I strongly dislike school

Often, I am excited before I go back to school. You get to see your friends that you haven't seen all summer. You get to meet new friends and take new classes. The biggest reason I should have been excited this year is that it's my senior year!

The week previous to school starting, I was not excited to go. I don't know quite what it was, but it just sounded UNBEARABLE! I don't want to wake up at 6 am and go go go until 6 everyday! I don't want to have hours of homework and stress piled on my plate. I don't want to use all my gas driving to and from school! Basically, I did NOT want to go!

Today was day three, and I still don't want to go. I don't like the separate lunches and the shorter classes. I miss all my friends that graduated. I got a horrible parking spot. I lost my ID card and parking permit. I can barely stay awake in my classes... School is just a piece of work!!

I compiled just a few "unique" things from the first three days of my senior year titled "You know you go to Flagstaff High School when..."

1. The hallways sound like a war zone with constant construction.

2. You haven't gotten homework yet because your teachers don't have time to assign any

3. A good percentage of the school insists they are Mustangs, and will never be Eagles

4. There are more freshman than any other class at FHS

5. Lunch is basically 10 minutes

6. The hall is a traffic jam and the students just stand there like cows

7. You aren't allowed to go anywhere in the school besides the commons at lunch

8. The counsellors change your schedule and put you in classes you didn't sign up for

9. The bell sounds like a cheesy jazz ringtone that comes as a default on an outdated phone

10. You feel like death is upon you by the end of the school day

I can only hope the year gets better and I adapt to all of the changes happening this year. Some things, I can't really change. But tomorrow is a new day!

Why?

People often ask me the following question.. "Why don't you like Obama?"

Instead of having to explain myself dozens of times, I thought I would just blog about it.. Seems easier to me!

So to start off my post, I just want to clarify that I don't "hate" Obama. People like to trash republicans (especially in Flagstaff) and go among some of these typical stereotypes- "Republicans are racist white trash. They are not concerned about the environment because they drive big SUVs... Oh, and they hate Obama."

If you know me, you would know that I am definitely not racist (or white trash. If it counts for anything, I'm actually not even white). I don't drive an SUV, my mother does, and just because she does, doesn't mean we don't care about the environment. I don't believe in global warming, and I most certainly don't believe that it is caused by man. Believe it or not, cows flatulence releases more CO2 than cars do. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) agriculture is responsible for 18% of the total release of greenhouse gases world-wide (which is more than the whole transportation sector). And lastly, I do not "hate" Barack Obama.

I can understand why people think this because I have a lot of t-shirts I made that insult him. It's all fun and games. But yes, he is not nearly my favorite person and I think he is nothing close to presidential material.

So why don't I like him you ask?

First of all, all of the "change" he said he would bring turned out to be bad change! He claimed he'd pull out of the war (which I don't agree with) and he's putting more funding towards it! (therefore not following through) He has added several trillion dollars of debt to this country and wastes tax payer's money. He created "obamacare" for the 15% of Americans who couldn't afford health care and the other 85% are paying for it. He is now filing a law suit against Arizona for its immigration policy. Because allowing illegals is the "American thing to do". We don't know much about him and it's scary. And pardon me but his middle name is Hussein, is that not kind of scary to anyone?! Has everyone forgotten about Obama's pastor who was saying screw America? That's our president folks...

Zane the Cheerleader

Technically, this was supposed to be my last night of summer. Flagstaff Unified School District returns to school on Monday August 23rd. But I LUCKED OUT! Our school is currently under construction and because of some recent renovations that were needed because of all the flooding, our school is not starting until Thursday August 26th. Everyone else in Flagstaff will go back on monday but we get three more days of summer!! And even better, we don't have to make up the days!!! I'm waiting for the excitement of going back to school but it's not comin'. I guess I already have senioritis (which I was probably diagnosed with last year). I am really happy about my schedule though and I hope that I end up liking all my classes.

Summer flew by so fast! I can barely believe it. Trenton has been playing soccer this summer and I've been lucky enough to go to a couple of his games. He is so fast! He's my favorite soccer player and I love watching him play. He is so good that we put him in club soccer! I think he will do it all the way through high school. Natalie and I cheer for him at his games even though my mom says it's "a little obnoxious". So we decided to have Zane cheer instead! We recorded him doing this because I thought it was the cutest thing ever. For some reason the video quality got messed up, but at least you can see him at the end and the audio is alright!

SO happy I didn't start school today.. Keep her in your prayers

Usually at about this time I am SO excited for school to start. This year, I should be even more excited for school to start because it's my last year! However, I'm really not.. I'm not ready for the stress and sleep deprivation!!! I did get my schedule on Monday though and I'm pretty satisfied with it.

1 College Prep Math (with my favorite math teacher at Flag High, Mr. Duran)
2 Teacher aide (with my coach!)
3 Seminary (YAY not early morning!!)
4a Lunch
4b AP English Lit (with COYNE! WOO HOO)
5 Graphic Design (which will teach me photo shop and all that jazz)
6 American Government/Economics (my specialty!)

I think I will enjoy my schedule and hopefully all the changes that are being made this year won't effect me too much. I don't know why I'm not excited.. Probably just because I LOVE summer.

I have been following updates with my cousin Emmie. She was starting to seem much better, but sometimes Heavenly Father answers our prayers differently.

Although I have never been able to talk to Emmie, she has such a sweet spirit. I'm not really sure how to put it into words but when I see her, my heart "smiles". Please pray for this eight year old little girl and for the comfort of her family in this hard time. I can only hope and pray that she will recover, but I know that no matter what He has a plan for Emmie.

pray for Emmie

So.. I wanted to be updating my blog everyday, but that isn't working out so well. I am trying though! Maybe, I should set a smaller goal... Like twice a week! Today is Sunday, and it was a LONG day! We went to sacrament meeting and it was really awesome today. We heard from the new converts in our ward. Some were funny and some were emotional. But one thing I took home with me today was this...

"God will never give you more than you can handle"

I really like this quote, because the more you think about it, the more you realize how true it is. Sometimes, it feels like the whole world is crashing down. I know that I will go through a lot of hard times in my life, because everyone does, but I know that no matter how big the burden is, I can handle it.

After sacrament meeting, we made a trip down to Phoenix. I have a sweet little cousin named Emmie and she is in the intensive care unit. She is only eight years old (and I'm about 99% sure she's taller than I am). We have kept her in our prayers and have fasted for her. Hopefully, Heavenly Father has plans for her to stay here with us. We love her so much!

Oh how the years go by

I seriously have NO idea what to blog about! I've been waiting for some kind of revelation

to let me know what I should write about, but haven't received anything.

I can't believe I only have a few weeks left of summer :( I am excited for senior year

but I LOVE summer. It's free from stress and I get all the sleep I need.

Next week we have registration, where I'll get

my schedule and my parking permit for my senior spot.

I can't believe how fast high school has gone by!! I found some old pictures of my freshman year and it's amazing how much I have changed.

This is Natalie and I in New York. This was the summer before I entered high school

This is us now, in Laguna Beach, the summer before my senior year

This is my stunt group (without our backspot)- Ashlee, Emily, and I. We had a sleepover at my house and decided to make Trenton stunt with us.

This was us after competition this year. We placed 2nd as a team and top ten in all-girl stunting. Trenton is "too cool" to stunt with us now, but at least we've got Zane.

I can't believe I only have one year left!! "Gotta grab each moment that I can, cause I'm never gonna feel like this again."

I love my family!

During the week, my family is SO busy. We each have something to do almost everyday, and so I don't get to see much of them. I am blessed to be able to spend every Sunday with my family. As I get older, I've really begun to appreciate spending time with them. We always have fun whether we're playing a game, watching a movie, or even just talking with each other.

Last night, my friends and I attempted to go "ghost hunting" at a haunted house on the east side of town. Dylan and I had some time to spare previous to this so we sat and talked for an hour or so. He made a comment that really made me realize how lucky I am, explaining that he admires how close my family is. I am so grateful that if there is anything I know as a fact when I wake up every morning, it's that I will always have my family. Some find happiness from money and materialistic things, but those things will not always be there for you. At the end of the day, all you've got is your family.

I decided I would post about my family because they are some of the most important people in the world to me! Each one of them is unique and a piece of the puzzle. Without one, we would be incomplete. I want to talk about each one of them and why they are so important to me.

My mom and dad- the keystone of our family.

My dad: Brian is the best dad I could have ever dreamed of having. Although he is not my biological father, I consider him my dad because he does so much for me. He watches scary movies with me and I love spending time with him. He's so funny and exciting. He loves to read and play computer games. I admire his open heart to everyone. He never judges people or says negative things about others. He takes great care of me and I wouldn't be the same without him. I'm so glad he married my mom. Having him as a dad is an amazing blessing.

My mom: My mom is one of my BEST friends and I find this to be true as I get older. She does SO much for me. I am a forgetful person and find myself leaving things at home constantly when I go to school. She is such an amazing person because whenever I forget something I text her and 95% of the time she drives 15 miles into town to bring it to me. She has made me who I am today. I can't imagine my life without her. I know that years from now I'll probably be calling her everyday to ask for her advice or help. She is my hero and I hope to be just like her someday.

Natalie: Nat is my only full sibling. When she was born, I wanted to name her Pocahontas. Some people say we look EXACTLY the same. We certainly have a lot in common. Nat is one of my best friends. It's the greatest thing in the world to have a best friend whose room is right next to your own. She makes me laugh all the time and I love hanging out with her. She might be taller than I am now, but she'll always be my little sister.

Trenton: Trent is such a sweet little guy. He has grown up so fast. He is at the age where giving your big sister hugs isn't cool anymore. He is very smart too. I LOVE that when I come home from school during the year late at night from all of my extracurricular activities, Trent will run into my arms and tell me loves me and missed me (only when his friends aren't around of course). One day, and one day soon most likely, he's going to be taller and stronger than I am. He's growing up so fast and I wish time would just slow down. I tell him as often as I can that I love him so he doesn't forget it!!

Zane: Zane is the cutest little 5 year old you'll ever see. He is very sensitive with his feelings. Sometimes he says the cutest things and I will say, "Zane will you marry me?!" and he always says, "it's illegal!!". Once I kissed him on the cheek as I was walking out the door and he gasped and said, "I just kissed a girl for the first time!" He has a perfect little smile and he wants to be just like Trenton. I love his laugh and his sweet cuddly personality. I love Zane with all my heart.

Claire: Lala is my baby girl. She has the sweetest laugh and I love her personality. She can be quite the diva but she's a very loving little girl. When my mom first told us that she was pregnant with Claire, I really didn't think she and I would ever be close because I am 15 years older than she is. Boy, was I wrong! She stole my heart! I love to watch her curious little self explore the world. She is learning to talk and hasn't quite learned how to pronounce things right yet. My mom says she's just like me because I couldn't pronounce the "D" sound except for in "D"ad. Everything was "hot gog" (hot dog) or "guck" (duck). Claire discovered the light switch a few weeks ago and every time she turns off the light she says "Gark!" It's the cutest thing ever. I love her so so much. I worry that when I leave for college, Claire will forget who I am and that she has another big sister. It's a big fear of mine, but I hope she doesn't forget me.

This is my family. My life.

"A happier family is but an earlier heaven"