Thinking....

I have a new hobby and some of you may have seen this on facebook, but my new hobby is just sitting there and thinking.

I just love it so much!!! In my spare time, I just sit there and think. Sometimes I think up scenarios about different people that I know. Then I write them down. I suggest that if you like to think, then write down the things that you think about. It has really helped me and I love to go back and read what I have thought about in the past. It is very healthy for your noggin. :) Anyway, I have tried to do what Alison does, and that is put a picture on every post. I love her pictures, so if you don't like some of the pictures I chose, don't blame me. Blame Alison Johnson.

P.S. Hey Al, just to let you know, just now I almost said Alison Eddington!!! lol :)

Early Morning Cemetery

Okay, this sounds so weird, but if you have not read this book then you absolutely need to! I love this book! I started it a couple of days ago and I am already like half way through. And I am not a fast reader! It is a really good book and a quick read! Every time I read it, I read A LOT of it! It is full of emotion. At times you think "UUUHHH!!! They are so dumb!" or someone will do something and you will just want to punch them in the face. Or it will make you cry. It is definitely worth your time. It is by Patricia Wiles. It is about a kid and his family and friends. It is called Early Morning Cemetery in stead of Early Morning Seminary!! I thought that that was pretty clever! Now I know that some people don't like reading church books, but it is completely okay! Because it is no where close to a church book! It mentions seminary a couple times, but it is by no means the subject of the book. So, you need to go read it! And THANK YOU TO KELLI for expressing her emotions in the book and telling me a few of the parts that made me want to read it!!!

Youth Conference!!!

So, this past weekend was the 2011 Youth Conference. It was in Norman, Oklahoma and we lived in the United States Postal Training Center. It was a REALLY nice place! The "food place" was (for those f you who have been) pretty much like the COB. It was AWESOME!! ) Youth Conference was fun, but also extremely stressful. So it started this past Thursday. On Thursday we went to 2 workshops and then we had rehearsal for a while. (Rehearsal because each stake has been working for the past like 3 months to learn dances and songs to perform in the Lloyd Nobel Center in front of the public.) And then we had dinner, then a DANCE! (it was a lame-o dance :(  )  And then a "devotional"/fireside and then went to bed. Then Friday, we got up and had to have breakfast and be ready with all of our stuff ready and then we left on busses (3 busses for about 1300 kids........)for the LNC for like HARDCORE rehearsal. We constantly went through the show until it started pretty much (at about 7:00 pm) then we finally got back to the "hotel" and about 10:00 and THEN there was a dance/after party for the cast (so everyone.) that ended at 1:00 a.m. and then there was A "DEVOTIONAL"/FIRESIDE!!!  so we ended up ( in my room at least) getting to bed at about 3:00- 3:30. And then we had to be up and have had breakfast and be ready for the day and be packed and sitting ready for a meeting by 10:00a.m Saturday morning....... I AM SO TIRED! I am running on about 5-6 hours of sleep right now! But here are links to the 2 dances I had to learn:

50's Swing Dance

Country Line Dance (watch the lady on the right. The girl on the left wasn't really doing it right.)

So, they were really fun and I got the line dance down pat, but the 50's i messed up on once. So, we had to sing a song at the VERY beginning and then we had to change into our 50's costume and then we went out and did it a while later and then we had to SPRINT to the changing rooms and change into our country costume and then we SPRINTED back out, and the only thing between our 2 dances was a guy singing "God Bless the USA" and a girl singing "Jesus take the wheel". IT WAS REALLY FUN but really kind of scary that I wouldn't change fast enough. But anyway, I will try and post a picture that Mom took of me in my 50's costume soon.

On Saturday, the last thing we did was have a stake testimony meeting. And it was REALLY good, but when it was over (we had had the closing song and prayer) the Stake President got up and said that as we were singing, he looked at EVERY single face in that room, and he could just tell by looking at our faces that "we are good." And then he said "I wish that the Spirit didn't tell me this, but during the prayer, the Holy Ghost hit me VERY strongly and told me that today, going home one of the cars is going to been in danger. It also told me that it is VITAL that the driver is NOT the only one awake. Because if everyone falls asleep then the driver will fall asleep as well." It was quite scary. You could really tell by his voice and by looking at his face, that he was truly concerned. And on the way home, we ALMOST got in a wreck. But, we didn't so, it is really weird to think "What if our car was the car that President Johnson was warned about??" Thank you to Heavenly Father for warning President Johnson and thank you to President Johnson for heeding that warning and warning us. I love Youth Conference!


So, today at church I had to talk about Youth Conference in Sacrament Meeting. It was really nerve racking!!  I talked about 2 things that I learned. 1) was the power of the Holy Ghost(from the above story) and 2) to always persevere with a good attitude. Because ever since we first practiced the dances and first sung the songs, up until the day of the pageant, I was thinking "We are all doomed and this is going to end in a train wreck and that is the end of it." But during the dress rehearsal I started REALLY getting excited. (Probably because of the poodle skirt! :) ) And it all turned out pretty much AWESOME!!! I loved it! Anyway, that is pretty much it! See ya!

Sorry, Alison, I stole this... but it is just so darn perfect!

This was one of the posts from Alison's blog that I was reading (sorry i read it so late Al. I was behind and I skipped to the Mexico ones and now I am going back to read before that. ) This is so true and it is said so perfectly.

Regina Spektor - Folding Chair (Album Version)

"I have a perfect body, though sometimes I forget.  I've got a perfect body because my eyelashes catch my sweat."

Every time I hear that line, I think about how profound it is.  I, too, have a perfect body, though sometimes I forget.  Sometimes people (including me) get caught up in thinking that having a perfect body means having the skinniest or the healthiest or the most in-shape or the prettiest body.  But how often am I thankful for the functions it performs perfectly every single day? 

I have a perfect body because I have two arms, two legs, ten fingers, and ten toes that all work.  So what if my toes are a different shape than most people's?  

I have a perfect body because my brain works.  What does it matter if I'm not the smartest person in the world?

I have a perfect body because I can do just about anything I want to do without having problems.  I may not be able to run from Kelli's house to the Smith Fieldhouse without walking, but I could if I trained myself to.

I can eat food, take nutrients from it, and get rid of the non-beneficial stuff.  So what if I weigh more than I sometimes wish?  

I have hair, and I like it.  Who cares if it's not always styled perfectly?    

I have a perfect body because I can paint my fingernails.  I can read.  I can drive.  I have ears to hold my glasses up and let me hear.  I can think.  I can sew.  I can walk.  I can run.  I can ride my bike.  I can talk.  I can breathe.  I can smell.  I can care.  I can do a lot of things because my body lets me.




I have a perfect body because my eyelashes catch my sweat.
      



Alison. I love you!

CAMP!!!!

I think that I will just lay out our schedule for yall! So, on Monday, June 6, I left for camp. I was a 4th year. Every other year came on Tuesday but 4th years go on Monday because Monday is High Adventure. We had to be there at 9:00am. For our High Adventure this year, first we were put in different groups and there were different tasks/situations. And the groups rotated. You were given 15 minutes and your group had to figure out how to get out of the situation. Then at 2:00 the leaders got to camp. For High Adventure, we also, well, THEY also went repelling. Brother Hall came and brought his repelling stuff and helped them repel off a cliff that is at camp. I didn't do it though. I can't do heights. It is really sad, but even ladders scare the heck out of me! :) So that is what we did on Monday. TUESDAY: 9:00-we had registration. That is also when all the other levels arrived. 9:30-Welcome,prayer,intros,schedule. They introduced all the leaders and went over the schedule with us. 10:00-introduce theme. Sister Thacker talked to us about our theme (The Gospel is my Anchor) and what their goals where with that theme. 10:30- we had an activity with our levels. 12:00-lunch-12:30-skit practice- every year every cabin(yes. we live in cabins with AC's :)) has to perform a skit for everyone else. Pertaining to the theme or the name of your cabin or something. It is really fun. 1:00- everyday every level has a different cleaning assignment 1:30- we had a craft. But there is so many people so the rotate times and things and levels. So at this time Level 1 had a workshop, Level 2&3 had certification and Level 4(me) had a craft. 2:20-break (you can do really whatever you want) 2:30- Level 2 and Level 3:workshop Level 1: craft Level 4(me): Certification. 4:30- free time. the same as a break but longer. 5:00-flag pole. the lowering of the flag 5:30-Level 1 &2-dinner Level 3&4-Scripture and journal 6:00- Dinner (L3 &L4) Scripture and Journal (L1 &L2) 6:30-Clean-up 7:15- "An Evening with the Stake Presidency" (L3 teaches a song, L4 teaches an Activity, Service Project Preview, and Stake Presidency Presentation 9:00- Skit Practice 9:30 Cabin Devotional 10:30 Lights out. Except most people have the lights out but stay up until like 11:30. :) WEDNESDAY (*BISHOPS NIGHT): 6:00-wake up 6:30-flag pole (raising) 6:45- Breakfast 7:00- Leave for hike, clean up (L4) After Hike: swimming until (11:00AM) 11:45- Lunch (L2 &L3) Free Time (L1 & L4) 12:15-Clean-Up 1:30-A.Workshop (L2 &L3) B. Service Project (L1) C. Outdoor Activity (L4) (that was TORTURE!!) 2:20-Break 2:30 A. Workshop (L1) B. Service Project- (L4) C. Outdoor Activity (L2 &L3) Got cancelled because of the heat. 3:20- Break 3:30 A. Workshop (L4) B. Service Project (L2 &L3) C.Outdoor Activity ( L1) Also cancelled 4:30- Scripture and Journal 5:00 Flag pole 5:30 Clean Up 6:00 Dinner (* BH, EC,MV,PR, RC) Free Time with leaders (*CL CR HN IS RBV) 6:45- Dinner (CL CR HN IS RBV) Free Time with Leaders (BH EC MV PR RC) 7:30 Activity 9:00-Skit Practice 9:30-Cabin Devotional 10:30 Lights Out THURSDAY: 7:00 Wake up 7:30 Flag pole 7:45 Breakfast (L3 & L4) Skit Practice (L1 &L2) 8:15 Breakfast (L1 & L2) Clean Up/Skit Practice (L3 &L4) 9:00 A. Workshop (L4) B.Craft (L2 & L3) C. Certification (L1) 9:50 Break 10:00 Swimming (until 11:00 am)/Free Time 11:30 Lunch (L1 &L4) Skit Practice (L2 & L3) 12:00 Lunch (L2 & L3) 12:30 Clean-Up 1:00 A. Workshop (L1) B. Craft (L4) C. Certification (L2 & L3) 1:50 Break 2:00 A. Workshop (L2 & L3) B. Craft (L1) C. Certification (L4) Except we were done with certification so we talked about the responsibilities of being a YCL and what you do. 3:00 Free time/ Finish certifications (if needed) 3:30 Awards Ceremony 4:30 Flag pole 5:00Dinner (L2 & L3) Scripture and Journal( L2 & L4) 5:30 Dinner (L2 & L4) Scripture and Journal (L1 & L3) 6:00 Clean Up 6:30 Skit Prep 7:00 Skits 8:00 Testimony Meeting 10:00 Cabin Devotional 11:00 Lights out Except this night is the night that people normally pull all-nighters. FRIDAY: 7:00- Wake Up 7:30 Morningside. mini devotional 8:00 Breakfast (L2 & L3) Pack/Clean cabins (L2 & L4) 8:30 Breakfast (L1 & L4) Pack/Clean cabins (L2 & L3) 9:00 Final Comments Camp; clean up 10:00 Parents Arrive and check out 11:00 Leave Camp. So...... that was camp!!!!! * BISHOPS NIGHT: the Bishops of all the wards and the Young Women leaders come up to camp and play games and hold their breath.... :)BH=Brookhollow EC=Elm Creek MV=Mingo Valley PR=Prior RC= Ranch Creek CL=Claremore CR= Cedar Ridge HN: Henryetta IS: Indian Springs (USSS!!) RBV: Red Bud Valley

:)

So I feel like so smart now, because I just learned how to add pictures!! Anyway. That's all. :)

contacts and receptions

FIRST: CONTACTS:So this past Wednesday, Kelli and my Mom and I went to the eye doctor. And I decided that I wanted contacts. So I got them. Well, I only got one pair. I am going back next week to adjust the prescriptions and order more pairs. I am excited. My eyes hurt sometimes, but I am still getting used to them. Right now, in case you care, I am listening to Kumbaya by the BYU singers. It is an interesting song! SECOND:RECEPTIONS: Tuesday, May 31, my sister Brooke flew in. Then on Thursday, her recent husband flew in. Then on Friday, they had a reception/ open house for their wedding. They got married on April 22, 2011. Now they are having 4 "receptions"/open houses. They got married in the Mount Timpanogos Temple... ...in American Fork, Utah. Then they had a reception in Salt Lake City, Utah in the Peery Hotel. It is an old place! And guess who showed up!?!?!?!? MOSES KINIKINI!!! I don't know if you know who that is, but he was on The Biggest Loser this past season. My Mom and him were very good friends in college. It was very fun to finally meet him. Anyway, Brooke and Jon(her husband) live in California. So they had a little open house in California. Brooke grew up here, so then they came here and had the open house here. And Jon is from Idaho, so they are going to have to little open house in Idaho!!! They are "makin' out like bandits" !!! Like my Mom says!

It seems like....

.....this has been happening a lot lately. So, I wanted to say sorry. I haven't written in a while. I would have but I have been so wrapped up in school. But I think it all payed off. :) In my Spanish class, on my final I got an 89% and in the class, I ended with a 98% !!!!!!!!!!!! I was super duper happy! And it was all because of Alison. Alison helped me so much! I called her pretty much everyday!!! ALISON WAS MY SAVIOR!!! I am so thankful for her and her smarts! And, I have decided that I am going to take Spanish III next year!!! I am excited. It will be fun. And the teacher that I will probably get has this thing called "Monday Movie Madness" so basically, we watch a movie every Monday! And if that if really true... that will be amazing. Because, Mondays and Wednesdays are my busiest days! Mondays because of homework and piano practice and piano lessons. And those two piano things alone is an hour and a half. Then I have homework. And Wednesdays, because homework and mutual at night. Normally, we have to leave for church at about 6:30, but lately, while we are preparing for this Youth Conference, we have been meeting a 5:30 so we can practice two dances that we have to learn with Cedar Ridge before our activity, so we have to leave home at about 5:00. When I get home at about 3:30, that is not very much time to do a lot of homework, and family scriptures, and eat dinner! So, yeah. This year should be good. I hope that my homework calms down next year. It seems like(this year)non of my friends ever spend this much time on homework. Even the ones that are in in the same classes as me. But then I think about it and they do have the same amount of homework that I do, they just don't do it! But that hardness is over. You know why? IT'S SUMMER!!!!!!!!!! I am like super stoked! So anyway, that is my spiel on why I haven't been writing. See ya!

Healing Hands

Okay, If yall haven't seen this movie, I highly suggest that you somehow see it. We saw it when, with our DVR, we had the Hallmark channel for free in December. It is one of my, if not my very, favorite movies. It is so sweet. I really think that you should see it. Look it up on Amazon or whatever. You will never regret seeing it. I know it. <3 Yall, will love it!

AGH!!!!!!!!

Does anyone else abhor school like I do? I really don't like school. I guess I would rather go to school and be smart than to not go to school and be dumb. I think that honestly, teachers should be given respect and much credit. If you think about it, teachers put up with a lot of really bad stuff. A lot of really mean kids. So, all I want to say is THANK YOU TEACHERS!!!!