Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. St. John 15:13

And he said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of God?
And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.
1 Nephi 11:16-17

Christ loved us so much He would lay down His life for us. Christ loved us so much He did lay down His life for us. Christ would rather have gone through our pains for us than have to watch us go through them ourselves. He did go through our pains, so that we could be healed of them. He would rather suffer for our sins than have us suffer for them. He did suffer for our sins so that we don't have to suffer for them. He loved us, and He loves us still.

My Dream

You know how you're always in the middle of this exciting dream but you always wake up right before it finishes and you are annoyed because you want to know what happened? Well, last night, for the first time I can remember, I finished a dream! After it was over, I woke up a little, but not completely, so that I was in this semi-conscious state. And I felt completely satisfied. "That was wonderful" I thought, "so entertaining!" I began to think about writing it down in book form and publishing it. And then I really fully woke up, and I realized that was a stupid idea. But it was a great dream.

Anyway, what happened is that I was swimming in the BYU pool, and this guy came up and tried drowning me by holding me underwater at the bottom of the pool, but I escaped and came up and got out of the pool and began yelling "help" as loudly as I could. So then this really big marine guy came in with a stun gun and he tried to shoot him, but the guy was invincible and the gun had no effect. Then I kept yelling "help" and all sorts of more people came,but no one was able to shoot this guy, the bullets just bounced off of him. But then I found this old camera sitting there, and I found that if I took a picture of the bad guy it took his invincibility-ness away. So then I took his picture and we nabbed him and I finished my excellent dream.

It was an action adventure dream, high time entertainment at its greatest.

How is this Possible?

I'm in the library, and I haven't run into a single other person I know! Well, one friend, but I was wearing a coat so it didn't count. Not only am I suffering from social withdrawal, but today I am wearing a wardrobe masterpiece and no one is here to see it! I've been saving this cowgirl shirt in my closet in case I ever am invited to an event where you're supposed to dress up in country clothes, but today I looked at it and I wondered what it would be like if I wore it. So I pulled it out, and it wasn't so bad. I put on some dangly earrings to match, and somehow managed to get my hair in the perfect messy ponytail--the kind where it looks like it was just sort of thrown together and messed up but still looks good--you can't plan that sort of thing. I'm pretty proud of this outfit--it's pushing the edges a little, but still normal enough that I can wear it and not look out of place. I got the idea from my sister Lisa--she told me she likes to dress nice, but push the edges of creativity sometimes. I like it. No, I really like it. Maybe I'm liking it too much. Now I wish I could wear a cowgirl hat somewhere and not look out of place. I even feel stupid wearing cowboy hats to rodeos--like I'm a poser or something. That's what Halloween's for.

You know what's funny about Halloween? All these people dressed up and wore their outfits around campus during the day. It was so funny, because I watched them and noticed they started to get this harried (is that a word?) look on their faces. They were staring straight ahead and walking quickly and looking a little picked on, like they were having a bad day. Obviously no one was doing anything to them, except staring at them, and not even staring because they were weird, just staring because they were interesting to look at. They were getting a taste of what it feels like to not blend in. It must be really rough to not blend in.

I'm blending in, but I'm still making a statement, in a mild sort of way. It's kind of fun to be a little quirky sometimes.

instruction manual to win Amy's heart

Item #1:

Guys: if you want to win Amy or any other high caliber, beautiful, witty, smart, all around perfect catch, the first thing you must do is to listen to quality country music and internalize its messages. Once you and Tim McGraw feel pretty much the same way about matters of love and life, your chances have grown immeasurably. Also, cowboy hats don't hurt.

Marry me Juliette !

.

My sister introduced me to the Taylor Swift song, Love Story. My life is a fairy tale just like Taylor Swift's/Juliette's in this song. I feel like a princess.

This morning I went running in the rain. I had meant to go on a walk, but the crisp air was so glorious I broke into a run. Mist hung in the air and the rain was so light it didn't seem to be actually falling, just suspended there. As I climbed up the hill, each step forward seemed to be symbolic of the upwards climb I have made through life in the last few years. I imagined someone interviewing me. "Did you really use to be that far down there" she asked. "Yes" I replied "It was really that bad." "How on earth did you ever get out of it, you have beaten the odds--one in a million" "Well" I said, "It was God, he helped me." "God, He just gave this to you?" "Well no, it was a fight. I fought with everything I had, and I didn't give up, and I made it."

I finished my run and I came home and bowed myself on the ground and offered sweet thanks.

It was overcast today, but in my life the sun has finally broken through the clouds and finally the tears coming out of my eyes are ones of joy.

It is Unfortunate I am Too Old for a Ring Pop

I don't mind being older. I like it, no I love it actually. It's just fun to be grown up. I guess the only drawback is that I can't carry around a ring pop (a ring where the diamond is actually a sucker) and suck on it occasionally and maintain any sort of dignity. Or a candy necklace, eating those in public is probably out too. I guess you just can't have everything.

First Impressions...

I'm an Aunt !!!

This morning my wonderful, amazing sister Julia became a mother! Perfect, little blonde William Eric, weighing in at 6 lbs 12 oz. And let me tell you,William is so lucky because he has an awesome mom! Julia is one of my greatest inspirations, the kind of girl that makes the impossible possible—from running a marathon, to surviving off of no sleep as she went through college and culinary school and juggled a hundred other things, to moving to New York City at a young age and making it her own. But most of all, Julia is a great friend, and one of my favorite people in the world. I wish her and her husband all of the best of luck in this new endeavor. Love ya Julia!

Jack Handey

quoteworld.org

"Somebody told me it was frightening how much topsoil we are losing each year, but I told that story around the campfire and nobody got scared."

-Jack Handey

don't worry, I'm still alive

Don't worry, I survived the first day of fall semester. If you'd known what I'd be subjected to in accelerated Spanish 101 and you cared about me at all, you'd be thankful for that reassurance. The first half of the class, we were given no evidence that the professor spoke any English whatsoever. He jumped right in, pointing to people and asking them questions in Spanish. Fortunately I knew enough to survive.

To one girl he asked "Are you nervous?" Not totally sure what he was asking, or if it was the right answer, she replied "No." He had her stand up in front of the class. "Now are you nervous?" She realized she should say "Yes." "OK, you can sit down." He then began asking the class how they were doing. One guy told him that he was doing well. "Do you have a girlfriend?" "No" "Aren't you sad?" "Well a little" "Oh" Professor Meredith shook his had sadly. He pointed to the guy holding out his hand and made an appeal in his behalf to the women in the class: "girls..." We laughed. He asked the girl next to me if she had a brother. She replied "Yes." "What's his name?" She looked at him blankly. "You don't remember the name of your brother?" A little confused, she replied "si (yes)." The class laughed a little bit and I realized I better come to her rescue "He wants to know the name of your brother" I whispered. "Oh" she replied, relieved "Mike." And so the class continued.

The professor finally broke into English long enough to explain straight faced that he expected us to give 80 hours a week to the class, and fail all of our other classes, but at least we would be proficient in Spanish. He listed chapters we would blitz through at lightning speed, the hours we would spend studying with partners, the hours we would spend speaking in a lab, and I gulped. I looked at the rest of the class. At least we were in this together. And I'm sure most of them, like me, were a little overwhelmed, but I think we were also a little invigorated by the challenge. Hope that invigoration lasts.

ridiculously overpriced !

I was walking through the BYU Bookstore as I often do when a cheap little toy caught my eye. It was a little cardboard box with a handle sticking out of it. "I wonder what the handle does, probably play music" I thought and picked it up to test my theory. Sure enough it was a mini little cardboard music box that played a blurb about 5 seconds long and then repeated the blurb over and over again. "Wow" I thought "I wonder what in the world you would do with one of these." I wondered how much it would cost and turned it over to check. $7.99. "Seven ninety nine!!! That's ridiculous" I mentally exclaimed "What a ridiculously overpriced thing!"

Suddenly, and I'm not exactly sure why, I accidentally dropped it. My first thoughts were just curiosity as to whether the little toy would survive the fall. I picked it up and twisted the handle and no music came out. Not only ridiculously overpriced but cheaply made and easily broken! But guess who had broken it. Who pays $7.99 for a cheap little toy that breaks easily?

I do.

Good Ole' Harold B. Lee Library

Tonight at 8:00 the library closed early because of graduation ceremonies tonight. I turned towards home--the place I go occasionally because I can't sleep at the library.

In order to shoo everyone out of the library they always play music really loudly over the intercom --always something rousing like the Lord of the Rings soundtrack. I have always had a great dream that one night everyone in the library would become as one and dance to the music as we make our way towards the door. Tonight my hopes were partially realized. A girl spread her arms out and kicked up her sandaled foot, pointing her toes and then she waltzed around just a little. Not many people saw but it made me smile. BYU students are so dorky and I mean that in a good way.

Speaking of the library, just today I was walking to campus with a guy in my ward and we were talking about how you always run into people you know at the library. We decided that you go to the library to avoid all the distractions of your apartment, only to never get anything done because of all the people you run into at the library.

I'm thankful to the library for having become my natural habitat and to my apartment for being my home away from home when I need a place to sleep. Life is good.

Squirrels!!!

As I was biking the other day a squirrel ran on the trail in front of me, and noticed something and decided to stop and check it out—right in front of me! Fortunately my bike’s braking system is excellent and I was able to stop on a dime (or maybe I just wasn’t biking that fast :) He then scurried over to the edge of the trail and stopped in the bushes and so I took the opportunity to give him some friendly council. “You really should be more careful” I lectured him “I almost killed you!” He looked up at me and then scampered off. I’ve heard the squirrels in Central Park will come up and take food right out of your hands. Squirrels!!! They live on the edge like there’s no tomorrow. Someday I will point to a squirrel and teach my children that that’s not how you’re supposed to behave.

going public!

If you are a new reader, welcome! Up until now, I’ve been pretty shy and only told a handful of friends and family about my blog. Those who are so close that they know all my deepest secrets and whether or not I would vote for Ronald Reagan. If you comment, I will also tell you all my deepest secrets and whether or not I would vote for Ronald Reagan.

I have recently overcome my shyness and decided to go public. Many ways to spread the word have occurred to me. Such as making business cards and handing them out. The business cards will be attached to shiny new nickels. Bribery? You may ask. Well, yes, but practical bribery—the kind that fits into my budget.

Actually, what I have just done is to post the address of my blog on my facebook profile. A bold move on my part, although I'm not actually sure that anyone will see it there. In this blog, I plan to unlock the mysteries of the universe, reveal my character, and offer humorous insights into life and love. My ability to execute that plan is somewhat limited however. I feel a little like a girl trying on her mom’s high heels. I’m not grown up enough to blog yet, and I’m probably going to trip all over myself and maybe even fall flat on my face. Oh well, why do we fall, so that we can learn to pick ourselves back up again.

In conclusion I realize that by reading to the end of this post you have been very kind in humoring me thus far. So I will tell you that yes indeed, I would vote for Ronald Reagan.

The Hill

Today I was biking up a hill that always exhausts me (I’m exhausted easily), and instead of looking at the top of the hill like I usually do, I just looked at the ground. Suddenly it was so much easier and I hardly even noticed that I was going up a hill. This is what my Dad always told me to do when we went biking—just focus what’s right in front of you and don’t worry about the huge hill. He compared it to life: you just take it day by day, minute by minute sometimes, and focus on doing the best you can right now, and don’t get overwhelmed by the big picture or the huge goal you’re trying to accomplish.

Keeping up with the Joneses

I've been looking over my wardrobe and it could definitely use some serious upgrades. But being a poor college students, I really can't afford anything much more than Old Navy or Ross. So I've decided to start a charity fund--for my wardrobe. The only problem is that I'll probably get tons of checks and I hate running to the bank to cash them. So for the sake of practicality I've decided that I just can't accept anything under $1,000. Please feel free to donate :)

Texting

They say that life is full of little ironies, and I'm here to tell you that it's true.
Today in class my professor (who also teaches Junior High) took a break from the prepared lecture and began a discussion about whether technology is a good or a bad thing. I realized that this was a perfect opportunity to send a text I had been thinking about (he wouldn't see me, it's a 200 student class). I got out my phone and found that I had received a text. So I began reading it and became absorbed trying to think of a reply--letting time get away from me a little, until I realized that perhaps the discussion was over and we might be about to start the lecture again. I zoned back in and looked up just in time to hear my teacher tell us mature college students: "Yes one way that technology can be bad is with cell phones in Junior High. I just can't get my eighth graders to take their hands off their texting long enough to pay attention to class." I put away my phone and stayed focused the rest of the class. Like I said, life is full of little ironies.

on why I should wear my glasses

Tonight I was just out walking at dusk and this guy in a suit passed me. Suit, slightly messed hair, and that walk, I would know that walk anywhere! I stopped in my tracks as he passed me, my mouth hung open and then I turned around at him and stared. I guess that I felt the approaching night made me invisible. He sensed me staring at him and turned around and looked back at me.

It was Elder B. from Russia who was on a mission in Russia! He must have been transferred to Provo! And this righteous Elder must have been walking around without a companion, in early evening, on BYU campus! And he’d recognized me too, that’s why he was stopping, to say ‘Hello!’ It was all coming together! (OK, so maybe my ability to think quickly is a little limited.)

The corners of my mouth shot towards the sky and I rushed to meet him, “Elder B. how great to see you!” poised on the tip of my tongue. I got a little closer and to my great astonishment, it wasn’t Elder B. It was a guy who worked at the MTC, who I didn’t know, but had seen around just enough to recognize. I quickly realized my error, and even quicker came up with something witty to say. “I know you” I exclaimed with all the enthusiasm that had been worked up at the thought of Elder B. “You work in the MTC.” He smiled and, without missing a beat, replied “Yes, you work in the MTC too, I forgot your name.” “Well, that’s because we’ve never met, I’m Amy.” I asked his name but in the confusion of the moment quickly forgot it. We paused and established how we had passed each other occasionally and the different departments we had worked at. “OK, so nice to see you; have a good night” I said. “Yes, so nice to see you—was it Tiffany?” “close, Amy” “I knew it ended in a ‘Y’” he said as we began walking our separate ways.

I bet he’ll lie in bed tonight wondering if something about him mysteriously attracts girls, and whether I was hoping for a date.

Hello !

Hello Blog World! I'm happy, pleased, and thrilled to join you :)