But If Life Were Made of Moments,

Then we'd never known we had one.

Moments from today:

1. I have this theory that everyone resembles some kind of animal. Therefore, the person you are most romantically compatible with will resemble animals in the same family or group. Today, it was decided that I was a raccoon. 

I thought about posting a picture of myself after the raccoon so you could truly see the resemblance, but I thought that would be detrimental to my self esteem. I'm currently making a poster to place around campus reading, "WANTED: Any single male that resembles this picture. Average GPA of 3.5, 6'2" and relatively normal is preferred. Reward negotiable." 

I'm thinking a fair reward would be an eternity of good dinners. Maybe 10 unarguable diaper changes? If he's really raccoony, I might consider consenting to an engagement before my 18th birthday. We'll see who shows up.

Moment 2: Right in the middle of when I was using the restroom in the HFAC, my stall door swung open. 

Apparently, the HFAC bathroom locks are not as secure as they would like to have you believe. Luckily I noticed my predicament before anyone else did. Needless to say, I will not be using those toilets for a long time.

Moment 3: I'm packing up after biology when a guy walks up and starts talking to me for the first time. This is how it went:

"So we were on the bio website at the same time and I saw your name. My dad wanted me to ask you if you have any relatives that served a mission in Taiwan."

*Let's talk about this for a second. I have never seen this kid before, much less talked to him. Despite this, he knows my first and last name and when I'm taking bio quizzes. He went to enough trouble to look me up on some BYU directory to figure out what I looked like. Assuming his story is true, he then happened to bring up  my name to his father in casual conversation, who asked him to ask me if I knew a guy from his mission.*

"Ahhh.. I have no idea."

"Well, you should ask your dad and tell me next class!"

So Dad. Anyone you know serve in Taiwan? I'm really eager to sit next to him and find out what else he's managed to find out about me in the first two weeks of class. Please get back to me as soon as possible.

Moment 4: I found this:

I just really had my mind blown. Not all the way... Just like a big gust of wind just went in one ear and out the other.

Also,

I don't really have anything to top that.

Goodnight. 

Deep Subject Matter

Sometimes life is hard. I guess I didn't expect all of college to be peaches and cream, sunbursts and roses, but I never thought about it being truly hard. Don't get me wrong, last semester classes were difficult. Taking 17 credits the first semester may have been a tad overkill, but academic performance is something I can control. I didn't have to worry about roommate problems, depression, sickness, or anything that would make being emotional stable seem harder then avoiding every RM on campus. All in all, I got lulled into the "happy bubble" Provo, Utah offers to its college students.

I guess what this really comes down to is even when you are doing the right things, Heavenly Father gives you trials to help you grow, become more compassionate, learn things about yourself and draw closer to Him. The last couple of weeks I've had to spend a lot of time in prayer, at the temple, reading scriptures and fasting to try to get my will in accordance with His. What I've learned is one of the most basic spiritual lessons taught: patience is a virtue. You can ask, plead and beg for answers, but God gives them when you need to receive answers. If Heavenly Father had given me the answer I was asking for right away, I would have lost a great opportunity to draw closer to Him and better understand His personality. Instead, the Spirit has given me promptings and directions in the quiet moments of life over the last couple of weeks. I still don't know everything the Lord wants from me, but I'm definitely on the way to knowing.

So this is my inspiration of the week: I know the Lord knows each of us individually. I know he hears my prayers and I know that he knows my personality better than I do. He is watching over my life and waiting for me to let him in. He desperately wants each one of us to open our lives to him and receive the guidance, direction, protection, love, and help the Spirit gives. I know that Jesus atoned for each of our sins in Gethsemane so that we can repent of our sins, improve, and return someday to live with our Heavenly Father, Mother, and brother Jesus Christ. I know that the scriptures are the key to understanding the Lord's will. Every verse of scripture was written for us and can give us inspiration when we let the Spirit into our lives. I love the Lord, and I hope that when I meet him face to face, I will be able to look back on my life and see that I was able to be used as an instrument of the Lord. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ has been restored by Joseph Smith. I have a firm testimony that this church brings true peace and happiness to all who immerse themselves in it. I have received witness after witness that my Savior knows and loves me, as well as all of his spirit sons and daughters.

The last thing I know is that Heavenly Father has placed us into families very specifically and purposefully. He has given us parents that we need to learn specific lessons from. The family is the unit of society, and never before has Satan been so successful at attacking the family. Besides my relationship with Christ, my relationship with my family is what gives me strength. Families can be together forever when sealed in the temple, and that is one of the most beautiful components of the gospel.

Life is hard. But living life without the support of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and my family would make it much harder. I believe, and will live like I believe. That's the only way I can possibly express gratitude to one who has given me all that I have.  

My Strange Introduction to Russians

Today I got a present from Brigham and Alex. This is what it was: 

Things to enjoy about this song:

1. The instrumentalists with bags over their heads. I'm crediting the bags to one of two reasons: A. they can't actually keep a straight face during the song or B. if they look at him, his hypnotic smile distracts them from playing. Also, I would like to do a little call out to the accordion player. It takes a high level of talent to play the accordion with black cloth covering your face. 

2. The audience. From my understanding, the bowing is impromptu. Kind of like a weird modern day Shaker assembly... but without religion to explain their weird behavior.

3. The Japanese subtitles. (I apologize if they aren't Japanese. I am fairly uncultured when it comes to Asian linguistics.) But apparently they share my love of Russian culture.

4. His dance moves. And smile. And eyes. And dance moves. And smile. AND dance moves. And high notes... No explanation needed.

5. The key change. You didn't think he could go higher? Yea, well, he can. 

All in all, every time I get stressed for the next week, this is going to be my go to pick me up. And if I get bored of this one, if that is even possible, I'll just watch him singing techno in a white, full suited, bell bottomed onesie. I'm not even making this up- it's on the Tube. 

I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did. If it's just one of those things that AK thinks is hilarious and the rest of the world doesn't appreciate, I'll keep him to myself. I'm finding this song highly addicting...

I should probably check if it's against the honor code. 

The Humility Factor

It's taken me a while to pick up to one of the biggest characteristics of BYU. Here's what happens: You meet someone and have a good conversation, both parties decide they want to be friends. You start to figure out the basics of their personality, inside jokes are developed, you talk and walk, sometimes if you are really good friends you make them pancakes in whatever shape they want. Moral of the story, they become one of your best friends. You construct a picture in your mind as to who this person is. Then, one day, that person will tell you something that completely changes the scenery of the picture. I also refer to this as the 'humility factor.'

Example 1: Bryant Boyer. Awesome guy. Super nice, a great listener, really smart. Then one day at the ward talent show, he starts playing piano. He's not just playing with remarkable skill, but he composed what he's playing. My mind was blown. I didn't even know he played piano. He still owes me a jamming session. 

Example 2: Some lady that came in and talked into my Music 176 class. Oh, I forgot to tell you that I sang in the My Little Pony commercials? Sorry... (She also sang Tang, Yoplait, you name it. Talk about random.)

Example 3: Braden Clark. Awesome guy. I found out he was Jack in Into the Woods, which is automatic win points because, lets be honest, Into the Woods is one of the best musicals in the world. And I say that from a completely unbiased perspective. Then, one day, I ran across this. 

This guy is worth watching the full 12 minutes. It gets better, and better, and better. No biggy, one of my best friends rocks at speech and debate. And I just realized how much rocks is an understatement. 

While we are one this subject, call out to Brian Kessler and Sam Schedler for winning first place in the Varsity Duo category yesterday. I'm proud of you guys!

Throughout this week, I've realized how big of a thing the 'humility factor' is. Everyone at BYU has some secret talent that they refuse to show the rest of the world. It might be the "pride comes before the fall" thing. OR, they don't want their bishop to find out for fear their talents will be called on via ward calling. 

I think it's the appropriate time to tell everyone I can fly.

Disney Princess Cynicism

Prince Charming: noun. A. A handsome man who sweeps a lady off of her feet and lives happily ever. I heard they tried to place a picture of Prince Charming in the dictionary next to his definition, but Webster couldn’t actually find one to photograph.  They haven’t realized it’s because he doesn’t exist.

                My Disney princess infused childhood makes me cynical of the “and the lived happily ever after” theory. Cinderella was chased down by her prince after her carriage turned into a pumpkin. Ariel sold her soul to a witch in order to seduce a man she had only seen via bronze statue. Rapunzel ran away from her mom with a convict that attempted to smolder her. Prince Charming may work for girls with proportionally wrong bodies and lyrical singing voices, but that’s not reality.

                Disney, Jane Austen, throw a little Teenage Dream in there, and the all too allusive Prince Charming is portrayed as temporarily playing hide and go seek, just waiting for you to look in your dryer and find him waiting there for him. In case you haven’t checked that spot yet, I can promise you he isn’t there.

                My roommate has a vase to put flowers in, but she actually has never received flowers. There’s a little rubber ball occupying it instead.  She can wait for Prince Charming. She can look under the bed and even in the fridge, but he’s not there.

                For all of you optimists out there, hang on. I’m getting to the point.

                Sure I’m cynical of their existence, but I don’t see the lack of Prince Charming’s in the world being a problem. Girls have been taught to hold out for the perfect guy- one who will bring flowers on a special occasion, never forget to call and can bench press at least 200 lbs. Let’s get real for a second though; I would hate dating Ken almost as much as I would hate being Barbie. The whole point of having a friendship or relationship is to grow together. People are never going to be perfect, no matter how much you groom them. There are plenty of guys, however, that are determined to do what’s right and become better.

                I’m not going to lie and say I know what it’s like to be in love. I do, however, know what it’s like to have extreme respect for a guy. I appreciate the boys in my life who are consistently there for me, and setting an example for me. I guess what I’m trying to say tonight is I am grateful for the guys in my life. So if you are one of them, thank you.

Blue Suede Shoes

Merry ChristmaseveChristmasNewyearseveNewyears! Yes, that is a word in the dictionary. Look it up, I dare you. I hope whatever celebrations you participated in over the last few weeks were peaceful and enjoyable. Mine definitely were! I seem to like numbering off things that happened or lessons learned, so I suppose I will again right now that give a recap of my break.

1. I went to Ohio for Christmas to spend time with my family, grandparents, cousins and aunt and uncle. What I learned: My grandma was born with a tooth coming out of the roof of her mouth and my grandpa went to Homecoming his senior year of college with the Homecoming queen; ankles swollen up to the size of Texas don't fit well in heels; (common sense, but the lesson still learned,) when playing ping-pong, screaming at your opponent every time they try to hit the ball can increase chances of success, and Santa can consistently deliver presents to the right state. 
2. I met Chuck E. Cheese. Lesson learned: Sometimes childhood dreams do come true. Also, his favorite dance is the cupid shuffle. 
3. I watched the Muppet Movie. If you haven't gone to see this movie, drop everything and go and watch it. For real. Many a people think they are too old or cool or mature or precocious for talking muppets with unbelievably unrealistic facial features, accents, and relationships. I mean in real life, a frog and a pig simply cannot be married. Most bi-species relationships don't work. (That's my common sense coming out again.) But in this movie, everything is possible. Lesson learned: I don't really know what I learned from this movie that you would benefit from me sharing. So you should probably go watch it.
4. I played a very long game of Life with my family. Lesson learned: when the 6 year old demands to be banker for the entirety of the game, expect to have the game last about as long as an actual life.
5. On a tad more serious note, celebrating the birth of the Savior is a sure-fire way to invite added happiness and peace into one's life. Without him, I would have little knowledge of who I am or why I'm here. With him, I know where I'm going and how to get there. Once you have that figured out, everything else seems to fall into place. Truly developing a relationship with Him will not bring immunity to life's temptations and trials, but His strength makes all things manageable and worthwhile.

So, that's about it. To end the year, I've included a website with some of the most stunning pictures taken in 2011. Click Right Here!

May the new year bring happiness, peace and wholeness to all. 

Love, 

AK

P.S. Story of My Life. And probably yours, too. You should probably click on that link...

P.P.S. The title of this blog is another one of my favorite Christmas traditions. Basically, my dad comes up with really... unique riddles that us kids have to figure out before we can look at the tree on Christmas morning. One of this year's riddles was: What is the type of shoe that reflects it's mood accurately when stepped on? The answer: Blue Suede Shoes. I forgot to tell you earlier! 

Have a GREAT day!

Egg Nog Ice Cream... Awk.

Tonight I had the ultimate dilemma: To sleep or not to sleep, that was the question. Let me explain...

Well this week is finals week. I've had four finals in the last two days, and when I came home tonight, I was exhausted. So at about six, I decided to take a nap. I slept until 7:30, an then my roommates came in and tried to force me out of bed so I would be able to fall asleep later tonight. I thought I was really tired and would be able to sleep through the night. I was wrong.

I woke up about half an hour ago to an extremely hot body (temp wise :) ) and delightful laughter coming out of my kitchen. I tried to go back to sleep, and failed. I got water and shed some blankets. Then I tried to go back to sleep, and failed. I put a pillow over my face, tried to go back to sleep, and failed. I counted sheep, tried to go back to sleep, and failed. I went through all of the elements according to mass number in my head, tired to go back to sleep, and failed. That's a lie, I didn't do that. But I just thought of that and  had I have thought of that half an hour ago, it probably would have put me to sleep.

So now it's 10:30 and I just took a four hour nap. So, if anyone is still up at like three this morning, you can give me a call. Because I probably still will be up, memorizing the periodic table, trying to get me to sleep.

My roommate is drinking Sunkist before she goes to sleep. This is ironic because she was the one who tried to get me out of bed.

My other roommate really wants me to talk about her. SO, her name is Rachael Davies. She is blonde and being OCD about her studying and reading our whole physical science book in three days. I think this is a dumb idea, but it's probably more entertaining then making hundreds of flashcards. Also, I have her for Christmas Secret Santa! Except now that I think about it, none of it is really secret. Hence me posting who I have on the internet. Anyways, she is going to get the best Christmas present of her life from me! So Rach, gf, be prepared.

Okay, my favorite part of Christmas tonight is people buying egg nog ice cream from the Creamery. I think this is disgusting and funny at the same time. Some people honestly spend $5 on EGG NOG ice cream. Think of all the other things you could get with $5! You could get 5 episodes of Pretty Little Liars, 5 matchbox cars, 5 packs of gum, a late testing fee from the Testing Center, 2 loafs of bread, or a partridge in a pear tree. Any of those would be a better way to spend money then getting egg nog ice cream. I'm clearly not judging these super weird people though. I'm over it!

Here is my favorite Christmas song right now. It's brilliant.