Winter Wonderland

SNOW: (noun)  (a.) White stuff that falls from the sky when there is moisture in the air; (b.) resembles powdered sugar when it has been sprinkled across the Earth, (c.) makes certain activities difficult when accumulated in large quantities.

So I didn't grow up in Utah, hence, snow is still somewhat a novelty for me.  Growing up in the hot desert where it's 60 degrees at Christmas, you miss out on some winter activities.  So coming to school in Cache Valley has given me ample opportunities to catch up on what I missed out on my childhood.  SNOW! 

This week it snowed a ton up here.  Pretty much there was way more snow then when the Blizzard of 2010 hit last November and campuses were closed across the state.  Last night it snowed a foot and a half. Woah, that is a lot of snow.  Well, I've had this small desire to play in the snow since it keeps coming falling. I get it about once a year and usually it gets satisfied by sledding, making snow angels, snowball fights, or of course, the tradition, building a snowman.  Usually the difficult part in this is trying to find someone willing to have fun in the snow.  You see, most of my friends have lived in Utah most of their life, so snow is not really a novelty to them, but more of a burden.  (except when skiing and snowboarding) This year wasn't as difficult as some years past; my friend JJ agreed to the my plan. So today we carried out this marvelous plan.

We built an AMAZING snow man.  Seriously, he's quite handsome :) (Picture to come, forgot camera)  We found some pre-made snowballs, I guess you could call them, and stacked them atop each other making our very tall snowman.  Never realized how heavy snow really is.  We then proceeded to give him eyes, nose, mouth, arms, and even some nice spiky hair.  By far the best snowman that I have ever made... or helped make. Then on the way back to the car, JJ thought that it would be fun to tackle me and push me into the 1.5 feet of snow.  Well, let's just say after a few minutes, the both of us we covered in snow and it was cold....(we didn't dress the warmest) But all in all, a quite wonderful adventure.  JJ definitely won brownie points by playing in the snow with me, and I had a blast.  So now, it can stop snowing.  I've had my fun in the snow; and I am satisfied until next year, when once again, I will relive my childhood and enjoy the snow.

Take A Risk

Okay, so I am slightly getting better at updating this.... maybe someday I will be great, but until then, we'll stick with inconsistency while life is busy.

So I was trying to think of something to delight in today that I haven't blogged about and that wouldn't bore you to tears.... kinda hard. I guess I am always thankful for the same things.  And I'll tell you right now.... since I started writing this post (not very long), I've changed the topic of my post a few times.... the title even changed. :) But I think I'll stick with this one.

Take A Risk

Yup, you read that right.  So, I am not the most adventurous person in the world.  I definitely have friends who take the title of risk takers. But I think that we all need to take risks every once in awhile.  I feel like I am getting better at this.  Even if it is with small things.  

Starting small.... so I have always felt that writing down how I am feeling is much easier than speaking it, especially when it comes to my emotions.  Well, my friend writes poetry and I decided to give it a try.  So I started writing last summer.  They weren't the best, but it's good to get your thoughts on paper.  Well I never let anyone read anything that I had written until last week. And I've let two.  Small risk, but it makes me feel totally vulnerable.  Opening up my thoughts to others to read.  But it's good. We have to share with others. So here goes another risk.... below is one of the more recent poems that I have written.  Small things lead to greater things.... Here I am going to share with all of you happy readers :)  This poem is about taking risks, trying a new path in life, not knowing where it is going to lead you.  But taking the risk all the same.

The Road

A road untraveled by just a few

One that's exciting and so very new

Unweathered by rain that came in the past

Maybe one traveled as this, the last

Stepping out into the dark unknown

This the path to which it was blown

To take a first step is just the start

Someday to find this, the part

Risks are definitely scary, at least for me.  Putting myself out there, making myself vulnerable whether it is putting your heart on the line or trying something new.  But a wise institute teacher told me that is what you have to do sometimes.  Become vulnerable, and then you will learn from the experience.  He told me it didn't matter if the situation ended up the best, but I would learn from the experience and grow helping me in my future.  So here is to delighting in taking risks.  I challenge all of you to start small and watch it grow making you a stronger and more confident person.  

A Year of New

So the New Year is upon us.  It is 2011! Can you believe it. It's crazy sometimes how fast that times flies. Well this post is going to be about the "new" things that I have tried this "new" year, but my year begins not with the calendar, rather we'll go from August 2010 until August 2011.

Water Skiing - AMAZING! okay so I will probably use that word for everything but it's so true.  In August my friend LJ invited me to go boating at Hyrum Dam.  Now, I was excited but nervous at the same time. I mean it had been years since I had been on a boat. But I had fun none the less.  Well what made it even better was that I tried water skiing for the first time and guess what, I got up my first try! Woot Woot! I was exstatic! If you can imagine.  I seriously had the biggest smile on my face. It made me so so happy. So yeah for #1 new thing for this year!

Skiing - Ski the Beav... I am sure if any of you are from Logan you have definitely heard this saying.  It's what keeps everyone sane in the cold winter months that drag on in Cache Valley.  It becomes some home away from home.  Well, growing up my uncles worked at the Beav, and one still does.  So it's a little weird that for this being my third winter up at USU that I hadn't gone skiing.  Well I decided that this year was the year (thanks to my roommate) So the Friday before school started, me and a couple friends headed up to SKI THE BEAV! (Now remind you, the last time I really skied, I was like 10 and rolled down the mountain.)  Well, luckily skiing is like riding a bike, it just comes back to you.  So we had an amazing time. And I conquered my fear of the ski lift! Actually came to enjoy it because it is so calm and relaxing, you actually get to enjoy the scenary all around it.  So a Woot Woot for #2 new thing for this year!

Sledding - Okay, so you are thinking to yourself, "This girl has never gone sledding, she definitely missed out on her childhood."  So correction, I have been sledding, but never quite like this before.  So the story.  I went on a date sledding up Logan Canyon.  Now mind you, I don't think of myself as the most adventurous person, keep that in mind while reading.  So the six of us, squished in a truck that can really on comfortably fit two people, maybe four if two have short legs.  Anywho, the six of us headed up Logan Canyon.  We found a hill that looked great to sled down, steep, but not terribly steep and not too many trees that we could run into.  So we get our snow clothes on and head out.  And guess what we have to get us up there.... a snowmobile! I had never been on one before, and hence, never fallen off.   You can see where this is going.  So we all had a fabulous time sledding, the girls were definitely better than the men. :) Well I also got to go on my first snowmobile ride.  And I also fell off the snowmobile for my first time.  Luckily I fell about a foot into about 2 feet of nice powdery snow.  So it was more of I tipped over off of my first snowmobile ride.  Well this gist of it is, I tried new things.  Definitely out of my comfort zone, but so fun and so good for me. Definitely a day worth shirking off my hw responsibilities. So a yipee for #3 new thing this year!

Rock Climbing - So, technically this isn't completely new. But on the other hand it is.   A couple weeks ago I went on a date climbing.  I was a little nervous because I tried it when I was little, never really succeeding.  But I decided to go for it.  Well turns out I had a BLAST and a half.  It was so much fun, my roommates and I all got monthly passes to the climbing gym.  Oh man.  It's hard, but so satisfying when you finally make it to the top of that run you've been working on!  It also helps when I have great people belaying below that give you so much motivation.  I didn't realize how important this was until going for the second time.  But really, the motivation from below helps me so tremendously, and I think you can apply this to life. You have to have motivation from others sometimes, it what gets you through the tough times (like tiny holds really spaced out) Back to climbing, we just went again tonight.  I am getting so much closer to finishing this one I've been stuck on.  It's a slanted one, so a wee bit more difficult.  My goal is to at least have it done by next Tuesday.  So a big High Five for #4 new thing this year!

Well I think that is all the new things for this year so far. But I must say that they are pretty amazing, if I must say so myself :) I hope that you have had an exciting year so far.  Maybe it's time we all get out of our little comfortable box and try new things.  I know for me, it definitely has been a great thing in my life.  So worth it.  Until next time, have a delightful day!

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!!!!