and so all yours

I had a really incredible experience today at church with one of my friends, Kathy. She has a stunning solitaire and then an inherited wedding band from her husband's grandmother...still found on the inside is the inscription of their wedding date almost 100 years ago. Another inscription, a newer inscription, is also found there, "and so all yours". When I asked Kathy about it, she told me of a line in William Shakespear's Merchant of Venice, I looked up the line after church, and found I loved it as much as she does. It explains how true love is, so I thought I would share it with you :) 


"So may you miss me.

But if you do, you’ll make me wish a sin,

That I had been forsworn. Beshrew your eyes,

They have o'erlooked me and divided me.

One half of me is yours, the other half yours—

Mine own, I would say. But if mine, then yours,

And so all yours."

i have been changed for good

So I just got home from NYC (final trip with the parentals before my mission) and it was so much fun. One of my favorite parts was seeing Wicked at the Gershwin- third row from the stage & dead center- and yes, it was absolutely incredible.

Here is the deal though, I cry...a lot. I inherited this trait from my mother. So we are sitting and watching this incredible play. It gets to the end where Elphaba & Glinda sing "For Good". 

I start sobbing- because as they sing, "I have been changed for good". I have been incredibly blessed by all of the people that have been placed into my life. My family, my friends, my ward family- they have truly made me into the person I am today. So, thank you- because I knew YOU I have been changed for good. 

missionary meltdown

I have had several meltdowns due to the lack of "Sister Missionary Modest" clothing here in Utah County (of all places)

These meltdowns have included, but are not limited to- crying, running, crying some more, eating ice cream, crying and then repeating.

I have been to every store from Salt Lake to St George.

I have finally compiled my 8 outfit wardrobe and can now look back at my mission shopping experience as "funny" but it is still a somewhat tender subject.

What really brought on this blog post was my conversation with cute Heather Wood. She came up to me at Church (she is also going on a mission and just awaiting her call!) two weeks ago and told me of one of HER meltdowns. Poor Heather, I feel your pain. So I thought I would blog about where I found the BEST things....

1. Sister Missionary Mall- okay most of their stuff looks like a dead great grandmother but I was able to find two skirts (stretchy great grandma material) that are solid colors, long and will do the job. Are they cute? Not so much, but they are functional.

2. Down East Outfitters- seeing as this was created to be a "modest" store I had higher hopes. I found ONE skirt that was long enough and went past my knee. It is cute :)

3. Banana Republic- this is my heaven. gorgeous sweaters and shirts. LOVE

4. Eddie Bauer- my mom went in there this last weekend when we went to the mall and I grudgingly went with her. She came out with nothing, I came out with three shirts :)

5. Target- they have the basics...like cute scarves, cheap jewlery, neosporin, tissues, pens, paper, etc.

6. Diane Mudrow- she is a LIFESAVER. She is making 3 of my 8 skirts. I almost cried when we went shopping and was able to get everything we needed to make three adorable skirts. This is the best option. If you can sew, your mom can sew, your aunt's best friend can sew, or if your wonderful neighbor can sew then choose this option!

I hope this helps any Sister going out into the field! :)

mark allen boyack

6-4-34

This is when my Grandpa was born. Those four little digits were an hourly repeat to each new doctor at the hospital, each radiation visit, and yesterday they were all I could think of. I was a little bit of an emotional wreck yesterday, so I postponed writing until today. I LOVE my Grandpa. He was the funniest thing. Whenever he was teasing or sneaking ice-cream behind Grandma's back his bright blue eyes would twinkle.

He loved baseball, I love baseball. He watched "Western Wednesday" on AMC, I watched "Western Wednesday". I was his constant companion and he was my best friend. We would cruise to the Greats- Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bing Cosby...and he would whistle along.

 He passed away in May of 2010 from cancer. I am so thankful that he is no longer in pain, but I miss him all the time- when I go to the Temple with my Grandma and he is not there, when we go to visit and baseball is never on, going down to St George alone.

I was reading Les Miserables by Victor Hugo (for the 5th time- this is my ALL time favorite book) and I noticed a quote I had highlighted many reads before,

"Be careful how you think of the dead. Dont think of what might have been. Look steadfastly and you will see the living glory of your beloved dead in the heights of heaven."

How beautiful and true that is. I am blessed to have the knowledge of the life hereafter and of my Savior who has paved the way for us to return to Him. I am so thankful for the opportunity to serve a mission on this side of the veil, and I know that the work done here will be doubled while my Granpa serves his mission on the other side of the veil. :)

Brooklyn

This is Brooklyn. When we were five we hated each other. We would fight, bite, hit, scratch each other until blood was drawn. Don't fret- we have grown up. She moved away to Maryland- I went to visit. She moved back and we became the best of friends. She recently was married to Mike Clement- he is a stud. He is absolutely perfect for her. I love them. This last Tuesday was a very special temple day for me. I was able to do a session with Brooklyn. She is being deployed on Saturday. I am worried. She is not. That is the major difference about us. Everything stresses me out- nothing can touch her. I am scared of dirt, bugs, spiders- she is not. She is my hero. I look up to her in so many things. I am so proud of her. She has been such an amazing influence for good, not only in my life- but in the lives of everyone she has met. I will miss her oodles, but I know that she is doing what she is supposed to do. I am so thankful for her, her husband Mike, my aunt Kelly and everyone else who is serving this country. Bless them. They sacrifice so much- so that I can keep my freedom. I am proud to be her cousin and proud to be American.

the vow to forgive

So my little sister and I rented "The Vow". It is a tragic, happy, sappy lovey-dovey romance. I loved it. BUT there was a line that really stuck out to me. 

The mom is talking to the main girl {Paige} about why she stayed with her husband when he cheated... she says,

"I chose to stay with him for all of the things he did right, rather than the one thing that he did wrong. I chose to forgive him."

Now I am not saying that if you are in a bad situation like her that you need to stay and be abused in any way- but I do think that she has a good point. Even if she did not stay with him- she CHOSE to forgive him. Forgiveness is a choice we make that ends up making us better people.

 Forgiveness is hard. Healing is hard. For anyone who has felt betrayed, lost, confused and in a very real sense heart-broken and hard-hearted. It does not have to be from a bad break-up, but it can be. It does not have to be from a messy home situation, but it can be. It does not have to be from feeling used and abused, but it can be. But I know that no matter how hard forgiveness can be- it is worth it. Whether you are forgiving yourself or forgiving someone else- forgiveness brings healing and recovery. It makes life go back to normal- or as normal as it can be.

you know you are OLD when...

High schoolers become "kids" and as they smile and hand you your groceries you become "ma'm"

You say things like "sick" thinking they are still "in" when you are told to stop trying to act like you are still a teenager by your 15 year-old sister

Your body can no longer handle staying up past nine- let alone doing a full week of all- nighters

Half of your pay check goes to FICA and the other half goes to insurance

You have things like car payments, phone bills, etc.

When you buy clothing not because it is cute- but because it is comfortable

You can do "big kid" things like buying dry ice and renting a rug doctor....

Friday nights consist of coming home from work and heading straight to bed


Yes, these all apply to me...and yes, I have finally come to accept- and even embrace the fact that I am "old" :)

i LOVE to see the Temple!

St George Temple

So I had a few people ask about this weekend. I received my endownment from the St. George, Utah Temple. It could not have been more perfect. The temple workers were the sweetest, cutest old ladies- and there were 3-4 of them by my side at all times. It felt so special. I have never felt the Spirit so strong in my life. Growing up I remember singing "I love to see the temple, I'm going there someday." Well on Saturday I went there! I know that it truly is the House of the Lord. I love when President Packer says, "Come to the Temple, if not now, soon." Go- and go often. I truly do LOVE to see the Temple.

TEXAS!

Oh my goodness! I LOVE Texas. I have been called to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Houston, Texas South Mission. I will be speaking Spanish, and I report to the MTC on July 18th.

Here is what I know about Texas- They love BBQ (hello wonderful!), is it SUPER hot and humid (again- how perfect!), when it rains it is HOT (oh how i love this), and I get to speak my favorite language on Earth- SPANISH! :) What else do I need to know?!

Before my call I was a little skeptic of serving state-side, but really this mission is the most perfect one for me. I know this- and I have not even gone yet! I would love to hear from anyone who has served there, lived there, been there- whatever! :)

oh mission call :)

guys- it is HERE. i have it in my hand (well not right now, because  i am typing...but you get what i mean). I cannot wait to open it.

as a kid at Christmas i was the sneaky kid that would go downstairs and start looking at what toys santa brought at one am...the waiting is killing :) but this means i will have extrememely good news tonight! be back on soon!

day five

this one is SUPER easy. a picture of you somehwere you have been. for those of you that know me- know that i LOVE traveling. i have been really lucky and have been able to go most everywhere that i have wanted...this is me in Rothenberg Ob Der Tauber in Germany. This was one of my favorite places. It is a medieval town and has the most incredible shopping :) I miss our little day trips to see all of these cool sights. This is in the park overlooking the valley!

day four :)

This is the hardest day yet- a habit that you need to break.

I think it is my OCD tendencies/ stressing over the little stupid things in life.

I am the BEST at stress. I stress over stupid little things like how clean my desk is at work, my car not being washed, projects that I don't have time to finish but need to be done, and anything else that is "stupid".

But I have been working on this for a long time. And lately a lot of these stupid things have not seemed to matter. I read a talk by President Monson and he warns us not to be caught up in the "thick of thin things" Read it here.

In that talk he also talks about serving others and focusing on others. As we do that, then our own problems go away. I know this has been true for me and hope it helps you!:)

day three

picture of my family :)

Oh how I love these people.

Macie- She is the baby of the family. Because she was born when the rest of us were mostly grown- she grew up with an adult sense of humor and wit. She is the funniest person I know. She loves sports, she loves to read, and she is incredible at sewing! I love talking to her and feeling like I am back in elementary...apparently the lady at the dentist office is not the only person who thinks I am old and not "with it" :)

Sydnee- We are super close. I love talking to her, getting her advice, and joking with her. She is total hipster and has the most communist haircut I have seen in a long time and I LOVE it.  She loves to read and is as antisocial as I am- so we spend lots of time being antisocial together.

Laura- Even though she is not a blood sister, she has been there for EVERYTHING. The good, the bad, and the ugly (me without make-up). She is my best friend. We really may as well live together for all of the time that we spend together.

Estee- I have always looked up to her. She is seriously the most perfect example. She loves everyone, she is patient, she is kind and so outgoing.

Tanner- He has really been a part of our family since they started dating in high school. I always loved having him around then, and nothing has changed. He fits in perfectly for our family- he has the funniest sense of humor (he is like a grandpa- he loves his puns).

Benson- Hello most perfect baby in the WORLD. I love him. He is funny and is just starting to show his personality. He is definitely going to be the most spoiled boy ever.

Mom- She is the epitome of service. She is always doing something for someone else. She loves others and is genuinely concerned for their physical and spiritual welfare. She is wonderful.

Dad- He is my best friend. He is patient, he loves everyone and he obeys with exactness. He has always sacrificed so much for my family- I am lucky to have him as my dad.

day two

today is the meaning behind my blog name.

well, i started this blog when i was going through a really hard trial. i felt betrayed, lonely, and i really came to hate life. i started talking with my sister who had just started a blog and i thought to my self, "self, you are being pathetic, self-centered, and  ungrateful." so i started this not really to share, but more just to see for myself all that i have to love- all that i have to be grateful for! :)

life is good- it is absolutely wonderful. i know that no matter what trial you are going through- it will always get better. life is so much like a rollercoaster. sometimes you are up, sometimes you are down- and sometimes you are upside down...BUT i also know that even when you are down there is SO much to learn- i mean, you are still ON the ride :)

hope that explains it enough!

day uno

So my amazing friend Bre started this thing on her blog...and I am totally going to steal it. Mostly because I need a good distraction until my mission call comes (can anyone say 16 days?!) If you would rather read her cute blog- just go here. She is adorable, and she is super creative...so it may be more interesting. BUT on Day One I am supposed to put up a picture of me & 15 facts....so here you go!

1. i am going on a MISSION!
2. i love the smell of rain
3. i rescued a dog today- and i dont even like dogs (or cats- or really any animal) all that much
4. i love art and i love taking pictures
5. i have a newfound love and appreciation of running- and mostly the ability to walk without feeling like a winded 90 year old lady
6. i cannot shop at tj max or stores like it- i am too ocd to handle the chaos.
7. two of my closest friends in high school were both alli/ali's too! :) try that on for confusing
8. sunday is my absolute favorite day of the week
9. i love traveling- not only seeing/experiencing new things, but meeting new people
10. i miss germany almost everyday of my american life.
11. my favorite thing to wear is a hoodie- hello comfort
12.  i wish i was super crafty (and mostly that i knew how to sew)
13. my favorite thing to do on the weekend is sleep. pathetic, i know
14. i have only sisters and i would not trade it for the world
15. i love the musical les miserables (and the book, and the music, and really antyhing about it!

i would love to hear more about YOU. tell me fifteen (or more!) things about you! hopefully i stick to this thing and keep up the great ten minutes of distraction that it provides :)

my best friends wedding

So, sometimes I like to take pictures- this is one of my favorites. I took it when one of my closest friends Brittney got married. (I know- it has taken a LONG time for this....but, better late than never right?) I love this girl. We met at EFY, and after peanut butter fights, late night chats and crying when we had to leave- we decided we were meant to be friends. We kept in touch and I was SO lucky to be part of her BIG day! When she was in the temple, her little sister and I had about an hour to go around the temple- it was a BEAUTIFUL day!

This is us- yes we are pretty cute. :)

daddy

i am a daddy's little girl- through and through. this last week i was pretty sick and the whole way driving home, all i could think was that i needed to get home and get a blessing by my dad and i would be okay.

my dad taught me how to tie my shoes, how to ride a bike, and how to read.
he took me to the hospital when i had to get stitches and when i burned my foot.
he is SO supportive of me going on a mission, and he is one of the reasons why i have the desire to serve.
he is my best friend and the best advice giver.

lately i was thinking of the similarities between my dad here and my Heavenly Father. i have been thinking of how i always approach my dad for anything, how whenever i am scared that i go to my dad, how whenver i am disappointed or frustrated- i go cry to my dad.
BUT we have the blessing of having two dads. Lately, i have noticed that i have spent more time turning to my Father in Heaven. When i am scared, frustrated, concerned or confused, I spend just as much time on my knees as i do talking to my earth dad. i realize it has taken me awhile to really realize the connection and the similarities of how we can use our relationship with our Father in Heaven to grow and to progress while still on earth :) i read this talk- and it really helped me. Hope this helps someone out there! Happy Monday everyone! :)

music man

i had a revelation. this happened while sitting in Canyon View JHS with my mom and sister. we were watching a little production of the music man (cutest little kids- scary when junior high kids become kids because then you have become old) by a wonderful miss kate who is INCREDIBLE at costumes, directing, smiling, and the like. BUT that is all beside the point. my revelation was during this musical number-

my white knight (performed here by kristin chenoweth)

a certain little line stuck out to me.

"more interested in me than him, and more interested in us than me."

how perfect is that? not going to lie- i am still no where close to be ready for matrimony, but i think that is incredible advice to everyone. find someone who makes you a priority not an option. find someone that loves you and everything about you- and is so focused on making the "us" work. i have an incredible example to look to in my parents. they are the perfect, cutest couple and have been there for each other in good and bad. they truly love each other. when i start looking for love- i dont need a white knight- just a special guy :)

doctors & dentists

ali and the yucky blucky dentists and doctors.

does EVERYONE have these same hates?

nothing gets me more stressed than having to go to either one. let me back up a little bit...it is not the actual doctors ( i love them as people) nor is it the disinfectant smell that stays with you for days after.

 i HATE shots.

deathly terrified of them. people- it is a needle going into you to inject you with who knows what. why do we let them do this?! (logical response- to keep us immune and healthy)
what do i have to do this week? yep, you guessed it. doctor AND dentist. BOTH in ONE week. shoot me now.

wishing you all a doctor and dentist-less week :) love you all!

mormon channel

Okay, newfound love. I am absolutely obsessed. I realize that this is a little nerdy, but when you are sitting at a desk editing for eight hours every single day- there is only so much music that you can listen to.  So I have started to branch out. I have thoroughly memorized each Harry Potter book, listened (and memorized) all of the music on my iPod (for those of you that know me, this is a huge feat!) and I have listened to the most recent General Conference three times all the way through, and just barely decided that I needed to come up with something else (maybe a little more worthwhile) to fill my time. So I stumbled on the Mormon Channel. I love this. It changes every single day, it brings the Spirit into my life at work every single day, and it is just the best! If you haven't heard of this, or used this.... DO IT! :) happy tuesday everyone!

vday love :)

perfect day for the name of my blog- loves in life!

i love a lot of people, i love a lot of things and i could NEVER come close to naming everyone or everything...but there are a few things that I want to list on this day dedicated to love!

RAIN BOOTS

especially my hot pink ones, dry feet- happy face

BENSON

i love this little tyke with all of my heart

LAURA

she is my bestest friend forever

MIS PADRES

i love them with all of my heart and look up to them so much

THE CHURCH

it IS true, without a doubt

WORK

yes, i am a nerd that likes to work- and i LOVE ancestry.com

BUTT and BRE

these girls were my rock in HS and we still keep in touch

ALLI and TREVOR

they have been there for it all

MYLER DISABILITY

well, mostly just everyone that works there! :)

WARM BLANKETS

pop your clean blanket in your dryer for 20 min...heaven

CHOCOLATE

the german kind of course

GERMANY

and everyone i know and love there

84th WARD

love this ward- and the bishopric!(dad included)

{my} LATINOS

puri, meli, kelly, etc. love these girls!

HOME

i love that i have a place to call home with people to love



as you can see i LOVE a lot of things. obviously not everything is here, but life is good and no matter who you are (or your relationship status) you can still love and be loved on valentine's day! wishing you all a happy one!

bens :)

oh how I love this little guy! :) he is the CUTEST baby ever. hands down.

whenver I am sad, I can hold this little one and everything is alright! :)

we got to babysit him on Sunday and he was laughing. SO hard. at absolutely nothing.

we had no binky for nap time, and he went right down. he is the least fussy baby ever, and he absolutely loves attention and will gladly give you a smile or laugh if you send a little love his way. best thing ever!

love and service

"Love is the measure of our faith, the inspiration for our obedience, and the true altitude of our discipleship."   

 -President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

                       

Yesterday in Relief Society we had a lesson on having pure love, serving others, and being grateful for what others do for you. There have been a lot of people who have helped to make me the person that I am today. I am so thankful to all of you, for not only telling me what I need to be doing with my life, but for SHOWING me.

One person in particular really came to mind when I was listening to this lesson... her name is Laura. She has been my next-door neighbor and best friend for almost 15 years now. She is my hero. She has been through seemingly impossible trials and has been able to overcome them. She is a fighter and she never gives up. She sacrifices so much of her time and energy serving her family and friends. Within the last week she drove her dad to the airport at 4 am, she picked up her boyfriend from the airport at  midnight, she let me crash at her apartment when I was stranded in Provo, she went up to Sandy to visit a sister who is pregnant and missing her husband, and she surprised me with a spa day at Season's. Seriously?! I don't know how she has time to work part-time and go to school full-time and still spend all that time on everyone else. She is wonderwoman. :)

Who is your service hero? Why?

i hope they call me on a mission!

Dear Friends,

I am working on my mission papers! Talk about being all grown up. I cannot wait. There are so many reasons I am excited. I love traveling and I love meeting new people, I love learning and doing new things, but most of all I love this gospel and I know with all my heart that it is true. I have seen how much it has changed my life and know how happy I am because of it. In Germany I finally realized why missionary work is so so important. I had a friend there who is not LDS. She was interested, but had been given bad information by an inactive member. I was able to talk with her and give her a Book of Mormon. I came to love her, admire her and respect her and I want nothing more than to share the same happiness that I have. THAT is the reason I want to serve a mission. :) Two things- I would LOVE to hear any missionary experiences that you have had and are willing to share, also I would LOVE for you to guess where I am going. I think it is so fun to see. I am sure more posts will come on this. :)

goals!

Okay since I kind of missed the beginning of the year...I decided that it is time to at least tell you my goals- that way when I don't complete them I have some people to come after me and punch me in the face (nicely of course!)

learn a new language

 (my newest runner up to German is Italian, but I am still open for options-leave a comment)

learn to play the guitar

( i just need to stretch my hands out so they can actually fit around my sister's 3/4)

listen/read a conference talk everyday

(so far this one is going great- super easy five-ten minute commitment)

be friends to everyone

(i have not been as social as i used to be, hopefully this helps!)

so those are the ones i have come up with so far...i may add some more down the line, but i want to start with something i know i will actually do first. what are your goals? what are you going to focus on improving this year? 

gilmore girls and italian

So yes, two for two posts- first friends now gilmore girls...this is what I do when I am sick. I veg in front of the tv and watch the favorites. BUT this led me to  a revelation (a revelation that I happened upon in a friends jeep a week previous, but this really made it stick) .

Italian is the sexiest language known to mankind. Oh! How I love listening to it. Here I am sitting and watching Gilmore Girls (in English) and their crazy cat loving next door neighbor starts ranting in Italian. I have no clue what she said...although she was yelling I think it was something along the lines of "Hello, I am speaking a gorgeous language so you should just shut up and kiss me now." But maybe not. ANYWAY... I have a friend who served his mission in Italy (Italy right?!) and every time he speaks it melts my heart like a popsicle on the 4th of July. He says the most ridiculous things- something about a blue bird getting it's head chopped off it just one of the many, but it still sounds incredible.

I am now feeling the urge to move to Italy and fall madly in love and eat Gelato and authentic Italian food everyday! :) Good plan? I think so. What about you? Where do you want to move? What language speaks to you?

Friends

Oh how I love this show. Phoebe, Rachel, Monica,Chandler, Ross, Joey and Ugly Naked Guy. It seems like there is the perfect match for everyone! :)

Whenever I am in a bad mood, not feeling well, or just want to be lazy- FRIENDS is there.

Today I came home from work sick- guess who was waiting on my porch? Well,  Laura was,but with every Friends episode ever. You do not need anything else when you have a tv and some Friends!

Who are you most like? Who is your favorite? Which one would you/could you date?