The End

I am officially done with high school sports for the rest of my life. It almost doesn't seem real. I know I have complained about this season to the high heavens but I do think there was a reason for me finishing out this sport. It was interesting though, there were many, many times that I could have quit and never looked back but I still don't regret or wish I hadn't played. I will miss a couple of the girls but for the most part I am grateful that my parents didn't raise me to be like the rest of them.  So here's to last high school sports season that my parents will have live through. They really are the best and I couldn't have made it all these years without them or my wonderful sibs.

Here's the team after we won the Section Championship

Whatta Vacation!

This Christmas was AMAZING!! All of my beautiful family was at my house and I throughly enjoyed every second. 

I also went to girls dance so there are some pictures of that too.

Here's some snapshots of the fun

The whole group

The girls

Me and my date (I don't know how to rotate pics)

The guys

My niece Kylee (I call her Kylee Q)

The lovely Kitt

Merrill Family

Jack and Lindsay

A very happy mom

The Blacks

This is what all the pics of dad looked like

Couch Potatoes

Don't speak, Auntie Kara

Beautiful Betty Jane

Two cutest babies in the World!

Happy Birthday Jack

"No. Way."

I dare you keep a straight face

Next time a solicitor calls give your three year old the phone  and tell them its Santa.

A camera in a haunted house... genius.

Kitt? What?

Mustache Pacifier

These pictures were just too funny!!

Enlightened

Every Monday in Seminary we what we call Spiritual Experiences (or FS depending on the teacher) and we share a time during the week when we felt the spirit. I used to share all the time but this year for some reason I could never figure out how to share. That's confusing so let me explain. I had spiritual experiences, one every week even, but every time I went to share I couldn't figure out how to put it into words. Then I read a talk given by Elder Craig C. Christensen called "An Unspeakable Gift from God."(Pg. 12 of the conference ensign). When I reread the talk that phrase, "unspeakable gift of the spirit" I felt like I had an epiphany. Sometimes when the spirit talks to us we know he is talking because he speaks to our spirits. Everyone's spirit is different so what or how the Holy Ghost speaks to me might not make sense to other people. You are probably saying "you got that right this makes no sense" but when you think about it, it totally does. It doesn't matter if the experience doesn't sound like a prompting from the spirit, what matters is that you know it was! I got really excited when I read that and I thought it might be good to share.

This blog started out to be just me living life but it's kind of switched over to things I'm learning as I am going through daily life as a high schooler preparing for college. Maybe you don't see it that way but that's ok. TTFN

Blast to the Past!

Okay so a loooong time ago (october) I ran a 5k called the Neon Splash Dash. I went with Ainslee McBride, Paige Christensen and Emma Thompson. We took some pictures but we had to wait to post anything anywhere until after Cross Country Season because if the AIA saw the pictures of Ainslee running a race that wasn't a cross country race the whole team would be disqualified. So the season is over and here's some pictures!

Finish line

Before the race

Second splash zone

From left to right: Sis. McBride, Emma, Ainslee, Paige, Me, Sis. McBride's sister, Sis. McBride's sister's friend from England!

Blessings

How many of you thought this was going to be a list of I'm grateful for...?

It's not. I just wanted to share a spiritual experience I had today. I felt overwhelmed and like every time I took a half of a step forward I got shoved back ten! Then I remembered that we have something wonderful called the Priesthood. I asked Dad to give me a father's blessing. I won't tell you exactly what was in it because that is very personal but I can bear my testimony. Heavenly Father has not left me alone. He is right by my side giving the strength I need to do what I need to do everyday. He knows what I am going through and has given me the means to accomplish it. He knows me and loves me, as does my Savior.

After the blessing I went upstairs to write about it and saw a sign in my room that my wonderful sister in law made me for my birthday one year. It says, "I can do hard things." I remembered that I found notes on talk that had that same saying in it somewhere in my room, so I started to look for it. I didn't find it but what I did find was another answer to prayer. I found a nice note from all the kids in my seminary class that reminded that I can be an influence for good and I found a talk by Elder Jeffery R. Holland entitled, "Because of your Faith".

Heavenly Father never forgets us, His children, here on Earth. He is best ally in times of peril. I also want to add that family right up there next to Him. Without my sibling, their spouses, and my parents I'd be in a world of hurt. I am so glad that is not something I have to worry about leaving me. My family will be my family forever.

Today I Choose...

I have come to believe that everyday is a choice. I decide if I am happy or sad or angry or moody or hyper or ANYTHING! So if it is my choice, then why not choose to be happy everyday? That seems like a no-brainer.

But like everything in life it's not as easy as it seems. It's easy to say it but to live it is hard. But nothing worthwhile in life comes easy right? And that makes it so when it does come its all the more sweet.

I like saying that I'm choosing my mood every morning because it gives me something to work towards during the day. If I get upset I remember that I chose to be happy. Then I turn my frown upside down and have a great rest of the day!

I encourage everyone to try this. Some days it doesn't seem like it makes a difference but other days its a life saver.