Love Day

Meech and I made cookies for the big Valentines Day...well...Meech made cookies. And I decorated them. My making cookies would break very strict cooking rules set up by my family.

14 Valentine Memories:

1-putting all those cute little valentines cards into the homemade boxes or envelopes at school

2-giving the boy you have a crush on the one "special" barbie valentine

3-sweet boys who "anonymously" send flowers to 9th grade girls

4-my mom for ALWAYS making valentines day breakfast or dinner for the fam

5-wearing heart pajama pants to school with my friends (the ONLY day my mom would let me wear pajama pants to school...even though they were SO cool--a big thank you to her. haha)

6-beautiful jewelry from my Dad

7-Friends who come down to my apartment and get in my bed at 2:00 in the morning to tell me her boyfriend said he loved her...you know who you are :)

8-obviously...decorating heart shaped sugar cookies

9-delivering heart shaped sugar cookies to friends

10-Those tiny little heart cinnamon candies

11-heart attacking/snow spray painting young women leaders homes

12-Rose-grams at school

13-Being asked in 3rd grade to be the cutest boy in class's valentine...&...

14-Being betrayed by my 3rd grade best friend so SHE could be his Valentine

Oh the things we do for love!

The Secret Garden: A Childhood Classic

I just finished reading The Secret Garden and about a million childhood memories have come rushing back. I can remember visiting my Grandma and Grandpa as a child and watching The Secret Garden movie just about everyday during the week long stay at their home. I specifically recall my Grandmother doing her ironing while we watched the film together and her smiling and laughing when Mary told Colin "Might is only maybe and I don't care if you scream 'til you're blue in the face!" She loved the movie. The Hallmark version of this movie (which is nearly impossible to find anywhere these days!) I miss these memories. I miss her and while reading the book this past month I realized just how much I cherish these times we shared.

Anyways...enough sappy.

I did want to share a line from the book that I particularly loved:

"So long as Mistress Mary's mind was full of disagreeable thoughts about her dislikes and sour opinions of people and her determination not to be pleased by or interested in anything, she was a yellow-faced sickly, bored and wretched child. Circumstances, however, were very kind to her, though she was not at all aware of it. They began to push her about for her own good. When her mind gradually filled itself with robins, and moorland cottages crowded with children, with queer crabbed old gardeners and common little Yorkshire housemaids, with springtime and with secret gardens coming alive day by day, and also with a moor boy and his "creatures," there was no room left for her disagreeable thoughts which affected her liver and digstion and made her yellow and tired."

Where you tend a rose, a thistle cannot grow

2011 Spectacular Favorites:

Can I just say what a great year 2011 was?! So many great memories and fun experiences all rolled up into just 365 days. Here is a little taste of what I got to be a part of during this year...

Oregon Duck Football &

Arguing with Tyler at work about Oregon Duck Football

Starbucks Peppermint Stick White Chocolate Cocoa with Kortni

Reading with Maggie...&...

Maggie all the time

Criminal Minds

Zupas Chicken Enchilada Soup

The Portland Oregon Temple

(I'm going there someday...)

Dinners with Katie and Cami

Draper Boutiques

Road Trips with my Mom

"That's what I love about Aibleen,

she can take the most complicated things in life

and wrap them up so small and simple,

they'll fit right in your pocket."

"This obsession with dignity

can ruin your life

if you let it."

A Little Bit o' Tim Please?!?

I'm in love. I'm in love with a married man! AND I find that I would compromise any of my values, become a Jolie-type home wrecker and steal him away in a minute. This is the guy:

Some of you may have heard of him. TIM MCGRAW! Seeing him in concert last week may or may not have changed my life. I've decided he is one of the three sexiest men alive. My wonderful summer family, The Minnicks, invited me along to the concert for my birthday. It was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. Best concert ever. Besides looking at Mr. Hottie all night he has great music that is just a blast to sing-a-long too. Second best part of the night, was when Whitney, Tanner and I started Usana Ampitheater chanting Tim's name so he'd come back for an encore.

Third Best part of the evening:

We Kick Balls!

I played Kick Ball this year with a group of friends from my church. We were the best in the league...not to brag or anything AND we had a whole lot of fun while winning! It was a great chance to get to know people outside of church. Our team name was The Kick Balls--which was made up late one night by my good friend Amber Tuckett (you can see her pictured below). Although kick ball is neither a real sport or am I any good at it, the experience was awesome. Hopefully the team overlooks all those balls I dropped out in the field and will invite me to play again next year :)

Friend Moments

Lately I've been watching the T.V. series Friends in bed at night before I fall asleep. Then during the day I'll be in a moment where I want to say "the same thing happened to my friend Joey!" or "Rachel talked about that movie with me last night too." I think I need a reality check?!?

I AM 27 DRESSES

Now I typically don't allow myself to even think this way and/or remind myself of all the disgusting bridesmaids dresses I've worn (please no one take offense to this--when I say disgusting I don't mean YOUR pink, blue, black, orange, or yellow dress...I just mean everyone elses!) but tonight I make an exception. I will be honest though and say that many of my friends have in fact chosen fine dresses and even let me choose my own dress but it's the symbolism of what the apparel represents that seems to "disgust" me--not the fabric or design itself.


I'll include photos so you can feel my pain with me.


Some of my most memorable moments have happened during the 12 hours I spent in these dresses:


Very first was my friend who was married on my birthday awhile back. When her family sang happy birthday to me at her wedding reception I actually burst into tears. Was I sad? Yes! Do I have any idea why? Nope.

Then was a wedding where my friends Mom looked at us both at the end of a REALLY long day and said: "the two of you look like strippers named tuti fruitie!" We were in Vegas. On the strip. I got nervous walking around after that. Didn't want to give the wrong impression!


July wedding in Utah? 102 degrees
June wedding in Vegas? 110 degrees
September wedding in Arizona? Extremely H.O.T.




I flew down to Mesa for a good friend's wedding. To avoid missing work, it was a "spend less than 24 hours in the arrival city" sort of a trip...and I managed to do it, yep, WITHOUT my temple recommend.

I was in an out of state wedding where I knew no one. And I mean not a soul besides the brides parents. So I sat by myself, in a corner, in the back of the reception hall yard, in the dark for 2 hours. I had just a perfect enough view of the happy couple through these windows that somehow managed to assist me in a more accurate realization of how pathetic I must have looked. Proud moment.

I started out young too! I was a flower girl when I was 7ish. But this time I actually got to walk down the isle. Were the people divorced? Yes. Were they divorced before I even really knew what divorced meant? They sure were.


Now if you haven't seen the movie 27 dresses let me explain with the following phrase: "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride." And it feels good!

We Were Five

Why am I lying awake at now 3:00 am thinking about this? When I was a freshman in the dorms at BYU I met 4 girls that became some of my very best friends. They are wonderful, beautiful, amazing girls all of whom I love like sisters. We would spend hours talking about who would get married first. But as if that wasn't enough--we would predict which order we would be married in. And I never imagined, even in my wildest 18 year old nightmares, I would be the last. The first was our sophmore year. Then one our junior year. Another our senior year. Leaving just two of us for the last 2 years. It was doable being single because with her we could whine and complain together. I had a sweet tender mercy honestly sent from the Lord. After all, being single and alone, in Utah, is probably one of the MOST traumatic things a 24 year old girl could have to endure, right? ;)

My Dad used to tell the two of us when we would complain to him, "saved the two best for last!" He's so sweet. He doesn't say that anymore. Now I hear, "Are you EVER going to get married?" In fact, last week I actually heard him vow to not go to anymore weddings until one of his daughters got married. Even he's run out of faith for me!

Then There Were Two

Well--my tender mercy has ended. She's getting married this week. And to a wonderful person. I keep telling her I wish he was a jerk so I could give her good reasons not to marry him. Blah. So now I really am the lone man standing. Wo-man anyways.

Side note: I L.O.V.E. every single one of the girls in the above mentioned description of my personal hell. You girls, if for some reason any of you see this, are THE BEST. I can't imagine my life without you and I would not have traded to share these "moments" with you for anything....well...almost anything! ;)

Just Can't Win

I'm looking for a way to deal with those that cheat the system. We all know them. They're pathological liars who refuse to face reality. Today at work I had a woman come to me saying the apartments next door were offering this remarkable deal--one that I can't and don't want to match. I have good reasons for this. Although it's likely no one would ever know, it ends up hurting me and those around me in the end. Don't take shortcuts! Do it right the first time. And be honest in the process of getting it done. Why can't people reach beyond themselves to see the consequences of their actions? But seriously...I'm looking for answers!

This blog should also be called: "entitlement"

What is up with people feeling entitled to EVERYTHING good and ONLY the good in the world? To them, I would like to say the following:

1-you CHOOSE to be happy or unhappy. Look for the good. I promise if you're upset with a situation, there is something you can do to change YOUR OWN PERSONAL VIEW!

2-you are not owed anything. Just because you have a difficult situation, does not mean you should be given free handouts. It's nice if they come along, but don't expect them! And don't be unhappy when you don't receive them!

3-Stop with the selfishness. Reach out. Touch someone else's life. Do good.

4-Also, the bullying has got to stop. I am so tired of people coming into my office thinking they'll bully their way out of the rules. You're not special. You're the same as everyone else. Thus, you will abide by the same rules as everyone else. No exceptions.

Now, I suppose this blog could be about me as well. I feel entitled to certain...shall we say "blessings" that have not and may not ever come along for me. I am constantly forcing myself to take a step back, reminding myself I am owed nothing. I don't live by my covenants in order to receive something in return. I do it because it's the right thing to do. Phew. So much easier to write than live at times!

But seriously people, look around and see who you can help. I promise if you want to do good you can and it will feel WAY better than getting $100 knocked off your monthly rent payment!

Top 10 Lessons from the week:

1- Cafe Rio with Hillary and Sarah = a GOOD time to evaluate Sarah's intelligence :)

2- Don't leave your work computer unattended for any amount of time with 3 Ute fans in your office.

3- It's a good idea to know enough about computers to get the Auburn symbol off your desktop when you fail at #2

4- Humanity, in general, is pretty dishonest

5- The conference center is 1.4 million square feet...and needs to be vacuumed

6- A gingerbread house will not stand with weight on only one side of it (or gingerbread "boat")

7- When Christmas shopping, I can't put the card down and Meech can't take it out

8- A large diet coke at 11 and a large Dr. Pepper at 1 are not caffeinated enough to replace insufficient sleep.

9- People of walmart . com will ALWAYS be funny when running on 4 hours of sleep from the night before.

10- Wrestling with the Pratt boys can be nothing but a good time (with lots of bruises)

The best way to spread holiday cheer is singing loud for all to hear!

A Charlie Brown Christmas...

Since my childhood this has been one of my two favorite Christmas movies. (The other will have to be a surprise for the future). Now, later in life, I realize why. I AM LUCY! We are the same! I hope you all enjoy this clip from the movie as much as I do:

Friend

My friend. Her name is Amanda Johnson but I call her friend; because that's just exactly what she is and what she will always be. Friend has been a tender mercy to me ever since I can remember. When I was a brand new missionary struggling to adjust to the lifestyle she sent me a letter that saved me from running as fast as I could back to the U.S. Friend and I seem to experience many of the same trials, events, and experiences at the same time--which has become my saving grace. Knowing I have someone to chat with that feels the same about life right now as I do is basically priceless and indescribable.

You see friend and I are the last of our group of college friends to get married. (sorry for bringing the attention of that to everyone friend) and I just don't know what I'd do without our consistently lengthy chats about guys and dating and marriage. A definite lifesaver!

Friend and I graduated from college together and shared our graduation dinner at the Chef's Table with our families. We wanted our families to meet because we are family. I call her friend but really she's more like a sister. (we even both invited "guests" that probably should not have been in attendance...haha)

Friend and I served missions at the same time so we've always had such great memories to share! Luckily she started a little before me and could lay out a little bit of a map for me.

I would suggest you all meet my friend. She's wonderful and I know you'll all love her just as much as I do.

Happy Fall Ya'll!

I feel I can say with a strong conviction in my heart...there is no where more beautiful than Utah during the autumn months. The trees start turning and the colors up the canyons will literally just stop you in your tracks.

Today my Mom and I went up American Fork Canyon on a drive to see these beautiful landscapes. I know the pictures don't even begin to do it justice but I wanted to share a little of our outing! I love how appreciative my Mom is of nature. Everything spectacular she sees she thinks of heaven and our Heavenly Father. I know I've said this before but she truly is the most amazing mother and woman. She teaches me to be grateful each and every day for all the marvelous blessings I've been given.

Thoughtful thought

"Hermana sigue con animo aun cuando parezca que no se ve la luz que alumbra el camino"

Can't sleep.

I am laying in my bed trying to fall asleep. I know I won't be able to do so for a while. It's a vicious cycle that I experience at night when I'm tired but not exhausted. First I focus on not thinking of anything but that naturally leads me to think about something and the chain begins. One thing leads to the next and then here I am at 1:15 am remembering one of the most compassionate events I've ever witnessed.

Towards the end of my mission I became ill will appendicitis. At the time I was companions with Hermana Sarah Johnson. A sweetheart of a girl to really say the very least. She was so kind to me. After I had been in bed for about 2 or 3 weeks I began feeling very VERY discouraged. I remember that at night I couldn't sleep (much like what is happening to me now) and my mind would begin to race around thinking of all the things I wished I could do or should be accomplishing. I was a missionary darn it! I was there to serve...not to be served!

One night probably around 2 in the morning I was laying in the dark in my broken little bed feeling the terrific pain of what had come from the surgery. I began to cry. I hardly ever cry but it was somewhat inevitable at this point. I was sad, mad, confused. And that's when I discovered the true heart of Hermana Johnson. By this point she had helped me through more physical obstacles than she had obviously signed up for as a brand new missionary due to my illness. But that night she helped heal my heart. I remember she explained to me the many different reasons why I could have been experiencing this particular trial. I remember she pleaded with me to believe I wasn't a terrible missionary for having to stay in bed from the appendicitis instead of preaching the gospel. I remember she brought comfort to my heart. She was a true servant of the Lord on the day--and each day that I learn more about her I love her more and more.

Happy Pumpkin Day!

Well it's official...fall is upon us! I'm not actually sure where the last 2 months of my life have disappeared to but I'm glad to have a few minutes to sit down and get a blog posted. I've been working A LOT lately and although I'm not positive I love to admit this I think I take after my Dad in the whole "workaholic" sense.

Yesterday my Mom was all excited to go into her garden and check out her pumpkins she planted earlier in the year. Little did she know we would find all of this waiting to be picked...

A friend

Lately I've been thinking about those people who have been placed in my life to help me along the path. Through the struggles, trials, tribulations and the happiness, smiles, and laughter. Here are some of my thoughts about who these people are:

A friend is someone who makes you want to be better. To push yourself to becoming an improved person

someone who thinks about your well-being

who cares enough to call and find out how life has been

who listens

someone that wants to share life with you. The good, the bad, and the ugly. They feel what you feel and are happy to do so

a friend loves you for who you are and uplifts you

is proud of you for your accomplishments and laughs with you about your failures

helps you feel the spirit

will cry with you when needed

who understands and agrees with you...even when you both know you're wrong

a friend knows what's going on in your life and remembers to remind you how loved you are

In the last week I have had some life-changing chats with some of the greatest friends I've ever known. When I think about these people and the ways in which they have come into my life I can see the reality of tender mercies taking place. I have been blessed by some really incredible friends. You know who you are. This is my way of thanking you for being a part of my life and showing my gratitude for your unwavering faith, kind words, thoughtful hearts, and patience.

Perfectly Lonely By John Mayer

So...I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS SONG!

Had a little love, but I spread it thin
Falling in her arms and out again
Made a bad name for my game around town
Tore up my heart, and shut it down

Nothing to do
Nowhere to be
A simple little kind of free
Nothing to do
No one but me
And that's all I need

I'm perfectly lonely
I'm perfectly lonely
I'm perfectly lonely (Yeah)
'Cause I don't belong to anyone
Nobody belongs to me

I see friends around from time to time
When their ladies let them slip away
And when they ask me how I'm doing with mine
This is always what I say

Nothing to do
Nowhere to be
A simple little kind of free
Nothing to do
No one to be
Is it really hard to see

Why I'm perfectly lonely
I'm perfectly lonely
I'm perfectly lonely
I'm perfectly lonely (Yeah)
'Cause I don't belong to anyone
Nobody belongs to me

And this is not to say
There never comes a day
I'll take my chances and start again
And when I look behind
On all my younger times
I have to thank the wrongs that led me to a love so strong

I'm perfectly lonely
I'm perfectly lonely
I'm perfectly lonely (Yeah)
'Cause I don't belong to anyone
Nobody belongs to me

(It's the way, it's the way, it's the way that I want it)

Birthday Thoughts

Well...it's official. I am now an adult. I started off my birthday yesterday by becoming an adult and getting a job! I'm pretty excited about it all. I've never had a job before where I got to give it my 100% best effort because it was never my top priority. Before now school has always taken precedence to just about everything else in life but I can actually start my career and focus on that for a while.

My family and friends made yesterday the most wonderful birthday. My Mom is so great and does everything she can each year to make sure our birthdays are special experiences. She made me crepes for breakfast and then took us to Color Me Mine where we each selected a pottery piece to paint. I chose a chip/dip square dish. I'm so excited to see the finished product in a few days!

Some of my friends came over in the evening to celebrate with us. We had a delicious grilled steak dinner and lavished ourselves with yummy cheesecake (thanks Sarah and Hillary!) and carrot cake. I've decided that the only thing needed to make a birthday great is to be with the people you love. And I LOVE the people who were with me yesterday.

For my birthday I received several new items to help me with a new goal I've acquired...the half marathon in October!!! Am I crazy--perhaps!? My good friend Aishe and I will be running it together. She's amazing and helps push me to keep going with the goal. And now I have a watch to tell me everything I could possibly need to know to get me from start to finish. I didn't even know such things existed! (Thanks Mom and Dad!)

It's when I spend a day surrounded by my family and close friends that I realize just how blessed and loved I really am. Late last night I watched the movie The Blind Side with a friend and as I saw the hard things the main character had experienced in his life-mostly all of which were the results of the poor decisions others had made--I reflected on just how great life really is for me. I've never had to wonder if anyone loved me or cared about my well-being because I've always had parents who did everything they could to show their love. I've never had to hope to find a warm, dry place to sleep at night. I have always always had people in my life who believed in me and my abilities to accomplish anything I wanted. How does it work out that I was born into a home filled with love and so many others will never experience true, unconditional love? I don't know. I can't explain it but I do know I AM BLESSED!

Thanks everyone for making this a very memorable 23rd (haha) birthday!!!