caitlin: December 2009

and we talked all night

pine bound for the day and night!!

back tomorrow

xoxo

if we are wise, we know that there's always tomorrow

::random thought #1::

and when it feels as though i have no one to lean on,

i'm grateful for a loving bishop who will just listen to my thoughts

and help me straighten them out.

so instead of making a mental list of what i want in a companion,

it was decided for me to make a list for myself of things i'd like to improve.

here's to me trying to be my absolute best, and even better!

i want to be:

more patient

more kind

more loving

more giving

selfless

a better cook

a better student

a better friend

a happier person

more virtuous

a better singer

{a mommy someday}

more faithful

a better missionary

pure

i want to be relieved.

i want this weight off my shoulders.

i want to move forward.

i don't want to be afraid.

i want to pick up the pieces.

i don't want to lose any more time.

i want to be somebody's someone.

i want to be a better daughter of my Heavenly Father.

::random thought #2::

i had lunch with my dad and grandma today.

after we ate we visited my aunt's {my dad's sister} gravesite at the cemetery.

i hadn't been in quite a while and as i approached i noticed the olive tree that had been planted above her headstone when she was buried had grown much larger over the past few years.

i then thought of how meaningful, and significant olive trees are.

it's so amazing to me to think of the little things, like that olive tree springing up into life

next to my aunt that have shaped my life

and are significant to my faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

"Olive trees are special in the Holy Land. The olive branch is universally regarded as a symbol of peace. This tree provides food, light, heat, lumber, ointments, and medicine. It is now, as it was then, crucial to life in Israel. It is not a deciduous tree, but ever bearing—always green. Even if the tree is chopped down, life will spring from its roots, suggesting everlasting life." -- Russell M. Nelson

as i wandered around, i noticed now what i had never noticed before.

there were so many headstones that held the names of married couples who have passed on,

but even more lovely, i saw so many that bore an engraved image of the temple.

how beautiful and comforting it was to see images of the temple, placed between two names of two people who had dedicated their lives to each other and to the Savior.

my eyes held back the sting of tears as i was comforted by the love and the joy that

families can be forever,

and that someday, i will have my very own time and all eternity.

now i'm here

paris, paris, paris.

i've never really been attracted to paris.

until i saw these photos.

paris should be lovely this time of year,

all that snow.

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happy tuesday!

today i am officially running on 4 hours of sleep...yikes!

here is my tentative schedule for the day:

bedtime: 4:20 am

dentist appointment: 8:00 am

wal-mart stop: 8:52 am

internet surfing: 9:14 am - current

lunch with dad and grandma: 11:30 am

genius bar appt at the apple store: 3:30 pm

mourn the death of my iPod: 3:45 pm

start saving for a new iPod: 3:46 pm

nap time: 4:00 pm

contemplate life: 5:32 pm

dye hair: 5:49 pm

play all night: 8:56 pm

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and of course, what is a post without a quote:

"Love isn't about sacrifice, and it isn't about falling short of someone's expectations. By definition, love makes you better than good enough; it redefines perfection to include your traits, instead of excluding them."

Jodi Picolt

what do you have against the franks??

okay, so i've never seen twilight but

unfortunately i know enough about it to know that this is pretty funny....

especially for the singles ward.

just so dang true.

confession #3

The other day I was looking at a friends facebook picture. I saw a dot on my computer screen that looked like dirt so I tried to scrape it off. It was a mole on my friends face.

i'm an aunt? i'm a second cousin twice removed?

My dad's best friend, [also known as my Uncle Vic]

became a first time father last year!!

i finally got to meet his little girl and she is so adorable

{don't mind the fact that she has carrots all over her face and looks like a deer in headlights}

i think i'm still trying to decide if i want an asian baby,

or a little milk chocolate baby.

maybe i'll just have one of each...

and some of my own.

i just want a baby...i probably need a few other things first though.

show me a smile

"I heard what you said. I’m not the silly romantic you think.

I don’t want the heavens or the shooting stars.

I don’t want gemstones or gold. I have those things already.

I want…a steady hand. A kind soul.

I want to fall asleep, and wake, knowing my heart is safe.

I want to love, and be loved."

— Shana Abé

cumulonimbus clouds

[via: halfheartedly]

'twas the night before christmas

and all through the house,

there was lots of laughter...

and snuggies.

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last year my dad bought me a snuggie for christmas as a joke

{he actually ended up with like 6 snuggies}

here is his side of the story:

then, dad and i decided to wrap the snuggie as a gag gift for my brother this year

{except he didn't know we were joking}

here is his reaction:

one last thing?

hey santa,

i want this little hip hopping boy for Christmas too.

i think he can fit in your pack.

and i think you owe me.

thankssss.

me

the 7 things i hate about you

Sometimes you cannot believe what you see, you have to believe what you feel. And if you are ever going to have other people trust you,you must feel that you can trust them, too - even when you’re in the dark.

Even when you’re falling.

- Tuesdays with Morrie

confession #2

i made new friends...

and stayed out until the wee hours of the morning.

i feel young and irresponsible again.

Christmas cookies???

confession #1:

family tradition = making biscuit cookies every year for Christmas.

this year mom was away so lil' sis and i were in charge.

{this may have been a bad idea?}

did i mention that anytime i bake cookies it's a disaster?!

{well at least the first batch always is. just like pancakes.}

anyways, these cookies are far from Christmas-y,

but they are delicious

{don't mind the fact that some of the sprinkles are from my childhood and just as old as me...}

and yummy cream cheese frosting;

all made by yours truly.

and let's be real, have you ever seen such awesome spongebob cookies?!

lil' sis made spongebob, mr. krabs, gary and plankton.

i made patrick, sandy and squidward

maybe next year we'll get a little more traditional...

but then again, maybe not.

dearest sanna,

is it too late to put one of these on my list??

i promise i've been good.

this would make everything so much better!

puhhleeeease??!?!

Helaman 5

v 40: "...What shall we do, that this cloud of darkness may be removed from overshadowing us?"

v 41: "...You must repent, and cry unto the voice, even until ye shall have faith in Christ...; and when ye shall do this, the cloud of darkness shall be removed from overshadowing you."

v 42: "And it came to pass that they all did begin to cry unto the voice of him who had shaken the earth...."

v 43: " And it came to pass that when they cast their eyes about, and saw that the cloud of darkness was dispersed from overshadowing them, behold, they saw that they were encircled about, yea every soul, by a pillar of fire.

v 44: "...Yea, they were as if in the midst of a flaming fire, yet it did harm them not...; and they were filled with that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory.

v 45: "And behold, the Holy Spirit of God did come down from heaven, and did enter into their hearts, and they were filled as if with fire, and they could speak forth marvelous words."

v 46: "And it came to pass that there came a voice unto them, yea, a pleasant voice, as if it were a whisper, saying:

v 47: Peace, peace be unto you, because of your faith in my Well Beloved, who was from the foundation of the world."

v 48: "...and behold, they saw the heavens open; and angels came down out of heaven and ministered unto them."

v 49: "...and they were bidden to go forth and marvel not, neither should they doubt."

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Sometimes, life just stinks.

Things don't always turn out the way you've wanted, or have planned or dreamed.

You can be overshadowed by darkness, and not know what to do.

You can be surrounded by fire, and not have to feel it;

only in your heart can the fire of the truth, and His gospel burn.

And when you feel as though you can't go any longer, or take one more step;

He will always be there, to open the heavens and whisper offerings of peace and love.

little letters

dear december 25,

i'll make it up to you next year.

dear 2010,

i know you won't bring much change, but i despise 2009.

please come soon.

dear bathroom,

i promise i'm going to clean you soon.

dear asu,

if you push me until 2011 i'm going to beat you up.

dear random phone numbers,

please stop calling me. no matter how many times you call, i will not answer.

dear bed,

thank you for keeping me warm, and comforting me with your wonderful down comforter.

dear toes,

please stop staring at me. i'll re-paint you sooner than later; trust me, i don't like looking at you either.

dear friends,

thank you for always being there for me and taking care of me.

dear pei wei,

you sure do make for a delicious dinner and next day lunch!

dear hair,

please, please, please grow! i was silly to cut you off in the spring, i didn't mean it, you can come back now!

dear christmas shoes,

i think you are the most horrendous song ever. less shoes, more hippo song please.

dear chiropractor,

i'm going to call you asap, this is just plain ridic.

dear week,

i'm glad you fly by. maybe someday i'll want your time back, but for now i'm thankful.

two-hundred. doscientos. 200.

it's official, this is my 200th post.

aka i've been blog obsessed all year.

{like i had much else to do?}

i figured i should probably leave something more than just a quote and a cute pic.

so, without further adieu...

here are some things that got me through the year 2009.

whether you do all of these things anyways,

need to numb a broken heart,

or just want to have some extra fun:

here is an insignificant re-cap of my year and how i survived...in pictures...

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lots of Beyonce`

{if 'single ladies' isn't the mormon girl anthem, i don't know what is}

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i did things i wouldn't normally have done

{like hike camelback mountain}

{and beat a box full of candy with a stick, for cinco de mayo}

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{i made it through by purchasing lots of shoes...let's get some shoes...omg}

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{lived on birthday wishes}

{and lots of dreams...and prayers}

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{don't mind the fact that i satisfied my sweet toof [& in-n-out tooth] many, many times}

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{family is always good too.}

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{i don't think i could have passed so much time...

and kept so much off my mind without making headbands.}

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{and of course, what is a girl without some grood [great and good] friends?!}

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okay, you talked me into it...i'll leave a quote anyway:

“If you have love in your life it can make up for a great many things you lack. If you don’t have it, no matter what else there is, it’s not enough. "

— Ann Landers

“ if we wait for the moment when everything, absolutely everything is ready, we shall never begin.”

-ivan turgenev

Being single used to mean that nobody wanted you. Now it means you’re pretty sexy and you’re taking your time deciding how you want your life to be and who you want to spend it with.

“