There is beauty all around!

These are my Facebook statuses from the last three days. They make me super happy, so I thought I'd share!

January 22, 2010

I love the following: dancing, feeling sore after dancing, Taco Bell, cell phones, computers, long drives with Caitlin, old pictures, things of my Dad's, awesome music, singing, the scriptures, awesome people who I can always talk to, my Mom, my bed, my new backpack, making good choices, school, old friends, new friends, and my life.

January 23, 2010

Things that make me happy: a good night's sleep, ugly glasses from Savers, Converse, Brandon Garside, good auditions, seeing friends both old and new, Mexican food, Caitlin Danielle Thompson, fuzzy slippers, singing, driving, bargain shopping, kissing, cuddling, reading scriptures, praying, pictures, and super hero coloring books.

January 24, 2010

Simple Joys of Life: orange juice, the smell of fresh laundry, a clean room, afternoon naps, good night kisses, cozy blankets, sweatshirts, good books, memories, new recipes, the feeling of accomplishment, holding hands, smooth writing pens, laughing, back rubs, warm water, happy babies, chapstick, and Jello.

Just Dance!

Dance has always been a HUGE part of my life. Growing up, my Dad owned a dance studio called Thompson Lane Entertainment, at which I danced for years. I started when I was three, and danced non-stop until my Dad died five years ago (age 14). The Christmas Concert after his death (December 2004) was the last time that I really danced. Since that time I have danced in theater productions but that's pretty much it.

I have wanted to get back into dancing for a long time, but many things have been making it difficult for me to do so. The first and foremost reason for it being difficult to get back into dancing is because I am loyal to my studio and don't want to take anywhere else. This creates a problem because my studio is in Salt Lake City, which makes it super expensive and time consuming to drive down. Also, my mom is slightly over protective and up until about a year ago freaked out and gave me a lot of crap every time I wanted to drive anywhere more than ten miles from home.

The second reason is I am a pretty busy person and it is hard for me to find time to drive down to Salt Lake regularly to take classes. I have wanted to, but something has always come up and made it too difficult to do, or I have had rehearsal or something for a show.

The third reason, and the most embarrassing reason, is because I couldn't swallow my pride. Back when I was dancing a lot, I was pretty good. I wasn't the best, by any means, but I was definitely good. Since I have not danced for five years, however, I know that I am not anywhere near where I was then. I also haven't been learning or anything so all of the people I used to dance with have progressed far beyond the point at which I now am. I didn't want to go down to the studio and embarrass myself, and admit that I can't dance anymore. But, honestly, I couldn't care less about that anymore. It has been so stupid of me to even think that because my friends and teachers that are at my studio know that I haven't danced in five years, they know what I have been through, and they are not going to judge me. They won't laugh. They're just going to be happy that I am back, and help me get to the level I want to be.

So after all this time, I have returned to dancing. I have taken three dance classes this week, and I'm going down again a few more times this week to get a couple more in. Luckily, I've realized that I am not as horrible as I thought that I was. I've still kind of got the ability to move, which makes me so happy. I am hoping that I will be able to continue going down, even if I can't attend all of the classes, or even one class, regularly. I just hope I'll be able to go down now and then.

The feeling of dancing is something that I have missed. It is something that I have never been able to feel anywhere else. I love it so much. It was such a great feeling to get back in to something I have loved and something that has been such a huge part of my life for so long. I know this sounds cheesy, but I know that my Dad is glad too. I know that he is happy that I am doing what I love again (not that I don't love the other things I've been doing, because I definitely do) and that the thing I am doing is dance, which he taught me to do.

I LOVE YOU DAD! Thank you for putting this love of dance in my heart and soul. I miss you!

My Butt

MY BUTT IS BIG

and round like the letter C.

And ten thousand lunges

have made it rounder,

but not smaller,

and that's just fine.

It's a space heater

for my side of the bed.

It's my ambassador

to those who walk behind me.

It's a border collie

that herds skinny women

away from the best deals

at clothing sales.

My butt is big

and that's just fine

and those who might scorn it

ARE INVITED TO KISS IT.

Good Bye 2009, Hello 2010!

First off I'd like to say, Thank you 2009, it's been great! Thanks for the memories and all of the lessons learned, but I'm ready to start anew and make this year an even better one!

2009 was, seriously, an awesome year. There definitely were some hard times, and some tears shed, but even those things helped me learn so much about the world, my life, and myself.

( <-- Last picture of 2009!)

Throughout this year I feel that I have been able to see who my true friends are, who I can really count on, and I have learned to better trust in my Lord. I feel that my relationship with him has become so much stronger, and I am beginning to truly know my Savior.

I'm unsure how anything could possibly top 2009, it was such an awesome year! But, quoting from one of my all time favorite movies (Benjamin Button) "You never know what's coming for ya." How true that is. I hope that I can be open the the experiences that this year will hold for me. I hope that I can learn from them and continue to grow. I hope that I can keep sight of what is truly most important.

My new year's resolutions are many. There are so many things that I want to work on and do this year, but I have narrowed them down to 8 main things I'd like to focus on. The first 4 are the most important to me.

(First picture of 2010! -->)

1. Be more patient. It's as simple as that. One thing that I have learned about myself is that I like to know what's coming next for me in my life. I like to have things planned out. I love spontaneity when it comes to doing things with my friends or family, or things like that, but when it comes to my future and the things that are important to me I like to know what is going on. At this point in my life, there's really not a whole lot of planning one can do. I know that I am going to continue to go to college and church, but really, that's all that I know for sure. I am looking for a job, but I don't know if I'm going to get hired, especially for the one I really want. I want to get married, but I don't know when that will happen, or who it will be to. I want to serve a mission, but I don't know if serving a mission is the best road for me at 21 or if I should wait and serve one with my husband. There are so many things that I want, but I don't know when they are going to happen. I definitely think that patience is the key. I just have to learn to live my life the best way that I know how and love what I am doing right then and there. Life will happen when it happens. I just have to be ready.

2. Read my scriptures and say my morning and evening prayers every single day. I am not too horrible at this already, but there is definitely room for improvement. I know that I definitely feel better about my day and feel closer to the Lord when I do these things. I feel that I can better resist Satan and his influences, and that is important.

3. Remember what is important when it comes to Brandon. I love my boyfriend. Very much. He makes me so happy and I completely love being with him. Sometimes, however, we have a tendency to forget about what's really important. It's never been a huge problem, but we don't like it being a little problem either. He means more to me than that, and I really want to focus on making sure I treat him the way he deserves to be treated.

4. Find and show love for my step siblings. This is going to be rather difficult for me, but I have felt that it is something that I need to do for a while now. My step siblings purposely try to make things hard for my family. They are slightly selfish and very rude. I have let myself think that I hate them for quite sometime now, but I don't want to hate them. I really want to try to find love for them and treat them the way a member of my family should be treated, wether or not they choose to love me back. If kindness is going to start somewhere, let it start with me.

5. Do baptisms for the dead at least 6 times this year.

6. Manage eating and exercise habits better. Goal weight- 130-135 lbs

7. More focus on and at school. Don't settle for "C's get degrees".

8. Truly magnify my callings in the church.

Russel The Snowman! and Temple Square

The other day, my boyfriend and I decided that we wanted to go sledding. The sledding itself lasted all of 10 minutes... but we ended up doing something even better. We built a snowman named Russel, complete with a full face, hair, and arms with hands on them. He is quite possibly the best snowman EVER! We thought he was gonna be a lot uglier than he really turned out to be. He was quite lopsided when we started, but we smoothed him out a bit and he ended up being quite handsome. hahaha. Brandon and I took pictures with the snowman and were a little sad when we discovered the kids in the neighborhood had helped the sun destroy him. But Russel is preserved in memory and pictures!

Later that day, after a delicious lunch of grilled ham and cheese sandwiches, The Dark Knight, and a nap, we went to a YSA (Young Single Adults) activity that involved all the YSA groups in our stake. We rode the tracks down to SLC and went to temple square. It was super fun, and I got some awesome pictures. We talked to two sister missionaries for a while from Hong Kong and Switzerland. It was super fun to talk to them and Amy, my friend, was lit up like a flashlight when talking to them. She is going on a mission next month to Kinewik (I have no idea how to spell it) Washington, Spanish Speaking. Brandon is excited that she is going Spanish speaking because he speaks spanish too. He learned it on his mission in Paraguay. It was a super fun night. An over-all super successful day!

How Interesting Life Is

There are so many things that I am trying to figure out in my life at this moment. I feel like I have a pretty good handle on life and that I am doing a fairly good job at maintaining my sanity, but life always throws you curves. Always.

As of late, I am still dating Brandon and I love it. We have so much fun together. Seriously. I can not think of anyone that I love being with as much as him. There are things in our relationship that we are still working out though. One of those things is FEAR. We are both scared of what may or may not happen between us. We both want more to come of what we have, but our relationship is still so young. I'm learning that both of us are pretty impatient people and we just want answers now, but I think that this is for sure a learning time for both of us. We care about each other enough that we are trying to be as patient as possible to see if things will really work out. I'm confident that no matter what happens between us we will continue to have great times together. I adore him.

Another thing that has me a little thrown off balance is school. I love school, and I am happy to say that I had a very successful Fall Semester and am stoked to be returning to Weber State for the Spring Semester, but I am also super anxious about it. I felt as though I was finally getting the hang of how things work in college and BAM! every thing is gonna change now. That's life though, is it not? The only thing constant in life is change. I know I'm going to have to work super hard this semester to keep on top of everything, and I hope I can do it. I just have to make sure that I keep my priorities straight. Church, School, Family/Friends. Work will fit in there eventually, if I ever get a freaking job!

Which brings me to my next thing; finding a job. I have been working hard to find a job. Really I have, but I have yet to find one. I have applied at multiple places, and then applied at more places, and then applied at more, and have not received one call. I'm not the only one having this problem though. I know of lots of people that need jobs that are having trouble finding one. My friend, who is a waitress, says that she can probably hook me up with a job as a hostess at the restaurant that she works for though so hopefully something will come of that. I am also going to audition for an Entertainment spot at Lagoon this summer. That should be fun if I get in. I feel that it would be good for me to have a job in which I get to do what I love! Who doesn't want to get up every day and go sing and dance? I feel that it would be good for my ADD too! haha.

All in all, I feel that life is good. Obviously there are a few things that I am worried about, but we are always growing and learning in this life; that's what it is for! I am so blessed and have so many amazing friends, family, and opportunities before me. I know that the Lord won't give me anything that I can not handle, and that he will help me though things that I am struggling with. He has never failed me, and I am confident that he never will. The things that have helped me get through my hard times and are still continuing to do so are as follows: reading my scriptures, attending all my church meetings, looking for ways to perform service, and prayer. I love all of these things. These are the tools that the Lord has given us to help us obtain happiness. I am happy, and I thank the Lord for it.

As It Stands Now

At this point in my life there is a lot for me to consider. School is going great, but I have kind of let myself fall behind in my computer class. I'm hoping that it will continue to be easy, and thus easy to make up, but I don't know... There is yet ANOTHER test that I have to take in my Intro to Theater class that I am the farthest from thrilled about; his tests are ridiculous and I haven't been doing very well on them... I've had all semester to write a 5 page paper on Kiss Me Kate and of course I'm just starting it now and it's due this Monday... and school is just super stressful. I think I need to truly just go to work, and put my faith in the Lord. I know he'll help me if I am doing all that I can do.

Apart from school, I am dating this boy and he is awesome. He treats me so well, we have no trouble talking about anything and everything, we are both extremely honest with each other, we have so much fun together, we are comfortable around each other, and things are just great. He makes me so happy, and he says I make him happy, yet I have good reason to believe that my feelings for him are stronger than his are for me. It's alright, I mean, love comes slowly sometimes... and I'm not saying I'm in love with him, but I definitely think I could be someday... and hopefully he will feel the same for me at that point. He says he considers me like his girlfriend... but I'm not exactly his girlfriend. We are both a little scared about being official with each other... I'm not sure why, but hopefully we'll figure it out soon.

My life is happy. I am happy. Sure I'm stressed and I want to figure the whole thing with my boy out, but I am happy. I have much to be grateful for, and I have many friends and a great family that bring so much happiness to my life. I know that I will get through my trials if I do all that I can and trust in the Lord. He is my one and only constant in this life. I know I can depend on him.

Now, to work.