Thankfuls

Picking up again on my alphabet "I Am Thankful For" things. So since it is November, the month of Thanksgiving (the holiday because every month really should be a month of thanksgiving) I decided to pick up where I left off and then finish out the month! YAY! Now I have something to blog about instead of sitting here watching my cursor blink while my brain goes blank. So here goes:

November 1st- "O"

"O" is for Optimists. Sometimes it is hard to remember the positive side of life. I'm really grateful for the people in my life who can kick my booty every now and then simply by smiling and saying, "You know, it's raining today but isn't it so beautiful?!" I lose sight of the positive side of life sometimes but those people, they know who they are, help me to realize that life isn't always so bad.

November 2nd- "P" 

"P" is for Patience. No, I am not exactly grateful for the process of waiting for something that I'd really like to have but I've been in a situation lately that has made me be able to see things a little more clearly. I've been able to look back on past experiences and realize that the things the Lord has made me wait for have been the things that I love and appreciate more. It's interesting to realize. Interesting and humbling. Patience is a good thing no matter how I try to fight it. 

November 3rd- "Q"

"Q" is for Questions. Obnoxious? Sometimes. Necessary? Absolutely. Can you imagine what life would be like walking around like a mindless drone? Um, no. You see, I am the kind of person who likes to know the "why". Why am I doing this? What is the purpose? If I do this, what will be the outcome? I am a planner and I think about things. I like to know what is going on basically at all times. Now, I do like surprises, I do but if it is something I can control or a personal decision, believe you me, I'll take the reigns. I am too afraid to let anybody else (but me and the Lord) dictate my life. 

Crazy, Stupid, Love II

I think I've already posted a blog titled "Crazy, Stupid, Love" and yes, I am pulling from the title of that massively awkward/delightful film that just came out this past summer. It's late and I should be in bed but I just got back from seeing that movie and I just wanted to post this:

"...When you find the one, you never give up..."

Don't. Give. Up. 

Bend As Far As You Have To, Just Don't Break.

In the words of my Father, "Just don't break. If you break the world will have to deal with TWO OF YOU!!!" No worries my dear friends, I will not break. Not only for my sanity but for yours as well.

Life lately has been a roller coaster. Being tired for two weeks straight and not feeling like I'm doing anything right has taken such a toll on me. I have been going and going and going, trying to keep up with my social life, trying to stay on top of homework, trying to be a patient roommate, trying to be a grateful daughter, trying to get enough sleep, trying to keep my body from falling apart, trying to serve as much as I can...it takes its toll.

People often ask, "How are you?" When you respond, "Okay" they seem to go into I-must-fix-this-mode. I love all of my dear friends but to be honest, sometimes you just can't help me. Sometimes I just have to fix it myself...with the help of the Lord, of course.

Don't you worry about me! I'm not going to break. In fact, I'm so much stronger than that. The Lord is on my side. I just need to ride the wave for a bit. To calm your worried hearts, here are some picture of what I've been up to lately.

The Hundred Dresses:

Please note: I am smiling in all of those pictures!!!

Musical Love :)

I'm obsessed with these songs right now. It's just plain FABULOUS!

I LOVE THESE SONGS!!

Pinterest, New Hair and 100 Dresses

This semester has been absolutely BONKERS and it's only week 3! This is fine though. I actually like that I always have something to be doing and that most of the time it has to do with my major, which is (drum roll please) STAGE MANAGEMENT! Hooray! I love it. I get to be in the Theatre 18+ hours a week and the show that I'm on the production team for is the BYU traveling troupe: Young Company. This semester we are producing The Hundred Dresses based on the book by Eleanor Estes. It is simply adorable. Everyone should go see it.

I've discovered that on one version of the Meyers-Briggs test I am a 50/50 split blue and orange which explains SO MUCH. Ridiculous I tell you. I'd explain but it would take too long. Just know that I learned a whole heck of a lot about myself. It was cool.

Now, what is Pinterest, you ask? Well! It's this fabulous little website where you can type in anything you want (just about) and you will find pictures, tutorials, how-to's, ideas, websites and other such shenanigans. I am OBSESSED! I love all the cute and easy DIY crafts I've found and can't wait to do them. ALL of them! And I've found super easy recipes that I am SUPER pumped to start making. Pinterest is fabulous and I love it.

Today I got a hair cut and dyed my hair. Nothing drastic though, I just got more shape added and I did a DIY at home hair dye job. It's still red. :) (Don't worry, Alisa!) I'm in love with the polished look and once I get a moment I will get some pics up.

Speaking of pics my roommates and I are having our annual roomie pics taken tomorrow so that will be my "BIG" post of the week possibly next week! I'm so excited. We found a good spot and our photographer is a good friend of mine and I'm so excited for her to take the pics!!

A Promise

I have promised myself that by the end of the week I will have a new blog post. (A real one, not a fake on announcing that I will have a new post soon.) It'll be big and fun. There's lots to write about!

American Heritage

I'm not going to lie to you and tell you that I enjoy reading about the Founding Fathers' struggle with creating an effective government or writing a constitution. I'm grateful for their sacrifices, knowing they were great and had more than just a "positive effect" on the United States and I'm grateful that I have the opportunity to live in a Nation where freedom of speech, press and religion are among other things at my disposal. However, I am NOT and I repeat NOT happy that I am forced to take a class that hides under the guise of "American Heritage" when it's proper and more correct title should be "American Politics and Why Most People Hate Learning About History." When a reading packet costs more than the textbook for a class, you know you're in trouble. Now, don't get me wrong I've enjoyed the readings so far, I really, honest to goodness, have! BUT I am struggling to see where the parallel between the readings and the lectures lies. I have to write an essay about any opinion I have on the subject of any of the following subjects.

1. Government action invariably means a loss of individual liberty.

2. When designing a government (or writing a constitution), you should never make

optimistic assumptions about human nature.

3. An individual can achieve the greatest freedom only when bound to a community.

4. Inequality is a natural condition of human society, not a reason for government

intervention.

But, of course, I can't write an essay on my true and honest opinion. I DON'T CARE! I really don't and I know that that is a sad position but I hate political arguments because no matter what, no one will ever be right! I mean, I don't like to be wrong but why in the heck would I write a paper on something that I can't prove to be right! EVER! Someone will always prove me wrong and in this ever changing world even when something is factually "right" it won't be for more than a week. (At least that is my experience with politics...Carl is probably dying right now, Alisa, make sure he doesn't get too worked up about this. ;)) I don't like debating opinion. I think it's stupid and pointless because you can't prove that one opinion is right and one is wrong (hence the definition of "opinion") in my mind it's just an excuse to argue and I think that that breeds contention and according to 3 Nephi 11:29, "...contention is not of me (God) but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another." So forgive me if I chose not to contend.