seriously?

may 24, 2010 - 8:48 am:
it's beginning to look a lot like christmas...

i don't know whether to laugh or cry.

the world is mine

Sometimes I can't help but sit back and be amazed by how incredibly lucky (blessed) I am. Often, I can be much too quick to forget all of the blessings that I have in my life...an amazing family who loves me unconditionally and with whom I never stop laughing when I'm around them, a good job that I actually don't mind showing up to every day, a roof over my head and food on my plate (aka cereal in my bowl), amazing friends and roommates whose kindness and caring never cease to amaze me, the opportunity to attend an outstanding university and gain knowledge that will continue to benefit me (and hopefully others) throughout my life. Lastly, something that I don't always remember to add to my list of blessings is my appreciation for a physical body that is completely functional and has not experienced any major complications.

There is a woman in my home ward back in Idaho that had both of her legs amputated just below the knee; I believe it was about ten years ago. To make a long story short she left the country and was faced with some serious medical complications, there was nothing that could be done but to amputate her legs. She was a very active woman and needless to say this was a devastating situation. I didn't know her at the time this took place but I know her now...and wow. What an amazing woman. She walks with prosthetic legs but you wouldn't even know it. She rides her tandem bike around our neighborhood with her husband on a regular basis (so precious), and seems to stay fairly active in any way that she can.

I've heard her speak about her experience on multiple occasions and every time I come away even more inspired. She was speaking to a group of us once and told us that when she was a young girl there was a poem that she loved called "The World is Mine" and she decided to memorize it so that she could recite it to herself when she needed a little reminder of how many blessings she had. She then recited the poem for us, by memory of course, and being a room full of women the tears started flowing. I don't know if you've heard this poem before (I've conveniently inserted it below)...but in the first stanza the author speaks of seeing a woman on a bus and being envious of her beauty only to realize this beautiful woman wearing a smile has no legs. Coincidence that this is the poem she decided to memorize? I think not. This woman in my ward is now that beautiful woman with a smile on her face even though she no longer has her legs. I see this woman at church every week, or riding by on her bike with her husband and she is always smiling and always cheerful. I'm not naive enough to think that she never has her down days or that she never gets frustrated and wants to give up, but that's just it...she doesn't.

I whine way too much. I'm working on it; but this woman along with many others in my life motivate me to keep going and to remember that I need to take time to remember and be grateful for all of the things that I do have...and I have a lot.

The World is Mine

Today upon a bus I saw a girl with golden hair; She seemed so gay, I envied her, and wished that I were half so fair; I watched her as she rose to leave, and saw her hobble down the aisle. She had one leg and wore a crutch, but as she passed--a smile. Oh, God, forgive me when I whine; I have two legs--the world is mine.

Later on I bought some sweets. The boy who sold them had such charm,
I thought I'd stop and talk awhile. If I were late, t'would do no harm.
And as we talked he said, "thank you, sir, you've really been so kind .
It's nice to talk to folks like you because, you see, I'm blind."
Oh, God , forgive me when I whine;
I have two eyes--the world is mine.

Later, walking down the street, I met a boy with eyes so blue.
But he stood and watched the others play, it seemed he knew not what to do.
I paused, and then I said," Why don't you join the others, dear?"
But he looked straight ahead without a word, and then I knew, he couldn't hear.

Oh, God forgive me when I whine; I have two ears--the world is mine. Two legs to take me where I go, Two eyes to see the sunset's glow, Two ears to hear all I should know, Oh, God, forgive me when I whine; I'm blessed, indeed, the world is mine.

The world really is mine.

i can't wait...

I get to go home in a few weeks, it's been far too long.

One of the reasons I'm so excited...besides seeing my awesome family of course...I get to go to the dentist! I've always loved going to the dentist. Weird?

Most people hate the dentist, but I love it. Maybe it's because I've never had a cavity (okay, that's a lie)...BUT I never did have a cavity until I was 18. Then, all of the sudden my teeth decided to turn on me. My dentist claims I'm just prone to cavities. I'm convinced he just tells me that to make to get on my good side because he wants me to marry his son (whom I've never met and I'm pretty sure is also younger than me...)

Really though, isn't it just the greatest feeling in the world to walk out of that office and have your teeth feel so clean that you never want to eat again...or at least for another hour. Your smile seems brighter and whiter and the world is that much better a place.


Needless to say I'm excited for this trip home.

(on a more depressing note: apparently I have receding gums and was told that if I don't stop brushing so "vigorously" I'll have to get my gums grafted. no thanks.)

harsh reality

I think anyone who knows me at all is painfully aware that I have an obsession with the television show gilmore girls. It makes my life worth living (okay, maybe a slight exaggeration-but nonetheless I do love it). In one of the episodes they have a conversation during which I was abruptly informed that the plural of coldesac is not culdecsacs, but is in fact...culsdesac. Now, I do realize that there is a slight possibility that not EVERYTHING viewed on this beloved show is completely realistic, BUT it did make me curious so I did a little research (slash - googled it) and found that culsdesac is indeed correct. I've been saying it wrong my whole life! I will admit that the use of the word "culsdesac" is not incredibly common in my everyday vocabulary but still...was I the only one who didn't know?

oh...p.s. if you're wondering what's with the picture of fenway park, random right? I love baseball season. Love going to the games, love eating the hot dogs, love the uniforms (hey, they are good-looking uniforms...very figure flattering), love really everything about it. I don't by an means profess to be a MLB guru but I do enjoy a good baseball game just as much as the next baseball fan. Hopefully one day I will actually get to go to a game at fenway park...dare to dream.

at long last...

Big news...I am not going to school this summer. First summer in three years that I won't be enduring the painful experience known as summer school. I plan to spend my summer having fun (oh, and working) and doing all the things I can't seem to find time for during the school year. My summer list includes:

1. Reading some books that I've always wanted to read but have just never gotten around to actually reading.

2. Improving my guitar skills (Jared is supposed to be helping me out on this one...right Jared?)

3. Working on some new art projects.

4. Getting back into shape (more time at the gym is most definitely needed)

5. Becoming a master chef/cake decorator (...or at least becoming a little bit better cook-this one is to counteract the the previous goal I suppose?)

Well with that being said (or typed) I am super excited for this summer. I actually spent last night calculating my grades to see what the worst possible scores I could get on my finals were and still do well in my classes. Yes, that's how sick of school I am. Only two more finals to go...almost there.

my undocumented life

o I've discovered something about myself. I never take pictures. I just don't do it. Ever. I've realized that this has probably happened for few reasons. One, for the first year and a half that I was in college I lived with Brittany. She took pictures like crazy. She had her camera with her 24/7 so I just stole pictures from her and never took any of my own. At home my dad is the photographer. He always has his camera and makes sure to thoroughly document every moment of our waking lives and of our non-waking lives for that matter. Therefore, I am not one to think to take my camera anywhere, and even when I do I never use it. This must stop. Why? Because I want to remember these precious few years of my life. Plus, we all know a picture is worth a thousand words. I want to document everything. From now on I will take pictures...many pictures. I do, however, happen to have a few pictures of some recent events...

went up to park city to watch the ski jump competition

birthday dinner with friends. me n' tanier (the girl one)

best birthday present i've ever received, thanks mom.

colorful festivities of 2010

curling with the family

macall during curling, trying to take out the angry drill sergeant-slash-curling instructor. mr. dale.

summer, please come soon

So I, along with almost every other person here in Provo, cannot wait for summer to get here. Last night my roommates and I were hanging out with some friends and we started making our summer to do list.

1. BBQ in the park + volleyball

2. Lots of hiking (Zion's, Stewart Falls, Havasupai, among others)

3. White water rafting

4. Seven Peaks (free passes of course...right Aaron?)

5. Bucket of KFC...picnic up the canyon (Paige made this a must, and who doesn't love fried chicken?)

6. A camp out on the front lawn of our apartment complex

7. Road trip to Cali.

8. Road trip to Bear Lake

9. Four-wheeling in St. George (slash when we go there I'm also making everyone go to MARV'S for the best strawberry shake of their lives)

10. Boating, lots of boating...already planning a trip home to Boise for this one.

11. LAKE POWELL. Quite possibly my favorite place on earth. It just wouldn't be summer without at least one trip to Powell.

12. Camping. One of my favorite summer activities. Sleeping outside-communing with nature. Cooking tinfoil dinners and roasting marshmallows. Telling scary stories (I could live without this part of course but others seem to love it). Really, anything and everything camping I love...

With that being said, who wouldn't be excited for summer? I just can't wait. So again...summer, please come soon.

Please.