I'm Singin' in the Rain...

Just singing in the rain!

What a glorious feelin',
I'm happy again!

I'm laughing at clouds

So dark up above

The sun's in my heart,

And I'm ready for love

Let the stormy clouds chase
Everyone from the place

Come on with the rain-

I've a smile on my face!

I walk down the lane
With a happy refrain

Just singin',

Singin' in the rain :)

Mission accomplished-- I completed Number 12 on my Summer Bucket List!

  It was a beautiful evening, almost like being in Scotland again, where I could smell the rain. It wasn't too much rain so I couldn't smell the worms yet :) It was warm and cloudy and misty and sprinkling. A typical day in Scotland. I saw myself there again. It was just a brief glimpse--standing there in the rain reminded me of the last day I saw some of my scottish friends. It was raining that day too-- on my cheeks and down my brolly (umbrella), making puddles on the ground. Puddles I didn't feel like jumping in.

Despite the sadness, rain always brings out something better that I didn't see before. It beautifies the world and makes it look like a better place. Just like sadness makes us stronger.

And then God sends a rainbow.

Rain just does something to me...I can relive earlier times while enjoying the present whenever it rains.

The green grass, the shrubs, the flowers, the wellies (rainboots), the rainbows and hedgehogs. All such wonderful memories.

And yesterday I relived them.

And I was happy.

Radiant Tales: Chapter Ten

There's been a lot to think about of late...

like how it's June 23rd and I've only completed .111111111111111112 of my Summer Bucket list :)


and that my computer tech homework is more boring than my US history homework....



or maybe you'd like to know that I've been thinking about the pre- existence because of the book I just read called "The Two Brothers". Have you ever thought about that? How life might have been, where you might have lived, who you may have known...how you probably walked and talked with the Saviour and with God, probably asked them questions. How you really did stand up for who you believed in---your older brother. or have you thought of what you learned? Elder Jensen said we've already learned everything. Now we just uncover :) Kind of cool to think about.


But I guess what I'm getting at is what I'm really thinking about is growing up.
I had a wee talk with myself while I was riding on my bike to the canyon. It went something like this:
This is your conscience speaking.
Oh. *breath* hey. Welcome to the *breath* struggle. *sweat sweat breathe sweat sweat*
You know, this bike ride is hard.
ha, you can say that again. *sweat breathe sweat breathe*
just like life sometimes is.
. . .
Alissa, see how you're still pedaling? You're moving on.
Are you trying to teach me something about riding a bike?
You mean, you didn't know bikes could teach lessons? 
Okay, I get it. I need to move on in life.
There's something else. When you look back on this bike ride, what will you remember the most?
. . . the scenery?
Perhaps. But more than that, you'll remember how much you struggled on your way up this hill.
oh.
And you know what else? What's at the end of the bike path?
(grin) water!
Don't you think you will remember how wonderful it tasted--especially after such a strenuous journey?
Yes.
Now relate that to life.
Well...life is changing...I'm struggling to get through it...but it will be worth it in the end.
Yes. And the part that matters is that you don't give up--you keep going. Even though you are sweating and your legs are aching and your fingers are clenched so hard around your handles that they are turning different colours...yes. you keep going. You trust in your legs (use your spiritual ears) and you trust in yourself that you can make it. You're doing great. Keep going and the end will be better than the beginning.

You're at the top now :)





I guess God is teaching me trust.

"What?" you might ask. "She's not going to college yet..."

:)

nope.

but I know some girls who are.

one of them just recently went. you probably know her. everyone does ;-)

To my dearest Ariona.

J'espere que tu me visite souvent--tu es la personne qui m'enseigner de ne pas avoir peur, mais de traverser a ma vie avec joie, courage, et espoir. Ariona,

Celui est mon vers favorit. Il est Mosiah 2:41

je t'aime. Je ne dit pas "au revoir" mais je dit "je te verrai bientot!!!"

avec amour,
Alissa


and I guess my pep talk also taught me that I'm meant to move on...and President Monson taught me to Find Joy in the Journey.

Joy.

Joy.

JOY!

:)

it's like Heaven's word for happinness. Only better.

The Lord is My Light

The Lord is my light; then why should I fear?
By day and by night his presence is near.
He is my salvation from sorrow and sin;
This blessed assurance the Spirit doth bring.

The Lord is my light; tho clouds may arise,
Faith, stronger than sight, looks up thru the skies
Where Jesus forever in glory doth reign.
Then how can I ever in darkness remain?

The Lord is my light; the Lord is my strength.
I know in his might I’ll conquer at length.
My weakness in mercy he covers with pow’r,
And, walking by faith, I am blest ev’ry hour.

The Lord is my light, my all and in all.
There is in his sight no darkness at all.
He is my Redeemer, my Savior, and King.
With Saints and with angels his praises I’ll sing.

The Lord is my light;
He is my joy and my song.
By day and by night he leads,
He leads me along.

Radiant Tales: Chapter Nine

I can honestly say that I've never felt like this before.

define "this" you may ask.


Well....


that's kind of hard.


You see, "this" keeps changing.

just like everything else.



I sometimes wish I was back in Scotland, where I had nothing to worry about...

not really, anyways.

Or maybe back in Primary where I could learn all day about how much the Savior loves me.

Or where I can sit amongst my friends again.

If I could pop back into my six year old self where time was relative to me, where the summer days lasted forever...

I'd go in a heartbeat.

You know how sometimes people grow up?

You know how sometimes they move away?

And you know how sometimes they don't come back? And they get their own new group of friends? And you're just another stranger on the street?

well...

"this" is how I feel. 25%..

The other part is sadness. 

something I try to forget.

but it's not just sadness. that my sister is going away.

It's sadness that maybe my little girl world has come to an end. Yes, I still believe in princesses.

and fairies.

and pirates.

And true love.

And Ariel. Tiana. Rapunzel. Meg.

But not sleeping Beauty...she always bugged me :) or snow white. No thanks. I'll be any other princess.

Anyways.

perhaps it's sadness that sometimes the world sees me in a way that I wish I could change. You ever feel judged?

:)

you're not alone.

its sadness that I can't be a part of some people's lives. they seem to have shut me out. and I don't know why...is it possible to be too good?

sadness that I can't seem to find a job, or that my parents have to be so stressed with money.

I guess that makes up...50%% of me. sadness.

the other 25%?

well....

that's the part I can't put into words.

It's somewhere between Gratitude. Thankfulness. Happiness. Love. Joy.

something like that.

And it's alright.

It's that part of me that I always try to show. Even when maybe I just want to crush a grape...or stomp on a whole field of dandelions...

I remember that  it will all work out.

"This" doesn't last forever.

"This" will work out.

Because it always does.

 

with love,

Sunshine

Pictures of your siblings? Priceless.

This is what happens when you leave your camera lying (laying?) out around the house.

Try this at home.

It's quite entertaining, if I do say so myself.

John found my camera and took a picture of the trophee he won on Mario Cart...I know in twenty years I will probably want this picture. Probably :)

I suppose this is a lovely picture of his nose...at least it wasn't smashed against the lense...


I probably will want this one in twenty years :)

A Series of Before and after :)

Before our last math "class" of the year...

AFTER!!!!

 Before:

After!!!

need i say more?

Unfortunately, it was also the last day of our honors class. History Honors class which normally you wouldn't think of an honors class as being

CARROTS!!!

fun and exciting. Well, welcome to the new definition of HONORS.

And poor mama holt will be missing us.

Truth be known, Honors A2, Honors Honors with an honors star honors A2 honors

will be sorely missed.

In memory *sniff sniff*

unfortunately, I don't really have an after picture of this one...but I guess you already know what it would look like if I had took a picture of it.
She'd be standing next to me and I'd be crying on her shoulder. She'd be laughing and I'd be smiling while silently aching. Something only sisters can really understand.

Before:

After!!!

yes. we went cRaZy. with a capital Z

some people just make me laugh :)