In Between Sunrise and Sunset

As life goes on, I see more and more sunrises and more and more sunsets. They are stunning. So much can happen in one day. So much more can happen in our lifetime. How sad would it be to reach your own sunset in life and realize that you didn't accomplish many worthwhile things? I hope that we are all doing what we can fill our lives with memories worth treasuring.

I have now been home for school for more than 2 months. This blows my mind! Time flies so fast... I feel like Harry Potter in the 3rd movie when Hermione takes him for a ride through time via the time turner. I cannot list every little thing that has happened since the last time I posted but here are some items worth mentioning:
#1. My older sister got married! It was a long courtship, but I am so happy to welcome by brother-in-law to the family :) They had a lovely wedding ceremony (which I got to attend along with my 2 brothers-- the three of us were endowed the week before she was married. What a special experience.) While she didn't get to have the reception outside due to weather, everything turned out lovely and everyone had a marvelous time! I got to wear new clothes, so that was nice ;)

#2. I got my mission call to the Hungary Budapest Mission! I report to the Provo MTC on October 19th!!! I am very excited about this! This is somewhere that I never even thought of as a possibility of being called to serve, but I full-heartedly accept the call, and I am so excited to go! I have been studying up on the history of the Hungarian people... it is amazing! Perhaps I will share a bit of it at another time :)

#3. I do have a job! I am working at a restaurant near home and it really isn't that bad! I never saw myself as the type to work with food, but I am learning a lot and I'm being given many opportunities to improve my leadership skills. I was hired on as the assistant manager, but since then, my mangaer became no longer a part of the company and I now work as a Floor Manager with one other girl. It is a challenge at times, but it is rewarding in its own ways :) I get to work with a cook that thinks he was once abducted by aliens, talks to me about intense nutritional facts, discusses religious viewpoints, talks about the dentist, and shares insight to music and other random categories-- I do enjoy it :)

#4. I got to spend a lovely day in Zions National Park with my parents and two brothers. It was marvelous! It was the last little trip with my younger brother before he would leave for his mission. My mother ended up hurting her ankle pretty bad on one of the trails (it is still healing-- 3 weeks time and counting...), but we all had a wonderful time experiencing the wonders of nature together and enjoying the company of one another.

#5. One of my bosom friends has returned back to his home-- sad :( However, things are quite well, and he has recieved his mission call as well! I do not know if that is information that I am allowed to post here without permission so I will leave it alone for now. But still-- Very exciting!!! It is more than likely that we will see each other at the MTC, so that will bring many smiles to my face! :) It is always good to see a wonderful kindred spirit after a time of separation, but it is definately more meaningful when seen doing work for the Lord together. (Yes, I did use 2 lines from Anne of Green Gables in this paragraph. I dearly love that series.)

#6. I have been blessed with a few opportunities to spend time with the best of friends! There is a location where we adore getting cupcakes, and we finally made a trip there a couple weeks ago after it had been many moons since our last visit! We have also attended a darling muscial concert on the rooftop of a parking garage, eaten out with mutual friends, and walked along main street to visit different shops. Time together is always priceless.

#7. Yes... my younger brother has now entered the MTC. We miss him dearly, but we are so proud of him and his decision to serve the Lord and fulfill his priesthood responsibility. He has been gone for a few weeks now and it still feels like yesterday that he left. Will time pass? Yes... funny how time passes so fast with some things, yet it passes so slow for others even though they may occur within the same time frame... strange. I have written him more than I probably should have over the past few weeks.... haha. I sent him over 10 letter one week, and I have been told that it's been advised that families send about one letter a week to their missionaries... oops! My bad :/ :) But all said and done, I am very excited for him and his mission! He is going to do marvelous things! (He is going to serve in the Argentina Buenos Aires West Mission! So cool! Both of my brothers will be speaking Spanish fluently before you know it!)

#8. I attended the Stadium of Fire two days ago!!!! It was outstanding! Definately better than I thought it would be. While I am not a fan of country, I knew that I would be able to have a good time at the show-- and a good time I had! Before heading to the stadium that evening, I was just have a little war in my head about weather or not I was excited to go. Knowing I don't really like country, I was unsure about how I wasn going to handle listening to Brad Paisley for that long. But deep down inside, I knew that time with my parents and little sister was going to be valuable there. I didn't even know what was coming! When we got to the stadium, we sat around for a good hour waiting for things to start. The sun was beating down on us like a cruel person that likes to burn ants on the sidewalk with a magnifying glass (yes, I actually have done that before in my life, haha... ha) and it seemed as though it was never going to settle behind the mountains across the valley. The show started and the sun still shone brightly in our faces--- however, it wasn't long before I was swept away in an emotional experience with the introduction to the Stadium of Fire. I soon forgot about the sun. It started. The National Anthem. An amazing choir. Lovely dancers. Skydivers. US Soldiers. The US Flag. Jets. My heart was ambushed by an overwhelming presentation of patriotism. Tears filled my eyes as my testimony grew for the reality of how wonderful of a blessing it is to be a US citizen, and to live in a free country-- a country that was preserved and promised for Gods people; a country where there is religious freedom; a country where I can dream big and live to make difference. What a blessing. Yes, David Archuleta was good. Yes, I kind of actually liked Brad Paisley's performance. Yes, the fireworks were remarkable. But the best part of the Stadium Fire... the beginnging--- bar none. I am so grateful for the opportunity my parents blessed me with to attend the Stadium of Fire with them, and for my increased testimony of patriotism and recognition of the Lords hand in the founding of this country.

#9. I bought a romper. Yes, a romper. Haha, I think it's so funny! No, I did not buy one of those silly little short-short ones, but one with long pant legs. (Modest is hottests, truly). I ordered it online and I wasn't sure if I was actually going to keep it. Once it arrived, I immediatley tried it on for size, looked at my reflection in the mirror wearing it... it became mine. I actually do like it :) My mom thinks it's kind of silly and that I shouldn't wear it in public, but she still loves me after I wore it to the Stadium of Fire ;) It is very comfortable! I fine purchase :) Perhaps I will take photos of me wearing it to post in the future.

And that is a fine list of things that have happened :) I am so happy. Period. I am so happy. Life is good to me, and I have so much to be grateful! Trials come and trials go, and there is always something to be grateful for. I am blessed. The little blessings of life enter my life every single day. These tender mercies come to me in many differences shapes and sizes of packages. For example, at work today and little boy came up to me and said, "I am Batman!" I asked him who I was, and he decided I could be Catwoman. He was no more than 3 years old! Not long after that, a little girl (the daughter of my boss from Heritage Halls) came up to me and said, "I'm a princess!" I said, "Yes, you are! You make a lovely princess!" And then she showed me her lovely little princess shoes. She was definately all dolled up for the 4th of July :) So these tender mercies appear in little children. They also show when I find things that once were lost, or when I recieve bits of personal revelation... so many different forms. So yes, I am happy. I am grateful. I am blessed.

I hope that everyone out there is having an outstanding 4th of July! Happy Independence Day :) Much love!

With Real Intent

Prayer.

As a member of the LDS church, I participate in many prayers given throughout the day. Prayers in the morning and night, prayers to bless food, prayers given in class, prayers offered among roommates, prayers in church settings, and so on and so on. When having a discussion with my boyfriend a couple weeks ago, we talked about the feelings we have when public prayers are given. He brought up a point that really stuck with me. More often then not, is seems as though some prayers are offered very monotone, beginning middle and end, and that the feeling is very plain. There are those that pray like this, but there are others that really do pray with real intent and with emotion. After he mentioned this, it made me reevaluate the way that I pray.

On Sunday, I volunteered to give the closing prayer in Sunday School. As soon as I stood up, I remembered those things that my boyfriend mentioned, and I made the concious decision to pray with real intent and with emotion.

It was powerful.

Although this experience was only a couple days ago, it is still resonating strongly throughout my body. When praying like this, I am more aware of my personal relationship with God, and I am more inclined to give so much more thanks for those things that I know I am grateful for but typically wouldn't think about. Thanks to my boyfriend, I have been reminded of how powerful and important prayers really are. We are opening in the name of our Creator, our Heavenly Father. We are closing in the name of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. How powerful and meaningful prayers really are. I am so grateful for this key form of communication we have with God, and I challenge those reading this to become more aware (if you aren't already) of the way that you pray, and take it to the next level if necessary in order to make it more meaningful to you.

Much love :)

(image from here)

10 Minutes of Silence...

In todays world, how often do we give ourselves true moments of silence for an extended period of time? With phone calls and texting, busy schedules of classes and work, iPods, and the distractions found all around us, it isn't suprising to find that most people only quiet down when going to sleep at night or when preparing to take a nap. What would our lives be like if we made sure to schedule at least 10 minutes of quiet time to think, pray, ponder, and so on?

This morning, I went to the temple by myself to do baptisms for the dead. After sleeping for only 3 hours, I was ready to just get in, and get out so that I could shower and go back to bed for a couple hours before starting my busy schedule. As I was sitting in the temple though, I had to question myself as to why I was there. The more I thought about my reasons to be at the temple, the more I came to realize how much it didn't matter how long I ended up being in the temple. I followed this thought process to the point that I became grateful that things were running slowly and that I wasn't doing the whole "get in and get out" process that I tend to do on a day to day basis wherever I am due to busy schedules and such. Because of the slow moving lines for confirmations and baptisms, I was given the opportunity to truly ponder and let my thoughts take me to places that strengthened my testimony. I was given the time to consider those things that I should "KISS" in my life: Keep, Increase, Stop, and Start.

So the next time you have the chance and you remember to, put aside whatever may be distracting you or causing "noise", find a quiet place, sit..... and just think. Think, and listen for the promptings of the Spirit.

(I do not take credit for this photo. I found it when using "Stumble Upon" and forgot to save the website)

Serving the Lord

I am very pleased and over-joyed to announce that my older brother got his mission call! He will be serving in the Puebla Mexico Mission!!!! And he leaves August 3rd. This is just super happy :) To be honest, out of all of the friends that I have had leave for missions over the years, my brother was the very first person I have ever witnessed open a mission call. It was very power and super memorable.

I am very excited for my older brother to serve his mission. This fall, I plan to leave on my own mission, and my younger brother is getting set to leave on his mission this year as well. It is unbelieveable!!! Just being there when my brother opened his call was a tender mercy as the spirit manifested once again in my life that this is the true church on the earth, and that Jesus Christ, our Savior, is the head of the Church. I pray for the missionaries every night that they will find those that are ready to hear and receive the gospel. I am so proud of my brother and his desire to serve God for the next 2 years of his life. It is miraculous. I love you bro :)

A NEW BLOG!!!

Hey Peeps: I have started a new blog: Untainted Passions :) I may continue doing posts on this blog (The Little Blessings of Life) on occassion, but I'm going to see if I can switch completely over to this new one.... we'll see! Check it out:
http://untaintedpassions.blogspot.com/
Follow me! My blogs may not have a specific theme, but I hope you enjoy my posts! Thank you to those of you that actually look at my blog on a regular basis-- you're what keeps me posting!
Peace and Much Love

Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba Sithi uhm ingonyama

A week ago today, I went to see The Lion King at the Capitol Theater in SLC with my mom and little sister. It was a wonderful experience!!!! Before going to the play, we went out to dinner and then spent some time on temple square.
During the first song of the play (The Circle of Life), all of these dancers/actors/singers came out with these AMAZING costumes. I cried, it was so beautiful! No, I was not bawling, but my eyes started watering, and I was just so happy. :) It was then that I realized that when I do finally make it to Africa, I am going to cry as soon as I can see the land from my plane window. It will be a blessed experience--one I've been waiting for most of my life. Oh how I loved the play! All of the characters were portrayed so well, and the music was oustanding. Who knew a play based off a cartoon of wild animals could be so amazing?
Thank you Mom for giving me that outstanding experience! It's right up there with Wicked for me :)

Like it's Dynamite

Yes, I had my birthday last week! Woot Woot! My BFF had me set aside Saturday so that we could spend the day together in celebration of me achieving yet another year in life. We did many things: went to breakfast at One Man Band (first time there for both of us!), visited a couple antique shops, went for a walk, got cupcakes and frappes from the The Cocoa Bean Cupcake Cafe, watched a movie, and played a game at the dollar tree where you find the coolest thing there and buy it ;) It was a super awesome day!
Thank you to everyone that sent me birthday wishes on my birthday! They were very much appreciated, and made me feel so happy :) (Who knew so many people used facebook to wish others a happy birthday?!?)

Just Dance

Friday night was an awesome night! We had the opening social at Heritage Halls with the theme "Dancing Through the Decades". Needless to say, I did my best to dress up all 80's. (I wanted to go wearing yellow leggings, an awesome leotard, and fitness shorts on top-- Alas, it didn't fit with the Honor Code.) Anyway, I danced at that dance for a couple hours, but then frolicked over to the dance at Brigham Square, where my life was filled with felicity as I danced the night away with my dear friends from Club Style! :) When the dance ended at 11:30pm, my darling dancing friends and myself did a small list of things:
We got slushies from Sonic,
We went swimming at a pool at someones apartment complex,
and last but not least...
We went to Dennys.
It was a very fun-filled night!!! I didn't get back until 4:00am, and still didn't get to bed until 5:00am because I needed to shower. Nevertheless, it was an awesome night :)
(Please forgive my messy room in these pictures-- I didn't want to take the time to crop them, haha.)

An Experiment...

In the past I have mentioned and even shared pictures from a blog that I love: The Clothes Horse. This is a very clever fashion blog where the owner produces pictures of herself and the style that she has. (Currently, she is visiting Europe so she has been sharing excellent pictures of the world around her.) Since following her blog, I have begun to consider my own style-- or even if I have style! Well, at the end of last week, I decided to just document a few days of what clothes I wore. Here, I am posting 5 days worth :) The first day I wore some things that I typically don't wear often-- the colorful shrug, and a pair of red converse. For some reason, I feel like converse don't look too good on me... Anyway, if you have any comments about anything, feel free to share! Maybe one day I will discover what my true fashion is :)
(Some of the pictures are fuzzy, and I apologize for that! One day, I want to own one of those really nice Cannon or Nikon cameras... maybe I'll get one for my upcoming birthday...)

I got my hair cut this day :)