Double post

Yesterday I got a little caught up in something:

So I kinda forgot to post...

I guess I'll just have to double up to keep on track!

Photo Challenge: A picture of the people you spend most of your time with.

Kenna and Mystie (I kinda don't have a picture with Lyndsey and Megan)

Kyle= Awesome

Derek= ...Derek

Photo Challenge: A picture of the best part of your day.

Getting to come to IF to spend time with Greysen, Lindsay, and Ronnie.

...And Brendan and Witney and Mom and Dad and Maci.

Can you believe this little guy is already almost 3 months old???

My other half...

Photo Challenge: A picture of your other half.

I don't have an 'other' half.
I think I have something more along the lines of 15 other 16ths.

Carley

Kristin

Daddy

Mommy and Linz

The rest of the kids (Rachelle too, she's just not in this picture. Oh, and WITNEY!)

Mystie (and the rest of my Pocatello Peeps)

My Puppies

And last but not least, my Savior.

My restaurant of choice...

Photo Challenge: A picture of your favorite place to eat.

I eat here almost every time my parents come into town and decided to take me to dinner! SO good.

The Sweet Pork Burrito is the way to go!

Also, there's the ever-present Taco Bell :)

I'm a fan of the $5 Box. So worth your money.

Most Played

Photo Challenge Day 4: A picture of your currently most played CD.

To be perfectly honest I don't listen to CD's.
iPod's are the way to go baby!

However, if I had to choose between the songs I listen to the most it would definitely be between the following:

The best songs off this one are It's Not Over, Over You, All These Lives, and What About Now in my opinion.

Some favorites from this one are: No Surprise, Life After You, September, Learn My Lesson, and Call Your Name. This man can sing I tell you!

I love Sparks Fly, Back to December, Haunted, and Long Live from this one!

Basically I love EVERY song by He is We:

I Wouldn't Mind

Blame it on the Rain

Breathe

Happily Ever After

Radio

Give It All

Light a Way

Pardon Me

Pour Me Out

Too Beautiful

The House(s) That Built Me

Photo Challenge Day 3: A picture of the house you grew up in.

Well...ask anyone. I didn't grow up in a (singular) house.
We moved a few times, so I didn't have the chance to have a single house to grow up in.

However, I would say that there were a couple of houses that I 'grew' up in I guess you could say. Those two have pictures :)

I don't remember much about the first house I ever lived in except it was pink.
Pepto Bismol pink...

I remember a little about the second one, which was a trailer-type thing that came in two halves that you stuck together. We used to sneak in when we only had half of it (there was a sheet of plastic tacked down the whole open side).

The third house we lived in was in Salmon, Idaho. It was 408 Bean Lane I think...and it was right behind the high school.
My fondest memory of that house was having a barbecue on the back patio and running through the sprinklers when they came on.
I also remember there being a TON of spiders in that house.

The 4th is one of the best houses ever in my opinion...13 Thomas Avenue
Maci and I had so many adventures there. We would swing and play house and walk up S hill and smash bits of glass to make glitter...those were the days.
One bad thing I remember about this house was the mud. Bentonite? I think that's what we called it.
It was SO sticky! The first time I went up to look at the house with Dad we went on a walk and got stuck in it. My feet were glued to the ground and he had to pull me out!

This is actually a picture of the house we started building for Grandma in the back yard. (Hey family, did YOU recognize it???)

I didn't recognize it at all! I just found this picture on the real estate website and realized how much work had been done to it since we left...crazy how time flies huh?

The house that I LOVE (even if it was old and broken down) is the one with the weirdo roof in the background.

The next one was 2512 Granite Way. I loved that house too...just not as much I guess.
Maci and I played at the park and roller bladed more than actually being in that house I think...

1868 Conestoga St. is where you would find me next.
This was the first house that I had ever lived in that had painted walls. It was a gorgeous house with a nice view out the back window.
We lived there for two years before we came to the house that really changed my life. :)

Good ole' Soda Springs :)

Crazy night!

Photo Challenge Day 2: A picture of a crazy night.

This one was easy!

Mystie, Jeff, and I went out late one night and roamed campus. 

We took pictures with all the weirdo statues and had a ton of fun!

But on a more serious note...

Today is Easter Sunday and I am very grateful for all that has been done for me.

My Brother, my Savior and Redeemer died for me but he rose again, breaking the bands of death many centuries ago.

He loves me...

He gave me the gospel...

He gave me an eternal family...

He cares for me...

He hears my prayers...

And I KNOW He always will.

Last night as I was saying my prayers I asked Heavenly Father to help me understand a question that has repeatedly popped up in my mind in the last few weeks.
Before I could even close my prayer I had my answer clear as day!
"You already know that."
That was all.
I lay in bed thinking about what it meant because I was obviously confused...
But then I realized that it was true.
I always knew the answer, I was simply thinking it had to be more profound.

Can I just say I love my life?
A lot!

Tradition

So there has been a photo challenge on Facebook called the 30 day photo challenge.
One of my friends did a 60 day challenge and because I already did the 30 day challenge I decided to do the second half on my blog.

Day 1: A picture of a tradition you have.

So...traditions.
To be honest my family doesn't have that many traditions that come to mind right off, so this really will be a challenge.
The one thing I can think of is this:

Every Christmas Eve we get all sticky and skewer a bunch of Shish Kabobs and throw them on the grill.

Sometimes I wonder if it's worth it because of how cold it gets, but I sure do appreciate it when it's time to eat!

Encouraging words...

Man, this college stuff is tough!

I asked Nathan whether I should take Macroeconomics or Microeconomics and this is the conversation that followed:

"They both suck. Maybe try Macro. I seemed to like that one more."

"I figured they both would...dang! I think I'm going to take that next semester to get it out of the way. Whatever I do I'm going to have a semester with three labs."

"What classes are you taking?"

"Anat and phys, O Chem, Econ, and Intro to Lit is what I'm thinking for next semester. The one after that I will probably add microbiology."

"That sounds good. That should be pretty doable."

"I hope it seems like that when I'm actually doing it!"

"No, it will be horrible. But you will get through it."


Here I was expecting something like, "Don't worry, you'll be fine! If I could do it, you can do it!"
You know, words of encouragement!

Well...at least he was honest and he's not filling my head with false hopes right?

I have also decided to not take Macroeconomics for a little while...I don't know where it will fit into my schedule actually...maybe next fall.

Right now I'm registered for Anat and Phys + Lab, Intro to Lit, and Physics 111.
For my fellow Facebook-ers you will already know that I wasn't able to register for O Chem just yet.
Apparently I have to FINISH General Chemistry before they will let me enroll.
If that's not stupid I don't know WHAT is!

What do Maci and I do when we get together?

Pretend to be tough!

Before Pilates...

After Pilates. I was in serious pain!

My favorite comic strip :)

Sometimes when I'm bored while waiting for my next client at work I look up a bunch of Pickles comics. They make me happy :)

 

I mean seriously, who doesn't love the antics of Opal and Earl?

Hey Mystie, does this remind you of something?

Ain't that the truth!

This one's for you Maci!

Anyway, speaking of "wise-ness" and "wisehoodness" I really should get back to studying my chemistry :P

Basically, this is my life

I feel like I have been very adequately named.
Wanna know why?
Well, I'm gonna tell you even if you don't!

My life can most definitely be a dilEMMA!

(I feel like I should mention that I haven't seen this movie)

And I also feel like this song describes my life most of the time, which STINKS!

I guess it's gonna have to hurt

I guess I'm gonna have to cry

And let go of some things I loved

To get to the other side.

I guess it's gonna break me down

Like fallin' when you're tryin' to fly

It's sad but sometimes moving on 

With the rest of your life

Starts with goodbye

However!

I have made a commitment to myself to be happy.

So no matter how bad things get or how much I wanna quit

and run home to my mommy...

I'm gonna be happy.

See past the bad things and focus on the good.

I'm gonna get through this...

1. I have an amazing Heavenly Father.

2. I have an amazing religion.

3. I have amazing roommates.

4. I have an amazing family who sticks by me no matter what.

5. I have an amazing job with amazing kids who teach me more and more and MORE every day.

6. Jeff let me have first dibs on his Reed's Dairy Chocolate Milk

7. Ryan left me half a chocolate bar on my bed (where the other half went I could only guess)

8. Mystie left me a letter on my bed that made my day.

9. Megan made me laugh at myself for toasting a corn dog on the toaster.

10. I got to walk home in the middle of a rainstorm.

Life.

is.

good.

What do you do?

You know what?
Sometimes life sucks.

HARD CORE!

And it sucks even more when you can't change it.

So, what do you do when life sucks?

DO.


THE.


DISHES!

Yes, I am pathetic

I mean, how many people do you know who almost have a panic attack every time they see one of these on the street: 

You would be happy to know that I'm actually getting better about weiner dogs though!
I saw some puppies the other day at McKee's and I didn't even walk away...
It may have helped that they were asleep and behind two panes of glass though.

To a very good friend of mine...

Happy Birthday Derek Stucki!

I can't say enough about how much Derek's friendship means to me.

But I guess I can try...

D is for dedicated. I swear, he's been working on the same project for the entire semester and he says he's still only half done with it...I would have just changed my major haha

E is for elusive. I don't think I have ever seen anybody elude drama or just about anything else as well as Derek does.

R is for receptive. He is always willing to listen to me when I haven't been able to elude the drama like he has.

E is for Extremely smart...I ran out of E words. One day he had me read a few pages from his C++ book. I went upstairs and cried because it made my head hurt so much haha...just kidding.

K is for kind. Everyone that knows Derek knows that he is pretty much the nicest person you've ever met. He has an opinion about everything, but he has a very nice way of telling you that you're wrong ;)

I am so blessed to have a friend like Derek in my life. 

He is one of the few people I can say is just legitimately good without having to try.

I'm pretty sure he's the reason I'm alive right now (if you don't know why, see this post.)

And let's not deny it, he's always good for a laugh:

Always gets his rear end in a shot.

For Halloween he was a flasher...which meant he wore a long jacket that covered his clothing and then opened up his coat to show off his GOTCHA sign...

Happy birthday Derek!

Why is he my hero?

So, in my last post I expressed that Michael McLean was my hero, so now I figure that I will explain why.

On Sunday March 14, 2010 Michael McLean came to Soda Springs to speak at a fireside.
Maci and I went half an hour early to be sure to get a good seat :)
I don't remember much about the actual fireside except for one thing.
Let me remind you that I had been broken up with a little more than a month before...
This is what he said.
"I'm going to go off on a tangent here for just a second because I feel like this needs to be said. Someone here came with an exceptionally large burden. I don't know what it is, if you're feeling inadequate or heartbreak or what, but this song is for you." 
He then sang Ninety and Nine, which is my favorite song by him.
Then he came to this part:

You are one of the Ninety and Nine

Have you any idea how brightly you shine?

You are safe in the arms of the fold 

And it's time you were told 

That I know where you've been

So I know where you'll be

Because all of your life you've been following me

You are more than just one of the sands of the sea

Or just one of the ninety and nine

You are mine!

I know that these words could apply to so many people in so many situations, but at that moment he was speaking to me.

It was certainly what I needed to hear at that moment :)

Just exactly what I needed!

It's no secret that for the last little while I've been caught in something of a FUNK!


I hated school,
    I hated being in Pocatello,
        I wasn't too pleased with how work was going,
             I was getting bugged by things that normally wouldn't bug me and,
                 I felt like I had let some people down in a big way, which made me disappointed in myself.

In other words, that ecstatic feeling I had just a couple of weeks ago was GONE-ZO!

...All I can say is thank goodness I have a Heavenly Father who loves me.
...He cares for me and even when I am at my weakest I am upheld by his righteous omnipotent hand.
...And I know that Jesus has felt these exact feelings, so he knew exactly how to succor me.

I went home this weekend for two things.
1) Conference
2) I really needed a hug from my mommy.

Before I made it out of town I made a stop.
I went to DI first to look for a tape player for Mystie (hers was eating her tapes).
  While I was there I decided to look at the books and see if there was anything worthwhile.
     That's when I saw it...
         Hold On: The Light Will Come, a book by none other than my hero, Michael McLean.
         I had never even heard of it before, but I knew I had to have it.

Here are a couple of quotes from the book:

"Somewhere between holding on and letting go, between love lost and love found, between promises made and promises kept, between those who build us up and those who let us down, our lives are lived and our lessons are learned."

"I've had the extraordinary blessing of getting not what I thought I wanted, but what I need." (This was followed by a little bit of a song he wrote):

All I ever wanted, all I ever dreamed of,

Everything I hoped, and all the things I prayed for

Couldn't hold a candle to what I've been given,

I've been given what I need.

You're Not Alone:

You're not alone, even though right now you're on your own.

You are loved in ways that can't be shown,

Your needs are known

You're not alone.

...Well, I know that it's not easy, but I know that it won't last,

'Cause one who loves you more than me

Is sending blessings fast

...And even when it's hard to find the words,

Your prayers are always heard.

You're not alone.

"Who are you doing this for?"

"And on the days when being good didn't come as naturally as I would have liked, I didn't need to obsess over the failures, but rather than get back on track and keep moving forward."

"If you're good, and you're doing what you're doing for somebody else, you won't fail."

"...that doesn't change my passionate belief that God knows us, and loves us, and has a plan remarkably tailored to help us figure out how to live happily."

"...my happiest moments...come when I've acknowledged Him."

I was already feeling a little better after reading these words...but then it was time for conference.

Elder Kent F. Richards of the Seventy spoke about pain in the Saturday Morning session.

He said that pain was a gage of your patience...

   That Christ is not a silent observer in our lives...

       That Christ chose to suffer pain so that He could understand us...

            That healing comes in many ways-each according to our individual needs...

               That our circumstances might not immediately change,

               But we will be encircled by the arms of His love.

Then he said this:

"Behold, ye are all little children and ye cannot bear all things now. But fear not, ye are mine."

It took all of that to finally make me realize that I was being pretty stupid.

I realized that I hadn't really let anyone down...the situation was out of my control.

I realized that I was hating Pocatello because I just needed a hug from my mom.

I realized that I am hating school not because I have years to go, but because my classes are just legitimately boring right now.

I realized that I should be working for the kids and not for me.

And I once again realized Heavenly Father's love for me. In a very VERY strong way.

Needless to say...my happy is back :D