Come unto Christ 2014 theme

Whoa!  Two blog posts in two days? I'm rockin it!

The year 2013 ends tomorrow. That means we have a new youth theme.

The theme for 2014 is...drum roll.... "Come Unto Christ"

Now I want you to click right HERE and watch THIS VIDEO

(I'm having issues with the embedded code and it won't let me put the video right onto my blog so the link will have to do.)

{Notice the first girl that sings. Her name is Noel and I used to tumble with her. I think she is pretty dang awesome and an incredible singer. Way to rock the 2014 theme Noel!}

 

I think this is a theme that is evenly applied to everyone on this earth. We could all come a little closer to Christ weather you have never heard his name before and are just learning of him, or you have known him before but you have let his presence slip from your life, or even if you have him in your life, you could always use a little more time with him.

I think that by coming unto Christ we are also coming unto happiness. Like I said In my last post Christ brings happiness and he is the only way to achieve true happiness. Like I said before, I know this because I've tried it. Christ brings happiness and who doesn't want to be happy?

One of my favorite stories in the Book of Mormon is when King Lamoni realizes of the truth of Christ and the glory of God because of the example of Ammon.

"The light which did light up his mind,

 which was the light of the glory of God, 

which was a marvelous light of his goodness...

this light had infused such joy into his soul, 

the cloud of darkness having been dispelled."

           -Alma 19:6

Dispel the darkness and let the light into your life. Raise the curtains a little higher and open the window a little brighter, for he wants to shine his light on you, you just have to let him.

 

What are you going to do to let him in?

feel my sunlight

 

p.s. Um, so you know how most people take a break from things like exercise during the holidays? Ya somebody must have forgotten to tell my coach that because I can't move. Good thing we have Steph around to make us work because comp season starts in 20 days and ahhhhhhh!

exceedingly great joy

This blog post is going to be obsta quick because my mom has this weird disorder where my typing can wake her up when I am upstairs and she is downstairs. Also, "obsta" is now a new word. It has the same denotation as super, but has a connotation of something high quality. Therefore, this post will be super quick, yet it will lack nothing in the normal quality, because you know I have the highest quality out there.

What am I even trying to say? I'm loosing it.

I have several topics on my mind but I have two videos that are drawing me in. They need to be seen. Watch them.

These are real people. This is true happiness from true light. This light comes from the Atonement of Jesus Christ.








These videos talk of peace. They talk of redemption. This peace and this redemption only come through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

The Atonement of Jesus Christ can heal even the darkest of trials. It can touch the saddest of hearts, but it is also for the small pains. It is for the tears gone unseen to the world. It is there for you when you need that extra push or that small whisper of peace. It is for you.

Christ performed the Atonement for all of those on this earth, but if you were the ONLY one on this earth Christ still would have done it FOR YOU.

Feel the goodness of God and taste of the Atoning sacrifice of Christ, for it brings joy just as King Benjamin taught in Mosiah 4:11

"And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have

 come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have  

known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, 

and have received a remission of your sins, 

which causeth such exceedingly great joy 

 in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember,

 and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God."

-Mosiah 4:11 

I have a testimony that Christ loves me and that he loves each of you. He hears your thoughts and he knows of your heartaches. Reach out to him and he will reach out to you. I know that through him we can taste of the only true happiness. I know this because I have felt it. He knows us. He loves us. He sent his only Son to die for us. He wants nothing more than to give us everything he has. May we ever strive to return to live with him again in his mansions in heaven.

feel my sunlight

p.s. Did everyone have an obsta awesome Christmas?

Christmas in a photograph

Remember how I promised pictures of random things HERE? Well, here it is. Christmas 2013.

feel my sunlight


p.s. Merry Christmas to all of my blog friends!

H A P P Y C H R I S T M A S

Guess what everybody! I'm a REAL blogger now!!

I got a big fancy pants camera from Santa and I'm very excited about it. For those of you who were wondering its a Canon Rebel xsi. Pictures of random objects to come.

I thought I'd do a quick post before we go to breakfast at our cousin's house to wish you all a very

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!

Last night we had our annual Christmas Eve party at my Grandparent's house. We did white elephants and I think mine requires to be shared. This is my family... as the Avengers. Enjoy!

Here are a few free printables/e-cards for your Christmas holiday. Feel free to print/share/save them!

AANNNDDD... for the spiritual portion of this Christmas facebook post.



Here are two videos that I highly recommend you watch if you haven't already. If you have seen them feel free to watch them again. They are FANTASTIC! I especially enjoy the adorable little lamb in the first video. So adorable.













I'd like to add my testimony to the videos above. Christ's birth was the most significant event in the history of mankind, but without the things he did during his life his birth would be just that, another birth. I know that he suffered for our sins, our pains, and our afflictions, and he ultimately died for us so that we can return to live with him. We are here on this earth to become more like him and I pray that this Christmas can be a reminder to you of what he did FOR YOU. Let him in your life and follow him. He loves you.


Merry Christmas!


Feel my Sunlight


p.s. My readers are my favorite. They really are.

The dream lives on

This post is going to be different.

This post is going to be about Power Tumbling.

This is a topic that used to be among my repertoire and appeared more often than not among my writing. I mean, I did write a blog on just this topic alone for 4 whole years. (eatsleeptumble.blogspot.com) At one point in my life this was THE MOST important thing. Nothing else mattered. In ways this has changed, although in retrospect, it hasn't.

Let me give you a quick back ground since I know I have several newer readers who don't know a whole lot about this lovely sport and how deep my roots are tied in it.

I began this sport at the age of 7. This was 10 years ago.

I walked into the gym wide eyed and shy. I was a skinny toe head that never imagined where this sport would take me. I never thought it was anything more than "tumbling class" but still, I adored it.

This love for cartwheels and handstands continued as I traveled through a few years in this dance studio, a year in a lady's unfinished basement, and eventually landed me in a small gym called Flipside Tumbling.

This little place was where my story really began. This was the place that really started it all.

Flipside was run by Jill, who was also my teacher at the time. Jill would continue to be my teacher, she eventually became my first boss, and to this day I am proud to say I still call her "coach".

I learned how to do a back handspring and was invited to join Jill's first competition team. My wide eyed self still didn't know how much this would entail.

I walked into my first meet in my little pink and black leotard scared as can be. I did a few back handsprings and decided that this was the place I wanted to be and the thing I wanted to do.

Long story short (well, as short as a 10 year story can be) I continued in this sport for the next 7 years. I became better. I started to become obsessed with the sport.

I have competed in countless competitions including many State Championships, a few Regional Championships, The Kalon Ludvigson Invitational (an international meet), as well as the U.S. Power Tumbling National Championships 3 different time. I have met some incredible people, seen some incredible things, and had the experience of a lifetime.

Now I share this with you because I want you to get where I'm coming from. I am a well experienced athlete in the sport of power tumbling. I have been a part of this sport for a long time. I have had unimaginable opportunities, however, I will never be a house hold name.

At one point in my life amongst the trophies and medals I dreamed of becoming the greatest tumbler in the world. I dreamed of standing atop the podium with my face broadcasted to TVs everywhere. I dreamed of signing autographs and wearing USA on my sleeve. This has not happened, nor will it ever happen.

In truth, if I disappeared from the tumbling world very few people would notice. I am not great, I hold no real titles, I am not what you call "elite" and I ultimately have done nothing for this sport, however, this sport has done everything for me.

It has taught me so much. I have been forever impacted by the people I have met, the trials I have overcome, and the life lessons this sport has taught me. It will forever be a piece of my heart and will forever be one of the greatest pieces of my life.

Today I am preparing to enter into my 7th season of competition. I am training this year to compete in the Utah State Championships, the Kalon Ludvigson Invitational (international), and I am hoping to compete in my 4th US National Championships in Louisville, KY.

In conclusion I have discovered that I am still that wide eyed little girl that walked into the gym that one day 10 years ago. I am still in awe with the whole thing and want nothing more that to be a part of the fun. I am still that little girl that dreams of being great someday, and while I may never make it to the podium on the world stage, I now have an even greater dream.

Today I dream of standing on a much bigger podium. I don't dream of standing before thousands, but I dream of standing before my Maker. I dream of meeting my father in heaven and being called worthy of his kingdom. Because in this event medals and standings will not matter to him. What will matter is the love you show, the faith you acted upon, the people you helped, the good deeds you did, and the good you did in the world. I dream of standing before him on this great day being able to say I did all of these things. Today this is my greatest dream.








The dream lives on.



This is not a normal post. This is a   L   O   N   G   post and if you made it through the whole thing I applaud you.



feel my sunlight



p.s. Competition season starts in 26 days!!!

Watch the conductor

Sorry I've been a little bit absent... ops

So I wanted to do a quick post to catch up (and by "quick" I mean I have 13 minutes. I'm typing fast.)

I am going to refer you over to an article about the Lords second coming HERE and I ask you to PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take the time to read it! It is fantastic and I just love it.

So on the topic of the second coming I want you to imagine for a second you are at a concert hall, ballet, or some other performance with an orchestra. I want you to immagine the moment right before the curtains open. What happens?

It starts with a single note and surges into every member of the orchestra tuning in to be led by the conductor.

I imagine this in context with the second coming. Our prophet, Thomas S. Monson made the announcement on October 6th, 2012 that the missionary age requirements would be lowered.

 

A single note.

And we, the world, responded with tuning our selves to play that same note. The number of missionaries out today have grown significantly since that announcement has been made and they continue to grow. Those of us at home have also "caught the wave" of missionary work in sharing our testimonies with those around us.

What is this building up to?

This is building up to the moment when we turn our eyes to the conductor. The "conductor" is our Savior and when he comes again he will lead us in the most magnificent events the world has ever seen. We must always be ready and watching him for when the performance starts.

Be ready, and preform your heart out, for the time of His coming is soon at hand.




Feel my Sunlight



p.s. BOOM! How's that for 13 minutes?!

To Believe

Hey friends! I have had quite the eventful few days (and by eventful I mean PJs and Pinterest and cough drops) I have been home sick with bronchitis and I also discovered I had asthma. whoot! whoot! I got myself an inhaler! I am seriously the coolest kid on the block right now.

While bronchitis isn't fun, it's not bad at all compared to what others in this world have to deal with. All around I feel pretty dang blessed. I've had opportunities that are unimaginable for most people and I've had the support of a lifetime, I have had the chance to meet so many fantastic people, and I have had warm arms around me the entire time. I am so so thankful for these oppurtunities.

While I have been fortunate, and the majority of those around us have been fortunate to have enough, there are those around us who don't. There are those who don't know where there next meal will come or who don't remember the last time they laughed.

In a world full of so much darkness and fear it is often hard to see light at the end of the tunnel. But there IS a light at the end of the tunnel. We just have to keep moving forward. He hears your prayers and someday YOUR peace shall come. Someday we shall live in peace with our Savior, The Prince of Peace.

Now I as that if you only watch one video this week let it be this one, and if your like me, hit replay a few times. It left me dead in my tracks.

 

Ya. I know. I am blown away, but even more, I am proud to say that I believe that this day shall come.

feel my sunlight

p.s. Driving in the snow is a scary thing.

Evil never wins

It's a battle between good and evil but the twist is: evil doesn't win. Evil never wins. If you know the outcome of the battle what side will you choose to stand on?

"The only way     

  good can be 

       in us     

    is if we         

  freely choose it 

   above all else."   

Give like Emilie.







feel my sunlight


p.s.  Here is a virtual tissue to dry your real tears. Let's do something good with the world

his love

Christ, to the world, appeared as nothing special. He came as all do and grew as all do. He was despised of man and men failed to see who he really was and what he did. He carried the pains and trials of the very men who beat him and hung him on the cross. He came as a lamb to the slaughter so that we, his sheep, might live. But still, we reject him. He was the greatest loved by the Father, and the greatest forgotten by the world. He watches us as we go astray and he is forever calling for us to come home. He watches us run, but never, ever stops loving us. His is our savior, our redeemer, our protective brother, a perfect soul. He did everything for us, and he remains the person we know the least. He knows what we are going through. He knows every tear shed, every pain felt, ever wrong done, every guilt faced. He loved you enough to die for you. He loves you still. Go to him and feel his love.

I feel such peace knowing that the one who was perfect beyond measure, took upon the pain of the world so that he might be able to understand the weight of the world. He knows the world, but more importantly, he knows me. He knows my tears and my heartaches. He knows you.


Trials come inevitably. It is our choice to reach out to him.


feel my sunlight


p.s. If you liked this post, read Mosiah 13.
p.s.s. My team mates and coaches are the greatest. I love them all. Shout out to them!

Sunday Afternoon Bountiful Temple Photography Excersion

Bountiful Temple pictures up on the Photography blog! Check them out HERE!

Thankful Christmas season

So I started this post on Thanksgiving and just now realized I have neglected to post it. Whops. So here is a late Thanksgiving post along with a few updates.

First, I'd like to acknowledge the fact that on thanksgiving the status bar on Facebook said "what are you thankful for?" instead of "what's on you mind" like it does today. I think it's awesome.

Second, I must say I'm sorry for not posting regularly like In normally do. I should have no excuse since I've been out of school with nothing but time, but the reality is I'm half way done with my 4th book this week. I think that well explains why there has been a drought when it comes to posts.

So I guess it would be fair to start with catching up on the 5 days of 30 days of Thanksgiving I have missed. haha I have really struggled with this.

day 25
I am thankful for books. Like, a lot.

day 26
I'm thankful for my progression as a writer. I'm by no means a great writer, but looking back at some of my earliest posts I just wonder why anyone ever read my blog back then. Improvement feels good.

day 27
I'm thankful for my little athletes. My kids are the naughtiest stinkers at times but the hugs and smiles always make up for it. There is nothing like one of your students telling you they want to be a tumbling teacher when they grow up; that they want to be "just like you". It's the most fulfilling job and sometimes I wonder how I was so lucky to have it placed in my lap. I love it.

day 28
I'm thankful for missionaries. I love all the emails and Facebook posts I read about my friends that are serving around the world. It makes me so happy to watch the gospel spread. I'm so thankful for all the missionaries in my life who have set such a good example to me in my life.

day 29
I'm thankful for music. I'm thankful for EFY music, I'm thankful for Christmas music, I'm thankful for country music, I'm thankful for movie soundtracks, and most of all I am thankful for the music that can still be called "clean". Clean music is a good thing.

day 30
I'm thankful for EFY counselors. In the words of Peeta "you have no idea the affect you can have." You have no idea how much you have affected my life. Weather it be helping me gain a testimony, helping me strengthen my testimony, or simply being a friend that I can look up to. You have strengthened me and I will always be grateful.


Now, with Thanksgiving over there is a tendency to immediately forget everything you just said you were thankful for and explode into the "I WANT I WANT I WANT" Christmas frenzy.

I find it funny that hours after we say a prayer thanking the Lord for what we have, too many of us find ourselves at stores pushing people over for what we want.

The end of Thanksgiving does not merely mark the start of the Christmas season. It should be a continuation of thanks. Thanksgiving and Christmas should not be two separate holidays, but should be two Holidays that are one in the same. They are both holidays where we thank the Lord for what we have and we give to those around us. They are both holidays to help us become more like Christ.

 

Try to remember that this Christmas season.

On a totally unrelated note, watch this video. I can't even deal.

Feel my Sunlight

p.s. I am very extremely tremendously grateful for my readers of this humble blog. Basically if you have ever read even a single post I love you. For those of you who read and comment regularly I like to refer to you as "the coolest people on this planet." You are seriously the greatest.

May the odds be ever in your favor

{free printable!}

I know I've been absent since "day 17" but I promise I haven't been placed in the witness protection program. The past few days I've been in a book/movie induced comatose state. Thanks to the Hunger Games. Before that I don't know what happened. It's been 8 days since I last blogged, so I guess it would be fair for me to start with a catch up on the 8 days of my 30 days of Thanksgiving that I have missed.

day 18
I am thankful for extended family.

day 19
I am thankful for photoshop

day 20
I am thankful for large fancy cameras and clear photographs

day 21
I am thankful for the prodigious Hunger Games Trillogy

day 22
I am thankful for deep sleep

day 23
I am thankful for thick books with beautiful stories

day 24
I am thankful for missionary work

There. I'm caught up.

During the time my mind has been preoccupied with Hunger Games musing I have managed to pull some gospel related annalogies out of my thoughts. It started with the snare analogy I gave for my devotional in Seminary. (Which, by the way turned out awesome due to the fact that my teacher conveniently had a snare in his office. Also, I had a scripture about shares. Mosiah 23:9 people. I'm like Seminary Katniss) And it has led up to my most reticent installment of a spiritual thought that I gave during BYC today.

The Arena

Today's topic in Young Womens was about "finding solutions to your challenges and problems"

We got into a discussion about how the Lord knows more about what's happening in our lives thank we do and BOOM! Hunger Games sparks of knowledge started to flow thorough me.


We are sent to this earth just as the tributes were sent to the arena. We volunteered. Not for the same reasons, but still, we volunteered even though we knew the trials and hardships we would encounter during our stay.

When we are moving through live in this world all we can see is what's going on now right around us, while in the games the situation is the same; you only know what's going on right around you. You never know what's coming. However, in the games you have an earpiece. This earpiece connects you to the one person that has an areal view of the situation. This is your Mentor. He can see what's coming up around the corner and what the best path for you to take is (this is in reference with the third book when the "games" aren't official "games" and Katniss does actually have an earpiece".) As inhabitants of this world we don't know what's coming around the corner. We sometimes wonder why things happen in our lives and we question things we don't understand, but we have someone that can help.

We have a Lord and Savior that serves as our "mentor" in this game of life. Our "ear piece" is prayer and scripture study. This is how we communicate with our mentor. This is how he communicates with us. However,  there is a choice we have to make. In the situation Katniss is in she has the choice to listen to her mentor, or to rip the ear piece out of her ear. She chooses the later, but we must be aware that choosing the later leads to being confused and lost. So I advise you to "use your ear piece".

Our mentor and our earpiece are what protect you from the one thing that is trying to destroy you. Satan, "The Game Maker". He designed all chaos in the games. He sets stares as traps to catch us when we least expect it. He sends fires to burn and water to flood. His stares spring on us and encircle us in sin in such a way that we can't be freed without the help of our "Mentor". He sends trials and tribulation that leads us to heartache. It also leads us to fight with one another.

This is my last point. In the games the tributes are forced to fight each other. Isn't this what we are doing on the earth right now? There is a statement said to Katniss several times throught the series to "remember who the real enemy is"

Our real enemy isn't each other. It is Satan.

We shouldn't be spending our time dressing up like capitol people trying to be better than one another. We should be spending our time trying to help those around us win our war with Satan.

See, this is the difference between life and the games. In the games there can only be one victor. In life, however, anyone who succeeds in triumph with their fight with Satan may live. The quality of living we will receive after we defeat our own "Hunger Games" far exceeds anything that could be written about in this story. The "Victors Village" we will stay in stands much much taller. We will stay in the "mansion's of our father" {Enos 27} which sound pretty dang fantastic to me. The reward we will receive will far exceed the winnings of food given to the victors, but will extend to receiving "all that the father hath" {D&C 84:38}.

I know that as we fight our games, and as we listen to our Mentor we will be able to overcome the Game Maker. I know that we will be able to one day stand before our God and he will be pleased with what we have done if only we do our very best to be our best now. I know that Christ can help us with whatever we may need help with and I know that through him we can all make it back home.



Feel my sunlight



p.s. My bishop even mentioned something about missionary work "catching fire" today. It's not just me.

never be the same

HEYYY! Sorry about the lack of posts over the last few days. Do you know that feeling where you feel empty. Like someone has just grabbed your squeeze bottle of motivation and emptied it to the point where there is only that miniscule amount of stuff left that is so small that it is never coming out of the bottle? That's how I've felt the last couple of days. There has been enough for me to open blogger several times, but never enough for me to get anything out of my head; therefore, here is my blog post 4 days late.

First I must catch up on the four days of 30 days of Thanksgiving I missed because I was lazy.


day 14
I am thankful for Sunday mornings. Every Sunday I race the sun to see who can get up first. After that I get ready and take a hurried drive over to the seminary building where I pretend to be a missionary and I teach fake investigators about the real gospel. The spirit is always so strong and I just love everything about mission prep. The drive home is always the prettiest drive of my week. I don't know why but this same drive that I take on the way home from school everyday is so much prettier on Sunday mornings. I'm pretty sure it is 50% the spirit felt at mission prep and 40% the lovely church music playing in the car and 10% the weather.

 Sunday morning drive song of the day.

day 15
I am thankful for service. I had this brilliant idea for a service project that my friends and I are going to do instead of buying each other Christmas presents this year. I am super excited about it and I am so glad my friends are just as excited about it as I am. I will share more about the details of our project when we get closer to Christmas.

day 16
I am thankful for my readers! Today I hit 12,000 page views! My readers are incredible. I don't know where this blog would be without you. I promise that I will always keep writing as long as you keep reading! Thank you all so much!

day 17
I am thankful for an incredible ward. I love my Young Women's group, I love our leaders, I love our bishop, and I love everything about going to church with my ward. There is so much love and joy that everyone brings that makes it an enjoyable experience for everyone. In our Young Women's group everybody fits and It is so nice to have a place to know that even though in the world I'm different, I believe different things, I am not popular, and I get mocked for my decisions, I know that there is always a place where I fit and where I have friends, and where I don't have to worry about being the weird one who follows the rules because I am surrounded by great friends that also follow the rules. We have a good time.



feel my sunlight



p.s. I have no Idea what I want for Christmas. Any ideas?

book covers

image source

"Don't judge a book by it's cover, but make sure your cover is clean and tidy shows who you truly are."

Just lettin that phrase soak in a little.

I'm in my CE Digital Media class with nothing to do. I submited my work on Monday so that makes today a blog day!

The blinds are open {and by "blinds are open" I mean the floor to celing glass wall of windows is not covered.} and it's fall outside. I'm totally lovin it.

"Don't judge a book by it's cover, but make sure your cover is clean and tidy and shows who you truly are."

This is my key to associating myself with people.

I'm by no means "popular", I mean, I eat lunch in a low traffic hallway with my two friends for crying out loud, but nevertheless, I get along with people really well.

I have found that everyone has gems inside of them and that everyone has something for you even if they appear to be ordinary rocks. I have found that if you look hard enough you can find connections and ties with anyone and that everyone, no matter who you are, has the same goal: to be loved.

If we realize this our associations with our fellow humans can be so much sweeter. Reach out to others, smile a little more, remember names, ask questions, give hugs, send texts for no reason, remember birthdays, compliment ugly socks, make inside jokes with people you aren't super close to, and those same acts will be ricipricated back to you.

I heard a quote in Seminary yesterday that said

"Being humble is not thinking less of yourself, but less about yourself."

I think we as a society need to spend less time saying to ourselves "I'm not good enough" and more time saying to others "you are good enough." Because lifting others up is the greatest way to get yourself lifted.

This is only the first part. "Don't judge a book by it's cover." Focus on others, celebrate the strengths and happiness of others. Look for the good in people that might go unnoticed. 

The second part is "make sure your cover is clean and tidy and shows who you truly are."

"Making your cover clean and tidy" doesn't come from being the head of the cheer squad, a 4.0, or a spot on the football team. It comes from inside. It comes from how you treat others. It comes from the way you make others feel. It's not about your accomplishments, but your actions.

And how do we do this? By focusing on others.

This is going to be my goal for the rest of the week. What about you?

So I need to catch up on my 30 days of Thanksgiving because I'm a slacker with a busy life.

day 12

I am thankful for the chance I had to hear Hank Smith speak at our morningside on Tuesday. It was incredible and an awesome message. I will share more about it later, but I love how he said "The palest ink is brighter than the brightest memory." I'm kind of a journal writer and I adore this quote. I am also thankful for journal writing.

day 13

I'm thankful for all things EFY. In case you have just joined us, I'm an EFY lover. I am thankful for the people I have met, the experiences I have had, and the things I have felt because of this program. It's really the greatest.

feel my sunlight

p.s. Shout out to Hannah who gave me lotion today just because she knows I like it. I love you girl! You are seriously the coolest greatest most awesomest person ever. Also, I love that we are basically the same person.

My heart is full. Buckets full. {day 10 & 11}

This is going to be short because it's late and I have buckets of homework still to do, but I just couldn't miss today. My heart is so full and I can't even express the joy I feel in my soul right now.

Day 10
My heart is so full of love for those incredible people in my life who have ultimately changed my life. Some of these people have faced the greatest of difficulties, yet never cease to amaze me with their incredible strength. I am so thankful for those amazing people who wrap me in their arms and who make my days brighter. These people include, but are not limited to, those I spend time with at the gym, and those I spend time with in the Laurel class. These two groups that I spend a fair amount of time with have changed me more than they will ever know and I am so so so thankful for the great love and humor they have shown me. I love you guys!

Day 11
Today I am thankful for this news release. I am brought to tears knowing that the Lord is watching out for his people. As stated by the LDS newsroom "The Philippines emergency management agency reports more than 1,700 people are confirmed dead with that number expected to rise. Thousands are missing as search and rescue efforts continue. Nearly 9.7 million people in 41 provinces were affected by the typhoon. More than 23,000 houses were damaged or destroyed. Tens of thousands have been displaced from their homes." And out of all that it is stated that ALL of the missionaries have been confirmed safe and alive.
I am so thankful for the knowledge that I have that the Lord will protect his people. I am thankful for this news and how it has strengthened my testimony that God lives and God is good.



feel my sunlight


p.s. My heart is so full. Buckets full. Also, I get to hear Hank Smith speak tomorrow and I'm just a little bit excited about that. Okay, a lot excited.

day 7, 8, and 9, because I'm a slacker

Currently I am happy. I am liking the place I'm at and I'm excited for the places I am going. I am thankful for the choices I have made to get me where I am now.

Here is day 7, 8, and 9, because I'm a slacker.

Day 7
I'm thankful for my sport. I'm thankful for the lessons it has taught me and the opportunities I have been given through being a part of this power tumbling community. I have been able to go to some incredible places and meet some incredible people. I may not {lets get real. I will never} make it to the elite level, but I sure have learned some elite lessons. Power tumbling has taught me lessons on work, lessons on failure, lessons on success, lessons about the gospel {didn't see that one coming did you?!}, lessons about pain, lessons about joy, lessons about sportsmanship, lessons about friendship, lessons about being an example, and ultimately, lessons about life. I love my sport and hope to always keep at least one foot in the gym even though my competitive career will eventually  come to an end even though it is coming much sooner than I'd like it. It has been a vast part of my life and I am so grateful for the chance I have had to have this rare opportunity.

Day 8
I'm thankful for sunshine. So much that I included it in the title of my blog. I also love citrus fruit and I fully believe that sunshine and citrus fruit go together. They bring me joy,

Day 9
I'm thankful for the word "PREP" even though "prep" always equals no sleeping in. Ever. Saturday mornings bring the great and wonderful thing called "ACT Prep". No, I don't enjoy waking up early to spend 4 hours doing school on my Saturday, but am sure going to be thankful when the ACT comes around in a month. Sundays on the other hand, bring a much more enjoyable "prep" called "Mission Prep". It is the greatest thing ever. I love my companion {she just got home from Moscow and I think she is the coolest ever} and I love the feelings felt there. The days that I go to Mission Prep are always filled with so much joy. Mission Prep is right up there with Temple Tuesday. It's so good.

thankful month day 6. Also, free printables just for fun!

Today I am thankful for heroes.

When I say heroes I don't mean those ones drawn up by Marvel that wear capes and tights.

I mean those heroes who risk their lives to protect mine.

I'm thankful for policemen. I'm thankful for those fighting for our country. I'm thankful for fire fighters. I'm thankful for security guards. I'm thankful for random citizens who go out of their way to do good.

I'm thankful that I can go to school every morning and not worry about making it home safely.


Now, on a totally unrelated note. Here are a few free random printables just because. Feel free use them!

feel my sunlight


p.s. Should the printables continue? I think yes.

thankful for today {30 days of thanksgiving day 5}

Today I am "thankful for this day"


This is something we hear often on our prayers


"dear Heavenly Father, I'm thankful for this day. I'm thankful that...."


But do we ever actually think about what part of "this day" we are thankful for?


Today I am thankful...


*That it was temple Tuesday!

*That I got to help a lady in my ward get the baptisms for her family names done.

*That I was able to make it to the temple and back without running out of gas. {I almost didn't}

*That I didn't die on the freeway in the snow.

*That my awesome chauffeur Lauren bought me hot chocolate because again, she is awesome.

*That I didn't have to run outside during gym because of the snow.

*That when I got back to the locker room my hot chocolate was still warm {and still hidden in the locker}.

*That during history I convinced "boy" to give me my seat back.

*That during history I discovered that we had an extra day to do our homework which I didn't do.

*That during ASL we didn't have to do our presentation.

*That during ASL we raised $130 on the first day of our Christmas fundraiser.

*That because we raised $130 we don't have to do our presentations at all!

*That it was a Photoshopping day in CE Digital Media.

*That my children that I teach {who are usually naughty} were angels today. ANGELS! Also, they were adorable today and that's always fun.

*That work was fun.

*That I am home now.



Ahhh it was a very good day.



feel my sunlight



p.s. Everyone should watch this talk HERE. It my be old, but it is oh so good. The world needs this reminder right now

30 days of Thanksgiving day 3 & 4

I only have 9 minutes to write this blog post so its going to be short. Sorry about that.

So I skipped day 3 of 30 days of Thanksgiving yesterday so this post is going to be day 3 AND day 4. I know, your world just got crazy.

Day 3: I'm so thankful for my FAMILY!!! My family is the best in the west. (and in the east, and in the north, and in the south. We pretty much trump all.) My family is so fun and I couldn't ask for a better one. (I'm a poet and I didn't even know it!) Anyways, I love my family and the fun times we share together. I love Sunday nights with the extended family more than anything. I am thankful that I was born into a family that lives and loves the gospel and that wants the best for me. I love you family!

Day 4: For day 4 am an thankful for my 2nd family. My 2nd family consists of those I call "teammate" or "coach", "co-worker", or "boss". My gym family consists of my very best friends, and my very best teachers. I am thankful for all that my team has taught me and for all they have supported me in. I am thankful for the examples that many of them have set for me in the actions they have taken in their lives. I am thankful for all those who have been on my team in the past, or who are on it now. You are all still family in my eyes and I couldn't thank you enough for being "family" to me. I am thankful that I am able to say I love going to work every day. I love my gym family!



feel my sunlight

p.s. Mission Prep is the greatest. Don't you agree?

pretending I'm a DIY blogger

Today I'm going to do something crazy (sorta) I'm going to pretend to be a DIY blogger for a day.

See, I've been wanting a scripture cover for months due to the fact that my scriptures are looking just a little too loved, and by too loved I mean the binding is being held on by bobby pins, they don't close all the way, and my pages look like a package of highlighters exploded. But that's exactly how I like it. They just needed a little more protection.

The only problem is the ones on etsy are just too dang expensive for my mission saving self so we went the alternative option. Pinterest.

I was thinking "Oh! I'll make an awesome scripture cover and do a tutorial on my blog! And then I found this tutorial by delia cretes... and it's really good. I ended up using her tutorial almost exactly so I am just going to link to her blog and skip the whole tutorial thing.

delia creates tutorial

Aaaaand.... my creation.

As a few of you know I am doing 30 days of Thanksgiving with my friend Hannah from The Perks of Being Happy. My day one just so happens to be a guest post on sprinklesonmyicecream.blogspot.com and you can read that post HERE.

So this is day two and I'm thankful for... can you guess it?... THE SCRIPTURES!

We as the Mormon Church "believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. {Article of Faith 8}

The Book of Mormon is not meant to replace the Bible, but it stands as "Another Testament of Jesus Christ" It tells of Christ's dealings with the people in the Americas. It contains the fullness of the gospel and it tells men what they must do in order to gain eternal live and achieve eternal life.





I have a personal testimony of the Book of Mormon. I know know of its truthfulness and I have felt it's power in my life. I encourage everyone to see what it's all about.

Read more about the Book of Mormon HERE.
Request a FREE copy of the Book of Mormon HERE.



feel my sunlight


p.s. My family just told me I have blogosaurus. Whatever that means. I think it is supposed to be some kind of disease, but it sounds like some kind of dinosaur to me. Either way, I like it.
p.s.s. Notice how my scripture case matches my blog. coincidence? You decide.

Blogswap! Work is sweet

Hey guys! Today I'm going to something awesome and let the Lovely Sarah from sprinklesonmyicecream.blogspot.com take over my blog! She is a FANTASTIC writer and I love her blog. Today I am also taking over her blog as well so as soon as you read this post hop on over to her blog and read my guest post. {This post marks day one of 30 days of thanksgiving so check it out!}

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Hey guys! Whitney and I are doing a blog swap today! My name is Sarah. I am a Mormon teen, lover of ice cream, blogger, avid photographer, and really slow runner. [I included running in this list so I would sound cool and buff, but I wouldn't be being honest unless I also added that I run slower than a gold fish. And yes, I'm aware gold fish don't run. This goes to further illustrate my point. ;) ] 

Image Source

But I have an even greater love than reading, photoshopping, playing the piano, and eating ice cream out of the carton with a spoon. The gospel of Jesus Christ is my rock and my strength. Speaking of which, let's stop talking about me and talk about Him instead, shall we? ;)

Have you ever heard the song, Sweet is the Work? Since my website is "a blog about the sweet things in life", I like to think that I'm a pretty good judge of things that are sweet [especially ice cream. Delicious!]. But do you want to know a secret? Whenever I hear the word "work", I don't usually think about sweet things. In fact, my first instinct is usually to cringe and make a face like this:

Image Source

Do you feel my pain? 

I think that all too often we associate work with bitter brussel sprouts instead of the wonderful, luscious, decadent candy that it truly is.

The other day, my seminary class was reading from 2 Nephi 5. In this chapter, Nephi explains how he has just separated the righteous part of his family from the Lamanites. I'm sure you remember how different the Nephites and Lamanites are from each other at the beginning of the Book of Mormon. The Nephites were righteous followers of Christ while the Lamanites, well....weren't. 

Eventually, it became imperative that Nephi separate his family from them so that his children would be able to grow up in a righteous environment. 

I'm sure you remember how many times the Lamanites were reminded that they should repent or they would be punished. [I wonder if Heavenly Father kind of felt like my Mom when she asks me to clean my room. "Sarah, I've told you a million times...get your laundry off the floor!" Does that sound familiar to you, too?]

So, after the Nephites left, it was time for Heavenly Father to fulfill His prophecy that the Lamanites would be "cut off from His presence" if they didn't shape up. They never shaped up, so they got cut off like my hair at the beauty parlor. [I know that might not sound very dramatic, but you should have seen my last haircut. I asked for 1/4 inch off and came back with 2 inches less hair. It was pretty intense.]

I find it really interesting that one of the first things Nephi notes in this account is the difference between the Nephites and Lamanite's work ethics.

In verse 24, Nephi says this of the Lamanites:

And because of their cursing which was upon them they did become an idle people....

Now, here's what the Nephites were up to while the Lamanites twiddled their thumbs:

We did observe to keep the judgments, and the statutes, and the commandments of the Lord in all things, according to the law of Moses. (Verse 10)

 And the Lord was with us; and we did prosper exceedingly; for we did sow seed, and we did reap again in abundance. 

And we began to raise flocks, and herds, and animals of every kind (Verse 11)

And I did teach my people to build buildings, and to work in all manner of wood, and of iron, and of copper, and of brass, and of steel, and of gold, and of silver, and of precious ores, which were in great abundance. (Verse 15)

And I, Nephi, did build a temple. (Verse 16)

 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did cause my people to be industrious, and to labor with their hands. (Verse 17)

How many times did Nephi mention forms of work in there? I'm no math expert, but I counted ten different examples in just these four verses. That is a lot of labor! 

Now, here is the killer point I've been getting at. [Sorry it took so long!]

Which group do you think was the most happy? The TV-vegging Lamanites [just kidding!] or the industrious Nephites?

Upon first impression, it might seem like the Lamanites were the most joyful. I mean after all, who likes doing chores, anyway? But guess again, my friends.

The Nephites are actually the ones who got the better end of the deal. While the Lamanites became a "loathsome" people (verse 22), it is said that the Nephites "lived after the manner of happiness" (verse 27). 

I don't know about you, but living after the manner of happiness sounds pretty awesome to me. 

It might seem like a catch-22, but even though work is hard and unenjoyable at times, it truly does open the doors to a whole flood of wonderful blessings. Says Elder D. Todd Christofferson:

I have found these words to be so true in my life. Work truly is a grand blessing-- not a horrible curse. Just like the people of Nephi, we can "live in the manner of happiness" as we are diligent in our labors. 

As the beloved hymn says, work truly is Sweet. [Sweeter than sugar and ice cream, I might add!]

May we all willingly partake of it's deliciousness,

♥ Sarah

sprinklesonmyicecream.blogspot.com