Quote Time!

I found a small note pad that I used while living in the dorms in school. It was sort of my "Quote of the Day" note pad. Whenever I heard or read a quote or scripture I felt was applicable to my life at the time, I wrote it down in this notebook. Then when I'd wake up in the morning I'd flip open to a quote and display it on my dresser where I could see it. It was sort of my theme for the day.

It's nice to go back and read through these quotes and be reminded of how those quotes impacted me and where I was in my life (why I wrote them down?). Of course, these quotes are still useful to me now as I'm still working to improve and understand myself.

Here is what I found:

"The Lord can do remarkable miracles with a person of ordinary ability who is humble, faithful and diligent in serving the Lord and who seeks to improve himself."

-James E. Faust

"Write it in your heart, that everyday of the year is the most happiest day of your life."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

"SCRUMTRULESCENT"

-Will Ferrell as James Lipton

"When a man is motivated by great and powerful convictions of truth, then he disciplines himself...because of the knowledge within his heart that God lives; that he is a child of God with an eternal and limitless potential."

-Gordon B. Hinckley

"It is our self-image that prescribes our limits."

-Psycho-Cybernetics 2000

..."If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."

-13th Article of Faith

"Your Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son love you perfectly. They would not require you to experience a moment more of difficulty than is absolutely need to your personal benefit or for that of those you love."

-Richard G. Scott

"That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do--not that the nature of the thing is changed, but that our power to do is increased."

-Heber J. Grant

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love and of sound mind."

-2 Timothy 1:7

"Out of the little efforts of each of us is coming to pass a great and remarkable and wonderful thing. This is not the time to be discouraged. This is the time to think positively...'I have job to do and I CAN DO IT!' I can make it come to pass.' "

-Gordon B. Hinckley

"Courage: The quality of mind which meets danger or opposition with calmness and firmness. Which enables a man to face difficulties that lie in his pathway to righteous achievement."

-David O. McKay

Funny & Random moments

Was walking up Broadway on my way to the grocery store when a somewhat disheveled, older man caught my eye. He was using his two hands to create a telescope, so as to peer at a tall building across the street. He was quite focused on looking through his telescope. That is, until someone bumped into him, knocking his "telescope" off-course. Surprisingly, he looked back, spotted the culprit and quickly yelled , "BINGO!".

"Bingo?"

Well, why not? It's wonderfully random. Someone bumps into you, you yell, Bingo. Okay, sure.

I learn so much from NYC's crazies.

Another Funny/Random moment......

I had just spent the week working with these awesome middle to high school students in our summer dance intensive. We had finished our week up with a final performance followed by a light reception, so we can visit with family members and say our good-byes until next year.

I was saying my final good-byes and was heading out the door, when a student shouted, "Hey we'll miss you!". To which I replied, "Yeah, it'll be great!".

.......Not the most accurate reply. But, that's what came out of my mouth. So instead of stopping to correct myself. I turned and ran.

Hope they didn't notice.

Music (Dance) Videos

I love a good homemade video. Their often goofy, nerdy, quirky and oddball. But always clever.

I couldn't resist sharing some of my favorite music videos, which once compiled into a list I realized they incorporate some dancing. Another reason why I might like them.

So if you have an hour to kill watching youtube videos I recommend the following:

OK GO!

(pretty much all their videos)

This Too Shall Pass (both marching band AND Rube Goldberg)

End of Love

Here it Goes

A Million Ways

Fatboy Slim

Weapon of Choice (Christopher Walken)

Praise You

Weezer

Pork & Beans

Keep Fishin' (one word...muppets)

Buddy Holly (river looks so young)

Daft Punk

Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger (two robot girls)

Attitude of Gratitude

Gave a lesson on gratitude today. Here are some of my favorites:

"We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins. then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues."

(An Attitude of Gratitude Pres. Thomas S. Monson, 2000 Feb Ensign.)

"A grateful heart is a beginning of greatness. It is an expression of humility. It is a foundation for the development of such virtues as prayer, faith courage, contentment, happiness, love and well-being." (Gratitude As a Saving Principle Pres. James E. Faust, 1996 Dec Ensign.)

"Think to Thank. In these 3 words is the finest capsule course for a happy marriage, a formula for enduring friendship, and a pattern for personal happiness" (Thomas S. Monson, Pathway to Perfection, 1973 p.254)

"Hold fast to the blessings which God has provided for you. Yours is not the task to gain them, they are here; yours is the part of cherishing them." (Pres. J. Rueben Clark, Church News, June 1969)

An Xray post surgery

It's amazing! Just amazing. I am so grateful for competent and inspired doctors.

My surgeon is just amazing.

The four screws you see near the front of my mouth are my "Franken Screws" from my previous post.

Pre-Op: The Painter's Smock

It's true. Look at me. I look like a pro and stylish young painter. My team , helped me put my outfit together and made sure my beret fit just right.

I had a lot of great and positive vibes swirling around me. Mom and Husband kept me entertained and all the doctors/nurses who came by were anxious to help and give me reassurance.

The Anesthesiologist was super cool. She truly put me at ease. She was also the one who led me from Pre-Op to the OR so we had a nice chat.

And I couldn't be more impressed with my Surgeon. He is a great doctor, willing to and open to inspiration. (more on that later)

Mostly, I know that it was because of good doctor's and LOTS AND LOTS of prayers that everything went so well and that I was so at ease. So thank you everyone. Your prayers really helped and pray that you will be blessed for ally our efforts.

Love you!

Post-Op: After the Recovery Room

This is a picture of me about 3 hours after surgery. I was told my lip was bigger just after surgery. So the swelling had already gone down, some.

Around 2pm, they brought me my special liquid diet lunch.

It consisted of:

80z of Apple Juice

6oz of Broth (chicken or beef)

40z of Lemon Ice

4 oz of JELLO!!!!

You'd be surprised how hungry you can get after surgery.

Strawberry Jello

Then after ingesting all that liquid, they wanted to be extra sure I was hydrated, so they had me...ya know....in....well...they called it a "hat". So I couldn't pass up the photo op and took a picture of my "hat" before it made permanent residence in the bathroom.

Getting up to use my hat. Mom was my super-nurse! She knew how to plug/unplug and organize all my IV's when I was mobile and made sure I didn't trip over them or cut them off.

I am so glad she knew what she was doing. I hadn't the foggiest idea what to do.

Day 2: Leaving a Day Early

Believe it or not, I left a whole day early. Doctors expected 2 days in the hospital, but I got out on good behavior. Well, my body was behaving well and healing very quickly. It also helped that I had a little button I could push anytime I wanted pain meds released into my IV.

What service!

You can definitely see a difference from the day of surgery to the second day. My lower lip isn't nearly as huge. Actually it looks pretty normal.

Here is an image of the tiny little cut they had to make on the outside of my face. Just where that little X tape mark is. The surgeon was able to remove diseased bone inter orally (from the inside of my mouth), insert the Titanium joint and screw it all together (or whatever they had to do)

My Franken Screws..

The surgeon had to put screws into my mouth and wire my jaw shut during the surgery, so as to keep my bite in place and jaw in line. Doctor thinks he'll be able to remove them at my appointment on Tuesday. Unless my jaw is deviating in which, he will leave them in and put rubber bands around screws to keep my bite in place.

Say Cheese!

Frowny face

Life Lessons from the HIgh Peaks

I had the opportunity to write a little blip in our ward newsletter.

I chose to write about a quote from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf's talk on patience.

There is something about physical exertion that builds character and teaches you important principles that you wouldn’t typically recognize.

For instance, I recently went on my first backpacking trip to the Adirondacks in upstate NY. This trip taught me plenty. I learned that the trail can be bumpy and arduous. The journey can be tedious. And I also learned there are a few things you can’t predict, such as wet, muddy weather, and old, relentless injuries. Don’t get me wrong, I had a pleasant time, but I couldn’t help but draw comparisons from my own life and path.

Life can be hard, monotonous, and sometimes downright sticky. Which led me to reflect on one particular principle: Patience.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s said, “Patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can---working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed.”

Patience is not sitting on a rock on my pathway to righteousness, simply waiting for the highway of all my desires (even my righteous and worthy desires) to be built. I must stand up, strap on my boots and get to work! I need to move forward, putting one foot in front of the other, hoping that my hard work will bring me to my desired destination. Nor is it about hiking a smooth surface to eternal life. Patience is also about crossing bridges into the unknown or scrambling over the boulders of my fears and insecurities.

When we add the power of prayer and the purifying Atonement, we can face the difficulties of life with confidence. And the Lord will bless us, as we are patient.

“I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear and shall trust in the Lord.”

(Psalms 40:1-3)

Unplug

I found this article today in the NY Times called "Your Brain On Computers: The Risk of Parenting While Plugged In".

..."talking and explaining things to children, and responding to their questions — remains the bedrock of early childhood learning."

Earlier this week I also read Elder David A. Bednar's talk "Things As They Really Are", from June Ensign.

"Our spirit and our body are combined in such a way that our body becomes an instrument of our mind and the foundation of our character."

It was interesting to me to compare the Times article with Elder Bednar's. It just confirms my testimony of modern day prophets and apostles. These are inspired men. They are the mouthpiece of the Lord.

Posting can be difficult...

What to write about? I want my blog to be uplifting and encouraging to anyone who reads it.

Let's see uplifting...hmmm...pick a topic, Anna....uplift....

bras? hot air balloons? airplanes? plastic surgery?

Nope. Got nothing.

I'll get back to you when I have an idea.

Till then...

"I'll give you topic. Barbra Streisand. She's like butter."

Waisted time

I think I checked

My Blog 3 times

Gmail 3 times

Facebook 2 times

You tube 1 time

Totaling in:

1 hour WASTED!

Spring Spring Spring...continued

I love spring! Despite the allergies drippy nose and itchy eyes, spring is one of my favorite times of year! I love seeing the variety and beauty of the plants and trees around me. I want to know the name of each tree and flower and investigate the shape and structure of each flower and petal (this can be quite annoying if your not into that kind of stuff and you just want to walk around and see more of the grounds). :)

About 2 weeks ago (sheesh I can hardly believe it was so long ago), Mom & Dad came out for visit to see me perform. When I wasn't busy dancing, we took some time to enjoy the nice spring weather and went to the New York Botanical Gardens, just north of where we live. It was so lovely. I was so happy running around and looking at the gardens and talking to my mom and dad about the varieties of Daffodils and Cherry trees!

I got so excited I leapt for JOY!

And maybe, more than once....

Looks like I had more than a few moments leaping for joy!

And a picture of the adorable parents---they really are the greatest!

Thanks again Mom & Dad. I really enjoyed your company and appreciate your coming out to visit.

S'posed to..

I'm suppose to be out socializing at a way awesome ward party, but I'm not. Actually, I got on the computer about 2 hours ago, just to check my email while my homemade granola was finishing baking. Now there's only about 5 minutes left of the way awesome ward party and I'm still on the computer. For someone who loves, no NEEDS socializing, I sure am a homebody.

I'm also suppose to eat lots of rich green vegetables, but I avoided them for about 2 weeks. It wasn't until I noticed I had about 40 bruises (no joke...I counted) all over my body that I decided I need to get serious about getting a daily dose of iron-rich, leafy greens.** I have eaten Kale salad for the past two days. I have a super yummy recipe if you'd like to try it out. (A Vegan Caesar dressing on top)

**Bruising came from 2 weeks of intense rehearsals, performances and my own clumsiness. This is pretty normal for me.

I'm suppose to drink lots of water, exercise regularly, have a regular sleep schedule. I've have done them all--haphazardly.

But, I am glad I can eat lots of yummy vegetables when I want, have ward parties to go to, perform regularly, have a well-functioning body and mind and wear nice comfortable clothes.

I'm glad God is understanding and that he still blesses me everyday!

Need a new swimsuit

The one I have is saggy in the two places where you don't want to appear saggy. :)

Anyone got any ideas where I can find a cute suit?

Or maybe I'll just get a wetsuit...

Feeling a bit like this lately...

I (heart) Valentine's Day!

But, I also love Arizona! And guess what?

It's Arizona Statehood Day! Happy 98th Birthday, Arizona.

That's right, Arizona received statehood on February 14th, 1912.

Here's just a few facts about the beloved Grand Canyon State!

State Motto: Ditat Deus (God Enriches)

State Flower: Saguaro Cactus Blossom

State Tree: Palo Verde

Official Neckwear: Bola Tie

(Does YOUR state have official neckwear?)

And to sign off I leave you our State Song(s):

ARIZONA

I love you, Arizona; Your mountains, deserts and streams; The rise of Dos Cabezas* And the outlaws I see in my dreams; I love you Arizona, Superstitions and all; The warmth you give at sunrise; Your sunsets put music in us all. Oo, Arizona; You're the magic in me; Oo, Arizona, You're the life-blood of me; I love you Arizona; Desert dust on the wind; The sage and cactus are blooming, And the smell of the rain on your skin. Oo, Arizona; You're the magic in me; Oo, Arizona, You're the life-blood of me. Now don't get me wrong, I love Arizona, but I wouldn't say "Arizona; you're the magic in me". Oh sure, it's good to be poetic in a state song, but that line is a bit much. And most of my loyalty is due to the fact that all my friends and family live there. I'd probably be just as loyal to Nebraska if everyone lived there. (note to family, don't move to nebraska...too cold)

Snow is falling

all around, on the rooftops on the ground...

(Since being called to Primary Chorister, I find myself humming primary tunes every so often.

I love it.)

It's snowing today! They've closed schools and few business and grocery stores.

We're suppose to get 10-15 inches of snow. But, in comparison to the most recent snow storm that hit D.C. and Pennsylvania, I feel like a mere 15 inches isn't reason enough to close down the city. And this coming from a Native Arizonan! Although, it is nice to be "stuck" inside today. Snow days are kind of a treat, that is of course, if you don't have to go somewhere.

It gives me the chance to write on my blog!

What would you do if you had a snow day? No work, no school, no obligations, no paperwork, no drudgery.

(sung to "oh what would you do in the summertime")

Oh what would you do on a snowy day

When the world is cold and white?

Do you sleep until ten?

Brunch with your friend, Ben?

Or wear your pj's all day long?

Is that what you do?

So do I!

Feel free to come up with your own verse!

P.S. I just realized, they never have Sunshine Days or Heat Days in Arizona, where they close businesses and schools when it get's to 115 degrees out. Do they have Rain Days in Seattle? And for that matter, why not have Super-Duper-Nice Days, where it's so gorgeous out that work would be totally unproductive, that you might as well cancel it!

I'm starting to sound like a 10 year old kid, aren't i?

Thanks

Today was much better. The sun came out and I felt the love and encouragement of good friends.

I hope to do the same for you!

Crummy Day! Looking at Clouds of Grey!

On my way to where crazies meet! (ripped from Sesame Street song)

Yeah, today was no bueno. I'd say my biggest successes were:

Waking up, feeding myself, putting on clothes and arriving, on time, to planned destinations.

That isn't to say that I'm not grateful for a bed to wake up in, food to actually nourish my body, warm clothes and decent transportation.

I was just hoping to be more useful as a human being. You know, like thinking and being coordinated. Since that is probably considered to be in my job description. Not that I wasn't trying, but it felt like every 5 seconds I was doing something wrong. "No. Wrong. Go Back. Do it again. Nope. Sorry. Uh....no."

And then it just started to build up, until I thought I was going to burst into tears, yet I swallowed my pride and trudged on. Cheery faced and determined.

5 o'clock descended and I thought, "Well, I did it! I kept my composure and didn't dissolve into a puddle on the floor.

But, then came the walk home...

First, I fell going UP the stairs, while carrying 2 bags and a box.

(oh no, the eyes are getting watery....wait...deep breaths...ok)

Then, a guy exiting apartment building, essentially refused to hold door open for me. What?! Do I look like a Burglar?!!!

(here come the waterworks?....no. no. Suck it up woman)

Then, I went grabbed the mail.

(What?! No Netflix? But, I need it!)

Next, came the elevator. Got on, pushed button to floor. Elevator, then proceeds to skip my floor and end up 2 floors above my desired stop. Which means I get to brave the stairs again.

(Filthin' Foul Filth!)

Finally, I made it to my door. Open door. Walk in. Put things down. And think, "At times like these, you just gotta laugh, right?"

"WAAAAAAAH!" "Boo Hoo!"

Well, I feel a little better. I never actually bawled my eyes out, but I indulged in chocolate, while whining to the blogging world, about things that are really quite trivial.

Then again, this is my blog and I'll cry if I want to. :)

Mesa FroYo Meets Ferngully

Bad Hair. Good FroYo.

sigh...

All good, adorable, fun, delightful, delicious, silly, uplifting, exciting, and totally awesome things must come to an end (or at least be put on hold).

sigh...

I can't wait til summer.