Don't grieve over the cherries.

But first:

I've had this dress since 8th grade. I got at at value village for a spirit day. the thrifting started young.

And I always wanted to wear it when it actually started to fit me (thanks, puberty.), but it was too short!

but then, I realized I could fix that! So I took the hem out and added trim from Joann's.

Here's a little secret product you should have in your life: E-6000 glue. Seriously, it's magical. It works for anything. When I worked making ballroom dresses, we actually used this so it's a legit thing! Broken shoes? no problem. Want to bedazzle something? I'll judge you, but you should still use this.

Before: Hey stubby legs!

After:

Lately I've been a little blue. My study abroad group arrive in Austria and so I've started seeing all their blog posts and wonderful pictures. And the little green monster came out in full-force.

I'm just going to come right out and say it: It really sucks that I couldn't go.

And I was throwing myself a pity party. Because there they are, in Austria. And I'm stuck in Provo. I started thinking about how lame that is in comparison. And I started to let myself believe that I was doing nothing and my life was dull.

Then I was reading No One Can Take your Place by Sheri Dew and I came across a story about Sister Hinckley. One of her daughters moved to Hawaii and wrote home to Sister Hinckley about how she was missing the cherry trees that grew at her parents' home.

Sister Hinckley wrote back, "Don't grieve over the cherries. Enjoy the pineapples and mangoes."

Talk about a wake-up call. Sure, Provo is not as thrilling as Vienna. But I know my Heavenly Father has a plan for me and there are a lot of reasons I need to be here this semester, even if I don't want to be. So instead of whining in my room, I'm going to go out and enjoy the pineapples and mangoes.