Friday's Favorites

When stresses come our way, it's good to think of things that make us smile or laugh. Finals are coming up (in fact, I already had one), so I decided that a Friday's Favorites post would be good.

Favorite laughs:

I know, this video gets a little gross near the end, but I can't help but laugh hysterically! My family and everyone that I've shown it to usually goes red in the face and their cheeks puff up from trying to hold in laughter, but then the laughter bursts. It's great.:)

This is funny too:

(Which is why I can't see Breaking Dawn. I would probs laugh during the whole movie.)

Favorite recipe:

Truth is, I haven't been cooking that much lately. I usually come home every day after a long day of classes, work, and then the gym. However, even though it's not too special, I have enjoyed this tutorial on how to make the perfect brown rice. For some reason it tastes refreshing and it feels great to eat healthy food.

http://www.ourbestbites.com/2012/08/how-to-make-perfect-brown-rice/

Favorite smiles:

Alright, there's a few this time :)

This one is guaranteed to make you smile :)

I'll admit something..I love cute couples :) I'm not planning on getting married for a long while since I still have a ways to go, but I still love to hear about good date stories and engagements. I love sweet wedding pictures and couples that are just right for each other. I saw this post on Pinterest that I found adorable :) The quick summary of what happened: 
Up proposal -He sat her in a chair loaded with balloons and then gave her a personalized adventure book for the two of them. How sweet is that? :)

With Christmas coming up, I saw this as well. I don't care...I am planning on making Santa cookies. There. But, why not throw in some "tiny donuts" for his little elves?

Here are a few more smiles as well:

With finals coming up and pressures accumulating, sometimes a lot of us feel that this is the best thing to do. Well said, Michael. Well said...

Favorite quotes:

great perspective I often need to remember

-John Lennon

-the Princess Diaries

Giving Thanks

There is a lot to be thankful for. Thanksgiving is a special holiday to take time and think about who we are surrounded by and what we have. I feel so privileged to know such incredible people who have inspired and helped lift me.

First of all, I have an incredible family. We have held through tough times this year while facing a lot of changes. Changes will always happen, but we have kept our faith through the knowledge that families can be together and that in the end we have each other. My family has supported me throughout the hard times and offered encouragement when school and life in general has had its bumps in the road.

I'm grateful for the many friends I see each day and for the laughs shared, encouragement given, and their kindness. I have incredible roommates and am sad to see half of them leave. I have also been sad to see that many of my friends will be leaving on missions, but it helps me appreciate them even more when they are around. This leads to my gratitude has increased for how quickly the gospel is spreading. I have friends who help give pick-me-ups when we're all stuck in the math lab as well as friends who offer encouragement when I have been studying for a while and falling asleep at work while doing so. I have friends who are incredible examples in all that they do, and I am so grateful for them!

I am sooo thankful for good health. The days where I'm not able to breathe as easily help me appreciate the days where I fully can. The times where I can't eat as much because I ate the wrong things help me be even more thankful for the times I can eat more. Honestly, I feel a little too dramatic sometimes. I'll be wondering why I have a 90% PFT instead of a 96% or so, and I will see a post by a CFer that will be along the lines of "My PFTs went from a 50 to an 80-(something)!!! I am so blessed!!" Then I feel guilty, and remember that God has helped me all along. Yesterday was my clinic visit, and my oxygen level dropped a little and my PFTs stayed at a 91 FEV1, but I couldn't complain because it felt so good to be healthy! I feel so blessed to be able to hit the road to run several miles at a time with hardly any stops and go to the gym about every day to lift weights and take exercise classes.

Nothing beats reaching the top of a hill like this during a run and seeing such a sight :)

I am grateful to be a member of this church. I know I talk about my religion a lot, but it's because it helps me every. single day. and I never take it for granted. I am thankful to know that Christ knows how we feel at all times--every joy, pain, sadness, grief..every emotion because he suffered for each of us and knows us personally. I'm thankful to know that through this gospel, we can always come closer to knowing feeling pure joy by coming closer to our Heavenly Father, and that he is always there. He cares for and loves us for who we are, including our emotions, well-being, the activities we participate in, our interests, and so much more because we are his sons and daughters. I'm glad to know that this gospel brings people together to serve one another and lift each other up, for the leaders we have who help us, the sources we have to learn of believers who faced trials and kept their faith, and for the blessings that come if we do what's right. I'm thankful for the power of prayer to bring peace, comfort, and direction at all times.

There are many other things I'm thankful for, which include:

-Surrounding nature, as it helps me see how God's hand is in all things and that he provided such an earth because he loves us.
-A superb education and job.
-Food/Chick-Fil-A/ice cream
-Youtube videos that make me laugh nonstop uncontrollably
-Music
-Movies/Disney
-everything vintage
-technology
-sleep
-my hair straightener
and more

Thank you for being who you are, and many of you reading this have shaped my life in many positive ways. Thanks for everything!

So, the question is, what are you thankful for?

Treatments...Behind the Scenes

I made one of these posts before, but every once in a while I'll catch myself trying to keep myself at least a little entertained during treatments. In fact, I doubt my roommates know this is sometimes what I do while I shake for a couple of hours a day. Jk, I promise it's not all I do, but studying, reading, or Facebook and Pinterest can only last so long, ya know?

So, to any other CFers out there, what are some things you do to pass treatment time?

Trick and Treat

Here is a rambly and sort of random blog post about Halloween this year.

I went to a Halloween ward party dressed as Merida from Brave, but not many people showed up and people kept asking if I was people such as Annie, Daphne (from Scooby Doo), and more, but I thought my (brushed out) curly hair would give it away, but I guess not. Luckily my friends Chelsea and Jess were there, so we were able to dance the way we wanted to to music from decades up to 7th grade year while the lights were on.

A few days later, I promised myself I would not be distracted from the studying that needed to be done while at work. But then my awesome supervisor put a pumpkin on my desk. I jokingly said how I would love to carve it, and he said, "Sure, I have a knife in my office!" So there I was, feeling pretty awesome for carving a pumpkin at work. I started carving a pumpkin carving face I saw on Google, but wanted something not so scary and more funny. It ended up being created into an inside joke that a few people at work and I understand--long story short, we knew someone in the office who ate cat food on accident, and we all (including himself) were joking about it. His daughter got in on it, then we did too, so there's been a lot of blackmail material going back and forth from this whole thing (which is why on the pumpkin, he said he was going to "Zombify me" which is taking a picture to make me look like a zombie. Luckily we aren't Facebook friends so it doesn't matter.) It probably wasn't as funny as I thought it was, but oh well, it's Halloween which is supposed to be fun, right?

Anyways, that was about it for some-what traditional Halloween events.

But then when yesterday arrived, my roommate's mission call also arrived. We had many people crowd into our living room, waiting to hear where she was going to go. Although the mission age has changed, Dana still would have been able to turn her papers in since she is a little older than the rest of us. She has been one of the most prepared and excited people I have ever met to serve a mission. Turns out, she's going to Milan, Italy!! We are all so thrilled for her but will miss her!!

preparing to pig out on pasta, salad, and breadsticks at Olive Garden

I believe that this Halloween has opened my eyes as to how much we are all growing up. It was the first time that I wasn't too sad about not going Trick-or-Treating, but instead reminiscing on how great it was while being a kid. This year wasn't so full of Halloween parties, dressing up, or having time for scary movies, (but I had an I still ate junk food and candy yesterday.) Although I didn't participate in so much of the traditional Halloween events or atmospheres, (even atmospheres here in P-town can be very sketch for parties, dances, etc--I learned the hard way from one night that I have to be more careful), I couldn't have been happier to see my roomie open her call. It's weird how time flies, but it's exciting to see my fam and friends progress in their lives. :)

New Future Hobby

A few weeks ago my cousin Kara called up, asking if I wanted to help her redo an old table with chairs. They were classy in the 70s or 80s or who knows when, but they needed a touch up. I don't think Kara or her hubby Kasey believed me when I told them I was thrilled to help, because as geeky as it seems, I've wanted to learn how to redo furniture for a long time!

First Kara and I headed to Home Depot to buy some supplies: sandpaper (both medium and the heavy-duty--trust me when I say if you ever redo furniture, you will need the heavy duty), paintbrushes, turquoise paint, and plaster of Paris. (Funny story about the plaster of Paris--the worker there thought we were psychos for needing it to mix into paint for furniture, but he said "Hey, they used it in Paris and Rome, and their stuff lasted a long time.")

We started on the project once we reached the G home. We sanded down the inside squares and brushed off the dust with a broom (while wearing masks.) Kara and Kasey then took the fabric off the chairs.

You can't really see it here, but the wood had a purplish tint to it.

Kara then mixed a cup of plaster of paris with about 1/8 C water and turquoise paint to match the fabric she bought beforehand.

We then slabbed on the paint, ready to redo these classy chairs and table. The paint dried more quickly than normal since it contained plaster of paris, so it was tricky to smooth out the paint in nice streaks, but it was doable.

We then laid out the cushions on the fabric to measure and cut, leaving extra fabric to fold over to staple. Kara and Kasey stapled the fabric to the backs of chairs, and it was a little tricky keeping it tight enough while pulling and tucking it in, but they ended up looking so good!

The seats were screwed back on and a brown ribbon was glued on as a lining to cover the staples and screws.

Once a finishing gloss paint was on top, it was done!

I don't know why someone painted over the original wood--you can't really see it here, but the natural wood was a pretty, light peach-ish color.

We thought the project turned out to be well-done!! It was an all-day project, but it was only a day. It still stands in the their kitchen as I believe it receives a lot of compliments. We decided to celebrate that night by watching football and eating sushi, which was my first time, and it wasn't bad at all! I've decided that once I have my own home I would love to buy old dressers, benches, tables, etc, and touch them up a bit. ;)

Truthful Tuesday

So my cousin Kara started this, and I decided to make a similar post since I don't really have anything else to talk about now. I hope it's not boring.

Truthful Tuesday:

1. I smoke up to 7 'pipes' a day ;)

2. I just bought Cinderella on dvd even though people posted about it on Amazon with comments such as "My 3 year old loves this movie!" Well guess what? So does this 20 year old...

3. Speaking of Disney, I applied for the College Program, am pending (which means it's taking them longer to decide--I am guessing it's because I told them I can't work around dust or chemicals becuase of CF), and if I am still pending or will be accepted, I'm going to try out to be a character at Disney World in about a week.

4. Today I heard people playing this song outside my apartment and it brought back memories of Ms. Side's "Happy Dance" from middle school, which made me I turn it on Youtube while I was studying, bouncing on my bed while dancing to it like it was nobody's business. :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mg-4c4uQmdo

5. People usually show up unexpectedly to my apartment at night to see the other girls, which means I usually done with a workout, with my hair dripping wet and curly or in a fro, with the baggiest sweats and wearing glasses. No joke.

6. When I sleep at night in the fall/winter, I usually have thick sweatpants and a hoodie on, drawstring pulled so my eyes and nose are perking out, with sheets, a quilt, and sometimes a comforter on top of that with my fuzzy pink blanket. I get cold easily.

7. I hate trying to eat a meal when it gets really messy. By that point I about give up.

8. This semester I have had a hard time staying awake while sitting for so long. I'll even be at work studying, and next thing I know, my eyes are closed, my head about hits the computer or keyboard, and my book would crash to the floor.

9. I am writing this to avoid doing homework.

10...can't think of one. That's all for now.

"Cyster" Roy??

 Mosiah 2:21 "I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants."

Today something happened that I'll never forget. It was one of the largest announcement in LDS church history in a long time.

So there I was with Klair and Dana as we just got settled and thrilled for another great conference session. Once President Monson stood to address everyone, he announced only 2 temples. Don't get me wrong, two temples would be great, but it seemed a little off since there are usually more. Then he started talking about missionary work, and how back when, missionaries could serve at age 18. Yes, I did feel guilty for shouting Shut up!! right as he was about to announce what I thought would happen (because I sometimes tend to do that when I get excited--I wasn't shouting at our prophet). And yes, he announced what we couldn't believe--young men could serve at age 18 from now on. My thoughts were along the lines of: Josh and Brandon will be leaving sooner than expected, this is incredible, and wow.

Then President Monson started talking about sister missionaries. I thought nuh uh right before he announced that girls can leave at age 19.

Dana and I started to go biserk. She's been 20 for a while and has been working on her papers for a while. I was thinking of how soon I could leave. Questions flooded my mind--should I go? What kind of mission- abroad, temple, or service? Should I go instead of or after the Disney College Program if I'm accepted?

While on Facebook today, I was so touched to read the many responses to this new change. Many girls that have been waiting will start their papers. There's going to be a flood of papers coming in. Guys are now preparing more rigorously as they will be leaving sooner. It's all very exciting to see the Lord's work progressing!

Although this is an exciting new announcement, it doesn't mean that everyone needs to start papers right away.  Although I was excited as can be, I didn't know what to do. I wasn't expecting this, and I know that I still need to be very wise regarding Cystic Fibrosis. To be honest, a mission has been on my mind because I have a strong desire to give back as a load of appreciation in which the Lord has blessed my life, and I know it's something I'm supposed to do. However, I know that missionary work demands a lot, as well as does CF. It's not just the treatments and pills. It's the running, weight lifting, watching what I eat, extra treatments when needed, washing the nebulizer pieces, doc visits, avoiding hospital tune ups, and more. The question is, what is right?

     Tonight, I went on a run I will never forget to get matters settled. CF isn't supposed to get in the way of things, but there's a line between what is good and what is the wisest and best, since CF is, let's face it, life-threatening. It's difficult sometimes to try so hard to be normal with the desire to do what most people can, but not being able to do so even though my life may appear to be completely fine. I ran to the temple, feeling more frustrated that my lungs were a lot tighter than usual, reminding me more that I have CF. I try not to think this way, but my stubborn self could not figure out everything. I had to pray while continuing forward, fighting off tears.

     As soon as I reached the top of the hill (after walking, running, walking, running to catch my breath), I felt the assurance that the spirit always brings, trying to calm my emotions circling around each other. I could see the sun setting over the valley, giving its natural glow over the lake. There was the temple, and once again, I kept my Ipod earphones out with the music off. As I passed by sister missionaries as we exchanged friendly hellos, as well as older couples passing by the temple, I started to admire their examples of living life peacefully, wondering how I could do so. They seemed full of wisdom and a simple feeling of joy, able to submit their will no matter what life would bring. I was reminded that this life is not mine. I was sent here as an instrument in the Lord's hands to use my experiences regarding death, trial, triumph, and strength that have all been through the help of our Heavenly Father to strengthen others. I don't always see myself doing that great of a job at it, but that's why we have the Atonement--to get up, try again, and keep running up our hills despite our weaknesses.

     I do not know how soon, when, what kind of mission, or how long I will serve for--whether it be 6 months to a year and a half, but someday it will come once I know it's the right time. But now I have the option to serve sooner than expected once it is right. This gospel is flourishing. It's incredible. One thing is for sure: this church is true.

Source: cornerstonedigitalphoto.com via Nathan on Pinterest

(I found this pic online and it wasn't that dark, but it gives you an idea of what it looks like. Someday I will take a good pic and put it on here.)