20 is better than 19

Over the Christmas break I started writing down funny things that my family said. I made my own little quote wall and it's hilarious! This was included:

Mom: "I wore that 40 years ago!" looking at an old scarf.
Cindy: "When I was born?"
Mom: "No! 20 years before you were born!"
Cindy: "Ha ha... oh yeah."

Turns out I'm only 20. Go figure.

My teenage years are long gone. I have no idea where the time has gone! I was talking to a few girls in my ward the other day and one of them mentioned that she dreaded her 20th birthday. Not me. I welcomed it with open arms. But 20 used to be so old! I don't feel old at all. I'm curious if there's a point in life where I'll feel old? Every time I (or Kevin) tell my mom she's old, she says something like, "I still feel like I'm 13 sometimes!". I guess no matter how many candles are on my cake I may never feel "old".

I like being 20 nonetheless. It's only been 2 and 1/2 weeks so far and it's been great! I like my life. A lot. And I want to enjoy all of it. I want to enjoy right here, right now. I don't want to wish I was anywhere else. There's a lot to look forward to! Learning to be happy with my life now, will help me be happy in the future. "Finding Joy in the Journey" by President Monson is a great talk.

On a totally different note. Going to Las Vegas to meet Simon for the first time was fun. 

 

 It's hard to see his face, but it has "Cindy, you're my favorite aunt!" written all over it. 

 

 He was talking to me.

I can't believe how long his eye lashes are!

Simon's blessing.

He was sleepy.

So was I.

Simon IS so cuddly! I've experienced it first hand and I loved it! Isn't his little stretched out arm cute?

I love Janet.

He's so cute :) Love his dimple

Here are a few random pics. I wasn't there, but they're sure cute anyway. 

Gracey

Simon and Camille

Lucy. There's so much light inside of this little girl. She just glows

 

 Paisley is out of control. 

 

I cannot help but smile everytime I see this picture. 

It's easy to be fooled by this cute, innocent face... It's fooled me multiple times.

She's hilarious!

One more thing. I've been thinking about this summer a lot this past week. I don't like the idea of living at home and working... I've thought about staying in Provo, but I don't really like that idea either. I may go to Atlanta to spend the summer with Kristy and Company. I've been thinking about this a lot and we've talked about a few possibilities. We'll see what happens though. Something will work out.

And NO I do not plan on going out there to find a husband. That "trend" ended years ago...

all things denote there is a God

On Saturday I met my nephew Simon for first time! He's even cuter in real life than all the cute pictures. I didn't think it was possible for him to be any cuter, but then again pictures don't show all of his facial expressions and you can't hear his cute baby cues. Plus, in the pictures he wasn't smiling at me, he's way cuter when he's smiling at me :) Anyway, I went to Las Vegas this weekend for his blessing. After the blessing everyone was planning on going back to Janet's house. My mom decided that she wanted to stay for all three hours but she didn't want to be alone, so she asked me to stay with her. I told her that I didn't really want to... because I was tired and I didn't know anyone in the ward anyway. She said, "Please just stay with me. If you stay you won't regret it". 
It was confirmed, once again, that my mom is always right! The Relief Society lesson was so good and I was grateful that my mom asked me to stay with her. Ever since this lesson I've been thinking a lot about it.

We started out by singing this Primary song. 

MY HEAVENLY FATHER LOVES ME

Words and Music by Clara W. McMaster, b. 1904

Whenever I hear the song of a bird

Or look at the blue, blue sky,

Whenever I feel the rain on my face

Or the wind as it rushes by,

Whenever I touch a velvet rose

Or walk by a lilac tree,

I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world

Heavenly Father created for me.

He gave me my eyes that I might see

The color of butterfly wings.

He gave me my ears that I might hear

The magical sound of things.

He gave me my life, my mind, my heart:

I thank him reverently

For all his creations, of which I'm a part.

Yes, I know Heavenly Father loves me.

I love this song. Even more now than I ever have. Everything around me testifies that there is a God. A few years ago I went to my last girls camp with my home ward. A guy in our stake came and taught us about the stars. I was in heaven! Afterward, my friend Heidi and I were talking about how cool it was and we concluded that that it all testifies that there was indeed a God. 
It's like in Alma when Korihor asks for a sign. Alma tells him that he doesn't need a sign. Everything around him is enough and that all things denote there is a God. "...the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator" (Alma 30:46)

Speaking of the planets... the teacher read this quote about Isaac Newton and an atheist friend. This is a great story!

This was found in The Truth: God or evolution? Marshall and Sandra Hall describe quoted this exchange between Newton and an atheist friend. (I don't have a page number).
 

Sir Isaac had an accomplished artisan fashion for him a small scale model of our solar system, which was to be put in a room in Newton's home when completed. The assignment was finished and installed on a large table. The workman had done a very commendable job, simulating not only the various sizes of the planets and their relative proximities, but also so constructing the model that everything rotated and orbited when a crank was turned. It was an interesting, even fascinating work, as you can imagine, particularly to anyone schooled in the sciences.

Newton's atheist-scientist friend came by for a visit. Seeing the model, he was naturally intrigued, and proceeded to examine it with undisguised admiration for the high quality of the workmanship. "My, what an exquisite thing this is!" he exclaimed. "Who made it?" Paying little attention to him, Sir Isaac answered, "Nobody." Stopping his inspection, the visitor turned and said, "Evidently you did not understand my question. I asked who made this." Newton, enjoying himself immensely no doubt, replied in a still more serious tone, "Nobody. What you see just happened to assume the form it now has." "You must think I am a fool!" the visitor retorted heatedly, "Of course somebody made it, and he is a genius, and I would like to know who he is!" Newton then spoke to his friend in a polite yet firm way: "This thing is but a puny imitation of a much grander system whose laws you know, and I am not able to convince you that this mere toy is without a designer or maker; yet you profess to believe that the great original from which the design is taken has come into being without either designer or maker! Now tell me by what sort of reasoning do you reach such an incongruous conclusion?"

Like Newton, it's hard for me to understand how someone doesn't believe in God, especially a scientist or astronomer. I'm taking a couple biology classes right now. The more I study plants and cells and DNA, I gain a better understanding of who God is. Everything is so organized and complicated. These things did not come to existence through a big bang! There's no way. There's something more and I know it.

I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world! It's such a blessing! There was a time in my existence when I wasn't here on this earth. Right now I am, and I'm grateful to be here. I just read in my D&C class in section 76. In verse 89 it says this "And thus we saw, in the heavenly vision, the glory of the telestrial, which surpasses all understanding."  We have a lot to look forward to!  

Oh and here's a picture of Simon. He's so stinkin cute!

Aunt Cindy said it!

    I don't know why I don't like to write on my blog anymore but I don't... I'll write a post, then it forever remains as a draft. I like writing my ideas out, but I don't really care for the idea of other people reading it. I don't really care for discussion either. My journal is good to me :)

Anyway a few months ago I posted this picture about bad parenting.

    It's not a funny picture, because it's so true and it's really sad. A couple of weeks ago my sister-in-law Katie told me a story. Before she told me she said, "You're going to feel bad but listen to what Andrew said the other day".
    Last month my 2-year-old (almost 3) nephew was watching TV and he said something like, "That's stupid". Katie said, "Andrew don't say that word". Then he said, "Well Aunt Cindy said it!"
    I do feel bad! I probably only said it once and I didn't know he was listening. And I'm not even his parent!
It's amazing how they watch and learn from us.
    Of course most parents want the best for their children, but children don't just need to be taught. They need an example. They need someone to lead them and guide them.

I rarley say that word anyway....
Poor little duckies...

FRAUD

If you ever want to buy a cheap movie online DO NOT buy it from Hot Movie Sale. I bought Newsies for my brother for $6.67 and they charged me $19.95 for the membership that I never signed up for. I tried and tried calling them, but getting a hold of them was not easy! They kept me on the line for ten minutes then hang up and I would hear the "phone is off the hook" noise. If I went to the menu that said "cancel your membership", once I entered all the information, it would take me back to the main menu! I haven't been this frustrated in a long time. This company is ridiculous. I googled HMS Movies and found a ton of complaints about this company. Looks like they've done it many people.
Anyway I finally got a hold of them today and told them that I wanted my money back. She told me that she couldn't refund any money, but that she'll send a request (whatever that means). At least they won't be taking any more of my money.
It was really frustrating. To make matters worse, my parents were both frustrated with me and each other. I hated the contention and I hated how I felt. I can't believe how different I can feel! How I understood others and my reasoning changed. Then I started getting mad that things that were so irrevelant like the sewing machine jamming. I'm fine now but earlier I wished I could just snap out of it! I just wanted peace.

Today I was reminded of what it feels like to be really frustrated. I'm grateful for it, because now I can better understand others. That's all.

Don't buy any movies from hotmoviesale.com!

A queen

Well well well... I was going to write a post about how Janet never comments on my blog anymore... But she has redeemed herself and commented on the last 4 posts! That must have been hard with one hand sista! Now I know that she loves me. (Since I wouldn't have known that if she didn't comment on my blog...)

Dear Janet

Today I was listening to Pandora at work. A song came on that I had never heard before. At first I liked it because I could somewhat relate to the lyrics. As I listened to it more, I just kept thinking about you! I want you to listen to it.

Notice the lyrics say, "because I am a queen".

I love the words that say "every freckle on my face is where it's supposed to be".   Regardless of what you think about yourself, I think this song describes you. When I imagine how you view yourself, this is how I see it. You aren't the average girl. No way could I listen to this song and not think of you.

 Love you sis

Five eight and three quarters...

I actually wrote this post last week. Tonight, I feel even more strongly about this, so I'm posting this.

I don't think it's a good thing to complain. It's hard to be around people that are constantly complaining. I consider myself a very patient person, there are many things I can put up with and complaining is one that tests my patience more than many other things.

With all of that being said, I'm going to complain. :)

I have been dating a lot. More than ever in my life. Last year I got asked out by some really cute boys, but I could count on one hand how many dates I went on. It's been an adjustment moving into a ward that isn't full of freshmen. My first week here, I immediately noticed how different the boys are.  It's definitely WAY different. They're just older... At first, I thought they were scary, but now not so much. I've really had so much fun! This last month I feel like I've made up for lack of dating last year. I've learned that I have a lot to learn, but that's a different matter for another time.

Anyway, during all of this dating in the last while, something has been bothering me... I don't like being taller or close to the same height as my date. I have a very close friend that is dating a guy who happens to be 4 inches shorter than her. It doesn't bother either of them. I think it's great that they can be so crazy about each other, but I don't know if I could ever see past the height difference if it were me in that situation.

In elementary and all through middle school, I hated being tall. I was way taller than everyone around me and it was hard. In 8th grade I was over 5'8". I really hated it sometimes.

Luckily, I've only grown about a quarter of an inch since then. I really haven't grown since 8th grade! I've learned to love my height and I really do love it. I don't like complaining about it, but lately I just keep thinking "If only..."

This last week 2 people have wanted to set me up with someone. The first thing I ask "How tall is he?" It's so silly! If there weren't so many "short" boys asking me out lately, I wouldn't be so worried about it. But seriously there have been about 3 or 4, or maybe even 5 boys! They're great and I have SO much fun with them and I'm interested... it's just... they're too close to my height... I just hate feeling like I can't stand up straight.

It's really not that big of deal and I'm not THAT worried about it. It would just be nice to not worry about it at all.

Alright, I'm done

Advice I would give am giving to myself:  "Cindy, there are worse things in the world. If you want to find something to complain about, there will ALWAYS be something. So just stop. Stop worrying about things you can't control. You're not really looking for anything other than a fun date anyway, so what's all of this complaining even about? Instead of complaining, count your blessings. Being 5' 8 and 3/4" is one of them. (Especially while walking through the slush and puddles today. It was great having long legs)

Also, life might be easier if you didn't think about things so much. Relax and just have fun! Date and have fun!"  

'Nuff said.

My Name is Cathy?

So I was going to write about this earlier but decided to focus on homework instead. Which was probably a good idea. It may be a little outdated now, but oh well. It's funny.

So last Saturday was Melanie's birthday (my roommate). Camille and I decided that we wanted to kidnap her and take to out to get ice cream. With the help of her fiance, we planned to "meet" them at 7-11. Due to a little confusion, Camille and I had to wait at 7-11 for a bit.

While we were hiding behind the building, ready to jump out and snatch Mel, we met homeless man named Kevin. I feel a little bad assuming that he was homeless because we don't have that much evidence, but when Camille or I tell this story we refer to Kevin as a homeless man. He did look like it...

In search for Melanie and Nick, we kept poking our heads around the corner where this man happened to be.

Here's how the conversation went:

    Kevin said, "I like how you keeping peaking around like that".

    Camille laughing: "We're trying to kidnap our roommate. It's her birthday"

    Kevin: "You can kidnap me". He was a very "friendly" man.

    Camille and I just laughed... awkwardly...

    Kevin then explained that his birthday was January 13th

    I said, "Hey that's MY birthday!"

    We briefly talked about celebrating together. I said something like, "Yeah we should have a party right here on this corner" Maybe that was a little encouraging....

    He asked what year I was born, so I told him, then he said, "So you're 19." I KID YOU NOT, he looked me up and down and said, "You're beautiful." Just an FYI he was almost 50 years old.

    Naturally, I felt very uncomfortable as I whisper "thank you". I tried to move my attention to looking for Melanie, but this guy kept talking!

    Then he asked me what my name was. A few different things went through my mind at this time and so "Cathy" was what came out of my mouth.

    He excitedly pointed out that we both had "K" names because his name was Kevin.

    Then, being my hilarious self, I said, "Actually it's spelled with a C". 

    I looked over at Camille and we were both smiling and wondering where in the world Melanie was!

Camille, in her brilliance, asked him to go inside 7-11 and see if he saw a girl in a green coat, but then Melanie and Nick finally came out of the gas station and we left! A few minutes later this Kevin guy came riding by on his bike and he shouted, "Hey Cathy! Next time I see you we'll have to go on our date!"   I don't remember talking about a date.

My mom taught me not to talk to strangers... She also taught me not to lie... Oops

It's a funny story.  Maybe I'm too nice? Camille persisted on calling me "Cathy" a few times that day. :)

By the way, our kidnapping quest was a success and Melanie should most definitely win the "Funniest Prisoner" award.