Dear Mister

Dear Mister Co-Coordinator,
You are really a nice person. You have a great testimony. And you have amazing hair, a little too much product sometimes, but otherwise nice thick, run your fingers through, hair. However that being said, you make me very upset. I am constantly stressed out because of you and your lack of responsibility. This past month has been crazy. CRAZY with FHE. The sub-for-Santa auction, typing up bid sheets, Printing out all of the bid sheets, handing out sign up sheets, setting up the auction, putting out all of the items, collecting the money, cashing the money, the Christmas party, finding a program for the Christmas party, dividing the money, typing up the shopping lists, getting groups together, finding lessons for every week, and countless other tasks all done by me. With not a single call from you asking if you could help or anything. You did call me on Saturday at 8:55am leaving me a voice mail that said you need the money to go shopping at nine, and then you texted me, I did not answer because I had my cell phone turned off because I was in a car accident the night before and wanted to sleep, then you had someone call my home phone over and over and over, finally waking me up, telling me you needed your money, which I told you on Wednesday that I had ready for you to, either you could pick up or me drop off, but I didn't hear from you so I texted you again on Friday seeing what time you were going shopping on Saturday, but you didn't know and you still didn't pick up the money, and when you did pick it up on Saturday did you even say sorry for waking me up? Nope. Did you say sorry on Sunday when I talked to you? Again Nope. Or Monday? Nope.
You drive me insane with your flaky, irresponsible, vague attitude. And you know what else really really bothers me. You always, ALWAYS say my name wrong. The epitome of disrespect. But it is all ok now because you just call me, "cuz" instead, much better, Thank you. Although I don't think my real cousins would appreciate it very much. Just saying.

Warm Regards,
Your FHE CO-coordinator

Angels

So last night I was in a little accident. Me and one of my best friends were coming home from a wedding reception in Provo. We were heading back to AF to go get something to eat with some other friends. We were on State St. And it was snowing. We were just discussing how we couldn't really see the lines and would just follow the tire treads, we stopped at a red light. Just talking. Then out of no where. BAM. We had been rear-ended. I had no idea what happened, all I knew was that my head hurt. The car wouldn't move. I asked my friend, who was driving, if she was ok. She said yes. I got my phone out and dialed 911, well I put in 977 first...then 911, ha ha ha. I was talking to the dispatcher telling them what happened and where we were and they kept asking what color the car was that hit us. I had no idea. I kept saying I didn't know, and the womans was like, "You can't turn around to see it, " and I was like No there are cars stopped all around us I have no idea who hit us! Gosh, they can be rude and pushy. Because believe me she didn't say it is a nice voice, it was patronizing. Then my door was opened by some dude who had stopped. He said he was a EMT. He asked me a bunch of questions: what is your name, what is today's date, what day of the week is it. Then he checked my neck and made sure I was ok. I still had a headache. So it was snowing and it was freezing cold, and I didn't have a coat, it wasn't snowing in AF when I left and I didn't have one that matched what I was wearing and I didn't plan on being outside. So I was freezing. This really nice woman came up to my door and handed me a jacket and a blanket. Then called Nick, the dude we were meeting in AF for dinner and then I called Nicole's house, but here parents weren't home, so I called their cells, I finally got her dad, they were luckily at the Mall just a few mins away. I then called my mom and let her know what happened and that we were ok. 

James, the EMT, stayed with us and the woman with the blankets offered to drive us home. They were amazing angels that Heavenly Father sent us.

So many people stopped to help. They called the police. They stayed to help. They tried to drive down the person that hit us. It was an amazing out pouring of love and concern. It reaffirmed my belief in humanity, working in my job(s) I get really depressed by somethings I see happen to people at the hands of people, but there is so much goodness! It was such a blessing. 

We found out later that the person that hit us was in a Black Jeep Grand Cherokee, but they speed off really quickly so no one was able to get the license number. We talked a lot about why they would leave and decided that they were in a hurry to get the bed side of a sick brother on the verge of death, that is why they couldn't stop.

 

I need a new hobbie...

I need a new hobbie...can I steal yours?
As you know I am very passionate about certain books....Cough, Cough, Hunger Games....but they are over now. I also like making headbands. That is great and fun and I keep coming up with new things like using ribbon. But I can only do so many of those at a time before I get bored. I love helping people, I do that for a job and my friends movie is over so I can't focus on that any more...oh yeah and it is my calling...so some times I need a break from constantly helping people, you know. So I need a new hobbie. I don't know what to do or what is offered around here...Should I take a painting class? Or a pottery class? Or a dance class? I want to do all of those, but I have no idea where I can take those classes. I need something or I know I am going to go a little crazy. What is your hobbie? Can I steal it, please? :) I might give it back, probably not.

So have you ever had this problem....

I have a problem, I never, and I mean never know when a dude likes me. No idea. Maybe no guys like me or maybe it is just the really really really really really painfully shy ones that like me, but I can never tell if a dude likes me or not, until he comes out and says it. I am horrible at reading those signals. I am just oblivious.  I am positive that I went through high school without one guy liking me and I am pretty dang sure no one in my singles ward like "likes" me. Or maybe I am just clueless. I have no idea. Whatever. I just don't know. I did have a guy wink at me at the ward Christmas dinner but that just gave me the hee-baaly-gee-baalies.  Really truly.

Sara Haze - Lovely

I love this song. It is a power song that is so beautiful. I love to listen to it when I having a bad day, it just makes you feel better. :)

So April Don't Read This Till You Have Watched ANTM

I love ANTM. And I am so happy that Ann won! I have wanted her to win from the beginning! I love and adore her. I so did not want Chelsea to win. She was way to cocky. When Tyra got up there and announced that Ann won after a impregnated pause there was uproar by mom, Sarah and me. Ah good day.


SO on another note. My friends are making this really awesome movie. And it is premiering on Thursday of next week, and I am suppose to have a date for that and a party for the movie the following night. And I don't. I have no one to ask. Really I have wracked my brain. No one. So it looks like I am going it alone....again.

23 years of Life

The last twenty-three years....I was born, I have learned to read, write, compute and calculate. I have learned that you do not put toothpaste on your chicken pox (even if it does make them stop itching), I have learned to play and ride a bike. I have broken an arm as a result of riding a bike. I have learned what is a good friend and what is a bad. I have learned to cook and clean. I have been baptized into the true church of Jesus Christ and later learned what that meant and gained an everlasting testimony. I have been thoroughly embarrassed, deeply hurt, betrayed, heartbroken, and loved. I have had my breath taken away, astounded, inspired, horrified and enraged. I have learned to dance (ish), sing, and act. I have been scared out of my mind, cried myself to sleep, learned with it means to love. I have learned what it means to trust the Lord, to finish what I start, to be independent. I was once grounded. I have kissed 3 boys, yes they were boys at the time (2 of them I still believe are). I have gained amazing friends and formed some unlikely friendships that I will cherish forever. I have had 4 birthdays on Thanksgiving. I learned to drive and then learned again to drive in the snow. I have experienced the loss of two Brother Friends, and the loss of three Grandparents. I have competed and performed. Failed and triumphed.  I have learned what beauty is.  I have grown up. A lot has happened in 23 years. I hope the next years of my life can be just as wonderful.

I want to marry the man of my dreams and best friend. 

Have wonderful children. Some of my own and some adopted. 

Save someones life. 

Start my own NPO. Working with children here and in third world countries.

Serve in whatever calling I am called to in the church with Honor. 

There are other things and I am sure I will do them on the journey, and learn a lot more. I want to make the most of the next 23 years of my life. 

I'm Twenty-Three, Twenty-Three, Twenty-Three, La La La La La....

So Thursday was my Twenty-Third Birthday. Yes. Yes, it was on Thanksgiving. It was wonderful. It started on Wednesday, with Pie Night. A new Tradition we started. You know when you have Thanksgiving dinner and you never have room for pie after, well we have pie the night before. It was delish. Then one of my besties came over and gave me the most thoughtful gift ever. I love and adore her so so very much. What would life be without Friends? Then the big day came. Ben and April stayed the night, in the trailer parked in our back yard, ghetto, I know, but it worked out well because Ben and the Skinny don't mix. I-kiek drove up the night before and Ryan drove up that morning. Mom and Bee were making dinner and wouldn't let me help. Dinner was ready at 1 and we feasted on the most amazing food ever, Dutch oven turkey (oh yeah, fall of the bone goodness), curried yams, Mashed Potatoes, home made cranberry sauce, yummy stuffing...and the good stuff. Then we had time to clean up, ate birthday cake, Lemon, opened presents from my parents, I sent my mom a list of potential gifts about a month ago and she did a great job! and then headed off to HARRY POTTER 7. Ben, Ike and Bee went an hour early to save seats. We got the row behind the handicap seats, with the bar to put your feet upon, the best seats ever. Harry Potter was so, so.....beyond my expectations. And that is saying a ton. I had just read the seventh book a month ago, again. There were only a few things that were missing from the movie, but they did an amazing job. Pure Magic. Then we went home and ate more pie, I had to make my famous eggnog pumpkin pie! I got a bunch of FB birthday wishes, but my favorite was from my Bestie and her Husband, they called and left me a voice mail that just made me smile for a long time.
So Friday I just chilled and cleaned my room. Today did the same, but went out to dinner with my parents. The waiter flirted with me, not a good thing. The was gangley and pimplie. He asked how old I was turning and I replied 23. Then gave a shocked little, "Oh, I'm just 22." Then he came back and had to sing happy birthday, and had to ask my name 3 times, he kept saying Leeann....and he left a little card in with the check, that said, Happy 23rd Birthday, but sadly he spelled Happy and Birthday wrong. My dad is still laughing at it. **Sigh** Oh well. It was a very good birthday to say the least.

Music

So at work I listen to Pandora. And I have been keeping a Google Doc of songs that come on that I really like. I have been doing this for a while. I have acquired quite a list. But I hate when Pandora plays songs I don't like and I hate having to listen to commercials and I hate that I can only skip or thumb downs a certain number of songs a hour. So I went on to you tube and made a play list of songs that I can listen to over and over and over and over again, from that google doc's list. I have 72 songs so far. I was looking at them today and it has quite the variety of music.

From Eve 6 to Regina Spektor to P!nk to Bill Withers to Jason Derulo to The Jonas Brothers to The Foo Fighters to Ray LaMontagne to The White Stripes to Al Green to Tonic to Matisyahu to Frou frou to Trapt to Billy Joel to Greenday to Coldplay to Incubus to Johnny Cash (his Hurt Cover by Nine Inch Nails), to Collective Soul to the Goo Goo Dolls....I know. A lot of really different music.....it could mean that I am really diverse or unique but I think that means I am crazy. For Reals.

So I totally Cook

At ward prayer tonight we had linger longer. I used to make something for linger longer every time we had it, like four years ago when I was first in the ward. I have been slacking. But today I made something. And people were like, Whoa you cook? And I was heck yes I do. I love cooking, baking and all that Jazz. I have been, like I said, slacking. Once upon a time I was in this really amazing chef prep class in High School...no I didn't take it at AF, I had to drive to PG and take it. Well in this class I had so much fun. I competed in a state cooking competition, like Iron Chef. It was pretty much amazing. And I also really really really looked into going to culinary school, the only schooling I was really serious about....So Yes I cook. When Ben, my brother in law, describes me to dudes he wants to set me up on dates with he says something like this: She is pretty and nice, and she makes this AMAZING dessert called Malva Pudding, he probably salivates a little bit. It is really good. But tonight the thing that got everyone talking were cookie dough truffles. Super easy and yummy, I think Clark Taylor's heart stopped for a sec when he took his first bite. SO I thought I would share the recipe with you.

3 sticks of Butter, room Temp.
2/3 cup Sugar

Cream them together.
When the butter and sugar is a light lemon color and fluffy add:
1 tsp Vanilla
3 Cups Flour
1/2 Cup Corn Starch

Mix together and add Chocolate chips, I used dark chocolate and mint chocolate chips.

Form the dough into little balls on a lined baking sheet. Refrigerate.

Melt Almond bark or any type of melting chocolate in a double boiler. Coat the dough balls in chocolate and put back onto the Sheet. Refrigerate and enjoy :)

Maybe someday I will have to share the coveted Malva Pudding Recipe.....

Path of Hot Men.

So the other day, I am pretty sure it was Oct. 30th (Mormon Halloween), my sister Bee and I were sitting at home, yes we sat at home on Halloween, I went to a party the day before and we had a ward party the monday before so I felt Halloween had been celebrated enough, so I was sitting at home watching movie after movie. I brought up 3 movies, Spiderman, Star Trek, and X-men. I had watched the first and was choosing the second. Both amazing movies. So I asked Bee which one she wanted to watch. Her choice was Star Trek. Her reason. Chris Pine is Hotter than Huge Jackman. That is were we got into a pretty heavy discussion about Hot Actors, because I agree that Chris Pine is Hot, I do not think he is Hotter than HUGE JACKMAN. So I asked who she thought was hotter....I said some actor and Chris Pine, and so on and so on, we went through, Channing Tatum, James Franco, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Will Smith, Zac Efron, Ryan Gosling, Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Russell Crowe. Then it came down to the last 2: 

Jude Law vs. Gerard Butler. 

         

There was really no way to decide who is hotter. I love Jude Law. Love him. But I also love Gerard Butler. They are both superb actors. They can do comedy, drama, action, romance. Gerard can sing amazing, but Jude sings too...although not a lot. I love PS I love you, How to train your Dragon and The Phantom of the Opera. And who doesn't love Jude in Gattaca, The Holiday, and Sherlock Holmes? And one of my all time favorite movies is Cold Mountain. They both have accents. One English, one Scottish. 

I think Bee decided that Gerard Butler was the hottest, because of his accent. And that is something you can't get around. If a guy started talking to me in a Scottish accent I would be a goner. 

But for now it is a tie. I love them both and can not choose who is more attractive. 

So on another note. I went out again with Mr. Marvelous on Saturday. We had a really good time. It was pretty simple. We just went to Zuppas, which I love, and then talked and talked and talked and talked. We both talk a lot, so we just went on and on and on. I invited him to come to I-kiek and Al-be's plays and I kinda invited myself to his sister's play that she is in. So we will see how it goes. ;) 

Thanks Ben

So I know you are all dying to know how my blind date went. Ha ha ha. Well I will tell you. It was awesome. It was the best blind date I have ever been on. Mr. M was really cute, blue eyes, blonde hair, chin dimple. We went to thanksgiving point to the corn maze. We just talked and talked and I had a great time. So thank you my favorite brother in law for setting us up.

Time for a Real Update.

So last week I started my new job. I really, really, really love it! I official title ( that Dee, my supervisor-ish/co-worker, and I made up) is...4th District CASA Program Assistant. Pretty long, but it sounds really cool! As you know, if you do read my blog, I was a Court Appointed Special Advocate or CASA. I work on a case for the 4th District Court Guardian Ad Litem office. I was like a big sister to my girl, but I also was court appointed. So I got sworn in and got to go to court. SO now I work with all the volunteers, that are doing what I did. They have monthly reports they have to get to the GAL and they have court hearings and Family Team Meetings they get to go to, so I help them with all of that. It has been really really fun. We just finished training a group of 19 people. So that is what I do now. It is part time so I work for MWB in the morning and got to the GAL office in the afternoon. So that is work.
And because of work, I can't got to my institute classes in the afternoon anymore. It is really sad. I don't get to see Mr. P any more. Tuesday was my last day. So sad news about him. He does have a girlfriend. I knew he did, someone that amazing couldn't just be walking around single. And get this, she lives in Boston, is Harvard Alum, and works for MIT. (Yes I FB stocked her, I had to know) And she has amazing shoes. How could I compete with that? Hmmmm? I just can't. So I am pretty sad about it. He is so dang cute. And he just radiates goodness. *SIGH*
But I am going on a date tonight. My wonderful, favorite Brother-in-law set me up with this dude he knows from school. I am grateful, but I am a little apprehensive. 1. My BIL is known for his amazing ability to not look at a person on the outside or judge them by appearances. That is great. But I do have to be attracted to the person. I have to find them handsome. So that has me a little worried. 2.   And more weighty, is my history of blind dates. I have been on a million blind dates and none of them have been good or really turned out well. There was Mr. I-am-going-to-take-you-to-a-bar-and-let-a-drunk-guy-hit-on-you. Mr. I-just-want-to-be-friends-said-over-text-message. Mr. I-am-going-to-be-your-"boyfriend"-but-then-move-to-Cali-and-never-talk-to-you-again. Mr. I-am-not-going-to-talk-to-you-the-rest-of-the-night-after-you-say-you-don't-go-to-school. Mr. I-am-not-going-to-be-nice-to-you-and-walk-10-feet-in-front-of-you-in-a-questionable-part-of-town. And Mr. I-am-going-to-talk-so-you-can't-hear-me. And Mr.I-dress-like-I-am-still-in-grade-school-and-I-don't-know-how-to-have-a-conversation. And Mr.I-am-just-going-to-look-down-your-shirt. So that is why I am a little worried. But I am optimistic. And I always try to hope for the best. So we will see how it goes.

Reposting of Mr. P

So this blog Post is actually from a while ago. I posted it. Then deleted it. Now I am posting it again. I am now FB friends with this person and I didn't want him to read it...so that is why is disappeared. But I have removed any links from my FB page to this blog...so he shouldn't read this post unless he really look, which I find highly unlikely......This is how it went (this is just for you Shiree)
  So 15 days ago I had inspiration while I was taking a nice hot shower. I love showers because they just clear my mind and that is where I do my best thinking. Well I was thinking about something very different that night when a new thought came into my head. I should sign up for Institute at the Orem Institute. Now I had never really thought about it before but it was very clear and kinda forceful. So when I got out of the shower, still in my bath robe I got online and signed up for classes. The next day I got an email confirmation from none other than the beautiful Momma Boulter. The next week I went to class. Brother Wilkes Book of Mormon class. The second I walk in I see my great long lost friend, Derek Lundahl. We had fun catching up and laughed really hard at some really stupid thing I said. *Sigh* Still funny. And then I went to class. And there at the door greeting was the most handsome man I have seen in a while. He was tall, medium brown hair, blue, blue eyes, crinkly smile and dimples, oh and did I mention that he is superbly dress? Perfection. I get super excited and I think my heart stopped beating for a second. Well people were coming in and I didn't want to look really really stupid standing there still holding his hand, so I went and found a seat in the front of the class, the good school girl in me coming out. The lesson was really good. It was the Monday after conference so we just talked about conference and how uplifting and totally awesome it was. So class ends and I have to go talk to the wonderful Mrs. Boulter, because smart me I signed up for 2 BOM classes. Now don't get me wrong I love the Book of Mormon, but I don't really want to take 2 classes of it. So I went and changed it to what I thought I had signed up for. The Tue/Thurs Teaching of the Living Prophets Class. So I get that all worked out and leave, only to find that I have a boot on my car. *Yeah I know I shouldn't have parked there* But I was very nice and I really couldn't care less, I was still on the high of Mr.Perfection. So the next day I didn't go to class, I wasn't sure that I had been 'put' in it yet, which doesn't really matter looking back on it, but whateve, So I went to the BOM class so excited to see Mr. Perfection, and maybe talk to him. Driving from work down there I was all nervous, I get nervous everyday before I go. Man I am a little pathetic...anyway. The class was good and I saw him. And the next day was the Prophets class and I walk in! ***AHHHHH*** (Angelic choirs singing) There he is greeting people at the door. Best day ever! I now have both of my classes with him. I get to see him four times a week! So great.
Well on Monday and Tuesday, I started talking to him as we walked out to the parking lot, "So I don't really know your name." "Oh yeah, it is....and your name?" "It is Leah, nice to meet you"....Blah, blah, blah. The normal stuff.  On Tuesday he gave the spiritual thought about blacks getting the priesthood, random but really great. Powerful and convincing and heartfelt. So walking out I told him thank you for the thought, and we started talking about my time in Africa, AIDS and all that. Random, but at least we were talking. The last two days have been amazing. Nothing could get me down. I have perma smile. And I am really thankful for that prompting. Hoping it was all about him. But I am thinking it might be. I don't know yet, it is too early to tell. I am praying that we can get to know each other better. If nothing happens I really want to be his friend because of the goodness I see in him. But I am really thinking the reason for the prompting was the classes themselves. Go figure. They have been so great. Today some thing really hit me and I was left in tears because if it. We were discussing 2 Nephi 29-30. Nephi had vision of our day, these latter days, about the stiff necks and pride and the destruction. And in verse 10 of 30 it says, "For the time speedily cometh that the Lord God shall cause a great division among the people,". We discussed how that is coming to pass. There is a divide among children of men. And I thought, what side of the divide I hope that I am on. Then I thought about some of my dear wonderful friends that I love so much, that have made some choices that put them on the wrong side of the divide. And it really really made me sad, and I hope I can resolve to be a better example to those people to help them back over the chasm.
So the classes are amazing. I love them and I hope I can keep going. I am praying and hoping I can keep talking with Mr. Perfection, and that we become friends. Really, really, really good friends.

PS. My interview for the CASA position is tomorrow! AGH! I am so excited and scared.

Yeppie, Yeppie...Yay, Yay!

So I had an interview for a job today. It was for a position at the Guardian Ad Litem office in the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Office that I volunteer with. The interview was at 9:30 this morning. So I got all ready and headed off to the Office in Provo. I was being interviewed by the Amazing Dee, who is my CASA coordinator, and some other people from the office. The interview went really well. Before I left I asked how many more people they had to interview, they said 6. After I went to work at my Part-time job at Mothers Without Borders. Then I went home and waited. At 4:11 I got told I got the job. Yeppie, Yeppie! I should be starting on Monday. What an amazing day today has been! I didn't get to see Mr. P. But other than that is has been pretty dang amazing!

Grateful

Wow So Conference was AMAZING. There were so many great talks and I love all of our leaders. They are giants among men. There was not one talk that didn't have something specifically for me in it.  But the one that really hit me was Pres. Monson's Talk on Being Grateful. I have been whiny and ungrateful. Whiny, self centered. So as he was giving his amazing talk, I was thinking about everything I have to be grateful for. And I thought about my time in Zambia. And then I was really mad at myself for being whiny. I had nothing there and I was still so much better off than the locals. I need to be more grateful and I need to show it more and I need to be more vocal about it. We have everything here! Everything to be grateful for.
I am grateful for running, clean water. Never had that in Zambia. I had running water that I could bath in but I had to treat it or I got itchy bumps on my skin. And it was hot most of the time which I was really grateful for! But sometimes I didn't have water at all, one time I went almost 2 weeks without running water in the house. I couldn't drink the water, I had to buy bottled water. But the locals didn't have running waters in there homes. They had to wait for hours at spigot or dig wells or I saw children getting water from rain puddles. So I am grateful that I can turn on the faucet in my house at any hour and get clean, pure water at any temperature.
I am grateful for electricity.  I didn't always have that in Zambia. It would go off when ever it felt like it. So I always had to keep candles and matches around. It was pretty funny one day as I was bathing and the power went out. Pitch dark and soaking wet, you imagine what happened next. Ha ha ha. Also with electricity I am grateful for all of the amazing appliances we, like dish washers, washers and dryers (I never thought I would be excited to do my laundry, but after hand washing my clothes and giving myself huge blisters on my hands I was.) and stoves, we had one burner that if you touched it without shoes one you would get electrocuted, I ruined many a dinner because if it, refrigerators, I didn't have one so I couldn't keep any food that would go bad, and those are just the big ones that I missed and am really grateful for. Think about all of the little things that make our everyday lives so easy!
I am grateful for good food in all its abundance and ease of access.
I am grateful for reliable transportation and good roads.
I am grateful for my health. I am grateful for medicine and health care. I am grateful that I don't have to worry about diseases like, malaria, typhoid, TB, HIV, AIDS, Cholera that are all too common in other places of the world.
I am grateful for my education and all the possibilities that the world affords me. I am grateful for the knowledge that "the world is my playground" and that I really can become whatever I dream. I am grateful for books and imagination, dreams and ambitions. I am grateful that I have seen some of the world and experienced something outside of myself. I am so grateful for my experiences and what they have taught me.
I am grateful for my home. For a good bed to sleep in. For blankets and heaters and fans and air-conditioning. For doors, carpet and chairs. For a roof that keeps the rain out. For windows. For window screens. For toilets. For garbage cans. For shoes. For clothes. For Toilet paper. For soap. Toothpaste. Razors. Deodorant. Bug spray. Mirrors. All of those things I just listed, are things mostly foreign to Zambia, but do I even think about them anymore? They are just so common place to me now, but there was a time that I longed for them with all of my heart.
I am so grateful for my family. I missed them everyday, every second. And now I an ungrateful for them. Rude to them, impatient with with them. I am so grateful for them.
I am most grateful for the Gospel. For the Truth that I have and know of and have a undying testimony of. I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon. It was the only thing that kept me going while I was in Zambia. I studied it everyday for hours. And now I can barely read a chapter a day. I am grateful for prayer and for the gift of the Holy Ghost. I am grateful that there is a church on every corner, I am grateful that I don't have to choose between food for the week and going to church. I am so grateful for my Heavenly Father and my older brother Jesus Christ.

We have everything! Everything we could ever want or wish for. And we have the True Gospel. Could we be any more blessed?

Pet store here I come.

So realization that my 23rd birthday is in less than 2 months. Ugh. I mean I am excited. I like birthdays. And my birthday is on Thanksgiving this year which makes it even better. Tons of food and presents, even if I just buy them for myself. But 23. That is like practically dead, in the state of Utah. I am not even close to getting married or have I ever been, and I haven't been on a mission, so people look at me and ask, "what is wrong with you?" For Reals. There has to be something major wrong with me if a guy hasn't snatched me up by now. I must have a bag of hair. I can see all the bleary old lady eyes looking me over saying by the time I was your age I already had 5 kids, 3 of them triplets, and all the guys are moving on to the younger, fresher girls that will accept more crap. Maybe that is it. That I don't accept crap, like when a dude doesn't stick up for me or help me when I am clearly in distress. Or when a dude takes me to a cage fight and let's a drunk dude hit on me. Or when a dude lies to my face.....wow. Rambling. That is why I am never getting married. I guess I will sub come to being the crazy fish lady, I will have five 100 gallon tanks consuming all of the space in my tiny home, and I will not be able to clean them all so there will be nasty green goop all over, with poor little Nemo floating on the top.

I am just throwing this out there....

But if you are in a relationship or a potential relationship, facebook is not a good way to communicate. Friends fine, but if you are hoping for something more from this person why don't we try something real? Call them up on the phone, I assume you have their phone number, a finger and a voice. Or better yet talk to them face to face. Honestly what is happening to our generation? Every one is so impersonal and a bunch of pansy's. Just saying.


Oh a different note: I am dying my hair. I have major roots, it just looks like my hair is greasy all of the time.
And who is excited for Harry Potter? Me. Me. Me. I was talking to a friend at church today, he just got engaged and we were talking about the up coming wedding. I asked when the date was and he said Nov. 19th, and I immediately responded with, "You know that is the day Harry Potter comes out."  Wow. Obsessed. And Very Sad.

GLEE!

Oh I love Glee so very much! And I am so in love with the new character! Sam Evans. *sigh*
"Dude, your mouth is huge. How many tennis balls can you fit in there?" Love it! And that voice! To die for. I can't wait to see more of him in the season.

And I decided that he, well the actor Chord Overstreet, could so be Peeta.

If you didn't catch the season premier you need to watch it! It was awesome, besides Rachel who I wanted to strangle. I have never really liked her, but I really really hated her in this episode. But other than that I love it. I just can't get enough of it!

Recurring Dream of Awesomeness

So the last few night I have had the most amazing dream ever. I hate it when I have a great dream and I wake up in the middle. I usually try really hard to fall asleep fast so I can have that same dream, but it never works. I also hate when you have recurring nightmares, I had one when I was little where my older brother Ryan died it was pretty horrible, his skeleton coming out on a conveyor belt, but I never get recurring good dreams...until now! I had it two nights in a row and it was pretty sweet. So I know that everyone has kissed someone in their dreams, do you kiss people you know or people you make up? For me 99% of the time I make up the person...I have only ever kissed someone I have known twice and that was pretty weird and pretty much the best dream ever. I had only ever had a crush on the first person once and that was WAY before I ever had a dream about them and the reason I had a crush on them was mostly from the costume they had to wear in a play that we were both in...he looked quite dashing. But I knew him outside the costume and I was not attracted to him at all. The Second guy I had had a crush on for a very long time. He is the epitome of Beautiful Man. Tall. Athletic. Chin Dimple. That was a very good dream. So other than those two times all The guys in my dreams are pure imagination. And I have a pretty dang good imagination. So this dream: I am at a nicklecade like place and I am kicking trash at all the games racking up the tickets. My arms are over flowing with green tickets, I probably have 5000 +, so I go in to cash in for a prize and guess what my prize is? The most beautiful man. Tall. Athletic. Carved from some beautiful natural oak. Perfectly sculpted nose. Piercing eyes swimming in molten dark chocolate. With a full head of coffee colored curls. He was perfection. He has made cameos in my dreams three or four times but never has he been my Prize. 
If any one you see this man of my dreams call me. I have dibs.


PS: I just made bread pudding from leftover waffles. Oh yummy!

Girls if you could make your own fictional man...Peeta, Edward...for some of you Jacob....what would he be like?

 “If I could have the perfect guy, what would he be like?” So here is my answer….He would....

Love the Lord
Be Humble like Ammon, Alma 26:12
Be Obedient like Nephi, 1 Nephi 3:7, 19:1
Have amazing Strength like Moroni, Alma 48:11 &17
Be diligent like Jacob, Genesis 29
Have Faith like the Brother of Jared, Ether 3:9, 12:20, 21
Have Charity, Moroni 7:45
Be Wise like Solomon, 1 Kings 4:29-30
Be Patient like Job, James 5:11
Be Grateful, D&C 78:19
Be vitreous like Joseph, Genesis 39:9
Have Knowledge like the Sons of Mosiah, Alma 17: 2-3
Be Forgiving, like Nephi, 1 Nephi 7:21
Endure all things, like Joseph Smith (no explanation needed)
And very importantly he has to be Honest like the people of Ammon, Alma 27:27


He would also be……Kind, hilarious, fun, healthy, athletic, romantic, thoughtful, curious, adventurous, spontaneous, intuitive, determined, motivated, playful, clean, good, loving, open, musical, and a life learner, happy, sincere, silly, hard working, even tempered, assertive, courageous, giving, and observant. And he would have an amazing sense of personal style. He should also love to serve and he has to be will to admit when he is wrong….Think of a young Dieter F. Uchtdorf, that looks like Christan Bale but with blue eyes like Paul Newman. Or he would be a beautiful black man with blue eyes like Michael D. Brown.

Volunteering. Do it.

So I love volunteering and think it is amazing and everyone needs to do it! For Reals. I am a CASA, a Court Appointed Special Advocate. I work with kids that have been abused and/or neglected. I think every one needs to find something you love to do and do it. I love working with children so, when I came home from Africa and was slipping back into bad habits of being self-centered and ungrateful I knew I had to change that, so I jumped onto the United Way website and found some local opportunities. I found two that I like and sent emails to both. The CASA coordinator emailed me back first so I went with that! I started training Oct. 2009 and was put on my first case in January. I have been working on that case ever since. My girl that I work with has gone through so much in the past year. Her and her family have moved, she has been to multiple foster homes, multiple schools, she has been in and out of detention facilities, she has gotten new DCFS case workers, but I have always been there. One thing that has been constant in her crazy life. I wasn't sure I wanted to keep doing it after a few things happened but I stayed because I knew my girl would need me. Being a CASA isn't instantly gratifying, it took months for my girl to warm up to me, but I kept going and kept doing new things. We could go to the mall, get lunch, we went to color me mine, cabela's, we made feather headbands and bracelets, and we would just sit and talk.  I have a jar of questions that we asked back and forth and that is when I really saw her for the first time, we laughed and had a great time, and there was this amazing girl in there. And I wouldn't trade moments like that. Those are the rewards. Today I had one of those rewards. I went and visited her. I made her a journal and glued quotes that I love to the pages. We sat on the lawn and talked about her goals and what she wanted, little tears splashed on her cheek when she talked about what she needed to do to change her situation. With being a CASA I get to go to court and the judge sometimes asks me what I think about the case and what should change. I have gone to family team meetings. It has been really great and I have learned so much about court and foster care and DCFS.
So find something that interests you and do it. Stick to it. Every one can volunteer one hour out of their week and help another person in a significant way.

And keep in mind, if you can find an excuse today you can always find an excuse tomorrow.

My thoughts on how to get the girl...that girl being me...ha ha ha

Ok I know this sounds lame, but I have been thinking a lot about this. What does a guy have to do to get my attention? What will "sweep me off my feet"? or really any girl for that matter. So here are a few things I have been thinking about.

Be the Man.
Or more exactly be the Gentleman.

I am just going to throw this out there because it does matter, Dress your age, in clean clothes that are not wrinkled.

Don't be afraid to show the girl that you actually like her and find her attractive. So those that know me know that I can not flirt...first. I do not know how to initiate flirting. I am pretty much retarded that way. But if a dudes starts flirting with me I can keep it going, at least for a little while. Also along that same line, give her compliments. Lots of them. Let her know that you think she is pretty and what you like, that her eyes sparkle or whatever. The best compliments I have ever gotten was from this amazing guy that was/is my best friends younger sisters boyfriend. He always noticed the little things. He is really good at making you feel special and I am so happy that he is with the girl he is with. They are amazing together. But he would say things like, I don't know how you get your hair to look like that, it is beautiful. Or your shirt color is so perfect for you, it makes your skin glow. Or just the simple, you are so beautiful. It will make a girl fall in love with you for that second.
Also don't be afraid of eye contact or touch. Take the small of her back and lead her. Or move her hair behind her ear. But be smooth about it and don't make it awkward.

Be yourself and be comfortable.

Be honest and don't play games. If you want to see her then make it happen. If you like her then tell her. If you want to hold her hand then ask her. If you don't then tell her. If you want to have a relationship with a girl then you have to make it happen. It is like anything in life, if you want it then you have to work for it and make it happen. Communication is the key. Be on the same page, if you don't know what she wants or what she is thinking then ask her.

Don't be afraid to be a little spontaneous. Have fun and laugh! Do something crazy. Don't act crazy, just be yourself.

The number one thing that I love in guys is confidence. If a guy is confident I usually notice. Not over confident and cocky, that is horrible. But if he is not afraid and he can capture a room with charisma then I am hooked.

So if you are a dude and are reading this, please feel free to follow the advice given and go for that girl you have had your eye on. Just do it; what is holding you back? Just my thoughts :)

Venting about my insecurities...read at your own risk

I went to one of my wonderful amazing friends wedding receptions today. I love her so much. We have been friends since high school, so a lot of people I went to high school with were there. I really did not like high school, I always felt like an outsider. I am really insecure and shy...around certain people, I guess. It was just so weird. I mean I was never a "cool" person in school. I did the plays. But I was never anything big and it is not like I stood out as a star, because I really wasn't that good. I just hung out with the theater people, and even with then I was on the outside, never feeling like I fit in.
But at the wedding these people were kind and all that, but I felt all of these feeling from high school come rushing back and taking me over. I couldn't talk to these people, I am so not cool enough. I felt awkward and uncomfortable...I mean what do I say to these ultra "cool" group of people who have all stayed in touch over the years and were all great friends. That are married and have cool lives...So I sat there and listened to them...all of these insecurities whizzing around in my head...I am not good enough, I am not cool, or funny, smart, or pretty, or outgoing, or everything else......
I know I put up this bubble that encloses me and it is all from fear, but I haven't felt that for a long time. It was just weird. I feel awful and mad at myself...I am just going to eat my cream of wheat and go watch a movie...maybe Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind...or Nacho Libre....I just needed to vent my feelings and insecurities....

Tale of the Car(s)

SO here is the story...well first a story about my car. 


My car Suzi, is the best. She is orange and oh so much fun to drive. And I love her very much. But she has been getting fixed for the last 2 weeks. Sarah was borrowing her and she was in Salt Lake with a friend when they  heard Suzi making a funny noise and the check engine light came on. They pulled off the freeway to a gas station and popped the hood, and there were Suzi's innards all over! One of her belts broke taking with it a lot of the wiring, power steering and other things. So she got towed to the south towne auto mall to get fixed....so we have been with out her. Then Isaac took the black car to Price with him to go to school...so that left us the truck, The Van, and my mom's new car. And 4 drivers that all needed to get to work...well my mom walked to work, she was just going to Barratt. 
So on monday I was going to FHE, like I do every monday, in the truck. The truck is a small gray mazda . I got there early to set up chairs but sadly I forgot the keys to the church at home. So I dropped Sarah off and was going to go home to get the keys. As I pulled out of the far end of the parking lot I saw the Bishop pull into the other end. So no more need for the keys. I then pulled off the road and put my blinker on to flip around. I look and look and look again. And started to flip around to go to FHE. Sadly I didn't see a cute little blue car. And they hit right into me...I checked to see if they were ok and they were. I pull off the road and got out. Went around the car twice to see where they had hit me. The police were called and so was my father. I then ran over to the church, which I was practically in the parking lot of, to get someone to conduct for me. So all of the usual stuff happened when things like this happen. 
However, the poor truck was more damaged than you could see. The axle was bent. So it had to be taken in to be fixed. And here is the kicker...I got home that night and looked in my purse and the keys to the church where there...Sigh. I was very, very mad. 
So that put us down to two cars. The new one and The Van. So I have been driving The Van for the last couple of days. It has been rockin'. 
But today I got Suzi back! I am very happy but she cost so so so so so so so, so many so's, much to fix. I am now looking for a second part-time job to pay for her. If you know of anything please let me know! 


PS...on a side note about Mockingjay, I read this review today and it made me laugh. 
"The only un-redeemable quality about the novel is the obvious rush of the ending. The last forty pages were such a blur that even I had to reread to make sense of it all. Upon finishing the ending, tears blurred my vision, as I cast the book into a wall. For some readers, the ending may disappoint the reader for it was contradicting to the entire trilogy’s purpose."


You can find the whole thing here....http://my.hsj.org/Schools/Newspaper/tabid/100/view/frontpage/articleid/369069/newspaperid/3964/Mockingjay_a_Mockery.aspx

Pageant Pictures..Finally :)

Here are some pictures from the Miss AF Pageant~ 

If you click on the pictures they get bigger :)

Doing a little yoga before....

Getting my pretty on...

Production number..."dancing" in 4 inch stilettos

Cassidy and Dani love them

Work it

Chelsi

Dani

Crotch shot...

Swimsuit and heels....I kinda look tallish

Cassidy

Lauren

Talent...Chelsi singing Feeling Good by Muse

Danielle singing Shy from Once upon a Mattress

Wow I have a huge mouth...

Happy

Angry

Cassidy singing On my Own from Les Mis

Lauren singing Don't Rain on my Parade from Funny Girl

On Stage question...what I was MOST worried about...I didn't care if I looked dumb...But I really cared if I sounded dumb...and I did. If you were president was is the first thing you would change...Mmmm....

Lovely Evening Wear

I had the cutest little miss in the whole world!

The cute little miss teens...Cami, Chole, Lex, Tessie, Steph

Miss Photogenic...ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

Oh so very cute! Lexie, adore adore adore her!

Love my Poppy! 

Squash face

Bestie Bud. Love him. 

Catching Fire Cast, Panam Map, and Mockingjay Cast

District 1 Tributes

Cashmere

Juno Temple 

Gloss 

Chad Micheal Murry 

District 2 Tributes 

Brutus

Benicio Del Toro

Enobaria

Maggie Q. 

District 3 Tributes 

Beetee

Andy Serkis 

Wiress

Emma Thompson

District 4 Tributes 

Finnick Odair

Jude Law

Mags

Gloria Stuart 

Annie

Emily Browning 

District 6 Tributes

The morphlings 

Macaulay Culkin

Winona Ryder

District 7 Tributes

Johanna Mason

Demi Moore 

District 8 Tributes 

Cecelia 

Rosamund Pike

Woof 

Ian Holm 

District 11 Tributes 

Seeder 

Zoe Saldana 

Chaff 

Denzel Washington 

The Prep Team 
None of the people I picked for these three are actors, but they are the epitome of Capitol people

Venia, 

Betsey Johnson

 Octavia, 

Katy Perry

and Flavius

Johnny Weir 

Bonnie 

Saoirse Ronan 


Twill 

Katherine Zeta Jones

Darius

Damian Lewis 

Plutarch Heavensbee

Timothy Spall 


And of course the main characters from the 1st book, you can look at them HERE. From my last blog post. 

So reading the Books and knowing it is set in North America I had to draw up a map of where I thought the 13 Districts were. So this is what I think and why I put them there. 

District 1 is one of the wealthier districts of Panem and is known for luxury items so why not put it in one of  luxury part of the united states, southern California and Las Vegas.

We find out a lot about District 2 in Mockingjay. It is close to the Capital and is in a mountainous area. 

District 3's main industry is electronics so put it where they could have factories. 

District 4 are fishers. So if course the gulf of Mexico. 

District 5. We know nothing about District 5. So I just put it where ever. 

District 6. Again we know nothing. So it is where I want it. 

And I was also thinking the Capitol would want to put the districts that don't produce the really important things in a place further away from them and in harsh not ideal places. 

District 7 is known for lumber, so I thought where are there a lot of trees and I thought of Washington State. 

District 8 is known for textiles and with that cotton. So I put it where you could grow cotton. 

District 9. Nothing. So just put where on one was. 

District 10 Livestock. What better place then Montana, North and South Dakota? 

District 11 provides food for pretty much everyone, well mostly the Capitol, so they had to be huge and cover all the places where you could grow fruits, grains and veggies. 

District 12 we know is in the Application Mountains and is known for coal mining, so I put it in Virginia area. 

District 13. We know you have to go "through" 12 to get to 13 so naturally it is above 12 in the New England area.  

The Capitol it is in the Rockies. That is really all that is said about it. So the Capitol is in Colorado. 

Ok if you have not read Mockingjay you should probably stop here. I am going to introduce some new characters. 

SPOILER ALERT**SPOILER ALERT**SPOILER ALERT**SPOILER ALERT**SPOILER ALERT 

Pres. Coin 

Sigourney Weaver 




Fulvia

Jessica Biel 




Cressida

Eva Mendes 


******Messella******

Jay Tavare

Pollux (insect 1) Avox and his brother Castor (insect 2)

 Liam and Chris Hemsworth

Boggs

Will Smith 




Delly 

Christian Serratos 




Jackson 

Charlize Theron 

Leeg1 and Leeg2

Jena Malone 




Tigris 

Lisa Rinna 






President Paylor 

Natalie Portman 

I know I am super obsessed. But now that the books are done and this post is done...you won't hear too much from me about it. Well until they come out with the movies. 


So let me know what you think. Who did you picture? 


And some thoughts on Mockingjay. I was a bit disappointed. I mean it was a great thrilling story, but it was too much from Katniss's point of view and she was knocked out way to much to understand what was going on. I was mad at the deaths of Finnick and Prim. WHY, WHY, WHY? The ending was too sudden, there was not enough of a sense of healing. Peeta..sigh...what can I say about the whole Peeta story line? It was crazy and a good twist, but he needed to twist back more...fight harder, something. I so wanted to hear them exchange more, I wanted to hear the line "Stay with me" "Always" line at the end, I wanted Peeta to see the propo where Katniss talked about the bread. I wanted more of the "boy with the bread".  It just ended so sudden...and with Katniss being dormant and catatonic again...I was not a huge fan of that. 
So I mostly liked it, tons of action and great story, but it fell flat.