getting excited

ah!! The day after tomorrow I will be reunited with this girl:

and then two days later, with this girl:

and all will be right with the world.

I'm excited :)

something new #6

 I try really hard to make people think I'm funny. 

I also try really hard to make it look like I'm not trying to be funny, but that it just comes naturally. 

It's exhausting sometimes always!!

faculty vs students

today was my last day of work (I'm super sad about that) and to kick off the christmas break with a bang, we had a faculty vs students basketball game.

The girls played the first and third quarters and the guys played the second and fourth. I wasn't originally planning on playing, but my friend Hailey that I teach with convinced me, so I gave in.

And boy I'm glad I did! It was super fun and I was glad to see that, even though I haven't played competitively since I was a freshman in high school, I still have a little bit of game :)

Those little girls were seriously brutal though, I got pretty banged up.

It was a little scary, however, when the first quarter got over. For those who may not know, I have a heck of a time absorbing iron, so I get tired really easily. I was feeling lightheaded so I walked to where no one could see me and sat down and I ended up almost blacking out :\ It took me to the end of the second quarter to be able to sit up, and then to the end of halftime to stand. But with nine minutes to go in the third quarter, I went back in the game and played the rest of the time.

And not just the players were brutal, but oh those fans! These are kids who have grown up going to Utah State Aggie games and cheered accordingly. Taunts of "you! will! miss! it! you! will! miss! it!", "LOSER! LOSER! LOSER! LOSER!", "You still suck! You still suck!" and many more filled the gym. I just laughed every time but it gave me a greater appreciation for what my friends who play for the Aggies go through. Or more appropriately, their competitors.

I even got fouled a couple times in the second half, but it was hard shooting my free throws when I was seeing double and not sure which basket to aim for.

Anyway, the teachers ended up winning and we were told we were the best girls team they've had in years. I just have one thing to say to those middle schoolers...

a very good night

Tonight was so good. I wish every night could be like tonight!

Went to Takara! Ate some insanely good sushi with amazing people and had great conversations.

Went to Borders. Coveted books.

Went on a three hour Christmas light finding, doughnut turning, conversation having drive.

Tonight was a very good night

something new #5

Here's something:

I'm not good at staying in touch with people. 

I stink at it. 

And I push people away. 

Especially the good ones. 

I don't know why.

Blech.

Prayer

I've been feeling a little sick today, and mom has the car, so I've had a lot of downtime. 

The internet is such a great resource for us to be able to access the words of modern day prophets and apostles. I'm so grateful for that. 

Anyway, today I was reading the talk by Richard G. Scott entitled "Using the Supernal Power of Prayer" and I thought I would share some of my favorite parts:

"Prayer is a supernal gift of our Father in Heaven to every soul. Think of it: the absolute Supreme Being, the most all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful personage, encourages you and me, as insignificant as we are, to converse with Him as our Father [. . .] It matters not our circumstance, be we humble or arrogant, poor or rich, free or enslaved, learned or ignorant, loved or forsaken, we can address Him. We need no appointment. Our supplication can be brief or can occupy all the time needed. It can be an extended expression of love and gratitude or an urgent plea for help. He has created numberless cosmos and populated them with worlds, yet you and I can talk with Him personally, and He will ever answer."

What an amazing promise! 

"Don’t worry about your clumsily expressed feelings. Just talk to your compassionate, understanding Father. You are His precious child whom He loves perfectly and wants to help. As you pray, recognize that Father in Heaven is near and He is listening." 

I needed to hear that. Sometimes I feel like my prayers are inadequate.

 "I have discovered that what sometimes seems an impenetrable barrier to communication is a giant step to be taken in trust. Seldom will you receive a complete response all at once. It will come a piece at a time, in packets, so that you will grow in capacity. As each piece is followed in faith, you will be led to other portions until you have the whole answer. That pattern requires you to exercise faith in our Father’s capacity to respond. While sometimes it’s very hard, it results in significant personal growth"

"Be thankful that sometimes God lets you struggle for a long time before that answer comes. Your character will grow; your faith will increase"

"It is so hard when sincere prayer about something you desire very much is not answered the way you want. It is difficult to understand why your exercise of deep and sincere faith from an obedient life does not grant the desired result"

"When you are living righteously and are acting with trust, God will not let you proceed too far without a warning impression if you have made the wrong decision"

There's so much more, I could post his entire talk. Instead, I'll just give you the link here.

the end      U

a goal

I want to "be a photographer" so bad it hurts.

I keep a list on my desktop of cameras and lenses I will "buy one day when I am rich"

I spend so much time looking at my favorite photographers blogs and coveting their skills. (coughryanmuirheadcough)

I tell myself I can't be as good without their expensive cameras, lenses, equipment, etc...

THIS IS FALSE! I CAN BE GOOD WITH WHAT I HAVE!

So. My new goal is to carry my camera around with me everywhere. Take at least 10 pictures a day. Go exploring around Logan. Find the beauty in the places people don't usually see or might have forgotten.

my room

My room isn't always clean.

In high school it was a random assortment of Audrey Hepburn and John Deere decorations.

But my room, no matter where I live, is my favorite place to be in the house.

Ever since I was little, that's where I'd go when I needed some alone time. It's where my books are and all the other things that bring me comfort.

For whatever reason, I really hate it when other people go into my room. It makes me cringe and grind my teeth.

That's all.

1. The boquet Brooklyn threw at her wedding. That I caught, because it was my duty as maid of honor

2. Every time my family gathers, the ladies do crafts. This was the one from our 4th of july reunion. They say "home" on the other side

3. Clothes :)

4. A small SMALL sampling of my books. Most are in storage :\ At home in CDA, Phil built floor to ceiling bookshelves along one of the walls in my room and they were all full of books. I miss that. 

5. There's a mirror across from my bed. That's all. 

6. Norbert, the dragon Brooklyn gave me for my birthday. He guards my room from monsters.

7. Magnet board with pictures :) Also random coloring book pages, a yoda birthday pin, and ballroom dance awards.

8. Audrey :) 

9. The sophisticated jewelry display I made by shoving thumbtacks into the wall

something new #4

I still have 4 baby teeth that have no permanent teeth under them.

I live in constant fear that one or all of them will fall out and I will have big ugly gaping holes in my mouth.