Live The Life You Love

Goodbye for now!

2011-07-19T16:01:00.000-07:00

Here is my final goodbye to this blog... for 18 months!

This Wednesday, July 20th, I am taking off to the Provo MTC to begin a new chapter in my life and serve the Lord as a full-time missionary. I could not be more thrilled, excited, and honored for this opportunity. I have been so blessed in my life and specifically in the past few months. I hear from many people it only gets better from here.

My family will be keeping up a blog while I'm gone with some of my letters and whatever else they feel like putting on it. Here is the link so you can follow along with my journey in Omaha, Nebraska!! (Don't let this blog stop you from writing me though!)
http://sisterjenniferjones.blogspot.com/

Also, my friend Siri Baxter took some pre-missionary pictures of me this past week. I won a contest she had so we did a fun photo shoot at the Mesa Temple! She is such a wonderful and nice girl! Here's a link to the pictures she posted on her blog! Check them out!
http://www.lifethroughbrighteyes.com/2011/07/sister-jennifer-jones-photoshoot.html

Utah trip

2011-07-05T13:50:00.000-07:00

Visiting family is the best! I was able to spend time with my family from Cedar City, UT for the past week and I had a great time! Here's a recap of all of the fun places we visited and the memories that were created.

Zion's Overlook:

Bryce Canyon:

We went on a beautiful hike at Bryce Canyon and then went to some different outlooks where we saw some amazing views and took pictures!

Grease:

We went to Grease the musical at Tuicon in St. George. The musical was good, but nothing can top the movie. I love Grease! I was singing those songs from probably 5 years old and up. When I was young I would love to sing along with all of the songs and my favorite line to quote was, "Tell me about it, stud." haha, good times!

Temple:

I went through the temple for the 1st time last week and it was amazing. I was so happy to be with my family. I am so grateful for their love and support. It was a great experience and I am so grateful for temples. The St. George temple is my favorite so it was awesome being able to go through there for the first time with my family.

St. George Temple. Isn't it gorgeous?!

We took a visit to Salt lake City and Provo!

We made a stop to the "This is the Place" Monument:

My dad made us pose by anything that had to do with Winter Quarters!
Here's a family that had traveled on the Mormon Trail and said a prayer
together when they finally made it to Utah.

And also made a visit to the Salt Lake City Temple! It was way fun to talk to all of the Sister missionaries that are serving there. We stopped and talked to a bunch of the sisters and it was so cool to see how happy they all were and see their love for the gospel through their smiles and attitudes. My dad would randomly tell them I was reporting for my mission in a few weeks and they would get so excited and give me a big hug. What a fun group of girls! It made me really excited to be serving part of my mission in a visitors center/ historic site.

Here's the Provo Temple! I'll be visiting this temple very soon while I'm in the MTC!

Things to do before leaving on my mission in 15 days:
-Finish preparing my "farewell" talk.
-Give my talk. (This Sunday)
-Spend time with family and friends.
-Keep studying scriptures and Preach My Gospel.
-Pack my entire apartment.
-Move out of my apartment.
-Finish shopping for missionary stuff.
-Pack for mission.
-Spend time with family.
-Then BAM... I'm gone!

This whole process has gone by WAY fast and I'm sure the next 15 days will do the same. I'm getting pretty excited! :)

Nebraska, here I come!!!

2011-06-10T15:54:00.007-07:00

Guess what?! My mission call arrived June 9, 2011!

Out of all of the guesses that were made I don't think anybody even came close to where I am going! haha!

(Nice try everybody!)

Can I get a drum roll please...

I got called to the Nebraska Omaha Mission and am assigned to serve in the Mormon Trail at Historic Winter Quarters Site!! I report July 20th!

I could not be more excited!! Not only do I love the randomness of Nebraska but I especially love church history so I know that being at Winter Quarters will be an amazing experience. I have heard wonderful things about this historical sight and many people have told me it is one of their favorite church sites where they have felt the spirit so strong. I can't wait to be in such a wonderful environment teaching the gospel AND learning/ teaching church history!!

I opened my call with my amazing family and friends last night. I am so grateful for all of the love and support I have received! It was such an unreal experience opening the letter and finally knowing where I would be serving. I had a feeling I would be called to a state in the mid-U.S. and even told my mom that before everybody came over. It was thrilling reading the paper but honestly I wasn't very nervous beforehand. Maybe this was because it still didn't seem real but more than likely it was because I was fine with wherever I would go because that is where I'm supposed to be. Overall I think this is an awesome mission and I am pumped!!

This is me reading my letter to my family who was together around the computer in Utah! That was really neat to see my close and extended family all together to support me, even if it was through skype. For a while afterwards Lex just sat on the computer talking to some of our friends who were there. She was sad she had to miss out on the fun!

I am so grateful for my mom and everything she has done to help me with my mission! She is amazing!

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Les Miserables makes us super happy!!!
Ryan, thanks for such a fun night!

Les Miserables!!

One Day More...
That's what I was thinking as listened to my favorite song while watching my favorite musical, Les Miserables, at Gammage on Wednesday! It was beyond amazing!! I couldn't stop smiling during most of the musical but specifically as One Day More was being performed. During this song I had a huge grin and got really excited thinking that One Day More I could have my mission call!! This line in the song especially stood out to me and related perfectly to me receiving my lovely, white envelope in the mail the next day... couldn't have been better timing!

Tomorrow we'll discover

What our God in Heaven has in store!

One more dawn
One more day

One day more!

Patience is a Virtue

2011-06-06T11:09:00.008-07:00

My mission call should be here any day now!! So far in this process I have been pretty patient and have kept busy to distract myself from the wait. That was a lost cause after my Bishop told me yesterday (Sunday) that my call was sent on Friday! That's faster than I expected and it can seriously show up any day this week now!! Oh my goodness! :)

My mission call is being sent to my house in Peoria and I'm currently living in Tempe. It's probably a good thing or else this would be me all day, everyday until the big white envelope came...

Instead this is going to be me waiting for my mom to call with the news that my letter has arrived!

Exciting times! I can't wait!
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Want to hear some other exciting news?!!

Family Update

1. Me hermana Alex is in Spain doing a study abroad program.
She is loving the new culture and enjoying her Spanish classes! I'm just a tid bit jealous! Spain is soo pretty!! But Alex is even better looking... what a babe! :)

2. My sister Lexi is in Cedar City, UT for the summer.
This isn't as exciting because my partner in crime ditched me for a while. But it's all good! She's having a fun time chillin' with the family and escaping the heat for a bit!

Lex at the South Jordan Temple.

3. My brother Addison has left to Iraq with the U.S. Army.

This is pretty sad but at the same time a new and exciting adventure for him. Our family will miss him a lot but we are so proud of his decision and sacrifice to serve our country. I really wish I could've been there to send him off with the rest of my family. I'm sure if I were there I would've been a cry baby, so maybe it was for the best. The picture below of both my brothers makes me tear up every time I look at it.

Friend Update
Lots of life changing events are happening with my friends as well!

Marriage: I am so happy for all of my friends who have already been married or are planning on getting married this summer! There have been so many marriages lately it almost hurts my head to try and count them all. I am especially excited for Riki and Elise's weddings. These are some of my best friends and I am so glad they have found awesome men to love them more than I already do. haha ;)

Mission: Kailei is going on a mission to Argentina Buenos Aires North Mission!! And let me tell you, she is going to be AMAZING! She is definitely somebody I look up to and admire! She is a beautiful and vibrant woman, who is kind to everybody, and has a strong testimony of the gospel. It doesn't get much better than that!

Moving: Aprill is moving to Utah today! Sad! We will all miss her but am excited for her new adventure! Yesterday our group of girls got together for the last time before everybody parts ways for a little while. But in less than 2 years, when Kailei and I get back from our missions, we will be having a reunion! I am so grateful we all became "real friends" as we served on the Tempe Institute Council last year! I love these girls!!

Me, Kailei, Lauren, Aprill, and Jessica!

That's a brief summary of what's been going on in my life and in the life of some of my closest friends and family! Change is in the air!

Future Missionary

2011-05-31T01:42:00.006-07:00

Can I start by saying how excited and happy I am!! I officially submitted my mission papers on Sunday! It almost feels unreal that it's all happening but I could not be more thrilled and yet so at peace with this decision. In about 2 weeks I will get to find out where I will be serving for 18 months. It feels great to not really have to worry about where I will be called because I know that wherever I am sent, it is where the Lord wants me. As I was filling out my paperwork it was fun to hear the reactions of my doctor, dentist, and school counselor as they ask where I'm going and I just have to say, "I don't know yet... in a few weeks I will find out!" Then they just look at me puzzled and I explain that I am going on a religious mission and that I can be sent to mostly anywhere in the world, wherever I am needed. That's a crazy thought but I am comforted to know that anywhere I go I will be watched over and given the help I need.

So on that note... Here's a question for you:

Where in the world is Sister Jones going on her mission??

Feel free to leave a comment and let me know your guess!

The winner might just get a prize!

I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to serve a mission and teach people the simple truth that we have a Heavenly Father who loves each of us and that He sent His son, Jesus Christ, to atone for our sins. I know that as we are obedient, keep the commandments, and repent of our sins we will truly be happy in this life and in the next. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is an incredible blessing and is my foundation. Living the gospel brings so much joy and peace into my life and I cannot wait to share that with others!

A little about me

2011-05-10T23:17:00.004-07:00

Hello there!!

Ok, totally random side note: Guess what movie...
Stan: What is the one most important thing our society needs?
Gracie Hart: That would be harsher punishment for parole violators, Stan.
(Long silence)
Gracie Hart: And world peace!
{Oh man, I love that movie. This picture just reminded me of that quote and I couldn't resist sharing.}

So anyways, back to the main purpose of this post...

Here are 25 random things about me:

I love picnics.
I've been eating lots and lots of yogurt and granola lately.
I am going to serve a mission.
I loved my calling on institute council. I learned and grew so much this past year!
I prefer tennis shoes over flip flops.
I just took a typing test and got 75 WPM (adjusted speed). BAM! Try and beat that! http://www.typingtest.com/
I sing "Kumbaya My Lord" when I get stressed.
When I get super anxious/ stressed I sing, "I Think I'm Turning Japanese." Don't ask why, I have no idea.
Someday soon I am going to crochet an entire afghan. My amazing Grandma sent me a ton of yarn to finish a blanket I started with her... so I can't let her down!
After this school year I think I'm starting to become a morning person. (Thank you 6am meetings and 7:30am classes!)
I have a very random movie collection because most of the movies I own cost me $5 or less. Beggars can't be choosers!
I'm a social person, but sometimes I enjoy doing things by myself. Let's just say I'm not the kind of girl who takes a flock of friends with them to the bathroom and needs people with them constantly to feel comfortable in life.
I won 1st place in a singles tennis tournament last week in Sedona.
The only things I've collected in life are stickers and smashed pennies.
I hate cats. They are yucky animals that this world could do without.
I can play a few songs on the harmonica and am working on building my repertoire.
I am definitely a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl.
The only thing that truly grosses me out are dead pet fish. It seriously makes me gag!
Lucky for me, Jeevan and I are really good at killing our fish without even trying. We seriously give them all the food, love, and attention fish could ask for and they just go and die on us. So inconsiderate!
I have asthma. Which makes running super fun! (totally kidding.)
I can have a pretty good conversation in sign language now. Just finished my 2nd semester of ASL and am calling it good.
I can lick my elbow.
Country western dancing is so much fun! In that class I was able to learn a very valuable skill while being with some great friends! (A big thanks to Lex, Jon, Ryan, Kasey, Brittney, Sarah, and Melissa for making it a great time! I'm sure only Lex and Jon will read this, but oh well. lol)
I love learning about my family history.
I have the best family and friends EVER.

Back in the day I did a another post that said 25 things about me... if you want to check it out click HERE. Just be careful, knowing 50 random things about me could be a bit overwhelming!

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Tennis Tournament:
So did I mention I played in a tennis tournament in Sedona a little over a week ago? Well I did and it was a blast. Me, Lex, and my step-dad all participated and all went home with trophies! Lex and I played doubles and fought hard but lost with some super-duper close games. BUT we both did well in singles and met each other in the women's singles, 3.5 division finals! We hadn't played each other competitively in a very long time and knowing how consistent she is, I was a bit nervous. We played an intense and close game and I beat her in a tie-breaker. It was an awesome and fun match! Dave, my step-dad, won first in his division too! It was a fun weekend with the family doing what we all love! Unfortunately my mom has a shoulder injury so she didn't get to play and had the wonderful opportunity to spend quality time with Anna, my little trouble-making sister.

This is one of my favorite pictures. Dave has a KILLER serve. ACE!

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P.S. So if you've read this far then I'll let you in on a little secret... I plan on serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and have started my mission papers!! I couldn't be happier and more excited about it. Everything is lining up beautifully and it simply feels right. I know that the Lord is looking out for me and I can't wait to see what He has in store for me. :)

Mother's Day

2011-05-08T15:33:00.001-07:00

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

Here are a few words that describe my mom, Nancy Bennett:

Nearly perfect
Ambitious
Neat-o
Crazy
Youthful

Balanced
Energetic
Nice
Ninja
Enchanting
Tactful
Talented

I love my mom!! She is the most hilarious, loving, beautiful, and wonderful person in the WORLD. I am so grateful for everything she has given me and all of the sacrifices she has made for my family. She is somebody who I can look up to and can call one of my best friends. My mom is truly amazing and I am so happy to know that she is stuck with me forever... muahaha!!

To my dearest mother:
Thanks for all you do. Your efforts are definitely recognized and much appreciated. Just know I am always here for you. I love you very much!!

"Motherhood is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels." (First Presidency, Oct. 1942 Conference).

Springtime

2011-04-23T11:46:00.003-07:00

Well, I guess I'll apologize for how much time I've let slip by! The past couple months have been pretty busy... BUT I have some fun things to update you all on! Here are some of the highlights from March and April divided into the following categories...

1. Disneyland 2. Service 3. Fun outings 4. Randomness

1. DISNEYLAND!!

For spring break I got to visit the "Happiest Place on Earth!" The girls in my family got to escape the real world for a few days and bask in the wonderfulness of Disneyland. I love the environment there! Everything is so happy and carefree. I wish fun music always played in the streets in real life with performers, great singers, and Disney characters roaming around. As my six year old sister wisely exclaimed, "It's so MAGICAL!!"

2. SERVICE

If I could make a living from just doing service projects all of the time I definitely would! I seriously love it!! Here are a couple of the bigger projects I've been apart of lately. With one of the projects we cleaned up a play area at a daycare by painting the wall and digging out a TON of sand from their sand pit. For Devils in Disguise, a campus-wide service project, we painted citrus trees around ASU. I think pyramid pictures are incredibly fun and so consequentially whoever serves with me gets to participate in one! It's tradition!

Friends from institute!

Painting citrus trees for Devils in Disguise!

Lex and I!

3. FUN OUTINGS

Spring training baseball games!

3-armed bowling! We had team shirts that we made and mine and Mark's are awesome!

The front of the shirt says: Can't believe it's not gutter.

The back says: King Pin/ Queen Pin.

Just so ya know, we won! haha. Good times!

Day trip to Sedona!

We went on an really pretty hike and had an awesome time! I love Sedona!

(Daniel, Lex, Jenn, Jared)

4. RANDOMNESS

Peoria friends! I'm so glad I have awesome friends that I can always count on! Here's a group of us at a drive-in movie! I love it when we can all get together and it's as if we have never been apart. Fun times! P.s. Riki and Elise are engaged now!! :)

CRAFT NIGHT!! This is what Lex and I do when we purposefully make plans to not have plans on a Friday night. Our special guest of the night was Caldwell! What a good sport to paint face masks with us! Our collection of masks is growing beautifully... can't wait for the big skit we will eventually be hosting! :)

Date with Kelsey! This semester I have deprived of my Kelsey time. I'm so glad we were able to get together and catch up! She such a nice, positive, and happy person! Plus she is gorgeous!!

Family time! Daniel invited us to a really neat dinner with many different religions who came together for the sake of The Golden Rule. It was really cool to hear the music, prayers and thoughts from other religions. Our "family" always has a grand time together!

And there you have it, that about sums up my life lately! Between all of these activities I consume my life with school, church callings, homework, tennis, working out, and more school.

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By the way, EASTER is tomorrow! YAY!

Here's a simple and powerful video in remembrance of

our Savior, Jesus Christ, during this Easter season.

February

2011-02-22T22:06:00.001-07:00

Here are a bunch of pictures I compiled together from the past two months!

As I mentioned in my previous post, my birthday was so much fun and I received a ton of love!

To sum up these pictures... my b-day consisted of:

A mini-surprise party with my "valentines" -my guy friends (thanks to Lexi), two family b-day dinners, tons of valentines from my institute class and random friends (thanks to Jessica), the institute and my ward singing happy birthday to me, a decorated car and apartment, and several other random things.

What I do in my spare time:

Chill with Elvis

Racquetball with friends

Crocheting lessons with Kelsey

Luchador wresting with the guys- so hilarious

And play dress up with friends

Life is wonderful!!

SNOW TRIP!!

I love these girls so much! These are long time Peoria friends! These are some of the coolest girls you will ever meet... sorry guys, they are basically all taken! My friend Elise (2nd on the right) and her roommate Kylie (in the middle) live in Flagstaff so over the break we went to visit them and play in the snow for a day! There is never a dull moment when we are all together. We did about all there is to do in the snow: freeze, take pictures, go sledding, build a GIANT snowman, have a snowball fight, make snow angels, and freeze. Yup, that about sums it up! I'm so grateful that Elise, Cassie, myself, and Riki have been such good friends since our high school days and I hope it will stay that way after they all get married off and we all take different paths in life.

“Even though we've changed and we're all finding our own place in the world, we all know that when the tears fall or the smile spreads across our face, we'll come to each other because no matter where this crazy world takes us, nothing will ever change so much to the point where we're not all still friends.” -Author unknown

(Jenn, Cassie, Kylie, Elise, Riki)

Birthday Lovin'

2011-02-14T23:25:00.000-07:00

Why I love February 14th:

It's Valentines Day & my birthday!!

Today was my 21st birthday! CRAZY! My day was filled with many fun surprises thanks to Lexi, Jessica, and a few of my other friends! I seriously can't believe how fast time has gone by and another year bites the dust. I feel like I have grown quite a bit in the past year and have had some wonderful experiences to shape me into a better person. Can I just say how much I love Valentines Day?! I feel bad for the people that have such a negative attitude towards it. You don't need a special person from the opposite sex to make your day... it's all about loving your friends and showing loved ones that you care. I may be a little biased since February 14th is a double whammy for me. But I really think it's what you make it.

I love my family. I love my friends. I love my Savior and Heavenly Father. I love my major. I love my callings in the church. I love institute. I love Valentines Day. I love service. I love thoughtful people. I love enthusiasm.

I LOVE LIFE!

ESFJ!

2011-02-02T23:12:00.002-07:00

My church group did a personality test this week for an activity and it was really interesting! I love learning about personalities and I'm even in a personality research and theory class! I love studying people and seeing how much everybody differs.

My test result was a... (drum roll please) ESFJ!!

Extrovert

Sensing

Feeling

Judging

Or they also say: Extra Special Friendly Joiner

The slogan is: "What can I do for you?"

The description I looked up online is from: http://www.davenevins.com/personalities/types/esfj.htm.

In my very biased opinion I think it describes me pretty well for the most part... but let me know if you think it's close or if it is totally off!

ESFJ

Seller/Provider — "Extra Special Friendly Joiner"

ESFJs are warm-hearted individuals who highly value their close personal relationships. They are very service-oriented, and their own happiness is closely tied into the happiness and comfort of those around them. They are valued for their genuine warm and caring natures, and their special ability to bring out the best in others. They usually do not handle conflict well, and may tend to be very controlling or manipulative. Relationships are central to their lives, and they put forth a great amount of energy into developing and maintaining their close interpersonal relationships. They expect the same from others.

ESFJ Strengths

Put forth a lot of effort to fulfill their duties and obligations
Warm, friendly and affirming by nature
Service-oriented, they want to please others
Take their commitments very seriously, and seek lifelong relationships
Responsible and practical, they can be counted to take care of day-to-day necessities
Generally upbeat and popular, people are drawn towards them
Generally very good money managers
Traditionally minded and family-oriented, they will make family celebrations and traditions special events

ESFJ Weaknesses

Generally uncomfortable with change, and moving into new territories
Extreme dislike of conflict and criticism
Need a lot of positive affirmation to feel good about themselves
May be overly status-conscious, and interested in how others see them
Have very difficult time accepting the end of a relationship, and are likely to take the blame for the failure onto their own shoulders
Have difficulty accepting negative things about people close to them
Don't pay enough attention to their own needs, and may be self-sacrificing
May tend to use guilt manipulation as a way to get what they want

ESFJs in Love

ESFJs are warmly caring people who give their intimate relationships a lot of special care and attention. They're usually traditional and take their commitments very seriously. Once the ESFJ has said "I do", you can bet that they will put forth every effort to fulfill their obligations to the relationship.

ESFJs want to be appreciated for who they are, and what they give to others. Appreciation is the greatest gift that their mates can give them.

ESFJs have a tendency to be very conscious of social status and "what other people think". They should take care not to let this interfere with their close relationships.

Romantically, ESFJs are warm and loving, and welcome intimacy as an opportunity to express their affections, and receive their partners gifts of love. Many ESFJs have a tendency to be highly scheduled and traditional in their romantic habits, but this is almost always overcome by increasing their education and awareness of options. ESFJs are very service-oriented and will place a lot of importance on making their partners happy.

Being highly practical, the ESFJ is excellent in matters regarding home management. They're likely to be very responsible about taking care of day-to-day needs, and to be careful and cautious about money matters. They are interested in security and peaceful living, and are willing and able to do their part towards acheiving these goals for themselves, their mates, and their families.

Most ESFJs have a strong need to "belong" - whether it be to institutions or traditions, or family units. This need usually causes them to be quite social creatures, who enjoy attending parties, as well as throwing their own. They're likely to strongly desire that their mates share in their social experiences.

My 2011 Goals

2011-01-07T13:42:00.005-07:00

Here are a few of my GOALS for the year!

1. Learn to sew.

Guess what I got for Christmas?! A sewing machine!! Do I know how to use it? haha... NO.

My first project will be a snuggie! (If you have any good ideas about what sewing projects I should try please let me know because I am very clueless in the sewing world right now.)

2. Incorporate Preach My Gospel into my scripture study along with staying on track with my institute reading assignments. Also, I am going to start a scripture journal where I will take notes during my reading. (My biggest worry with this goal is TIME. But I have realized there's always time if I have the desire. So I will make the time by giving up something that normally wastes it. Which falls under a subgoal of being more productive with my time.)

3. Play the guitar more often and memorize songs.

4. Work out 3 times a week.

5. Do more photo shoots of people and get back into photography.

6. Learn the dance from Toy Story 3... Doesn't it look like so much fun?!

Well, there ya have it!
If any of the following GOALS sound interesting to you feel free to join me and we can do it together or at least keep track of each other's progress! :)

I may add some more later but I think that's a good start!

(Ok, so some of these GOALS may look oddly familiar... Specifically numbers 3 & 4... BUT this time my subgoal beneath them is to keep working at it, even if my desire to accomplish them has faded away within a months time. lol)

Happy 2011!!

2011-01-05T23:54:00.000-07:00

I love the holiday season because of...

1. MESA TEMPLE LIGHTS

Yup, four different trips to the temple lights with different groups of people! I got in my fair share of visiting the temple lights this season! I especially loved taking my family visiting from Utah to the lights because they had never seen the Mesa temple before, let alone seen all of the amazing lights. They were very impressed!

2. FRIENDS/ PARTIES

David is home from his mission now!! CRAZY!! Here we are meeting him at the airport and hanging out making ornaments before Christmas! So glad to have him back home! :)

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These are some of the most amazing people you will meet! Institute council had a Christmas party and it was a blast! We ate and shared stories around a fire pit, had a gift exchange, and an ugly sweater contest!

Guess who won the ugly sweater contest...

MEEE!!!

My slogan: "Do you want to pet the kitties?"

Jon would be sad (maybe even devastated) if I didn't add that he won the "Most Creative Sweater" award. lol. His jacket had lights, which was pretty impressive... but no match for the kittens! haha!

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Our tradition pyramid picture!

Girls night!!

The 3 amigos reunited! I love these ladies and am so glad we have been friends for so long and still keep in touch! Never a dull moment when we are together...

Elise and Cassie are weaklings! haha! I love making pyramids... and it's not my fault that I always take the pictures so i have to be on top! lol ;) I always end up crying with laughter at the end of our fallen picture. What an amazing tradition!

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Returned Missionaries!!

Soo... guess what?! Dallin, David, and Bryson are back home from their missions!!! Where have the 2 years gone?? It was nice to see them again and have a little high school groupie reunion! It's amazing to see how each of these guys have grown and matured!

Here are my West side amigos!! Go Peoria!

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3. CHRISTMAS!!!

If only I were a kid again...

But I definitely felt like one in the onesie pajamas my mom got for me and Lexi! haha!

Christmas morning with the family!!

It was so much fun spending time with the family on Christmas day and throughout the break! As you can see from this post, I am truly blessed with great family and friends!

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4. FAMILY

I finally got my family to do some cute family pictures!! Every year I beg everybody to get together to do this but it never happens... but I didn't let the opportunity pass me by this time! I set the time, dress code, set up the camera and tripod and was the official photographer for our family pictures! :)

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My family from Cedar City came to visit Arizona!!

It was awesome showing them around the area and having a great time together in the warmer weather!

Giving the family the tour of ASU! :)

At the Colossal Caves in Tuscon, AZ.

I have two wonderful families that I am doubly blessed with!

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5. NEW YEARS EVE!

My first time shooting... Watch out!!

My friend, Matt, took me shooting and a whole new world was opened up to me! I think I did pretty good for a beginner and I had a blast!

And get this... I hit the clay pigeon on my VERY FIRST TRY!!

That's a once in a lifetime opportunity and I'm very glad I can now say that for the rest of my life! haha! I feel like I've been deprived my whole life... who knows, maybe one of these days I'll be a pro shooter... and I'll owe it all to Matthew Kirkland.

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Celebrating New Years at Gameworks

... AGAIN! (click on link for the recap of last years celebration!)

Summary of the night: Fun games, amazing friends, , KARAOKE, dancing, breakfast at I-Hop, and late night girl talk!

Me and Jessica playing Dance Dance Revolution!!

Just like last year, I think Karaoke was the highlight of the night! We sang Bohemian Rhapsody and several other songs till we were sweating bullets... literally! We were in such a small box and we fit in as many people as we could! :)

Karaoke!!

5... 4... 3... 2... 1.... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Noor, Jessica, Jenn

Dallin, Alex, Jenn

What an amazing way to polish off 2010! Overall it was a great year filled with awesome friends, incredible family, and wonderful learning experiences!

Christmas Setup video!!

2010-12-18T09:09:00.001-07:00

My singles ward had a Christmas film contest and my group won!! I'd like to dedicate the success of the movie to Jonny and Matt! Jonny made the film hilarious with his amazing acting skills and Matt did an excellent job directing and editing the video!!

Enjoy the short (7 minute) film!

Remember... there's a Santa Clause! haha

Thank goodness!!

2010-12-16T23:46:00.002-07:00

Worst semester of my life is now OVER!! Hallelujah! Now it's time to erase it from my memory and move on with life!

By the way, I am very excited for Christmas!!

Christ: The Real Gift of Christmasgreat free widgetsWidgetboxMore info

Read this for the true meaning of Christmas...

(http://lds.org/topic/christmas/christmas-story.html)

The Bible Christmas Story

Luke Chapter 2, King James Version

Luke 2 in the New Testament is the sacred account of the birth of Jesus Christ. With links to songs, articles, and videos, you can now experience the familiar story in a new way.

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

A Time to Dance

2010-12-10T22:41:00.002-07:00

Here's my attempt at "scrapbooking" the fun time we had at the institute Christmas dance! We definitely had a good time partying the night away! With great food and fun dancing we all had an enjoyable night!

{I didn't expect anything less since Jessica and I were in charge of the whole dance. haha! Overall it was a lot of work but totally worth it in the end. Institute council is so much fun and I love being involved with all of the activities that we host!}

Here are some additional pictures!

Before the dance: After many hours of planning, preparing, and setting
up we were able to transform the institute! It was gorgeous! :)

The girls getting ready!

(Jessica, myself, and Aprill)

(These pictures show the timeline of my hair gradually falling out of the curls... pretty funny and annoying! I guess the bonus was that I was able to sport 3 different hair styles in one night! haha, It's MAGIC!)

Jonny & I eating dinner.

Jenn + Lexi= Best Friends Forever...
and ever... and ever... and ever! (we're stuck for eternity! LOL!)

We were the last ones to leave the dance! YAY for clean up! haha

Thanksgiving memories

2010-12-10T21:50:00.002-07:00

I can't believe Thanksgiving has come and gone! Before I know it Christmas will already be here! Although Thanksgiving has passed, it's never too late to share the things you are thankful for... so here it goes!

I am thankful for...

This isn't my creation... but I thought it was really cute!
Maybe next year I'll make this my project!

my loving family.
my old and new friends.
Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
my callings in the church.
trial and error.
the scriptures.
institute.
prayer.
my job.
my phone.
thoughtful people.
pizza.
positive people.
wonderful memories.
jeans.
compliments.
chocolate.
nice notes.
talented people.
my own talents. (?)
pictures.
smiling faces.
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
and so much more...

For Thanksgiving I was able to go visit my family in Cedar City, UT! I had a GREAT time visiting everybody and getting away from the stresses of everyday life. During our vacation we ate food, had a ping pong tournament with the family, watched football, ate some more, visited the St. George temple, went shopping, ate more food, had sisterly bonding time, and plenty of family bonding time. Here are some pictures!

A shot of our table at Thanksgiving!

My family! (on my dad's side)

My favorite ladies!!
It had been way too long since us four were all together!
I love, love, love, love them!
(Jenn, Alex, McKell, Lexi)

My favorite temple!

Sisterly love!

ohh life...

2010-11-18T18:30:00.004-07:00

Here are some scriptures that I absolutely love that have stood out to me lately. Each of these scriptures can really help me to put things in perspective and help me remember the bigger picture. No matter what difficulties we may be going though, I know that God is always there and that he truly loves and cares for each of us.

Doctrine & Covenants 68:6

Wherefore, be of good cheer and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come.

Doctrine & Covenants 121:7-8

My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.

Matthew 19:26

With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

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On a totally different and unrelated tangent from above...

Random thoughts

1. School is annoying, time consuming, obnoxious, and so on...

BUT next semester I will be changing things up and I am very excited!

Here's a hint.

2. I've decided boys are weird...

which is probably an understatement.

Is it really that hard to find somebody who...

Prince Charming

is a gentleman.
has the same love for the gospel as I do.
is not crazy aggressive about getting married in a rush.
is not lazy.
has a fun-loving personality.
enjoys serving others.
is intelligent and can hold an interesting conversation.
has goals and a plan for life.
is somewhat good looking (added bonus).
will plan dates and shows interest.
overall is thoughtful, nice, and outgoing.

Is that too much to ask?? For reals... it shouldn't be that hard, but it is. Not that I'm in a rush to find a guy or anything... I have plenty of time. It's just funny that the more dates I go on the pickier I become and the harder it is to imagine there being somebody that will fit into all of the bulletin points. (Those points are flexible and not set in stone, but those broad descriptions would be ideal.) I wouldn't say I'm really picky, but I do have standards and expectations. So anyways, moral of the story... boys are weird. The end! :)

Oh the joys of dating! hahaha!

Update!

2010-11-13T11:35:00.003-07:00

Yes, I am still alive! These past few months have been CRAZY!! (no exaggeration.) I have had some amazing "ups" and some interesting "downs" along the way... but overall life is great and I love it! Sorry I've been slacking on the blog updates! I will now take you on a fast tour of the random things that have taken place so far this semester... It has been quite an adventure!

Noelle & Andrew's wedding!!

Lamb of God performance: Amazing music and friends!

Jumpstreet with Jon: This motivated me to learn how to do a legit flip on the trampoline. As of right now I'll I am capable of doing is a front flip, landing on my butt or knees. Annoying! Jon was flipping around like a crazy monkey! I was just a little bit jealous.

Just chillin' at the institute. (A.k.a. my 2nd home)

Ping Pong Tournament: Allison, Jon, and I are on the "Feeding the Sheep" comittee for the Tempe Institute council and we hosted a ping pong tournament!

Here we are having a craft night making awesome trophies for the winners!

Of course I had to participate! lol! To the right would be the head ponchos of this activity!

Group Date: Jenn + Jon + Lexi + Alex + thrift store + Chuck E. Cheese= A GREAT TIME!!

My first visit to the Secret Garden at ASU with one of my best friends, Kelsey! :)

Reunion: Jeevan and I went to visit an old friend, Sicily, and her new baby! Her family is SO cute and it was exciting to see her after a couple of years!

Cassie's bachelorette party!!

(On the left) you can see I'm a rebel with my bull-like nose piercing. haha!

(Onthe Right) Noelle Gazelle and Jenn Henn reunite!

Our pyramid tradition! Always a good time with these ladies! :)

Why am I grateful for the Speech and Hearing Science major?? BECAUSE I was able to meet these wonderful ladies and we were all able to become bestest friends! They are absolutely incredible and such amazing examples. (Thanks Kelsey and Jessica for all of our wonderful times together!)

Kelsey, Jessica, Jenn

Hiking with Grant!

Dinner Date: Good times with Jeevan and Vini! It was a wonderful surprise to all coincidentally be matching! haha! (I love our oreo formation!)

The Goofy Gang: Chris' girl friend, Liz, came to visit him from ID and it was so fun to get to know her and fave a grand ol' time! Here are some of the pictures that may prove we are a little crazy.

Jenn, Danny, Liz, Chris

Cassie and Marv's WEDDING!!!

October 16, 2010

I can't believe my little Cassie is all grown up and MARRIED!! I am so happy for her and Marv and I know they will have a great life together! They are such cute couple!!

I had the honor of being a brides maid!

Camping at Superior for Noor's b-day!

For Noor's actual b-day...

We tried to do this anonymously and somehow he found out it was us, sad day. lol. That's why these pictures can be shown. Jessica and I love doing random things for people, thus many pictures cannot be posted and will never be shown to the public eye. Muahaha!

Multi- stake camp out/ service project at Camp La Mia!

This brought some good memories from girls camp! lol

"Sisters of Zion"

HALLOWEEN!!

Lex and I had legit costumes, not gonna lie! We had a great time taking Anna around trick or treating and an even better time at the Family Home Evening dance for our stake! Great times!!

What was funny is that I had a TON of people ask me if this was my real hair! hahaha! I WISH! Ok, not really... that would be cool for one day and then would get REALLY annoying. I will treasure that wig forever! Let me tell you... an afro makes everything 100 x more fun!

Weirdos: This picture can sum up all of the weird and random things Jessica and I do... along with all of the free stuff we receive from the College Times booth on a consistent basis! I have a good eye for freebies on campus!

Picnic Time: Kelsey and I having a lovely picnic in the secret garden!

Just out for a late night picnic along with some fake fishing.

This is probably the closest thing to fishing I have ever done, so I was excited! One of these days I'm going to go real fishing with a hook and everything! haha! Btw, Kevin was a good sport about wearing the outfit I brought for him... I'm pretty sure he fell in love with it and didn't even want to take it off! Can you blame him?!

Well that basically gets me all caught up with life! Of course that's not everything, but those are the highlights over the past few months!

I love all of my friends and family! I am glad Lex and I have been able to share many of our adventures together now that she's at ASU. We can ALWAYS have a great time together and it's really funny how similar we are! I'll try to be a more faithful blogger, but life is busy and insane! School is driving me nuts and when I'm not out doing these fun things you get to witness I am getting consumed by school work and studying! Love it! haha! I love my job and my callings in the church. I am on the institute council and am now the Family Home Evening Co-chair! Although this will keep me especially busy... I am very excited and am up for the challenge!

Peace out homies!! ;)

August Adventures!

2010-08-27T18:50:00.007-07:00

Trip to Flagstaff:

Partners In Crime Unite!

(Elise & Jenn)

We had such a fun weekend together and crammed as much as we could within the 3 days I was there visiting! It was so nice to get away for the weekend and catch up with my best buddy! :)

To keep up with tradition we had to play some tennis! I'm so glad I was able to convince her to play tennis with me in high school our junior and senior year! She improved so much and is an awesome player! She almost beat me and I've probably been playing more than her recently too. That's just shows you how awesome she is. She is pretty much good at anything she puts her mind to.

Then we went to play in the water in Sedona! It was so pretty, but the water was freezing! We still had a great time cliff jumping and hanging out in the beautiful weather! Near the cliff jumping spot Elise and I had some fellas hitting on us who had missing teeth... mmm, my favorite! We felt pretty cool and were flattered, of course. Since I was dating somebody at the time it just didn't work out and to help Elise
avoid an awkward situation I told the other guy that she was
pretty much dating somebody so it wouldn't be a good idea for
me to give them her number (since he was too chicken to talk
to her himself). haha. They were nice though!

Mario Party 2 Competition!

VERY INTENSE! Don't mess with the professionals! haha

For a long time we were both bragging about our Mario Party 2 skills and we made sure that when we got together we were going to have a show down. To be honest, I think we are pretty closely matched. When it was time to go back home to Tempe, we were at a tie. (When we played Mario Kart I'm pretty sure I won though. That's beside the point because we weren't bragging about that.) Mario Kart is an awesome game that brings family and friends closer together. I'm sure my family and Elise can testify of that. If you haven't played you might want to check into that, just sayin.

This pretty much sums us up! :)

As you can tell, Elise and I had a great time together and I'm so glad we made this trip happen before the stresses of school and work began. I am very happy we have been able to remain great friends with the distance that college has put between us. I love looking back to our high school days and saying, "WOW, Look at where we are now and everything we have accomplished!" She is truly an awesome person and a great example.

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<<< JAMBA RUN!
I am so happy my friend Riki is now a fellow Sun Devil! Unfortunately, she is going to ASU's West campus... but I'm glad we got to hang out when she came to visit the Tempe campus to buy a book! lol

CRAFT NIGHT! >>>

Sometimes Jeevan and I like to do random things together... and this night we made some b-day decorations for a friend. It was definitely my type of craft... nice and easy! :) The colors of my pom-pom thing turned out kind of ugly, so don't judge. lol

<<< Chillin' at the park!

I had the fun opportunity to watch my sister, Anna, for a week. When she was behaving and being nice we had a great time! This park experience was pretty funny because she was totally hitting on some 8 year old kid! She stole my camera and was taking pictures of him and kept talking to him! It was hilarious! I never knew she was such a flirt! Overall she is a cool kiddo... just like her big sister. haha!

2nd WARD VOLLEYBALL!! >>>

This is the ward volleyball team that competed during the summer! This was such a fun group of people to play with and overall we did pretty well! Our Monday night practices and Tuesday v-ball games definitely kept me entertained over the summer! I will miss it!

Realization

2010-08-14T02:07:00.002-07:00

Welcome to my thoughts:

I have come to the realization that one of the things that annoys me the most about people is *thoughtlessness,* which ties into selfishness. I just can't stand it. This is definitely the "ME Generation." (Click on link to read a talk given by Elder Dallin H. Oaks about Unselfish Service and the "me generation"). I can't stand to hear comments such as, How does that help ME? What do I get from that? It's not MY problem. I don't care.

When I hear these types of phrases it's sooo hard for me to not get on my soap box and start quoting off scriptures (John 15:12-13, D&C 1:16, 2 Corinthians 9:6, Matthew 16:24-25) or just bluntly say, "It's not all about you and you should care!" I don't know, maybe I'm weird or maybe I get annoyed too easily. Either way, everybody should care more for each other and be aware of what we say or do... and especially what we don't say and what we do not do. What an awesome world this would be if everybody would lift each other up and always be finding ways to make others happier!

I am so grateful for the people in my life who are very thoughtful and giving. Over about the past 9 months I've had 3 amazing ladies who I served with in the Relief Society presidency to look up to. They have been great examples of being selfless and always thinking of others. With ward boundary changes we are no longer together as a presidency, but I will always remember their faithfulness, love, and dedication. (Becky, Courtney, Ashley... I love you guys!) I feel like I learned a lot from this calling and am grateful for the chance I had to serve in the Relief Society.

Through example and service we can change lives. We don't make a difference by thinking about doing something, we must act. I recently noticed that I sometimes think about all of the stuff I have to do more than I spend time actually doing it. Instead of writing out my To-do lists and gradually checking off the easy ones... I just need to DO. Easy enough, right? haha, we'll see!

School is starting soon...

and I'm already starting to get a bit stressed! Ahh!!!

Let's do the math:

16 credits of school + Rep for the NSSLHA club + work + Institute council=

no time. stess. Adios social life!

I am already worrying about how I can manage my time so I can keep my grades up and have time to study, work, and be able to be involved in my church calling (member of the ASU institute council.) I never realized how much the institute council does until my first meeting today... wowzers! They are a busy group of planners and organizers! The group of people on the council are awesome and you can tell everybody has strong testimonies and unique experiences to bring to the table. I am excited for this opportunity and new adventure. :)

Well there you have it... a summed up version of my thoughts recently! I know everything will work out if I'm doing my part and I trust in the Lord.

If only life were a musical...

2010-07-23T00:16:00.005-07:00

Tunes that I can't help but smile and dance to:
In case you were wondering... Yes, they are slightly old and kind of random.... And Yes, they are totally AWESOME!

1) You Make My Dreams by Hall & Oats
I have been in love with the song, You Make My Dreams for about 4 months now and I still can't help but smile whenever I listen to it! This upbeat and addicting tune makes my head to bob side to side and forces my shoulders to bounce up and down! At times I would be walking on the crowded ASU campus and I would imagine how amazing it would be if everybody was friendly, happy, and dancing like the people in the video clip! (singing would be an added bonus.) Just thinking about how life would be as a musical makes me all excited and happy! If only...

Well anyways, take a look at this video because it pretty clearly describes what I would love life to be like...

2) Break My Stride by Matthew Wilder
For the longest time this song was just an oldie where I knew the chorus, but never payed much attention to it. This marvelous song struck me as I was watching a Glee episode with my aunt and mom, who is now addicted to the show. In this specific part it shows the character, Rachel, immediately waking up in the morning to "Ain't nothin' gonna break my stride, nobody's gonna slow me down! Oh no, I've got to keep on moving!" And then she's working out and doing this rigorous exercise. As I watched this I thought it was pretty funny, but then IT HIT ME... I thought to myself, "maybe if I set that song as my alarm I will be able to instantly wake up and feel motivated to work out in the morning!!" Although I haven't made it my alarm yet, I have listened to it a ton and it gets me pumped and motivated for life and anything that could come in my way! I feel undefeatable whenever I'm jamming to this song!
(Oh the 80's... The video is pretty random and weird, but just listen to the song. Especially the chorus!)

If you are ever feeling down I would recommend listening to You Make My Dreams or Break My Stride. They are WONDERFUL!

4th of July!

2010-07-09T00:11:00.000-07:00

For the 4th of July weekend Rees and I went up to Yuma, AZ to visit his family and have a grand ol' time celebrating Independence Day! We had a fun attending a couple BBQ's, going to the lake and jet skiing, and playing games with Rees' family! I am so grateful for this country and for the freedoms we have!

I am also getting started with digital scrapbooking... so here is my weekend in scrapbook format! It's much easier and less time consuming than the old fashion way of scrapbooking! No more cutting, gluing, or messes for me! Yay! (I got help with the design from Digital eXpress Scrapbooking and then added my own touches and pictures through photoshop. Let me tell you... I love photoshop!!)

Stroll into the past

2010-07-07T11:46:00.001-07:00

I love cute, old looking towns/ streets and I knew a photo shoot was in order when I drove past an adorable street full of old shops, colorful buildings, and just an old town feel. So with Courtney's vintage fashion style and with my photography background we made a perfect team to go conquer this street and make a fool of ourselves posing for pictures with cars staring us down, honking, and whistling. We had such a good time! Enjoy the pictures!

Meet the beautiful lady named Courtney!

I am the master of my fate

2010-06-30T00:50:00.001-07:00

"Self-mastery is the ultimate test of our character." -President James E. Faust

Mind is the master power that molds and makes,
And we are Mind, and evermore we take
The tool of thought, and shaping what we will,
Bring forth a thousand joys, a thousand ills,
We think in secret, and it comes to pass -
Our world is but our looking glass.
-- James Allen

I LOVE this poem. I really do believe that our minds have great potential and that we can shape ourselves and our attitudes by mastering our mind. By mastering our minds we are controlling our thoughts, by controlling our thoughts we are focusing our attention to the things that are most important to us, and by focusing on those things we are that much closer to becoming the people we want to become. Like Aristotle said, "We are what we repeatedly do." I could expand on this poem in so many directions... obviously one lesson to learn is how thinking positive and having a good attitude makes all the difference in life. The greatest lesson I learn from this poem is that of self-mastery... mastering our thoughts, desires, and actions.

I control my thoughts, I control my habits, I control how I react to situations, I control my moods, I control myself. One of my pet peeves is people blaming bad habits or a bad attitude on outside sources and not accepting responsibility for themselves.

For example: I'm in a bad mood because of the weather, I pick my nose because of my dad, I can think dirty thoughts because I'm a guy, I'm addicted to shopping because I'm a girl, and worst of all: I get [angry] because "that's just how I am," ... those are random and made up examples, but I think you get the point. Believe me, I haven't got this self-mastery thing down, but I'm at least willing to take responsibility for my choices and attitude. Nobody can make me be mad, angry, happy, sad, annoyed, or overjoyed. People may help influence me in a certain direction, but in the end it's my choice. Click HERE if you would like to read good talk on self-mastery.

Sorry for that rant. Those thoughts lead me to this wonderful poem...

"Invictus"

William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance,
I have not winced nor cried aloud:
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed. . . .

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

With all of that being said... the pressure is on. The Lord and I are at the driving wheel of my life and because of that I will act and not be acted upon. I have no excuses for not being happy and loving life. Don't get me wrong, right now life is great and I am very happy! But once school starts up again this post may come in handy for me. School is about the only think I can think of that I blame things on. For example: I can hear myself say, "School is making me go crazy! School is stressing me out. This class is irritating me." This will be a hard one to fix, but I'll try... because "I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul."

2010-06-12T17:42:00.006-07:00

Diamondbacks Baseball Game

-Rees & I-

Rees and I had the opportunity to go cheer on the D-backs last week and had a great time! Rees has been deprived his whole life because this was his FIRST time at a professional sporting event! Isn't that CRAZY?! I suppose that's what happens when you are from Yuma! lol, jk! Thanks to us, the diamond backs actually won! They should start paying us to attend their games from now on! haha, If that were the case I guess I should actually learn more about baseball so I can follow the game better! BUT just because I don't exactly know what's going on all of the time, doesn't mean I am not a proud supporter! :)

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My Lover

-The Motorola Droid-

Jenn and the droid were united on 6/5/10 and have been lovers ever since. The start of their journey together has been a great one thus far and they plan on living a happy life together... at least for the next year or two, hopefully. <3

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Recent NEW things in my life:

New phone
New job
New hair color
3 new fish

I am the most excited about my new job! I am now working at a place called A Special Connection, where we work with kids with developmental disabilities! I just finished training this past week and I officially start this Monday! I have a feeling I'm really going to enjoy working there.

Overall life is going really well and I am truly blessed with all my friends, family, my job, and the opportunities I have in life. I know that Heavenly Father hears and answers my prayers.

We Be Jammin'

2010-06-04T21:34:00.013-07:00

"In My Head"

Singer: Jason Derulo

**Dancers: Gabriella, Nick, and Jenn**

With much hard work and dedication... we proudly present our wonderful music video!
(Before playing the video... be sure to pause my music playlist, which is located at the bottom of the page)

Enjoy!

red head?!

2010-06-03T14:51:00.002-07:00

Thanks to the lady who messed up my hair... I am now basically a Red Head!

[AKA: Carrot top, Annie, copper head, trusty rusty, flame brain, big/ little red, Ronald McDonald, and I'm sure there are many more where that came from.]

I don't get why people pick on red heads so much! It could be so easy to make fun of any other color, but I've never been called poop head or dirty haired girl. Well actually, I take that back... my 5 year old sister has called me poop head, but not because of my normal hair color. At her age that's one of the best insults she can come up with! haha

Don't get me wrong, I love redheads and some of my favorite people are red headed... BUT when you are a dark, brunette your whole life this can be a big change! Some days I feel like the die has seeped into my brain and is making me go crazy! haha. Ok, maybe I'm over exaggerating a little bit.

The simple and innocent carmel highlights I asked for got messed up and the new red do I have has turned me into (what looks like) a wild child! Change is good though, right? I'm slowly getting used to it... the top of my head is way more red/ orange than the rest of my hair and it is way noticeable in the sun and other brightly lighted settings. Oh well, who cares if "it will cost [me] a few dates," my sister, Lexi, said "jokingly". LOL!

Well here are some pictures...

Straightened hair Curly hair

And yes, that is the same person! lol. You don't get to see the straightened hair very often because it is such a pain to straighten and then to keep up. Weird enough, but the curly locks are much easier to maintain than the straight ones.

I've always wanted to be more like my redheaded.. I mean "strawberry blonde" sister, Alex, and so this is one small step towards that goal! :)
I love you Alexandria Claire Jones!
Now you just need to add some brown to your hair and we can be twins!

Congrats grads!

2010-05-30T15:46:00.000-07:00

I have some awesome siblings... My brother, Anthony, just graduated from ASU and my sister, Lex, just graduated from high school! The end of May was like a constant party with all of the family in town for the graduations! I love being around so much family and having everybody come together. Graduation time is about the only time all of my siblings and all of my parents are ever under one roof. I am grateful that everybody gets along and that we all can have a good time together to celebrate the achievements of family members. Here are some pictures!

Anthony's Graduation from Arizona State University:

Anth and the parents (Dave, Anthony, Nancy)

Siblings! (Terese, Anthony, Lexi, Jenn)

Lexi's Graduation from Sunrise Mountain High School:

Siblings!

What a goofy gang... siblings from both sides of the family. :)

Almost got all my siblings together... M.I.A: Addison and Terese

(Jenn, Anthony, Lexi, Anna, Alex, Kennedy, Greyson)

The Grandmas

Lexi + our aunts

B-F-F

Indecision

2010-05-13T15:33:00.000-07:00

Joseph B. Worthlin's

WORDS OF WISDOM:

Indecision can immobilize or paralyze us, hindering our preparation in mortality. We can become like the people of Nineveh whom the Lord described to Jonah as "persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand." The Apostle James observed that "a double minded man is unstable in all his ways." An old Swiss saying describes such indecision in these words:

With one foot in, with one foot out

You can't be in, you can't be out.

Not warm, not cold.

Not square, not round.

More poor than poor and always bound.

For such a man will never know

Where to begin, or where to go.

-- Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

Chuck E. Cheese!!!

2010-05-02T12:07:00.000-07:00

Our play date:

Let me start by saying, CHUCK IS THE MAN... I mean, MOUSE! Good thing we had my litter sister, Anna, with us so all of the big kids could have an excuse to play there! haha

(Me, Nate, Lex, Anna, Bobby)

Sisters!

Some thoughts

2010-04-26T23:05:00.002-07:00

Jennifer Jones has decided that...

Life would be much easier with an amazing memory.
She doesn't like when people/"friends" speak a different language to each other in front of her... kinda rude in my opinion.
She judges a guy based more on how they treat others than how they treat her. It’s easy to fake being nice to somebody you are trying to impress.
She makes things more difficult than they need to be.
School is a necessary evil.
People like knowing that they are known.
Everybody has a softer side… for some it is just a little bit harder to uncover.
It is difficult to become friends with those who are not willing to share; whether it is their time, life stories, fears, or their talents.
A smile from any random person can brighten a day.

Those are just some random thoughts of mine!

Goals

2010-04-21T13:31:00.000-07:00

With those key points from above in mind...
Here are some goals I will be persistantly working at! I tried to make them as realistic and specific as I can so I will actually follow through. I know it's not important that you know of these goals, but it's for my own sake. Knowing that they are out in public will make me feel more responsible to accomplishing them. :)

1. Do not procrastinate so much... get hw/ studying done before 10pm if possible.
2. Read scriptures todos los dias for at least 20 min... before 10:30pm.
3. Read at least one conference talk per week.
4. Go running twice a week.
5. Learn one new song on any instrument per month.
6. Last and most importantly... BE CONSISTENT with all of the goals I have set for myself... no slacking or excuses!!

2010-04-20T18:11:00.005-07:00

Walmart has provided many good times in my day...

Looking back at old pictures from over the years... I have realized that Walmart has always been a great source of entertainment, especially in Cedar City, UT. It's the happenin' place in those parts! I have played countless games of hide and go seek, participated in several scavenger hunts, walked around aimlessly to see what we would find, and other times we would go to have intense games of air hockey in the arcade room. It can also be a great place to meet new people and make some cool friends! (depending on the city and specific Walmart location you are at... be careful.) I don't care what people say... Walmart is truly a great place and I love it!

Here are some pictures from our Walmart photo tag that we did on a double date! Nate and I decided to take some random pictures while we were searching for the other team to catch them on camera! I loved the looks we got from people as we suspiciously sped walked/ ran through the store. Some people even gave us hints to where the other team was at to help us win. This was definitely a fun time.

N-A-T-E J-E-N-N

Movie night at the Drive-in theater!! :)

Cassie, Jason, and myself

We are goofs!

FLYING!

2010-04-03T22:04:00.002-07:00

Yup, that's right... We went flying in that plane on Friday! My friend, Clark, has his pilot's licence and took Brianna, Tyson, and myself for a ride! We had an AMAZING time flying over AZ and looking at the beautiful scenery! This was definitely a date I will not forget!

Here's the whole gang! We doubled with Brianna and Tyson Smith! They are such a cute, newly wedded couple! :)

I was surprised at how green the Phoenix area looked from up above! Very pretty!

Preparing for landing!

In case you were wondering, we made it back to the ground safe and sound! Clark is an awesome pilot and we are all glad he shared his talent with us! (Thanks Clark!)

March Madness!

2010-04-02T18:13:00.000-07:00

First I will start with my SPRING BREAK! My family and I went to Las Vegas to go live it up and PAR-TAY! Or in other words, to hang out with family. :) I definitely had a good time playing with my little cousins, going to play in the snow at Mount Charleston, having a girls night out with my grandma and Lex, and going go-cart racing with the family!

Here are a few pictures of my spring break...

Mount Charleston

The Little Ones

GO-CART RACING-- so much fun!!

Just a side note, I beat everybody in my family :) haha

Sisters! (Jenn, Anna, Lex)

As you can see, Anna is an angel! lol

Elder Bale

Yet another friend is out serving the Lord on a mission! Hunter Bale will indeed be missed!! It's ok though, because he is going to be such a loving and dedicated missionary! :)

Noelle, Hunter, and myself

Relief Society's Birthday Celebration!

I am so grateful for the Relief Society program in the church and all of the many blessings it provides to the women who participate in it, and also all those who benefit from the service that the amazing women give all around the world! Here's a sneak peak of the 2nd ward's celebration of the birth of Relief Society. :)

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

2010-03-17T10:14:00.002-07:00

Mary Poppins Musical!!

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!!!

Lex and I had a fun sister outing to see the Mary Poppins Musical! We had a good time reliving childhood memories and overall we really enjoyed it!
P.s. I LOVE musicals! They are so fun and happy!

WARD BIRTHDAY PARTY!!

Just to sum it up, 2nd ward is the best! We always have a blast and there are so many amazing people!

Here I am blowing out the candle on my giant piece of cake!

Quotes!

2010-03-16T23:27:00.004-07:00

One random thing about me is that I love quotes. I have a lovely quote box that I keep a collection of some of my favorite inspirational/ humorous quotes in. Here are just a few of my favorites...

-----------------------------------------------------------

“The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.”

—Morrie Schwartz

"A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs. It's jolted by every pebble on the road."
Henry Ward Beecher

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them."
Mother Teresa

"Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first."
Mark Twain

"Nothing that you have not given away will ever be really yours."
C. S. Lewis

"The safest road to hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts."
C. S. Lewis

"God is, even though the whole world deny him. Truth stands, even if there be no public support. It is self-sustained."
Mohandas Gandhi

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore,
is not an act but a habit."
-Aristotle

"An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind."
-Mohandas Gandhi

"The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese." ~Author Unknown

"Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is the probably reason why so few people engage in it."
-Henry Ford

Valentines Baby

2010-02-14T16:25:00.001-07:00

Today is just like any other day, besides the fact that it's Valentines Day and I just happen to be turning 20 years old!! Overall I am happy with life and everything I have been blessed with! I have a great family that I am so grateful for! I know that they will always be there for me. It has been a wonderful 2 decades of life and I can't wait for what is in store for me in the future!!
3 words: BRING IT ON! :)
(3 more words: Like Donkey Kong!)

Not quite a dreamer.

2010-01-27T13:35:00.001-07:00

I think this picture is quite hilarious! Probably because I think I am a realist and would be the one laughing at the dreamer (in a silent and nice manner of course). lol. There are downsides to both types of people though... having more of a reliastic point of view on life, I don't tend to make many risks and I enjoy playing it safe. This makes my life pretty easy and drama free most of the time. On the other hand, the dreamer takes risks and can more easily figure out what their potential is in the process of shooting for the stars. Like in the picture though, the individual may have to eventually be harshly awaken by reality with it possibly leaving them crushed. Sooo I guess what I'm trying to say is that I am glad I have very realistic expectations of myself, but I should also try and go above and beyond that and adapt some more of the dreamer qualities.

The other day I had the opportunity to learn ALL of the many details and requirements about becoming a Speech-language Pathologist. For awhile I was trying to decide how realistic this major is for me and if I was being "delusional" in pursuing this career.This was a good opportunity for me to realize that I have more potential than I give myself credit for and that with enough HARD WORK and HOPE that everything will work out. In this case I would like to think of myself as this hang glider... but maybe over a nice soft field of daisies or cotton. Yeah, that sounds much better than the "ocean of reality". I think I go sailing there enough... it's time for a new adventure to start!

Happy 2010!!

2010-01-03T15:22:00.000-07:00

I can't believe Christmas is already over and it is now a new year! Where is the time going?! Before I know it I'll be back in school studying my life away. While I still can, I am enjoying being home and spending time with my family! Here are some of the highlights of the break so far...

Here is Lex and I on Christmas day in our new matching shirts! haha!

This is probably one of my favorite Christmas decorations at my home and it really defines what Christmas is all about. :)

Rag Quilt

Here is the rag quilt that I made Aaron for Christmas! This was a fun project and I would like to thank Noelle Davis for teaching and helping me! :)

Here is the blanket in the making!

After many hours of work... here is the finished product! It was definitely worth it!

New Years Eve @

The Tempe University stake had a huge new years eve party at Gameworks and it was soo much fun! My friends and I had a blast! We got to play a ton of games, dance, and just hang out!

Cassie and I!

Karaoke!!!

L-O-V-E

2009-12-27T17:18:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite scriptures...

John 13:34-35
"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye ^alove one another; as I have loved you, that ye also ^blove one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have ^alove one to another."

Here are some ways that I am going to apply this scripture...

Be more observant to those around me.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf "In the end, the number of prayers we say may contribute to our happiness, but the number of prayers we answer may be of even greater importance. Let us open our eyes and see the heavy hearts, notice the loneliness and despair; let us feel the silent prayers of others around us, and let us be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to answer those prayers”

This quote really stood out to me because how many times am I sitting next to somebody and do not open my mouth to talk to them. Who knows all of the opportunities I miss out on to either make a new friend, learn something new, or brighten somebody's day. I am going to make a special effort to be more outgoing and take advantage of the many opportunities I have to meet new people and help those around me. You never know the difference you can make in somebody's life or the difference they can make in yours.

Be a better missionary.

John 21:15-17 Jesus said, "Lovest thou me? And [Peter] said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, ^aFeed my ^bsheep."

I can't think of a better way to show our love for people than to teach people of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Everybody should get the chance to know that they have a Heavenly Father and Savior who loves them and wants the best for them.

2009-12-16T11:25:00.000-07:00

The Jones side of my family:

We took this picture over the Thanksgiving break at the St. George temple... definitely one of my favorite temples! Thanksgiving was a lot of fun and we had a grand ol' time hanging out with family and friends in Cedar City, UT!

Institute Winter Ball

-Chris Lewis and I-

12/4/2009

On 12/12/09 I crocheted my first beanie!! :)

Yeah, I know you are probably thinking... "Oh my goodness! She can crochet?! That is the coolest, most trendy/ hip-happenin' thing ever!" haha... something like that at least. This is Chris, Danny, and myself breaking down the stereotype that only old grandmas crochet. :) We had a little crocheting get together and Chris taught us how to make beanies! You have to admit, that kind of event doesn't happen everyday! Honestly, I think they are the only guys I know that can crochet... and more power to them! I think that's awesome. Overall we had a fun time with this project and are planning to learn something new at our next crocheting "party"! If anybody would be interested in learning, let me know!

Finished product:

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat!

(Random song I learned when I was in elementary school. lol. Does anybody really eat geese for Christmas? That's just weird! It's all about turkey and ham.)

My AMAZING roommate, Jeevan, and I trying to get into the Christmas spirit! :)

[This semester has been awesome with her! We are a friend/ roommate match made in heaven! We share everything from chores, food, random stories, youtube videos, music, boy drama, and much more! Somehow we can start with some small talk and end up talking late into the night about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING! haha. We have some very entertaining conversations, to say the least. I am grateful for the amazingly smart, kind, and beautiful girl she is!]

Aaron and I

Thanksgiving is on it's way!

2009-11-13T15:31:00.001-07:00

I am thankful for...

My family for loving me and always being there for me.
Aaron Brown being a part of my life and for his service, patience, and love.
My friends for caring about me.
The opportunity I have to go to school, even though it's not my favorite thing in the world. lol
Four parents that support and encourage me.
Eight siblings that I look up to and admire... no matter the age or household they live in.
The gospel and the role it plays in my life.
The temple and the opportunity I have to perform baptisms for the dead.
Home teachers that visit me, teach me, and eat my cookies.
My awesome guy friends who are serving missions.
Acquaintances that know/ remember my name and say hi at school or wherever it may be.
Strong, simple, and sincere testimonies.
People that smile.
Old and new friends.
Institute.
Inclusive people and those that help me to be a better person.
The baby rhino (my car).
My experiences and the things that I have learned from them.

Missionaries: So long, farewell!

2009-11-06T14:24:00.000-07:00

Lately it seems like my friends have been leaving left and right to go serve their missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It's pretty crazy to think they are all out serving in different parts of the world including Argentina, Honduras, England, Hungary, and the United States. It will be fun to see everybody when they get back and witness how much they have changed and matured. Here's some of my guy friends that are currently serving their missions...

Jeremy Taylor- Argentina - reported to MTC 11/4/09

Spencer Brooksby- Australia- reported to MTC 10/21/09

Daniel Risenhoover- Argentina- reported to MTC 10/14/09

Stuart Thomasson- Argentina

Joey Gamez- New Jersey

Brandon Zeigler- Australia

Nick Garrison- Tennessee

David Goss- Texas