this is dedicated to matt

hilarious

Great Shape Barbie Halloween 2010

hahaha...this commercial cracks me up. Finally decided on what I want to be. Can't wait for Halloween!!!

i love running!

....is what i tell myself when i'm running! I was really ambitious a few months back and signed myself up for a full marathon in Sacramento December 5th. I thought, hmmm...I should try to qualify for the Boston Marathon, then I can finally go to Boston! Maybe I should have just planned a Boston trip....hah...well, the truth is I actually DO like running for some strange reason. I can't quite figure out why. My friend told me the other day that he couldn't figure out why I would pay to torture myself for 3-4 hours. The only thing I could say was, well it makes me feel good about myself. He said I should just treat myself to a dinner and a movie. Though I do like taking myself out on dates, a marathon is a bit different. I feel good because I accomplished something I worked towards. There's soooo much time and training that goes into this, so when it's achieved, it's a great feeling.

Anyway, I realized I'm waaaaaay behind on my training! I've been training for the Big Sur 1/2 Marathon that's in mid-November, but realized I should be doing more miles. So this week I tried to boost my runs up a bit. Tuesday I did 13.5 miles. Wednesday speed work with Team Club Sport. Thursday rest and swim. Friday 15 miles. Saturday 10 miles. Aaaand I'm exhausted! But, not as bad as I thought! I remember how sore I was after last years 1/2 (granted it was in SF with rolling hills the whole time), but even after 15 miles, I'm not too bad! So, next week I will try to go 16-18 miles. Hopefully I can do it!

Before our run today. So cold!

Priscilla, me, Jordan

Words of Wisdom from President D. Michael Stewart

I found out Saturday morning that my mission president from Temple Square passed away in his sleep this past Friday. I feel so lucky to have spent almost my whole mission with him and to have learned so much from him. He is an amazing person and I know he is serving in a greater capacity on the other side. He has been such a huge influence on my life, and I am eternally grateful for that. I decided to go through my mission journal to remember some of the words of wisdom he often repeated...

"All the water in the world however hard it tried could never sink a ship unless it got inside. All the evil in the world the blackest kind of sin, can never hurt you one least bit, unless you let it in."

6 Steps to Personal Peace

1. Life is a process, not an event.
2. Personal response, not heredity or environment, determines my destiny.
3. Personal picturing counts. Our lives are what our thoughts make us.
4. Have patience with principles. Believe in the inevitability of gradualism.
5. The pathway to self is through others. See a need and fill it.
6. Pursue the prompting. Follow the feeling.

8 Steps to Spirituality

1. Pray daily.
2. Read and ponder the scriptures daily.
3. Attend all meetings.
4. Keep the Sabbath spirit.
5. Accept and magnify a church calling.
6. Tithe your income.
7. Be temple worthy; attend often.
8. Seek worthy friends.

"Repentance governs man's past. Faith governs the future. The Holy Ghost governs the present."

"Sustain and Abstain. Sustain the good things of the gospel (principles of Gospel and temple). Abstain from the bad things (things that throw us off track)."

"Life is a difficult process, but it should be fun."

"Kill the pig! Replace fear with faith.

Until your slay your fears or kill your pigs, you will be miserable all your life. Don't compare yourself to others, you will either feel inferior or superior."

Faith Formula:

See (desired result in mind), say (words of faith), do (action), act (obedience, service, work, love), leave the rest to God.

Get Fear Out and Exercise Faith

1. Know that God Exists
2. Know that God loves you
3. Correct idea of His character
4. An actual knowledge that one's course fits God's will

"God takes care of those who take care of Him."

"God is the architect. Christ is the builder. The Holy Ghost is the maintenance man--He maintains it. They have given us everything we need. It's up to us to do the rest."

"Refuse to see yourself as an exception to the rule."

"Do not doubt your spiritual experiences. Do not forget them as realities. Believe they happened."

"Care! Care about everything you do."

"Weak people wait for things to happen, strong people make things happen."

"The Gospel is true because it works."

"Diamonds have many facets, as do our testimonies. There are many things that go into a testimony. There aren't boundaries on a testimony--it's ever expanding."

"Be big on the little things. Be obedient. Obedience=Peace."

"Don't gossip. If you like yourself you won't talk about others behind their backs."

"Be nice to yourself--We're really hard on ourselves, love yourself. Be nice to yourself as you are to God. How can you love your neighbor if you don't love yourself?"

"Life is a process, not an event. Look back and see how far you've come. Don't compare yourself to others."

"Don't take yourself too seriously, laugh at mistakes. You are more important than your mistakes."

"Marriage (asking us to take 1 step off Temple Square...) 3 Things to Marry the Right Person 1-Puts Jesus Christ first. Faithful. 2-Tender heart. Nice. 3-Energetic. Ambitious, has goals."

"Education. Diversify your education and resume. Add as many skills as you can. Expand your horizons (I wrote in my notes to eat sushi! haha). Read different books, different music, dances, etc. Reach beyond your comfort zone."

"Don't wait for the perfect specimen, but make sure he has those 3 things and diversify things together. Don't bend on principles."

"This is not just a religion, it's a way of life."

"Go to the temple frequently. What we learn in the temple is what we don't learn elsewhere. You can get different things out of it each time."

"The Lord gives you more than anyone else will give you."

"You are the greatest gift to give."

"God didn't make junk. You are precious."

"Do not count time, make time count!"

S.I.M.P.S.
Spiritual Goals
Intellectual Goals
Mental Goals
Physical Goals
Social Goals

President Stewart is amazing and I know I will see him again someday. I am grateful for my knowledge and testimony of the Gospel and the Plan of Happiness. It's a great comfort and peaceful feeling to know we will be with our loved ones and see our friends again after this life.

oh Butters!

goodbye diet coke?

i don't want to go blind!
http://www.infowars.com/warning-to-glenn-beck-dont-drink-diet-coke/

Potatoes, babies, family, BFF's, webcam, Temple Square, and General Conference!

I just got back from vacation to Utah and Idaho! It was great. I flew out Saturday morning with my dad after getting I think about 2 hours (ish) of sleep--I've never slept so soundly on an airplane. I didn't even care about the peanuts and diet coke. For some reason I usually really feel a need to stay awake for that part of the flight. Anyway, it was a good flight and then we headed over to Shawn and Kim's house and met this bundle of joy:

Oopsies...wrong one. Here's the bundle of cuteness:

Sunday Shawn blessed Wesley David Patten and we had a family get together at his house. It was lots of fun and they provided delicious taco salad. 

On Tuesday I took good old Trailways Express to Rexburg, Idaho where I attended college. I haven't visited since I graduated. A lot has changed. Like, there's an Applebees now. And a temple. And a bigger campus. Some things haven't changed. Like the mullets, potatoes, and huge sodas you can buy at Horkley's for super cheap. A main reason I wanted to visit was to see Crystal! I haven't seen  her since April 2006! Insane. She's married and has 2 adorable kids-Ella and Jack.

She toured me around Rexburg. Here's the temple!

I also met up with my old roommate Kim!

Her adorable kids Jack and Ella! Ella was obsessed with my purse because she discovered it contained all kinds of goodies like gum, candy, games (my phone), and my water bottle.

It was well worth the 4 1/2 hour trip by bus from Salt Lake! I celebrated the last time I had to take that darn bus in college, so I never thought I'd be on it again! Life is always throwing curve balls! hah

When I got back to Utah I met up with Sarah Usher! She was my neighbor at school and we hadn't seen each other since I graduated. She is the best. We always find ourselves getting into all kinds of shenanigans together, and this time was no different. We caught up on the last 4 years of our lives pretty quickly. Our waiter at this Thai restaurant we ate at was afraid to approach us because we left no break in talking!

On Saturday I met up with Laura Ostlund and Erin Cox to attend the Saturday afternoon session of General Conference.

We found our mission president and wife and they let us help out behind the desk to answer questions and give out pamphlets, etc.

Laura and I were on our way to The Blue Iguana to meet more sisters for a bridal shower when we ran into Alex Boye (of Mormon Tabernacle Choir). haha, there is a funny story behind this picture-if you wanna know you can ask ;-)

We finally made it to Blue Iguana. This is Sister Griffeth. She was one of the senior couples at Temple Square. Her and her husband were and are a big influence on me. She's from Napoleon Dynamite's hometown--Preston, ID!

More sisters...Sis Tan, Lara, and Williams

Sister Garcia! She's so tall.

My first companion and "mama" in Georgia! She trained me in the outbound. She came all the way from Canada and somehow found herself at our Temple Square reunion.

One of my first companions ever! Sister Gasper and I were in a trio with Sister Myers in the MTC.

Sister Medeiros from Brazil--2nd transfer comps!

After the reunion I went back to Sarah's and spent the night. She had tickets to Sunday morning conference so we went together. It was fun.

Then, I toured her around Temple Square.

 

Laura and I had tickets to the afternoon session but Sarah wanted to come too. We tried the whole putting 1 finger up for awhile looking for 1 extra ticket, but no luck. We were saying goodbye and just as she was about to leave, a guy came up to us and asked us if we needed an extra ticket!!! I was so happpppy! Apparently Laura had kept one finger up the whole time so he saw that! It was great.

After the session a bunch of sisters and senior couples met up at the flag pole for a picture.

After a full day of conference, temple square, and upliftment, I went back to Sarah's (because I just couldn't get enough of her!) We laughed for like 3 hours straight taking webcam pictures--the kind of laughing where you are laughing so hard its silent. My abs were sore! We are easily entertained. ;-)

There you have it. A look into mine and Sarah's relationship. So hilarious.

The next day I headed down to Provo and met up with Lisa, Katie (Lisa's sister), and Christelle--I grew up with Lisa, and I taught Katie and Christelle in young womens. They are going to BYU now. All grown up!

And now I am back in California! I started school yesterday. Forgot how much I missed BART! 

Future lover right there. hahaha...I also got some great Robot Unicorn Attack game tips from a long haired, balding, trench coat man.