Beautiful

What is beautiful?

Tall, skinny, tan, long hair, and so on.

I feel like everyone has their own connotation of what they believe is truly beautiful.

So, what is beautiful to me......

To me music is beautiful, more specifically the Mormon Tabernacle or an awesome cover of songs.... if it's well done I get chills. Guaranteed.

To me marriage is beautiful, nothing makes me happier then hearing of an engagement or someones sweet grandparents blissfully celebrating their 60th anniversary.

To me children are beautiful, you cannot deny the precious sound of a babies laugh or how sweet it is when an older sibling tried to help a younger sibling. Melts my heart.

To me service is beautiful, especially the look on someones face when you help them so selflessly without expecting anything in return.

To me confidence is beautiful, my mom use to always tell me I needed to "own it" and apply that to everything I do. Confidence is something most of us need to work on and the best way to do that is to help other build theirs! So don't tear people down, that just proves you lack true confidence.

To me nature is beautiful, you cannot deny that God has truly placed us in such a beautiful world. I'm sure you're thinking... um no she's crazy the world is filled with so much negativity and yes you're right there, but when you give yourself a chance to truly be still and take in all that nature has to offer you can really appreciate how beautiful nature really is; the stars, the ocean, the mountains, the animals, the flowers, there is so much to love!

I think it's so important to stray away from what the social norms of what beautiful might be and see what truly means the most to us.

What's honestly the most beautiful to me is seeing how God truly loves everyone of us no matter what color, shape, or size we may be. No matter how damaged out past may be he always loves us as a son or daughter..... now that is truly beautiful.

 

How Did I Manage

To Forget

--How Blessed I am.

--How many wonderful people I have in my life.
--How nice it is to hang out with my parents.
--The most amazing drink ever..... pineapple and coconut juice!
--The way James Morrison's voice can always make me feel better.
--How much better I feel when I'm tan...
--How beyond amazing my Bishop is.... He is truly called of God.
--How STUPID some boys are.
--How great my day is when I read my scriptures.
--The smell of sunscreen.
--How funny Pitch Perfect is.... I mean come on how can you not like this movie.
--That even with distance my best friend still knows how to cheer me up!
--How important dancing is to me.... mind you I can't really dance, but nothing makes me happier then turning on a fun song and  around my apartment :)
--How much I miss both my Grandmas..... One is in New Mex and the other is gone :(
--The importance of serving others.
--How great it feels to tumble again..... let's just hope I don't hurt myself haha
--How great this summer is going to be even though I will be working so much!!!

I've been feeling a little lost lately.

Just not really feeling myself, but thankfully with the help of friends, family, and the big man up top I'm starting to feel almost back to normal again :)

Here is the problem:

 I'm sure this is normal for anyone my age, but I'm a little overwhelmed with everything going on and come on guys I'm just out here tryna function haha

ANYWAYS

I need to figure out what I'm supposed to be doing with the rest of my life... so many choices!

Should I finish school or go straight to hair and beauty school?

Should I explore the Fashion industry?

Flight attendant?

Maybe an elementary school teacher?

Should I take time off to travel?

Should I go on a mission?

Should I move to Orange County?

Should I just stay in SD for the rest of my life? 

welll heck no to the last one, but on the reals

I feel like I'm in such a stand still with my life and there is so many decisions I need to make...like yesterday, but I can't get myself to make one. I feel like I need to just trust that whatever I pick is the right decision, but it's so hard because I don't want to mess up and HELLO can't a girl just do everything?!?! Well, no probably not. It's time I buckle down and really get a grasp on my future.

Hmmm well if you have any advice just let me know, because geeeeez I clearly need it!

Nothing Better

Nothing makes me happier then General Conference! 

There is something so incredibly special about it. I think the reason why I personally love it so much is because I was baptized on Conference weekend a year and a half ago. 

It brings back so many wonderful memories of the missionaries and all of the special people who helped me get to where I am today. If you don't know what General Conference is and you want to check it out click here.

 I love everything about it, the speakers are truly called of God. I really tried to go into it as prepared as possible with lots of questions with real intent and it is absolutely amazing how the speakers will say EXACTLY what you need to hear..... I'm not kidding I swear!

 One topic in particular that I thought spoke out to me was is the importance of being a good example and having positive self worth this was directed toward Mother's, but since I'm clearly not in that category yet, I just saw it as being a good example in general. When I first joined The Church of Latter-Day Saints many people; both friends and family were a little stunned at my decision. But because my love for the gospel grew ten fold I changed myself for the better and my loved ones noticed and saw me as a great example to them. Lately, I feel like I've been struggling with that a bit. I haven't done anything crazy, but I keep catching myself making little mistake here and there even though I know better! It's extremely frustrating and I get that I'm human and people make mistake, but knowing how important it is to be a good example really makes me what to try even harder especially because Sister Dalton emphasized how amazing a Mother's example is sooo I should probably get some practice in now before that day comes :)

Please listen to this talk to you can better understand what I'm talking about 

by: Elaine S. Dalton 

I promise you won't regret it :)

You Are Loved

Everyday I go through this app called LDS Wisdom (it's free check it out) it shuffles through tons of awesome quotes from the Prophet, Apostles, and other LDS church leaders. It is so inspiring and hey isn't it nice to have a quick motivational pick me up right at your finger tips? 
YES!

 Grant doesn't know it, but he inspired me to get this app because a long time ago (probably 6 months ago) he started collecting these types of quotes to put in his room, but he never followed through with it..... Ever since he left for his mission I've also been collecting quotes that I thought would not only be useful to me, but also to him and his many companions on his mish, in hope of eventually sending a couple his way as a surprise. 

Then today I checked my email while at work (I'm a rebel, I know) and I was surprised by not only one email, but FIVE! What a blessing! 

Quickly I learned that surprising him was not an option, because as  I started reading the first email he writes,

 "I would love for you to send me some quotes like with pictures or something so I can put them around the apt.".... little does he know I've been working on it for a while now haha. So funny!

He managed to constantly pull silly things like this throughout his emails. He sent me scriptures that he felt I needed to read, but I had prayed and stumbled upon those same exact scriptures just the night before!

 There is more, but somethings are just meant for me :)

It's just so crazy how Heavenly Father works. 
He shows his love for us at all times even if our eyes aren't open to it. I'm so blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life who constantly push and inspire me to be better. I'm so grateful for my Faith and all the blessings I continue to receive! 

Brother Smart.... His favorite teacher at the MTC

First companion in New Mexico

Elder Snyder's coat rack in his Apartment 

(First one is his)

Knott's Berry Farm

Meeting new people from California is cool, but meeting new people from Australia is even better!  

Here are a few things to some up

 Josh, Isaac, Laura, and I's day at Knott's Berry Farm....

1. Dirty Bulking

2. Snacks in the Toilet

3. Learning new Aussie Lingo; Reckon, Rubbish, Sus, Uni, Jumper, and Heaps more.... haha 

3. Skipping Xcelerator ( I'm a Chicken)

4. Conquering My Fear on Supreme Scream

5. Piggyback Rides/ Shoulder Rides

6. Irvine Spectrum Shopping

7. Cheesecake Factory

8. DJ Laura :)

9. Naps in the Creeper Van

  

Matching Cook's Shirts

This roller coaster was more my style....the smallest one in the park! 

Everyone needs a pic like this

Hardcore Aussie's

The ride I refused to go on....

He made me give him multiple piggyback rides

So I made him carry me all the way back to the Creeper Van

Isaac's creeper van includes; bed, toliet, sink, and most importantly a microwave!

 Let's hope next time I see them will be in Sydney!