everyone.

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weekly wellness.

over at wild and wily is a woman whose words i have read for a few years and whose extreme honesty and heartfelt diction i adore. a little over a month ago, she started a challenge called weekly wellness [see below]. i really like what it promotes - health, in every aspect of one's life - and decided to give it a try. 

starting now. 

for the next twelve weeks i am going to follow each challenge by focusing on one thing each week that i can better in my life. i like how flexible it is and that i can tailor it to my own needs and goals.

you are more than welcome to join in, however you see best for yourself. i will keep you posted and let you know how it goes!

a stalwart example.

i have been convincing people that brandon flowers was mormon since i was fourteen. and when he came out with his mormon video i did several fist pumps and then watched it about eight billion times. and then when anna sent me this video this week, i died. i actually died.

basically brandon gives the sweetest testimony and then stands up for the church to renowned evolutionary biologist and atheist, richard dawkins. [btw the interview is just for the first twelve minutes and then there is the performance at the end].

just a couple thoughts:

1. i love brandon.
2. he was definitely ambushed but acted extremely appropriately and classy.
3. although i don't agree with mr. dawkins and thought he was a little less polite than he could have been, i don't think he was aware that brandon wouldn't have a chance to speak for himself.
4. knowing that people live without hope or faith that our father in heaven loves and looks after them makes me sad.
5. i love brandon.

i only hope that i am able to face this kind of confrontation with the sincerity and confidence that brandon did. i think he was a great example of stalwart faith and kindly disagreeing with those with opposing views, without cowering or backing down.

survival.

this is the thing you guys. i love the olympics.

and i am always surprised by how much i love them whenever they come around. but i really do. the only way i can convey this correctly would be the order of the loves/obsessions/passions in my life:

church/family/friends

the killers

the olympics

tv shows

food and sleep

i wish i was kidding. [no i don't.]

so it is kind of breaking my heart that i don't have cable right now but you better believe i am following as many twitters as i can and that i have three apps to keep me in the loop.

the 2008 olympics happened at the very end of my first summer term at byu and went through the summer break before fall. it was perfect timing. i watched michael phelps win all eight of his gold medals* and i realized the olympics is the only event that can simultaneously get me so motivated to do great things and be active as well as sit on my couch for two weeks straight watching the games. this is real life.

also who loved the opening ceremonies?! i have only watched part of it but i'd say my favorites were david beckham, kenneth brannagh, and the royals [i freaked out every time they showed kate middleton].
and of course bond. james bond.

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i love the british and how they were able to capture so much of their history from shakespeare to the beatles, from james bond to mr. bean. so so fun.

yay olympics. yay motivated people. god bless america.

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and good luck to all the other countries competing! yay for world togetherness.

*i saw the team race with lauren when he did that crazy flex scream thing that was hilarious and for his final race my mom and i sped from provo to st g to get there just in time. #adventures

tumblr gems.

sometimes tumblr has some truly great, spot on gems. here are a few i personally love.

particularly love that last one. of course.

family, religion, and the green bay packers.

even though this is a famous speech, i just saw it for the first time the other day. i had to look up jimmy valvano on wikipedia to see who he was too... give me a break, i was three when it this was given.

i love how much heart and passion he has. i would strongly suggest watching this if you need some encouragement, or even to store some for a rainy day.

also, who knew will smith was so inspirational? i have been thinking about the things he said in this video for the last two days. a lot of the time i don't give things the one hundred percent dedication they deserve and that is something i am really trying to work on. give will a listen too.

happy friday! dare to be great!

just life.

i've recently had an epiphany about life. buckle up. it's about to get deep.

i've seen times in my life where i have thought ok when this happens everything will calm down, i'll be able to focus on my goals more, prioritize, etc etc. it's very easy to do and i think everyone does it. i know i have definitely thought that in the last few months. as soon as i get a job, as soon as i get out of provo, as soon as i'm away from this person. but the truth is, i'm still the same person in dallas that i was in provo. yes, some lifestyle changes have taken the place of others or gotten bigger or disappeared altogether, but i still have to make a conscious effort to not watch netflix for five hours every night and to eat well balanced meals and to shower on a normal human basis.

when i was thinking about this, a quote from one of my very favorite movies came to mind. it's called lonesome dove and i guess it's kind of appropriate because it takes place in texas [texas forever]. in this scene, a young girl named lorie [diane lane] is saying how much happier she'll be once she gets to san fransisco. gus [robert duvall] then explains the following gem.

lorie darlin', life in san francisco, you see, is still just life. if you want any one thing too badly, it's likely to turn out to be a disappointment. the only healthy way to live life is to learn to like all the little everyday things, like a sip of good whiskey in the evening, a soft bed, a glass of buttermilk, or a feisty gentleman like myself.

now, i don't really know if that applies at all, but it helps me to remember to enjoy the moments as i am in them. the only consistent thing in life is change so unless i enjoy where i am and who i am, i know i will look back one day and wish i had paid more attention.

fortes fortuna adiuvat.

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therapy by crafting. and netflix.

this weekend, anna helped me overcome my ocd slash fear of using pretty paper. i have had this issue for years and this was the first time i was able to face it head on and win. after much debate and driving around, anna helped me see the ridiculousness that was me buying new paper instead of using the cute paper i already had [and have had for over a year]. thanks anna!

then i dedicated my saturday to making awesome invites and watching downton abbey. maybe the entire first season. idk.

that night, leslie finished up the invites while i wrote my lesson for relief society. and made super cute handouts [with the same paper]. and listened to the most amazing valentine's playlist ever. i'd say it was a successful saturday.

aren't these stamps amazing? they matched the invites perfectly.

the universe is conspiring in your favor.

the other morning i was reading the book of mormon and i came upon this scripture in alma 26:27.

Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go... and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.

getting a job has been my number one concern for quite some time and, needless to say, is definitely the source of severe stress and a few emotional meltdowns. there have been more times than i am proud of when i get myself thinking that i am all alone and howcanthispossiblyworkoutandwhatonearthistobecomeofme. it is only human and natural. which also makes it foolish.

when these thoughts come up, i usually try talking it out with my friends and family. and sometimes strangers. and new acquaintances... what can i say, i get desperate. but nothing is ever quite as comforting as the reassurance i get from daily prayer and scripture study. it is only recently that i have realized the importance of these simple commandments. the lds folk are taught to make this a daily habit before we even learn to speak or read, and it is not all for nothing. there is truly a huge difference in my day to day life because of this simple habit. i find myself happier and more hopeful. i love every day. i have learned that every day can be great and be used for growth, learning, and serving others. i am so grateful to have a book and connection to my heavenly father that makes daily living not only endurable but enjoyable.

i know there are people out there of all ages who truly do not have the hope to face one more day. i am here to tell you that there is hope. someone does have you and your best interests in mind. we are given very limited vision of the future and because of that we just have to trust that as we do our best, as we strive to make each day a part of our growth and progression by helping those around us and improving ourselves in the now, everything will work out in a more beautiful way that we can possibly imagine.

so, with this mindset, i have decided that while i apply for jobs and do everything i can to achieve that goal, i have to let go and not worry about what i cannot control. this means enjoying the fact that i don't have to go to work everyday, i don't have to stress about being somewhere at a certain time. i can focus on doing things i love, like reading, showering at any time of day, and playing with friends without worrying about homework that needed to be done yesterday. i choose to prepare what i can, enjoy now and recognize the good in every day.

the district sleeps alone tonight.

while i was in virginia visiting gina, we took a day and went to dc. it was so fun and i loved every minute of it. everything was so classic and cool and perfect. i need to be there. new goal.

it was a beautiful day, so nice for january. we had lunch near dupont circle and then met up with my old roomie lindsay as we toured some of the monuments. after that we visited the holocaust museum, which was incredible. we said peace to the president, ate some east coast cafe rio, and then split.

the mlk memorial is brand new and so cool. happy martin luther king day!

'out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope'

'i was a drum major for justice, peace and righteousness'

i deem this day a success. now i need to make my dream a reality.

all your heart

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within me.

one of my favorite quotes, first introduced to me by sarahmaines.

i just love the hope.

single digits.

my lovely friend anna pointed out yesterday at lunch that the number of classes i have left are in the single digits.
for the rest of my life.
forever.
FOREVER.

i keep forgetting slash it's kind of hard to wrap my brain around. i've been going to school since 1995. that is sixteen years. SIXTEEN. YEARS. do you know what has happened since 1995?

- basically all ten seasons of friends
- the very first pixar movie
- 9/11
- all things harry potter
- dvds
- a royal divorce, a royal death, and a royal marriage
- the iPod
- the rise and fall and [debatable] rise again of britney spears
- netflix. netflix forever.

yeah. life isn't the same as it was in 1995. how will i know how to live without school in this changed world? i have been trying to tap into the memories of my five year old self but it's just not the same.

gone are the days of dress up and hanging out with gina all day every day. no more fairy house making and watching oklahoma every morning. no longer can i waste the day away playing hide-and-go-seek or dancing around all over the house in my underwear [actually... debatable]. i have traded it all in for job searching, paying the bills, going to the gym, and debating what i should and shouldn't eat. my newfound activities are going to weddings, grocery shopping, and making sure i'm being social instead of hanging out with me, myself, and netflix. i call things i like 'guilty pleasures' instead of just owning it.

adult life is sounding really lame. but it's not, right? no, it's pretty sweet. being an adult means progressing, growing, learning. i can make friends from all over the country, all over the world. i can choose who to be and how to be. being myself isn't any harder than it was when i was five, it just is if i make it that way.

so here's to the future. the changes are coming. and they are craaazy. but also awesome. and i'm super excited about it. i like who i am and where i am and where i'm going. wherever that is. this is real life.

we asked siri about the meaning of life.

not too bad for an inanimate object.

my main mormon man.

how i know i talk too much about brandon flowers slash how much i love him: when five or more people ask me if i've seen the brandon flowers 'i'm a mormon' video. these people are my true friends. 

anna is the winner for getting to me first, texting me friday night with the glorious news and then subsequently emailing me the link and discussing it with me after i watched it and freaked out in someone's house who thought i was crazy weird for screaming in their kitchen.

i heard he was making one of these about a year ago from a solid source so i was not surprised when i heard about it, just extremely ecstatic it was finally out. now i don't have to convince people that he is in fact mormon and he is in fact active. 

huzzah. 

i've always been a believer, brandon. just keep that in mind when you're looking for your number one fan.

"my name is brandon flowers. i'm a father, i'm a husband, and i'm a mormon."

kill me now.

last first.

oh hey.

so would you like to hear about the last week and a half of my life? ok cool.

- drove back to provo.
- moved into my new apartment.
- reunited with my beautiful friends.
- went to my new ward.
- started my last first day of school.
- started work again [yay for paychecks].

i'm taking seven credits this semester. because that's all i have left to do. craziness. now it's time to decide what i want to do with my life post grad, apply for graduation [it costs $15. what?! yes.], and live it up in p town before i leave for good. it's crazy thinking of a life without byu - i got just a taste of it this summer - but it is inevitable and i'm excited to take it head on. my professor showed this video in class this week and i almost cried because i felt like it was especially for me right now.
dr. suess knows what's up.

invested.

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real.

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a wish.

i love everything about this. thanks sarah for sharing. seriously amazing and so inspirational.