Grateful for......something?

Oh blogging....I've missed you not gonna lie.
NOVEMBER! The Holidays are coming up and boy did time fly by. Let's be honest and real here....I'm blogging for the first time in 8+ months and there's one thing in November every cute, adorable college girl blogs about....GRATITUDE! Yes, you guessed right! I could sit here and make a never ending gratitude list but I want to share with you a thought I had today. Typical day.....work.....driving......stopping at never-ending stop lights.....then I look right in front of me I see a car that has no bumper and a teen(17,18 years old?) Smoking and driving. This is nothing new! You and I see this everyday! But I just had to think to myself, "Why are we so unhappy when we have every decision to change our happiness or where we'd like to be?" Decisions to be happy is easy as that right? Getting by on empty is living simple right? Well my friend, I disagree. Being happy is not just doing the most convenient or easiest task....it's not like we throw happiness in the lost & found or timeout....it's a state of BEING. To be.....what does that mean? Existence presense...."the nature or essence of a person." (Thank you google). I'm not talking about being this crazy, smiley, psycho person who always has a show for things going oh so pleasant in sunnyville. My Savior Jesus Christ shows me everyday my potential of rising up and to not "shrink to the bitter cup." Whether it's that prompting from the spirit to pray, to stop listening to a certain song or to make a decision to read the scriptires I know I am making decisions that are hard to live in happiness. I am ready to make the changes in my life that will bring me happiness for tomorrow, next week, next month, next year(s), next life, next eternities. I struggle, heavens yes. I get down on myself, you betcha. But during those times when I pick myself up I get the sweet reward and satisfaction to see how far I've come from rock bottom. Those times of being down, yes, will come. They will help me grow and get me uncomfortable to make new opportunites and choices. So you're thinking this girl is just rambling and get to the point of this whole schmele! I am my happiest when I am grateful. I am grateful that I get to be upset, mad or discouraged because I get to embrace happiness in a richer way. A way that goes beyond my capacity but to let in the help from my loving Savior so that He can make up the difference..  I am happy when my phone crashes and erases everything because I get to spend time and effort with others in person instead of fb. I am happy when I fail a test because I get to experiment and learn new materials. Nobody is happy when these things happen to them. (I know, I know, you've had yours and I've had mine!) I want to be grateful during my challenges, I also need to be grateful during my challenges. Thanksgiving is a time to be grateful no? :) It's always time to be grateful! I have every decision to be happy and change! Simple enough doesn't count because it's hard as heck sometimes! So I leave you my thought with this, when was the last time you were truly grateful for a thought or small act? Write it down before you go to bed. Keep that pattern and reap your reward of happiness!

Things And Momsee

So much has happened since September! The holidays, school and work & everything in-between just flew this year. It's pretty much May and the time continues to speed by whether I like it or not! 

I am still living in Provo with the Utards (haha) ;) I got done with the Massage Therapy Program here a few weeks ago and just waiting to take the test for my license. I've had a couple interviews at places here and in SLC. I'm excited to see what happens!  I am still working at "The Spoon" at NuSkin which is going wonderfully! 

I wish I could say how everything in my life is going in one word!  Life is giving me great things to learn and change from...not one day is exactly the same and I feel like I meet a new friend everyday. 

A special day is coming up....Mother's Day! I realized this yesterday and it made me think of memories with my mom and how grateful I am for her. She sacrificed so much time and energy to our family to make us so happy. I remember little things she used to do when I was little; kissing my hand before going to kindergarten, packing little notes in my lunches she would pack and just laughing 'cause my mom is pretty dang funny. My mom's love is so special and she has helped me go through so much! I found some fun/cute pics in commemoration of mother's day (:

Sweet, tender mercies

Happy belated Labor Day! Hope everybody had a fabulous holiday and ended summer with a bang! What did I do? I went home of course! There's so many exciting things about going home-first it's the drive. I love driving down into the mountain on a sunny day just cruising and jamming. My parents got done with the wear and tear of construction in the basement and it looks AMAZING! I helped with the painting but they are just troopers for getting all that work done in such a small amount of time. So this is a shout out to my momsee and dadsee; after all the time and effort you put into work you have yet to put more in at home! You guys are incredible! Love you!

Jord, Chey and baby Porter were down as well as Ty and Chynna living in Price now! So glad to see them and visit everyone. I brought my massage table down and boy did they keep me busy! If you guys are reading this I am so glad to work on you and I plan to work on you more...if I didn't get to you, hold you're horses....I will be there! But overall it was a good yet again genuine time with the family and season. 

As I was getting ready to go home that night the weather started to turn and a thunder/rain storm stirred price! I decided to stay home, go with the spirit and drive up in the morning (which quite honestly I didn't want to do-getting up at 5 then making it to my first day at work at 8! Yikes!) But I am grateful I did-Ty and my mom told me later today that a mudslide hit the mountain and caused back-up traffic till 2 am. But since I left in the morning I got home so safe and the drive was smooth. Can I get a hallelujah for tender mercies? Thank you Heavenly Father! 

Speaking of the drive up here this morning it was surprisingly beautiful to wake up at 5 am and inhale the crisp mountain air and embrace the vivid desert sunrise! Such an amazing time to think and ponder on the way up here....and to feel the spirit touch me and remind me what a beautiful place earth is. After today I have made it a goal to go to bed early so I can wake up early to feel that refreshed feeling again...loved it!

Today is the first day I started at Nu Skin and I know you've heard this enough but I am so excited for this job! I can see myself progressing and working here for a while, which is a good sign compared to the other feelings I've had in the past with other jobs. Not bashing on them in any way I just know this job will lead to something that will help me in some way. Clear as mud right? I know, bare with me!

So, I've just been curious about what goes on in the morning that has been profound or just moments that made your day so much better. Share with me what you felt and what you did, because I would love to hear from you, whoever is reading! :) Feel free to share, I would love to get some tips and inspiration from you wonderful people! 

It's 9:47 and the nap I took today is starting to wear off...I think. So that's goodnight for this precious peach! 

Love always, lyss

photo of the night:

 In my life I've seen people shutter from jumping and also people gladly jumping into taking risks. Wherever you jump, just know you have a Heavenly Father who is holding out His hand and supporting you. Jump high, you'll land where you're supposed to when you're supposed to. 

I woke up today like someone had woken up from a coma; dazed and hit with reality like a sledgehammer to the face. It had been one of those nights where your mind keeps you up spinning with thoughts and the only thing to do to stop them was to just slowly breathe it away. I'm 21 and am so so so young...when I say I have experience with growing up I do, but I have so much more growing up to do and last night I felt like I had a taste of what some bitter nights might be like when I get older. I'm not on here to complain about how bad I have it please do not take it that way. I just want to let those who are reading this know that you are not alone if you've ever felt like I did! With these stressful emotions came a stressful dream. Yeah, I had the weirdest dream last night. In my dream I was driving on route 66 but it looked like the road I take home to go to Price and it was a full moon. The view was beautiful though-red rock shimmering in the moonlight that radiated the colors to turn blue and purple and the sky was dusk with some sunset eaten over by dazzling stars. While I was driving this car next to me pops my tires and starts attacking my car. I don't remember making a big deal out of it! I just pulled over to this mechanic store to fix it and so did the guy who caused the mess! It turns out the mechanic store was my grandma and grandpa's home in Rexburg, but just the living room. I remember feeling so confused, hungry and just overall, weird. I was in the kitchen when music started playing and the mother offered me food and threw it away. (?) But I won't ever forget that view I had of looking out at that magnificent canyon and embracing it's beauty. Be my guest if you will to interpret that dream! 

blessed.

If you were to ask me three months ago that I'd be living in Provo I would've called you crazy. But who's the crazy one now? I've got my own kind of crazy going on but you know I'm loving every second of it. 

So let me just give you a nutshell of what's been going on in my world:

Massage therapy at Provo College (I'll get more into that...)

Finding work? Check! Nu Skin here I come!

Feeling my Savior's love & God's hand in thick and thin.

Letting myself be. Nuff said

Gym time

Dating, friendships, relationships, etc etc. So many stunning, diverse people and so many personalities!

Last but not least, the many blessings. 

I am unbelievably blessed to have a crazy yet beautiful life to love, embrace, and cherish. In one of my classes our teacher made us write out a list as part of our final. The list? 350 gratitude list. Say what? Out of the blue. Yep. Here are some things I put that were unique to me...

Tender Mercies

   My testimony

     Temples

  Healthy moving limbs

    Being born

     Agency

     Peanut butter

       Quinoa

  My childhood best friend Aubry

     The Lord’s patience

Fog

     The way my sister laughs

Dancing

Trampolines

Service

      Rexburg Idaho sunsets

      Having feelings

      Having the ability to read

Breakfast

 Awkward moments that turn into something funny

Swings

These are just the many things I'm grateful for. If you are feeling sad, down, stressed, just blue I highly recommend writing down a gratitude list. Each time I read and soak up this list I feel so empowered and enlightened by what my Heavenly Father has blessed me with. I have hope for the future and what I have to live for. So I challenge you to write down what it is that makes you happy/grateful for in your cray-cray life. You'll be surprised what you can do and the potential you have! 

Massage therapy school is terrific. This I know is true! My life has been greatly influenced by the power of massage! If you've never had a massage before please do your mind & body a favor

and get one! I started in June and already I have learned so much about the body, modalities of massage and the connection with stress. I love practicing and helping people through massage. Best choice ever!
Take the time to be with yourself and love who you are! Enjoy this time of summer...August goes by way too fast! 
I'm in love with this photo of my parents way back!...

Time to get the cam back out! 

Mazel tov to the muzzy weekend

Have you ever had that muzzy feeling? And I mean muzzy like driving down a dark alley at night or holding a lit firework and not letting go. People and animals can usually suspect when something is muzzy...like the turtle on that movie Over the Hedge, his tail tingled. I imagine a librarian gets muzzy when people put books in the wrong spot or a fireman snoozing through the alarm of an emergency case at 3am. Muzzy for me consists of having a numb/indifferent feeling. Friday I experienced this. That whole day I could just tell something was not right and I was in this weird funk. Like a belly dancer, I needed to shake this funk away. So to help me, my friend Mandie and I went on a girls night to Idaho Falls for a free movie! We went to see THE LORAX! Which was alright. Mandie got me some 3-D glasses though :) as well as for herself! And not to mention the indulgent mix that we pigged out on. Coming home from IF was where the muzziness soaked in. We got kinda lost in Ammon and I must say, driving in parts of unfamiliar roads in IF is like sticking your hand in a small hole in a wall full of centipedes. But after the lady with two teeth told us directions we were on our way! So. You may ask: "Alyssa, did the muzziness stop?" Well my friend, it did not...not at all. We're literally a mile away from home when this patch of ice sneaks up on my car like a ninja and makes my car spin uncontrollably! We were on a curve and I was going the speed limit...and of course we were sober. So we're spinning on this ice and mandie is screaming for her life. She pulls the steering-wheel to the right and that's probably why we're still alive. If mandie hadn't done that, we would've been thrown maliciously in a ditch. We ended up in a fence with a broken mailbox which helped stopped the havoc. I cannot tell you just how relieved I was to be put there...of course I didn't ask to slip on ice in the first place. But the fact that the car stopped, no one was hurt, and no on coming car came was a miracle. I don't even know how we ended up by the fence but God or a guardian angel was def with us. Shortly, some random people came to the rescue to help us out and calmed our nerves...they came out of no where...another blessing. My granmda couldn't have been happier to see my car drive in the driveway. So did the muzziness stop? Well, my life is full of muzzy experiences but this one tops it.

I have a new addiction(s) with food....I strongly suggest you try these!

So perfect. So delectable.

To those reading this who feel worried, alone, or insecure-there's no need to feel like that. I know how you feel. The situation may have been different but I know that feeling of disappointment, regret, and sadness. Even though I try my best to help the pain, I know my Savior Jesus Christ is the one person who can take that pain away. I am so grateful for the Atonement he did through love for us and for His Heavenly Father. I have learned through my short 19 year old life that the Atonement is not just to take away sins, but to help cover illness and those feelings of insecurity, sadness, disappointment, etc. There was a time in my life where I was searching for happiness but I was a fool to do that....the happiness was right in front of my face the whole time. The happiness was the gospel of Jesus Christ. I cannot describe to you just how happy I feel from God's love, the Atonement, and my family. You might smirk and say, "Lyss, you've had it easy." Well my friend, on the contrary, this journey has been strenuous, burdensome, and a test of strength. The gospel was never meant to be easy and I am grateful it hasn't been easy for me; I never would've been able to experience the happiness.

Winter in Idaho!

Sometimes after a rough morning, you need a furry friend who purrs to relax with :)

March, 1. 2012. I feel like March is the beginning of Winter here in Rexburg and we Rexburginians (yeah I just made that up) are experiencing a taste of that crisp winter. The snow is beautiful though. Despite the slick roads, cold frigid wind, and dreary feeling you get with both of those combined, the snow changes everything about a attitude. Today I went on a walk outside to relieve some tensions and the snow made all the difference. Snow reminds me of karma-each little flake has an individual place here on earth and purpose for it's landing. When the flakes time is up they melt in the earth and revive again in a week, month, or year. I'm not saying I believe in karma. I just think the thought of starting over, having a new day everyday is refreshing.

Today my car got a boo-boo...I was pulling out from the Hart parking lot and this car comes in from the exit (and my freaking blindside) and we both bump. Luckily he had rubber bumpers! Shew. But my car is still getting over it...as am I.

So school starts in a few weeks and I need to get reading! Any suggestions on good books?