We can dance in slow motion

Last night was one of the best dates I've had in my entire life. My best friends and I threw a murder mystery date and Rebeca set it all up for us.

It was perfect. We ate dinner while we all introduced our characters. Rachel and Mads made super yummy twice baked potatoes and BBQ chicken. We had name tags, envelopes with evidence and money, written story lines, and everything. We all dressed in 1920's outfits and looked dang sharp with our dates. It was seriously crazy! Everyone was lying right and left and trying to deceive in order to get information out of the other characters. Everyone got so into it and it was so much fun.

We watched Clue afterwards in honor of our murder mystery date night.
Today I got to watch General Conference with my best friends and I was so excited about all of it! I didn't even sleep through any of it. It started while Cade, Rach, and I were at Wendy's so Rach and I ran to Cade's car to listen to it. The spirit was so strong today and I could even tell you what all the talks were about! I actually understood everything that they were saying. It's like I'm growing up or something.

Along with growing up comes goodbyes. I said goodbye to Cade and Gabe today. Two of my very best friends. These boys are my brothers. I will miss going to the store with Gabe and watching all of our videos that we both find hilarious. I'll miss car rides and dinner with Cade. I'll miss laughing with Gabe because he let me be completely myself around him. I'll miss my late night talks with Cade and the fact we always somehow talked about some gospel principle and grew so much together. I'll miss playing Slender Man with Gabe and pretty much crying when he captured us. I'll miss Cade's scripture reading voice and the fact he always did everything he could for me and never complained. I'll miss Gabe calling me for advice about Sarah. I'll miss Cade letting me yell at him and then after just laughing and saying "haha, you're funny." I'll miss these boys so much.

Right now Sarah, Rach, and Alli are just sitting in our combined home living room and realizing that all our guy friends are gone. We are quite literally alone. We have no more friends! So if anyone has suggestions for guy-friend-less girls we could use them. All our boys have left us to serve the Lord, so of course we could not be more proud. But still..... we are friendless.

His eyes are way too close together

10 best days of my life.
(in no particular order)

1 Skydiving

2 Temple Square

3 Day the mission age was lowered

4 The day I was cast in Liken

5 An A capella tour day 

6 Prom

7 Youth ballroom team won nationals

8 Day of cruise with family

9 Day in Paris

10 Day in Africa

praying that you and me might end up together

I think I need the therapy of a blog post more than anything right now. This semester has been crazy and insane and so much has happened.

I got the scholarships I was hoping for to attend spring and summer terms so that should be a new adventure! Housing and figuring out where to live just need to come a little bit easier.

I have the best friends in the world. Sunday night I was going through some very difficult stuff. Dillon sat me down and talked me through everything while I just bawled my eyes out to him. Then he, Dylan, Cade, and Cole all gave me a much needed blessing. How lucky I am to have worthy men in my life to be able to do something like that on a seconds notice! We were having a pie party in celebration of pie day and I just couldn't be more grateful for my friends.

This semester has had so many twists and turns. I've had heartbreak and stress that I didn't see or expect coming but I have learned more than I could have ever learned without it all. At the end of the day I am happy because I have the most important people in my life and the best friends ever. If everything works out my papers should finally be open this week and I can start on the one thing I would give up absolutely anything to do, go and serve the lord where he needs me.

Life sure hands you things you don't expect. You just keep planning and planning and things keep constantly changing. Sometimes I come to the point that I just want to throw my hands up in the air and stop making plans all together.

love sick without being in love

I've been having some interesting experiences lately.

All I can say is I think success is truly measured by how happy you are. Nothing else.

The atonement is real and Heavenly Father is there.
There is a plan for all of us.



I hope they call me on a mission.

Every day we can play on the milky way

I love having a best friend who is Catholic. Nothing makes me happier than learning about beliefs of other people and other religions. This year I am participating in Lent.
Today is Mardi Gras and to that I say:

Hopefully I'll be able to attend Ash Wednesday tomorrow, but either way it all starts soon!

I am giving up:
Candy
Sweets
Ice Cream
Soda
Chocolate
Meat on Fridays

Also when I want to get on any social networks I will read or write in my journal instead.

Exceptions:
Valentine's Day
Emily's Birthday
1 day of Nationals
*In order to make up for these days I have to do acts of service for eating something against my Lent rules. 

I'm going to church with her in a couple of weeks and we are going to visit the beautiful cathedral in Salt Lake City.

I am so excited for this opportunity to come closer to Christ and to give up something to remind myself of him daily and draw nearer to him.

Let Lent begin. 

Pretending he's beside me

My best friend, Emily Kapral, said something beautiful yesterday. As we were having one of those daily life changing talks we have that most have once a year she stunned me and I had to even stop to think about her words.
She said something along the lines of, "I wouldn't want to get married now because I don't know enough about myself. I want to be comfortable enough to just share who I am completely with someone."
How lovely a thought that is. For so long I've always assumed you get married and figure out who you are with that person. Together you figure yourself out. But I like her way much better.
Love is about sharing exactly who you are with someone who loves you enough to love every part of you. It isn't that thing you do when you feel alone or confused or need to figure something out. You don't love to find yourself you find yourself and then love. It's just plain and simple. It's merely taking yourself and letting someone see every tattered and dusty corner of your soul.

Let's see how far we've come

2012 I dare say you were one of the best years of my life.

2012 was my year.

Chrystalyn got married

Road tripped to Cali

Senior pictures

Went Skydiving

Lagoon

Mumford and Sons Concert

Sent my best friend on his mission

Sent my long time best friend on his mission

Add caption

Brotha got married

Senior Ball

Graduated

America Birthday Cake

Just Buttons and Bows!

Black Friday Shopping

FHE family

Went to Florida!

DisneyWorld :)

cut my hair!

Lagoon with mads

Nationals

Got a new partner

Met my girl Emily

Temple square date with Ben

Cruise to Alaska

My baby Wojtek

• Family all came out to visit
• Tour to California
• Formation 1st place both medleys
• Brother got married
• Wisdom teeth out
• Senior ball
• Festival of Colors
• BYU ballroom social
• Graduated High school
• Went on a date with Wojtek where we pretended to be engaged
• Dyed my hair only like 4 (?) times. Once was Blue
• Went to Stadium of Fire
• Trip to Florida
• Killed Josh Burr in Senior assassin after hiding in a bush for 2 hours
• Accepted to BYU
• Went on a road trip to Cali
• Worked at Kneaders
• Saw Hunger Games
• Went on a cruise to Alaska
• Monthly dinners with my grandparents
• Had the best summer you could ask for
• Went to Lagoon once with Mads and once with Alan
• Had sleepovers with Maren, Meg, Maddie, and Jayme
• Sent off my best friends in the world on missions
• Went to New York
• Played lots with Tana
• Senior all night party
• Started BYU
• Photographed Kyle Dray
• Played a Turkey bowl game where my bet friend broke a girls nose
• Got the best roommates
• I was Fhe mama
• yearbook, a capella, student gov, journalism
• Got a new partner
• Went on the perfect date to Sundance Moonlight ride
• Met the best people at BYU
• Road tripped to St George with Brenna
• Went Skydiving
• Placed in both youth pre-champ finals at nationals
• Got the best FHE family in the world
• Met Emily Kapral
• Loved People
• Finished my 1st semester of college with nothing less than an A-
• Best Christmas Ever
• MISSION AGE WAS LOWERED

Mads birthday

Best friends with wisdom removed

turkey bowl

Kyle Dray

St George with BrenBren

Morp

Stadium of Fire

Senior Assassin

Best friends on top of the world

Bes frannns going to ballroom social

2012. You lived up to every expectation I had and more.
This was it folks. This was my year.

Next year is the Lord's
#2013missionaryworkhereicome

Watching as the crowd rolled in

When I was cast in Liken the Scriptures series I remember being told something very important from my director. He said, "Lauren, with this role comes great responsibility. People will recognize you and know who you are. You have to make sure to be an example to goodness in all things that you do at all times because you never know what example you are setting and who is watching."

That was 8 years ago.

Today as I got in the elevator of the Tanner building a beautiful girl stumbled in her mind for a second before she asked,
"I'm sorry, are you in Liken the Scriptures?"

I laughed as I looked up from the text I was sending,
"Ha, yeah I am! I'm surprised you recognized me!"
She responded,
"I've seen you around campus and I've been watching trying to figure out if it was really you. Do you go to BYU?"

Immediately my mind raced back to the past 4 months I've had at this University.
Have I been kind? Was I always modest? Was I talking righteously? Was I friendly to those around me? Did my attitude reflect happiness? Did I act appropriately? Had I helped some one out that day or passed someone in need of help by? Did I have the spirit with me? Was I being the best I could be? What example had I been setting?

"Yes, I go here. That's super cool you recognized me. Are you from out of state? I actually realized people not from Utah usually have seen the series more than people who live here."

"Yeah, I'm from California."

The conversation continued on as we walked out the Tanner building to the street light.

"It was wonderful to meet you Britney!" I said as I waved goodbye.

All I could think as we parted was about what I had portrayed in my actions to that sweet girl. It was such a huge reminder that anyone can be watching at any time and to never ever lower my standards. God is always watching. How would I react if he confronted me about some of the things he's witnessed? It is imperative to be strong, and of a good courage, always abounding in good works at all times, with all things, and in all places.