Saturday Night

Most people go to see a movie on a Saturday night, I spend my Saturday nights photographing them leave the theatre. Because YOLO.

Feel my Sunlight


p.s. My little bro was super awesome to tag along with me all weekend when I had no one to hang out with. Love you bro!

Al Fox

{ In The Head Of Al Fox }

{picture stolen from her amazing blog  HERE}

I know it is past midnight but I have words in my head that just need to get out.

Tonight I had the chance to go to a fireside given by the lovely Al Fox. It was fantastic and just the thing I needed to give me that extra push to help me survive these last painful weeks I have to spend at the great and spacious building school.

High school is rough. I know it may seem that in Utah I should be surrounded with God's angels and Helaman's army as I walk from health to math every day, but the reality is far from that. The reality is that high school is a nasty place. I often feel as if nobody wants to talk to me and I am often ignored during class. It is in the classes with an abundance of bad words and suggestive sayings that I usually remain to myself and keep my head down. Because in a class with 18 loud, obnoxious, less virtuous boys, what is the little 4'9" girl going to do? Now, This isn't every class, and this isn't every person. There is plenty of Helaman's army roaming the halls at the high school, but there are many that want to make it known that they are on a different side.

Why do I tell you this? Because of the story of Al Fox. The way she learned the church to be true, the way she left her home, her family, and everything she knew to pursue a reacquiring thought sent from God. The way she pressed forward during the hard times and kept going. The way she knows the church is true and wants the world to know it. This is inspiring to me.

Now I may not have had to leave my family, or move across the country, but I did find the church to be true as I prayed that one Thursday night. I came to know that true happiness that Al spoke so strongly about, saying "I love that". And I love it too. But sometimes I forget about that when the kid next to me is swearing, or when my health teacher makes me write poems about sex. {No joke, this happened today. Last week she made us draw "pictures"...} I forget what I am really fighting for, and why I am doing what I am doing. I forget that I should be standing as a witness of God at ALL TIMES in ALL THINGS and in ALL PLACES... even in my health class.

The story Al told was about overcoming something hard. This is my hard. Your hard may be something completely different, but we all have our very own hard. Our hard can and will be overcome if we rely on the Lord for guidance. If we rely on him every single detail will workout in his timing. He will not let us fail if we do everything we can possibly do.

Al Fox has this enthusiasm about the gospel that shows that she truly knows it to be true and loves it with every ounce of her being. She is generally excited about telling others about the gospel. I relate to this. When I came home from EFY the first time I think my family was annoyed with how weird and spiritual I had become. When I cleaned out my iPod of the garbage taking up gigabits and became obsessed with EFY music my family knew something was different. I felt weird showing of my new self to the rest of the world because the world didn't like what I knew to be true. Even at church I felt that many of those around me didn't have the same enthusiasm and would think it was weird that I refused to listen to anything but music that was worthy to be played at an EFY dance. I felt weird at times, and am sure I will always continue to feel weird about being different, but the example of people like Al who are so enthused do live their lives in a higher manner make me realize that it's not that weird at all, it's awesome.

Now I am in no means perfect, and I have lots of areas to work on, but through God, things are a heck of a lot easier.

I am super glad I went to the fireside tonight and that I got to hear the story of such a fantastic person. If any of you ever get the chance to hear her speak, listen. You won't regret it. Thank you so much Al for being such a great inspiration. You rock!




Feel my Sunlight




p.s. Um I am going to EFY all by my self this summer. I am freaking out, but am so excited I can not even stand it.

p.s.s. Do you like the new "look"? I adore it. I just wish I could get rid of that ugly blue strip at the top without ruining my layout.

p.s.s.s. Oh, and did I mention that Al was a graphic designer, and is now a motivational speaker? My two professions that I dream of doing. I feel like we should be BFFs. Just saying.

no sugar

I've been slacking on this blog lately. Guess it must be getting close to the end of the year.


    My time has been preoccupied lately by nothing but tumbling, coaching, and the occasional school. Now that Regionals are over we have begun our Nationals training and it has been kicking by butt. I have been to the gym every single day this week and have tumbled all but one of those days. I have done 6 times the conditioning I usually do. This is why I am in workout clothes at school today. Because who am I trying to impress really? My best friends are at the gym and they see me at my very worst state and they still like me right? I will impress the kids at school when they watch my videos of National Championships this summer. This is the pep talk I gave myself this morning. And low and behold, I am in workout clothes.

Next week I am going off sugar for the next 46 days. 46 days until National Championships. I am going off sugar. Who wants to do it with me? And I would also appreciate it if all y'all wouldn't try to make me eat your sweetened deliciousness because that makes it hard. If you don't want to drop that sweet stuff for the whole 46 days I challenge you to try it for a month, a week, or whatever you can. Because we could all eat a little less of that stuff.

On an entirely different note, has anyone ever heard of this awesome lady?

 

 

Her name is Al Fox and I get to hear her tonight if it doesn't rain. Oh please, oh please don't let it rain. You can read her blog HERE.


Life is good.




Feel my Sunlight



p.s. Did I mention Nationals are in 46 days? I did? AHHHH! I freaked out a little bit.

Vegas and Regional Championships

I'm home now. I'm not quite sure how I feel about it. Vegas was fun. St. George was partly pukish. I have to go to school tomorrow and I know how I feel about that. {pukish}

I had a good meet. I hit my passes okay and ended up in 8th overall out of 10 different states. I wasn't pumped about my ranking, but wasn't disappointed with it either. It was a good meet and I had fun running around with my comp friends. I'm not kidding when I say I make more friends at tumbling competitions than I do at school.

Sid and I made a new friend from Washington. His name is Stephen. That is Marissa in the background. I met her at a tumbling competition as well. We are BFFs now.

Here are a few other pictures from this weekend. Notice how there are no pictures of me on the podium. This is because someone had the bright idea that only the top 6 should get awards. Ya, I know.

M&M world

Midnight dinner on Friday {because that's how Flipside always rolls. At least it wasn't Denny's.}

Gene Simmons, Iron man, and a ninja turtle I think... not sure.

Well I guess I should be done now. I have a few essays to write, and a whole bunch of stuff to unpack. Oh and it's a school night. :/  Read your scriptures, say your prayers, choose the right, return with honor, and so on, and so forth, and what not, and what have you. Love y'all

Feel my Sunlight

p.s. I'm ready for a good long session of EFY. Kj? Randi? I need some EFY inspiration. Vegas deprived me.

actually Friday

{This is me pretending to be table legs. I'm supper cool guys, don't worrie!}

Today my callender says Wednesday, but it is actually Friday, since it is the last day I have to come to school this week. Yay for Regional Championships! I leave tonight after work and it couldn't come sooner. The bags are packed and sitting in my bedroom.

I. can't. wait.

I don't have much else to share, expect many posts this weekend. Thanks so much to everyone who reads! I love you all.


PEACE!



Feel my Sunlight



p.s. Twitter and Facebook are both boring right now.

p.s.s. Why is the school so freezing today?

happy thoughts and only happy thoughts

This picture has nothing to do with this post, I t just makes me happy... then again, maybe it does.

It is going to be a good week. I know what you are thinking... "It's Monday, I'm tired, and I want to go home" or something of that sorts. But I won't have it! It is going to be a good week dangit!

It is meet week you see, the week where I go all crazy and think about nothing but tumbling tumbling tumbling. I have been stuck in a rut and all that has occupied my mind over the last few weeks were plots to avoid schoolish things. Well, I have decided to change my attitude about that, and well, everything else for that matter. There is going to be no complaining this week. Not from me, nor from anyone. If I hear anyone complain about anything to me you will be ignored. And slap me if I start to complain about something. No joke, do it! It will be hard, but we can do it! Only positive thoughts allowed. "I will do well at regionals, I will do well at regionals, I will do well at regionals..." 



None of this...

I am super pumped about this whole regionals thing thanks to USA Gymnastics for uploading all of their old gymnastics footage from way back when. I will be eternally greatful! It is a gymnast-fenatics heaven. I have been rolling in world championship and magnificent 7 footage all weekend. {ha, I have a pretty fantastic social life!} And my cool coach who competed at the Elite Challange as a SENIOR ELITE! Love you Steph!

As soon as Regionals is over we begin the thing we call Nationals Training. I am ready, and I am prepared. It will be hard, and I am excited.

"You've got what it takes,

        but it is going to take

everything                 

          you've got."

 

BOOM! Let's do this thing!

 

I am in one of those moods.{can you tell??} My friends can testify of that. We spent our lunch dancing atop the picknic table at the park to Hannah Montanah like nobody's buisness. Because isn't that what we all thought would happen when we first caught a glimps of High School Musical? What else would four teenage girls without cars or dates supposed to do durring lunch? YOLO people, YOLO. And life is more fun when you don't care what people think about you.

 

 

"Life's          

   what you

make it,         

      so let's make it

ROCK!"

                     -Hannah Montanah   

 

 

It is a good day.


 

Feel my Sunlight

 

 

 

 

p.s. I am a rediculusly good mood considering I just finished taking TWO tests... happy thoughts can do that to a person... "You're a trueueueue friend... put on my old blue jeans... You've got the best of both worlds!"

Almost going to go insane

Well my friends, It has been four days since I last wrote. I know you have all been sitting at your computers waiting in suspense for me to post. Now where to start?

Lets start with the fact that we are almost done with this school year, when I say almost I mean I am almost going to go insane. I am ready for The Color Run, and mission farewells. I am oh so ready for EFY, 4th year hike, trek, girls camp and the US Power Tumbling National Championships. I am ready for summer training and I am ready to have the opportunity to sleep. These final weeks in school are just painfull. I can hardly focus on anything. Sorry Teachers.

This weekend starts the Elite Challenge. The Elite Challenge is well, just that, an elite challenge. My fab coach, Steph, is competing and is going to do fantastic! Texas had better watch out. We love you Steph! Good Luck!

On that note can anyone guess what next weekend is? That's right! Regional Championships! Whoo! Flipside is going to Vegas! This will be our final step on our road to Kansas City Missouri for National Championships this July. Ahhh! Oh and if anyone would like to help support our team in fundraising for National Championships click HERE. {And no, I am not going to Morp, incase you were wondering, I will be in Vegas.}

I was going to post a cool video here, but I guess it will have to wait until later. I'm at school you see, and at school the fantastic thing called YouTube doesn't exist.

So my mind is pretty much stuck on tumbling right now and I'm pretty sure it isn't coming out. So I will end here. Enjoy this picture of my team being super awesome at City Creek. I am the one on the far left. Admire my perfect handstand.







Feel my Sunlight




p.s. Congrats to all of you out there going on missions or getting married! There are lots of you and I am excited. Congrats! I love you all.