I'm going to Ukraine!

So, I know I still have a whole lot to update you on. I don't think I even blogged about graduation yet... Oh well. Hopefully one day I will, but for now it is time for my new adventure. I am leaving for Ukraine in less than a month to teach English, and I am so excited. To read about/ follow my adventures in Ukraine and in Europe go to my new blog Southern Belle in Europe. Super original, I know. :) Just accept it and move on.

Although I am leaving my southern home behind once again, I am ready to travel to another part of the world. Living in Japan growing up sparked my love for travel, but then moving to Hawaii for school rekindled that love and gave me the push I needed to in order to travel the world.

So with that - here I go. Next stop, Ukraine.

Life

Growing up is tough. So many choices and decisions, trials and tears. It really is the good, the bad, and the ugly, except there is also the best days of my life.

After coming home from school, it has been a struggle. I had a blast in Utah with my best friend Nicole,  and then she left for her mission. Since then I have spent a lot of my time with my family (which I am loving), but I definitely have realized that since high school and moving to Hawaii, not a whole lot of my friends are actually still here in my home town. I have friends all over the country, and some even in other parts of the world, but friends still here are few in numbers. It is quite sad, but definitely makes me appreciative for the many friends that I have. 

Sometimes growing up is wonderful. :) I have been to so many wonderful places. I get to travel. I went to school in Hawaii. I graduated with an Associates, and just have two years left until I get my Bachelors. I have an AMAZING job with my sweet girls. :) I have so many things to look forward to in my life. Really, there is a lot to be grateful for. 

Today though, it is tough. I realized that my best friends are either on missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, married, or live anywhere but here. The struggle. I guess I can spend today figuring what I am going to do with my life. 

Southern Belle in Paradise

Reality Check

I only have two more days of classes (today, and Monday).
I have finals next week.
Graduation is ONE week from tomorrow!
I LEAVE HAWAII IN 10 DAYS!
I will be in UTAH with Nicole in 11 days!
I will be back in Sweet Home Alabama in 18 days. :)
Someone I miss will be home in 34 days!

How is that for a reality check? I guess I better focus focus focus and whip out this last paper, and ace these finals. I better start cleaning, and packing, and shipping, and selling. I better make sure to enjoy Hawaii! :)

But first... I better get ready for my 2nd to last day of class. :)

Oh my goodness how time flies.

Southern Belle in Paradise

Sometimes I think too much.

I don't know about you, but sometimes I really over think things. Big things. Little things. It really doesn't matter. I tend to over think it and then I end up stressing myself out. Sometimes it even gets so bad that I start to think only of the worst case scenario so that I won't get my hopes up and then that just makes me sad. I sure hope I am not the only one that does that to themselves. Sometimes I guess I feel like there is no way that what I want is going to happen, because I am not special enough to deserve something as awesome as that. But you know what? That is dumb. Thinking that there is no hope for happiness is dumb. That is all there is to it.

And do you want to know why you and I deserve to be happy? Because we are children of a loving Father in Heaven. He loves us and he wants so badly to bless us. :) Now if that is the case, which I assure you that it is, then why the heck do we always doubt ourselves? Why do we think that we don't deserve that awesome thing at the end of the long, and undoubtedly hard road? Well guess what. I have good news for you. :) You deserve it! You deserve to be happy. You deserve to have hopes and dreams. And most of all, you deserve to be loved (by friends, family, you name it)! :)

So, my dear friends, that is what I have learned. I have learned that it is so much better to be happy and to trust in my Father in Heaven and in his plan for me and my life (whether it be the little or big things), then it is to be sad and miserable all the time. No one likes to be sad, and if you think you do you are lying.

One of the greatest things about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that we believe that our Father in Heaven loves us, and wants us to be happy. When we have faith, and put our trust in him and allow him to guide us through the journey that is life, we are blessed. We also believe that Heavenly Father won't give us anything that we can't handle.

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them. 1 Nephi 3:7

No matter how hard and difficult life may seem sometimes, I know that if we do our part Heavenly Father, and his son, Jesus Christ, will make up the difference. 

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13

So there it is. It is as simple as that. (Well, not really simple... You get the point.) From here on out, I resolve to be happy. :) And not just happy to be content with life, but rather to be happy with the journey. 

"Sometimes in life we become so focused on the finish line that we fail to find joy in the journey." President Uchtdorf

No more sad, grumpy, negative Amanda here. Only a happy daughter of God. :)

Here's to being happy. :) 

And remember this

and this

Southern Belle in Paradise

i've been alive for TWO whole decades!

Incase you haven't noticed, I LOVE BIRTHDAYS!!!!! :) I have been looking forward to this day for 364 days!

That's a lie. But I do love my birthday and I have been looking forward to it since the beginning of the new year (aka 2 months ago).

I can't believe I am 20 years old! It is kindof a crazy thing to think about. Me. 20. Can I just say weird. I feel like I am still in High School. But I'm not. I am about to graduate from COLLEGE!!! Okay, so it's only my Associates. Either way though, it is kindof a BIG deal.

These next couple of months are going to be crazy. Midterms are almost over (I have two tests next week) and then I have big papers and little assignments, and finals, and then I am done. 6 weeks from tomorrow I will be walking across the stage, graduating with my Associates Degree. I feel like that is such a big accomplishment. It means I actually did something. I haven't just wasted my two years here. I don't know. It makes me feel good (whatever helps me sleep at night... Haha).

Some things I am looking forward to this year (of me being 20)
1. Graduating from BYU-H with my Associates Degree
2. Visiting Nicole in Utah before she leaves for her mission.
3. Going home for the summer.
4. Finding a big girl job.
5. Figuring out what life has in store for me.
6. Maybe having a big enough girl job to buy a used car
       (depending on what I decide to do with my life).

Now me graduating with my Associates does not mean I am done with school. I would definitely like to get my Bachelors Degree too, but for now I am not quite sure what the future holds. I'm not sure if I want to transfer to another University, or if I want to stay here in Hawaii. Maybe I might take a break from school and travel, nanny or teach English abroad. Maybe I might go work with Disney for a few months. Or perhaps teach at a pre-school near home. Maybe I will get a job as a nanny on the other side of the continental United States. Really, I have no idea. I am open to all possibilities. So, I guess we will have to wait and see.

Regardless of what happens in the future, I am thankful for today.
I am thankful for my mama and daddy that wanted me all those years ago.
I am thankful for my mama who had me, even though it may not have been her favorite birth.
I am thankful for my mama and daddy who loved and raised me.
I am thankful for my mama and daddy who continue to love and support me.
I am thankful for all of my sisters and my brother for making my life so awesome.
I am thankful for my wonderful friends.
I am thankful to be alive.
I am thankful for all of you.
I love birthdays, and I am thankful that I am still around to celebrate mine. :) And I hope to celebrate many many more.

Here's to two decades of life. :)
All the smiles, tears, love, heartbreak, friendship, and memories have been so worth it.

Southern Belle in Paradise

What is Normal Anyway?

Sweet M is home now, and as far as I know feeling much better. Thank you for all of the prayers. 

Now it is time for life to get back to normal, which means paper writing... And test taking (although I already took a test today - I got an 88%. I could have done better though). Paper writing is my least favorite part of school, and I just don't feel motivated to write anything. It's quite the dilemma... 

Hmmm. What else is there to talk about? Well, I can't think of anything, so I guess this post will just be extremely short. Hopefully when there is more to say I blog again. 

Southern Belle in Paradise

P.S. Did I mention how much I love the new background on my blog? Well I do. It makes me happy. 

Emotional Roller Coaster

Well, as I'm sure you can tell by the title, today has been just that. An emotional roller coaster.

At about 5 this morning (Hawaii time) I got a call from my older sister, R. She said she wanted to let me know what was going on, and preceded to tell me that my youngest sister, M, had just had a seizure and they were headed to the ER.

Seeing as I was half asleep, it only partially registered in my head. I remember getting off of the phone, sitting up, and saying a prayer. The first of many. I went back to sleep, and then got up to get ready for church, meanwhile hoping and praying that M was okay.

I went to church, and it was wonderful. I love my ward, and I always learn so much. The spirit is so strong during the meetings, and I love it. It was especially nice this morning. All throughout church I was thinking of M, and it just didn't seem real that my sister was in the hospital. I mean, life is supposed to go on hold when you move away, and now her I am across the ocean and no where near my sweet sister when I felt like she needed me the most.

After church I got the news that they were home, so we started to Skype (a weekly occurrence that I am so thankful for... especially with everything going on today). While we were Skyping, she seemed tired but other than that, alright. At some point her arm started shaking, or I guess a better word for it would be convulsing. It is so scary to watch someone you love have a seizure, knowing that there is absolutely nothing you can do for them. And then to add in the distance, it was a little overwhelming. By the second seizure I was starting to get worried, as they were progressively getting worse.

Because the computer was in front of her, I am pretty sure I was the main thing she was looking at. It was so hard to stay strong and not break down in tears. I hated seeing her like that. We would ask her questions and she couldn't remember the answers. Simple things like her favorite color, favorite animal, and what she did the day before. She couldn't grab onto anything, and she couldn't lift her arms. It was like her precious little body went limp. For those of you who have seen a seizure, I am sure you know what I mean. And if you haven't, I pray you never do, because it is one of the scariest things to see.

L, my little brother, was so sweet. He was holding her hand, and rubbing her head, and doing all he could to help her stay comfortable. I hope she could feel how much she is loved. Once my parents told M she had to go back to the hospital it just made it worse. She couldn't calm down, and she kept saying that she didn't want to go to the hospital. Eventually the seizure stopped, and my dad took her to the car, and then they were gone. There I was staring at the couch where she had just been. I couldn't fight the tears anymore. I just let them fall.

Once my parents and M were gone, the rest of my sisters and my brother just sat and cried. We said a prayer together, and then I let them go. I called my neighbor to make sure she was home, and before I could even make it out the door she was there holding me while I cried. I am so grateful for my sweet housemates, and for my sweet friends who where there at the moment when I needed them the most.

K (my neighbor) and I went up to her place and we watched Psych (Thank you S!) which was nice to help me feel a little bit better.

M is doing better right now, and is admitted to the hospital overnight. Tomorrow she will meet with a neurologist to see if they can figure out what is going on.

For right now, I am okay. It still doesn't feel completely real, more like a bad dream that I will wake up from any minute. I am grateful for prayers, and the power that they can bring, and I am grateful for my family.

We still don't have any answers, so for now we pray. We pray that everything will work out, that the doctors will be able to diagnose what is wrong. We pray for M, that she will continue to be strong, and the she will be alright. It's a lot to take in, but I know that our prayers are always answered, not necessarily in our way or in our timing, but rather in Gods, and I trust him.

Southern Belle in Paradise
wishing she could be home...

Inhale. Exhale. Repeat.

As you all know, it’s been a while since I have last blogged. I’d make an excuse, but really what it comes down to is I am just too lazy, and I feel like my life isn’t eventful enough to blog. Sad story I know. Somebody call me a wambulance... Can you tell I have been watching Modern Family? Such a great show.

Okay, back to business. It’s almost February. 2013!!! How on earth did that even happen? It’s insane.

Not a whole lot is going on with me in my life right now, just trying to figure out the future. As of right now I have a lot of thoughts, but I’m not quite sure what is right for me right now. I’ve always wanted to travel, so I have thought about nannying/volunteering/teaching abroad. That would be SO awesome. I have also thought a little bit about a mission (as of this point in my life, I don’t feel like this is right for me right now). I’ve thought about transferring schools. I’m sure you get the idea... Too many thoughts and not enough answers/direction. I am working on that, although sometimes I can get a little, okay a lot, impatient... I guess that is what happens when you have absolutely no idea what the future holds for you.

It is stressful. Very stressful, and overwhelming. Basically it is a lot to take in. As a result there have been many frustrated tears, and prayers, and confusion, and giving up, and patience, and trying again, and and and... If you haven’t noticed when times get stressful I shutdown. Something else I am working on.

I am actually taking a Stress Management class this semester. The most useful thing I have learned? Breathe. It’s that simple, but let me tell you this right now. It is one of the most relaxing things in the world. Who would have known? My motto: Inhale. Exhale. Repeat. (Feel free to borrow/steal it. It really does work.)

Next order of business, not that I ever really finished talking about being stressed, but we are over that now. Remember? We breathed.

So, this semester is quite different. I like it, but it has definitely taken some adjusting. Two of my best friends, the ones I was living with last semester, aren’t here. It’s just strange. I still have Kayla, and Kelly, and other friends, but it is weird not seeing them everyday. I am so proud of them though, and so excited for what the future holds for them. :)

Diana is currently in the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. She’s been there for about 2 weeks now, and in a couple more weeks she will be headed for Raleigh, North Carolina where she will serve for a total of 18 months. I already know she is a great missionary. :) And, I miss her like crazy.

Nicole just got called to the Philippines Tacloban Mission. She reports to the Provo MTC on April 24, and will be speaking Cebuano. :) SO exciting. She will also be a wonderful missionary. Right now Nicole is back home in Utah, so I haven’t seen her since before we went home in December. I’m hoping that I can convince my dad to make it so that I have a long layover in Utah when I come home in April, that way I can spend a week with Nicole before she leaves for her mission. :) I think it is a great idea, and I’ve thrown it out at my mama, but not yet to my daddy. (P.S. Daddy, if you are reading this I apologize for not having said anything to you yet. You are always out of the room every time I have mentioned it while skyping.)

Let’s see. So that covers life, friends and missions, next up is food allergies.

I went to an allergist over Christmas break, and had a skin prick test done to see if I was indeed allergic to anything, and it came back negative. Since then, I have occasionally eaten things with wheat/milk/soy/gluten/peanuts/and all those other fun things, and as long as it is in small quantities, my body seems to be handling it well, so that is fantastic! :) No epipen for me.

Oh. Did I mention that in April I am getting my Associate’s Degree? And in order for that to happen that I am taking 18 credits this semester? Yeah. Call me crazy, but since I don’t know what I am doing with my life, this is a nice security blanket. With my Associate’s I should be able to get a job in a preschool, so that is definitely a start. However, I for sure want to get my Bachelor’s in Elementary Education, so my Associate’s is just a start. It will also make it so I don’t have to worry about credits transferring and things like that in the event that I decide to transfer. Basically, it doesn’t negatively affect me, and (besides the 18 credits needed to make it possible) it didn’t require me to take any extra classes, just classes that I would need anyway. Those classes are:

1.     English 315 (required GE for my Bachelor’s)

2.     Teachings of the Living Prophets (my religion class this semester - I needed another religion credit for my Associate’s)

3.     Physical Science (required GE for my Associate’s)

4.     History 202 (required GE for my Bachelor’s)

5.     Stress Management (counted towards my Psychology Minor, and I want to say the last class I need for it)

6.     ASL 101 (this class is just because I wanted to take it, and I needed a total of 18 credits this semester).

The best part of these classes is that I don’t start until 11 or 12:10 every day. :) It is fantastic. I love being able to sleep in.

I want to say that that basically sums up my life right now. Crazy, stressful, and wonderful. I couldn’t ask for anything more. :)

Oh. :) I got an iPhone and a hammock for Christmas. Let me just say that they are basically the best presents ever. :) Thanks mama and daddy!

P.S. Anytime that I start to type ‘mama’, and, or ‘daddy’ I start to type ‘Amanda.’ Haha. I guess that is what happens when you are so used to writing your name. 

January 18, 2013

Hammocking with Kelly - January 21, 2013

January 21, 2013

Happy Friday! - January 25, 2013

Can you guess my favorite color? :) - January 25, 2013

Happy Sunday! :) - January 27, 2013

Southern Belle in Paradise

Diana, Nicole, Amanda, and Kayla
I love my girls! :)

Blessed

Today I feel blessed. :) Very blessed.

In church we talked about trials, and about blessings. One girl said something that made me really think about my life. She said that when we have a bad day it is simply because we are focusing on all of the negative things that happen that day. When our day starts off with getting a bad grade on a test, or walking to school in the rain we then focus on all the negative things that happen after that. We feel like the world is out to get us. The hard thing to do is to focus on all of the many ways that we are blessed.

I have been trying to focus on my blessings these last couple of weeks, and I truly feel... Blessed. I can’t think of any other way to put it. It is like all of the sudden I am recognizing all of the many ways that Heavenly Father has blessed my life. 

I live in Hawaii. 
I go to an amazing University. 
I have the wonderful opportunity to attend college to further my education. 
I have a wonderful family who supports me no matter what. 
I may have allergies, but I am not confined to my house. I can still do things, and have friends, and I can still eat good food. 
I have legs, and with them I can walk to school each day. 
I live on the beach. 
I have amazing friends. 
I get to learn and grow through their experiences. 
I am fairly healthy, and even when I am sick I am not bed-ridden, or confined to a hospital. 
I am not poor.
I have food to eat, and I don't starve.
I have never been on my death bed. 
I have never been homeless.
I have a computer and a phone.
I can speak, and hear, and smell, and taste, and feel.
I get to talk to my wonderful family every Sunday.
I get to go to church and learn about My Savior every Sunday.
I can read.
I can pray to my Father in Heaven.
I can receive answers to my prayers. 

I could go on and on about all of the blessings in my life, and I am so grateful for them. 

I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. I know that my Father in Heaven loves me. I know that Christ died for me, and that through the power of his atonement, I can return to live with my Father in Heaven again someday. I am so grateful for all of my many blessings, and for the joy that the gospel brings me. :) 

The next time you are feeling down, write down all of the things you are grateful for, and all of the many ways that Heavenly Father blesses you. I promise it will make you feel so much better. :)

Southern Belle in Paradise

I know... I am WAY behind. Forgive me?

I guess some things never change. I am still awful when it comes to blogging. You see, the problem is that my life is really just so exciting that I have so much to share, and no time to share it! Oh, who am I kidding. My life? Yeah. Least exciting thing ever. Well, unless you count death by food allergies exciting. In that case, my life should be a movie. Haha. Not really.

Let's see. Where did I leave off? OH MY GOODNESS! I never blogged about the rest of April? What am I doing with my life! I understand if you don't ever forgive me. I deserve it. I mean, after all it is already August! Whoooops...

Okay, well let's start with April then. For easter Nicole, her friend, and I dyed Easter Eggs. :)

I spent the end of the semester living in the library. And then once we were done with school Diana, Nicole, Kayla, and I headed to Waikiki for some relaxing time before splitting up and heading back home for the summer.

We stayed in an awesome hotel (thanks dad) and were just a few minutes from the beach. We got there on Saturday evening and went for a walk along the strip. That night we watched Pearl Harbor, to help prepare us for our next day. :) Okay. That's a lie. We really just wanted to watch it, and we decided that watching it the night before we went to Pearl Harbor was the perfect idea. :) Then, of course on Sunday we went to Pearl Harbor.

*most all of the Pearl Harbor pictures were taken by Nicole*

Kayla and I getting ready for our day at Pearl Harbor

Kayla and Diana on the bus

Me and Nicole

Nicole

Me

Kayla

On Monday we went to the beach and took pictures. :) Aka. Nicole took pictures.  She really is the greatest photographer. 

This is the International Market Place, right outside our hotel, and all that stood between us and the strip. And the beach. :)

This was a really cool guy. :)

I got sand all over my leg, and if you have ever been to the beach, you know it NEVER comes off.

Eventually Kayla and Diana joined us. :) They are so funny.

While we were taking pictures we saw this sweet old couple. :) 

We are basically the BEST models you will ever meet. :) Haha.

Me jumping into Kayla's picture. :)

Cousins. :)

So much fun. :)

Nicole left on Tuesday afternoon, so then it was just Diana, Kayla and I. That morning we went to the beach (for Nicole's last hurrah). Wikiki Beach was CROWDED! Nothing like the north shore. Not to mention there was construction going on too.

The sand was not very nice either. It made me miss Laie.  

After Nicole left, Kayla, Diana and I went Parasailing. :) 

That night Diana, Kayla and I went and got henna tattoos. :)

And then the next day I headed off to the airport, and hung out with Nicole (she ended up not getting a seat on that flight, so she had to wait until the next day, since she was flying standby) until my flight. :) We went and had birthday ice cream. :) And basically partied in the airport. :) We really just did puzzles for hours. Haha.

I promise to post some more about the rest of my summer soon, but now I have to get ready for a YSA barbeque. :)

Southern Belle in Paradise