Tuesday, November 16, 2010

My progressive list of gratitude. I assure you, there is no order... except the top three. Those will go unmoved for the rest of my eternity.

The Gospel
The Atonement
my family
a clean sheet of paper
a really sharp pencil
the expression on peoples faces when they zone out
learning new words
the perfect word to describe something
the sound snow makes when you walk on it
having sore abs
beautiful eyes
winning a debate
whistling
getting letters
driving in snow
doing donuts/cookies
the advantages of being the teachers pet
back massages
wearing pants just out of the laundry
heavy blankets
singing and dancing alone in my car
green
just out of the oven chocolate chip cookies
red doors
finding money
Far side and Calvin and hoobs
when guys smell good
getting free stuff! 

This quote! "One life is all we have to live and we live it as we believe in living it, but to surrender who you are and live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying. In God's name forward boldly!"

the mountains in Utah
Provo
Boulder, Colorado
getting paid
being perfectly on time
deep thinking
the moment right before you fully wake up
a sunny day with a dark sky
RAIN
painting
having time to just sit and read
the scriptures
people watching
eavesdropping
tulips
daffodils
missionaries
prayers
worthy priesthood holders
being excited for something
when someone exceeds your expectations
having a cat that isn't annoying
good friends
brushing my teeth
having my hair played with
epiphanies
playing with other people's hair
hot showers
sunny rooms
swinging on porch swings
tire swings in huge old trees
oaks
reading
warm nights
people that have freckles with light skin and dark hair
Asian babies
lacrosse
Finding Nemo
being able to talk for hours without running out of things to say
being able to talk openly about my religion without fear of retribution
talking about the gospel without fear regardless of the threat of retribution
beautiful cars
the burning in your lungs after a good run
getting new running shoes
cell phones
theme parks
adrenaline
leaves
fires
apples to apples and curses
sushi tag
hugs
kisses
donating blood! (and plasma when I'm poor)
my mother
seeing extended family
poetry
late night conversations
meeting someone you feel like you've known your whole life
baking
my ipod
finding new music
MUSIC
wii fit
YOU! 
hot tubing
politics
the moon
sunrises
the fact that my little brothers are best friends
naps
savers
getting good grades
hot chocolate
vanilla
dad jokes
milk
pb and js
kissing snow (SARAH!) 
chess
off roading
hikes
table rock
candles
daisies
myself!
jumping on the tramp
not forgetting anything!
reading the news paper
the solitude of cemeteries
BARNS & NOBLES
talking to strangers
peter pan
Les Mis
singing
writing music
fake glasses
having perfect eyesight
dragon flies and lightning bugs
ice cream
wrestling
swimming till you feel like your arms are going fall off
songs that speak to you
Hersey kisses
notebooks
jello
the cello
piano
chap stick
learning
sushi
cuddling
superheros
hats
quilts
sunlight
the countryside of Wales
the castle in Larghne, Wales
children with accents
accents in general
President Thomas S. Monson
temples
the smell of sandalwood
caving
fog
long eyelashes
noses with character
happy eyes....

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Weekend in Utah

So, I went to Utah last weekend for the Mae concert, and it was such an incredible weekend. I can't even explain, so I'll just let you watch a video explaining Saturday night...
P.S. I promise I did not use the Lords name in vain, the sound just didn't pick up the SH at the end of my gosh...
 

Wednesday, November 03, 2010

Just Thinking Aloud


Sometimes, I have nights… and days where I get really frustrated with the people around me. And then I realize that often times my frustration is completely my own fault. My expectations of others are what results in the disappointment, hurt, or anger I feel towards other. I’m angry because I am being selfish, because I want what I want. I need to change that and realize that I’m going to be okay, and that in five minutes, things will be different. I can handle pretty much anything for five minutes. It may not be better or worse, but it will be different.

Sometimes, I also forget that I’m actually really happy and that nothing that happens to me can change that! I’m happy because the Lord loves me and because he allows me the freedom to choose how I want to feel. Unfortunately, every once in a while, I start to forget that I’m happy and get caught up with what is going on in the moment. I often lose track of how I want to feel all the time, by listening to how something else makes me feel in the moment! How foolish of me! I should never let my emotions be determined by anything but myself because I let know if I’m choosing with a clear head and sound mind, I’ll choose the way the Lord wants me to feel.

Life is about learning. And growing. And becoming better. For a long time I kept telling myself there were things to fix, things that needed to be gotten rid of. How self-deprecating! I don’t need to be “fixed.” Fixing something is the means to an end! I can ever end my weaknesses, they are there for a reason. So, now? Now I tell myself that I need to learn to do things better, I need to learn to be better because if I’m learning there is always room for change. If I am learning there is no expectation to be perfect, I am required simply to master things one small step at a time. You know what else is the amazing thing about learning? You NEVER have to stop.

“I must learn to love the fool in me the one who feels too much, talks too much, takes too many chances, wins sometimes and loses often, lacks self-control, loves and hates, hurts and gets hurt, promises and breaks promises, laughs and cries” 

“The problem is not that there are problems. The problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem.”

-Theodore Isaac Rubin (Both)