Let it snow!

Ryan and I made the BEST snowman EVER!

Christmas Challenge!

# of pages in the 4 Gospels: 178

Days left until Christmas: 7

Experience of Reading the 4 Gospels in the New Testament to truly remember the reason for the season: Priceless

If you want to do it with me- it is 26 pages (rounded up) a day from Matthew to John!

Mysterious

The Lord works in mysterious ways. He really does. But I guess its not so much the mystery of his works, but that He works.

I've been emailing a friend and was relating a few difficult experiences that have happened recently and I made this observation:

Something I've been contemplating is how sometimes we hit that point where we think we just can't handle life anymore. Yet, the Lord always seems to test our limits further. But when he does, and we realize we can't handle it anymore, we learn that we can find strength in the Lord when we literally have none left. And by doing so prove to God and to ourselves what we are actually capable of.

I'm realizing how true that is. The Lord has a heavy hand in our lives. He is there and he is actively participating in my life! But however true that is I've noticed that sometimes when life is hard it just gets harder. No matter how hard I pray (and work) it just doesn't go away, neither does it get easier for awhile. But I've discovered the Lord does it on purpose. I'm supposed to be learning and becoming something.

And those times that I just can't handle it, when I literally don't have the strength, he does. I find it in him. So when I do push forward and I keep enduring to the end is when I prove to Him and to me that I can do this and I do it with Him.

As my roommate would say, "What a blessing!"

Meet the roommates...

I've always been grateful for good roommates. Thankfully I haven't had hardly any bad ones. However, this semester has been exceptional. So I want to introduce you to Apt. #8 (except for the men of course)!

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As you can see we have done an incredible amount of traveling together. And we all know what great bonding moments you experience on various travels. I know its pretty amazing that those fat bodies can make it up such high mountains. We all seem to have some weight issues.
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So thank you girls! For being "such a blessing!"
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I would just like to note that I am the tallest person there!
(That never happens!)

A tasty treat...

I shouldn't... but I do... and I like it!

Just combine a few of these:

*mint preferred

With a mug full of this:

*hazelnut is best

Hmmmmmmm. And enjoy!

It just makes me happy.

Study: Gratitude

I'm a copy-cat! Thanks for the idea Shalyn!

100 Things I'm Grateful for...

1. My incredible mom!
2. Uplifting music
3. My beautiful mountains!
4. An all to sensible father who keeps me in line
5. Christmas lights! (Yes ours are already up)
6. A good education
7. Fall leaves
8. Disney movies
9. Trials that continue to remind me of all my blessings
10. Laughter
11. Phone calls from my grandparents
12. Hugs
13. True friends... you know who you are!
14. Family History!
15. Jamba Juice
16. My blog!
17. Snowball fights
18. Good memories
19. Temples!
20. Scrapbooks
21. My journal
22. Thank you Cards
23. New friends
24. Good crys... yes I am grateful for them
25. Rain
26. Snowboarding
27. The Spirit helping me along the way
28. Horseback riding
29. A certain country song I like to sing REALLY loud
30. Books
31. Conference Issue Ensign
32. Brandon playing football with me all day!
33. My quilts tied by grandma
34. My house
35. String cheese
36. Views that take your breath away
37. My little shadow... Brittany
38. Chocolate Cake
39. Missionaries: Sis. Briggs, Sis. Smoot, Sis. Jones :D
40. My bishop
41. Smiles from strangers
42. Pictures!
43. A good recipe
44. Journey... yes the Band
45. My super duper laptop
46. Spending time with my family
47. New markers
48. Catching up with friends I love
49. Familysearch.com Indexing! You should all do it!
50. Impromptu get-togethers
51. Peace
52. Quotes. I'm a sucker for a good one
53. My jeep!
54. Hazelnut hot chocolate...hmmm
55. Kind words
56. Those good people who fix my computer!
57. Inspirational moments
58. The scriptures
59. Those inspirational moments WITH the scriptures!
60. My cell phone. At least I think I'm grateful for it
61. Men who will change my oil so I don't have to
62. Hymns:
63. If You Could Hie to Kolob
64. O My Father
65. I Stand All Amazed
66. Lord I Would Follow Thee
67. Praise to the Man
68. Scarfs... especially in Rexburg
69. BYU Idaho
70. Piano Music
71. Opportunities
72. Service
73. Good Health
74. Highlighters
75. People who REALLY care, and don't judge
76. Times to sacrifice
77. The BYUI Activities Program
78. Ivie Family Christmas Party
79. Card games
80. My tennis shoes
81. Hope...I'm VERY grateful for that
82. Those times you feel your heart ache and the only thing you can do is give it to the Lord
83. My camera!
84. Jokes
85. Hitting my target heart for an extended amount of time! Yeah for exercise!
86. The Quiet Study Section of the library
87. Flowers
88. Sunshine
89. Modern Medicine
90. Warm homemade bread
91. Holidays from school
92. A competitive game. Me competitive?
93. Temple Square
94. Tender Mercies
95. People who are FILLED with optimism
96. Sincere Compliments
97. Elastics
98. The Atonement
99. The Gospel
100. My Savior

A night out...

Daddy-Daughter Date: The Holy War Duel

I'm pretty sure this man is the best date around! There is nothing like wearing blue in a sea of red.

Me!

Photos by Stacey Gold. Isn't she awesome!!!

Book Report: Running with Angels

I really enjoyed this book. It's an easy read, but it has some powerful lessons about life and about learning to love ourselves.

It's Pamela Hansen's very real experience with morbid obesity, life's trials, and how to endure and overcome. What I really appreciate is her application of Ether 12:27 of making weak things strengths. Its a success story of self-mastery, and that is absolutely inspiring to me!

"Dreams can be achieved when they are turned into goals" (pp 185)

I would recommend it for a quick, inspiriation read! For sure! I'm going to have to go run a marathon now! :)

Goal #47

Goal #47: Povide opportunities for others to "experience" life

Okay, Okay... I'm not sure if you consider throwing parties allowing others to "experience" life, but it has been a great memory anyway. And it's been a great experience for my roommates and I to have fun with people we love!

Every other Thursday we have a party and invite anyone and everyone we know. The first week we had a Carmel Apple Party. We had carmel apples with chocolate, toffee, nuts, etc. Hmmm! They were so good! Shalyn also made some delicious carmel popcorn. At the end of the night we had carmel EVERYWHERE! It was great for clean checks that are also every Thursday. ha ha.

The Thursday before Halloween we had a Pumpkin Party. I made some of mom's fabulous Pumpkin Dump Cake, and Natalie made Great Harvest's recipe for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread. It was incredible! We decided to get a big game of signs going when people came by (one of the best games EVER!). We had a good time. But I'm still a little bitter I only got a small piece of that dump cake. :)

Last night we had crepes. Another personal favorite. Flannel, Natalie, and I couldn't get them off the stove fast enough. We ended up making 9 batches of crepes. Ha ha... seriously! We were a mess.... especially after our whip cream fight. Oops...

It's such a blessing to have good people in our lives! Like Ralph Waldo Emerson said,

"The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it."

House of the Lord

And I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house.

D&C 110:7

Rexburg has had some unusally beautiful sunrises this week. I happened to catch one on my camera and these are a few glimpses of what I saw...

It was incredible.

Things I'm lovin' right now!

Quarter Slices at Great Harvest

(Everywhere else its free... but in Rexburg they charge the students 25 cents!) I highly recommend the Pumpkin Chocolate Chip! Hmmm!

Crunchy Leaves!

Fall is definitely my favorite time of year! I love the changing colors and brisk weather! I missed last fall since I was in Jerusalem. My mother knew how much I missed the leaves so she sent me a Ziploc FULL of them. Isn't she the best!

Frozen Grapes!

So I had never heard of anyone freezing grapes before this semester... but I LOVE it! It helps kick my popsicle addiction!

The Book: The Last Lecture

My grandmother recommended this book to me. It's a true story about a professor who got diagnosed with cancer and only has a few months to live. He is invited to give a "last lecture" and this is his story of his life and lessons learned. I really enjoyed it. If I was dying what would I give my "last lecture" on?

An Affair to Remember

I love this movie! It's a classic! It's got to be The Chick of all other Chick Flicks! Our apartment watched it the other day. The songs have been stuck in my head ever since. I just love this movie!

Our apartment Gratitude Wall!

We've been having so much fun with our "What a blessing" wall! For every blessing we can think of we make a dot and put it up on the wall! It's a great reminder everyday of the things that we're grateful for and what really make us happy. It's fabulous!

Goal #103

I have a new goal to put up on my 100 things to do list...

Goal #103 Get my picture on a Jones Soda!

Beauty: Teton Valley

Something I've been thinking about...

beau·ty

–noun, plural -ties.

The quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising from sensory manifestations (as shape, color, sound, etc.), a meaningful design or pattern, or something else (as a personality in which high spiritual qualities are manifest).

These are some pictures I took this weekend while thinking about beauty:

Just for me

I got a voicemail from a favorite aunt of mine (one of my favorites!) the other day. I was walking through the parking lot when I was listening to it, and afterwards I had to sit down and cry. :) This is the quote she gave me...

Now remember:

You are braver than you believe.

You are stronger than you seem.

And you are smarter than you think."

-Christopher Robin

to Winnie the Pooh

Just remember that!

Goal #69: Learn to Cook!!

French Coconut Maccaroons!
Yummy Yummy!

To make:

4 egg whites
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup powdered sugar
2 cups flaked coconut
1/2 cup flour

Beat egg whites until still peaks form. Add vanilla and mix well. Gradually add in powdered sugar, beating well after each addition. Beat until stiff and glossy. Fold in coconut and flour until well mixed. Drop by teaspoonfuls into lightly buttered and floured cookie sheet. Bake at 325 for 25 min or until lightly browned.

Book Report: Glimpses

Glimpses Into the Life and Heart of Marjorie Pay Hinckley

This is an amazing, AMAZING book! I loved every minute of it. Sister Hinckley is so real. It makes it easy to relate and be inspired by her.

I want to share some of my favorite quotes, gosh dang, just cause I love them so much!

We are His children, and if we ever got that through our heads thoroughly, understood that completely, we would never do a small thing, we would never say a cross word, we would not use bad language, we would not criticize anybody, we would love everyone the way the Savior loves us (pp 11).

Shortly before we were to be married,Gordon called and said, "I think we had better go to lunch today." So we did and he said, "I think you should know that I only have $150 to my name." Well, $150 sounded like a small fortune to me. I had hoped for a husband and now I was getting $150 too! I said, "Oh, that will work out just fine; if you've got $150 we're set!" (pp 79)

Think about your particular assignment at this time in your life. It is to get an education. This is a wonderful assignment. Don't take it lightly. Give it your full heart and energy. Do whatever you have to do this week; and do it cheerfully. To do less than this will leave you with an empty feeling (pp 85).

Make life an adventure. Don't say, "Well here's another day." Say, "Here's a new day. What have I that I can put into it?"

And my all time favorite quote:

Elder Neal A. Maxwell once said, "We are here in mortality, and the only way to go is through; there isn't any way around!" I would add, the only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it.
You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache(pp 107).

This book is a must read for sure! Especially if you need a daily dose of inspiration!

Hard Times

Solution:

1) Prayer

2) Country Music

4) Ben and Jerry's New York Super Fudge Chunk

100 Things To Do in Life

I love life! I really, really do! We've been blessed with so many opportunities! Sometimes it just makes me excited to think of all the things we can do here in mortality!

A couple years ago I wrote up 100 Things I'm going to do in life and I decided (along with my personal history that I'm sure I'll write in my later years) that I'm going to write a book with my experiences with these things: If I ever did them, how I accomplished it, lessons learned, and even lessons learned if I didn't accomplish it. It's going to be so much fun! And I think it will be a great legacy to pass on! :)

If you've never sat down and written a list like this I HIGHLY suggest it! It has been a blessing to have during times that I've been down, depressed, and unmotivated. Its reminded me that there is so much to do and we only have one lifetime to do them! Anyway, if you get a minute I would definitely write one out. (Make sure 1-they are things in your control! 2-They are completable!)

Since this is a STUDY of MY LIFE I thought it would be more than appropriate to put these on my blog and track them. So here it is...

100 Things To Do in Life
In no particular order

1. Get married in the temple
2. Make friends with a Muslim
3. Write a book
4. Visit 100 countries
5. Raise my kids to be missionaries:
provide opportunities for my kids to learn and grow in missionary work
6. Attend the temple ever week for a year
7. Go skydiving or hang-gliding
8. Bake bread and make homemade jam with my kids
9. Sacrifice something I really really want for a stranger
10. Have a garden
11. Make a quilt
12. Do my genealogy and temple work with my family
13. Have a "library" in my home
14. Adopt a child
15. Love someone that I really don't like
16. Act in a play
17. Learn to arrange flowers
18. Provide opportunities for my children to understand the importance of temples
19. Lean to sew
20. Give haircuts (learn how first!)
21. Make a difference to a child
22. Learn a foreign language
23. Help troubled youth
24. Be fugal with my expenses... always
25. Teach
26. Get a bachelors degree
27. Get a pilots license
28. Go sailing
29. Snowboard confidently
30. Swim with dolphins
31. Own a dog
32. Own a horse
33. Go mountain biking
34. Serve a mission... and if I can't serve full time
than live the life of a missionary
35. Go to Real Estate School
36. Invest in several real estate investments
37. Learn to play piano confidently
38. Learn how to play the violin confidently too!
39. Give a significant portion of income... or $1 million dollars to different charities
40. Always pay tithing first
41. Floss once a week for a year
42. Create memories for my family working together
43. Go camping with my family
44. Go on a road trip across the country
45. Do something for my parents to let them know how much I love them
46. Live in a foreign countries for at least a year
47. Provide opportunities for others to "experience" life :D
ie. trips, parties, games, discussions, etc.
48. Start and Run a successful business
49. Stay in touch with lifetime friends
50. Memorize the Living Christ/Family Proclamation
51. Be a fitness instructor
52. Learn how and decorate my own home
53. Buy, Fix up, and Sell a home
54. Learn Feng Shui
55. Learn to fix my car and be "car literate"
56. Teach my kids to tie their shoes
57. Keep a book of precious memories of my kids
(Things the did or said)
58. Give people presents unexpectedly
59. Learn to accept compliments and give them freely
60. Magnify my callings
61. Develop an artistic skill and give something as a present
62. Go on a formal date with my husband
63. Learn grammar
64. Make something beautiful in representation of my love for the Lord
65. Write and submit an essay
66. Help on a political campaign
67. Help children develop their talents
68. Believe in someone
69. Learn to cook!!
70. Always recognize the potential and goodness in my husband...
and let him know!
71. Say "I love you" everyday for a year!
72. Help a friend come into the gospel
73. Do something special individually with each of my siblings
(while we are young, and when we get older)
74. Organize my pictures!
75. Hike Kilimanjaro or Everest Base Camp
76. Learn ASL (American Sign Language)
77. Get a masters
78. Work outdoors for a summer
79. Write letters to all my grandchildren and children
80. Have a sleepover with all my grandkids
81. Learn photography... make a portfolio
82. Learn to rock climb
83. Oversee a large humanitarian project
84. Host a foreign exchange student
85. Study Abroad
86. Have a lifetime pen pal
87. Start/join a book club
88. Ride an elephant
89. Take dance lessons... ballroom, ballet, swing, etc.
90. Teach kids how to invest their money
91. Learn to play tennis
92. Become friends with an orthodox Jew
93. See all the 7 wonders of the world!
94. TRY fish/seafood
95. Find a good way to support the troops
96. Get kissed in the rain
97. Throw someone a surprise party when they weren't expecting it
98. Help someone in need
99. Plant a cherry tree in my yard...maybe a plum tree
100. Always do the things I'm afraid to do
Recently added:
101. Do a bike race
102. Complete a triathlon

103. Get my picture on Jones Soda!

Remember

"God is weaving his tapestry according to his own grand design. All flesh is in his hands. It is not our prerogative to counsel him. It is our responsiblilty and our opportunity to be at peace in our minds and in our hearts, and to know that he is God, that this is his work, and that he will not permit it to fail."
President Gordon B. Hinckley

Study: Water

Man! Weren't the Olympics awesome! There is something about a dedicated athlete that just inspires me! Dara Torres was incredible! Even though she didn't get her individual gold I'm still impressed! And Michael Phelps... whoa! Now there is a powerhouse! I can't believe someone can swim that fast! It was so much fun watching him meet his Olympic goals (and kicking everyone else's butt)!

So I have a confession. I hate water. Actually, its more of a love-hate relationship. I love water. It hates me. Whenever I tell people that they don't believe me. I put on a good game face around water so you wouldn't usually be able to tell that we don't get along. Now don't get me wrong, one of my very favorite past times is looking at it when we're at the beach or the lake. Plus I really enjoy a good canoe, boat, or raft ride.

However, I've never liked it just me and it (unless its a bubble bath in my own safe bathroom).

Well I recently made a personal goal to complete a triathlon.... a mini one. Baby steps, starting small! And as you all know a third of that is... swimming. Yuck. "So what do we do? We Swim! Swim!" (Thanks Dory)

I started swim lessons yesterday. Ha ha... it's true! When I got in the water the instructor looked at me and asked, "Do you have a phobia of the water?" I laughed and asked if it counts as a phobia if I won't put my face in the water. She smiled and I'm sure quickly realized she had her work cut out for her.

I would like to announce that at the end of the day I had successfully put my head under the water MANY times! AND I learned how to dive in! (Special thanks to Flannel and Jason! You guys ROCK!)

So thus begins my study of water. Wish me luck. I hope the next time I see you won't be at my funeral. ;)

Ryan

A couple of years ago I developed this habit of signing "I love you" to people. Well yesterday Ryan, my autistic brother, was passing me in the kitchen and I stopped him and held up my hand in the ASL sign for love. Normally he wouldn't care what I had to say and would be on his way. But every once in awhile he'll let you connect with him and his world. When he saw my hand he looked me right in the eye and said, "I love Carlee."

Wow!

I didn't even know that he knew signs!

Now when I hold it up he says, "I love Ryan."

And I do! I love ya Ry!

Book Report: Count of Monte Christo

What a good book! I've wanted to read this since high school, but I didn't get around to it until last week. I loved it! Just ask Casey... I couldn't put it down!

“There is neither happiness nor misery in the world; there is only the comparison of one state with another, nothing more. He who has felt the deepest grief is best able to experience supreme happiness.”

What I liked:
-The adventure!
-The tone the author chose
-The developed themes that represent the core of human emotion
-The developing of characters throughout the whole book
-Dantes relationship with God

What I didn't like:
-It wasn't a happy ending. Let me clarify-It was a GOOD ending-I'm just a sucker for happy endings.

Recommendation: Read it! And then keep it on the shelf for a rainy day. (Just to note: It's nothing like the movie)

My Study of Life

Alright, it is finally time to use this blog as I originally intended-a record of 'my study of life.' So far I've basically used it to journal my life and travels, but I'm going to try and revert it to what I've always intended it to be. And the reason I'm posting this intention at all is so that I will finally commit! ha ha! Sometimes you just do what you got to do!

Life is to precious to just sit back and watch it pass by. We only get one chance, one life. Doesn't it just catch you off guard once in a while that you are alive! That the Lord has blessed you with this chance to prove yourself here on Earth. We get to live, love, and serve Him and those that we have been blessed to have in our lives. Wow.

You're alive. Do something. The directive in life, the moral imperative is so uncomplicated. It can be expressed in single words, not complete sentences.

It sounds like this: Look. Listen. Choose. Act.

-Barbara Hall, A summons to New Orleans, 2000

I'm terribly excited to use this blog for my studies, projects, and findings. I've been doing this in a notebook for years but its time to get it organized and share!

The unexamined life is not worth living.

-Socrates

Love: Holly and Isaiah

Holly and I have been great friends since high school when she sat behind me in seminary my junior year. She is one of the sweetest, most genuine people I know! In July she is marrying the love of her life... Isaiah. I offered to take some pictures for them and we had a TON of fun! So I thought I would post of few so you could see. Let me know what you think!