Isn't That a Song Already?

I was born to tell you I love you
Isn't that a song already?
I get a B in originality
And it's true I can't go on without you
Your smile makes me see clearer
If you could only see in the mirror what I see

New Years Resolutions

(Allison might have given me this idea)

Sooo it's about to be 2012!!!  The year we all die :D  Hah--I'm kidding.  But yes.  There are several ways I can think of in which I would like to improve myself and my life this next year, and so I am going to list them.  Next New Years I'll go over them and how many I completed... unless I'm too embarrassed with the outcome.  We shall see..

1.) Strengthen my testimony
2.) Stop caring
3.) Become more independent
4.) Perform in a play
5.) Communicate my emotions better
6.) Stand up for myself
7.) Succumb to no new addictions
8.) Quit all old addictions for good
9.) Stay out of jail
10.) Continue to refrain from the use of makeup

Christmas 2008

This is Christmas to me.

My three best friends,

coordinating outfits,

and a simpler time.

I Was Walking Far from Home

Saw a white dog chase its tail
And a pair of hearts carved into a stone

I saw kindness and an angel
Crying take me back home, take me back home

A Little Boost of Confidence

Yeah... so I'm totally wearing my 6th grade jeans right now.  And guess what???
They're looser on me now than they were back then.

I just might be tempted to dance around in them.

Immature -

a word boring people use to describe fun people

My Life in The Office GIFs

when I'm supposed to be serious

when trying to be attractive

around mean people

 

When I see people using incorrect grammar

what I would do quite often if I didn't value my life

my reaction to fakers

being a third-wheel

around older, prettier people

speaking before I think

my relationship with my future husband

who I blame my problems

weekdays

weekends

when trying to fit in with the cool kids

succeeding at fitting in with my friends

All I Want for Christmas is YOU

Mine is the best friend ever.  Lots of people talk about how all they want for Christmas is someone to love... well, that's exactly what I got.  Sarah dearest actually got me a boyfriend for Christmas.

 

That there is Tyrel, Ken's African-American bromance partner.  

And now my boyfriend.

Heh, not really.  But I laughed so hard when I unwrapped him.  And I'm pretty sure now everyone who went to the improv. workshop yesterday thinks that Sarah actually got me a black man for Christmas... let them think!

I love you, Sarah.  And though Tyrel is smokin' hot, I still think my present to you shall be superior ;)  When it gets here, that is.

This Little Hell

I had forgotten what a lonely, cold place this really is.  The memories of it faded... the pain healed--for the most part, at least.  I was able to live daily life with ease, usually finding it a quite grand and comfortable thing.  I was embarrassed with my past self and couldn't understand what on earth led me to be so hopeless, so angry, so lonely, so self-destructive, so... 

BROKEN.

But then it was almost like a rerun of one of those nights of the past.  The same dim lighting, the same set, the same cast, the same characters.  It felt more like watching a movie than actually being there.  The next day I experience the exact same flashbacks, followed by widened eyes and quivering lips, which leads to the extreme desire to cry--something never to be done in front of others, in my opinion.  I blink away the memories, trying to ignore the stinging feeling in my gut that can only come from the bitterness of being unloved by those who are supposed to love me the most.  Suddenly I realized that I wasn't such a ninny for being ripped to pieces from the inside out last time this started happening.  I want to be happy.  I want others to assume I really am the happy little ray of sunshine I try to portray to most.  The thought of my struggles ruining others' good time makes me feel like a selfish poop-head... so I have to at least try to look 

NORMAL.

Because if I give up on trying to look fine... then what else to I have?

It's distracting.  It's humiliating.  It's damaging.  Depressing, lonely, irrational, dramatic, stupid, cold, violent, exhausting, bitter, consuming, vicious, ugly, guilty... 

Hah, and you'd think being stuck in this little hell would make me want to try and be good and lay low and try to avoid more nights full of potential flashbacks...

Instead it makes me want to be free and break as many rules as possible, just because I know things will be mostly the same whether I try to do bad things or not.  I might as well have fun if I'm going down, right?  And then I remember that wickedness never truly was happiness and I start to become more rational... in most cases.  Oh, if I didn't have religion--the trouble I'd get myself into!  But it's a good thing I do.  I need something sound, unchanging in my life. 

If we could just hang a mirror on the bedroom wall
Stare into the past, and forget it all...

Giraffy Mondays 002

 

My future giraffe ranch is going to look something like this.

Sunday Devotional II

I'm Sorry

I Keep Moving

Every time....

Every time I'm walking by myself or I know I'm going to see you later I go into a deep train of thought, planning out how today is going to be the day that I tell you how I really feel about you... the way I've felt about you since the moment we met.  I plan out how I'm just going to be bold and straight forward and you'll magically feel the same way and forget all of the other women I know you're so much more interested in.

In my head the moment we see each other we run and just as we're about to embrace, I hold you firmly, and confess that the reason I act so cross around you is only because the thought of you being with anyone else frustrates me.  We then share our first kiss.

After that you magically stop teasing me, we forget that being together is completely against both of our standards, your other women part like the Red Sea and remain happy because of how cute we are together, my friends don't give me a hard time about what a player you are and how low my standards are, you suddenly become very open about things like emotions, you become the cute boyfriend someone in my group of friends always seems to have, we magically manage to stay in contact and madly in love after you go off to college and serve a mission, we continue dating after we meet up again when I'm graduated and you're an RM, you propose to me in most romantically possible way, we get married, and have lots of gorgeous babies.

Or, at least, that's the way it goes in my head...

But then I pass your house.  You're not out there, waiting for me, like you were in my plan.  In fact, your house isn't even there, because you are a hopeless figment of my imagination.  So I continue to look forward and walk... Perhaps even trying to convince myself that I'm not disappointed.

End of the Road

I love this woman so much.  I don't think she could even fathom...

Today Patrick told me I'm so screwed after she moves--just out of the blue as I was relating a few of our most recent adventures to him.  I was just about to argue, when I stopped, and, instead, muttered "I know."

Turning Page

One Way

A Grand Three Years

I just now realized that as of last night my family has lived on the Japanese island of Okinawa for three years.
My gosh... how time flies!!!

It feels like just yesterday I was climbing off of that big plane, breaking into hysterics. 

I don't think it's really a secret that coming here was not my idea of a good time.  I'm pretty sure I cried about it every night after we found out.
Before this we lived in Imperial, California.  It's a small town, but I grew to love it more than anything. 
The thought of being ripped from the people I cared about so much was impossible for me to bear.  As soon as we got here I went into a sort of state of depression.  That summer I completely shut myself into my house.  It didn't matter who came to the door, what they wanted to do, when they wanted to do it.  I was set upon staying inside and wasting my life away on a computer, dreaming about what all of my old friends must be doing without me.  My family was thrilled with the new home, and so they were eager to get out and experience as much as possible.  I made sure to stay a grump on all of our outings, sometimes refusing to eat, or even crying right in the middle of things.  I wonder why they bothered taking me out after that.
But they did. 

It's three years later now.  And I'm wondering: what on earth changed so that what used to send me plummeting into a cold, dark pit of despair is now my favorite place in the whole world?

Well I have the answer for that question.  It's love.  Sounds cheesy, I know.  But now that I'm thinking about it... Imperial was just a little town an hour away from the border.  We were even more the minority there--in our own country!  It got up to 120 degrees in the summer and we had to drive two hours through the mountains to San Diego to get a lot of things.  Heck, for almost a year we lived in a travel trailer.  The only possible explanation for my adoration of the place is my love for the people. 

Now that I think about it... I'm still not too fond of Japanese culture.  I mean I have nothing against it--it's just not my own.  It doesn't feel like home. 
But I love my little island of Okinawa, Japan.  I love the feeling of warmth and security I get when I think about the people.  I love that I have a million and one friends who I can all trust with the deepest of secrets, or just have an awesome time with.  I love that I have freedom and I get to learn more about the world and the exotic forests and I love having a real best friend and growing up and making new, quirky traditions that only work because we live here.  I love the security blanket the military provides for everyone and having new people move in constantly and the politeness of the locals.  I love that I would be able to leave my car keys on the hood of my car and come back and they'd still be there.  I love getting to go to FamilyMart and jump off the seawall and take pictures and go to Family Fun Land and American Village and Cocos and Sushi-Go-Round.  I love the little herds of Japanese children that wander around town in matching hats and the tiny cars and crazy Okinawan drivers and the completely bipolar weather.  I love that it gets hot in the summers and cold enough to actually wear a jacket during winter.  I love the fact that I actually found my niche in highschool, like I so doubted I would as a child.  I love being referred to as a "drama kid."  I love spontaneous adventures through the back-roads of the city with Sarah, I love long walks with Alicia, I love my lover-twin Abby, and staying up talking about everything with Bailey.  I love the mini "family" we've created with Cody as the father, Sarah as the mother, Bailey as my older sister, and me as the baby.  I love the amazing group of youth we have here and the fact that I can look at anyone and, for at least a second, I see the love our Heavenly Father must have for them.

So thank you for these three years, Okinawa.  They have been marvelous--full of growth and love.  I'm giving you all of my teenage years.  Do good with them.

Here's to another two.

Dear David Archuleta,

Hey there.  I know for a fact you're not going to be reading this post.... I might decide to actually send you a letter.  We shall see.

But I just wanted to say that YOU are now one of my heroes.

Here on Okinawa you're pretty popular, if only because you came here for a concert.
It's not uncommon to love you.

I love you because you came to Okinawa to sing for us.  We're such a small community of military families, and yet, you sang at a completely free concert.  You dedicated one of my favorite songs to your mom.  How many superstars do that?!! You gave me the chance to check off one of the boxes in my imaginary teenage checklist of screaming like a fan girl at a concert, which I probably wasn't going to get to do, seeing as I'm stranded here for all of my teenage years.  Because of you I got to get together with all of my girlfriends and make shirts that spelled out your name.  I got to scream and jump up and down and laugh and just be a kid.  I got to get a piggyback ride from my best friend in the pouring rain and eat subway and have a sleepover that night.  Fun stuff.

But then, not only that, but you agreed to hold a fireside for all of the church members on the island.  It was so amazing hearing your story and the trials you went through.  Of course I brought a couple of nonmember friends, and, even though they're probably not converting any time soon, you helped me to plant some of those seeds. 

You're now about to serve a mission!  What a blessing to get to serve the lord even after becoming so famous. 

And, do you want to know the last reason--the reason that settled my opinions?

Rather than staying at home when it's only a couple of days until Christmas, you decided to go to Primary Childrens' Hospital and visit my sweet cousin Baylee.  She's spending Christmas there, getting chemotherapy.  That is the real reason why you are my hero.  You took the time to brighten a young lady's day--to make this dreary time a little sweeter. 

So thank you, David Archuleta.  Thank you for being a valiant son of God, even when so blessed.

Nonsense

I don't always make sense--

but when I do, 

I don't.

I Have a Sadness Shield

The Secret of Happiness

 

I suppose we all have to figure it out for ourselves.

Sometimes I Pretend...

Dearest Daniel,

After talking with you tonight I feel inclined to write you a little message.
You do read my blog, after all ;)
I feel that deserves a post.

But yes.  I just wanted to say that you are so amazing, a true diamond in the rough.  It is so rare to find a boy our age who is such a mature gentleman.  I only actually knew you for a week (EFY, best week of my life), though I feel like you're a fourth brother to me.  I remember when all of the girls in our EFY company got together to give the boys awards... yours was best escort.  It meant a lot to all of us that you took your job so seriously. 
Please don't ever change.  Someday a girl is going to fall head over heels with you, and she'll be right to do so. 
You always have the best insight for my silly problems.  I wish I had your kind of perspective.

So, I guess I'm trying to say thank you.  Thank you for restoring my opinion of the male population.  Thank you for being there when I just need to talk about a certain boy.  Thank you for being you :}

Many tender affections,
Corenna Jellybeana

Hey, Mr. Perfect!

It's Coree... again.

The past couple of days I've been thinking about you even more than usual.
I miss you so desperately.  Because we've met before, of course--back when this huge mess we call "life" was just a plan that our Father came up with.

I feel so lost.  So... clueless.  I have no direction to shoot for in life.  No map to find you.
Sometimes I wonder if you're here--if I've already met you on earth and I don't even know it.  Maybe you really are that boy I call sleeze-bag these days, just like I used to believe with all of my heart and soul.  Or perhaps you're the sweet kid who I joke around with about us being a married couple.  Maybe you're the one who I loved as a child, watching from a far as you played with my older brothers.  Wouldn't it be nice if you were the kid I currently dream of!  Maybe you're one of the weird kids I've accumulated as fans over the years, or even the creeper who's recently come into my life.  I don't think any of those would really disappoint me, because if I did end up with you, then that would have to mean you're worth something and you don't disgust me... right?

I just want you to hold my hand right now.  To be my rock--the one who will always be here, no matter how pissy I'm being. 
Sure, my friends are the kind where I can hold hands with them any time, cuddle with them any time, joke around as if they're my lover on a whim...

But, you know, laughing about it can only go so far.  Joking around with my friends can only do so much.

I just have to remind myself that you'll come.  I have to remind myself that you really are perfect... for me, at least. And, when the decision presents itself, I won't feel like I'm settling.  I can't rush this.  I can't settle for the first guy who comes along and takes an interest in me.  Unless, of course, he happens to be you.

Make yourself known, okay?  Hold a sign or something. 

Until then, here I wait.

Nineteen Again at Grand Central Station

The General Feeling of Tonight

Big Jet Plane

Embarrassment

Embarrassment will happen.  If you're anything like me, it'll happen daily.  

At times it will probably feel something like a bullet piercing through the watermelon of suckage, shot from the gun of hatred and despair and reclusiveness.

But....

Sometimes you just gotta smile and push through it, because if you sulk too much you'll miss your chances to make things right again.

Giraffy Mondays 001

I told you guys you'd like my Monday theme :D  Giraffes!!!  Yes, since Mondays are the scum of the earth spawned from Satan, I figured that a little giraffiness would help make them a little less satanic. 

A Brownie Christmas

This is the season when I wonder if you're still out there somewhere... 

if you're getting your own Christmas

if you still get a stocking with rawhide bones in it 

if you still get all excited when we unpack decorations and bake and open presents, even though you're not here.

 

I miss this.

That Final Embrace

Early Mornings With Abby and Charlotte

Abigail came by this morning :D  Way to make me leap out of bed and throw on the appropriate coordinating outfit planned for the day at the sound of the doorbell, thinking I had slept in for a photoshoot!


Anyways, turns out Abby was here for my brother.  But, unlike me, he really had slept in for an appointment.  So I got to go outside with her and my kitty, Charlotte :D
I decided to bring Geofferson and so we had fun.

 My cat seriously deserves to be a model.  It's a good thing, too, considering the only reason my mom agreed to get her were those beautiful green eyes.  She's a pain in the butt, otherwise.

 Abby tried her hand with Geofferson.  I love these flowers in front of my house.  I think this is the best picture we have of them so far.

 Unlike Abby, Coree is not a morning person.  

"The light..... it burns!!!"

Abby rocking her converse

Feel free to drop by my house any time, Abigail :D  Those 10 minutes or so were fun.

Sunday Devotional I

Okay so I've decided that I'm going to come up with a few weekly post themes so that I have at least a bit of direction with some of my blog posts.

The first of which to be enforced is....

Sunday Devotional!! Yaayyyy! 
So I'm sure all of you religious folks know that Sunday is a special day.  A lot of times Sundays feel like just any other day of the week for me, so in an effort to direct the focus towards more holy things at least a little bit, I am going to post some little spiritual thought every week on Sunday.  Soooo creative, right? 

I think you guys will like my Monday post tradition, too :D

So today I'm just posting a video, but that's good enough. 
I feel like this is so true.  Perhaps if I had been more spiritually in tune I would have been able to finish that book.  Looking back, I was creative enough to come up with the awesome plot during a short period where He was pretty much all I thought about.  Then the book absorbed me and led me off to new friends and challenges... and I left Him by the wayside. 
Moral of the story: read the scriptures and pray and you'll turn into a famous artist or bestselling author.

A Sentimenal Season

 

Geofferson (my camera) made me proud today :}  Hah I finally figured out how to use all of his epic zooming capabilities.

But yes.  Today I spent a little while wandering around Plaza housing, stopping by some of the places that I used to love so much in years past.  It made me kind of sad... like I've been neglecting the tiny little base that I've called home for so long.  Though small, in my opinion, Plaza is a magical place. It's full of forests and hills and children and creatures and I find that every time I go looking, I manage to find a new adventure within these gates.

I also visited this little piece of art again.

It also made me remember the first few weeks we were here.  I was a lonely soul, dragged here on Christmas eve from everything I knew and loved.  I had only one friend for the first few weeks, and that was Alicia.  I remember we spent all day every day together, wandering around plaza, talking about everything under the sun.

It took off so quickly and so naturally.  Whoodda thunk she'd still be one of my best friends almost 3 years later.

Winter break is a time full of emotion and memory for me.  This was the time when I was forced to leave my favorite duty station before this one.  This was the time when I was thrown into a foreign country for the first time after never living outside of Southern California.  This has always been the time the world mainly celebrates the birth of Christ and the new year.  This was the time when I made my first friend on Okinawa.  This was the time when I had my first real taste of childhood freedom and adventure.

This was the time when my life changed forever.

A Recipe for Yesterday

Ingredients:

5 scoops of Christmas
2 cups full of hugs
a pinch of dancing
2 Tbsp. acting
1 smidgen giving
5 cups of getting
a couple dashes of adventure
1 dollop of adrenaline
a brand new, unopened, bag of freedom

Pour all ingredients into a bowl, one at a time.  Add the bag of freedom first, otherwise the rest don't have nearly as much flavor.  Make sure you take time to appreciate what each one does.  Feel free to spread those hugs around after each new ingredient is added to make it a little sweeter.  Scoop little dollops onto a cookie tray and bake at 62 degrees for 24 hours.

mine is a good life ♥

She

So.  After today I'm feeling quite inclined to tell the world about how awesome the girls in my little group of friends are.

Because really, honestly, they're super stars--every single one of them for different reasons.

And sometimes I'm a cranky person.  Sometimes I'm immature and selfish and antisocial and ungrateful.  But, today, I want them to know that no matter what mood I'm in I really do love them so much and I know I would be nothing without them. 

So, if you'd like, watch this little video I made of them.  Get a little peek at the wonderful daughters of God they are.

Merry Christmas, Sarah, Bailey, Michaela, Abby, Alicia, Molly, and Alison.  I love you.

(And I tried to coordinate the pictures with the lyrics the best I could, in case you didn't notice xD)

Quote of the Day:

Patrick: "Nah, Coree's just crazy.  Ignore her."
Me: "Gee thanks for throwing me under the bus, Patrick!"

Sarah O: "Oh my gosh, YOU THREW YOUR SISTER UNDER A BUS???!???"

Aren't I Enough?

The moment I reveal that last little bit of my soul to you.... the moment you know me better than anyone else ever has, ever could--even better than I know myself...

...you tell me to change.

Well I'm so glad I decided to open up to you.

Yes, I know I have some problems.  Who doesn't?  I'm aware that there are some traits of mine that make daily living more difficult than it has to be.  Believe me--I get it.  Maybe you're just trying to look out for me.  This is probably the case.

But there are some things I just have no control over. 

Oh well.  You want me to change, I'll do it.  You do know me best, after all. Who am I to question you?

You There.

Hey there, Best Friend.

If you ever need for me to wear an outfit that coordinates with yours and pull you out of a small field of fluffy grass by the hand then I'm ready and willing.

Hmm... that could make a good metaphor.

Dear Future Husband,

-please be more attractive than this schnozy dragon- 

I know you're out there somewhere, though you will never read this post on my highschool blog.

Still, I feel heavily inclined to write a small note to you.  Just in case you're my most dedicated follower or something.

I just wanted to say that I really hope you're everything I imagine you to be in my head and better, though I'm sure you are.  I bet you're really funny and like to tease people.  Of course, when you meet me, you'll know just how to have fun without hurting me.  We can pick on people together, if you want. 
I wonder if you'll be childish like me, or really mature.  I kind of hope childish so that we can have lots of fun together, even when we're old and sipping applesauce through a straw (even though I do that now.)
I wish you were here right now.  I wish I knew who you were and who you are and who you and I would become together.  It would make the whole worrying about finding a highschool boyfriend thing much easier... I'd have perspective!

But I'll know it's you.  I can tell the moment I meet someone what they will mean to me.

Also, I'll know it's you because you'll propose to me with a ringpop.  My real ring will be inside the candy ;)  (Yeah, Sarah came up with the idea, but I'm not marrying her.  I'm sure she sent the idea to you through a brainwave or something so that you can use it on me in the future.)

Please hold my hand a lot and let me lean my head on your shoulder.  It will be reassuring to me that you actually love me.  Please tell me I'm beautiful and small and cute... because I'll need it.  I promise I'll tell you what a stud you are every day, and when it comes to manly things, you can always win.  I'll make us dinner and such but I hope you know you're going to be helping me with that on occasion... just so that we can be one of those cute couples who cook together.

You can buy as fancy of a car as you want, just as long as you don't let her take my place.

I'll even watch football with you! (or baseball, if you're more into that)

Just so you know, we're going to coordinate our outfits sometimes.  Not match.... matching is for squares.  Just some nice color coordination.
Our kids are all taking breakdance lessons,
the oldest boy is going to be named Louis,
we're visiting Africa,
and we're going to have a dog.

Just never call me a name.
Never make me feel like dirt as so many men have done to me in the past.
never hit me,
help me with chores around the house if I'm too busy with our feisty children,
and hold the priesthood worthily.
Oh it would be nice if you could be black.
At least have swag.

Ours will be a beautiful friendship :}

Please Treat Him Well

 

He's always talking about how he uses me to practice for how to treat his future wife.

My gosh she already doesn't deserve him.

A Taste of Christmas

 

 'tis the season....

It totally feels like Christmas in my house right now.  We're getting out all the decorations.  It's definitely not the same as years past, considering Troy's gone and none of us kids are really that enthused with all of the traditions and sappy family togetherness, but it's still good.  Jacob and my father are going to the states so that Jake can get surgery, so there are only going to be three of us actually at home.  We'll have to make do.

 

 This little dude is probably my favorite decoration we have.  His name is Deiter.  You probably can't tell too well from the picture, but he's a little German wooden elderly man sitting on a tree stump, holding a frothy mug of beer, a pretzel, and smoking a pipe.  You can take him off of the stump and put a little incense cone thingy on it and then put him over it and the smoke comes out through a little whole in his mouth, making it look like he's actually smoking his pipe.

Not exactly the best example for the word of wisdom, I know, but he's so cute and weird. 

I try to remember the real best part of Christmas, though.  

Happy almost birthday, Jesus!

Dear Abigail,

Hey there lover/twin. 

You're one of my favorite people :}  I love that I can be absolutely crazy and childish around you and you won't judge me for it or think less of me.  We have so much fun together--whether it's dancing or skipping through the halls, arms linked, shouting "MAKE WAY! We are free spirits!" or walking to get garlic rice, or even staying up 'til one in the morning talking about deep issues, I love our quirky relationship. 

Grawr

 

Even when about to be eaten by a giant green monster, I'm smiling.

Trololol

On the Bright Side...

"Things with this friend aren't going so hot.  What's this??  Mom just yelled at me!  I am a horrible child.  So stupid and incapable.  I think I'll curl up on the floor and pout rather than do something about my problems.  SHOOT!  I have a performance tonight that I'm totally not prepared for!  Oh and even after that's over with I have to memorize lines for drama and then prepare for the 3 tests I have on Monday.  Oh how horribly awfully stressful.  Wasn't I supposed to buy a ton of cheese for the performance?  How much?  Dang it, I think they needed it a few hours ago.  I am so getting yelled at by several people for this.  I should do something that makes me happy.  What is it I do again.... write?  Dang it.  I have a book I should be working on.  Writing would make me more stressed. 

WAIT A SECOND!  I can go eat!  That makes me happy!  Okay so today isn't so horrible after all."  

I find my logic greatly disturbing, to say the least.

Things That Make ME Happy

I feel just making this list might make me happy?  We'll see how big it is.

Giraffes (duh)
my brothers
Christmas
cold weather
dogs
good books
Twilight
freckles
the beach
Molly Hagen
climbing buildings
cute photos
music videos
my friends
acting
playgrounds
theme parks
pretty flowers
hide and seek
scarves
little black children
long hugs
Abigail Erdelatz
Where the Wild Things Are
Disney movies
trench coats
Jesus
The Office
long walks
new car smell
FamilyMart
Bailey Lisk
hipsters
whistling
The Lion King
pretty blogs
cute couples
plaid shirts
coordinating colors
love notes
singing
peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
buttons
smoothies
Halloween
chocolate covered cherries
Sarah LaBanc
writing
songs with snapping/clapping
preventing others' sleep
Arthur
blanket forts
David Archuleta
Oprah
EFY!
holding hands
snuggling
Patrick
Michaela Hunter
Lord of the Rings: Extended Edition
the way Jacob runs
people who snort when they laugh
tidy desks
clean rooms
huge couches
giant piles of pillows
sleeping in class
burrowing
school spirit!!
when teachers talk about pointless things and forget their lecture
breakfast in seminary on Fridays
when teachers just don't show up
synchronization
80's music
The Proposal
fairy tales
talking animals
adventures
breaking the law
being mean to Cody
when people rub my back
Billy Joel
barbershop quartets
shaped clouds
telepathic moments
knowing answers in class
school uniforms (not in the randy way...)
red gloves
balloons
baby animals
dinosaur impressions
the smell of coffee
secret handshakes
music I can't help but dance to
ringlets
shiny black shoes
hairbows
things in 3-D
giant purses
Elmo
couples who wear matching outfits
THE GOSPEL

Planking

 

This is Coree's view on planking.

*Thwhack*

Dear World,

I'M INSECURE.

Maybe you already knew that.  I know some of you did.  

I'm tired of worrying about every little thing that anyone says.  I'm tired of doing a mental facepalm/headdesk/headshake every five seconds at my own stupidity. 

Maybe I have no reason to worry.

Maybe I'm the definition of perfection.

Maybe I'm actually a cool kid who people look up to.

Maybe people like my clothes,

think my hair is pretty,

admire the unique tint to my eyes,

think my freckles are cute,

wish they were more like me.

Wouldn't that be nice?

Unfortunately...

 I'm Coree.

I'm insanely awkward,

far too clingy,

immature,

plain,

unmotivated,

selfish,

lazy,

unspiritual,

my clothes are plain and few,

my hair is gross,

my eyes are plain brown half the time,

my freckles are faded,

and I am not someone taken seriously.

Some of those things you might argue to be false if you're feeling generous.  However, even if they aren't true, that's how I feel.  I could have the most stunning wardrobe ever but I'd still feel like I was wearing an awkward homeschooler's outfit.  I could have the strongest testimony ever, no fear of sharing the gospel with the world, and I would still feel like a Child of Hell spawned from Satan.  I could have the shiniest, bounciest hair ever and I'd still feel like I had rats nesting atop of my head. 

And you know what?

It's driving me crazy.

Runs Thicker Than Water

 

 I can't tell you how much I enjoy this picture.  My face is kinda scrunched up into a weird position because it was soo sunny, but I love getting to pick out little facial features on us that match up perfectly.  Our lips, our noses, our chins... out of the four, we're the two who resemble my dad's side of the family.

Sometimes I need to take a step back and remind myself that these ones are the relationships that will last forever at least to some degree, no matter what.  

I am so thankful that I have not just one brother as you see here, but three brothers who all treat me like a princess compared to many siblings.  Those guys have always been my closest friends and I hope it stays that way as we age.

We as a unit have the kind of relationship where we can talk about how awesome it will be after we find spouses and have kids, getting to gather at our parents house and get all the little cousins (who are going to be best friends.  Decision made.) together, without it being one of those awkward, forced scenes like you see in movies.

So even if I do cause contention in the home, even if I do make you guys wait on me hand and foot, and even if I'm super moody and dramatic at this phase in my life (or my entire life thus far...), please continue to be patient and be my real best friends, brothers.

Window-Shopping Dinosaur

Even if she is going to turn into a window-shopping adult, I'll always remember the days when we used to pretend we were  

D I N O S A U R S together.

Life is Like Climbing a Tree

 

Life is like climbing a tree.  The best way to achieve such a goal is to look straight forward at what you're doing.  Look down and you'll be filled with regrets and doubts.  Look too far ahead and you'll become overwhelmed with what lies before you still.

Just take it one step at a time.

Of course, there will always be those people who start laughing at you because perhaps your form while climbing this tree isn't quite up to par.  They might even go as far as to throw bricks at you, sending you backwards in your journey.  Maybe you decide to climb a really smooth tree with few branches, thinking that because this tree looked the nicest, it must be the best choice.  Or, maybe you were just thrust at the tree and forced into climbing it. Either way, there isn't much to support you and you're going to slip fast.

You have two choices:

Fall, whether by giving up or by slipping, and plummet to your death.

Or stick with what you've got and endure the potential pain and frustration.

Only the latter of the two will get you to the top, where you can crouch among the shining green leaves so that you can survey a glorious horizon and start to plan your next climb.