Family

I finished Harry Potter 3 and have another amazing thought taken from a conversation between Harry and Dumbledore at the end.

Background information:

In book three, we are introduced to the horrible creatures called "Dementors". They are faceless, hooded creatures that suck the souls out of men. They suck all happiness and hope out of their environment. They are the guards of the wizard prison. The only way to get rid of them is by thinking of an extremely happy memory and conjuring a Patronus. A Patronus is a figure of light in the shape of an animal which is unique for each person. It is extremely difficult magic and Harry has not been able to produce more than a wisp of light so far.

He is by the lake with Sirius Black, an escaped convict from the prison. The dementors who have been searching for Black, come across the lake to suck out his soul. Harry comes to protect him but cannot produce a proper Patronus. Suddenly, he sees one come across the lake and chase them away. As he is fainting from exhaustion, he sees the person who produced it and thinks it is his dad who died when he was a baby.

After they are rescued, they go back in time to try and save Sirius (who is innocent of the crime he was convicted for and is Harry's Godfather). Harry goes to the lake to watch the events unfold hoping to see his father produce the Patronus. Last second, he realizes he saw himself across the lake, the future him. Of course, he wasn't expecting to see himself, so he thought it was his dad. His Patronus takes the shape of a stag, which is the animal his father was able to turn into. His father's nickname among his friends was Prongs because of it.

Harry later tells Dumbledore how foolish he was to think that his father could possibly have been there. Dumbledore says this:

" You think the dead we loved ever truly leave us? You think that we don't recall them more clearly than ever in times of great trouble? Your father is alive in you, Harry, and shows himself most plainly when you have need of him. How else could you produce that particular Patronus? Prongs rode again last night."
"You know, Harry, in a way, you did see your father last night...You found him inside yourself."

Along with love and choices, I feel that family is another major theme of Harry Potter. Harry grows up not knowing his parents but they are major parts of his life regardless. He is always told that he looks just like his dad, except for his eyes. He has his mother's eyes. In the first book, he comes across a mirror that shows the beholders greatest desires. Harry simply sees himself standing among his parents and countless ancestors. His deepest desire is to have a family. In book 3, Harry learns that he will always have his parents. They are in everything he does and can be there for him even though they are gone. I think that is amazing. His Patronus taking the shape of an image of his father is a beautiful way to show this concept.

Choices

That's right, another Harry Potter post. I just love it so much! Today, I finished Harry Potter 2 and again found a quote between Dumbledore and Harry that I love. This time, it has to do with our choices.

New students at Hogwarts get sorted into one of four houses, each with their own unique characteristics and skills. When Harry was sorted in book 1, he heard the Sorting Hat tell him he would do well in Slytherin, but Harry had heard that most of the wizards who come out of Slytherin house go bad, including Voldemort. So he thought hard, "Not Slytherin!" and the hat put him in Gryffindor.

For the next 2 years, this bothered Harry. He often wondered if he was meant to be in Slytherin and would become a bad wizard too. Then in the Chamber of Secrets, he came face to face with a 16-year-old memory of Voldemort who told him they have many things in common including the ability to speak to snakes which is a rare trait that the founder of Slytherin house possessed. This bothers Harry even more.

Later, Harry talked to Dumbledore about it and following is their conversation;

(I know it's kinda long, but to get the full affect, all of it was necessary.)

"'Professor,' he started again after a moment. 'The Sorting Hat told me I'd--I'd have done well in Slytherin. Everyone thought I was Slytherin's heir for a while...because I can speak Parseltongue...'

'You can speak Parseltongue, Harry,' said Dumbledore calmly, 'because Lord Voldemort-who is the last remaining ancestor of Salazar Slytherin--can speak Parseltongue. Unless I'm much mistaken, he transferred some of his own powers to you the night he gave you that scar. Not something he intended to do, I'm sure...'

'Voldemort put a bit of himself in me?' Harry said, thunderstruck.

'It certainly seems so.'

'So I should be in Slytherin,' Harry said, looking desperately into Dumbledore's face. 'The Sorting Hat could see Slytherin's power in me, and it--'

'Put you in Gryffindor,' said Dumbledore calmly. 'Listen to me, Harry. You happen to have many qualities Salazar Slytherin prized in his hand-picked students. His own very rare gift, Parseltongue--resourcefulness--determination--a certain disregard for rules,' he added, his mustache quivering again. 'Yet the Sorting Hat placed you in Gryffindor. You know why that was. Think.'

'It only put me in Gryffindor,' said Harry in a defeated voice, 'because I asked not to go in Slytherin...'

'Exactly,' said Dumbledore, beaming once more. 'Which makes you very different from Tom Riddle. It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities," Harry sat motionless in his chair, stunned."

The part I have highlighted is the point I'm trying to make. Harry is in Gryffindor because he chose it, regardless of the traits or abilities or even circumstances he had. So it is in our lives. We sometimes think we have to be a certain way or become a certain person because that's the life we have been dealt. It couldn't be more wrong. Yes, there are things in life that limit us, but it doesn't mean we have to succumb to them. We have the choice in our lives to become who we want to be. We can choose who we follow and what life we want to live.

Love

I know it's a few days late to be making a post about love, but I have just finished reading Harry Potter 1 (again) today. You must be thinking, "What the heck does this have to do with love?" I'll tell you.

LOVE is one of the greatest themes of Harry Potter. Some people think these books are dark and don't approve of their kids reading/watching them. My remark to them is always, "Harry Potter is all about love."

There is one passage at the end of book 1 that sums this up perfectly. Harry has stopped Quirrell and Voldemort from getting the Sorcerer's Stone that will allow Voldemort to come back to power and live forever. Harry wakes up 3 days later in the hospital wing with Professor Dumbledore by him. He asked Dumbledore why Quirrell couldn't touch him without burning. Dumbledore says the following:

"Your mother died to save you. If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. He didn't realize that love as powerful as your mother's for you leaves its own mark. Not a scar, no visible sign...to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give some protection forever. it is in your very skin. Quirrell, full of hatred, greed, and ambition, sharing his soul with Voldemort, could not touch you for this reason. It is agony to touch a person marked by something so good."

This is the very essence of Harry Potter. Love is what made Harry "the boy who lived", it is what protects him from Voldemort his whole life, and it is what keeps Voldemort from ever succeeding as a dark wizard. All the characters in these books love one another, risk their lives for one another, and do everything they can to achieve happiness and peace in their world. Love is the reason Snape kills Dumbledore in book 6, love for Harry's mother. That sounds bad haha but if you know the story, it's not. LOVE is the reason for everything in these books, as in real life.

I have started reading these books again, hoping that I can read fast enough to finish the whole series before the final movie comes out this July. I don't have high hopes for that. Those books get pretty large and I'm a slow reader. I love reading them though. I can read these books all day and be perfectly happy.

On a side note, it has been 6 months now since I moved to Utah. I still need to post pictures on here. I will soon, if I'm not reading ;).

Time

Hello world!
This is just a little blurb about my life as of right now. I realize that I'm several months behind on my postings. I like to post my pictures on here. I think of my blog as a memory book for my pictures with random thoughts thrown in as well. So when I have TIME, I'll get my pictures up here of the last few months.

TIME.

That's the key. Time has been on my mind for over a year now. Time is funny, especially when you're waiting for something. Time goes by so fast when you're having fun and staying busy. Time goes so slow when you're looking forward to something or when you're bored. It can escape you and at the same time, weigh on you.

I tend to look back on my life. I'm always thinking, "a year ago today, I was...." and I'm always baffled that it's already been a year.

In about 2 weeks, it will be a year since we moved to our new house in Holt, Missouri. Wow. So much has happened.

I worked full time at MDS for 4 months. Then I spent 3 months at home. I painted, attended the best singles ward, and spent time with my family.

It's been 5 months since I moved to Utah. I can't believe I've been here that long already. It doesn't feel like that long at all which is why I haven't posted. I haven't realized how long it's been. I go about my days, from one plan to the next. Work, Institute, meetings, plans with my family, activities, dinners, game nights, temple visits, the holidays....it's kept me so busy.

Now it's 2011. I'm 21 years old and I live with my grandparents in Riverton, Utah in their basement. I attend their ward. The only friends I have here are my family. My cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents have become some of my best friends and I love being around them. I am the co-president of my Institute class. I'm a nanny for a wonderful family in Bluffdale and absolutely love it. I look forward to going to work which hasn't happened in a long time. I index 100 names a day on the Family Search website. I attend the temple once a week. I try to read but usually end up watching T.V. shows and movies online every night.

I love my life. I love the things that I spend my TIME doing right now. They bring me joy. And at the end of each day, I'm so excited that one more day is gone. I'm always one more day closer to the thing I'm waiting for....the thing I know is coming and can't wait for. In a way, time goes by slow for me. But I have been so blessed with a wonderful life and wonderful things to do right now to help make it go faster. This wait seemed discouraging at first, but it's almost over.

Anyway, that's my life as of January 2011. This is going to be a great year! I guarentee it!!

Something I'd like to do....

Over the past 1 1/2 years, I have messed around with paint to see what I can do. Painting is something I really enjoy. I love the break from life that I get when I have a brush in my hand.

I had an idea for paintings I could do for my future kid's room. I want to have a jungle room for my kids so I decided to do a set of three paintings of cartoon jungle animals. I loved it! It was fun and easy to do. I realized that I could do just about any animal or theme. Since then, I have made animal paintings for my nieces, nephews, and my mom.

I would love to sell them. It would be fun to have them custom ordered with what animals and colors people wanted. For now, I made an ocean set and I'm trying to sell them on Craigslist.

Jungle Set for my kids:


Animals for my nieces and nephews:






Farm set for my mom:

So there you have it! My recent joy in life. I'll see what I can do. It's either this or open a chocolate shop ;)

Some ideas for sets:
Outer space-rocket, planet, stars
sports-baseball and bat, football, soccer ball
dog-doghouse, bone, dog
forest-squirrel, raccoon, owl
swamp-turtle, frog, bee

"Ninety and Nine" by Michael McLean

I love the lyrics for this song by Michael McLean. It is beautiful to know that the Savior loves us all individually and equally. He will always come to us and teach us separately whether we are striving to follow Him or not. He is my Savior and Lord. I love Him.

Photo by Liz Lemon Swindle

I am one of the ninety and nine

I’m not perfect but basically I’m doing fine

I have not lost my way, I have not gone astray

I’m just one of the ninety and nine

I am here in the heart of the fold

I’m not mindless but I try to do as I’m told

I’m not tempted to run and become the lost one

I am here in the heart of the fold

So why is my shepherd coming this way toward me

He’s holding his arms out and he’s calling my name

Yes he’s calling my name! But how, how can this be?

I’m just one of the ninety and nine

I have stumbled and fallen, but I’ve kept in line

I’m not one he must seek; I’m not all that unique

I’m just one of the ninety and nine

So why is my shepherd treating me like a lost lamb?

He’s searching to find me

And he’s holding me now, yes, he’s holding me now

And teaching me who I am

So why am I feeling like I’m the only one here

It’s like I’m his favorite

And he takes me aside, and he sweetly confides

These remarkable words in my ear

You are one of the ninety and nine

Have you any idea how brightly you shine?

You are safe in this fold, and it’s time you are told

That I know where you’ve been so I know where you’ll be

Because all of your life you’ve been following me

You are more than just one of the sands of the sea

Or just one of the ninety and nine

You are mine, you are mine, you are mine

You are mine

I am one of the ninety and nine

The Ready Set

The other day, I was listening to the radio in my car and I heard the end of a song. It sounded really cool, so I jotted down the lyrics. I Googled it later that night and was introduced to this band called The Ready Set. Needless to say, I am in love!!

The singer is Jordan Witzigreuter and he is The Ready Set. He writes and composes the music. He is 20 years old from Indiana and his first album, "I'm Alive, I'm Dreaming" came out in June 2010. After graduating high school, he realized he could do this so he built The Ready Set on his own, booking his own tour dates and venues, driving across the country in his car. He's fought his way through and he's making it. It's absolutely inspiring.

The song I heard that night is called "Love Like Woe". I listened to it like a billion times within the next couple of days and I've spent many late nights watching all of his video series called "No Second Chances" and other videos online. You can listen to "Love Like Woe" on the playlist above...it's near the bottom of the songs.

I really like his style. His songs have a cool sound and beat, he can sing unbelievable fast which sounds really cool, and his lyrics are really great. He uses fun words and rhymes. I'm so excited to get my CD.

Here are some of my favorite lines from the few songs I've heard so far:

"I think you're a pretty sweet pill that I'm swallowing down."

"I might drive myself insane if those lips aren't speaking my name."

"You're the only one that can make a storm cloud break, pulling out the sun."

"Everything is second to your dreams."

"I need a little more thunder, a little more lightening, a little more you."

"I'll contrive a way to find you diamond rings. I'll sell all my things or rob a jewelry store, but what good could that do? Love is something that just can't be bought or sold."

"New relationships come and go, but what makes the difference is how you take advantage of the flirting eyes, lips and thighs, romance and regrets, this is a ship wreck."

"I'm the one who fell in love and stayed that way. So take my advice, love with you head, love with your heart, love with all you have."

"If you were a snowflake, impossibly I'd be the same shape as you."

"My ticket, my destination."

America's Got Talent

This summer, my mom and I started watching America's Got Talent and this is the first season I really got into. I loved it!! It was fun watching all the performances, seeing who goes home and who moves on. The final four consisted of two of my favorites acts.

Prince Poppycock

What an act! He created this character named Prince Poppycock and sings so amazingly well! He is a great entertainer. I was sad that he got 4th place but I'm so happy that he made it that far.

Fighting Gravity

Fighting Gravity was my favorite and they got 3rd place. They are a group of fraternity brothers and they quit school to be on this show. They have this amazing act that I still can't figure out. It is very fun to watch and I know they will have a show in Vegas some day soon. When that happens, I'm driving down there and seeing them. They are so cool!!

I really enjoyed watching this with my mom. We had fun laughing and complaining together as we saw acts we loved and hated come and go. I had to watch the finals by myself and it just wasn't the same without her. I'm excited for the next season and I wish these two acts the best of luck in their inevitable futures!

Alaska: Aug. 29-Sept. 6

I decided to take a little trip to Alaska by myself right after moving to Utah before I got settled in a new job. I stayed with different people, but mostly my mom's best friend, Jen Wood. My aunt and uncle let me borrow their car which was a huge help. I was able to drive around and see everything and everyone. It was a fabulous week!

Hyrum <3

Wasilla Lake with Linnea

I love fireweed.

Linnea Holbrook. I have missed this girl! I am so glad that I got to see her before she left to college. She left half way through my visit.

Home <3

Pioneer Peak. I went there for FHE with the Single's Ward.

Finger Lake, my favorite lake in Alaska. I have spent a lot of time at this place.

Alaska State Fair!!
I went to Alaska in August mainly for the fair. I have missed it soo much the last 2 years. I went for 2 days and hung out with some people and walked around eating and shopping. It was absolutely fabulous!

Glacier Pizza...breakfast.

The absolute BEST corn the cob on the planet!

Chocolate covered bacon on a stick. $3 and a total waste. It didn't mix well for me. I love them both separately!

Melanie and Kena...our very dear friends!

Dippin' Dots

Lumberjack Show
One of the best things about the fair!

Katie getting hena

Linnea working at the Carhart booth that her dad runs at the fair. She left that night for BYU-I.

Bishop Holbrook at this Carhart booth. What a great man!

Rosemary Henderson and I. We never hung out growing up, but we have discovered on Facebook that we have so much in common. So we have become friends and we hung out for the first time. I wish I lived by her. She's a sweetheart.

My waxed hand at the fair. I always get one and I brought my own paintbrush to use for it. They thought it was a really good idea and I had fun splashing the colors on it.

Me and Sydney Boston :)

I was walking through the arts and crafts section at the fair and saw this. I thought, "How cool! It's the temple!" Then I saw the sign that says it was built for the wedding of Dabric Huntington and Adam Baxter, so I thought, "Oh my heck! That's my family!" Haha, Dabric is my cousin :)

Hatcher Pass
I went up with my friend Tyler Bounds. I love it up there!

Tyler had the great idea of making paper boats and see how far they will float down the river. They didn't go far but it was fun.

I had dinner with Amy. I wish we could have had more time together but it was so fun seeing her again.

I spent my last night with Sabrina Holbrook, went to church with her, and then she drove me to the airport. I love that girl!