To be better...

Make Time to Immerse Yourself in the Scriptures

"As I think about your schedules and the pressures you face at this time in your lives, I can understand why scripture study can so easily be neglected. You have many demands pulling at you. In some cases, just maintaining your social life is a full-time occupation. But I plead with you to make time for immersing yourselves in the scriptures. Couple scripture study with your prayers. Half an hour each morning privately studying, pondering, and communicating with your Heavenly Father can make an amazing difference in your lives. It will give increased success in your daily activities. It will bring increased alertness to your minds. It will give you comfort and rock-steady assurance when the storms of life descend upon you."

M. Russell Ballard, "Be Strong in the Lord, and in the Power of His Might" (CES fireside for young adults, March 3, 2002), 3–4

* sigh * Summer's here again...(breathe, breathe...i have a great job, i have a great job...) I have this somewhat ridiculous fear of dropping the ball at this time of year. But. I figure this crazy-busy feeling isn't really ever going to go away completely; it will just change in its timing and frequency and circumstances throughout life, so I should just get on the bandwagon already and quit being such a baby. :) And though I'm pretty good about staying balanced (or at least I try) a good old-fashioned reminder now and again sure doesn't hurt. Plus, my patience and clarity could ALWAYS use a good boost!

Seriously. Half an hour each morning. I've done it before, but this quote made me miss that feeling. (I study at night these days, but I'm just pretty sure it's not as productive for me...) Clearly, an adjustment needs to be made. :)

Normally, this would just be a moment with myself; a reminder to be better. But just thinking about the difference it makes for me...well, I couldn't help but share it. :)

Peace out. Funny stories and ridiculous observations to come soon, be sure of it.

REAL awesome. Soccer.

Pardon the list of pictures. I didn't feel like doing a collage this time. :) Last weekend, well..hold that thought. You should probably know I have the funnest visiting teachers ever. Yes, funnest. Let my words be. How do I know this? Oh, because...well, have YOU ever gone to a pro soccer game with your visiting teachers? Yeah, I didn't think so. :) Last weekend, we all went to the REAL Soccer game in Sandy, and I have to say...I love this game!!


STORY TIME: This is a recurring love for me in my life; one I admit started on a shallow note. And, actually, a portion of that remains to this day. I cannot lie. :) Seriously. Should we talk about their calves? I'll save us all from the drooling. My friend Alaina and I used to plan our after-school runs/walks past the high school soccer field at just the exact time of the boy's team practice. :)

Convenient? Oh. huh. I didn't know. And we sure didn't plan it... it just happened. Almost every day. Interesting...

We used to say the field glowed. (I attest, it did.) I'm pretty sure it still does to this day, but just because of their essence. (I'm not lusting after the little boys who play now. Duh.) You think I'm kidding about the glow, but you should've seen that soccer team. Especially my sophomore year. Baaaabyyyy oh baby. :)

And while we're on the subject, actually, one of my most embarrassing high school experiences happened next to that field. Short version: The driving range was right next to the soccer field, and one day while I was turning corners at speeds of 5 mph and signaling a million minutes before any normal driver ever would, I was distracted by a row of MOONING meant especially for me. Yep. Four of my "friends" on that boy's soccer team had lined up on the side of the driving range, pulled their pants down just enough, and stuck it out there for me to see.

I almost drove off the range. And of course, my driver's ed teacher saw nothing from the tower except for me driving off the range. Jerks. Hahah!
Okay, the end. Enough of that. On to the present day...




This is how we're hot. Babes, really. (Heather, please recall the dork-slide of taped glasses as I say this...) hahah. Dang it, I'm funny. I'm only sorry it's not my story to explain. :)

Now, a few beauties from the game...all soccer related...really.

Next goal in life: Get picked for the "sing the words to the David Archuletta song and you'll get free tickets to see him sing" contest. C'MON!!! I could do it without karaoke words!! Really. I'll sing the whole song for you right now. Just give me a call. Word. for. word. (No, I'm not 8. I'm 26. What of it???) Lucky little girl...sheesh! I never knew I'd be so jealous of a 12-year-old cheerleader...


Me and Jenn: Yep. Still hot. Juuust checkin'....

You tell 'em, Heather!...(bahahah) vs. Kansas City "Wizards." Really? The wizards?? oooo....scary... (The fact we lost to them is absolutely not pertinent right now.)

Well, GOOD MORNING, Baltimore!!! Super hot hair. Where'dja get it? Oh...hang on...it's slipping...yeah, that's right. A visor will hold it in place. :) I do love me some good fake hair. :)

Now, this I'm not kidding about. I want to be friends with that guy. Think he'll let me have a turn waving the flag?? And I wonder where he STORES that thing...
A question that will burn inside of me forever, unfortunately.

One of our finer moments. Okay, Jenn's not as pretty as me here, but she'll learn. I'm slowly teaching her all I know. Thanks, Heather, for the free tickets!!! I love your job. :) Dear REAL team: go, baby, go. Next time I come, could you win please? Although...let's be honest. Mostly I loved watching you run back and forth. And back and forth. And good golly, you kick so good.
Ahem - A shout out to my future bf, Will (I can't remember his last name): due to the effort you put forth in this last game, you're hot and I think you're the prettiest soccer player I've ever seen. From afar. And you play REAL good. (see? I'm so funny, how can you resist?) Call me. Oh, and Mister Dredlocks? Yeah, that doesn't usually do it for me, but for you, I'd make an exception. I would.

:) * sigh * I just love me some soccer. :)

Dear Soldier,

This came attached to an email from my friend Matt who is currently in Iraq. 99.9% of the things that come from him make me laugh, but this was something extra special. Yes, I stole it from his email, and no I did not ask him. (sorry, Matt.) But I don't think he reads this anyway, so...whatevs. Anyway, probably it's from some darling little 1st grader who was putting together a package for the soldiers, but kids can be so dang funny sometimes!! If I were this child's teacher, I might have laughed 'til I cried (privately, of course, so he/she didn't take it the wrong way.) before I packed it away. What a little cutie. :) (oh. and by that, I mean the child. the child who wrote this letter.) Just to clarify. :)Remember the days of periods as the only form of punctuation? And when skies were only drawn at the top of the page? Or when drawing a person meant a giant head with legs and arms sticking out of it? No necks, and smiles took up the whole face? HAHAHAH. This picture alone made my day.

So enjoy. :)

HAVE A SAFE WAR.

Arizona

Story time. Get comfortable. I would like to title this moment in my life:

 "The Bookmarks"

*Ahem.*

All winter long, I've been waiting for the sun to come back out, and I'm glad to say, my friends, it has.  :)  Summertime is approaching, and if it's anything like last summer, that means I am about to say goodbye to all free time.  So when Jess asked if I wanted to road trip it to Arizona last weekend, my answer?  A thousand times, YES.  

After leaving Provo at the very early hour of midnight, we drove all night long (stopping only once for about half an hour to sleep at the side of the road) we finally made it to the sunny beautiful sights of Scottsdale, Arizona.  As a side note, I would have to say the most hilarious time of night is about 2:30-3:00 a.m.  Anyway.  :)  As soon as we pulled in, it was time for swimming.  Not sleeping.  Who drives that long just to sleep when there's sunshine, water, and palm trees??  That's what I thought.  And it was glorious!  After I don't even know how many hours of swimming and reading and falling asleep in the sun, we managed to make it back inside.  Now is when I insert the ridiculous.  

You will need to keep in mind that at one point of this glorious combination of sun and water, I was particularly engrossed in my book. (It's very good.)  That's what happens to me when I have access to a lounge chair.  Must. Read. Book.  This could be viewed as somewhat of a problem...but I choose to view it as a highly sought-after quality.  :)  The only down-fall is my inability to put the book down until I finish it.  

Results came when we went back inside to get cleaned up and ready for the rest of the day.  I looked down at my legs, and what do you think I saw?  Oh, a very defined outlook of my book.  YUP.  The way I'd been sitting while reading, if I sat or stood with my knees together, there was a book-sized shape surrounded by my fresh tan/sunburn.  

Ugh.  Why can't I just be COOL?!?!?!?  :)  

A lifelong quest, yet to be achieved.  :) Unfortunately, I didn't think to take a picture until it had faded somewhat so it wasn't as dramatic.  I'm so very sorry to make you miss out on that sight.  

It would take a post longer than anyone would ever want to read to tell all the downright hilarious things that happened on this Arizona trip.  Plus, they're better in person with facial expressions anyway.  :)  The only thing I haven't said that really SHOULD be said is that Megan Rowe is an incredible host.  WOW!  We should all take lessons.  Also, she makes a mean PB & J.  Oh, and cafe rio salad.  Except hers is better.  

Also, I choose to not be in a car for that many hours straight for a while.  Like at least another month or so.  However, I could be tempted if the trip involved anything else Arizona-related.

The end.

Oh, man. Do you REALLY not want to see that face ever again???

American Idol. Yes, we're back to my obsession. But it's an obsession I will quit cold turkey if this face isn't there after tonight:

Dear Kris,

Uh, first of all, I realize you're married, but can I just say how good-looking you are?? Thank you. I just desperately needed to get that out there. One more time. I just want you to win. Because I like your performances every week. So what if you're different from the other 3?? I like you. At the very least, please do not get voted off before stupid Danny Goake-chokie-croaky-soaky. I think you're artistic, easy to listen to, easy to watch, and I appreciate all these things in my PG-rated entertainment world. So sue me. (If I could insert a sassy "I don't care what anyone else thinks" face here, I would. Do me a favor and just picture it.) I want to see you week after week, and there aren't many more weeks left. Don't let screamy Adam Lambert run off with the title. I mean it, mister!!! If the day comes that you and Allison are both gone, and the show is still going, I'm out. Seriously, I'm out. No more American Idol for me.

Thank you OH, so very much.


I promise I have other things to blog about. Arizona last weekend, for one. SO. MUCH. FUN. And so funny. I should charge to tell about things this funny. :) Coming soon...