Reappearance . . .

into the blog world.

Hey, I'm here.  I'm alive.  In fact, I'm more alive than I ever have been.

We look like siblings, and we will be the first to admit it.

Look everyone! I'm marrying Cory Matthews. Success.

 I'm fiercely in love and engaged to be married in June.  The current and constant insanity of life has taken over.  I like it.  So much so, that I think being engaged and planning my wedding is, dare I say, fun!  I have all of these memories of people griping about engagements, plans, and wishing they could just be married already.

Eating Indian food with the parentals

I'm no fool.  There are moments when I would like to run off with the man and never look back because it seems easier and romantic. . . but I only get one wedding day, and I want to milk it for all it's worth!

 

Ryan likes to sleep in pictures.  We take engagements tomorrow, this should be fun!

 

Before you begin imagining Jules as the next big bRideziLla, allow me to add a disclaimer.  I have a very grounded style and it would be awesome if my vision came to life, but not once have I complained and not once have I been worried.  If the reception decided to explode into a crater of nothingness, I wouldn't wince (well maybe wince).  I'm elated to plan and design (like barbies as you got older.  All of the fun was in the setting up).  I'm blessed with so many wonderful people in my life who I can't wait to see on that day.  Most importantly, I know that the actual "I do" part will go through and that is the moment that my spirit has yearned for since who knows when. 

Eating Korean food with the Hunter parents. We are so exotic, we know.

I have the privilege of getting married to my best friend and the most loving guy that I know.  

He won't let me think for a millisecond that I am unloved or unappreciated and he adores me in a way I never imagined possible.  It is utter brilliance.

 

oh look, hope for normal pictures of us after all.

I will be back with the story that won us a free bridal/groomal photography session.  Rad, right??

love, peace, and hope

All I have to say . . .

Is that I'm terribly happy.

People have been asking for updates.  I have strayed a bit from my initial blogger personality.  You will hear from me every once in a while in far less detail.  It is just who I am right now.  If you want to know about my life, I will happily spend time with you.  Journeying through the hearts of people via conversation and interaction is my ultimate hobby.

Someone asked me what was going on last week because I was "glowing".  Then it happened again yesterday.

Could any physical compliment be more lovely? I think not.  

Let's make our insides so happy and content that we visually glow.

No amount of make up, trendy clothing, or dieting can promise you such a magical exterior.

Let us comment on people's insides more so that when we do make a physical compliment, it will be a simple result of the person behind the skin.

I promise, nothing could make you feel more beautiful.

Thee most hilarious . . .

10 minutes of your life, coming right up!

After I had my wisdom teeth butchered out of my head, I cried. and cried. and cried.  I couldn't stop crying.  My Mom, the assistants, everyone was worried.  I just remember saying over and over again. "I'm fine! I'm FINE, I just can't stop crying." and "Why am I crying? I'm not sad!"  It was a confusing moment.  May we all take advantage of such rare times and capture films of absurdity.

The speculation . . .

of the birth of a baby in a manger 2012 years ago is non-stop.  Who were the wisemen?  How many came?  Was there really a star?  What exactly did King Herod do proceeding the birth?  How could a virgin bare a child?  Though it may be insightful from a scientific point of view, I realize that none of it matters.  

Long ago, a baby was born to a mortal virgin mother and the eternal Father of all of our Spirits.  He is the literal offspring of God, a deity with infinite power and love.  His life was exemplary, His miracles were marvelous, and His love was out of this world.  Most importantly, He gave His mortal life for us and today, He lives!  Celestial and glorious with our Father on high.  Walking with each of us through our trials, and changing us into people - ordinary people now prepared (or preparing) to meet our Maker and become like Him.

Nothing or no one will ever be as important.  He is the ultimate gift. 

Merry Christmas

Unrequited . . .

Love

Seems to be a cycle in  my  life. ahhhh life... isn't it such a beautiful, messy culmination of everything?

but mostly this strange phenomenon called love

Remember that girl. . .

you saw, who unlocked her car, got in on the passenger side. Who paused for 10 seconds before realizing the steering wheel wasn't missing, it was just on the other side of the car, where it has rightfully belonged since she learned about an automobile at 5 years old?

So maybe I stayed in the passenger side until all the people who saw me get in, dispersed in different directions before I timidly opened the door to ninja my way back to sanity and the right seat.

That was a first. Hopefully a last.

take a stab . . .

at it.

Restless

Dependent

Lovely

Talented

those are the first 4 words that I found. i can't decide whether it is literally because what you see first portrays who you really are or the fact that each of these words were horizontally placed and my eyes happened to scan those specific areas. seems rather fishy if you ask me.

though i must say, finding restless first is pretttty spot on . . .

says the girl who recently began: 

cello lessons, applying to teach private group music classes, gathering data to begin motivational speaking, heavily considering a degree in ASL, painting (with little to show), receiving structural integration, working out with a personal trainer, food addiction recovery, scouring the internet for the nearest african dance class.

restless?

meh.

New song, anyone? . . .

The girls of Beauty Redefined (Lexie and Lindsay Kite) have inspired me. So so much. 

I wrote this song and donated it as an anthem of sorts for them to use as they please.

BEAUTY REDEFINED WEBSITE

Go to the website to hear the song and donate over $5.00 to purchase a copy of the mp3.  ALL sales go to Beauty Redefined.  This was not a cheap project, but I can't stand by the side and watch 2 girls fight a battle that needs an army.  Our world needs people who use their talents for purposes like this.  They have lit a flame in so many girls and women, changing their perspective on the world.

We are all beautiful women with infinite potential. Believe it. Trust it.  Feel it.  Then do something about it.

THESE women are changing the world. SERIOUSLY.  Help them in their ongoing fight to "Take back beauty".

ahhhh I love them.......

one small step you could do to help them?? post about them on your blogs.  Get the ball rolling.  I watched their facebook fanbase climb from 300 to over 3,000 in nearly 6 months. That is incredible, but more can be done.  HELP.  WE NEED AN ARMY.

Lyrics to "Beauty Redefined"

Take back what we let fade away
Voice of tomorrow, not product of yesterday
And once you feel it, you will never be the same

All that we can do is strut, now make it loud
Toss passion to the proud whose views are simply misaligned
Ask the brave: “Step forward help to straighten
all that’s been misshapen, torn and barely left alive”

We need beauty redefined

You’re captivating, don’t be captive to the lies
That just erasing is a picturesque disguise
I dare you look up and try to mold the skies

All that we can do is strut, now make it loud
Toss passion to the proud whose views are simply misaligned
Ask the brave: “step forward help to straighten
All that’s been misshapen, torn and barely left alive”

We need beauty redefined

Make up your mind and not your face
We all know it is a happier chase
And in the end you’ll finish out the race

All that we can do is strut, now make it loud
Toss passion to the proud whose views are simply misaligned
Ask the brave: “Step forward help to straighten
All that’s been misshapen, torn and barely left alive”

All that we can do is strut, now make it loud
Toss passion to the proud whose views are simply misaligned
Ask the brave: “Step forward help to straighten
All that’s been misshapen, torn and barely left alive”

We need beauty redefined

Thank you!!  Love love

Seasons change and . . .

So do I.

I've thought a lot lately of how I've changed. Who I am. Who I am becoming.

I'm certainly not as funny as I used to be.
My sarcasm has faded and I don't enjoy laughing at the expense of others.

My social life has dwindled significantly.
I choose to spend my time learning, serving, building solid relationships and cultivating
talents.

It's rare to find myself performing on a stage these days.
The adrenaline of fame really gets to me. Satan knows it. I write and record to inspire.

The common theme I have pulled from the above changes can be summed in a few words.

I love my Savior.
He is my priority.

The closer I draw to my loving Father in Heaven, the more compassion and love I have for the people in my life. I don't care what decisions you make, have made, or will make. I would give anything for people to feel the way I feel. I need no compliments, nods of approval, or other forms of recognition. The greatest compliment of all: for you to do all you can to live for Him.

My vocabulary is limited to express my truest feelings.

But this sense of knowing will set you free. So fight for it.

There are two . . .

actions I love to invoke more than any others in this world:

                               Laughing

and

                                          Crying

Both of which remind me that I am, indeed, alive; intended for a purpose much grander than mere mortality.

frankly . . .

 a whole lot doesn't matter.

When your heart sinks down to the bottom of your soul knowing that a friend just lost a fiance (about 2 weeks away from wedded bliss) to a tragic accident, everything seems to blur into categories of . . .

Things that matter

and 

Things that don't

the latter overflows with silliness. 

and my entire self just aches and aches with sympathy.

When in doubt . . .

always over-pack.

You never know when your yoga mat, blank canvas, and GUITAR might come in handy.

Namaste.

Watched . . .

The most beautiful sunset a few days ago. 

All I could hear was Emilia Delmar saying 

"God is soooo romantic"

That was new for me, never before had I pictured God as romantic.

Yet in that moment, I knew EXACTLY what she was referring to.

this simple wednesday evening. . .

I feel peaceful.

I've never felt entitled to materialistic things. money. clothes. cars. etc . . . 

but little did I know, I have had a sense of entitlement in other areas of life.

I want to claim to the world that I am not entitled to:

love

admiration

attention

affection

marriage

motherhood

opportunity

friends

(more importantly) friends' time 

health

shelter

intellect

excuses

beauty (inward and out)

exaltation

willpower

motivation

"the perfect job"

In fact, there are 3 things TOTAL that I've concluded that I AM entitled to:

1. agency

2. salvation through resurrection

3. the light of Christ (regardless of how small that flame may be at times)

"Atlas Shrugged" - top 5 favorite books of all time taught me that I was born with a body and a mind. The rest is up to me.  Of course, we've all known that.  But now, I actually feel it in my bones. I live and breathe it.

Don't let anybody lead you to think that you deserve the world handed to you on a silver platter. Face reality. Create your own life. and for pete's sake work hard.

Due to the fact that our free country is in major distress, I want to remind others that collective entitlement is one of the first steps towards economic crisis. Whatever you do, shun it.

Hiatus . . .

from any form of blogging lately.  Not sure why! Perhaps a loss of interest? or "somesing"??

Cousin and I are working on a lovely project. Can't wait until it begins.

It involves Love, Bodies, and Potentials.
It also begins the checking off of a lifetime goal I have: Becoming a motivational speaker.

Dun dunnuh nuuuuuh (it's embarrassing how much time I spent coming up with a semi-comprehensible way of typing this victory sound.)

Let's use our beautiful and unique talents to mold the future of our world.

Hear, Hear!!