January has been

a BEAUTIFUL month.

Each sunset has been so VIBRANT.

Each gathering has been so CHEERFUL.

Even being sick was somewhat PLEASANT.

 

 { I was able to catch up on my favorite shows: The Bachelor and The Biggest Loser...while eating lots of Lime Sherbet...that felt good on my poor sore throat! }

My birthday trip to Las Vegas was exceptionally INVIGORATING.

 

{ hahaha typical Kitto Family vacation :) hahaha }

What a month, huh?

I am so excited for FEBRUARY!!!

*Closer to when I leave for my mission

*Matt and Jonathan come home from their missions

*Get my braces off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*....nothing I think of can't even compare to the joy I feel towards getting my braces off!!!

2011...best year of my life!

Major Inspiritation

I received a comment a few weeks ago asking about what my favorite inspirational books are.  I am sorry for the delay, but I am finally here to answer your inquiry!

I love ANYTHING and EVERYTHING by OG MANDINO!!!!! 

They are the most motivational/inspirational books I have ever read. His books are so short (80-120ish pages) and to the point and way easy/fun to read!!! No lie!!! I would start with "The Greatest Salesman in the World."  No this is not a "how to" book on how to become a great salesman! haha Don't let the title scare you away.  Its about truly becoming the BEST you can be.  It has changed my life, my dad's life, my sisters...and anyone who has ever read it!

Then continue to read his other masterpieces!

*The Greatest Secret in the World

*The Greatest Miracle in the World

*The Greatest Success in the World

...he has written a TON more...

READ THEM!!!! 

I have also loved  "The Influencer." This one has completely changed my life and how I deal with things: my life, my peers, my family, co-workers...

It is amazing!  You realize that you can influence anyone...and it teaches you how.  (Not like in a creepy, hypnotic way haha!  But like getting people to want to do the right thing. I can't explain it...it's incredible! AND IT WORKS!! I have applied its principles and it proved itself!!! )

Another book I read this past year that was truly life-changing was "The 5 Love Languages." If only I could have read this one years and years ago!  You learn so much about yourself and how everyone feels loved differently.  You learn how to express your love to others, using their love language, so that they KNOW you love them!  This one book can save marriages!  I can prevent soooooooo many communication problems!! It will be such a blessing in your life, and in your families lives as well!!

I also loved reading "The Secret."  This book has changed my way of thinking and how I view life!  You become a natural optimist after reading this book! You learn how to be grateful for every little moment in your life.  You learn how to focus on the positive, and by doing so, you attract more positive things to come into your life.  For my fellow religious readers: it is all about how to increase your faith.  How to trust in faith. How to use your faith everyday.  It is a beautiful, inspiring and uplifting book!

A few years back I read a book on Benjamin Franklin, (I can't remember the exact title) and it also changed my life.  He was such a creative man.  He had the attitude that "anything is possible."  And it truly is.  Reading about his life has given me more of a desire to become like him.  Inventive, creative, open-minded, smart, and hard-working.  If you were to pick up any book about Benjamin Franklin, I know you will be moved and inspired by this wonderful man's life.

I am currently reading 3 different, but very similar books.

*Our Search for Happiness- by M. Russell Ballard

*Jesus the Christ- James E. Talmage

&

*The Book of Mormon- by Ancient Prophets :)

Each of these books are incredible.  I just started reading "Our Search for Happiness" last night, and I am already loving it!  Elder Ballard writes so clearly.  It isn't wordy, but specific.  It is entertaining and wonderful!  It is written for anyone, not only for members of the LDS faith.  It's about our history.  It's written so the world can know who the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints really are.

Great read!

I have been reading "Jesus the Christ" off and on for a few months now.  It is an INCREDIBLE book!!! James E. Talmage has such a way with words that you begin to think more poetically in your everyday life!  This 900-something paged book is fully and completely about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  There is nothing like it.  If you want to know who Jesus Christ really is/was/and ever will be, then this book is a must read!

I have been reading "The Book of Mormon" all of my life, but it wasn't until this past year that I have found a deep love for the book, and it's teachings.  It is the book I read on a daily basis.  It brings me closer to my Savior, and Heavenly Father.  It is where I turn for knowledge.  It is where I receive answers to my prayers.  It is where I discover my heroes.  It is where I learn how to follow Christ.  It is where I learn of the Commandments of God.  It is the Keystone of my religion.  It holds the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is a testament that Christ is the Son of God, and our Savior and Redeemer.  It testifys to the world that He lives!  That He came to this earth to atone for OUR sins.  It is a witness that He is coming again.

These are all incredible books that have helped shaped my life. 

I highly suggest them to anyone and everyone, no matter who you are, or what you believe...they are an inspiration to all.

Life is Beautiful

This last week I celebrated my 21st birthday!!!  

I LOVE GROWING UP!!!!!

(no really....I do!)

I love getting older! 

I've never liked being considered as one of the "young ones"

I always dream of of the next stage of my life,

and look forward to it, longingly!

So far being 21 has been amazing! :) hahaha

Most people don't feel any different on their birthdays.

its just another ordinary day, but with birthday cake and candles...

Well not me!  I feel like I am finally here!

I am amazed at my life, and so happy to see where it has brought me.

I have a wonderful family who loves me! We have such a strong love 

for one another. We are truly best friends!! They are the most amazing

people I have ever known and I am so blessed to be a part of something that great!

My parents are still love birds and it brings joy to my heart!

I have incredible friends who love me and accept me for who I am.

They have been great examples to me throughout my life, and I am so

lucky to call them my friends!

I have experienced some of the most incredible opportunities people only dream to have!

(literally...)

Above all, I have finally discovered my true self.

I have become the person I have always wanted to be.

I know my Father in Heaven lives.  I KNOW it!!

I know that I am His daughter, and that I have the potential to actually be like Him!

(Isn't that amazing?!?)

I know my purpose here on earth.  

I know that I have been given agency to choose for myself what kind of life I am going to live. 

I know that through the Atonement I am able to reach my potential, and be forgiven of my sins.

I don't know where I would be if I didn't know these truths.  

...but I am pretty sure I'd be searching for them.

How lucky am I to be able to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints?  That is huge!  I am not only a representative of the Church...but a representative of Jesus Christ.  What a calling, huh?  I really hope I can make Him proud, and give my absolute all to the work.  At first I was pretty scared about the task ahead of me.  But that feeling is long gone.  I have no fear.  Even if I try to think of things that would scare me...it doesn't work.  I am at complete peace about my decision, because I know this is what the Lord wants me to do.  There is no greater feeling then when you feel like you are following the promptings of the spirit and fulfilling the Lord's Plan for you.

I have never been happier.

I could bet all the money in the world that I am the happiest girl here on Earth...

Life is beautiful. 

Night and Day

This is my favorite part of the year!  I LOVE change....more than anyone will ever know!!  I love new possibilities, new opportunities and new beginnings.   I love this time of year because I feel joined by millions of people who want to better their lives.  This is the time of year when people aren't afraid to recognize their weaknesses and resolve to overcome them.  It's the time when people dare to dream, set goals, and seek to reach their full potential.  I believe that everyone wants to be the best they can, but sometimes it's scary to change.  Thank goodness for new years for giving us that courage!

2010 was very bittersweet for me.  It was by far the hardest year of my life.  It was also the most rewarding.  I have never grown so much in all my life.  As I look back on the last 12 months, I literally can see my growth!  I am a completely different person than I was 365 days ago!  It's like night and day!!  I experienced my highest-highs, and my lowest-lows. This is my life...and I would not trade that for the world.

Some highlights from 2010:

Went on a (much needed) road-trip to St. George with my best friend in February

Had way too much fun with my roomies!!

Dug up graves with my family

(hahaha only kidding...we cleaned off my grandparents graves on Memorial Day! :)

Conquered my biggest regret by getting braces

Got my wisdom teeth out with my sister Kristie

Prego-photoshoot with Rachel

 

Who then made me an Auntie shortly after! :)

Saw Carried Underwood in concert

Tied up loose ends...

Gave a Book of Mormon to a non-member!

Kicked butt in school

Got balloons from random boys on our Girls Night Out

Acknowledged myself as an artist

Biggie-Mouse, Mini Mouse, and Itty-Bitty Mouse for Halloween with the sisters!

Went hot-tubbing in bubble bath

Received my mission call to Osorno, Chile!

Received my Endowment in the Timpanogos Temple, 

Was blessed with two incredible jobs,

and

Went to Disneyland

 (more Disneyland pics to come)

It doesn't seem like much....but it was one heck of a year! 

....in every sense of the phrase! ;) hahaha

Here is to 2011!  I am empowered with the reality of my agency and am so excited to use it to its fullest. 

"I am the designer of my destiny."

Bring it on!

LIFE AS I KNOW IT

1. I am a dreamer and an avid goal setter!  I want to see and do everything I can!  I know that I can have, do or be anything that I want to, so why not live the life that will help me achieve my dreams?! :) Life is amazing!!! MY life is amazing!!

2. I ate Top Ramen everyday my freshman year....but only the Beef flavor... haha My mom even asked my roommates to make sure I didn't buy it when we went grocery shopping...too bad mama....I LOVE IT!!!

3. I love to LAUGH: laugh till I cry, laugh till I get a stomachache, laugh till I am gasping for breath, laugh with the ones I love, laughing at an inside joke, laughing because someone has a funny laugh that makes me laugh...it really is the best feeling in the world to me!!

4. My favorite scent to wear is PURE SEDUCTION by Victoria Secret.

5. I was born in Reston, Virginia...just 15 minutes outside of Washington DC.

6. My idea of a perfect day would be waking up and watching the sunrise with the man of my dreams, eating a huge french toast breakfast, then going for a walk in the sunshine, hand in hand with that same man, go shoping for an hour or two, go boating with all my family and friends, do some tubing and waterskiing, have a BBQ, play in the sprinklers, watch the sunset, and go star gazing. Man I miss summer time!!!

7. I had a lazy eye when I was a kid....and I had to wear a patch on my good eye to try to strengthen my weak, lazy eye.......but I hated wearing the patch and would always pull it off, so my mom would wrap magazines around my arms so I couldn't bend them to pull my patch off..... OH!!! And if that is not bad enough, on top of that I wore pink rimmed bi-focals because I have the eye sight of a bat.... Yeah...quite the childhood huh? %)

8. If you go to YouniversityTV.com and click on Campus Tours, and go to Utah Valley University you will see ME representing dear old UVU! :) lol don't make fun when I say "Snee-- skiing" ....you'll see! lol

9. I love to sing...and I love to sing LOUD! haha It is my dream to sing the National Anthem at a professional sporting event!

10. I love art!  Photography is my favorite medium!!  I love capturing people as they really are!  I also love drawing, watercolor, sewing, mod podge-ing, designing, and creating.  Life is a masterpiece, create it!

11. The only fight I have ever gotten into was in the 3rd grade at Bonneville Elementary. It was at the end of the day and we were all getting our back-packs to go home and a was being rude to everyone...and it was getting on my nerves, so I turned around and whacked her in the face with my back-pack and ran off!!! (If you ever read this Lisa...sorry about that! haha!)

12. I love popsicles more than I love to breathe....

13. Celine Dion is my favorite singer! That was the first CD I ever got when I was a kid! I want meet her someday!!! At least go to one of her concerts! ....do you ever feel like you know a celebrity??  Well...I feel like Celine Dion is my cousin or something!! hahaha I feel like I just know her!!! hahaha (I have many celebrity "friends" like this!! haha)

14. I am a strong believer in The Secret. Do you know about The Secret??? If not...come talk to me...it will change your life! It has changed mine!

15. I love going horseback riding! I don't have horses but I have been riding countless times! ...One time when I was riding in the Sand Dunes down in St. George, all of our horses were galloping and then the horse in front on mine stopped, and mine had to stop really fast so it wouldn't hit it....and my horse kicked his back legs up, and I did a front flip in slow motion...off of my horse..and into the sand!! Not many can say that! hahaha Not many want to....I don't blame them!! But it really was sooo funny!!

16. I sang a solo in front of 10,000 people at the Marriott Center

17.I was at Target the other day, and was texting and walking, when all of the sudden my feet slipped out from under me....I let out a huge scream...my phone went flying in the air...I caught my balance, caught my phone, and kept walking! hahahhaha I was in front of all of the check out lines...hahaha I put on a very entertaining show for everyone! hahaha ;)

18. I am 5'8 and a half!I was always the second tallest girl in my grade {thank you Debbie Scoffield}.  I never liked being tall...until recently.  I am finally proud of my height!  Love the skin you're in!!!

19. I have really big cheeks....I dont know if anyone really knows that about me....I try to keep that to myself...haha ;)  When I smile, my cheeks cover my eyes and I can't see....it's a Kitto thing! (thanks a lot Dad!)

20. One of my lifetime goals is to be a contestant on a GAMESHOW!!!  Preferably Family Feud...I think my family would Dominate that game!! I dont know why...but I absolutely LOVE gameshows!! haha

21. I love to blow bubbles with my gum!!!! I do it subconsciously now and I dont think people like that all the time....but I just love to pop my gum!

22. I not only talk in my sleep, walk in my sleep...but I was told that I also SING in my sleep!!!

23. I have OCD about always having lotion/perfume, gum and lipgloss! I will turn my car around if I have left the house without them.  It's better to be late and have my necessities, than going through the entire day longing for them!!

24. In my film class the teacher sang "Who are these children coming down?!" and looked at us and said, "Name that movie!" I proudly shouted out "Saturdays Warrior!!" ....and I was the only one to shout it out...hahaha I grew up in a musical family, ok?!

25. My most embarrassing moment was...at the Special Olympics...hahaha I was a junior in high school and went with my school's special needs students to play Volleyball at the Olympics.  Well, little did I know, these students were SO GOOD at Volleyball!!!  I felt like the underprivileged one out on the court! haha  So I had to up my game!! ...and boy did I ever!!! hahaha I was so into the games!  My team won game after game!  We were on a roll!!  Well we were almost to the Championship game, and I was playing front and center.  The opposing team bumped...set...and was ready to spike, when all of the sudden I leaped up with all the adrenoline I could muster, and stuffed the ball back on their side.......knocking over a down syndrome boy!!! :(  It finally hit me: "RACHEL, YOU ARE AT THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS!!! I felt so bad!!!!! Here was his big chance to spike the ball, and I ruined it for him.  Can you tell how horrible I was feeling at that moment?!!?  This event still haunts me!! hahaha I remember my team cheering me on and being so proud of me, but I just felt like crying!!! I felt so bad!!!  ........But.....my team ended up taking home the Gold!!!! :) hahhahahaha

This is only a glimpse into my life.  I wouldn't trade it for the world ;)

Roses are Red..

So here is an update with some watercolors I have been working on.  Actually, I will show you the step by step of just one art piece I worked on recently.  More to come when I upload my pictures!

 

 

Pretty fun! 

Watercolor is pretty difficult.  Everything had to blend and be transparent...and its hard to keep it neat (well, hard for me!!).  I wonder what oil painting is like?? Are any of you artists or enjoy different mediums of art?  Let me know what you like!!

Well I gotta go finish my sketchbook!! 60 sketches due tomorrow...I am not close to being done!  Wish me luck!! :)

Choosing to Change

Sorry for my long absence, it seems I have been MIA!

But guess what....I'm baaaaaack!!!! :) :) haha :)

So a lot has been on my mind for the past few months,

but one thing in particular:

HUMILITY

I have come to the realization that I have a huge struggle

with this principle...and I always thought

I was pretty good with it!  Haha!! 

How prideful is that?!?

Well as I have been really focusing on this issue,

I have stumbled across a very valuable lesson.

When asking God to help me become more humble,

He will not change me into a humble person, but will

give me opportunities to choose humility.

The one thing God gave us that he cannot take away

from us is our agency.  He will never make us be a

certain way.  He cannot! 

This week I have been focusing on forgetting myself and 

focusing on helping others. I asked my Father in Heaven 

to help me become more selfless.  

So what happened?  

Did He snap His fingers and erase all of my selfish-tendencies?  

Did I suddenly become the most giving person on earth??

Nope!!!  In fact...nothing changed.

He didn't change my heart, but He did allow me

the opportunity to prove myself, and to show

that I really do want to become a more selfless person!

That opportunity came to me only a few hours after my

prayer.  My phone rang with an urgent opportunity to forget 

myself and to go help someone in need!

I wasn't all-of-the-sudden unaware of how busy I was, 

or what I was in the middle of. But I was blessed with  

the spirit and with love for the person who needed help!  

I was able to see them through God's eyes,

and knew that that He needed someone to go help one of His

children.  I was happy to be the one to do that!

I am grateful for all the learning opportunities God gives me

so that I can become the person He wants me to be.

I know it's hard to be humble: to give up our will, and forget 

about what WE think is best for us.  But I know that His plan 

is far greater than we could ever imagine! 

This life is about change.  

It's about changing from the natural man and becoming like God.  

That wont happen unless we choose to change.  

Here is to baby steps and to continually striving to be our best selves!