|| hate vs. love ||

Matthew 5:44

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Last week as I was spending 3,000,000 hours working on my english homework (poem analyzation)

the thought came to my mind on the word HATE. No it was not just out of the blue we had to find synonyms for words in the poetry. I was using theasurus.com (haha!) anyway when I searched the word hate I cannot tell you how surprised I was to see so many synonyms! 

Are we using hate that much in our daily conversation that we have found an incredible number of replacement words. 

As I went throughout this week I decided to try to cut down on my use of the word hate (and synonyms) and the difference that I have seen in myself is insane.

At my school we have block days which means I get Journalism (yay!) Math (not so yay!) and Science (even less yay!) Here's some quotes from my typical Thursday:

"I hate having a zero hour."

"I hate being tired!"

"I hate science!" 

"I hate math!"

"I hate my math class it's awful!"

"I hate studying!"

TODAY (a not so typical Thursday) I tried to cut down on my [hating]

I feel like it went pretty well and the day seemed much more productive.

While I still do not PREFER certain things (ehemm classes)  I know that they are for my benefit.

And now for a word on HATING people.

Hate; feel intense or passionate dislike for (someone).

I'm going to admit (as I'm sure most of us can) I have said that I hate someone before.

But when you think about it.. do we really have that despite deep within our hearts? Why do we hate these people? 

Is it because of:

flaws

jealousy

annoyances

and other little things?

Perhaps the things YOU HATE about someone they hate too. Maybe they can't stand the way they talk or the way they look. 

A lesson that I have had to learn is to PRAY for those that I feel a certain dislike for. Those who bug me, enter my prayers every so often and I have been able to alter (even just a little) my feelings towards them.

Our Heavenly Father loves everyone through their flaws, through their sins, and through their mistakes. So let us try to be a little more like Him. A little more loving, a little more forgiving, and a little more charitable.

Let us eliminate hate.

On a COMPLETELY unrelated note here is a picture my adorable friend Emileigh took of me by the construction at our school. [I know I could have found some cheesy way to tie it into the rest of this post but I'll spare you the suffering] 

 

families are forever

Almost four years ago this little blessing came into my life.
She is a blessing I now call sister.

At the time she was just the cutest little two year old niece of our family friends.
When they asked if my parents would adopt her my parents fasted and prayed about it.
I was their youngest at 10 years old, and it would shake our house-hold to bring in a little child.
Both my mother and my father felt that we were supposed to adopt her.
They took my older sister (14 at the time) and I to dinner and asked how we would feel to have a little sister. At first we were a little shocked. But I promise it was a good shock.

They explained the situation to us and we were SO EXCITED.
She came to live with us just a few weeks after and the adoption was finalized the next year.

February 2012 Mesa, Arizona Temple

In 2012 my older sister (mkaul) and I had the opportunity to witness WILLOW BAILEY FILLEY be sealed to my parents for TIME AND ALL ETERNITY my oldest sister (britney) was not able to attend but still what an amazing experience to be inside the temple. The Mesa, Arizona temple is a beauty and I will never forget that special experience I had.

Adoption is a blessing
Willow is beautiful. She is my little sister. Forever. Families are forever. I have a testimony of this. <3

Idaho IdaCOLD & Procrastination at it's finest

Last Thursday my parents picked me up early from school and told me we were going to get icecream.
They lied. We pulled up to the airport [i thought to drop my dad off] and my mom handed me a pair of boots to put on.
"You're going to Idaho with dad to visit your sister."  She said "it will be fun ." She said.
While is no doubt been fun. It's also been hecka cold!! Coming from Arizona (90 degrees) the 30 below temperatures have really thrown me off.
It's been a really fun couple of days.
Friday I went to my first college class. Hey it may have been 4 years early but that's okay right? ;)
We went to the Taco Bus for lunch and it was the cutest most  delicious place ever. We were going to go to a play later that night. But then we decided to go to BYUI's first ever comedy brawl and it was great fun and hilarious.
Saturday morning I woke up to a White Christmas.. Except it's not Christmas .. It was only November 16, but heck it was snow!! The day was freezing and windy but it was a fun change from our AZ weather. We headed over to Idaho Falls and went to the musical Thouroughly Modern Millie. It was a cute silly love story and the perfect way to spend the day! We finished the night off with some shopping and a visit to Dixie's Diner in IF which was super yummy.
I loved getting to see my sister even if it was only for a few days. Let's just say Rexburg is not my kinda weather..
IDAHO, IDACOLD!

just the cutest darned taco bus my sister and i

This week has been filled with HW, stress, and little sleep. Wednesday I had the opportunity to go see Catching Fire with one of my [best friends ever] Emileigh! The movie was super INTENSE and setting aside some harsh language and a scene or two it was far better than the first movie [The Hunger Games] I highly recommend both the books and the movies [but who hasn't seen/read/heard of them?!]

Sometimes even when I have homework in every class, I decide I should put it off and take a nap. Put it off and eat. Put it off and write a blog post. Heck put it off and write a full-blown novel. Procrastination has never been something I've struggled with, but who says I can't associate with it this weekend ;) I've been loving this totally uncharacteristic AZ weather. When it pours rain all day it just makes me want to snuggle up with a good book a cup of cocoa and not have to worry about anything. Once again Procrastination @ it's FINEST!

those low quality B&W selfies @ the movies and photobombers that you notice >>

Step Back and Smell the Roses

SOMETIMES

in life we get so caught up in everyday activity. So busy with things that aren't by any means bad, but 

that take away from things that we could be doing that's probably a little better.

There are SO many distractions in today's world. Smart-phones, social-media sites, television, movies, video games. These things in moderation are not bad in themselves, but when people become addicted to these things, when these things are not used in moderation, we suffer.

We suffer both mentally, and spiritually. As I have mentioned before I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Tonight I attended a fireside that my father was in charge of. It's main focus was being prepared. But tell me, how can we prepare if we are so distracted? 

Let's take a step back, a step back from all the distractions, all the crazy busy days we all have.

Let's step back and enjoy life. Focus on becoming a better person, but also know that we are going to make mistakes because that's part of our role here on earth. 

Let's step back, and smell the roses. Be grateful for the little things we have, and enjoy this crazy ride called life.

please don't judge the disgusted face I'm making while smelling the roses ;)

I'm Just a Girl

I'm Just A Girl.

Just a girl who loves  her family.
A girl who believes in laughter.
A girl who believes in love.
A girl who believes she is daughter of God
A girl who believes.

I read a little too much.
I talk a little too much.
I dance even when I know I look ridiculous.
I sing even when I know I'm off key.
But hey I'm just me.

I would consider myself:
Average
Sweet
A little crazy
Awkward
I'd like to think I'm funny.. (haha)
Smart.
Honest.
What defines normal? No one can be normal.
Everyone is different.

I love:
Writing, writing everything.. except for essays those are no fun
Reading
Piano playing
Laughing
Dancing in the rain
Friendships
Taking Photos
Life

I know:
That God loves me.
And yes that I am His daughter.
I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
I'm a Mormon.
I know it.
I live it.
I love it.

I'm Just A Girl.