Belated thanks

eh isn't being sick the greatest thing?! *Sarcasm intended*

It looks like I'm overdue for a Thanksgiving post so I guess we'll pound one out right now!

Despite the fact that half of my family is sick with the stomach flu, I am still in awe at how many incredible things I have in my life to be thankful for! Upon reflection I've realized that my very favorite things in life are the people that surround me, so here is a non-inclusive list of a few of my favorites.

My family!
I love my family so much! It's on a regular basis that you can find me on all fours and crying because I am laughing so hard because of my family. There is never a dull moment when it comes to Reid family time. I am so thankful that I have such a good relationship with both my parents, as well as with all my siblings. I know so many people who have family feuds with members of their family, but I am so blessed to live in a family where love is spoken and where small arguments remain small. My sister and I are asked all the time if we ever get in fights. The answer is that our fights are seldom and far apart. I can honestly say that the members of my family are my very best friends. I'm thankful for a sister that shares sibling telepathy with me and who is capable of making painful situations bearable, and enjoyable situations even greater. I'm thankful for a little brother who will go to every extent to make me laugh and who finds joy in hanging out with his big sister. I'm thankful for a little sister who is my very best friend and who tells me her secrets and follows me around at the gym. I'm so glad I get to keep them for eternity!

I am also so thankful for my awesome extended families. I have defiantly been blessed with the best when it comes to grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. I am blessed to see some of them on a weekly basis, and others the reunions are more rare, but I love them all the same. I'm thankful for crazy uncles that provided the most painful tickle attacks as a kid, and who never cease to make me laugh. I'm thankful for the little cousins that greet me with running hugs, and for the older ones that always make me laugh. I'm thankful for grandparents that read all my posts, and who provide never ending love. Again, I'm so glad I get to keep them for eternity.

Seminary Council!
It is almost on a daily basis that I have to refrain from talking about how much I love them because I don't want other people to feel jealous. I am going to put that worry aside for a second because I need to express just how much I enjoy this wonderful group of people. I cannot express it in words how much I enjoy being on seminary council with these people. The members of this council have some of the strongest testimonies I have ever heard. I always look forward to our lunch meetings and they never last long enough. I wonder everyday how I was blessed to be able to work with such incredible people. Each of them have touched my life in ways they will never know. They have taught me so much and they have truly changed my life for the better. I don't have any idea how I am going to say goodbye to them at the end of the year... but we won't talk about that because it will make me cry. Let's just say this song represents my feelings about seminary council and that I cry every time I hear it because it reminds me that I have to say goodbye to them at the end of the year. I love you guys!



EFY!
This includes new friends and counselors alike. I first realized I had a testimony at my first EFY as a fourteen year old. My counselor, Kjarinda, challenged us to pray for ourselves to know if the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints was true, and oh-boy! The prayer I said that night altered the entire course of the rest of my life more than any other single experience ever has. My testimony has grown so much since then, but I will forever be grateful for Kjarinda's righteous example in my life. EFY has also brought me many many other "blessings". I have been blessed with, in my opinion, the very best counselors and friends. I am thankful that I have been able to attend five different sessions since I was fourteen and that one of those was a trip to Palmyra, New York where I was able to visit the sights and places where the Church was first restored.

My gym!
I started tumbling when I was seven, but I have been with my gym since I was a timid eleven year old. In the early years we tumbled in a match-box sized room with only a few mats and a very small trampoline. I was blessed to be on my gym's very first competition team that consisted of only fourteen competitors. We have grown so much since then. Tumbling on the team has allowed me to travel to places I would never have been, and to meet and become friends with some of the most incredible and influential names in the sport as well as in my life. I remained on the competition team up until August of this year when I traded my spot on the team, for a spot as a competition coach. I am so thankful for my boss/coach, Jill, who has become my second mother in the sense that she watched me grow up. I am thankful she hired me to start assistant teaching classes when I was thirteen, and for providing me with the very best job for the last five years. I have been able to teach hundreds of children in that time and I have been touched so much by each child that has ever called me "teacher". I'm thankful for all the teammates I have had since I was eleven. I love you all so stinkin much. I also need to give a huge thanks to all my coaches that have touched my life. Thank you thank you thank you Steph for going beyond your job as my coach and for becoming one of my very best friends and mentors. I always know I can trust you to help me with anything. You always give the best advice when it comes to tumbling or life. And thank you to Nicole, Riane, Jake, Ashley, and Lance for everything you have ever done for me. And thank you to Justen and Sandy for being my "coaches from another team". I don't have any idea what my life would be like if I had never walked into that little gym when I was eleven, but I do know it has blessed my life for the better.

I have SO MANY other people in my life that I want to thank including the Daniels, school friends, teachers, church friends, and blog friends, and the random kid down the street that eats nothing but saltines and mayo. (that's a Psych reference, in case you were wondering) but unfortunately, this whole "stomach flu" thing is making me tired. I want you all to know how much I love and appreciate your presence in my life. I wouldn't be who I am today if it weren't for the people I have associated with for the last eighteenth years. Thank you for everything.


feel my sunlight


p.s. Well, now that I've finally caught up on Thanksgiving... BRING IT ON CHRISTMAS!

My trip to New York #EFY2014Palmyra

Whoa! Hi guys!

Today while coaching tumbling to my class of 2-4 year olds I asked the class to pretend to be an animal, and then I proceed to ask each child which animal they wanted to be. When I reached one of my small blond students I said, enthusiastically, "WHAT ANIMAL DO YOU WANT TO BE?" And she replied with: "A CUPCAKE!"

Any argument that your job is better than mine is invalid.

So, how are you my people? I hope you're doing swell. I sure am, which might explain my lack of posts, but I promise I have good reason!

I spent last week in the beautiful Palmyra, New York.

I mean, is this not the most gorgeous place you have ever seen?!? I fell in love instantly.

So like you may know if you read any of my recent posts, I was there attending a special edition session of EFY. For those of you who don't know, EFY stands for Especially For Youth, and it is a week of non-stop spiritual stuff, line dances, and pure awesomeness. This may or may have not been my 5th time going to EFY. I love it a lot.

Like I said, this was a special edition of EFY which means that instead of a normal session like the ones in Provo, we were able to travel to the various church history sights in and around Palmyra, which as you might know, was where The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints (AKA "LDS," or "Mormons") began.

Growing up in the church we hear about these places all the time, but being able to go there and experience these places for myself was awe-inspiring, and I loved every second of it.

So, I'll spare you the details about what time I brushed my teeth, and what I ate for each meal (although, I must say that if you are ever in charge of providing food for anything, you should avoid meatloaf...) But I do want to share with you the more exciting parts, the amazing places I went, and things that were note-worthy of my journal. I apologize for the length of this post. It was an entire week of almost non-stop amazing experiences, and I filled 101 pages of my journal during this week alone. I did the very best I could at condensing it, but it is all so good! If you want a quicker read, I suggest you at least read all the italicized parts. Those are the very best!




Saturday July 26th- Raegan and I flew out from Salt Lake City to Rochester, NY all by ourselves. It was at this moment when we became pro-airport people. It's a thing.




Sunday July 27th- Raeg and I went to Church in the morning at the chapel right behind the hotel. It was great how welcoming the ward was and just how many people went out of there way to say hi to us. We met several other people who were there for EFY and between all the visitors we at least tripled the size of their Young Womens group. It was awesome.

After church we took a walk to see the temple and the Sacred Grove, and then hung out with other people as they arrived for EFY.




Monday July 28th- The official start of EFY! This day consisted of the ever exciting orientational stuff. Getting to know your counselors and everyone in the group, hearing from our session directors, a fire drill, and some some great spiritual discussion right outside the Sacred Grove with our company.




Tuesday July 29th- After a breakfast of blueberry muffins and peaches, My company headed to Fayette to visit the Whitmer Farm. If I could pick a favorite place we went, this would be it. We were there in the morning and this is what I wrote in my journal as we sat outside taking in the beauty of the farm.

"We are currently at the Whitmer Farm which is one of the most beautiful pieces of land I have ever seen. This was where the church was re-organized and there is no doubt in my mind that this farm wasn't hand selected. While sitting here I can feel the love of my Savior so strongly. I am at peace from the silent atmosphere and the gorgeous chirping birds. I can't help but think that it would have looked exactly like this back on April Sixth of 1830 when the church was restored. This is sacred ground we stand on. Just like those who were here in 1830, I express my desire and determination to act in accordance to the commandments of God. I am determined to find more heavens on earth like this beautiful farm, and in places where there are no heavens, I am determined to create them. This is what Heaven feels like."

After our time on the farm we went to visit the Hill Cumorah which is the place where Joseph Smith was guided to to find the Gold plates, which he translated and are now what we call The Book of Mormon. Here is my journal entry about this place.

"This is a surreal experience for me. I'm sitting atop the Hill onlooking a gorgeous view that stretches for miles. This was the very place on earth where Moroni sealed his testimony by burring the plates. He gave up his live so that I might be able to know the truth. It is also the very hill where Joseph was when he received the plates. He also gave up his life so that I might know the truth. I am forever grateful for these men, along with my Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave up their lives for me, so that I might know the truth."

After the Hill Cumorah we went to Musical Program Practice, Dinner and then one of the most rockin dances I have ever been to.




Wednesday July 30th- After breakfast we headed to the Sacred Grove and Smith Farm House. While sitting in the Sacred Grove I pondered this statement;

"God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph Smith in this Grove."

I then wrote the following;

"I need to think about this statement a little more. Either it's true, or it isn't....While sitting in the grove I ponder these words. I sometimes feel that I need to see for myself that it is true, but I don't need to because I can see the evidence. I've never seen my own face. I've seen the reflection, and I've touched it, and I know that others have seen it, but I've never seen it myself, likewise is my testimony of the Gospel. I haven't seen angels or heard voices, but I have seen the reflection of the truth in the way the sun comes up in the morning, I've been touched by the Holy Ghost, and I know that others have seen physical evidence. So no, I've never seen God, or heard a voice, but still, I know that this church is true, and that Joseph Smith really did see God the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ here. Because, like Emma Smith said, there are some things more certain than sight."


After the Sacred Grove we visited Alvin Smith's Grave, and then we toured the Grandian Building, which was the shop in which the Book of Mormon was first published.

After that we headed to the Palmyra Temple. Here is my journal entry.

"We are at the Palmyra temple and we just did baptisms and are in the waiting room waiting for the boys. This is a special experience because it is the only temple that had it authorized by the prophet to have a clear glass window. The window looking out shows a view of the Sacred Grove. It is significant because the Sacred Grove was the place where it all began, and the temple is why we are all here. From this window everything looks lush and healthy and it looks like how I imagine Heaven, beautiful and full of life. After we did baptisms we went outside to take pictures and as it started to rain we were blessed with the gorgeous view of a stormy sky, with a lit-up gold Moroni in the foreground. It was magnificent beyond description and I feel like with each of these magnificent experiences I reach closer to heaven and the thunder we can hear from inside the temple just confirms it."

After the temple we had dinner, made up a cheer, had games night and Cheer-Off, followed by Pizza Night, and Reflect and Review in bathroom at the Hill Cumorah due to the pouring rain. One of the most memorable R&Rs by far!




Thursday July 31st- We started off with breakfast and then time in the Sacred grove as a company. After that we had an activity with just the girls that was splendid. After Lunch we had the EFY Game Show and a Musical Program Dress Rehearsal. And After Dinner I performed in Musical Program, which I had a speaking part in by the way, and that was followed by a Fireside, and Testimony meeting. During testimony meeting I wrote these words:

"I've never heard silence quite this loud. This is hollowed ground. This will always be a special place to me personally. We are here because we have Lives to Brighten, Hearts to Touch, And Souls to save, That we may all sit down together in Heaven. I'm walking on Sunshine"

After testimony meeting we had R&R on temple grounds and it was wonderful.



Friday August 1st- We started off the day at the Sacred Grove and then went to breakfast. We had a morningside, and company pictures, we then went to a Panel Discussion that was very good. After Lunch we went to the Variety show, and after free time and dinner we went to a second awesome dance. After the slide show and Taking it home we had R&R at the church.




Saturday August 2nd- We woke up and packed our bags. Said goodbye and headed to the airport. We flew back to Salt Lake with several of the other youth in our group, as well as most of the counselors including both of ours. In fact, we even sat in front of  my counselor Kourtney! It was fun and after we got back to SLC we said our real goodbyes and headed to Texas Road House for Dinner with my family and Raegan's family where I proceeded to almost fall asleep due to the wonderful exhausting week I had just been through.





So, in all I'd have to say that it was a successful trip. I got to know some incredible people including my wonderful counselors Kourtney and Brady! They were so much fun to be around and I couldn't think of two better people I'd rather have spent this week with. I'm so grateful I had this opportunity to go and that I made the effort to pay for most of it myself because it made it that much more special. Thank you to everyone who made this week so great! I will forever cherish it!





feel my sunlight




p.s. I promise a picture post soon!!! :)

Gratitude for notebooks & gold pennies

Hey hey hey my friend.

I haven't blogged in 13 days.

That's a problem.

But on the positive side I now have this brand spankin' new, up and running portfolio site. 

Scroll through it all you want right here.

 It has been a day of gratitude.

Gratitude for the up and coming hot portion of the year.

Gratitude for the fact that it's Friday.

Gratitude that all my grades are higher than they were last week.

Gratitude for some awesome new young women leaders.

Gratitude for amazing friends.

Gratitude that I get to attend EFY in Palmyra, New York this summer.

Gratitude that I live in a place where I can take seminary with a room filled with righteous youth during school hours.

Gratitude for the fact that I only have to go to each class one more time.

Gratitude that when school ends seminary won't have to thanks to summer seminary.

Gratitude for the amazing opportunities I have been given to serve others.

Gratitude for the progress I have made in my life

Gratitude for all the progress I have yet to make in my life.

It's been a grandiose day filled with Hawaiian music from the Soul Surfer movie soundtrack, chemically changing pennies with zinc to make them gold and silver, and buying lovely new notebooks. Oh how I love a trip to the local Wally World to pick out new journals. I can't wait to destroy them with thoughts of love and spiritual things. I'm obsessed.

Life is good my friends. Life is magnificently splendid.

feel my sunlight

p.s. This time next year I'll have a mission call. Just think about that for a second and try not to panic or get too excited. I personally can't wait.

p.s.s. Have I ever told you how much I love the movie Soul Surfer? Its my all time favorite ever. I would watch it every day if I had the time.

It's a good day

So many great things are happening right now and I can't even contain myself. The world is so so good.

#TBT to this exact same weekend exactly a year ago. #KLI13 #KLI14

So, last Saturday I wrote this blog post containing a few words about the one and only Kalon Ludvigson. Justen and Kalon both saw it and read it and Justen was awesome enough to share an excerpt from it on his facebook page.

As you can see it has received quite a bit of attention. 234 "likes" to be exact. I stand by everything I said and I would like to restate the we all love you Kalon! I would also like to respond to one comment in particular.

Kalon, you are seriously the coolest. I cannot wait to see you and I cannot wait to compete tomorrow. And I hope you always know that we are all behind you and we are all proud of you. Thank you thank you thank you to everyone who liked my words and to Justen for sharing them, but I must add this; everything I said was only the words that everybody else was thinking. Like I said, I am so excited for this incredible opportunity to compete tomorrow.


I don't have a ton of time today so I am going to refer you over HERE for some joy through the form of music notes. BONUS! It is all clean and also 100% AoF13 worthy (13th article of faith).

Sorry for the short post today, I will keep you updated on the competition this weekend! Thanks to all who have supported me. You all rock my socks!



feel my sunlight



p.s. I want to make this place more interactive. I want to know my readers. Shoot me a comment, Refer me to your blog, share your favorite scripture, tell me what color your toothbrush is. Let's be friends! :)

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?

Pray for Kalon

Any of you remember the time I posted about that international competition in SLC that I competed at while I had a sprained ankle? AKA The Kalon Ludvigson Invitational. Or any of the other times I posted about Kalon and how awesome he is? Well this post about Kalon is a different post. It is a post to tell Kalon how much we love and appreciate him and it is a call for prayers from each of you.

For those of you who don't know who Kalon is, Kalon Ludvigson is the USA's most decorated tumbling athlete since being included in the FIG programme. He holds 20 World Cup and World Championships Medals as well as setting the World Record for Difficulty in 2008 and 2011.

Kalon was born in Sterling, Utah where he found gymnastics at the age of 8. He was a recreational athlete practicing 2 times a week until he decided to focus on his training at age 15 and seriously pursue elite level competition. Kalon became the youngest senior elite tumbling national team member at the age of 16, and won his first U.S. Senior National Tumbling Title in 2006 and hasn't lost a U.S. Competition since. (Kalon's biography on facebook)

I have known Kalon for the majority of my tumbling life. He and his coach, Justen, have done many camps and clinics that I have been to and they have been a huge help to me with my tumbling. They have both taught me so much and I always love seeing them, talking to them, and learning from them when they are around. I have been privileged to get to see Kalon tumble every month when I am at meets and I love being able to say "I know him". 

This last week something shocking happened. Here are the posts and statements in order by both Justen, and USA Gymnastics.

It has been an eye opening week. Many prayers have been said in behalf of Kalon and Justen and I just wanted to say thank you to them for being so good to me and my team over the years. I will never forget the February meet when I hit a pretty good pass and got a Justen hug right after, or the time Kalon signed our credentials at nationals. I love and support you both and am so thankful to have been able to have you in my tumbling life.

I just want you to know that Flipside is praying for you. And to all of you out there reading this Flipside is starting a Kalon Fund to help you them medical costs. If any of you would like to donate to this either contact me, or donate directly to Kalon HERE!! Anything helps.

Kalon we are praying for you. Stay strong my friend and get better fast! You are always going to be an inspiration to many. We love you!

 

Feel my Sunlight



p.s. Um Sundays rock my socks.

greater things

Once again my heart is filled. I just got back from a weekend of fun in the mountains. I got to go on 4th year hike as a YCL and it was very rewarding. I had a blast with my 3 4th years and was asked lots of questions about high school. Girls I'm pretty sure you are going to rock the high school.

This summer has been one fantastic thing after another and you can't help but be filled when the spirit is so strong and so constant in your life. I discovered many things this summer that mean so much to me. Some of them tangible, and some of them little gems of knowledge, or love, or memories, or laughter, or music notes. All of them have made me greater and helped me live in a higher manner. I hope that as this summer comes to an end, and the dreaded school year begins, that I will be able to take these things with me to help me continue to live in a manner that my father in heaven would be proud of.

One of these wonderful things is journal writing. I just filled my large grey journal and I just love it. I also have discovered how much I love hand written notes. There is just something special about them that brings people together into a tighter bond of friendship. Another thing I will always cherish is the people I have met this summer. I have met so many wonderful people who have blessed and changed my life and ultimately made me a better person. I have also discovered a deep love for the temple and have found great peace in attending as often as I can. I cherish the wonderful things given to me by the wonderful people I have spent time with this summer from the notes, to my lucky turtle it will always be loved and I just want to say thank you. All of these things have brought me the greatest thing I have. This is a stronger testimony of my Savior Jesus Christ. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints is the only church with a complete fullness of the gospel. I know that through him I can do anything and through him I can be made whole. I know that even when you're broken you are loved.

Feel my Sunlight

p.s. SHOUT OUT TO MAMMA SHELL BELL!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!

p.s.s. People are so great.

p.s.s.s. If you belong to the group classified as "young women" READ THIS!!

soap and lifesavers

The cutest group of girls that you ever did see.

Well, I am done with EFY for this year and let me tell you it has been fantastic! Now, I won't say it has been the best two weeks of my life because I was told that I should make the week after EFY even better. That is a hard challenge because EFY pretty much rocks, but I accept it.

Now, I won't give you a layout to what happened each day this week because that's not the message I want to share, but I will share with you what I feel upon coming home. I have met so many awesome people this year who have changed my life for the better. I feel blessed, I feel loved, I fill lifted, I feel cleaner, and I feel stronger.
I feel cleaner and more refined in this world of dirt and I feel a need to hand out my "soap" to the world and invite others to use it. These scriptures have been my soap from this week. Learn and love them. {And Amberleigh, that soap analogy was for you. *lifesaver!*}

Today I found a reminder that I need to be careful. Today I discovered that our new search engine on our laptop is called "babylon" Now, this reminded me that while there can be good found on the internet, there is enough bad to equal Babylon and that we must be careful if we don't want our language {or our internet} confounded. I laughed at this, but marveled at its truth. I have already seen the powerful workings of the adversary on Pinterest today and can see that if we aren't paying attention and watching ourselves, how quickly he could pull us down.  {*lifesaver* to the internet for that analogy!}

But I have also seen good in the world today. I discovered that the first presidency and the quorum of the 12 now have Facebook pages and I liked every one of them. If you are my friend on Facebook expect some scripture love to flood your feed. Today I used the internet to read a blog post about Lemons that I just loved, and I have also used the internet to watch the Emma Smith movie via Netflix and totally recommend you all go watch it! This just goes to show that there is opposition in all things, and that it is our decision on how we want to use it. Choose wisely.

Now my lovely neighbor just brought us cookies with chocolate chips AND m&m's in them for no particular reason. What a "zion like" thing to do. I don't know about you but that makes me want to go do something good. What are you going to do?



Feel my Sunlight



p.s. EFY, Nationals, Trek, EFY, 4th year hike, girls camp, tumbling camp. Can summer get better? I submit that it cannot.

p.s.s. There are more EFY pictures to come later. :)

p.s.s.s. Just so you know, the term "lifesaver* refers to the fact that every time you came up with an analogy for the gospel at EFY our lovely counselor Amberleigh would throw you a lifesaver. Analogies = Lifesavers

Do not dwell

Stolen from the Mormon Channel... I like it.

I know I have written about tumbling quite a bit as of late, but I promise I will try to make it something you can relate with today. At least I will try.

Since my defeat at nationals (and no, I'm not saying I was defeated in the sense that I did terrible and I feel like a failure, I was defeated in the sense that I knew I was better than what my performance showed.) I have gotten a new perspective on things. See, when I first saw my ranking among the best athletes in the nation I was quite disappointed. I was mad at the judges, I was jealous of those select few with the opportunity to stand atop the podium and receive huge shiny medals, I was angry with the girls that I believed should have scored lower than I did, but most of all I was angry with myself. I was fuming on the inside and began to deteriorate and downgrade myself with thoughts about giving up because I might not be the golden girl, and thoughts that I might not ever be good enough. I was destroying my confidence and soon realized that it had to stop. In my anger I decided to put on a happy face and follow the advice from Shawn to enjoy the rest of the trip. I put on a smile and decided that it wouldn't make any sense to let this ruin my trip so I didn't let it and I must say It became one of the most fun trips I have ever been on.
When I got home I had a moment of defeat, but I soon had to make a decision. I could either cry and whine about it, or I could turn my defeat into hard work and my hard work into success. I realized that the attitude I bring to the table will be the most important ingredient in my final product and that if I wanted to make something of myself I had to start now. I knew I had the support from many of those around me and that no matter what I was a daughter of God and that if I made the right decisions I would be okay.
I made the decision then and there that I would punch this with everything I had. I made a vow that I would listen to my coaches and do my everything to accomplish what they tell me to do. No matter how terrified I might be. I made the decision that I would train harder than I ever had before.
I have had two days of training since I have made this decision. I have improved my attitude and my effort to listen to my coaches. I have put on tramp shoes once again and called out for help. I even got up early this morning to run with my brother. The results have been great and it has only been two days. The support I have received from Steph and Kodee have helped me regain my confidence and their support helps me push myself to my limits every time I punch off that mat. I love you two and am so thankful for you help! please don't stop what you are doing. You guys rock.

Now I share this with you mostly because it all that has run through my mind over the last few days, but I also share it for another reason. I share this with you as a proof that your attitude determines your outcome. You can make an excuse for everything. There is always going to be something that hurts or something that doesn't feel right, but if you give in to those excuses you will never become what you want to become. Some people have it handed to them with raw talent and never have to work hard, Some people just have the ability to do what the judges what to see. I on the other hand, don't have that raw talent, but I do have a determined attitude. I heard a quote a long time ago that said...

"Hard work        

       beats talent      

      when talent doesn't            

work hard."

I intend to be that hard work. What are you going to work hard at?

Feel my Sunlight

p.s. Today Kodee and I legitly convinced one of our girls that Kodee's real name is Friday. I didn't think she really believed us but at the end of class she came up to me and said "Friday said I could have three treats." I almost died.

I'M HOME! {from the 2013 US Power Tumbling National Championships in Kansas City, Missouri}

I have spent the last week in Kansas City, Missouri as an athlete competing in the 2013 US Power Tumbling National Championships. This was my third national championships, and while I can't say the results of the competition where what I was hoping for, it was magnificent none the less.

Tuesday~ July 2nd

I started off the week getting on to an airplane with nobody except my lovely team mate Teri. First time flying alone without parents for both of us so that was kinda fun and I'm sure our parents were freaking out the whole time. But have no fear, we made it to and from Kansas City and we are now professional flyers. We spent the rest of the day doing things like this...

Wednesday~July 3rd

We headed to our training session early in the morning and lets just say that didn't go so well. After our warm up session we decided to spend the day in the midst of church history. This was one of the very best parts about having Nationals in Missouri. I myself, being that odd Mormon girl that I am, absolutely love things that have to do with all things churchy so this was fun. We went to visit Liberty Jail (where the  prophet Joseph Smith was held for about 4 months. This was were he received the revalations that are now D&C 121,122,123), Adam-Ondi-Ahmen (the third temple commenced but never constructed. It is believed to be the place of the Garden of Eden, and where Christ will someday come again to receive the keys of the kingdom in preparation of his second coming and where he will hold his council with his stewards of all dispensations.), and Far West (the second temple commenced but never constructed. The corner stones have been laid and will it someday be built.)
These were awesome experiences and was a day I will never forget.

Thursday~ July 4th

Competition day! I hit passes that were much better than in training and that were better than warmups and that I was proud of, but that were unfortunately not good enough for this competition. I scored a 41.60 and placed 38th overall. While this was not the results I was hoping for, I am very thankful for all those around me supporting me and for the opportunity to compete this year because I know many people who didn't even make it this far. Congrats to all my competitors! You all did fantastically amazing and I am so glad we could become friends even though we are competition. After my competition we watched Anedy compete in prelims. She did amazing and was in third place in the nation after prelims was over with one more competition to come.
After the meet we were going to go do baptisms for the dead in the Kansas City, Missouri temple. We forgot that it was the fourth of July you see, so we forgot that the temple was closed. So no baptisms :/ I was kinda bummed but it's okay. After that we headed to Independence (I know, fitting for independence day right?!) where the first temple was commence to be built in this last dispensation, but has not been built yet. We toured the visitors center and the missionary that took us around was just awesome. We decided not to go to fireworks since we knew it would be an early morning the next morning with competitions and such. So we watched fireworks outside our window as they exploded all across the horizon.

 Friday~ July 5th

We got up early and headed to the arena. Teri competed in prelims for floor and was ranked fourth after prelims, Anedy and Eden both competed Double Mini and both did AMAZING placing 54th and 56th out of HUGE groups. After that we watched the Elite prelims and our lovely coach/team mate Stephanie compete as a senior elite finishing prelims in third.The elite competitions are always my favorite to watch.

Saturday~ July 6th 

On Saturday we watched Teri compete in finals on floor and she did amazing placing 4th in the nation. After that we watched finals for the elites. Our absolutely amazing coach/team mate Stephanie competed Senior Elite and placed 3rd overall. We love you Steph! I love love love watching the elite competitions and this was a fun competition and guess what! You can watch it!




After Steph competed she gave each of us one of her flowers and I am proud to say my rose made it all the way home in one piece. Thanks Steph! We love you!

Sunday~ July 7th

I spent the morning swimming with Eden, Teri, and Stephanie and I learned to be a cheerleader, then we headed over to the mall to shop. There were lots of laughs and it was a fun day. Later that night we headed over to the arena to watch our little Anedy compete in finals. She did amazing and placed 5th in the nation. Great job Annie! After Anedy competed we watched the Regional All Star competition. This is a fun high energy team competition between each of the 6 regions of the united states. It is comprised of the level 10s from each age division that won their own regional championships. Our region (region 1) did the best I have ever seen them do placing 5th. ha. After regional allstars we went to dinner with none other than Kalon Ludvigson and Justen Millerbernd (The world champion/record holder and his coach). I'm kind of a big deal.

 

Monday~ July 8th

The rest of our team got up early to fly home, while Teri and I stayed behind since our flight wasn't until 6:30 at night. We got up and packed our stuff and headed over to Panera to get my favorite frozen cherry lemonade for the fourth time. We sat there for a while doing pushups and other fun things while texting Stephanie. At 3:14 we hopped on the blue shuttle and headed to the airport. We flew home and because of delayed flights we didn't land until 11:00 which means I got to bed REALLY late last night.


So that was my national championships. I had a great time and it was by far one of my favorite tumbling trips. I am already looking forward to next year and I can't wait to get in the gym and start working. I vow now to work harder than I have ever worked before. Thanks for all those who have supported me. I love you all!


Feel my Sunlight



p.s. Would someone like to come over to my house and do all my laundry?

Nationals Nationals Nationals

Nationals 2011~ San Antonio, Texas

Nationals 2012~ Long Beach, California

Today is Monday. I leave for my third US National Championships on Tuesday. I leave for Kansas City, Missouri TOMORROW! AHHHHHHHHHHH That is about all that has ran through my head all day. This will be a different nationals seems how I am going all by myself in the sense that neither of my parents are coming along. It will be weird to not have Shawn, Kenzi, Cid, Britt, or Brinna since they have been to every nationals I have been to. It will be different but it is going to rock. We have our last chance workout tonight and then we zip up our bags and hop on an airplane to take over Kansas City.

I may not be where I wanted to be when I imagined nationals at the beginning of the year. But I did learn something from this year of struggling in the gym. I learned that my place on the awards stand doesn't define who I am. Chances are I may not even make it to the podium {I never have at a national championships. I'm competing against 50 people for crying out loud!} I learned that competitive power tumbling is a part of my life to give me experience. I know that sounds like a lame excuse that someone who doesn't win a lot would say, but I truly believe it. Tumbling has brought me some of my strongest friendships, some of my greatest roll models, some of my hardest struggles, some of my sweetest moments. Tumbling has brought me a job that beats the work most of my friends get paid for. Tumbling has brought me growth. (not literally ha!} It has taught me how to trust in others, and how to trust in myself. Tumbling has taken me to places I would have never gone otherwise. Tumbling has allowed me to meet some incredibly awesome people who have taught me great things both pertaining to tumbling, and not. Tumbling has brought me some cool missionary experiences and has given me a chance to share my testimony through example to many who are not of my faith. Now when I get on that airplane and when I enter that arena. I hope to be able to tumble for those reasons, and not for a ranking. Because to me, those are the things that matter most.

See you on the Flipside!



Feel my Sunlight



p.s. Who do you know that is pro at packing a weeks worth of things in a carry on bag? That's right! ME!!!

p.s.s. I will try to post updates as often as I can this week so check back often.

p.s.s.s. I compete at 10 am on the 4th of July. So while you are all at your parades of red, white, and blue think about me!

#TheCharitytez A week of EFY

Notes from our lovely boys.

Scriptures scriptures scriptures

We did baptisms on Thursday

Our lovely counselors Mama Shell Bell and Papa Spence

"If this isn't your castle, then you aren't my prince." Yes, I did take and edit this picture
 

Hiking Ensign Peak

The Beehive House

Our wonderful company at the top of Ensign Peak. {don't mind my awesome bangs...}

Last week marked my third time attending EFY and it hasn't ceased to be my favorite thing of the year. I'm sure you all ready know I have an obsession with EFY and dream of being a counselor one day, so I will spare you from hearing that again. What I would like to share with you are a couple of things I did, felt, and promised to do.

WHAT I DID

Now I won't share with you everything I did because well, that would take a week. But I will share with you a few of the highlights form each day.

Monday-Monday I met my wonderful counselors and my fantastic room mate, and hiked Ensign Peak with my new family. How much better can it get?
Tuesday- Tuesday we spent the day at This Is The Place National Park. We also had the best donuts ever eaten by man. There was also a dance at the end of the day.
Wednesday- Wednesday we pretended to be missionaries, we played a bunch of games, and pigged out on pizza while we laughed until we cried. "call Ellen right now." "I heard you were more beautiful on the inside, so I brought a knife."
Thursday- Thursday was spiritual day and we spent the day at Temple Square. We did baptisms in the morning and that was when we almost met the prophet but didn't. {more on that story later.} We toured a bunch of things and spent a lot of time in the scriptures and I sang and bore my testimony in the musical program. We also had testimony meeting. Thursday is always my favorite day.
Friday- Friday is always a hard day because it is the last day you get to spend with your new family before they all hop on airplanes and fly out of the state. We danced like we had never danced before at the second dance, and we cried a little bit as it started to get dark.
Saturday- We got up early so we could spend our last final minutes with our company and counselors. We gave lots of hugs and before I knew it I was in my car driving home.

WHAT I FELT

I felt the spirit constantly testifying to me thought the week that this is the true church. I felt the presence of the prophet when we sat in the chapel of the baptistry on Thursday, I felt extreme love for people I had just met. It always amazes me how much you can love a group of people after only knowing them for a week. I felt love for my amazingly wonderful counselor/ mama. I felt gratitude towards my Savior for all he has given me and all he has done for me. I felt a little piece of heaven.

WHAT I PROMISED TO DO

Every year at EFY you make commitments to be a little better and to stand a little stronger. I made the commitment to be open in sharing the gospel by bringing it up whenever I have the opportunity while talking to people. I made the commitment to help hasten the work of salvation by indexing at least three times a week. I made the commitment to make my scripture study better by studying in the morning and by not setting a time limit on my study. And my final commitment is to use my "castle license" {temple recommend} more by attending the temple at least twice a month, and every week where possible. {if anyone would like to join me in my temple attendance any time I would love you forever.}




It was a super fantastic week and I am so excited that I get to go back and do another session in a few weeks. I'd just like to say thank you to my amazing new family for making it so wonderful. #TheCharitytez

Now, I have a week of normal life, and then I get to hop on an airplane and fly to Missouri to compete in the 2013 US Junior Olympic National Power Tumbling Championships. AHHHHHHHH! I am so excited I can not even stand it. This week will consist of nothing but preparation for that. Wish me luck.


Now that I have talked about myself, myself, and myself, I'd like to share a video with you that I have posted before, but that really shows what EFY is all about, and how I feel right now.

Feel my Sunlight




p.s. I really love summer. 

Last day of school

city creek a the beginning of the year

Well, this is it. One year later and there are no more tears. Our last day of school has come and I couldn't be happier. It is a very different feeling than last year. Last year consisted of mushy gushy feelings like THIS and, THIS. But today I don't think I will cry at all. To tell you the truth I still long for my Jr. High days because they tasted so sweet, but nevertheless, life goes on.

It has been a good year. If you would have asked me at the end of last year what I would have thought this year would bring I would have a very different answer than what really happened. I would have thought I'd at least gone on one date. I thought I would just have a million friends, I didn't know quitting theatre would have such an effect on my social group. Though some of this year has been bitter, It wasn't all bad. I wouldn't have thought I'd have gotten this close to my small group of friends and I wouldn't have thought I'd have met my childhood idol! This year has proven to be great for our little group of 5. I eat lunch in the park every day and I drive a minivan to school. Boys don't talk to me much, but the ones that do mean so much more to me. It wasn't what I thought it would be, but it was good nonetheless. Now I can't wait until summer!

Kellog's Tour. BEST DAY EVER!

Now while my time at the school wasn't my favorite, the time at the gym was. This year there has been a few changes and I am now one of the oldest. I have made many close friends this year that I have never had with anyone from tumbling before. I have become much better friends with my Co-workers and we have a blast every day. I can always count on them to pick me up when school doesn't go the way I plan. I know I made the right decision to continue in this and not theatre, even though it was difficult. I love you guys! And Stirfry, you will make a fantastic missionary! We are so proud of you!

So I don't know where that leaves me. Back in the gym I suppose? After the initial pool party, the burning of the homework, and the inevitable sun burn I guess I’ll find myself back in the gym 4+ days a week and blogging often. I’ll attend EFY, girls camp, 4^th year hike, trek, National Championships, and possibly EFY again this summer, but other than that you will find me in the gym. It will be one of the greatest summers ever, but then again, every summer is the greatest in my book.

Thanks for a great year guys! See you next September!

 

 

 

Feel my Sunlight




p.s. Is it bad that I think I'm more sad about finishing the last season of Jonas LA last night than I am about the school year ending?

shout outs

That is my bio that appeared in the 2013 Shades Literary Magazine. Read it again. Apparently I am a competitive power and tumbler now. I'm a competitive power people. I became a dictator. I know, you are all shocked.
I had two pictures that were entered into this years shades magazine for my school and this Thursday was Shades night. I had a blast going with the lovely Katie. We had a blast and I have to say I love this chick. Shout out to her and her awesomeness.

On Friday I went to the 16th birthday party of a good friend of mine. I love her to death! Happy Birthday Kami! Love ya!

Yesterday I had a party of my own that was very much fun. I loved getting to catch up on all the people I haven't seen I a while. Thanks to everyone who came! And to all you boys that said you would come, but didn't, I hope you step on a lego.

Today is Sunday. The best day of the week! I went to a mission farewell today and can I just say the work of the Lord is taking place. I love seeing all of these fantastic people serve missions. You are all great examples to me and I can't wait until I am in your place in a few years.

And now to congratulate B on getting engaged! I am so excited for you! I am super bummed that your wedding is the same day as girls camp. I love you to death and you are such a great example to me. Congrats!

So that is basically all my friends. I hope you enjoyed it.



Feel my Sunlight



p.s. I still haven't been on a date... Cough Cough.


Happy weekend

This picture basically sums up my weekend in a nutshell.

Good morning! I hope you all had a fantastic week. I know I did. This weekend was my sixth state championships and my thirty sixth meet ever. It was a good meet. I had a few mistakes in my passes due to the fact that I have been out on injury for the past little bit and haven't been able to train as much as I would have liked. But regardless of that I managed to qualify for National Championships that will take place this summer. It was close and I only qualified by four tenths of a point, but I did it. I am so grateful that I have this opportunity and that I was able to make it regardless of injury. Now I'm sure you are all wondering why there is an empty container of grapefruit juice in the picture. Imagine me walking around a large arena in a leotard with that jug in my hand. I drank every drop of that stuff and it was great! This was my little sister, Mikall's, first state championships and she did fantastic! She is so stinkin cute in her little leo. Love you Miki! And thanks to Skyler an my parents for enduring the entire thing in those uncomfortable chairs. You guys rock!

 I had a blast hanging out with my comp friends that I have met over the years. We always have such a good time together even though we are competitors and it seems as if we should be enemies. But I really am thankful for the friends I have made through tumbling and the way we have stuck together through the past couple of years only seeing each other a few times a year. You guys are the greatest! I'd also like to send a shout out to my coaches for all they have done for me thought the years. I don't know if you could ever know the impact you have had on my life. You have taught me so much and I don't know where I would be without you. And lastly, I'd like to thank all of my team mates. Not just the ones who I call team now, but to everyone I have ever called team. I don't know if I would be in this sport if I didn't have a team to rely on. You have gotten me through the toughest of times, as well as the greatest of times. I love being able to be a part of this team. I love you all and I hope you know that. To all of you who are no longer a part of the team, please don't be a stranger! I miss you all and love every chance I get to talking to you. Thanks for letting me call you team.

Now the scriptures in the picture refer to this morning. It is only 11:34 and I have already been to two meetings. I went to mission prep this morning at 7:00 and it was great. I am so excited to serve a mission in a few years and I can't wait to put on that name tag and share the light of Christ with the world. The spirit was so strong this morning and I knew it was where I was supposed to be. I encourage all of you thinking about going on missions to attend missionary prep. After missionary prep I drove myself over to the church for my six month interview with the bishop. That was good and I'd just like to tell my bishop how thankful I am for all he is doing for the youth. It is great.

I'd also like to say break a leg to my sister, Danielle, who starts her performances as Adelaide in her schools production of Guys and Dolls this week. You have worked hard and you will do great! Love you!

So there is my weekend for ya. I hope you all had weekends that were just as good. Thanks to everyone who reads this blog, This blog would be nowhere if it weren't for you. Love you all!




Feel my Sunlight



p.s. My next stop in this journey to National Championships is Vegas, for Regional Championships. T-26 days! Let's do this Flipside!

p.s.s. My friends and I started a new blog where we pretend we are poets. It is called The Backyard Poetry Society. Feel free to check it out! www.thebackyardpoetrysociety.blogspot.com

Lets all take a minute

Hate.
Lets all take a minute to hate the swelling of my ankle.
Lets all take a minute to hate.... that's basically all I have to hate right now so I guess we are doing pretty good.


Love.
Lets all take a minute to love the sunshine.
Lets all take a minute to love the inside jokes with our best friends.
Lets all take a minute to love the company of our family.
Lets all take a minute to love no homework.
Lets all take a minute to love tomorrows.
Lets all take a minute to love our favorite song.
Lets all take a minute to love Sunday school teachers.
Lets all take a minute to love late start.
Lets all take a minute to love office supplies.
Lets all take a minute to love little brothers and sisters.
Lets all take a minute to love food on the table.
Lets all take a minute to love flushing toilets.
Lets all take a minute to love country music.
Lets all take a minute to love team mates.
Lets all take a minute to love blogger.com
Lets all take a minute to love young women leaders.
Lets all take a minute to love books.
Lets all take a minute to love the work of a teacher.
Lets all take a minute to love great examples.
Lets all take a minute to love thank yous.
Lets all take a minute to love our students.
Lets all take a minute to love new leotards.
Lets all take a minute to love peanutbutter.
Lets all take a minute to love kindness.
Lets all take a minute to love guitars.
Lets all take a minute to love not saying goodbye.
Lets all take a minute to love our roll models.
Lets all take a minute to love good grades.
Lets all take a minute to love little children.
Lets all take a minute to love hellos.
Lets all take a minute to love photography.
Lets all take a minute to love movie quotes.
Lets all take a minute to love the word TEAM.
Lets all take a minute to love cute boys.
Lets all take a minute to love seminary.
Lets all take a minute to love laughter.
Lets all take a minute to love happy birthdays.
Lets all take a minute to love EFY counselors.
Lets all take a minute to love technology.
Lets all take a minute to love compliments.
Lets all take a minute to love concern.
Lets all take a minute to love helping.
Lets all take a minute to love new friends.
Lets all take a minute to love musicals.
Lets all take a minute to love pretty things.
Lets all take a minute to love CTR rings.
Lets all take a minute to love driving fast.
Lets all take a minute to love making the good times last.
Lets all take a minute to love ice cream.
Lets all take a minute to love you're welcome.
Lets all take a minute to love the grace of God.




Feel my Sunlight.



p.s. My lunch friends are the greatest. Shout out to them. <3 Katie, Marissa, and Hannah. Thanks for staying true. You are loved.

p.s.s. FamilySearch.org is fun. Yesterday I learned that I am royalty. Y'all better bow down to me from now on... just kidding please don't. I also started indexing yesterday. Thank you Mr. Conner for making us write in cursive, because grading and deciphering assignments of my classmates has helped me be a better indexer.

Lessons from our friends from accross the pond

This weekend I learned a lesson about sportsmanship from our friends from accross the pond, and I believe we taught them about one in return.


This weekend was the Third Annual Kalon Ludvigson Invitational. This is was an international meet held in my own state not too far from my house. Before I go into how the actual meet was I want to share with you something I learned from the Brittish.

As a result to the fact that this meet lasted about 5 hours on Friday, and 12 hours on Saturday and the fact that awards were held at the very end we ended up sitting for a very.... long.... time. Although this ordeal was painstakingly long, it proved to be one of my favorite meets I have ever been to.

Yesterday I competed early in the morning and had to wait all day for my little sister who competed in the very last flight of the night. Like I said before we spent a lot of time sitting. Well, yesterday I sat by some very fun people with cool accents. The British team.

I talked with them for a bit {because well...  they're BRITISH!} We talked about the difference in the way things in the tumbling world are run between the two countries. One thing that realy stuck out to me was the way we recieve our awards. One of the British moms asked why we salute on the podium. I trulthfully didn't know. I had never thought of it before It's just something everybody did. I guessed it was for pictures. We also talked about how when we recieve awards we don't hug and shake hands like the British do. When you watch the British competitors recieve their award you see them either shake hands or hug every competitor that has already recieved an award before they stand on their place on the podium. I had seen this done before when watching Olympic awards ceramonies, but had never seen it done at a normal meet. In one particular awards ceramony I watched a few international competitors recieve their awards and show this act of sportsmanship, but then as I watched one of our Americans recieve an award and walk strait to her spot on the podium it seemed quite cold to me even though I know it's not a custom here in America. One of my favorite moments was when one of the young British competitors recieved first place. She was very excited as any young athlete is when they recieve gold. She gave every single competitor a hug as she climbed up the podium, then climbed down the other side to hug the rest of the girls before making the climb again to stand on her place at the top. This small act took time, but it realy showed her sportsmanship in the way she acknowledged her competitors. I think we Americans could learn from their example.

As I talked to these competitors they told me that they were very suprized and thankful for how friendly everybody is durring competition. They said that at home competitors are usualy more resurve and keep to them selves, where as here all the competitors talk to eachother and encourage each other during the competition wether or not they know each other. I thought this was cool that this was the impression we left on them and that they didn't think Americans were totally cold hearted.

I was talking to one girl and she jokingly said "ya we kind of keep to our selves durring the competition, but then get friendly on the podium telling everyone well done." {now read that as if you are one of the children from Narnia and you will know just about how that conversation sounded!}

I think there is something anybody could learn from this. Be friendly like the Americans, and show good soprtsmanship like the Brittish.

Now I know you are all dying to know how I did at this fantastic meet. So I will tell you.

I placed 7th out of 20 girls. I was proud of this seems how I have a sprained ankle, and with the magnitude of this meet. I had some fantastic competition and would like to say thanks to everyone who helped me get here. {including my doc for not telling me I have to stay off my ankle, because my mom would have enforce it had you said it.} I would also like to say thanks to Justen and Kalon for putting this meet on and for all the hard work that was put in to make this meet work. It was a great meet and I can't wait until next year!









Feel my Sunlight





p.s. Anyone want to do my homework for me?