THIS

This lyrics

Got a baby girl sleepin' in my bedroom
And her momma laughing in my arms
There's the sound of rain on the rooftop
And the game's about to start
I don't really know how I got here
But I'm so glad that I did
And it's crazy to think that one little thing
Could have changed all of it
Maybe it didn't turn out like I planned
Maybe thats why I'm such, such a lucky man

For every stoplight I didn't make
Every chance I did or I didn't take
All the nights I went too far
All the girls that broke my heart
All the doors that I had to close
All the things I knew but I didn't know
Thank God for all I missed
Cause it led me here to this

Like the girl that I loved in high school
Who said she could do better
Or the college I wanted to go to
Till I got that letter
All the fights and the tears and the heartache
I thought I'd never get through
And the moment I almost gave up

All led me here to you
I didn't understand it way back when
But sittin' here right now
It all makes perfect sense

Every stoplight I didnt make
Every chance I did or I didnt take
All the nights I went too far
All the girls that broke my heart
All the doors that I had to close
All the things I knew but I didn't know
Thank god for all I missed
Cause it led me here to this


Oh I cried when my momma passed away
And now I got an angel
Looking out for me today
So nothing's a mistake

Every stoplight I didn't make
Every chance I did or I didn't take
All the nights I went too far
All the girls that broke my heart
All the doors that I had to close
Everything I knew but I didn't know
Thank God for all I missed
Cause it led me here to this

Led me here to this

These are the lyrics to one of my favorite songs. Recently I've really been thinking about how lucky I am to have the family that I do. And I realize that every choice I've made in my life has led me to where I am today. Even the choices I didn't make. And I am so thankful because today I've got a family, a whole big giant mess of a family. By mess I mean unorganized and all over the place, but by family I don't mean blood, I mean those who are there for you and love you, no matter what choices you make in your life. Even though we may all butt heads every once and a while, I realize that in the end they will always, always be there. Because family is family--no matter where they come from or where they are going. I love them. Every single one of them. And for that I am GRATEFUL. I love my savior for giving me this life--although many may see it as unfortunate and sad, what they don't know, is they are missing out, because honestly I have the best family in this world, and everyone is missing out on THIS :)

Oh The Things I Find Out

First off.. had no idea anyone could even read my blog anymore. Well.. welcome into my mind haha. Second. Life is crazy. Anyone notice that? It's more than I could have ever planned for, and many a day I think I'm going to have a nervous breakdown. But ya know what? I figure that's really okay. Because today I realized that I am thankful for everything I have, and everything I don't have. And why? Because it's been said that, if everyone were to throw their problems into a pile with everybody else's, we'd still grab ours back. And I truly believe that. So here's to a new year, and being thankful for my trials, and those I have to lean on to help me through them. This is long and to some (painful) but there are so many people to be thankful for. Skim through or read it all. But each and everyone of these people have helped me through life and it's hardships. Take the time to know why.

My Mom: She's my longest friend. I can't even tell you how many times I sit back and think how lucky I am to have her, nobody even knows what it's like to have a mom you can tell anything you want to, who doesn't pry but is always there to listen, and who does everything for you and more. She's the mom everybody wants, she's super mom. She works full-time, cooks dinner, cleans the house and more. I truly am so lucky.

My Dad: He's honestly my biggest fan and will always be on my side. I've never seen anyone so proud of me, or who wants the best for me. He's the reason for my faith in the church, and I'm so thankful for that steady rock. Life would be so hard without my faith, and I have him to thank for showing me that. That's him. Enough said.

George: He'll fix anything for me, and will always tell me I'm his favorite. Everyone knows you shouldn't do that, but thanks anyway!

Leslie: Leslie is my second mom, and what would I do without her? She's always there to offer advice, but best of all, she always tells me I need to do what's right for me. Thank you so much for never being the person who tells me what to do, but for being the person who tells me to follow my heart, because it's my life and I need to live it my way.

Travis C: Talk about an amazing big brother. I love this boy so much. He's been the one who's always watched over me. He'll call me when he's lonely, wants a shopping buddy, or just when he hears a Miley Cyrus song on the radio. Just the other day he came into my room at 6:30 in the morning just to wake me up, but then he told me the furnace was broken, so he grabbed my blankets and laid them on me and told me to keep warm. How sweet is that? Thinking about it makes me cry a little to be honest.

Quinci: Quinci is always the "includer". She's gonna be there to listen to me whenever, and the best part, is she never judges me. She's so open minded and she helped me get over a huge struggle this summer. I needed her help so much, but I didn't even ask for it. She just knew exactly what I needed. Thanks for that Quinci, I couldn't thank you enough.

Trav M: What do I love about Travis? He is my brother to be proud of! I love when he shows me what he's working on for school, and I love how excited I get thinking about the accomplishments he has and will make. But most of all I love that he is the brother who will always send me a text, or talk about inviting me out to live with him when he goes off on his big life adventure. He wants to share it with me, and I do love that.

Tia: Honestly, who doesn't love Tia? If I were to pick anyone (aside from Ann Graham) who would be translated straight into Heaven, it'd be Tia. She's always there to remind me of the most important part of this life, and that it's really not a life unless you include our Heavenly Father. She's always the one to remind me to pray when life gets hard, and believe me I need that reminder, and I'm thankful for it.

Whitney: Whit's the sister I needed. She's always there to talk to and gives me a sense of hope for the future. But she never butts into my life and she never expects to know anything, she's just there. She's crafty, and photo-happy and I love that. Because she captures the memories I want to remember about our family, and without her, I think sometimes I'd forget how much they mean to me.

Hank: Hank is just the extra big brother I never wanted but got anyway. Just kidding! I had to, that's all we ever do to each other is tease. He calls me the dog police, and I remind him how semi-handicapped his dog is. But it's all in good fun, cuz I'm grateful for him. He even let me tutor him a little in math last year, and it was pretty fun! But mostly, I love how much he loves my sister. I think it's the sweetest thing in the world how much he adores her. He gives me hope that someday I'll have a husband as loving as he is.

Trevor: It is absolutely no secret that Trevor and I have wanted to kill each other for 95% of our lives, there wasn't a day growing up I couldn't not remember the last time we fought. I'm so glad to say that is no longer the case. Trevor is always my source for laughter, he's really the best. I know that if I ever need a good laugh, or a cheer me up he'll be the one to provide it. I no longer think you hate my bro, and I hope you know I love you too.

Mys: Oh my goodness, this boy became my bestie right before he left. I don't know what I'd do without my Missionary brother who has set such a good example for me. He's showed me it's okay to do scary things, because it's part of life. He may have called me thunder thighs and pinned me down so he could maul my face, but I knew it was all in good fun. But mostly, he's strengthened my faith in strengthening his own.

Jordie: Jordie is my star. I envy him because he's so wonderful. Honestly, this boy is everybody's friend, and I wish I knew how he did it. It's so great to look and him and be proud of him, and know he's my brother. He'd never know this, but I look up to him (and no not just because he's grown7 inches) but because he's an amazing person. He's the best, and I love that him and I are the only ones left, cuz we have so much fun being mean to each other. I love it.

Tasha: I absolutely adore Tasha, she's the sister everybody wants because she's just so dang hilarious. Her and I had some good times this summer (staying up late baking goodies!) but what's so awesome is how even though she didn't know me until I was 15 years old, she still treated me like I was her own sister. She does my hair (and where would I be without that??) and talks to me, and treats me like an adult. I love that. I think some people forget I've grown up, and she hasn't. When I graduated she wanted to be there, and told me how proud she was of me. I thought it was no biggie, but there she was. I'm so thankful for her support.

Ethan: Ethan has been there to show me just what I need to look for in a husband, HARD WORKING. But even more so, I love conversations with Ethan. Don't let his "red-neck vibe" fool ya (hehehe) he is so intelligent, and... HILARIOUS.

Jessa: This is the sister who has an open mind, and one night in the summer told me something I really needed to hear. She gave me the best advice, and told me exactly what I needed to do, and that I just needed to endure it, and that it would get better and easier. She was right, and I'm so glad she was there to tell me that in person. I miss her, and I love her.

Richard: What do Ethan and Richard have in common? Hard work, and wanting nothing but the best for their wife and children, no matter what it takes. I'm thankful for him because he serves our country, and does this hard task because he loves his family more than anything.

David: David is my best best best friend. He is so good to me. He let's me be a super goon, and loves me for it anyway. He tells me I'm pretty without any make up, and that I look my best when I'm in my sweats. He gives me hugs when I need them, and even when I don't. He's taught me that people can change for the better, and that hard work really does pay off. He reassures me that I'm going to succeed, and has all the faith that I can and will. When I got my first B+, he was proud of me, even though I wasn't. He even told his mom I kicked the crap out of college! HaHa! He's shown me how not to stress over everything, and that the future is brighter than the past. He is my best friend, and I would not be who I am today without him. My weaknesses are his strengths, and I am so thankful for that. He truly is my better half.

Love, Oh Love

What does anybody know about love? I mean really who's to say what it is and what it isn't? There's those of us that fall in and out of love as often as some people change their socks. But then there's some of us who fall in love once, and we're stuck, even though we sometimes don't want to be. (Guilty) If you step back and look at it, you realize there is no right or wrong answer, you just realize that if you feel it you feel it, and you know it in your heart. Why? Cuz love is what it is. Heaven knows that. The best things in life are worth fighting for right? I think so. I'm a whole 19 years old, and I know I'm still a kid, but that doesn't mean I don't know what love is. No one should ever tell anyone they don't know what love is, because they are not them, and they don't feel what the other person is feeling. They say they love someone? Let them love them! But even though I may say this, I think that children know more about love than anyone else does in this world. An 8 year old girl named Rebecca once said:

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love."

Honestly, you know that's love, and the fact than an 8 year old can point that out is simply amazing to me. It's not about showering the other with gifts, it's about the feeling you get around them, and the feeling others get when they're around you. My favorite however is a quote from a 4 year old named Billy. This kid is no fool, and this is in fact the deepest definition of love I have ever heard. Sorry Shakespeare. Billy Said:

"When somebody loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth."

I never ever once thought about this. I always knew I loved it when the boy I loved said my name. It always felt so special, and now (thanks to a 4 year old) I know why.

Love is not the same for everyone. So let others love how they please. Don't give advice unless they ask. And above all LOVE WHO YOU LOVE, AND LET THEM LOVE TOO!

Life as I know It

So as it turns out, I managed to figure out how to regain access to my blog. Yay me! As I have made my way out of high school into this scary grown up world I have found that life isn't as easy as it appeared to be when I was younger. Life is busy and scary, people are rude for no reason, and college, well that is just scary stuff. As the holiday season approaches us and this year gets closer to the end I realize that this has honestly been the hardest year of my life. Bar none. The trials I have faced have been plentiful-- fun right? But I suppose that's what you get with growing up. I've lost my closest brother recently--yup he's doing the mission thing-- I of course wouldn't want it any other way, but it's hard. That same day my best friend received his mission call to Chihuahua, Mexico. Feels like this upcoming year is going to be just as hard. Prayers have never seemed so important to me.

My friend bethany....

Carlees daily adventures.... a few pics.... just getting started