"I wanna hold the whole wide world"

As you may or may not have noticed, my blog looks a little different than it did before. I did this because I wanted it to reflect some other changes- changes in me and in my attitude. Before these physical changes in my blog, my writing here really had no common purpose. It was all just a bunch of random and jumbled thoughts. But, I have been through a lot in the last year and I have learned a lot too. I am a whole new person. I have a new attitude and a new outlook on life. For a while, I wasn't really sure what that outlook or attitude was but I could feel something burning inside that I never had before. Then one morning while I was getting ready for work, a song came onto my iPod that I'd listened to a thousand times before but for the first time, I really listened to the words and I realized what that burning was.

"I wanna hold the whole wide world

Right here in my open hands

Maybe I'm just a little girl

A little girl with great big plans

...

I'm gonna live a crazy dream

Impossible as it may seem

Doesn't matter what the future brings

I'm gonna live a crazy dream"

After really listening to those words and letting them become my new motto in life, I've been learning to do what I want and to follow my dreams. For so long I was pushing away those dreams or desires for "smarter" things or because I thought my mother wouldn't approve. I was always saying "later" or "someday" and trying to move on. If there's one thing that I've learned from everything that I've been through in the last year, its that you never know what's around the corner or what the future's got up its sleeve. So, if you've got some 'crazy dream' or some wild and far-off goal, stop worrying and make it happen! There's no time like now and there's no time to waste!

So, if you didn't catch on, the new purpose of me writing on this blog is to learn to follow my own dreams and to encourage you to follow yours.

To see the full lyrics and the music video of "Whole Wide World" by Mindy Gledhill go here. 

the more boys I meet...

"Why can't they be like the ones that mean everything to me

The warm and loyal, open and friendly

It's not like I'm not trying

'Cause I'll give anyone a shot once

I close my eyes 

And, I kiss that frog

Each time finding

The more boys I meet the more I love my dog"

I'm still in love.

Ollie's first week of adventures

Ollie has had a crazy first week at his new home! I seriously am obsessed with him. I adore him with all my heart. I left him for the first time today and literally cried. He's like my first born child. He's been so perfect though. I love him!!!

First bath! He didn't like it very much...

Playing with his new best friend Harley

This is Ollie's most common activity of choice... Mel's guess
 is that he's got a  sleep disorder. He is always sleeping.

Oliver!

I haven't blogged in a long time. A lot has happened that I'm not going to bother telling the internet about. But, today, something that is definitely blog-worthy happened. I bought a puppy! He's my very own and I love him to death! He's a black lab and his name is Oliver. I call him Ollie. He's seven weeks old. He likes to sleep a lot. And cuddle. Tonight, I put him to bed in his kennel and he went right to sleep. He's going to be quite the spoiled puppy. I love him!

Oh! And that fulfills #10 on my bucket list!!

Friends in South Africa

So many things have happened in the last few weeks I could never recount everything. But, by far my favorite thing that has happened is that my family's very good friends from South Africa came to visit! They came to the United States for their son's wedding and we got to spend a little time with them while they were here and I am so glad that we did! They are really my favorite people in the world! You're probably curious as to how my family has such good friends that live half-way around the world... When my Dad was nineteen, he served a two year mission for our church in South Africa and he met a family that he became very close with while he was there and has kept in touch with ever since. He and my Mom even named me after one of their daughters. From the time that I was young, I dreamt of meeting Bronwen and my parents have both been promising since the day that I was born that we would someday visit. As of now, that hasn't yet come true. I did meet her and her entire family when I was three years old when they came to the U.S. to visit but I don't remember it well. Even though I never really knew Bronwen, I always dreamt of really meeting her and that I would grow up to be just like her. After spending time with her all last week, I still feel exactly the same! She is seriously incredible as is her entire family and I hope that someday I can be half as amazing as they are. Cora and Jeff are possibly the sweetest and most down-to-earth people that I have ever met. I love Bronwen and her family so much and already miss them like crazy! They are all so amazing. After seeing them all last week and realizing how much I really love them, I have decided to finally make this dream of visiting them in South Africa a reality. I am determined to make it happen and have already been researching everything so I truly can. I am not going to let anything get in the way. I am working so hard to make this trip possible and am really quite excited! I even started another blog to document my travels while I'm there (and the preparations before). I know that it's a tad early for that since I'm not going until next year but I am too excited to contain it and I needed an outlet. Even though it's a year away, I've got something to look forward to!

Jeff, Cora, and I

Bronwen and Bronwen! And darling little Joshua!

Haha. My Mom, Dad, and Quinton. FOREVER ago.

The simple things in life...

These are my thoughts on life. Rhode's rolls commercials say it perfect: "It's the simple things that make life better..."

1. Tell a random stranger hello.

2. Have a dance party at least once a day.

3. Message/text someone a dumb (yet clean) joke.

4. Listen to love songs (even if you're not in love).

5. Belt a good song when it comes on the radio with the windows rolled down.

6. Draw with sidewalk chalk.

7. Dance in the rain.

8. Eat Lunchables.

9. Laugh so hard that you cry.

10. Ride a horse.

11. Go running.

12. Be a flirt (unless you're married of course. In that case, only flirt with your spouse).

13. Buy a plant and care for it.

14. Ask for a sucker at the bank drive-through even when you're alone.

15. Make promises that you can keep.

16. Have a dog.

17. Buy a coloring book and crayons.

18. Color with them.

19. Write a letter. (a real one!)

20. Send someone flowers.

21. Call your mom and tell her you love her. 

22. Rekindle an old friendship.

23. Find a new favorite band. 

24. Go hiking.

25. If you go hiking, hike in the morning so you can watch the sunrise.

26. Never be afraid to say "I love you."

27. Don't be afraid to say "I know."

28. Go stargazing with someone you adore.

29. Whistle in the grocery store.

20. Call your grandparents on their anniversary.

21. Send out a Christmas card (with a photo) even if you're single.

22. Let yourself fall in love.

23. Go to a park and fly kites.

24. Simplify your life.

25. Remember that you can't be perfect and be happy anyways.

26. Have a firm handshake and look people in the eyes.

27. Smile at kids walking home from school. 

28. Wave at semi-truck drivers to see if they'll honk.

29. Count your blessings.

30. Buy a Snickers without thought for the calories or sugar. 

31. Sleep outside.

32. Wear a flower in your hair.

33. Have a water fight. 

34. Go to Disneyland and take pictures with every character you see.

35. Bring a sick friend homemade chicken-noodle soup.

36. Donate money to a good cause. 

37. Read a book. 

38. Cry for a pain that's not your own.

39. Don't be afraid when you only feel safe in the arms of the one you love.

40. Google yourself and laugh at all the people that aren't really you.

41. Leave a big tip for your waitress even when she brings you the wrong food.

42. Love to love and not to be loved.

43. Go to a City Council meeting and make your voice heard.

44. Tell yourself that you're beautiful.

45. Believe it.

46. Tell someone else that they're beautiful.

47. Always return a borrowed car with a full tank of gas. 

48. Pray always.

49. Volunteer at the hospital.

50. Love every minute of all of it!