The Art of Maintaining a Friendship: A Work in Progress

I am sure you are all aware there are 24 hours in a day. If you take out the eight hours you sleep, that is 16. If you take out the average 8 hours for school/homework/studying or perhaps work that is 8 hours a day. Take out an additional two hours for a cumulative of personal hygiene whether it is going to the restroom, getting ready for your day, or ending your day. That is 6 hours. 6 hours to take care of everything else. One thing that fills probably 5 out of that 6 hours for me is trying to maintain my relationships with friends and family. I try to talk to my nieces and nephews every day, and I am in constant communication with my family. You gotta love Facebook group messages. But it's hard work, and I wanted to take this moment to apologize for a couple things.

I am sorry I don't call as often as I do. 

I am sorry if I repeat myself at times I get so excited sometimes about the things that happen that I want to make sure you get to hear about. 

I am sorry for the short conversations squeezed in between classes. 

I am sorry sometimes I go days between are conversations and then drop on emotional bomb on you. 

I am sorry for the late night texts, then I usually fall asleep in the middle of our conversation.  

I just want you all to know I am trying, life is crazy, and I want to spend hours talking to you. Someday soon we will. 

You are important to me.
Being busy isn't an excuse, for not making time for the people you care about. I know this, and I am working on bettering myself. I am not perfect, and I just want to be there for my amazing support system like they are there for me. It is definitely a work and progress.

It's mothers day

There are so many people I want to recognize today, and am gonna try and include as many of you as I can. However if I forget you I am sorry, know these words are for you. Even if you aren't mentioned or pictured.
I may not be a mom myself, but for as long as I can remember there have been women in my life teaching what it means to be a mother. Some of those things I've been taught are the following:

• Love
• Courage
• Strength 
• Never giving up
• Fight for important things
• Protecting your family
• Protecting your beliefs
• How to balance life
• To have a testimony
• To find the hope
• To love literature 
• The importance of education 

I am so grateful for the love, and comfort that these women have given to me. The countless prayers, and good thoughts sent my way. You are all wonderful, and so loved. Not just by me but those around you. Be strong, and continue to love. Know that you have blessed me beyond belief.
You are also strong and noble women, and God is smiling on you. 

This is just a small list. Some people that won't be pictured I want to list here

• Nanners 
• Laura
• Georgie
• Janille 
• Meryni
• Gina 
• My grandmas

If there's one thing my dad taught me.

My parents have taught me many important things. So many lessons I wouldn't know where to start. However there is one thing my dad taught me that I will never forget, you see a solider you say thank you. No matter what you are doing you stop and say thank you. If they are talking you wait until they are done, and you say thank you. As cheesy as it sounds I am proud to be an American. 

I support my troops, and I say thank you. 

"To the Beat of My Heart"

Instead of writing my part two of three I thought I would share something else. I am still working on part two, and can't wait to share my story with all of you. However this week I want to share something else with you. Music is a huge part of my life, and this past summer I really learned the importance of why we pay for our music. The people who chose the career of a musician in my opinion chose a hard path. Musician's work hard for what they love, so we can have the things we love. It is important to support the music industry, and show those musicians that we support them. My cousin Bubba taught me the importance of buying music, and not getting it other ways. So I thought I would give you a list of all the songs I've purchased, and the careers I am supporting.
Starting in July of 2015 until today:

1. Ew!- Jimmy Fallon ft. Will.I.Am
2. Honey, I'm Good.-Andy Grammer
3. Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)- Silento
4. Pretty Girls Britney Spears ft Iggy Azalea
5. Immortals- Fall Out Boy
6. Play It Again- Luke Bryan
7. Country Girl- DF Dub
8. Hey Mama- David Guetta
9. Cheerleader- OMI
10. Drag Me Down- One Direction
11. My Way- Fetty Wap ft. Monty
12. Uma Thurman- Fall Out Boy
13. That's How You Know- Nico Vinz
14. Only Fooling Myself- Kate Voegele
15. Marvin Gaye- Charlie Puth Ft. Meghan Trainor
16. I Won't-Colbie Caillat
17. Touch the Sky-Julie Fowlis
18. Into the Open Air- Julie Fowlis
19. Learn Me Right- Birdy & Mumford and Sons
20. Made In the AM(album)- One Direction
21. Hotline Bling-Drake
22. Cars that Go Boom L'Trimm
23. El Taxi- Pitbull 
24. Dessert- Dawin
25. 679- Fetty Wap ft. Monty
26. Santa Claus is Coming to Town- Micheal Buble
27. Talking Body- Tov Lo
28. Here Comes the Lion Guard- Beau Black
29. The Moment I Knew- Taylor Swift
30. Stand Still, Look Pretty- The Wreckers
31. No Scrubs- TLC
32. Get Ugly- Jason Derulo
    
    I budget money for music just like budget money for gas. I know that if there is a song I want, I want to have it at my disposal. I want to listen to it on repeat ad free for five hours straight. This might seem like a lot of music but it's apart of my life. I want to support the music industry just like I am supported in my careers. i encourage you to do the same.
    
    
    
    
    "So I say Thank You for the Music"-Abba

An old year ends, and a new year begins

Let us first look back on year 2015, what a wonderful year. I experienced everything pretty much. Here is 15 things that happened in 2015

1. I moved to Idaho
2. I spent time with family in Utah,
3. I made new friends 
4. I started a new school
5. I bought my fifth laptop charger this year :) I have the worst luck, one caught fire.
6. I turned 22
7. I learned I was gonna be an aunt again
8. I got my first big kid purse
9. I got promoted at work Santa's Assistant Manager :)
10. I started a new book
11. I lost someone close to me
12. I enjoyed lots of new music that came out
13. I stepped up in the iphone game, and got an ipad
14. I started taking control of my happiness
15. I know that the gospel is where I find my happiness

This year has truly been amazing, I have learned so much about myself. I feel like I have grown in ways I didn't even know were possible. Shout out to my sisters who constantly keep me in check, and remind me to fight for the things I love. Shout out to all the kiddos in  my life, whether I am their nanny, or their Jordy. Shout out to new friends I made this, especially Becky, Jenna, and new work friends. Shout out to my old friends too who make time to be apart of my crazy life. Special shout out to the Smith family who adopted me for two weeks this summer (yes that includes Jenni's kids) :) And to my parents who only want the best for me. I can't wait for the new year. I just know even better things are waiting for me in 2016, I just have to chase after them. I will keep you posted. As for now, know I am having the time of my life with the people I need the most. 

What it feels like to turn twenty-two!

On the eve of my twenty-second birthday I wanted to share my thoughts with you. Never have I ever felt older when my birthday has come. However this year was different. Even though it wasn't my birthday yet as soon as October first hit, I felt older. I felt twenty-two. What does it mean to feel twenty-two you ask? My feelings are this:
I am on the brink of having the best year of my life. I have this optimistic feeling rushing through my body. It's telling me that I have wonderful things coming to me. One of my new favorite songs called This'll Be My Year By Train says " No more countin' down the hours... Before I call it a day, Maybe this will be my year" I am nowhere near figuring out this thing called adulthood. But I know that tonight? It's a perfect night to dress up like hipsters, and have breakfast at midnight.

Not All Wounds are Visible: My Battle with Anxiety.

Before I realize what it is
the poison hits my heart.

This dark poison accelerates my beats per minute

The pounding hits my head.

I question what is happening,

and then it spreads.

The poison spreads to my body.

It hits my brain, and I rethink everything I've done.

I must have done something wrong.

I messed up sometime today.

Did I say the wrong thing?

Did I do the wrong thing?

I must have upset someone.

I try to remember the cures 

Listen to music

Breathe deeply

Go to your happy place.

The poison still spreads

The worry has overtaken me now.

I sit with my heart racing

Looking for answers

Where did I mess up?

Where is my mistake. 

It hurts, everything hurts.

This poison, this battle.

This anxiety.

I must stop it

I must go on

I must keep fighting.

This battle of mine?

I will win.