21 21 21

Things I am grateful for on my 21st Birthday
1. Cambria Joy Lewis. Cami just called me sang a lovely rendition of "Happy Birthday" and then asked what shoe size I was, because she's getting me flip-flops for me. She then replied, "six and a half? Ok, bye!" and hung up. She makes me smile. I love her for her giggles during "make 'em laugh" in Singing in the Rain, her crinkled nose when she smiles. Her angelic nature, making up dances with her. Kissing her on the cheek when she's sleeping. When she randomly looks at me and says, "Katrina, I love you."
2. Natalie Rose Lewis. This girl is on fire. Forget Katniss, she's the one you want to be afraid of. She's a powerhouse on the soccer field and has the brains and looks to go with it. She's seriously the whole package. She's also extremely sweet and is an exceptional listener. I love her work ethic, determination, sensitivity to the spirit and her beautiful blue eyes.
3. Garrett John Lewis. G-man. Love his silly texts, the example he is to his friends and his integrity. What an incredible friend. I love talking to my brother, I love looking up to him (not only physically but spiritually as well). He is a lady killer. Really though, he has the best hair in the world and a smile that will make you melt. Want to know the best part about him? He lives his testimony.
4. Anna Elizabeth Lewis. Where do I even begin? She is exceptionally beautiful. A patient and calming person who knows how to make me feel happy. I love singing/playing the piano with her. I love how she is such an incredible friend. She sets an amazing example for those around her, including me. She's a born leader and leads with love, compassion, patience and understanding. Talk about a babe.
5. Celeste Marguerite Lewis. If I can be half the woman my mother is, I know I will have succeeded. Our chiropractor told me the other day, "if your mother doesn't go straight to heaven, I don't know anyone who will." It's true. My mom listens, then she serves. She is compassionate like no one else. She is empathetic, she is self-less. She is silly. She is patient. Please be my mom's friend, she will change your life.
6. David Conley Lewis. I'm bias, it's true but I'm pretty sure I have the best father. The best father for me at least. He is so smart. He is such a good provider, and is such an incredible teacher. He is the best study buddy and the funniest dancer. He leads our family patiently and through his example. He is a real friend and a concerned dad. Boy, do I love him.
7. Friends. You're bored of reading this, I know. Friends are angels and mine were hand picked for me. I have so many good people to look up to.
8. My body, and the freedom I have to move, to express myself and explore other cultures. Dance.
9. BYU. SO AWESOME. ps... I have the best major.
10. Food, cooking for others, seeing people happy
11. My eyes. For the ability to read, and see the world around me
12. My ears. Listening is very important to me, so is understanding.
13. Learning
14. My hands. I'm trying hard to give them up and make them not my own.
15. My heart, my ability to feel emotions. The opportunities I have to feel what others feel. My ability to love and feel love.
16. Laughter, the best stress reliever
17. Words and the affect they have on me and others
18. Music-powerful, powerful stuff
19. Flowers, mostly peonies
20. The Gospel, the knowledge I have and the opportunities I have to live truth and share it with others.
21. My life. What an incredible 21 years it has been. I feel so blessed to be where I am at this time. There's nothing else I'd rather be doing, and no other people I'd rather surround myself with. What an incredible thing life truly is.

I've Sold my Soul

To a man...
Named Edwin.
He's very tall, graying and sports glasses
He likes to dance.
In fact,
I've spent 35 hours dancing with him in the last
four days
I can not ever get away.


I always knew what I was getting into when I started dancing with the Performing Arts Company at BYU. I knew I would sell my soul. And I was prepared for the worst but do you know what? I LOVE IT. I love feeling sore. I love my ice baths...they hurt soo good. I love smiling/grimacing at other dancers as the sweat races down our cheeks. Here's a well kept secret-girls don't glisten. Especially if they're doing a Romanian dance. I'm happy.

Forgiveness: My Burden Was Made Light

Thoughts for the Weekend

Boating vs. little brother's fundraiser for Eagle Scout Project? CAR WASH fundraiser. duh! Family first
Read "the five people you meet in heaven" by Mitch Albom. It will actually change your life
I sometimes like old friends better than new ones
I have a week and a half before I go back to school
PS did I tell you I'm going to Europe next summer?
My mom has really pretty curly hair
Dipping chocolate is hard to find but boy is it worth it!
I would like to see the beach soon
Frozen Charleston Chews are my new favorite
I will never ask these questions to people again: "what's your major?" what have you been doing this summer?" "where are you living in the fall?" "are you dating anyone?" I've got to come up with better questions...especially because I'm going to a high school choir reunion tonight...um...I might have to ask some of those questions
I like being one of the few left of my grade who aren't married. I get all my best friends who just got home from their missions all to myself. it's da best.
Life is wonderful. I have got it made.

Jade, Lara, Annie and me
Newport Beach, April 2010

Pearls and a Beautiful Day

Something you need to know before you read this: I love pearls.

Yesterday my dear friend and I decided we would journey to Logan, UT and then to Bountiful to visit two of Utah's beautiful temples. It was truly a perfect day.

While in Bountiful we stopped by a couple antique stores. I had to talk myself out of a few purchases...but I'm going back, don't you worry. I found a beautiful old typewriter-40 dollars. Seriously people. The second store we went to was magical. It was a huge house just full of old furniture, including painted pianos, old chandeliers, gorgeous original paintings and tea cups galore (I was in heaven!) We were having fun squeezing through this old house when I felt like we really needed to find the owner so I looked around the corner and found the CUTEST old man sitting on his laptop in the midst of these beautiful treasures.

I stuttered a "hello?" and he immediately invited us in, showing us his personal favorites. I was transported through history as he told us the details of each piece, complete with stories. I suddenly wished I was rich. Rich enough to buy everything in the store, I wanted it all.

I asked how he got involved in the business and he entertained us with a story of his first purchase. He was in 8th grade! He bought an original painting for $15 then proceeded to sell it for $300 to a wealthy neighbor. His dad was so mad at his for buying such a "worthless" piece of art but after his son but the $300 dollars on his plate at dinner he changed his mind. What a story!

Then this adorable man in his cute blue puma shoes (he was stylin') told me all about his amazing wife, and how she had died eight years ago. His loneliness was evident and it nearly broke my heart. We found some old jewelry and it sparked his memory.

He told us the story of "the pearls". This wonderful man and husband sneakily bought his wife $1,500 pearls. She had fallen in love with them earlier in the day. They had 6 kids but he wanted his wife to have these pearls she loved so much. Is that not the sweetest thing in the world? (Obviously they had enough to make such a large purchase).

Every person has a story to share. I am so happy I was able to lend my ears to this wonderful man and hear some of his. I'm going back to hear some more...and to buy some more teacups.

I'm not dead

Hi.
What an incredible week it's been. I'm probably one of the most blessed people in the universe. Really.

Here are a couple reasons why...
1. I have the best family in the world. You've probably heard this before, by every other person you know. They're probably right. But I'm right too. Let me explain. I have the best family for me, in my world. We have the perfect balance of personalities. We teach each other. We lift each other. We cry with each other. But I know that I have my mother for a reason. That my dad is the way he is for a purpose. That my siblings are who they are, and going through the things in their lives at this time, in order that our lives, which are intertwined perfectly, can be the way they were designed to be.

2. God is real. He has a plan for us. There is a reason obedience is the first law in heaven. Once we realize this, and that God loves us, everything falls into place. It may not be the place we were expecting, or want but it is the place they are supposed to fall to.

3. Time is such a human thing.

and, timing is everything.

4. I am passionate about education. I am passionate about learning and teaching. I want nothing more than to be a teacher. A teacher of foods (that's my major fyi) and a teacher for my children. But before I can teach I must first learn. I love learning about and from people. My mother taught me that being humble means being teachable. I'm not a perfect learner yet, but I hope that I will always be a good listener and that I will continue to learn from the most perfect teacher.

5. "As a sister in the gospel, you render compassionate service to others for reasons that supersede desires for personal benefits. In this you emulate the Savior, who, though a King, did not seek position, nor was He concerned about whether others noticed Him. he did not bother to compete with others. His thoughts were always tuned to help others. He taught, healed, conversed, and listening to others. He knew that greatness had little to do with outward signs of prosperity or position. He taught and lived by this doctrine: 'He that is greatest among you shall be your servant'. In the end, the number of prayers we say may contribute to our happiness, but the number of prayers we answer may be of even greater importance. Let us open our eyes and see the heavy hearts, notice the loneliness and despair; let us feel the silent prayers of others around us; and let us be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to answer those prayers."
I just found this quote by President Uchtdorf. I love it, now I'm going to try to live it.