I Think I'm In Love

Last night Cherie, Erika, and I went to the cheap movie theater, and saw "A-Team" and oh my gosh I think it's my new favorite movie. I was laughing so hard. Now I have to say that before I watched this movie I was not a fan of Bradley Cooper. I just don't like the characters he has played and I have not been impressed by him... but that changed when watching this movie. I had a perma-grin all throughout the movie. He was fantastic, as were the rest of the actors.

I would recommend this movie to anyone who loves action movies!

Lessons Learned

As is obvious to anyone who has had the pleasure of my company for the last week, I have had a hard week. Anything and Everything that could go wrong DID. Now throughout the week, and still now (if I'm being honest) I am struggling to see the good in any of this.

At this point it is all out of my hands, but that ALSO is driving me crazy. I know that I am the one who chooses how to react, I just wish I had a better eternal perspective.

Heavenly Father has given me quite a few spiritual TIME OUTS where I can feel his peace, and feel rested in order to take on the next event, but really sometimes I wish I could just see the end of all of this. It really is getting funny at this point.

I will try to share a few of the experiences to prove my point, or to just share a giggle.

1. I order a book online, and it takes the longest time ever to get to me... spending 3 days in Denver.
2. I order a computer a week ago, it is still processing now. I have called every weekday since, to try and help it along... to no avail... every time I call it is still processing and there is nothing they can do about it.
3. I leave Utah next Friday and have to leave my apartment by the 31st, and that is the mailing address for the UK Border Agency to send my visa. (Did I mention I haven't been thinking to clearly... or maybe I could have avoided that.)
4. Went to the temple on Saturday, ended up running late and missed the session.
5. Got nasty blisters on my feet from the shoes I wore to the temple.
6. The poor guy who bought my motorcycle is now fighting with my bank to get the bike title, even though he paid for it. (I think my bad luck is now rubbing off on others.)
7. Got pink eye last week.
8. Face broke out all last week.

I really am waiting to hear of the next big upset. Now though I just giggle when these things happen. I think that that has been the best point of view for me to take at this point.

The amazing thing is that with all this negative I have been feeling an outpouring of love, and have been learning a lot spiritually. So maybe that is the good balance. My life is on a crazy tailspin, all except my spirituality, which is really making leaps and bounds in the positive!

So I thought I would share some of the great words of wisdom that have helped me in the past week. Who knows who else needs it!

"I can choose how I'm going to regard unfortunate circumstances in my life- whether I will see them as curses or opportunities (and on the occasions when I can't rise to the most optimistic viewpoint, because I'm feeling too damn sorry for myself, I can choose to keep trying to change my outlook.)"
--Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. P. 177

"Discouraging things will happen, but we will not get discouraged." --Johnathan Dippold, missionary of the SEM.

"I know God won't give me anything I can't handle. I just wish He didn't trust me so much." --Mother Teresa




"Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." D&C 123:17

Moment of Peace

So as you can see this week has been a bit stinky. I have been in a bad mood and just not fun to be around. Well yesterday when I got home, I decided to splurge on a Dr Pepper. I was wanting to wallow and wanted to do it with a giant DP.

So after going to the gas station near my house I decided to go for a walk on my usual running path. I brought my camera and decided to take some pictures if I saw anything I liked.

The Lord really blessed me with peace and joy as I walked by myself along this quiet street. I'm grateful for the tender mercy of peace... of stillness, and I was grateful for the opportunity to have the evening to myself.

On a good note I ran into someone from the ward who wondered if I wanted a ride to the Salt Lake Temple tomorrow morning for ward temple day. I said yes I would love a ride. And I am so excited to spend time in the Lord's house tomorrow. I need some closeness, peace, and comfort from my Heavenly Father.






This picture made me laugh, in a non blasphemous way... I like that there was a pillar of light with me. And I think it looks cool in the picture.

Grumble ALERT!

***WARNING: this blog entry is really whiny and dramatic. I apologize in advance. Proceed with caution.

Alright so today was a stinky day for several reasons... the most stressful was that I had NOT sent in all the required documents for my student visa yet. So I kind of freaked out... screamed into a pillow... cried... pulled myself together, and then gathered all the necessary documents. (And then some.)

This morning I overnighted it to the UK Border Agency in LA. They say they need 10 business days to process this. That doesn't seem like it should be an issue.. .however... 10 business days form when they will receive it will be September 2... and the big issue is I move from Utah SEPTEMBER 3rd! I'm out of my apartment on SEPTEMBER 1st.

I've filled out a change of address form for the post office online, and it should be in affect NOW... the only issue of THAT is in the fine print it says that government agency's don't really pay attention to that.

So in the package I sent to today I gave them my new address... let's just hope they send it to my parents! (I will have a friend checking my old mail box daily for me, and she will overnight it to me if need be.)

Let's just hope everything works out!



The next few weeks are crazy! I drive back to Cali on September 4th. Fly to Spokane on the 13th, and fly from Seattle to London on the 16th! I need my visa!!!!

I've done all of my parts. Now all I can do is wait... and I'm not very good at that.

Haircut!

So I realized I hadn't really told anyone that I had chopped my hair off!

My hair used to be really long, and it looked really really good if I took the time to straighten it or try to do something with it.


But more often that not I always had it in a ponytail or messy bun. Riding a motorcycle and wearing a helmet is not very conducive for good hair.


So finally I decided to chop it all off. I have been wanting to do this for awhile, and finally just got the nerve up to do it about two weeks ago. I love it and I feel like it is just more my personality.






What do you think? I love it!

Farmers Market!

On Saturday I walked to the Farmers Market that takes place in the park by my house. It has been so long since I have been to one but I LOVE them! They remind me of my friends and family.

This one was kind of small, but I enjoyed it none the less. I thought I would share my picture highlights from my adventure. (On a funny side note, because of my pink eye... I avoided all people and wore GINORMOUS glasses. I'm sure I looked weird and antisocial.)


This Santa was just sitting next to the booth with the face painting. So random!


This brought back all sorts of childhood memories of chasing down the ice cream man.


I am saddened that I haven't been here every Saturday!


And finally my yummy purchases! I am in love with tomatoes and fresh green beans!

*Oh and on another funny side note. There were random theater people yelling at us to go over to the "Big Tree" to watch their free production of Romeo & Juliet. Gotta love nerdy theater people... (I refuse to believe I am like them.)

In Memory of Angus

I dedicate this post to my amazing motorcycle... Angus. Happily, and unfortunately, I was able to sell my motorcycle on Friday.






I am still so proud that I achieved my goals of getting my motorcycle license, and buying a bike. Words can't express how much I loved riding a motorcycle. It is so freeing to be in control of a bike. It was the biggest confidence booster I've ever had. And as soon as I get back in the states I am buying another one!

But you will always be remembered Angus!!!

New Long Term Goal

Okay so at work my friend Samiee and I always come across crazy stuff on the Internet, and a few days ago she sent me this link:

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/15131

and honestly I can't get this out of my head. I just think it's such an awesome idea, and a way to really document your life, and your adventures. I was inspired by what Jamie Livingston did. It's simple and yet profound, and told a beautiful story. Now I don't have a Polaroid camera, but I do have a digital camera, and I think I can take a picture a day. Part of me wants to do this because I am horrible at my journal writing, and part of me wants to try because I'm not sure I can ever stick with a goal long term. So I'm going to give it a go!

I started yesterday, so here is my picture for 8/4/2010.



We had thunder showers all night, with some awesome lightening, and I wanted to try and get a cool picture of that, but I was stuck in my apartment. When I went to go outside there was an army of snails outside my door blocking any type of escape, so this was the coolest picture I could get.

I'm going to post these one a day pictures on a blog I have with my friend Samiee. So if you would like to look at them the blog is http://www.innerlightposse.blogspot.com/