And the World Spins Madly On

It is hard to express even in simple language how grateful and in awe I am in. I am at that point where I am perhaps a bit more sensitive to those who've lifted my spirit and who made me feel happy about who I am and where I am going. 

 Here is a revamp of yet another General Happiness with a list of people who I am thankful for.

1. My Heavenly Father, who shows me everyday what He wants me to become and encourages me to trust in Him for He has better things in store for me than I could ever imagine for myself. I am grateful for His patience with a wandering soul like mine, and for the great many lessons and opportunities He's given me to prepare myself to be an instrument in the lives of others.

2. My Savior Jesus Christ, who comforts me when I feel weary and downtrodden. He shows me how I can love those around me and helps me strive to serve those around me. I may not be able to fathom His sacrifice fully in this life, but I know that He lives, and loves and knows each of us personally. What a blessing it is to wake up every morning knowing that we have a Savior! 

3. The Holy Ghost, who cheers up my heart and stirs my soul into remembering why I am here. I am grateful for the promptings I get and the courage it gives me to share my love for being here on this earth. I am grateful for the promptings to do what I know is right.

4. My family, is a group of people who I adore. Though we are a bit crazy, I wouldn't change my family for the world. I love my parents, and I am grateful that the trust and support me. I am grateful for my family in Texas who make me feel like I am an older sister, and I miss them very very much. I am grateful for my brother Craig and for his influence on helping me prepare for BYU and to study Russian. I love him and his family so much.  I am grateful for my brother Jason, and for his counsel he's given me over the past year. He's the biggest hoot and is the first to cheer me up and to make me laugh until my cheeks feel like rubber. I am grateful for Brooke and Steve and for how much they put up with me. Brooke, THANK YOU for teaching me how to drive and I am glad that we are still alive. I am grateful for your support and for influencing me so much in my life. I hope you are happy in Ohio and know that I love you and Steve very much. I am grateful for my sister Brittany and for the many times I've had laughing and talking with. I basically have the best sisters in the whole wide world.... basically. I have a fairly amazing extended family too, I love my grandparents and all of my aunts, uncles, and cousins. They couldn't get any cooler. :)

5. My friends! I debated writing a note to each of you who have enriched my life so much- but I think I'll do that on a more private personal level. To my close friends, acquaintances, leaders, teachers, and peers: I love you and I honestly don't know where I would be without you and each of your influences and compassion you've shown this eccentric little girl who laughs and cries too much. I am grateful to those of you who've challenged me to put my best self forward, and I'm grateful to those who've made me laugh in the faces of my trials. I am grateful to those of you who invited me to be myself and who make me able to my semi awkward self. I am grateful for all the belly aches I've received from laughing and for the many lessons of forgiveness, love, service, trials, sadness, optimism, and patience. Thank you all, I love you!

I have many more things to share with you all, and I am sure you guess at least one thing that I'm excited to announce. But for now, here are some songs and quotes!

"Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." 

-Marcel Proust

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."

-Anais Nin

Do You Remember?

September.

 Have you ever seen a more gorgeous month? September, to me, ranks higher than summer ever can. Golden and rouge apples, the waves of colors in the trees on the mountains, the lingering breeze in the weather, the nimble crunching of leaves beneath your feet, and my birthday.

 I've always had this fixation with the number 18. Yes, it is my lucky number, and I will be turning 18 on the 18th. It is my lucky birthday year, and I am bound and determined to have a glowing positive attitude this month.

To celebrate another "General Happiness" I am going to do one or more of my favorite things daily until my birthday, and maybe even through the whole month. Sadie Williams who will be 18 on the 25th is also in with this charade and I am ever so grateful for her friendship. I promised that I am going to wear skirts/dresses every day, and eat oatmeal, herbal tea, or wheat bread and butter daily. Sound a bit extreme?

 Completely. I am being a bit conceited and celebrating myself for the next 18 days because I want to look back on what I've accomplished and achieved within the last 18 years and to see what things contributed and are contributing  to the person I am today. 

 I am a firm believer that every person has something they love, whatever it is. I had an experience a few days ago while working with an individual who couldn't think of anything that they were passionate about, or even cared about- at least that they were willing to share. The idea that the things that bring us joy, fill us with longing, or even raise up from our most difficult times doesn't matter, astounds and horrifies me. To think that what you enjoy doesn't matter? Doesn't matter?!

 I am here to say that is does matter. Every random quirky bit of ourselves has a purpose, and has a meaning that sometimes we need to step back and think about. In words of Franz Kafka,

“Don't bend; don't water it down; don't try to make it logical; don't edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.” 

Amen Franz. Amen. 

Though this is an introduction to my journey, I hope you'll tune in to 18 of my favorite things, and get a better understanding of just how mental I am- after all I am a Herdman. 

Captain of My Soul

Lately I have been slightly obsessed with a band whose music is deep, moving, and reflective. I love The Lumineers and I'd like to share their music with you. This last week I had the opportunity to go with a dear friend (Lizzy Ungerman) to St. George as a last quick vacation to figure out what we wanted to accomplish this school year. We both had an experience while driving home that made us ever so grateful for each other and for Heavenly Father who knows what is in store for us. It's alright for us to not know. Don't be afraid of not knowing. You have a whole world out there, filled with the unknown- and isn't it a beautiful thing?

"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud

 was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." 

-Anais Nin

 

 

 

 

 

This Corn is Like an Angel...

Update: A while back I posted about Emily Brown, who I absolutely adored. Turns out I also adore this lovely lady.  I first heard her song "Dream it Up" and I was sold. Her music was something that if I didn't tell the world how great her music was, I knew that the music goblins would kidnap me and stick me in their labyrinth- something that I hope to avoid...

For an update on life, I am sad very, very, very, very, very forlorn, doleful, morose, disconsolate, languished, and sorrowful that our California trip got cancelled. If anyone who reads this has a dependable car that is cheap on gas and can play an iPod, we will auction off bids this instant. The next best thing that we can do this weekend is to go down to St. George which isn't exactly the "watch-the-sunrise-on-the-horizon" experience that I was hoping for, but it will be a great experience knowing that I am enjoying the time with friends before life catches up with us and blows us to other places. In words of Dan from Dan in Real Life "Life... is full of disappoints." but I also learned this, "plan to be surprised." 

Anywhere the Sun Shines

Myself, Brooke, then Brittany

Summer is quickly fading. School starts back up in 2 weeks, and I am properly excited. I was able to work out my schedule, and I'm afraid I'm just going to be too happy with the way things are looking up. In more recent news, my dear sister Brooke packed up and moved to Ohio. In many ways I am heartbroken that they moved so far, but also I am extremely excited for their new horizons. I will miss her dearly, but then again we can always do three-way calling... 

Last week while watching a guilty pleasure with Sadie and Lizzy, we planned a end of the summer trip to California. We will be heading out this upcoming Thursday and coming home the day before school starts: a grand total of 5 days in the sun, sand, and land of milk and honey. To be frank, this is exactly what I think the five of us need. As this year continues to creep forward, I'm learning to keep in perspective the things that matter the most. So far, it has been hard to determine whether I do things because I genuinely want to, or I do them to please others. Since it is kind of mixed in my book, it makes it hard for me to say no things. I'm hoping that this quick trip will help me find reevaluate my life a bit, and help me soak up my experiences that I had this summer (which I still need to blog about... sorry friends.) 

Here is a song by Mason Jennings that pretty much sums up how "El-suave" I think going to California will be.

And here are just some songs that I happen to love currently, and I HIGHLY recommend the new Joshua Radin CD: Underwater

SORRY FOR MUSIC OVERLOAD... oh wait. Psych!

Oh, I'm in Love

Today finally felt like summer. Sleeping in, morning scripture study, bowl of Kellog's Krave, late shower, errand run with a friend, finishing touches of a clean room, painting a mirror, trying to darn holes in favorite cardigans, sewing lavender pouches, planning projects to sew hems, book club planning, Harry Potter debating, dreaming of a lavender or mint green-grey-white wedding, quesadilla making, spaghetti eating, no make-up, hair undone, new shoe wearing, purchasing a adorable skirt, and a darling dress, leaving the bedroom window open, journal entry catch-uping, reading, dreaming of a future home, and writing in the thunder. Now that's what I call summer.

My dream house...

I bought 3 of these picture frames. It fits my painting nicely!

The whole in my mint green cardigan that I tried to darn... darn those holes!

Spray painted mirror... check!

To be sewn on this skirt

My dress that I can't wait to wear!

I'm putting up 3 more shelves to replace my bookcase hutch above my desk. I'll be add to more books!

Sorry about the lighting... but this is my new dress I ordered.

My new skirt coming soon...gosh. I love dresses and skirts. (This one cost me a whole $12.48. No tax. No shipping charge!)

I color-coded my books!

Love that figure. Oh, I did find my Inheritance book... it is to the left. :)

Can't wait to put up my new shelves...

The sad pile of books awaiting a home. Everywhere else is full.

Getting ready to stuff

Finished!

What it looked like before...

Bliss

                  Yep. Looks like this is going to be a good week.