Do Hard Things.

 

+Sometimes life isn't just sunshine & daisies.

+You have to do hard things.

+You have to get up earlier than you want to get up.

+You have to give more than you get in return.

+You have to make the call you're afraid to make.

+You have to care more about others than they care about you.

+You have to invest yourself even though no one else is.

+You have to keep fighting, even when your already injured.

+You have to tell the truth, even when making up something is easier.

+You have to lead when no one else is following you yet.

+You have to stand up for your beliefs ; even though they aren't popular trends in the world.

+You have to run faster even when you're out of breath.

+You have to try & fail & try again.

+You have to be accountable for your actions, even when things go wrong.

+You have understand there is power in vulnerability.

+You have to meet deadlines that are unreasonable.

+You have to be kind to people who are cruel to you.

+You have to make mistakes & look like an idiot.

+You have to forgive ; even when they hurt you.

+You have to feel unsure & insecure ; when playing it safe seems smarter.

+You have to keep moving forward to where you want to be ; no matter what's in front of you.

 

 

 

You have to do hard things.

The things that no one else is doing.

Do the things that scare you.

The things that keep you wondering how much longer you are going to hold.

The things that challenge your heart & your mind.

Those are the things that build you, strengthen you, define you.

 

. . . d  o    h  a  r  d   t  h  i  n  g  s  . . .

  

 

You might be surprised at how amazing you really are.

 

 

 

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Bringing in the New Year ; better late than never

[Alexandria, VA]

Slowly but surely I am posting about our Christmas/New Years festivities which consisted of traveling back to the lovely state of Utah to be with Adam's family. Arriving on Christmas Eve night (one of the benefits of Adam working for the government...not) put us in just in time for the extravagant buffet of cheeses, dips, meatballs & sparkling cider that was prepared by my lovely mother & sister-in-laws. I loved seeing their excitement as they kept pulling out dish after dish & explaining the intricate ingredients used to make them. It sure felt & smelt like home.

 

Now that we are married & live so far away, it is difficult to now how to spilt our time off between both families. I wish I could just hold on to an object & suddenly be along the streets of Trabuco Canyon, CA...but unfortunately I am not Harry Potter...(whom I have currently been admiring by rereading the series/watching all the movies all of the days. Gosh I love them so much!) There were moments of downtime when I just sat & reflected upon how much I truly love each one of my siblings & parents. & how grateful I am for their love, support & understanding. I thought about their courage, strength & grit in raising their little ones. I admire & look up to their commitment to one another after these past few years, which have really rattled our worlds.

 

It stirred my thoughts of my New Years resolutions & how I could better myself this year in order to become like them. Man I didn't realize how many ideas came to mind. 2013 has been a year of just pure growth - marriage, graduated BYU, moved to DC - that I thought about how much more growth there is to come.

 

 

In 2014 I want to

...

1. go somewhere I have never been before

2. read at least 1 book a month

3. learn how to sew

4. be more passionate

5. cut my hair short &/or dye it another color

6. push myself with my camera

7. go sailing on the Potomac

8. smile more

9. cut out the negativity

10. make friends/be a better one

 11. encourage myself that I can do it

12. ride a horse again

13. make my phone an accessory ; not a priority

14. pray for my children

15. grow closer to Adam & the Lord

 

 

 

Growth demands a temporary

s u r r e n d e r

of  security 

.

 

 

 

 

 

NYC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[New York, NY]

Oh me oh my was last weekend a dream!? I feel like it never happened, honestly. It was so magical being there during the Christmas season. I am kicking myself I forgot my Canon so these iPhone photos will have to do. Personally, I am kind of grateful I forgot it because I really wanted to just be there - with Adam & the Andersons -

rather than be snapping pictures every moment. Sometimes I get too caught up in distractions around me that I forget to enjoy what's right there beside me. I forget about the one who continues to hold my hand & look into my eyes as we step into the unknown. It is scary to think where we will be, what we will do with our lives but that fear escapes as I realize that we get to do it together. Travel, move from place to place, have kids, learn how to become parents, go through hardships, grow old, spoil our grandchildren, travel some more & one day leave this earth.

All of that we get to experience together.

 How scary can that be? Knowing that I always have him to lean on.

I hope that we never forget who we have.

Whether that be our siblings, parents, children, animals, spouses, or the Savior,

we are never alone.

 

"There is not one of us but what God's love has been expended upon. There is not one of us that He has not cared for & caressed. There is not one of us that He has not desired to save, and that He has not devised means to save. There is not one of us that He has not given angels charge concerning. We may be insignificant & contemptible in our own eyes, & in the eyes of others, but the truth remains that we are the children of God, & that He has actually given His angels - invisible beings of power & might - charge concerning us & they watch over us & have us in their keeping."

President George Q. Cannon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

we are all the same

 

[Alexandria, VA]

 Somedays we feel like we need to write. It doesn't matter what exactly one chooses to write about,

 but that point of the matter is what everyone has something they need to say. 

I believe that the most therapeutic exercise is writing because it allows you to listen to yourself.

 It feeds my Spirit to hear truths that I have confidence in.

I also believe the brain is the most powerful muscle of the human body. In one second, we have the power to fall as prey to the delusion that everyone's life is happier, more productive & more popular than ours because of that detrimental "like" button.

 We live in a world in which social media is constantly bombarding our minds via facebook, instagram, twitter, blogs, snapchat, & pinterest -- which distort our views of reality. Every single day, we are faced with words, photographs, pieces of peoples lives that are illusions which have the effectiveness to change our self confidence & self worth. The consumption of media into our minds create ideas of comparison, jealousy, envy, & resentment that do not need to be there.

This inundation of perfection unconsciously blinds us with negative emotions.

But the truth is that everyone is out there struggling, battling, carrying the same doubts, confusion and loneliness you & I do. Everyone is simply trying to figure out how to control, understand & change in order to create a peace of mind & of heart.

So why do we let ourselves become the victim of this? Why do we let negativity bring us down so

 much that we no longer feel good about ourselves & the world we live in?

Minds have the power to choose if they want those ideas to linger or to get out.

 Minds have the ability to create, inspire & strengthen others; but also have the weakness to tear you apart, spit on you, & make you believe you are alone. 

The truth is we are all seeing the world through a different perspective but ultimately having the same experiences. Maybe next time when you feel those thoughts creep into your mind, you will have the strength, the power to catch yourself & remember that we are all the

same.

 

 

 

 

we either make ourselves

m is e r a bl e

or we make ourselves

s tr o n g 

. . .

the amount of work is the

s a m e

.

 

 

 

PS. this photo was taking in Paris, France

circa 2011

Hello December

 

 

 

 

 

[Alexandria, VA]

Ok...so we are a little excited about Christmas. But let's be honest, who ISN'T?! Lights, trees, christmas  music, food, gifts, family, fireplaces, reindeer, hot cocoa, fireplaces, books, snow, every possible Christmas movie (favs: Grinch, Elf, Christmas vacation, home alone, polar express...), decorations, pie, shopping, Christmas cards, holiday cheer, the list could seriously go on & on...but you get the point.

Our sweet little baby tree was born on December 1st, 2013. She has beautiful lights, loves water/sprite, smells good & is still in process of becoming a women. Every chance we get, we turn on She & Him Christmas Pandora station (yes Pandora is so yesterday but it works for us). I am so tempted to listen to it during work because I feel like I can never get enough & December goes by waaay to quickly. Tomorrow night we are excited to go see the Christmas Carol at the Ford's Theater for date night & this weekend we are heading to NY with the Anderson's to do some more Christmas festivities! It really is neat celebrating the holidays as a married couple. I feel like there is so much more energy & gratitude in me because I get to enjoy it with someone I love. Not that I don't love my family, it is just different. There is an ounce of understanding of how someone could love another human so so much & want to give their life for them. It helps me to see how much our Savior loves everyone of his children. This season is a time to celebrate His birth & the joy He brought to the world. Without Him, I am nothing. I hope we all can embrace the true meaning of Christmas & soak all of it in.

 

because Christ walked such a long,

lonely path

u t t e r l y   a l o n e

we do not have to . . .

 

Jeffrey R. Holland

 

 

 

 

 

November Update

 

[Washington, DC]

1. I know what i want to be when i grow up: a horse trainer. I have always known this but for some reason I cannot stop thinking about the day when i get to ride again. Maybe it's because i'm trying to figure out what i am going to do with my life. It seems like a decade ago when i spent hours upon hours riding/taking care of Siena & how i closed that door & am unsure when it will open again. When Adam asks me about what i am passionate about--i think about horses because they were/are apart of me. Siena taught me how to love & how to work hard. I will forever hold those memories close to my heart.

2. I know the type of car i want to hall all my children in: a VW bus. I drive by this car every single day on my way to work & i seriously stop & stare for a few moments. I had to jump out of the car the other day to snap a photo. Isn't it just perfect?!

3. I know what my weakness is: BOOTS! I am obsessed with boots, scarves, gloves, beanies, & basically anything warm. I saw these ones in particular at Nordstrom & of course i tried them on & fell in love but thought i would just ask for them for Christmas, which is right around the corner!! (cannot wait to get our own tree) Anyways...with that thought in mind, i walked away & was surprised a few days later by my wonderful husband who brought them home after i had a rough day...(thank heavens for husbands)!! I love mine oh so very much.

4. I know what excites me: off-roading in a jeep with our favorite friends Mike & Jenna Anderson & Lauren & Jack Gerard. We spent such an incredible weekend at the cabin a few weekends ago but i blogged about that earlier so go check it out. 

5. I know what gives me joy: running on George Washington Parkway soaking in the crisp air & beauty all around me. I think i ran about 5 miles because it was too enjoyable to stop! While Adam was out golfing, i was out having some "me" time because every needs a little bit of it in their life. & this is one of my favorite ways to spend it.

6. I know that i love DC: because that means people come to visit! My parent's best friends Jerry & SueEllen Hall came out for work & we got to spend a day with them being tour guides around Capitol Hill. I can assure you that these people are whom i aspire to be because they are so in-tune with one another. We love sharing the city we love with people we love. 

(come visit hint hint)

7. I know how to party: Macklemore concert. I can't remember the last time i laughed so hard. His attitude, his lyrics, his style, his dancing, his whole facade is hilarious to me. Even though there are ideas of his that i do not necessary agree with, i thoroughly enjoyed a spontaneous (2 hours before) decision to see him live. Adam & i know how to have a good time. I think we also wanted to go because our dear friends Caitlin & Jeff Howell & Bree & Kevin Ahlstrom were there as well. It was so entertaining. 

8. I know how much i love my family: the Kennedy family! I am so grateful that we got the chance to spend a couple nights with my cousins who i never get to see. I have learned a few things from them: Eric hates america, i drive a lesbian wagon (outback Subaru), & some beautiful parenting advice..."enjoy the time together without kids because they stick with you forever, pop 'em out quickly, a part of you is inside each & every one of them, they are all different & our responsibility is to help them find their way back home". Man I can't wait to be a momma some day.

I love November.

Off Roading

[Deep Creek Lake, MD]

Basically, these pictures sum it up -- we are hardcore. Even though most of the trails were shut down, we found ways to climb over rocks, spray a little water, & happily enjoy the ride. To be completely honest, I was more into it than I thought I would be. Usually I freak out if my body is leaning half way down a mountain & all I can think about is the car flipping twenty times down it but Mike & Jenna's new Rubicon is now my new favorite toy! I forgot how adventurous I am. I've been bungee jumping in the Swiss Alps & sky diving a few times so I really had no excuse to be a baby. This trip also consisted of football, delicious pumpkin pancakes, pajamas, sleep (lots of it), reading, playing in the leaves & apple cider. I am in love with November because of all those things. Being born & raised in California prevented me from experiencing seasons - especially the distinct changes in nature. I never really knew what it was like to see the leaves change colors or for it to snow (until I moved to Utah & here). Maybe I was young & nieve but I never realized how all the various shades of orange, yellow, red, purple & green create an aurora of color & beauty that cannot been explained. It is a feeling that must be experienced & I sure am one lucky girl to be experiencing it. 

Look 

around you 

& 

R E A L I Z E 

how blessed 

you are.