Maybe my Audience is Bigger than I thought...

So the other day I discovered the "stats" tab on my dashboard. Looking at it I discovered that there are actually a lot of people who read my blog...and I'm not quite sure how I feel about that. And not just people from the U.S but from around the world! For example in the past week my blog has been viewed from people in Germany, Ukraine, Netherlands, Brazil, El Salvador, and Romania. I thought that the only people who read this were my family and a few friends and most likely not very often. But no, people I don't even know read this, who knows how often, but still! I guess it just opened my eyes and made me realize how big this world really is! And how there are so many ways to connect with so many different people. Also, I wonder how on earth they found my blog! Perhaps they just stumbled upon it...or they blog stalk (but I also do that so I guess I don't have room to talk!) It was just crazy to realize that people actually look at my blog! HAHA

We don't work out, We just like to goof off...

A week ago after getting a Cookie Monster at Craigo's, Austin decided to go workout. The rest of us decided to just go up to the workout room with her and chill while she worked out. Here are the results...Let's put as much weight on as possible and see if we can do it!!!

Haha absolutely LOVE this picture!!!

Okay, I know this looks uncomfortable but it's seriously one of my favorite things to do on the ab ball...I could lay like that for a long time!


Needless to say there are no photos of Austin since she was working out. Not that I blame her I wouldn't want anyone taking photos of me while I was working out either! But we all got pretty good ab workouts that night...Laughter the natural ab workout!

Memories are Forever

This week in my young adult literature class we read and discussed The Giver by Lois Lowry. A theme that I found throughout the book was memories and how they shape our lives. At one point the Giver tells Jonas that if he were to die his "memories would not be lost with you. Memories are forever." That really got me to thinking...

Time does heal wounds, slowly but surely sometimes. But it doesn't take away the memories and for that I am truly grateful. Today I am grateful for happy memories. Memories of giggling late into the night on a rafting trip and camp outs. The memory of downing at least one maybe two whole cans of aerosol whip cream and feeling a little lightheaded after inhaling the left over toxins. Memories of high school psychology and watching Johnny Lingo. Memories of smiles, laughs, and good times. But there are also memories of coming together and bonding with people I hardly knew. A school auditorium filled with students of many different religions and backgrounds singing hymns for the whole school day. Memories of praying for understanding. The memory of holding my best friend as she cried. Memories of crying because it seemed so unfair but knowing that the Lord has a purpose.

I thought that in time I would forget. That September 16th and the days surrounding would someday become just another normal day. But my sobbing during the closing hymn of "All Creatures of our God and King" on Sunday showed me that maybe we're not supposed to completely forget. That maybe we need to remember for a reason. That remembering can bring us closer to our Savior as we seek comfort and understanding. That by remembering we will never forget that life is fragile. Any second we could be called home. And also by remembering we won't forget that this life isn't all there is...there is so much more awaiting us. While remembering can bring sadness we can also find joy in the happy memories. The good memories that will last us forever. The forever memories that bring us together as they are shared and that help us to never forget.

Hey! You Dufur!!
I won't forget.

I watched this clip for my Mission Prep Class and I really loved it. I wanted to share it with everyone! This clip which contains a portion of a devotional given in a 1996 at BYU by Elder F. Enzio Busche. I hope that it will life you up or give you a new perspective or knowledge. Enjoy!