When You Count Your Blessings

Make sure you count that I didn't blog this weekend. I have been super sick and very well medicated. (Nyquil, anyone?) There's a nasty sickness going around and I was lucky enough to catch it for a while. If I had the chance to blog during my time in bed, who knows what might have ended up in here!

I have grown up! But I have grown up young and I recognize that.

Today I opened my own bank account (complete with checking, pluscard/debit card, a pen, and about 18 bucks) and I did it all by myself. I also filled out my employment papers, also by myself. I got an awesome job at UVU that I am super excited for! This week also marks the end of semester. That means FINALS! yay... I have taken 4 finals already (one of which started at the unheavenly hour of 7 in the morning! Good heavens! Making it there was a test in itself. But being the big girl that I am I got up and ready all by myself. I have worked very hard this semester and whether or not it pays off I will know that I did my best. (It doesn't help when your brain is fried from being sick, but that is still okay.)

As much as I am doing on my own, I still recognize the fact I still need people. Not just people in general but specific people. I'm still growing and still learning. I don't know everything and I don't plan on knowing everything any time soon. For this reason I still rely on those such as my family to look after me and give me outstanding advice. Sometimes growing doesn't come from experience. Sometimes it comes from lessons from others. Chew on that for a while.

Happy trails!

When A Cause Arises

I will rise to meet it. http://www.tremontonleader.com/?p=10627 (You'll have to go to the bottom of the page for that. Someday I will learn how to do that cool link thing on here. Right after I learn how to play with the background.)

As some of you may have heard, a very special friend of mine died this Thanksgiving break. My last post was not about him. He was still alive when I posted that. So I will bring out my emo hat once again to write a little something for him. (By popular demand.) I think this will be my last time writing poetry and sticking it on here. So here goes!

Just a little background information for you. I met Devin at a leadership conference called HOBY. If you read my blog on the actual page then you have probably noticed that my HOBY family is one of my few top favorite things. I was Devin's Junior Counselor but when the main counselor got sick, I became the only counselor for a while. We spent 3 OUTSTANDING days together at Aspen Grove. Needless to say, our group grew very very close.

So young and so strong.

We did not know each other for very long.

Yet long enough did we learn

That time means nothing when it's family that we yurn.

So young and so strong.

I missed you already but now you are gone.

You were a man overflowing with inspiration.

With playful teasing and words of comfort,

With the power to lead an army forth.

So short and so long

I always thought your days would prolong mine.

You wanted to be a grizzly bear and said you'd be mine.

In our final embrace you promised we'd see each other sometime.

So short and so long

Our good-bye could not wait.

Never can regret cause such pain.

Our few moments replay in my mind.

Our moments that will never erase with time.

So young and so strong

Heaven needs a man like you.

You are now in the best of hands.

You were meant for something more grand.

No one could change the world like you.

No one will change the world like you.

So young and so strong.

With a smile, there's nothing wrong.

With courage, biding to stay strong.

With faith, this is not so long.

Through a bear, it was not good-bye.

You were right with "I'll see you."

P.S. These are my HOBY boys. :) This was our last day. Thanks for putting up with me!

Go ahead and let me know what you think. I can't wait to hear what you have to say.

November 21st

I can remember everything.

How I felt that week.

How I felt when I found out.

I can remember those sleepless nights

and those times when I wished I was numb.

Those times when I needed a someone.

That someone was you.

I remember that night,

How you couldn't leave me.

How you did leave me.

I can remember the confusion.

I can remember the abandon.

You left without a good-bye.

It's amazing how fast time goes by.

That thing I've been meaning to say becomes meaningless over time.

One day you're here and the next you're gone without any good-byes.

Letters that were meant to be sent were never written.

The unfinished drawing in the corner screams the things that left without a good-bye.

The unfinished drawing never changes as time goes by.

You held the knowledge of my world.

Now my questions go unanswered.

Our treasures will never be found.

The lessons will never be learned.

For you held the knowledge of my world.

But that world is now forlorn.

You are gone.

You are at peace.

I am here.

I am missing your piece.

For with you, I did die.

Because of you I came alive.

And for you, we do survive.

Never again in this time will I see you.

Always and forever, I love you.

Every now and then, I miss you.

By ourselves, we find ourselves.

In ourselves, we see those around us.

In myself, I see you.

In the night I feel you.

In the darkness, I cannot look away from you.

In silence or loudness, I can hear you.

But no matter what, I never touch you.

You haunt me like a melody.

I feel you like a song.

Like the art from you,

All it is, is a reflection of a dream.

As a sun-filled day, I embrace what you told me.

I will always keep your memory with me.

Ecstatically, Life continues to reign.

A parade of joyful experience, never to end.

The teaches worked not in vain.

I am grateful to have known you you.

Be touched by your grace.

I can remember your secret places.

I can remember all of your faces.

How you would laugh.

How you would teach.

I can remember everything.

I can remember when you took my hands in yours,

How you told me each miracle and prayers of yours,

How I answered each of these.

I can remember how you have done the same for me.

I will remember to be brave and bold.

How to smile.

How to serve.

I can remember who you were.

I will remember how love over pours.

How you do those things you did.

How I will live like you lead.

To continue that story...

Notice my big long To-Do Post-it not on my desk top? Ya. About a third of those are still on there.

So I put a picture up here ages ago with a promise to myself to put the rest up the next day. Fast forward a month and I'm still struggling with my blog layout (really guys?? Is it too much to ask for a good background and a layout that doesn't mess around with everything? Seriously struggling!), millions of tests, UVUSA events, phone photo dump, and a change of seasons and nothing has changed. I have a lot to put on here so please forgive me if I do more than one post in a day. I promise I will keep them worth reading.

So here's the real story. I was working on homework (cough cough cough) when I got a text message. I stopped working (cough cough) to answer it. It only took me a few seconds but apparently that's all that is needed for the cat to come and take over my laptop. I'm sorry kitty. Was I in your way?

Happy trails.

Aubrey

"I Already Told You Teacher...

I Couldn't Do My Homework..."

What Has Happened in the Crazy World Of Aubrey (Part 2)

This picture was left out of the last post, and because I love tigers I decided I would stick it in this post. When I went to the zoo with my family, there was a bridge over by these bad kitties (some of you who have been to Hoogle Zoo will know what I'm talking about.) and there was a tiger pacing back and forth on it and sometimes he would lay down to stare the zoobies passing by.

This one is for Ashley and all you other snuggie lovers. Sorry, but I just wanted everyone to see this and enjoy it before we moved on.This next picture is for Ashley too. She loves wolves and i can remember a lot of her wolf drawings so now whenever I see a wolf I connect it to Ashley. I accidentally left it our of my last post.

Okay! So in this post we shall finish up all the fun things I did this summer. The picture below is from my last day of summer. The day before I started college I went to the jumpstart orientation with some friends. This is a result of on of those "add-on" games. Notice the 3D features? (For a good time, click on it)

As normal, we are going out of order. I saw a lot of plays over the summer! On of them was Annie Get your Gun at the Scera Shell. When I was really young, a close friend of mine gave me a postcard with Annie on it. She said it reminded her of me. Now that I have seen the play I totally understand! ha ha I was blessed with the experience of going with my cute niece! She loved it!

Isn't she photogenic? I use to have one of these as my laptop background.

I was also given the unique opportunity to be apart of a national paramedic test!

This, my friends, is not real. It's called a moulage (Like the Moulin Rouge mixed into one word). I have never had so much fun during a test! What a blast it was! I got to learn a lot of stuff, meet a lot of new people, and make a lot of unforgettable memories. One of my co-victims was Rachel (from the previous post) who is modeling how to wear the moulage. I really hope they invite me back!

And that's what I did over the summer. I have so many more stories to share and adventures to tell! summer was just the beginning of something big and grand! College has been one of the best experiences of my life and I can't wait to tell you more about it!

Look for another blog post to come soon!

What Has Happened in The Crazy World of Aubrey (Part 1)

My summer was CRAZY and fun! I

been having so much fun, that I have not had time to post about it! The events may not have happened in the order I put them. Sorry! I went hiking with friends to Stewart Falls. (It was part of my "birthday") A couple of friends are missing from the pictures. One of which is Rachel Cazier. (Keep her in mind, k?)
I walked through and underneath a WATERFALL... so refreshing! Not to mention I also killed a butterfly, saw "Robert Redford", big foots pants, and something that looks like what use to be a hot tub! FUN! FUN!

Remember how I told you to keep Rachel in mind? Well about a couple weeks after the hike, we went on another ADVENTURE!
I would like to call this: The Salt Lake Adventure!!

We hopped on board the "trax" and took over Salt Lake! (Rachel: "Hey Aubrey... What are you doing?" Aubrey: "Nothing. Just checking my email. Why? Did you think I'm trying to take a picture of you?") We ate at The Lion House (My first time!) and since this was still a part of my "birthday" I got a free piece of cake and it was so BIG That I shared it with Peter! Now if only I could find the recipe in one of our three Lion House recipe books.

Of course you can't see Salt Lake City without seeing the Salt Lake Temple! I love this picture!

(When we were about to sit down for the picture... Peter: This isn't an engagement picture.)

Skipping pennies! I made 3 wishes!

HaHa We also stopped by the zoo! (I hadn't been to the zoo since first grade and then 2 times in 1 month! I have pictures from both trips later in this post.)

We just HAD to go to the Hansen Planetarium. I haven't been there since I was in 2nd grade! What a fun place! We saw HUBBLE 3D (narrated by Leonardo DeCaprio) and some other movie which we (yes. ALL of us.) almost fell asleep.

We chillin' on MARS!!! (Yes. Planet Mars is actually located in Salt Lake.)

The moon is not in Salt Lake City but somehow Peter found sometime to take a quick trip and view the sights. (Could you imagine serving a mission on the moon or on a space station?)

We took a quick look at the Children's Museum!

What a fun and adventurous day! And it only cost 24 dollars and a whole Saturday! (Salt Lake Coupons or See Salt Lake. Something like that.) What a strange experience it was to be only 45 minutes away from home and yet not be considered a "local" and be thrown into a whole new learning experience! I'd do it all again in a matter of seconds!

Just a week or two afterwards, we returned to the zoo for my Dad's work party! I love the zoo!

Can you spot the owl?

If I could wear this everyday, I SOOO would! To school, to church, to sleep, to play... I'd totally do it! I love being a... feline. (I asked to be a cougar and I got this lovely creation!)

Look out! Rhino!!!

'Das ist my guut side!'

I was standing next to the fence when this RAM decided to scratch himself against it. Thank goodness for fences!!

LIONS!!!! GRRAAAARRRR! (Okay, so I saw it at the Children's Museum instead of the zoo.)

I know it's hard to see but this is one of "Nature's Nightmares" and I thought it was funny how he was acting all gangster-like so I tried to take a picture.

MONKEYS! Probably the greater part of the zoo population/community. I had a close up of this dude but I accidentally deleted it.

More monkeys! Meet Mark. Mark is a deep mediater. Actually he's depressed. Unless Rachel is around. Mark likes Rachel. Mark is Rachel's "boyfriend." He likes to play peek-a-boo with her.

Mark also likes to do "GQ" poses. At least that's what we call it. Mark is a part time model. Evidently.

This is Mark's cage mate. He likes to play tag. He's meditating too. Unlike Mark, he has 2 brothers.

Bats. I was RIGHT UNDER them! No glass in between. Just me and the bats in the same room. Oh and there was a 15-16 year old FAT skunk. It's no big deal.

Ostrich. This one was right in front/below my mom and she did not see it. It looks so funny! I want to pull a Simba by jumping over the fence and riding on it's back.

TIGERS! If I could choose what to be in my next life, I would choose a tiger. I have been told I look like a tiger MANY MANY times. (Random, right? This little boy told me I look like a tiger once. Way to introduce yourself.)

TIGGER! (haha Tiger... Tigger... same thing.)

Here you get both sides of them! I can't remember what they're called but don't they look cool? Remember this dude? He starred in his own film in a previous post.

Thank you for reading about some of my crazy doings! As you know this is part 1. That means that there is more to come and come they shall! Sorry it took so long to put them up here but college has been kicking my butt and sucking up my time. I will get the rest of my summer adventures up here soon. Still to come is my first concert and another adventure with Rachel. So how does one finish a post like this? I believe there's only one way!

TO BE CONTINUED... (Ya. I went there.)