The Little Blessings of Life--- Another Blog :)

Before I started this blog, I was working on a different blog: The Little Blessings of Life. That blog has been on hold for about half a year now, but I am ready to put it to use again :) I will still use this blog (Untainted Passions) for most things, but I have decided to use my other blog for more spiritual things. It still has all of the old posts on it, so feel free to check it out sometime! You can click here to access it. Much love :)

P.S.
I love my family :)

Once Upon A Mexico

Over Christmas Break, I was blessed with the opportunity to go to Mexico with a group called Builders Without Borders to build homes for members of the church in Tecate. I went along with my father, younger brother, and younger sister. I went to Mexico a couple years ago to do the exact same thing, so I was extremely excited to go back!!!
There is a family in Mexico that I became very close with the last time I went to Mexico (I helped build their home), and the family actually came to help us build homes this time!!! I was so, so, so happy :) The person that I am closest with in the family is named Francisco. Francisco and I ... we are so close :) While building homes, I would help Francisco with his English (which is coming along super great!) and he would help me with my Spanish in return (which still has a looooooong ways to go!)
Our group was able to build 3 homes, repair a few roofs, visit a couple orphanages, help at a food shelter, and do other types of service for the people in Tecate as well as Tijuana. I love the people there. They are always so kind, and I could feel the spirit so strong with every member of the Church that I came in contact with. I pray that I will be able to continue going back to Mexico to do this type of service for as long as possible! Worth every penny for the travel and building expenses. Life changing experience.
So here are only a few of the pictures that I took when in Mexico. Out of the 333 pictures I took, these may not be the best ones, but they protray enough of the trip to satisfy me :) Enjoy!

To All, I Give Thanks

Thank you to family for love and support.
Thank you to teachers who inspire and encourage me.
Thank you to roommates who supply laughter and smiles.
Thank you to friends who give hugs and keep in touch with care.
Thank you to the boyfriend who brings peace and cuddles.
Thank you to co-workers who understand and give help.
Thank you to strangers who leave long-lasting imprints unknowingly.
Thank you to all.
Thank you dear Father for everyone in this world who has touched me in some way or another, and has made me a better person since the day they found me.
Thank you.
To All, I Give Thanks.

An Update :)

So I made it into the dance major, yes? (I believe I mentioned that a month ago...) Well, last week, I auditioned and made it into a dance group called Kinnect at BYU! I am very excited! This group has many, many performance opportunities, and everyone in the group gets to choreograph things.... AND we get to go into elementary schools to perform and do little workshops with the children! This is an incredible opportunity. And as if it couldn't get any better... I also got accepted to be a part of a dance that the Graham Company is coming to place on dancers next semester! Amazing!!! I am hopeful that I will be able to fit all of this into my schedule, but I definately feel blessed to be accepted to be a part of it.
Aside from dance things, life is wonderful! The end of the semester is drawing near, and I'm just trying to stay on top of things (work, school, social, spiritual... the hole shabang). I've recently been in an open relationship with this one guy... yeah, he's cool ;) His name is Lee, and he's Chinese, so that makes things fun, haha. Hmmm... what else.... Christmas is just around the corner!!!! This is very exciting! My family started a new thing last year where we now draw names for Christmas. This is good so that we can get actual good presents without going broke, haha. This year I drew my older sister. Since she will be getting married at the end of the school year, I got her some things that she can use in her future home (kitchen stuff), and some jewlery. I'm excited for her to open her gifts!!! :D
Okay, that is what I call an update!!! Okay, maybe not the best form of an update, but it has good stuff in it :) As I get back into blogging again, I will probably remember things that I want to mention.
For now, make it the best day ever!!! Peace ;)

A Gift for Mom

For my mothers birthday, I painted a little train and a little box for her :) It took me weeks to get the project done just because I had problems finding the time to paint, but it is now complete!!! Tomorrow I hope to give it to her :)

Happy Birthday Mom!!! I know I'm a month late, but I hope you understand, haha. I love you!

Hanging Picture Frames

This past summer, I went to a wedding reception with my older sister. It was darling! The reception took place in the brides parents backyard. Lights were strung around the tree's, tables scattered throughout the yard for guests to visit and eat their refreshments at, a dance floor with a band, and my favorite-- picture frames hanging from the trees. While many of the frames had pictures of the newly wed couple, there was a fair share of picture frames without anything in them. My older sister plans to be getting married in the next year, and at times I wonder what type of decorations her reception will have-- what will the staples of it be? That's neither here, nor there, through. Once she has the engagement ring on her finger plans should start being finalized :) (So what's with her wedding dress in the closet? This had better be official!)
In the end, let's just say I love wedding receptions. While some may be a bit too traditional for me (the colors, the cake, and the location), I tend to find little things at most receptions that catch my eye and I fall in love with them. Who knows when (or if) I will get married, but when I do, I know I will have a very hard time settling on the little things. I find that it's the little things that help pull together the wedding (i.e. how the wedding announcement and staples of the wedding fit together). I'm no wedding expert, yet I think it's fun to analyze weddings (mainly the receptions) and pick out what I do and don't like about them.
Have a lovely Sunday day! Remember, families are FOREVER! What a beautiful blessing to have the knowledge that we can be together with our loved ones forever :) Much love

99 Red Balloons.... ?

I ...... love ....... balloons. They are so fun :) On my birthday a week ago, my mom came over early in the morning to bring me muffins and balloons. The balloons are still floating around in my room, and they just make me so super happy :) There's just something about balloons that just immediately lifts my spirits when I see them. A girl in my student ward talked about how when she was having a bad day, one of her roommates went out and bought her a balloon of her favorite color and then gave it to her. How happy!!! If only everyone had that experience whenever they were feeling sad. So the next time one of your friends or a family member is feeling bad, consider going out and buying them a balloon of their favorite color ;)
Much love!

Dandelion in the Grass

I recently started another year in my life, having successfully survived 20 of them. While I have another blog (The Little Blessings of Life), I felt that it was about time to try and become better at blogging by taking what I have learned through my other blog and applying it to this one. Perhaps I will run both blogs at the same time... we'll see :)
I have many passions. My top ones are dancing, singing, and traveling. I love my family and friends, and I find joy in sunflowers, birds, rain, and photography. No, I am no photographer, but I like to pretend I am! One day I hope to own an SLR Cannon Rebel. That'll be the day!
Now about the title of this post: Dandelion in the Grass. My best friend introduced me to a book over the summer: The Hunger Games. This book was followed by Catching Fire and Mocking Jay. In the story, the main character suffers through many horrific trials (I would try to go into detail about this, but I would probably end up writing a summery about the whole series!) After surviving one of these trials with the help of a boy that was practically a stranger, she found there was still hope in life, and that things would eventually get better. On the day of recognizing this, she came across a dandelion outside her school. While this dandelion may have merely been a sign of the end of winter, it came to symbolize the hope that she had found.
I am hoping that when I have those days when life seems to be crumbling apart, I will be able to use this blog as one of my resources to dive into my untainted passions-- that it will be a dandelion in the grass. Whether it is a bad day or a wonderful day, I hope this blog will bring joy to myself as well as others!
Enjoy :)