Looking Back. Looking Forward.

2011. The year where new beginnings occurred. As I look back on the year, I realize it was a pretty successful and enjoyable year. Of course there were the ups and downs that life always propels your way, but all in all, I feel like it was a great year! 

The year of 2011 brought a lot of prominent events in my life. My senior year of high school. A very exciting school year that was! There was Prom. Prom is always an exciting and fun-filled time. But this year was different. I was surrounded by all of my good friends and I was able to just laugh and have a great time. Not only that, but I was able to join in on the Promenade. Doing Promenade twice = a great time! Once Prom was over, it was time to buckle down and get serious. Sterling Scholar. That was a good time...but a very stressful time as well. Staying up for hours the night before the portfolio was due. Stressing about the interview. And once it came, the nervousness was beyond what I had ever felt thus far. Once the interview was done, I could finally breathe. And it proved to be a very successful event. I was Runner-Up in the English Category. A great accomplishment. (:

As the months clicked away and graduation lingered closer and closer, the senioritis got worse and worse. I just wanted to be done with high school! Senior trip came. Best time of my life! Just spending a whole week with the people I had spent twelve years with was the greatest. It was a time to cherish. It would be one of the last times I would spend that much quality time with the individuals who had made me who I was. The individuals who had made such an impact on my life. I will always look back on my Senior Trip as one of the highlights of my high school career. And then, graduation came. The time I had been dreaming of was finally here. And what an exciting and emotional time it was! I couldn't believe that I had made it to that monumental event in my life. But with a blink of an eye, it was gone. Over with. The tears were shed, the hugs and congratulations had been given. And it was time to move on. 

The summer was filled with working to get money for college. And all of a sudden, it was time to move away. I wasn't sure about moving. I would miss Orderville. I had a lot of fond memories there. But it was time to move on. Time for a new chapter in my life. And the decision to move to Logan was the best decision EVER. College was everything I had dreamed it to be, and more! The school part of it...of course was not my favorite. And I probably partied more than I should. Actually, I know for a fact that I did. My grades prove that. But I was having the time of my life. I met new people. Made new friends. Lost some. Living on my own has been quite the experience. I have had to learn how to manage my money, cook, pay for my own food...and just so much more!

And now, 2012 is few hours away. And I have nothing but a positive and happy attitude towards it. I have a feeling that this next year is going to be a great one! Probably the best one yet. I am excited to see what 2012 has in store for me. (: I am ending this year with amazing friends, an amazing family, an amazing place to live, and a fantastic girlfriend. I couldn't ask for anything to be any different. I am the happiest I have ever been, and I hope this happiness will continue throughout the year of 2012. Actually I know for a fact that it will. Gonna be an AMAZING year! So, 2011 it was real, but 2012 I am ready! Bring it on!! PARTY ON EVERYONE. (:

HAPPY NEW YEARS!

Went and saw the lights at Temple Square (:

Ending the year with an amazing girlfriend. (: Couldn't be happier. ILY Britt. (: 

Life is a Gift. LIVE IT.

I was just thinking about my life and everything that has happened thus far.... and I have realized that I absolutle LOVE MY LIFE! Yes, there are those ups and downs, and some days you feel like you are just going to tumble and fall; but, there are things that happen that just make you realize all the good that comes from the bad. And you realize how grateful you are for all the good things in your life. This is how it has been lately for me. All hell seemed to break loose all at once. Everything seemed to be heading downward and I felt so crappy about myself. Nothing in my life seemed to be going the way that I wanted. But, as these trials started to beat me down, I realized what I was doing wrong. I wasn't seeing the big picture. Yes, my life was taking a big toll and everything was going wrong. However, I wasn't noticing all of the good things around me. I was just ignoring all the factors in my life that were trying to fight against all the bad. And once I came to this realization, I have started to become much more optimistic and I have been able to overcome all the difficult events. And because of this, I have come to realize why my life is sooo amazing right now. I LOVE MY LIFE!! (:

First of all, I have the best friends anyone could EVER ask for. No matter what seems to go on in my life, no matter how difficult I am and how grumpy I may be, they find a way to cheer me up. I have no idea how they do it, but I am sooo grateful for it! I just can't even imagine what my life would be without them. I love them soooo much!! I have to give a few shout-outs to the friends that truly make my life what it is. 

Brittani Alvey. This girl is THE nicest person I know. She treats me like a true friend should, and I am so grateful for her. No matter what is going on in my life, she knows exactly how to get me to smile. She knows pretty much everything about me. And I trust her enough to tell her everything. She would never go behind my back. This is something I admire her for. And I would never, ever go behind her back. I couldn't. Also, we have some of the best adventures together. She truly knows how to make me laugh. Even when something seems like it shouldn't be funny, we can laugh about it hours on end. Brittani takes care of me like no one ever could. In sooo many different ways (including practically being my mother, feeding me... you know all that kind of stuff). I am so grateful for Brittani and the many, many times we have and will continue to have with each other. My life would SUCK without her. I LOVE YOU BRITTANI!!

Tanner Black. Throughout high school, I really never had a best guy friend. Yes, I had friends who were guys... but not someone who I could just talk to about life, ask for advice.. you know, what a best friend can do. But when I moved to Logan and met Tanner, this all changed. We have only known each other for three months, but I feel like I have known him for much longer. I can tell him anything. In fact, when I just need to vent or he needs to vent, we just go on walks and talk. This is something that I cherish in my life. I can trust him with anything. We would never go behind each other's back. I am so grateful for all the things Tanner has done for me. He has truly helped me out of many trials I have had over the last three months. I respect Tanner for his strength in what he knows to be right and for his willingness to put up with my craziness. I have no idea what I would do without Tanner in my life!

I also am very grateful for all my high school friends... Especially, Lindsay Rose. We have had our difficult times, been in our share of fights. But nothing could ever break us down, because of the friendship we have had for the last 12 years. Lindsay has always been there for me, always had my back. Sometimes I feel like I have never thanked her for this, and I feel really bad about that. Because she has helped me in SOOO many ways. Without her, I probably wouldn't be where I am today. She always supported me in everything I have done, led me in the right path, and given me advice. No matter what is going on, I can always turn to her for help. She is probably one of the brightest people I have ever met. She seriously is so dang smart! But those facts aside, I am just so grateful for Lindsay. She has endured so much in her life, including all the stupid things I seem to do, and I so admire that strength that she has. This friendship that we have held since Kindergarten is soo special to me. I would never ever let it go, no matter what. I am sooo dang grateful for Lindsay and every little thing she has done for me. She will always remain one of my best friends!!! 

Not only are my friends a reason I absolutely love my life. My family make my life the best! As I sit here at home, surrounded by my family, I can't help but feel incredibly grateful for what these individuals have done for me. They support me in my decisions (whether bad or good), are there for me when times are tough, advise me to do what will be most successful for me, and just so much more. I am so grateful to be able to come home for the week and spend some quality time with my family. I have missed them a lot!! I LOVE MY FAMILY!! (:

There is just so much more that make my life so great. Living in Logan, going to Utah State... just to name a couple of them. But, all that I know is that my life is amazing and that I wouldn't change ANYTHING!! 

With Brittani and Tanner. Love these two!!

SO grateful for Lindsay (: Best friends since Kindergarten!

My close friends throughout high school. Miss all of them!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I am grateful for everyone of you and I love you all! 

Random Thoughts

Ever had the feeling where you just wished someone loved you? I mean, of course you have your friends and family. But I am talking about a different love. The kind of love shared between two people who really care about each other. Lately.. I have been thinking a lot about this kind of stuff. Why? I really don't know. Just at times, I am sitting there... and I just have a wish that I had someone who I could hold in my arms, someone that would just be okay with sitting there in the silence. Being able to just be with each other. I know I am young, and I know that I will be serving a mission so I shouldn't be worrying about this kind of stuff.... But who doesn't? Love is something everybody is looking for. Some have already found it. At times, I wish I was just like that. I thought I knew love. I thought I had that kind of love once. But that love... well, it wasn't what I thought it was, I guess. And since that time, I have been feeling quite lonely. Seeing so many people every day sharing this love sometimes just breaks my heart. I know I just should not worry at all about this. I will find it. There are just days where you wish you could find it at that VERY moment. 

But, it is a time to be thankful. Thankful for what I do have. First off, I am so very thankful for friendship. Through this walk of life, I have met many great people. Some have gone, some have lingered around, but others have stayed put and been there with me. I am so grateful to have such amazing friends who have been supportive and given me the happiness that I feel everyday. The power of friendship is one of the best things you can ever feel in life. I have some of the most amazing people in my life who can make me laugh, no matter what the situation is. No matter how sad I may be. This is what shows who your true and best friends are. And I am so grateful to EVERY single person who has stayed with me and been there for me in every trial and every burden. I love every single one of you! 

I am also very thankful for a loving and caring family. Being away from where I grew up has truly shown me how thankful I am for the family that I have. They have been there for me, through the thick and thin. No matter what mistakes I make, no matter how stubborn I may be, they are there for me. They forgive easily. And they just care for me. I love them so much. Nothing with EVER take away that love. The powers that try to break down family in these days will NOT interfere with the love I have for my family members. I will not let it. Because without my family, I would be nothing. There is no way I would be where I am today without my sisters, brothers, and parents. I am so grateful for my parents and what they have done for me. I have made many mistakes. Some that could break a bond between a person and their parents. But, this didn't affect our relationship. Forgiveness is such a huge characteristic of both of my parents, and I am so grateful for that. I love my parents! Everything they have taught me has led me to such success in my life and continues to bless me every day. 

I am very thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Every day I learn more and more, and it continues to bless my life. I know without a doubt that the LDS Church is true and that every teaching within this gospel comes from the Lord. I am grateful for the Savior, Jesus Christ, and all the sacrifices he made. Without the Atonement that Christ brought forth, I would be no where in life. This Atonement has allowed me to repent for all of the stupid things I have done in my life and continue on in faith. I love this gospel and am very excited to serve the Lord in every way possible, particularly as I am preparing to serve a full-time mission. I would do anything for this gospel. I am so grateful for the blessings I have received as a member of the LDS Church.

I am also very grateful for the Book of Mormon. Although I need to get better at reading this amazing book, I know it to be true. Every time I open the pages of the Book of Mormon, I learn something new, something sticks out to me. I feel a power within my heart that testifies to me that every word that is on the pages of this book are true and a map to direct my life. If I am having a terrible day, I can open the Book of Mormon and feel ten times better. I find it amazing that a single scripture can change your life, your mood. They can be a testament to you, or they can just be an esteem booster when needed. I am so grateful to have the Book of Mormon in my life and that it is available to me whenever I need it. 

I am very grateful for education. There are so many people who take their education for granted. They feel like school is a waste of time. But I would have to disagree with this. I love learning. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to be furthering my education here at Utah State University. I love USU. It is such an amazing place to be. The people here are so friendly, and the professors are great. I am grateful for my professors and all the time they take to give me the best education they possibly can. They take time out of their day to further my education and I am very grateful for this. Education is so important. I would be one stupid kid today if I didn't take every chance I could to further my knowledge. 

At the moment, I am VERY grateful for music. I love that songs can describe exactly how you are feeling. And that they can mean so much to you in a time of need. Or they can just be something for you to go crazy to, to dance to and just have fun. Music is the best thing ever! I have no idea what I would do without it!

I could go on FOREVER and EVER with things I am grateful for, but I will bore you no further. I just thought I would write a few things that I am grateful for and that I will always hold onto in my life. I hope everyone is doing just great and that your lives are amazing. I love you all, thanks for taking time out of your day to read my blog!

Halloween (: It was a great night with my best friends! (:

SO thankful for this person right here! I have no idea what I would do without her. Love you Britt!

Went to the BYU vs. Utah State men's basketball game last night. Waited 5 hours in line to get in, but it was so worth it! EPIC game! You haven't experienced anything in life if you have not experienced the SPECTRUM. USU fans are definitely the most devoted, and the LOUDEST. Such an amazing atmosphere. 

Final Score. Yep, that's right. UTAH STATE IS AWESOME. (:

Life.... One Step At A Time

Life is such a tough challenge. The ups and downs can be so hard to take at times. But what do these ups and downs do for you as an individual? I believe that they strengthen you and give you the power to move on with life. Over the last few weeks, these ups and downs have been flung at me more rapidly than ever. There were times where I thought to myself, "I am just going to give up." But, I couldn't do this. I am stronger than that. 

I finally realized I was going about overcoming these obstacles in the wrong way. I had not called upon the Lord to help me. I had tried to push through the thorns by myself without a helping hand. When I couldn't stand anymore, I finally did what I should have done from the beginning.... I KNEELED. And this made all the difference in the world.

I finally realized a valuable lesson that will help me in so many ways throughout my life. Yes, life is hard. But there is nothing that you can't overcome with the help of the Lord. If you rely on Him, you will be given the strength to overcome any obstacle and be able to move on with life. I am so thankful to be a part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and to have this knowledge. And I am very excited to become a missionary and be able to give this message to others. I know from hands-on experience what the power of Christ will do for you in your life, and I am very happy to know this. 

Another thing that I have come to realize over the last few weeks is who my true friends are. There have been so many great people who have been there for me when I couldn't hold myself up. I got so many messages, texts, and calls from people who I now know to be my TRUE friends. Friendship is such an important aspect of life. Without it, I don't know where I would be today. Friends ease the hurt and are there for you when you need a shoulder to cry on.

I am so thankful for all my friends. I am especially grateful for two specific individuals who were there for me in a way no one else could. One of these individuals, I have only known for about a month now, but was still an amazing friend when I needed it. Brittani Alvey and Tanner Black were there for me when I just needed someone to talk to. They embraced me and just let me cry and let out all my frustration. What I would do without these two, I have no idea. Friends are so important; HOLD ONTO THEM. 

Best friends :) So grateful for these two. Don't know what I would do without them.

Obstacles can be so difficult, and at the moment you may think you can never overcome them and that you would do anything to never have this happen to you... but once you DO overcome it, you become grateful for having that trial in your life. It gives you a knowledge that can help you give strength to others who need it. I am actually very grateful for the challenges I have had in my life. They have given me strength and have made me the person I am today. 

"I never said it would be easy; I only said it would be worth it." 

40 days and counting....

Wow... 40 days ago, I moved off to college. It seems like it was just yesterday. Time sure does fly when you are having fun! :)

This week has been a little hard on me. Something came up that has really tried my strength. I am feeling better now, but not all the way over it. I wasn't able to focus on much of anything throughout the week, and still trying to get back in the swing of things. I have three mid-term exams next week, so it is going to be another stressful week. Studying... studying..... and more studying.

Because of the very discouraging events that took place this week, I am VERY happy that it is General Conference weekend. It couldn't come at a better time. I really need some guidance right now, and I am very excited to be able to listen to the leaders of this church and find the answers that I need. Throughout the week, I haven't really relied on the Lord as much as I should have. But I finally came to the realization that the only way I can get through this trial is to rely on Him and listen to his apostles. I am very excited to have the opportunity to listen to the words of the Prophet and all of the other leaders who will be giving guidance throughout this weekend. I know that my prayers will be answered, and that I will regain the strength I need to go about each day. This gospel brings me true happiness, and it will be the guiding point for me in this situation.

I am also excited to have the opportunity to visit my brother and sister in Orem tomorrow and watch General Conference with them :) I miss seeing my family. I am going to be going home for the first time since I moved up here in abour two weeks. Thank goodness! I miss home!

Homecoming week was last week. It was tons of fun! Some of the activities that were available to participate in was the Paint Dance, Campout on the Quad, True Aggie Night, Homecoming game and the homecoming dance. :) I am proud to say that I am a TRUE AGGIE!! And also, I was part of the World's Longest Kissing Chain that you may have heard about on the news. Yes, I was part of a world record! One dream, met! And for the homecoming game, along with a few friends, I got decked out in school spirit. Had a fohawk, colored my hair, painted my face and arms.... yeah, it was LEGIT! It felt great to be able to do this, something I couldn't do in high school. ALthough the game was a very close, but disappointing one, it was still tons of fun! I really do love USU!

Well, I hope everyone is doing well. College is great and I am having the time of my life. This is Lane, clocking out....



Homecoming Week was last week. This is what we did for the homecoming game and homecoming dance :)



Did you say COLLEGE?!? :)

College. I have now been living in Logan for three weeks.... I can't believe that it has already been that long since I have been in Orderville! So crazy.

But anyway, the college life is going VERY well. I love it so much! Seriously, if the next 8 months are like this, it is going to be an absolute PARTY! Since I have been here, I have probably done more partying than studying.... but, its college! You have to leave some room for partying, right? :)

Last week, Tara and Kenzi came up to visit Addie and I. On Friday night, they all came up for the 80s dance here at USU. And it was quite the dance! So much different than a high school dance, that is for dang sure!!! I had tons of fun!

The day after, I spent the whole day with Tara. Highlights of the day?? Cleaning the sink at Angies and the Rocket Summer concert!! The concert was the BEST I have ever been to. It was INSANE! I loved every single minute of it. Oh, and after the concert we went and walked around the Logan Temple grounds. It was such a peaceful night to do so. I love the temple!!

This week was the second week of classes.... Is it bad to say that I am already sick of school? I mean, my classes are going great..... but, school is school. I just want to be able to hang out and do fun things all the time!! Not the best attitude, I know.... but I just can't help feeling like that. I was soooo happy when Friday arrived. Even more excited for Saturday.

Yesterday was such an amazing and tiring day. It was USU football's first home game. Because I am part of the HURD, game days are LEGIT. It began with Aggie Stampede! What is this, you may ask? We begin at one end of campus and go running and screaming through the dorms, getting people to put on their Aggie Blue and game day t-shirts, and come with us throughout the whole campus and throughout all the other on-campus apartments. Once we have gained a big crowd, we stampede to the HURD tailgate party. Which was pretty fun!

Then.... it was GAMETIME!! :) You think your school has the loudest crowd? Well, think AGAIN! I seriously believe USU has one of the most legit and loudest crowds in college sports. So crazy! And the game was AWESOME! I have come to love football, that is for sure! This was my first college football game, and it was a great one! Utah State cruised right by Weber State, 54-17. Such a fun game!! :)

I am loving the college life! But, I am missing home a little bit. Missing all the people I grew up with. I love all of you guys! Can't wait to come and visit!

Livin' the life

Well, I am here. Moved into the apartment last week, and classes started this week.

So far, the college life has been AMAZING!! I absolutely love it. Logan is a great city, Utah State is a great university, could it get any better??? :) I am seriously having the time of my life. It feels so weird to actually be to this point of my life. It has been super weird to be away from home.... but I am getting used to it.

My classes have gone really well. I am a little worried about Statistics.... but everything should go well. I LOVE my institute class!! I feel the Spirit so strong every time I go there. My teacher is sooooo awesome. He has such a kind and caring spirit to him and he is an amazing teacher.

This weekend should be a really fun!! :) Tonight USU is having an 80s dance. My first college dance!!! It should be tons of fun. Then tomorrow, because I am a part of the student section group called the HURD, I am going to a football away party. And also tomorrow night I am going to go to The Rocket Summer concert on campus. It is just going to be a fun-filled weekend! There is ALWAYS something to do here in Logan, which is such a change from where I grew up.

Just thought I would check in and let everyone know how I am doing. It has been a great experience so far!! Love all of you!

Logan.... HERE I COME!

It is here. The day that I have dreamed about since I was a kid is finally here. I will be moving off to college and living on my own and making my own decisions tomorrow.... I can hardly believe that this day has come. It seems like just yesterday I was starting my first day of Kindergarten, and now here I am ready to go to college. There is only two words that describe my feelings right now. MIXED EMOTIONS. I am excited.... nervous.... sad...... just so many emotions at once! 

As this time is upon me, I have many things to say. First of all, THANK YOU to everyone who has had any form of contact with me in my life. Each and everyone of you has made me who I am today. Each one of you has driven me toward success and given me the support that has allowed me to forge forward with courage. I would like to thank all of my friends for being there for me when I most needed them. My life would not be the same without each and every individual who has built a strong friendship with me. I will be forever grateful for all the amazing friends I have. 

While I am on the topic of friends, I HAVE to pick out one specific friend who has been by my side for as long as I can remember. Been there for me, supported me, and guided me. This is Lindsay Rose. We have been best friends since Kindergarten, and this is a friendship that I hope will never die. It is so special to have such a friendship that has lasted over the years. Lindsay has been there for me when times have been tough, and I have been there for her. Yes, we have had our ups and downs, our fights, and everything else that a friendship can encounter, but we have overcome these times and strengthened our friendship. I will be forever grateful for what I have learned from this amazing person and will miss her as we go on our separate ways in life. Lindsay, if you are reading this, you an amazing person of worth and I just want to personally say THANK YOU for the amazing 12 years we have had. We MUST keep in touch. Our friendship is too precious. You are AWESOME. :)

I also am grateful for my parents. Words can hardly express how thankful and how blessed I am for the AMAZING parents I have. They have made me who I am. Without their continual guidance, support, and love, I would be lost. They have nourished me and blessed me with their testimonies. I have a STRONG testimony of the LDS church and its values because of the teachings of my parents. I will always love my parents and will miss them greatly. Of course I will visit them, but it will just not be the same. I will not have the opportunity to see them every day. As I spend my last full day with them today, I will take in every moment without regret.

Growing up in Orderville has been such a blessing. This town will always hold a deep spot in my heart. I will never forget the amazing people who I have grown up with here. There are so many awesome people here who care about me and I will always be thankful for all their care and support they have given me over the years.

This week has been quite an eventful one. Aside from packing and getting all ready to move, I have had two AMAZING experiences that I am very grateful to have had. First off, on Tuesday I had the opportunity of receiving my Patriarchal Blessing. This was such an amazing spiritual experience. It is the best blessing I have yet received. I felt the Spirit so strong that night. The blessing was..... well let's just say there is nothing in the world quite like a Patriarchal blessing. It felt like the Lord was giving advice to me for my life just to me specifically. It was one of the best feelings of my life!!!!! The second thing is today.. in about an hour, I will be receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood and being ordained an Elder. I have been through so much over the last few years, and to say I have reached this point, through all the obstacles, in my life -- it is just so amazing. I am so excited to take this next big step in the church and I will do everything I possibly can to fulfill my duties while honoring my Priesthood. 

Well, thanks to everyone who read this LONG and probably very boring post.... I just had a lot to say, seeing that I leave my hometown tomorrow. I love all of you and will miss you like crazy. But it is time for a new chapter in my life. It is time for me to take another step toward success. So Logan... HERE I COME!!!!! 

6 DAYS

I can't believe it. Only 6 more days until I move to college. This summer has been one of the fastest summers I have ever had. It has been a crazy summer, that is for sure. But it was tons of fun as well.

First off, today is going to be a very special and memorable day. I will be receiving my Patriarchal Blessing. This is something that I will be very blessed to receive. I have been through quite a bit over the last few years, and because of some of the choices I made I was not able to receive this blessing until now. I am so thankful for this opportunity and I am just hopeful that the Spirit will be with both me and the Patriarch.

Yesterday I hung out with some of my closest friends for probably the last time before I move off to college. It was sooo much fun! I love my friends like crazy and will miss them. It is amazing to see the friendships that I have been able to build and keep. I will always hold onto these friendships because I would not get anywhere in my life without the support of my friends.

Gotta love packing.... :)

Just thought I would drop by and leave a quick note. Now I must get packing! Until next time.

Time is Ticking....

Time is ticking away.... 16 more days and I will be living on my own. It is such a crazy thought! It doesn't seem like it should be this time yet. I feel like I should be yet again starting a new year of high school. But instead, I am starting a new life, a new whole experience at college.

16 days, and I have A LOT to do. Cleaning and packing my room is in progress, but going very slowly. Shopping for clothes, apartment necessities, and other such things is in need of being done. My rent is due on the 15th. And who knows what else is going to show up. All I know is that I really need to stop procrastinating and get something done. :)

HAVE A GOOD WEEK! :)

24 DAYS.....

The moment has almost arrived. The moment that I have been so excited for has now been transformed into a feeling of nervousness and sadness. In 24 days, I will be moving away from the town I have grown up in and moving to Logan, Utah for college. Yes, I am very excited to move on to a new chapter of my life. But, I am going to miss all of the good times I have had over the last 18 years in Orderville.

Orderville will always hold a soft spot in my heart. I have grown up here, met so many amazing people, went to school here. I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. It feels so strange to be packing up all the things I have accumulated over the years. It does not seem like it should be time for me to be moving away from my family and living off on my own.

Where has all the time gone? It seems just like yesterday I was starting preschool. I can remember how nervous I was to step my foot into that classroom and see all the little kids running around. I just wanted to stay home and be with my mom. That is all I wanted. But once I began, I never wanted to go home. I made friends that would last a lifetime. And I finally felt like I was loved. Of course I felt loved at home. My parents had shown me the most love that anyone could ever ask for. But to finally meet new kids and make friends was such a different feeling. I remember this feeling like it was yesterday.

Over the years, I have made friendships that will last a lifetime. I am so grateful for all those people who have cared for me, supported me, and befriended me. I will miss every single one of them as I move away to a place that seems so far from the place I have grown up.

In 24 days, a new life will begin. Yes I am nervous and yes, I am very sad. But it is finally time for me to gain new experiences, new friendships, and new knowledge. So college, here I come!!!!

FCCLA National Leadership Conference

I just got back from FCCLA Nationals about three days ago, and it was one of the best experiences I have ever had in my life! I am so thankful for the opportunity I had to go and meet new people and be able to share my presentation and my message. A huge THANKS goes out to everyone in the community who helped me raise the money to attend this great conference! :)

The first two and a half days of my experience in California was practically just play time. I was able to do a ton of exciting and fun things! On Friday the 8th, after getting all situated in our room, my mom and I went to Disneyland. It was great fun! :) Besides going on rides, we also saw a few shows. We watched the Disney Parade, Fantasmic, and the Disney Firework show. It was a good day, but I was super tired by the end.

On Saturday, our day was pretty packed. We first went to the Aquarium of the Pacific where I was able to touch a real sting ray and shark!! It was pretty neat :) After an hour or so there, we took a shuttle to Long Beach. I love the beach! I didn't have really anyone to swim with, but it was still a lot of fun. And my legs got SUPER sunburt. I think they are still a little red, and it has been over a week! After the beach, we made our way back to our motel where we relaxed for a couple hours. Then it was time to go to Pirate's Dinner Adventure. This was sooooo cool! Definitely worth the money! :)

Pirate's Dinner Adventure


On Sunday, we went on a tour of Los Angeles which also took us into the middle of Hollywood and Beverly Hills! Some of the sites we were able to see was the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Hollywood sign, and we also ate at the Hard Rock Cafe in Hollywood. 

The rest of the week mostly was filled up with meetings, workshops and things like that. I gave my presentation on Tuesday..... the last one to present! I was really nervous! And when I was giving my presentation, the judges... well they didn't make much eye contact with me, didn't smile all that often, and at the end of the presentation where they are supposed to have five minutes to ask me questions... they only asked me one. So I went out of there feeling a little down. I thought I didn't do so well and was really a little disappointed. But boy would I be surprised on Thursday! :) But before I get to that I have to mention a couple of things. On Tuesday after my presentation, they had a special event where most of the FCCLA attendees were able to go to Knott's Berry Farm for a few hours. This was tons of fun! I also met a couple of people from the state of Washington and I was able to make friends with them while at Knott's! :)

Then it came to the big day: Thursday. After packing and taking all of our luggage down to the bus, we headed to the Convention Center where I would find out how I had did. I was in for a surprise! When I was standing down by the stage, waiting for them to announce our category, for some reason I was feeling really nervous again. All of my hard work had come to this. And then I heard them say "Valley High School, Utah... GOLD!" I couldn't believe it! I went up onto the stage, shook the National Officers' hands and received my medal. I practically leaped off of the stage in excitement! This was definitely one of my greatest accomplishments.

FCCLA Nationals was such a great experience! I was able to meet some amazing people and hear a lot of awesome speakers. I am just so grateful for the opportunity I had to go! Thanks again to everyone who supported me! You are all AMAZING! 

California, Here I come!!!

Hey everyone! I just thought it would be cool to start a blog just for the heck of it :) So here we are. I have been pretty busy today packing for FCCLA Nationals. I am really, really excited to have the opportunity to travel to Anaheim, California and be able to present my project. My project is in the category of Leadership. I had to mentor someone for this project, and I was able to mentor Bindy, a little boy who has Cerebral Palsy. It was an amazing experience and I am so glad that I will have the opportunity to present what I have learned to the judges. I love giving the message of serving people to others and telling them about my life experiences. It will be a great experience! I am really grateful for everyone in my community who helped me raise the money for Nationals. I would not be going if it wasn't for those many people who aided me and supported me. So grateful to have grown up here in Orderville! Well, I better go and continue packing. Have to head to work in an hour as well. California, HERE I COME!! :)