day by day

It's sickening how fast your entire life can change...
But everything happens for a reason. And I may not know why, but Heavenly Father knows what's best for me.
I am in His hands now.

Until then, thank you to my support group and friends. You guys make everything bearable. Sorry for crying on your shoulder's today. I love you all.

Tomorrow is a brand new day.

xoxo
-Hannah

2014

2014 was the best year of my life. To include everything would take hours to upload, and the longest blogpost in the world. But out of the 10 minutes I had to scramble together pictures, this is what I found. Thank you to everyone who made 2014 the greatest. Can't wait to see the fun adventures this year has in store!

Discovered a delicious place called Swig. Many cookies and crazy drinks later and it became my favorite summertime girl date.

 My first dance! Had the best time with this stud! 

 MANY beach trips. Need I say more???

 Finally became cool and got a longboard. It resulted in hours of fun, and many scabs on my knees.

Got to take pictures as Historian on Student Council. It was so fun to be on the sidelines capturing moments that create Westlake history!

 Lot's of swimming took place. St. George and cliff jumping into this beautiful lake had to have been one of my favorites (also sporting a new gopro, that was an adventure!)

 HOMECOMING! I went with the sweetest boy who twirled me around the dance floor all night. 

I finally captured my first "star picture" after trying for months. It's not the best, but I hold it very dear to my heart.

 My mom's 40th surprise bday party. It was the party of the century.

 #mannah  .... Nuff said. *insert heart eyes and profuse blushing

All the football games were the BEST! 

Got a paddleboard. Also got the nickname "Walrus." Get the picture? ;)

Hayden: my best friend who is wayyy better than me at anything to do with a camera. I think I'll keep him :)

Random adventure to who knows where. It looked like heaven and I was with angels so it was overall perfect.

My favorite date in the whole world. Italian food, a baseball game, fireworks, and the best people on the planet.

Powder Puff with my amazing Junior Team! #49 (I played center)

I love love love sunsets on the beach. So thankful I got to witness so many this year.

Featuring my all time favorite shirt, place, sunglasses, and sandles. Basically me in a picture.

Oh to be that tan all year....... *sighs* 

Capturing little beauties on my camera was my favorite.

This was a date to remember with great people! 

*throw random junk in the trunk, drive to a canyon, PICNIC!

 Between Thorsday ice cream dates and bonfires I loved spending time with the people I love the most!

 The crazy, awesome (and big) family that I love to the moon and back.

 Student Council. Words cannot express how much they mean to me.

WESTLAKE THUNDER!

Growing so close to my Savior and learning more about myself and the gospel and how centered around Christ my life needs to be. He became my rock this year, and I am forever grateful for the testimony I have now from 2014.

Again, thanks to all who made my 2014 remarkable! You all mean so much to me.

-Hannah

Simple Happiness

I went through the hardest year of my life sophomore year, and it still affects me every day. I became a mother when my mom was in recovery, I had a lot of new opportunities, and school consumed my time. I wrote to my seminary teacher that the ONLY place I was truly happy was at the ocean in San Diego.

Well, that was setting me up for misery.

 My life shouldn’t be about comparing my happiness’s. Sure, I was extremely happy in the ocean, but I got that same happiness when I was outside watching the stars one night, or when I was playing basketball with friends after school.

I learned that I am not going to feel that extreme happiness all the time, (no one ever does) but here is a little trick: when you are in a place or experience that makes you happiest, let it fill you up. Absorb every last drop of happiness to take with you. Then, when that time is gone and you are looking back on “the times I was perfectly happy” don’t think, “I wish I could go back to that.” Think instead, “I’m thankful for that memory, and luckily I have stored up some of that happiness left.” 

Then, deep breath in, deep breath out.

Let the happiness recharge and suddenly it’s like you’re a new person.

Also, when something does make you happy, don’t move on, letting that moment quickly pass! Slow down, enjoy that time, and be grateful for those things that make you happy.

When I start feeling those sad emotions that used to be a constant feeling, I now have created a list in my head of what I can do to cheer myself up. Some things on that list include; taking a drive, going on a run, looking at the stars, going to my treehouse, lying in my hammock, sending someone a nice text, playing my favorite records (since old music is the best), playing the piano, listening to conference talks, playing with my siblings, watching an Audrey Hepburn movie etc. The possibilities for happiness are and always have been there.

None of my trials have gone away. My mom is still hurt. My friends are still struggling. I am still exhausted and school is still stressful. In fact, more trials had/have come! My grandpa's health was declining fast this summer. My friends are constantly fighting and creating drama. My great-grandma (whom is one of my biggest role models) could pass away any day. I have gone through a lot of heart-ache and heart break. I even got my first B(stupid Physics). 

But I smile. I smile because so far, I have made it through 100% of the hard days, even the seemingly impossible ones. I smile because I have the Lord on my side. I have warm bed, a loving family, and slippers. What else do I need?! I can be happy simply by being alive. I can smile simply because I just like smiling. To quote a wise elf, "smiling's my favorite!" 

I still have bad days. A lot of them. What teenage girl doesn't? But instead of just waiting to be happy again, I have learned enough about myself to make myself happy again. Trials will come, sad days will happen, and I may not always be my cheery self. But I'm trying. And I am grateful for Heavenly Father for never leaving me alone. 

It's been the best year of my life, with so much growth and happiness and learning curves. I loved 2014.

There is so much to be happy for.

-Hannah

What I Love About Mexico

A lot of people ask me why I go to Mexico so much. Here are just a few reasons why it is one of my favorite places on earth.

• Ordering chicken salad at a mexican restaurant. 
• Having the guitar guy serenade you in his awful singing voice.
• The whole table singing feliz navidad.(or some spanish song)
• Only getting fanta strawberry(it's better here).
• The yummy grilled onions with super spicy salsa.
• The shop ladies that try to sell you 1572647 bracelets.
• The spanish menus so you don't quite know what you're ordering.
• The super salty water that stings your eyes.
• The sand dunes to ride 4 wheelers on to get to the ocean.
• The random hummingbirds that come to the window.
• Everything always has a thin layer of sand on it.
• The smell of my grandparent's house.
• Sitting in the sun that isn't too hot.
• My hair getting curlier
• Building sand castles for the waves to knock down.
• Sandy Ritz Crackers.
• Never enough sunscreen.
• The sand dollar trails.
• Huge flocks of huge birds.
• Seeing the beach from my window
• Throwing a football around with my dad.
• Laying out front in the sun.
• The huge bonfires with smores.
• Stargazing on the roof.
• Not putting on makeup or doing my hair at all.
• The comfy couch that I have taken so many naps on.
• Church with 50 people.
• Not understanding a word anyone is saying.
• Not caring what anyone is saying ;)
• The white shells.
• That line of rocks that cut your feet before you get to the water.
• Taco nights and pancake mornings!
• Playing a thousand rounds of ping pong.
• The abandoned house across the street that haunts the neighborhood
• The pink casino that only has a front (literally nothing else has ever been built)
• Losing every card game. 
• Constant card games being played in the kitchen. 
• The little turtle bobbleheads.
• No cell phone service
• My dog chasing every bird on the beach
• The unmarked&unfinished everything
• The bead game in the office that frustrates the heck out of me but I play it anyways.
• The cute little crabs that are faster that you could imagine
• Nighttime movies before bed with a gigantic bowl of popcorn
• Lots of flip flops everywhere
• Life is simpler
• People are happier
• It's warm
• THE OCEAN

Life is better at the beach.

-Hannah

The Spirit of Christmas

I only have one more Christmas with my family. Wow how time flies! I remember many Christmas Eves sleeping in the same bed as Emily, setting our alarms to 6 am (even though we were awake by 5 anyways) and getting so excited to open all  the presents including Barbies, dolls, cds, and the iconic Christmas Mambas.

Today, I was just happy to be with my family. It wasn’t the most extravagant Christmas with presents overflowing from under the tree or Christmas PJs  or white snow on the ground (thank goodness). But I found just as much joy in seeing my little siblings and cousin’s faces light up, and smelling the yummy aroma of cinnamon rolls that Grandma spent all night making. It was simple, and I like it that way. There was nothing I asked Santa for, because I have everything I need. I have the best family In the world, a warm home, and a beach across the street(wonderful bonus of travelling a lot).

Simply getting into the Spirit of Christmas is satisfying enough. With the beautiful trees in the neighbor’s windows, the candy cane hot cocoa mornings with fuzzy socks and warm quilts, the cheery mood of everyone passing by, the children writing adorable Christmas Lists to the jolly man in red, the endless amount of cookies on the doorstep and cans of food being delivered to the less fortunate, and, of course, the pictures of Christ everywhere you I look it’s hard not to enjoy the holidays! Michael Buble’s Christmas Album on repeat, and the smells of gingerbread and pine needles proves that this is truly the most wonderful time of the year.

I love the generosity of the season, and how regardless of what religion you are, Christ’s birth is a story in our hearts and minds. I hope that I can have the spirit of Christmas with me every year, and I want to wish everyone a Feliz Navidad from Mexico!

My dad and I can't stay awake during a movie to save our lives. I think we've officially given up trying... Especially when it's the third Christmas Special in a row.

 

 

Merry Chrismtas!

-Hannah

Late Night Thoughts

I feel like most of my blog posts may be written in one of two times
1. avoiding homework
2. late nights when my mind is racing
(Or both)
Isn't that how every blogger is though?

Late nights call for my 5th cup of hot chocolate, which is actually my average amount every day. By the end of winter, hot cocoa runs through my veins.

My life lately has been bumpy and I hate to admit that I ever cry, but these past couple weeks I have cried in front of anyone, anytime. It's weird.

Pinterest quotes always make me feel better about being emotional though...

At the same time, I have had so much fun these past couple weeks! I've made a lot of new random friends and I've eaten a lot of oreos(which I'm going to regret as I lay out on the beach for the next two weeks).

God blessed me with a forgiving spirit and loving attitude for so many people, and I thank Him for that. I have learned what unconditional love is, and though I am far from loving everyone unconditionally, it's fun just to like people! (Plus, the temple square lights are beautiful and I love this statue.)

Ok, one more random thought. I found something that will boost self confidence and make girls feel absolutely invincible. RED LIPSTICK. Seriously, I have taken 2 selfies in my life, and they've never been posted anywhere. Buuuuutttt put on some red lipstick and suddenly I'm queen of the world right?

(Sorry, like I said, I'm an amateur at the selfie taking. Is there a class I could take or something? I'll probably have to get better than a beat up phone though.)

Anyways, blogging random things definitely isn't getting my essay written, pictures edited, scripture mastery memorized or my Physics homework finished (sigh). 

Until the next procrastination late night, xoxo
-Hannah