Summer

Ahh another summer come and gone. Filled with tears, facing fears, training, laughter, friends, summer school, camps, a crush, and new memories. It seems like it just wasn't long enough, yet most wonderful things give us that illusion. Yet I've been given the chance at making new memories, I've got another year in school. School brings the fall which means apple cider, hayrides, changing leaves, football, volleyball, and Superbowl parties. Just thinking about it makes me excited!! Anyway I'll leave you with these quotes that summarize my summer as it closes.....

Honesty is the only way with anyone, when you'll be so close as to be living inside each other's skins. ~ Lois McMaster Bujold,

To be brave is to love someone unconditionally, without expecting anything in return. To just give. That takes courage, because we don't want to fall on our faces or leave ourselves open to hurt. ~ Madonna

-Taz

Why Must You Tease Me?

SUMMER!!! About a week away and time can't make up its mind. When teachers assign two dozen homework assignments time flits around me, testing my patience with the nonsense tasks I have to accomplish, then dashes away when important activities come up. But when I have days like today when the things I have to do are easy; time slowly slouches by making me want to do something, taunting me to do something. To act as though it's summer and go hang out with friends, to blow off studying and ride my bike to a park far away. To enjoy nature, go camping, or just relax with my friends are becoming ever so tempting. I can make it, I have the strength. I will force myself to go this next week. Hopefully time will flash by allowing me to keep my sanity through this next week of finals. Oh please time, race around me, drag me to the finish line, let summer greet me with sun showers and pool weather. I am ready to race to the next season.

"Don’t count every hour in the day, make every hour in the day count.”

“Time is free, but it’s priceless. You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it you can never get it back.”~ Harvey MacKay

-Taz

Optimism

In Proverbs 17: 22 it states that “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” Right now in our life things may seem devastating, our economy failing, but a friend reminded me over texting that the only thing we can do is be optimistic. I have friends who are there to listen, a loving family, a home to shelter me from the ever varying weather we have, and the love of the Lord. The gospel in our lives is the blanket of comfort each of us must use. John 16: 33 declares, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Everything that goes on in our life will mold us to become what we need to become. Throughout this week I kept being reminded of this. Everything we go through is being capable of being conquered. Christ went through what we are going through and SOOOOOOOOOOO much more! He can comfort you. It is when I am on bended knees I feel his spirit comforting me. In Moroni 8: 26 it talks about our attitude. Moroni explains that “ because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God.” To lift our hearts in heavy times you must notice all the Lord has given you, great and small. It is the only way is to keep that eternal perspective of optimism. I was challenged to do so and now I am passing the challenge on. Smile and look around with open eyes and truly see what our Father in Heaven gives us.

I have a couple quotes littering my room here are a couple:

You become the tallest when you are on bended knees.

“Excellence is Not a destination; it’s a continuous journey that never ends”~ Brain Tracy

“It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that matters in the end”~Ursula K. LeGuin

-Taz

Just Hangin'

As spring break draws nearer and taunts me with every way possible, I have to keep some form of fun in both school and real life. Thankfully fun doesn't have to be extravagant. I'm learning more and more that the most fun I have is doing simple things with people that I care about and care about me. We can be doing anything or nothing and it will become my favorite night of the week. I always come home with funny stories, new inside jokes, and a drive to become a better person. I haven't appreciated the simple things and feels as happy as I am since I was a child. Even though I have the most responsibilities I've ever had, busier than ever, and school is one of the biggest time-snatchers in years I am content. I am finding peace in all the simple steps in becoming closer to Christ. Studying my scriptures, praying with an open heart, and going to church are bringing me joy and peace. I am so thankful for all I have and all that was given to me. Thank you for those who have read my blog and kept with me during my pouting time. I am thankful for all who are there for me and are an example for me. I do notice, I promise. Thank you!!

“Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget.”

“A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are.”

-Taz

Party People Jump

When a depressing holiday comes your way what do you do? Party with party people!! Who are the best people to party with? Friends, Church Friends!! After finding year after year Valentine's Day stinks , this year I left the normal ways and joined friends to forget the day and have fun. Of course with my luck I learned how clumsy I really am. I epically failed a couple times that night and almost sent myself to the hospital. Luckily I still had quick reflexes that saved me. Apparently I am becoming the new version of Goofy. Let's just say it involved a trampoline and the ground. I sure hope that people think it's cute!! Otherwise it's just plain embarrassing. Well at least I make people laugh when it happens. I love seeing them laugh. It brightens my day just to see others around me, friends and family laugh. As the scriptures say in Proverbs 17 : 22 "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. " Laughter around me for the last couple days has made me almost clumsy with happiness. That might be a reason for the sudden clumsy-ness. Whatever the reason doing random things and hanging out with people who lift me up and want to become more like Christ more have made me more happy than I was in the last couple months. Maybe a depressing holiday turned around might be just what I needed. Laughter and a Mormon Party can make any girls' weekend!!

We cannot really love anybody with whom we never laugh. --Agnes Repplier

Laughter gives us distance. It allows us to step back from an event, deal with it and then move on. --Bob Newhart

-Taz

Smile

I dragged myself on my knees through this week. I was dragging my spirits through the mud of sickness and stones of everything that is happening this week. I piled on the events to test myself if I can do it all. I was a little kid at a buffet loading their plate with more food than they can handle. But as soon as I stepped away from loading the plate I was punched in my stomach. I got a cold Sunday night all the way to Tuesday, then Wednesday I was given the 24 hour flu so it wasn't until Thursday morning I could move more than a jog. So through everything I had going on, the illness pulled me to want to quit but I kept pushing, kept moving inch by inch. Then as a blessing I received letters that lifted me up and friends that let me forget everything that was around me.The busy-ness melted away and the excitement, joy, and friendship shined through. The whole way friends supported me and let me crash while hanging out with them. I was reminded that my struggles are nothing NOTHING compared to friends of mine and those around me. So right now I'm sucking it up. I did suck it up!! Life is moving forward and now that I am better let me try and race after it. I won't let it pass me by. There are too many things that are good to let the bad stare me in the face. As one of my friends said you have to have savor the sour to truly enjoy the sweet.

Always remember to be happy because you never know who's falling in love with your smile. ~Unknown

-Taz

P.S. Happy Valentine's Day/S.A.D (Single Awareness Day)

Ironic?

How ironic after such an amazing weekend and a weekend to come must the bad luck occur now. A couple examples would be after getting nice and sweaty at track practice I had the wonderful experience of having the car having a dead battery. Oh but let us not forget the snow storm going on around me while I stand outside the car. While I made frantic calls to find anyone willing and able to come jump the car my breathe was only reminding me how cold I was becoming by coming out is clouds that fog the air engulfing me. After call after call with no answer, almost to tears in hopelessness I sat in the car with my head against the steering wheel someone finally calls back and can come help. I had the sudden burst of warmth from the possibility of the car might starting. Things might workout , I could hold on for another ten minutes. It was worth it, my hero (one of my friend's dad) came to rescue me. The car started , I jumped up and down with happiness, gratitude, and just to get the feeling in my frozen sweaty legs and arms. Then today I had the wonderful experience of having every thing that has a current of electricity shutting down or breaking for no reason. I barley got through this blog. But surprisingly last weekend as pulled me through. Hanging out with friends is becoming a bit more important to me now that I see its effect on my attitude. I can keep an optimistic view if I just have some time with my friends. Whether it be like pulling out crazy dance moves at a church activity, watching TV shows teasing the characters, or laughing in seminary, the laughter they bring lets me forget the bad luck I'm having. Let is come!! Well, I prefer if it didn't but still come if you dare. I'll meet it with a smile on my face and a new story to bring to my friends when they make the feelings the disaster brought disappear

“Perhaps our eyes need to be washed by our tears once in a while, so that we can see Life with a clearer view again.”
Alex Tan

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”
Maria Robinson

-Taz

We're Champions That Are Friends Forever

There is nothing to remind you the simple fun you can have with your friends when you are stuck in a building with them for 8 & 1/2 hours . I haven't had the luck to get to hang out with my church friends as much but this week I finally was pulled back to them. Each time I hang out with them it's an inspiration to me live more righteously and what small things in life can bring. Just babysitting with them after hanging with the for so long was one of the most fun thing I've done in a long time. I'm so blessed to have the friends that I have. They always can make me smile and forget the things of the world and bring me back to basics. They know when to pull me aside and calm me down or know, without asking, lending me their shoulder to let me reveal the sensitive side. I've found that no matter what path I am going down or if it takes twist, turns, loop-te-loops, or whatever my friends always pull me to my feet and keep me going. I hope for all of you that I can be a friend like that. Take the time to savor the sweet things in life then share then with your friends.

The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart. ~Elisabeth Foley

You can always tell a real friend: when you've made a fool of yourself he doesn't feel you've done a permanent job. ~Laurence J. Peter

-Taz

Bring it!!

Each year we make a New Year's Resolution(s) and for the first couple of weeks we stick to it. Then about a month later we give up or "forget" what it was. This happens year after year, but not this year!! I wrote my New Year resolutions down on a sheet of paper and hung it in my bathroom so I see them each day. Some are of course going to take time to get there fully, others are small and only need to be worked on each week. But this year I want to keep them past February and March. One of my goals is to start making healthy habits such as working out more and pushing myself in track to the limits. I want to build muscle, cut down on my times, and keep the workouts through the months to the next season. What are your things you want to work on? I want to make this year just as memorable as last year. Each year is a gift from God. Just keep the attitude that reminds us that life isn't forever, so live it up!

The road to your championship will not be a smooth, wide and easily traveled freeway. No, great accomplishments are never realized without first having to endure steep climbs, hard falls and sharp turns. The key to your success is perseverance and focus. Keep your focus on that which you desire to accomplish, your championship, and continually discover ways to, and ways not to, achieve your goals. Fall down and/or get knocked down 10 times and get back up 11..., and in so doing learn, grow and move closer to your championship.
-Greg Werner

"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.
-Henry Ford

-Taz