HANGOUTS!

A previous post I mentioned how my sister and her family quickly moved to London, England. Well now that they are there the best thing has been hanging out on google+, or as google calls them, hangouts! Although the time change is 7 hours, we still get to see each other. Today I read some books to my niece for bedtime! It was so fun. I am so grateful for technology and how it keeps us connected all over the world.

I have family all over the country, and I would not know my family as well if it was not for hangouts! A cool feature they have is you can hangout with up to 10 different people, pretty amazing!

Hanging out in dating is not encouraged, but on video chat that is what it is all about!(such a mormon comment!)

Anyway, Thank you google+

Freaking Fear

Fear is it a factor for you? I enjoyed today's lecture. It was on fear. Fear plays a bigger role in media than I realized. I hadn't ever gone out searching to discover what I am fearful of. I actually questioned if I was afraid of anything.  Sure I am jumpy or get nervous being in a big house by myself at night,but that is because I watch the news and know that burglars are real.  It is all fear though, so pertains to all people.

I wonder why some people thrill seekers of scary movies, while others cannot stand them. It is interesting how we are all so different.  Interesting too how it develops over time and depending on certain experiences and observations. Also our personalities, again amazing how we are all so different.

It got me thinking what I am fearful of, but I had to stop because then I was too scared of thinking. ha

Faith over fear , right?! 

I was reading this other blog by Andrea Sullenger, she wrote on the topic of fear.
She took on the topic not so much relating to media, but I believe it can apply.

"What do you say it is? Most anyone would admit that fear has played some roll in their life at some point. How about as an entrepreneur, how has fear dictated what you will do and what you won’t do? Fear has a powerful force that can steer us away from what we really want if we let it. Or, if you can evaluate fear for what it really is, you can allow it to propel you into something magical."

She goes onto list ways of how to release fear for good. You can see her rules here!

Last thing, I found this picture that I thought was empowering. Made me think twice about my fears.

I think fear is important and if we were not challenged we would not grow as much. Fear can be that factor that can either hinder us or help us. Just as the two meanings above show.

Ads, ads, ads

I enjoyed the class where we talked about facets of advertising. I always love when new light is shed on a media topic. Ads are usually looked upon as a negative thing, because they are trying to deceive us or get us to buy something. Essentially this class talked about  the good and the bad with ads. Not all is bad.

Anyway since this class I have noticed or become more aware of advertisement. For example  I was at the BYU basketball game on Thursday and started looking ALL around me and seeing all the different types of ads. Clothing, banners, music, conversations talking about certain products, food, apps on phones, the kind of phone they had,  make-up girls were wearing,etc. Crazy, right?

I could go on and on, but I started thinking more of what I was advertising. What message am I sending? Being single I want to advertise I am single, ha. Desperate? ha JK! Really though, the point is, there are so many layers to advertisement, it is something worth thinking about. What you show on the outside advertises what is on the inside.

I looked up a definition of advertisement just to bring my thoughts back to the basics.

"a notice or announcement in a public medium promoting a product, service, or event or publicizing a job vacancy."

Here are some clever , simple ads I found on-line.

                                     

Becoming One with Nature

God gives good gifts.

I was able to take advantage of the three day weekend by heading south, New Harmony, it is a smaller town just south of Cedar City, Ut. The group, 8 of us, stayed at our friends parents house, 20 acres! Cows, goats, chickens, guinea hens, dogs, and cats all added to the fun! Not only did we enjoy the peace of a slower city pace, we went into Zion National Park and hiked around up in the beautiful red rocks. It was so peaceful up there and although there were lots of people, it still was so nice to be in God's creation.

I feel the peace when I take the time to hike high in the mountains and am able to contemplate life and feel closer to God. I also really enjoyed star gazing, we laid on the trampoline and could see probably a trillion more stars, even saw a couple shooting stars. It just reminded me of how gigantic this universe is and how much we must rely on our Heavenly Father. A scripture that comes to mind is Mosiah 4:11,

"And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel."

This, to me, expressed what I was feeling because I felt of God's love, but also always need to humble myself and always call on the name of the Lord. 

Everyone go enjoy God's beautiful gift of our bodies to enjoy his magnificent creation!

Running outside!

First run of the year...outside! Surprising since it is February, but I welcome the spring weather, and celebrated with a run. I started out just running south, and had no idea where I was going to end up. My only goal was to get my heart rate going, and get some miles in! I couldn't have really known, but I used one of my favorite apps, Map My Run.

It tracks your distance, pace, and many other features. You can add friends and see where they have run and use their course. Quite fun!

I recommend this app!

Living Legends

I served my mission in New Zealand, so Living Legends has become a tradition. It is a throwback to all the wonderful cultures I grew to love.

For those who do not know... "Living Legends combines dynamic choreography of native American choreographies with the color and vitality of the dances of Polynesian and Latin American dances. Performed by talented descendants of these cultures and woven together by traditional and contemporary music, Living Legends' program is a stunning tribute to the ancient cultures of the Americas and the Pacific."

It is always a fun night, full of chee-hoos and songs from the heart. I love the diversity it brings to BYU!

I love the title living legend. Reminds me of what I am doing with the legend I am living and leaving. I have been pondering that lately and praying more to get myself in check with making sure I am on the same page that Heavenly Father needs me to be. I want to follow God, but it can be hard to fully give my will. I do want to live a legend of being a disciple of Jesus Christ.


What legend are you living and leaving?

Distracting

As I have been more aware of the massive amounts of media in my life, I have come to recognize how Satan uses it as a distraction. Actually I always knew it was a distraction, but I too know that media is a huge blessing. So what I am trying to say is that I have recognized the areas in which I can balance this out more. Life is about balance.

Sometimes I notice in church or church related meetings, people pull out their phones to take notes or use their device for hymns etc.  Great! I also see those who have their phone out and are playing games, Snapchat, etc. While all of these things are fun and great, they can be distracting when used in the wrong way.  Even when used in the right way we can be distracted/side tracked into something not as worth our while.

This mormon ad came to mind.

I love these mormon ads. They say just enough for us to think about what we need to change and how we can change.

This sums of media, and in fact if you can read the bottom it references media, its good expect...

I have taken this challenge to step up my game in not allowing myself to fall my life distractions. I have felt such a stronger will power to recognize the good in my day, and to strengthen others. I am happier for it. Let us be distracted for good. Distract yourself in doing good. Get rid of the "bugs" in your life, and if you happen to eat a bug, laugh about it! Extra protein, right? Eek! ha

Elder Ridd recently talked about distractions in life. A must read/watch or listen!
Click here for that talk! He sums of exactly what I am thinking and portrays it beautifully.

GNO-Girl's Night Out

It was one of those nights, that my girlfriends and I  did not have any plans other than to get together and chat. It all started by just wanting to paint our nails. One thing led to another and we were doing each other's hair, make-up, and dressing up into my mom's 30 year old dresses! I would have never planned this, I would have thought that was so first grade, but it was SOO fun. After we dressed up we took a plethora of pictures around the house, dancing, posing with flowers, and capturing some videos, even doing the slow-mo setting.

We enjoyed each other and were laughing most of the night!

Everyone needs a girls night, or boys night. It was therapeutic, we did not have a care in the world for several hours! Does the body & soul some good.

Here are only a few pictures from the evening. We have thought about sending some to the producers of Downton Abbey...JK.
 Enjoy.

Random, but fun, which is the definition of my life.