Yep it's true...I love Lord of the Rings

I don't know how I forgot something so amazing, but this weekend I rediscovered my love for Lord of the Rings. Saturday afternoon my parents and I took up the feat of watching the heart-wrenching tale of four young boys and their "quest" to save the world from evil as we know it.

At first I thought I would barely be able to make it through one of the three films made, but I slowly realized I could have watched all three back to back (even with the extended version). I love it!

I had even let it space my mind that years ago, in one of my college apartments, we had a basically life size cut out of Aragorn that lived in our front room. If you look closely at the picture Aragorn's head is in the top right hand corner.

How could I have forgotten how great the trilogy was? I don't know, but what I do know is that I am going to make an effort to watch them again every year from here on out.

We Are Okay

There is a song by Josua Radin called We Are Okay and the main chorus expresses how I feel right now.

So many thoughts and concerns float through my mind, but ultimately I am OKAY.

And you know what? I am better than okay!

I am at peace and I feel an overwhelming joy that comes from that.

Have you ever paid attention to the physical feelings the Lord gives? I have found some of my most precious experiences have come from stopping and feeling. But how do you describe something so exquist and sent just to you?

Light.

Warm.

Tingley.

The buzzing sensation that starts in my chest and spreads to my whole frame.

So what ultimately makes me okay? It's the reasurrence from a loving Heavenly Father who is wiser than me and knowing and trusting that is what brings me the comfort I need.

This One's For the Girls

Girls nights are essential.

There is nothing like getting together with a group of women to talk about life and to listen and support each other in their woe's and triumphs.

Today was a day of visiting my new Visiting Teachies (I know it's the end of the month, but I was so glad I was able to meet them and visit) and then I went and spent some time with some great girls from my singles ward. I was feeling a bit like staying at home and taking it easy, but felt like it was something I ought to do....and I am SO grateful I did!

Originally we were going for the main purpose of watching Ella Enchanted. However, the fun started even before I arrived.

Christy Nielson and I decided to try to find our way to Amy's house and we thought we were doing a good job at it considering the freshly fallen snow and slippery roads. However, after a doorbell ring, a knock on the door, and another doorbell ring, we found out that we were at the wrong townhouse and laughing at ourselves we went on our way to the correct house.

So about six hours later and no movie we all decided the night was an eventful night of talking and sharing the intimate details that come with lives full of up's and down's.

With stories full of romance, love, laughter, heartbreak, and healing who needs a chick flick anyway?

I came away filling fulfilled and grateful for all of the experiences I have had and for the friendships that come when we least expect it.

Life. Experiences. Growth. Every moment is a blessing.

Sometimes you either have to laugh or cry

Life gets to be so hectic sometimes. I often don't even know where to begin to take out my problems one by one. Lately I have just felt so overwhelmed with life in general...who to date, how to date, how to serve more effectively, how to give enough time to my school work while giving time to family and friends, how much time to devote to meeting new people, when and how to start cleaning my room and let alone my car. I feel the desire to change the world, but at the same time I have to change myself to get to that point.

There are so many choices to be made and problems to be solved, but sometimes I just want to revert back to being 5 again so I can curl up on my Mom or Dad's lap and just let the stresses of the day slip away. It's not that I don't love making choices, it's just that I want to make the "best" choice. Isn't that what we all want--"the best". I want to make others around me proud. I want to make a difference. I want to do it right and I want to do it right the first time (sounds like a tantrum, I know).

In reality though, each time I'm stretched I grow.

Every time I fall I learn how to fall with more grace.

Each time I make a mistake I learn how to do something better.

Bernice Johnson Reagon once said, "Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to help you discover who you are."

...and if I do make a mistake or happen to choose wrongly I can get back up and try again.