today is the last day of 2014 [lavender scarf]

i own a lavender scarf.

it is my favorite scarf, because i made it myself.

it took a few months and lots of patience.

patience to continue knitting line after line

and keep knitting,

even when i made a mistake.

i made a lot of mistakes...

sometimes i could track back and fix the knitting misstep, but a lot of those missteps were not easy fixes and they are now permanently etched into the rows of my favorite scarf.

my best friend, betty, and i learned to knit at the same time. she was really bad at it (haha -- she would agree with that statement), because she always restarted her piece each time she made an error. she restarted her scarf tens, if not hundreds, of times. in the end, she became frustrated and quit. she couldn't accept the flaws as a natural part of the process and it stopped her progress completely.

i finished my scarf. it is far from perfect.

yet it is my favorite scarf,

because 

i made it with my own hands.

i worked for every stitch of that lavender scarf.

2014 has unraveled a lot differently than i expected.

[get it.. unraveled.. knitting..]

there are many knits in my life that others may look at and see as flaws.

there are many knits in my life that others do look at and see as flaws.

there are many knits in my life that are flaws.

..and that is okay.

..that is absolutely okay.

oh how i missed my scrubs

After spending the last few months working every day in dressed-up missionary attire, it feels incredibly nice to work in SCRUBS again!

Sigh.. I missed the Emergency Room.

Delia! [Madison, WI]

Madison, WI

This weekend I got to see one of my favorite people...

Delia!

I met Delia when we lived in Ecuador.

We lived in neighboring communities.

2013 Global Citizen Year fellows from the Cloud Forest region (when we visited Otavalo)

This weekend I got to visit her in her hometown of Madison, Wisconsin!

downtown Madison from afar

#kidsthesedays
#sometimesselfiesarenecessary

best friends

Yeah, I miss this girl.

How Not to Take a Jumping Photo 101

Tip #1: Don't wear a scarf....

Merry Christmas 2014 from the Heron&McCown Family!

hiking the Hollywood sign (part two)

part one: here

because i can wear pants now *happy dance*

a fashion blog post

in honor

of my dear, old friend..

whom i greatly missed on my mission..

pants <3

hiking the Hollywood sign (part one)

It was a lot longer of an adventure than we anticipated...

6.2 miles of adventure to be exact....

some L.A. shots.

my newest companion :)

First Week Home from the Mission

This week I came home from my mission.

It's very confusing to be back in Iowa..

I keep trying to read my texts aloud to everyone... It confuses them...

And I keep looking around for my companion....

..and then I realize I don't have one anymore..

I miss Hermana Yanez and Bossa and Mocellin and Diaz and WHY AREN'T THEY IN MY LIFE ANYMORE

"Happy Birthday, Elderas"

Hi!

This week, we lost our trio status :(

Bye Hermana Mocellin... :(

Except Hermana Mocellin only went to the area right next to ours, in the same ward, so we still see her all the time! Woot.

..but, before transfers, we went to a member's house and we celebrated all three of our birthday together! Haha..

HOLLYWOOD SIGN

I have a few silly mission goals, and one of them was hiking to the Hollywood sign... DID IT!!

P.S. but it took forever to do, so I only have a few minutes to write my mom.. I'll write you all next week sorrrrryyyy loooovvveeee youuuuuu :)

P.P.S. Another silly mission goal of mine was mastering jumping pictures.. naaaaillledddd it. :p

this week in hollywood

Twenty minutes to write ~

We have two areas, and we are still crazy busy. Every day is full of appointments and we still struggle to find time for everybody we need to see... the best problem to have as a missionary!

This preparation day was the COOLEST. We went to the mission office, and on the way home we stopped at a really nice salad place that lets missionaries eat for free! we felt so classy. Probably because the place was really classy.

SHE'S ECUADORIAN < 3

we're best friends

Impromptu Beverly Hills Sign Photo Shoot

the back of my name badge :)

i made a copy of a letter kamryn sent me and made this to remind me why i'm here ~

november 3rd

Today is a crazy preparation day, so I don't have much time to write..

but, PHOTOS. They're the best part anyway.

eating THE BEST tacos ever ~

more mission madness: TRIO LIFE (part 2)

(part one)

We had a baptism yesterday! It was a very simple and powerful service, and I am so happy for the persons who got baptized (whose names I can't use on my blog... so that's why it sounds super awkward) ~

It's been a CRAZY week, but our area is now twice as blessed! Overnight we had double the area to work in, double the investigators, double the baptismal dates and double the work. We are a very tired and a very happy trio.

more mission madness: TRIO LIFE

A missionary in our district had to leave the area, so that Sister's companion was added to our companionship.

...along with her entire area...

Three Sisters.

Two Areas.

Lots of Work.

..And Fun :)

Hermanas Mocellin, Yanez & Heron.

tratamos y que??

((that's what sister mocellin and I say every time we try something and it just doesn't work at all))

HE GOT BAPTIZED!!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

can't even handle the excitement

#thedistrictsfavorite #maybeonlybecausewemakecupcakes

my new companion! hermana yanez!