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Hurray for 2012! Woohoo!

2011 was a super awesome, but super tough year. I can't believe how much my life has changed since January 1st, 2011, three hundred and sixty five days ago. It's wild.

I've learned so much, and have had so many awesome experiences, and have grown a ton!

There are so many awesome things coming ahead.

These last few weeks have been an awesome pre kickstart to the new year

working out at least an hour every day,

& having courage to really open up and be myself

It's amazing what a difference it makes when you choose to be the hero in your life story!

Also looking forward to some fun dates, with some awesome people!

and having that funny feeling when you unexpectedly miss someone when their gone

and am kind of nervous and looking forward to them coming back (:

I wonder what I'll think, looking back at this year, three hundred and sixty five days from now.

I have a hunch a ton is going to happen, and that it will be pretty awesome!

My New Years resolutions are pretty simple, and realistic, and great!

1. Kneel and pray at least one meaningful, sincere, heartfelt prayer every day

2. Read/study my scriptures each day

3. Workout every day (except Sunday)

4. Do at least eight big new things that I have never done before (:

5. Be a really good friend & help others

Fairly simple, definitely do-able, and I'm super pumped to accomplish them!

Also keep doing well in school (I'm soo happy with the grades I got)

and keep working hard in all my duties

and appreciating the miracles & awesome things that happen each day

& appreciating all the amazing people in my life

and most of all, appreciating the gospel, and my Savior, and the truths I have in my life

Man, I am so blessed.

Yay for a new year!

(:

All Partied Out

Two more dances this week. and then a whole month off with nothing huge planned.
Can I say I'm looking forward to it?
Honestly?



Heck yes!
It's been awesome, but wow, I need a break.
It's funny, how all I want to do is serve the Lord, choose the right, and be a good friend & best person I can be
and the way the Lord asks me to serve seems to highlight all of my weaknesses...
budgeting, decorating, planning, delegating. Isn't it lovely?
It's definitely been a crazy experience.
But I was reading D&C last night,
about Joseph Smith, and how he was called to translate the Book of Mormon and do so much
with barely an elementary school education (which was common in those days, of course, different time period)
but still
As Elder Russel M. Nelson says, "The Lord uses the unlikely to accomplish the impossible"
Boy, I know that to be true!
Anyways,
The future is looking especially bright right now (:
... yeah haha.
The end for now (;

So, it's almost one o clock in the morning.

And I can't sleep. What's new? So, I'm going to blog (: It's Christmas eve.. not my family's Christmas eve, but for the rest of the world, it is. It's been an interesting Christmas for me. First of all, it's been so weird not being in choir. I will always look back at singing to all sorts of people, from elementary school kids to crowds at temple square to people who could most use the Christmas spirit in hospitals and care homes, accompanied with my best friends, as one of the most joyful times of my life (: That was so amazing. Looking back, we were just so sweet and cheesy and good. What an awesome thing I was able to be a part of. This Christmas, I haven't been able to see all of my family. I haven't seen my Daddy and Mom for 7 months now. That's weird. I miss them, a ton. and Papa and Farmor, and Mormor and my aunts and uncles, especially during this time of year. It's also been odd having a 50 degree Christmas - no snow! We had dew and fog on Christmas morning... funky!


However, looking back on this year and this season, I have learned so much. It astonishes me every time I look into my past to see how much has happened in my life, what great changes have occured, how one experience led to the next, and how all these things have helped me develop and grow and stretch and become stronger. Often with growing pains, and great joys along the way. But it's definitely been a process. It just awes me every time. and it truly reminds me of who is in charge - and how much of His love He has shown me, in how He has guided me and touched my life. I am one of the most imperfect people I know. Even with everything I know to be true, I just mess up every single day. Everytime I read my scriptures or pray or see someone serve another is a reminder to me that I need to be better. But even with all this, I know with all the growing pains and sorrows and awkwardness that comes with ever reaching higher, I know that the Savior will always be there to help me. My Mommy and I were watching byu tv tonight, and they were featuring this man in the Mormon Tab Choir from London named Alex Boye. This guy is incredible, I definitely recommend looking at his life & testimony. It is so inspiring. Anyways, he sang this song, which is a passionate African American southern spiritual, and it really touched me


I want Jesus to walk with me
I want Jesus to walk with me
All along my pilgrim journey
I want Jesus to walk with me

In my trial, Lord, walk with me
In my trials, Lord, walk with me
When the shades of life are falling
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me

In my sorrow, Lord walk with me
In my sorrows, Lord walk with me
When my heart is aching Lord,
I want Jesus to walk with me 

In my troubles, Lord walk with me
In my troubles, Lord walk with me
When my life becomes a burden,
Lord,
 I want Jesus to walk with me

I love gospel/spiritual music. It's so powerful. Music is such an incredible influence. It can be used so destructively, but can also be one of the greatest forces of good, ever. I find so many things in music I want to put in my life - strength to make it through hard times, joy and praise, relaxation & enjoying the simple things of life, sad heartfelt ones that make you cry, and just uplifting, inspiring music. It's so great.

Especially Christmas music. I love most Christmas songs (except the waily ones),  but for tonight, I feel like sharing this one. It isn't a traditional Christmas hymn, but it's one that has strengthened me and been with me throughout many years. Singing it has helped me remember Christ, and feel Him close to me when I need strength and comfort. What a beautiful night it must have been, so long ago, when angels and shepherds came to greet their King, born in a manger, under the star in the humble stable. What beautiful hope His life gives. I know my Savior lives.

Merry Christmas~

I know that my Redeemer lives;
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, He lives, who once was dead;
He lives, my ever living Head.

He lives to bless me with His love,
He lives to plead for me above.
He lives my hungry soul to feed,
He lives to help in time of need.

He lives triumphant from the grave,
He lives eternally to save,
He lives all glorious in the sky,
He lives exalted there on high.

He lives to grant me rich supply,
He lives to guide me with His eye,
He lives to comfort me when faint,
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.

He lives to silence all my fears,
He lives to wipe away my tears
He lives to calm my troubled heart,
He lives all blessings to impart.

He lives, my kind, wise, heavenly Friend,
He lives and loves me to the end;
He lives, and while He lives, I’ll sing;
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.

He lives and grants me daily breath;
He lives, and I shall conquer death:
He lives my mansion to prepare;
He lives to bring me safely there.

He lives, all glory to His Name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet, the joy this sentence gives
I know that my Redeemer lives!

My Christmas Eve Story

Depressing moments.

Kids leaving, wishing I could go with them.

Awkward dating experiences. and disappointing. Disheartening. Embarassing.

and then, realize that I'm being a bit spoiled, and self centered.

Trying to find a way to distract myself.

Going running for an hour this morning.

Taking a nap.

Then my Mom mentioning even though things can be depressing,

there's some fine young men coming over

who sacrifice so much and have given their whole life

and who are far away from home this Christmas

who could really use our Christmas spirit to be there

So, going to find presents for these awesome young men

who have dedicated so much time and service to the Lord

Some ties, darth vader backpack, m&m candy canes, bandanas, slippers

pretty silly stuff

and then wrapping it, and putting care into it

including personalized name tags for their darth vader/mario backpacks

and slowly realizing that the more I try to serve them

and think about them, and how much they have sacrificed, and what good people they are

the more humble I become

and the happier I become that I can serve them, in my own little way

Then, at the end of the night, the night before our Christmas, before the kids leave

looking around at my warm, beautiful, safe house

and the abundance of good food and drink that we have,

the Christmas decorations and many presents under the tree

my brothers & sisters looking in the sky for Santa & reindeer

and getting to sing hymns about the Savior's birth

and remembering again, how incredibly blessed I am. What a life of abundance I live,

with my family around me, warmth and fun, crazy experiences

everything that I could ever need, and the simple things I want

having hope for my future, and what a bright one lies ahead of me

if I keep doing my best, and remembering what really, truly matters

and remember that the more I lose myself in service, the more I will find me

everything will be okay (: I know it will.

Merry Christmas!

Art Stuff

This is for my Mom.

Most of the artsy things I've done the past few months... which I've absolutely LOVED doing, and am so excited to have time to do more now! (: Enjoy!



This one I did in like 10 minutes, in this burst of happy creativity, and I really like it, even though it's a bit sloppy (:




Non representational (most boring word ever, haha) painting, to the song "Fix You" by Coldplay



The 20,000 leaves assignment



Painting based off of painter, Matt Lively. He's way sweet, you should google him





This one needs finishing touches to clean it up, but I love it



Whitney Marie Morris...

she is such an over analyzer

and has very, very silly worries

and insecurities

(just like everyone else, I'm sure)

and yet, somehow, she never fails to crack herself up daily

Haha.

Oh, life.

Your pretty great (:

Finals are... OVER!!! You know what that means... (:

It's mustache time!!

Hahaha.

I am seriously soo happy

A whole, long, glorious month off school

To have time to do art

and workout

and date

and do family things

and visit AWESOME places

and sleep

and take silly pictures, with giant fuzzy caterpillar mustaches (:

I'm so happy!

and have had the most amazing week

You know your happy when you crack yourself up over silly things, alone in the car

haha.

Yepp.

Huzzah for the end of finals!

P.S.

Please don't mind the gaping red spot on my nose...

 I had a bit of a mishap in the bathroom

Owwie!