The Ups and Downs of Two-Thousand and Ten

Januaray

Up: Took a semester off from school

Down: Job hunting...couple interviews...no luck!

Feburary

Up: Found a job! Started commuting with my Dad to Cali

Down: Commuting was very very tiring

March

Up: Started working at Rain

Down: Found out I was allergic to horses

April

Ups: First kiss, first boyfriend, trip to Disneyland with friends :)

Down: ???

May

Up: Moab trip :)

Down: Working two jobs at once (Rain and Raging Waters)

June

Up: Engaged

Down: Not Engaged

July

Up: Summer days--volleyball, mini soccer, late night movies, star-gazing, slidding rock

Down: Got fired for the first time

August

Up: Moved back to Provo

Down: End of Summer

September

Up: Got asked out on my first date while going to BYU

Down: Lots of stress with a new semester and working at the same time

October

Up: Bryan got married :)

Down: Nervous as heck to date again

November

Up: Weather didn't act like Winter

Down: Hilary Collins left on her mission (I miss that girl!...but it is an Up too because missions rock!)

December

Up: Christmas break and a 3.76 GPA from the semester :)

Down: Blizzards and coldness

What a year! Yes its has had its ups and downs but I'm grateful for each one of them. I have grown closer to my Savior and I've learned a lot. Here is to 2011! May it be full of just as many ups and downs!

Plan to be Surprised

We always end up watching whatever movies we get for Christmas day. It is a fun tradition, and today we watched "Dan in Real Life." It is my mom's favorite movie and my sisters got it for her. At the end Dan says, "Instead of telling our young people to plan ahead, we should tell them to plan to be surprised." I just loved that. Life is surprise. We can never plan it and if we do...it never turns out the way we planned it.  Here are the lyrics to the last song played in the movie...I do love these lyrics. I feel its about trying to make plans, but realizing its better to just go with the flow and seeing what life brings you, because we can never know the future...and its probably better then we could ever plan.

The moment has come to face the truth
I'm wide awake, and so are you
Do you have a clue what this is? (I don't know)
Are you everything that I miss? (I don't hope so)
We'll just have to wait and see (Wait, and see)
If things go right we're meant to be

The surface is gone, we scratched it off
We made some plans, and let them go
Do you have the slightest idea (No, I don't)
Why the world is bright with you here? (Oh, is that so?)
Stay a while and wait and see (wait, and see)
If things go right we're meant to be


Oh, what a world this life would be
Forget all your technicolour dreams
Forget modern nature
This is how it´s meant to be

The time is here for being straight
It´s not too early and never too late
People say I should watch my pace (What do they know?)
"Think how you spend all your days" (They all say so)
They´ll just have to wait and see (Wait, and see)
If things go right they´ll have to agree

Oh, what a world this life would be
Forget all your technicolour dreams
Forget modern nature
This is how it´s meant to be

Do you have the slightest idea (No, I don't)
Why the world is bright with you here? (Oh, is that so?)
Stay a while and wait and see (wait, and see)
If things go right we're meant to be

Oh, what a world this life would be
Forget all your technicolour dreams
Forget modern nature
This is how it´s meant to be

Forget modern nature
This is how it´s meant to be

Eve of Christmas

I was overwhelmed with love and joy for my family on the Christmas Eve of 2010. My dad asked us each to prepare a favorite scripture about Christ. Both sets of my grandparents were there, my older siblings and their spouses and my younger sisters were all there. And of course my dear parents were there. It was a very spiritual hour or so as we all talked of Christ. I felt we talked more about Christ's Atonement then His birth. But that is the reason we celebrate His birth, because without His birth the Atonement would not have been possible. I'm grateful for my family and the spiritual giants they all are. I loved each scripture shared and each testimony that was shared with it. 

I could not have asked for a better Christmas Eve.

Tis the Season

I went to the Tabernacle Choir and David Archuleta Christmas concert last night. It was beautiful. I truly enjoyed every minute of it. After finals and the semester being done with I finally felt I could relax and enjoy the Holiday season, and the concert was a perfect beginning for that.

Christmas time makes me smile. I love the houses decorated with lights. I love the kid's excitement for Santa Clause. I love having family around and the laughter and memories that come from that. I love the seasonal music that just lifts my soul. And I love the time it gives me to reflect on Christ's birth and life.

I am grateful this Christmas season that reminds me time and time again what really matters in life.

Label: Friend

So I have come to a conclusion from a series of reoccurring situations in my life: Boys that I like, label me as "Friend."

Exact quotes from these boys that I have liked in my life:

"You are such a good friend"

"I don't know what I would do without a friend like you."

"You just rock."

"I can tell you are just a really good friend, and I want to be your friend."

and my favorite..."She is like a sister to me."

Yes these are all great...but let me remind you these are coming from boys that I like. Someday, somewhere, some boy will say more then that...he'll say something like, "Stacy is my best friend, and I want her to be my best friend for ETERNITY."

...until then I'll just continue being a good friend to all these boys in my life. 

Logic.

Sometimes what logically makes sense in my head...does not happen in reality. 

I find it very frustrating...but I guess that is what comes about with agency and not being able to change people. 

"I've got my own sad story..."

I was thinking of having this post in my private journal blog, but I decided other wise.

I watched this weeks Bones episode (which btw is my favorite TV series) and it made me think a lot. There was a conversation at the end of the episode and it went something like this....

Security guard, "So how did it turn out?"

Bones, "Good...but I'm sad."

Security guard, "Well better to be sad then dead, and better then being dead inside. At least you felt something."

Bones, "How do you know that?"

Security guard, "I've got my own sad story, just like everyone else."

The beauty of life is the feelings we feel inside ourselves. To be numb inside is no way to live. Recently I have found a new friend that we've both shared our "sad stories" with one another. I've learned a lot. I've learned that "sad stories" give you new perspective in life, that they make you appreciate the "good stories" that much more.

This life is not about having a sad story, but rather having a happy story. But with all happy endings there is always many sad events along the way. I'm grateful for my sad story. It has brought new joy and meaning to life for me. I know with each sad or happy story I can learn something and I know in the end I will be happy...so happy I'll want to burst with happiness! The sad stories are needed, and I'm grateful for them.

So yes I've had a couple sad stories in my life...but that doesn't mean I'm a sad person. I'm actually quite happy and excited about life. Life is just full of surprises, some good, some bad...but that is what makes life exciting and worth living. If it was predictable and full of mediocre experience...I think I'd be a bit bored.

There is always something to be happy about. Even when the "sad stories" are unfolding, my testimony of Jesus Christ is my source of happiness. I'm so grateful for His sacrifice and Atonement. Because of it I know that in the end I will have a happy ending and things will be so joyous I wont know what to do with myself. This Christmas season is a great time to be reminded of Christ's life and the beauty of His example. I hope that I can make this season as special as possible.

Don't waste your time...

My friend McKay is having adventures I only dream of....don't waste your time reading my blog...read this gem! Oh I look forward to a new post from her adventures in Asia daily. 

If only...oh if only.

Check them out...

 

I love these people more then anything in the world....

Adult

I did my first REAL adult thing last night...cause I have a REAL job that throws REAL Work Christmas Parties.

It was all fancy, and had good food...of course had the boring speeches...but overall was really fun!

I even had a date...just like an adult would.

I felt so mature...until I received this wonderful award:

"Chapstick Queen Award...because that was her nickname in middle school 2 years ago...."

I'm glad everyone I work with thinks I'm a baby...so much for being an "adult".