I love America

No, don't worry... you haven't forgotten about an important national holiday or anything. I just couldn't keep the American pride that has been running through my veins inside any longer. Russ's mom was born and raised in the great country of Mexico, the country that she has been a citizen of until Wednesday.

Me, Russ, Argelia, Marcella, and Natalie after the ceremony

I had the opportunity to go to an official Naturalization ceremony where Argelia, my wonderful future mother-in-law, denounced allegiance to Mexico and is now an official citizen of the USA. I walked away from this ceremony with a renewed sense of pride in this amazing country. Here are some of the main thoughts and emotions that were running through my head:

• I take this country and the opportunities it provides for granted
• Every person who was born and raised in this country should see one of these ceremonies--they really will look at their situation in a different light
• This country, despite recent events, has so much to offer
• Just like Lee Greenwood, I am proud to be an American
  

A Trip to Zions

At the beginning of my Super Senior year here at BYU I made a list of things I wanted to do before I left Provo for good. Going to ZIONS NATIONAL PARK was at the very top. This weekend Russ and I and a couple friends took a trip that helped me check one more thing off my list.

I absolutely loved Zions. I have always been such a huge fan of Moab, but I think Zions now reigns supreme. The combination of red rock with lush green trees was absolutely beautiful, not to mention the towering cliffs that sorround you at all times. The weather was kind of iffy, so we didn't do a couple of the hikes we had originally planned on for fear of flash floods and all kinds of dangerous stuff.

One hike we did was Angels Landing, which is absolutely unbelievable. WARNING: Do not attempt if you are afraid of heights. After doing some pretty steep switchbacks for a while, you reach a narrow walkway that climbs another couple hundred feet. Except this walkway is 4-5 feet wide with a 1,200 foot plunge on one side and a 900 foot drop on the other. You use chains for this narrow section. I loved this hike, though! Another fix for the adrenaline junky.

Russ climbing the chain section
Victorious! Just don't look down...

Making the Bed

Was I not the only child who hated, no let me rephrase that, who loathed making the bed? I would do as I was told and make sure everything else in my room was spick and span, but for some reason being told to make the bed was like a death sentence to me. And ironically enough, it was the part of a room my mom most wanted clean.

Well, like most things in life, it took me a while to realize that, again, my mom was right. I moved to college, got my own room, and now I love making the bed. That's right, mom, you read that correctly. Maybe it's because my room is a 9' x 14' space and so any mess you have makes it feel as though a bomb has gone off, or maybe it's just because I'm more like my mom than I thought. But if you read my previous post, you'll know that that really isn't a bad thing.

To my mom

On this Mother's Day, I just wanted to let my mom know how much I love and appreciate her. Words don't do it justice, but she really is one of my biggest inspirations. I love my mom for a lot of things, some of which include the following:

• She is funny, like really, she makes me laugh really hard
• Her love of Diet Coke -- I think I appreciate this for a few reasons... maybe to jusify my own addiction, or just because she could care less what everyone else thinks
• Her love of the gospel, and how she has taught me
• The sacrifices she has made for me and my family
• How she loves my Dad
• Her dedication to staying healthy and in shape -- definitely helps me stay motivated (cause really, she could probably kick my butt)
• She is the best listener
• Always supporting me in my choices and aspirations in life
• For being my best friend

Thank you Mom, for everything you are. I hope that someday I can be half as good of a mom as you are to me.

I love you.

So it turns out Australia is pretty cool...

Here is a quick preview of some of the sights and sounds of Australia thus far. I still have two more days until I return back to good ol' Provo, but I just had to share.

At the "Three Sisters" in the Blue Mountains.

A sheep named Sally

View from our hotel balcony in Darling Harbor, Sydney

Jenolan Caves

Jace-face and I at Bondi Beach. This is Australia's winter, by the way. Tough life, eh?

Missing Russ. Ok, sorry for the corniness. Everyone has the right to be corny once and a while.

To finish it up, a hike to a cute little light house at Manly Beach. My parents and I are the tiny dots in front of the white fence.

By the way, If I randomly disappear from the US, you will know where I have gone.

I've Gone Down Under

G'day mates! I think some people may be wondering why I am not responding to texts/voicemails/messages, etc. Well that's cause I am in AUSTRALIA! My family and I are here for vacation for 10 days and will be back on May 9th.

I'm pretty disoriented, as I officially got robbed of my Thursday, April 30th and just arrived from travling for nearly 30 hours. We are staying at this amazing farm for a few days that is about 3 hours outside of Sydney. We are sorrounded by rolling hills and the breath-taking scenery of Australia. Modern transportation is a true miracle--the fact that just 30 hours ago I was in little ol' Provo, Utah, and how I just got back from a "safari-esque" tour of the farm where I held a sheep named Sally and helped run off the pesty Kangaroos.

Ah... the land down under.

Pomp and Circumstance

It's official! I am done in every way with college. Even though I technically graduated in December '08, I walked this last weekend, and I'm so glad I did. It was amazing to be part of something so huge. I feel so grateful to have attended BYU and gain the amazing education it has to offer. Also, BYU has provided me with the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest people in the world with weekly devotionals from President Hinckley, President Monson, other general authorities, and President Uchtdorf and Elder Nelson at our general commencement ceremony. What a blessing.

I also want to give a shout out to everyone who supported me through college, specifcally my parents. Thank you for everyhing--for supporting me both financially and emotionally. I really couldn't have done it without you, and I am so grateful that I have such amazing parents. I love you both!!

So, in closing, au revoir BYU. It's been real.

[Oh also, Russ and I got to graduate together! (I know, cute, huh?) Except he got a fancy black robe and an awesome hood, which comes with getting your Masters. I guess it was TOTALLY worth it. Congratulations, Russ!!! I am so proud of you!]

The Circle of Life

Once upon a time a girl named Camille met a girl named Emily, both new BYU co-eds-- shy, scared, and friendless. They became instant friends sitting under a tree in Helaman Halls.
These two buds shared some great times together during their 3 great years of being roommates. They went camping, to concerts, family vacations to Hawaii, grandparents houses, field trips, snowboarding, you name it. There was a lot of laughing and bonding within those three years of being together. And then they started getting older. Study abroads happened. Internships happened. Missions happened.

And they were separated.

But alas, the stars have aligned and the two friends of long ago have been reunited! Emily and Camille are roommates once again, but this time at the Enclave Village.
The Circle of Life has brought us together once again. To keep with the "Circle of Life" theme, we even stayed up till 2 last night finishing a Lion King mosaic puzzle. It was hard, but don't worry, we conquered. I know, I know, we will try to not be so wild from now on. Girls just wanna have fun, gosh darn it.

The Best Day of My Life... as of yet.

Have you ever woken up and had to ask yourself if yesterday was a dream? That was the exact thought that ran through my head Saturday morning. I will explain why.

Well first, Friday was my birthday, (yay!) But it was very unlike all the other 22 birthdays I had experienced. First my roommates made me a delicious breakfast. And then Russ had left some surprises for me on the table, including a beautiful bouquet of roses. My mom happened to be in town, so we all went out to lunch with her at Mimi's Cafe. Yummmm!

Russ had told me he had "birthday things" planned for the rest of the day. So after lunch we rented a tandem bike and rode to one of our favorite parks. He then pulls out a poem and I naively sit back and listen until at the end he pops the question. Yes, THE question. He pulls out the most beautiful ring in the world from his backpack--I'm still in shock. Here we are, 3:00 in the afternoon in a park on my birthday, and Russ is asking me to marry him. It was perfect. And here's the best part... I SAID YES!

The rest of the day seemed like a big blissful blur. We sat down for a while to try and soak it all in, but even now it still hasn't quite sunk in. Russ then took me to dinner at Thai Ruby, a restaurant we had went to on one of our first dates. Later that night he threw me a surprise party where we celebrated with some close friends and family. Everything was perfect. I loved being able to spend one of the happiest days of my life with the people I love the most.

So that's it folks. I'M GETTING MARRIED! I have never smiled so much in my life. Today in Relief Society when I announced that I was engaged, a few girls said "to WHO???" So... for those who aren't quite clear on how this whole shebang got started, here's a quick synopsis. If you're bored with this post by now, you can stop reading, I won't be offended.

We met last semester... at a yogurt shop and then at Halloween party (I was a black cat and he was a computer). I have also been friends with his sister, Natalie, since she lived in the Enclave last year and we have some close mutual friends. So she is our matchmaker. We owe her for eternity. Dating Russ felt like the most natural, comfortable thing I have ever done--for lot's of reasons. I'm always happy when I'm with him. He is from Albuquerque, New Mexico, but his family now lives in Highland. I love his family. He is graduating this week from BYU with his Masters in Information Systems, and has a job with Ernst & Young starting in September in San Antonio, Texas. So for those who know MY situation, I am no longer moving to San Francisco. Come September I will have taken on the new name of Lewis and will be living in Texas. It's crazy the turns your life can take so quickly. You may never know why you felt so prompted to make some decisions--but I can attest that everything happens for a reason.

So... in closing, he asked, and I said "yes!" Russ and I will make it official on July 25th at the Draper Temple. Stay tuned, you faithful readers, you.

An Ode to the Bird

Thank you, dear SNOWBIRD, for:

• Supplying 2 1/2 feet of fresh powder in the middle of April
• Starting the morning off as a "sunny powder day"... really, nothing can beat that
• Playing "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi" by Radiohead in the tunnel. It made my day.
• Providing ample terrain for the crowds, enough that fresh tracks can still be found after lunch
• "The Cirque" drop-off... this taught me how much I really do crave adrenaline rushes
• Helping me take the lemons of a snow storm in April and make lemonade by having an incredible powder day

Race for Sale!!

Have you (or anyone you know in the Utah area) been DYING to prove your physical abilities and run a 1/2 marathon, but just can't scrounge up the $60+ to run? [I know, right? Who wants to pay that much money to RUN for goodness sakes]

Anyway, if this is you... YOU'RE IN LUCK!!!

I signed up for the Salt Lake City 1/2 Marathon which is on Saturday, April 18th and, due to knee injuries from my last race, have decided against killing myself again. MY SPOT IN THE RACE IS FOR SALE!!! I'll give it to you for $25! That's a steal of a deal for an awesome race.

I promise, it's fun. I loved it. Knee injuries and all.

Random find

So, i'll admit it. I was bored this morning and googled my name. I found a little surprise! This was the third listing that came up (after facebook and Linkedin, of course). Kinda weird to see a picture and interview of you somewhere you didn't know it would be.

CLICK HERE

I just wanted you to know

I LOVE FAMILIES.

a lot.

My family came into town last weekend for General Conference, etc. and we had such a great weekend. We didn't do anything exceptional, but it didn't matter. What we DID do was a lot of eating and laughing, two very great things in life. Yup, it's official, I love them a lot.


Oh and also, Russ is pretty great too. Blogging world, it's time you officially met Russ.

Let your body moooooove

So tonight I went to another Fictionist concert. Ok I know you are thinking "really Camille? How many times are you going to talk about this band and how amazing their shows are?" Well I could do it again (because it was beyond incredible and one of the funnest nights I've had in a while), but tonight I'm talking about a different issue.

I don't understand how when people are at a concert (and I mean ANY concert or musical event) they can just STAND THERE. How do the sounds and energy coming from the amazing artists on stage not MOVE YOU!?!?? How is your toe not tapping? How are you not rocking your head up and down and side to side in time with the hypnotizing beat? How are you not smiling? How are you not jumping up and down while the incredible jam unfolds on stage? HOW ARE YOU STANDING STILL?

As I was rocking out hard core tonight I would look around every once and a while when I would randomly snap back into reality and think all of these questions at the same time. Yeah, I know, lots of questions. Complicated mind. But it's ok, because that complicated mind becomes clear whenever I am listening to music and completely lose myself. Oh the beauty of music.

Sign if you agree...

Dear Mother Nature (or whom it may concern),

First off, let me just say that I love you. I love the beauty of everything you are. Yup, I love the mountains. I love the ocean. I even love the desert.

Tonight I am writing on behalf of our current condition. I live in Utah and woke up this morning, the first morning of APRIL, to a fresh coat of white, fluffy snow, gusting winds of 46,834 miles an hour, and even MORE snow falling to the already whitened ground. I must admit, Mother Nature, I was not very happy. I know you do your thing, but I was wondering if you could maybe start being a little warmer. I can do whatever it is you require. I come to thee on bended knee, begging, even pleading for any sort of glimpse of SPRING, the season of smiles and warmth.

I know that when you reveal the beauty of spring, whenever it may be, it will be magnificent. It always is.

Sincerely,

Camille "Bring in the Spring" McLaws

It's coming....

It's officially almost here...

HARI KRISHNA FESTIVAL OF COLORS

Saturday, March 28.

4:00 pm.

Spanish Fork.

Last year was probably one of the funnest nights I have ever had at BYU. I'm sure this year will be just as amazing. You can be assured that some awesome posts will follow.

Done and done.

I did it! I ran my first half marathon ever! I'll be honest -- it was a really hard race, and my crappy knees started failing me... but I finished. I'm actually pretty proud of my time considering the heat, the course, my knees, first race ever, etc. I'm really glad I got to be a part of such an exciting event, and that I got to do it with Brittney.

We had fun driving down together and camping at the best spot ever (I'm actually being sarcastic -- I learned how much I utterly LOATHE camping grounds). But it was fun, so much so that she has somehow convinced me to do a second one. I just barely signed up for the Salt Lake 1/2 Marathon that is on April 18th. I guess racing IS contagious...

I turned 7 again

So I reverted back to the child within Wednesday night. Russ and I went to the "Nickelcade" (for those non-Provoites, the Nickelcade is a popular date location consisting of retro arcade games from circa 1993). It was a blast, especially after we found the unassuming game that allowed us to win tickets galore!

All I got to say is I probably shouldn't gamble. I get WAY into these kind of things and I keep saying "just one more!" Luckily, unlike most gamblers, we got something out of it. I think I'll cherish my high-class vampire teeth forever. Thank you, Nickelcade, for making my day.

PS. On another note, Brittney and I are heading down to Moab tonight for the big race which is tomorrow. If I don't post another entry soon, you can assume I died mid-race. I'm sure it'll be fine... they probably have some sort of medical care center. Right?

A Summer Preview

SUMMER IS COMING. Well, if it's not summer at least it's spring.

The weather has been incredible lately. Yesterday my BFF and I went to the park and just reveled in the warmth.

I love the sun.
I love Danielle.
I love my Chacos.
I love afternoons in the park.
I love life.

My new summer job

My plans to start working with PwC have recently been changed, and I most likely will be starting in September rather than July. Soooo... my kind, supporting mother then said "ok, now go get a job." So I've been looking around and applying to all sorts of random odd jobs a BYU grad shouldn't be applying to. But hey, whatever pays the bills right?

Forget being a receptionist or office clerk. I'm seriously considering this position. What do you think? (click on the picture to read it)