Foreword: This post is on a much lighter note than the
previous post. Let's see how many read this one :)
This evening, I watched one of my favorite movies from 2012,
"People Like Us." If you haven't seen it, it's essentially about a
guy who finds out he has a half sister, and after his father's death, he is
forced to find her. They click, he loves her kid (his nephew), and then the
conflict occurs. IT'S SO GOOD. SO GOOD.
Anyways, at one point in the story, Sam (the main character,
Chris Pine... he is gorgeous) he tells his nephew six things that he needs to
remember all the time. These six things are things that were passed down from
his father.
If this post does not make sense, there is one solution: SEE
THE MOVIE. Simple request :)
1. If you like something because you think other people are
going to like it, it’s a sure bet that no one will.
2. Most doors in the world are closed, so if you find one
that you want to get into, you dang well better have an interesting knock.
3. Everything that you think is important isn’t. Everything
that you think is unimportant is.
4. Don’t **** where you eat. (Maybe inappropriate?)
5. Lean into it. The outcome doesn’t matter. What matters is
that you were there for it, whatever ‘it’ is - good or bad.
6. Don’t sleep with people who have more problems than you
do. (Also, a tad inappropriate, but its funny because he's telling this list to
an 11 year old)
Yesterday, I experienced a Christmas Miracle. My experience could
have ruined my night and made me stranded, unable to make it home for
Christmas. Yet, that was not the case! Here is what happened:
I had just passed Twin Falls on my way home for Christmas at my parents'
house, so I was essentially in the middle of the desert. Soon I heard a noise
as loud as a plane, but when I looked around, i saw nothing. Then I realized
it: I pulled over, and discovered I had a flat tire. After waiting for less
than 5 minutes, a mini-van pulled up in front of me. From it ran a man and his
wife, on their way to Utah for Christmas. The husband, Mr. Huckabee, grabbed
his coat and started to help me change my tire. After finding 3 wrenches that
didn't fit, we were at a loss on how to remove my tire, when at that very
moment something crazy happened. I looked up and saw one of my best friends
coming toward me. I haven't seen him in months, and I was going to stop and see
his family on my way home. He was supposed to be coming home from California a
day earlier, but had postponed his return because of weather. He gave me a hug,
and began to help me and Mr. Huckabee fix my tire. Right away, we found the
right tool and it was smooth sailing from there. Because my friend was not
suited well for the intense cold and wind, he went back to his car and headed
home to Pocatello.
My carload of strangers said they would follow me to the next town where
I could get a tire. About 25 miles later, I pulled into Rupert, Idaho and my
strangers went an opposite way. About 5 minutes down the road, I pulled into Les
Schwab and an empty parking lot... They were closed. Well, guess who pulled in
right next to me? It was none other than The Huckabee's! They explained to me
that they had been on the phone with every tire place in the area, and they
knew a guy that could fix my tire! We exchanged phone numbers in case we got
separated, and we started down the road. About 10 miles later, we reached a
very closed tire shop. They informed me that a guy would be coming to unlock
the shop and help me, and told me that they would stay until they got there.
The man soon appeared, unlocked the shop, and began to fix Ip (aka my
car). The Huckabee's stayed while he was doing this, telling me something like
"if our daughter was stranded, we wouldn't want her to be alone with a random
stranger at a car shop." I was able to get a used tire for my car for only
$30, and, two hours after my accident, was soon ready to go.
I experienced a Christmas Miracle last night. I know that I met angels. I
know that God was personally helping me through this situation, and I am so
blessed for this knowledge. When contemplating this holiday, we are often asked
to remember the Savior and all the many blessings that come from his birth,
ministry, and atonement. I am so grateful to have a Savior who loves me, and to
know that he knows exactly what I went through and how I was feeling. He knew
to send those strangers to me for help. He knew to send me my friend to give me
confidence, and to give me a little bit of faith in my situation. And he knew
the struggles and internal hardships that I was experiencing. This experience
gave me a different outlook on Christmas, and really helped me to see the true
meaning of the season; giving, love, and faith.
I love all of my
friends. I love my family. I love my Savior. And I love my angels.
I FINALLY GET A BREAK! I am so stoked that I don't have school for 9 days. However, I probably have enough homework to adequately steal away a huge hunk of my time.... boo. This Thanksgiving break is going to be very strange and very different. For the first time in my life, I do not get to go home for Thanksgiving. We can all thank Target for opening at 9pm on Thanksgiving... While I won't get to go to my own family's dinner, I will still get to be part of a family feast here in Boise at the wonderful Clark Family residence. I am so grateful for them and their hospitality :)
On Friday, after my 10 hour shift (kill me now), we are going on a road trip! I love road trips so much!!! This time, however, it is not Sam and I with our shenanigans, but instead, six of my closest friends traveling to attend our dear friend Sharaysa's baptism! I am so excited for her! I met her in September and I am so happy! We are able to each other because of our mutual experiences, and I love having someone who understands!
Hopefully, i'll have another post on or before Thursday, but for now I want to send a shout out to some friends and family whom are on my mind:
Pretzels (aka my best roommate Jasmine)
Mi mama
My favorite baby cousin Rachel
My boy :)
My Florida friends (Chelsea, Brooke, Karen, and Katie)
Hello! It has been months since I've blogged, and oh how my life has changed! It is crazy how things are so completely different now then how i thought they would be three months ago. I will divide this post into two parts: September and October.
September
1. I love my roommate. The tears that came in June were completely worth it, because the result of it was that Jasmine and I became roommates. We are such good friends! (We volunteered together for my honor society, Lambda Pi Eta, at the Hemophilia Walk!
2. I also love Flip. Flip is our handheld flip camera with whom we film the craziness of our lives. We probably made about 30 videos in September alone. We are going to make a YouTube channel with them... if we ever get around to editing. You all (meaning all of my millions... or 10 viewers) must subscribe when it comes into existence.
3. We got Cat! At the beginning of the month we were really lonely and dealing with boy drama, so we went on a search. We drove around for hours on Labor Day and finally found a shelter that was open. We walk out of that place as Jasmine, Jasmine, and Robin. Yes; our cat's name is Jasmine. And No, we did not name her that. After the occasionally confusion in the house, however, we began to call her Cat Jasmine, and how its just Cat.... We must give her away now though :(
4. BARN DANCE! We went to a barn dance put on by our church ward, and it was so much fun! Jasmine and I bought some adorable cowboy boots at Target, and danced the night away.
October
1. Dates Dates Dates. I've gone on a lot of dates this month and I love it! It has introduced me to a bunch of new people, and I've had a blast! Oh yeah... and the boy is pretty great too!
2. We went to Oregon! Sam and I took a mini road trip to La Grande to visit our friend Molly, who got married last December. We love her so much and we had such a great time catching up!
3. Tickets. Over the span of a week and a half, Sam, Jasmine, and I all got tickets. Sam and mine were for speeding, and Jasmine's was for expired registration. That means a lot of money going to the court.... that meant no new clothes for Robin this month :(
4. I love missionary lessons. I've had some things that I was very concerned/confused about. However, after a good long talk with a good friend, and a LOT of prayer, things got better and I feel like i'm in a better place. Recently, we had the most amazing lesson I've ever had. The Spirit was SO incredibly strong. It was amazing and touching and testimony-strengthening :)
5. We had the best Halloween costumes EVER! Myself, Wes, Sharaysa, Tia, and Colton made the most creative and awesome ghost costumes, and Jasmine and Acen made themselves PacMan and Ms PacMan! It made it even better because we had a church activity at the Corn Maze! We got so many compliments and had so much fun chasing Acen and Jasmine throughout the night!
I love my life and I love all of my friends! Things are going so well for me and I feel on top of the world :)
While I have been keeping extremely busy this week, tonight is my down night. After a wonderful lunch at Garcia's with Miss Amy and after running multiple errands, I decided to have a "me night." So, of course, I grabbed a bag of Caesar Salad Mix, a peach milkshake from Chic-fil-A, and redboxed The Vow! I love this movie... Such a sad, yet touching movie. I saw it twice in the theater... which is practically unheard of for me. Oh yeah, and I saw it two nights in a row... I forgot that part :)
This is my last week of summer! It also is crazy, weird, and nerve-wracking because one of my best friends is coming home from his mission on Friday!!!! I can't believe it's already time! I am so excited to see him :)
With that said, I have jam-packed my week. Some of the things on the agenda include:
- Boating/Tubing
- Garcia's with Amy
- Rachel's Bridal Shower
- Hunger Games with Rachel
- Some good, high quality Robin-Cass time
- "Hair done, nails did" (Best Friends Forever reference...if you didn't catch it!)
- Olive Garden with Tyler
- RENT musical @ ISU on Friday!
And I move back to Boise on Sunday!!! I am so excited to be back! I miss all my Boise friends SO much! This semester might kill me... but I won't know until I try, right? :)
[I am watching a LIVE Gavin DeGraw concert on television right now... I love this song so much. And I love when I can relate to a song on such an extreme level.. ]
Here's to trying new things this semester!!! Huzzah!
Its been so nice coming back to Idahome and catching up with family and friends. I have missed them all dearly. And while I am stoked to be home and cannot wait to get back into the swing of things, things are getting difficult. These next two weeks are going to be trying. With me being, well, a girl and all, my mind is constantly working at a million mph. And usually, that isn't good. In two weeks, one of my best friends will be coming home, and I couldn't be happier! However, that also means it has become overthinking central over here. My emotions are going up and down, up and down, sometimes all within a few hours. So we will see how it all works out with that.... Cross Your Fingers :)
Aside from the boy issue, moving back to Idaho has presented many different individual struggles for me. With my new membership into my church, I feel like i'm learning all the time. It's hard; it's hard to learn new doctrine, and hard to learn new rules, and new ways of life. And while I love my friends so immensely, most of them do not understand the situation that I am in. For example, it may be easy for someone who's grown up in the church to go without coffee. But, I do not have that same connection. I am trying to hard to stop, but it's a process. Seriously though, sometimes your body is just so tired that it is necessary... I think having a coffee every once in a while when it is desperately needed is ok. It's just as bad as consuming an energy drink in the same conditions!! I don't know... maybe I just don't have that emotional tie to it. Just one silly little example, but it just showcases how difficult it is to transtition into this new culture. Furthermore, I am so thankful to my Florida friends because a large handful of them actually have been in my place, as a new member. I love these friends so much and I'm gonna miss them greatly... I already do.
I'm in a funk. I cannot get out of it; this feeling of low-ness and seclusion.... I hate these moods and these "stupid girl emotions."
This was such a positive and uplifting post today! :)
In 34 Days, my life will go in 1 of 3 directions. Or will go in 1 of a million directions. In other words, my life is changing.
First off, I have a new roommate! I am so excited to live with Jasmine, aka Pretzelz, and we got a great place! It's extremely close to campus, and besides the current wood beatle infestation, its cute, little, and cozy :)
Next, No more debate. I don't know if i'd written about it at all, but I quit debate. I think it was the right decision for me for multiple reasons. However, I still have little doubts every now and again. Speech and Debate competition has been six years of my life, and now I won't get to compete ever again. I am looking for a team in the valley to help out with, though. This will give me some good conections with schools and coaches in the area for when I graduate. I am also taking a whopping 20 credits this semester, which means that I would not have had time for debate anyhow. I hope I can manage this workload!
Additionally, I am currently working on transfering Target stores for the school year. I decided that instead of going back to my store in Eagle, I am going to transfer to a closer Target. This will save me a lot of time and gas money, and it will be a lot more convenient for my schedule.
On top of all this, I am taking a class at my church's Institute of Religion. I have never taken a class like this and I am very nervous and anxious about it, especially since i'm new to the church. Luckly, one of my friends from high school, Michelle, just moved to Boise and is going to take it with me! In conjunction with that class, I am also hoping to make the Insitute Audition Choir. I heard them perform at their year end concert and they were amazing. I miss choir, and I think this will be a fun new experience for me.
Last but not least, in 34 days, the missionary boy comes home. I am so excited to see him. He is one of my best friends and I've missed just talking to him. As much as I love letters, things happen, and sometimes it takes more than a month to get a letter. I don't know how things will be when he gets home. I don't know what will happen. What I do know is that I will be going back to school on the other side of the state just 2 days after he gets home. Great timing, huh? I actually think it might be a blessing in disguise. It will give us all time to think. And it will give me time to hang out with Boise boy... I mentioned him in an earlier post, but he's a good friend of mine. Right before I left, we started spending a lot of time together and it was great. So...... This is where I stand. Confused, yet anxious for this next step in my life.
I'm sorry that i'm not really "topical" in these posts. But I created this blog as a place for me to put in writing all of the random thoughts that are floating around in my head. Sometimes it is just better to let it all out. And what better a place to do that then the World Wide Web? :)
There are two songs on today's playlist.
And they're pretty much irrelavent to this post:
Beautiful Goodbye: Maroon 5
Off their newest album Overexposed
None but Jesus: Hillsong
Go ahead and ignore the Dutch Subtitles... Unless you know dutch.
And if that's the case, go ahead and sing along :)
Wow. This year has gone by so quickly! I can't believe that i'm halfway done with college! This year has been simple, yet exciting, difficult, yet easy, hard yet so easy. However, I know for sure that I have grown so much from the person I was at the beginning of this school year. When we're young, we think that once we turn a certain age or once a certain event happens, then we all the sudden "grow up." I know now that it is so much more difficult then that. Each day I "grow up" more and more, and each day, I realize how extremely blessed I am to be living the life I have. Also, as of last weekend, my best friend has been in Iowa for one year! Sometimes it seems like he has been gone for ages... and other times, like he just left a few months ago. I cannot even begin to describe how excited I am to see him in 3 months (+2 days)! And although I will only get to see him a little before I have to head back to school, it will be so great. He is an amazing missionary and he is doing The Lord's work each and every day and loving it. I am so excited to hear about his time serving and his experience. Today marks one week until I fly to Florida! My transfer is almost all set up and i'm almost all packed! I even went and got a new swim suit today! I am excited.... yet so incredibly nervous. I tend to have anxiety when dealing with big changes and events in my life... and this is one of them. I will be blogging frequently to keep all those who are interested informed :) Tonight was the season finale of Glee. I am so emotionally invested in that show.... I've loved it for three years! And today, more than half of the cast graduated. It was a serious emotional roller coaster for an entire episode. I cried a ton, and I am not ashamed to say it! It was wonderful, though.... ah, I just love Glee. In the final scene, Rachel Berry said goodbye to all of her friends and boarded a train to NYC. She sang "Roots before Branches" by Room for Two, and it was heartbreaking, touching, exciting, and lovely... Maybe it was so touching because I can relate to her ... we all can :)
I gotta have roots before branches
To know who I am
Before I know who I wanna be
And faith to take chances
To live like I see
A place in this world for me
I love my family. I love my friends. I love my life <3
So this last week was dead week, and I really decided to take that literally. I barely got any sleep. One night, I literally slept for about 2 hours. I do not do that. So now it is Sunday of Finals Week and I have felt DEAD all day. However, Justin made me pre-workout (redbull substitute) and Acen & Ian brought me a soda, so I got some work done! Started and finished my take-home final for Comm 390; its about six pages, and its really great! Babysitting at 6:30am and Geoscience final at 6pm tomorrow.... BRING IT ON.
So I've been doing quite a bit of contemplation over the past few days. A few new opportunities have presented themselves to me, and I've been forced to question what I want, and I've realized that I don't quite know. I don't know if quitting debate was the right choice. I don't know if going to Florida this summer is going to be the right choice. I don't know if liking missionary boy will equate into dating. I don't know if liking Boise boy will equate into dating. I just don't know. And if you know me at all, you will know that this is making me crazy! I like schedules, plans, and order. I like to know what is going on and what is coming next. I don't take risks and i don't like the unknown, and that is exactly how my life seems right now. Its tough.... but I just realized that I know the answer to it all.
"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."
- Corrie Ten Boom
God will answer my prayers. He knows my heart and He knows what is best for me. He has a plan for my life. I know that i need to make good decisions, but I also know that God will make things work out for me. He wants the best for me, and its at times like this that i really need to remember that.
I love my Savior. I love my God. I am so lucky to be able to live the life that I have.
As many of you know, I got baptized this weekend and am now a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! This was an incredibly difficult, yet simple decision for me to make. There were many advantages and many disadvantages to this decision and I considered all the information very thoroughly. However, this decision was confirmed as being the 'right thing for me to do' because it just felt right. I could feel the Spirit working in my life, putting all of the right pieces in place, and I felt his comfort in my life. Through my scripture study and my lessons, I knew that this was right. My prayers were being answered so much. Actually, I don't know if I've ever had my prayers answered at such a high amount as I have in the past few months. Its been an incredible journey, and i'm so happy that I've made it. Also, I have the best friends and family in the entire world. They were just a great support system for me, and they really were understanding and sensitive to my beliefs and background, and they were all just there for me. And I am so grateful to all of my friends that made the trek to Boise to come to my baptism: Lindsey from Idaho Falls(a friend I've had since elementary school), Molly from Oregon (high school acquaintances and Target friends), Cassidy from Idaho Falls (one of my best friends), and The Excell's from Pocatello (great friends and a wonderful support system).
I feel so happy and I know that this was the right decision. I look forward to growing more and learning more about this wonderful church!
Normally when I listen to this song, a flood of emotions rush into me. Usually they're about a certain boy... I know, I have a problem. But seriously, this lyric video is all about not giving up on someone who is away. And writing letters. If you know me, you will completely understand why I have loved this song since it came out in January.
However, after listening to the Bonus Commentary by Jason Mraz from his new album, I have realized that this song was meant for all different people in all different situations: A separated couple, a lost child, a broken heart. Right now, at this moment, this song is about my mom and me... I miss you. I love you. I won't give up on us.
"We had to learn how to bend without the world caving in
I had to learn what I've got and what I'm not and who I am"
In 11 hours, I will be on my way home to Idaho Falls. I need to have a very serious, very scary, very crucial conversation with my parents. As much as I was dreading this, I think it will be really good to talk to my parents in person and share with them my experiences and opinions on this subject. I love my parents so much and I really hope that they can understand where i'm coming from and why i'm making this decision for myself. After our lesson today, I feel a sense of peace and confidence, and I know that the Lord will be with me this weekend. And as a wise friend recently told me, "If it wasn't hard, it wouldn't be as real."
When you grow up in Idaho Falls, you are placed in two categories: LDS, or not LDS. And if you're not part of the church, you're most likely against it. That is how I was up until recently. I love my family and I love how I was raised: my parents did a wonderful job. But over the past six months, I have began to do my own searching.
I have always believed in God, and believed that Jesus Christ is my savior. Yet, in the Fall, I felt so distant from them. I continued to attend the same church that I had the previous year, but I didn't feel anything. I didn't get any sort of spiritual feelings or have any spiritual experiences. I simply felt empty. So I stopped attending church.
When my missionary friend sent me a copy of the Book of Mormon a few months later, I was so hurt. I wondered what type of friend he was, because he knew that I didn't want that. So I didn't write him back for a few months... Then i began my own quest for something more.
While in IF during Christmas break, I occasionally flipped on the BYU channel and watched some talks and thought that they were really good. But that was all. I got back to Boise, and read a little in the Book of Mormon... I then prayed to God and asked that he show me the way. And asked if he would open my heart and let me know if this church was something that I needed to look into. As soon as I was done praying, I got a text from my friend Cassie. She said "Not in a weird way, but at church today I couldn't stop thinking about you and how you would love this. You should come with me sometime." So I did.
I have loved learning about this church. And I have seen my relationship with God grow stronger. I pray many times a day asking for guidance and for truth, and I know that God is answering my prayers, and I can feel it.
So as i was sitting at my counter eating some semi-delicious Tuna Helper, i decided that i would jot down some thoughts. February is catch up month for me. I have to write scholarship essays, keep up on (or even get ahead of) reading, and practice my speeches more regularly. On the 24th, we have our National Individual Events Tournament (NIET) qualifier and hopefully i'll qualify three other speeches in addition to my already qualified Inform! That's not even the start of it. In March we have our Regional tournament and two weeks later, the National Comprehensive Tournament (NCT). WHEW! I am going to die.... I know it. But then spring break will be upon us and I will (hopefully) have the opportunity to go visit Cass in Provo!!! We definitely need some girl time :)
School is kicking my butt. I do not understand why professors feel the need to assign IMPOSSIBLE amounts of reading! And just think... I have 2+ years left of this. yay.......
Recently i've been doing some "soul searching:" trying to figure out what I believe. I have always been so strong in my faith, but right now is a very confusing point in my life. I'm trying to learn new things with an open mind, but after thinking something for 19+ years, its quite difficult to rethink all I thought I knew. I am so lucky, however, because I have some amazing friends who understand me and where i'm coming from, and who just want me to be happy. I love them :)
This song has always had a special place in my heart, and recently I've began to love it even more. This is Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopez's Rap portion of TLC's 90s hit, Waterfalls.(Not to be with the lyrics I sang as a child "Go Go Jason Waterfall")... :)
I seen a rainbow yesterday, but too many storms have come and gone Leaving a trace of not one God-given ray Is it because my life is ten shades of gray I pray, all ten fade away Seldom praise Him for the sunny days And like his promise is true Only my faith can undo the many chances I blew to bring my life to anew Clear and blue and unconditional skies Have dried the tears from my eyes No more lonely cries My only bleedin' hope Is for the folk who can't cope with such an endurin' pain That it keeps them in the pourin' rain Who's to blame for tootin' caine into your own vein What a shame, you shoot and aim for someone else's blame You claim the insane For this day and time For fallin' prey to crime I say the system's got you victim to your own mind Dreams are hopeless aspirations in hopes of coming true Believe in yourself, the rest is up to me and you
