Friday, August 27, 2010

Happy

I could (and do) look at these over and over. They just bring me so much HAPPINESS! At least now Lori and I know where we get our goofy picture taking from. :)

Love you dad!




(This is my personal favorite)

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Need a laugh?

Before you read on, you have to understand first and foremost that I have a sick, twisted sense of humor. That being said, yesterday was a funny news and headline day (not for the people it involves, per se, but for me).



The first is an excerpt from an article written today about the trapped Chilean miners. They are not telling them exactly how long it is going to take to get them out and they are doing everything they can to keep close watch to the situation of every person down there. This is what it said (I will highlight the parts that I found amusing):

"One of the miners has nursing experience and authorities are working with him to pass along questionnaires to the miners that will shed light on their health.
Based on a survey of the miners, three or four of them are showing signs of anxiety and depression. Another survey indicates that there are at least nine miners who would be too overweight to fit through the proposed rescue shaft, Manalich said.
However, Manalich said the miners are estimated to have lost about 8 kilograms, or 17 pounds, during their time in the mine, and officials expect them to be in shape to be rescued by the time the shaft is completed.
The miners have survived by sharing small amounts of tuna and mackerel that were in a shelter, along with water, officials have said.
What the miners eat and how much will be monitored by officials, and tubes will constantly pump oxygen and drinking water into the shelter where the miners are."

The other headline I found completely amusing was:
Johnson & Johnson Recalls Hip Implants

Can we just say "ouch"!

Thursday, August 19, 2010

What does it mean?

Last night I had a very strange, but entirely too real, dream. In the dream, I was participating in some sort of triathlon. We had done the swimming and I was on my bike. At some point, a friend called me and told me that she and her kids were at the movie theater in town and that I should stop by. I get to this rotary in town and see the theater, so I decide to go inside and stay for just a few minutes (apparently I was confident about winning the race…that, or I didn’t even care about finishing). Anyway, there are signs everywhere telling movie goers that no outside food is allowed. The next thing I realize, I am reaching into my pockets and realize that I have this bag of cotton candy and a bag a Cheetos. I decide that it must be in my pockets for a reason, so I go and find my friend and her kids and sit there for a bit. The kids start whining about how they’re hungry and I’m all like “Hey, look what I have”, whispering of course so no one knows. I tell my friend to make some sort of subtle noise so I can get the Cheetos bag out without drawing attention to me. For some stupid reason, she starts clapping in the middle of the movie.
All of a sudden, some woman sitting a few rows back says “We’re going to need security in theater 8”. I immediately shove the bag of Cheetos between the cushions (this theater had couches – very bizarre) and then stood up. I told the woman that I had just stopped by to see my friend but that I needed to get back to my triathlon. She very boldly told me that I wasn’t going anywhere. The big ol’ security guys come in and start pulling the couch apart and she asks if I have anything else on me. I told her no, but then remembered that bag of cotton candy. The security guys are still trying to figure out how to ‘tear apart the couch’ – all brawn, no brains kind of guys, apparently. The woman asks me again if I have anything on me and she proceeds to tell me that they’ll go easier on me if I confess to having something before they find what they are certain is in the couch. I tell her no again, and then I pretend to be checking my pockets and decided to be all like, “Hey, I just found this but didn’t really know it was here”, all the while just lying through my teeth.
The next thing I know she is walking toward me, very angrily I might add. Then – I WOKE UP!! I don’t even know what the punishment was for ‘crime’. I don’t know if they really went easily on me. I don’t know if I ever really told the truth. Does it make me a bad person if I lie and break rules in my dreams?

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Motivation

I always feel like I should have some grand story and interesting facts, or even some witty comment to make on my blog, but alas, I have come up empty handed. So, I will just share with you some of the thoughts that have been running around in my mind over the past couple of days and that have been motivating me.

Change is inevitable. Jump in with both feet and embrace it. If change is something that you have little to no control over, choose to control how you will face the change.

Follow the rules. The cops are out in full force here in Utah, and not just in one place, they are everywhere. There is safety in following the rules/laws. This is true not only of the laws of the land, but of the commandments.

Read your scriptures. Our ward just completed a Book of Mormon reading challenge and for the first time in my life, I actually completed it ON TIME! I’ve read through several times, and I’ve tried to follow along when I have taken classes or have been issued challenges, but I’ve never made it on schedule. It was an incredible experience. If you feel like you’re not getting much out of your scripture study, try harder, make it more of a priority and incorporate it into your routine. I have never been so grateful that I stuck with something. It was also a good thing I finished because I was asked to share a few words about my experience for ward prayer. It would have been hard to say that I hadn’t finished it and that they had better ask someone else.

Watch for the miracles. Right before we left Boston, we got to attend our last Stake Conference there. One of the last speakers on Saturday evening spoke about miracles and said usually we focus on the ‘big’ miracles, the ones that everyone sees and recognizes. He urged us to stop and look around us and see the small everyday miracles that so often go unnoticed. I took his advice and have been overwhelmed by the miracles that occur all around me.

Look beyond yourself. I have this terrible trait of self doubt. I automatically assume people won’t like me, that people are judging me, and that in general, people would prefer I weren’t even around. It is always very hard for me to really get to know people because I’m not confident in social situations (which I blame on past experiences, but that I’m learning to cope with and overcome). I have learned that everyone loves to hear something good about themselves, to know that someone is thinking of them, and is watching out for them. I learned this week that no one is exempt from that, no matter what kind of front they put on, or how they seem in general.

Live like there’s no tomorrow. This kind of goes with my previous point, but don’t wait. If you have a kind thought, say it. If you feel inspired to call someone, do it. If you see someone who needs a hug, give it. Things happen far too quickly in life. Sometimes people are taken from us before we get to do these things, sometimes life just happens. People move and change, sometimes they just move one. Don’t wait until it’s too late.

You only live once. Try something new. Dream big. Make plans. If you want to go to culinary school, or volunteer in an orphanage in another country, or you want to teach (yes, these are a few of my plans), do it. Work towards it. Things may change and you may have to edit your list, but get moving. Don’t wait your life away for the perfect opportunity because chances are that it won’t come.

Realize you are amazing. Every person is. I have always heard it said that everyone has the potential to be amazing, but I have decided to change it. Every person has the potential to do amazing things, but you are amazing just by being you. Granted, the more you do and the better you become, your amazing factor points increase exponentially, but that’s totally beside the point. Value yourself and who you are. Chances are other people see it and just haven’t helped you see it yet, but just wait, that day will come. Until then, tell yourself that you are amazing. Wash, rinse, and REPEAT – over and over. If you need to have a mirror by your front door so you can tell yourself how awesome you are as you come and go, do it. Write it on paper and stick it places you will see it until you realize it and remember it.

You are amazing!

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

24 Things You Probably Didn't Want to Know

Since I’m thoroughly looking forward to being 24 (tomorrow), I have compiled a ridiculously random list (24 things to be exact - one for each year of my life) of facts, thoughts, and statements about myself. Brace yourself for 24 pieces of useless knowledge.

1. I love the color pink – the brighter, the better
2. I have an incredible fear of coming down from something (bleachers, mountains – you get the idea) or of falling
3. I don’t mind the silence
4. I day dream far too often
5. I love to read
6. I hate the feel of tape on my skin
7. I love getting a foot massage
8. I love office supplies
9. I don’t like to try new food because I forget that I can spit it out if I don’t like it
10. I love listening to someone playing the guitar
11. I sometimes wish I could live in the water
12. I love to try new recipes
13. I like to eat green, unripe fruit – it’s crunchy
14. I love to play the piano
15. I love spending time with kids and being a kid myself
16. I like to make big plans
17. I dream of opening a bakery one day
18. I love waterfalls and butterflies
19. I put my arms out like a bird and wish I could fly when the wind blows
20. I prefer soggy French fries to crisp ones
21. I love take offs in an airplane
22. I love to laugh
23. I would rather be cold than hot
24. I love checking the mail