Memories

Memories. We all have them, the good, the bad, and the ugly.  But aren't memories amazing.  It amazing to me how our brains remember everything. I mean, there's so much going on in my brain between all my responsibilities, yet there is still a lot of room filled with memories.

I meant to write this post many moons ago when I actually experienced this, but I guess later is better than never.

So while studying for finals, when you would think that all my brain power would be consumed by learning the material for my exam; I found my study partner and I going down memory lane.  It was strange to relive those memories, yet exciting at the same time.  You truly can relive those moments all over, they still bring you the happiness or sadness that existed at those times, so reliving bad memories are not the best idea.

I found that while going on the journey of all the things that are really stored in my mind.  I mean small things that really have no significance, I remembered.  It's pretty extraordinary the amount of stuff (vague I know) that are brains can store.  And add to the fact that I have been told that most people with the doctorate use only about ten percent of their brain capacity.  Can you imagine how much we are using?!?! What if we were able to achieve our full potential of brain capacity. We could remember everything!!!

K so this post is all over the place a little.  But I guess what I wanted to get across was that I delight in my memories.  I delight in the fact that I travel to the outer most part of my brain and relive some of the happiest times in my life.  

At the same time, trying to remember things that are a little fuzzy reminds me why we are told to record our lives in journals.  It's fun to go back and read what was important to me at that time.  For instance, tonight I reread in my date journal, yes I have a date journal.  Small tangent, when I turned 16, my mom suggested to keep track of all my dates I go on. I liked the idea so went with it, and it has morphed into a date and important events journal.  Any event I find significant in my life.... (i.e. first kisses and what not)  any who.... I was reading through my date journal tonight, and realized that events that I thought were of great importance last year and made it to this journal, have occurred this year, and probably wouldn't have made it to the date journal.  And this is the exact same event, just one year later.  Crazy isn't it.  You really see where your priorities are and what holds greater importance in your life.  You can actually see how you have grown and changed in a year.  

Yes this post is a little scattered brained, guess that's what we get when I write this late, and brain has gone on Christmas vacation. But I hope it brings some delight to your day!

Look for the Good

It's days like today that it is sometimes hard to find things to delight in, yet I have the need to blog.  You know, vent your feelings. I have a tenancy to keep my frustration inside and not let it out. Or when I have been hurt by someone I can seem to express my feelings of expression to everyone but that ONE person.  Well, I don't want this post to be a vent post, I am going to try and find the good in it, something that I can delight in.  So here it is....

I delight in the future

So boys, not the most pleasant subject in the world. But lately, having major frustrations with them [boys], has made me realize what I really want in a guy, and having an eternal perspective helps a lot.  Right now it seems that the world is crashing down around you, but in the FUTURE, you definitely see that it truly all did work out the way it supposed to.  At least it does for me.  I realize that the guy or we can add situation here too, really wasn't what you want for life, but it just seemed that way at the moment because your heart was to tied up in what was going on.  Times like these are times when you really do need your "spiritual eyes" to see past the world.  Parents and friends are a major help in this.  They help you realize that you are better off.  And like the old saying goes, there are other fish in the sea.

So how can I and all of delight in such situations where we truly feel that our heart has been ripped out of our chest, but in a blender, and then placed back, expecting us to love again?

Look to the Future, and one day you will catch up to it.  One day, I am going to have a man who is truly the man of my dreams.  He is going to be my prince in shining armor and I am going to be his princess and he will treat me that way every day together.  And my friend said it perfectly, "You need to feel gaga for him and long to see him again and have him hold you in his arms, then he is worth it.  You need to find a guy who worships the ground you walk on as well as who makes you weak at the knees."  We should delight that someday we will be able to live the fairytale and live happily ever after. 

Haven't you ever seen the cute couples and you say "Someday I want to have what they have." A lot of time I see this with newlyweds, but I love it even more when I see it in middle aged adults and especially in older people.   It's always so sweet to hear a man in his late sixties or seventies talk about his "sweetheart" or "my queen." That's what I want.  I want to be in love the rest of my life, just not now and just not for a short time.  I want love for all eternity.  

So that's what I delight in today, knowing that someday my prince charming in going to come riding his white horse (per say), I will get to be that elderly couple who still holds hands and you can see the love they have for each other that grows each day.  That's what I am going to have and so much more, and I delight knowing that my future is bright and full of happiness. 

Chocolate.... It's a food group

CHOCOLATE!


Chocolate, it seriously should be it's own food group.  It's something that you can always count on.  Good or bad day, it's there for you. Plus, it comes in so many forms.... cake, pudding, bars, melted, in cookies, and today favorite milk!!!


Today while studying, and might I add, last week while studying, I made myself a delicious cup of chocolate milk! It was just delicious! Plus, these two particular glasses of chocolate milk had the perfect, chocolate powder to milk ratio.  You know what ratio I am talking about, the same ratio as chips to salsa, milk to cereal, etc.  The one that you never get right, always adding more chips to plate to eat the rest of your salsa, needing more cereal because there is too much milk left in your bowl, and finally giving in and drinking the rest of your milk.  These two glasses of  milk were PERFECTO! I mean so good that once I made an initial conclusion of how much Nesquik to put into the glass of milk, I didn't have to add more once I stirred it and tasted. Amazing I know! 

Another plus of chocolate is that it can be good for you..... Below are some fun facts that I learned about Nesquik (Courtesy of the back of the Nesquik can)




Nesquik + Milk = more calcium than milk alone
Which calcium = strong bones
Nesquik = less sugar than other chocolate syrup brands, other powder brands, and juice drinks
It has a long shelf life = good for college students

Oh a fun fact I just found.... There are directions on the side of the can for the perfect glass of chocolate milk. So now your worries about the Milk to chocolate ratio are over too.  Phew!!! That was a close one. 

Hope you delight in some chocolate today!!!!

Life

So I know that it has been FOREVER since I've written, but LIFE happened.

Yup, LIFE.  Sometimes it's good, and sometimes it's bad.  But you can't really know the good or how good the good really is unless you have had the bad.  And let's just say that LIFE has had a little bit of both for the last two months.  But this blog isn't for me to vent about the bad, (that's what pen and paper are for) it's for me to share delightful things with you so that if you are having one of those bad LIFE days, you can be uplifted.  So instead of taking forever to catch up by only delighting in one thing a day.... Today, we are going to delight in a whole bunch of things!!!


1.  IWA (Institute Women's Association)  This most definitely has to make it to the list, and the top of the list for that matter.  There are just so many things to delight in.  For one, our theme this year is "My Soul Delighteth..." It somewhat was the inspiration for the title of this blog.  I just love the girls and leaders in IWA.  They are so amazing and so unique and together we can conquer anything we are asked to do.  All of the girls and leaders are so busy yet make time for this.  They volunteer all their time.  I just absolutely LOVE IT!!! A specific example, our President adviser knew how stressed we were this week and wanted to invite us to dinner, but knew we would be studying. So she made up sack lunches of BBQ sandwiches and all the works to take home for two meals! She is so amazing.  Seriously, when I grow up I want to be just like her.  And along with that.  The girls knew I was way busy the next couple weeks with midterms, a final and the HUGE exam I have to pass to graduate, that someone left a meal in my box wishing me good luck studying, and it was anonymous.  Seriously so sweet.  So if you are close to an Institute of Religion, you should definitely join IWA.  It makes LIFE so much better.


2.  IWA Women's Conference.  Yes, it was THAT good that it gets it's on number.  Sister Ardeth Greene Kapp came and spoke to us and let's just say that I delighted in every word that she said.  The day before Women's Conference had been one of the bad LIFE days; but everything that Sister Kapp said but it into perspective and was exactly what I needed to hear.  I loved it!!! (See #1)  It was just an uplifting time.


3.  Roommates  I know what you are thinking, is this girl serious. I mean I know you hear all the horror stories of roommates, and yes I have experienced them.  But this year is different.  My roommates and I get along so well.  It's so fun to just stay up and talk to them all night.  And what's fun is my one roommate just sat in front of me last year during a class and now were roommates and want to be next summer!!! It's seriously been a blessing.  Plus... along with this... we actually semi decorated our apartment this year so it's more of a home and not this sterile white box that we are forced to live in for the school year.  Plus... they are very nice to listen to me vent, mostly about boys, which I am so thankful for.


4. Piano  So I have always enjoyed playing the piano, but I feel like that was renewed this month.  I had the chance to listen to Dueling Pianos at Poetry and a Beverage on campus this month.  My friend was the headliner.  I knew he played, but I didn't knew HE PLAYS!!! oh man... FABULOUS! so Great! I seriously fell in love all over again.  There is just something about a man who can play the piano, and I mean really play the piano.  I consider myself a pianist, but I am a church pianist.  My friend is a musician, a true full-fledge pianist.  He really feels the music and gets into it.  What's so delightful about this, is that my friend and I played a duet the next day after the Dueling Pianos.  I completely understood him so much better after seeing him perform.  Our duet rocked! I know that's hard to think seeing it was a church hymn.  But it was loud and powerful. 

*Here's a clip of PoBev

5.  Big Bang Theory It's a TV show, not the theory that you learn about in Biology class. lol.  This show is hilarious, espeicailly if you have any amount of nerdiness about you, in which I have a lot!  My roommates and I finished the second season in about a month.  We would just sit and watch for hours.  If you haven't seen it, you should definitely check it out.  Warning: Most people either like it or don't.  But you should love it.  It's about awkardness of nerds and geeks and the beautiful girl next door.  You're hooked aren't you!?!

6.  MLIA (My Life is Average) A interesting website that people post average things that happen to them.  I delight in reading them while waiting for the bus or when work is slow.  But why this makes the list.... I was at school the other day and someone had posted the following MLIA in the bathroom! I have now been apart of something that could make it to mylifeisaverage.com..... Once again, you should probably check it out.

Well I hope that your day has been some what more delightful!!!!

Yummy Yummy Yummy!

Chocolate: a food group that improves mood exponentially as one eats it
Cookies: America's favorite snack

Therefore, Chocolate Chip Cookies are by far the best thing ever invented (well right now)

A really good chocolate chip cookie just makes me smile.  And I've have been the luckiest person to be able to have the best chocolate chip cookies the past few days.  And guess what? You can have some too. Because no, they are not homemade, but the far exceed homemade cookies.  Paradise Bakery has the best cookies!!! MMMM Yummy! I just love them. So much, that I just ate one for breakfast  :)  (I'm on vacation, it's allowed)

What's nice about chocolate chip cookies is that if you need a mood boost, they help.  If you want a small snack that's not healthy, they're there for you.  If you need to celebrate, Yippee, they celebrate with you.  Like I said they are the best thing invented as of right now.  So I think we should all dedicate this week to find somewhere the chance to truly enjoy a chocolate chip cookie. 

Time

"Family, isn't it about time?"

This week I've had the chance to spend a lot of time with my mom.   Today especially.  I really enjoy the time we get to spend together.  We went to lunch today, ran errands, ate our traditional Mac 'n Cheese in the car, and went shopping.   Also, a surrogate mother was able to join us; my mom's best friend.   Even just running the errands, it was fun to spend time together.  I don't get to do that a whole lot with not living at home, so I get to soak it up every time that I am home.   And I think that the quote is completely true, Family is about time.  It doesn't really matter what you end up doing, but just spending that time together is what really matters.  Its the time that I've spent with my family that make up most of my memories.   It helps teach me what really is important in life, family, friends, and loved ones.

Live to be Jolly

hap·py

/ˈhæpi/ Show Spell[hap-ee]

–adjective, -pi·er, -pi·est.

1. delighted, pleased, or glad, as over a particular thing: to be happy to see a person.

2. characterized by or indicative of pleasure, contentment, or joy: a happy mood; a happy frame of mind.

 

Happiness is something that we all want and live for.

 

Synonyms: blessed, blissful, blithe, can't complain, captivated, cheerful, chipper, chirpy, content, contented,  delighted, ecstatic, elated, exultant, flying high, glad, gleeful,  Jolly

 

Live to be Jolly

A motto to live by 

Today's post is dedicated to my friend Natalie Jolley.  She is truly amazing.  I know that I may overuse that word, amazing, but that truly is what Natalie is.  

From the first time that I met her, she has this spirit about her.   Without really knowing her, you find yourself growing to love her more and more with each time you spend time with her.   She is willing to help and always with a beautiful smile on her face.  You just want to be her friend, and she wants to be yours.  Natalie is humble, not only willing to give you help whenever you need it, but willing to let you give her a helping hand.  She knows she can't do everything on her own, and leans on anyone willing to serve.  I feel that words cannot really express who Natalie was.  She was everything that you want to become.  Generous.  Loving.  Understanding.  Patient.  Mature.  And so much more. She was a fighter.

 

 Natalie passed away yesterday morning at the age of 22 after fight Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare juvenile bone cancer since Fall of 2007.  She was such a sweetheart.  And though I didn't know her very well, I am so happy that I can call her a friend and a sister in my life.  We had the chance to serve for a short while with a church group and Natalie had a joy she brought with her.  She is definitely going to be missed, but I know that she is in a better place free from pain, looking down on us.  As we all move forward from this, and other losses in our lives; I hope that we can remember to "Live to Be Jolly."  

 

"Yesterday is the past, tomorrow is the future, today is a gift, that's why it's called the present."

To learn more about Natalie's Story.

Awesome things

I have found a truly awesome website.  1000awesomethings.com

Yes it is truly awesome.  Every day they post some new thing that when it happens it's that "awe" moment but you don't realize it until reading it.  One of my favorites.   Plugged Nose  What they say it completely true.  I mean, you know that feeling when you've been stuffed up all day and all night.  You are to that point where you would feel completely better if you could just breath through at least one nostril.  Then all of sudden you can. It's magical. It's a miracle.  Yes, I loves this post. I think that all of you should bookmark this website.  It's quite funny.  And you never know, it might add some delight to your day.  :D

What do you delight in ???

So I've always wanted to start a blog, but wasn't exactly sure what I would write about.  Yes, my life isn't a complete bore, but I felt that it wasn't the thing to share.  So I decided to share something that I delight in.  You know, those little things that make you smile.  The small kindness you see in complete strangers.  That funny quote that just makes you laugh.  Those kind of things.  I want this to be somewhere where anyone can come and it lifts their spirits and brightens their day.  Gives them at least one thing to delight in everyday.  Hence, Daily Delight!