As Promised

Top 2014 Highlights:

1. Movie nights with Julie Anne.
2. Tubing at Soldier Hollow. 
3. Hot Springs. 
4. Going to the last home basketball game with Meghan. 
5. Traditions Ball. 
6. Trying Thai food.
7. Andy Grammar concert. 
8. BYU Easter Conference.
9. Internship at DCFS.
10. Meeting/Hugging Sister Dalton.
11. Going to the temple more than 10 weeks in a row with Meghan. 
12. So You Think You Can Dance and numerous other adventures with Jan. 
13. 5K with my mom while wearing a "I Pooped Today" shirt. 
14. Kaitlyn got married!
15. I turned 20 and got pictures in the bluebonnets. 
16. Hiking the Utah arches. 
17. Seeing Cinderella at the outdoor theater with Dani. 
18. Hiking the Narrows and camping with Julie Anne. 
19. Carrie Underwood concert and fireworks for the 4th of July.
20. So many Seven Peaks days with Meghan. 
21. California. Need I say more? 
22. Getting to be there when President and Sister Samuelson got released.
23. Bike ride during a thunderstorm with Jan.
24. Kayaking and paddleboarding in a duck pond with Jan and the stake. 
25. Graduation. 2014!!!
26. Vivien Leigh. 
27. Texas State Fair.
28. Time Out for Women. 
29. My high school homecoming game.
30. My job at Children's Medical Center. 

Highlight of 2015: Someone said I could be in the show "Downton Abbey." My year has already been made!

Let's Play Catch Up

I am sorry for the lack of posts. You see, I just haven't known what to write. Every time I started a post it just didn't seem right. Now I think I know what all to say.

Christmas Eve went well at work. We went around with Santa and passed out blankets, coloring books, pillows, and all kinds of Christmas-y things to the kids making each one of them smile (especially the girl who got a giant stuffed Elsa (good call on my part)). I heard Christmas did not go as smoothly as we would have liked, but that wasn't our fault. I will say I am now thankful for things I have never been thankful for before. Things such as my monkey arms, flatbeds, and doorstops now have a special place in my heart while I am pretty sure other things such as hotwheels, cootie games, and walk with me dolls have a special place in hell. I am finished organizing everything. Everything has a place. Now I get to do things like making sure units have toys for kids, going through the playroom, and shadowing the Child Life Specialists. Yay!

Over the Christmas holiday a neighbor, friend, and church member passed away after having her fourth baby. This was so hard for me because over Christmas I was working so hard to make kids happy in the hospital. Seeing how important Christmas was to them made the sadness creep through me for the kids she left behind. How would their Christmas be? No Christmas should be full of sadness and mourning. When another soul goes to heaven there's so much to think about like what will happen to the spouse and the children they left behind. A lot of people say it was their time or Heavenly Father needed them in heaven. I have a hard time with that. Heavenly Father hates to see us hurt. I can't imagine Him planning things that way. There is no way of knowing for sure, but I think it is part of being on earth.  I'm extremely thankful to have my family for eternity because that is what the plan's all about.

So with a somewhat heavy heart a new appreciation for our Heavenly Father's plan Christmas came. I got two days off work, I got to spend time with my family, I got to eat as much as I wanted without feeling guilty, I got to finally wear my college class ring, I got to see my family open their presents, and I got to watch movie after movie. This is what dreams are made of. Also, Mom and I almost finished reading all of the Christmas books. Almost. Looking back now on our Christmas I realize that our tree is never perfect. Our ornaments don't match. We are all busy shopping and making sure all the presents are wrapped. We sometimes get busy in things that don't matter and worry about the minute things, but when you take a step back from all of the chaos there is true beauty and magic in the season.

One night we had the missionaries over for dinner for the first time in forever. I made that heavenly Cafe Rio pulled pork. The next day I made twice baked potatoes because Ryan had been asking for them. It makes me smile when I make things my family enjoys.

I gave a talk. It used to be that I could only say yes to giving a talk when one person asked me. Now, part of being an adult is saying yes to everyone. I might need to rethink my goal of becoming Sister Dalton. Speaking at BYU in front of peers is one thing. Speaking in front of a ward full of people much older and wiser than you makes me so nervous. Really I was fine until I choked on the sacrament bread. Then the panic set in. But, I still made people laugh and wore my sunshine yellow jacket, so it wasn't a complete failure after all.

Mom and I went to the Dallas Arboretum for the 12 days of Christmas display. It was beautiful, and I loved every minute of it. I loved the lights and seeing how they interpreted each day. Also, the night was pretty cold, and it reminded me of Thanksgiving Point there. It was just a fun night.

Now it is a new year. I tried to think of goals that I could actually accomplish this year. I think I found a few. 1. Exist to be happy not to impress. 2. Stop analying the past, stop planning the future, stop figuring out precisely how I feel, stop deciding exactly what I want, and just see what happens. 3. Know that I am kind, smart, strong, beautiful, important, fearless, and amazing. 4. Go on more adventures. 5. Be around good energy. 6.Connect with people. 7. Learn new things. 8. Grow. I think those are good goals. Bring it on, 2015.

This weekend I will work on my 2014 highlights. Get ready everyone!

Just Some Christmastime Pics

No More Counting Dollars, I'll Be Counting Stars

You know when Christmas comes around and all of the sudden you are faced with an even greater demand of your time? You have to find out what people want, buy presents, follow traditions, decorate, buy a tree, find time to listen to Christmas music, bake, and so many other “Christmas-y” things. I got caught up in all of the hustle and bustle before December even began. You see, I wanted to get everything done before I started my job. I bought all of the presents for my family and had them wrapped before December 1^st. I had it down. The 1^st is when work began. On the first day of work my boss gave to me the longest day of orientation you ever did see. Sad thing is that this song isn’t quite as fun as the original because the second day was the same thing. After two days of orientation I actually started work. Thursday I felt like I spent all morning in traffic. I was thinking how a lot of my paycheck was going to go to tolls and gas. I got to work, and I did not know what to do. To be honest, I barely made it to my office. I was shown so many rooms all over the hospital the day before, and it was a little overwhelming for me. Worst of all, I had to stay late on my second day of work. Can you tell I had completely forgotten the spirit and meaning of Christmas? That night was the hospital’s tree lighting. That was exciting, but before the lighting, I got to go around the hospital with Santa Claus and pass out presents to the patients. At four we started, and the realization that I was focusing on all of the wrong things hit me. Seeing the stars in the kids’ eyes, seeing them be so genuinely happy no matter how sick they were, seeing them be so thankful for even the smallest presents, hearing a mom say, “This is the best hospital ever!” and give us all hugs as tears filled her eyes, and being able to be a part of this made my heart grow three sizes. After going around with Santa, we had the tree lighting and then we had him come out and kids could come and sit on his knee. Kids from all over came to see him. Most of them gave him a hug afterwards and said thank you multiple times. I loved the smiles that came to their faces (except those that took one look at him and burst out crying). After they saw Santa they each got a stuffed animal. I got to be an elf and pass them out. Once again I saw the stars. Even the kids that were crying smiled and hugged tight to those stuffed animals. The stars in those kiddos’ eyes were so bright it was like seeing the Christmas star in person. That is what Christmas is all about. It isn’t about the presents, Santa Claus, or shopping. Christmas is about remembering the most wonderful gift our Heavenly Father could have ever given us. It is about Christ, about His example. It is about love and service and joy. He is the gift. 

Just Hangin'

What have you been up to? I get that question all of the time. I feel like people expect to hear something amazing, and usually I don't have an answer other than my go to: just hangin'.  I can never think of what to say when they ask, but I have been up to a lot. I finished all of the things I have to do before starting work including getting my badge, finishing the HR paperwork, and getting my blood drawn and a shot (and they didn't even give me a princess bandaid...). The next day I went back up to the hospital to shadow a couple social workers there. You know how my life is just too exciting for me? Yeah well, I blacked out after visiting a couple patients. If it weren't for the two nurses behind me I would have fallen right to the floor. I was fine right after, but it was weird. I went to meet my mom for lunch but went to the bathroom first where there was soap all over the floor thanks to a child whose owner was MIA. So, of course, I biffed it again and landed hard on my left knee. After lunch I went home because falling twice is my limit. Friday I got to go shopping at the Chi Omega Market with Mom and Lisa. It was weird without Ashley, but I had fun anyway. We bought some really great stuff, and we got wiggle racers for Ryan and me. Two big kids riding two small cars is a sight, but I love them! Saturday I got to go see Mockingjay. This is the first time I didn't see a Hames movie on opening night, but I enjoyed it just as much opening weekend. SO GOOD. What else have I been up to? Staying up late, waking up early, playing with, training, and spoiling my puppy, watching some of my favorite shows and movies, and helping a lady in my ward with a research paper she is doing for the online program BYUI offers. I should learn to answer people better.
Also, my room looks a lot like Christmas. I got a small Christmas tree at Chi Omega since my old one disappeared at school. We also go Vivien a stocking and a Christmas collar. With all of that, a few ornaments, paper snowflakes I made, and presents that I wrapped so I could get them out of my closet, Christmas is coming even if it is only coming to my room.

Thanksgiving Thankfuls

I feel like this month is flying by which means Christmas is getting closer and closer. Oh boy. I need to get going on the presents thing, but for now I am not going to let Thanksgiving pass by without my annual list of things I am thankful for. Some you may realize are the same from last year, but at least I am consistent. 

1. A family that loves me no matter what. I get them for eternity!!
2. My beautiful, ornery, and 100% sassy puppy.
3. The gospel that I can learn from, love, and live every day.
4. A testimony that is forever growing and changing.
5. All of the friends that are always there for me and have given me all those fun, wonderful memories.
6. My job. Even if it is only seasonal.
7. All of the experiences I have been given. Even the hard ones.
8. The colors all around me that I am able to see and enjoy.
9. My talents. Sometimes I feel like I have none, but I am talented in my own special ways.
10. My patriarchal blessing and the promises given to me if I keep the commandments.
11. All I have going for me right now. I mean, seriously, I am only 20!
12. My role models. Where would I be without them?
13. Inspirational quotes that make my heart smile.
14. Sunshine. I just has to be on the list.
15. Uplifting music. Any music that makes you feel happy and just alive.
16. A warm, soft bed because sometimes I just don't want to leave it.
17. Movies. I love them, and they are a part of me.
18. Comfort foods. Popcorn and chocolate milk anyone?
19. BYU. Being a Cougar today and a Cougar forever. Long live the spirit of the Y!
20. Books. The classics, cheesy romance novels, and all the others that I love to read.
21. Having a living Prophet and apostles on the earth whose words I can access at any time.
22. All of the teachers I have had throughout my life that have helped make me who I am today.
23. My most prized possessions that only have meaning to me.
24. Temples. They are beautiful inside and out and make you feel that way too.
25. Seasons because I like the hot and cold, but please let there be moderation in all things!
26. Food and cooking. I love both!
27. Kids because there is so much we can learn from them.
28. Pictures and artwork. I love captured moments that can be kept forever.
29. Those moments when you laugh so hard that tears come and you forget to breathe. I cherish those.
30. Moments, memories, and everything else that reminds me I can do hard things because I can.

I Don't Care If Monday's Blue

Sunday I tried another singles ward. That makes three now. I think someone should write a book about the life of someone in singles wards. Adventures and Mishaps in Singles Wards. Maybe I should write it. Maybe I will. Anyways, there were maybe 12 people there. And the Primary from the family ward before came in and did their program for us. And Sunday School consisted of a teacher without a lesson planned. And Relief Society was a girl reading from the lesson book and sitting on the table with an all too short dress so flashes of red underwear were quite frequent. Sadly, it was still better than the Arlington one.
Monday... Oh Monday... I felt like nothing was going right. I had a job interview, and I was stressed. Good thing I got the position. Otherwise I probably would have broken down in tears right then and there. I mean, the rest of my day consisted of not being able to print my resume, it finally printing but coming out on two pages instead of one, and Vivien eating the paper snowflakes I had taped to my window. But, like I said, I got the job! It is only a seasonal job, but it is something. And, maybe it will give me a foot in the door for a job when this seasonal one is over.
The rest of the week went as usual. Vivien being a terror even though she has been sleeping more because it is so cold outside, errands, paperwork for my new job, and most importantly, talking to my friends. Julie Anne even wrote me a poem. I love all of my friends, and now that my picture board has pictures of all of them I love going in my room even more than I used to. It got cold here which means I can bring out the 2/3 of my wardrobe that has been hidden in a drawer or in the back of my closet. Winter!! It's like Utah, and it makes me smile. Wow. I never thought I would say that. Except, my feet do get cold at night because I don't like wearing socks to bed. I wouldn't mind it if Vivien, who is a little space heater, would let me put my feet on her. It's just bad because every time I do so she growls at me. This week I have also been cooking dinner a lot. I have been craving Cafe Rio. We don't have those in Texas so I made their pulled pork. Oh my yum. Dad said if it didn't get me a husband nothing would. It was that good.
Ryan got off school early today. Which obviously means that we made a pan of brownies and at it with forks while watching a movie wrapped in a blanket and later eating leftover pulled pork. If you want the recipe here it is!