Adventures, Insights, and Inspirations

Moments That Matter Most

2011-06-17T10:42:00.000-10:00

Truly Inspired.

My goal: to slow down and appreciate the moments that matter most.

St. George

2011-06-13T09:45:00.000-10:00

Memorial day weekend I took a road trip down to St. George with a few of my favorite girls! Audrey lives in St. George and invited Lorina and I to come stay at her house. I LOVE the Spainhowers! They are so much fun!

Audrey, Audrey's sister Stephanie, Lorina, and I drove the 4 hours down to the lovely St. George on Friday. We listened to some Queen, Micheal Jackson, and Prince to keep us entertained. We stayed up late talking and laughing and playing loaded questions. Best question: If you were on a date with Stephanie and she was wearing her sun glasses and treating you like her servant and making you do stuff for her, what would you do? or maybe: If you were Miley Cyrus what would your celebrity name be? (has to be a name and then a state). I said Pamela Alabamala. I think it was the best. Audrey's Milo Ohio wasn't as good. What would yours be?

Stephanie, Lorina, Audrey, Mariah, Me

Saturday we slept in until 9 and then got ready to go to Zion's national park. We piled in a van with Audrey's mom and 3 sisters. It was a fun girls day but it took us much longer then expected to leave the house and to get to the place we wanted to hike. We finally arrived though and it was a beautiful day. Lot's of fun hiking.

After Zion's Audrey had a wedding reception so Lorina and I did a session in the St. George temple. It was perfect. It is such a beautiful temple. After that we ended the night by getting frozen yogurt and hiking up on top of the painted Dixie rock (I think they call it the sugarloaf) and looking out at the city. It was pretty much a perfect day with perfect people.

Sunday we went to church with the Spainhowers, had a lovely barbecue, went and visited Rachelle and Brad at the Doxey's, and played card games. Another perfect and relaxing day.

Monday we ended our stay in St. George by going to Snow Canyon to hike some red rock and play in the sand at the sand dunes.

School Spirit!

Jumping

Epic posing picture

Beautiful girls

Love her!

Then we had to say goodbye to the warm and sun of St. George and head back to Provo. We got their just in time for the Memorial day white out/black light dance party!

What a lovely weekend! Thanks Auds!

I miss

2011-06-13T09:14:00.000-10:00

the SOUTH!

I was born a western girl who was uprooted to the south and found a piece of myself I never knew existed!

It's something you must experience for yourself.

southern hospitality.

green rolling hills.

white picket fences.

humidity.

cowboy boots.

southern belles.

country music.

drive-in movies.

old friends.

southern houses.

front porches.

accents.

summer. springtime. fall.

southern food.

southern gentleman. :)

There are two sides to southern life: 1. the sophisticated southern 2. the country.
I aspire to be a mix of both.

A southern belle/country girl.

and I want to marry a southern gentleman/cowboy.
I know he exists somewhere. (and I wouldn't mind if he looked like Harrison Ford)

Sometimes I feel like I'm in a Julia Roberts movie...

2011-05-27T07:57:00.000-10:00

and no I don't mean "Pretty Women". Although it would be nice to have someone buy me really fancy clothes; but I don't think my parents would be okay with that kind of career choice... I'll stick with accounting.

My favorite Julia Roberts movie is "My Best Friends Wedding". I think this one hits home for me because I tend to always fall in love with my best friend. Which leads to really great relationships but not so great break ups. Plus this movie doesn't have the typical "happy ending". She does not end up with the guy (sorry if you haven't seen the movie and I just ruined it for you), but she moves on and is happy none the less.

The movie I was thinking about today however is "Runaway Bride".

There is a part in that movie that has always struck me. As Ike Graham (Richard Gere) is trying to figure out why Maggie Carpenter (Julia Roberts) can't commit to marriage he asks all her former grooms one question: what type of eggs did Maggie like? At first it seems silly to ask such a question but as we hear the answers we see a pattern; she always likes the same kind of eggs as the person she was dating.

What does this say about her?

At the end of the movie she has a realization and decides to figure out what type of "eggs" she likes best. Once she makes that decision she is able to make it down the aisle and live happily ever after.

Why am I telling you all this... well I think I'm a lot like Maggie.

I don't think I know what type of eggs I like best.

I tend to like the same things as the people around me. I'm very easy to please and very open minded. I will always try something new. It's not that I don't have an opinion, I do, but it tends to gravitate based on who I'm with.

I'm not saying this is a completely bad quality. Actually it is one of my best because it allows me to experience new things, but I think it's time I discovered what type of "eggs" are my favorite. I can still like other things and be open minded but I need to figure out what is uniquely me.

I've already begun this journey and am having quite a fun time discovering myself. Who knew I was so great?

Do you know what kind of eggs you like best?

MJ

PS: Here is a quote from my current read, The Great Gatsby, "...now I was going to bring back all such things into my life and become again the most limited of all specialists, the 'well-rounded man.' This isn't just an epigram--life is much more successfully looked at from a single window, after all."

Hesitant

2011-05-25T08:31:00.000-10:00

Hello Bloggosphere!

So I must admit that I have been hesitant to post on my blog because:

A. It's been almost 2 years since my last post and I feel like the first post back needs to be EPIC and I don't have time for said epic post because of all the epically fun things I'm doing with my life.

B. I hate the layout of my blog and I look at everyone else's super classy and cute blogs and I have a tinge of envy. I am blog illiterate so I have tried to make mine cute but have failed ( and no I am not fishing for compliments with this or asking for reassurance).

C. I have been horrible at taking pictures and am not good at taking pictures when I do take them and I feel a blog is super boring without at least a few sweet pictures.

But even with all that hesitancy my mind is exploding with things that I just HAVE to tell the world through my blog. So I decided that like ripping off a band-aid I just had to do it quickly.

SO here it is.... my first post back! Few, that wasn't so bad now was it.

Here's to more blog posts to come! It feels good to be back! :)

MJ

(PS. If anyone has any tips for making my blog not look like it was made by a kindergartener it would be much appreciated.)

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Goodbye!

2009-07-08T05:10:00.002-10:00

Goodbye everyone!! I will miss all of you very much but I am very excited to start my mission! I will be thinking about all of you and will keep you in my prayers! I love you and thanks for being such wonderful fantastic friends!!! You guys are awesome. I hope you have so much fun and that the next year and a half brings you much happiness! Goodbye for now but this is not the end!! I know we will be friends forever :-) My address is on facebook under my info if you would like to write me.

Love you guys and see you soon,

Sister Newby

Change

2009-04-17T13:18:00.003-10:00

Wow, a lot has been going on lately! Things are definitely changing....

Sometimes it's really hard for me to accept change. When things are going good and you like the way they are then why would you want them to change?? But I have realized that without change life would be boring and there would be no room for growth. So I've decided that instead of trying to hold on to the past I'm going to embrace the changes in my life. I wonder what new and exciting things my future holds... :-)

Somethings that have been going on:

1. Lorina got her mission call!! Morristown, New Jersey Spanish speaking. I'm really excited for her and know she will be an amazing missionary just like she is an amazing friend.

2. I went to Las Vegas for Easter! It was so nice to see my parents and to be with family :-) My aunt got married and the wedding was beautiful. I am really happy for her. I also got some shopping done for my mission. My first shirt and a pair of shoes! haha So exciting.

3. Finals are here... but that means I'm almost done with my first year in the accounting program, which is by far the hardest!! I can't believe I have really almost finished. Let's just hope my grades are good enough to get me into the masters program!

Some thoughts:

1. I have the most amazing friends! Wow I have been so lucky to meet the most amazing girls and to be able to spend so much time with them! They are such good examples to me and help me to have fun and smile when life gets hard. They are beautiful, smart, funny as heck, talented, and just so much fun to be around. We are all going our seperate ways and things will never be the same as they have been the last few years.. but i know that our friendships are only beginning :-) To you my favorite girls... I can't wait for the amazing adventures to come!!

2. I've decided that one of the hardest things to deal with is when someone you really care about disappoints you. No matter how hard you try, and even if you do everything right (which doesn't ever happen), they still have their own agency, and can do things that you don't think are best for them. You can't force someone into being something. Even if you know they have the potential and can do so many great things with there life if they only try, they have the ultimate decision. They get to decide what choices to make and what path to follow. Even if you think they are choosing the wrong path there is nothing you can do about it. All you can do is continue to love and support them and hope things work out. It's hard seeing someone you love struggle and try to find the right path. Recently it seems I've been having to deal with this issue with multiple people I care for. I guess it's a lesson I need to learn... to just butt out and let people use there agency. Even if sometimes I do get hurt in the process.

3. I need to learn to control my emotions! Sometimes my emotions just take over and then I do/say really stupid things. Looking back at the things I say I'm like... "what was I thinking?". I guess the problem is I wasn't thinking, just letting my emotions have control. So from now on I am going to do better!

Ok sorry if this was the most boring random post ever... you don't have to read it. I just needed to vent about somethings and get them out there.

Hope everyone had a wonderful week and I will blog agian soon with pictures :-)

Boise, Idaho... HERE I COME!

2009-04-03T12:43:00.005-10:00

So it finally happened!! I got my mission call! Wow it still feels so unreal... I can't believe I am really going so soon! I am so excited and can't wait. The next three months are going to be so long yet way to short. So now for the story of how it happened....

I thought for sure Wednesday was going to be the day... but I checked the mail and nothing. So Thursday came and I was getting very very anxious. I decided to wake up that morning and go to the temple. Very good idea. It helped to calm me down and prepare me to except my call to serve. I love the peace and joy that you can feel at the temple. When I got home from the temple at about 10:00 I saw the mail mans van so I decided to go check the mail... and guess what?!? My mission call was there! I had a huge smile on as I ran inside and then jumped up and down for joy! But then the waiting began. I wanted all my friend and family to see when I opened it so I decided to wait until 6:30 that night when everyone would be there. Luckily I was really busy most of the day so that made it easier to wait.

Finally 6:30 came along. All my roommates and best friends where there. I had my parents on video chat from Kentucky so they could see the whole thing. Then I had my sister Mackenzie on speaker phone from spring break in Florida! It was so great being surrounded by so many people I love and who love me. After everyone was ready I ripped open the envelope. Then I couldn't find the paper that said what my call was! haha But finally I found it and read through it a little ways until I saw the words... IDAHO BOISE MISSION! I just started to laugh. Totally not what I was expecting. My first thought was "can I get a do-over". Before I could tell everyone else where I was going, my over excited roommate read the paper too and shouted out BOISE IDAHO! It was then mass confusion and everyone was like wait where are you really going and then I told them it really was Boise Idaho and then there were hugs and happiness and it was really wonderful. By this time I was still in shock but so excited and felt so grateful for the call. You can't read over that letter signed by President Monson and not know that it is a call straight from the Lord! Yelling at Ann for shouting out my call before me! haha

My Beautiful, Amazing, Best Friends

After that I proceeded to call all the rest of my loving family and friends. I am so grateful for all the support and love that they give me. I am so excited to go on a mission and I know that Boise Idaho is exactly where the Lord needs me and that I will receive many blessings for faithfully excepting the call to serve. I can't wait to get to Idaho and share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the amazing people there. I feel so blessed and honored that the Lord is trusting me with his precious children. It's going to amazing!!!! Wow, I am blessed!

I report to the Provo MTC on July 8, 2009 and I couldn't be happier :-)

Mission!!

2009-03-27T18:47:00.002-10:00

So... good news! My mission papers are officially in now... they have been in for about a week! Hopefully by next Wednesday or Thursday I will have my call :-) Yey! I'm so excited! So I'm taking a poll about where you think I am going. Cast your vote and we'll see who is closest! Everything else in life is going pretty well. Just busy... but its fun.

80's Bowling :-)

2009-03-10T18:51:00.004-10:00

So it has become a new tradition to go 80's bowling every March. On campus they have one night a year in March where they have one bowling for one dollar a game if you are dressed up in 80's clothes! So fun! Last year we went and had so much fun so last night after I had studied from 10-6 and then taken a 3 hour test, we got all dolled up and went BOWLING! I love bowling so much. We only got to play one game but it was still good... even though I bowled pretty bad. Cory came and joined us too! Now for some pictures...

I'm 21!! :-)

2009-03-08T14:35:00.004-10:00

Ok so I know I said I was going to be a more faithful blogger... and I am! I planned on blogging at least every two weeks... but for some odd reason February disappeared!! I literally think it did! There is no way time can go that fast. One minute it was the beginning and now all of a sudden its March! Oh were oh were did you go Mr. February??

So now on to March... which means one very exciting things. MY BIRTHDAY!!! I was born March 2, 1988 in Provo, UT. That day the world was very blessed :-) And now I'm 21! Holy cow I'm getting up there. I honestly can't believe how old I am. I used to think 21 was ANCIENT! ha And now here I am at the great age of 21... even though I still feel about 16. I think 21 is a monumental age. It is the age where you are really, really an adult! At 18-20 you like to think you are an adult and you sort of are but I feel once you are 21 everyone expects you to REALLY be an adult! So wish me luck on that one.

So now about the wonderful festivities to celebrate me! I had a fabulous birthday. I went to the doctor at 8 that morning. The guy almost sent me home because he said you aren't allowed to voluntarily go to the doctor on your birthday! When I told him I was coming for my mission he said I could stay :-) I know getting poked with needles and having to pee in a cup aren't really how most would like to start off their birthday it was exciting for me because I knew it was getting me closer to my mission! So after that fun adventure I had class... mission prep class actually (can you see what my life is pretty focused on right now haha). I love that class SOO much! I can't even explain how much. EVERYONE SHOULD TAKE MISSION PREP FROM BOTT!

While I was walking home from class to meet my grandparents who were in town from Las Vegas for lunch I started thinking about how I really wanted flowers. Every girl should get some flowers for her birthday! Well I get home and my grandma comes in and what is she carrying... a lovely vase of flowers!!! What wonderful grandparents they are :-) (side note... my hometeacher also brought me flowers later that day and Chase also sent me some flowers! and I hadn't told anyone I wanted them) So I went to lunch with my grandparents at Zupas and it was so wonderful! I love that place! A perfect birthday lunch. Then I had to head back for more class, but it wasn't to bad because everyone was super nice to me. That's why I love birthdays :-)

Later that night my roommates threw me a lovely little birthday party! Rachelle and Ann both made amazing cakes for me. Rachelle made my favorite carrot cake and then Ann made this delicious pumpkin cake thing. They were so delicious and a big hit. My friends all came over and they sang to me and we just hung out and talked. It was so great to have everyone there. Afterwards we kept the tradition alive and headed to the hot springs in Midway! Freshman year for my birthday I had a big party and a bunch of us went to the hot springs. Then last year by some coincidence I ended up at the hot springs again. So this year we decided to do it again! It was really fun. Lorina, Hannah, Dani, Audrey, Rachelle, Kaitlin, and Spencer went. They were really hot but not to hot that we couldn't sit in them for a little bit. It also helped that it was actually a really nice night so we weren't to cold when we got out.Overall it was a wonderful birthday! Thank you friends for making it so great! :-)

Oh yeah PS my parents sent me Graeters ice cream all the way from Kentucky! (for those of you not from Kentucky it's the best ice cream ever and they only make it in Kentucky!) I have been enjoying it every day since and still have some left! Thank you mom and dad!

I'm Back!

2009-02-06T13:59:00.008-10:00

Ok, so it has been a REALLY long time since I have blogged! To clarify a long time... try 7 months! I know, I know. Horrible me. What can I say I have been busy and haven't felt like blogging. But I have enjoyed continuing to stock other peoples blogs. So while stocking blogs today I suddenly had the urge to start blogging again... we will give it some time and see how it goes, but I think I am back to stay. Hey, if I get to read about everyone elses life shouldn't I share a little about my life too? Ok so now for the 7 month preview about what has been going on in my life so you can be all caught up....

Summer:
*Left Hawaii and went back to Lexington to spend the rest of the summer

*Spent the rest of the summer goofing around doing nothing productive (kind of like the first half of the summer), except I had Chase to goof off with me :-)

*Summer had to end and I came back to Provo to start my Junior year of college... don't you hate the end of Summer?

Fall:

*School started. It was my first semester in the BYU accounting program. It is very challanging and I have never spent so much time studying in my life but I love it anyways! (don't ask me if I love it on test weeks because then I will probably say no)

*I am still living with the best girls in the world! I love my roommates so much! Sadly though this is our last year together and then we will all be going our separate ways.

*Chase left on his mission. It was weird having him live right down the street and not being able to see him. We wrote frequently though so it was ok.

*Chase came home from his mission. He had really bad headaches and they couldn't figure out what was causing them so they sent him back home on medical release to figure it out and then get back on his mission. He is currently still in the process of "figuring it out" but will soon be going back on his mission! It has been a rollercoaster saying goodbye and then seeing eachother again and then having to say goodbye all over. That has kind of been how our relationship has gone for almost the past two years... but it has been so great and I love him a lot!!!

*Spent Thanksgiving in Las Vegas with my Grandparents! It was so much fun and so nice and warm! I love family!

*Spent Christmas in Oregon with all of my mom's side of the family. It was so good to see my mom and dad and sister! Again, I love family.

Winter:

* Came back to Provo again to start yet another semester... it has been a little more stressful this time around but is still going well.

*Chase came to visit Provo!! It was so much fun. It was really good to see him and I think it was something we both needed. But then we had to say goodbye again...

So I think that pretty much sums up the past 7 months of my life. Nothing to exciting. Mostly just school. But I am loving life and getting so excited for what is to come in the future.

Things happening soon:

*Putting my mission papers in!!! I am so beyond excited to go on a mission!! I will definitaly write a blog when I find out where I'm going. Right now I'm aming to turn my papers in in March and then leaving the end of June. We will see it that really happens though.

*Applying for graduate school at BYU! I decided last semester that I want to get my masters in accounting at BYU. It is only one more year of school and I think it will be a really good thing. Wish me luck getting in!

Ok I'm done rambling about my life now. Sorry it's so long... I had 7 months to catch up on give me a break.

Finally!

2008-06-14T21:34:00.002-10:00

Chase got his mission call!! He is going to Puebla, Mexico! He is so excited :-) It's onl

:-)

2008-05-28T21:09:00.000-10:00

This past week has been eventful! I went hiking to a waterfall in the dark, snorkeling with sea turtles, rode the bus to Waikiki, and went skydiving! I also had plenty of relaxing time at the beach and reading good books. I can't believe my time here is half way over...

Happiness

2008-05-27T12:57:00.003-10:00

My adventure in Hawaii is going great! Its not exactly what I expected it to be, but it has turned out to be so much more. I am defiantly learning a lot about myself and about life.

At first I was lonely here and it was hard, but I realized that attitude is the key. When I decided to have a positive attitude no matter what happened, things turned completely around. Nothing changed, but the way I looked at it changed and I was able to see how blessed I am to be here. As I began to have a good attitude and trust in the Lord I could just feel the blessings being poured out on me. I realized the hand of the Lord in everything I do and how much He truly is aware of me and is helping and guiding me always. I have always known this but being here has given me a renewed testimony. On campus we have devotionals every Tuesday morning and firesides every Sunday night. Each time I have gone the topic has been an answer to my prayers. I know the Lord wanted me to be here and is guiding my life. I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who listens to my prayers and places answers all around me.

So here are some keys to happiness that I have learned while out here:

1. Be positive and optimistic.
Look for the good in every situation!
2. Trust in the Lord.
Fear and doubt ruin happiness.
3. Have Faith, Hope, and Charity.
These three things are really the key to happiness!

These things might seem basic, I'm just slow and it took something big to really make me realize what truly can make me happy. I know now that it doesn't matter where you are, what you are doing, or what trials you are going through; you can always be happy if you choose to be.

Surfing

2008-05-08T19:11:00.006-10:00

Here are pictures of me and my roommate after we went surfing!

And here is what I look at every day while I lay on the beach :-)

I GOT IN!

2008-05-07T16:40:00.003-10:00

So today I found out something really exciting... I got into the accounting program at BYU!!! I am very happy that I finally know that I got in so I can relax and enjoy my time in Hawaii and know that everything else is taken care of. I start the program in the fall and then will graduate as an accountant in two years! This may not seem exciting to anyone else but its great to finally have some of my future figured out.

Paradise

2008-05-06T16:13:00.009-10:00

I've been for more then a week now and things are really amazing! My roommates are awesome and my classes are easy and I'm right on the beach. What more could a girl want? My house is pretty ghetto but I'm getting used to it. It was kind of fun to hang up my laundry to dry...
My daily routine is to wake up and go to my one class of the day and then come home and head to the beach! Its a pretty laid back life here with time for a lot of meditating. Its so beautiful and relaxing to just lay on the beach.
I have also got to do some exciting things. My aunt Melissa and her friend were here so I went with them up to the north shore and saw some pretty sunsets and ate some awesome food. We also got shaved ice a few times which is a must. On Saturday I got to go surfing!! (pictures coming later) It was so amazing and really fun! We also went to the set of lost and got to take some pictures inside some of the sets. They were supposed to be filming the day we went but there was a storm so unfortunately we didn't get to see the cast.
I'm off now to take a nap and then go watch the sunset :-) I will write more later...

PS

2008-04-27T23:27:00.003-10:00

I am very bored so I decided to take some more pictures of myself. Just thought you might enjoy this one. Oh and another perk that I forgot to mention... I can see the Oahu temple out my window!!! and I can walk to it in about 5 minutes!! So exciting I know!

My two other roommates are coming in tomorrow. I hope that they are fun and will talk to me and play with me. If not then I guess I will be writing many many blogs....

Our just laying on the beach a lot :-)

Lonely in Paradise

2008-04-27T22:52:00.005-10:00

So today was a very interesting day. I left in the morning to fly to Hawaii. It wasn’t a bad flight and things went pretty smoothly. The only bump was that my suitcases weighed too much so I had to take stuff out and put it in my backpack, which then weighed about 30 pounds! I also had to carry my pillowcase stuffed with my blanket and towel and other random items on the plane with me. The one bad thing about traveling alone is that you have no one to watch your things. Needless to say it was interesting trying to go to the bathroom with everything I was lugging around. When I finally got to Hawaii I was a little late so I was worried about missing my shuttle. After waiting for 30 minutes my shuttle arrived full of other just arriving students and after another hour I was safe at my new home….

Now for the interesting part: I met my landlord and she was really nice. She showed me around and told me where everything was. The apartment is not bad but not really what you’d call nice either. It has no air conditioning so that will defiantly be something to get used to. I was the first new person to move in and the other girl that has lived there for a year and will be my roommate wasn’t home. I went up to my room to find that I will be sleeping on the top of a very rickety bunk bed. After getting settled in its not that bad. I got all unpacked and everything fit and there was plenty of room. I was then completely bored with nothing to do and no one to call because the time difference so everyone I know is asleep. One major perk that I discovered however is that I can get the neighbors internet from my bed! It’s not a strong connection but I can at least get on the internet which I didn’t think I would be able to do. Also I found out that I do have a TV and cable which I didn’t think I would have. I got excited so I turned on the TV, Desperate Housewives was on! To my dismay however the TV would stay on for about 5 seconds and then turn off. I have no clue why or how to fix it so my brief excitement was smashed. I then proceeded to get on facebook with my weak internet connection and try to waste some time. I had just fallen asleep at the key board when my roommate walked in. She was nice and we talked for a minute but it was kind of an awkward meeting. Now she is down stairs with her boyfriend and I am up here writing this blog.

The one major perk of my humble aboad is that it is right on the beach! Like literally you walk into the backyard and you are on the beach. That is definitely where I would be right now, but I already tried and it was soo dark that I was tripping over things and falling and decided after a few bruises that it probably wasn’t the best idea. Tomorrow morning that is the first thing I am going to do however. And then I will take the mile trek to the grocery store (yes it really is a mile, and yes I really do have to walk there and then walk back carrying my groceries). Then I will try and find my way to the BYU campus. Tomorrow is going to be interesting!

Now I will end the longest blog ever...(this is me looking gross because it is so freaking hot, plus I have been traveling all day, I should go shower now)

Hawaii

2008-04-20T15:36:00.013-10:00

This is my first blog post! Exciting huh??

So in one week today I will be in Hawaii! I am moving there for two months to go to school at BYU-Hawaii. When I say go to school I actually mean take two classes and then spend the rest of the time on the beach...

I decided to start this blog so I could log my adventures there and make everyone else jealous. Well I don't really want to make anyone jealous, I just want you to be able to experience the fun with me. I will try to keep up with it and post all my pictures.

I also want to dedicate this blog to some very special people who have inspired me to blog: Hannah, Dani, Ashley, Stacie, Coryn and Laurianne. I hope my blog can be half as cool as any of yours.