Let it Snow!!

They say that patience is a virtue. . . I'm pretty patient if I do say so myself. . . . except for when it comes to snow. . . ! I can't wait for the snow to come! It's so beautiful, and it so calm. . . except for when driving in it. . . . but the great thing about snow is that don't have to drive anywhere! Stay home and watch it fall from inside your nice warm home! Nothing better! :)

Tis the Season for Thanksgiving: Days 9-11

Man, I've been slacking off!  But my slacking off has given me time to ponder on the things that I'm grateful for!
9. Hot soup and scones.
10. Chick Flicks!
11. Answered prayers :)

Tis the Season for Thanksgiving: Day 8

Today I'm grateful for t-shirts!  Everyday Should be t-shirt day! :)

You Can Do Hard Things

This is a shout out to the woman who always tells me that I can do hard things!  She always lifts me when she finds me down in the dumps!  This super-woman is my beautiful mother!  She recently was promoted!  This new job is a high stress one.  "I'm scared to death, Destinee!"she keeps telling me, and now it's time for me to give her some words of encouragement!  You can do hard things Mom!!  I believe in you!  You are the toughest, kindest, smartest, strong-willed woman I've ever known!  "Show me how big your brave is!!"  I love you Mom!! I know you can do it!!
-Destinee Raye

Tis the Season for Thanksgiving: Day 7

7. Today I'm grateful for birthday cake! 
 Birthday cake makes any day better!

Tis' the Season for Thanksgiving

This month I've decided to come up with 30 things I'm grateful for. . . . and since I've missed the last 5 days, I will do 6 today. . . . 

1. Family

2. Color

3. Utensils (forks, spoons, knifes)

4. Music

5. Good Friends

6. Winter Coats

Strawberry. . .

(photo cred: Brianna Phillips)

Quote of the Day. . .

Whatever the mind of a man can conceive and believe, it can achieve. 

-Napoleon Hill

You Don't Know the Good You Do!

Have you ever seen someone smile and in that instant, your day becomes 100 times better. . . ?  Things like that happen everyday!  Your smile can change a crumby day, into the best day!  People are always watching!  When people see your good attitude, it makes them want to be better!  I would know!  I have a new friend, her name is Sarah!  She is so SO positive and happy all the time!  She is in my ward, and I didn't like coming to my ward, because I felt like no one cared!  "No one cares that I'm here at church,"  "No one notices me here,"!  Sad, but that's how I felt. . . no individual on this planet wants to ever feel that way, and Sarah gets that!  I walked into Sacrament meeting on Sunday and all of a sudden I hear Sarah call my name with so much enthusiasm!  It made me so SO happy that someone cared that I was there!  Next thing I knew, Sarah gave me the biggest hug I think I've ever had!  She said to me, "Destinee!  I love you!  Never leave, just stay!"  It was silly, but I don't think she realized how much that small gesture and those sweet words meant to me! You don't know who could be watching!  You don't know the influence you can have on someones life!  You don't know who needs you, or your smile. . . so let's smile, let's reach out, let's serve, let's LOVE, because you don't know who's watching, you don't know the good you do! :)

It WILL get better!

Sometimes. . . and let me be frank. . . life stinks!  Our lights burn out and our milk spills. . . . dishes break and fenders get bent. . . ."stuff" happens, but “When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” – Henry Ford  
Our mornings might start off with burnt toast, but with some butter and a pinch of cinnamon-sugar, it can be made sweet!  Do yourself a favor and add a little sugar to your life and I guarantee. . . .it WILL get better!!

Shout Out to the Priesthood

Hey Priesthood!

Thank you for all you do!  The men in my life are the greatest examples of obedience and charity. . . . I watch my dad help those who are unable, and I watch my little brother learn from him.  I'm so grateful for those young men who put there lives on hold and devote 2 years to the Lord!  Thanks to my sweet brothers and father for fulfilling your priesthood duties!  Thank you to the our beloved Prophet and apostles who provide revelation and commandments to follow!  I love you all! Thank you thank you thank you!! :)

Rain Makes the Flowers Grow

One particularly long, crumby day at school, after the bell finally released us, I started the long walk up to my car.  As I trudged through the rain, I noticed my friend.  Let’s call him Nicholas.  Let me tell you a little about Nicholas.  Nicholas is one of the greatest people I’ve ever met.  Nicholas knows every word to every Disney song known to man.  Nicholas loves to help everyone he sees, and he tells me every day just how happy he is.  My favorite thing about Nicholas, besides his smile, is the fact that he has special needs.  As I stopped to say “hi”, we became more drenched by the second.  At the end of our conversation, I expressed how much I hate the rain.  What he said next is what has changed my life and the way I feel about the rain forever.  Nicholas exclaimed with more cheer than I thought possible, “You hate the rain?  But rain makes the flowers grow!”  My heart melted at that moment as I realized just how negative I had been.  From that moment on, even though it continued to pour, my day became so much brighter.

Now I’m not qualified to give you any advice, because I don’t know better than you, and I’m on the same page as you, but I hope that you learned as much from Nicholas as I did that day.  Why is Nicholas so happy?  Why is Nicholas so loved by everyone?  The answer is simple.  Nicholas can find the good in everyone and everything. 

So next time your mad at a teacher for messing up your grade, just think of the difference it will make when it’s fixed, or when you’re stuck in traffic, think of it as extra time to listen to your favorite music. 

You want to be successful in life?  Then look for the good in everything, and I promise, you will find true happiness, and you can’t be more successful than that.  So the next time you are locked out of the house, and stuck in the pouring rain, just remember, “Rain makes the flowers grow!”

Get Those Curls Wet!

Hey all!
I recently learned a very valuable lesson that I'd like to share with anyone willing to read:)
It's hot.....and when it's hot, the best thing to do is go swimming...am I right?  Of course I'm right!  I've lived through exactly 18 summers in the desert....I think I would know.....I'm pretty much pro at this whole "stayin cool" thing :)  Anyways....On a day (perfect for swimming) in the not so distant past, I decided to curl my hair....bad idea!  "Why?", you ask......because what girl wants to spend all that time curling their hair, most likely to impress a certain someone;) and waste it all on jumping in a pool full of curl killing water?  The answer: None.........Duh!  Well, I was miserable all day long.....watching all my friends swimming.....all cooled off....til finally I took a chance, and wet my curls!  Best decision I ever made.....that day!
Moral of the story....Next time it's hot, and your miserable.....sacrifice a little, and GET THOSE CURLS WET! ;)
-dEsi :)

Long Time....No See :)

Hey all!
It's been a while....but I'm back, and I'm new and improved! ;)
Well, I'm graduated, and it feels so so good!  I've jumped right into real life, starting a new job just hours after graduating, starting college in exactly 15 days!  Time couldn't go fast enough!  I am so ready for the college life!  Elder Erwin gets home in less than 3 months....oh my GLORY!!  I can't wait for my best friend to finally get home!  Well, it's hot....SO HOT....but really it's only like 90 degrees.....100 degree weather is going to be SUPER uncomfortable.... :) Well, life is good!  Enjoy your summer! :)

Look For the Good!!

Can a smile really go a whole mile?  Do silver linings really exist amidst the dark clouds?  Is it true it is darkest before the dawn?  Is it indeed possible to squeeze sweet lemonade from sour lemons?
With the world and all it’s seeming opposition, it is easy to focus on the bad rather than the good.  It sometimes seems we need to search for the good rather than it find us.  Rather than focus on the bad, why not search for the good?  For something that seems so simple, we sure make it hard.  How do we do it?  What can we do to find good in a seemingly not-so-good world?  Well, let me suggest some solutions to this world wide problem.
Perspective.  Perspective influences attitude.  Look at the big picture.  When the canvas is stained with a wrong stoke, take that mistake and mold it into a masterpiece.  Take that harsh bit of criticism and use it to make you better.  Take a boring story and add imagination to make it colorful and exciting.  Look at the beauty of a burn, and think back on the light and warmth that came from the fire.  Your perspective on life changes everything.
Determination.  Be determined to find the good.  I recently found a quote that says, “There’s nothing as inspiring as seeing the world through the eyes of someone who is determined to see good.”  The trick to finding good in a world that may seem all bad, is deciding now, and have that determination to look for it rather than have it find you.  After searching for good things for sometime, I, myself, have come to a conclusion that there is, in fact, good in all things.  Look for good in music, books, society, politics, criticism, trials.  Look for the good, search for a reason to smile, and you will find it.  I give you my good word.  :D

Go Ye Now In Peace!

"Go ye now in peace, and know that the love of God will guide you.  Feel His presence here beside you showing you the way.  In your time of trouble when hurt and despair are there to grieve you, know that the Lord will never leave you, He will bring you courage.  Know that the God who sent His son to die that you might live will never leave you lost and alone in His beloved world.
Go ye now in peace,
Go ye now in peace."

spriNg!!! :D

YaY!!  Spring is here!!  For me, these lovely Spring days consist of painting my nails while sitting in the B-E-A-UTIFUL sun!!!  There is nothing better than listening to General Conference while sun bathing and getting a tan!!!  YaY!! 
Dear Spring,
Please stay beautiful!!  I love you!!
-deSi :D

sMile!!! :D :D

"The poet said; 'Smile and the world smiles with you; weep and you weep alone.'"  :D

hoMe!!

I love home!!  I love to be home!  I'm definitely a home body!  Home is love!  Home is truly and honestly where the heart is!!  There truly is no place like home!!  

Dear Home,

Please don't change!!  I will love you always!!

-deSi!!! :D

P.S.

It's fAnTaStIc to be back!! :D

Grandma and Grandpa's house!!

Grandma and Grandpa's house is a safe haven to all our family!!  We go there to have fun and experience the love our family has for each other!  Filled with memories and love, food, football, puzzles and boxcars, my Grandparents house is "Da Bomb"!!!  Grandma and Grandpa are so incredibly generous and caring!  They long for the opportunity to help someone in need, as they have helped my family and I numerous times!!  They live to love us, and we live to love them back!!  They are such a fAnTaStIc example to me and I love them!  I love their house, it's home to me!!   Grandmama, and Grandpapa, I will love you forever!!!

Love,

deSi!! :D