Thank Goodness

Thank goodness for leaders. There are those people in all of our lives that have had an impact for good as a leader or friend. I have the assignment in my American Sign Language class to sign for five to eight minutes about one influential person in my life. It has got me thinking about who those people are. The obvious ideas came first- my parents. My parents have taught me, if not everything, most of what I know to be true today. They have loved me and guided me since I was born and helped me shape my character and identity. My next thought was my Young Women leaders. I have become so close to all of my leaders over my many years being in Young Womens. Now, being the Laurel President it is especially evident to me how much they love each girl and are concerned for them. I can see how much effort goes into making sure that each of us feel as if we are welcome and safe in our classes.

The next people I thought of were my school teachers. There are varying ways in which these people have influenced me. Each of them in their own way reinforce that my desire to teach has purpose- I see it everyday. They must love it or they wouldn't put up with the job. In particular, I have been blessed with adults that have, like my parents, shaped me at a time in my life that is so important. My high school years develop who I will be for the rest of my life. I have a teacher this year, Ms. Hatch, that has taught me much more than AP Biology. She has taught me to have passion for everything that I love- to commit to those things which are important to me. She is LDS and I for this reason I feel a connection with her. But it is more than our religion that connects us because now that she has led me by her example she has formed a bond with me that she may never know is there. I'm grateful for her and how hard she pushes each of her students to make them the best they can be. Mrs. Evans, my choir teacher, has also been such a strong influence in my life. I want to "be her" when I grow up in the sense that I want to do the same job that she does and in the way that she does it. She too has a passion for life and for the things that are important to her. I have developed such a strong relationship with her over the past 3 years and she has taught me to have confidence and recognize beauty and talent in myself and in others.

I have so many people to thank for the person I am today. I've never really thought about the saying "it takes a village to raise a child" but i guess it really is true.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Today is your day. You're off to great places- you're off and away. You have brains in your head.You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go...And when things start to happen,don't worry. Don't stew. Just go right along.You'll start happening too.
OH! THE PLACES YOU'LL GO

Dictionary.com cites the word "adventure" to mean 'an exciting and unusual experience, a bold and usually risky undertaking'. Since I was young (which I guess I still am) I have loved Dr. Suess' Oh The Places You'll GO. One wall in my bedroom has the words posted on it, a constant reminder as I wake up each morning of the potential I truly have as a daughter, sister, student, leader, and servant of my Heavenly Father. I don't know why this book has had such an impact on me. I think for some strange reason I've always been a little "old for my age". Not to say I am more mature than those my age because we all know I have my immature moments. But...I don't know, let's just say I'm pretty sure I have the soul of a thirty-five-year-old inside me. When I was little I just connected to the story's outer beauty- ok so i didn't call it that, per say. But I loved the pictures, the message so far as a 7 year old can understand, and the funny rhymes. As I've gotten older, I've realized how true the words really are.

Wherever you fly, you'll be the best of the best.Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.
Except when you don't Because, sometimes, you won't.
I'm sorry to say so but, sadly, it's true bang-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you.

I'm grateful for the direction I've recieved in my life from my parents, teachers, leaders, and friends. They have each, in special ways, taught me to be the person that I am today. They have taught me the true potential I have, but have not protected me in the condescending manner that I have so often seen that is explained by "I want to protect her". I know, because I have been taught, what I am up against. And it's scary. But, I know I can do it.

And will you succeed?Yes! You will, indeed!(98 and 3 / 4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS

So, with this realization, I've decided not to live my life in a constant struggle. I've decided that life is for adventure- unexpected and unusual as it might be. I'm going to live my life in a way that constitutes happiness and success. I'll move mountains. Will you?

If I had ONE Wish

Now, I know this wouldn't be my ONE wish if I had anything to choose from, but it is a dream I've held for forever. I want to go to England. Not too farfetched right? Expensive, but not horrible.

I think that there is something magical about this country...It's probably not real but in my mind I just see this almost fairytale, sophisticated, cozy country. British people just crack me up and I'm completely fascinated with the whole culture. I know I'm being naive. But just let me be a teenager for 5 minutes-this is my wish!

On a more realistic note: I had an...interesting morning. My goal this Spring Break was to RELAX. And I've done a pretty fantastic job of it. So far. Until Amber and Kirsten decided to invite me on their 6:00 a.m. adventure to the Rec Center. I am NOT a morning workout person. I go to my personal trainer at 5 in the evening and do my normal workouts at 7 because this is the only time I have to. Running in the morning was not a fun thing for me. However, I have something new to suggest to everyone. Feeling a little down?? Try having a row-machine race against Kirsten. Amber and I were just irritated that we didn't have a camera to document the hilarity of it all. I dont know why it is so funny to watch her on a row machine, but I promise next time I will have a camera handy. (I beat her, by the way)

It's pretty pathetic that I loved the Rec Center way more than I love my normal gym-especially because I pay tons of money for the gym (well, my parents do, anyway) and the Rec Center is free. (for awhile) It was amazing fun.

Sundays

I think that Sundays are the most wonderful, relaxing, perfect days. My dad is such a goofy person. He is one of those Bishops who is very proper, always doing things "The Right Way". I love Sundays because watching him sit on the stand is the funniest thing I have ever seen. He gets this hilarious look on his face when he hears people mess up. Not quite dissappointed, not quite amused. A mix between the two. It's almost better than hearing him use the phrase "Yea, even the Book of Mormon" as he conducts the meeting. Almost

I love Sundays because my mom makes the best dinners. I have the best Mom in the world. I swear I'm going to fail at being a mother no matter how good I am because I have her to measure up to. It's horrible but I'm so lucky. I love Sundays because my Young Women leaders love us girls so much. We got the "chance" to have a presidency meeting today. I love the respect they give the girls-it's almost as if we're adults and we have important things to say! (imagine that) I also love that shortly after eating dinner, the Home Teachers came, quickly followed by my mad dash out the door to get BACK to the church to sing in yet another musical practice! JOY

I love Sundays because they are rejuvenating, peaceful days. I even get the chance to read!!! Amazing.

I love Sundays because they are the Lord's day- they must be perfect.

Crazy, huh?

Well, I know it is probably just because I am on Spring Break, but I have the blogging bug. I have blogged non-stop today and yesterday...and I'm loving it. My next two adventures today were to chop off my hair and buy $100 True Religion jeans. I love both of them!!! My hair is shorter than shoulder-length and I was terrified to cut it but i seriously love it. As for the jeans...I splurged and the jeans fit amazingly. (Is that a word??? Probably not, but I don't have an AP English teacher reading this so I think I'm ok) I'm currently watching Sydney White with my family..."I'M A DORK!" I love this movie-it shows that its OK to be wierd and the outcast and not always fit in. Not to mention that Amanda Bynes is the epitome of cheesy wierndess and plays the part perfectly. Have a great night!

Oops

I just wrote a realllly long entry...and then for some bizzare reason it would not only not save, but deleted when I tried to post it. I will now continue on to give the reader's digest version of what I typed earlier...
Yesterday, I got in a car accident. After deciding that 50 balloons was not enough to fill Marisa's room for her birthday surprise, I jumped in the car and drove to Fry's to get more balloons. As I was pulling into the parking spot, I tapped the gas instead of the brake, and as a knee-jerk reaction slammed down on the gas. I smashed into (as my mom calls it) a "brick structure" and the car is pretty damaged. Not pretty at all. I spent the next 2 hours shaking and crying-it was probably the most terrifying thing I have gone through in my life. I am so lucky that no one else was even around me. Then it would have been exponentially worse. The worst part of the whole thing is the periodical jab my mom gets in now-"Do you remember which one's the brake" or "Hey, the gas is the skinny one on the right" or (more incredulous) "How in the world did you manage to do that??". It's horrible. It always comes with the little smirk she gets when she's trying to hold back a laugh...I will get her back for this!!!!

I'm SORRY

SOO, in the last few days I have been badgered to write a new blog post. I hadn't realized that anyone actually read my blog. But I guess I was wrong. So, for all of you faithful friends (ha, good joke) I'll try to update you on my life a little. I've just been struggling, trying to keep up with my never-ending school work. I just love high school soooo much. Outside of trying to keep up with my AP classes in order to get into my DREAM SCHOOL...my life is pretty grand. I just got called to be Laurel Class President in our ward, something that is pretty exciting to me. I've grown up with Laurel Class Presidents that have influenced me in ways I cant explain- to have the chance to maybe be that for some of the young girls in my ward is incredible. I also have had some other sweet things happen to me recently. I made regional choir and had an amazing concert at McKlintock High School a few weeks ago. The conductor was pompous and was a jerk, but it was all for the music (I had to repeat this to myself multiple times over the weekend) and the end result was amazing.
I also just found out that I made ALL STATE CHOIR! This means I will get to perform at Gammage on April 12th. This is huge, Gammage is a place that I could only dream of singing at, and now that dream is coming true. I am so grateful for the chance that I get to sing in this incredible choir this year...I was super sick on Friday for my audition and by some miracle I still made the choir. I must be doing something right...
Other than that, my life is pretty much normal. I'm still teaching piano as much as I can, and it is a great job to have as a teenager. I love it. I'll try to keep more updated!