Honor Thy Father

It all began with Adam, if we want to get Biblical(it is the Sabbath after all) or with George Washington and the other forefathers if we want to get Patriotic(Dr. Holland would be so proud) no matter which stance you take it began with a strong, reliable, loving, kind, patient man, and my father is no exception to this description of what a remarkable father is. He is the best in the world(I know you think that your dad is but that is simply not the case-I don't lie) I could go on for hours describing why exactly my dad is the best, but it still wouldn't do justice, so I've compiled a list of ten things I love about my Dad and through this list I'll pay tribute to the man I love the most.

1-He is smart! Not just your average dad kind of smart but really smart. Got a question about your 401k? The best chicken noodle soup recipe? How to change a tire? What exactly the new government policy means? Ask him! He seriously has an answer to everything, and his answers are always given in a way that leaves you glad you asked.

2-Besides being smart he is wise! He knows exactly how morally wrong it is to commit ticket scam in a parking lot, and reminds you of the consequences in a loving way. He knows how to get me to make good decisions, by influencing them in mysterious dad ways. I'd say he is probably the wisest almost 50 year old I know...

3-His laugh when something is really really funny! I love that sound!

4-His sense of adventure. Normally my dad is a pretty structured guy. He goes to the gym at six thirty and always has meetings Tuesday nights, but when we're on vacation or out on a family outing he lets loose and the adventures we have then are my favorite!

5-His patience. I don't know any man in the world who could handle living in a house of girls better than he can. He has seen more chick flicks then any grown man should have to endure, and dealt with more mood swings in an atmosphere than a room of bipolar patients, and if we added up the minutes he has spent waiting for one of us to finally be done primping and getting ready it would probably rival the sands of the sea. And through it all he never complains. That is patience.

6-His vocabulary. From indigenous to grimace and a whole bunch of other words I don't even want to attempt to spell he has improved our communication skills through his large vocabulary!





7-Making cookies with him, especially at Christmas. He puts on his apron, mixes frosting colors, and lets us all let loose. As we use his mother's cookie recipe the joy that comes from seeing traditions passed on is evident in his face.

8-His compassion. When I get my heart broken, he aches too. When I have surgery he hurts as well. When I'm scared he comforts and when I'm sad he uplifts. He is always there for me and my mom and sisters with a compassionate heart.

9-His commitment to Heavenly Father, the gospel and being a good man. He truly knows what is important in life and he makes his choices accordingly. This makes him a great example to not just my family, but all who know him

10-He is just himself. True-he is a human being who occasionally makes mistakes but he learns from all he does and if what he learned helps others he shares that knowledge. Despite being human he has superpowers of knowing when I'm speeding, anticipating my needs and taking care of what he can, and finding happiness in the happiness of his girls. He never tries to be something he is not but embraces the person he is while constantly striving for progression

Dad-I don't know what I'd do or who I would be without your influence and love in my life. Always know that no matter how much I tease you I love you lots. Besides being the best dad you are also one of my very best friends. Happy Fathers Day!

To Whom it May Concern:

Whether we're driving from Holiday to Draper then turning around and doing it all again,

Making fun of kidneys that have a tendency to leak,

Building Fogurt/Yogurt Stop creations,

Searching for the best Bakery in town,

Painting our hearts out on random bowls and cups,

Really "trying to watch the movie"

Rockin out Sasha Fierce style

convincing each other to purchase various items

Stuffing marshmallows into our mouths

Or just talking about our ever so interesting lives

I'm glad I have you to laugh through all of it with!

You're the best Boss-a real Gem... Don't know what I'd do without you!

Much love!

The Bees Game

Friday night was just another night that will go filed into my memory as one at the Ball Park. With people scalping tickets for $5 dollars, free parking, my many compartment purse that sneaks in more than enough treats for all, a few good blankets, a big firework finale, humor to rival even the best comedy clubs and the coolest people ever it becomes an inexpensive, yet priceless evening. It's the same scene it's been for the past three summers-we sit on the grass talking, spitting seeds, and occasionally watching the Bees. Some of the people have left, others have been added in, the inside jokes increase-as does the volume, and we still always forget our sunglasses, and despite the years that have gone by when I'm with these guys it always feels exactly the same!

Ch Ch Ch changes!

"These things will change, can you feel it now? These walls that they put up to hold us back will fall down."

So many changes, so little time...

First: I have a grown up job in a grown up world! I'm processor for Fortified Financials where I do loan modifications. (See-very grown up!) I'm the youngest one working there and I feel a little out of my element but my parents keep telling me that I am in fact a grown up now, even though I don't believe them. I'm doing my best to keep up and learn all about tax returns, Obama's making home affordable plan, calculating loan mods, and get through to lenders. It's crazy busy and I really am surprised just how much I really do like it(even though I complain once in awhile about having to work at all-thats just the ungrown up part about me)

Also: I got an office today! Previously I was working at a card table so this a HUGE improvement. I share an office with one other person but we have four big windows, wooden desks, and great views of I-15 and the train tracks!

Nextly: I went to the Taylor Swift concert and now I can't get enough of this girl! Do me a favor and check out the music video to You Belong with Me and listen to I'd Lie...(I'd lie isn't officially recorded, but it should be!)... LOVE THEM! Be warned though, after listening you will become so happy you will want to get up and dance while singing along.

Lastly: (As a general rule I saved the best for last....)

Megan my favorite middle sister(gotta make sure I include the middle part) made Vocal Ensemble and is next years Concert Choir Historian at Hillcrest! I'm so proud of my beautiful sister! I love you Megs! You'll always be one of my best a buds! :)

MY NEW ERA

I believe it was an episode of Friends that taught me that an era is any significant amount of time. It could be a semester of classes, ten seasons of a great show, Springtime, the time you spend working at a certain job, the years you live at home, or even how long you spend crammed into a car driving with your family around the state. In my life I've had many eras. There were the years I spent in the era of living at home, the three years I spent in the era of high school, the summer eras spent with my best friend, the era of Jr. High, the era of childhood, the era of my Gilmore Girl Obsession, the eras spent with certain boys, the era of growing up and so many more.

The era I've been pondering the most lately though is the one that I feel is currently coming to a close- it is the Era of Great Change...

Because 1 picture tells 1,000 of these words I keep tying I'm going to put my great love of pictures to use and try to remember this Era that is now ending. It was only one year. But I never knew a year could be so long, so hard, contain so much change, hurt so bad, teach so much, hold so many tears, bring so many people into my life, and take me from who I was to who I am.

A year ago....

It was an Era that began with endings, that started with a finish...

It was an era that involved exploring new, exciting things and places, and forced me to make some changes....

That taught me that beauty exists in many different forms, and that real beauty is being able to spot it...

It was an era that forced me to go out into the world as an individual for the first time, and learn who it is I really am...

It was an era where I learned how to face and experience loss and hurt as I've never felt before

Where I learned to put on a smile and more importantly to admit when I couldn't do it alone...

An era where I made plenty of mistakes, but learned from each step I took...

An Era where I said goodbye to so many, but at the same time had new friends settle into my heart...

An era where I was reminded what really matters in this life, and how we achieve that...

An era of moving, settling, and moving again, but through the moving learning to appreciate the place called home...

An era where I came full circle, yet will never made it back to where I started...

The girl I see in the mirror now doesn't recognise the one in pictures staring back. I've gained pounds, and shed tears. I've lost friends, and found ones I feel like I've always known. There were days I couldn't get out of bed and face life, but for every one of those there were seconds of laughter where I remembered why I keep going. There were classes and life experiences where I learned more than I will in any class. It was an era full of dreams in the day and the night that came true, of prayers cried, uttered, whispered, spoken, sung and thought that always were answered and of conversations with those here, and gone that were always heard. It was without a doubt the hardest year of my life, but because I made it through I will never be the same...

And, who knows what the next era will bring, but if it turns out to be twice as hard as the past one, I know that I can make it through...

A Marathon of Thoughts

My battery is going to die, very soon, like 38 minutes soon! So I can't take time to be a perfectionist or import pictures and if this gets really down to the wire I may have to even cut my dear best friend spell check from the process. So.. here it goes.. Whats been on my mind lately... In less than 37 minutes and using only a words I'm positive I know how to spell. Ok-on your mark, get set, GO: Why is it that shows have to end with cliff hangers? Why can't they all just end with lovely songs about oh I don't know, a kidney? The world would be a much better place, and my sister and I wouldn't be crying on a Thursday night. Don't know what I'm talking about-you are missing out!! (youtube it- 30 rock give a kidney-I would link but due to a much needed text message and a yummy cake I'm down to 34 minutes!) Next, why are there no seasons of Friends at the library except for the one's I already have? Seriously did everyone just go and decide that all of a sudden they wanted to watch the funniest television show ever on the same day? Hello people I'm sick, like lay around all day watching TV sick, and therefore deserve to watch the one show that NEVER fails to get a laugh from me, just ask my roommate Rachelle, lets just say it's no use wearing headphones when you laugh as loud and as often as I do. Don't feel sorry for me though, I put em all on hold! (Are you now craving to watch it? If so thewb.com puts seven new episodes up every Monday. New as in different from the week before, obviously! Check it out!) Next, I'm really loving our new garden! Mom and Dad, you did AMAZING-sorry I wasn't so much help, but really, it looks beautiful! There is something about new flowers planted and blooming that really makes me smile! Something else that makes me smile-random text messages from dear friends telling me what I know and have always known but forgot to remember now that it's applicable and have forgotten to remember for a long time. Thanks for reminding me :) Also on my mind is how much I love these great new kleenexes I bought (there is one of those spell check needed words! Is it kleenexes or kleenex? I just don't know!) They are Puffs with lotion and Vicks and every time I go to blow my nose(which has been like seven million times a day since Wed) I forget about the Vicks and it's like the Hallelujah chorus going on in my head! Seriously one of the most amazing feelings! Love it! Ok, 24 minutes now! Where does the time go? Speaking of time, tomorrow at 9:00 am I become a working woman! Thats right I start my job tomorrow(probably with a box of Puff's with Vicks in my purse) and I can't wait! I have really loved spending my days laying around watching ANTM and doing such things as double-feature-movie-day with my mom, and driving to the ghetto for lunch with my dad but I'm excited to have something to do. Now, ask me how I feel at the end of the day tomorrow and it may be different! As for now-I'm very excited! Also exciting is the book I just read by Kristen Chenoweth. Very interesting life and no matter how much her speaking voice can bug me at times, I really admire her faith. Reading it reminded me of how when opportunities, trials or events impact our life, the Lord always makes up the difference. Her book reminded me of that but where I've really noticed that lately is in my own life, and in the life of my grandparents. Throughout there lives there were losses, but no matter what happened or changed, the difference was made up because of their faith, through our Heavenly Father. He is always there to help us, and really that has been the most important thing on my mind lately. So as I ponder this, and the warning little arrow thing at the bottom of my screen tells me my battery life is waining, I'm off to bed. Excited to see what tomorrow brings, and grateful for the help that I will undoubtedly receive from him.

Dear Mom:

Mom, Mother, Hero, Best Friend, Chauffeur, Chef, Audience, Biggest Fan, Lunch Date, Fashion Consultant, Personal Assistant, Entertainer, Chocolate-sharer.....

No matter what role you play, you do it with all you have. You're always there for me, and I love and appreciate you more than I can say! I hope your Mother's Day and has been memorable and that you feel our love for you in all you do!

PS-Happy Birthday Mom! I hope it's been all you could wish for!