Chillout

http://www.zefrank.com/chillout/ I learned about this guy's blog in psychology. His name is Ze Frank. It kind of inspired me. He comes up with creative ways to make the world seem a little smaller. The cool thing is, he asks for help by those following his blog to create songs, or to take part in projects to build others up.
Today I have been thinking. Shocker. I have been thinking mostly about how much we need each other, and how grateful I am to be a member of a religion, despite all of its criticism, that is based solely upon a flawless concept: love.
And I want to start applying that concept a lot more throughout my day. It's much easier to show love to my handsome husband than to a complete stranger...and that's half the battle.
So this afternoon I had a lab for life science. I was sitting in a comfy chair on the bottom level of the building when I heard a girl ask a group of people where room 303 was. That was where I was headed, so I announced, "hey that's where I'm going, I'll just take you there." I was surprised to realize the source of that soft, timid voice came from a girl who had black hair, black clothes, piercings and tattoos that were way too exposed for a cold day, and teeth that looked like they were exposed to one too many...let's just call them stimulants.
I feel completely embarrassed to say that my first thought was, "I hope I can come up with enough conversation during these three flights of stairs...doubt we have much in common." I think the girl thought the same thing about me.
Surprisingly enough, the conversation flowed smoothly, and it seemed that we were both equally enjoying each other's company! She gradually felt more comfortable talking to me and was opening up about her interests, family, home-town, and it was pretty interesting! I made a new friend today, and I learned a valuable lesson too. Making friends with only one kind of person is like going your whole life eating rice for every meal.
Variety is good!
Why love selectively when you have an unlimited supply you can give freely?

Adventurous Adventures!

Anyone who knows my family knows we are avid hunters. I was pretty disappointed after looking at the calendar to find we had double booked our weekend leaving two options: Marshall's best friend's wedding, or an excursion I had been looking forward to for years. Not many wives can say they left their husband at home so they could go to a wedding while she hit the hills to hunt. Guess that's what Marsh gets for marrying a Chandler!

I love the mountains, there is a peace there almost like nowhere on Earth and I LOVE being there with my family. We had the best time, but it was my first time spending nights away from my sweet hubby and I got a little anxious, not to mention I am sadly out of shape, and YES my dear old dad can still out-hike me. I'm over it. Aside from getting NO sleep Thursday night from being too darned cold, I enjoyed every moment with my family. I love enjoying Heavenly Father's creations with the people I love :) 

We came home empty-handed, but for us that's not what it's all about, and I just have to say how grateful I was for the opportunity to spend time with my pops and sibs!

I made a vow to never go without my best friend again though...promise promise promise...

It's all fun and games until BYU football time

Uncle Marsh teachin Emma how to jam!

Andrea and Madi are suppressing the feelings that the cougars are getting stomped...

ANXIETY!!! Can't believe Utah State beat BYU. What a bummer!

It was a complete blast getting together with the family! They all came to watch the football game, and for Mark's b-day of course! Marshall and I felt bad that we got Mark a ticket to watch his favorite team lose for his birthday...It was painful for everyone to see the team lose, and painful to be part of the few supporting BYU in that stadium. Oh well...better luck next  year? It was fun anyway! Wish I got more pictures...

Pro Choice?

This woman tells an incredible story in retort to Obama signing an act four times against helping the survival of infants born alive during the process of abortion.  
There are two parts to her speech...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPF1FhCMPuQ
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8B1nKGIAeg&NR=1

What I'm Learning In Life Science!

http://aimediaserver4.com/studiodaily/videoplayer/?src=ai4%2Fharvard%2Fharvard.swf&width=640&height=520

This video is so awesome! Maybe it's just cool to me, but it really gave the the chills in class to think of how brilliant Heavenly Father must be to create our bodies! All this work is just in a single cell! I feel like I have alot of learning to do :)

C++ And Aggie Ice Cream

Here we are in good ole' Logan, Utah. I have found that college is different as a married person. Standing through a whole football game just to be cool in the student section where hurtling objects bean ya in the head regularily and strangers give you high fives just isn't as fun anymore. Instead of heading to the seat nearest the cute boys, I look for the seat surrounded by girls. Studying happens. Studying REALLY happens! Cause your best friend is at home, and he's studying too. And you can take breaks :)
I actually cook regular meals. Top Ramen just doesn't cut it anymore, and I have to buy ALOT more food when I shop. I get to hear alllll about Marshall's Electrical Engineering classes. He created his first three computer programs and he talks me through each one after it succeeds. And I thought trying to understand the technical rules of football would be the most confusing part of trying to interact with Marshall's hobbies...Try learning how to talk to a computer in one sitting.
Our ward is great, our school is great, our apartment is a tiny and great in it's own special way and our homework pile is...great big. Good buy summertime!

Not Lost: High on the Mountaintop

The world is changing as people change. We are the variable, while Earth is the constant, a canvas unruly and untouched. But people change, and we change it. Standing at the peak of a mountain looking out into the vastness of what puts the “wild” in wilderness, I feel like I am at the center of a spinning wheel, un-moving while the rest of the world travels around me. I don’t want to move, this place feels like home.

The solidity of these hills make me love them; the constant expectation of the unexpected. This is how it should be. Let the world change around me, but I won’t jump into the spokes. Life is supposed to be this obvious. Live, love, learn and do whatever you can to make it back in one piece. It sounds so clear when you are breathing this clean air. But I know the second I see the first man-made road I know it will lead me back into a place where clear is ancient and out-dated, a place that says “things must be complicated now; things must be murky and tainted”.

It will be still here. There will be peace here, which allows love and clarity to envelope and crush all doubts and fears. Love, truth, unchanging faith, and growing knowledge: this is reality, the only real place on Earth.

I wonder what it is about reality that people fear so much. What is it about scum that makes a human being feel safe? Perhaps it is because it is much easier to be around scum, scum doesn’t expect much out of a person. All one must do is be filthy too. Reality, truth, and light demand a certain consciousness to become, to rise up beyond the filth of the world, and desire to be clean. It is here I will rise, high on the mountain top I will choose to become. Though at times I must return to the spinning spokes, I will keep my eye on the center of the wheel; the house of the Lord.