Speaking in Spanish

Today, a friend showed this video in our Spanish class. Its just a few minutes long and I personally find it hilarious. Perhaps someday soon I'll give you all a real post, but for now - enjoy :)

Speaking of Mr. Sun

It feels like Spring Time comes early in Utah and I have to say I don't mind it one bit! I can't wait for the goodness called Spring and Summer to truly arrive. I realize this Summer will be a little different seeing as I will hopefully be a Working Women by then. But I can still look forward to good times, can't I?

Whether laying solo, daydreaming in the clouds, making conversation with an old friend, or just soaking up the sun - the grass is definitely an ideal place to be.

The Cannon Center tries. They really do. But nothing beats fresh fruit in the Summer Time!

Picnics! Sure, this one was in the rain but I look forward to more in the sun!

This world is truly beautiful in every season, but come on, can't we all agree - Summer is the most fun time to enjoy it.

Great days spent with great people.

Fresh flowers and great ribs from the Portland Farmer's Market and enough creativity to get me through the whole Summer at the Saturday Market downtown. Yes. Portland is my home.

It's always sunny. It's always hot. It's always fun. It's Prineville.

No matter how a Summer is spent, I feel like they have this way of always ending up great. Giving us all a much needed break from school, work or the like of the daily grind. Bring it on Summer 2011, I for one am ready for you!

"In Summer, the song sings itself." ~ William Carlos Williams

You Are Special

You Are Special.

I think we all need a reminder of this simple truth sometimes. I got my reminder today in Nutrition. My professor is a truly great women and truly inspired. I probably won't be tested on much of the material we covered today, but she shared material and insights with us that I think I will remember far past graduation.

We are all special. We are all unique. We are all amazing. The world is truly incredible.

The picture I decided to include with this post is from a favorite childhood storybook of mine. Actually, I remember this book having a lot of words and not being too exciting, so maybe a favorite book from my tween years. Today, Professor Brown closed class by reading this book to us. She included the illustrations in her powerpoint- blown up to a size larger than life they still took my breath away. If you haven't read You Are Special by Max Lucado, I encourage you to take a trip to the children's section and take a look. I promise, you won't regret it.

Speaking of Devotionals

Every Tuesday at 11:00 BYU has a campus-wide devotional. Every other week it is of a spiritual nature. And on the off weeks a forum is held with an intellectual discussing something educational. Today, it was a spiritual devotional.

The devotionals are held in the Marriott Center (where are basketball games are played), but also broad casted to buildings and across campus through byutv. Today, I watched from the comfort of my very own dorm room and was touched by some of the things Russell T. Osguthorpe, General Sunday School President, had to say. His devotional centered around making love the foremost motive in our lives.

He mused that its not what we do that matters, its why. He established that motives matter. Then he took it one step further and asked, can love be our only motive? Think of how much better off the world would be if all of our actions were done with, through, because of, love. Think if we took tests, talked to roommates, talked to parents, drove our cars, and lived our lives with more love. He explained, we are always on our way somewhere-- giving or taking from each other. Love sometimes gets pushed to the side. Something we'll show our loved ones later or act on when we have time. But we are always going to be going somewhere, why not go with love.

I love my university and I'm glad they have given me something truly meaningful to think about for the rest of the day. Thank you BYU.

byutv broadcasts the devotionals live and then re-broadcasts them on Sunday afternoons. If you're interested you can go here to create a free account with them.

Motives matter. Love Matters.

Speaking of Videos

A friend posted this video on her blog and I liked it enough to re-post it here. If you've got the time- enjoy.

Speaking of That One Thing

Well, to be completely honest, I haven't really enjoyed this challenge thing very much. Okay, I haven't enjoyed it at all. I feel like the posts are just a tad too boring and I don't even like writing them. So, I am quitting. The challenge stops here. Please, do not hesitate to start the celebrations.

I suppose this means that I can start blogging about my real life again. I thought there was so much for me to blog about, but of course, now I am pulling blanks. How about I give you a short list of my recent and planned comings and goings. I think lists are just the best things ever, I hope you agree.

• Midterms, the official ones, not the tests between the beginning and end of the term that BYU calls midterms, are over! I am officially halfway through my second semester of college! Watch out folks, Sarah is growin up.
• I am currently doing a week long facebook fast with my floor. I have learned that I spend a lot of time on facebook. I have also learned that without facebook I have a lot more time for Hulu.
• Right now, it is raining. It's actually the second straight day of rain. At first, I loved the rain- it felt like home. Now it's kind of getting old. Notice I say getting old - it's not quite old yet.
• Recently, I have been running a lot more. Feels good to get the legs pumpin again.
• In two weeks, we are going to my friend Bracken's house in Idaho Falls. I am very excited. I hear there is good chocolate milk in Idaho and he has younger siblings that are just adorable - it's going to be great.
• I am proud to call myself a BYU Basketball fan. Even with the recent changes to our team roster, I am so excited for March Madness. If you know nothing about BYU's current basketball team - please go spend some time on google.
• Yesterday was the CES fireside. I'm not sure how often they have them but I've been to a few since being at BYU. Yesterday we heard from Elder L. Tom Perry. He bore such strong testimony of Christ and I got to hear it from the tenth row! Front and Center!
• It's Monday.

"It takes courage to grow up and turn out to be who you really are." ~ E.E. Cummings