'cause these are the best days

Nationals was nothing short of wonderful. 

heyyy daytooonnaaa!!!!

Daytona treats me so well. I love the atmosphere, and being able to spend time with my favorite people along with do what I love most. it's everything I need all thrown into one experience. a little slice of heaven!

oh! and how could I forget? we won!!!

yes, ladies and gents, you are looking at the new national champs. go uvdt!! 💚

{sometimes you gotta take what's yours}

it's been a year for the books. and I'm heart broken that it's come to an end. I've had the time of my life, and have made the best of friends. I'm hopeful and excited to see what comes in the next year, but will for always cherish the memories we have made. thanks for a great year team! love you all!

with a full heart

xoxo

it's christmas:

'IN GOD WE TRUST' it's written on our money, for us to see everyday of our lives, to remind us who we are and why we're here. but still we forget. 

I have a friend who is waiting to see what life is going to bring her as the new semester approaches. it could be bad or good, and for more than just her. but instead of worrying and stressing about it she is putting all her trust in God, that whatever is the result is, is the result for a reason. that there is nothing for her to do at this point except wait and see where it is that God wants her to go next. I think that it's so incredible that she is able to let go of everything, the worry, the frustration, the confusion, and have so much faith in Him.

today is Christmas. and this year has  felt less like Christmas than ever before... let's just say it hasn't been a great few months and leave it at that. but that doesn't mean that we should forget what it's all really about. <3

I need to take some lessons from the people I have around me. to put my trust in God instead of letting the things people say about me and my life put me down. I need to trust that I am the way that I am and that I'm living the life that I am right now because it's what and where God knows I need to be. and when the time comes for things to change, that he will prepare the path for me to take. 

anywho- Merry Christmas! enjoy the holiday season, the best time of the year (pun intended). :)

I hope you all have had the most merriest Christmas of all, full of love and joy. 

kisses!

*happy thanksgiving!!

it's thanksgiving.
how can i not blog about things i'm thankful for on thanksgiving day? i can't!

tuesday at practice one of our coaches gave us "gratitude journals", she challenged us to take the time to write 5 things every night. it's sort of like the "happy book" i have, but it will be more day to day, instead of things that just make me happy in general. i'm actually really excited about it! i have 2 days done and can't wait to write in my 5 for tonight.

i love this time of the year! it's a time to take a step back and remember what you're grateful for and why your really here.

so here's a few things:

i'm grateful for my uvdt girls. they honestly mean so much to me and i am always so excited to see them and spend time with them. i've been taking a lot of games lately. one of the girls asked me why the other day, but i just blew it off like it was no big deal. the reality? i love to be able to help one of them out when they need it, plus it's one more day, one more hour, one more game, one more memory, that i get to have and cherish with them. some days at practice or at games can be miserable, but when i take a step back and look around, i remember how grateful i am to be there and to be there with those amazing girls.

i'm grateful for my mom. i don't know what i would do without her. but really. i couldn't do anything without her. i wouldn't be a functioning human being if it weren't for everything she has done, and continues to do for me. people wonder what i do in my spare time? i hang out with my mom! many times i feel like she's the only friend i have, and the only friend i know i'll always have.

i'm grateful for the ability i have to dance. i know i'm not the best dancer, i don't have the best technique, or the best tricks, or the best performance. but it's what i love to do. i love that i get to be inspired by it and that i also get to inspire and touch other peoples lives with what i do. it's the best part about it! and when i'm out on the floor performing i feel unstoppable. i wish that i had as much confidence in my every day life as i do when i'm out on the floor dancing.

i'm grateful for the studio i came from and all they taught me.
i'm grateful for cameras. life would be a disaster if i couldn't take pictures.
i'm grateful for the gospel. i may not know a lot, but i do know that it's true.
i'm grateful for art supplies.
i'm grateful for animals.
i'm grateful for all that i have, i've never had to worry about the next meal, clothes, a warm place to stay, water, if i would see the next day. i've always had plenty.
i'm grateful for fingernail polish.
i'm grateful for toothpaste and toothbrushes.
i'm grateful for heaters.
i'm grateful for people who can sing.
i'm grateful for quotes.

i'm grateful for my life. for the good and the bad. everything has been a blessing or a lesson. nothing goes to waste and i'm so grateful that i have made it through it all, stronger than before. during a trying phase of life, i might not be so willing to say i'm grateful, but looking back on everything i've endured i'm so happy to see the outcomes that have occurred because of it.

tell the people you love that you are thankful for them in your life! express your gratitude because you never know how long you will have what you have. life changes so quickly. so hold this moment fast, and live and love as hard as you know how, and make this moment last, because the best of times is now.

• happy thanksgiving lovelies! grateful for you!

Reality...

wow. I'm not here to say that I have it hard, because I really don't. but I've been really struggling lately.. and I want to share two things that have had a great impact on me today. 

They both speak for themselves, so I will leave you to take what you want from them. 

There's probably a better way to do this.. but I'm not sure how. a copy and past will work just fine:)

http://www.upworthy.com/2-people-described-the-same-person-to-a-forensic-artist-and-this-is-what-happene?g=2

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/like-a-broken-vessel?lang=eng

These are definitely worth taking the time to watch. I know how much they have helped me. I can't say that things are miraculously going to be better overnight, but it's a step in understanding. and lucky for me- I know how much help and love I have surrounding me.

I also just got Demi's new book 'Staying Strong 365 Days a Year'. I'm very excited and am hopeful to what's next. "Hope is never lost."

Keep loving, keep fighting, and keep living. xoxo

so much joy

Growing up I've always had a love for animals. The only thing that I really knew how to love, and sometimes the only thing I know how to love. They are loyal, accepting, forgiving, and loving as long as they feel loved in return. My favorite tv channel growing up? Animal Planet. Every day. Every night. <3 My favorite show? Animal Cops. There were a variety of different animal cops shows and I still love them to this day. 

I have always wanted to help animals that were put in terrible situations, and last night I was lucky enough to get to go to a humane society for a date. We weren't there very long, but it definitely strengthened my want to home abused and neglected animals until they are ready to be put up for adoption. 

This love that I have for animals out beats any allergies and hives that come with the job. To be able to love and help these animals would be such an amazing experience and opportunity, and I hope that one day I will get the chance to do so.

With love...

With puppy love...

Sam :)

•my serendipity•

I have always had this "little secret". Something that I have done and have had my whole life.

Dancing and teammates. I don't know how I have been so lucky to be and have been a part of teams that get along so well. I have always felt at home without having to search for this place where I finally felt I belonged. I just did. I just do.. Even if it's only for a short time. 

Dancing has brought so much to my life in so many different aspects. I honestly don't know where I would be without it, and I never want to have to find out.

I miss Stars (The Dance Spot). I miss the girls, I miss the atmosphere. I constantly find myself looking back on the memories I have there and it breaks my heart that I no longer have that to call mine.. 

But now I have something else in place. I can't say it's better or worse, it's just different, and such a joy. The UVU Dance Team. I have grown so much being apart of this team, and I love it! I could be having the worst day, the worst week, but as soon as I get to practice I know that I am loved and cared for- it can turn anything around.

I am so grateful that I have had both of these as such a constant and big part of my life. We all need something to hold on to in such a crazy world, so why not a passion? Why not each other? 

{with love}

People are what matters.

My favorite Young Women's leader posted this as her status quite some time ago and I just happened to run into it again- 
 

"Did you know that are the strongest are usually the most sensitive? Did you know the people who exhibit the most kindness are the first to be mistreated? Did you know the one who takes care of others all the time are usually the ones who need it the most? Did you know the 3 hardest things to say are: I love you, I'm sorry, and Help me? Some- times just because a person looks happy, You have to look past their smile and see how much pain they are in."

People need people.

You are somebody to somebody.

Life is hard. So hard. That's when we realize that people really do matter. Sometimes all we can do is keep breathing until someone comes along and reminds us how strong we really are, and that we can make it through. Be that person for somebody else. Take the time to be there for those around you. I could talk about why, who, and how.. But I think these quotes will do us justice.

The quote on my calendar for this month says: To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.. This is to have succeeded. 

Why live if it's not to make each other's lives a little but easier?

"If nobody cared just a little for you, and nobody thought about me, and we all stood alone in the battle if life, what a dreary old world it would be. Life is sweet because of the friends we have made, and the things in common we share; we want to live on, not because if ourselves, but because of the people who care. It's giving and doing for somebody else- on that all life's splendor depends; the joy of the world, when you sum it all up, is found in the making if friends."

I have a friend who used to always say "I believe we we're put on this world to take care of each other." 

'...I believe that a relationship, any type if relationship is the most important thing. You can't really live without it, no one is really happy alone. You have to learn to let people into your life, to let them love you...' 

The capacity to care, I believe is one of the greatest things we have been given. The tricky part is learning how to use it. How to be okay with giving and showing emotion.. With being real. Everyone around you is fighting some sort of battle, and it's not always going to be right up in front of you. It may be your job to discover, or maybe it's your job to just be kinder than necessary.

"Maybe we are the way we are because of the people we're with or maybe we just pick the people we need. However it works, when you find each other you should never let go."

Find a hand to hold. Be a hand to hold. Everyone needs someone and that someone may be you. 

To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world. 

Much love. xoxo