Safe

April 16, 2013 — Leave a comment

I know there have been so many social media posts and tweets about Boston and everything, I just wanted to add my sympathies to those who were there and those who had family who were there. I can’t even imagine what could possibly motivate someone to want to hurt people like that. It’s beyond anything I can comprehend. Today I am grateful for knowing that the Church is true, that families are forever, that we have a loving Heavenly Father who will make everything alright in the end.

On another note, yesterday I had the highest blog readership EVER. By a lot. So thank you for keeping up with this blog and supporting this crazy goal of mine. I appreciate it:)

On another note, yesterday Sarah and I watched Safe Haven. It was SO scary. But so good. It was kind of perfect to watch it after the Boston Marathon bombings, because in it one of the guys is crazy and wants to hurt people, but there are so many other good people that make life as good as possible. I really needed that reminder; that while there are so many bad people in this world who do things I can’t and won’t understand, there are so many good people who do things out of kindness and love and sympathy. There are good people and good thoughts, not everything is bad and ugly.

I am so glad for the safety and security I feel, and I can only hope that others will be able to feel that safety and security too.
Happy Tuesday everyone.

News April 16, 2013. Updates on Boston

April 16, 2013 — Leave a comment


New York Times: No Suspects Yet; Among the Dead Is an 8-Year-Old Boy


The number of injured taken to the hospital is now officially 176, with 17 critically injured and 3 dead. Among the dead is an 8 year old boy. As of now there are no suspects, but nearly the entire area is closed down as police search for evidence. 

Click here to read the full story.
I’ll be posting updates on Boston as they come.

New York Times: Senators Set to Unveil Immigration Bill

This new immigration bill that is being brought to the Senate floor will not only get 11 million illegal immigrants on the right side of the law, but will also change the future of immigration by searching for immigrants with job skills that would help the U.S. 

Click here to read the full story.

Final Boston Update for Today

April 15, 2013 — Leave a comment

The White House reaction is that the bombs in Boston were an act of terror. Two people were killed, and more than 80 were injured, with at least a dozen with amputated limbs. The sites are closed, and planes are being redirected to not be allowed to fly over the area.

Read the full story here.

I am incredibly saddened by these events, and my heart and prayers go to those who were involved, as well as their families.

Quotables

April 15, 2013 — Leave a comment

So lots of thoughts going around in this little brain today.

Basically I’m confused….
But I’m pretty sure I know what I’m supposed to do…
But I’m still confused…
Which is confusing.
Too many things to try to explain right now so I’m just going to post some of my favorite quotes and hope that they help me connect the dots. And hopefully you like them:)


So that’s the quotables for today. Probably a little crazy and random, but hey my brain is fried and I have way too much to do. Happy Monday everyone!

News April 15, 2013

April 15, 2013 — Leave a comment

New York Times Headline: Rifts in Both Parties Complicate Odds for Gun Measure

Problems have arisen between parties regarding the background check legislation for gun safety. These party rifts could prevent the bill from being debated in the Senate this week. Democrats from conservative states have said they will not pass the legislation, while Republicans are torn over poll numbers that suggest moderates want the bill passed. 

Click here to read the full story.

New York Times Headline: Afghan Interpreters for the U.S. Are Left Stranded and at Risk

Afghan citizens who have helped the western military movement are stranded in Afghanistan; unsafe, uprotected, and unsure of what to do next. Visas that would allow these Afghan citizens to come to the U.S. and be legal are becoming more and more rare, leaving many of these people without military jobs/protection, and without a future plan.

Click here to read the full story.

Finals week

April 13, 2013 — Leave a comment

It’s almost here. Finals start next week. I’m not ready at all. I’m not ready for finals, I’m not ready to move out, I’m not ready to say goodbye to the people who have become my best friends. But time has this funny way of moving on even when we don’t want it to. In some ways I’m glad that time is going by (for obvious reasons) but on the other hand, time going by means more goodbyes and more change and moving around and getting used to places and then leaving them.

Anyway enough of this depressing rant. What we have here is a LIST of things you NEED for finals week to go smoothly. Trust me!

1. Healthy food. You’re going to be cramming and going crazy. Don’t eat out every meal. Spend an hour making something healthy, drink lots of juice and EAT YOUR VEGETABLES.

2. While healthy food is important, having some treats you love are important to. Buy your favorite treats ahead of time and have them laying around when you’re going crazy with stress. They’ll relax you!

3. Make a playlist. Have some kind of studying that you can do to music and have it ready for when you study.
4. Take breaks. Frequently! Have a twenty minute episode of your favorite TV show ready to go for a break.
5. Don’t stay up late studying. You won’t remember anything you studied. Stay up late having fun, get plenty of sleep, then spend your morning and afternoon studying.
6. Know what days you are taking your finals so you know what order to study in. Study for the first tests first….yeah? Makes sense.
7. Get ready for the day. Yeah this sounds stupid, but you’ll be more productive if you actually get a little ready for the day.
8. Get outside. Yeah welcome to Provo it’s still semi-cold. Just go for a walk and get outside for a little bit to take your mind off studying.
9. Have fun! Don’t hole yourself up in your room the whole time. Study, yes, play, yes. You can make time for both, I promise.
10. Do your best. If you study and try your hardest, you’ll get the grades you’ve been working for.

Happy Saturday everyone! And happy 13th to me:)

42

April 12, 2013 — 1 Comment

Yesterday we went and saw 42. For those of you who don’t know (like I didn’t until about an hour before the movie) 42 is a movie about Jackie Robinson, the first African American man to play in Major League Baseball. 42 is Jackie Robinson’s number. It’s the only number in baseball that is retired by every single team.

Can I just say, the movie was incredible. The actors (Yes Harrison Ford was in it, and yes I am slightly in love with him even though he’s old) the dialogue, the action, everything was perfect. When I go see movies like that it makes me so sad about the past, but so hopeful for the future. It helps me see that someone can make a difference, that things can change for the better, and every individual matter. When I go see historical movies like that it makes me want to learn all I can about the people who  the stories are about. Ask my friends, they’ll tell you. For instance, in Europe I almost bought several books about Queen Elizabeth because I was so fascinated about her. But that’s a different story.

So the moral of the story is that you should go see 42. It’s an incredible story about a man that we don’t hear enough about.


Trust me, go see it. Even if you don’t like baseball (but really who doesn’t like baseball. It’s the American pastime.) It’ll make you look at things so differently.

WARNING if you go see this movie there is some profanity and especially lots of use of the N word. They do not condone the use of this word at all, but just be aware that it’s in there.

News April 12, 2013

April 12, 2013 — Leave a comment

New York Times Headline: Rare Accord in Gun Debate on Fixes to Mental Health System

Since the tragedy at Sandy Hook, lawmakers have been quietly forming plans on how to advance the treatments of the mentally ill. Many of these plans are to finance better mental health centers, train teachers, and help Medicaid cover these mental illnesses. Many plans stand a good chance of being in the final gun control bill the Senate is now working on.

Click here to read the full story.

New York Times Headline: In Immigration Debate, a Focus on New York Dairy Farmers


Dairy farmers have become the unlikely target in the immigration debate. With many New York dairy farmers hiring labor from South America, the fear that they will be deported or required not to work is a reality. 
Click here to read the full story.