Runaway Bride

Today I took a little trip to the D.I. to finish my Christmas shopping {Awesome, I know right?} and happened to cross the movie section.

Do you know movies sell for ONE BUCK there?

Ya, and they all aren't just Buns of Steel.
I seriously found the Jack Pot.
I hope my future husband is okay with the fact that my little splurge of my life will not only be ice cream, but buying movies. And now he has no need to worry about our pennies falling out of our pockets!
Sweetheart! D.I. for a buck, dude!

So I purchased some...stuff...which also included a little movie called Runaway Bride.
Can I just say I have always and still love this movie?
Ya, I watched it right when I got back from my little shopping run and my young teenage years suddenly rushed back to me. I love this movie! And you know what? Though Julia Roberts will always play "Julia Roberts" {if ya know what I mean} in every movie she is in, I still enjoy watching her.

Then I started wondering about something. As I watched the young "Maggie Carpenter" fail to commit...I thought about how I feel about all that stuff. That little word called Commitment.
Yes, I am only 19 years old, thank you very much, and am not planning on saying "I DO" for quite sometime...but it's sort of scary knowing that it's becoming more of a reality more than "something down the road". Instead of thinking and prodding at my ideas of a perfect "ally" wedding...could it be that one day it really will happen?
I know the answer is yes...but wow.
Instead of watching those chick flicks as a single young woman, I'll have a little ring on my finger and be eternally with my sweetheart forever.
WOW.

I've realized that dating is just a wee bit different after high school.
{Que "amen sister" now}
In high school, you're all just good buds. If you do end up "being" with someone, it's only on rare occasion that something ends up coming from it. Don't get me wrong, I know plenty of awesome couples that dating in high school or were just buddies and now they have been happily married for years. And that is so great. But as a general note, most of the time, dating in high school is just free, whateverness. It's not like you're dating for marriage, though I strongly believe and know that dating is a chance to learn and find out what we want in a future spouse and it is very good to just have fun and get to know people.

Well, then there's AFTER high school. Men, if you're a pre-missionary and going on dates, you have a "mission" shield on anyway so step aside for just a second.
Girls, we have a whole different story. We could take 5 million paths.
1: Get married right out of high school
2: Go to college
3: Become a model or something
{Hey, my friend is doing that right now}
4: Work, work, work.
5: Study abroad
Etc.

The list really is just full of any option, for reals.
Eventually we all get married and start our own families, but what about until then if you're not a "right out of high school" type of girl?
So here's my deal. After high school, though you may have plans, you're kinda free game. You go on a date and you actually like them and they like you...you care about each other a lot...it's not really a "high school" option anymore of just saying, "well, we'll date and stuff, but he's got a mission...we're just in high school...etc.".
You could actually marry the kid.

Pure honesty for just a second. Can a tell you a secret? I'm sort of really scared of a PART of commitment. If I date someone NOW in my "after high school" state and like them and they like me...but after awhile of dating I figure they're not the one for me...then it's awful and ouchie and someone ends up getting hurt. Honest.

Though my fear is still there...my dad told me something once when I had just had my little teenage heart broken.
"Ally, you know, before you get married, you're gonna get your heart broken a lot. It hurts and it's not fun, but think about how happy, after all you've been through, you'll be to finally have someone that was worth it. And he's yours for eternity."

So...my dad's pretty cool. ;)

Ya Dad, I guess you're right. :) It's all worth it. Sometimes you just have to take the chance of getting hurt...because you won't get anywhere if you don't. And hey, he'll mend all my brokenness anyway. ;)

So though I know I would never RUN AWAY on my wedding day,
I can commit and say for other things in my life:
I will not run away.

Happy Holidays
Love Always,
Little Besty

Drops on my Head and Flakes underfoot

Drops on my head
and
Flakes underfoot

*****

Since the moment I walked in the door as an official "done with first semester of college" girl, I don't think I've breathed. Really breathed. Within 45 minutes of just getting home for my wonderful month of break I am sitting at the Best Family Christmas party, eating chili with Frito Flakes.

Then the whirlwind begins.
Tying quilts, writing letters, reading scriptures, visiting my kids {little drama buds}, working-WORKING-WORKING!!!, eating, driving, shopping, looking at lights, dates, making hot cocoa, watching David Archuleta and my choir, chilling, dealing with my back, church, crying, laughing, watching Letters to Juliet, worrying about friends, planning Christmas, Missy, family......it just goes on and on and on.

Then I determined this.
It's totally worth it.

Let me explain the title of this entry and the few phrases at the beginning.
"Drops on my Head and Flakes underfoot"
::Saturday morning I awake to my mommy nudging me to get up. "It's time to go to work". Really? Do I have to? I get dressed, and head out to my job. At least Mommy is working with me today. She always makes working a lot easier.
SUDDEN WORRY as I lift my body out of bed.
*This is not a good back day*
I feel the oh-to-familiar ache of my lower back and am very aware of the space between my ribs. I can feel the bones out of place and my rib cage hurts as I breathe.
This is usual for me, after my little back problem incident, which only gets to be a big deal when either I work really hard {aka lots of lifting} or very frequently, exercise, am physically active, or eat alot. ;) It's something that I just deal with. I'm just lucky I don't have shattered discs or something like my dear family friends. My pain is nothing compared to them.

So I tell myself to just tough it out and, yet again, not let my body take over and stop me from accomplishing what I want to do with my life. I get to the shop of Brown Brother's Catering and start getting everything ready. The pain...I can handle. I walk outside to go to the car and look at the snow under my feet. I sigh at the rain lightly showering on my head...it feels so good. And then I am grateful. So grateful to work. That I am able to work...what a blessing.

One of my favorite things in the world? Hard work. I love working hard. My job is so wonderful. I love getting done with a party and feeling so accomplished with the work I've done. In the moments of working-like filling up the fruit tray or talking to the family at a wedding-I am happy. I love my job. Responsibility and hard work are one of my favorite things ever.

So, with the drops on my head and the flakes underfoot, I am happy. Purely and most joyfully happy. Life is good, and I am so blessed to be alive.

Love you world.
The Pain is worth it.

Love Always,
Little Besty

"It's a Christmas Miracle!"

I'm going to David, I'm going to David!!!!

No WAY!!!

Sitting in my computer chair, mentally preparing for the day ahead.
I'm thinking about our plans for me to head out in a few hours with Squilliam to go wait for approx. 5 HOURS
in the standby line at the conference center, praying we by some miracle get tickets to see one of my favorite artists of all time sing with my beloved Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The family will join on with me later.
It's not just the fact that David Archuleta just happens to be singing with the Motab, but my family goes EVERY single year to this concert. Either we happen to be lucky enough to get tickets, or some gracious family friend involved with Motab gives us some of their tickets. It's a tradition to attend this concert!

So we're all about to cry this year because no tickets have appeared. WHAT? AND it's David this year for crying out loud! It's not like I've waiting my whole life since the pop star hit the stage at American Idol to meet this kid or even see him!
Ah. Ah man.

Back to this morning. I sit at the computer, going over my instructions, really not wanting to wait in the cold for that long without even knowing if we're going to get tickets. Yes, I love David and would be willing to wait days to see him in concert, but gee wiz! It's a coin toss chance at this point.

Then the phone rings.
"Patricia Smith"
No way.

"Hey, Lisa?"
"No, this is Ally"
"Oh hey Ally, how are ya? I was wondering if you guys wanted these tickets to the concert tonight. I have four of them."
Silence due to shock and loss of breath.

We needed EXACTLY four tickets.

Dear Heavenly Father,
You sure have a sense of humor.
Giving us those tickets the DAY OF.
It's a good thing I like you.

"Patricia! We TOTALLY want them! That's so great! We were gonna wait all day..this is awesome...oh my goodness thank you!!!"

"Yeah no prob! We'll leave them at Will Call under Chris Smith. Merry Christmas!"

My life is now complete.
Does anyone else agree I should marry David Archuleta?
Just sayin.
He's on the short side, two singers put together=good good, he's super humble, wonderfully LDS....I mean, come on!
Ally Archuleta has a nice ring to it!

Okay I'm totally kidding, but sort of not.
Don't worry friends, I am not an obsessive David lover,
but I do believe he is extremely talented and I admire him for never giving up, even when he suffered from paralyzed vocal chords.
Go David!

And as for my Mormon Tabernacle Choir, I love you. It's as simple as that. How many memories do I have in this gospel that involve you? All those Christmas concerts, seeing my family and friends sing in the choir, Music and the Spoken Word, traveling all around the world....you're incredible. Maybe someday my dream will come true of singing among you as a member of your choir. ;)

Merry Christmas to all.
May the blessings of our Savior and Father shower upon you.



Love Always,
Little Besty

Just a word or "Tuo"

Wow! I can't believe it! I'm almost super much done with finals! Ok, maybe there's 2 1/2 more, but they're going to be pretty breezy and I am so excited!

Greatest part of today?

My Jury. Say what?

For those not in the music program, SUU has juries for all music majors. You perform one song of your choice that you have learned over the semester to all the professors of your area. After that, they choose another one of the songs you've learned. You then do some sight singing, scales, and intervals.
{Thank you sweet Dr. Herb and Mama Warby for pounding that stuff in my head!}
They make is sound like the end of the world, but it's not. As I left, I said to myself,
That was it?

My favorite song, "Per pieta, bell'idol mio" by Vincenzo Bellini was super fun to sing for my professors. I guess I improved dramatically since the first time they heard my voice and I was just so tickled! Finally! I get to show people what huge voice is really inside this little tiny body. ;)

So? Ya. It was great. Soon afterwards I had my Italian and English Diction final of life. I sang my "Per pieta" song again and then Professor Modesitt plopped down a 11 pg. final on our desks. I was pleasantly surprised, as I looked through the pages, to find that the test was actually pretty chill. I knew almost everything on that test! I walked away from slamming {ok, maybe not slamming} that test in Modesitt's lap saying, "e-o! I feel good!"

So now I sit here with only one little 5 minute final at 1:20 tomorrow and a smile is on my face.
It also helps that I'm wearing bright pink sweats and a blue v-neck.
Just sayin.

Love you world.
Love always,
Little Besty

Flashing Lights

A blur
Cold touches my cheeks
I am suddenly extremely aware of the little pounding in my chest
Blue jackets
Flashing lights of blue and red...almost like they're flashing to the rhythm of our hearts
Beeping...
Breathing...
Life hanging by a thread.



As I sit at the top of the stairs, holding on to the rail...I see a man fight for his life.
My eyes are holding back the tears. I can see his wife trembling in a nearby chair...praying that he does not pass on, leaving her on her own.

My chair is abandoned. I stand on the cold ground finding it hard to form words.
This is like a nightmare that I can't wake up from.
We all knew it would come to this.

If I was to utter anything to any soul right now, it would be this.

Life is precious.
Life is pure.
And life is worth living.

Hearing the ambulance twice this week
and actually BEING where it was going sort of puts your life into perspective.
Tears form in my eyes as I go back to these images in my head.
One instance, it was brought upon by one not loving the gift God gave them: A body
The other, age...heart attack...possibly his time.

I see two opposite ends of the spectrum. Two ways we meet the passing to the next world.
And I can't help but realize how precious life is. In a moment, your heart could stop beating.

Now is the time to take that second in your crazy and busy life to tell someone you love them. Tell someone you've been dying to tell them how much you care.
Because you never know when you may have the chance to tell them again.

Love yourself. Love your body. Love your soul.
It was a gift to be cherished.

All my love,
Little Besty

Little Spidy-backpack

This morning I was walking in the bright sunshine

{along with the frozen snow beneath my feet}
to my 9:00 AM class.

I had my apple-juice bottle in hand and Nutella sandwich successfully on it's way down my esophagus. Suddenly, I hear a creek of wheels and little chirps of small voices.

Kids.

I looked up and saw a mommy and daddy. The greatest part? They were pulling a little wagon with two little boys on the back. How could this picture get any better?

It does.

The little boy on the back was wearing a Spidy Backpack.
My whole universe just shattered. ;)

I don't know what it was about this little family that made me so happy. Actually, yes I do. :) This little family is so humble. They're all bundled up in their winter clothes, Mom and Dad are willingly pulling their little kids that they love so much...on their way to class or work or where ever life is taking them at this present time. Kids are jabbering away in the back...and that Spidy-backpack. I can't get over it.

This is what I hope to have someday. Walking along in the fresh morning air with my husband's hand wrapped around mine and we're pulling our little kids in the wagon. All of us on our merry way in life-TOGETHER. We couldn't be happier then in this moment.

And I will be buying my little boy a Spidy backpack. ;)

Love Always,
Little Besty

Take 2

So maybe it's true that as I go through-out the entire day I have a dialog running through my head that could be a possible blog-post or journal entry. It's normal.

::People Watching Take 2::

I went and ate lunch in the "Caf" today. I usually never do but, hey, why not?
Plus it's a perfect place to do my ::people watching::. ;)
Obviously I went alone...just done with class...hungry, I might as well!

I sit down with my beef sandwich, corn, apple-juice, milk, and red Jello and begin.

On my right are two asian kids...how I wish I could understand them! They're obviously great friends with the way they joke with one another. It's been a long friendship judging with the "comfortableness" they have. I like 'em!

To my left are the usual track boys. They always wear the same shirts...odd?

Behind me sits my Elders Quorum President, Jayson. He just made Godspell...still getting smiling passerbys telling him "Congrats!". I smile...I'm so happy for him! He's sitting at a table with a theater buddy and a few asian kids. Jayson is very friendly with them all...I admire this. What a great guy.

Farther behind me I can hear Brogan laugh. Oh boy. ;)

Across from me a table over sits a man. He could be a professor, or another one of those random adults who drop by the Cafeteria and think, "hey, maybe i'll be insane enough to join a bunch of crazy, loud, college kids for lunch". I respect you, mate. :)

He has a very odd lunch. Some little dessert cup with what looks like jam and granola...I didn't see granola anywhere today. He holds a pen with an orange tip and has a workbook open. He's studying it. He has glasses, older, mustache...he reminds me of someone but I can't think of who. He wears a sweater.... this guy is awesome.

I sit and smile at myself as I look out at the snowy sidewalks. If only the world knew that the girl who may look alone sitting by herself is actually totally enthralled with the happenings around her.

I take out my "Future Family" journal while sipping some red Jello {after I've watched it jiggle of course} and read a few entries. I laugh at the "family quotes" section. Out loud, mind you. Ah. I love laughing out loud when I'm alone in a crowded room. Ah ha!

The room has shifted. Asians are gone, Jayson has jumped up and left after stopping and talking to a friend...track boys have switched up..girls sit to my left...it's time to leave...making room for the next "shift" of people.

What did I learn today?
*I love watching people study while they eat. It fascinates me. I feel so great when I read while I eat or study something. I don't know why....but I just do.
*People are so caring...I love when people sit next to those sitting alone not because they feel bad for them, but they genuinely care and WANT to sit by them. Just because they want to feel of their warmth and spirit.
*Dry beef on dry bread isn't my favorite.
*I still love red Jello. And it still reminds me of my buddy, Aaron.
*People are so great. For reals.

Love always,
Little Besty

Just a word or two

I'm not exactly sure what to write about, but I just wanna write.

I love watching little kids. They are so...carefree. They literally don't care a bit about what anyone thinks. My little 2nd cousin, Carly, {which I will just call cousin from now on ;)} is my favorite to watch. At dinner on Sunday, her dad Tony asked her to show them her dance. She just started dancing! And looked so into it! Is she two? Three? I love her! What sound does a lion make? "RAAAR!". Oh my. And her new baby brother is so super cute by heavens!

Anyway. Just had to give her a spotlight.

You know one thing that REALLY bothers me? Haha please lets just go from happy to venting in a moment, Ally Best. Ah gee. ;) So, it just pushes my buttons when you're with a group of people a number of them just sit and talk about something non-stop that they know full well no one is apart of. "Oh remember this? And wow that was so great. Let's show everyone ten times what happened". Is that brutally honest? It's fine to sit and talk about old times, but not be talking about something over and over again when it's just a small group of people and they have no idea what you're talking about. You've had this happen to you before, I know it. There's a group of three of you or maybe four and in a second you're left out of it all. It's really not THAT big a deal, but I just wish it didn't happen that often.

Done! With Venting. ;)

I get to see my family for a whole week. Whose excited? I'M EXCITED. Yeah! I get to have my Daddy call me Mo and give me his hugs, talk with Mom for hours, see Christopher's belly ;), chat and laugh with my adorable sis-in-law {sister!} Jewls, be myself with Leafy and laugh and laugh, have heart to hearts with Sir Thomas and beat him up, hug my dear brother Benny and see him smile, and get to attack William with my new learned skills of tye-quan-do. {Guess what? That's not how that's really spelled!} And I also get to see so many more people that I adore and are apart of me!!! YEEEEEEEE-HAAAA! I love life.

You know what's the best? When you get an amazing compliment from someone you really REALLY respect and just want to be super great friends with so bad and sometimes get too afraid to talk to because you don't know what you're gonna say and have looked up to them from the moment you saw them speaking in church.....did I say too much? ;)

Well, my clothes are hung up, my room is almost clean, I'm gonna load the car for tomorrow's trip.....life is splendid. There really is so much to be grateful for.

Love you world!

Love always,
Little Besty

HP

In just a manner of days, the whole world will be anxiously ripping through the fabric of their theater seat with their chilled fingers, body complete with full wizard attire, and homemade wooden wand in hand, waiting for the moment when that classic song will hit their ears.

"Da daaa da da daaa da daaaaa da. Daa da da daa da daaaaa"

Are you ready?

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows {Part 1}

Who can wait? I, for one, know that I am freaking out of my muggle mind! From the moment I opened that cover only days before the opening night of the first movie Sorcerer's Stone, I knew I was hooked for life. A series of a century. I would go to my mailbox and search the sky for my owl countless times at the age of eleven. Children and adults a like would gather together all over the world at the release "party" of a new book...getting midnight showing tickets months in advance...celebrate July 31st...cry through half of the last book...it's kind of like the world was connected for a few moments in time-over one little boy with the initials HJP.

I've heard a lot of uproar about the fact that they split the 7th movie into two parts. "They're just trying to prolong the end of it all. Make more money...etc". But the part that grabs me in their angry complaint? "They're just trying to prolong the end...". RIGHT.

Do you remember when you turned that last page in Deathly Hallows and couldn't read the last paragraph because you knew it was all over? Maybe you love Star Wars...remember when that last movie was done and over with? Hunger Games? Whatever your obsession :) It's like a part of your heart was ripped out of your chest..or dying. Maybe...you didn't want it to end.

That is why I am one that is proudly happy about the movie being split in two parts. Yeah, maybe their trying to get more money. BUT YOU'RE WILLING TO PAY FOR IT. Think about it. If you are a true fan, you would go to every show, even if the last one was split in 7 parts...:) {Any one catch the 7? ;)}. And half the world is intrigued that there are two. "Something's up, they gotta be good then...curiousity...". It's all there. Me? My reasons for happiness of two parts is that 1. I don't believe in a million years they could get everything in that last book in one little movie. They couldn't even do that for the shorter ones. 2. Ya, creating suspense for the world is working. It's definitely working on me. 3. I can't let go.....

I'd rather not talk about the month that the last movie comes out. I won't be present in normal day light. I'll come out for the movie, tear stained ticket in hand, then sink back into the shadows. Come visit me...I'll be sending my new address in "Deep Dark Cave of Death" city at the end of this post.

I'm kind of having a reminiscing harry potter week. Remembering all of the pages of the books, looking back at getting excited with my neighbors to go see the new movie, making costumes to wear, holding my ticket, playing the songs on the piano, totally guilty of wanting to marry Daniel Radcliffe....

So I looked at some pics. I thought it would be fun to show a progression of our leading man. ;)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone:
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets:

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban:
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire:
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix:
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince:
And Finally....
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows {part 1}


Not bad, eh? :) I daresay he's looking pretty *dapper* in this last one. Though I must admit I already gave in at Sorcerer's Stone. ;) Here's a few of my favorite pics from the new movie.

That last one sends a shiver up my spine for some reason. ;)

So my love and obsession continues. Don't worry, it's healthy. I make sure of that.
The greatest sadness of all? Ally Best won't be attending the midnight showing. Lack of tickets in Cedar and plus, it's way better sitting next to William and the rest of the family on Thanksgiving weekend to see the movie I've been waiting for. ;) It's worth waiting just a bit longer.

Good luck to calming down my nerves enough to sleep this weekend.
It's almost here!

Love Always,
Little Besty

People Watching.

Today I witnessed something quite silly, but fantastic and it was all due to People Watching. ;)

Have you ever had certain person in your life that you haven't ever really met, but you see them everyday? So you feel like you know them, right? You watch them everyday and notice what they're doing...who they talk to...etc. It gets more interesting as you add more than just one person to your "watchee".

Here's the story.

I see this group of college students at the beginning of the school year in the cafeteria. Still making friends, just hanging out, etc. I notice a certain person and find it intriguing to watch them. I see them almost everyday...why not? {This isn't creeper, I promise. You've all done it.} Well, I continue to see this person with another person of the opposite gender. My original watchee was a male. I can see from how he looks at this "friend" of his, that he cares about her a lot. Already. And they've only known each other a few weeks.

Well then I notice the look isn't only a "Gee. You're wonderful" look, but a "Ya...maybe you'll never like me in that special way, but I'll care about you anyway and be your best friend". I had the happy little satisfaction of walking into my friends room one day to find my "watchee" sitting on my friend's desk. It was like I was bumping into someone I totally knew! But he had no clue who I was. Can you imagine explaining myself if I chose to? "Hi! I watch you everyday and notice this this and this about you. Isn't it great?! You could call me a stalker!". Ok. Not that dramatic, but it could be taken that way.

{*Side-note: I did not start watching this guy because I was freakishly attracted to him or anything. He just seemed interesting. Thanks}

I got another look at him...alright. Found out he was an Elders Quorum President...got back from the mission a few months ago...hmmm. More of the personality came out. By the end of my visit with my intended friend, I had determined the fact, based off my watching and interpretation of his personality that he probably really liked this girl, but for some reason she wasn't feeling the same way, giving in, afraid of a relationship, etc. I didn't even ask the kid about any of this and just knew...guessed...that my ideas were correct.

These two hang out more. They develop a closer friendship. All is going well. It's been a few days since I've seen them. I ask my friend who is in their ward if the two are together. "Ah, it's complicated. But no, they're just buds". I predict in my little mind, based off my knowledge and instinct, that within a month they will be dating, together, whatever. Let's if I was right.

Then I attend my friends ward for fun, and I realize this is also the ward of my watchee and the girl. I find where he is sitting....where she is sitting...and by the time he finishes passing the sacrament and is excused to sit down...they are by each other. No biggy right? Well....then I see something that begins to confirm what I think to be true.

His arm goes around her.

Let's not get excited. It could still just be a "we're just friends like that". Then I see a look they give each other....hmmm. That doesn't just happen with anyone. By third hour, they've sat by each other in almost every meeting, and now they are leaning their heads against each other and whispering in the back. His arm is around her again.

Dear friends,
I believe this is a sign.

After church when I'm walking home with my buddies from my watchee's ward, the topic comes up. It's complicated, she went home for a weekend and thought it over, and "who knows" but pretty sure they're together.

I am brilliant. And a matchmaker. Ok...I didn't match them up but my predictions are exceedingly accurate. :)

What does all this mean and what is my conclusion? I feel like my dear friends just hooked up and I am so happy for them because we "all knew it was coming". Too bad they don't even know who I am or that I care. ;)

So? I continue my watching. I saw the couple today, laughing in the snow together while walking to dinner and was happy for them.

Happy hook-ups! Maybe your watchee will soon do something big. And you'll be happy too.


:)It can happen.

Love Always,
Little Besty

I love days like this.

Where I can be at church non-stop for the early morning hours to the darkness, set with a satisfying handful of stars. It makes me happy.

Today I...
*Day Light Savings?...what...
*Meeting! This is so great! Wonderful attendance!...wait...fast sunday=no meeting. Drat.
*TESTIMONY MEETING.
*Wow. Bishop Rocks.
*Read a lot of wonderful scripture and felt very happy about it.
*Sitting alone at sacrament meeting..no problem. It's actually really awesome for me because the meeting is so personal....oh...but it's okay Elders Quorum President if you sit by me...ya..TOTALLY FINE. ;)
*"He doesn't sound like Skipper. Sorry Friend."
*M. Russell Ballard...you are stupendous. In just a matter of years, we will be the Relief Society Presidents and Counselors...the Bishops and High Council men. Wow.
*Ate brownies...jello....potatoes, burger, fries, chicken, califlower, roll, salad, lots of milk and juice all in one meal. It's normal.
*Realized I'm totally not a girl to be picky about eating too much. "ah! I'm gonna get fat!" no. NOT ME.
*I like brownies.
*Wore Purple.
*"You can't go through Jareds like that just because they have the same name!"
*Poor R.A.'s.....
*Talked to Mommy and Daddy. ;)
*"Daddy's orders"
*I love Shari. ;)
*Can't find those minus tracks! Argh.
*Maybe I should go to sleep...
*Voice=dead. Oops....

Wow. So much to say, but I don't know how to say it. This will just have to do:

I know that my Redeemer Lives.

Love Always,
Little Besty

Sicky sick sick...

It's totally cool I've been sick sick sick for the past three days. I thought it was gonna go away. Monday I stayed home from class...probably just exhaustion. But then yesterday I start feeling a scratch in my throat and go "oh crap". I know what that means.

YOU ARE DOOMED TO A SOAR THROAT FOR AT LEAST 2 WEEKS.

Great...good thing I have a concert tomorrow night I'm supposed to sing at....yeah for me!

I felt like I was gonna pass out today. I wore my pajamas from the night before, put on a big sweater, put on my "you look fat" jacket (according to brother William), threw on the slippers with my much too big socks...hair thrown back in a falling out bun...

and yet...I still felt confident.

Ya, I wanted to DIE epically all day. All day my mind was on that HUGE test of life that I had at 3 o'clock...cram cram cram to get Composer and Art Song information in my head...stick stick. But I felt good.

I came home after my test feeling good about it and took out my hair. Even with my pale face with red splotches and cracked lips, it was an "ariel" moment. I let the hair fall, all wavy from my bun...and I felt good.

I threw on a skirt, gray tights, and converse shoes and felt good. Good meaning, I still have a screaming throat of death with nasal congestion, but I rule the world. There is always a way to make yourself feel better when you feel sicker than a dead dog.

Walking over to dinner with my purple coat and scarf tight around my neck to keep it warm, I felt true happiness. The sun was just setting, and I could feel the wind on my face.

I am still feeling like my body is going to collapse in a milla-second, but...I still feel good. ;)

Love always,
Little Besty

Penguin Love

It's time to introduce you all to my little penguin. ;)

Isn't he just the cutest, fluffiest, little thing ever?! Ah.

It's totally fine I'm in love with a stuffed animal and being super affectionate about my new little item of stuffed-ness. Haha!

Have any of you seen the Madagascar Penguin episodes?
Well I've discovered this new obsession. Ever found a show or something with your almost exact humor? The kind that really gets you going? Well, Madagascar Penguins does that for Little Ally Best. The moment I saw the penguins on Madagascar, wow. I loved them. I adore penguins as it is and is one of my favorite animals ever upon ever. So, when these guys were created, I was all for it. My buddies showed me an episode of their own show on the internet about a week ago and now I have to watch them everyday! They always make me happier. Ah.

So, back to my penguin.
It appeared outside my front door last night, all wrapped up-complete with duck tape and labeled with a "Happy Birthday Ally!". I ended up being from a good friend who knew I loved penguins.

My friends, if you have seen these Madagascar Penguins episodes, you will know why this little guy.....
is named Private. There's a whole episode dedicated to how adorable Private is. I saw the tag that came with him, and went straight to Private instead of Rico, Kiwalski, and Skipper.


And this.

! Ah ha ! My life is complete. He is so little oh my goodness.

Yet again, it's totally fine I'm having a happy break-down about a stuffed animal. You would too if you saw this guy. I need something to help me stay upbeat here at school. The End.

Ally and baby penguin. Ah.

Haha. Have a good day everyone.

Love,
Little Besty

P.S. Put Madagascar Penguin Episodes in YouTube and click on the 11 minute episodes! You'll get hooked!

A Thought on Love

Like everyone, I have those days where my little thoughts wander to my future eternal companion. I wonder who it will be...how I'll meet him...how our day at the temple will be...etc. However, the number one thing I know I need to do is not be anxious about it. I can plan for my future and work on being the best wife and mother possible, but as far as worrying about how and when I'll meet him...that's all in the Lord's hands.

With these thoughts running through my mind this morning, I came upon this blog talking about love. The women talked about the commercial, worldy love, and then how the love of God is infinite...pure...and cannot even be comprehended by even the apostles of olden times. I looked below at the comments, and a reader left her thoughts, and then posted this letter written in Heavenly Father's perspective-author unknown. May I share it with you?

"On His Plan For Your Mate

Everyone longs to give himself completely to someone: to have a deep soul relationship with another; to be loved thoroughly and exclusively. But, God to a Christian says, no, not until you are satisfied, fulfilled, and content with being loved by Me, alone. With giving yourself totally and unreservedly to Me. To having an intensely personal and unique relationship with Me, alone. Discovering that only in Me is your satisfaction to be found, will you be capable of the perfect human relationship that I plan for you.

You will never be united with another until you are united with Me, really united with another, exclusive of anyone, or anything else, exclusive of any other desires or longings. I want you to stop planning, stop wishing, and allow Me to give you the most thrilling plan existing...one that you cannot imagine.
I want you to have the best, please allow Me to bring it to you. Just keep watching Me...expecting the greatest things. Keep experiencing the satisfaction that I Am. And keep listening and learning the things I tell you.

You just wait, that's all...wait. Don't be anxious, don't worry, don't look around at the things that others have gotten or I have given them. Don't look at the things you think you want. Just keep on looking towards Me, or you will miss what I want to show you. And then, when you are ready , I'll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than anything you would dream of.

You see, until you are ready and until the one I have for you is ready, and I am working even at this moment to have both of you ready at the same time. Until you are both satisfied exclusively with Me and the life I prepare for you, you won't be able to experience the love that exemplifies your relationship with Me. And this is perfect love. And, dear one, I want you to have the most wonderful love.

I want to see in you, in the flesh a picture of your relationship with Me. And I want you to enjoy materially, the everlasting union and beauty and perfection and love that I offer you with Myself. I know that I love you utterly. I am El Shaddai-most loving Father, God Almighty. Believe it and be satisfied and I will satisfy you.

Author unknown" {Italics added}

Wow. Right? Stop fretting about it, stop biting your nails over it-just appreciate everything Heavenly Father has given you, trust in Him, love Him, believe in Him, and when we are both ready...he will give us one another-a gift of the most wonderful love! He knows how hard we all work to be the best we can be so that we can one day be worthy of our future companion. He will give us what we worked so hard for-and we will grow together with the love of God imprinted permanently in our hearts!

I really adore this picture. ;)

Love Always,
Little Besty

Once upon a time there was a young woman who was the luckiest person in the world. ;)

It just so happened that Little Besty turned the age of 19 on this day of October 17th. Twas wonderful to say the least. I have thought long and hard about what to do for my birthday post...and the same thing kept coming back to my mind. So I probably should go with it, right?

This whole weekend I have felt so humbled and extremely blessed. I am lucky. It's as simple as that. There were so many moments where tears of joy filled my eyes and my heart swelled with joy as I recognized how wonderful life is. So, in the name of President Monson, I find it quite appropriate to celebrate day of birth by telling all of you a few things I am grateful for, in particular what I'm grateful for this weekend.

I am grateful for...
*My dearest family. I am so blessed that they love me and take care of me. I know I don't deserve it but it's a tender mercy he has given me.
*I can say I know the true definition of friend because I am surrounded by beautiful, incredible people who enrich my life everyday. They are such wonderful lights in my life and I am so glad that I have my buddies.
*I have a place to call home. I walk in the doors of my house that I've lived in for 19 years and know inside I have a "home". It is a place I feel safe.
*Sunshine. Glorious sunshine.
*Rain. What a way to cleanse the earth.
*Microwave cake. Who would have thought.
*I have a knowledge..all on my own, that God lives.
*The priesthood is so real. So real. Power of God given to men!
*Deacons. They are so humble and small and I am so grateful they pass the sacred sacrament to me every sunday.
*Priesthood leaders that know me and care about me.
*My roommate. Gypsy is such a phenomenal young woman. I'm glad she takes care of me...even though I drive her nuts a lot.
*Little children.
*Singing!
*My beautiful mom and amazing Daddy.
*My Aunt Cheri
*Pillows
*Water bottles
*How much good there really is in this world. It is MIRACULOUS!
*Friendly people.
*Technology, when used right.
*Books. Glorious Books!
*My scriptures
*Sweats

Just to name a few. ;) Seriously, I feel so filled with the spirit that I could create an avalanche or tidal wave! Ah! I love this feeling. When you just know that life is so fantastic. Ah. Ah. Ah.

Today I....

*Ate cake.
*Feel asleep on my pillow
*Missed my highland singles ward
*Went to my highland singles ward
*"Fish!!!" said Hi to me. I love her.
*Was very very brave :)
*Talked to a dear friend
*Realized how lucky I am...
*Got lots of hugs
*Happy Birthday!
*Cut my sister's bangs
*Watched children color and thought of my own little future kids
*Thought about my husband
*Felt the spirit
*More fully understood the sacrament
*Felt really happy when Brother Mark Dahl called me "Ally Best.." and gave me a handshake
*Went to three mission farewells
*Missed childhood
*Ate rice pilof!
*Didn't know how to spell pilof...
*Loved my Aunt Cheri
*Carried a lot of stuff
*Sang at a fireside
*Felt bad that a friend is moving away...
*Saw a dear dear friend who is awesome and so great and just wonderful.
*Missed late night talks with William
*Actually walked and danced in the rain all by myself. Who thought you could have such a fantastic birthday and top it off with such a magical thing like dancing in the rain? Thanks for that one.
*Cried
*Laughed
*Life is good
*Ate Chicken-in-a-Biscuit
*"I am a Child of God"

I have so much to share today! I could go on forever! K. One quote though I read 5 million today it feels like.

"Happiness is the realization of God in the heart. Happiness is the result of praise and thanksgiving of faith, of acceptance, a quiet tranquil realization of the love of God". -White Eagle

Today is an epic day. Not because it is my birthday, but because it is simply just a good day. Everyday is a good day. It just depends how you look at it.

I love thee world. I am so blessed and humbled at the chance to become better and better...to prepare for the temple..to be given the greatest gift of all, the love of God. Take care this day and always. Thank you to Everyone. You all contribute to this world and I want to recognize you. ;) Have a phenomenal day.

Love always,
Little Besty

Ready

I've been having a lot of tussles lately...about my life...my future...my present condition...and I realize....sometimes, life just gives us curve balls. It's rough-my knees get dirty, I fall on my face, and almost get hit with the ball coming right at me. But...I have to stay in the game. Because if I'm dedicated to my team and to my biggest fan supporting me on the sidelines...then I'm gonna feel good at the end of the game. I did my best and can walk away a champion.

The biggest thing running through the mind of Ally Best is "be everything you want in a future companion". Now, I'm not jumping up and down saying, "I need to get married now!". I can wait till the Lord feels I, Miss Best and my husband who is out there somewhere are both ready. But I constantly think how every single one of my actions is going to effect my worthiness of getting the best guy ever for ally best. Everything I do...I will do it in regards to the fact that I want my husband to be proud of me when I get to him. And most importantly, that Heavenly Father can be proud of us both for working to hard to be worthy of each other.

I'm going here someday...and will be sealed for time and all eternity-binded by the glorious covenants Heavenly Father has given his children.

And I will be ready. ;)

Love Always,
Little Besty

DAVID

The News is Out

If you haven't heard already, Mr. DAVID ARCHULETA is the special guest artist this year for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert-only one of the biggest concerts EVER in the LDS church.

It's fine that I almost burst through the roof of my dorm room when I heard it from my sister in a text. My whole heart just literally exploded. It's fine. Totally fine.

I am not obsessed with the boy, but let's say I was and still am an avid fan of his music. I sing the songs, I've played "Crush" over 100 times, loved watching him on American Idol, read about him in his book, thought he was just the greatest role model for artists who want to keep their standards when they become famous....ya. David is pretty great.

Dear World::
I will be sitting as close as possible, hopefully hiding in the bushes on the stage of the conference center, in the month of December-waiting for Mr. Archuleta to sing with the choir I have grown up with.

Yeah!

Love always,
Little Besty

The Will

The Will

One of the hardest thing to do as a human being is admit that you're wrong. No one likes being told they should feel awful, bad, or ashamed of themselves. Haha can you imagine? "Hey, will you please tell me that I need to look over my life and seriously consider changing some things? It will be so fun!". Ya. No one enjoys that like chocolate. It's difficult...and hard.
However, think when the day comes when you actually say, "ya, I did something wrong"....doesn't that show some will to want to be better? For me personally...when I know that I just really goofed off and say that I was dumb and learned my lesson...that means that I'm ready to change.

A great priesthood leader that I admire told me today that I may have made a dumb choice, BUT....I am always greeted with open arms when I want to change. "We love you". We have the power of agency..and that can be taken away in a second if we use it wrong. I..understand the true importance of listening to the spirit...but in a new dimension. I knew that it was my best friend, I used it and loved the feeling it brought, but now I've just added another layer to why and HOW I know this is true. Thanks Elder Richard G. Scott for making me feel better today. I know I made a mistake and more importantly know and realize that it can fix it, make it disappear from memory and forget. I'm changing, becoming better.

Well, here I am. Changed. Knowing I will never "try the slightly rotting apple" twice. You wish you don't even have to try it once...but sometimes you do and you stumble, but you have to choice and power to never take another bite. Progressing is so refreshing. ;) It's like getting to the final Icecream Palace in Candy Land at the end. You may have come upon the Licorice Lord in your deck of cards and been bumped back to the beginning. But our Savior can make it easier by giving us a rainbow bridge across the lane. ;)


There is always hope. ;)

Love you world.

Love always,
Little Besty

Explosions on a Page

So here I am..of course with a billion things to do that my head is about to explode...but writing always makes me feel better so here I am, piling all my baggage on my blog. :)

Interesting thought*:: When you walk along a sidewalk..or in a hallway...and there's that person you've never seen before in your life, but they just look up, look straight into your face and you feel like you've known them forever. They smile and say hi. You say hi back..and you just have this connection. And the real catcher is? You probably will never see them again, or sit down with them and have a little chat about the weather. It blows my mind when this happens.

I have a professor and her name is Virginia Stitt. Though she is...quite older, I look at her and see a 20 year old woman who still acts like she's sitting in the 2nd grade. I love when she blows on the marker to get it to work. :) I love it when she addresses talking to yourself as, "Self, now let's have a chat..". I love that she is an dedicated musician and is still teaching because she just adores it so much.

Last night I sat at a Taco Bell and listened in on a very interesting conversation. The buddies that I was with, being the funny boys they are, began to talk about a professor of the university that often gets made fun of. Now I love those boys, but here's the thing. I have this professor. Ya, she's quirky, but I adore what she teaches me. One of the boys said, "I just sit in the back of the class and laugh. Is she being serious?". Then I sat and really thought about this. First, I hate judging parties. I will CRASH that party, man. Second, it's your own fault if you sit in the back and laugh and don't like the class. YOU make the choice to listen and find the good in what is being placed before you. (Good seems to be an occuring theme for me these last few weeks). Sometimes you just have to weed out the little things that bother you because guess what? People are going to bother you. But think about if you let those weeds of botherism get in the way....get in the way of seeing a beautiful person. I really wish the judging would just stop. Because she worked SO HARD to get where she is right now and I appreciate how much time and effort she puts into my lessons. I love her as a teacher.Thank you.

I really miss home a lot. I miss being able to get a cup anytime and fill it up with milk...or being able to open a can of peaches without thinking..." I feel so closed off in this dorm space. I'm gonna have to take it out of the bin, find my can opener, oh ya and I have to wash the dish after...". I can't believe how much I miss the easiness that comes with living in an open space. It's so refreshing.

I almost cried in my voice lesson this week. Why? Because my personal life weaknesses are getting involved. Simple things like, "I'm just scared", or "I think they're going to judge me" came up and I was so upset with myself for letting my weaknesses come out. However, I realized that as hard as it is to pop that "weakness zit" :), doesn't it feel better after wards? Then you're on the way to a full recovery of new skin. That I'm finding a recovery to the weaknesses I have in singing. I'm on my way to a better, grown musician.

Don't old habits really bug? I was so great at not procrastinating when I got to college, and now here I am, procrastinating again like old school high school. Bah humbug.

Dear World:
Thanks for listening. I really just needed to blow some little bits of steam. :)

Love always,
Little Besty

I'm in love with a wizard named Howl*



It's totally fine that I wish my name was Sophie and that I had a curse that caused me to be an old woman till I was totally self-confident-and that my hair stayed forever gray like star-light.

Ya, it's perfectly normal

It's normal that I'm perfectly okay with giving my heart to a wizard that supposedly "eats hearts of young ladies" when they fall in love with him. {Though it just ain't true).

I think it's a problem that I wish I was the girl in this picture::



And it also is totally peachy that when I watch "Howl's Moving Castle", my heart leaps like a butterfly on steroids every time that Howl comes home after a battle. That I laugh when he comes running down the stairs, upset that his hair is dyed and that he can't go on living if he "isn't beautiful". It's cool that I want to walk in the fields of his special hide-a-way with the flowers he helped grow.

Don't be surprised if I come walking out of my dorm room tomorrow in a blue dress with gray hair and a braid with pink ribbons in it.

Ya, it's completely and wonderfully fine that I'm in love with a wizard named Howl. ;)

Howl's Moving Castle

See it.

Hayao Miyazaki? You are a genius.

Love always,
Little Besty

buckets of tylenol and MOMMYs*

Right. So for the first time, I missed class in college. And the reason?

SICKY.

I don't believe in missing class for fun in college. This was ingrained in my head as a stupid decision when my professor told me that you can miss class whenever, but remember that you are paying $20.00 for each class. Plus, I've been taught well and have a wise noggin' to know that you just need to go to class. And I love learning!

When I'm sick, I have a lot of time to think. I thought about how awesome my mom is. I call her this morning, saying I wanna die, and she gives me an hour by hour schedule on what I should do to ensure the best "being sick" day possible. Though I still felt like I was gonna throw-up at any given moment, I felt so much better knowing I was following my mom's advice. She's so wise....I love her.

My mom is amazing. She's beautiful. She's is simply phenomenal and I hope she knows I feel that way.
Reasons I love my mother....

*She holds me when I cry
*Every single night when I lived at home, she would sit and talk to me
*She has a sixth sense for me. I come home one night, and she already knows if I've had a good or bad night based souly on the feelings she had while I was gone....creepy...but AWESOME. ;)
*How many times did she massage my hands or comb my hair just because she wanted to?
*People tell me I look exactly like her...which I consider one of the best compliments ever because that means that someday I'll look like my GORGEOUS-beyond-all-reason mother! YES! Score!
*She sacrifices daily for her kids
*Even though her family life as a young woman was crazy, she got through it. She didn't only endure it, but she lived through it and learned so much from it
*She made each of us kids our own, individual lunches based on what we liked every single day for school
*When it comes to her strength to work, she's an ox. I've never met a stronger woman
*She has soft hands
*She lays by us when we're scared
*I love the way she sings
*She encourages me to be my best "ally" self
*She knows me better than anyone else (besides Heavenly Father)
*Mom is my best friend
*I like the way she smiles
*When she says "I'm proud of you", she really means it
*No matter what we've all done in our family, she still loves us
*She's a wonderful teacher
*Respect is something that everyone has for my mom
*When she teaches, it's like the spirit it talking directly to people
*She's faithful
*She gives WONDERFUL advice.
*My mom is so protective
*She loves my friends
*Her food is delectable beyond compare
*She does things for people without seeking for a "thank you"
*Her husband, kids, and family are her number one priority
*She has a knack for crafts
*I love her clothes that she wears. She looks so good in them!
*I love her laugh
*Her eyes twinkle because of the spirit she possesses
*She is so selfless
*She realizes that she's human, but picks herself up when she falls
*My mom spends so much time on her children. She's the extreme of the typical "soccer mom"
*I feel like I can tell her everything and anything, and I do
*I miss her the second I leave on a trip
*She smells good
*She sang to me as a kid
*She truly misses me when I'm away...
*She is a wonderful Daughter of our Heavenly Father
*This woman is super intelligent. I wonder where she got all her knowledge from
*She makes me feel safe
*I want to be just like her someday!

There are a bajillion more reasons why I love my mom. This is just the first 1/2998 of why I adore her.


I cry sometimes because I miss her so much. This is one of the main reasons why moving away was so hard. Because my mommy is far away!

I love you Mom. I'm so glad he gave me you. Thank you for taking care of me today, even though you were 3 hours away. ;) {P.S. I wrote this before you even called me tonight. :) } You're the GREATEST MOMMY EVER!!!

So, being sick is rough. I've consumed so much medicine and juice that I'm about to explode. But maybe when I go to bed early, just like my mommy directed, I'll feel better. Love you world! Thank goodness for MOMMYS!

Love Always,
Little Besty