"You is kind, You is smart, You is important"

Oh boy it's been way too long since I've written! ok, that's a lie...I write all the time (essays, that is). But it's been months since I've actually written for enjoyment. Now, if you don't understand the title of this post, obviously you haven't seen the movie, The Help, which I had the chance to see yesterday (yes, it was at the dollar theater and yes, it has taken me way too long to see this movie!) However, I finally got to see it and it was INCREDIBLE! I highly recommend it (make sure to bring some tissues along though). Although it took me quite awhile to make it to a theater to see this movie, It seemed to me that I just happened to see it at the perfect time with it being Thanksgiving and all. I walked out of that theater with my heart full of gratitude for my freedom, the era I live in, and all the courageous people that came before me. It is so easy for me to get caught up in the demands of life and forget to take a step back and thank God for everything He has given me. So this post is inspired by this movie which reminded me of how remarkably blessed I am. Besides gratitude, I was also struck by the courage these women showed in the movie. At one point, the mother of the main character tells her how proud of her she is. I thought about that for a moment--I don't know if my own mother has ever said something like that to me. Not that I'm a disappointment or anything (At least I would hope not! ha) but it made me want to do something that would make her proud of me. I'm not one to take risks but it dawned on me that the essence of courage requires risk-taking--hence, why it's called "courage." So tonight I'm praying to God and thanking him for everything that I have been blessed with and asking for the strength to show courage when the opportunity presents itself. With that in mind, Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Quotes, quotes, and more quotes...

"It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare."
Mark Twain

"Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point."

C.S. Lewis

Short Lived

The Slurpee. 

I found this delicious flavor of slurpee and poured myself an entire cup full. Unfortunately, 7-11 only carried extra small cups so that deliciousness was sucked up through my straw shockingly fast. Now I'm at the bottom of my cup desperately attempting to sip just a few last drops of that sugar filled delight. Quantity can be so unfair sometimes...whether its the amount of slurpee you down in ten minutes or the amount of time you have to spend with a person before they leave you for 730 days... 

It's like a really good song you wish was longer than just 3 minutes and 47 seconds. That last night together, you wish that it could last forever...yeah, time is cruel. 

Like a flicker of light in the darkness, it lit up the room in which I was standing, stimulated my sight, but before my eyes could adjust to the brightness it was gone. However, a colored outline of the light remained imprinted before my eyes long after the light ever existed.

Although the experience was short lived, the memories will last forever.

There's my metaphoric/poetic reflections for the day.
The End.

Words from the Wise:

"It's a strange thing, but when you are dreading something and would give anything to slow down time, it has a disobliging habit of speeding up."

~J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Nothing is as far away as one minute ago.

~Jim Bishop

Fading Daylight

Can someone please tell me where the summer went!? I move out in three days and start school in a week! There's still so much to do, I feel as if every ray of sunlight is precious time. The days of bare feet and suntan lines are gradually slipping away. My goal this summer was to not allow myself to be bored for even one day. Well, I'm happy to say that I definitely accomplished that goal. However, I've been so busy that the thought of "hitting the books" again is no where in sight. But with only limited days of freedom and sunshine, who could blame me? My favorite part of summer is the beginning. The excitement for the unknown of what adventures will occur in the 2 1/2 months of careless fun. Never is one summer quite the same as another. And as I look back on this past summer, it may not have been what I had anticipated or expected, I might not have spent it with the people I intended or done the things I assumed I would; but it was no less enjoyable, rewarding, or spontaneous than the last. And although I'm going to miss my numerous trips to Seven Peaks, Snowasis, and my beloved cabin on Hebgen Lake; I couldn't be more excited to begin and document a completely new adventure--college.  So until next time (which will probably be when I can officially call myself a BYU Cougar!!!) That's all folks!

Huh?

Alright so my internet has been having issues for what seems like EVER!!! It just happens to be working at this moment so I thought I better take the chance to quickly write before it gets all screwed up again. So I went shopping with a friend today and I swear every time I go somewhere with this person something random seems to happen--something that just makes you want to say, "Huh?” Today, we were on our way home and I was in the middle of telling a story at a stop light when the car in front of us suddenly opened it's doors and the passengers ran around the car, switched drivers, and then drove off. After this sudden event we both realized I had stopped mid sentence for about two minutes just staring at what was going on in front of us and I had completely forgotten what I was talking about. Who knows? Haha. Anyways, it got me thinking about the numerous amounts of random things that happen in one's day that we don't even notice. If we paid attention to all the "out of the blue" sort of things that happen each and everyday, I think (at least for me) my life would consist of lot more humor and laughs. It just shows that when you really pay attention to your surroundings and take into consideration how ironic and comical life can be, it makes for a much more enjoyable day. So that is my new goal, to notice all the silly moments in my life that I would have usually over-looked.

“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells.  Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope.  Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life's realities.”  ~Theodore Geisel

“Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought.” 
~Albert Szent-Györgyi

The "F" Word

"Doesn't designing all these wedding dresses ever make you think about getting married again; or at least make you think about the "f" word?
The "f" word?
My father!"

If you don't know what movie this quote is from, then I don't know what planet you live on! Lindsay Lohan depicts a young teenage twin deprived from knowing her father in the classic movie, "The Parent Trap." Well unlike Annie James (Lohan's character) I do know my father! And since it's Father's Day, I found it only appropriate that I post something about my dad. So this one's for him, even though he doesn't even read this blog. 

From the the first time he held me, to the tickle fights as a toddler, piggy back rides, bedtime stories, letting me drive the boat, calling me "little princess", dancing to when he played the piano, my baptism day, gifts from all his travels, our midnight snacks of nachos and caprese salad, oldies music education until 1am, finishing Spanish homework--also until 1am, extensive amounts of sarcasm, and the act of giving a hug and asking him how his day was that drew me to tears are just a few of the sweetest moments I ever spent with my dad. My dad has never been one to share a lot of affection or emotion towards his children but through his hard work, strong testimony, and desire to make his children into strong and respectable people, he has shown me more love than he'll probably ever know. It's not as common these days to find a father who comes home from work to a wife and kids and fulfills the duties of a provider, protector, and worthy priesthood holder. So thank you Dad! for being all those things, all my life, and being the greatest example to me. Here's a poem that I found that basically sums up exactly what I wanted to say...and it even rhymes! haha

Life Lessons

You may have thought I didn't see,

Or that I hadn't heard,

Life lessons that you taught to me,

But I got every word.

Perhaps you thought I missed it all,

And that we'd grow apart,

But Dad, I picked up everything,

It's written on my heart.

Without you, Dad, I wouldn't be

The person I am today;

You built a strong foundation

No one can take away.

I've grown up with your values,

And I'm very glad I did;

So here's to you, dear father,

From your forever grateful kid.

By Joanna Fuchs

I am so beyond grateful for having the Father I do, and I know for a fact I don't let him know it enough. So I hope whoever reads this, even if it isn't Father's Day, to let your Dad know you love him! And I promise I'll do the same :)

Love you Dad,

Happy Father's Day!