Jazz vs. Kings game

So the coolest thing happened to me last Tuesday. I was just hanging out with my friends at our apartment, and didn't think much about checking my e-mail until about 12:00 a.m. right before I got into bed. Well... within that e-mail was 2 free tickets to the Jazz vs. Kings game that was last Saturday (the 28th). I entered my name in a drawing and ended up winning tickets on the 19th row lower bowl!! Isn't it awesome? Here are some pics from the night. Oh, and we won, and Jimmer Fredett actually had a good night... except he needs to learn that he isn't playing college ball anymore... But when he does, he's gonna be good.

Kyle and I... plus the random smiling man behind us... ;)

Just my boys.

Oh hey Jimmer!

Snow Times! Winter semester is lookin like it is gonna be a good time.

So. Snow. That is the epitome of what my week has been like. We have had a lot of snow in P town, and it is so beautiful. I love walking up to campus with the snow capped mountains... I also love coming out of my Art History class (contemporary art with my Study abroad director) and looking at the mountains while the sun sets.... There is basically nothing better! The last few weeks Heather and I have been trying to do something fun/random every night of the week. We started last Sunday with this awesome fort! (Pictured below). Heather's little niece (she's 9) came and spent the holiday weekend with us, and we thought, what would be better than watching a movie in a fort?? So we made the most comfy fort... it was so Fun! Monday we went on a random outside run and some pilates that turned into a par-core party with a good friend of ours in the ward. We participated in a few Sonic runs, and volleyball games, or just games, diddy kong, and pulling a few pranks on the neighbors... (They started it with a horse leg that they left on our porch... Heather freaked out!)

Our sweet Fort. (Heather's neice, Heather, and me wearing the MOST comfy jacket a friend of ours left at our house. He came over to get it, and I was wearing it! Talk about embarrassing.)

Last night we decided it would be a good idea to play in the newly fallen snow! We spent about 2 hours outside after an hour of playing basketball handing out in the snow. We had 3 separate snowball fights, and then made this little snowman guy. I think he looks great and ready for a cold run. ;) Our neighbor (Doug) is an advertiser or something for the Utah Valley Marathon. Cute eh? (Heather, me, Ryan and Doug)

Speaking of Marathons. I am definitely doing one!!! I am in for the Provo Marathon that is on the 5th of May. I am nervous, but I know I will be able to do it!! Jeff Handy, Jeff Perry, my roommate Heather, and Adam are all on board to do it too... It's gonna be awesome.

SO life is good. I have been feeling so blessed to have a strong family, awesome roommates, and good friends surrounding me. It has been a fun and super busy 3 weeks, but they've been so great!!! Here's to our next adventure... Sundance maybe? ?

New Year! 2012

Happy 2012! I can't believe it. I am so excited for a fresh start, and a new load of classes. It is going to be a tough and very busy semester, but what is new... ;). I was reading the 1st presidency message yesterday by President Monson, and came across this quote. As I read it I thought, this is going to be my motto for the year...

"Have the determination to make the effort, the single mindedness to work toward a worthy goal, and the courage not only to face the challenges that inevitably come, but also to make a second effort should such be required. Sometimes courage is the voice that says, "i'll try again tomorrow."

I love the Church! I am so grateful for simple, positive, and encouraging statements like these... and we get them ALL THE TIME. With church publications, the scriptures, and even in good conversations with friends. It is awesome.

Here are some photos from my trip to San Diego for Christmas with my parents and some siblings. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera charged for the trip, so I just have these Iphone photos ha.

Dad made the Ham into a little Christmas pig... So silly that man. But cute pig. ;)

On Christmas eve we decided to take a little trip to La Jolla to see the temple. Kyle and Ashley (pictured in front of the manger scene) hadn't seen it before, and so we went! It was a perfect kick off to what was a very different, but yet really memorable Christmas. Isn't the San Diego temple so beautiful???

Kim and Spencer and their family joined us for the second week of our adventure. We went to in and out one day and I got to sit by Andrew and the Spencers. He kept posing for the photos with his cute little hat. He also fed me my fries... It was very endearing, and we had a blast.

I had to work at 6:00 a.m. a few mornings, but I was grateful because I got to see the sunrise...

And the sunset out my parents backyard. Isn't it BEAUTIFUL!!! Take me back! ;)

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.