DIBS!

Drum Roll Please! 

2012 is the year I, Lara Lee, Am going to ROCK OUT TO! 

seriously....

I call dibs on having an freaking, awesome

Legen...

wait for it....

Dary 

Year!  

That's right, This is a determined face. 

  Bring it on, I wore my big girl panties today. 

Christmas Time

So I love shooting.  Any kind of gun, I love it. LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!

My Pops and my Niece.  He's such a great Grandpa and She's a great Grand kid! 

 Christmas Day. 

My kids. . . well not mine.. but My niece and nephews.  I love them.  All of them!  

I had a great time over break and its been awesome. 

Christmas Gitty-ness

Merry Christmas from me to you!  

I know it hasn't happened yet but I'm ready to celebrate with family and friends. 

One of my favorite quotes this Christmas is by the great and powerful, Dr. Seuss

 "It came without ribbons.  It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags.  And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore.  Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.  What if  Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store.  What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."  -Grinch

My Dad is the Bishop of our family ward and he had to give a special spiritual thought on the holiday for our ward party.   He read that quote and said

Christmas if more. 

Christ did everything for us.

He was stood for us in the preexistence.

He was born for us.

He lived for us.

He died for us.

He was resurrected for us.

And he is still there for us. 

As I ponder this statement it makes me think about a gift I can give this next year to our Savior. 

I think along with my word of Faith for the year 

I think I will also focus on Service.  

Service is my gift I choose to give. 

Also on a side note.. Here is my picture with Santa.   Its been a few years since I've gotten a picture with the old guy... haha To bad he only had room for two on his lap!

Faith

I created a new page called Faith.

I have discovered what the word is that I'm going to be focusing on this next year.    Along with all the change that is happening in my life, I believe that if I focus on Faith it should help me through.

Definition in the Dictionary is:

Faith (Feyth)

noun

1. confidence or trust in a person or thing: faith in another's ability2. belief that is not based on proof: He had faith that the hypothesis would be substantiated by fact. 3. belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion: the firm faith of the Pilgrims. 4. belief in anything, as a code of ethics, standards of merit, etc.: to be of the same faith with someone concerning honesty.5.  a system of religious belief:  the Christian faith; the Jewish faith

     Either 12:6

"Dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith."

2012 I am going to be focusing on the word Faith. 

The Beginning of freedom.

I moved home yesterday.   It was busy!  I'm so lucky to have my parents drive 4 hours down and then 4 hours back up just to pack and move my stuff.   They are Just so Awesome! 

 This is me and my Beautiful Niece.   

Love Family! 

Looking Back:

I've been cleaning out my flash drive after this semester getting rid of any unnecessary things or things I really just want to forget about, but here are some things I've done that I love and thought I should share. 

Honesty.

I have a really really... intense teacher who I for some reason asked for a letter of reference from.   He told me he doesn't write letters for people who aren’t done with their master’s degree (interesting I know) but he said if I used him as a reference this is what he would say.  

"Lara was in two of my classes and performed well, for the most part. In general, she tried very hard, and when she truly applied herself, her work was very good ... perhaps not superior, but certainly above average and at times bordering on excellent."
"Based on my limited experience with her, I consider Lara to be a late bloomer. I have the sense that she really didn't know what she wanted to do with her degree until her final two or three semesters in college, and at that point, it was too late for her to get involved in student media at the level where she would have benefited the most from the experience."
"Lara will have some remedial, on-the-job learning to do as she settles into her first position. However, I believe she will work hard and learn what she needs to learn, and after an adjustment period, she will an asset to her employer."
"I have not had much experience with Lara outside the classroom, so I cannot comment extensively about her character. However, from what I could observe in class, I believe she is an honest person who probably always does what she thinks is right."

I take this as a... complement I think? haha now he is so honest he's one of those guys that doesn't sugar coat things so I’m probably going to use him as a reference. But yes I thought I had to share this because… well I like to hear people talk about me hahahaha!   

College Is done!

I have one picture of me and my roommates and here we are!

So I'm here, at school, and I have no homework and or things to do!  I'm starting to pack up all my stuff. I only have three days until I say good bye to Cedar City. 

I have had a great time this semester and I'm going to be sad to see it go but I'm also Excited that the world is opening up for me. 

I've been applying to places in Orem, Salt Lake, and St George.   

Have I heard of anything from them yet?  No.  but I will not lose hope!

Here's to the beginning! 

Looking for my....

In search of:

I just received excellent news.   I received an Email from my teacher saying I passed my final paper and that means I do not have to take a final test... which means I get to graduate!

I've known for some time now that I will be moving away from this town and onto better things. I just have to figure out what those things are and where I want to go.

I still have moments where my past life encroaches on the now and drags me back, and I just want to say thank you to My father above who answered my prayer about a year ago when I asked if I should move in with roommates, or stay in a studio apartment.  He answered with "Roommates."

I have had growing experiences and made friends.  One special one named Becky.  She came into my room tonight when I needed a friend most.  She's so easy to talk to and open up to about some really emotional things in my life and I'm grateful to have a friend like her.

She told me something that I completely agree with:    That real life happens in the "betweens".  We all have meetings, jobs, places to go and things to do but it seems that we do most of our "living" in between all that.  Those things that matter most to our hearts.   She does an excellent job at helping me find life in between all my things and stresses. Whether it is taking a drive, chasing down deer, or just veging out in front of the T.V.   I'm going to miss her most.

Well I now officially have one final left with a few work hours before I completely shut this chapter down.  Cedar City has been a place of love, tears, friendships, heartache, struggles and blessings.   I have many mixed emotions about this place, but I think the lessons I've learned here will shape my future in ways I cant comprehend now.  Now I need to embrace this "between"  I have in my life, and enjoy.

Over the next Horizon:

Life after College Bucket List:

2012

(  )       Get a Job

(  )       Move to an Apartment

(  )       Run a 5K

(  )       Perform a Song

(  )       Go Camping

(  )       Hike to Delicate Arch

(  )       Touch the Ocean

(  )       Confront Fear

(  )       Pay Student Loans

(  )       Pay off Car

(  )       See the Manti Temple

(  )       Make new friends

(  )       Try Indian Food

(  )       Ride a Roller Coaster

(  )       Write in Journal twice a month

(  )       Go to a Concert

(  )       Ride a Hot Air Balloon      

(  )       Go Cliff Jumping

(  )       Zumba

(  )       See Grand Canyon

(  )       Dress up for Halloween

(  )       Read B.O.M.

(  )       Plank somewhere fun

(  )       100 blog posts

(  )       Go to a Parade

(  )       take parents to dinner

(  )       play a game of soccer

(  )       Get a plant

(  )       Kiss a Man

(  )       Do 25 pushups in a row

(  )       Run 3 times week

(  )       Catch a Mac Trolling

(  )       Make a really cute cake

(  )       Do something with glitter

and her name is Becky....

 My roommate's name is Becky. 

We are great friends.  I'm so lucky to know her. 

We go out and have adventures which I think keeps us sane with school/finals/people/life

I just love her

and will miss her most when I leave.   

The Beginning always starts at an end.

I'm currently a student studying Communications.    I have exactly 10 days until my life is over in the academic form of life.   I have no idea where I'm heading and I'm wanting to start the next part of my life with my head held high. 

My predicament reminds me of a girl named Alice that found herself in Wonderland.

"I'm lost," Alice Wails.
"Where do you want to go?" The Cheshire Cat asks.
"I don't know,"  Alice responds
"Then any road will take you there."

I was having a discussion with my roommate the other day about defining a year with a word.   This last year for me was Healing.   I have had a lot of struggles in the past couple years and I feel this year is one I've had to just take time and Heal from some gaping wounds.   I still have scars but they are healed.  School was a great place for me to learn this.  It was like a safe haven and my next year... I'm trying to find another word.

I want to pick the word before new years so I'm able to focus on it and dedicate this new year coming up to it.

But anyways, Here is my new blog.  Even though I'm scared about whats next in my life, I'm also ready to be awed.