speechless

peace+love

my boys

wow...i didn't realized how behind i was on documenting my life here until i started looking through my pictures.

so now i will document 2 very happy, much needed reunions...christmas will come later.

meet michael and mark. my two best friends from the moment we all met 7 years ago.  really, 3 peas in a pod.  these boys were there waiting for me with ben and jerry's when my cat died.  we've laughed together a lot, and at least one of them and i have cried together a lot (for his sake i won't tell who).  and after 4 years of not being all together in the same room i discovered i still love them just as much as i did when i saw them everyday.

and sam, sammy baby flew home from hell (grad school) for the holidays.  we went to church, completely stuffed our faces all day long, then sam entertained mom, brookie, and i with his life stories.

heaven knows how much i love this man and his cat sweater...i know you can't see it, but behind that poster his sweater says "real men admit they love cats".  ain't it the truth, sam taylor?  my life is happier with you in it.

and more happiness...i woke up to snow falling fiercely outside my window this morning, and it still has not ceased.  i love that i can walk around outside at 11 p.m. and have no need of light...truly a winter wonderland.

christmas to come...

peace+love

in the bleak midwinter

last night i went to the (sold out) lower lights concert at the salt lake masonic temple.  stand by tickets--arriving early and being patient sure pays off.  awesome venue.  really, coolest venue ever.  what a fabulous way to get into the christmas spirit.
and they played my favorite christmas song...in the bleak midwinter.  i know i've turned into such a softie, but the last verse always gets me choked up...

what can i give him,  poor as i am?

if i were a shepherd, i would bring a lamb,

if i were a wise man, i would do my part;

yet what can i give him?  give my heart.

the lower lights sang such a beautiful rendition, but it's not on youtube (just buy the album. you won't regret it), so i will share another beautiful rendition...

or you can listen to the lower lights version here.
peace+love

o come, o come, emmanuel

i have big, important news for everyone...jesus was born.  plus, i couldn't handle every time i went to my blog page to see who has updated seeing that sick nasty picture of the tarantula hawk.  so instead, i will share with you this beautiful song to help you get into the christmas spirit.

what will you give to the savior this christmas?

peace+love

the world as i see it...

for one of my bajillion english classes this semester i was asked to prepare a presentation on my definition of beauty.  i've actually thought about this a lot, because when i am walking or hiking or cycling or doing something where i can just ponder and take in my surroundings, i often find myself overcome with wonder at how beautiful the earth and life and God's plan are.  we are all born to a mother and father.  we came into this life as canvases waiting to be made into something meaningful.  as our lives play out, the artist of our lives is our choices, our experiences, trials, and the lessons we learn.  each canvas is unique--there are no 2 identical paintings.  to illustrate this point, i asked some friends and family to tell me something real about themselves that makes them who they are, and made this video:

for me, this is what makes life and the earth so beautiful: the fact that we are all so different, yet we all have the same divine nature.  we are all children and spiritual creations of the same Heavenly Father.  for some of us, our lives experiences have been challenging, sad, or difficult to bear.  But no matter how tiresome our experiences, every single person who has lived, is living, or will ever live, is accounted for under the Atoning sacrifice of our Savior.  and that is beautiful...

...and in case you were wondering, i got an "a" on the project.
peace+love