My Room

So, the bedroom in my parents house has been mine since Tyson graduated in 2004.  That's a pretty long time.  I've chosen the wall paint, the bedspread, the pictures, and all of the little things that make the room mine.  This room is a space that is totally ME.  I was putting clothes away and cleaning up a little bit this afternoon and I was reading all of the quotes on little papers and tiles, and looking at the photos, and thinking about the different pieces of furniture and how by surrounding myself by all of these things every day have shaped who I am and who I am becoming.  

Anyways, here's a little "tour" of my room. 

 Here we have the beds.  The room recently became Tessa and I's (at Christmas time) because all of my married siblings felt the need for another double bed in the house.  I'm not really sure why??...  So, now we have bunk beds and I sleep in a cave.  

I made the quilt on the bottom bunk.

My mom or grannie made the quilt on the top bunk years and years ago.

My grandma Teichert made my pillow case.

She also made the baby blanket you can see wadded up in the far top corner of my bed :)  

Taffy made the pillow case on the top bunk.

The stool has my jammies on it.

I recovered the stool last summer.  I got it out of Stan Larson's yard and redid it, but I'm not super pumped about how it turned out.  

Above the bed is this quote.  I really love it.  Taffy gave it to me for Christmas one year. 

This is also above the bed.  This picture was given to me by my grandma Teichert.  It reminded her of Tessa and I, and it basically is.  

Also, I just notice my lovely corsage from my junior prom?! haha

 Now we have my closet.  It is almost always like this with one door open because that's the best place to hang my towel.  I know I have way too many clothes because they don't fit in here very well...

On the open door there is a picture of the Logan Temple and the Young Women's theme.

There is also a quote by President Hinkley that says, "Of all the creations of the Almighty, there is none more beautiful, none more inspiring than a lovely daughter of God who walks in virtue with an understanding of why she should do so, who honors and respects her body as a thing sacred and divine, who cultivates her mind and constantly enlarges the horizon of her understanding, who nurtures her spirit with everlasting truth."  

On the closed door is a picture of me with Mylie and Tel at the airport waiting for Violet to get home from her mission.  

Here was have a collection of all of my things.  

The blue trunk was my great grandma Duncan's that she brought out west with her when she was 16. 

The two boxes hold letters, journals, pictures, and other random fun things.  

Against the closet is a little trinket thing that was a gift from someone in the Philippines.  

On top of the boxes are an emergency lantern, my life quote "It's not all sunshine and rainbows, but a lot of it actually is," and my favorite sister missionary ever!

After the boxes comes a long line of books:

Panoramas from all over the world

Photo album from my summer of DC, Costa Rica, and Alaska

Two children's books, one about self esteem and one about making choices

History of Hugh and Flossie Brady (my grandma Buhla's parents)

Letters from my 4th graders at West Side Elementary

Photo album of photos of just Tessa and I through the years.  She gave it to me for graduation and we just keep adding to it!

Recipe book from my Oberg side  

Photo book from my senior year made by Taffy

New York photo book  

Family photo book

Four instagram photo books

Moab photo book from Kalbie

Spanish/English Dictionary

Farm Animal book from my favorite antique store in Provo

My latest journal

Laying on the trunk are my headphones and my almost finished letter to Tessa.

Then Violet picked up that cool old wooden desk for me for $50 at some antique store.  I love it. 

On top of that is a picture of my family and my globe.

Hanging above all that is the only decoration that goes with me to college: my favorite picture of Christ.  My space just isn't complete without it.  

  This is my "getting ready" area.  It's where the most clutter is.  I always get ready here instead of in the bathroom and I know it has saved me from many fights with my brothers, since I've always shared a bathroom with them.  

First of all, this mirror is the best with the swinging sides!  

On the mirror I have nice reminders and quotes that remind me to have courage, be kind, be diligent, remember Christ loves me, and to like myself.  

The table normally has some sort of hair tool, but at the moment just has perfume and lotion.  

The chair is my favorite.  It was my great grandma Minerva's.  

Tami made the pillow that goes on it for me for Christmas one year.  

The shorts and pants draped over it are work pants that are too dirty to fold up and put in my closet again, but too clean to throw in the dirties :)  

The little dresser thing holds all the things I use and all the things I don't use, but for some reason still hold on to.  

Then my jewelry is all hung up.  

The wall hanging above my necklaces is a board that I literally broke in half with my hand.  We did it at Girl's Camp one year and then painted it and put vinyl lettering that says, "I can do hard things.  The Lord is my strength."  So true.

Then I have my garbage and my clothes hamper.  

The part is pretty cluttery.......

I've got this picture hanging that Taffy made for me for Christmas one year.  The pictures are super outdated, but I really love them.

We've got Mylie, Connor, and Tel back when they were the only 3 grandkids, a picture of me with my fish I caught up in Seldovia, AK, and then Tessa and I kayaking up in Alaska. 

An the lowest shelf I've got a little tile that says "Be strong and of good courage"

The medium one has a picture of me and my dad at a daddy-daughter date for Merry Miss and a tissue box holder made by Norene Thompson.

The tallest box has a pretty framed quote I got for Christmas years ago that says "Daughter, bless your heart for the happiness you put in mine," a box with a beautiful hand held mirror from Nauvoo, and a jar full of my great grandma Duncan's buttons.  

Below the tallest shelf is my small doll collection with dolls from Alaska, Peru, Ecuador, a porcelain doll from my Aunt Linda, and a doll made by my grannie.  

Also, hats and belts.

So, there's my room.  It's amazing to me how much my room is just me.  So much of the furniture and decorations are sentimental.  I realize that I'm pretty lucky to have as many neat pieces of furniture as I do.  The quotes and pictures all have a purpose.  We internalize the things we put around us whether we realize it or not.  I've been thinking a lot about qualities I have and qualities that I want to acquire.  So many of these quotes are about self worth and confidence.  While I lack confidence in many areas, I do not doubt that I am a daughter of God and that He loves me.  I realize that all around my room are reminders of that very thing.  I know that these quotes have become a part of me and have given me confidence throughout my few short years of life.  

It's been fun to take a close look at my room and think about the little things that define me, and if you made it to the end of this post, good for you! haha  

"Como un niño pequeñito"

Tonight Tessa planned an awesome FHE "Banana Boats and The Book of Mormon."  So, we made banana boats and shared one of our favorite scriptures from The Book of Mormon.  Everyone's scriptures were so good!  (Imagine that...haha!)  When Tessa told me that this is what we were doing I immediately remembered a scripture I had read in El Libro de Mormon three days earlier.  I had been reading in 3 Nephi when Christ is talking to the people in the America's before he appears to them.  Chapter 9 verse 22 really stuck out to me.  Maybe it was because I finally understood a whole verse, but I just loved it.  I read, "Por tanto, al que se arrepintiere y viniere a mí como un niño pequeñito, yo lo recibiré, porque de los tales es el reino do Dios.  He aquí, por éstos he dado mi vida, y la he vuelto a tomar; así pues, arrepentíos y venid a mí, vosotros, extremos de la tierra, y sed salvos."   

Today I went and read it in English.  "Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God.  Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved."  

First of all, this verse stuck out to me because I am an Elementary Ed major and I love kids.  I think about them all day.  At the start of the verse it says to come unto Him as a little child.  I can not think of any group of people more pure and Christlike than kids.  They are so innocent and they just want to do good.  They truly are closer to God, and I'm so glad I'm going to be able to surround myself with them everyday.  

The second part that stuck out to me was when it said, "for such I have laid down my life..."  Christ died for us that we could have the chance to repent and live with Him again.  He knew that we were going to make mistakes.  None of us are perfect, but He was willing to pay the price so that we could all return to live with our Heavenly Father again.  

I love my Savior.  I know that I can return to live with Him and our Heavenly Father again, but only through the Atonement.  I am far from perfect, but He helps me out all the time.  Almost daily I am able to have an experience with the Spirit, just like the one I shared above.  It's moments like that where I truly feel His love for me, not only from the sacrifices He made for me as He atoned for my sins, but the love He still has for me as He cheers me on and helps me out each day during this journey here on earth.   

Best Summer 2015

This summer has just been so great!  I don't know why I never expect summer to be so awesome, but every time I come back to live at home for these few months, my life is better than I ever anticipate.  The past few weeks I've gotten pretty bummed every time I think about leaving.  It's not that I'm sad about what's coming (school and the crazy life), but I'm just so sad about what I'm going to be missing here.  The summer has been packed with the funnest stuff with some of the best people you'll ever meet.  I seriously lucked out in the friend department!  I don't know if I've ever been more comfortable just being myself.  I also don't know what I did to deserve this life, but I'm so thankful for it. It's just been the best.  

Hikes, hikes, and more hikes!

Some days up here with Kalbie.  I just want to be more like her.  

Family reunions (I have some of THE cutest nieces and nephews)

Camping

Some upholstery (I finally got all my tools and I'm so excited!)

Laughing my head off with this girl

Martina McBride concert

 Seeing siblings

Scalp treatments with Sierra

Watching my friends at rodeos (one of my favorites!)

Beautiful sunsets

Cheyenne Frontier Days

Rafting the Snake River

Saying good bye to the Hammond house (this was actually super sad...)

Running the Vaquero

We also went fishing some, rabbit hunting a bunch, a beautiful ride up to Graham's Peak, ate raspberry shakes, golfing off Big Hill, and sat and visited around fires.  I just tried to soak up every second in this wonderful place I call home.  It's a close call, but I think I've got a new top favorite summer.  Life is good.  So good :)

The Cokeville Miracle

Last night I had the opportunity to go to a screening for The Cokeville Miracle at the LDS Film Festival.  

You guys.  It was so good.  I'm having a hard time putting into words the feelings I had last night as I watched the film, and the feelings I've had since, but I'll try.  

I've grown up hearing the story, and I've always believed it was a miracle that those kids and teachers survived that day.  I knew that the events of that day were very tramatic and very real.  Because of that, I was pretty nervous to see the film.  I didn't want to be more scared about the events of that day than I already was.  Well, the exact opposite happened.  I came away from the film knowing without a doubt that angels intervened that day.  Those children and teachers were being watched over.  My testimony of divine intervention, forgiveness, and repentance grew immensely in a short two hours.  I'm proud to say I know many of the survivors of the events of that May day in 1986 and I admire their courage not only that day, but all of the days that have followed.  

So please, spread the word about The Cokeville Miracle.  It comes out in theatres June 5th and I encourage all of you to go see it.   The filmmakers are true artists.  

God lives.  He loves us.  Miracles happen.   

Livi's Logic #5

I love my parents.  The problem is that sometimes I take them for granted.  I saw this quote a couple of days ago and I decided I need to do a better job of making my time with my parents count.  

This weekend I was able to spend quite a bit of time with my parents.  I went to the state basketball tournament where my dad was coaching his high school girls' basketball team.  Tess and I stayed with my parents and had a grand ol' time!  His girls did so great and pulled out an upset in the semifinals to play in the championship game Saturday afternoon.  They played so well but ended up taking second.  I'm still so proud of them!  

Mom, Tessa, Violet, Sedona and I got to do some shopping and swimming and sit together at the games.   We had so much fun just being together and visiting about life.  It was so great!  My mom is just so loving.  I know she cares about me so much and I love being with her.  Nothing makes my day more perfect than a being with my mom.  She's the bookkeeper for the team, so she travels with them and my dad.  I thought it might end when Tess was graduated, but she still keeps going!  She loves going and watching the girls and supporting my dad.  

I had a lot of great moments this weekend, but my favorite one was with my dad.  It was pretty personal, so without going into too much detail, Dad basically told Tess and I how he knew we had worked so hard to be the best we could be and how bad he wanted us to accomplish our goals.  I almost cried.  My dad's not a one to dish out compliments or really tell us that he's proud of us.  I just always pretend he is :)  So, this moment had a big impact on me and I am so glad I was there to support him in his coaching.  He loves basketball, and he loves these girls.  They work hard and he was so proud of them this weekend. 

Summer's just around the corner, and I'm heading home!  I'm not going to lie, I'm a little nervous…  I feel like I'm heading into social Siberia.  I have great friends here and it seems like something is always going on!  When I head home there's going to be like no one my age!  I've been kinda bummed about this and wondering what I'm going to do.  Even Tessa is going to be gone!  I've never spent a summer home without at least 2 of my siblings home.  This week though, I decided it's going to be awesome!  I'm going to get some quality time with my parents.  I'm excited to spend some time with just us three.  Hopefully they don't get too sick of me bugging them about doing stuff with me…  I guess it'll keep 'em young :)  

Anyways, so all of you out there, love your parents.  They need us.  They need our friendship.  They need our love.  Just like we need theirs.  

Well Said Mr. Kutcher, Well Said

So I've always had prophets and apostles to give me guidance and advice as a teenager (besides family and friends), but lots of kids don't have that.  I feel like Mr. Kutcher said it perfectly.  Thank you very much.  

Life

I was walking to move water at a lawn I take care of, and I looked up at the sunset.  It was perfect.  I love summer, I love sunsets, I love perfect days.  There's so much to be grateful for.  Today I have been reminded how precious life is.  Don't wait to be happy.  Treasure every moment.  Strengthen your relationships with people.  Live your life to the fullest.  Appreciate the little things, cause we only get one chance here. 

--Advice from a 20 year old...take it for what it's worth.    

His Love

We watched this video in Relief Society today.  It was definitely inspired.  Thanks Kels!

There is always someone who knows EXACTLY what we're going through, and that's our Savior.  I know that our Savior loves us and knows what we are going through.  He suffered for everything that we have to suffer through.  No matter how bad we are hurting, He will be there to comfort us if we just let Him.  I am so thankful for Jesus Christ and the price He paid so that we can repent and be forgiven.  I know that through his Atonement we can be made whole again.  No matter what is going on in your life, no matter how hard it may be, or no matter how unworthy of His love you may feel, He loves you, and He wants you to return to His arms.  I love my Savior!

The End of Our Era

Last Saturday this was me:

I was just a little bit excited :)  Tessa and the Cokeville Girls basketball team won the State Championship!  It was such an exciting weekend, and I'm so glad it ended so well!  

It was a great weekend not only because the girls played so well, but because ALL of my siblings were there!  It was so fun to have us all together for the weekend.  Some of my favorite things of the weekend besides basketball: 

Exercising with Tami, Mom, and Dad  

Swimming with the little girls 

Eating scotchies 

Visiting with my sisters during the long drive

Not doing schoolwork 

Getting some good sleep at nights

Breakfast at the Hampton

Making Brady laugh

Just being with my family. I really love them.

This weekend was also kind of bittersweet for our family.  It was the last time my dad would coach one of his daughters.   There's a 14 year difference between Taffy and Tessa, so lets just say he's been coaching his daughters for quite a while!  I'm just so glad it ended on a Championship :)  Way to go girls! Here's a lot of pictures from the weekend...

All of us on Friday

The girls before the BIG game

SCOTTIE!!!

She's got a pretty sweet jump-shot :)

Dad and Tess--One of the last free-throws

Last time-out

The State Champs!!

She was on TV... No biggie

Dad and the daughters.  (I know we have a better pic somewhere...maybe Violet?)

The whole gang of us Teicherts, minus the brothers in law and some grandkids.

Congrats Dad and Tess!  I'm so proud of you and I'm so glad I could be there!

The First of Many

I'm still experiencing a lot of "firsts" in my life, and today I finished my first lesson plan.  I was kinda excited when I got done!  I'm going to be doing a whole lot more of these too!!  It was pretty exciting for me to see my ideas on paper.  Hopefully I'll be able to use this in my classroom someday.  This lesson plan is part of my final for my art class, and I got to do it on someone dear to my heart,     Minerva Teichert.

I never knew this lady, but my junior and senior years of high school we started to read her letters to her daughter Laurie.  We would read out of this book for part of FHE.  I learned so much about her and she is an amazing woman!  I got to learn even more about her as I prepared this art curriculum unit for grades 2-4.  It's going to be fun to teach some kids about my grandma, art, and the Cokeville way of life --all at the same time!