Life is Short

This week has been very busy and exhausting at work but I really have no room to complain. Life is good for me. However, it's been a week of introspection and re-learning of an age old lesson: Life is short.

A couple of days ago I found out that one of my old high school friends has Stage 3C Ovarian cancer. Through her blog posts before and after her surgery she has remain so positive and calm. We ran cross country together and I was always a little jealous of how incredibly talented of a runner she's always been. She ran for UVU and just graduated this last year. We haven't really kept in touch (just Facebook messages here and there throughout the years) but it still breaks my heart. Someone so young, so healthy, so full of life is now going through something so terrible and I'm sure very scary. I have been so impressed with her attitude about the whole thing. She's so strong.

Yesterday, my friend's dad passed away. He's been dealing with a lot of health issues throughout the years and this last week made the decision that he wasn't going to go to the hospital again. He quickly declined from there and passed away last night. While you might think that I can empathize with what he's going through, I don't know that I can. His situation is so different than mine was. I was young, it happened very suddenly and as a child the whole thing was hard to understand and take in. While this is still probably very difficult for him, my friend was very at peace when he talked to me about it. Again, so impressed by his strength and faith.

This next week I'm going into my doctor to have my blood pressure checked. I've noticed that it's been high over the last couple of years when I've gone in for physicals and in my Fitness Assessment class my senior year, my blood pressure was always high when my classmates would take it for practice. I decided to check my BP when I was at the store the other night and it was 144/75, with my pulse at 70. For those of you unfamiliar with BP the top number (systolic BP) is the pressure measured when the heart is beating and the blood vessels are closed. The bottom number (diastolic BP) is the pressure between beats when the vessels are open and the blood is flowing through. A healthy BP measurement is 120/80. Lower is good, higher is bad. For the top number, 121-139 is pre-hypertension (pre-high blood pressure). 140+ is considered hypertension. Basically, my numbers are not good. Hypertension can lead to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, heart disease and other dangerous health risks. It's nicknamed "The Silent Killer" because it can easily lead to these other things without any warning. I know this all sounds dramatic but it's really just the facts. So I'm going to my doctor to get it all sorted out and if there's any news to report, I'll update here. The nurse said they may start me on some medications but I'll see what other options there are because I'd like to avoid medications if I can. I'm already on birth control for my Endometriosis, and that's hard to remember sometimes, so I'd rather not add more! haha!

Moral of the story: life is short and you never know what's coming your way. Do what makes you happy. Eat the cake. Go for a hike. Tell the people you love that you love them. Learn to forgive and don't hold grudges. Don't put off the things you want to do for another day because there may not be another day. Be full of gratitude. Choose to be happy now.

As of late...

I have had a very busy but fun (most of the time) life lately. Here's some of the stuff I've been up to:

Pedicure! So fun. It's been a couple weeks and it still looks great!

Went home for the little sister's SEVENTEENTH birthday! So crazy! Like her haha Someday she'll learn that these pictures will end up on the internet one way or another :) 

Spontaneously went to a Jazz game with Des, Becca and Cade (not pictured). It was way fun and they totally beat the Nuggets! (please excuse my multiple chins...gross)

Went to an Aggie themed surprise party for my friend Jessica! Soo good to see her. She now works somewhere south of here...ahem..bless her heart. and check out this cake!!! Awesome!

I bought a cute new sweater from Loft (yes, I may be obsessed with that store). This is the picture I took to send to my mom to show her how cute it is. 

In other news, work has been super crazy this last week. I even had my first super angry mom. That was fun...not!!! I hope there's not many of those left to go through this SOAR season. I've also been sick all week. I finally got sick enough that I took yesterday off of work. Which was unfortunate, because I have TONS to get done. I'm hoping to completely recover this weekend but progress has been slow. Wish me luck! Oh! I've also lost another pound. Yes, just one but hey! It's something, so I'll take it! Peace and blessin's y'all! Enjoy Conference...I know I am!

11 Post for Jennie

My bestie Jennie tagged me in her last post to answer some questions. Here we go!

Here are the rules:

1. Post these rules.

2. Post a photo of yourself and 11 random things.

3. Answer the questions set for you in the original post.

4. Create 11 new questions and tag people to answer them.

5. Go to their blog/twitter/facebook and tell them you've tagged them.

11 Random Things About Me

1. I hate pickles. I hate them so much that if they're on a plate with my food, I automatically pick them up and demand that someone take them.

2. I have bad shoulders and sometimes they ache when a storm is coming.

3. I hate game nights. But I don't hate playing all games.

4. When I'm in a big enough bed alone, I like to sleep diagonally.

5. I like funny combinations of food. Like ketchup and spaghetti and Reeses with strawberry ice cream.

6. I just started taking voice lessons. Because I've always wanted to, so I just did it.

7. I hate shopping. I wish I could pay someone else to shop for my clothes.

8. I'm not as tough as I try to make myself seem. and I think most people can tell.

9. I want to run another half marathon. many of them.

10. If all goes right, I'll be going to New Zealand in the fall (Jen!)

11. I love Ryan Reynolds, Channing Tatum, Ryan Gosling, and Hugh Jackman.

Questions Jennie would like me to answer:

1. What is your all time favorite flavor of ice cream? hmm.. This is a tough one. I usually default to mint or peppermint. Something like that. Hence my love for Aggie Blue Mint.

2. If you could go anywhere in the world for one week where would you go and what would you do? I would definitely go to Europe and try to hit up as many of the famous sites in as many countries as possible in that amount of time.

3. Who is one person you absolutely could not live without? My mom, hands down.

4. What is your favorite accessory and why? I love, love, love rings. I have two that I typically wear but sometimes I change it up with different ones. But I always have to be wearing rings.

 5. What is your favorite memory from your childhood? hmmm..This is a tough one. You know, one of my friends and I used to make up dances to Backstreet Boys and NSync songs. I loved that. 

6. What is your favorite form of exercise? Definitely running. Nothing feels better. 

7. If you could have lunch with someone who has passed away who would it be and what would you talk about?

Probably my father. I'd just ask him what it is that he's up to and just see how he's doing.

8. If you could be a professional athlete of any sport what would it be? Oh easy. I would be a professional gymnast. They're awesome!

9. Where do you want to be in 10 years? Excellent question. I want to be living somewhere else, possibly outside of UT, with my husband and kids. I want to be happy.

10. What is your favorite TV show right now? probably Modern Family. Fantastic show!

11. How many kids do you want? 4. I always felt like there was someone missing with only 3 in my family. But I have a feeling I might end up with 5. Guess we'll see. That's a lot.

Questions I want my tagged people to answer!

1. What is the first thing you would purchase if money was no object?

2. What is your favorite part of your body and why?

3. What is one good thing you did for someone else this week, without being asked?

4. If you could choose your church calling, what would you choose?

5. What is your least favorite food?

6. What makes you happy?

7. What is your biggest pet peeve?

8. What is the bravest thing you've ever done?

9. Who was your favorite band/music artist in high school?

10. If you could do one thing differently in your past, what would it be?

11. If you had a super power, what would it be?

People I am Tagging

Mom

Mariana

Katie

Kjerstin

Monica

Deborah

Tag, you're it! :)

A + K + T = Awesome

Tonight I would like to showcase my awesome roommates. I really believe we are meant to be living together right now. It just all worked out too well for us not to be MFEO! (Sleepless in Seattle fans should know that reference)

Kaili and I had decided to stick together since we were both staying in Logan after graduation for full time jobs...and we just have a good time being roommates! We had found where we wanted to live but needed one more person in order to fill the apartment. However, we were not having luck finding anyone to fill the spot. Then one day our good friend Megan mentioned that a friend of hers needed a place to live. We decided to take a leap of faith (ugh...such cheesy terminology. I've been watching too much Bachelor) and invited this random girl to be our roommate. That girl was Torie!

Let me tell ya, folks, the three of us have bonded better than I could have ever hoped! We have so much fun together! It's rare that the three of us are ever together for very long, but when we are, it's a good time. We usually end up somewhere in the apartment just talking, whether it's on the kitchen counters, the hallway floor or Kaili's bed, we have some good conversations! We usually always end up laughing super hard.

Torie is 21 years old and from Hyde Park. She works at a marketing firm and loves Cafe Rio (a lot!). She's an avid shopper (both my roommates are...much to my anti shopping dismay). She's got a contagious laugh and is always willing to help anyone, anytime. One of the first things I noticed about living with Torie is that she is super clean when it comes to the space we all share in the apartment. She never leaves anything out, she takes the trash out ALL the time, I have to plan ahead to clean the bathroom before she does because she's always doing it first, even though she cleaned it last. T loves her family a ton and they have been sweet enough to welcome me into their home nearly every Sunday since we moved in together for Sunday dinner. Torie has been the leader in the Whitney Houston memorial music the week after her passing. She owns a Celine Dion music video dvd. Sometimes we drive around a couple extra blocks on the way home just so we can sing to songs in the car. It's just better that way. Torie is wonderful and I'm lucky to have her as a roomie!

drink does not contain alcohol...although sometimes we wonder ;) jk

Kaili and I have been friends since our freshman year of college. We met on the A-Team and have been nearly inseparable ever since. Our nickname for each other is "Girl". Last year our other two roommates called both of us that but we could always tell who was the one actually being called. Kaili is 22 years old, from good ol' Providence (yes, I live with two Cache Valley girls) and LOOOOVVVVVEEESSSS math!!! I can't even describe to you how much she loves it. Her favorite mathematician is Archimedes and for Valentines Day, she sent us all a Geometry love note. For real. She's a high school math teacher (which she totally loves) and just started grad school this semester. She's a very busy girl. [However, I think she's taking a study break right now because I can hear her giggling in her room. Alone. haha] Kaili loves dance parties, frozen chocolate chips, and go out to dinner in her sweats. Kaili loves old movies and has tried very hard to convert me. It's worked a little bit, but I could never catch up with her. haha Best Girl a girl could ask for!

So that's a little bit on them. I love them lots. They're my Logan family. I am blessed to have them in my life. I really have it pretty good. Now I should go work on my lesson for sunday school that I've been putting off. Peace and blessin's.

Trials

You know those sayings that talk about not judging people because you don't know what their journey is all about or treating everyone as if they're going through something tough, because they probably are? I've been reflecting on that the last few days because I've seen evidence of this in people around me. Here are some of the trials I see others going through:

• Infertility
• Suicide of a loved one
• Weight loss struggles
• Unemployment
• Infidelity
• Loneliness
• Indecision
• Long distance love

I could go on and on. Now, I know you're not supposed to compare yourself to others, but compared to some of the trials I see people going through, I have it pretty good! That sounds awful, but what I mean is that it puts everything into perspective for me. I really respect people for the trials I see them experience. We all have things we go through. Some people seem to get more than their fair share of problems, while others seem to have it pretty good (which of course, we don't know that for sure...). 

It makes me so grateful for the Gospel. I know that the Lord knows what everyone is going through and if we let him, he will succor us and help us get through whatever it is. Everything works out for the best, if we trust in Him and his timing. We will also come out on the other end better, stronger, wiser and closer to the person He wants us to be if we let Him mold us. 

If you're going through something, turn to the Lord. If you know of someone going through something tough, pray for them. In all circumstances, trust in Him.

Pants Confusion

I've noticed a style epidemic where women are unsure as to what constitutes as pants. It's not something I ever though would be difficult to figure out, but I guess people need more help with it because here is a fantastically funny chart I found online. Really, if you have issues with this, use the chart.

Whether this is helpful for you or you just got a good laugh, you're welcome :)

Also, I was trying to change the layout on my blog and somehow it deleted all of my blog links. So if you are a reader, please comment and leave a link to your blog so I can have them again. Thanks! :)

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

"I want you back! duh na na!"

I just have to share this funny conversation I had yesterday with this cute girl who's new on the A-Team.

So the two of us were talking about music and it turns out we have similar tastes in music, so she starts asking me what I like to listen to. I listed a bunch of country bands, some mainstream people, and then I mention that I like 90s music and a good boy band song now and then. Here's where it gets good:

Girl: Boy band? I've never really listened to them.

Me: You know, boy bands. Backstreet Boys....N'Sync....

Girl: Oh yeah, I've heard of the Backstreet Boys. I've never heard of N'Sync.

Me: What?! You've never heard of them?! Where were you in 1996???!!! (semi-jokingly, semi-not)

Girl: (thinks for a second) I was 3.

hahahaha! Oh my gosh, I laughed so hard and then just put my hands on my face and leaned down into my lap. I know that 1996 is a slight exaggeration for when these groups were really big deals, but only by a year or two. I mean, I remember making up dances to those songs with one of my best friends and she moved away when I was probably 8 or 9. So really, this girl was more like 4 or 5...just learning how to read and say the alphabet...not knowing that there's music outside of Barney, Sesame Street, and the Primary Children's Song Book. I know I'm not THAT much older than her, but just the way it sounded...oh it was so funny! I just felt so old! Good times :)