Will you help me count my pennies?

My brother Tyler is amazing.

I honestly have a hard time describing how great I think he is because he has so many qualities that I really admire.

He has always been such a great big brother to me. Looking out for me and taking care of me whenever I needed him.

When I was little I had a large penny collection, as so many young money hungry children do. Tyler would always help me count my pennies. He was like my big buddy. He'd let me hang out with him, and take me to get treats. He was always so much fun.

He has an incredible sense of humor. I feel like he and I are quite often on the same wavelength. Just about everything that comes out of his mouth cracks me up. I love it. He always brightens my day.

Honestly, I think the quality that defines him most is his kindness. He is so genuinely kind to everyone. He is always so willing to help if anyone is in need. He is an AMAZING dad to his cute little kiddo-s. I love watching him interact with them because he is just so great with them.

Bottom Line: I just LOVE Ty. He's incredible. Such a great example to me, and I'm SO glad to have him as my big bro. Happy B-day!! Love you Ty!

I smell like a wallflower.

Isn't Bath and Body Works the greatest? I think so. I love the smell of all things coconut and vanilla.

So, naturally I opted for the vanilla coconut wallflower at B&BW. I came home and plugged it on in.

Let me back track in the story a bit to this morning at 6:00 AM when I woke up. It was early, and it was dark. My room is like a cave of sorts. No windows. It makes for a great nights sleep, and apparently a good nap.

So...back to where we were. I sat down on my bed and plugged the wallflower in. The next thing i know I woke up on my bed. It appears that I fell asleep in my cave, unbeknowns to me.

What did I wake up to? Vanilla coconut like WHAT.

Roxy came over and asked me if I poured the wall flower out on myself. That smell dies down a bit right?

If you clean your room I'll take you to the library...

Isn't reading the best? I forget how much I love it until I find the time to get back into my books, and suddenly I'm craving the days when my mom would take my sister and I to the library and we'd leave with stacks of books so high we could barely carry them. Or, when going to the bookstore to choose one new book seemed like the greatest prize in the world. I remember the time when my pick was, The Very Quiet Cricket, by Eric Carle. Upon opening the last page the book made a chirping cricket noise. This special effect clearly blew my six-year-old mind. I don't know if, "extreme excitement," even adequately describes how incredibly cool that was. The memory that is probably my most favorite takes me back to the nights when my mom used to read chapter books to us. We'd all gather around her in my parents big bed, and listen intently, completely captivated by the images we were reeling in our heads. Bottom line; Reading is amazing. This past week I've been reading C.S. Lewis', Mere Christianity. It is great. Really insightful, and thought provoking. I read over this quote last night, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it.

“The moment you have a self at all, there is a possibility of putting yourself first—wanting to be the centre—wanting to be God, in fact. That was the sin of Satan: and that was the sin he taught the human race. Some people think the fall of man had something to do with sex, but that is a mistake. . . . What Satan put into the heads of our remote ancestors was the idea that they could ‘be like gods’—could set up on their own as if they had created themselves—be their own masters—invent some sort of happiness for themselves outside God, apart from God. And out of that hopeless attempt has come . . . the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.”

What a profound and truthful statement for our day. Everyone is seeking to make themselves happy, and everyone is looking everywhere else, but the right place. It is only when we turn our lives over to the Lord, and we focus on becoming Christ-like, that we will truly ever be happy. I had a teacher who would always use the expression, "turn your arrows outward." I love that. We have been promised that those who lose themselves in Christ will find true happiness. I take that to mean, maybe if we'd all stop focusing on trying to make ourselves happy, and we aimed to serve others we would actually be happy. I know this is definitely something I can work on.

In the words of Sheryl Crow...

"I think a change...would do you good."
This whole past week has been SUCH a whirlwind with the move, and trying to get put away, and used to my new surroundings and such. NOT TO MENTION my client schedule @ Elevate is switching up as well. I will now begin my mornings training at either 6:00 AM or 6:30 AM. YES, that is painfully early. I am WELL aware. However, I think it will be good for me. (Disclaimer... I may be a zombie...so if I lack coherency @ some points please just disregard....aaaahhthankyou.)

Remember how my word of 2009 is LOVE? Well, I have been reminded again this week how much my Father in Heaven loves me and how completely aware He is of me, and all that is going on in my life.

This past few weeks. It has been made SO apparent to me that everything happens for a reason. It may not be easy, it may not be what your top choice would be, but it WILL be for your good. He does not leave us hanging.

I am learning faith, and constantly being reminded of the enabling power of the Atonement. Helping me to do things I didn't think I could do.

I am reminded that the Lord surrounds us with angels, helping us when we need it most.

I love hindsight reflections...realizing the paths that have lead us to where we are.

It's true. I hate change...still. BUT. I know that things are going to be good. Not, just good, but great. My new room is all put away, and I love it.
I'm ready to take this change on head first, excited to see where it leads me. I'm embracing the change. I even threw out my favorite pair of old sweats while reorganizing my clothes...some of you may remember these guys.

You know, the XXL Orem High Football cutoff sweats that I stole from Eddie Norton during Blue Team election week. (I'm pretty sure they were his brothers?) They have seen better days. It was about time they were retired.

Here goes nothing. Or something, rather.

How to begin an end like this???

Ok, so I LOVE the TV show friends. I'm sure many of you do as well. You may remember commentary such as this when Monica and Rachel realize they aren't going to be living together anymore...

Rachel "Crying": Oh my gosh, I'm gonna miss you so much
Monica "Crying ": Me too
Rachel: It's really End of an Era
Monica"out loud" : I KNOW

Well, here I am, finding myself repeating those same words. Today is the last day Benita, Roxanne and I live together, and I'm soooo sad about it. Benita and I have lived together for the past 5 years. How she has put up with me for that long, I don't know. I think back to the ENDLESS list of amazing times we've had and I seriously can't believe she's moving to Salt Lake. Of course, she will still be my best friend, and I know I'll see her and talk to her all the time, but it's going to be weird not having her with me allll the time. People have started to think we are the same person ;) I hope she knows how much I absolutely ADORE her, and how much I'm going to miss her. I'll be visiting the capitol city quite frequently, and she promised to come sleepover alllll the time, and I'm holding her to it! BAM!

Benita may be leaving me and Roxypants behind.... but, luckily Rox is going to live in the condo across from me, SO we'll be able to yell to eachother from our porches. I feel totaly blessed that she's still super close to me! We talked yesterday about how it will still be sad to not just come home and hang out doing nothing...we love to do that :) I'm sure we'll be spending a WHOLE lotta time at eachothers houses...and at Crest...and at Yozone...

As sad as I am to be changing things up I think it will be a good thing. I am living with two DARLING/AMAZING girls that I know will be great for me! I feel like everything has kindof just fallen into place. I feel like I am where I should be, and I know the Lord is looking out for me. I can't wait to see what is to come!

Wide open spaces...

There is something about being up in the mountains that makes me remember how much I love Utah. This weekend we had a ward leadership retreat up at my bishop's cabin. It was so much fun, and the scenery was amazing.

Benit's and I drove up to the cabin in Kamas with Eric and AJ.
A voice of warning, if we know the words to the song, or even if we think we know the words, we will sing. We are a good time in the car.


We played some games, were fed (literally and spiritually), made friends with a cat sized rat (some of us made friends...some of us may or may not of been terrified), plated midnight capture the flag (unfortunately the barbed-wire fence put a quick/painful end to that), slept (for a few hours),had 2AM dessert, followed by a delightful breakfast not long after, and hung out for a while.

We weren't exactly prepared for the cooler temps that hit us this past weekend. Luckily, Lowell and AJ came across some snazzy sweaters. Thanks Bishop.

We have some of the most amazing/adorable/cutest/quality girls in our ward. Seriously. PHENOMENAL.

I have always been blessed to be surrounded by incredible friends. Good people. Good times.

to whom it may concern...

Dear SYTYCD-
Thank you for not disappointing me. Jeanine was my fave. I was really glad she won. Made me miss my dancing days. I think I need to find some classes to go to...

Dear Provo- what is the deal with the smoke filled air. I can't breathe, and I'm pretty sure I smell like I've been camping for the past few days. Let's not keep this up.

Dear Landlord who kiboshed us- you have sufficiently ruined august. you are splitting up three besties and even sent one off to SLC. I hope you're happy, cause I sure am not. Luckily I'm not homeless anymore and I'm living with some extremely adorable girls....but I'm going to miss my besties like crazy.

Dear talk that i'm attempting to write- why must we have this struggle everytime I have to give you! Can't you just write yourself? Thanks.

Dear Benits - are you sure you're moving to the capitol city? just checking. I'll try not to cry about it...again..

Dear tan from lake powell - I'm so sorry I haven't been able to attend to you since those glorius sun basking days. Don't fade k? I'll come back soon I PROMISE!

Dear gymnasium- My apologies for not making it today. I needed a day off. Don't judge me.

Dear numberless cellular device- this game of "guess who's calling" isn't very fun. I'm not one who enjoys the surprise of the unidentified caller.

Dear misc. towell folder- thankyou for taking my towells out of the dryer and folding them for me. You're a sweetheart :)

Dear friend who texts me funny things and makes me laugh- you make my day.

Dear morning bowl of cereal- you make waking up so much more enjoyable.

Dear sister who went to spin with me- I LOVED that you were there. Be my regular k? Also...let's play next week, and always.

Dear Roxypants- you make me laugh ALWAYS. you can sleep on my floor k?

Dear blog-clearly i'm pretending like my posting right now is more important than my talk writing. Thanks for being a distraction.

I think i've covered my bases...for now that is.