. :]

Once upon a time . . .

There is this boy that I have just been a bit fascinated with since the start of school. He is 21 but looks about 12. I can't get over that. I also LOVE listening to him talk in church, seriously great insight. Well.... because my name is Brittany Black, I am forever suffering of embarrassing situations. I have wanted to talk to him, but I could never think of a good enough starter conversation. He has the exact name of a boy in my home ward [name is not disclosed due to a potential embarrassing situation] so I have wanted to let him know that. But the fact that I know his full name, age and where he served on his mission MIGHT be considered a little creeper-ish.

I will tell you I only found out these facts by just being observant.

Well I was playing tennis when, there happened to be this VERY boy playing by the court next to us. Out of all the tennis courts in the world..... So after struggling for awhile, I went over and legitimately asked/wanted to know exactly how I was suppose to be holding and swinging my racket. Well after the very kid boy showed me, I went back and began playing. Then, because we were on the same side of neighboring courts, he started listening to the conversation I was yelling to AJ - who was on the opposite of the court. He said, "Brittany...." and got my attention. I don't remember what he said, all I know is that he knew my name. He knew my name and he talked to me.
the end.

PHOTO BOOTH

back to town....

5AM to 8AM

Dear SATURDAY.

THANKS.

road trip

back to P town for a visit.

wata day...

I am icing my foot right now. It is so very sad, it hurt all weekend, but I had no patience for that. And then with all the recent roommate wars, it has been neglected. Oh poor ankle. Ha ha, you should see Rocky... we are going to come home in a body cast.

JOHN SCHMIDT came and played for us today. It was A-MAZ-ING. He is so talented, and hilarious. I just laughed and was in complete awe. I'm totally pumped to learn piano now. Or maybe I should just buy a CD? Hmmm.... that seems more do-able.

SiLLy StrInG

I love my days.

And my nights.

And everything that happens in between:


I also got Meigen back. Cody and I turned everything upside down in her house. Unscrewed all the light bulbs. Shut all the vents. And hid her moose. I think this is an end to the attacking. It was eventful.

bUcKeTs OF wAtEr

Watch and see:

This isn't a threat. It's a promise.

midnight surprise.

i was almost fast asleep when i heard the rain.

I went to school from 9-2 then to work from 2-11. It's been a longgg uneventful day. I was laying in bed when I heard it, and ran outside. I love the rain. I love the rain so much. It smells so good. I wish it would rain everyday. I love how open windows let the smell in, and you fall asleep a little chilly and surrounded in the smell of rain, while listening to the constant patter of drops hitting the concrete. I love that.

goodnight now, I am going to enjoy my rain.

maybe i'll stay up just a bit longer with hot chocolate and a good movie. maybe just tonight...

October 1st

HAPPY ONE YEAR ELDER GRAVER!

(AJ made the CUTEST box, and then we filled it with treats
and fun things for our FAVORITE elder. :])

One year ago today, (or a year and a few days, cause you left early) you came to our apartment and dropped something off and said "I can't come in. This is for Ashli. Bye." And then you ran away. This is probably my favorite mission story, or preemie story. Then the last time I saw you, I shook your hand. Ohhh, all the lovely memories.... it's hard to pick my favorite!!!

Enjoy your last year. :]]]

AND- HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE TROY!
Congratulations AJ, you are an AUNTIE!!