College Life! :D

Ok so I know that I've only been here for a couple of days and that I'm not even in classes yet but I feel like talking about life right now :)

BYU-I Campus :)

So College... I never pictured myself actually getting here. I mean when you're in high school it doesn't feel like you'll ever get out of that place. Gonna be stuck in high school for the rest of your life!
But the senior year goes by sooooo fast. It was kind of crazy for me.
So that's one good thing.

Biggest tip ever... If you're paying for college yourself, work your butt off the summer before you leave. I know it's a no-brainer.... but I'm actually kind of glad that I had to give up my social life this summer. It was still fun and there were definitely some memorable experiences but I'm so grateful for the money.

Oh and when you get to college... even if you're not going to a church one (heaven forbid that you don't)... Say your prayers and read your scriptures. And don't just read them. Dive into them. Strap on your swimsuit and go for it :) It's pretty awesome and you'll get little love notes from your Heavenly Father where you least expect them to be :)

So that's what I've learned so far... I've only been here for two days. Also you should know that college is scary but fear means that you're growing. And it's so nice to be on your own haha
Love you guys!
Love,
Q

Endurance is key

"If thou wilt do good, yea, and hold out faithful to the end, thou shalt be saved in the kingdom of God, which is the greatest of all the gifts of God; for there is no gift greater than the gift of salvation." (D&C 6:13)
Henry B. Eyring said in the last General Conference, "Our choosing the right consistently whenever the choice is placed before us creates the solid ground under our faith. These choices, hundreds in most days, prepare the ground on which our edifice of faith is built. The metal framework around which the substance of our faith is poured is the gospel of Jesus Christ, with all its covenants, ordinances, and principles."
Trials strengthen us and turn us into who we're meant to be. Sometimes I like to think that each of us are lumps of coal. Trials are the pressure that we're placed under that makes us better. Overtime the pressure builds and builds until we are turned into what we're meant to be. A beautiful diamond.

Later in his talk President Eyring said, "When hard trials come, the faith to endure them well will be there, built as you may now notice but may have not at the time that you acted on the pure love of Christ, serving and forgiving others as the Savior would have done."

Try to keep a positive attitude because that's the best way to endure a trial well. Know that it's polishing you and you're becoming who you're meant to be.

S.M.I.L.E (Spiritually Minded Is Life Eternal)

Well... Needless to say it's been ages since I've posted anything. I think I'm overdue :)

So I've been thinking a lot about past summers and the fun things I've gotten to experience.

There was one summer where I got to go hang out with my cousins in Utah. Another where we went on a family trip to Yellowstone in our huge beast of a van. One time Mom and I went to Japan. And every single summer I've gotten to participate in some kind of sport. There was soccer for three summers and then one of the non-stop running of cross country.

Soccer, Soccer, and more Soccer

Old Faithful

Another thing I've gotten to do is be a part of some pretty spiritual things. There was EFY when I was 14 (at Pacific University) and another when I was 17 (Stay-At-Home kind).  There have been stake youth conferences. Girls Camp was always a big one. Oh and dances, dances, and more dances.

Matt, Me, Megan, and Tresa (dancin :))

This summer, I'm sad to say, hasn't had much of any of this stuff. No sports or big family vacations or girls camp, EFY, or Youth Conferences. There was Trek and that was a lot of fun... But it wasn't very spiritual. All I've done this summer is work and prepare for my very very near future of moving out and moving on. Sometimes I wonder what would it be like if I hadn't had work all summer. If I had had time for EFY or one more week of Girls Camp. Would I be more prepared for college?

So I guess my lesson for you this time is to take advantage of any spiritual experiences you can get and put all of yourself into it. Oh and don't complain if something seems hard. You can make it through it :)

Like Mom always says "What you put into it is what you get out of it".

Love you! Stay beautiful.
Love, Q

"You're never fully dressed without a smile." - Turn on the happiness

I haven't posted anything in ages so here's a new one.

I was looking through my mom's blog and I saw one about her favorite songs. I thought I'd talk about music a little bit.

It's such a huge part of my life. I sing constantly (ask any of my family) and when I get home from school I usually go straight to the piano. It's my therapy and my joy. I can't live without it.

Music definitely affects moods. I've felt that a lot. When I'm happy, I listen to the happy stuff. Usually this is some pop-type music. And a lot of the time I listen to Broadway musical music. Two days ago I got some Annie, Get Your Gun, Annie (orphan-type), and West Side Story. The happiest song ever is definitely "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile" from Annie. "It's so choice." Haha sorry, we watched Ferris Bueler's Day Off in AP Psych today. I can listen to that song over and over and over.

When I'm feeling down, I listen to... wait for it.... the sad stuff. Stuff like Lost by Michael Buble, Hallelujah by Rufus Wainwright, Another Day in Paradise by Phil Collins, Cry Me a River by Julie London, and Dreaming With a Broken Heart by John Mayer.

It's not a surprise that my iPod is something I can't live without. If I lose it somewhere in the house, I frantically search for it until I find it and usually I'm really loud about it. Music is my addiction.

So just a clue for you... Music affects your moods. It's something that you can't change. So if you're feeling down, listen to a couple of sad songs... and then turn on some happiness. It can't get much better than that. :)

Why? Do you not love yourself?

So Mom and I were talking about how stupid people are these days....
They are so self-destructive. It's like they want to see how fast they can kill themselves. Mom asked me why people try so hard to do such stupid stuff and I said it's because they don't know who they are.
I mean think about it. If people really knew who they were and where they came from then they wouldn't do drugs or anything like that. If they knew the eternal consequences then I'm pretty sure I wouldn't think they were stupid.
Remember that one quote from some prince that got tortured and when asked why he wouldn't do the horrible stuff that his torturers wanted him to do he said, "I cannot do what you ask because I was born to be a king."
We are all royalty and this means that we have to act the part. So remember that you are princesses and daughters of a king. And then don't do anything to shame your father's name. Love yah!
-Q

Happiness Runs in a Circular Motion

So.... this past week I've had to deal with some friends that were depressed or constantly sad and complaining to me....
And so I shall tell you why I'm so happy all the time.
It's a choice. :)
Every day I wake up and decide that I'm going to be happy for the WHOLE day. Some days are harder than others to listen to myself. I just feel like it's a waste to go a day complaining about life when there's so much to be happy about.
That's one of the things I truly believe. There's always something to smile about. And if you can't find something then obviously you aren't searching hard enough... or you don't really want to be happy.

So, next time you're feeling upset try to figure out why... and then fix it. Be happy. Because a happy girl is the prettiest. And a smile is the best makeup a girl can wear.

oh and "Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one just remembers to turn on the light." - Albus Dumbledore ;)

Life's Too Short for Regrets

So... this one's about regretting things... obviously
A couple of weeks ago someone asked me if i had any regrets... i had to think about it for a minute...
To tell you the truth, i don't. i'm perfectly happy with the life i've lived so far. Not everything's gone as well as i wanted it to go... but i don't regret any of my choices or any of the consequences....
if something bad has happened i only got stronger from experiencing it.
So here's my advice for the day....
-Take chances... you never know what you're missing
-Don't be afraid.
-Remember that everything in your life is given to you as a learning experience and you will always be strong enough to handle it
-Also remember that you're never alone :)
The End <3
Love,
Q