Update on My Life

I recently lost and found my camera, so I'm going to update you on my life through pictures. Here are some of the things I've been doing lately:

 Going to Aggie Basketball games. (We're ranked 22nd in the nation for college basketball right now, wahoo!)

 Watching these cute ladies perform at half time at a basketball game. They're from a dance group of women that age from 53-92 years young. It was awesome! Everyone loved it!

 Getting pulled over for turning left when I wasn't supposed to.. :-(

 Putting up and getting ready for Valentines day. (I LOVE valentines day.)

 Hanging out with and cooking for cool people..

 (Kristi's brother visited. He's such a sweetie.)

 Rock climbing for my first time. It was SO fun! Seriously, I am now addicted. I think I'm going to get a membership at the Rock Haus climbing gym.

 (I went with this lovely ladie - my roomie Leisha.)

And getting to babysit this lil guy, Rayden. He's Leisha's boy's son. He is adorable! We had lots of fun shooting things, playing with cars and watching Toy Story 3.

So after a not too great of a day I talked to my sister and vented to her. Along with lots of other wisdom, here is one of the things she shared with me;

"Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond
measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us. We ask ourselves,
who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented, and fabulous? Actually,
who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve
the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't
feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God within
us. It is not just in some; it is in everyone. And, as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated
from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
- Marianne Williamson

Thank you so much Steph!  Seriously, I love this quote.

Wednesday

Today is Wednesday. I really love Wednesdays, don't ask me why because I do not know. 

This beauty of a drink is saving my life right now..

Now on to bigger and better things - the best things; my nieces. 

 This is MK in all her adorable glory. Can you say attitude!? The world is a scary place right now. I really believe that kids who are born at this time are blessed with strong personalities. Because if they weren't I don't think they could make it through these difficult times. These special spirits were saved for right now because they are the ones who can make it through right now. My cute soon to be father-in-law (kidding) Larry Gelwix talks about something amazing when he speaks to people. He says this a lot better than I can give him justice for and what I say will be a little different, but he talks about how when we die we will get to meet amazing people. We will meet the man who saw Christ carry his cross and we will ask him "how did you do it?" We will meet the people who left everything at home and moved far away to make a better life for their families. We will ask them "how did you do it?" We will meet Moses and say to him "how did you have enough faith to part that sea?" We will ask all of these people in amazement; "How did you do it?" 

And they will say to us "how did you do it?" "How did you stay strong when the world was crumbling down? How did you stay faithful when you had every reason not to be?" "How did you do it in those last days?"
We live in a time that is scary. But I know God knew what He was doing when He sent us here at this time. We have what it takes. You may say to yourself "I'm not brave enough." "God didn't know what he was doing when He saved me for these last days." -that is not true. You have what it takes to stand strong in these scary times.

 This is my other sweet niece SJ. She is the happiest, most easy going baby you'll ever meet. But when she needs something or is bothered by something she will definitely let you know.

We all have different personalities, that's what makes the world so interesting and great but I know that each one of us have been given a personality that has what it takes to stay strong and be the person we know we can be - no matter what the world tells us otherwise. You should read this article on what I've been talking about here.

Really, I love you all. xoxo

By the way, if you haven't heard Larry Gelwix speak, you need to! Look him up or let me know and I'll bring you with me the next time I go to hear him speak. Seriously..It will change your life.

Right Now.

Right now, this very moment, I am working on living today. Living in the moment. Let me tell you what a piece of work this is for me. I tend to think about the future way too much, the past a little too much and the present not enough.  I truly believe that peace comes from living in the moment and that is why I am working on this. I catch myself thinking so often about what I should be doing, not what I am doing now. "I can't wait to graduate." "I wish I could go on my mission now. I wonder where I will go." "I hope I get my internship this summer. What if I don't?" "I wonder when I'll get married (I'm starting to become a menace to society in the Utah State - mini BYU culture..I only have a few years before it will be embarrassing if I'm not married with a lil baby bump.)" "What if I don't get married?" "What if I don't get married til I'm 40?" "When will I have kids? I want a lot, shouldn't I start like now?" "I can't wait to be one of those stereotypical Mormon mommies." "When I find the man of my dreams how will I tell him about my past?" "When will my broken heart heal?" "What if I did this or that differently? How would things have turned out?" "When will my past come back to bite me? It's bound to happen someday." "What do I do when my kids ask me certain questions about when I was young that I just don't want to answer?" "Will my kids have the health problems I have?" "Will they love themselves?" "Will they develop eating disorders? Will it be all my fault if they do?" "How will I live with myself if they do?" Judge me for my thoughts, but I know you all think/thought them as well.

This is my friend Brady. He is one of nicest, most genuine people I have ever met. He was shot in the head last week and is in the hospital in critical condition. He is fighting to live his todays.Fighting to live this exact moment.

I am sick of living in the past and the future and the maybes and the "what ifs". Life is now. Last time I checked I have an incredible life, that I am so blessed to have. Right now I am doing things that are great and are what I need to be doing right now. I am changing the world in my own little ways today. My life is today. Right now. And I'm going to try not to spend one more second worrying about any other time than the present. Because who knows when your last time to live right now will be. After all it's called the present for a reason- it is a gift from God.

I love you all. xoxo

Dog

I really want a dog. I'm thinking this summer.

A Post From a Friend

Alright so I was reading my friend Rachel's blog; The Red Umbrella and happened upon something that really touched me (happens often with her blog) and I wanted to share. She was talking about enjoying the place you are in in your life right now (which is hard for me to do sometimes..ok a lot of times). This is what she said:

"And as for all of you who don't have any kids yet, make this time special. Take those opportunities. Give that person a second chance. Forgive a little easier this year, love a little more. Give of yourself more than you ever have. Cherish the moments you have with your roommates, your childhood friends, your parents, even your surroundings. Because one day things will be different. Your friends will get married. You'll move to another place. You'll start a life of your own. And you want to be able to look back without a flint of regret in your eye. So live...like there's not tomorrow. Remember. And cherish every moment you're blessed with."

Thanks for inspiring me once again Rach.

Favorite Days

Monday and yesterday were the kind of days that make me LOVE Utah even more than I already do. I love the cold (I know I'm crazy..) and I love the sun (but not really the heat). Monday and yesterday were two of those perfect days. It was sunny and a little above freezing temperatures but still there was beautiful white snow on the grass. Days with this weather just make my whole day fabulous.

I'm Convinced

Seriously.. I have the best job a student could ever have. I am so incredibly grateful for it.

Guster!

Last night my good friend Kumi and I went to the Guster concert. Guster is one of my all time favorite bands. It was definitely nothing short of AMAZING! We had so much fun! 

 On our way!

 Tim from the band "Good Old War". They were awesome! Loved the accordion.

Such a fabulous night! Thanks so much for going with me Kume!

20

I turned twenty last week..kinda crazy. I celebrated with my fam and some friends by going to breakfast (the day before :), cake and ice cream (the week before :), getting pedicures, going to the movies, going to dinner, and opening presents. It turned out to be a fabulous day. Thanks to everyone who helped make it so special!

Happy New Year!

I'm so happy to bring in the new year. I had a fun new year's eve with friends; I went to the rodeo then went to a party. Then over the past few first days of 2011 I played kinect with friends (so fun!) and got to go to lunch with two of my best friends; Kami and Jeni. (Our reunion was long overdue.) My new year's resolution is to brush my hair.


Now for the picture overload!