silver linings.

I taught a lesson today at church and I came across this quote: 

"Even if you cannot always see that silver lining on your clouds, God can, for He is the very source of the light you seek. He does love you, and He knows your fears. He hears your prayers. He is your Heavenly Father, and surely He matches with His own the tears His children shed."  -Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

And it's just the kind of thing I can't help but share. I hope your Sunday has been as lovely as mine. I can feel Spring coming, I really can. (...even if it is supposed to snow this week)

tumbling.

a few of my favorites from my tumblr as of late. 

I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I do,

xo

a new name.

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -

And sore must be the storm -

That could abash the little Bird

That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -

And on the strangest Sea -

Yet - never - in Extremity,

It asked a crumb - of me.

For years and years I have had this line in my head--"hope is the thing with feathers." I'm not sure why, or when, or even how it got stuck there, but stuck it is. And I quite like it that way. I thought I would share it, because...well...I kind of love it.

Hope as the thing with feathers, the thing that flies, the thing that is always there. The tune without the words. Oh, Emily Dickinson, you knew how to say stuff that's for sure.

PS happy february! possibly one of my very most favorite months.

because I feel like love is all I want to talk about in February [the loveliest of all the months] or at least all I want to look at...

and things in my life are pretty lovely too.

I really like it.

 

Source: designcrushblog.com via Krystyna on Pinterest

I've felt like this often. When I find goodness in the words on a page.
And...
I've been dreaming about this fort lately.

Source: adarlingday.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

You know, the one from The Holiday. 

It's so lovely. I want to make one. (The post title is also from The Holiday and should be said in a childish English accent)

I also feel like calling this blog a blaaahhhg lately. Because it is so blah. And I have nothing to say. Well. That's not entirely true.

But I'll work on the blah-ness.

happy april.

I love Spring.
I love warmth.

I love sunshine. 

I love General Conference.

I love it when my brother sings out loud.

I love watching my cuddly nephew put his head on my brother's arm.

I love getting a list of summer reading from my professor.
I love talking about England with those that know it well.

And Oh how I love April.

can't eat. can't sleep. reach for the stars. over the fence, world series kind of stuff.

I watched a movie called Flipped. It's wonderful. I would recommend it to anyone. (From Flipped:)

"Some of us get dipped in flat, some in satin, some in gloss; but every once in a while, you find someone who's iridescent, and once you do, nothing will ever compare."

Lately I've been writing really long posts and then not posting them. [this just happened...]

Anyway...Happy Valentine's Day.

I think this holiday is a delight. 

And I think that love is the most important thing. Ever. In everything. 

It is important to

Love what you do. 

Love the people who will love you back, and even those that won't. 

Love life with all that you've got. 

Love happiness. 

Love the good times and the bad. 

Love love. 

"I am certain of nothing but the truth of the information and the holiness of the heart's affections." 

John Keats

post title: it takes two (imdb it if you don't know what I'm talking about) 

[love is more thicker than forget]

BY E. E. CUMMINGS

love is more thicker than forget

more thinner than recall

more seldom than a wave is wet

more frequent than to fail

it is more mad and moonly

and less it shall unbe

than all the sea which only

is deeper than the sea

love is less always than to win

less never than alive

less bigger than the least begin

less littler than forgive

it is most sane and sunly

and more it cannot die

than all the sky which only

is higher than the sky

via

I found this poem. 

Isn't it delightful?

I like that it stands pretty on its own.

No need to go deep, 

but you can if you want to.

I remember when Mr. Davis introduced E.E. Cummings to me my sophomore year of high school. 

That was a good year. 

My mom told me I was obsessed with love. 

I say...

Maybe just a little bit. 

Oh well. 

Because, really, what can I do about it? 

I'm a hopeless romantic. 

(Just as I've mentioned...many times before)

recommendations for you.

FIRST. everyone...
go VOTE for my friend emily in her blogging brawl! She made it to the FINALS. And if she wins, she gets a paid column in the MormonTimes.

really, go read her stuff and vote HERE. (make sure you click on emily dyer :)

SECOND. everyone...
Meet my dear friend Kelsey:

She basically rocks. AND she teaches YOGA. How awesome is that?
Well, you can see for yourself how awesome it is by visiting her website!

kelseysapphireyoga.blogspot.com

I have taken classes from Kelsey and can honestly say, she is GREAT.
She offers lots of different specials (including bridal yoga! what??), private, and group lessons...plus more.

Now that I feel a little bit like one of those cheesey infomercials, just take my advice and give Kels a call. I know that Yoga has worked wonders for me (I'm a little high in the anxiety department). And I know it can benefit anyone who gives it a shot.


and...that's all for today.

valentines for all you loves of mine.

(a boy gave me flowers. his name is jeff. {no really, aren't they beautiful?})

I love this day because my mom always has. I think it might be her favorite holiday. Ever since forever she has left us little valentines (pink and heart-shaped) marked with a love letter, set up with our favorite treats (like chocolate covered strawberries) and other special things.

Today she woke me and Alex up to feed us a surprise breakfast of crepes (or icelandic pancakes). And at each place there was a lovely valentine (pink and heart-shaped) and a goodie (like a heart-shaped cakebite {heavenly}).

(On Alex's she expressed how crazy he drives her, but how she loves him still)

Oh how I love my mom. She's one of the loveliest people I know. And I'm grateful she taught me how to love.

I hope everyone's day was filled with loveliness.

and hearts (of all shapes and sizes).

xoxo

I LOVE LOVE

welcome to FEBRUARY. the loveliest of all the months.

Confession.

I am a hopeless romantic.

Seriously, I'm such a girl.

A movie, a song, a book, a tv show...I too often fall in love with people (or characters rather) and find myself thinking about them all the time.

I obsess over serendipitous topics in my head.

I play my life like a movie in my head.

I just know that all boys are going to say exactly what I want/need them to in my head.

I dream of black and white

red lipstick with matching nail polish

perfectly curled hair

always wearing the perfect dress

a gentleman in a perfectly pressed suit

oh and don't forget the perfect music playing in the background.

I think I watch too many love movies?

I watched Pearl Harbor yesterday.

Always forget how good that movie is. It's sad. and romantic. I love it.

Now.

Because it is February and I love love,

I'm going to dedicate each day of this month to love.

hey that's what life's all about right?

I think so.

Not just romantic love {although that kind is wonderful}

but also

the friendly kind

the family kind

and any kind that makes you smile {which is every kind}.

love song of the day:

by hellogoodbye

one of my favorites.

sunshine is warm.

Does anyone else remember that??

I sure forgot. It's really quite magical.

toes in the sand.
hair in the wind.
top down.

good talks.

good food.
good people.

Yes, last weekend felt...good. My short, but oh so sweet, trip to Newport with these lovely ladies:

was greatly needed.

We laughed. We didn't care about anything but relaxing. We danced whenever and wherever we wanted to. We shopped. We ate cupcakes. We smelled the ocean (which smelled oh so good). We saw Elder Shane Hewlett at the Newport Beach Temple (crazy, right?!?). We made friends with the guy at the tire shop after our tire exploded.

No really, it exploded.

Yes, we had a lovely time.

because i want to have breakfast at tiffany's.

[hayley and I on halloween]

have you I ever told you how much I love her?

she's classy, elegant, and beautiful. not to mention a wonderful person. (not like I knew her or anything...) I love her films. roman holiday happens to be my favorite. but I don't discriminate against breakfast at tiffany's, sabrina, and especially not funny face.

I might even wear a wedding dress just like this someday.

"the best thing in life to hold onto is each other" -audrey hepburn

jk...one more birthDAY!

Happpy happy birthday RACHEL dear!

Rachel Fairclough was my first {and bestest} friend from BYU!!! Sent straight from heaven :) Thank goodness for L&T.

Isn't she pretty? She's 21 TODAY. So, now it's really time to party. We've had lots of fun times and I love her dearly.

Hope you have a beautiful day Rach, love ya girl!

BIRTHDAYS galore. (and more to come)

Wishing a happpppy birrrtttthhdday to three very important people in my life!!!

TODAY is Grandma Jake's Birthday!

This lovely lady is one lucky duck. She's spending her birthday in NEWPORT BEACH with her sweet sister. She is quite the trooper and has been through a lot in her life. I look up to her in so many ways and I hope she has a fabulous day! I LOVE YOU GRANDMA. I don't know anyone who knows her that doesn't just love her. Thanks for being so wonderful and for your continuing love and support. xoxo

On July 23rd... my dad.... TURNED 50!! Happy 1/2 of a century

I've previously mentioned how awesome my dad is, but really let me tell you, he is the coolest guy in the world! Our family always has a blast together and he is a big part of that fun. We went up to the Farmhouse to celebrate his b-day and had a grand time. I hope his birthday was just what he wanted! I love you dad!! Thanks for being the best guy I know, I couldn't have made it this far without you.

and last... but definitely not least... Hayley Kathleen Brady...

turned 19 on 07/08/09!!! And she will be my bestie for life. I know I have posted this a little late {just a few weeks...}, but it's the thought that counts, no? I have no idea what I would do without Hayley. We have been best friends since 6th grade and have so many memories...

• Hayley's many boyfriends... my one boyfriend {plus one night stand? what? :/ hahaha}
• One Tree Hill/ Gilmore Girls/ The OC
• Watching movie scenes over and over... and over.
• Midnight movie showings... or midnight naps?
• birds of a feather...haha
• Lagoon
• A cappella tour
• Sleepovers {late night talks... oh wait, Hayley's sleeping}
• Kneaders
• IDAHO... started two weeks after me?? what? cute friends.
• Florida
• Newport Beach
• EFY

and about a trillion more memories. High School would have been a nightmare without a friend like Hayley. Whenever we are together we have so much fun and I am incredibly grateful to have had her for so long, can't wait for the years to come! Thanks for being you Hayley and for always being a great example. I love ya!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY I LOVE YOU ALL

I'M LUCKY TO HAVE EACH OF YOU IN MY LIFE

july, a time for good times.

More activities from the month...

Right here is where LAKE POWELL should be inserted, but I don't have any pictures to show for it! My daddio put them all on his laptop, so that shall be explained and remembered a different time. Powell is a special place...

FAMILY PICTURES.

ha. So, Elder Chase Carter returned from his mission almost a month ago and we all {the moon clan} got together for his homecoming on the 12th at my aunt Melissa's house. My grandma moon has been wanting to have family pictures and since we were all together, we decided it was the perfect time. One problem: no photographer? No big deal. We just had my uncle Lynn's family and the rest of us take turns taking pictures with Stef's, The Carte

r's, and my digital camera just across the street from the house. It was kind of humorous, but I think they turned out alright :) Here's a couple of just my fam.

This past weekend.

Hayley and I decided it was a grand night to take pictures last Friday... and none of them really turned out. BUT, we had fun!! We don't hang out as much as either of us would like, and I miss my pal! We always have a blast together. We went to Canyon Crest and took pictures of the place where our friendship began... the double doors!!! We would meet there during recess to discuss how horrible our friends treated us and how our mom's told us we needed new friends, and shortly thereafter best friends {inseparable, a packaged pair} were created. I love Miss Hayley with all of my heart. And I'm so happy for her {she has a new boyfriend :) }. It was also her 19th birthday this month {the 8th} but I was in lake powell. Total BUMMER. She deserves her own post. Soon to come. A few pictures from our night.

This is our before shot...haha.

and after...we look so much happier! {the boy who took this photo, was NOT pleased. I really think he was so bugged that I would ask him to take a picture for us. It was weird that there were even people at Canyon Crest on a Friday night?? including us. ha.}

I love Hayley!

Monthly post... :/

JULY!

I cannot believe it is coming to a CLOSE soon. Tooooo fast. Fall semester is rapidly approaching! I'm nervous, but excited. {So I sang a song about how I was nervous but excited} Ha, I'm now a sophomore, yeshh.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!!

I heart the fourth of july :)

Yay for my first time going to the parade route! I think I still would rather be in Newport Beach, nothing can beat spending the 4th on the BEACH! But, I had a great day. Lots of food, family and fun. We found the perfect spot to watch the fireworks {thanks to Hayley's coworker}. My dad and I went and staked out our area at the Hinckley Alumni Center at BYU. It worked out beautifully. After watching the Stadium of Fire fireworks, I went with my friends to light their {illegal} fireworks, which was quite thrilling. And I got to hang out with my new friends from England! Alice and Aaron. They were a treat, I met them through Dewey, they are Abbey LaBato's friends. Party! I am totally going to contact them when I go to LONDON. {hopefully! I will find out if I'm going in the Fall. I've already applied though--cross your fingers :) } Note to self: The 3rd of July was the first time Hayley actually, officially hung out with Kevin {currently falling in LOVE} precious!

Well, I was going to blog it up, everything from fourth to zoo, but looks like I'm a little tired. Oh well. Tomorrow is the day. Be excited for...my movie fun (tshirts and all), missionaries, powell!, canyon crest, family photos, the fray, zoo, and EAST HIGH! I have a lot to catch up on.

JUNE fun.

I have done a lot of fabulous things in June. Here are a few of them.

Kelly Clarkson Rocks My WORLD.

The Kelly Clarkson concert was... to put it simply... AMAZING! Hayley, Kenzie, Alex and I went on July 11 at the Brent Brown Ballpark at UVU. We got up really close to the stage (right by where she went on :) after we sort of butt in front of everyone in line... not entirely on purpose, of course. And while we were standing around waiting, we decided to spell out her name with our bodies, which seemed perfectly normal at the time. I thought it was pretty cool, even though many people laughed and stared at us while we did it--I have no regrets. haha. It was quite a magical night, it rained while the sun set (not too hard), Kelly wowed us with her beautiful voice (and she seemed like a normal person that I would like to be friends with), the guys from the morning zoo on 97.1 walked right past me (as I told them I loved their show ha ha), and we had a diehard fan standing right next to us (a boy you would never expect, knew every word to every single song she sang--truly wonderful). I LOVED every minute of it!

Kelly Clarkson will always be my idol.

K-E-L-L-Y-C-L-A-R-K-S-O-N

and a then, one week later I had the pleasure of enjoying...

THE

Rodeo Rodeo Rodeo

Just a few cowgirls ready for a show.

Strawberry days was just as wonderful as I hoped it would be. So many cowboys, so little time. Ha. Just kidding. It was a blast though! I had not one, but TWO, cups of strawberries and cream {just as heavenly as it sounds} and I got to wear my grandma's pink cowboy boots, how could that not make for a great night?? Oh and we went early so we could go to the carnival. And I got to ride my beloved ferris wheel. It truly was perfect.

The same week as the rodeo, to my great surprise, there was also a carnival just hangin' out at Albertson's! Quite a week, let me tell ya! Of course I went to that as well and enjoyed every minute of it.

Carnival FUN with Hayley!

Then there was my adventure to Bridal Veil...

Vaughan and I hiked up to Bridal Veil falls, and it was so gorgeous! It was a really easy hike and we had lots of fun.

Crazy Vaughan got in the waterfall. SOOOO COLD!

The mountains look so wonderful from all this rain we've been having. I've never seen everything so green. I LOVE it.