Day #36: A deep thought I felt really great about...

One of my friends had a facebook status talking about how he hates it when people order food and say "I need a Big Mac and a large fry." because they don't actually need it.  He said that we need water and air, but that we just want those things.  I understand the point that he was trying to make... but I don't think I completely agree.

So this is what I said:
"not to play devil's advocate or anything... but i think it all depends on the context of how you are using the word "need". Because honestly, you don't "need" water or air to die... but you do "need" them to live. You may not "need" a big mac and a large fry to live... but you might "need" them to satisfy a craving that you're having at the time. Catch my drift? (:
just a little food for thought. (;
{pun intended. pun achieved.}"
I mean am I right?
What we need is really determined by what we need said object FOR.

I'm just sayin'.

Just let that simmer for a while.

Day #35: Living the Dream.

...... did i really just send in my byu jerusalem application...............

i've been thinking about this for months. and now i actually did it.

it almost gives me chills.

my mom always told us we had big dreams, but that we had to actually make them happen. whether or not i actually get to go is still to be decided, but it still feels amazing to at least be making the effort to do something i've dreamed of doing and been working towards. ♥

life's pretty amazing you know?

Day #34: Human Orbits.

"The same God that placed that star in a precise orbit millenia before it appeared over Bethlehem in celebration of the birth of the Babe has given at least equal attention to placement of each of us in precise human orbits so that we may, if we will, illuminate the landscape of our individual lives, so that our light may not only lead others but warm them as well." ~ Neal A. Maxwell

Perfect <3

At the end of an era.

Makes me step back and take a look back.

I'm so grateful for all of these people and the influence they had on me.

I'm so grateful for the blessings, the joys, the tears, and the heartache that they brought into my life.

No matter where life takes us, I will always remember them and the impact they had on my life.

My children WILL know their names.

And I feel so blessed to have had them in the orbits of my life.

And I'm excited to see where this next era takes me.

And the people that I am blessed enough to be included in their human orbitals.

WE WILL BE REMEMBERED <3

Day #33: Meet the Room-ee-z

Considering we're over half-way through the semester, I figured it was about time to introduce you to the room-ee-z. <3

Pretty much... I just love these girls and living with them a whole awful bunch.

Really though.

They make me laugh.

They talk to me and ask me how my day and dates go.

It's nice to know when you come home that someone cares about how your day went.

And are adequately distracting when they need to be.

They listen to me vent and are protective.

We pray together, play together, and live together.

Meet Krista: She is our outdoors woman. Seriously though. She is awesome. Triathalon? No problem. Dutch oven cooking? no problem! Save your parking space? NO problem. She also goes a little crazy when given caffeine....

Meet Melissa: Melissa is almost done with school and is so sweet. She also loves game nights and is always willing to go out and have fun if something's going on.

Meet Rosie: She is the best whistler I've ever met. Srsly. It sounds like a princess (as does her voice). She also is in the marching band. We really like to laugh and talk and sing together. We also like to greet each other when we come home (;

Meet Allison: We are going to co-host a talk show. And she is one of the greatest traffic sources of my blog. She also loves "Children of Eden" which made us automatic friends. Also obsessed with BYU sports.

Meet Robyn: My room-roommate. She is such a great example to me.  She is so good at listening to and I love when she tells me her stories.  Robyn's enthusiasm for life is awesome and I just love her lots.

Meet Me: Kacy Jae. I'll let you decide what I'm like for yourself (;

Pretty much I'm just really blessed to have these girls in my life and as my roommates.  I love them lots and lots and I'm so excited to get to spend the rest of the year with them!

Day #32: Perpetually Allergic.

This is a post dedicated to my allergies.
Why?
Cause I looked like this today:

But I felt I like this:

You see, at some point I developed really awful allergies....
It used to be where I could just take medication that the doctor prescribed when they started acting up and it solved my problem
But then they came.

And wouldn't go away.

And then I went and worked at a daycare.
And got a sinus infection.
And had to go to the doctor's office about once a month over the summer.

Then he gave me a shot to help my allergies calm down.
And it worked. Seriously one of the best medical choices I've ever made.

Only problem is it is a temporary shot.

And now they're back.

The end.
Blech.

Day #31: The red pants.

I just feel really good about the fact that I had these red pants before it was the "in" thing to do...
I'm just sayin'.

However, I have since retired these pants.
And I am without colored pants now.



But they made me feel really awesome while they lasted. (: <3

Can you tell?

Day #30: The Difference.

Have you ever had a crummy day where you're just a little short of miserable?

I've found that there's usually only one thing that can make me feel better on such days (aside from just going to vegging in sweats, watching byu approved soap operas, and sleep anyway) and that is people.

Maybe it's just because I'm an extrovert and therefore naturally energized by other people.

Or maybe it's because there is something in each of us that hungers for love and interaction with others.

Sometimes all it takes is a long phone call and just knowing that someone cares.
Sometimes it just takes a little bit of laughing a lot with your roommates.
Sometimes it just takes a walk and an hour and a half of getting something off your chest that you've had weighing on you for too long.
Sometimes it's a milkshake run, an ICEE run, and snickers bar/visit, or a Krispy Kreme doughnut.
Or one of your best friends and his family taking you out to dinner and buying you chips? Not even just because you're a poor, starving college student, but because they love you and just take the best care of you.
Or going to Pizza Pie Cafe with some friends even though you don't feel like spending money.

There is something to be said for spending time with the people you love.  There is something to be said for feeling a connection with someone (or multiple people).

And I think the most interesting thing is... the more and more I think about it....... everyone needs someone.
I don't mean a romantic someone... I just mean that person that cares that you exist. The person that makes a difference.

I don't think I'm the only person who's been afraid of being creepy or someone taking something the wrong way, but we should probably get over those feelings.
Because our efforts towards someone else could mean the world to that person.
No one dislikes being told nice things or getting letters/notes.  No one doesn't need to know that they are loved or be told that they're being thought about.

Everyone needs to be checked on and given a hug.  Everyone deserves to be told when they look nice.  Everyone needs to know that someone cares about them.

Everyone needs a someone.

And the thing is... we can be that someone.

We can be the difference.

And I am so incredibly thankful for all of the people in my life who have been that difference.  From people who have been in my life as long as I remember, to Brian, the kid I met on the bus once that was only in my life for three hours, to the new friends that I've just made recently..... This is dedicated to all of you who have touched my life.

And you may not even realize the impact you've had.....

This is for you <3

Day #29: Srsly though...

Look at this baby!

Look.
At.
This.
Baby.

Srsly though. LOOK AT THIS BABY!!!! AND TELL ME IT'S NOT THE CUTEST THING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN!!!!!!!!!

Also, today i had another one of those beautiful moments.
A moment when everything just aligned.
A moment when I re-realized that I am going into the right field.
When I remembered just how much I am going to love it.

Because I already love it.

And it is only beginning <3

Day #28: The grand adventure.

Becoming.

I am becoming.

This past year has been such a journey for me. It's been like taking a journey through an undiscovered mountain range. I am the explorer.

Like any mountain range, there have been ups and there have been downs, but unlike other mountain ranges, mine is unending. There is no definite number of slopes, and a peak can turn to a cliff within an instant.

Or sometimes, I am lifted up on the wings of deity and carried to the highest summit.

At times on my journey I have been struck with awe at the breathtaking beauty of the moments that surround me. The vibrant colors and jagged rough edges of life touch my heart as I acknowledge the diversity of experience.

At other times, the sharp pains and darkened paths have caused me to fall to my knees and beg for guidance.

And for a light.

Occasionally I am struck with the light in an instant, like lightening, and I am unable to deny what I am supposed to do.

Other times I gain the light gradually. Slowly. One color at a time.

Like a sunrise.

And sometimes that leaves me questioning, until I can see the full splendor and magnificence that lay before me.

The journey at times has broken me down.

It has brought me to my lowest levels.

At times, like the mountains around me, I have felt as though I were crumbling.... and I have had to question who I am. I have had to find who I am.

Without the security of everything you know. Without the confidence from everything you love, you become vulnerable.

You become moldable.

Your raw potential becomes exposed. And yet you must realize that without an artist, you will never become a masterpiece. When you recognize this... and you work with the Artist, together, you can become beautiful.

But it is not always easy.

He never promised that it would be easy. Just that it would be possible.

As you are broken down, you begin to wonder if you are ever going to be able to stand again. You wonder if you are doomed to be as the broken pile of rubble at the base of the mountain.

If you are wise, however, you realize that in reality, this is seldom the fate of anything that is broken down.

Our muscles for example. When you exercise, your muscles break down, but your body uses this as a tool. It takes the opportunity to rebuild, renew, and become stronger. You gain muscle.

After an earthquake, architects and builders take the opportunity to learn, rethink, and rebuild even bigger, even better structures. The building becomes stronger.

After a tragedy. After a heartbreak. After we feel so broken down that we do not think we can make it any longer, our soul must do this too. It rebuilds. It renews. Our soul relearns. Heavenly Father uses this as a means for our soul to become stronger.

We gain character.

And we continue on.

As we walk, as we experience, we learn what we like and don't like. What makes us happy. We learn what we want. We learn what we want to be. We start to discover what we need to be.

And as we begin to discover and explore these new facets of our personality and who we are, a field opens before us and we begin to gain focus.

We find what is important.

We start to gain confidence:

Confidence in relying on the Savior, because by this point, you realize that it is Him who guided you to this point.

You recognize the field as one of endless possibilities.

And you find yourself full of hope.

You find the love restored that once you lost.

You find that love in your interaction with others.

You find that love for life.

You find that you are loved and worth being loved....

Not because you weren't before.

But because you might have been temporarily blinded to these realities.

Everyone deserves to be loved.

And everyone deserves to know that they are loved.

And everyone deserves to find themselves and to find God.

And guess what?

He's right there waiting.....

He has already found you. You were never lost to Him. You were never below his reach.

He was there the whole time.

So let yourself take his hand.

Let Him lead you on a journey.

A beautiful journey.

A strengthening journey.

A journey which you will never forget:

A journey to find yourself.

Day #27: The P.E. teacher.

That awkward moment when you really think the attractive P.E. teacher at the elementary school you volunteer at is flirting with you.....

and then he mentions his fiancee's little sister............. and then you wonder why he was being so friendly................

................................oh utah county........

Boys: It would be most helpful to girls if you would wear an engagement ring of some sort... just sayin'.

..........

Day #26: Names

Kacy Jae Carr.
Stephen and Kathy's Daughter. Sydni, Scott, and Kelley's sister.
Kay-Raw. Kace. Kacy-jae-cee.
Miss Lady. Red Chip. Cake-y.

Names.
Names are important to us.
They are specific to each person, typically stay with us for a period of time, and give us an identity.  It is how we come to recognize ourselves.
It makes us feel good when those with whom we come in contact remember our names and call us by name.
My young women's leader once told us that our name is our integrity.
What do people think about when they hear our name?
Do they think good things, or negative things?
Or perhaps more importantly, what do we think when we hear our own name?
Elder Dallin H. Oaks once said this in an interview,

"There are also people who consider the defining fact of their existence that they are from Texas or that they were in the United States Marines. Or they are red-headed, or they are the best basketball player that ever played for such-and-such a high school. People can adopt a characteristic as the defining example of their existence and often those characteristics are physical.

We have the agency to choose which characteristics will define us; those choices are not thrust upon us.

The ultimate defining fact for all of us is that we are children of Heavenly Parents, born on this earth for a purpose, and born with a divine destiny. Whenever any of those other notions, whatever they may be, gets in the way of that ultimate defining fact, then it is destructive and it leads us down the wrong path."

So why this tangent on names?
And what realization did I make? Well I'm getting there.

I flipped open to Mosiah chapter 5 today for my scripture study and this is what I read:

"And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free.  There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives.  And it shall come to pass that whosoever doeth this shall be found at the right hand of God, for he shall know the name by which he is called; for he shall be called by the name of Christ." (Mosiah 5:8-9)

This is what got me thinking about names, their implications, and how important they are.
Shouldn't the most important defining characteristic by which we are known be that of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  That IS what we covenant to do every time we partake of the sacrament. He is the Light, the Life, and the Way.
As Elder Oaks said, we often get so wrapped up in the "I am a theater kid." "I am a jock." "I am a ballerina."
Yet as I make this list, I cannot help but be reminded of another name by which the Savior is known.
Is it not the Savior who is known as the great I AM?
And we are to take upon us His name.

Let being His disciple and being a child of God be our defining quality. Let us serve Him and always strive to live worthy of His name and become comfortable with being called by His name.

"...that ye hear and know the voice by which ye shall be called, and also, the name by which ye shall be called, and also, the name by which he shall call you.  For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?" (Mosiah 5:12-13)

What does our Savior and our Father in Heaven think when they hear our name?
I certainly hope that they look on us and see our greatest potentials.  I envision they are probably sitting there cheering for us and hoping that we will live up to our capabilities and gifts.
I also hope that I am honoring their names.
I hope I am doing with their name what they would want me to be doing.
I hope I am living worthy enough and close enough to His spirit that I will recognize when He calls me.
I hope we ALL are.

May we come to know the Savior enough and strive to live in such a way that those who know us will want to know Him more by the way we choose to live.

I know that Jesus is the Christ and that he did indeed die for us. I know that He lives.  I know that the atonement is real.  It empowers, it strengthens, and it eases our pains.  And I know that it is through Him that we can live again and return home to our Father in Heaven.  We do not have to do this alone.
The Lord is here.
He is waiting.
We cannot make it back without Him.
Turn to Him.
This is my testimony, and I close this message in His name,the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Day #25: A tribute...

This post is a tribute to my friend who gives amazing birthday gifts.
Why?
No it's not my birthday, but I wore the latest gift he gave me to school today (:

This is for you Zac Cooper.

One of the reasons his gifts are SO perfect is because he just thinks, "Kacy will LOVE this."
And he is always right.
Are the gifts elaborate? No.
Are they expensive? Probably not.
But they are SO thoughtful! They are things that he just knows that I'll love. Which is just as good in my book.

That is why Zac Cooper is the reigning world champion for best birthday gift giver three years running.

"I'd never eat your brain."
He MADE me this shirt based on "The Zombie Song" by Stephanie Mabey and the artwork of Maddy Ashton.

Zac and I also LOVE doing Richard Simmons.

Cousin Ed came in a tank with two frogs that I named Sonny and Cher... then I released them to fend for themselves in Stansbury Lake.

This is exactly what it looks like: a bedazzled stapler with colored staples. When I see that pink staple in my papers... I just love it.

Day #24: "Let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee..."

This arrangement of this song never ceases to amaze me.
Or to touch me with the Spirit.

"For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads." ~ Doctrine and Covenants 25:12

That is this song.
It is a prayer. It is worship.
It is a cry for the help that we all must receive from our Savior, Jesus Christ.

"Jesus sought me when a stranger wandering from the fold of God.  He to rescue me from danger interposed His precious blood."

Enjoy this version of this beautiful song.
BYU combined choirs; arranged by the one and only Mack Wilberg

Day #23: Let it SNOW! {college that is (;}

Before anyone panics and thinks I'm wishing for snow, just know that I'm not THAT crazy.
I'm referring to SNOW College!!! (:
Which is where I spent half of my weekend!

My favorite half-goat man, Mr. Tumnus (Tyler as he is formally known to those who are unaware of his true identity) was having a choir concert on Friday night, and I thought that would be the perfect time to go see my badger friends!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Utah colleges, SNOW is a cute little junior college in Ephraim, Utah.  It's about an hour and a half-ish south of Provo, and the drive is beautiful (perfect for windows down, sunglasses on, and jamming out to country, regina spector, and some other favorite tunes)!
It was so fun to catch up with and see Makayla and Tyler! They're super fun and I love them lots!

Here are some things I learned/witnessed on my trip:
-SNOW has about 25,000 less people than my school and everyone knows everyone.
-Marches make you want to march. And do abdominal exercises....
-Cymbals are a completely necessary part of the Battle Hymn of the Republic

-If you talk about unicorns and rainbows, things explode and make you jump 8 million feet in the air.
-SNOW is ranked number 6 in the nation's junior colleges. For real. Ask CNN.
-Flipping your hair is the symbol for distinguished alumnus.
-The man holding out his hand is ALWAYS right. Follow your urge to look where he points.

-Jason Derulo's "Whatcha Say" gets stuck in your head and never. leaves. n.e.v.e.r.
-Fire alarms have feelings to. They complain and want attention when they are lonely and hungry. Don't push their buttons though... they get kind of angry.
-Wancakes sound much more oriental than Paffles and is therefore the obvious better choice.
-Making pancakes into shapes makes the eating experience that much better.

-Getting half of your toe-nail taken off by a door hurts. A lot.

-J-walking is legal in Ephraim. Seriously. Not just like "everyone does it and no one gets in trouble," .........but legal. For real.
-They have benches that discourage cuddling.... or encourage it..... we couldn't quite decide.
-Giving string cheese out at a parade is kind of a sketchy thing to do.

-I'm "some people."
-Climbing trees is not against the honor code in some parts of the state (: go figure! Only problem was... there weren't any good trees to climb...
-SNOW was named after all the bugs that fly around that look like they have white, fluffy bums.
-Herding a herd of sheep down a road and stopping traffic in the process is acceptable.

-I love my friends!!!!


Thanks for the great weekend Ephraim! I'll have to visit sometime again soon!

Day #22: Happy National Chocolate Milk Day!!!

just celebrating national chocolate milk day with the best chocolate milk in the world. nbd. (:

HAPPY CHOCOLATE MILK DAY EVERYONE!

Day #21: How could I be so close and yet so far?! :P

Today I actually got ready for the day (i.e. did my hair, make-up, and am wearing something other than a t-shirt to classes).
So, after lab, when I have an hour before my next class, I do what any single girl does a couple of hours before she has to take a test: find a spot at a table in the JSB with empty seats in front of and on either side of me, hoping to see someone I know OR that a cute boy will come sit by me and ask for my number.

Fail.
Utter Fail.

First, I thought a girl was going to come and sit across from me that I don't know. That would almost be the worst. :P
Then, a guy that looks old enough to be married (although I don't think he is) does in fact sit across from me. If he was married that WOULD be the worst.
Finally, a relatively cute boy does come. And he sits RIGHT next to me! :D


and sees a girl he knows sitting on a couch across from the table and she comes and sits across from him and they start talking and he doesn't say anything to me.



Then I slowly notice that something smells unpleasant.....
And I overhear the guy tell the girl that he ate like 4 cloves of roasted garlic with his lunch........

Needless to say, it is definitely time to switch location.

Oh well. Maybe next time.

Day #20: Motivation

You can do almost anything you set your mind to.
That is if the reward of success is of great enough worth in your mind.

Olympians spend there whole lives training for an event that lasts under ten minutes with the hopes of receiving a gold medal.
Actors work  the political system and take numerous kinds of classes with the hopes of being in the movies or making it to Broadway.
Parents sacrifice SO much with the hopes of helping their children to become functioning adults.
The reward is worth the sacrifice!

Physical Science test?
I suppose the sheer pleasure of a good grade should be enough motivation.
I must admit though I had ulterior motives this time...

Some of you may know that while not too competitive when it comes to sports, I can be competitive when I want to be. Especially when someone challenges me.

Especially when they say they'll buy me a half-gallon of ice-cream if I get a higher score on my Physical Science test than they got on their's.

I think Trevor was a little bitter..............
Hence our new competition:
If he does better than me, I buy him ice-cream.
If I do better than him he buys me ice-cream.

 

Guess who's got a new motivation to do well in Physical Science?! This girl right here.

Thanks for the ice-cream Trevor!(:

Day #19: A mindful Father...

You know those beautiful moments of clarity when you cannot deny that someone is listening to the pleading of your heart? When you just know that Heavenly Father was letting you experience physical and/or emotional discomfort so that you would turn to Him for help and guidance, and then when you do and decide to be patient, He let's you know that He IS there and He IS listening and He DOES care?

The last 24 hours have pretty much been a testimony of that to me.

I had been having a hard time recently and I'd been praying for help. For love and happiness and patience.

Then yesterday, after a really great day of classes, I got to talk to a girl from class.
Then my friend Nathan and his friend Nathan called Nate.
Then Trevor on the way to take his physical science test.

I also listened to a Jeffrey R. Holland talk.

It was raining and there was a beautiful double rainbow and the beauty of God's creations.

I didn't pop my tires on something I ran over.

I found what I needed and made it on time to and had a successful FHE and figured out what I need to do to get organized.

I didn't hit a car.

I got to play in shaving creme and have fun with my roommates and talk to my mom.

I got to volunteer at an elementary school and once again remember how much I love what I'm going into.

Devotional was about being happy and was absolutely amazing and exactly what I needed to hear.

The mountains looked beautiful and the weather felt so perfect and made me so happy.

I got to see Skyler and eat peanut butter crackers with BYU chocolate milk.

I got to study and get things done before class and then saw my old roommate Kristen.

I actually have friends in class.

A random girl in the testing center bathroom told me that she loved my shirt and talked to me for a little bit.

I got a 100 on the multiple choice section of my Physical Science test.



My life is so good. SO good. I honestly could not ask for more.  I am so thankful that my Father in Heaven has seen fit to bless me so abundantly.  It is so crucial to remember in those moments when things aren't panning out as perfectly as we want them or comparatively to someone else's life... well maybe it just isn't our season.
Or maybe it was just their season to be blessed.
As the Lord so wisely counseled Martin Harris to not covet his neighbor's life, we should not be ungrateful for what we have and wish we were in someone else's shoes.  There is a reason that the Lord has us where we are and you never know what is actually happening in those other people's lives.

Be grateful. Remember to thank the Lord for what you have.
He has given us all.  There is not a breath we breathe that He did not provide us with.
Serve Him and serve others and look for His hand in your life.

Therein lies true joy.
The joy of remembering that we have a mindful Father.

Day #18: I tried...

Sometimes I have really good intentions to get things done...
Then I come to the Wilk...
And talk to people for an hour....
And I get nothing done....

Worth it. (:

Day #17: Tell me you remember...

"Do you remember?"
What an interesting phrase...
I've been doing a lot of remembering lately.
I've been hearing a lot about remembering lately.

Where we have been makes us who we are.  It creates the person we are today.  I've heard that the past is what happened; it just is.  But history... history is what we make it.  It is the view of the past that has been recorded.

History is what we remember.

These are pieces of my past.  This is my history. This is what I remember.

Tell me you remember some of my earliest memories...
Do you remember when Granny Joy died?
Do you remember how I cried for what seemed like everyday of kindergarten and how my parents tried everything they could think of to try and make it better?
What about the pillow case I stole from Dad and loved more than any other possession?
How I still have a really difficult time with change?

Do you remember singing and dancing with your whole soul in the living room to Disney music and Milli Vanilli?
How I really believed that I knew how to Riverdance?
Do you remember the Leprauchauns and the birthday spankings and piggy banks and learning to color and barbie towel that were kindergarten?
Do you remember "Sally the Slitherin' Snake" and being afraid to go trick or treating?
Loving to eat dinner on the front porch? The honey-suckles and thorns in the back yard?
Or running downstairs the morning of our birthdays to see the cake that mom had decorated?
"I remember that."

Tell me you remember the Carrs...
Do you remember Grandma bringing us books and Grandpa bringing us candy?
Or not really knowing my Dad's side of the family very well?
Do you remember seeing the other Carrs at Thanksgivings and how much fun that was?
Do you remember how I was able to receive my Patriarchal blessing from my Grandpa?
Or Grandma making Cinnamon rolls and the thoughtful things she would make for us?
Do you remember Uncle Dave and how perfect he is and the spirit he carries?

Tell me you remember my not-so-extended family...
Do you remember the hot days at recess and the pleasure of the air conditioning in Nan-Naw's den as we played Monopoly Junior?
Do you remember watching the adults playing Rook and talking while the cousins played video games and invented games and drinks?
Or Ali throwing you on the trampoline and biting your tongue?
What about Nan-Naw baby-sitting us and bringing the Dr. Pepper and Butter-spray for the pop-corn? Or bubble-gum check books and taking us to the Dollar store when we spent the night, or the movies, and eating out, and birthday and christmas shopping?
Do you remember watching Ali cheer, Amy do flags, Andrea play softball with puppy Scooter hanging about? Watching Zack do karate and play DDR and Kayla do gymnastics?
The summer of Lake Lanier with the MacPhersons?
Family spend-the-nights and Bob's cotton candy shoes?
Do you remember the bubble baths and making a fort out of the table on the porch?
Catching the fireflies in the backyard? Nan-Naw's answering machines and pep-talks before going into Wal-mart about what to do if someone tried to kidnap us?
Do you remember going to Pigeon Forge with Nan-Naw and Paw-Paw and what a special trip that was?
Swimming in the Turner's neighborhood pool?
The Dairy Burger, eating in the back, scrubbing the floors, cold cake, cherry sprites, food so good I can almost taste it to this day, the stool by the meat weigher, all the workers, the slaw machine, and the smell it put on clothes?
Do you remember the lazy days and parties and all the food you could ever need at family gatherings?
Do you remember the love and excitement to see each other? How everyone was always at my plays and events to support me?
Do you remember calling me "Red Chip"?
Laughing with Paw-Paw at his jokes and his attempted force-feeding of food? Nan-Naw saying "Bill! Leave them alone!" and trying not to laugh at his jokes?
Trying to learn how to bowl? Nan-Naw singing as we approached her house?
"I remember you."

Tell me you remember the school days...
Singing our multiplication tables and making book-marks and caterpillars out of paper and tape?
Do you remember becoming blood sisters and then your real sister told us that was how people get AIDS?
Do you remember riding our bikes and pretending they were ponies?
Playing boyfriend and girlfriend and having a sophisticated community of stuffed animals and Barbies (complete with religion, occupation, and families)?
Do you remember playing in the gutters when it rained?
Duck or jump?
Drawing streets on the driveway and driving around on it?
Do you remember Mrs. Ausborne leaving and how said that made us? What about her little alligator head on the bookshelf?
Or Casey Tanner's giant house and mom who always made us crafts on the holidays?
Do you remember OOM and how you loved it and thought we should have won?
What about the countless field trips to Fern Bank and Elachee?
Do you remember playing dogs and orphans? The giant rock and forest in our backyard and exploring back there for hours?
Do you remember how I helped Dad build us a tree house?

Do you remember how my best friends went to different middle schools?
Do you remember when I first met Jessica Elinburg standing in line for lunch and she became my best friend?
What about standing in line to try out instruments for band and meeting Ben, my first guy friend, and how he told me about how much he loved cheese?
Remember how I thought that Ishan Ladak was faking his accent when I first heard it?
Do you remember Mrs. Hart? Mr. Tipton? Coach Stubbs?
What about how Coach Allen would always say, "What's up band-nerd?" when I had P.E.?
Do you remember singing VeggieTales at the lunch table and how no one sat across from us?
Or fashion shows when we got to eat outside?
Dad chasing us around the house?
Or coming up with what animals we looked like?
Do you remember Coach Anglin drinking Coke diagonally so his eyes didn't cross, the volcano stories, grading his papers, and the rope-a-dope? Do you remember how he told us he used to be a synchronized swimmer and we believed him for just a second? Do you remember how I lost an assignment and trusted me and gave me the good grade anyway? What about the fact that he will forever be one of my favorite, if not my favorite, teacher? Ever?
Do you remember Wing Staff?
What about drawing doodle pages instead of paying attention in math?
Do you remember trying to wash some of the smell of the hand sanitizer off in the bathroom?
What about rock-a-thons and getting sick after staying up all night at the Wing-staff party?
Or going to free movies at the mall and talking about how one day when we could drive we were going to party all day at the mall?
Do you remember Hoops & Yoyo and doughnuts and ICEES?
What about not having to wear shoes in Mrs. Martin's class and the scale of evil?
Do you remember the 8th grade formal and how nice Justin was to buy us corsages?

Tell me you remember band...
Do you remember how much we loved Mr. Rowell?
Or going to help him sort through all of his music?
Do you remember how we all played trombone?
Do you remember going to Competition all three years, once to help play the xylophone?
What about "Harpo Yerfniw" "Rrac Ycak" and "Acissej Grubnile"?
Do you remember feeling like our teeth were moving after playing trombone for HOURS on end?
What about UGA mid-fest and how much fun that was?
Do you remember being band-aids and being so disappointed when they made us ride with the color-guard?
Or making up songs, listening to "In the Dark of the Night," "I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts," and "Who's gonna eat some corn-bread?"
Learning all of the color guard dances and HOW MANY PROPS THEY HAD!!!?
Do you remember how marching band is one of the most difficult things I have ever done?
How Spencer's parents brought us giant muffins from Mimi's?
Mom chaperoning?
"I like-a da banana-nut!"?
Do you remember the color guard instructors and the yappy dog?
Do you remember how we would ask Ben what time it was every two to three minutes in band class?
My red, plastic mouth-piece and rash from metal allergy that resulted in my using a bandana?
Do you remember storing pixie-sticks in our coveralls? How much I loved the coveralls?
What about trips to Waffle House and Sonic after football games?
Do you remember the first time we beat Gainesville and the football team came to celebrate by the band and Mr. Wiebers made us play the alma-mater?
What about the glory of marching band competitions and trying to sing the shows?
Or that one time we were having sectionals and marched around the wood-winds? Or when it was lightning and Mr. Wiebers had to check the weather before we could go inside? Or when it was my birthday and everyone was getting dyhydrated/passing out?
Do you remember how not excited Mr. Wiebers was when I decided to quit and start theater?
"I remember that..."

Tell me you remember theater...
The first play I was in and how I got to be Scottish? How I almost had to kiss Derek Nunn? How I was an emo half-seal girl named Ellen Jean?
Do you remember Peter Pan and the cat with nine tails, cakes with green sugar, and all of our inside jokes?
Do you remember Ben's indestructible hair and how we put WAY too much wrong colored make-up on?
Or how I got to be Wendy and talk with a British Accent?
Maybe the awful audition for Big Bad and Mrs. T giving me the part of the Fairy God Mother anyway because she had faith in me?
Do you remember how I ruined my back forever from pulling two chairs and talking on a cell-phone at a rehearsal?
Being in Mr. Wagoner's class where I learned so much... both from him about theater and improv and from the other kids in the class about lots of things I didn't want to hear about?
The little baby auditorium and feeling like I owned the place?
Do you remember how I found a love of dance during the dance concert that Jessica Thaxton choreographed? Or how much fun I had being in the ensemble of Oklahoma! and the wonderful friends I made?
What about how Dallin convinced me to try out for Tom Sawyer the summer before our junior year?
Do you remember Bequelenduh, how Carter and I had WAY too much fun with this show, and how that show will forever be summer?
Do you remember how Madi and I were drama club president president and vice-president and didn't even do Footloose?
The haunted houses? Attempted dances? Musical Theatre? UTAs and Shakespeare Competitions?
Do you remember Kindness I, Kindness II, and Kindness III?
How Taming of the Shrew was way more fun than any Shakespeare play should ever be and how Madi and I had the best back story of all time?
That suspicious look that Mr. Carpenter gave me when he told me that he wanted Tanner to be Earl and me to be Matilda and how I was scared to death for that first kiss?
Do you remember how "All Shook Up" started my obsession with Elvis? How much I loved that play and listening to Dallin Littlefield sing?
How I had the funnest costumes ever in Music Man and how it was so different from Tom Sawyer?
Do you remember how amazing Urinetown was and how Dayquil helped me to make it through performances without hacking up a lung? Or Texas Dirt? EVERYWHERE!?
Do you remember MacBeth and how Stephanie did my hair and I got to where the Zefron wig and die? Twice?
What about Thoroughly Modern Millie and how Mrs. Meers will probably always be my favorite part I've ever played? And how long it took me to put all of my make-up on and 3 people to put on my wig and my plethora of costumes?
Do you remember Fiddler on the Roof and Mr. Tumnus and Sabbath Prayer and how it was the most unexpectedly fun play and I loved my family?

Tell me you remember moving...
Do you remember feeling like my world was crumbling?
Or realizing that Grantsville was Napoleon Dynamite?
Do you remember Dallin helping us get the flies out of our tent?
And becoming friends with KK, Heather, Parker, Dallin, Rhett, and Grady?
Seeing people lasso each other in the parking lot and riding horses on the side of the road?
Do you remember hating it here?
Do you remember when I learned to love it here?
Do you remember how I had to learn ballroom just so I would get asked to dance at stake and regional dances?
How theater classes were SO different?
How ALL classes were SO different?
Do you remember mashed potato thursdays?
And actually being able to walk places? And spur of the moment visits to KK's house? And not turning 16 until forever?
Do you remember when Parker and I got to go to the David Archuleta concert for free?
Or the Verona Lane concert where Ashtyn and I bonded for the first time?

Tell me you remember having way more fun in high school than any one girl should be allowed...
And being on the ballroom team? And the stretch of the angels?
Do you remember Madi and lollipops, and powdered sugar fights, glitter, matches, snickers, notes, mr. lineras, long deep conversations, theater, Disneyland, pooling butter, dressing up, representative barbie dolls, dance parties in the car, her mom, and sisterfriends?
Do you remember Tanner and superhero dates, paint fights, adventures, joking around, the zoo, epic yard sales, going to the movies, holding hands, lots of dates, ice skating, best friends, doughnuts, Christmas lights, and being in love?
Do you remember getting our faces painted in an epic manner?
That one time I got to be a techie?
Do you remember the homecoming pagent and not wanting to do Sterling Scholar?
What about Ashtyn and Bekah? Pink icing toilet paper, temple trips and seeing the prophet? Jamming out to music, back-road rides, boy talks, creeper pictures, heart-felt conversations, theworstfriendsthatanyonecouldeverhave, spend-the-nights, dressing like a cow to get free food, and trust and understanding and the unstoppable trio?
Or doodling... a lot?
What about when we rode bikes all the way to Grantsville and Dallin never let us quit?
Do you remember finding a box of over 50 doughnuts?
Do you remember Dallin and summers, hugs, prom, four-wheeling, a teddy bear, grocery shopping, oh cherie, icing fight, teasing, slip-and-sliding, dancing, and falling asleep during movies?
What about how nice Mr. Topham was/is to me all of the time?
Or lunch picnics? Or going home for lunch?
Please! Ren Wilson and his butt-flap?
What about karaoke and dance parties at Carlos' house? Johnny and Friends?
Do you remember the Kacy's Angels? That one time Dallin, Johnny, and Justin ate 50 million bags of pop-corn at my house?
What about people setting goals to not eat at my house?
Do you remember Chester, milkshake runs, trust, always being there, laughing through dances, being the back-up plan for the snow ball, and how he is always there for me?
What about Fredrick and scream therapy and milkshake runs, and how he is super man?
Or Stacy and hair checks, pocket tanks, and jumping on tiles in the hallways? Chick-pick and togas, nerf wars, and SUCH an epic date?
Do you remember Stephanie and how good at hair she was and her epic songs that we listened to? And building a cardboard castle?
Do you remember Carlos and how sincere he was, dancing, laughing, dancing, laughing, man arms, "Kacy don't cry...", level-up fights, and final fantasy?
Do you remember how we would all have hours of conversation with my parents?
How they would let Sydni and I sit on the end of their bed and spill out our concerns and seek their advice?
Graduating and how hard it was but how amazing our parties were?
That one time we went to Georgia and how much fun it was?
How about Zac Cooper and Richard Simmons and cousin Ed?
Do you remember Lake Powell, sea doos, wave runners, trying to wake-board, facials, tubepooing, tubing, late nights of sleeping under the stars, singing songs, making bracelets, boating, no make-up, lavender oil, true laughs, and spiritual conversations?

Tell me you remember college...
And being scared to death?
How clean my roommates were?
Do you remember Tanner coming to visit and colormemine?
Do you remember LOVING Polynesian dance and beginning world dance?
What about the incredible spiritual aspect of BYU and growing?
The beauty all around, my amazing ward, and my terrible allergies?
Do you remember how I practically lived in a hotel?
How about writing missionaries?
Or the earthquakes that we would wake-up to in the mornings?
Do you remember the amazing friends I made, although most of them I didn't make until the last couple of months?
How Ashtyn and I relied on each other so so much and became BFFAEs?
Do you remember when Tanner and I broke up?
Or Zumba and how I loved it so much even though it made me feel like I was going to die at some points?
Do you remember growing up and loving the feeling of progression?
Realizing that God's hand is everywhere?
How about how some days were better than others?
Crying in agonizing pain and laughing in complete and utter joy?
Do you remember coloring alone in my bedroom and watching Tangled and Avatar the Last Airbender?
The millions of times I must have watched Remember the Titans?
How much of a pain moving is?
Do you remember soccer four-square, dinner at the hospital, and sitting on the waterfall?
What about the Bean Museum?
Tengo la Camisa Negra?
Do you remember actually loving the testing center?
Or Oatmeal and cookie parties? Tunnel Singing?
What about how I would stay for hours after ward prayer talking to the guys?
Or activities commitee, scrabble sundays, and break-the-fast?
Do you remember how hard and awful summer was at first?
Or the one time Jalen came to visit me?
Do you remember working at the Daycare and growing to love the kids?
Hanging out with Parker all of the time and how he was SUCH a tender mercy?
Going to Bear Lake, rasberry milkshakes, and loving how much time I got to spend with my family over the summer and really rebonding with them? Or going to San Francisco and mom making us walk the Golden Gate Bridge?
How much I love my family?
Do you remember how Parker and his family took me and Steph to Disneyland and how it was SO SO much fun?
How the summer was the most unexpectedly awesome thing ever?
Zac Cooper coming over and busting a gut with me?
Do you remember sitting partying with Ms. Lisa because she is the best and we were lonely?
Do you remember sitting around the table with the McBrides, Brandaris', and Tylers and talking for hours?

Tell me you remember how blessed I am and how much I am grateful for and love my life. <3

I can hardly wait for the adventures to come.....
"So, as a new year starts and we try to benefit from a proper view of what has gone before, I plead with you not to dwell on days now gone, nor to yearn vainly for yesterday however good those yesterdays may have been. The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best that we experienced, then we look ahead, we remember that faith is always pointed toward the future -- faith always has to do with blessings and truths and events that will yet be efficacious in our lives." ~ Jeffrey R. Holland

Day #16: Kickin' in the front seat!

"Cuz it's Friday! Friday! Gotta get down on Friday! Everybody's lookin' forward to the weekend, weekend!"

HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYBODY!

Since it's Friday in Happy Valley, there's a lot of crazy stuff goin' down.

I mean what would you do if you had a whole weekend to waste time on?

Well already today I've gotten a little taste of bizarre.

For starters:

-In my theater history class today my teacher told us we got to be in charge for three minutes... so naturally what did we do? WATCHED "HE-MAN HEY HEY HEY HEY" OF COURSE!!!!!!! (: i should have known then that today was going to be a day of peculiarity.

"All the things we've seen and it's only 8 [10:30] in the morning!!!" ~Flynn Rider

-After doing some reading in the HFAC and listening to some guy talk about how he went on a last minute date with some friend's sister (it's BYU... nothing atypical about that conversation at all) and seeing Caryn, I started walking to my Physical Science class.  As I was leaving the HFAC, I saw a few kids holding a "BYU for Caffeine!" sign with coolers of caffeinated drinks... and then I noticed a couple of police officers talking to them and appearing to be issuing them tickets..... Oh the poor, poor, bored BYU police.
-In physical science guess what we were talking about. The Theory of Relativity.  My T.A. described it best to us this way yesterday: "That's WEIRD! This stuff DOESN'T make sense!!! If this makes sense to you, you should not be in this class... you probably shouldn't be at this university." 'Nuff said.
-Grandmother Willow helps Alyssa Newland with Calculus.  She's the smartest.
-"Look at your hand, now back to me, now back at your hand, now back at me.  Sadly, your Opihi isn't me.... In the Opihi there are two tickets to that thing you love.... I'm on a hat. HEEYAH!"
-While walking through the bookstore I heard a guy ask an employee if they sold kiss-sticks.  I can't decide if it's weirder that he was asking.... or that she knew he could find some at Macey's.
-I also saw a little robot with a sign attached that said help me get to the Brimhall Building! and yes it was rolling around.
-Guess who's officially been interviewed and on BYU Weekly twice? Yep. Why do they ask me? I really don't know...

Not gonna lie, going at this rate, I'm super excited to see what the rest of the day has in store... at least I know this: It's gonna be interesting (:
But that's what I love about life <3

Day #15: we.will.never.forget.

Today I'm Thankful For:

-A free country and those who sacrifice so much for our nation.

-The beauty of humanity.

-Those who sacrifice for me personally.

-Devotionals.

-Yellow.

-Getting my homework done before night-time.

-My professor was back today.

-Getting to talk about the LDS perspective of parenting... in class.

-My family.

-Chicken Helper.

-Deep roommate discussions.

-Not so deep roommate discussions. (:

-Cleat Water.

-Seeds and plants and the representation of marriage life.

-The "good-parts" version of Tangled.

-Saving parking spots.

-Excellent talks.

-This:

Just don't ask... I can pretty much guarantee you don't want to know.....

Day #14: Self-Discovery.

Do you ever have those moments where you have to take a step back and re-examine the way that you're living your life?  Not that you're necessarily doing anything wrong, but you feel yourself in a funk and you have to try and find how to make it right?

Welcome to my life on Sunday.

Going to church and having time where I was actually alone long enough to just think about where I'm at right now was SO good for me.

I've been running at full-speed ahead for the past 2-3 months. Again, it's not that I was doing anything bad in that time, I actually did a lot of good things like be with my family, have fun, and help my friends when I could.... but maybe I got a little too complacent.
I realized it's time to re-establish my priorities.  In other words, make sure that ALL I do is dedicated to my Father in Heaven and that I am ALWAYS trying to find ways to be better.

I don't just want to DO what I know I'm supposed to do.... I want to BE what I know I can BE.

What I WANT to be.

"A woman's heart should be so lost in God that a man has to find Him in order to find her..."

That is what I want.
That is the goal.

"I would say more that LIFE is a book and those that don't laugh, grow, change, love, listen to others, progress, learn, experience, cry, serve, pray, look/listen/smell and find the wonder and beauty that is day to day.... those are they that do not write their own story. Those are they that are stuck on the same page because they do not allow themselves to take the empty slate placed in front of them and make a beautiful masterpiece. They do not seize the opportunity that God has given to LIVE. To BECOME. And to be truly happy.You could travel the world and never find true happiness or fulfillment in life or in what you "read"." ~ Me.  

"Alice laughed: "There's no use trying," she said; "one can't believe impossible things."
"I daresay you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was younger, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."
Alice in Wonderland: Lewis Carroll