Sweat, Songs, and Secrets

Holy Love

I went to the Owl City Concert in Salt Lake City on Monday.

I can't even put into words how incredible it was. I went with a few pals from school [including Sarah...whose blog about this does the concert way more justice than I can]. She was surprised that this was my first concert ever... Which I guess is kind of weird?!? ooops :)

Anywho. The night began. We drove up with some other friends in a beautiful car. Then we got there and it had started raining, so Sarah and I popped out of the car and ran to will call. Once we were in we were standing in basically the back of the room. Lights played [we missed the first band] and post Lights, Sarah told me that we would make it the front... through the sea of heads... which were all attached to bodies... and were all standing extremely close to each other and pushing forward... apparently everyone wanted to be up front. imagine that! I didn't question her and we began our journey. As everyone pushed around, she and I snuck through the gaps and popped our way up to the front. [Its a good thing we're both so munchkin!] When we were more than half way through our journey, someone in the crowd started pushing more aggresively.. The whole crowd leaned over to one side.. then to the other. We were all literally standing at an angle ready to collapse into a pile of sweat.. Oh did I say we were all standing? Ignore that. I WAS OFF THE GROUND! Scariest thing of my life... because well I happen to be claustrophobic.. yyyyeaahhh...

Eventually Sarah faked a coughing fit and got us pushed up to the front:)

THEN WE PARTOOK IN THE MOST INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE! Adam Young [lead singer and amazing] was up on stag and we were FRONT AND CENTER!

It was gloriously magical!

Then on Tuesday night was the GLEE season premiere. BEAUTIFUL! Sarah and I set up in the basement with a bunch of other people to watch it. NO TALKING ALLOWED!! This was a monumentous day. I loved the show... with one exception.. What the heck Mr. schuester?!

Enough said.

THEN LAST NIGHT!! Holy wow!! I went to the post secret convention with Sarah. And I can't describe it. Mostly because it was so amazing. And also because I'm sort of tired of typing. hahah. so yeah.

Basically the past three nights have been AMAZING!

The end.

Watch out for the little guy.

Walking to church today, I saw ten rollie pollies.

They scuttled across the ground avoiding death.

Imagine living life like that. Everywhere you go you're looking up for something bigger that might bring your pleasant life to an unfortunate end. Then once you die, no one gives you a funeral.

This is sad.

It's a good thing that this thought came into my mind. Lets not crush the small ones.

I saw a spider in my room the other day and I just let it be. He lives above the light over my sink. I named him Charles. Perhaps he's not there anymore, but perhaps he's living a long fulfilling life because I didn't squish him when I saw him.

We can apply this lesson to life also. Sometimes there are people who feel like they are struggling just to get by. They feel like everything they do, the weight of the world is waiting to crush them. We don't realize it, but everyone around us has times that they feel like that. When you smile at someone walking by you, nine times out of ten, their having a worse day.

So even though we may not recognize who's feeling like an underdog on a particular day, think of the rollie pollies, and try to watch out for the little guy.

Come Inside My Car...

When I was in second grade (at least I think it was second grade), I had an interesting experience. Remember that beautiful road, Pleasant Valley, that I talked about in a previous post? The experience happened on that road.

I was in the back of our little five passenger car driving with my mom, my best friend (Hilary), and Hilary's mom. As we were driving, we saw a man walking down the road. He looked like he was in his 50's (potentially older). So here's the deal with Pleasant Valley. Often people ride their bikes down the road, which is super dangerous and makes my mom mad to see. So when she saw someone walking there, she wasn't happy about it. She slowed down to his pace and rolled down her window. She asked him what he was doing. He said he was trying to walk to Ohio... WE LIVE IN VIRGINIA! Thats a six hour drive!! She stopped and unlocked the door.

"Why don't you get in, we'll make sure you get to Ohio."

Then we let the strange old man in our car.

Then we took him to our house.

Then my dad gave him some of his old clothes.

Then we let him take a shower.

Then he ate dinner with us.

Then he slept over.

Then we gave him one hundred dollars.

Then we bought him a bus ticket to Ohio.

That was the last we saw of him.

Is it weird at all that we let a complete stranger sleep over at a house with four young children?

Now I'm reminded of another "Come inside my car." story.

My biology professor told us today that weeks ago she saw a man walking in a blizzard. She pulled over and told him she'd give him a ride wherever he needed. He said he needed to get to the bus stop. They arrived at the stop, and when he got out of the car, he said "Thanks, I'll see you tomorrow!"

She's been driving him to the bus stop every morning for the past few months.

Okay now its my last story about cars.

Except its not a story. Its a statement.

When I have to drive somewhere and pick up my brothers from various activities, I always creepily inch up to where they are waiting, slowly roll down the window, and offer them candy if they will come inside my car.

I like to scare the adults that see them willingly get in the car with me.

Let's Be Friends.

I was walking to class today, when a stranger came up to me, looked at me in the eyes, then started walking next to me as if we knew each other. Anyone who saw us probably thought we already knew each other. I kept walking, waiting for him to say something because he had already acknowledged my existence. But he didn't say anything for probably the longest thirty seconds of my life. He finally got up the courage to start a conversation...

His starter caught me off guard..

Not the typical "Hi, I'm so and so." Instead he jumped right in the conversation without even asking my name. "How are you're classes going?"

REALLY?!

My initial shock wore off and I told him that they were "treating me alright, but I'm completely ready to be done with school."

Then we continued to talk about classes. Finally once that conversation was over, he asked my name. His name is Jordan. We shook hands [because that's what Mormons do].

I asked him if it was habit for him to introduce himself to complete strangers. He laughed and said that it makes life interesting.

We proceeded to talk about what we were studying in school, where we were from, and the state of my next class [because I'm not particularly fond of it].

Then he even asked about my summer plans [whether I would stay here or go back home]. I revealed that I have to work all summer so that I can come back to school next year and he told me that he was impressed that I'm working my way through college. I told him that its really no big deal, just part of life.

Then we talked about the class he was going to and realized that we both find war stories particularly intriguing.

He shook my hand again, and said it was nice to meet me, then we parted ways. I doubt I'll ever see him again, but I will admit that it was really exciting to just meet someone while walking to class.

I wish I had the courage that he does to go up to a stranger and say "Let's be friends."

The Price of Tea in China.

Following is the most recent proof that my brain is still functioning..

'Things I Look Forward To' Thoughts:

1.I'm going to the Owl City concert in a week from tonight and I AM EXTREMELY EXCITED!!

2.In three weeks from yesterday, my lovely sister and I shall pack up our necessities for the next four months, get in the car, and drive for 34 hours to the other end of the country. Hello Virginia, home sweet home:)

3.My best friend from elementary school is coming to visit me this weekend. I haven't seen this girl in FOREVER! Well I mean I saw her last semester briefly, but we haven't hung out in about three years... so yeah

4.On Wednesday, my sister and I are going to our friend's apartment to play video games. Now I realize that doesn't seem exciting, but these two boys that we're going to hang out with are two of the most hilarious entertaining people ever to leave Wyoming!

5. I have a choir concert on Sunday, which I'm rather excited for.

6. Tonight I sign up for classes for next fall!

7. GLEE starts next week!! HOORAY FOR SEASON TWO!!!!

Moment of nostalgia:

My sister and I were on Skype with my parents and one of my brothers on Saturday night. Gosh I remember before my sister left for college [my junior year of high school] and before my mom started working again when we'd have family dinner together. Often times we were rushing. With four kids who all lead extremely busy lives, we all always had places to be. Dinner would be quick. My family is used to eating fast. We could probably down a seven course meal in a half hour! Anywho, when dinner wasn't rushed, it was quite the event. We would still eat fast [because thats the way we are] but during dinner our conversation is HILARIOUS! All of us talk a lot... and fast too. We always talk about our least and favorite thing from that day. Which would lead to a MONUMENTOUS conversation full of movie lines, guessing games, silly laughs, plenty of snorts, and our favorite game of imitation [this is my imitation of dad. this is my imitation of micaela's imitation of dad. this is my imitation of garrett's imitation of micaela's imitation of me.... etc etc etc]. This all inevitably leads to us making fun of my poor dad... which always brings up the famous quote "Do you remember that one time dad made like 2 noodles of spaghetti for dinner?!" Then we all laugh and quote like that. Eventually the conversation mellows down and my brothers go to play video games while my sister and I stay and talk to our parents until I get bored and join my brothers. Eventually someone clears the table... but that's our least favorite part of dinner. My theory is that we don't dread it necessarily because clearing the table is work, but because it marks the end of that perfectionary family time.

Spiritual Thoughts:

1. This earth we live on is incredible. God is most definitely an amazing artist. He gave us this beautiful earth because He loves us so dearly.

2. Conference was this weekend. WOW! Need I say more? I noticed a common theme about families this weekend for conference. [For all of you non-morms reading this, I'm talking about General Conference right now. This is when the leaders of our church speak to everyone about the issues of today.] It is so important in this world where the family is under attack for us all to work together to keep this sacred organization in tact. It is so important for mothers and fathers to set a good example for their children and to teach them about the gospel. As the world spirals further and further into destruction, it is important that families stay strong and at the forefront of God's army, fighting off temptation of the adversary.

Public Service Announcement:

In my biology class we'e talking about our stewardship over the earth. PLEASE RECYCLE AND DON'T WASTE WATER!!! 80% of the junk in landfills could be recycled! We will kill this earth if we don't watch ourselves. And about the water. People don't realize how lucky we are to have water. Don't leave th sink running. That is such a waste. People in other countries would kill to have clean water like us.

Silly Thoughts:

This isn't a thought.. more of an event.

April fools day was quite an event for me and one of my proudest moments. Two of my friends and I [macey and haylee] moved our other friend's [sarah] room into the bathroom while she was out. posters. bed. rug. clothes. recycle-ables. computer. books. schoolwork. backpack. jewelry. hair stuff. clothes. shoes. and even her refrigerator. We set up her room in the shower area. IT BLEW HER MIND! and also the minds of the other girls in the hall. everyone came to see our work because it was rather impressive:)

End of Thoughts:

bye.

Oh the things I imagine in my sleep...

I was walking back from the boys dorms with a bunch of girls from my ward today and I mentioned that I had had a crazy dream about David John Hall. A few of th girls asked me to tell it to them. After I did, I came to the conclusion that this is one of those things that I should write in my blog.

In my dream, the 1100 and 1200 halls of Chipman Hall [which is where I reside] were for some reason, out of order. We had to move everyone who lived in these two halls to David John. [They also happened to have enough room in the dorm for a ton of extra girls.] This was an interesting experience.. to say the least. There were animals everywhere. Turtles living in the toilets. Geese sleeping in beds. Rodents running around the floors. On top of the the zoo in this place, everything was also pretty broken down. The bathrooms were barely functioning. The beds were all basically cut in half. The doors were all crooked and hanging off. There was even traces of blood stains all over the carpet. I asked Becca, my RA, what was wrong with the place. Apparently David John Hall used to be haunted. Many people fought for their lives and still died there [hence the blood]. Instead of getting rid of the hall though, the housing association filled it with animals. The animals kept it safe. The hauntings were gone as long as the animals were there.

That's all. Now every time I walk by this hall, I get a little creeped out and feel like I should warn them that it's haunted.

Count Your Blessings

So I was skyping with my momma today because I'm super stressed with school and a ton of other things that are affecting me right now. She told me to count my blessings. I decided to make a list of the blessings I have.

1. A family who loves me

2. A father in heaven who is alway watching out

3. Friends who will stand by me at any time

4. An affordable college to go to that upholds my standards

5. A voice to sing with

6. A voice teacher to help me keep singing

7. A computer to listen to music on

8. Amazing music to listen to

9. Crazy dreams to entertain me at night and blog about in the morning

10. Blonde hair (I really like my hair)

11. Functioning hands and feet

12. Places to go exercise

13. Food to eat and money to buy it with

14. A bed

15. Four pillows and two bears to sleep with

16. Clothes to wear (that are modest)

17. A country where I can cast a vote for my leaders

18. A car

19. A country where I'm allowed to drive

20. The opportunity of higher education

21. Great leaders of a great church

22. Colors

23. Shoes to wear (an abundance actually. I have a collection to pick from)

24. Good medicine and hospitals right around the corner

25. Extended family in the same state as me

26. A camera to capture my joy

27. People to lean on to capture my sadness

28. Hope in a world that lacks it

29. A sense of right and wrong

30. The six hour long Pride and Prejudice

31. Straight teeth (thanks to braces)

33. A toothbrush

34. Toothpaste

35. Running water

36. Heating and air conditioning

37. A working brain

38. A testimony of Christ, my Savior

39. A place to go when I'm upset

40. Friends in the mission field

41. Transportation

42. Pants

43. Plumbing

44. Floors and carpets

45. Mashed Potatoes and gravy

46. An umbrella

47. Safety

48. Contacts and glasses

49. Opportunities to overcome my shyness

50. Electricity

51. A printer to use

52. Tap shoes

53. Community theatre

54. Healthy organs

55. Books

56. The ability to read and write

57. Incredible teachers

58. Mentors and people to look up to

59. A whole cast of people who are there for me

60. The knowledge of what is after this life and why I am here

There are a ton more of course, but I want to get to sleep soon and I still have to finish reading for classes.