Just a Few Pictures. More To Come

I haven't posted pictures in forever... So that's my focus for the next few days!

Well.. this is one of my best friends. His name is Jaden Ralphs, and he is basically a stud. He sings, plays soccer, and our parents are basically best friends. We've known each other for years, and our parents have known each other since before we were born. We are about 6 days apart in age. We went out a few weekends ago on a date. SO FUN. We made breakfast, went ice skating, and got ice cream. I don't know where I would be without this kid. Even when we haven't seen each other for weeks, he still calls just to check in with me. He's the best!

Keller chose this filter..so don't judge my crazy eyes. This is my 7 year old little brother. And no.. he's not really my brother. But I've known him since before he was born, and I baby sit him all the time. I think I count as a big sister. He speaks Chinese. He's pretty dang cool and he will be a heartbreaker in high school.

We went to St. George over Spring Break. Emily, Jaycee, Maggie, and I. On Tuesday morning, we went and did baptisms in the St. George temple. One of the coolest experiences! I absolutely loved it! Waking up at the crack of dawn to go was so worth it!

We drove through Arizona and Nevada just for fun.. Bear Paw for breakfast. Red Robin for dinner. Temple trip. Meeting friends on the freeway. We did EVERYTHING you could do in St. George. It was honestly one of the best spring breaks I've ever had. I love my friends. We all needed a weekend like this to just unwind. I couldn't have asked for a better senior spring break!

O4L

Outlaws for Life

I love my soccer sisters. Britt and Syd have signed to go and play in Nebraska. I'm so jealous. I would give anything to still be playing. I am so so proud of them, though! I love my sisters. We've been through way to much to ever leave each other. I'm grateful to have grown up with these girls.

(Syd, Kates, Britt, Me)

If you know Em and I, you know we are totally content with sitting in sweats, with our hair pulled up, no make up on, on a Saturday night. Sometimes we like to get ready, though! Ladies night while the boys were all at priesthood session. Grateful for my best friend. Not gonna lie, we are adorable. So boys... we are single. *hint hint*

Flashback to when my cousin and soccer girls were on TV for the USWNT soccer practice last summer. Meeting Abby Wambach, Megan Rapinoe, Heather O'Reily, and all of the team was one of the best days of my life. Honestly . I love the USWNT so much, it's ridiculous.

Missionary Poem

A friend of mine shared this today in seminary. You can find the original here!

The alarm rings at 6:30; I stumble to my feet

I grab my companion's bedding and pull off his sheet.

A groan fills the room; is it already time to rise?

It seems like just a second ago I was able to shut my eyes.

The morning activities follow...study, prayer, and such.

When it's time to leave the apartment, you feel you haven't accomplished much.

"We have a super day planned," my comp. says with a grin.

I lowly utter a faithless breath, "Yea, if anyone lets us in."

With the word of God and my faithful Schwinn, we ride off in the street

Prepared to face another day of humidity and heat.

It's 9:30 in the evening, the day almost through;

My companion and I are riding home, not accomplishing what we thought to do.

We ride up to the mailbox, hoping to receive a lot.

Only to look inside and hear my echo reverberate, "air box"..

We go up into our apartment, the day is now complete,

The only thing to show for our work is a case of blistered feet.

It's past 10:30pm, my companion's fast asleep

Silence engulfs me all about and I begin to weep.

In the midst of all the sadness I kneel down to pray;

I need to talk to Father, but I'm not sure what to say.

"Oh Father," I begin, "What happened to us today?

I thought we'd teach somebody, but everyone was away.

My hands, my aching hands--worn, hurt and beat;

If only our area was any smaller, we'd knock down every street."

"Why on missions are the days so much alike?

The only difference about today was the flat tire on my bike.

Will you send me some cooler weather? The heat is killing me.

I sweat so bad, it gets in my eyes, it's very hard to see."

"Why do I have to wear a helmet, isn't your protection enough?

People always laugh at me and call me stupid stuff.

Please send us investigators so I may give them what they lack;

I want to give them Books of Mormon, the weight of them hurts my back."

"And what about my family? They don't have much to say,

I'm sick of not hearing from home, day after day after day.

Oh Father, why am I here, am I just wasting time?

Sometimes I just want to go home, I'm sorry but that's on my mind."

"My companion, Heavenly Father, what are you giving me?

The way he rides his bike, I don't think he can see

Now you have it, I can't go on, I don't know what to do;

That, my Father in Heaven, is the prayer I have for you."

My prayer now finished I stand up, then jump into bed.

I need my rest for tomorrow; we have another long day ahead.

Sleep starts to overtake me, I seem to drift away,

Then it seems a vision takes me to another time and another day.

I'm standing alone on the hill, the view is very nice;

A man walks toward me and says, "My name is Jesus Christ."

Tears of joy well up inside, I fall down to his feet,

"Arise," he states, "Follow me to the shade--you and I need to speak."

My attention's toward the Savior, total and complete. He says,

"Your mission is similar of what happened to me

I understand how you feel, I know what you're going through;

In fact, it would be fair to say I've felt the same as you."

"I even know how you felt when no one listened to you.

At times I felt not quite sure what else I could do.

I know you don't like to ride a bicycle, for you a car would be sweet;

"I understand you don't like sweating, in fact it's something you hate;

I remember when I sweat blood from every pore, oh the agony was great!

I see you don't like your companion--you'd rather have someone else--

I once had a companion named Judas who sold my life for wealth."

"It's hard to wear a helmet and have people make fun of you.

I remember when they put thorns on my head and called me King of the Jews.

So you feel burdened down by the weight of your pack.

I recall how heavy the cross was when they slammed it on my back."

"Your hands hurt from tracting and knocking on doors all day.

I guess when they pounded nails in mine, they ached in a similar way.

It's hard not to hear from home when your family's not there to see;

I lost communication on the cross and cried, "Father, why hast thou forsaken me?"

We have a lot in common, but there's a difference between us you see,

I endured to the end and finished my mission, so follow and do like me."

He embraced me with his arms, His light filled me with His love,

With tears in my eyes, I watched as He went back to the Father above.

I stood in awe and wonder when a beep rang in my head,

I listened and heard the alarm, then realized I was in my bed.

My companion let out a groan, "6:30 already, no way!"

I sat up and said, "Come on, I'll even carry your scriptures today!"

No matter what we go through, when we feel we can't take more,

Just stop to think about Jesus Christ, He's been there before.

I Hope They Call Me On A Mission... Plus Some Other Ramblings

I was rereading my patriarchal blessing the other day, and it hit me. I have to serve a mission. It was written so clearly that I was shocked I hadn't noticed it before. As April approaches, so does the realization that I can start my mission papers. Granted, I won't be able to actually leave for quite a few months, but the fact that the process gets to start is so exciting!

All of my friends are getting their calls. Landon and Parker Greenhalgh have been called to serve in Taiwan. Landon: Taichung, leaving July 10. Parker: Taipei, leaving June 26. Zach Lamb was just called to serve in Honduras, San Pedro Sula mission. He leaves June 26, too. I am so unbelievably proud of these boys. They are serious examples in my life. It's going to be hard to say goodbye, but I know that what they are doing is the most important thing right now. I hope and hope and hope they will all be here when I get my call.

Bryson Westbroek had his mission farewell yesterday. He's leaving in April to serve in the West Indies. That kid.. He is a freaking stud. He's going to kick some serious butt down there. Kaelton Heil and Braiden Simmons are getting their calls this week (hopefully). I'm so nervous for the both of them! They both need to get out there and start serving. It will be so good for them to finally be out of here. Jeff's papers are almost submitted. Just waiting on his bishop. Excuse me while I go cry my eyes out.

Between all of these farewells and mission openings, I feel like that is all anyone is focused on anymore! School? Forget about it! This term has been kicking my butt. I need 4th term to start so I can have clear grades and just finish! 81 days. 81 days and I will be graduated from high school. No one understands just how excited I am. High school is Hell, and if someone tells you otherwise, don't trust them. They are obviously a liar or mentally ill. Seriously, though.

My BFF is out of town for the next few days. And let me tell you, IT SUCKS. I have been so bored. This just goes to show that we spend way to much time together. It's fine though; her brother texted me last night saying we need to go out on a sibling date since he feels deserted as well without her. I love the George family. They never fail to make me feel like part of the family.

Senior year. I think we've finally all hit that wall where we don't care what's happened in the last few years. All that matters is that we are going crazy and having fun. Honestly, I don't care anymore about a fight that happened sophomore year when someone said something bad about someone else. It doesn't freaking matter. I've worked things out with some friends, and with others, we've just forgotten about it completely. I love it. I can call anyone on a Saturday night and just hang out. We have proven this to be true. This last Saturday, I was with Mags, Jaycee, Jordan Cobabe, Braiden Simmons, Brennan O'Neil, and Hayden Jardine. Most random group of people? You better believe it. But it was honestly one of the most fun nights I've had in awhile. And we did nothing big. We played basketball (our own version) and watched a movie. But I loved every second of it.

Let me just vent for a second here. Honestly... am I defective? Or mentally not all there? Someone please tell me. Because there must be something totally wrong with me. All these couples walking around school tend to make a girl jealous. But the part that really gets me... some of these people are SUPER WEIRD. Now I'm not judging, if you're happy with someone, be with them. Good for you. That is great. Just don't let me see you making out in the middle of the hallway. That's super nast' and ain't nobody got time fo dat. But seriously. I look at my cute friends and myself and wonder how we are single. I'm pretty sure we are super awesome and everyone should love us. I might be bias. Now don't get me wrong, I understand that I'm not the prettiest girl around town. But I don't think I'm completely hideous. I mean... sometimes my hair is really nice. Sometimes. It's just disheartening to walk around school and see all these happy lovey-dovey couples and people who are just 'in love' and realize that it's been over a year since your last REAL relationship. And I get it, it's all in God's timing. When I'm supposed to be with someone, I will be. I'm just sayin', it would be a lot of fun to actually date around. Not just spend your weekends watching movies with the same five people. Maybe that's just me though. SO. Dear Stripling Warrior that God is sending my way.. Try not to get lost. Because I'm already impatient.

I'm so grateful for my friends. They have been so great these last few weeks. We've been rebellious, crazy teenagers that we've needed to be. I'm grateful for the gospel in my life. I seriously would be so lost without it. I know that I've been blessed with a family that loves me, and friends that care. I'm grateful for the George's. I'd be going insane if it wasn't for them. They've totally taken me in as one of their own and I'm loving it. Senior year, you've been good to me. I am so excited for you to be done with though. Bring on the real world, my mission, and growing up. I'm ready for some new challenges.

Until next time,
LATER SKATERS
-Court

Big Sister

I finally got a letter from my 'big sister' Brianna.
In July, she left for the Knoxville, Tennessee Mission for The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Later-Day Saints.
She is about 5 years older than me, but she has always been one of my best friends. When I was little, she adopted me as another sister. I have always looked up to her for being so strong, and being herself. She has been there for me through anything. I don't have any older siblings, so she was truly my sister.
Coming home today for lunch, I saw a letter on the table addressed to me. I freaked out. It was from her! I opened it and was so excited. In the letter, she wrote about how she was thinking about me, and how I needed some help with things. Its crazy, because I was in the process of writing her a letter already.
She is such an example to me. She has gone through a lot in her life, yet she always made it through. I'm grateful for the decision she made to go on a mission. It gives me more drive to better myself in the gospel, and want to share it.
I miss my 'big sister' and I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father sent me her way. I needed her in my life, and she will always be one of my best friends.
I'm so proud of her, and can't wait to see her in about a year!

Inspiration

As I sit here, trying to come up with something to say, I'm at a loss. Normally, I would have something to write about, but at this moment, I have nothing. No words of advice, no fun exciting trips, nothing interesting.

I could write about friends. How I'm in the midst of mending things with some. Partying with my two best girlfriends. Saying goodbye to one of my best friends as she leaves for her mission.

I could say something about soccer. How I have had over 30 hours of it in the past week and a half. I could mention how Syracuse High Lady Titan Soccer Team took first in the annual Kofoed Tournament at Weber State. Maybe I could slip in that I'm going to California with the Outlaws for a huge tournament.

Some would write about their family. Mine was here for 15 days. I had fun. To many people in our house. It's good to be able to sit and relax in quietness.

But I'll just keep to myself. I'll look for something inspiring to write about. Who knows, maybe you'll see a new quote up on here soon.

Missionary work! ...by me!

I love knowing that I'm learning in Seminary. They teach you about missionary work. Today I was my own missionary. My mom wanted to talk, and I tied it all into a lesson about the adversary. It was amazing! I didn't think I knew that much, but it just started pouring out of me. Even though it was just a little chat, probably unsubstantial, it was a testimony-growing experience for me! Mmm, jumpin in some sweats, grabbing my scriptures and patriarchal blessing, reading a bit, then off to Braiden's to choose a tie! It's been a good night,

It isn’t as bad as we sometimes think it is, it all works out. Don’t worry; I say that to myself every morning, it all works out in the end. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. If we will put our trust in Him, if we pray to Him, if we will live worth of His blessings, He will hear our prayers. –Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley