Easter Weekend

This is the post where I give a play by play of my Easter weekend. Be excited.

On Saturday we had an Easter party out at my Grandpa Paulsen's home. It was a lot of fun to see some cousins that I haven't seen in years. There were three babies there so basically I was in baby heaven! I mostly played with my little cousin Ella who will be two years old this summer. She is my new best friend. We had lunch, did an Easter egg hunt for the kids, and then everyone kind of split up here and there. There was a massive volleyball game going on... but I blew bubbles with Ella. Everyone sat and talked and played. It was pretty much awesome. This is a picture of all the girls in my family at my grandpa's house. (Stolen from my cousin Kylie's facebook). 

That night my dad suggested that my immediate family go out to dinner. We went to Red Robin... Yum! (like from the commercial) After dinner we decided to go to the movies. It was hard to choose one that we all wanted to see so we finally settled on The Conspirator. I personally really enjoyed this movie, but it was kind of split down the middle with some really enjoying it, and others really hating it. I probably wouldn't watch it again but I found the history of it fascinating. It's all about the assassins of President Lincoln and the trial of one woman who was accused of being an accomplice. I personally think it's worth seeing at least once.

On Sunday morning we went to church, came home and had dinner, and ate a bunch of candy from our Easter baskets. (Yes, the Easter Bunny does still come to me) We also helped my little sister with a blanket tying service project she had to do to make up some U's for school. However, it was such a beautiful day outside that I begged my family to enjoy the sunshine with me and dragged them all to the park with Chaz (our dog) in tow. We also invited our neighbors, the Caseys, and my Aunt Robin and cousins Kailey and Kade to meet us at the park. We played baseball (dang I miss that sport!), threw a football around, and had one wicked awesome volleyball game. We also colored with sidewalk chalk, played catch, ate snacks, and sat around and talked. It was so much fun to be at the beautiful Barnes Park in Kaysville and spend that time with neighbors and family. Afterwards my dad gets in the car and says, "So that's what its like to be a family again." haha I guess it's been a little too long since all six of us have been together at the same time just having some good old fashioned fun with no technology getting in the way. I miss those carefree, simple days. I hope the summer will bring much more of them with my family.

Oh, and one more thing. As I was sitting in church on Sunday this little boy started getting so excited when he saw the deacons and teachers start to pass the sacrament around. He was jumping up and down and pointing at the boys. Granted, he was probably excited for the bread and water he knew was coming, but as I sat watching him the thought came to my mind that the sacrament truly is an exciting thing. Sacred, but exciting at the same time. We take the sacrament to remember Christ and on Easter Sunday it felt especially special. I am so grateful for the atonement. For the miracle that happened so many years ago, when Christ was resurrected from the tomb. I know I will never fully appreciate or even comprehend the full extent of it, but it's exciting to belong to this church. To know the truth. To know that God loves me individually. I can't wait to be a missionary and share that message with others. The gospel is exciting. And wonderful. And peaceful. And true.

Waiting Room Kindness

I was sitting in a waiting room the other day and this woman, who is probably just a few years older than me, gets up, puts a folded piece of paper on the chair next to me, and walks out. I was kind of confused at this, but when I picked up the note it kind of made my whole day. It's small acts of kindness like this that can make big changes in the world and I for one want to do more things like this.

Here is the note....

Miss Representation

I took this from my roommate Kenzi's blog. For more information visit their site here.

Stand

This is the song I listen to when I need strength. Life can really get you down. And sometimes you just feel like a candle in a hurricane or a novel with the end ripped out. And it's okay. It's moment's like these that you find out what you are really made of. So get mad. Get on your knees. Find your strength. Then wipe your hands and shake it off. Don't let life get you down. Stand.

I have added the lyrics at the bottom because they are some of my favorites.

 "Everytime you get up And get back in the race, One more small piece of you Starts to fall into place"

This line is one of my favorites however because everything that happens to you in life, defines you. And you are pretty amazing! You may have a past you regret. You may have asked, "Why is this happening to me?" You may wonder why innocent people suffer, the good die young, or how this life is fair. Well, just remember,  God doesn't give us trials we cannot handle, so if you are going through some really tough times, then you must be a really tough cookie! Always remember how amazing you are. "Be thankful that the Lord trusts you to overcome!"


Lyrics:
You feel like a candle in a hurricane
Just like a picture with a broken frame
Alone and helpless
Like you've lost your fight
But you'll be alright, you'll be alright

[Chorus:]
Cause when push comes to shove
You taste what you're made of
You might bend, till you break
Cause its all you can take
On your knees you look up
Decide you've had enough
You get mad you get strong
Wipe your hands shake it off
Then you Stand, Then you stand

Life's like a novel
With the end ripped out
The edge of a canyon
With only one way down
Take what you're given before its gone
Start holding on, keep holding on

Cause when push comes to shove
You taste what you're made of
You might bend till you break
Cause it's all you can take
On your knees you look up
Decide you've had enough
You get mad, you get strong
Wipe your hands, shake it off
Then you stand, then you stand

Everytime you get up
And get back in the race
One more small piece of you
Starts to fall into place
Oh

[Repeat Chorus] 

Amazingly Awesome!

Wooo- Hooo!!!

I recently have hit an enormous financial stumbling block. It has been weighing on my mind for days. When I think about it all I want to do is hit my head against the wall and cry... which I do. When I get stressed  I develop a stress rash- this latest stress inducer caused my stress rash to explode- it honestly looked like I had the chicken pox. So to sum things up, I was basically freaking a ding dong!

Well....

Today, being the procrastinator that I am, filed my taxes. Holy. Freaking. Cow! My tax return is almost enough to pay off my debt that I found my self unexpectedly in. 

I LOVE TAX RETURNS!!!

Moral of the story: Pay your tithing. You will be blessed. :D

Life Has A Way

It's funny how life has a way of working itself out. One minute you're running around like a chicken with its head cut off screaming "The Sky is Falling!" and the next you find that somehow, even though you have no idea how, but somehow everything went back to how it's supposed to be.

It is now peaceful, happy, enjoyable. Your future no longer looks dark and dreary but bright and radiant. And then you think about it, and realize that a lot of small things ended up contributing to this huge change. The small things are what can change your outlook on life.

For example a person reminding you that you are in fact, beautiful. Or a nice e-mail from a friend who you have really hoped would remember you. Maybe it's as simple as three little boys in elementary who got a kick out of you waving to them as they walked home from school, and ran along side your car laughing and waving back. Things like an old friend calling you up on a Sunday night just to chat. Or a doctor telling you that in his professional opinion, serving a LDS mission would really be the best medicine, confirming that your decisions in life are really correct. It could be listening to your favorite song with the volume turned all the way up in your car. Or just the fact that the sun is out and the grass is starting to turn green. Or maybe it's having a late night conversation with your roommate, who knows exactly what you are going through.

All of these things are small, simple blessings, that can lead to a very great and unexpected change of heart. And in case you haven't picked up on it yet, all of these things happened to me within the last 48 hours, and I am so grateful for the reminder that the simple pleasures in life are what makes a life happy and worthwhile. It's these things that remind you that God does love you and is in fact looking out for you.

Sunshine in a bag!

This song reminds me of Kelsey and Lorissa. I guess you could say it is "Our Song". But I have no idea why and can't really remember the reason behind it haha. Do you remember Kels? Anyway, this one is for you two! :)

I'm Not That Girl

This is one of my favorite songs from one of my favorite musicals. Let's just say, I can relate. We will keep it at that.

Angel Dandruff

Today the Angels from heaven are itching their heads and their dandruff is falling upon us. Grosssss.

I


HATE


SNOW!!!


Um K. What the heck is with all this snow?! It's APRIL!!! I know, I know. It always snows in April in Logan. BUT this is NOT your regular snow one hour melt in the next April snow. This is dead of winter, make everyone miserable, fall on your butt, soaked pants, scary driving, kinda want to die, kind of snow.

....Apparently I am not the only one who feels this way. hahahaha

Jar of Hearts

I just absolutely love this song. It reminds me of a guy I know who has collected quite the jar of hearts himself and doesn't seem to care. He never learns from his former mistakes and it leaves me wondering if he will 'catch a cold from the ice inside his soul'. I love this music video and her voice is absolutely amazing!

Something 'Bout Love

I love music. There is a song for every mood, every situation in life. Music can uplift, comfort, inspire, motivate. Music has the ability to make you laugh, make you cry, recall memories to your mind, remind you of friends or family members. I am so grateful for music. So... I have decided that I am going to post more music videos on my blog. And today you get the man that I am not so secretly in love with--> David Archuleta!

Brother

Can I just say how proud I am of my little brother? He is turning into quite a good young man.

Zach (My brother) is on the wrestling team at his jr. high and he was telling me how one of his team mates, Bobby (that's what I'm calling him cause I don't remember his real name) didn't want to be in the team picture because he didn't feel worthy standing next to everyone else since he had lost his match. Zach's coach, Mr. Pazoli, had all of the team come in to his classroom individually on Thursday, and when it was Zach's turn he told Mr. Pazoli what Bobby had said. He then asked Mr. Pazoli to give Bobby a pep talk to boost his spirits. Mr. Pazoli asked Zach where Bobby was and Zach told him that he was at lunch. Mr. Pazoli asked Zach to go get Bobby so that he could talk to him. Zach headed to the cafeteria to get Bobby, but he refused to come. However, Zach had been given an assignment by his coach to 'get Bobby' so that's exactly what he did. Zach got another heavy weight on the team and the two of them grabbed Bobby's arms, one on each side, lifted him up and literally carried him to Pazoli's office for his pep talk. I am so proud of my little brother for caring that much about a fellow teammate!


Second Proud Moment: Yesterday was the district championship wrestling match. There was one wrestler from Centerville who was cocky, arrogant, and completely full of himself. I had seen him wrestle before and I didn't like him then, but yesterday I absolutely could not stand him. He is rude to everyone and fights so dirty I don't even understand how the ref's don't kick him out. Well, yesterday he won match after match after match. He ended up taking first place in his weight class. When he won however, not one single teammate cheered for him. And he took first place! This just tells you what kind of kid he is to have his entire team hate him enough to not even be happy for doing so well.

Zach on the other hand has one of the biggest cheering sections I have ever seen. All of his teammates go nuts for him. His teammates parents go nuts for him. His family is there cheering him on, sometimes even extended family. He even has friends come and sit on hard bleachers, for many many hours, just to watch his matches. It just goes to show that being nice to everyone has its advantages!

Third Proud Moment: Zach did really well yesterday. He got 5'th place out of 30 other heavy weights, and in my book, that's good! Even though Zach didn't place and get a medal, he still went up to the four heavy weight champions who did place to congratulate them. Wow. What a good loser.(You know what I mean.) I was so proud of him for not being angry or having any bitter feelings towards the wrestlers who beat him. He is just turning into such a good man and I am so so proud of him!

This is the Ref holding up Zach's hand indicating he just won his match! Yay! Go Knights! :)