.live a new life.

 

 

 

 

 

It’s been awhile since I’ve written anything worth reading. It’s been awhile since I’ve done anything worth writing, and both of those problems need to change.

I’m back at work again and loving it. I love my job, and am very thankful to be back at it once again. Especially since now that the snow has melted my 10,000 sqft back yard of dirt, rocks, and tumbleweeds really needs to have something done with it. Most of the time I keep the blinds closed I so I don’t have to look at it… only it’s still there when I open them again to enjoy my great view. So hopefully by summer the yard will be done, and then it’ll be the fence that needs to go in – and then I can start decorating the inside! Paint, furniture, rugs, curtains, accessories! So excited! (Don’t read this part husband, it’s not as much as it sounds like).

I need to start getting back into photography. I need to start reading more. I need to stop wasting so much time with television and facebook, and the distractions of the world. I need to re-prioritize and life my life focusing on those things. I know those of you that know me will say that I can’t do this – but, I’m here to tell you that I can – I will. I spent sometime today thinking about this plan and here it is….

It’s that simple. I’m so tired of writing about what I’m going to do, and planning out how to do it. Just do it. The one thing I need to put at the absolute top of my new priority list is the Gospel. My relationship with my Heavenly Father isn’t what it used to be and I keep expecting it to just come back – but it won’t, until I put forth the effort and try – and really want it, and by showing I really want it, need it in my life. I live within 20-30 minutes of 4 temples. How many times have I been in the past year? zero. That’s uncalled for. I have a temple in my work district. In fact we are stewards over the meetinghouse on the temple grounds,  5 minutes from my office. I could go on my lunch! Do I? No. Should I ? Yes. Will I? Yes.

I read on average 3 400 page books a month. How many pages of scripture are there? Yah. Why should it take me a year to read the almost 600 page Book of Mormon? It shouldn’t, but it does. Once again un-called for. I know our purpose in life. I know what the plan is, but yet I get so distracted I don’t remember that, or focus on it, and I should.

I’ve already scheduled two things that I am really excited about. The first is my sister and I have been apparently thinking about the same things for awhile, how to re-focus our lives. So we are going to be doing a special project together that I will be excited to blog about after it’s done. I don’t want to write anything about it yet, as I want the experience to be pure and clean from expectations and pre-conceived notions.

The second, will be starting tomorrow…

Thursdays will be a no computer, no phone, no internet day. I’m not completely cutting myself off but I’m limiting it to need not want. I use the computer at work, but I don’t have to have my websites open (my fitness pal, facebook, google reader, gmail, etc). I will only use what my job requires and that’s all. My phone, will be used as a phone. When I get home from work, I will use the TV to do my workout (1hr) and that’s it. It will then be turned off and I will focus my time on family history, reading, learning, writing letters, etc. I can use the computer for family history but the other stuff? It can wait til Friday. It will still all be there.

I’ll post about my Thursdays – I know sounds kinda oxymoronic… but I won’t be doing it on Thursday. Anyone else want to join in? I’m excited, I really think it will help me cleanse my time and how I waste spend my free hours of the day. Now it’s time to go through my Hulu queue and weed out what I really don’t want to watch, care to watch, or should watch.

It’s time to simplify.

It’s time to re-prioritize.

It’s time to….

I Am Scatter Brained

My desk is an absolute mess. To the left I have a stack of emptied envelopes from Christmas cards that I need to add the addresses into my address book, an overflowing recipe box that I need to transcribe, papers that need to be filed, magazines that need to be read, and my phone which is blinking at me impatiently to pick it up and just see who’s been sending me ‘lovely little messages’ (this is where I should purchase and use the sarcmark, if only I knew I would get enough use out of it, insert sarcmark again here – I’m pretty sure I would). To the right are my two cameras little bear and mama bear, a stack of papers that kept jamming in my printer, the human resource manual I need to read and haven’t done so yet, the printer I’m about to throw out the window, and other random items. I’m not going to say what’s directly in front of me as my computer screen is blocking it so it’s out of sight out of mind right?

So here I sit trying to unclutter my brain and remember what I was going to use for my Thursday Thought today, but while I’m trying to remember here are my 365 images from yesterday and today.


This made me smile bright and early in the morning while getting fuel, so of course I had to remember it.


I have been obsessed with trees I mean really in love with them. This isn’t the best photo but I do love me some trees and sun flare!

On to some random bits of information:
I just downloaded Quicken 2010 and it’s already causing brain overload and occupying way too much of my time this evening.
The fan on our heater has been running non-stop for the past hour… not sure why but blowing cold air and kind of annoying, not to mention the electric bill that it’s going to cause us to have.
I was accepted and got a spot in on of Nicole Hill’s photography classes she is having in San Francisco this year, so excited!
I was summoned for jury duty exactly one year after having it the first time (I postponed).
There is a huge difference in post-editing a picture from a point and shoot and a DSLR, I love Big Mama – she makes me happy.

Okay enough ramblings here are my Thursday Thoughts, also remember the it is delurking week – so be sure to say hi!

I’m not sure where I saw this quote, but I think I’m going to print it, frame it, and hang it in my room where I can see it everyday

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” ~Mark Twain

Yes I will change my daily outlook. Yes I will change my lifestyle. Yes I will stop thinking and start doing. Yes I will find me by hoisting up my ‘sails’. I will explore, dream, and discover. I’m only 26 and I already am disappointed by things I didn’t do – so here’s to doing things never to say, ‘I wish I had’ ever again.

My Own Opinion

 
I had this great post all ready to go as a draft, I  wanted to come home and edit it and then, well, it wasn’t there anymore. So in short…

Today I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts (New York Book Review) – and it hit me how thankful I am. I’m so thankful for the opportunity I have.

…to have my own opinion….
….to have a voice to express it…

…to have friends who share differing opinions to learn and grow from…
…to have thoughts that are mine, that no one has the power to change…
…for the freedom to change my likes and dislikes…
…for the choices to choose my own path…
…for the people around me who love me no matter how many times I change my mind…
…for my life that is mine, to live as I please…

I love the country that I live in that I have the opportunity to live without dictation, to use my agency to it’s fullest, and most of all to find beauty in the little things, no matter what they are. 

But most importantly – today – I am thankful to every man and woman on our soil, the seas, or on foreign land.
For ever many and woman who wear a uniform – who protect our neighborhoods, cities, state, and country.

Thank you, for helping me keep my right to my own opinion.

Encouragement

So I spent the weekend thinking about what the word 'encouragement' meant to me, personally. I was brought back to a couple of weeks ago as I was flying home from the family reunion in Idaho I was staring out the window of the plane into the clouds watching through the spaces in them the earth beneath pass by. It was one of the most beautiful moments I have ever had. The hope that filled me from within as I was looking out the window was something I didn't want to forget. I haven't had the chance to journal down my thoughts and when I saw that today's blog hop was encouragement - what a perfect time.

I had my iPod on with my headphones in my ears - when these lyrics sang in my ears:

"It passes all my understanding,
All the beauty we have here
From the majesty of the canyons
To a tiny baby's ear
And even when I can't believe it,
He still believes in me
It passes all my understanding

We watched the sun set through the clouds
In a tiny little airplane window
With people sleeping all around
And I thought of how we just expect this world to be

It passes all my understanding,
That the Lord knows both our names
And that He made this world for everyone
That was sitting on that plane
And in spite of all of man's distractions
He offers us His peace
That passes all my understanding"

Our loving Father in Heaven gives us so much hope and peace. Having the knowledge the He lives makes my heart glow with warmth. The encouragement I felt while looking out my own aircraft window knowing that someone greater than us all created this beautiful world for us to live in to enjoy and to grow. Knowing that He sent His Son, our Savior Jesus Christ to die for us so we might return to live with Him and that we could overcome sin and temptation, is filled with hope that encourages me on a daily basis. I am thankful for this, and for being able to literally see His love and the hope He has for us that surrounds us when other things in this life seem to be falling apart everyday.

Life Is Like A Jump Rope

So I admit one of my favorite bands as of late is Blue October - I heart them majorly. Anywho, I was listening to their new CD and pondering the things that have happened in my life lately the good and the bad, the sad the happy, and most especially the trying times that everyone has in thier lives and how one blog I've been reading she said, "I choose to praise God in this storm. In fact, I will praise Him for this storm." How powerful and real. We really should be thanking God for our trials and learning from them but also how to lean on Him for strength. So often we forget that we don't have to handle things on our own, we should never try as it would be so much easier with God at our side help and leading us through them - even the little day by day things, He cares He loves us and wants us to get the most out of life that we can. So on that note here is my new favorite song, enjoy!

Aloha Friday!

It doesn't seem very 'Aloha-y' today, oh well. Make the best of it right? So I've been browsing Etsy and some home decor blogs and I have decided I want to buy a house, really bad. Somewhere I can decorate (like really decorate) - somewhere that's clean (new, so I don't live on top of other peoples messes). I want to buy shelves and furniture and tile and fixtures and plants and ... everything. I want white, green, blue, brown - fresh, light, and open. Tiled backsplash, concrete/stone counter. Wood (real wood) throughout the whole house, nice rugs. A garden to work in and kids to play in. That's what I want maybe I'll have it one day.

{I love the granite bathtub above}

"Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave, and grow old wanting to get back to"

What would your dream home entail?

Thursday Thoughts

When I was young...

I was going to drive a F250
I loved pastel colors
I wanted to be a teacher
I wanted to have 80 kids
I loved having the house dark

Now that I'm older...

I drive a Corolla
I love bold colors
I enjoy being an office manager
I would give anything to have 1 child
I can't get enough light

A Little Bit of Everything

Happy Birthday little brother! Yes I'm a couple of days late and I'm sure he would say that I was a couple of dollars short as well, you'll get your present soon enough. I'm not sure how I feel about my adorable little baby brother turning 14, yup that's right 14. I remember when I was 14. . . . I thought I was a pretty good child but now that I have my brain back, as my mom says it leaves from the ages of 13 - 22ish, I can see I could have been a lot better. So thanks mom for putting up with me. At the age of 14 I was in eighth grade, totally off topic but doesn't the word eighth look strange, more like a sound like phew or geesh than a number or let alone a word, anyway, back to where I was, 14 in eighth (hehe, new favorite number as it makes me giggle every time I see it) okay seriously now, I was in eighth (ha!) grade when I was fourteen and my cousin Kellie had come to live with us and work for the summer, that was great times. I actually found a picture as I was sorting through them all of us in matching shirts and pants and hair, how fun and cute and young. It was also the year of the infamous "love triangle" which I don't have to go into detail about because if you know anything about me or know me in the slightest you will know this story, if not then your mind can wonder as to how can a 14 year old be involved in a love triangle, yes keep your brains percolating. Oh to be young again, no cares only a few chores here and there. But nothing really major that if you don't do it life will fall apart, that happens when you get married and attempt to be an adult. Oh how I miss being young.

On to more recent events this week has been pretty much mundane so far except a few things I have learned about myself and we have done. I have learned that I love I mean love these new bands/artists I have found: Stars Go Dim, Kim Taylor, Keren Ann. There are more but I really like this style of music anyone know what "genre" it's in? Yes I like "quotations" they are just "special". Speaking of learning new things and realizing who I am, I went and saw The Women this past Friday. It was interesting. I don't know what to say about it, I really don't. It brought a few interesting ideas to light and had an interesting story line, but at the same time it didn't have a story line at all. But one thing that really stuck out to me was the collage this one character, Kate, did to try to find out what she really wanted and who she really was. She took an empty wall and put the words, What Does Kate Want? on it. Then all around it she hung pictures of what she liked and would want to do. It was very powerful to me and I have been looking for things I like and who I am as an individual. All in all it was a good movie would I watch it again, maybe, will I own it? Probably not. That's about it for this week so far other than we went to a Giants vs. Rockies game last night and I will blog about that on our family blog this evening sometime maybe after I take a nap?

Just another day

Silence. Silence. Silence. Today is one of those days where it seems just too quiet, makes you curious about what tomorrow is going to consist of. This week has been pretty dull, nothing too exciting in my life going on. I keep making goals for myself but I believe I have gotten to the point where I have made too many goals and am stressing myself out with the ones that I have made because I feel as though I can't keep up with them. Does anyone know the feeling?

Spiritual Goals

1. Read/Study Scriptures: I have been able to listen to about an hours worth every day but I would prefer it if I could sit and study for at least 15 minutes a day. 2. Go to the temple at least once a week: There is no reason why I cannot accomplish this it's not like I have anything else to do and it's 'so far away'. 3. Say morning and evening prayers: Lately I've been falling asleep before even going to bed, makes it kind of difficult to pray. 

Personal Goals 1. Lose 115 pounds by January 2010: I started out pretty good and then lost motivation, and then started again, so it's getting there. (This also entails about 10 specific goals in its self). 2. Read a novel a week. 3. No MORE road rage: This is the hardest of them all. 4. Learn to stay in my budget instead of making my budget fit me. 5. Write in a journal (a paper one) at least every other day.

Okay, so it really doesn't seem like all that much when I write it out, but in my head it is continually growing! Tuesday was Mr. B's and I's 2 year anniversary. We didn't do much and you can read about it here. I haven' been feeling well lately ie, extreme exhaustion, nausea, and exhaustion. You get the idea. Just thought I would put a little update up and maybe I'll think of something else a little later on, don't get your hopes up though.

Habit...

I should really make this one of those "good habits that you do before you go to bed" type of a thing. I haven't been updating about my days like I have really planned to. Since last week, Mr.B left for Denver, I have to move our office, my friends cat had kittens, my cat is constantly meowing.. anyway.

Things are goign great though, although I miss my husband and it is causing me to eat more than I really should, but I'm doing good still losing weight, 11 pounds so far and have dropped my body fat percentage by a whole percent which is very exciting. How often do people look back in thier lives and really wonder? really wonder what could've been what might've been? I've done that lately and realized I couldn't be any happier than I am now had I 'taken' all those oppurtunities. I love where I am, I love who I am with, I love my life, and most importantly I'm begining to love me. Which is a great step seeings I don't think that I ever have, "loved me" before. I went and read my livejournal the other day, I haven't written in it for YEARS, since 2004 to be exact. I thought I was having the time of my life, little do I know, I wasn't. I have great friends only a few of them, but that's okay, it's the quality of them that is amazing. I realize the importance of having quality time to yourself and with your family, of growing close your Saviour (no matter the religion or who you are), of taking bubble baths are reading until you look like a prune, not being able to say, "I love you." enough to the ones you love the most. Understanding that it's the hard times in life that make us what we are, the times when we aren't the strongest help us to be stronger. This life is amazing, and no matter what we do everyday we are blessed beyond our own understanding but we need to keep a smile on our face and remember that times do only truly get better. They may seem more difficult and harder to bear, but think back to: If this happened 3 years ago would I be able to handle it as well as I am now? Realize that we are here living our lives for US, not the neighboors or the boyfriends, not the friend that needs you constantly. FOR US as individuals, and we need to be aware that although we can give our lives in service we need to focus on what is better for us and our families in the long run.

A little ramble for this afternoon. Hopefully I'll be able to to truly make this into a-what-you-do-before-bedtime type of habit. Good'ay everyone.