25 Fun (or not so fun) Facts

Because I was tagged 3 times...here are 25 random (ish) facts about me. If you wanna do one, then I tag you. If not, then don't. Enjoy!

This was a facebook thing, but I am just posting it on here for the heck of it.

1) I can sleep any time, any place.
2) I worry more than anyone I know except for my mom.
3) I have never read or seen Harry Potter and have zero desire to do so. Sorry!
4) I work a pretty lame schedule but I LOVE my job...most of the time. It is amazing what delinquent kids can teach you- they make me re-think my persepctive on life, every single day.
5) I swam with dolphins when I was in middle school, it was amazing!
6) I wanted to be an Olympic gymnast when I was little.
7) I REALLY want to take a pottery class, even though I am a terrible artist.
8) I HATE aligators and crocodiles more than I can explain.
9) I am scared of what is living in my shower but am too afraid to clean it, trust me, it is so nasty that I shower in flip flops.
10) I want to live on a farm (or in the country at least) when I grow up because that is basically how I grew up.
11) I try to make sure I eat ice cream every single day.
12) Sometimes I think I have ADHD.
13) I don't eat syrup on pancakes and waffles, I eat sugar.
14) I want to be an undercover cop/detective and catch scumbags like sex offenders.
15) I don't like ketchup, mayo, or mustard.
16) I am afraid of change but I love it.
17) I have never had stitches or surgury.
18) I believe that honesty is the best policy, always.
19) Breakfast meals are the best, so sometimes I eat breakfast several times a day.
20) Olive Garden is the love of my life.
21) I don't really know celebrities or movies because I really don't care and I don't watch a lot of movies.
22) I liked The Dark Knight WAY more than I thought I would.
23) I prefer fruity candy to chocolate any day.
24) I hate milk and hated drinking it when I was little- it literally makes me gag. My mom used to have to add strawberry flavoring to get me to drink it.
25) I can't wink.

I'm following the crowd...

and doing a new year's post...ready, set, go!

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before? graduated college, bought a car, lived with roommates that I choose (all of them)

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I did decent I think but I know I can always improve which I will try to do in 2009

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Devynn had sterling!

4. Did anyone close to you die? not really which i am so grateful for. my great aunt darlene and my uncle bub-we weren't close but they are family, and two of my closest friends brother died

5. What countries did you visit? the good ol' U.S. of A.

6. What do you want in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? stay in touch with family and friends better, read my scriptures longer everyday, not be afraid to stand up for what I believe, and I'm not gonna lie but a man would be nice as well...

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? March 25-Sterling born, Aug 15-16th- graduation

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? graduation, car, learning more about myself, learning to love reading again, frequent journal writes

9. What was your biggest failure? not being as good as I am capable of

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? nope, I am grateful for my excellent health

11. What was the best thing you bought? car, plane tickets to Florida, clothes

12. Where did most of your money go? rent, car, clothes, food, plane tickets

13. What did you get really, really, really excited about? graduation, letters, trips to florida, a trip to cali, a trip to the George, and my family coming out to Utah, and the biggest of all...CHRISTMAS!!

14. What song will always remind you of 2008? anything and everything Coldplay, especially their newest CD, Taylor Swift- Love Story, Leona Lewis- Keep Bleeding, With You-Chris Brown, No Air- Jordin Sparks, David Archeleta- Crush and also
Miley Cirus, Katie Perry, and Rihanna songs-I don't like them but they are on the radio NON STOP

15. Thinner or fatter? at Christmas the Wii Fit scale said I lost 5 pounds but I beg to differ

16. Richer or poorer? richer

17. What do you wish you'd done more of? relaxing- well the first part of the year at least

18. What do you wish you'd done less of? worrying, stressing, doubting myself

19. How will you be spending Christmas? not sure yet, with family I hope

20. Did you fall in love in 2008? good question

21. What was your favorite TV program? LOST, Gangland, Paris Hilton my new BFF, The Office, Jon and Kate Plus 8

22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? I don't think I hate anyone really

23. What was the best book you read? Screwtape Letters and The Kite Runner (and the Book of Mormon of course) I am still working on Jesus the Christ.

24. What was your greatest musical discovery? I rediscovered my love for Coldplay, and classical piano like Jon Schmidt

25. What did you want and get? I am not sure really- a car, graduation, a job, lots of great friends

26. What did you want and not get? a million dollars

27. What was your favorite film of this year? THE DARK KNIGHT

28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? 22-went to the first football game of the season and then went to work

29. What one thing made your year immeasurably more satisfying? I have two... living with 3 of my bestest friends in the whole world this summer and all the fun we had, and surprisingly enough- my trials
30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? same as before...I love the casual, comfy, and cute American Eagle look. I like to dress up nicer on occasion but honestly I think I have let myself go as of late-which I tend to do in the winter, I also-against my better judgement- bought my first pair of Ugg boots (fake from Target of course) which are incredibly warm in the winter and surprisingly cute on occasion

31. What kept you sane? family, friends, letters, MUSIC, the gospel, my journal

32. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Brad Pitt as usual, and I discovered-thanks to Melani and P.S. I Love you- the beauty of Gerard Butler

33. What political issue stirred you the most? Prop 8

34. Who did you miss? Melani at the beginning of the year, Kristen and Kayla at the end of the year, Mandi this summer, my family and garrett all year long

35. Who was the best new person you met? all of my friends I met this summer and in my ward now

36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008: Things will always work out if you just believe and do your part.

37. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: "Just because you're loosing-doesn't mean your lost..." Coldplay

snow please go away

So, I figured I should give a few updates in my life.

First and foremost I would like you all to know that I am oficially a freak. I know my family and close friends will say that they have known this all along but it has been confirmed by a doctor. The story behind this is kind of long but let me give you a brief synopsis... I go to the doctor for a swollen and painful foot from playing soccer-I figured a week of suffering was enough. The Dr. does a few X-rays and an ultrasound-yes, like they use for babies. They have no idea what is wrong with my foot. Shortly thereafter I am joined by two more doctors all looking at me, poking me, and asking me questions. Eventually they get distracted by the fact that apparently my left leg is significantly longer than my right one, something that somehow no one has ever noticed before. So then the doctors (3 of them) start popping me and stretching me in ways I never thought possible by any who are not contortionists by profession. So then I am told I need to go get more X-rays that will measure my tipia and femur on each leg and if the difference is bad enough I will have to get lifts in my shoes-ah! So I leave the doctor with MAJOR 90 year old arthritic woman back pain (from all the popping and adjusting) and as I am leaving I say, ok so what should I do about my foot? The doctors had gotten totally side-tracked and now my foot problem is still a mystery until I go back after break...funny story huh? I think so.

In other news, my intramural soccer team won the championships-there were 17 teams in our division so it is a pretty tough thing to win and I have been eyeing that free T-shirt all year long...



In other news, you may or may not now that I bought a new car! I never blogged about this because I don't want to sound braggy but I bought a new car about a month ago and I love it! It is a black 08 Hyundai Elantra. Here is a picture of the car that I took from google:



Also, I would once again like to remind you all how much I HATE the snow and the cold and the ice. I seriously cannot get warm! But in happier news I will be in Florida in just a few short days!! Ahh I love Florida, family, and Christmas! Yay! I probably won't be blogging again before I go so I hope you all have a happy, safe, and fun Christmas!

A Christmas Song I Love

I'm sure you have all heard this song before as it has been re-done by several popular artists. I love this song so much. The words express how I feel, how I just want everything to be OK for even just one day. I know opposition is part of the plan, but it is so hard to see people suffer. I think that we can all help alleviate some of the hurt in the world, even in just a small way, as we strive to be a friend and serve others. Anyway, here are the lyrics. Merry Christmas!

Grown-Up Christmas List

Do you remember me?
I sat upon your knee;
I wrote to you
With childhood fantasies.

Well, I'm all grown-up now,
And still need help somehow.
I'm not a child,
But my heart still can dream.

So here's my lifelong wish,
My grown-up christmas list.
Not for myself,
But for a world in need.

No more lives torn apart,
That wars would never start,
And time would heal all hearts.
And everyone would have a friend,
And right would always win,
And love would never end.
This is my grown-up christmas list.

As children we believed
The grandest sight to see
Was something lovely
Wrapped beneath our tree.

Well heaven surely knows
That packages and bows
Can never heal
A hurting human soul.

No more lives torn apart,
That wars would never start,
And time would heal all hearts.
And everyone would have a friend,
And right would always win,
And love would never end.
This is my grown-up christmas list.

What is this illusion called the innocence of youth?
Maybe only in our blind belief can we ever find the truth.


No more lives torn apart,
That wars would never start,
And time would heal all hearts.
And everyone would have a friend,
And right would always win,
And love would never end, oh.
This is my grown-up christmas list.

This is my grown-up christmas list.

I Never Thought I Would Say This

I know you all will think I am crazy (especially Melani) but just hear me out. Having a job where you basically do nothing will slowly drive you in sane. I love my job and I am grateful to have a job but I must say, I have way too much time on my hands. I try to be productive but even when I spend hours cleaning, running errands, and doing other such tasks I am still left with a LOT of free time at home and at work. During the weekends I generally stay busy because there is usually something going on but during the week-which is when my days off are- everyone is busy with school and not too much fun happens. I have watched more T.V. in the past 3 months than I have in the last 3 years combined.
During school, I would be gone for 12 hours a day most days. I enjoy being busy and working hard. Of course I would get worn out and count the days till the weekends but I really enjoyed it. I hate how lazy I feel now days, even though I am still really involved with a lot of things. It's just the fact that I have free time at work too and so that is 8 extra hours a day that normal people don't have. I know a lot of you think you would kill for all this extra time but it gets lonely and boring-especially when you don't have a whole lot of other obligations like kids and a family. I guess I can only watch so much TV and do so many projects before I want to go crazy. And now that it is cold I am much less inclined to go outdoors which is what I love to do when I have free time. But before I sound ungrateful and complain-y, let me tell you about my Tuesday shift, which is why I love the days so much more than the nights:

1) I got to work and ate breakfast and read the newspaper while supervising the kids' morning chores.
2) Went on a field trip with the kids to a medical place that took a few hours
3) Came back and did a bit of paperwork
4) Went outside for P.E. and played volleyball, basketball, and soccer
5) We had lunch time which I don't get a break for but I get free food and just supervise the kiddos
6) I typed some paperwork up
7) Hung out with the kids after school before going home

Basically it was a fun day- not stressful like most jobs, but not boring like the night shifts....It was absolutely a great day and this is one reason that I stay at my job-for the contact shifts. If I could have those shifts 5 days a week it would be heaven but sadly there may not be openings for years...

Bored?

If you ever need a good cry, check out this blog- ryandsteph.blogspot.com I stumbled upon it one night (through a friend of a friend) and I was so touched. It is an amazing story and the parents are just so optimistic and hopeful. I know you are all busy and there is a lot to read but seriously check it out.

I am Thankful, Yes I am

In my anticipation of Christmas I did not mean to overlook Thanksgiving. I love Thanksgiving a lot, and although I cannot be home this year, I am actually very excited I get to work that day. I am thrilled to have a day of work to just hang out with the kids- no school, no community service,no sleeping. If they are well behaved it should be a fun day with food, football, and games. I wanted to post something Thanksgiving-ish but listing all the things I am thankful for would be never ending, and many of those things are quite obvious anyway. So, I am going to write the 5 things I am most grateful for that have happened in the last 5 years, or basically the 5 biggest blessings in my life. The last 5 years have been full of changes as I moved out on my own. And here are the top five blessings that come to mind at this wee hour of the night:

1)Graduating from High School- being able to get an education is such a blessing that we often take for granted. High School was a lot of fun but I don't think I would ever want to relive it... in fact I know I wouldn't.
2) Moving out to school. This is pretty much all encompassing as so many things have come directly from this- my great wards, bishoprics, my old job, roommates, friends, intramurals, a certain boy, getting an education that opened my eyes to the world, learning to be my own person, learning what is really important in life, learning how to survive on as little sleep as possible, etc...
3) All of my nieces and nephews were born within the last 5 years except for one who is a bit older than that, but I am of course including him too and the little one on the way. These little dudes and gals are my most favorite people. They are so cute and I miss them. I pray daily in gratitude for them being in my life.
4) Becoming closer to family, thanks to amazing technology and also moving near a great cousin who takes care of me and makes sure I have a place to spend the holidays.
5) Graduating from college- I really didn't expect to make it. School was harder than I ever dreamed. I was pushed to the limits many-a-times but somehow I was guided through it. I love my major and the job it has led me to.

These are just some of the things that come to mind. I hope everyone has a yummy Thanksgiving and eats everything in site. Seriously don't hold back, or I will come steal your food.