the one where i tell you about the good life

if you didn't know, i'm from the good ol' state of Nebraska

now us Nebraskans, we pride ourselves in a few things. one being our sweet corn
sweet corn is only good for a few weeks out of the summer, and so most Nebraskans, we have a special day designated for our corn. now it's a different day for each family but it's almost always called
corn day. 
corn day is one of the worst days out of the summer, it's the day where you wake up early head out to the field with your five-gallon buckets, go through the rows and pick sweet corn. you load it up in usually the bed of a pick-up truck. now for my family, there's seven of us so our truck is usually close to overflowing. you ride back home piled on top of your reaping. the next few hours you spend shucking and shucking and again, shucking, or husking if you prefer, which is how we got the name huskers obviously. then you boil and cool the corn, clean off any silks that may still be on it, then finally cut. cut the corn of the cob. this is the messiest job. every year you will get covered in corn, it squirts and is sticky and it sucks. and the next year you vow to stay clean but you always fail. after cutting the corn you bag and freeze it so you may eat it's deliciousness all year round! then comes the clean-up. it's a long process, usually an 8 hr day at least and a messy one at that but it's a blessing coming from such a  beautiful land and having delicious sweet corn. it really is the good life

the one where i tell you about my vacation

so this past week i've been on vacation with my amazing family! it was probably thee greatest family vacation thus far! We definitely had some rough patches, but it was all worth it. It started out Thursday at a family reunion on my mom's side. We watched movies on a screen under the stars, rode horses, went to a water-park, went to a melodrama (so much fun! a skit where the audience boos the villains, cheers for the heroes and watches the cast fight for the money that is thrown on stage!), and got to see long lost relatives. Saturday morning we left for Kirtland Ohio, where we would meet up with a family that we're all very close to. The drive from Omaha, NE to Kirtland was excruciating! Took us all day. along the way we stopped at Iowa; where we decided the strangest people in all America were located. [i won't even mention the neon green hair, flapping pant legs, and lady with a fake tail! no offense to those from Iowa, i'm sure it was just a bad day. (let's hope)] we then soon realized we had forgotten our passports which we obviously needed for our trip to Canada. everyone was pretty bummed out including myself! but none of us could stay sad for too long. my dearest mother felt so bad, as if she had ruined our whole trip. We then proceeded to get lost and somehow ended up in Michigan. although the state was beautiful and far better than the interstate, it was not on the way by any means. at last we made it to only our second stop of our long trip. the next day we attended church in Hirum and then visited the Johnson Farm where Joseph Smith stayed for sometime, receiving much of the Doctrine and Covenants. I had no idea how much had taken place there. We took many tours there and got to see the first temple built by the Latter-Day Saints. The following day we drove a few hours to Niagara Falls. Because we had forgotten the passports we were afraid that we wouldn't have such a great time, but we were wrong! it was great, we took the maid of the mist out to the falls, saw the whirlpools, got to stand under the falls, walk through the cave of the winds, and luckily, see the lights at night. so beautiful. After our adventure there we drove to Palmyra, NY. We went to Joseph Smith's log cabin and other buildings. We each had the amazing experience to walk through the Sacred Grove. What an incredible testimony builder it was to actually be able to pray to our Father in Heaven near the very place where he appeared to fourteen year old Joseph. It was beyond incredible. We then had a temple session, climbed Hill Cumorah; where the plates were buried, went to the printing shop; where the first Book of MOrmon was published, visited Alvin Smith's grave, saw where Martin Harris' farm was, ate some great pizza, and waited for the Hill Cumorah Pageant.The Pageant was amazing!! i can't even put into words how strong the spirit was throughout the show. I loved every second of it and i couldn't stop snapping pictures. The following morning we said goodbye to the family who had been with us and went on our way to the Peter Whitmer Farm where the church was first organized. We then headed off towards Nauvoo, IL where the Nauvoo Pageant was still taking place. we loved the HIll Cumorah one so much we decided to stop through and watch this one. although it was a long drive, it was definitely worth it. again the pageant was so spiritual and just amazing all the way around. we finally got home the next day after a week and a half. the vacation had it's ups and downs for sure! but i couldn't have been on a more inspirational, spiritual, and uplifting trip as the one i just returned home from. I'm so glad i know the things i've been taught and i'm so very blessed for not only this great Gospel in my life but for my amazing family who believes and understands how very blessed we are to have it.

The Girls on the trip

Kirtland Temple

The Lights at Niagara Falls

The Falls

Characters from the Hill Cumorah Pageant

again, a little blurry

Opening scene from Hill Cumorah Pageant

 

Opening scene from Nauvoo Pageant

the one when i become a designer

so i have this shirt, and i love it.
it's comfy and cute and you can wear it on fat days or skinny days
but....i bought it in the wrong size. and i couldn't take it back!
so i've been struggling trying to figure out how to wear this when it's too baggy!
not the good too baggy, like "oh look at her she can pull off the hipster look!"
i mean the "jeesh! she must've gained weight! looks like she swallowed a mattress!"
yes i'm afraid that's the baggy we're talking about.
so then i suddenly had a genius idea!
i cut it up!
in a good way. and now it looks pretty normal!

ta duh!!
brilliant i know!

the one i loved and stole from someone else

Life is to short to waste time hating anyone.
If you don't like something change it, if you can't change it, change your attitude.
You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
Cry with someone. It's more healing that way.
Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.


Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
Everything can change in the blink of an eye.
Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living and make something of it.
It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.


When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
Burn the candles, use the nice sheets and take long bubble baths with soothing music.
Overprepare, then go with the flow.


No one is in charge of your happiness except you.


Always choose life.


Forgive everyone for everything.


What other people think of you is none of your business.


Time heals almost everything.
However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

Believe in miracles.
God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.


If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.


Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.


Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.


Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.


The best is yet to come.
No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.


Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.


Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift...

the one where I'm inspirational

sometimes the best thing you can do is

not think, not wonder,

not imagine, not obsess,

just breathe, and have faith that

everything will work out for the best

♥ ♥ ♥

the one where i ponder about life

A lot has happened lately that has just opened my eyes to how simple and yet fragile this life truly is. Tuesday morning i attended a funeral. A friend's ten year old little brother was killed in a car accident just last week. Although i didn't know this boy well the few times i've been with him he was always giggling and shyly whispering into the ears of his siblings making them laugh. At the funeral I really learned what a great kid he was and how he was always trying to uplift others. I can't even comprehend the strength the family has to be able to go on with a smile on their face and at least know that they will see him again. I have a strong testimony of the Plan of Salvation, but i can't say it really has ever been tested and i hope and pray it doesn't have to be. But really, the only family members i've lost were grandparents and although it's sad, it's life and it makes sense. But to have someone so young that has barely lived? It doesn't seem fair and i think that's truly when someone's faith would be tried. I'm so very blessed to be able to understand and know my Heavenly Father's plan for us. What a comfort it has been, and will be, to be sure of seeing my loved ones again. I can't help but thinking how blessed I am to be so close with my siblings and parents. What a strength they have been in my weakest moments. They are honestly and without a doubt my closest companions and greatest friends. To know they will always stand up for me and be there for me is so gratifying. Life is very delicate and i think it's so important to know what things in life will make you the happiest and the best person you can be. As much as i love sports, materialistic things and such, are they truly what we should focus this life on? This is your life. Do what you love, and do it often. That doesn't mean "YOLO, be crazy have fun, go wild!" it means in the long run, what makes you happy, do that. And if you realize you don't like something...then change it. Make it better because you can and don't be afraid to. You have the ability to do that.If you don't have enough time for the important moments in life then get off the computer, iPod, or phone and change that too. Don't overanalyze life, all emotions are great and every incident will be worth it, even those beautiful disasters and those perfect flaws. it's ok to be lost at times, that's what will help you find yourself. Open your mind, arms, and heart to new things. And people, we are and will be united with our differences! And although i've only lived for 18 years, i feel as if i've been blessed to know what, undoubtedly, the greatest things in life really are.

the one where i change the style again

hey remember that one time i changed the style of my blog?

well guess what?

i did that again.

woah, surprise! 

how do you like it, have any suggestions?

let me know!

the one where i steal blog titles from a friend-and apologize

WEll....i think i will apologize for not writing for months! but we all know we're busy and it happens.. senior year was crazy but wonderful but I'm glad I'm done! In March i surprised my amazing sister who was nannying for my cousin in AZ, it was great and my first time flying! in April i had my senior prom and it was amazing! couldn't have asked for a better way to end! in May i graduated and i can honestly tell you, i hate preparing for graduation and the reception! it sucks.
hmmm what else has happened?
~Sierra came back home finally
~fell in love with my best friend--He was a foreign exchange student, sexy accent? yes please :)
~cried a ton when he left!
~my best friend from Germany came and visited--had a blast!
~bought a macbook pro!
~went to Youth Conference
~registered for my classes at UNL
~finalized our apartment
oh and leaving for our family vacation in 3 days!

we will be going to Kirtland, OH Palmyra, NY and  Niagara Falls in Canada! we're all stokednow enjoy pictures from the last few months.