And I Quote

Just some of my favorite quotes from the past few weeks!

"Choices are sacrifices. Inevitably, that means giving up something you want for something you want more."
"We are not the same persons this year as last; nor are those we love. It is a happy chance if we, changing, continue to love a changed person.""Rather than dwelling on the past, we should make the most of today, of the here and now, doing all we can to provide pleasant memories for the future." -President Thomas S. Monson
"Being with him made my brain quiet. I didn't have to invent a thing" 
"We must constantly remind ourselves that He is God and that we are not" - Jeffrey R. Holland
"You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage - pleasantly, smiling, non apologetically - to say 'no' to other things. And the way to do that is by having a bigger 'yes' burning inside" - Stephen Covey
"When someone else's happiness is your happiness, that is love"
"Never forget, even for an instant, who you serve and who is in charge." - Elder Oaks
"You don't have to have it all worked out to move forward"
"You can be excellent in every way. You can be first class. There is no need for you to be a scrub. Respect yourself. Do not feel sorry for yourself. Do not dwell on unkind things others may say about you. Polish and refine whatever talents the Lord has given you. Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, but with great and strong purpose in your heart. Love life and look for its opportunities." - Gordon B. Hinckley
"Men and Women who turn their lives over to God will discover the He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He can deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, and pour out peace" - Ezra Taft Benson
"Some people are old at 18 and some are young at 90. Time is a concept humans created."
Love. This. Movie. "So it's not going to be easy. It's going to be really hard. And we're going to have to work at this every day. But I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, every day." - The Notebook (SWOON)
"Think of all the beauty still around you and be happy" - Anne Frank.

(I don't know why the format came out this way...it just did...)

Belated Birthday Post!

   Woohoo I'm 20! haha I didn't think I would feel much older, and to be honest the label year of "20" doesn't make me feel older. Okay..maybe a little. It's the things I'm doing with life and the upcoming events that make me feel old. Because my birthday is in the spring (okay so it's still -2 degrees outside but in my head I'm at the beach), it's when I do more planning. I have had a few pretty heavy things weighing on my mind recently, and it's caused me to reflect back on the people in my life (read the previous blog post if you want to hear some MAJOR sappiness ooooozing from this blogger) and I am filled with gratitude for the experiences, both good and bad, opportunities, and people who have filled my life.

Look, I know this is a random spot but the blog site wouldn't let me move it. It's stuck. But here is me and Soph at Cheesecake Factory!

     Besides that, I'm pretty darn excited for being twenty. Let me just tell you some of the fun things I have planned: The Color Run next weekend wifff Lizzy, Africa in May, just being part of the Chariots still and hopefully for the rest of my college experience, getting past most of my general education requirements so I can finally focus on my legit classes for Communications and Anthropology, going to General Conference for the first time, Trek (hopefully), getting an apartment apartment (with a real oven and fridge...not the rip off kind in my dorm now), just having fun and being with the people I love! And some of these might be tweaked or taken off the list, and things will be added and some not so great things will happen, but I know that everything happens for a reason and my plans are not as good as whatever God has planned for my life! Go with the flow, man.(say it like a hippie would.)
    So lemme back up real quick and tell you about the birthdayyyyy! It was small and simple and wonderful:) I got some clothes from my family and I love them and we went to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner. I fell in love all over again. Even though it was an hour drive and an hour and a half wait it was totally worth it (not sure if everyone else thought so but I did!). Also I got a beautiful new scarf and an awesome "inspiration box" from Jennifer and Liz. I love them.
    Aaaand let me fast forward now:) So I've had ideas rolling around in my head of goals for the summer for me because it'll probably be the last one I get to spend NOT having to do summer class. So I wrote a list of summer goals I want to complete. It's just a list of things I want to accomplish and will help prepare me for more of life's adventures and make me a better person. And have fun. I've realized that I get so busy now that by the end of the day I just want to let my head go to static channel and fall asleep. I love the things that keep me busy, but I need to take breaks and make time for fun. It's unhealthy to go days without busting your gut laughing! So here is my summer goal list:
1. Run a 5k by the end
2. Make enough $ for textbooks in the fall (but really...)
3. Be my dogs best friend
4. Get out in the sun!
5. Keep up with French
6. Have Fun EVERYDAY
7. Keep a gratitude journal with me
8. Learn to budget and stick to it
9. Compile A Cookbook and try the recipes!
10. Keep a picture of Christ and pass along cards with me
11. Work on Musicianship
12. Actually practice the piano

    Well my blog posts usually end up longer than I think...cause I tend to talk a lot and ramble, so here's the end! And some pictures to enjoy! Have a fantastic week!

Birthday Dinner! And new shirt and sweater:)

Kevin and I while they sang "Happy Birthday" to me. Take note that he is not singing...

Oh nothing, just the fried macaroni and cheese burger bigger than my face. That was delicious.

Liz and I at Jack's first home baseball game! Freezing.