I know it's not february.....but i'm feeling a month of love!

In the past week I have thought a lot about love....what it is....why we need it...and how we receive it. I love the quote by Frank Clark, "A baby is born needing to be loved and that never changes." It is so true how we have to be able to feel that we are loved from different people and in different ways in our life.

"To find someone who will love you for no reason, and to shower that person with reasons, that is the ultimate happiness." Robert Brault had a pretty good point. We should love and love unconditional and make the person that loves us realize why they love us. It is important to get lost in the selflessness of it all and love by taking care of someones needs before your own. Loving someone should really be about that persons happiness.

"I think another important factor of love is forgiveness. And not only forgiveness but looking past someones faults because lets be honest we all have them. "You have to walk carefully in the beginning of love; the running across fields into your lover's arms can only come later when you're sure they won't laugh if you trip." Jonathan Carroll (Good point Jonathan, although i'm pretty sure i'd rather have someone that I feel comfortable will laugh with me!)

But then again when you love someone you also have to remember that your happiness is still vital. So where do you draw the line in giving up things for someone you love? You still have to do things for yourself and take care of your happiness. I've realized that sacrifice is great....but only when you can see that it goes both ways. It's so hard to constantly give and give and give if you aren't receiving things back in the way that you feel you need to....but maybe that is the ultimate selfless way. I guess Im not there yet!

I also think it is important that we recognize when someone is trying to show us that they love us and that we are important to them. I took this for granted with something that someone did for me today....and rather realize how sweet it was of them to do something for me, it was easier to think why it wasn't enough....OUCH...looks like I have something to work on.

Anyway enough blabbing....I do love life and I love life for so many different reasons. Here are some of them! (And yes I will take this as the opportunity to sport some Disney World pics! It is the most magical place on earth).

Family Friends! I love my friends that I consider to be family. Especially ones that take me in like this and treat me like real family. I feel extremely blessed to have them in my life.

Love you long time!!!! That should really be enough to explain! What started out as a "forced" visiting teaching friendship turned into something that will last a lifetime. I am grateful for people like this that are placed in my life because I need them. Hopefully I am helpful for them as well.

I love having good friends....great friends! One's that I know would do anything for me and I hope they know I would do the same for them. Another S.L.A.C.K trip anyone?

The temple for me represents more of the gospel and how much I love that it is a part of my life. I feel extremely blessed to experience the joys and receive the blessings of it. Every Sunday and on many other occasions I recognize how blessed I am to have it, as well as a savior who atoned for me so that I can return to Him and my Father in Heaven and live with my family forever. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the ultimate blessing and really helps me understand and get through life a bit better. We do always have someone we can talk to who is looking out for our ultimate happiness.

I got to spend 12 days with these lovely ones and I'm not sure I can describe how much all of my nieces and nephews mean to me. The one sure way to feel loved is to talk to or spend time with them. When it came time to leave Dallas...Ellie wasn't very happy with the idea and spent a good couple days very emotional. Nothing really makes you feel loved like that. I also realize that in loving them back I need to be the example that they need because they love me so much and look up to me. Love you guys! Can't wait for the next star wars weekend!

Now this is an easy one! I feel extremely blessed to have him as one of the biggest parts of my life the past 6 months. I think a lot of loving someone is knowing that they would be there for you if you need anything....well a couple late night phone calls...an emergency room visit...throwing up in his hands. I would say this one loves me. Well that love isn't just one way. I love spending time with him and getting to be with him. Not a day goes by that I don't think of something I want to do so that I can show him I love him. He is one of the funniest, most talented, hardworking individuals that I have ever met. He makes sure that he takes care of me and my needs. Through perfect days and not so perfect days I know he is always there. Aren't best friends so great!?! I love you!

Now the real love in this photo could be devoted to the pineapple floats or it could be towards my sister. We have had quite and interesting array of experiences together for the past 22 years. Through everything I know she is always there and always wants what is best for me. I know people talk about how they love their siblings and they are the best, but I really think I lucked out on this one. I like to think I had a say in having her as my sister in Heaven, who knows maybe we were best friends before coming here and really didn't want to be separated. She deals with so much in her life and is such an example to me. I feel blessed to have her in my life.

The miracle child is one that I love. After going through some hard stuff this girl is here and is as spunky as can be. I love that she loves that she is named after me. We've always had a special bond and I can't wait to watch her grow up and see what great things she does in life. I LOVE YOU ELIZABETH STEPHANIE!

I love swimming with sharks! Or maybe just the whole Disney experience all together....but I especially loved this part!

I love warm weather and my mother....but mostly my mother!! She always wanted to be like my Grandma and guess what mom? You are exactly like her!

The different adventures at Disney!! How could life really get much better. Thankfully I will be going twice this year!

SO I GUESS THE THEME IS TO JUST LOVE AND BE LOVED!!

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.” C.S. Lewis

I think when I spend more time working on that book I will write a chapter on love, and I think I'll spend my life loving! It sounds more appealing then the alternative!

Trials Trial Trials

I know I haven't blogged in a while....and I think thats because life has been crazy. Have you ever wondered why sometimes you feel like you should be on the same page as a person, and no matter how much you try....you both seem to be at opposite ends of the spectrum. Well I feel like this trial is one of many I get to experience right now. I guess it helps to be patient and realize that relying on God will help us go on the correct path that we are supposed to go down.

I love Gordon B. Hinckley's Quote: "Be believing, be happy, don't get discouraged. Things will work out!"

Guess my faith is getting tested...

Before the Craziness begins

I figured I should get a post in before the madness of an 18 credit hour semester and 30 hours of work a week begins. Thank heavens for the light at the end of the tunnel and graduating in August! Today I came across a quote that I absolutely love. I have always been a fan of C.S. Lewis, I believe him to be one of the most intellectual thinkers of all time.

It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses. To remember that the dullest, most uninteresting person you talked to today may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you will be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror in the corruption, such as you now meet, if at all, only in your nightmares. All day long, we are in some degree helping each other on to one of these destinations. There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations: these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals with whom we joke, work with, marry, snub and exploit: immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. --CS Lewis

It really makes you think. It goes along with my last post about people being extraordinary. Nobody is ordinary, and we should take the time to treat people as though we are helping them reach their potential. It's important that we help them become the best that they can be. One thing that has such a great impact on our lives is how we treat those "immortals" around us. They truly are the ones we spend all of our time and experience new things with. It allows you to think more positively of other if you can understand that their potential is so much greater then what they are now...and we should love them. Love (verb): to see one's eternal potential and help them achieve it.

EXTRAORDINARY things happen to EXTRAORDINARY people

Well I guess if Albuquerque and I had to meet...a four hour layover in the tiny airport wasn't the worst way to do it. Traveling back from Christmas break has given me time to think about all of the events that happened over the past two weeks...minus Stacie's wonderful run ins with the Emergency room it turned out to be a fantastic vacation that every family member was a part of.

We had fun...although I left my camera in Utah and will have to use my siblings pictures to prove it, we had a blast. Our normal Christmas traditions resumed and the way some people wrapped their gifts really improved :) Since Jason passed his physical therapy test, we all pitched in and bought him a PlayStation 3. Not only did he get to unwrap this gift, but all the different games and the console were wrapped onto ryan as he acted like IronMan and Michael told some story that told Jason what piece of the present to open next. Maybe you had to be there to understand the humor! Also, to go along with our family theme and the tradition of a gift that goes along with our "No empty Chairs in our Heavenly Home theme," my mother made things for each "family" to hang in their home that has our family theme also incorporated with our Disney obsession. My explanation is clearly understating the impressive nature of this gift...maybe i'll just have to wait and post pictures!

I got to play the Xbox kinnect over break which was way cool. My family had such a good time and got lots of great videos from it. One of my favorite comments from break was when we were playing my Mom said to my brother, "Mike you should be skinny, this is an aerobic activity" haha. Games as a family always end up being a great time because of how much laughing we do. Oh how I LOVE MY FAMILY!

Since yesterday was my last day in Dallas I tried to spend as much time with my nieces and nephews as possible. I knew I had won the heart of my youngest niece when she followed me around like a lost puppy since the 2nd day I was in town, but I had to put in my final touches with the rest! We went on a pretty intense bike ride (well intense for four year olds, and the aunt who had to run around helping 5 kids under the age of 6!) As we were biking my one niece Emily said to me "Aunt Stephanie, are you going to marry Ryan?" Keep in mind Ryan is my younger brother. I preceded to tell her no that I wouldn't marry Ryan because he is my brother. With a distraught look on her face she said, "Well there isn't anybody left for you to marry." I think since all of my older siblings are married and everyone is "family" she assumed that I would have to marry someone in the family. Oh that little girl always knows how to put a smile on my face!

A couple of us went to go and see Narnia my last day in Dallas....I wasn't as excited as others to go, but the movie did prove to be more then I thought it would be. As I listened to a line in the movie were Reepicheep was comforting Eustace after he turned into a dragon he said "Extraordinary things happen to Extraordinary people."

I thought about this for a while and realized how many extraordinary things have happened in my life and the life of my family. I know these things happen because we have potential to be extraordinary, and we see that potential and strive for it. Whether this extraordinary things are good or bad things that happen in our lives, it shows us that we all have an EXTRAORDINARY potential to live up to.

Forgiving: a necessary attribute

This past week after hearing me complain a bit about my week one of my best friends suggested a book for my reading enjoyment, THE PEACEGIVER. As I started to dive into this book I thought it was thought provoking but a little strange, but my friends favorite quote from it, and the way she lives her life, has now given me a new way to think. I was always impressed with her ability to seem to forgive those who had done wrong to her. I am not normally one that will hold a grudge, but she really exemplifies the attribute of forgiveness.

"Being mistreated is the most important condition of mortality, for eternity itself depends on how we view those who mistreat us."

What a profound, and yet so simple and truthful statement of life. Our Savior suffered and died for us so that we might be forgiven, and refusing to forgive those who have wronged us is almost like denying the ability and power of that atonement.

We all get hurt in life, and at some point or another are mistreated, and often it is by those that we have trusted. Although this can be a painful thing to realize that you were wronged, eternity is more worth it then these brief moments of pain that we have to endure in this life.

This seems like the perfect season to realize the importance of forgiveness. This is the season where we celebrate the birth and life of our Savior. Out of all of the Christ like attributes to exemplify, this is one I plan on continuing to work on...after all eternity depends on how we view those who mistreat us.

The Advantage of the unknown!

"It's not because things are difficult that we dare not venture. It's because we dare not venture that they are difficult"

-Seneca

It seems that many of my most recent conversations have been on the topic of Risks, and what it means to take risks and the importance of that. I feel as though a large majority of people are so content staying where they feel comfortable, and choosing the comfortable path that they lose the opportunity to chose paths open to them that may bring them greater joy and greater possibilities.

In talking to a friend I understood risk taking in a way that I had not thought of before. You can't just assume that you are drowning when you are only in 3 feet of water, stand up a little taller and make it out into the deep end so you can learn how to swim.

Paulo Coelho once said "You have to take risks. We will only understand the miracle of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen."

I guess I just wish that people would realize the advantages of taking risks...of creating a new path...a different one so that you have more opportunities accessible to you. Exploring is growth, and without challenging ourselves and taking the time to explore, we won't be able to grow to our full potential. Life is a lot about trial and error, but if even one time taking a risk proves great results....isn't it worth it?

Tis the season to be Thankful

Cliche maybe...but what is the season if I don't express my gratitude for the things in my life that I am so blessed to have?!

I realized over break that I have so much to be thankful for. My life is rich in blessings...sometimes even things that I don't initially view as a blessing ends up being one. Even hard times, stresses, and frustrations play out to be a blessing as they allow me and my life to grow.

One thing that I have come to be grateful and excited for is new opportunities..sometimes taking risks pays off. Working on getting out of my comfort zone has been a blessing allowing new and exciting things to come in to my life.

What would the season be without being thankful for my family, my friends, my savior, my education, and all the other wonderful things that I enjoy in my life.

Tis the season to be jolly/Tis the season to be thankful!