tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66332534658299688822024-03-19T21:22:47.426-07:00Livin the LifeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633253465829968882.post-850105161860819322015-06-28T17:32:00.000-07:002015-06-29T00:58:27.811-07:00Thoughts on Opinions<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In light of the last few months of happenings, I thought I'd just share some of the thoughts that I've had running through my mind. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Feel free to ignore them. They are simply MY thoughts.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">They started running through my mind when I got on Facebook.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">You may or may not have seen all of the posts that have been roaming around. </span><br />
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If you haven't, you probably live under a rock and you won't be reading this anyway. </span><br />
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I've seen some posts and comments agreeing with whatever subject is new that day, and some disagreeing. Some are kind and considerate, while others hurtful and inconsiderate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And it's lead me to think a lot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Really, what it all boils down to is so simple. </span></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Opinions</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Agency</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Judgement</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Respect</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Love</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We each have the capacity, as human beings, to every one of these things.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We each have opinions, which we are allowed to formulate with as much or as little knowledge and background as we want.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We each have agency, which allows us to make any decision, and think any thought that we want to.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We all judge others. We are taught not to--but it is inherently done, regardless of what we have been taught.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We each have the ability, and, in my opinion, the <i>responsibility</i> to respect each other, and each other's opinions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And love. We each have an inherent ability to love others--or to learn to love them if we don't.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">As I've read through opinion, after opinion, after opinion, and expressed some of my own; I keep coming back to the same thoughts. And President Uchtdorf says it best.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTiTUdP605Lzrtu5kVwPuRXDtuv9wI7Rr5Ni5HV-8Zi4Z9gGypH1qUPBtYDOf4vHM2M4t6-93k8GWuBIjhJzDGBgdY_b-aT4sC2bL39-4EkVGG7z_2XNN4GtjnQTyRqsOx8uC4b9NoWYQr/s1600/dont+add.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTiTUdP605Lzrtu5kVwPuRXDtuv9wI7Rr5Ni5HV-8Zi4Z9gGypH1qUPBtYDOf4vHM2M4t6-93k8GWuBIjhJzDGBgdY_b-aT4sC2bL39-4EkVGG7z_2XNN4GtjnQTyRqsOx8uC4b9NoWYQr/s1600/dont+add.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Why, with all of the problems that are already inevitably in the world, do we feel the need to create more problems? Why do we feel the need to act stubborn, bitter, or resentful towards people? I wish I knew how to answer the why, because if we're being honest--the answer is that WE DON'T. We DON'T need to be rude. Resentful. Stubborn. Bitter. And we don't need to make other people feel that they need to be either.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">President Uchtdorf also says:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhis67h2WoHLjFFxKER-7BSj_qC8ZiUg_tjjFsXhnPgwmbgdJ0OQdIcXg2ugsfq3bsEcShig-Qx_gXB2-gwOrhyphenhyphenSXOePqV4ZSpNUmHUVqg8_vBbVF7NClP7vjGtTvyOtM8uYqaX7u7oAiF_/s1600/matters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhis67h2WoHLjFFxKER-7BSj_qC8ZiUg_tjjFsXhnPgwmbgdJ0OQdIcXg2ugsfq3bsEcShig-Qx_gXB2-gwOrhyphenhyphenSXOePqV4ZSpNUmHUVqg8_vBbVF7NClP7vjGtTvyOtM8uYqaX7u7oAiF_/s1600/matters.jpg" width="228" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In the scheme of things, are leggings important? What about bikinis? What about what I ate for dinner? What about my choice of major vs yours? What about how much money I make vs how much you make? What about where I work vs where you work? How about how I identify/define myself?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Nope. Nope. Nope. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">None of those things are truly important. What really will be important in the end? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Our relationships--with God, with family, with friends, with strangers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Our ability to love, and to forgive, and to forego judgement. (And, if I'm being honest, I'm going to need a lot of help and time to master any of those things.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Our faith, and our belief in God, and the way that we have manifest it on the Earth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Now, I'm not saying that I think we have a free pass that allows us to not worry about standards such as modesty, honesty, language, etc. I'm not saying that I disagree, as a Christian, that marriage is ordained of God as being between one man and one woman.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I am, however, saying that we need to all take a second to take a step back and remember that we are all children of God, with agency. With the ability and the necessity to form opinions on our own. With the desire to express our faith in, dependence on, and love for God in our own unique ways. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Honestly, President Uchtdorf's simple words say it ALL best:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"When it comes to...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUV6QRukzdyJiXb09QyMbjqGcMJO96vky0KnTwu2PMlhZo85B5bdSSPqnJQdzJGa0sctxw9AIf6Pb6pO4IFCXVY_nb3-2Y5-NYSo5VYil0u54yrr_RK-9pBxrl_hBB7dMnyq7rIEPjzQLn/s1600/stop+it.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUV6QRukzdyJiXb09QyMbjqGcMJO96vky0KnTwu2PMlhZo85B5bdSSPqnJQdzJGa0sctxw9AIf6Pb6pO4IFCXVY_nb3-2Y5-NYSo5VYil0u54yrr_RK-9pBxrl_hBB7dMnyq7rIEPjzQLn/s1600/stop+it.jpg" width="255" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">As a young adult, it seems that I have been reminded, quite frequently in my short life, that life is fragile--that it is short, and that we should be taking advantage of every opportunity we have to learn, to love, to appreciate, to grow--and not to ridicule, to put down, to fight, or to hate. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Stop taking time out of your life to ridicule others for their decisions and their beliefs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Stop bickering over FaceBook about how you believe someone else is a sinner--because obviously when you're doing that you are proving that you are NOT a saint. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Stop focusing on negative.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Take a step back.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Compliment someone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Smile at someone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Do something little every day for someone else.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Be kind to everyone--no matter how rude they are to you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Show love and respect, and you will get love and respect in return. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">After all, isn't America supposed to be </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"One Nation, Under God <i>INDIVISIBLE</i><i>"?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Regardless of your stance on the supreme court decision to allow same sex marriage; on Caitlin Jenner's sex change; on wearing leggings vs wearing pants; on owning guns. The list goes on, and on... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">There will <i>ALWAYS </i> be something to disagree with/argue about if you look for it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Stop looking for it. And, if you really want a challenge,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">START looking for the positive. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Live life more like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR3rK0kZFkg">THIS</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">You will be happier! I promise!</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">(and so will everyone who follows your social media ;))</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633253465829968882.post-17242276707338839042014-10-11T17:11:00.000-07:002016-03-05T23:09:59.055-08:0026.2 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
One day this summer, I decided I wanted to run a marathon for real. I have always thought about it, and never done anything about it, so I got online and used my good friend Google to search "marathons in Utah." I found two on the weekend of October 4, and debated (for all of 2 minutes) Park City, or St. George. And went with Park City. I signed up for the marathon without reading much of anything about it, and then looked at the calendar to decide how long I had to train. I found a 16 week training program beginning the next day, and ending the day of the race. So I printed her off, put her on the fridge, and got myself out of the house and running!</div>
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In the middle of my training my leg decided to start acting up. After not being able to run for a few weeks, I went to see a doctor, and he "diagnosed" (more like just took a stab in the dark, but same thing, right?) tendinitis. He told me to rest up, ice it, and get back into running slowly. The problem was that the marathon was coming right around the corner. So after 2 weeks, I gave up the "resting" idea and jumped back in my running shoes to train. It was painful, but it was manageable until I stopped running. Then I spent time with a bag of frozen peas.</div>
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The morning of October 3 came (the day prior to the race, sorry guys, not quite there yet.) and my throat was on FIRE. My nose started to get a little clogged, and I knew things were going to be miserable pretty quick. Because of the beautifully timed sore throat, my racing mind, and my anxiety I did not get much rest the night before, but I got up early anyway and made the trek up to Park City. By this point, my cold had hit me pretty hard, and I didn't have any DayQuil to my name. Rough way to start the day, but no other choice!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2MgLObgFTeSDBCQIZAkO24jHtvtoWwOx3fEJZMTkuo6gNDfKdlWXKMosCI3BuTPB-UFS8XqupchQyCYBSGVPuL7-Ll5eesAdefknwR6gF_k1FUw1ateEkoL2MsEC1BENGoyz5ewTdrhSD/s1600/043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2MgLObgFTeSDBCQIZAkO24jHtvtoWwOx3fEJZMTkuo6gNDfKdlWXKMosCI3BuTPB-UFS8XqupchQyCYBSGVPuL7-Ll5eesAdefknwR6gF_k1FUw1ateEkoL2MsEC1BENGoyz5ewTdrhSD/s1600/043.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjeJNGDsQgZV5YN0ROedtmmV6hNRqd8AipvwiIIIZxz2MEYHjJUja0rdqzCuKjnogw2I8HGpojrTgNJ9NbubVTG0YiN6ittZrShL4A2L4iXQ2fTmOkCNv3FDrOqL6CBWDSJ2AwWr2NbmKo/s1600/044.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjeJNGDsQgZV5YN0ROedtmmV6hNRqd8AipvwiIIIZxz2MEYHjJUja0rdqzCuKjnogw2I8HGpojrTgNJ9NbubVTG0YiN6ittZrShL4A2L4iXQ2fTmOkCNv3FDrOqL6CBWDSJ2AwWr2NbmKo/s1600/044.PNG" width="180" /></a></div>
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It. Was. Freezing.</div>
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I started talking to a couple who happened to walk up around the same time I did, which happened to be way too early. They were avid marathoners who were just driving through town and decided they might as well jump in the race. They also told me they do Iron Man's every now and again if they get tired of marathons. (seriously? crazy people....) Anyway, in our discussion it came up that this was my first marathon. The wife looked at me with a shocked look, and proclaimed, "Are you an IDIOT?" (and yes, that was a direct quote.) She then proceeded to tell me that this was known as one of the hardest marathons in the United States at the time, and basically that I would loose a piece of my soul on the course...thank you for your kind words of encouragement woman. She told me to take my "average marathon time" (since I have one of those....???) split it in half, add the half to the end of my average time, and then add on half an hour to an hour based on how my body handles elevation. </div>
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Well..........</div>
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Asthma + elevation = SLOW</div>
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But I couldn't back out then, so off I went. </div>
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About 10 minutes into the race, I tripped over the roots of a tree and fell on my face in the woods. It was really great. Especially because at that point everyone was still running in a single-file line together. But I was able to pop right back up and keep going. About that point my iPod decided to start being really annoying, and only playing stupid songs. I got really fed up with it, so I just took it out and ran without any music the rest of the time. </div>
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The race continued to climb up the mountain on the ski trails. </div>
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There were times that we were in the trees, and it was dark and cold, and there were times we broke out and saw the entire city below us. It was unreal. And SO beautiful. But the course was so confusing. I definitely missed the first turn off and started running down the wrong road until someone saw me from above and yelled at me. It took me a few minutes to get back on the right track, but I made it. </div>
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At points it was snowy, and icy, and cold. And did I mention, cold? It was cold.</div>
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Then I finally made it up to the peak. 10,000 feet elevation. And I stopped because the views were absolutely spectacular. </div>
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There was a couple sitting up there that said, "you're half way done!!! Now you just have to work your way back down!" </div>
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At this point in time, I was running next to an older Asian gentleman. He looked at me and we both looked down the side of the mountain, and looked back at the couple. He then blurted out, "What the heck do they think I am, an ANIMAL?"<br />
The hill going down was insanely steep. One of those that you look at and, even if you've never had it before, your inner acrophobia comes out. I decided I'd better just get going, because it had to happen sometime, and about 10 steps later I slipped and fell onto my bum, and slid the majority of the way down the hill. It was great. But my leggings didn't even rip! SCORE!<br />
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Now, if you're keeping track, that would be<br />
Marathon: 2<br />
Emma: 0</div>
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After we got down the most steep part of the slopes, we wound back through some more of the woods. At one point I went 7 miles without seeing another human, and just running through the woods alone. There were times (about every 4 minutes) that I thought I was lost, and I would get really worried. I mean, I was in the woods. Alone. With no cell service. And I was lost. But there was always a flag showing I was still on the right trail just around the turn. This was one of those tests of blind faith--you've got to take a few steps into the darkness before seeing the light, ya know? Weird to compare my marathon running to something of a spiritual nature, but honestly, I came to terms with a lot of things in those hours spent out there by myself in nature with nothing to distract me. </div>
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The entire time I was running through this portion of the woods, the poem by Robert Frost "The Road Not Taken" was running through my mind. I don't think I've read it since 6th grade when I had to memorize it. Thank you Mr. Washington. Except for some reason, I could only remember one stanza at a time. So I would repeat it in my mind until the next one came to me, and then I repeated those two together until the third came to me. But then the last one would not come to me. It was extremely frustrating. As soon as I got home I looked it up so that I could remember the end of it.<br />
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Also, I have never ever quoted poetry in my mind. Ever. until I became an English major, and now it never goes away. It's rather strange. </div>
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When I got to this point, I knew I only had a mile and a half left of the course. I could hear the announcer at the bottom of the hill, and I could see the finish line. My body decided that it was more capable than I thought, and I started speeding up. Lucky for me, the last quarter of a mile was a flat dirt path that wound around like a snake. I was trying my hardest to make it into the finish line, because I was so exhausted.<br />
I was taught in high school to run looking up, not down at my feet. A method I like to call lock and pull. Lock your eyes on something and then pull yourself towards it. Once you reach that object, you lock your eyes on the next. That was the only way I would make myself pass people.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Side note, that was also how I would end up going way too fast down Southern Ave. I would forget that that strategy did not apply to driving and look down to find myself way over the speed limit. whoops. haha)</span><br />
Next thing I knew, my foot caught on a rock, and I ATE IT. Reeeaaaallllllyyyyy hard. I had a really hard time getting back up and making myself start moving again. Once I did though, I looked up and noticed a woman standing just to my left taking pictures. I really hope that she was not snapping at that exact moment, and that those pictures never surface. Anywhere. </div>
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I ran through the finish line, as the announcer said my name and stated, "she's not finished yet! Now she's got all the booze she could ever want to drink for FREE!" Thank you kind sir, but no thank you. I do not want any booze. Ever. Especially not after running 26 miles.<br />
My body was so exhausted, my mind was so exhausted, everything hurt, and I just started crying for no reason. Welcome to the life of being a girl. It was a rough couple of minutes. I made it to my bag, picked up my shirt, got in the car and drove home as fast as I could. But first I made a stop at Sodalicious first for my first soda in months. Oh man, it was so good.</div>
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I got home and realized that I hadn't put sunscreen on at all that day. My face and neck were a disaster. And with my lovely cold, my nose was especially bad and started peeling the very next day. I looked like I was trying to dress up for Halloween a few weeks too early. #awkward </div>
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The rest of Saturday and Sunday were spent in bed resting up, or walking around trying not to have to sit down, because it hurt too bad to try and stand back up. NyQuil and Ibuprofen have become my best friends. </div>
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My legs are still bruised and scabbed a little bit, and this lovely cold is still hanging around making my life a little bit (or a lot bit) miserable, but I RAN A MARATHON. </div>
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And I can't wait to run another one! </div>
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Who wants to join me next time?? </div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633253465829968882.post-42058147947254677042014-09-17T21:29:00.000-07:002014-09-18T08:46:05.114-07:00Thoughts on Feeling Overwhelmed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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College has always been hard for me. </div>
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Year three is no different.</div>
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If anything, it's become harder.</div>
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I'm at the point where I would say that it is brutal.</div>
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I switched my major. </div>
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I am {finally} taking my last GE class.</div>
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(And in case you were wondering, it is ridiculously hard, even though it is actually incredibly interesting)</div>
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Actually, in case you were wondering, every class I am taking is ridiculously hard. And incredibly interesting.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">PSA: Every class I'm taking has made me realize how</span><span style="color: magenta;"> <b style="font-size: small;">LITTLE</b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: magenta;"> </span></b>I know.</span></div>
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I've found myself asking myself many questions...some of which include:</div>
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What did I <span style="font-size: large;">DO</span> in high school? </div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">aside from extra curricular activities...</span></div>
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What did I <span style="font-size: large;">LEARN</span> in high school?</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">aside from how to ignore annoying people...</span></div>
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How the heck does <span style="font-size: large;">ANYONE</span> know what anapestic tetrameter is? Or dactylic pentameter? Or common meter? </div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">[Common meter? I know what the 1600 meter is. That's pretty common, right?]</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">^That was a joke, in case you couldn't tell. I know that meter's are really just sticks you use to measure things. Jokes again ^</span></div>
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And, in response to the terminology, why does it seem that <span style="font-size: large;">EVERYONE ELSE </span>DOES know what those terms mean? </div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">cause i dont...</span></div>
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How are some people <span style="font-size: large;">ALWAYS </span>so opinionated? </div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">i feel like my mind is empty...</span></div>
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And <span style="font-size: large;">HOW</span> do they have the courage to openly share those opinions?</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">i mean, they are interesting, but man, they're courageous...</span></div>
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Does no one else feel they are having a <span style="font-size: large;">MAJOR </span>heat flash when called upon in class?</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">because I do......</span></div>
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I used to think I was a <i>somewhat</i> talented writer.</div>
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And I <i>enjoy</i> writing.</div>
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And then I got my first writing assignment back from my professor, </div>
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[who I swear is a genius]</div>
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and, well, the grade was definitely not what I expected it to be. </div>
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Nor what I wanted it to be.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZleaTl5K_EYEsofh5dB3nAsuxFjB_m4kI_0OS7SWuRzSH3s3Rwb2sSEauNCn2C6Kg07nJGvubwiWKO8W-YnMk3lvRDkPKJbEYMDUI_QxxfC7CAQupLFbYK_4fgYN7seWDzKEslhn0ICV/s1600/E.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZleaTl5K_EYEsofh5dB3nAsuxFjB_m4kI_0OS7SWuRzSH3s3Rwb2sSEauNCn2C6Kg07nJGvubwiWKO8W-YnMk3lvRDkPKJbEYMDUI_QxxfC7CAQupLFbYK_4fgYN7seWDzKEslhn0ICV/s1600/E.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Because BYU, unlike the rest of the schools I attended throughout my education, remembers that there is a letter between D and F....</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Why do schools skip E? It's strange. But whatever. That's beside the point.</span></div>
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Needless to say, I walked out of the Richards Building today COMPLETELY overwhelmed. Almost to the point of tears. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">okay...you can take out the almost...</span></div>
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Then I remembered this statement found in my syllabus:</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">maybe even for the class I just received a failing grade in...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"If you have ever, even in private, made a connection between your worth as a human and your grades, please, for the love of all that's holy, get OVER that. Academic performance is not going to make or break your life."</span></div>
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yeah, yeah, yeah. Easy for you to say professor. You're not trying to get a degree right now...I have to get the grades if I want to get the degree...and you think my writing sucks. Confidence boosted. Not.</div>
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Then, I remembered that I had read a very <a href="http://engl210-picetti.wikispaces.umb.edu/file/view/Lamott_Bird+by+Bird.pdf"><i>this</i></a> for class the night before.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(beware: some colorful language used here)</span></div>
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Hello outstanding teacher. Thank you for restoring faith in my writing. And in the writing process. </div>
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Duh I suck at writing.</div>
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I'm 20 years old. </div>
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I have many first drafts waiting to be destroyed by myself.</div>
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And many "final drafts" to be destroyed by professors.</div>
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But to heck with it. </div>
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I <i>LOVE</i> writing.</div>
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I <i>ENJOY </i>writing. </div>
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I may not be as good at writing as my friends who just graduated with a degree in English.</div>
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Or my professor who is a grad student. </div>
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Or my professor who has a PhD in English literature. </div>
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My writing doesn't define me.</div>
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My grades don't define me.</div>
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Being overwhelmed is <span style="font-size: large;">OKAY.</span></div>
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Not being able to share my thoughts in class is <span style="font-size: large;">OKAY.</span></div>
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I am <span style="font-size: large;">OKAY. </span></div>
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And I <span style="font-size: large;">WILL</span> survive two more years of college.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Did I really just say I am half way done with college..that's scary...)</span></div>
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And even if I did fail that paper, I didn't fail life.</div>
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I haven't failed the class. </div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">yet...anyone willing to tutor me in English 251 would be treated with extreme kindness, and lots of sweets. You know you want to...</span></div>
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Life continues. </div>
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And life is GOOD. </div>
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And I am happy.</div>
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And even though I may be smiling to hide how completely overwhelmed I am, </div>
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at least I'm still smiling. </div>
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Make today a great day.</div>
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And if you can't seem to, </div>
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smile anyway.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633253465829968882.post-24839968737539924652013-10-01T20:34:00.002-07:002013-10-01T20:34:46.924-07:00A {week} in the Life?<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I feel like I go for weeks without posting....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">oh wait, I do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sorry I'm MIA. Life is CRAZY.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I've been working, and studying, and trying to feel like I'm doing the whole "college" thing right. It's super stressful when you really think about it! But I'm still loving it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I got called as ward choir director, and held the first choir practice. There were about 20 people that showed! I was suuuper excited about that! And, guys, they sounded amazing. Like seriously, I HAD MAJOR CHILLS the ENTIRE time. So amazing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Here's a low down of the days of my week, just for fun.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sunday's are GREAT. We have 9:30 am church. On the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month, I have ward counsel at 8. So stinking early! But it's great. I love being a part of it. Then after church, I have choir practice. (the timing of that one is still being figured out). Then it's usually time for a nap, or dinner prep, depending on if it is my week for food or not. We have a roomie dinner every week, and we usually have extra guests join us as well. It's super fun, and I love getting to spend time with my roommates! Then we have ward prayer, and we usually end up staying up far to late doing a whole bunch of nothing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Monday's are my favorite, wanna know why? Because Monday's are P-Day's, and all my friends are on missions. My inbox is FULL every Monday, and I feel so loved. :) Monday's are also great, because the testing center doesn't even open until 10, so I don't have to be there til 9:25 (normal days I have to be there at 7:40) Oh I love the extra time to sleep. Also, I get off work at 12, and don't have class til 2, and I only have one class on Monday. Seriously, I SCORED big time there. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Tuesday's are a little rough, but I really enjoy my classes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Wednesday's, well, let me just say, I will NEVER be taking a class from 5-7:30 pm ever again. I thought I would be okay, because senior year I had English at MCC from 7:10-9:50, and then last year I had Public Speaking from 4-6:30. So 5-7:30 shouldn't be too bad, right? WRONG. It's soooo hard to stay awake and focused in that class. But my professor is from Australia and so that makes it all better. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">My Thursday's are exactly like my Tuesday's! (THE ONLY REPEAT DAY) Except, that Thursday nights I get to catch up on my Hulu watching. That may or may not be a highlight of my week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Friday's are great. I have work from 7:40-12 and then I'm DONE for the day! I try to get homework done, but, lets be real, I've usually stayed up far too late the night before, and end up crashing on my computer/books/whatever I'm attempting to get done. But I LOVE Friday's. I really love Friday in the fall though. I just love that happy feeling. Agh! I JUST LOVE IT!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Saturday's are lazy days. We (sometimes) do laundry, usually grocery shop, and laze around. It's super great.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Then we have to throw in any sporting even that we feel like going to (which is usually the majority of them), and extra study sessions, reviews, etc. And two of my roommates and I are doing Insanity the workout video. We are on week 3 right now, and are doing so well! I'm always SO exhausted, before, during, and after. But I feel so much better when I'm working out and making sure that I'm not just gaining unnecessary weight. It's super great.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Anyway, College life is stressful. But college life is also fun and exciting and great. I've learned so much academically, spiritually, and so much about myself the last few weeks. Here's hoping (and praying) for a great rest of the semester!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">#gocougs</span> </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633253465829968882.post-16865883670107756492013-09-17T22:09:00.002-07:002013-09-17T22:09:40.278-07:00Tuesday Thoughts<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Well, this week is a slow one. I feel like it should already be the weekend. But tomorrow is HUMP DAY! FINALLY! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Monday night we had our first FHE. We had dinner at our stake high counselor's house, and at the table they decided we should play the game, "Name one interesting thing about yourself!" You know, that typical, get-to-know-each-other game.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Well when it came my turn, out of my mouth came </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">"I hate this game."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Anyone who reads my blog knows me, so I'm sure you can hear that in my voice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It came out matter-of-factly, although I was really just meaning to think it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Here's my problem with this game.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">WHAT THE HECK IS INTERESTING ABOUT ME!?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In case you're interested, here's my thought process: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I'm short. </span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">uh, duh. that's obvious.</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have red hair.</span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">again, how obvious can you get? and that's not unique. lots of people have red hair.</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh! I know! I have a big family!</span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">honey, you go to BYU. Everyone and their dog has a big family.</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Uh....what else is there? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Seriously. BYU is THE place to go from feeling like a unique individual, to feeling like a little Mormon minion. {DO NOT TAKE THAT THE WRONG WAY! I <strong><em><u>LOVE</u></em></strong> BYU, AND I <strong><em><u>LOVE</u></em></strong> BEING A MORMON, AND I AM IN <strong><em><u>NO WAY</u></em></strong> SAYING I THINK WE ARE A CULT, OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT!} It's just, well, BYU is a school run by Mormon people, with Mormon values, and, well, a student body that is practically all Mormon. Try and be an individual there! I dare you! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Finally, out of my mouth came, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">"I was adopted." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Yeah, real unique, I know. But you tell me what I should've said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Anyway, so we got home, and for some reason I kept thinking about that game, and how UN-unique I was here. How NORMAL if you would. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It got me thinking of last year when I first came here. And holy crap, I was in shock. Let me just explain for those of you who aren't really understanding me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">BYU IS HUGE.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">{DISCLAMER: THIS WILL BE A LONG RANT ABOUT MY LIFE. I DONT EXPECT YOU TO READ IT. BUT SKIP DOWN TO WHERE I SAY <span style="background-color: cyan;"><u><em><strong>READ HERE</strong></em></u></span> AND READ.}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In order to get into BYU, you (for the most part) have to be one of the top students.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">You have to have a certain GPA and a certain ACT score, and a well written essay or 2 or 3.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">So, obviously, those who get into BYU are, "the best and the brightest" as they remind you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">But, like I said, EVERYONE who gets into BYU is "the best and the brightest".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In 2012 when I entered BYU, 12,705 people applied.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">7,101 people were accepted. That's a 55.9% acceptance rate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The average unweighted GPA was a 3.81. (I don't remember what I had, but it wasn't that!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The average ACT score was a 28.50 (I'm pretty sure I got a 25..)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The percentage of students who had achieved their Duty to God award/Young Women's Recognition was 84% (I did do that one!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sounding a little bit overwhelming? Well lets add this in: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The first day of our freshman orientation, they decided to TELL us that we were just like everyone else. That we were no longer the smartest of the smart. That we had to fight to keep good grades. Then they told us how many valedictorians we had in our class. And how many senior class presidents, and how many student body presidents. How many of this, and that, and this and that, and the lists went ON and ON and ON. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And I shrunk in my seat. Nothin' like a little "pep talk" telling you how much you suck. Because, guess what? I was NONE of those things...and I was sitting here with these people who were ALL of these things. These people who were talented. Who were SMART, who were Mormon, who had good families. And man, I was a nobody. Right then and there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Then I went to my ward on Sunday, and I swear, everyone in our ward had some huge obstacle in their lives that they had had to overcome--a parent or a sibling dying, having cancer, parents going through messy divorces, parents who were abusive, I mean, the list went on and on, and it made me sink even lower, because, in my mind, my life now seemed easy as making pre-made cookies. (like the ones you buy at Wal-Mart and take out of a package and put them on a plate)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Well, it kinda ate at me. I began to fall into a bit of a pit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I was depressed. I didn't like to talk to other people (I still don't love it haha)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I didn't like making new friends, because, they were just going to be better than me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I felt like I needed to spend ALL my time studying--yet when I tried I realized that I have the attention span of a nat. (And yeah, I'm on blogger instead of doing my homework right now.)</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And even after I studied, I BOMBED every single test that I took. EVERY ONE. </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Lets just say that it was a bad semester--at best. </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I didn't want to come back, but I didn't want to stay home either. </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It was a huge decision. One which caused MANY tears.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I decided to go back, with a lot of discussion between my parents and I. A lot of promises, a lot of prayers, and a priesthood blessing.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">During this whole situation, the mission age changed, making for even MORE of a reason that I wasn't measuring up to everyone else.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mission calls were popping up everywhere. Everyone was deciding to go.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Professors would ask at the beginning of each class who had a new mission call, and there was always at least one. And I just sat silently.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I had prayed about it, and found my answer to be that a mission is not right for me. Not now. If it is in the future, I will know then. But for now, I needed to stay. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Anyway, this is a super long story of my life. You are probably bored. If you've read this far--props to you. But here, I want to flash back to real time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<strong><em><u><span style="background-color: cyan; font-family: Arial;">READ HERE:</span></u></em></strong></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial;">So, this thought was still sort of plaguing my mind this morning. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I am an individual, yet here, I am not.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And so I went about my routine. </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I went to class, and it was sunny outside. I came out 50 minutes later, and it was dark and cloudy. 1 minute later, there were HUGE drops of rain. 20 seconds later, it turned into a heavier rain, 10 seconds after that it turned to hail. 30 more seconds passed before it decided to hail and pour rain at the same time. This pouring rain and hail lasted for a good 3 minutes straight. While I was attempting to walk to class. It hurt. A lot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">But I made it to my next class. And I was FROZEN the entire time. But I made it through.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Then I had an hour break til my next class. I have a friend who has the same break, so we talk then, but I had made up my mind that I was going home, and skipping my last class. {again, for those of you reading this, you know me. I DON'T skip class. I've never missed a single class my entire college career so far. And the only ones I missed before were because I was VERY ill, or at a running meet.} </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">But my friend came out of his class, and we chatted, and before I knew it, it was time for class to start. So I went in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Seriously guys, that was SATAN telling me to go home. I don't like him at all. And let me tell you what. He LOST today. I love when Satan looses. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So, I got to class, (which, by the way, is my ALL TIME FAVORITE class I've EVER taken) and my professor puts up the topic on the board. </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">"The Divine Nature of Each Individual"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Say whaaaaaaat?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Hello answer to prayers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">He started off talking. And guess what he started with? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">"You guys know how when you are in high school you are the top of the food chain, and then you get to BYU and you are NOTHING. I mean, you are just like everyone else. No one stands out!" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Ummm....did you read my mind? SERIOUSLY?! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So the lesson went on, and an hour and a 45 minutes has never gone by so fast. Holy crap.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Let me share with you two quotes that I got written down. I honestly wish I had recorded the whole lecture. Because he broke down everything. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The reason we feel the way we do. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Ways we can combat those feelings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Ways that Satan works WITH those feelings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Ways that we can overcome Satan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">'Comparisons' by Dieter F. Uchtdorf</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">"Every mortal has at least a casual if not intimate relationship with the sin of pride. At its core, pride is a sin of comparison, for the thought it usually begins with 'Look how wonderful I am and what great things I have done' it always seems to end with 'Therefore, I am better than you.'" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And one more;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">'Becoming' by Robert Millet</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">"One who chooses Christ chooses to be changed...The Atonement [is] the means whereby our hearts might be cleansed and our souls transformed and prepared to dwell with Christ and our Eternal Father...The Atonement does more than fix the mistakes. It does more than balance the scales. It even does more than forgive our sins. It rehabilitates, regenerates, renews, and transforms human nature. Christ makes us better, worlds better, than we would have been had there been no Fall." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">He taught us that, like when we meet people who know our families in mortality and are compared to them in ways like "Oh! You have your mom's eyes!" or "We know where you got your singing voice from!", if we were to talk to those on the other side of the veil, they would start comparing our qualities to those of deity. For example, "oh, the way you work with children! That reminds me so much of how Christ talks and works with children." or "Oh, your musical talent/any talent--I know where you get that from!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">How cool is that?! We are in the process of becoming Gods and Goddesses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">He taught us that the 5 threats to "<em>perceptions"</em> of Divine Worth are:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">1. False notion of the origin of man</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">2. False notion of who God is</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">3. Confusing worldly worth for divine worth</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">4. Comparisons</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">5. Mistaking worthiness for worth</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I promise I'll close this up soon--because, unlike my professor, I'm no scholar, and I don't have the most amazing way of putting all of this. But, I want to share one little bit of thought on that last "<em>perception"</em> that he shared with us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">5. Mistaking worthiness for worth</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">He asked us this question.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">"Who has more worth in God's eyes. Joseph Smith, or the man who killed him?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Now, that is not to say that the man who shot and killed Joseph Smith would have headed straight to the Celestial Kingdom to sit on the right hand of God right after he had committed murder. No. That, is his WORTHINESS. But, because he is a son of God, he has JUST AS MUCH worth as Joseph Smith has. He has JUST AS MUCH potential to become a God. He has JUST AS MUCH potential to be perfected and become just like our Heavenly Father. He has infinite worth. Joseph Smith has infinite worth. YOU have infinite worth. I have infinite worth. Our choices in life do not lesson the amount of worth that we hold. They may, for a period of time diminish our worthiness, but, as we rely on Christ, and use his atonement in our lives to repent, and to be forgiven of our sins, our worthiness improves. This is a process that is done every single day. The atonement isn't just a "hey, I did all that I can do, now Christ will bridge that gap." The atonement is a personal, an individual, a daily, a momentary, and, I might even say, that the atonement is a process that is in full swing every single second. It not only removes our sins, and helps us become unspotted before the Lord. It heals our weaknesses, our infirmities, our uncertainties. It is here for each of us. Individually. To use. All day. Every day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I know that the atonement is real. I know that Christ died so that I can be perfected. So that I can become who God wants me to become. I know that Christ lives. I know that I am an individual, no matter how "normal" and "un-individualistic" I feel at this ginormous university. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I am thankful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. And I am thankful to be a student at this amazing university. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I apologize for the length and preachy-ness of this. If you made it to the end, I am very proud of you. If not, I understand. I just had to get these thoughts out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> And I really didn't want to read about Nutrients, Enzymes, and Metabolism. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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</div>
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</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633253465829968882.post-43620728482327868642013-09-15T22:12:00.000-07:002013-09-15T22:12:01.803-07:00School <div align="center">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, I had a super long and super fun post all about my summer....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">and then blogger decided to be a booger about it, and ruin it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">So frustrating. </span></div>
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</div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">But whatever.</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I had a 4 month long summer. </span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And now, I'm back at school.</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It's weird.</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I like it.</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sometimes.</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It's been a HUGE change.</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I don't like change.</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">But I'm getting used to it.</span></div>
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</div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">BYU is kinda a dream.</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The campus is GORGEOUS.</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The people are nice.</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The professors are BRILLIANT.</span></div>
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</div>
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</div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Classes are hard.</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It's BYU.</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Am I surprised?</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Not one bit.</span></div>
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</div>
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</div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I miss my best friend more than words can describe.</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Not having her here is stinky.</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">But we get to email once a week, and that's more than people could do even a year ago.</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">So I'm happy with that.</span></div>
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</div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And she LOVES her mission.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And I love that she loves it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I miss my family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">FaceTime is the GREATEST invention ever. After the iPhone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And, for all you haters who say that people forget about their families when they leave home,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I TALK TO MY MOTHER EVERY SINGLE DAY.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Even if nothing interesting has happened.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">So take that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I miss my old friends from freshman year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">They're all on missions besides a select few.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I love seeing those select few. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It restores my faith in life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I'm making new friends.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It's a slow and interesting process.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It takes me A LONG time to feel comfortable and confident in situations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">This whole "new girl" thing is not so good for my soul.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">But at the same time, it's probably exactly what I need.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I like my ward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We're not to the LOVE stage yet, but we're getting there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We had THE MOST AMAZING MEETINGS TODAY EVER.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Seriously. I had the Goosebumps the entire time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And it wasn't because I was cold--although I was that too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">You-tard is beautiful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It has rained a lot lately.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I LOVE THE RAIN.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">This post is super random and I promise I'll get into writing more coherently. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">But for now, I'm done chattin it up with Jedavin in the Philippines,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And I'm headed to bed so I can get up good and early and catch Han in Kentucky.</span></div>
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</div>
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</div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Life is good.</span></div>
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</div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I know Heavenly Father loves me.</span></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">That he hears my prayers,</span></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">and that he answers them</span></div>
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</div>
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</div>
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</div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Here's to a good year at BYU! </span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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</div>
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</div>
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</div>
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</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633253465829968882.post-60215627655344699372013-06-19T14:06:00.001-07:002013-06-19T14:06:10.674-07:00Gettin' Real. <div align="center">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay. It's time to be real.</span></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Blogger, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter. You name it. Anything social media.</span></div>
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</div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We are on them. A lot.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">(In denial? Think you're the exception? Well guess what? You're reading a blog. Right now.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We spend hours stalking other people's lives.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Dreaming of having them. </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Planning ridiculously extravagant weddings, outfits, crafts, meals, and homes to live in.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">All things that we'll never end up having.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">(And by we, I mean, me...and I just hope I'm not the only one.)</span></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Anyway, like I said, I'm a stalker.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I admit it.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And, I like to think that I'm pretty dang good at it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Facebook stalking may, or may not be one of my favorite pastimes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">(you can ask Hanna and Sarah about that...)</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well. Stalking leads to something.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The same thing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">EVERY SINGLE TIME.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">You'd think I'd learn?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Yeah, nope. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I guess I have a hard head.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">You're probably wondering,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"> "what is this crazy woman talking about?!" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Well, I'll let you in on my craziness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It boils down to one word</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">One TEN LETTER word.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5a477_SjgDpmK75cm5LMdT6tLpuNJG5IaH6lpkRDPJQhNQgzOtPIL0APxTxzRnpchz-aCH3qdYmDJDWEVF80Y0hjOKRG5nI2-QhIW8g-InDlyR5jOkHCrtrp4Y_MAntfT4WhOeEq_Q8gc/s1600/COMPARISON.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5a477_SjgDpmK75cm5LMdT6tLpuNJG5IaH6lpkRDPJQhNQgzOtPIL0APxTxzRnpchz-aCH3qdYmDJDWEVF80Y0hjOKRG5nI2-QhIW8g-InDlyR5jOkHCrtrp4Y_MAntfT4WhOeEq_Q8gc/s400/COMPARISON.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are all guilty of it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It is inevitable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It starts at a young age.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Who is tallest? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Who is the skinniest?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Who is the most tan?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Who has the best nails?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Who has their hair done the cutest?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Who has the best clothes? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Cutest backpack?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Cutest folders?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"> Best pencils?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">(Maybe those last few are just me, but I always looked at the simple stupid things like folders and pencils. I come from a frugal family--the best kind. Sale items were, and still are, our favorite.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">As I've gotten older, the comparisons haven't changed too much. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">But more have been added on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Who has the best lap top?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The best phone?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The cutest phone case?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Who has the cutest room décor?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The cutest handwriting?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The most friends on FB, or followers on Blogger, Insta or Twitter?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Who cooks the best?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Eats the least?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Exercises the most?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Has the best body?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Who sings the prettiest?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Who is the most popular?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Who does that super cute boy decide to sit next to in class?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">(Never me. Usually it's by some other insanely attractive males.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Who takes the best pictures?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The MOST pictures?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Who gets the most likes on their posts?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Whose posts does that super cute boy decide to like?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Who has the cutest boyfriend?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Who has the best love story?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The prettiest engagement ring?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The list goes on and on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">But here is the problem.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We are constantly comparing things that we see as our weaknesses,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"> to things we see as others strengths. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Things that we feel we lack,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">to things we think others have.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Or vice-versa.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We view other people's lives as perfect, and our own as mediocre at best.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And the online world doesn't help us with that!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We see the best and brightest spots of everyone's lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I mean, who would find the ugliest picture they have of themselves, and post it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Not me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Who posts about their failed attempt at making a new craft, food, or decoration?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Not me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In short:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Who posts about their weaknesses, shortcomings, or failures?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">NOT ME.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And why not?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The answer is simple;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Because that is not what other people want to read. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And our society has become all about pleasing other people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I'm not trying to say that everyone should post ugly pictures, and only about their failures.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Honestly, I'm one of the "other people" that wouldn't waste my time reading those.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I'm not trying to say we should stop stalking other people,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I know I won't stop anytime soon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">What I AM trying to say is that we have created a false sense of reality for ourselves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We hold ourselves to a standard we have made for ourselves, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">based on someone else's life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We try and become someone we're not, so that we can be "accepted".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">But, here's my question,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><strong>By who?</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">By that little old lady in China who comes across your blog, and will NEVER meet you?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">(no offense to little old ladies in China.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">By the flock of other women who are also attempting to make their lives into something they're not?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">By a man, who is almost positively not going to read your blog?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">(shout out to any men who are actually reading this.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Why does it matter how many friends/followers you have online?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Or how many of them like your post?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Why is technology SO important?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Why do we let those things boost or ruin our self-esteem?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I've been asking myself these questions lately. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And I don't have answers to all of them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And I don't know how to make them NOT be of such great importance to me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It is hard!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">But let me share one thing I HAVE learned, just real quick:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><strong>There is no such thing as a perfect life!</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">From here on, I am on a journey.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">A journey to stop searching for a perfect life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">A journey to stop comparing myself to others.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">A journey to become comfortable and confident with the woman I am.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">No matter who social media deems me to be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And it is going to be a process.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Step by step.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">One thing at a time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">But, I know I can do it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And why? Because I know I have someone to help me every step of the way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I KNOW that I am a daughter of my Heavenly Father.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And I KNOW that I was created by His hands, and in His image.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And I KNOW that He loves me, for who I am.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Even my red hair.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Even my millions (or billions, or trillions) of freckles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Even my big thighs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Even my lack of height.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Even all of those "blemishes" that bother me.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And I KNOW that He wants me to be happy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"> With the person that I am, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">and with the life that I have been blessed with.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">My "journey" has begun.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Care to join me?</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633253465829968882.post-6287478834129271692013-06-14T21:40:00.005-07:002013-06-14T21:40:52.310-07:00Today is a Gift<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today was a great day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Why you may ask?</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Nothing life changing happened.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I didn't get a million dollars.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I didn't meet the man of my dreams.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I didn't overcome the predicament of wanting to eat as much as I want,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">and never gain weight. </span></div>
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</div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In fact, today, I:</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sat in an office for 9 hours.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Answered phone calls.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Annoyed a lot of Hispanic people with my lack of ability to sprechen their language...woops.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Filed papers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Wrote demands.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sent faxes. And letters. And more faxes. And more letters.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Walked in the 110 degree heat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Missed a conference call with one of my dear friends to hear her open her mission call.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">BUT, today, I also:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Woke up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Got out of bed, did my hair, put in my contacts, AND put on make-up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">{those last two things do not happen very often, in case you were wondering}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Got to go to work, in an air conditioned truck.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Ate a cookie at 9 am, just because I wanted to.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Ate another one, or two, or three......for the same reason.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Got to go out to Café Zupas with my dad, and a few other co-workers for lunch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Got free lunch. :) Thanks Fabio.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Laughed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Got an email from one of my favorite missionaries.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Responded to another missionary letter--in COMPLETE Spanish. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">{Thank you Google Translate}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Pretended to understand español. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">{fake it til you make it, right?}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Ate dinner with my parents, and little brother, and an awesome family friend, Lindsay.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Celebrated Flag Day by going around the neighborhood and collecting the flags.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Watched The Lion King with Parker man and Lindsay.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">{And sang along, because, what is a Disney movie without singing along?}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Get to go to bed happy, and healthy, in a beautiful home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">{That I don't have to pay for! SCORE.}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">So, although I am still figuring some things out;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">and even though today wasn't life changing;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Today, I was blessed with another day to live.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Today, I was reminded of something that I repeated every single day,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"> my senior year of High School</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">with that amazing man, Mr. Mike Baser.</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">"I am a <span style="font-size: large;">MIRACLE</span>, and I can do <span style="font-size: large;">ANYTHING</span>!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It's a great day to be alive! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">What are <span style="font-size: large;"><strong>YOU</strong></span> thankful for today?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div align="center">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633253465829968882.post-81153337304453524422013-06-05T13:08:00.001-07:002016-03-05T22:24:35.855-08:00One Year<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One year ago today I woke up to news that no one ever dreams of hearing.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">JaKelle had passed away.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I laid in bed for the next 20 or so minutes, just thinking. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Trying so hard to wrap my mind around what my parents had just said.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I lay there, I began to become angry.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was angry at everything, and everyone.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was so frustrated that the Lord would take away such a loved girl, at such a young age.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I thought, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What, were our prayers and fasting not enough?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Was our faith not strong enough?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img alt="" class="spotlight" height="266" src="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/465688_3781541135822_1774009673_o.jpg" width="400" /> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Were our fundraisers, and our showing of support not enough?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img alt="" class="spotlight" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/524444_3803228677997_688429308_n.jpg" style="height: 240px; width: 320px;" /> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img alt="" class="spotlight" height="400" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/560268_3946640583205_2082642905_n.jpg" width="300" /> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I mean, we had done everything.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And then, the reality of it hit, and I was just overwhelmingly sad. But, just as quickly as I had become angry, and resentful towards my Heavenly Father, I felt His love come over me. It was unlike any experience I had ever had. It felt as if I was being hugged. All of my doubts, and my frustrations disappeared in that instant. At that moment, I KNEW. I knew that JaKelle was with her Heavenly Father. I knew that she was free from pain. I knew that our fasting, our prayers, our support, our faith, everything we had done for her, had helped to prolong her life, and helped each of us to become more like her, and more like our Savior, Jesus Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now, I don't profess to be JaKelle's best friend, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">in fact, we hardly talked in high school, which I regret.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But anyone who has ever met JaKelle can agree with me when I say that she just had a way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A way of making everyone feel special. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A way of making everyone feel wanted, and loved. A way of making you feel as if you were the only one in the world who needed her help or attention at that point in time. She just had a way. I don't really know how else to explain it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All that I have, are the memories of the good old days with Jakelle. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The days that we played dress up for hours.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The days that we swam for hours.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The days that we just spent hours together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><img alt="" class="spotlight" height="224" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/598903_4213925865170_882004561_n.jpg" width="320" /> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The days that we did Little Bunnies together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And those, those are the memories that I will cherish forever!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This year has been such an amazing learning experience for me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Each morning I wake up to this reminder from a beautiful angel:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Every time that I look at it, it gives me that little boost that I need to make it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If I have learned one thing from this year, it is, without a doubt, to make every moment count.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Time is constantly moving forward. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can't change or relive the past.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can't make choices for other people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Things don't always go the way that we planned.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You may try your hardest, and fail.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sometimes, you lose. You lose friends. You lose family. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But, there is always gain.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is always a light at the end of the tunnel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Christ atoned for each of us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He knows our pains. All of them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He can heal us if we turn to Him, and have faith in Him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is a plan, and because of that, and the atonement,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> we will be able to see all of our loved ones again some day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some might argue, if He can heal everything, why didn't he heal JaKelle? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I think that this quote says it beautifully.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">" If healing does not come in mortal life, it will come thereafter. Just as the gorgeous monarch butterfly emerges from a chrysalis, so will spirits emerge."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One year ago, Heaven gained a beautiful angel, and each of us gained a guardian angel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She is missed. Every day. By so many people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But today, we are all one year closer to getting to see her smiling face again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am thankful every day for the legacy that she left with each of us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And for the two, now famous words,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Stay Strong"</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633253465829968882.post-77987839706064169272013-05-21T09:32:00.000-07:002013-05-21T09:32:04.686-07:00Winter 2013<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Semester 2 at BYU: {these may be slightly out of order...forgive me}</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogOyt2TLrcuZQkKrrGZDgeszWbdWmCFx47c4jherpWRZhaJZyMk0SKJqapc-yndZ4uiXvItis7BDHS1tlvjil6ZWeam8ND7XorbiM-6UyeSI4qieALOfOQGe1bZ_Ht4bcSkLlXfGIU-9Z/s1600/snowing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogOyt2TLrcuZQkKrrGZDgeszWbdWmCFx47c4jherpWRZhaJZyMk0SKJqapc-yndZ4uiXvItis7BDHS1tlvjil6ZWeam8ND7XorbiM-6UyeSI4qieALOfOQGe1bZ_Ht4bcSkLlXfGIU-9Z/s320/snowing.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lots. And. LOTS. of this. Snow. every day. All day. From October-April. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzB4RsiXWcOfwQO5X9W-02zxnMv_KFlHLDIrn0NB9JYPYhmaTrK0bCIEfH_oovKdM5KhXk67xU4yDP4S69_ehp8H7KxOQV1klPnLBv9ZHfrM1xs7pKcD0shLxUQcVUnalCJWc5ZFNff04/s1600/45907_152604274889569_1359331482_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzB4RsiXWcOfwQO5X9W-02zxnMv_KFlHLDIrn0NB9JYPYhmaTrK0bCIEfH_oovKdM5KhXk67xU4yDP4S69_ehp8H7KxOQV1klPnLBv9ZHfrM1xs7pKcD0shLxUQcVUnalCJWc5ZFNff04/s320/45907_152604274889569_1359331482_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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{<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sarah, Brooke, Emmy, Hunter}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ward party: ice skating. A huge success. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Y_QIB_OqzwF2VEoqK7UyRd_ZhCx0h7KhHjd7TT7RphNjn_RcmYJkhHUlnluaZixnxEg0oyHRQ9GFYRvqorKAGdgKRBa8XReAqXojiESwFVYnD7SsBsLh52Grlvt7MUo7x4Todz8yJmdN/s1600/21796_10200694691111968_131958476_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Y_QIB_OqzwF2VEoqK7UyRd_ZhCx0h7KhHjd7TT7RphNjn_RcmYJkhHUlnluaZixnxEg0oyHRQ9GFYRvqorKAGdgKRBa8XReAqXojiESwFVYnD7SsBsLh52Grlvt7MUo7x4Todz8yJmdN/s320/21796_10200694691111968_131958476_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">{Stuart, Alex, Chris, Jordan, Emma W., Sarah K., Hunter, Chrissy, Emmy, Calvin, Brenna, Brooke, Hanna, and Sarah C.} </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ward sledding party at Soldier Hollow: PRIME.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZB8IzHeQnUdm5a2Jl3KNt6xxDbecWE9tL4eCa7nQMJjhLrOopzPInQPyjFgSiJNJuNxju9wmTr60WoE1h0xCxNW7mI5Qg40LGJzhmk7lpXj2jx0MLoGYNeYQ0mKhIJV93l465lni27GF/s1600/67052_10200540331529535_747923874_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZB8IzHeQnUdm5a2Jl3KNt6xxDbecWE9tL4eCa7nQMJjhLrOopzPInQPyjFgSiJNJuNxju9wmTr60WoE1h0xCxNW7mI5Qg40LGJzhmk7lpXj2jx0MLoGYNeYQ0mKhIJV93l465lni27GF/s320/67052_10200540331529535_747923874_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First birthday away from home, celebrated with my brothers at Bombay House</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2xreYFpM_anpKAbBrkh9XgH57_-MDwX7optoNnn65id3jDdqSfOtshTOOkpy6MXST7P1lto3cuwmPjLz7IjCnkxPy4eRfhPNKaKLpmSRkEI8a6TPoPN6QsMjwkmCXLbqWH-mr2a5baF4/s1600/vday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2xreYFpM_anpKAbBrkh9XgH57_-MDwX7optoNnn65id3jDdqSfOtshTOOkpy6MXST7P1lto3cuwmPjLz7IjCnkxPy4eRfhPNKaKLpmSRkEI8a6TPoPN6QsMjwkmCXLbqWH-mr2a5baF4/s320/vday.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We started Valentine's Day an hour or so early with some Krispy Kreme's and oreo cheesecake.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgQl1XcfUm9dQW8_tZFvUa5W1YH5vZkKYFUchfmNhL5EQ1Wr8owj_ULySn3pTf-urJ94lic8F01f0JRmQnhjucb8Xh8IIe1Ju0TZEoEaTk_tVWaN6Mwkq1luR9NgBMy7v3qD1JGHwKgKG/s1600/549224_10200574551188545_453268634_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgQl1XcfUm9dQW8_tZFvUa5W1YH5vZkKYFUchfmNhL5EQ1Wr8owj_ULySn3pTf-urJ94lic8F01f0JRmQnhjucb8Xh8IIe1Ju0TZEoEaTk_tVWaN6Mwkq1luR9NgBMy7v3qD1JGHwKgKG/s320/549224_10200574551188545_453268634_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We got a big group and went country dancing. Yes. You read that right. <strong>I went country dancing.</strong> It was as big of a shock to me as it is to you. But it was fun to be with friends! :)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcPt8YJoX-5stn3ypIBzCW_BDPT0tujhAlw2W7XDW2eK8iGAF9fMAOqO3D1AIghrPwPbpYqtUXRiUIn_mj0v-cPk1LfJtK8XX-da8C9XuvPldkTvrhVgYvgxuxAsmUkLqfKpL3yE1L2Xx0/s1600/182407_167491023400894_938293864_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcPt8YJoX-5stn3ypIBzCW_BDPT0tujhAlw2W7XDW2eK8iGAF9fMAOqO3D1AIghrPwPbpYqtUXRiUIn_mj0v-cPk1LfJtK8XX-da8C9XuvPldkTvrhVgYvgxuxAsmUkLqfKpL3yE1L2Xx0/s320/182407_167491023400894_938293864_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Early morning trip to the temple on no sleep. Food for thought: If you're planning on leaving your room at 4:45am, don't stay up all night.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjupz6F50JBMpEUePH8X8OCuk9pKu7S08p4XHjynWf2DXxCXCuirjfqIeshshtW-E_xjy0IMFTYljwk0tV5aanxdypfN7U2Y5i2YZRbqIRcLzYiZZSG23LaE4fsMwAjxTGhxPbUqlTeMG/s1600/cupcakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjupz6F50JBMpEUePH8X8OCuk9pKu7S08p4XHjynWf2DXxCXCuirjfqIeshshtW-E_xjy0IMFTYljwk0tV5aanxdypfN7U2Y5i2YZRbqIRcLzYiZZSG23LaE4fsMwAjxTGhxPbUqlTeMG/s320/cupcakes.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Made lots and lots of cupcakes, for LOTS of different occasions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AND, this is my representation of ALL my friends getting mission calls/leaving on missions! It was seriously amazing to see the response to the mission age change. Being a freshman at BYU made it so obvious! So many of my guy friends decided to turn in their papers and leave earlier. And SO many of my girl friends decided to go! I have some freakin amazing friends, and they are all going to be powerful missionaries. It's such a blessing to see so many people headed out to share the joy of the gospel! I'm so proud of all of them, and I can't wait to be their support, and cheer them on from home! Lots and lots of packages and letters for me! :) </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbYonYO1P08dAwCQBYdJ0GYQErBzaT-XQxwAoGWMcb8bt3E-FWtCFQQQ2_r8U1fK3KP5UctvWgpI1AW8tR7U5y4xCF_reyKpZefY1LrzSgRnRy1Im9p6nN0-dLAgm4FcN6gDLcpMe3-54/s1600/flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbYonYO1P08dAwCQBYdJ0GYQErBzaT-XQxwAoGWMcb8bt3E-FWtCFQQQ2_r8U1fK3KP5UctvWgpI1AW8tR7U5y4xCF_reyKpZefY1LrzSgRnRy1Im9p6nN0-dLAgm4FcN6gDLcpMe3-54/s320/flowers.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I took a floral design class, and I loved it! Here are some of my creations: My 1st boquet, that I got to make on my birthday for myself. :) </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ky3AC03qoWvzV5KLCq7MCf7yRrpRL4rJvN_pQvVI0uZjNJnh0d1WRIxjSJtj8Qp1_wFOfE30iscoJEJ5buEFdENLzw0BDAtnHl3lN_8YoZr2ZWp3IZ74kj6khNIlRq-MKD4YnlSAMEqT/s1600/oooo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ky3AC03qoWvzV5KLCq7MCf7yRrpRL4rJvN_pQvVI0uZjNJnh0d1WRIxjSJtj8Qp1_wFOfE30iscoJEJ5buEFdENLzw0BDAtnHl3lN_8YoZr2ZWp3IZ74kj6khNIlRq-MKD4YnlSAMEqT/s320/oooo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bridal boquet</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSmv-crwemb3qWVyou-SY2_QV7vQNE3thwUzi5gGGgJXkXadjnTAoBiuktv9ybeAHXtkPuMnCUldfiuLoC3ctnP1IHMdsgVOB-qLCaS10tjz5XYhCrhuP1QcKyUayKDcUpSQf3YfChBaN/s1600/oriental.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSmv-crwemb3qWVyou-SY2_QV7vQNE3thwUzi5gGGgJXkXadjnTAoBiuktv9ybeAHXtkPuMnCUldfiuLoC3ctnP1IHMdsgVOB-qLCaS10tjz5XYhCrhuP1QcKyUayKDcUpSQf3YfChBaN/s320/oriental.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oriental design</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRkIUjluxc1Lmbvi9cyRlq6RhIP-pbt_46NC6gSvr5046-c0RIVjUW6zMOxU06K8b5L3PblAin2LW9ckco5JrRnmYgotyrgm4aUaKZYMa2goKn1Rk3AYBM5p35AFfwhZWKLV9AmfboisD/s1600/spring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRkIUjluxc1Lmbvi9cyRlq6RhIP-pbt_46NC6gSvr5046-c0RIVjUW6zMOxU06K8b5L3PblAin2LW9ckco5JrRnmYgotyrgm4aUaKZYMa2goKn1Rk3AYBM5p35AFfwhZWKLV9AmfboisD/s320/spring.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spring design</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4CVFNQ9ZfVXeikn6Ii5NLYRiQejZDOUVWqCBkE_GTtVtURgPXFSCfpo3r_icjwZVMmSR2NLXq5FA06abZQgIz0QYaSeDodOV9RxIH4aRmVJvxZ0JcQ3oTLPbJwpNjF1QNLpMzbISBE2ih/s1600/elder+holland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4CVFNQ9ZfVXeikn6Ii5NLYRiQejZDOUVWqCBkE_GTtVtURgPXFSCfpo3r_icjwZVMmSR2NLXq5FA06abZQgIz0QYaSeDodOV9RxIH4aRmVJvxZ0JcQ3oTLPbJwpNjF1QNLpMzbISBE2ih/s320/elder+holland.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We went to a fireside and got to shake hands with THE Elder Holland. They weren't letting us take pictures, because it would've taken far too long, but we still got one of E. Holland photo bombing us. :) </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qpSz0o985HUrzERXpKcoQieHlLkJc3RQTsMhaO-ZSW4Jj48c06yEspyAy3cvYfL0AnuemmWboyUQWDaEoSmOzTdZcdZGLY0d8VMGSuISWaGtPP9_F_GYuVWiwNUsiBz-MYbuB_bK8k7K/s1600/603995_10200733639133774_1623938575_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qpSz0o985HUrzERXpKcoQieHlLkJc3RQTsMhaO-ZSW4Jj48c06yEspyAy3cvYfL0AnuemmWboyUQWDaEoSmOzTdZcdZGLY0d8VMGSuISWaGtPP9_F_GYuVWiwNUsiBz-MYbuB_bK8k7K/s320/603995_10200733639133774_1623938575_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">{Emma W., Aidan, Cayson, Will, Hanna, Emmy and Sarah K.}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's a big festival at a Hindu? (I think..) temple, called the Festival of Colors. You go, and you buy chalk, and then they count down, and all at once everyone throws their chalk in the air, and it comes down on you! This is our before picture. As you can see, some people just like to be annoying and throw chalk on you before stuff really starts. Hanna got a mouthfull of green chalk, and I got a little girl's hand print on my stomach, and then her mom chucked a handful in my mouth. That stuff is NASTY. But it was super fun!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6tDGHlqVX4-S5Hgk65K4nXhWWkJ5s9HBXzmYMK_anVA_APXbFAOkR2mRvosFwZx-p-iBPpwyXP3Ffa-sJaHz-DUSU-fP0Q6IHZbe-npdiTGRQ4AVgDrZHfSSzde9Iy2-_9DVDhXalCTm/s1600/483510_10200754340123107_1461774546_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6tDGHlqVX4-S5Hgk65K4nXhWWkJ5s9HBXzmYMK_anVA_APXbFAOkR2mRvosFwZx-p-iBPpwyXP3Ffa-sJaHz-DUSU-fP0Q6IHZbe-npdiTGRQ4AVgDrZHfSSzde9Iy2-_9DVDhXalCTm/s320/483510_10200754340123107_1461774546_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Right after the throw. It's seriously so cool though--if you ever have a chance to go, don't pass it up! You look up and the sky is a rainbow of colors, and then all of a sudden, they all mix together, and it is just this nasty BROWN color, and it just comes all over you. You can't really breathe all too well--I recommend having something to cover your mouth/possibly eyes. But totally worth it! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT8ziycu5WFVHeOe_uiyw8fZ0niqktqIse-8a1uB3koTmwsfTGuISZO5YZusDr_oqYSmIDDdOz7NszL3EjM12OH36_n12Jg1ONhYFNaLWAz2FiXI6VCjARbRlT4_R-tARdgCfH2lSw5KVq/s1600/colors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT8ziycu5WFVHeOe_uiyw8fZ0niqktqIse-8a1uB3koTmwsfTGuISZO5YZusDr_oqYSmIDDdOz7NszL3EjM12OH36_n12Jg1ONhYFNaLWAz2FiXI6VCjARbRlT4_R-tARdgCfH2lSw5KVq/s320/colors.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Post color throwing</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywTIXpFAcl_jupNMfnzVVqeSR3nI_tjPHKkZ5d-JuBoiQyfURtRVxcScuuwEhwvOynux3OmTaeqS5bB_mgxYlsjf6OxaxVa-cNBL2A7Lzk7z807sJLM5cuHUp6b5hwLUJIMEfTJ_SXEIl/s1600/578085_10200983286723138_2123496449_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywTIXpFAcl_jupNMfnzVVqeSR3nI_tjPHKkZ5d-JuBoiQyfURtRVxcScuuwEhwvOynux3OmTaeqS5bB_mgxYlsjf6OxaxVa-cNBL2A7Lzk7z807sJLM5cuHUp6b5hwLUJIMEfTJ_SXEIl/s320/578085_10200983286723138_2123496449_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">{Julian, Bennett, Becca, Brian, Mary, Thomas, Heather, Hunter, and Thad}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were running out of ideas for FHE, so my group decided they wanted to take awkward family photos. And boy, were they good at it. Here's my lovely crew--the ones that showed up that night at least.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje7gSumb9Y7P0lTt6g4F-yhugkr3p7KfIs_IuAzjIlmaBQmhCI0Ki-A88eVNOacsjJKKA1SIjBAparlq7zNVRqhM4YvA9ziSOSid4AfCB-x2yBzWtetiJ9qwx5VAoW8FYC8MK8zFcHtHT1/s1600/yellow1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje7gSumb9Y7P0lTt6g4F-yhugkr3p7KfIs_IuAzjIlmaBQmhCI0Ki-A88eVNOacsjJKKA1SIjBAparlq7zNVRqhM4YvA9ziSOSid4AfCB-x2yBzWtetiJ9qwx5VAoW8FYC8MK8zFcHtHT1/s320/yellow1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">{Hanna and Sarah}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We celebrated Jakelle's birthday by wearing yellow. It's amazing the affect she still has on people today, almost a year after she passed away.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKJbQwT3KgBClLaudnPlzeISqSoI3Wrqf_yqkM4Vb09zU8mT8vOtRAYjyokbBZmsk4OmskG3d-3SxXR_g8eKbL1e_ZxMSbBwOYrlh0XFux6nlDqYhYCjMxSxXsBYCVhzSPNCzlxd-Mesv/s1600/559788_10151375872330969_397105183_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKJbQwT3KgBClLaudnPlzeISqSoI3Wrqf_yqkM4Vb09zU8mT8vOtRAYjyokbBZmsk4OmskG3d-3SxXR_g8eKbL1e_ZxMSbBwOYrlh0XFux6nlDqYhYCjMxSxXsBYCVhzSPNCzlxd-Mesv/s320/559788_10151375872330969_397105183_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">{Brooke, Leen, Emmy, Hunter, Becca, Karma, Hanna, Mary, Heather}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We went HAM. For Dayz.....</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLv13UUa8n9CkHfcLYAVigYVcV5eywi6JHRMDr8Jj70imj4z3pnYIZJ0v3eiRrezygyb_VNSJvqyPI1ibDVGKAxYuCAcGQR9N3vTrUw0xKSOzeqXLeTMTDUj2rk3qUr9yyDQH4TCvzUa_S/s1600/45304_244204522391687_900329998_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLv13UUa8n9CkHfcLYAVigYVcV5eywi6JHRMDr8Jj70imj4z3pnYIZJ0v3eiRrezygyb_VNSJvqyPI1ibDVGKAxYuCAcGQR9N3vTrUw0xKSOzeqXLeTMTDUj2rk3qUr9yyDQH4TCvzUa_S/s320/45304_244204522391687_900329998_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">{Back row (left-right): Lydia, Meg, Hunter, Emmy, Chrissy, Mads, Becca, Rita, Rachel R., Heather, Emma W., Brenna </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Front row:(left to right) Sadie, Brooke H., Sammy}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">These girls. <3 I already miss them. We seriously had THE BEST hall ever. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWRKzNVb6gHW8UQet-gXrqKcuXkSpET7fWe-_U5jNHG6Rjm_wy8H0L8lKjftdYoK9bVhN-slB2244taFdhu3kWdCvTEUDVP-hBE6ieSp4rm7Rujrll-njNwqWV01rgacq0QxaHUyekHi5/s1600/555162_10200693738656287_1630678735_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWRKzNVb6gHW8UQet-gXrqKcuXkSpET7fWe-_U5jNHG6Rjm_wy8H0L8lKjftdYoK9bVhN-slB2244taFdhu3kWdCvTEUDVP-hBE6ieSp4rm7Rujrll-njNwqWV01rgacq0QxaHUyekHi5/s320/555162_10200693738656287_1630678735_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had lots of these nights, singing and dancing and talking all night. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMyKlB5d1dH26xoluozV4OSe1MHXnd0Rs1LG55N1xkifH6Om79ZfGROyhzhrt4YD1Wwo_YtVkiw2LhuXBWwsovEK3H-9MiaOR2c_BBgbMCZjzyU3m1VSixLaQQ2KpXQWfJSn557nm1jtm/s1600/481254_4889794526169_2098099013_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMyKlB5d1dH26xoluozV4OSe1MHXnd0Rs1LG55N1xkifH6Om79ZfGROyhzhrt4YD1Wwo_YtVkiw2LhuXBWwsovEK3H-9MiaOR2c_BBgbMCZjzyU3m1VSixLaQQ2KpXQWfJSn557nm1jtm/s320/481254_4889794526169_2098099013_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">{Becca, Emmy, Heidi, Chrissy, Emma W., Sarah, Mary, Hanna, Meg, Sarah C., Brenna, Sammy, Mads, Sadie, Chrissy, Aleksa, Brooke H., and Hunter}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Like I said, I had the best hall ever. We won our ward indexing competition BOTH times, and got to go to Brick Oven pizza to celebrate. :) </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdouaURlLt2O1MPMkywxpJFTjHdfM0s7YKNdeDD4idYG27y5DMDCDGLdTP4CuoBbzf3EGjM4f4ZqWnAa_GLmOvROzvB808FOoZl2GwK6xrrzNxbxitfEaYj7YwVdqWDDojxWVaZiIDVzk/s1600/5946_10200390153090100_172668046_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdouaURlLt2O1MPMkywxpJFTjHdfM0s7YKNdeDD4idYG27y5DMDCDGLdTP4CuoBbzf3EGjM4f4ZqWnAa_GLmOvROzvB808FOoZl2GwK6xrrzNxbxitfEaYj7YwVdqWDDojxWVaZiIDVzk/s320/5946_10200390153090100_172668046_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">{Brooke, Emmy, Hanna, and photo bomber Aidan}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We went to an Ipod dance party on the roof of Zion's bank. (they told us to wear red in case you were wondering)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlPwfgPfzj4iwsrL63GA1O8NqCowcjPkoPRZmbCEDcTLKSxabW3l0JS_nVnuKcyyI_E09gKcfPbnQ5IB57Vebhq1fMwEssMndT7KhfeUHJGPjvzs0Gir2tinGxsWCl_URlrr8is3JYItC/s1600/5483_10201062343466251_1467820727_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlPwfgPfzj4iwsrL63GA1O8NqCowcjPkoPRZmbCEDcTLKSxabW3l0JS_nVnuKcyyI_E09gKcfPbnQ5IB57Vebhq1fMwEssMndT7KhfeUHJGPjvzs0Gir2tinGxsWCl_URlrr8is3JYItC/s320/5483_10201062343466251_1467820727_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The group at the Ipod dance party</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTlXtoBq5MC7m8ffNlJ1piuWVtFv5jlTihzHgHFkm_KvXOoyVhRtrZhqRFdamhzA4bLuVUd5QlAVyHasQQrBjUpw1PNPmNR4H5GuK7Vg_qDS6a_8Kcrw5wm6Fl5tD0PxbbBCnK5cdaqqhY/s1600/contract.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTlXtoBq5MC7m8ffNlJ1piuWVtFv5jlTihzHgHFkm_KvXOoyVhRtrZhqRFdamhzA4bLuVUd5QlAVyHasQQrBjUpw1PNPmNR4H5GuK7Vg_qDS6a_8Kcrw5wm6Fl5tD0PxbbBCnK5cdaqqhY/s320/contract.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I signed my very first apartment contract. Norma's Apartment, number 3. SO excited!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksWwJ2C4TJtIAFCYnQjWPmL7-3LW50EjxDgPXXrPZ_jWMN-li8qMHWvLitlsy4ZchLj5pEmF1dyu1PeEgrp-DoXBdBWfm0yduBF-cl3ZKkNLyh262Kt9F5fzzn1UBL3WmxuWGic7pl8c5/s1600/tiff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksWwJ2C4TJtIAFCYnQjWPmL7-3LW50EjxDgPXXrPZ_jWMN-li8qMHWvLitlsy4ZchLj5pEmF1dyu1PeEgrp-DoXBdBWfm0yduBF-cl3ZKkNLyh262Kt9F5fzzn1UBL3WmxuWGic7pl8c5/s320/tiff.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">{Hanna, Hunter, Tiff, Sarah}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like I said, everyone went on missions! This was at my roommate Tiff's farewell! Miss this girl! She's doing such great work already though!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvAxUgbUCbDBcADjNK8e1uVfTcxeKjOm_-gRNFEmuBGssaF2eu3LoVQBF5RCRgXV3jbeOHGrJySSVZGwUpW5azdGLD-pMmHMdfJ0jRqeaQx-Ooqzo4BQYJhrxqxaK27kG0c1e7PszHJFd/s1600/216229_10200576482427215_1579979041_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvAxUgbUCbDBcADjNK8e1uVfTcxeKjOm_-gRNFEmuBGssaF2eu3LoVQBF5RCRgXV3jbeOHGrJySSVZGwUpW5azdGLD-pMmHMdfJ0jRqeaQx-Ooqzo4BQYJhrxqxaK27kG0c1e7PszHJFd/s320/216229_10200576482427215_1579979041_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">{Brooke, Becca, Hanna, Hunter, Thad, Emmy, Heather, Thomas, Julian, and Sarah}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our last ward activity. Bittersweet. I was SO blessed with such an outstanding ward. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Myc2opVVhlHCF51Zy-kwpCn2gk6Qx7F_jqmNL0nkkenbA092MVt8N4CB7LfbNws05q6DvUfGy1V_B6TX_o9OChOavTdgNEYXTl1RK3YQ2prQpXdOzN4nzqP5d9X5tyQsfRg1IM4qDgyY/s1600/558104_348241128620921_629232260_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Myc2opVVhlHCF51Zy-kwpCn2gk6Qx7F_jqmNL0nkkenbA092MVt8N4CB7LfbNws05q6DvUfGy1V_B6TX_o9OChOavTdgNEYXTl1RK3YQ2prQpXdOzN4nzqP5d9X5tyQsfRg1IM4qDgyY/s320/558104_348241128620921_629232260_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">{Thad, Parker, Thomas}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My two boys who were in my FHE family went to AZ to see a concert. They stayed with my family while they were there, and Parker (and my mother) LOVED them!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib97M02MYtBsgBpqhySx3NymB7uC-xMNRBJt9UAr8-exdgmvDpBAhyNpdkrIrS9MNEkP7QLTJ62_hHzjuDlcuU1FsjeT1qKRPjifXGXUCtj6kv5DwDlb7c0fCszxYbeajQMDpslMtKy0sd/s1600/0422032001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib97M02MYtBsgBpqhySx3NymB7uC-xMNRBJt9UAr8-exdgmvDpBAhyNpdkrIrS9MNEkP7QLTJ62_hHzjuDlcuU1FsjeT1qKRPjifXGXUCtj6kv5DwDlb7c0fCszxYbeajQMDpslMtKy0sd/s320/0422032001.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">{Thomas, Thad}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So we had to take a picture to show Parker. :) </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCa8Z7WfMbKHosYpqpqL4_2yZCYMYP2fkQYcPFyX16PHrYC-o5GfD42Ih0X5UFKbZZBB0SefXbFt6O3CP4iT92n_Mrf2hs4DRARG1iXUmbi49b_XRFrIGlzQCWWansHY5GWEgo7rmgdTW4/s1600/164665_183494195133910_1831293515_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCa8Z7WfMbKHosYpqpqL4_2yZCYMYP2fkQYcPFyX16PHrYC-o5GfD42Ih0X5UFKbZZBB0SefXbFt6O3CP4iT92n_Mrf2hs4DRARG1iXUmbi49b_XRFrIGlzQCWWansHY5GWEgo7rmgdTW4/s320/164665_183494195133910_1831293515_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">{Hanna, Emmy, Mason, Aaron, Chris, Alex, Brooke and Sarah}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I seriously had the best friends ever. And it's so sad not being with them anymore. But I'm so glad we got to hang out and get to now eachother! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwMjf7DPzE1ti4p-y46rf5Dy6uvPcLtkf82oCU9yVipodf1PRY_DqQyFeDX9kFgasfBe9Za2bNcAKlPRT4DvZAQOGduBs7-zLg2nUGW8tDa3QO6BHfs2TQbhOFXIFXsKumWBKuZbznxPf/s1600/270609_10200576483107232_386508522_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwMjf7DPzE1ti4p-y46rf5Dy6uvPcLtkf82oCU9yVipodf1PRY_DqQyFeDX9kFgasfBe9Za2bNcAKlPRT4DvZAQOGduBs7-zLg2nUGW8tDa3QO6BHfs2TQbhOFXIFXsKumWBKuZbznxPf/s320/270609_10200576483107232_386508522_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">{Brooke, Hanna, Hunter}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saddest hug in the world, right before Hanna took off to go home.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvRLwZb4Qs2OSLl86ETrj1_fGFA4gMn6GJb2Qtb1sHblJeODxS9ceUotF71MXlyCUQRZE4VMZPcNZ3K8a7peAOearAbhIFaK_37d8D8rSyp3WaM6DDF5hNAQ4YBK0Af32MwqXJGt3SNES/s1600/941401_10200576481187184_50344124_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvRLwZb4Qs2OSLl86ETrj1_fGFA4gMn6GJb2Qtb1sHblJeODxS9ceUotF71MXlyCUQRZE4VMZPcNZ3K8a7peAOearAbhIFaK_37d8D8rSyp3WaM6DDF5hNAQ4YBK0Af32MwqXJGt3SNES/s320/941401_10200576481187184_50344124_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">{Brooke H., Hanna, Hunter, Brooke W.}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Final picture of the semester. LOVE these ladies and miss them so much!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm so sad that freshman year is over, but it was definitely the time of my life! Numberless nights spent talking, laughing, dancing, singing, yelling, and making great memories! I can't wait til all these people get home from missions so we can play again! Until then, we'll just have to remember the great times we had together! :) So, all in all, Freshman year 2012-2013 was a SUCCESS! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And for your viewing pleasure, the video we made as a hall:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwZ0geKsOeo">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwZ0geKsOeo</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, my favorite, our awkward videos. With a guest appearance of the Old Fart slippers:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9CACGL5YZA">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9CACGL5YZA</a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633253465829968882.post-76589525970157369122013-04-28T10:20:00.002-07:002013-04-28T10:20:21.494-07:00Fall 2012<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, my freshman year at BYU has come to a close.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I didn't blog as much as I thought I would, but I figured I'd summarize the year real quick so that I could remember it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">First semester was rough. But I tried to make the most of it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's a boncha pictures:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2O_tjO2Xql7Mm6TY9c_qlj68lbf68eBLM-rHyn9y7An5vGe_iemtH9lwTM_bdejQ1w-IpLRAwTiPIy1hbUfJk3Hvp30v9zH6n5UcMaZuevY-hkD53BGeXnJokdfr9G0UID-f2uA47CUJ/s1600/169553_4593274308644_1644154652_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2O_tjO2Xql7Mm6TY9c_qlj68lbf68eBLM-rHyn9y7An5vGe_iemtH9lwTM_bdejQ1w-IpLRAwTiPIy1hbUfJk3Hvp30v9zH6n5UcMaZuevY-hkD53BGeXnJokdfr9G0UID-f2uA47CUJ/s320/169553_4593274308644_1644154652_o.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Livin' the DORM life with beds that were almost as tall as me!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3JKou35K6t5mERukqD4w1Z2EdEAaZOaIepFmz3NP0gMOaMEdeVOwQcbv0U6U0Ah5sSGA7JxqmL2hMmoFBPmn83P542YLi4ePoD1x_SHt5LLTl59ynM3p8mo5zPsWGrwFcF39JISX6klJ/s1600/314990_4601898084233_1453892401_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3JKou35K6t5mERukqD4w1Z2EdEAaZOaIepFmz3NP0gMOaMEdeVOwQcbv0U6U0Ah5sSGA7JxqmL2hMmoFBPmn83P542YLi4ePoD1x_SHt5LLTl59ynM3p8mo5zPsWGrwFcF39JISX6klJ/s320/314990_4601898084233_1453892401_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Freshman class of 2012-2013</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MNIORARM2mdL2MvYbvSUZ4QfIHM25-GugJ62NPOUbOektnANOa0gdxZtHhgGSeUq5ykQJSu2yDBPhnOqWy2s38ucfNhZvpCWVOaP0cY5AT9p39rZZLXQBx81ZTeJIBsfwysvHibioGkk/s1600/223976_4598729525021_289556569_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MNIORARM2mdL2MvYbvSUZ4QfIHM25-GugJ62NPOUbOektnANOa0gdxZtHhgGSeUq5ykQJSu2yDBPhnOqWy2s38ucfNhZvpCWVOaP0cY5AT9p39rZZLXQBx81ZTeJIBsfwysvHibioGkk/s320/223976_4598729525021_289556569_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BEAUTIFUL campus</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1872maQbU3q9eHbai1sUXZwEo_F9PZCCVBlbxZWGZ3R0h9GthPN0R6RbzroBzRmv2pw_Pau6z4Ny6MnO7JaxMiGeHEuT-4Brca4NgCuxe7KnluCukltpOCsQfWEihKTwkfNSvC9aHkAin/s1600/579911_4650454658117_2041842290_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1872maQbU3q9eHbai1sUXZwEo_F9PZCCVBlbxZWGZ3R0h9GthPN0R6RbzroBzRmv2pw_Pau6z4Ny6MnO7JaxMiGeHEuT-4Brca4NgCuxe7KnluCukltpOCsQfWEihKTwkfNSvC9aHkAin/s320/579911_4650454658117_2041842290_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hiked the Y as a ward </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpYeijs-7EfBULC1wmRlV22GSX-C95L5NTg_ex35Ouc96E7UjieAJAHphrbIJKlQ_sM21iD0apyACswi-7znpNCHPMqM1GSv8klbwZcTeV-4zz9NiN5EfQcjqUT7AUSPL2o7ApWIkWnhXA/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpYeijs-7EfBULC1wmRlV22GSX-C95L5NTg_ex35Ouc96E7UjieAJAHphrbIJKlQ_sM21iD0apyACswi-7znpNCHPMqM1GSv8klbwZcTeV-4zz9NiN5EfQcjqUT7AUSPL2o7ApWIkWnhXA/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My fam came to visit for G.C. weekend</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQZfgnnPSXCwQbj2f_06Y2BImEr3f9Najt3m5GSKvEaARiDNAiNjXE4nSgIbB9cs5IzMLBPpkHbFvoBW38bI2NfKuOL89l64Y2q9xkaFxgqm__ogHxy4ciy_eXyiUnXBygesQmw-fWhh2/s1600/190197_4831338460099_1357176094_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQZfgnnPSXCwQbj2f_06Y2BImEr3f9Najt3m5GSKvEaARiDNAiNjXE4nSgIbB9cs5IzMLBPpkHbFvoBW38bI2NfKuOL89l64Y2q9xkaFxgqm__ogHxy4ciy_eXyiUnXBygesQmw-fWhh2/s320/190197_4831338460099_1357176094_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mal Pal came and stayed with me for a day</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYL6puqS-3uksxBeyu7VrwVda32FjaE9DEJh5n-s7M2nf58nYVoJRPBfUUOQxgl7OQh_kyuql1K1BpCSBQzGw0eA9xFB2bKMoyET3LlNBNcm1K4x1yi910ZZf3XmXbIK21_JjRzsjugGvp/s1600/602281_4573869755212_2002991483_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYL6puqS-3uksxBeyu7VrwVda32FjaE9DEJh5n-s7M2nf58nYVoJRPBfUUOQxgl7OQh_kyuql1K1BpCSBQzGw0eA9xFB2bKMoyET3LlNBNcm1K4x1yi910ZZf3XmXbIK21_JjRzsjugGvp/s320/602281_4573869755212_2002991483_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Homecoming week at the Cannon! They make HEAVENLY dounuts.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMB1J641RFi866ZxvTrkEZf7IzgWpVNvKsAOMuRJwW-DqxI8Kq8HG42-xxIu04obFkIYPUC493l-ekEL_6lpw23WfK3uuKnIY3pZsaluuk2LH0NT4T40lScd5lEKOZeMLw3PIbZvBlfPS/s1600/0830022224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMB1J641RFi866ZxvTrkEZf7IzgWpVNvKsAOMuRJwW-DqxI8Kq8HG42-xxIu04obFkIYPUC493l-ekEL_6lpw23WfK3uuKnIY3pZsaluuk2LH0NT4T40lScd5lEKOZeMLw3PIbZvBlfPS/s320/0830022224.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We went to football games! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DbD49sACzIzamYYhFb-XkrCl0-x94Q_rL_2KGOxdewCUahghhS-hyk_lu1OQU1zbgTuFe1kA9f8bmbBY3Wd1kVqiLm_XUxwL5tm82m9GBVU1mX07-PkXs-IT35zvvrxuEckaQ1d2IvpV/s1600/1018021316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DbD49sACzIzamYYhFb-XkrCl0-x94Q_rL_2KGOxdewCUahghhS-hyk_lu1OQU1zbgTuFe1kA9f8bmbBY3Wd1kVqiLm_XUxwL5tm82m9GBVU1mX07-PkXs-IT35zvvrxuEckaQ1d2IvpV/s320/1018021316.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fall time! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghd9qmjZdXMp0OuFYXX5xqLyGBEcIpKOQn2ESuGe_0R7EfpuFZm4iRe41s8bkNcqe4R-_jWk3XW4MBFRWXn8GP6m1dXqem_aWnRgKablt4KCJmmt4Flrd87UotlyzgQ120hMizYIOXbQS4/s1600/IMG950304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghd9qmjZdXMp0OuFYXX5xqLyGBEcIpKOQn2ESuGe_0R7EfpuFZm4iRe41s8bkNcqe4R-_jWk3XW4MBFRWXn8GP6m1dXqem_aWnRgKablt4KCJmmt4Flrd87UotlyzgQ120hMizYIOXbQS4/s320/IMG950304.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My FHE family. They kept me on my toes, but Monday nights were always fun and memorable with these crazy kiddos! I miss um' already!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pippi Longstockings</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Halloween at the Cannon</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Halloween Hanna and I had to go to a dance as an assignment for a class, (And we'ren not talkin a typical college dance. We're talkin like doing the waltz, and cha cha, and fox trot. You know, like old school college dance) so we dressed as scary as we could so no one would ask us to dance. It worked. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a love-hate relationship with being in a singles ward. Mostly love though. We really were blessed with an AMAZING ward with AWESOME people in it! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finding stuff to do for free, with no car was a bit difficult at times. So one night we did chalk art in the parking lot</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We went to some performances.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our friends Trent and Ryan came up to visit, and we made them come to American Heritage with us.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We ate LOTS, and I mean, LOTS of this cake. YUM.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And just enjoyed the beautiful weather while it lasted--which wasn't long.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hanna's cousin Carly came to visit and we went to a football game together! Go cougs!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It started snowing in October and didn't stop until April. Ridiculous, right? Yeah...but it was memorable for sure! We also got to experience freezing rain. Never heard of it? I hadn't either. Utah decided to throw it all at us and make it the coldest most miserable winter they'd had in YEARS. But, we tried our best to make it fun!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My roommate Tiff Chin and I decorated our room in November to get us in the mood. It actually might have been October. Either way, we did it early, and took an entire night to do it {instead of studying}. It was super fun!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many late nights at Ward Prayer, also known in P-town as "ward stare". We always stayed super late to talk to everyone, and we became super close to our friends in the ward! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My home teacher got his mission call to Phoenix, AZ so all of us AZ girls gave him the low down on the greatest state in the world! :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, there was LOTS of studying..especially when it came down to finals.....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AND, I got home JUST in time to see this boy get set apart to be a missionary! Love that Elder Helquist! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In other news, everyone and their dog got mission calls this year, and has either left already, or they are preparing to leave within the next couple of weeks/months. The church is true, and the gospel is being spread to all the corners of the Earth! I'm thankful for the examples that have been set for me from all my friends and family! I'm so grateful for the opportunity I had to go to BYU. Like I said, I wasn't the most happy/thankful at this point in the year, but now that I've finished the entire year, I look back and already miss it! It was a year full of learning and growing experiences, and I've been SO blessed! I miss it already! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Next up, Winter semester 2013!</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633253465829968882.post-16034704922708087652013-02-22T15:49:00.001-08:002013-02-22T15:49:34.875-08:00Mountains to Climb<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Today has just been one of those rough days. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">You know, those days where it just feels like the world is out to get you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And then I got onto Facebook, and saw this wonderful and powerful video.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/xdN8rfwW3SI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Everybody has "mountains" to climb.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Everybody has trials.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Everybody has hard days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">No one is exempt from trials, because if we were, we would never learn to rely on our Savior and his atonement. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We should never feel the need to compare our "mountains"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">But after watching this video, I realized my "mountains" were simply just little hills.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Little bumps in the road if you will,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">to help me to refocus myself, and my life on Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Now, with that said, just watching this video didn't make those "mountains" or "mole-hills" or whatever you want to call them go away. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Realizing our faults, or our trials, does not make them automatically disappear.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">There still are not enough hours in the day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">There are still plans that weren't kept.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Things that aren't finished.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Feelings of inadequacies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">There is still a long "to-do" list staring me in the face.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Your body feels like it is fighting against you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And you may still feel like breaking down and crying.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">BUT</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When the shift changes <strong>from,</strong> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">"The world revolves around me"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">{or maybe something a bit more mellow than that}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">and<strong> back toward</strong>,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">"I can do all things through Christ which strenghteneth me." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">{Philippians 4:13}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">suddenly, you realize:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"> There are still seven and a half (or so) hours left in the day!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Everything happens for a reason! (I know it's cliche)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">You got A LOT done today! (hey, you got out of bed!) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">You are a beautiful CHILD OF GOD!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">That "to-do" list isn't as intimidating, in fact, it's half done!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">You have a body that works. Even if it may resent some of the things you do. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">(like running up a snow covered hill at night)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And sometimes, it is okay to cry and let it all out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Life isn't always going to be perfect. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">You're going to have bad days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">But there is always someone who knows you perfectly, and your situation, and is always willing to listen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Just a "knee-call" away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And He is always willing to answer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">As long as you are willing to open up the scriptures and search.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Life is so much sweeter when you allow the Lord to work in you!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633253465829968882.post-35928832748365029542013-02-17T22:10:00.001-08:002013-02-17T22:17:14.406-08:00I love you, Aaaaarizona!<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Last weekend I got to go home. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">To the good ol' 4054!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">I LOVE MY HOME! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Arizona really is the greatest state ever, and being there with all of my family {minus Elliot :/ we missed him!} was the best!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">My brothers Carter and J.D. and I drove home, all night long on Thursday. Let's just say I was a little paranoid, and did not get much rest that drive. But everything went great, and we made it home at about 5 am Friday morning, and hopped right into bed. </span></div>
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{<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">little side note: I LOVE MY BED}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Friday was a fun, relaxing day. I got up around 9, and my mom and I just mosied around until the boys got up at 11, and we had a great breakfast. {side note: I LOVE HOME MADE FOOD}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">That afternoon, I went back to my old stompin' grounds, the good ol' Mesa High to check out the track team. Oh how I miss the days of running competitively. I miss those nerves and the runner's high! I might even miss going to practice at 5 in the morning...okay...that's a lie, I don't. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">That night my family went to my sisters house and had a super fun pizza/games/smorez/movie night. First time watching this gem of a movie for me, and I have to say, it's a classic: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Saturday morning, bright and early, my mom and I headed out to the institute building for a song practice. It was great. How I've missed hearing music like that--and that's not meant to be a diss on my ward/stake, but really, no one does it like Kimball East Stake! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Saturday afternoon I did what any respectable 19 year old</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> would do when they go home: Watch a Hallmark movie. :) I'm a sucker for cheesy love stories for sure! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Then my sister Candice, her husband Chris and their three kids, Kelli, Parker and I went out to the Superstitions and hiked the hieroglyphics trail.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;"></span> <span style="font-family: Courier New;">Parks and I took advantage of the beautiful weather and chilled on the mailboxes--the most prime seat in the hood, while waiting for Kel to pick us up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">The trail was SO BEAUTIFUL. Did I mention how much I love Arizona? Because I love Arizona. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">We ended the hike with the best: In N Out. Doesn't get much better than that! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">It's not a real trip without a beautiful sunset! I wish I had a better camera, but man, these sunsets are so divine!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Saturday night was the adult session of stake conference, and boy was it good! The more I learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ the more I love it. The church is true! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Sunday morning, at 7 am, we took off for stake conference.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;"> {mind you, stake conference began at 9. Welcome to the Bradshaws}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Stake conference was amazing. My dad was realeased after serving as the stake president after 9 years of service. It was a bitter sweet moment for sure, but the spirit testified so strongly to me at that conference that our Heavenly Father really does know each of us and our needs, and He will prepare us for anything that we are called to do. President Westergard was called as our new stake president, and I honestly can not think of anyone who would have done a better job than he will at this time! The Lord truly does know! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Last picture of my dad and his presidency with the visiting authorities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">I was asked to accompany the choir on my violin for the musical number, and let me say, that was definitely the MOST NERVE RACKING EXPERIENCE OF MY EXISTENCE. But it went smoothly--thank goodness! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">{another random side note: my hands get REALLY clammy right before I play, and it makes me more nervous, because I fear I will drop my violin or bow, but as soon as I start they dry right up, and become FRIGID. They are absolutely ice cold when I finish} </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">The messages shared in stake conference were awesome, and I got to see lots of people I know and love, including a friend who had just come home from his mission! It's super weird when people you know are starting to get home from missions--it's like you realize how old you really are! ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Sunday afternoon we packed up the car and headed back to Utah, making it back here pretty late, but safely. Overall, it was an amazing trip home, and I'm SO grateful that I was able to go, and spend so much time with my family, in the promised land ;), with perfect weather! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Oh, and then this past Thursday when everyone was celebrating Valentines day with their sweethearts, I was here with my friends from back home celebrating AZ's 101st birthday with doughnuts, oreo cheesecake, and a chick flick. What a great day for sure!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633253465829968882.post-52029976040624276902013-01-30T18:48:00.001-08:002013-01-30T18:49:06.138-08:00Another Year Older<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">January 29, 1994 this picture was taken at Desert Sam's. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Yesterday, January 29, 2013 I was blessed to celebrate my 19th birthday!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">NINETEEN! That's like, old! ;) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">It was a weird birthday being away from home, and family, and having NON-STOP snow for the first time ever on my birthday. It's a good thing I have two wonderful brothers up here in Utah with me, and such awesome friends! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">My day started with a not so great night sleep--that has been a common theme lately for me. Anyway, I got up around 1:30 to go to the bathroom, opened my door, and all the sudden balloons were falling ALL OVER ME! I was so confused, but once my brain clicked on, it was a fun surprise. :) And there are cute little notes all over my door. Hanna and Sarah sure know how to spoil me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Then, at 6:30 I got on Google Hangout {which may be one of my favorite things in the world} and "hung out" with my family while I opened the packages they sent me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">They spoiled me. I love my family!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">I got to spend the day, 9-2, in class, and making my first bouquet for my floral design class. It was HARD. But I loved it, and it smells SO good! So fun to have something living in my dorm, especially since I don't have another human in here with me anymore. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGhJDntn7macB7GcTS2xg5vH551Cs6x40jknV3M9Gx6NXLOlku5dgUeq_g8dpbsWQDONywygBYqGvOM-YP2kJgDJc7HVuRBtmSx2VLkPR2vmwii6DH1UwQsTz_WYczAW-YQlvtDunub9I/s1600/flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGhJDntn7macB7GcTS2xg5vH551Cs6x40jknV3M9Gx6NXLOlku5dgUeq_g8dpbsWQDONywygBYqGvOM-YP2kJgDJc7HVuRBtmSx2VLkPR2vmwii6DH1UwQsTz_WYczAW-YQlvtDunub9I/s320/flowers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I chose the rose first, so I wanted to do everything around that. That rose is seriously BEAUTIFUL. </span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">My brothers took me out to dinner that night. We went to Bombay House, a little Indian food place that is pretty close to my dorm. It was good! And it was fun to have a little time with family!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieeaG__WTu9WK6iyKiNgGSOpkpdvKoKrZlXDiMNqQMPEpi5T6hjG8IM0aH3bFh98UBfKwXa_wGeIw-Ug_mf97nVtMhka4XZE62MLlkc8ULjbkSyB9blM7QBOjpdYJM34RMZFn8F_ZDgw2r/s1600/IMG950125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieeaG__WTu9WK6iyKiNgGSOpkpdvKoKrZlXDiMNqQMPEpi5T6hjG8IM0aH3bFh98UBfKwXa_wGeIw-Ug_mf97nVtMhka4XZE62MLlkc8ULjbkSyB9blM7QBOjpdYJM34RMZFn8F_ZDgw2r/s320/IMG950125.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;"> Hanna made a delicious cake, and invited over a bunch of people. So, after dinner, we had cake and chatted for a little bit, and it was super fun! There are great people in this world, and I'm so glad I know some of them! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">It was an exhausting, and freezing cold day, but it was also an awesome day! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">It is weird to think about life, and how sacred and special it is. I am so thankful for the life that I have been blessed with. I know I have problems. My body doesn't function like I want it to all the time, and I get frustrated when my knee or my lungs hurt, but when I really start to think about it, I have such a good, and such an easy life. My body works. I can breathe. I can talk. I can laugh. I can smile. I can walk. I can run. I am independent. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">I have an amazing family. I have 2 great parents, who, I can say, CHOSE me. After looking at this one picture:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdkHwjBDrcZSSZLmy5m5MwxZJ_CGHOATtN9vipI6hGP85N48RfapoNaxEJiwPeikJH5DcoDI0HJBwnGmAPMOO1X_8Y1b5xGpHc58OrFyvzschzlflUIXwvsICtlLeNV68seogcn6xgAn9/s1600/1st.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdkHwjBDrcZSSZLmy5m5MwxZJ_CGHOATtN9vipI6hGP85N48RfapoNaxEJiwPeikJH5DcoDI0HJBwnGmAPMOO1X_8Y1b5xGpHc58OrFyvzschzlflUIXwvsICtlLeNV68seogcn6xgAn9/s320/1st.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">{even thought I had a bowl cut. That's love. ;)}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I have 3 amazingly talented and beautiful sisters who are the greatest examples to me. They showed me how to be a girly girl, and to love clothes, shoes, make up, boys, you know, the life of a girl. But they also showed me how to be strong, and smart, and an independent woman.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">I have 5 wonderful brothers who are also talented, and handsome, and always looking out for me! They showed me how to be tough, and taught to eat a lot. :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">I have 5 of the cutest nephews anyone could wish for. They keep my love for Legos/star wars/cars/all things BOY alive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">I have 4 beautiful nieces who are the greatest. They keep my nail painting/house playing/dress up/arts and crafts/and all things GIRL alive. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">They all encourage me to pursue anything that I love; to dream big, and then to get to that point. They are the best family a girl could ask for.</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">I have come to understand a few things better this last year. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Life is precious. We never know when it will be taken from us. Life is challenging. There are fast-balls thrown at us all the time, from every angle. But, life is worth it. Life is happy. Life is full of learning and growing. Life is sacred. Life is beautiful. I LOVE LIFE~~ And I'm so thankful that I have been able to live, love, and grow these last 19 years! </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633253465829968882.post-10200744591744364342013-01-18T10:08:00.000-08:002013-02-17T22:22:20.185-08:00Missionaries, Missionaries EVERYWHERE! :) <div align="center">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I've successfully made it through the first two weeks of winter semester! And it has been GREAT!</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">My awesome FHE family shrunk, which was super sad, but, seriously, I don't know how I got so lucky to get that calling! I love those kids! {it is a HARD calling...but, it is SO worth it!}</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">I literally feel the pride of a mother {okay, I know I don't really know what that feels like, but I'm pretty sure it's close to it} when I hear about their successes, and I really want to do anything to help them continue to make right choices, and be prepared for all that lies ahead of them! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">This weekend, two of my "sons" got their mission calls! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">During break, one of my "daughters"/my awesome roommate (who may or may not have left me alone...) got her mission call, and soon--within a few weeks, another "daughter" will get her call!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">I AM SO PROUD OF THEM! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Tiff the stiff (she told me to call her that, I'm not just a jerk. haha) is the greatest girl ever. She cares about everyone. She takes time to get to know people on a personal level. She goes out of her way to make people happy. She rocks Spiderman. She also rocks Fiona's (from A Cinderella Story) voice. :) She knows just what to say to get me going, and we had many a night where we just laughed. About anything and everything! Tiff got her call to Motevideo, Uruguay leaving April 10! Now she'll know Spanish and we won't have any more of our crazy sit on google translator nights. :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Karch, my "golden child" as he called himself, left my family at semester to move in with some friends, but, regardless of that, he's still an awesome kid! He is a typical California boy--tall, dark, and handsome! (I can say that because he's my son. haha) And, he's huge--especially compared to my mere 5 feet! He's always out having fun and meeting new people, but he is also never too busy to smile and say hi to anyone. Karch got his mission call to New York, New York North, Spanish speaking, leaving May 29. Those peopele are going to love Elder Smith!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">And Hunter, oh Hunter. He's definitely my wild child. :) He's also the jokester of the family. That kid shows up to almost every FHE event we have, and comes with his crazy spunky personality. He can always seem to make me laugh! Hunter is a big teddy bear from Boston, and I love having him around in the family! He got his call to Rome, Italy leaving on June 12! How cool is that?! Hooray for Elder Romano! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">I am so proud of all these people who heard the prophet, and are now heeding that call!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">A guy, and a girl in my ward, were both called to London, England South, and will both be leaving May 16.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Two guys in my ward were both called to Japan, Kobe leaving May 15. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">And a few other calls that I heard this weekend up here:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Orlando Florida, Spanish speaking, Korea, Busan, Peru, Cusco, </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Dominican Republic Santo Domingo West, and somewhere in Russia! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">It really amazes me when I think about missions, and where everyone gets called, and the realization comes that each call is divinely appointed. Each call is assigned through inspiration from the Lord. And wherever you go, whether it be Rome Italy, or Boise Idaho, there is someone who is there, ready to hear the gospel, and because YOU heed the call of the Lord to get out and serve, you get to bless their life, and all of the future generations of thier family. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">I'm so grateful for the opportunity I have to be up here, around so many awesome people, meeting new friends, and learning so much. It really is a blessing to know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true. I am so thankful for that knowledge in my life. It didn't come to me because of a big, cool expeience, but by small experiences, and by the promptings of the holy ghost, and reassurance from my parents and leaders to turn to scriptures and prayer in times of need, which only leads to reassurance from my Heavenly Father. I know He lives, and loves me. I know He sent His son, Jesus Christ to this Earth to live with, and bless the lives of everyone, and then to die for our sins, that we might be able to return to live with our Father again, if we only take the time to repent, and keep the commandments. I know that the atonement is individual. It was suffered in order that I might have a friend at all times, that I might know that I can always turn to my Savior for guidance, that I can live a normal life, which is full of mistakes, and I can still, through the process of repenting and taking the name of Christ upon myself, return home one day. I know that families can be sealed together for eternity in the temple, and I am so excited for the day that I get to kneel accross the alter from the love of my life, and make lasting covenants with him, for time and all eternity. I know that President Monson is our prophet on the Earth today, and that he leads and guides our church through revelation he recieves from the Lord. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and that it was translated by the Lord, through Joseph Smith. I know that the principles taught in it are true, and that if we study the scriptures, and pray for guidance, and follow the simple commandments laid out for us, that we will be happy in this life, and in the life to come. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">I love my life, and all of the people in it, and I am thankful for the opportunity I was given to live it. My life could have been so much different had I not been adopted into my wonderful family. Had I not made the decision at age eight to be baptized a member of the true and everlasting gospel. Had I not met the people who I call my friends. Had I not come to BYU. Had I not made a lot of choices that I have. Everything in my life has made me a stronger person so far, and I look forward to getting to learn and grow so much more in the years to come! Have a great weekend! </span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633253465829968882.post-4130843072550494092013-01-08T15:51:00.001-08:002013-01-08T15:51:22.039-08:00Meanwhile, at BYU...<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Day two of classes: DONE.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">I am exhausted! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">This semester will be a work-out for my brain, that's for sure!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">BUT, I am really excited for it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">I love all my classes already,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">and all of my professors, </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">and my schedule is pretty dang awesome, especially for having last pick of classes!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Plus, let's just add that some how, magically, there are a GREAT number of attractive men around. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">I've been told that I haven't been paying enough attention, which could very well be the case, but no matter what the reason, boy does it make school more fun! :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Oh, and one more happy note for today; I SOLD ANOTHER TEXT BOOK! </span></div>
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{<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Thanks to Carter for listing it for me! :)}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">That is one of the most satisfying feelings ever! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">But for now, I have to go, and read 55 pages of a text book--my favorite thing ever...haha </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Happy Tuesday! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Oh, and I thought this was pretty funny. </span></div>
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<img height="250" id="il_fi" src="http://www.fodrizzle.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Meanwhile-at-BYU....jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="406" /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633253465829968882.post-35052969077280194802013-01-05T20:49:00.001-08:002013-01-05T20:49:02.858-08:00Break Break<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">**WARNING: LONG POST BELOW, FILLED WITH LOTS OF PICTURES**</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Well, I'm back in Provo (or P-Town if you desire).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Break is {basically} officially over. :(</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">I was seriously SO blessed this break though--I got to be home for almost an entire month, in fact, just six days short of a month, and I loved EVERY SINGLE MINUTE OF IT!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Why, you may ask? Well, because I got to spend it with all of these lovelies:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsClGenm6q44XholMVuhXTSYyh2Ize64jEn6Ct9oc8hy8_c19PKfZeE3jxTivfCJDrkPdKgFJfchY9BKw5H5KjWJ7IC8_y67elmFg7oJj2z5B2M0fdR3NrvAmBL8kvcZteMKgqamqouhBj/s1600/IMG_7663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" jquery18309915382091676239="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsClGenm6q44XholMVuhXTSYyh2Ize64jEn6Ct9oc8hy8_c19PKfZeE3jxTivfCJDrkPdKgFJfchY9BKw5H5KjWJ7IC8_y67elmFg7oJj2z5B2M0fdR3NrvAmBL8kvcZteMKgqamqouhBj/s640/IMG_7663.jpg" style="display: inline-block; zoom: 1;" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Funny story about this picture--So, we always take a silly picture, right? well, seems like every time around Adam, {my nephew standing right next to me} tells me to look at his silly face. So all of our "silly" pictures, are of the side of my head. haha</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">But anyway, I really love this family of mine, and I am so thankful for it! We spent lots of time at parties, and singing, playing fun games, eating food {that's what we do best},going to the Nutcracker, going to The Piano Guys, watching Christmas movies, going to Disneyland, riding bikes, having sleep-overs, finding goats, you know, just havin a grand ol' time! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">My family is my favorite, that is for dang sure! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">I also spent a bit of time with these lovely ladies: </span><br />
<img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" height="717" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/546357_4141153805914_286155949_n.jpg" style="height: 519px; width: 695px;" width="960" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"><img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" height="717" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/536895_3121932162145_609686855_n.jpg" style="height: 519px; width: 696px;" width="960" /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"><img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" height="720" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/376333_4497937485283_1653493340_n.jpg" style="height: 519px; width: 692px;" width="960" /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">And yes, we did go and conquer Camleback again. That mountain's got NOTHIN on us! :) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">I was also blessed to get home just in time to see this handsome young man get set apart to leave for his mission! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"><img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" height="600" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/598466_10200240561875481_1657386030_n.jpg" style="height: 520px; width: 693px;" width="800" /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">It's still hard to believe that baby Jed is out on a mission, but I'm so proud of him!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">I was also blessed to be able to go back to work when I got home! I work with some of the coolest people ever, and what is better than working at a BAKERY?! I mean, really? Fresh bread smell all day long. YUM. Plus, I love all of our customers, so seriously, I don't see a down side to this at all! I loved being there, and getting to catch up with everyone again, and to let my bank account catch back up as well. :) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">We had our traditional Bradshaw Family Christmas party--with all of my Dad's siblings/kids. It's a BIG hullabaloo. This year we got a DJ and had a huge dance party. IT was pretty dang fun!</span><br />
<img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" height="960" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/165833_4525956579384_111954316_n.jpg" style="height: 520px; width: 520px;" width="960" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">My niece's art work was chosen to be hung in the Gilbert Public Schools office, so my mom and I took a trip to go and see it! Here she is next to her picture--So proud of you Maya girl!</span><br />
<img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" height="960" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/268126_4525943459056_2096184065_n.jpg" style="height: 520px; width: 388px;" width="716" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">We got to go see the Piano Guys! They came to Red Mountain High School, and my dad got us tickets! Holy cow. PLEASE look them up if you don't know who they are. You won't be sorry! I promise! I'll even give you a link: </span><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/ThePianoGuys?feature=g-subs-c">http://www.youtube.com/user/ThePianoGuys?feature=g-subs-c</a><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">See. Now you have no excuse. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">We also got to go see the Nutcracker. But not just any version. We got to go and see the greatest version ever. Why, you might be asking yourself? Well, because my amazingly talented, and handsome little brothe</span><span style="font-family: Courier New;">r:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"><img height="527" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgyQBFQEgkMiW33KjbSJWcWD3VFJUi1GGP1-s9vX4iMnJb8ZP16qiRQcgpB_cskwXnTuaikRbSON_358YS3eR_fPI7C7TjUI5vdx1-YW9DcrdYRU3rczXOnHzYEaJr0mSg6Gj2rVgVDA1c/s1600/IMG_7580.jpg" width="379" /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"> was in it, along with a number of other children that have special needs. </span><span style="font-family: Courier New;">The cast was a mix of typical children and those wonderful children who are just a little closer to Christ than the rest of us. It was amazing. They did such a great job! And I loved seeing how proud the little buddy was of himself! He's one of my biggest role models. That is for sure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">We also, as tradition, went Christmas caroling with the fam. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">One of the greatest parts of Christmas Eve for sure! And then we had the family gift exchange, and Parker had me this year, and boy did I score! He got me perfume! :) Smart boy! {smart mom :)}</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">My amazingly talented sister Candice made super hero masks for all the little boys, and so they had to take a little picture. Oh how I love those kids!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">My sister, Kelli:</span><br />
<img height="527" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFe1d5-amgsvzKBdCPxl9OTvuIqbLRyV4Ptnfvge5lP9kn5QJ69XIASCRkVXo3u3FzQNK5vBXvrZixQHTXO7YUmBiuuf2D7F46nFcgDZfD3OBkX1_Bh7aBcX85XHtvrtnLhfUTyT8b4Wr/s1600/IMG_7677.jpg" width="368" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"> is amazing, and talented, and beautiful, and kind, and rich {okay, maybe she's not that rich anymore, but that's because she has a beautiful house. :)}, and she is such an amazing example to me as well. But, this break you could almost say that she was crazy! ;) She invited all 9 of my nieces and nephews (ages 8,8,7,6,6,4,2,2, and 6 months old) over for a sleep over at her place the day after Christmas. It was a WILD night, but it was SO fun, and I'm glad that she did it, and invited me over to participate in the festivities! I hope that I can be more like her one day soon!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">And last, but not least, my parents took us to Disneyland! Carter, Kelli, Parker and I got in the car with my parents and drove up to Anaheim on Thursday the 27th, and we made it to our hotel in time to crash for the night. We got up, and all day Friday went and played at the park! MY FAVORITE THING EVER! I LOVE DISNEYLAND. We had a great time, even with the failed 2 and a half hour wait in line for Space Mountain. We learned patience, and got to see some funny people, that's for sure! :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">But overall, it was a great trip. {especially the churro, and pickle. Must haves at Dland)And we got to see the beach on Saturday while my parents went to a sealing for my cousin in the San Diego temple. I love the beach too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">I love Arizona, and I love California, and I'm learning to love Utah in all of it's -8 degree, snow, and ice glory! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">I'm working hard this year on my new years resolutions. And I hope that they will help me to be a happier and more outgoing me! Hope everyone had a VERY Merry Christmas and a happy new year as well! Here's to a GREAT 2013!</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633253465829968882.post-5923873441061344102012-12-05T15:42:00.000-08:002012-12-05T15:44:22.857-08:00Tis' The Season for Learning and Giving<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">It's the final week of classes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Tomorrow is the <strong><u><em>final day</em></u></strong> of classes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Can you tell that I am excited?! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Because I am excited!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">This week has already been a long one, but a great one! I've been trying more than ever before to read/study scriptures and pray before I study--because honestly, I need all the help I can get. My dad sent all my family a talk by Elder Bednar about prayer from the October 2008 General Conference. Here is the link:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;"><a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/pray-always?lang=eng">http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/pray-always?lang=eng</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Take time to re-read it if you can. It's worth it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Yesterday I went to the planetarium, and it was SO cool. Sounds nerdy, right?! But seriously...I can't wait til I get married and can do something fun like this with my husband:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVk6kLznYpJ5bqqrrFeUNYa3daocxtY3OoDVN6jfkpAuCyHgaqcNmALrRfqgccVml5G4ozuSV_E7dICgacHfgjIPCbvP0Rn-NE8y8ilnWyXnsjPM1G-wEfyFf52ObqwzsARZvmmW3Hunml/s1600/stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVk6kLznYpJ5bqqrrFeUNYa3daocxtY3OoDVN6jfkpAuCyHgaqcNmALrRfqgccVml5G4ozuSV_E7dICgacHfgjIPCbvP0Rn-NE8y8ilnWyXnsjPM1G-wEfyFf52ObqwzsARZvmmW3Hunml/s320/stars.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Star gazing sleepover in the bed of a truck! :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I then spent a lot of hours studying--and my brain did not like that. Sadly, my attention span is about 10 minutes when it comes to things of that nature. So there were a lot of little breaks in that time. When I got home from a review, around 10:15,</span></span><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"> <span style="color: purple; font-size: x-small;">(which is like an hour after my normal bed time. Don't judge me because I like my sleep!)</span><span style="font-size: small;">I was overwhelmed, just a little.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">So, I read some scriptures again, and still wasn't feeling so hot. So I jumped up, got my patriarchal blessing, and this book:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAJNqWvrZYPakEBe2na9Sp9GqCoeuKD7QtDcTroehBAQfX0CVZgI6AM9W5ToaoldZ4kPOTxk5EvqHW9zIFoj4-ttmJv43KNSsA_NQM89NUxV5zUoMcgkSeFeMs5xMl-GyD01MpiM06NLG/s1600/Forget_Me_Not_Cover_detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAJNqWvrZYPakEBe2na9Sp9GqCoeuKD7QtDcTroehBAQfX0CVZgI6AM9W5ToaoldZ4kPOTxk5EvqHW9zIFoj4-ttmJv43KNSsA_NQM89NUxV5zUoMcgkSeFeMs5xMl-GyD01MpiM06NLG/s320/Forget_Me_Not_Cover_detail.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: small;">"Forget Me Not" by Dieter F. Uchtdorf, and spent some time reading it. Holy cow. Pretty sure this is the best graduation gift I received! Every woman should own this book! And EVERYONE who has one, should read through their patriarchal blessing again. The personal revelation, promises and beautiful wording will help bring peace to any troubled soul. The last paragraph of mine always hits me! I love it!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Now, Fast forward to today. December 5, 2012</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Today is a bittersweet day. It marks 6 months since Jakelle's passing, which also means one month closer to getting to see her again! Everyday I have moments that I spend remembering this beautiful and fun girl</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2HvhS4Shq6AX0rwVTMaANXHVv6TdzUiSZPm2E1LArIjB-G5CJthAnm6fdHMFs1_xbsp5qDBDD-vOs1PyyNTbSx4J_hyJ_3yoMYAbpeXsBHVQUWaQ-vhuen8YMbjurpoEBGFAQ1pawt0Bt/s1600/559037_3742943290900_1786705309_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2HvhS4Shq6AX0rwVTMaANXHVv6TdzUiSZPm2E1LArIjB-G5CJthAnm6fdHMFs1_xbsp5qDBDD-vOs1PyyNTbSx4J_hyJ_3yoMYAbpeXsBHVQUWaQ-vhuen8YMbjurpoEBGFAQ1pawt0Bt/s320/559037_3742943290900_1786705309_n.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: small;">and her wonderful message to "stay strong"! I can not bring myself to NOT wear my bracelet, it seems to be that little extra bit of strength that I need almost every day to get me through!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Kelle is still having such a huge impact on the world and all of us in it today. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">If you are looking for a good way to provide service this Christmas season, here is a great opportunity to give service to those in need, and to keep the memory of Jakelle alive:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mesaunitedway.org/special-holiday-project" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">http://www.mesaunitedway.org/special-holiday-project</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">(The Westergard family is also taking donations at their home, but would like to have them in by the 10th)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">And here are even more ways to serve if you feel so inclined:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Another friend/mentor of mine, was in an accident with her fiance and his younger sister only a few hours after they had been engaged. His younger sister was killed on impact, and Bailee's fiance Taylor has had a lot of overwhelming medical expenses. There have been a lot of things created to help this cute couple out! If you have the means, every little thing helps!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">1. If you're a music person, here is a song writen for the couple that you can download and leave a donation:</span><br />
<a href="http://noisetrade.com/taysings"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">http://noisetrade.com/taysings</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> 2.</span> <span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">If you're a food person and in Mesa/Gilbert area, there is a bake sale this Saturday the 8th</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1DbfTkcGFlQEYHrzXAoMaxMLiNF-8nArfUFYqhbFTCIO_cFknoYT70vsIQHPdCLilZWR8Qhv8SBlrV7iN4ek8exJ0VQ_51z_FxXRbUp9a9K_kAttGb3Iu1bwqKgTnCS5411gXSt9UJYu/s1600/bailee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1DbfTkcGFlQEYHrzXAoMaxMLiNF-8nArfUFYqhbFTCIO_cFknoYT70vsIQHPdCLilZWR8Qhv8SBlrV7iN4ek8exJ0VQ_51z_FxXRbUp9a9K_kAttGb3Iu1bwqKgTnCS5411gXSt9UJYu/s320/bailee.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">3. If you would just like to donate to them, or the Morris family, here is a link</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.payitsquare.com/collect-page/8802"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">http://www.payitsquare.com/collect-page/8802</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">The world really is full of wonderful people who can inspire us to do better. These two people have done just that. Inspired me to become a better person, and believe in myself, and trust in the Lord. I hope that each of us can find time in our busy lives to find someone, a friend, a stranger, a family memember who is in need of a helping hand, a little love, or just someone to talk to, and take the opportunity to give, just as our Heavenly Father gave His son for each of us! Have a VERY Merry Christmas! And happy giving! :)</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633253465829968882.post-101314440699908702012-11-26T17:48:00.003-08:002012-11-26T17:48:40.177-08:00The Folded Napkin...A Truckers Story <span class="userContent"><div align="center" class="text_exposed_root text_exposed">
<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>This story is SO sweet. I read it on Facebook, and it brought me to tears. I love my brother, and I hope that when he starts working (probably pretty soon!!) people are this nice to him, and respect him! :) ENJOY! {I know it's kinda long, but it is a quick read}</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: blue;"> I try not to be biased, but I had my doubts about hiring Stevie. His placement counselor assured me that he would be a good, reliable busboy. But I had never had a mentally handicapped employee and w<span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">asn't sure I wanted one. I wasn't sure how my customers would react to Stevie. He was short, a little dumpy with the smooth facial features and thick-tongued speech of Downs Syndrome. <br /> <br /> I wasn't worried about most of my trucker customers because truckers don't generally care who buses tables as long as the meatloaf platter is good and the pies are homemade. The four-wheeler drivers were the ones who concerned me; the mouthy college kids traveling to school; the yuppie snobs who secretly polish their silverware with their napkins for fear of catching some dreaded "truck stop germ" the pairs of white-shirted business men on expense accounts who think every truck stop waitress wants to be flirted with. I knew those people would be uncomfortable around Stevie so I closely watched him for the first few weeks.<br /><br /> I shouldn't have worried. After the first week, Stevie had my staff wrapped around his stubby little finger, and within a month my truck regulars had adopted him as their official truck stop mascot. After that, I really didn't care what the rest of the customers thought of him. He was like a 21-year-old in blue jeans and Nikes, eager to laugh and eager to please, but fierce in his attention to his duties. Every salt and pepper shaker was exactly in its place, not a bread crumb or coffee spill was visible when Stevie got done with the table. <br /> <br /> Our only problem was persuading him to wait to clean a table until after the customers were finished. He would hover in the background, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, scanning the dining room until a table was empty. Then he would scurry to the empty table and carefully bus dishes and glasses onto cart and meticulously wipe the table up with a practiced flourish of his rag. If he thought a customer was watching, his brow would pucker with added concentration. He took pride in doing his job exactly right, and you had to love how hard he tried to please each and every person he met. <br /> <br /> Over time, we learned that he lived with his mother, a widow who was disabled after repeated surgeries for cancer. They lived on their Social Security benefits in public housing two miles from the truck stop. Their social worker, who stopped to check on him every so often, admitted they had fallen between the cracks. Money was tight, and what I paid him was probably the difference between them being able to live together and Stevie being sent to a group home. That's why the restaurant was a gloomy place that morning last August, the first morning in three years that Stevie missed work. <br /> <br /> He was at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester getting a new valve or something put in his heart. His social worker said that people with Downs Syndrome often have heart problems at an early age so this wasn't unexpected, and there was a good chance he would come through the surgery in good shape and be back at work in a few months. <br /> <br /> A ripple of excitement ran through the staff later that morning when word came that he was out of surgery, in recovery, and doing fine. Frannie, the head waitress, let out a war hoop and did a little dance in the aisle when she heard the good news. Bell Ringer, one of our regular trucker customers, stared at the sight of this 50-year-old grandmother of four doing a victory shimmy beside his table. Frannie blushed, smoothed her apron and shot Belle Ringer a withering look. <br /> <br /> He grinned. "OK, Frannie, what was that all about?" he asked. <br /> <br /> "We just got word that Stevie is out of surgery and going to be okay." <br /> <br /> "I was wondering where he was. I had a new joke to tell him. What was the surgery about?"<br /><br /> Frannie quickly told Bell Ringer and the other two drivers sitting at his booth about Stevie's surgery, then sighed: "Yeah, I'm glad he is going to be OK," she said. "But I don't know how he and his Mom are going to handle all the bills. From what I hear, they're barely getting by as it is." Belle Ringer nodded thoughtfully, and Frannie hurried off to wait on the rest of her tables. <br /> <br /> Since I hadn't had time to round up a busboy to replace Stevie and really didn't want to replace him, the girls were busing their own tables that day until we decided what to do. After the morning rush, Frannie walked into my office. She had a couple of paper napkins in her hand and a funny look on her face. <br /> <br /> "What's up?" I asked. <br /> <br /> "I didn't get that table where Bell Ringer and his friends were sitting cleared off after they left, and Pony Pete and Tony Tipper were sitting there when I got back to clean it off," she said. "This was folded and tucked under a coffee cup." <br /> <br /> She handed the napkin to me, and three $20 bills fell onto my desk when I opened it. On the outside, in big, bold letters, was printed "Something For Stevie. <br /> <br /> Pony Pete asked me what that was all about," she said, "so I told him about Stevie and his Mom and everything, and Pete looked at Tony and Tony looked at Pete, and they ended up giving me this." She handed me another paper napkin that had "Something For Stevie" scrawled on its outside. Two $50 bills were tucked within its folds. <br /> <br /> Frannie looked at me with wet, shiny eyes, shook her head and said simply: "truckers." <br /> <br /> That was three months ago. Today is Thanksgiving, the first day Stevie is supposed to be back to work. His placement worker said he's been counting the days until the doctor said he could work, and it didn't matter at all that it was a holiday. He called 10 times in the past week, making sure we knew he was coming, fearful that we had forgotten him or that his job was in jeopardy. <br /> <br /> I arranged to have his mother bring him to work. I then met them in the parking lot and invited them both to celebrate his day back. Stevie was thinner and paler, but couldn't stop grinning as he pushed through the doors and headed for the back room where his apron and busing cart were waiting. <br /> <br /> "Hold up there, Stevie, not so fast," I said. I took him and his mother by their arms. "Work can wait for a minute. To celebrate you coming back, breakfast for you and your mother is on me!" <br /> <br /> I led them toward a large corner booth at the rear of the room. I could feel and hear the rest of the staff following behind as we marched through the dining room. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw booth after booth of grinning truckers empty and join the procession. We stopped in front of the big table. Its surface was covered with coffee cups, saucers and dinner plates, all sitting slightly crooked on dozens of folded paper napkins. <br /> <br /> "First thing you have to do, Stevie, is clean up this mess," I said. I tried to sound stern. Stevie looked at me, and then at his mother, then pulled out one of the napkins. It had "Something for Stevie" printed on the outside. As he picked it up, two $10 bills fell onto the table. <br /> <br /> Stevie stared at the money, then at all the napkins peeking from beneath the tableware, each with his name printed or scrawled on it. I turned to his mother. <br /> <br /> "There's more than $10,000 in cash and checks on table, all from truckers and trucking companies that heard about your problems. "Happy Thanksgiving," <br /> <br /> Well, it got real noisy about that time, with everybody hollering and shouting, and there were a few tears, as well. But you know what's funny? While everybody else was busy shaking hands and hugging each other, Stevie, with a big, big smile on his face, was busy clearing all the cups and dishes from the table. Best worker I ever hired.</span> </div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Here are some pics of MY sweet brother!</strong></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUxFT1DlWeuJViCPNjlSlgq1RNEELxzGRqdFxGrv0ZQjKMLHFFXQ3efBG3kS3B4bFl2rkuKGIlV2tpL8O_MA3w8IUN7GWEBZKv8JXb4JQSqRkr9YSXgI_JfjdQ4vIaGqpGWdrmIJIdKWT/s1600/36663_1527408503915_4003898_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUxFT1DlWeuJViCPNjlSlgq1RNEELxzGRqdFxGrv0ZQjKMLHFFXQ3efBG3kS3B4bFl2rkuKGIlV2tpL8O_MA3w8IUN7GWEBZKv8JXb4JQSqRkr9YSXgI_JfjdQ4vIaGqpGWdrmIJIdKWT/s320/36663_1527408503915_4003898_n.jpg" width="252" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> Little baby Parks!</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUf3UFVMF5VS6U9P2nNOPQVMLHHsNjynPhVcxd3L6RrTBGyK6VTOLJg0lnFgVt2U4hRM0kd1vZrraHOOhzLe_qf2VJDGxa8qDAYsc7wdhB7KUS9Y6a4bamPBElWHmkSLwEHIp9Hm4PKh6h/s1600/photo1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUf3UFVMF5VS6U9P2nNOPQVMLHHsNjynPhVcxd3L6RrTBGyK6VTOLJg0lnFgVt2U4hRM0kd1vZrraHOOhzLe_qf2VJDGxa8qDAYsc7wdhB7KUS9Y6a4bamPBElWHmkSLwEHIp9Hm4PKh6h/s320/photo1.JPG" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">At conference! :)</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRduN06PAuLI8VxUywCkXPNGCtL8k21L9tO8vlNGvH418WrqAzoeUiN5tI3SITAZzxwZuKLS24CHQfC71rGwuUwHODO-4w5bnkL7DYPel3wp0djJK1IIOV9htdKn_KznAwimuSs0H08b8d/s1600/parks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRduN06PAuLI8VxUywCkXPNGCtL8k21L9tO8vlNGvH418WrqAzoeUiN5tI3SITAZzxwZuKLS24CHQfC71rGwuUwHODO-4w5bnkL7DYPel3wp0djJK1IIOV9htdKn_KznAwimuSs0H08b8d/s320/parks.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Isn't he just so handsome?! I really can't believe how big he is! But he's such a stud! :)</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633253465829968882.post-17503821785084908232012-11-12T21:58:00.002-08:002012-11-12T21:58:33.740-08:00Love and Gratitude<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGqMX9J2JxYTf0I8aFxmhz4MVDPICPDfeWTy1aKnoiHmooKH-W-gszAWzc7OIZgMPZdAEDv1vieqHNh2Hn_udlQ12s6IAa5Ie_XgYJ8rEN_fG5lHT6NMo5EO6qKBuO_7xh5CtGFy7Rwkx/s1600/snowflake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGqMX9J2JxYTf0I8aFxmhz4MVDPICPDfeWTy1aKnoiHmooKH-W-gszAWzc7OIZgMPZdAEDv1vieqHNh2Hn_udlQ12s6IAa5Ie_XgYJ8rEN_fG5lHT6NMo5EO6qKBuO_7xh5CtGFy7Rwkx/s320/snowflake.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">It snows in Utah. A lot. And it is cold. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">I miss Arizona. And it's warmth, and its NOT dangerous sidewalks/roads, and its trees that don't dump snow on you.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnlTCb_jdQKerYqRD91R8z4NUFCTYzIzTWRbYMV74Y6w5oheM9RZQzST2HhAQ6djMtsEkcDwqhzyCrUzo89naeVY6Z_Pa0WJNXxsC109oOQDP6qsIw_LzYrls0xCuKVxz7YETGfswdf6_/s1600/1112022212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnlTCb_jdQKerYqRD91R8z4NUFCTYzIzTWRbYMV74Y6w5oheM9RZQzST2HhAQ6djMtsEkcDwqhzyCrUzo89naeVY6Z_Pa0WJNXxsC109oOQDP6qsIw_LzYrls0xCuKVxz7YETGfswdf6_/s320/1112022212.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Today was our last FHE before Thanksgiving, so we did a "thankful" activity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I made one of these for everyone, and then started the chain with why I was thankful for each of them. Then they all wrote why they were thankful for eachother and created the chains. It was a fun activity, and it helped me to look deeper into some of those "kids" I go to school with!</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">And I have two real quick stories if you choose to continue reading.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Story #1 takes place yesterday, Sunday 11/11/12:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> It was cold. And snowy. And I woke up on the wrong side of the bed--I'm not really sure why, but I just wasn't feeling very happy. So, I went to church, and saved two seats for Hanna and Sarah--but they didn't get my text, so they came in and sat in the back. Well, everyone else filed in to the building (we meet in an auditorium in the JKB) and I ended up sitting in the 3rd row, basically alone. 5 empty seats on either side of me. And at first it made me kinda sad, but then it was like. Whatever, I'm a big girl. So I just paid attention to the talks. And then after the first 2 talks, we had a congregational hymn (which I may add, are definitely my LEAST favorite things. Ever.) And all of a sudden, this awesome boy in my ward got up from his seat a few rows back, walked in front of the ward, and came and sat down right next to me. Lemme tell ya--I got really choked up. Because at that moment I felt Heavenly Father's love overwhelm me, and a feeling of belonging came over me. At BYU it is SO easy to feel lost, and forgotten, and like no one cares about you because you are away from home, and your family, and everyone is looking out for themselves. But in that moment I was reminded that I am never alone!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Story #2 takes place tonight, Monday 11/12/12:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">FHE mom is a hard calling. It feels like you can't please everyone, and it is a little {okay. a lot} stressful for me, because let's face it, I'm a people pleaser. Anyway, today as I posted earlier, we did our gratitude chains, and some of the guys felt a little "jipped" on what I wrote on their papers--let me explain. Writing to girls is easy, and it is okay to say how much you love them and appreciate them because, well, they are girls. Writing to boys CAN be easy, if you know them well, or if you like them as more than a friend. Well, these guys in my group are all outstanding and they all make me laugh, and they all have insanely awesome personalities, and they all have really positive attitudes, even when our activities are lame. They come and make it fun. And I really love that about all of them. SO that's what I was thinking when I wrote on most of their papers--but I guess when they read it that it came off as a "cop-out" for having nothing else to say. When in all reality, it was just the truth! But I could tell they were a little upset, and that made me feel like I had ruined our whole FHE, and I was just feeling a little down, because I had spent a lot of time trying to make the papers cute--and I am just not crafty, and it was frustrating me, and I have been feeling super homesick, because I only have 8 days til I get to go home, and I just want to be there already! Anyway, at the end of FHE I was cleaning up, and one of the boys in my group came up and said "Thanks mom for the awesome activity" and then gave me a hug. He then called everyone over, and we ended up in this huge group hug. {funny side-note, the quote "Get in tighter! I want her to throw up! It'll show how much we love her!" or something to that effect might have been used} Anyway, none of them would know that that was a nightly occurance at the Bradshaw home, and it again made me feel of the untainted, constant, and overwhelming love of my Heavenly Father.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">The church is true. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live. They hear our prayers, and they answer them. They love us with a perfect love that is incomprehensible to us, but I love being able to have little glimpses of it in my life. I am so thankful for the trials in my life that help me draw closer to my Savior, and I am thankful for the reminders that I am not alone, and that I am loved! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Happy November!</span> </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633253465829968882.post-60188398357059305862012-10-30T23:54:00.002-07:002012-10-30T23:54:52.758-07:00Registration, Workouts, Great Videos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7mUW2G0YyCGbwQ8win2TjWR0wWm7Q7wOeODvninOkdQVOR35nIshJtNIh5iut6jun6IMJfHeR5NTRxIB_6RHcfMG7n6Tn7dWXPeVe-B5c6S5AAzowk3FP8pDTpvtyD6nOHW_F-h0ODTPh/s1600/hair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7mUW2G0YyCGbwQ8win2TjWR0wWm7Q7wOeODvninOkdQVOR35nIshJtNIh5iut6jun6IMJfHeR5NTRxIB_6RHcfMG7n6Tn7dWXPeVe-B5c6S5AAzowk3FP8pDTpvtyD6nOHW_F-h0ODTPh/s320/hair.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Well. This has been me for the last 40 minutes trying to register for my classes for Winter Semester here at BYU.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Sometimes, I wonder who thinks through tasks like this---if anyone. Because, for real. It's ridiculous. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Not only does the Internet not work {or work VERY slowly} the entire week, but the system gets overloaded, and shuts you out of it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">And am I the only one who sees the fact that registration begins at midnight a very twisted stereotype? I mean, I go to bed at like 9 or 9:30 every night......</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">And so, the results:I got on the waiting list for 4/5 classes I was trying to register. Thankfully two of them are low numbers, but one is FORTY! For real?! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">And if you want to take zumba Monday nights? Too bad. You'll be 188th on the waiting list. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Anyway. Sorry for the venting. Looks like I'm a little stressed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">BUT, My beautiful and amazing roommate and I have decided to take the whole "WE WON'T GAIN THE FRESHMEN FIFTEEN" thing into our own hands, and we are on day three of this beautifully horrible workout video series:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoI_hQIjQSRSD0_usWeiuLX_ASumcw-S2BlPtP1HFKuEfcAX6r2qW181V9mlvxEhZ7i9dGSmQ5gDKUVceFsoA0y9by4uS8RuHPSjBQ5EzlkddSp4nKXT8gGpXPXhmaSCP1BQ_hIx0tK7vM/s1600/insanity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoI_hQIjQSRSD0_usWeiuLX_ASumcw-S2BlPtP1HFKuEfcAX6r2qW181V9mlvxEhZ7i9dGSmQ5gDKUVceFsoA0y9by4uS8RuHPSjBQ5EzlkddSp4nKXT8gGpXPXhmaSCP1BQ_hIx0tK7vM/s320/insanity.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">We love Shaun T.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">And being sore. Because neither of us can move. And it's great.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Oh. And here's a GREAT video, if you need to laugh! Thank you Hanna for posting it on Facebook! </span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/C9oYwheDY4Q?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">{my 2 personal favorites: T-Swift, and Kelley Pickler}</span> </div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633253465829968882.post-81349041583186416742012-10-25T13:17:00.002-07:002012-10-25T13:17:41.290-07:00Snow, Snow, Snow, SNOW!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Yes, I have been singing the song from White Christmas in my head ALL day! :) </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsLLEUnWy41HVQJDOsrfnBKLXzSB6Jw4djWmk2Sm-Z_DdYeJQyU63iTwGzXDqwlZif6feCwm1ZhEto3cgh-1CsAvgryeJ7-GN_WZ_TJ1_yNn6UnXbhSRn-GIx9m_YaXxzUgejPCCaikHOO/s1600/snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsLLEUnWy41HVQJDOsrfnBKLXzSB6Jw4djWmk2Sm-Z_DdYeJQyU63iTwGzXDqwlZif6feCwm1ZhEto3cgh-1CsAvgryeJ7-GN_WZ_TJ1_yNn6UnXbhSRn-GIx9m_YaXxzUgejPCCaikHOO/s320/snow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Little AZ girls in their first ever (well, at college) snow fall--we were dying! It was so fun! And it hurt. But it was great! Oh, and in case you were wondering, it looked like Dippin' Dots. But no worries--we recorded ourselves. :) </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJzUwK2GrNZSePjfIKDLJ2eI3keZvlmikSTjPpjkGQdTwem9WAJ9l5zcznXXYzTvF5-T4fZWOluo-rLo9Ea3fu4yutkE_Wh2ZT8x3i37Hl5b2XL1mJjpzJ2ekXwWO6vNzTlWxLbhaOzAG/s1600/snow1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJzUwK2GrNZSePjfIKDLJ2eI3keZvlmikSTjPpjkGQdTwem9WAJ9l5zcznXXYzTvF5-T4fZWOluo-rLo9Ea3fu4yutkE_Wh2ZT8x3i37Hl5b2XL1mJjpzJ2ekXwWO6vNzTlWxLbhaOzAG/s320/snow1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">The wind was blowing the snow into our eyes. But it was SO pretty!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">And to make today even greater--I got back an essay that I was SO stressed about for a long time (each little part that we turned in, I did TERRIBLE on, so I was REALLY nervous about the grade) AND I GOT A 47/50! :) :) :) :) :) :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Oh, and then I went to the American Heritage lab to retake a quiz--that's a story all in itself--lets just say, don't try and balance a book on your lap top, and turn pages in another book, because your online quiz will be entered with only one of the 5 questions answered, and no way to go back--but anyway, I talked to the guy at the front desk, then looked at his name and saw his last name was "Gunnell". Well, that's not really a common last name, and just in case you didn't already know this. I am an awkward person. So, here is our conversation:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Me: So, your last name is Gunnell. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Boy: {awkwardly looks at me like..okay where are you going with this?} yeah??</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Me: That's awesome. That's my mom's maiden name! Who are your grandparents? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Boy: {still giving me the awkward look} Uhhh..I'm from Arizona.....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Me: Me too! That's cool! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Boy: {silence...probably thinking..who is this freak?!}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Me: My Grandpa is Darwin.....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Boy: Oh! Wait, what, really? Who are your parents?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Me: My mom is Kay, what about you?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Boy: Oh! Darwin is my Great Grandpa. That's cool! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Me: So, who is your dad?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Boy: Brent, and that's my Grandpa too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Me: Awesome! Well, good to meet you! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">and with that I left. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Only at BYU, and in a big Mormon family do you meet someone who happens to be your second? cousin who you've never met before in your life. haha </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Today is a great day! </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633253465829968882.post-69589543217539202172012-10-22T14:53:00.001-07:002012-10-22T14:53:27.175-07:00One Red Paper Clip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCM6ytRsmAonTIczblWRWSxKnL46Wtbnz96zQhqwZ2dKOeqdRSH7aG_BnBoJeNDAfKgWGfKdhr7JXIu2FfAs9XSg3IZOw9Q-huINFnBYuHIGbUQpMQU5d3Y7P7E_6J4PQbo5fEnXj_q1Ao/s1600/red-paperclip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCM6ytRsmAonTIczblWRWSxKnL46Wtbnz96zQhqwZ2dKOeqdRSH7aG_BnBoJeNDAfKgWGfKdhr7JXIu2FfAs9XSg3IZOw9Q-huINFnBYuHIGbUQpMQU5d3Y7P7E_6J4PQbo5fEnXj_q1Ao/s320/red-paperclip.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Ever wonder what one red paper clip is worth?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">I'll tell you--I for sure hadn't til I read this book: </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUrvueJbZbQbTqrX3EnJioHW4qbOM2nTg20bWZdw7pOQ-fVlkqdqD-IHWONQfFrxl6g2SiYcsHhbVjkNM8EH6cnuHcT_0X4hyphenhyphenqFBGQjmGnBaOaK3a0TFXinAzWbPCZK2a_YDMksp3JAqu/s1600/What-I-Wish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUrvueJbZbQbTqrX3EnJioHW4qbOM2nTg20bWZdw7pOQ-fVlkqdqD-IHWONQfFrxl6g2SiYcsHhbVjkNM8EH6cnuHcT_0X4hyphenhyphenqFBGQjmGnBaOaK3a0TFXinAzWbPCZK2a_YDMksp3JAqu/s320/What-I-Wish.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">(It's an assigned reading for a class I'm taking this semester--I haven't finished it, but I have started it. :) I know, I'm a procrastinator..sue me.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Anyway, This guy, Kyle MacDonald decided to see what one red paper clip was worth. So he put it on Craigslist, and started trading it. He traded 14 times and ended up with a house. Mind you. HE SPENT NO MONEY!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">So, my professor decided that this is now a REQUIRED group assignment. Exxcept we have to start with a rock. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">We have 10 days to trade it until we get the greatest value we can, and then we have to "turn in" our final record sheet, and decide what to do with the product/the money. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Sounds cool right? WELL..only problem, we're in groups of 4-6 people. I know 3 people in my class. And {THANKFULLY} one of them allowed me to join his group! But there are also a lot of random rules: For example, everyone MUST be present for EVERY exchange...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">The winners last year got like $5,000 or something crazy like that. One other group kept working after the project, ended up getting a house, sold it, and it paid for all four of their 4 year degrees at BYU! CRAZY!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">So, let the trading begin! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">What would YOU trade for an 8 oz rock?! </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633253465829968882.post-44351411043640894952012-10-21T13:46:00.005-07:002012-10-21T13:46:52.250-07:00Happy Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKnPMO33UA6JHKua97oUQT66JF-VPqfbwjBeqPEAM6jCdjZYxpBlhUo9gYNjpMQFlRvpx-ND2K3jbCvEahubEJwUpRxr480mreAzrafHWV-O1aNHYKEFIi4HePqhePxKFU79Bc3wd39Bof/s1600/100702121101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKnPMO33UA6JHKua97oUQT66JF-VPqfbwjBeqPEAM6jCdjZYxpBlhUo9gYNjpMQFlRvpx-ND2K3jbCvEahubEJwUpRxr480mreAzrafHWV-O1aNHYKEFIi4HePqhePxKFU79Bc3wd39Bof/s320/100702121101.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(I shot this picture while running back to my hotel Sunday morning after conference, and I had to crop out all the cars, but I just love any picture of the temple. They all bring so much peace)</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Happy Sunday! :) I love Sunday's and here is why.</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Courier New;">I always learn something new.</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Courier New;">I get to be with people I love.</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Courier New;">The lessons/talks make me think, </span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Courier New;">which leads to making positive</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Courier New;">changes in my life.</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Courier New;">I always feel the spirit.</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Courier New;">Here are some of the things I learned today in church:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Courier New;">1. Number the alphabet </span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Courier New;">2. Look at the word attitude</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Courier New;">3. Add up the numbers, and what do you get?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: x-large;">100%</span> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxR4yd8TlXewjrRvSW0jO752zVm-hdD3ABiAhM9XPUX2mbh76LiKSNPNSh_G7kaguiQNzk0FqvDtRzD7lvXeSDU2LT0npasHeX4VXyARBkRp2_LBBlRIl79tYb3RQzYV4axB7OPw9Acu5k/s1600/attitude+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxR4yd8TlXewjrRvSW0jO752zVm-hdD3ABiAhM9XPUX2mbh76LiKSNPNSh_G7kaguiQNzk0FqvDtRzD7lvXeSDU2LT0npasHeX4VXyARBkRp2_LBBlRIl79tYb3RQzYV4axB7OPw9Acu5k/s320/attitude+collage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">So..Attitude is EVERYTHING</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">A beautiful girl in my ward shared with us something she had been taught growing up. Beware the "Three C's"</span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">1. Compare</span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">2. Compete</span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">3. Categorize</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">As women in the world, we need to beware of doing any of those things, because they will only lead to unhappiness!</span> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">And then, Hanna shared this quote in her relief society lesson, and I decided to make a picture with it because I love it so much!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_xJAG7QLgyRcZ0XBKHjkVkc0Zqmro_DwTa5uhzjQxFYLe4ak-v_79J2RNAQ-IRRbBcSzn1S8JxYLIqcD2TZdl4AKErrQFCVeu3OFNu6_Gj4xJktJVrLa17Y9TcFdmTdo0iKhuI8INKsV/s1600/pray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_xJAG7QLgyRcZ0XBKHjkVkc0Zqmro_DwTa5uhzjQxFYLe4ak-v_79J2RNAQ-IRRbBcSzn1S8JxYLIqcD2TZdl4AKErrQFCVeu3OFNu6_Gj4xJktJVrLa17Y9TcFdmTdo0iKhuI8INKsV/s320/pray.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #7f6000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Have a great day! :)</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633253465829968882.post-10322659125192962882012-10-16T20:20:00.001-07:002012-10-16T20:20:09.533-07:00If I could go back....<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Sometimes, when I think about High School, I realize how much I want to go back and....</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Get a beautiful dress, get my hair, nails, and make-up done. Get a beautiful flower, from a handsome date, and go to a dance with all my friends.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Put on my track/cross country uniform and run a killer race. Where my lungs are burning, my heart is racing, and my adrenaline pushes me to new, better results.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Go to Mr. Hatch's anatomy class. And learn. And enjoy learning. And laughing. And the sarcasm that is CONSTANT in that classroom.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Have a crazy spirit day, and go ALL OUT!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Go to a Mesa High Football game!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Go to musical rehearsal and sing/dance my heart out with all my friends. And then stay late to help with the set/go to Applebees for a little pick-me-up.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">HIKE CAMMELBACK</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Go to midnight premiers with all my friends</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">PERFORM!! (but not audition)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Play "Just Dance" and "Wakee Six"</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">Watch a movie on a couch, in a HOME</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Courier New;">These are just some of those little things I've been thinkin about lately.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0