Mustache.

Things I am grateful for today, May 17, 2010:

1. Work in any form. I don't care if its shredding for 3 hours at work - I have come to appreciate the value of work. Maybe I can understand a little more why mom was always working, even when she didn't have any reason to, or income. It feels so good to be productive. It's been a struggle lately to feel that. I've learned a lot.

2. Giving and receiving sincere compliments. Yesterday I was feeling kind of down, and someone walked up to me and gave me a sincere compliment on something they thought was my talent. For some reason, it meant the world to me and totally lifted my spirits.

3. Running and then eating a good meal. Most of the time, I'm not motivated to cook a good meal unless a) I have someone to eat it with or b) I'm actually really hungry. Saturday I ran 8 miles with my friend Maranda, and came home feeling like I had earned a good, solid meal instead of 10 pieces of toast like I usually eat. I made some yum stir fry and devoured it. So so good.

4. Temple. There is nothing like the peace inside the temple. I don't think it's possible to find that kind of still, calm feeling anywhere else in the world. It can't be compared to anything in the world. All of the cares of the world seem to melt away when I go to the temple. Biggest stress reliever ever.

5. My Family - I really don't know what I would do, who I would be without my siblings and parents. Yesterday I got to talk to Emily and Angela and it helped me so much. I'm pretty sure 85% of my decisions that I have made in my life are made solely on the fact that someone in my family told me to do it. HA. Terrible. But true.

And lastly, I am grateful for anything that can make me laugh. No matter how trivial it may be. For example, we passed this sweet dude with an even sweeter mustache on the way to Salt Lake City on Saturday. I managed to snap a shot of him on my cellular device. Check it out:















Peace out, dudes!

California Dreamin

So one time, I went to Disneyland with four of my friends. My friend Sarah invited me (from my ward) and I went with her and four of her friends. On Thursday we drove down (crazy car ride, as you can tell from the above pictures), stayed at her house in Claremont, then drove to Huntington Beach and played all day Friday. Luckily, we got to each lunch with my sweet Bro Ryan (THANKS for coming down, Ryan! if you read this!...you da bomb!), then we played some beach volleyball and built the biggest sand castle ever. The next day, Saturday, we went to Disneyland itself and rode on all sorts of rides. We brought Sarah's guide dog (for the blind-thats the dog in the picture with me above) that her family is "training" currently, and got into all the rides without waiting in ANY lines (Sweet!) It was a fun trip to say the least. Although I do admit, I don't feel a bit deprived for never going when I was five. I've always preferred the mountains, anyway...

The Red Coat gets the Worm.

My two former roommates and I decided to reunite and go to Conference in Salt Lake for the Sunday session. It was a blast. I love Conference. It's a new tradition for me to go to a session every time in Salt Lake, atleast while I am here in Provo. Every time, we stand out on the sidewalk with a sign that says "We need tickets," and beg someone to give us there's. Other people are catching on to this method, and I've noticed that there are now multiple people who do this. Fortunately, we still got tickets to both sessions this year. We asked our "friend" why he chose us to give them to (with all the competition, you know), and he responded that it was because of my red coat. Talk about good outfit planning. Matching isn't always best, folks.

Spring, Funny Dreams & Epiphanies

Spring is here, reaching its little arms into the cold and hardened air. One can't help but feel reborn.

I slept in until 11:30 this morning. My last final was last night, probably one the hardest finals I've ever taken. I have no idea what grade I got in that class (Orthopaedic Exercise and Therapeutic Impairments)...my last class for my Exercise Science Major, Hallelujah! Now I'm cruisin till Graduation, hopefully.

I've had some pretty crazy dreams lately. Two nights ago, I dreamnt that I woke up, combed over the top layer of my hair, and lo and behold there was an entire layer of white hair underneath! I freaked out, and then I started growing more white hair. (Apparently I've been super stressed lately)...

Then last night, I talked to my sister Angela on my way home from my last final. In my dream last night, she died. My current Stake President conducted at her funeral, rather insensitively...ending it short without any words of comfort. No one seemed to realize what this meant! MY SISTER DIED! Luckily, mom was there. I was balling (Ang, don't you feel special?). The funny part is, I woke up this morning crying, with tears in my eyes! HAHA! Weird.

So lately, as I mentioned, I've been super stressed. About life, school, finals, etc...and felt really inadequate and hard on myself. I've just felt like I'm a failure at life sometimes. I'm always "too late" for the internships I apply for, don't know what I want in general, takes me forever to decide where to live, etc...I think I've let some pretty negativo feelings creep into my sub-conscience. Well, the other day I was thinking I needed to read my scriptures and see what Heavenly Father had to say to me about all of this. I read in Mosiah 2:22-24(?) about how if we serve Him with all our whole souls, etc...we will be unprofitable servants. Then King Benjamin goes on to say that all that He requires of us is to keep His commandments. I had an epiphany. We need to expect of ourselves what the Lord expects of us: keep the commandments. No more, no less. So, from now on I'm simplifying my life and focusing on living up to the Lord's expectations, not my own. Love the scriptures.

I love running

So...since I can't figure out how to arrange these pictures in a coherent way..this is going to have to do. This past weekend was rockin'. Went down to Moab to run a half marathon (rocked), went rock climbing after (rocked), saw Ang and Bri (rocked), and got to eat a huge buffalo burger (rocked). Best. Weekend. Ever. But now its back to the grind....

Tidbits from Julie B. Beck

Oh Hello!

So this week has been great. Busy, but great. And in less than a couple of hours I get to see Dad! He's coming to Utah for a seminar on who know's what. Yeah!

Last night, Julie B. Beck (Relief Society President of the WHOLE CHURCH!) came to Provo to give a Q & A session for my Stake's RS. It. Was. Amazing. I don't cease to be amazed at how often I feel like Heavenly Father answers my prayers in diverse ways.

Some of the things she said were: (don't judge me)

-Getting married is a matter of Faith. It's Satan who tries to discourage us. If you don't have faith, you will unwittingly act in a manner to discourge guys.

-She talked a lot about being a "Rachel" (in Old Testament) and about the eternal title of "Mother" that we learn in Mother Eve

-She quoted Eliza R. Snow in reference to spiritual and emotional self reliance; "We are not babies to be petted" and talked about doing good because no one is watching.

-She talked a lot about how the education we get is passed on through generations in our children; encourage us to get as much education as possible.

-Comparing yourself to others in any stage of life is like comparing yourself on the mission when you have no baptisms. We good because we feel through the Spirit the Lord is pleased with us.

-Knowledge of who you are, why you are here, and where you are going should be the foundation of all other decisions

-Modesty: Dressing immodestly is weakening the Priesthood on the Earth. Do you really want to do that for some leggings?

-There is no room for fashion at temple and church functions. Dress should reflect ordinances.

-Do good because the Spirit tells you to. Not because you will get rewards

-Most important skill to learn on this earth is how to seek, receive, and follow the Spirit.

-In light of decision-making, you shouldn't ask, "Education or marriage?"; you should as "Will it lead me to eternal life?" That is your goal.


Basically, it was awesome. I am changing because of it. I hope I can maintain a "perfect brightness of hope" for the future. (!)

St. Valentine?

I went to go visit my crazy kool sistah
In Moab, we partied with Brian, her mistah
We woke up real early in the break of dawn
To see the sunrise, it was a visual won-ton
Then we hiked up Corona the Arch, not beer
An air glider through the big arch, his way did steer
While we painted and painted in the hot hot sun
It took us hours before we called it done.
Then we played some settlers, I loved it cause I won
(You know I had to throw that in there son!)
The next day was lover's day so we went to church
Helped Ang teach those primary kids, learn to, for truth, search
We proceeded to go on a Sunday stroll
But "stroll" really means "strenuous hike" thats how the Hays's roll
Afterwards we relaxed and ate a delish French dinner
This year's Valentine's was a straight legit winner.
Presidents was spent skiing up in La Sals
We bonded and probably qualify to be a secret club called "The Pals"
I went downhill skiing for the very first time
My body hitting those trees was like a vegetative chime.

Thanks Ang and Bri! Love you guys!