Bright Lights

I love who I am.  I believe in what I believe because it speaks to my heart.  I love art.  I love watching my own creations come to life.  I love short hair, knit hats, and cut off jeans.  I can listen to just about anything but I have a soft spot for up-beat music where the  acoustic guitar takes the spotlight.  I look forward to the times when I can get my hands dirty.  Every kind of weather is my favorite kind of weather because it speaks of the awe-inspiring power of nature.  Every ray of sunshine, every fallen leaf, every drop of rain, every wispy cloud, and every snowflake.  I love animals and want to do all I can to care for and protect them.  These creatures share this world with us, they are affected by our presence.  I love my family with all my heart.  I gaze forward to the day when I will feel such overwhelming love for one person that I choose to spend eternity with them.  I cry for the day when I will become a mother and raise children of my own.  I really like Oreos with milk.  I'm entranced by the glow of the hanging twinkle lights above my bed. Just like all of you, I am far from perfect.  I can be insecure and irritable.  I can never make up my mind and because I don't always know where my tangled emotions are leading me I tend to leave myself and the people who love me spinning in circles.  Disoriented and discombobulated we walk forward only to come crashing to the ground on top of one another.  And I know it was my fault, whether I meant it or not.  But I will always be there to pick up your pieces if you will let me.  Because if there is one thing I know, it is that everyone deserves a happy ending.  Each of you are in my life because I love you.  I promise you that I will never stop.  Ever.  

I am far from perfect.  But I'm making my way through this life step by step.  Every action, every interaction, every moment we ever experience leads us to who we have become.  This life is bright and beautiful.  It has its ups and downs.  But we must make the decision to accept the bad and appreciate the good.  When we can do that, our hearts will glow.  If you take a look around you and notice those people who've figured out, you will notice that they radiate the brightest lights of all.  

So let us shine on.

Blogging

I'm REALLY bad at it.

That's why this post is only 2 lines long...

So that you know I didn't die. (and by you I mean all of the 0 people who read my blog...)

Now it's 4 lines long...

Biology.

I think that, in order to have a full understanding of how different natural elements react to one another, I need to observe them in real life... I'm thinking: Beach.

haha ;) Who want's to come?

I'm Living in Hawaii

And things could not be going

...more perfectly...

Pretenses.

I HATE pretenses.

What should be said and shouldn't,

and worrying about what people might think if

I say something honestly, explaining situations

that apparently shouldn't be explained for no

other reason than,

"they are probably going to

think poorly of me because you

said you were babysitting

and couldn't come".

STOP WORRYING ABOUT IT!

Your sister isn't going to hate you because I tell

her how hard I'm working to pay my way through

college.

Why can't we treat each other like REAL people?

It's OK to have a life you know?

You don't have to worry about appearances with

everyone. ESPECIALLY family.

I hate pretenses.

Babies are special

Heaven is captured in a newborns eyes.

My little sister is a testament to the fact that the Savior lives.

She is two years old and she bears testimony of him on a daily basis.

but then...

She has even as an infant.

I have a picture of Jesus Christ sitting on my bedside table.

One day while I was watching my sister

who was very young at the time, not even a year old,

I took her down to my room and was standing with her

near my bedside table

making my bed one handed

And she suddenly was leaning forward, pointing,

And calling out.

Unsure of what she wanted I stepped closer

and leaned her forward to see what she would point to

She was pointing at the picture of Christ.

Tears filled my eyes as I handed her the picture

And she took it from me

And gave him a kiss.

Before she said hardly any words other than Mom or Dad

Sophie knew Jesus,

Of course we said Jesus's name on occasion but babies

usually learn through repetition, that's why it made more sense

for her to be saying Mom or Dad

But she knew him.

She kissed him every time she saw a picture of him.

And now today, Sophie has a picture of Jesus in her room

and no matter who goes to get her after she's woken up

in the morning, she always points to the picture and says

"Jesus Love's Me."

102 years is a LONG time

So, my great grandpa is 102 years old. I mean, that's super old, in anyone's book!

I think I can now officially say that I am not very old

and neither are your 40+ year old parents

or even your 70 year old grandparents!

They still have 30 years to go!

I just thought I would share that,

So now you can go tell your parents

that they still have quite a ways to go

No need for one of those midlife crisis's quite yet :)

Not much to say...

Most blogs become popular if you have something to offer...

Good advice perhaps?

A terrible happenstance?

Or maybe you are just cool like that.

I'm pretty sure no one reads my blog but that's OK

this blog is for ME.

A journal of sorts

So I'm going to start blogging more

just for me.

Even though I have

Not much to say...

So. Here I am backstage during yet another run of Pride and Prejudice... Thought I would post something. Someone said something to me that really inspired me, being the theater junkie that I am.

"This life is the best play that we will ever put on, so know your part and play it well."

BYU BABY!

soooooooo..... I GOT IN TO BYU! I am beyond excited!

Puppies for sale

A store owner was tacking a sign above his door that read “Puppies For Sale.”

Signs like that have a way of attracting small children, and sure enough, a little boy appeared under the store owner’s sign. “How much are you going to sell the puppies for?” he asked.

The store owner replied, “Anywhere from $30 to $50.”

The little boy reached in his pocket and pulled out some change. “I have $2.37,” he said. “Can I please look at them?”

The store owner smiled and whistled and out of the kennel came Lady, who ran down the aisle of his store followed by five teeny, tiny balls of fur.

One puppy was lagging considerably behind. Immediately the little boy singled out the lagging, limping puppy and said, “What’s wrong with that little dog?”

The store owner explained that the veterinarian had examined the little puppy and had discovered it didn’t have a hip socket. It would always limp. It would always be lame.

The little boy became excited. “That is the puppy that I want to buy.”

The store owner said, “No, you don’t want to buy that little dog. If you really want him, I’ll just give him to you.”

The little boy got quite upset. He looked straight into the store owner’s eyes, pointing his finger, and said, “I don’t want you to give him to me. That little dog is worth every bit as much as all the other dogs and I’ll pay full price. In fact, I’ll give you $2.37 now, and 50 cents a month until I have him paid for.”

The store owner countered, “You really don’t want to buy this little dog. He is never going to be able to run and jump and play with you like the other puppies.”

To his surprise, the little boy reached down and rolled up his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted, crippled left leg supported by a big metal brace.

He looked up at the store owner and softly replied, “Well, I don’t run so well myself, and the little puppy will need someone who understands!”

We all need someone who Understands!

Just great....

Sydney's Journey

Isn't she the CUTEST little thing?

I love you syd... I miss talking to you...

I saw Syd today, my parents have been wanting to see her and I keep telling them that she cant have any non family visitors yet, it would just get to be too much for her, but if you know my mom, you know that she saw Sydney today too lol, she always gets her way (love you mom!). She looked good, luckily she was awake and feeling good (which is the most important thing) she couldn't walk today as well as before because she was so soar from all the OODLES of progress that she's been making. We came when she had her cousins family there so we didn't stay for long but it was good to see her, even for a little bit. We talked and she told me what was going on with her and I did likewise. Man, I always try to be positive about this whole experience but sometimes its hard. I still cry sometimes. Not because I'm worried, no, I know she will be fine, but I just miss talking to her... I can't stand not seeing her everyday and getting a chance to just unload and talk, and talk, and talk, and listen, and listen, and listen... lol. But I have such good friends! everyone has been so kind and accepting of me, I feel like I have people who have my back. Even though Syd isn't with me I know I'm not alone. I hate that I'm so busy all the time, I feel like I HAVE to go see her but I have this assignment, or that rehearsal or whatever... I guess this is heavenly fathers way of pushing me to rely on him... thats a good way to think of it, I just thought of that! But you know what! Sydney is alive and recovering and I CAN NOT thank God enough for that. Sorry, I guess I just need to vent somehow, normally this would all be me talking to Sydney about this (if it where another friend). OH BTW! I have more soul candy pictures of Syd that I took today :) she's looking so so great!

That's my Sydney! Even now she pulls a funny face for a picture :)

Sydney

Chris and I visited Sydney today in the hospital. It was the first time that I'd seen her since Saturday and she looks AMAZING! So much better than before. haha, and Syd will be Syd, the first words out of her mouth where "hey, how are you?" and "hows school going?" "how are rehearsals going?" and "I miss school". She is such a kind heart :) I lub that girl. It was definitely candy for my soul to see her so happy and looking so good. I can't tell you how sucky it was to not know... Tim (Sydney's dad) told me that she will be able to walk again which is FANTABULISTIC news. They still aren't sure if she will get full mobility back in her right leg, but as it stands she would still be able to manage walking even if it stays the same. I am holding out high hopes that the spinal cord will continue to heal and we will see some increase in mobility soon :) EVERYBODY PLEASE REMEMBER! WE ARE ALL FASTING FOR SYDNEY THIS THURSDAY! The only way to get a miracle is to pray and fast for one so... yah, please join me in a fast :) I took pics of Syd today so you all could see just how good she looks :)

In this pic you see the boots that Syd is wearing, these act kind of like BP cuffs where they contract and squeeze on her legs at certain time intervals, by doing this the blood is circulated through her legs, thereby preventing blood clots. We call them her Pippy Long-stocking boots :)

I cried alot today...

This morning was fun, we (meaning drama council) got up early this morning (we were up at a cabin for our drama council retreat) and cleaned up (because it was the last day of said retreat) and played outside on the swings, rock wall, and zip line. Then we headed for home. In the mountains you don't get reception. I was not prepared for the news that awaited me once we got reception again: My BEST friend in the whole world, my blood sister, my other half; Sydney Heyrend, got into a car accident late last night. She wasn't killed, luckily, but paralyzed from the waist down. She broke her back in three places and she went in for surgery early this morning. That is all I knew. I have never cried harder nor more genuinely than I cried today. But good news came as the day progressed. Early this afternoon a physical therapist was able to get Syd to wiggle her toes and her ankle which is FANTASTIC news. I went to go see her at the hospital (IHC medical center) today and she was able to talk to me pretty normally (minus the fact that she was totally on pain killers) which was encouraging. They have just about every tube or wire that you can think of stuck in her arms and she has to wear a neck brace to keep her spine stable but other than that she looked pretty good. I am opptomistic... I think. I can't tell if I'm in denial or if I really am at peace. well I'm not at peace, because I have an aching pain in my heart that wont go away no matter what I do. I love Sydney. She is the best friend and she means the world to me. PLEASE, anyone who reads this, keep her in your prayers. Only through faith and prayer can miricals happen.

ACT ,':( ... And the Drama BB-Q :D

I took the ACT yesterday... I hated it. I don't get my score for a couple weeks and I'm hoping I did well. It was my first time taking it so we shall see. On a lighter note; We (meaning the Drama Club) had an awesome activity this Saturday! The Drama BBQ! I have definitely been looking forward to this for the last week and it was ridiculous! So fun. I have plenty of awesome pictures, and I posted a few of them so you can see our AWESOME party throwing skills :) jk. Wow. I am sooo procrastinating homework right now. eghh... well heres to AP Geography and AP Calculus...

3D Twister! haha

Kat Chevrie (Right) and Makelle Jenkins (left)

Trampolines never get old...

Sierra Dew (Left) Corinn LeBaron (middle) and Sarah Brunsdale (Right)

DRAMA! ;-)

So, this year I am the Lone Peak Drama Council Historian and it's my job to take pictures of pretty much EVERYTHING. I thought it would be fun to post some of those pics here throughout the year! so far I just have pictures of the VERY FIRST Productions class period of the 2010-2011 school year! I know. Intense right? RIGHT! By the way, I can use all the help I can get so if anyone in drama has pictures then you should E-mail them to me :) (nahika_chick@hotmail.com) Thanks Much! so yah... here they are lol.

The whole motley crew!

Melody Wood

Brynne Bonham (middle) and Carlie Hansen (right)

School, missionaries, and Boondocks

School Started today and I forgot how much I loved it! Senior year is gunna be the BEST! i'm tellin ya, awesome AP classes, productions class, seminary, and upcoming auditions are going to make for some great high school memories at the ten year reunion!

So it really hits me that I'm getting older when I have friends leaving on their missions! My friend Chris Williams left just TODAY for the MTC! He's going to South Korea, I'm super excited to write him, pretty much we were hanging out all day yesterday and we went to Boondocks the day before :) SUPER fun. he beat me at mini golf and I totally WASTED him at Go Carts like four times. lol. we made it a contest but he's gunna be winning soon because I told him that going on a mission earns fifty billion points, and on top of that those numbers grow on interest since those Korean people he'll convert will have cute little Mormon babies and so on...