Life is Short

There have been some things happen lately that have made me really think about mortality. These things make me think of other times that I've been overwhelmed by this, and then it all really comes crashing in.

This weekend I heard that Cameron's (my brother in law) brother was involved in a boating accident. A young boy was thrown from the boat and killed on impact of some rocks. You may have heard about this in the news. It was a tragic accident and just so sudden. This boy was young. His 15th birthday was in a few weeks. He was bullied in school. The news stories say he was a good, quite kid.

I went home today for dinner with my family. The first thing I noticed when I got home was my sweet, huge, strong little brother in tears. His friend's little brother had died in a car accident. He and some friends were four-wheeling and hit a rough patch in a dirt road going to fast. The Explorer they were in rolled and this young, fifteen year old boy was eject from the car and killed. Two other teenagers are in critical condition. I saw this boy's facebook page today. He was smiling and laughing and goofing off with his friends in the pictures.

My friend's best friend committed suicide a few years ago. My friend has a tattoo in memory of him. My friend, a great guy with a contagious laugh, says that he didn't used to laugh as much as he does now. His friend's death made him realize that life is too short not to laugh.

A boy in my brother's drum line was killed in a motorcycle accident a few years ago. His soccer team had just qualified for the regional championships. He had just performed with the drum line. He was popular. He was on top of the world.

When I was a sophomore my family was rocked by the news of the death of my uncle. He was 27. He was my favorite uncle. I had just spent my summer trip to Utah in his "DJ room" telling him the music that I liked while he showed me all of his DJ lights and tables and gadgets. I have vivid memories of him making me laugh, always including his little niece, and scooping me up in a hug. He had always struggled with his health, but he was SO alive. He played jokes, he dressed up in ridiculous costumes, he did THE BEST impressions (including a spot on Velociraptor). He went to bed feeling ill and didn't wake up in the morning. I still visit his grave and I know that he is still very much involved in my life.

This isn't meant to be depressing... just the opposite actually. These things have all been rolling around in my mind the past few days and I've decided (or re-decided) something.

My friend is right... life is short.

Too short to not spend it laughing.

Too short to not tell your family and friends you love them.

Too short to sit around when there is SO MUCH good to be done.

Too short to stress over things that don't really matter.

Too short to leave the important things until tomorrow.

It's times like these (when an anvil of a wake up call hits and when I can't help but feel the ripples of the pain of loosing a loved one) that I am so grateful for my faith. I am grateful to know that the people we love are waiting on the other side. They are still involved in our lives, and that we can and will see them again.

I am grateful to know that even though this life is filled with difficult, and sometimes painful things, I am meant to be happy. Sometimes it takes the hard reminders of pain and loss to help me realize this fact all over again.

In spite of all those heartbreaking losses I've remembered today, I've had my eyes re-opened to the gift of life, and I feel peace and love and happiness from my Father in Heaven.

Movies Lately

I've spent a lot of time watching movies lately. It turns out I don't have much to do and/or I'm too lazy to do anything else. I've pretty much figured out where every REDBOX is in a 5 mile radius from my house (and probably should just get a Netflix membership).

Since I've watched so many I'm just going to give you a quick run down.

5 -------------------------3------------------------1

<------Loved it ................... Didn't hate it ...................... Ugh... no.------>

(5)

I promise it isn't what you're expecting! Plus who doesn't love a good dose of Matt Damon?

(4)

This might be biased by my love of dance. I bought the soundtrack after seeing it again and have earned a few odd looks from people that have seen me car dancing.... totally all out :)

(3)

It's a good action flick with a twist (even if the twist is a little obvious). Love Diane Kruger and LOVE LOVE LOVE Liam Neeson. He is getting older but he is definitely still hard core.

(5)

I started this movie thinking I'd run it in the background while I did laundry. I got totally sucked in! Johnny Depp does an amazing job (as usual) and it's such a fun, feel-good movie.

(1.75)

It was an interesting twist on the classic story.... but that also made it kind of predictable. The acting was disappointing, and it just wasn't super entertaining.

(3.5)

Excellent acting by Jesse Eisenberg, well the entire cast really (yep, even Justin Timberlake.... ugh his character is such a douche!) Not really a movie to watch for the pure entertainment value, but it's a very interesting story and I can appreciate that in a movie.

(4.5)

OH. WOW. Again, not one to watch for pure entertainment value, but if James Franco can keep me watching a close up of him for and hour and 1/2.... and amazed and slightly grossed out... promise it's worth watching.

(4)

First, I love me some Jake Gyllenhaal. Loved the idea of the movie... kind of a puzzle that they drop enough hints for you to kind of stay ahead of the game with a few big surprises.

(2.25)

Not a total let down... but close. Started off strong then fizzled. Sadly... it's hit and miss with Mr. Cage.

AND I do actually see some movies in theaters!

(5)

I saw this one at midnight so it's slightly foggy but definitely awesome.

(5.5)

Yep, I gave it an extra half a point because I LOVE HARRY POTTER and it's the end of an era!

I cried... 3 times.

Yes, I realize that was a lot of movies. Before you get all worried... I didn't watch them marathon style and did actually watch a fair few of them with other people so I'm not a total hermit/loser.

If anyone has suggestions, please share! And go watch the good ones if you haven't! <3

Hogle Zoo

I decided that since I didn't have plans this Saturday I would take my nephews to the Zoo (with, of course, a lot of help from my mom and brother)

I discovered that it is pretty much impossible to get both of them to pay attention and/or smile for the camera at the same time.

Jake was very excited to see the elephants... This statue was cool... it made sounds and had a perfect Kodak opportunity except for the fact that Jake didn't want to smile because the other kids were looking at him... of course.

Also very excited to ride the carousel, which we got to do for free thanks to a nice man that gave us a punch pass as we came into the zoo.

Round 1: Riding the Giraffe

Real Giraffes

Round 2: Riding the polar bear.

This round wins because the polar bear actually went up and down. We didn't realize the Giraffe didn't when we picked it.

As you can see... he liked the elephants

Zoo-rasic Park.

The dinosaurs were animatronic and even roared and one even spit water.

Kind of dinosaurs...

Collin is pretty much a gorilla :)

Jake taking his turn to measure up

Time to go home. Everyone is hot and tired but we had a TON of fun with the boys! I wish I would have gotten a picture of the boys asleep in the car... didn't take long after pulling out of the parking lot.

I LOVE fun days like this. I love spending time with my family... especially my little, energetic, happy, smiley nephews. They were both SO good and we made some good memories!

My Amazing Mother

I am going to be so bold as to start out my post with the absolute fact that I have THE MOST amazing mother. I will also admit that this is a completely subjective statement and further explain that my mother is the absolute best woman in the world for the job of being MY mother. There are many of you out there that feel the same way about your mothers, I'm sure.

Let me expound on this idea... the idea that my mom is the best person in the world to be my mom. I have met plenty of amazing women, many who have played motherly roles in my life. There have been teachers, managers, friends' mothers, church leaders, etc that have had huge impacts in my life. There are many friends that I can open up to about parts of my life and those I have learned a lot from. Here's the amazing thing... my mom plays all of these amazing roles all at once. My mom is honestly my best friend. Not just the kind of friend that I like to hang out with occasionally. Here's a confession that may tell a little about my relationship with my mom... If you go back the one of the very first posts here on my blog you see that I was VERY excited to move out. There were a lot of factors for making that decision, one of the major ones being that I needed a social life. I only seldom thought I was a loser for staying home EVERY NIGHT. I had to move out of the house so that I would stop hanging out with my mom every night.

I guess I owe it to genetics that we are so much alike, but that isn't universally true with mother/daughter relationships.

I have so much fun with my mom.

We laugh. We make up words. We joke. We do crosswords. We eat lunch in complete silence because we are both "antisocially" reading a book (often at the recommendation of the other). We watch the same movies over and over and still love them. We dance around to oldies. We talk about life. We talk about boys. We talk about hard things. We share opinions. We get excited about the same things. We are both so insanely odd and find ourselves hilarious.

My mom isn't just my friend. She is my mom. There was a point in the past few rough years that my wake up call came and I realized I needed to sort some things out. A huge part of that epiphany was when I saw how far I had pushed my mom away from me. I didn't want to talk to her because I knew if I did, she would be right. She would tell me all the hard things to hear, and she wouldn't be afraid to say them. She is the person I call when I just need to vent and cry, and she will inevitably say something to make me feel better or snap me out of it. I call her when I cook, and to all who have complemented me on my delicious desserts... they are all her recipes. I've had people ask me, surprised, "Where did you learn that?"... UM MY MOM, DUH!

My mom is amazing. She is brave and strong and has taught be how to be the same. She continues to be my therapist, confidant, teacher, and best friend. I couldn't be more grateful.

Love you Mom!

Happy Dance

Okay this going to be short but...

MY CAR IS FINALLY DONE BEING FIXED!!!

It's been almost a month. 14 days in that stupid little Fiat.

I am back in my amazing sister's Hyundai and holy crap.... I forgot how to drive stick!

Happy dance for getting to pick up my car AND that all this headache is finally behind me.

OH um... PS...

I'm selling said awesome car if anyone is interested. It really is in great condition. I've taken good care of it despite my run of bad luck.

Check out the KSL ad.

More happy dance! <3

Summer Is Here

What says SUMMER

better than ....

FRIENDS

you know the kind... the ones that keep you laughing all night.

ROASTING MALLOWS

and eating S'mores... did I mention the mallows were those ginormous ones they sell now? They were almost as big as my face...

I ate 3 of these. Then had to lay down... but it was worth it!

Free

I've always considered myself a pretty patriotic person but I feel like yesterday was a little different for me. I kept having these lightning bolt moments of feeling free and American... I even teared up a few times. Let me share.

On the way up to my parents house, driving with the windows down (as I always do in the summer) I heard over my blasting music "the sound of freedom" as my mom calls it. It was a fly over from Hill AFB probably heading into the valley for a parade. I LOVE the sound of a jet overhead and I've been really lucky to hear it all the time.

Of course there were a few moments at the parade. I was SO proud to see the wave of people standing as the color guard lead the parade with the Stars and Stripes and I was so proud to stand with them.

This isn't an uncommon experience for me, but as the trucks full of veterans came

down the parade route I got tears in my eyes. There was even one old man on the truck "Navy Veterans" who was totally decked out in his obviously old uniform and I was proud to be American because of him. I have such a deep respect for those brave enough to fight and sacrifice for my country. This is a feeling that has grown much deeper as I've come to know some amazing soldiers and their families. I can honestly say I've never met stronger, braver people. I've seen their sacrifice and I am AMAZED.

(Sorry, this is totally random but I LOVE this picture... there are so many generic soldier pictures out there to be Googled but these men, as well as so many others I'm lucky enough to have met, are amazing)

And then there was the BBQ and the fireworks and all of the other festivities. Goofing off, losing at volleyball, eating burgers, watching my brother-in-law show my 3 yr old nephew the fun of lighting fireworks, and being with my family.

I am SO thankful to be American. I am thankful most of all that I can believe what I choose. I am free to pray. I am free to worship where I will. I'm free to share what I believe.

I am free.

Live and Learn

So... remember that post a few back about how I was SO excited to move out and have all those fun "meet new people" "be in a new place" experiences... how about a "I've never EVER done this before and I have no idea what I'm doing". Before you worry...

I had to mow the law for the first time EVER today. My dad doesn't let anyone mow his lawn. Can't really blame him when our lawn is always green and weed free and cut with perfect crisscrossing lines in it. That just means I've never even really touched a lawn mower.

At my new house we each take turns so it isn't so bad. Mow the lawn once every 5 weeks. That'll mean I have to do it what... 2 or 3 times this summer?

It's my turn this weekend and so I called my dad.

"It's my turn to mow."

"Okay, first... start the mower."

"Uh yeah... how?"

I guess it wasn't so bad. Except that I waited until noon so it was hot; the mower is REALLY old and I'm calling BS on the "self propelled" label. Oh and did I mention I have a GINORMOUS back yard.

It's done. I've experienced mowing the lawn.

When I'm grown up and rich... someone else will be mowing my lawn.