Spring Break in a nutshell.

(from left to right)

1. tried on cheer uniforms from freshman year of high school - I still fit!
2. visited the middle
3. over looked Logan
4. went off road'n in the 'Rango
5. ME (I think I am kinda funny sometimes)
6. abandoned treasures
7. new shoes
8. roads lined with eery trees
9. 3rd Hunger Games (!!!)
10. adventures with Pot-Pot and Critter
11. over 14 hours of driving
12. coming back to a lovely temple land
13. diet dr. pepper. . . need I say more
14. reminiscing by the river
15. playin' with the new bangs

Spring Break at home was loads of fun and relaxing.

I came back to Logan and went adventuring to Burely, ID with two of my roommates and a neighbor- more to come from that epic experience.

Maybe yes. Maybe not.

Day #1- Spring Break:

I may have lied on the sidewalk in the front yard to edit pictures.

I may have turned on some summer tunes.

I may have fallen asleep.

I may have drooled some.

And my friend Chevia may have woken me up confused of what I was doing.

These things MIGHT have happened. . . maybe. . .

But if they did I am sure I would have enjoyed every moment

. . . .even the drooling part.

the end.

Oh, and one day I want to dance like this.

It is amazing.

I may have a slight addiction to America's Dance Crew.

APRIL 11th!

Today is just better.

It is sunny with a high of 44*

I wish you could all understand how happy this makes me.

My heart is pounding hard and I want something wonderful to happen today.

Today DESERVES something wonderful to happen.

In an hour I will be sitting in class

taking notes and trying to stay focused as I learn how to write about math . . . 

I will admit I am not looking forward to it.

BUT

Today is great.

Blue skies.

Freshly painted nails.

Listening to Fun.

AND

Randi is going on a date.

. . . . . . . 

Merry Happy Day!

Let the games begin. . .

ATTENTION: 

I am now employed for the Statesman, 

Utah State University's school paper, as a photographer. 

(I am kind of really excited!) 

For the record. . . I suck at doing "tags". There are so many games that have circulated like this one through the cyber world that I have met to get to, but still haven't. A lot of the time I will justify posting because I have other things I need to write before I loose my inspiration . . . Lame excuse, but that is all I have really.

I am however currently completing this lovely tag for two reasons. Jordan and Kellie.

That being said:

THE RULES
1. Post these rules.
2. Post a picture and 11 random things.
3. Answer the questions set for you in the original post(s).
4. Create 11 new questions and tag people in them. feel free to play if you would like, but I am not going to tag anyone.

photo by Mike Johnson from ENDLESSphotography

I crave the smell of chlorine and sleeping on sun-warmed cement.

I love dancing- especially in the kitchen. 

My thought processes makes sense to me, but to others it seems sporadic.

I remember people, which comes off creepy to some.

Sometimes I feel too observant for my own good.

I never get tickets, ask anyone.

Not having "a plan" gives me anxiety.

In my mind I invent stories about real people that I have never met.

Grandma RueLeen and I are so much a like and I love it.

I am scared of not being able to have children (kind of a weird fear for someone who isn't even married).

Television is not important to me.

Questions from Kellie:

Favorite song:

Today this is my favorite. It is a happy song.

Favorite holiday:
  Christmas because it is magical and full of family. However the 4th of July comes in a close second.

Bungee Jumping or Sky Diving:
  Funny you asked, sky diving has actually been on my mind as of late.

Favorite Feature:
  Physical: My nose, because it is just like Grandma RueLeen's.

Dream Vacation:
  I like vacations of relaxation and family, it doesn't matter the location as long as I have those things-
  BUT if I could travel anywhere I would got to Europe/Rome and tour the country side.

One Bucket list item:
  Run a marathon

Ideal Super Power:
  Cloningme (Being able to clone myself:
  I would be able to get so much more accomplished if there were more of me.

Back in time:
  1930's. People worked hard and according to Grandma's stories life was full of simple joys.

Hogwarts, Narnia, The Shire or a Galaxy far, far away:
  Hogwarts - Harry Potter. 'nuff said.

Pirate or Ninja:
  Ninrate: Ninjas who rule the sea.

Definition of Happiness:
  Sunshine and laughing.
  Watching people eat freshly baked cookies.
  Sincere "I love yous"

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Questions from Jordan:

Strangest Talent:
  Remembering most-everyone I meet.

Meet any Person:
  President Monson. I might have a slight old-man crush on this fellow.

Ideal Saturday:
  Wake up early, but still feel well rested.
  Go on a run.
  Eat a marvelous breakfast.
  Spend the rest of the day with people I love and doing things I love. . .
  . . . like Lava Hot Spring ADVENTURES!

Favorite Quote:

"Everything you are learning is preparing 

you for something else."

Marjorie Pay Hinckley

Bored Activity:
  I don't get bored very often. I almost always have something scheduled.
  BUT during my free-time I love to write, most of the time I will lose myself to the blank
  pages of my journal.

When I grow up:
  I want to be a stay-at-home mommy
 As far as a career though I would love to write for the Deseret News.
  I want to also keep photography as a major thing in my life.

Best Childhood Memory:
  Shaylie and I spending time at Grandma's house.

Inspiration(s):
  Potential of success.
  Family
  Perfectionistic characteristic
  The hard working beautiful people everywhere

Pet Peeve:
  Unnecessary Drama.
  I was raised with four older brothers, stupid drama was not tolerated in my house.

Top or Bottom Lip:
  Bottom Lip:
  More convenient and more playable.

Makes me Laugh:
  Nights with too little sleep and too much sugar.

Alarms: wake you up

Naps are a terrible cycle to get into, but I must say that I had a glorious 40 minute nap today. . . hence the reason I am awake now.

A cell phone was ringing, but it wasn't mine. . . and I wasn't quite sure where it was coming from. I stood in the back of the gymnasium up against the cold brick wall and looked for the owner. Hundreds of students were filing in and taking their seats, soon the Religion in Life devotional would start and a silence would blanket the room.

I stood in the back because I needed to leave early- I wanted to slip out with ease and simplicity.

The phone was still ringing and I found it quite odd that no one had turned it off yet. The student conducting the program had stood to welcome the crowds and to introduce the speaker - the ringing continued. By this point other students had heard the chimes of the obnoxious jingle and where looking to me to relieve them of the sound. . . 

I looked down.

Next to my feet was an abandoned coat and back pack. I bent down and leaned closer to the deserted articles and sure enough the sound grew louder. I scanned my surroundings for the owner, but I was alone.

What was I supposed to do?

I found the pocket that held the cellular device and squeezed the shape of the phone hoping to turn it off, and it worked. . . or so I thought.

I stood up to listen to the speaker and not even a minute had passed when the alarm went off again. I repeated the "pocket-squeeze" and again the ringing ended. I stood to listen. And then again not even a minute had passed with the alarm went off for a third time. The students on the back row looked back at me with looks of confusion. I smiled confused and returned my attention to the coat. . . I snoozed it again for the third time, but this time I knew I needed to dismiss the alarm.

Again I scanned the area for the owner of the coat - of the cell phone, but no one acknowledged me.

I reached into the pocket and for a moment felt like I was invading someone's privacy. I probably looked pretty sketchy as well considering the fact that I kept looking back and forth for anyone who would come running to turn off their phone. . . still no one.

The phone was small. I am not sure the make or model, but it looked like an old touch screen model, maybe a Motorola. I started flipping through screens looking for the alarm files.

By this point I felt like a complete creeper-thief-snoop-evil person who was searching for juicy details that will lead me to discover this person's hidden past. . . Yep, I was feeling uncomfortable to say the least. 

Alarms! found it.

There wasn't just one alarm either- the phone had nearly twelve different alarms set. I started to scroll down to find the disturbance responsible. As I scrolled though I couldn't help but read the titles of all the other alarms on the phone.

"Sings songs of happiness"

"Be grateful. Today is a beautiful day!"

"Run- because it will make you feel good"

"Smile because there is so much to smile about"

What kind of alarms were these?

I turned off the alarm setting. Put the phone back in the pocket and placed the coat back on the ground. Just the way I had found it. 

Returning to my previous position up agains the brick wall I tried to focus in on the speaker. But I couldn't. My mind was going wild about the phone with the weird alarms. 

Or were they weird?

Each day we live is beautiful, marvelous, wonderful and great. I know that I have been blessed with so much and I feel guilty about announcing this, but there are days that I can't help but complain, there are days where I just go through the motions of life and days that I don't recognize as significant at all. . . and how foolish am I for being so insensitive. 

The phone with the alarms was not mine. I don't know who owns it or why they set alarms that would remind them to cherish each day and to live with a heart full of gratitude. I do know that its ring changed my life though.

Each day is beautiful. 

Each day there are wondrous things to be discovered.

Each day there is something to smile about.

And sometimes we just need to be reminded.

Don't forget how great life is - because it is marvelous.

because it is late and this doesn't make sense . . .

I do believe though that this little piece of literature has lots of beautiful potential.

Once upon a time there was a girl named Kelsie.

Yes, I am referring to myself in third-person.

Yes, this story is my own, based on my own experiences.

Yes, I am Kelsie.

Sometimes Kelsie didn't sleep, for various reasons of course. Some nights her sleepless nights were brought on because of homework responsibilities, other nights she would stay up during wee hours of the morning because college-life is social. However one February night Kelsie didn't sleep because she didn't want to sleep. She didn't want her night to end. Her eyes were heavy and she knew in just a few hours she would be up to start a new day, but she fought to keep her mind alert.

Moments before everything was simple. Simple and very much perfect. . . .

There are times in my life when the secrets of life are whispered to me. 

Growing up people told me you will just know -- you will just know when it hits you. 

I hated those comments- they always left me questioning how.

But maybe I am beginning to understand.

It feels wonderful. 

She tired to remember every detail so it wouldn't be forgotten --

The conversation, the laughing, the singing, the touch.

She never looked back.

This was right, she could feel in her chest and the grasp of reassurance embraced her. Nothing could take that away from her. She knew what she knew- and nothing could change that.

Nothing but time. . . 

Sleep is starting to set in- Kelsie's defenses are starting to retreat and all efforts to stay awake have been exhaused. As she drifts in and out of cautiousness the memories start to disintegrate into the lost dream world. 

*I have been lacking on documenting my life on camera the last few months. (Photobooth has just been really convenient) I promise to be better starting tomorrow/today on my road trip home! Yep, that is right I am finally going home to see the family. . . And I am bringing a surprise! A wonderful, brilliant, marvelous surprise that all will enjoy - especially me.    

Tomorrow is like waiting for Christmas to come.

Okay I am really going to sleep now.

Cheers,
Miss Dawn

Visiting the Married-friend.

Dearest Tami,

I love you. I love that I got to spend a year with you before you became married and such. I love that you are happily wed and living in a lovely little home that you have made your own. I love that you invited us to come spend beautiful moments with you in REX!

Cheers,

Kelsie

It was a quick trip, but most definitely worth it. . . and then we came home to this:

Yes, someone was so kind as to move our mattresses into the living room.

Our living room into the kitchen.

The kitchen table (set and ready for dinner) in the living room as well.

. . . . .

Later we found that all our clothes were in different closets.

Our draws had been switched.

And our silverware was under in the vanity cupboard. 

. . . . . 

Many ideas of who was responsible have been discussed.

Most have been questioned, but no proof found.

If we do find out however. . . 

We have plans for you-

You have been warned

Someone is Listening.

I turned off the radio and proceeded to follow the line of cars that headed southbound out of Cache Valley. It was dark and the lights from the cars snaked through the canyon. And for a moment I became entranced by the beautiful ribbon of lights that I was now apart of. 

I am not one to sit in a car musicless- especially if I am alone. But my heart was pounding and music at that time was annoying. I drove, my mind raced and I sat there contemplating the choices that will soon come to ahead here in a matter of months. . . I have mentioned before that 2012 is going to be a big year, but never did I imagine it to be this big.

Words were forming into questions in my head. Soon they made their way from my brain to my tongue until my tongue became so swollen that I either had to spit out my thoughts or choke on them. I checked my surroundings, I was alone. I couldn't breath anymore.

My thoughts came spilling forth. But I just wasn't whispering, and I didn't feel foolish. Instead I was firm and felt bold. Originally my questions were focused to air that I was breathing- I was okay if they were just going to float away, but soon I focused them inward . . . and then I realized that my words weren't being wasted, but instead directed. Directed to the one who has never left my side. Directed and focused to the only being who I know will see me through, the one who knows what will make me happiest. Yes, these thoughts, these words were for Him.

Happy Sunday. 

Truth:

the TRUTH is:

I like progressive pictures. . . hence all my collages

I love dancing.

When I think of him my heart skips in circles and I forget how to breath regularly.

Eating vegetables is a hobby of mine.

I want to be a yoga instructor someday.

I have NO IDEA where or what I am going to be doing six months from now. . . and that causes me slight anxiety.

I have listened to love songs for the past two weeks just to celebrate Valentine's Day. . . and even though the holiday is over- I am still swooning in the tunes.

Chocolate is an evil addiction . . . and I am an addict.

It snowed and I wasn't very happy.

I miss falling asleep on sun-warmed cement right after teaching swimming lessons in the summer.

I love just "going on a drive" to anywhere and nowhere.

People-watching is one of my favorite pass-times.

My feet never stink. You can smell them if you don't trust me.

Secretly I wish for spontaneous adventures.

I practice writing my name in class when I get bored.

the TRUTH is . . . 

I am hopelessly in love with life.

Love drunk and hopeless.

Valentine's Day. Love Day. Hopeless Romantic's Day of Affection and care. . . Yes, today is the day where couple all over the United States are being twitterpated, love drunk and passionate about caring for that one significant other that makes their heart pound like subs at a Awolnation concert.

I never really cared for it before now. . . and I am not one of those love-sick girls who has a boyfriend waiting on her hand and foot (even though that would be nice). I have just come to terms with how beautiful it is to love someone. Everyone.

I even went as far as to dress up in pink and red just to celebrate how much I am loving this love day.

No "Singles Awareness Day" for me. There are too many people who I love and share my life with to be considered alone. . .

I just want to jump on my bed and sing Disney Love songs. . . Oh, wait.  I have already done that today!

Merry Valentine's Day!