More Quotes and More Thoughts on Them

More quotes I've received from my phone, since the last time I blogged about the quotes I got from my phone! :)

1. "Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one."  - Malcolm Forbes (a true teacher understand this, and a teacher who doesn't believe this should get out of the system in my opinion.)
2. "There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying  about things which are beyond the power of our will." - Epictetus
3. "What if everything is an illusion and nothing exists? If that's the case, I definitely overpaid for my carpet." - Woody Allen (Um...ok. I was upset at first when I read this one because even if everything is an illusion, we can't get out of it so might as well go with it...but then I thought, there's a nice thought about materialism...it is utterly pointless if you actually look at it head on.)
4. "I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it." - Harry S. Truman (I want to be this kind of parent!)
5. "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once the child grows up." - Pablo Picasso (I'm definitely noticing this in teaching primary.)
6. "A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting its shoes on." -Mark Twain (Oh, thank you for your endless cynicism. :) )
7. "My best friend is the man who in wishing me well wishes it for my sake." - Aristotle (Hard to find, that one is.)
8. "Charity sees the need not the cause." - German Proverb (good old Germans!)
9. "I have never been hurt by what I have not said." - Calvin Coolidge (unless it's "I love you"...)
10. "Glory is fleeting, but obsucrity is forever." - Napoleon (still not sure how I feel about this one, especially considering who it came from.)
11. "I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it." - Mae West (don't we all?)
12. "Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws." - Plato
13. "It is absurd to divide people into good or bad. People are either charming or tedious." - Oscar Wilde (You would say that, Oscar.)
14. "I have always wanted to be somebody, but I see now I should have been more specific." - Lily Tomlin
15. "Time passes, and little by little everything that we have spoken in falsehood becomes true." - Marcel Proust
16. "A quick temper will make a fool of you soon enough." - Bruce Lee (go martial arts!!)
17. "Where is there dignity unless there is honesty?" - Cicero
18. "Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't."  - Erica Jong (so true!)
19. "The heart wants what it wants. There's no logic to those things." - Woody Allen (I don't know how I feel about him altogether because I don't entirely agree with anything he says apparently.)
20. "In the business world, the rearview mirror is always clearer than the windshield." - Warren Buffett (not just the business world, buddy.)
21. "Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow ripening  fruit." - Aristotle (I've noticed this a lot lately, that even if I get along with someone great from the beginning, and we get really close really fast, they still aren't nearly as dependable as those I've been friends with for years, or decades, and in the end I'm still not as open or myself around them.)
22. "What we aniticipate seldom occurs. What we least expected usually happens." - Benjamin Disraeli
23. "If I have seen farther than others, it is because I was standing on the shoulders of giants." - Sir Isaac Newton
24. "Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion." - G.W.F. Hegel
25. "Never go to a docot whose office plants have died." - Erma Bombeck
26. "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life." - The Bible (pretty sure that's not the King James version though.)
27. "A friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of nature." - Ralph Waldo Emerson (sure, when you're BFF is Henry David Thoreau, I'd say the same thing!)
28. "Develop your senses - especially learn how to see. Realise that everything connects to everything else." - Leonardo DaVinci (a little Eastern philosophy? I think so.)
29. "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." - Henry Ford
30. "Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves." - Rainer Maria Rilke
31. "Success isn't permanent, and failure isn't fatal." - Mike Ditka
32. "Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn." -Harriet Beecher Stowe
33. "Be nice to people on your way up because you meet them on your way down." - Jimmy Durante
34. "If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow." - Chinese Proverb
35. "If you judge people, you have no time to love them." - Mother Theresa
36. "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." - Martin Luther King Jr.
37. "To fear love is to fear life, and those who fear life are already three parts dead." - Bertrand Russell

Now if you can stick with me after reading all those quotes, I will tell you why I bolded some of them. See, there is this wonderful thing called tender mercies of the Lord. I've been making some changes in my life, as well as had a potentially major trial thrown at me, and those were the quotes that I received on the exact day when I needed to hear it. Each addressed some issue I'd been pondering. For example, I'm trying to be more attentive to others' needs, and be willing to be friends with everyone. I'm trying to be a more affectionate friend, and to be patient when others frustrate me. I'm also facing up to a lot of attitudes and habits I've been carrying around for a long time that I never should've picked up. And all those quotes were just the little encouragement I needed exactly at the right time to take the next step when my legs were too tired (or frustrated) to move. Cause God is awesome that way. :)

Avatar: The Last Airbender; Eternal Wisdom #1

So a little while ago I was talking with one of my most favorite people and he said something to me to the effect of "God's paths are straight, but He sure takes you for a crazy ride." I thought to myself, they may be straight, but they definitely go up and down. Then the next day, or maybe the day after, I was studying Alma 7, and verses 9, 19 and 20 stuck out to me:  

•  9 But behold, the Spirit hath said this much unto me, saying: Cry unto this people, saying—^aRepent ye, and prepare the way of the Lord, and walk in his paths, which are straight; for behold, the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and the Son of God ^bcometh upon the face of the earth.
• 19 For I perceive that ye are in the paths of righteousness; I perceive that ye are in the path which leads to the kingdom of God; yea, I perceive that ye are making his ^apaths straight.
•  20 I perceive that it has been made known unto you, by the testimony of his word, that he cannot ^awalk in crooked paths; neither doth he vary from that which he hath said; neither hath he a shadow of turning from the right to the left, or from that which is right to that which is wrong; therefore, his course is one eternal round.

And I thought of the Serpent's Pass episode of Avatar (season 2, episode 12). Team Avatar is trying to make their way to Ba Sing Se, the capital of the Earth Kingdom. In order to get there, they end up having to take what is called the Serpent's Pass. When looking on the map, the Serpent's Pass looks like a very narrow but very straight strip of land across a sea. But when they reach it, it looks like this:

It's straight all right, but has some altitude diversity issues. On the entrance to the Serpent's Pass, there is a post that says "Abandon Hope." But Team Avatar presses forward, because they don't have any other options.

At one point, the path is submerged in water. Until then, the biggest challenges have been climbing up and down the rock without causing a landslide (easy when you've got the greatest earthbender alive travelling with you). This challenge seems a little more daunting, but between an airbender and a waterbender, travelling through the water in a bubble seems like a simple solution. Until the Serpent swims by. Then they realize what trouble they're in. So now the bubble is burst, and Team Avatar needs to find a way to get across the rest of the water, as well as destroy the Serpent's power.

I won't spoil the action for you, but they get safely across and defeat the Serpent. How does this relate to the scriptures/life? Even though the path was straight, it carried them through ups and downs. And at one point, they had to face the serpent in eye and swallow all fear and doubt to conquer him. Sounds like life, does it not?

Straight paths aren't always easy or dangerless. And when we embark on them, we can never abandon hope, or we won't make it across. God wants us to make it across, He wants us to struggle through the climb, and He wants us to face that Serpent and defeat it. :)

Jacob Lake Adventures: Revisited

So I started this post right after I returned from this trip, but for some reason at that time I was unable to upload the pictures. It only took me a few months to fix that problem...but here it is. My President's Day Weekend:

I visited a dear friend, Joseph Weatherford, at Jacob Lake this weekend with my other dear friend, Heidi Collins. We left on Saturday and returned Monday (thank goodness for national holidays). My family kept asking me why I went back to Jacob Lake since they thought I had been miserable there. Well, I wasn't completely miserable: there is no way to be miserable when there are opportunities to be epic in nearly every moment of the day. Jacob Lake is where I started running, where I took an hours long off-trail-adventures, where I hiked across the Grand Canyon, where I made a perfectly symmetrical sweet roll and perfect bread. I did a lot of awesome things there.

Friends were one of the most epic parts of Jacob Lake. Heidi worked with me in the bakery, and Joe and Chad worked in the service station. The four of "Us" hung out all the time, stargazing at the Grand Canyon, singing "Lake Ponchartrain," and walking up the road a mile to climb the fire tower at night. Also, we played the question game a lot, so of course, they quickly became some of the best friends I've had.

So that's the background of this weekend. Well, when we got to Jacob Lake, there were two feet of snow on the ground, and another foot fell on Saturday night.

 

We decided it would be a brilliantly epic idea to hike the mile uphill to the fire tower in the three feet of snow, then climb the 80-foot tower in a blizzard:

 

After that, we played cards and watched August Rush. That night, we played the question game in our room until we all fell asleep (don't worry, Joe was in a different bed!)

On Monday morning we hung out in Fredonia, Arizona, which is the most sad place I have ever been. Haha. Don't go live there. Then Heidi and I drove back up and on the way we found this sign in Orderville, which we thought was fantastic. :)

Although it seems simple, it was a fantastic weekend. I finally was able to buy my Mexican hoodie from the "Guns Ammo Lotto Beer" gas station in Fredonia. I mean, it was wonderful. And now I can tell my kids and my grandkids that I once had to walk a mile uphill in three feet of snow. Besides, the best kind of friends are the ones where it doesn't matter if you do epic things or not, because every moment together is epic. :)

The MOST Important Things for a Friday Night

So I've been slacking at doing things I need to get done with my life, for example, it took me six weeks to get my friends' wedding scrapbook done, when it should've taken two at the most (especially when I have another I need to do, and will have 1-3 more I need to do in two weeks). So I decided this weekend I was going to get a lot done and not let my friends distract me.

But tonight, I got a lot more done in a shorter amount of time than expected. So around 8:30, I started thinking that maybe I should do something with friends...only problem is...I don't know where they are! I hadn't heard from anyone for hours. So, of course, I started pitying myself and such.

So I was shopping on Barnes & Noble.com and trying to come up with Father's Day gift ideas, when suddenly I just kept thinking I really need to check and see if Harry Potter midnight tickets have gone on sale, since my sister Jill left me in charge of buying them for our large midnight going group.

And there they were, on sale!! Because of my promptness in buying tickets after they went on sale, I was able to buy 23 sitting together. And now 23 people will be able to thoroughly enjoy the final installment of Harry Potter at midnight!!

That's when I realized there are more important things than friends. Things like Harry Potter, and seeing it first. :)

I also got a lot done, like cleaning, laundry, working out, my lesson for Primary, etc. And now I'm going to spend the rest of the night working on my book. :)

A New Life

So I have this wonderful friend who is also a writer, much, much better than I am, and we bounce ideas off each other, critique each other's work, edit each other's grammar, and everything fantastic and English nerdy. The other day he emailed me a synopsis for a novel that he wants to write, and just the synopsis was so inspiring that I decided I needed to change my life. Haha. Which is a good thing, because until I told him how amazing it was, he was going to scrap the whole idea and the world would've been deprived of a fantastically written and truly inspiring sci-fi novel. :)

As a step in my new life, I have come up with a New Life Theme Music cd. I could probably write an entire blog for each song and why it has affected me so much lately, but I'll try to be more brief (haha! like I was ever brief!)

1. Easier to Run - Linkin Park. I like this song right now, because it recognizes how hard it is to change, especially when you are struggling to overcome a shameful/dark/broken past. The speaker says it's easier to run, but he never says he does run. And I have felt that way many, many times since moving back home in November.
2. A New Life - from Jekyll and Hyde sung by Linda Eder. I think this is kinda self-explanatory given the name of the mix. Haha. But this song is about the hope, and also the reality of starting over. There is uncertainty, but conviction that you will make it through.
3. Never Too Late - Three Days Grace. I was telling my friend last Thursday about Alma the Younger and the sons of Mosiah and how they went from the "very vilest of sinners" (see Mosiah 28:4) to men whose power would shake the jaws of hell (Alma 48:17-18). I told my friend I loved that idea...that no matter how far you've gone, it's never too late to start over. And if you're granted enough time, you can even make it to the extreme opposite. :)
4. Breaking the Habit - Linkin Park. I used to despise this song because of the people it reminded me of, and I still don't love it, but it has merit. First of all, it says "I'm breaking the habit tonight," which again indicates that idea of turning around, and immediately. There's no point in waiting. Also, I love the line "I don't know how I got this way; I know it's not all right," because sometimes...you don't know why something happened, and you don't need to know. You just need to fix it.
5. Candles - Hey Monday (I have the Glee version though). This song is about getting over someone, and being okay with being alone and on your own for a while. Honestly this idea is pretty new to me, not that I always felt like I needed a boyfriend or anything to feel worthwhile, but I do think that I used other people to define me...and I don't need to. I can define myself.
6. Many a New Day - from Oklahoma! This song is specifically about not mourning about losing a man in your life, but the message I'm taking from it is there's no need to dwell on or regret something that happened to you. It happened, it's done, now move on. And I don't think I'm always good at that (I'm probably better at it when it comes to guys, but not other things...).
7. Winter's on the Wing - from The Secret Garden. Snow and cold melting into green, warmth, and new life. Plus the singer has a hot Scottish accent. :)
8. Blackbird - The Beatles (again I have the Glee version). The image in this song makes me think of a little bird standing on the edge of a darkness...a tunnel, forest, whatever, about to take flight into it. This is a pretty common idea...taking a leap of faith into the dark and trusting it will turn out okay. I also like the lyrics: "All your life, you were only waiting for this moment to arise," which to me indicate that the bird will take this chance to fly higher than it ever had before.
9. Thank U - Alanis Morissette. This song pretty much exactly describes a lot of the little goals and things I want to clean up in my life, like "How about stopping eating when I'm full up?" Also, "How about how good it feels to finally forgive you?" because there are a few loose ends that have been tangling me up for a while, and I finally took care of them. Other lines I really love: "How about me enjoying the moment for once? How about no longer being masochistic? How about remembering your divinity? How about unabashedly bawling your eyes out?"
10. Say the Same - Hoobastank. This song is about parting ways with someone who was a big part of your life...also something I've been trying to do.The great thing about the song is that it isn't a parting because of hate or strife, it's simply because that person's purpose is done; you're just going separate ways. It addresses appreciation for having these people in your life, admiration, adoration, etc, but in the end, you're just separating, and that's fine. Being back at home sometimes gives you this sense of obligation to bet together and bff again with the people you used to be bff with. But...truth is, you've all beem apart and grown and you're all different now. And that's ok, you don't have to be bff again.
11. Hello - Lionel Richie (also covered by Incubus, but I have the Glee version which is fantastic). This song is just plain beautiful. Also, the way I interpret it is an address to a future lover. I'm trying to follow the advice to become the person you want to marry...so this is something that influences a lot of my decisions.
12. As If We Never Said Goodbye - from Sunset Blvd (also covered by Barbara Streisand, but I of course, have the Glee version). This is another one on the theme of coming home. Ever since I went up to school for the first time, being back in Murray, or Utah at all (except Logan for a few days at a time...sometimes), was absolutely miserable. I didn't keep it a secret that I hated being back in Murray. But this time, since I don't know how long I'll be here, or how I'll escape, I decided I need to face the music and find a way to enjoy it. I've taken up some new hobbies, new hang outs, and most importantly, addressed some unfinished business that makes living here much more pleasant.
13. Moving Forward - Hoobastank. I think the name is self-explanatory, but these lyrics are even more telling: "I'll take the first step of a million more, and I'll make mistakes I've never made before, but at least I'm moving forward." I'm definitely a perfectionist, and I don't like making mistakes. So I've been trying to keep this song in mind as I explore uncharted territories.
14. He Lives in You - from The Lion King (the Broadway musical). Gotta bring The Lion King in to take this to a spiritual level. I can't forget how important it is to stay true to who I am, a daughter of a Heavenly Father, and keep Him a part of me while I take my life in a different path.
15. The First of Me - Hoobastank. This song addresses the challenge of being true to yourself and not selling your soul out in a world that is constantly offering so-called prizes in exchange for that soul. This is something I believe very strongly in, and is something that I will take any measure in the world to maintain.
16. Born This Way - Lady Gaga (but I put the Glee version on this mix cause it's better!). It's also important to remember where you've come from and what good things you bring into the world. Everyone has talents and gifts to offer the world, and everyone is beautiful in their own way. And God doesn't make mistakes! So all those pieces of you that are good...those should stay, and you should cultivate them and harness their power. :)
17. Raise Your Glass - Pink (but once again, I put the Glee version in my mix. :) ). This one is just on there because in the end, I want to accept who I am and party with it. :)

Before I end this, I must make another note. I originally made this list without the Linkin Park songs, but I felt like something was missing. I kept thinking, there must be a band who sings about the pain of change, because so far everything else was so optimistic and upbeat, but I also wanted to address the reality of change, especially when you're trying to change your character. It hurts, and it's hard. Back in high school, I loved Linkin Park because I felt they exactly expressed a lot of the pain/frustration/anger I felt during that time of my life. So I don't know why it took me a few days to realize Linkin Park was the band I was looking for, but I am grateful that pain is something universal, and I'm also grateful for what I learn from it. :)

Avatar Nerdiness

My sister Sarah sent me this picture, and the following conversation ensued:

Laura: Appa?
Sarah: Nope, Corduroy. That's what will happen if we don't ever shave him.
L: Appa...Corduroy...it's all the same. Corduroy is Appa's reincarnation. :)
S: That's true. Lol.
L: Which means the Avatar can't be far! Maybe it's Camilla!
S: Yes...maybe....No, it's probably Kristan because Camilla isn't an airbender.
L: Well maybe it's an earthbender because dogs like to dig up stuff. The animal companions would go through the same cycle as the Avatars I think.
S: Maybe. And just because he's a sky bison doesn't mean that it's the Avatar's.
L: He's not a sky bison! They are extinct now, and we only have inferior one species animals. Haha. So over hundreds of years the Avatar's animal companion keep reincarnating into lesser animals until it got to Corduroy. Lol
S: Haha touche'.
L: It explains the stranger danger. Watching out for Fire Nation and others who want to disturb the peace.
S: Ahh, yes. What companion is Stacey most like?
L: Some fancy dog that belonged to Toph's family.
S: You mean a flying boar?
Yes, something like that...that's why she gets bored!! Haha, some Sokka humor for you all. :)

And that was the end of that.