Here's to the #LastWeekOfSummer

School starts on Monday.

Please enjoy this lovely picture of me, taken by my friend Hannah, that accurately displays my feelings about the above statement.

School approached me way too fast. It was like I was so caught up in very exciting things of summer and was then startled with the harsh reality that those very exciting things get scared away when the mean and ugly back to school sneaks up behind you. I guess I'm coping. 

But on a happier note, this summer has been nothing but non-stop fun! And this week has been A-MAZ-ING.

My week started off in St. George, Utah with the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge on Monday. Please enjoy this video of the lovely Amanda dumping a pot of ice water on my head.

And to follow that my week brought two different trips to the movie theater. Once to see The Giver, which was incredible and I highly recommend it, and If I Stay, which was good, but consisted of too many swear words and sketchy scenes for my liking. If you are choosing between the two then I'd say go with The Giver. It will save you the effort of having to cover your little sisters eyes.

Thursday brought the opportunity to go see the ever fantastic Thompson Square with my best friend Hannah thanks to my awesome grandparents who got us free tickets. Thanks again grandma and grandpa for the tickets!!! Thompson Square was so good and so much fun!

Yesterday I got to see one of my favorite team mates for the first time since he's been home from his mission in Rome. Teriyaki, Sterfry and I (WhiteRice) went to the Ogden temple open house and then to IHOP and then finished off our day with a trip to get Teri's car window chip fixed. Because that's what normal people do when they hang out right?!?! It was so much fun to see Sterling and we are so happy to have him back in the country!

Today brought an exciting tumbling camp complete with potato sack races and cookies the size of my face. And this afternoon I had a wonderful time riding horses with Raegan and Rachel, as well as taking photographs of Rachel and her beautiful horses for her horse riding lessons. To see more about Rachel's riding lessons check out her Facebook page HERE! Thanks so much for inviting us to come play Rachel!!

Aaaaand.... the funniest part of the day was when I ripped my pants getting off the horse. Life is awesome!

So I'd say it was a pretty successful summer. Bring on Sr. Year.




feel my sunlight




p.s. My inner cowgirl is in bliss right now. Also, I finished the first 7 seasons of Heartland (Yes, I do realize you can only get 1-5 in the U.S. Don't ask me how I've seen 6 & 7. It's a secret) and I can't wait for season 8 to come out this fall!!! I'm so excited I can't even stand it!

General Womens Meeting!

My mother taught my brother how to prank call today... funniest thing of my life.

The conversation went like this;

*brother calls grandparents*
*grandpa picks up*

Grandpa- "hello"

Little brother- "hello, this is a message from Davis High School, to listen to the message, press one."

*Grandpa presses one* {obviously it wasn't someone from Davis high school. So we all died when he actually pressed 1.}

Little brother- "hello, it has been recorded that your son, Mike (my dad. Obviously not in HS), has been abducted by aliens. Bye!"



Ay, I was laughing so hard I couldn't breath and I thought I was going to pass out. I like my family. I think I'll keep them.



So today was the General Women's Meeting. I don't want to take a long time typing because I want you to take the time to watch the broadcast. I do however, want to say that the spirit that was felt while watching this broadcast was powerful. An undeniable witness to me that this church is true. I will also provide you with some photographs of the notes I took because let's face it, I love taking notes. Enjoy!

(yes, I know I misspelled covenants.)

 

What were you're favorite quotes from the broadcast?




feel my sunlight



p.s. I am SO excited for conference next week I can not even stand it!

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.

cubical final words

I am sitting at my computer tech cubical for the last time this year and it feels a little odd. It feels odd in the sence that it seems like we have been in school for years and haven't had a break, yet at the same time it feels as if the school year has flown by. I am supposed to be working on my final project that is due at the end of class today. My teacher has already entered them into our grades to show us what we would get if we didn't do it. I have an A so we will see how much of that actually gets done. YOLO!

This year has been good, though not my favorite. I have grown a ton this year. {not literally... I'm still only 4' 9.5" tall} I have increased much in wisdom. I survived Mr. Conners class and enjoyed every second of it. And well, I learned to drive a car this year {not an easy task}. I have increased in stature by strengthening myself at tumbling as well as recovering from an injury so I could compete. I have increased in favor with man by learning to talk to people more and to say hi to other first. And I think the thing I have increased the most is in favor with God. It has been a great year for strengthening my testimony and I am proud to say I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints and I know the church is true.

I thought I'd share with you something I thought was funny.

This is my blog.

Scroll down a bit and you will find this.



 

 

zoom

 

 

 

 

zoom

 

 

 

 

Now notice the thing circled in red.

I find this funny. There is supposed to me a Book of Mormon there. The school district has blocked the Book of Mormon link at the school. I'll show them!

                                                             

Here is the picture

Here is the link ------------------------->  http://mormon.org/free-book-of-mormon/

MUAHAHAHA!

 

 

 

 

Have a great last bit of school!

See you on the Flipside!

 

 

 

 

 

Feel my Sunlight

 

 

 

 

p.s. ya, not much work was done this class period. At least I worked on my computer skills right?

 

 

 

 



The LWAD SQUAD

I was going through my pictures on my iTouch yesterday and I found these beauties. I'm not kidding when I say the LWAD SQUAD should be a modeling team. 

So close Lauren, So close!

my favorite

Now, modeling isn't all we do. We are also professional mall dancer. Here is a sneak peak of Lauren's rehearsals.

I seriously don't know what I would do without these three in my life. They are my favorite "cousins" and my very best friends. Love you girls!

 

 

 

 

 

Feel my Sunlight

p.s. I pretty much scared the heck out of some of you with my post from yesterday. I know you all probably figured it out, but just to clarify, I'm not actually moving. 

come what may, and love it

Whoa! I haven't blogged since Wednesday of last week... Totes not like me. {totes? who says that?}

It has been a fantastic and rather productive weekend starting with me becoming all licensed and deadly on Friday.

What kind of license? You may ask.

My pilot's license? It's out back in the Cessna. Or perhaps you're referring to my license to kill. Revoked - problems at the Kazakhstan border. I'd give you the details, but then I'd have to kill you... which I can't do because my license to kill has been revoked.

{That one was for you Katie!}

Just kidding! I received a drivers license on Friday! Now all I need is for someone to buy me a car.... any takers? ;) Going once.... going twice....

The second rather productive thing of the weekend consisted of me and the last 22 chapters of the bible which I finished yesterday. It felt good. Two years of bible and I finally get to move on to the Book of Mormon. Check that off my bucket list! {Yes it's true, this chick has read the entire bible. She is datable now.}

The next productive thing of the weekend was watching The General Young Womens Broadcast on Saturday night. My favorite talk was by Diter F. Uchdorf and it was about our Journey here on earth. Listen to it here!

The final productive thing of the weekend included a fun Easter with family. I have a testimony of the Savior and I am very grateful for all he has done for me.

And lastly I'd like to share with you something that I haven't told anyone yet. This thing has been bothering me for weeks and I don't want it to happen. I don't know how I am going to say good bye to all the people I have come to know and love over the last several years {If any of you know me you know that I stink at good byes.} My family is moving to Arizona. And I am not happy about it. But I guess since there is nothing to do about it we must try to "come what may, and love it." It will be hard, but I am excited.



Feel my Sunlight



p.s. Happy April Fools day......... hahaha


p.s.s. I really want a cute CTR ring. Why are they so dang expensive? {THIS ONE is cute, and it's cheapish, and it's on sale. Wink. Wink.} Oh, and I'm a size 6... just saying.

1st day of spring

Happy 1st day of spring! Hope everyone had a fantastic day! {Now mother nature... it is officially "spring" now, therefore, you no longer have permission to use the snow machines. So please continue with the rain and maybe bring us some sunshine.}

Today one of my five year olds got very excited when she found out that I was a "REAL LIVE TEENAGER!" {her words, not mine}. I thought it was cute. Then she said to her sister almost giggling "she can drive!" gah! I love my kids.

Today my entire team decided to pretend we're British... including my coach. We spent the entire two and a half hours perfecting our hopeless accents. It was fun and I don't think I've laughed that hard in a while. I love you guys!

Note to the wise: clean your room. There is a possibility the bishopric could come over and want to see all your medals, and your hanging bed. I was not so fortunate to have receive this memo and greatly regret it. Consider this your only warning. 

Well, it's a short post today. I guess this is the second one of the day so that makes up for it right?




Feel my Sunlight



p.s. I'm bad at waking up on time. Anyone else have this issue?

my love life

I've been in this long term relationship with tumbling for the last nine and a half years. We are together and happy. In once cheated on tumbling with the teatre but called it off when it got to complicated. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I had continued to date theatre. What would have come of it? Nevertheless I am happy with tumbling. And my words to theatre are:

      "because I

knew you,         

       I have been

changed     

                 for good."

 

 

Feel my Sunlight

 

 

p.s. Good luck to all my friends getting jobs right now. Jobs are fun. Money is even more fun. I have a job. I have had a job since I was 13. I know weird right?
 

p.s.s. Hank Smith is my favorite. Go listen to him.


p.s.s.s. Going back to school after a meet is quite painful. Going back to the gym, however, is not...unless you have a sprained ankle. :/ 

Blueberries & Cranberries & the Occasional Pineapple

Life is not meant to be stressed over. Okay well, maybe a little... but when you know there is nothing in your control that you can do, the best think you can do is let go and stop worrying!
In English right now we are reading Cry, the Beloved Country and I sometimes truggle to do my reading. We have quizzes every day on the chapters that we read. Well on Tuesday I was in class and hadn't finished my reading. I Read the last question that was something to the likes of...

10. What did the people pray for? 

 

well I thought "I'm going to fail this anyway right? I might as well enjoy doing it." So I answered...

"They prayed that the refreshments would nourish and strengthen their bodies, that all the people that weren't there that week would be there next week, and that when the time comes they would drive home in safety. "

 

 

YOLO.


...and then I drew a pineapple...


Which brings me to my second subject...PSYCH! Who watched the season premier? Wasn't it great? I mean what other TV show have you seen where they destroy a blueberry and a cranberry in the same episode?! These writers are genius.

And speaking of berries, I thought I'd share with you a little conversation I had a while ago. My dad was the ward mission leader and the missionaries were over for dinner one night. My mom had made a fruit salad berries in it. My sister asked me to pass the fruit salad when I looked at her and said all matter of factly
                                        "It's a berry salad."

Then after I thought for a second I said... "Wait, are berries fruit?"

I have never lived that down.

I really am so excited for this season of Psych and I am hoping and praying that they don't pull the whole "lets make a big deal about the new season, then only air 6 episodes before we take a break" like they did last season. I am telling you all the psychos will go psycho. And we sure don't want that now so we.

So this week I have been going psycho with this whole not being able to tumble thing. It's killing me. I tried to jump on the trampoline the other day to show my kids how to do strait jumps with their arms by their ears and well, it hurt. So I have been here. In my house. And that eventually resulted in me watching Snow White and a British documentaries about Anorexia and kids with Progeria {I can't get over how cute they  are} ... ya, don't ask. I got my brace yesterday and wore it all day today. The swelling has gone down {after like 6 whole days} and to tell you the truth it now looks flat and weird. Well, that's a good sign I guess.

I have one more story for ya before I go clean. The other day I was talking to my mom and my little sister when we started talking about all the great people in the world who failed and were rejected before they finally became successful. Such as JK Rawling whos book was rejected 12 times before it was accepted and eventually became the most successfull book in history, or the two brothers who were fired from their home improvement jobs before they dreamed up the idea of the Home Depot. So we were all sitting there and my sister says...

"Michael Jackson didn't make his high school basketball team."

I was laughing so hard I was almost crying. 





Feel my Sunlight



p.s. I have an "international" meet in 15 days.... AHH!

Royal Army & a Swolen Ankle

Hey Bloggers and Bloggetts! How is my world wide network of people that just sits at their computers waiting and thirsting for me to post new pieces of my unimmaginable ammounts of knowledge and my buckets of inspiration?? Wonderful mother that reads every post and occasionally corrects my grammer so that I don't look illiterate if/when anybody else takes a chance at this humble blog of mine. Whew! Wasn't that an introduction?!

Well, really how are you? If you were to ask me I would probubly tell you I'm good, even dandy maybe... But the truth? I'm dying on the inside. And no this has nothing to do with me not going to sweethearts, or me and my always and forever "VL" (more on that later). No. this has everything to do with my wonderful Saturday morning workout and a spill that might just cost me my "international" meet. (You have no idea how hard it was to write that last sentence.)

Well it was almost 12:00 exactly. I was working fulls and my coach asked me if I had one more in me. I did (or so I thought). Well I ran, I roundoffed, I back handspringed, and I did something in the air, and well... the rest is history. So here I am with a swolen ankle and a funny limp. The parts that hurts the most is the fact that I have my last local meet in 2 weeks, and the Kalon Ludvigson Invitational (aka The meet with "out of state/out of country" compeditors) the week after! Yes I know it is part of the sport, and yes, I know its life, but it doesn't make it hurt any less. Now all I can do is pray and hope I am not out too long.

But really, who am I to complain? Compared to several people not too far from me my life is just roses. My heart goes out to the students at one of the other high schools in our district that recently faced the tragic loss of another suicide. To family and friends of this student, I send you my prayers. I learned of this heart breaking news through one of those social media sights that allows you to grow fake food, and "poke" people. My first thought was "again???" Then my second thought was "wow, look at the world we live in." Just think back on the last few months and years we have faced as a community, a nation, and as the human race. Think of the shootings, the floods, the natural desastors, the wars, the broken homes, the broken hearts, and the works of the devil. I don't know about you but I believe the prophecies proclaimed in D&C 88 have begun to come to pass. Now these terrible things are a proof to me that the 2nd coming is inching it's way around the corner, but the wonderful things are a proof as well. The fact that church memberships have gone from 1.5 million to 14 million in the last 50 years, the fact that missionary work has quickened, and the age to serve has been dropped, the fact that with these growing ammounts of missionaries the church has opened 58 new missions. This is in no doubt a preparation for the final hours. We are his later day army. We must prepare, and begin to fight.





Feel my Sunlight



p.s. Oh ya.... I was going to talk about the whole "VL" Thing.... haha fail. Ah well, here it goes! For those of you oldies who don't know... "VL" means "Virgin Lips" aka "Haven't been kissed" Well it is an on-going joke that my sister will have her "first kiss" before me due to her being the lead in the Jr. High musical. Well not too long ago my sister asked our bishop if it was okay if she kissed a guy if it is for a play. His responce... She must either wrap her lips around her teeth, or she must use seran wrap because their lips must not touch. Now just picture that. They are about to kiss when my sister turns away and pulls a piece of seran wrap out of her pocket an puts it on her lips. When the guy gives her a confused look she states "My bishop said our lips can't touch or I would have to repent." He also said that if they do he is going to stand up in the middle of the performance and yell "SUNDAY. 10:00. MY OFFICE!" Now let me ask you, have any of you ever had a conversation with your bishop that was so funny that you were laughing to the point where you were almost crying? Ya, didn't think so. #mybishopisgreaterthanyourbishop

p.s.s. I'm ready for summer now. All in favor pleas manifest by the uplift of hand. Any apposed by the same sign. Oh how I wish it was that easy.

funny things and nerdy stuff

Hey bloggy friends of mine! I am coming to you again from my little cubical in computer tech. I am really enjoying all this free time at a computer. So I just thought I'd share with you my favorite conversation with a child as of late. This little boy is about 4 and I teach him tumbling on a weekly basis.

Him- "Teacher, does your TV only play tumbling shows?"
Me- "No my TV plays all kinds of shows."
Him- "MINE DOES TOO!!!"

So I pretty much died. I can't ever get over how funny my kids are even if they are little stinkers the majority of the time.

Yesterday I got interested in family history all of the sudden. I know weird right? It's like old people stuff! But I read about a guy named James Reid...


Birth: Jan. 13, 1816, Scotland Death: Jun. 18, 1886 Smithfield Cache County Utah, USA Son of John Reid and Mary Murray
Married - Elizabeth Cumming, 29 Dec 1843, Kilmarnock, Ayr, Scotland
Children - James Reid, Elizabeth Reid, George Reid, Mary Reid, John Cumming Reid, Louis Cumming Reid, Margaret Ann Reid, Isabelle Reid, Robert Reid

History -

 When James was age two, his father was lost at sea near Indonesia. Forty years later James embarked on his own ocean voyage across the Atlantic. James, his wife, his mother, his step father and his half brothers, all departed Scotland bound for Salt Lake City. They reached present-day Wyoming by August, giving them plenty of time to reach Utah before snow fell. However, at Ft. Laramie, a bounty hunter mistaking him for a dangerous outlaw, shot and seriously wounded James, forcing the family to stay at the Fort for several weeks. After James began to recover, the family joined the Willie Company's ill-fated handcart journey across Wyoming.
His birth death dates for James are confirmed by his obituaries.
Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel

Family links:
Spouse:  
Elizabeth Cumming Reid (1824 - 1910)
Children:  
Mary Reid Lindsay (1851 - 1929)*  
Robert Reid (1867 - 1947)*

Now isn't that exciting? Shot by bounty hungers and his dad lost at sea! My family is pretty cool. Ya so I know what you are thinking.... what a nerd blogging about family history AT SCHOOL! Ha ya call me what you will. I enjoy it.

Please enjoy a picture of the first Apple computer that I had to coppy, paste, and email to my teacher for my test. Tricky stuff.

Feel my Sunlight



p.s. Is it Friday yet?!?

p.s.s. Today I have reached more people in Ukraine than I have in the United States! Shout out to my Ukrainian readers! :)

Happy Single Awareness Day!

So here we are on February 14th. The day of chocolate hearts and red balloons. It has been an odd, yet normal day. Valentines day is just another day same as any else, except people think PDA is acceptable. Again I received no pink roses, but all truth to tell, I think I would feel incredibly weirded out if anyone gave me pink roses today. I'm not very close to very many boys right now and totally okay with it! I'm so cool I eat lunch in my history teachers class room. Boys are swarming me let me tell ya! So I will just blog and listen to On My Own from Les Miserables and sorrow in self pity at my dateless self. See, I usually tell people I am dating a guy named Jim....with the last name of Nastics. {yes say that out loud....whoo! I'm dating Jim Nastics!} But today I am not even going to the gym! What is up with that? So happy Valentines day Jim!
A team mate of mine posted a quote on facebook that I really like so I thought I just might steel it and post it on here.

“ Love 

                        is more than a paper heart. 

Love is of the very                       

       essence of life. 

                It is the

 pot of gold at the end of the          

 rainbow. ”                   

                            --Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley

 

So the odd part of my day consists hearing of the swat team and tear gas a few streets over and their happenings last night. Exciting stuff! {I think I watch to much Psych...} Me being extremely excited about a project in health {what the?!}, and well, its sugar day!

 

 

Happy Valentines day! 

 

 

Feel my Sunlight 

 

P.s. I have two blog post I think you should read by some pretty cool people. Click

HERE and HERE! One might make you cry... fair warning 

All snowed in

Okay so here's the thing. I live in Utah. Utah is known for our snow. I am currently in my Sophomore year in High School and never in my 10 years of schooling have we ever had a snow day. Ever. The closest we have ever gotten to a snow day was a massive wind storm that blew over massive trees, destroyed garages, tipped over semis, and blew To Kill A Mocking Bird books past my English teachers window. But that's a different story.

So Utah has never had a snow day in the 10 years I have been in school... Until Today. And I couldn't be happier!

Yesterday it started to snow. Nothing Utah hasn't seen. People began to post things on Facebook like "Why can't we have a snow day?!" and "If you cancel school tomorrow I will never miss another day of church." With all of these posts I was thinking "ya right! We live in Utah for crying out loud! There is no way they are closing the schools." This is not to say that I wasn't secretly hoping myself.

This morning I woke up at 7:04. That is about 11 minutes before my friend Carina usually picks me up to take me to school. I panicked. Why hadn't anybody woken me up? As I started to scramble to get ready I decided to check my phone. My dad had texted me telling me that our school district had canceled school and to stay in bed. I was ecstatic! I ran to my sisters room to make sure she knew. We talked for a bit and I headed back to bed.

It looks like the kid who promised to never miss another day of church has just made a covenant with the Lord. The moral of the story is: be careful what you wish for. God just might be listening.


Feel my Sunlight


p.s. This storm got me out of a guitar recital today! I am a happy person. 
    

First to Kiss First

My little sister got the part of Adelaide in the Jr. High production of Guys and Dolls. And we are so excited and proud of her. BUT.............




This brought me to a very sad realization.




My sister will have her first kiss before I do.




Ya. I know.




So we are talking at dinner tonight this is how the conversation went....




Mom: "guess what! Danielle might have to kiss someone."
Me: "My little sister will have her first kiss before me."
Danielle: "It won't be real!"
Me: "I can assure you that your lips will touch."
Danielle: "Ya, but our hearts won't!"
...and I will just end that conversation right there before my dad starts talking....

As my mom was walking out the door I say
"Bye! I will try not to kiss anyone while you're gone!"
Mom: "Hey.....If you get the opportunity!"




So congrats to Danielle at Dani's Purple Notebook. Love ya! And I now have a new goal of having my first kiss. Someday.

More soda pop

 

This stuff. 

I was at the grocery store with my ma yesterday. 

When out of the blue she said...

                "I think I should drink more pop."

                                                          Now, 

her logic in this is that if she drinks more pop,

 then she will eat less sweats, 

and that will make her more healthy.

Good luck with that mom.                            

                        {we now have Pomegranate 7UP in the fridge}

Feel my Sunlight

P.S. What do you think about the white background? I miss my old background, but I am liking the more professional look. Have you ever seen a really successful blog without a whit background? I haven't either, so I changed it to white. Your thoughts?

P.S.S. Did y'all notice the new grab button on the left? Well, for all of you who have a blog, I would love it if you would put it on your blog. And hey, if you do, I might just put yours on mine!