breathing it all in

So a friend of mine posted a list of 25 random facts about herself and I enjoyed reading it so much that I copied her idea! So yeah....here it be 1. In my opinion, carrot juice is one of the most delicious things in the world. 2. I share a middle name with my maternal grandmother (Lee). 3. I have a phobia of cockroaches. 4. If I could live outside, I would seriously consider it. 5. I would pick Clark Kent over Superman any day! 6. I used to detest Neil Diamond’s voice…now I love it! 7. I wish I could take a year off and study ballet, choral conducting, world history, different religions, and woodworking. 8. I have more nicknames than just about everyone I know (Sammi, Sammi Poo, Samel Camel, Samuel, Samula, and “The Child” just to name a few). 9. I’m really attracted to guys that are good teachers…kinda weird, but very much true! 10. I genuinely believe that if you really get to know and understand a person, you will love them. 11. I’ve always wanted to be in a band. 12. I get really ...

So one of the best things about being home for a month is being able to cook to my heart’s content! In my normal, solitary life, there are a few factors that limit my culinary pursuits: 1. Having the time to cook 2. Having the money to buy ingredients 3. Having people to eat the food Lucky for me, in AZ all of these issues are laid to rest. I am free to make whatever I want. This week I ventured a vanilla cream meringue pie and chicken fried steak. They turned out decently well, but I have some ideas to make them better...and some ideas of other things I want to try. Anyway, I don’t really know why I’m posting about this on my blog, but oh well! Also, if anyone can quote the source of the quote in the title, they get an automatic five points!

For this week’s blog entry, the members of my MCOM class and I were assigned to find someone more stressed than ourselves, do something nice for them, and record our experience. This past Tuesday, I was in the lobby of my complex working on a couple of assignments that I had to finish for the next day, when my friend Neil (provider of the durian ) waltzed in; laptop and papers in hand. We started to talk about the assignments that we had procrastinated until the very end of the semester and how it was going to be difficult to complete them in the next 24 hours. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks: I wanted ice cream. I asked Neil to watch my things, hopped in my 2005 Dodge Neon, and putted off to a nearby McDonalds—they have pretty good hot fudge sundaes for a dollar a piece. Of course I wasn’t going to return to the lobby with ice cream and not share, so I got one for me and one for Neil. He was pleased! So yeah, nothing huge. In fact, I didn’t even do it with the assignment in...

Dear Euro-Mullet Guy at the Gym, I’m not quite sure why you insist on lifting weights in short shorts and V-neck shirts, but to each his own I suppose! Dear Cloak Boy, It brought me much satisfaction to see you again on BYU campus, however I was disappointed you were not singing. Blast that news article that led to you no longer being allowed to do your thing. Dear Bruce C. Hafen, I’ve very much enjoyed your biography on Elder Maxwell….best thing that I’ve read in a long time! Dear Dr. Ward, Thank you for canceling one of your papers. Having six due within the last couple weeks of school is a little excessive. I’m glad that you’ve recognized this and shown us students some mercy! Dear Jackson Emery, One question: why do you have to be married? (j/k) Dear Couple Mackin-it-up on Campus, That much PDA in front of so many? Kinda weird, but not as weird as the guy staring at the two of you in action. Dear EFY, I was sad to leave you this past Friday. I have thoroughly enjoyed working f...

So here are lyrics to a song that I wrote last week called "Adios." I hope this picture of me will help you imagine me singing it to you. :P You made me feel more than I ever thought I could, it’s true. There’s nothing in this world that meant more to me than loving you. You were the air I breathed, the sunshine in my sky. I thought I needed you. I guess my thoughts lied, ‘cause… I’m walking forward, never looking back. Taking no more time to think about what I lack. Instead of wishing you were here, like I did before, I thank my lucky stars ‘cause now I’m on the road to something more! You made me feel like I was less than who I am, it’s true, And since you left, it’s taken all too much time for me to finally pull through-- And see it clearly now, just what I fool I was To be so blinded by your counterfeited love, and I’m walking forward, never looking back. Taking no more time to think about what I lack. Instead of wishing you were here, like I did before, I thank my luck...

du•ri•an (d r - n, -än , dy r -) noun 1. A tree (Durio zibethinus) of southeast Asia, bearing edible fruit. 2. The fruit of this plant, having a hard, prickly rind and soft pulp with an offensive odor but a pleasant taste. Wikipedia describes the odor in the following manner: “The edible flesh emits a distinctive odour, strong and penetrating even when the husk is intact. Some people regard the durian as fragrant; others find the aroma overpowering and offensive. The smell evokes reactions from deep appreciation to intense disgust, and has been described variously as almonds, rotten onions, turpentine and gym socks. The odour has led to the fruit's banishment from certain hotels and public transportation in southeast Asia." Long story short, a friend of mine bought one and we all had a taste. Experiences varied as some thought it taste of “sweet custard” where others were utterly repulsed and could not even swallow. I really didn’t think that it was too bad, but it is defi...

In my short life I’ve blessed to have Safe walls in which to rest my head; But walls don’t become home to me Unless Thy home they too can be. For houses small or large I care Not whither for, unless in there I find that rest that gives me life More lasting than what sleep provides. And shall peaceful rest not intercede I’m Stranger, Lord, to thee and me. I need thy grace to fill my soul To make me, “me,” to make me whole-- So Lord, I beg thee, stay inside. Do not from me thy Spirit hide. Give me strength to be enough, To find myself within Thy love. Bless my walls and with me dwell That in Thy Spirit, mine may swell And grow in light; just this I pray. Lord, make my house a home each day.

This picture makes me happy!

Instead of keeping a traditional journal, I have what I call a “happy book.” The concept of the happy book, a place where you can record funny/exciting/”happy” events of the day/things that you are grateful for, was introduced to me by a best friend of mine and her mother. Anyway, I figured that for my entry this week I would just write something that would usually go in my happy book. A lot of it won’t make sense unless you know me really well, but oh well! I guess just take it for what it’s worth: ~the quirkiness, kindness, and realness of the members of my ward ~Sunday mornings ~my feet being so cold that I couldn’t feel them ~Reese’s Puffs, GOOD curry, and raspberry chipotle chicken salads from Costa Vida ~Sleeping over with Leanne while Ben was on a campout ~Watching “You Again” and being in awe of all of the ridiculous things that happen in the movie, particularly Kristin Chenoweth’s ribbon dance and the whole cheerleaders rapping thing. ~Becky, Alex, and I all bearing our s...

This week, we were given the assignment to "buy a stranger a coke" and then write about our experience....supposedly this saying, "buying someone a coke," does not literally mean that you buy them a can/bottle/glass of coke, but rather that you give them any sort of drinkable refreshment. My Professor (the pithy writer, comedian, and falconer:Shayne Clarke) took an even looser definition of this phrase and dictated that we only needed to buy something (anything) for someone that we didn't know. Well, I had a very busy week this week, so right after class I decided to use my 45 min break to "get er done" so that I wouldn't have to worry about it later. I waltzed to the Cougareat, determined to walk up to the most attractive man with an unadorned left ring finger that I could find and ask him if he wanted to get ice cream with me. I looked around me and all of the attractive guys that seemed to maybe be my type were either already in line somewhe...

As a young child, I would anxiously anticipate the time of year centered on sugar plums, reindeer, hot chocolate, music recitals, and parties: WINTER! I absolutely loved it. Christmastime, void of school and full of family and Santa Clause, was one of the two main factors that contributed to winter being my season of choice. The other main player, although I was unconscious of just how influential said “player” was on my opinion, was the weather—winter months in the Phoenix area are nothing short of glorious—cold enough that you’ll want a sweatshirt, but no cooler. So now that I’ve identified the two components of winter (in Arizona) that made me wish it would last all year long… 1. Christmas 2. *Good weather Let’s think about what would happen if either one of these wonders disappeared and was no longer there to contribute the overall awesomeness that I knew as winter: What would happen in a winter without Christmas?-no Christmas lights, no family Christmas gatherings, no fruit cak...

For my weekly blogging assignment I decided to write a song. I've only posted the lyrics so you won't get the whole affect of the song (I must admit that I'm pretty pleased with the guitar part), but that's okay! Just ask me sometime and I'll probably play it for you...Anyway, here it is: The rain outside—it mirrors what my eyes wish they could do. Its soft, its long, its honest, and its wet But living with this hole inside for weeks and months and years will do Enough in me, though I cannot forget Chorus: I’m yours-even though you’re far away I feel your love and prayers across the miles. I’m sure—that all this waiting will all make sense when I find home in your arms. But until then, try to do more than pretend, and mean it in and out, and mean it in and out, and mean it in and out, when I smile. Some days inside—it’s a battle to keep hope enough to be The woman that I want to be for you But when I think of you and all you are and what we’ll be I light up, put ...

A call, a role is offered to the many and the one, From Israel down to Ephraim, to each daughter and each son, To shout with joy and valor of a truth to sweep the earth Of faith in God, repentance, and a glorious second birth. This given task is noble as the message it contains Is all one needs to find our Christ and find in Him his way, Still there is one who’s aim is to confuse and bend and break, He slyly breathes combatant lies that seek to overtake. But our kind Lord, He beckons us: “Fear not, my little flock; Remember me and build each day your life upon my rock, And even though against you, earth and hell shall all combine They can’t prevail, for on my rock, dear child, you are mine.” Then once you’re fixed in hope and truth as on this rock you’re firm, You must help others likewise build in Christ and in His word. Take courage, friend--you must press on; the victory’s in reach, For all it takes to win is that you practice what you preach. So stand up and be counted, take your ...

As I see a close to this the first week of my last semester of classes as an undergraduate student @ BYU in this the dawn of the first month of the year two thousand and eleven, I am reminded by the "tasks" list on my Google calendar that I HAVE to write a blog post sometime before midnight. Why do I have to write on my blog? I HAVE to write on my blog because my professor for my Management Communications class has made weekly blogging a course assignment. We don’t have to write about anything in particular. We just have to write at least 150 words every week…so that’s what I’m doing…writing. I am writing until I reach 150 words…all the while kind of loving the fact that what I write does not matter or have any impact on how well I will do on this assignment. One hundred and fifty—I’m done! Isn’t it funny how you can absolutely love doing something, but as soon as said thing shifts from being done in leisure to being done in requirement that it naturally becomes less fu...