Ruin is a Gift

"Maybe my life hasn't been so chaotic. It's just the world that is and the only real trap is getting attached to any of it. Ruin is a gift. Ruin is the road to transformation."  -Eat. Pray. Love

I watched the movie Eat. Pray. Love. today. This quote stuck out to me, and I kept thinking about it. It is true though...I know that in my life, each time I'm faced with "ruins," after that I am transformed into something greater. I know my trials may seem little and non-significant to others, but for me they are real, and the feelings that come with each of the trials are never forgotten. I know that I am being transformed into someone different then I was before the each "ruin" that comes through. Each of my trials have made me who I am, and have made me realize who I want to become.

Life is good when you really look at the big picture of things. How great it is to live this wonderful world. So many different lives being lived, so many different stories to be told and so many people with experiences only they can understand. 

I'm grateful for my knowledge of the Gospel. I know that there is a plan and a purpose for each soul that comes to this earth. I know we are to be happy in this life, but to truly know happiness we must understand sadness...so I'm grateful for hard times and all the "ruins" in my life. 

Think of the "ruins" in your life as pieces of art--master pieces that have shaped your life.

Ark Music Factory

So everyone has heard about the Rebecca Black song, "Friday," and I don't like it...most people don't. But I kinda wanted to see who the producer was who thought this song would be good and embarrass this poor girl! So I found it...ARK MUSIC FACTORY.

First off...factory? They think they can "produce" talent like its a thing, and not a gift...they have all these young stars and getting them a song a music video and what not....but its awful! If these kids really have hopes and dreams to becoming famous for good reasons these producers are ruining that chance...Rebecca Black will always have the "Friday" song tagged to her...its sad.

Second of all...what is going on with the music industry? Where is real talent? Why don't artist write and produce their own music? Ark Music Factory has a point...you really can make anyone famous with a catchy tune and a pretty face...why is the public buying it??

Goodness...this is my rant. But here enjoy some other songs produced by this wonderful record label.

I hope you did not waste your time watching these...but just caught a glimpse to realize "Friday" was just the cherry on top from Ark Music Factory. 

P.S. check out their site too: http://arkmusicfactory.com/

Cross Country Skiing

I went cross country skiing last night. It was super fun. I've only been one other time and ever since I wanted to go again. It was certainly a workout, but totally worth it!

the cootie catcher made me cry

Today I got home from work to find this...

It was folded up and placed on my door. It had my name on it so I took it! (It was a giant cootie catcher if you can't tell) I have had a couple rough days...and who knew that angels made cootie catchers?? I opened it and read all the "fortunes" and I honestly cried a little. My sweet friends made this for me. I don't think they knew the struggles I was struggling with but some how this cootie catcher fixed them all. 

You know that quote where it says "friends are angels..blah blah," well its true...they are angels!

Some of the fortunes inside the cootie catcher:

You will score a million goals in soccer

You will create a masterpiece of art

You will go on an unexpected adventure

Your smile will light up many lives

You will become all you desire

Your laid-backness will enrich many lives

You will always be loved

You will graduate college

You will have a happily ever after

Today I also had a friend send me a quote via text...it said, "Letting go doesn't mean moving on. It's one of the hardest things a person can do. We feel that letting go is giving up, quitting, and that as we all know is cowardly. But as we grow older we are forced to change our way of thinking. We are forced to realize that letting go means accepting things that can't be. It means maturing and moving on, no matter how hard you have to fight yourself to do so."

I love friends, and I have some of the best in the world.

BYU Wards are great

http://www.vimeo.com/20946201

Happy Pi Day

I think 3.14 (March 14th) is my favorite non-official holiday....

Reason #1: You get to eat pie....pie is my favorite dessert and this day is basically dedicated to eating pie.

Reason #2: When I think of pie I think of Pushing Daisies....which makes me want to watch that show all over again! I'm in love with the pie maker :)

Reason #3: I love holidays and excuses to celebrate with friends and have a good ol' time! And why not March 14th? Too close to St. Patricks day? No....two holidays in one week...brilliant! 

Doors

"“Being human, we would expel from our lives physical pain and mental anguish and assure ourselves of continual ease and comfort, but if we were to close the doors upon sorrow and distress, we might be excluding our greatest friends and benefactors. Suffering can make saints of people as they learn patience, long-suffering, and self-mastery” (Faith Precedes the Miracle, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1972, p. 98).

"In that statement, President Kimball refers to closing doors upon certain experiences in life. That image brings to mind a line from Cervantes’ great classic, Don Quixote, that has given me comfort over the years. In that masterpiece, we find the short but very important reminder that where one door closes, another opens. Doors close regularly in our lives, and some of those closings cause genuine pain and heartache. But I do believe that where one such door closes, another opens (and perhaps more than one), with hope and blessings in other areas of our lives that we might not have discovered otherwise."

This is an excerpt from a talk given by President Howard W. Hunter and it can be found here.

I feel like I've had a door shut in my life...and lately I've been just looking back at that shut door and having a hard time to start looking for the open door(s). The talk by Elder Holland comes to mind...about remembering Lot's wife...(it can be found here). I know I need to trust in my future, and realize that the last door to close, is closed...

...but sometimes it is just not easy...

I'm grateful for Sundays. I'm grateful for time to reflect on my life and to adjust things that need some adjusting. I know I need to stop looking at the closed door, but the what if statements come and its hard to let it go...

I know God has a plan for me. I know that I may "plan" my life to be one way, but usually those plans don't happen, and He shows me something even greater. I'm going to start searching for the open door(s)...I'll tell you what I find.

Website and The Plan

So within this past year I have been working at Rain and I have learned a lot! I have loved working with the people I work with and being able to expand my love for music (since I can listen to it while I work). I offered some of my website skills to Max Orton and created this website for him (I did not design it, so don't get too excited). You can check it out here: www.thedjdude.com It was fun to do...and you know what? It could be my future career? I don't know, keeping my options open...but I do know that I have a "plan" for the next couple years of my life and I am excited....

"The Plan":

Finish school and get my darn BA degree in Sociology :)

Then I will hopefully finish around the time I am 22 1/2, and if I'm not married (which I probably wont be) I will be going on a mission! 

I am so excited for this plan.

I know whenever I make plans life happens and things change...but I was feeling really directionless at the beginning of this year, and now I feel I have more direction and focus. If I do serve a mission, I'll come back and get a master's degree in something...I am glad to know that I don't have to decide the career for my life quite yet and that calms my nerves a lot. I'm excited for these next couple years in my life...I know a lot will happen, and change will definitely be on the horizon, but I embrace that change with open arms!

Hazza for websites! Hazza for "plans"!

Lyrics say it best sometimes

Goodbye
Should be saying that to you by now, shouldn't I?
Laying down the law that I live by,
Well, maybe next time

I've got a thick tongue,
Brimming with the words that go unsung
Simmer then the burn for a someone,
the wrong one

And I tell myself to let the story end,
My heart will rest in someone else's hand
But my 'why not me?' philosophy began,
And I said

Ooh, how am I gonna get over you?
I'll be alright, just not tonight
But someday
Oh I wish you'd want me to stay
I'll be alright, just not tonight,
But someday

Maybe
Is a vicious little word that can slay me
Keep me when I'm hurting and make me,
Hang from your hands

Well, no more,
I won't beg to buy a shot at your back door
If I'm aching at the thought of you, what for?
It's not me anymore

And I'm not the girl that I intend to be,
I dare you darling, just you wait and see
But this time not for you but just for me,
And I said

Ooh, how am I gonna get over you?
I'll be alright, just not tonight
But someday
Oh I wish you'd want me to stay
I'll be alright, just not tonight,
But someday

Say it's coming soon,
Someday without you,
All I can do is get me past the ghost of you,

Wave goodbye to me,
won't say I'm sorry,
I'll be alright once I find the other side of
someday

Ooh, how am I gonna get over you?
I'll be alright, just not tonight
But someday
Oh I wish you'd want me to stay
I'll be alright, just not tonight,
But someday

Perfect Timing

Remember this post?

Well Adele...your album is just what I need right now...THANK YOU.

Rip it off like a Band-Aid

Break-ups are fun? Right?

I think this one will hurt for a bit, but all will be fine. It helped the mood a bit getting dumped at ihop on Free Pancake Day. I had good times with this relationship, and hope to meet someone who can make me laugh as hard as Austin did. Relationships are to be learned from, and I definitely grew and learned from this one. 

No pity party...I am fine.