Daughters in My Kingdom...

After months of putting off reading this book, I’m happy to say that I have finally finished it.  I don’t know why I didn’t have a desire to read it for the longest time.  I guess it never sounded appealing to me.  I kept hearing them mention in at church and at general conference that I finally gave in and decided that it was time to read it.  So I decided to take it with me to the temple each week.  The wait at the baptistery during the school year is always about two hours so I figured it was the perfect time to read it each week.  I was still a little hesitant to read it but once I started reading it I LOVED IT.  It was great to learn about the history of the Relief Society.  I loved how there were so many stories in it of ordinary women that did extraordinary things in their everyday routine of life.  These were just some of the quotes that I loved:

“…Hands often speak as voices can’t.  A warm embrace conveys volumes.  A laugh together unites us.  A moment of sharing refreshed our souls.  We cannot always lift the burden of one who is troubled, but we can lift her so she can bear it well.”

“There is an art to being a homemaker.  For ourselves and for our families, it is important we have a sanctuary—a place of refuge away from the world where we feel comfortable and where, if others come, they, too, can feel comfortable.”

“You wonderful sisters render compassionate service to others for reasons that supersede desires for personal benefits.  In this you emulate the Savior, who, though a king, did not seek position, nor was He concerned about whether others noticed Him.  He did not bother to compete with others.  His thoughts were always turned to help others.  He taught, healed, conversed [with], and listened to others.  He knew that greatness had little to do with outward signs of prosperity of position.  He taught and lived by this doctrine: ‘He that is greatest among you shall be your servant.’”

“There is a serious need for the charity that gives attention to those who are unnoticed, hope to those who are discouraged, aid to those who are afflicted.  True charity is love in action.  The need for charity is everywhere.”

“Nothing is so much calculated to lead people to forsake sin as to take them by the hand and watch over them with tenderness.” 

Tinker Bell...

Don’t you love those times when you just get to feel like a little kid again for a few minutes?   I went into the Disney Store the other day and felt transformed into a little kid again.  All the princess knick-knacks reminded me of how much l loved being a “princess” when I was little.  I loved the fairy tales and being in my make believe world.  I still love the fairytales.  I loved watching the excitement on the little girls faces in the store when they found the section that held merchandise of their favorite princess.  Their eyes would light up as they looked at the dresses and shoes and toys. They would then beg their parents for something that would make them feel like that princess. Of course the parents can’t resist making their girls feel like a princess so they would always give in. 

I loved that my mom let me be a princess when I was little and I am definitely going to let my little girls be princesses.  There is always controversy about fairy tales messing with our minds but I believe that fairy tales and make believe is healthy for a growing child.  It helps them believe in a happily ever after when the happily ever after slowly disappears around them.   It gives the young minds a certain amount of hope. 

Life is a great fairy tale.  We forget that because we believe that life has to be perfect to be a fairy tale.  What we forget is that in every fairy tale there are bad guys and obstacles to overcome.  Cinderella had an evil stepmother and stepsisters.  She was a housemaid and had to get her hands dirty as she cleaned and worked all day.  She originally didn’t get to go to the ball and had no pretty dress until she received help from her fairy godmother.  Bell had to deal with the Beast, a cocky Gaston, and imprisonment in a castle.  After going through every ups and downs that came their way they finally reached their happily ever after.  Happily Ever After is available to all of us.  As President Utchdorf said: “Happily Ever After is not something found only is fairy tales.  You can have it! It is available for you!”

So now that I went on a Happily Ever After tangent back to the Disney store.  I was looking around and enjoying the atmosphere of the palace.  The workers even wish you a “magical” day.  I found my way over to the Tinker Bell section of the store and decided that I wanted something that fit my nickname.  And so I bought a Tinker Bell cup so match me.  I’m reaching into my inner child whenever I use it.  I got this nickname a while ago when I cut my hair shorter and I guess it is a nickname that has kind of stayed.  People also ask all the time “Does anyone ever tell you that you remind them of Tinker Bell?”  

This Is Us...

These are my roommates and we are quite a super fantastic group of people I must say!  There is never a dull moment in our life.  And so…this is us!

Kristen: Well you already know me!  I’m just your little Swedish rock climber/ hairdresser.  Something I found super funny was that I am totally the odd one out.  It’s ok they still love me even with spikey super blonde hair. 

Chantelle: (Said Ch-OON-tell) I joke with her all the time in calling her Ch-AAN-tell.  First thing about Chantelle is that she is literally the funniest person I have ever met.  I told her the other day that I just tag along with her all the time because she is always so entertaining.  She is the good kind of funny.  She is never mean or hurtful...just pure funny.  There is never a dull moment around the apartment when she is home.  She is also one of those girls that just has this rare natural beauty about her. 

Keilani: Yes her name is a Hawaiian name but she is not Hawaiian (as you can tell she is a white girl).  She is one of those girls that has a really good head on her shoulders.  She is solid in the gospel and is great about relating everything to a gospel related subject.  She is teaching me a lot right now about being a better listener.  When she is in a conversation with someone she REALLY listens and REALLY cares about those she is talking to.  I have yet to meet a more intent listener than her.

Sarah: She is the sweetheart of the apartment.  Not a single mean bone exists in her body.  She always has this bouncy curl in her hair that fits her personality well.  The moment she picks up her guitar, she is transformed into her peaceful happy place.  She doesn’t just play the music.  It is almost like the music becomes a part of her because she has a certain emotional connection to it.  

Rocky Balboa - Inspirational Speech.

“…I'd hold you up to say to your mother, "this kid's gonna be the best kid in the world. This kid's gonna be somebody better than anybody I ever knew." And you grew up good and wonderful. It was great just watching you, every day was like a privilige. Then the time come for you to be your own man and take on the world, and you did. But somewhere along the line, you changed. You stopped being you. You let people stick a finger in your face and tell you you're no good. And when things got hard, you started looking for something to blame, like a big shadow. Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done! Now if you know what you're worth then go out and get what you're worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain't you! You're better than that! I'm always gonna love you no matter what. No matter what happens. You're my son and you're my blood. You're the best thing in my life. But until you start believing in yourself, ya ain't gonna have a life.”

The Temple Grounds Crew..

The grounds of the temples are always beautiful.  I was thinking about how beautiful they always are when I was walking up to the temple this morning.  The flowers are blooming, the grass is trimmed and neat, and it always a sight that makes you smile.  I took a second to watch the grounds crew all planting flowers by the door.  As I was watching them, I wondered if they knew how much their work meant to everyone that comes to visit the temple.  They might see their job as just as another job but to me their job is a lot more.  They make the place beautiful and they deserve our thanks for the work that they do.  And so I send out my thanks to anyone that tends to the landscape and upkeep of all the temples grounds.  They provide a beautiful setting for a beautiful and sacred House of the Lord.  

A Mormon...Bachelorette...

My roommates and I decided tonight that we were going to have weekly bonding time.  This time is going to include all watching the Bachelorette on Chantelle’s bed.  The funny part of this story is that I had made fun of her earlier today about her guilty pleasure of watching “trashy T.V.”.  I ate my words when I watched it with her tonight and got hooked.  I’m against the Bachelorette and Bachelor because it’s a show that rarely, if ever, works.  It’s just someone having a fairytale courtship with ten people at the same time on T.V.  Am I embarrassed to admit that I will be watching this season? Yep, sure am!

We were all getting ready for bed and I made the comment that they needed to film a Mormon Bachelor or Bachelorette and air it on BYUTV.  We then started listing off all the dates that they would go on like mini-golf, bowling, scavenger hunts, ultimate firsbee, tandem bike rides, murder mystery dinners, and a night at Humor U.  Then there would be the romantic night of eating frozen yogurt while staring into each other’s eyes.  And of course the kiss would be at the Y lookout point or the magical duck pond south of campus J.  Then all the girls that didn’t get a rose would go on a mission and the guys that didn’t get a rose would wait around at their apartment until a group of giggly freshmen showed up at his door with a plate of homemade cookies.    My roommate Keilani then said “We don’t need to watch that because we LIVE it everday”.  My life is the life of a Mormon Bachelorette.  (Even though some of that was said with a little bit of sarcasm, I truly do love all of it!) 

Iron and Wine - Boy With A Coin (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

This is one of my roommates most favorite music videos.  She is a dancer and so she loves the grace and sassiness of the flamingo dancing.  I really liked it! 

Nearer My God to Thee (for 9 cellos) ThePianoGuys

Chocolate Wisdom...

I never thought that chocolate could be such an uplifting thing (I guess eating it in Relief Society makes it that much more uplifting too).  Thank you to the Dove Company for adding “fortunes” into every piece of chocolate.  

So maybe I ate one...or 7...too many.  

“Express Yourself”

Express myself in the form of eating chocolate...Now that I can handle! 

“Happiness is Contagious.”

Note to self: Happiness is contagious by sharing your chocolate with others too! 

“Take a deep breath.”

Take a deep breath…and eat more chocolate! 

“Make “Someday” Today!”

Eat chocolate TODAY!!  (Got that one covered…maybe a little too well!) 

Joking aside: I really like this one!  (sometimes we say "someday I will do that" a little too often when we really need to make that "someday" happen now!) 

Natures Sanctuary...

It seems almost unfair that one of my most favorite places in Provo is one of the most dangerous spots in Provo.  Yes that would be the Provo River Trail.  Dangerous and you really cannot go there alone (Don’t worry I wont go there alone and I will always take a friend with me).  For some reason I only thought that the river trail was just up in the canyon.  A few weeks ago I discovered that it went all the way from the canyon to the lake.  A friend and I have started running/biking the part of the trail by our apartment and it has grown on me each time.  It is beautiful.  It is one of those unique places in Provo that make you feel like you are not in Provo anymore.  Natures sanctuary.  

Twice in a Lifetime...

I have heard it said many times that true love only comes along once in a lifetime.  A client of mine taught me the other day at house false this saying is.  For in her life, true love has come along twice. 

As I was coloring her hair we got on the subject of weddings and receptions because I had just gone to my friends wedding the weekend before.  She then told me her two weddings (which I was surprised by because I have done her hair a few times before and had no clue she had been married twice already).  My client got married at the age of twenty to the man she thought she would be spending many years with.  Nine months after they were married he suddenly died due to a problem with an enlarged heart.  They had no knowledge of this condition and so it hit suddenly and hit hard.  So at the age of 21 she was already a widow.  She sold their home and then moved home with her parents so that they could take care of her while she grieved.  Their wedding had been spectacular and the nine months they had together simply magical.  She then took some time and then cautiously stepped out into the single world again.  A little under three years later she was able to be married again to a man she was just as much in love with as the first.  This wedding was more private and simple then the first.  They had to get married civilly because she was still sealed to her first husband.  I asked if she was worried about which one she was going to be with in the next life and she just responded that she knows it will all work out in the end.  And so when they say true love only happens once in a lifetime….sometimes it happens twice in a lifetime.