Sometimes you just have to Laugh

I have been finishing a final about mind/body/spirit health today. The topics discussed included Marriage, divorce, unhappy marriage, benefits of Altruism, social connectedness, forgiveness and humor/laughter. I read in this book something that really struck me. It deals with forgiveness.

"Steps to Living a life of Forgiveness"

- Begin by letting go of your unforgiving stance.

- Admit that the events and feelings you are struggling with really happened.

- Admit that the past cannot be undone. After all, there is really no hope for a better yesterday.

- Recognize that you no longer need to depend on others, including your parents, for approval. When you realize your independence, you assume your rightful power, and you learn to be who you want to be regardless of the actions of others.

- Don't expect others to respond to your efforts to forgive.

- Release any unrealistic expectations of yourself.

- Accept others for who they are rather than who you want them to be.

- Be flexible about rules of conduct for yourself and others.

- Talk about issues as they come up.

As I reflect on my life in the last semester, I think that this was the ultimate lesson I was supposed to learn. It has been a really tough semester. I have made tough decisions, been pulled and stretched in every direction, and have learned a lot about growing up. I have had a lot of disappointments, hardships, and trials. But I have had a lot of blessings. I hope that I'll look back on this semester one day and realize why things happened the way they have happened for me. I feel like often times the hardest part about moving on, is learning how to forgive. Forgive for what could have been that wasn't, or how you feel life could have been, but it wasn't. I love the third bullet of this list, "Recognize that you no longer need to depend on others, including your parents, for approval. When you realize your independence, you assume your rightful power, and you learn to be who you want to be regardless of the actions of others." What a great lesson for me to learn. I recognize now that I am much too dependent on others for encouragement, and approval. It makes me sad to think that I had to learn this late in college life. Could have been helpful before.

As I see it though, it is so much better to just accept, move on, and try to find the joy in the journey. Sometimes, you just have to laugh and realize, it will one day be joyus to me because of the lessons learned through that trial. I pray I will be able to take the perspectives learned from this class, Mind/Body/Spirit health into my daily life.

Good luck to us all with Finals, and the holiday season fast approaching us!!!

To my mama!

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

This post is for my mama! She is another year older today. And she really is just getting more and more wise. Oh how I love this lady!!!!!! She is my best friend and I am so grateful to have come to this family. If we picked our families in heaven, I am so glad I picked her and my Dad. I hope that everything was perfect on your birthday mom! Thanks for being my best friend and my best example. Keep up your hard work! I am so proud of you.

Nov. 4th and 5th

Friday I was grateful for being busy at work because it helped me to get through the long almost 9 hour work day. I was also grateful for my volleyball game, which was super fun, and helped to fix the small back pain that I was having this week.

Today, I am grateful for my slippers! They are keeping my little toesies warm while I do my homework in our starting to get freezing house. (the walls aren't insulated... ;( ). I am also grateful for old friends and new friends who help me to feel like a child inside when I need it. :)

November for Thankfulness

My sister Danielle is doing this on her blog, so I thought I would do it too. For my posterity, I would love them to know the things I am grateful for in my life up to this point. Each day I will post something I am grateful for, and a story or picture (or both!) that goes along with that.

Today, I am grateful for long hair. Yes, random, but for a good portion of my life, I have had shorter hair. The longest it was in high school was about to my clavicle. I always thought that this was an ideal length for my hair, but the last few years I have had longer hair, and I love it! I think that the longer look is good on me. Maybe when I get married and do all that jazz, I'll join the club and cut my hair. But for now, I am so grateful for long hair!

- It makes my face look thinner? (at least I think so?)

- I only have to wash it every 2-4 days. (don't judge me)

- I can put it up in a pony tail!

- My natural curl looks so much better

- I can do a lot with it!

- I can dye it! - love to do this. too much. Darn it being so expensive.

Yep. Love my hur.

Ah.... November

We did it!!! We made it through October, and with only a few scratches. I almost loved it even. This year I could not get over the beauty of the trees or the colors that I have been surrounded by. Unfortunately, all of the photos I have taken on my phone the last month, got erased when I got the update. :( However, Hannah took this of me as we were playing in the leaves a few Sundays ago.... Kind of a taste of fall with all the leaves.

I had a tough weekend last weekend. Some disappointments mixed with pretty intense feelings of loneliness and missing my parents pretty bad. However, I believe it is when we are most humbled that we receive the most direction.

Friday was the hard day, but then Saturday night things started to look up. We had the adult session of stake conference and I went with my roommate and two fairly attractive men in our ward. It was just a half-hour, but the topics were basically speaking to my soul. The second counselor in the relief society presidency talked about looking up, and the importance of doing that as we move forward with our lives. The 2nd counselor in the stake presidency talked about relationships, and how the men need to get on with dating girls... which they do ;) But even more than that, the spirit of the meeting touched me greatly. I just felt so strongly that my Father in Heaven was acutely aware of my needs, no matter how small and insignificant I felt they were. I gained a testimony that Heavenly Father almost always answers prayers through sending us experiences or people that help us to learn, grow, be stretched, and strengthened.

I know without a doubt that I could not have made it so positively through this weekend, or throughout my life, without my mother. She is amazing, and I love her unconditionally. I may have had some mishaps in other relationships in my life this last week, but I believe it strengthened my relationship I have with my mama, even though she seems to be so physically far away. After the conference, I went on a date that was so refreshing! He is a friend of mine from high school, but we talked about art and music and I just felt so happy to have that small blessing. Then sunday we had the general session of stake conference and that was also wonderful! My good friend Ali who just got her mission call, spoke, along with each member of the stake presidency. It was amazing. The rest of the day was full of socializing and enjoying my ward. I know that I was meant to be in this ward, in this house, with my roommates and the bishopbric that we have etc. How blessed I feel!

Our father in heaven answers our prayers, he is acutely aware of all of us, and of all of our needs, wether big or small. I love this gospel, my Savior, and my family. May we all go forward in faith, not fearing the future, or the past.

So...Life...

First of all. I miss these guys. I have been missing them a lot lately. Historically, October has been one of the hardest months of my life. I'd say, every year, this is when I have my brakedowns, when I just want to run away and cry, and just go to San Diego. I am seriously contemplating it. For lots of reasons. ;). Yesterday I talked to my dad, and man, he is just so wise. I find myself just really missing him, especially after I hang up the phone with him. They are doing amazing though!

I think back on my summer often, and just long for those amazing experiences again, and wonder... Why am I not still there?? I am currently in midterms, I have 2 more this week and one next week. I also have some silly personal stuff to take care of, and, I just have no motivation!!!

However, I have some awesome stuff going on, that I am very grateful for. First of all, my sweet sweet mom got me a pass to 24 hour fitness this summer, which I activated the second day I was back at school, and that place is my home away from home!!! I just love the gym. Lately I have really loved going to the classes that they hold at the gym. Some of my health friends have passes, as does my roommate Whitney and her fiance, so I get to see people that I know and like while I am in these classes. Mostly right now I am obsessed with yoga, and am so grateful that I get to go to these yoga classes! It is such a great time to reflect and just be grateful for the opportunity to breath, relax, and strengthen my body. I recommend it!!

The other thing is that I am in this Dinner group with like 15 people in it, so we get dinner made for us monday through thursday, with us having to make dinner just 3 days the whole semester! I can usually only go like 2 times a week, but still! to not have to worry about dinner is awesome.

Okay and the third little thing I have loved is my super comfy and cozy room and bed! Man, it is like sleeping on butter he he! I also have loved that I can sleep through the night, get enough sleep to be productive in the day, and don't have too many stressors that are out of my control in my life. I love that conference is on the internet, so i can listen to it before I go to bed, and while I get ready in the mornings. I love that my parents are mission presidents and are so good to me. I love that my siblings don't live too far away for me to escape to on the weekends when I feel like not socializing with provo people. I love that I can always get on my knees to pray and be comforted. I love that I go to a school where people have similar values to mine. I love that I am coaching already. I love that I get the chance to date and get to know people (even though these chances are very few and far between these days he he). I love that I have a healthy body. I love that I get to constantly improve, and that I have chosen a career that helps me to be better, while I get to help others be better. It is so awesome. I know that I have been lead to this place in my life, and I am grateful.

I am also grateful that these kids are all home and my buddies. I missed them all while they were away!!!!! Mike came home 3 weeks ago and completed the missing men. Now we just need Jenn back and of course I need Brandi back. All will be well! (Except Allie and McKell are leaving soon for their missions... Darn it... ;))

Don't worry, that's just me and my buddy Kylie in front of the Louvre, only one of my top 10 favorite places in the world.

And. Everything about this picture makes me happy. We even had a bomb.com meal after taking this picture. Man, I love Florence. Can I please go back? Anyone with me?

Alex Boye and the last few weeks

This man. He is da bomb. On Sunday I was able to go to a fireside where Alex Boye was the main event. He told us his conversion story, and helped us to understand that we need to ALWAYS be standing in holy places and look to the Lord in everything we do. His style of public speaking was so fun! He made us laugh with his jokes and his facial expressions, and he definitely helped me to understand that "white mormons" are a little too reserved. He enjoyed and loves the gospel so much, and he didn't hesitate to show it. When he sang he just had so much great energy and he sings with his heart.

I have had some crazy few weeks. I don't know how people do it all in college. It is just an overwhelming time of life. My job is changing how we do things a lot and it is causing us all to work a little more than any of us are really comfortable doing. I am trying to decide if I want to start coaching at UVU or not, I feel as if I could do it for a few hours every other day... It just seems crazy to take on more things when I am trying to simplify my life. I have been able to hang out and go on dates with some really good friends who I just missed so much while they were on their missions. I feel like I can be part of things now, and I am just so grateful for the life that I have.

I don't have much to say beyond this. Life is good! I am learning a lot and trying to stay up with assignments etc. in school, work, and life. I am so grateful for my testimony of the gospel, and for the power that is held in the words of the lord and our prophets. I CAN'T WAIT for conference this weekend. It is getting me through the craziness of life.

It's that time of year

Our cute and comfortable bedroom

Shady ish bathroom...

Very much shady downstairs where we do our laundry. I am scared to do down there...

Our kitchen... I love the cabnents

Our living room. I really like it here. It is cozy and quiet, and the UGLY couches are actually quite comfortable. Anyone know a good/ cheap place to buy couch covers?

ScHOOL. Again. And Work, again. Oh man, it has been so hard for me to get back into the mode! After a summer of so many wonderful opportunities and experiences, it has been hard for me to transition into studying for school and even sometimes attending class. It's only been 2 weeks!!! But I know it will all come back. The scheduling, the stress, staying up late to write papers I didn't remember I had due tomorrow till 11:00pm. the night before... and so much more.

So far, I like most things about my senior year. I have just education classes and health classes minus one class for my senior english class (and let me tell you, my professor is SO boring). I like that the people in my classes are basically the same from class to class, so I have friends in there and we feel comfortable doing group projects together etc. I like that I have a gym membership again so that I can go to my own little oaisis every day and have that hour or so to escape. I love this little house that we live in. It is so cute!! There are some things about it that freak me out like our shower and the small basement where our dryer is (pretty sure animals live down there...), and not having a dishwasher, but other than that it is perfect. It is quiet, open, inviting, and so far, so homey. I am happy to be back with my roommates, and living in a ward that is AWESOME. So far the best ward ever. And I got the best calling ever... I am a Relief Society teacher.

God has blessed me so much. And I am so grateful to him. It's that time of year for school and life to begin again... Bring it on.