Funny Story

Okay, I am usually on of those people who always have AT LEAST a 1/4 of a tank of gas. Once and awhile I'll let it get down to empty, but usually fill it up before the gas light comes on. This is a very rare occasion. Well yesterday was one of these rare occasions....It all started here:

So I had just finished a final and was going to get Taco Bell for Hillary and I so we could eat our favorite fast food ha and catch up and just relax. It was all going smoothly, until I was in the drive-thru. I ordered my food, and my car felt weird. I was pulling up to the window to pay and get my food, well, when my car stopped. It wouldn't go. I turned it back on, and it stayed on for like two seconds and I slowly drifted to the window without my car on. I ran out of gas. Stuck in the drive-thru of Taco Bell with cars behind me. The workers looked at me like, "You are an Idiot." Luckily, one of them was nice enough to push me out of the drive-thru. Except the only place to go was on the road on 9th East with tons of traffic. haha GREAT. So I pulled as far over as I could and put my hazards on. Although this was no good because it seemed that people driving noticed me at the last second and almost hit me. I mean, c'mon, PAY ATTENTION. haha But hey, I'm the idiot here who ran out of gas in the Taco Bell drive-thru.

So I walked up to Sinclair, bought a rip-off gas can. THANK GOODNESS FOR BROTHERS! Jason came and helped me, I would've been stuck for hours if he didn't. He has finals too and he is sick, but he's the best. I really hope he knows I appreciate all He (and Devyn) do for me! So we filled up the gas can and filled my car up. And I finally made it to Hillary's. What a night.

Grateful for Jase

Serve

One of my favorite quotes is "What do we live for if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?"

I mean isn't that why we are here...to learn to love and serve others? We should constantly be serving others, but it doesn't happen. I know I don't do it enough and especially lately I have just been feeling sorry for myself (I don't really have a reason.) I  heard a saying or a quote about when we are feeling lonely that means we need to be in the service of others. Christmas time inspires so many to be more selfless and serve. Some the opposite. But I want to try and be better and do it all year round. So yeah, when I am feeling lonely, I want to try and remember that saying...SERVE OTHERS. We just want our own lives to be easy, but if we all helped each other make life less difficult, wouldn't it be easier that way? I feel that this brings us the most true happiness. Thanks to all of you who have done service for me and made my life less difficult.

Also, I cannot believe a year ago I was in Ukraine, helping these little kiddos learn English. Although it was a hard and very difficult time, I wouldn't trade it for anything. It took awhile, but I ended up loving these little Ukrainian children dearly. When you learn to serve through love and kindness, it makes the experience so much more valuable.

              Sasha. This boy is my favorite. My Sashka.

Family, Friends and Fun

These past couple of weeks have been so fun! I realize that I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family and great friends in my life! So hope you know I love you all so much.

Paige and I have had so many sleepovers lately making treats, seeing movies (HARRY POTTER) and watching our favs, "The Soup" and "Fashion Police" We always have the best time! Oh and she took me to a Jazz game!

Last week was Thanksgiving, so to get ready for the holiday, Cath and I made some yummy turkey treats. Ha  We always have the best time together and cannot stop laughing! Here's some pics of what we made.

Love both you girls. We were meant to be friends, both of you have been there for me when i needed you most and helped me get through some of the hardest moments i have had so far in my life. <3

I miss both these girls! Sadey has been in Vienna this Fall Semester, but gets back on Friday so I get to have a sleepover with her! She gets married in December and I'm so glad i get to be a bridesmaid. I've known Emily since the day we were born! We were actually suppose to be born on the same day, so it was meant to be. We laugh about the stupidest things, but have the funnest time together. All three of us have been the best of friends forever...Faith, Hope, and Charity. Although we are going different places in our lives, I know that we will always be friends!

Family: they will always be there for you and love you no matter what. I know this is true because my family has shown me that. Thanksgiving was so much fun! My parents flew out to Utah and we spent the time up at my grandparents house in Bountiful. Jason and Devyn came as well. We spent our time watching marathons on T.V., seeing Harry Potter in IMAX and shopping. We went shopping at 3am, and my dad even came, I don't know many dads who would do that! Memories like that are ones we won't forget! 

At Thanksgiving dinner, we went around the table, like most families probably do, and said what we are grateful for. I talked about my parents. I am so grateful for my parents. They have always been there for me, to help, support, love and give. They are amazing examples to me. I don't know where I would be without them, they have helped me become the person I am today. Love them both so much.

"Baseball makes me Happy."

I shared this link on Facebook. This little boy, Josiah is precious. He has a disease called Progeria, which means "prematurely old." His only dream is to play baseball. Just watch.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5788144

Carl Bloch Exhibit

Sorry to bore you with more about art and artists, but welp, thats what i do. I am an Art History Major.

So today my grandparents came down to Provo to experience the Carl Bloch exhibit with me. It was a very anticipated event and already has thousands of people coming to see it. If you don't know who he is, or don't recognize his name, i'm sure you actually have seen some of his work on the cover of the Ensign. He is a master and definitely an inspired man.

                                                                   Healing the Sick

                                                                 Sermon on the Mount

A little history about him: born, raised and worked in Denmark. He painted genre and landscapes, but was mostly known for his religious works. During his life he struggled to receive the recognition he deserved and still doesn't today. But this exhibit shows how incredible of an artist he really is. It displays his etchings, genre scenes and the most incredible alter pieces which the MOA got from the Danish and Swedish churches he painted them for. AMAZING. They are huge. Chairs are lined up in front of each one, so that you may sit and ponder each piece that depicts a scene from Christ's life.

This one of my favorites. Its the scene of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane right after the moment He has performed the Atonement. An angel is there to comfort Him and strengthen Him.

These pictures really don't do him justice!

One of the Greats

Michelangelo.


One of the greatest artists in our Western History.


I'm taking an Italian Renaissance class this semester and the past two classes we have been discussing Michelangelo. Specifically today we talked about the Sistine Chapel, which i have never seen in person, but i sure would love to. We had a debate on whether or not art restoration should be used to preserve the paintings or not. I could definitely see both sides of the argument, but i decided that i side more on art restoration. Although there is risk of some of the original elements being taking away, i want for others, myself, and my children to see the works someday. If they are all covered in grime and dirt, how could we? As long as they are careful and do it right, then i am okay with it. Let them ha 


P.S. One girl basically said today that she didn't really care about Michelangelo's works. WHAT? I think he is magnificent. So that's why I am sharing this post today. One of my favorite works...

                                                                      The Pieta


“Many believe - and I believe - that I have been designated for this work by God. In spite of my old age, I do not want to give it up; I work out of love for God and I put all my hope in Him.”


-Michelangelo

A New Start

Well, thanks to Mary, Catherine, Paige, Emily and Devyn...i've decided to start keeping up my blog. I love reading about their lives, experiences, struggles, just everything, so i figured why not share mine with you. And well lately, I've been thinking about LIFE a lot. (hence the new title) and especially at this time in life. Yes, being 21 in college should be the best time of our lives, right? But we don't realize all that we will go through. We experience love, heartache, happiness, sadness, confusion, struggles, trials,hopefulness, helplessness, loneliness and our self-confidence falls just as quickly as it rises. All these things help us to become who we are. I have a good friend Mary who is just an inspiration to me. She has AVM which she was born with, but the symptoms came about early this Summer. She is having her surgery this Friday. Through it all she has been strong and has seen the blessings from it. I can't imagine being in her position and i only hope i would handle it as well as she does.

Mare, Me and Cath

Life is really like a roller-coaster as i have come to really realize more and more this past year. I can't believe a year ago I was living in Ukraine. I am glad for the time spent there and really wish i could go back, but i'm am glad for the new obstacles and experiences that have been put in my path as well. I hope to take each one, just as Mary, and learn from to become a better person. So i vow at the end of each new post, whatever it is I write about, that I will find the something good about it or to be grateful for. Because in the end it makes life a little better and easier.

So today, I am grateful for Life. (yup this may be cheesy, but i don't really care.)