Friday, November 30, 2012

What You Can Accomplish in Five Days Without Facebook: A Tale of Employment, Destructive Crafting, Birthday Bashing, and More

It's pretty sad how much I use Facebook. This week has been a constant struggle of me not going online to post whatever witty and snarky comment I had that day or to stalk the cute guy in my ward. Seriously. Just plain sad. BUT it wasn't all that bad! I had a super successful week and accomplished so much it literally blows my mind.

First of all, and most exciting, I got a job at Hobby Lobby this week!! This was such a huge deal for me that I literally burst into tears as soon as I got into my car after the interview. So thankful for the divine intervention that provided me with the job that I so desperately needed. It's so great to know that someone's out there watching and waiting for the perfect opportunity to shower blessings on you =)

I also successfully destroyed our apartment in the creation of my first hollow book! I bought a book about the history of BYU (which, fascinatingly enough, was signed by the famous Mr. Wilkinson himself) and carved it out. All 895 pages of it. And it was seriously the biggest mess I've ever made in my life. I'm still picking paper flecks out of my hair and clothes. In addition, the carpet has a salt and pepper thing going on. Needless to say it made a pretty awesome present for my incredible roommate Catherine. Happy birthday Ms. Legal!! =)

With that, me and my other roommate Hailey completely transformed our small apartment into the ultimate birthday location. Streamers, banners, colorful balloons, you name it. It was pretty heartbreaking when we woke up one morning to find out that our world had fallen down around us. Literally. Balloons littered the ground and streamers were draped all over the furniture. Ah well, it was fun while it lasted. Happy Birthday again!

Lastly, and slightly less excitingly, schoolwork was a big success this week. I got a 95% on my 8 page Anthropology paper, a 96% on my 10 page research paper, conquered my impossible accounting homework, demolished my writing website assignment, among other superhuman feats.

Seriously, it's amazing what you can accomplish in just a few short days without Facebook. However, I look forward to cramming your Facebook news feeds with every witty remark I've had lately. Happy reading!

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Content

Content. It's the end of a tumultuous movie where there has been death and many other tragedies. The main character looks across the horizon at the start of a beautiful new day with his hands in his pockets and the wind blowing his hair across his face. As the character's companion comes onto the screen, they talk of the future, of what they'll set out to do in light of whatever has happened. The main character's face shows neither happiness nor overwhelming sadness, but acceptance. Acceptance that things have happened and that things will continue to happen. Acceptance that there is always a new day and new things to experience in that day. Acceptance does not necessarily mean you are happy with the situation placed before you, but that you will take it for what is and work with it. Being content is this acceptance of life as it is.

Today, I am content

Thanksgiving List Continuation

22. I'm thankful for smiles. I've had to work three BYU sporting events this week and it was pretty rough. It's pretty hard to stand there and take people's crap for four hours straight sometimes. It brightened my day a millionfold to see people that actually smiled at me or thanked me for working that night. Keep smiling folks, you really never know who needs to see you smile =)

23. I'm thankful for excursions with my sweet mom. We went to the new outlet malls in Lehi on Saturday and I had an absolute blast with her. Now that I'm at college, I treasure every precious moment I have with her as well as the rest of my family. Love you Mom!!

24 (I'm not really sure how long this supposed to go so I'll just go to the end of the month). I'm thankful for our bodies. Even though we all have challenges with how our bodies function to some degree, have you recognized lately how incredible our bodies are? They can run, they can jump, they can twist and turn, just the action of me typing this out is a miracle! Always appreciate and respect your bodies, they truly are a blessing.

25. I'm thankful for eternal families. It's been so wonderful being home with my family and seeing extended family this week for Thanksgiving. They bring me so much happiness and it's even more wonderful to think that I will be with them forever. I'm very happy for the opportunity to create my own eternal family in the temple a few years down the road.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Imagine Dragons and Giving Up

I've been super duper obsessed with Imagine Dragons lately. If you haven't listened to them before, DO. IT. NOW. Seriously. It will be love at the first listening <3

Here's the lyrics to one of the songs that's been stuck with me the most from Imagine Dragons. I decided to give up what I can't change and I'm excited to move forward. If someone doesn't follow you when you walk away, keep walking...

                                                                         "Amsterdam"

I'm sorry, mother... I'm sorry, I let you down
Well, these days I'm fine - No these days I tend to lie
I'll take the West train, just by the side of Amsterdam
Just by my left brain, just by the side of the Tin man

I'm sorry, brother... I'm sorry, I let cha down
Well, these days you're fine - No these days you tend to lie
You'll take the West train, just by the side of Amsterdam
Just by your left brain, just by the side of the Tin man

Your time will come if you wait for it, if you wait for it
It's hard, believe me... I've tried
But I keep coming up short

I'm sorry, lover... You're sorry; I bring you down
Well, these days I try and these days I tend to lie
Kinda thought I was a mystery and then I thought I wasn't meant to be
You said yourself fantastically, "Congratulations you were all alone"

Your time will come if you wait for it, if you wait for it
It's hard, believe me... I've tried
Your time will come if you wait for it, if you wait for it
It's hard, believe me... I've tried

But the rain won't fall for the both of us
The sun won't shine on the both of us
Believe me when I say, that I wouldn't have it any other way

Your time will come if you wait for it, if you wait for it
It's hard, believe me... I've tried
But I won't wait much longer 'cause these walls they're crashing down
And I won't wait much longer 'cause these walls they're crashing down
And I keep coming up short

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Jumping on the Bandwagon... Thankful List

Not necessarily in order of most importance, just what came to me the first =)

1. I'm thankful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ and all the incredible and life changing ways I've been able to use it for.

2. I'm thankful for my wonderful family. I'm so grateful for their unconditional love and all of the outstanding support they give me.

3. I'm thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm grateful for the hope and happiness that it instills in me as well as to those around me.

4. I'm thankful that there's a plan for me, even if I don't like the way it's going right now. I'm grateful there's someone smarter than me that's putting me on a good path even if I don't recognize it.

5. I'm soooo thankful for my fantastic friends, both in Washington and in Utah. I'm so grateful that I can still remain in great contact with them all, I'm grateful for all of my wonderful memories with them all, and I'm thankful for the smiles they bring into my life. =)

6. I'm thankful for Psy. He's pretty much my hero. I hope someday I can dance like him.

7. I'm thankful for the power of music. The power to inspire, the power to alleviate pain, the power to spark happiness, the power to bring back memories, the power to transport to a different world, the power to cause contemplation.

8. I'm thankful that I have a job, even if it involves yelling at people for 4 hours straight. I'm so grateful I've been blessed with that when so many people don't have that opportunity in their lives.

9. I'm thankful for my aunts. I never expected it but one of the best things of moving to Utah has been to get to know my aunts better and create strong friendships with each of them. I'm thankful for their endless support, their loving advice, and their ability to make me smile.

10. I'm thankful that Ansel still runs up to hug me every time I walk in the door. I'm thankful that he stills dances in the kitchen and looks at himself in the reflection of the fireplace cover as he dances.

11. I'm thankful that Alex still wants to play video games with his sister. And I'm thankful he always lets me be Batman when we play Lego Batman.

12. I'm thankful that Zac asks me for fashion advice every once in awhile. It's nice to know that I've still got it to some degree.

13. I'm thankful that my Mom will have deep conversations with me. I'm grateful that when I talk to her, she never places any judgement, she just listens. I'm thankful that she gives me hugs every time she sees me.

14. I'm thankful that my Dad will give me advice when I'm completely lost on what to do. I'm grateful that he's always willing to watch movies with me, even if it's late at night and he's had a long day.

15. I'm soooo thankful for my roommates this year. I'm grateful that Catherine is always willing to rant with me when something in life just plain sucks and I'm glad she plays the Killers a lot. I'm grateful that Hailey shares her delicious food with me and sits there and listens to me try to explain my homework assignments so it makes sense in my own head. I'm so thankful they both watch Pretty Little Liars with me and get just excited to decorate the apartment for Christmas as I am. =) Love you both!!

16. I'm thankful for Netflix. That website is pretty much boss.

17. I'm thankful for the chance that I have to get a fantastic education for an even more fantastic price. Even though I don't really like BYU, I'm still sooooooo grateful for the opportunity I have to study things that interest me and make me happy.

18. I'm thankful for those people that just make you smile, even if for one moment. Like the cute guy that asked me to play on his team for football today. Little things like that make so much of a difference in my days now.

19. I'm thankful that the Lord has given me a way to communicate with him. I'm grateful for the power of prayer in my life and I'm sooo thankful for the companionship of the Holy Ghost.

20. I'm thankful that one of my best friends Sam Gossage is getting baptized next month!! Watching her grow in the church has been one of the most incredible experiences in my life and I squealed, burst into tears, and ran around to tell everyone within earshot the first second I heard the news. I'm so grateful that I get to go see her go through this life-changing experience and I'm so grateful for the wonderful example of faith she is to me. =)

21. I'm thankful for the people that rush to your aid when you least expect it. That's been a particularly huge blessing over the past couple months and I will forever be grateful to those people that have reached out to me. You know who you are and you have my thanks =)

Tune in the next few days for more!!! =)