watermelon in winter

Earlier this month at General Conference, there was one talk that really jumped out at me more than the others, and that was President Uchtdorf's "Of Regrets and Resolutions".  I've read and reread my notes throughout the last few weeks, and today I listened to the talk again.  And it's made me think about a lot of things, re-prioritize my life, and see what's truly important to me. What's important?  My family.  This includes my parents and my brothers, but it also includes Renato and his family, as well as the family we are starting to build (cuz starting a family begins long before getting married and having children....these are things we often talk about).  Would I do anything for my family?  The short answer is yes.  And I'm sure I'll feel even more strongly about this when I have children. I don't want to regret not spending enough time with those I love.  So I am doing my absolute darndest to use my time wisely to be able to spend e...

...do you see the Tree of Life drawn in sidewalk chalk on the ramp up to campus. ...do you see people in long short and shirts with sleeves in 115-degree weather. ...do you see more hipsters in one day than if you spent a month in California. ...can you walk barefoot without worrying about what kinds of needles you're going to step on. ...does the idea of a crazy dance party involve dubstep and some kind of soda. ...do you get shunned (or handed a razor) at the Testing Center if you have anything more than a 5 o'clock shadow (if you're a dude). ...is it cool to be a Cougar :) ...is it not weird to graduate from undergrad programs at 25. ...is it shocking and yet hilarious when a swear slips out of a professor's mouth. ...is there a distinction between "married" and "single" student housing. ...do they care where you live. ...can talking about kissing in class make people giggle. ...can you have sacrament meeting in the same bu...

Do you have certain things that you need to hear from people??  For me, I need to know that people appreciate me, I need to know that I am needed.  It's not a "I did service, now recognize it!" sort of thing...for me to be happy, I just need to know that I am needed.  By my mom, by my siblings, by my friends, most importantly, by Renato.  I don't know why I am the way I am, but that's just how it is.  And that in turn has made me do the same to other people, let them know how much I need them, and how important they are not only to me, but to others!  Everyone makes a difference, and I think the great majority of people need to know that their lives are touching someone else's for the better. :) And another sentence that can literally change the course of how my day is going is very simple: I LOVE YOU!!!!

Sometimes I feel like I understand the Lord's plan for me.  Or that I have a pretty good idea of what my life holds in the future.  Then what I think is rattled, and new ideas and opportunities come up, changing the course of the rest of my life.  Sometimes it's mind-boggling, not knowing how from one minute to the next, things could change.  But it is exciting!  I am in a very exciting time of my life right now, making HUGE decisions, and am in the process of figuring out when I can graduate...hopefully December 2013.  This will determine a few different things.  My summer plans depend on this, as do other things.  And life is so wonderful!  This last week and a half has been so full of new things! Like the announcement made at conference that young men can go on missions at 18 years old, and young women at 19.  This is HUGE.  This is AWESOME.  This is going to make SUCH a HUGE difference in the missionary force worldwide, a...

...you wake up early on a Saturday morning with an urge to bake something with apples in it.  And it's general conference. I've learned over the past few months that I really enjoy cooking and especially baking.  I'm no professional, but I've definitely gotten braver in trying new things, making up recipes, and going out of my comfort zone to make deliciousness.  I especially enjoy it when I can make stuff to share with other people, and when I have time to do it well.  Last night I had a bad dream (I don't remember what it was), but I remember that one part was about baking something...so then when I woke up, I remembered that part.  And as I went to bed early last night and got up early today, I had a couple hours before conference started.  So I made German pancakes with apples and cinnamon, and drizzled caramel on top...and it was delicious!  I also made blueberry coffee cake.  And the best part?  I got to share. :)  I went to watc...

Any of you ever take a random, unexpected "walk" down memory lane??? Today I was organizing some stuff in my room (I am selling my keyboard, and I just got a new bookshelf), and found an old journal.  I opened it with a purpose, looking for something specific.  What I found though, changed my afternoon. I found beautiful, precious memories.  The start of something wonderful recorded on those pages for me to look back and remember with a huge smile, for my kids and grandkids to look back and see a little bit into my life. Do you ever have moments like that, where you just find something that makes you feel like you are overflowing with happiness?? It was like I was reliving all those moments.  I can still see it all like it was yesterday, even though a good chunk of time has gone by. And it made me so happy, and made my day a million times better than it already was!!! Sometimes, it really can be fun to take a stroll...take time out of the routine, and go down m...