...it's november?!?!

needless to say, october was fabulous but flew by like a streaker on a football field.  it's okay though, cause so far november has been pretty beautiful too.

i am doing a project for school...  as part of my project i've been asking my close friends and family to tell me one truth about themselves, one reality that is a part of who they are.  i've had a variety of responses, but more on that later.  as i've asked for these i've thought about what my response would be.  this what i came up with:  i oftentimes feel inadequate for everything/everyone--with relationships, school, work, cycling, etc... i know i was feeling like that for the first month and a half of school--i felt, "why am i an english major? i am not good at this.  i'll never make it in the real world as an English major."  that was part of the reason i quit being a music major, too.

well, that is no way to live.  you cannot spend your whole life thinking you'll never be good enough at anything.  all you can do is perform to the best of your abilities and do all you can to bless others' lives.  President Uchtdorf confirmed this thought in the october 2011 general conference.  speaking of his experience training at an air base in Texas, his first time in the United States, he says,

At the time, Big Spring, despite its name, was a small, insignificant, and unknown place. And I often felt exactly the same way about myself—insignificant, unknown, and quite alone. Even so, I never once wondered if the Lord had forgotten me or if He would ever be able to find me there. I knew that it didn’t matter to Heavenly Father where I was, where I ranked with others in my pilot training class, or what my calling in the Church was. What mattered to Him was that I was doing the best I could, that my heart was inclined toward Him, and that I was willing to help those around me. I knew if I did the best I could, all would be well.

later on he continues...

Brothers and sisters, the most powerful Being in the universe is the Father of your spirit. He knows you. He loves you with a perfect love.  God sees you not only as a mortal being on a small planet who lives for a brief season—He sees you as His child. He sees you as the being you are capable and designed to become. He wants you to know that you matter to Him.

i know that that is true.

peace+love

Fahrenheit 451

it's far too hot outside to sit, walk, stand, or do anything for that matter.

so, i'm sitting in my air-conditioned house in a rocking chair reminiscing about recent events of life and listening to a.a. bondy.

today was a good sunday. it didn't start that way. i talked to my stake president this morning and he informed me that the 12 apostles have not made a call for me to serve yet. he feels confident it will happen this week. which means i will receive it the next week. and won't leave for a few months after that. i won't lie, this mission prep thing is not all rainbows and butterflies. there are times i feel extremely discouraged, unknowledgeable (which, ironically, isn't even a word) and unworthy. i often wonder what i'm getting myself into. it doesn't help that i'm impatient and stubborn.

then i had a missionary farewell and homecoming to attend.

at the farewell i was gently reminded why i decided to go on a mission in the first place.

at the homecoming i was gently reminded i will not be the amazing teacher on my mission. but the holy ghost will be.

what i learned from all this? i've just been selfish. my focus has been on my anxiety and my problems. not on preparing to teach the people i will come in contact with and relying on the spirit.

now i am recommitting to continue to love life and live it up but focus on the well-being of others and seeking the holy ghost as a constant companion in everything i do.

on the lighter side of things, more pictures from skydiving. apparently my mom took pictures while i was in the air, so enjoy...

sky so blue

a perfect landing (on our feet!)

post-jump hair

{also, virtual hug to whoever gets the reference in the post title}

peace+love

today's inspiration is...

...found in the scriptures.
i don't care what religion you are, this is solid doctrine everyone should try to live by:

Jacob 2:17 - "Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you." (i italicized them, that's not the way they are in the BoM)

i'm rich:

• i have a family
• working limbs
  
• a roof over my head
• food in my fridge

...and much more

so, i'm going to try to share what i can

and what would this post be without a song to inspire you to share a smile?

(this makes me chuckle on the inside...i'd love to see these guys live--all 11 of them!)

peace+love

i ain't sayin' she's a gold digger

apparently the powers that be at hotmail.com caught wind of the secret that i actually date guys for their money... you know those ads you get on the side of your screen? ya, mine says "Romance a millionaire: Date millionaire men who are looking for classy women. Join MeetingMillionaires for free. You deserve the best!"

1. The best day ever was i don't know..any day when my family is happy and kind to each other--probably the night last summer my family sat out on our deck laughing, talking, having a dance off, my brother telling the "city of north salt lake" to "live long and prosper" in his jammer .

2. My favorite meal of the day is breakfast because i feel like this encompasses all meals because if i could i would eat breakfast for every meal .

3. This weekend i get to see my dad and my grandpa and my mom and my sisters and my nephew and my brother and my friends and i don't even have to think about going to school on monday or doing homework cause it is SPRING BREAK! .

4. Never in my life have I ever had a bike that i didn't want to ride (virtual kiss on the cheek to whoever can name that song) .

5. The only thing better than thinking of nothing while listening to a good song is thinking of nothing while listening to a good song with bose headphones or speakers .

6. I could really do with some more sleep .

7. The most recent thing I bought myself was a dr. pepper .
peace+love

awkwaaaaaard

sacrament meeting in midway is always interesting...but sunday takes the cake.

after we sat down, my sister brooke turned and said, "that guy on the far right looks like elder holland." i looked up and said, "that's cause it is."
then the first youth speaker got up and said, "because i am nervous and i am tired i'm going to cut to the chase. Latter-Day Saints in Utah are prideful."
she then went on to explain that she did not consider herself a "utah mormon".
all the while, elder holland is sitting behind her on the stand.

remember this post? well, here is how i feel about the phrase "utah mormon". it is a horrible generalization that does not exist and an extremely hypocritical statement. there are prideful mormons in utah. there are humble mormons in utah. there are prideful mormons outside of utah. the are humble mormons outside of utah. there are prideful people of other faiths all over the world. there are humble people of other faiths all over the world. and that is the simple truth.
peace+love

go

see this movie...

seriously.
then ask yourself, am i a good person?
peace+love

better than susan boyle

last night i was talking to a friend about the changing process of another friendship...in the conclusion of our conversation he said,

"kelli, i am just a phone call away. seriously, if you ever need anything. i would go through hell to make sure you're okay. i really care about you."

that is how friendship should be. we should all be willing to go through hell for the people we care about. and eventually we should be willing to go through hell for any human being. because that is what Christ did. that is Christ-like charity. and we're all trying to be like Jesus.
is there anything i can do for you?

also, a new friend introduced me to this...it's fantastic and moving

peace+love

"I think there's just one kind of folks. Folks."

last night i crawled through a cave in which the floor was covered with guano...unsanitary? yes. spooky? yes (there were lots of bats). fun? most definitely.

i am reading To Kill A Mockingbird for the fourth time--Atticus is the most fascinating character. amongst twenty other things i admire about him, one that sticks out this time around is his patience. when Bob Ewell spits in his face and threatens him with his life, all Atticus has to say about the matter is, "I wish Bob Ewell wouldn't chew tobacco".
in sunday school we read this scripture: "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city." - Proverbs 16:32
Atticus is able to take a case of a black man's word against a white man's in a time when victory for the black man was unheard of, and keep the jury out for hours. But more importantly, he made the town see that Scout is right, "there's just one kind of folks. Folks." Atticus is mighty.
and mighty handsome...
peace+love