Thursday, December 30, 2010

Camping Inside

Yeah, it's not really that bad. But, cool picture!
Photo Credit
Over the last few days in my neighborhood, we've have had some pretty interesting events. Tuesday night to Wednesday, it snowed more than four feet. Every house was in the process of being buried and it was impossible to stay ahead of the storm. So, everyone had to stay home. Even the snow plows were stuck. I think most people in the neighborhood were quite excited at the idea of being stuck at home. It's like camping! Only, inside, with real beds. This feeling was only reinforced when, starting yesterday at around 3:00, every microwave, computer, phone, and light bulb in my neighborhood was shut off. The heavy snowfall had knocked over the line that supplied power to our little meadow so we were without it. Woohoo! We had lots of fun playing games in the dark, reading by flashlight, and cooking outside despite not having a heater to keep us safe from the snowy, below 0 weather outside (which, my youngest sister happened to be missing in. But, it's okay. We found her.). We were just getting used to the idea of freezing in our own house when, all of a sudden, the power was back. I am glad to have my heater, real meals, and a warm shower back but, it was fun to see what things my family could come up with to do without electricity. Want to know what we all did today? (after we all checked our emails) We watched a movie. It was fun but... I think that playing games and sledding together was more fun. Maybe this 24 hours without power will inspire us.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

So Satisfying

Do you want to know what feels great? Knowing that all the work you've been doing for years (bogus homework, ridiculous projects, losing sleep over a stupid English paper, etc...) has all been worth it. Even if it hasn't amounted to everything that you wished it had, it has to something. Want to know my latest experience with this lovely feeling? I got accepted to a college!!!!!! BYU Idaho, here I come! I realize there are schools more prestigious or glamorous but, I am excited. Even if I got an acceptance letter to Harvard at the same time, I'd be excited. Woohoo!

Yep, that's how I feel. 

Monday, December 27, 2010

I love old people

Okay, I've always been a fan of old people. They are so cute! Well, most of them are. And today, my love was only reinforced when I saw an adorable elderly couple outside of Shopko. As I was walking in, an old lady (who was so cute) was walking out carrying her groceries and from behind me I heard a man's voice. I turned around to see a man, who I guess was her husband, waiting in the car (he was really cute too). As she came out of the store he whistled and called "well, you're the prettiest girl I've ever seen, will you marry me?". She just smiled and got in the car. And the other day, I saw an old man teaching his wife to golf in the grass that goes along the sidewalk on Canyon Rd. How cute! I love old people and old couples are even cuter.

I definitely think that President and Sister Hinckley are the ultimate cute, elderly couple.

You're right, that's not President Hinckley or his wife, but they're cute.

Really? I want my husband and I to be that cute. But, I'll be quite lucky if I can find a husband half as amazing as President Hinckley and if I can be even close to as amazing as Sister Hinckley. But, it's a good goal to shoot for!

Friday, December 24, 2010

Christmas PJ's

So, I definitely think that one of my favorite Christmas traditions is matching pajamas. In my cute little family, we always open our lovely pj's on Christmas Eve before my Dad reads us a story and we all head to be in my bedroom but after we've stuffed ourselves full of the most sugary, fatty, and bad-for-you food possible. Here are some pictures of this year's pajamas.
 Traditional "lets try to look cute" pose
Standard Forever 21 model pose
I promise we're not always that weird.
Well, it's off to bed to wait for Santa to come!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Just a Little Reminder

So, as Christmas has been getting closer and closer, I've realized that I haven't really been focusing on what it's really about. I actually have that problem every year, getting distracted by the presents and parties. But this year, I haven't really thought about it at all. I've been too distracted with stresses from school and random problems in my life. So, this post is going to be a reminder to myself, and whoever reads it, of what Christmas is really about.

Christmas is a holiday founded to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior and the Son of God. Everything about Christmas, the tree and its decorations, the presents, the candy canes, even Santa Claus, were all made traditions to remind us of Christ and his birth. As you walk down the street, or even look around your own house, look for the symbols of Christmas, the symbols that were created to help us stay focused on the true purpose of this wonderful holiday. As you sit under your tree and open presents Christmas morning, take some time to reflect on the life of Jesus Christ and the significance of what He did not just for the world as a whole, but for you as an individual.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Let's Share the Joy

               Working in the mall can be a dangerous thing sometimes. Sitting all of those hours just watching all of the birdbrained people strolling through the mall (I'm not saying that all people in the mall are birdbrained) has really changed the way that I look at the world. Some people are so moronic. A few weeks ago however, one mall-wandering mother's idiocy actually inspired me. I was sitting in my chair at the kiosk and behind me heard a squealing woman and running footsteps. I turned around to see a crying mother holding out her arms to a traumatized looking little boy who was being escorted by a mall security guard. Apparently she had been distracted by some store's ad and had lost the poor little guy. After making sure both mother and child were fine, the security guard walked away, shoulders held high. As he did, I heard him speak into his walkie talkie saying "mother and son have been reunited". After kind of laughing to myself at how cool he thought he was, I turned to look back at the crying mom. Then I was a little ashamed of myself. I would have been proud if I had made someone that happy too. 
               After the commotion was over and I was lifelessly sitting in my chair again, I was still thinking about what I had seen and I realized that I can be like that simple security guard and bring someone that kind of happiness. I was thinking about the spirits in heaven, or on Earth, who don't know of the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ and about the work that is done in His holy temple. I, however, do have that knowledge. And, seeing that woman's joy at being reunited with her son after only thirty minutes of separation and knowing that being together forever can bring so much more inspired me. Even if I am never a full-time missionary or an official temple worker, I am going to live as a greater example, no matter where I go, of Jesus Christ and what He represents and I am going to attend the temple more often. We all should. We, the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, are the only ones who can bring those lonely families together again. Why would we deny them of what we have? I think we should all recommit to go to the temple and all be missionaries of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Even if the happiness that we would bring to others isn't enough, it makes you happy too.
"And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!". Doctrine and Covenants 18:15
  "I think there is no place in the world where I feel closer to the Lord than in one of His holy temples". President Thomas S. Monson
Also, God's temples are some of the most beautiful buildings in the world. Why wouldn't you want to spend time there?

Bountiful, Utah
Photo Credit
Gilbert, Arizona
Photo Credit

Logan, UT
Photo Credit

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Here Comes the Sun!

When I first made my blog, I was struggling with what to call it so I copped out with one of my many nicknames hoping that sooner than later, inspiration for a better title would come. And, it did, as I was driving up the canyon on a beautiful day. I had the radio on almost as high as it could go and the last song that I heard before I turned off the car was "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles. Listening to it reminded me of earlier this summer when I was complaining to one of my friends about every thing that was going wrong in my life and she made me a CD that said "Here comes the sun" on the cover. She was trying to remind me that no matter how ridiculously hard things sometimes get, there's something better just around the corner. That's what the Beatles were trying to say in their song too.


"Here comes the sun, doo da doo doo
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's alright
Little darling
It's been a long, cold, lonely winter
Little darling
It feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's alright
Little darling
The smiles returning to the faces
Little darling
It seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's alright
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Little darling
I see the ice is slowly melting
Little darling
It seems like years since it's been clear
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun and I say,
It's alright "




What the Beatles are saying in this song is the same as what I want to say in my blog. Things might seem totally miserable sometimes but there are always happy moments and those moments are the things I want to share in my blog. 

Friday, December 10, 2010

Something New

Beginning this blog is quite a new experience for me. In the past, I've never really been a person who would go out of my way to voice my opinion. I always answered questions when they were directed at me but I've always been more content just listening to the people around me and keeping my own thoughts to myself. But, in the last year or so, certain friends and important leaders in my life have inspired me. They've helped me realize that me and my thoughts are important. More than I think at least. And though the things that I say may not change the world, they could change a life, even if it's only my own. Even if I'm the only one who reads them, I think that writing down my thoughts and experiences will be beneficial to me and will help me grow. So, here goes.