tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1279040483841485452024-02-07T00:22:08.005-08:00Carpe DiemAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17011227876754097094noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127904048384148545.post-61704318570751297122015-11-08T20:24:00.000-08:002015-11-08T20:24:36.502-08:00Who I Want to BeA couple years ago I made a bulleted list of "Who I Want to Be". As I was organizing our office (FINALLY), I came across this document and am so glad I did. Because, I'm kind of failing at a lot of these things, haha! I need to have it up and read it every day so I can have a constant reminder of what I am striving for.<br />
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I'd like to share them with you all for a couple of reasons:<br />
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<ol>
<li>So I can write them down again and hopefully remember each characteristic better. </li>
<li>Because I want to be held more accountable for things I set out to do. No idea who is reading this blog (if anyone) but at least I put it out to cyberspace and someone might read it at some point. </li>
<li>Maybe it will inspire you to do the same. It's been helpful for me, and I hope it will be for you too. </li>
</ol>
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Ahem... here is "Who I Want to Be":</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Humble</li>
<ul>
<li>I want this to be my natural reaction to everything</li>
<li>In every sense of the word. Thoughts, words, deeds, reactions, intents, motivations, etc. </li>
<li>Desire to do the Lord's will, not my own</li>
</ul>
<li>Complete confidence with who I am and with my Lord</li>
<ul>
<li>Not afraid to speak/stand up for what I believe</li>
<li>No matter what negative blows this world throws at me, I don't want to stutter or question who I am, what I stand for, and who I represent</li>
<li>I will always respond with humble confidence</li>
</ul>
<li>Absolute Obedience</li>
<ul>
<li>Commandments and instruction from the brethren</li>
<li>The Spirit. Never hesitate or question the whisperings of the Spirit</li>
</ul>
<li>Unconditionally Loving</li>
<ul>
<li>I want others to feel God's love when they are around me (This doesn't always mean super nice)</li>
</ul>
<li>Honest</li>
<ul>
<li>Every and any situation I am presented with I will respond with complete honesty</li>
<li>I will not beat around the bush. I will be swift and straight in my responses, no matter the consequences</li>
</ul>
<li>Optimistic and Strong</li>
<ul>
<li>Especially when there are others being affected by what's happening</li>
<li>I won't let emotions take over</li>
</ul>
<li>Never stop progressing</li>
<ul>
<li>There is always something that can be learned, somthing that I can work on</li>
<li>Always making and achieving goals</li>
<li>Mentally, emotionally physically and spiritually</li>
</ul>
<li>Consistent Temple Attendance</li>
<ul>
<li>I will go to the temple every week as long as I live (within reason)</li>
</ul>
<li>Compassionate, supportive and awesome wife</li>
<ul>
<li>When the time comes, I want to be there for my husband in every way possible. Serve him like crazy and NEVER stop</li>
</ul>
<li>Loving and Nurturing ... but firm mother</li>
<ul>
<li>Never lose my patience, and consistent in discipline and nurture</li>
<li>Correct principles taught from a young age</li>
</ul>
<li>Beautiful. Inside and out</li>
<ul>
<li>Focus inward but be aware of the outside</li>
</ul>
<li>Meek</li>
<ul>
<li>Not get offended easily</li>
<li>Never let myself get angry. No guile in my life</li>
</ul>
<li>Passionate</li>
<ul>
<li>With EVERYTHING that I do, or else don't do it</li>
</ul>
<li>A Covenant Keeper</li>
<ul>
<li>Always remember what they are and study their meaning</li>
</ul>
<li>A Doer</li>
<ul>
<li>"No time like the present"</li>
<li>Always do things, don't spend too much time thinking or talking about it</li>
</ul>
</ul>
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</div>
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Obviously this was written a couple years ago. I'd like to revisit this to update and add to it. These are tough.. still working on a lot of these and will be for the rest of my life. </div>
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I'm grateful for the Savior and that He atoned for my sins, and everyone else's, so that I can fail at things on this list... and then try again. It's hard for me with my personality the way that it is to remember that I can fail. </div>
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Ever since I was little, I have had this unhealthy obsession with being perfect. Because of that, I sometimes justify my actions, thoughts, etc. and fool myself into thinking that I'm not failing. I let things that aren't right, be OK in my mind. That's not who I want to be. I don't want to give excuses, make justifications, and fool myself and others. I just want to BE these things that I wrote above and that means acknowledging my mistakes, really feeling the pain and guilt, sincerely repenting, and trying again and again and again and again... until these things are a part of me. That's a daunting and long process, but there will be small successes along the way and I need to hold on to those. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17011227876754097094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127904048384148545.post-40394341999360811632015-10-25T20:35:00.000-07:002015-10-25T20:35:15.519-07:00Authentic ChristieThis week I was lucky enough to receive some INCREDIBLE life coaching from my sister-in-law, Sarah. She and I have always gotten along very well, I feel like she understands me more than most people. When she asked if she could practice her coaching on me, I didn't even hesitate to answer yes! I told her I was going to be a tough case, but she gladly accepted the challenge. I'm so grateful she did! The whole experience was extremely eye-opening and gave me just the jump-start I needed to start making some improvements in my life.<br />
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<i>The Issue:</i><br />
Ever since I was a little girl (way back in the day when my hair was short and got mistaken for a boy), I have always had this dilemma where I had to please everyone. I had to say the right thing, laugh when I was supposed to, and just be well, <i>perfect</i>. I've let this need to be perfect run my life for far too long. I don't want to live my life in constant worry about what other people are thinking about me. I don't want to change who I am according to who I am hanging out with... I just want to be "Authentic Christie". This issue, is what I brought to the table for my coaching session with Sarah, and she rocked it!<br />
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I won't go into the details of what we did and everything we talked about, because it was an hour long session...but a really cool part for me was when we went through and listed a couple things that entail <i>being</i> Authentic Christie, as well as what Authentic Christie would be <i>doing</i>. Here are a few things that I came up with:<br />
<br />
<b>Authentic Christie</b><br />
<br />
Being:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Goofy</li>
<li>A leader</li>
<li>Optimistic</li>
<li>Powerful</li>
<li>Kind </li>
<li>Compassionate</li>
<li>Energetic</li>
<li>Purple Unicorn (this one came from Sarah, haha!)</li>
<li>Crazy Dancer </li>
<li>Light Hearted</li>
<li>Open/receptive</li>
<li>Friendly</li>
<li>Loyal</li>
<li>Strength</li>
<li>Potential</li>
<li>Inspiring</li>
<li>Respected</li>
</ul>
<div>
Doing:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Leading</li>
<li>Inspiring</li>
<li>Helping</li>
<li>Teaching</li>
<li>Listening</li>
<li>Serving</li>
<li>Traveling/Exploring</li>
<li>Active</li>
<li>Outdoors</li>
<li>Spending time with Family/Family Focused</li>
<li>Progressing</li>
<li>Motivating</li>
<li>Performing</li>
<li>Rock Star</li>
<li>Latin Dancer</li>
<li>Own my own company</li>
<li>Impactful</li>
<li>Famous</li>
</ul>
<div>
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</div>
<div>
This was a really cool exercise for me, because I was able to feel the excitement of actually <i>being</i> and <i>doing</i> Authentic Christie. It really motivated me. It's so simple.. but realizing and outlining your own potential is such a crucial step. I want to add to this list, and I can't wait to have these words be just, who I am.</div>
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I'm going to start setting daily goals for myself. I'm usually a monthly, or yearly goal kind of girl, but this is going to be such a huge change for me that I want to track my progress daily. </div>
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Wish me luck! </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17011227876754097094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127904048384148545.post-33808934106184676272015-10-18T00:00:00.000-07:002015-10-18T00:00:12.709-07:00I'm BackHi.<br />
<br />
I just had a blast reading through my old posts. I am ridiculous! Writing has never really been my strong suit, but I think I thought it was when I was writing those posts.<br />
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I'm not much of a blogger (as you can see by all my previous posts), but I see the value in writing blog posts.<br />
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<ol>
<li>Connection. There's something to be said about leaving your mark on the world. Even if this mark is just in cyberspace, it's still out there for the world to see. It's always nice to think about those who are seeing it, and hopefully connect with it, possibly even positively affected by it. </li>
<li>Organizing. It's also nice to really think through thoughts and experiences and organize them through writing. Actually quite therapeutic and it's unfortunate that I have lost touch with this for so long. </li>
<li>A Record. The most obvious value to writing is the history you are leaving behind for posterity, as well as for yourself. I hope my future children get as much of a kick out of my ludicrous writing as I did tonight.</li>
</ol>
<div>
A couple common themes I noticed in my previous writing... gratitude, a love of life, and a desire to be better. All things, that I think haven't been as prevalent in my life lately. I'm not saying that it was just the writing/blogging that caused me to be so passionate about those things, but it definitely brought them to the forefront of my mind. I was giving myself the opportunity to reflect and make my mark with those reflections. </div>
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I think i'm going to get back into this again. Selfishly, because I earnestly want those things back in my life and I believe I need a little self discovery lately. I think blogging might help me in that journey in some small way. Hopefully, along the way, I can bless someone's life as well. </div>
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A lot of things have happened since 2011, the biggest of which is that I married Michael Nielsen. He's the most handsome man in the world. That's not why I married him though, I married him, because he is the best thing that has ever happened to me. He has blessed my life in more ways than I can ever count. He helped me grow up, and start to become the person I want to be. He's the closest thing to perfect, and I think i'll go so far as to say that he is perfect, for me. </div>
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Throughout my whole dating life, I knew what I wanted in my eternal companion. I had it all worked out in my mind. I knew the kind of person he was, I just couldn't describe it to people. I always called it, "The X-Factor". The X-Factor is that thing, that you use to describe why it didn't work out with the guys that were perfect on paper. I think you all know what I'm talking about. For me... the X-Factor was Michael. Don't stop reading, I promise I won't always be that cheesy. Really though, everything about Michael makes sense to me. He made it really easy for me to fall in love with him, and he continues to do that every day. It was so easy and right. I felt a calm and a peace in my mind every time I thought about marrying him. He is my guy. </div>
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I've worked at a couple different companies since my last post. I worked at BYU right after I graduated, in the Marketing department, then worked at a company called Property Solutions as a Recruiter, and my most recent position was at a company called Zefr. Each position has taught me a lot and i'm grateful to have had those opportunities. Where I learned the most was at Zefr. The lessons I learned there weren't only work-related, but also opened my eyes to the type of person i've been allowing myself to become lately. </div>
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I quit my job there this week. I won't go into detail on why, because it's not necessary. But after working there, I have decided it's time to start doing some serious contemplation on who I am and who I want to be. Because right now, those are two very different things. </div>
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I'm already turning this post into a novel, so perhaps I should bring my remarks to a close. I'm glad I've gotten back onto my blog. It's been really good for me to look back on my life. I'm excited to start making some changes in my life and document the journey. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17011227876754097094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127904048384148545.post-59990293812251108242011-10-19T21:30:00.000-07:002011-10-19T21:30:07.220-07:00Just do it!<div style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
Nike just nailed it when they came up with the "JUST DO IT" theme. So simple and yet, so powerful and true! Why don't we just DO the things we say we're going to? Or just DO the things we know are right? </div>
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I've been so frustrated with myself lately. Because I feel like I have a good head on my shoulders and I know what's up ... :) ... but I think that sometimes I can be a lot of talk. I always say what I think I should be doing, or what I think is good to do, or whatever it may be...but I need to DOOOOO it! If I say, hmmm...I need to start thinking about what I want to do when I graduate, I need to do that. hmmm....I need to stay in touch with my family better, I need to do that. If I say hmmm...I need to do better on my math next math test, I need to DO THAT! The list goes on and on. </div>
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If we want to be successful in life, we need to do the things we say we're going to do. </div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17011227876754097094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127904048384148545.post-10107623098999961442011-10-04T08:40:00.000-07:002011-10-04T08:40:48.834-07:00Life is good!Found a great scripture today. It's one of those where you have heard it a million times and you're always like, "Oh, how nice." but then you really READ it and ponder and hits you like a ton of bricks!<br />
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<div style="color: purple; text-align: center;">
D&C 88:67</div>
<div style="color: purple; text-align: center;">
And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things. </div>
<div style="color: purple; text-align: center;">
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WOW! Look at that! Read it again! </div>
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"Eye single to my glory" - that means we are 100% following Christ. We want nothing more than to do His will and do what is right. Nothing else. Our desire is purely to follow our Savior. </div>
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"bodies shall be filled with light" - That doesn't just mean knowledge and truth...that means we will be warm and peaceful inside. FILLED with goodness. What an awesome feeling. We won't have ANY darkness in us. We won't ever have to feel dirty, we'll be clean and pure. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
"Comprehendeth all things" - This part is what hit me. No more confusion, no more dilemma, drama, or crap! We will know what's best for us and for others. What an incredible blessing! and all this comes just from having a true desire to do God's will and following Him. That's an amazing promise. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17011227876754097094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127904048384148545.post-91868483271326961312011-09-04T22:18:00.000-07:002011-09-04T22:18:06.272-07:00I live!Hello blogging world!<br />
I forgot that you existed for a while there! Wow, it's been way to long since I have posted anything. A lot has been happening in my life and I am way too tired at this time to try and recall it all, but I will tell you this...Life is good. I know that I could be happier, because there are things in my life that could happen to bring me greater joy, but I know that right now, how I am living my life is the best way I possibly could be and it feels great! In the immortal words of Rocky Balboa, "life's not all sunshine and rainbows", and of course I still have the hard days but I am very happy with who I am and what I am doing!<br />
School has started up, my last go around! weird. I will graduate in December. I am taking a freshman math class (don't laugh....ok you can laugh, cause I do), a Joseph Smith class, and Worksite Health promotion. Super easy. Love it! Put in the time, now I get to cruise.<br />
Vball is going really well! oh wow...it's going SO well! The team is a completely different team! So much energy. We just got back from a tourny in Kansas and we won the whole thing!! whoooo! Champions!! Feels good to be a winning team again. Of course we have a LONG way to go, lots of work to do and lots to learn. Shawn is doing a great job as coach, as well as Heather and Emilee. Love them all. Our team is a family. We love each other and work hard for each other. It's just an understanding we have. Feels so great! <br />
Well, There's lots more going on in my life but I am falling asleep as I type...so i'm out! hopefully I won't wait another decade before I post again! Lata!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17011227876754097094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127904048384148545.post-83377519726895599872011-05-15T15:48:00.000-07:002011-05-15T15:48:51.859-07:00Blessing vs. ImpressingYou know how you hear something over and over again and you think you know it...but then finally one day, you hear it from someone else and in a different way and it just hits you like a ton of bricks?! I don't know, maybe that doesn't happen to any of you very often..but it happens to me all the time!<br />
It happened again today...<br />
We have a "relationships" class in my new ward and I went today for the first time. I know it sounds kinda funny, but it's actually a really good thing, especially for young single adults. Never has any lesson hit me so hard like this lesson did today! wow! I am not a very good writer, or even speaker for that matter, when it comes to expressing my feelings. I never feel like I really show others how I feel, but i'll do my best.<br />
The main topic was "Blessing vs. Impressing". Now, going back to what I said earlier, I have grown up hearing "The way to be happy is serving others, being selfless, etc. etc." Right? we've all heard that. It finally hit me really hard today, and I'm going to make it a priority to change and focus more on blessing rather than impressing. I am outgoing and love to be the center of attention, and this has become a problem because it has caused me to be selfish and self-centered. I have become too focused on getting people to like me rather than being Christ-like and blessing the lives of others. I'm not saying that being outgoing and loud is a bad thing, but it is a problem when you are doing those things for the wrong reasons. Now, i'm always too hard on myself, so I need to stop for a minute here and say that I have always loved people and tried to be a good person. But I need to be better! I know that if we all make it a priority to focus on blessing the lives of others rather than impressing others and being selfish that we will be happier people.<br />
This teacher also talked about the social media. It's a great thing and we are so blessed to have it, but think about it. The whole focus of it is ourselves! Twitter? oh here look what <span style="color: red;">I </span>did today, look at this cool thing <span style="color: red;">I</span> said, look at how funny <span style="color: red;">I</span> am, <span style="color: red;">me me ME</span>! Facebook? Does that really show who we are? No, it's all the good stuff! These things aren't bad, but again if the motives aren't right then they can be! we have been encouraged by the brethren to use these things to bless the lives of others and spread the gospel. I am going to do this from now on.<br />
final point: Charity is the single most important thing we can develop while on this earth. We need to love as the Lord loves. We need to stop focusing on ourselves and get out there and work! <span style="color: #0b5394;">Please read this scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:3-4.</span> It just says it in a better way than I ever could. <br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17011227876754097094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127904048384148545.post-80718695372213021512011-05-01T08:51:00.000-07:002011-05-01T08:51:07.215-07:00Get real!Forgive me and my cheesy blog title...but this blog is all about how I think it's so important to be real. Obviously right? No one likes to talk to someone who's fake, and only saying what you want to hear so that you will like that person. So...why do some people do it? I'll tell you why I used to do it, because I am a people pleaser. I am not happy unless everyone else is happy. While that is not a bad thing...it has kind of ruined me. The real Christie ceases to exist sometimes because I am too busy trying to be someone who the other person wants me to be so they will be happy and comfortable in whatever situation we may be in.<br />
DON'T WORRY!<br />
I'm still me. It's not like i've been living a million lies my whole life. Not at all. What I mean is that I haven't really expressed my true views at times when I could have, I haven't disagreed with someone when I should have, I haven't held my tongue when I should have, etc. <br />
I have made it a goal of mine to work on being more real. More me. To say and do things because that's who I am...but still keep in mind the feelings of others, I don't want to totally become a non-censored little brat!<br />
I am just going to stop worrying about what everyone else is thinking and just be me. Yes, I know I know, you all learned this back in junior high...but I'm still learning!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17011227876754097094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127904048384148545.post-60630557239910281912011-04-24T22:40:00.001-07:002011-04-24T22:40:27.293-07:00My favorite talk at conference<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">This past conference was awesome, as it always is. I love listening to all the leaders of our church speak to us in such effective ways - knowing, that each word that is spoken is something that we need to hear! It's just so great. </div><div style="margin: 0px;">My favorite talk was the one by D. Todd Christoferson. He talked about trials and dealing with them and becoming better from them. He shares a story about a gardener cutting down a bush that was growing a lot, the bush gets mad at him and asks him why he would cut him down when he was growing so tall and doing so well for himself. The gardener says, "Hey, I am the gardener here and I know what I want you to be and someday when you have fruit you will thank me for cutting you down now." I really liked this story. Of course I have always known that God has a plan for each of us, that He knows what's best for us...but I needed to be reminded of this, and this story illustrates the principle so plain and simple. Recently I have thought a lot about the things that I am going through and I always have the question, "Why?" in my head. What am I supposed to learn? Was I not doing what's right before? Why do I need to go through this? It helps me to endure and endure with a joyful attitude when I remember that the Lord is putting trials and things into our lives to shape us into who we need to be. I am so grateful for that knowledge and testimony. </div><div style="margin: 0px;">I mentioned above about having a joyful attitude as we endure our trials. Easier said than done, I know. I just recently broke up with a guy that I REALLY liked a lot. I liked him so much I smothered the crap out of him and scared him away! Ha ha! To be honest I have never been in a situation like this before, and it's super hard. I went through all sorts of emotions...confusion, frustration, impatience, anger, more confusion, anxiety, heart-break, oh and CONFUSION! In the midst of trying to sort out all these emotions, I lost my joyful attitude in life and was dealing with the trial in a numb and distant fashion. It's selfish. I am so grateful for this talk and the wake up call! We all need to deal with our trials with a joyful attitude and remember to be grateful for the priceless lessons that we are learning as we go through these trials. </div></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17011227876754097094noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127904048384148545.post-86905056369414605732011-03-20T11:36:00.000-07:002011-03-20T11:36:38.747-07:00My poopies<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr align="center"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">These are my Poopies. </span></span></td><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">I love them very much. </span></span></td><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Can you see why?</span></span></td><td class="tr-caption"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJW9A8OiQqGqhqU5o8WXbbHVr_EKFJF_T06q-hnqI1gPdT4LGsWkhtqARB1_cXgkrWJS_eKr9iHEWTQoRW37lCWN6trKy8HCaIPNZ06vk0cfx6sOBaEmIInFYkQ7xYTO6fVQFX8ZSYVpG6/s1600/1020792524_UMk3j-Ti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJW9A8OiQqGqhqU5o8WXbbHVr_EKFJF_T06q-hnqI1gPdT4LGsWkhtqARB1_cXgkrWJS_eKr9iHEWTQoRW37lCWN6trKy8HCaIPNZ06vk0cfx6sOBaEmIInFYkQ7xYTO6fVQFX8ZSYVpG6/s1600/1020792524_UMk3j-Ti.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my "baby cakes" or "cakes"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiklNaSwgV0QvHjTnpN0bmqnfInN89vL0PLH1mKOJNmIrut7dFI-i4teOHHb7pPQVBedUoUyWWn-C_eDbknQ659t5RSErGsngvLRB2vYviNfcal9IfPtoiaYaxTObMWQvBZU30ni6GJx2oP/s1600/1064824436_MtxRq-Ti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiklNaSwgV0QvHjTnpN0bmqnfInN89vL0PLH1mKOJNmIrut7dFI-i4teOHHb7pPQVBedUoUyWWn-C_eDbknQ659t5RSErGsngvLRB2vYviNfcal9IfPtoiaYaxTObMWQvBZU30ni6GJx2oP/s200/1064824436_MtxRq-Ti.jpg" width="200" /></a> </div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMbpNNjNAM2YRYQA37Zk5CiVKprYaq_9Y5MmhX5BWzFZkEMXCOxDkDI_43TU7invlYvePax7KR0zwU9Qi0TyMGGpTk-sAVdWCyEm5YgZoBWIaoSiXiGr_X89eIn-Dt9mKlei7HF2yyNwsJ/s1600/1032064901_28J5d-Ti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMbpNNjNAM2YRYQA37Zk5CiVKprYaq_9Y5MmhX5BWzFZkEMXCOxDkDI_43TU7invlYvePax7KR0zwU9Qi0TyMGGpTk-sAVdWCyEm5YgZoBWIaoSiXiGr_X89eIn-Dt9mKlei7HF2yyNwsJ/s1600/1032064901_28J5d-Ti.jpg" /></a></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpu3SX36tbHpPHwtkLGXO1NDqNhYwj98yRSMx7PePhRz5U_xpIXQObZo2aQxL-uRrumXwBsO7HW7l3sm1w9ONgBYaQo8QdvJ4wdHABL6hr6NPVSlYzjNpGYKSgNX8HqDWFGZ7zwmyQTgco/s320/1197607961_q8tZa-M.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my "gracey face" or "face".</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4IgI0nfGvKe1vRnrpnThXYSsqfE3dn2aOMJ5R_8BorAxsq8nuWhLDe-ty4XXPMYDF7hHR01ouvX4JMLy3RwS-f4QIV_dC5NU4iocfgiedy_w1G7w4FAT5HQo9ogJbq4Uomc0_c91yMtj/s1600/1197606304_MxUww-Ti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpu3SX36tbHpPHwtkLGXO1NDqNhYwj98yRSMx7PePhRz5U_xpIXQObZo2aQxL-uRrumXwBsO7HW7l3sm1w9ONgBYaQo8QdvJ4wdHABL6hr6NPVSlYzjNpGYKSgNX8HqDWFGZ7zwmyQTgco/s1600/1197607961_q8tZa-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4IgI0nfGvKe1vRnrpnThXYSsqfE3dn2aOMJ5R_8BorAxsq8nuWhLDe-ty4XXPMYDF7hHR01ouvX4JMLy3RwS-f4QIV_dC5NU4iocfgiedy_w1G7w4FAT5HQo9ogJbq4Uomc0_c91yMtj/s1600/1197606304_MxUww-Ti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4IgI0nfGvKe1vRnrpnThXYSsqfE3dn2aOMJ5R_8BorAxsq8nuWhLDe-ty4XXPMYDF7hHR01ouvX4JMLy3RwS-f4QIV_dC5NU4iocfgiedy_w1G7w4FAT5HQo9ogJbq4Uomc0_c91yMtj/s1600/1197606304_MxUww-Ti.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikUU_nbxhZYsZaWyw1hrvl4uVHCwkjJmDy2zJnKAxYqeW-aDWYVkWFjSiEi13KERGQrXJnJVQVJniX1vzQiYnxsY_yJ6guYdi33epzUMRn3YH9uL-n0OtWZh5m6xRiGEI6nuAb4w83PnQ/s1600/1197607478_w55KC-Ti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikUU_nbxhZYsZaWyw1hrvl4uVHCwkjJmDy2zJnKAxYqeW-aDWYVkWFjSiEi13KERGQrXJnJVQVJniX1vzQiYnxsY_yJ6guYdi33epzUMRn3YH9uL-n0OtWZh5m6xRiGEI6nuAb4w83PnQ/s200/1197607478_w55KC-Ti.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="background-color: #351c75;"></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17011227876754097094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127904048384148545.post-20726556079914177892011-03-13T21:29:00.000-07:002011-03-13T21:29:40.338-07:00A lesson learned and a great day!<div style="color: #45818e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I learned a really good lesson this last week! Hit me so hard and will be with me for the rest of my life. It actually came to me via a guy I have been dating (we actually broke up last night...rough...but anyway). I had wronged him in a way and instead of letting the hurt settle in, really feeling the pain of what I had done, and learning and growing from it enough to not do it again...I tried to get over it real quick and fix it and even make it seem smaller than it was! It was terrible! I didn't even realize what I was doing until this...I apologized to him for what I had done and for trying to manipulate the situation...but then a few days later I did the exact same thing to him again! So I learned nothing. and he brought that to my attention and it hit hard. When we do something wrong...we need to really let time pass, feel the pain, and learn from it. We can't just go through it as fast as we can and try to make things all better ASAP! I used to do this as a kid...I would argue with my mom and then we'd leave all mad and instead of letting time pass and my emotions cool, I would run up to her room a minute later and yell, "I"M SORRY MOM!!" in her face all angry and my intent was to make amends but...I hadn't let enough time pass and really thought about what happened. I just jumped the gun on making it better. I hope I'm making sense. It really is a good lesson. </div><div style="color: #45818e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Then in relief society today, the teacher mentioned the story that Ukdorf gave one time about how pilots try to go through turbulence real fast when really the best way to do it is to slow down and endure it. We need to slow down in our trials and really find out what the Lord is trying to teach us. Then those trials will become stepping stones and not road blocks in our path back to Him. </div><div style="color: #45818e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Even though the boy broke up with me last night...and i'm heart broken about it...It was a really good day today! Church was great, and then I went home and we had our family dinner and we had a lesson after wards. The lesson was on how we are each given our individual gifts that no one else has, and we have a work to do on this earth. We each picked out a name of someone else in the family and we were to say what gift that person has. It was really emotional and the spirit was really there with us today. I love my family so so SO dearly. I will never forget tonight and it has given me the motivation to be that much better and to let my light shine and keep developing and embracing those gifts and things that I have been given to keep the work moving forward! </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">I challenge you all to do the same!</span></b></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17011227876754097094noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127904048384148545.post-31430449552022336712010-12-28T22:22:00.000-08:002010-12-28T22:22:25.595-08:00A quote and a lesson<div style="color: #0b5394;">It's been so nice to have this 2 week Christmas break and not have any sort of responsibility or anything because I've been able to do some thinking...and think about life...not the next assignment due. It's been great. I have felt so close to the Spirit here in my beautiful home with my beautiful family. Anyway, I was playing with my phone and went through the notes section and found one of my favorite quotes written there...</div><div style="color: #0b5394;"> "I will give place no more to the enemy of my soul" (I can't remember who said it)</div><div style="color: #0b5394;">I love that quote. It's so strong and final. </div><div style="color: #0b5394;">We need to not give any <i>place </i>in our life for Satan. A <i>place </i>is a form of residence, if you will, for someone to preside. If there is no <i>place</i> there is no where for that person to be. If there is no where for that person to be, they have no way of influencing you. No <i>place </i>for Satan = no influence from Satan. </div><div style="color: #0b5394;">This is easier said than done...especially with the way the world is these days (scares the shizzy out of me...the world is so corrupt!). I think if we can just eliminate the things that trigger our weaknesses...just those little things ("There are no little things" -volleyball coaches) ...that will help us not give any place for Satan. </div><div style="color: #0b5394;">So, that's my quote.</div><div style="color: #0b5394;">Now for the lesson that I learned over the last few days.</div><div style="color: #0b5394;">It's kind of hard to explain. I learned that even when your intentions are good with someone...loving that person is always more important. I know you probably had to read that a few times...and even after that it probably doesn't quite make sense haha! What I mean to say is, Love is always the most important thing. In any case or circumstance with any person...loving that person is more important than anything else you were trying to do with that person. I've just had a few instances this week where I have tried to do something and my intentions were good...but I forsook love in order to do that thing...and I felt after wards and knew that to be wrong. Love is most important. We need to remember that when we are dealing with someone...they are a child of God and we need to love them as He would. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17011227876754097094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127904048384148545.post-87799669934694016562010-12-26T22:33:00.000-08:002010-12-26T22:33:53.341-08:00My beautiful, wonderful, amazing, and hot mother<div style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Dear Mom,</div><div style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">You are amazing. In my last blog I talked about "my angels"...not only are you one of these for me...but you have taught me to <i>recognize </i>angels in my life, and that is a gift from you that I will always treasure. I think of you and the things that you have taught me and I get a warm feeling inside and instantly my eyes start to tear up. I have such feelings of joy around you and love hanging out with you. You are my very best friend in this whole entire world. You would do absolutely ANYTHING for me. and I really mean anything. I have seen you make yourself uncomfortable physically, socially, mentally, emotionally...in order to make me comfortable. You don't just do this every once in a while....it's just natural for you and you do it all the time. You just love and love and love and give and give and give and never take. </div><div style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm in awe of how amazing you are and a little frustrated because I want to be like you...and it's hard to be as amazing as you!! As I get older, and experience what life has to offer, I come to understand more and more how deep and real your love is and the sacrifices you have made on my behalf. I also get frustrated because I know I will never be able to repay you for what you have done for me. It's far too much. The love you have for me and others is such a Christ-like love. The life you live is the ultimate example to me and has strengthened my testimony so much. </div><div style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I know you have trials and things you have to deal with...but through it all you never cease to amaze me with your strength and will to get through things and be better. You teach me every single day without uttering a single word...just simply by the way that you live. </div><div style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'll never forge the times you have cuddled with me in my bed as I drench you with my tears, the times you have lit candles, cleaned the house, and put on music when I come home...just so I can feel absolute comfort and peace when I come home, the times when you have given in and let me buy things at the store that we both know I shouldn't get, the times when you drop all of the important things you have to do to talk to me, or the times you take the time to talk to me even when you have a migraine, the times when you have slaved all day to cook amazing meals that are healthy when we could just have cereal or burritos, the times when you have just walked away when I was being relentless/stupid/mean instead of yelling back at me, the times when you have gotten SO excited for me when I come home and talk about a boy, the times when we have just gone for drives and talked for hours about life, the times I've watched you change people's lives with your kindness, the times i've seen you show absolute patience with Charity...oh my goodness I could go on forever! You're probably falling asleep now! </div><div style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Mom, I wish there was some way I could truly show you how I feel about you, instead of writing a silly blog about you. There's just no way I could show you just how much I love you. but, I think you know what I mean when I say...</div><div style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> I love you to the moon and back. </div><div style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Love,</div><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Mooie</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17011227876754097094noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127904048384148545.post-3040451184953308932010-12-22T21:45:00.000-08:002010-12-22T21:45:46.873-08:00My Awesome Dream<div style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #45818e; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have the most awesome dreams. I don't know why I was blessed with such incredible dreams and the ability to remember them so vividly, but I'm so glad I was. I love dreams. I keep telling myself I need to start a dream book...and I'm telling myself again, right now. But for now, I want to blog about last night's dream. It was by far the most random and most awesome. </div><div style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #45818e; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It starts of with me (as myself. I say that because i'm usually someone else in my dreams) on a magical island with the seven dwarfs. Yes...the seven dwarfs from Snow White. We take an underwater roller coaster, shaped like a dragon, to the real world. We make this journey because I had had a dream that I would find my one true love in the real world. It took some convincing...but I got the dwarfs to agree. When we got off the dragon coaster, my one true love was a hot Asian man. My hot Asian took me to a Justin Beiber concert. Justin Beiber had a twin named Jared Beiber and they both performed in their whitey tighty underwear. While in the audience watching the show...I see an ex-boyfriend sitting with his new girlfriend. I look back a couple rows from them and I see the same ex-boyfriend and his girl but they were like 20 years older. In my dream I think..."Oh dang...they used the bodpod!" Clarification: the bodpod is a machine used to measure body fat...in my dream the "bodpod" was a time traveling device. anyway...My dream self knew that if they saw each other they would die...that is, the old boy and girl and the present day boy and girl. So the rest of my dream was dedicated to me saving those guys. <span></span></div><div style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #45818e; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Crazy right? but so awesome. I love dreams. </div><div style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #45818e; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I will start the dream book, if you want a copy...let me know. :)</div><div style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #45818e; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17011227876754097094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127904048384148545.post-60438099294508797592010-12-19T17:09:00.000-08:002010-12-19T17:10:31.237-08:00A few of my angels<div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There are people in my life that I will never forget...people who have blessed my life so deeply and I will be forever grateful. I call them my angels. I have so many and I want to dedicate this blog to them. Its just another testimony builder to me when these people come to me in my life. The Lord knows me and loves me and knows when I need a little boost...and that's when he sends me His angels. </div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I wish I had pictures of them all! I'm such a bad picture taker and I'm paying for it now because you all won't be able to see my beautiful angels!!</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: magenta; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Grandma Wallace:</div><div style="color: #d5a6bd; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This women is very special to me. This is my mom's mom and I never really knew her. I have one memory with her and it's actually my oldest memory. I was still a baby and was running on the beach towards her and tripped on my way to her and my face landed in the sand. I looked and her and she went, "whoo!" and then started laughing her loving grandma laugh. I looked at her with my face still in the sand and smiled...and then I started eating the sand. Anyway, before I really knew what the Holy Ghost was...I called it "feeling grandma". Whenever I felt the spirit or was really happy as a child I would look at my mom and say, "I feel Grandma". I still feel Grandma with me in times when I need her. I can't wait to get to know this amazing women better in the afterlife. </div><div style="color: #d5a6bd; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thank you Grandma Wallace.</div><div style="color: #d5a6bd;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">ps. My mom just told me that tomorrow will be the anniversary of her passing away. 1993. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div style="color: magenta; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lindsey Kauffman:</div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have no idea what this girl is doing now or where she is...but when I was a skinny, scared freshman on the LP volleyball team. This girl took me under her wing and helped me feel comfortable on that team. She gave me rides, advice on the court, always smiled at me, and always went out of her way to be there for me. </div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thank you Lindsey Kauffman.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: magenta; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Kiana Rogers:</div><div style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">haha...this girl. oh man. I love this one so much...she is one of my bestest friends ever. Again...as a (still) skinny, scared freshman on the BYU volleyball team, she took me under her wing and befriended me. She broke me into college life and showed me how to have fun! I learned a lot from this girl. A loooot. She'll never know just how much she helped me though. I went through a time in my life where I felt unliked by a lot of people...and she made me feel like a cool person. I know that sounds weird...but feeling cool and liked is important for humans. I love you Ki.</div><div style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thank you Kiana Rogers.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: magenta; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Grandpa Grant:</div><div style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Grandpa Grant is probably 87 years old and went to about every single home volleyball game while I was at Lone Peak. He came up to me before a game one day and talked to me for about an hour. He was so pleasant to talk to and the cutest old man I had ever seen (I have always had a special place in my heart for the elderly). I had no idea who he was. I asked around and nobody knew who he was. The next game he brought me a cd and even tried to give me money to buy a snack!! From that day on I saw and talked to him before every volleyball game. He never missed!! I started to become more and more fond of him. We dedicated a spot in our media guide to him and he became our grandpa Grant. When I went away to college, I wondered if he would still come to my games. I can't really remember, but I don't think he came my freshman year. Then he came once my next year and found out that I was red shirting...so he said he would come the next year. I got his number and called him and found out where he lived and brought him a Christmas present that year. Found out he lives upstairs in a house with his family. His sweetheart died many years ago and he was listening to an old recording of a book on tape when we went to visit him. Grandpa Grant just lights up every time he sees me. I talked with him for hours that night and then left and didn't see him for a LONG time. I began to really worry about him...but never checked up on him and I wish I did. I can't treat my angels like that! anyway, then one day during double days in the summer he comes walking into the RB gym randomly!! I ran over to him and started crying my eyes out. I was SO happy to see him! I don't know what came over me...but I have so much love in my heart for this man. He left after practice and I didn't see him for a long time after that again! Then he came to a game randomly and I ran to him smiling bigger than I ever have and yes...balling my eyes out. He explained to me that after he left that day in the summer he had a heart attack!!!!! Right after he saw me that day! and I had no idea! I couldn't believe it. I was so grateful that he was alright and I got to see him again. I'll never forget that man's laugh, smile, kindness, warmth, and caring. I love him so much. I have no idea why he came into my life...maybe it was just to bring me happiness. That's exactly what he has done. </div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thank you Grandpa Grant. </span><br />
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</div><div style="color: magenta; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Larry Jensen:</div><div style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When my family moved to Alpine from South Jordan, I had no friends. We moved in the summer so I didn't have school to make any friends. I remember being so excited when it was time to go get the mail! hahaha because it was something to do! Anyway, my dad set me up my first email and I was so excited about it. I had no one to email though, so my dad gave me the email address of Larry Jensen from his work. This man responded to every single one of my silly, childish emails and made each day exciting for me to get an email and respond back. My dad just gave me his email again and I am going to email him right now and thank him for that.</div><div style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thank you Larry Jensen. </div><div style="color: magenta; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: magenta; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My family:</div><div style="color: #d5a6bd; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Of course every single member of my family is an angel to me as well! I love my family so dearly...they have all helped me out through all the difficult stages of my life and I will be forever grateful to them for that. I want to mention my little sister Charity specifically. For those of you who don't know...she has Down Syndrome. So....she is legitimately an angel. :) anyway, she is going through this teenage phase right now and she is driving me nuts. BUT....she, above anyone else, can sense when I am really down and will just give me a hug without saying anything. She has an amazing intuition with that sort of thing and I don't know what I'd do without her. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Thank you Family. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17011227876754097094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127904048384148545.post-43910324080413650922010-11-23T11:54:00.000-08:002010-11-23T11:54:12.106-08:00Delayed flight...awesomeHere we are....sitting in the SLC airport waiting for our flight to take us to our death by snow and ice. Yes, we are heading to Wyoming where the high will be 10 degrees. The hiiiigh. Oh well, we will just barely miss the blizzard that is supposed to hit here in Utah that everyone is freaking out about. I'm kinda sad we'll miss it! I love storms! Would have been fun to curl up by the fire, with this new tea that I love, and the new book I just bought. But I'm going to play volleyball! Which is my passion, so I am happy and it's a fair trade off.<br />
Sucks that we will have to miss Thanksgiving again though. We will be celebrating it in a hotel in Colorado probably. I"m grateful we get to have one at all!<br />
Well, life is pretty rough right now. Broke up with the boyfriend a few weeks ago and I was fine at first. I guess numb is the better word. It's starting to wear off now and I'm feeling the full blown effects of it. I'm just taking it day by day. I guess that's the best way to do it. Stay busy and try not to dwell and analyze too much. I tend to think about things and feel things a lot deeper than most people. Life is good though. I'm grateful for this trial which will make me better and everything is going to work out. The Lord knows what He's doing and I just need to trust in Him.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17011227876754097094noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127904048384148545.post-69590334022555475882010-11-12T15:24:00.000-08:002010-11-12T15:24:04.688-08:00Still easy to be gratefulThe past couple of weeks have been...crappy...to say the least. School, volleyball, life..It's been really rough. But life is good. I look around me and I think of all the things I am blessed with, and no matter how hard life gets, it's still easy to be grateful. Life is good.<br />
It's important for us to always be grateful for what we have. There's always something. Even if it's being grateful for the trials we go through that make us stronger.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17011227876754097094noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127904048384148545.post-5203238755794606942010-11-01T11:23:00.000-07:002010-11-01T11:23:56.279-07:00the FLUUUUUU! :(<div style="color: #e69138; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I knew it was bound to happen again, I just haven't been sick in so long I forgot what it feels like to throw up. Worst feeling EVER! Ok I'm sure there are worse feelings...but this one is up there. I hate it. This particular timing was the worst though, because we had my family birthday dinner last night. There was steak, and orange rolls, and asparagus, and ice cream pie for dessert. My favorite meal. Had to watch my family eat it and fill themselves while I empty myself over a toilet. Ugh. It was terrible. But always so good to see my family, even when I'm sick. I love my family. Oh, by the way, over half my family has had the flu also. My dad and I are home with it today - it's our turn. I hope we're the last of it. </div><div style="color: #e69138; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At least I wasn't sick for <span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Halloween!</span> It was so fun! Joe was a bumble bee and I was his flower. It was so cute. I'll post pictures (as soon as I figure out how to do that). We went to the dance at UVU, it was SO packed! So fun though. Before that we took his little sisters trick-or-treating. Those girls are adorable and I love them. They were troopers though, we went for a while. One house was handing out king size Symphony bars. I had Lauren (one of Joe's little sisters) go and get me one. Of course I switched her coats and had her put on my hat so she didn't look like a double treater cheater. :)</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A vampire, me, and Katy Perry</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlnMYyFEhf7K3GLok7KUyMjev8VFaatNC-0DdyxtR3q4NGX4acW60JW0xQLjgRAOYaJgUhKrSYVuxGYiZlPwcEyrCrPQYm_vMNZDn1QFNE0nDdTopatGYT2ZPy4RFsQb3eNFP_EvCzcPT/s1600/PA300107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IExZkMsBdnU/TM8FAU13ARI/AAAAAAAAAAQ/2h7l3VAm78w/s320/PA300108.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">looks like Katy Perry will soon be a vampire!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IExZkMsBdnU/TM8FAU13ARI/AAAAAAAAAAQ/2h7l3VAm78w/s1600/PA300108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgp3qFtWLgmCNUSwlBZQ37tVOqCAdeLfW0KgJpl4t55kJot5e1PrUbBMbhHhYMFjVrDrTopOBpAD158s6x99YHEUiDmaW9CYBN0U-0Vr1JTcYFkwrxEIjK8TSXxsJkai_68I0XYxEyxsG/s320/PA300109.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We hadn't dressed up at this point yet. But we're still kinda scary huh?!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgp3qFtWLgmCNUSwlBZQ37tVOqCAdeLfW0KgJpl4t55kJot5e1PrUbBMbhHhYMFjVrDrTopOBpAD158s6x99YHEUiDmaW9CYBN0U-0Vr1JTcYFkwrxEIjK8TSXxsJkai_68I0XYxEyxsG/s1600/PA300109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnll8NBvkBdu68JEYWvboW9qureu6gL0n4QJubJTRY-JTZwP-LBSkBCXfSsVNxTqewUdn76X32QnZWifCTRKoZAfyP5OWIkbL9lLYz42j2ow_7i-0pqqhjlV9ocanUtmb55RqqQvCov2l/s320/PA300110.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">trick or treat!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnll8NBvkBdu68JEYWvboW9qureu6gL0n4QJubJTRY-JTZwP-LBSkBCXfSsVNxTqewUdn76X32QnZWifCTRKoZAfyP5OWIkbL9lLYz42j2ow_7i-0pqqhjlV9ocanUtmb55RqqQvCov2l/s1600/PA300110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqcBW7nhPpAFXDvhO0uYiNtixoiFNKMoUtYHShXzyF911_A0PRGPjmkXtBlBo0QD-fgoPeB_wUET6W3QchyphenhyphenfpV6nfC3AnEuw-kESTRxEkLnzzAiwZYiXjmsYYrivJRRgQU3_KgshurH8uc/s320/PA300113.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bumble bee and his flower!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqcBW7nhPpAFXDvhO0uYiNtixoiFNKMoUtYHShXzyF911_A0PRGPjmkXtBlBo0QD-fgoPeB_wUET6W3QchyphenhyphenfpV6nfC3AnEuw-kESTRxEkLnzzAiwZYiXjmsYYrivJRRgQU3_KgshurH8uc/s1600/PA300113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now I'm at home in bed. Trying to get over this sickness. It's kinda nice to lay in bed all day though because my body has been hurting from volleyball lately. But, it's annoying because I'm an on-the-go person so it's hard to just lay here. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17011227876754097094noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127904048384148545.post-74036879943317464362010-10-27T13:00:00.000-07:002010-10-27T13:00:30.631-07:00Happy Birthday to me!<div style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> I'm 22 now!! Whoooooooa nelly. No messin around anymore. 22 is so much older than 21 I feel like. Time to grow up I guess. :) </span></div><div style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thanks to my wonderful boyfriend whom I love dearly (Joe Stewart), I had an amazing birthday yesterday! In the morning I slept in only to wake up to a fabulous breakfast of whole wheat pancakes made by my mom. After that I went to the BYU devotional with my team and got a bunch of lovely birthday wishes. Thanks girls! Then went and had a very much needed nap. After that, went to practice where there was a whole lot of running...Thank you Shay. :) Best part of the whole day was going to dinner with Joe, watching some Brian Regan, and hittin up the steam room and hot tub at the gym. First time steam room trip. I think it's so awesome! Anyway, overall it was a super chill, but awesome birthday that I was able to spend with my man!</span></div><div style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Joe, I know you'll probably read this so this is for you:</i></div><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I want you to know how much I love and adore you. You put a lot of effort into that day to make it wonderful for me and I want you to know how much that means to me. You are such an incredible person and I thank my Heavenly Father every day for you. Thank you for being the person that you are and making me want to be better. You're amazing. Mush. :) </span></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17011227876754097094noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127904048384148545.post-59529392009716215662010-10-23T23:29:00.000-07:002010-10-23T23:29:37.832-07:00hello there<span style="font-size: small;"></span><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">I have tried this whole blogging thing once before...but somehow it vanished one day. </span></span><span style="font-size: small;">Probably has something to do with my awesome computer skills. But as they say, "If at first you don't succeed, try try again." Ok I will. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">I feel a bit embarrassed to let others read my blog (apology in advance), because everyone is so dang good at it!</span> Such good writers and creative templates and colors, etc. I used to think I was creative back when I was in elementary school cause my teacher told me all the time that I was. No one tells me anymore so I think it wore off. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">I've become obsessed with stalking other people's blogs this past weekend.</span> We got stuck in Texas because our flight was canceled due to a tornado warning. Laaaaame. So, I've had a lot of time on my hands in the hotel, most of that time has been spent on blogger. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Now I believe an explanation is in order for my cheesy blog title name</span>. Carpe Diem. Betcha never heard that one before right? When I came on to play volleyball for BYU the seniors gave me the nick name Carpe...because my last name is Carpenter...get it? it's shortened. For the URL thingy just "carpe" wouldn't be allowed so I did Carpe-diem-yo. Diem just flows after Carpe so I decided to just name my whole blog that. There ya go. But I also seize the day too.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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