Laughter

Last night daddy, Savannah, Adi, Craig and I (after eating at 1800contacts) went to watch the comedian, Brian Regan, in concert at Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake. As expected and hoped for at a comedy show, it was hilarious! That Brian Regan is one funny dude and his humor always makes my family double over in laughter. Only one picture was taken (and the picture is the reason there is a post about this night ...because i like sharing pictures, even if they are a little bit blurry) that night, but its a cutie, so naturally I had to put it up on the ol' blog. 

:) 

love y'all 

10 Things on my Mind

1. I'm going to make a quilt. I already have the fabric picked out and cut - all thats left is me getting enough motivation to actually start  it. 
2. When I signed up for my 8am class this semester, thinking it would be so much easier to wake up for than last semesters 7am class...I was dead wrong. I will never be a morning person no matter how hard I try.
3. I haven't exercised good and hard in a long time. No more laziness, ChelseaKate.
4. Angus the Bunny Puppy is a stinker - I am bound and determined to get him to be a well-behaved little man. (don't doubt me mom, miracles happen)
5. My boyfriend is the best boyfriend. Ever. And I like when I get home from being with him and find out my clothes smell like him :)
6. Soccer is very fun to watch and also quite intense to watch.
7. "I Won't Give Up" by Jason Mraz and "Kiss Me Slowly" by Parachute are my favorite songs and I will listen to them as much as I'd like, tomorrow.
8. Maybe I don't hate cats as much as I sometimes think I do.
9. When I'm done with this pointless post I'm going to pick out what I'm wearing tomorrow, otherwise I won't be able to sleep because my mind will be so occupied in stressing out over what I'll wear and if it will be cute or not. (because that is important)
10. I really thought I'd be asleep before 1am, tonight. (this morning?) I've got 12 minutes to try and accomplish that goal. Goodnight. 

funday

Sundays are the best. 

I had Ward Conference today where I was able to hear several incredibly amazing talks that made me happy, gave me goosebumps and gave me so much to look forward to and work for. It was everything I needed to hear. All while I was sitting in between my boyfriend and best friend. It was one of those moments where I was thinking...how can life get better than this? 

That is all.

craig & i at church

...& the day was even better because we got a new cute photograph...

Real Talk, Real Study

I've been wanting to do a new post for a while, now, but I just haven't been able to think of anything worth posting about. To be honest, I still have no idea what I should talk about but I figured I might as well start typing and see where that leads me. We'll see if I even finish this post and publish it, its very possible I'll just delete it then get back to my day.


Wait, I've got it.

If you remember from a previous post, one of my new years resolutions was to read the scriptures daily, and also make my scripture study more meaningful. Guess what? I've read them every day this year, so far. I've always been pretty good at reading, daily, but I've noticed a lot of times my "study" would consist of reading a few verses then going about my day, wishing I could apply what I read about in my life, but never taking any action in making that wish a reality.

So that is what I've been working hard on this year of twenty-twelve.

And its been life-changing.

I've always had a testimony of the Book of Mormon, even when I was very young, thanks to my daddy and his strong testimony of the Book of Mormon that I was able to sort of lean on for several years. As I got older I began developing a more personal, independent testimony. For a while, though, my testimony dealing with the Book of Mormon was very stationary, never really getting bigger or more powerful, mostly just standing still...up until January 1st, 2012. 

I was in the middle of the Book of Mormon at the end of 2011, but like I said, my personal study wasn't that deep or meaningful, so I made the decision to start over and do everything in my power to make it more spiritual, powerful and deep. I also went into this new study habit with the attitude of dedicating some major time to studying this great book. I've had to change my thought process. If I have time to do homework, play with my family, be with Craig, exercise, take naps, etc, then there is no reason I don't also have time to spend in my scriptures. I totally have that time. No excuses. Even if it is two in the morning and all I want to do is snuggle up in my bed and sleep, I now hold myself to a higher standard knowing that I have to study my scriptures, even if its just a verse or two. I have vowed to always say a prayer before I read and really focus on what it is I'm reading, even if I'm crunched on time. It doesn't seem like you're really reading your scriptures if, by the end of your "study" you can't even say what you read about, you know? And I don't want to do that kind of "studying," anymore. I want the good stuff. The thing is, you can learn a lot from just one verse and I want to learn something from every verse. There's a reason those verses made it into the scriptures and its up to me to figure out why that verse and those words are relevant in my life.  

And there you have it. My post I've been wanting to do for a while, now. 

I knew I could come up with something if I just started...and I'd say the topic of The Book of Mormon is a pretty good one, yeah? 

Until next time, my friends..

Conversation in the Kitchen

Thank you

Those words will never suffice nor truly show you the impact you made on my heart, soul and mind. Perhaps, unless you read these words and then my mind, you'll never know what the conversation in the kitchen did to me. For once, someone finally saw deeper than my skin and had a taste of what I've felt. I saw the sympathy in your eyes, heard it in your voice and felt it in your long embraces. I needed that, I needed you, more than I was ever aware. I'm a long way from perfect, but because of you I have the confidence to get there. (i hope and i pray every single night that i never lose you) You looked me over and you smiled, called me pretty and pulled me in, again. Maybe its cliche, being a girl and all, but that gesture sent me soaring and changed the girl I see in the mirror, now. Its possible you thought everything you said were merely words, but to me, they changed me. My confidence. My happiness. My motivation. My life. I owe the heart-transformation to you, dear. You perfect person, thank you.

Hurr

Sooo...

I changed my hair color. 

I'm still deciding if I like this change. Although, I think I do.

Its my attempt at getting back to my natural color - and its pretty dang close.

Its a dark blonde and it has some red to it. Maybe a dark strawberry blonde?

Anyway, take a looksie. Whaddya think?

*this just in. its hard to take pictures of your new hair and have the light hit it just right as to show the real new color of it.

but i did my best..

Sleepless in Springville

Its been a while since I've posted about how annoying it is not being able to sleep, huh? Right. So it looks as if the time has come for another one! I figure posting may be more exciting than googling pictures of bunnies, which may be what I've been doing for the past half hour of my life. Don't judge me, there is just NOTHING to do at night. Plus, bunnies are cute.

Last night I pulled an unintentional all-nighter. Thats the worst kind of all-nighter, if you ask me. The kind where every second of your sleepless night you're wishing you were asleep or at least tired, or even kind of tired. Ugh. Worst. Throughout most of the night all I wanted to do was go on a run...but I was pretty darn sure my parents wouldn't be too happy about me leaving at 4 in the morning to run around Springville. So I stayed home and went crazy a bit longer.


In other news, school starts on Monday. I'm dreading it because its school, but at the same time I'm sort of excited. Christmas break has been all sorts of great (except for getting sick, that parts not cool) but the days filled with no plan or purpose are getting kind of old. I'm thinking having homework will be good for me, although I'm sure in a few days/weeks when I do have homework, I'll be kicking myself for saying that! Ah, school.


Well, friends, I hope you're all sleeping. As for me, I'm still wide awake but I think I'll give getting some shut-eye another chance. Now I leave you with some cute things I found on the internet whilst battling insomnia. Goodnight. xoxo.

Resolutions

Every year, around December, I always think about new years resolutions. But that is as far as I go. I just think about them. Maybe I'll even set a few goals and sort of do them the first few days of January or at least think of them, but I'll be honest, they never last long... So who's to say this years resolutions will be any different? Regardless, here I am, promising I'll stick to them just like I do every year. Maybe this time I really will come through and not give up on these goals.

In thinking of ways to really accomplish these new years resolutions, I thought maybe writing them down would be a good motivation. Perhaps some of you readers can check-up with me occasionally and make sure I'm still working on them, yeah? (please?!)

So without further ado, here are my 2012 New Years Resolutions:

1: Do my New Years Resolutions
2: Have more meaningful personal prayer morning and night
3: Read my scriptures every day, no excuses - even if its just one verse
4: Get good at playing the piano again
5: Write in my journal at least five times a week
6: Be more charitable and look for more opportunities to serve
7: Exercise at least 5 times a week
8: Eat healthier/drink more water
9: Keep a 'thankful journal'
10: Go to the temple once a week
{and a few more personal ones i choose not to publish, publicly}


Wish me luck!

2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

happy new years, friends! i hope 2012 treats you all well!

love,

chelsekate