Friday, October 29, 2010

"For I have been made new"


One year and one week ago, one of my best friends { Nate Last } was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  This was one of most amazing experiences I have ever witnessed.  
Last night we were listening to Owl City, when the song "Meteor Shower" came on.  He said that he heard this song for the first time a few days before he was baptized--and that he felt like it was about him.  

I had never heard this song before.  
So we listened to it...and I bawled as Nate sang out the words:


I can finally see 
that You're right there beside me

I am not my own, 
for I have been made new

Please don't let me go, 
I desperately need You

I am not my own, 
for I have been made new 

Please don't let me go, 
I desperately need You

 .........


The song is only 2:14 long, 
but it was one of the best 2 minutes and 14 seconds of my life!
If you haven't heard it...
go take 2 minutes and listen to it.

Try and imagine someone who has finally found what he has been missing/looking for.
Think of the excitement!
Think of the peace!
Think of the hope!
...then try not to cry...

:)

I love you Nate! 
I have ALWAYS looked up to you.  You are the most loving and accepting person I have ever met, and HANDS DOWN the HAPPIEST person I know!!! :)  I love that you idolize my dad's mustache, and are well on your way to having one just like it! ;)  You are one of the most talented people I know!  I am amazed by your creativity and skills!!  You have the BRIGHTEST future ahead of you!  I can't wait to see where life takes you!  Nate, you have brought so much life and happiness into my life!  I am so grateful to have you as my friend!! 

I have the best friends in the whole world!

I had an AMAZING night
with my AMAZING friends!
...and not just ANY friends...
my BEST friends!!
friends I've had since Elementary and/or Junior High!
friends that know the REAL me!
friends that can go two years without seeing each other,
and pick up right where we left off!
friends that say "i love you" when we depart,
and truly mean it.

They say 1 true friend is
worth 5 therapists...

i believe it!

Tonight was the first time our group (well, partially...excluding the current missionaries) has hung out together in YEARS!!!  It was quite the reunion!  Eventful? ...not entirely.  Meaningful? ...definitely! 
It amazed me to see how much life has changed...but how little it has changed us...(in a good way).

He still smells soooo good!
{...and is getting marriend next week!!! Welcome to the gang Michelle!!!...}

He is still the HAPPIEST person I know!
{...and can grow the best facial hair EVER...}

We still have our "special hug"
{...and it still makes us laugh every time!!!...}

She is still sooooo hilarious!
{...and by hilarious, i mean...HILARIOUS!!!...}


Inside jokes are still funny,
Laughter is still constant,
and
We still bring out the best in each other!
{...my cheeks still always hurt after we hang out--from non-stop smiling...}
:)
I am so lucky!  I truly have been blessed with the most amazing friends.  I look up to them soooo much!!!  These are the types of friends that people wish they had!  They are the kind of people who make you want to be a better person just because of who they are.  They are the FUNNIEST FREAKING PEOPLE you will ever meet!!!
These are the people I am going to stay friends with for the rest of my life!

.............
My love goes out to the rest of the gang!!



Keep working hard!
I love you all!!
.......

:)  Life is so good  (:

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Cheer up Buttercup :)

I am going through some old files tonight, and came across this photoshoot I did with
my beautiful sister Kristie Bea!!













She is definitely one of the most photogenic people I know!!
I love doing photoshoots with her!! :)

I love getting her to laugh, and capturing her in the real moment!
This week has been a tough one for her...so I hope I can send her my love and help make her feel lots better!

"Cheer up buttercup!  I love you from head to toe!"

:)

Monday, October 25, 2010

...waiting

As you may know...I have decided to go on a mission!!!
{ The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints }

I am THRILLED about this decision! 

:)

My papers are IN...
My schedule is CLEARED...

.....

now all I've gotta do is...

WAIT.

...and then I will know WHERE I am going...

only to wait some more before I can actually GO!

.....

{ In the mean time }
I am keeping myself busy by:

*Kicking butt in school, and managing to get A's!!
*Keeping in touch with my creative side, and doing many fun artsy projects!
*Spending hours and hours with my wonderful friends!
*Spending many more hours laughing and talking with my family!
*And...as always...dreaming about my life and getting excited about the things to come!

Waiting isn't as bad as it seems...
soon enough, the wait will be over!
I want to fill this wait time with TONS of fun memories and experiences to look back on.
What good would all this time be if I just waisted it doing nothing but
...
waiting?

{ Early mission pictures...will take more once these braces come off!! }






Sunday, October 17, 2010

Too true...

"A Little Bit Stronger"
By: Sara Evans

I heard this song a little while back...and I can't get it off my mind.  
This song has helped me realize that 
I am not the only one who has felt this way...
Sometimes we feel like our suffering is so unique and no one understands.
And then reality slaps us in the face and we realize how "normal" we really are.
It's kind of a good feeling!

The lyrics to this song mean so much to me.
It's like she read my journal before she wrote it! haha
So...this is how my heart is kind of feeling at the moment
{...and for the past few months...}

Woke up late today,
And I still feel the sting of the pain,
But I brushed my teeth anyway.
I got dressed through the mess,
And put a smile on my face.
I got a little bit stronger.

Riding in the car to work,
And I'm trying to ignore the hurt.
So I turned on the radio,
Stupid song made me think of you.
I listened to it for a minute,
But then I changed it.
I'm getting a little bit stronger,
Just a little bit stronger.

And I'm done hoping we can work it out,
I'm done with how it feels
Spinning my wheels,
Letting you drag my heart around.
And I'm done thinking you could ever change,
I know my heart will never be the same.
But I'm telling myself I'll be okay,
Even on my weakest days,
I get a little bit stronger.

It doesn't happen overnight,
But you turn around and a months gone by,
And you realize you haven't cried.
I'm not giving you an hour, or a second, or another minute longer.
I'm busy getting stronger.

And I'm done hoping we can work it out,
I'm done with how it feels
Spinning my wheels,
Letting you drag my heart around.
And I'm done thinking you could ever change,
I know my heart will never be the same.
But I'm telling myself I'll be okay,
Even on my weakest days,
I get a little bit stronger.
I get a little bit stronger.

Getting along without you baby,
Better off without you baby,
How does it feel without me baby?
I'm getting stronger without you baby.

And I'm done hoping we can work it out,
I'm done with how it feels
Spinning my wheels,
Letting you drag my heart around.
And I'm done thinking you could ever change,
I know my heart will never be the same.
But I'm telling myself I'll be okay,
Even on my weakest days,
I get a little bit stronger.

I get a little bit stronger.
Just a little bit stronger.
Little bit, little bit, little bit stronger.
Get a little bit stronger.

 Sometimes I think I waste too much time 
thinking about the past and wishing, hoping, thinking, and praying
that I would've done things differently.

But I know...
Everything happens for a reason! 
The way things happened like they did...
was for a reason.

...I'm getting along...
...I'm better off...
  I know I am gonna be okay,
even on my weakest days.
{...I wish I didn't have those darn weak days...} 

But I know, through all of this,
I am getting
{ just a little bit }
...stronger...

Friday, October 15, 2010

Disneyland...kinda

On Thursday morning I went to the dentist
to get my wisdom teeth out...

{ just the top 2 }

My doctor asked about my family,
and what we were up to this weekend

{ fall break }

I told him how my mom and sister
took off to DISNEYLAND that morning...

{ without me and dad }

Dr. Johnson said:

"Don't worry...I'll get you some Percocet.
You'll feel like you are in Disneyland in no time!"

hahahahahahahha

Well, he was right!
I felt nauseated and everything! ;)
hahaha But don't worry...that didn't last long.

I am healing pretty well...
resting a lot.
...should probably sleep more.

But overall I am happy :)

Life is good!
And I LOVE the weather!!!
Autumn...where have you been all my life?!

You can stay as long as you want!! mmmhmm!!

Hope everyone is enjoying their Fall Break!!
Be safe! Have fun!!

xoxo

Friday, October 1, 2010

a work in progress

So I have been looking through old pictures...when I came across this little beauty....


This is what my teeth used to look like.
{ ...gross... }
Since then I have gotten braces...and I am just so excited to show you 
the differences that have already taken place!


I have only had them for 4 months.
4 more to go!

I was so hesitant to get braces as a 20 year old.  
But I decided that it would be so worth it.
8 months of braces,
for a lifetime with a perfect smile.

:)

If anyone is thinking about getting braces,
I say GO FOR IT!
And DON'T WAIT!!
Think...you will never wish you had a perfect smile...
because you will be well on your way to having it!

There is my two cents!
Have a good day!

Connecticut






I am missing this place so bad today!  
Isn't it gorgeous??

NY

  Concrete Jungle