dance it out

I just bought a bunch of new music thanks to Best Buy who gave me a $50 gift card because I bought my beautiful computer and quickly bought a $50 iTunes gift card. Which I then spent in about 30 minutes right after I bought it. Who knew $50 could go so fast on iTunes? BUT... I bought some awesome music. And as they say on Grey's Anatomy, when life gets tough or confusing, JUST DANCE IT OUT!

True Believers- Darius Rucker
Kiss You- One Direction (I never thought I would buy one of their songs, let alone two.)
Little Things- One Direction
Dead in the Water- Ellie Golding
Young and Beautiful- Lana Del Ray
Monster- Imagine Dragons
The Other Side- Jason Derulo
It Ain't Pretty- Lady Antebellum
See You Tonight- Scotty McCreery
Day That I Die- Zac Brown Band

sundays and thoughts

Short little post today. I don't have too much to blog about at this precise moment, even though there are quite a few thoughts running through my mind. But it seems like that's all my mind ever does is race and race and then confuse me some more. Anyways, here's a little update on my Book of Mormon challenge- I'm behind. Way behind. So I'm trying to kick myself into gear and get back on track ASAP! How are all of your daily readings going? I may behind, but I'm still enjoying this experience and at least getting some reading in every day because I seem to really struggle with getting my daily scripture reading in. So this is a great challenge! Keyword: challenge.

Today in my ward, we had a musical number where my ward clerk and his daughter performed How Great Thou Art and I couldn't help but get that message out of my mind and this particular version of the beautiful hymn out of my mind.

 

"Then sings my soul... My God, how great thou art!"

(And I apologize if I've already shared this video. But I honestly can't get enough of it. Ever.)

Today I'm grateful for all of the new friends I made and relationships that I strengthened yesterday at such a wonderful activity with so many great adventures.

dishes

Tonight, I find myself alone at home for a little while which doesn't happen too often. My home teachers came earlier and shared a message and then left me to my thoughts and a stack of dishes. I normally hate doing dishes, at least the ones that don't go in the dishwasher. But over the last few weeks, I've realized that I find doing dishes a little bit therapeutic.While I was nannying four kids last week, doing the dishes was kind of my break from the kids hanging out upstairs. So now I turn on my music and drown and scrub out my thoughts. After dumping about two bowlfuls down my front, I got in my sweats and am now hanging out, blogging, and listening to my good, old country music while I wait for the others to return home. Don't get me wrong. I would much rather be getting snow cones or something adventurous. But hear I sit. I've had a lot on my mind about boys and what-not (see sidebar) and dishes brought me a little bit of relief from my thoughts as I soaked and scrubbed. Mostly just my clothes, but there were some actual dishes that got clean in the process. Now I just have to keep this from of therapy secret or I'll be the only one doing dishes for the rest of my life. Too bad my mom reads my blog... ;)

I'm grateful for my friends that can tell me anything and that I can tell anything. And can watch the Bachelorette with me.

the book of mormon challenge

I just followed up on one of my favorite blogs online right now that I've mentioned once before and read that she is doing a yearly book of mormon challenge that I know she's done in years past and is starting it up for August this year. And I am accepting the challenge! Now, honestly, I really am not very good at sticking with challenges because I just can't seem to ever finish or complete them. Don't ask me why. But I've felt lately that I've needed to start reading the Book of Mormon again and this seems like the perfect opportunity, especially right before school starts up again. Plus, I've never read it in this little time. So I'm going to do it!!
The guidelines for this challenge is to read the Book of Mormon in one month or less. So starting August 1st, I will be reading the Book of Mormon. The outlined schedule is 8 chapters a day for 31 days until the month runs out. You can read, listen, whatever! Just do it! Join me, won't you? I want to hear all about your challenge experiences and lessons learned while reading the Book of Mormon in one month and I'll  share mine. Feel free to leave any compliments or experiences RIGHT HERE!!!
Join in!!!
 Explore here for more challenge experiences and explanation on the challenge and past experiences with the challenge. Let's do this!!

I just realized that I forgot to share something I was grateful for in my last post so I'll make up for it today. I think my brain was too full while writing the last post. Today, I am grateful for the many lessons in church today echoing the blessings of having trials in our lives. I'm also grateful for missionary emails.

rain and goodbyes

Hi friends. I'm back. I know I told you to gear up for an emotional post about a month ago that never came, but I'm sorry I'm finally half way writing it. I'm terrible at sticking to things on my blog. Moving on. Don't judge me or trust me solely on my dedication to my blog. I'm not sure why I haven't written this post. Maybe it's just a little too tough to actually write out the feelings and words that are floating around in my head. Or maybe the rain just wants to bring it out of me a little bit.
Remember my dear friend Jake that I mentioned in the last post who with the baseball tickets? Well, he officially left on his mission to serve the Lord for two years in Spain on June 11. So about a month ago. I won't go into all the details about it and saying goodbye, but he is doing really well. I got a letter back from him on Thursday and it's great to hear about all of his Christ-like service he is involved in a half a world away. Saying goodbye was definitely tough, but the hardest part was after I'd left and was actually that night. I looked up the stars and just started to cry. I'm pretty sure my sister thought I was mental. Jake and I used to look at the stars together and do our own kind of star gazing which ended up in him finding constellations on his phone and trying to show me where they were. Some times worked out better than others... Anyways, that 's the emotional post, just in a nutshell because I don't really want to flesh that all out completely. Saying goodbye for two whole years to one of your best friends is just harder than you would think.

Do you ever have a song that always seems to speak to you, no matter the mood you're in? Here's mine for the past few weeks.

baseballin' nerd

I don't know about you, but I LOVE baseball. Please tell me I'm not alone out here. I always feel like a few of my close friends don't really like baseball, know about baseball, or care about baseball besides my family and my BFF.About a week and a half ago I went to see my first baseball game f the season and it was amazing! My dear friend Jake offered his family's season tickets to the Bees game so Jake, Andrea, her BF Josh, and I went. Let me just tell you I was expecting okay seats and maybe we'd end up sitting on the grass just for fun. Oh no! These tickets were THIRD ROW seats righ next to the visitors team dugout right by home base. The best seats you can possibly have! In my opinion at least. Jake and I bought our mandatory hot dogs and enjoyed an amazing game. Jake was talking about how the Bees are not that great and he's probably never seen a homerun either, when low and behold the Bees hit a grand slam in the third inning leading the Bees right into the win. Thanks to a little help from Andrea crossing her fingers. I'm pretty sure I was the most excited one about going to the game. Just walking into the park made my adrenaline run up a hundred notches. The smell of hot dogs and popcorn and the security people in their tacky orange jackets, which I'm sure cook them alive. I just can't get enough! I love the feel and excitement that you feel at a baseball game!
P.s. I may or may not have flirted with a visiting baseball player. Okay, not really. I only smiled at him and he smiled back. But I'm counting it!

GRAND SLAM!

Funny face #1

Funny face #2

No comment on this one...

 

Today, I'm grateful for the cute little quail baby birds that I watched running around my yard.

 

P.s. Prepare for a little bit of an emotional blog post tomorrow... Saying goodbye for two years is kind of hard. That's all.

an attitude of gratitude

I've decided that everyday I want to challenge myself to find something to be grateful for. It can be the slightest thing like catching the TRAX train on my way to school, therefore not making me late to class which I hate. President Thomas S. Monson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints said in General Conference "Our lives are blessed in countless ways. We can lift ourselves and others as well when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE... President Joseph F. Smith,... provided an answer. Said he: "The grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for, and with him the good outweighs the evil. Love overpowers jealousy, and light drives darkness out of his life.'" During the school semesters, some days would become the best days because of the slightest things like running into friends and talking for a few minutes or being able to turn in an assignment that has been causing me great amounts of stress. Since I'm a little quirky, I would then write down all of the things that made my day so wonderful on little sticky notes and keep them in my backpack to read on a really bad day. I now want to extend that idea on to my blog. So now after every post or message I am going to write a little thing I'm grateful for. And I challenge you to do something similar by recognizing things you are grateful for in your day, be it great or small, and writing it down somewhere!

 

Today I'm grateful for being able to move into my own room and having to clean it. Let me tell you, it's disgusting work!Dust-filled lungs and dust bunnies galore, but I still enjoy it for some reason... I guess it gives me something to do!

 



backstreet's back

Remember when boy bands were so cool and amazing in the '90s? And then they're pretty much coming back because of the new kind of boy bands with One Direction and all that crap. Well, let me just say that the classic boy bands from my childhood can never be redone or compare to the new form of fake boy bands. And let me just tell you in case you didn't know, The BACKSTREET BOYS have reunited!!! Yes! All of us '90s kids waiting for this day can continue living and maybe even buy tickets to their tour, whenever that's happening. (I swear I heard that on GMA...)
A few weeks ago I saw them perform on Good Morning America and it took me back to when I was about 5 years old and my sisters and I were dancing in our front room to Backstreet Boys. It's almost the same experience, we're all just a little bit older, including the boys! Flash yourself back a few years...

my 19th birthday

Alas, my birthday is coming up once again! (Apparently I like to use collegiate words like alas. Who knew? I think I just use words like that to make myself feel a little bit smart and that I actually do belong in college.) Tomorrow is in fact my birthday! Yay! I actually really do like my birthday a lot for some reason. I like one day where people say hi and wish me happy birthday. Even if it is on Facebook. I still really appreciate the birthday wishes and messages.  And the gifts. They're pretty nice too.

Here's my birthday list for this year. Again, "presents are not required, but are encouraged..."
1. Clothes. Contrary to my family's beliefs, I really don't think I can have enough.
2. The Amazing Spiderman. I'm not sure why I still haven't bought this movie since I LOVE it so much!
3. Wreck-It-Ralph
4. A bulk pack of Sharpies. I have an obsession with school supplies and it's moved to Sharpies too.
5. A gift card to use on my Kindle
6. An LDS romance literature. What can I say? I like a little fluff on the side.
7. Twinkly lights for my bedroom.
8. And according to Josh I want a new puppy.

hello may, we welcome you with snow

First off, I woke up this morning and looked out my window while I was still laying in bed, and guess what I saw welcoming me to the month of May, one of my favorite months?? A big white filled window. Yes ladies and gentlemen, on the first day of May in good ole bipolar Utah, it snowed. Not just two flakes either. It was supposedly some freak blizzard. I immediately thought I was still dreaming. But nope!

 

Secondly, I made it through all of my finals, hence the picture up above. I feel free. I don't have to make sure I can fit certain things into my school schedule for a full three months. It's a wonderful feeling really. I was able to spend all of yesterday with my cute Oma while she recovered from her procedure on Monday. We had a big scare, but she's doing okay today. I've watched at least ten episodes of Psych in the last two days. I just can't seem to get enough apparently. And tomorrow brings another lazy day. I'm loving it!

 

And thirdly, there is officially one week until my 19th birthday. Can't wait, plus I don't have to go to school. I don't know what I will be doing. Probably just sitting at home, but still it's my birthday and I can do whatever I want!

finals equal brain torture

Finals week... shudders... The end of last week and the beginning of this upcoming week is the terrible, horrid finals week at the University of Utah. You know what that means? Stress flowing out of my ears, a lot of sugar and junkfood (and I mean A LOT. Definitely going to have to work out once I'm finished), a crowded library, and constant procrastination. I'm half way there finals wise, but it seems like it might never actually be summer break. Is that poosible? That maybe the school has just been lying to me this whole time? Nah, probably not. The light's there somewhere at the end of the very dark and curvy tunnel... It's just a long ways down there. Let's hope I can make it through Monday with flying colors, and then it's on to finding a summer job, finally reading the many books I have on my list, catching up on my crafting projects that I've wanted to do for so long, playing outside, and definitely hanging out with friends!
And one of the worst things about having finals week right now is that the weather outside here in Utah is BEAUTIFUL! The sun is shining all day with 75 degree weather. My heaven temperature. And all I get to do is force myself to stay inside and study so I don't fail. Not fair.

the untitled

I honestly don't know what to title this post, hence the untitled title. Now that I've used forms of title so many times I'm exhausted, let me just vent to you readers a little bit about some of the things that have gotten under my skin for a little bit. Sometimes I feel like my brain is overwhelmed with so many thoughts and worries that it has become a big bowl of soup with millions of alphabet letter noodles floating around in it. (So much so that I just spelled bowl BOUL. Help me.)
If you don't desire to read about my issues under my skin, just read on. Sometimes a girls gotta vent to something that doesn't respond directly, ya know?
Anyways, #1: I'm getting super sick of people sugar coating things. I mean that in the way that if someone doesn't actually want to do something or isn't excited about doing something, then actually tell me. I would much rather have everyone be honest with each other and face reality. Give it to me straight and I won't be offended. People choose to be offended and if I am offended, it's my own darn fault.
#2: I'm tired of feeling second string. Like a third or fourth wheel. Or like I'm a step down from other friends. Does that make sense? Sometimes I wonder if I'm really that good of friends with someone as I might think...
#3: I'm kind of tired of not planning things. I have this weird issue with having to know what's going on ahead of time. I'm okay with hanging out with friends last minute, but it's when people talk about doing something, but no one takes the initiative or forgets to contact you or everyone else so I end up sitting at home reading a book and actually catching up on stuff that I really don't want to do at the moment. If no one else is going to take charge and make decisions, then I will!
Sorry for boring you with a venting sesh, but sometimes I really need to get a few things off my chest. I appreciate your willingness to listen. ;) Or read rather.

P.s. for those of you really following my blog, I have found plenty of time to paint my nails. Multiple times actually. I think I'm finally physically put back together. Mentally and emotionally, it depends on the day.

P.p.s. Less than a month until my birthday! "Presents are not required, but encouraged..." ;)

survival

Well, I survived! I'm sure you were all holding on and sitting on the edge of your seat. Yeah, right. You have a life. But I did survive that monster of a research paper. 14 pages later and 10 sources about Chinese Americans and it is turned in to my professor. Now let's hope I get a good grade! Fingers crossed. But like I said, listening to Imagine Dragon helped me out a bit (along with surprise phone calls that put a huge smile on my face). Nothing puts me in a good mood like some great music!

buckling up

I'm preparing for the next few days being filled with writing an awful, treacherous, close to 10 page paper on Chinese Americans. Can you say torture? And it's a research paper so it has to include a whole load of sources. I'm definitely buckling my seatbelt so I make it through this week alive without biting off too many people's heads. Wish me luck... I think I'm going to need it. But maybe listening to Imagine Dragons will help me through it a little easier! We'll see. I'll keep you posted.

spreading the word and gospel

This weekend is General Conference and I love taking advantage of hearing the prophet and his counselor's voices bear their testimonies and constantly strengthening mine. I always seem to have some prayer answered by the leaders of the church. Their messages are constantly helping me to get through struggles in my life and throughout problems and questions that I am facing.

 

But this morning during conference I was so astounded by the number of missionaries serving  missions, shared by President Monson. I realized that so many of those missionaries serving and will be serving are so many of my dear friends! I am so proud of the friends that I have and their dedication to serve the lord and spread his gospel throughout so many places in the world, including Mexico City, Spain, Ukraine, Phillipines, Uganda, New York, Kentucky, Canada, California, Missouri, Minnesota and so many more. I am so amazed by the power of two people's testimonies working together to help more people come unto Christ. I feel so blessed to have the friends I have been given throughout my life!

Spencer's farewell. He is now serving in Mexico City.

Austin is now serving in Canada. Cassie will soon be serving in Baton Rouge.

wedding bells

I promised a few posts back that I would put up photos and stuff about my sister, Maggie, and brother-in-law's wedding, so here's the video for you to watch.

It was such a beautifully wonderful day!

P.s. The videographer did a great job, don't ya think?

my sincerest compliments

The root of this post is a text-versation I had with a friend yesterday. I told him I got my test back in a class and asked what I got. I told him my score (which I am proud of, but not in a prideful sort of way) and that I was satisfied with it. And he wrote back "What!? That's amazing! Well done!! :)" One of my nightmares... (Just kidding, It's not that extreme. I feel like exaggerating today apparently.) I've always had a little problem when people compliment or congratulate me on certain things. Only some things. If you're complimenting me on my clothes, hair, or teeth (which I never get complimented on and I'm just fine with that! Compliments on my teeth seem a little weird. Thanks... I grow them myself??) then I'm fine with saying thank you, you're sweet. But what about when someone congratulates you on a good test score or grade? What do you say back?? I know you should say thank you, but I feel the worst when someone else gets a worse grade than you by at least a couple of
letter grades but still congratulates you. I think the root of my problem is ever since elementary school I've felt like I've been compared to everyone else by test scores and I hate to compare myself with others. So next time someone congratulates me on a higher test score or grade, what should I say?? I think I'm over analyzing now...moving on.

be still

For whatever reason, today in church this thought and hymn have kept coming to mind. So I thought I would share it and maybe it will touch you on this Sabbath day as much as it has touched me.

knowing who i am

One of my favorite bloggers the other day wrote an astounding and poetic blogpost about if her readers really know who she is and what she stands for. I was so moved by what she had to say and how proud she was to be saying it. I've done a "things you don't know about me post" but I felt like i wanted to write something more. Because of her post I wanted to do something similar and declare my statement to the world.
This is who I am:
I am a daughter of my Heavenly Father who loves me and I love him. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I know it, I live it, I love it. I am grateful for my Heavenly Father and his son, Jesus Christ, who strengthen me to make it through my struggles and self doubts. I do everything through him who strengthens me. I'm grateful for the knowledge that I have of eternal families and that I will be with my entire family again and for eternity. I know that one day I will meet the man of my dreams and will be able to be sealed to him for time and all eternity in the temple.
I know that I am an individual and unique. I know that I can stand on my own two feet and stand up for myself. I do not need anyone to prove to myself that I am beautiful. I am strong and have been given many purposes on this earth. I may not know what all of those purposes are right now, but I know that I am here for a reason, whatever they might be.
I believe in destiny. Not in a cheesy kind of way. I believe that every person is put in our path to strengthen us or test us. People come into our lives for whatever reason and we are meant to teach each other.
I'm sometimes crazy. And sometimes too quiet. I sometimes stay too far in my shell, but I'm okay with that. I am sometimes deep in my shell when I'm at school and at work. I have a lot of thoughts running through my mind and would rather stay focused. Other times I can be a little crazy and eccentric. There are different sides to my personality and can be more cautious of opening myself up.
I am a sister and I love my family and sisters with all my heart. I could never be who I am if it wasn't for my sisters and their strength which strengthens me.
But most of all, I accept and love who I am! "I am titanium!"

 

 

kids say the darnedest things, like werewolves

If you haven't seen this commercial, I don't know how you've made it through your day without literally losing your mind. Everytime I start to feel stressed (which is a lot of the time!!) I just remember this commercial and quote it to myself because I've seen it so many times. Prepare to laugh hysterically... 3...2...1...

P.s. did you see the kids face sitting next to her? If not, please watch it again, at your own risk of dying from laughing so hard!