Tagged

1. As if the picture above isn’t obvious proof, I am very awkward the second you put me in front of a camera. I would much rather be the one behind the lens than the one in front of it. The weird thing is that I secretly (or I guess not so secretly now) would love to be more photogenic and natural in front of cameras. Of course, that would involve being in front of cameras more, which would just make me feel awkward. The cycle is vicious, people.

2. I have real issues with how full I like my glasses of milk. I am psychologically incapable of drinking a full glass of milk. I can drink two half glasses, but not a full glass. When Matt pours me a full glass, I just make him finish it.

3. If our room is too hot at night, I start having strange, repetitive dreams that usually involve me obsessively repeating some hated task over and over again. As a result, I make Matt turn down the heat every night before bed (or I do it myself, on the rare night I remember before I’m upstairs).

4. I hated cheesecake for about 3 years after I worked at a reception center for my first job. I have since gotten over that hurtle in life.

5. I was in a musical once in high school, and I loved it. I have wanted to be in another musical ever since.

6. I am dreading the day when Matt and I have the inevitable fight over whether or not we will ever get a dog (I say absolutely not, Matt says absolutely).

7. In 2 days, Matt and I will have been married ten months, and we’ve never had a fight.

8. So that dog fight should be pretty interesting.

9. I think I’m the only student teacher in the history of the world who will be sad to see my student teaching experience end. The only thing that would make it less sad is if I get hired as a teacher right away and then actually get PAID for what I love doing. Wouldn’t that be amazing?

10. I just bought a big ol’ gallon of cookies and cream ice cream that I’m seriously considering having for dinner.

11. I hate Walmart. I can go months and months without stepping foot in it. (I say this because I actually went there today. Miserable place.)

1. What is one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for you?

Well, this is hard to narrow down, but five years ago, my almost 3-year-old nephew passed away unexpectedly, and I was overwhelmed at all the acts of kindness (big and small) that were offered to me and my family. One of my best friends made the drive home to Bountiful with me just so that I wouldn’t have to go alone, my Relief Society president brought me dinner every night for a week, my roommates got me flowers and listened and comforted me for hours and hours…it was actually one of the times in my life when I have felt the very most loved.

2. When has a stranger impacted your life for good?

I have been able to go to college debt-free thanks to the kindness of many, many strangers who had the generosity and goodwill to “give back” to the same university that they themselves had graduated from or worked at. I will forever be grateful to their sacrifices, and plan to give back myself to the university someday.

3. What is something nice a family member has done for you?

I have an aunt that used to take us out for lunch on every single one of our birthdays all the years that we were growing up. That time with her meant so much to me, and I have many fond memories of her telling me about her travels around the world and her encouragement for me to go after my dreams.

4. What is one of the nicest things one of your parents has ever done for you?

Well, this is impossible to narrow down, so I’ll just name the first one that came to mind. While I was on my mission, my mom literally wrote me a tangible letter (snail mail!) every single week I was out (PLUS she always wrote me an email). At a time when I was hundreds and hundreds of miles away from my family, those letters meant EVERYTHING to me. But my mom does awesome things for me all the time, like buying me a Bountiful Basket this last week and sending me flowers at work when she knew I was having a hard day.

5. What is one of the nicest things one of your parents has ever done for you?

I couldn’t very well leave my dad out of the equation, so I’ll just list a couple of the first things that came to mind for him. On my mission, my dad also wrote me letters and emails frequently–I loved that he included excerpts from his own mission journals when he wrote me. That was an amazing experience for me to read what he himself had written as a missionary 30 or so years ago. Just a couple weeks ago, my dad designed book covers for each one of my 7th grade classes so that they could make a class “book” of their personal narratives, even though he was swamped with his own work. My parents have always been the best examples to me of sacrifice, generosity, and kindness.

6. What teacher has had the greatest impact on your life?

There’s many, many teachers that have had a lifelong influence on me, but two come to mind immediately: my high school creative writing teacher and my high school AP Literature teacher. My writing teacher fanned my passion for creative writing (I honestly don’t know if I would have had the same passion for it if I wouldn’t have taken her class), and my AP Lit teacher made me want to become a teacher myself (and she helped me to really understand how to fully appreciate classic literature). I only hope that someday I can have the same kind of effect on some student that those teachers had on me.

7. Who is someone you look up to? Why?

Actually, Petrice (the friend who tagged me), is someone I very much look up to. She is one of the kindest, most intuitive paople I have ever met–she always has a kind word for me, and she can literally make anything beautiful. She is a patient, loving, strong mother of two, and she has so much faith. I admire her greatly, and hope that I can be as in tune with spiritual things as she is one day.

8, 9, 10, 11. In what ways has someone else influenced your life for good with their talents, kindness, or love?

My stepdad is one of the greatest men I know–he is ALWAYS going out of his way to serve Matt and me and help us out in whatever way he can. And he’s not just like that with family–he’s like that with everyone. Just this last weekend, he took my car, changed the oil, fixed the windshield wiper, and filled it with gas (all as a gift). He has bailed me out numerous times when I’ve been lost or had car troubles, and I love talking to him. He also has some of the most impressive social gifts that I’ve ever seen–he can make friends anywhere, and remember them for years.

My best friend Kayla has been with me through thick and thin, and there has been numerous times that she has been my shoulder to cry on, my friend to laugh with, my go-to man to call when I’m in need. I couldn’t have imagined my life without her.

Of course, this post couldn’t be complete if I didn’t thank my amazing hubby. Not a day goes by that I don’t feel intense gratitude in my heart for all that he does for me and all that he is—that man still packs my lunch for me every day AND makes my breakfast every morning. He is pure love, and he treats me like a queen every day. Even when we weren’t dating, he treated me that way. Even when I wrote him off, he stayed by my side. I have never once doubted that I can count on him for everything and anything. I fall more and more in love with him every day, and I’m so grateful that he was willing to wait all those years for me to grow up.

Oh man, there are so many people that inspire me every day that I could never have included them all. There are so many friends that I didn’t mention here by name, but who have made such an impact on me; just know that I love you all and so appreciate everything you’ve done for me. And that goes for all those blogger friends out there who I have yet to meet in person–you all inspire me to be my most creative self, and to be more than who I am currently.

All right, if anyone has actually made it this far, kudos to you. You are diligent and kind and stalwart. I love you, too.

1. What is your dream job?

2. What is the most recent book you have read, and what did you think of it?

3. What was the best concert you’ve ever been to?

4. Did you have a list of qualities growing up that you wanted in a future spouse? Did the list change, or did your significant other have all the qualities listed already?

5. Greek yogurt: yes or no?

6. Would you rather have the capacity to fly or read minds?

7. What reality t.v. show would you want to be a part of?

8. What is your go-to meal when you have to fix something up really quick? (share the recipe!)

9. What is one of your life dreams that you see yourself accomplishing in the next year?

10. When have you been the most proud of yourself?

11. What kind thing has someone done for you this week?

Can’t wait to read your responses 🙂