I'm still here!

Update!

I'm going to dedicate a future blog post for the subject of my work, so I'm not going to say much here on the matter. And you'll have to wait a little over a month for it.  Sorry, but don't worry, it'll be worth the wait :)  All I will say now, is that a month from today is our recital and these lil darlings are going to be positively edible.  I love my girls!

As you may know, I took up horseback riding last summer, and have been off and on taking lessons for the past several months.  Unfortunately, that has ceased indefinitely.  I have to be careful with the risks I choose to take with my body since I make my living moving and grooving.  It makes me mildly sad, I do love my foggy, early morning rides with those majestic creatures.  I promise myself I will take it up again, when the time is right.

I've started running again, and I participate in ultimate frisbee most Saturday mornings.  This Saturday, however, I'll be playing in my first softball game in like...decades...(wish me luck!) I love the physical activity.  It makes me feel alive and clearheaded.

This year (as in 2011) I've taken out my kayak, just once... it's such a beast to lug around, but once it's in the water, its worth it.  I reckon I'll be doing this a lot this summer as long as I have another set of hands who want to join me.  I love seeing the Alligators sunning on the banks or swimming in the water.  I'm always looking for them, but they mostly steer clear of humans, so they're hard to spot.  I took my friend Hayley out, last weekend, and she got so upset when I confirmed there was probably gators where we were currently kayaking.  Apparently, she, from Washington state, didn't get the memo that the big lizards are still alive and thriving in Florida... ha!

I have decided that my life will not be complete until I go out to England to visit Dixie next summer.  So that's another 1 of my short term goals. This is us in New Orleans over Christmas break. 

Dix- this next pic is for you.  This, m'friend, is a drip castle.  You could also say it's a forest of evergreens covered in snow.

I haven't been the beach as much as one would expect, living in Florida and all.  Although, I did happen to make a trip 2 weekends ago, to St. George Island, where I crafted the above drip castle.  The weather, although warm, was foggy and mystical looking (see pic below), so using my abundant common sense, I failed to apply sunblock.  I thought "spf cloud" would block the harmful rays.  Believe that a week and a half later, I am STILL peeling skin off my body.  Gross.  Mark my words, friends, I will never make the mistake again.

The fog looked a lot prettier in person, it was almost magical.  And then around 3, the sky opened up, and that same ocean looked like this! Amazing!

 

Been thinking about this little boy a lot lately.  So I'll throw a pic up of his precious face.  I love this little man more than probably anybody else in the world.  He is perfection.  Miss you little man.

 

Speaking of people that I love.  These 2 girlies deserve a shout out. Olivia and Zoe are 2 of the cutest girls I know here in Tally and I look forward to being witness to their lives.  They're leaving me for the exotic intrigue of Utah...(ahem...cough)  Good luck to them and their endeavors! Love you friends! xoxo

Another person whom I love is this man.  He came to Orlando and did a Q&A for the single adults.  I was simply inspired.  I so appreciate and admire a person who manages to balance direct, guileless instruction with kindness.  I strive to be such a person.  

He spoke next to this sacred and beautiful building that I am hoping to get married in someday. Yes that is the Orlando temple.

Wasn't conference good last weekend?  I love conference.... oh sigh... I just love it.  I took lots of notes, but the biggest thing that I got, is cutting out the unimportant, uninspiring, and negative influences from my life.  Furthermore, and likewise being unapologetic about it!  Life is short, and it goes by so fast!  I must follow the admonition of the Apostle Paul who says to seek after only the best things in life.  And Prioritize!

Sacrifice means giving up good things for better things, not bad things for good things.  Put more eloquently; Sacrifice is the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim.  I love it!  It's so empowering to do  hard things for the right reasons. 

President Monson and all other speakers at conference this last weekend, I love you...

So, did I mention I've been painting a bit since I moved to Tally?  I did 2 large pieces a few months ago, and have been waiting for some inspiration to finish my last one.  I finally got to it, this weekend, while I listened to conference.  It's my interpretation of the tree of life.  The lighting in the garage make the colors look a little drab here, but I am pleased with how it turned out.  I'd like to create a new painting every couple months.

In addition to my aforementioned goals, others include reading these books cover to cover:

Completing this series:

Begin reading:

And to take out my surf board and my long board and become mightily proficient.  Yes. Mightily proficient.