If you want to be happy, be.

A smile costs nothing but gives much. It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he cannot get along without it and none is so poor that he cannot be made rich by it. Yet a smile cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give.

Here are a few moments that have made me smile lately ...

Laughing so hard my stomach hurts with Nick...

Finding "The Dress" ...

Watching the playoffs with friends ...

Studying for finals at the park ...

TGI Fridays with the Stika Family ...

Watching ALOT of baseball ...

Skiing with the Chadwick girls (missing Erin) ...

Playing with Baby Ayden ...

Finally finishing this semester ...

Coloring Nicks hair ...

Watching Nick and my Dad take a picture together ...

I am so blessed to have so many things to smile about.

Finals Week

Should I be studying for finals right now? Probably. Am I? No.

I am finding it so hard to stay motivated for these tests this week! Chemistry is today, Physiology and Nutrition is tomorrow, and Math is Thursday. There is just too much fun going on around me. I think I can .. I think I can .. I think I ... oh look! My favorite TV show! :P hahaha

Savannah Bananna

So, I just want to let everyone know that I have the greatest little sister ever (who is almost my bigger little sister haha).She is such a sweetheart and seeing her grow up so much lately has really been blowin my mind. I put some pictures together of Savannah and I into a slide show and noticed that wow, we very rarely take a serious picture. 90 percent of the time we're making funny faces and laughing.

Savannah is the sweetest thing I know. She's always so loving and has such a positive attitude. I can't help but smile while I'm around her. I miss being able to be with her as much as I used to when I lived at home but I appreciate the time I get to spend with her now. I am helping to coach her softball team which I love love doing and being able to spend more time with her. She's so amazing and definietly my favorite (and only) sister :)

~ Sisters function as safety nets in a chaotic world simply by being there for eachother ~

Operation Beautiful

Okay I think everyone needs to see this. What an aweseome thing. I've actually seen a few of these around and not only do they make me smile, but it reminds me that there is still alot of good in this world. Here is what the founder has posted on her website.

The Mission
The goal of the Operation Beautiful website is to end negative self-talk or “Fat Talk.” If this little blog only does one productive thing, I hope it helps readers realize how truly toxic negative self-talk is — it hurts you emotionally, spiritually, and physically.

Through my own experiences fighting Fat Talk, I’ve realized the power behind an anonymous act such as Operation Beautiful. When I post a note, I’m saying, “I CHOOSE to be positive!”

I began Operation Beautiful by leaving positive messages on the mirrors of public restrooms — at work, at the gym, at the grocery store. I scribble down whatever comes to mind — "You are beautiful!" or "You are amazing just the way you are!" My personal goal is to leave as many Operation Beautiful notes as I can. Maybe some people read them and just smile, but I am willing to bet some people are truly touched by the effort of a random stranger.

Operation Beautiful is simple: all you need is a pen and a piece of paper.

There is something special about women encouraging women. Love each other, be kind, and believe in the beautiful person that you are. It has taken me a long time and a lot of effort and pain to find myself and who I am and to realize that I really am beautiful. I still have my moments of weakness, we all do, but no matter what I might need to improve on, I am still beautiful. God doesn't make mistakes.

Always remember ...

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. -Plato

Classroom session? No ... Venting session!

Teachers are ridiculous. Okay. Lie. MOST teachers are ridiculous. In particular? Ones who give you a test to prepare for for the last week of school and then have a 100 question comprehensive final one your expected to be prepared for less than a week later. My brain is on overdrive and I think i'm going insane.

Point A: I was in a hurry to get to work today. I unplugged my laptop charger and put it in my backpack and ran out the door. Got to work and pulled out my charger but soon realized, no laptop. Really?

Point B: I can't chew my own gum and talk at the same time lately! Currently I have a skinned knee, a chunk out of my finger, a bruised ankle, and a bruise on my left-ish hip. All from embarassing stories that are a little too ridiculous to tell.

Point C: This point, is mostly to Nicks advantage. I keep saying the dumbest things amd forgetting things I should remember seeing as how they happened 6 minutes prior. Frustrating for me. Laughs for Nick.

Point D: is that I have more points. Sad.

I've got 2 more days of class, 1 paper to write, 2 math assigments to do, 1 chemistry test, 1 math quiz, and 4 finals to accomplish in 6 days time. Can't wait for this semester to end and for this beautiful summer to start!!

P.S. I decided that since my full time job is only mornings I'd have alot of time in the afternoons this summer so I got me another part time job :) I'm going to be a nanny for 2 cute little boys 2 afternoons a week and 1/2 a day on Saturdays. I definietly lucked out with this job and I am super excited about it! I am so blessed with good jobs.

The Good Is The Beautiful

Oh I love Sundays (minus having to work 7 and half hours in the afternooon). Okay, maybe I just love Sunday mornings :) Church is so amazing. It seems like I have been hearing alot about the role of women in the lives of not just our families but the church and the world. It is so wonderful to be part of a religion who values women and acnowledges their role in this life. I think it's wonderful, but sometimes a little overwhelming.

In relief society the comments that some women make just rock my world and their testimonies are SO strong. They know SO much. They are SO good at teaching. I was thinking last week that "Wow, I am SO not as great as they are." I even went home with that thought and at work I realized that I am SO not supposed to be thinking that way! Instead I decided to change my outlook on it. Instead I realized how lucky I am to have such aweseome examples in my life. We all have different strengths that, intertwined, can change the world. I have always loved studying what the church teaches about the roles of women, our higher callings, and the wonderful gifts that are innate to us that this world couldn't be without. I found a talk from sweet sweet Elder Faust called Womanhood: The Highest Place of Honor. Here's a little piece of it that I absolutely love:

"I wonder if you sisters fully understand the greatness of your gifts and talents and how all of you can achieve the 'highest place of honor' in the Church and in the world. One of your unique, precious, and sublime gifts is your femininity, with its natural grace, goodness, and divinity, Femininity is not just lipstick, stylish hairdos, and trendy clothes. It is the divine adornment of humanity. It finds expression in your qualities of your capacity to love, your spitiruality, delicacy, radiance, sensitivity, creativity, charm, graciousness, gentleness, dignity, and quiet strength. It is manifest differently. Femininity is part of your inner beauty."

"One of your particular gifts is your feminine intuition. Do not limit yourselves. As you seek to know the will of our Heavenly Father in your life and become more spiritual, you will be far more attractive, even irresistible. You can use your smiling lovliness to bless those you love and all you meet, and spread great joy. Femininity is part of the God-given divinity within each of you. It is your incomparable power and influence to do good. You can, through your supernal gifts, bless the lives of children, women, and men. Be proud of your womanhood. Enhance it. Use it to serve others."

How amazing of a message is that? I have been thinking alot, especially in preparing for the temple, that it is such a blessing to be a woman. To have the ability to love in a way that only a woman can. What amazing gifts that we are given and because we are given, have so many opportunities to share :)

Baseball: The Great American Past Time

Anyone who knows Nick and I know that we are huge baseball fans. Nick has converted me to his Red Sox and Angels (funny how a girls sports team changes). Nick still hasn't convinced me as far as BYU is concerned though. Utes baby! But anywho, back on subject ... BASEBALL! Our first date was an Orem Owlz baseball game. Every time we go back to watch them or UVU we sit in the same seats we sat in on our first date :) Just a cute little memory we ge to re-visit. Last night we went annd watched the Salt Lake Bees play Tacoma, WA with a few friends of ours. So much fun. It was their season opener with a full house and fireworks after. I just love the environment and the game of baseball! It's so awesome to have a fiance who is just as into it as I am :)

A little note about Shay .... Gosh she is amazing! She's the friend that's there for you no matter what. Love her to death. Oh, and this was her FIRST baseball game! :) I think she really enjoyed it!

My Best Friend

What a beautiful day it is today! I woke up in the middle of the night from a terrible dream. Long story short, I was hurt and all I wanted to do was tell Nick that I loved him one more time. NOT a great dream but has had me thinking today. I am so extremely blessed to have Nick in my life. I'm not 100% sure what I have done right to deserve someone like him but I'm so grateful. He is my best friend, my support, my cheerleader (in a manly way babe), my example, and my sweetheart. It is incredible to me how one person can make such a huge difference in a life. Nick, I can honestly say, has changed mine. I am a far better person because of him and I try to live so that he can say the same. August 13th seems like it is forever and a day away but I just can't wait!

Here are pictures of Nick and I from our earliest adventures to our most recent escapades :)

Looking at those just make me smile :) Oh, to be in love!

A look back ... (just because I'm not the dedicated blogger that I should be) :P

Woo! Only FOUR months since my last post! I am so great at this! :S Needless to say that alot has happened in the past couple of months! Here's a few hilights :)

January: Hmmm ... what to say about January?
-A new semester which I soon began to realize would be a pain in the patootie! Chemistry, Physology + Lab, Math, and Nutrition, along with 42 hours a week at work. I'm SO extremely blessed to have the job I do to be able to balance both work and school.
- Erin (Nick's older sister) and her husband Jerry and their first baby! A bouncing baby boy :) It was such an aweseome experience to be at the hospital with the Chadwicks and see baby Ayden a few hours old.

February: The Month of Love
-For Valentines day my sweetheart and I exchanged some small gifts and notes. We LOVE notes. Well ... I love notes. Can't speak for Nick but reading notes from him mean so much to me and writing down how much I care (or TRY to describe it through words) makes me smile. I am truly blessed to have Nick as such a big part of my life.

March: Ups and Downs
-March started off with a huge "up". Spring break! Oh and did I mention Nick and I celebrated spring break in Florida? Oh and did I also mention that Nick PROPOSED while celebrating spring break on Clearwater beach at sunset in Florida?! It's true. It happened :) It was absolutely PERFECT. So here is the story ...
Nick and I went to Clearwater beach and spent the day at all the shops on the pier and along the beach. SO much fun together. Towards sunset we went and sat down on a towel and started talking. Just as the sun was going down he told me to go stand by the water because he wanted a picture of me just as the sun touched the water. He took a few shots and I started to walk back. He was standing there looking at me all "in love like" and I started laughing and teased him asking"What you looking at hmmm?" I walked a couple more steps to him and he got down on his knee and took my hand. He asked me if I would marry him and the first thing out of my mouth was 'Did you ask my Dad??' He said yes he had and I kissed and hugged him just as the sun set :) A few seconds and hugs later he reminded me that I hadn't said yes yet or even looked at my ring, Oops! I comfrmed my answer by a big elated YES!! and he slipped the ring on my hand. I couldn't have imagined anything more perfect. I'm one lucky girl ....
We spent the next 5 days enjoying a few baseball games, Disney World, Flea Markets, and time together and time with my Uncle Jake and Aunt Carolyn. Best spring break of all time by a LONG shot! :)
-The down of March was Nick's grandma passing away a few days before we came home from Florida. She was his last grandparent and it was hard for everyone. What a wonderful woman who has blessed so many people not just herself alone but for raising a part of the wonderful family whom I have grown to love with all my heart. She will truly be missed.
-Another up? My sweet sweet favorite cousin and one of my best friends, Jessica, and her husband are having a baby boy!! Great news and I couldn't be happier for them. Can't wait for August 17th to roll around :)

And here we are in April ... Oh how time flies! Semester is winding down and I CAN'T WAIT for it to be done with. My brain has checked out about a week and a half ago I think but I'm hanging in there. Nick and I have set the wedding date for August 13th. And now the planning begins! I got my dress today which is the greatest feeling!! It's absolutely beautiful!! I see it right now hanging behind my door in it's bag all tucked away nicely just waiting for me to put it on and become the wife to the best man I could have ever asked for. Life is full of ups and downs and even a few slip and slides but all in all, I am truly blessed. Life is wonderful and I couldn't ask for more! Well ... being done with school. I think I could ask for that :)