Summer Olympics

I love the Olympics - Winter and Summer.

But especially Winter. But, I may just be biased..........

Summer is great though, too. I lovelovelove gymnastics. and swim. and diving. love. it.

Whenever i think of Summer Olympics, I think of this clip. Don't watch the whole thing (unless you want to..) but skip to 4:15 - 4:22

i love this movie. if you haven't seen Stick It, do yourself a favor: slap yourself for not seeing it before and then go rent it. now. this movie is pure genius. 

but, really? that "olympiiiiiiiics" line gets me EVERY TIME. i laugh so hard, i cry.

so, every time i see a gymnastics event during the olympics, i can't help but exclaim OLYMPIIIIIIIICS.

have i mentioned how much i love the olympics?

it's nice because finals are just around the corner and the olympics have these magical powers to put a fire under my behind and make me super motivated. 

Sarah and i have been working super hard in the gym (not that we haven't before...but we are just that much more motivated to go!)

I am motivated to work super hard in my classes.

did i mention i'm skating again?

yup.

a lot. 

and by a lot i mean one or two times a week...at most. 

but, that's more than i was doing just last month! (which was zero times a week) 

my Olympic dream is still strong.

i forgot how strong it really was until i watched the opening ceremonies last week.

it was just hidden for a while under school, work, life, etc.

so, Sochi Winter Olympics 2014?

that would be fun....

USA! USA! USA!

May the odds be ever in our favor.

wait . . .

quotes

I love quotes.

And, these in particular have been a tremendous help to me lately.

So, here they are:
 

"Delight in the life you have" 

-Kristen M. Oaks
 

"If your life is terrible, it is because you are terrible. Everything is a blessing! It all depends on how you look at it."

"Be happy today. Be happy now. Fake it until you believe it."

"Let not your heart be troubled."

"Get your prayer on."

-Alex Boye

"Don't give up on the Lord. Work towards the goal of communicating with your father in heaven daily. Cherish that relationship! That relationship is necessary in order to weather the storms. 'Seek me diligently and ye shall find thee.'"

"Faith and doubt cannot coexist."

-L. Tom Perry

"Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it."

-John Maxwell
 

 “Never assume that you can make it alone. You need the help of the Lord. Never hesitate to get on your knees in some private place and speak with Him.”

-Gordon B. Hinckley

"When everything seems to be going against you, just remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it."
-Henry Ford

"Our greatest glory consists not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall"

-Confucius

And, my absolute favorites:

"Tough times do not last. Tough people do."

-Gregory Peck

"Don't be too hard on yourself. There are plenty of people willing to do that for you. Love yourself and be proud of everything that you do. Even mistakes mean you're trying."
-Susan Gale

 "The Savior's Atonement lifts from us not only the burden of our sins but also the burden of our disappointments and sorrows, our heartaches and our despair. I promise you He is not going to turn His back on us now. When He says to the poor in spirit "come follow me," He means He knows the way out and He knows the way up. He knows it because He has walked it. He knows the way because He is the way."

-Jeffrey R. Holland

This too shall pass.
And I will come out stronger and victorious.

I will get through this.

The sun is shining and the sky is blue.

Come what may, and love it. 

:)

Happy Thursday

Pioneer Day

So, I find it odd that July 24th is a holiday here in Utah.

But, I'm not complaining.

I had both school AND work off.

It was definitely needed.

Sarah and I totally vegged. I slept in, watched a movie, did some DIY home remedies, and painted my nails.

Oh, and I went with Des to the baseball field batting cages.

I have not hit a baseball in YEARS. I'm talking at LEAST 10 years, so I was pretty rusty.

But it was so much fun.

Not going to lie, my arms are completely dead today and I have a pretty sweet blister on my left thumb.

 After an ice cream run for some graham canyon, we traveled on the scooter up to the base of the Y to watch the fireworks throughout Utah Valley. We even got to see some lightning. 

Utah residents don't hold back when it comes to celebrating Pioneer Day...

So, thank you pioneers for trekking across the plains.
Thank you Utah for the holiday and some much needed rest.

And, thank you Des for teaching me how to properly swing a bat all over again.

And for your patience.
And for not laughing...

...too much.

I'll stick with skating, thank you very much.

Happy Pioneer Day :)

indy's fun week

I really need to learn how to update this more often so I don't have a forever long post.

Oh well.

Sunday, the 15th - Preston and Corey (boys from my home ward) came over to my apartment and we had a nice chat and caught up and gave me a blessing. Bless their sweet hearts. Before they left, we had made plans to go to Preston's apartment for dinner later that week.

Monday, the 16th - We had FHE at the Schwarz's house that night. I haven't been able to eat too much without feeling like throwing up after for the last few weeks, but I tried to eat as much as I could....it was just so yummy! Lemon chicken, rolls, veggies, pie for dessert. My goodness.

Tuesday, the 17th - I love my LTS classes this session. I didn't know this was possible...but, the kids just keep getting cuter and cuter. Holy cow, they are so precious! And they try so hard. Thank goodness. ;) That evening, I went out with Desmond to go to the store for his roommate on his scooter and we drove around Provo for a bit just to talk. I love the scooter and that boy.

Wednesday, the 18th - Dinner at Preston's! Corey picked me up and headed over. Preston made this delicious Italian dish that was soooo dang yummy. After eating, we talked with his roommates and just laughed. I don't even remember the last time I laughed so hard and so much.

Thursday, the 19th - So, after work, my car wouldn't start. That was lame. It took me an hour and some help from my boss's husband (thank you!) before it finally started. Apparently it's the starter motor...whatever that means. 

That night, it was The Dark Knight Rises premiere! Des and I rode his scooter over to the Wynnsong to meet up with Ali, her roommates, and Danny. I brought my laptop to work on a paper while we waited in line (we got there 2 hours early) but ended up walking around the Riverwoods with Des haha. The movie was absolutely amazing! My mind was blown so many times. I laughed, I cried, I got frustrated, I cheered. It was so so so great. After Des dropped me off back home around 3:30am (the movie is LONG) I stayed up with Sarah and pulled an all-nighter - working on my paper, reading for a reading quiz, and studying for my upcoming anatomy exam. The last time I pulled an all-nighter was my Freshman year and I vowed never to do it again...and now I remember why. When I got home, Sarah told me the news about Aurora, Colorado. That is so scary and extremely horrific. That could have happened anywhere...I definitely counted my blessings and continue to pray for all the victims and their families. What a tragedy...

Friday, the 20th - I had lunch with my Aunt Claudia who I haven't seen in FOREVER at Brick Over and we discussed everything from classes to boys to life lessons, etc. She is taking classes this Summer at BYU after being away for 40 years. I don't know how she does it...i don't think i could ever do that! Came home and studied more for my Anatomy exam and then headed over to Sarah's house around 5:30 for dinner before we headed up to SLC for the MoTab Pioneer Day concert! It was absolutely fabulous. Katherine Jenkins was the featured performer and she was breathtaking. Her voice - my goodness. And, the songs were beautiful! So, I guess she was on Dancing with the Stars this last season and was the runner up and after singing one of her songs, she had her dance partner Mark Ballas came out and they did a dance while the orchestra played! AHHH IT WAS SO GOOD. I love Mark Ballas. I may or may not have freaked out when she told him to come out...

Anyways, it was a lovely show and I am so thankful that the Meyers thought to invite me along :)

Got back from SLC and hung out with Des again. We took the scooter around Provo again and went to this incredible park over by Walmart and just walked around and learned how to drive the scooter in the empty parking lot. I'll leave the driving to him, thank you very much. We got back to my apartment parking lot and just talked and talked some more. At around 2am, I began to feel delirious from the lack of sleep over the last few days and he gave me a piggy back ride up the stairs. He is seriously the best friend I could ever ask for. For real.

I have been going through such a different, difficult time these last few weeks and I feel like I was finally able to begin breathing again this week. 

Also, my flight home has officially been booked.

3 weeks until i'm home.

breathe.

i can do this.

Happy Saturday :)

In Provo, we celebrate independence day all week long

My fourth of July week consisted of:

-Sunday, the 1st: going to a patriotic fireside with Ben and Sarah. It was so good! SO many wonderful speakers and a military band played. Sarah and I even got a picture with Bonnie Losee...apparently she is the owner of Bon Losee jewelers! She was Ms. Senior Utah and had jewels EVERYWHERE. Her wedding ring was MASSIVE.

Please note how she held my hand instead of putting her arm around me to show off her ginormous ring :P

She was simply fabulous.

-Tuesday, the 3rd: painting festive nails with Sarah and Ben

Sarah did Ben's nail (left)

Ben did Sarah's nails (middle)

And Sarah did mine. (right)

I enjoy being pampered.

-After our nails dried, we walked along University Av. from 940 N to Center St. It was nuts outside. People had camped out for a parade. Yes, a parade. Utah is weird. But I love it. There were street performers, henna artists, and teenagers EVERYWHERE. Instead of drinking beer (which I definitely smelled in some areas), kids were holding their Red Bull and Monsters. Way to rebel, kids! Come teach Southern California your ways ;)

While we (sarah, ben, and i) were out, I met up with my friend Desmond from freshman year at the 7-11 around 11:30pm. We ended up staying out just talking in my front lawn until 3:30am! I don't know how we did it because I was so tired before we went out. But, it was so fun to catch up with an old friend :)

-Fourth of July - Amuuuuurica. We watched the parade from our front lawn. So prime. It was cute and fun but I still didn't understand why people camped out for it. Hmmm...

 I love the Meyers girls :)

One of the "floats" for the parade.

That night, Ali and I went to Stadium of Fire with Scotty McCreery and the Beach Boys! AHH SO GOOD. You better believe we were up and dancing. 

 Some pre show shaved ice. The BEST.

Beach Boys!

Mike Love, 0.5 seconds before he hive fived me and Ali!

-Thursday, the 5th: It rained. Mind you, it was BLAZING HOT on the fourth. I know it was from all the prayers for rain to put out the fires...we got rained out at Institute which was a BBQ and water games. We got our water all right! :P

-Friday, the 6th: Ali, Colton, Danny, Cameron, and I went to the Rooftop Concert series (because it was free...) and left after 20 minutes. I can only take so much Provo rap...which is none. 

"i throw up gaaaaaangster signs...but i don't know what they meeeeeean"

After leaving, we headed over to see the new Spiderman movie and found out Heather was in Provo! YAYAYAY. Picked her up and absolutely LOVED the movie. Movie got out a little after midnight and I went back to Alpine to see Desmond and we (me and Des and Heather) went to Rock Canyon to talk and catch up. (Heather was my neighbor freshman year so she knows Des, too). There was an interesting turn of events that night and ended up staying out talking with Des until 4:30am. Whew. Twice in one week? I was exhausted.

-Saturday, the 7th: Sarah and I went to a reception for a girl in our ward. She looked absolutely beautiful!

Congrats, Ray!

-Sunday, the 8th: I invited myself over to the Walker's house for dinner (our 1st counselor in the Bishopric) and enjoyed some ribs, corn, homemade biscuits, and the fudgiest brownies I have ever tasted with Sarah, Ethan, and Joel. We were in great company, had wonderful conversations, and had delicious food. I am so spoiled.

And, that is my independence day week.

God Bless America.