tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-928234314525298112024-02-06T21:22:26.087-08:00life is wonderful.today is the day, i've been preparing my whole life to live.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92823431452529811.post-29440560280473612482012-11-30T06:35:00.001-08:002012-11-30T06:35:37.106-08:00disappearing act<br />
I'm working in a special needs preschool up here in Logan. One of the little boys in my class has developed a bond with me more than any other child in the class. Even though I try not too, i'm pretty partial to him too. he has spinal bifida and can navigate his miniature wheel chair better than any 3 year old i've ever seen. he holds my hand and plays with me at recess. we go down slides together and he thinks it's the funniest thing in the world. i wish there was a word for his joy, or the joy he brings me. he is just wonderful. Monday comes around this week and i take him out of his wheel chair and set him on the carpet with his legs straight out for circle time. he slowly droops down to where his knees are touching his forehead. He sometimes sits like this when he is shy or doesn't want to participate but usually if someone sits behind him, he'll sit up to participate. (then look back at you every few seconds and smile). This particular day, I couldn't do anything to change his mind about laying his head down on his knees. i thought he was upset with me, and just decided to leave him alone. when circle time was over and i picked him up to put him in his wheel chair i noticed he was asleep. when i picked him up his little arms latched around my neck and he squoze me tight. I stood there for a second and just embraced the squeeze and held him tight and safe. I unhooked his octopus like tentacles around my neck as I put him back in the wheel chair. he was unhappy and made a face at me as i put him down and he closed his eyes again, although this time his wheel chair and the fancy buckles on it forced him to sit up. It made me laugh and i thought in my mind. he's probably thinking, maybe if i close my eyes, i can disappear right now. i helped him to the next rotation and laughed to myself as i thought about how much i am currently doing that in my life right now. closing my eyes and breathing in deep, and hoping i can just disappear to a time a few weeks later.<br />
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Reason #351 on why not to plan your wedding while preparing for finals in your first year of your grad program:<br />
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<b>Always tired, and there's never enough time.</b><br />
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the little boy taught me a pretty valuable lesson the other day. even though you may not be able to disappear when you close your eyes, it's <b>always </b>worth the try.<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92823431452529811.post-83668434976937608242012-06-21T17:33:00.000-07:002012-06-21T17:37:46.171-07:00magic.<br />
my dad came into my room the other day and firmly shuffled each foot onto the floor with his hands up. he said "okay, ready to memorize your new quote?" then proceded to tell me this: "today is the tomorrow you were dreaming of yesterday." after that just about blew my mind, he ended it with this: "So, Mi'kel, never waste a day."<br />
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i went to havasupai with some friends last thursday.<br />
one of my favorite things about that special place is the night's sky.<br />
in fact, it may be my FAVORITE thing about it.<br />
i have a certain picnic table that is my favorite. --->it's right in the open with no big trees surrounding it.<br />
nights you could find me curled up on top of it and watching shooting stars dance across the sky. it's like nothing else to see the sky completely engulfed by a mouth of mountains on all sides. i laid on my back and counted the stars to keep the thoughts of the world from sinking into my brain. i kept my mind there and in that moment, not letting it escape to any other time or worry. (which is surprisingly hard to do at times) just let my body be, let it take part of something much larger than myself.<br />
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my sister brooke and her 5 kids are visiting til the end of the month and with bry and his 2 kids next door, we have had a full house of 7 little ones under 11 running around here. </div>
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where waking up to 2 kids in your bed who got scared in the night, isn't unusual. </div>
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though sometimes i complain... i whole heartedly love it.</div>
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so many little owl-eyed children open to curiosity and pointing out new things.</div>
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it has really made me think.</div>
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about what's really important in my life.</div>
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and about the direction that my life takes when i let things be.</div>
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when i become the curious child and find joy in the present, it's amazing how many new things unfold into my view.</div>
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don't forget.</div>
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regain that childlike awe-ness.</div>
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be open to new possibilities and be happy where you are at in life <b>right now</b>.</div>
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believe that if you climb the trees behind your house you can touch the sky. </div>
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and drink the rain just so you can see what the sky tastes like.</div>
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never waste a day.</div>
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believe in everything.</div>
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it's all magic.<br />
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92823431452529811.post-38992353205942080202012-05-21T07:49:00.000-07:002012-05-21T07:54:03.370-07:00earth child.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Fernweh</b>: n. A strong desire for or impulse to wander. "far sickness". an ache for the distance. </div>
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as of late i have had a bad case of fernweh. except the 'far' place i am searching for is not merely in the miles of travel, (although, that is also true) but more so it is a deep yearning and burning to explore the unknown around me. </div>
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never in my life has this quote rang more true::</div>
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i have just had a yearning to explore and see things in unique ways.</div>
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to lay in the sunny sun of stG and think and imagine.</div>
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and that includes bringing along any one who will go with me.</div>
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i was babysitting my niece and nephew last thursday, and may or may not have taken them on a walk to the virgin river and let them take their shoes off, and squish their toes in the water.</div>
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it was more for me than it was for them, but they whole heartedly LOVED it.</div>
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we dug for worms and had stick races.</div>
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it gave me my fill of exploration for the day.</div>
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one of my favorite parts of any book i have ever read goes like this: </div>
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"It's really hard to do nothing totally. Even just sitting here, like this, our bodies are churning, our minds are chattering. There's a whole commotion going on inside us.</div>
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"That's bad?" I said. </div>
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It's bad if we want to know what's going on outside ourselves.</div>
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....</div>
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"So how do i do nothing?"</div>
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I'm not sure, there's no one answer to that. You have to find your own way. Sometimes I try to erase myself. I imagine a big pink soft soap eraser, and it's going back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, and there they go-poof!-my toes are gone. And then my feet. And then my ankles. But that's the easy part. The hard part is erasing my senses-my eyes, my ears, my nose, my tongue. And last to go is my brain. My thoughts, memories, all the voices inside my head. That's the hardest, erasing my thoughts. I'm erased. I'm gone. I'm nothing. And then the world is free to flow into me like water into an empty bowl."</div>
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.....</div>
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"Every question, every stray thought from miles around came wandering into my brain, sniffing about, scratching at my attention."</div>
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<b> Stargirl By Jerry Spinelli </b></div>
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and speaking of stargirl::</div>
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i have found a niche in astronomy as of late as well.</div>
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one of my best friends came up to visit me in Logan a few months ago and he brought me this:</div>
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it's a star globe night light.</div>
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and it pretty much rocks my whole universe.</div>
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it shines constellations on my walls like this::</div>
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probably one of the sweetest presents i have ever been given. ever.</div>
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so you can imagine my excitement when i found out that Kanarraville, UT was named the "sweet spot" for watching the eclipse last night by NASA.</div>
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i wanted to make the drive, however, my family wasn't as determined.</div>
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so we found our own "sweet spot" down the road.</div>
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we were driving to the old airport hill and found these guys on the side of the road:</div>
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my dad, being the awesome man he is, pulled over, and we joined 'em.</div>
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don't let this picture fool you, they were very nice people.</div>
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and if you could get past the smoke, swearing, and tattoos... they were just the astronomy companions anyone could ask for.</div>
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i only got the man's name... Mr. Greensly.</div>
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a special ed teacher living in Las Vegas.</div>
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they made the special drive out just for the 4 min eclipse.</div>
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so it looked a little something like this:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSNKuFjuHm8Ewr889D1KG7ftIjObVZENFbG50VnzmsDDWg1blTaHpBV2bMm5A5VPM-0RsNso1YBRRrlxVQCPzGMFc3Ow7IP4DFzOFo_lens_d3sjtRoRlKS74aGOAEBGuVQhieqmjPaw/s1600/cool+stuff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSNKuFjuHm8Ewr889D1KG7ftIjObVZENFbG50VnzmsDDWg1blTaHpBV2bMm5A5VPM-0RsNso1YBRRrlxVQCPzGMFc3Ow7IP4DFzOFo_lens_d3sjtRoRlKS74aGOAEBGuVQhieqmjPaw/s640/cool+stuff.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div>
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and when you looked through that tele it looked like this::</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzNmRPZq2f_FiQ6ajz1B3_07IAPuu4cPg6P5ePLyrnHnB5Wm93hrq2mU1l4L-TtF-4sfZ2eWFZUqsFoumMp_PPVDiu-nWgRYLwlEauQDUbvxaoGxqO5euVpdXjYG-WB_G26wCMV207V8/s1600/IMG_2774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzNmRPZq2f_FiQ6ajz1B3_07IAPuu4cPg6P5ePLyrnHnB5Wm93hrq2mU1l4L-TtF-4sfZ2eWFZUqsFoumMp_PPVDiu-nWgRYLwlEauQDUbvxaoGxqO5euVpdXjYG-WB_G26wCMV207V8/s640/IMG_2774.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyB98_aOGfxdIpGJICJEGj5GFmLK2C0X-QNB9e3V8co18B-kyNUe3EBR2F3kbcpEkGDIB1QUU8MOQ51J0ttfM_fi75IEqCbFt30WN7Sl1vrbavPWa1iU_fSCvybxTfdWyQcIc3oLSdhRM/s1600/IMG_2773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyB98_aOGfxdIpGJICJEGj5GFmLK2C0X-QNB9e3V8co18B-kyNUe3EBR2F3kbcpEkGDIB1QUU8MOQ51J0ttfM_fi75IEqCbFt30WN7Sl1vrbavPWa1iU_fSCvybxTfdWyQcIc3oLSdhRM/s640/IMG_2773.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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it was hands down one of the top 10 things i have ever done in my life.</div>
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i'm sure glad we were able to mooch off these people's tele and watch the eclipse.</div>
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and to repay them, and to kill the 1 hour wait time before the eclipse, my dad ran to </div>
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get some lemonade to toast to our new friendship:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_kVT2UWisaM15TPuLohLZh-qcV7Hh_hpPo7j5chWQDW5HqydO1HrAUOViMPk2mq2T6eutsOgMd0NJWk0qhGj8KfSQsUzWklLU_WYg3QCjX5BWQu4EPyY6Jj20CCs2_0qqyeJqI4JHQE/s1600/IMG_9306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_kVT2UWisaM15TPuLohLZh-qcV7Hh_hpPo7j5chWQDW5HqydO1HrAUOViMPk2mq2T6eutsOgMd0NJWk0qhGj8KfSQsUzWklLU_WYg3QCjX5BWQu4EPyY6Jj20CCs2_0qqyeJqI4JHQE/s640/IMG_9306.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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(oh and yes, i was a little obsessed with my mom's ol fish eye camera lens, and i used it all day...)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFseD3pdhE8y62trBacPpcdozQY6RugQqv86eJPA5vCjHYH_bWRkptXss1kF_yJVsfV1l3mLX1Rb7EE_RM_AOanGMxXG4vJ1WfF59njfeCuXCXVdTt36FzXuarkE3ejNBeoKg_aQTLKsU/s1600/IMG_9285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFseD3pdhE8y62trBacPpcdozQY6RugQqv86eJPA5vCjHYH_bWRkptXss1kF_yJVsfV1l3mLX1Rb7EE_RM_AOanGMxXG4vJ1WfF59njfeCuXCXVdTt36FzXuarkE3ejNBeoKg_aQTLKsU/s640/IMG_9285.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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waiting for the total eclipse... 'of my heart'.</div>
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all in all, it was a great day.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSKvg0FO_b5um1m5m64aqnAlakr3fVQHeS-LFPYiyB0Fe4oS__2rouPwoei1k4MBkcj62TECaIMMXJMU8hsNq_DezIbdsJ-unmMiBf_pnw3JqNZPLn0RNM1P5DCviyUp1MO4pHvhvlrA/s1600/IMG_2652.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSKvg0FO_b5um1m5m64aqnAlakr3fVQHeS-LFPYiyB0Fe4oS__2rouPwoei1k4MBkcj62TECaIMMXJMU8hsNq_DezIbdsJ-unmMiBf_pnw3JqNZPLn0RNM1P5DCviyUp1MO4pHvhvlrA/s640/IMG_2652.PNG" width="426" /></a></div>
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and to sum up my wanderlust post...</div>
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the bottom line is i just want <b>this </b>to be my future.</div>
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{photo credit: tiffani hafen.}</div>
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my dad laughing at my excitement last night over the eclipse and the energy i put forth by forcing my family to go see it put it this way.</div>
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Mi'kel is my earth child.</div>
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what a wonderful compliment. :)</div>
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i'm off to go fancy my fernweh.</div>
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have a good day!</div>
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-earth child.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92823431452529811.post-32878711268554355412012-05-14T09:11:00.000-07:002012-05-14T09:11:26.390-07:00happy belated mothers day, mother earth.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZnQXUiceRjCsqoyLi0B_7jpSvuJH_brdDPUPYUIaGU_x0aH0-D9FGvPGj5wslflPToDgw0ddL8b1vUuxyuxsiTlSRppBWF4scVvcclMao9i7ga0AG9a2hY7drNDdRIbaPVXCTVKlZPg/s1600/IMG_5905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZnQXUiceRjCsqoyLi0B_7jpSvuJH_brdDPUPYUIaGU_x0aH0-D9FGvPGj5wslflPToDgw0ddL8b1vUuxyuxsiTlSRppBWF4scVvcclMao9i7ga0AG9a2hY7drNDdRIbaPVXCTVKlZPg/s640/IMG_5905.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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i love being outside.<br />
i long for it.<br />
today, i woke up before the sun and hiked my favorite trail to capture the earths beauty as the sunlight first falls upon it.<br />
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the world is truly a beautiful place.</div>
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and my little part of it is incredible.</div>
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happy mothers day, mother earth.</div>
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thank you for being you.</div>
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you teach me everyday that it is important to be who we are.</div>
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there is a unique beauty in each of us.</div>
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<br /></div>
i borrowed my mom's super nice camera last night.<br />
she packed it all up for me neatly to take first thing this morning.<br />
i think she purposely gave me a small camera card because she knew i would be out there all day if i didn't run out of camera card space.<br />
she knows me too well.<br />
i ran out of space an hour and a half into my morning and grudgingly headed back towards the car.<br />
it was not until i walked into our front door that i noticed how hungry i was, grateful my mom knew this too and it was the second reason she didn't pack me a bigger card.<br />
<br />
needless to say, i'm grateful for mothers.<br />
<br />
<br />
don't forget to thank your mothers for all they do, and especially don't forget to thank mother earth.<br />
she does a lot for you too.<br />
cheers to mothers.<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92823431452529811.post-67993652499431754312012-04-24T21:38:00.001-07:002012-04-24T21:38:23.990-07:00brand new eyes.yesterday in preschool a little boy shared with the class that he 'caught a mashed potato and named him lightning', i love my life and the variety that each day brings. and seriously, who doesn't love potato bugs?<br />
<br />
today, i went to the zoo here in Logan. It's free and awesome and i'm in love with it.(did you know that you can 'adopt' a zoo animal that lives in the zoo off the money with your donation? your name goes on a piece of paper by a cage and EVERYTHING!) today it was perfectly hot and super happy snappy. Want to know what made it all the better? i got to explore with my friend Kara. Kara is 18 and has autism and a whole different perspective than you and i. I LOVE IT. it's fresh, real, genuine, and very comical. today we played hide and go seek/tag in the zoo for a few hours while her parents went to the temple.<br />
<br />
She looked at me and said, 'i like you, mi'kel.' she then grabbed my hand and we were off and running like we were five and the world was all ours to explore. this was a unique zoo, it is small and mostly has animals native to northern utah... bobcats, coyotes, elk, emu's, peacocks, etc. but it did have two monkeys and a tortoise so that was pretty exotic.<br />
<br />
Today i found the good news in fresh perspective. The kind that makes you think twice before ever going back to thinking in your usual patterns of thought. Kara teaches me everyday how to be more patient and learn to love life in unique ways. i'm grateful for her easy love and her eagerness for me to be apart of her life.<br />
<br />
--when was the last time you told someone you like that you liked them. beauty is in the unnoticed. let fresh perspectives seep into your thoughts, a new way of thinking=a new way of life. oh. and don't forget to adopt animals in the zoo, they need love too.---<br />
<br />
-it is written.<br />
spread the good news.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92823431452529811.post-2160218961344173572012-04-16T22:17:00.001-07:002012-04-16T22:20:04.186-07:00you'll never guess where i found it today.i'm sure today won't be the only post about them, but it is definitely too good not to pass up.<br />
when i walked into the building today i saw little people's fingers point up at me as they whispered to their friends. it wasn't the kind of pointing and whispering that makes one nervous. but rather makes one happy to be alive. why is that exactly? because remember i work in a deaf preschool, their whisperings are PRETTY loud comparatively, and i heard every one. they were saying things along the lines of look who is here to play today, that one girl with the blue watch (what i'm known for around here), miss kel. it feels good to have little minions. there is no greater satisfaction in life than to have others want to play with you--especially children. i think it is the highest form of a compliment.<br />
<br />
the good news in life today was in these whisperings.<br />
<br />
--whenever you have something nice to say about someone, whisper it <i><b>loud</b></i>--<br />
<br />
-it is written.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92823431452529811.post-8898793173160396992012-04-14T09:38:00.000-07:002012-04-14T09:38:44.248-07:00spreading the good news.Finding the good news in others and publishing it to my blog, is how i want to blog for a little while. finding the good qualities in different people and writing their stories, or little reminders for me to see what kind of qualities i want to work on in life.<br />
<br />
i think it is only fitting to start out with my own father.<br />
my dad has shown me many of his good news moments in life.<br />
there have been many opportunities for me to observe his goodness and greatness; his love; a small glimpse at his full potential. <br />
<br />
so, for the sake of time and my poor fingers from having to type all this out... i will only write about one.<br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>the most recent one. </i><br />
<br />
my dad, has always been inspiring to me. my first ever journal entry was about the day my dad took me to the home run derby in Las Vegas to see Sammi Sosa and Jose Canseco when i was 9 on Feb 13, 2000. (keep in mind i got the journal on my baptism day, and not a single word was scribbled on there about that life changing event or any other event during my 8 year old life) my next post after the home run derby wasn't written until June 2004, when my little sister found out my dad had cancer. and since that time there have been 8 or 9 finished journals. i think that says a lot about how important my dad was to me, even at such a young age.<br />
<br />
i have thought a lot about why my dad is so intriguing to me. and one simple reason that keeps coming to mind is that he has the perfect way of speaking. Kind of an interesting quality to attribute it to, but it is one of his qualities that i have always admired. from his bed time stories when i was young, to his late night chats in my bed during my emotional teenage high school years. his phone calls to remind me to keep my smile, to his commanding voice over the pulpit at church. whatever the occasion, his voice has always been soothing to me. but, not just the sound of his voice soothes me, it is also the words he strings together to make all my worries disappear. he has always treated me as an equal with his words, talks to me about his thoughts and ponderings to evoke thoughts in my brain and honestly want to hear my opinions. but he does it with such love i still feel like his little girl. i love the fact that he still calls me kid, but makes me feel like i can rule the world if i put my mind to it. the two ends meet together to form a perfect relationship in my mind.<br />
<br />
I went home for Easter last week and as soon as i arrived into town, i met my dad at an Autistic learning center that he had found earlier that week. he stalled the owner of the center for an hour for me to arrive! when i walked in the doors the owner gave me a tour (the place was AMAZING!) and told me if i was interested in working there this summer to let her know. That she would love to hire me on. I was very confused, at why she was so eager and willing to let me just join the center that easily. She hardly knew me at all, and i looked worse than dog poop from driving all day. She then made the comment "Your dad really cares for you a lot, doesn't he?" I thought there must have been a lot of talk about me during the stalling and that is what she was insinuating, a smile spread across my lips and I told her, "Yeah, my dad is a really great guy. He loves me a lot."I didn't think much of it and we left a little after that.<br />
<br />
I rode with my dad home, and the easy conversation flooded the car like it usually does when the two of us get together and leaked out of the open sun roof.<br />
<br />
This was a Friday, and by Sunday morning I was in my dad's office searching for some paper. That is when i stumbled onto a printed out email on his desk. The email was a conversation between my dad and the lady i had met that Friday at the Autistic Center. I looked at the date, and it was a conversation that they had a week before i even arrived in town. the email started with my dad's writing: "to whom it may concern" and i don't remember all that it said but had a lot of talk about me, my qualities, my unique abilities, and my love and passion for those with disabilities. The second half of the conversation was her, saying that she would love to hire on someone like me, to maybe advance her work up north after I receive a Master's degree and expressed a eagerness to meet me.<br />
<br />
I felt like a snoop, but i couldn't stop reading, my eyes were glued to the paper. i was in awe. that is when i thought back on what the lady was talking about when she mentioned that my dad cared a lot about me in our meeting just two days prior. she was definitely referring back to this email.<br />
<br />
i quickly put the email back on my dad's desk hoping no one saw me read it and was about to grab a piece of paper and run, when another interesting document caught my eye. this time because it was on regular lined paper, and had my hand writing on it. I more fully inspected the paper and couldn't believe my eyes. The paper was dated November 2009. It was a letter i had wrote my dad, just because. I was in shock that he still had the paper and it sparked my curiosity, so i read it. I can't remember writing that specific letter to my dad, but when i read it i was amazed. I had written my dad all my dreams and goals of life. i wrote to him all about my deepest desires out of life and what i aspire to become. i wrote about my relationship with my Savior and how I felt so strongly that this is what he wants me to do with my life. I ended it with a quote from a book me and my dad read together that year titled 'write it down, make it happen' and i said that my intentions for writing him that day was to have him hold me to my goals in life. i was following the directions of that book and trying to make those dreams come true by writing down specific goals and life qualities. i was amazed at how many of those goals had already come true, even more amazed at how even though my dreams have changed in the last 2.5 years, they were still similar and i was proud of my college freshman self.<br />
<br />
tears got stuck in my eye. i couldn't help but make the connection between the two documents. i could not believe that my dad would go to such great lengths to help me achieve my dreams. to take what i had scribbled on that piece of paper 2 years prior to heart and be true to what i asked of him, to hold me to those goals. but then i remembered this was my dad i was speaking about and knew of course he would go through such great lengths. that's what i love about him most. he would go to the end of the world to help any body achieve a dream that they desire. and he'll be your number one fan all along the way of you achieving it. that is a piece of his good news that i hope to adapt to my life and make it a part of my good news.<br />
<br />
---Encourage others to live their dreams, and be a #1 fan to all in their journey to their full potential.---<br />
<br />
spread the good news.<br />
-it is written.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92823431452529811.post-37776196383976580912012-04-13T08:41:00.000-07:002012-04-13T08:41:33.742-07:00the good news.it was once said by a very wise beyond her age young lady, that<br />
<br />
"Everyone has inside him a piece of the good news. The good news is that you don't know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!"<br />
-Anne Frank.<br />
<br />
One of the most important tasks we have here on this beautiful planet we live on is to see that good news in ourselves and in others. Seems pretty simple, right? Well, that is where I have found a discrepancy. All too many of us, myself included, have something keeping us from fully reaching this. Whether that be the walls we put up to keep others from seeing those qualities we don't like about ourselves. It could be the selfish pride that causes us to make comparisons of ourselves and others, not fully giving the other credit for how wonderful they are. We are too focused on how unfair it is that someone is seemingly greater than us. More pretty, more intelligent, more carefree, more loving, more funny, more talented. more. more. more. It is in the judgment that we make in a blink of an eye to those we don't know, just met, or have known for years. We are caught in this web of chaos when we choose to live life this way. We wake up every morning feeling already behind on a fresh new day. We are never fully measuring up in our minds eye, and it wears us down.<br />
<br />
The good part about this discrepancy is that it is something we can change if we so desire. We can reframe reality. We choose what we look at, listen to, and respond to. Of course, we are human, negative things happen in our lives and to our world, and we need to build compassion from it. But we are not bound to the negative things in this world, they do not need to deter our happiness one notch. We can focus our sights on the positives of life. We can simply appreciate the good we see in others. Remove those gray cloud feelings of comparison and replace them with compliments, kind words and a healthy desire to be a little better. Taking the back roads in life and using the effort it once took to feel behind and use that effort to get ahead, not of another, but of our past self. To strive confidently towards our potential.<br />
<br />
The French novelist, Colette summed up this choice when she said, "What a wonderful life I've had. I only wish I'd realized it sooner." We are the sole inheritors of life's generosity. We are constantly surrounded by the altruism of Mother Earth and the myriad blessings present in hard work and relationships. People are unique creatures, that have abilities to learn from past mistakes, to grow, to look outside themselves, to choose what they want in life, be motivated, and they have the ability to achieve whatever they set their minds to.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Only through feeding our authenticity will we be able to fully dramatize our good news, our potential, our gifts to the world.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">let me say that again, in case you read that fast. ONLY through being authentic, not trying to be anybody else than who we ARE, can we fully REVEAL our good news, our POTENTIAL, give our GIFTS to the world, and SHARE them with others. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">So, all this has led me to the following good news and decision that I would like to share. I am going to start a new way of blogging on this blog. Well hold your horses fans from all over the globe (a girl can dream right), I don't know how long it will last, or if it will spark the desire that i yearn for it to spark. So, I may return to my old ways of ramblings in just a few short days. But for now I have found a way for me to feed my authenticity and I am going to seize the opportunity and take it for all it's worth.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">i'm going to let go of the things holding me back and let my dreams fuel my true potential.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Cheers to living,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">life is wonderful.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92823431452529811.post-88588014889986178492012-04-01T21:41:00.001-07:002012-04-01T21:46:32.942-07:00unjust? or a bigger lesson to be learned?...<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">he pinned his blue ribbon medal on his chest and it drooped there, too heavy to be supported by a light cotton tee. i should've left then, it would have been better for the both of us at this point if i wasn't even his friend. the happiness he felt caused him to sit as high as he could stretch in his chair. he would crank his neck upward and his hands curled in towards his chest as he described to me so many times the projects he researched that would be there this year, one being on motivation. (his specialty) he saw this as an easy target, and was eager </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;">to 'rip it apart when we got to Provo' (in his words) 'to see if this kid really knew what he was talking about'. it was 9:30 a.m. we were planning to be on our way to Provo by now, but the keys to his van were no where to be found. he invited me into his room and he checked the places he could reach while asking me to check the places he couldn't. we were searching and double searching every inch of the apartment. the keys were no where to be found, and the excitement that caused him to sit straight in his chair was slowly leaving. the boy with the blue ribbon was starting to droop like the pin on his chest. we said an audible prayer together, not knowing where else to search. nothing. 10:00, 10:30, 11:05, 11:37. nothing. it was then, that i saw his bed. or perhaps the better word would be NOTICED his bed. for i saw it before, but i didn't notice why it looked so strange. he doesn't sleep on a mattress, but the floor. i'm assuming this is for ease to get into and out of his wheelchair, however no one should have to sleep this way day after day. this realization only lit a deeper determination to make this work, to get him down to provo at any cost. however all my efforts seemed to be worthless. there was only one option left, we could drive my car. with the science fair ending at 3:00pm, and the travel time taking at least 2 hours, my heart was breaking but i wanted to try. i walked the mile or so home to get my car. trying to figure out in my mind how i could make this work. i wanted nothing more but to take him, but knew if we took my car, we would have to use his other wheel chair (the non-motorized one) and we would have to forget about having the ramp and ease of getting him into the car. i would have to lift him into and out of the car. i knew i was not strong enough for that. and that is when i couldn't help but feel selfish, why was i given two legs and a healthy body, while he couldn't simply ride in another car if he couldn't find his keys. the walk was good for me. i called my mom and hoped she would have a solution other than the one i felt was haunting up behind me. i didn't want to have to leave him here. especially not like this. i refused to let myself think of it. but, as i got to my car and drove back to his house, i knew it was the only option. i hate myself for doing this, but i called him up. i was sitting outside of his house, but i couldn't bring my feet to walk in. i couldn't see him with the bad news. i knew it would be the one trigger needed to send my already miserable state to a hiatus of tears and bits of rage of the unjustness i felt for him. so, i took the easy way out. i called him and told him over the phone that i would not be able to take him down this weekend. he said with an almost convincing assurance that it was okay, and that he understands. but then, i added that i wish i could, that i wanted so badly for him to come. he said he knew i did, and that he will talk to me later. his voice cracked on the later and i couldn't stop the tears. </span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">- - -</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">conference was everything i needed. although, i feel as if it was selfish of me. i didn't prepare as well as i should, however, i am looking forward to rereading and studying each of the talks this year. many touched i felt on special people, like Jacob. How wonderful and what a tender mercy for me. i needed the sweet assurance that God knows what Jake is going through now more than ever. It is not a mistake that Jake was born this way, but the best way for God to teach Jake. Or maybe, or rather more likely, the best way that God could teach <i>us</i> through selfless beings like Jake. i couldn't agree more with the statement given by Elder Russell M. Nelson in the Sunday Morning session, "a perfect body is not needed to achieve one's divine destiny, in fact some of the sweetest spirits are housed in frail or imperfect bodies. Great spiritual strength is often developed by people with physical challenges precisely because they are so challenged..."Jake is truly showing me how to achieve one's divine destiny one day at a time. i look up to him in so many ways, and am continually amazed at how big of a role he is playing in my life. i didn't know the day i met him looking for that elevator how much i truly needed him in my life. i don't think i will fully understand his role until much later in life, but as for now, i am grateful the small ways that i can see how he is changing me. </span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92823431452529811.post-75986880993875985172012-03-27T01:12:00.000-07:002012-03-27T01:12:22.586-07:00because i'm convinced i have insomnia...as of late i haven't been able to sleep.<br />
it seems like every night for the past 8 or so days i have either woken up at 3 in the morning or stayed up til 3 in the morning.<br />
lying awake for hours.<br />
isn't much of a good thing when you have 7:30 am class.<br />
<br />
occasionally i get out of bed and find some oreos and milk.<br />
most of the time i just lay there and let my mind wander.<br />
(which only makes it that much harder for me to fall asleep)<br />
<br />
usually it is almost painful for me to lie awake due to my dark and twisty's that over take my thoughts.<br />
<br />
what are your dark and twisty's?<br />
<br />
those thoughts that you can't quite seem to shake.<br />
<br />
for me, they lie in impossible situations that i have to work out in my mind.<br />
i'm convinced i've solved world hunger at least four times....<br />
<br />
other times my dark and twisty's are due to me feeling hopeless.<br />
sometimes they are the thoughts trapped in my mind that worry about the future, or the past.<br />
<br />
on occasion they take the shape of my excitement for some future event..<br />
whether that be the next day, or another life.<br />
<br />
they also come in the flavor of worrying for other people.<br />
whether i know them or not.<br />
<br />
it makes me want to meet every single person on this earth, and see what they worry about.<br />
what makes them tick? how i can lessen their load? what thoughts consume their brains in the middle of the night?<br />
<br />
well, tonights thoughts go to my own mother.<br />
i truly have wonderful parents who i'm so grateful have shaped me to become who i am today.<br />
i blame my worrying genes on my father. (but unlike him, i worry when it's needed AND i worry when it's not)<br />
i blame my fix the world genes on my mother.<br />
together= my mentality of the world is broken and it's my fault/i need to fix it.<br />
<br />
just laying in bed a little after 2 a.m. and i can't get the image of this little story about my mom out of my head. it just keeps replaying itself over and over. thus making it my tonight's dark and twisty's.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
china was very different than i expected. there is pretty much two classes of people there.<br />
the rich.<br />
and the poor.<br />
not much in between.<br />
<br />
we saw a lot of people struggling, but there was one lady in particular on a street corner in Xian.<br />
she was begging for change, and we moved past her like we did many others.<br />
sadly i didn't think much of her.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDiLq9zUvZk7iSml0RQzRLM6QE46UacMupHnhpZRPBYYnUnLzopFm2ymE6njqcU5b4eOa_x95H5DsVbbrddOmPXfUum4w2pPHMIlEnhOk80AoCiT8JyDXWHYwXpg53BJOXYlOpSvzYP6I/s1600/momp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDiLq9zUvZk7iSml0RQzRLM6QE46UacMupHnhpZRPBYYnUnLzopFm2ymE6njqcU5b4eOa_x95H5DsVbbrddOmPXfUum4w2pPHMIlEnhOk80AoCiT8JyDXWHYwXpg53BJOXYlOpSvzYP6I/s640/momp.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>we got around the corner, when my mom stopped.<br />
she said she needed to go give that woman some money.<br />
how she couldn't imagine her own mother having to be out on the streets like that.<br />
she asked my brother and little sister and i what we had in our pockets.<br />
we pulled out the small change we had and we headed back with my mom.<br />
i'm thankful that my mom's dark and twisty's make her worry about others.<br />
there was no denying her feelings, my mom knew we needed to walk back to this lady.<br />
i'm so glad we did.<br />
i'm even more glad to have such an amazing example of love and service in my life.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQRSMUd1-6IGSmIBUpouocfL5kXJRhj3vOcI41b_h18jDgjfpJCoWf_soKXdutDZKRu5aGdl3nTegboGYqPwjPq5wCtjHaoRLvNYlcrQYioZ6583qwO1a6sWR0iCaC4IK3DBSWTIeZBc/s1600/momp2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQRSMUd1-6IGSmIBUpouocfL5kXJRhj3vOcI41b_h18jDgjfpJCoWf_soKXdutDZKRu5aGdl3nTegboGYqPwjPq5wCtjHaoRLvNYlcrQYioZ6583qwO1a6sWR0iCaC4IK3DBSWTIeZBc/s640/momp2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">photo credits are given to my awesome brother.</span></b><br />
<br />
maybe now that i got this written down i will finally be able to get some shut eye.<br />
here's to hoping.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92823431452529811.post-44054073793633006642012-03-23T18:13:00.001-07:002012-03-23T22:14:40.020-07:00dormant.Cyclorana Alboguttata is a species of burrowing mud frogs. This special type of frog goes through a torpor stage whenever resources are scarce. they burrow deep into the earth's surface and sleep in the mud for months or years without food or water. a few years ago a team of scientists at the university of Queensland did some research on these frogs and found that the metabolism of these frogs' cells change radically during their dormancy period allowing maximized use of limited energy resources without ever running on empty. (<i>fascinating</i>)<br />
<br />
at odd times of my life i feel as though i have been one of these frogs. my heart lodges itself deeper and deeper into my chest to where i can barely feel it beat. It's in survival mode. it only beats to keep me alive. and even that it questions. my brain on the other hand works the opposite end of the spectrum. it runs around and around--too scared that if it stops at anytime it will shut down too. it runs to feel alive, to feel like it has a purpose. it's scared that it will end up just like the rest of me: useless and broken. the times i have painfully seen this the most apparent in my life is with dating. i bury myself deep within myself, not wanting to let the real me be shown during my own torpor stages.<br />
<br />
the last two real relationships that i thought would never end, ended almost the same way. with another girl, and a simple excuse that i have dreams too big for my own good. that it is impossible for me to make a difference in the world, and that i need to give it up. when it happens twice, you start to believe it yourself.<br />
<br />
this is in no way an attempt to exploit or charge my last two relationships with my own biases. these two individuals were wonderful people, they just happened to have a different outlook on life than i do. however, after the ending of these relationships (almost back to back), i went into a stage of life that caused me to pray long and hard for every breathing male to flee far, far away from me. i wanted nothing more than to run away and become a nun isolated on some remote part of the world, only to associate with old, virgin women and small children. i found my new mindset only encouraged the persistency in other male's pursuing. it was uncomfortable for me to strain for conversation and put on my best facade on each and every encounter. balancing and keeping conversations was tedious and exhausting. the one's i did enjoy my time around, would only cause the ringing of the words in my ears of the same and saddening theory that my dreams were too big. so, i squashed them down. my thoughts and intents to make this world a better place i put in the deepest corner of my heart. promising myself not to tell another human being of those future plans and goals. i was sure i was broken, and that the world really didn't need me the way i thought i could be of assistance.<br />
<br />
i am starting to move out of this mindset. like the mud frogs who have been asleep for large amounts of time finally bursting through the earth's surface at the first rainfall, i too am excited to burst out of my muddy prison i had kept myself in. this blog has helped a lot, it has let me write out my feelings. but so has the realization that there are other people out there that have dreams like i do. they have thoughts running through their minds at all times of the day and night and dreams bigger than their hearts. this new realization has led me to a happy-dance-in-the-fresh-rain-sort-of-hope.<br />
<br />
my experiences with Kara, the girl i mentor who has autism.<br />
the interactions i have with Jake.<br />
the laughter that i was capable of bringing to the children at the "New Hope" orphanage.<br />
<br />
these are the things that 'fill' me.<br />
these are the things that make my life feel worth it.<br />
the very things that pump life into my bones and spring into my step.<br />
they allow me to spread my wings.<br />
to feel like i can do anything in the world.<br />
they help me realize i have a lot to learn in life, and the true meaning of happiness.<br />
they change me into a more charitable person.<br />
<br />
i don't have to share that dream with everyone. i just need to find one. <i>my own 'starboy' like jerry spenelli would call it.</i> i don't care to run away with my special someone to africa to save a village, (as cool as that would be). i just care to put a smile on the faces of those around me. to have someone support my dreams of my own local autistic summer camp, approve of my preference to volunteer on a friday night at a group home as our date night out instead of eating dinner at chili's again, and encourage me to do all that i can for those with disabilities.<br />
<br />
here's to you, starboy.<br />
thank you for waking up my dormant mud frog.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92823431452529811.post-16925244847590618622012-03-07T19:44:00.000-08:002012-03-07T19:44:14.245-08:00it's all worth it.Today has been kind of a crazy hectic day.... ( i probably shouldn't be wasting time on a blog post, but you know i feel in the writers mood lately, so whatever )<br />
I have two tests to take in the morning before i drive to Salt Lake and catch my plane to CHINA.<br />
Today i've done nothing but study, and get stuff ready for china (which of course included a mandatory trip to the DI to pick out what i want to wear... 20 bucks worth of whole new wardrobe. couldn't be happier.)<br />
<br />
Well, all in all, just think of your craziest hectic-est sort of a day, and then subtract ten--because my day probably wasn't THAT insane!<br />
<br />
so long story short, mi'kel + busy day + what mi'kel calls 'stress' (which is 10% real and 90% psychological/self inflicted) = today.<br />
<br />
well, that WAS today. it all changed when my friend in the ward Megan called and asked me to go to the temple with her at 7. i haven't been to the Logan temple yet, and i thought of my goals this year... 'attend the temple'... so i said i would love to.<br />
<br />
we had her family's names and so we had to get two suits. gotta love the double suit action in the baptistry, i swear those suits hate me and my body, so two suits = ugggggh. BUT you get to actually see the results of your contribution. Today, i helped from start to finish 7 woman be baptized and receive the holy ghost. i love that about the double suits. you don't just get baptized for a woman and then wonder when she will finally get confirmed, cross your fingers for her benefit that it is soon... you start and finish see that she gets the whole package.<br />
<br />
Well, now i am definitely rambling and haven't even got to the point of this post.<br />
<br />
So, i walked into the small room to get confirmed. (in my second suit)<br />
saw the three older gentleman sitting in their assigned stations and sat nervously in the center of them.<br />
they said the usuals "hello, thank you for coming to the temple, it's good to see you"<br />
and they were about to start with the first name, when the fellow to my right hesitated.<br />
i felt his hands leave my head and i looked up.<br />
he was looking intently on me.<br />
i shared a nervous smile with him.<br />
and he said, i want to tell you about my granddaughter.<br />
(if there is one thing i love, it is <b>stories</b>, and especially stories told by <b>great</b> story tellers and other people's <b>great</b> grandfathers.)<br />
so, i said 'okay' and continued looking up at him.<br />
he told me how he has a nine year old granddaughter who is in primary children's medical center.<br />
she had surgery a few days ago.<br />
wondering where this was going, i asked, 'oh no...is she okay?'<br />
he reassured me she is doing just fine and preceded to tell me that she is a concert pianist.<br />
he said there were over 250 sponsors in a concert hall to help her family with the medical costs of her big surgery.<br />
the main speaker of the night didn't show up.<br />
so, his 9 year old daughter got up in front of the crowd and talked to the sponsors for TWENTY min.<br />
she then went over to the piano and played one of her favorite songs.<br />
after the program was over, Elder Dallin H. Oaks came up to the young girl and told her how wonderfully she had done, wished her luck with her surgery, and shook her hand.<br />
<br />
the little girl went home to her mom that night and said:<br />
'Mom, being sick has all been worth it, for the chance to meet an apostle tonight. I looked into his eyes and knew he knew Jesus.'<br />
<br />
then the old man coughed a little, put his hands back on my head, and started my confirmations.<br />
i'm not sure why he decided he needed to tell me that story, but i'm so glad he did.<br />
it shed some perspective for me today.<br />
all of the crazies and busies in life, <i>are worth it.</i><br />
because when this life is finished and you are returned to our heavenly father, looking into the eyes of our older brother and Savior. you will know that you know him and he knows you too, and in that moment it will all be worth it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92823431452529811.post-76168392686863336502012-03-06T22:00:00.000-08:002012-03-06T22:00:21.163-08:00this is his story.So remember my friend Jacob?<br />
well, now he is my friend <i>Jake</i>.<br />
And along with the shortened name, has came the most beautiful friendship.<br />
i can safely say that he is my best friend.<br />
the one i see the most. spend the most time with. laugh with and joke with. let's me be my complete self around.<br />
<br />
well. today, after hearing my stomach growl far more than normal.<br />
he insisted we go get me some lunch.<br />
(i don't know if this was out of general concern for my well-being, or if it was because he didn't want to go to Stats and knew food was the one way to talk me out of it.)<br />
<br />
As we walked to the TSC he told me <i>his</i> story.<br />
why he's here at this point in life.<br />
the story i am going to try to write.<br />
(it's a really good story: a motivating, happy, sad, feel-good, relieve those dark and twisty's sort of story)<br />
<b>so, think of it as a story in progress. continued. more to come. stay tuned. you won't want to miss it.</b><br />
<br />
so in the mean time of waiting.<br />
let me just tell you a few of the things that make me grateful Jake is my best friend:<br />
<br />
1. i thought i needed to walk slower so he could catch up with me in his motorized wheel chair. a few weeks ago he was late for the bus and had to hurry. he FLEW down to the bus stop. i couldn't help but laugh. all this time i thought i needed to walk slower for him, but all this time he had been scooting slower for <b>me</b>. Needless to say, we walk a lot faster now we know the other is capable of it. :)<br />
<br />
2. he is getting REALLY excited for Zombie's for Human's this year on USU campus. (if you don't know what it is, google it.) today he told me he thinks he has a good chance of winning because "no one ever tries to shoot the kid in the wheel chair" ---said in a very light-hearted joking manner. he is so positive. i've never once heard him complain for being in a wheel chair.<br />
<br />
3. i always have something sweet to be snacking on and sharing with him in stats class. he never ceases to make fun of me for it. but hey, statistical significance is always a little sweeter with a starburst.<br />
<br />
4. we are planning a road trip to Provo at the end of this month. he volunteered us to help out at the Science fair at BYU. he inspires me everyday to be a little more selfless.<br />
<br />
5. because of his cerebral palsy, at certain times little things are hard for him to do. small motor skills especially. i often have to hold onto his paper while he writes so it doesn't move. the little things of life i take for granted, grow each and everyday i am around him!<br />
<br />
6. he is REALLY smart! we are usually in the stats lab with 5 or 6 people around us asking us questions on assignments. we look at each other, take a deep breath, and explain away. taking turns who answers which question. when it's over we look at each other and have to bust up laughing that people ask US for help.<br />
<br />
7. the first time we did hw together. he looked me in the eyes, and made me promise him we would get A's in Psych Stats this year. I agreed, and we sealed the deal with a high five and a promise of ice cream. so far we have kept true to that promise. half way through and A's so far.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsZhYXK3qqgJaG3XQUhw1wZ6MV1g8b0R5BDpUXjQMI5B8KN8Do1DnhthSOykF1FZPhmgRSHAw822NX03gxmLnFomHQLFftFAuLvbv_Z0tIwhEJClVztwEVIj22iYvZRdYaGxpACJ6Yb8/s1600/photo-5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsZhYXK3qqgJaG3XQUhw1wZ6MV1g8b0R5BDpUXjQMI5B8KN8Do1DnhthSOykF1FZPhmgRSHAw822NX03gxmLnFomHQLFftFAuLvbv_Z0tIwhEJClVztwEVIj22iYvZRdYaGxpACJ6Yb8/s400/photo-5.JPG" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">at lunch today.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">i love this picture.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">me=charleston chew</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">jake=bit-o-honey</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijGjD9lFyA-QsQFWBmdOywusLB_GsWC5aqTG6Y4FBmoY-6Xv-cVGtotP8DXa6XCGxmSgLA-0V5cVfBjdLcL3cy0qk0plJ1Ix3gXTEYFHpnOCoVx6YWjOlrltnVBTLZnmt1N08A3cYtVT8/s1600/photo-6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijGjD9lFyA-QsQFWBmdOywusLB_GsWC5aqTG6Y4FBmoY-6Xv-cVGtotP8DXa6XCGxmSgLA-0V5cVfBjdLcL3cy0qk0plJ1Ix3gXTEYFHpnOCoVx6YWjOlrltnVBTLZnmt1N08A3cYtVT8/s400/photo-6.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
story coming soon,<br />
-it is written.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92823431452529811.post-57555441998366986382012-03-03T18:57:00.000-08:002012-03-03T18:57:11.922-08:00life is full<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">tuesday this last week i turned on my light in my room and... poof. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">my light bulb blew up.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">i like to imagine that the little electricities were so excited to be turned on and over did it. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">{hence the 'poof'.}</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">so.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">i fished an old lamp out of the closet, and used it as my only light source...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxwozMvDDY9h-hXtEOle3_qbpRpTsEpfOf72q6A0K9ex_iOCQnfhJf_Af2-Z9c1rMo-XLq3S3apfq-P42MY-HNMW0kqLKNSm8nD0vKVhQhwa_QxIZZ5ExM49w0zD8RFwvkWfA545OnAQE/s1600/photo-5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxwozMvDDY9h-hXtEOle3_qbpRpTsEpfOf72q6A0K9ex_iOCQnfhJf_Af2-Z9c1rMo-XLq3S3apfq-P42MY-HNMW0kqLKNSm8nD0vKVhQhwa_QxIZZ5ExM49w0zD8RFwvkWfA545OnAQE/s400/photo-5.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">which was fun.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">felt a little like i was camping.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">and mom, don't worry. i cleaned my room since this pic was taken....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">but.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">i couldn't live in the dark forever and the next day, i went to walmart to get a light bulb.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">sure enough i wore my favorite christmas present.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">this fury beanie that makes me look like a bear. :)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9AUw39MhTaxK9-srvKrFm6sIhAmoTws8wwakBvT59Oo-3y5p58K_yZjmCnzbMJd-7dPuXl9KyQ_rZgwsdnWAiF1vkfzjufr-PvoNd7UX2TafojjIo-3ZYclnN3czkDLtsO66_qf8l1vs/s1600/Photo+on+2012-02-29+at+15.06+%232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9AUw39MhTaxK9-srvKrFm6sIhAmoTws8wwakBvT59Oo-3y5p58K_yZjmCnzbMJd-7dPuXl9KyQ_rZgwsdnWAiF1vkfzjufr-PvoNd7UX2TafojjIo-3ZYclnN3czkDLtsO66_qf8l1vs/s1600/Photo+on+2012-02-29+at+15.06+%232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgTNyDDmAKPw1njqKUaiNYJBBSQG2mP4bI41HRiFhBVY3HUtLyU-SCgzb05r07G7psh57Wk4JzTGjNJ7dFIVy_Um3HwNvddtTmR5CJyqamspKyc-w8kwDjX3z8EsZyC857ECIev43MpQ/s1600/Photo+on+2012-02-29+at+15.04+%232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgTNyDDmAKPw1njqKUaiNYJBBSQG2mP4bI41HRiFhBVY3HUtLyU-SCgzb05r07G7psh57Wk4JzTGjNJ7dFIVy_Um3HwNvddtTmR5CJyqamspKyc-w8kwDjX3z8EsZyC857ECIev43MpQ/s400/Photo+on+2012-02-29+at+15.04+%232.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">excuse the tooth brush... </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">while at walmart--there was this little munchkin in a cart.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">he looked up at me, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">held up his hands in claw-like form,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">bore his teeth,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">and let out a little grrr...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">this caught me off guard.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">until i remembered my extra fur...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">and did it right back::</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9AUw39MhTaxK9-srvKrFm6sIhAmoTws8wwakBvT59Oo-3y5p58K_yZjmCnzbMJd-7dPuXl9KyQ_rZgwsdnWAiF1vkfzjufr-PvoNd7UX2TafojjIo-3ZYclnN3czkDLtsO66_qf8l1vs/s1600/Photo+on+2012-02-29+at+15.06+%232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9AUw39MhTaxK9-srvKrFm6sIhAmoTws8wwakBvT59Oo-3y5p58K_yZjmCnzbMJd-7dPuXl9KyQ_rZgwsdnWAiF1vkfzjufr-PvoNd7UX2TafojjIo-3ZYclnN3czkDLtsO66_qf8l1vs/s400/Photo+on+2012-02-29+at+15.06+%232.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">oh the joys of children.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">it reminded me of the need to be more like them.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">it's not just about happiness and innocence, being more like children means to love deeper, open your eyes to the world of possibilities. it means to let your imagine run farther than you can keep up. to create new ways of thinking, step out of the norms and question why things are done a certain way. live in the present. don't worry about trivial things such as clothes, smooth talking, or being <i>cool</i>. being true to yourself, and forgiving easily. not stressing about the things out our control, and changing the things we can control. being honest, and seeing your parents as flawless individuals who are exactly what you want to be when you grow up.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">i once read: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">"We could learn a lot from children. Sure, they have qualities we might not want, but in my eyes, they are already perfect. We don’t need to mold them into people, we need to be more like them.</span></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>82</o:Words> <o:Characters>470</o:Characters> <o:Company>Brigham Young University</o:Company> <o:Lines>3</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>551</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>14.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> <w:UseFELayout/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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</style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">We lose this childlike nature, the nature we’re born with, because of society — it has certain institutions and systems in place that beat childishness out of us, so we can be more productive citizens and consumers. I think it’s unfortunate.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">We shouldn’t abandon all responsibilities, but we can learn a lot from children and be more like them in some ways."<o:p></o:p></span></div><!--EndFragment--> <!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">I couldn't agree with this more.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">take today for example.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">my nephew, Brody is 6 and a half.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">he strolled into the kitchen today,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">grabbed a pudding cup out of the fridge.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">told my sister to set the timer.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">when she asked him 'why?'</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">he said: 'because i'm doing (in a deep voice) MAN VS FOOD!!!!!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">he drained that pudding cup 34 seconds flat.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">i don't know about you, but i need more of this in my life.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">more pudding cups.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">more laughter.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">more living in the moment.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
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</style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">“Adults are always asking little kids what they want to be when they grow up because they’re looking for ideas.” - Paula Poundstone</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">thanks to the little boy in the cart, </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">and my world champ pudding eating nephew,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">i decided to act on this new fire that has been lit inside me.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">and i signed up to volunteer at the deaf preschool here in Logan!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Monday's and Wednesday's from 8-3:30 i will be surrounded by little minions of cochlear implanted children. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">full of curiosity and life and love.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">i'll have my pencil and pen ready,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">eager to learn all i can from my new 'schoolmates'.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">well, that is enough for one post.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">i'm off to see the Lorax. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><b>-</b>life is<b> full </b>of <b>wonder.</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92823431452529811.post-87100552470027737762012-02-26T18:49:00.000-08:002012-02-26T18:49:32.825-08:00The Redwood Principle.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I finally got my calling! </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I am the 4th Sunday Relief Society teacher... so great.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">i love teaching, but i am SO nervous, always.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">i prepare for hours. and i'm still scared to death.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Today my topic was on testimony, so i shared my own original redwood forest principle...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">a little something i came up with after visiting my <b>favorite</b> forest::</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">(pics stolen from my sister Brooke... sorry B, :) ) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimglk9-jIm0iyep_2qV8KkP8QkXkFNBCKtMEbs2rNkvP2-M_JTfLbGaA2uB5EGlQzqM5NY_yFhteRfuklKNHscZuhbl_QCdWkpv7UhKLFbUqRYJo25xUH3Ev9XmTsUCUAu8C6x1JgH1Hw/s1600/1224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimglk9-jIm0iyep_2qV8KkP8QkXkFNBCKtMEbs2rNkvP2-M_JTfLbGaA2uB5EGlQzqM5NY_yFhteRfuklKNHscZuhbl_QCdWkpv7UhKLFbUqRYJo25xUH3Ev9XmTsUCUAu8C6x1JgH1Hw/s400/1224.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjIP9On6F6o8CgmuqdyHTyEtRrVtiX6Rm0R0VsGRw-R28Lb_T769j3bMRr8tQpNTrYu2G1elcFSTHapAkIQ0IT9B6VxJcf8kkUmsDP8p0mkRRTLTSFTzrxDx1GzoUkPZLi_rwLb40HFLk/s1600/1226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjIP9On6F6o8CgmuqdyHTyEtRrVtiX6Rm0R0VsGRw-R28Lb_T769j3bMRr8tQpNTrYu2G1elcFSTHapAkIQ0IT9B6VxJcf8kkUmsDP8p0mkRRTLTSFTzrxDx1GzoUkPZLi_rwLb40HFLk/s400/1226.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2OopoCu1x5iS2DxaX9hsvLPdStE-vJh7vmGaXPP6vdUhML3NcVSTGvU7uXSLSKnxClQdxbR_dTvUGa86RfKjG0V6jFmuYDEya9JKlgqEl1AHHTvOUCdu16w4c_rp4lWrb5l81b6T1p6Y/s1600/1237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2OopoCu1x5iS2DxaX9hsvLPdStE-vJh7vmGaXPP6vdUhML3NcVSTGvU7uXSLSKnxClQdxbR_dTvUGa86RfKjG0V6jFmuYDEya9JKlgqEl1AHHTvOUCdu16w4c_rp4lWrb5l81b6T1p6Y/s400/1237.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqsFB9ZEpLJMu21_ZkV-4sv7p3cmUW2eIcwDlv9PwkGMFjkJYp-Xrp5WlU5fftqQpfPqqpJWzbvO2eBdkhas-UNR_ZvgyWHnzjQ2B3mC-mNyUf9ntJ-_UCC6ESrD-jEKQjWnwqfQR9KaQ/s1600/1244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqsFB9ZEpLJMu21_ZkV-4sv7p3cmUW2eIcwDlv9PwkGMFjkJYp-Xrp5WlU5fftqQpfPqqpJWzbvO2eBdkhas-UNR_ZvgyWHnzjQ2B3mC-mNyUf9ntJ-_UCC6ESrD-jEKQjWnwqfQR9KaQ/s400/1244.jpg" width="267" /></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfVpXhn4obMoX8EOk4tGSOmN_d7Se8X-Gl5mnWbaJB1_uUCS8RgmaSqHMOXgHgeg0Rsms5if8SroR4NmTYtweeQGFi06xFDYNnEzypM2dQGQlNr-cP7eL7viNgLDPwLLNUCp5QGOzWVXU/s1600/1262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfVpXhn4obMoX8EOk4tGSOmN_d7Se8X-Gl5mnWbaJB1_uUCS8RgmaSqHMOXgHgeg0Rsms5if8SroR4NmTYtweeQGFi06xFDYNnEzypM2dQGQlNr-cP7eL7viNgLDPwLLNUCp5QGOzWVXU/s400/1262.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQud8tziBwevZ17XOyvA1cedw0Xgp6R8qstwZWPHOlxZ0ZAaQjrRZbWmKlEJ6utijiLSZC2pzN1gt5TfGCRCgDq1Nf4y3dtrD7dpi_O_9jdPxEfM_M1jo2H1HqNVGFu7BpBcBa15YmE_g/s1600/1270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQud8tziBwevZ17XOyvA1cedw0Xgp6R8qstwZWPHOlxZ0ZAaQjrRZbWmKlEJ6utijiLSZC2pzN1gt5TfGCRCgDq1Nf4y3dtrD7dpi_O_9jdPxEfM_M1jo2H1HqNVGFu7BpBcBa15YmE_g/s400/1270.jpg" width="267" /></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmE9NuB5JqlAwOCFNOjUUJXfjg_KnJ5V5Bb2RGa7oT9L8G95FezVRak611WurvC-wgYUM-uU_kxHtEBigDXR4O50LzNeV0248QWrnA4cWhcWHlfFGA7WaTCku6GwhL4PXFY5pdI6ny3HI/s1600/1277.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmE9NuB5JqlAwOCFNOjUUJXfjg_KnJ5V5Bb2RGa7oT9L8G95FezVRak611WurvC-wgYUM-uU_kxHtEBigDXR4O50LzNeV0248QWrnA4cWhcWHlfFGA7WaTCku6GwhL4PXFY5pdI6ny3HI/s400/1277.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Eo-WB2UjDE9fL79FabtgiPNWPK93qIyWZW3JjLvquBqgHbmBv9-mvRb79aNyAnGNRr9JoUAu2xWqYG0UsclJeOPtbg6v3fxsKOhVp5-Q3hsEjPnqM5OUfGEWzjvySZEE_arFWdu_52M/s1600/1301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Eo-WB2UjDE9fL79FabtgiPNWPK93qIyWZW3JjLvquBqgHbmBv9-mvRb79aNyAnGNRr9JoUAu2xWqYG0UsclJeOPtbg6v3fxsKOhVp5-Q3hsEjPnqM5OUfGEWzjvySZEE_arFWdu_52M/s400/1301.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIsqzOiraQgquBIig4Zv7HFASKZl9F2ZUZRURYZaT7DmefsNqACeMFJC7mX5CowpTxl00BiSYMYoeBzgGbPyX6aJDr2ZY0MZZQttlHMMBSnXAEw2fhZacB2Lz8oPvRpkyH_zrdPJQ1y3o/s1600/1897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIsqzOiraQgquBIig4Zv7HFASKZl9F2ZUZRURYZaT7DmefsNqACeMFJC7mX5CowpTxl00BiSYMYoeBzgGbPyX6aJDr2ZY0MZZQttlHMMBSnXAEw2fhZacB2Lz8oPvRpkyH_zrdPJQ1y3o/s400/1897.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It's truly a magical place.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">i once heard that the roots of these amazing beasts were not deep, but rather gained their strength by wrapping on other roots of the trees around them. This was extremely intriguing to me. so i did some further research.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">the search alone helped me find a new hero in life: {<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.circleoflife.org/inspiration/luna/" style="background-color: #eeddbb; text-decoration: none;">Julia Butterfly Hill</a>.}</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">she spent two years living 180 feet high in the canopy of a thousand-year-old redwood tree to help make the world aware of the plight of the redwood forest... how awesome is that? you go julia butterfly, you go.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Wr00ocdevcXsTLDQUUCPF6abtuNM80G6DtUZonJF5uQYf8HsGjs4R28UEcMu4dtnGvE2CAP9NvqqFTpgpmGxbGg_tfBguFstiUBQqoHfs0p_9Nussc942OllGO_AgaDZjwzeJdJKYnY/s1600/03-4-luna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Wr00ocdevcXsTLDQUUCPF6abtuNM80G6DtUZonJF5uQYf8HsGjs4R28UEcMu4dtnGvE2CAP9NvqqFTpgpmGxbGg_tfBguFstiUBQqoHfs0p_9Nussc942OllGO_AgaDZjwzeJdJKYnY/s400/03-4-luna.jpg" width="283" /></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">but back to my point-- i found out::</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The tallest tree in the Redwood forest is named Hyperion, it measures 378.1 ft. To put that into a bit of perspective that is taller than the Statue of Liberty from the base of the pedestal to the tip of the torch. It is also larger around and through than a Greyhound bus. On mature trees, the soft and stringy fibrous bark may grow to 2 feet thick. The thick bark is specifically designed to protect from fire damage, protecting the precious water & nutrient source in the center of the tree. it's bark is poisonous/inhospitable to insects or vermin infestations. They have been around since the time of the dinos. The seed starts at just 3 mm long. And the growth of redwood trees is dependent on the heavy fogs.. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">okay if i haven't gotten your attention yet, i don't know how we can be called 'friends'. </span>i was so intrigued with all this knowledge!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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</style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Redwoods are inclusive beings—as they grow they incorporate into their basic structure objects around them, including rocks and other trees. Although redwoods have shallow roots they are noted for their strength and longevity because they share their roots with others. Each individual tree is invited into the whole and, in turn helps support the entire group. This adaptation appears to have worked, for redwoods are among the oldest living things on earth. (date back to the time of the dinosaurs)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Testimonies can and should be as naturally inclusive in order to survive and thrive. We too need to learn to consciously share our roots with others, to ask for encouragement and support when we need it, and stand ready to give the same to those who come to us. when we feel the promptings of the holy spirit, we must not shrink, but rather share that knowledge. you never know, that may be the precise root that another person is looking for to wrap around for courage until they can gain their own testimony of that topic. don't let the fiery darts of the adversary attack your testimony--keep your bark strong to protect it. don't let one negative or bad experience from bearing your testimony/speaking what the spirit whispers to you creep inside you like an insect or vermin infestation, but make your bark inhabitable.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">2 things to remember::</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">aka [<b>the redwood principle]:</b><br />
1. The tallest tree in the forest did not get that way by having the deepest roots.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">2. The tallest tree in the forest did not get that way all on it’s own.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">so next time fear and doubt enter your heart after a spiritual prompting. Remember those tall woody friends of ours in my favorite forest, and speak up.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">share your roots.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">-it is written.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><!--EndFragment--></div><div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92823431452529811.post-30479284296198238392012-02-15T19:35:00.000-08:002012-02-15T19:35:40.779-08:00brains in head. feet in shoes.<div style="text-align: center;">Back in January of 2010 my father gave me a small navy blue journal that said on the front: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">why not?</div><div style="text-align: center;">anything can happen</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">inside the front cover he wrote this poem from Dr. Seuss:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have brains in my head</div><div style="text-align: center;">and feet in my shoes</div><div style="text-align: center;">i can steer myself any</div><div style="text-align: center;">direction i choose.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">i am on my own and i </div><div style="text-align: center;">know what i know and</div><div style="text-align: center;">i am the one who'll </div><div style="text-align: center;">decide where to go.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">i can't remember when exactly my father made me memorize this poem, but it was sometime soon after i graduated high school. it has always been mine and his <i>thing </i>since that day. one of the first quotes/poems/small words of encouragement we have required of the other. i am very grateful to be doing rather well in my studies up here at Utah State University. Which is wonderful to see all of my hard work pay off (<i>finally</i>), i am so grateful for all the answered prayers before each of my tests and assignments to hope that i have studied the right materials. last thursday i sent my dad a text about my success with my new classes and this was his reply:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qxYHypBm084xWKj59cbEFZ5EOJnDcnUA9wQpmaCtZepNCZZE1nndYBasizzILfGV7DRvcnaF-00TyO99SddKHaaREswhGCSBbWhrNnQIJVQlwVFqiKdkqcPs3Hq9Ui2ot9qpBxHH9nM/s1600/feet+in+shoes.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qxYHypBm084xWKj59cbEFZ5EOJnDcnUA9wQpmaCtZepNCZZE1nndYBasizzILfGV7DRvcnaF-00TyO99SddKHaaREswhGCSBbWhrNnQIJVQlwVFqiKdkqcPs3Hq9Ui2ot9qpBxHH9nM/s640/feet+in+shoes.PNG" width="425" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">i can't even describe the joy that ran sprints up and down my blood stream at that moment. it was precisely what i needed to hear. i have the best dad, ever. i'm so grateful for his little words of encouragement. he is truly my number one fan, and i wouldn't have it any other way. i look up to him so much and hope to be half the person he is one day.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">so, point of this post is not only to prove that my dad is the greatest.</div><div style="text-align: center;">but to also teach whoever cares enough to read this blog today a small lesson.</div><div style="text-align: center;">you, my dear friend, have brains in your head.</div><div style="text-align: center;">you have feet in those shoes of yours.</div><div style="text-align: center;">you can go anywhere you want in life.</div><div style="text-align: center;">don't <i>ever</i> forget it.</div><div style="text-align: center;">if one area of your life isn't going as planned.</div><div style="text-align: center;">(if you don't score as high as you would like on a test)</div><div style="text-align: center;">or many areas of your life aren't going together as planned.</div><div style="text-align: center;">(your boy/girl friend breaks up with you, you feel lost or alone)</div><div style="text-align: center;">take a deep breath, relax, and regroup.</div><div style="text-align: center;">you KNOW what you know!</div><div style="text-align: center;">YOU are the one who will decide where you will go in life.</div><div style="text-align: center;">so, decide what you want.</div><div style="text-align: center;">go out there, and go get it.</div><div style="text-align: center;">you so totally got this.</div><div style="text-align: center;">-love, your #1 fan.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92823431452529811.post-80808849208495800682012-02-14T23:43:00.000-08:002012-02-15T09:26:55.496-08:00i love love.happy valentine's day. <3<br />
<br />
i am pretty sure valentine's day is my favorite holiday. i dipped chocolate strawberries. i made homemade valentines. i even made a wonderful love song playlist on my ipod and listened to it A L L the day long. 62 of my finest love songs on shuffle.<br />
<br />
granted i haven't really had the most epically awesome romantic day on valentine's day.<br />
<br />
but i sure love valentine's day for the one and only reason of celebrating how much i love those i love.<br />
<br />
love. i say that word so loosely and free. i am not naive. i have been hurt. i know what it feels like to have your heart on the line and then have it smashed to a million kazillion pieces. but, i whole heartedly mean the word. love. it is so deep, yet so simple. it is the reason two pruny old people still clasp their hands together tight after 52 years of marriage. it is the reason a young child forgives so easily. it is the reason my little sister laughs abruptly in dead silence. it is the reason those with disabilities wrap their arms around complete strangers. it is the reason my father calls me in the middle of the day to tell me that i am stronger than i believe. it is the reason i call my older sis over 30 times a day. love fuels the power behind our determination to be better people and to help others. i believe the only way we can truly love is by opening our heart to others. and, yes, that is always a little scary. but it is worth it. i may not know much, but i've got 21 years of experience to back that one up.<br />
<br />
today in institute we were learning about the parable of the good samaritan.<br />
<br />
when do you remember being the <i>best</i> example of a good samaritan in <i>your </i>life?<br />
<br />
my teacher taught one purpose of the parable was not an <i>outward </i>focus (<b>who</b> should i love?), but an <i>inward</i> one (<b>do</b> i love others?).<br />
<br />
"I must ask myself not who is my neighbor but, am i a neighbor unto him? the lesson is to look into me and not out to others."<br />
<br />
he then ended class with this thought::<br />
what have you done today/what will you do today to make today (valentine's day) special for someone else.<br />
<br />
and that's when it hit me.<br />
<br />
and right after class i finished up my present for my friend Jacob: (i am super into watercolor valentines as of late)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSVaopGBDnrcI8URiZZcuGxBNKOHz1To7sQYlYO0-d2960p1mr0gPEInq0uCjeWgEIm2pjk0YuIsViDjdfakLHp1tsADNOe8Ma4d-NUUBS0bKYFdQStdaEbKjB5NtfNgRYGcgtK-o2ezk/s1600/photo-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSVaopGBDnrcI8URiZZcuGxBNKOHz1To7sQYlYO0-d2960p1mr0gPEInq0uCjeWgEIm2pjk0YuIsViDjdfakLHp1tsADNOe8Ma4d-NUUBS0bKYFdQStdaEbKjB5NtfNgRYGcgtK-o2ezk/s320/photo-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
as i gave jacob his valentine later that day, my heart began to sing. even if it was one of the most awkward valentine's i had ever given. i knew he appreciated it. whether it was the way it completely caught him off guard, or the way he shot me a almost-too-quick-to-catch-if-you-blinked-it-was-gone-smirk before he shoved my valentine and candy in his back pack. it made me happy to make this day special for someone else.<br />
<br />
and of course that got me thinking again.<br />
<br />
i want this to be my goal everyday.<br />
<br />
to show every one i love how much i love them.<br />
<br />
though i do love valentine's day and i'm super against the people who hate valentine's day because they believe you should love every day of the year... i just am grateful for the simple reminder to love more, and the renewed determination to open my heart and give the world more of <i>my</i> love.<br />
<br />
so there ya have it, my two cents on this day of love.<br />
get out there, and love more.<br />
show someone you love just how much you love them.<br />
don't hold back, give it your heart.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92823431452529811.post-54165116152567916022012-02-08T21:11:00.001-08:002012-02-08T21:11:30.836-08:00twenty.one goals<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">1. <b>Don't forget my roots.</b> With moving away from all my established friends, and being completely on my own again (not surrounded by any family), i have decided that my goal this year is to be a better long distance friend. This goal is all about those folks who laugh at the same dumb jokes i do, have been there for me through thick and thin, and are still friends with me despite my seventh grade yearbook photo. This is for the friends who have changed my outlook on life and have left me a better person. it reminds me that my 'homes' are more often people than they are houses. "All of us are largely the products of the lives which touch upon our lives, and today I feel profoundly grateful for all who have touched mine." -Gordon B. Hinckley</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">2. <b>Be a health food guru. </b>I enjoy eating healthy. As of late, i have been particularly intrigued with food and health. (which is surprising for the once young girl who was obsessed with Fun-Dips and wouldn't eat a healthy thing for her life.) I want to be more knowledgeable this year on how to feed my body and soul with good food that keeps me fresh and going strong. i love the way it makes me feel. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">3.<b> Run a marathon. </b>I ran a half in October of this last year. Not as easy as i had once thought, but it was a good pain for my body. It helped me overcome mental obstacles in my life and gave me the confidence that i can do hard things. I have always fantasied about running a marathon, both my parents have run countless of them, older sister has done a few, and older brother is working towards one, grandpa ran them til 83 years <i>young</i>. It's kind of what my family just does. I want to be a part of that this year. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">4. <b>Book of Mormon, every day. </b>This summer while in Jerusalem, I learned SO much about our wonderful gospel. My testimony grew exponentially, and it kick started the rest of my life. I read the whole old and new testaments in the summer in depth and learned so many new things. It has caused me to have an urge to read the Book of Mormon again, and study it in as much depth. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">5. <b>Make my own Etsy page. </b>I really enjoy making journals and new books from old books i find at D.I. I think it would be pretty sweet to make a little bit of an income and sell some on Etsy sometime this year. I just love creating new things from older things and it might be kind of fun to give Etsy a shot.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">for example:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYz8a7BYOwpftUblmDBBxBDVZd0EQXiZUhI2PGZhyphenhyphenGZT_33anwExS6L-YJ1fa6_1gHby5coNhkkyEVXMSSVv9BA3_NzdZFEPO8cHfgS01ulhI8VE3Cyosg0TpPErWyYmnxq_7qP9aFlJg/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYz8a7BYOwpftUblmDBBxBDVZd0EQXiZUhI2PGZhyphenhyphenGZT_33anwExS6L-YJ1fa6_1gHby5coNhkkyEVXMSSVv9BA3_NzdZFEPO8cHfgS01ulhI8VE3Cyosg0TpPErWyYmnxq_7qP9aFlJg/s320/photo.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="239" /></span></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLJAI4PFj7BVp0sMYdiVMSaF0XZnvc6d_uJSiDyBLlYKPtPUrZ5bIMmoJhXLVOmDX2lfVi3ebjHvKkg8hPuha_dmA7iC0zehwt64cAXMHmmjOfZnzthMRqEbIabVVxsrTJn00PXn9WqU/s1600/photo-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLJAI4PFj7BVp0sMYdiVMSaF0XZnvc6d_uJSiDyBLlYKPtPUrZ5bIMmoJhXLVOmDX2lfVi3ebjHvKkg8hPuha_dmA7iC0zehwt64cAXMHmmjOfZnzthMRqEbIabVVxsrTJn00PXn9WqU/s320/photo-1.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="239" /></span></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">i turned this picture book into a recipe book for my niece Kate's 9th birthday.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">6. <b>Make all the events in my life positive.</b> My dad once told me two life principles i have never forgotten: 1. Events in your life are just that, events. They are not universally positive or negative. We assign the positive/negative sign to them. To one person a negative event, will be some one else's positive event. 2. Everything in life happens for a reason. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">When i believe those two statements, it makes me rethink how i react to situations, and this year i want to work on welcoming all the events into my life and making the negative ones positive and using all of them as a learning and growing experience.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">7. <b>Be Bold.</b> "If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams,and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours…If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. <b>Now put foundations under them</b>.." -Henry David Thoreau.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">8. <b>Build up the community around me.</b> Start local. Especially with those with disabilities. I have had the pleasure of meeting and befriending an amazing boy named Jacob (with Cerebral Palsy) in my Psych Stats class. And, starting this week, i will be working with an 18 year old girl with Autism, named Kara. I want to learn all i can from them (and people like them) this year, I want to write their stories. I want to let my heart touch theirs, and let them break down all my walls and let me be true to myself.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">9. <b>Be a NPR dude/understand what is happening in this world. </b>Perfect timing for the Presidential elections? you betcha.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">10. <b>Fall in love more, and worry less. </b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Dear little girl in the tie dyed pants, when you were young, you held hands and kissed lips. You made love and mistakes. That boy with the golden hair broke your heart, but he had to so you could meet the boy with the thick black glasses and the crooked smile. And that boy with the thick black glasses and the crooked smile had to break your heart so you could meet the boy with auburn hair and ocean eyes. Everything that will happen is part of your path.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">"(Madly in love.) I'm not talking about a passing fad. I mean the kind that you stay up late because you can't wait to start a lifetime of adventure with that someone. When in those tender moments between wakefulness and sleep, you feel your hearts beating as one, and somewhere deep inside you know that whatever faults you have can be absolved by her goodness." -Brandon Davis </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><i>and one more quote on the matter: </i></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">"Once upon a time there was a boy who loved a girl, and her laughter was a question he wanted to spend his whole life answering.” -Nicole Krauss</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">11. <b>Be true to who i am. </b>As long as you stand out, you’ll attract others who are like you. Be proud to be you. Try not to care what other people think. People have hurt you in the past, and will probably hurt you in the future. Stay strong.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">especially when feeling like this::</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7JUZmLXcxZN80N-an-qO8N2D83u0DYN1pZ7Wby90DyOWgHLv2j3n9fWNZuqjRN6eOmNi_rBb8t8q6Kap6ONsKdOHaYuKRXxOA13SjBDlpwG3zCdvvTvFBUUQoH1BkKonIzEf5AmfbSWI/s1600/tumblr_l820y4505l1qzc1ylo1_5001.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7JUZmLXcxZN80N-an-qO8N2D83u0DYN1pZ7Wby90DyOWgHLv2j3n9fWNZuqjRN6eOmNi_rBb8t8q6Kap6ONsKdOHaYuKRXxOA13SjBDlpwG3zCdvvTvFBUUQoH1BkKonIzEf5AmfbSWI/s400/tumblr_l820y4505l1qzc1ylo1_5001.png" style="cursor: move;" width="270" /></span></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span">12. <b>Steer away from the safe harbor, catch the trade winds in my sails. </b></span>“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” -Mark Twain</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">13. <b>Embrace today. "</b>Today, I woke up, put on my sparkly special occasion shoes, went out the door, and made big plans for the day. Because today is a special occasion. Bring out the expensive china. Light the candles. It's today after all, and this day in history won't ever happen again."</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">14. <b>Be a more honest person. (</b>not just in the sense of telling the truth) but rather in the sense of being genuine, down to earth. a person who is blunt when needed, but never as an excuse to be unkind. Honest with myself, with my strengths, and weaknesses, constantly improving where i can and becoming someone more.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">15. <b>Perfect the "ollie" on my snowboard.</b> Oh, and maybe catch a few more box jumps :)</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">16. <b>Explore this world, and find undiscovered color. </b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">17. <b>Temple. Temple. Temple.</b> yes, that means being brave enough to call up the Logan temple and ask for an appointment to do baptisms... it probably isn't as scary as it sounds...</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">18.<b> Remember. </b>Remember what you have done to get here. Remember those who did what they had to do to get you here. Remember all that you have learned. Remember the painful experiences that have caused those scars. Remember the reward in the end. Remember why you're doing what you're doing. Remember what life is really about. Remember how He has never left your side. Remember that you have been guided to this point in your life today, there is nothing that will happen today that you are not prepared to overcome with His help. Remember <i>this </i>moment when you feel self doubt.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">19. <b>Become a 1.0. </b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">20. <b>Take time for solitude. </b>Personal reflections of day to day life. Don't over analyze (you are queen of doing that) but do not overlook something that is meant to mean a little more.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">21. <b>De-stressify.</b> Most everything has no good reason to stress over. relax. breathe through your nostrils and laugh at the irony. You got this!</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92823431452529811.post-87131114439766479982012-01-24T09:09:00.000-08:002012-01-24T09:09:33.315-08:00Mustache Birthday Bash.Yesterday, with a little help from my friends, i had the best birthday ever. It all started when i woke up yesterday morning for my 7 am class, and the thought struck me, i needed to have a party to celebrate my love of life and facial hair! So the Mustache Birthday Bash idea was created. I walked outside of my room, still rubbing my eyes a little to discover my beautiful roommate there playing me what? Happy Birthday by the Beatles and singing it at the top of her lungs all crazy. We had a dance party in the kitchen jamming out with Ringo Starr, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison... best way i could imagine to start my day. went to class, and then i rode the bus back home. On the bus i got a call from brooke and the little girlies singing me happy birthday. I got some packages in the mail from family and friends. and then, at 11:30 my cute roommates took me out to all you can eat Lunch at my favorite indian food restaurant located in our local sinclair station :). YUM!<br />
<br />
I wanted to make a 21 layer cake. i love birthdays. i love cake. and i love cooking. so i started on my birthday cake next. rocking out to The Beatles complete works as i cooked for hours crafting my cake of my dreams. Cindie got home from class to help me frost it and decorate for the rest of the party.<br />
<br />
it turned out a little something like this:<br />
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<br />
<br />
My family, is wonderful. No really they are the greatest. throughout the day i received texts and calls and picture messages that made laughs burst from my lungs... my family didn't want to miss out on the festivities... so they decided to join in via picture message:: love them.<br />
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</div>that pretty much sums up my birthday bash. It was a total hit. i loved every second of it :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92823431452529811.post-65936010525298427032012-01-22T19:23:00.000-08:002012-01-22T19:23:49.028-08:00twenty.onelast year on my birthday i made a post of 20 goals i wanted to accomplish while i was 20 years old.<br />
Today being the eve of my 21st birthday i decided i wanted to look back on those goals in preparation for my 21 spanking new ones i will start for tomorrow. well, here they are, and my own interpretations of whether or i not i feel like i achieved them.<br />
<br />
1. build a tree house. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">fail, :( this goal didn't really even get a fair chance to be started. I'll keep it in mind for next year... pretty sad to start off my list of goals with the first one being a failure!</span><br />
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</span><br />
2. feel life in my bones. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Now this one is pretty ironic. i definitely feel like this year i have felt life in my bones through my successes, i have felt no life in my bones as i slipped into despair for a few weeks, and i have felt the life reenter my bones as i have picked up the pieces and became stronger.</span><br />
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</span><br />
3. see potential in everyone. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">i worked hard on this goal this year. I deem it a success.</span><br />
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</span><br />
4. finish the books i've started and read heaps of others. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">i started and finished loads of good books this year. however, sadly, i have still yet to finish one book that i had already started at the time i wrote this goal and had forgotten about it til now, renewed determination to finish that book... check.</span><br />
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</span><br />
5. leave places better then i found them.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> In Jerusalem, I left my mark in every sacred place i could think of... i wrote a note to myself at that moment in time, (copied it into my journal so i wouldn't forget it) promised myself that i would continue to grow and never forget whatever lesson i had learned at that sacred spot. Then i either buried the note, lodged it in a tree, tucked it among the millions in the western wall, so on and so forth in all the spots that meant something to me. so, goal complete. i left those places better than i found them. Originally when i wrote this goal, i had in mind to leave the <b>place</b> itself better than when i found it. however, it turns out that instead i, <b>myself,</b> had left better than<b> i </b>was when i had found that place.</span><br />
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</span><br />
6. love people... happy, weird, sincere, intelligent, curious, genuine, awkward and even make-believe people. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">This is kind of a funny goal, but one i took to heart this year. It wasn't easy for me. To love others with my whole heart, let people in who could potentially hurt me, but i did it! I loved people. i do love people. and it turns out, the ones i was afraid of loving for fear of them hurting me, didn't hurt as bad as i had once thought. <i>even after things didn't work out the way i had originally planned.</i> because i learned something from each of the people i loved, and i am a better person now for loving them. even if they are completely out of my life right now, i love them. i will always love them. it is definitely better to love, than it is to let fear keep you from giving your whole heart.</span><br />
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</span><br />
7. find joy in the small things. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">joy. what a wonderful word. three letters that spread your lips into a smile when you feel it. i definitely found joy in the small things this year. </span><br />
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</span><br />
8. meet new people that teach me more about myself than anything else could. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">another goal i feel like i accomplished this year. i met TONS of new people this year. for a simple example i met 80 new friends from the jerusalem center. 80 best friends i will never forget. nor will i forget the lessons they taught me. i could probably list off each one by name right now and tell you specifically what i learned from their example. what they taught me about myself. how i have changed for the better from their words and love.</span><br />
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</span><br />
9. go camping <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">YES! This is one of the goals i had forgotten i made until i saw it today. good thing i have good friends who decide to drag me to jackson hole wyoming in a half hours notice to spend the weekend under the stars and rafting the snake river. josh, ryan, blake, i'm still amazed we didn't hit that cow... or that deer. but am sure glad we checked this goal off of my 20s bucket list.</span><br />
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</span><br />
10. discover uncommon heroes. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">discovered a few uncommon heroes. but more importantly i <b>re</b>discovered one major one. My own mother. my mom is my hero, and this year i really discovered how wonderfully she is and why i'm so lucky to have her as <b>my</b> mom.</span><br />
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</span><br />
11. get a bicycle. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">good old burgundy. he was a smooth ride. (currently residing in josh's basement) bought him from a slightly delusional lady from craigslist who insisted she pick me up from school and take me to her bike garage. I still can't believe i got into that car. but am so glad she gave me burgundy, and she became a strange friend.</span><br />
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</span><br />
12. learn to carve on my snowboard. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">boo freaking ya. big C taught me how to carve this year. and to prove it, we even got to demonstrate my hard achieved abilities in aspen for a weekend with my sister jaime and her family. you better believe i carved it up in the best powder known to man. think my calves are still a little sore from that february weekend.</span><br />
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</span><br />
13. celebrate diversity. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">i definitely got to celebrate diversity this year. being immersed in new cultures in turkey, jordan, and israel. palestinian and israeli neighborhoods. celebrated it in the streets. celebrated it in new friends. celebrated it in strangers.</span><br />
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</span><br />
14. start a non-profit. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">not this year. but i have some ideas rolling in my head. however, my ideas are a little more down to earth, a little less far stretched. I think there is a lot to be done here in the community around me before i can spread my wings and save africa. so that's where i will start :).</span><br />
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</span><br />
15. improve my photography skills. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">definitely have improved them this year. want to see? one of my favorite photos i took this whole year:: jewish man reading the torah and asking for change on the streets of jerusalem.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGL2vAsaV_Yz2pPE8xCjw5Lj6Tvhph7XYweuchNd1ouYad4juesJ30DAk58rHufasjI2jF6hki9_IkGdFXqEa3u1jjbLD7Fc27Fk4rVtZw3eU9VDpHkswuYIfQDouqiJy1_ZNn_sV4rk/s1600/jewchange.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGL2vAsaV_Yz2pPE8xCjw5Lj6Tvhph7XYweuchNd1ouYad4juesJ30DAk58rHufasjI2jF6hki9_IkGdFXqEa3u1jjbLD7Fc27Fk4rVtZw3eU9VDpHkswuYIfQDouqiJy1_ZNn_sV4rk/s640/jewchange.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br />
</span><br />
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16. feel the grass on my toes as the wind rushes through my hair on a regular basis. drink the wild air. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">yes, again, another cautious goal i had this year. i drank all the wild air i could find. i let the wind do it's worst in my hair. maybe not as much grass on my toes as i would have liked, but paved streets and less traveled paths satisfied my needs this year.</span><br />
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</span><br />
17. be a hero. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">i guess i'll never know if this goal was achieved. but i know it will be on my list year after year for the rest of my life, so i hope one day to have it marked off.</span><br />
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</span><br />
18. gain knowledge. and lots of it. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">i think it is a safe bet to assume i passed off this goal. i graduated in december with my Bachelor's degree. i <i>hope</i> i gained knowledge. i dare say i hope i gained<i> LOTS </i>of it.</span><br />
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</span><br />
19. become a better writer. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">i worked and worked on this goal. (even though you may not be able to tell on this post, with all my jumbled thoughts) However, i do feel like i am more able to express what i want to say in words far better than i could in years prior. so check check check.</span><br />
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</span><br />
20. change the world. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">i've taken this one day at a time. one person at a time. one experience at a time. one day the total sum of these events may make one practically unnoticeable difference, but you best bet that i will be very pleased when that day finally arrives. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">there ya have it.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">20 years i have been alive.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">that is a long time when you really think about it.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">two decades worth. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">let's see where the 21st year takes me. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">cheers to adventure! it is written, life is wonderful. again.</span><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92823431452529811.post-31442637400902841612012-01-10T20:08:00.000-08:002012-02-15T09:25:08.349-08:00no coincidences.today started out a little rough.<br />
in my hardest class of the day i got scared and felt like i was in way over my head.<br />
<br />
then, Jacob found me.<br />
well, i sort of found him... he was trying to find an elevator but found me instead.<br />
either way we were supposed to find each other today.<br />
Jacob is in a wheel chair and has a form of cerebral palsy.<br />
Jacob was my first&only friend i found today.<br />
He is the biggest fan of the Utah State Aggies i have <i>ever </i>met.<br />
He has sandy blonde hair.<br />
He is really smart and loves doing research. (especially research on Motivation)<br />
He is in my Psychological Stats class. <which be="" building="" happens="" in="" science="" stinky="" the="" to="" vet=""></which><br />
He took time out of his day to talk to me, it meant the world.<br />
{especially when i was having a rough morning.}<br />
Jacob moves a little slower than most.<br />
But he sure moves with more style than anyone else.<br />
Today, Jacob gave me the excuse to ride in the elevator. [twice, because i hit the wrong floor at first]<br />
<br />
I'm glad Jacob found me.<br />
He helped me remember why i'm here.<br />
Why i'm stressing through these classes-- so i can have the reward of being around those special people in this world.<br />
i need them way more than they need me.<br />
<br />
<br />
A wise man once told me his theory::<br />
Those with disabilities don't have a social handicap... <i>we do</i>.<br />
If a person with special needs is sad, they cry. If they are happy, they jump and sing. They do not build walls to keep people <b>out </b>of their life. In fact, instead they have a special spirit that draws others <b>into</b> their lives forever. They trust everyone. They are a friend to all. They do not discriminate. They love with their whole hearts, not letting anything hold them back. They simply live life the way it is meant to be lived, keeping a curious eye on the ever imaginable world.<br />
<br />
<br />
Jacob within a matter of minutes had stripped me of my walls. I was light hearted and free, laughing with the simple way he would twist my words or show me that i was going to freeze outside. He dropped me off at my next class, and promised me he would see me on Thursday.<br />
<br />
<br />
I don't believe in coincidences. everything happens for a reason.<br />
today i needed Jacob's simple reminder.<br />
-life is wonderful, again.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92823431452529811.post-84183419189371769332012-01-09T10:10:00.000-08:002012-01-09T10:10:33.414-08:00life is wonderful, again. :)<div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">disclaimer: One of my resolutions this year is to get back to blogging.</span></span></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">With the post just beneath this being from the first day of last semester.... you can imagine it was a much needed resolution.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
10 ways my life has changed dramatically within the last 4 months:<br />
1. i have a scar above my left eyeball for now and always.<br />
2. i graduated from BYU as a Communication Disorders major.<br />
3. i moved to Logan, UT.<br />
4. i am taking 5 pre-req's for grad school at Utah State University.<br />
5. i am working towards the day i can be a full vegetarian.<br />
6. i'm still considering a mission.<br />
7. i bought the cutest car in the world.<br />
8. i am more grateful for each brand new day to which i can make my own endings.<br />
9. i have a crush, and he makes me really happy.<br />
10. i have learned more about life and what it's really about more than any single year of my entire life.<br />
<br />
<br />
Last semester was a really hard one for me. It was painful and trying, but i wouldn't trade a day of last semester for the world.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">I learned a lot. </div><div style="text-align: left;">I grew up a lot. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I found this in my journal on September 8, 2011::</div><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Today i went for a run through provo canyon.</div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">i imagined the leaves on the trees were small creatures.</div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">i pretended the road was black lava, and i had to keep going or else my shoes would melt and stay trapped to the ground.</div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">i looked up at the big mountains and gave them permission to eat my corpse.</div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">i thought of anything and everything other than my sorrows of yesterday.</div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">it was a good breath of fresh air for my brain.</div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">maybe i'm just naive.</div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">but i'm<i> happy.</i></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i>is that strange?</i></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">i am hopeful.</div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">i don't know why exactly though.</div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">maybe i'm just naive...</div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">but the more dominant part is hopeful that there will be a positive solution from these ashes.</div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">something more bright than i could ever even <i>imagine.</i></div></div><div style="line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i>and we all know just how big my imagination is."</i></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It is interesting to look back on that entry and remember the feelings i had. I didn't know what direction my life was heading, and it was a scary thought. But, now that it's January 9, (4 months and 1 day from the day i wrote that post), i am able to see how my life has really turned out to be better than i could ever imagine. That it wasn't really ever <i>my </i>imagination that had anything to do with it. I know that my Heavenly Father has truly hand crafted each of the ashes i thought i had made of my life and sculpted them together into a beautiful life. Things are truly looking up, i'm ever so HAPPY. Even more so, i'm a stronger, more confident, changed, and much more grateful human being. And i can't wait to see where my life goes from here!</span></div><div style="color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So enough of that rant. </span></div><div style="color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The point of this post was really only to say that i am back, and better than ever!</span></div><div style="color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here we go 2012, i have big plans for you!</span></div><div style="color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjiUL8RjzMPMU2lV6uHxXXTAPlEuwYm0vJHw66SujbDZ-ICetOGV_P5-OguXIU_H9LcawMwEJ9XgSzYikYnG6T3NBj-2GewaaQKWatXC7aCpQtOtYl2nAPLDf9QdMPd5JLX56kVi7mHQ/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjiUL8RjzMPMU2lV6uHxXXTAPlEuwYm0vJHw66SujbDZ-ICetOGV_P5-OguXIU_H9LcawMwEJ9XgSzYikYnG6T3NBj-2GewaaQKWatXC7aCpQtOtYl2nAPLDf9QdMPd5JLX56kVi7mHQ/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my new car! (Told you it was the cutest in the world) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He is still yet to be named, but i'm sure he will earn one soon enough.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjErIQM6amDhC7SFI23yhGjWUtr6lE_yMlGhtdZy4gfPoBCYE2-ggEEG19ZdDr6yLoOyKoluN1whqKkMvYbmO0zqLQyB9aW4OvPksQZ3l7VKbjPDIWFxmJqksSNkSq1dGcRkh6LnexKFAw/s1600/photo-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjErIQM6amDhC7SFI23yhGjWUtr6lE_yMlGhtdZy4gfPoBCYE2-ggEEG19ZdDr6yLoOyKoluN1whqKkMvYbmO0zqLQyB9aW4OvPksQZ3l7VKbjPDIWFxmJqksSNkSq1dGcRkh6LnexKFAw/s320/photo-3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Today was my first day of school.<br />
I of course don't have my mirror hung yet so i had to kinda squat to capture this next beauty.<br />
I only included this picture to show off my three sisters.<br />
Right there, looking as stunning as ever on my shiny sister pin!<br />
They tagged along for my first day.<br />
My first class was at 7:30 a.m.<br />
i'm not looking forward to being outside on MWF mornings before the sun wakes up in Logan's freezing weather, but today it wasn't too bad.<br />
thank goodness my roommate is in it with me so i didn't get lost.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiADyuD3wGgNNn43c71DNpSQ5rhu0J5lip01ZQilJwjpBBGKAEWqNW8Hb4v3d2vnnYR1yLB9wMtxIh9WXwPCGyXzHtoC00w6ymxYMT0HJXAbynd4jlfGVjgSq01e3ybe5_lUlSBrAn41L8/s1600/photo-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiADyuD3wGgNNn43c71DNpSQ5rhu0J5lip01ZQilJwjpBBGKAEWqNW8Hb4v3d2vnnYR1yLB9wMtxIh9WXwPCGyXzHtoC00w6ymxYMT0HJXAbynd4jlfGVjgSq01e3ybe5_lUlSBrAn41L8/s400/photo-1.JPG" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(ignore the mess, it's just that one corner from moving that is yet to be sorted through and put away)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">hang in there, life has a way of working out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-life is wonderful, again!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92823431452529811.post-62849362410335681962011-08-30T22:24:00.000-07:002011-08-30T22:24:08.500-07:001st day of skoooollll<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2JpiYARu7mHmeNUIoq0EOdsszSF8F-UBA2Givl9d5A0ALc_jg5NaZyt8A050IOyN3ZHJ4_jL1kAftI-gFXLSwfXDiJXzgeCbKj6Wqq1M3vM0_s6YDfSgIEDhtFsR0_KaedM-oOuUsGA/s1600/IMG_7529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2JpiYARu7mHmeNUIoq0EOdsszSF8F-UBA2Givl9d5A0ALc_jg5NaZyt8A050IOyN3ZHJ4_jL1kAftI-gFXLSwfXDiJXzgeCbKj6Wqq1M3vM0_s6YDfSgIEDhtFsR0_KaedM-oOuUsGA/s640/IMG_7529.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Me and Aubri + backpacks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">photo credit: McKenna Strong (mom of the day)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRtcPnIQt6ACWRJy8UJ2RD5CxxAUCBfsrz-K7nmMqRHr1Sp1GhFC0KbOTH82A0G8XgdIgQmqYYAlhIU9TBXwXxUlaLwc4_ntrToxrPGQdc2rFpXpU7YRnyBv60XG5aZp0MocgF4h-3LY/s1600/IMG_7530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRtcPnIQt6ACWRJy8UJ2RD5CxxAUCBfsrz-K7nmMqRHr1Sp1GhFC0KbOTH82A0G8XgdIgQmqYYAlhIU9TBXwXxUlaLwc4_ntrToxrPGQdc2rFpXpU7YRnyBv60XG5aZp0MocgF4h-3LY/s640/IMG_7530.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLW0889jRhGZeYzQbIzEdGSJkGE-UjPYIUdl5cgR8astcWwu-4N46KE2vizDGECQMwBc1IuRgp7q0Az9Pyk9LxHxQfBul01Kw3Cr5sBchNwGv2AD0lTl3Rdk19_0i7btcFFuVysUYTx5s/s1600/IMG_7531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLW0889jRhGZeYzQbIzEdGSJkGE-UjPYIUdl5cgR8astcWwu-4N46KE2vizDGECQMwBc1IuRgp7q0Az9Pyk9LxHxQfBul01Kw3Cr5sBchNwGv2AD0lTl3Rdk19_0i7btcFFuVysUYTx5s/s640/IMG_7531.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Aubri + McKenna in our living room as we scarfed Aubri's delicious dinner.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy (belated) first day of school folks!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's that time of year again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">People are smiling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the weather is nice and cheery.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and to top it all off my day was the bees knees:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">morning scripture study, great.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">seeing all my friends at skool, so great.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">finding 1000 shillings on the way to my last class of the day, great too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">having roommate dinner on the floor with my new roommates, also great.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">introducing ourselves at fhe with head shoulder knees and toes in Navajo, still great.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">driving to sandy with leb to look at a bike and eat some peaches and raspberry kabobs, great great.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">so you take great and times it by all these greats and you get:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">today = the bees knees.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">side note: not so great=no internet in my house yet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the sooner it comes, the more i can update.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92823431452529811.post-76742814088837562842011-04-16T19:23:00.000-07:002011-04-16T19:44:19.849-07:00finals...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN46waunp9YEX1-3eUfAjQgiFyRt8CrbycLthz2Br8CoWlJdO9pUlVCrMcKbW3dN7Crxm2GdQRx3CvEn2X5K6Qk9vlCS3jMMHQ3_7Lc8MnHjKhGGzdNVFkHO8Upjpda2lf_7W9YDXE9kA/s1600/Photo+on+2011-04-16+at+20.27.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN46waunp9YEX1-3eUfAjQgiFyRt8CrbycLthz2Br8CoWlJdO9pUlVCrMcKbW3dN7Crxm2GdQRx3CvEn2X5K6Qk9vlCS3jMMHQ3_7Lc8MnHjKhGGzdNVFkHO8Upjpda2lf_7W9YDXE9kA/s400/Photo+on+2011-04-16+at+20.27.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596373603310708658" /></a><br />i <b>hate </b>(strong word choice but meant with all my heart) this time of year.<div>it stresses me out to the max. </div><div>it also seems to be the time that my whole life falls a part. and like every other finals season, this time proved once again it's not a good time for me. :( oh well. </div><div><br /></div><div>i searched the lib for a great little spot to study, settled down in a cozy little desk that i moved to be next to a window (sue me grouchy librarians), and am currently more fascinated with the sky gradually turning black then i am with my pages of pages of notes right in front of me. eh, whatevs. </div><div><br /></div><div>here's to you BYU, you are a fabulous university, i probably don't appreciate you like i should, and i do love attending you. i just hate this time of stress and anxiety. J-Ru in 11 days. please oh please at least let me survive til then, because frankly problems in P-town will be on the other side of the world in that time, and nothing will make me happier then to run away. They say you can't run away from your problems, the 5 year old little kid in me dare says you can. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>xoxo.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92823431452529811.post-621596494469743352011-03-25T08:25:00.000-07:002011-03-25T08:32:46.367-07:00curiouser and curiouser.<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">"'I wonder if I've been changed in the night? Let me think: was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I'm not the same, the next question is 'Who in the world am I?' Ah, that's the great puzzle!'" - Lewis Carroll, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Alice in Wonderland</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Who in the world am <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;">i</span></b>?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">With this school year almost coming to an end. Lots of changes coming into and out of my life. I truly believe that is the <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;">GREAT PUZZLE</span></b>. No, i strongly believe i am not the same as i was when i got up this morning. (one) month and (one) day til jerusalem center. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">let the self discovery begin <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;">full force:: who in the world am i?</span></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Today, I am Alisa Mi'kel Wilson, trying to figure out my place in this world. wish me luck. <i>cheers to adventure</i>.</b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b> <!--StartFragment--> </b></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><b><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;">The world makes way for the man who knows where he’s going</span>. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><b></b></span></p><b><p class="MsoNormal" style="display: inline !important; ">–Ralph Waldo Emerson</p></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment--> </b></span><p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2