Conference! Day #3

Let me just say along with everyone else that Conference was AMAZING this year! This was probably the first time in forever that I was able to watch all four sessions. It definitely wasn't easy considering I had to watch them on my own on my laptop online. Not complaining though. I am incredibly blessed to have the ability to watch conference in my native language at my leisure.

This was a very good year for me. There were countless talks that I felt were for my benefit. So much of what the authorities were saying directly correlated to what I've been struggling with personally this last year or so.

I think my favorite sessions were on Sunday but so many of the talks had a direct impact. I especially loved Elder Holland's talk. He is by far my favorite apostle. I just love the way he directs the people of the church in such a loving and careful way. Even when you're feeling rebuked you feel his love for you. :)

Some other themes I noticed were:
-Temple Marriages
-Being examples
-withstanding trials in your life and their importance
-Repentance and the atonement
-Tithing
-Receiving Revelation
-The impact of the music the choir sang
-Charity and the Welfare Program
-Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy
-and Family

And of course everybody was talking about this:


So funny.

Well I hope everybody had a great weekend. :) Feel free to weigh in on your personal highlights of conference down here VVV

April Challenge Day #2

Yay! I made it to day 2! Just 28 more posts to go. :) I can't wait, I hope you're ready!!!

For my first real post, I won't go too far back, just 2 weeks when I celebrated my amazing BIRTHDAY! That's right world, I am now 20 Years Old!!! And boy was I spoiled!!!!

I celebrated with my family during spring break while I was home. My mom and I went to the local beauty school for facials, pedicures, and a blowout. It was lots of fun and super cheap. We'll definitely be going back. The facials alone were awesome!

Unfortunately I don't have a whole lot of pics from most of the events.

That night I got to open my presents!



Cute Shoes!!!

Second Gift....



A gift certificate to this place....


That's right! I went SKYDIVING!!!!

Oh yeah, and I got to go with my Daddy!!!!! :D

Signing our lives away....


suiting up...


ready to go!!!!



with our awesome instructors!


on our way...


MADE IT!!!



And this was just the first half of my birthday!

My amazing boyfriend Mason, took me here for my Real Birthday!



SOOO spoiled right?? :D

I didn't take many pictures while we were there though :/ Bummer...

We had a blast though. It was Spring Break in Cali so the place was packed, but we managed to hit up most of the good ones. Goliath, X2 (my fave!), Apocalypse, and some of the milder ones like Revolution and Jet Stream. So much fun!!!

All in all, I think I had an AH-MAZING 20th birthday! I feel so spoiled and loved :)

The only bummer is the depression that hits the day after all the festivities are over. :( 12 months till I'm 21 I guess... haha

Recap!

Hey guys, sorry it's been almost three months. I love how I said I was going to start blogging weekly. haha Well I am determined to join the blogging movement and blog every.single.day.in.April. Yes, you read me right, EVERDAY! Yeah. I can do it, just you wait. Hopefully I don't run out of topics to keep you all entertained with haha. But you will be hearing a lot. So prepare my dears, for a Keara-overload!!!! muahahahah

Dear Girlfriend,

I miss you. I miss my best girlfriend. The one who used to make wedding scrapbooks with me, the girl who shared my shoe addiction, the excellent cook, my Vegas buddy.

I miss my favorite person.

But I'm also mad at you, and heartbroken. Mad that you didn't stand up for me and heartbroken that I wasn't the worth the risk. Mad that you let them treat me that way, and heartbroken that you wouldn't help me.

I thought I was worth it to you, but I guess I was wrong. It still hurts that you didn't have the guts, that you were too afraid of what they would think, that I was too much of a risk.

I miss how it used to be.

I hope you miss it, what we used to have. I thought our friendship meant something to you. It did to me.

I would have stood up for you. I wouldn't let anybody treat you like that, no matte what. But I guess that's just me.

So now I guess I just hope you're happy with your choice, happy with them, because I wasn't worth it.

You shatter my heart love. I just hope it was worth it...

Sincerely,
Girl with the Sunshine Smile

Tender Mercies

So just let me say that the last 4-6 months have been some of my hardest so far. I feel like I've been to hell and back almost. I seem to have lost all my friends and almost lost myself in the process. I've felt my fair share of fiery darts this last semester. The adversary was working overtime with me.

But through all of this I found a little comfort. :) My ward split a few years back and I was really sad to see all my friends and favorite leaders put into the other ward, but even with that I got the best deal. My new bishop turned out to be one of the best things that happened to me. Bishop Peterson has been a second father to me almost.

Even though I've been gone almost 2 years, he still takes the time to talk to me every time I come home and check up on me. I can feel the love of my Savior through him every time we speak.I love this man so much. He always helps me understand whatever trials I happen to go through and gives me the most insightful advice without me even asking.

Like I said, it's been really tough lately, but he just made me feel so loved. He told me to just what I needed to hear.

"You've been hit with some fiery darts lately. A lot of them. But now's the time to stand strong, to get in that defensive position. But don't lose that Keara we all know and love, the Keara that always smiles and radiates confidence and beauty. Don't lose her through your trials. Pray to your Father in Heaven, don't crunch numbers, just pray to be put into the situations you need to be in and things will work out. Next time I see you I want you to be a 12. Don't stop smiling girl" :)

I really love this man. I can't wait till I get to come to him with a huge smile and a boy on my arm that I want to spend the rest of eternity with and he loves him almost as much as I do. :)

Hello Twenty Eleven!

So it's that time of year again,

time for fire works, after Christmas sales, and....

NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS

*muah ha ha ha*

I know it's technically the second, but I was working today, so this will have to do.

Everybody always makes resolutions and forgets about them before Valentine's day, but I am determined. Not only am I making a list, but I'm also making a plan of action to begin implementing them into habits.

I decided on 11 in honor of 2010 so....

1. Journal/blog at least once a week.
-blogging could be considered journaling, so I resolve to post at least once a week, whether it be a full blown post or just a pic. I will post something every week. (so stay tuned)

2. Be more health conscious.
-this always makes the top ten of the resolution list, but everybody can always aim to be a little more healthy, so I resolve to do a few things:
-cut soda down to once a week or less
-eat at least one serving of fruits AND veggies EVERY day
-start exercising more by staying active every day and going to the gym at least once a week, stretch every day

3. Be less self centered and selfish
-put somebody before myself at least once a day

4. Be more positive
-make a conscious effort to smile
-always look on the bright side of everything
-work to make others happy

5.Build my relationship with Heavenly Father
-read scriptures every night
-say morning and evening prayers EVERY night!

6. Get more organized with my time and stuff

7. Widen my literary perspectives
-read more books of varying genres

8. Get more involved in church and school
-attend activities whenever possible
-volunteer for more responsibilities

9. Meet more people
-get more involved
-be more social
-don't be afraid to introduce myself

10. Continue to develop and discover my talents

11. Make 2011 another memorable year


Well I guess that's it for now, but I'll see you in a week!

Catch Up....

Sorry guys, it's been almost four months, I can't believe it. I'm so sorry for being so lax on posts, although I doubt anybody reads this, so I don't think it was missed too much.

Well a lot has happened in the last 4 months. I finished up my summer job as a CA. Goodness it was so fun! I met a bunch of fun new people and had a blast working. Since then school started in August, I moved into my first apartment with three other girls. That has proven to be an adventure all on its own. But I'll get into the details at a later date. Until then I'll just say that things were not as I hoped they'd be.

School has been a lot of fun. I'm still studying psychology and photography and they're keeping me busy. I love my new best friend, my Cannon Rebel T1i.



I just love it! It's been really fun learning about all the technical aspects of photography. Until now I've just been pointing and shooting. Now it's finally all starting to make sense. :) I'm praying that everything will all come together in the end and I will actually end up being a decent photographer. So if any of you want family pictures done, or holiday cards, let me know because I need the practice.

Life has been pretty busy for me. On another note, Mason and I spent a lot of time together over the summer and since I moved back to Flagstaff, and we've decided to get back together. I still really love him, and had no desire to date anybody else, so we're dating again. It's been kind of challenging because of the distance. He's still living in the valley, working and saving for his mission at the end of the year, and I'm three hours away going to school in Flagstaff. I swore that I would never wait on a missionary, but I don't see how I couldn't. I'm just so head over heels for this boy. So don't be surprised if some of you get wedding invites in a few years ;)

I suppose this is it, I have to get up early for psych tomorrow. More updates soon... <3