miss orem. an incredible experience.

wow. what an experience! competing for miss orem was something i would have never thought i would ever do! during the opening number as we were all dancing i thought to myself, "this can't be real life! how did i get myself into this? what am i doing?!" needless to say my knees were out of control shaking!

this whole thing started in the beginning of february and since then every thursday night we got together with the amazing committee members and practiced walking, interview, dancing, etc. this pageant world is totally different than what i thought it would be. i learned so much about myself throughout this whole process. i realized i needed to have an opinion about things going on around me, i became involved in what was going on in the city, and had to stay on top of current events. those judges could ask anything they wanted to and they did just that!

by far my favorite part, and the main reason i ran, was for my platform. suicide awareness: aware to care. i have been volunteering at the utah county crisis hotline, researching, talking to teachers, trying to start clubs, and really get involved and be heard. i believe that it's the little things we do everyday that help prevent suicide. i know that it is real and i feel that it needs to be talked about instead of being pushed aside in the corner. the rates of this epidemic have risen immensely during the past year but can be stopped. a little side note, to those of you who have been effected by loved ones or someone close to you committing suicide you are not hurting alone. so many others are feeling something quite similar and are there to help you. take what you have learned and reach out to those around you, talk about it, and know you are so so loved. i promise you can make a difference big and small.

anyways. i learned so much and had a great time meeting so many amazing girls. i took first runner up, the community service award (for this i had to write a letter to the mayor about my platform), the model and composure award, and the children's network award (an award for raising money for the miss america platform). all the girls were incredible and so talented! i feel so blessed to receive the many things i did this weekend but i could have never done it with out an amazing support system. my family, lisslou for doing my hair and makeup and everything in-between, roommate (han), friends, committee members, and so many more helped me with walking, serving, confidence and so much more. i would never be where i am today without these amazing people.

and now for pictures! here's most of the ones from the night hopefully i will get the rest up on Facebook sometime soon!

--props to my cute dad!

--geting ready to go to interview!

--camille one of my most favorite people meeting doing the best of faces before the show. 

--opening number

--swim suite, probably the scariest part of it all!

--talent: clogging

--on stage question.

--waiting for the results here are the miss contestants

and now all the pictures of the best support ever! i don't have all the pictures of all of you that were there and the many there in spirit but thank you so much again!!

--right after finding out.

--cute brother of mine.

--i really have the greatest roommate ever. han thank you so so much!! you rock. (don't touch my tail you'll get it dirty)

--thank you girls so so much!

--only a fraction of the best support group out there!

--cute GiGi was so sad she couldn't come so we took a picture today instead. after this picture she looked at me with the cutest saddest face and said that with all of her princess dresses she needed a crown and was wondering if she could have mine. haha that girl kills me! 

thank you all again! i can't even describe how grateful i am to all of you! thanks for reading!

much love.

i'm grateful for the life i live.

i love this time of year! clogging competitions, general conference, weather getting warmer (sometimes), left over cadberry mini eggs, and so many great things. not to mention school is almost over which is what rocks the most. now if i can't just get through finals i will be one happy lady.

and now that march is gone here was my top three favorite things that happened:

 3: got better test scores (thank the heavens)
2: went to the jazz game for han's birthday
1: took overall with my duet in st george!

it was a wonderful month. and now looking back on it i can hardly remember what i did it flew by so fast.

anyways. i loved conference. it was great as always. jeffrey r holland is still my favorite speaker probably ever. i love the power in his voice when he talks. its inspiring really. i've tried to listen to conference talks when driving in my car and being better about reading my scriptures and its had an incredible impact on my life.

let me share a few gems i have found:

3 Nephi 27: 28-- And now I go unto the Father. And verily I say unto you, whatsoever things ye shall ask the Father in my name shall be given unto you.

3 Nephi 18:20-- And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you.

3 Nephi 13: 21-- For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

all of these are about believe and receiving and for some reason lately that has really hit home for me. as i was listening to one of elder hollands talk that he gave called: broken think to mend. if you haven't heard of that talk i highly recommend it. it's a good one. but he brings up the scripture of "be not afraid only believe" and i just happened to listen to this talk before a clogging competition and i had it in my heart the whole time. since then it's become my life motto and saying that has become very special to me. even when elder holland said it in his talk today i got tears in my eyes. it's always the exact words i need to hear. how cool that there is a church that bring so much joy and comfort!

i've realized recently that i enjoy life much more when i do what i love but with the goal of sharing the light of the gospel in the things i do. now i am far from perfect and i make mistakes but life is good. oh so good. how can it not be with the family and friends i have?

i would also like to thank everyone for the support with miss orem! i have the greatest support system ever. and i'm very grateful.

so here are some pictures for you. the sunset is one i took in jamaica. by far the prettiest sunsets i have ever seen. and the second is an idea i stole for a blog i can't remember (sorry!) but i loved the idea. anyways. enjoy your sunday everybody! may you all get through the spring so we can enjoy the wonderful summer! thanks for reading!

much love.