Did you hear this?

I stayed home this week to listen to Obama's speech at the Arizona Memorial Service. When he said these few lines, I almost started to cry. It summarizes many of the thoughts I've had at the start of a new year. Sometimes I get caught up in searching for status when Love is what really matters.

"... So sudden loss causes us to look backward - -but it also forces us to look forward; to reflect on the present and the future, on the manner in which we live our lives and nurture our relationships with those who are still with us...

We recognize our own mortality, and we are reminded that in the fleeting time we have on this Earth,
what matters is not wealth, or status, or power, or fame - - but rather, how well we have loved - and what small part we have played in making the lives of other people better."

So take a moment today to hold those you love close and thank them for making your life better. That's what I'll be doing.





Read the whole speech here.

Smiles all over the place

Here are some things that make me smile.
1. Chocolate Letters - I ate mine yesterday. MMMmmmmm....
2. The way my dad loves the 11400 South offramp. Seriously. Don't get him started. :)
3. Playing Disney Parks Uno with my little sis.
4. Taking wacky pictures. (Please see above)
5. COUNTRY STRONG! Have you seen it? No? Go see it!

6. Black cherry vanilla coke - so sad they don't make it anymore.
7. Playlists created by the lovely Lauren.
8. Meet the Press. (You love me because I'm nerdy.)
9. The snap-crackle-pop noise made by ice melt when I sprinkle it on the sidewalk. Take that, incredibly slick and dangerous walkway!
10. Blue skies, smiling at me! Goodbye inversion!
11. Eating dinner cooked by my mom.
12. A giant soda in a movie theater.
13. The victorious feeling I get after running for an hour.

Love or Not Love

I LOVE: hitting IKEA with the sisters, especially when Carrie carts stuff around for me.
I do NOT LOVE: going to the grocery store when I can't even find a place to park - i.e. the night before Thanksgiving.

I LOVE: moving! Running, dancing, yoga, aerobics, skipping....
I do NOT LOVE: injuries that come along with running. Hello sore calves!

I LOVE: spending time with my family.
I do NOT LOVE: having to leave my family.

I LOVE: my younger sisters' jokes.

I LOVE: hot chocolate
I do NOT LOVE: luke warm chocolate

I LOVE: smiles and hugs from my students.
I do NOT LOVE: the after-lunch hours when my kids are ready to go home.

I LOVE: new shoes.
I do NOT LOVE: paying for new shoes.

I LOVE: sunshine
I do NOT LOVE: inversion

I LOVE: feeling like I have interesting things to talk about.
I do NOT LOVE: feeling like I have nothing worthwhile to contribute to the conversation.

I LOVE: fun times with the roomie!
I do NOT LOVE: sitting alone in my room when I want to go PLAY!

I LOVE: surrounding myself with good friends
I do NOT LOVE: losing touch with old friends. Or feeling like I never see my friends (this happens all too often).


and last of all -

I LOVE big, puffy snowflakes!

What are you doing New Year's Eve?

I can only hope you had as much fun as I did. My night was spent laughing my head off about salty tooters (among other things) and playing lots of rah di dah with the most awesome people I know.

Counting down to the New Year with Dick Clark

This is what we do - we take pictures of ourselves.

I got my highest score ever! 90 whole points! As you can see, I was very focused.

Rah di dah - di dah - di dah - di BOOM!

HAPPPPPPY NEW YEAR!

What? It's 3:00 AM and all we've got is CAFFEINE FREE? Bummer.

Cousins ringin' in 2011

New Year What?

A rousing game of Encore - which we won! Please notice the delicious empanadas on the table.

"You see, George, you really had a wonderful life."

2010 was a year filled with challenges and triumphs, laughter and tears. As I thought back on the months that have passed, the quote from It's a Wonderful Life came to my mind again and again. As my dad told me last night, "Yes, this year has had some rough times. But it's all in how you choose to look at it. Some really great things happened, too."

So here it is. My 2010 Year in Review.

January - I fell down the stairs and broke my leg. This meant I no longer had a perfect "no broken bones" record, but it also meant I got a slammin' blue cast and lots of time on the couch to read. Plus, I got to move to Sandy for a little while and spend time with my family.

February - I went on a date with a great guy where we actually walked out of the comedy club, and went to a friend's house to play Scene It instead. It was much more fun, anyway. I also tried Nielson's frozen custard for the first time and was flattered when two third grade gentlemen asked me to marry them. Oh, and we celebrated the Olympic Winter Games in my class.

March - My good friend Shannon asked me to help her plan a birthday party. We acted like tourists in our own city and had a blast! We visited the new Marriott Library, the 2002 Olympic Torch, the DUP museum (it's pretty old school), and had dinner at the Bay Leaf Cafe. I saw the city without taking a single step! A kind young man pushed my wheelchair through the streets of SLC. I also had dinner with some wonderful sorority friends and our darling former advisor. It was a great reunion!

April - I went on a family road trip to Elko, Nevada for a cousin's wedding (which resulted in many inside jokes and happy memories), attended sisters' choir concerts, made yummy Easter treats, saw the Anne Frank Exhibit at the City Library, and spent loads of quality time with my awesome family. I also learned an important lesson about the power of thought.

May - This was one of the hardest months of my life. It was the month of Carrie's surgery. So many things happened this month that I'm weary just looking back at them. We welcomed Stitch to the family, Mellie sang at Libby Gardner Hall, we attended the temple as a family, Jenny moved to London, and I went on an awesome date to my favorite restaurant with one of my favorite guys. All of that pales in comparison to what I learned through nights spent at the hospital, prayers offered and answered, and days spent next to my little sister's hospital bed: "Where there is great love, there are always miracles." ~ Willa Cather

June - I met wonderful people and had wonderful experiences with strong and courageous youth at EFY. I strengthened friendships and made new ones and got to be a little goofy. I also watched movies on the grass, drank frozen hot chocolate, and ate lots and lots of mozzarella sticks.

July - Did you know you can see fireworks across the whole valley from the roof of PCMC? "Watch the fireworks, enjoy the fireworks, because they. are. fun." I ate delicious frozen yogurt with old friends who live far away and listened to a good man play piano. And... Carrie came home!

August - Oma and I went to an organ recital at the big shiny new Deseret Book, I reconnected with one of my very favorite elementary school teachers who gave me all of her old teaching stuff (!), I got hooked on LOST, and I cheered on the Salt Lake Bees and my sister who threw the first pitch at a baseball game. I also ate at Logan's Heroes for the first time and saw (duh duh duhhhhh) THE LION KING!!!

September - This month meant the annual Hortin Reunion including scavenger hunt, an incredible experience setting up flags for the Sandy City Sept. 11 Healing Fields, the Legacy of Lowell Day of Service and FOOTBALL!

October - I went back to DC to visit my city and my friends. It was amazing. 'Nuf said. There was also a brand new apartment involved in this month's excitement. :)

November - I turned 25. It was an awesome birthday. My sisters hung out at my place and ate lots of chocolate, watched Zac, and stayed up late. I saw Disney on Ice, the Drowsy Chaperone, Harry Potter, and an absolutely incredible BYU/Utah football game. Go Utes!

December - Celebrated Sinterklass and Mom's birthday - I learned a few Dutch songs. I saw some lovely Christmas choir performances, and learned the show must go on! even if the Tabernacle burns. I had a wonderful Christmas filled with family, food, and fun... and Rock Band. I laughed so much on New Year's Eve, I'm sure I have a six pack now. What a way to welcome 2011!

2011 is here, full of promise. I'm ready to move forward and embrace all that it holds for me. Best wishes to you and yours for a healthy and happy new year! Forward with Faith!