Big Head, BFFTE Extraordinaire

In eighth grade my mom decided to pack my two sisters and me up to move somewhere else. We moved from Willard to Brigham, and boy was I nervous, confused and a little sad. My family wasn't really amazingly active, but I felt a desire to be. I felt that I had a friend in my Savior and my Father and I didn't know it at the time, but I was being prepared to learn more about the gospel than I ever had, and to meet some of the most amazing people I have ever met.

I wondered who my neighbors were... They were pretty quiet but I could see there was girl there about my age. I wanted to be friends with her, but I wasn't sure how or even if she wanted to be friends with me. So I did nothing.

The first week we were there, Bishop Wankier came by to invite us to church. On Sunday I would ask my mom if we were going to go. My mom and my dad say I am very hard to say no to (I figure that's just fine as long as I use my super powers for good), and we started going every Sunday. It was hard for my family at first, but we kept going.

I remember my very first mutual. My sister Katelyn and I went in. I sort of stayed around Katie, because I was being quiet and shy. The girls were already started and sitting in a circle for some kind of game. I remember everyone introducing themselves and I thought OK, I will not remember any of these names. I looked at Jenny. For some reason I can clearly see that image in my brain still--that's really weird because I have a really bad memory.

Katie didn't like to come that much, but I started coming every week. I don't really know why. My testimony wasn't super strong yet, and I didn't have too many friends there yet, either.

School started and Penni asked Penny {haha} if she wanted to walk with us to school. We had some truly great times walking to and from school together. We would laugh and tease, walk and complain about backpacks (well, I did anyway).We hardly ever had to walk home alone, and I grew to love their companionship.

She said recently that she “gained respect, compassion, and an outreaching of sisterly love” for me when I bore my testimony at the second girl's camp we had. Little did she know that I could never hear her testimony without wanting to be more like her. I couldn't see her without wanting to make my life better, and I think that's what has made me want to be her best friend.

Years passed and we became very close. I came to not only look up to her, but to love her. We went to Girl's Camp every year together and had so much fun. At her last girl's camp after testimony meeting we just hugged and cried. Later we got to talk in the most beautiful place on the side of a mountain, looking out into the city farther away. She pointed out the temple to me. That night will forever be one of my favorites.

This girl is my best friend. I feel like I could tell her anything, and that she will always be there for me. I will always be there for her. She's going off to college now, and I will be one of the oldest girls in my ward wishing a little that I was going, too, because I don't really know what YW is without her. I've said this a lot recently... “Everything is changing.”

I know one thing that will always be constant. Our friendship. I firmly believe and decree that we will be best friends forever, throughout eternity.

Love, Mariah

Hunger Games Teaser Trailer

I have to say that this was the perfect gift from LIONSGATE to me. What a wonderful way to start my school year by seeing the first glimpse of THE HUNGER GAMES MOVIE!

Emma is happy!
--Spelling: 0

http://www.facebook.com/#!/video/video.php?v=1947431769039&oid=108677131037&comments

Today

Today I felt so overwhelmed and lonely in my despair. I was just feeling pretty discouraged. So I struggled and struggled and finally gave myself to prayer, pondering, and studying my Patriarchal Blessing. I felt so strongly that my Savior and my Father in Heaven love me. Sometimes I forget that. Sometimes I don’t understand that. Once I asked Him why He loved me and I swear I could hear something in my heart say, “Because you are mine.” I love Them. I feel so reassured and so good.

Life’s trials can break us or they can strengthen us. The choice lies within us. My choice lies within me. Your choice lies within you.

Choose the right especially when it seems the hardest thing to do to you.

Love,

Mariah

P.S.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

--Marianne Williamson

Pride and Prejudice

So you may not have heard (unless you stalk us…) we are having Pride and Prejudice parties!! At each party we will have a Jane Austen-y snack, a part of the AE Pride and Prejudice series, dressing up, and PICTURES! Also blogging afterwards.

Upon entering my comfortable home we conversed. Soon after we decided to take up a little reading, and chose to read aloud for each other’s amusement.

        

As you can see, there were some interruptions which were a quite disconcerting.

Soon we found ourselves congregating in the kitchen for a nibble of something to eat. Laura brought the most exquisite crepes and homemade raspberry jam. Emma and I were quite amazed at her mad skillz. They tasted delicious!

We soon settled down to enjoy Pride and Prejudice Part one. I often heard Emma and Laura make comments about the different actors, but we all enjoyed ourselves immensely. We especially had fun over Darcy’s bath scene. It was quite unexpected in a rather hilarious way. We saw nothing amiss, but were very shocked. After his bath, he proceeds to get into a bathrobe and stare at Elizabeth. It is rather odd.

After the movie we made sure to write some truly amazing letters. :) To Kemyla!!!

Now here are some real dresses from Jane Austen’s time, along with some paintings that show the dress and fashion. I just adore these!

                   

{I got these pictures from sensibility.com—a most AWESOME place!} 

Affectionately yours,

Mariah Elena

Short Post-- Mum needs computer

Hello! I am going to make this as quick as can be. Make this more fun by reading this post as fast as humanly (or unhumanly) possible. Time yourself then post a comment announcing your time. We will give the winner a prize..... haha. But seriously Mariah will. Not that I asked her permission first.......

I love summer. I will miss it. I AM SUPER DUPER UBER EXCITED ABOUT THAT PICTURE RIGHT THERE! ------------------------------>
You know you love it too.

Love the hunger games.

Uno week of summer left... :S

Great posts Riah.

We need Laura back.

Kem wants to join our blog! HOW SUPER AWESOMELY SPLENDID WOULD THAT BE?!?

Answer: VERY!

Dad wants me to watch BYU football this fall.

I really don't understand anything about football....

But BYU is cool!

Main point to my post:

I FINNALY GOT A LEATHER JACKET! And I love it! :D

--EMMA!
Wrote in less than two min... bet you can read it faster than that, or maybe not. Now mum is really nagging me to get off.
Spelling: o Whoa! Maybe if I don't take enough time to think about what I am writing then I can spell!

Heaven Works Through You

I went to church today with a great feeling in my heart. I knew one of my very best friends was going to speak today and I was so excited that I got to listen to her! I still am excited, and it’s over so that ought to tell you something about how much I love that girl. I am not one to say ‘love’ lightly, even among friends. I really do love her though. Anyway.

She gave a great talk about how young women make a difference in other’s lives. We can influence others to go on missions, live worthily, make good friends, and stand up for others. Our potential to affect others is limitless!

I felt so good as I partook of the Sacrament today. I feel like partaking of the Sacrament is sacred, and should be treated as such. I felt so good and so clean as I thought of the Savior and made some promises with Him. I am so lucky I get to repent and know I can! I want to share that with all the world. WORLD, LISTEN UP!!! ;D

I love my Savior. He loves me!

Okay then in YW I felt so good and so happy. I am so excited for this year in YW it will be a ton of fun and I hope we all grow in righteousness and doing what the Lord wants us to do. I feel like this will be a great presidency (I am the president with some other GREAT gals, whom I love as the counselors and secretary). I am trying my best to pray for each girl and what they need. I want to be one who listens to the spirit, and I don’t want to take credit for anything. I am only the pencil, and He is the artist! I sure like being a pencil. It is fun, and just the right amount of difficult. Plus my lead is pink (haha just kidding. I BLEED PURPLE!!!!!)

I hope your Sunday is MARVELOUS!

A song for reading this:

Love,

Mariah

Everybody’s Changing and I Don’t Feel the Same

I found a song by Keane that pretty much is me right now. Or was. I’ll explain after.

“Everybody’s Changing” by Keane

You say you wander your own land
But when I think about it
I don't see how you can

You're aching, you're breaking
And I can see the pain in your eyes
Says everybody's changing
And I don't know why

So little time
Try to understand that I'm
Trying to make a move just to stay in the game
I try to stay awake and remember my name
But everybody's changing and I don't feel the same

You're gone from here
Soon you will disappear
Fading into beautiful light
'cause everybody's changing
And I don't feel right

So little time
Try to understand that I'm
Trying to make a move just to stay in the game
I try to stay awake and remember my name
But everybody's changing and I don't feel the same

So little time
Try to understand that I'm
Trying to make a move just to stay in the game
I try to stay awake and remember my name
But everybody's changing and I don't feel the same

 

To me this song is about seeing everyone around you change, and there’s nothing you can do about it. It can be a good or bad change. I have friends from grade school who no longer are my friends, or who I still love but are not my friends. Does that make sense? It’s because we’ve chosen very different paths. We can’t reach each other any more. Then I have the friends who are going off to college or graduating or who already have done so. It’s a very good thing for them, and they are wonderful examples, but I find myself wishing things could be the same again.

I guess I wanted to stay the same forever. But how boring would that be? That’s what the first verse is about for me. His friend or whoever says he’s going to stay the same, but how does one stay the same? It’s impossible. We have many defining moments in our lives--we learn, grow, develop, laugh, love, hurt, cry. Everything we go through leaves a mark. So I won’t stay the same. It’s probably for the best if I do change. ^-^ At the same time though, staying the same and being yourself are very close yet different to me. I don’t want to stay the same. I want to stay myself. I want to learn and laugh and grow and change and cry and hurt if it means I will be a better version of myself.

Well, from here on I am going to try my best to embrace change! (I said try. Don’t get mad at me if I still have off days…)

ヽ(´ー｀)ﾉ <—dancing happy eastern emoticon

♪┏(・o･)┛♪┗ ( ･o･) ┓♪┏ ( ) ┛♪┗ (･o･ ) ┓♪┏(･o･)┛♪ <—But this one is really dancing! :-)

Love,

Mariah

The world is all right once again

My mom has been depriving me from my favorite show! It was so hard to try to control myself from the urge of caving in and watching it. Then as I was walking home from mutual the sun was setting in the perfect place and the whole world stopped still. Everything was so calm and motionless except for my mind. It beckoned and pleaded with me to relieve it's craving for the show of it's desires. I went home to a very tired mom, worn from a very long day, and was easily able to convince her to let me watch my beloved Pride and Prejudice.

SO I WATCHED IT AND ENJOYED IT AS MUCH AS EVER!

Now my life is as it should be where I can watch my favorite love story whenever I please!

Thank you for listening,
--The ultra elated Emma Rose!

Spelling: 2

P.s. Whenever I listen to music I always try to find connections for Hunger Games. I think that Mariah and I should pick the soundtrack!

Hunger Games

I think this song describes Katniss a bit. At first she’s only trusting herself, no one else. Then she finds Gale and they both slowly open up. Later she finds herself alone again, but in the Hunger Games. It’s then she gives her heart to someone else, even if she didn’t understand it at the time.

The Battle of the Heart part reminds me of Peeta in Mockingjay. He’s torn! He’s hateful, spiteful, realistic, harsh, sweet, pure, good. He has to decide which side he is on—which side is he? Katniss remembers, she tries to remember. This is Peeta.

Anyway, it’s called Soldier by Ingrid Michaelson

I don’t believe in anything but myself
I don’t believe in anything but myself
But then you opened up the door,
You opened up the door
Now I start to believe in something else
But how do I know if I’ll make it through?
How do I know, where’s the proof in you?

And so it goes, this soldier knows
A battle with the heart isn’t easily won
And so it goes, this soldier knows
The battle with the heart isn’t easily won
But it can be won, but it can be won

I sit in the back of the bus watching the world go
Watching the world go by all by myself
I took a faithful leap and packed up all my things
And all my love and gave it to somebody else
But how do I know if I’ll make it through?
How do I know, where’s the proof in you?

And so it goes, this soldier knows
A battle with the heart isn’t easily won
And so it goes, this soldier knows
The battle with the heart isn’t easily won
But it can be won, but it can be won

And so it goes, this soldier knows
A battle with the heart isn’t easily won
And so it goes, this soldier knows
The battle with the heart isn’t easily won

And so it goes, this soldier knows
The battle with the heart isn’t easily won
And so it goes, this soldier knows
The battle with the heart isn’t easily won
But it can be won, but it can be won

Love,

Mariah

Love ya friends!

I have the coolest friends.

Well it it 7 A.M. (AHHH THAT MADE ME THINK OF THAT FRIDAY SONG! :S )... waking up in the morning....

I woke up to let the carpet man into my house. Now I am awake and more tired this morning than I usually am. Luckily I decided to come and write to you. But as the norm I really don't have a topic.... except that my friends are the best!

What a great surprise it was to come to the blog and find a new look! Just a few days ago I was feeling like we needed a change. What a perfect one! I mean look at the picture! IT IS SO AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We get our schedules today! We are seniors. I have worked on my senior walk.... haha. But it is so hard to keep my focused enough to use more than a half a minute. HAHA.... me and my senior walk!

What can I tell you that would be absolutely awesome? Read Mariah's post. They are always splendidly brilliant!

I have turned my house into the British Embassy of Box Elder Country. Yes, I can do that. So now upon entering my house you must follow the rules of the British way. Please keep in mind that we walk on the left side of the halls, watch BBC, and we use the rubbish bin!

OH! That reminds me. Yesterday one of my ward members came over to play a song that my mom is learning on the piano on his violin. We conversed, then he played, and then my mom played. After we conversed more. IT ALL SEEMED SO PRIDE AND PREJUDICY! I thought it was the GREATEST thing EVA! My mom sealed the deal of my imagination when she commented that playing in front of peoples wasn't so kind to her "nerves". The smile couldn't conceal my enjoyment!

Ah... What a wonderful life we live her at the British Embassy of Box Elder County.
Come and visit! Bring your American accents and we shall laugh at you!

Farewell,
Emma Rose

Spelling: 3... I may be British but I cannot spell rubbish...

Realize Your {Divine} Destiny

I just watched a great Seminary Video for the Doctrine and Covenants.

In it was shown a prince, taken hostage by this evil man and his servants. As the servants laugh and relish their win, the main man comes up to tell them he has a special plan for this prince. He is going to corrupt him slowly. He will put him in the arena of the richest food, making him a slave to appetite. He will make sure to have him in all the parties, making sure he can hear the filthy language and crude jokes, with all the pleasures he can think of.

The prince is there, but he chooses not to partake of any of their evil designs. When the main man asks why he won’t, the prince stands up with pride and authority, saying, “I cannot do what you ask… for I was born to be a KING!”

President Boyd K. Packer says,

“You are of noble birth—the offspring of the King of Heaven. Fix that truth in your mind and hold to it. However many generations your mortal ancestry, no matter what race or people you represent, the pedigree of your spirit can be written in a single line… You are a child of God.”

 

I love it.

Hoping you do too,

Mariah

Mother Dearest!

Oh where, oh where could my mother be.
I can't find her anywhere.... and I urgently need her!
Spelling: 0

Hang On

Recently I have been going through tough times. It’s interesting that what may be a trial to you may seem like an easy thing for someone else. Or someone’s trial can be yours as well.

At any rate, it can be easy to feel discouraged in times of trial and tribulation. I don’t know how many people actually read this, but I just want to help anyone I can in my own small way. I want to tell you to hang in there, keep your chin up, brighter days will come. I want to tell you that your Father in Heaven LOVES you! And that you can make it. Keep trying. Keep going, and know you are NOT alone!

When the world and its temptations,
Seem to call you by name,
Be strong. Be strong.
When they question every thing,
You put your faith in everyday,
Be strong. Be strong.
And when your trials seem like they're too hard to bare,
Remember someone else stands by you,
Who's already been there.

Be strong, and of good courage!
Be not afraid,
Stand firm in the faith.
For the Lord,
Will be with us wherever we go.
Be His.
Be One.
Be Strong.

When the world tries to convince you,
To make the wrong choice,
Be strong. Be strong.
If in the noise that's all around,
You can't hear the Spirit's voice,
Be strong. Be strong.
And when you stand for something right and stand alone,
Remember someone else stand by you in our heavenly home.

Be strong, and of good courage!
Be not afraid,
Stand firm in the faith.
For the Lord will be with us wherever we go.
Be His.
Be One.
Be Strong.

"Be Strong"

:)

Thank you for reading,

Mariah