Time Flies Like an Arrow. Fruit Flies like a Banana.

Time truly does fly so quickly! I've been in Alaska since the very beginning of May and now I'm on the down hill of going back to Utah! Where did the summer go?!

I have so many favorite memories, experiences and blessings that have occurred over the past couple months and it would take ages to name them all but I wanted to point out a few of my favorites:

Rusty B.
He melts my heart quicker then butter on warm gluten-free bread.
He makes me laugh so SO so much.
He stresses me out when he tries to jump off couches, trampolines and tree-houses.
He goes to church with me every single Sunday and sings the songs with me.
He screams like a girl whenever you splash water on him. (Whoops..)
He runs up to me at the most random times. Hugs my neck really REALLY tight
and tells me that he loves me.

Reilly Sue Sue.
She is my sensitive angel princess.
She is the creative storyteller who will play games with me for hours.
She is the cat-whisperer and animal activist.
She is the shy yet adventurous girl who looks for ways to have more fun.
She is the only one who can read my emotions and ask me thought provoking questions.
She takes care of everyone. Always.
She starts laughing really hard and you just start laughing because of her laugh.
She is my heart.

Regan "Sweetie Plum."

Her quick wit will have you rolling on the floor from laughter.
Her spontaneous personality is wanted by everyone in order to have a good time.
Her compliments are said in statement form.
You can never doubt that she's telling the truth.
Her desire to be "the cool cat" is just a mask for her "sweetie plum" heart.
Her acceptance of you is long-lasting. Once you're "in," you're "in."
Her hugs are enveloping and so pure.

 I love being a Nanny in Alaska.

Finding A Home in Homer

Of course I should be in bed at least 30 minutes ago but there is something satisfying about being the only person awake in a home filled with so many people.

I need to share photos and I want to share but right now, I just wanted to comment on something swirling around my brain for the past couple of days:

1) What is a HOME? Countless songs, poems, stories and desires of individuals all collide around the singular thought of home. Is home "where the heart is?" Is home an actual physical place that exists where our parents or caregivers reside? How do you know if you're home? Well, through a series of unfortunate events, I've began a quest of finding "my home." A tender mercy that the Lord has granted me would have to be my summer plans of living in Alaska! Wowie oh wow! God is good. Another place that I always feel at home is within the temple. Like I said, God is good.

I'm grateful for homes and I'm especially grateful that God wants us to each seek to find our "homes" so that we can better recognize that feeling for when He takes us back to our original home.

One more time: God is good.

e·piph·a·ny

There are so many things that I could repeat on a daily basis but the only thing that I want to say today is this:

• Literally, the ONLY way to have absolute JOY is through Jesus Christ
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true.
• Do not take counsel from your FEARS.

Thanks for listening to my epiphany!

Tender Mercies

It's interesting to think about the different places that we each receive our inspiration.

I usually just jump on the band-wagon and copy all my friends...

But today, I really wanted to just express my absolute gratitude!

The point is, I could start a "Tender Mercies" Blog and have something to post 

EVERY DAY.

That is how much the Lord has been watching out for me!

 I don't know if I just never noticed before...

But I am definitely aware of sooooo many great things that I just want to shout them from the rooftops!

1) I got to serve a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

2) I survived 18 months! (Hardy har har... hard hard.)

3) I'm now at college again! Taking wonderful classes that I love!

4) I have my own room even though I pay less for a shared-room! (Woot!)

5) All my roommates are saints.

6) My scholarship that hadn't lasted through my mission has been blown out of the water by some miraculous grants that God (or the "Grant Fairies") have blessed me with

7) The laundry at my apartment is now FREE! (And believe me... it adds up!)

8) My counselor from before my mission is still available so she's helping me overcome difficulties

9) My mentoring job is literally the best job for me in the WoRLd! I love it!

10) Even though I'm alone, I'm not lonely. That has been the greatest tender mercy... 

PEACE.

I promise that if you start counting your blessings, you will be overwhelmed.

The greatest blessing that I have is my relationship & testimony of Jesus Christ. 

He's so real! 

He's sooooooooooo loving & caring & willing. 

I am so grateful.

And to end it all... A photo that still has me laughing:

Wedding Bliss

I've decided that one of the most thrilling, beautiful and perfect experiences that a girl can have is this:
Watching one of her best friends get sealed in the temple to her fiancé.
It is amazing.

The romantic and heartfelt moment when they walked out

She's beautiful.

Her face when she saw me for the first time!!

Chesney & I

Soooooo much kissing. Hah!

My little babies are growing up!

Ahhh. My other family. xoxo

Bridesmaids. How beautiful is Maika?! Ahh

Their faces! So much love.

You know that's right! Included in the slideshow!

This lady. My mom/grandma/friend and loving example.

The fantastic table decorations that Chesney made!

One of my favorite moments! Brother got to Skype from his mission in Mexico!

Dancing. To their beautiful wedding song.

Cheek exercise from hurting so much. Right before the Daddy-Daughter Dance. 

This is Aaron's sweet Papa. My favorite moment of the night was looking over at him during the Mother-Son Dance and he had tears in his eyes. 

Traditions....

Running through the bubbles! Their faces are priceless.

Goodbye Mr. & Mrs. Virgin! 

Amen.

Change.

I love my friends.

My mom always tells me the story of my baby blessing.

Apparently, it was said that friends would be number one priority for me.

Silly, but so true.

I don't know what I would do without all my FANTASTIC friends.

Change is inevitable but it can still be a tad difficult.

Netty Nutster is on her mission and doing great things.

Mykakaka is planning her wedding and I'm SO excited for her.

Isn't it weird-ish?

All this change.

But something I always know...

God is in charge and

LIFE IS GREAT.

These People I Know.

There are a lot of people in this world 

but thankfully, God gave me my friends.

I have no idea where I would be without my mexican soul sister.

we've had a few good times, I guess.  

My mentoring group is my soul support at college.

I'd probably be headed for a math degree or ever worse, without them. 

MY DEAREST KAKA got engaged.

To her best friend and lover.

Ahhh how happy I am for her. 

Oh Little Black Foot.

Oh Netty Nut.

No words could ever fully express my appreciation for you in my life.

xoxoxo

"Feast" Your Eyes

There's nothing quite like the feeling of art.

and being artistic.

I love photography, oils, acrylics, calligraphy and so much more.

but ESPECIALLY photography.

this little photo was part of a friendship shoot that I did over Thanksgiving break.

beautiful.

"You don't take a photograph, you make it." 

-Ansel Adams

Update On Life

There has been soooo much going on.

This is my fabulous, wonderful and fantastic mentor group.
I honestly have no idea where I would be without them.

Also, ^ is HILARIOUS.

This is my BFFFFFFFFF Shreya.

And yes, we can do the double downward dog together in yoga class.

These sweetie pies are why I keep going.

Life is so, so good.

New Perspective

I'll be the first to admit that I get stuck in ruts,

times where nothing goes right.

And then there are times when someone will say something,

you'll hear something,

you'll see something.

And your perspective will entirely change.

I am grateful for the gospel in my life,

I am blessed.

Word Barf.

There is so much on my mind that i seriously don't know where to start.

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In case you didn't see my previous post, I'm moving to Boston.

I need to pack/clean out everything/pack some more.

I need to get my wisdom teeth taken out.

I need to buy my airline ticket.

I need to bribe my Dad to buy it for me.

I need to say good-bye to everyone.

I need to cry about leaving.

Cause I haven't yet, and it feels like it's stuck inside me.

Weird, I know.

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I'm such an addictive personality. 

I seriously wonder what is wrong with me at times...

The Bachelorette, Psych, Monk, Lie to me, Quantum Leap.. 

You name it, I've been addicted.

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Levi left this morning/afternoon for the MTC.

I'm SUPER proud of him, but sad that he'll be gone.

BUT! Before he left, we got to go to the temple and he confirm/baptized me!

I have always loved going to the temple with him.

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I LOVE TO LAUGH.

Everytime I can make someone laugh, or visa versa, my WHOLE day is 100x better.

I made my grandma do the "snort" laugh (you know what i'm talking about?)

and I loved it! I miss her a TON.

Even if she doesn't want me to marry a Mexican or black man.

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My friends are amazing.

Every single one.

I am overly blessed.

Sometimes I wonder, "Would I be MY friend if I wasn't me?"

Does that make sense?

Every part of my personality can come to life with different individuals!

My Psych Buddy.

My Teacher of Greatness.

My All-Day-Everyday-and-Still-Loving-it Sister.

My Secret Lover. (you know who you are..Mykaka)

I am just SOOOOOOO grateful for my friends.

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Thanks everyone.

Advancing...

So much change.

differences.

revolutions and transformations.

1st off.

I'M MOVING TO BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

Or just west of it, in a little town called Natick.

I will be a Nanny Part-Time, and need to find another job out there!

I'm soooooo excited for this missionary/worldy/romantic experience!

I'm so oober blessed!

2nd thing on my mind.

BEST FRIEND GOING ON MISSION.

What do most people do when their best friend leaves them for two years?!

3rd thing.

MY ENTIRE WORLD IS CHANGING.

When Elder.Pants leaves,

Then goes Kay Kay to the far off unknown.

Then Netty to school!!

I don't know if I can handle all this.. CHANGE

But I'm trying.

Anything is possible as long as God's on your side.

Go with the flow

It's 3:03am.
I'm sitting all alone in my dark house with only the typing of keys and blowing fan to keep me awake.
I am utterly exhausted, sunburned and with a head cold to boot.
One word,
Idaho.
(sorry guys, not Wyoming! haha)
I'll have pictures to show and stories to tell,
but for right now, I just wanted to say a little something about God.

Honestly, those who know me, know that I dislike hiking/camping/out-doors-dirty-stuff

but for some reason, when Michelle asked me to go to her family reunion up in Idaho,

I said yes.

For sure, I wouldn't do it again anytime soon....

But I'm grateful for the experience and to learn more personally that God is always watching out for me.

ALWAYS.

Every single day when I awoke to the sun shining through my tent, it was a day to be......... alive.

On one of the days, I went for a walk on my own.

I was sitting beside this BEAUTIFUL stream that just kept saying to me...

"Go with the Flow."

Just like that, 

"Go with the Flow."

So, to make a long post short, That is my goal ---->  TO GO WITH THE FLOW.

Pennies for Plasma

When I was born,
(19 years ago from tomorrow)
There were many complications and my mother almost died.
But because of 4 pints of a blood transfusion from members of my families ward,
She lived.
And I did as well.

Today I had the privilege to save lives.
I donated my plasma.
It was a very rigorous process, but in the end, I felt extremely thankful to my Heavenly Father.
We are SO SO blessed.
How much do we take for granted?

"An ounce of blood is worth more than a pound of friendship." -Spanish Proverb

Books change things

Have you ever read a book and realized that your view of the world is suddenly shifted?
Everytime I read the Book of Mormon, I always feel better.
Everytime I read Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens, I realized what I can work on.
Everytime I read Goose Girl, I just feel happy about love and life.

This time, it's called The Alchemist.

"All you have to do is contemplate a simple grain of sane, and you will see in it all the marvels of creation. Listen to your heart. It knows all things, because it came from the Soul of the World, and it will one day return there."

"I don't live in either my past or my future. I'm interested only in the present. If you can concentrate always on the present, you'll be a happy man. Life will be a party for you, a grand festival, because life is the moment we're living now."

“Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure.” You’ve got to find the treasure, so 

that everything you have learned along the way can make sense."

“When you are in love, things make even more sense, he thought.”

“Courage is the quality most essential to understanding the Language of the World."

My favorite quote from the entire book:

“When each day is the same as the next, it’s because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives every day that the sun rises.”

Everybody should read this book. 

It will change your life.

Everybody has a laughing place

"Laughter gives us distance.
It allows us to step back from an event,
deal with it and then move on."

I'm going to be honest, cause honesty is the best policy.
Life has been hard lately.
Everyday takes effort for me.
What I'm lacking = Ambition.
My entire life has felt like a desire to do what God wants me to do.
But it seems like God wants ME to decide what I want.
And here is the problem.
I want to get an education.
I want to go on a mission.
I want to get married in the temple.
I want to raise a family.

Now is the problem..... $$
My heart seems to be braking. I want to go to school SO BAD.
And yet, I wasn't planning on SVU to bankrupt me.
I wasn't planning on going anywhere BUT SVU.
I wasn't planning on being a failure in life.
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But this isn't supposed to be a depressing post.
Life is good.
Life is sweet.
"An optimist laughs to forget, a pessimist forgets to laugh."
I've been trying to forget my problems, and so I laugh.
Here is the good news people:
In the past two days, I haven't laughed as hard as I did, for more than a year.
Laughter can create happiness and I am happy.
Confused, a tad worried, and ambition-less.
But happy.
Thank-you Moo-Mo & Netty.

Papa Dog

Today i kept a secret!

I surprised my Dad by giving a Father's Day talk during church.

I wrote it this morning and was running late for church, but everything worked out perfectly.

and I wasn't even nervous.

This is right when I was born 

Kendra and I along with Daddy.

(a lot of our pictures look like this!) 

My Dad and I... 

All grown up and going to Prom.

Thanks Dad for being one in a million.

I owe everything to you.

I'm glad I was lucky enough to have YOU as a father.

I love you.