Why is fear such a powerful thing? It amazes me the things we stop ourselves from doing, and when we sit down to figure out what has stopped us, how often we determine it is fear. It doesn't have to be big things, but simple things, that we don't do because of fear. Fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of what others will think, fear of not being yourself, fear of change, even fear of improvement.
How do you get over the fear? I know that faith and fear cannot co-exist, but how do you develop the faith to overcome the fear? I am not looking for 'Sunday school' answers, and it may be a rhetorical question, one that each of us must ask ourselves, but I think it is something to think about.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
BEST Vacation EVER recap...Finally! (PART 1)
Please be patient with me as I give you a bit of a recap into my trip.
Here we go, with Part 1:
I know it has been a long time coming, (or maybe it is just the guilt of not blogging in general)but I now present to you a recap of the best vacation ever (official title) in England (and a hop over to Paris).
I started off with a pretty uneventful trip over to England. This is exciting for me, because I love traveling and love it even more when it goes smoothly. I arrived, went through customs, and went to find my good friend, Spencer. I looked around and couldn't find him and had a moment of baby-panic, but then I heard my name over the loud speaker, telling me to meet Spencer at the :insert mumbling here: oh great. So I go to the information desk, and they point me to the "meeting place". I kid you not, there is a big sign that says MEETING PLACE. love it! And lo and behold, that is where we met! YAY! We dropped off my stuff and then headed back into the city. I rode the tube (love it!) and as we came out of the tube station, this was the first thing I saw:
Let me tell you, not too shabby of a way to start a trip! We toured around the city a bit, hitting the famous spots, like Buckingham Palace, where THE royal kiss happened:
I am grateful that I missed all the craziness from the wedding by a week, but still got to see lots of memorabilia from the wedding. We went to Trafalgar Square, stopped in at the National Gallery, where we saw performance art people, strolled through St. James Park, my first of many strolls in parks that made me fall in love love love with England, and realize that America is missing out on the awesome parks!There was a bit of traffic on the way back to Thetford, but it was nice to have that time to catch up and talk. It was a little strange riding on the other side of the car and driving on the other side of the road, but I adjusted pretty quickly.
We got to spend the day with Spencer's parents! We headed to this beautiful place, and had a lovely time.
The grounds at the London Temple are beautiful! We then headed to Dover...as in the white cliffs of Dover:
There is an amazing fort there, one of the oldest in England. There are secret wartime tunnels from World War 2 and it is just a lovely place. We saw France! We had dinner on the way home, and there was a menu with Fajitas on it, and the thing that made me laugh was that there was a pronounciation guide! (FA-HEE-TAS) I guess we take it for granted.
After church, we headed to the Ely Cathedral. It is BEAUTIFUL! We were able to take a tour of the Octagon Tower. I forgot that I don't really like heights until our guide, Doug, started describing the details of the tour. Luckily, I survived!
This last picture is the view DOWN from the inside of the top part of the tower. I barely looked down...it was more of a reach over the edge and snap the picture moment. Luckily, Spencer didn't make too much fun of me! What a great friend!
Random movie trivia for you: In "The King's Speech" there is a scene at Westminster Abbey before his coronation BUT it was actually filmed at the Ely Cathedral, and they have the chair there...SO I sat myself down in the king's seat! :) (geek out moment because I LOVE that movie!)
Our next stop was to Bourghley House...also known as Rosings Park to you Pride and Prejudice fans (the newer one). OHMYGOODNESS! It was so beautiful and ornate. I didn't realize that royalty would just pop over to visit people and stay there, and so there were rooms that were decorated just for the kings and queens!
The gardens there are magnificent. They had the Garden of Surprises, which was more geared towards children...there were fountains they could play with, old lawn games and just a place for them to have fun!
There was also the Statue Garden. I thought it would be geared towards period statues, but oh no. They were quite modern. Some of them were just odd. BUT the gardens themselves were LOVELY!
On our way out, there were DEER, just hanging out!!!
But wait...there's more!!! (stay tuned for part 2)
Here we go, with Part 1:
I know it has been a long time coming, (or maybe it is just the guilt of not blogging in general)but I now present to you a recap of the best vacation ever (official title) in England (and a hop over to Paris).
I started off with a pretty uneventful trip over to England. This is exciting for me, because I love traveling and love it even more when it goes smoothly. I arrived, went through customs, and went to find my good friend, Spencer. I looked around and couldn't find him and had a moment of baby-panic, but then I heard my name over the loud speaker, telling me to meet Spencer at the :insert mumbling here: oh great. So I go to the information desk, and they point me to the "meeting place". I kid you not, there is a big sign that says MEETING PLACE. love it! And lo and behold, that is where we met! YAY! We dropped off my stuff and then headed back into the city. I rode the tube (love it!) and as we came out of the tube station, this was the first thing I saw:
Let me tell you, not too shabby of a way to start a trip! We toured around the city a bit, hitting the famous spots, like Buckingham Palace, where THE royal kiss happened:
I am grateful that I missed all the craziness from the wedding by a week, but still got to see lots of memorabilia from the wedding. We went to Trafalgar Square, stopped in at the National Gallery, where we saw performance art people, strolled through St. James Park, my first of many strolls in parks that made me fall in love love love with England, and realize that America is missing out on the awesome parks!There was a bit of traffic on the way back to Thetford, but it was nice to have that time to catch up and talk. It was a little strange riding on the other side of the car and driving on the other side of the road, but I adjusted pretty quickly.
We got to spend the day with Spencer's parents! We headed to this beautiful place, and had a lovely time.
The grounds at the London Temple are beautiful! We then headed to Dover...as in the white cliffs of Dover:
There is an amazing fort there, one of the oldest in England. There are secret wartime tunnels from World War 2 and it is just a lovely place. We saw France! We had dinner on the way home, and there was a menu with Fajitas on it, and the thing that made me laugh was that there was a pronounciation guide! (FA-HEE-TAS) I guess we take it for granted.
After church, we headed to the Ely Cathedral. It is BEAUTIFUL! We were able to take a tour of the Octagon Tower. I forgot that I don't really like heights until our guide, Doug, started describing the details of the tour. Luckily, I survived!
This last picture is the view DOWN from the inside of the top part of the tower. I barely looked down...it was more of a reach over the edge and snap the picture moment. Luckily, Spencer didn't make too much fun of me! What a great friend!
Random movie trivia for you: In "The King's Speech" there is a scene at Westminster Abbey before his coronation BUT it was actually filmed at the Ely Cathedral, and they have the chair there...SO I sat myself down in the king's seat! :) (geek out moment because I LOVE that movie!)
Our next stop was to Bourghley House...also known as Rosings Park to you Pride and Prejudice fans (the newer one). OHMYGOODNESS! It was so beautiful and ornate. I didn't realize that royalty would just pop over to visit people and stay there, and so there were rooms that were decorated just for the kings and queens!
The gardens there are magnificent. They had the Garden of Surprises, which was more geared towards children...there were fountains they could play with, old lawn games and just a place for them to have fun!
There was also the Statue Garden. I thought it would be geared towards period statues, but oh no. They were quite modern. Some of them were just odd. BUT the gardens themselves were LOVELY!
On our way out, there were DEER, just hanging out!!!
But wait...there's more!!! (stay tuned for part 2)
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Dancing Diaper QUEEN!
My niece, Charlotte, LOVES to dance. If there is music on, her body just starts moving. Here is a video that just makes my heart happy. Her diaper/boots combo really completes it! I hope you enjoy it!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
55 Questions and Answers
*55 QUESTIONS*
I stole this from Levi..pretty fun!
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Nope
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? From laughter? Tonight during the RA staff meeting. Not from laughter? Last Saturday during Elder Cook's General Conference talk3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Depends on the day, and the style I choose to write in.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Turkey
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Not yet
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I would like to think so
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Probably too much
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Nope
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Multigrain Cheerios or Corn Chex
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Nope
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? In what manner of the word?
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Mint Cookies and cream
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Smile and eyes
15. RED OR PINK? Red
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I am too hard on myself
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My best friends
19. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? I am not wearing any right now
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? popcorn
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The clicking of the keys and my squeaky chair
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Bright yellow
23. FAVORITE SMELLS? good smelling boys, fresh cut grass, right after it rains, vanilla
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Natalia
25. MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY OR BEACH HOUSE? Beach
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Football and gymnastics
27. HAIR COLOR? Brown naturally...I am going auburny red these days
28. EYE COLOR? Hazel
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Yep
30. FAVORITE FOOD? Don't have ONE
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy Endings
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Megamind...SO funny!
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? A bright blue that people keep telling me is a great color on me...I might have to do something about that...
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? SPRING!
35. HUGS OR KISSES? hugs AND kisses, but probably more hugs...
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Lemon cookies
37. STRENGTH TRAINING OR CARDIO? Cardio
38. COMPUTER OR TELEVISION? computer
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Chicken Soup for the College Soul, The Friendly Persuasion, The Hunger Games
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Don't have one
42. FAVORITE SOUND? men singing, babies laughing, friends
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Bulgaria
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I can fit my fist in my mouth
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Woodland, CA
47. WHERE ARE YOU LIVING NOW? Provo
48. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR HOUSE? Cinderblock white
49. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR CAR? I don't have one...yet!
50. DO YOU LOVE SOMEONE? Yes
51. WHERE DO YOU WORK? In my apartment...I am a Hall Advisor for BYU
52. FAVORITE ACTIVITY? Being with friends
53. FAVORITE HOLIDAY? Light-hearted=St. Patrick's Day. I LOVE Christmas and Thanksgiving
54. FAVORITE COLOR? Yellow
55. FAVORITE THING TO WEAR? Diado shoes
I stole this from Levi..pretty fun!
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Nope
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? From laughter? Tonight during the RA staff meeting. Not from laughter? Last Saturday during Elder Cook's General Conference talk3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Depends on the day, and the style I choose to write in.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Turkey
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Not yet
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I would like to think so
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Probably too much
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Nope
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Multigrain Cheerios or Corn Chex
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Nope
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? In what manner of the word?
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Mint Cookies and cream
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Smile and eyes
15. RED OR PINK? Red
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I am too hard on myself
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My best friends
19. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? I am not wearing any right now
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? popcorn
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The clicking of the keys and my squeaky chair
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Bright yellow
23. FAVORITE SMELLS? good smelling boys, fresh cut grass, right after it rains, vanilla
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Natalia
25. MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY OR BEACH HOUSE? Beach
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Football and gymnastics
27. HAIR COLOR? Brown naturally...I am going auburny red these days
28. EYE COLOR? Hazel
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Yep
30. FAVORITE FOOD? Don't have ONE
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy Endings
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Megamind...SO funny!
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? A bright blue that people keep telling me is a great color on me...I might have to do something about that...
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? SPRING!
35. HUGS OR KISSES? hugs AND kisses, but probably more hugs...
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Lemon cookies
37. STRENGTH TRAINING OR CARDIO? Cardio
38. COMPUTER OR TELEVISION? computer
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Chicken Soup for the College Soul, The Friendly Persuasion, The Hunger Games
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Don't have one
42. FAVORITE SOUND? men singing, babies laughing, friends
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Bulgaria
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I can fit my fist in my mouth
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Woodland, CA
47. WHERE ARE YOU LIVING NOW? Provo
48. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR HOUSE? Cinderblock white
49. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR CAR? I don't have one...yet!
50. DO YOU LOVE SOMEONE? Yes
51. WHERE DO YOU WORK? In my apartment...I am a Hall Advisor for BYU
52. FAVORITE ACTIVITY? Being with friends
53. FAVORITE HOLIDAY? Light-hearted=St. Patrick's Day. I LOVE Christmas and Thanksgiving
54. FAVORITE COLOR? Yellow
55. FAVORITE THING TO WEAR? Diado shoes
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
Playing Catch up...
SO, going out of town really throws off my schedule. Where was I? OREGON!! YAY for roadtrips. We left EARLY on Friday, stayed in Florence for 2 days, and then headed back to Utah on Monday. Thank goodness for the 3-day weekend. Here are a few pictures. of the adventure:
I got to spend some time alone at the beach. It was so nice because the weather was so pleasant and I had time to think. Also, had the sensation of having the ocean rush over my feet, and then have the sand settle back under, it was a strange feeling!
While there (the purpose for the other people I rode with to go to Oregon) I got to go the baptism of Brother and Sister Flood. Their daughter, Tammy, is here in Utah, so we all rode together. We had some fun afterwards taking pictures.
Emalee misses me SO much that she wants to be asclosetomeaspossible when we are together.
We had family night and played some games. Bananagrams is a fun game, and I am pretty decent at it. I love being able to spend time with my family!
Emalee is a Rhody princess, with a legit tiara and everything, so I got to play pretty pretty princess! What do you think?
Some other happenings of late:
I went to a Treti Mart (march 3rd) party for Bulgarian missionaries. There is a celebration of the coming of spring, and so we got together to make martinisti and just have fun together!
I love being with people from my mission!
On that note, the other day, my friend Carolyn, from my mission and I were talking, and another friend was there. Carolyn had to go, but she had to talk to me about something private, and she told my friend this. I thought we were going to get up and go somewhere, but NO...she just started speaking in Bulgarian. I LOVED IT! The thought hadn't even crossed my mind. It's the best secret language EVER!
Pi Day (March 14... 3.14) is next Monday, but I have to work, and don't have much time off before then, so I decided to have a "practically pi day pie party". I went to town, and a little overboard, with my pies. I ended up making 6 pies and a few other friends brought pies too. I still have some pie, if you want some! I tried all new recipes, and they turned out pretty well. I really enjoyed making the pies!
YUMMY!
Reasons why I love my friend, Lacey? Even though she doesn't really like pie, she came to the party anyway, and just brought herself cheesecake! LOVE IT!
I got to spend some time alone at the beach. It was so nice because the weather was so pleasant and I had time to think. Also, had the sensation of having the ocean rush over my feet, and then have the sand settle back under, it was a strange feeling!
While there (the purpose for the other people I rode with to go to Oregon) I got to go the baptism of Brother and Sister Flood. Their daughter, Tammy, is here in Utah, so we all rode together. We had some fun afterwards taking pictures.
Emalee misses me SO much that she wants to be asclosetomeaspossible when we are together.
We had family night and played some games. Bananagrams is a fun game, and I am pretty decent at it. I love being able to spend time with my family!
Emalee is a Rhody princess, with a legit tiara and everything, so I got to play pretty pretty princess! What do you think?
Some other happenings of late:
I went to a Treti Mart (march 3rd) party for Bulgarian missionaries. There is a celebration of the coming of spring, and so we got together to make martinisti and just have fun together!
I love being with people from my mission!
On that note, the other day, my friend Carolyn, from my mission and I were talking, and another friend was there. Carolyn had to go, but she had to talk to me about something private, and she told my friend this. I thought we were going to get up and go somewhere, but NO...she just started speaking in Bulgarian. I LOVED IT! The thought hadn't even crossed my mind. It's the best secret language EVER!
Pi Day (March 14... 3.14) is next Monday, but I have to work, and don't have much time off before then, so I decided to have a "practically pi day pie party". I went to town, and a little overboard, with my pies. I ended up making 6 pies and a few other friends brought pies too. I still have some pie, if you want some! I tried all new recipes, and they turned out pretty well. I really enjoyed making the pies!
YUMMY!
Reasons why I love my friend, Lacey? Even though she doesn't really like pie, she came to the party anyway, and just brought herself cheesecake! LOVE IT!
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