what happened today

Sleeping in till noon

Belgian waffles and hash browns
Mario Party 6

Life talks

Rainy, melancholy weatherFootball games

Dancing to my hearts content

Good friendsMovie time

A feeling of fall

Anticipation...

{mikes-table.themulligans.org}
{farrfeed.com}

It's a Matter of Trust

I'm at my second home right now.

Campus.

I literally live here.

But I was just asking a friend what I should write about on my blog today because I was drawing a complete blank. It happens often.

She said, and I quote:

Write something about trusting in the Lord and about being anxious and waiting but needing to trust that everything will work out if you are doing all you can to keep His commandments and be the best u can be.

I reminded her that I write about that subject often, and that I wanted to write about something else. She told me that I didn't always write about specifically that. And she's right.

As usual.

In fact, why can't I write about it every time? It's an important enough topic, one that we should be remembering on a daily basis. Trusting in the Lord.How hard is that really? Everyone makes it seem easy enough. But do we really truly trust Him? Deeply and unconditionally? When you think about it, wanting to trust Him is the easy part and kinda sorta trusting Him is not much harder. It's completely and totally trusting that's the hard part, at least that's been my experience. So how do we go about that? Elder Gene R. Cook told us-

...may I make these few suggestions that will help you stay close to and trust in the Lord:

1. Pray to Him, continually seeking revelation throughout the day. (See 2 Ne. 9:52.)

2. Read His scriptures daily, even if only for a few minutes. They will give you direction in this world and teach you of the world to come.

3. Exercise faith and keep the things of the Spirit as the first priority in your life, then all else will be appropriately added.

4. Seek to do His will, not your own, humbling yourself and repenting or changing your life as needed.

5. Love others; serve them. Feed the Lord’s flock.

6. Keep the commandments with exactness.

Remember, the Lord will ultimately prosper those who keep His commandments. He said: “And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them.” (1 Ne. 17:3)

Gene R. Cook, “Trust in the Lord,” Tambuli, Aug 1986, 32

Can we try that?

I will.

The Lord's always on our side. We just gotta make sure we stay on His.

photo:{streetsblog.org}

What I wouldn't give to be a flat person

I have a visitor this week.

A letter came from Esther, my little sister, a couple days ago. I was a tad surprised. My birthday had been a couple weeks prior so it couldn't be that... What in the world?! There's a little man in the envelope! A letter emerged with the man.

Flat Stanley.

For those of you who don't recognize this beloved childrens character (and those of you who fit that description apparently had no childhood), Flat Stanley is a little boy who gets tragically crushed by a bulletin board, and becomes a flat-two dimensional figure. A blessing in disguise it seems, for now Stanley can travel around the world in an envelope having adventures.

He had been sent to me so that he could learn about the place where I live, work, play, etc.

Needless to say, I got kind of giddy. That may sound a tad bit dorky, but oh well. I felt extremely touched that my sister would trust me with him so that she and her class could learn more about the world. I immediately started planning places to take Stanley, planning to take pictures of all of it.

Look for one of the next posts to be devoted to this. It's gonna be fun!

book photo:{llworldtour.com}

Mi madre, for her birthday

Mommy dearest,
It's your birthday today and since you allowed me to grace the pages of your blog on my birthday, I thought it fitting that I do the same for you. What can be expressed in words to a mother, that cannot be expressed simply? To my Heavenly Father I say thank you for putting this wonderful woman on the earth so that she could be my mother.

Mom,
An ear when I need one
A guide for your children
An amazing cook
A rock in spiritual matters
A beautiful person, inside and out
And so much more!
Love you Mom!

I don't wanna grow up

Isn't it strange?

What did you want most of all when you were a kid? I wanted to grow up.

Nothing has changed. I still wanna grow up. There are moments, however, that I still wanna stay a kid...

Wake up early on Saturday morning to watch cartoons.

Still believe in Santa.

Run around with the rest of the kids on the block.

Thinking the most evil beings in the world are the monsters in my closet.

Be unashamed to use my imagination to its potential.

Get a couple dollars from doing chores, wonder what I'm gonna do with all that money.

Have a perception of the world that is almost magical.

No longer am I this child. I received my wish. I grew up, mostly. There are wonderful moments in my adult world. Decisions made, responsibilities lived up to, growth perceived. I enjoy being an adult.

Then there are moments. Childlike fun. Innocence recaptured, if for a moment. I think back.

I don't wanna grow up.

{ahbengsworld.blogspot.com}
{sodahead.com}

bored thinking

I wasn't expecting to write more than one post today. But I find that I have time to type out some thoughts and I think why not?

I sit in a wooden chair, the hard edge of the back digs into my back.
Boys Like Girls, Colbie Callait, and the likes blast from the stereo at my side, filling my head with favorite lyrics and melodies.
Impatience fills my mind as I wait for our departure to the movies.

It's supposed to be really good.

My thoughts drift to the unfortunate circumstances of last night, watching my phone and Ipod tumble over and over into the porcelain bowl.

I sigh.

I want Fall Break to continue through next week. Maybe I can freeze time?




















I sigh again.

Brightening up, I consider that this is the week that Elder Kunz comes home, that my mother has a birthday, that October is almost halfway over, that there are dance parties every day for the next two weekends.

I see someone's snowboard.

I get excited for winter to show up, blasting me with his chilling breath as I glide/fall down the slopes of the Wasatch Mountains.
I wonder if I'll be able to afford a season pass AND a snowboard.

Maybe a job would help?

Possibly.

I wonder if that company will ever call me about my resume, if it will take me a good 50 years to pay off my mounting debts, if one day could pass without me worrying about finances.

I'm a bit of a dreamer apparently.

Thank goodness.

Movie time.

{http://blogs.babble.com/strollerderby/}
{wirelessinfo.com}
{http://www.snowboard-wallpapers.com}

Masterpieces..

Watched Phantom of the Opera the other night.

Anyone else like that movie/musical? I sure do.

Once again, I realize the genius of Andrew Lloyd Webber. The music. The story. I get goosebumps every time.

The endless war between light and dark. The effects of a cruel world. Learning to accept oneself. Eternal love.



It's hard to pick a favorite song from this masterpiece but if I had to choose, it would be this beautifully haunting excerpt. It's been stuck in my head for the past couple days.

As you can see on the right had side of this page, I have started reading Les Miserables which I am ecstatic about! I have always wanted to bury myself in this book, especially after seeing the film version (non-musical). It's a little daunting, for it's no feat for the faint-hearted. But what a book! One of the most critically acclaimed pieces of literature of all time.

And I'm reading it.

Deep breath...

Dive in.

Take it easy

I've come to a realization.

I can be super uptight and worried about the most trivial things.
Problem?
I think so.
Huge problem?
Probably not.

It's not all the time that this happens, but it happens more than I would like it to. It probably goes back to that fear of the uncertain that I have. So what to do about it?

My mother is a giant when it comes to spiritual matters. I often have heard much of what she tells me, but I forget it so easily she usually has to repeat it three or four.. or eight.. times.

It's that uncertainty that turns us to God. The scary part comes from trying to do it alone. Just trust Him.

That's what she says to me. Genius right?

Mom would just call it common sense. In a sense it is. We know that if we trust in God and know that He is in control of affairs, life becomes less complicated.

So I need to take it easy. Don't worry about things that aren't in my control. Concentrate on things that are. Follow what He knows is best for me.

There will be clouds. The sunshine is brighter.
(via: alaska-in-pictures.com)

10.10.10

Yes I know what you're thinking right now.

JOEY! 10.10.10 was yesterday! Why are you titling your post that? What are you, an idiot?

While that has actually been a proven fact from time to time, the answer is... no I am not an idiot. I did have a really great idea for a post yesterday during the actual event, but I was mucho occupado. A born Spanish speaker, I know.
So here is my 10.10.10 post...a day late.(Humor me)

Happy 10.10.10 everyone! I mean seriously, how often is this gonna happen? Umm, try not for the next 100 years! Kind of a big deal right? Right.

So for this epic day, let's review some of the cool things that contain the number 10:

-ten fingers
-ten toes
-Ten Commandments
-ten pins in bowling
-ten yards in a first down
-ten years in a decade
-Ten Lost Tribes of Israel
-"the perfect 10"
-ten provinces of Canada
-tithing is one/tenth of income

And if that's not enough, I've been inspired to list 10 reasons why I love 10.10.10. (You're getting tired of hearing me say that aren't you?) I know I know.. this is really cliche, but again this is a monumental occasion, which always calls for a little bit of the cliche:

1. It's on a Sunday, BEST day of the week

2. I slept in

3. A couple meaningful bonding moments with my sister

4. The weather was perfect

5. I finished a book, Girl with the Pearl Earring

6. I started a book, The Glass Castle

7. I helped make the most amazing apple pie

8. I ate said pie

9. Watched and laughed at some amazingly funny Youtube videos

10. At 10:10 pm, I took part in one of the best 10 song dance parties I had ever been too(thus, making it the only one I've ever been to)






Be jealous. We know we're awesome.





As before mentioned, it was Sunday. All we could dance to was Everclean and EFY music. Epic.

So that's why 10.10.10 was a day for the history books. And don't feel bad. If you're day was nothing like the illustrious list you've just witnessed, well... there's always a hundred years from now!

Uncertain about Uncertainty

Are you scared of the uncertain? I think I am. And I'm not.

I'm don't like the fact that I am unaware of what the future holds. I can see Dad and Mom's gasp of shock as they read this. I don't do very well with planning things, I'm a very spontaneous individual. But I draw a line.
A few conversations I've had recently, just today even, have been focused around uncertainty. What's the best path for me right now? Does this person like me? What am I doing with my life? All questions that I despise. But I don't.

You see, I hate uncertainty, but I love figuring out how to take off the "un-" portion. There has to be both I think. Yep pretty positive. So while we despise not being certain, it's necessary right? So I don't have to be scared of it right? So I won't.

...buuuut I am.

photo:tour.airstreamlife.com

Singing in the rain..

The actual rain and clouds have disappeared from the sky, but I can't tell you how wonderful it was to have rain for the past couple days. And when I say it rained, I mean it POURED!

What is it about rain?

Is it the smell, so clean and refreshing to body and mind?
Is it the sound, the pattering/pounding on rooftops and windows?
Maybe the sight then, the landscape blurred by the downpour..
Or the feel? The sharp sensation of cold drops, a splash from a jump into a puddle.
Definitely the taste, the innocent catching of raindrops on the tongue?

How about all the above..