Merry Christmas!

To continue my inspirational blog idea, :) I wanted to share this song about Christmas. I can't get the video to upload so I'll just put the link to the video on youtube. It's such a beautiful song!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSKGt4vjSxU

Feeling Inspired

This week has been kind of a roller coaster when it comes to my emotions. I go from wanting to cry, to being so angry I just want to punch something or someone, then to feeling totally happy and energetic. I have realized more and more just how much control I have over my emotions and my attitude. Tonight for a minute, I wanted to cry. The tears were barely starting to come when I said to myself, "Stop. You waste too much time being sad over things out of your control. You have so much to live for and so much to be happy about! You are young and you are beautiful and have so much to offer." As I had this pep talk with myself I grew incredibly happy and comforted. I am tired of the sadness and the thinking I'm not good enough or pretty enough. I am tired of depression and seeing people I am close to suffer from feelings of depression and hopelessness. Life is full of good things and we just have to learn to let go of the hurt and pain that comes to all of us. This brings me to my new idea and my new goal for my blog. I am going to make it a point every day to find something good and inspiring, which could be anything from a song, a story, a picture, etc and share it here.
To start I want to share this song. Since it is almost Christmas and our thoughts should be turned to Christ, I feel this song is appropriate for what my feelings are this season.

Gratitude- Day 17

Am grateful for people who inspire me. There are so many and I am just blessed to have many people in my life who inspire me to be better. Because I have mentioned already many people who inspire me this post is dedicated to people I don't really know personally but they inspire me anyway. There are good people in this world and that gives me hope.

Gratitude- Day 16

I'm grateful for my country and for my freedom. There's nothing like patriotism and the feeling you get when you hear the national anthem or God bless the USA or when you see videos of military men and women coming home to their families after serving their country, etc. It is all a blessing to live here and to be a part of it.

Gratitude- Day 15

I'm grateful for the scriptures. I don't read them or understand them as much as I should but I do believe they hold the answers to all things and they are the words of God.

Gratitude- Day 14

I'm grateful for friends- old and new. For friends who have been there for me in the past and for the memories I have of them. And for friends I continue to make. Specifically, a friend that has been there for me countless times in the last two months and who has taught me many things about myself.

Gratitude- Day 13

I am grateful for technology, especially youtube because when I miss things like the CMA awards I can go back and watch performances like this one.

Gratitude- Day 12

I am grateful for temples. They give me hope every time I look at one and I pray for the day that someday I can enter the temple and be sealed to my future husband. The promises of the temples are what keeps my faith and my testimony strong no matter what trials are thrown my way.

Gratitude- Day 11

(Got some catching up to do. it would bug me if I skipped a day) I am grateful I am able to go to school at SUU. I generally hate school and can't wait to be done and out of Cedar City but I am glad I made the choice to go to school and to study what I'm studying. It has taught me a lot about life and about myself.

Gratitude- Day 10

I am grateful for.... now don't criticize.... Mt. Dew Voltage. (Only the blue kind)It doesn't taste like Coke or Dr. Pepper or even Mt. Dew, which I don't like the taste of any of those mentioned. It is just delicious and refreshing to drink (I know, weird. I don't know how else to describe the taste :)

Gratitude- Day 9

I am grateful for all my nieces and my nephew. They are just the cutest little kids ever with the sweetest spirits and I adore every one of them!!! I miss them every day and wish so much that I lived closer so I could see them more often!

Gratitude- Day 8

I am grateful for the mountains and how they surround us so beautifully!

Gratitude- Day 7

I am grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and the Atonement.

Gratitude- Day 6

Today, I am grateful I made it to work safely, driving in the snow/blizzard with both windshield wipers not working at all! (I prayed the whole way there while listening to the Forgotten Carols song 'Three Kings' ..."Three Kings found the way, and so can we!" And I did! :) I don't care what anyone says, I am a skilled driver. :) Also, that I made it home safely (again in the snow/blizzard) with one wiper working, thanks to a good friend who fixed it "temporarily" on his break at work.

Gratitude- Day 5

I love music and am grateful for all kinds in my life. It's amazing how music can change my mood and can comfort me when I need it. :)

Gratitude - Day 4

I am grateful for my siblings. (again, in no order) Daniel is a huge example to me and I miss him every day! His willingness to serve a mission is awesome and he is awesome! Natalie has been one of my best friends for a long time now. I am glad I have gotten to spend so much time with her and I am so very grateful for all the many things she's done for me!! I have always looked up to Liz from the time I was a little girl. She is independent, smart, and beautiful! Now and as her little girl grows up, she is going to be an amazing mother! (Already is) Amy is also someone I have looked up to for a very long time. I admire her and all that she does for her beautiful family! All my sisters are smart, beautiful, and kind and I love every one of them! Daniel has always been the favorite, I think. :) I love him, too, lots! Ben and Jarom are also good examples and I appreciate all they do for their families. :)

Gratitude- Day 3

I am grateful for my grandparents. (These things are in no order, just random) Both my grandmas are two of the most amazing people I know! They are strong and have overcome many struggles and trials in their live. And my grandpas, too, are amazing and people I look up to with great admiration. I am so lucky and grateful that all 4 grandparents are still alive today and have lived close by almost my whole life! (Till I moved for college) They never missed an important event in my life and they strived to attend every other event or activity I had going on. I love them all lots!

Gratitude- Day 2

Today (actually yesterday, I am just a day late) I am grateful for my parents. Actually, every day I am so very grateful for them. My mom is kind, caring, and fun! She never hesitates to help me whenever I am in need and I am not sure what I would do if she didn't help me and if she wasn't there when I need it. My dad is amazing! He is also kind and fun and also patient and loving. I love that I can say I never heard him raise his voice at me. He, too, is willing to help me whenever I am in need. I love you both dearly!!!

Gratitude Journal

Day 1
I am grateful I have a job. I may complain about it a lot but at least I have a job, which is better than not having a job. It pays the bills!

Havasupai (again)

I don't know exactly what it is about this place but I absolutely love it. Just over a week ago, I made my second trip down to Havasupai. And it was definitely worth the 2 days we got to spend down there, the money, and the blisters. After getting the days off work just the day before we left, I was so excited. We drove down Friday afternoon, got to the Hilltop (or trail head) at about midnight and started the ever so long night. 8 miles down and about 3-4 hours later we reach the village where the Natives live. We have to camp out in front of the tourist office and attempt to sleep while we wait for it to open. Once we pay and get our ticket thing we can finally continue 2 miles to the campground. About halfway to the campground though you get your first look:



And the picture just doesn't capture the beautiful blue color of the water and the way the morning sun hits the falls. It's spectacular.

Then hike about another half mile and you see this:


Havasu Falls

Then a half mile or so past the campground is another waterfall with quite the climb down to get to it:


Mooney Falls

I love this place and everything about it. I love that we can leave our cell phones, laptops, tv, etc behind and just enjoy the peace that these waterfalls bring. Despite the no showers, living off food you bring, (and for me that's cheese and crackers and power bars) the blisters from those dang Chacos, the squirrels, the sore muscles, and the overworked knee, I wanna go back.

He's an Elder

Well, my "little" brother is now officially a missionary. It's bittersweet really. I'll miss him like crazy but am very proud of his decision to sacrifice two years of life to serve the Lord and preach the Gospel. He's such an awesome brother and a great example to me. It's kind of funny that when we were younger I could say I disliked him. I mean I loved him cause he was my brother but I really couldn't stand him. He drove me crazy. But I grew up and so did he, thank goodness. Anyway I just wanted to post some pictures of us since I never do and thought I should.



Just me and him went to Lagoon on Monday and had a blast!



Before taking him to the MTC.



He always has to make faces in these kinds of pictures.

Geez

Can I just say the whole "I'm engaged" then "April Fools" is really old? Think of a new April Fools joke if you're gonna play one on Facebook...

Thought of the Day

Life is good. I love getting in my car and a song comes on the radio that I just love. I turn it up and rock out. :) This morning I did that and I couldn't help but think how great life is and how the small and simple things can brighten your day. I wondered why I've wasted much time being so depressed..... Have a fabulous day!

Yo

I was looking at my Facebook and at people's post and had the thought.. "Why am I even friends with you? I didn't even like you in high school." I think I'm gonna de-junk my Facebook..... I mean who cares how many 'friends' I have.

Randomness

I have random thoughts I wanted to share/vent so here it is:
-What is with the PDA in my institute class and also the lack of the spirit? I really dislike my institute class this semester and that makes it harder to go every week. I rarely get anything out of it and comments made by the students are often pointless and drive away from the lesson the teacher is trying to teach. For example, today the lesson was on celestial dating and we were talking about flirting and the teacher asked girls to give advice to the guys on how to flirt. One girl said something like this "I'm like the guy in the situation. Like guys are the 'hunters' and that is me. I hate it when guys flirt with me; it turns me off." Really? Why do people have to share everything that comes to their mind? Some things are better left unsaid. And the engaged couple on the front row....way too much PDA for an institute class. Ugh.
-Speaking of dating, what does a girl have to do to get a guy to take her on a date? Frustrating. Dating is frustrating.