Greatest Moments of 2012: Number Five--Ode to Smith's Marketplace

5.


This year had been a year of learning and change. I became the back-up book keeper at Smith's Marketplace #444 in January 2012, and absolutely loved it. In the Fall of 2012 I decided to transfer stores and move to Smith's Marketplace #94 in the same position. 

Moving to #94 has been one of the greatest moments thus far in my life. I have met and made some of the greatest friends here, and I absolutely love what I'm doing. They made the transition easier than a slice of Boston creme pie on a Sunday morning.

I couldn't have asked for a risk to pay off better than it has this year. I am so grateful for my new family, although I still adore, and constantly miss my beautiful family in Bountiful. I'm in good hands here downtown. I can't say enough how much I love it.


To Bountiful:

You were my family for a great four years. I grew up in Bountiful. I became an adult in Bountiful. I remember when I started back when I was 16 and just this little kid with a smile and a bad attitude, back then I hated going to work. I dreaded every moment, because I felt my social life was slipping away from me every moment I was there, but you made every day that I showed up better. Each and every one of you, will always have a place in my heart. You are where I began, and you will always be my second family.

To Downtown:

I was so scurred when I decided to come to this store. I didn't know a single person (besides "CoCo Beans") and I had no idea where I was going to get all the hours I needed, and I didn't know what I was going to do if it didn't work out, but every one has opened their hearts, their minds, and their ears to me; making this transition super easy. You are now an extension of my second family. I look forward to many years, months, days, hours and minutes with you in the next year. I thank you with all my heart. 

^^My first Zero balance at my new Store. Yippee! 

Top Moments of 2012: Number Four

4.

As I've mentioned before. I LOVE WEDDINGS, and I went to a lot of them in the summer, but I went to just as many missionary homecomings as I did weddings.

That would be Natasha putting oil on a plate to eat bread at The Macaroni Grill when we went to eat after a wedding and she looked hawt. A man even noticed enough to check her out TWICE.

Same night. My finger "accidentally" got stuck in front of the camera. Tee hee. I have so much fun when we go out. 

This is the result of that day. I went to bed with a smile on my face and a tired diaphragm from all the laughter. Needless to say Natasha is my favorite and always will be. 

Moving on...

Like I said, many homecomings, including this one: Elder Essig returned from his mission and was just as divine as he was when he left. It's so strange to think that two years have already passed since I graduated high school, and now all of these guys are returning from their missions as the girls prepare to leave. This parallel universe just seems unreal, but yet so cool. The stories that get to be told, the legends that get to be made, and the memories which are now forever etched within us make life something worthwhile. I find only one word that fits exceptionally to describe the entirety of it all: astonishing. 

Number 3

3. 

Earlier this year, in the spring semester, I took a "Survey of Theatre" class, and it was my favorite class of that semester. I learned a lot about the aesthetic of Theatre, and met a lot of great people. It was a class split into four sections, which included: Lighting, Sound, Construction and Costumes. The final module: costumes, held our final which was essentially a fashion show. 

Our task? We were to build outfits (er, excuse me)/ costumes. Out of every day items that we found in  garbage cans, out on the street, in our rooms, our cars, other peoples' back-packs. It didn't matter. We were asked to find ordinary items, that were not fabric based and create costumes out of them. 

This is why I love Theatre, and Theatre people, their ability to create is astonishing. We had a blast putting together an intricate costume which I loved. The team I had was so much fun, and brought a lot great ideas to the table. We gathered cans and pine cones, leaves and wood, and made a character come to life. It was completely satisfying. 

^^This was not posed. Completely candid.

Ours is the last one on the right end. 

Number Two

I foresee me talking about a lot of people. This year was a year my life was filled and emptied with people, and I couldn't help but give-in to being sappy about one guy in particular.

2. 

This Kid...

Braden Dunbar

He has been one of the greatest people I've met this year. There is only one word to describe him and that is fascinating. I have the best time when we massacre the town with our crazy-ness. He makes me laugh, and takes the most flattering Instagram photos of me.

He has been such a confidant whom I feel I'm able to talk to, laugh with, laugh at, relate to, and listen to. I am so grateful to have met him. I hope to go on many more excursions with him throughout 2013, but for now. I can only thank him for being someone I can call "friend".

Top Moments of 2012

When I tried to create my "best year" photo collage on Facebook it gave me four photos within the same month, and I was highly disappointed. I decided to take it upon myself and just blog about my favorite moments from this past year. With the New Year approaching I felt it was appropriate. So, I'll be sharing good times, bad times, fun times, sad times, and everything in between. I don't have a limit of how many I'll do. Just as they come to me I'll post them. 

While perusing my photos I found these beauties so this moment will be number one!


1.

Matt Willie told me he wanted to "take me to a wedding," so I obliged. Mostly, because I love weddings. I'm not really sure as to why anymore. I feel like every wedding I attend falls short of something, and it never fulfills my expectations, but I find myself still obsessed, and still attending them. In the Summer alone I attended eight of them, and this was one of my favorites.

The venue was perfect, the couple was stunning, and the reception was so much fun. The room was filled with happiness which emanated from every soul in the room. 

I had so much fun, and Matt was such a great date. We ended the night with a slow dance, and it's a beautiful moment I'm glad was caught on camera, and I got to share with him. All weddings should be like this one: spectacular not because of what is happening but because of who it is happening with. 

What are you Thankful for?

With this launch of my blog, (formerly known as "Down on my Knees. Eyes Wide Open.")it's now called:  Lies I tell my Mother (Because my Mother is always Right). It's the 2.0 version and it's kind of exciting. I feel I've come into my own skin as a writer, and a computer savvy blogger. Although I'm still trying to figure out all the logistics of how I want my blog to lay-out. I think for now, what I have out, will do.

Does the title seem strange to you? Good. I'll explain that later, but for today I just want to talk about THANKSGIVING. Why? Because today is that GLORIOUS holiday! Yippee.

I thought about what I wanted to say in this post, because I was just thinking I would drone on and on about what I'm thankful for, but that would take forever.

 I narrowed it down to Five things I'm Thankful for, and I hope that by listing them. You'll be inspired to list some things yourself, and maybe you can share them with those you're choosing to spend today with, or just whisper them secretly to yourself, or think about them constantly throughout the day, and when you think of one, just shout it out wherever you are.

 Either way you choose to declare your gratitude. I wish you and yours a beautiful Thanksgiving. May you be surrounded by love as we rush into the crazy holiday season, and find some solace in life in your abundance of blessings.


Five Things I'm Grateful for This Year (or in this Moment to be more Precise):

1. My Familia: This year I have discovered a new love for my family. My parents and my brother and sister all whom are growing into beautiful people each and every day. They are my haven away from the world. They are where I feel safest. I love them with all of me, but not just those who are blood related to me, but also my family which I've found by being on my own. I am so grateful for my friends, both those who are still around, and those which have come and gone. They have taught me lessons about love. I will never forget. They will always have grand pieces of my heart, and I am grateful I gave them away, and they were gracious enough to accept them.

2. Social Media: I really love Facebook, and not because it's the best place to stalk people, or waste the majority of my time. I learn a lot of my news from Facebook, and I've met some of the greatest people via the internet sensation. It is a new wave of the future and I'm on board, 5,000 percent.

3. Me: I know, this sounds weird, but my roomie Kiko made a joke of it while we sat at the breakfast table this morning, but then I really thought about it, and it struck me: I am totally grateful for myself. I think we all should be. Who else knows our pain, our triumphs, our heart aches, our success; more than we do? I have made it here, granted with the fantastic help of so many people, but I had to experience the journey, and that's what life is all about.

4. My Job: I have come to realize that I really love my job. I love what I'm doing, and I love who I work with, and I love being able to perform tasks that in the beginning, I totally resented, but now I am so thankful that I have a place to not just go for a pay check, but I arrive not knowing what awaits, but knowing that most days I'm leaving with an ache in my muscles and a smile on my face.

5. Education: I'm not just talking about a "higher education", it's not about something that you can get from a textbook. It's about an education you get just from living life. The things I have learned both in college and just from life have made all the difference in how I deal with things and how I find what is goodness in the world. I will be a life learner, and that will change everything.  


Happy Thanksgiving Every One. Take some time to enjoy everything in your life, and maybe afterwards you can play a Christmas song or two to get you ready for what I like to call: The Rush. 



Kelly Clarkson "Thankful" 

Shame

"Shame"
By: Nathan Rust

Remnants of last night.
Are etched in stains on the photo frame
of my computer screen.
It screams at me.
Shame.
Shame on you.
The delight you reap.
Shameful.
It is not
in the sin I find remorse.
It is in the lie.

Painted lines outline
the contour
of every muscle
that twitched
at your touch.
Every stroke
with that brush
paints my lips with
the words
you utter,
as you reach
that peak
at the point of the mountain--
which we climb.

I delight
in my happiness
of a stranger's pain.
Unknown to me
makes it bearable.
Okay.
I say.
Never leave.
Kiss me.

Please.

He begs. To let me
let him,
stay in my bed.
Like a vagabond
he begs on his feet
knowing I'll
oblige to his needs.
Indulge with me.
He say.
Indulge with me.

Shame.

When I let him stay
he slips from under my
naked fingers
to runaway
and lie with--
the other.
My brother
who is unaware
I've betrayed every prayer
he offered in my name.

Dirty glass seems clean
due to rain--
and the tears which
wash them.
Peace, seems a far
distant deserted land
to which I can't reach
for I am
parched
and thirsty
for him.

Again.

Then--
I drink
finding nothing but

Empty.