Obsessed.

Florence+ the Machine: Dog Days are Over.

This song has been on repeat for about two days now.

Can't help but be empowered!

Happiness hit her like a train on a track

Coming towards her stuck still no turning back

She hid around corners and she hid under beds

She killed it with kisses and from it she fled

With every bubble she sank with her drink

And washed it away down the kitchen sink

The dog days are over

The dog days are done

The horses are coming

So you better run

Run fast for your mother, run fast for your father

Run for your children, for your sisters and brothers

Leave all your loving, your loving behind

You cant carry it with you if you want to survive.

and I never wanted anything from you

Except everything you had and what was left after that too, oh

Happiness hit her like a bullet in the back

Struck from a great height by someone who should know better than

that

The dog days are over.

LOVE IT.

Puerto Rico.

At Leoni, Rolando and their kids' house (a family Landon taught on his mission) We just sang, talked and laughed in the streets. I fell in love with the children!

4 year old, Ronaldo. I wanted more than anything to be able to speak spanish to him!

He is adorable!

Ponce

El Yunque National Rainforest

Backside view of El Conquistador resort

Cool.

awww

playing with Ronaldo at church.

mini island.

making virgin Puerto Rican drinks.

laying (burning) by the pool

This hot tub overlooked an incredible view.

♥

I love colors.

Pretty road!

El Morro

Downtown San Juan

cemetery. Kinda cool. Kinda creepy.haha

Humbled.

I have been humbled on several occasions in the past few weeks.

And I can't contain myself from writing about it.

I have failed continuously in my life. Especially recently.

But by no surprise, the next event that happens after this failure is always a tender mercy. I am constantly reminded of everything that I have.

I failed the test to get into my major.

Then sang in Forgotten Carols with Michael Mclean. I felt the presence of Meme there while singing. It felt her saying to me: "Everything is going to be okay."

I went and saw Savior of the World at Temple Square because my best friend, Meredith, was in it. In it, they acted out the Lord talking to Simon Peter and telling him to feed His sheep. Simon Peter ignores him. The Savior tells him again. He ignores once again. Finally, on the third time, he listens.

I look over to my other best friend, maria, and go: "Sometimes it takes three times."

I cried from the overpowering feeling of the Spirit in both of these incidences.

I was humiliated and hurt by a particular male. For some reason, I allowed that situation to hurt me pretty bad. I'm not sure why.

Then I sang in my LDC Christmas Show. As we sang "Amazing Grace" I could feel the empathy from the Savior and all of my wonderful friends in the choir. I knew everything was going to be okay.

I had a really negative outlook on singing Gloria with Lex de Azevedo with my choir.

The next day, the Provo Tabernacle, a beloved building in Provo burned down. My choir was one of the last choirs to sing in that building ever. I went to the show and sang with the choirs and in one of the songs my body was filled with chills.

The Lord slapped me across the face for that one.

I thought I failed my math final. I spent hours in bed over all of this hard work I had been doing.

I find out in Puerto Rico that I miraculously passed the class.

You have no idea how much I needed that.

I was complaining about my back hurting and from exhaustion in Puerto Rico.

We show up at one of the families that Landon taught, and they lived in a small house. They had nothing. We continued to visit people with such humble abodes and it was such an incredible feeling to realize that these people are so happy with so little.

The kids were so incredible.

The land was incredible.

The people were incredible.

I am so humbled this holiday season.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

(pictures from Puerto Rico coming soon)

Feliz Navidad!

Oh ya know,

Just going to be there tomorrow.

PUERTO RICO for CHRISTMAS.

I know, I'm spoiled.

Merry Christmas!

'til next year.

Soul Mates & The Christmas Season.

"A true soul mate is probably the most important person you’ll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then leave. A soul mate’s purpose is to shake you up, tear apart your ego a little bit, show you your obstacles and addictions, break your heart open so new light can get in, and make you so desperate and out of control that you have to transform your life.”

~Elizabeth Gilbert

I was in awe when I read this the other night. I began to think of how much of my life has been transformed because of some guy who I thought was going to be "the one." I've been with men where the passion was there; the love was clearly existent. I thought we were perfect for each other because we were "soul mates." But what I didn't realize then was that those certain guys had come into my life to teach me something. Their sheer ability to change my rapid heartbeat, to rile me up until I couldn't take it anymore, to get me so angry one minute, then love them uncontrollably the next, was to break down those particular walls talked about above. But she's right. They weren't meant to be next to me forever. They came into my life to break me down, then ultimately build me up.

However, I do think there are some soul mates that are destined to be by your side forever. Those soul mates are those friends who you seem to just connect with on a different level. The ones you are able to share anything with, who think the dumb decisions you make are still outrageously dumb, who roll on the ground laughing at the same joke. The particular friends who may shove you until you break, who get you so mad you just want to slap them. They break you more than anything else imaginable. But they are also more importantly the ones who will be standing at your side on your wedding day. They will be the ones crying with you when life decides to change plans (as it seems to consistently do currently).

How many of us have had people come into our lives ultimately just to change it? Soul mates, whether they have stayed in my life or not, have helped me transform.

There is something so raw, so exquisitely real, about letting go; letting go of an intimate relationship, letting go of a loved one to death, or even letting go of the past. A soul mate has taught me how to let go.

I have learned to be able to look inside myself, see my flaws, my mistakes, and use those to achieve conclusions. However, many people don’t want to go to that level. They are afraid to reach that place because of laziness, or fear, or insecurity. A soul mate has helped me find out what I truly want.

A soul mate has taught me to prioritize my life. I have realized what is important to me.

A soul mate has helped me realize what goals I have.

A soul mate has shown me what this season is about. It is about the birth of the Savior.

I have learned the power of music through the spirit from a soul mate.

This season is truly about transforming ourselves; allowing ourselves to sit down and THINK of who we are and what we truly believe. And a soul mate has led me to this.

I see people never laughing, never enjoying life. I see college kids in a major that they don't love because "it's what they SHOULD do." I have failed academically recently. I didn't pass the test to get into my major, I haven't been succeeding in my math class in the way that I know I am able. But I have a goal. And those goals will be accomplished, even if it means I keep falling down. And a soul mate, has indeed, taught me that.

Merry Christmas. ♥

May your soul mates help transform you this Christmas season.

Thanksgiving Story Time.

[Sparknotes version]

So.

This one time, Landon and I attempted to drive home to Oregon.

We drove about three hours and got caught in the

BIGGEST BLIZZARD KNOWN TO MAN.

I seriously thought we were going to die.

Ronda the Honda was not cuttin it either. The blizzard was out of control.

We were at a loss.

I was REALLY looking forward to going home for Thanksgiving, but there was no way we could make it through the storm alive.

So we turned around.

I cried. Then cried some more.

My parents were so great and attempted to buy us a plane ticket but all flights out of Salt Lake were canceled because that storm in Idaho was supposed to come south and hit Utah.

...Yea....Utah didn't even get the storm. It snowed. Kind of. Thats it. I was pissed.

My father, being the incredible man that he is, got us a plane ticket the next day.

We arrive at the airport.

We waited there for FIVE HOURS because our flight was delayed three times.
We finally made it to Oregon.

Best three days of my life. Seriously. I have never had such an enjoyable time eating, doing nothing, and spending time with my family.

I had the privilege of seeing this girl:

And this one!

Anywho.

My parents wanted to save money (obviously) so we decided to take Veronica,the red, hot volvo back to Utah. My parents are coming out in less than two weeks, so they said they could make do with just one car.

Aren't my parents so wonderful?

The roads were okay! There were a few rough spots, but we were chuggin' along!

Until we got to southern Idaho/Northern Utah.

I-84 that turns into I-15 was CLOSED. Yes, closed.

Therefore, we had to drive all the way around to Pocatello--two hours out of the way.

We got to Ogden and the roads were the worse I have ever seen.

It took us three hours to get to Provo from Ogden (that usually takes an hour and 15 minutes).

16.5 hour road trip that normally takes 12.

Lovely.

Well. I guess I am grateful to be alive.

The Lord was trying to give me an obvious message to be thankful for my life.

And I am. Completely.

I always have had to learn the hard way. Why did I think Thanksgiving 2010 would be any exception?

Hope your Thanksgiving was as adventurous, scary, and stressful as mine!

Man, we're lucky to be alive!

'Tis the season to be jolly?

Whoa.

I found my celebrity look alike.

Maggie Lawson.

[She's on the show Psych]

Scary, right?

(not in the literal sense, of course. But the "wow she looks freakishly similar to Sierra" kind of way).

Kinda cool, eh? Happy day.

I am stressed.

work. (and the constant worry that I am going to get fired. eeeek)

school. particularly MATH. ew. Including: tests, papers, honors program, homework.

church calling. ward activities director. thanksgiving dinner/talent show.

choir. LDC. performances up the wazoo.

workout. counting calories and trying to lose some el-bee's.

taking the test to get into my program 7:30 am on Saturday.

figuring out my study abroad program this summer.

I might die.

[Oh, and I have to wake up in 5 hours for a high school seminary morningside that my choir is singing at. Ask me if I'm in bed yet...]

(Missing Fiji right about now)

AHH.(need some help from the big guy upstairs ASAP).

Perfect.

Forgive me for the constant blog updates.

Things have been on my mind a lot recently (well, actually, what's new?)

Today, especially, was an incredible day. I can't NOT share this story with all of you.

My choir, Latter Day Celebration Choir (LDC), an auditioned group at the Orem Institute of Religion, is the most incredible opportunity I've ever experienced.

Today, I had to give the devotional. Everyone in the choir is assigned to give a quick message and sing their testimony at the beginning of class.

I almost peed my pants from nervousness.

It was incessantly only my mind for numerous days.

Last night I had all the sheets prepared;I was ready to give my message. This morning I woke up and got the impression to throw all of that aside and just go with the flow. I did that.

....It was not smooth.

Yet, I talked straight from the spirit. I spoke exactly what my heart felt. And amidst some teary eyes (no, I did NOT cry thank you very much. I did get close though), I spit it out.

Then I began to sing "Abide With Me Tis Eventide."

I was so nervous. I shook a little. I avoided eye contact.

Then once I looked up and saw my incredible fellow choir members' smiling faces, I immediately calmed.

I sang everything that my heart has ever felt.

I sang the sadness I have felt in the past years.

I sang all the anger, frustration, loneliness that has molded me.

I sang all the emotions I feel!

I sang about how I know that the Lord is always listening to our prayers.

I sang about the peace that comes from calling out to Him when we are weak.

I sang my testimony of Jesus Christ.

I didn't sing it perfectly. But that was not the point. I wasn't trying to sing better than anybody else in my choir.

I sang from my heart.

I became relaxed and calm.

And the spirit took over.

I don't even remember how I sang, I just remember feeling the incredible spirit.

It was wonderful.

Tears were shed by many choir members. The spirit was so strong, I could only smile.

Rehearsal today was so much better. The spirit took over and we automatically all sounded better. Br. Eggett even noticed the difference (which is huge in itself).

It is amazing how much music makes a difference. And more importantly, it's fantastic to see, feel, and hear the difference when the songs are all about the Lord. When you turn your heart, your musical talents, your technique to the Lord, the spirit will take over and make it perfect.

Oh, and last night I prayed and prayed for a long period of time for this devotional to go well.

Just another indicator that the Lord does, in fact, answer prayers.

Today reiterates WHY I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.It reminded me why the Lord put me this choir.

Music, the spirit, and love change lives.

Falling for Fall.

(Me and kindred spirit. We were dressed as Siamese Twins for Halloween. We decided to fall into a pile of leaves while conjoined. Win.)

I officially love FALL.

There is something so exquisitely pleasant, so unfathomably beautiful about all of the colors.

The mountains here in Utah are incredible.

Everyday as I drive home, I notice the glorious splendor of the amazing landscape that surrounds me.

Although I dislike the lack of green (Holla to the OR), autumn here in Provo makes the mountains all green, the trees colorful and overall quite magnificent.

With a slight chill in the air, it has snow on top of the mountains as well. I adore the mountains when snow appears on them--it makes them so much more majestic (I don't, however, like dealing with the stupid snow. ugh)

And for a brief time period, I am appreciating Utah's decor.

I love

the crinkling of the leaves that have fallen off the trees onto the ground as you walk to school.

the trees full of orange, maroon, red, green colors.

the slight chill, but still with the sun shining. A nice, fall feel incorporating a clear blue sky.

being able to wear all my cute sweaters, hoodies, jeans, etc!

curling up at night and watching movies (except I lack that whole male thing...tear)

warm fires. Warm blankets. Warm hearts.

that Fall smell. Yea, you know what I am talking about.

thanksgiving&halloween...slowly moving to Christmas time. Love that feeling.

hot cocoa. Apple cider.

late night talks with friends.

afternoon fall walks. Sunday fall drives.

colors. colors. colors.

the beginning of christmas music. (in choir and elsewhere)

BAKING. mmmm food.

etc. etc.

Happy Fall!

(see you next year. hardy har har)

Peace&blessings&gratefulness. ♥

Happy Halloween?

Remember when girls try to look all sexy and cute on Halloween?

Well that's exactly what I DIDN'T do this year.

I present to you my very ungirly, exponentially dorky, unsurprisingly hilarious Halloween Costumes this year.

dork.

Costume #1: Hick.

Wif da boys.

UAC Annual Ward Halloween Dance Party

(that I planned. Glad that's over)

hick&aurora.

party animal.

costume #2: SIAMESE TWIN! ha.

model shots beginning NOW.

sleep.

surprised.

conjoined?

love these pictures. This one time we decided to jump into a pile of leaves. together. while attached. fail.

makeup.

Costume #3: Pirate.

mid air.

gazing at my fellow choir members who can SING.

Yea. I also wore Maria's Aurora outfit to work. (There's a picture of that somewhere...hmm...) and a tutu at another party.

Can you tell I'm a little indecisive?

You are welcome.

Hope your Halloween was as dorky and fun as mine.