Gracie's Baptism Dress

Gracie got baptized this past Saturday and it was a super special day for her and the rest of the family. Kinda crazy because being eight years old means she's not really a baby anymore! :(

I took a sewing for children class last semester and for one of my projects I decided to make Gracie's baptism dress. It was a lot of fun and I'm glad I had the chance to do it for her. I think I would have redone a few things for sure, and it was really sad because the zipper in the back broke, so if she were to ever wear it again I'd have to put in a new zipper. Overall though, I think the dress turned out really beautiful, probably mostly because it was on a beautiful little girl! It was a simple white dress with tulle on the skirt, and then I sewed gold beads as though they were cascading on the dress. The beading took FOREVER, but I'm so glad I did it because it was really cute.

We went up to the capitol building in Salt Lake City to get some nice pictures with my new Canon camera. We had fun, though Gracie was definitely getting tired by the end. Anyway, enough talk! You can see the pictures for yourselves and decide what you think.

Isn't she such a cutie? Man, I love this little girl SO much! We had so much fun spending three whole weeks with together over the break and I'm so proud of her for making the decision to get baptized! I sure am lucky to have Gracie as my sister and best friend for eternity. :)

Because of Him

I have literally watched this video every day since I first saw it. It was posted 8 days ago and now has almost 4 million views on youtube. No matter who you are, I hope this video will speak to you like it has spoken to me. Just watch it, it's less than three minutes long and definitely worth your time.


Let's face it...life is hard. My life is hard, so soooooo hard sometimes, and whoever you are reading this right now, your life is probably hard too, or has been, or will be. Saying it never changes the fact, but sometimes it feels nice to just get it out and say LIFE IS HARD. Sometimes it's never enough, like I will never be able to explain the magnitude of the hardness of life to someone.

It's so easy to lose hope, to want to give up. I know a lot of things in my heart, but when life gets in the way and things are difficult, I have trouble making sense of it all in my head. It feels like I can't do it and sometimes I feel like I don't care anymore. It's hard. It's hard hard hard.

I'm beginning to realize that the only way I can have peace and be whole, is through Him, through His atonement. It's because of Him that I can mess up a million times and still somehow stand up and try again once more. Because of Him, I have hope.

I hope you know that because of Him, you can feel the same way too. He can heal you the way I am trying to let Him heal me. No matter your struggles, faults, weaknesses, or addictions, you can be free because of Him.

I hope you know that. Or at least I hope you feel that one day, you will be able to know that. You are loved.

Because of Him.

Happy Turkey Day :)

I'm thankful for lots of stuff...being able to go to BYU, Carrie Underwood, clothes, lotion, purple stuff (and just the color purple), guitar hero, my amazing friends, school, cardigans, my cell phone, dance, music, pizza, books, blogging, everyone who reads and follows this blog (really, thank you!!), and my job. :)

But most of all, I am grateful for my family and for my church. Obviously I've loved my family my whole life but they've really been there for me this year and I've come to appreciate more than I could have ever known. They really are my best friends and I have no idea in the world what I'd do without them! Whenever I go home I have the best time in the world and I cry every time I have to leave. So if any of my family members are reading this (esp. my parents): I love you guys! You are my life and I am so grateful for you! I don't tell you thank you enough but really, THANK YOU. For absolutely everything. Daddio, Mama Llama, Rina, Siddy Biddy, Buddy, and my BFF Gracie...i love you all lots and am so happy we can be a family forever. :)

And my church. It's amazing. I am LDS. I'm a Mormon. :) I don't know where I'd be without my religion. It's true and it's everything I believe in. It is who I am. All I can say is that with it, I am utterly happy and know that I always will be. And it lets me be with my family forever. That, folks, is amazing. It's just wonderful. :)

Happy thanksgiving! Christmas (my absolutely favorite holiday) is next! 27 days... :)

Cardigan: Abercrombie and Fitch (thrifted)

Shirt: borrowed from Carina

Jeans: Bubblegum via Ross

Flats: Payless