thinking about life

lately.
i've been thinking about all the things that i want to do in my life.


because when you really sit back and think about it,
there's SO MUCH to be experienced,
and less than 100 years to experience it all!


so then we have to pick just a few of those things.
which is why i've been wondering what i want to pick...
what i want to experience.


especially in these next few years.


i tell one of my friends all the time that THIS is the time to be selfish.
that might sound bad, but it's true.
once you have a family, you have to learn to be selfless basically all the time.
so for these next few years before that happens, i'm going to be selfish.


i'm going to read as many books as i can get my hands on.
i'm going to finally learn how to play the piano.
i'm going to admire art.
i'm going to learn as much as i can fit in my brain.
i'm going to scrapbook and sew and create things from scratch.
i'm going to become a better cook.
i'm going to make new friends.
i'm going to change my mind. (several times...)
i'm going to fall in love again. (maybe several times... :) ha)
i'm going to travel.
hopefully i'll live in mexico for a few months.
hopefully i'll go on a study abroad.


i'm going to be a little better every day.
i'm going to be happy.
because life is beautiful :)


i'm going to enjoy whatever the next few years have in store for me...
because no matter what that is, it will be good :)


love your life...
i know i love mine :)


peace&&love

*ashP*

día de acción de gracias

that ^^ is how you say thanksgiving in spanish.
literally translated, it basically means 'day of action of giving thanks.'
and it wasn't until i learned that phrase in spanish that i really thought about the word 'thanksgiving' in english...

thanksgiving.

it's not about eating turkey or simply being thankful...
it's about giving thanks.


telling God what He does that you're thankful for.
telling other people what they do that you're thankful for.
telling your parents, friends, and just EVERYONE what they do that you're thankful for.

give them the thanks they deserve.
and then show your gratitude through your actions.

it's SO much deeper than just turkey and pie.
although those are definitely added bonuses, and indeed something to be thankful for :)

so on this day of thanksgiving
(we're on vacation schedule and therefore did things on the wrong day this year)
i want to give thanks for:

the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
the atonement of Jesus Christ.
the book of mormon.
the temple.
the holy ghost.
my parents.
my siblings.
my siblings in-law.
my nieces and nephew.
my second family.
a fully functional body and mind.
this beautiful world and all the beautiful creations within it.
and
food.

just to name a few of the most important things :)

i am so blessed.
i am so grateful.

life is completely amazing when you learn to find the positive in everything :)

remember to always be thankful, even when it's not the 4th thursday of november.

peace&&love

*ashP*

summer 2010 bucket list items #12 && #21---check.

#12: play in the rain.
#21: go to gateway mall.

today i got to spend some quality time with my best buddy, mauricio...but some of you might only know him as 'mo' since he is becoming more commonly known by that name in his new home at the university of utah :) seriously...i swear his new friends don't even know his real name haha :)

so i left work early to drive up to salt lake...i like it there. it's a cute city :)

but anyways, i picked him up and we went to the gateway for lunch and some window shopping :D i've never really been to the gateway, this being why it is on my bucket list. there are so many fun stores, my favorites being the HUGE versions of build-a-bear & forever 21, as well as anthropologie.

someday i'll buy something from that store.
promise.

oh!
and we took fun pictures!
collage: courtesy of mauricio :)


and of course it rained on the day we went to an outdoor mall...
we were slipping and sliding everywhere!
but we made the most of it and had fun :)

the downside?

you have to pay to go shopping.

i think that's silly.
but it was worth it :)

so then after shopping,
we went back to the dorms so i could meet some of his friends.
i like them.
they're nice :)

but the leader lady...she kicked me out of the building.
because apparently i could potentially "harm" the participants in the summer program or something.
which i guess "potentially" i could.
but still.
it's dumb.
haha i'm not a serial killer :)

so then mauricio and i just went for a drive and
ended up playing and laughing together :)
that boy is my best friend.
and today was fun :)

peace&&loveee

*ashP*