Really, mom?

Yesterday my mom told me, "if you don't learn to flirt your chances of getting any dates this summer are slim."

Thanks ma.

Come on Sunshine...

This morning I woke up to the sound of the snowplow driving past... I wanted to roll over in my bed and cry. This morning I had to tell my sandals sorry, and put on my boots. This morning I didn't care if I was late to math, because I was in a state of despair. This morning I remembered how I'm trying to be positive about all things... it was hard to change my attitude, but I did it anyway. I still don't like the snow, but I do like life. I can hang in there a little longer I suppose. But, come on Spring!! Just try a little bit harder would you?

Moving up in the world!

Hellooo world!
So yesterday I went all the way up to Murray and back for a Presidential Ambassadors kick off. This meant about eight hours in the car total. While we were in the car, a lot of dismal conversation was taking place. We were dwelling on a lot of the negative things in the world, and it was kind of a downer, if you know what I mean. So, after talking about suicide bombers (I believe) my friend T.J. turned around and asked me, "so what's going right in your life?" I responded with something along the lines of, "well, I can't say anything too monumental is happening, but I can see a lot of little things that remind me of how blessed I am."

So, I've been thinking about what really is going right in my life, and I keep finding more things to be happy about. Most of them are little, but there are a few really big ones. For starters, yesterday I got both my tests back that I took before spring break, both of which I was worried I didn't do well on. Well, first I got my math test back, and with the added bonus points I got a 93%! The good news doesn't stop there, however. Next I got my French test back and I got a 91% on that one! What a relief it was to find out that perhaps my grades aren't as in the pits as they possibly could be.

That is just one thing contributing to my happy life right now though. One of the biggest things is this though... drum roll please... On Tuesday I signed a lease to live in a house next school year! It's a cute little yellow house just about four blocks West of where I live now. It has a porch bench, a big patio in the backyard, a basketball hoop, and on top of that my roommate is Chelsea, one of my favorite people in the whole world! But the real cherry on top is that I will be saving approx. $915.00 per semester by living there. Rent in the yellow house is only $205/month and if I average what I'm paying right now to live on campus, it's about $375/month. I am being swindled! After April, I, Sydnie Landeen will be swindled no more!
But wait, the good news is still coming. The best part about my life as of about an hour and ten minutes ago is that I found out I have a job next year! You see, I am going to be part of the Executive Council (E.C.) for Presidential Ambassadors (PA's) next year. My position is the Events Coordinator. Today I was talking to the current Events Coordinator and found out that it is actually a paid position/job. I'll be doing about 15 hours a week in the Welcome Center on Campus! Of course it probably doesn't pay as much as it should to match the amount of effort I will put in, but I'll still be getting paid to do something I was going to be doing for free anyway. So, needless to say I am beyond elated right now! I mean, sheesh, I have a job next year and I didn't even have to fill out one application. The Lord is looking out for me, and blessing me with tender mercies left and right.

So, needless to say, there are a lot of things going right in my life right now. Next school year is looking up. I'll be saving money, making money, hanging out with people I love, and getting an education all at the same time. Life is good, isn't it? :)

Oatmeal

About a year and a half ago, my grandpa remarried a woman named Norma Day. Because she's not my real grandma, we call her Gran-Norma. Gran-Norma is a gem, and I love her.

(Gran-Norma, Me, and Grandpa Maynes at lunch on graduation day)

I think it was about three weeks, maybe four weeks ago, that she said something that has become very evident in my life this week. So, three/four weeks ago, my family was congregated in St. George for my cousin Andrew's mission farewell. On Sunday morning, sometime between everyone waking up, and taking turns showering, a few of us were eating breakfast in the kitchen. The day before my mom had gone to the store and bought some cereal, (the good kind, like reeces puffs) and they were an option for breakfast that Sunday morning. While we were pouring our bowls of cereal, Gran-Norma said it. She said, "thank heavens for cold cereal or else we'd all still have to eat oatmeal! And I would know, because I've eaten my fair share of oatmeal in my life, ICK!" At the time I just chuckled, because it was just another funny comment.

This week, I've come to understand. You see, it is the last week before spring break, so I've been trying really hard not to have to go to the store, a.) because I don't have tons of money to spend and b.)because I don't want to leave too much here over the break. I think this is understandable. So, under my bed I have one of those giant tupperware things, and it contains my food storage. Lately it's been looking mighty scanty, along with my cabinet in the kitchen. In neither of my storage locations do I have any cereal... but I do have two boxes of oatmeal. So, what's for breakfast? Oatmeal, of course!

(Breakfast 3-8-10)

Ok, so I've really only had to eat it twice this week, but I'm going to have it for breakfast tomorrow too, and I have the feeling that if I had to eat it every morning for longer than a week, it might start to ware on me. So here's to you, Gran-Norma, for speaking the truth, you are one wise woman!

I wish I could say I could sing as well as Julie Andrews, or should I say Fraulein Maria, but I can’t. However, just like her, I have a few favorite things. In my opinion, the best things in life are the simple pleasures that we take for granted, or overlook when thinking about the things essential to our existence. Of course, I love the things that sustain life such as air, water, and shelter, but right now I’m talking about the things that hardly ever get credit for making people happy. In terms of me, Sydnie, it really is the little things that make me smile. So, here is a list of a few things that always manage to make me crack a grin.

My favorite things: (in no particular order)

Fanny-packs, chocolate milk, puffed sleeves, sun-hats, new experiences, haircuts, the freedom to choose if my orange juice has pulp or not, Christmas sweaters, sticky notes, barnyard animal shaped waffles, SPF 60, the Deseret Industries, the color turquoise, clip-on earrings, the word snorkel, my favorite shoes, hugs from grandparents, hugs from anyone, closing my eyes and falling right asleep, sharpened pencils, bowling a strike, new socks, letters in the mail, laughing to myself, warm summer nights, memories, checking things off of to-do lists, sequins, trampolines, new toothbrushes, living by a temple, looking at real mountains, finding candy on long hard days, crooked smiles, finding out someone has the same birthday as you, sleepovers, footsie pajamas, knowing answers to random trivia, singing to Barry Manilow when your roomies think you’re a grandma, the word grandma, full moons, swing sets, golf carts, the dollar store, leopard print, and bubble wrap.

I’m sure that if I felt like sitting here for hours, I could make this list go on forever, but I just don’t have that kind of time, ya know? So, hopefully this is sufficient for you, because it is for me!

Peace, Love, and Happiness, that's what it's all about!

I am a child of God

So, there are a lot of ways that I could kick off my blogging, but I figure it would be appropriate if I began with a post explaining the title of my newly founded blog. So... here we gooo!
In the LDS religion there is a children's song called "The Church of Jesus Christ" the words are as follows:

I belong to the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I know who I am.
I know God's plan.
I'll follow Him in faith.
I believe in the Savior Jesus Christ.
I'll honor His name.
I'll do what is right; I'll follow His light.
His truth I will proclaim.

It's so simple, yet it's perfect for defining who I am, or rather what I'm trying to become. To sum it all up, I know who I am; I am a child of God!
If at this point you are reading this thinking it might be more appropriate if my parents named me Molly, you might possibly be right. I am a full blown Molly Mormon, and I'm not afraid to admit it, because it is part of my identity. I don't know where I would be without the gospel in my life. Actually, I do know. I would be wallowing in the pit of despair, because the gospel is what makes me happy. It makes me happy to know that I am a daughter of my Heavenly Father who loves me, and I love Him. It brings me so much joy to know that I can return to live with Him again someday, if I am proved worthy to do so. But most of all, it makes me happy to know that God wants me to be happy, and He has given me all the reasons in the world to be so. The Church just makes perfect sense, and it answers all of my questions. I wish that everyone could feel how I feel about the church, because if they did there wouldn't be any doubt in anyone's minds that the church is true. I'm so thankful for it, because having it in my life makes all the difference.
I may not know what I'm majoring in yet, if my favorite animal is a giraffe or an octopus, or even which political party I belong to, but that doesn't really matter in the long run. Just as long as I know that I am the daughter of the divine, and that He has a plan for me, then I know I can be happy and "be still and know that [He] is God" (Doctrine and Covenants 101:16).
Life is good, be grateful for everyday, and live life as if the sun were always shining!
Love,
Syd