The courtyard.

Today the air was chilly when I walked outside.

I liked it surprisingly.

My favorite thing to do on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays

is to sit in the courtyard outside the fine arts building 

and watch the yellow leaves flutter to the pavement.

Before they can settle they are swept up in the wind and tossed.

And right before my eyes a sea forms.

A yellow sea.

I close my eyes.

And let the sun drench my face with warmth 

as I listen yellow waves splash against the concrete court yard.

Oh, it is wonderful.

And now for some unfinished business.

TAGGing. I feel indifferent about being Tagged. I am always flattered, sometimes hesitant to participate, but hey they can be fun too- 

I was TAGGED by my friend Melissa and even though I won't continue the TAG on, I will tell you 11 things about me and answer the 11 questions she asked. After all this blog is all about me anyhow!

Eleven Facts about Me:

1. I love to get my dance on: in the shower, the kitchen, the car, walking to school- the list goes on.
2. I can't sleep at night, not because I don't want to.
3. I love to eat vegetables- broccoli, squash, sugar snap peas are among the top choices
4. I hate having dirty clothes in the hamper. I would wash my clothes everyday if it was feasible.
5. I have NEVER worn sweats to school unless I had to because our sports team was.
6. I am the only child in my family who isn't named after someone- I like my name though.
7. My birthmark is on my forehead.
8. I hardly ever sleep inside my covers- I just use a blanket, a beautiful, big blanket my mom made.
9. I loose my toe nails every summer.
10. When I get nervous my armpits get sweaty.
11. I write dialogue in my mind when people speak-- that is kind of weird.

Here are Melissa's Questions:

1. What is the most disgusting thing you have ever eaten?

     I had pickled cow hooves once. . . nasty!
2. If you could marry someone famous who would it be?
     Definitely Liam Hemsworth, too bad he is already taken.
3. How long can you get a piece of Bubblicious gum to last?
     Maybe a half hour-- large pieces of gum make my jaw ache.
4. What is your number 1 pet peeve?
     Pen-clicking during class. (click, click, click, click. . . )
5. Describe your mom in 1 word.
     Heavenly6. What is your favorite color crayon?
     Pacific Blue
7. Mac or PC?
     Mac
8. What music artist are you a secret fan of?
     Taylor Swift9. What is your favorite animal?
     Whales -- I'm not allergic to them. . . or smart dogs.
10. Are you good at poker?
     I'm a fabulous poker, but sometimes I leave bruises.  Nope.
11. What are 2 things on your bucket list?
     1. Rock climb a cliff side and do yoga on the edge
     2. Be an best selling author.

The definition of Humility.

I was the only one on the bus except for a blind man who sat across from me and the driver. The drive was speaking with the blind man and I listened contently. It was early and my mind was at ease to just listen. 

When we made it to the drop off zone at the top of the hill we both got off. The bus driver wished us both a good day and then we were off.

I don't know how he was so efficient and so smooth walking with his walking stick out in front of him. I watched as I followed him.

When we had turned the corner a guy who was helping with parking welcomed a car that had just pulled up. The blind boy not knowing there was a car there responded to the parking-man's hello. And said, "Well, good morning sir. I am doing wonderful how are-" he stopped when he realized that the man wasn't talking to him. 

He paused in his tracks for a moment. 

My heart stung, I wish I could have change the situation some how. I wish I could have been closer and said hello- or I should have walked with him. . . Why didn't I walk with him?

I wondered what was going through his head.

And before anything else could be said or done he started back on his smooth walk to class. The walking stick making back and forth motions like the hands of a clock. 

He was quick. And soon he had turned into a building close by.

I have thought about him for the last week.

Everyday this blind boy is faced with challenges that I can't even begin to comprehend . . . and I find my life hard. 

He humbled me. 

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!

Happy Tuesday!

Song of the Day! - dedicated to you ;)

It is a marvelous day today!  And to tell you the truth I can't exactly tell you why.  It snowed last night which usually leads me to being bummed, but no not today.  It is freezing outside, my pants are soaked clear up to mid calf, but still it is a beautiful day.  I am home for school on my break, I should be doing homework, but I can't.  I am too giddy for homework- my thoughts are running in circles and jumping up and down wanting to scream out at the top of my lungs!  In fact if we didn't have plastic on our windows I would open it right now and yell at the people standing in line at the bus stop and wish them a beautiful day!  (There is plastic on our windows to keep the cool air out- well at least that is what it is SUPPOSE to do. . . )

So yesterday I set up an appointment to change my major. . . FOR REALS this time.  I am actually going to go through with this, and I feel really good about it!   I am getting really excited to pursue this dream of mine.  Okay now for the my decision: I have decided to go into Journalism and Communications!  When I was younger I wanted to be an author, I wanted to write children's books.  Not very many people knew this, but then again growing up I wanted to be lots of things.  I do love writing though- I do it all the time.  This major also includes Human Relations which is another big thing I am interested in.  Life is good- I have direction and I love it.

Did I mention life is good?

It is.

And I love it.

Let it be known that I, Kelsie, am on a high! Dah! 

Hope your day is as splendid as mine! (:  

Love,

Miss Dawn

P.S. Last night was amazing.  Let me just say that I love having the Priesthood in my life.  Thanks guys! Really, thank you all so so much!

just let her sleep.

I love this.

Holding a sleeping child is like nothing else.

To me it is like a piece of heaven- in the moment.

It is simple. It is about love.

I will miss this when I go back to Logan.

Today as been lovely.

Not only did I get to rock my little Addi to sleep, but today I slept in. . . In my mind perhaps a bit too much, but I feel good now- my body must have needed it I guess.  I finished my book.  I started reading The Hunger Games on Wednesday and despite many pleasant interruptions I finally finished it.  I highly recommend it.  It was beautiful outside.  I love the first hiccups of spring!  Last but not least tonight, or tomorrow morning we move the clocks forward. . . and even though I will loose one hour of sleep (I made up for it today) I love when it is brighter later!  

Dear Break of Spring. Don't leave me.

People keep asking me if I have done anything fun for Spring Break. . . 

AND I tell them

"I am doing exactly what I wanted to be doing."

I came home for Spring Break.

All I wanted to do was to spend time with my family.

I knew that home would be hectic and that everyone's lives would still be going 100 mph, but that is home to me and I love it.

I have had quite the time thus far during my break to celebrate Spring.

• The weather is amazing! (I went running in shorts and a t-shirt today, not to mention I sweated)
• Lunch with two of my favorite people, Mama and Grandma (picture above)
• Watched my nieces dance
• Took pictures 
• Ran everyday thus far
• Went on a date with Hossy (last one before his mission!)
• Started reading Hunger Games
• Got my hair done
• Watched Shay play softball
• Ate delicious food
• Met up with old friends
• Got a canker from eating Cadberry Eggs (so worth it!)
• Slept in my AMAZING bed
• Got paid
• Pondered by a fire
• Slept in (sorta)
• Blogged multiple times
• Finished some overdue homework
• Had a splendid time as of Thursday night!

What else could there be to come?

and I thought this was bad. . .

I have driven from Logan home 

three times in the past two weeks.

Pretty sure I could do it with my eyes closed

. . . doesn't mean I want to try it.

 I took this picture driving home last night.

I wish the roads had been this good all the way home,

maybe then it would have only taken me four and a half hours.

Surprisingly it wasn't too hard for me to drive slow on the way home.

(background: I like to get places quickly- I speed. . .too much sometimes)

Having my little girls in the car though 

made it really easy to take my time.

I am so thankful we made it home safe.

Even if it did take almost twice as long.

Counting my blessings!

Vehicle: 2004 Suburban (mom's)

Passengers: Lulu, and Jaders (fell asleep as soon as we got in the car)

Driver: Me 

Number of seat belts worn: three

Movie: Despicable Me (played through twice)

Road conditions: terrible

Lowest speed on I-15: 0 mph

Highest speed on I-15: 60 mph

Number of passed wrecks: six

Anxiety level: too high to measure

Time to get home: 5 hours and 35 minutes

Average time to get home: 3 and a half hours 

While I was driving this is what I heard going on in the backseat:

Jades, "what if a lion was lying? (giggling)"
Lulu, "yep."
Jades, "Halee, knock knock"
Lu, "Who is there?"
Jades, "Lion"
Lu, "Lion who?"
Jades, "Rawr! because that is what Lions say."
Lu, "Okay" (while texting boys on my phone)

Love these girls.

oops. I did it again . . .

(notice: the haziness of the room, the black marks on the microwave)

 Before I left for college I thought I was a good cook.

Reality: I have a lot to learn.

Today I made fried ice cream. . . 

I ended up frying the house-

YES I STARTED A GREASE FIRE

I will admit it!

I have been taught how to put out grease fires before

I remember learning about it in my cooking/sewing class in middle school

. . . . .

Middle school was like six years ago.

Good thing I have Jordan.

 Now for the story:

Previous to "firing up" our kitchen

I made ice cream balls with a cinnamon and cornflake shell.

There were perfectly ready to stick into the oil.

I pour oil into a small-ish sauce pan

I figured it would be easier to handle that way

I was wrong.

I stuck my first ice cream ball into the grease . . .

and well the rest is pretty much predictable

FIRE

I was panicing!

I knew water was out of the question

(luckily I remember that much)

So, Jordan put flour on it.

The flames went down, but it was still flamin'

Mean-while the fire alarm is blaring

while Tami runs to get a chair to turn it off.

I was told to put the frying pan on it.

I did

It was still flaming

Then we realized the unit was still on. . .

Oops!

Jordan braved the flames and turned it off!

FLAMES- STILL!

at this point I had the pan of grease in my hand

sloshing it around. . . all over the floor. . . 

Jordan realized that the frying pan wasn't enough

She whipped out the heavy duty pan!

SUCCESS!

To sum it all up. . . 

I started a house fire

I COULD have died

and even worse

I could have had to pay for damages!

(okay, so maybe that isn't worse, but still)

Jordan is super woman and always ends up saving the day.

I always tend to make the fire alarm go off

. . . especially when we have guests

and

I smell like smoke.

The house smells like smoke.

There is a eery haze about every room

Ten minutes later. . . . Jen, came downstairs and asked what the commotion was all about.

If you would like to read the story from
Jordan's point of view CHECK IT OUT!

bushy brows and all.

Everyone sees their own imperfections, and I have been picking myself apart all day.

I for one have bushy eyebrows- like MAN EYEBROWS that grow down my eye lids!  GROSS! (thank the heavens for hair wax, it is a lifesaver, or a hair-remover.  No pun intended.)  


I am strong.  I have muscles in my arms and legs that are a tad-bit largish. . .  Now, I love being strong and muscular, don't get me wrong but it also causes times to be tough. . .
1)  Most girls don't have muscles so clothes don't fit right.
2)  Boys always want to compare and then arm wrestle, I am competitive so sometimes I will play- and sometimes I win.  Note-to-self: not good to beat a guy at an arm wrestle (they don't take it very well).

I could sit here and continue "picking" until all I would have left was pieces.  But I won't.

When I am picking myself apart I forget that my body was a gift, a gift from God.
It is even worse when I start "picking" at someone else.

Yesterday I went to Temple Square to see the lights.
Of course they were spectacular- I mean they are the Temple Lights, but that isn't want I caught myself looking at all night long.  As I walked around the grounds my eyes were lost in the crowds of people that were taking in the beautiful sights.  I was in a humble mood- taking everything in.
I sat down in the corner of the room on the floor in the North Visitors Center at Temple Square and stared at the people around the Christus.  I felt calm.  I have always been a deep-ish thinker and while I was sitting there the thought that I knew all these people was humbling.  The knowledge that the Lord loves all of his children gave me peace and I was reassured in that moment that this church is true.

It is a small moment like this one that put me in my place.
These moments remind me of a greater perspective and forces me to my knees.
My heart is filled with gratitude.
I love myself.
I am thankful for my bushy brows and all.