Identity Theft

I had to register my car in Utah. It is a very sad day for the Californian inside of me.

Formula For The Perfect Weekend

On the beach in February with friends...

Being Endowed in the temple with my family...

Having a celebration dance party in my family room...

Eating In-N-Out with sparkling apple cider while wearing matching t-shirts...

Cruising on Route 66...

Road tripping to and from California in 8 1/2 hours...

And enjoying high 60/70 degree weather with clear blue skies equals: 

The Perfect Weekend

One Dream Comes True

Ever since I did the Semester in Nauvoo program I have wanted to be a part of the Nauvoo Pageant and now I will be! I didn't make it into the cast, but they asked that I help them backstage as part of the family support team. I will do organized activities with children and teenagers that help them apply gospel principles to their participation in the pageant. I am very excited for this missionary experience and the opportunity to return to Nauvoo, the place I love so much. I will be there July 4th to July 18th.

Thoughts on Christmas

I woke up earlier than I expected to this morning- 7:30 AM. This isn't early on Christmas morning for most people, but it is in my family. I laid in bed thinking about how it was Christmas day and I thought about how there were lots of people I know who were already done opening presents. Some people just wake up early and quickly open up their presents before anyone else wakes up and gets there to join them. Why do they do that? My family doesn't and why is that? There may be many reasons, but there is one reason I thought about the most.

Today is the day we celebrate Christ's birth. We make ourselves busy buying gifts and spreading holiday cheer, but what is it really about? When Christmas day finally arrives, what do we do? We give and receive presents, but I think there is something more we should do. It can be the day where everyone can appreciate the gifts Christ has given us. It's simple, but how often, even on Christmas, do we actually take time to really think about and appreciate the gifts of Christ? How do I show my appreciation for the gifts Christ has given me? I shouldn't show my appreciation for Christ's gifts only one day a year; In fact, I think it is impossible to do so with a sincere heart. To show true appreciation, I have to show it everyday. I think that is a part of being a true disciple of Christ.

In heaven, time doesn't matter as much as relationships do. I like that my family doesn't care about time on Christmas day. We take our time getting up, eating breakfast, acting out the Nativity, and opening presents. We know that what matters most is that we are together. Whatever way it's done, I think the gift-giving tradition at Christmastime is a symbol of how I can show appreciation for Christ's gifts to me all year round.

It's often said that it's more important to give than to receive. In giving gifts, we are like the Savior, although He gave the greatest of all gifts. However, I believe that receiving is a symbol of something equally as important. Symbolically, the act of receiving is the challenge and joy of discipleship. Receiving things with gratitude, humility, and faith (because we sometimes don't get what we want, when we want it) can be hard, but it can also be a great testimony and character builder. The scriptures talk a lot about receiving things, such as the gift of the Holy Ghost, the commandments, blessings, gifts of the Spirit, light, and knowledge. What I do with my gift also matters. If I set it aside, throw it away, reject (or return) it, I am not really appreciating the gift. Using the gift, especially sharing it with others, is how I show appreciation. That's why we are taught we should share the gospel with everyone. That is a big way to show God that we appreciate the gifts He has given us. Sharing my testimony is another way to show appreciation. There are many ways to share the gifts Christ has given me.

Here are some ways I thought Christmas giving/receiving can be a symbol for how we should give/receive throughout the year:

• Take time for Christ everyday through prayer, scripture study, and temple service.
• Expressing/showing gratitude for all things-being grateful for what given. Receive and not be bitter about what don't receive right now because we don't always get what we want, when or how we want it.
• Making sacrifices to give gifts that show love (just like Christ did).
• Give meaningful gifts to others-Service, time, etc. without thought of price or self (only the heart)
• Use gifts/talents we have to build up Kingdom of God, uplift others, give small acts of service and love
  

Last Sunday one of the speakers at church talked about how we spend so much time and energy buying gifts to give others on Christmas when it is really Christ we should be giving gifts to because it is His birthday. I believe we give gifts to Him when we appreciate and receive what He has given us. It's like what my mom always says when we kids want to give her something for her birthday or Christmas--just me doing right and being good (and now me coming home to visit and make cinnamon rolls) is a gift to her and she is happy. I think it is safe to say that Christ is just as satisfied, if not more satisfied, as my mom is when He sees that I am trying my best to be His disciple, share my gifts, and do all that He needs me to do.

I am grateful for my family traditions that help me to see and feel the true meaning of Christmas. I hope that by sharing these thoughts here that someone will get something from it and be made better by it.

Merry Christmas!

IN-N-OUT, A Taste of Home

IN-N-OUT in Orem! I was in the drive-thru for 1 hour, but it was worth it for taste of home.

The Oscars 2009

The night we'd all been waiting for finally came. That's right, BYU 83rd Ward's third annual Oscars Night and my final activity as ward activities co-chair. A few people have told me that I saved the best activity for last as it went off without a hitch, with special thanks to the committee and Sis. Meservy, the Bishop's wife.

Oscars Night is an opportunity for members of the ward to create movies together and get to know one another's talents and share them. It is a semi-formal/ formal activity, with dinner, movies, voting, dessert, and dancing. We had a red carpet, paparazzi, and great music. The lights were low and excitement was high as we met together to watch and vote movies made by our very own friends.

This year we had nine movies turned in, which is the most we've ever had. These movies were also the best quality movies we've ever had. There was great competition for best movie this year and that was fun. Each FHE group was asked to make a movie that was no more than five to seven minutes long. People were also allowed to make movies separate from their groups. They turned the movies into me and I put them onto one DVD to be shown on Oscars Night. After the movies were shown, they were given time to vote for the movies in eleven different categories on papers provided at each seat. My committee and I tallied up the votes and announced the winners. We gave each winner a certificate and a trophy. The trophies were actually random stuffed animals and other objects from DI. My co-chair and I were the MC's for the night, so we were running around making sure everything went smoothly and it did! We did finally get to dance for the last hour of the night and that was really nice.

My roommates and I were involved in three movies this year. My FHE group's movie was called "The Hodgepodge of Horror" and that is exactly what it was. It was a collage of creepy and kind of funny horror-esk things. The more I watch it, the more I love it. The second movie was called "Der Erlkonig" and was based on a Danish tale about an 'Elf King' who's living in the forest whose touch is lethal to mortals.  It was really fun to film. I was a minion to the 'Elf King.' The third movie was called "The Minefield"and was based on a comedy routine done by one of my friends. It demonstrates how dating is like a minefield. In this one I was the girl that got the guy out of the minefield. Too bad that hasn't really happened yet!
Here are some of my pictures. My roommate took a lot more and better ones, but I don't have them yet.

My co-chair and I

 

My roommates and I. I really didn't sit down all night... only long enough to take this picture.

Tallying the votes

Teaser picture for Der Elkonig

This is NOT real. This is a creepy part of our Hodgepodge of Horror.

And the Winners are...

Best Movie: Funkademic
Best Director: Lafe Peavler, “The  Minefield”
Best Editor: Tyler Brinton, “Brett’s Game”
Best Actor: Brett Peterson, “Brett’s Game”
Best Actress: Savannah Woods, “The Hodgepodge of Horror”/
             “Der Erlkonig”/ “The Minefield”
Most Creative: Funkademic
Funniest: Perfect Situation
Best Costume Design: The Hodgepodge of Horror
Best Soundtrack: Funkademic
Best Sound: Perfect Situation
Best Visual Effects: The Hodgepodge of Horror

My Best Friend's Wedding

This past weekend I had the opportunity to go home to California to see one of my best friends get married. It was awesome! She was beautiful and looked like a princess. Over the two days I was there, I had some time to reflect. Kristen and I have known each other since we were about 14 years old (that's about 10 years!). Our families knew each other, but we didn't meet until she started attending our ward. Our friendship really started one Young Women's make-over night where she reached out to me because I was shy. Since then we have shared many fun, special, and even sacred experiences together. We've also had our fair share of near accidents on the road together. We had our friendship tested, but we learned from those experiences and came out better as a result. Some of our favorite things to do together were bowling, eating mint chocolate blasts from Baskin Robins, taking weird pictures, eating food abnormally, and just talking.

Somethings I thought a lot about this weekend were a youth conference dance and sleepover we had where we shared with one another our hopes, goals, and dreams for the future. It's funny, and kind of ironic, how different our paths have gone, but how we are both happy all the same. Although our plans did change, we both accomplished what we wanted to. I tend to accomplish things about a year after she does, so we shall see if that is true about her accomplishment this time. :)

I am very happy and excited for her and her new husband, Bryan. I am glad that they are living where they are so I will still see them around when I go home again. It's not like here in Utah where when my friends get married I usually don't ever see them again except on facebook. Sad, but true.

Something I really enjoyed this weekend was staying the night in a hotel across the street from the temple with Kristen and the other two bride's maids. It was fun staying up to talk, do her hair, and celebrate her last night being single. It was very convenient to be staying across the street, too, because there was two hour drive with traffic for everyone else to get to the temple the next morning.