It's Your Birthday? Let's Make a Weekend of it!

Sunday was my birthday.  The big TWO-FOUR!

Let me tell you what!  I am not where I thought I would be at this age.  It is a good thing Heavenly Father knows what He is doing cause I would have totally messed up my life map if it was up to me alone.

I have a lot of blessings in my life and this was very evident this weekend.

Weekends are the best part of the week so I was extremely happy my birthday fell on the weekend.

This is what went down:

Friday night my friends and I had a bonfire.  We roasted hot dogs and mallows and sat around being all "kumbaya" and junk.  It was tender.  This was followed by hilarious rounds of Mafia (this game is what we do best).  At one point in the night Kels and I had a dance party in the bathroom.  Yeah we cool!  I'm such a lucky girl!  I have so many great friends that I get to spend SOOOO much time with.

Saturday morning was a Spencer kind of day.  They tend to be lately.  We made Belgian waffles.  They were delish!  Spence and I make dang good food.  Then we painted.  It's our thing.  Pics of the finished product coming soon!  This was followed by puppy cuddle time with Lilo and Stitch (basically I had no idea I could be so in love with dogs).  Jim's Burgers for lunch!  It was so great.

My brother's fiance had a wedding shower Saturday evening.  I met some of her family.  We played girly games and ate great food.  The usual wedding shower junk.  (So fyi I detest party showers of all kinds.  They are girly and squeely, and GIRLY!  The sacrifices I make for the people I love!)

This shower was followed by a GUYS NIGHT!  I LOVE GUYS NIGHT!  Spencer, Colby, Tanner, Graham and I went and saw "Gravity."  I hated it.  They all loved it.  That is usually how it goes.  Wouldn't change it for the world!  These men are my rock.

Sunday means church and my actual day of birth.  Of course it was great.  Lots of birthday hugs and loves.  All followed by a Linger Longer!  Cake, cookies, ice cream, delish junk like that.

Then came nap time.  I LOVE nap time!  I never get nap time anymore.  Who sleeps through their birthday?  This girl!  We had family dinner and presents and cake and ice cream.  I was so lazy all day.  It was PERFECT.

This gonna be a great year folks!

My Warped Fascination With Lightning

Hello, my name is Melissa and I have an addiction/ fascination to things that can harm me.

My whole life I have had these strange urges to seek out items that are dangerous to me.  I'm not sadistic and I don't have RAD.  I promise.  Just an intense strange fascination.

Lightning is one of those things that I am in love with.  It is so beautiful but at the same time it could kill me.  Sometimes I have the desire to touch it.  Like right now I am resisting the urge to go climb the mountain and touch lightning.  Who in their right mind wants to touch lightning?  This girl!  If you haven't learned by now that I am most certainly not in my right mind then you haven't been around me much.

More things I am fascinated with:

• Siberian Tigers  (I have research them extensively.  I want one as a pet.)
• Dating boys from "the wrong side of the tracks"  (seriously, almost every boy I have ever dated...)
• Fire (again with the wanting to touch it thing... maybe because it is shiny?)
• Mosquitoes (they are the most deadly creature on earth)
• Garbage disposals 
• Bees and spiders

And lots more...

I'm weird.  I know.  I don't have a fascination with blood and death itself but the items that can cause death.

Maybe it comes from the fact that I was born on Friday the 13th... of October...

A Few Words About Nauvoo

My YSA ward had the opportunity to go to Nauvoo.  It was amazing.  I have been trying to get all of my experiences down on paper.  It is taking forever! and of course it is emotional.  I have become an emotional person lately.

Hopefully soon I will write a long post all about the experience.  A lot of it will not be shared because of how personal and sacred the experiences were.  If you want to hear about any of it come talk to me.  I am so happy to share my testimony!

Here are a few bullet points of what happened:

• Bus breaking trouble
• Blessing after blessing
• Tender mercy upon tender mercy
• Green group scripture study and prayer
• Amazing stories
• TEMPLE
• A burning heart
• Jordan and Sara's engagement
• A new "like" interest
• Tears, lots and lots of them
• Playing leap-frog in the rain
• Spending time with my best friends

On Wednesday it will be Pioneer Day.  We have been asked to walk in the parade.  I have a feeling walking down Washington Boulevard will give me ample opportunity to reflect more on Nauvoo and the testimony I have because of this journey.

How I got this sunburn!

I absolutely love the 4th of July.  I am pretty sure it is my second favorite holiday after Halloween.

Yesterday I kicked off my celebration of our independence by going to the Real Salt Lake game.  It was fantastic.  They had fireworks at the end.  It is always fun spending time with my lovely sisters.

Today I woke up and went to the North Ogden Cherry Days parade.  I love my small town that isn't really a small town.  After the parade Jamie and I went and walked around the park, looked at the vendors, and ate cherry cobbler.  This was all followed by a classic lunch of hot dogs.  I hadn't had enough sun for the day so I went and watched my friend Spencer play volleyball.   The best part of my day came later when we went and saw Despicable Me 2.  It was such a cute movie!  I laughed. A LOT!  Finally I ended my night at Barker Park.  Listened to some great live music and then watched the fireworks.  

It is so amazing that we have such a beautiful country and state to live in.  It was beautiful to see the fireworks against the mountains.  God has blessed us with some pretty amazing things.

Me? Practically Friendless?

This life is funny.  It changes in an instant.  It starts getting really good.  Everything seems to be going my way.  Then BAM!  Just as I am about to get comfortable on my supersize chocolate rhinoplush lovesac I fall back and instead of landing on fluffy heaven the lovesac bursts and durafoam goes everywhere.  I am left on my back with the lifeless lovesac outline that once was filled with perfect friendship comfort.

I know this is how life works.  Our friends move on.  They get in relationships.  They get in fights.  They leave for better things.  But just because it is normal does not make it less painful.  This painful is what I am experiencing now.

Luckily Heavenly Father knows what you do need.  His plan is perfect.  Just take a second to think about it.

He knew that this would happen, that my best friend would cut me out of his life, that my other friends would find people to fill their lives and my friendship would become unnecessary.  He was preparing me.  He timed this so that I wouldn't fall onto a lifeless lovesac.  Instead he replaced my supersize sac with the citysac.  Smaller but still comfortable.  I am left with Rachael, Jamie, and Kelsey.  Rachael and Jamie are like my sisters.  Our friendship is so deep.  For a few years neither one of them was a big part of my life.  We lived in different cities (countries in Jamie's case), but Heavenly Father brought them back to me.  Kelsey and I are just so perfect together.  Our short friendship is stronger than many of my other friendships.  Kindred spirits and junk.

So you see, I am not totally friendless.  I have many friends, but my close friend group has dropped in numbers.  But guess what!? I sense new friends are on their way.  So good luck to my old friends!  R, J & K are stuck with me for now.  Heavenly Father has a plan.  It is exciting to see where it guides me.

It's Like We Are Sisters Or Something...

As many of you know, I love my friends.  They keep me floating.  Some of you may also know that I have a hard time being friends with girls.  I know a lot of girls that say this (I am not friends with girls because they are so dramatic... etc. etc. but really I generally just don't get along with other girls dramatic or not).  There are a handful of girls that I do get along with.  These girls are my very most best friends.  They know who they are too!  cough cough... Kels...cough...Jamie...cough cough Rachael...

Rachael Garner is one of these girls.  We have known each other for a very long time.  Our lives are so similar.  We go through a lot of the same trials/learning experiences/happy moments.  Life is just so much easier with Rachael around.


(There have been a few times I may or may not have done some "face breaking" in her behalf.  She is totally worth it!)

What to do? What to do?

I love being a teacher.  It is super rewarding.  I get to see the faces of success every day.  Nothing is better than seeing one of my students get it.  When it clicks.  Their face is magnificent.  The thing I love most about teaching FACS is that these kids can really apply what I teach them at that moment.  I love being a teacher because I love being the tool that helps bring success to these kids.

The second best thing about teaching is vacation.  A whole summer off.  To avoid a sedentary lifestyle of book reading and movie watching (although this will be happening), I have come up with a summer bucket list to keep me motivated and using my summer.  And when I say use it I mean filling it to the brim with adventures.

The school year was great but I found myself stuck in a rut.  An enjoyable rut, but a rut none the less.  I found myself doing the same old same old every day.  Worrying about the same things and focusing on the same problems.  Life has come to a point where my friends and I don't spend much time enjoying life.  Most of our time is spent talking about each other and defining each of our twisted relationships.  It is getting old.  It is starting to feel like a really bad soap opera.  The kind where people are left to their own idle brains and they start to think.  Thinking can be good.  Thinking in my world is most often bad.  Brains start to over think.  Simple, innocent situations become complicated and exaggerated.  Friendships become ruined, we walk on eggshells all the time.  This is NO way to live life.  It took this simple reminder from my planner to snap my brain into place:

Such a simple idea right?  Why am I so focused on what happened last week or even yesterday?  Today is a new day.  A new day to try again to be better.  A new day to forget my mistakes.  A new day to become more like Christ.  I can think of no better way to make each new day count than by filling it with adventure.  Thus the SUMMER BUCKET LIST was born!

Some things have already been completed, like going to an IMAGINE DRAGONS concert (best night of my life, ever).  Some things are already in the plans like Nauvoo with my YSA ward.  

The best things are going to be the simple ones, like launching rockets....

...and making a music video.

I have a page to complete.  I know I can do it!  But I don't want to do it alone.  I want my friends and family to do it with me.

WHO IS IN??

Mommy

Remarkable
Eager to help
Beautiful
Enthusiastic
Courageous
Cancer survivor
Amazing

Ambitious
Nurturing
Nutty (but in a good way)

Willing
Entertaining
Lively
Comforting
Heaven sent

Joyful
Unconditionally Loving
Devoted
Knowledgeable
Invincible
Nonstop caretaker
Selfless


Love you Momma

Reasons Why Jordan Winmill is my Friend

People watching
Country music
Wall breaking
Food
Long talks
Protection from the world
Complete comfort
Off tune singing
He says what I'm thinking
Laughter
Giggling
Seeing into my soul
Seeing what others cannot see
Knowing my secrets
Knowing his secrets
Life is just easier with him

Basically Jordan is the best.  He knows way to much about me that would scare others away.  He sticks around.  Through thick and thin, short and tall (literally I'm short and he is tall).  He helps me to be better.  He keeps me on the path that I need to be.  He has the priesthood that brings extra peace to my life.  He will run away with me for a few hours and not complain once.  He asks me what I am thinking and helps me process what I am thinking.  I am pretty sure he is the perfect friend.

God Loves Broken Me

The past few days I have felt very broken.
Broken heart.
Broken soul.
Just plain broken.

This morning I woke up with this song in my head.  I think we often need the reminder that we are loved by God, even when we have broken faith.


If you are feeling broken at all you can cry with me.  We can cry for each other.  Eventually our tears will becoming healing tears.  My Heavenly Father loves broken me.  He loves broken you!

My Burning Testimony in a Children's Song

How could the Father tell the world of love and tenderness?

He sent his Son, a newborn babe, with peace and holiness.

How could the Father show the world the pathway we should go?

He sent his Son to walk with men on earth, that we may know.

How could the Father tell the world of sacrifice, of death?

He sent his Son to die for us and rise with living breath.

What does the Father ask of us? What do the scriptures say?

Have faith, have hope, live like his Son, help others on their way.

What does he ask? Live like his Son.

Words: Mabel Jones Gabbott,1910-2004

Music: Michael Finlinson Moody, b. 1941

(c) 1982 by Mabel Jones Gabbott and Michael Finlinson Moody. Arr. (c) 1989 IRI.

Destined for the "Under-Arm" Hug Forever

My friends are weird.  We talk about weird things.  A recent topic of conversation was the way we hug.  This conversation gave a lot of insight to my life.  I am meant to be an Under-Arm Hugger.  What is an under-arm hug you ask?  Let me explain.

The girl puts her arms around the guy under his arms, around his chest.  The opposite of this hug is the Around the Neck Hug.  This is the hug where the girl puts her arms around the guys neck.  This hug is more intimate.  This is the "I'm interested in you" hug.  Under the arms is a pure "you're a good friend" hug.  This is a hug I have gotten many many times.  Sadly, this is the hug I got in past relationships too.

I'm short, this is a fact, but not so short I can't reach.  I'm realizing now that this is my destiny.

My hugs also usually consist of their arms around my shoulders or my head.  Squeezing hard, probably hoping I will pop.  I think it is time to swear off hugs.  From now on I am a hand-shaker.  Except for my family.  They can have hugs.

Under-Arm Hugger

Tremendous Tuesday

Tuesday are not my favorite day.  The day after Monday.  Not the middle of the week.  Not the weekend.  Just there.
I do go to Institute most Tuesday nights, and that does help make the day a little more bearable.  Tonight I didn't go to Institute.  I did something way better!

Jenny Phillips came to my home ward and did a program for the Relief Society.  The theme was "what matters most."  It was such an amazing program!  You know how at girls camp everyone is one a spiritual high and you are all crying and the Spirit is super strong?  And you know how when you graduate from Young Women's and don't go to girls camp anymore you never have any testimony power building experiences like you did then?  Well this was one of those rare "girls camp" experiences.  A heart-pounding, chest-burning, goosebump covered moment.

It was AMAZING!

And guess what?!! They gave us a copy of her program on CD.  So if you ever want to even get a glimpse of this amazing program let me know!  I love to share!

I'm Happy!

Happiness is:

• selling oranges
• new jewelry
• chicken nuggets
• naps
• smiling friends
• JC's amazing umbrella! (right Josh?)
• country dancing
• seeing Brinana
• shoulder shrugging
• cheesy smiles
• endless giggles
• peach chap-stick
• more dancing
• spinning
• water
• making up dance moves
• finding apology presents on my windshield
• Denny's
• french toast
• laughter
• intercepted hugs
• spinning hugs
• great music in the car
• almost Chinese fire-drills
• having wonderful friends

I have so much that brings me happiness!  This is all in just one day!  I am so blessed.  

Sunday is Super

I love Sunday.  I look forward to it.  Many of God's most tender mercies come to me on Sunday.
Here is my list so far today:

• Driving to church with Jordan
• Waking up on time
• Hugs from a wonderful friend
• Val's talk in sacrament meeting
• Hollie sitting by me in sacrament meeting
• Singing "Should You Feel Inclined to Censure" in sacrament meeting
• A wonderful lesson about prayer in Sunday school
• Katy's lesson in relief society
• Sitting by Sharon and Andrea in relief society
• Linger Longer! 
• Wonderful friends who make me laugh
• Boys having enough courage to come sit by us
• Talk time with Marissa and Amy about the life of a teacher
• Two more boys talking to us (even better, they were hilarious!)
• Strengthening a friendship
• Beautiful music while driving down Fruitland Dr.
• Seeing deer while listening to beautiful music while driving down Fruitland Dr.
• Spontaneous family time
• Sunday afternoon naps

There is so much more that can happen tonight.  The Lord blesses us in the most simple ways.  Those deer did not know they needed to be standing where they were to warm my heart, but they were there.  Some say it is just coincidence or happenstance.  I say it is one more way Heavenly Father has shown me He loves me. 

I'm going to go finger paint now!  If anyone wants to join me and see the joy that this simple art form can bring give me a call!

Faith in Him

Life can be really tough sometimes.  I am slowly learning that if it weren't tough I would not be as happy as I am.  Tears mean I have feelings.  I am alive.  There is air going through my nose.  Sometimes I try to make myself not feel anything, to become a cold, metallic robot.  Truth is I would rather have emotions.  Numbness can be worse than heartbreak.

Sometimes people come into your life.  You don't know why but you are drawn to them.  Things happen and you wonder what their purpose was in your life.  I have been focusing so long on how these people have hurt me and that has done me no good.  Heavenly Father is trying to show me how to have faith in Him.  If I focus on that and not the pain of the hurtful things that have been done to me, the life lessons I will learn will be much more valuable.

He knows what I need.  He knows who I need.  I just need to have faith that He will get me where I need to be.  It is hard to put my life in someone else's hands, but I can think of no better hands, not even my own, that will lead my life to success and eternal life.

Following His plan may lead to some loss of friendships and loss of a relationship, but I need to follow Him if I want to be happy

Dear Boys, Yeah You!

So I haven't done a Dear Boys post for a really long time.  I think I will. :)


Dear Shorty, I get butterflies when you are around.  It makes me nervous.  Be patient with me. Love, Melissa
Dear Kronk, You are very kind to me.  I love you.  I hope you find the right girl. Love, Melissa
Dear Nerd, My crush on you has finally ended.  You seem happy with new girl.   Love, Melissa
Dear Oldie, Haven't seen you for a while.  I'm sorry age is so important to me... Love, Melissa
Dear Cell Phone, I hope you get the hint!  I'm just not interested.  Sorry! Love, Melissa

Body Guards and Best Friends

My friends are the greatest!  They work so hard to make me happy.  I will never be able to repay them for all the amazing things they do for me.

I'm short, not super short, but averagely short.  I tend to find friends that are tall.  Don't know why. Just happens that way.  There is a group of guys that I lovingly refer to as my body guards.  They tower over me.  Sometimes I stand in between them to feel protected.  They have protected me many times from the creepers of this world.  Mark, Joshua, and Jordan are basically the biggest man cheerleaders I have ever had.  I love them all.

Aren't they handsome?!

Guess what?! My blessings don't end there!  I have amazing ladies in my life too.  Rachael and Kelsey got my back!  They cheer me up and pull me through life.  Not to mention, anyone cross me and Kelsey will go ghetto on them.  Believe me! Ghetto Kelsey is SCARY!!  Rachie and I have known each other for a long, long, long time!  Some friends are just meant to be friends.  We are a great giggly team.  I think I laugh more with that girl than I do any other time.  Sometimes we just look at each other and the giggles explode.  People find us slightly (and when I say slightly I mean hugely) ridiculous!

I have many, many more friends that I love and appreciate so much.  This post would be ridiculously long if I talked about them all, so I'm sticking to the ones that I am most thankful for today!

Heavenly Father has blessed me so much and then He put a cherry on top and put these lovely people in my life!  I love you all!

Tender Mercies Through Music

Heavenly Father sent me a lot of tender mercies today.  He loves me.
Here are two I will share.  I need to listen to the radio more on Sundays.

I'm a Cheese Ball.

I can be super cheesy at times.  Valentines day is a great day to let the cheese ooze out!  Here are some of my cheesy valentines

You're sweet and I'm not lion!

I wheelie like you!

You're a great catch!

I love you a hole bunch!

You bring me barrels of joy!

I'm krazy about you!

This weekend my beautiful cousin Sammy got married.  This is my favorite picture from the day!  Love you Uncle Dave.  This is why you are my favorite!