California!!

I haven't posted these yet but this is our California trip we took over the 4th of July- I'm behind I know. Enjoy the pics!

This was the best vacation. We had so much fun and really bonded. love you girls!!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

MEMORIES!!!

SO I've been seeing a trend in the memory sharing game via blog and I thought I'd join in cuz that's so awesome!! Leave a comment on my blog of a memory that you and I have had together. It doesn't matter if you've known me for a short time, or a long time, anything you remember! Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.Ready, Set, GO!

Again

Do you ever get those songs that just hit your heart for everything they are? That's how Tom Petty's Free Fallin' is for me. I've only heard the John Mayer Cover but it literally hurts my heart everytime I hear it. It makes my muscles twitch to dance. *sigh*

Today was a good day. My house is full of my siblings :') and they're babies. It's not very often that that happens. We stay up late and I don't even care. Every 5 minutes something adorable happens and I think "where the heck is my camera RIGHT now?" Children are magic. They are. They stand there all brand new to life and they're so beautiful that I could hold them, spin them, kiss them and run around with them forever. There's nothing so precious as that high pitch chuckle followed by "AGAIN!" And I'm always tryin to push back the thought that says "I hope I"m they're favorite aunt" because I know I could never compete with my amazing siblings for such a role.
And then the little ones go to bed and all us "grown-ups" stay up playing mario-cart, eating cereal and saying "I'm tired" but never going to bed....*sigh. And inside I have the same chuckle followed by the same request "AGAIN!" These are the weekends that we work day in and day out for. These are the moments we think about when we can't stand to think about everything else that's going on. Everyone crammed into one house, sitting around the same table, loving the same children, and wishing that the weekend would last and last and last and last and last. And I can say with my whole heart, my whole mind, my whole soul- there is NO WHERE else I'd rather be.

Thankyou Lord, for my family- I can be with them "again," forever, and never stop feeling this incredible smile in my heart.

Jumpin'

My head has been buzzing lately. I have so many songs, plays, plots, notes, words shooting through my head and running out my mouth into my ipod recording piece. Instant record right there. Technology is amazing. I've been writing by hand too. I'm overflowing with...matter, substance, structure, thoughts, feelings. I don't have time to do all I want to do. I was listening to Free Fallin' before I went running, and the music was so filling that I couldn't stand still anymore. I ran faster for longer than I've ever run. There's an artist inside me that wants out. She deserves it. She's been waiting for a long time. Sitting patiently by the door, asking for a few minutes outside. A few minutes to run without timing, smell the ground the air the grass, stare into the sun and feel it's light on her skin. She's twitching for it. Why am keeping her in. What am i afraid of? She'll get dirty? She'll get rejected? The sun won't shine? Her prince won't come? Her God won't fill her mouth? Perhaps all of them. Yes. All of them. *sigh* so what then. How does that magic door open? Perhaps its just a matter of me giving my permission. My permission to fall, to get rejected, to die. Do I need to be "ready"? Or is not being ready the whole point? .......Those questions are fear. That's what they are. That's it. I'm doing it. I'm opening that door. No more excuses, I'm going to get messy. I don't know how but I'll do it. I'm going to screw up. But the atonement's there. I can't be everything I could be, until I decide to risk changing what I am. Tootle-oo coward club.
I'm jumpin.

7th west is a BUSY STREET ok?

So today I went running and the most embarrassing thing happened. I was set to run for 6 miles today and I wanted to run it in under an hour cuz last time it took me an hour pretty much flat. So I'm running and I always cut my runs in half- run half to a certain point, turn around and come back. So I was makin pretty good pace half way and thought- ya I've totally got time to get home in under an hour. But the last three miles was kinda kickin' my butt, and it was really hot so I was taking a couple slow down and walk breaks, just so I wouldn't totally hate life tomorrow. Breaks take time so I was a little worried, and started running a quicker pace in between breaks.

So I get to a shady spot and decide "ok, I'm going to stand in the shade for 10 seconds and catch some air." So I'm there five seconds- it's all good. Then the last five seconds I'm gearin up to run ...and I start to pee. So I'm running thinking- " O my body will recognize that NOW is NOT the time." But kids I gotta be honest I STRAIGHT UP, PEED my PANTS today while running on 7th west. Pretty embarrassing I know- BUT, I made my time ;).

TMI? What's YOUR best pee your pants story?? Let's HEAR IT!!!

Create

I just got back from the John Mayer concert at USANA. And I have to say that I'm so inspired right now. I've always loved doing a billion things at once and this is why. I see someone do something amazing and I think "o I JUST want to DO that." And that's what John Mayer has done to me tonight. And that's what Idina Mendel does to me every time I listen to Wicked, and John Williams whenever I listen to a score and Shakespeare, Bach, Beethoven, Ben Folds, Itzak Pearlman, Charlotte Church, Josh Groban, Julia Hunter, Nickie Singleton, and all my friends at school who are AMAZING at whatever they do. But it's not just art it's so many other things. It's this amazing passion sponge inside that sees someone succeeding at whatever they are passionately talented at. And I wish I could say that there was no jealousy in there but let's be honest I'm human and I'm working on it. But really, its such a great thing to want to do everything but then such a let down to realize that I CAN'T. There's no way i can be all those things right now. Just no way.

Now wait a minute? Am I gonna let that word "can't" keep me from exploring and learning and pushing myself?? That would just be... dumb. Really dumb. But how do you do it. How do you really go for something all the way, and do the same for every OTHER thing you love? Maybe it's as simple as adding the word "yet."

I don't have an anzwer. And I don't know if actually trying to do them all is faithful or unhealthy. But I'm excited enough to write some music :). So I'll just think about that for now, and worry about all that thought stuff later.

(as always your input is encouraged- especially in a case like this. ;) chao!)

Video Experiment

SO this was on Patriots day. I was really tired to the point to rediculous laughter - you all know that feeling. And then I got really excited about the ketchup. It may not be that exciting but Ellen Marshal will laugh and I can try this video post thing.

LOL SO FUNNY--- maybe not to you guys but that was the most wonderful day EVER!

Boring blog post- boring!!!

So, I don't really have anything great to write I just know that people have more fun reading your blog if you write stuff a lot. Not long things though (I don't have patience for long posts unless they're real good- sorry friends. If it's long and boring I'm OUT).I have this friend named Megan who hates blogging but does it anyway cuz her friend Brynne went out of town for a long time..blah blah blah....but she's really good at it. Which just goes to show that you don't have to TRY to be interesting. You just have to be honest... and brief.

Does anyone else have a really poopy time getting pictures up on their blogs? Cuz I surely do. And how do you do that movie thing?? And while I'm at it I want a cool background!!

NOSE JOB

thanks to my amazing Doctor - Doctor Bennett- I no longer have a crooked nose. I had "surgery" yesterday. He basically put me out and broke my nose back. No incisions, no IV, just gas and some skilled hands. This is the new look I'll be sporting for the next three days. I know I know, it's pretty attractive. Hopefully all you hot men can resist the temptation to call me RIGHT NOW. I'm busy today - recovering.



Jk I really feel awesome. I was only in pain for about an hour and my eyes aren't bruised at all. Wang Chung! It's pretty amazing that I can be this happy after having my nose broken AGAIN. Life is so good, I slept ALL DAY yesterday. And I'm only going to get better.... :D. Thanks for reading!! Be sure to leave a comment, even if it's irrelevent. I know my audience better that way :).

I'm sure glad dating is hard. It'll make my husband worth it.


(What's the use being bitter :) )

I know...

Many of you know that I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (aka Mormons). Those of my fellow members know what that means, what we believe and what we stand for. For those of you who don't know I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you some of the things that I believe, know, and hold dear to my heart. This might be a little weird and something that people my age don't openly express often. But we've recently recieved instruction from our leaders to express our convictions in whatever means we can, including the internet. They're things that I love, and this blog is titled as a loving place. They're things that bring me joy and perspective- and I am all about sharing love and joy.

We believe in a loving Heavenly Father who loves us perfectly. We believe that we lived with Him before we came to earth and that we will have the opportunity to live with Him in the hereafter. We believe that He developed a plan for us to come here and to learn and grow and gain the experience that we needed to progress. Our Heavenly Father knew that we would sin and make mistakes that would make it impossible for us to return to Him. So as part of His plan


He needed someone to come and suffer for those sins and mistakes so we could return to live with Him for all eternity. The only one of His children who was good enough to perform this task was His first born son, our elder brother and beloved Savior, Jesus Christ.

He came to earth and established His church. He was a perfect example for us. He performed the ultimate act of love for each and every one of us. He suffered for our sins, our heartaches, our physical pain. He felt everything we will ever feel. He rose on the third day and overcame death. I know these things are true. I know that He lives. I know that He is willing and anxious to help me with everything I struggle with. I know He loves me and will ALWAYS be there for me no matter how many mistakes I make or problems I come up against. His role is to help me with those things.

Some of you may wonder "how can she KNOW that? how can ANYone KNOW that?" And I can say that I know because I have thought, and studied, pondered and PRAYED. I have asked for this witness and Heavenly Father has granted me that privilege. He has told me in a way that I can KNOW. He speaks to each of us differently. But I can stand and bear my testimony that I know Christ lives, that He has suffered for my sins, that He knows me perfectly. I have seen His love in my life. His influence and counsel has brought me more joy than anything I could ever find elsewhere. I bear this testimony with my whole heart, as sincerely and openly as I can. And I pray that ALL of you can COME UNTO HIM and know His love and power. I know He lives I know His power is real. I write these things in His name, the holy name of Jesus Christ, amen.