Good Things Come in Small Packages.

I love stories.
I wish that I was a good story teller - you know the kind?
The people that make the most dull story in the world become edge-of-your seat thrilling!
How do they do it??
I definitely do not have that talent.
But I'm gonna tell you some stories anyway...brace yourself.


Story #1
This week I got a hang nail. Yup. A little dinky hang nail that ruined my day. I was at work when I felt the pain. Finally, this stinkin piece of skin was really getting irritating...soo...I ripped it off in haste. I was rushing around taking people's orders and didn't have time to really think about it. Then, after going to punch in someone's order in the computer, I realized it was bleeding everywhere. Noooo....I didn't have time for this! I had to go search for a band-aid before I could even THINK about touching someone's plate of food. The restaurant was just starting to get busy so naturally... I fell behind and once you're behind, it's hard to get yourself "unflustered" again.
All because of a stinkin little hang nail. Grrr...


Story #2
I started off the week with a completely clean bedroom. It was beautiful. Supa relaxing, peaceful, carefree, ya ya ya. So Monday comes around and I decide to throw my socks on the floor - it was only my socks. Big deal. I could pick them up later. The next day the socks were still there cuz I got super busy ok? And then I was so tired before bed the next night that I decided to just kick my shoes off at the foot of my bed and leave them for later. Big deal. They'd take 2 seconds to put away in the morning. Well...morning comes around and I'm running late, so I just tossed my pajamas on my bed to clean up after work...umm...big deal? NOW...I have a giant stinkin mess covering my room once again... Dang it!
I swear, I dont know how it happens.


Story #3
On Friday, I started feeling pretty rundown. Work didn't go so hot that day and I was just overly tired for some reason. People invited me to come play games, go hot tubbing, watch sports, be social...but I was just feelin like a bum. Anyway... one of my friends was way sweet. He brought me over a Mr. Big (my favorite chocolate bar). Big deal right? It was!! It was a huge deal to me. Something so little meant so much and made my night. He probably didn't even think much of it, but it made me smile.


Story #4
Ok, the last story for now.
So I still get nervous to go to work. I'm not 100% confident in my abilities to keep up with the customers at Boston Pizza and I kinda psych myself out each day before my shift. Weird, I know. Yesterday, I got a text from a friend in Rexburg right before I was about to start a shift. It was the simplest text ever but he complimented me and just let me know he was thinkin about me. It was sincere. Immediately, I felt better about life! I was a lot more pleasant to my co-workers than I might have been otherwise, and more excited to serve others because of the simple service I was rendered. It was so nice to just hear from a friend, especially positive, uplifting things.


Tying it all together:
What do these 4 stories have in common?
I believe that little things can bring about great things.
Sorry about starting with some negative stories, but I do believe that the little negative acts we do each day will have a big impact on our attitudes and outlook on life also. Let's focus on the positives each day!


Today, I heard a couple of talks about the Golden Rule. Do unto others as you would have others do to you. We've all been raised to know this rule, but do we always apply it?
A text, a chocolate bar, a hug, a smile....Are those things a big deal to those giving them? Not really. But they are to those receiving.
I heard a saying once that goes like this "To have a friend, you must be a friend"
There are days where I sit at home and get down on myself - - those are the days that I need to most take my own advice. Get out and serve someone. Even a text, phone call, shoveling sidewalks, or waving at someone can be great evidence of friendship and genuine care.


My mom used to tell me that good things come in small packages...I think she did this because I've always been the smallest person everywhere I go. But I believe that good things start in small packages to become great, big, giant things. Start with the small simple acts. 


Alma 37:6 "By small and simple things are great things brought to pass".

Top 5 Highlights from the week:

•  Valentine's Day actually turned out fun! 
• My "dance crew" (ha) auditioned for the talent show. It wasn't a total bust and we find out next week if we make it :) 
• Michelle got kicked out of the Bachelor FINALLY!!! I love this show...it's my guilty pleasure.
•  I got to go shopping with my littlest sister Shelby!

The #1 Highlight...

My twin, my other half, my best friend, my sister

came home for the weekend!!! HURRAY!

I'm so lonely without her! 

Love Is A Battlefield

VALENTINE'S DAY!!! WOOOO!!! 

I debated on writing a big ol' bitter blog on how love never works out and how this day is just another day to be reminded that I'm single....buuuuutttttt.... I decided that Valentine's day can be a day to show love to anyone and everyone! 

I LOVE my family so so much! I LOVE my friends! I am so blessed. 

Our ward is doing a bunch of Valentine's for the old folks in town tomorrow. What better way to celebrate a day of love eh?? They deserve it & need to feel it more than my selfish little body does :) 

For those of you searching for love like me - - I think it's important to remember a couple of key things!

1. Don't get down on yourself EVER. You are beautiful and amazing and given sooo many special gifts unique to YOU.

2. Fight for what you want in this life. "Love is a battlefield". (Yes, I'm watching 13 Going On 30 at the moment). I've seen too many good relationships end because one person didn't share how they truly felt or they were scared to get hurt. 

3. Patience. Good things take time. 

4. Be the person that you want to marry. Strong work ethic, respectful, good sense of humor, optimism, have fun, and keep yourself in good shape. We all know we want someone that looks good - don't deny it ha.

Yes. Love is a battlefield. I fight in my mind every day to come to the conclusion every night that I don't need a man to make me happy. One day, I will rely whole-heartedly on one man for eternity, but for now, life is GREAT! I am happy!

And for those of you in love or willing to share your love....

Top 5 highlights from the week:

- Finished choreographing our talent show dance for YSA~ sooo dope.

- Didn't lose my mind working a crazy shift at Boston Pizza. I think I'm getting better. Phewf

- Lost some bets when the Steelers lost the stinkin Super Bowl. What was that??

- Completed the 2nd book of the Hunger Games series.

And the #1 highlight...

- I witnessed the most epic movie in HISTORY on opening day. Never Say Never. Justin Bieber is such a cute little character. We wore Bieber shirts and screamed our little hearts out with all the 14 year old girls haha. I was inspired after that. I know that I can accomplish whatever I set my mind to thanks to a 16 year old Canadian boy. 

Welcome to the world of blogs!

Today is day 1 of my journey in the blog world. I've followed many bloggers in my day and most of them are amazing--even inspiring! If my blogs amount to anything more than a vent session or outlet for me, I'll be happy! (sounds selfish eh?)

So where should I take my first blog? I guess I'll start with a little introduction.

This is ME

I am a recent graduate of BYU-Idaho in Elementary Education. I guess...technically...I haven't graduated quite yet. I still have to student teach for 3 months in September. Teaching little guys is the most exciting, challenging occupation that I think I could've found for myself. I LOVE what I've experienced so far and can't wait to keep going with it.

Being home now is a crazy challenge in itself. True - life is easier with affording housing & food haha. I'm a mooch! But I don't always feel productive or that I'm pushing myself to be my best. I almost feel stagnant in life. Any suggestions??

I've started working as a server at Boston Pizza!

Talk about stress. Educating the future generations or guarding lives at a pool are NOTHING in comparison to the hectic-ness of serving hungry human beings. I have a lot more respect for servers now. All I can do is apologize for my ditsy mistakes as I try hard to remember everyone's orders (it's harder than it looks!) or when I forget that a table has been sitting waiting to get their bill for 10 mins! Oops.

One thing I have learned from this experience is: People can have such a good or bad impact on another person's day. Make it a goal, please, to smile at someone or compliment one person each day. It is so easy to bring happiness to someone that can influence their entire day for the better. By making one person happy, who knows what impact they'll have on others that day? It is such a domino effect. Grumpy people in the restaurant only make me grumpy. I've noticed, also, that I can have a positive or negative effect on those I serve as well. BE HAPPY PEOPLE!!

 "Happiness is the only good. The place to be happy is here. The time to be happy is now. The way to be happy is to help make others so." - Robert G. Ingersoll


"The best way to cheer yourself up, is to cheer somebody else up." - Mark Twain