Life

I wonder how many people walk around pretending they're happy with a fake smile everyday?

Christmas Picture 09. . . . . Priceless

This is the Oka Family just looking so good with the Christmas spirit!

And this is what goes on behind scences! Gotta love the fam jam:)

Let's finish it up!

Well it's been a long night (not really I just watched Along Came Polly and Russell played with mine and Kylee's hair lol Love ya boo!) but I'm ready to go back down memory lane!

July; Well since this was my last July before I moved out our family just went crazy! We went outdoors a lot! We went to Bryce Canyon and Zion. I LOVE the outdoors so this was just fine with me! I also got to go to lake powell for the first time with my good friend Kate and her family! I love the Knaras's:) Definitely a great summer! Below; Bryce Canyon

Left; Angels Landing in Zion (Best hike EVER!)

Right; Kate and I in Lake Powell

August; I MOVED OUT! Out on my own into the big world of Logan, Utah:) It was a big change but I was definitely ready! Started school at Utah State and am still loving it! I just wish it wasn't so cold!September; Nothing too exciting just getting used to school! Advice: No matter how much you think you can you can't study in your apartment when your roommates are home!

October; Still getting used to school even though the semester is like half way over! HALLOWEEN! We went to the Howl, biggest party in utah!November; Thanksgiving! We went to my Grandma and Grandpa Brown's house in Fillmore, Utah and ate food:) Then we made chocolates and went and cut down our Christmas tree! Love the family traditions. Kevin Gee left to Australia on his mish mash! (Pictures will come soon I don't have them on my lap top quite yet!)

December; I came home at the beginning of the month and I get a whole month off! It has been so nice! This break was much needed! I've gotten to spend a lot of time with friends I never get to see! Jimmy Edwards left to Washington! Then of course Christmas! I love Christmas it's just such a happy holiday! This year I did all my mom's Christmas shopping. Let me just tell you that is not the funnest thing to do in the whole wide world! Oh well I liked all my presents! Our family came here from California so we did a lot of fun stuff with them! I will post of few pics but there will definitely be more to come so keep checking there are some funny ones!

Ugly Sweater Affair 09

This year has had it's ups and downs but it has definitely been a great year! Sad to see it end but ready for the new year full of adventures to come! It's been fun to look back on all the big and small events! I have lot's of plans for next year so we'll see how those work out! See ya 09! Hello 2010!

Recap

So I figure since it's almost the new year it's a good time to recap on 09! Since it's so hard to cover a year, I'm going to do this in two seperate posts. The first post will be the first 6 months! 09 was a great year but it just seemed to fly by! Maybe this well help a little bit!
January; Half way done with senior year and I was definitely ready to get out of there and try something new! Jocelyn and I went to her dad's cabin in Idaho! It was a lot of fun! I went snowmobiling and played pocino for the first time POCINO (everyone should play this game!)!! But we did meet Vallarie........I wouldn't even know where to begin with that woman! I can honestly say craziest person I have ever met! February; Katie turned 12 and Hannah turned 10 on Feb. 3! I got my wisdom teeth out:( I ate KFC mashed potatoes for so long! We went to Disneyland! I don't even remember the last time I had been there! I just love it there everything is just so happy! I still love the kids rides so much, but my all time favorite will always and forever be indiana jones!March; Got my braces on:( They say it should only be a year and I'm hoping the orthodentist stays true to his word! On our way to a great season in lacrosse! Sadee and I were team captians, fun but definitely took some work!

April; I turned 18! My last lacrosse game of high school:( Sure I'll play lacrosse forever but never with all those girls. It was a great and challenging season and I loved every minute of it!May; I began the countdown to graduation! School just seemed to go so slow that last month! I think because we were having all of our end of the year stuff like Senior Dinner Dance! Because of senior dinner dance Sadee and I also got to take Chloee dress shopping for the first time ever! That was probably the one and only time we could have gotten Chloee to try on whatever we told her to;) I also graduated Seminary!

June; GRADUATION! Finally the day I was finally done with high school hade come! Jocelyn, Chloee, Sadee and I went on our senior trip to Idaho. We went to Jocelyn's dads cabin again. Fun and interesting all at the same time. That trip would take a whole entry alone!

Very good first half of 09! But really that feels like it has been years ago! I really had to rack my brain to remember what happened! So much happened in the last half but it has been so much fun! No wonder time flew!

Opposite Lifestyle

I was thinking the other day about life in general. I don't know if this is how it is with everyone or if I'm just crazy, but it seems like too quickly we give away things that mean the most and we don't do the little things as much as we should! It's so easy to put your trust in someone, but do you really know them? So quick to say I love you, but do you mean it? These things are so simply done without thinking at all! But how many times do you say thank you when someone does something nice for you? How many times do you think and do things for someone else before yourself? How long does it take for you to fully forgive someone? These things are so simple and yet sometimes they are the hardest things to do! It's amazing to me that the things I should do without even thinking about are so hard to do and the things I should think about before doing don't seem to phase me. I'm getting better at this but we all need a little work. Remember next time someone holds the door to say thank you. Your life might be hard but try to think about those people whose life is harder. Remember to do the little things and think a little harder about the things that really mean a lot to give away!

Try a little harder each day to be a little better.

Best Buddies

In more than one way am I so grateful that I decided to participate in the best buddy program! First of all the best buddies program is a club at my school where everyone get's assigned a mentally challenged friend. Then you hang out with them about twice a month. My buddies name is Mackie he is 35 years old and he is so cute! He break dances, loves sports, and cookies!! He seriously could eat more cookies then the cookie monster:) My friend Shalee is also participating in best buddies. Her best buddy's name is Richard. He is so much fun. So talkative and definitely the biggest Jazz fan I have ever seen! Yesterday we got to hang out with them! We made sugar cookies, frosted them and watched some of the jazz game. It really was so much fun! Definitely the best way to spend a saturday night. They are just so genuine and really are true friends. I mean they are not afraid to say what they are feeling and sometimes that is hard to come by. Richard works at the temple every day in the cafeteria. When we asked Mackie what his favorite thing to do is he said to do dishes. He is such a good helper! I was so nervous to do this at first by now I am so grateful I did! These boys are going to teach me so much throughout the year I can already tell! I am also so grateful I'm doing this because Shalee and I are becoming closer friends. She is such an amazing person! I can't believe how strong she is! She is definitely a great example. Thank you best buddies program for giving me the opportunity to create some great friendships!

Dedicated to Kevin Gee and all those present/future/past missionaries

Today I went to my friend Kevin Gee's mission farwell. Next week he will be leaving to Australia to serve the Lord of 2 years! I couldn't be more proud of him! His talk was amazing! Definitely one of the best farwell talks I have heard! It means so much more when people tell personal stories and he had so many great examples confirming the truthfulness of the church and it's principles. I love going to friends farwell talks because you really get to hear their testimony and feeling the spirit they carry with them! That doesn't usually just come up in conversations when your just hanging out. Kevin Gee is going to be such a great missionary! He has such a strong testimony, and I'm so grateful for his example!

I never knew how hard of a decision it actually was to go on a mission. Every since I was little I thought girls become mom's and boys go on missions it's as simple as that! I had a seminary teacher say, "A mission is like tithing on your life." Not until really this year have I realized it really is a huge decision in young men's lives. Although I still believe it is true young men should go on missions I look up to them so much more then I did before! It takes a lot of sacrifice to just put you life on hold for 2 years! I really look up to those young men who honestly try and go on missions. I don't know if I could do it! I'm so grateful for all of those who have and are going on missions, they are such a great example to me and are helping so many people! "If you put the Lord first in your life everything will work out." I'm praying for all you missionaries:)