Live Happy

My Lovely Happinesses

2011-10-14T17:04:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking lately about the title of this blog. Happiness is hardly a tangible thing, and life itself is fleeting and fragile. How do you keep your head above water? How do you celebrate days of stress and complicated monotony? How do you persistently and consistently reach for the sunshine in this crazy crazy life? I came up with the saying "Live Happy" just before I graduated high school and it has stuck with me ever since. Today I introduce my lovely happinesses, a list of all the things that brighten up my life. To add to in times of peace and contentment, and to turn to in times of yuck. Think of it as a weekly happiness to-do list...one you'll actually want to get done, or at least one that will remind you that life is full of outrageous blessings (all for your taking)...

My Lovely Happinesses October 2011

Live Happy on Pinterest

A hot cup of lovely tea

Fountain Pepsi (There's something about the ice, I swear)

Dancing at red lights

Citrus and Sage

The first five minutes of a workout

A Beautiful Mess

Bree's yellow kitchen

This picture

One conscious deep breath a day

Pandora

A little happy tune:

Winter sqaush

Driving up the canyon

A new box of crayons

A certain little boy

Hot towels from the dryer

Going to bed on time

Matte nailpolish

and

the smell of my childhood house.

Live Happy!

Where you invest your love, you invest your life...

2011-05-17T18:34:00.000-07:00

Looking forward to another summer at camp.

Noah's Flower

2011-01-04T18:04:00.001-08:00

Bullets

2011-01-02T18:47:00.000-08:00

Come what may and love it!

2010-08-05T13:25:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about that little saying "Come what may, and love it." In the next few weeks I will have moved, changed jobs, gone on vacation to NYC, and started school again. It's gonna be a busy few weeks while still working nearly full time. :)

"In spite of discouragement and adversity, those who are happiest seem to have a way of learning from difficult times, becoming stronger, wiser, and happier as a result."

Whoa, did you catch that? Discouragement and adversity can make you happier! Now, I realize the amount of responsibility, sorrow, joy, and stress in my life pales in comparison to a lot of people in this world. But I do know, without a doubt, that when one door closes many more open. I have been working for the same family for two years now. I mean, I don't even know that I really consider it work because I love it so much. I spend most of the hours in my day in the company of two beautiful girls whom I have fallen in love with. My best friend is a six year old and together we have created quite the bond. However, the time has come for them to be grow-ed up and for me to find a new job. As this time has grown closer, I have had to remind myself about open doors a lot! I'm going to miss my girls, but I know that this world is full of opportunities! When doors close, even if they are doors with really really good things inside...when they close we must keep the faith and move forward...sometimes open doors come in ways I don't want, don't like, or don't understand. However, when I remember all the opportunities in my life...I can think think "Come what may, and love it."

"The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude. "

I'm grateful for the adversity in my life. It HAS made me a happier person, and I'm thankful for THAT. I'm thankful for the craziness and chaos, for the opportunity I have to learn from it. I'm thankful for the challenges in front of me, because I can't WAIT for them to stretch me and help me grow. Come what may, I love it!

"Adversity, if handled correctly, can be a blessing in our lives. We can learn to love it!"

Live Happy.
:)

all quotes from Elder Wirthin's talk "Come what may,and love it"

Time flys...

2010-07-05T11:10:00.001-07:00

how fast time passes by....

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Guest Post

2010-06-30T11:50:00.000-07:00

You'll find me here today :)

http://kidzorg.blogspot.com/2010/06/tradition-of-gratitude.html

Some Things I Love...

2010-06-15T18:46:00.000-07:00

When it rains and the sun shines at the same time

Crawling into clean, cold sheets

The precious days on the edge of the seasons when the sun is warm and the air is cool

Reading a book in one sitting

Being with my family

The Book of Mormon

Sleeping in the sunshine

The sound of a baby food jar opening

Laughing really, really hard

Knowing every word to a song on the radio

Discovering new music

My wonderful jobs

Being with children-especially children with special needs.

My Savior Jesus Christ

I love life!

Playtime!

2010-05-12T21:04:00.000-07:00

Some Other Things I Have Learned

2010-04-15T19:18:00.000-07:00

1. Learning cursive was a waste of time.

2. Bad decisions (like dying your hair purple) make good stories.

3. I can look at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

4. Sleeping with your window open is one of the greatest things on the planet.

5. Studying helps. A lot.

6. There isn't anything quite as satisfying as getting the highest grade in your class on a really hard test.

7. Earthquakes are for real.

8. There are opportunities for happiness and gratitude everywhere. Pay attention.

9. Having your own bathroom is totally worth a flood in your basement.

10. My life is a lot happier when I listen to my mom. She's amazing.

St. George!

2010-04-09T18:51:00.000-07:00

Last weekend our family took a trip to St. George to spend some time together and to watch General Conference. Conference was so good! I never want it to be over, we are so lucky to spend time listening to those wonderful men share their wisdom. I love Conference. In between sessions we found plenty of time to play! Maggi figured out how to do do Kyler's ripstick thingy...note the random people in the background...
We found this super cool park by our condo with this awesome playground. We claimed some grass and played with a frisbee...I got this shot of Kyler with his tongue out, and it just so happened that he was wearing his MJ jersey that day. Perfect!

We played a game called "Ninja Destruction." We stand in a circle and make a pose and try and hit each others hands. I think we'd make really good professional nija posers... ;)
Saturday morning before the morning session we went to Snow Canyon. This is a 'petified sand dune' that we climbed up. You can kinda see how big it is from the people you can see on it.

We had so much fun!

Sidewalk, meet my barefeet!

2010-03-28T17:21:00.000-07:00

My friend Micah and I spent last weekend hiking in the mountains around my house. This (below) is from the top of Waterfall Canyon in Ogden. SUCH a beautiful view.

We found cacti (above) in the mountains just up from my house, I don't know how it survived the winter, but it sure is cool looking. This is the view looking down on the little North Ogden Valley. (below)

Spring makes me happy!

Some Things I Have Learned

2010-03-09T23:56:00.000-08:00

Some things I have learned. In no particular order:

1. Be happy with whatever your natural hair color is.
2. Stay on the sunny side of life.
3. There is nothing else like living your life everyday like everyday was the best day ever.
4. Number three will be sooo much easier if you surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you.
5. Faith is always pointed in a forward direction, and the future is as bright as your faith.
6. Go to class, study, and decide to love this education you are paying a fortune for.
7. Every time you skip a class it's like throwing away $20. Refer to number six.
8. Practicing gratitude is one of the best ways to live happy.
9. Prayers are answered and miracles happen everyday.
10. A clean room and kitchen goes a long way.

Live Happy!
-me.

Just around the corner...

2010-03-03T19:43:00.000-08:00

Today I took the girls to the park to play for a little bit in the gorgeous weather. The snow is deceiving, so take note of the t-shirts! It was close to 45 today! Heaven...

bless them, for being such good sports about my camera glued to my face. :)

after we were done tromping around in the snow everybody's shoes were soaking wet. So to celebrate March I let them take off their shoes and play on the playground in barefeet! Springtime is coming...I can feel it.

Cute little toesies!
Maya said, "Hey remember that crazy picture of you?" and it led to this... :)

Love you all. :)

We Are The World

2010-02-22T21:57:00.001-08:00

I love this. LOVE it.

Frosting

2010-02-12T18:32:00.000-08:00

Hello there! Greetings from frostland! It's been a little cold up here. I would love it to snow instead of just freeze for once! I live in the basement of an old house, and last week my bedroom was so super special cold, I had to get up and put gloves and a hat on. When the inversion creeps in and the nights get cold, it covers everything with frost, just like this picture. You can drive around Logan and everything is white, it's quite beautiful actually. A silver lining to the terrible air that we've had this winter I suppose. We have the worst air in the country during the winter. Bleh.

On a more positive note,
School is going well this semester. I started the semeter with 12 credits but later rearranged my schedule so now I am enrolled in 10. Ironically, with so few credits, I am more busy than I ever have been before! Between work and school I have plenty of fun to keep me occupied, it's just the way I like it. I nanny three beautiful girls for my job, although I don't even know if it's right to call it that. It's more like my favorite thing ever. This is my second year with this family and I love them to death. One 6 year old, one 11 year old, and one 10 year old fill my days with energy. I couldn't ask for a better job.

This is the first family I have worked for extensively who do not have children with severe disabilites, and I miss it! I've been reading the many many many blogs out there, written by parents of children with disabilites and I just can't get enough of their stories. I miss working with children with disabilites, my hunger for it's challenge grows and grows the longer I spend away from it. It makes me want my degree right now!

*sigh* Must be patient....

New Design!

2010-02-10T15:40:00.000-08:00

Be Happy live thankfully

love the unexpected feed your curiosity

be strong...take heart listen live every moment

be proud of yourself

imagine the possibilities laugh really *really* hard

be yourself feel the sunshine

ask questions be kind fear not

try new things...be astonished by everything.

Live deep, live free, LIVE HAPPY!

Summer and Fall

2009-12-22T21:25:00.001-08:00

Hey all,
It's been a while!
I came home from Wisconsin just in time for school to start again, and have been busy ever since!

I could write about camp all day long and I would still never be able to give you what it was like. It was amazing, truly one of the most amazing experiences of my life. But it was also very very hard. I worked from 7:45am-midnight everyday, with a two hour break. I had 12 and 1/2 full days off the entire summer. And my per hour wage worked out to be something like $4.36/hr. I knew it would be a lot of work going in, but there was no way for me to know how hard it would be to be isolated from the rest of the normal world. It is exhausting to assume all physical, mental, and emotional responsiblity for somebody with very special needs and behavioral issues and give them the week of their life. That being said, to walk away knowing that the smiles you have given each one of them, is worth every single minute of the energy you give. I was ready to come home, and brought with me new goals and a new outlook on how to live happy.

The semester started out well, but it brought a lot of changes. Weston and I had grown apart over the summer, and continued to do so when I returned home. While in Wisconsin I went bunjee jumping with my sister who came to visit me, and it inspired me to follow her cliff jumping once I got home. I went twice, the second time being with my friends Quinn and Lewis who are blind. The adrenaline rush carried me into the sky where a few weeks later Lewis and I jumped out of an airplane. Things settled down a little bit after that hahaha, and I tried to shift my focus into my school work. I had a lot of ground to make up after I failed last years math class, but my GPA came back up enough this semester to keep my scholarship. Woot!

In mid-october Lewis and I started dating. It's been a brilliant experience. People sometimes ask me what it is like to date somebody who is blind, and I usually tell them that it's mostlly like dating somebody who can see but with a little extra frosting on top. :) I love to talk about it so if you have questions please do ask. We have a lot of fun together!

That is about the last three months of my life! I will try and be better about updating.

Live happy!

Wanted: For teaching blind people how to drive...

2009-09-06T23:52:00.000-07:00

15 Books That Will Always Stick With Me...

2009-07-31T18:22:00.000-07:00

1. "The Giver"-Lois Loury
2. "Expecting Adam" -Martha Beck
3. "Nineteen Minutes" -Jodi Piccolt
4. "Speak" -Laurie Halse Anderson
5. "The Secret of NIMH" -Robert C O'Brien
6. "Stumbing Upon Happiness" -Daniel Gilbert
7. "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince" -J. K. Rowling
8. "Enders Game" -Orson Scott Card
9. "Ramona Age 8" -Beverly Cleary
10. "Down a Dark Hall" -Lois Duncan
11. "The Hiding Place" -Corrie Ten Boom
12. "The Christ Commission" -OG Mandino
13. "One Child" -Torey Hayden
14. "Searching for David's Heart" -Cherie Bennett
15. "You are Special" -Max Lucado

Camp!

2009-07-03T17:12:00.000-07:00

Well hello everybody! Greetings from camp...finally a weekend where I can sit down and catch up on photo's and letters! (and blogs)

I can not believe that camp is 1/3 of the way through...I've already been here for a month and that time has just disappeared. Let me tell you peoples, it was really hard for me at first. I was soooooo homesick! Can you believe that? Me. Homesick. Haha. And as staff training finished and campers came I started to realize why I had come. Off camp and on the weekends we are supposed to leave camper stories at camp....which is harder than it sounds! My whole life is here, it's all we have to talk about...haha.

This place takes my breath away...

The campers sleep in the cabins with their counselors. You are promised sleep from 12:00am to 6:00am but any inbetween time your camper happens to be awake...they are your responsibility. A lot of campers are up running before wake up call, which is at 7:45am. We get up, get meds, and sing before breakfast. We go swimming everyday, either after breakfast, after lunch, or after dinner. Some campers chose to do different things besides swimming during that time, we have a high and low ropes course as well as a zipline, rockwall, canoeing, fishing, pontoon boats, or town trip. We have lots of activities, 30min at a time in the gym, the arts and crafts room, the grassy field, or the elks lodge. We are walking constantly. On Wednesday night we all pack a garbage bag of stuff we need, for ourselves and our camper and we go camping at one of 6 campsites that camp has. We cook dinner and breakfast over the fire and sleep under the stars on a tarp and let the campers get a feel for a real camping experience. Every Friday we take a Dells Boat Tour on the river. You should see the amazing teamwork it takes to fit 107 wheelchairs, and 70 ambulatory campers as well as their counselors on one boat! It is amazing!

That's a typical week here. :o)

Camp is what I thought it would be, and it's also not. I'm here in this place where I am being stretched. Constantly. I'm in a place where staff exchange BM stories, and have PC parties, my world is this place where when somebody says, "Hey dude, look at this!" and they are pointing out the bite marks from a camper. I'm at a place where you sing camp songs so much, that sometimes in the shower you realize your half way through one and you don't remember starting it, where you are at breakfast and you realize you haven't brushed your teeth yet, or showered. And it doesn't matter. Here, the people you work with are your family. We work as one, we are there for each other whenever wherever however we are needed. No questions asked. My world is all about the people around me. I don't hardly ever use my computer, or spend hours on the phone. In fact, my phone is very very rarely ever on my person. My mind has been quiet here. Friendship works differently here. We come from all over the world, from all different backgrounds...but we all share this love for people with disabilities. The friends I have here...I would have never stopped and said, "hey how's it goin?" to them in a million years. In fact a few of them might have ended up on your team... :P Stuff like that doesn't matter here. It's wonderful. You love everybody. It's how friendship is supposed to work. Now don't get me wrong, camp gossip is hilarious and I suspect there is a lot of purpling in the woods when camp isn't in session :P but when it comes to the campers and our jobs...we are all in it together.

This place is incredible!

I am going to post some pictures from the last three weeks. :o) This is just a taste of my life...enjoy.

CAMP!

2009-06-06T10:37:00.001-07:00

So Camp is great. The Weather is about like Utah, but a little cooler. It's raining right now.
The camp is right outside The Dells, which is a huge tourist town in Wisconsin. Lots of water parks and shops and touristy things to do.
...Mostly we have just done training. Like 8:00am to 10:00pm. So not too exciting. The social culture is very different here than Utah. Utah really is like a little bubble. There is a lot more smoking, and they have bars in restaurants. Haha. Which doesn't happen in Utah.... haha.
The people are friendly, but it will take a little while to meet and know everybody.
Camp gossip is already hilarious....but just in case you were wondering...purpling is only allowed in the woods. Haha ;) I don't much care for purple... :P
I will write more later...there isn't a lot of computer time or phone time. :o)

But I would really love a letter!
Attn: Bailee Goodell
Easter Seals Respite Camp
1550 Waubeek Rd
Wisconsin Dells, WI
53965

Summer camp here I COME!...

2009-06-03T15:33:00.001-07:00

First of all. I am going to miss my best friend. How happy I am to have him.

Secondly. I am SO excited.

For those of you who don't know, I am going to Wisconsin all summer to work at a special needs camp there. It's been a dream of mine for so very long, and I am so happy to have this opportunity. I can not wait. My plane leaves tomorrow morning at 8:00am. I will try and update this blog often if you should want to follow me on this adventure!

Wish me luck!

What you share with the world is what it keeps of you...

2009-05-13T16:10:00.000-07:00

I want to share with you a song I found. I think it is beautiful. It's called "Give a Little Love" by a band I have recently discovered and LOVE, Noah and the Whale. The lyrics are amazing to me. I love it.

Well I know my death will not come
'Til I breathe all the air out my lungs
'Til my final tune is sung
That all is fleeting
Yeah, but all is good
And my love is my whole being
And I've shared what I could
But if you give a little love, you can get a little love of your own
Don't break his heart
Yeah if you give a little love, you can get a little love of your own
Don't break his heart

Well my heart is bigger than the earth
And though life is what gave it love first
Life is not all that it's worth
'Cause life is fleeting
Yeah, but I love you
And my love surrounds you like an ether
In everything that you do
But if you give a little love, you can get a little love of your own
Don't break his heart
Yeah if you give a little love, you can get a little love of your own
Don't break his heart

Well if you are (what you love)
And you do (what you love)
I will always be the sun and moon to you
And if you share (with your heart)
Yeah, you give (with your heart)
What you share with the world is what it keeps of you...

Trampoline and Ice Cream!

2009-05-10T13:49:00.000-07:00

Loving the pictures...
These are a few pictures that I call 'inbetween pictures", or the pictures that either of us take in between adventures. In this case, all of these are Westons...

This is in Blacksmith Canyon.

Can you see the heart?

These almost look painted....
My car brokid again, while Weston was trying to drive back up to Logan for work. So he called in an absence and we spent the rest of the evening baking bread and playing with Jackie on the tramp. How she loves the tramp...

Awww they are so cute!
Jackie is the "bestest feet tickler in the world" and that's good because weston's feet are ridiculously tickleish. Especially inbetween his toes... te hehe.
Check out the hairdo...

Boom Boom POW!
What is that even...?
OoooooooooooO

Haha.
Jackie took this picture. I think the reason why Weston and I are smiling is because we were looking at Jackie sitting on the edge of the trampoline with Weston's big camera "looking" for us in the viewfinder. Click!

Awww...those eyes...
Also a picture Jackie took...
As is this one...
And this one...

Then we went out to get ice cream, and during the drive Jackie told Weston, "Yeah! Take some pictures of signs!!!" and so he did...
Haha.

We went to Pop's Malt Shop and got some ice cream! Yum!

He's 27... gotta love it!

Mmmmmm.
EEEIEYEIICCE Cream!
Cheese!

Later that night Weston read Jackie a story, where it became apparent to me that he picked the right career! Both of them are adorable!

Well...that's it. For now.
I am SURE their will be more...
Love ya...

Tired of Pictures Yet? Haha I'm not...

2009-05-04T14:59:00.000-07:00

These are my girlies that I nanny. Maya is in the middle and is 9, Priya on the right is also 9, they have been friends for a while but they aren't sisters. Lian is on the left and just turned 5. I love them lots!
These two are sisters... they are adorable.

Lian always has her thumb in her mouth.

Weston and I bought toys at Hastings. I got a lava lamp for like 10 bucks, and Wes bought a fiberglass thingy.
There are lots of flowers that have started blooming, and of course, they contain a special magnet that is very very attractive to Weston's camera. ;)

We went to Sandy to the Living Planet Aquarium. It was so cool! I had never been. Weston got a little nervous about touching the stingrays which I thought was adorable. It was fun. These are upside down jellyfish.
This reminded me of Seven Pounds. Loved that movie.
This is the weirdest fish I have ever seen.
This guy was my favorite. I love that orange eye thing. He's cool.
It's amazing how bright the colors can be. God is surely an artist.

This is some kind of sucker fish, and we got it sucking on the glass!
These little guys have their body under the surface and just their eyes above.

This is the bottom of old main. The sign says, "NO PARKING on this block" Hahahahaha!
This is what we call the octopus tree.
She's just so cute!

Today we we took a bike ride to a park and found a playground and had a picnic. We turned into little kids again and climbed in the tunnels and went down the slides. It was great! They even had a tire swing.
This little girl was watching Weston swing and I just got a quick snapshot of her. I thought she was cute.
Awwww...this is his sad face. Pooooorrr baby.
Oh gosh it was fun.
So we did the rapid snapshot thingy setting or whatever as we jumped off the swings. Uh....
He's so strange sometimes. But never as strange as I...
Uh oh.

Peek a Boo

That was fun....
Okay this is another little girl who I started taking pictures of. She and her brother were so cute, so we took a bunch of photo's and got mom's email to send them to her.

So fun! I'm so glad school is out and I have the whole month to play outside w/Weston and my girls until I leave for the summer!

Love you all! Work hard play hard!!!

Part 2 of 2: Hobbits Hole (again)

2009-04-22T15:56:00.002-07:00

We went back up the canyon again, and took Chrissy with us!

These are my new Chaco's!!!! (Well I guess *this* is my new chaco) and I love them! (it)

Ya they thought it would be hilarious to pick me up and dangle me over the river... and guess what? It wasn't.

Yay!

Part 1 of 2: Hoggle ZOO!

2009-04-22T15:56:00.001-07:00

Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine!

Don't touch my babies or I'll bite your head off. (literally)

What are you lookin at?

This is "Mr. I-Move-So-Fast-It's-Hard-To-Take-My-Picture"

Hello!

Look it's a pole dancing giraffe!
Ho hum.

Hmmm what's in there?

Pictures Part 2!

2009-04-13T20:58:00.000-07:00

We went back the canyon again tonight to get pictures of a mossy waterfall in indirect sunlight and stayed until nightfall. Consequently, more pictures!

I posted pictures of this waterfall before, back when it was still very cold. Haha. Now that the snow is melting there is more water coming off the mountain. I love this spot for some reason. It's really mossy.
These next pictures use a technique that Weston taught himself. "Ghost pictures."

Easter, The Zoo, and Hobbit's Hole

2009-04-13T15:20:00.000-07:00

Weston came down on Easter Sunday and went to church with my family. I have never had so many friends at church before. Everybody wanted in on the love story. Haha. I was happy to tell. :o) We then went to my family party with my dad's side of the family. It was fun. Weston took a random picture of our drink glasses. I commented, "Hey look that's me and you!" Not too far from the truth seeing as I'm white and snow, and he's...well...not.
Today Weston, Christina, and I took a spontaneous visit to the Willow Park Zoo here in Logan. Naturally,Wes took some awesome pictures.
This duck was funny. He was trying so hard to get out of the fence...so he just kept sticking his head out the holes.
Weston took me to Hobbit's Hole in Logan Canyon. It's off right fork canyon or something like that. They call it Hobbit's Hole because of the little cave like things by the river that are said to look like where a Hobbit would live. He usually goes there in the summer or fall, so this time of year it was a little bit snowy and colorless. We took mostly pictures of each other.
I crawled up a tree, and even tried to hang upside down to get a picture but that didn't work out so well. We almost both fell down the mountain doing that haha.
This is one of the "hobbit's holes" and I fit inside of it! I was nervous though, about a bat biting my butt or something. So I crawled out soon after this photo.
We, well, I was feeling a little bit stupid so I decided to see if I could somehow climb onto a rock in the middle of the rushing rapids. Oh sorry, the freezing cold rushing rapids. The fates were on my side today apparently because I managed not to drown. Weston started taking snapshots of me in black and white. I love it when he does that. So then I had this brilliant idea to dunk my head in the freezing cold water. It was a fantastic idea in the end. I love how these turned out!

And of course...the goofy picture. Wouldn't be a normal post without one of these haha...Now these are the ones I took of Weston. Not that I'm biased or anything, but I think black and white and grey are definitely his color.Meet George. My key chain buddy. Contrary to popular belief, he is not named after Curious George, but instead George O'Maley on Grey's Anatomy. Haha.
Then I climbed up this mossy ledge on the side of the mountain. (We were just so smart today. Raging rapids... slippery ledges...steep mountain hills...)
It was such a wonderful morning! While we were taking pictures Weston even got a little teary eyed, it was so nice to spend the morning enjoying each others company. Well...I think that's enough pictures for now. Haha.

Hope everybody had a good Easter!!!
Love you!

Three More Weeks

2009-04-06T11:10:00.001-07:00

So I'm just a little little bit stressed.

Okay I'm a liar.
I'm a lot stressed.

5 Things I Am Thankful For Today

2009-03-28T18:19:00.000-07:00

1. Sleepovers
2. Pepperidge farm runs
3. Gumby
4. Clean rooms

and 5. My bestest friend Weston.

2009-03-22T15:51:00.001-07:00

I had a good rest of Spring break.
Didn't get a flu shot.
*stupid stupid stupid*
Got the flu.
Missed school.
Got over the flu.
Went back to school.

That's that.
Haha

I have to put these two videos on here. They are hilarious.

Up the Canyon...Aggie Basketball

2009-03-08T14:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Weston and I slept in, and then we decided to take advantage of the beautiful sunshine and drive up Logan canyon. We drove up to the Garden City overlook and took a few pictures up there. We started taking snapshots...I laugh EVERY time I look at these pictures. We are so goofy.

We drove down the canyon, and stopped at Rick's Spring, it's still pretty frozen, but we went inside the cave and got cool pictures of the icicles...I know for a fact that Weston took this picture, because he is better photographer than I am. I think it is absolutely amazing. I do not remember who took the next one.

This is a spot just across the street and up a ways from Rick's Spring. Weston took both of these photo's as well.

Weston made a snow angle, which was hilarious. We got it on video, but I think it would be too big to post on here. While we were looking at pictures before getting in the car I took a picture of our shadows. I think these are really cute. :o)
We also stopped at the bat cave, because there was a little mossy waterfall right down by the street that we got pictures of. We climbed up the mountain side a little bit to get some closer pictures and found some water plants. I believe Weston took most of these as well.

Isn't he amazing? These are absolutely breathtaking.
We were sitting on rocks and then we started goofing off again. Mostly because we can't help it. :P These are some of his goofy pictures. His are even better than mine, because he has the largest variety of facial expressions I have ever seen in my life. These make me grin every time I look at them. Oh and take note that even when he's being silly, his eyes are still amazing.

Oh man! Priceless. We had SO much fun. It was a wonderful morning! In the afternoon my friend Jared came up from Ogden and had dinner with me at the Indian Oven. (my favorite) Then we decided to go to an Aggie Basketball game. It was my first time! And it was way fun! People kind of go psycho, which is all the more entertainment for us normal people. (ha...right...) Even though I don't have a million pictures of that, it was still a really nice night.

And overall...a perfect day. :o)

Eatin Cheese on Toast...

2009-03-06T19:23:00.000-08:00

"Merry Happy"

Watching me like you never watch no one
Don't tell me that you didn't try and check out my bum
Cause I know that you did
Cause your friend told me that you liked it

Gave me those pearls and I thought they were ugly
Though you try to tell me that you never loved me
I know that you did
'Cause you said it and you wrote it down

Dancing at discos
Eating cheese on toast
Yeah you make me merry make me very very happy
But you obviously, you didn't want to stick around

Dancing at discos
Eating cheese on toast
Yeah you make me merry make me very very happy
But you obviously, you didn't want to stick around

So I learnt from you
Do do do da do do do do do da do do do do do da do
So I learnt form you
Do do do da do do do do do da do do do do do da do

I can be alone, yeah
I can watch a sunset on my own
I can be alone, yeah
I can watch a sunset on my own
I can be alone
I can watch a sunset on my own

I can be alone, yeah
I can watch a sunset on my own
I can be alone, yeah
I can watch a sunset on my own
I can be alone
I can watch a sunset on my own

Sitting in restaurants
Thought we were so grown up
But I know now that we were not the people
That we turned out to be

Chatting on the phone
Can't take back those hours
But I won't regret
'Cause you can grow flowers
From where dirt used to be

Dancing at discos
Eating cheese on toast
Yeah you make me merry make me very very happy
But you obviously, you didn't want to stick around

Dancing at discos
Eating cheese on toast
Yeah you make me merry make me very very happy
But you obviously, you didn't want to stick around

So I learnt from you
Do do do da do do do do do da do do do do do da do
So I learnt from you
Do do do da do do do do do da do do do do do da do

I can be alone, yeah
I can watch a sunset on my own
I can be alone, yeah
I can watch a sunset on my own
I can be alone
I can watch a sunset on my own
(do do do da do do do do do da do do do do do da do)

I can be alone, yeah
I can watch a sunset on my own
I can be alone, yeah
I can watch a sunset on my own
I can be alone
I can watch a sunset on my own
(do do do da do do do do do da do do do do do da do)

101st Post AND 101 Things

2009-03-03T16:10:00.000-08:00

Things that Make Me Happy:
1. My girlies that I Nanny
2. Sunshine
3. Getting ready in the morning to Jack Johnson
4. My monkey on my key chain
5. Jeans that fit just right.
6. Spending less than 20$ at the grocery store
7. Yummy smelling room
8. Clean feeling room
9. Car Dancing
10. My crazy family

Food I Hate:
1. Fish
2. Soft Cheeses
3. Fish
4. Any meat besides chicken and beef
5. Fish

Things that I am Thankful For:
1. My family
2. Weston
3. Having housing paid off for next year
4. Have a plane ticket to Wisconsin
5. Christina
6. A car that works
7. My job!
8. Happiness
9. That Spring Break is in three days
10. The remote control to the stereo in my car

Random Things:
1. I love Grey's Anatomy. Like a lot
2. Weston now owns a 70's alarm clock with a horse and knight on top
3. I love my footie jammies
4. I never used a washing machine until I moved to college
5. I'm eating cashews
6. I sleep in the bottom of a bunk bed
7. I have pool noodles covered around the bars above my head when I sleep so I don't decapitate my head
8. When I was little I swallowed a penny
9. I steal things. Like tea bags from the cafe, and hair clips from my roomate
10. Stars

Things that I Don't Like Very Much:
1. Not being able to fall asleep
2. Feeling icky, but not being able to say exactly why
3. Dry erase markers that run out
4. Dreams where I am naked
5. Paper cuts
6. Waking up early to finish homework
7. Not having a car
8. Little annoying lights when I'm trying to sleep. Like the blinking red light on the smoke detector in my room. Ugh. It should die
9. Hurt feelings. And mostly other peoples hurt feelings
10. Being manipulated

My Beverage of Choice:
1. Blue or Grape Gatorade
2. Chocolate Milk
3. Diet Coke mixed with Pepsi, or Diet Pepsi mixed with Coke
4. H2O
5. Carnation Instant Breakfast smoothie (chocolate mix, a banana, milk, peanut butter and ice cream all furiously mixed in a blender)

Things that I am Excited About:
1. Wisconsin
2. An entire summer across the country
3. Taking photo trips with Weston once it gets warmer
4. Spring. Which is long long long overdue
5. Jared coming up to Logan to taste Indian Oven! Yay!
6. Next year, living in a big basement apartment with more space for less cost
7. Spring break. A week without school...thank goodness
8. Visiting Mr. Mason next week
9. General Conference
10. Putting on my jammies tonight and going to bed

More Random Things:
1. Weston just brought me two things of marchino cherries, a big thing of blue Gatorade, and my favorite flavor of gum. How lucky am I. And how awesome is he.
2. I have been loving Kate Nash. Regina Specktors other musical half, except not gay. Haha
3. I scored 96% on my Marriage and Family Test on Monday. Not bad for not going to class since the last test... if I was smart I would have a FCHD major. Those classes never seem to be hard for me AT ALL.
4. I read part of Weston's mission journal last night. Sometimes his goodness is intimidating
5. I once sent 16,000 texts in one month
6. I have a strange desire to shave my head. Just to see what it would look like, and if I could pull it off
7. I love exercising
8. I miss my Sam, and her mom
9. I just ate a pear
10. 16 of my Facebook friends are online right now

Things I Like A Lot:
1. The sound of a baby food jar opening
2. Thursday mornings, an hour of sleep in time makes a huge difference
3. Going grocery shopping
4. Seeing an action movie while on a serious caffiene and sugar high
5. My white noise machine
6. Singing loudly to the radio while driving
7. Midnight trips to Wal Mart w/Chrissy
8. Snuggling
9. Jumping on a trampoline
10. Secretly listening to Lian play by herself in her room

My Music of Late:
1. www.pandora.com (best website ever) because I've been in a new music mood
2. Lenka
3. Jack Johnson
4. Kate Nash
5. "Savior of the World" soundtrack

Things That I Own that Are Red:
1. My laptop
2. My iPod
3. My phone
4. My backpack
5. My air freshener
6. My hairdryer
7. My blanket on my bed
8. My shampoo and conditioner bottles
9. My toenail polish
10. My toothbrush...
AND
11. My toothpaste

Food I Love:
1. Indian Oven-which is an Indian food resteraunt here in Logan. Totally addicted.
2. Food made by the magic hands of Weston. It automatically tases better if he made it.
3. Real chocolate milk...like the kind from the gallon, not the Nestle powder tasing crap. Sorry, stuff
4. Pace style salsa over a brick of cream cheese, with Misson tortilla chips
5.Butternut squash lasagna

ATTENTION ALL READERS OF THIS BLOG!

2009-02-27T17:58:00.001-08:00

I would like to alert you that this is the 100th post.

Thank you.
Continue what you are doing...

Preaching...or Journaling...or Whatever.

2009-02-07T17:57:00.000-08:00

I know that I have been trying to keep this blog a little more distant from my thoughts. But I want to post briefly about a few things that have been on my mind lately.

I am thankful that I am surrounded by people who have strong, solid, pure testimonies of the gospel. I never realized what a blessing it is until I had it. If your off track...get back on. If you pick and choose...realize what your missing. If you got out of the habit...get back in. If you need answers, to anything, and I mean anything no matter how small or simple...read. You will find them. It's worth it. In fact, nothing is more important.

I also I am thankful that I have discovered the power of people. I decided that one of the simplest ways to be happy is to surrounded myself with people who make me my best person. I didn't realize how much influence respect could have on a friendship until I met Weston. I never realized how fast a friend can make you feel better until I lived with my best friend. So do it. Find people who make you happy. Find people who make you feel good about the person you are. Who make you want to be better. And then surround yourself with them, as much as humanly possible.

Sometimes we hold on to things...I don't know why. But we do. Like every time I delete songs off my iPod or clean out clothes in my closet...I have the hardest time getting rid of stuff. I make my life WAY more complicated than it has to be that way. I have to take a deep breath and tell myself to give it up. Give it up! The best feeling in the world is to have your life simplified, and still we can't...quite...make...ourselves do it. Let everything go except what you need. Don't fill up your life with stuff, or people, or things that don't help you get where you want to go. I remember a conference talk about good, better, best. And it's one thing to free yourself from the bad...and something entirely different to give up everything except the best. I'm still figuring this out...and working at it everyday.

Simple is better.
Less is more.
Less is SO much more.
It is so worth it.
SO WORTH IT!
And I just wanted to tell you that.

Luck!

2009-01-21T20:03:00.000-08:00

Whoo hoo!

I just won tickets to a private performance by Lenka tomorrow!

Go me!

Amazing Weekend

2009-01-18T16:38:00.000-08:00

What an awesome weekend it has been!

On Saturday morning, Weston's parents took everybody to breakfast at Golden Corral, which Weston jokingly refers to as "The Trough." Haha. It was very yummy, and what an awesome family! I really enjoy their company, especially now having met all of them before. Although, I've been assured that they are still on their best behavior. :P Haha, I don't think I have anything to worry about...and if it's anyone who needs to worry it's Weston because my family is a little crazy! (Just kidding guys... :P I love you.)

After a while, we decided to take a drive up the canyon. Ya know, apparently this used to be a past time..."going for a drive" just for the heck of it. But when I got my license, gas was already something like 2.60 or something. There was no "driving just for fun". But now that that gas has gone down a little bit, Weston suggested we drive up to the Garden City overlook at the top of Logan canyon. Oh man, it was so worth it. At the top there is a place you can stop and look over the Lake/Bear Lake Valley... and when we got there the lake and entire valley was covered in CLOUDS!

Clouds people! Clouds! Over the entire valley. It reminded me of being in an airplane above the clouds in the sunshine. Oh and to think we didn't have his camera with us! It was breathtakingly gorgeous...and even though it was cold we sat on this picnic table for awhile talking while the sun warmed up our backs. It was so nice, and so beautiful, and I was so happy to have Weston be with me.

We played games at his sisters house in the evening, after watching Juno. It was such a wonderful day. Today is Sunday now, and has been just as good. I spent some time re cleaning my room (I swear! How does it get so messy so darn fast!) and then I got totally distracted finding new music. My taste in music has been changing so fast lately, I really love it when that happens. Right now, I am loving the acoustic, bare, live stuff. And the really eclectic kind of music...most of it Indie. The play list I just updated is almost entirely "naked"...and it's what's been keeping me occupied for the last two hours! Love it! Enjoy...

Check out the Ben Folds version of "Such Great Heights"...it's my favorite. :o)

Good News!

2009-01-08T15:28:00.001-08:00

I am officially hired to work in Wisconsin this summer! Yay! I am so excited!

I will be working on a 400 acre summer camp right by Dells Wisconsin at a Special Needs summer camp from the beginning of June to the end of August!

I am so very blessed and thrilled to have this opportunity, it is something I have always wanted to do!

Happy Christmas!

2008-12-23T12:00:00.000-08:00

Today is my families Christmas Eve, and so as I sit here with a cup of hot chocolate, listening to Sam laugh at the sound the keys make when I type...I want to reflect for a minute on the things I am grateful for this season because I won't get a chance again until after Christmas. Or my Christmas anyway.

The last month or so has offered me so much happiness and joy!

I have an awesome family, a great amount of love, and unbelievable friends. I am surrounded by good people who raise me up. I am thankful for Christina, who makes me happy when I'm feeling blue. I am beyond grateful for the laughing episodes that we have shared together up at school. I am thankful for my mom and Steve, they are the best parents I could have asked for. I am thankful for my Dad in Iowa, and his wife Diane, and that I get to spend time with them over break. I am thankful for Aubrey and Leisha and Amanda, for always being on my side.

I have been dating Weston the last little while, and I am thankful for the way I am inspired to be a better person when I'm with him. My faith has increased, and I feel so much peace. My life has been greatly simplified, and I am grateful.

*"Cats play with a string as practice for catching a mouse. Dating is like that too. Except some boys see a string and think, "A MOUSE!" "No. It's not a mouse! No no no. It's a string silly boys...just a string."-Mr. Mason*

:o)

A good friend sent me a text once, "I was obedient to the Lord, and even though it was the hardest thing I've ever done, I have been blessed more than I could ever imagine."

I echo that so much. Six months ago I never thought this kind of happiness was possible. And granted, there has been a fair share of stress and trial...I am only stronger than i was before, and for that I am SO GRATEFUL! "Every blessing you receive is by obedience to some law or commandment." And I have come to believe this with all my heart lately. A lot more lately actually. (hehe)

I am also thankful for the holidays this year. In church we have talked about how this is such an amazing time of the year for missionary work. Because everybody is talking of Christ, or more open to talking of Christ. It's the season of open hearts, and giving, and loving your neighbor. Sometimes it's easy to let Christmas come and go without ever feeling in the Christmas spirit, and I'm glad I haven't this year.

Happy Christmas everyone!

Everybody's gonna love today, love today, love today!

2008-12-21T19:35:00.000-08:00

I am SOOOOO sore. It's not even funny. I feel like I've been run over by a train. Haha.
Who knew.

I am thankful for snowboarding!!! It's awesome and a slice of cheese!

I'm thankful for the way family Christmas parties just put you in the mood.

I'm thankful for texting.
I'm thankful for actual talking time too. Haha.

I'm thankful for Weston. And for Chrissy. And for all my Ogden friends, it's so nice to know that you don't all disappear just becuase we don't live in the same city anymore. I am lucky.

I am thankful for happiness, and that I can spend Chritmas around the people I love and who love me.

10 Things I Love
I love reading for more than fifteen minutes at a time.
I love hot chocolate from a gas station coffee machine.
I love Amanda's texts.
I love being held.
I love no drama.
I love that Jackie can play Brick Breaker on my mom's phone better than I can. Haha.
I love family prayer.
I love that my car heater gets TOO hot sometimes, even if it means that it never gets cold enough in the summertime.
I love that I can drive almost exculsivily with my left hand.
I love Steve's bowling shirt.

Yay Christmas time!

Home Again Home Again

2008-12-17T21:28:00.000-08:00

I am officially home. And so happy to be here!
I love my family, and I'm looking forward to enjoying them!

"You owe me 30cents"

2008-12-16T16:08:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Chrissy and I did a whole lot of nothing.

We have the dorm to ourselves, and the building also to ourselves for the most part. And no school. I feel like a bum.

Aside from work yesterday, Weston came over to chill out with us. And the three of us went on this search for "Milkfuls." Which I have been having serious serious cravings for lately.

Sadly we couldn't find them. But we found candy flavoring at a Lee's in Smithfield so we brought that back and made three batches of hard candy at once. And almost set the fire alarm off in my building. In fact, I'm very surprised it didn't go off. Very. When you had the flavoring, the liquid all boils out from the concentrate...causing lots of yummy smelling smoke. (Or for Weston's case, a cinnamon burn on his face. Sad day.)

By the way all, Christina/Chrissy/Chris....is my roommate. You know how they say never to room with your high school best friend? Well. I wouldn't live with anybody else. :o)

Swimming Nostalgia

2008-12-15T13:39:00.001-08:00

Gatorade just doesn't taste the same if you don't have a mouthful of chlorine first....

It's depressing.

A Quick Thought

2008-12-14T22:54:00.000-08:00

"Desperation is a dangerous frame of mind. It rarely leads you to want you want, only away from what you don't."

"Count your blessings, name them one by one..."

2008-12-11T02:01:00.001-08:00

Tonight I am thankful for good friends, good movies, being done with Christmas shopping, a fresh haircut after it getting shaggy (it always feels so good!), long talks, feeling inspired, Christina for ALWAYS being there, Weston for his friendship, and Josh for what I have learned and experienced this year. Incredible things have happened, I have been blessed by all of you in my life. And while you may not be listed here, or in other lists on this blog...I am thankful for all of you.

In the words of a very dear friend,

"I have to go to bed. bye."

Haha.
(I love you Leisha...)

:o)

Random Thought.

2008-12-10T11:33:00.000-08:00

College is Lonely.

"Can't Forget! You only get what you give..."

2008-12-09T20:04:00.000-08:00

“Sometimes it's the smallest decisions that can change your life forever.”

It's time for change.
It is time...for change!!!
Life!
Happen faster!

See the thing is...when it's on my terms. It's all good....when I want it, when I'm ready for it, when I need it, when I DESPERATELY need it....it's forthcoming is slow. But yet, when I am unprepared, unwilling, unappreciative, uncaring....it comes before get a chance to blink.

I tend to deal with my life by using change. When it's time to move on...I rearrange my thinking, my feelings, my actions. I try to learn from every experience, and use it to make myself a better person. To change in the best ways possible. Sounds all peachy right? Only thing is, my life tends to deal with me by using change too. Haha. When it's time to learn and grow, the floor gets pulled out from under me. Sometimes I spend a lot of time begging for change and other times i spend a lot of time telling myself "change is good change is good change is good" over and over just to get through it.

I put a little bit of color in my hair. It is a shade or two lighter than my natural hair color. And even though my mom will freak out at first, I like it. It's about what my hair looks like in the summertime...because when I cut off all my hair, the roots were a lot darker then the summer bleached long hair. This is a good change.

I have wondered what would happen if I colored it darker than my natural color....but then I'm not sure I'd be Bailee. Maybe that would be the point... :P Wouldn't you like to be somebody else for a few weeks? Just once? ...Awww...why not?

Today I have thought a lot about honesty.
How much of the stories people tell are fact? And how much of them are fabrication?
As I was pondering this, and how it might affect the trustworthiness of other people. My friend interupted my thought process with the question...Does it matter?
...I ended up agreeing with her. It doesn't matter. We tell stories, we share experiences with everybody around us...and whether or not they are true or false...they are still just as much direct reflections of who we are. We might not be able to solidify their truthfullness, per say, but we can be sure of their honesty.

What does that say about me?
What does that say about you?
How much of what we say is true...and how much of it is honest?
Just a thought...

I am in a very intensely thoughtful mood tonight. I feel very empowered by my life, and very ready to live it openly, actively, and deeply. I have grown more this year than any other, and I want to keep that momentum. It has been hard, but things are looking up. I am a happier person for trusting myself. Even if it was hard. I am thankful for every moment, I treasure every moment. The good and the bad. I am a stronger person because of every ounce of adversity God has blessed me with. I am thankful above all...for faith. Faith is to be found at the core of every blessing God has given me. I am truly blessed.

"See that line? I never should have crossed it. Stop right there I never should have said that. Its the very moment I wish that I could take back.."

2008-12-09T13:58:00.000-08:00

I have officially survived my first semester at college. It was tough, and at times vigorous and demanding. (haha!) There were times, my friends, when I didn't think i could make it. But just like the little engine that could (I think I can I think I can I think I can...) I just pushed through the pain and got to the top! Okay. Seriously. Haha. I am done. I took my last final today, and handed in the last scrap of an essay. Whoohoo! It wasn't that bad actually, but next semester I need to be better at going to bed earlier and keeping up with homework/reading assignments. (note to all you high school students....the whole thing about there being no homework in college...IT'S A LIE! Yes, you do have it and you do have to hand it in, and you should know that without it you won't understand a word the teacher says in the next lecture....)

Today I am thankful for:

The intricacies of life
Saved texts that appear in my inbox out of nowhere in the middle of the night
Nyquil
Dayquil
My sense of humor
Good memories
Cyanide and Happiness
Gatorade
Being single
A Fine Frenzy
Aubrey
Chrissy
Jessy
Weston
Amanda
Fixing Amanda's iPod so she doesn't have to buy another one :o)
Sweatpants
Happiness in place of sadness
Quiet
Family
Christmas break
A lack of stress
Logan
A warm coat
Mechanical Pencils
Hair wax
Hair taffy
Hair spray
Hair root lifter spray
Hair dryers
Hair shine spray
(all of which I have learned to depend on lately)
Hair :P
Facebook
Good dreams
and
last
but
not
least
I am thankful for slipper socks that keep my toesies warm.

"Cast me gently....into morning...."

2008-12-03T23:32:00.000-08:00

Just got back from Salt Lake and boy am I tired. Somehow the fact that from Logan, Salt lake is now almost two hours away, was lost on me until it was time to drive home. A couple of friends went with me after an appointment I had in Ogden, and we went and saw the Joseph Smith movie and ate food.

Today I am thankful for not bad news, my phone charger back, my mom's text "hey did you get some drugs?", inner peace, and friends.

Goodnight!

"I've Learned"

2008-11-27T23:15:00.000-08:00

I know this is the third post today...haha, but I stumbled upon this poem and had to share it. It is not my work, and the website I found it on is http://www.thylacineslair.com/MindRetreat/Learned.htm

I've Learned

I've learned that you cannot make someone love you.
All you can do is be someone who can be loved.
The rest is up to them.
I've learned that no matter how much I care,
some people just don't care back.
And it's not the end of the world.
I've learned that it takes years to build up trust,
and only seconds to destroy it.
I've learned that it's not what you have in your life,
but who you have in your life that counts.
I've learned that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes.
After that, you'd better know something.

I've learned that you shouldn't compare yourself
to the best others can do,
but to the best you can do.
I've learned that it's not what happens to people,
It's what they do about it.
I've learned that no matter how thin you slice it,
there are always two sides.
I've learned that you should always leave loved ones with loving words.
It may be the last time you see them.
I've learned that you can keep going
long after you think you can't.

I've learned that heroes are the people who do what has to be done
When it needs to be done
regardless of the consequences.
I've learned that there are people who love you dearly,
but just don't know how to show it.
I've learned that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry,
but that doesn't five me the right to be cruel.
I've learned that true friendship continues to grow even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.
I've learned that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to
doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

I've learned that no matter how good a friend is,
they're going to hurt you every once in a while
and you must forgive them for that.
I've learned that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.
I've learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken,
the world doesn't stop for your grief.
I've learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are,
but we are responsible for who we become.
I've learned that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean that they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do.

I've learned that sometimes you have to put the individual
ahead of their actions.
I've learned that two people can look at the exact same thing
and see something totally different.
I've learned that no matter the consequences,
those who are honest with themselves get farther in life.
I've learned taht your life can be changed in a matter of hours
by people who don't even know you.
I've learned that even when you think you have no more to give,
when a friend cries out to you,
you will find the strength to help.

I've learned that writing,
as well as talking,
can ease emotional pains.
I've learned that the people you care most about in life
are taken from you too soon.
I've learned that it's hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice
and not hurting people's feelings and standing up for what you believe.
I've learned to love
and be loved.
I've learned...

Omer B. Washington

© Thylacine's Lair since September 1997

Be Grateful!

2008-11-27T10:33:00.001-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! It is only appropriate to ponder upon the things I am thankful for today....

Best friends
Christina
Spazzing
Dancing in the car
Singing in the car
My iPod
Jessica
My new hair cut
Firsts
Lasts
My time with Josh
Promises
Logan
Warm coats
Sunshine
THE GYM!
Grocery Shopping
Swimming
Growing up
Family...all of them.
Little hooman beans
Hugs
Understanding
Superman
Shared Tears
Comfort
Tenderness
The lemur dance
Nightime conversations
Love
Bad days
Good days
Weston
Westons toys at my apartment (mainly his Wii and his DVD collection...)
Priesthood blessings from a friend
Priesthood blessings from my dad
Holding hands
Memories
Head rubs
Naps
Trees on campus
Pazookies
Peace
Happy times
Free food
An awesome job
Maya, Lian, Priya, Wendy, John, and Deb
Letting go
Answers to prayers
Being happy
Missing people
Feeling Safe
"Home"
My own bed
Church
Clarity of Mind
The Book of Mormon
Patriarchel Blessings
Aubrey
Strength to follow my heart
Blackberry phones
Texting
Googletalk
Facebook
Blackboard
Utah State
Music
Amy
.........
The list could go on for forever if I kept typing. It really could. This last year has been FULL of things that I am thankful for and I've tried to include some of everything. I have another lists, that are more specific to one experience and i am choosing not to post those lists on my blog. So when I say I could type for a lot longer, I mean it! There is SO much in my life to be thankful for and this has been one of the best years of my life. I will never forget. Ever. And while people and things come and go.... Those times are times we remember when we are down, when we need to learn, when we feel happy. The happy and the sad times. The good feelings and the not so good ones. I hope this next year, I can remember to always be thankful. To remember every part of this year...to draw strength from the good times, and learn from the bad.

With that thought,
Everybody have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Stuff your faces!

Slight Obsession

2008-11-23T21:55:00.001-08:00

So tomorrow I'm cutting my hair again...haha, which is like my third haircut in three months. I've been cutting it a little shorter everytime, becuase everytime I cut my hair it's like, I like it, but it's not quite different enough for me. This is the last time though, I swear. I won't go any shorter than this....

Rich Blessing are In Store....

2008-11-23T15:02:00.000-08:00

Aubrey, Christina, and I went as saw Twilight yesterday. I liked it. I more enjoyed hearing the entire theater cheer when Edward came onto the screen.....and I might even admit to myself that there was some very attractive members of the opposite sex in that movie. :P It was a fun day. My friend Weston also joined us for lunch at the "Indian Oven" which has some of the best food I've ever tasted. I never tried Indian food until I moved up here, and boy was I missing out! So yummy!

Yesterday I realized that I am in a wonderful place in my life.

It is very difficult to walk away from something so important to you. Particularly when that something doesn't want to let you go either. I've known that I must move forward for three weeks, but I am just now beginning to feel myself allow that to happen. I don't like breaking promises, and I don't like hurting my friends, but in the end. I must let go completely. The last three weeks I've been still half way connected, halfway still struggling to be on one side of the line or the other. And now I see that I must make that final leap to the side where I am now.

It matters not to me what the character of other people has been (or lack thereof), the slap of vindictive words that only hurt the speaker in the end, the drama, the families that have been torn apart by unfounded lies and manipulations. It matters not that "he said" or "she said." It doesn't even matter who is right or wrong....validated or invalid....fair or unfair...justified or unjustified. All of this is besides the point! These judgements are not mine to make, or really, anybody's to make for that matter.

Steve told me once, "You have to make your choices, and present them to other people, and allow them to make theirs. Even if it's not the one you want or expect or hoped for." And so the point is, that I have made my choice. And I need to let the other people in my life make, and own their own choices.

That makes me feel so free. And it is hard, was hard, and will be hard...
"Of all the things that we learn in this life, the one thing I will never master is the art of saying goodbye." -I wrote this quote in 10th grade not knowing how many times I would quote myself. And so, I don't expect it to get easier, but it is becoming one of most rich lessons that God has ever given me.

I know my name again!
I feel happy.
I am happy.
I looked in the mirror and I saw myself again. I don't ever plan on losing that person again....although, I never planned on losing myself this time either....
I feel respected by the people in my life.
I feel loved and supported.
I feel strengthened my my family.
My heart is peaceful, my mind quiet....er.
It's time to turn the page, and begin a new chapter....a better person than I was before.

:o)

Blessings

2008-11-10T12:20:00.001-08:00

God answers my prayers in the strangest ways sometimes.
I'm just glad he answers them.
Love you all.

Logan Part Two

2008-08-29T10:17:00.000-07:00

So.
Got that job.
Love that job.
Started classes...teachers include a professor who likes to bust out in opera mid sentence. Oh did I mention that it's in Hebrew? Ha. Michael Ballam anyone?
And I have a final in one class that consists of watching Finding Nemo and writing how it pertains to the textbook. (Society and Disability)

Everyone in Nemo has a disability...so...haha

Anyway,
still enjoying myself.
Hope all is well with all of you...

Logan!

2008-08-21T17:36:00.001-07:00

So all...
I'm now officially living in Logan. It's gorgeous up here. Still feel like I'm on vacation...it hasn't really hit me that I'm LIVING up here yet. But whatever. It's been fun so far...just trying to work through connections until classes start next week. (Connections is a special class just for freshman...it's like nine to five the week before regular class starts...) I interviewed for a job that I'm hopeful for...nannying for two kids. Am happy...busy, and loving lots of freedom. (Learned that it's not a good idea to stay up until three in the morning just becuase you can...) Haha...lots and lots of freedom. But don't worry Mom and Steve...I only did the 3 a m thing once. Haha.

Loving Logan. Loving campus! LOVING campus.
Loving living on campus....
Life is good!

Just breathe.

2008-08-07T22:34:00.001-07:00

today i am thankful for...

lidocane

for the feeling you get when you are trying SO hard not to laugh

learning how to live with wearing my hair down

eye liner

friends who don't whine when I'm late

the drive up to Logan

not getting lost

meeting Addie

talking to Christina

talking to Josh

finding some sort of inner peace

hugs

understanding

goofy smiles

'bottling anger'...which is when you focus all your anger into a glass bottle that you are holding and then throw it.

crying

inner strength

talking to Aubrey

momentary clarity

change

feeling sad

getting curly fries with Ashlyn

and a hot shower after accidentally pouring grape soda down my back.

I love you all.

Will post tomorrow...

Anybody else excited for the Olympics?!