h a n d s t i c k e r s .

WHY haven't i KNOWN about THIS?!

2012-01-27T11:26:00.001-08:00

love love love love love, oh, yeah. I love this.

[makes me happy for summer]

AND this one..just too. much. i love it. happy weekend.

Teaching Gems

2012-01-26T10:57:00.000-08:00

The writing prompt for today was simply:
What is the most valuable thing to you and why?

"Dear Poof Book,

The dearest and most valuable thing in my life is colors. I hold colors dear to me because I like to keep my life colorful. Just think about it. Your life without colors. It would just be like bland and boring and no fun. That is why colors are dear in my life." -Mady

_____________________________________________________________________________

"Dear Journal, what is most valuable to me is my friends and my family. They are like a candy bar- they are sugary and sweet and never lose flavor and they never run out. They are the best in the world. I love them and I won't let them go." -Xander

_____________________________________________________________________________

"The most important thing in my life is my XBOX 360.

Or it is my family because they are always happy and nice.

Or it's my friends because they are really fun and they like video games too and they are always happy. So if I did not have all the things that are important to me I'd be sad. Also my clothes are important." -Adam

_____________________________________________________________________________

The most valuable thing in my life is trust because everything else you can find and have again. But trust, it's like a paper that you crumple, you may straighten it all out but there is still wrinkles of where it bent. Trust can never fully be taken back. That's why it's the most valuable." -Josephine

_____________________________________________________________________________
"The most valuable thing in my life...the most valuable thing...well, I guess I'd say my identity. I like to be me and no one else. I wouldn't like to be someone I'm not, even though I don't like some things about me, I wouldn't like to change. I like the way I am and I won't want that taken away from me. Back when Hitler had taken over, they people from the concentration camp had their identity taken away from them, something that is very valuable to them and declares who they are. We should be thankful that we have our own identity." -Nazhelly

_____________________________________________________________________________

Finally...

"Dear Journal, 

The most valuable thing to me would have to be my cat cause every night he sleeps on my bed with his head on my shoulder." 

Sincerely, Bridger

Backkklogged

2012-01-13T12:16:00.000-08:00

Here are just a handful of beautiful moments from my Christmas break this year.
It was one of my favorites yet, and perhaps, you can see why:

1.) Instagram and I became friends...or frenemies. depending on how you look at it, really.

2.) Eating suuuuch delicious food with suuuuch ~~delicious~~ [delightful] humans.

3.) Slinkies made a big come back this year in our household. Behold...Dad's Slinky Eyes!
...That sounds like it could be a title of a slightly skewed book venture.

4.) Cookie-making joys. Love this bare-bo beep bop man. And his sister, lucy the lovely.

(Pictured below.)

5.) Trail walking the magical trail of colors and beauty. It was frigidly windy, but the warm conversation shielded us fairly well...?

6.) I just loved being able to relax and watch sports with my dad and sleep in and talk with my mom and play basketball with some skilled ladies and feel grateful overall for all the good things in life.

**Next winter break...My SISTER and BROTHER will be HOME from their missions!!! Just a lil' somethinsomethin I very much look forward to...(as if you couldn't tell)...

C H R I S T mas nonsense. No really. This post is nonsensical.

2011-12-25T15:47:00.000-08:00

Today: at home.
Washington rain pelting the streets, the house, the cheery faces; i love it all.

Morgan and Nathan each called in for their missionary christmas phone call home
and,
in my opinion,
it went MUCH better than last year where I sat there angry at the world for having my sister 10trillion miles away from me.

This year felt full of gratitude and happiness and HAPPINESS that morgan will be home in MAY.
Nathan is also doing well and will return in July. Good times now, and, to come.

Look, I just love my family and wanted to say that in a little blog post because I haven't been writing ANYWHERE lately and I just needed to write this all somewhere so I thought here would be most convenient as I was already on the computer and also a forum such as this allows for the rather easy creation of labrynth sentences like unto this one that ye currently find yourself reading and maybe hate and wonder "when is she ever going to stop?!" and yet, you can't seem to break yourself away from the words because what if i just happened to say something groundbreaking like "Oh, I'm going to travel to Europe next summer" or "Your Christmas blouse looks very lovely on you, did you know?" and then you might wonder how the heck i can see your Christmas blouse but then you would realize that I'm not a creeper, but in fact just know you very well and how you would be wearing such a snazzy little number on such a happy and holy day. . .

merry christmas yo.

A winter break list de jois:

2011-12-09T10:49:00.000-08:00

1- Next Friday's Faculty v. 9th grade girls/boys basketball teams game.
2- Not having to eat mac n' cheese and triscuits with cheese and bagel w/cream cheese every meal in order to avoid buying groceries before departing this land.
3- Cooking with mi mawm-ma, Chica and Madisonian jokes/time,Talking basketball and life w/le poppy
4- sleeeeeeeeeeeeep will be more abundant!
5- zero classroom management efforts for two whole weeks.
6- Celebrating Christ's birth and life.
7- Extended family happiness and also talking to morgan/nathan on the phone.
Bonus/Honourable Mention: traditional parties and joys.

Part III: Who knew posting about Twilight would lead me to THIS?

2011-12-07T15:06:00.000-08:00

I have chosen and sacrificed and chosen and sacrificed
and chosen
and sacrificed
for this religion, this God and Savior of mine.

Because it is true, and nothing my fleshy human heart of mine desires is worth losing connection to that truth.

So, Movieguide humans, and humans attacking mormonism everyday, just in general,
and temptations easily besetting every turn,

I will
fight back.

Victorious through Jesus Christ.
Go team.

Part II: Garlock fights back.

2011-12-07T14:57:00.001-08:00

So after reading this, there was no question: I had to write something, do something--this review presently a completely skewed perspective of mormonism and though I NEVER do this, never really bother to become involved with such nonsensical gigs, I had words to give and knew they had to be given.

My email to the MovieGuide humans:
"I am grateful that this movie app is one that I feel I can trust to recommend what's appropriate for a family/individual with strong values. It is for that reason that I write to you presently.

The review of Breaking Dawn Part 1 was spot on with regard to the campy melodrama and violation of Christian values. However, the last section relating themes and drawing connections from Twilight to "heretical" Mormonism felt rather forced and, to be candid, inaccurate. The cursory doctrinal references made to the celestial kingdom etc. displayed a lack of true understanding of those teachings. To relate blood-drinking vampire marriage with LDS marriage and the surrounding doctrines is far-fetched and disturbing.

Lds.org or Mormon.org are great resources to check the connections you claim mormonism shares with this morally corrupt and sensual film.

I ask that you re-evaluate the part of this review that is based on incorrect perceptions of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and revise as necessary. Poet Lance Larsen has said, "To live is to revise" and in this case, Movieguide writers, it is appropriate to revise your review of Breaking Dawn Part 1.

Thank you,

Amanda Garlock
Sent from my iPhone"

and finally, in summation...

Part I: No but really, tell us how you REALLY feel...

2011-12-07T14:42:00.001-08:00

There is something that simply MUST be said, not one second longer, right now. Twilight (in any and all forms) and I are NOT friends.

If I saw Stephanie Meyer, I'd probably have to be constrained to prevent an extremely confrontational conversation with that woman. I am purposefully not saying a lot by way of explanation of WHY i have these feelings because let's be honest:

1.) i am a teacher; I feel rather tuckered out today.

2.) Regardless of your personal feelings on the matter, YOU ALL KNOW WHY I WOULD FEEL THIS WAY ABOUT TWILIGHT. People that like this literary cornmeal mush in the beautiful world of filet mignon and creme brulee still know why it is loathed so desperately by English snobs alike.

3.) Writing excessive vehement words is the worst. No one likes to read them anyway. Ergo, on with the point. Today I read the Christian-based MovieGuide Review on "Breaking Dawn: Part 1". I was so excited with the whole gig ("Yes! Someone is actually writing the TRUTH about this crap movie/story!") until I got to these words:

Finally, there’s a Mormon subtext to THE TWILIGHT SAGA that Christians, parents, and moviegoers should be made aware. As such, it presents an allegorical story consistent with Mormon theology. Mormonism is heretical because it violates basic biblical truths taught by Jesus Christ and firmly accepted by His first disciples in the First and Second Centuries.

**At this point I was like, "WHAAA? Oh brooother, this is going to be good.."

For instance, Bella, the story’s female heroine, yearns to become a supernatural creature like Edward, whom she views as a kind of God. Like his vampire family, the Cullens, Edward has risen above his baser nature (he refuses to drink human blood anymore), so he and the Cullens are now able to pursue higher and higher intellectual and humanitarian ideals (the patriarch of Edward’s family, Carlisle, is a doctor who goes around healing people). This scenario is a metaphor for Mormon belief, which says that people can become gods by rising above their sinful nature and pursuing good works.

Also, in BREAKING DAWN, much is made of the fact that Edward and Bella are made for one another. Also according to the story’s mythology, male werewolves imprint on their future mates, which establishes an unbreakable bond between them. Both these things fit in well with false Mormon theology, where women enter the celestial kingdom only through their husbands, who become the god of their own individual planet. In fact, according to heretical Mormon teaching, this is exactly what Jesus Christ is, the god of this planet, but not the God of the Whole Universe and whatever may lie beyond it.

**Thank you for using "heretical" 50 billion times...

Mormon theology is completely different from New Testament Christianity, which teaches that salvation and deliverance from sin is a free gift from the one and only True God, through belief in the vicarious atonement, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Thus, good works are not a means of salvation or redemption. Instead, they are only an expression of our salvation in Christ. And, faith, which is a gift from God, is the means by which human beings appropriate that salvation and start to have communion or fellowship with God through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

...My rebuttal cometh forth...

in the meantime, read THIS link for funnnyyy commentary on Twilight: http://www.verbal-vomit.com/2011/11/team-anything-but-edward.html

be.be.

2011-11-08T13:19:00.000-08:00

Feels like everyone's having BABIES right now!
[please note the exclamation point as genuine excitement for this observation]

Recently, I took my first ever UEA Teacher/Fall Break to Rexburg, Idaho.
I got to see one of my dearest friends and her nearly 2 year old baby girl. It was so wonderful to play and laugh with that cute child; we had way two much fun. I started wondering if I should change my life and ONLY hang out with nearly 2 year olds...but then realized that I already spend most of my time with 12-13 yr olds and that's basically the same thing. Basically.

Then, my best friend from BIRTH had her very first son this past week. I held him on his second day of life here on this little earth and he was a surprisingly good-looking infant. Surprising because he was an infant. Not because his parents are good-looking. Cuuzzz they are. Sooo..how did i start talking about this?

ANYWAY. The babies are rampant and beautiful.
Checckkk it yo: Carli/Marshall's babe (pictured above), Annie/Go's JB (not Justin Bieber. no no. Juniper Betty), Amber/Mike's wee beaut, Taryn/Jason's upcoming bundle.
I am glad they are in the best homes everrrr. What a happy holiday season time!

Soooo....

2011-10-29T11:45:00.001-07:00

i bought two byu shirts today-
which is WAY more than i ever purchased as an actual student.
But now that i find myself teaching in a Sandy land divided between utes and cougs, i feel it's only right to sway the young masses by ousting my loyalty to the Y.
In throwback to vintage design, of course:

Alum Pride.
2011

Sistersss, sistersss...

2011-10-25T10:44:00.000-07:00

This vlog reminded me SO much of my sister, Morgan, and me.
...Mainly because Morgan LOVES mumus but also because we are crazy like this on camera or when we used to stand in front of the bedroom mirror hosting "Talk Shows".
But really, we send the hermana mumus at Christmas time for her and her current companion.
She loves them that much. We love her that much. That mumu much.

"hiccups"

2011-10-05T10:56:00.001-07:00

there is no hidden meaning
behind this
I am just sitting at my desk
cluttered
even though i cleaned
yesterday

and
the hiccups
are certainly distracting me
from the "to do"
list i still need to write...

when i open my mouth wide,
i can hear each
surprising STACATTO spasm
.
.
.
of my diaphragm . . .

∞

2011-09-20T13:47:00.000-07:00

that's what today has been all about.

[double-dose blog day...just trying to make up for the distance, the miles]
[i could see for miles, miles, miles...boniverboniver...]

" a feeling i experience often "

2011-09-20T10:07:00.000-07:00

a feeling i experience often
right now
is
overwhelmed
not in a panicked way
but in a brain-webbed way
where tasks are
stretched across synapses,
captured by shapes
that spherically sprawl
and snap
in time with my rising blood pressure.

clearly, it is here:
inexperience works.

I added clouds. And documented it.

2011-08-30T14:36:00.001-07:00

i'm just excited bout it all. that's all.

This is what it means to be a Real Teacher.

2011-08-30T14:36:00.000-07:00

welcome to a piece of my 7th grade classroom.
dreams come true.

For when thunder matches the beat of your heart and lightening is the only sound you can see.

2011-06-02T17:18:00.000-07:00

BOSTON:

we had a storm on yester's eve: tornado warnings et. al.
it knocked out the electricity which was lending power to my viewing of
HARRY POTTER 7 [we just moved the party to my cousin's laptop].

______________________________________________________________________
BOSTON:

a veritable WALDEN POND for the heart.
i've been reading such delicious words and drinking a substantial amount of water,
all in hopes that the transitions of life will begin to piece together, to give some clarity to the etch-a-sketch view of these contemporary eyes.

______________________________________________________________________
BOSTON:

two of my cousins, twin faces as wells as hearts, brought me to this land with their high school graduation.

well. actually, that's not true; a JetBlue airplane and the generosity of my grandparents brought me to this land.

This land where I have eaten twix as well as salmon. Where my hair has absorbed the humidity and curled its ends into an appreciative smile [thank you, dear hair, i love ye]. This land, this land of Author's Ridge cemetery fame and tidy little houses set upon streets which will. not. be. tamed. A place where my shoes run against the fears and gather truth from neglected inked pages and where, in this land, i will not allow transition to cheat and cheat and cheat ANY PART OF THIS SUMMER HEART.
______________________________________________________________________
BOSTON 2011:

where i came for a week to prepare for all the weeks ahead.

Heaven Even Likes Progress

2011-04-26T15:04:00.000-07:00

g r a d u a t ed ;

family times
career search
house sit
tillamook ice cream is less $ than BYU creamery. score. MAJOR score.
unexpected spiritual feast = convocation + commencement speeches
blog facelift
sunshine hopes
personal reflections
precepts upon previous precepts, along with subtle foundational remodels, as needed.
quite good, quiiiiiite good.

[photos forthcoming]

don't stop, don't break

2011-04-11T11:44:00.000-07:00

you can delight because you have a place.
[5:05-5:25 is my very favourite part of the following vid...]

is it the right word you designed for me?
is it the broken word or good advice i need?
is the tapestry set beneath my wings?
is it mysterious, glorious? Indeed.

*mini-shout out to, Barret Bowtie for reminding me of this song via his words written so long ago from that Florida missionary-land. Oh, and his blog title, too. Thanks yo.

eating cereal

2011-04-04T20:17:00.000-07:00

[chomp]
7:23am

Val Dyer [OR] Growing through Life: thoughts on deeper transitions than the mundane.

2011-03-14T16:31:00.000-07:00

Yellow Bench of Joy: worn with the most beautiful elements of life
[From Spruce Mountain in Larkspur, Colorado]

You see that above, I have provided one of my favourite sitting places EVER for you.
Take a seat, stay a while. Read these words, if you so desire.

Growing up, there seems to be a group of women that are "The Women" of your life. You know what I'm talking about: the solid and constant ones who have kids your age, who seem to always be at youth activities, the ones that you watch from week to week at church or always see at school activities in the community, the one that your mom loves to chat with and that love she expresses for their goodness trickles down into your heart, too. These are women who, unbeknownst to you OR them, contribute to who you become and what you hope to be like as the years pass. For me, these are women like Marie Bateman, Merlene Betteridge, Heather Betteridge, Annie Fitzsimmons, Ma Gessel, Colleen White, Tiffany Roderick, Susan Clark, Sis. Nickel, Carol Mugleston, Ruth Gollihur, Carolyn Poland, Sis. Woodhouse, Sis. Gehring, Marion Lybbert, Margaret Roisum, Kara Axcel, Kristina Dooley, etc. etc.

Today, my thoughts are drawn to one of these women in my life: one named Val Dyer whom I always think of as "Cookie." We called her Cookie @girls camp as she was an irreplaceable part of the talented and sweet cooks in the camp kitchen. [Though, I admit that I secretly called her Cookie in hope that she would actually give me a cookie] [...yeah, that never happened...though i did get to eat some reeeeally nice peach cobbler...]. I remember in my 4th year of camp when I became "HELGA" (..my camp identity...oh the joys of girls camp haha..), I was up at the kitchen duck-taping my shorts (again, the joys of girls camp...no explanation needed..?) on skit night so that I could write "H-E-L-G-A" nice and big and let-there-be-no-questions-asked-who-i-am, when Cookie came around the corner. Laura Fisher and Kelsey Ray and I started giggling at our silliness being discovered by an adult and Val asked, "What are you crazy girls up to?" So I explained to her how I was now to be known throughout the universe as HELGA. Cookie SMILED and replied, "I remember when I was OLGA at camp!" Val proceeded to share with us a little bit about her shenanigans back then. She made me feel so cool--any slight insecurities were destroyed: I was ready to shine as HELGA in all of her unshowered glory. I was ready to let the adventures come: the spirit of OLGA was with me!

On a more festive note, there has never been a Christmas that I don't remember Val + Family being an integral part of. The Dyers come down to The Beach every Christmas Eve to reminisce, sing, and Dan reads an original story to us all. Ever-observant, I love how Val is a woman who sings out joyfully with her exuberant family (i love, i love. read: please let my future husband/family be so exuberant!) and takes the time to talk one-on-one with many individuals there in that packed living room. Their family has steadily been woven into the fabric of what the true meaning and spirit of CHRISTMAS is to me: love, connections, service, laughter, tears, friendship, family, BE A FRIEND, lots and lots of people, hugs, and comfy pajamas.

Presently, I get to be neighbors and visiting teaching companions with Marion, Val's daughter. I believe that people and families are in our lives to remind us of the stability we experience in eternal realms--Marion, Val, the Dyers, these are all people who mean so much in my life but often don't receive much expression of that appreciation because how does one pin-point gratitude for a plethora of small moments, quick life-influencing observations and a steadysteady stream of goodness?

The jarring transition between this life and eternity is sometimes the worst. It's the worst because not only is pain felt for the NOW, but also there is a load of pain about FUTURE loss, too. Fear just complicates that pain. No amount of words spoken, typed, hand-written, texted, or blogged can alleviate the reality of grief. Prayer is the only umbrella during these certain types of storms in life; Jesus Christ is the only Savior of the World who can go with us where no. one. else can go, the only one who can heal the hurts too deep for any one else to touch. That's just true. Any other answer is futile. I rejoice in a God that is omniscient and knows where we've been, where we ARE, and where we can and WILL go when we "becometh as a child...willing to submit to all things [He] sees fit to inflict upon [us]" (Mos. 3:19).

In the midst of the sadness of striking pain that returns with an unchecked freshness at each update on Val's health, I do feel comfort in and a connection to the goodness that is in the lives of many people because of this woman's life. I feel deeper gratitude for simple memories. I have a greater desire to be good and do good. I love my own mom more through reflecting on the goodness of great women in my life. I want to pray more honestly and serve more diligently. I share all of this to illustrate the effect that one woman, Val/Cookie, has had on my life merely because she is APART of it. I've said it before and I believe it again: Everything we do matters. And I'm filled with gratitude for these stable women in my life who have influenced me to live more like Christ, simply through their Christlike examples.

I am learning that as the years pass through and the transitions come (sometimes far too early due to merciless disease), the truly "stable" part of these women is connected to the eternal life we are all striving to receive as the greatest gift from God. And that truth, the truth that God lives and unconditionally wants us all to return back to Him, can settle my soul and flow like a determined current through the grief that would threaten to tear up all hope and sweetness that Christ offers all who come unto Him.

[m]ARCH

2011-03-11T13:55:00.000-08:00

"i'll take ATTITDUE
over EXPERIENCE
any day."

some very wise human said those words once (i'm not sure WHO exactly, but SOMEONE did). And THAT is precisely what I like to call

M A R C H .

my students are writing research papers.
i'm writing job applications.
and lesson plans.
and TMs of the D.
and trying to force myself to remain a social independent unit.

HELLO SPRING.
CAN YOU HEAR ME, SPRING?
I LOVE YOU, PLEASE COME AND STAY.
(not kum and go.)

Annnnd finally,
a couple of unconnected thoughts, just because I feel like I have neglected the blogging world for a while now...

1.)ehhh..ne'ermind. i got nothing. I'll try again soon...

j'aime...

2011-02-26T15:33:00.000-08:00

my family coming to Ptown; bringing with them every truth and warmth of home.
old friends
beyonce
chinese bun
collecting words
utah lake
familiar scents
gecko lizard stickers
spicy corea
roommate chair dancing
laughing with my students
anything NOT the teacher work sample
oranges courtesy of the sunflower market
chompchompchomp.

and surprisingly, THIS song:

[when do i EVER like john mayer?..yeah, never. except for this one RARE moment]

a february illness

2011-02-09T09:28:00.001-08:00

it's been hugging me around
the middle.

unrelentless

a dizzying desperate embrace
squeezing
and
wailing
like the fear of a child
when the parents
go out for a night
on the town: pearl earrings and tailored suitcoats
the whole one-two bit.

And I,
the wanting-to-look-competent babysitter,
carefully lift the child
away
- - -p u l l i n g
one arm at a time- - -

hoping to distract
those tears,
fill those fears,
with
all the wonders
of colour
and
kindness.

literal letters

2011-02-01T14:00:00.001-08:00

lamansinalalaiaalaoalalalammmbchoppsssksnaiabeyansksidhvebbabuwhtenanbwabalckaskn!

time is fickle little trick.

[we have gold every day]

doubledose blog day. ...don't get crazy!

oh, hello.

2011-02-01T07:17:00.000-08:00

Steps to Surviving and yea, even THRIVING whilst Student Teaching
by ALG

1.) Plan ahead, Plan often, Plan Thoroughly
2.) Leave planning at school.
3.) Dance party in the car ride both to and fro the school.
4.) Find ye'self some true friends and laugh and stuff.
5.) GO TO SLEEP
6.) GO TO SLEEEP
7.) WAKE UP ON TIME
8.) Value all of your students; cherish the "good" days and learn from the ruff ones, too.
9.) Remember why teaching well matters. Hold that truth in the safest part of your heart.

Bonus/Honourable Mention: Don't slip on student-left-over-spilled milk/water/juice as you walk down the hall to your classroom, unless, that is, you're prepared to feel like a little bebe sheep. baa.

today is one of those days

2011-01-27T13:59:00.000-08:00

you must rejoice in what you do.

Reading Anticipation Guides = THE BOMB.COM

thank you, all of Life's Controversies, for bringing debate and laughter into A1-A4 this very day.
My classroom loves you.
I d' t'!

annnnnnnnd
i just found on my phone's "Quick Text" button
this delight..i don't know if it's funny just because i'm
at the end of a long teaching day, or if it really is legitimately
funny. Eh. Either way..here is what i found:

QuickText#8 "Would you like to join me for a date tonight?"

Really? REALLY!? Who QuickTexts a date invitation?? Wait a second.
Who TEXTS for a date, anyway??? Ohhhkay...

Dear Future Husband:

Stay classy.

Love,

that girl you had the swaggerr + wherewithal to ask out using your very own beautiful vocal chords.

well,

2011-01-26T14:03:00.000-08:00

sometimes there just isn't much to say
because
of, quite simply,
how much there is
to do.

Like go to the Provo Bakery for instance.
For
THREE
yes
THREE
not no
yes
THREE
baked bran delights.

mmm..chomp.

Some of the best words I've felt in a while.

2011-01-18T15:46:00.000-08:00

One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving.

-Paulo Coelho

sometimes the best and only thing to do is

2011-01-17T11:43:00.000-08:00

breathe
breathe
breathe

and

w r i t e .

if all else fails,
RUN.
DRIVE.
pray s'more.

Let's talk FISH: specifically, Nemo + co.

2010-12-23T20:33:00.000-08:00

Last night whilst viewing "Finding Nemo" with some young young bebe's, I was surprised to glean some powerful self-to-film connections that I want to record here for documentation purposes. Though it may seem silly, this part of the movie really rang true to my life experiences of these past 4 months.

First, some contextual background: nemo's dad, marlin, and the happy-go-lucky-short-term-memory fish DORY are stuck inside o f a whale--very frustrating to Marlin who is desperate to find nemonemonemo.

Marlin continues to ram himself against the inside lining of the Whale's mouth: futile, painful, nonsensical.

He has no idea that the whale is taking him EXACTLY where he needs to go--Sydney, AUS; there is a lack of faith and trust in his stressed out heart.

But LOOK @ Dory--she's just so chill and happy and RIDING the whale waves and laughing and going to THE EXACT SAME PLACE marlin is IN THE EXACT SAME WAY, yet her life is significantly happier because she trusts this experience inside the whale is good and for a good end.

Important to note: Marlin + Dory didn't do anything "wrong" or "bad" to end up inside of the whale. As in, compared to the biblical example of Jonah, they did not sin nor go against the express commandments of God to find themselves within the belly of a whale. And yet, they are still experiencing the limitations and struggles that come with being stuck inside of a whale.

Anyway, what is there to take from all this analysis?

well, this quote comes to mind:

"'No misfortune is so bad that whining about it won't make it worse."
-Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (Apr 2007 Gen Conf)

And also the perspective to trust in Him who calms knotted seas and directs the oceans of our souls; trust that the WHALES which seem to swallow us in life are not only temporary but also a meaningful part of the process of getting where we need to be.
He understands salty tears and the bitter pains of feeling stuck or misunderstood. When heaven feels silent, I testify that it is not. Sometimes it is more about the willingness of our hearts to endure, trust, and listen anew; love is communicated in a plethora of ways.

Well, those are some of the freshest
thoughts of my heart for ya.

Oh, and alsoooo,
besides thinking about Finding Nemo this Christmas break, I've been LOVING listening to THIS pandora station: Sufjan Stevens (Holiday)...oh so chill, looove love.

Hard to believe Christmas EVE is on the blessed morrow. Looking forward to deeply rooted traditions of joy. Happy Merry.

For a week when just about EVERYTHING is funny, this is pretty dang funny.

2010-12-09T14:30:00.001-08:00

happy FINALS week
from
Provo, UT

one of the many reasons I love my mother...

2010-12-03T11:54:00.001-08:00

she sends me words like THESE:

"I believe laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing; kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and I believe in miracles." -Audrey Hepburn

ahahaha..thanks, MAWM!

In all sincerity, I whole-heartedly agree with Audrey on this one.
Especially the last two sentences.
I'm a girl hoping for a lot of miracles this Decembre.

Welcome to my life, FALL FINALS 2010!

spring throwbackk.

2010-12-01T09:41:00.000-08:00

let the memories be good.
i love these.

word.

2010-11-25T11:13:00.000-08:00

the above picture is from our Pilgrim/Indian Cottage Dinner.

*courtesy of my dear roommate, beka boo.

i have loved this month of November sooo much this year.
there's so much to be thankful for...

H A P P Y
thanks
g i v i n g .

commonly pondered .

2010-11-22T13:25:00.000-08:00

SUCKING the MARROW out of LIFE.

personal teaching philosophy

s u m m e r t i m e .
friendship

mirrors, side-view mirrors. perspective.

cinnamon
(would i really choke if i swallowed a tsp. whole?)

firehydrants.

this land: AMERICAthese people: HOME

and all the goodness and BLESSINGs in my life.

This past semester, more than any other time in my life,
i believe in the REALITY of MIRACLES.
i believe in the power of God.

Je sais qu'avec la force du Seigneur, je peut TOUT faire.

S U I T C A S E .

2010-11-20T10:34:00.000-08:00

This little ditty made me a smidgen bit weepy this morn in the multimedia lab.

It's best to write final undergraduate papers through misty eyes anyway, i think.

i went on a trip.

2010-11-19T13:18:00.001-08:00

there are two very important things i've learned in the past five years of my undergrad. Let me share them presently, for personal documentation purposes and all.

Very Important Thing #1.) Go on ONE (1) roadtrip per semester; Student Sanity remains intact and love for life increases on average by 12.75%...

Very Important Thing #2.) Go on said roadtrips with true friend(s). Talk and laugh until you are empty and yet completely full. Eat pistachios, dark chocolate, and dried mangos. Stop at beautiful random places (climb through the BRAMBLES), and absolutely only listen to the most excellent musique. Document said events with digital, professional, and disposable cameras.
My Preferred Months for collegiate roadtrips are November, March, and May (summertime is intended to be one extended roadtrip of goodness). Smattered throughout this post are evidences of my most recent roadtrip escapade I went on with my dear friend, mwalka.

C O L O R A D A! November 5-7th
helicopter's landing: FUTILE DEVICES
Larkspur, CO

Just for general information, the first five pikkas were taken with a disposable camera, the rest are digital products.

Also, this post is dedicated to the sweetest Momma G!
Love unto ye.

Sharing Time

2010-11-09T20:58:00.000-08:00

I have a professor, Dr. KLM, as we like to say, who has impacted my life for better in so many ways. I am in my third and final class from her and will forever be grateful for all she has taught me, how I have loved/loathed and been stretched by the papers, and the many irreplaceable friendships that have come as a result of her classes. She is good. She is soo good and I love her.
Apparently, and for good reason, the humanities college loves her too and so they decided to make this video about her teaching philosophy/style and now we're all famous.

If you care to watch...HERE is the [updated] link.

I needed white thumbtacks, and I needed them bad.

2010-11-03T20:34:00.001-07:00

You know that feeling of being on a QUEST and nothing, not anybody, no dark chocolate, no potential eternal companion is going to stop you from achieving such a goal?

yeeeeeah.

I just had the most serious conversation of my life with a workerman in Fedex/Kinkos about THUMBTACKS. In a room OVERFLOWING with packing supplies, tapetapetape, binders, and bubblewrap, nary a white thumbtack would be found. Oh, (like Target) they for sure have pushpins (not the same people--not. the. same.) and No, he did not know if the local grocer would carry thumbtacks. We smiled zero percent. Serious tones. This was REAL LIFE. no jokes. zero fun sir.

Except, it was incredibly fun/funny. I laughed all the way out to the car. (How in the world did we carry on such a monotone and yet urgent conversation about such an insignificant object?)

And yet, I still needed thumbtacks. I needed them bad.

The answer?

HONKS (everything $1!) ("Always an adventure!").

HONKS never faileth.

Mission accomplished. Boom. Bam. VICTORY.

1 Novembre 2010

2010-11-01T13:24:00.000-07:00

Classy in ARGYLE

been saving these blessed socks for this blessed day since sk gave these to me for the ol' bday.

Grateful for this new month of NOVEMBER.
soo excited for all the adventures to come these next 30 days...

I woke up laughing from the sheer JOY of it all...

2010-10-29T13:57:00.000-07:00

Wow. I am surprised and DELIGHTED to claim last night as one of my favourites yet of the semester.

On a whim, on a CRAZY moment whim, I volunteered to be the Party Planner Face for my Teaching Reading class.

People came in costumes, we had a colouring contest and decorated sugar cookies, Dr. Sirpa read us a scary story in the dark of the night!, we played murder/mofia, laughed enough to make that Monsters Inc. town run for 7 years straight, and...possibly the most incredible, In.Credible, part of the night was beat-boxinnggg with one of the most legit kids around: Shane. What a rapper. What a joy. We are pictured below. Yes, I am wearing a make-shift ghettofab do-rag (sp? anyone, anyone?).

Thank you English Teaching major for filling my life with such amazing people. Go team. Happy Halloween.

FIRST SNOW

2010-10-27T12:58:00.000-07:00

26 October 2010
provo, utah
9:26pm

my feelings on such an occasion:
coldcoldcoldICEcold
"MY HEART IS MADE OF SUMMMERRRR!"
excitement
confusion
beauty, huge floating swirling flakes
magical
must. throw. snowball. NOW.
freeeeezing

what was done to celebrate such an occasion:
early departure from the blessed study haven (10pm, to be exact)
Hot Chocolate
Homemade Popcorn (classic)
WHITE CHRISTMAS with the most amiable company, courtesy of The Cottage + co.

the blend

2010-10-21T14:36:00.000-07:00

Currently:

found via a sidewalk on BYU campus.

Lately, some reasons my soul has been filled with J O Y.
- autumn leaves and goodness therein: o, the colours!
- razor scootering is BOSS.
- Intramural basketball team
- running with my diligent roommates
- Hermana Mumu (my sister) officially entered the MTC [pictures to come]
- some reeeeeally delicious food (Quinoa, India Palace, Great Harvest Bread, Trio in SLC, TreeCott Dinner Group, etc. etc.)
- sk is offically going to the Tuscon Arizona Spanish Speaking mission!!!! It is so nice to know where/when everything is going down and to try and speak in spanish sometimes. well, sprancais (spanish/french) that is...
- mumford and sons mmm...just so good.
- insightful conversations with dear friends//family.
- reading some excellent YA books as of late. Important.
- the joy of scholarship, just in general. ahhh learning is so amazing.

On Turbulence

2010-10-16T12:35:00.000-07:00

"it is good advice to slow down a little, steady the course,
and focus on the essentials when experiencing adverse conditions"

Pres. Uchtdorf "Of Things That Matter Most" Oct. 2010

"PROTECT THE CREAMIE!!!!"

2010-10-15T12:21:00.000-07:00

Legions of flies flew in filled-in oval formations.
Unawares, I ate my chocolate creamie on my way to work, whistling in between chomps.
Smooth, cocoa-y, FULL: the cold chilled my teeth despite the autumn sun.

And yet, they came. We collided. My mind flashed oncetwiceagain: "PROTECT THE CREAMIE!!!!"
War cry.
Hand fly.
Make-shift shield.

Feet pushing against pavement, bentback//shoulders hunched, eyelashes drawn together--
i could SMELL the locker room.
Sanctuary.

A surprising oxymoron.

and, freedom.

Post-Scripted thought: "Hope is the Creamie of the soul!" mmm...truth...soooooo good.

scrapbooked.

2010-10-04T13:06:00.000-07:00

Two unseen gems of photo I stumbled upon this morn:

oh, oh.
these people.
that team.
(just go ahead and change my life)

Delightful.

But. That was this summer, and THIS is now...

and i love this.
With all of my little heart.
Happy Monday of Delight!

They're so FLUFFY!

2010-09-29T12:55:00.001-07:00

First, i'd like to thank my roommate for introducing me to the below species. Thanks, Beka. Long live ANGORA!

Next, I'd like to dedicate this post to carli, as I know she will certainly love these little fluffy...things.

Finally, I'd also like to share a direct quote from my co-worker when she feasted her eyes upon such an animal: "If I saw one of those hopping around the backyard or something, I think I'd start to cry..." Tears of pure joy, i'm sure.

the longer you look at them, the funnier they become
(like a furby, only substitute the word "creepier" for "funnier").

i just wanted to use the word "brownie" in conjunction with "cookie"

2010-09-27T14:33:00.000-07:00

So many things.
Very many things.
All happening.
Even though it may feel like they're not happening or even if things threaten to turn into the Thing,
it is
the start of a new week.

and that, my friends, promises Adventure untold.

ALSO,

J'ai parlé à mon frère ce matin...il va à la France en ce moment!

et finalement, just for my personal documentation purposes,
I submitted an oatmeal cookie recipe from my practicum teacher to a little blog I enjoy reading:
So Festive

hopefully, it wins and i can bring fame and fortune to my professor's name.
And honour to my family. Just in general.

uhmm...co-workers, please be proud.

2010-09-24T12:12:00.001-07:00

dear
mr. buzzbuuzz FLY,
I was surprised to feel sadness roll into my heart once I realized I had truly and totally crushed you. Normally your species are the best at playing the game, avoiding the SWAT of newspaper crushing against the faded blue counter-top (hide your wife/hide your kids). YOU fly, are my
FIRST and LAST one gonegonegone.

I'll change my ways. Well, really just this one way. I like my other ways. Like upUP and sideways stories and breyer's mint ice cream.

Good bye.
ALG

My "WHAT THE?!" Wednesday thought...

2010-09-22T09:13:00.000-07:00

The white tank-tops!
The bleached hair!
The tight harmonies + choreographed dances!

Oh, to see N*sync in concert once more...

Mondee of Dillight

2010-09-20T09:46:00.000-07:00

alarm being set for 7:37PMnotAM

Pomplemousse (grapefruit/pumelo) (huge DELICIOUSness)
C R A C K ED WHEAT + supersoft brown sugar + halfnhalf. Always surprisingly delicious.

walking/running/pushingbikeup hiLL
waterbottle

i like twix
i like kitkats
i ate a twix
i ate a kitkat

it is only 10:50am! YES!

ALSO, why has THIS young chap never been featured on my blog?
haha...well. There he is. Go team. JBIEBS!

Ye Olde Photobooth gems. Just absolute JEWELS.

2010-09-17T14:27:00.000-07:00

TODAY,
I am grateful for

QUIET work environments.

and

the photobooth delights which occasionally accompany such a place.

T-SWIZZLE

2010-09-10T10:30:00.000-07:00

say what you may, think what you'd like
but
this very music video pulled on my little heartstrings this very morning.

FLEAS

2010-09-08T09:48:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, Sister Samuelson discussed the idea of Gratitude in all things with the BYU student body @the first Tuesday Devotional of Fall 2010. Her words reminding me to be grateful couldn't have been better timed in my life.

She brought up the well-known Holocaust survivor, Corey Ten Boom and shared THIS part of Corey's account with us at devotional:
(yes, it is a little longer paragraph, but ohsodelicious)

"Corrie was put into a cell with her sister Betsie. Her worry now was that the guards would see the Bible and take it away from them, the two sister's only source of hope and comfort. The place was so infested with fleas that the sisters could not move without instantly being covered with the bugs. Betsie told Corrie that they should thank God for the fleas, Corrie wasn't sure she could do this, but she and Betsie bowed their heads and thanked God for even the fleas. Weeks later, Corrie was struck by the blessing that came for her obedience to thank God in all circumstances; Betsie had heard a supervisor say she wouldn't step through the door of their cell because of all the fleas, and neither would the guards. It was because of the fleas that Corrie and Betsie were able to continue to keep their Bible without the guards finding it."

from the magical land of provo,
trying to be grateful
for the
f l e a s .

blogging for life. and memories. and now. and then. and later. and so i don't have to read NATIVE SON again.

2010-09-02T14:45:00.000-07:00

keep it good for ya, keep it hood for ya...

Because I know you wanted to know.

2010-08-20T10:54:00.001-07:00

These are some of the incredible YOUF of theNATION i got to meet and learn from this summer. I love them. They know so much and are waaay stronger than they sometimes get credit for. Very little bugs me more than to sit in on a YM/YW meeting/lesson and watch leaders do all the work: youth can, should, and need to be asked to give prayers/play the piano/share insights/etc. etc. When I train counselors, there are three things I have learned to consistently stress that applies to good teaching just in general:

1. Teach DOCTRINE not personal opinion
2. You need to love hearing the youth speak more than you love hearing yourself speak: this means preparing meaningful questions and also preparing what you hope the youth will know/feel/do after your devotional/gospel study/meeting together.
3. Have fun (no but really, LAUGH together!), be REAL and be CREATIVE in your teaching.

ahhh yes. There it is: a blessed FACILITATOR of meaningful discussions. Golden.

[sidenote: transitioning back to the "real world" following a summer of EFY is always an adventure...never the easiest, but ever-needed...and is sometimes aided by reflection posts such as this one]

a few recent epiphanies

2010-08-19T21:33:00.000-07:00

...to feel like a 15 year old again: Learn how to drive stick shift @age 22.
...to appreciate patient parents better: Learn how to drive stick shift @age 22.
...to learn once more that "HEY! Prayer WORKS!": Learn how to drive stick shift @age 22.

...for a warm heart and familiar humor: Attend a dear friend's bridal garden party complete with the most delicious rolls of your LIFE.

...to realize how much you actually LIKE getting ready/makeup/hair did: go an extended period of time living like a scrub. Then get ready/do makeup/get hair did AND borrow sister's cute clothes. Boom bam. Word.

One Big Ruffle

2010-08-16T10:01:00.001-07:00

Adjusting the Airflow

2010-08-13T22:32:00.000-07:00

WHERE have I gone?

I'll tell you where.

Portland, OREGON.
90+ degree weather.
7 girls in a suburban for a 10hr day.
Burgerville.
Round Table Pizza.
Mayhem.
YES PLEASE.

The B-Girl up and got married this very day.
Tomorrow's the celebration.
Bring on the ruFfLEs.

my life:

2010-07-03T23:00:00.001-07:00

Team EFY '10

+

THIS song.

+
a few extra gems: "Boueeeey!"

It's only just begun...

(Thanks Bro. Palmer for capturing these moments this past week! Love you tons)

entertainment of the day...

2010-06-10T13:10:00.000-07:00

i can't tell you how many times i've watched this at work today. probably 12.
Which is a total of 6 minutes. (and counting).
hm.

thank you, weber grills, thank. you.

barbeque, anyone?

RoadTrip FINALE.

2010-06-08T13:09:00.000-07:00

Our Team Motto:
EAT
PRAY
LOVE

and, of course:
D A N C E

thnx 4 the memoRies, dear ones.

The Island

2010-06-08T12:44:00.000-07:00

For our Saturday adventure, Jen, Heather, Morgan, Sarah and I all boarded the Anderson Island Ferry to explore the island.

HIGHLIGHTS:
-Trading off choosing who directed which way to turn when we reached a fork in the road.
-The General Island Store
-An elementary school complete with swings, tetherball (sarah beat me...twice.), and "The Happiest Place on Earth" sign (yeah, WHAT?..hyperbole? I don't even know. But I WAS indeed really happy there, that's true)
-Heather asking a stray dog for directions..."Hey! WHERE YOU BEEN??"
-Missing our ferry home..haha and we were a whole minute early too.
-Making a music video whilst stranded
-The SUN SHINING the whole time

MUST-HAVES for the Road to Seattle

2010-06-08T12:37:00.000-07:00

One Mikie Burger + Blackberry Shake.

A most wise and oh-so-cute Palm Reader Extraordinaire.

Annnnd....Two Vampires.

I can't believe I just posted the word "vampire" on my blog.
Oh dear...

The Seattle Experience

2010-06-08T12:13:00.000-07:00

Jen, Heather, and Sarah came to Washington for the first time.
Naturally, we had to hit up Pike Place and the Seattle Center/Space Needle.
The best part was having my mom and two younger sisters along for the adventure.

\\ I'm only me when i'm with you //

2010-06-01T19:51:00.000-07:00

14 hour drive...x2? NBD
(a preview of sorts)

everyone needs to see this...

2010-05-26T21:05:00.001-07:00

emus...the new llama?

wisdom of this very wednesday

2010-05-26T12:02:00.000-07:00

"Prayer works. It is real.
We should all be praying for each other because
life is meant to be a community affair."

Thanks Sherrie Johnson, for sharing this thought.

Also, remember this, khatch?
communication -- commune -- community

ps-i may or may not be GIDDY with excitement to see these folk veryvery soon...

travailler

2010-05-25T12:48:00.000-07:00

shalom

2010-05-15T12:56:00.000-07:00

Let me just say this: I am grateful for the blessing of a body.

Living an ACTIVE life, eating a balanced diet, Sleeping for realz keeps me sane and is important in being of service to the Lord and others.

here is what i know: to compare is to despair.

"Our bodies are our temples. We are not less but more like Heavenly Father because we are embodied. I testify that the body is a gift to be treated with gratitude and respect.You must do everything you can to make your appearance pleasing, but the minute you walk out the door, forget yourself and start concentrating on others."

-Susan W. Tanner, "The Sanctity of the Body" Oct. 2005

crucial conjunctions

2010-05-11T14:03:00.000-07:00

just one more of the SHALOM girls...

britters, bree, dinosaur, agar, sk

Tell us where the talking lhama is and we'll burn your house to the ground

2010-05-11T09:12:00.000-07:00

let's do this.

first: i know that llama is spelled w/the double 'l' ... the subject line is a movie quote from my favourite movie EVER, Emperor's New Groove.

next: DREAMS COME TRUE. there is a blessed list of things I want to do this spring and very near the top was this dream called "Llama Fest" where basically a bunch of us spent some quality time with llamas up in Spanish Fork at the Hare Krishna Temple. So, this past saturday that is exactly what happened. We brought carrots and apples and the llamas loveLOVEd eating their llama lunch. Thankfully, Sarah had brought along some hand sanitizer so we could get off all that delightful llama slobber.

Lastly: OH MY GOODNESS, I forgot how much fun college life can be. Sometimes things can get a little too serious around these southern provo parts, y'know what I'm sayin? Word..so grateful for adventurous and lovely friends.

Trinket of Tuesday.

2010-05-04T09:12:00.000-07:00

If you haven't yet watched this,
h a n d s t i c k e r s
is here for you.

go team.

*also, remember when i met Mr. Nielson? yeah. RAD.

take this sinking boat and point it home

2010-04-30T11:21:00.000-07:00

we've still got time

//Transitions//

2010-04-15T14:06:00.000-07:00

i wish there could have been
an invention that bottled
up a memory,
like perfume,
and it never faded,
never got stale.
then whenever i wanted to
i could uncork the bottle
and live the memory all over again.

-daphne du maurier
Taken from a book deeply woven into my heart
via Honors English 10, Rebecca

discovery

2010-04-10T18:08:00.000-07:00

The word "failure" does not exist in the BIBLE DICTIONARY

indeed,

where "failure" would be on the top of the list,

"FAITH" is in its place.

friendship: some thoughts.

2010-03-25T12:00:00.000-07:00

So, here's the gig.

I've been thinking about the effect one person's life can have on literally hundreds of other people- even on people who have never directly met that person.

This past week I've been reminded to look beyond my own self and open my heart and eyes to the suffering of those around me. How is it so easy to forget the power we have to ease the burdens of others?

People are S T A R V I N G for some love, understanding, an expression of thoughtfulness and a listening ear/heart. There are those literally

Y E AR N I N G for wisdom, comfort, security-- all of which comes by and through inspiration from God, to which we all have access.

"My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you" (John 14:27)

Aren't we all hoping for hope and longing for a true friendship that will point us back to Christ?

For it is in our time spent with true friends that we remember

who we really are, what matters most in this life, and who we are striving to become.

A true friend offers the love of Christ and their eyes reflect a testimony of His love.

A true friend is guided by the spirit and therefore speaks "with the tongue of angels" (2 Nephi 32:3).

A true friend isn't afraid to express honest words of encouragement because they are filled with FAITH and SELFLESSNESS.

A true friend will not hold emotional breakdowns against you (nor think less of you, for that matter) because in fact, they will love you ALL THE MORE for sharing your life with them as you are both edified together through hard experiences.

Recognizing that there are several more qualities that make up a true friend, it all comes back to the fact that a true friend is one who inspires you to place your trust in Christ's atonement--that we can all be "at one with" Him who said: "Greater love hath no man than this: that a man lay his life down for his friends." (John 15:13)

Is it worth it to be/become a true friend?

All the required time, the awareness, the connections with other people...the energy, the love, the courage...I mean, it also requires a recognition of the responsibility we have to be personally worthy of inspiration given by God--not only for ourselves but for those around us. Not always easy, right?...

Anyway, this is a rather large handsticker--though, perhaps one of the more important posts I've ever composed. It's mainly for myself, you know, when I come back and read this randomly in the future (don't we all read our own blogs nearly as often as our friends' blogs?).

So. Future Self...Choose to lift somebody in your very life UP and extend your capability for true friendship to those around you; your sincere efforts make a difference.

It IS worth it. There are lives to be saved, hearts to be lifted and better people to become through serving each other. Check it yo--the words of a Prophet, today:

"Those who live only for themselves eventually shrivel up and figuratively lose their lives, while those who lose themselves in service to others grow and flourish—and in effect save their lives."

-Pres. Thomas S. Monson, "What Have I Done for Someone Today?" , Ensign Nov. 2009

To be beckoned forth...

2010-03-21T15:45:00.001-07:00

Recent Happenings:
1/2 Birthday Dinner Party

Impromptu Colourful Roommate PhotographThese next pictures are from this past friday's "The Cost is Correct" Date-night

(it was The Price is Right, BYUSA style...).

We had a lot of fun making matching "Team Bob" shirts and eating a lucky dinner before the show.

The wonderful Hollie made it on to the Contestant Panel and won a Barnes + Noble Gift Card.

Some contestants won March Madness tix + Michael Buble tix...

But a nice book will do for Team Bob. Lastly...a couple friday nights ago my brother opened his mission call!

He'll be serving in the Toulouse France mission Summer '10!

nous sommes tres heureux!

(oui...i DEFINITELY need to practice my french...oh la vache...)

Well, HI!

2010-03-19T16:42:00.001-07:00

The other day @my job in the women's locker room, a patron walked up to our desk with the "i swallowed my panic and now it's a lump of concern that maybe you won't notice?" look in her eyes. She began,

"..um, yes, Hi. I lost my *wristband and was wondering if maybe someone turned it in?"

"What's your netid?"

"Censured for Privacy Response"

"Okay, let me cccchhheck....OH! Yes. Here it is."

And then, I witnessed one of the most simple and undiluted expressions of happiness ever in her response: "WHAT A RELIEF!"

After she walked away, I found myself revelling in that happy moment, chuckling even (to the slight confusion of my coworker), and reflecting on the delightfulness to be found in authentic living.

This past week or so, the majority of my brainpower, free time, not-free time, study time, and ukulele time was filled with a blessed SHAKESPEARE midterm. 4 essais de la joie.

Well. This very day, I finally, FINALLY turned it in: a representation of late nights, weekend hours, PB&J sandwiches, the encouragement of dear friends, all things scholarly, the ability to accomplish ANYTHING in the future, etc.

And all I can exclaim now, in these moments following such a momentuous turn-in are the exultant words, "WHAT A RELIEF!"

I will now resume updating h a n d s t i c k e r s as usual. Thank you.

*A wristband comes with the purchase of a locker and she would either have to buy a new one for $$$ or not work out the rest of the semester...stressful...expensive...you get the gig.

too close, too much.

2010-03-06T16:11:00.000-08:00

currently consumed by:

love love love love love love helplove love love

(extra weekend day needed to p r o c e s s)

MARCH FIRST, not last.

2010-03-01T19:26:00.001-08:00

so,
in the h a n d s t i c k e r world,

M A R C H is a special month.
it's the days/of/transition from winter to spring.
it's moments of superb challenge.
it's for remembering, recommitting, and reaching for the BEST this life has to offer.

most of all though
this mars de 2010,
is specifically focused on following phrase Mr. Bowtie coined circa Florida 2008:

"Until further notice...C E L E B R A T E everything!"

k e y words

2010-02-23T21:41:00.000-08:00

recent thoughts (prepare-ye..):

the unity of disunity

rival goods/good,better,best

connectivity

heartstrings which tie you and i together

community-communion-commune-communicate

the lack thereof

the joy therein

stupid facebook

s a c r i f i c e

capturing moments

living authentically

social codes

fulfilling roles/responsibilities

(g)old friends

time

being a VIP

not being a VIP

rsvp-ing

heritage

khatch

curly hair

straightened hair

snickerdoodles/baking in general

e/m/r

letters, apparently

the word "doc"

french revival

ipt recommittment post

love.

annnnnd that's it for now.

future teachers of america

2010-02-17T11:29:00.000-08:00

we love technology.

GIANT [Orange] CUPID ARROW

2010-02-13T10:44:00.000-08:00

oh if you know me, you know valentimes is my favourite:

so much extra emphasis on loving others
and
a concentrated time to reflect
on the lovely things of life.

Like, such as:

1. THIS snl video haha..it is SILLY, i'm warning you. but sooo excellent.
i don't know why but garth and kat remind me of my friends, ray and katherine,
and kristin wig (is that her last name spelling?) reminds me of my cousin annie.
all rad.

"Daaaark Chocolate."
"Be MINE. Beeee mine."

2. perfect lighting
3. green toolbox
4. my brilliant professors, classmates, coworkers
5. giant shakespeare book that i carry around to look scholarly
6. kites. just in general.
7. familio love. convos w/ma mere.
8. textextexting w/the best people. (okay i know that's dumb but it makes sense to me).
9. sunshine.
10. DJing in car rides, in my apt, etc.
11. really excellent food: i.e. HONEY LIME CHICKEN ENCHILADAS. oh my yum.

i could continue.
but you see, an Eng 363 midterm beckons.
and i must swiftly run to it.

shalmo.
hope this is a lovely weekend for you all.

silver shel

2010-02-09T11:18:00.000-08:00

A childhood favourite.
(Thank you, Mrs. Gustin)
(and thank you, Whale, for smiling right before being eaten)
(and shel silverstein...just in general)

Melinda Mae

Have you heard of tiny Melinda Mae,
Who ate a monstrous whale?
She thought she could,
She said she would,
So she started in right at the tail.
And everyone said,"You're much too small,"
But that didn't bother Melinda at all,
She took little bites and she chewed very slow,
Just like a good girl should...
...and in eighty-nine years she ate that whale
Because she said she would!

i hope i can be more like melinda mae in doing the things i say i'll do--
especially when those tasks seem as insurmountable as eating a whale.

c o n g l o m e r a t i o n: HAPPY HAPPENINGS

2010-02-06T09:29:00.000-08:00

Let's start at the very beginning.

New Year's Eve: So. much. fun.
rockin' out with these three adorables- Isla, Macrae, and Rhett.

We counted down in style just in time for an 8 o'clock bedtime.

Look at those eyes!

lovelovelove.

Then, the brother came down and spent MLK weekend in the ptown.

It was a most adventurous weekend filled with games, bowling and food.

Come back soooooon, nate!

At a BYU Basketball game w/cousin macee.

isn't he the most good-looking PRE-MI you've ever seen??

He's turing in the mission papers within the next couple of weeks!!!

Now, these last two are from a gem of a stake activity we had in BARN.

That's right. A DANCE. inside of a BARN. sounds very...zoobiesque, non?

Still, it was really fun. Good times. Bree, showing off her blue bandana and corresponding muscles.

A most quality person, one of my "favoured" FHE daughters from last semester, and a wonderful friend.

Oh, Sarah King--another Garzean, if i've ever known one.

This girl is a LIFE-BRIGHTENER.

And, she can wear a fur hat with the best of 'em.

We are pretty intense. Don't mess.

Lastly,

this is my current favorite picture of the Provo Temple.

taken by the most excellent Alec Myres.

HAPPY WEEKEND!

Team Hamlet

2010-01-30T15:50:00.000-08:00

THREE (3) things about this photograph:

1.) Whenever Hamlet is in my life, I am unfailingly picked as the crazy one. I am Ophelia. Okay.

2.) bc of this presentation, I walked around campus all of friday with a blessed ukulele. AWESOME.

3.) BEST GROUP ever award goes to Team Hamlet.

these people are so creative and fun/funny.

bedsprings movie.

2010-01-27T13:15:00.001-08:00

last night, i was in paris.
it looked veryverymuch like THIS:

front and center
E i f f e l
towering in all its famed splendor.

there was a photographer, a friend,
et moi.

c'est tout.
c'était parfait.

cheers.

2010-01-20T20:41:00.000-08:00

homeworking.

literally, this picture is me. at *home. working.

(*home = washington in this photograph)

i can't tell you how many times

i've read and re-read THIS article in the past 3 weeks (lds.org, i love you) --

breathing these words into my heart, like a parched + weary child.

"If ever you are tempted to become discouraged or to lose faith...

Hold on a little longer...

You have a celestial pedigree and therefore have all the necessary talents to make your life an eternal success story."

-President Uchtdorf

now THAT's what i'm talking bout.

hurrah.

run for your life.

2010-01-12T07:49:00.000-08:00

hey yo.

i'm supposed to run this semester.

i'm GOING to run this semester.

santa even gave me a running armband thingy for my ipod.

no excuses, china. no regrets, china, too.

so. could you possibly help me out a little bit?

i need to compile the ULTIMATE running playlist.

you know i'm a little desperate when i turn to my BLOG for ideas.

nevertheless,

what songs do you like to run/work out to?

thanks.

f O c u s

2010-01-09T20:23:00.000-08:00

Today, i did something I haven't done in a long time: i took a swim in the RB pool.

Something I only do when my stress level overfloweth.

Hooray for back to school hw!

Tonight, I got to attend a wedding reception for two of my most favorite people i've met this year. They are people who radiate all that is good and worthwhile in this life and it was really fun to see them as newlyweds. Also, the cheesecake was delicious.

Tomorrow, it is a special day for my wonderful parentals because of this littlebig number right here:

that's right.

twenty-five years of marital adventures.

they are quite the blessing in my life.

Because I've had 22 years to closely observe my parents in their marriage

(though, admittedly I was more cognitively aware at some ages more than others), this is what I know is true:

1.) Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved

when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.

2.)Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.

(excerpts from "The Family A Proclamation to the World")

and finally,

It is worth it

to work for that kind of lasting happiness in marriage and family life.

It is worth

being p a t i e n t and trusting in an omniscient and perfectly loving God.

It is worth it

to believe that that God has a plan for each person frolicking on this earth;

His plan for every one is eternal life, eternal happiness.

It is worth it because life is about THAT joy.

So, keep swimming,

go team Newlyweds,

and

here's to my parents on their special anniversary this year--

Love you both.

h o m e

2010-01-01T14:05:00.001-08:00

i miss you already.

Unsung Hero: Christmas Edition.

2009-12-22T14:48:00.000-08:00

one of the best parts of christmas time has got to be found in the gift tags.

i loveloveLOVE picking the right one to stick onto a gift.

Requirements for a "the right" kind of gift tag?

It must have the right balance of obscurity and precision...delightfulness and subtlety.

Indeed, a gift tag is the undertone that pulls together every overtone of a gift:

this includes the wrapping paper, ribbon(s), bows, and glitter--

this excludes greeting cards, permanent marker and seashells (for obvious reasons).

Thoughtfully chosen gift tag

Success.

A good, healthy imagination is worth more than much.

2009-12-17T08:49:00.000-08:00

shalom,
u t a h.

equations, etc.

2009-12-15T14:32:00.000-08:00

Finals Week @BYU = "What are you e-Phr-a-ta?" shirt day

French Final = done = FINAL(ly) FREE!

Sell-back Books = Collegiately Riche

BYU Bookstore = Christmas Gifts

BYU Bookstore = Mo, Car, Luce et moi (see pic below)

BYU Bookstore x 3= Meeting MR. NIELSON

YES, that REALLY happened! I was just doing my little shopping gig

when i looked up and there was the Mr. Nielson,

whom I've read about many times on the

popular NieNieDialogues Blog.

It was weird how normal it was to see him in real life--

but there we were, in the BYU Bookstore,

me buying a recorder, him probably purchasing some paper products (or something).

It was also weird how I felt like I knew him in some way bc of a blog.

I resisted the initial urge to talk to him, to say "hi! I read your wife's blog. You're amazing." etc.

But then there came a point where I just did talk to him.

To put it in eleven words (it is after all, still finals week...no time for reading blogs, right?),

he was kind, there was a sincere goodness in his eyes.

He asked me where I was from, asked me if I was sticking around for the holidays...

and you know what?

it's about that blessed time to go home.

what a delightful feeling.

me, mo, carli, luce = washingtonian hearts

(serendipitous meeting captured via cell phone camera...)

Family Garzean

2009-12-14T09:40:00.001-08:00

I've blogged about them before, though you may not have known [at the beg. of the year, i was trying out some different things...complicated...but i stuck with handstickers, nonetheless].

Anyway, with the end of this Fall semester also comes re-organization in our ward callings. It's been a privilege to spend time with these people, and I will miss our monday night weekly meetings. Though, hey! It's not the end! Go team friendship. Hurrah. Huzzah.

Time to go take a finaaaaaaallllllllllll!

have i told you lately how i love finals week?

2009-12-11T13:57:00.000-08:00

because i really, really do.

addendum/my reasons why:-focused feeling on campus-lots of free time around studying-choices of when to wake up and study or not study-christmas shopping-sell-back books-people are always doing crazy activities, throwing ugly sweater parties, etc. etc.-there's a HUGE, delightful break on the horizon! hooray. huzzah!

This Very Season

2009-12-08T14:59:00.000-08:00

Love is all a r o u n d.

Christmas time a b o u n d s.

In you, will His works be f o u n d?

...The End.

SNOW

2009-12-07T12:59:00.001-08:00

do you think it's possible for one's eyelashes to freeze and break off
whilst spending @least 20 transportation minutes by foot in THESE CONDITIONS?

(i've been wondering...)