All Things Brooke

Photography on the Brain

2012-02-13T15:16:00.002-07:00

Photography has definitely been on the brain as of late and penetrates my thoughts constantly. I am finally taking a photography class at BYU and have loved every minute and every assignment. I loved the opportunity to have a solid reason to do photography because now it's homework. I don't have to feel guilty anymore for going out and shooting instead of doing actual productive homework.

So the cause for the constant "photography on the brain" is because I have a final photography project and for my History of Creativity class I'm doing a photography final as well. For these two finals the only requirement is to take something I'm passionate about and tell a story. That should be easy right? Well I will tell you it's not and I don't think that photography is ever just easy. I have been struggling to find what I'm passionate about without being cliche (babies, flowers, hearts in the sand). I'm trying to find my "thing". The one "thing" that sets me apart from all the other want-to-be photographers. What will make my art worth looking at/remembering (which I know will take awhile and lots more hard work).

We have been talking in my class about actually THINKING before TAKING! Maybe this is not new to anyone else out there but it was kind of a new thought for me. In the world of digital photography it is so easy to just snap a picture mindlessly and then we rely HEAVILY on Lightroom or Photoshop to actually make a photograph. The idea of composing in my head, looking longer, and really investing in my shot is one that I have really had to push myself to do. My teacher shoots with this really old 1900s camera where every shot he takes is costing him about $40. That's some serious commitment to take a picture. Forty bucks a shot would drain me dry! Now I don't have much intention on shooting film but it brings a whole new perspective to shooting a photograph.

Is there a real definite reason I'm taking this picture?

Will I want to look at this later?

Would I be willing to spend 40 dollars on this short? $50? $100?

If I take this shot will this photograph become more of a product of Lightroom than my actual skills?

These questions keep me thinking if this world, or just even my own art, is just going to become cluttered with a bunch of meaningless shots or will it become a work of art that is worth being remembered. Will my kids one day dump these pictures out or will they keep them and pass them down.

So does this hinder whether or not I take photographs? Well maybe to some extent but I want to make more of my shots matter and become less of a product of Lightroom (even though I really do swear by the abilities Lightroom has). I want to actually be thinking instead of snapping everything that looks cool or that I think I might want to remember (like that moss on the Mayan temple... why oh why did that matter?). One thing my professor said was to ask ourselves is it worth printing? He also said you can't take a piece of TURD and turn it into a PEARL, it just won't work don't waste your VALUABLE time trying!

Maybe I'm thinking to much. Maybe I'm offending someone. But in order for my photography to become more of what I see it becoming I have to push myself and not be just another cliche photographer that makes edits through PICNIK (ugghhhhh). I want to be more and I want to learn more when I look through my lens instead of saying, "Sure, I guess I will take a picture of that. Maybe I can make it look great in Lightroom." I want it to look pretty dang awesome coming out of my camera to begin with and then make the LITTLE adjustments in Lightroom to make it Great.

I'm on a mission and won't stop until I have found my inspiration and that thing that I'm just super passionate about! So watch out... I'm reforming my photography ways!

My Crazy Mess of Blogs

2012-02-13T14:47:00.002-07:00

I have gained two new blogs and so I am trying to restructure exactly what each blogs purpose is and trying to get back into blogging. This new spark is due to a class I'm taking that talks a lot about our digital civilization and how blogs can be a wonderful resource and means of importance. This blog is now going to be used for my class in which I will post about pretty much anything thoughts I would like. There were no real specifics as to what we are to write so it will just be what I want them to be. I will have my photography blog where I will put my work brookeeddingtonphotography.blogspot.com and then I have another photography blog that I HAD to create for my class (which will probably have a life span of about 3 months) which is eddingtonbyuvapho116winter2012.blogspot.com. I have another blog that I have created in WordPress which is begandnag.wordpress.com about my new married life but I have not been too impressed with WordPress so who knows if the life of that blog will last...it might make an appearance on blogger instead. Anyway, I know this is confusing and is one to many blogs for one person to own. But after this semester some will disappear and some will be consolidated but until now bear with me as I adventure into this semester of extreme blogging... I hope to take the Gold!

I'M ENGAGED!

2011-10-27T20:44:00.001-06:00

Okay so I have been engaged for 3 weeks which means this blog post should have come about 2 weeks ago but on my list of things to do this came at the end. So now that I have finished midterms and have done some of the big wedding planning stuff I can finally tell anyone who reads my blogs about my fiancee and our engagement story. So here is the water down version of our story thus far...

Nathan and I met in our apartment complex in August 2010 officially. My first memories of us were the spring of 2010 when he was my FHE dad but he didn't really take notice to me. We more specifically got to know each other because we had the same calling in our ward. We were the ward prayer co-chairs from September to April. We flirted about everyday harmlessly (we're just two flirty people) up until October when he said that he wasn't going to take me on my first date as a 20 year-old (he wouldn't date me as a teenager). So our first date was after my 20th birthday and we went salsa dancing which was fun but a little awkward. We went on one more date and then didn't really pursue anything after that and just remained friends.

So one random night I got a text from him asking if I would come and watch a movie with him called "Goal" and that was the start of our relationship. That night was our first kiss and December 12th we started dating. We "broke up" for about a month and a half but we were still exclusively dating and then in the beginning of May we became official again and fell in love pretty quickly after that.

So with all of that information it brings us to the night we got engaged. We had been talking about it and I kind of knew it was coming but he still caught me really off guard. Apparently he asked my dad the Saturday of General Conference weekend if he could marry me and so on Thursday October 6, 2011 he proposed!

At 6:45pm that day he delivered a note to my apartment requesting my presence to go on a walk and have hot chocolate. I knew something was up when he said that I should look nice and I got really excited because I just had a feeling that tonight was the night Nathan was going to do it. So I got all dressed up and went to his apartment at 8pm and then we decided that we should go for a walk first so we went up to the temple and just walked around and then we got to a fountain and I turned around he was down on one knee....tying his shoe. I told him he wasn't allowed to fake propose and so we went back to our complex to have hot chocolate. He said that he needed to go brush his teeth real quick and would be at my apartment soon. Well I didn't see him for an hour and a half!

After I called a million times and stopped by his apartment, he finally showed up and I was needless to say a little upset. He said he was on campus printing some stuff and to make me feel better he read me a poem he wrote me called an "Ode to Eternity" (he was originally going to read it after he proposed but knew he had to get back in my good side). His friend then called and said we needed to come to the duck pond south of campus and check something out so we went (I really didn't want to go because I was upset with Nathan and by this point KNEW that he wasn't going to propose). When we got there we walked around for awhile found a glow-in-the-dark question mark floating in the pond so we fished it out and took pictures with it and I was a little confused as to what was happening (I thought he was going to ask me to homecoming). Nathan then just stuck the question mark in his pocket and said that we should go to Rock Canyon Park. So we headed up there.

When we got there we just walked around the bowl part of Rock Canyon and I knew something was up but I finally saw on the south side BIG white letters spelling WILL and then on the west side I saw YOU and on the north side I saw MARRY. We then walked up to the east side hill by a rock I first told Nathan I loved him and his friends that came up with us were going to take a picture of us and so I turned to hand them my camera and I turned back around and Nathan was down on his knee and he said, "Brooke Eddington will you marry me?" and I said "Yes, Of course I will!"

We are getting married on January 6, 2012 in the Salt Lake Temple. I am super excited and very much in love with Nathan Gordon!

Some quick facts about Nathan:
1. He is from Aurora Colorado
2. His birthday is August 21, 1988 and is 23 years old
3. He served his mission in Bilbao, Spain and speaks Spanish
4. He loves soccer
5. He is half Colombian and a little Irish
6. He is studying Chemistry and graduates April 2012
7. He wants to be a Neurologist in pathology (I think that's right)

Now after this RIDICULOUSLY LONG POST here are some pictures!

Moments That Matter Most

2011-06-22T16:39:00.003-06:00

Lately these days at work there seems to be a lack of things to do. Not because I'm lazy, but because external sources have made work coming in a lot slower. Typically, I stare at Facebook waiting for someone to chat with or read a million blogs but today was different. I have been needing a boost the last couple of weeks; I just haven't been my typical chipper self. I needed a pick me up.

Enter the church website lds.org and their YouTube channel MormonMessages. I spent my afternoon watching several of these messages. All are beautiful and more than one brought me to tears in the middle of work. I guess I am a little emotional these days but these messages, all of them, are beautiful and uplifting. I love hearing the voices of the men that make me love this church and the comfort their words and voices give. Those two things are probably what make me cry the most.

I love what the Church has done to reach out and use today's technology and resources to touch others. Today out of all the videos watched, and I watched most of them, my favorite came from the talk by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. It's called Moments That Matter Most.

This video starts off with a little girl on a swing and I immediately think of all the times I have pushed my nieces and nephews on the swings and the simple joy it brings to their face. Then the video says "It's not so much the major events as the small day to day decisions that map the course of our living"- President Gordon B. Hinckley. As the video continues, it shows various moments in people's lives and the true emotion of those moments. Times when people fall or have bad news given; the moments of pure happiness and exceeding joy; the moments that are cherished more than things we could ever plan out. There is something I deeply love about seeing the mom go out and play in the rain with her children and I don't know if I can put into words why I love that part.

I love that it's all in slow motion. That the message is to slow down and really enjoy the moments that are right now whether good or bad but to "focus on the significant, lift up our eyes, and truly see the things that matter most. Strength comes not from frantic activity but from being settled on a firm foundation of truth and light. It comes from placing our attention and efforts on the basics of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. It comes from paying attention to the divine things that matter most."

Most of all I love the feeling I get when I see the girl on the swing again. I want to feel like that again. Pure joy. Pure simplicity. Pure happiness. This Gospel never ceases to renew my strength and make me really have a grander perspective.

"Moments are the molecules that make up eternity." -Elder Neal A Maxwell

Perfect Weekend Trip: Southern California!

2011-06-09T22:01:00.000-06:00

So for memorial weekend my boyfriend Nathan and I were trying to decide what to do like hiking, camping, sports etc.... but sadly Utah had been raining for the past two weeks so we decided that we would go to Los Angeles and stay with Nathan's brother David and sister-in-law Amy. It was seriously the perfect weather and location to have a fun memorial weekend. We spent most of our trip in San Diego though which was completely beautiful. I had only been to California once before and it was with a school trip and we didn't get to go do a lot of fun kind of local things. We did the big things like Disneyland and Sea World. We did stop by the beach but it was March and FREEZING!!! So this trip was packed with firsts.

Top 15 lists of firsts in California:
1. Staying in a skyscraper of apartments
2. Eating in a really cool lounge on the top of a skyscraper
3. Having dinner by the marina
4. Going to Santa Monica beach
5. Driving down to San Diego in a convertible
6. Walking on a pier
7. Seeing the sunset on a pier with my best friend
8. Going to Coronado Island
9. Playing in the water and laying out on the beach
10. Driving through downtown San Diego
11. Eating in Little Italy district of San Diego
12. Seeing the San Diego Temple
13. Having a bonfire on the beach withHot Dogs, smores, and an ice cream cake
14. Seeing the L.A. Temple
15. Eating an enormous buffet in the Excalibar hotel in Las Vegas

That's basically a list of what we did for 5 days. It was a beautiful trip with great company! I loved trying out new things and seeing some really beautiful sights! My favorite place we ate out was the Cheesecake Factory out in Santa Monica because it sits right next to the marina. You can sit out on the decks with twinkly lights, candles, and heaters. So beautiful!!! My favorite beach was on Coronado Island. It was the softest sand I have ever felt and was such a beautiful island! My favorite part was spending 5 whole days with my best friend specifically watching the sunset with him! I loved this trip and often wish I could go back especially when I look at the pictures!

This was the view out the window of David and Amy's apartment in L.A. (Disney Concert Hall)

Nathan and I at Santa Monica Beach! So beautiful!

Cheesecake Factory in Santa Monica on the Marina

Nathan and I at the San Diego Temple it's really gorgeous!!

Ocean Beach Pier Sunday night. It was a really really long pier!

Another shot of the pier

Nathan and I at the end of the pier.

More of the sunset!

Almost down

The waves were so big that day so we went over to those rocks to get closer to the waves.

Monday at Coronado island. BEAUTIFUL!!!

Ocean Beach sunset on Monday.

It was Amy's birthday on Monday so we celebrated on the beach with an ice cream cake.

Tuesday Nathan and I stopped by the L.A. temple. It was a lot bigger than I thought.

On our way back Nathan and I ate at the Round Table Buffet at the Excalibar hotel in Las Vegas.

Patience is a Virtue, So I Am Told

2011-04-27T16:08:00.004-06:00

After the stress of finals were over, I more than realized it was time for a break. The stress of school, work, friendships, relationships, and just the everyday tasks were weighing on me harder than ever before. I felt down trodden because I was not doing everything the way I wanted or the way that was expected of me. So all of that mixed with some important decisions that I have to make basically led to almost a mental breakdown. For about four days, I cried at least a couple times each day. So I made the decision to go home for a lengthy five day break.

I don't share this part of my life to seek sympathy or attention but to share two very valuable pieces of advice I got from my dad this weekend. My dad is the smartest guy I know, and the guy I go to with all my life woes to seek some of his sage advice. He always makes me feel better or see things a little differently.

One: It's alright every now and then to take a break. It's ok to sometimes not always do your very best at everything. I was afraid that I had to have everything figured out and do well on everything and when I found myself doing poorly in a class and basically failing one of my finals I felt basically like a failure. I was all set and ready to give up. My dad first started by admitting to me that he failed a class. (My advice to parents is it can be really good to let your kids know you failed at something whether a class or something else.) Hearing my dad say that made me feel better; it made me feel like I was not some giant loser or the only person to have failed a final. He also said that it's good to take a break from things for awhile to just sort of get away from things. But like any good father he helped me come up with a game plan for me; how to bounce back from the things that were stressing me out.

Two: He pointed out that patience is something I am lacking right now and need more of. Sometimes it's good to be proactive and really just try really really hard but sometimes you need to slow down and just be patient. I am a worrier and planner by nature and those two things can make being patient hard sometimes. My dad also said that patience is still working and trying but just being more understanding that your answer won't come right away. After talking with my dad, I went and read the talk by President Uchtdorf called "Continue in Patience" this talk was exactly what I needed to hear. President Uchtdorf described patience as the ability to put our desires on hold for a time and "It means staying with something and doing all that we can working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!" Knowing what patience really is has helped me and I know what I need to do and keep doing.

I am also thankful for inspired church leaders who are in tune with the Spirit to know how we are feeling and what we need to hear. Patience is something I pray for and for once in the last couple months I am content with my life and where I am at. It will all get figured out... eventually.

My Thoughts on General Conference

2011-04-07T10:30:00.000-06:00

I really do love General Conference! So much gets combined into one weekend that makes it always an enjoyable experience. Between seeing my family, the great food, or the great messages I hear it never seems to disappoint. Sitting with my family surrounding me and watching Conference has become a weekend I look most forward to.

Despite the often laughing, playing, or loud noises that seem to always happen with that many kids in one house, I was really touched this conference by how much I heard that answered my prayers. A lot has been on my mind and I think I just needed a little reassurance, and boy did I get it. All I heard this conference was how to overcome the pains, tests, and trials we face here in this existence (ok I did hear some about marriage but I'm not going to go there...).

We all go through our own dark places. We all deal with our own share of suffering and while I often thought that compared to some my struggles were probably easy, I realized something this weekend. My struggles are hard for me. I may not have some terrible physical condition or have lost people very close to me but I have endured my own suffering. It was hard for me and it may not be hard for anyone else but it was what I needed to grow. We all have those dark places in our heart and some may be worst than others, and some may linger in their dark place longer but regardless we all must experience some of this.

Mainly what I learned is that no matter what our struggles may be we all have them and it's just part of what we have to go through. My favorite thought/quote came from Elder Kent F. Richards talk in the Saturday Morning Session. He said that maybe we have suffer so much in this life to better understand what our Savior and Redeemer went through just like how our Savior came to earth so that he may understand what we are and would suffer in this life. It was the most beautiful thought and left me feeling reassured and with a new understanding.

I simply love conference and I hope that you all enjoyed Conference as well and felt the Spirit like I did.

"The Look"

2011-03-23T20:14:00.003-06:00

Ok, so I'm not cut out for the visual arts-photography program ehhh I'm over it. I guess I am not the type of artsy they are looking for. I love it, don't get me wrong, but the art they have you produce means you live a pretty poor life. I was pretty bummed for awhile because I didn't get in but I realized that the photography that I like is not the "fine art" they want. My passion and love for photography lies in the taking of engagement pictures/wedding pictures, and just people in general.

I have understood this about me better as I have attained more opportunities. Last weekend, I took pictures for my roommate and her fiance and I was reminded of why I love this kind of photography. It was a lot of fun. I definitely enjoy posing, taking, laughing with the couple, and editing the pictures but it's not my FAVORITE part!

The girl is always beautiful, and the boy is always very handsome (thanks much to the girl choosing his clothes). For me though, it's not what they look like, how they are posed, or even how they are smiling. It's something that you can sort of see in a picture but unless you are there the feeling isn't quite the same. My favorite thing is something I can't direct or instruct to do. It's something I can't fake.

Are you wondering what it is yet? Well I'm not going to tell you quite yet. There is a movie called "27 Dresses" it's probably not the greatest romantic movie out there but in this movie they hit spot on to what my favorite thing is. Both the main characters share this one thing in common. They both love this part of weddings. Listening to the two describe it, in my head I was saying, "Me too! Me too!"

I guess I can tell you now.....

It is the way the boy looks at the girl! (Maybe I built that up too much but I couldn't help it; I'm a big tease I suppose.) The way he looks at her says it all. It's the look of absolute love and adoration. Most often "the look" comes when she doesn't notice or is looking away. It's this longing stare, with a calm face, and accompanied with this cute little half smile. I have come to really appreciate emotion expressed through eyes and I have noticed this as I take my own pictures; their eyes usually say it all.

This look makes me melt behind my camera. It makes me go weak in the knees and produces the sort of "awww" sounds inside my head. It gives me the chills and leaves me in a love daze (if you don't understand, I will explain a "love daze" later).

I'm a hopeless romantic. I don't know if that was a secret to anyone but it's something that most can't probably guess about me. I love almost all chick flicks and in everyone I look for his "look". If I can't find it or see it then I usually pass it off as not a very good chick flick. After a good chick flick, I am usually left in a love daze. I am smiling ear to ear thinking only of the day when a boy will look at me like that. I'm usually unresponsive for a few minutes as I bask in the thought of being in love (corny I know, I guess the chick flicks do their job).

(These two pictures above and the last one are from a recent shoot I did with my engaged roommate Vanessa and her fiancée Aaron.)

I don't profess to know much about love but I have an idea of what it looks like. I see it every time, without fail, when I take pictures of engaged/newly married couples. It's not directed nor could I attempt to verbally convey how to create this "look" to a man. I also know that it cannot be reproduced, copied, or imitated on command. I know I've tried.

One day, hopefully not years and years away, I hope to have a boy give me "the look". To know that this boy is crazy about me and doesn't want to stop looking at me is what I dream for. I can't wait to feel that way about someone. When nothing else in this earthly world matters more than him.

I know one day I will get "the look" I don't know when and I don't know who but for now I will live and experience this "look" through my camera. It's literally one of my favorite things I do.

PLEASE HELP ME!!!

2011-02-11T11:53:00.001-07:00

Rejection is hard. Life is hard. I think to much. Honestly that should be about my whole post but I like to write too much for me to do that. I applied to the Visual Arts program this last November and unfortunately was not accepted. Since then, my brain has been on overactive thinking mode. So much has just happened in the last two months of my life that my brain can't help but over think or keep up. I'm a worrier by nature. I like to plan and know what's going on because I don't want to be hurt or disappointed. So I plan WAY in advance and I worry myself with details that I could go without thinking about at least for a time. It's never ending thoughts that rarely ceases even when I'm sleeping. Can you see my problem? I hope so because I don't know how to put it any more blunt than that.

So all two of you who choose to read my blog I'm sure are wondering where I'm even going with this and why you should care. Well in order to get some stuff off my mind I'm going to just let you choose and pick my major for me. I'm interested in seeing what other people see me doing. I have like about 10 different options going for me right now and I go between all of them about twice a day. Needless to say my brain hurts and is seriously confused! SO if any of you happen to feel so inclined and have an opinion just comment and tell me what major you think I should do and any advice you can give. Here is a list of some random facts about myself to help you choose the best major for me:

1. LOVE SPORTS
2. I really enjoy Photography
3. I hate math/science
4. I like people
5. I actually like the news
6. I strongly dislike numbers
7. I really like kids
8. I like to convince people I'm right
9. Very Competitive
10. Like to travel/want to do A LOT MORE!
11. I don't do well with taking tests
12. I'm a pretty happy person
13. I am a good listener/give pretty good advice
14. I don't like seeing gross things
15. Not a big fan of fixing things
16. I'm humble (as you can obviously tell by this list)

The MANY Options you get to pick from (in no particular order of interest to me):

1. Chemistry
2. Advertising
3. Print Journalism
4. Electrical Engineering
5. Broadcast Journalism
6. Exercise and Wellness
7. Art Education
8. English
9. Visual Arts-Photography
10. Interior Design

There you have it. Now it's your turn to be proactive and make this decision for me! Have fun and I can't wait to see what people have to say, that's to say if people actually read this blog.

Random thought for the day:

He quoted Ezra Taft Benson,
“We must be careful, as we seek to become more and more [Christlike], that we do not become discouraged and lose hope. Becoming Christlike is a lifetime pursuit and very often involves growth and change that is slow, almost imperceptible...We must not lose hope. Hope is an anchor to the souls of men. Satan would have us cast away that anchor. In this way he can bring discouragement and surrender. But we must not lose hope. The Lord is pleased with every effort, even the tiny, daily ones in which we strive to be more like Him.”

I Feel Cool. Why? I Joined the Flying Club!

2010-12-23T20:57:00.000-07:00

Yeah that's right there is a flying club. Or at least that's what one of my friends called it. I became an official member on December 16, 2010 when I took my very first airplane trip to a good friend's wedding in North Carolina.

I have never flown before mainly because I'm not made of money and with 7 other siblings it was never quite feasible to do so and everywhere we went was drivable. The week leading up to my grand adventure I honestly couldn't wrap my mind around the fact that I was going to be flying in a few days. I convinced myself that something would come up and keep me from going. Even the morning of when they delayed our plane an hour and then when we were sitting on the tarmat for 45min, I was still convinced the big silver bird would never take off. So when the plane lined up on the runway and the jets started to fire up, internally I was screaming and crying, "NO GET ME OFF THIS THING, THIS IS UNNATURAL!" Then we sped off and we were airborne. I also concluded that it's exactly like what everyone told me it was= a roller coaster ride. My stomach flew to my throat. At the same time though, it was completely exhilarating! As we ascended over the Rocky Mountains the song "Defying Gravity" from the musical Wicked entered my mind and I belted that baby out (well in my head of course, I didn't need people staring at me, that would have made me sick!) Granted it's more like working with gravity than defying it. I felt as if I were so my friend humored me and told me I was right!

Most people on the plane read, slept, or watched movies but I was completely enthralled by the majestic mountains and the flatness of the plains. I stared out the window for pretty much all 3 hours! It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. When it got dark, I became mesmerized by the bright lights of the cities below. My friend, I'm pretty sure got annoyed every time I said, "Look! That is so cool. No seriously Heidi look!" For most people planes are pretty boring for me it was the most entertaining thing I had done in... well... since I started college... actually maybe my whole life!

THEN.... we began our descent into Atlanta (our layover) and this is when I was awakened to the "real" fun of flying. We hit turbulence, and pretty bad turbulence according to the people I was sitting by. Then, I got the wonderful pressure headache. Then the landing in a rainstorm. These singularly and collectively made the ending of my first flight... interesting! Once getting off the plane I immediately understood what humidity feels like. In my mind whenever my southern or eastern friends talked about humidity I didn't think much of this. Well, I'm here to say that if flying wasn't going to kill me, the humidity about did. I hate it, I don't know if I could actually live a whole summer in it. I felt wet, sticky, and like I was breathing water! Another wake up call, black people. The thought, "I'm definitely not in Utah anymore" ran through my mind the entire time. I think there was an all of about two black people in my entire high school. After a half hour of waiting, we finally boarded our next plane at about 11:30pm and I was thankful for that. The 38 min flight to Charlotte was short and very uncomfortable. I sat in the middle on a really small plane with a pounding headache. Needless to say, that was the longest 38 min of my life. We drove to my friends house and immediately crashed! When I woke up and saw North Carolina for the first time my jaw dropped in pure amazement of its beauty. North Carolina is gorgeous even with all the dead trees. I used my imagination to think of what it looked like covered in green. I loved the scenery. I was expecting the weather to be more humid but in reality it felt like Utah so that wasn't too different.

We went to the wedding, I looked pretty dang amazing in my bridesmaids dress, had fun at the reception and then got food poisoning (or maybe it was just the southern food that my body just isn't accustomed too, me and my brother Daniel shared our southern food experiences... southerners eat weird stuff at weird occasions I decided). I was scheduled to fly out Sunday and Sunday morning at 3am I got sick, then again at 6:30am and I was planning on leaving at 10am for my flight at 1pm. The worst thing I think you can go through is getting sick in an unfamiliar home on the other side of the country.

After a priesthood blessing I decided I would fly that day and so I did. The flight to my first layover in Detroit was alright but by the end I was getting sick. No pressure headache but I definitely didn't feel good which proved right as I got sick in the airport about 30min after landing. The 2 hour wait for my next flight was long and terrible. I finally boarded and thought I will just sleep the whole way... eh.... wrong. The four hour flight to Salt Lake City was the longest four hours of my life and one of the worst flying experiences I hope to ever have. There were about 30+ kids on the flight and most of them cried the whole way and I sat next to an old couple the lady was a little bigger and entered my confined little bubble most the flight and the man snored quite loudly most the way. As we entered SLC, we hit more turbulence and about 15 of those small children threw up. I had prided myself on not getting sick but the gagging and the smell were making it that much longer and harder of a fight to not get sick. (Sorry if that was graphic for anyone) When we touched down all I wanted to do was run off the plane, kiss the ground, and then run to mommy to take care of me (which she was all ready to do as I got in their car to take me home!)

Needless to say, I have joined the flying club and experienced some interesting flying moments but my moral to this story (as I have in most stories I tell) is that I am so thankful for the Priesthood. Amongst all of my sickness, the blessing I got really allowed me to make it home safely and without getting sick on an airplane. I'm also thankful for my Heavenly Father answering my billion prayers on the plane. HALLELUJAH I'M HOME!!!

P.S. Sorry this is such a long post, I like to tell stories! And now since I know most of you won't read what I just wrote here are some pictures for you to look at!

Me slightly nervous/slightly excited for my first plane trip!

Just flying over the Rocky Mountains I look at everyday!

Snow covered mountains!

One beautiful sunset. They look so much cooler in planes!

Guess I need to show Heidi how to focus a camera but hey it's alright you can still tell that's me in Charlotte, NC!

Heidi and I decorating for the reception. Anything for Abbey!

Heidi and I after we finished decorating for the reception. 6 HOURS of it!! It looked amazing though!

The reason I bore it all and made this trip! I love you Abbey Miles! CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Some Seniors

2010-12-23T19:16:00.000-07:00

So these are LONG LONG LONG overdue but as I am sitting on my couch doing absolutely nothing except going through my pictures I remembered I had never posted any of these. These are pictures of the most beautiful girl I know and I have known her since the age of 5 and she was 3. We have been neighbors forever and friends just as long. Her name is Angelihah and mine to her is Brooklebean (crap... I just let my secret nickname slip...). She is graduating which makes me feel old but I couldn't have been more happy when she asked me to do her senior pictures! I think she is gorgeous and so should you!

I think she is gorgeous and despite the awful smell of the Great Salt Lake this is actually a really great place to take pictures. About as "beachy" as Utah gets sadly!

2010-11-19T22:26:00.000-07:00

“There are moments in our lives, there are moments in a day,

when we seem to see beyond the usual.

Such are the moments of our greatest happiness.

Such are the moments of our greatest wisdom."

-Robert Henri

Today, amongst the chaos of life, I was blessed with seeing the most beautiful sunset. Often days I miss most of the sunsets as I'm still in class or at work. Today though as I was out and about, I saw my first sunset in quite sometime. It was the most glorious thing.

With Thanksgiving around the corner I fear that this blog post may become cliche as I intend to include stuff on what I'm thankful for. With that fear in mind I hope I can write in a way that does not leave you bored with the same old "I'm thankful for...".

I began this little post with a quote that has really touched on how I have been feeling these last few weeks. I believe that every day there are subtle shifts in our life; things we hardly recognize but tend to mean the greatest. So here begins my list of subtle shifts.

I'm thankful for my family and being an Aunt!

I'm grateful for every Wednesday, for this is laundry day! To do my laundry I go out to my sister's. Since moving to college and being at BYU I have been blessed to have my sister so close. I love these visits. Is it chaotic when I go some weeks? Yes. Do I get all my homework done when I go out? Hardly ever. But it's completely worth it. I get to talk to my sister about life, catch up with my growing nieces, and hear the latest BYU news from my brother-in-law. But, there is a little boy in my life that lights up my world and makes these trips even better. A little boy that makes me feel like the most special person in the world when I come. He's my sweet little nephew Jacob. He always meets me at the door and pulls on my leg to come play with him. Sometimes when I leave he cries and it literally breaks my heart. He is why I love being an aunt. He has the power to melt all my troubles away with his sweet little countenance. When I hear him sing, or play the piano I smile ear to ear because he's so innocent and sweet. If there was nothing else in this world worth living for, he would be enough.

I'm thankful for my education, health, apartment, friends, a warm bed, my comfy sweats I'm currently wearing, food, job, computer, a heater, dishwasher, car, free laundry, TV, cell phone, Ipod, clothes, shower, toilet, nice carpet, a couch, my camera, pictures etc etc.... Yeah that least faded off into some pretty lame stuff but nonetheless I'm grateful. I'm grateful that my poor college student fund can sustain all those things. I have been so blessed though to be able to afford what I need despite my whines of being a poor college student.

I'm thankful for my hopes and dreams, my plans for the future. I'm thankful for visits that come when I need my stress relieved, for the person who knows exactly how to make me smile. It's in these small things and people that subtly shift my life and make me reach for higher dreams and goals in my life that make me better.

I'm thankful for my creativity, my gift of photography, and for all the things that inspire me.

There are times when a moment comes and I see things differently; I see beyond what I'm used to typically seeing. When the world seems to make a bit more sense. Those moments of inspiration, creativity, and pure happiness come. I got that today as I looked at the sunset and regretted not having my camera. The beauty as the light streamed through the clouds and hit the mountians and lit them up outlining the beauty of the trees and snow that rest upon them; when the clouds with their dark menacing look are interupted by the piercing light. When the heavens open up and God lets you see in for a brief few moments. Those are the moments that inspire me; that change me; that bring me my greatest happiness, and wisdom. When all things in my head stop and stare in awe at the glorious beauty that is around me that pushes me to create.

I'm thankful for my Heavenly Father, and my Savior. I'm thankful for my testimony. I'm thankful for a prophet, for my bishop, for my living father here on earth. I'm thankful for my Heavenly Mother and my mother that raised me so well these last 20yrs (whether or not I turned out so well is still up in the air). I'm thankful for the atonement, for the life of Joseph Smith. I'm thankful for the scriptures. I'm thankful that there is a true church on the earth and that I was blessed to be raised and brought up with.

So while I may be a poor young college student who still has a lot of life to experience I do so with these things in mind. With a knowledge of what my purpose is and to know that I am able to live and achieve whatever I choose. I know that things will come, storms will rage, and unexpected not so great things will happen but my hope is that when they do come I will find my own sunset; my own small piercing light that will break up the storm. So cliche or not I simply end with, I'm thankful.

Some pictures of what I'm thankful for.

Nights with my nieces who make goofy faces just like me!

My wonderful parents, who are amazing hikers and go on adventures with me.

My wonderful nephew Jacob.

Moments like these that I get to capture.

The reminder that there can always be light!

My Final Hours

2010-10-27T22:12:00.000-06:00

In about two hours I will no longer be a teenager. On October 28 I will officially be 20 years old. I have been eagerly awaiting this day for quite some time now. Today I thought about these last 20 years and that this is my last day as a teenager. So much has happened and part of me wonders if I am actually going to be turning 20 tomorrow. Unfortunately, there is not much I can do to change my birthday but personally I am happy to be turning the age I am. I finally feel like my age has caught up with me. My age has said teen but I don't really feel like a typical teenager anymore. I feel like I have grown out of a lot of the "teenager qualities" that most parents dread. I feel like I have become a different person and am on the right road of where I want to go with my life.

I have had several mixed feelings from others about how I should feel about my 20th birthday. Mainly they have been, "well good luck, you're life just got harder." Thanks guys, that's a real boost of motivation. I have wonderful memories of these last 20 years. I have made wonderful friends, learned a lot of lessons, and have a lot of lasting memories I believe but I can't wait to see what the next 20 will bring. Mostly likely it will bring a college degree, a job, a husband, a family, and many more great moments. (I know I'm being optimistic) There will be a lot of new challenges and a lot bigger decisions to make but I'm excited for what will come of them.

Another thing I have really thought about today is my mom and dad. As a teenager I lived to bug them, torment them, and probably caused them a lot of headaches. I thought that all their advice was dumb, that they just didn't get me, and were always out to ruin my life. What teenager doesn't do those things though right? But since leaving home, being on my own, and finding a lot more responsibility I have really come to respect my parents and have sought their advice. There is a quote that my dad quoted to me often growing up by Mark Twain that says, "When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished by how much he'd learned in seven years." Although I am not 21, I do feel like this quote is more than just a dumb saying that my dad always reminded me of. Most reading this can all laugh at this quote now because we know that it was not our father that had necessarily learned a whole bunch but it was us, me, who really has grown up. So yes, I now agree with this quote. After several years of my father quoting it to me, I now quote it to him. I have really grown to appreciate both of my parents and love them more. They always made every birthday feel special and made my life pretty easy. I owe a lot to them and much of my success so far in my life is because of them and what they have raised me to be. So even though it's my birthday and naturally the world should revolve around me, I will be thanking my Heavenly Father for giving me a opportunity to be born into my family. To have the parents that I do, who are my heros and have left a lasting impression on my life that is more than anything else they could have done for me.

So I'm excited to turn the BIG 20! I want to party and celebrate all that I have accomplished in my life thus far and celebrate my next 20 years because I know they will be great. Hard but GREAT! So although these next few years will bring many new changes to my life I plan on partying tomorrow and being happy that I have survived the teenage years. But not only will I be partying, I believe my parents will be happy too because they have made it through another teenager. Only one more to go mom and dad. Good luck! As for me, I'm ready to take on the next 20 years and make them even more memorable! So.... HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!! (Tomorrow, in two hours!!!!) WOOOOHOOOOO!!!!!!!! BRING ON THE CAKE!!!!

The End.

Next Post: The Damage I Caused on my 20th Birthday! (Pictures will be included!) haha

My Brain Is Turning to Mush!

2010-09-13T16:40:00.000-06:00

Okay so when I tell people my schedule this semester they look at me and say, "that's pathetic, that's so easy." When I tell them I haven't bought a single book the exclaim, "NO FAIR!" So this is my turn to publicly state that no my schedule is in fact not easy and I would almost rather buy books!

My classes this semester are my pre-visual arts classes. Which include 2-D design and a drawing class. Let's get something straight here that many seem to not understand. I am a photographer, not a drawing abstract thinking artist. I work with a camera, just because my major says visual arts does NOT mean I can draw. So these classes for me is like taking mandarin or something. My teachers are awesome and VERY entertaining but the work load and the amount of thought that has to go into my work is crazy overwhelming. The first week of classes I had a huge (I'm talking as in points and in size) project do. It took some thinking that I had never done before. That same weekend I got assigned in my drawing class 120 gesture drawings that had to be done in 3 days. In my 2-D class I got assigned an assignment to do 8 more smaller projects similar to my big first project. Can you say WOAH?!

The worst is that the teachers are interesting and give almost no instruction on how anything should be done. They tell you the project and that's it. We are just supposed to be creative with no rules. Well, I'm an artist that likes rules. Photography has rules; abstract art apparently does not! So I have really been struggling. I am trying to think and be creative and after 2 weeks of this I have come to the conclusion that my brain has turned into mush due to excessive thinking. When I am working on art and someone is talking to me, my English becomes almost incomprehensible. My words become all jumbled and I'm left sounding like a fool. Example: A boy came over to my apt. and wanted to chat but I had to do 120 drawings and while he was talking to me I literally could not get out one sentence that was coherent. He got so confused and frustrated by my lack of English that he left and said we would talk some other time.

So what should you get out of this you may ask? I LOVE MY CLASSES!!!! I am definitely not excelling in them but for the first time in my college career I am really enjoying what I'm doing. My brain is being pushed; I'm being pushed. It's so exciting, hopefully I can officially get into the major and really get into the classes specified for my taste of art but for right now I'm enjoying it so much. Do I feel like throwing things when I'm working? Yes. Do I get a little moody when I'm creatively blocked? Yes. Have loved every minute of this? Yes! Can I understand my teachers half the time? No. Do they never fail to make me laugh? Yes.

So If my writing here is bad, I sincerely apologize. At least you don't have to listen to it. Oh and to address the whole no buying books issue for some of you out there. Look at what I did have to spend my hard-earned money on instead:
3 pieces of masonite board 1 tube of oil paint 3 paint brushes 1 GIANT pad of newsprint paper
1 pieces of plexi glass 1 set of gouache paint 10-15 sticks of Nupastels 20 sticks of charcoal
4 different sizes of pencils (I didn't know there were different sizes) $80 pad of colored paper
Glue Several sheets of really nice paper 24" ruler 1 Sharpie 1 exacto knife Mineral Spirits
There is a lot more but I can't think of them right now... my brain is tired!

So instead of my regular pictures with a post I'm going to show you some of my projects I have been working on.

They are both A LOT bigger but I couldn't accurately show that here. But they are gigantic. But I don't think they look that bad... Maybe there is hope for me in the VA program! haha

"What Are Men To Rocks and Mountains?"

2010-08-19T12:43:00.000-06:00

So I enjoyed my only week break of the summer two weeks ago! I spent it hiking at least 30 miles, carrying a 30lbs+ pack, eating freeze-dried food, no shower, no toilet, getting VERY sunburned, and seeing some of THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SCENERY! This may all seem not very fun but it's the week I dream of and can't wait for! I love the perfectness of being in the mountains and seeing God's creations untouched by man. I love it all despite my lack of a bathroom.

I understand I'm probably some weird mutated girl because I LOVE camping and backpacking and don't mind not having a bathroom for a week. But I don't care because there are few people in the world that have seen everything I have seen. I haven't seen it all but I've seen some of the most beautiful sights!

This year we went to the Tetons specifically Alaska Basin. It was a GREAT week!! I also got super tan! We hiked to the back of the Tetons (the side people don't see in Jackson Hole). We took a hike around the Basin and just witnessed God's greatest creations! I love it and I loved taking pictures of it all.

(These were all taken with my simple digital camera not my SLR, it was too much weight, but I think I got some pretty nice shots with my smaller camera!)

Apparently this is super poisonous if you eat it...

The wild flowers up there were REALLY in bloom! It was so beautiful!

This one is really grainy but I love it so oh well!

This is my favorite picture by far!!

Nature and Some Quality Camera Time

2010-07-27T16:38:00.001-06:00

I'm no where near being over my little photography block. I still have serious doubts but I have been able to take more pictures. As I have taken more pictures the doubts have gone away A LITTLE! I visited my sister Gayle on Saturday because I knew I needed to get over my block (also it was the 24th and I had nothing to do). So I observed and assisted Gayle on a family shoot she did for some neighbors, ate some delicious food, met new people, and then me and Gayle went and took pictures. I was unsure, and probably asked to many questions (or not enough, who knows).We shot pictures in this little hay field (I think) and it was absolutely beautiful even though it may not be pleasing to many. But I enjoyed going out with my sister and gaining some of my confidence back. I'm sure it will come little by little. I don't know if these are any good but here are some pictures I took that night with my cool sister Gayle who let me tag along with her!

I actually didn't take this picture when I went with my sister. This was the next day while on my trip to the temple.

I'm open to any feedback you may have!

My Photography Block

2010-07-21T20:11:00.000-06:00

Have you ever just not been able to do something you love? I mean as in you just can't find the inspiration or the creativeness to do something you love? I would probably associate my situation to having writers block except mine is known as PHOTOGRAPHY BLOCK!!

In the last few months and in the few months to come I am preparing to turn in my photography portfolio. My deadline is in October so I have been compiling a tentative portfolio to show my professors. There are 3 professors and I have now talked to all of them and got a lot of feedback. My purpose to showing them my portfolio is to see where I stand, where I need to go, and what I can improve on. The first two gave me some good feedback; told me what they did and didn't like. But the third was a bit more honest with his criticism. And now I'm left with one major case of photography block!!

This professor was not mean, did not bash my portfolio, and didn't say I was a terrible photographer. He actually said that I was a good photographer, and he could see that in my pictures. There are 3 things a photograph should have according to him: Style (how you shoot a picture), Composition (The technical things aka. lighting, cropping, angle etc...), and Content (the subject in your picture is interesting. For a better explanation of this go here her post was inspired from me). Basically I have two out of the three things and the one I lack is the one that is harder to learn. Yeah that's right, it's content. Maybe you thought content would be easy but I strongly beg to differ. I can learn how to do the technical things but it's harder to learn how to MAKE someone FEEL something. Out of 24 photographs a total of 4 of my pictures had actual content. His favorite question was "why am I looking at this ____."

He gave me great advice and it was definitely advice I needed to hear. His advice will make me better but I'm stuck! I'm stuck like two gummy bears on a hot summer day. Every time I look through my camera the last few days I ask myself, "why would my professor want to see a picture of this____" and then I stop taking a picture. I have no inspiration or motivation to take pictures because I keep doubting myself and thinking my professor isn't going to want to see this or this probably won't make him feel anything or this is probably one he would say "goes to the scrapbook."

I have had several advice following my professors advice and words of encouragement. Like well think of what he didn't say. He didn't say my pictures all suck and you are not good at the technical stuff. That I just need to keep taking pictures and inspiration will come and you will get better as you take pictures and so on and so on. It's all good advice and I know it is what I need to do and is all true. I just have a hard time actually doing it. I have never been stuck with my photography and I don't know how to get unstuck. I have zero inspiration to pick up my camera and look through the hole and shoot because all those questions and self doubt I know will come flooding back. It's easier to just let my camera sit because then I can't doubt my photography. I don't know how to MAKE someone feel something or at least I haven't figured out how too yet. I just am stuck, badly stuck, and at the worst time because I only have 3 months to get my final portfolio together.

I don't know what to do. Everyone's advice is to keep taking pictures and it's good advice. But my camera makes me feel bad. It makes me doubt myself. It reminds me of my big project ahead: to make my professors feel something, not me, or anyone else, but these 3 professors. These 3 people hold my future in their hands. They decide whether I pursue my dream or I find a different one. My career is in their hands and that's my greatest fear.

I honestly don't want to do anything else. I have tried other majors and taken classes in other fields I am semi good at. None of them inspire me. But when I hold my camera in my hand, I have the power to stop time, to save a moment, to show people the beauty in something that is ordinary, and mainly to show people what I see. I love creating a picture and knowing that I saved a moment and the beauty that's in what I'm shooting. I love taking pictures and showing people how I see things. I am just stuck and I'm not sure how to get unstuck. I just hate the feeling of being stuck on something I really love doing. It honestly is the worst feeling ever!

So here are three pictures that I have taken during my "stuck" period, as I am now calling it, hope you find them somewhat interesting.

Perfection Is Total Bologna (Yes, I did just sing the Oscar Meyer song to spell that!)

2010-06-25T15:46:00.000-06:00

To be quite honest I'm not really sure what this blog is. Some people specifically write and talk about their lives or write more of their thoughts. Some blogs are just specifically to show off their art (ex: photography, paintings, their children etc). I looked through mine today and I do just about everything. I have my photography, I have some life stories, I also I have my thoughts on things. Today's post is one for my thoughts.

The title of this blog post should maybe hint at what I have been thinking about lately. Being perfect and expecting others to be so as well. I first starting writing this blog post in my mind last Sunday as I was driving back to Provo in my car and KSL radio was turned on. It was something like the "Meet the Press" show but anyway, the "experts" on this particular radio show were discussing the recent oil spill in the Gulf Coast. I don't claim to know too much about what exactly is going on there since I live in a little Provo bubble but I do usually have an opinion on things, and without getting into "the news" of that event I want to address what was said and how they addressed the situation.

As these "experts" talked about the situation they kept pointing fingers and blaming companies and the government for everything that went wrong because it's a natural habit in America to blame the government for everything bad that happens. (Maybe that's who I should have blamed when I did bad on a test or my boyfriend broke up with me.... yeah that would have made my problem better!) Anyway as these "experts" continued to blame everyone I couldn't help but think of what they were really saying, " those dang companies and government forgot to take their perfect pill that day and that's why we are in this mess." They were pretty much saying the reason this oil spill happened was because they forgot to be perfect. Now I do strongly believe that we shouldn't walk around with our eyes closed and let companies do whatever they want and get away with making a big mistake but come on! We should realize that these people are not perfect and made a mistake. Gosh, what if every time we made a mistake someone yelled and pointed a big finger at us... I would probably have a nervous breakdown from all the crying. Now I hope that my mistakes don't cause an Oil Spill the size of Texas' ego but a mistake is a mistake and all we can do is learn from it, clean up the mess, and move on. Sitting around and pointing fingers almost always solves nothing!

I also notice this push for perfection in the TV shows that unfortunately get turned on in my apartment (not by me, I'm perfect....) I HATE with a capitol HATE MTV, VH1, and E! News. I think these channels are full of the pure satan in the world today. They show people trying to be perfect when all I can see is people who need a walk up call and a good dose of the Gospel and maybe a few missionaries knocking on their door. Everyone on these channels is searching for perfection in material things when I believe material things will only bring you farther away from perfection.

I'm not trying to argue a political point or bag on bad TV (oh wait I did that already ... oh well too late) but it really got me thinking about what the world sees. All they want to see is perfection, anything less and it's a waste of their time.

None of us were made to be perfect here on earth. Since the fall of Adam and because we are human we will not reach perfection here in this life, it's just not part of the plan for us to be perfect. I see people trying to reach perfection in a vain way everywhere whether it's from the people on TV, people on facebook, music, movies etc.... Somewhere we all got the idea that being perfect is the only way to be. In the scriptures it demonstrates several times that anytime a people got close to perfection (living the Gospel and being prosperous) they quickly fell and turned to sin and got off the road real quick. The last and only person that ever walked this earth that was perfect was Christ. No one could ever reach his perfection in this life so we should stop expecting that from ourselves. We should never stop trying but we need to realize there are more important things to work on than perfection as a whole. Slowly we will build up to that but not here and not in this lifetime.

So whether you are BP, a crappy TV show, or just a regular person like me keep working for perfection and when you fall short pray for the strength to battle your way through your imperfections. If that doesn't work just blame it on the government, they're used to it.

"Worthiness is a process, and perfection is an eternal trek. We can be worthy to enjoy certain privileges without being perfect." Marvin J. Ashton

"We undoubtedly won’t achieve perfection in this life, but it is imperative that we continue to try. If we do not, we will unwittingly pass up eternal blessings or opportunities that could have been ours." LeGrand R. Curtis

"We may not be personally perfect yet, but because of our covenant with the Savior, we can rely on his perfection, and his perfection will get us through." Stephen E. Robinson

A Year of Life-Changing Days

2010-06-08T22:38:00.048-06:00

I want to be a photographer and one thing I have learned about being a photographer is that we each have our own perspective. We each see things differently and can see beauty or ugly in a picture. I was thinking a lot about this today as I commemorated my year mark of being here at BYU. I can't believe that it has been a year. It feels like just a few months ago not a whole year. It's crazy how fast a year can go by when you look back but yet seems so slow as you live each day. Today during my break I took a walk around campus and thought about this past year and some of my favorite memories.

*I remembered my first day here and this post. If you remember it wasn't such a great way to start off my next four years but at the same time I think it was a GREAT way to start off my college career.
*I remember when me and my friends would play volleyball until like 10 at night. One such occasion I tried to impress some boys and ended up twisting my ankle really bad and had to have friends carry me to my dorm and then had my sister drive out at like 10:30pm to bring me ice, and medication.
*I also remember making a cardboard rocket ship, hiking the Y, and the Creamery visits with my new found friends.
*I also will always associate the movie "Enchanted" with the night me and some friends went to the movie in the park and watched that movie.
*I will also remember when my good friend kicked me in the mouth and good friends drove me around Provo looking for a doctor and also when I had my first non-dad priesthood blessing. (Funny how a lot of these are ending in me injured.)
*I remember when two different friends came and visited me two different times in my little town of Roy and we went to museums, played mini golf, and went to the drive in.
*I remembered all the drives we took through Provo Canyon in the fall, went to Park City, and did the to the Alpine slides.
*I also got to feel the Fall Football Fever as a Student in Lavell Edwards Stadium. It's so much better as a student than as anyone else.
*I will never forget the night when BYU beat Oklahoma. Me and my friends watched it in the Varsity Theater and there was so much excitement/screaming after we won. That was an epic game/night.
*I also had my first and BEST real birthday party.
*I experienced the electrifying feeling of BYU basketball.
*I also experienced a break up that left me more broken than I thought possible. Ironically it has been exactly 5 months today since that break up. I also learned how to pick myself up every time I hurt from that, even now.
*I went and threw chalk on myself at the HOLI festival.
*I learned how to get along with roommates that I didn't like at first.
*I felt so much sadness when I had to pack everything up and leave my apartment and say goodbye to so many friends I wouldn't see for months and some for 2 years.

All of these memories are so important to me and even though some were painful or sad. I, like a photographer, have gained a perspective on my last year. I look at the whole picture of last year and I like what I see. It wasn't ideal by any means and didn't start off well but I'm happy about where I'm at. I'm content/happy with what's happened this last year. Would I go back and change things if I could? I would be lying if I said that I wouldn't but I would. I would do things differently.

*I wouldn't procrastinate homework or studying.
*I would be more open/happy/kind to those I care about.
*I would probably try to not twist my ankle or get kicked in the face but it's me and I can't help but injure myself.
*I would change my attitude towards my fall/winter roommates and been better friends from the start.

The list could go on and on. I look at my year and while some would look and say it was ugly and horrible. I look and say that it was beautiful and exciting. It was full of wonderful moments, laughter, long walks/talks, good food, and good friends. I'm grateful and I can't wait to see what my picture will look like next year. Where I will be, what I will have done etc... I guess I will just have to start forming it now the best I can and take my lessons learned and apply them. BYU is beautiful. I have seen it in all four seasons and love every single one of them. I'm blessed with wonderful friends and family that I appreciate more than ever!I'm lucky to have the life I do. Sometimes when I'm walking around campus I can't believe that I'm actually at my dream school. I think BYU is the best school out there! Most importantly it's the best school for me. I love it here and I love my life and I'm grateful my perspective on my last year is a beautiful picture!

Some pictures I took today on my walk around campus!

Nothing like a little "Come, Come Ye Saints" every hour!!!

It's like the North Star!!

The "whirly twirl!"

The Stairs of Death!! I don't walk up these everyday but I walk up ones that are just as bad maybe even worse!!

"Happiness does not depend on what happens outside of you but on what happens inside of you." Harold B. Lee

"Each of us will face trials and tests, and as in this simplistic example, it is how we react to those difficulties that will determine our success and happiness. Each of us will face adversity no matter where we are. We are taught in the scriptures that there “must needs be . . . an opposition in all things.” We will each face times of difficulty, and the question is not when we will face them but how we face them." -Elder James B. Martino

My First Baseball Game

2010-05-23T16:37:00.000-06:00

I have never in my life attended a baseball game. Does that make me un-American since baseball is quite the tradition here in the states? I would like to argue in my defense that Utah does not have great baseball. Even then, baseball is like the one sport that I don't really understand or follow. Well in order to say I'm a true American I attended my first baseball game on May 14 with my sister and her family! Yes it was only a BYU baseball game not a pro one but BYU still is the bomb!! I really enjoyed going but I decided that baseball is dangerous for the players AND the spectators!! Balls should never fly in to the stands especially moving as fast as baseballs do. So I still am not a huge fan but enjoyed the game, winning, and the company!!

Now for what I really enjoyed about this outing!

I think what we can conclude from this post is that one: Baseball games are pretty fun. Two: I really didn't pay a bunch of attention to the game. Three: My nieces and I make some pretty crazy faces. Four: My nieces totally get their dance moves from their Aunt Brooke!!!

Missionaries

2010-05-21T21:23:00.000-06:00

Within the last few months I have had to say many goodbyes to many of my close friends. One of the hardest parts of college, I believe, is the constant changing; nothing is very permanent. For the most part I will see many of them in 4 months when we all come back for school or I can talk to them on the phone, text, or email. But being at the age I am almost half of my friends are leaving for two years. Some are easier than others to say goodbye to. Some I was kind of good friends with, some I was very close to, and some I was close to but then let our friendship slip and was sad when I realized it was too late to change that. I am also a total bawl-baby. So a few had to witness my crying. A few I will probably see when they come back, many I will not just because in two years things change and grow apart. That's the hardest part but I believe that I have gotten a little better at goodbyes... or so I thought. This last Wednesday I had to say a hard goodbye. My cousin Andrew Redd left for the MTC where he will prepare to serve in the Ecuador Quito mission. This goodbye I think was the hardest because I am very close to him and he always makes family functions worth going to because I know he will be there and for two years he won't be there. So much will change in two years and thinking of him not being there for the big ones is hard to imagine. The comfort I get from this boy leaving is that he is my family and I am stuck with him for forever! I don't get a choice so that's comforting but I will miss him. But through the hard goodbyes and sadness I'm grateful for these wonderful and brave men who go out on their own to strange places to tell our brothers and sisters about the gospel. I'm thankful for this gospel and that these boys get this opportunity. I know these boys will have the experience of a lifetime doing a service for our Heavenly Father and I know that while they may be out of my life for two years and I will greatly miss them, Heavenly Father will protect them and bless them and will gain experiences that they couldn't get by hanging out with goofy old me. So it's all bittersweet but I'm glad I get to be a part of these boys experience through letters and emails to see these boys turn into men and grow in ways that wouldn't be possible without this experience! So although I will miss them, I am even more proud, happy, and glad they are doing what they are doing!

"May all of us rise up as men of God and bless the nations of the earth with greater testimony and spiritual power than we ever have before." David A. Bednar

Me and Andrew before he entered the MTC. He was worried that he might be breaking some rule by being that close to me hahaha I love that kid!!

More Wedding Pictures

2010-05-07T11:13:00.002-06:00

Here are a few more that I have finished editing. I never realized how many hours go into editing but I definitely have the time now to do it.

He proposed at the Manti temple one night after they had done baptisms for the dead. He proposed right were this picture is taken. I thought I would recreate that night on their wedding day since I couldn't be there for the first time. haha

My First Roller Coaster Ride

2010-05-03T14:11:00.031-06:00

I remember my first actual roller coaster ride. I was probably about 15 when my sister and brother-in-law took me to Lagoon. I often like to put on the act that I'm tough and not scared of things. For example, roller coaster rides. But here is my deep dark secret......I'm still nervous even to this day about them. Okay, so I'm sure all of you didn't think I was tough but I would like to think I am so humor me. I acted as if this little roller coaster didn't scare me at all. When in reality I was in an amusement park of my worst fears: moving fast, heights, and not being very strapped in.

Whenever my sister suggested we go on a ride I pulled out my go to excuses. Some of my excuses include: "I am too sick", "I don't feel good", or "the line is too long" (which is usually my excuse when I don't want to do something, even today.) She finally said if I didn't go on the Wild Mouse with her, I was a wimp. Somehow I found myself in the line. Probably because my pride was being questioned, remember I like to act tough. I remember standing in line wondering the whole time what I was still doing in this line. I thought about the million ways I could die on this ride and how everything would probably end on this ride. I was about ready to turn around and walk away when I suddenly realized we were in the car to the Wild Mouse. I was so distracted by my many plots to fake sick or something, that I forgot where I was and what I was doing.

On the way up the ride I was sick to my stomach and really upset about going. I had no idea what would happen. Especially since I had heard many crazy and dangerous stories about the Wild Mouse. It held a reputation as one of the more scarier rides and you didn't go upside down or any other thrilling effect. (For those non-lagoon knowers the first model of the Wild Mouse derailed a car once and I believed killed someone, then they rebuilt it.) I was terrified and sweating so much. I'm sure it looked as if someone had splashed me with water.

As the ride actually began, I was in tears. I was out of my mind. Then all of a sudden I was on the ride and moving fast. I was still scared and unsure about my outcome but then I noticed that I was flying. I had such an adrenaline rush I was zipping around and and turning so quickly it felt like I was about to fall off the edge. I was still scared and everyone in the park could tell by my terrified screaming. Although, the screaming helped. I got out all my worries and fears out in that loud terrified scream. Sometimes when all else fails you just have to scream and let everything you are feeling out to not feel scared anymore. As crazy at it might seem, we occasionally need to let the bottled up stuff out. Screaming at that moment was my release of all my fears I had always kept inside me and didn't tell people about. I just made excuses for them to hide them; screaming felt so much better.

I look back at that experience now and I wouldn't trade that sick terrified feeling for anything because now I love those roller coasters. By loving those roller coasters, I can enjoy life and amusement parks so much more now, making life a bit more fun. I had to be scared. I had to feel that way in order to realize how fun the ride was. Roller coasters have dips, dives, spins, crazy turns, and on some coasters you can't always see what is coming next (ex: Spider at Lagoon).

Even though we sometimes are blind to the next part, that shouldn't stop us from enjoying the ride and having a blast. We get so concerned about what's on the left, the right, or what we can't see, that we forget to enjoy the ride. It didn't matter how many times my sister told me how fun the ride was or how much I would enjoy it that wouldn't have made me want to go on the ride more. We have to choose to step on, sit down, and cross our fingers with the hope that it will all work out. We must believe and have faith and realize for ourselves the thrill of each ride we go on.

No matter how much we want to save someone or ourselves from feeling pain or fear we must let them. We must let them, so they can find out what the ride is like for themselves. There will be dips and turns and whirls and twirls. We still will most likely feel the nervous, and sick feeling. And we will still be scared of the wild turns, sudden drops, fast speeds, and all the fear of those moments. But through my many trips to Lagoon and other amusement parks I have found that those are things that make the ride so worth riding!

A Sneak Peak

2010-05-02T17:03:00.002-06:00

I had the opportunity to continue photographing the wonderful journey to the temple of my two friends Carrie and AJ. Here are two pictures that I instantly fell in love with. More to come!

My Happenings the Last Few Months

2010-04-16T21:07:00.003-06:00

WARNING: BIG POST!!!
This post is incredibly late! But the fact that I am doing this instead of studying for my finals speaks words about how burnt out I am and how much I have been up to lately, so please forgive me! Here are a few things I have been up to lately.

February 14, 2010
One of my best friends, Shelby, invited me to go visit some of her very extended family for a Valentine's Day weekend in southern Utah in a place called Gunlock! It was so warm and so much fun! We did a lot of hiking all around the red rock down there.

Shelby!

March 6, 2010
A bunch of friends and I decided that it would be fun to go on a group date to the local classic skate. Specifically we decided to go on Saturday night when they do disco skate.

The girls decided to go 80s instead of 70s but we still looked crazy and had fun. We went to the DI and helped the guys pick out their outfits before and one guy picked all women clothing for his 70s look. It turned out really authentic!

March 27, 2010
Me and two of my best friends went to the HOLI Festival of Colors. It is this Indian festival where a bunch of BYU college students (I'm sure there were some other people there but the majority was probably BYU students) go and pretend like we have a spring break. We throw colored chalk at each other and enjoy getting dirty!

They count down and we throw the chalk all at the same time and the chalk just creates a big massive cloud of color! It really is one of the coolest things! Here are just a few of my pictures from that day!

April 11, 2010
I had a nice big reunion with all my summer roommates. I made a slideshow of a bunch of pictures from summer/fall and we ate cookie dough and orange julius (total summer classics!) Then I gave the boys some books I made for them for their missions. They turned out pretty good! It was a great night and I'm really going to miss these guys this summer!!

Amongst all these activities I have changed my major to officially Visual Arts, grown up a lot, almost finished my first year of college, and have taken a TON of pictures along the way. Some may even make it into my portfolio. Here are some of them.

Well I really hope you survived this unbelievably long post. Normally I would split it up and make it more than one but if I don't get it all done now, it might never get done! So I hope you enjoyed looking as much as I enjoyed doing all of these things (that's probably not possible though)!

Carrie and AJ Engagement Part 2

2010-03-03T23:27:00.000-07:00

Here are some more pictures.....

This is their wedding announcement

This is what I looked like after we were done.... I needed a towel or something

This is my roommate Natalie who helped me... this was a total in the moment picture it was so funny and still is!!!!

It was so much fun doing this for Carrie and AJ. I enjoyed it so much and got to put my skills to use!

My First Engagement Session- Carrie and AJ

2010-03-02T20:45:00.000-07:00

I received the opportunity to take some engagement pictures for my roommate Carrie and her fiance AJ. It was so much fun! I was very nervous as I have not done this solo, but I was surprised how natural it felt! It was so much. Enjoy and please comment!!!

The Brick Oven

2010-02-05T12:29:00.001-07:00

I wrote this for my media writing class and I thought it was good so I thought I would post it here, ENJOY!

It is a smell that will intoxicate you before you even enter the building and an aroma that keeps you coming back and wanting more, but once you walk into the room immediately your mouth starts watering and there is no way you could turn around and walk out. The smell is holding you captive and making your stomach sound like something from the Lion King.

There is only one place in the Provo area that could generate this kind of reaction and it’s a local pizza place named Brick Oven. Often amongst BYU students, comments like “yeah I have been to Brick Oven and I go all the time” or “I love it and you are not a BYU student until you have gone to Brick Oven” come up. But when talking to someone who has just been to the popular pizza place, they describe it as if the smell and taste of the restaurant was right then and there.

“I love the Brick Oven because the pizza is out of this world and you make whatever kind of pizza you want, there are no limits, well unless you run out of money but either way you get it just the way you want it,” said Natalie Albretson, a neighboring BYU student,.

At the Brick Oven, you can make a pizza with almost anything you want. The toppings on a “make your own pizza” have quite the variety and according to Albretson you can either be really healthy with your pizza or really unhealthy it’s completely up to you.
“Brick Oven is like a BYU must, you can’t graduate from this university without doing certain things and visiting certain places and Brick Oven is definitely very high on everyone’s BYU bucket list, or at least it should be,” said Ogden Mills, a BYU sophomore.

The to-go box is easily accessible for those whose stomachs are temporarily too full of the cheesy goodness. It is not a regular occurrence for people to not finish their pizza on the spot or to not take it home and enjoy its flavor for days to come.

“It’s like a sin to just leave your pizza there and either not finish it or not take it home. If I’m gonna pay money for this pizza you better believe it will all eventually end up in my stomach,” said Conor McManus, a “seasoned” BYU student.

To evoke this reaction, Brick Oven must be quite the experience to leave people’s mouths watering days after their last visit. The secret to this mouth-watering adventure is the ambiance of the restaurant, which is very much shaped around the name. It has brick and wood as its structure and just a warm feeling to it. It also doesn’t hurt that as soon as you walk in the door the walls have BYU paraphernalia which instantly creates a strong fondness between Brick Oven and the faithful Cougars.

A waitress Mekala said, “It’s the atmosphere that makes me enjoy working at Brick Oven, the smell, the people, and the food… it just all makes for a really fun job.”

End of Story!

A Little Spiritual Note

2010-01-09T15:06:00.000-07:00

I am stubborn. Sometimes it takes a lot to get a point across to me either because I am stubborn or I don't understand what you are telling me. As the new semester began and with New Years I thought about things that I wanted to resolve to do. I think it's easy to say I'm going to lose weight, do better in school, or I'm going to give up chocolate (which is completely unrealistic... haha jk) but it's a lot harder I think to make a resolution to change want is not on the surface of yourself. Without divulging all my negatives and how I want to change them, I have realized lately how I think Heavenly Father answers prayers; how he answers them in an unclear or unexpected way. But when you can see the answer and are at the end it makes sense and it was the answer you needed to have otherwise, if you are like me, you may have never understood it or would just be to dense to understand.

I don't have all the answers but I'm glad that i have an eternal outlook. That through the Gospel, my life no matter what path I take, I will always have an optimistic view of the world and how nothing is ever the end; there is always something more to work towards. I attended a wedding of a cousin of mine or at least went to the waiting room in the temple and I thought about how much the temple holds for me and everyone. The amazing and miraculous things that happen inside those walls. It's a very belittling but spiritually strengthening experience and I haven't even gone through it all the way. No matter what trials I have I know that I have an eternal outlook that far exceeds the troubles I have now. I'm grateful for the way my prayers have been answered even if they were in hard, and difficult ways I have learned from them. It's a good day when you find a peace with your trials, not that they go away but you see that you won't feel or be like this forever. I'm grateful for those moments and that I have that knowledge.

I'm happy with my life and being at BYU I have been blessed for being here. I have met amazing friends and men that use and respect their priesthood and are willing to use it to help me. Things are never perfect but I believe that people are put in your life for a reason and you are meant to learn something from each of them. For example, my roommate who was there for me last night and just listened to me and gave me advice. My friends Heidi, Shelby, and Spencer who are always there to listen and have been great friends and have such great memories and experiences with. Sorry if this is a weird or different post but I just wanted to share what I have learned.

Through the tears and the tough spots I'm grateful for this knowledge from Elder Hales. "As we put our faith and trust in the Lord, we must battle our pain day by day and sometimes hour by hour, even moment by moment.When pain, tests, and trials come in life, draw near to the Savior.Healing comes in the Lord's time and the Lord's way; be patient. D&C 121:7 "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment." Elder Robert D. Hales

(This is a picture from my cousin's wedding that I took. This one is included in my photography portfolio I'm turning in to see if I get accepted!)

Photography Major

2009-11-17T11:33:00.000-07:00

In my daring attempt to become a photography major, I have to build a portfolio that will astound the photography experts. I must convince them that I'm worthy of grabbing one of the 25 spots to the photography major program. So I'm posting some of these to show off what I have been up to lately and to get feedback on what I should put in my portfolio. These pictures are from my hike to Stewart Falls, and Apple Picking at my grandma's So enjoy!

These are from Stewart Falls. It was so beautiful up there in October!

I loved that I got a picture of two rainbows! Which one do you like of the two?

I can't decide which one of these I like better. Which one do you like?!

College Life In Pictures

2009-08-16T20:57:00.000-06:00

Here is a BRIEF taste of my college experience in pictures. I have so many others I could have posted but there is only so many I'm sure you want to look at so here are a few and my favorites.

On the side of our rocket ship.

We tried to see how many people we could pack on that couch before it got uncomfortable.

My lip right after I got kicked in the face.

Me in the first aid office at the pool.

Me and my roommates with our make up on that the guys did for us on our FHE 'spa night'

Me and David. I totally did his make up and i made him look nice while

he made me look like a clown.

Me and Spencer on our pizza double date night.

Shelby and John Hancock with their pizza on our double date night.

Spencer.... how it should have been all semester... he was always talking!!! haha :)

Me and my roommate Shelby

My roommates Heidi and Shelby and me

My roommates and some friends laying upside down on the Y

All of my roommates with our "spa night" make up on after FHE.

My FHE group

Me and Shelby boating.

Everyone who helped build our rocket ship on a Friday night.

My second date a BYU. At the pleasant grove rodeo with Ted Tuttle.

Lessons Learned at BYU

2009-08-16T14:36:00.000-06:00

Well i'm finally done. My first term of college is out of the way and now it should all be down hill from here right? Probably not but I can dream can't I?! During my first term there are many changes that I have experienced and things I have learned. As many of other first-year college students do here is my list of things I have learned and done this past term that have made me smarter and A LOT happier!!

1. Dishes don't do themselves, if you want them clean its up to you.
2. Patience really is a virtue when you have roommates.
3. I'm dumb for having an 8 o'clock class in the fall.
4. My cell phone is my life, and always lose it or it doesn't work when I actually NEED it.
5. NEVER let guys do your make up and hair, they make you look like a fool.
6. Trips home are the best.
7. College eating habits are random and rather unhealthy.
8. If you want guys at your apartment make food and then offer it to them or simply open the door and they will ALWAYS come.
9. Staying up all night doing homework is normal and advised and usually when the most fun occurs.
10. I can stay awake during class better when I get less sleep... weird i know
11. Devotionals are GREAT..... for catching up on sleep... just kidding... kind of
12. Weird stuff and comments happen in the wee hours of the morning and then embarrassingly make it on the quote wall of your apartment.
13. Analysis and research papers suck hardcore!!!
14. The police beat is the FUNNIEST and MOST RANDOM thing ever and totally makes my week... weird stuff happens at BYU... the deodorant guy... haha remember Shelby!!
15. As sad as it is, sometimes facebook is your only connection to the outside world when you are in hardcore study mode.
16. Creamery food is the BEST and so is their ice cream.
17. Balancing school and a social life is hard. Plus you have to throw in sleep and eating in there somewhere and you have to do this everyday!
18. You don't miss watching TV and the last show i watches was AFV at the Provo insta care.
19. Being from Utah, I'm the minority at BYU, a UTAH school, which is cool except no one knows where i live when i say Roy.
20. Guys will eat just about anything.
21. Six girls sharing one bathroom doesn't work!
22. Food goes bad a lot quicker when there is only one person consuming it, making for a lot of food thrown out due to mold.
23. College is expensive. Mostly because of books because they are WAY overpriced. No college book is interesting enough to be worth $50.00 or more. Professors are out of their mind if they think it's worth that much.
24. The religion department is WAY too picky about their copies.
25. You probably spend more money on printing papers than food! No you do!!
26. You miss your mom's home cooking a lot!
27. Dating is fun in college and that's because it's cheap!
28. Having opening prayers in your biology and every other class is awesome.
29. I'm happier now than I have ever been.
30. I love BYU more now than I did before, and I didn't think that was possible.

I other stuff...
1. How to save money better and not spend it on stupid stuff.
2. How to be a good Sunday school teacher and teachers always learn more!
3. I went to the insta care twice. One for my ankle (volleyball) and the other for my hole in my lip (swimming).

Well that's what i learned and i can't wait for fall to see what else is in store for me to learn. I'm sure there is soo much more! Wish me luck!

The Amazing Adventures of My First Week on BYU Campus

2009-06-14T12:16:00.000-06:00

Often, life does not go how we planned. Actually, it hardly ever goes like we want it. We make plans and choose to do certain things and most the time we are left with a situation we did not plan for or want at all.

I have been thinking about this idea quite a bit lately. As I have ventured off on my own, I have figured out that life isn’t that easy. I mean I knew it wasn’t easy before, but when you leave your home and parents, you quickly learn that you are on your own. For instance, that your mom and dad can’t drive you to your first day of work, help you when the BYU employment office sends you on a wild goose chase your first day on campus, or when you get lost on campus. These things are important lessons I have had to learn this past week.

I honestly have had quite a crazy week. Things that I didn’t plan well enough for backfired on me. (I honestly didn’t think I would need my OFFICIAL social security card to get a job because who carries those around with them anymore?) On my first day at BYU this is how my day went. I went to work with my brother-in-law Greg (who got me the job) at about 7:45a.m., then when we got there my new boss said that I needed my student ID card that has my number on it (which I didn’t have), so me and Greg ran to the Wilk to pick up that then went back to the my boss, who then told me that I needed my social security card (which of course as I stated earlier I didn’t have), so I thought maybe a copy would suffice. So I called my dad to have him fax it to me. I waited for about two and a half hours for this fax (my wonderful dad could not get his fax machine to work so he ran around looking for one that would).

Finally, I got the fax and took it to the student employment office, thinking that it would finally work. Well, I thought wrong! Apparently, they can accept a copy of my SS card but I must have some other kind of official document stating that I am a US citizen like my birth certificate, but who carries that around with them? Since I didn’t have that and it needed to be official, and I wanted to actual start my job before the second coming they told me I could go apply for a replacement SS card and then bring them the receipt stating that I had applied for one and this could be my second confirmation (why couldn’t they take my driver’s license but could take a receipt, I don’t know). Since I drove with Greg, I had to wait to go and do this because he was in a meeting. So I wandered campus, found my classes, and basically fell in love with BYU and its campus. After about an hour of wandering aimlessly, I met up with Greg and he took me to the SS office. I waited probably about another 20 minutes to be helped as there were a TON of people there and half of them were there for the exact same reason. Thank you BYU employment office. I finally got my receipt and then went and ventured to the Wilk’s cafeteria to eat food (I think I deserved a break after all the running and waiting around).

After lunch, I went back to the employment office and was finally cleared so I went to my boss’ office and he called the head guy and said that I was in the system but I had to be cleared first, saying that I did the whole process. So I waited about another hour in his office. FINALLY, he called saying I could go to work so I made it to my job where I will be working for the summer, the Tanner building copy center!!! Getting to work has never felt so rewarding and tiring. I am working with my cousin Jessica Eddington, and a guy named Ted Tuttle. They are super nice and fun to work with. I am also enjoying getting to know my cousin better. We are pretty slow now as it is spring term so we basically watch a lot of movies (Leatherheads, Horse Whisperer, Freaky Friday, Fox & the Hound, and the Sword and the Stone), listen to music, play the guitar, or play endless games (pinball, UNO, Phase Ten, Pocket Tanks, speed, and war). It’s been a lot of fun.

For my first week I have just learned the ropes and how to work our GIGANTIC copy machine. I’m not joking, this machine is like that big scary monster we were all scared of when we were young. I have learned how to copy, scan, fax and use Gretta the Guillotine (our massive paper cutter, it really does look like a guillotine). My week has been hectic and one full of firsts. Also this week, I went on my first blind date. My co worker Ted set me up with someone in his ward and we went on a big group date with some of Jessica and Ted’s friends. I also learned from this date, that in South Africa they call a stop light a robot, the back of a car the butt, hamburger and hot dog buns hamburger rolls, a windshield is called a windscreen, and many other different names for things.

I can’t wait for what this next week will bring as I am opening and closing for my job (I will be all alone, all day) Hopefully, a professor doesn’t come in to the copy center wanting something really big done as I won’t be able to help him and I will be alone for four days at work and I have not mastered that monster of a machine yet and all its secrets. I am also moving in to my apartment on Friday along with meeting my roommates, and have orientation. I can’t wait for what the next three months will bring. Most likely there will be a lot of studying and homework. It should be exciting and hopefully not so much running around will be involved.

(If I don’t blog, email, or Facebook for awhile it will either be because I’m stressed out with homework, have a new fear of anything electrical after working with that copy machine, or I have been eaten alive by that monster that lurks in the back of the copy center!)

The Sun & Rainbows After the Idaho Rain

2009-05-25T20:51:00.001-06:00

For Memorial weekend we always go to my grandparents house and without fail I think it rains every year. So here are some of the beauties I found from the rainy weekend we had!

B&W

COLOR

Seminary Graduation

2009-05-22T12:49:00.000-06:00

My Seminary Graduaiton Day!! WOO HOO Now I only have to go through 2 more days and I will Be a high school graduate!

Senior Story for My Last School Newspaper Article

2009-05-22T09:44:00.000-06:00

Here is my story that I wrote for the last issue of our school newspaper. I thought I would add some of my writing in my blog. I'm really proud of this article!

Brooke Eddington
Assistant Editor

This year has just flown by. I had been anticipating being a senior in high school for many years. In junior high and high school I thought being a senior would just be awesome. Now that I have come to the end of the road, being a senior has been pretty awesome but more than just being awesome I have learned some very important lessons and have some advice for next years seniors.

My high school years have not been ideal. I have dealt with some pretty crazy things, things I was sure I would never have to deal with. High school is some of the best and easily the worst three years of your life. You will experience new things and have to make important decisions that will have the power to affect that rest of your life. My friends have been such an important part of my life. They have been with me through everything. When I went through a break up, when I was injured (which happened a lot), when I was dealing with some depression, when I got accepted to college, and when they came to my volleyball games to support me. I will never be able to completely verbally thank my friends enough for the impact they have had in my life, for how much they have meant to me and how much I will miss our crazy nights and days together.

I also learned how to truly be a friend. My friend at the end of her junior year had to go through a life changing process that was not something I saw coming and was hard for me too. I had to learn that being a friend means more than just telling each other who you are crushing on or hanging out that weekend. It’s about being someone who will be there through the good, the bad, and the ugly. When even though you may not understand or agree with their decisions you are there for them through thick and thin and will stand by them when few will. This friend has taught me more about being friend than I think I could have ever learned anywhere else. Now for my advice.

“Senior year is unlike any other. Here are a few things you should know. It won't hit you when you wake up for your last first day of school. It won't hit you as you walk into the Senior locker bay for the first time as an official senior. It won't hit you when you cheer at your last homecoming pep rally and attend your last football game. It won't hit you as you go to your last homecoming dance and realize Prom is way better without the lower classmen and the DJ. It won't hit you as you enter the floor to perform at state for the last time. It won't hit you as you fill out the countless college applications. It won't hit you as you write that generic essay letter that you try to use for all your applications. It won't hit you as your college friends return for Christmas break and give you all their advice. It won't hit you as you celebrate New Year's with the friends you have known since childhood. It won't hit you when you cheer at your last Senior night and cry your eyes out! You won't feel it when you are having the time of your life at your last spring break. You don't realize it during Senior skip day, when everyone, no matter what group you are in, has a picnic. When May finally comes around and you realize that it is your last Prom, but you don't really feel it when you are there having the time of your life. You begin to realize it at Graduation when you look around and realize that you will never see half of these people again. You will begin to see it more over the summer when everyone is getting their roommates, class schedules, and going to orientation. It still hasn't fully hit you when you are sitting in your room packing up the past 18 years of your life, laughing with your best friend about all the stupid stuff you've done. You might feel it the morning you leave for college as that it is the last time you will see your room, your parents, and your best friend for like 3 months. It will finally hit you when you are sitting in your dorm room with a perfect stranger that you have to live with for the next year. Please, Please, PLEASE make every moment of your Senior year count, you only get to do it once. College will be a lot of fun, but in the meantime, jump at every opportunity you get to do anything that you have ever wanted to do. Spend as much time with friends as possible, for it will not be long until you meet new people and inevitably grow apart.”

I found this quote and it has easily become my favorite and sums up how I feel about high school and what you need to remember and hold on to and what to let go of. I took a walk a month ago and I walked to my high school, junior high, and elementary school and I though about all the wonderful memories that I have and will never forget but I can’t wait for graduation next week. I have been dreading everyday that I have had to come to school since the beginning of March.

Finally, I would like to thank my teachers from the bottom of my heart especially some who have influenced my life so much. Van Hadley who taught me to work hard, push myself, and be better walking out of his class than I was entering it and Glenna Lewis who taught me to appreciate literature and convinced me that I wanted to be a writer. Roy High School can be a wonderful place to learn, so take advantage of it.

Next week, I will take my diploma and change my tassel to the other side and I will no longer be a high school student, I will be Brooke Eddington future college freshman. I’m ready to start the next chapter in my life, one full of wonderful challenges and infinite possibilities. Thank you to all of you, and I will forever be a Royal. GO ROY!

Some Cool B&W Pictures

2009-05-01T08:23:00.000-06:00

I am the photographer for my school newspaper and yearbook staff. For my newspaper, I was asked to find a picture that represented the end of the year and the fact that the seniors were moving on. I really had no idea how to caputre this! One day though, I was sitting in the hallway in the early morning and I was watching people walk in and out of the school with the bright sun coming through the windows and I was inspired and found my picture!!! Luckily, I had my camera with me! Hope you like my attempt at B&W and that you see my vision like I did!

This is my absolute favorite picture with the three guys. The lighting was what I wanted it to be and they just looked cool walking out of the building!

These guys got sick of walking back and forth until I had enough pictures but I think that it was worth it to listen to their complaining!

How Many People Can You Fit Into A '69 VW Bug? ...............11!

2009-04-07T21:14:00.000-06:00

There are only about 33 days left until I become a high school graduate. Which means that my senioritis has kicked in pretty bad! So when you get like .... Oh say 8 seniors that are pretty intelligent students together we tend to use all the knowledge we have gained in the last 13 years of our education to good use. These are some pictures that reflect our vast knowledge and implementation of it in our spare time! (There are a lot of pictures because this event needed PLENTY of documentation!)

My friend Jason (in the white with the funny face) has this really old 1969 VW bug. It's pretty bad. When it's cold in the morning he has to scrap off ice INSIDE of his car.... it's a pretty sad car. He has always talked about putting a lot of people in his car and going to get ice cream...... so today...... WE DID.

The boys were in the front and the girls were in the back. I seriously have THE coolest friends!!!

It was really hot in the back! We were crammed so tight!

SUCCESS!!!

If you look close you can see some faces of pain and shock.

The girls pretty crammped in the back. The boys in the front thought it would be funny to bounce on the back rests of the front seats so they would crush our legs! Good times...

We then decided to switch and put the girls up front!

That's me sitting pretty comfortable in the front seat. The people in the back are the ones that are crammped this time! hahahaha i even repaid the boys by bouncing on the seat a little bit. Ok A LOT!

Silly Boys.

Stretching after exiting the car. The boys are mostly trying to inspect the car. Somehow it didn't break! Who would have thought we could have done that.... surely not us.

The whole gang. There are 8 seniors in the picture. They are all on the back and then the second from the left, the one doing the funny pose. (Cameron, Jason, Dena, Megan, Cheri, me, and Bryan) The other three are Jason's sisters and neighbor. It was seriously the most fun and funniest thing we have ever done! All those years of hard work are finally paying off. We used math, creativity, science, and our wit! It was GOOD STUFF!!! We are going to shoot for 13 in a few weeks! College here we come......... woooo!

Winter Has Its Season...

2009-03-30T21:04:00.000-06:00

Here is my blog! I'm trying this out. I hope that someone finds it remotely interesting.

I'm a very big fan of winter. I love the snow, the cold, and being able to go outside and play in the snow like a little kid. I love going tubing and skiing/snowboarding. BUT winter definitely has it's season, and like every other season I can't wait to move on to the next one which right now I'm pumped for spring. So you can imagine my disappointment when I woke up today and there was about 4 in. on top of my car that I HATE scrapping off. Even worse when I came home from work I saw these and had to take a picture to show that it's not spring yet....

but I'm hoping that changes quickly!!