Cutie

Have you seen this girl??

I miss her. She has disappeared from my life this week.

It's sadzz.

What am I supposed to do without my tots? . . And her?? 

I hope I never have to find out. 

COME BACK TO ME, MADDI!!

Tender Mercies

I promise this is my last depressing/vent post for a while.

Pinky promise.

But seriously last week could not have gone any worse.

First the blown tire. I spent the one day I had to get caught up on all my homework shopping around for tires and found out it's going to cost A LOT of money (which I don't have)

Then I had to go babysit 5 kids for 5 days. That was rough. There were many freak outs and MANY tears shed throughout the week (from both the kids and myself)

Here's just a sample of the events that took place:

- cabinet door snapped in half

- a bathroom flooded

- a mug broke

- one of the kids didn't come to church. he just didn't want to

- food was EVERYWHERE after every meal. the house would just get trashed all the time

- bath time always brought on tears

- one of the girls cried SCREAMED for 45 minutes straight and we couldn't get her to stop. 

- Oh and she was naked, too. 

- the baby had the nastiest diarrhea for like 3 days. blehhhh

and in addition to that. . I had the most violent stomach flu and puked 12 times while taking care of the kids. (TMI? Sorry. . kinda)

I'm not trying to be dramatic, but it was one of the most challenging/straining weeks of my life.

Today at church I was just bawling my head off in Relief Society. I was completely and emotionally drained and super stressed out. On my way out to my car after church, I cried to 5 different people haha it was pretty embarrassing. People kept asking me how it was going with the kids and I'd start crying my face off again!

It was a disaster.

But then I found this in an old bag I started using again . . 

A little note from my favorite boy on the top of an old shopping list from last year! I know he wrote it forever ago but it was just what I needed. I just pretended that he flew from Japan to slip it in my bag haha. It was a perfect little surprise.

It's crazy how the simplest things can completely change your whole day.

I'm looking on the bright side

Sooooo . . 

My tire just blew up. Yeah it seriously did. And then I somehow drove home almost a mile on it because I knew my dad wasn't home. It was probably similar to driving through an earthquake.

Here's what it looks like in the back of my trunk.

Pretty sad, huh? Here's my donut.

What a cutie.

Anyways. 

I'm not here to complain. I'm here to do the exact opposite, actually. 

My dad challenged us a few weeks ago to write out 100 things we are grateful for and so I thought right now would be the perfect time. I could use a little attitude change/pick me up.

I'm basically thinking out loud here so feel free to skip ahead or quit reading. Some of you friends of mine are on the list in case you wanna see what bad stuff I said about you. Just kidding. It's all nice stuffs. 

1. I'm thankful that my little tire experience happened so close to home. It could have been in some scary place with no cell service or familiar faces.

2. I'm thankful for Loyd (my mom's client's husband) who was here to help me put my spare tire on. My dad has an injured foot so it's hard for him to do things like that. And I definitely needed some help.

3. I'm thankful for my family.

4. I'm thankful for the relationship that I have with my dad. He is truly one of my best friends. We share a lot of the same attitudes and ideas and he gives the best advice.

5. I'm thankful for my mom and all of the many sacrifices she makes for me. We have so much fun together and I look up to her in so many ways. She is also one of my greatest friends. 

6. I'm thankful for Katelyn. Now that we are older and (a little) more mature, we get along so well (most of the time) and always have so much fun together. She is a serious crack up. I love watching her cheer and hearing about what she has going on at school and with boys. I'm so thankful for our friendship.

7. I'm thankful for Brinley. She is growing up so much. I love how she is her own self, she doesn't let other people affect her in any way. She has the best laugh and she loves to play Just Dance with me. I love Brinley and I hope we will someday become even better friends.

8. I'm thankful for my baby Brady. I love how much energy he has and how much he loves to have fun. He is such a sweetheart and is always looking out for his older sisters. He likes to tease us, but he also doesn't like to see us sad. I love Brady. He's my favorite brother.

9. I'm thankful for my grandparents and all that they do for me. 

10. I'm thankful for the lessons that my grandparents have taught me by simply being good examples.

11. I'm thankful for the gospel.

12. I'm thankful for my testimony.

13. I'm thankful for my calling as a Sunday School teacher.

14. I'm thankful that we are studying the Book of Mormon this year and that I get to learn so much more by teaching it.

15. I'm thankful for all the 15-year-olds in my class. They're so fun and they make me want to be someone they can look up to.

16. I'm thankful for the Book of Mormon and the blessings I receive through reading from it daily.

17. I'm thankful for my Bishop. He is such an amazing person. He deals with so much adversity in his life but he is still one of the happiest people I know. 

18. I'm thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ.

19. I'm thankful for the Atonement and the many ways that it blesses my life.

20. I'm thankful that I still have so much to learn about the Atonement and how to apply it to my life. It's great to know there is always room for growth and improvement.

21. I'm thankful for the Priesthood. It has blessed my life in so many ways and at so many times.

22. I'm thankful for President Thomas S. Monson and for modern-day revelation.

23. I'm thankful for prayer. I would be completely lost if I couldn't turn to my Father in Heaven at anytime or any place. 

24. I'm thankful for the temple and the overwhelming spirit it fills me with.

25. I'm thankful that I was born into the church and grew up learning about my older brother, Jesus Christ. It's crazy how many people live their lives without knowing Him.

26. I'm thankful for missionaries and the sacrifices they make to spread the Word of God.

27. I'm thankful for all of my friends that have served, are serving, or preparing to serve missions. They have all blessed my life by their examples and testimonies.

28. I'm thankful for Sam. He has brought me so much happiness in my life. I'm thankful for the lessons he has taught me and the many blessings he has brought into my life. That kid is amazing.

29. I'm thankful for Dixie State College.

30. I'm thankful that I have the opportunity to attend college and that I have been able to attend school for most of my life.

31. I'm thankful that I enjoy school and that learning comes easy to me. It would be much more difficult to drag myself to school if I didn't love to learn.

32. I'm thankful for all of my Professors and the time and energy they put into their lessons. The things they teach me will have such a large impact on my future.

33. I'm thankful that I have a pretty good idea of what I want to be when I grow up. I would feel so lost if I didn't.

34. I'm thankful for the Internet and the way it gives me access to almost anything I want to know. It's fascinating how it works.

35. I'm thankful for my house.

36. I'm thankful for our fireplace.

37. I'm thankful for our dishwasher.

38. I'm thankful for our washer and dryer. 

39. I'm thankful for the way my mom has decorated our home to make it a comfortable and familiar place we all love to be.

40. I'm thankful that my family loves to spend time together.

41. I'm thankful for warm showers.

42. I'm thankful for toothpaste and toothbrushes.

43. I'm thankful for deodorant. Seriously.

44. I'm thankful for thick blankets to keep me warm at night.

45. I'm thankful for sweat pants. I wear them way too much, but I love them.

46. I'm thankful for fluffy pillows.

47. I'm thankful for make-up so I don't have to look like a man every day. Unless I want to of course.

48. I'm thankful for the clothes I have. It would be embarrassing to walk around without them.

49. I'm thankful that I have a job. I complain that I don't work as much as I need to, but at least I have a job. 

50. I'm thankful for the people in my ward and how close so many of us are. We truly are like a family.

51. I'm thankful to have people in my life that are genuinely looking out for and care for me.

52. I'm thankful for my friends. 

53. I'm thankful for Paige and all of the awesome memories we have to look back on. 

54. I'm thankful that I was able to live with Paige for a year. She taught me a lot and she was a really good example to me of reading my scriptures every day.  I'm thankful that she is getting married soon. I'm so excited for her and I'm also excited to have an excuse to look at wedding stuff.

55. I'm thankful for Maddi. It's crazy to me how much we think alike. We have the most random/deep conversations that can last for hours but feel like we've only been talking for minutes. She's so easy to talk to and she makes me want to be a better person on so many levels.

56. I'm thankful that Maddi has a lot of the same ideas and views on the world.

57. I'm thankful that Maddi wants to do a lot of the same things that I do. Like go to Peru for 6 months. Or go to California to see our dream man.

58. I'm thankful that Maddi and I drove all the way to California, just to see Cory Monteith. I really was changed by that trip in such a positive way. And I'm glad we did something fun and crazy.

59. I'm thankful for Jenna and the way she is always doing things for other people. I'm also thankful that she motivates me to get off of my lazy bum and go to Zumba.

60. I'm thankful that Jessica laughs at Chuck Norris jokes with me.

61. I'm thankful for Stephanie and that we are becoming such good friends.

62. I'm thankful that I have three classes with Steph. It's way too much fun.

63. I'm thankful for Tori and how funny we are together. We say the dumbest things and laugh at anything and everything.  I'm thankful that she is getting married as well. I'm really excited for her and I love seeing how happy she is.

 
64. I'm thankful that I'm not getting married haha. I'm not ready for that yet.

65. I'm thankful that I don't have a boyfriend or anyone to like right now. I really am content with the way things are right now.

66. I'm thankful for the self-confidence I have been gaining. It is affecting me in so many different aspects of my life. I love it.

67. I'm thankful for all of my cousins, aunts, and uncles and that I have such a large family.

68. I'm thankful that I have a car.

69. I'm thankful for the outdoors.

70. I'm thankful for how beautiful God made the world.

71. I'm thankful for my health.

72. I'm thankful that my body functions properly.

73. I'm thankful that I have a desire to explore the world.

74. I'm thankful for St. George and how unique this area is.

75. I'm thankful that Maddi and I took some time to appreciate nature and the great place that we live.

76. I'm thankful that I can run.

77. I'm thankful that I can dance.

78. I'm thankful for exercise and the way it makes me feel.

79. I'm thankful for food.

80. I'm thankful that I know how to take care of myself.

81. I'm thankful that I know the basics of cooking.

82. I'm thankful that I know the basics of sewing.

83. I'm thankful that my mom taught me how to clean and take care of our house.

84. I'm thankful for vacuum cleaners, even though I hate vacuuming more than anything.

85. I'm thankful for doctors and medicines that save lives.

86. I'm thankful for advil and the way it saves me from headaches and cramps.

87. I'm thankful for institute and the insight I receive from attending.

88. I'm thankful for the institute teachers I have had. They have all taught me things that will stick with me forever.

89. I'm thankful that I can overcome challenges.

90. I'm thankful for the growth I obtain from experiencing trials.

 91. I'm thankful for music and that I can hear.

92. I'm thankful for art and that I can see.

93. I'm thankful for creative people.

94. I'm thankful for service opportunities.

95. I'm thankful for books to read.

96. I'm thankful for good movies.

97. I'm thankful for the beach.

 98. I'm thankful for the sky.

99. I'm thankful for flowers.

100. I'm thankful that I have WAY more than 100 things to be thankful for. I'm so very blessed.

No matter the circumstance, I know there is always 
something to be thankful for. 

What are you thankful for? Try writing them down, it's easy.

Peace out. I have to go buy all new tires now.

Yayyyzzzz.

Long Hurr Don't Curr

Yeah, it's been a few weeks now, but I chopped my hair off! It feels great to have a little change, even if I do look like Dora the Explorer

mugshot anyone?

or Mowgli from The Jungle Book

this is what you wake up to when you're part clown

Changing up your hair can be really scary! But it honestly has made me feel more confident about myself and changed the way I think about things. This sounds cheesy but I'm really learning to love myself and figure out who I want to become. I feel like I have become a lot more independent these past couple months without having a man, but I'm completely happy and content.  It sounds totally silly but I feel like a lot of times, our hair becomes kind of like a security blanket. I know that most boys (and girls) associate being pretty with long hair, but I'm not out to impress anyone! 

Not like my long hair was impressing anyone anyways haha.

Here's to being spontaneous and making changes for the better!