We Take a Break for a Very Good Day

This week I spent a lot of time with my nieces. Above, one of them is doing the Downward Dog. These sweet little dolls help me appreciate every day at it's face value. Spend an hour with them and you will too.

However, a day during this past week we took a break from each other. I had to be a grown up and go to work. It was like any other day of work, nothing too special. BUT THEN...

I ran some errands on campus. Doesn't sound too exciting, does it? But that's where you'd be wrong!! I took care of business, man! Curious as to what happened? I'll let you in on some of the precious little things that occurred:

• I took care of financial aid. That's one thing checked off of my To Do list.
• Despite the rain, it was a gorgeous day!
• I checked out the Pope Building to see if I could find a good place to get some homework done, but that was a no go. I was about to go down the stairs at the same time as a young man, BUT he was very gentlemanly with a "Hello" and an offer to let me go down the stairs before him. Who know thing like that happen?
• To take advantage of the wonderful weather, I did some studying outside. The after rain smell was overwhelmingly amazing, the birds were flippin' happy, and so was I.
• As was mentioned before, I studied outside. I found some serious study spots! (Try saying that ten times fast) I found a place next to a dried up stream. However, because of the aforementioned rain, this day it was a babbling brook/stream.
• Whilst cranking out some much needed reading (Criminal Justice of all things), a birdie came next to me and took a bath. It's joy splashed upon me like the sun on my face and the wind in my hair. (Yep. I just got all sentimentally poetic-like.) Then a very tiny yellow bird came down and dance around his bathing friend. It was just too perfect!
• So I went find another study place. One that didn't make me feel so happy and ooy-gooy. I started to head for another building on campus. Just around the stream bend there were two sleeping ducks.

• I'm like 5 years old.
• While studying in a quiet corner, a religions teacher was very nice to me and asked "When it comes to yogurt: chocolate? peach? or blueberry?" I said blueberry. He started to leave and said he'd be back. What on earth was this guy doing?? He went into his office which was not too far from where I was crouched over my Criminal Justice. He quickly popped out and said "Sorry, not blueberry. I meant raspberry." I said raspberries are good too. Then he came out with a raspberry Creamie! Stuff like this actually happens!!

Here is the deep side. Sometimes, life is like this dried up stream that turns rocks yellow and smells like trout (good memories). Some days, we have the waters of life flowing through us and sometimes not. We can't always see what's coming, but if we keep going we may end up on the ride of our lives.

Also, who needs an excuse for a good day? Good days have wonderful thoughts within themselves! Great things happen. You don't have to dig into everything.

Happy trails!

(P.S. If you want to hear another reason that greatly contributed to my overfilling gooberness of that day, ask me.)

Wait... You Can Learn From a Dance?

There is a bit of insanity in dancing that does everybody a great deal of good. ~Edwin Denby

(Left to Right, Me creeping, Micheal- JStaff and Katie, Clint and Belen, then demonstrating the "dead bird" would be two staffies, Jerry and Lena, and in the back is the brown crew. The best crew.)

If you know me, you know I'm not a big fan of dances. Sure I like dancing, but dances just are not really my scene. At least that's what I thought! Although it only lasted a little over an hour, this most recent dance is probably one of the best so far. Should we explore the possible reasons why?

Never trust spiritual leader who cannot dance. ~Mr. Miyagi, The Next Karate Kid, 1994

(Jessica and myself showing off our "Furniture Sale")

Maybe I've never noticed this in other dances, but this one was just therapeutic. There is something about getting down to a beat, getting lost in a crowd, having your ears blasted out, and cutting loose that brings out another side to people you don't normally see. You forget all your problems and expose this different side of yourself to people you barely know.

I danced with 16 year olds. Actually, it was more like they danced with me. I would be minding my own business, just dancing with some friends, then a ton of ambassadors (sophomores) will trap us and act as though we were equals. or at least until one of them says "I'm dancing with a 21 year old! So cool!" Dancing does not discriminate. The next day everything went back to normal, other than we all felt a little closer than we were before. I must agree with whoever said, "This is better than a rave!"

You must also take into account that whether you like it or not, dancing is a form of exercise even when you're just jumping up and down, trying to stay upright. Exercise, as we all know, releases endorphins which makes people happy. There were some serious happy vibes.

We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance. ~Japanese Proverb

(Me, Jerry, and Jessica bouncing. P.S. I'm doing it in cowboy boots. Not an easy task.)

I have to add that I learned how to jerk, how to "bounce", how to beat box, and re-learned the Tragedy dance. I learned a lot that night, and it was only the first official night of the conference! Who knew I could still break it down?

I also feel the need to add that after I cleaned up after the dance, I had the brilliant idea to blow dry my hair upside down. The result was a mane. Add a hoodie, sore back, and an Oreo, you get a creepy hobo. Fun times! Anyways, when I woke up that morning, my hair was still puffy, that is why my hair looks that great in the above picture. I had many different kinds of learning experiences.

After going over all of these possible reasons as to why this dance was such a great experience, I have to admit that there is only one reason that ultimately contributed...

These guys.

(The Gang: Including Staff, J-Staff, Facilitators, and others)

HOBY 2011

"Service is a lifestyle" -Mike Anderson

Another HOBY conference has come and pass. The only way I could describe this year's experience would have to be... interesting. Every year is special and unique. That is why, unlike last year, I will actually blog about part of my experience.

Evey year I learn something new at HOBY and every year I am reminded of things I should be doing. Such an example would be goals. To start off, I am setting a goal to blog a little bit about HOBY as often as possible. Wait! I don't think that's specific enough. I will blog at least once every three days. With spring semester and work, I have nothing else to blog about.

HOWEVER! I will be posting my experiences in my own way. I am blogging about lessons I learned and impressions I took from HOBY. And of course, there will be pictures.

Until next time. Happy trails!

(P.S. Yes, that is me laying in the front. This picture was chosen because it was everyone from HOBY and because the "funny" picture would be too revealing of my experience. We don't want to jump ahead.)

That Good Old Fashioned School Stress

Sometimes I wonder, did I really want this? Am I really where I am suppose to be? Did I bite off more than I can chew? Was I really ready for this? Maybe I jumped the gun?

It seems like there is a lack of balance in my life and a lot weight to hold up. The more I try to focus, the less focused I become. I find myself thinking up songs when I should be thinking of research topics.

I sometimes feel overwhelmed with life and it's lack of adventures. A lot of the times things do not go as planned and I feel as though everything is falling into ciaos. And yet...

... Everything is fine. Between the blurs there is something. Burnt out, yes. Certifiably crazy, perhaps. Beat? Defeated? Never. Summer is almost here. It's coming too soon and not soon enough. hopefully it will come before I loose all the hair on my head but after I get everything done.I find myself staring out windows and at walls more and more often. We all handle stress differently. I wonder if it's possible to change the pattern of how we carry out through the stress. Am I destined to become spacey, or will I someday become overwhelmed like others do. Or will I someday learn to manage my life and keep a cool head in the face of... finals. How do you handle those crazy moments of your life?
As pictured above, I still have much to do. I haven't felt like this for a while. Oh spring... Please kidnap me and leave a ransom for my brain. Thank you.

One Year of Growth

I had the stunning realization that it's been a year since I've made one of the most important and life changes choices of my life. I am pleased to admit that I do not regret it one bit. If I got the chance to do my life over again I would make the same choice.

I have seen a world.

I have heard it's sound.

I have felt it's emotions.

I am ready for more.

I have been to concerts.

I have met new people.

I have spoken new words.

I have eaten new foods.

I have crawled on the floor.

I am excited for more.

If it wasn't for that one single choice... that final yes... All this would be different. I would not know the happiness I now know. I would not have felt certain emotions both painful and good. I would not know people and the values they share. I would not be the woman I am becoming.

I have never been so scared in my life but I have never been so excited either. I have never been more cautious or more adventurous. Is this a part of growing up? I have asked myself if perhaps I am growing up too soon? Too fast? Too young? If I am I don't mind. I would not have it any other way.

When a friend of mine had passed on, one of my brothers read me a quote about how he no longer has to suffer through this miserable life. In that moment I realized, this life isn't miserable at all. Even in that moment, one of my most painful, I loved my life. It's my God-given gift and I cherish it. All of it.

I can't wait to see what this next year will do.

Happy New Year!

Aubrey

P.S. Let it be known that this is my first post

that did not have any misspellings.

(at least according to the spell check.)

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.