happy new year!

I only had two resolutions for 2011.

1. Graduate from high school.
2. Don't die.

Success? I say yes.

Those are my basic resolutions for this year as well. Graduate with my associates...and don't die. They seem like worthy goals to me.

But as I mentioned before, I'm dragging my family into a more...elaborate? New Year's resolution...celebrate at least one holiday every day. My grandma predicted we'd last two weeks; I said the end of January. I guess we'll see how it goes...but so far so good!

I think we did a pretty good job of not stealing copyrighted stuff....go us! Most of our resolutions involved losing weight, getting better grades and partying a lot. Sounds pretty good to me!

Our first party of the year...

Should you care to celebrate along with us, here's what this week is looking like:

Jan. 2nd: Happy Mew Year for Cats

National Personal Trainer Day

National Motivation and Inspiration Day

Jan. 3rd: Festival of Sleep Day

J.R.R. Tolkein Day

Drinking Straw Day

Jan. 4th: Trivia Day

Jan. 5th: National Bird Day

Jan. 6th: Three Kings Day

Bean Day

Cuddle Up Day

Jan. 7th: Old Rock Day

I'm Not Going to Take It Anymore Day

Jan. 8th: Bubble Bath Day

Male Watcher's Day

Argyle Day

National English Toffee Day

Here's to 2012. New classes, new callings, new adventures. Party on.

i can do hard things.

There's something about that statement that's so empowering. I love what Sister Dalton said about it in Young Womens general conference a couple years ago:

"...I had a small plate inscribed with a motto that read, 'I can do hard things. That little plate bearing that simple motto gave me courage. But now if I could change that motto, it would read: 'In the strength of the Lord, I can do all things.'"

I've been called to serve as a Gospel Doctrine instructor in my singles ward. And I'm just a little bit (a lot) terrified. I feel like I sometimes to struggle to communicate things I'm feeling and that nothing I say makes sense to the people I'm teaching. I had Sunday School teachers that absolutely inspired me every week. I'm just praying that I can do the same for the people who have to listen to me every two or three weeks.

I have a collection of my favorite scriptures on the side of my bookshelf. The ones that I really think will carry me through this experience are these:

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord. . . but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God." --2 Timothy 1:7-8

"Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life." --3 Nephi 5:13

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God." --Romans 8:28

epiphany!

I was hit with a stroke of genius today. I thought I should share.

One day, a long time ago...maybe in March? I was in calc lab with Alicia and Ashleigh...good times. Anyway, Ashleigh was telling us about all of these hilarious holidays--there's more than one for every day of the year! We talked about them for a minute...until our teacher made us work on our assignments...whatever.

Anyway. I was thinking about that today. And I made a decision. Next year, I'm going to make my family celebrate a holiday everyday. (Sorry family.) Maybe we'll only celebrate one each day, maybe six!

Who are we kidding? We probably won't make it past the first week of January. But still. It's not a bad idea! And maybe I'll even blog about it, throw in some funny pictures...there is great potential here!

I figure I'll just pick my favorites from these sites:
http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/index.htm
http://www.oshel.com/everyday.htm

http://www.brownielocks.com/january.htm

Who's with me??

PS--Happy National Pastry Day...go eat a donut! (See how fun this is?? You know you love it.)

Free at last, FREE AT LAST!!!

Yeah, that's right! Semester one? DONE. I honestly thought it was going to kill me. The past four months have been so incredibly difficult, I really didn't think I could finish. But now it's over! Maybe I passed, maybe I didn't, but I'm done! Go team. I even had a post finals party! Diet Coke, baguettes, good movies, SWEATS, it was EXCELLENT. Done done done done done!!!

I hear things get easier after the first semester? I sure hope so!

Besides finals, here's what's been going down over the past few weeks!

Over Thanksgiving weekend, I went to Bryce Canyon with my aunt Robyn and her fam.

You wanted to see all of my pictures right? Okay good :)

So gorgeous!!

Baby Jude, who isn't a baby anymore! Such a cute little kid!

I would really like to make this into a birthday card. That's all.

Were any of us surprised? Yeah, didn't think so...

We're going to be models.

Ha! Just kidding. This is our album cover. That's all.

I enjoy these people :)

Hoodoo? You do!

Giant rocking chair? You betcha! An excellent find at the Beaver Chevron :)

Important lessons learned:

--the best bathrooms between Salt Lake and Panguitch include the Santaquin Sinclair or the Chevron in Beaver (the one with the giant rocking chair!) Each have their pros and cons, but they were definitely the cleanest so they automatically win.

--The only place open in Panguitch on Thanksgiving Day? Owen's Cafe. Not bad! Not bad at all.

Since I've been home, I've been workin on getting into the Christmas spirit. It's difficult when there isn't any snow...not that I want any (I HATE SNOW.), but it's hard to sing "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas" when it just doesn't look like Christmas. But I digress. Christmas music, movies, concerts--I'm lovin it. Christmas Carol at CPT? Go. Go now. It is FANtastic. Forgotten Carols on Friday? I'm excited. Also on my list are David Archuleta and VoiceMale. Christmas is even better when attractive men are singing to you.

I also auditioned for a musical? Drowsy Chaperone...it's a fantastic show. I don't know if I'll be cast...but I promise you that the cast will be extremely talented! I've watched them all perform over the past few days, and this show is going to be amazing. Plan on going. Or I might hunt you down. That's all.

Peace and blessins, y'all.

thank you :)

I know everybody else has done this exact same thing, so I should probably do it too, yeah?

I'm thankful for:

--My family. This is the first year that I haven't spent Thanksgiving with them and it's been super weird. You know, cuz I kinda miss them. We have lots of fun together, and I'm real glad they let me stay another year instead of kickin me out :) I'm also grateful for a very fun extended family. They're the only reason I'd want to have more than two kids--so we can have freakin awesome family parties and fun trips (Shout out to Robyn and Rick--thanks for bringing me to Bryce Canyon this weekend!)

--My super amazing friends! I guess you never know a good thing til it's gone, right? I knew I had fantastic friends, but I had no idea I'd miss them so much! But I love when they come home to visit, and I'm so grateful to always have people around that I can go to with anything.

--Our beautiful earth. It's just gorgeous! No words.

--Music. I always have a song playing in my mind, my life would be so boring without it.

--A cozy bed. And sleep.

--Technology (insert song by Kip Dynamite here). I love being able to stay in touch with my friends that are away...and creep on everybody else ;)

--Diet Coke.

--A grandma who got me hooked on Diet Coke. And musicals. She'll never get me when it comes to killing shows, though.

--Artists. Seriously! They give all of their time to create something for other people to enjoy. Right now, I'm thankful for Kathryn Stockett, the author of The Help, and Kelly Clarkson and Coldplay, with their new CDs. They've been entertaining for the past few days :)

--Cozy pants. They go real well with the Diet Coke.

--School. I mean, as much as it pains me to say that with finals just a week away, I really am grateful for it. I wouldn't have anything to do with my life otherwise, and I know (or at least really, really hope) that it'll benefit me down the road.

--A job. Gotta pay for school and my car and my Diet Coke :)

--My cars! Sadie and Rhonda, may she rest in peace. I spend more time in my car than anywhere else, except maybe my bed... But Sadie is one of my best friends! She sings along to the radio with me, she just keeps goin when I need to cry, and she's always up for a drive! I miss my Rhonda, but I'm definitely grateful for Sadie :)

--Paris. I don't have many goals, but Paris is one. I'm grateful for something to look forward to.

--The temple. I'm looking forward to going there too :)

I've been given so much, and I really am grateful for all of it. Everything. Except for spiders and mosquitoes. Especially when the spiders are in my basement. But besides those, I'm thankful for it all. I guess what I want most is a way to be able to express my gratitude for it every day.

I....changed my mind?

Just need to correct something from a couple posts ago...mostly for my friend Shelby Ballif...

I'm not going to New York.

Sad face.

Why not? Well. I don't know.

You know when something feels real good and you're just so excited?? And then, one day, it just doesn't feel so good and you don't feel so excited and you don't even know why? Yep. That's me.

I'm kinda really sad about it. But. I know enough to not do something when it doesn't feel right. Maybe that would be my conscience telling me to spend that money on college tuition instead of Broadway shows? Priorities. Psh.

So. If anyone has some words that would make me feel better about not going on that six day adventure, it'd be real helpful. I kinda need it.

In other news, the Garlick guy won, even though he didn't give away free bread. Guess he didn't need my campaigning advice. Darn.

two firsts and some random thoughts

Friends, I tell you all of this, only because I know you're just dying to know these bizarre things about my life. So...you're welcome? Or more like, thanks, all three people that read this! You make me happy :)

Okay, my first first... I promise that makes sense?

I voted for the very first time!! Mmm yeah bring on the city councilmen!

Okay, let's be real for two seconds. Do I know who to vote for? Um...no. Do I know what city councilmen even do? Um...no. Mostly, I just listened to my parents talk about these people and then I picked three. One of the guys' last names was Garlick. So funny story.

Me: "You know, if he gave out free garlic bread, I would vote for him."

My mom: "He doesn't even spell his name like that."

Me: "So?? Free garlic bread, Mom."

My mom: "You would vote for anyone who gave you bread."

So I pose this question--WHO WOULDN'T vote for someone who gave out free bread?? Just a thought.

Second first...

I went to Zumba!! And....I probably looked real retarded. But who cares right?? It was so dang fun. My mom wouldn't go with me, she says she doesn't have any rhythm. But she beats me every time we play Just Dance so...I challenge that. And it really is like Just Dance! Except you can't do it in your pajamas and there a lot more people there to judge you. But so what? It was a party :)

So I got home from the gym and Biggest Loser was on. Favorite show ever!! I also happened to have a Toblerone sitting next to my TV from Halloween...man, that one took resistance. But alas! The Toblerone remains untouched. Three points for me (everything is more fun if you give yourself points. I promise.)

I've driven past the high school a couple times over the last few evenings. Seeing all the cars of those cute little Musical Productions kids makes my heart ache. It first aches for them, because I know they're all dying because they're getting four hours of sleep and not getting all of their homework done. All for the love the art :) But then it aches because my car isn't there with them. Not that I would want to go back to high school...never ever...but that was my favorite part of all three years. I wouldn't trade that experience for anything, not even for all the Toblerone in the whole world.

To the cast and crew of Fiddler on the Roof, I wish I could be there with you. I know you're doing fantastic things. Play hard this week! Solidarity :)

To Nick and Nate, go rock the world. The people in the Philippines are going to love you! Probably not as much as I do, but you know...be good, boys.

To you, my friend, thanks for reading this. And for stickin it out until the end. Go team.