So I discovered a song by Celine Dion on the plane ride home from my mission in Australia. It's called "A World to Believe In". At the time, I felt like it summed up my mission experience. As I listen to it again, I realize that it sums up my life!
So you should go listen to it, because it's good!
Life is full of hard things! Heartache, pain, suffering, broken trust, abuse, separation from loved ones, bad health, lost love, loneliness...the list goes on and on!
But amid all those terrible things are beautiful wonderful things! One of my roommates is blind. I was talking to her today about her condition. She told me that if she had the option, she would probably still choose to be blind. She said she would be too afraid of what she would see, that there are too many terrible things that she's glad that she doesn't have to see. But I think the beautiful things make up for the terrible things!
Sunsets, mountains, clouds, flowers, smiles, the way old married couples still in love look at each other, beautiful art, music notes on a sheet of paper, reading poetry, colors, eyes, city lights, stars, rivers, animals, etc.
Although life is full of pain, Heavenly Father has given me a world to believe in! No matter how hard life gets, His love helps me rise above all of it! Is it hard? Yes! Is it worth it?! YES!
I will take all the hard things because amidst those hard things are incredible experiences!
*Good Song: A World to Believe In by Celine Dion
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Single Girl Probs
Okay so this post is based on numerous experiences I've had over the years! So here goes!
Part One: Skank Girls
The beat of the country music makes me want to stomp my boots and be twirled around. I spot an attractive man across the room I've seen here before. I meet his eye and smile, hoping to encourage him to come ask me to dance. A few seconds later, he starts coming my way. Yes! Maybe it worked! But out of the corner of my eye, I see a girl in short shorts, a tank top, and cowgirl boots that are definitely not legit making her way across the floor. The attractive guy spots her as well and the next thing you know they're dancing around the room and I'm still standing on the side - by myself - and not dancing! Intercepted! By skank girl.
That's what my friends and I call the girls at country swing dance night that always get asked to dance. Men just like scantily clad, overly made up girls! Come on country boys! You know they're not going to work hard or do much for you other than look pretty! I mean, let's get real, girls like that are way too high maintenance!
These skank girls also get in our way every time we try to do line dances! They come stand right by us. There is definitely a certain amount of space you need to do some line dances and these girls just don't get that! Half the time they don't know what they're doing so they give what they think are sexy booty shakes. And they just look hilarious! They think they're so hot...well, I guess the men do too... but seriously, I just laugh every time!
But that's just coming from me - a country girl who would rather be out shooting guns or four wheeling than going to a movie or getting my nails done! And I don't know how to be super hot for the life of me! I have too many other things to worry about than to worry about catching a shallow man only looking for a hot girlfriend with no substance!
Part Two: Men Who Think They Can String You Along
Okay, so what is with men who think they can lead us on? One second they're all friendly and wanting to spend time with you. And then the next, they're completely ignoring you! Or flirting with other girls in front of you!
One week: Date, call, call, text, text, handholding, etc. Next week: Nothing. The next week: Call, call, text, date, hang out, etc. Next month: Nothing. Next week: Text, text, call, date, cuddling, etc. What?!
I mean, these guys drive me crazy! What the heck do you want mate?! You either want to date us or you don't! So make up your mind! Don't play around with my or my friends' emotions hey?! We're people too! Either pursue us or leave us alone! Are you interested or not?! Just when we start to get over you, you come back with something nice to give us hope that something might work out! It's like they think they can leave us on the back burner when they're checking out other girls. If that doesn't work out, they come back around!
But the dumb thing is that sometimes we let them put us on the back burner. Maybe we as girls think that nobody else will come along. But I have decided that I would much rather be alone than be somebody's second choice. Dating games are dumb! I am making a goal to be more straight up about what I'm thinking! Yep!
So there's my little rant for the week. But being single really isn't all that bad! A couple of my friends and I have just been talking about dating recently and so there are the thoughts that we've come up with! :)
*Good Song: Little Talks by Of Monsters and Men
Part One: Skank Girls
The beat of the country music makes me want to stomp my boots and be twirled around. I spot an attractive man across the room I've seen here before. I meet his eye and smile, hoping to encourage him to come ask me to dance. A few seconds later, he starts coming my way. Yes! Maybe it worked! But out of the corner of my eye, I see a girl in short shorts, a tank top, and cowgirl boots that are definitely not legit making her way across the floor. The attractive guy spots her as well and the next thing you know they're dancing around the room and I'm still standing on the side - by myself - and not dancing! Intercepted! By skank girl.
That's what my friends and I call the girls at country swing dance night that always get asked to dance. Men just like scantily clad, overly made up girls! Come on country boys! You know they're not going to work hard or do much for you other than look pretty! I mean, let's get real, girls like that are way too high maintenance!
These skank girls also get in our way every time we try to do line dances! They come stand right by us. There is definitely a certain amount of space you need to do some line dances and these girls just don't get that! Half the time they don't know what they're doing so they give what they think are sexy booty shakes. And they just look hilarious! They think they're so hot...well, I guess the men do too... but seriously, I just laugh every time!
But that's just coming from me - a country girl who would rather be out shooting guns or four wheeling than going to a movie or getting my nails done! And I don't know how to be super hot for the life of me! I have too many other things to worry about than to worry about catching a shallow man only looking for a hot girlfriend with no substance!
Part Two: Men Who Think They Can String You Along
Okay, so what is with men who think they can lead us on? One second they're all friendly and wanting to spend time with you. And then the next, they're completely ignoring you! Or flirting with other girls in front of you!
One week: Date, call, call, text, text, handholding, etc. Next week: Nothing. The next week: Call, call, text, date, hang out, etc. Next month: Nothing. Next week: Text, text, call, date, cuddling, etc. What?!
I mean, these guys drive me crazy! What the heck do you want mate?! You either want to date us or you don't! So make up your mind! Don't play around with my or my friends' emotions hey?! We're people too! Either pursue us or leave us alone! Are you interested or not?! Just when we start to get over you, you come back with something nice to give us hope that something might work out! It's like they think they can leave us on the back burner when they're checking out other girls. If that doesn't work out, they come back around!
But the dumb thing is that sometimes we let them put us on the back burner. Maybe we as girls think that nobody else will come along. But I have decided that I would much rather be alone than be somebody's second choice. Dating games are dumb! I am making a goal to be more straight up about what I'm thinking! Yep!
So there's my little rant for the week. But being single really isn't all that bad! A couple of my friends and I have just been talking about dating recently and so there are the thoughts that we've come up with! :)
*Good Song: Little Talks by Of Monsters and Men
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Big City Living!
Hahaha, me in a big city...
This is great!
I find a strange comfort in seeing pickup trucks driving around Salt Lake. Maybe there are more country people than I realize.
Also I live near this really beautiful park that has dirt trails going up into a canyon. The trail is right along the river and just beautiful! I went exploring there yesterday. My mom went with me and we wanted to cross the river at one point. So what did we do?! We took off our shoes and waded across the river! After walking up the trail about 3 minutes, we realized there was a bridge! Haha! Oh well! Wading across the river is much more fun than walking across a bridge!
We got lost trying to find a store, but that's because my GPS took us to a random place in the middle of a residential area! :)
I smiled and said hello to a few strangers when we walked past. A couple of them seemed really friendly. Maybe the city won't be so bad after all!
The girl I replaced in the house I'm living in invited me to go get Thai food with her the other night too. So I've made a new friend! She's really great! And I love Thai food!
In all, I have determined that this whole city living isn't going to be so bad! I even know a place where I can go shooting! Give me a place to hike and a place to shoot and I'll be happy as can be! :)
*Good Song: Kiss Me in the Dark by Randy Rogers Band
This is great!
I find a strange comfort in seeing pickup trucks driving around Salt Lake. Maybe there are more country people than I realize.
Also I live near this really beautiful park that has dirt trails going up into a canyon. The trail is right along the river and just beautiful! I went exploring there yesterday. My mom went with me and we wanted to cross the river at one point. So what did we do?! We took off our shoes and waded across the river! After walking up the trail about 3 minutes, we realized there was a bridge! Haha! Oh well! Wading across the river is much more fun than walking across a bridge!
We got lost trying to find a store, but that's because my GPS took us to a random place in the middle of a residential area! :)
I smiled and said hello to a few strangers when we walked past. A couple of them seemed really friendly. Maybe the city won't be so bad after all!
The girl I replaced in the house I'm living in invited me to go get Thai food with her the other night too. So I've made a new friend! She's really great! And I love Thai food!
In all, I have determined that this whole city living isn't going to be so bad! I even know a place where I can go shooting! Give me a place to hike and a place to shoot and I'll be happy as can be! :)
*Good Song: Kiss Me in the Dark by Randy Rogers Band
Thursday, May 2, 2013
AAAHH!!
Almost six years ago I packed up my little Toyota Corolla with my clothes and my keyboard and made the six hour drive to Logan Utah by myself. The only person I knew here was my cousin Megan. I remember being absolutely terrified. I cried on the long drive, knowing that my life was never going to be the same. Friendships would change and I had no idea what it was like to live in the world outside of my beloved small town.
Haha! It still makes me smile when I think about how I didn't know how to find street addresses when I first came here to school. I'd never had to use them in my little town. I'm still pretty good at getting lost though. So I guess that hasn't changed much in the past six years...even though I've had a lot more practice! :)
Almost four years ago I packed the same Corolla and made the long drive back to my hometown. I was getting ready to go on a mission to Australia. I cried on the long drive knowing that everything was going to change. My friends would be graduated or married by the time I got back. I was scared, but those 18 months were some of the most incredible months of my life!
Almost two years ago I made the long drive back to Logan to finish up my education. I was so nervous then too. Would I make friends? Would people think I was weird after being on a mission? The only person I knew that was still here was my little brother Jason. He set me up with some pretty awesome roommates and I met my very best friend, Brittany.
Now I'm about to pack up my little Corolla again. (I've had the little guy for a long time!) The drive isn't as long as it is to my beautiful little town, but I'm just as nervous as I've been at other crossroads in my life. But I know that this is the start to something incredible! I've been nervous every time I've started something new. But every single adventure has turned out to be so fantastic!
So I think I'm ready for another one! Because this adventure is going to be just as or even more incredible than the other ones I've had!
*Good Song: Hearts on Fire by Passenger and Ed Sheeran
Haha! It still makes me smile when I think about how I didn't know how to find street addresses when I first came here to school. I'd never had to use them in my little town. I'm still pretty good at getting lost though. So I guess that hasn't changed much in the past six years...even though I've had a lot more practice! :)
Almost four years ago I packed the same Corolla and made the long drive back to my hometown. I was getting ready to go on a mission to Australia. I cried on the long drive knowing that everything was going to change. My friends would be graduated or married by the time I got back. I was scared, but those 18 months were some of the most incredible months of my life!
Almost two years ago I made the long drive back to Logan to finish up my education. I was so nervous then too. Would I make friends? Would people think I was weird after being on a mission? The only person I knew that was still here was my little brother Jason. He set me up with some pretty awesome roommates and I met my very best friend, Brittany.
Now I'm about to pack up my little Corolla again. (I've had the little guy for a long time!) The drive isn't as long as it is to my beautiful little town, but I'm just as nervous as I've been at other crossroads in my life. But I know that this is the start to something incredible! I've been nervous every time I've started something new. But every single adventure has turned out to be so fantastic!
So I think I'm ready for another one! Because this adventure is going to be just as or even more incredible than the other ones I've had!
*Good Song: Hearts on Fire by Passenger and Ed Sheeran
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Graduating, Moving, and What the heck am I going to do with my life?!
I am graduating!!
That's right...with a Bachelor of Arts in History with minors in Music and Anthropology.
I have taken my nerdiness to the extreme by having two minors! And it added a couple of extra semesters onto my education! But it's fine! The day is finally (almost) here!!
I find myself having the occasional mental freakout. Am I ready for the adult world of real jobs and responsibilities?! What do I truly want to do with my life? What kind of person do I want to be? And how am I, a quirky, country, small-town girl, going to make any kind of difference in this world?
My four years at Utah State have been incredible! I've learned so much about myself, about the people around me, and about the world that I live in. So much more than the education I've received though are the people I've met along the way.
Goodbyes are always hard for me. And being here at Utah State has brought me a plethora of goodbyes - childhood friends and first loves, incredible professors, friends who graduate or get married and move, and even death has separated me from some incredible people. How are there so many incredible people in this world?! I've learned so much from so many people that I've met on this insane journey!
Soon there will be more goodbyes. To Logan, to my fantastic friends who are staying here, to the person I've been as an undergraduate, to professors who have helped shape my education.
But with those goodbyes will come so many more hellos!! What does the future hold?! Nothing but more incredible people, more joy, and more to learn! I can't wait to see what life has in store for me next!! :)
Stay tuned for more adventures of me living in the big city!! :/
*Good Song: Let Her Go by Passenger
That's right...with a Bachelor of Arts in History with minors in Music and Anthropology.
I have taken my nerdiness to the extreme by having two minors! And it added a couple of extra semesters onto my education! But it's fine! The day is finally (almost) here!!
I find myself having the occasional mental freakout. Am I ready for the adult world of real jobs and responsibilities?! What do I truly want to do with my life? What kind of person do I want to be? And how am I, a quirky, country, small-town girl, going to make any kind of difference in this world?
My four years at Utah State have been incredible! I've learned so much about myself, about the people around me, and about the world that I live in. So much more than the education I've received though are the people I've met along the way.
Goodbyes are always hard for me. And being here at Utah State has brought me a plethora of goodbyes - childhood friends and first loves, incredible professors, friends who graduate or get married and move, and even death has separated me from some incredible people. How are there so many incredible people in this world?! I've learned so much from so many people that I've met on this insane journey!
Soon there will be more goodbyes. To Logan, to my fantastic friends who are staying here, to the person I've been as an undergraduate, to professors who have helped shape my education.
But with those goodbyes will come so many more hellos!! What does the future hold?! Nothing but more incredible people, more joy, and more to learn! I can't wait to see what life has in store for me next!! :)
Stay tuned for more adventures of me living in the big city!! :/
*Good Song: Let Her Go by Passenger
Friday, April 12, 2013
I Get to Be a Real Historian!!!
This is probably one of the greatest days of my life!!
Well...even if it isn't, it sure feels like it!
Because I get to work with the Church History Department for 6 months as a full-time intern!! What?! Awesome!!
I will be working with the Historic Sites Division researching Church history sites. We get to provide information for missionaries to use when they give tours. So not only do I get to do historical research, but I will also be helping in the missionary effort!! Awesome!!
And I get to live in Salt Lake City! Which could be interesting...me in a big city...so many opportunities to get lost!! Good thing I now have an iPhone that has a map on it!!
So here's to new beginnings and living the dream!!
*Good Song: Still Into You by Paramore
Well...even if it isn't, it sure feels like it!
Because I get to work with the Church History Department for 6 months as a full-time intern!! What?! Awesome!!
I will be working with the Historic Sites Division researching Church history sites. We get to provide information for missionaries to use when they give tours. So not only do I get to do historical research, but I will also be helping in the missionary effort!! Awesome!!
And I get to live in Salt Lake City! Which could be interesting...me in a big city...so many opportunities to get lost!! Good thing I now have an iPhone that has a map on it!!
So here's to new beginnings and living the dream!!
*Good Song: Still Into You by Paramore
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Ramblings on Dating
I am single.
Yes, it's true. I am 24, single, and living in Utah. I may be considered a social outcast to some, but single life is great!
I decided that in honor of my singleness I am going to blog about dating today! Because dating is so fun! Er...something like that!
I started going on dates when I was 16. My mind was filled with the idea of boyfriends, hand holding, and late night phone conversations! Did that actually happen?! Well no, I was a short, slightly chunky, history and music nerd! So what did my dating life consist of?!
Blind dates.
Yep...blind dates! I am the queen of blind dates!
Not only were boys not flocking to me, but I also lived in a small town where I was related to half of the dating pool! So being the one without a date usually led to good friends trying to set me up on blind dates. Some of them were fun and some of them...well, they just weren't!
I've been ditched by my date for another girl, spent a whole day with a boy that I discovered (within the first few minutes) completely annoyed me, ignored by dates, and been on dates with boys I had nothing in common with!
Post-high school wasn't much better! I fell in love with my best friend even though we lived far away from each other and he wasn't interested in me like that. I didn't go on a single date my freshman year!
Sophomore year of college was a little better. I almost dated a guy that was a few years older than me, but he turned out to be quite the jerk! Good thing I didn't go there... :)
Took a break and served a mission!!
Post-mission: I seem to attract unmotivated/overconfident men! Most of the men I've gone on dates with since I've been home have been really nice. But they're either 27 and living with their parents, or they think they're the greatest thing since sliced bread!
Then on the other hand, there are the men that I think are completely fantastic. But things just don't work out!
So what can I learn from my small range of dating experiences?!
Dating is great and sometimes it sucks! It's hard trying to find somebody that you want to spend time with...and then hoping that they want to spend time with you! But it's all a beautiful learning experience!
Have I had my heart broken? Yes
Have I cried over men I can't have? Yes, but who hasn't?!
But in the end, it's better to try new things than to regret it later. Might as well get to know as many people as you can and discover some things about yourself along the way! The more painful the experiences, the more beautiful it will be when love finally comes my way!! :)
Sure, most of my friends are married and having babies! But I get to flirt with a plethora of attractive young men! And I still have my history books and music! :)
And it's country swing dancing night!! Who knows what could happen?! :)
*Good Song: Defying Gravity from Wicked Soundtrack
Yes, it's true. I am 24, single, and living in Utah. I may be considered a social outcast to some, but single life is great!
I decided that in honor of my singleness I am going to blog about dating today! Because dating is so fun! Er...something like that!
I started going on dates when I was 16. My mind was filled with the idea of boyfriends, hand holding, and late night phone conversations! Did that actually happen?! Well no, I was a short, slightly chunky, history and music nerd! So what did my dating life consist of?!
Blind dates.
Yep...blind dates! I am the queen of blind dates!
Not only were boys not flocking to me, but I also lived in a small town where I was related to half of the dating pool! So being the one without a date usually led to good friends trying to set me up on blind dates. Some of them were fun and some of them...well, they just weren't!
I've been ditched by my date for another girl, spent a whole day with a boy that I discovered (within the first few minutes) completely annoyed me, ignored by dates, and been on dates with boys I had nothing in common with!
Post-high school wasn't much better! I fell in love with my best friend even though we lived far away from each other and he wasn't interested in me like that. I didn't go on a single date my freshman year!
Sophomore year of college was a little better. I almost dated a guy that was a few years older than me, but he turned out to be quite the jerk! Good thing I didn't go there... :)
Took a break and served a mission!!
Post-mission: I seem to attract unmotivated/overconfident men! Most of the men I've gone on dates with since I've been home have been really nice. But they're either 27 and living with their parents, or they think they're the greatest thing since sliced bread!
Then on the other hand, there are the men that I think are completely fantastic. But things just don't work out!
So what can I learn from my small range of dating experiences?!
Dating is great and sometimes it sucks! It's hard trying to find somebody that you want to spend time with...and then hoping that they want to spend time with you! But it's all a beautiful learning experience!
Have I had my heart broken? Yes
Have I cried over men I can't have? Yes, but who hasn't?!
But in the end, it's better to try new things than to regret it later. Might as well get to know as many people as you can and discover some things about yourself along the way! The more painful the experiences, the more beautiful it will be when love finally comes my way!! :)
Sure, most of my friends are married and having babies! But I get to flirt with a plethora of attractive young men! And I still have my history books and music! :)
And it's country swing dancing night!! Who knows what could happen?! :)
*Good Song: Defying Gravity from Wicked Soundtrack
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