Living the dream!

I painted this ceiling tile at the end of my senior year in high school, to be put in the AP Art room.  

The idea was to illustrate myself rejoicing in the bright future and potential in store for my life.

 

Now, 4 years later, I revisited the classroom where my precious ceiling tile is displayed.  Here I am, with a bachelors degree, now pursuing a PhD.  I'm living the dream!  

I'm starting to see that bright, beautiful future unfold before me, behind me, and all around me.  I know that I am in the path God would have me follow.  Oh, what joy, courage, and peace that brings to my heart!  I am so grateful to God for making possible all my deepest desires and hopes.  He loves each and every one of us, His children, more than we can possibly understand... yet. ;-)

How have you seen God guiding you in your life? 

What hopes, dreams, and desires has He enabled you to pursue?

I promise you that He is well aware.  If you don't see His hand in your hopes and dreams... Well, maybe it's time to reassess what those hopes and dreams are.

- peace out -

Changes in the air... Changes in the hair...

In honor of my graduation from BYU....

....I cut my bangs.  Eek!  (I like 'em!)

time to be grateful.

I'm grateful for when people say "thank you."

I'm grateful for opportunities to serve.

I'm grateful for sunshine.
(Oh, what joy!)

I'm grateful for friends and family.

I'm grateful for people who look me in the eye, and sincerely ask me how I'm doing.

I'm grateful for a functional body that can change and improve.

I'm grateful for sleep.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<∙>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

What are you grateful for?

life sure is beautiful!

music

looking for some chill, good music?

here's some of the stuff i've been listening to as of late:

Where We Gonna Go From Here by Mat Kearney

Lego House by Ed Sheeran

Everything Has Changed by Taylor Swift

All I Need by Mat Kearney

City of Black and White by Mat Kearney

peace out.

What's in a face?

That's my face.

Isn't it beautiful?  ;)

^^^^^^^^^

Looking at another person's face is one of the most profound ways by which we can lose ourselves, 

and remember another person's innate human value.  Making both of us happier.

^^^^^^^^^

"Hearkening to the call of Christ from His Spirit,

or through another's countenance,

or both, we become genuinely honest, simple, solid, true--

often together with someone we may not have trusted before.

[do you want to be that?  genuine.  honest.  simple.  solid.  true.  i sure do.]

"Whether it is felt in His breast or in ours, 

the Savior's love can achieve what force cannot

because where force calls forth counterforce,

love calls forth love...

"How then shall we come unto Christ...?  

By sacrificing all taking of offense.  

By giving up criticism, impatience, and contempt....

By giving these practices their true name, 

violence, 

and abhorring even their first appearance.  

By renouncing war in every form and 

proclaiming peace....

"Listen attentively to the teacher whose lectures may be a little dry.  

Read with particular care the papers of students who struggle to write.  

Befriend the one who feels different, lost, or lonely.  

Embrace the child who seems to resist you.  

Take seriously the advice of parents who have trouble following that advice themselves.  

Invite to dinner those who lack the graciousness or the means to invite you back.  

Even 'love your enemies, do good to them which hate you' (Luke 6:27)....

"This kind of love is who we really are.... 

And anything less

--judging others and withholding our favor from them--

capitulates to Satan."

[Quote from this speech by C. Terry Warner]

{He's founder of Arbinger Institute, the group that wrote The Anatomy of Peace and Leadership and Self-Deception}

^^^^^^^^^

I have seen through personal experience how true this is.

Join me in putting these promises to the test.

Whether you're renewing your previous commitment, or turning over a new leaf.

Let us forget ourselves, and go to work.

An update, a favor, and a video

So.

It's been a while since I've posted anything about myself, hasn't it?

Well, here's an update:  I'm applying for grad schools right now.

The End. ;)

When I first started this blog, I was graduating high school.  Now, I'm applying for Ph.D. programs.  

That's just weird.

High School graduation

I've changed a lot since then, though.  

Isn't that the way it's supposed to be?

But here's the thing.

I was trying to figure out how to have time for all of this:

School, work, taking care of my physical and spiritual health, applications....

And I realized, I needed to sacrifice something in order to do the most important things.

So what goes first?  

Facebook.

[duh]

Yes, I've deactivated my Facebook account.  Temporarily.  

{Unless I like living without Facebook.  Who knows!}

But here's one problem:  how can I share these blog posts without Facebook?  Granted, I don't expect to be doing much blogging this fall, either.  But there is one 3 minute video I really, really want to share with you right now.

So here's what I'm asking:

Since I can't post my blog updates on Facebook anymore, will you please share them with people you love, if you think it can help them?

Also, I'm pretty nervous about this whole application process.  Any prayers on my behalf are greatly appreciated!

Thanks, you guys.  And now, the video.

Watch it in a quiet place.

This right here is what keeps me going.  

He is the reason I do all that I do!

{Well, YouTube won't let me attach or upload it here... so I'm afraid you'll have to go so far out of your way as to click on the link blow instead ;)}

<click here for video>

peace out

Happy Mother's Day!

I am grateful for my

beautiful, beautiful, beautiful

beautiful Mother.

And for mothers in general!

Women, 

this is our highest calling.  

:)

peace out.

the tunes

you know i love music.

[and you probably do too.]

interested in some new tunes?

here's what i'm listening to lately:

[oh the joy!  oh the dopamine!]

Everything Has Changed

Taylor Swift

This Gift

Glen Hansard

Begin Again

The Piano Guys

Big Blue Wave

Hey Ocean!

In the Middle

Mat Kearney

And sometimes i dance along...

[pictures from my dance class.  jazzy, baby!]

peace out.

what's a walrus's favorite hobby?

art!  art!  art!

here's

(a taste of) 

my latest stuff:

dopamine (#1 of ?)

dopamine (#2 of ?)

"weeping Appalachian" (#1 of 3) 

"cross country" (#2 of 3) 

"forest of jewels" (#3 of 3)

 collage (just... 1)

there's plenty more, but that's all i'll post for now.  :)

peace out!

a friend

we all want a friend 

who understands us completely, 

fully, 

and loves us 

unconditionally. 

and who is strong enough 

to understand what we're going through, 

but still lift us up, 

encourage us, 

and inspire us to be better.  

who we can 

confide 

everything 

in.

that's the Savior.

{peace}

my thoughts

the Sun is bright--

as it always has been,

and forever will be.

the Foundation is secure--

as it always has been,

and forever will be.

the Rainbow is true--

as it always has been,

and forever will be.

for I am loved--

as i always have been.

and forever will be.

here's to a new year!

"To not take counsel from our fears simply means that 

we do not permit fear and uncertainty 

to determine our course in life, 

to affect negatively our attitudes and behavior, 

to influence improperly our important decisions, 

or to divert or distract us 

from all in this world that is 

virtuous, lovely, or of good report."

[David A. Bednar]

So smile!

"Everything will be all right in the end; if it’s not all right, it’s not the end."

- from the movie The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - 

peace out.  :)