I'm a lucky daughter.

I've come to realize how truly lucky I got when it comes to, well everything, but specifically my parents. They are two of the most amazing people I've ever met. They always seem to know exactly what I need, even when I don't. I don't think that anything I do will ever accurately express my appreciation for them. I love you mom and dad!

Tornado in Huntington Beach?

So starting Sunday we have experienced the worst storm I've ever seen down here. Yesterday the top of one of our tall palm trees got blown off and today crazy rain and a tornado.

http://www.inquisitr.com/57913/tornado-long-beach/

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/01/tornado-warning-issued-for-south-los-angeles-long-beach-and-whittier.html

Why didn't we do tornado drills in elementary school?

Pouring Rain

It is raining and violently windy outside. i LOVE the rain, HATE the wind. I was reading a book yesterday that gave me a strong desire to want to try living on the south-east coast somewhere until they mentioned that they don't get beach sunsets which made me re-think the idea. I love the way the sun sets over the beach, on clear days you can see catalina clear enough that it looks like you can swim to it. BUT the forcast for the next week is pouring rain. Somehow i need to trick the weather in to calming down enough so that I can leave to head back up to Chico Wednesday morning.
When the weather is nice you can do things like this: (i just looked out the window again and today is a day to curl up in a blanket and go back to sleep)
When I visited Arroya camping at Camp Pendleton

We found a baby octopus under a rock! I think I was more excited about finding it than the 10 year olds.

I really need to stop falling asleep while reading my Biology book.

I can't seem to make it through more then two pages of Biology before my brain decides I need to take another nap, it's extremely inconvienent. So instead I'm taking a break so I won't fall asleep and I'll hopefully get through a few more pages.

So i'm impatient with mail. Patience is a lesson I clearly need to work on. Today Alyssa's been pulling on everyone's patience it seems. She is either the best or the worst of the siblings, there is no middle ground with her. The Monster or the Princess.

I'm going to make an effort to be more patient; with others (mostly siblings, i find my patience becomes considerably lower when with them), waiting for answers, and everything else that calls upon me to wait longer than I might like.

"Patience is waiting. Not passively waiting. That is laziness. But to keep going when the going is hard and slow -- that is patience." -Unknown

I went to work with my dad today and this was on his bulletin board and I really liked it.

They're written by Andy Rooney:

I've learned.... That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

I've learned.... That when you're in love, it shows.

I've learned.... That just one person saying to me, 'You've made my day!' makes my day.

I've learned.... That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

I've learned.... That being kind is more important than being right.

I've learned.... That you should never say no to a gift from a child.

I've learned ....That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.

I've learned....That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.

I've learned.... That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.

I've learned.... That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.

I've learned.... That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

I've learned.... That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

I've learned.... That money doesn't buy class.

I've learned.... That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I've learned... That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

I've learned.... That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I 've learned.... That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

I've learned.... That love, not time, heals all wounds.

I've learned.... That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

I've learned.... That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

I've learned.... That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.

I've learned ... That life is tough, but I'm tougher.

I've learned.... That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.

I've learned.... That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

I've learned.... That I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before she passed away.

I've learned .... That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.

I've learned.... That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I've learned.... That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for life.

I've learned.... That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.

I've learned.... That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

I just want to speak to a human.

I don't think I've ever made so many phone calls, been transfered so many times or been put on hold for so long regarding one question. I hate automated answering services.

off to Provo

Off to spend the rest of the week at BYU. I'm going to meet with every advisor humanly possible to increase my chances of Provo. It's wierd to think that I won't be going back to Chico next fall, it's really finally starting to hit me. It's a little heartbreaking to leave, but I'm so excited.

It's time for a change, It's time for a move,
And I know that it's frightening but it's also exciting

Oh and it's amazing how a simply little e-mail can brighten your entire day.

War in My Life

Clearly I haven't taken the time to blog in oh maybe like a year and a half. But right now i'm starting a lot of new things, or old things again, so here I go. The last few months have 180ed the direction of my life. I was content and happy where I was, next thing I know I'm planning to transfer schools, wait, and take my life in a new direction. Now if you know me AT ALL you know that I'm not a fan of surprises, big change, and so on. So the next few months are going to be a grand adventure as I get ready for some huge changes that I know will come with countless surprises.
My sister gave me the new John Mayer CD and this is a song about how things are changing, and it's about embracing it, not fighting against it.



Oh and this is Jake, the one partly responsible for these big changes in my life. He is my newest pen pal. He left Tuesday to serve his mission in Joao Pessoa, Brazil.