Things I love...Cookies and Milk

Music

Candles

Calvin and Hobbes

Old Musicals

(Singing in the Rain especially)

Color

Sunsets

Fruit

Shooting stars

Christmas-cookies, smells, spirit

Daffodiles

Babies and Snow

Fluffy white pillows




and most of all:

YOU!

Sunflowers and Treasure Boxes

I've got a treasure box. In it I put treasures. Treasures of truth, knowledge, light, etc. So it's filled with quotes scriptures, and analogies. I pull one out when ever I'm having a rough day. I grabbed one this morning and this is what it said.

Follow the Son

Sunflowers always follow the sun,

From early morning, 'til the day is done.

They follow across the sky until night

eagerly soaking in the warmth of its light.
Like this loyal flower we too can be
Fed by His light spiritually.

As we follow His son, Jesus Christ

Becoming like Him as we soak in His light.

In most any soil their seeds will grow

With plenty of water and sunshine galore.

Small buds soon appear, then the protecting leaf

And thick stocks to support the head full of seeds.

We too can grow where we are sown,

By studying the scriptures and learning of home.

Our parents, teachers, and leaders protect us

As our testimony grows stronger of our brother Jesus.

When the sunflower crown forms, it's a royal gold

The blessings of it's growth are beginning to show.

The seeds you share; love, kindness, and testimony too

Will help others see the Golden Crown in you.

So follow the Son, open you heart to His light,

Seek Him first thing each morning and last one at night.

Follow Him through the heat of each day,

Live your life to become like Him--it's the only way.

I've forgotten where I got it or when I put it in my box, but I needed it today!

He never said it would be easy, he only said it would be worth it.

I'm suffering from a play hang over. The last performance was Saturday night and now my body is reminding me just how many hours I spent on my feet that day. The five hour rehearsal on Friday, and the 10:00 -10:00 schedule on Saturday caught up with me and I feel like someone dropped a piano on me. I guess now it's time to take a breather. It's so easy to forget the most important things in life isn't it. I look back at the times I forgot my prayers and scripture study as I flopped into bed after an exhausting day and shake myself as I realize I was starving my spirit. What a way to make things a million times harder. Now not only my physical body is suffering but my spirit is sick too. I wish I could say it will never happen again, but I am so imperfect I will have to be reminded time and time again. Helaman 5:12 rings in my ears as I think of being called back. "And now, my sons (and daughters), remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

Ahhhhhh!! I got the scare of my life today. Every morning after seminary I bring Arthur and Skylar home, go to San Vicente Elementary School to volunteer, go home, and take them to Ladera International School. So I finish at SVES and get in the car humming to myself. I drive almost all the way down the coral road to my house when Skylar and Arthur pop up from behind the back seat and yeah "Ahhhh" I screamed, put on the breaks, and almost wet my pants I was so freaked out!

Luckily they were smart enough to wait until there wasn't anyone behind us or they would have run us over. A lesson to all of you: Never get in a car with out checking the back seat...;)

Chocolate

"I could give up chocolate but I'm not a quitter." - Lora Brody

Personality

I love personality tests. They are just fun! So here is one you can try if you haven't done it already. Pick the picture below that appeals to you the most. Don't worry about which one looks cooler or what in is a picture of just pick the one that stands out to you.

Okay now if you picked:

#1

Carefree Playful Cheerful

You love a free and spontaneous life. And you attempt to enjoy it to the fullest, in accordance with the motto: "You only live once." You are very curious and open about everything new; you thrive on change. Nothing is worse than when you feel tied down. You experience your environment as being versatile and always good for a surprise.

#2 (going across the top row)

Independent Unconventional Unfettered

You demand a free and unattached life for yourself that allows you to determine your own course. You have an artistic bent in your work or leisure activities. Your urge for freedom sometimes causes you to do exactly the opposite of what expected of you.

#3

Introspective Sensitive Reflective
You come to grips more frequently and thoroughly with yourself and your environment than do most people. You detest superficiality; you'd rather be alone than have to suffer through small talk. But your relationships with your friends are very strong, which gives you the inner tranquility and harmony that you require. You do not mind being alone for extended periods of time; you rarely become bored.

#4 (first one on the second row)

Down to earth Well-Balanced Harmonious
You value a natural style and love that which is uncomplicated. People admire you because you have both feet planted firmly on the ground and they can depend on you. You give those who are close to you security and space. You are perceived as being warm and human. You reject everything that is garish and trite. You tend to be skeptical toward the whims of fashion trends. For you, clothing has to be practical and unobtrusively elegant.

#5

Professional Pragmatic Self Assured
You take charge of your life, and place less faith in your luck and more in your own deeds. You solve problems in a practical, uncomplicated manner. You take a realistic view of the things in your daily life and tackle them without wavering. You are given a great deal of responsibility at work, because people know that you can be depended upon.
Your pronounced strength of will projects your self-assurance to others. You are never fully satisfied until you have accomplished your ideas.

#6
Peaceful Discreet Non Aggressive
You are easy-going yet discreet. You make friends effortlessly, yet enjoy your privacy and independence. You like to get away from it all and be alone from time to time to contemplate the meaning of life and enjoy yourself. You need space, so you escape to beautiful hideaways, but you are not a loner. You are at peace with yourself and the world, and you appreciate life and what this world has to offer.

#7

Analytical Trustworthy Self Assured
Your momentary sensitivity represents that which is of high quality and durable. Consequently, you like to surround yourself with little "gems," which you discover wherever they are overlooked by others.
Thus, culture plays a special role in your life. You have found your own personal style, which is elegant and exclusive, free from the whims of fashion. Your ideal, upon which you base your life, is cultured pleasure. You value a certain level of culture on the part of the people with whom you associate.

#8

Romantic Dreamy Emotional
You are a very sensitive person. You refuse to view things only from a sober, rational standpoint. What your feelings tell you is just as important to you. In fact, you feel it is important to have dreams in life, too.
You reject people who scorn romanticism and are guided only by rationality. You refuse to let anything confine the rich variety of your moods and emotions.

#9
Dynamic Active Extroverted
You are quite willing to accept certain risks and to make a strong committment in exchange for interesting and varied work. Routine, in contrast, tends to have a paralyzing effect on you.
What you like most is to be able to play an active role in events. In doing so, your initiative is highly pronounced.

Indecisive

I was wondering how long it would take before I had to change my template. Not long at all I guess. I'm an indecisive person. When ever asked what my favorite something is I usually give a list of at least three. When I'm at a restaurant it takes me the very longest to decide what I want to get and then when I do decide it's usually the "sampler" or the combo. I don't want to miss out on anything! Ask me if I like winter or summer I'll say "yes" and ask me to pick a template for my blog and I'll waste a whole day.

Blonde Moment...in a world of brunette, black, red, white, gray, and blue hair...

You know it's sad I had to check how blonde was spelled I even now I'm not sure if I'm right...

So, on Wednesday night we had a Priest/Laurel activity. Daniel was in charge and being the sweet guy he is he wanted to make it a valentine themed activity. So we started out playing a version of "Baby/Honey I love you will you give me a smile?" only that night it was "Hi, will you be my valentine? Please smile." It was a scream! Jocelyn finally cracked Caroline who was the last to fall. Anyway then we played a game where we split into two teams and taped different pieces of a Calvin and Hobbes comic strip to our backs. Then we see who can get all the comics in the right order the quickest. It took almost 6 times for us to finally get it. Anyway so we finished and I had to run to the magic show I assist for and a scampered out the door. I got their as usual set up the show, got everything ready, changed into my dress, put on my make up, and did the show. Then after the show I went to change back into my regular clothes and found that I still had a comic taped to the back of my shirt. I about died laughing. I need more sleep its official.

On a completely different note, I realized something else really amazing that night. As I was listening to some of the people from India speaking in Hindi at the magic show I realized that just in that one day I had heard people speaking Chamorro, Carolinian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Hindi, Tai, Tagalag, Palauan, Russian, Spanish, and English (oh and Canadian ;) just kidding!) It’s amazing to live in such a multicultural place. Both a general authority and the mission president have looked at our congregation at church and said that they guessed that that is what the Celestial Kingdom would look like. People from all over the world.

Valentine's Day!

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I know I'm a little early but I'm getting in the mood for Valentines Day. Why? Well because we are having a Branch Youth Valentines dance on Friday! I'm excited. Reason number 2 is because in my family we have a special Valentines Day tradition. Let me tell you all about it. During the month of February we decorate a big cardboard box with hearts, lace, kisses, etc. and put a big slit in the top. Then throughout the month we put valentines for each other into the box. They can be quick little compliments on lined paper, or elaborate poems cutesied up with glitter and lipstick. Then on the night before Valentines Day the Valentine Queen comes! (fondly known as the VQ) She fills the empty space left in the box with treats and messages and things that mom never buys for us: mini cereal boxes, pudding cups, fruit roll ups, etc. all those things that the cool kids would have in their home lunches when we were stuck with homemade bread, raisins, and carrot sticks. One year the VQ surprised us with red, white, and pink helium balloons. This year probably won't be too extravagant but she's sure to come!
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Just in case you get confused

I've been back dating a few posts, meaning my first post ever was in November but I'm putting some events on from a while ago and dating them when they happened. Just so you don't wonder! ;)

Okay so the Korean students left to go back to Korea after a month of staying with our family. Here are some pictures of my little shadow, Jenny.

Jenny, Me, and Starr

Me and Jenny