Meet Me in Ole Texas, Meet Me at the Fair

This past weekend, I left my puppy with my dad for the day, and I went to meet my mom at her work so we could go to the fair! I have not been able to go for the longest time because I was at school, but I missed the great State Fair of Texas. So many new fried foods to try, traditions to continue, and a day to just have fun. First, I had to navigate through the crazy highways in Texas that I am just not used to. In Utah there are like two. 

Once that was over, I got to go to the fair! I got to see Big Tex, try a couple of the fried foods including the new Texas Bluebonnet and fried cheesecake, ride the Texas Star (the giant ferris wheel), and even go on the swan paddle boats with my mom like we always did when I was a kid. 

 Along with all of that, we got to go to the petting zoo which has some amazing animals including kangaroos, a giraffe, zebras, and all of the usual petting zoo animals, watch the African acrobats, watch the pig races, and see the butter sculpture from this year!

 We spent a good portion of the day here, and I had a blast spending time with my mom. By the end our feet hurt, and we both drove home barefoot, but it was worth it. After all, everything is bigger and better in Texas!!!!

Hogwarts Will Always Be There to Welcome You Home

I love Harry Potter. The last movie was my first midnight premier, my mom read the first book to me and then I stole it to read it again under my covers at night. I grew up with Harry Potter. Each new movie was a new step. I love the magic, love, bravery, and friendship in each book. I love how each character overcomes trials. I love the Harry Potter marathons I have had with my mom and little brother and of course with my friends. I love the laughs they brought us as we watched some of the more ridiculous scenes ("HE WAS THEIR FRIEND!") and the tears when I watched the last movie for the first time and knew it was over. Most of all I love the memory of me knowing I could be friends with a new college roommate when she broke out her Hairy Otter shirt. Now, let me admit one thing. I have loved Harry Potter for years, but it wasn't until tonight that I truly appreciated it. I finished reading the books tonight. All seven. When the fifth book came out I could not wait to read it, but I could never get past the first chapter. I never read books five, six, or seven. I have now. I read all seven books just because I could. The actor Alan Rickman who portrays Severus Snape in the movies once said, "When I'm 80 years old and sitting in my rocking chair, I'll be reading Harry Potter. And my family will say to me, 'After all this time?' And I will say, 'Always.''' I will probably be the same way. I will watch the outdated movies that my kids may make fun of when I am old and gray. Dumbledore once said, "Words, in my humble opinion, are the most inexhaustible source of magic we have." He also said, "Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light." So, with wonderful quotes in mind, here are a few tributes to Harry Potter that I can't help sharing. 

Homecoming, Hammocks, and the Beasty

A little while ago I went to my high school homecoming game. At the gate the lady taking tickets didn't believe that I was an adult and not a student. She gave me a weird look when I told her I had graduated in 2011. Good grief, woman, I am a college grad! I loved getting to see my little brother march with the band. I also loved being at a football game with the stands full of blue. It almost felt like I was back at BYU. The only difference was the lack of mountains in the background of my pictures. 

 I have taken to reading outside in my little brother's hammock. I am safe from the merciless mosquitoes, and my puppy can have some outside time so she isn't cooped up all of the time. And speaking of the wee beasty. She is so funny. She went swinging for the first time a little over a week ago. Also, when we go on walks she will start running and doing a somersault. I tried to take pictures of her doing it. It just kind of looks like she is laying in the grass, but the one where she is looking at me is where she stops because I am laughing so hard. And one last thing, I can leave Vivien sleeping on my bed. The next thing I know something is missing. When I go look for it, I find it on the floor with bite marks and Vivien is under the bed. I have yet to figure out how she does it. 

An Everlasting Beginning

You know when you have those really tough days for no reason? They happen to all of us. It could be because it was a Monday, because I realized getting back into BYU just isn't a reality for me, because the fact that I am a boomerang kid hit me, or because I stayed up too late the night before, but I had a really tough day last Monday. There isn't much else to it. I had one of those days where whenever my mom or dad looked at me I felt like a failure and tears would come to my eyes, where every little thing annoyed me, and all I wanted to do was sit and watch movies. Like I said, we all have those days. But, it is on those particularly rough days that you have to look around you and just smile because of everything and everyone you are blessed with. For instance, two of my really good friends texted me all day even though I know they are at school and already stressing with their crazy school schedules, homework, and social lives. And you know what? Both of them made me laugh. On that same day my mom and dad showed me how much they loved me. I know both of them wanted me to go back to BYU so badly, but both told me it was okay and that I am meant to go down another path. Those rough days mean tight hugs, emails from Becca, and going to the store to find the two seasons of Downton Abbey that I didn't have yet on sale and mom staying up later than usual to watch an episode with me. It is also on those particular days that you realize no matter how ugly of a crier you are that the spotted dog will always be there to lick away your tears, and the puppy is still too small to get away from your hugs no matter how badly she wants down to play. I am thankful for hard days, because although they really suck, they remind me how blessed I am to have such amazing and loving people in my life.

I am not really having a hard time right now, but sometimes I do miss school and the life I had there. It is an ending, and who likes those? President Uchtdorf said it best: 

There seems to be something inside of us that resists endings. Why is this? Because we are made of the stuff of eternity. We are eternal beings, children of the Almighty God, whose name is Endless and who promises eternal blessings without number. Endings are not our destiny. The more we learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ, the more we realize that endings here in mortality are not endings at all. They are merely interruptions—temporary pauses that one day will seem small compared to the eternal joy awaiting the faithful. How grateful I am to my Heavenly Father that in His plan there are no true endings, only everlasting beginnings.

So, for now I am going to work through this ending because I know there are no true endings. There are only everlasting beginnings.

Time Out for Women and Beyond!

Sister Hinckley once said: The trick is to enjoy life. Don't wish away your days, wishing for better ones ahead.

Far too long ago I said I was going to post about what I learned at Time Out for Women. Well, I forgot. So, today I am actually going to post the highlights of my wonderful weekend full of speakers, good music, fun, and some family. My mom always goes to TOFW. I have never gotten to go before, but this time since I was home I got to see what this was all about. The theme this year was Inevitable Light which I loved! 

The first speaker's name was Heidi Swinton. She said that light is a choice. She then summarized the story of the 10 virgins. She made the point that the oil in their lamps is the light not the lamp itself. The oil in our hearts is the light we have prepared for when we get to meet Christ once again. She then talked about difficulties and shared a quote from President Monson which says, "Difficulties allow us to change for the better, to rebuild our lives in the way our Heavenly Father teaches us, and to become something different from what we were--better than we were, more understanding than we were, more empathetic than we were, with stronger testimonies than we had before." John 14:27

Then, Elaine Dalton spoke! Oh my oh my! She talked about the plaque she saw that said "what e'er thou art, act well thy part" and then said that we have to use the gifts Heavenly Father has given us. We each have a part to play in preparing for the Second Coming because by small and simple things are great things brought to pass. In the premortal existence, we had such great faith in the Plan that we were sent to earth at this time when opportunities and opposition are greatest. We were warriors in heaven, and we are warriors now. Our faith and testimony of Christ are our weapons. We are elect and noble. We can illuminate and shine our lights to change the world. We are never alone. She quoted Spencer W. Kimball who said, "Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world (in whom there is often such an inner sense of spirituality) will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. This will happen to the degree that the women of the Church reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different--in happy ways--from the women of the world." She then said that although times may be tough to never quit in the middle of a hill! No matter the circumstance, don't quit until you are finished.

Two women spoke together and told us how to have more sass in our lives. I laughed, but it was an acronym. S: search for the Lord. A: Act on His Atonement. S: Savor the Gospel and the blessings you are given. S: Share your gifts. They shared the scripture Matthew 7:7-8 and said where fear exists, faith cannot. They told us what we have to offer is good enough, what we have is important and needed, and the Savior is there to help us in all things. It was a wonderful message that everyone needs to hear. 

The final speaker was Emily Freeman. She also talked about light, but she said that light illuminates the darkness bringing the reality to what we may think is real but is not. She shared the story of Philemon which I will admit, I don't think I have ever read before. She told us to ask ourselves [what I would do?] and [what is the condition of my heart?]. She also talked about the story of the Good Samaritan and said we honor what the Samaritan did not do as much as for what he did do. We have to rely on the Lord for illumination, and that illumination requires room in your heart for the Lord. She said the Lord knows who you are and he knows such a person as me. Ending her talk she told a story about an instrument that could not be tuned. Because of that, it was worthless. She said to not pray to be an instrument to the Lord but to pray that you will be in tune so you can gain illumination. She tied it together nicely. 

So, my Friday and Saturday were filled with an uplifting spiritual experience and good words for me to remember. I loved sharing it with my mom, grandma, Aunt Cheryl, Aleah, Jennifer, and Aunt Debbie. 

 That weekend sounds pretty great, but something made it even better. I went home to watch the BYU v. Texas game with my family. Last year, I was sitting in the President's Loge watching BYU kill Texas with some leaders of the Church after I got soaked by Hurrican LaVell as the storm was lovingly named in Utah. This year I watched it with my family on TV with my puppy's nails painted BYU blue, a banner hanging from our banister, a BYU flag being sported outside, and all of us in BYU attire. We killed Texas once again! Gotta love them Cougs!