you may say i'm a dreamer, but i'm not the only one

when you cry, be sure to dry your eyes
cause better days are sure to come
and when you smile, be sure to smile wide
and don't let them know that they have won
and when you walk, walk with pride
don't show the hurt inside
because the pain will soon be gone

when you dream, dream big
as big as the ocean blue
cause when you dream it might come true
when you dream, dream big

when you laugh, be sure to laugh out loud
cause it carry all your cares away
and when you see, see the beauty all around and in yourself
and it will help you feel okay
and when you pray, pray for strength
to help you carry on
when the troubles come your way

when you dream, dream big
as big as the ocean blue
cause when you dream it might come true
when you dream, dream big

and when you laugh, be sure to laugh out loud
cause it carry all your cares away
and when you see, see the beauty all around and in yourself
and it will help you feel okay
and when you pray, pray for strength
to help you carry on
when the troubles come your way

when you dream, dream big
as big as the ocean blue
cause when you dream it might come true
when you dream, dream big
-ryan shupe & the rubberband


someday, i'm going to write a book. an actual novel. even if i'm the only person who ever reads it (and i will be because i am way too much of a chicken to ever share something like that with anyone. its that whole "welcome to a life of insecurity and paralyzing self-doubt" thing. plus my indecisiveness. bad combination those three are.) i'm going to do it. i've always wanted to. mostly just to say that i did, and to check it off my list of things i want to do in life. but i will do it.

i decided today that i miss reading. i used to read all the time, but then my addiction to that switched to tv (more time efficient, and a tad more entertaining) and quite frankly i don't have time for one, let alone both. sometimes i tried to fool myself into thinking i could watch my shows and read my book at the same time, but i was totally kidding myself. i would get through a whole tv show and a few chapters in the book and realize that i didn't know what happened in either one. so then i had to waste (not waste...) more time because i had to watch and read what i missed, separately. i think i want to reread the harry potter books this summer. but i also want to read funny (as in meg cabot's the boy next door) books that aren't cheesy and that actually make me laugh out loud. i'm torn. i know i can do all of that but i can't decide which to start on. also, i will gladly take any suggestions of good books to read.

elder scott came to our stake conference this past weekend. it was a very neat experience to only be 9 rows away from him. that was a whole kind of spirit i had never felt before. at the end of his talk, he told us to dream dreams that seem impossible. then trust in the Lord, have faith, and make them happen.

i decided to add that little list on the side. knowing me, i'll probably get sick of the way my blog looks in a few weeks and redo it and take it off. but for now, its there, written somewhere for me to see. baby steps.


"twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. so throw off the bowlines. sail away from the safe harbor. catch the trade winds in your sails. explore. dream. discover."
-mark twain

Whole Lotta Love

Summer plans are slowly coming together.
It shall (so far) consist of this:
(just pretend I'm laying next to it/in it with iPod/book in hand)


This:

But more importantly:
(told you I was obsessed)


This:

With:


This:



With hopefully a trip to:



NOT PICTURED (mostly because they're on the "hopefully" list):
--A new car (at the VERY end of summer, closer to fall actually. And by new, I mean new to me ;) BUT it will also by purchased by me, so I will OWN my very own car. So, still something to be excited about)
--Bedroom furniture (depending on a) if my dad will give me Lindsay's room when she moves out (not likely, but I refuse to give up), b) in the event that he does not, if I can convince him that it is a good idea to put furniture that doesn't fit in my tiny bedroom, even though I have no suggestions as to what he should do with the furniture currently in there and c) how big of a dent I want to put in my car money)

And many more things that I cannot think of because I just looked at the clock and remembered I have work at 8am, causing me to therefore forget the rest of my summer happiness.

All I can say is, I LOVE Arizona. I love the heat (even though I question my sanity almost every time I get in my car- why again did I choose black?) and everything that goes with it.

HAPPY SUMMER!

Rockin' The Suburbs

YESTERDAY:

1. 6 months! I am thankful that I have made it 6 months and only have 18 more until Jeremy comes home.

2. I am thankful for everything this whole mission thing has taught me. It's not easy. I've definitely grown a lot and even though some mornings I wonder how I'm going to make it through the day, I'm grateful for the experience.

3. I am thankful for the small things. It's always the texts, phone calls, hugs and little talks that make a world of difference for me.



TODAY:

1. I am thankful for this little boy:

His name is Cole and I started watching him when he was born almost 2 years ago. I started to watch him less and less when I got a job and then when school started this semester it made it even harder. It's been about 2 months since I've watched him but when he saw me he got this huge smile on his face and ran and gave me a hug. It made me really happy, I've missed him.

2. I am thankful for jeans and a t-shirt. It's my favorite combination.

3. I am thankful I enjoyed Twilight. I am glad the movie didn't ruin my love for it. I've talked to a lot of people that didn't like it and said "they should have done this" or "they should have done that." Yes, they very well could have. But then someone else would have had a problem with it. I thought the characters were amazing. Can you imagine having to play that role knowing that everyone is going to bash you if you so much as roll your eyes the wrong way? How intimidating. The movies are never as good as the books, but I think they did an awesome job. Was it cheesy? Yes. Did I laugh when I wasn't supposed to? Yes. Will I be seeing it a billion more times before it comes out on DVD? Yes.

For a Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic

1. I am thankful that my chem teacher let me pick up my test and leave so I was able to make it to Natalee's reception.

2. I am thankful Lindsay is coming home in less than a month! I'm sad she won't be here for Thanksgiving.

3. I am thankful for my cell phone. I know that is a little funny but I left it at home today and I was so paranoid that the one day I forget it would be the day I would break down on the side of the road. Luckily, that didn't happen. I'm just glad I have one, it makes me feel safer.



AAAND, I'm going to Twilight tonight!!! I am excited, but am telling myself it is going to be awful. That way, if it really is, it will lessen my disappointment level. But if it's good, I will be pleasantly surprised :)

A Mess to be Made

1. I am thankful for Sundays. I love them. Its fun to be able to just hang out with my family.

2. I am thankful that my mom loves to read because she goes and picks out all the good books and then I get to read them with no effort put forth on my part.

3. I am thankful to know that I am a child of God. That is the primary theme this month and I think it is important for all of us to remember that and be grateful for that knowledge.

Stole this :)

50 random things about me.

1. I love music. Its really my favorite thing in this world.

2. I love watching sports. Watch being the key word.

3. My favorite color is green, but I love wearing black and white.

4. I talk a lot. And usually too fast (or so I've been told).

5. I've become obsessed with T.V. and I watch way too many shows. Some of my favorites are Gilmore Girls, Grey's Anatomy, Friends, The Office and The Hills. Oh and Jon & Kate Plus 8.

6. I have scoliosis and I wore a back brace for 2 and a half years. My spine is still not straight, but it used to sort of be the in the shape of an 'S' so I'll take what I can without having to get surgery.

7. I want like 6 kids. I know, I know, I'll probably change my mind once I have a few, but for now, 6.

8. I love to sing. When I was little I would walk around my house singing as loud as I could. I still do that.

9. I'm a Sun Devils fan. I love going to and watching the football games (even though they're not good anymore).

10. I want to go to California and walk down Santa Monica Boulevard.

11. I don't like taking long car trips. I've been pretty spoiled with the whole free-flights thing.

12. I hate shopping, but I love clothes. If I ever won money from something, I would get a whole new wardrobe.

13. My favorite scripture is Galatians 2:20.

14. I love food! I'm a picky eater, but I've gotten better.

15. I find something I like at a restaurant and order that every time I go there. It drives my dad crazy.

16. I like to read. My favorite books are (you guessed it) the Twilight series.

17. My favorite movie of all time is Father of the Bride part II. I can pretty much quote the whole thing, as can my siblings.

18. I miss going to St. Johns every year for the pioneer celebration.

19. I have a funny family that I love very much.

20. I love little children. If I could live off of babysitting money, I would.

21. I'm an Arizona girl through and through. I don't do snow and as long as I can help it, I will live here my whole life.

22. I only like the rain because we only get it about twice a year.

23. I am SO excited that it is finally cooling off. Arizona's fall/winter is my favorite time of year.

24. I love the saying (that I stole off a T.V. show) "We're almost there and no where near it. All that matters is that we're going" because you can apply it to just about anything. The Temple is right around the corner for me but it still feels so far away. But the important thing is that I'll get there someday.

25. I would love to be a writer. If I was creative enough to write a book, that would be amazing.

26. I love lyrics. I can take any song, no matter what it's about, and I will find a way to apply it to my life. I think songs can teach us a lot.

27. I have the best mom and I'm a lot like her.

28. I'm blunt and that sometimes gets me in trouble (one of the ways I'm like my mom).

29. I love my dad. I hope I marry someone as hard-working as he is.

30. Despite what my family will tell you, I like being busy.

31. I want to travel to all 50 states. I've been to 11 and would like to see the other 39.

32. I love Costa Vida. I never get sick of eating there.

33. I've looked up to my sisters my whole life and have always wanted to be just like them. They could not be more different, but I'm realizing more and more that I've become a combination of the two.

34. I love strawberries. I will eat anything that is strawberry flavored.

35. I hate exercising. I use my back as an excuse, but really I'm just lazy.

36. My favorite hymn is #220- Lord, I Would Follow Thee. It was a very exciting day when I learned how to play it.

37. I love my little brother. I call him the pride and joy of our family.

38. I want to learn to speak Russian. Can you guess why?! ;)

39. I think moving into our current home and ward has been one of the best things that has happened to me.

40. I love soda and do not drink enough water.

41. I want them to hurry up and build the Gilbert Temple so I can get married in it.

42. I like to tell stories.

43. I become obsessed with a song or CD and listen to it over and over until I get sick of it and then I can't listen to it for months after that.

44. I have a lot of respect for missionaries. I never realized how long two years was until my best friend left to serve his mission. I think these boys are amazing.

45. I love the beach, but hate the ocean.

46. I've been stung by a stingray on two separate occasions (hence my disliking of the ocean). I have a scar on each foot.

47. I consider my siblings to be my best friends and I hope it always stays that way.

48. I play the piano, but I'm self-taught so I'm not very good.

49. In all four years, I never went to a dance at my own high school.

50. I don't like keeping things the same for very long. We've been in this house for 4 and a half years and I've already switched bedrooms and rearranged my room about 12 times. And that's not an exaggeration. Good luck to my husband!