We all have countless things to be thankful for. You can try to argue that, but it isn't going to work. Lots of blessings are easy to see: food, vacations, good friends. Some take a little more work: family, school, work. But some can be close to impossible to be thankful for, like problems. But it's way easier to be grateful for a blessing than a problem...so turn your problems into blessings :) Like just the other night, I was really struggling with something. I was wondering how to best deal with this and how to think of it because my mind was all jumbled with worry. But then i realized, I can just be grateful! I know it might be hard to understand without specifics of the situation, but it worked. Problems create the balance that we call opposition in all things, so that we can experience the happy and peaceful moments. So put a smile on your face and realize all you have to be smiling about.
Olivia :)
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Quote of the Day
"No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars or sailed an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit."
-Helen Keller
-Helen Keller
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Racquetball and Oreos
Racquetball: talk about a fun sport! I mean, if you aren't playing against someone who wants to kill you (cough cough DAD :) I could probably spend hours playing just by myself...well, maybe not hours...my attention span isn't quite that long. But if I were greedy and grew up and had tons of money to spend on myself, I would put a racquetball court in my house. I'd also put in a pool so I could swim laps everyday and get BUFF. One more thing I'd put in my house: a lifetime supply of Oreos. I swear those things have cocaine or something in them because THEY ARE SO TASTY...too bad they also have over 50 calories per cookie. But you simply can't get another chocolate sandwich cookie that has that same Oreo splendor, so I say sometimes you just gotta go for it.
Today down here we also pretty much had a flippin hurricane, no lie. It was raining cats and dogs outside, the wind was blowing like mad (enough to literally shake our penthouse condo), and there were BIG waves goin on. I looked out the window and through all the rain I saw the palms trees blowing and bending and flailing all over like in some movie when a tropical storm's about to happen. It was pretty exciting...I was ready for our window to shatter in at any moment.
It's way late! Goodnight! -Olivia
Today down here we also pretty much had a flippin hurricane, no lie. It was raining cats and dogs outside, the wind was blowing like mad (enough to literally shake our penthouse condo), and there were BIG waves goin on. I looked out the window and through all the rain I saw the palms trees blowing and bending and flailing all over like in some movie when a tropical storm's about to happen. It was pretty exciting...I was ready for our window to shatter in at any moment.
It's way late! Goodnight! -Olivia
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
9 more quotes for today
We went to this fun pancake house on Monday morning, and they had quotes painted all over their walls and ceilings. So of course I have to share some with you. (:
"The cost of living has not affected it's popularity."
"A clear conscience is a good pillow."
"Insanity is hereditary; you catch it from your kids."
"Life is like syrup. Sometimes it's sweet and sometimes it's just sticky."
"Eat one live toad first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day."
"Sea is like air, not important till you're not getting enough."
"There are three types of people in this world: those who can count and those who can't."
"Radioactive cats have 18 half-lives."
"Worry, not work, kills men."
-Olivia :p
"The cost of living has not affected it's popularity."
"A clear conscience is a good pillow."
"Insanity is hereditary; you catch it from your kids."
"Life is like syrup. Sometimes it's sweet and sometimes it's just sticky."
"Eat one live toad first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day."
"Sea is like air, not important till you're not getting enough."
"There are three types of people in this world: those who can count and those who can't."
"Radioactive cats have 18 half-lives."
"Worry, not work, kills men."
-Olivia :p
Pretty much in love
I got up this morning after waking from an interesting dream, walked outside, and it was somewhat warm and completely sunny!! So I put my big, white Dolce & Gabbana shades and a smile on my face.
A few things I am in love with: sunrises, sunsets, and Ocracoke Island. I swear that sunrises and sunsets were made just for me, and I can't believe that they happen every single day and most of the time we let them just roll on by. We also spent the majority of our day today on a tiny little island in the Outer Banks that you can only access by ferry. It's adorable. I'm gonna like spend my honeymoon there or vacation there or live there later or something...
Also today while we were in the car I guess I was low on patience so I yelled at my little brother, "YOU ARE TOO CLOSE TO ME!" Then my older brother, Tanner, was like, "TGS!" I inquired as to what he meant and he was like, "We have a bad case of teenage girl syndrome." Alas, it's true.
A few things I am in love with: sunrises, sunsets, and Ocracoke Island. I swear that sunrises and sunsets were made just for me, and I can't believe that they happen every single day and most of the time we let them just roll on by. We also spent the majority of our day today on a tiny little island in the Outer Banks that you can only access by ferry. It's adorable. I'm gonna like spend my honeymoon there or vacation there or live there later or something...
Also today while we were in the car I guess I was low on patience so I yelled at my little brother, "YOU ARE TOO CLOSE TO ME!" Then my older brother, Tanner, was like, "TGS!" I inquired as to what he meant and he was like, "We have a bad case of teenage girl syndrome." Alas, it's true.
Quote of the Day
"I have noticed that folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."
-Abraham Lincoln
-Abraham Lincoln
Monday, March 28, 2011
Don't count on the weather
We drove over 15 hours to get to the Outer Banks in North Carolina and got a condo dead on the beach for our Spring Break, and we get here and it's 43 degrees and completely cloudy. Oh well, that just means that instead of a week of sand dunes, bike riding, laying in the sun, and flip-flops, it'll be a week of movies, the indoor pool, reading, eating tons of junk food (would've done that anyway :), and socks & sweatshirts. But really, I'm not complaining. In Indiana, they're getting snow. So I'm just glad to have a break to spend with my family, away from all the difficulties of regular life. Only thing I'm really worried about is how much weight I'm going to gain on this trip...we went to the store today and bought (among other things): ramen, popcorn, soda, oreos, chips, donuts, bacon, and fruit snacks. It's a good thing that you have to climb 46 stairs every time you want to get up to our penthouse condo! Also, when I get home, I'm going on a no sugar diet, and anyone reading this better hold me to that.
If you want my opinion (which you probably do, otherwise you wouldn't be reading this), the Beatles were pretty much awesome, just saying. I know they were on drugs and stuff, but they were so good at writing good songs. Thanks guys :)
Last thing: you should tell the people you love that you love them, sincerely and often. They say to live like you are going to die tomorrow. I used to not be able to understand that at all, but this is part of it. I know I want to hear it from the people that love me. They can tell me a hundred thousand times and it will never get old. I only hope that the people I love know it, and believe it.
Olivia :)
If you want my opinion (which you probably do, otherwise you wouldn't be reading this), the Beatles were pretty much awesome, just saying. I know they were on drugs and stuff, but they were so good at writing good songs. Thanks guys :)
Last thing: you should tell the people you love that you love them, sincerely and often. They say to live like you are going to die tomorrow. I used to not be able to understand that at all, but this is part of it. I know I want to hear it from the people that love me. They can tell me a hundred thousand times and it will never get old. I only hope that the people I love know it, and believe it.
Olivia :)
Sunday, March 27, 2011
A word on Olivia's philosophy
Life is all about priorities. That's the secret. Life is ALL about priorities...and sacrifice. Frankly, you cannot do everything, so you have to put something first, and you have to give up other things. Some things are simply more important than others. Even if you think you aren't doing this, you are, every moment. Prioritizing is not a passive thing, it is an active thing. You have to put concious, constant effort into it, or your priorities will not be what you want them to be. Prioritizing is knowing what is the most important thing and deciding to apply it. That's also the exact definition of maturity. You have to know that forgiving and having love is just more important than letting Satan "stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another." You have to know that holding on to the iron rod is more important than holding on to grudges. Selflessness triumphs over jealousy and mercy can be more important than justice. Of course, priorities go for other things, too. Homework should come before texting... I mean, about anything should come before texting :) But you get my point. This isn't always easy, I know. He didn't ever tell us it would be easy, He just told us it would be possible. So don't be discouraged. PRAY. That's the other secret. It really is. Thanks to anyone who made it through this whole post and even more thanks to anyone who listened! Lots of love!
-Olivia
-Olivia
Quote of the Day
"If you have not chosen the kingdom of God first, it will, in the end, not matter what else you have chosen instead."
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Oh, vacation!
We left our house this morning at 8:15, only 15 after our estimated time of departure! My family has never actually left when we wanted to, and it can be as much as 2 hours late, so this was success! It's been a great drive so far. I've slept for like 3 hours already today- we'll see if I can fall asleep tonight. When I woke up from my afternoon nap, Neil had shed all of his clothing, except for his bright red boxers. It's a blessing when both he and Grant manage to have all of their clothing on at the same time!
About halfway through our day, we stopped at the original Bob Evans in the middle of nowhere land Ohio. If you have never been there and ordered this wonderful thing called the Cinnamon Cream Pancakes, you might wanna do that before you die. It's two giant pancakes with bits of cinnamon-sugar IN them, super sweet vanilla pudding cream stuff BETWEEN them, syrup COVERING them, and cinnamon icing AND whipped cream ON TOP of them. You can feel yourself gaining weight, but they are pretty wonderful.
I also have to add my two cents on something else: cows grazing on a distant, grassy hillside under a mostly cloudy sky is about the most picturesque scene ever. I got to look out the window as we drove through Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina and to sum it up: nature is gorgeous and can leave you speechless sometimes. You have to open your eyes. You can't ever blame anyone else that you haven't ever seen anything amazing because it's out there- everywhere.
Olivia :)
About halfway through our day, we stopped at the original Bob Evans in the middle of nowhere land Ohio. If you have never been there and ordered this wonderful thing called the Cinnamon Cream Pancakes, you might wanna do that before you die. It's two giant pancakes with bits of cinnamon-sugar IN them, super sweet vanilla pudding cream stuff BETWEEN them, syrup COVERING them, and cinnamon icing AND whipped cream ON TOP of them. You can feel yourself gaining weight, but they are pretty wonderful.
I also have to add my two cents on something else: cows grazing on a distant, grassy hillside under a mostly cloudy sky is about the most picturesque scene ever. I got to look out the window as we drove through Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina and to sum it up: nature is gorgeous and can leave you speechless sometimes. You have to open your eyes. You can't ever blame anyone else that you haven't ever seen anything amazing because it's out there- everywhere.
Olivia :)
Quote of the Day
"The dedicated life is the life worth living. You must give with your whole heart."
-Annie Dillard
-Annie Dillard
Friday, March 25, 2011
What's shakin, bacon?
So I use this phrase when I'm in a silly mood, just to address people casually. It's way catchy, only problem is that most people don't know how to respond cause they don't have something catchy to say back. This is a problem I've dealt with for a long time. Most people go with, "not much" or "im good" but lately we've come up with a few great retorts. The first one:
"What's shakin, bacon?" "Nothing much, sausage!"
"What's tickin, chicken?"
And my favorite, courtesy of my friend Sammy:
"What's shakin, bacon?" "Well what's cookin, good-lookin??"
I also have another funny from my little brother, Neil. He and my other little brother Grant were high today- like unbelievably high on life. Grant was spitting in Neil's nose and Neil was sitting on Grant on the bathroom rug. It was crazy. And I was freaking out about Neil stealing all my stuff and giving them ghetto names and such, and out of the blue, Neil was like, "Grant, your weak spot is girls, just like King David." They also nicknamed me Constipated. Thanks a million guys. Oh and at the moment Grant is inquiring as to how roses can have hips. I can't wait to spend 30 hours in the car with them this upcoming week.
-Olivia :)
"What's shakin, bacon?" "Nothing much, sausage!"
"What's tickin, chicken?"
And my favorite, courtesy of my friend Sammy:
"What's shakin, bacon?" "Well what's cookin, good-lookin??"
I also have another funny from my little brother, Neil. He and my other little brother Grant were high today- like unbelievably high on life. Grant was spitting in Neil's nose and Neil was sitting on Grant on the bathroom rug. It was crazy. And I was freaking out about Neil stealing all my stuff and giving them ghetto names and such, and out of the blue, Neil was like, "Grant, your weak spot is girls, just like King David." They also nicknamed me Constipated. Thanks a million guys. Oh and at the moment Grant is inquiring as to how roses can have hips. I can't wait to spend 30 hours in the car with them this upcoming week.
-Olivia :)
Quote of the Day
"Tho' much is taken, much abides; and though
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."
-Alfred Lord Tennyson
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."
-Alfred Lord Tennyson
Thursday, March 24, 2011
I'm just a Silly Goose
Boy, do I make myself laugh sometimes. By sometimes, I mean all the time. Seriously. That probably sounds really self centered, but it's true. I don't know if everyone is like that, or I'm just special. Like today when I was singing Hakuna Matata and snapping along during math class...or when I was in the basement and a text wouldn't send on my phone and I was like, "Don't tell me I don't get reception in the basement!" (Mind you, nobody else was down there.) Oh, I'm SUCH a teenager sometimes. Or when I word texts really clever and don't delete them from my outbox because I continue to make myself laugh for days, or the one that made me laugh at myself the most: when I decided to up and start a blog one Sunday night. Hahahaha. I don't know if that means I take myself too seriously or not seriously enough. Either way, it's fun :)
Oh and currently my 11 year old brother is standing next to me rapping about boondoggle key chains. Oh my gosh, i love him.
Oh and currently my 11 year old brother is standing next to me rapping about boondoggle key chains. Oh my gosh, i love him.
Quote of the Day
"The only people who never stumble are those who never mount the high wire."
Take chances! Make mistakes!
Take chances! Make mistakes!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
You like em or you hate em
Most things in the world you can feel neutral about, or just kinda like, but there are somethings that I think you like or you don't. It's pretty cut and dry. Two things that come to mind are cilantro and the color orange. Either you enjoy the taste of cilantro or you hate it, and you are in love with orange or it makes you want to puke. Personally, I like cilantro and don't like orange. It's surprising that I can say that because I am about the most indecisive person that ever walked this earth. Most things are not just black and white for me...those who know me well know that and get it all the time!
Also, I'm super jealous of my friend who is currently in Spain...I've never been to Europe but it is one of my life goals. The guy I marry will take me all kinds of cool places and will love to travel like I do! That's all I got!
-Olivia
Also, I'm super jealous of my friend who is currently in Spain...I've never been to Europe but it is one of my life goals. The guy I marry will take me all kinds of cool places and will love to travel like I do! That's all I got!
-Olivia
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
One more thought
Look up Jacob 4:7. Just today I had something I was struggling with, and it seemed next to impossible. But my Heavenly Father helped me through and I made it! He will help all of His children who let Him. Goodnight!
Daydreams, airports...call me crazy
I never really thought of myself as a daydreamer, and I don't think that those who know me well have either. Maybe it's cause I'm not spacey and I'm pretty good at sticking to reality. But I think secretly, I am quite so. I am always fantasizing about something. No one ever hears about any of them, not even my journal; not because they are too silly or embarrassing or whatever, because they are just kinda my subconscious going to work. And now that I think about it, my daydreams sometimes have had correlation to my night-time dreams. Kinda weird. Maybe I should grow up to be a psychologist.
One thing I've been consciously thinking about lately is that, well, I love airports. That's really it. Airports are pretty much wonderful. Maybe it has to do with the fact that when I was little they were associated with going on an exciting trip, but almost just as exciting as the trip itself was going to the airport. The smell and the feel and the constant movement of everything, so much going on, I don't know how to describe it...I just feel like they are fun and cheerful places to be! Thanks to my good friends who share this feeling.
-Olivia
One thing I've been consciously thinking about lately is that, well, I love airports. That's really it. Airports are pretty much wonderful. Maybe it has to do with the fact that when I was little they were associated with going on an exciting trip, but almost just as exciting as the trip itself was going to the airport. The smell and the feel and the constant movement of everything, so much going on, I don't know how to describe it...I just feel like they are fun and cheerful places to be! Thanks to my good friends who share this feeling.
-Olivia
Monday, March 21, 2011
Daffodil Shoots and Crazy Coincidences
Happy Monday!
It's over 70 degrees outside, daffodil shoots are popping up everywhere, and Spring Break is next week. HOW CAN YOU NOT BE LOVING LIFE??
So today I was kinda chillin and I was thinkin about someone and I was like, "Wow. they are the last person that would show up here and now. there's no way it would happen." and then I looked up and they had walked in the door. yeah, that really happened. I was like, "really fate?" these outlandish kind of coincidences always seem to happen to me.
Also today in biology class we were talking about the influenza epidemic of 1918 and my teacher asked if anyone knew how many total people died. "3 million?" "Actually, 30 million..." Psh, give or take 27 million people. But really it was a huge deal in our nation's history that not many people know about or remember. That's your history fact for the week!
That's all for now!
Olivia
It's over 70 degrees outside, daffodil shoots are popping up everywhere, and Spring Break is next week. HOW CAN YOU NOT BE LOVING LIFE??
So today I was kinda chillin and I was thinkin about someone and I was like, "Wow. they are the last person that would show up here and now. there's no way it would happen." and then I looked up and they had walked in the door. yeah, that really happened. I was like, "really fate?" these outlandish kind of coincidences always seem to happen to me.
Also today in biology class we were talking about the influenza epidemic of 1918 and my teacher asked if anyone knew how many total people died. "3 million?" "Actually, 30 million..." Psh, give or take 27 million people. But really it was a huge deal in our nation's history that not many people know about or remember. That's your history fact for the week!
That's all for now!
Olivia
Quote of the Day
"Don't frown, because you never know who could be falling in love with your smile" :)
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Super Funny
My little bro Neil is eleven...he tries to be funny a lot and it doesn't always work because, well, he's eleven. But occasionally he says something that is pretty hilarious. You know the saying, "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink"? (which is one i really like because it's really very true) anyway, today Neil was like, "you can lead a Mormon to a bar, but you can't make him drink!" oh buddy.
Let's start at the very beginning!
Wow, this is way exciting! Today I up and decided to start a blog and I'm kinda pumped about it. Not that anyone in the world will read it, but I like to write and stuff, so it's happening! That's all the intro I've got!
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