The Car Accident Story.

Once upon a time, Emily and her friend Nick were travelling to a farewell in Kaysville.
It was raining, and Emily was driving in the left lane, going about 70 on the freeway.
Well, at the bottom of a small hill, there was this big huge puddle of water, and as Emily and Nick hit it, they hydroplaned, and the car started spinning.


Somehow, miraculously, they did not hit any other cars.
For a split second, they straightened out and it seemed like they may be able to regain control. Then they started spinning again, and then they hit the big cement wall in the middle of the freeway. 

Then, about a minute later they saw another crashed looking car coming towards them, but he was just slowing down and pulling off, and he stopped about 15 feet away from them. He hydroplaned and may have hit somebody in the process.. I honestly don't know what happened with that.
But, overall, there were 4 damaged cars suddenly on the side of the freeway..


Everybody was really nice to me, a guy gave me his jacket to use, and Nick was awesome and just hugged me and kept me calm. 
A lady to happened to be an EMT stopped because she saw the crash and came and helped, somebody gave me a blanket and made me go sit down..


Honestly the whole thing is a little bit of a blur now. The whole thing probably took about 2 hours, filling out police reports and getting my stuff out of the car, etc.. But it all seemed like it happened really fast.


Emily's dad came to pick up her and Nick, and while they were in a neighborhood turning around to go home, Emily fainted in the car for a minute.  Emily's dad pulled over, and then Nick suggested that they give Emily a priesthood blessing.  Emily's Dad and Nick did so, and Emily felt much better after that.
(The fainting most likely happened because the adrenaline and everything from the crash was finally wearing off and Emily's body and mind just couldn't quite handle it.)


Thankfully, nobody was seriously injured. For a crash in the middle of the freeway, it was pretty minimal. 
Emily is a little cut and bruised, Nick has a bruised knee, but that's it. 
I'm sure i'll feel the soreness and everything from the impact tomorrow, but for now I just have a dull headache that won't go away. 


I am so thankful for the fact that it was not very serious.  Really. It could have been very very bad. With the airbags deploying, I could have broken my nose or some ribs (according to the EMT lady), but I didn't.


My car is not very okay, and I don't really know the extent of the damage there (I honestly didn't look much), but I am okay, Nick is okay, and that is what matters.


I definitely had some guardian angels watching out for me today.


  

Testing.. Testing..

So I just discovered this thing called Windows Live Writer.. It lets you write a blog post in a totally different program, then publish it to Blogger.   I’m trying it. :D

Yep, that’s right. I’m a Ravenclaw.

(Mostly, I found a random picture to insert to see if it would work well.)

 

Let’s do this.

Really Good Music.

So... I haven't posted in forever, but.  Here's a list of 10 songs I've been loving recently. :)

1- Uncharted - Sara Bareilles

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2- Everything to Me - David Lehr

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3- My Body - Young the Giant

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4- Chasing Pirates - Norah Jones

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5- Where I Stood - Missy Higgins 

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6- Walking In Memphis - Marc Cohn

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7- Silver Lining - Rilo Kiley

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8- The Gambler - Fun.

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9- The Luckiest - Ben Folds

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(This is not the official music video.)

10-  On My Own - Samantha Barks 

(Eponine in Les Miserables, 25th Anniversary Concert)

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Feelin' Crafty

So.. Recently, I've been feeling crafty.  Rachel and I took a trip to Hobby Lobby, Michael's, and Joann.
(She needed something for her design class, and we finally found it at the last one.)

On the way, however, I finally bought myself a glue gun.  And.. A lot of other things.  And now I've been having fun with them. :)

Here are the results:

Tutorial for the top two here.

(There are two other tutorials first, so look at those, then scroll down. )

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Confessions

• I eat croutons like popcorn.
• I am crazy jealous of Christopher Gorham's wife.
• I work best under pressure. 
• I eat tuna and kraft singles at 2 in the morning when i'm hungry and can't sleep.
• I am a total sucker for totally cheesy romantic stuff. 
• I am obsessed with weddings.  I stay up till 3 in the morning looking at wedding dresses and cakes.
• I am addicted to Sudoku.
• I play Fruit Ninja when I can't sleep, or when I get bored in my Humanities class.
• I actually think Miley Cyrus is funny on the Hannah Montana tv show, of which I have seen almost every episode.
• I really really really want to meet Matthew Inman, because I think he is amazing. (The creator of theoatmeal.)
• One of my life goals is to own every original Iron Man comic.
• Another one of my life goals is to own this and this.
• I spend WAY too much time on Netflix and Hulu.
• I hate running. With a passion. The ONLY time I run is when I am majorly pissed.
• I really really wish I hadn't stopped taking piano lessons. I can only teach myself so much.
• I am a total pack rat. I save everything.
• I am almost always the third wheel. 
• I really want to take Ben Hunt's Pro Web Design Course.
• I want to be a secretary. Just for one summer.
• I sleep with a teddy bear every night. Can't sleep without it.
• I have the full 16-minute version of Rhapsody in Blue on my iPod. And I actually listen to it. The whole thing.

My Motto

My friend Nathan got me thinking about personal mottoes.  After reading his post about Mantras/Mottoes, he asks what his reader's mottoes are.   I was just going to leave a comment, but then decided it would be much too long.  Thus, I came here to write a post about it instead!

First, you need to understand a little bit about my job. I am a Sales Rep for Vector Marketing (In other words, I sell Cutco Kitchen Cutlery.)  However, this company is not just about selling. I attended a summer conference where we learned not only how to sell better, but many important life skills, such as building rapport with customers, and really learning how to talk to and relate to people. At the conference, there were many talks given by Managers, Assistant Managers, and outstanding Sales Reps.  These talks were all recorded, and put on the company website, VectorConnect.  Now, all across the nation, in Vector, every time there is a summer conference, or other event where there are talks given, they are recorded and put on this website.

So, one day I was browsing through the talks, trying to find a short one to listen to while I was getting ready for the day, in the hopes that it would provide some extra motivation and excitement for the day.
I downloaded a 20 minute talk called "My Breakthrough Story" by Geri Azinger.  
*Geri Azinger is one of the TOP Sales Reps in the nation, she sells over $5,000 weekly.* 


Her talk is all about 'breakthrough moments'.  You know what I mean.  That moment when you realize "I can totally do this! I'm gonna go out there and kick butt (in whatever you're trying to do)."
Most often, we sit and wait for those moments to come to us.  But why?? Why not just make our own breakthrough moments?
Thus, my personal motto (a direct quote from the talk), which sits prominently on my desktop on a sticky note so that I see it every time I open my laptop (which is multiple times, daily), is....
"Are you willing to lose the opportunity of a lifetime? Don't wait for your breakthrough moment. Just create one."

This also goes along with something I have been striving for recently, but I think that is going to need it's own post.  So, look forward to a post about Making Pro-active Choices.


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The Weaver

The Weaver

My life is but a weaving between my God and me;

I do not choose the colors, He worketh steadily.

Oft' times He weaveth sorrow, and I, in foolish pride,

Forget He sees the upper, and I, the under side.

Not 'till the loom is silent, and the shuttles cease to fly,

Will God unroll the canvas, and explain the reasons why.

The dark threads are as needful, in the skillful weaver's hand,

As the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned.

This is my favorite poem in the whole world.  The truths in it have changed my life. 

We often focus only on what's happening now, and how terrible things are at the moment.   Think about the last time you broke down crying.  What was the reason for it? Were you just having a really bad day/week?  Thinking back on it now, was it really so bad? Everything worked out, didn't it? (I apologize if you're in the middle of one of these weeks, and it hasn't worked out yet, but know that it will!) 

If you've ever sewn anything, you know that the top looks pretty, but when you flip it over, usually, there are knots, loops, stray strings, and loads of other confusing things, and trying to figure out what it is from the bottom side never works.  Right now, we can only see the bottom side of the tapestry of our lives.  It's confusing, complicated, there are knots, stray strings and loops.  Sometimes we may think "What is the Lord doing with my life? This looks terrible!" But, we need to keep in mind that we can only see the ugly under-side of the tapestry.  When we die, we will be able to see the top side, and see how really, it turned out to be something beautiful. 

Life is like a 3-act play. We have been thrust in the middle of Act 2, with only a very small knowledge of what went on in Act 1.  In addition, Act 2 is characterized by tests, trials, temptations, and tragedies.  What we often forget is that in Act 3, all of these things are resolved.  If you live through Act 2 while focused on what's coming in Act 3, suddenly, Act 2 doesn't seem so bad.  Work through the troubles in Act 2 while keeping Act 3 in mind. 

It's Really NOT That Hard.

You're/Your
Their/There/They're
Accept/Except
It's/Its

Okay world. It's time to figure it out.
Today, I saw a Facebook post that read "I finally got my exceptance letter to the University of Utah!"

My thoughts: "Really? They excepted you? Well that stinks. Except = Exclude. (more or less) So.... Yeah, why are you posting your failure on Facebook? Ohhhhhhh wait. You mean acceptance..... Really? They accepted you?"

Now, this is a little rude. I know. But really. I'm just sick of it.
Basic grammar and spelling are SO not that hard.  Unless you've got dyslexia, (not an excuse for the grammar part), suck it up and learn how to use the English language.

Here are a few great (and funny) tutorials:

Enjoy. :)

Also. Check out the rest of the website. Love it!!


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A Proclamation to the World (by Emily)

I would like to proclaim to the world that the church is NOT true.
Instead, I proclaim to the world that the Gospel of Jesus Christ as it has been restored through Joseph Smith and superseding Prophets IS true.

This is something that's really been bugging to me.  It was pointed out in my home ward one week by my previous Bishop, and it really struck home.
I wish more people thought about this, and realized what they are saying when they bear their testimony. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is absolutely a wonderful thing, but in no way is it true. It is the only church with the proper authority from Heavenly Father, yes. It is the Lord's church. But it is not true.

Here's what is true:
The Book of Mormon, the principles taught in it, and the history recorded in it.
The Bible, as far as it is translated correctly.
The words of the Prophets, Apostles, and other representatives of the Lord.

In the church, especially in Utah, we've gotten so used to saying "I know that the church is true" that it has become commonplace, and accepted, even though it is incorrect. Thus, I am on a campaign to change it.

I will never again say the words "the church is true". It's up to you, but I hope that you never will either.

Really Good Books, #4

The Last Silk Dress, by Ann Rinaldi. 

So, i'm definitely a fan of historical fiction.  My favorite time periods? Wars.  They seem to make for the most interesting stories.  This book is set in the Civil War, and is from the perspective of a fourteen-year-old girl in the South, who wants to do something to help in the war.  I haven't read this one in a while, but it still is definitely one of my favorites.  It's a bit long, but VERY good. 

P.s. Merry Christmas!! :)

Really Good Books, #3

The Water is Wide, by Marianne Monson.

I got this book as a manuscript from Lisa Mangum, read it, loved it, and am now eagerly awaiting for the real copy of the book as a Christmas present.  The only thing that stinks about reading a book when it's only a manuscript, is that it means I have to wait even longer than everybody else for the sequel. Oh well. It'll be worth the wait, i'm sure. 

Update:   I did get the book for Christmas. Woohoo! :D (Dec. 25).

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Really Good Books, #2

The Host by Stephenie Meyer.  This book is completely different from the Twilight series.  This book is somewhat like Ender's Game and Uglies, combined.  Both of which, are very very good books as well.   When reading it, you are inside the mind of two different characters at once, following their thoughts and emotions, and the moral struggle within.  The book is pretty genius.  Also, it's just a great love story, but still filled with action and suspense.  Read it! 

Really Good Books, #1

I. Love. Reading. I've done it all my life, and I will never quit.  I used to get grounded from reading, because my mom would send me to clean my room, and I would sit and read instead.  I used to read 2 or 3 books at a time, for hours a day.  I wish I still had the time to do so.  Reading is pretty much my favorite.

I don't know how many people actually read this, or how many people actually care, but I'm just going to put it out there anyway.  I've decided to do a series of posts about some really good books I've read.

To start off, I'm really sharing two books.  The Hourglass Door, and it's sequel, The Golden Spiral.  Written by Lisa Mangum, these books are A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.!  They have such a great plot line, and require you to actually think a little.  It's not simply a cute/interesting story to read (though, it still is definitely those things as well).  This is true literary genius.  The concept of time in these books is so interesting, and it makes me wonder how she ever came up with the idea for it.

Also, I am SO excited for the third book, The Forgotten Locket.  I am pretty much dying with anticipation, waiting to see what happens next.  Maybe I can get my hands on another ARC? :)

Sometime, I would really like to just sit down with Lisa and talk to her about these books.  Where she got the idea, how it all came together, and all the associated adventures with writing it.  She's pretty famous now, but maybe she'll make time for me someday.  She was one of my YW's leaders, after all.  Here's to hoping that I'll get that chance sometime.  

More to come later.  For now, I should probably go to bed.  It's 2:09 AM.  

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Count Me In.

So, my awesome sister is a blogger.  And apparently, her blog is well-known enough that this cool company called CSN stores is giving one of her readers 35 dollars to spend in one of their online stores! How cool is that?  Check it out here.

Everyone should check out this cool offer, and follow her blog, because it is super-awesome. :)

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The Forgotten Carols

The Forgotten Carols is a amazing/wonderful/life changing show that has a very very special place in my heart.  I had the opportunity to be in the backup choir for it for 2 years in a row.  (And may possibly have the chance to do it one more time.)
It is honestly a life changing experience.  It has now become a part of my Christmas tradition, and it is just not Christmas without seeing the Forgotten Carols.
Michael McLean is a genius, and Jordan Bluth, Kelly Shepardson, Christy Summerhays and Gili Getzgili are all absolutely brilliant and amazingly talented.  And of course, the beautiful Lynne McLean.  Without her, the show would not happen, because according to Michael, she is the reason his heart has a song.  (How cute is that??)

There are some wonderful points made in this show, and it is definitely a testimony builder.  I very very highly recommend this show to everyone.  (Except for small children, or those who can't sit still for 2+ hours.)

Also, I am SO super excited, because the Forgotten Carols tour is coming to Utah State!!  December 1st in the Kent Concert Hall at 7:30.   I will be buying my tickets tomorrow.  :)  (Hint: If you do want to go, buy your tickets NOW, because the good seats run out fast.)

The tour also performs in Salt Lake for 7 days (Dec. 6-11, 13), in the Cottonwood High School (woot woot!) Auditorium.  Really, seriously, go.  It is SO worth it! GO! You know you want to. :)

I'm not going to give anything away about the show or the plot, you'll just have to see for yourself!

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Oops.

So, this one time, I was driving home from Logan, and rear-ended someone.
Pictures are worth a thousand words, so I'll let the picture tell the story.

Yep.  Wanda's nose is broken.  And one of her eyes is gone.. Sitting in the backseat, acutally. 

I Have Never

Have you ever played that game? If you haven't, you should. It's lots of fun. I enjoy it.  It's a little depressing, because it makes you think about all the things you have never done, but, still, it's fun. And it's a really interesting way to learn about other people.
Anyway, this is my list of things that I have never done.

I have never.....

• Been to Disneyland
• Tasted alcohol
• Been out of the country
• Seen Lord of the Rings
• Been on choir tour
• Had a job with set hours
• Sold a Homemaker. :(
• Done drugs
• Been in the hospital as a patient
• Donated blood
• Gone skinny dipping
• Missed an episode of Covert Affairs
• Had a Twitter account
• Worn glasses
• Smoked a cigarette
• Jumped out of a window onto a trampoline
• Been a U of U fan
• Been a madrigal
• Broken or fractured a bone
• Been on a cruise
• Had a 16th birthday party
• Had a 17th birthday party
• Had an 18th birthday party
• Paid attention in my Computer Science class  (where I am right now!)
• Failed a class
• Taken an online class
• Watched a baseball game all the way through
• Liked tomatoes
• Kept a journal regularly
• Gone snowboarding
• Been skydiving
• Gone toilet-papering
• Snuck out of the house
• Understood why people like The Sims

Note to self: My Computer Science professor doesn't know how to use YouTube.

• Not been a procrastinator
• Learned how to drive stick-shift
• Been to MonsterMash or a Winter's dance

Well, class is over now, but I succeeded in at least staying awake through all of class. :)

Thankful

No, it's not Thanksgiving yet, but I'm feeling pretty grateful today, so this is a list of things that I am thankful for right now.

• Benadryl - It's a life saver right now.
• Awesome roommates that are totally willing to do anything to help me feel better
• Awesome friends that come visit me when I miss my class with them
• Hulu - It's a boredom cure. I don't have much of anything better to do at the moment.
• Netflix online - Also a boredom cure.
• Kleenex - Whoever invented this stuff is my hero.
• Hot Chocolate - It just makes you feel better inside, doesn't it?
• Sweatpants - The big, baggy, really comfy kind.
• My bed - I've been spending a lot of time on it..
• Scott - 'nuff said.
• Carmex 
• Toothpaste - For getting rid of that icky morning breath flavor, cuz you can't breathe through your nose when you're sick.
• Hot showers - Clear out the sinuses, and just all around feel better. 
• My little red fan - I'd die of heat and not be able to sleep without it.
• Gum
• Mom
• General Conference
• IWA
• FHE
• My laptop - None of this would be possible without it
• Ibuprofen
• Missionaries
• Wanda - my car

I could probably keep going for a while, but then it would likely never end.  I have so much to be grateful for. I am one lucky duck.

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Lazy Days

I have been SO lazy today.  What is up with this? I'm pretty sure maintenance came this morning while I was the only one here (and still asleep) and I was barely conscious enough to know that they were knocking on the door, but apparently not awake enough to get up and answer the door.  They assumed that nobody was here and just came in anyway, and thankfully my bedroom door was closed...  How weird would that be?
Also, I barely managed to stay awake during Institute, and did not manage to stay awake during Stats.  Oops.
I think maybe I should go to bed early tonight.  I started feeling like I was ready to go to bed at about 8:45. Crazy..
Also, it is really hot in our kitchen/living room.  And just in here.  We even have the windows open.  Yet, i'm dying of heat.  And if I walk into another room, it's immediately about ten times cooler.  What is up with this?
Life is just kind of strange today.

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Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm'kay.

So, apparently my roommate Michelle somehow set off a security system alarm, and it has now been going off for 3 hours.  On the 3rd floor, you can only hear it if you listen, but on the 1st and 2nd floors? Geez. It is LOUD! And, it has now been going off for nearly 4 hours. Four hours. You have got to be kidding me. You'd think somebody would've done something by now? You'd think that maybe the alarm system company might notice or something? Our RA isn't home, and I guess she's still not home, because it's still going off. I don't know what to do to fix it, or i'd try and do something myself. But, it's one in the morning. There aren't many people you can call to ask questions at one in the morning. So, I guess it will continue to go off until Sarah (the RA) gets home.
First and second floor people, I am truly sorry. I have NO idea how you were able to get to sleep tonight, if you did.


Oh. Well. A policeman just came to the door, and the alarm is off now. Thank heavens. The policeman asked if somebody removed the smoke alarm or if my roommates were smokers or anything. HA. Right... We didn't do anything! I promise! He said he'd trust me for now and that somebody from Maintenance would be by tomorrow to check it out.
Let's hope that Michelle isn't in trouble.
Update tomorrow on what the heck set off the stupid alarm!

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