“Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

just something i was thinking about today...but I think I like Jane Austin's quote more.

 

"Look on the past only as it brings you pleasure" :) 

clean slates

"Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions."

- Dallin H. Oaks

A new term - a clean slate. I love beginnings. I love being able to start over - being able to decide how I want things to be and then make them that way. I guess though, that I should start with my desires, what I really want. What do I really want?

focus, focus, focus.

Things I have learned about myself (or was just reminded of) in the past couple of days:

I am really very talented when it comes to distracting myself.

I have an incredibly obsessive personality.

I like being up early. (key word: being - not getting)

I love dancing.

I feel wonderful when I'm productive.

I like gushers (but not in excess).

So I was studying for the stats portion of my political science exam and found this entertaining: 

-80% of all people consider themselves to be above average.

-Statistically speaking, in China, even if you are a one in a million kind of guy, there are a thousand more just like you.

-Did you know that 87.166253% of all statistics claim a precision of results that is not justified by the method employed?

-One out of every four people is suffering from some form of mental illness. 

Check three friends. 

If they're OK, then it's you.

-It is proven that the celebration of birthdays is healthy. Statistics show that those people who celebrate the most birthdays become the oldest.

-With one foot in a bucket of ice water, and one foot in a bucket of
boiling water, you are, on average, comfortable. 

back to studying....2 finals left and one dance final to go - 24 hours from now I'll be done - what a wonderful feeling :) 

The greatest degree of inner tranquility comes from the development of love and compassion. The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being.

- Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lamat

so it turns out...

God lives. He answers prayers. He knows me, He loves me, and He's given me everything I could ever want. I couldn't be happier.

BYU's ballroom's show "Imagine" tonight. Incredible. Breathtaking. Awe inspiring, Fantastic.

By the end of the semester I'm kind of worn out and have talked myself into dropping down to one dance class for the upcoming term - but then I go to something like this. It's so beautiful and it makes me smile like a five year old at a fair. It makes me want to be so much better - but it also begs the question if I could ever evoke something like they do. The feeling and the passion and the emotion in the dances are incredible. I loved it all ... but I had a favorite - I saw the cabaret at nationals but tonight ...

"A drop in the ocean,

A change in the weather,

I was praying that you and me might end up together.

It's like wishing for rain as I stand in the desert,

But I'm holding you closer than most,

'Cause you are my heaven.

I don't wanna waste the weekend,

If you don't love me, pretend

A few more hours, then it's time to go.

And as my train rolls down the East coast,

I wonder how you keep warm.

It's too late to cry, too broken to move on.

Still I can't let you be,

Most nights I hardly sleep.

Don't take what you don't need, from me.

Just a drop in the ocean,

A change in the weather,

I was praying that you and me might end up together.

It's like wishing for rain as I stand in the desert,

But I'm holding you closer than most,

'Cause you are my heaven.

Misplaced trust and old friends,

Never counting the regrets,

By the grace of God, I do not rest at all.

and New England as the leaves change;

The last excuse that I'll claim,

I was a boy who loved a woman like a little girl.

Still I can't let you be,

Most nights I hardly sleep,

Don't take what you don't need, from me.

A drop in the ocean,

A change in the weather,

I was praying that you and me might end up together.

It's like wishing for rain as I stand in the desert,

But I'm holding you closer than most,

'Cause you are my

Heaven doesn't seem far away anymore no, no

Heaven doesn't seem far away.

It's just a drop in the ocean,

A change in the weather,

I was praying that you and me might end up together.

It's like wishing for rain as I stand in the desert,

But I'm holding you closer than most,

'Cause you are my heaven.

You are my heaven"

Princesses

cinderella walked on broken glass. sleeping beauty let a whole lifetime pass. belle fell in love with a hideous beast. jasmine married a common thief. ariel walked on land for love and life. snow white barely escaped a knife. it was all about blood, sweat, faith, and tears, because love, means facing your biggest fears. (in honor of andie going to disney next week)

things that make me happy at the moment; my wonderful parents...well my whole family actually. caleb just makes me laugh. my wonderful roommates - gosh, they're great. dance - dancing makes me so so so happy ...i had almost forgotten. chocolate, , hugs, yellow tulips. 'i love yous' icecream sunday parties. political science. snow. oh and the Word of God - it happens to be perfect for me, all the time - its incredible :) 

Broken

Broken clouds give rain.

Broken soil grows grain.

Broken bread feeds man for one more day.

Broken storms yield light.

Break of day heals night.

Broken pride turns blindness into sight.

Broken souls that need His mending.

Broken hearts for offering.

Could it be that God loves broken things?”

 

I'm convinced that God loves broken me. 

Happy Birthday Carl :)

Clockwise from top right: 

-When Andie and I met as temple harlots in the Hill Cumorah Pageant summer 2009

-my trip to DC to visit her summer 2010

-"thats what you get for waking up in Vegas" - spring break in vegas 2010

-she's hot

-roommate photo shoot fall 2010 .. we fly high

-first year of freshman year - awkward prom pose fall 2009

-we're pirates. 

-late nights - sometimes we wrestle :) 

-love her. 

Andrea Malia Schindler, Happy Birthday :)

I love general conference(every six months the Prophet of the Lord and his apostles address the world from Salt Lake City - speaking on behalf of the Lord the things that His people need to hear). And I love Ben. I woke up this morning sicker than ever and all I wanted was to go back to sleep or to have my mother there ..or both. Ben joined my conference pj party and he just took care of me all day. He kept me warm when I was freezing and three minutes later when I would get really hot he'd adjust the blankets. When my throat hurt he made me a smoothie and when I'd cough he'd offer me water. When he holds me - it doesn't matter that my mom is 2000 miles away - I'm home.

There is something beautiful about listening to the counsel of the Lord in the arms of someone you love. All of the talks today were wonderful (we missed Saturday's sessions because we went to a lovely wedding in Salt Lake for Ben's cousin).  We are so blessed to have prophets on the earth today - to have God's guidance for His people now just as He led them through Moses and Abraham. I love the power with which they bear their apostolic witness that Christ lives, that God loves us. It's also incredible how regardless the topic of my questions and regardless the topic of the talks - my questions are always answered. God loves me, He cares, He knows me,  He blesses me, and I am so thankful for the strength and comfort I get from knowing that.

new resolution: I'm just going to decide not to be sick anymore. its got to be at least half psychological right?

k  - i've decided to be healthy - so i'm better now :)

sick of being sick

i'm so SICK of being SICK. 

seriously. why is my body not capable of functioning? nausea, headaches, chills, fevers, stomach pains, sore throats, really elisabeth, pull your self together. 

things I've gotten really good at: taking naps, not feeling bad about missing class, not eating food, complaining to my mother...

After celebrating Girl's Day (hinamaturi - March 3, a Japanese holiday) we decided to take Courtney on a little trip to the dumpster ...the plan deteriorated when everyone was laughing too hard and dropped her in the courtyard.

Late Nights With Brooke

my first time climbing - i'm becoming an expert ..well not quite :)

Yes, we wore these to the ward camp out.

 I have hysterical roommates. Living with your best friends is great most of the time (except that you get little done), and hilarious when you're all sleep derived and overly stressed. Brooke is a favorite late at night and just about anything can result in us rolling on the floor laughing. If Court and I are the last ones up there is a good chance neither of us is getting very much sleep that night :)

There's also this wonderful boy who I happen to spend lots of time with. He's great, and we're ridiculous, and he makes me incredibly happy :) 

Things I'm looking forward to: 

-End of the semester (2 weeks?)

-Warm weather (today its 70 degrees and sunny :) :)

-My mother coming to visit!!!!!!!

-Caleb's mission call - his papers go in this month!

-a few others ;)