Happy BIRTHDAY Bekstrandskiez! :D

So this is muh girl Rebekah Seastrand/Bekstrand/Bekstrandskiez
And TODAY IS HER BIRTHDAY!

Let me tell you a little story about why this gril is AMAZING! :D

We met Freshman year in the Penthouse of Penrose Hall... (which is sadly now destined for demolish-ment), and we became pretty tight. She even stared in one of my early rap videos :P

Clearly, Bekstrand is AWESOME! :P

But seriously, I've been blessed to know this girl for about 3 years now, and since then we've had great times. Talks in heritage kitchens 'til 4 in the morning, phone convos from opposite sides of the country, spicy sushi (http://featherah.blogspot.com/2010/08/welcome-to-hellfire.html), crazy awesome concerts (Journey/Foreigner and Styx/REO Speedwagon)(See above), talks on random golf-cart benches in SLC, hikes with cougars, hikes up the Y, this girl has been just such a great example of what a friend should be!

I am so happy to call this girl my best friend, and I am so glad that it's her birthday today. She is SO AWESOME, we've been through ups and downs, and we made it together. Bekstrand is such a great example of love, patience, and Christ. Being around her makes me want to be a better person, and basically I'm just kinda really freak glad she was born! :P

Look Up! :D

      In a recent conference talk Elder Carl B. Cook of the Seventy said this after describing an encounter he had with President Monson in an elevator: "I was burdened and my head was down. As the prophet spoke, I looked to him. He redirected my focus to look up to God, where I could be healed and strengthened through Christ's Atonement. That is what prophets do for us. They lead us to God."
    Revelation given to the prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the 6th section of the Doctrine and Covenants states:
"33 Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward.
34 Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail.
35 Behold I do not condemn you; go your ways and sin no more; perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you.
36 Look unto me in every though; doubt not, fear not.
37 Behold the wounds which pierced by side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. Amen."

     I am so grateful to be able to say that I have faith in God, my Heavenly Father, who strengthens me in everything I do. I'm grateful that I can look up for guidance, that I have a perfect example to emulate my motivations after, and that I have no reason to fear because of the rock upon which I am built. I love my Savior, I love my Father in Heaven, and I'm grateful for the confidence that I have been blessed with. I know that I am not perfect, but I also know how to strive for perfection. I know I'm better off at the bottom of the mountain, bruised form a fall, looking up toward the peak, than 3 meters from the summit contemplating turning around. I know the hope that comes with a will to do good. I know the healing power of Jesus Christ's Atonement, I have experienced it first hand. And, I know that change is a process to be taken one step, one moment, one breath at a time.

God is great, life is good, and people are crazy! :)

The 9:11 from Houston

So this is the 2nd time I'm taking the 9:11 flight from Houston to Salt Lake to completel a LONG day of traveling. :)

Anyone who knows me decently well knows that I love airports, and traveling and visiting others, I'm super lucky to be able to fly standby with United and basically fly free (if open seats are available) and I've been blessed to have been able to travel to every single one of the states in the U.S. as well as many countries arounds the world.

I just wanted to take some time to reflect on the blessings that I've had when it comes to getting from A to B. Or kindof all through the alphabet I guess, I've been on 6 (almost 7) flights in the past three weeks, I've been almost coast to coast in the U.S., traveled to some beautiful Carribean islands, and have had countless hours in the car driving around. I am really grateful I have the time, means, friends, and family to give me reason to and help me out w/ traveling.
:)

God is great, life is good, and people are crazy! :D

And Spring Ends!

And I"M OFFICIALLY DONE WITH FINALS!!! ^^(that's the happy face I have on right now!)

I feel like I've lived a pretty classy college kid life this condensed finals week, and the BEST things happened today.
- I woke up at like 5 in the morning to my roomie taking my laptop off of my stomach and tucking me in after I fell asleep studying
- When i actually got up to study homegirl next door was BLASTING an interesting mix of uncensored rap, heartbreaking country, and some of the top 40 hits of the 90s
- I was anxious so I broke in my new running shoes
- Lost my flash drive.
- Found it!
- Rode my bike to the testing center
- Secured some respectable grades that will hopefully improve my less-than-stellar GPA.


and tonight I celebrate with Tucanos (my first time!), grading, and preparation for a 3rd attempt to get my behind up to Chicago and out of UT. :P

God is great, life is good, and people are CRAZY!
And I love it :D

Awesomeauce.

We inherited a SWEET shot glass (filled w/ juice) that says "Because I have been given much" Pretty Legit right? :P

There are so many stinkin' awesome people in my life!
This is my dearest Sophie who just left last week, after she was our roomie for awhile. :)

:D

College is this crazytrain of change, and sometimes I feel like there are way too many stops to choose to get off at. I feel like I'm dealing with stuff I'm too young for sometimes, and I also feel like I'm way behind my contemporaries, but all in all, I know that I'm right where I need to be. And its jumping like a fool out of a tree into a pond, listening to children swear at the state hospital, staying up all night with one of my best friends before driving her to the airport at 3:30 AM (see above :P), visiting where I started to grow up on my own, visiting salty lakes, and having late-night car-versations with my bwt that remind me that I'm right where I need to be.

After hurling ourselves off rope swings!

Roomies from Freshman year (minus Julia ):

The Great Salt Lake

My BWT :)

Spring Time! :D

Okay, so the title should be "spring term", but whatevskis! It's been super great b/c my schedule is chill, I'm training for the MUDDER, taking advantage of the beautiful hiking in UT, and having fun w/ my roomies!

I love not having to work so much (even though the paycheck isn't super exciting), but I'm getting to spend more time doing research, volunteering at the Utah State Hospital, going to the temple, working with my substance abuse students, and actually being a good student! 

Isn't it beautiful?? :)

Yeah, we conquered that thang! (...also I look super conceited)

I love you Mom :D

This is my Mother!

She's taught me so many things in my 20 short years on earth (these are just a few):

1) Chocolate bunnies still taste good when they melt in the mail. 

2) Any holiday is a great one for a card! (and they make good wall art!)

3) Protein Bars are better than candy!

4) Minced garlic is easier to work with than the clove-d stuff. :P 

5) Even dolphins can use a hug sometimes!

6) It's okay to let teenagers break into your house if they are playing a joke on your daughter to make her birthday hilarious. :P

7) I am good at some things, like baking for instance

8) Sometimes you just gotta laugh.

9) Even though life is crazy, you can overcome your fears!

10) Posing for pictures can be difficult :P

11) As you get older, you don't always get taller.

12) Intelligence runs in the family :P

13) Doing things as a family is the best :)

14) Sharing is caring. (once I gave a chick from the opposing team my throwing shoes so she could throw... coach got kind of mad, but it was worth it to see a friend succeed. :D)

15) Always let dad drive!

16) Work hard, but have fun too.

17) Develop Your Talents!

18) I can mix a mean drink... even w/o alcohol. (thanks for the inspiration though mama!)

19) There's always gonna be obstacles in the way, but don't be afraid to take a shot.

20) Distance makes the heart grow fonder.

Happy Mother's Day! :D