comparison is the thief of joy.

i have always struggled with comparing myself to others. i see other people progressing and feel happy for them but to be honest sometimes it makes me feel like i am a dud. i see people getting married, graduating, accomplishing big things, and i look at myself and sometimes wonder...what the heck do i have to show? this is the worst mindset.

the quote above is one of my very favorites and has been very applicable in my life lately, "comparision is the theif of joy". everyone is on their own path and it is so important to remember that we have full control over our happiness. everyday there are little things that i accomplish that make me proud and happy and comparing these small things to others maybe bigger things is no way to go through life.

on a lighter note things are warming up here in utah. while 40 degrees may not seem warm it is fairly pleasant! i am looking forward to soaking in the sun and seeing the flowers bloom!

a few from my collection

ok so i have an adorable collection of pictures of my nephew cruz. i have to share a few of them. he is the sweetest little boy in the world. im not just saying this because i love him... he really is.

oh and he is a model.

my very favorite picture!

look at those little cheeks.

so much love

this morning a got a call from joe ludlow a faculty kid from jerusalem! it made my day! our teachers at the jersualem center have the calling for a whole year and we were their first group, they will be there till the end of summer. i got to skype with joe and the whole family and i got to talk to my friend erin who is there this semester.

it is such a unique experience to have such a close relationship with teachers and their famililes. we lived together for 4 months so it is inevitable that you gain a relationship.

i just have been thinking alot lately about my experience and the relationships that i have gained. it seems bizarre that 80 people can become like family in 4 months but i really consider every person i was there with to be like family of sorts. we spent 24/7 together and i feel like the luckiest girl in the world to have spent it with the people i did. i really care about and love each and every single person in our group. they each mean the world to me. normally you would think that in such a large group there would be cliques or some tensions but we all loved each other so much. we really became a family. i cant even express my love for these people. there were several times during my experience that i would just take a step back and just observe what we were doing and all the people and just feel so blessed.

im sure that people are sick of hearing me talk about my semester in jerusalem but my heart is so full of gratitude for the entire experience the things i learned the person i have become because of it and the amazing friends that i have gained. theres just so much love.

aloha!

this past week i went to hawaii with my parents and little bro. man it was nice! ty and i have been thinking alot about byu hawaii lately and wanted to check it out. let me just say i am obssessed! i would really love to go to school here but because i am so far into school it makes things tricky and i really hope i can make it here. i ditched school and it was an amazing week! i got some sun and got to spend time with my wonderful family and some great friends!

ty and dad surfing turtle bay!

turtle bay! our hotel for a few of the days!

at the beautiful laie temple!

pipeline! so crazy!

turtles!

amazing wildlife!

i conquered one of my biggest fears- heights. ty and i went skydiving!

ty had a rough landing! i saw it from the sky because he landed before me and i was laughing sooo hard.

yes we are huge tourists! the biggests hawaiian shirt in the world!

surfing at castles with our old friend david bowen and my friend asia

at dukes wakiki!

our tradition! hula pie!

dont mind me i have sand or something in my eyes and could not see. but this is the moana surfrider the oldest hotel in wakiki!

snorkeling at hanauma bay!

im back!

well i think of this as a little journal of sorts. i have a hard time writing on here just as i do with my journal. so here it goes a little update. i didnt post much about jerusalem but let me just say that it was the most amazing irreplaceable experience i have had thus far in my life. i cant even begin to describe what i learned and how much i have grown from this past semester. i met people who will be in my life forever. i learned things that i cherish and i have gained a deep love for Christ and the LDS church.
so after i got home from jerusalem in decemeber i got to spend 2 weeks with my amazing family. i missed them so much when i was abroad and after learnign so much about Christ and his life christmas was so special. after the 2 weeks of relaxing and adjusting back to the US i headed back to provo for school.
i am living with 2 of my greatest friends from jerusalem and it has been so much fun. the apartment is a bit small and old and i share a room meant for one but the atmosphere is what counts and our apartment is so full of love. i changed my major to recreation management and i have become the epitamy of a nerd. i get excited to go to class and do my assignments. they always say that everything happens for a reason and my mini "mid-life crisis" of not getting into PR was an amazing turn for the better.
so i am just living the life in provo.
this is alot of info i am going to do this weekly so my thoughts wont be so scattered!

pics from jerusalem

the holy land.

so jerusalem has been unbelievable. i cant even begin to describe everything i have done and experienced up to this point and i am not even half way done. in the time since i have been here i have been all over israel and even to turkey. i didnt bring my computer here and it is the biggest mistake ever. so it has been a challenge to keep up the blog. but from now on i am going to keep updating sharing my experiences. this has been a irreplaceable amazing experience and i want to let you all in on it. i will try to post pics soon. im just letting you all know i am safe and having the time of my life!