The universal language.

sonreír.  glimlag.  微笑.  lächeln.  sorriso.  미소.  uśmiech.  sorrir.  gülümseme.  

smile.
Each of these characters say the same thing.  Though they seem very different in the way they are presented, they all produce the same results.  The one language that speaks for itself. A way to say a thousand words without saying anything at all! What makes this expression so universal?  We all smile in the same language.  This simple act of pulling the corners of our mouths up towards our eyes is so significant in the rush of this everyday world.  I am so blessed to be reminded of this wonderful ability to be happy... to smile.  If you are finding it hard to smile, try making someone else smile.  Give a compliment, crack a joke and allow yourself to be HAPPY!  So if you need a little pick-me-up, try smiling.  Being the quote girl I am, these ones made the list! :)

And now for the grand event!  The video that changed my whole outlook on life!  The one and only: Validation! (It's long, but worth it)

So, this is the story of a girl.  The story of a girl who is surrounded by smiles, happiness and laughter. The story of a girl who is blessed to have so many wonderful people in her life that allow her to smile.  The story of a girl who is going to try a little hard to be a little happier.  The story of a girl who is going to smile more.. because it is the best curve she has!! The story of this girl!

His Will.

This says it all.

I know that God breaks us down, so he can build us up.  God is a God of kindness and happiness.  He breaks us down because he knows what is going to bring us true happiness.  He breaks us down so we will rely on him, so we can come unto him.  Our part in this process is trusting in his will.  This is the story of a girl who has been influenced by this principle.  The story of a girl who relies on the Lord to break her down so he can build her up.  This is my story, but he is helping me write it day by day.  May the Lord break you down... to build you up.

When You Say Nothin at All

Words are powerful. 

As a child, I would use the phrase, "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me."  I would say this to convince myself that the hurtful words didn't affect me, but that is far from the truth.  Words have the power to hurt. But words also have the power to inspire.  Being the quote girl that I am, I tend to look for quotes that connect and motivate me.  For instance, "Life is like photography, we develop from the negatives." Words, when arranged in such a way... are beautiful to my ears.  Words have the power to inspire.

Words, the foundation of our language.  They can be used for good and evil.  They are powerful to the fragile beings that we are.  But what if there wasn't any words.  Sometimes the most powerful moments are when there isn't anything to say.  When a person loses their words and becomes: Speechless...

Today I heard this song and realized that:  Yes words are power, but Silence takes over when there isn't any words.  

This is the story of a girl, who has said the wrong thing at the wrong time.  The story of a girl who has been hurt by words but also lifted up by them.  The story of a girl who has been speechless over and over again.  This girl who is inspired to talk a little less and act a little more.

"In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. "

-Martin Luther King Jr.

How you see...

When I saw this, I immediately smiled... And this is why-

1) The message:  I will be the first to say that I have not always seen myself as I do now.  I believe that there is so much power in this principle because what you see, is what you radiate on the outside.  I used to walk down the hallway at school and admire someone for their confidence...I longed to have what they had.  How you see yourself... That is power.  I have learned and have a testimony that everyone is of worth and we all have a purpose.  We have the power to dream.. and DREAM BIG!  I challenge those that don't like what they see.. to change...  I did!  I am not talking about physical features by any means, but I am talking about how you see.. YOU.  Do what makes you happy.  Dance, Sing... Do what makes you.. You.  According to Dr. Seuss, "Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You".  So be happy, take risks, find something that inspires you... to be you.  

2) Old people have a special place in my heart.  I think they are so strong! They have so much to express and teach because they have done it all!  I find myself looking for opportunities to talk to older people.  I like to learn about what they did when they were teenagers.. what they did for fun.  I admire their love stories and learn from their mistakes... Their wisdom radiates.  I believe that old people are so dear to me, because I have had amazing grandparents who have changed my life.  I remember as a little girl sitting in church with my Grandpa Wendell and he would giving us horse rides on his knee.  I remember going to my Grandma Roa's for cake and ice cream on birthdays.  I remember sleeping over at my Grandma RueLeen's house every Friday night and then watching Saturday Morning cartoons.  I cherish these memories!  But more then that, I cherish talking to them.. and listening to them.  As you can see, I only mentioned three grandparents.  My Grandpa Fred died at a very young age... I wasn't even born yet.  Even though I may not know him in this life,  I know that I was with him before I came to Earth.  I know that he was a hard worker and was always cracking jokes!  I can't wait until I get to reunite with him and get to know him personally.  I know that everyone has a special place in their hearts for their grandparents..  I not only admire my grandparents, but every old person that I come in contact with.  This summer, I had the opportunity to meet an amazing lady.  She had so much to live for being at the age of 103.  I admired her strength and humor!  According to her "This is the story of my life".. She is an amazing woman with an amazing story.  Just as her story impacted me, I hope that my story can one day impact those younger generations.

This is the story of a girl who loves herself for who she is and who she is growing to be.  This is the story of a girl who is going to chase after her dreams.  This is the story of a girl who has had her life touched by amazing people, and she hopes to become like them someday.  This is the story of a girl that prays for those who don't like what they see, to change.  This is my story.. 

Grandma RueLeen 

Grandma Roa and Grandpa Wendell

The Love Song.

As many of you know, I am spending the next couple months of my life up in the land Far Far Away, Logan.  My first impressions when I moved up here was (1) how friendly the community was and (2) how great the water tastes.  I decided to make the transition smoother by taking a Freshman Class called Connections.  Connections is designed to introduce the new-be's to the campus and college life.  To be 100% honest, I really didn't care for the class.  It wasn't that I didn't learn a lot, it was just really long (6 hours a day for 4 days).  Another honesty note:  I was extremely homesick the second night I was up here.  After a nice dinner with my lovely mother and a late night phone call, I knew that I would be okay.  Being up here hasn't been easy, but I can already feel the growth in myself.  That morning on my way to Connections, I decided to take the famous, "Aggie Shuttle".  This was exactly what I needed at that moment of this transition.

As I stood in line among other Freshman Aggies, I could see the shuttle coming in the distance.  Many things went through my head as I stood there.  I wondered who I would sit by.  I wondered what we would do that day in class.  My mind simply "wondered".  As the bus pulled up to the sidewalk and the door opened, the first thing I saw was an older man with white hair, black thick glasses and a button nose.  He greeted me with a simple but powerful, "Good Morning."  This is where my mind took a trip.. it "wondered" into a vision of an old man and his wife.

On that day, I don't remember who I sat by.. or even the route we took.  I only remember the joy I felt when I opened my ears to the sound of an old love song.  I could hear the old guy sing along and we proceeded to pick up students.  This is when my mind took a journey into the life of this man.  I imagined him singing to his wife as they dance hand in hand.  I imagined Christmas and a Turkey dinner.  I imagined a love story full of laughter and love.  I imagined them younger and falling in love.  I imagined him picking a flower for her as they held hands in the park.  I imagined an etermal companionship and true happiness.

If someone was watching me that day on the bus, they would have seen my countenance change.  Every time I hear a love story or see  a couple in love, I feel a warmth inside of my heart.  This warmth had the power to change my outlook that day.  I often catch myself thinking about that day on the shuttle.  This experience may not have had an effect on another person as it did on me.  All I know is that I imagine me old with my husband.  I imagine us dancing together in the kitchen and holding hands in the park.  I imagine an eternal love full of laughter and service.  I imagine a love song... and a love story in the making.  This is the story of a girl who hopes there truly is a love story for the shuttle driver.  The story of this girl who longs for her love story to progress into a marvelous fairytale.

This is a good way to picture the Shuttle Driver :)

A Summer to Remember.

School is about to start.  It is crazy how fast it came!  I have noticed that as I have gotten older, my summers all just run together.  When people ask me what I have done this summer I usually respond with the regular, "working my life away."  :)  I do work- but I love my job!! Confession.. I have played this summer too!  If you would like to join me, I am going to give you a taste of a chapter the story of a girl- A Summer to Remember 2012.

A Summer that changed my life with the amazing people and experiences!  I maybe moving on to a new part of my life, but I will cherish this time of it.. forever.

Time-

Quotes.  They seem to help me communicate my words when I don't have any of my own.  This quote touched me this morning.  I realized that I will be moving in about 15 days- Time flies.

I remember as a young girl sneaking through the back fence to go play with my next-door neighbor.

I remember jumping on the trampoline and wishing one day I could just fly.

I remember the night I became an aunt.

I remember how nervous I was for the big transition from elementary to middle school.

I remember loosing my confidence and thinking I wasn't good enough.

I remember the school field trips.

I remember the excitement to progress into high school.

I remember playing sports with the team I love.

I remember getting my driver's license.

I remember driving to the school play and getting hit by a deer.

I remember snowy nights and driving through a ditch after a hard basketball practice.

I remember falling in love, and getting my heart broken.

I remember building myself back up.

I remember those friends that changed me.

I remember the summer, a wonderful summer.

I remember opening up and letting down walls.

I remember being shy and quiet.

I remember saving a life at the swimming pool.

I remember an amazing family that always supported me.

I REMEMBER.  

I cherish those memories.  Time does fly and the fact about "time".. it never stops.  I find myself wishing I could go back and relive some of these "Times" but I know that if I live in the past.. I can't create those memories that I cherish today.  I have had an amazing life so far, with amazing people in it.

I have learned to love in many different ways.

I have learned that people may move away, but the relationships don't have to go away.

I have learned that life changes and we change.

I have learned that I have to grow up and become more independent.

I have learned that I am a loved daughter of God and he has a plan for me.  

I HAVE LEARNED.  

I know that I have hurt people in my life, and I mourn for the hurt I caused them.

I know that I am hard on myself.

I know that I have felt love.

I know that I belong to the only true church.

I know that I am a friend, student, sister, and daughter.

I know that time flies.. but I also know that I determine the path that I take.
  

I know I determine what people and things I pursue in the time I have.

I KNOW.

The story of a girl that REMEMBERS and cherishes the "times".  The story of a girl who is getting ready for yet another transition but has LEARNED to keep moving forward.  I KNOW that I am the girl writing this story and I have to keep learning, loving, and cherishing "my story".

Instrument to God.

Through the years, I have sent brothers on missions.  It is what is expected of a worthy nineteen year old male raised in a Mormon family.  A couple years ago, the youngest brother returned home from his mission.  As far as my family goes, we believed that he was the last one.  But little to our knowledge was that God had a different plan for such a remarkable young lady.  Though she hadn't even reached the age of accountability, she has filled out the papers and sent them in without a second thought.  I knew she was considering the idea of a mission for about a year now, but it never dawned on me that she might really go.  Back tracking a few years, I figured that she would go up to college, find Mr. Right and would get married.  But like I said, sometimes God has a different plan.  This remarkable young lady will touch the lives of anyone she comes in contact with.  She radiates the spirit in all her walks of life! She is close with God and has a burning testimony.  I know this, because she has impacted my life.  Only 22 months apart, and sometimes confused as twins, she has been with me from the beginning.  I would consider her my best friend, my sister, and now my missionary.  My sister, Kelsie Dawn Mason, has made the decision to be an instrument in God's hand while she puts her life on hold for 18 months.  I am so proud of her example and faith to go do God's work.  We don't know where Kelsie is going yet, but where ever she is called, I know she will bless the lives of those people just as she has blessed my life!  I am going to miss my older sister!  But I know that this is God's plan for her and I am going to support her in this calling.  Sister K. Mason,  I know you will bless the lives of those where ever you go. The story of a girl, who has to say goodbye for a time to someone who impacted her life tremendously, but it is a goodbye she is willing to overlook.  "A missionary, someone who leaves their home for a time, so that those they teach can be with their families for eternity."  This is the price I am willing to pay.  I love you Kelsie.  

You will forever be my "Sister".

Endings and Beginnings.

 Every story has chapters.  Where one chapter ends, another one begins.  Well this girl just ended a chapter, and what a great chapter it turned out to be.  High School, to some....over-rated, to others....the best years of their life.  I believe High School is what you make of it, just as everything in life.  I looked forward to graduation for a very long time.  When it finally came, and I was standing in line to walk.. and I realized that I am going to miss it.  I am going to miss early morning practices that kicked my butt.  I am going to miss seeing the friends I grew up with for twelve years.  I am going to miss great teachers that impacted my life.  I am going to miss living five minutes from the school.  I am going to miss Friday Night football games.  I am going to miss crazy school dances and random adventures.  I am going to miss playing sports in the jersey of my school.  I am going to miss the Lunch Lady's Cinnamon Rolls.  I am going to miss High School... everything about.  I had some amazing memories, all of which I will remember.  I come back to the quote "Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened."  I am so blessed to have amazing friends, teammates, and teachers throughout high school.  They have all influenced my life and helped me become who I am today!  I am going to miss it, but I am going to cherish it.  I am now moving on to the new Chapter of my life, and what an exciting time it is!!  Ready or Not..Here I go!

Define: Beauty.

We are constantly surrounded by it, but do we recognize it?  Beauty.  A word most commonly associated with appearance. It is often said that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.  But beauty is more complex than a simple definition of “looking good”.  Beauty is something so personal and so refined that there is no strict definition for such a word.  Though many words come to mind to define beauty, I have narrowed my definition into three words.  Beauty is love, pleasure and significance. 

            Beauty is based on perspective, while love shapes a person’s perspective.For example, a mother will love her child because it is hers.  The child may be ugly or possibly have a deformity, but because of the love she has for her child, he or she is beautiful to the mother.  Or for instance, the love a farmer has for the horse that has devoted its life to plowing the fields year after year.  And even though the horse’s back is swayed and its coat has become raged, the farmer still sees him as a beautiful stallion.  Love has the power to make anything beautiful.

            Everyone feels pleasure. Pleasure comes in many shapes and sizes.  To some, it is the satisfying taste of chocolate cake for breakfast and for another it could be the passing grade on one of Mr. Hurd’s Government tests.  Beauty is pleasure. Now I am not saying that chocolate cake is beautiful necessarily but the feelings that one feels inside when that morsel of chocolate goodness is devoured is beauty.  Martin Luther, a German Priest and scholar in the early 1500s said, “Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us.”   Every person has something or someone that brings him or her pleasure.  While some delight in music, others may delight in the words of a book.  When one finds pleasure in life, the result is beauty.

            We are all individual.  Our differences make us beautiful.  What is significant and important to one may be an overlooked attribute to another.  For a city slicker who never sees the night sky because of the smog and pollution, stars are a rarity.  What he sees is the heavens opening up and a glimpse of the beautiful specks of light that seep through the cracks, while those from the country merely don’t see any significance in the night sky at all.  Or for those that live in the desert, who only see rain twice a year.  Grey rain clouds forming and drops of rain sprinkling their fields could be treasured and beautiful to these desert dwellers.   It is a shame that the beauties around us are overlooked because they are a natural occurrence.  Beauty is the significance that one finds in the rarities. 

            Novels could be written on the definition of beauty, and then throw in the opinions of people throughout the world and entire libraries could be filled with books just about beauty. But to state it simply beauty is love. Beauty is pleasure. Beauty is the significance that is seen through the “eyes of the beholder.”