.fortune.favors.the.brave.

Last night Trent and I decided to try out a new Chinese restaurant. If you know me and Trent...we LOVE trying new things. And this was totally worth it. Along with the bill came fortune cookies. (My favorite) My fortune read the following:

Trent and I just looked at each other and started laughing! How crazy?! I was so excited and happy to get a fortune that was soon going to be coming true. INDIA!!! May 14,  2013 will be the start of something pretty amazing and I cannot wait!

**p.s. that night I had a dream that I was packing up for India and I woke up so excited and happy!**

.snow.fall.

Today I woke up and the first thing I did was peek through my blinds to see what the weather was like. Snow. Pure, white snow. I usually would react in a negative way but I ran over to my closet with a smile on my face to find clothes to bundle up in. Although I wasn't wearing anything elegant or fancy, I knew that I was going to be warm and comfy. And I was. I usually dislike this kind of weather, but right now I am appreciating the moisture we so badly need. And hey! The snow is BEAUTIFUL!! Today...I enjoyed walking to and from school in the .snow.fall.

.healing.

My friend Elsa sent me this video.

It got me through the night and I am forever grateful.

Thank you.

.BFF.dance.

How lucky am I to be able to dance with my best friend?

Pretty darn lucky.

I really don't think I've laughed that hard in a while.

Aub's favorite thing to do in life is to laugh.

Not only is she good at laughing but she is also good at making people laugh.

I mean really... some of the things she says...HILAR!

So ya. I get to dance with my BFF again and boy does it feel good!

p.s. Megan (teacher) put Aub and I together as partners for this one part of the dance...what was she thinking?!...Guess she loves us!

.this.weather.

I love this weather. I love it because it means that i get to wear my $8.00 yellow rain boots from Ecuador.

And you better believe that as I walked to class, I jumped in every puddle in sight.

I may be 4 years old. 

.music.

I love listening to music that just makes you break down and cry...not because it's sad...but because it is so powerful and the message is gives is so moving. I love the power of music.

.wait.what?.

Hello. My name is Annie and I am a VIP member at Gold's Gym and I actually go.

Wait...what?...Ya I'm just as surprised as you are. Go me.

**Credit for gym pass goes to my amazing cousin, Miss Kimberlee Anne Wells. She is kind of amazing.

.anchor.

As you can see, I gave my blog a completely new make over. This is something I do every once in a while because I have never been 100% happy with my blog designs. Four hours later, I finally mastered it and am 100% satisfied. 

Now you can probably tell that I love anchors and sailboats. This is something that I picked up on about a year and a half ago. Aub has this shirt that has sailboats all over it and I kind of fell in love with it when I first saw it. After borrowing that shirt a few times, my love for sailboats and anchors grew.
 I love the innocent feeling of sailing. My dad and I go sailing in Florida whenever we get a chance so that is kind of our thing. I love the peaceful feeling of being out on sea with my dad and having wonderful talks with him.

Anchors have a really special meaning in my life. Over these last few years, I have been through some really tough times where I feel like I am stuck there or where I have lost all hope. Thankfully I have been able to get out of those situations. However, there was no possible way I was able to do that alone. I have so many "anchors" in my life that have helped me stay on my feet and stay strong. Family...friends...school...the gospel...my Savior...dance...music...so many little things in life. I am forever grateful for those anchors and for the sturdiness and consistency of them. 

"We have a HOPE as an ANCHOR for our souls. Firm and secure."

This blog make over helped me see the anchors in my life and has given me an opportunity to make some changes in my life. I feel like my attitude in life needed a make over just like this blog did. Thank you every one who has been an anchor, past and present, in my life. I am forever grateful.

.rewind.

Sometimes I wish life had a rewind button...

That's all.

.missing.her.

Sometimes her songs come on my iTunes shuffle and I can't help but break down and cry.

Missing you every day sweet angel Sophie Rose Barton.

Keeping singing with the angels.

"Feel the fear and do it anyway."

.life.is.complete.

I had an amazing opportunity to go up to Sundance and help make food for a dinner/concert up at the film festival. I was hoping to meet someone famous...preferably Ryan Gosling or Bradley Cooper...and get a picture with them. I have never really met anyone famous so I wasn't sure how I would handle that kind of situation. Would I be so starstruck that I wouldn't be able to talk? Would it feel normal? I didn't know what to expect. Well an hour or so had gone by and I was ready to go home. A headache was coming and I just needed to get to bed. This older guys comes up to me and says, "Harry Potter is downstairs."...I say, "Harry Potter?...Like Daniel Radcliffe?" As luck would have it, Daniel Radcliffe was downstairs. He was taking pictures with some fans so I decided to get one myself. He asked my name and shook my hand. He told me his name was Daniel *DUH*. He was really nice and charming. I feel like I held myself together pretty well. Now I'm not a Harry Potter fanatic. I will be the first to admit that. I do love the movies though. It was on my bucket list to meet someone extremely famous and welp...there ya have it! I had the honor to hug and meet THE Daniel Radcliffe! He is a lot shorter than I imagined him to be and there was no scar on his forehead. But he was nice!

 The rest of the night was amazing. I met some incredible people and was able to reconnect with some old friends. I loved helping my friend Jory out in the kitchen. He is an INCREDIBLE cook so it was fun to watch him an action and to be apart of his pasta masterpiece. I loved the concert and the amazing talent that was shared. This is a night I will never forget. Thank you Jory and cousin Kim for making it possible! 

Me with Jory (chef) and my new friend Seffy!

Music was amazing!

Me and new friend Seffy! We bonded over frosting cupcakes! Love her!

               

.finally.

I started dancing again tonight.

And boy did it feel good.

Being with some of the most incredible girls.

Doing what I have been doing since age 3.

Laughing my head off.

Bruising up my feet and knees.

Getting those calluses back.

Feeling a sort of happiness I haven't felt in a while.

Being free to laugh, dance and be happy without anyone stopping me.

Yep...It was a good feeling.

Thursdays will be a wonderful day for me.

.realizations.

Living in a new apartment with new roommates and going to a new school has really changed my outlook on life. I feel more independent. I feel more responsible. I feel new. I rely more on myself more than I ever have. One big realization that I have come to over these last few days as I have read old blog posts and watched old videos of memories, is that I've changed a lot. The people in my life have changed a lot. We have all changed. Change is my biggest fear in life. I avoid it. But sometimes it is really good. That has taken some time for me to get used to. But I am now accepting that change happens. And we grow to learn from it. Some change may be sad in the moment....but in the long run...it makes us who we are today and in the future.

"So much of me...is made of what I learned from you...

You'll be with me....like a handprint on my heart...

But...because I knew you...I have been changed...for good."

.friday.homework.

It's Friday and I'm doing homework...wait...what? First of all...it's a weekend. Second of all...Annie hates homework and isn't very good at it. What has gotten into me? To be honest, I enjoy the feeling of accomplishment and success. I found doing all of my Monday's homework tonight to be a big success. A perk about going to BYU is not only learning the subject, but also the doctrine within the subject. I'm taking a Joseph Smith and the Restoration class and the text book is a book I will probably end up keeping after the semester is over. I can tell I'm going to love this class. 

"God knows the end from the beginning and it the author of the grand design of human history. He directed the affairs of history so that America was appropriately fertile soil for the seed of the restored gospel to be planted and tended by his chosen seer, Joseph Smith."

I love this.

.unknown.happiness.

I walked out of class today feeling genuinely happy.

Now this is a feeling I haven't feel since...well to be honest...I don't know.

I had just finished my Intro. to Special Education class.

A class that is nearly 3 hours but for some reason does not bother me one bit.

I didn't know why I was happy.

Nothing specific had really happened that day to bring on this sort of happiness.

So why was I this giddy?

Maybe it was because the sun was shining.

Maybe it was because with the sun shine came actual warm air and no more bitter chill.

Maybe is was being I was listening to John Mayer (favorite male singer) with my new ear muffs that can play music.

Maybe it was because I was finding myself actually enjoying this new university and change.

Maybe it was because I loved my major.

Maybe it was because my application to the program was officially done.

Maybe it was because I just wanted to be happy...so I was.

I literally could not stop smiling.

There was a giggle here and there.

I would shake my head just laughing at myself for being so giddy.

I probably looked like a complete fool walking home today.

I didn't care.

Especially since I hadn't felt this way in a REALLY long time.

It was well worth the wait.

"Wanna know why I smile so much?

        ...because it's worth it..."

                                -Marcel the Shell

Opposition in all things...

Tonight I had a neat experience.
I was getting ready for bed and Trent called me
and we decided to read scriptures before we headed to bed.
I was wanting to go to sleep due to a head ache
but Trent helped me pull out my Book of Mormon and read.
We read out of 2 Nephi in chapter 2.
I have never really paid close attention to this chapter.
Tonight I did.
After we finished reading,
I asked Trent what he liked about the chapter.
He went on saying some pretty neat stuff that I feel like I should share...

"There is a need for opposition in all things. If we didn't experience the bad things in life, we would never know the good things. (verse 13) Sometimes people ask the question, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" We look at sad times like the Sandy Hook shooting and 9/11. Those experiences brought our country together and because of that, the lives of future elementary school students and flight passengers will be saved. We need sad times to know the good things in life and to appreciate what we have been blessed with."

I loved everything he said that I hurry and grabbed my laptop to type it up.
We really do live in a cruel world.
I am one of those people who ask, "Why do bad things happen to good people?"
I remember when my car got broken into 2 times within 2 weeks.
I asked that question over and over again.
Asking Heavenly Father why in the world he would do that to me.
I was angry.
Precious things were stolen and those are things I will never get back.
But this, however, taught me to be more cautious and safe.
It goes back to what Trent said.
Bad things happen so we can feel happiness.
If Adam hadn't partaken of the forbidden fruit,
he would have never known happiness because he would have never felt misery.
I never really understood that teaching until tonight.

I am truly blessed to have people in my life who motivate me
to go to school and try new things and help me open up my scriptures to read every night.

Truly blessed.

Thank you.

I'm a Cougar

Okay so the title of my blog may come off in a different way.
But it's true.
I am a cougar.
At BYU of course.
I never thought this day would come.
I have been a Ute like my dad.
So we'll see how this goes...
BUT moving on!
So I woke up feeling exhausted.
I didn't sleep much last night due to the fact that
my bed is hard as rock,
I was in a new apartment,
and I was nervous about my first day of school.
Woke up and showered.
Got ready...and bundled up.
I live down the street from campus and heard
parking is a beast.
So I walked.
Note to self...wear gloves, a hat and bring headphones.
It was a lonely and cold walk.
But I made it to my first class.
Joseph Smith and the Restoration.
My good friend Alex Howland and I signed up for this class together
so it will be good to have a study buddy!
50 minute classes are my favorite!
Due to the fact that my Special Education classes are almost 3 hours...
But I love my professor Susan Black.
I actually sat by her on a plane ride to Nauvoo when I was 10.
So we go way back!
Headed to class numero dos.
Music 101.
I walk in to find 300 students.
I haven't been in a class this big since my math class at the U.
Not too stoked about this....
I find my friend Erika Madsen from high school!
Big sigh of relief as I went to sit by her!
I LOVE my professor!
He is so nice and fun to learn from.
I learned about dynamics and genres...child's play. Pah!
This will be a good class....a good and easy one. heh heh.

Any ways...first day of school here at BYU was pleasant.
Easier than I thought it would be.
I know it will get harder but I needed this first day.
Never thought I would be walking the campus of BYU.
Made it.
Proud of myself.

Ohhhh college....
Where your class sizes average to about 250.
Where teachers are now called professors.
Where tests are now called exams.
Where the school is now called a university.
Where I feel like a tiny ant in the middle of a jungle.
Where (at BYU) we now start class with an opening prayer
and song...that will take some time to get used to....
We'll see how I do at this new place.
WISH ME LUCK!

It's 2013 Ya'll!

Soooo....for those of you how read my blog will come to find that I have been MIA and haven't blogged in a while. The end of 2012 was crazy busy with work, my grandpa's funeral, Christmas, family in town, etc. BUT, I am back and ready to blog and share my life experiences!

I want to start out by telling you about my New Year's Eve.
Wow.
What an incredible night?!
My parents were amazing enough to hire "Cruzin' Sushi" to come cater our dinner.
I knew that we had a sushi chef coming over but I didn't think it would be like this!
I pulled up to my parents house and there on our driveway was this huge truck.
Anna and Josh (the chefs) were walking in and out of it with containers
full of sushi ingredients and platters of who knows what.
My mom had the table as set up so beautifully...she always does.
My parents were nice enough to let us all (me, hugh and stephen) bring dates.
It was an all around fun packed dinner!
Anna made the sushi in front of us while Josh would be in the truck
frying our tempura and other yummy treats!
I cannot tell you how amazing this was.
Anna then invited us to come and make our own sushi.
That was an experience!
We have found a new tradition and I am so happy!
I love my family so much and it was so much fun to spend New Year's Eve with them.

After dinner, Trent and I headed over to say hello to my Aunt Annette.
They were in the middle of games but it was good to see them!
We then headed over to Trent's friend Jonathan's parent's house.
We played some games and had a good laugh.
The Deesing family has a tradition where they burn their Christmas tree at midnight
and shoot off fireworks.
Watching the tree light up was awesome!
We watched an amazing firework show.
If you know me...you will know that I LOVE fireworks!
It was a good way to end the night.

I loved the year 2012....
but bring it on 2013!

December 5, 2012...

This is a day that I will never forget.
I remember what I was wearing.
I remember what I ate.
I remember it all.

I woke up that morning in my bed at my parent's house.
I woke up knowing that it was going to be a long day.
I called my mom who had slept over at my grandpa's care center.
My grandpa was already on his way through the veil.
It was just a matter of time.
I went over there around 9 AM so my mom could come home and shower.
I got there and about 10 minutes after being there, Joan, the Hospice nurse
came in to tell us that he was so close to passing away that my mom might want to stay.
We stayed and watched.
Eventually the rest of my family came over.
We all sat around his bed, watching old John Wayne movies.
Trent was nice enough to bring us all lunch.
We sat and sat and sat.
My siblings would come and go.
I was fortunate to have the day off of work.
I didn't leave my grandpa's side.
1:30 AM came around and we were all exhausted.
I asked to have a few minutes with him alone.
I sat and prayed.
Prayed for him to just go.
I wasn't sure if he was in pain or not.
He was asleep the whole day.
His breathing got slower.
It looked difficult for him.
It was painful for us to just watch.
My mom told me just to go home.
But I knew that if I were to go home, that I would miss something.
She kept on insisting that I go home, but I was too stubborn to give in.
I slept right next to my mom that night while she slept next to her dad.
I surprisingly enough fell asleep.
Around 3:30, my mom fell asleep.
It surprised me due to the circumstance.
At 4:00 in the morning we both sat up at the same time.
Looked over at grandpa and listened for one of his painful sounding breaths.
Nothing.
Pure silence.
We were in shock.
He passed.
He was finally through the veil and reunited with his sweetheart and his Heavenly Father.
It was a long, emotional day.
I won't go into so much detail of what was said and what exactly happened.
But all I will say is that it was a peaceful night.
I have learned so many things through this experience.

•  Life is short. Live it.
• People are kind and have good hearts.
• This gospel is so true.
• Take advantage of the time you get to spend with family.
• Love one another.
• He never said it would be easy. He only said it would be worth it.

I love my grandpa so much. 

I loved holding his hand and walking around with him.

I loved sitting with him and watching old cowboy movies.

I loved it when he would pull me in for a kiss.

I loved his stories.

I loved his example of hard work.

I love him.

I will never forget the legacy he has left behind.

I can't wait to feel his presence at my wedding.

I can't wait to see him again.

Because I know I will.