"the dearest freshness deep down things"

So, I recognize that I have been very happy-go-lucky recently and have written a whole bunch of sappy posts about how great my life is.

I guess this doesn't make for the best reading, eh?

Maybe I should be more edgy, more cynical, more everything, and really, I try. But sometimes I just want to tell the world how great my life is. I don't think that's a bad thing.

But I can write about things with a little more substance.

Last night, I listened to a talk by Jeffery R. Holland entitled Safety for the Soul. In this talk, Elder Holland bares a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon and its truth. He sites a number of specific evidences to support his position of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, but the strongest evidence he has is by far his own testimony.

My favorite moment from this talk is this:

"I ask that my testimony of the Book of Mormon and all that it implies, given today under my own oath and office, be recorded by men on earth and angels in heaven. I hope I have a few years left in my “last days,” but whether I do or do not, I want it absolutely clear when I stand before the judgment bar of God that I declared to the world, in the most straightforward language I could summon, that the Book of Mormon is true, that it came forth the way Joseph said it came forth and was given to bring happiness and hope to the faithful in the travail of the latter days."

I feel like I should contribute my own testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. 

I know it's true. I've read it, I've prayed about it, and I have felt that it is true. How can it not be? The book is full of stories and messages that encourage me at every moment, of every day, to be a better person. It tells me to sacrifice, to love my fellow man, and to lean on my Savior in all situations. While reading that book, I find answers to my questions, I find peace in my trials, and more than anything I find myself one step closer to understanding and knowing my Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ. 

I have seen lives changes from this book, and most importantly, I have seen my life change from this book. I can recall times when I have read less from this book, and I know that those are the times when I have been living less, not having the full life I could be having. But when I read, when I study the verses and chapters, I know I can be better. I know I am already better. 

When I have children, they will know this book. They will be raised, like I was, to read this book every day and grow from it every day. 

I'm sorry if any of my readers are uncomfortable with religion or maybe with Mormons specifically, but hopefully this blog is a testament from someone who is just a typical girl, perfectly ordinary in every way, that the Book of Mormon makes anyone who reads it extraordinary. I love this book and this gospel. It will carry me through the challenges I face now, and the challenges I am one day sure to face.

How's that for deep? :)

Be-lated Thanksgiving:

I figure, why not show what I'm grateful for after Thanksgiving?

That way I can be more self-righteous and prove that I show my gratitude on days other than Thanksgiving.

Plus, I've been too busy to post.

Because this has been the BEST THANKSGIVING BREAK EVER!

But anyway, here it is:

WHAT I AM GRATEFUL FOR IN THIS EXACT MOMENT:


1. Food. Specifically rainbow J-ELLO, smoked turkey, and delicious mashed potatoes.

2. No School. 'Nuff said.

3.The fact that Harry Potter has another movie coming out, because the one I saw last night was L-A-M-E. Sorry friends, I know a lot of you liked the movie, but really, it was half the book, half the movie. They could have done all of that in ninety minutes. I mean, and maybe it followed the book almost perfectly, but this would have been time for a little deviation. Adaptation doesn't mean translation (thank you film & lit class). Oh, and I still think Harry needs a few more acting classes, or maybe just more of a personality. Maybe that's what the whole film was lacking, personality. Here's crossing my fingers for the last one!

4. Cell phones that allow me to communicate with family and friends who are not near me.

5. The gospel. As always.

6. And this kid:

Ohhhhh, he makes me so happy :) and so grateful!

...

So, I admit it.
There are times when I read my own blog.
I know, it's a little sad.
I mean, who actually reads their own blog?
But don't worry; it's not like I am sitting there reading my blog, thinking "Oh my gosh, I am so BRILLIANT! How do I not have an award of some kind by now?"

False.
I just read it to edit, and do a little self-reflecting.
This time, while reading, I noticed a particular habit of mine that I never noticed before.

I LOVE ELLIPSIS.

No kidding, I use them all the time. I just read through some of my posts, and I bet I have over twenty-five ellipsis in just these few posts.

Now you may be wondering a couple things:

1. What are ellipsis?
 According to dictionary.com: 

Printing . a mark or marks as ——, …, or * * *, to indicate an omission or suppression of letters or words.

2. Why is this significant?
I'm not quite sure. Maybe it means that I like to hold things back from the audience. I like to pique your interest by adding an ominous "..." to every sentence I have. Or maybe I am afraid of revealing my whole self to the audience, and hide my real feelings behind my "...." Or, maybe I just can't come up with enough to say, so I make up for it with "..."; It hides my inner lack of creativity. Or, maybe it's an indication of my own thought process, how there are significant pauses in almost every thought I have. Does it mean I'm stupid?!

Okay, I recognize that I am taking this a bit far. But honestly, doesn't our writing style reflect a little bit of who we are? Especially for an English major, like me?

What are your grammatical habits? Maybe it's boring to you, but I can't help but wonder if there isn't something hidden behind every dotted "i" or crossed "t".

Who knows...

When I Stumble, I Fall...

Hello World,

I am sick.
Very sick.
Not throw-up sick.
I probably could be throw-up sick, but I hate throwing up, so I am NOT throw-up sick.
I think this will last 24 hours.
CORRECTION: It can only last 24 hours.
Why?
Because I have too much to do to waste time being sick.

Although, there are some advantages to being sick...
Like being able to write this blog entry.

Yay!

So, I thought I would ramble on here for awhile before returning to Hulu, the saving-grace of all sick people.

Here are a few pent-up thoughts:

1. Have you ever been to StumbleUpon? It's FANTASTIC. Really, if you are like me at all then you would love this site. Basically, you check off a list of things you are interested in, and then click a button that takes you to random places on the internet that have to do with things you like. It is pretty awesome, and practical. I use it for my job, actually. My job asks me to be well informed on technology news, so I just clicked a whole bunch of computer and technology topics, and BAM, it takes me there! I love it. And you can put different settings on to protect you from the obscene things on the internet.

Check it out, friends, I'm betting you'll like it.

2. I hate research papers. Okay, not completely, but I am seriously having trouble writing this paper about the role of Grandma in The American Dream. Not only does scholarship on Edward Albee suck, but my time restraints are starting to hurt. And being sick doesn't help.

I also need to do a research paper on my great-great grandmother Emma. And I need my mom to send me the material (HINT, HINT).

3. There is one plus side to being sick. This plus side is the simple facts that certain parties are oh-so-very kind to you when you are sick. Not that they aren't kind to you all the time, but they certainly do go the extra ten miles when your stomach feels like it's kicking you repeatedly with the sharp edge of a butterfly knife.

Oh heck, I'm tired of being vague.

Travis, the boyfriend, has been particularly marvelous during my illness.

He has:
-stopped by my house twice, despite a full schedule, and is coming by later
-offered to make me food, multiple times, although the nature of my illness has forced me to say no
-bought me flowers to make me feel better (three pink and cream gerbera daisies) :]
-bought me two cans of ginger ale, in hopes of calming the beast
-is picking up a book for me from the library
-given me many compliments (which is especially significant in light of the next one...)
-not thrown up at the site of my incredibly disheveled and un-showered state.

What more could a girl ask for?
I guess being sick isn't all that bad.

Sorry for the sappy Dad, but I gotta give props.

4. Life is so good right now, how did I get so lucky? I just keep on thinking back towards just a couple of months ago, when everything was so bad and I was negative about life. Well, not anymore! Heavenly Father has blessed me, and I am going to live it up! Wooooooooooot!

The Only Exception...

I've gotten sentimental recently, but this music video rocks.
 


Like I said, I've gotten sentimental. Don't worry too much World, I'm sure my cynicism is still buried somewhere beneath all of this fluff. But I think I'll be optimistic for a while.

White Mormon Female from the city of Charlotte, North Carolina

For my Multicultural Education class we are asked to gather three artifacts that help define our cultural background.

Because music can not only define a culture, but ourselves, I have decided to use three songs as my artifacts.

1: Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynard

 "Sweet Home Alabama" represents my cultural background because it refers to my Southern heritage. While I am not from Alabama myself, this song has come to be an anthem of the entire South, to which I feel a great connection. I feel like the South retains its own culture even after centuries have passed since the Civil War. The most notable difference was probably in my education. In the South, there are different elements emphasized, especially in History and English classes. Also, this song is notoriously "white" in nature, which definitely attests to my culture as a Caucasian female. 

2: Put On by Young Jeezy ft. Kanye West

"Put On" represents my culture because I come from the city of Charlotte. I was in the minority of both my middle and high school. Growing up a member of the national majority, but a local minority had a huge impact on my cultural heritage. In terms of education, I grew up with generally minority teachers, which means I experienced different teaching and discipline styles, and had different connections with my teachers. I also think I have a different perspective on teaching. If I believed all high schools were like the ones I observed in my 276R class then I would be in for a surprise later in my profession. I know what real discipline problems are; I've seen fights, I've seen blood in hallways, I've seen students yell at teachers, I've seen girls pull out weave. Because I went to my high school, I'm not under any illusions about perfect students or classrooms. I have been changed by growing up in the city. And really, I'm grateful for it. It makes me understand a little better.

3: Come Thou Fount by Sufjan Stevens

"Come Thou Fount" represents my culture because it is a very popular song in the LDS church. I grew up as a Mormon. This religion has shaped my whole life, my whole personality. The morals I have lived by since birth determined where I spent my time, who were my friends, and what I did. I would be a completely different person without the church! And, to be honest, the church has its own culture that I have always been a part of. I did, however, not choose the Mormon Tabernacle Choir version of "Come Thou Fount." I chose the Sufjan Stevens version instead because it indicates that I didn't grow up around a ton of Mormons, so I am a little different. Also, Sufjan Stevens kind of has an Indie feel about them, which is a part of my cultural background. There is a certain white culture, that really shaped what I like and do. Here is a cool site that kind of explores this white culture.

There you go friends! My culture in three songs.