Here's to the bro who turns sixteen
The raddest darn dude you ever have seen.
To the one who is funny, handsome & smart
And makes rad brotherin' an art.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUNTER!

Words of Wisdom:



ON DRIVING--don't follow our sister's footsteps i.e. drive like me



ON DATING--date a lot like Jennie, get married like Sarah and from me ... well that's another story, I'll take words from Hitch and say 'No game ... no girl' and you got game kid!

ON LIFE-- pray & trust in the Lord & don't let people push you around.

Hunter is truly one of the coolest guys I know, everybody knows it. He's admired by everybody, in the classroom, at home, on the field and at church! Funny as heck ... yet quite can't make the quote board, just kidding I think he made it up there once.
I can't wait to see where he goes in sports and with school and the mish. True stud material fo' sho'! Love ya bro!

Rugby

I play rugby. Who the heck would have thought? I think my brother Hunter put it best when he said "and that's why you aren't married". Rugby isn't all that harsh and brute-like when playing 7's or even 10's, 15's get annoying due to all the players in the way.

Lo Stender is in my ward and she plays for the U.S. Women's team and travels the world, she was the one who got me to play rugby for the Slots. We went to Flagstaff about a month ago and played a couple of 15's and my body ached for days after, come to find out your body doesn't get used to it and the soreness isn't the greatest familiarity.

It's fun to be part of an actual team again and to have to go to practice. We practice with the Las Vegas Blackjacks, the men's rugby team, and I'm learning a lot. I find it hard not to compare it to football and want to react as such, but it opens many doors and instant friends.

So far I've played openside-flanker & lock positions, I've been practicing as a center and hopefully will get to run the ball a little more for more tries. Yesterday I had the chance to play touch rugby at the Fijian Independence celebration with many people representing many different nations all both young and old. True to their motto "a hooligans' game played by gentlemen".

vienna waits for you…

This last weekend was spent in Utah, I forgot how much I like Utah. I loved the weather, missed the mountains, family & friends and enjoyed the familiarity. A big part of me wished a reason would arise for me to stay forever, but I soon found myself back in Henderson. I do like Nevada, but it’s not home. I’m reminded of the song Vienna, maybe even my theme song, and how it always seems to fit my every situation.

As long as I can remember I've wanted to go on a mission. I've wanted to bring to others what I have been given. I haven't had to search, wonder or doubt. I've known truth and truth continually opens her door. I want so badly to be righteous, to be worthy of being the Lord's hands here on the earth. I feel like I fall short too many times. The Lord needs a strong people and I am barely strong enough to get through the trials that I face. I've learned that at this point of thinking is when I need to let the Atonement in and give the rest up to the Lord. To let the Lord answer my door.
I am a stubborn girl. But when I find truth I will easily give up my ways and thinking and can be easily molded. I have recently come to harsh realizations thanks to a dear person in my life. It was in the moment that I knew I was wrong when I matured out of being the 'always responsible, oldest, level-headed, always right' one into the vulnerable and moldable one that the Lord wants me to be. I want to be righteous and I want the blessings that the Lord promised me in my patriarchal blessing. I want others to know the happiness I know, I want to help them and to love them. I was intended to help those out in need, to have an understanding of what people have gone through and what is ahead of them, maybe due to the experiences I have had.
I've had many plans in my life, good plans, plans that align with what I've been taught and what the Lord would be happy with. Those plans fall through time and time again and I am realizing that there are different plans for me than what I have expected. That the Lord has used me in ways I am unaware of. I am excited to know those ways someday and I'm excited to see what the Lord has in store for me and what things I can do in return.

I've never loved and found it hard to trust, but I have a lot of love to give and have complete trust waiting. I will steal President Henry B Eyring's words and say "I no longer need preeminence, positions, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk with patience . . . . My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear." I cannot claim them as complete but guiding words nonetheless.

I have too many faults to list or even think about and I know I should be working much harder than I am. Someday I will find myself strong and worthy. Until then there is a lot of work to do.

Thrice + Circa Survive

A couple of weekends ago I went to see Thrice and Circa Survive at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay. It was awesome! I went with this guy in my ward with a bunch of his buddies, they were there for Thrice and I was looking forward to Circa Survive.

Circa Survive was amazing. Anthony Green was entertaining and reminded me more of a ritual dancer, but has some awesome pipes. Pretty sure they are a new favorite! I love it!

This guy I went with was the one who introduced me to Thrice, I liked them as soon as I heard them and tried to cram as much of their music into my brain before the show. It's interesting to hear their earlier stuff compared to the music they just released a couple of weeks ago. It's always nice to hear good music and real musicians. Their music is complex and the lyrics are thought provoking. Totally rad stuff.

All in all it was a fun night, but who would have doubted? The guys I were with were funny, they were the ones in the crowd starting all the mosh pits and creating all the chaos. I was totally proud.

On to the next ...

first injury of the season

OUCH!!

I ran and slid to catch a foul fly ball and soon realized that the dirt in Nevada is hard and rocky, I'm just glad I caught the ball! It was kinda cool to see so much blood gushing from my leg and it was great to see the reactions from everybody who saw it.

I'm not sure the picture gives it justice, in the mirror it looks a lot bigger, but it is a lot redder in real life. And it hurts like a mother!! I'm keeping it wrapped so the scar won't be as big.

Last night I called a girl in the ward who plays on the US National Rugby team and who is an athletic trainer (she's seen much worse) and she fixed me up pretty well, but said that I'll have a nasty scar and hairy legs. It's just another battle wound.

USERS AND KILLERS

I work for a methadone clinic helping heroin addicts fight their addiction. So far it's really rewarding watching the users really fight something that has fought them so long. I've come to learn even more that the body is a powerful thing and the mind even greater.

I work from 5 am to 1 pm and love the idea of getting off work and relaxing by the pool everyday and have time for school.

I'm also working with a handful of killers. I will admit that once the confession was made that they had killed people I thought we need to do something about out justice system. And then my thoughts ran along the lines of:

I'm sorry, what? Could you repeat yourself? I heard something in there about a killing.

The Killers (the band, not actual killers)

Ok, think Nichole, where are the exits? If you had to what could you use to defend yourself? Would the pointy end of a paper clip do enough damage to get away? And I should update my Will.

All in all I really like my job.