Everything is not what it seems.

We all make assumptions. It's a normal thing, and we do it all the time. We do it when we read books, when we see people walking down the streets, in classes, at church, at home. Everywhere we go, everyone we see. We are bound to assume things, but I don't think that is wrong. The wrong thing in my eyes is spreading what you assume. Especially if it is harsh to the other persons reputation. The fact is all we know about people is what's on the outside.
"A ‎15 year old girl holds her 1 year old son. People call her a slut. No one knows she was raped at 13. People call a girl fat. No one knows she has a serious disease which causes her to be overweight. People call an old man ugly. No one knows he had a serious injury to his face while fighting for our country during the vietnam war."

You don't know what anyone is going through. How could you possibly know unless you have heard straight from there own lips. You can't believe gossip cause anyone can make that up. You can't believe what you see, because looks can be decieveing.You never know what anyones going through. Even if you do know the story you have no way of knowing how they felt, you never know what they experienced until you go through it yourself. 

Recently I read a childrens book called Mr. Peabody's apples" and it really taught me a lot. The story is about a man who lived in a small town. He was a teacher and a baseball coach and everyone loves him. One day a boy see's him take an apple from a fruit stand, and walk away with out paying. Well it spreads and pretty soon the whole town knows. Well Mr. Peabody finds out through a small boy named Billy who has always looked up to him. Mr. Peabody takes Billy to the fruit stand to talk to the owner, and Billy learns that Mr. Peabody pays for his apples in advance. Billy runs off to tell the boy who stated the rumor. That boys name was Tim. Tim the rushes over to Mr. Peabody's to apologize. When Tim gets there Mr. Peabody tells him to meet him at the field with a pillow. When they get there Mr. Peabody cuts open the pillow and has Tim shake out all the feathers. Tim asks "that's all I have to do for your forgiveness?" Mr. Peabody says "no. Now pick them all up." Mr. Peabody then explains that the feathers are like the people who have heard that rumor and it is nearly impossible to clean up the mess. Mr. Peabody says "next time don't be so quick to judge someone and remember the power of your words."
Our words are strong and what we say can spread faster then a wild fire. Part of a quote I love is
" For attractive lips,
Speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes,
Seek out the good in people."-Audrey Hepburn
In my opinion there is always good in people, you just have to be willing to find it. Also don't spread things. Even if you know for a fact it's true. It's not your place to tell. If you make an assumption ask the person, because things aren't always what they seem.

Trust.

trust - the trait of believing in the honesty and reliability of others

"It takes years years to build, and a few seconds to destroy"

Trusting, and being trusted. It happens to all of us we all trust in someone, and maybe we are all trusted by atleast someone.. But trust can hurt. You can be the one being hurt or the one doing the hurting. And I'm sure well all of done both of those too. Sometimes it's by mistake, and maybe even sometimes on purpose, but no matter what it's still wrong. Like Bob Marley said
"The truth is, everyone is going to hurt you. You just got to find the ones worth suffering for."
In my life I have found a handful of people worth suffering for. My family. The fact is they have hurt me, and I have hurt them. But your family is always gonna love you no matter what, and your gonna love them. Your family is the one's who will unintentionally hurt you. It's your friends you've gotta watch out for. In high school many kids live off drama. It's the fuel that keeps them going and it's sickening. I'm not saying that I've never done this because I have. I've listened too it and participated in it, and it's not right. It hurts everyone and including yourself. We have all learned that it's wrong to judge people, and in reality none of us want to be judged either. Have you ever noticed that the people who no one judges are the ones not judging anyone else?? I have, and I am often jealous of them. We need to learn to just do our own thing. Dress how we want, act how we want, do what we want, and not care what other people think. We have to learn to rely on ourselves and realize that we don't need to share our secrets, we can but we can also deal with it on our own. We need to learn that if someone trust you with a secret... Keep it that way. It is not something you should be sharing because it's not yours to share. If that person wants others to know, they will tell them. But it can be hard to keep a secret, it's how most of us our. We can't keep things inside we have an itch to tell someone, but we have to learn to control that sensation to scratch! Often times we trade gossip for popularity, but to me it's not worth it. I don't want to be known as the girl with all the dirt, I want to be that girl that anyone can come to for anything. Someone reliable for other people that they know there secret is safe with. I wanna be someone who is there when you need a friend. I don't want to fall in the horrible lies of gossip (including spreading or listening.) I wanna be a sweet girl, one you will want to confide and trust in. I want to say sorry when it is necessary, and always forgive. When I look back on my life from this point on I don't want there to be any regrets. I want to take a risk and trust, and I want to be trusted.

The Few. The Proud. The Marines.

"From the halls of Montezuma To the shores of Tripoli, we fight our country's battles In the air, on land, and sea. First to fight for right and freedom, And too keep our honor clean, We are proud to claim the title Of United States Marine."

My friend/older brother, is leaving for the USMC (United States Marine Corps). I am really going to miss him and his great advice.
Being apart of the marines is an honorable thing. If you join you are serving and protecting this country. There are also some good benefits that come from being a marine, but it is also a scary thought. You are laying your life on the line for other people, you never know what will happen to you, or what will happen standing right next to you. I was reading through a book, its about life as a marine...  I few qoutes i liked from this book are

"After surviving a walk through fire, there is little else that can burn."

"In these hands, i have found the courage i need. And they will clear my way, NO MATTER WHERE I GO."

"The change is complete. We who camee to the United States Marine Corps in search of self have replaced confusion with meaning. All that was torn is whole again. We stand in formation as warriors proud and loyal. From here, we go with purpose. And we go as family. We have not yet reached a destination, but we have chosen a path, and that is the start. We have proven to ourselves that we can do more than any of us thought possible, and we know this is our tiem to change the world. This is our time to change the world. This is our Marine Corps. This is our calling. In shining moment, everything is possible, yet nothing is written. Prehaps that is the most exicting thing of all."

Soon Austin will be leaving for boot camp, boot camp last for 13 weeks. The 1st-4th week he will be learning about honor, courage, and commitment. The 5th-9th week recruits work on there combat skills, and Markman ship training. The 10th-13th week recruits combat and have basic warrior training. They also endure something called the crucible. Which i believe is the tests of all tests. It is a 54 hour test of endurance, and hash obsitcles. If that task is completed then he will atttend the Eagle, Globe and Anchor ceremony. He will return home for 10 well deserved days, and who knows what will happen form there.

Something it also says in the book is "If your young person is strong eenough to even consider such a noble path, you can already be proud" and i am proud of him..

"PROUD TO BELONG
For as long as our nation has stood, it has been the United States Marine Corps that has served as its sharpened spear. And from the moment brave souls first donned the Marine blue, there has been a simple oath: These few would stand side by side, no matter whatt. And we have. Together, we have moved mountain. Defended our nation. And when necessary defeneded our own. For more than two centuries now, a simple proies of unconditional togetherness ahs bonded those who seek a pure and noble destiny. the term for it is Semper Fidelis. Taken from the ancient Latin, it means 'Always Faithful.' This is why there are no ex-Marines. Only former Marines. Only warriors who have passed the torch."

Aust thanks for being such a good example to me. Love you like a Brother and I will miss you tons!

We played bigger or better and no one would take our stuff

All the little imperfections. . .

I'm not prefect, but neither is anyone else. We all screw up every now and then sometimes it's big, and sometimes it's little. But that doesn't change the fact that we screw up. Sometimes when we mess up we can hurt people we care about. I have done this a countless number of times. I can't take back the things I did but I can sincerely apologize. So if I have ever hurt you in anyway....just know that I am so sorry for what I did and I hope one day you'll find in your heart that you'll be able to forgive me.
Not only have I hurt people, but I've also been on the other side and been hurt before, and it hasn't always been easy to forgive, but it's something required of us by God. So I always try my hardest to do so.
When you forgive someone, you need to forgive them fully. You can't tell them they are forgiven and hold grudges. That will fix nothing. So dont forgive someone until you are ready. Other wise in my eyes it's pointless
Usually the hardest person to forgive is ourselves. Our mistakes are constantly in back of our mind. But that's only a bad thing if we let them bring us down. We all We all make mistakes sometimes but that doesn't make us bad people. It just means that when we fall down we need to get back up and try again no matter how many times we fall. Thats what makes us who we are. How hard we try to fix our mistakes.
We need to learn to look over peoples little imperfections and learn to look at what they have over come and what they are over coming. Trials are what makes each of us stronger, and all of our trials are different. And there is no way that you can possibly understand or feel what someone is going through. We all hurt and we all deal with that hurt a little different then everyone else. Some of us cry, some of us laugh, some of us inflict physical pain because it's easier to deal with then emotional, some of us get up and get physically active. We are all different and that isn't a bad thing.. There is just one thing we all need to do the same.. Forgive and forget, and say sorry when ever it is needed.

Last Summer...(:

Last summer i was a nanny for three little boys, and i loved them. i would wake up everyday at seven and go to baby sit till 1 in the afternoon. We all know little boys, and how if they get board they get into trouble. So instead of sitting around all day and watching t.v. i would take them to do things. I would take them hiking, to waterfalls, swimming, we would play water games in the backyard, picnics for lunch, and other things like that. They loved me and i loved them. In my eyes it was one of the most perfect ways to spend summer. i love kids and getting to be with 3 everyday was sometimes hard, but usually rewarding. Let me tell you about these 3 little boys that have been such a good example to me.

Luke: He is 8 years old, maybe nine now. He is a very smart good, it amazes me how much he knows. He can tell you almost anything you need to know about a car, and he is good at working with wood. He's favorite team is the San Deigo Chargers, and he wasnt too happy when LaDainian Tomlinson switched teams. Luke plays baseball, but likes all sports. He loves to go camping, hiking, dirt biknig, four-wheeling, fishing, and almost anything out doors. But he also enjoys watching t.v., playing computer games, or playing the play station. Sometimes he fights with his two younger brothers, but i consider him the peace maker. One of his best friends is my neighbor Cody. I love watching them play. They always are out having fun. Luke was always the one who listened to me the best. probably because he was the oldest. His two younger brothers look up to him very much and they'd always get uspet when he had to go to something like scouts. Usually i had to distract them so he could escape. It was sometimes a pain, but it was cute that they didnt want him to leave that bad.

Landon: He is 6 years old, and he has been through alot. A few years ago Landon fell off a fence and broke his arm. As if that wasnt hard enough, they then realized he had developed compartmental disease. This means that all the muscle in his arm was dying and if they didnt preform surgrey it would spead. During this surgery they went in and removed all the muscle form his arm, he was told that he wouldnt be able to move it again. His mom once told me a story of what happened before one of the many surgeries he has had to have. His mom was scared and she asked  him if he was scared and he said something along the lines of  "No, because i know heavenly father will keep me safe." It really is true that children are like little angels. Through the many surgeries Landon has made alot of progress. he can now wiggle his fingers, which is truely a miracle. Even though this little guy doesnt have full movement of his hand/arm he still does things he did before. He still loves to ride his bike, play baseball, he loves video games, and anything else like a normal little boy. He has been a huge example to me. i hope i have been one for him.

Logan: He is the youngest, 4 years old i believe. Logan is a little stinker but he loves me. He is the one i would spend most my time with. He loved playing nintendo with me or playing on the tramp. Sometimes he could be a real turd, but i still loved being with him. as weird as it sounds i could honestly consider him one of my best friends. i would always have fun with him!! He loves frooties, and bubble gum. so when ever he was out of control i told him if he was good for hte rest of the week i would get him one for a treat. Then for the rest of the week he would listen to me. I felt so bad one day Logan hit me, and i told his mom. That night he had to sit in time out for along time until he said he wouldnt hit me again, but he never did hit me again. Landon and him were usually the trouble makers who go into fights, but usually i could control them. USUALLY ha ha. It was so sad one day i came to baby sit thiem and Logan had a huge burn going across the check. He didnt know that curling irons were hot and he stuck it on his face. it was so so sad. but i love that little boy.

i had so many fun adventures with them, and i miss seeing them everyday, they always made my day. i miss them.

Work. Work. Work.

Recently i have started my first job, and i love it. I work at a place in Orem, UT called cooks green house. It is such a relaxing enviorment even though we are also very busy. I have made many friends their and i love my bosses... It is a family bussiness. Grandma and Grandpa started and own the place and  all of the sons and a few of the daughters help run it. They are all very smart and know eveyrthing about flowers/ gardening. it is a very beautiful place to work because of all the amazing flowers. I usually am planting things or working on the cash register. i like planting things a little better because i dont know much about flowers yet and i dont get asked questions back there.
I man in my ward named Tony Cook is how i got the job. i love Tony. We share the same birthday so we consider each other birthday buddies. He is always so nice to me and i owe him big time for this job opportunity.

The people i usually am put to work with are Derek, Austin, or Jessica. I adore all three of them!! Aust and Derek are fun to hang with, and Jess and i get along so great. Jess and I both find our bosses/managers attractive in atleast one way of more. They are all so nice to me and help me out when i need it. Everyone there seems to get along great. I love the people and the enviorment. There is also a lady there who works with us. her name is Maria. She speaks little engilish and when we work together she tries to teach me some spanish. I love it. i dont remember or learn much but its still fun.

Alot of people dont like work, but my first experience has been great

Today someone talked to me about working in general, and he said "If you love the work you do then you won't work a single day in your life." and its true. we have the power to have a good attitude about work, and i always try to. But he said if you have a good attitude and you show passion in what you do then people will notice, and they will come back to your work. Not just for the stuff there, but even just to see you. you may not be the smartest person around but if you try your hardsest, and be the best you can then people are going to notice. I now believe that with a good attitude you will do well in the work place, no matter where it is.

I LOVE WORKING AT COOKS GREEN HOUSE!!!! 

Caitlyn Lee

This is my best friend Caitlyn. She is also called cait, Caitie, and Lou(just like me). I have known her for five years, and she has always been a good friend of mine. i remember one night in the middle of spring we pretended it was halloween. we got all dressed up and went trick-or-treating in my neighborhood. everyone got a good kick out of it. i love days like that. one of my favorite times was when we danced in the rain.. it was by far one of my favorite memories. We've had many fun times together, and have been through many trials together as well. Caitlyn is beautiful, and she has always had a boy friend. I have always been a little jealous of her that boys come to her that easy! She has always stood up for me, and been there when i need her. I am ashamed to say that I haven't always been like that for her. Im grateful that even i wasnt always there for her she is still forgiving and willing to be my friend. There have been counteless times that she has talked to me while i cried and i know that i can go to her whenever i need her. she is always gonna be there for me. Who knows what the future will bring but i know i can rely on her. and i hope she knows that she can rely on me too. i love her.

Why..

A few nights ago a girl from my school shot herself.. It has been the 3rd death at my school this year, and the second scuicide. It's made me realize how important each individual person is to someone else, and how fragile life really is. We can't be rude or judgemental of people because you never know what someone is going through. It could be the boy struggling while his parents get a divorce, an girl who isn't eating cause she thinks she is fat, or a girl contemplating scuicide. You have to be careful what you say to and about others because it could be the last thing you say to them. Death of one person can effect the lived of many!!! For example the girl I'm taking about. I dint even know her and yet what has happened to her has effected my life majorly!! It's a shame that someone could hurt that bad and no one even notice. It reminds me of rascal flatts song why:


It must've been in a place so dark you couldn't feel the light
Reachin' for you through that stormy cloud
Now here we are gathered in our little hometown
This can't be the way you meant to draw a crowd

Oh, why? That's what I keep askin'
Was there anything I could have said or done?
Oh, I had no clue you were masking
A troubled soul, God only knows what went wrong
And why you'd leave the stage in the middle of a song

Now in my mind I keep you frozen as a seventeen year old
Roundin' third to score the winning run
You always played with passion no matter what the game
When you took the stage, you shined just like the sun

Oh, why? That's what I keep askin'
And was there anything I could have said or done?
Oh, I had no clue you were masking
A troubled soul, oh, God only knows what went wrong
And why you'd leave the stage in the middle of a song

Now the oak trees are swayin' in the early autumn breeze
The golden sun is shining on my face
The tangled thoughts I hear a mockingbird sing
This old world really ain't that bad a place

Oh, why? There's no comprehending
And who am I to try to judge or explain?
Oh, but I do have one burning question
Who told you life wasn't worth the fight?
They were wrong, they lied, and now you're gone, and we cried

'Cause it's not like you to walk away in the middle of a song
Your beautiful song, your absolutely beautiful song

...well r.i.p jade little. Even though I don't know you personally I know you will be missed!!

I've had many people walk into my life and then walk out, but they have all been good examples to me. Of course I'm sad when they leave. How could i not be when they've hade such a big effect on me. Often times I would become depressed and not want to continue on. Then I found this quote:

"When people walk away from you, let them go. Your destiny is never tied to anyone who leaves. It doesn't mean they are bad people... It just means their part in your story is over"

It made me realize that I don't really NEED anyone except for myself and my savior (Jesus Christ). I do believe that those people came into my life for a reason, but when they leave I've learned my lesson from them. So instead if being sad I try to get on my knees and thank God for sending those people into my life.       

School bleh

"The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet."-Aristotle

School.. Bleh it can be such a drag sometimes, but sometimes i also love it. Class can be boring but it can be way cool too. Right now I'm taking American sign language!! I love that class the teacher is actually deaf, but im learning lots and I'm learning well. My least favorite class is English. English has always been one of my worst subjects!! And it doesnt help that i hate my teacher. She always accuses me of cheating and i don't cheat!!
Anyways the purpose of this post is to recognize not only the importance of school, but taking every opportunity we have to learn something new. Like the quote says, learning everything can be hard, take alot of work, and often times very confusing!! But if we hang in there and keep trying it'll be worth it in the end. Knowledge is something that is very important. It'll help you excel in life and it's also the only thing I believe we can take with us when we die. In my eyes you have to go to school anyway. So why not make the most of it and learn as much as possible. School isn't a bad thing, but it's not always fun. It is there for your benefit though.
So go to school and receive a good education!!

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift!
"I really don't think life is about the I-could-have-beens. Life is only about the I-tried-to-do. I don't mind the failure but I can't imagine that I'd forgive myself if I didn't try"

I love her!! I seem to always find a way to relate her songs to my life. In my eyes she is one of the most talented people ever!! This is her speak now prologue and it is truly amazing:

" ‘Speak now or forever hold your peace,’ the words said by preachers at the end of wedding ceremonies all over the world, right before the vows. It’s a last chance for protest, a moment that makes everyone’s heart race, and a moment I’ve always been strangely fascinated by. So many fantasise about bursting into a church, saying what they’d kept inside for years like in the movies. In real life, it rarely happens.

Real life is a funny thing, you know. In real life, saying the right thing at the right moment is beyond crucial. So crucial, in fact, that most of us start to hesitate, for fear of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. But lately what I’ve begun to fear more than that is letting the moment pass without saying anything.

I think most of us fear reaching the end of our life, and looking back regretting the moments we didn’t speak up. When we didn’t say ‘I love you.’ When we should’ve said ‘I’m sorry.’ When we didn’t stand up for ourselves or someone who needed help.

These songs are made up of words I didn’t say when the moment was right in front of me. There songs are open letters. Each is written with a specific person in mind, telling them what I meant to tell them in person. To the beautiful boy whose heart I broke in December. To my first love who I never thought would be my first heartbreak. To my band. To a mean man I used to be afraid of. To someone who made my world very dark for a while. To a girl who stole something of mine. To someone I forgive for what he said in front of the whole world.

Words can break someone into a million pieces, but they can also put them back together. I hope you use yours for good, because the only words you’ll regret more than the ones left unsaid are the ones you use to intentionally hurt someone.

What you say might be too much for some people. Maybe it will come out all wrong and you’ll stutter and you’ll walk away embarrassed, wincing as you play it all back in your head. But I think the words you stop yourself from saying are the ones that will haunt you the longest.

So say it to them. Or say it to yourself in the mirror. Say it in a letter you’ll never send or in a book millions might read someday. I think you deserve to look back on your life without a chorus of resounding voices saying ‘I could’ve, but it’s too late now.’

There is a time for silence. There is a time waiting your turn. But if you know how you feel, and you so clearly know what you need to say, you’ll know it.
I don't think you should wait. I think you should speak now"
-Taylor swift

Just by reading that you have to think that she is a wonderful person. Truly she has effected me and inspired me. Her songs, her words are something I can always count on when I need a friend. Not only is she talented, she is also beautiful!! I love her and I lover her music. They are both inspiring to me and many other people as well.

If I could develope any talent it would be the ability to say the right thing at the right time. This is hard for me at times becuase i am more of a listener. I dont always know what to say, especially at the right place and right time. It can be difficult to do that. But maybe i need to take Taylors advice, and simple just "Speak Now." So what if you say the wrong thing, it isnt the end of the world. Who knows maybe what you said needs to be heard. You will never know if you keep silence.

I Miss You

From Where You Are

By: Lifehouse

So far away from where you are
These miles have torn us worlds apart
And I miss you, yeah, I miss you
So far away from where you are
And standing underneath the stars
And I wish you were here
I miss the years that were erased
I miss the way the sunshine would light up your face
I miss all the little things
I never thought that they'd mean everything to me
Yeah, I miss you and I wish you were here
I feel the beating of your heart
I see the shadows of your face
Just know that wherever you are
Yeah, I miss you and I wish you were here
I miss the years that were erased
I miss the way the sunshine would light up your face
I miss all the little things
I never thought that they'd mean everything to me
Yeah, I miss you and I wish you were here
So far away from where you are
These miles have torn us worlds apart
And I miss you, yeah, I miss you
And I wish you were here

This is a song that reminds me of my grandpa. Sometimes when things aren't going right all I want is for him to be here, but he can't. He is still someone who helps me through most of my trials. I just have to remember how much he loved me and how he would do anything for me. He has been and always will be one of my heros. I miss him and love him deeply