Photo time!

Okay, so I'm finally getting around to posting these. (Sorry it's taken me so long, Dix!) Anyway, since I have a stack of pictures over an inch thick, I just chose a few that I liked the best.

First two were for my 'fortune' assignment. We had to take a fortune cookie fortune and turn it into pictures. It was actually quite fun. My fortune was 'Now is a good time to take care of old business'. Can you figure out why I took these pictures?

Next is my 'memory' assignment. The first picture is probably my favorite out of most of my pictures. Even though it was a little tricky to do, I had a ton of fun. And the second picture is supposed to look like it does. It's been vignetted so that's why the edges are dark. (Just in case you were wondering.)

These ones were for my 'portrait' assignment. This was my second favorite assignment to do, but I'm pretty sure it was because of who I was shooting. This beautiful girl is my best friend Holli. She was great and spent the whole day with me taking pictures. I think we were laughing 90% of the time which made it even better.

Lastly, these were from my 'Urban Streets' assignment.

Enjoy!!

Christmas spirit!

I love the giving feeling this time of year. Which makes sense because I love giving and doing things for other people. Christmas just gives me an excuse to do it. Then I don't have to think up a logical reason I'm doing something for something other than I just want too.
So, tonight I was off on another one of my secret deliveries. And since it snowed all day today, I had to be extra sneaky. Besides the fact that snow loves to leave your tracks, everything was frozen so walking on the sidewalk and what not was like stomping on glass making it clear to practically everyone that I was around. But, I've had plenty of practice, so I just improvised the delivery and get away.
Now my secret delivery really wasn't a Christmas gift or anything. Just a little note for a friend that I felt like could use a little love. So with my little gift and note in hand, I set off to make my drop off. My friend's house is in the middle of the block and they have a very good view of the street both ways. So, I parked my car around the corner and made my way back to her home. And I'm pretty sure thanks to all the ice that plenty of people could probably hear me. Wising up a little, I started stepping in the piles of snow that people had made from shoveling they're walks that it muffled my steps somewhat. I just got really cold and wet instead, but I DIDN'T CARE. I was having too much fun!
I finally reached my destination and set down my gift. I took a deep breath, rang the door bell, and BOLTED off the front porch, around the side of the house, and waited... (I didn't want to make footprints in the snow that would give me away so I figured that I'd wait until they'd closed the door and retreated back into the house before making my way away from the house.) The porch light came on and the front door opened. My friend's little brother shouts back into the house, "Nobody is here! Hey, they left something!" I tried very hard not to laugh. Anyway, I hear him pick up the gift and take it into the house. Once the door is closed and I'm certain that they're not waiting to see me come out of hiding, I headed back to my car. I wasn't running too fast because I didn't want to slip and break my neck, but I didn't get caught. It was great! *Sigh* All in a days work.

Humility

You'd think by now that I would have learned to just be humble when it comes to challenges. Yet, I'm still stubborn and try to solve the problem on my own. Well, a month had passed I still had not conquered the trial so to speak. So, I finally decided that I would stop being so stubborn and ask for some help from my Father in Heaven. And guess what? I got my answer the very next day. And it was just what I needed to conquer my trail. Once again, I have seen the power of prayer and that the Lord is aware of me and my troubles. It's a good feeling and also a reminder that I needed.

7 Random Things About Me

The rules are: Link to the person that tagged you, (Dixie) and post the rules on your blog. Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself. Tag 7 random people at the end of your blog. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1. I smile practically all the time; whether I'm happy or not. So if I'm ever feeling down people usually can never tell because I smile to hide it.

2. If I'm frustrated or way stressed out, I grit my teeth; which usually gives me a headache after a while.

3. I like sitting and watching people (in a non-creepy way). You'd be surprised what you learn.

4. I over think just about everything. Even if there is a simple answer, I still think it over way too much.

5. I don't like asking people for help or for favors. I always feel like I would be bothering them and I don't want them to be mad at me for bothering them. I hash over it in my brain for like forever before I decide to ask or not.

6. My jeans have to be long enough to cover my socks and reach my shoes when I sit down. It bugs me if they don't.

7. I have a habit of only using one earphone when I listen to music or whatever. And it's usually in my right ear.


I tag: Cherilee and Andrew

Going over old thoughts...

A couple of weeks ago I was working on one of my photography assignments which happened to be 'memory'. Now you'd think that when you take memory pictures that you take pictures of whatever that memory was. If you have a memory of playing basketball in the park, you take pictures of a basketball or a basketball court. However, this wasn't what my professor had in mind. She wanted us to think outside the box. So the assignment was to take pictures of the feelings and thoughts that we have in association with that memory. Why do we remember it? So after two hours of talking with my professor (it was an awesome chat by the way) we decided to do the memories I have of the years that I was suffering from severe depression. And after talking, my professor told me to really think about what I was thinking and feeling during those years and to bring her back pictures that would illustrate what I was feeling.
So when I finally found a minute to sit down and think, it was an interesting sensation pondering about everything I experienced. It really made me stop and realize how far I've actually come. That I actually can look in the mirror and be happy with who I am and with what I'm doing with my life. Not too long ago it was a very different story. Thinking back on all the things I felt and thought about made me so grateful that I'm not still struggling like I was at that time. It reminded me that I'm a lot stronger than I thought I was and that I can do what the Lord calls upon me to do with His help. And I also have help from my amazing family and friends! Thanks everybody!

BYU Homecoming

My dear younger brother set me up on a blind date for BYU's homecoming last night. So he and my friend Holli doubled up with myself and my blind date, Chance. And I have to say that it actually went pretty well, better than I thought it was going to. Chance was very nice and pretty funny, but he did have a habit of disappearing for a little while before returning. He'd be there one minute and then I'd turn around and he'd be gone talking to someone else or what not. I couldn't totally be mad though, he is a pretty popular kid and he was trying to help out with stuff. So overall I'd have to say that I had a fun time and that it was fun doing a double date with Andrew and Holli.
We ate at the Olive Garden, which was excellent. Afterwards, we drove up to Heber and the dance was on the Heber Creeper. That's a train if you didn't know. Yeah, I was kind of wondering how dancing would go over on a train too, but it actually was a ton of fun. Occasionally it would get rather overheated, but then we would just step outside and cool off in the cold winter air.
So the theme of the dance was dress up for your favorite decade and we decided to do the 80's. Now, those of you who know me, know that I'm not a dress up, make-up, hair-do kind of person. I'm pretty boring when it comes to fashion and don't do something new very often. Thankfully Holli, and I love her to death for it, can get me out of my little shell and get me to try new and different things. So with her help, I would have totally fit in with any eighties party. She fixed my hair up and did my make-up and I have to say, it was a lot of fun.
So after dancing like crazy on the train, it was time to make the trip back home. Well, it was like midnight, so we decided that we needed to do something to keep us all awake. And you'll never guess what we decided to do! We sang all the songs to the Phantom of the Opera like at the top of our lungs! It was hilarious! And I have to say, that I was totally blown away when Holli pulled of the entire Phantom of the Opera theme song. She did an awesome job. I kind of died out before the last really HIGH notes, but she totally got them. Andrew and Chance did a great job with the guy parts; I was very impressed.
Hence, for my first blind date, it wasn't as bad as everyone kept saying to could be. There were a couple times when it got pretty awkward or whatever, but I was glad that I went. Holli and Andrew took good care of me when my date would suddenly disappear for a few minutes. We had a lot of laughs and I'm glad that I went with them.

My poor car!

So the other day, I was driving to school in the morning and as I was driving I had a lovely scare. The car in front of me drove over a large sheet of shrapnel that was on the freeway and kicked it up. I swear I thought it was going to come right through my windshield. I was totally pan icing. It wasn't like there was much I could do except brace for it's impact, but luckily it just hit into the front of my car and went underneath instead of continuing it's current course into my windshield. Hence, the front of my car is not so perfect any more. Thanks to the eight foot piece of metal I now have several gouges and scrapes in the front. I was just glad that it didn't kill any of my tires. So hence it was a very interesting drive to school that day and if wasn't already awake and aware ... I was now. Just kidding, I'm a very careful driver, promise!