P R O M

This years prom was seriously SO FUN! This was definitely one of the funnest dances I've been to, hands down. So many hilarious things happened. First of all, this is my first time EVER wearing fake nails. Weird, right? I know, I'm not quite up to date on all the beauty rituals or whatever. But so the night before, I glued them on. Then I was going to bed. Before I go to bed, I always light candles that smell very nice while I read and relax before I fall asleep. So I light the match, and bend it down to light the wick on fire.. and suddenly, my fake nail catches on fire! Luckily I blew it out REALLY quickly, and no damage was done... aside from warping 2 of my pretty French tipped nails. Hahaha, it scared me half to death (: But man, I am looking forward to getting these off. They are very nice looking, but it's a killer to try and take contacts out with long fingernails!

Anyways. So to start out the day we went and ate a very delicious breakfast. It was very yummy. Waffles, eggs, hashbrowns... and oreos (: Hahaha. Then we went to the color festival! Kayla had a hair appointment, so we didn't think we would have much time. But we drove all the way down there anyways. It was fun having such random, interesting conversations. We also listened to a very.. diverse genre of music! Everything from the Beatles to Indian ragas to Freelance Whales, with Glockenspiels, the piano, banjos, and guitars.. it was so fun! Then we finally arrived at the Lotus Temple. Wow, it was a blast! There is nothing quite like having random strangers pelt you in the face with scented, powdered chalk... and throwing scented, powdered, colorful chalk right back at them! It was so funny, we got a bunch in our eyes, and had a great time. They had Indian bands playing music, and it was a very diverse crowd. Davey seemed to absolutely love it, he crowd surfed for a little bit, and that was hilarious.
Afterward, we went home to get ready. Kayla, unfortunately, missed her hair appointment :( But everyone decided it was worth it... and her hair looked beautiful later!

So then we went to the dance. Davey and my Dad unknowingly went to MiAe's at the same time to pick up the boutonniere and corsage, haha. Before Davey came my great buddy, Chris Williams, stopped by, and we took some funny pictures. I got the boutonniere to stay on on my first try (: We went to The Old Spaghetti Factory and ate delicious pasta and spamoni. When Davey went to pay for the dinner, he whipped out his wallet... which is a pocket sized dictionary he always carries in his pocket! I had to get a picture of him with it, I thought it was so funny. Haha. It was awesome.

Next we left to the dance, and it was great. It was held at the State Capital, and it was so fun to see all my friends all dolled up and dashing in their gowns and tuxes. We danced the night away. It's hard to dance to the music they play at school dances, but we did anyways. Davey and Levi had some epic dance moves! I was laughing the whole night.

After everything was over, we took a little hike down to Memory Grove.. Kayla and I in our heels and gowns. That was an adventure! Haha. But it was a beautiful, starry night and we had a great time. Then off we drove in Davey's silver rental car (his truck was stolen, and his seatbelts in the car earlier were stained from the color festival!) listening to some old jazz. It was excellent music. Then off we were to Coldstones, and afterward to home and our cozy beds we went.

I can honestly say it was one of the funnest dances I've ever been to. No drama, no stress, no worries. It was just totally comfortable and fun.. and hilarious (: Davey was an awesome date, he was very respectful and super easy to talk to.. and can I say funny??? I seriously laughed the entire night. He is also extremely smart. He was just full of random facts. It was great. My group was awesome, Kayla and Levi were so funny. Levi has a really fun sense of humor. It was so fun to spend the whole day with Kayla too (: She is stinkin' hilarious! It was just so, so fun. I was honestly sad when it was over! It was a fantastic final ending to the last high school dance. Yep. It was
great (:


Sorry, my camera takes some really crappy pictures... the flash is WAY too bright. Please bear with me!
Also, I can't figure out how to put them in the right order... So yeah. Just have fun looking I guess (:

Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head...

This week has been an ouch week. Major ouch, after major ouch, after major ouch.
My heart is feeling a little sore... a little black and blue. It's funny how life just gets going great, and then suddenly everything kind of hits all at once, from all directions.
Your kind of left spinning wondering what the heck happened. So, I am going to make a list of things that make me happy, and the great things in my life. Because I think it will cheer me up (:

So..

I love the night sky, to start out with. I just got back from Macey's, and looking up at the sky is just... wow. What other words to describe it?
When I look at the sky, it makes me feel so little. Like out of the grand scheme of the universe, with all these colossal galaxies, my problems and my trials are so little. There is so much out there.. it just puts everything in perspective. And then I think of how the Maker of those universes and those galaxies made me too, and how He loves me and cares about me, and knows me better than I know myself. As my young women leader's say, God don't make no junk. It makes me have hope that everything will be ok. Everything will work out. I've just gotta do my best.

I am so grateful for the awesome people I have in my life. One of the happiest things in my life right now is having these random 14 and 15 year old boys dropping by my house just to hang out. I'm sure it seems like such a small deal to them, I'm sure it doesn't even register to them how much that can mean. But sometimes it gets lonely. I miss my family so much. SO much. They add so much vibrancy to my life, and when their gone there's a piece of myself that goes missing. So it means a lot of have these neighborhood kids drop by just to hang out. It's like having another kid brother. I can be totally silly and ridiculous, playing video games and watching stupid scary youtube videos, and not have a worry in the world about them judging you. Just total acceptance, and a cute little unconditional friend.

I wish people had more common sense. I wish people knew how to be a good friend. How it means being there for someone, even when it's hard. How it means you have to reach out sometimes to be kind and go the extra step. They find ways to overcome walls that stand between them. Even when it's hard. Real friends don't just give up on ya. It doesn't mean making huge things out of little dramas that happen. Does it even matter? Out of what's really important, does it really matter? It's worth overcoming. It's worth stepping over that wall, and fixing it. But it can't be a one person effort.. and it has to be honest. You can't be fake or that doesn't fix anything.

I know I could be a better friend. I can be a lot kinder to people. I know I need to work on reaching out and being there. It's hard when they hurt you. But I will do my best to be kind, and remember what's most important. At least I can say that I tried.

I'm really grateful for people in my life who have had the kindness to reach out and be accepting and just be so, so kind. It's amazing how much just little nice things can add up and make a difference to someone! It just makes life so much better! Why doesn't everyone do it? The world would be such a happier place!
Things will work out, one way or another. I know there's good things coming (: and I have lots of happy things in my life. I've gotta remember to live in the moment. Life is not measured by the number of breathes you take, but by the moments that take your breathe away <3

Raindrops keep fallin' on my head
And just like the guy whose feet are too big for his bed
Nothin' seems to fit
Those raindrops are fallin' on my head, they keep fallin'

So I just did me some talkin' to the sun
And I said I didn't like the way he got things done
Sleepin' on the job
Those raindrops are fallin' on my head, they keep fallin'

But there's one thing I know
The blues they send to meet me won't defeat me
It won't be long till happiness steps up to greet me

Raindrops keep fallin' on my head
But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turnin' red
Cryin's not for me
'Cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complainin'
Because I'm free
Nothin's worryin' me

[trumpet]

It won't be long till happiness steps up to greet me

Raindrops keep fallin' on my head
But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turnin' red
Cryin's not for me
'Cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complainin'
Because I'm free
Nothin's worryin' me

- B.J. Thomas

One of Many True Heroes

Did you know these paintings were done by the same artist? Arnold Friberg! He did all the famous Book of Mormon paintings. Their on display downtown Salt Lake right now, at the Conference Center I believe, because he passed away last year. Kinda cool though ;) George Washington and Captain Moroni!

One word: College application essays. Ack! Ok, 3 words I guess. But wow.. their kind of a pain. But very worth it, so I won't complain. Anyways, this is one I wrote about George Washington. I'm putting it up so my parents can read it.. and I'm kind of proud of it, so whoever out there who wants to read it can as well (: Sorry if it's kind of boring. I know it's nerdy. But you know, I love nerdy stuff. I really do. And quite honestly, it really isn't that nerdy... I think there's a difference between the Star Wars computer geeky stuff (sorry Dad ;) ) and loving history.

I would also like to say that George Washington is one of my greatest heroes. But he is one of many. To be honest, if it had been more.. appropriate? More relate-able to the college? I would have written about Moroni or Nephi. The Book of Mormon is the place to find heroes. I love reading it because of the amazing people it tells about... their stories, their lives, how they conquered the trials and problems they faced. It's such a strength to me. When I read, I can just imagine them sitting there next to me giving me advice. That's what it feels like. There is no better feeling in the world then knowing that there is someone out there who wants you to succeed, who wants you to be the best you can be. And I know that it's probably a bit egoistical to think that Moroni is there sitting next to me while I read The Book of Mormon. I'm sure he's off doing much more important things. But I know that Christ and my Heavenly Father care about me. I know that they care that I read my scriptures, because when I read, I grow closer to them. And I know that when I read The Book of Mormon, I feel the spirit. And that's the thing that gives me the most strength.
So there is a call out for my other heroes. I didn't write much about them, but I felt like before I share my glowing report of Washington, I had to tell that too. Because, when it comes down to it, one of the things I admire most about him is his faith.

I want to marry somebody like him someday. Someone like Moroni, or Nephi, or one of the stripling warriors. The most important qualities anybody can have, as a friend, as a spouse, as a son or daughter, as a parent, honestly in any role anyone can have, is honesty and courage.. faith, having strength to do what's right even when it's hard. Having the humility and courage to fess up when you make a mistake, and have the courage to go on and try to make it better, to be better. To know that you are more then the mistakes that you've made.. that it's never too late to try again and be better. To try and overcome your weaknesses.. to have faith to do what's right or what your asked to do even if you have no idea how it's going to end out, even if you don't know quite why you've been asked to. To have strength and faith to go and do the things the Lord has commanded, and have faith and hope that things will turn out okay in the end. To have faith that maybe what God has planned for you is better then what you have now, or what you have planned for yourself, if you just follow Him. I know to marry someone like that, I have to be like that though. That's the hard part, isn't it? But I will do my best. It will be worth it.

Anyways, wow, random tangent.
Here's my essay. Enjoy (:

A True Hero

As a young woman growing in a rapidly changing world, sometimes it’s difficult to establish who you want to be, and what you want to do with your life. There are countless sources of inspiration in this world one can draw from to build character and a foundation for goals. Aside from family and friends, there are a few people that have made a big impact on my life and who I want to become. One of the most prominent of these is George Washington.

Near the end of terms, I began the final report for my US Honors History class. We had the opportunity to write about whatever we wanted, and I wasn’t sure which topic to choose. After lightly considering a couple different subjects, I finally decided on George Washington, and how his faith influenced his life. As I did research and learned about this man, I developed more and more respect for him.

George Washington was an incredible man. Even in his youth, he surrounded himself with things that formed good, honorable character. As a school exercise during his early education, he copied “Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour In Company and Conversation”. As he grew and saw more of the world, the principles he had written so long ago stayed with him. His respect for others and his unwavering integrity made him a natural born leader. There are countless accounts of his kind acts toward his soldiers and those around him. His humility and integrity led him to always fulfill his duty to the best of his ability.

When his name was proposed for the Commander of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, he accepted – not for glory, as he considered himself not equal to the task and refused payment beyond what was needed, but for the duty of his country and fellow men. His leadership during the war led the untrained, ragged troops to victory. People were so impressed with his results that at the end of the war, when the new nation was born, many people wanted him to become king. History proves that many war leaders in that position of power naturally assume that position. Washington, however, refused, instead working with others to develop the inspired Constitution. He ended up being the first man to sign it.

As Thomas Jefferson said, “His integrity was most pure, his justice the most inflexible I have ever known, no motives of interest of consanguinity, of friendship or hatred, being able to bias his decision. He was, indeed, in every send of the word, a wise, a good, and a great man. His temper was naturally irritable and high-toned; but reflection and resolution had obtained a firm and habitual ascendancy over it…On the whole, his character was, in mass, perfect, in nothing bad, in few points indifferent; and it may truly be said that never did nature and fortune combine more perfectly to make a man great, and to place him in the same constellation with whatever worthies have merited from man an everlasting remembrance.”

Learning about this man has made such a positive impact on my life. Growing up in today’s world, it can be difficult to build up courage to have integrity. So many role models in today’s world take so lightly the importance of being honest, and of being kind and respectful to others. The world seems to emphasize to get all you can, as fast as you can, and that nobody really matters except you. As a young woman in a high school environment, I think this can be especially difficult. It can be easy to let go of your identity and compromise what is honorable in order to get attention or be popular with your peers. Washington’s example has really strengthened me. Instead of constantly keeping up appearances to be the coolest, prettiest, or most popular, I’ve learned to have confidence in myself and value honesty and moral principles. When I think of what I have learned, it reminds me that the true measure of character is not in how many awards we receive or what status we reach, but in the choices we make and how we treat other people. I feel it is my responsibility to develop my character, to treat others with respect and kindness, and to fulfill all my duties to the best of my ability. This is the way to determine my self-worth, and this is the way that I will find the most meaningful accomplishments in my life. I believe there is no greater way than accomplishing these goals that can bring the most satisfaction and fulfillment in my life. George Washington has been, and always will be, a great source of inspiration for me. That is why he has been such a powerful influence in my life.

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Lillback, Peter A., and Jerry Newcombe. "The Christian Education of George Washington." George Washington's Sacred Fire. Bryn Mawr: Providence Forum Press, 2006. 112. Print.

LIFE! is for the way you....

L - late nights & early mornings
I - intense choices coming up - insanity!
F - fun with friends - frantically trying to balance homework, college applications, work, church, sleep, exercise, ect, ect, ect..
E - ecstatically looking forward to the future

Wow, life is insane. Can anyone agree with me? 5 years ago, I would have NEVER expected to be where I am today. But here I am, with my life the way it is, and it is crazy! It makes me so excited for the future. What exciting things lie ahead just around the corner, beyond my sight? (: Travels to exotic lands? Meeting exotic people and eating exotic food? Perhaps a dark, tall, mysterious knight in shining armour waiting to sweep me off my feet? ;) Probably not, haha. But who knows! It's a whole hallway full of open doors and endless possibilities. It's very exciting! But kind of scary. The choices I make now will lead me to where I'm going... and I want that to be a good place, the best place that it can possibly be. It's a lot of pressure. But I'll just do the best I can. What else can you do, honestly? I know things will work out.
In the meantime, I will do my BEST to live life in the moment, and enjoy this time while it lasts. I need to have a better attitude and not complain so much... because, honestly, this is the last final yard to the finish line of this time in my life. and even though I may not admit it now, even to myself, I know I'm going to miss some things a lot.
Anyways. Another great quote - Life isn't about the number of breathes you take, but the number of moments that take your breathe away (:

the end for today!