Bucket Lists and Blue Dresses

I've made a direct effort the past few weeks to take 

better care of myself.

I've looked at my life very closely 

and decided that for once in my 22 years,

I should start regarding myself as someone who needs help sometimes, too.

It's been hard for me to see that.

(And then act upon it).

It's a working progress...

That begins every morning 

(before anything else)

with prayer and scripture study.

I'm trying to train my thoughts to be a bit more gentle; 

A bit more forgiving.

Have you ever believed that the little things matter?

They do.

Especially when they're up against big things.

As part of my new outlook I have decided to start a Graduation Bucket List. 

I have quickly realized it's like setting goals:

But only so much more fun.

A fresh, golden start.

My list includes things like:

*Say prayer at Devo

*Finally go to the Dunes

*Indulge in lemon custard

*Visit a Pumpkin Patch

*Take Friendship Photos 
(on an I-dee-ho field)

*Go to General Conference

*Do Yoga every Thursday

...and other things.

That may be too silly

or too heartfelt...

to be anywhere but in my journal.

I've done hard things and can do more hard things.

And because of that...

I know how to love and how to be loved, as well.

Here's to Bucket Lists and embracing change.

And blue dresses with cute balloons, too.

Photography By Brindisi

Stars and Stripes.

Since I'm Canadian, 

many of my blog followers have been Canadian.

I have noticed a huge influx of American Readers.

(Where have the Canadians gone? 

Country-wide holiday, perhaps?)

With this in mind, 
 here's a little something I've been thinking about lately.

A few weeks ago, 

it was September, 11th. 

Purely accidentally, 

(I always loose track of the date while at school)

 I wore a very patriotic outfit to school.

I walked on to campus,

And in reality, had to catch my breath.

Flags, each representing 20 lives, 

dotted the large commons area beside the library.

When September 11th happened, I was 11 years old.

I remember the day so clearly.

Even though I lived in Canada, we were very much affected.

I remember my mom picking me up in our red mini van-

She was crying.

I went home for lunch.

When I came back, I remember asking my teacher:

"Did you hear what happened in New York?"

We met for an assembly.

And after school, I wrote many, many poems.

I remembered feeling sad for the boys and girls that day,

who may have come home to an empty house.

 Children have such a pure love that fills their hearts, don't they?

Now, years and years have passed. 

Here I am on campus and see such a beautiful, heart-felt display.

 It really does not matter where you're from.

But it does matter who you are.
For me,this display was about people.
A representation of love.

What makes us, as people, so unique,

so caring...

is our ability to love those we don't even know.

To feel for them.

And to hope for them.
To cry for them.
And to remember them.

Spread a little love today.

Skirt: DI-handmade

Blouse: Target

Flats: Walmart

Flower Child at Heart.

When I was a very little girl, 

I went to Disneyland with my family.

I wore a Minnie Mouse fanny pack the whole week.

And I was not interested in any rides.

Not one.

Know why?

I spent my Disney days filling my little fanny pack with flowers.

(I'd climb over the rail, picking to my heart's content).

Needless to say, 

flowers from those gorgeous Disney gardens 

were in our Disney hotel room 

every night after the fireworks.

Skip like 19 years and here I am in Idaho. 

I walk through the gorgeous campus gardens everyday.

(It's almost Autumn and soon they will be pulled anyway...)

And...

 I pick at least one flower each day on my way home.

Today after Church my room mates and I decided we'd pick flowers for our apartment.

It's Sunday. Meaning no security guards.

And picking flowers is just a good Sunday thing to do!

As we left the garden, 

we were seen by one of those security men.
Really!

We tried to pretend we were chatting.

We walked away discretely.

And then he went around the block 3 times...

Until calling out from his window, 

"Sneaky ladies..."
In a little sing-songy voice!

It reminds me of my Disneyland days.

One of those Disney workers did approach me back then.

But, it didn't faze me.

I continued to fill my fanny pack.

..Once a flower child, always a flower child.