So, amid the conflict, whether great or small, DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED. GOD IS OVER ALL.

Last week, I was responsible for Singers' Devotional. I never fully know what is going to come out of my mouth. Of course, everything said is good. Not to toot my own horn- Just that every time I share my testimony with anyone, I'm the one who benefits the most. Sometimes, I am quite profound in figuring out my own problems. Without knowing that that is what I've done. The quandary causing this certain post is the fact that if I would have remembered my advice from last week during this week, it may not have been so painful.

My mother always says, "Life is hard and then you die." As depressing as the statement is, I have always found some peace in it. Life is hard. For everyone. If you disagree, I'd like to see your life. But the comfort that I find is that I am not the only person that knows my life is hard. He knows. I am not alone. If only I could knock some sense into my brain every time I begin to think otherwise. My Heavenly Father tries my faith and my patience, but I am not alone. He is my constant companion while I work to come out the other side of a situation as a better person.

The whole reason for this train of thought? I am not going to be an intern with the Church Magazines. I am not going to try and understand it. Why? 1) It hurts too much. 2) I learned long ago that I am not the Director of my Three-Act Play. And 3) Trying to understand it leads me to question everything I've done until this point. In the midst of all my careful attempts to NOT get my hopes up too high, I did anyway. The job seemed perfect. I kept progressing to the next stage in the process. My interview went pretty well. At least I thought I was quite impressive. Obviously, I wasn't impressive enough. (That topic of conversation could be a post itself.) And now, an entire month later, I am going to be graduating in a month and I have no plans as of January 1st.

So now what? I don't know. But I do know that Somebody has a plan. I haven't been wasting my time and money on a pipe dream. I just keep going. And maybe, three weeks from now, I'll be wondering why I ever thought the Church Magazines internship was the place for me. Maybe...

Happy Birthday Maggie!!!

November 26th is a very important day of the year! Today is the anniversary of Maggie's birth. I am such of fan of hers.

Top 10 Reasons why I love my sister:

10- She is a wonderful friend.

9-When she laughs really hard, she squeals. It makes me happy.

8-The little things that she does to let me know she loves me 

7- She makes me want to be a better person.

6- We are so similar that, at times, I think we share a brain.

5- Her constant support

4- She doesn't do anything halfway. Go big or go home.

3- I like the feeling of being someone's little sister. She takes great care of me.

2- Her testimony

1- And the number one reason I love my sister: She isn't afraid to be herself. And she rocks at it!

Happy Birthday dear sister! I love you very much! My world is a better place because you are in it.

November 20th is a Reason to Party!

(Pretend that it is Saturday)


My baby sister is now 15! Today is a miracle. A few months ago, my family didn't think that we would ever make it to today. I will forever be grateful for this little red-head in my life.

Top 10 Reasons I Love This Girl:

10- She is as big a Utah football fan as I am

9- She is beautiful, inside and out

8- Only 15 and yet she has wisdom far beyond her years 

7- She is such a goon! 

6- The smallest thing makes her day.

5-She can always make me smile

4- Her laugh

3- Her hugs

2- The ways she lets me know that I am important to her

And most of all: 1- Carrie's Amazing Faith. This girl has moved mountains.

Carrie-oline! I love you so much! You have changed my life and make me want to be a better person. You own a large section of my heart for ever and always. Happy Happy Birthday! Thanks so much for choosing to be here and share this day with me.

I love shoes...

I am now an owner of TOMS!

TOMS are a brand of shoes. When purchased, the company donates a pair of shoes to children in Third World countries. They are somewhat expensive, depending on your accounted budget to buy shoes. To me, the shoes are for tree-huggers. And over the past few years, I have come to consider myself one.

The first time that I saw the shoes, they were on the feet of my friend Carly Cahoon, aka Tangerine. I think that Tangerine is the coolest thing since sliced bread. I wish there were more people in the world like her. Since that is relatively impossible, I am more than content to be a friend of the original. Still, after my first sight of these particular brand of shoe, I wanted them. The cool kids wear TOMS, and I want to be a cool kid.

That first sighting was somewhere in January of 2009. (I may have forgotten the exact date, but it was around that time that we met.) For almost two years, they have been on my wish list. Not the sensible list, I categorized them instead on the “If Only…” list. I didn’t (think) that I would ever (be a cool kid). I kept seeing more and more people walking around in the blessed shoe. All that was accomplished was to increase my obsession. Due to my blog and the attitude that I can write whatever I want, the two lists combined somewhat a few weeks before my birthday. My dedicated reader of a sister, Maggie, saw them mentioned and made my dream come true! She let me pick the style and color, and since our schedules rarely mix for a shopping trip, I got them on Monday.

As I write this, I am wearing fuchsia pink corduroy TOMS. Like these: http://www.toms.com/womens/new-styles/pomegranate-corduroy-women-s-classics Every time I look down at my feet, it makes me smile. Ridiculously.

Everyday I Am Grateful for Miracles in My Life

I have been riding the rollercoaster lately. 

School is ending and my emotions are pulling me every direction.

Another hospital stay doesn't seem so far out of reach.

I don't have any updates to give on the internship.

Only one event to work this week is not going to help my money supply very much.

BUT

Dad drove me all the way into class today so that I wouldn't be late.

I heard Carrie sing this morning as I helped her play her notes on the piano.

Running to the Trax train made me feel more alive than winded.

More than 7 hours of sleep is utter bliss.

Bonding with the sisters puts me in the best mood.

And all of that was just today. Can't wait for the sun to come up tomorrow and bring its own adventure...

Interviewing Time!

Yesterday in the middle of poetry class, I got a phone call. Not just any phone call. Melissa Merrill from the Church Magazines Editing Department gave me a call to inform me that my portfolio was impressive and the department would like to meet with me for an interview!!!

An interview! Can you believe it? I can't!

Still, I am attempting to not count my chickens before they hatch. I'll just say that if this works out, it would be perfect! The job is an internship with the Friend, New Era, Ensign, or Church News as an editor and writer. Each position is a little different, but the priority is editing! EDITING! I feel like shouting :)

(Actually, funny story. I went outside OSH to get the best service because everyone that knows me knows that my phone struggles. After I hung up the phone, I couldn't help but doing a little dance there in the middle of campus. Don't worry. I looked ridiculous but I didn't care!)

Any tips that anyone has to share? I have gotten this far too many times, thinking that everything is fantastic, and then it all falls apart. What should I wear? I don't have a business suit. Remember, I am still a poor college student. And Dad said to go super conservative, but going completely conservative isn't me. I know a skirt is a must. What do you think? I want to go shopping for a little something special. Any suggestions? I am completely open to any ideas.

I have an interview on the 29th on the 24th Floor!

Here!

Whoa- Lots of Things Goin' On...

So I uploaded all the pictures that were wasting away on my camera and turns out, I have a busy life! Or at least have had one for the past few weeks.

Here are a few of the latest adventures:

Heather, me, and Karen

I sang in the CES Fireside with Elder Richard G. Scott! I don't know if you could see me...BUT I was there! It was fantastic! I love to sing in firesides and listen to the words of the prophets. Even if it is about marriage ;)


I think Aldon is cut off...Then Adam, Mavin, and Heather again. We like to have our pictures taken!

 I sing in Institute Singers. It's great!

That same morning, my friend Sprout had her Mission Farewell! Oh Sprouter! Anyway, a good number of the Brighton crew got together for funness. I had to leave early for the fireside but had no idea that Bugle was going to be singing too. It was a great surprise to turn around and see her smiling face! Yay for Harmony and Bugle!

Ain't it great to be crazy??? Cause that's what we are.

My dear friends: Christine and Heather! (We're a club. Club Awesome!)

And now a change of scenery- A big change of scenery. Still Utah Valley, but forever away. Have you ever been to Payson, Utah? Now I have! My dear friend Lexy lives there. A few weeks ago I experience it for myself.

 Lexy and Spencer got married!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was beautiful. No worries. Everyone got lost. Laurie was headed to Nephi. Kari and Angie tracked down a police officer and asked for directions. It was pure luck that I found it. FYI- there is no Exit 254.

Britt and Jen

OMEGA FRIENDS! L-R: Kari, Angie, and Brittney

We had a barbeque for the luncheon- hamburgers, hotdogs, and IBC Rootbeer. They ran out of hotdog buns so Britt got creative...

"Tastes like a hotdog"

The rootbeer was so fun! "Never had one of these before!" Don't worry Mom, just our usual buzz. No alcohol for us.

Welcome to Payson! It is a lot different than Salt Lake City. They have cows! And yellow fields that go forever. To me, it felt a long ways from civilization.We had time to kill before the reception and didn't want to get in the way. Where to go? Where to go?

Payson has a WALMART!!!

We played around a little. Sure, people walked past and wondered, "Who are these girls?"

After we got back to the party, everything was set up and looked perfect. Britt and I walked around in awe. It was perfectly Lexy :)

More OMEGA FRIENDS! How I love these girls! Brett and Kristen

And now- THE BRIDE AND GROOM! They were so happy. I'm so happy for you Lex! Yay for Wedding Days. :)

(Sorry I can't turn it right....One of these days I'll learn how to do that)

(We took a bunch of pictures, but I fear the rest are all on Brittney's camera. She finally convinced me that it was pointless to take two of everything... No worries. Just some facebook stalking in my future.)