Quote of the Day

“Start by doing what’s necessary, then what’s possible, then suddenly, you are doing the impossible.”

St. Francis

Chasing the Sun by Sara Bareilles

It’s a really old city 
Stuck between the dead and the living 
So I thought to myself, sitting on a graveyard shelf 
As the echo of heartbeats, from the ground below my feet 
Filled a cemetery in the center of Queens 

I started running the maze of 
The names and the dates, some older than others 
The skyscrapers, little tombstone brothers 
With Manhattan behind her, three million stunning reminders 
Built a cemetery in the center of Queens 

You said, remember that life is 
Not meant to be wasted 
We can always be chasing the sun! 
So fill up your lungs and just run 
But always be chasing the sun! 

So how do you do it, 
With just words and just music, capture the feeling 
That my earth is somebody’s ceiling, can I deliver in sound 
The weight of the ground 
Of a cemetery in the center of Queens 

There’s a history through her 
Sent to us as a gift from the future, to show us the proof 
More than that, it’s to dare us to move 
To open our eyes and to learn from the sky 
From a cemetery in the center of Queens 

You said, remember that life is 
Not meant to be wasted 
We can always be chasing the sun! 
So fill up your lungs and just run 
But always be chasing the sun! 

All we can do is try 
And live like we’re still alive 

It’s a really old city 
Stuck between the dead and the living 
So I thought to myself, sitting on a graveyard shelf 
And the gift of my heartbeat sounds like a symphony 
Played by a cemetery in the center of Queens 

You said, remember that life is 
Not meant to be wasted 
We can always be chasing the sun! 
So fill up your lungs and just run 
But always be chasing the sun! 

All we can do is try 
And live like we’re still alive 

All we can do is try 
And live like we’re still alive

This song is my inspiration. So is Brave. 

Morigan

Morigan is my friends niece. She is about 14 months old and was born partially blind. Her vision is limited to a few inches from her face. 

As I held her yesterday, I watched her as she stared cross eyed into space. She followed a pattern: she would be silent, waiting for someone to make a funny noise, then she would laugh and make funny noises back. She got so excited that she would grin so hard she shook.

I was wearing a black and white polka dotted blouse the day I meet her, and as I held her she would grab my blouse and pull her head close to it. Consequently bringing the fabric into her range of vision. When she saw the strange patterns on the fabric she would laugh and scream from excitement. She continually did that over and over. Pulling her face close to my shirt. Pulling away from it and laughing. Then repeating again.

Eventually she moved on to my hair. It was so fascinating that she decided she would taste it. That didn't turn out well but at least she knows what strawberry blonde hair tastes like. I bet not a lot of people do.

Even though she couldn't see well, she was not lost. She knew where she was and who she wanted to be held by. She still had a personality like no other. She loves being upside down and she loves polka dots. 

14 month old Morigan taught me a lesson yesterday. She taught me that even in our trials we can still grow and progress. Her eye sight may not progress, but she will still be able to progress in many other ways. 

If—

BY RUDYARD KIPLING

(‘Brother Square-Toes’—Rewards and Fairies)

If you can keep your head when all about you   

    Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,   

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

    But make allowance for their doubting too;   

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

    Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,

Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,

    And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;   

    If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;   

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

    And treat those two impostors just the same;   

If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken

    Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

    And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

    And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

    And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

    To serve your turn long after they are gone,   

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

    Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,   

    Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

    If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

    With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,   

Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,   

    And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

Source: A Choice of Kipling's Verse (1943)

Friend.

For a church activity some wonderful ladies came and talked to us about marriage and dating and what it was like for them. They then continued to give us advice. One lady simply said that we should let boys into our life as if we were taking then under our wing. They need to be "nurtured" just as we do. We should let them be our friends until we KNOW we don't want them around anymore. They are sensitive just like we are. 

So I've decided that I need to be kinder to guys. Especially ones who are brave enough to express their feelings for me. I shouldn't enter a relationship, but it would be positively wrong for me to turn them away completely. I will simply be their friend. 

Quote of the Day

A good analogy of knowing what something is about versus actually doing something about it. 

Our Duty on Earth

All of God's children are made to serve, we are made to help each other. This is why we need to be more forgiving towards each other. We all make mistakes and we all need to be comforted and befriended. It is our duty to help each other in anyway we can. 

God gives us no reason for war or terrorism or racism. So why do we have them? Because we are too stubborn to turn to charity.

It's a simple concept. But somehow it's hard for some people to realize. 

Quote of the Day

"Realize that now, in this moment of time, you are creating. You are creating your next moment. That is what's real."

Sara Paddison

The Gettysburg Address

"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

Abraham Lincoln

Lay Off

My younger sister was texting her guy friend (who obviously likes her). He mentioned her recent hair cut and told her quite sternly that her haircut "sucked". I being her older and protective sister, was angry at this boy. But I must refrain myself and keep out of the situation. So instead of telling the boy to back off, I will tell the rest of the world to:

"Hey!! That's not cool bro. Lay off my sister. She cut her hair cause she wanted to. None of this has to do with you. Don't you dare tell her no boys will like her, cause for your information she could have a thousand boyfriends if she wanted. But she's too kind, beautiful, smart, secure, and obedient for any of them. None of you deserve her. She will never have to fight for her true love, but her true love better have to fight a thousand battles for her. So lay off my sister cause you, the bane of my existence, have nothing to say."

Quote of the Day

"Always be yourself in every situation."

My Mother

Quote of the Day

"How beautiful are they to the eyes of them who there came to the knowledge of their Redeemer."

Mosiah 18:30, the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ

Those who come into Christ will see the world differently. I definitely find this to be true.  

Wisconsin

This is Wisconsin, my South African originated elephant plant. It is "a major good source of the native elephant population." I'm guessing it means the original plant, not this puny thing.  

Quote of the Day

Mosiah 15:14

My newfound favorite scripture. It gives me hope and courage to move forward in the great cause of spreading my light and love to others.  

Thank You Lord

I am thankful that I can, even on the worst of days, still kneel down by my bed that night and pray to Heavenly Father and tell Him everything that I'm grateful for. Even though He already knows the blessings that I have, for he gave them to me, He still needs to be reassured that I understand that nothing in the world would keep me from loving my Father in Heaven. He gave me the ability to live, love, learn, laugh, cry, speak, sleep, eat, see, feel, and most of all He gave me His love and guidance through the trials I have been and will be faced with in my life. So thank you Lord. 

The Wonders of Feelings

I've found that showing kindness towards someone you were crude to in the past can only do you both good, the only consequence being you gain a friend who before that moment had no chance at being your friend whatsoever. 

Quote of the Day

"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live."

Albus Dumbledore

Food for Thought

"A seer is a revelator and a prophet also; and a gift which is greater can no man have, except he should possess the power of God, which no man can; yet a man may have great power given him from God."

Book of Mormon, Mosiah, Chapter 8

This is proof to me that the prophets of my church really do have power, yet thy are humble as well as wise. How do they do it so well? If it were me I would be boasting all over the place, yet at the same time I wouldn't be able to bare the responsibility load of the prophets. 

Food for thought. 

My theory

I have a theory. If you're in the halls when you maybe are supposed to be in class or you don't have a hall pass, walk with purpose. People will think you have a valid reason to be in the hall and they won't wanted to mess with the teacher who told you to do whatever they think you're doing. 

Quote of the Day

"You can't have faith without a desire to have faith. It just doesn't work."

Caleb Darger

Quote of the Day

And it came to pass that Moses began to fear exceedingly; and as he began to fear, he saw the bitterness of hell. Nevertheless, calling upon God, he received strength, and he commanded, saying: Depart from me, Satan, for this one God only will I worship, which is the God of glory. (Pearl of Great Price, Moses, Chapter 1)

Quote of the Day

"People are just people, they shouldn't make you nervous."

Anonymous 

Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

"Greatness can be acquired through humility"

Emma Matheson (editor)

Quote of the Day

“Loyalty is when everything is going wrong and there is nothing you can do about it and you stand for what you believe in anyway. Whether that belief is in yourself, a friend, or just a concept.”

Anonymous

Quote of the Day

"As daughters of God we are each unique and different in our circumstances and experiences. And yet our part matters—because we matter. Our daily contributions of nurturing, teaching, and caring for others may seem mundane, diminished, difficult, and demeaning at times, and yet as we remember that first line in the Young Women theme—“We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us”—it will make all the difference in our relationships and our responses."

2013 April General Conference, We Are Daughters of Our Heavenly Father, Sat. Morning Session - By Elaine S. Dalton

Quote of the Day

"The best way to catch yourself when you're falling is to stop what you're doing, smile, laugh and recollect the good times.”

Anonymous 

I Will Not Let You Break Me

When I'm nervous about something my brain automatically begins to talk me out of whatever it is.

But I've learned to tell my brain stop. There is nothing in this life that I should be afraid of. There may be choices I am faced with that will be bad for my soul or my body but I need not be afraid of facing them. I know that if I have faith, I can go through anything.

So here I come world! I'm not afraid of you and I will never back down.

I will not let you break me.

Quote of the Day

"We all dream a lot, some are lucky, some are not."
Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat

Quote of the Day

"There is more sense in that than in reputation. Reputation is an idle and most false imposition, oft got without merit and lost without deserving. You have lost no reputation at all, unless you repute yourself such a loser."
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Othello

Me

This is who I am. Any one or any thing that enters my life that could influence me to stray off of this better get out of town.

Quote of the Day

“One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes.” (Nov. 2012 Ensign, Of Regrets and Resolutions, By President Dieter F. Uchtdorf)

Springtime

Springtime can mean lots of things. For some it means an extension of winter. For others the long wait before summer. For me it means starting over, becoming who I want to become, and not letting my past haunt my future.

Quote of the Day

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Photo credit Noah Fetzer.

Rising to the Top

Changes in life are difficult. There is no getting around that. Changes may be difficult but our attitude toward the changes can be whatever we want. All we have to do is flip the switch. If something difficult happens to me, I work my hardest to be happy about it, even if I have to fake it for a while. At least I'm pushing trough the trail and on to the next. We can't give up when we get to the first mountain. If we do, we won't get any closer to the sea. We will be stuck in a valley of hardship. But WE MUST RISE TO THE TOP!!

Quote of the Day

“Perception is the difference between optimism and pessimism; the people who are happier in life will always choose to be optimistic."
Anonymous.

Quote of the Day

“Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”
Confucius

DDDT: don't do dumb things

When you get after a friend for doing something or saying something that hurts your feel goods, it's probably a very bad idea to be a hypocrite and complete the same actions that your friend completed. The only thing to do now is to apologize and hope that they love you enough to forgive you.

Quote of the Day

"Lemonade: I don’t really care if my glass is half full or half empty-- I’m just happy to have a glass."
Joe Ferrell

I think this is very important to remember because there will always be a situation where you will want to complain. We can change our attitude, or as my mom says "flip the switch", and look at it from another point of view. I've found that it makes life more enjoyable.

Quote of the Day

“There is more to life than increasing it’s speed."
Gandhi

This is the most important fact of life. Sometimes all one needs is a break from the speeding world and a moment or two to just relax and enjoy the view. This has become one of my life goals.

Quote of the Day

“You don’t drown by falling in water, you drown by staying there.”
Edwin Louis Cole

This is simple, strong, and very true. A lot of people I know complain about there life situation and how life is so hard. But through this quote I have realized that whenever we are complaining about our current state of living, we are simply being too lazy to change it.

Quote of the Day

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
Philippians 4:13, the Holy Bible

An acquaintance showed me this scripture this morning and when reading and pondering over it I can't help but feel that Christ is on my side.

Quote of the Day

This is actually a poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1889) titled Spring and Fall. I went to my AP English teacher asking for some extra credit and he gave me this and asked me to write an essay on it. I wasn't quite sure what to do at first but then, with some discussion with my teacher, I managed to analyze it and I found it to contain a wonderful meaning.

To a Young Child

Margaret, are you grieving
Over Goldengrove unleaving?
Leaves, like the things of man, you
With your fresh thoughts care for, can you?
Ah! as the heart grows older
It will come to such sights colder
By and by, nor spare a sigh
Though worlds of wanwood leafmeal lie;
And yet you will weep and know why.
Now no matter, child, the name:
Sorrow's springs are the same.
Nor mouth had, no nor mind, expressed
What héart héard of, ghóst guéssed:
It is the blight man was born for,
It is Margaret you mourn for.

I found this so interesting because in the end, Margaret is mourning because she realize that she will someday lose this fatherly figure to death and that she will die as well. Her only hope is her faith in God and some form of afterlife, in which we all should have faith.

Quote of the Day

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
The Holy Bible, St. Matthew 5:16

I love this one. Not only because it is very inspiring religiously, but also in every other aspect of our lives. There will be times when we as human beings will be stuck in situations where we feel uncomfortable, robbed of the happy feeling surrounding us, or even violated of our morals or standards. But we must be strong and stand for what we believe in. Because at the end of the day when we face our Maker, that's all that is going to matter, and that is all that should matter to us now.

Quote of the Day

“Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.”
Rabindranath Tagore

Quote of the Day

“Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.”
Norma Peale

I'm not sure why this one stands out to me... Maybe because it applies to every aspect of life. No matter where you are, or who you're with, never forget your full potential.

Quote of the Day

"There's a crack in everything-- that's how the light gets in."

Leonardo Cohen

This quote has saved me when I'm having a bad day, my heart has been broken, or even poked around a little bit. Leonardo Cohen, a Canadian singer, songwriter, has just inspired me to find a band-aid, patch up my broken heart, and move on in life. Because better moments will come along, and if I'm too busy being sad about something that is already past, I won't be able to enjoy the present, or ponder over the future.

Quote of the Day

"To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake, it is necessary to stand out in the cold."
-Anonymous

I love these Anonymous quotes because anyone could have written it. It brings in this new sense of creativity into something that has already been said and discovered, because if you don't know who said it, the quote can be taken in any context. It opens a new door to inspiration.

Quote of the Day

“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% what you do with what happens to you.”
-Anonymous

Panorama Moment

my home :) my warm and loving home.

Hi there!

Hey guys! I know you probably just clicked on this website 'cause you're desperate for help with your reproduction-of-cells homework.... but I guess I'll disappoint you by saying this is just a blog about.... well... it's about life... and the things that happen when people are going through it.
I'm hoping that my thoughts and ideas will inspire you to do... great things... or something like that.