My Fellow Americans...

There is no doubt a division in this country tonight. Democrats elated at their victory, Republicans distraught over their loss. Both sides slinging mud and disparaging comments. And while I am on the "losing" end of this election, I hoped and prayed and voted for Romney to win this run, I am forced to face the reality that: Obama is once again our president. Now it's time to move forward. So, here's a list of the top ten reasons to hold on to hope, to unite as a country, and not to move to Canada.

1. No matter how bad things get here, Canada is always worse. 'Merica! Eh?

2. Resilience. How many wars have we fought? We claimed our freedom from the Brits, we ended slavery, and we came back flourishing after the Great Depression. This is a great country. We were the victims of terrorist attacks--an event that the hearts of the American people will not forget; an event that I personally feel brought this nation closer together than any tragedy or devastation or even victory since the Depression. We fought back. I know we can make it through the next 4 years

3. It is Better to Look Up. I implore you to read this talk. I have nothing more to add.

4. United We Stand, Divided We Fall. Truer words cannot be spoken. So let's come together as a country, as a people, as a nation, and pick up the pieces and stand together to strengthen these United States. The Founding Fathers established a land worth fighting for. "One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." So let's stand together.

5. You must be the change you want to see in the world. I don't believe in being a victim of circumstance. This country was established by the people, for the people. Don't sit idly by on your disinterested/unattached butts and complain that the economy, government, whatever is not what you want. If you feel strongly, do something. If you aren't making an effort to better your life, your country, your world, you aren't passionate enough. And if you aren't living passionately, you aren't really living.

6. This is what the leaders of the LDS Church have to say on the matter:

The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued the following statement today:

"We congratulate President Obama on winning a second term as President of the United States.

After a long campaign, this is now a time for Americans to come together. It is a long tradition among Latter-day Saints to pray for our national leaders in our personal prayers and in our congregations. We invite Americans everywhere, whatever their political persuasion, to pray for the President, for his administration and the new Congress as they lead us through difficult and turbulent times. May our national leaders reflect the best in wisdom and judgment as they fulfill the great trust afforded to them by the American people.

We also commend Governor Romney for engaging at the highest level of our democratic process which, by its nature, demands so much of those who offer themselves for public service. We wish him and his family every success in their future endeavors."

See the statement on MormonNewsroom.org: http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/statement-on-election-result

And who are you to argue?

7. The true and living prophet President Thomas S Monson. He leads and guides us not only in this country, but to the far reaches of the earth. Put your faith and trust in him, because he is the Lord's mouthpiece, and he will not lead you astray.

8. Republicans maintain the majority in the House, so at least there is some balance.

9. A friend of mine (whom has a remarkable resemblance to Bradly Cooper. Babe.) had this status, and it's definitely some food for thought:

‎"A little rebellion now and then is a good thing and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical."

THOMAS JEFFERSON, letter to James Madison, Jan. 30, 1787

10. Obama=Batman. Nuff said.

SIDE NOTE:

Helaman 5:2 "For as their laws and their governments were established by the voice of the people, and they who chose evil were more numerous than they who chose good, therefore they were ripening for destruction, for the laws had become corrupted."---coincidence?? At the very least, if the Second Coming does come about, for all of us single people, my wise father pointed out "at least all the telestial people (boys) will be weeded out, so all the prospects that remain are the good picks."

"That dweam, wifin a dweam"

It all started with a brisk fall run. Nothing too hard or crazy. I stop by the Japanese restaurant my sister Rachel works at to say hi, then my best friend Kassie picks me up and we decide to drive to the local music hall, movie club/casino...thing as the night falls. However, when we park, we notice police men with some sort of ski masks, as well as Spongebob characters enter the club, and they start chasing everyone out. I pull out my phone and start to take pictures of everyone and record everything. We all realize that these "police" were there to take control of this casino. They get on the roof, take off their masks shooting and I notice a large elderly man being given a particularly hard time. I record faces, names and voices. Then, one of them catches me, and starts running after me to get my camera. I scream at Kassie to drive, drive, DRIVE!! She throws her car in reverse, but before she can drive off, the man, (who also happened to be a Chinese ninja) caught the door and climbed his way in. I'm frantically trying to fight him off me while call the police. Finally, Kassie turns some sharp corners and I manage to kick him out of my open door. Yet somehow, we end up back in front of the casino. Where these criminals are all on the lookout for us! And as we realize this and peel out as fast as the car will go, a black man among the criminals starts running alongside our car (because black people are so fast!) He tries to get in, but we've locked the doors and windows. He hangs on, and we just can't shake him, so Kassie hits the gas and we ramp up a pile of cars, off a building, and the car is rolling and spinning as it comes crashing down to the ground. Our black pursuer is dead, and Kassie breaks out of the car, unaffected by the accident. She has to dig me out, and we continue to try to find the authorities on foot. I have sustained a massive concussion though, and I pass out. Luckily a friend of mine witnessed this, and threw me into his truck and drove me to the emergency room. He and Kassie left me there, and the team of doctors get to work. I have regained consciousness, and realize, my doctors are evil war lords, and the elderly man I noticed getting driven out of the casino was the criminal mastermind behind it all. They all spoke their plans in front of me, thinking I was helpless in this situation. When I told them I was going to turn them in, and informed them that I have secretly placed information incriminating all of them, they tried to give me pills to knock me out. I pretended to take them and pass out, and I somehow was able to tap into the man behind it all's head. I saw him back in the casino, deviously setting his plan into motion as he prostituted my friends. I found out what he was after. The doctors soon figured out I was pretending, and tried to force me to take the pills. I knew these pills would be my demise, and I had to get out of there and stop this plan. I fought my way out of the room, only to discover that it was in the casino, which housed a dragon family. I come face to face with the male dragon, and I look down to discover I am equipped with armour and a sword. And we battle. As I grow tired, I look up to see a passageway that might just be my way out. I scale the walls and narrowly escape the dragon's fiery breath. I make my way to the chamber that housed the wife dragon. I stop dead in my tracks when I see that I've caught her gaze. She speaks to me, tells me to take my friends and the girl with the sparkling hair and get out. Myself, Kassie, and my friend with the truck look around and see water ways that have long since dried up, that lead down and out of this dreary layer. The male is coming, and he's coming fast. We know there's no way we can make it down fast enough, until the girl with the sparkling hair let's her hair down, and from it flows rushing water, fast enough to carry us out, and protect us from the dragon. We ride down the water ways, and in what seems like seconds, we are dumped out at the floor of the Japanese restaurant! Apparently the family that owned it had been harboring the secret to controlling the dragons for generations, and that's what the criminal mastermind guy was trying to discover. My friends and I discussed with the Japanese family what our plan of action should be. They informed us that they wanted to sue the war lords and their leader, and asked if I knew anyone who could be their lawyer. It was at that point that I introduced them to Jeff Winger, and all went dark.

I don't know what Sierra puts in those oreo cookies, but man, my dream was nutso!

Use the Force, Nephi

DISCLAIMER: This may in fact be the nerdiest thing you'll ever read.

I know I've talked about this to some people before, but I was just reading my scriptures, and I came across this part in Nephi 17: 53-54
And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me: Stretch forth thine hand  again unto thy brethren, and they shall not wither before thee, but I will shock them, saith the Lord, and this will I do, that they may know that I am the Lord their God.
And it came to pass that I stretched forth my hand unto my brethren, and they did not wither before me; but the Lord did shake them, even according to the word which he had spoken.

The priesthood=the force. Nephi totally just forced shocked his brothers.

Obi-Wan, Yoda, Qui-Gan-Jin, all appear as "force ghosts" to Luke to help him on his merry way, Moroni, Mormon, Elijah, etc. all appear to help people and prophets out...like Joseph Smith, they helped him out right?

There is the light side, and the dark side of the force. The priesthood, given by God, provides worthy young men that hold it, the ability to perform miracles and healing. I've had friends tell me stories about things they've done, like running faster than they ever have before, ((force run)) and they only knew that it was by the power of the Lord that they were able to do it for a righteous cause. (light side) "A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense. Never for attack." Yoda
---"The light side of the Force was concerned with the ideals of good, benevolence, and healing. Followers of the light side strove to live in harmony with the world around them, acting out of wisdom and logic rather than anger and hasty judgment. In order to achieve harmony with the light side of the Force, its practitioners would often meditate to clear themselves of emotion; particularly negative emotions such as aggression, fear, anger, and hatred, since these were thought to bring on acceptance of the dark side." Men must always be worthy of their priesthood. How can they exercise their power if they are angry or have anything in their heart but love, compassion, and righteousness. The Holy Ghost cannot grant the power of the priesthood and all its abilities otherwise.

Satan has a counter for everything...however, I won't go into that for the sake of not offending people...(dark side) "The strength of the dark side lies with the power of the individual. The Force comes from within. You must learn to draw on it yourself." Darth Bane
--Satan doesn't want us to rely on the Lord, he tries to get you to indulge in self pleasures and to be self serving, never thinking of others. Even Anakin says "The Sith rely on their passion for their strength. They think inward, only about themselves." That's what the followers of Satan do.

Force sense/enlightenment/comprehension=revelation

Force heal=priesthood blessing

Force stealth=Nephi was inspired to put on the clothes of Laban to get the plates from Zoram
(1 Nephi 4: 19-26
19 And after I had smitten off his head with his own sword, I took the garments of Laban and put them upon mine own body; yea, even every whit; and I did gird on his armor about my loins.

20 And after I had done this, I went forth unto the treasury of Laban. And as I went forth towards the treasury of Laban, behold, I saw the ^aservant of Laban who had the keys of the treasury. And I commanded him in the voice of Laban, that he should go with me into the treasury.

21 And he supposed me to be his master, Laban, for he beheld the garments and also the sword girded about my loins.

22 And he spake unto me concerning the ^aelders of the Jews, he knowing that his master, Laban, had been out by night among them.

23 And I spake unto him as if it had been Laban.

24 And I also spake unto him that I should carry the engravings, which were upon the ^aplates of brass, to my elder brethren, who were without the walls.

25 And I also bade him that he should follow me.

26 And he, supposing that I spake of the ^abrethren of the ^bchurch, and that I was truly that Laban whom I had slain, wherefore he did follow me.)

Obviously they aren't exactly the same, or else everyone would have been suspicious of George Lucas but...force, priesthood...force, priesthood...force, priesthood....is there some kind of similarity there? I think maybe there is...(50 points to whoever gets that reference).




Also, Rachel is the greatest.

If We'd All Just Listen a Little Closer

My friend just posted this video: http://youtu.be/a1uPf5O-on0

I clicked on it, thinking it would be some cute story about an Autistic girl learning to sing or something like that. For those of you who don't know, my youngest brother has Down Syndrome, so special needs kids have such a hold on my heart. I have also worked with them as a substitute teacher and through a program when I was in middle school, and I can honestly say no child or person will love you more, or accept you without hesitation or expectation than those with special needs. I remember teaching in a special needs class, and the moment one of the little boys rolled himself in on his wheelchair, he took one look at me, his eyes lit up, and he asked "do you want to be my friend?" My heart instantly just melted. I also worked on a train in Durango--every winter we would put on the Polar Express, and I would work as a chef, serving hot chocolate, singing songs, and getting everyone excited about Christmas--and one night, I had a group of disabled adults. Among those, I had a Down Syndrome couple sitting at a table for two. I usually go around and ask the passengers about their lives and their Christmas experience thus far, etc. and this night was different only for the fact that I had far less passengers, so I got more time to talk to each of them. So, as I was talking to this couple, I asked how their Christmas season was going. The girl responded that it was going to be the greatest Christmas of her life, because she was finally getting exactly what she wanted. When I asked her what that was, the man sitting with her grabbed her hand and said "I just asked her to be my sweetheart for the rest of my life." My eyes tear up just writing this.

So I watched that video, and I cannot possibly express how it touched me. As much as I love those kids, I will be the first to admit I'm pretty ignorant about their conditions. I know that my brother, having Down Syndrome, meant he had one extra chromosome, and I know common mannerisms and tendencies, but I have never really understood just how that effects him. I had a couple kids in my class all through school that I worked with and talked to and knew as a presence, but never took the time to try to understand. I never knew why one of the Autistic girls could never look at me, or why one of the boys would sometimes cover his ears, I just thought it was a body function that they couldn't control or something. I never would have guessed that it was because they needed to block out sensory overload. The girl in this video is completely aware when she is being asked a question. She knows what's going on around her, and because her parents didn't give up on her, didn't write her off, and loved her so much, she is able to communicate exactly what she is thinking or what she wants. So often I think society disregards these kids because they don't out rightly show that they understand this world around them, but that is evidently so far from the truth. How much would these kids have to tell us if everyone took the time to really, genuinely listen?

"As Long as There is Hope, There Can Never Be True Despair"

Yes, the title of this blog is off The Dark Knight Rises. And although the original context this is used in is awful and haunting, the sentiment is true. (Trev, I disagree that there aren't any good one-liners from that movie.)
For a while now, the messages of hope seem to be coming at me from all sides. Admittedly, I was needing to hear a lot of them, but this post is for some people that I hold very dear to my heart, people that I know are struggling and need some light at the end of that tunnel. I love Mormon Messages, because they are all so inspiring, and they're short and don't take a lot of time to watch, so here's one about the Infinite Power of Hope. If you'd like to read the entire talk, I'd direct you to the LDS website, General Conference section, which I highly recommend because it's beautiful and so powerful.
I am a firm believer that no one has harder trials than anyone else. We are all tested, and we all go through trials that are hard for us individually. We all hurt the same, just from different circumstances. I know that the Lord will never throw anything at us that we cannot overcome. So we have simply to endure, and to persevere. I want to echo what my brother said this morning, that "to give up, achieves nothing." So press forward through the pain and the hardships, and look with optimism to the future, and know that Jesus, our Lord and Savior is there to guide you and help you. Said President Gordon B. Hinckley "life is to be enjoyed, not just endured." Life isn't supposed to be easy, it's not supposed to be fair, but no matter how dark everything seems to be around you, I implore you to never give up. Never stop fighting. You are never truly alone.
For those of you who don't know or haven't read it, there is a book of divine revelations written in the latter days called the Doctrine and Covenants. It begins with Joseph Smith recounting his Vision, and is passed along by prophets until 1918. In section 122, the Prophet Joseph Smith is in jail at Liberty, Missouri, and this poor, wonderful man, had been through so much grief and pain, being tarred and feathered, watching his friends and children die, being betrayed, persecuted, and eventually murdered, I cannot imagine the kind of despair I would have slipped into were I in his position. But, while in this prison, the Lord speaks to him, and tells him that all these perils and trials will give him experience and be for his good. Essentially, Heavenly Father tells Joseph, that even if he is betrayed, killed, even if the very jaws of hell open up to swallow him, "The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he? Therefore, hold on thy way...for God shall be with you forever and ever." So don't despair. The Lord knows exactly what you're going through, and He wants to help. 3 Nephi 15:9 says "Behold, I am the law, and the light. Look unto me, and endure to the end, and ye shall live; for unto him that endureth to the end will I give eternal life."

http://youtu.be/j2Ll28f60f4

Hope is the abiding trust that the Lord will keep his promises

"YOLO"

'"Seize the day" in Latin is "Carpe Diem"—"Seize the day" in douchebag is "YOLO."'--funniest status I've ever seen.

I was listening to Ke$ha, because I love her, and I was listening to a song where she is actually singing, and she doesn't sound too bad right? See she has talent, she's just usually too drunk to use it. But you know, she's not everyone's cup of tea...Glozell thinks she has some issues apparently. Haters gonna hate. Then again, other little girls just aspire to be what she is. Also, sometimes I think I spend far too much time on the internet.

Then, I put on my country pandora station, and came across the sweetest country song. I'm obsessed.


Sometimes, my thoughts are really scattered. So for those reading this, the previous two paragraphs were just a side note. Sorry. I think that happens a lot in my blog. In any case, my life has been pretty awesome recently, so I thought I'd just brag about it.

For the past couple weeks, I've been celebrating my roommate/best friend Kassie's birthday. We went to dinner, and I made her get on the birthday saddle:

Hahahahahahaha she hated me.

Then we went to a couple dance parties, made mocktini margaritas...


Went to dinner again, got all dressed up and hit up LMFAO in concert


Which was seriously one of the raddest things I have ever done. And, since it was my first concert and Kassie's birthday, we decided that the seats we paid for, so far away from Redfoo and SkyBlu, were not sufficient, so Kass used that feminine charm of hers on the poor teenage bouncer who really didn't stand a chance, and got us into General Admissions. Best. Plan. Ever. It was like one huge, outrageous dance party! First concert experience=win. Then of course, my brother asks me if I'll help him move into his new house the next morning, and I was so exhausted, I didn't really have a chance to shower. So, I felt gross, smelled like booze, and proceeded to move crap for the next 9 hours. It's as close to a hangover as I ever want to get. I felt like Lindsay Lohan...


I've accepted recently that since moving away from home, I've tapped into my country girl side more than ever. Last Saturday, I went to a Chris Cagle concert with some friends, and I looooved it. More than anything. Country people are such nice, friendly, genuine people. And they have such big hearts. I need to find me a country boy. It was so so much fun.


But most recently, and most impressively, I have a couple friends that have been going through some hard stuff lately, so yesterday I fasted for them. As I am fasting and praying, and thinking about them, I started wondering "what can fasting really do for someone? It seems such a simple, insignificant gesture, how can it really help?" Almost immediately after I had that thought, one of those friends let me know that what he had been struggling with had been resolved, and everything was going to be ok. My heart was so touched and so full of gratitude. My testimony grew so much in that moment, I don't really even have words to express it. I testify of the effectiveness of fasting and prayer.

CARPE DIEM

"God Be With You Til We Meet Again"

Today, May 2, 2012, I said goodbye to my cousin Levi Harris, as he dedicates the next 2 years of his life to the Lord. He's leaving to Bogota, Colombia North Mission, to share the beautiful message of the gospel to all the people there.

   Such a goof. Levi was my very first best friend. We've lived across the street from each other basically my whole life. We have grown up together, and we've always been close. Even times when we didn't see each other for a while, once we got together again, it was just like old times.

    We made movies, caused some mischief, hung out, and we were always on the same team whenever our families would play games together such as Capture the Flag...apparently it was one of the great injustices of his life to always be paired with me...but I was always really shrimpy and bad at those games, so that's understandable. Haha. I used to call him Wubbies, because that was obviously much easier to say than Levi....

    Levi and I have had countless adventures. Of course, when we hung out right before I moved to Utah, he told me we couldn't do anything too crazy because he has really bad luck, and always gets caught, and I have a knack for getting other people in trouble, so he'd get super busted, which for some reason he wasn't cool with...I don't know. He'd had been getting in trouble a lot. One of my favorite memories is one of my most recent trips to Durango, and he, Jacob, and I were just walking around and we see this guy with a bowstaff, doing flips and tricks and stuff: WP_20120312_205657Z.mp4
Ain't no thing. Yes people in Durango are like that. Anyways, then we plotted this whole scenario to walk up to the guy and tell him we were there to complete his training. Jacob was Zeus, Levi was Thor, and I was Jazellda, the forrest sprite. Unfortunately the guy left as we were approaching him. Had we not been laughing so hard we probably would have made it to him before he peaced. We're weird.

     I can't even tell you guys how much I'm going to miss that kid. I know he's going to be such a great missionary. The gospel has always been so important to him. He sees every experience in relation to the gospel and the Plan, and I really am looking forward to hearing about everything that's going to happen in the mission field. He's going to love it!

   For as long as I can remember, he has loved Captain Moroni, and looked up to him, and idolized him. Just before we dropped him off, he was talking about the Title of Liberty. Captain Moroni is a Book of Mormon hero. My sister just blogged about this and told the story, so if you're curious: http://adventuresindisneyworld.blogspot.com/2012/04/stripling-warriors.html I couldn't have said it better myself. So I won't. But raeding that, I'm sure you can see where Levi gets his admiration. Even the scriptures say "17 Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto ^aMoroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the ^bdevil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men." -Alma 48:17. Well, in all honesty, I can say, Levi is like unto Moroni. He has always strived to live his life in a way that he shines as an example of our Savior. He has always had a strong testimony. He has always had the biggest, kindest heart. My little brother looks up to him in every way, and I love that. Levi is crazy and funny, and one of my best friends. Even though I know he's doing exactly what he's supposed to be doing, I've been feeling a little sad about saying goodbye, until I was reading my scriptures and I came across 3 Nephi 5:13 "Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life." And that's what Levi is doing. I am so proud of him. I couldn't be happier for him. I love that guy! Be sure to keep him in your prayers while he's out there serving. I pray that the Lord keeps him safe.

GRADUATING!

When Jacob was getting set apart...Levi forgot to change out of his Robin costume...everything about this picture is ridiculous.

No we didn't go to prom together, he took my friend that's falling there in the front in the blue dress.

And this is us hiding at a surprise party. I got stuck under that bench.

I LOVE YOU WUBBIES!!! I WILL MISS YOU!!!