Tailor-Made for Twenty-Two

Well, I’m 22. I remember turning 11 and being so excited because age 10 was double digits but age 11 was double digits of the same number! I remember thinking that wouldn’t happen again for 11 more years when I turned 22 and it seemed forever away! Now here I am, and 11 years went by way to fast!

My birthday this year was very unique for a few different reasons. It was the first birthday I have spent away from my immediate family, and it was on Easter which was also the first Easter I have spent away from my immediate family. I was able to spend it with the Capps family though which was really nice. There is just a different feel when you are relaxing with family, especially when you haven’t seen any known relative in almost 4 months! (which is the longest I’ve ever done that before since I’ve always at least had cousins around at school or been close enough to visit home) I was also able to skype with all of my family that had gotten together for Easter in Cody and everyone sang happy birthday to me. It made me so sad that I couldn’t be there but so grateful that they are all in my life!

The Friday before Easter however, I was able to celebrate with my good friend Delina. Her birthday was the 22nd and so we got a group together for a fun day trip to Columbia State Park to celebrate both of our birthdays. I love all of my friends here, they have become my family! We had so much fun, Delina and I had to make candles since it was our birthday celebration, but what we wanted to do most was take an old fashioned photo. I think it turned out pretty sweet! The whole day was great and it was probably one of my most memorable birthday celebrations.

Beyond all of the activities though, my favorite part of my birthday was the fact that it was on Easter. Due to the bike accident my dad was in, and my own personal study and preparation throughout the past couple of months, I have really been pondering the value of life and what a gift it is. My testimony has been strengthened on the significance of families as they are our purpose and means of gaining exaltation. With this has also come a deeper understanding of the importance of the atonement as it is the only way that we can fulfill the full measure of our creation and even have hope. It was very unique to be able to celebrate the day of my birth on the day that we remember the event which gives life meaning, direction, and joy. Without my Savior’s sacrifice, my life would be empty and without hope. It is because I have a powerful Savior that I am able to live a full life and build relationships with the many, many people in my life. It is through the enabling power of the atonement that I am where I am, and that I am thriving!

So, as another year of my life is beginning I am committing now to make it a great one. There is so much to be excited about, and I know that the past 21 years have been preparing me for now. My life has been no accident, and I want to remember to make each moment deliberate. Who knows what the next year has in store for me, but if the past 21 years have been any sort of indicator, it’s going to be absolutely incredible. Bring it on!

Bring on the Rain!

Lately I have been pondering quite a bit about being. A talk that really inspired me during the most recent general conference was by Lynn G. Robbins entitled “What Manner of Men and Women Ought Ye to Be?” Then the weekend after general conference I was able to go to Time Out for Women in Fresno with 4 amazing women. The weekend was hilarious (I’m pretty sure I got the ab work out of the year from laughing so hard!) and inspiring; the theme was “Choose to Become” Coincidence? I think not!

So I was sitting at Time Out for Women wondering why this theme keeps showing up and wondering how to perfectly express who I am striving to be. I have a mirror in my room where I have written about 20 I am statements that express who I want to be. Like I am loved, I am witty, I am abundance etc. But how could I possibly tie all of these things together? Was it possible to wrap who I am and who I want to be up into one little neatly wrapped package? Then Hilary Weeks got up and sang a song. (By the way, I totally LOVED Hilary Weeks! This is a picture of me and my friends with Hilary.)


It was like I got hit with a bolt of lightning! The song was about dancing in the rain and that is exactly what my heart and mind started to do as I sat under my inspirational storm cloud. I wanted to stand up and shout I AM A DANCING IN THE RAIN KIND OF GIRL! It fit so perfectly! Anyone who knows me knows how much I love to dance, and my family can attest to the fact that dancing in the rain is something that I will participate in on a regular basis given the opportunity. In fact, it was raining pretty hardcore in Modesto about 2 weeks ago so naturally I suited up to dance in it! I made my roommate take pictures :) There is literally a stream of water falling on my head from the rain gutter in this one!
However, this isn’t just about literally dancing in the rain. One of my favorite sayings is that life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, but learning to dance in the rain. Life is full of storms, and I truly believe that it isn’t the condition we’re in that brings us happiness, but how we respond to the conditions. I like to think that I am brave enough to face the storms and still stand, but I don’t want to just be left there standing. I want to dance in the rain until my fears are washed away. I want to be the girl who, after the storm has passed, is sopping wet, sore, out of breath, rubbing the calluses on my feet, and thanking the rain for letting me practice some sweet dance moves and gracing my life with a beautiful rainbow. So pretty much what I'm trying to say is, I'm a dancing in the rain kind of girl, so bring it on!