I'M A DORK!

Lately, I've kind of been feeling like a dork.  Here's a few reasons why....


First, I talk with my tumbling students and my nieces and nephews about current shows on the Disney Channel.  Yes I've seen every episode of Hannah Montana and Wizards of Waverly Place.  Currently, I've gotten into Shake It Up, which is all about two best friends dancing and being goofballs.  Good Luck Charley and Phineas and Pherb are getting up on my list, too.  When I visit home, the first thing I do is turn on the Disney Channel to see what's on - it drives my family crazy.  But hey, the way I see it, these are good, wholesome shows that don't sneak in all the crap the world brings to TV these days.  Even more so, it makes me smile and laugh, and I like that!


Second, I've faced the fact that, yes, I am a clutz, and a BIG one, too.  Up until now, I've denied this.  It never even hit me until one of my best friends, Matt, told me that I was a clutz one time when he visited Logan (where ice becomes the new sidewalk).  I replied, "It's because I've been a dancer all my life.  Everyone thinks dancers are graceful, but that's only on the dance floor."  And he said, "No, you can't hide behind that excuse.  It's not because you've always been a dancer, it's because you're you."  Well, here I am, admitting it.  That's the first step, so I hear.


Third, I am a HUGE Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, and Miley Cyrus fan, in that order.  Whenever I hear any of their songs, I can't help but dance and sing along. Yes, I know that it's the "cool thing" to dislike each of them, but I've never been much of a hater.  As one of my roommates put it two days ago, "[Callie's] a fan of everything."  And in all honesty, I took that as a compliment. I am a fan of everything. There is very little that I dislike, and that "very little" includes the majority of rap, which rhymes with crap (note: there is some rap I do like... like JB's).  Like I already said, I've never been much of a hater - there's just too much to like in this world.  There's too much to enjoy! Oh P.S. I'm a huge fan of David Archuleta, too.


Fourth, I LOVE HARRY POTTER!  I can't count how many times I've watched the movies and I'm reading the books again.  They're just so good.  There's action, love, humor, and bravery.  What else does a person need?  Not to mention all that can be learned from HP!  What can be learned from a fictional story?  Read on, my friend!  I'll list the best of HP at the end of this post.


Lastly, I make a vision board every year, I organize my closet by colors, I love my alone time, I always sing out loud when I drive in my car, I have a Belle piggy bank that I still use, I love chocolate milk, I can never refuse sweets, my nail polish never consists of regular colors and I use glitter as a top coat, I love love and believe in fairy tales, I still love to make and wear friendship bracelets, and I've been grounded from reading too many times to count in my lifetime.  If I were a movie character, I would be Amanda Bynes in Sydney White.  And if an actress were to play me in my life, it would be Amanda Bynes, because she's the only one who'd be able to accurately capture who I am.  As she proudly exclaims in the movie previously mentioned, "I'm a dork!"


As I said at the beginning, I've recently felt especially like a dork.  That is until a couple days ago when one of my coworkers was exclaiming how cool I am.  At first, I thought he was kidding,  I'm not cool, I'm just me! And then I just got way confused when he said it again more seriously, "You're so cool!" After all, he had recently overheard me talking about Hannah Montana with one of my students, he laughed with me as I tripped over the mats in the gym (two days in a row even - and he witnessed both of them), and he joked with me when I exclaimed how I love the song "Solo" by Jason Derulo because I can always jam out to it since it always applies (lol, true story).  How in the world could someone see me as "cool" after all of that?  Apparently, it was all of those things that made me cool, and the fact that I was totally fine with it all and laughed about it.


And once again, I realize/remember that it's each of our individual dorky things that makes us who we are.  It's what makes us different from everyone else.  Our dorkiness keeps us from being replicas.  Our dorkiness is what makes each of us "cool" and unique.  I'm pretty sure that the huge glasses that everyone wears these days is proof that DORKINESS = COOLNESS, even though I will never give in to the big glasses fad (in my opinion, Harry Potter's the only one who can get away with it, and his aren't even the full size of the ones people wear today... well, maybe the Biebster can get away with it, too, only because he's so cool, though).


Anyways, it seems as though everyone is always trying to hide the cool dorky things about themselves.  It's as though being different is a disease that needs to be cured.  In all of the media there's tips on what to do on a first date, how to make your hair look absolutely perfect, how to get the supermodel body, what to do in sticky situations, how to get the guy/girl you've always dreamed of, etc.  There's SO MANY do's and don'ts. Whatever happened to just being yourself? 




We each have so much to offer in our own unique, or dorky, ways.  Even if it means making another person laugh because you just tripped over your own feet - at least you got them to laugh, and hopefully you laughed, too!  I just think that trying to be like everybody else is a waste of life and is over-rated.  I love the quote, "Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else."  Nobody can be a better you than you can.


SO, HERE I EXCLAIMING THAT.... 


I'M A DORK!  MOST IMPORTANTLY, I AM ME!


HOORAY!



Alright, as promised, here's the best (or some of the best) of Harry Potter...





From Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Book I)

“It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.” —Albus Dumbledore

“The truth… is a beautiful and terrible thing, and therefore should be treated with caution…” —Albus Dumbledore

“It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, just as much to stand up to our friends.” —Albus Dumbledore

“Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself.” —Albus Dumbledore



From Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Book II)

“It is our choices… that show what we are, far more than our abilities.” —Albus Dumbledore

“Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain.” —Arthur Weasley

“The best of us must sometimes eat our words.” —Albus Dumbledore



Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book III)

“You can exist without your soul, you know, as long as your brain and heart are still working. But you'll have no sense of self anymore, no memory, no....anything. There's no chance at all of recovery. You'll just exist. As an empty shell.” —Remus Lupin



From Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

“If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.” — Sirius Black

“I sometimes find, and I am sure you know the feeling, that I simply have too many thoughts and memories crammed into my mind.... At these times... I use the Pensieve. One simply siphons the excess thoughts from one's mind, pours them into the basin, and examines them at one's leisure.” —Albus Dumbledore

“Curiosity is not a sin.... But we should exercise caution with our curiosity.” —Albus Dumbledore

“Numbing the pain for a while will make it worse when you finally feel it.” —Albus Dumbledore

“You place too much importance on the so-called purity of blood! You fail to recognize that it matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be! —Albus Dumbledore

“It is my belief... that the truth is generally preferable to lies.” —Albus Dumbledore

“Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.” —Albus Dumbledore

“Understanding is the first step to acceptance, and only with acceptance can there be recovery.” —Albus Dumbledore

“Dark and difficult times lie ahead. Soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy… Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right, and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort.” —Albus Dumbledore



Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix (Book V)

“The mind is not a book to be opened at will and examined at leisure. Thoughts are not etched on the inside of skulls, to be perused by an invader. The mind is a complex and many-layered thing.” —Severus Snape

“Indifference and neglect often do much more damage than outright dislike.” —Albus Dumbledore

“Youth cannot know how age thinks and feels. But old men are guilty if they forget what it was to be young.” Albus Dumbledore



Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Book VI)

“It is the unknown we fear when we look upon death and darkness, nothing more.” —Albus Dumbledore

“We must try not to sink beneath our anguish... but battle on.” — Albus Dumbledore.

“People find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong than being right. — Albus Dumbledore.



Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book VII)

Ron: “He [Dumbledore] must have known I’d run out on you.”
Harry: “No, he must have known you’d always want to come back.”


thanks to http://dwickedangel.blogspot.com/2007/08/harry-potter-quotes.html !!!!!!!!!!

Cindy Lou Who

Here I am watching the Grinch with my roommates and it reminded me of some things I've been thinking about for the last week.


I don't think it's about whether we are the Grinch or not, but whether we are like some of the Whovilles and the Whoville mayor, or Cindy Lou Who.


People like the Whoville mayor care about status and items of great worth more than people of great worth.  They are the kinds of people who judge others.  The Whoville mayor defined the Grinch as a bad person.  He saw no good in him and brought out all of his flaws.


I think there is already too much criticism and judgement in this world.  There's too much gossip, negativity, and hard feelings.  Where are all of the Cindy Lou Who's?  Because of his actions and looks, the Grinch was judged as being heartless.  But all it took was a little girl to believe in him and he changed.  She knew that just because she couldn't see his heart, didn't mean he didn't have one.  Instead of looking at his obvious flaws, she searched for the good inside of him.  And she found it.


And as we look for the good in others, we will find it, too.  


The Grinch was treated poorly, so he acted poorly.  As soon as one seemingly insignificant person treated him with kindness, he felt the love inside his heart and showed it.  All it takes is one person. All it takes is one person to believe in the good in another for a heart to grow three sizes.


We are all children of God, we all have good, we all have bad.What matters is what we choose to act on.  And when the prophets teach us about charity, it doesn't mean serving others by fixing them.  It's not about picking out their flaws to make them change.  It's about picking out the goodness in their hearts that already exists.  We all chose to come to this earth to prove ourselves and make it back to our Heavenly Father to live with those we love for eternity.  We are all on the same team.  We should be helping each other to be our best selves and to show the good.  We should be helping each other to make it back to our Heavenly Father.


Maybe we should prove that there is good in this world instead of proving that there is bad.  We already know that there is bad in this world.  Just watch the news and you'll see, because that's almost all they focus on.  But it doesn't mean we should do the same.


There's so much good in others and so much good in this world.  I just think it's a waste of life to ignore that.  
For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson


In my opinion, there should be more Cindy Lou Who's.



"Besides the world isn't split up into good people and death eaters, we've all got both light and dark inside of us. What matters is the part we choose to act on."






I <3 Comments!

My Heart Hurts

My heart hurts.


For those of you who don't know, two LDS missionaries were hit by a car and killed in Texas this week.  One of those missionaries, Elder Strong, would have been home before this accident and would currently be safe, but had chosen to extend his mission by 3 weeks.


Elder Strong was a twin.


I'm a twin.


My twin comes home from his mission in one week..... what if it had been him?
It could have been him.  In the summer of 2010 he was hit by a car.  I remember it as clear as day.  The hit threw him across the street and knocked him out.  He survived.


Elder Strong didn't.
How is his twin brother supposed to continue living his life without him?


I couldn't do it.
And I pray to God, everyday, that He won't make me.


I get to see my twin brother come home from his mission next week.
This week, one young man didn't.


My heart hurts for that one young man.

Never Growing Up

I am 21.


Got a toothbrush that flashes lights and lets me know how long to brush.


Watched the latest Wizards of Waverly Place  Disney channel episode
                     and have seen every episode so far.


Making a new friendship bracelet.


Just bought "the Muppet" OPI nail polish.


I compare hiking in cool places to playing on a giant playground.


Give me the option of play or homework... I still pick play.


Simplified definition of my current job = play with kids in a gym.


Simplified definition of my future career = play with kids in a hospital.


Wrote and sent a letter to princess Belle.


Building forts - aka castles - will never get old.


I still make up stories in my head.


I play "dress up" ever day.


I'd fly to Neverland if I could.


I'm never growing up.


Nor would I want to.


Kids show the the most love, have the most courage, aren't so afraid, smile the most, laugh at everything, don't care about the status of others, have beautiful imaginations, can't help but be creative, and most of all, they believe in their dreams.


I'm never growing up.


Neverland, here I come...

Because I Felt Like It

 
You could be that someone for someone else. If it's anything I've learned within the last few months, it's that we are all the same.  Everyone struggles, everyone has something they are going through.  And EVERYONE is beautiful in their own unique way.  YOU are no exception. 

If someone tells you otherwise, they are wrong.  And you just have to accept that.

As hard as it is to see it, especially in yourself, we each have something special inside ourselves - why else would you exist?

And you are somebody.  Each of us is.  We all of the capacity to love and change someone else's life - for the better.

To somebody out there, those footprints are yours.  Even the littlest comment you make, something you stand up for, or a simple gesture.  If you wonder about your footprints, ask me, and I'll tell you.  Think of your past, think really hard, and learn to recognize the good things you have done.  If something is keeping you from recognizing the good things, then it's time to let go of that something.

Because you deserve better.  It is vital to see the good in yourself.  Besides, how can you see the good in others and appreciate their good if you can't see it and appreciate the good in yourself?

Because then, you can enjoy your life the way you are meant to.

SOOOOOO...

And then, your dreams will come true.... because....



Yeah, I know... I just felt like it.

Truth.

(If you don't know/understand my beliefs, read the entire post so that it makes sense.  If you get time, click on the highlighted words to go to links that will explain and answer a lot of your questions.  It'll simply explain things so that it makes sense.  If you still have questions/concerns, email me at callie.stats@gmail.com)


Well guys.... my phone and camera are in comas.  We don't know if they will make it.


However, when I woke up this morning I realized I left my scriptures in Moab.  And that's when I realized, I can survive a week without my phone... even weekS if forced - granted it would suck, but I wouldn't die. However, I CAN'T survive a day without knowing that my scriptures are available.  I didn't tell anyone, and I didn't show it, but my insides were in panic mode.  I prayed over and over again that my scriptures would make it back to me somehow.  And, what do ya know!?  Makenna (who came back to Centerville this morning instead of late last night like I did) found them and brought them back to me!

I know that it's a simple thing, but it really hit me how much I rely on my scriptures.  They mean way more to me than my phone.  My phone gives me contact to past clients, friends, family, and basically planet earth (let's face it).


However, my scriptures give me contact to God through the Spirit.  Through the Spirit, they lift me up when I am down, remind me to be grateful and humble when my life feels perfect, give me comfort, knowledge, love, and peace, and they remind me where I came from, why I'm here, and where I'm going to be - where I aim to be.  I can't survive without them.


And I am so grateful for them.  I'm especially grateful for the Book of Mormon.  For those of you who don't know much about it, the Book of Mormon is not meant to replace the Bible, but is more of an aid and also contains vital  information that the Bible lacks.  It is simply another testament of Jesus Christ.  As a classified Mormon I study both the Bible and Book of Mormon.  While I love the Bible and its stories I grew up with that continue to give me strength, the Book of Mormon is what gives me greater understanding of truth.  It is honestly what pieces my life back together when it's fallen apart.  My life would be of no value without it, I would have no purpose, and I would feel empty.  Instead, my life has value as long as I am living my life as God would have me do, I have purpose as I strive to be God's hands, and I feel spiritually full as I receive a constant stream of love, comfort, and peace.


Therefore, this morning, when I realized that my personal scriptures could be lost, I couldn't help but be afraid.  Thankfully, as usual, God answered my prayers and I now currently have them at hand.  I am especially grateful to be reminded of how important the scriptures are in my life.  I think I needed this experience as a knock in the head, telling me that I take advantage of this precious book.  I don't always read it as well as I should.  I always make it a goal to read at least a scripture a day, but that is cutting myself short.  Sure, reading one verse is better than reading nothing at all, but when I read more than that, ponder, and truly study what I'm reading, then I receive so much more inspiration and personal revelation - prayers are answered, direction is given, and I can feel the love of God.  On those days when I make excuses and cut myself short, I am left with an empty cup.


And that is not good enough.  I deserve better than that.  And God knows that, which is why He keeps telling me through blessings and talks that I need to truly study the scriptures daily.


God tries to get through to each of us continuously, but if we don't do our part and do the simply things like pray and study the scriptures, then we are not giving him the opportunities to do so.  We are choosing to cut ourselves off from Him.  Why do we even do that?  God is only trying to show the love that He has for us by helping us, lifting us up in our trials and burdens, and by giving us direction so that we no longer feel lost.  Why would we turn down such blessings?


I am  just so grateful for the scriptures.  I am so grateful for Joseph Smith who sacrificed so much to save the Book of Mormon and restore the same church that Jesus Christ established when he was on earth. I am so grateful to have a current prophet, President Monson, who gives me guidance just as Moses and other prophets gave their people guidance.  I am so incredibly blessed to have the knowledge and to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 


 Lastly, I'm so grateful that I originally prayed to know that this church is true for myself.  Because of that simple prayer, I have a personal testimony based on Christ, not a testimony based on someone else's testimony.


For anyone who questions these things, I strongly suggest you pray for yourself to find out the truth.  It doesn't matter what church you are a part of, if you are a part of it because it's how you were raised, or because someone else told you what to do, then you are a member for the wrong reasons.  It's not that you are necessarily wrong, it's that you are there for the wrong reasons.  To know for yourself, I urge you to personally ask God if the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true.  As it says in James 1:5, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."


I am endlessly grateful to be a part of this church and to know the truth.  Because of this truth, I have every reason to be happy.  In fact, all of  my happiness is because of this truth.  It allows me to be happier and closer to God than I ever imagined I could be.


It is through this Gospel that my dreams have come true.  It is through this Gospel that my dreams continue to come true.


I am so grateful for such a loving God who loves me enough to give me trials that strengthen me and bring me closer to him.  I am also so grateful for such a loving God who loves me enough to answer simple prayers and bring about simple desires, such as my desire to have my scriptures back with me instead of lost in a hotel in Moab (which was an amazing trip, if you were wondering).





p.s. click on the highlighted/underlined words to go to links that will explain more.
p.s.2. I apologize for being repetitive.
p.s.3. Last apology:  I'm sorry for errors.  I typed pretty quickly without proofreading. 
p.s.4. leave comments.
p.s.5. follow me.  If you are reading this, you probably already are. But, if you got here through fb, follow me through fb. just click on the networkedblogs button on the top right of my blog.

Do I have time to do this? Probably not.


 I find that I like to blog when I'm happy, reflective, or bored.


Today, I blog because I am happy.


This week, was a little bit difficult.  You know how I wrote of my struggle with perfectionism and fear of failure in my last post?  Well, this week I've been so incredibly stressed with school because of those two things.  I've been WAY too serious for my liking - in reality, I've got to chill.  


And somehow, God knew that when I didn't, and he set up different things this weekend that would allow me to get my stress out and let loose.


Work was so much fun this week, I love getting to know these kids and helping them achieve things they've never though possible.  While teaching them, I've taught myself - and I learned a REALLY BIG lesson. So many times this week, my little tumblers kept saying, "This is SO hard!"  And I'd reply, " It's supposed to be hard.  It's what makes you better!  And I push you because I know you and I know you can do it!"  My favorite part of this encouragement is when they get that huge smile on their faces and they believe the words I say, which I love, because these words are true.  These kids are amazing and they do not see their capabilities, so I push them to show them what their capabilities are.


The lesson part:  HELLOoOo! This applies to me too!  This life, is SO hard.  And right now, it's as if I can hear God say, "Callie, it's supposed to be hard.  These hard things are making you better, and I push you because I know you, and I know what you are capable of. "  Somehow, God sees so much more in me than I do.  He knows I can do these hard things.  And it's about time I begin believing him when he tells me so.


Now, onto the next thing... One of my best friends, Matt Soelberg, came home from his mission just over a week ago!  Last Saturday he visited me at my home, and we just talked for about two hours.  THEN (this part really made my day) he came to Logan to visit me and go to a basketball game, and last night, we just talked - again - for about 4 hours.  We did nothing else (besides bake muffins).  And let me tell you, it was just the best ever.  Do you know how awesome it is to be able to talk with one of your best friends in that way after not having seen that friend for two years?  Do you know how hard it is for me to keep up conversation for so long with anyone else?  Do you know that it made me feel so special that he would take that time out of his life just to hang out and do nothing but talk with me?


He has basically  just reminded me of why I love these guy friends from high school so much.  To me, they aren't even high school friends, they are life-long friends.  They have always made me feel special and of worth - like I'm different than every other girl in the world.  In the summer, I felt special all summer long being one of the only Americans/Mormons in Sun Valley, and being a counselor at EFY.  Well, I finally have that special feeling back - and not necessarily because I'm different than everyone else, but simply because I am me. 


Lastly, I LEAVE TO MOAB TODAY to go hiking with one of my other best friends - Makenna Blaser!  Basically, her dad goes biking with his buddies while Kenna and I go hiking.  And even though her boyfriend is coming, she STILL invited me to come again this time, and that makes me SO happy!  Most girls forget their friends once they have a boy in their lives.  However, the great thing about this friendship that we have is that it doesn't matter what life situation we are in - we will always be friends.  It also doesn't matter how long it's been - we will always act and talk like we've just seen each other the day before.


God knew I needed some carefree moments this week.  And now, here I am, with a great weekend and I'm so grateful to get away from those things that have stressed me out so much!  It's so good for me to remember that it's OK for life to be hard, that I don't have to have a label on my head to feel special and of worth, and that I have friends that I can rely on to always be there!  Also, just a week ago, I had entirely different plans for this weekend.  It's funny how God works like that - He has entirely different plans than we expect for ourselves.  It always ends up that way somehow!  Yet, I always end up happier with his way than I would my own.  I am so incredibly blessed.

Vulnerable

Secrets 

I'm about to make myself vulnerable here.

Hopefully not too vulnerable.... it could be worse.

Also, the words in bold aren't necessarily the secrets.  It's underneath those words that tell all.

I want to drop out of school for this semester.

Seriously.

I've never had such a hard time doing homework and studying

in my life.

I'm so distracted.

And even though I want to drop out,

I won't,

because I don't quit.

I won't quit.

Which really sucks right now.

My new hobby is exercising.

It's the only time when I feel as confident as I should be.  

I don't do it in attempt to get skinny.

And I don't do it because I hate my body.

I do it because I love it.

I am blessed with so many abilities, and not recognizing that would make me so ungrateful.

Do I often wish I looked different?

Heck yes.

However, exercising let's me know that I'm stronger than I think.

I have no limits.

And honestly, going to the gym is

MY FAVORITE PART OF THE DAY.

It's so much fun, it should be illegal.

 I am in love with a boy.  

I don't know if it'll work out

Which is why I won't tell you who it is.

Only time will tell.

I'm scared of friendship.

I live in a world where friendships last forever.

And in reality, not all of them do.  In fact, few do,

Which I understand is a part of life - but for me, it doesn't make the hurt any less.

So many of the ones that I truly valued, that I thought would last forever, have been forgotten.

But not by me.....

And now, I just don't want the amazing friendships that I have right now to end.

However, it makes me value the friendships that have passed the test of times.

And I know that someday, old friendships will be restored.

Let me explain it... you know how a girl gets hurt a lot by a boyfriend, and she ends up putting up a wall hoping someone will someday break through it?

Put that in a slightly less harsh situation based on friendships.

If that even makes sense.

But when someone breaks through that wall, I know I can trust that person to be a true friend.

Not a perfect one.

A true one.

It's easy for me to feel left out.

I hate how easy it is - it drives me crazy!

I hate it when people in your group of friends try to make others feel left out on purpose.

It's not cool to tell secrets in front of someone else.

It's not cool  to ignore someone.

It's not cool to make someone feel like they don't belong.

It's not cool to "forget" to include someone.

Especially when you know you're doing it.

You're so dumb.

Which is why I shouldn't care about being your friend in the first place.

You are too careless for me.

Why would I want to be friends with someone like you who would do such a thing?

WHY?

Because there's this voice inside my head that says, "Be a friend to everyone!  Love everyone!  Forgive everyone!"

Dang you Voice! Dang you!

I know, I know, it's not your fault Voice.

You just happen to know that everyone should be a friend to everyone.

Because that's the way it's supposed to be.

But this thing called pride is trying to destroy that.

I have a fear of failure.

I have recently learned that I am such a perfectionist, that I have a fear of failure.

It's why I'm so bad at making decisions (even little ones), because I fear making the wrong ones.

And I value the opinion of other's too much.

I don't want to fail them as a friend by disappointing them, hurting them, or making them sad.

I want what they want, 

and too often forget that what I want matters, too.

I tend to focus on being perfect, instead of being better.

Do you know how stressful and hard it is to be perfect?

However, being better than I was yesterday 

is something I CAN do.

I'm not perfect! 

Gasp! 

I'm pretty sure that's not a secret though haha

It doesn't matter how bad my day is, or if I'm going through a hard trial,

as long as I can see someone else smile.

That genuine, sincere, real smile.

The kind that crinkles the eyes and let's a person's real spirit shine through.

I know that it's so cheesy, but it's always been true.

I've been told that I smile a lot...

but it makes it so that I can see someone else smile, too.

Smiles are just so easy to pass along, that I can't help it.

It's actually a selfish thing:  I smile, so that I can see others smile because it makes me happy.

It's probably why I LOVE my job and my past jobs that have to do with children...

they never fail to smile.

I can always get them to smile!  It's so easy!

Even the girl who never smiled when coming to gymnastics...

she now smiles EVERY time I talk to her.

And it makes my lifetime.

Smiles just make my life.

Period.

Just an end note to explain the last secret... here is a video that I live by... 

YOU HAVE TO WATCH IT, it'll change your life.

I Don't Know Why

I don't know why I'm blogging... I just have this feeling I'm supposed to.

In fact, I don't know why I even have a blog

or why I'm at Utah State University

or why I live in this apartment

or why every job that is handed to me has to do with children.

Why am I where I am?

Why am I around the people that I am?

Why am I the way I am?

Why am I who I am?

WHY! i DoN't GeT !

Why?  

Because it doesn't matter if I get it.

Because God gets it.

What matters...

My blog makes me feel like I matter.  Every now and again, someone reads it - woot woot!

Utah State University is fun.

And it's where I learn.

I'm learning a lot in my apartment.  The strength of people blows my mind.

I love working with children.  It's sometimes crazy how well I fit in with them. 

They are about 10 million times more creative, loving, and accepting than grown ups are.

They are also 100% themselves, which makes me feel like I can be myself, too.

I am happy where I am.

The people around me make me smile and laugh or grow stronger.

I am the only me, the way I am makes me unique. 

If I dis myself, I dis one of God's creations, therefore, I dis Him. -->reality check

In the end

God has His reasons

And I don't have to know them

Because He has a plan for me

And that's one thing I can trust.

The "whys" don't scare me anymore

It's not the "whys" that matter

Because I already know the end of my story...

HAPPINESS.

WHY? is the end of my story happiness?

ONE I CAN ALWAYS  ANSWER 

BECAUSE GOD LOVES ME

I AM HIS DAUGHTER

A PRINCESS THAT WILL ONE DAY BE IN HIS KINGDOM

WITH THOSE I LOVE MOST

FOR ETERNITY

AND HE WANTS ME TO BE HAPPY

WHICH IS WHY I AM ON THIS EARTH IN THE FIRST PLACE

PERHAPS THE ANSWER TO ALL "WHY'S?"

IS HAPPINESS

Friends bring happiness

Families bring happiness

Love brings happiness

Random adventures bring happiness

Knowledge brings happiness

Health brings happiness

Experiences bring happiness

Even the hard parts of life, the things listed above that just don't work out, or anything that may be troubling you....

To Satan, they are stumbling blocks that keep you from happiness.

To Christ, they are stepping stones that bring you closer to him and make you stronger,

and ultimately bring you more happiness.

So when trials and tribulations do come... it's up to you.

Do you choose stumbling blocks

Or stepping stones?

At the moment, it's just nice to not have to worry about the "whys" and let my life be led by God.  He has the reigns of my life, and I'm giving Him total control. My life...

is His.

No human being can make a plan that will bring me more happiness than God's plan.

p.s. I LOVE FALL!!!

p.s.2. Leave comments! If you have any answers to my whys or whys of your own, share, share, and share!

A Few of My Favorite Things

1.  Cartoons.  Do I realize they aren't real? Yes.  Do I still try to adopt some of the traits of main characters? Yes.  Are cartoon princes and heros attractive? Yes. 

              Thumbelina.  Such a classic fairy tale.  Thumbelina goes through such hard trials, 

but she never stops believing in her love for Cornelius. 

OH yeah... and it's main message... "ALWAYS FOLLOW YOUR HEART!"

it also contains my favorite cartoon love song "let me be your wings, let me lift you high above, everything we're dreaming of will soon be ours..... every day I'll take you higher, and I'll never let you fall."  I know I know, me being the cheese ball that I am.  I give you permission to laugh.

                             

                  Beauty and the Beast.  Belle sees the best in EVERY situation... and in every person.  

She has such love for those around her and 

loves to dream about living the kind of life she reads about in books.  

She's so smart and is just good all around!

Most of all, she never settles for less.

Spongebob Squarepants. YUP - I LOVE this cartoon.  

He's a goofy goober, and I'M A GOOFY GOOBER!

Anime.  My favorite? Rurouni Kenshin.  

He used to be an assassin and then he saw the light, changed his ways, 

and vowed to never kill again... so then he injures to protect.  

He acts all tough on the outside, but on the inside, he's just a softy.  

And his story includes love...and I love love.  And him.  

My brother and I watched EVERY episode of Kenshin in high school!  

If there ever was a hero, it's Kenshin - defeating the evil guys one by one - over and over again!

2.  The sound of glitter...... like when you are watching a movie and something (or in the case of twilight, someone) glitters and you can hear it happen!  Let's face it, I love glitter. period.
                                      


3. Kid's cuisine.  If it's been a bad day, kid's cuisine is the way to go.  I don't get it often, but when I do, it's great.  How can you NOT feel better when you are eating fun shaped chicken nuggets and pudding with sprinkles?
                                          


4.  Long car rides.  

If I'm by myself, I can let my mind go blank and 

sing along to my music at the top of my lungs.  Do I risk getting caught 

dancing by myself in my car?  You know it!

If I'm with people and it's a long LONG ride, then we just talk and talk and talk, and

then deep topics of life come up, new ideas, thoughts, and new perspectives. 

 I love having conversations that are about the important things.  Most of all,

I love knowing what others are thinking about.

5. A new dress. And how that new dress makes me feel.

6. Feathers.  They make me feel like Pocahontas.

                                  

7.  Moving water - rivers, oceans, as long as it's moving.  My favorite is to walk in the  middle of a creek or river, trying to stay right side up!

                  

8.  Things or places that have something unique about them.

                                      A fence made out of skis in Sun Valley, ID.  

People have begun donating their own skis to this fence to take part in the fun!

Gargoyle between trees by a log cabin (kinda hidden, as in something you had to look for).

With a gypsy caravan!

9.  Homes and things that have an old romantic look to them.

10.  Good old-fashioned letters instead of emails.  It just makes you feel special when someone has taken the time to write and send a personal letter.  It's so exciting to not know when a letter is coming - it's a SURPRISE!

                                  

11.  Little random things that people say or do that make me feel special.  Sometimes, it's just the little things that matter, not so much the big things.

                        Like a simple comment on facebook

                        Or hearing someone talk about me behind my back... 

and instead of bad things, they are saying good things.

Or maybe.... a song dedication from..... someone from far away.....

that let's me know that they do miss me after all....

12.  Soft blankets - I can never have too many (best Christmas gift ever).

                                         Hmmm... doesn't that look so nice?

13.  The color..... PURPLE!  I don't know why... I've just grown to love it recently.  (Don't worry aqua, I still love you, too)

THE END :)  these are just a few of my favorite things.