"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." -Plato

The other day I was at the gym coaching one of my little competitive tumbling teams. This team likes to give me grief every now and then and on this particular night they were having an especially difficult time.

They were having a really hard time listening to and following directions. Their attitudes were out the window and every few minutes I had another kid in tears for menial reasons. And as every minute passed I felt my blood boil more as I started to slip into what I call "strict coach mode." Pretty soon everything they did made me mad and I stopped being their friend and started being their dictator.

I had about had it.

It was at this point that one of my seven year old students flopped on the ground wailing about how he couldn't do a back handspring the way he wanted to as tears streamed down his face. This was probably the fifth tear episode from the class and the second one from him in about 20 minutes.

I swallowed everything inside of me that wanted to yell at him and say "get up. you're fine. stop crying." and I pulled him aside and sat him down on the edge of the tumbling floor. I knelt down on his level and put my hands on his knees and said "buddy... how come everything is making us so upset today?"

I expected to him wail back at me something about me and my coaching. I expected him to complain about how he didn't like what I was making him do or something along those lines.

His response shocked me.

He looked up at me with tears pooling from his eyes and said "I got in a fight with my mom on the before tumbling today. She was yelling at me and it hurt my feelings. I just can't stop thinking about it."

It had nothing to do with back handsprings, or tumbling, or my coaching. It had everything to do with what this little boy was experiencing in his life.

So I asked him to tell me more. I just sat and listened and didn't say anything. I just let him talk. After a few minutes of him telling me this story he wiped away the tears and I asked him if he felt better. He nodded and I said "should we get up and try our back handsprings again?" and sure enough he popped right up and did his back handsprings perfectly.

So often in our lives we interact with people without really taking the time to know what's really going on behind the curtain. We judge them for the things they say or do and we don't take into consideration the fact that there might be more to it than meets the eye. And even worse, we interpret their actions to have something to do with us. As if they don't like us or they have a problem with us, when in reality, most of the time it has nothing to do with us.

There is a quote that keeps coming to my head every time I think about this experience that says

"Be Kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." -Plato.

Isn't this just the truest statement?

So since then I've made an effort to take this philosophy into the other classes I teach. I've made an effort to take the time to talk to each child during class to ask them about school and their families and different parts of their lives. I've been amazed at how much just a little kindness makes in someones life. I've been so surprised by how the children have responded to this small gesture of listening. During one of my classes this week one of my small quiet girls ran up to me and gave me the biggest hug and whispered "we are going to be best friends, okay?" I know she never would have done that had I not taken the time to show her I wanted to be her friend first.

And I've also noticed how much of a difference the little kind acts of others have made in my own life. I've noticed myself become physically happier when I walk into work and my boss takes the time to say hi to me, or when I walk into one of my school classes and the girl sitting next to me takes the time to ask me how my weekend was, or when the random friend snapchats me to ask me how I'm doing because he hasn't heard from me in a while. All of these things have made such an impact on my life and sometimes I don't even notice it.

Kindness is real. You might not be able to change the world, but you have the power to change someones world with just one small act of kindness.

So there's some food for thought for your day today. Take the a minute to consider the people in your life and your current relationship you have with them. Are you taking the time to listen to their stories? Are you talking the time to be kind to them? Because I promise you, it will make a world of difference.

My friends, don't forget to be kind today.

-Whit

April showers bring May flowers

I love sunshine (hence the blog title), but currently the view from my window looks particularly wet.

I normally talk about sunshine so lets take a minute to talk about water.

It is often said that "April showers bring May flowers." Our lovely elementary school teachers taught us this when we were small with art projects and coloring pages, but the reality of it is ever prevalent in our later years. I'm not speaking literally, but metaphorically.

When the rain falls down we get soaked. We are quite possibly miserable and often cold. The rain is uncomfortable to stand in and most of us would say that we prefer the sunshine, but when May comes around and the flowers are popping up all over the place we realize that the moisture wasn't there to hurt us, but to bring new life.

This is the same concept when applied to forgiveness.

I had an experience this week that made me reflect on this idea of forgiveness. Someone I know said something to me that didn't particularly sit well, but I was offended yes, but I blew things out of proportion. Was this right of me? Absolutely not. In the end this person apologized and I am happy to say that I honestly forgave them. I don't mean I merely said "sorry" and moved on, but that I truly wanted their guilt to go away for what they did. I changed after that and I honestly believe that this person did too. I became a more accepting and loving person.

I believe that this idea this "April showers bring May showers" is exactly how forgiveness works. It may seem uncomfortable, and we may not like it, but if we truthfully endure the storm and either ask for forgiveness or make an effort to forgive, that beautiful things will come out of it. We will be made new.




I also believe that this is exactly how Christ feels when we ask for forgiveness from him. He wants to forgive us for our sins and he also wants to take away our pain. He wants it so desperately, but we must ask in order for him to do so.

Let us all take make an extra effort to be a little more forgiving.



feel my sunlight



p.s. Whose excited for Conference next weekend??? I AM! What are your conference traditions? Any I should add to my agenda?
p.s.s. Yes, I do realize it isn't quite April, but "March showers bring May flowers" was never on any coloring pages when I was a kid so we are just going to go with it.

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 have learned

I’m not sure where this post is going to go so I guess we will just flow with it and see where it ends up. It has been a nonstop party for the last three days and I have had a lot to think about. Last night I had a talk with an old friend. I had had a talk with this same friend exactly a year before, the subject the same, but the circumstances very different. We learned this year that the world hits us and it hits hard. We learned that things aren’t always what we think and that we are stronger than we previously thought.

I learned over this last year that my world doesn’t float on a cloud and that that cloud thought I was floating on wasn’t a cloud at all, but a deceiving mist that would soon bring a reality check. I learned that boys aren’t needed to be happy, in fact, they sometimes make you very unhappy. I learned to ignore the taunting about being a part of the VLs and never have been on a date. I learned to accept the fact that the world doesn’t always bring a piece of cake; sometimes it brings a table spoon of “grape” flavored medicine. While this medicine may not taste remotely of grapes, but the tears of small children, it is the only thing that will make you better.  It is the only thing that will make you stronger, and we could all use a little more strength to face the world. I learned that sometimes people are put into your lives for a reason, and sometimes they are taken out of our lives for another reason. I learned that having fewer friends makes you appreciate the ones you do have much more. I learned that sometimes the greatest friendships only last a week, yet still last a lifetime. I learned that there is a lot more to life than the pictures you post on Facebook and that the things people pin on Pinterest are both unrealistic and unattainable, and that they certainly don’t matter in the long run. Because the things that actually matter in life aren’t things that you pin. They are things that you feel. I learned this year that you don’t go to parties to be more popular, you go to parties to strengthen your relationships with the people in your life. I learned that a party can be 5 girls in pajamas in the morning. I learned that people aren’t always who you think they are and sometimes their actions will surprise you. I learned that sometimes people are kind and sometimes the world is good, and that sometimes people are EXTREMELY kind and sometimes the world is EXTREMELY good. I learned that blogging is a very good way to get things off my chest. I learned that while I may not be the greatest singer, and that nobody would ever want to buy my album, I should sing anyways. I learned that guitars can be the most comforting when used correctly. I learned that country music and sunshine make everything feel all right. I learned that fake isn’t fun and that rude isn’t respectable.  I learned to accept the fact that not everyone feels the same as I do and that it isn’t worth it to try to impress everyone. I learned that the things I want the most are things the world would laugh at. I have had my worst days, and I have had my greatest days. While I learned many things this year, the thing I learned about the most is that the greatest work we could do is the work of our Father in Heaven. We have a great responsibility. Let’s get to work.

Feel my Sunlight

p.s. Sorry it has been a few days, like I said, I have been partying hard. Have a fantastic summer!

p.s.s Notice how nothing In this post has anything to do with Columbus or radical numbers? Just saying.

p.s.s.s. I am in a fantastic mood, and have been for three days. Please don't rain on my parade.

things of the week

Whew! I haven't blogged in a while... like so long that blogger made me enter my password. What is this?! It has been a while, okay well only a week, but it still feels like forever. This week ranged from bombings to surprise parties, to musicals, to tumbling with the world record holder and his team and coach to NOT touching homework. It was a great week with a little bit of not so fantastic parts mixed in. My heart goes out to all of those affected by the tragedies of this week between the bombings in Boston, to the explosions in Texas. We are still thinking about you and are praying for you. Stay strong!
This week we threw a surprise party to one of my best friends, Katie. That was a blast. Happy birthday Katie!{yesterday} Love you so much!
Like I have shared before, my little sister, Danielle. had her musical this week. She was in Guys and Dolls and she played miss Adelide and rocked it. Great job to her and her cast for a great show.
Today I started off with a long meeting with my favorite people. Then tumbling with some of my other favorite people. To day I was at the gym from 9am to 4:30pm. We had a coaches meeting that was good and I learned a lot. Then Justen from team Revolution brought some of his kids down {including Kalon, the world champion.} to tumble with us and coach us for a bit. I always love tumbling with them and really appreciate them taking the time to do it. Thanks so much!

Now this week is over and I am overjoyed! Now, I can't wait to next week because it just so happens to be PARTY WEEK! I can't wait! Oh... and it is also the week we start conditioning out side... sorry team. :) Don't forget your shoes!




Feel my Sunlight




p.s. HAPPY BIRTHDAY STIRFRY!

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

things

So I sorta kinda decided I am going to serve a mission this weekend. {I know many of you read that as "I am going to serve a mission this weekend" that is false, I made the decision this weekend. Sorry to give you a fright.} Don't worry... I still have a little while. But I'd just like to say thanks to all the strong influences in my life that have helped guide me to this decision. Kjarinda <3 The whole Laurels class <3 B <3 all my seminary teachers <3 Randi & Braden <3 My awesome Sunday school teacher <3 my parents <3 Lauren <3 {and the amazing people that have taught by example...} Stirfry <3 Tyler <3 Ashlie  <3 Ethan <3 Shelby <3 And everyone else that I know that has either served, are serving, have a call, or are working on papers <3 and of course, my loving Father in Heaven and his son, Jesus Christ. I love you all! Thanks for being good examples.

{Braden & Randi... did you notice I put you two together in between two hearts? You're welcome.}

So now it is 10:24 on a Monday night aka the-end-of-the-first-day-back-from-spring-break-and-Whitney-is-completely-exhausted-day. Spring break was good. I basically sat in my room and watched Ellen the majority of the time, but I did squeeze in some conference spiritual time stuff, and some hang out with Katie time, and a tiny bit of tumbling. But sadly I didn't accomplish any homework over this lovely break. {Well... I did photography homework... but one could argue weather or not that actually is homework.} So I guess you can say it will be a busy week.

It is a special week....

 No I am not going to prom...

But It is State week! I will be competing at the Utah Power Tumbling Championships this Friday. Whoo! I must score a 51.3 at either this meet, or at Regionals in Vegas next month. I'm holding my breath.

And speaking of tumbling, I'd just like to send a shout out to my amazing team. They are being all lovie on facebook so I just thought I'd share the love here. My team means so much to me. I am with you guys more than I am with my family and I don't think I could ever find a greater group of people. You are with me at my greatest and you are with me at my worst, but you lift me up no matter what. We have something that school friends would never understand. I love my sport and I love my team. <3

Conference was AMAZING this weekend. I mean who doesn't love sleeping in and having church in your pajamas in your living room? If you would like to watch it CLICK HERE!!!

Well, I had better get to bed. Seminary morning side tomorrow! Here is a quote from Jeffery R. Holland that I just adore.

"If ye love me, keep my commandments," Jesus said. So we have neighbors to bless, children to protect, the poor to lift up, and the truth to defend. We have wrongs to make right, truths to share, and good to do. In short, we have a life of devoted discipleship to give in demonstrating our love of the Lord. We can't quit and we can't go back. After an encounter with the living Son of the living God, nothing is ever again to be as it was before" (2012 October General Conference, The first Great Commandment, Sun. Morning Session- By Jeffery R. Holland Oct 2012)

So there you have it folks. I love you all. I send you all love and rainbows and butterflies. Peace out my peps!




Feel my Sunlight



p.s. I don't know if you noticed yesterday, but at one point HALF of the trends on twitter were Mormon trends... HALF! #Mormonforthewin #LDSconf

p.s.s. Another wind storm anybody???

{me... doing missionary prep... on my blog. WHAT!}

I feel a need to refocus my life on the gospel. This calls for more spiritual posts my peps. I have been slacking on those lately. I guess it is the perfect weekend to accomplish this being conference weekend and all {I am a Later Day Saint and twice a year we tune in to hear what the prophets and leaders of our church speak to us. You can listen to it here when the time comes around this Saturday and Sunday.} I feel pouted with the world and I need to remove myself from it. I have spent too much listening to what the world has to say and not enough EFY type activities. Too much internet and not enough scriptures, too much TV and not enough writing in my journal, too much sleeping and not enough indexing. Does anyone feel the same way? It isn't like I have been doing anything "bad", I just could be doing "better". Because isn't there always something we could do better?

So we start here. I am committed to refocus my life and my perspective on the things that realy matter. I invite you to join in with me.

I recently came accross a fantastic blog by a fantastic lady. Its called {In The Head Of Al Fox} and yall should check it out. She has a video. This video teaches exactly what we as Later Day Saints believe. I love the temple. This video made me smile. Watch it.




I am going to pretend I am teaching at EFY now, because what else would I do? I aspire to be an EFY counselor one day and so I might as well start sometime. I feel like the opportunity of a mission is approaching soon and wether or not I decide to go, I could use all the practice I can get and I feel like this could be good practice. Feel free to leave any comments or questions and I will do my best to respond as if a missionary would.

I would like everyone to turn to Alma 61 in your scriptures. If you don't have a book of Mormon with you click here. {Or, if you have never recieved one, and you live near me ask me and I will gladly give you one! If you don't live near me and would like one request a visit from these cool people and they will bring you one! I promise you won't regret doing it!}

So now that you all have Alma 61 open we can begin. I ask you to say a prayer in your heart asking for a greater understanding that the spirit might fill in for the gaps I miss.

At this point in time Moroni and Pahoran are sending letters back and forth talking about the government. Moroni has recently rebuked Pahoran for not sending men and threatens to fight against the government. In this chapter Pohorans responds to Moroni in a letter saying that he has been facing rebellion and he asks for military aid against the rebels.

Pohoran says to Moroni that hearing of his afflictions greaves his soul and that he does not joy in hearing these words. He then says "but behold, there are those who do joy in your afflictions." (61:3)

I ask you, who are those people in your life? Satan is the leader of those who want to make you miserable. He does not want you to be happy and he will do everything he can to make sure you do not have the joy that can be recieved by the gosple. Satin is miserable and he wants you to feel the same way. We can't let him win.

"He has already lead away the hearts of many people." (61:4) Especially in this day and age, we are surrounded by those who have already been roped in to the ways of Satan. He uses flattery to make his ways seem more appealing and to make us want it.

He withholds our "provisions" that will help us be fed spiritually. We are fed spiritualy by prayer, and by feasting apon the scriptures. While, he can't physically hide our scriptures from us, or put you in a prayer-proof room that blocks all signals to our Heavenly Father, he does try to get you to spend more time on Pinterest than needed instead of closing the computer and oppening our scriptures, or he tries to convince you that you are too tired to sit up and say your prayers. His tacktics are subtle and almost go un-noticed if we aren't watching.

We should not seek for power, but should seek to help the people around us maintain their rights and liberty. (61:9)

We must "Risist wickedness" no matter what it takes. We must not subject ourselves to our enemies and let Satan overtake us. "we should put our trust in [God], and he will deliver us." (61:13) Satan is everywhere and he wants nothing more than for us to turn our selves over to him. If we trust God to help us, he will deliver us out of the hands of Satan and help us return to live with hime in paradise.

Satan wants to bind us and hold us captive, while the Spirit of God is the spirit of freedom. (61:15)

Pahoran says to Moroni to "Gather together whatsoever force ye can upon your march hiter, and we will go speedily against those dissenters, in the strength of our God according to the faith which is in us." (61:17)

In our journey back to god we must gather forces to build his army. We can help build his army by sharing our testimony with others. Sharing your testimony can be as big as getting up in testimony meeting, or as little as sending a text message or wearing a young womens madalion or CTR ring, or maybe writing a blog post!




Strengthen yourself that ye may be more fit to fight in his war. You do spiritual pushups every time you open up the scriptures, and spiritual sit ups ever time you kneel to pray, Attending church and the temple are like running laps. Every time you you do these things you arm yourself against the temptations of Satin and you become stronger in the fight.

Now we must not fear, for God will deliver us. (61:21) If we put our faith in him.

I once heard a quote that I loved that went something like:

"Pray                

       as if everything depends on

             God,

and work         

as if everthing depends on

             you."



We are at war here, but we can't see the enemy. This is one of my favorite videos of a call to fight. "We are the later day army of Helaman... The battle will be rigrous and his kindom is not going to fail. His power and glory will exceed anything we have ever seen in terms of dramatic finishes, and that's at least partly because of you."

I leave you with my testamony that this church is with out a doubt the only true chuch on this earth today. The Gosple of Jesus is true and it has been restored for our day. I know that we can return to live with our father in heaven if we only turn to him. I hope to be as the army of Helaman and to bring the world his truth. I hope you will all join me in a call to righteousness. I love my father in heaven and his son, Jesus Christ, and everything they have done for me. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.



Feel my Sunlight



p.s. Congrats to everyone who read that entire thing! That was long!

p.s.s. On that note, lets all skip the rest of the school year and attend an extra long EFY session instead! Who's with me? All in favor make it manifest by the raise of the right hand.... All apposed make it manifest by the same sign...

haha I wish! I can not even begin to tell you how excited I am for EFY this year! 72 days left!

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?

a chain reaction

Can anybody guess where I am? That's right! COMPUTER TECH! I just thought I'd write a quick post about kindness while I sit here in my cubical doing nothing.

I have felt much kindness today and it is only the third period of the day. Starting with the wonderful student that stands outside the seminary building and holds the door for everyone EVERY DAY without fail. You are fantastic. Thank you for taking your time to perform a service that may seem small enough to pass unnoticed, yet is truthfully monumental. Then to the people in my seminary class who didn't know me, yet made an effort to get to know me and to talk to me and make me feel welcome. I feel your love and send it right back to you. I also want to say thank you to the kids in my seminary class who talk to me outside of class. This realy helps bring us together as friends and helps me know there is someone else out there in this corrupt world that is living the same standards as me and that I can talk to. Then to the friend in my computer tech class who is always quick to pick up my book for me and is always so free with compliments. Your kindness warms my heart and I just love being around you because you always make an effort to put others first. You guys rock!

These wonderful people have inspired me to pass it on and to strive to be a better person. To try say hi, to compliment people without thinking about it, to be kind. I make this challenge to you. Start a chain reaction and see what happens.

I have this theory               

        that if one person

can go out of their way           

          to show compassion,

          then it will start a chain reaction

          of the same.                       

                        People will never know

 how far a little kindness        

                 can go.

                                              --Rachel Scott

Feel my Sunlight



p.s. Is anyone else as excited as I am to have school off tomorrow?! haha sorry juniors...