On Saturday we all went to the parade to support Zona Marie who was doing a beautiful job at dancing for the Folk Dance Team! Yaaay Marie! I was so excited when she came dancing by that I jumped up from the curb to cheer and totally forgot to use my camera and take a picture of her. To make up for it, I decided to just take pictures of the people I was with. I think each picture accurately describes my relationship with said person.
Sweet Britton stopped eating his food to take this picture with me.
He's always so darling.
It took me three tries to get one where Nick wasn't being a butt munch.
If he wasn't so darn cute I'd smack him.
Beautiful Janine.... and Britton.
Tim took two tries, and was much easier to handle than Nick.
I think all of these accurately describe Janine and I.
I dearly love all of my friends in this ward. I think I finally found a place to stay... permanently.
Last Tuesday, my friend Sierra had the cutest little blogging party over at the Awful Waffle at The Villige. The only prior experience I had with the restaurant was one time walking by them when they located across the way from J-Dawgs and my friend telling me that their name was accurate.
But I went, because there was free food, and I could meet some big bloggers and I hadn't seen Sierra in like a year. I actually am really grateful that I decided to go because my friend was wrong; The Awful Waffle was DELICIOUS. Oh my gosh was the food delectable.
Of course because I'm young and my parents don't love me (just kidding, the latter part is a total joke), I did not have my own fancy camera to take pictures with, and my medioker camera being dead, I had to document the night through other's pictures (namely Sierra's, and the Awful Waffle homepage).
So here are som pictures of the darling setup they have and some of the food they serve. They give you the option of both sweet and savory crepes, as well and Belgian waffles and pizzas. That night we were free to order whatever we wanted so naturally, being the ravenous beast that I always am, I ordered three different items. Two crepes and a side of their Frites (with every one of their sauces).
My mouth is watering right now. Seriously, they are so good. It's a great place to take dates too, in my opinion. Their interior design is darling. (See pictures of it here).
Cute group of bloggers who came.
Anyway, the Awful Waffle is great, and I will definitely be back for more. Like them on Facbook for sweet deals!
A very interesting article on the reality of the afterlife can be found here. I know yahoo isn't the best source for information, but I'm curious to hear what y'all think of the situation. Thoughts, anyone? Think he's telling the truth?
The amount of truth in this statement is abounding. Don't hesitate to tell a woman you think she looks beautiful on any given day. Chances are she needs to hear it. It's not creepy, and usually it's not unwelcome. I bet you by just saying it in passing, "Hey, you look beautiful in that shirt" or "Hey, I really like how you did you hair", will make her day, whoever she is. And the same goes for the men. You all deserve to be told you are handsome, and strong and wonderful. I know 100% of the men in my life are just that. I am so grateful for the influence of the priesthood from all of you. Thank you for your examples of strength and courage.
Yikes, I have really been MIA. This week has been
a good one, but a busy one at that. I feel like I haven't had a lot of time to
myself, and when I do, I try to fill it with stuff like ice cream.... and cake.
(It's a sad day when an woman is wiling to admit
that she'd rather fill her voids with junk food than with love, money, or
cats... okay maybe not the cats...)
This weekend was exactly what I needed to get my
head back in the game. I was able to spend 8 out of 48 listening to inspired
men and women speak on various aspects of the gospel. This time of year is
always my favorite. I feel like it's when people are the kindest, and most
thoughtful. Of course, that doesn't have everything to do with General
Conference (because not everyone listens to it), but I like that the important
meeting falls right during this time period.
This Conference was definitely one to remember.
Our beloved President and Prophet on the earth today, Thomas S. Monson,
announced that the age requirements to serve a full-time mission for the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints would undergo a change for both men and
women. After testing out the age change from young men among a small group of
young men and gleaning back more than positive results, the Prophet announced
that there was now the option (please note that 'option' is in bold lettering)
to serve at the age of 18. THAT BEING SAID, if the young man does not feel
as if he is ready to serve at that age (or even serve at all), he may still
serve at 19, or 20, or whenever it is that he feels ready.
I feel that a common misconception about our
church is that we force our young men to serve missions. While I am not trying
to downplay the sacredness or seriousness of this calling, I am trying to point
out that, while strongly encouraged, missions are not mandatory.
While I am a strong believer that missions are important and bring great
blessings to those serving them and those associated with people serving, I am
also a strong believer that a man (or woman for that matter) should not
serve if they do not desire to do so. I know missions can change
people for the better, and I know that they are great (a big quality I look for in my
future spouse is that he did serve a worthy, full-time mission, and I will
encourage my sons to do the same), but I have also seen men who come back early
or unchanged because their heart wasn't in it, or they didn't go out for the
right reasons.
I feel the same, if not more strongly, about
this in the case of sister missionaries. It was announced shortly after that
the age requirements for women would drop from 21 to 19. That's an incredible
gap of time they removed, and I can't help but feel a little bit envious of the
18 year old girls who have this option to serve at 19 (notice
that word 'option').
I was discussing this revelation with my sweet
roommate who is experiencing a similar reaction to the news as myself. Minutes
after the announcement I received whoknowshowmany
texts, Facebook posts, chats, messages, etc. about when my mission papers
would be turned in. While encouragement is fabulous and, well, encouraged, I
feel that sometimes we get wrapped up in the magnificence that is a mission,
and forget how deeply personal of a decision it is to serve one. From my own
personal experience, I have come to realize that this pressure is sometimes
detrimental to the decision.
If you place all of these expectations to serve
on someone they begin to feel that is the only thing that would acceptable for
them to do. They begin to lose their identity and lose what is they want
to do. Fear prevents them from receiving a clear answer as to what it is they
should do, and sometimes they feel as if they are forced into a situation. This
can lead to resentment towards their mission, and sometimes even resentment towards
family and church members.
I'm not asking or imploring everyone to stop
encouraging those you love to serve missions. As I stated earlier, I think
serving a mission is a wonderful thing, and even I am taking the option in to
serious and prayerful consideration (CONSIDERATION). I am just
suggesting that we watch how we word our encouragement, and make sure that the
person knows that their decision will not lead to a decrease in love for him or
her.
In other news, the rest of Conference went
swimmingly. I was able to attend the Sunday afternoon session with my friend
Trey, my roommate Marie, and Trey's friend Stephen (WHO SOUNDS LIKE THOR).
Cute kids, huh? It was really hard to hear in
the conference building for some reason (and Stephen and I kept counting how
many times the couple four rows in front of us kissed every 10 minutes. Six, was the answer), but I really liked the overall message of coming to
Christ and serving him. I felt that the main focus this October was missionary
work and inviting our friends and family to come unto him and find not just
joy, but a fullness of joy. (here's
the part where I bare my testimony to y'all)
I would like to invite you to learn about what
makes me happy. I love this gospel and the
peace it brings to me. I feel complete and free from worry when I find that I
am centering my life on the teachings of Christ. I really have found a firm
foundation upon which to build my future family and career. I love this gospel
and the goodness it bring into peoples' lives. Please, if you have any
questions or interest, feel free to ask me. I promise not the throw my religion
on you, because I know it's not what makes everyone happy, but I would love to
answer any questions or concerns to the best of my ability.
You can also check out this site or
contact the missionaries
near you. They'll most likely be able to answer any questions you
have more fully. If you'd like to hear it straight from me, contact me via
e-mail, or Facebook, or read what I have to say about the Mormon church here.
I love
this church and I love all of my friends and family. Thank you for everything
you do for me.
xo
bailey
*Photographs of this weekend courtesy of Trey Mortensen Photography. Check him out here!
Me and Stephen. I'm pretty sure he's the Norse God of Thunder. You'd think upon meeting Thor, I'd make a more attractive face. You thought wrong.
(Also, sometimes he likes to talk like this guy, which makes me lol.)
For those of you who know me and know me well, this is nothing new to you. It's something you've either experienced with first hand or heard about through my inability to keep anything a secret, really. I have something known as General Anxiety Disorder. Basically I worry. You're probably thinking well we all worry about things, what makes you so special? (Don't lie, I know you were). The difference with the way you worry and the way I worry is this:
You worry about things like tests, dating, papers, health, and money issues. You get a little stressed, sleep on it, take the test, go on the date, turn in the paper (or whatever), and move on with your life. You focus on getting through today and don't really focus too much on what's coming in the future.
I worry about those things, too, but take your worry an multiply it by... well, by a lot. Add the worry of everyday things, like the dishes, laundry, talking to people, etc. (and by worry, I'm stress). It's like having a little person in your mind that never shuts up (I mean never). I worry to the point that it starts to affect my life. I can't sleep, I can't eat, I become irritable, and over time depressed. I lack motivation, focus, and meaning in my life because the stress of worrying leads to a lack of hope. In my mind there is never a good outcome, it is always bad.
In March, the depression began to affect my school work earlier this year, and, after discussing my options with my family, and turning to the Lord in earnest prayer, I decided to try out a low dose of antidepressant medication which is often used to treat anxiety.
The medication was rough at first. It seemed that everything that could go wrong, did. Nausea was the worst. Over time, things got better and I sank into a groove of pure relaxation. The medicine was amazing. It didn't take away the stress and the constant worry, but it allowed me to handle it. No longer did my anxiety overwhelm me. My motivation returned and I was able to focus and improve in my school work. I have my ups and downs (like forgetting medication sucks), but overall, the improvements have been drastic.
pretty sure I look like this, occasionally.
You're probably wondering what the point of this post is. The point it to share with others who might be struggling with anxiety or depression the fact that you are not alone. That was something I wish I had known at the beginning.
During the whole process of figuring out how my mind worked, I often felt alone and broken. Now I know that is not the case. You are never alone, and you most definitely are not broken.
Not only am I with you, and countless others, but the Savior is, as well. He loves you more than anyone on the face of this planet, and he knows. He knows the frustration that comes from the inability to relax, he knows the pain that comes from feelings of inadequacy, and he knows the the despair that comes from not being able to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Don't ever give up hope, and don't ever forget that you are loved and that you are not forgotten.
The second point in sharing my experience is the hope that you understand me a little bit better. I was discussing the idea of anxiety and other mental disorders being taboo subjects with a friend the other day, and it made me think about the way society handles such delicate situations. I shouldn't be afraid of sharing this with people, as often is the case. I am not broken, I am not crazy, and I am not anything less because I process things a little differently than everyone else around me- and neither are you.
We all have trials, we all have struggles- it comes with the territory. By sharing these experiences with others, I personally believe that we can better understand one another, so that we can learn to help those around us when they really need it. If anything, this post helped me think through something that has been on my mind lately, and I hope you're okay with that.
If you've stuck with me this long, thank you. Your support is greatly appreciated. My friends and loved ones have been my shoulders to cry on as I learn to adapt and use this way of coping with my surroundings to my advantage.
xo,
bailey
Okay, please excuse my fangirl moment here, but can I just gush about how much I am in love with Arrested Development? Seriously, that show is the epitome of comedy for me. It's quick, witty, and even a little dirty. Everything I want in a television show (and man, but we'll get to that another time). So, if you start to notice a lot of AD quotes, gifs, and pictures around, it's because I feel that if my life were a sitcom (which we all know it ought to be), it would look like Arrested Development. If you are currently reading this and have no idea whatsoever about what it is I am speaking of, as I have said in earlier posts, go educate yourself, fool.
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