Quotation marks

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what
we give."

-- Winston Churchill

~~~

"I'm not afraid of storms, for I'm learning to sail my ship."

-- Aeschylus

~~~
"Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to
take control of what you do have power over instead of craving
control over what you don't."

-- Steve Maraboli

~~~
"Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and
keep choosing it every day."

-- Henri J.M. Nouwen

~~~
"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't
work."

-- Thomas A. Edison

~~~
"Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves
of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is
something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of
nature -- the assurance that dawn comes after night, and
spring after winter."

-- Rachel Carson


Feel my Sunlight

P.s. I promise I will write a big post soon including TOFG and the Carrie Underwood concert. <3

consider your thanks

"and when thou risest in the

                    morning

let thy heart              

        be full

             of thanks unto God;

 and if ye do these things,        

                ye shall be lifted up at the

          last day."

                         -Alma 37:37

 

 

 

I recently came accross this YouTube Video. {below} This video made me think {as I often do}. It made me think about my life. The opportunities I have. The chance I get to go to school. The most amazing family ever. Parents that love me. A place where I can feel save. The greatest team mates in the world. Work. That I can afford what I need. This warm house over my head, this computer I'm typing on. My wonderful guitar sitting next to me, Music, good roll models, the list could go on and on. It made me realize how truly greatful I am for this wonderful life I live every day, and I know for a fact that I have taken it for granted. I sometimes think to myself about all the people in 3rd world countries that dream of living a life like mine, in the same way I dream of life as a Princess. To people like this, I live like royalty. As I was in the car driving to the gym today I wondered how many times I had made that drive. More than I can even count. How many days of learning have I been blessed with? Well this is the 13th year I have been enrolled in school (including pre-school and kindergarten) How many times have I worried about going hungry? Not once. ever. I live a blessed life. Sure there are ups and downs, and bumps in the road, but when you really step back and evaluate it all you realize that your life is blessed. There is always someone who has it better than you, but then again there is always someone who has it worse.

In my World Civ Honors class yesterday we were discussing the Untouchables. For those of you who don't know what untouchables are, it is a "class" below slaves. Once born into it, there is absolutly no hope of ever getting out. In a society that has no mobility between classes, you have no choices. You don't get to choose your own destiny. However, here in America...land of the FREE! You have every right to make yourself a better life. We life in a land where Olympic athletes are regular people, and the greatest singers were made fun of growing up. We live in a world where you don't half to be born into a rich family to learn how to be successfull in life. Remember:

 

"The biggest

trees     

           got their start

in the         

         dirt"

                                       -Whitney {me}

 

 

I have just felt so much gratitude lately, and I would feel ungreatfull if I didn't share it. I am so verry thankful for the life I live, the people surrounding me, and the opportunities I have. I am thankful for the Church.

 

Now I want you to consider what you are thankfull for as you watch this YouTube video about an incredable person

 

 

 

What are you thankful for?

Whoever had the idea.... I hate you. {a weekend story}

This is my new favorite picture

This weekend was the best kind of weekends. It was a long weekend. We headed to a condo in the middle of no-mans-land with best friends to forget everything and take a break from life. We played guitars, we sat in the hot tub, we laughed, we had a photo shoot, we sat outside under the moon in the most perfect weather, we talked about boys, and school, and spiritual stuff. We ate some home made pizza, and danced around the kitchen to the sound of Taylor Swift. We went to church, and fit all 13 of us on one bench, We sang some songs, and most importantly....

 we made memories.

Now whoever had the idea that we should all go back to real life..... I hate you.

But hey, Next weekend is TOFG with these lovely ladies in the picture, and the weekend after that is State Camp with my team!

So all I can say is I <3 the weekend.

Feel my Sunlight

p.s. Reading Shakespeare is bringing back so many memories, and I can hear voices playing in my head, and I want to go back. #Theaternerdatheart #Imissit

p.s.s. RED came out about an hour ago... enough said.



Bad blogger

I've been a bad blogger, I know. I have neglected to write about a very important item of business... I have been to see Carrie Underwood, and still haven posted a single picture! I promise I will do that as soon as I can.

This week is UEA. Hallelujah!!! We are at a condo with some good friends just enjoying life. We have been playing guitar, singing, and laughing all day. I may or may not have broken Lexi's high E string while trying to help her tune it... {sorry Lexi!!! I really do feel bad about that! I owe you a new one.} Lauren just finished her homework and we are watching a movie.


I will post pictures of this trip, and the Carrie Underwood concert when I get home, until then, this will half to do.

Love y'all

Feel my Sunlight


P.s. RED by T-Swift comes out in t-2 days! Anyone else as excited as I am?

Have I done any good?

Click HERE and watch this video!

 

 

Now listen to this song.

 

 

 

Now I don't know about you but I really want to go do service right now!

Swifties

{picture via Google}

You know those nicknames that fans of certain singers call themselves? Like Beliebers, or Directioners? Well, I guess you could call me a Swiftie.

All of the Taylor Swift music I own would take a total of 6 hours to listen to if I listened to it back to back with no breaks. And I'm proud to say I have all 6 hours memorized.

The first song I ever learned on the guitar was Speak Now by Taylor Swift.

So guess what....



Her new Album RED comes out in exactly 1 week! Ahhh!



I.

can't.

wait.


Feel my Sunlight

T-Swift night

Having a T-Swift night. 

Guitars

new songs

Red

Begin Again

I knew you where trouble

Ronan

When Satan goes to sleep

"When Satan goes to sleep he checks under his bed for Jeffrey R. Holland." #mormonprobs

Found this on Facebook. Made my day! Thank you MormonProbs! haha

Boy Talk!

Hey yall!

So my friend Carina and I have made a new blog. It's called Boy Talk. Everyone should check it out! I just posted a realy funny storrie that you don't want to miss!

 

CLICK HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

through the eyes of a child

Random picture of little girls feet at the gym last year

As most of you know, I am a tumbling coach. I coach the little ones. I've gotten to know a lot of little ones over the last 3 years, and I've grown to love every single one of them. Every child possesses something different, but every child possesses something beautiful. They see the world differently. I believe this is why Jesus told us to become like little children. After all, we are Gods children.


               SMILE :)
Last week I had the opportunity to teach two little boys that didn't speak any English. But I couldn't help smile because of their huge ear to ear smiles that never disappeared for the entire hour! {In fact I'm grinning stupidly here in my room all by myself thinking about it.} A smile can make someones day. I can imagine going into the gym might have been scary for those little boys, but these boys went in with a fantastic attitude that rubbed off on everyone around them, and they never had to use words. You don't have to say anything to be the highlight of someones day.  When life gets hard, Smile :)


                                                  Let your light SHINE
Little children know what's up. They have the strongest of testimony's, and aren't afraid to say what they know because they haven't yet learned that not everyone believes the same things as them. A few weeks ago I was showing my little ones a certain skill on the trampoline. My kids are always in awe at how high I jump. One of my girls said something like "I bet Jesus could jump that high!" Then another girl said "I don't think he would come down here just to jump on the trampoline." The way these two girls openly talked about what they knew about Jesus made me think. How often do we hold our tong when we have an opportunity to share something about the gospel with some one. Little kids say it like it is with no fear of what people will think of them. We should be more like that.


       
         Be thou an EXAMPLE
We don't always realize it, but people are watching our every move. I have had several little children who have told me "I want to be just like you when I get bigger!" That can be a scary thought if you aren't doing what's right. They listen to what you say, and watch what you do. Watch what you do at all times, you never know who's watching.



                                  Be Teachable
I am involved with a school club that is all about service. Today we had the opportunity to go over to the elementary school to read books with first graders. It amazes me how much we learned in those first few years of schooling. I remember sitting in those tiny chairs ready to take it all in. I remember the first time I walked into the gym and was excited about all the new tricks I could learn. If we could only live our lives with that same attitude of learning maybe we would be a little smarter. As I sat listening to the little boy tell me about warthogs and what they eat, and where they sleep I realized there is still lots I don't know. Lots that I can learn. Be teachable. Don't be afraid to learn something from someone younger than you. I know I learn tons from my students that I coach. Be like a child and have a desire to learn, and let yourself learn from the words of a kid.



          Live a life of INNOCENCE 
Children possess a sense of innocence. They can't do anything wrong. With my three and four year old class the worst thing I ever hear is "she butted me!" or "she touched me!" If only cutting in line, and touching someone was the worst thing adults ever did. Can you imagine the world if we all lived with high standards. Live with high moral standards. Live above the worlds level. Aim to live your life with an innocence of a child. Clean and Pure.



                                 Speak KIND words 
Today as I was sitting talking to two little kids one of the little girls leaned over to me and whispered in my ear "You're pretty, I like your earrings". I have a few little girls that I coach that always touch my sparkly toenail polish and tell me they like it. I have learned that kids give compliments freely. I have learned that I need to be more like that. When you like someones outfit, or the way they did their hair, don't be afraid to tell them. It just might make their day! Use clean language. I remember the time when "meanie head" was the worst name you could be called. Now when I compare that to some of the things I hear around school I want to plug my ears and run back to the kindergarten rooms. People base what they know about you on the words you say. Make sure you are only saying things you want to be known for. 



             Become as a little CHILD
We talked about this a little bit in Seminary today. Children are the best examples of Christ. If we want to be with him, we must be like them. 
 
 

"Verily I say unto you

                      Except ye be       

 converted, 

and become as little children,          

ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven" 

-Matthew 18:3

"For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticing of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a CHILD,

 submissive,

 meek,

 humble, 

patient, 

full of love,

 willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him,

 even as a child doth submit to his father." -Mosiah 3:19

                         

Practice

"I know you've heard it a thousand times before. But it's true
-- hard work pays off. If you want to be good, you have to
practice, practice, practice. If you don't love something,
then don't do it."

-- Ray Bradbury

Leap of faith

"Things can fall apart, or threaten to, for many reasons, and
then there's got to be a leap of faith. Ultimately, when
you're at the edge, you have to go forward or backward; if you
go forward, you have to jump together."

-- Yo-Yo Ma

LDS Conference

{Listen and watch here!}

I'm a Mormon

Well, Young men can now go on a mission at age 18, and YOUNG WOMEN CAN NOW GO ON A MISSION AT AGE 18! This might just change my plans for the future and I might be going on a mission in 3 years. I love conference! Prepare to get lots of posts about it over the next two days. When you wake up to the sound of MoTab you know it is going to be a good day!

 

"I'm a Mormon

                 I know it.

I live it.      

           I love it!"

Thankful Thursday

This post is more for me than anyone else, I just felt like I needed a reminder of what I'm greatful for.

I am Thankful for...

1. My family
2. My amazing friends
3. My super fantastic teammates
4. My wonderful coaches
5. That I have the opportunity to tumble
6. My job at Bowmans
7. My job as a coach
8. My amazing bosses at both jobs
9. The country that I live in
10. My awesome ward.
11. My young women leaders
12. My young women
13. My cute little kids that I get to coach!
14. That I got to meet the U.S. gymnastics team
15. My best friend that drives me to school everyday.
16. My best friend that carries my guitar every A day
17. My best friend that has been my "cousin" my whole life.
18. My tumbling best friend.
19. That I get to eat lunch at the park everyday
20. That I was raised in the church
21. SEMINARY! {very best part of my day}
22. The temple
23. My guitar
24. my journal
25. all my awesome teachers
26. The Harry Potter phanomanon
27. Hunger Games
28. My strong legs {thanks Steph!}
29. EFY
30. All the amazing examples in my life
31. My bishop
32. my health
33. my iPod
34. this laptop
35. That I have my own room
36. my swing bed
37. all the John Bytheway, and Hank smith CDs and DVDs
38. my strong body
39. my brain
40. naps
41. That I haven't had any Algebra 2 homework all year, because I somehow mannage to finnish before class gets out.
42. My sewing skills
43. My "shortness"
44. The movie The Best Two Years
45. The movie Soul Surfer
46. YouTube {and how it lets me watch the 1996 Olympic Gymnastcs, even though I wasn't born yet.
47. Gymnastics books
48. inspiring sports stories
49. My desk.
50. My testimony
51. clean
52. President Monson
53. That Conference is next week
54. All my EFY counselors that I have ever had.
55. Music
56. ^^^ or better yet, uplifting music!
57. Sore muscles
58. Cute boys with testimonys
59. Tomorrow is FRIDAY {friday, gotta get down on friday...everybody's looking forward to the weekend, weekend}
60. The scriptures
61. Lds.org
62. Money
63. That I have been saved for these later days
64. my cute room
65. blankets
66. earings
67. writing {not to be confused with spelling}
68. my dry-erase callender
69. my scripture journal
70. That my mom drives me everywhere
71. eraseable pens
72. "quotes"
73. cute kids
74. Funny things that cute kids say
75. Hugs
76. Letters
77. smiles
78. words
79. New friends that I have made this year
80. That my Jr. friends invite me to hang out with them sometimes
81. key club
82. Christ
83. That I was baptised
84. goals
85. friendship
86. sticky notes
87. USA Gymnastics Magazine
88. Competitions
89. Nationals trips
90. light
91. That I know that I can do hard things
92. movies
93. books
94. inteligent conversation
95. when people DON"T use bad language around me
96. When people change the radio station when a bad song comes on
97. when people listen to what I have to say
98. When people make an effort to become better friends
99. this blog, and all who read it!
100. Love

So there you have it! 100 things that I am greatful for. I feel better now.


Feel my Sunlight

"Nobody cares what you do Vick"

As I sat in a certain class (you know the class where the teacher quit 3 weeks into school, so now we have a new "sub/teacher") We have been talking aobut goals, and future careers. It made me think. I have wanted to be the same thing since 2nd grade. I have written the same thing down on every paper that every school counselor has ever given me. Well guess what! I already am that thing. But it made me realize just how much further I could go with this job. It also made me question wether or not I really want to do this for the rest of my life. Don't get me wrong, I love it a lot more than my other job. I do love it a lot, but the thought of work in an hour makes me cringe. Mostly because I'd rather sit home and blog. Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for both of my jobs, but I favor one more than the other. But this class, and all this talk of work scares me. Because I don't know exactly what I want to do with my future. And every teacher, and every school counselor wants to tell you what you can and can't do according to the end of levels you got when you where in kindergarten (okay this is a little extreem, but not far from the truth) So I just put something that sounds inteligent down so they will stop questioning me, and move on. Because in reality, what counselor is going to come to you in 7 years and say "why aren't you doing the same thing that you said you wanted to do in 7th grade?!" NONE! "Nobody cares what you do Vick" {name that movie!} So there is my rant about work, and now I am headed to work...then I'm headed to my other work. OH JOY! {sarcasm intended.}

Feel my Sunlight


p.s. That quote was from Stick It. Teri, I sure hope you got that! :)

p.s.s Who else is super ready for the weekend? I seriously am so excited for conference.

Coach Ashlie

This post goes out to a great coach.

This coach has pushed me hard, and never let me take the easy way out.

This coach taught me that I will fix it, and I will never go back.

This coach taught me that great success doesn't aways involve tumbling.

This coach left on her mission today.

ASHLIE! I love you so much! You have been one of the greatest coaches that I have ever had. You have pushed me harder, and gotten me further. You helped me get over fears, and helped me overcome obsticles. You have fixed my bad habbits, and taught me new skills. You have taught me to work hard. You have taught me that it doesn't matter if it felt funny, you go for it! You taught me to pray before I compete. You taught me to trust. You taught me that sometimes the most success we will have in our lives, doesn't involve tumbling. We love you so much Ashlie. We believe you will make a great missionary. 18 months will fly bye. We will be right here waiting for you when you get back with a few new tricks to show you. Your testimony has strengthened mine. We will always have your voice playing in our heads as we tumble. Good luck! We are praying for you! Love you!
-Whit


"Lift and finish!"



After Ashlie's Mission Farewell talk on Sunday.





Ashlie's last night in the gym. Her last night as coach for the next 18 months. Like my leo?? Ashlie gave it to me.