Your Potential, Your Privileges

Because I love the videos a missionary I write sends me. They always brighten my day and put me back on my feet. I hope they do the same for  you!

CMV

June is CMV awareness month. I had never heard of CMV until a year ago. My sister, who is also my best friend had twins. Little did we know that they would be affected by CMV. My sister wrote an incredibly beautiful and insightful post about how it has affected her life.  You can read it here.

I love my sweet niece and nephew more than I can express. Almost more than my heart can handle. I'm beyond blessed to get to be called their aunt and for the time I have spent with them. Please become informed and help stop CMV! You can learn more about CMV here.

Tunesday

Happy Tunesday!

You can buy it here!

Change

It's inevitable. It's constant. Second by second things are changing. Whether you are the movement of it or the victim of it, it's happening. You can't really see it. Time isn't visible and sometimes I wish it were. I wish I could sit next to it and ask it to stop for a second or speed up or even just ask what it feels like to constantly be moving. Nothing moves faster. All things are measured by it. And time means change no matter what you do. One day you wake up and realize everything is different, but what in the world got me here? And of course, time did. It's an ongoing, illusive, unpredictable.

This past year has slipped by me in minutes. A moment ago I remember eating cheese and crackers with my sister and her giant belly full of babies. BABIES. What a crazy thought that was. Now babies are always on my mind. Those babies and their little giggles and squeals. A moment ago my best friend and I were sitting on a curb, talking about life and enjoying the stars. And now we are living far from that curb and the thoughts we had. A moment ago me and my mom were driving in the fall leaves, taking back roads, and laughing. A moment ago I didn't know what the future held. I still don't. But I find comfort in the night. Knowing I lived another little piece of the future.

So here's to change and accepting it. Moving with it and not against it. I've never had a change in my life that hasn't ended up having a beautiful outcome. No matter how hard, different, or unexpected there's an opportunity to embrace it and grow. Like they say, "Only time will tell".

Tunesday

"Keep your head up. Keep your heart strong." Happy Tunesday!




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One Of Those Days

Ike (my dog) has been terribly sick and I have had no idea how to help. Our fourth vet visit is on the way. My sleep has been whack. At a red light the back of my car got smashed into. And in what has felt like such chaos I've been home alone which somehow has made it more difficult. So, the other day I just had "one of those days".  I was a big grump and was definitely feeling that self pity. What do you do on one of those days? On those days my mood gets so bleak it's almost like I don't even want to be cheered up. "Nope! That's it! Day ruined!" What a silly thought.

On those days, I have been shown tender mercies. Mercies like my brother and his wife checking up on me and helping with chores. They even brought me Thai food. My other brother has helped me with insurance and such with the car.  My nana went to one of the vet appointments with me and then we went to dinner. Friends have laughed with me and included me. Music has rejuvenated me. And at night I look up at the stars and am reminded of the bigger picture. "Those days" are just a moment. Not even usually an entire day. I'm constantly reminded of love. On those days I can count on the blessings my Heavenly Father has blessed me with. Family. Friends. Music. Prayer. And this world that reminds me of beauty and perspective. It's amazing to me the love I have felt from my Savior even on those days that are hard even if they seem minor and silly. Every pain we feel matters to Him, big or small.

Are you having one of those days? If so, I'm terribly sorry. Know it will get better. Find love and you will find comfort and joy. The people in our lives have so much light cast away our gloom. There is a constant love flowing from heaven for you even in the simplest forms. Keep your head up. This crappy day will pass. Plus…there's always ice cream. I highly recommend Haagen Daz's Carmel Cone flavor. Do what you love, remember you are loved, and have a wonderful day!

Tunesday

Here's to not going to every concert you want to! I'll catch you next time Jimmy Eat World. Happy Tunesday!




You can buy it here!

Tunesday

Last week I went to Twenty One Pilots with my friend Maria. They are her favorite and so she was kind enough to introduce me to their music. Their concert was amazing! It was one of the funnest, craziest crowds I've been in. Hunter Hunted and NONONO opened for them and they were great as well! I can't thank her enough for such a fun experience!

Yes, the crowd is holding up the drummer.

So for Tunesday here is one of my favorite songs they performed. And hey, have a wonderful week! Happy Tunesday!




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Patterns of Light

One of the missionaries I write sent me this video in an email. It was a wonderful reminder that God's timing is perfect and that He understands our needs. It helped me find a little more hope. I hope it does the same for you and I hope you are having a fantastic sunday!

Tunesday

Sufjan is pretty amazing. This is one of my favorite songs. It's beautiful and it's even more beautiful because it is about Christ. It's a wonderful reminder that our Savior loves us so much that He sacrificed everything so we don't have to be alone. And lately I have felt that abundantly. I hope you do too. Happy Tunesday!




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Farewell To Cristina

Tonight my favorite character on Grey's Anatomy is leaving the show. I'm pretty devastated to say the least. As I watch I will be wearing a leather jacket and eating cereal straight from the box. I've spent maybe too much of my time with Cristina Yang and Meredith. I like to think that they are my people too. So here's to you Cristina! Grey's will not be the same without you. (Yes, I'm taking this very seriously.)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

I will probably need to be sedated after watching this episode.

And because of Cristina I'm forever obsessed with leather jackets

Tunesday

How could Ellie not be this week's Tunesday? Here's her newest song! I would highly recommend checking out her other music as well. Her song, "Explosions", was the first song of her's I fell in love with when I saw her perform it live at her first concert I went to. Happy Tunesday!




You can buy it here!

Ellie Goulding

On Thursday me and one of my friends, Reagan, went to the Ellie Goulding concert at The Great Saltair. My other friend, Lex and her brother, were going to go with us but they couldn't quite make it there when we did so we met up after. The first time I went to Ellie Goulding I went with Lex and it was incredible! That was a year ago and I've been a big fan ever since. I so wish Lex could have been next to me and Reag during the concert!

It was amazing! Truly. It was one of the best concerts, if not the best concert I've ever been to. Her performance blew me away! It was even better than I had anticipated. Her control is insane and her voice didn't tire once. Ellie was bouncing all over the stage and brought the most energy I've ever felt at a concert. I was honestly so giddy the entire time. My face hurt from smiling, my voice was gone, and my body was tired from all of the jumping and dancing. Post-concert has to be one of the best feelings in the world.

She played all of my favorite songs, "Beating Heart", included. I didn't expect her to play that one because it is from a soundtrack and when she did I got enormous butterflies and better yet, she played it acoustically. I had major chills. It was so good!

When the show ended we went over to the merch table and as everyone was about cleared out Ellie waved from off of one of the balconies. Such a perfect ending to the show! It was an incredible night full of lots of singing, dancing, and laughter. I couldn't have been in better company! So thank you to my wonderful friends for spending such a fun night with me!

Ellie thanking the crowd for being dedicated fans

And, of course, thank you Ellie for the fantastic show! I can't wait for you to come back to Utah!

Ingrid Michaelson

Yesterday was quite the Tunesday. My best friend, Lex, with her incredible luck won a radio contest to go to a private mini concert and a meet and greet with Ingrid Michaelson. (Her song Girls Chase Boys was my first Tunesday. You can listen here!) Lex invited me and I can't thank her enough! It was amazing. It was at the Coca-Cola Lounge in SLC. Lex's luck continued and we ended up being on the VIP list. Front row, inches away from Ingrid. I was giddy to say the least. We also had a gift on our chairs: a water bottle, sunglasses, and chap-stick. Our lanyards were the cherry on top.

Ingrid was so hilarious! She was making jokes about how her mom tells her she has only had one hit in her life. She was laughing about how that song is going to stick with her forever and probably be written in her obituary. She had the whole room laughing multiple times.

Super talented! She sounded amazing live, along with her back up singers. They were spot on. I'm always so pleased to hear an artist that is even better live than recorded.

And then we got to meet her and get a picture with her! It's hard to smile normally while containing that much excitement!

Thank you again, Lex, for such a wonderful day! Not only getting to meet Ingrid but for a fun day spent with my best friend!

Tunesday

Happy Tunesday!




You can buy it here!

Instant Butterflies

Butterflies. I'd like to know who was the first person to come up with that description. It's so perfect. So I was thinking, what are things that give me instant butterflies? And I discovered some of those things are quite silly. Things like:

- When the band first walks out at a concert
- Cliff jumping
- Summer drives with the windows down
- Seeing someone I've missed
- NYC
- When a roller coaster goes down its first drop
- Meeting someone for the first time
- Christmas Eve
- Driving through the mountains when the leaves have changed
- When the plane touches down
- Night hikes
- Midnight movies
- Falling in love with a new song
- Running into the ocean
- Smelling the pines while pulling into the cabin

And of course, the classic..

- Kissing

Some butterflies are more gentle than others but they are always a reminder that I'm alive. Life is exciting and adventure is everywhere, even in the simplest of forms. Oh those silly butterflies. Want to know what else gives me butterflies? Fridays. Have a such wonderful weekend!

Tunesday

Because I love New York. Because Sara Bareilles is incredibly talented. Because I bought this album on vinyl yesterday. Because I love the lyrics and the verses especially in this song. Happy Tunesday!




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Because Of Him

Because of Him I can be with my family forever.
Because of Him I am never alone.
Because of Him I can change.
Because of Him there is always hope.
Because of Him I have no need to fear.
Because of Him my pains can give me strength.

I have felt my Savior's love so much. I've felt it in the embrace of my family and in the laughter of my friends. I've been comforted when I have felt discouraged. I have felt strength when I have been weak. His love is always there. Even though He has already given everything, He continues to give. Everyday we can look to Him and feel peace. He has lifted me time and time again, even when I have felt undeserving. His love has no limits.

Easter has always been one of my two favorite holidays. It has always felt bright and warm. Isn't it so appropriate that the time of year that we celebrate Easter is when everything is so full of life? Birds chirp and the sun shines. I can feel that He lives as spring comes around with all of the flowers blooming, the kids outside playing, the animals coming out to enjoy the sun, and the grass greening. The resurrection couldn't be more beautiful and more true. I know with all of my heart that He loves us and has created a beautiful world for us to enjoy and remind us of that. I'm grateful for this beautiful life He has blessed me with and for the joy He continually pours out upon me and upon the people I love.

John 11:25
"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."

Because of Him I will be better.
Because of Him I will love more.
Because of Him I will show more patience.
Because of Him I will have more faith.
Because of Him I am thankful.

Happy Easter!

Tunesday

Yesterday was Reagan's birthday (one of my best friends) and she is a complete lover of music. We got to hang out recently and it was so much fun and so, so needed. She showed me this song, so I figured it would be perfect for Tunesday! She is truly such a wonderful person and anyone who comes in contact with her is so very fortunate. I'm so grateful to have her in my life. She is an optimist, kind, hilarious, adventurous, and so full of light and love. So, Reag, this Tunesday is dedicated to you and your love of music! I love you so very much and hope you had a wonderful birthday!





You can buy it here!

Also, Reagan wrote a blog post about nature and The National Parks awhile back on her fantastic blog. You can read it here!

Tunesday

Happy Tunesday!




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