Photo strip of the last few weeks...

I have kinda been absent from the blogging world the last while. But I am back and a lot has happened. Let's first update with a few pictures..

This is Becka and I with Antonia in the background. 

This is Ferg and I on one of our outings.

Becka and I went on a bike ride/long boarding adventure

Me and 4th cousin Melanie at a bbq

Brunch at Ivars

Explanations will come later....

I woke up missing my family this morning.

I miss how my dad hugs me-sometimes he does it for no apparent reason. I also miss playing ball with him.
I miss how my mom makes me laugh because of her randomness.
I miss how Jami always has the best advice. (of course I can call her for that, but its different face-to-face)
I miss hearing Jessica's opinion about EVERYTHING.
I miss how Nils tells me that he is praying for me. (again, he does that over the phone, but different).
I miss how Curtis always go out and do fun things. Last time I was home, I taught him how to drive.
I miss how Dave tells me about school.
I miss how Tolman and Addi, but particularly Tolman, light up every time they see me.
I miss seeing my grandparents at dinner on Sundays.

I miss being in my parents home-I always feel good there. I miss hearing my mom play the piano. I miss hearing Curtis read poetry. I miss playing Settlers with Jess...with the rest of the fam too but mostly Jess. I miss going to the park with the kiddos.

I just miss being with the most important people in my life. Thats all.

(But please, particularly mom, don't let this post confuse you. I am doing really well.)

What a week!

I haven't visited my blog in awhile and have felt the urge...

First off, Happy Mother's Day to my mom!! I love you, mom! And Happy Mother's Day to my sister Jami and Grandma Carol-and all the other mothers out there-but particularly to those 3.

This morning I woke up and got lost in my thoughts about my body and how it works and operates. It was driving me crazy. Questions like, how is it that humans last longer than most modern machines (like cars...they are ancient when they are 20 years old) without a battery and/or fuel. Hello! Doesn't make any sense. We can move and think and feel and taste and geee...all kinds of things....and I am not plugged to the wall and I don't have an on and off switch. Sure, I have to sleep for a few hours a day to re-energize myself but the concept of sleep as a recharger is another thing that just makes my head spin. And then to think that I, Chelsea Nelson, was created inside another human. Weird. Humans are amazing.

I haven't introduced Adriane Ferguson to my my blog yet.... Drum Roll Please!!!
Everyone! This is Fergie Ferg Ferg...perhaps the best friend I have had in my entire existence. We met months ago and connected almost immediately. She is a rock-my rock and I am sometimes amazed how she understands me. She has a deep relationship with God and that radiates by the way she lives her life. I could write and write and write in detail about the things Ferg has brought to my life. I won't. I will just post an occasional picture

The Seattle weather is wearing on me more now than it has since I've been here. I talked to Nils yesterday and he told me it is about 100 degrees everyday where he is. That sounds a little too hot but I sure wouldn't mind seeing the sun everyday. This was a few days ago at a Mariners baseball game and it was FREEZING! I'm normally pretty tough about cold weather-but I was so annoyed that it was that cold.

So, I have written briefly about a crush. Yes, yes, Chelsea has started to date someone. Becka is her name and she is fabulous! Yesterday we spent the evening finger painting.Becka riding the cruiser-I was on the longboard! :)

This is me and Becka at din din with Mel and Pam

Sometimes in my life I don't really think about why I feel certain things. I just feel without needing any kind of reason BUT I have been more aware of WHY certain feelings have surfaced. One of the most overwhelming feelings I have had the past month or so is gratefulness. And the reason?! I have phenomenal people around me-particularly my family. I was talking to my mom a few weeks ago and I asked if she was comfortable hearing about Becka...her response was, "Of course!" and then explained that she just wants me to be happy. I am so thankful that I finally feel comfortable with myself!!

I still own my home in Utah. This week I learned that my main waterline broke. Major bummer. My grandma got diagnosed with cancer this week-but is having an operation on Wednesday and they are feeling confident that the cancer hasn't spread-so hopefully everything will be fine after the operation. I tore the bumper off my car-not this last week-the week before-but still. I had a lifetime friend decide we couldn't be friends anymore. That was a bummer. My tenant who lived in the basement of my house moved out without giving me any notice this last week. And my house is dirty. I did something weird to my hip. It hurts...and sometimes I'm forced to limp. I felt homesick on Sunday. I just wanted to give my mom a hug and remind her that she is my hero. I wanted to watch Curtis play basketball too. I learned that Jamie changed her phone number. I felt really lazy-for like the last MONTH-and on Wednesday had a literal wake up call which forced me to snap out of it. What else, what else?? A lot, probably.

Despite that list, I feel calm and happy. Which proves that liking yourself and feeling confident in who you are is the most important of all things!

Nilso

So....here goes another....

I have been writing a lot about my family lately and here is another post...dedicated to my brother Nils.

Nils turned 22 on the 23rd of April. I can't believe it...I can't believe my little brother is 22. Craziness. I remember his first day of kindergarten. I remember because I was soo happy that I got to walk home with him-I remember his first baseball game and I remember the first time he told me that basketball was his favorite sport. I remember one time I tried to teach him how to swear-and he told me that he didn't want to. I remember making cookies with him once and they didn't turn out because I didn't know what I was doing. I remember what he said during his speech when they announced that he won student body president at WJHS. I remember a few of his moments playing basketball. I remember calling him every day for a week while I was in Europe wanting to know every detail of tryouts. I remember having talks about his feelings about serving a mission and I remember a talk we had after he received his call. I remember the conversations I had about Nils with other people while he was out on his mission-I remember learning/feeling/KNOWING that he had impacted soo many people just by being him. I remember the excitement my family had preparing for his return... that excitement is the same excitement I have now just thinking about how great my brother is!!!

Nils is my little brother but I have always looked up to him. He inspires me with his goodness. The world is a better place because of him and I am thankful he is my brother.

Love you, Nilso!