Comeback Team

Aren't they awesome?

Goodbye, Obama, Biden and total delirium.

Hello, Romney, Ryan and sanity.



Happy happy happy

Tonight was my last Tuesday working at Pancho and Lefty's, a popular mexican restaurant here in St. George.

As I was walking past a certain table this fella (who, I'm not gonna lie, was a little tipsy) motioned me over to talk to him.

He said to me, "Girl, could you do something for me?"

"Okay."

"Could you just smile, please? Are you sad?"

"No, I'm actually really happy."

"Then smile."

I smiled, but in my head I was thinking that that son of a gun was probably delusional and I was certain that I had been smiling all along.

Yeah, I was probably wrong.

In the midst of daily routines and monotonous tasks, I think I oftentimes forget that I have an awful lot to smile about.

My mom made my favorite mint brownies last night.

My dad danced around to the Beatles on Saturday morning while he cooked pancakes.

I am a BYU student.

I have the greatest friends in all the world.

I was able to work a lot this summer.

All such sweet things that make me oh, so happy.

But most importantly, I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

I know that there is a living prophet.

I know that I can pray to my Heavenly Father and that He will hear me.

I know that Jesus Christ suffered for my sins-- He knows exactly what I experience everyday.

I know that families are forever, and I know that someday I can be married in the temple to begin my own eternal family.

I know that I can find strength, support and answers in the scriptures everyday.

And I know that the Father of us all knows my name and loves me on a deep, individual level.

I belong to the true Church of Jesus Christ.

What more could a girl need to be completely happy?

So thank you, sir, for reminding me to smile and for reminding me that I have so much to be happy about.



Don't mind me

There's been lots on my mind lately...

Since when does back-to-school shopping look like this?

Oh baby. 

I love missionaries.

Please do your best to disregard the fact that I look like a blind woman in this photo, but this kid is one of my very best friends, and he left for his mission today. I guess it's because I'm getting older, but the whole missionary leaving and coming home thing is really affecting me.

I'm such a lucky girl to have such stalwart young men as my friends.

Also, I think I'm changing my major to Human Development.

Journalism to Human Development?

Yeah, doesn't make sense to me either, but it sure feels right.

More about that later.

I'm crazy crazy crazy about this song! Seriously, I think I listen to it like twenty times a day.

The band originated in Provo. Yes, Provo! So... I feel like I have a connection? Okay, not really... but really. You're going to like this song. I promise.



Thoughts on a Sunday afternoon...

Life is pretty funny sometimes.

I usually have times when I think I know exactly what I want and exactly how things will work out.

Silly me.

Things change... all the time.

Majors change, relationships can change and we are always making mistakes.

But there is one person who is constant-- our Heavenly Father. And the wonderful thing is that He has a plan for each of us. I'm so grateful for the fact that He loves me enough to let me go through things that point me to a better path (as painful as it can be sometimes).

I also know that He sent His son, Jesus Christ, to live and die for me. Jesus understands my little heartaches. He has been through it all.

I know that through Him I can always be striving to become better. Trials and confusion are usually the exact things that remind us of how much better we can be and of how much closer we can be coming to Jesus.

I am so eternally grateful to a Savior that never, ever gives up on me. Seriously, I can be such a stubborn girl.. But He loves me despite of all of that.

What a blessing.

Also, have you heard this arrangement of Savior, Redeemer of My Soul?

I love it so much.



Amanda

Yesterday was my baby sister's 17th birthday.

It was a fun, fun day.

I even made some ghetto birthday decorations.

This sister of mine is a pearl of a girl.

Seriously, she has it all together; she is totally going places!

She is my only sister, but she is also my best friend.

I love her so much.

People always say that they have the best siblings in the world...

but sorry folks, mine are the greatest.

California Dreaming

Thanks for a fantastic week, California.

Mmmmm... it was good.

I loved spending time with my family; we made some great memories.

We had the lovely opportunity to stay at a little apartment on the grounds of the Los Angeles Temple.

It was such a blessing to be able to go do baptisms with my younger siblings a couple of mornings that we were there.

I love this temple-- it is seriously sooo beautiful.

We spent a day at Disneyland. Seriously, I think every time I go I like it even more.

This picture was taken after my experience on California Screamin'-- the biggest roller coaster in the park. Folks, I hate roller coasters. But.. I finally gave in and got in line for this bad boy.

And... as painful as it is for me to say... I kinda liked it.

Of course, we visited a couple of beaches.

I am crazy about the beach...

On Tuesday, we went to the beautiful Newport Beach and drove around Balboa Island.

Oh my gosh... so in love.

This particular picture was taken at Huntington Beach.

We said good-bye to the beach last night by taking a stroll down the pier.

Ahhhh, so perfect.

Yeah, I loved this week big time.



The annual Lindsey campout

We just got home from yet another fantastic year at the Lindsey campout!

After spending a couple of days in the lovely outdoors, I realize that I am entirely in love with:

Pine Valley, UT, chubby babies, bike rides, homemade donuts, outdoor movies, family walks when it's overcast, hammocks, the elderly campground hosts (wouldn't that be THE life?), summer thunderstorms, happy kids with dirt-covered faces, dutch oven potatoes, lawn chair gatherings, and.... my family.

I'm crazy about them.

You know those people that make you want to be better just by spending a little while with them?

Yeah, that's exactly how my family makes me feel.

I love my adorable grandma, my aunts and uncles, my inspiring older cousins and those darling younger cousins.

I love my mom who reassures me that the wild turkey that is about to attack our tent is in all reality my little brother talking in his sleep, and I admire my younger sister who happily agrees to sleep under the stars with me (don't worry, it didn't actually happen).

Basically... the people that make up this family of mine happen to be my favorite people in the world.

Lucky me.