This is Beautiful

I love Nie Nie's beautiful perspective. What an amazing woman!

That New Year Smell

Today was a good day:

I met HER!

At Anthropology (go figure!)

Yes I did and she gave me a hug!

She is just as sweet as she seems on her blog.

Oh, I love Stephanie!

Keep her in your prayers.

Then I went to the movies with the fam:

Mom, Heather & I saw Blind Side

(oh, so good!)

Dad, Mike & Bro. McConkie saw Avatar

Kara & Kylee saw The Princess and the Frog

(also a keeper!)

Then, we went to Burger King:

Everyone got Whoppers,

Except Mom and I,

We got salads

(they are bueno!)

Then I read this for hours

Had a little nap

And read some more!

Then we went to the annual New Years Eve party at McConkie's:

We played games:

Catch Phrase,

Four on a Couch,

and laughed

a lot!

Best quote of the evening:

"Man, we're just getting older every year aren't we?!"

2009 bid us farewell,

And 2010 arrived

With banging pots and pans,

Fireworks,

Kisses,

and "Happy New Year"s!

I can't wait to see what's in store this year.

For now, it's more Percy Jackson!

(Watch out Harry Potter, you have a competitor)

Wishing you a very abundant New Year!

Happy 2010!

Blah Blah Blog

Starting a new blog post,

do you ever think to yourself,

"Why am I writing this?"

"Who is going to read this?"

"Why do they even care?"

I do sometimes.

Why does someone in Paris or Key Biscayne or Vancouver

care what I wore to the HP6 midnight showing?

or that I made baklava for the first time?

or that I cut about 3 inches off my hair?

I do not know.

You tell me!

I'd like to think it's the same reason I read Nie Nie,

I think she is inspiring and beautiful and I love the way she writes,

But it's probably more like the reason I read magazines in the waiting room,

they're there, I'm there and I have nothing better to do...

Whatever the case may be, thanks for reading about my random and lack-glamour life.

P.S. A little commentation here or there wouldn't hurt either...hint...hint ;)

Love y'all mundo! xoxo

Influential Blog Stalking

I don't know them personally...

{Jasmine Star of "Jasmine Star Photography" & Stephanie Nielson of "Nie Nie Dialogues"}

...but

I love these beautiful women,

the cheerful way they lives their lives,

the unconditional way they love their families,

the unwavering way they face each day with faith & confidence,

the simple way they make my dreams and aspirations suddenly attainable!

Favorite Jasmine Star posts:

"Breathing Between The Waves"

and

"The Hammock"

Favorite Nie Nie posts:

"Love"

and

"Chickie"

Thank you for allowing me to "blog stalk" you,

Jasmine & Stephanie,

and glean from your inspiring lives!

Faith

Today is my favorite day of the week...Sunday.

Sunday is a welcome opportunity to reflect on the week and the blessings I have witnessed by the hand of my loving Heavenly Father.

I am so richly blessed for the friends and family who individually have shaped me into who I am today and I who I will be tomorrow.

There are many times in life when I find myself riding the surface of the water and forgetting about the abundant depth of life beneath me.

That is why I love Sundays, they give me the opportunity to dive down into the wonderful depths of life and rediscover God's wonderful and perfect plan for His children.

With that depth of perspective, nothing in life is too difficult to overcome.

Today I am grateful for two things specifically that have allowed me to plunge below the surface of superficial importance and immerse myself in the depths of things of eternal value.

First, today I spent an hour or so reading the blog of Stephanie Nielson (aka Nie Nie Dialogues). A year ago she and her husband Christian were in a plane crash and suffered severe burns. I am constantly astonished by her faith to move forward and her gratitude for her blessings, her family, and her personal relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Her story is truly inspiring. Each time I read a new post on her blog I am filled with a love for my knowledge of my loving Heavenly Father and His perfect plan. Thank you Nie Nie for the brightness of your abundant faith!

Secondly, a few days ago I received a beautiful letter from my good friend Jordan. He is currently serving the final stretch of his LDS mission in England. On June 13th, Jordan's older brother Jaman passed away unexpectedly from illness. Despite the considerable pain felt at this tragic loss, my dear friend's faith continues steadfast and unshaken that he will see his brother again through God's beautiful plan. That is beautiful and absolutely true. Thank you Jordan for your optimism in life and in the promise of sunshine after the waging of life's dark storms!

I'm grateful for these examples, along with countless others, who constantly help me realign my life each and everyday and remember God's beautiful tender mercies which manifest His individual and unconditional love for His children,

you and me

"Your future is as bright as your faith"

~President Thomas S. Monson~