Blessing number 29

Extra time

So, funny story...

My alarm clock went off today at 7:00

and I woke up.

An HOUR earlier than I usually do.

Then I got ready to go to class.

Then I went to my 9:00 class...

at 8:00.

Seriously, who does that?

Normal people wake up late and run to class

and barely get there on time.

I did that once, but no, not today.

I got to class an hour early...

So anyway, I'm grateful for the extra time that blessed me with.

I was able to catch up on a little bit more homework

and sit back and relax a little.

So even though I was a little

teensy weensy bit ticked off

that I woke up earlier than needed,

I am grateful that I did.

Blessing number 28

Hugs :) (side note: I totally had this post all written up yesterday, but I forgot to push the post button)

Has anyone ever noticed how good a hug can make you feel?

Boy oh boy do I love hugs...

as long as it's from someone you know and not some random creeper.

The best kinds of hugs are the ones you get

when you've just seen someone that you haven't seen 

in a very long time. Like this one:

We were all so happy to have him back!

I also love the hugs that seem to never ever end
and when neither one of you wants it to.

And the ones when you can just tell that
they love you even though they don't say a word.
(Most of these have come from my brothers, so don't get any ideas! I'm still single!)   

Blessing number 27

Home.


"Home is not where you live, but where they understand you." ~Christian Morganstein

I have lived in a lot of places in my life and in a sense I really don't know what town I call home

because I've called all of those places home at one point.

What I do know is that wherever my family is,

That is home.

I surely love this place. It is home.

I know that no matter how bad life gets, I will always have a home to go to.

Even though I don't have my immediate family with me in Pocatello

I have a makeshift family of friends that helps me to call it home.

It may be a strange family, but it's a family nonetheless.

I'm grateful for home.

Even though my family doesn't live here, it too is home.

Blessing number 26

Trials


I have a strong belief in the quote, "If He brings you to it, He'll bring you through it."

I've had a lot of not so fun times in my life,

but I haven't been beat yet!

I love the feeling you get when you come to the end of some trial

and you realize that you had the Big Man Upstairs

was right there the whole time.

I also love this quote by Mother Theresa.

"I know God won't give me anything I can't handle.

I just wish he didn't trust me so much."

I have come to know that I can make it through anything

and I am BEYOND grateful for that.

This is my favorite painting by Simon Dewey.

It is titled Abide With Me.

I found the lyrics to this hymn fitting.

I think of these words when I'm having a hard time.

Abide with me, fast falls the eventide

The darkness deepens, Lord with me abide

When other helpers fail and comforts flee

Help of the helpless oh, abide with me

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;

Earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away;

Change and decay in all around I see;

O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need thy presence every passing hour.

What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power?

Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?

Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

Blessing number 25

I would definitely have to say that I am grateful for 

FOOD!

It's crazy how much food just happens

to turn up on the Thanksgiving table.

It makes me so grateful for the opportunity

we have to have it

because I know a lot of other people don't.

I love most everything about 

the Thanksgiving meal, 

but my absolute favorite today was 

the new stuffing that Lindsay made.

It was a cornbread stuffing that had 

peppers and other forms of deliciousness in it.

It looked something like this

and tasted even better!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Blessing number 24

Spending Time with my Family

I post about my family...A LOT.

I must love them or something.

While Logan and Rachelle have been here

we've been playing a lot of games.

I'm sure most of the things we find funny

are really only funny to us,

but I'll share them anyway 

and hope it gets a couple chuckles out of you :)

We thought this round of Apples to Apples

was especially memorable.

Baking Cookies was a "Casper Card"

which is a random card you put into the pot

right off of the deck to give you more options.

Truck Stops was the winner of this one.

We laughed forever!

Even the "Casper card" worked for this round!

AIDS was the winner.

Brendan joined us today.

We made a trip to Alco because we were bored

and ended up coming home with

Pass the Pigs.

(A game where you roll two pigs and get points based on the positions they land in)

There is one position where the pig lands

and is propped up on its snout, ear, and a leg.

This particular position is called

A Leaning Jowler

and it's very rare.

You can't see the pig, but it's in perfect

Leaning Jowler position.

Bren leaned down and I said, 

"Is that a leaning jowler I spy?"

We all burst out laughing...

but we're a smidge weird, so you might not.

I'm grateful for these fun times

we've had and I know we'll have 

TONS more!

Blessing number 23

Random Acts of Kindness

I am so grateful for legitimately good people in this world.

Logan and I went to play basketball at the church

with some friends and when we turned into the parking lot

we found ourselves stuck.

I got out to try to push us, but....

Yeah, I definitely wasn't enough.

Then my good friend Mystie

saw us while she was shoveling the sidewalk

and ran over with her shovel to help.

Then Nathan just happened to be driving by

and pulled over to help.

He helped push for a minute, 

then he offered to go get a tow strap to pull 

Logan out of the snow.

We ended up getting Logan out

before Nathan could get back,

but it just made me think about 

how grateful I am for people who don't

always think of themselves.

These are legitimately good people that live here in Soda Springs.

Just so everyone knows, no matter what everyone says about you,

I still think you're rockin' awesome! ;)

Another awesome example of this 

would definitely be the Stoor family.

Last year I spent a weekend with them

in Rexburg and while we were out sledding one day

we must've pushed 6 cars out of the snow.

Photo courtesy of Google.

I can't even remember the number of times 

I heard them say, "Random act of Kindness!" 

and drop whatever they were doing

to go help out those in need.

I sure look up to them!

Thank you to every one of you

for being awesome examples!

I love you all!

Blessing number 22

The Book of Mormon

I am so grateful for the influence of the Book of Mormon 

in my life and I always will be.

I know that Joseph Smith translated it

and that all the accounts therein are true.

I know that when I want to feel the spirit

all I have to do it pick of the BoM

and I will find that spirit that I need so desperately.

My favorite hero is Abinadi.

Probably the most impressive verse

of all the ones that talk about Abinadi

is Mosiah 17:20

"And after Abinadi had said these words

he fell, having suffered death by fire

for he would not deny the commandments of God."

I tried to quote that part from memory, so it might be a little off.

I love the conviction behind those words...would not.

I love him for that.

I am so grateful that he would give his life 

for something he believed in 

in the face of adversity.

Just like my Savior.

One of my favorite General Conference talks

of all time would have to be 

Jeffrey R. Holland's Safety for the Soul.

I don't think I have ever heard a more

POWERFUL

testimony that the one he bore.

It brings me to tears 

Every.

Single.

Time.

http://new.lds.org/general-conference/2009/10/safety-for-the-soul?lang=eng

I am pretty much as computer illiterate as they come, 

so I'm just going to post the link and trust that you will watch it

or read it

of your own free will.

It's amazing. 

I'm sure you remember, 

but you won't regret watching it again.

Blessing number 21

Memories ♥

Whenever my siblings are in town

we sometimes sit around for hours

talking about the memories we have

about growing up.

I'm grateful for all of these memories.

Good and bad

and for the lessons they've taught me.

This is Brianne and I at Bear Lake last summer.

This was the only time I've ever been to Bear Lake

and it was so much fun!

We flipped a canoe over and tried to stand on top

and rode the waves on inner tubes.

This is a picture from the Suns/Jazz game I went to with Bradyn.

This is the first and only professional basketball game I've been to

and even though the Suns lost, I think it's one of the best games I've ever seen.

This is a group picture from my junior prom day date.

We went to Logan and picked out ugly outfits for

our dates from DI. 

Then we wore those outfits

and went ice blocking down Old Main.

We scared sunbathers and started a stampede

and basically had the time of our lives.

I miss these guys!

So...

Let me explain this picture.

This is a poster at Marsh Valley High School

and every year during Nerd Bowl

someone on the team takes a picture of it.

Our team got a kick our of making fun of

this poster every year.

I miss Nerd Bowl!

This was my 18th birthday party!

I was planning my own party, but my friends

surprised me with one a few days before my birthday!

Carley told me that she and MaRhea wanted to

play games at MaRhea's house at 7

so I headed over without doing 

my hair or my makeup or getting dressed for the day.

(It was a lazy day)

I was sure surprised when I walked in to see

all my friends.

They're the best.

This is also from Nerd Bowl.

Shelby drew Superman symbols 

on all of our hands and we 

called ourselves Super Soda all day.

Then we lost...oh well.

Maci and I the day we were driving to Idaho Falls

all by ourselves.

We alternated the colors of our shirts and 

hair bows.

We got comments on it all day

and gave each other high fives 

whenever someone noticed!

Orange and purple! Represent!

We came home once to find a mountain

of snow in front of our garage.

Maci and I set out to clear it...

then we got bored.

So Maci would scoop snow into my shovel

then I would throw it over my shoulder.

One year at Girl's Camp we were Ireland,

so Carley and I wore Ireland boxers

all around camp all day!

So much fun!

And just like everyone else, I have my blonde moments too.

I don't remember how this happened....

All I know is one second the can of soda was next to the sink

and the next it was falling down the garbage disposal.

It was too far down to get our fingers around

so we just kinda left it there until dad 

came home and used the kitchen tongs to get it out....

we definitely should have thought of that.

I have tons more memories I could share,

but that would take YEARS!

I love my friends and my family and all of the 

memories we've made together.

Here's to many more!

Blessing number 20

QUOTES


I have always been a huge fan of quotes.

I have been known to sit in front of the computer for hours looking for new ones.

On Facebook this month I have been doing a Quote of the Day

In my notes section and I also write that quote on the white board in my apartment.

I have even started something that I call The Bad Day Book. Lame, I know.

I put a bunch of quotes in it that for some reason make me feel better.

I also put in pictures of my friends and family

And lyrics to music

And just some old inside jokes

And stories about things that I've done that show either accomplishment

Or gratitude

Or just how blonde I really am.

This bad day book has brought me a  lot of joy

And I would like to share a few of the quotes with you.

“Our lives are not determined by what happens to us, but how we react to what happens; not by what life brings to us, but by what we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst, a spark that creates extraordinary results.”

~Anonymous

“Any change, any loss, does not make us victims. Others can shake you, surprise you, disappoint you, but they can’t prevent you from acting, from taking the situation you’re presented with and moving on. No matter where you are in life, no matter what your situation you can always do something. You always have a choice and the choice can be power.”

~Blaine Lee

“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”

~Eleanor Roosevelt

“There comes that mysterious meeting in life when someone acknowledges who we are and what we can be, igniting the circuits of our highest potential.”

~Rusty Berkus

Title match game. Final set. Down by two. Dig deep.

The surest way not to fail is to determine to succeed.
~Richard B. Sheridan

As long as there is breath in me, that long I will persist. For now I know one of the greatest principles of success; if I persist long enough I will win.

~Og Mandino

Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough.

~Og Mandino

These next couple are a couple that I've made into a full page. I guess you could say that they are a few of my favorites.

If I feel depressed I will sing.

If I feel sad I will laugh.

If I feel ill I will DOUBLE my labor.

If I feel fear I will plunge ahead.

If I feel inferior I will wear new garments.

If I feel uncertain I will raise my voice.

If I feel poverty I will think of wealth to come.

If I feel incompetent I will think of past success.

If I feel insignificant I will remember my goals.

Today I will be the master of my emotions.

~Og Mandino

All your life you are told the things you cannot do.

All your life they will say you’re not good enough

or strong enough

         or talented enough;

 They will say you’re the wrong height

or the wrong weight

or the wrong type to

            play this or

         be this or

                 achieve this.

                  THEY WILL TELL YOU NO,

                     a thousand times no,

             until all the no’s become meaningless.

All your life they will tell you no, quite firmly and        very quickly, AND YOU WILL TELL THEM

                         YES!

~Nike ad

Blessing number 19

A nice hot shower!

I have decided that I am very expressive with my emotions. People can read them on my face and especially by my actions. The following behaviors have surfaced over the past semester:

Happy/ Excited. Surfaces...pretty much all the time: Jumpy, Hyper

Mad/ Sad. Surfaces when insulted or hurt: Clean my room or ESPECIALLY do the dishes

(Mom is thinking, "That's a lie! She was mad at Maci all the time and my dishes NEVER got done and her room was ALWAYS a mess!")

Confused. Boys. Nuff said: Take a really hot shower.

It's crazy what a little hot water can make you brain do! Yesterday I hopped in the shower at about 1 o'clock and within 10 minutes everything sorted itself out and I was feeling good again. I'm grateful for that.

Not to mention, there are so many people out there who don't have the luxury of a hot shower every night. I am grateful for the many things that I enjoy. I lead a privileged life.

Also, I am super duper grateful that I get to travel back to Soda Springs today (T minus 1 hour and 30 minutes). 

I am HOMEWARD BOUND!

Blessing number 18

Sorry Mara, but I'm mooching off of your idea...

Blogging

I have a lot of family and friends in a lot of places and if it weren't for this blog, I don't know how I would ever stay caught up with what's going on. 

I am a huge journal fan. I have been keeping a steady journal for almost 3 years. I'm on day 914 (of writing in my journal, saying my prayers, and reading the scriptures) if I remember correctly. I can't even tell you what a change it's brought to my life. I make it a point to take President Eyering's challenge and write down the hand of the Lord in my everyday life at the end of every entry. Blogging is just like that...only on a computer...with a whole heck of a lot more readers. I'm going to try to do better with my blog too so all of you know what's going on :)

I used to think my brother Nathan was such a slacker for not calling mom every sunday like Logan and Brendan, or every other day like Linz, but it turns out that I am following in his footsteps...sorry Mother, I still love you! This blog is a lifesaver in that respect. Mom can get on and see what I'm doing (as long as I remember to update).

I'll still try to do better with the whole "phone call" thing though...

I hope my 3 readers out there are enjoying what I have to say so far! Thanks for following :)

Blessing number 17

Seminary/Institute


I love institute! It's seriously a blast, but I miss seminary. Brother Hegemann sure made me get interested in the scriptures and made me want to read them and find out new things.

Most of the seminary graduates and Brother Hegemann.
Shawn was basically the only guy who stuck around.

Last year in seminary we studied the Book of Mormon, which I thought was the best possible way to end my seminary career. I learned so much and even read the BoM cover to cover a couple of times.

This year when it came time to sign up for institute, I was going to sign up for a Pearl of Great Price class, but I found myself looking at the BoM classes and found myself signing up. Oh well, it's not exactly a bad thing is it?

I spoke in Stake Conference awhile back about seminary and its importance in my life. I definitely have a testimony that seminary helps students find who they truly are. It brings them closer to the gospel and helps them stay strong in the face of adversity. I believe the LDS kids who take seminary are more focused in school, especially if they play a sport, because they literally can't graduate if they fail a class. Brother Hegemann couldn't have been a better teacher. He was amazing at bringing the spirit into class and sharing examples and really helping us to understand the material.

I am so grateful for "all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and...He will yet reveal many great and important things" to me through the institute program.

Blessing number 16

Reed's Dairy :)

I can't tell you how much I have missed living a mile away from Reed's Dairy.

They have the world's best ice cream/chocolate milk/cheese curds!

Every time my family is in Idaho Falls we make a special stop

to get some of their scrumptious ice cream :)

This particular flavor is Pumpkin Pie!

Heaven on Earth!

Blessing number 15

My slice of humble pie...

I have been extremely blessed throughout my scholastic career. I was blessed to have a brilliant father who just happened to give a fraction of it to me. I won't lie, sometimes I get a little too comfortable with the things  know and I don't study like I should. 

A couple of weeks ago I sat down to take a Calculus quiz and immediately knew that I wasn't prepared... It's not fun for me to say this, but I walked out of that quiz knowing the outcome, and it wasn't good. I actually made a bet with my friend Derek that I got the lower score. The deal went like this, whoever got the lower score got treated to an Arctic Circle milkshake. 

A few days later the quizzes got handed back and I saw exactly what I had feared the entire time. A great big 8/17. Yes, I got a 47 percent on that stinkin' thing...

...And Derek got a 50.

Guess who got her own slice of humble pie?

I'm sure grateful for those humbling moments. Without them I would be a person that I couldn't stand to be around. Life would sure be miserable if you hated yourself wouldn't it?

Blessing number 14

General Authorities

I absolutely love this man! 

He shares some of the greatest stories

and messages ever!

I always look forward to his talks

because he has this engaging

sense of humor that keeps me riveted.

I know it's awful to pick favorites

but I would have to say that 

President Uchtdorf is one of mine.

I love how everything he says has to

do with airplanes and the 

way he can make those stories apply

to our lives.

This is a picture from one of my 

favorite conference talks of all time.

This is Elder Holland's Safety for the Soul

talk about the Book of Mormon.

I think his was the strongest

testimony I have ever heard born

and it strengthened my own so much.

I am so grateful for these men

who put their entire lives

into bringing us the gospel

and who love us with their whole hearts.

They are a major blessing in my life.

Blessing number 13

In honor of the 13th...

Today, I am grateful for basketball!

For those of you who don't know what 

13 and basketball have in common

SHAME ON YOU!

Here's a hint if you didn't know ;)

Even though the Suns are having a rebuilding season

I still love them and cheer for them every game!

Blessing number 12

Maci

Lynn

Owen

The first memory I have of anything is leaving church after sacrament meeting on December 18, 1994.

Many of you may not know what significance this day has had in my life. 

It was the day my little sister, and best friend, was born into this world. 

It was the day that I became a big sister to a special little soul.

I remember Daddy having to help me hold her because I wasn't even three yet, but I felt so big at that moment.

Maci and I were inseparable for most of our growing up years.

We used to go out in our backyard every day and walk up and down the hills looking for "Fool's Crystals" and bits of glass to smash with rocks (to make sparkles of course).

We would make soup out of dirt and sticks and rocks and swing in the swing.

We were both terrified of the neighbor dog, Angus, and made elaborate plans to trap him so he would never bother us again.

We played house or barbies almost constantly and loved making necklaces and bracelets out of our huge bead collection just to take them all off the string to make a different pattern.

Pringles ducks!

Our first picture in the second house in Salmon

Playing at Fox Hollow for the first time.

Our relationship as sisters is not perfect. Far from it, actually.

We fight. A lot. 

We scream and holler so much I'm surprised the walls don't fall down.

But I love her.

Way more than a lot.

I swear this was posed, I'm not really that mean!

She has this way of knowing exactly when I need a boost.

There was a day a little while back when I was just having the most horrific day ever.

I don't even remember what was making it bad, I just know I wanted to go home and stay there.

I was digging through my purse looking for something and found a folded up note with EM written on it.

This is what it said:

Emmi,

I love you. I truly love you. I'm so sorry that your volleyball season wasn't what you wanted it to be. I was always right there cheering for you when you went in. You should be proud of yourself for the way you carried yourself this season. I promise I'm your number one fan.

I look up to you for your patience, trust, optimism, and faith. This was just one more trial given to you in this life to give you strength for reasons unknown to us right now. Our sometimes conflicting personalities is another one of those trials, and I promise that I'm determined to work my way through that one. When you go off to college I'll miss you even more than I'll ever show on the outside.

Never give up on your dreams because I follow in your footsteps and you're my hero.

♥ / Maci

After I read that, I dropped everything I was doing and went on a frantic search looking for her. I found her in the gym and about tackled her. I started crying and told her thank you. It was exactly what I needed at that moment. This happens all the time. I don't know how she does it.

She is a gorgeous little girl (yes, little). I think she knows it because she's CONSTANTLY taking pictures of herself. She's much more photogenic than me.

Orange and purple. REPRESENT!

Last night I was really confused about something and no matter who I talked to, it just seemed to get more confusing. I got on Facebook and noticed that Maci had made a recent comment, so I told her to get online. We talked back and forth for a couple of hours and suddenly everything was okay again. She talked me through everything that was jumbled up in my brain and gave me some much needed advice. For that, I am very grateful.

One thing about Maci, she'll tell you exactly how it is. When I was having a hard time with a boy she would look me straight in the face and say, "You can't spend all your time thinking about him. He can't determine the rest of the decisions you make for the rest of your life. Move. ON!" 

And you know what? She was right. No matter how much I hated what she was saying and no matter how wrong I thought she was, she was always always right. 

Graduation day. In 3 short years I will be on the other side of that hug.
I hope these three years go by super slow.
She can't graduate yet.

Maci has a beautiful singing voice, and she was just given one of the leading roles in the school musical, "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown". I'm so excited to go and hear her sing her little heart out!

Oh, and I just realized that she's going to be 16 in one month and 6 days. SIXTEEN!!! Those boys better watch themselves!

I LOVE YOU MACI LYNN!

Blessings number 11

Yes, I realize that I wrote Blessings number 11. I have two today because I didn't want to pause my family blessing and I didn't feel like I could pass up Veteran's day.

To start, I will be forever grateful for the service men and women who serve our country. It's a scary job, defending a country, but you go and do it because you know what you have to do. I don't think you get enough credit for all you do.

The other day I went to the ISU vs. Sacramento State volleyball game. They played the national anthem and we all stood to salute the flag. I couldn't help but notice that 5 of the 10 or so girls on the Sacramento team were not saluting the flag.

Idiots!

Every one of them. I don't think they realize what they were doing. That was 100% unamerican. I may have been able to understand it if we were reciting the Pledge of Allegiance (even though I think that two little words shouldn't offend someone so much), but this was the NATIONAL ANTHEM for goodness sake.

Anyway, I'll get off my soap box now and leave you with this, I love this nation and I love all those who fight to maintain our freedom. Thank you! A thousand times, thank you!

Now...

On a different note, I am very much grateful for my older brother BRENDAN.

Man, Bren and I used to hate each other I think.

It is still fresh in my mind all the fights and arguments we had that started something like this, 

"Brenda!"

"Oh yeah! Emma!"

Now that I'm older, I totally see how mean it was to call him Brenda.

I may not have liked being called Emma, but at least it was my name ;)

We weren't always that way though.

We still have pictures in our family albums

of Brendan and I helping Grandma pick peas in her garden

and playing games on the computer.

Brendan used to take a nickel to school in Kindergarten (I think)

and buy me a pencil without mom's knowledge.

I had quite the collection going before she found out 

and made him stop.

Another thing I remember about Brendan is the term

WAY TO BE.

He used to say it all the time!

He would see someone running down the street

and he, being a runner, would say, "Way to be!"

I haven't heard him say it in awhile though.

He is a very talented poet when he puts his mind to it.

I remember one poem he wrote in 9th grade

about a black mother and son.

The mother tells her son that they are different

because of the color of their skin

and the son says that they are different,

but the difference is within.

That's not the whole poem of course, but that's the gist of it.

On his mission he would send us all letters for our birthdays.

This is the letter he wrote me for my 17th birthday:

As I sat to write this letter

Poof! I thought of something better

One poem it is, coming your way

Emmi, yes it is your birthday!

Making you...well, let's see

Four...seventeen! I can't believe!

Only yesterday you know, did we

Refine the art of picking peas

Trade our pencils during your nap

Have our turn on daddy's lap

Eat after-lunch pickles at Gramma's house

BEFORE our lunch of spaghetti-os      
Invent ways to hide from Taffy and        

'Gree to make your Knex wand

But you can see, we're older now

Only our memory can tell us how

Once upon a time we were that small

Grow up we did to be so tall

Everything went by way too fast

Remembering now that it's the past

(The pickles and spaghettio's line needs a little explanation. Grandma would always offer us a pickle for our after lunch snack, but Bren and I would always hide under the table and eat it before lunch. Lunch was usually Spaghettio's cause they rock my world).

If you read the first letter of every line it says, 

A poem for the big booger

That's his nickname for me, and mine for him is

Bigger booger.

Brendan has definitely had some difficult times

recently, but I don't remember him ever complaining.

He was very much humbled and he never doubted 

what he knew once. 

He's such an excellent example to me.

This was our second attempt at a picture. He made me take another one because he "looked stoned" in the other one...
Now he's not even looking! However I think he has a cute smile in this one haha

I love this boy more than any words can express.

He is truly one of my best friends. 

I love you Brendan!