Happy, happy, joy, joy

I am smiling from ear to ear, something my face muscles aren't exactly use to feeling. I can honestly say that I'm genuinely happy. It is such a great feeling to look to the future and feel excited.

What exactly happened that turned this little happy switch on? I don't think anything can be pinpointed specifically, but I have some ideas.

Driving:
As you know, I recently got my license. I never thought that having some plastic picture of myself with my name on it would open up a gateway of joy.

Sure, I don't have a "real" job so paying for gas and insurance may become a thorn in my side, but I have such freedom that I didn't really realize I didn't have because I was postponing it.

For example, the other day I drove myself to Starbucks at 8:30 one night because I had a bad day. If I didn't have my license, I would have had to convince my mom that it was worth the drive.

Singles Branch:
I'll be the first to admit I hate trying new things. Absolutely hate them. I don't like to go into situations where I don't know a soul and try to fit in. It makes me sick to my stomach when I know I have to do it.

The other day, a couple of my friends in the singles branch invited me to attend the branch's FHE (family home evening on Monday nights) with them. This kid has been after me weeks to go to singles ward, so I figured I've give it a try. After all, I am almost 18...and out of high school. I need friends who are going to be experiencing what I am going through.

I went, regardless being scared to death, and I had a bllllllllllast. It was so much fun. I only three people at the whole thing, but I made a couple friends and felt so happy.

Institute:
Institute, which I mentioned in this post, is a religious class for those who are college aged--and actually want to be there (unlike those who were forced to attend seminary, haha.)

I decided since I want to start going to to the singles branch, I'd give this institute thing a try. I love the woman who teaches it, so I figured that it would be decent at least.

Boy, I was wrong. I LOVED IT! I really am quite excited that I get to go now. I was with some of the same people from the FHE activity, and was able to meet some more. I felt really included.

Exercise:
Just recently got Wii Fit, along with Wii Just Dance (addicting game, mind you.) It is cliché to say, but I reallly do use the Wii to exercise. I try to do it at least an hour a day, if not more. It is good on my joints, and it helps boost my mood (would have been useful to have done this during seminary...I could have been less cranky! Sorry, Mom.)

Basically, I'm just happy. I'm happy with my life, and I know that I'll just have to keep rolling with these changes that come with my new life. It is kind of exciting, and nerve racking all at the same time. I'm grateful I've got a great support system behind me though :)

Sayonara Seminary!

This is a bittersweet feeling for me.


I am grateful that I don't have to get up at 5am anymore. I am grateful that I am able to be complete with something I have been doing for the past four years. I am grateful that these dark circles will slowly begin to fade from under my eyes.


And yet, at the same time, I am going to miss seminary.


Seminary started my day out right for me. Granted, I was very cranky come Wednesday and Thursday (I often referred to myself as the fire breathing dragon) and would want to snap the necks of anyone who looked at me. I will most definitely not miss being ruthless to my friends, and especially my family.


Seminary helped me, though. Every day I would write a minimum of three things I'm grateful for--whether it be my belief in God, to Star Wars, or even cute boys. Counting my blessings, even the minuscule ones, really helped me realize how much our Father does love us.


Seminary helped my testimony grow more and more. I feel like I was a flower, waiting to be watered. Now, not only have I been watered and received sunlight, I got a good dose of testimony miracle grow! It is a great feeling.


Seminary was my "cup of joe," my spiritual uplifter, my "it is time to turn on the learning switch for the day," my social hour.


With every ending, there is a new beginning. For me, my new beginning is INSTITUTE. This class is basically for all the cool peeps who are in college, or at least finished with seminary. For me, my new beginning starts tomorrow night. Thankfully, it is only on Tuesdays at night :]

I just wanted to say thank you to all who helped me get where I've gotten. In this picture, there are all my seminary teachers (and their husbands who helped "substitute") and my parents, who taught me seminary my first two years of high school. Thanks guys. You've been the gardeners and helped keep my flower growing strong.


And what do you know...I'm wearing a flower dress! :]

Let's party like its 1773!

A few weeks ago, I was asked to present a project to my sociology class on a topic that we covered in sociology. I chose tea parties. In my class, we had discussed the top 10 racial signs of tea parties, and how even a congressman was spit on because he was African American. The media paints such a negative picture of tea parties that admitting you went to some is like admitting you're about to commit a koo-de-ta. I thought to myself as we discussed this topic in class: are the tea parties really all that bad? Is the media painting them in a harsh light, full of events that were blown way out of proportion? In order to find the truth, I decided to go to a tea party for myself.

Last Saturday, I attended a small tea party (of about 200 people max.) To my surprise, there was not one comment making fun of Obama, his race, and there wasn't a single sign calling Obama slanderous terms. It was one of the most reverent feelings I've ever experienced. Everyone, of all ages, wanted to be there and therefore they were dead silent as they listened to the speakers. You could hear a pin drop. To read more about the tea party that my mom and I went to last week, come read her blog post here. 

I decided that I'd go back to another tea party just to see if there were any racist extremists there, parading there N word labled signs. And yet again, there was none of those people at the tea party. There are people out there who share the same ideals as the tea partiers, but they are more extreme. They claim to be part of the tea party, but they do not stand for the same things. Don't let the media trick you into thinking that all tea partiers are racist and mean--do I look like I fit into that category?
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Thursday, as everyone knows, was tax day. There were THOUSANDS of tea parties on this day, sending messages to President Obama that people in this nation are sick of the increase in taxes, rising dept, and the outrageous health care bill that was just recently passed. Thankfully, I was able to attend a tea party on this day...with about 2000 other people. It felt like a Conservative Carnival--shirts, buttons, American flags, banners, and campaigning for the November elections. It was rad. I even made a sign.

Later that night, after I had come home from my party, I read THIS alarming article. (es, I know it is on Fox News and considered "right winged" and "wrong" to most people in the media, but I read up on the tea parties on MSNBC and CNN--both basically said the same garbage.)

Fox News hit the nail on the head by saying "Although taxes are one complaint of the Tea Partiers, the protesters also have focused on big government spending, specifically the recently passed health care overhaul law and last year's stimulus package -- legislation that critics argue will mire future generations in debt."
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"I've been a little amused over the last couple of days where people have been having these rallies about taxes," the president said, noting the numerous tax cuts pushed by his administration. "You would think they'd be saying thank you."
-President Barack Obama

Don't you just love having a President who doesn't acknowledge when almost half of his people he represents are angry with the job he's doing? Don't you just love having a President who doesn't even know why they are angry with him in the first place? I know I don't.

Relay For Life

My Dear Beloved Blog Readers,
I have a small favor to ask of you, and I absolutely do not want to ask you to do this, but a girl has to do what a girl has to do.


This May, I am doing Relay for Life with my school. In order to participate, I must raise $100 dollars. In order to achieve this goal, I will need your help.


I don't want to ask you for your money, and I feel bad about it, but there really isn't any other option unfortunately. Any amount counts, even if it just is $5.


To donate, come to this link and fill out the online form.


Donations for Aubrey


Thank you very much! It all is going to a great cause.

Food for Thought

Last night I was able to go see the new movie "How To Train Your Dragon." Holy cow, it was fantastic. It wasn't only fantastic because I enjoy little kid things, animation, Norse mythology and history. No, it wasn't just because of those things. It was because of something else entirely different.

The whole premise of the movie is about this Viking boy, Hiccup, and his trials as he tries to become a dragon killer, like his father. His father is the biggest, buffest man all around and the village's chieftan. Hiccup was a small and weak boy, so no one ever took him seriously or respected what he had to say. At one point in the movie, his father even says that he doesn't even recognize Hiccup as his son anymore. Hiccup only has one friend, his dragon Toothless.

This made me think.

Just because we're not perfect and as good as we should be, God doesn't disown us. He doesn't say "Hey, you're not my kid anymore. You suck." If we try to talk with Him, He will listen. If we need help, He will help us. God is the best dad in the entire world. And if we're ever alone, like Hiccup, we have companions: Christ, and the Holy Ghost. Both are there for us as long as week seek them out.

Anyway, this movie was fantastic. I would see it again and again and again and again. :)

Ten Tidbit Time (I love alliteration)

I am in a random mood today. I think it is because the sun is out and I'm feeling cheery. Kind of bizzare for an ever-so cranky pessimistic person. You think I'd be furious about the Obama health-care crap...which, I am, but at least I can milk off my parents' health insurance til I'm 26! Woo hoo.

I thought I'd share some tidbits about me. I know you know the generics about me, but I felt like being more...in depth...today, I guess. Not really sure, honestly. Haha.


PS. I'm sorry that not everything is lined up perfectly. It's not working. I just spent half an hour trying to make everything look exactly the same (font wise) but it didn't work. It's making me mad, so to avoid deleting this blog, I am going to get on facebook :)

Tidbit Number One:When I was in the 8th grade, I was diagnosed with sever's disease. It's basically when the achilles tendion and ankle bone grow apart. My ankle swells like up like an elephant if I put too much pressure on it, wear the wrong shoes, or the weather jacks with it. I had to wear a cast for six weeks to help "fuse" my ankle bone back to the tendion. It did work, but I still have problems sometimes...and I don't think it helps that my arthrits spread to my ankles, either.

I have arthritis. I think most of you know that, but some don't. Some think I'm faking. Let me ask you this: why the heck would I want a disease were my joints ache all the time, especially since it showed up when I was in the 7th grade. I have it in my elbows, ankles, knees, and my fingers swell...bye bye CTR rings.

Tidbit Number Two:I've always been an artstic kind of person. Math? No. Science? No. Art, yes. I use to draw all the time, and I am slowly starting to pick back up that habit. I mostly draw little pictures for my friends, and I enjoy mailing them. I love mail, it's my favorite. I would write everyone in the world if I could--I think I get that paper obsession from my mother. As you know now, I am a photo freak. I don't know how, or why, I like it, but it makes me happy.

Tidbit Number Three:I went to a Star Wars convention in 2005. I didn't want to go, and basically denyed enjoying it. Well, for the record, I LOVED IT! I loved it so much that I am actually going to another in August in Flordia. I talk about Star Wars on everyday that ends with a "y."

Another thing: I hate any pictures of me with glasses (so from 2nd to 8th grade) so this is probably the only one I'll ever post.

Tibit Number Four:
I have an odd obsession with dead animals. My favorite thing about Missouri for years was all the road kill. I don't know why, but it just is something I oddly enjoy? Maybe that's why I love Cabela's...

Tidbit Number Five:I always have hair trama. Always, always, always. I'm never ever happy with it. I've dyed it, highlighted it, cut it, let it grow (not for Locks of Love) and let it do whatever it feels like. I've always had bangs. I probably had bangs in the premortal existance, actually. Ha! I have a callic, so I'm growing them more...side swipe? Please don't let me cut my bangs or dye my hair ever again--okay? Thanks.

Tidbit Number Six:I'm always doing something weird and completely unexplainable. Don't ask why because I honestly do not know. I'm sure 99% of you already know this about me.

Tidbit Number Seven:
I have no athletic skill whatsovever--unless it involves a video game controller (and even then I'm only good at the Call of Duty and Rock Band.) I did ballet--quit 2 weeks in. I did teeball, my dad as the coach--I quit the first inning of the first game. I cheat through mini golfing. I use the bumpers when bowling and still manage to be the worst out of everyone. I love to dance, but I have no coordination.

I was good at one sport in school: FLOOR HOCKEY! Best on my team. Even ask my parents. My team was almost to the championships...we would have won but I was paired up against the tallest boy in the grade and being a sky-skraping 4"7 didn't help at all. Plus, the pansy girls on my team did nothing...needless to say, I am still bitter about that decisive 5th grade game.

Tidbit Number Eight:
I smuggled in Dr. Pepper to youth conference last summer. I know, I'm bad. I'm doing better at giving up NASCAR on Sundays then I am at not drinking Dr. Pepper. Kind of weird.

And yes, you read right. I am trying to avoid watching the races on Sundays. I still check the scores online, but I dunno...I just feel like I have better things to do with my time.

Tidbit Number Nine:
I'm always telling everyone I love them. I just want them to know in case something bad were to happen, y'know? I started to especially after Megan passed in December of 2008. I don't remember ever telling her I loved her, and now she's gone...so to avoid that feeling again, I tell everyone.

I love you :)

You may be asking why I stopped. Well, if you caught it or not, the tenth is in the title of the blog. AH HA! Oh so clever. Not. Haha. I'm in a goofy mood, and I kind of like it.

Not another infomercial

When the phrase "sixty days" comes to mind, it makes me think of those corney infomercials that all say you'll lose 100 pounds in just 60 days if you buy this new ab burner. If you were to ask me on January 1st, 2010, if something significant could happen in just a mere 60 days, I'd probably laugh and make some joke about it. However, today is not that day, and I have a different view point.


On January 3rd, I was in the Relief Society (women's class at church) meeting with the rest of the teenage girls. A piece of paper was being passed around to everyone, and on top of it said "Book of Mormon in 60 days" on the top. There were two columns, and a bunch of numbers. One set of the numbers represented the days you were to be reading, and the other numbers were what scripture block you'd read each specific day.


"Great. I'm so not doing this. I've read the Book of Mormon four times since July, I'm all good for now. I'm reading it in Seminary already, and I should read the Old Testament or something," I thought to myself quitely. I'm sure it showed on my face when we were encouraged to participate with the rest of the ward in this challenge.


Reluctantly, I agreed to try to read the Book of Mormon in only 60 days. Today, being February 23rd, and if my math is correct (all y'all know I suck at it), today is day 52. I finished the Book of Mormon this afternoon. I would have been done 17 days ago, but, a little thing called Georgia and sleep-deprivation got in my way (not a very firm excuse, I know...)


Anyway, I learn more every time I read. I am grateful we were encouraged to participate in the challenge and finish it in a certain time frame. I know it has helped me.


I encourage you all to do as Moroni encourages--


"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.  And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." (Moroni 10:4-5)


I know this is the true church, regardless of how many snide remarks I get about being Mormon. It is my testimony that keeps me from floating off into the world and saying "You're right. This is stupid to believe in. Congradulations."


It is all the joy I've found in my life from the gospel that assures me this is where I'M suppose to be. Everyone has the ability to choose what is the best game plan for them, and as for me, this is what I am suppose to be doing. I can feel it in my young, arthritic bones.