Because He lives

Hey there reader.
Happy Easter.
Easter is one of my favorite holidays.
I love celebrating Christ's resurrection and Atonement.
Because He lives I can do so much.
Because He lives I can wear my Roatan hat everyday.
Because He lives I can go out for pizza at lunch.
Because He lives I can drive next to my friends as they walk home.
Because He lives I can take pictures with my best friend.
Because He lives I can drive to Provo and see my sister.
Because He lives I can do basically all the things that make me happy.
Because He lives I have the agency to do these things.
Because He lives I can be with these people now and for eternity.

Some thoughts about the month of love.

Have you ever noticed that when someone has a nice singing voice it makes them that much more attractive? I never understood why, but it's true. 

Have you ever wondered why people who are not actually six years old give other people teddy bears for valentines day? It's like "here, I got you a teddy bear because I don't do a good enough job of cuddling you." Just saying. 

Have you ever thrown up at the cheesiness of valentines day in general? Why does everything have to be bright pink? There has to be a better way to show someone you love them than shoving pictures of cupid and red roses down their throats.

Have you ever thought that the millions of couples in high school is disgusting? Seriously, there's so much love in the air it's giving me mono.

Have you ever noticed that nobody actually likes valentines day? I think that this is because we, as a country, as a community, as a world, celebrate it wrong. All wrong. Love is not made out of teddy bears and cupid arrows and great pink hearts. It's something all together more wonderful. 

So, since it's the month of love I guess I will share with you some things I love and am thankful for and hopefully this will make up for not buying anyone a dozen red roses. 

I love my parents. They watch over me and protect me. They help me grown and want what's best for me. 

I love my sisters. They're my best friends and I can't imagine life without them as constant sources of comfort. 

I love my brother. He's an idiot some of the time, but I look up to and admire him. I know he wants what's best for me. 

I love my friends. The ones who sit and listen to me talk about my meltdowns, or put up with my constant teasing about "Missouri". I love the people who have stood by me when nobody else has. 

I love my teachers. My church teachers and my school teachers. I love what they have to share with me and how they want me to succeed. 

I love my Savior. I love my Heavenly Father. I love the Holy Ghost. They are the ones who know exactly how I feel and how to help me. 

Thanks for reading my sort of sappy post. I hope the beginning wasn't too cheeky for those of you who believe in the commercial side of Valentines day. Please enjoy the rest of this month of love and don't take love for granted. 

Thankitude

Warning: Cliche Thanksgiving gratitude post approaching:

I'm thankful for Nancy Drew that downloads to my computer.

I'm thankful for waiters who call me sweetheart and my sisters m'am.

I thankful for car rides and singing Christmas songs with my family.

I'm thankful for girl talk on the couch until midnight.

I'm thankful for sisters with new cameras.

I'm thankful for pie, and pie day. 

I'm thankful for chats about Lord of the Rings in the car.

I'm thankful for stops at Macy's and roast beef sandwiches.

I'm thankful for teachers who make you feel smart and special.
I'm thankful for long books that drive me crazy but are worth it.
I'm thankful for late nights watching Studio C reruns.
I'm thankful for cheeta print shoes that clash with my outfit.
I'm thankful for setting up Christmas trees.
I'm thankful for snuggly dogs.
I'm thankful for relearning hand and foot.
I'm thankful for knowing the secret ingredient in apple pie.
I'm thankful for the weekend after Thanksgiving to do homework.
I'm thankful for addicting apps on my dad's ipad.
I'm thankful for hot showers.
I'm thankful for long prayers.
I'm thankful for jingle bell socks.
I'm thankful for dress coats.
I'm thankful for heartwarming movies that are also funny.
I'm thankful for spicy buffalo wheat thins.
I'm thankful for Orian's belt actually looking like a belt.
I'm thankful for pinterest and online shopping for days.
I'm thankful for blog posts that end up too long.
I'm thankful that you actually made it to the end of this thing.

Double Feature

This entire weekend has had something to do with my dad. 

Yesterday was his Birthday and today is Father's Day.

I guess you'll just have to hear me go on about him one more time.

My dad keeps us from falling apart. 

He has set the example of respect for his priesthood and for my mom.

I am so grateful for this wonderful guy.

With all this talk of fathers I can't help but want to thank my Father in Heaven as well. 

Truly, nobody could ask for better. 

Big symphony bars

Quick story about my mom:


Once upon a time there was a mom whose favorite child was her youngest daughter, Janna. Janna loved her mom very much and wanted her to know how grateful she was for her. Janna supposed that the whole world felt the same way because on May 12th there was a holiday created called Mother's Day. On Mother's all the kids tried to show their mom's some small portion of their gratitude for everything their mothers had given them. To celebrate mothers, Janna's ward sometimes passed out flowers, or letters, or big honking symphony bars. Janna's mom was such a great, selfless lady that when it was a big honking symphony bar that the ward gave, she gave it to Janna. Janna marveled at how someone could be so selfless that she even gave away the gift we tried to give her for giving to us.

Happy Mother's day.

Blue

Things that make one feel blue: 

1. The day after Christmas

2. Blue candy canes

But I guess it's ok, because it gives me a good excuse to wear my "It's a Monday" sweatshirt and listen to Of Monsters and Men. 

Have a very Merry Boxing day. 

(aka the day you realize that Christmas is 365 days away)

Just remember

New Years is just around the corner. 

Wise men still seek Him

Hey Folks!

Its been a while. 

The business at my house these past couple of days has been off the charts. 

My sister got married

And my house turned into a hotel. 

I hope you are all settled down and comfortable on your seat 

because this is going to be a long post. 

I'm hoping that if I chunk it up you might actually read it.

I have a nice story to tell you. 

At the beginning of this month I decided that my focus should be to remember the true meaning of Christmas. 

Well needless to say, that kinda got a little swept away with wedding plans and cleaning and everything but I once everyone drove off to their regular homes I realized that I had found the true meaning of Christmas without even trying. 

3 families stayed with us

11 people

3 babies

In case you're wondering that is a heck of a lot of people for one house that usually consists of 3. 

Nobody slept in their regular bed. 

Cammie and I got moved to Jeffrey's room

Jeffrey got booted to the couch 

and in my room was my cousin, his wife and their baby. 

That's a mother, her husband and her baby. 

Lets think of another family that looks like this shall we? 

how about Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. 

Once I realized this;

 I was really quite happy to give up my bedroom. 

Wouldn't I do the same for the newborn king?

I decided that they had given me the best gift of all, 

the gift of giving.

So that is what the true meaning of Christmas is to me.

The true meaning of Christmas is giving the room in our hearts for Christ. 

The true meaning of Christmas is giving our time for Him. 

The true meaning of Christmas is to give to others, because we would do the same for Him. 

So If you got through that mouthful of a post and you have finally landed on this here last paragraph then I am, 1st of all proud of you, and 2nd of all going to give you a challenge. 

Don't worry, it's not hard. 

My challenge for you, is when you get back to school, and everyone is talking about what they got for Christmas, and what they did. 

My challenge is that you will ask them instead of 

"what did you get?"

ask them;

"What did you give?" 

Cheers all and I hope you have a very merry Christmas!

Home for the holidays

Home is where your heart is...

Basically I spent my entire break in this clubhouse with these people.

We ate pie and played way to many bored games.

And we practiced the ancient Japanese art of Karaoke.

It was pretty great.

why does this always happen to me?

Does hot chocolate make anyone else sick sometimes?
sometimes it can also "seduce" me.
You know who you are. 

Also, the snow has melted and it rained today. 

I think I may have cried just a little. 

Thanksgiving is next week kids

did you know that?

Also,

This weekend is full of business, 

most likely a little more awkwardness.

I honestly wouldn't have it any other way.

it's a holiday or something.

Happy Halloween kids. 

or should I say

Happy go get candy from strangers day. 

Seriously, am I the only one who thinks that it is ironic

that every other day of the year

children are advised to "not take candy from strangers"

but on Halloween, there parents make them do it. 

Just saying. Whoever made this holiday clearly didn't know the meaning of 

Stranger Danger. 

this weekend

Hey guess what kids? 

I have a pretty good life.

melt like a Popsicle on the 4th of July

I thought that before I left camping in about 20 minutes I would post to you a 4th of July post. I know, I know, cute girls with fruit and cameras really have nothing to do with independence, but while I was posting I thought I might as well tell you all what my favorites of each person are. Picky or not, I really love some of these. Period. so Happy 4th of July all, I will be spending it in the mountains, hoping nobody sets our camp site on fire.