what makes the irish heart beat...

i still remember the day i found out van morrison isn't black.

pretty much all my memories of him consist of riding in the car in the middle of the night through southern utah to get to las vegas or orderville.  i was never good at sleeping in cars, or anywhere besides my own bed for that matter,  so i'd usually be the only other person awake besides my mom.  she would listen to either van morrison or gladys knight and i would look out the car window at the moon and star scattered night sky.  i remember in the bush off to the side of the road i'd look for the beady reflections of deer eyes, and dead rodents in the median.  mmm, those were the simpler days.

i think i just always assumed he was black because the majority of my mom's favorite singers are, plus add to that his rich tone, amazing improv skills, gorgeous interpretation of this, my favorite jazz song,...

i don't remember how exactly it came up...but i think the conversation went something like this...
"i love van morrison's voice.  i just find it kind of ironic and funny that a black guy is singing irish jigs."
"kelli, van morrison is white."
"what?!?"

i mean, i guess it's cool. i don't really have anything against white guys...

peace+love

do you realize that you have the most beautiful face?

yesterday i hiked up squaw peak.  it was so beautiful.  so green.  the view from the top was incredible.  then hiking down it was all the same surroundings but looked so different.  we could barely recognize the cliff we'd hiked up to from the bottom.  it made me think… we are all individuals who see things so differently.  "beauty is in the eye of the beholder".  one thing viewed from 50 different angles has 50 different perspectives.  

but peace comes from understanding.  it comes from communication.  when we speak our views, then LISTEN, that is when we will achieve peace.  we shouldn't have to try and be anyone else but ourselves, but we should try to put ourselves in others shoes.

it applies in all aspects of life, really.  school, work, relationships.  maybe everyone else had already thought about that so this is lame and nothing new, but it was the lesson i needed to learn yesterday.

p.s. subject reference here for those who don't know it.

peace+love

the fall

coming home from a mission and adjusting to the "real world" is an interesting experience...my life's circumstances make it even more interesting. 
today i was given about 5 minutes to make an important life decision. i really hope i made the right one.

then, i got to go be one with the earth.  okay, maybe it wasn't the most spiritual experience i've had in nature (impossible when you've got cousin sammie screaming about snakes every 5 minutes), but i've got to say, there is nothing that brings me more peace of mind and makes me feel more "at home" than getting away from civilization for a few minutes and pondering on the beauties of the earth.

hello, nature...it's good to be back.

peace+love

i love my life...

...and all you people in it.

i'm only 21 and have experienced some pretty amazing things:
-singing "forever in blue jeans" on PCTV at the Neil Diamond concert with my best friend when i was 15
-traded a 5 buck pizza for Cold Stone with my little sister and her friend. i'm pretty sure the workers just thought they were cute.
-watched an owl take off in flight while driving in the Uinta's at night
-watched a moose running next to the car on the same drive

-gone skydiving

-backpacked europe

-witnessed nature at it's finest aka rock climbing/zion/hiking

-sung "desperado" with my best friend in front of half our high school

-crossed 22 things off my bucket list of 110

-hiked to the highest point in utah

-completed a triathlon

-completed 2 1/2 marathons

-rode my bike 448 miles through one of the most beautiful areas in this country

-watched a school come together to provide a dinner for 140 homeless people

-experienced making real music.

-lived in the greatest city in utah (cedar! if you were wondering)

-entered the temple and received my endowment

-raised $211 for charity:water thanks to YOU!

i could go on. i have a family who loves me and friends who inspire me to be a better person everyday. i lead a very privileged life. i attribute that completely to my heavenly father.

i've also made mistakes and done some really dumb things and had heartaches and hard times. but that is why Jesus Christ atoned for our sins our pains, making it possible to become perfect through Him and giving Him the chance to comfort us when we need it most. i have experienced the healing power of the atonement first hand, and that is why i am so excited to spend the next 18 months telling the people of santiago, chile about this "good news". i'm also very much looking forward to the next 21 years and (hopefully) more in this beautiful world.

p.s. thanks ali and brookie for the birthday shout-outs. i sure love you both. also, brooke, i love that song, so thank you for pointing out those lyrics so i'd actually think of them--

"hold on to what you believe in the light, when the darkness has robbed you of all of your sight."

i'll do my best.

peace+love

the gift that carries on...

THE VOICE PROJECT

i've been so excited to share this with you all since i heard about it. each and every cover is fabulous. the acholi women are inspirational. read about the movement. the power of music to heal, move, and promote peace is amazing.
i feel like embedding all of these videos would be a little overload, so click the header and it will take you to all of them. but, for good measure, here are a couple favorites...

this is one of my favorite songs from the edward sharpe album and i'm slightly obsessed with this cover--makes me want to live in southern california and play music all day.

Dawes » Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros from The Voice Project on Vimeo.

and here's a better than the original (in my opinion)

Gulu Women's Choir » Joe Purdy from The Voice Project on Vimeo.

if only i could whistle like andrew bird...he's such a beautiful musician

Andrew Bird » Cass McCombs from The Voice Project on Vimeo.

i love the birds in the background

Priscilla Ahn » Benji Hughes from The Voice Project on Vimeo.

peace+love