Thanksgiving 2009 and other stuff

Before I start talking about how much I love Thanksgiving (being my favorite holiday and all), I have to blog about the car wreck I was in on Wednesday.

I was riding home with Akisa and Kendall in Akisa's car with Akisa driving from The Nutcracker rehearsals. We were on the freeway going about 65 when the car in front of us slowed down WAY too fast, and Akisa couldn't slow down fast enough. We hit the car in front of us, who hit the car in front of it, and somewhere in there, we hit the car next to us. 4 cars were involved, 2 of them were totaled, Akisa's being one of them. No one was hurt that was involved in the accident. We think the person who caused the accident was drunk. But we don't know, because he ran off and didn't come back. It is such a huge blessing to not be hurt or dead, I am soooo grateful. Mom took me to the chiropractor for an emergency visit to fix my back and neck from whiplash. They hurt pretty bad at first, but after 11 hours of sleep on Thanksgiving night (AMAZING, eh?) I feel a lot better. We were even able to go camping like we planned! =D

So we (mom, Julianne, me, and the Sitze's: Sis Sitze, Timothy, Jeremy, Daniel) went camping for Thanksgiving. We got there at midnight Wednesday night. XD Not cool, but it was alright. It was cold this year, but not unbearable. I made sure to bring enough warm things. Paula was there. =D I've been camping with her every year since I was like....8, except for one year. I love her. <3>

Just kidding..... I forgot about the surprise visit I took to Dallas last weekend. Okay. So mom needed to go to Dallas to fix up some stuff and to get stuff for camping. I decided to go with her to help her, and so that I could go to the stake dance and see Dan Bergquist's homecoming talk. Mom and I got in Dallas in just enough time to get to the dance about 30 minutes late. (I wanted it like that. That way people were there when I walked in.) I heard Sis Swalberg say "Oh. My. Gosh!" when I walked in. She said that Zach had just been saying earlier that day that this would've been the first dance that I wouldn't be there for. She was so excited for her boys. Zach and Landon, and to my surprise, BURKE, were right by the door when I walked in. I wish I could've recorded their faces. It was priceless. I will never forget how they looked when they realized that I was there. Burke is my unofficially adopted little brother. It was his first dance, and at my old stake. =] It was the bomb-diggity, to say the least. I gave hugs to all of them, and was going to explain why I was there when a swing song came on, so I hurried to find Cristian.

I found Cristian near the dance floor looking for someone. I came around from behind, grabbed his hand, and pulled him onto the floor. He freaked out. Yeah, pretty much. He demanded to know what I was doing there, but I refused to tell him because right then we were swinging. He told me afterwards that he had just been wishing I was there so he had someone to dance with, and then I popped up! He as astonished. He says it's probably the best surprise he's ever had. I would probably have to agree with him. =P

The other person whose reaction is VERY much unforgettable, is Ashley Michelle. She wasn't there when I got there, and I saw her in the hall as she entered the dance. I went up to her with my arms out for a hug, and she screamed "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!?!" very happily and grabbed onto me and wouldn't let go for a while. She was laughing, too. I think she was happy. haha I had told her a few days before that I wanted her to take her camera so she could take pictures of my friends, when really I was having her bring her camera so that we could take pictures of us and our friends. I was a very sneaky snook. hee hee.

I REALLY enjoyed my time with Zach, Landon and Burke. I danced with Landon 3 times, Zach and Burke twice each. I do believe I made those incredible young men very happy by being there. I loved being there for Burke's first dance. Neither of us knew that each other was going to be there. It was just epic. Better than the bomb-diggity.

Afterwards the Swalberg's, Burke, Paul, Jean, (Did I mention that she was uber happy I was there? I love hanging with Jean.) Cristian, and a few people that the Swalberg's brought with them to the dance, went to Braums to extend our visiting time and to get ice cream. I think there were like....6 guys all talking to me at one time. XD I'm loved, am I not? I feel very blessed to have such wonderful friends in Dallas.

The next morning I went to church and saw Dan give his talk. It was a very beautiful talk. =] Good job, Dan. I realized that day, sitting in my old ward's young women, that I missed my new ward. I love how the young women in my new ward actually like each other. I can feel their love. There's one girl in my ward that's in my seminary class, too. Her name is Kaely. I really miss her. I can't wait to see her in church tomorrow. Anyway, that's all for this blog. It turned out to be longer than I wanted. haha

November 18th, 2009

I keep waiting for some event to happen before I write a new post, but I couldn't think of anything that's coming up soon enough, so I'm just going to type what I'm thinking. Right now I'm thinking of one thing I'm thankful for every day until Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Reasons? Because it's in fall, which is my favorite season, it's in November, which is my favorite month, and I go camping every year and there's FOOD! Good food! I love me some good food. I love camping. It's the only time of year my family actually camps. Haha, I love how I can get dirty and I don't mind it, and how I cango right around the other way and enjoy doing my make-up, and wearing a pretty dress with high heels and my flashy purse.

College. Ugh.... I don't know why I'm taking the time to type this up. I have so much work to do before December 10th, it's ridiculous. But once the semester is over I have about a month of rest full of math (haha, rest. Funny story) before I go back to scool again. The only reason I tolerate this stress is because I know it's getting me ahead in school, which is great. But yeah, it's tough. Ballet Austin takes up a lot of my homework time every day.

Tasha Lea, bless her heart,is one of the most beautiful, obedient, faithful daughters of God I know. I so wish that we could spend some time in person. That would be a great blessing. She's moving to Colorado in the spring. I'm kind of jealous, as Colorado is GORGEOUS! And there, maybe possibly, I could visit her on my way to and from Utah. Who knows? She told me once that I'm going to be more involved in her wedding than just be invited. That excites me. I cannot wait to meet her husband. ^_^ He will be one spiritual giant to deserve a woman like Tasha. I am certain Tasha and I are friends for eternity. There's no way we could have a connection like ours and not be.

Living with the Sitze's is still hard. Sometimes I don't think I can stand it, but of course, I can. Just living right now is uncomfortable. Dallas doesn't feel like home anymore, but neither does here. I feel like I'm in a daze, and I'm just at a passover part of my life. Like, this is just an inbetween thing or something. I can't wait until I go to BYU. (If I get in, of course. That's my goal. ) Anyway......I think about Sean all the time, and pray for him, too. I'm trying to become the woman that will be the kind of wife that he deserves. I'm working hard for Sean. I love him. =]

On December 15th (now dubbed bomb-diggity day to the uber max) JESSE! is taking me to a concert. Brian'll be there with us, too. The concert will have some pretty good bands,but I am most excited about OWL CITY!!!! OMIGAWSH! I camnot wati! 27 days. The Fray will be there, too, and JESSE! really loves them. I enjoy their music, as well. Cannot wait. I LOVE OWL CITY! Adam Young is a musical genius. His music is so uplifting, happy, and wholesome. Definitely a tender mercy of the Lord. =D Anyway, that's all.

Happiness Is A Grateful Heart

This morning I went outside and sat on a bench, and said a prayer. I tried to make it a mostly grateful prayer. I think sometimes I am way too demanding of Heavenly Father and not grateful. In my prayer, I felt impressed to thank Him for my body. As a dancer, I use my body a LOT, and I need it in shape. I was really touched by the Spirit as I prayed and thanked God for my body. Having a body is the first step in becoming like Heavenly Father, which is my ultimate goal. I am so grateful for all of the wonderful things I can do with my body! I can dance beautifully with my body. =D I love my body.

Also, I'm doing great in Austin. I have friends here. I don't have a whole lot of time to do things with them because of how crazy life is when school and dance are coupled together. I miss my friends in Dallas, yes, but the homesickness is not as intense as it used to be. I don't think of Austin as "home" yet, and I don't think I ever will. Since I'm planning on leaving for college Fall of 2011, this feels like a stop in between homes. But I am enjoying it here. I love my studio, and how much better I'm getting. I love the young women in my ward, and the friends I'm making in my stake. Life is good. As Zach said, I was sent here for a reason. So I'll just keep being my positive self, and I'm sure I'll do some good while I'm learning from this experience.

Love Language

Today I figured out what my love language is. There are 5 of them: words of affirmation, physical touch, service, receiving/giving gifts, and quality time. My number 1 is quality time closely followed by words of affirmation. It was really hard for me to figure it out, because I'm sort of balanced. I've noticed this in the last few years. It's always hard for me to choose one thing or the other. I'm usually right in between. Sis Sitze (who is a quality time person) spent some time with me and helped me figure out what love language I speak.

I think it's important to know what love language I speak so that I know how I like to receive love. It's also very important to know what love language others speak so that when we want to show love, we can "speak" their language, as it were, and make love apparent. I want to make sure I understand this for when I'm married. Or really, in any relationship. I also want to make sure I know it for my children, because I want to make sure they know I love them.

A few things I've learned about myself in the past year or so: I like to receive gifts. =] Especially ones that took thought, planning, and time. When people ask me what I want, I lovingly tell them exactly what it is that I want from them. (See, that way I'm answering their question. Everyone likes to have their questions answered, right?)

I like for people to remember things that are important to me. i.e., my birthday, my favorite scripture story, what makes me happy. I like to remember people's birthdays. That probably goes back to liking when people remember mine. I just want people to know that I love them, and remembering them is one way that I show that. I like attention. I like to be the center of attention. Not usually of a big group. It's alright for me to be the center of attention of a big group. But usually, one-on-one is better. Like when a guy asks me to dance, and then doesn't look at me or talk to me, and I so ticked! Haha. I really like to be paid attention to. I like to do things that get me out of my comfort zone. I don't ever want to regret not taking a chance I could've taken, or wishing that I hadn't lived a certain way I did. I already have one big regret, and I don't want any more.

I like to work hard. Haha. Let me rephrase that. I like being able to say, at the end of the day, that I exhausted myself, and then go to sleep. I don't actually like sleeping, though. I just like to be rested. I like to spend time with my friends. That goes back to quality time, the number one way someone can show me that they love me. I like to have heart-to-hearts with people I love about spiritual things. I love getting different points of view.

I don't like to be criticized, but I like to know what to make better. I want to do what Pres Hinckley said, and always try to be better. I just don't like it when people tell me I'm doing something wrong. Well, to an extent. I like corrective criticism when I have the Holy Ghost and I can take it the right way. haha I like to talk to my mom. She is an amazing well of information and words of wisdom. She has lived through so much, and continues to grow right before my eyes.

I like good food. Haha. I like to be outside. I like jewelry, dressing up, and doing my hair. I like to get dirty, too. Hey, that goes back to being balanced, again. I like to take notes during things that make me learn (like EFY, EdWeek, General Conference) so that I can look back on those notes later and see things to pray for. I love Michael Buble's music with a passion, and Owl City music makes me happy almost as well as Michael's. =P I like the old style movies. The ones that are black and white, (color's good, too) with the singing and dancing and where women acted lady-like. Movies from the '40's. I like to be lady-like myself. I like young men to open my door for me. I like to give compliments and receive them. I like growing up, because the older I get the sooner the best part of eternity starts. =] I like writing in my journal. One of my most favorite feelings ever is the feel of the pages of a journal I wrote. I filled in all those pages with my story. It's a neat feeling. ^_^ And most of all, I love my Heavenly Father and my savior, Jesus Christ. I know that my life will continue to be blessed if I make them the center of my life, of all I do. I love living the gospel because I know that it brings true happiness and joy. And joy is what men and women are supposed to have. 2 Nephi 2:25. =] "Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have joy."