Wow. This is post is so over-due. Well any post is over-due. Since the last time I posted was in July? Wow. (So Linds, I am finally posting for you). I thought I would do a likes and dislikes of college post. Since I think the likes and dislikes of growing up are made very clear.
Likes:
-Experimenting with cooking and eating it even when it doesn't work out
-Meeting the most awkward people ever in my life
-Taking naps everyday
-Attending Silent Sacrament Meetings
-Going Home to see the family
-Getting suprise visits from best friends
-Driving over two hours to see best friends
-Having so much free time that my roommates and I start trying on each other jeans and realizing we fit into them...weird
-Feeling Intelligent and productive after spending hours at the library
-Having late night talks with Brooke
-Laughing about nothing important for hours with the roommates
-Discovering who I am when I am thrown into unexpected situations
-Playing pranks on boys in our buildings
-Moving all of our mattresses in our living room for a big slumber
-Hearing the peace and quiet on Saturday mornings
Dislikes:
-Fighting with the roommates
-Being homesick everyday
-Missing your best friends who are at different colleges or in different states
-Studying so hard for a test and not doing well
-Never getting enough sleep
-Feeling tested and tried in every aspect of my life
-Discovering who I am when I am thrown into unexpected situations
-Being suprised with an unexpected cry face for no reason
-Having no "escapse" because someone is always where you are
-Spending all day everyday with the same people
-listening to Buble's song called Home
-Watching videos or looking at pictures of best friends and realizing why they are your best friends
-Writing letters to missionary friends who I probably won't be able to just "hang out" with ever again
-Spending all day everyday working towards nothing that is permanent
- Not being with my mom when I get sick
-Finding myself sad for no apparant reason
-Having to cook in order to survive- even when I don't feel like it
That is all of the likes and dislikes I can think of right now. I will probably add some more later on. Man, I miss blogging.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Man, I struggle.
Two weeks since I last blogged. Geez. Trying to remember what we did was a joke. Since I took so long, its not going to be elaborate stories, just simply a description of what we did.
Sunday July 6th - church.
Monday July 7th - Shopped at TJ Maxx and looked for Salad Works (Never found it).
Tuesday July 8th Happy Birthday to me! Got five hours of sleep since I was up til three and woke up at eight. geez. Went to Sa Sa for lunch(chinese and japanese). I ate sweet and sour chicken - made me really sick since I hadn't something that artificial forever. Went shopping at the Kind of
Prussia Mall. HUGE! love that mall. For dinner we ate a jack apple salad for dinner. YUM! my favorite. Since I love movies, we watched vantage point. SUCH A GOOD SHOW. Highly recommend it. Went to Friendly's for an intermission -ordered a chocolate goodness. Came back and watched fool's gold.
Wednesday July 9th Went to the hot tub. It burned us. But we sat in it anyway.
Thursday July 10th Drove to the Franklin Mint - apparantly something happened to it, because it was completely deserted. hilarious. Realized what we were looking for was actually at the Franklin Institute. It was awesome. A museum in honor of Benjamin Franklin. currently holding the only authenticated pirate ship ever. It also was awesome.
Friday July 11th Went to the Phillies game. Twelve Innings long. Thought I was going to die. I can handle about seven. But there were fireworks after and we missed them on the 4th. And I watched this girl in front of me who did not smile the entire game. I am going to make an effort to smile more than I stare or frown. :)
Saturday July 12th Went to New York. Saw Mary Poppins. Changed my life. Truly moving and unforgettable. Shopped at Canal Street. Saw all of the smuggled knock off purses. Definately worth the entire trip. and ate yummy pizza at a place I do not remember the name of.
Sunday July 13th church. watched premonition and 27 dresses
Monday July 14th Ate a ritas and went craft shopping
Tuesday July 15th made crafts for camp, watch the perfect man, traded the car,and ate at applebee's
Wednesday July 16th Did Camp activities with the girls.
Thursday July 17th Watched Batman Begins, and had an extrememly nice dinner for free at the General Warren Inn. My meal alone was over a hundred dollars. I felt kind of out of place, but still loved every minute of it.
Friday July 18th Saw Batman: The Dark Night - LOVED IT! and Drove to Palmyra and watched head over heels, if you haven't seen it I demand that you do :) it is so so good. went to dinner at Champps - yumm.
Saturday July 19th Saw the church Sites and Hill Cumorah Pagaent. wow. mom. wom. mow. Ask me about it if you want to know more.
Sunday July 20th Drove home from Palmyra. la la la.
Sunday July 6th - church.
Monday July 7th - Shopped at TJ Maxx and looked for Salad Works (Never found it).
Tuesday July 8th Happy Birthday to me! Got five hours of sleep since I was up til three and woke up at eight. geez. Went to Sa Sa for lunch(chinese and japanese). I ate sweet and sour chicken - made me really sick since I hadn't something that artificial forever. Went shopping at the Kind of
Prussia Mall. HUGE! love that mall. For dinner we ate a jack apple salad for dinner. YUM! my favorite. Since I love movies, we watched vantage point. SUCH A GOOD SHOW. Highly recommend it. Went to Friendly's for an intermission -ordered a chocolate goodness. Came back and watched fool's gold.
Wednesday July 9th Went to the hot tub. It burned us. But we sat in it anyway.
Thursday July 10th Drove to the Franklin Mint - apparantly something happened to it, because it was completely deserted. hilarious. Realized what we were looking for was actually at the Franklin Institute. It was awesome. A museum in honor of Benjamin Franklin. currently holding the only authenticated pirate ship ever. It also was awesome.
Friday July 11th Went to the Phillies game. Twelve Innings long. Thought I was going to die. I can handle about seven. But there were fireworks after and we missed them on the 4th. And I watched this girl in front of me who did not smile the entire game. I am going to make an effort to smile more than I stare or frown. :)
Saturday July 12th Went to New York. Saw Mary Poppins. Changed my life. Truly moving and unforgettable. Shopped at Canal Street. Saw all of the smuggled knock off purses. Definately worth the entire trip. and ate yummy pizza at a place I do not remember the name of.
Sunday July 13th church. watched premonition and 27 dresses
Monday July 14th Ate a ritas and went craft shopping
Tuesday July 15th made crafts for camp, watch the perfect man, traded the car,and ate at applebee's
Wednesday July 16th Did Camp activities with the girls.
Thursday July 17th Watched Batman Begins, and had an extrememly nice dinner for free at the General Warren Inn. My meal alone was over a hundred dollars. I felt kind of out of place, but still loved every minute of it.
Friday July 18th Saw Batman: The Dark Night - LOVED IT! and Drove to Palmyra and watched head over heels, if you haven't seen it I demand that you do :) it is so so good. went to dinner at Champps - yumm.
Saturday July 19th Saw the church Sites and Hill Cumorah Pagaent. wow. mom. wom. mow. Ask me about it if you want to know more.
Sunday July 20th Drove home from Palmyra. la la la.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Saturday July 5th
The only things that are noteworthy of friday:
-Going to QVC and buying kitchen utensils for college :) they are orange. And they were cheap.
-Playing swinging games with my parents. My Mom was an olympic swinger. She did crazy games! Running, jumping, twisting with other swingers. We all walked away with bruises. More importantly we laughed about it. The bruises didn't hurt so bad anyway.
-The park where the swings were located. Wow. Mom. Wom. Mow. It was a true testimony of our Heavenly Father. I am frustrated as no picture could capture what I saw and now words can explain the enrapturing trees. I'm sure I will attend this park again while I'm out here. Hopefull by the end of the trip I will be able to describe it.
My mom keeps talking to people from home who just keep asking, what are you and abbey doing out there? We thought you'd be home by now. How do you keep yourselves busy throughout the days? Hahahaha. Apparantly they don't know madre and I very well. It is hilarious to us. Seeing as we haven't experienced boredem once we've been out here. Bored? Definition? Anyone? Hilarious.
-Going to QVC and buying kitchen utensils for college :) they are orange. And they were cheap.
-Playing swinging games with my parents. My Mom was an olympic swinger. She did crazy games! Running, jumping, twisting with other swingers. We all walked away with bruises. More importantly we laughed about it. The bruises didn't hurt so bad anyway.
-The park where the swings were located. Wow. Mom. Wom. Mow. It was a true testimony of our Heavenly Father. I am frustrated as no picture could capture what I saw and now words can explain the enrapturing trees. I'm sure I will attend this park again while I'm out here. Hopefull by the end of the trip I will be able to describe it.
My mom keeps talking to people from home who just keep asking, what are you and abbey doing out there? We thought you'd be home by now. How do you keep yourselves busy throughout the days? Hahahaha. Apparantly they don't know madre and I very well. It is hilarious to us. Seeing as we haven't experienced boredem once we've been out here. Bored? Definition? Anyone? Hilarious.
Happy Fourth of July!
Declaration of Independence. Liberty Bell. Graff House. Thomas Jefferson. Independence Hall (Pennsylvania State House). I love America.
Thomas Jefferson drafted the declaration in Thomas Graff's house. Liberty Bell has been a symbol of freedom since it was built by John Pass and John Stow. Pennsylvania State Hosue was the court of Pennsylvania State. (der der der). It was nicknamed Independence Hall after the Declaration of Independence was signed there August 2nd 1776. (It was adopted on the 4th of July).
I love history. Thomas Jefferson is so amazing. And I love John Locke - he's a genius.
In a spiritual light, how our Heavenly Father must have prepared the men that wrote, corrected, and signed the Declaration of Independence. Obviously it was necessary so that we, people living in this day and age, could worship how they pleased. Yay. How the words of our Lord were written into the declaration. Especially inthe paragraph that prohibited slavery - it was taken out when the colonies met in the Pennsylvania State House to alter Jefferson's draft. Jefferson was in pain when the entire paragraph was omitted.
In Murray, we usually get up super early to go to the parade. Then come home take a nap. Go see a movie. And conclude the night with awesome fireworks.
The parade in Philadelphia was uh interesting. It made Murray's parade look phenomenal. There were probably ten groups. And each group would stop in front of us for what seemed like eternity. Lets see the parade lasted two hours, ten groups that would be about twenty minutes for each group. Boring. Ridiculous. Like I said,we were all missing Murray's parade.
Watched a concert. John Legend and bunch of other bands. For some reason, the only thing I really remember is trying to stay perfectly under both umbrellas so that I didn't get soaked by rain. Somehow, I still managed to become incredibly wet. We left before the fireworks due to being so wet. We heard they weren't anything too spectualer anyway.
Oh an I experienced the nicest port-a-potty. ever. Marble walls, ceilings, and floors. Two sinks, four toilets. No I'm not exaggerating. It was insane!
It was an awesome fourth of July. Interesting. But awesome still.
Thomas Jefferson drafted the declaration in Thomas Graff's house. Liberty Bell has been a symbol of freedom since it was built by John Pass and John Stow. Pennsylvania State Hosue was the court of Pennsylvania State. (der der der). It was nicknamed Independence Hall after the Declaration of Independence was signed there August 2nd 1776. (It was adopted on the 4th of July).
I love history. Thomas Jefferson is so amazing. And I love John Locke - he's a genius.
In a spiritual light, how our Heavenly Father must have prepared the men that wrote, corrected, and signed the Declaration of Independence. Obviously it was necessary so that we, people living in this day and age, could worship how they pleased. Yay. How the words of our Lord were written into the declaration. Especially inthe paragraph that prohibited slavery - it was taken out when the colonies met in the Pennsylvania State House to alter Jefferson's draft. Jefferson was in pain when the entire paragraph was omitted.
In Murray, we usually get up super early to go to the parade. Then come home take a nap. Go see a movie. And conclude the night with awesome fireworks.
The parade in Philadelphia was uh interesting. It made Murray's parade look phenomenal. There were probably ten groups. And each group would stop in front of us for what seemed like eternity. Lets see the parade lasted two hours, ten groups that would be about twenty minutes for each group. Boring. Ridiculous. Like I said,we were all missing Murray's parade.
Watched a concert. John Legend and bunch of other bands. For some reason, the only thing I really remember is trying to stay perfectly under both umbrellas so that I didn't get soaked by rain. Somehow, I still managed to become incredibly wet. We left before the fireworks due to being so wet. We heard they weren't anything too spectualer anyway.
Oh an I experienced the nicest port-a-potty. ever. Marble walls, ceilings, and floors. Two sinks, four toilets. No I'm not exaggerating. It was insane!
It was an awesome fourth of July. Interesting. But awesome still.
Thursday July 3rd
I think I need to mention an adjective that explains this trip. Relaxing. The highlight of Thursday was something that has not happened in ages:an hour nap on a weekday in the middle of the afternoon. I almost feel like a bum. Don't have a job, and taking naps in the middle of the day. What in the? It was a.m.a.z.i.n.g. This will probably be the last chance I have to do all of this - so I'm sipping it slow.
Oh. that was very busy though. We went to my uncle's and my aunt made us dinner. It was an insanely packed day! :) haha.
Oh. that was very busy though. We went to my uncle's and my aunt made us dinner. It was an insanely packed day! :) haha.
Wednesday July 2nd
During the day. Madre and I worked out, went swimming. Made yummy tuna fish sandwhiches. Pretty average day. We went to the "socializer" at the hotel. (basically they feed you - but they can't call it "dinner" because one night next week is mozzorella sticks). I had THE BEST veggie burger I have ever eaten. yummmm! and we made friends with the cook. I don't know his name - but i will find out. He has the happiest spirit. I love it. He gave us wings the night before - even though we told him several times we didn't want any. He's funny. I think we're gonna go have burgers again next wednesday (its a weekly thing).
Went and saw Get Smart with Daddy when he got home. Then we had a gelati from Rita's. I don't know if I have explained this in a previous blog. But it is a frozen custard with water ice. Water ice is what the east side of the U.S. calls snowies. :) Layer of frozen custard, layer of water ice, and layer of frozen custard = layers of goodness. This is the first time I've tried frozen custar - heavenly. I LOVE IT! basically crave it on a regular basis.
That concludes another day away from home.
Went and saw Get Smart with Daddy when he got home. Then we had a gelati from Rita's. I don't know if I have explained this in a previous blog. But it is a frozen custard with water ice. Water ice is what the east side of the U.S. calls snowies. :) Layer of frozen custard, layer of water ice, and layer of frozen custard = layers of goodness. This is the first time I've tried frozen custar - heavenly. I LOVE IT! basically crave it on a regular basis.
That concludes another day away from home.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Tuesday July 1 (again)
Went to Whole Foods Market with my madre. It was the most calming experience of the whole trip. Familiarity. It was relaxing and such an adventure. We wandered around and debated on which kind of healthy ground turkey we wanted to purchase. Fun :) We experienced something new by purchasing gooseberries for the trying (they taste like little kiwis. yum)
Finally unpacked today. YAY! HAPPINESS FOR EVERYONE! SMILES ALL AROUND! i'm a nerd. It was also another great feeling. (Linds, i'm the most like you that i've ever been. I was obsessive compulsive about where everything went. each earring has a right and wrong place. :) thought you would appreciate). Literally everything has a place. Including pictures of friends - like ellen's grad picture and quote she left on my car one day when i desperately needed it "Angels fly because they take themselves lightly" Right next to my smiling picture of Jesus. That is the most amazing picture to wake up to.
This has became somewhat of a journal. a daily journal. A scripture study that I'll always remember.
Preach my gospel.
Chapter 6: faith, humility, charity and love.
Moroni 7:45 Charity rejoiceth not in iniquity.The times I have lacked charity by thinking sin brings joy. Charity suffereth long. The times when I think "I'm too tired, too frustrated, too fed up to be nice. I've been nice for a really long time. It's okay if I speak my mind to this one person." Charity seeketh not her own. For the moments I think I know better. That is just plain stupidity. Later I'll refer to Paul teachings in 1 Corithinians - he can explain the depth of this stupidity. Charity thinketh no evil. Unworthy thoughts are sin. And we must repent for them. Virtue is a huge part of achieving this aspect of charity. Charity beareth all things. When people and friends are burdened, we help them bear those burdens because charity beareth ALL things.
1 Corinthians 13 Charity is not easily provoked. For all the times I have gotten so stirred up about the littlest things. Charity never faileth. Paul talks about how we only know in part and prophesy in part. We can't fully comprehend the depth of the pure love of Christ. We are like children. Someday we will understand like adults and will dismiss our childish "things."
Bible Dictionary Charity is the highest, noblest, strongest kind of love. Wow. If you are going to love, why love with anything less than the best?
1 Corithians 8:1 We all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, charity edifieth. Mosiah 3:19 The Natural man is an enemy to God. Since we all have knowledge and knowledge easily builds pride - it is natural for man to lean pride. We all must work harder to achieve charity and humility.
1 Nephi 19:9
Christ was scourged, and he suffereth it. Christ was spit upon, and he suffereth it. Christ was smitten and he suffereth it. He suffereth because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men. I ALWAYS think "this person wronged me, they deserve to be punished or I deserve something from them" WOW. STOP! bad news. Christ was very wronged. And he returned beatings and hatred with charity.
Thus concludes my scripture study for the night. I've always heard that best sciprute study is when you ask lots of questions and yearn to learn as much as possible from the words on the page. That describes my study for tonight. When you feast and can't get enough.
Finally unpacked today. YAY! HAPPINESS FOR EVERYONE! SMILES ALL AROUND! i'm a nerd. It was also another great feeling. (Linds, i'm the most like you that i've ever been. I was obsessive compulsive about where everything went. each earring has a right and wrong place. :) thought you would appreciate). Literally everything has a place. Including pictures of friends - like ellen's grad picture and quote she left on my car one day when i desperately needed it "Angels fly because they take themselves lightly" Right next to my smiling picture of Jesus. That is the most amazing picture to wake up to.
This has became somewhat of a journal. a daily journal. A scripture study that I'll always remember.
Preach my gospel.
Chapter 6: faith, humility, charity and love.
Moroni 7:45 Charity rejoiceth not in iniquity.The times I have lacked charity by thinking sin brings joy. Charity suffereth long. The times when I think "I'm too tired, too frustrated, too fed up to be nice. I've been nice for a really long time. It's okay if I speak my mind to this one person." Charity seeketh not her own. For the moments I think I know better. That is just plain stupidity. Later I'll refer to Paul teachings in 1 Corithinians - he can explain the depth of this stupidity. Charity thinketh no evil. Unworthy thoughts are sin. And we must repent for them. Virtue is a huge part of achieving this aspect of charity. Charity beareth all things. When people and friends are burdened, we help them bear those burdens because charity beareth ALL things.
1 Corinthians 13 Charity is not easily provoked. For all the times I have gotten so stirred up about the littlest things. Charity never faileth. Paul talks about how we only know in part and prophesy in part. We can't fully comprehend the depth of the pure love of Christ. We are like children. Someday we will understand like adults and will dismiss our childish "things."
Bible Dictionary Charity is the highest, noblest, strongest kind of love. Wow. If you are going to love, why love with anything less than the best?
1 Corithians 8:1 We all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, charity edifieth. Mosiah 3:19 The Natural man is an enemy to God. Since we all have knowledge and knowledge easily builds pride - it is natural for man to lean pride. We all must work harder to achieve charity and humility.
1 Nephi 19:9
Christ was scourged, and he suffereth it. Christ was spit upon, and he suffereth it. Christ was smitten and he suffereth it. He suffereth because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men. I ALWAYS think "this person wronged me, they deserve to be punished or I deserve something from them" WOW. STOP! bad news. Christ was very wronged. And he returned beatings and hatred with charity.
Thus concludes my scripture study for the night. I've always heard that best sciprute study is when you ask lots of questions and yearn to learn as much as possible from the words on the page. That describes my study for tonight. When you feast and can't get enough.
Tuesday July 1
Its only 10:38 and I have learned some great lessons this morning.
Rachel Ray.
Has some qualities I wish to emulate.
Gossip. She had four girls on a "gossip diet" They couldn't comment about anything about anyone. Whether it was good or bad.
Harriet Gale, her guest, said that Gossip is negative. To comment about someone in a positive manner is great. Spread the news about a funny story! A good test for gossip is to ask yourself these four question:
Is it true?
Is it kind?
Is it timely?
Is it necessary?
If you can answer yes to all four questions - then talk away.
I'm starting the gossip diet today- however it will probably be really easy since I am so far away from my everyday life style.
I also observed, again, that my mother is the most selfless and loving person I know. She is offering to help my uncle and aunt who haven't always been the most loving towards my madre. She is offering to help in everyway. I've always known my madre was the bomb.com but we're out here in a strange environment and she is still trying to serve in anyway possible.
Rachel Ray.
Has some qualities I wish to emulate.
Gossip. She had four girls on a "gossip diet" They couldn't comment about anything about anyone. Whether it was good or bad.
Harriet Gale, her guest, said that Gossip is negative. To comment about someone in a positive manner is great. Spread the news about a funny story! A good test for gossip is to ask yourself these four question:
Is it true?
Is it kind?
Is it timely?
Is it necessary?
If you can answer yes to all four questions - then talk away.
I'm starting the gossip diet today- however it will probably be really easy since I am so far away from my everyday life style.
I also observed, again, that my mother is the most selfless and loving person I know. She is offering to help my uncle and aunt who haven't always been the most loving towards my madre. She is offering to help in everyway. I've always known my madre was the bomb.com but we're out here in a strange environment and she is still trying to serve in anyway possible.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Ocean Waves and Our Savior
Saturday June 28
As an ocean waves dances onto the shore, there is movement in the sand. The wave carries sand as it washes up onto the shore. And as it descends off the beach, the wave carries sand back down again. This I call the cycle of waves and sand.
I stood watching the waves. Contemplating life in Pennsylvania. I'm exhausted. Tired from looking at the ground in New York to avoid bad images. Tired from being a face in the crowd. Tired from feeling so far away from those who mean the most to me. Tired from seeing more sin than righteousness. Tired from having to work a million times harder to feel the spirit of the Lord. Tired from feeling like an object to men as I walk to go eat lunch. Tired of seeing cross-dressers. Tired from being surrounded constantly by people drinking, people who just drank, people who are going to drink. Tired from having Satan working so hard to have me relinguish my testimony to him. Tired from being tired.
I stood watching the waves. Being tired yet still recognizing the wonder in the ocean made by our heavenly father. The song Beautiful to him came to mind.
So much noise. So much peace destroyed. I can hardly hear the voice, leading me through the noise. So much noise. The world's little eyes. Destruction in disguise. Oppurtunities to compromise. To make me beautiful in their eyes. I don't wanna buy the world's little eyes. I define myself and find my beauty in the light he gives. I'm refined by his divine intentions everday I live. It doesn't matter what the world believes. Or what they say that beauty means. It comes from within. I wanna be beautiful to him. I know how to shine. My life's not really mine. It's not about a worldy climb. It's all about his design. 'Cause in his eyes. I wanna shine.
By this time the cycle of waves and sand had occured so many times, I was left engulfed to my calves with sand. When I was embedded deep into the sand, it became easier to fight against the crashing waves.
Waves of temptation surround us each day. Sand particles of faith ground us to our savior. The more waves we withstand, the more grounded we become. So long as we resist the violent tug of the tempting waves, we will become more embedded in the sand of our faith. The more embedded in our faith we become, the more we will feel the savior's love. The more we feel his love, the more faith we have. The more faith we have the easier it is battle temptations. This I call the cycle of faith.
Firmly dismiss Satan to quickly welcome the Lord. All it takes is one wave. Destruction or Salvation?
I hope this makes sense. Some of the thoughts I had on the beach. Who could ask for a better friend than our heavenly father? He is always aware of me. He is always aware of you.
As an ocean waves dances onto the shore, there is movement in the sand. The wave carries sand as it washes up onto the shore. And as it descends off the beach, the wave carries sand back down again. This I call the cycle of waves and sand.
I stood watching the waves. Contemplating life in Pennsylvania. I'm exhausted. Tired from looking at the ground in New York to avoid bad images. Tired from being a face in the crowd. Tired from feeling so far away from those who mean the most to me. Tired from seeing more sin than righteousness. Tired from having to work a million times harder to feel the spirit of the Lord. Tired from feeling like an object to men as I walk to go eat lunch. Tired of seeing cross-dressers. Tired from being surrounded constantly by people drinking, people who just drank, people who are going to drink. Tired from having Satan working so hard to have me relinguish my testimony to him. Tired from being tired.
I stood watching the waves. Being tired yet still recognizing the wonder in the ocean made by our heavenly father. The song Beautiful to him came to mind.
So much noise. So much peace destroyed. I can hardly hear the voice, leading me through the noise. So much noise. The world's little eyes. Destruction in disguise. Oppurtunities to compromise. To make me beautiful in their eyes. I don't wanna buy the world's little eyes. I define myself and find my beauty in the light he gives. I'm refined by his divine intentions everday I live. It doesn't matter what the world believes. Or what they say that beauty means. It comes from within. I wanna be beautiful to him. I know how to shine. My life's not really mine. It's not about a worldy climb. It's all about his design. 'Cause in his eyes. I wanna shine.
By this time the cycle of waves and sand had occured so many times, I was left engulfed to my calves with sand. When I was embedded deep into the sand, it became easier to fight against the crashing waves.
Waves of temptation surround us each day. Sand particles of faith ground us to our savior. The more waves we withstand, the more grounded we become. So long as we resist the violent tug of the tempting waves, we will become more embedded in the sand of our faith. The more embedded in our faith we become, the more we will feel the savior's love. The more we feel his love, the more faith we have. The more faith we have the easier it is battle temptations. This I call the cycle of faith.
Firmly dismiss Satan to quickly welcome the Lord. All it takes is one wave. Destruction or Salvation?
I hope this makes sense. Some of the thoughts I had on the beach. Who could ask for a better friend than our heavenly father? He is always aware of me. He is always aware of you.
No wireless internet
Sorry to disappoint - this past week is being left off blogger. Since we had to stand on our heads and do the splits while juggling the laptops on our thighs in order to get internet connection at the driftwood hotel - I wasn't able to update as frequently. The details kind of slipped.
Sunday June 22nd
Went to church. Missed my ward. Loved my sunday school class. Attended relief society with the young women - weird. Different group of people out here. Different backgrounds, points of view, and reasons for believing the way they do. Made my first friend. Lily. Two years old. Adorable.
That ward is full of love. Just when I wanted Bob's lessons, Trina's insights, Bishop France's testimony - I was getting swarmed with a bunch of people loving me and hugging me just because i'm the bishop's niece. Who could ask for a better friend than our heavenly father? He is always aware of me.
That ward is full of love. Just when I wanted Bob's lessons, Trina's insights, Bishop France's testimony - I was getting swarmed with a bunch of people loving me and hugging me just because i'm the bishop's niece. Who could ask for a better friend than our heavenly father? He is always aware of me.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Saturday June 21
I fell in love.
Ocean City, New Jersey. Mayor: Sal Perillo. Total Area: 11.1 sq mi (28.7 km²).
Land Area: 6.9 sq mi (17.9 km²). Water Area: 4.2 sq mi (10.8 km²). Population in Winter: 15,378. Population in Summer: approx 115,000.
Madre, Daddy, Me, and Janis* (our gps) found Ocean City in about three hours. The Atlantic Ocean bordered the entire city. Rows of beautiful multi-story houses lined the streets. Each street. From east to west of Ocean City and north to south of Ocean City. Classic movie scene. All the people heading one direction - the beach. Whether they were married couples with two kids, small children or an elderly couple. Walking, Riding old-school bikes with the handles (the kind of bike the girl at the beginning of Legally Blonde rides when she is taking the card to Elle), or driving.
Some of the local stores included: Sunoco Gas Station, Amco Grocery Store, Rite Aid Pharmacy, Hoy's 5&10, and Laura's Fudge. By some, I mean at least half of the local stores in OC.
Naps on the beach are my favorite. Warmth of the sun, sound of the ocean waves, feel of the sand being blown into your nose and mouth. (good thing you're sleeping right?).
Ever felt like you had a bloody nose or something because everyone is staring at you? That was me. The one of two girls on the beach not wearing a binkini. And the only girl wearing board shorts. High Standards Power.
Mack and Manco: Famous Crispy Pizza. "Best of Jersey Shore" since 1984. Bill from Hoy's 5& 10 recommended it to us; He said it's the best place to eat in town and we'd have a wait because all the locals would be there on a saturday night. We ordered a veggie pizza with full heads of broccoli on it (yum!). As we watched plain pizza crusts(aka white pizzas) or pizza crusts with marinara(aka plain pizzas) be devoured by local families.
Walked the board walk until it rained. Then the four of us left for Home Sweet Home.
**Janis recieved her name because she is annoying like Janis from Friends. She starts talking at random times and scares us out of our craps when she does so.
Ocean City, New Jersey. Mayor: Sal Perillo. Total Area: 11.1 sq mi (28.7 km²).
Land Area: 6.9 sq mi (17.9 km²). Water Area: 4.2 sq mi (10.8 km²). Population in Winter: 15,378. Population in Summer: approx 115,000.
Madre, Daddy, Me, and Janis* (our gps) found Ocean City in about three hours. The Atlantic Ocean bordered the entire city. Rows of beautiful multi-story houses lined the streets. Each street. From east to west of Ocean City and north to south of Ocean City. Classic movie scene. All the people heading one direction - the beach. Whether they were married couples with two kids, small children or an elderly couple. Walking, Riding old-school bikes with the handles (the kind of bike the girl at the beginning of Legally Blonde rides when she is taking the card to Elle), or driving.
Some of the local stores included: Sunoco Gas Station, Amco Grocery Store, Rite Aid Pharmacy, Hoy's 5&10, and Laura's Fudge. By some, I mean at least half of the local stores in OC.
Naps on the beach are my favorite. Warmth of the sun, sound of the ocean waves, feel of the sand being blown into your nose and mouth. (good thing you're sleeping right?).
Ever felt like you had a bloody nose or something because everyone is staring at you? That was me. The one of two girls on the beach not wearing a binkini. And the only girl wearing board shorts. High Standards Power.
Mack and Manco: Famous Crispy Pizza. "Best of Jersey Shore" since 1984. Bill from Hoy's 5& 10 recommended it to us; He said it's the best place to eat in town and we'd have a wait because all the locals would be there on a saturday night. We ordered a veggie pizza with full heads of broccoli on it (yum!). As we watched plain pizza crusts(aka white pizzas) or pizza crusts with marinara(aka plain pizzas) be devoured by local families.
Walked the board walk until it rained. Then the four of us left for Home Sweet Home.
**Janis recieved her name because she is annoying like Janis from Friends. She starts talking at random times and scares us out of our craps when she does so.
Ooops
I totally forgot an important event.
I made my first friend. At the Malvern Train Station on King Street. I made my first friend knowing that this friend was a stoner. (Which I must say also is a first - at school I never went searching for stoner friends). She sat frantically smoking - nervous and "wired" for her bartending test. It is definately a different world out here. We talked to her for at least twenty minutes waiting for the train to come. She told us about her life. I tried extra hard to make converstaion because otherwise she would stare at madre and I. stare until we said something. She told us some tricks about the trains, that she walked everywhere because she didn't have her license, and all the places she lived. She stated her favorite place to live was her house right down the street from the bar. It is definately a different world out here. Train finally came. Loved every minute of it. We changed from route 5 to route 7 without any trouble. Got off the train in Cornwell Heights and met uncle to go boating.
I made my first friend. At the Malvern Train Station on King Street. I made my first friend knowing that this friend was a stoner. (Which I must say also is a first - at school I never went searching for stoner friends). She sat frantically smoking - nervous and "wired" for her bartending test. It is definately a different world out here. We talked to her for at least twenty minutes waiting for the train to come. She told us about her life. I tried extra hard to make converstaion because otherwise she would stare at madre and I. stare until we said something. She told us some tricks about the trains, that she walked everywhere because she didn't have her license, and all the places she lived. She stated her favorite place to live was her house right down the street from the bar. It is definately a different world out here. Train finally came. Loved every minute of it. We changed from route 5 to route 7 without any trouble. Got off the train in Cornwell Heights and met uncle to go boating.
Friday June 20th
I decided that I am going to try and blog a post about everyday for records sake. It'll be cool to have all of this written down for the future. Because the small experiences that don't seem much now, will probably mean so much to me later.
Friday.
Madre and I just decided to hang around hotel - maybe have a party with the maids because we're the only ones here in the day. All the mono-faced men are at work.
Our important laundry and exercise was interfered by a call from Uncle. Proposed to take us boating on the deleware river (*gasp*).
Lake Powell - freezing. Bear Lake - freezing. Just about any other lake in Utah - freezing. Deleware River - warm :).
I kind of got up on a wakeboard. (feel free to determine what kind of means).
Linds - I was wakeboarding at sunset. Thought you might appreciate it.
Sun is down. Ate dinner. Yes on the boat. Did I mention it was a barbeque? Oh yes. Barbeque on the boat. Can you say aaawesome? Sitting on the deleware river - eating bugers. yum.
And that concludes Friday.
Friday.
Madre and I just decided to hang around hotel - maybe have a party with the maids because we're the only ones here in the day. All the mono-faced men are at work.
Our important laundry and exercise was interfered by a call from Uncle. Proposed to take us boating on the deleware river (*gasp*).
Lake Powell - freezing. Bear Lake - freezing. Just about any other lake in Utah - freezing. Deleware River - warm :).
I kind of got up on a wakeboard. (feel free to determine what kind of means).
Linds - I was wakeboarding at sunset. Thought you might appreciate it.
Sun is down. Ate dinner. Yes on the boat. Did I mention it was a barbeque? Oh yes. Barbeque on the boat. Can you say aaawesome? Sitting on the deleware river - eating bugers. yum.
And that concludes Friday.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Not Worth Blogging Day
For those of you that are still reading this- sorry this is a pretty uneventful blog. And even though today was a "not-worth-blogging-day" here I am. So you can skip it if you'd like :) We decided that we'll probably stay in Malven for the majority of the time if not for the rest of the time. Dad's work is five minutes from our hotel- and madre and I can take a train all the way to New York if we want to.
Went into downtown Malvern. Adorable. Malvern post office, Malvern Inn, the local butcher shop, etc. Oh, just near by is the Paoli Massacre Battlefield - we haven't checked it out yet. We will though.
Went to Kind of Prussia shopping center - second biggest mall in the world. wow. overwhelming. massive. heaven. We covered probably a 1/16 of the mall.
Played horse basketball with my parents. One of the greatest memories ever. Mom won. (in favor of her, I posted this blog).
Watching Oceans Eleven. Much love!
Went into downtown Malvern. Adorable. Malvern post office, Malvern Inn, the local butcher shop, etc. Oh, just near by is the Paoli Massacre Battlefield - we haven't checked it out yet. We will though.
Went to Kind of Prussia shopping center - second biggest mall in the world. wow. overwhelming. massive. heaven. We covered probably a 1/16 of the mall.
Played horse basketball with my parents. One of the greatest memories ever. Mom won. (in favor of her, I posted this blog).
Watching Oceans Eleven. Much love!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Day Two in Pennsylvania.
Did some random things today. Went on a walk. Found a really pretty park. That turned out to be the front landscaping of an office building. We had to have looked like ridiculous toursits. But I'm okay with that. Then dad came home for lunch and then later we took him back to work. Getting back to the hotel, our key to our hotel room wouldn't work. According to the front desk, It became demagnitized (what in the world?). Cellphones and Credit Cards will demagnitize it. You learn new things everyday.
My uncle came and picked us up. This is where the day became interesting. My uncle is a bishop here in Philadelphia. His ward is massive and he has the craziest stories. He began driving us around and showing us random places where people in his ward lived.
I saw some things that I thought only happened in movies. I am more naive then I thought. A group of five or six teenage boys sat on the steps of a house and just stared into the street. Barely talking. And just sitting there. I was appalled. I began to wonder their life stories. I wanted to know if they went to highschool, if they graduated or were even going to. And if they would do something with their lives... I hope that they do. I hope and pray that they do.
A four year old girl sat on the side of the street. By herself. No parents or adults around. I began to wonder once again. Where were her parents? Didn't they care? Did this happen very often?
Two older men sat on the steps of an abandoned business building. Holding a brown paper bag. Obviously covering a bottle of somekind of alcohol. The two men passed the bottle between them. And drank their lives away.
Where am i? If only these people I saw, knew what I knew. How hard it would be to change. But how much happiness they would feel once they did.
Shopping on South Street was our next adventure. The first store we went in was called Repo Records. *Background= there is a store called NPS Market Square located in Salt Lake City. This store was nicknamed "Cootieville" by my sister Jill. Because the place is pretty much diseased - and it makes your nose itch after you've been in the store for five minutes. * Repo Records is the next cootieville. we walked around and looked at a few vinyl records and my nose strarted to itch. Never thought I'd see the day where I found a cootieville in a different state.
We kept walking. Found several cool shops. Sunglasses, art, restaraunts, jewelry, etc. It rained at least twice while we were shopping. At some point I got cold and put on my mother's rain jacket which was way too big for me.
My Uncle recommended a place for dinner call El Tez. My mom and I are trying to eat healthy - we figured this place wouldn't serve the food we were looking for but how do you say no? We submissively agreed and decided mentally it would be an adventure.
We went at around six to put our names on the list - hour wait. Not a biggie. I looked around. It appeared to be a bar/diner. There was a herd of people in the middle of the restaraunt holding drinks and talking to each other very loudly. I've never eaten at a place quite like this. But no way to back out now. And I figured I wouldn't be amongst them - I'd be eating with my family and it would be just like any other restaraunt.
So we went shopping some more. Then went back to check our name and use the restroom. The only way I could to the restroom was to go somewhat through the herd of people. I've never felt so out of place. I walked through them feeling, acting, and looking like each of them held an explosive bomb that was about to go off. I was grateful no one said anything to me. I think my mother's rain coat acted as some kind of a visible sheild because it said "I am too young for this place - I'm just here eating dinner with my family." Thanks Mom :) Finally I made it to the stairs - relaxation.
I always knew the rest of the world was different from Utah - but I never really had to be in that world.
Dinner was enjoyable. Our waiter was nice, no interuptions, and was pretty much like a normal restaurant. I grew to ignore the herd in the middle of the restaurant. I talked with my family and ate some pretty delicious tacos. It also made me appreciate Utah. It was very eye-opening. I became less naive, and more appreciative. My love for my heavenly father and his plan of happiness grew. I felt grateful for my knowledge of the gospel. My faith in Christ. My hope for the world. And my obedience to the Lord's commandments.
My uncle came and picked us up. This is where the day became interesting. My uncle is a bishop here in Philadelphia. His ward is massive and he has the craziest stories. He began driving us around and showing us random places where people in his ward lived.
I saw some things that I thought only happened in movies. I am more naive then I thought. A group of five or six teenage boys sat on the steps of a house and just stared into the street. Barely talking. And just sitting there. I was appalled. I began to wonder their life stories. I wanted to know if they went to highschool, if they graduated or were even going to. And if they would do something with their lives... I hope that they do. I hope and pray that they do.
A four year old girl sat on the side of the street. By herself. No parents or adults around. I began to wonder once again. Where were her parents? Didn't they care? Did this happen very often?
Two older men sat on the steps of an abandoned business building. Holding a brown paper bag. Obviously covering a bottle of somekind of alcohol. The two men passed the bottle between them. And drank their lives away.
Where am i? If only these people I saw, knew what I knew. How hard it would be to change. But how much happiness they would feel once they did.
Shopping on South Street was our next adventure. The first store we went in was called Repo Records. *Background= there is a store called NPS Market Square located in Salt Lake City. This store was nicknamed "Cootieville" by my sister Jill. Because the place is pretty much diseased - and it makes your nose itch after you've been in the store for five minutes. * Repo Records is the next cootieville. we walked around and looked at a few vinyl records and my nose strarted to itch. Never thought I'd see the day where I found a cootieville in a different state.
We kept walking. Found several cool shops. Sunglasses, art, restaraunts, jewelry, etc. It rained at least twice while we were shopping. At some point I got cold and put on my mother's rain jacket which was way too big for me.
My Uncle recommended a place for dinner call El Tez. My mom and I are trying to eat healthy - we figured this place wouldn't serve the food we were looking for but how do you say no? We submissively agreed and decided mentally it would be an adventure.
We went at around six to put our names on the list - hour wait. Not a biggie. I looked around. It appeared to be a bar/diner. There was a herd of people in the middle of the restaraunt holding drinks and talking to each other very loudly. I've never eaten at a place quite like this. But no way to back out now. And I figured I wouldn't be amongst them - I'd be eating with my family and it would be just like any other restaraunt.
So we went shopping some more. Then went back to check our name and use the restroom. The only way I could to the restroom was to go somewhat through the herd of people. I've never felt so out of place. I walked through them feeling, acting, and looking like each of them held an explosive bomb that was about to go off. I was grateful no one said anything to me. I think my mother's rain coat acted as some kind of a visible sheild because it said "I am too young for this place - I'm just here eating dinner with my family." Thanks Mom :) Finally I made it to the stairs - relaxation.
I always knew the rest of the world was different from Utah - but I never really had to be in that world.
Dinner was enjoyable. Our waiter was nice, no interuptions, and was pretty much like a normal restaurant. I grew to ignore the herd in the middle of the restaurant. I talked with my family and ate some pretty delicious tacos. It also made me appreciate Utah. It was very eye-opening. I became less naive, and more appreciative. My love for my heavenly father and his plan of happiness grew. I felt grateful for my knowledge of the gospel. My faith in Christ. My hope for the world. And my obedience to the Lord's commandments.
Malvern, Pennsylvania
First blog.
There are first for a alot of things.
Like my first day leaving Utah for months/first night in Malvern, Pennsylvania.
Hungry Hour: Welcome to American Airlines. We offer many beverages, snacks and small lunches. There is just a small price for snacks or small lunches (Whaaaaat?). Beverages are complimentary though :) News flash! SPREAD THE NEWS! (they actually give you the whole can on American Airlines! Who knew? No more a cup full of ice with 5 ounces of your beverage.) Due to the new price on airline food (which doesn't even taste good) my meals consisted of cliff bars. Yum! they have never tasted so good.
Laughin Hour: Madre got hungry on our first flight too. Pulled out her cliff bar; she had some troubles opening it. Alas. Plastic rips. Cliff bar flies. Right into the lap of the stranger sitting next to her (ever seen a cliff bar? they look reeeeeeal attractive). Outcome: embarassed and hysterically laughing madre.
Tired hour: Going to bed at one thiry, waking up at four. Try sleeping. Poor mother who was the pillow of her grumpy seventeen year old daughter.
Layaway hour: "Welcome to Dallas, Texas. If you are making a connecting flight your gates are as follows "Philadelphia: Gate C17." "Attention passengers there has been a change, those going to Philadelphia, your gate is now C12." Awesome. We had lots of time to walk around. :) However, a little before our plane left we decided we should double check our gate. The next plane that departed from gate C12 was going to JFK airport in New York. Wrongo. Let's check our original. The next plane that departured from C17 was going to La Guardia airport in New York. Wrongo. We were in the completely wrong terminal. In salt lake, thats no big deal. Dallas Airport: MASSIVE. Its like Disneyland. You have ride the blessed monorail to even change terminals (or Disneyland's case to change rides). We did make it okay.
Exploring hour: I love airport shops - Stick of gum: $3.00, Fleece Inflatable Pillows that unzip to be a blanket:$29.99, Solar powered keychains: $7.99 - epic prices. I love airport shops. Usually you find unusal things. In the Dallas airport there were many Latino shops. Anyone know why? These shops entailed: tequila flavored lollipops with scorpions in them, jalapeno chocolate, and mini sombreros. (by mini I mean too small for a barbie). I love airport shops.
Tourist hour: largest vending machine I have ever seen. 16' by 10'. Yes feet. Pillows, teddybears, pretzels, any type of drugs, contact lenses, etc. *Why is that girl taking a picture of a vending machine?* It was cool okay?
Shopping Hour: Had to buy groceries. Went to the Local "Giant." Because the Walmart that was "close by" is a half an hour away and has the worst ratings in the world. Local grocery stores are funny - Tad Hamilton's fall in love with Rosie's. AND The cashiers are all over the age of forty and white. What country am I in? Its possible to have cashier who's not in highschool or speaks english? So we picked up some peach doughnuts (anyone ever heard of them?) and whole wheat tortillas. Yum.
Driving Hour: For father's day my madre bought my dad a GPS. It is really cool. It talks to you and says "Turn right in .3 miles." (and makes this cool little beeping sound that kind of sounds like a high pitched voice saying turn left). Well my dad being the genius that he is, likes to outsmart the GPS. Of course he can. He's Rex Maughan. It is just hilarious to listen to.
Spiritual Hour: Heleman Chapter 12-13. Wow. Mom. Wom. Mow. Those chapters keep me in line. Anyone want to sign up for everlasting damnation? No thank you.
There are first for a alot of things.
Like my first day leaving Utah for months/first night in Malvern, Pennsylvania.
There are first for a alot of things.
Like my first day leaving Utah for months/first night in Malvern, Pennsylvania.
Hungry Hour: Welcome to American Airlines. We offer many beverages, snacks and small lunches. There is just a small price for snacks or small lunches (Whaaaaat?). Beverages are complimentary though :) News flash! SPREAD THE NEWS! (they actually give you the whole can on American Airlines! Who knew? No more a cup full of ice with 5 ounces of your beverage.) Due to the new price on airline food (which doesn't even taste good) my meals consisted of cliff bars. Yum! they have never tasted so good.
Laughin Hour: Madre got hungry on our first flight too. Pulled out her cliff bar; she had some troubles opening it. Alas. Plastic rips. Cliff bar flies. Right into the lap of the stranger sitting next to her (ever seen a cliff bar? they look reeeeeeal attractive). Outcome: embarassed and hysterically laughing madre.
Tired hour: Going to bed at one thiry, waking up at four. Try sleeping. Poor mother who was the pillow of her grumpy seventeen year old daughter.
Layaway hour: "Welcome to Dallas, Texas. If you are making a connecting flight your gates are as follows "Philadelphia: Gate C17." "Attention passengers there has been a change, those going to Philadelphia, your gate is now C12." Awesome. We had lots of time to walk around. :) However, a little before our plane left we decided we should double check our gate. The next plane that departed from gate C12 was going to JFK airport in New York. Wrongo. Let's check our original. The next plane that departured from C17 was going to La Guardia airport in New York. Wrongo. We were in the completely wrong terminal. In salt lake, thats no big deal. Dallas Airport: MASSIVE. Its like Disneyland. You have ride the blessed monorail to even change terminals (or Disneyland's case to change rides). We did make it okay.
Exploring hour: I love airport shops - Stick of gum: $3.00, Fleece Inflatable Pillows that unzip to be a blanket:$29.99, Solar powered keychains: $7.99 - epic prices. I love airport shops. Usually you find unusal things. In the Dallas airport there were many Latino shops. Anyone know why? These shops entailed: tequila flavored lollipops with scorpions in them, jalapeno chocolate, and mini sombreros. (by mini I mean too small for a barbie). I love airport shops.
Tourist hour: largest vending machine I have ever seen. 16' by 10'. Yes feet. Pillows, teddybears, pretzels, any type of drugs, contact lenses, etc. *Why is that girl taking a picture of a vending machine?* It was cool okay?
Shopping Hour: Had to buy groceries. Went to the Local "Giant." Because the Walmart that was "close by" is a half an hour away and has the worst ratings in the world. Local grocery stores are funny - Tad Hamilton's fall in love with Rosie's. AND The cashiers are all over the age of forty and white. What country am I in? Its possible to have cashier who's not in highschool or speaks english? So we picked up some peach doughnuts (anyone ever heard of them?) and whole wheat tortillas. Yum.
Driving Hour: For father's day my madre bought my dad a GPS. It is really cool. It talks to you and says "Turn right in .3 miles." (and makes this cool little beeping sound that kind of sounds like a high pitched voice saying turn left). Well my dad being the genius that he is, likes to outsmart the GPS. Of course he can. He's Rex Maughan. It is just hilarious to listen to.
Spiritual Hour: Heleman Chapter 12-13. Wow. Mom. Wom. Mow. Those chapters keep me in line. Anyone want to sign up for everlasting damnation? No thank you.
There are first for a alot of things.
Like my first day leaving Utah for months/first night in Malvern, Pennsylvania.
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