Happy Holidays!

Kennadee finally gave a flawless performance after being bribed with chocolate:) By the way, her middle name isn't really Joseph.

Pumpkin Carving

Monday nights are always the highlight of my week. Since its the month of October, it only made sense that we carved pumpkins for an FHE activity.

Three of my most favorite people in the whole world! Alex's pumpkin is Sponge Bob in case you can't tell.

Morgan and I (yes her name is Morgan too) made the best dynamic duo ever. She gutted the insides while I made all the precision cuts with my handy dandy electric carver that I was threatening everyone's lives with.

Here's the finished product all lit up and ready to scare. He's our masterpiece of the month.

Knock, knock!

I'm trying to teach her a few knock knock jokes, but it turned into insults in the end. I think I need some new material anyway.

Cards and Cookies

Yeah, we bake cookies and play card games on a Saturday night. So what? Our favorite thing to do lately is play Hand and Foot (Google it). The usual crew, Jacen, Kylie, Braxton, Colin and I initiated Alex into the group. Of course I got stuck with the newbie, and we didn't do so red hot. I'm confident though that by the next game night he'll be a champ! Of course there was story telling, football on t.v., and laughter involved. Kylie and I were unintentionally matching for the event red shirt and all. Her and I are morphing into the same person. I love my friends more than anything!

Pittalicious!

New favorite movie: Moneyball. Hayden and I met up in Salt City Friday evening and saw the flickster. Soda and popcorn included. I was reminded how big of a hunk Brad Pitt is (as if I had forgotten), while Hayden translated all of the baseball jargon for me. He's some sort of an expert on the subject. Not only that, but there was a Fabio reference in the movie. I laughed the whole night long, and came home with a few new smile lines. I need to stop going out with so many funny people. I'm getting wrinkles.

In case you didn't know, Jonah Hill is also in the movie. Well guess what! He directed my new favorite music video. Sara Bareilles is amazing to my ears, and she looks drop dead gorgeous. I'm so glad she finally made a music video to one of my favorite songs on her latest album.

Close Eyes, Clear Heart, Let Go

I'm an expert on heart ache.

I know how the tears flood the pillow.

I know the mood swings, angry to sad.

I know of the self inflicted torture, taking blame.

I know the hatred eating at the heart.

I know the love that still exists.

I know of the vanishing future, the empty feeling

I know the revenge that will never amount

I know the doubt that fills the mind with darkness

I know the desperate apologies, attempts to make amends

I know the deleted memories not fully removed

I know the heart broken playlist stuck on repeat

I know the fear of being replaced and forgotten

And then one day...

Comes healing

Comes forgiveness

Comes acceptance

Comes hope

Comes light

Comes closure

Comes knowledge

Comes another

Until then I'll smile in the presence of others, pray for strength to endure and wait for that day.

"Giving up doesn't always mean you are weak. Sometimes it means you are strong enough to let go."

"When things are good, love is easy. When things are tough, love is true."

Until We Meet Again

I'll always remember the first day you and your sister knocked on my door. I had just moved into the neighborhood and didn't know a single soul. You were my very first friend. From that day on, we were inseparable: walking to the bus stop together and styling your hair during the ride to school, playing cops and robbers in your house while your dad was at work, making up dances to your 70's cd, the 5th grade talent show, your obsession with Pepsi and your catLucy, our pet frog (Kermit) that we found in my yard and shared every other day even though I never dared to touch him, watching re-runs of The Brady Bunch, and Spongebob, accidentally throwing your retainers away at lunch and having to dig through the trash cans at least once a month. You grew up to be such a beautiful, bright girl. I'm so lucky for the time I had to be in your presence. Your friendship meant the world to me, and I know we will meet again. I'll love you always, Brittany.

Why?oming

If there's one thing that I look forward to every year, it's the annual YSA Jackson Hole/ Snake River rafting trip. Honestly though, being in the freezing water was MISERABLE. I have no idea why I love it so much. We ran the river twice on Friday, and I only fell overboard once. Somehow I survived!

That afternoon we received some awful news. Braxton's little brother, Jared had gone missing while at scout camp. The timing couldn't have been any worse. After our ward quickly gathered together and held a group prayer, Braxton left with our bishop and his wife to join the search party . I know that all of our prayers were answered when news came back that they had found Jared the following morning. The story even made national news!

It was a roller coaster of a weekend. A ton of hilarious memories were made, and stories shared. The people I am surrounded by are one in a million.

Getting In Touch With Our Hooper Roots

Howdy partner! A few weeks ago "the bachelor pad" threw a Cowboy Hoedown party. This included: harmonica lessons around a good ol' fashion bonfire, dutch oven peach cobbler, home-made fudgesicles with hidden messages inside, a dress up photo booth, and of course dancing, lots of dancing! It was a wild and woolly, rough and tumble night. We all love each other around here if you haven't noticed. Yeehaa! All photos courtesy of The Great White Ninja Kade Beus.

Mr. and Mrs. Cook

Two of my very bestest friends were married to each other for time and all eternity on Saturday. The second Cassie walked out those temple doors, I started sobbing. She looked stunning! Her and Bryce had nothing but huge smiles on their faces. The entire day was beautiful, and I'm so glad I got to be a part of it. Here's to the best looking husband and wife until I get married! Bahaha jk. I love you guys!

My Best Friend

My little angel turned 3 years old today! Not to brag, but she's the cutest, funniest, and coolest sniecester (sister/niece) around. She loves posing for pictures, and notice we are both wearing black and white polka dots. She insisted that we matched on her birthday. She calls me Pablo, and I call her Uniqua, and we play freeze tag all day long. Happy birthday, Kennadee!

Beautiful Place: Nauvoo

We had the whole temple to ourselves while we did baptisms.

"We're going to see a lot of brick and mortar in Nauvoo, but it's truly about the people."

I lost.

Trail of Hope

Carthage Jail

The bestest travel agents a girl could have!

Just another reason why I love Hooper. A group from my singles ward was able to take a trip of a lifetime to the beautiful Nauvoo. I am forever grateful for the early saints who gave so much and had so little.

California Dreamin'

I'm a lucky lady to have a beach babe for a boyfriend. He was born and raised in the beautiful state of California. This past week we got to visit and spend time with his adorable family. One of my favorite spots that he took me was Point Dume. As you can see the views were breath taking. We also went to the Fashion District, Eaton Canyon, LA, Malibu, Venice Beach, Huntington Beach and Knott's Berry Farm.

Point Dume

Eaton Canyon

Knott's Berry Farm

Remember to...

Forget: Things that people have said to and about you.

Focus: On the people who truly love & care for you.

Carry: On with what you enjoy doing & do it with the extra knowledge that you and your heart are good.

The Four Agreements

Reading a new book.

The Four Agreements

1. Be Impeccable With Your Word

Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

2. Don't Take Anything Personally

Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

3. Don't Make Assumptions

Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

4. Always Do Your Best

Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgement, self-abuse, and regret.

This quote made the whole book worth reading:

"If someone is not treating you with love and respect, it is a gift if they walk away from you. If that person doesn't walk away, you will surely endure many years of suffering with him or her. Walking away may hurt for a while, but your heart will eventually heal. Then you can choose what you really want. You will find that you don't need to trust others as much as you need to trust yourself to make the right choices."

Words of Wisdom

We must have a deep sense of purpose and the will to fulfill it... We must... Resolve old, unfinished business and eliminate toxic people and attitudes from our lives. We must... Work hard, have long periods of study and concentrated efforts. We must... Withdraw and sever ties with people who are not truly aligned with our best long term interests... (Finally!) Focus exclusively on your ambition and what is important to you. ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS AND MOVE FORWARD!

God is Love,

Rev Run

Erase Me

Whole new meaning to this song for me! Love this version, too. Pardon the D's, B's, and H's :P

Smile Even When It Rains

Urgh! I keep wanting to publish a new post, but halfway through I re-read what I'm typing, and it's one huge, venting pile of trash talk! I've always taken pride in the fact that I have incredible amounts of self control, but recently I am struggling. I feel the constant need to defend myself, when I KNOW that I've done nothing wrong.

A few weeks ago I had to play "the bad guy" role, something entirely different from what I'm used to. Feelings were hurt. Friendships were broken. With this decision came a new perspective. I've been able to forgive those who have wronged me in the past more fully. That's all I'm going to say about that.

Just a reminder though, it's not nice to mock others.

I'm gonna keep doing what I do best: Smiling, laughing, and praying.