Preston and Tanner

They are the best people I know, I love them! 😉😍😘

Of course written by tanner^^^

Bullying- Stop It!

      A couple weeks ago, I couldn't sleep one night.  So I looked up a Mormon message on my favorite app- The Mormon Channel- and came across one entitled Bullying Stop it.  It's based off of a talk given by Elder Utchdorf called The Merciful Obtain Mercy.  It is great for all Teens or Pre teens to read!!! DO IT!

 
      For some reason this video really got to me.  Maybe its because I've felt alone before, like all of us have at some point, or because I've felt like I've hurt people around me, whether intentionally or unintentionally.  At church we've been talking about forgiveness.  It is soooo cool how the Lord works in our lives and gives us experiences at the moment when we most need them.
     I feel like I needed to see this video at this time in order to get over some feelings I have held onto over the years.  In seminary the next day I talked of this experience and we watched the video.  Once again the Lord showed his hand in my life>>> Our lesson was on repentance from sin.  We talked about how the Anti-Nephi- Lehi's buried their weapons of war ( or sin in our case ) and changed.  Then we had the opportunity to write down something we wanted to change in our lives, and burry it outside. 
      It was such an amazing object lesson, just what I needed at that time.  I am so grateful for this wonderful church that I am apart of, and the knowledge that I have that God is real and that he directs my life.

The Simmons are "Happy!"

   
This explains my family so perfectly!!!  We made it while in Island Park.  Its always a clown show with the Simmons Clan! < But I LOVE IT!!!

Share this video with all of your friends and family>>> We expect it to go VIRAL!:) Thanks!

Mindful Monday

     Last Monday I was frustrated because im still having stomach problems with the over growth of bacteria in my esophagus< candida.  I wasn't feeling the best but really wanted to go to family yoga night.  That was a mistake. Hot sweaty rooms= already upset stomach becoming worse.  So I decided to just lay there on the mat. 

As I did my mind wandered and I started to let Satan get into my head.  I thought of how sick I was of my stomach hurting (even though I should've been grateful for my circumstances and that they aren't worse)  I thought of how frustrating it'd be if we didn't get my heath problems fixed by the time I go to college or on a mission because all I want to do is serve the Lord fully, without anything in the way. 

 I thought of how Im not good at anything anymore since Im not dancing (which isn't true everyone has something they are good at!)  I thought that if my knees never got better than I'd be a boring person who couldn't do anything.  I started to cry, very overwhelmed at this point. 

 I wanted to yell at Satan to go away and leave me alone because I was done with him making me feel this way!!!! I pleaded with Heavenly Father to help me get these thoughts out of my head and help me find my self worth. 

Flashes of my future came into my mind.  Me with my future husband and children.  And I realized I CAN be HAPPY. I don't have to be perfect I just have to try.  I feel closer to God now after that simple experience and I know that he watched over me and is MINDFUL of all of us!  If you don't know that pray to him and look at the simple things in life that you are blessed with!

College Plans!

    So I didn't get into BYU Provo like I've always dreamed of.  I got a text from a friend while babysitting one night that the results had been posted online.  Waiting for the internet to load with the slow Wi-Fi was torture.

 But then again, I questioned whether I really wanted to know because this would determine the direction by life went.  Right before it loaded, I said a prayer to Heavenly Father letting him know that I was ok with whatever outcome, and I was putting my life in his hands.

 I ended up being rejected.  It was a shock at first, not because I expected to get in, but because any time I would envision myself at college, it was at BYU Provo. 

I was also embarrassed by how much I've talked about that college the past ten years, and now I'd have to tell my family and friends that I wouldn't be attending there.  Now I feel confident that God has a different plan for me and that I wasn't meant to go there.

 As of now I am considering my many options of the FUTURE. For sure I know that I want to go on a mission and of course get married for TIME AND ALL ETERNITY<<< Well, not yet.  I'll let ya know:)

Island Park

Flashback to Sweethearts!

     Well... I finally went to a school dance & let just say it was an "experience."

 

It was a very snowy day. We started off making corsages and boutonnières at the other Paige's house.  Plus we ate pancakes> YUM!

 

 

This happened^^^

 

My creation^^^ not the best but hey, 7$ sure beats 20$!

 

 

The corsage Andy made^^  Aside from its fragileness, it was GORGEOUS! I was very impressed!

 

Then I went to get my hair done:) And the rest of the day ( at the family history event) I tried to not ruin it.  It was actually kinda stressing me out, but I'm easily stressable.< I don't think that's a word:)

 

 

We had brief pictures as we were all very eager to eat!

 

 

Preston and Cassidy

 

 

The bros^^^

 

Dinner at the Japanese Steak house really hit the spot! Not only was it DELICIOUS but it was also ENTERTAINING.

 

 

Andy kept saying he doesn't look good smiling (which I beg to differ) so we had to take a funny one:)

 

 

And then these two^^^ Love you guys! It was a great night.

 

Now the reason I say it was an "experience" was because of the dance:

1. It was in a ballroom like the ones dance conventions are held in.  I was grateful for this because it was roomy (besides the mob in the middle, you know what I'm talking about). Because of the setting I felt like I should bust out some lyrical or hip hop, for old times sake:)

 

2. The crowd was very interesting. I would've been completely content just people watching.

 

My observations were:

- There is the mob in the middle which if you look at too long your eye sockets will shrivel up and burn. Just kidding, I just wouldn't want to be a participant.

 

- There are the "in love" couples who slow dances to every song (so that is, slow danced to dub step. Whatever floats your boat :)

 

- And then the AWESOMLEY COOL PEOPLE who don't give a care.  Preston was the BEST EVER to dance with. His moves were hilarious, and he even made up a few of his own! Just envision "Singles Ward" status.