Sunday, June 12, 2011
Gratitude
I'm just feeling overwhelmed today with gratitude. I love my life. I'm grateful for the things my Father in Heaven has blessed me with. I'm grateful for His timing and His way of teaching. I'm grateful He has asked me to work hard for the things I desire and I'm grateful to care so much about those things because I've had to work for them. I'm grateful to be able to depend on my Savior because I trust Him completely. I'm grateful that He leads me step by step and that the Spirit has born witness to me that that is the to grow. Christ grew grace by grace and I'm grateful for His example in everything. I'm grateful for Sundays. I'm grateful for quiet moments and feelings of peace after much tribulation and anxiety. I know that God keeps His promises and I'm grateful to be able to look back on so many things in my life and to see His consistency. I really don't know why I'm so lucky and why I've been blessed to have the life I do. Life is beautiful.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Preaching to the choir
So I realize that not many people read my blog and those that do are probably close friends who have similar views and standards to me. Despite this, I just read an article that interested me (because it's creepy and true) and I wanted to share it because it discusses a real problem in our world. LZ Granderson shares some info and his opinion on the sexuality of young girls in
Parents, don't dress your girls like tramps. I will only comment on his article to say, "amen."
On a more fun note, I'm currently lying on my bed at 11:50am checking FB and buying modest swimsuits online! I love summer sooo much!!!
Going to so many temples with Angie
Nauvoo
Parents, don't dress your girls like tramps. I will only comment on his article to say, "amen."
On a more fun note, I'm currently lying on my bed at 11:50am checking FB and buying modest swimsuits online! I love summer sooo much!!!
Some happy memories from last summer...
Graduation!
Disneyland!
California family reunion
my mom taking weird photos...so artistic:)
My cute Folk Dance Camp girls!
Rachel and Jon's wedding
Graduation!
Disneyland!
California family reunion
my mom taking weird photos...so artistic:)
My cute Folk Dance Camp girls!
Rachel and Jon's wedding
Going to so many temples with Angie
NauvooI can't wait to see what amazing adventures this summer brings!
Monday, March 14, 2011
BANG!
Ye-haw for our Wild West Night!
So I decided to start blogging again, as I haven't done so since my Media professor made me create this blog. We'll see if I enjoy it enough to keep it updated.
My cousins, the Hutchings, taught me this awesome game called BANG! I fell in love with it the first time I played, probably because Katie and I won. Ye-haw for the Sheriff and her deputy! Later, while Greg and I were playing Bang! with Katie and Skyler, we decided we must have a Wild West Night! We even planned it perfectly so that my brother Josh could be there! The following pictures are a result of the night - sorry they're blurry. Love you all! PUNCH!
So I decided to start blogging again, as I haven't done so since my Media professor made me create this blog. We'll see if I enjoy it enough to keep it updated.
My cousins, the Hutchings, taught me this awesome game called BANG! I fell in love with it the first time I played, probably because Katie and I won. Ye-haw for the Sheriff and her deputy! Later, while Greg and I were playing Bang! with Katie and Skyler, we decided we must have a Wild West Night! We even planned it perfectly so that my brother Josh could be there! The following pictures are a result of the night - sorry they're blurry. Love you all! PUNCH!
Monday, December 7, 2009
Mila 18
I love books. All kinds. Well, most kinds. I just finished reading Mila 18 for the second time and it once again blew me away. It's about the Warsaw Ghetto in WWII where all the Jews and societal misfits were made to live during the war, until they were deported to death camps. Leon Uris does an incredible job creating real characters that you wish you knew, combined with historical events. People in the ghetto formed the Jewish Fighters, an underground (literally) militia that (according to the book) held off the German SS Troops for over 40 days! Somehow the first time around I missed that the Fighters were real and Uris based the book off of things that really happened. It is incredible to think of the passion and determination these people had to preserve their stories. I am currently in awe of what people will go through to do what they think is right. Because of my Moral Development class, I think I'm more aware of moral exemplars and I look for them all over. I hope I can always keep this mindset because it helps me look for and see the beauty in people.
This book is on my must-read list!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Spread Kindness
Dear Fox 10,
I am an avid fan of culture, news, and media. I feel it is very important that people around the world know what is going locally, nationally, and in other countries. Thank you for searching out news stories and reporting them, so that we can have this valuable information.
I grew up in Mesa, AZ, where my family has lived for four generations now. I love Mesa and I love Arizona. It is a wonderful place to live, filled with good people and a growing culture. I hope to be able to raise my children there one day and let them have opportunities to grow in such a great environment.
In the last few years, I have become aware of my lack of desire to watch your, and others’, news stations because I feel that all I ever hear about is how horrible the world is and what sad and disgusting things are happening around me. I know that this is compelling news and it is important for people to be aware of what is going on around them, but I feel like many news stations, including yours, are only giving us part of the picture. Every once in a while we get to hear of someone going out of their way to do extraordinary service, but those stories seem to be few and far between.
Many people believe that watching violence or aggressive behavior can lead to increased aggression in viewers. Whether viewers become desensitized, excited by aggression, or get new ideas from it, I believe media violence certainly has an effect on their behaviors. In some of my university classes and through personal research, I’ve learned that watching or being exposed to prosocial behavior (i.e. service, kindness, helpfulness) has just as much effect on positive behaviors as viewing violence has on negative behaviors.
News stations have such power in what and how they portray the events around us. Imagine what good Fox 10 could do by regularly showing the good things happening in The Valley. Happiness and kindness is news too and it is interesting. Your viewers will be happier and have a stronger impulse and desire to help others, if you would show us the good in this world (especially in our communities) as well as the depressing. I truly believe that if you would report on good, prosocial events more often, there would be a positive change in people who watch your program and thus a change in our families and society.
I want my children to grow up in a community where service and goodness is valued and portrayed in the media alongside deviant and selfish behaviors. We deserve to know all that is happening, including the kindness I witness regularly in Mesa and everywhere else I’ve traveled. You can do this. You can help create this environment for our citizens.
Thank you again for covering the news and providing that service to us. I hope you will seriously consider the implications of what you show and how you can be a force for positive change and happiness.
Respectfully,
Sally Boyle
I am an avid fan of culture, news, and media. I feel it is very important that people around the world know what is going locally, nationally, and in other countries. Thank you for searching out news stories and reporting them, so that we can have this valuable information.
I grew up in Mesa, AZ, where my family has lived for four generations now. I love Mesa and I love Arizona. It is a wonderful place to live, filled with good people and a growing culture. I hope to be able to raise my children there one day and let them have opportunities to grow in such a great environment.
In the last few years, I have become aware of my lack of desire to watch your, and others’, news stations because I feel that all I ever hear about is how horrible the world is and what sad and disgusting things are happening around me. I know that this is compelling news and it is important for people to be aware of what is going on around them, but I feel like many news stations, including yours, are only giving us part of the picture. Every once in a while we get to hear of someone going out of their way to do extraordinary service, but those stories seem to be few and far between.
Many people believe that watching violence or aggressive behavior can lead to increased aggression in viewers. Whether viewers become desensitized, excited by aggression, or get new ideas from it, I believe media violence certainly has an effect on their behaviors. In some of my university classes and through personal research, I’ve learned that watching or being exposed to prosocial behavior (i.e. service, kindness, helpfulness) has just as much effect on positive behaviors as viewing violence has on negative behaviors.
News stations have such power in what and how they portray the events around us. Imagine what good Fox 10 could do by regularly showing the good things happening in The Valley. Happiness and kindness is news too and it is interesting. Your viewers will be happier and have a stronger impulse and desire to help others, if you would show us the good in this world (especially in our communities) as well as the depressing. I truly believe that if you would report on good, prosocial events more often, there would be a positive change in people who watch your program and thus a change in our families and society.
I want my children to grow up in a community where service and goodness is valued and portrayed in the media alongside deviant and selfish behaviors. We deserve to know all that is happening, including the kindness I witness regularly in Mesa and everywhere else I’ve traveled. You can do this. You can help create this environment for our citizens.
Thank you again for covering the news and providing that service to us. I hope you will seriously consider the implications of what you show and how you can be a force for positive change and happiness.
Respectfully,
Sally Boyle
Monday, November 23, 2009
Clutter
This week I've really been thinking about how the world is SO LOUD and it's often hard to hear the Spirit over all the noise. We learn over and over that the Spirit whispers and is a still, small voice. The world is loud and we have to consciously work to hear the Spirit and put ourselves in situations where the Spirit can reach us. My roommate, Rachel, and I were talking about this and she made the comment that it seems like the world has gotten louder as time has gone on. I think this is in big part due to mass media. When in history have this many people been able to be reached this quickly with information? Because of mass media, the world can form more collective opinions and push its views on soooo many people, so often, and with such pressure.
What does this mean for us? It is imperative that we learn how the Spirit speaks and "sounds" to each of us personally, so that we can hear Him through the hubble and bubble. It is crucial that we take time (as much as we can) "off" from the world and be in places (physically and spiritually) where we are seeking His will through the Spirit.
This is how we can be happy. I know.
I'm grateful I can talk to sweet Rachel about these things. She pushes my thinking and helps me come to new insights.
Plus we went to China together!
What does this mean for us? It is imperative that we learn how the Spirit speaks and "sounds" to each of us personally, so that we can hear Him through the hubble and bubble. It is crucial that we take time (as much as we can) "off" from the world and be in places (physically and spiritually) where we are seeking His will through the Spirit.
This is how we can be happy. I know.
I'm grateful I can talk to sweet Rachel about these things. She pushes my thinking and helps me come to new insights.
Plus we went to China together!
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Christmas!
OK. So I thought it would be fun to run a little ad for the folk dance show I'm in. It's called Christmas Around the World and this year is the 50th Anniversary of the show! It is always such a great performance and you get to see dances from countries all over the world! Dance is such a wonderful expression of love and life and I feel very fortunate to represent people from so many countries. The show runs December 4th and 5th at 7:30pm or the 5th at the Marriott Center. You can get tickets at the Marriott Center or here:) It's a beautiful way to celebrate Christmas and I'd love to see you there!
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