Running Playlist

Here is a little look at my running playlist. I make sure there is a good variety to keep me going and I love to put it on shuffle.

Chasing the Sun-the Wanted
Hit the Ground Runnin'-Keith Urban
Le Disco (clean edit)-Shiny Toy Guns
Good Time-Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen
We Found Love- Rihanna
Back in Time-Pitbull
Earthquakey People (Feat Rivers Cuomo)- Steve Aoki
Fever-Cascada
Hold On-Cascada
The Motions-Dashboard Confessional
United State of Pop 2009 (Blame it on the Pop)-DJ Earworm
My Own Step-Roscoe Dash and T-Pain Feat Fabo
Ain't Nothing Wrong with That-Robert Randolph & the Family Band
Do You Remember-J-Sean Feat Sean Paul & Lil Jon
Army of Love- Kerli
Hot and Cold-Katy Perry
Hello-Martin Solveig Feat Dragonette
Fancy Footwork- Chromeo
Good Feeling- Flo Rida
If We Ever Meet Again-Timbaland Feat Katy Perry
Starships- Nicki Manaj
Untouched-the Veronicas
4Ever-the Veronicas
Ocean Avenue-Yellowcard
Footloose-Kenny Loggins
Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)-Shakira
Yeah!(feat Lil Jon and Ludacris)- Usher
Titanium- David Guetta and Sia
Every Teardrop is a Waterfall-Coldplay
Charlie Brown- Coldplay
Rock Party Anthem (Feat Lauren Bennett&  GoonRock- LMFAO
If You're Going Through Hell-Rodney Atkins
All Around the World (Feat Ludacris)-Justin Bieber
Give it All Back-Noah and the Whale
Green Light-John Legend Feat Andre 3000
Blackout-Breathe Carolina
Dreaming- Nikki & Rich
The Edge of Glory-Lady Gaga

Packing meds the light way

 This post is pretty boring, but might be interesting for any other CF patients. I just saw this online. For an overnight stay, pack pills in a contact lens case instead of bringing the huge weekly medicine container. Anyone else find this handy?

http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/new-uses-for-old-things/favorite-new-uses-00000000019718/page30.html

Double 'Double U' Firsts: Wake boarding and Wicked!!

I will call this weekend the weekend of firsts. Yesterday I had the chance to go with my ward to our ward party up at a lake. I had been so happy to enjoy sunshine after being in an office everyday whenever the sun is out. I got a little sunburned, but I didn't care! At the party there was kayaking, food, and boating!! But guess what? I spent most of the time on a boat and didn't mind at all.

Here is a cheesy picture for you. The water looks gross in this pic but it wasn't.

People usually give negative remarks about Utah Lake, whether it's too gross, too many mosquitos, or to dangerous. Honestly, I didn't see it fitting any of those descriptions. You can see far and wide out on the lake and it was pretty.

Our boat had no adults on it, with two guys our age driving it. It was awesome. After being out on the lake for a while, they decided to whip out the wake board. I kept saying before how I was going to try wake boarding for the first time, so I went out after everyone said, "You go!" Guess what? I did! I was a little nervous at first and not sure what to expect. I strapped on the (huge) boots connected to the board and jumped in the water. A guy on our boat named Brighton (cool name),  who has wake boarded a lot and is pretty much a pro, jumped in as well to help teach me step by step the proper positioning, how to stand up once the boat had started, and much more. The first time the boat started, it jerked to a start when I was not expecting it, and since I am only a size 6 shoe and I was wearing a large size board, the board flew off my feet! It took several more tries, with each being better as I was being instructed on how to lean back more, how to keep my arms straight and knees bent, and how to let the boat pull me up. After several tries my feet kept flying out of the board haha! I must have smaller feet than I imagined. As soon as I was able to stand up, the pull was so strong but as I kept my grip, I could feel the adrenaline set in that I was not expecting. It felt incredible!! I started going for a few seconds, then tried to turn my hips to the boat when I came crashing down again. I wanted to keep trying but there were other people that needed turns. I cannot wait to go wake boarding again!! Haha I just need to make sure I wear a small size next time!

Here are some pics from yesterday!

Lauran and Lynsie. It turns out that Lynsie is from my hometown and we have a few mutual friends which is pretty cool

Lynsie and her really sweet friend, Larissa, who came with us

About to go wake boarding for the first time!

Yeah, I was excited :)

First time wake boarders!

Lynsie about to go for the first time

Then Austin decided to go. He said he didn't know much, but then he started doing some high jumps and flips like it was no biggie.

And Parker did some of the same moves as well.

Kelsey has no need to whip her hair back and forth. The wind does the trick.

Such a great day!

After we came out of the boat, we ran across to the area where the rest of the ward was to enjoy some yummy tostadas. We were able to talk about things, including our desire to skydive. I sure want to go, but will most likely not be able to afford it in just 2 weeks.

But the day wasn't even over!

As soon as the party was over, I hurried home to shower, get ready, and do treatment before heading to the bus stop to go to Sandy to meet up with my fam because we were going to see Wicked! My mom couldn't believe it when I told her I have been waiting about 5 or 6 years to see it! Although I've had most of the music memorized, I had no idea how the show would be even more incredible with more surprises than I had ever expected!! I laughed, teared up, and was amazed with the extraordinary talent from everyone from the dancers to the main roles. I felt even better after watching it!!

Let me tell you, yesterday was one of the best days ever!!

Just a typical morning

Triple tasking, getting ready for work like a super boss when I had to leave in 10 minutes, with no treatment done and hair soaking wet. I really need to work on getting to the gym earlier so I can get back sooner!!

(No, I'm not pointing a gun to my head while doing treatment--for those of you who don't know, that's a diffuser connected onto a blow dryer so my lion mane doesn't go too wacko.)

Thoughts about this summer

Thoughts about this summer...

It really has been very very slow. However, while looking at it, it's in a good way (that is, if I can stay patient. I'm used to always being on the go and always having to do something.)

My job has been fantastic. Yes, it's slow. I sit at a desk at the back of an office, sometimes feeling over-crowded by the University's student government haha, but that means it draws in more fun people. I listen to country music, the band Phoenix, and Imagine Dragons on Pandora to break the silence. I answer phone calls, schedule appointments, and visit with students coming up for scholarship interviews and appointments. I fax files or make copies, make deliveries, or even water the plants when I'm that bored.

On top of all of this, I work with some of the best people I've ever met. I feel like the small youngling here, as most of them are a lot older. They never stop inspiring me to be better. My main supervisor counsels with students of all backgrounds and just wants to help them. We still chat, but I remember the days where I would tell everything to this kind stranger I had just met--family life, Cystic Fibrosis, and much more. And that was scary, because I usually don't do that. We both agreed I needed to live in a safer environment and needed work experience, so he offered the job. I was glad!!

My other supervisor and people in the office are also some of the nicest people who have their own stories. I won't go into details haha, but my co-worker in my cubicle, for instance, has been in school for 18 years off and on, is married, and has some of the cutest kiddos that he always talks about.18 years of school, my friends--that is a great example of hard work and patience!

On top of that, there's nothing like having our "super boss," where when you hear his title, you would think he would be a very serious person. He has his serious side, but almost every time I see him, he throws jokes, pranks, and is overall a very positive person, wanting to help improve lives.

I could talk about others but that would be a little inconsiderate and boring. In summary, I'm glad I'm in Provo. I feel blessed to have ended up with my roommate Klair, especially since we knew each other from my first ward in Provo. With it being quiet most of the time and Klair usually gone, it has been hard not to feel alone, but I feel safe, and even though Provo isn't my favorite place-at least for now-it's home.

Having a name plate doesn't make me any better, but it's cool to have one

Yesterday my supervisors and co-worker came back from lunch. One of them gave this to me, and I opened it up to find a 9 inch piece of chocolate cake!! Sometimes I feel spoiled here

Brave (spoiler alert!)

Today I just had the chance to see Brave, and I loved it! I think it might just be on my top Disney/Pixar list now. I loved the characters (not to mention Merida's hair reminds me of mine after waking up), and the story line, quotes throughout the it, and the moral of the movie had struck me hard.

In my mind my hair is as curly as hers (and today it was a little more tame), and I almost stood on the other side of the cut-out, but then I realized it would have looked like she was shooting me in the head, and someone would have probably posted it on Failblog. It's an awkward pic but I wanted to capture the curly red-headed epicness.

I usually do not talk about my future, but I think about it a lot, and whether I will be accepted because of the challenges I have faced, yet at the same time, I don't want to rush into things because many others' have certain blessings happen sooner because it may have been the right time for them. I think about my mission on this earth, and how often times it seems to, in a way, contradict with what is often taught here at Byu. So ok, I know this may be cheesy, but I will come out and mention it. In Brave, (I know it's not the main message, but I'll get to that in a sec), Merida was forced to marry someone almost instantly, and felt peer pressure from the tradition, but felt it wasn't time. Sometimes I feel this way at Byu, where I feel that my mission often contradicts the lessons on dating and marriage--mainly timing. Yes, those are important, but I honestly don't know when it's supposed to happen, so I'm just trying to leave it in the Lord's hands as I'm trying to do what I'm supposed to. I've been told through certain ways that it will happen eventually, but it has sounded like it's not the most important thing for me right now (and for some people it is--I'm not trying to discourage or make different choices because everyone is different). While watching Brave, I felt that I could relate to Merida a little more and even had tears come to my eyes, as if an answer to my desires, when the queen said something like "It's ok, it will happen at the right time."

Ok, ok!! Cheesy soap message is over with! Even more than that, I admired the message of how pride can destroy families, and even more than that, I loved the main message on how we can change our fate. After watching the movie, I've thought about how my fate can be determined by how I take care of myself. Cystic Fibrosis requires a lot of bravery at times and constant responsibility. I could eat processed food all the time like "the average college student" and skip the homemade meals, fruits, and veggies, I could say, "I'm too tired to run or lift weights,"  "This medication tastes terrible!", "This pill is so small, so why take it?", "Max (the lax) tastes nasty and grainy" "This vest isn't getting much mucous up," along with many other excuses, but they all will determine my "fate." Even though Merida is a fictional character who faced much tougher decisions, we all have small decisions that can determine how our lives will play out.

So, the question is, "If you had the chance to change your fate, would you?"

This summer

Nothing much has been happening this summer, to be honest. My schedule now goes along something like this:

Wake up
Either go to the gym, do insanity, or go running.
Eat breakfast.
Do treatment.
Get ready.
Power walk to work, including climbing the large flight of stairs.
Work.
Take a break.
Make dinner.
Either go to family home evening, Institute, watch some TV, or whatever comes along
Wash the Pari treatment pieces.
Do treatment.
Get ready for bed.
Go to bed.

There have been a few fun nights of playing commando on campus, movie nights, or just singing songs with a few new friends on 2 random mattresses found outside a friend's apartment. Earlier this summer we had a huge slip and slide that went down a hill at the park. Hopefully a few more adventures will come, but this summer is more of a relaxed one. I've found myself having to stay inside most of the time due to some serious air pollution from major fires, and not being able to tolerate the heat too much. However, this fall I'm auditioning to be a character at Disney World /applying for the Disney College Program for next summer, and would be more than thrilled if I get any job there. I would be able to meet people from around the world and even volunteer at Give Kids the World, where my family visited several times during my Make-A-Wish 7 years ago.If I get accepted into the program, I'm going to have to learn how to handle the heat. Anyways, I'm just rambling again, but that's my summer update for now.