|
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Another Testament to BYU Dance Classes
Monday, July 18, 2011
It only takes one person to make a difference.
Coming home for the summer was a little different this year. For one thing I actually wanted to stay in Utah but expenses outweighed opportunity, so I had to come home! Second, I felt like everyone else was staying and I would miss out on fun and friends, which for a while was true. And third, I felt like I wouldn't have any friends at home to hang out with. Nevertheless, I came home. For the first two months I filled all my time with work, babysitting and family because I didn't want to feel lame because I had free time and nothing to do! However, it all changed when I met a wonderful girl at church! Amber saying hello to me and inviting me to a crape party was one of the biggest blessings of the summer! Since meeting her I have made some wonderful friends, borrowed someones socks, danced like a fool, discovered the wonder of $5 movies, jumped in the Tualatin river, and learned how to throw a Frisbee. I never realized how much one kind person can make a difference.
People like Amber make me want to be the same. I smile and say hello to people I met one time, I try to make people feel welcome, I try to invite people...I know its silly but after seeing how much of a blessing it was for me, I just want to return the favor to others. A warm smile, a gentle greeting, a friendly face.... all these things can completely change how a person feels. They made me willing to try new things on my own. They all helped me to feel comfortable enough to be myself. It all started with one person. Never underestimate your ability to help someone. Never let an opportunity to make a friend pass you by. I once heard someone say, "There is no such thing as a stranger, just friends you haven't met yet".
Until later,
A friend
People like Amber make me want to be the same. I smile and say hello to people I met one time, I try to make people feel welcome, I try to invite people...I know its silly but after seeing how much of a blessing it was for me, I just want to return the favor to others. A warm smile, a gentle greeting, a friendly face.... all these things can completely change how a person feels. They made me willing to try new things on my own. They all helped me to feel comfortable enough to be myself. It all started with one person. Never underestimate your ability to help someone. Never let an opportunity to make a friend pass you by. I once heard someone say, "There is no such thing as a stranger, just friends you haven't met yet".
Until later,
A friend
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Reasons I come back to Portland for summer....
Its been quite sometime since I last wrote anything so I figured I should explain why....My summers are not filled with weekend trips to the beach or vacations to far away places, although I sometimes wish they were! My summers are filled with work, working out, and babysitting. Occasionally I sleep or watch a movie...but that's about it....I know I know it sounds ridiculously boring and lame to most people but to me it's completely fine 99.5% of the time. The other .5% of the time I really wish I had something fun to do with friends, who knows maybe if I had something to do I would actually work less....Anyways, here are the reasons why I come home to Portland for the summer....
1. My job is just too convenient! If I was to come back home for a weekend I could have a job if I wanted. It is the biggest blessing in my life since baby lotion was created. And not only is it convenient, it is awesome! I get paid to play with little children, people don't look at me funny if I start acting like a little kid, and it's basically just the best! I also have wonderful friends from work that I love!
2. The families I babysit for are amazing! I primarily babysit for 3 families. They keep me plenty busy and sometimes I babysit for a family as often as 3 times a week! One of my all time favorite families has 5 happy, fun, energetic, loud, active boys. Did I mention that they are all boys!?! I love it! They are adorable. Grant, the oldest, is my little helper. When I ask him to watch the babies for a second so that I can do something else, he is on it! Luke, next in line, is the goof ball! He comes up with some of the wackiest sayings and jokes that I have ever hear! Max, middle child, is very intelligent! If he doesn't understand why something is the way it is, he won't leave me alone until he gets a good answer! And then their are the twins, Leo and Jake. Leo is much more of an independent baby, he will just hang out and do his own thing, on the other hand Jake likes to do everything that his older brothers are doing. He loves to be right where all the action is. We have had so many fun times! A scavenger hunt for buried treasure, making fathers day crafts, watching Hook! (Which happens to be an awesome movie!) and much much more!
3. I suppose my family should count. I love them, I really do! Sometimes they really drive me up the wall though!
4. My gym membership is free! I love working out! However, I don't have a membership to a gym at school because I am a cheap college kid! I would work out 6 days a week if I got my way every week! Sometimes it doesn't happen, but it's wonderful when it does!
5. Last but not least.....It's OREGON! The most beautiful place in the world! I love Oregon! I just wish I had more time to enjoy it, which is why I am going to make a list of things I want to do before the end of summer!
Until later,
working too much
1. My job is just too convenient! If I was to come back home for a weekend I could have a job if I wanted. It is the biggest blessing in my life since baby lotion was created. And not only is it convenient, it is awesome! I get paid to play with little children, people don't look at me funny if I start acting like a little kid, and it's basically just the best! I also have wonderful friends from work that I love!
2. The families I babysit for are amazing! I primarily babysit for 3 families. They keep me plenty busy and sometimes I babysit for a family as often as 3 times a week! One of my all time favorite families has 5 happy, fun, energetic, loud, active boys. Did I mention that they are all boys!?! I love it! They are adorable. Grant, the oldest, is my little helper. When I ask him to watch the babies for a second so that I can do something else, he is on it! Luke, next in line, is the goof ball! He comes up with some of the wackiest sayings and jokes that I have ever hear! Max, middle child, is very intelligent! If he doesn't understand why something is the way it is, he won't leave me alone until he gets a good answer! And then their are the twins, Leo and Jake. Leo is much more of an independent baby, he will just hang out and do his own thing, on the other hand Jake likes to do everything that his older brothers are doing. He loves to be right where all the action is. We have had so many fun times! A scavenger hunt for buried treasure, making fathers day crafts, watching Hook! (Which happens to be an awesome movie!) and much much more!
3. I suppose my family should count. I love them, I really do! Sometimes they really drive me up the wall though!
4. My gym membership is free! I love working out! However, I don't have a membership to a gym at school because I am a cheap college kid! I would work out 6 days a week if I got my way every week! Sometimes it doesn't happen, but it's wonderful when it does!
5. Last but not least.....It's OREGON! The most beautiful place in the world! I love Oregon! I just wish I had more time to enjoy it, which is why I am going to make a list of things I want to do before the end of summer!
Until later,
working too much
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Ode to the Toothbrush
So this really isn't going to be an ode...I am not qualified to write one. Instead this will be the tale of the toothbrush.
The other day I was talking to my mom while brushing my teeth. After I was done I rinsed off my toothbrush and then decided it would be a great idea to throw it on the ground. You see I am very particular about what surfaces my toothbrush touches. If it touches the counter I am a little weary and proceed to check the cleanliness of the counter. If it touches the floor then its gone! Thus my wonderful yellow toothbrush was history. It should have known better than to touch the floor. Anyways, I then got a new toothbrush from the closet. This toothbrush and I hit it off! We make a wonderful duo! I barely have to do anything and my teeth are clean! Its wonderful! As simple as it is my toothbrush makes me happy! The end!
Until later,
Happily Brushing
The other day I was talking to my mom while brushing my teeth. After I was done I rinsed off my toothbrush and then decided it would be a great idea to throw it on the ground. You see I am very particular about what surfaces my toothbrush touches. If it touches the counter I am a little weary and proceed to check the cleanliness of the counter. If it touches the floor then its gone! Thus my wonderful yellow toothbrush was history. It should have known better than to touch the floor. Anyways, I then got a new toothbrush from the closet. This toothbrush and I hit it off! We make a wonderful duo! I barely have to do anything and my teeth are clean! Its wonderful! As simple as it is my toothbrush makes me happy! The end!
Until later,
Happily Brushing
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Road Trip!!!
At last I am writing a post about my road trip last summer!! I am going to make it short but just wanted to make sure I write something! So here goes...
Last summer was bittersweet. I was fortunate enough to come home from my first year of college but one of my really good friends was moving half way across the country. Ashley's mom got a great job working for Houston's First Baptist in Texas so their entire family was moving! When I found out I jokingly commented that I would be more than willing to help them drive there...its a good thing I actually wanted to! As a result of numerous things they were unable to take both cars and everything. So Ashley was stuck in Portland with a car! It was perfect! We mapped it all out! Had a binder full of directions for each day! Gas was paid for! And three girls set out on an adventure!
Cassie, Ashley and I took turns driving each day. Because we were young adults we decided that no road trip was complete without a lot of fun! Which of course meant we needed to stop at every Six Flags between Portland and Houston! The first one was in Vallejo California! It was wonderful! At this park we met Jay. I know it is dumb for 3 singles girls to hang out with a guy all day but we were smart about it and didn't tell him where we were from or where we were going. Plus Jay got us to the front of any line...it was awesome! We stayed with Ashley's Grandfather in San Jose for two nights and then departed for lunch with her other Grandparents in Irvine California. After having lunch we proceeded to travel to Anaheim. Here we stayed in a Trendwest Resort called Dolphin Cove. It was right next to Disneyland! So of course that night we went to watch the fireworks at Disneyland! The next day we went to Magic Mountain! Basically the best thrill rides of the entire trip! X2 was awesome! Just ultimately a great day! The next day we traveled to Indio California. Here we took a day off and rested. It was nice to just sit by the pool and relax! However following the day of rest came a day of torture! We drove from Indio California to Santa Fe, New Mexico! What a long day! After that we had another long day driving from Santa Fe to Frisco, Texas. In Frisco we stayed with my sister Hilary. The next day we took another break! We each had friends or family in the area so we split up and did our own thing. It was perfect timing for me because this day happened to land on my niece Alyssa's birthday! We went to see Despicable Me and had a great time just hanging out! Then we went to Six Flags Over Texas. It was fun. I think I enjoyed it the most because of the memories I had from when I went there with my family. Finally we drove to San Antonio and stayed with my roommate Claudia's family. They were so sweet to allow us to stay with them. We had dinner on the River Walk and then the next day Claudia came with us to Six Flags Fiesta Texas. The neat part about this park is that it has a water park. I think this is one of my all time favorite places. I rode my first roller coaster here when I was 10 and it changed my life. Stephanie (my other roommate) drove out and spend the night with us. It was fun to have a little reunion in the middle of summer. After that we drove our last stretch to Houston! When finally in Houston we spent time with Ashley's family and relaxed!
This trip was such a blessing. Not only did we have a wonderful time but it was a great opportunity to share the gospel with Ashley. She is a very strong christian and is curious about the church. I think that it scares her to admit that she might be interested. I gave her a Book of Mormon when I left of college the first time, I know she hasn't read it but I am confident that at some point in her life she will find value in it.
I know that this post would have been 20 times better if I had written it last summer....but I'm lame and didn't...not much I can do about that now. But at least I now have a record of it!
Until later,
looking for another adventure
Last summer was bittersweet. I was fortunate enough to come home from my first year of college but one of my really good friends was moving half way across the country. Ashley's mom got a great job working for Houston's First Baptist in Texas so their entire family was moving! When I found out I jokingly commented that I would be more than willing to help them drive there...its a good thing I actually wanted to! As a result of numerous things they were unable to take both cars and everything. So Ashley was stuck in Portland with a car! It was perfect! We mapped it all out! Had a binder full of directions for each day! Gas was paid for! And three girls set out on an adventure!
Cassie, Ashley and I took turns driving each day. Because we were young adults we decided that no road trip was complete without a lot of fun! Which of course meant we needed to stop at every Six Flags between Portland and Houston! The first one was in Vallejo California! It was wonderful! At this park we met Jay. I know it is dumb for 3 singles girls to hang out with a guy all day but we were smart about it and didn't tell him where we were from or where we were going. Plus Jay got us to the front of any line...it was awesome! We stayed with Ashley's Grandfather in San Jose for two nights and then departed for lunch with her other Grandparents in Irvine California. After having lunch we proceeded to travel to Anaheim. Here we stayed in a Trendwest Resort called Dolphin Cove. It was right next to Disneyland! So of course that night we went to watch the fireworks at Disneyland! The next day we went to Magic Mountain! Basically the best thrill rides of the entire trip! X2 was awesome! Just ultimately a great day! The next day we traveled to Indio California. Here we took a day off and rested. It was nice to just sit by the pool and relax! However following the day of rest came a day of torture! We drove from Indio California to Santa Fe, New Mexico! What a long day! After that we had another long day driving from Santa Fe to Frisco, Texas. In Frisco we stayed with my sister Hilary. The next day we took another break! We each had friends or family in the area so we split up and did our own thing. It was perfect timing for me because this day happened to land on my niece Alyssa's birthday! We went to see Despicable Me and had a great time just hanging out! Then we went to Six Flags Over Texas. It was fun. I think I enjoyed it the most because of the memories I had from when I went there with my family. Finally we drove to San Antonio and stayed with my roommate Claudia's family. They were so sweet to allow us to stay with them. We had dinner on the River Walk and then the next day Claudia came with us to Six Flags Fiesta Texas. The neat part about this park is that it has a water park. I think this is one of my all time favorite places. I rode my first roller coaster here when I was 10 and it changed my life. Stephanie (my other roommate) drove out and spend the night with us. It was fun to have a little reunion in the middle of summer. After that we drove our last stretch to Houston! When finally in Houston we spent time with Ashley's family and relaxed!
This trip was such a blessing. Not only did we have a wonderful time but it was a great opportunity to share the gospel with Ashley. She is a very strong christian and is curious about the church. I think that it scares her to admit that she might be interested. I gave her a Book of Mormon when I left of college the first time, I know she hasn't read it but I am confident that at some point in her life she will find value in it.
I know that this post would have been 20 times better if I had written it last summer....but I'm lame and didn't...not much I can do about that now. But at least I now have a record of it!
Until later,
looking for another adventure
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Redesign
As you may have noticed I have changed my blog a bit. Well basically the only things that stayed were the author (me) and all the previous posts...I guess I just felt like it wasn't matching up with what I am trying to accomplish. I realized this all when I logged on one day and noticed that my background was no longer in existence. I then proceeded to look for new background. As I was searching I was torn because I felt like the backgrounds I liked didn't match the name of the blog...and well I kind of think that things should follow a theme. Anyways, after being torn between backgrounds I liked and keeping the name, I decided to change the name.
What is the new reasoning behind the name you might be wondering...well let me tell you! If you have ever heard the song "Your gonna miss this" by Trace Adkins you will understand the inspiration for the name. If you haven't heard it you are a hopeless human being with no hope in this life. Ok no really though its a good song! You need to hear it! I have even posted the video for your convenience.
Back to topic though, besides really liking this song, I feel like it teaches a really important principle. So often in life we focus on what is going to be next, that we fail to appreciate what is happening now. I know I just wrote a post all about this but its really important and has been on my mind alot lately! I work at a daycare and I often find myself telling parents that one day they will miss their child crying as they separate from them and are forced back into KidsWorld. It seems odd but one day they will miss it. One day they will look back and say where did my little baby go? One day we will all look back and ask ourselves how we got to this point in our lives. One day we will all wonder where time has gone. I know that I don't want to ever regret missing opportunities when they are in front of me. I don't want to look back and be disappointed at the things I missed. I want to soak in each day and learn from it. I want to take time to focus on the present.
Thomas S. Monson once said, "Learn from the past, prepare for the future, live in the present." And that is what I intend to do!
Until later,
Living
Monday, April 25, 2011
Time to smell the roses...
It has been way too long since I last posted something so I figured that it was about time. I am now home from my sophomore year at Brigham Young University! It was a great year! I'm almost done with my GEs and my Minor! Unfortunately that means I still need to do my major....but that is all beside the point! My roommates were awesome and I had an amazing ward! I cannot wait to go back! I will pot on this more later so for now I will get to the point of this post...
This last year I have noticed that I tend to rush from one thing to the next without taking time to enjoy what I am doing at the moment. I often found myself sitting in class counting down the minutes until it was done so that I could go to my next class because that meant I was almost done with classes for the day and I could go to work. (I am convinced that besides my inability to be content with where I am, the joy that I got from being at work and getting things done is unnatural.) Anyways, I would then count down the minutes until I got to go home! After I got home I couldn't wait for the next thing to happen! I was just always looking forward to the next thing that I never really took the time to enjoy where I was.
This small scale example is true on the larger scale as well. I have always been so focused on getting to the next stage of life, expecting everything to be suddenly perfect, that I never appreciate the stage that I am in. Like right now, I am single! Instead of focusing on the fact that I am unable to get a date I should enjoy the freedom that I have and take this opportunity to grow. I need to focus on what I have instead of what I lack. So this summer I am going to do whatever I want to do (probably mostly working and spending time with my family, but still it will be what I want to do). I am going to be content with where I am at in life and just enjoy this time for what it is! I am going to stop and smell the roses because at some point they might be gone and what a waste it would be if I did not enjoy them when I had the chance. I know that I will be given opportunities when I am ready for them and that it will all happen sooner than I realize.
I feel like this has been a little bit of a soap box but it is my blog...and I did title it Word Vomit....so I suppose that it is fitting. It is what it is.
Until later,
Content
This last year I have noticed that I tend to rush from one thing to the next without taking time to enjoy what I am doing at the moment. I often found myself sitting in class counting down the minutes until it was done so that I could go to my next class because that meant I was almost done with classes for the day and I could go to work. (I am convinced that besides my inability to be content with where I am, the joy that I got from being at work and getting things done is unnatural.) Anyways, I would then count down the minutes until I got to go home! After I got home I couldn't wait for the next thing to happen! I was just always looking forward to the next thing that I never really took the time to enjoy where I was.
This small scale example is true on the larger scale as well. I have always been so focused on getting to the next stage of life, expecting everything to be suddenly perfect, that I never appreciate the stage that I am in. Like right now, I am single! Instead of focusing on the fact that I am unable to get a date I should enjoy the freedom that I have and take this opportunity to grow. I need to focus on what I have instead of what I lack. So this summer I am going to do whatever I want to do (probably mostly working and spending time with my family, but still it will be what I want to do). I am going to be content with where I am at in life and just enjoy this time for what it is! I am going to stop and smell the roses because at some point they might be gone and what a waste it would be if I did not enjoy them when I had the chance. I know that I will be given opportunities when I am ready for them and that it will all happen sooner than I realize.
I feel like this has been a little bit of a soap box but it is my blog...and I did title it Word Vomit....so I suppose that it is fitting. It is what it is.
Until later,
Content
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)