{Cherish}

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ-

That is the first principle of the gospel.

We must go forward.

God expects you to have enough faith,

determination, and trust in Him

to keep moving,

keep living,

and keep rejoicing.

He expects you not simply to face the future;

He expects you to embrace & shape the future-

to love it,

rejoice in it,

& delight in your opportunities.

Though my work may be menial, though my contribution may be small, I can perform it with dignity and offer it with unselfishness. My talents may not be great, but I can use them to bless the lives of others. . . The goodness of the world in which we live is the accumulated goodness of many small and seemingly inconsequential acts. -Gordon B. Hinckley

Last night was a good night. A REALLY good night =).

Let's just say it involved a guy, the beach, and the beautiful moonlight on the ocean.

I think the only thing I can think of to say about the past 2 weeks,

is that some people just don't know how to handle situations.

Some people say things they don't mean.

And I wish I could do a lot of things over.

But today is a different day, and i am taking full advantage of the fact that

all those stupid things are in the past.

And i'm moving on.

The Queen of Sheeba

“There is a certain age

when a woman must be beautiful to be loved,

and then there comes a time

when she must be loved to be beautiful.”

- Françoise Saga

I love love love my friends =)

-Erin Dean

-Crystal Bates

-Bree Masters

-Becca Stoner

and couldn't ask for anything better.

We went to Kaneohe the other day, on a Tuesday haha, to buy some pet fishies.

We were only going to get one each, but we got 8.

they are named:

-the queen of sheeba

-frida calo

-chancho (he's the baby guppy)

-speckles

-pheobe

(i don't think we've named the rest yet.)

We took pictures at a beautiful sunset in Haleiwa.

We went to dinner at my favorite Thai restaurant

We went shopping and got dinner yesterday in Haleiwa at Pizza Bobs

They came to Enrichment (basically because i asked them to. . .

yep. . . i'm still and always have been the enrichment leader)

This place is beautiful, my friends are beautiful, we are all single.

and i love them so much.

I keep having these dreams,

they are good and bad,

sometimes i wake up relieved, then only to find that

they didn't actually happen

and i am still waiting for the talk, the closure, and the peace.

I'm searching and searching my heart and my head

for ways to find it.

Beautiful World

Whenever I hear

the song of a bird

or look at the blue, blue sky

whenever i feel

the rain on my face

or the wind as it rushes by

whenever i touch

a velvet rose

or walk by a lilac tree

i'm glad that i live in the beautiful world

Heavenly Father created for me.

He gave me my eyes

that I might see

the color of butterfly wings

He gave me my ears

that I might hear

the magical sound of things

He gave me my life

my mind

my heart

I thank him reverently

for all his creations

of which I'm a part.

Yes i know Heavenly Father loves me.

I want you to know. . .

Where do you run to, so far away.

I want you to know that. . . i miss you. i miss you so.

Am i loud & Clear, or am I breaking up?

Am i still your charm, or am i just bad luck

Are we getting closer, or are we just getting more lost?

A brilliant dance where nobody leads at all.

A painful realization that all has gone wrong

and nobody cares at all.

Look & Live

SUNDAY SONG:

Just as sure as there are stars out in the heavens tonight

there is a hope that hovers over those looking for the light

and always just as certain as the faith of those who

give attention undivided

they look, and live.

we have wandered in the wilderness

long enough to know

that there are passions filled with poisons

where the faithful never go

but if fighting to stay focused

to keep them safe within

a promise of protection

they look, and live.

Look & Live

feel the power and the healing

that only he can give

we look, and live

forever facing forward

to the God of all that is

Look, and live.

He's the future in our footsteps

the anchor in our lives

the rock of our salvation

in shadow and sunshine

may he ever smile upon

as we find our strength in him

let us head his servants' voices

we'll look, and live.

Look & Live

feel the power and healing

that only he can give

we'll look, and live

forever facing forward

to the God of all that is

Look, and live.

Look, and live

feel the power and the healing

that only he can give

we'll look, and live

forever facing forward

to the God of all that is

Look, and live.

{Blessed}

Sunday Journal Time

(my new Sunday blog posts =)

There are still some things that are a mystery to me. . . and i can't seem to figure them out.

All i really want is closure, so i'm finding it for myself without the help of someone else. =(

(will you help me, please? i know you can make this easier than you are. . .)

But i am blessed.

I was swimming in the ocean yesterday, at my favorite beach in the world.

And i only live 30 minutes away from it.

Just floating, diving in and out and letting my thoughts wander.

Then, that sweet spirit touches me, like it has a lot these past few months,

assuring me that everything is going to be ok in my life.

It assures me that no matter what happens, I know who is always there,

and he will never leave me.

Sometimes i feel him beside me, holding me, and helping me through my struggles.

I feel him when i can't seem to stop worrying.

When I realize i deserve to be treated better,

and then i have a friend there who will hug me when i can't stop crying.

he's there too.

I am grateful to have my constant companion,

his gentle assurances and sweet whisperings are guiding me

and telling me that i am doing what i should

i am where i'm supposed to be

and i am blessed beyond measure.

"Faith sustains its' true defenders with the promise of relief."

{808} & the good life

I got back to Hawaii Monday night.

I miss my parents =(

My whole family is at Lake Powell this week so i can't really call to talk to them.

but i miss them, and it seriously makes me consider transferring to Dixie.

I had one of the best Summers I could have asked for,

and now its time for school.

My roommate Bree got a car!! and it's been awesome.

she's the best roomie ever and i love her to death.

I've gotten 2 job offers today, so i'll let you know which one i take, unless i take both =) haha

(One of them would have me working with a cute guy every day for 3 hours.. that might not be too bad ha)

We got 2 new roommates in the house, and they seem really nice.

one of them is from Tennessee and it makes me so happy! =)

she listened to country music this morning and i liked her even more haha

I'm only taking 1 class Mon-Wed-Fri from 9:50 to 12

then i work.

a lot.

like probably all day haha but we'll see which job i take.

I'm pretty excited about it, i think i might just work a ton this term and make a ton of money.

that would be awesome.

=) anyway it's gonna be a fun year!!

Loves & Loves

Woah.. that's so intense.

Watch both all the way through. you.are.welcome.

{CopyCat} erinallover.blogspot.com shoutout =)

Sepia Tone Lovin'

2 days with my {Best Friend}

If you didn't already know, I went to high school in Georgia.

The first 2 years of it were pretty hard, and i was always looking forward to moving back to St. George for my senior year.

I turned 18 on August 31, 2007 and was just waiting for that day to come so that I could be an adult and move back to St. George for my senior year with my friends.

Then, after the summer, i went back to georgia before i turned 18.

I met Weston at church that next Sunday, (but i had heard how awesome his family was already from a bunch of people)

Then we had U.S. History together that Monday at school.

We spent the first 2 months laughing at every single thing we saw.

We played guitar hero, super smash bros, settlers of zarahemla, and went out to eat almost every day.

We got into trouble together, and had to go to saturday school twice haha.

We went to all our youth activities together. Church dances, youth conference, mutual, seminary. Everywhere together. The best year of high school. Plus we went to my senior prom together. i ended up staying in georgia pretty much because of him. and it was a HUGE blessing.

Now that i've been away at school, i only get to see him a couple times a year.

He got his mission call to Cordoba, Argentina and leaves tomorrow to go into the MTC.

I drove up to Provo Sunday morning just in time for his farewell.

2 of my friends from Georgia were there too, so it was so awesome to see them!

And Weston gave us a shout out in his testimony =)

I spent 8 hours at his house Sunday, playing settlers and games and talking with his family.

then yesterday we went to lunch. Landon and Weston drove down from Sandy and we spent the day around Provo.

We ate lunch at Zupas, then went to the Creamery and got some ice cream and walked around BYU.

Then we spent 2 hours at the Nickelcade haha.

Then saw Despicable Me. (Soo good, but not as good as Toy Story 3)

Then got some JDawgs for dinner

and played Wizard and Phase 10 til around midnight.

So another 9-10 hours just doing fun stuff.

Weston is my best friend.

I've never had such an awesome friend, it's like time doesn't exist and we just do tons of crazy fun stuff all day long. I'm going to miss seeing him the few times i get to. But i'll probably visit his awesome family.

I'm so grateful to have met Weston. He has changed my life and he doesn't even know it haha.

I'm going to miss him, but know that he'll be an awesome missionary!

I can't wait for the good times that will come after he gets home =)

Dearest Blogging Friends

Little Miss Stephanie Holm is so incredibly

HAPPY

Do you want to know why?

(if you don't, then you probably don't enjoy reading my blog.. sorry for that. =)

I have had the most incredible Summer vacation.

It has been more than i could have ever asked for:

{Family} galore with all my sweet nephews and niece

*swimming

*BBQ's and family dinners

*playing at the ranch

-riding fourwheelers, chasing the goats, picking sunflowers, baking really gross dutch oven cobbler, homemade ice cream, buying a new little puppy named "Ranger" to be our little ranch doggy.

{Friends}

*Lagoon

*Lunch & Dinner Dates

*FHE

*Tons of movies (alright alright i'm not ashamed anymore . . i've seen Eclipse THREE times =)

*Night games

*Making cute hair clips

*Camping

(my awesome song about P. Grizzly, i may have to record it to make everyone's lives a little bit better)

*Swimming & Laying out

*Doing little projects for my mommy

*talking til at least 2 a.m.

{Reading}

I've legitimately read over 6 books since I've been home

you may now call me a bookworm. i will gladly allow it.

{Alone Time}

There hasn't been a ton of this

but I got what I needed

and remember that post about where my umph went to?

I found it again.

It's called confidence, and knowing who I am.

and I found it

and Heavenly Father helped me by blessing me beyond comprehension.

And now here we are,

EIGHT stinking days til i go back to my home in paradise.

Can i be honest with you?

ok.

I'm anxious.

Really anxious to get the first couple of weeks in Hawaii over with.

and just to start again.

But i'm so so so so so so so so so

X's INFINITI

GRATEFUL

for this wonderful/amazing/beautiful/peaceful/serene/fun/awesome

summer vacation.

one more week.

=)

let's make it a good one.

I love you St. George. Thanks for the laughs.

{Love} to pieces

{American} Honey

I love America

I love that I get to decide what religion i want to be a part of.

I love that, even though there is a lot of corruption in our government, there are still people out there fighting for truth, righteousness, and peace.

I love that i grew up in this beautiful country, and got to experience popsicles and slip-n-slides in the summer with bare feet and the city pool. Fireworks on the 4th of July and family barbeques. Face painting and red-white-&Blue matching outfits. Frying eggs on the sidewalk, and rollerblading to the temple.

I love that I am an American. I am proud to be a part of the United States, and am so grateful that Joseph Smith did what he did, and was able to do it through the bringing forth of this amazing land.

The Lord set apart this place for his gospel, and if you haven't guessed, I love Him for it. because yes indeedio,

I'm proud to be an American.

{. . . }

*I got a new puppy =)

(he is the sweetest and tiniest little puppy and he goes with me everywhere, when i'm not fighting with my nephews to hold him haha. . . pictures on a later post.)

*I made 2 new friends that are so incredibly awesome i'll keep them forever. (bff's and so forth)

(after one night of hanging out, he said "i can't believe i've only just gotten to know you! great now i'll miss you when you're gone.) =)

*2 weeks left til Hawaii. . . i really felt like i just left.

(i'm exactly 50/50 right now. i want to go back, but i want to stay.)

*i have one and a half books left in the Book of Mormon

(i hope to finish before i leave)

*colored my hair

(the girl said i had 5, FIVE, colors in my hair haha so now it's all one color, and it feels longer even though she trimmed it..?)

*i got really sick a couple days ago. with no sleep for 2 days because of either my nose being retarded (like.. one side is runny and the other is stuffed, then i turn over and the opposite happens.. grr.) or the meds were keeping me up because i took the wrong ones haha. either way, my immune system is awesome cause it only lasted 2 days.

*i really really really want to go to lake powell again.

*my parent's ranch is Beautiful. and our little ranch dog scares the goats. I'll take pictures next time i got up. . . so ranch for a later post too.

=)

"I believe that Happy girls,

are the Prettiest Girls."

-Audrey Hepburn