Even Though It's Tomorrow Already

As far as I'm concerned, if I haven't gone to sleep yet, the day hasn't changed. So although this post will publish saying that it is Sunday, it's still Saturday in my head. And I will write accordingly.

I intended to start a 30-day blogging challenge today (meaning Saturday the 19th). In fact, I had already started the post, which I will finish and publish tomorrow (meaning Sunday the 10th). I can't bring myself to write it today. The prompt involves a description of how your day went. Which is what I'm going to ramble about in this post anyway, but it just feels wrong to include it in the 30-day challenge.

I thought I knew exactly how my day was going to go. I was going to end up writing a pretty boring post about how I spent the morning having fun at the pool with my family, and the afternoon being amused and occasionally mildly annoyed with the customers at work.

Both of those things did actually happen. But I spent the rest of the day with a grieving friend.

Being with someone dealing with a debilitating loss generally leaves me feeling totally inadequate. There's really nothing you can say to make anything better. Although I think it's better to hear the truth - that it's not going to stop hurting, but you're strong enough to push through the pain - than to be told that it's going to get better.

Because it's not going to get better. I don't think the pain from a loss like that ever goes away. If anything, you get used to it. It becomes so much a part of you that you hardly notice it anymore, until something brings it back to the surface and it hurts just as badly as it did the day you lost them.

The amount of times I heard "Jesus will take the pain away" today frustrated me. I believe in the power of the Atonement. I believe that all things will be made right in the end - so I suppose saying that Jesus will take the pain away is a very accurate statement. But I don't think he's going to take it away in this life. Leaning on Him with bring peace, but the kind of peace that comes from knowing that God has a plan, not the kind of peace that comes from the absence of pain. So stop telling her that Jesus is going to take the pain away. Tell her that Jesus will make the burden light.

Finding Strength

Next week, I get to team teach a lesson to a bunch of kids ages 14-17 on "Faith in Challenging Times". We decided that the most important points we wanted the kids to get out of this topic were

1 // The gospel is the key to getting through anything,

2 // You have the gospel, therefore you CAN get through anything, and

3 // We can learn and be strengthened through our trials.

We were given the opportunity to experience mortality so that we could be tested - and often, that testing comes through trials. Everything we go through is meant to strengthen us, so that we can become more like our Heavenly Father. Leaning on Him and accepting His help is the only way we can get through our trials. The most important aspect of the trials is that we learn from them. If we can't do that, they're kind of wasted. 

I know that I need to work on developing the humility necessary to rely on God's help, and to learn whatever it is I'm meant to learn from the challenges in my life. That's the only way I'll get where I need to be. It's the only way I'll become the imperfectly perfect me I want to become.

Happy Monday, and here's to the amazing week ahead of us!

****Don't forget to enter the FIRMOO GIVEAWAY!****

Be sure to check out this Nautical Inspired Giveaway from The Daylee Journal, too!

Making It Up on the Spot

{Such an interesting leaf....}

top: thrifted {from the boys' section...} // skirt: thrifted //
shoes: target // necklace: earned, church

Today I gave a talk in church (Mormons do this thing where members of the congregation give little "sermons" during our meetings). I printed off my notes before we left for church and stuck them in my purse...except apparently I didn't. So I had to go up there, armed only with my scriptures and "Preach My Gospel" manual, and make it up on the spot. "Let the Holy Spirit guide", you know. And naturally, this happened on the Sunday that both the Stake President and the mission president and his wife were visiting (they're kinda a big deal, locally). 

So I guess you could say I was a bit nervous. 

Fortunately, though, it all went just fine. 

I talked about developing Christlike attributes and true conversion. The gospel wasn't made for perfect people; it's for every normal, flawed human being. God doesn't give us impossible tasks - He's given us everything we need to become like Christ, and by doing so, to become like Him. Consistency in developing these attributes leads to conversion: a change of heart, when we really only want to do good. The saying "every member a missionary" is a something we hear pretty often. I'm coining a new phrase, though: "Every member a convert". 

****Don't forget to enter the FIRMOO GIVEAWAY!****

Late Night Musings

I have a friend who has a very clear picture in her mind of who she wants to be.

She's got every detail down - from what she wants to look like, to what she wants to be able to do, to where she wants to live - everything. And she's working hard to get exactly where she wants to be. I have total confidence in her ability to become who she wants to be.

I really admire her for that.

On My Mind

The Morning I Didn't Make a Mess Getting Dressed

scarf: h&m, thrifted // cardi: ross  //  dress: thrifted //
belt: thrifted // tights: hand-me-down // shoes: twentyone, thrifted

Generally, I leave for church in the morning having emptied most of my closet onto my floor - but not today. This is the one and only outfit I tried on.
Which is definitely a miracle that may never happen again.

-----------------------

Sometimes...I need to remember how much I have to be happy about.

Not today, per se - today's a happy day - but just in general.

Instead of how annoying this bipolar weather is {fuh-reeeezing in the morning, sweating by the afternoon} - how awesome it is that I can still wear all my favorite winter pieces, just in layers.

Instead of how strongly I dislike going to school {have I complained about that lately? I haaaaaate my classes...} - how blessed I am to have the opportunity to be educated, and the gift of being able to learn relatively quickly and retain that knowledge.

Instead of being annoyed by a certain person - being glad that apparently somehow I'm a good example to them? And then trying to be better.

Instead of wanting more - being grateful for enough.

Instead of dwelling on mistakes - accepting the Atonement and moving on.

Sunday Style at Plane Pretty

Style Showcase at MoMoMod

Watch What I'm Wearing at Watch Out for the Woestmans
My Style Monday at My Greatest Hits

Because Sometimes, I Think I'm Kinda Classy

earrings: avon (thrifted)//blazer: vintage (thrifted)//dress: vintage (thrifted)
belt: target//shoes: target (thrifted)

Looking classy and being classy are two TOTALLY different things, though. So a more accurate title would be "Because Sometimes, I Think I Look Kinda Classy". 

Being classy...that's taking an insult in stride.

smiling just because I can.

being grateful.

lifting someone up.

letting something go.

having a good attitude.

making sacrifices.

accepting sacrifices.

respecting others.

respecting yourself.

looking outward.

looking inward.

balance.

And so this week - I'll be classy.

P.S. By the way, I think this is the new format my Happiness Project is going to take - goals I make weekly based on my current needs/impressions. I'm thinking this will be easier to keep up and stay motivated with. Here goes nothing!

MoMoMod Style Showcase

Decisions

via

But supppose both sides of a decision are going to make you some kind of unhappy...

then what?

12 for '12

via

1. In the races I ran, I proved that I could push myself to be better, and I had my best season yet.

2. I saw Hunter Hayes live {and free!} - my first ever concert! {post here}

3. I had fun - I've gone out to do stuff just because I could more this year than I ever have before.

4. I sewed some wearable items!

5. I started a blog.

6. I pushed myself musically - I played a piano/violin duet with my friend, a piano/organ duet (with me on organ!), and organ for Church twice, in addition to being the pianist for several baptisms and a funeral.

7. I started my Happiness Project...and have made significant progress in some areas

8. I survived the most brutal semester of my educational history - and came out with the highest
 GPA I could have gotten. 

9. I expanded my movie education - you know those movies that everybody's been in love with forever? Yeah...I just saw them this year. More accurately, I just saw them in the last 3 months.

10. I read Jesus the Christ.

11. I won a couple giveaways, and was a contributor in another one.

12. I discovered more about who I am and who I'm becoming...and I think I'm liking it. (:

Can you believe that 2012 is over??? Because I can't. 

What were the highlights of your year?

{2012} Year in Review

 2012 was quite the year...

I'm sure I'll be sharing more on that later, but for now-a year in blog posts! Well, not quite a year, because I haven't been a resident of blogland for a full year yet, but it's pretty close!


APRIL

The first picture of me on the blog...
Fancy, eh?

There are definitely some awkward posts in my first month of blogging! It's interesting to look back and see myself developing my own blogging style {in writing and in the look....I think I went through three or four different designs in this first month alone}and becoming more me on my blog.
So I'm choosing I Stand All Amazed for April. This is one of the least forced-sounding posts - it's just me talking about something I care deeply about.


MAY

The first collage I ever made for the blog...oi.

I participated in Mission: Put Together 2012 in May, and It's Over? Already? is my wrap-up post. I really did love that experience - I learned a lot about my personal style and being comfortable with what I wear. And it was nice that I was one of the winners, too....


JUNE

via

LOVE is just me chatting about my most favoritest song in the entire world, Come Thou Font.


JULY

 July was a busy month! I took trips and made stuff and had tons of fun-enjoying the first full month of no school. I think this was the month that I really came into my blogging voice, too, and I started reaching out and joining linky parties and such.
I'm choosing my first Dear Boys post for July...because I think it's kind of hilarious.
Oh, and one more, because it was very momentous: my first {and probably last} tutorial!


AUGUST

via

August was a good month for blogging. And I like a ton of the posts...so you get more than one again.
Sorry! {but not really (: }
I made myself have a good month despite the fact that I hated August.
Hating it: It is NOT
Deciding to love it: Paradigm Shift!
Actually loving it!: It is NOT, part 2
Being awarded my first Liebster Award.
Aaaand my Bloggy Goals - which I think I'm actually doing pretty well on, by the way.


SEPTEMBER

via

I Chose...and It Happened!
Sometimes, I am disciplined enough to choose joy even when everything is going against it.


OCTOBER

I loved participating in Project Inspire!


NOVEMBER

I saw Hunter Hayes live!!!

I wrote a post about How to Post Regularly When Life is INSANE ... which I haven't been following very well as of late...

DECEMBER

via

I'm still having a hard time grasping the fact that it's not December anymore...holy cannoli, it's 2013!
Posting was kinda sparse in December, but I really liked Believing in Something.

And there you have it - 2012 in blog posts. 

I've loved blogging, and the friendships I've made by doing it. Thank you to everyone who reads and comments on this stuff I keep spewing out - it means a lot to me!

There's going to be a change in my blog design coming soon! Remember when I won that giveaway where I got a free blog header? Well, the header's been ready for a while now, I've just been slacking with making my new tabs and buttons and such to match it. But now that I've told y'all about it, I'm accountable to get it done before my winter break is over {I'm back in classes on Monday...ugh}. I love how it's looking so far, and I can't wait to finish it up!

Unto You is Born This Day

I've been thinking....and I am one lucky girl.

via

I hope you've all had an amazing day, whether or not you were celebrating Christmas.

I'm kinda loving everyone and everything right now - this is the Christmas spirit {the spirit of Christ} that I need to keep around me all year long!

P.S. And just when I thought life couldn't get any better...I'm going 

to be falling asleep to the sound of rain on my window tonight. Life is good.

In the Midst of Celebration

via 

I know I'm a bit late with posting about this, but I wanted to say something.

Losing a small child is a pretty personal issue for me, but I still can't imagine what the families 

in Newtown are feeling right now.

I was caroling with my church group on Wednesday night, and we were singing 

"Away in a Manger" at an elderly couple's house. When we got to the third verse, I 

couldn't help but tear up, thinking of those children...

Be near me, Lord Jesus; 

I ask thee to stay

Close by me forever

And love me I pray!

Bless all the dear children

In Thy tender care,

And fit us for Heaven 

To live with Thee there.

I know they were welcomed with open arms. Those families are strong, incredible. 

They have felt every prayer, every wish for hope and peace sent their way.

I still believe in the innate goodness of people - if anything, this has strengthened that belief. One man hurt thousands, but those thousands have held each other up, helping one other heal.

via

And I think that is what Christmas is about.

Believing in Something

via

I noticed a lot of these posts floating around the bloggy world a while ago, and
I've finally decided to make my own. Kudos to whoever did the original one!

I believe....

+ that socks are always a good gift

+ in second chances
+ in a loving Heavenly Father
+ that I am His daughter
+ in lots of whipped cream
+ that rolling down the windows and playing
 loud music makes a minivan cool
+ in working hard
+ in taking breaks
+ perfection is attainable...some day
+ my best is good enough until then
+ people are placed in my life for a reason
+ trials are blessings
+ chocolate and mint were a match made in heaven
+ in living prophets
+ baby hedgehogs are pretty much the cutest things ever
+ somewhere out there, I've got a Stripling Warrior waiting for me
+ in staying up all night to finish a good book
+ popcorn is better with cheese
+everything is better with cayenne pepper
+ in answered prayers
+ that no is still an answer
+ not yet is an answer, too
+ Christmas is amazing
+ Josh Groban was one of the lead singers in
the choir of angels in heaven...as was David Archuleta
+ in running
+ that I can share my testimony through music and the way I live my life
 better than I ever could with words
+ in singing and dancing around the house
+ that love can conquer all
+ in a Taylor Swift song for every situation
+sweet pickles are NASTAY
+ adding a scarf automatically makes any outfit super-cute
+ that people are innately good
+ in getting stuck on the Ellen DeGeneres channel on Youtube
+ hugs and kisses can fix anything
+ in dressing up
+in breakfast for dinner
+ that I can still be a princess and a ballerina...childhood
fantasies never really expire
+ in the Law of Compensation: tears of sorrow will be
 repaid a hundredfold with tears of joy in the end
+ in an infinite Atonement that will make all things
right and fair in the end

Happy Monday!
What do you believe in? If you write up one of these
posts {or have already done so}, let me know - I'd love to see it!

{This is How November Went}

It didn't.

Not Happiness Project-Wise, anyway.

But really, that depends on how you look at it.

A little before half-way though November, I dropped all of my November Attitude goals. I still tried to keep up with the daily prayer and scripture study, but I let all the others go for a new, broader goal:

I needed to stop being so hard on myself.

It's really become an issue.
Well, it's been an issue for forever, but it's never affected me to this degree before. I've been in a funk for the past who-knows-how-long, and self-criticism really isn't helping.

I go to Church every Sunday...and the lessons make me miserable. The teachers ask for examples, and people give them, and all I'm thinking is "I'm not like that. That's how I'm supposed to be." They read the quotes for the lesson, and all I'm thinking is how far I feel from whatever the right thing to be is. I used to participate in class - I was the one giving examples. But I haven't been saying much lately. I have nothing to say.

I do school work, and I don't understand it, and I think of when everything was easy for me. When I didn't have to put much effort into anything to get it right.

I'm comparing myself to others, but not nearly as much as I'm comparing myself to a better me.

via

I've kinda let this take over, and everything else just...falls out of place.
I'm casual about my work ethic. School work is HARD, so I work slowly, trying to get it, and give up easily, resulting in all-night-ers to get everything done on time. I'm always exhausted.
I'm casual about serving others, or even really thinking of them at all. I'm focused on ME-pitiful little ol' me.
I'm casual about my prayers. Truly sincere prayers where I feel that closeness with my Father have been few and far between.
I'm casual about my scripture study. I can't remember the last time I sat down and had a legit study session, where I felt the Spirit while I was reading.

Obviously those last two are the root of my problem.
Ever since this funk started, I've been putting extra effort into looking nice every day. My reasoning is that since I feel so awful, it'll only make it worse if I look awful, too. If I look cute, I'll just feel the normal level of awful. If I had taken that time to instead put extra effort into praying and reading my scriptures, how much better off would I have been?

Everybody can tell, too. I hate pity. But I get it anyway, because I have a face incapable of hiding emotion. When I'm miserable, everyone knows. I can smile and say that I'm fine...but this face of mine. Frustrating.

And the worst part is, I've had to hit this low before finally addressing the problem and making a conscious effort to fit it.

Thus, my December goals:
Study like a boss. I'm pulling out the old scripture journal. It's getting written in EVERY. DAY. Dusting off my patriarchal blessing. Spending 30 minutes every Sunday with Preach My Gospel. Getting some Personal Progress done. Finishing the Book of Mormon by the new year.
Pray like Enos. If you don't know the story, simple version here. My prayers are important, and I need to treat them so. I need to dedicate entire prayers to simply giving thanks, frequently.

I've got this.

via

Lord, help me overcome myself.

This Weekend, I'm Watching...

You know, when it rains, it pours. It never fails, even if the pouring is just going on inside my own head. That's kind of how this week has been, but then this comes along:

And suddenly, everything's okay again.

Anyone else watching General Conference? What's your favorite part so far? Elise has come up with some way cute printables for some of the talks already - here and here. Check them out!

P.S. I will be coming back later for that post on my October goals that I talked about forever ago...actually, it was only on Monday, but it's just been that kind of week.

It's Here!

Here's my big news...but I need some background first.

via

So by raise of hands, who has read The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin?

Good, good...if you haven't, you really should. 

That was the first bit of background. The second is that it's my birthday month.

I read The Happiness Project back in July, and I immediately thought that I could use something like that. It's not that I'm unhappy, but couldn't we all be happier? I was crazy-excited to start - my only problem was, I didn't know when to start. Then I thought about how October wasn't too far away...
So I'm giving myself the best birthday present ever:
the happiest year of my life.

I've turned my happiness project into something that is going to help me make the most of myself, and make me the best me possible. It's going to be hard - I've planned the monthly goals around my weakest points. But that's the only way I'm going to improve, right? Every impossible moment is going to be worth it! I'm also aligning my monthly themes/goals with different Personal Progress experiences...it never hurts to do them again, and I don't think you're ever too old! I'll probably be posting about it pretty regularly during this coming year - it'll help keep me accountable.


I started off the year with a pretty easy theme. October is all about Vitality. I'll post more specifics later this week, but I've got to finish my school work for now - one of the goals has to do with time-management and monitoring my computer time...yikes!