Cuz we'll always be cougars

Okay, okay, I'm sure half the world has already seen all of these videos, but in light that ROC passes went on sell today and I'll be heading back to BYU (and BYU sporting events) in like three weeks (!!!!!) I have decided to share these uplifting Divine Comedy Music Videos:

Fail:

Good:

and last of all (of those I wanted to post...) Cougars:

I may or may not be completely and utterly excited to return to Provo.
Okay you got me. I am BEYOND excited. At this point on instagram I would use #hashtags... and if I did it would look like this:

#byu
#immacougar
#iamsoexcitedtogobackilovebyusomuch
#butimkindascaredofschoolsinceivemisseditforabout2yearsnow

When I collect my ROC pass in these next few days there will be photos of me being overwhelmed with joy. Be prepared.

welp here we are again....

hello fellow family members, friends, so on....

so as many of you know about 2 weeks ago I returned from THE GREATEST year and a half of my life. (sniff, sniff)
But although I am sad, there is great joy to be found knowing that God has a plan for each one of us. ALL OF US. And when one chapter ends (no matter how beautiful the chapter was) there is another one, even better waiting on the next page.

Things to know about me now:

I am not the same Katy I was 18 months ago, I think (at least I hope) I am a better Katy and I know that I can continue improving, YAY!
I like Latin Music now (it happens when you live in Mexico for a while) but I will not force anyone to listen to it with me.
I occasionally speak spanish words in my sentences.
I truly find great JOY in the simple miracles I see daily.
I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ I know it, I try daily to live it, I truly DO love it.

okay other thing:
This last week I got to go to the Payson Temple Open House. GOR.GE.OUS.
It was stunning. I truly believe that it is only the best for the Lord, and I believe that if He has told us that we ourselves are "temples" we should only give "the best" shouldn't we? Just a thought. Also an invitation if there is still time to go. GO. And if you can't make it to the open house and you can go when it is dedicated DO IT. I love being surrounded with His house in this state. What a great blessing.

So I guess that is my first blog post for now, not much (I will need to be more creative in days to come) but it's a start.

Missionary Pictures, the 19 year old, and General Conference, OH MY!

So the other week my lovely friend Sydney came and visited me and took some pictures of me at the Draper Utah Temple. And not that I usually like to post pictures of myself on here but she did such a good job that I decided that I would post some of them on here after a few other things:

First:
I'm 19 now!!! Officially old enough to serve my Mission now. We pretty much celebrated my birthday on the 4th so activities wouldn't collide with Conference. It was a an awesome day spent with my family and with a victory from my BYU Cougars over the Aggies that was an extra present I very much enjoyed(; Saturday was my actually birthday and although I am now 19 it didn't really feel that different than 18 at first... I guess that "whole year older and WISER" thing didn't really happen when I woke up that morning.  Luckily, it was the start of General Conference, which helped with becoming "wiser."
Also, between sessions my family surprised me with a special gift, a two hour present named Waldo, an energetic puppy from Rent a Puppy, he was so much fun.

Second:
As mentioned before General Conference was two weeks ago (one my birthday!!!) I love General Conference. It is such a blessing to me that we have the opportunity each 6 months to gather together as a whole church and to hear the word of God through the voice of His servants.
Also I just love how much the General Authorities love their spouses. The way they talk with such adoration about them makes me so happy.
I summery I just love Conference, it brings me so much joy and extra peace and strength that I need in this insane world. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church on the earth and I am so grateful to be blessed to have had it in my life forever. I love this gospel!

Yup!

And now, some pictures! All credit goes to Sydney Stout check out her page!

lastly, some people have asked me to post pictures of all my Mission outfits... I don't know if I will because I already posted where I found stuff but we'll see!

Until next time! Adios!

The Power of Heaven

This morning I went on a lovely trip to the Provo Temple with my sister.
On the way we decided to pull out "The Doctrine and Covenants" CD from Seminary that was in the car.
 As we drove along this beautiful song came on:

(Strength Beyond  My Own)

As it played it reminded me of the power that comes through the Temple, The House of the Lord. An Endowment Session is something that I really needed today, to draw closer to my Heavenly Father and His Son while there. 

"In the refuge of the Temple, I find strength beyond my own. I can feel the power of Heaven as I stand on Holy ground and the Spirit whispers what I want to learn. Eyes are touched with understanding, I can see beyond this world, it's the place I reach for Heaven, and it reaches in return."

If you are ever in need of the "power of Heaven," go to the Temple. It truly is a refuge. It will bring you the peace and comfort, the power and enlightenment that you need.

The Errand of Angels

So guess who's going on a Mission?
THIS GIRL!!!!!!
So I guess this will be turning into a Pre-Me Blog soon.
This is the video of me opening it:

And in case you'd rather not watch it...
I have been called to serve as a Missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I have been assigned to labor in the mexico, Villahermosa Mission.
I will report on November 13th, 2013 to the Provo Missionary Center
and I will be speaking Spanish. (good thing i took 4 years of German... oh wait...)


I am so excited to go out and serve the Lord and God's children. I know that this is what I am supposed to do. I can't wait(:

when you wish upon a star

"Anything your heart desires, will come to you."


6 days, only six!!!
Choir Tour is less than a week away and I am dying from waiting.

Oh how much I need to be in Disneyland and just have some simply
splendid moments like:

Seeing the Daper Dans sing
Going to Fantasmic
Spending non-stop days with my closest friends
Seeing World of Color
Rocking the Music in the Parks Festival again (hopefully)
Just feeling like a little kid and feeling though anything is possible.
Having something absolutely magical happen.

 I need some childhood magic in my life. I'm craving it.

how can you say this place isn't magical? it totally is(:

is it obvious that I'm excited?

a much needed break

✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ 
                         


                       Spring Break is finally here and it's a good thing too, because I've needed it.
           My Senoritis has kicked in fully and I think if I didn't have the break I would explode.
                                   Time to lay back, relax, and enjoy Spring the right way.




✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿

the key to happiness

You all want to know it(:

Today was Stake Conference for my Stake and I felt such a wonderful joy and love because of the Gospel. So I felt inclined to share some thoughts given.

Youth Session:

• Never be ashamed of your testimony
• To help others become converted you must be truly converted
• It doesn't matter where you go. Missionary work is missionary work. And where you go is where the Lord knows you need to go.
• Everything good comes from God. Everything.
• With the Lord there are no coincidences.

      and lastly...

• The Lord knows who you are. He loves you.

The Youth Theme for 2013 is "Stand Ye In Holy Places"
and this is the theme song. It makes me so happy.

General Session:

• Serving a mission is not about you (me.) It's about others.
• "I'm a Mormon. I know it. I live it. I love it." I share it.
• How can we strengthen Zion? Share the Gospel with everyone. They are all God's children.
• Missionaries need to know that they know how to teach so they can be confident in doing so.
• "Goal setting and planning are acts of faith." -Preach My Gospel
• Build your foundation deep so we may stand tall when the winds of tribulation hit.
• He will never forsake us. He will never forget us, for He is the one who has felt the pain and the sufferings that we have.
• "Fear thou not."
• Look, turn, and reach outward. Be that person God can trust to do so.
• Are we just content going about? Or, are we going about doing good?
• Establish patterns of righteousness in your daily life.  

and what you were all waiting for...

• The "Key to Happiness" is simply to follow Christ.

This Gospel is true. I know it without a doubt. It has shaped me into the young women I am today. I know that I am not perfect--I won't ever be while on this Earth--but I know someone who is, and He makes up for my imperfection. With Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father nothing is impossible. They truly can make weak things become strong.

i'm a jay,jay,jay,jay,jayhawk... oh wait

Just kidding!

          I'm a Cougar.   

                     I am so happy.

    

now it is so real

tonight about like eight guys from my school received their mission calls,
two who were there with me when the announcement was made.
before it was just something that I was excited for but nothing had happened.
now it is a reality.
June can't come soon enough.

the thing that I can't wait for

would be a Mission, in case you don't know me that well. 

I know that I post about this like every other time but I really can't help it.

It is the thing that I want sooo much to do.

I really like anything to do with newly called Sister Missionaries (strange huh?) so I'm posting this

I have been spending most of my day working on homework, playing music, and watching Mission Call openings from Facebook. They make me so happy!

also, craziness. I was talking to one of the young men I associate myself with most everyday and we were discussing the topics of Missions and he can put his paper in this month!!! So can pretty much all of the boys I hang out with. I'm so glad I have such wonderful friends who are ready and willing to serve.

what sweeter music?

"What sweeter music can we bring
Than a carol, for to sing
The birth of this our heavenly King?
Awake the voice! Awake the string!

Dark and dull night, fly hence away,
And give the honor to this day,
That sees December turned to May.

Why does the chilling winter’s morn
Smile, like a field beset with corn?
Or smell like a meadow newly-shorn,
Thus, on the sudden? Come and see
The cause, why things thus fragrant be:
‘Tis He is born, whose quickening birth
Gives life and luster, public mirth,
To heaven, and the under-earth.

We see him come, and know him ours,
Who, with his sunshine and his showers,
Turns all the patient ground to flowers.

The darling of the world is come,
And fit it is, we find a room
To welcome him. The nobler part
Of all the house here, is the heart.

Which we will give him; and bequeath
This holly, and this ivy wreath,
To do him honour, who’s our King,
And Lord of all this revelling.

What sweeter music can we bring,
Than a carol for to sing
The birth of this our heavenly King?"

Robert Herrick (1591-1674)

Merry Christmas Everyone! I am also so grateful for the greatest gift. Christ and His atonement for us. Isn't it wonderful that He loves us so much? "Greater ^alove hath no man than this, that a man lay down his^blife for his ^cfriends." John 15:13 

As I have previously stated one of my favorite things about Christmas is Christmas Music. I shared the lyrics to one of my favorites above but listening to it is so much more powerful. (look it up on YouTube now. find a choir that you think have great voices and listen to it. do it now.) But one that I discovered last year in Chamber Choir (that we sing every year) is so powerful. This is last year's Chamber singing  Carol of Joy I hope you enjoy it and that it will remind you more about God's love for each of us and of His gift of His son.

Material things: I got some awesome sweaters (wahoo!) and  Ipod Touch. (I feel so connected now.)

Important things: I got to talk to my wonderful sister who is serving in Donetsk, Ukraine. Actually face time with her. It was great. I laughed, I cried (a lot,) it moved me. I really am so grateful that she is serving the Lord and our fellow-men. She is bringing the gift of the Gospel to those in need. I love her

she is so gorgeous.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!

Christmas time is here

(yay for "A Charlie Brown Christmas")

What a wonderful time of the year! Christmas used to be my favorite Holiday because of the commercial stuff (which I think it is for most children) but luckily I have fantastic leaders and parents who have helped me gain a testimony of the true meaning of the season.
Giving to those around us, but most importantly: Receiving. Receiving Christ as our Savior and accepting His gift of the Atonement in our lives.
But although I love the meaning of Christmas, I also love the things about it: the lights, the snow, and the carols.
One of my favorite things about being in Choir is that I get to start singing Christmas music in October. However I love it even more when it is December and our songs don't just sound like notes.
I would want to post some of the recordings of us on here just so you could hear how wonderful our songs are, how touching and amazing they are.

Instead I will just tell you.
They are touching and amazing.

This week Chamber Choir had the opportunity  to preform in different venues at Temple Square and I decided there is no better place to sing about/celebrate the Savior's birth. Ever. ...well maybe if we went to Bethlehem  but that's besides the point...

If any of you want to see how we celebrate the season--and you should--our concerts are the 17th (6pm and 8pm) and 18th (7pm) if you desire tickets please let me know ASAP and I will try to get some for you!

and one more thought:

what a week

so many wonderful things occurred:
Went to "Peter Pan: A Musical Adventure" (twice!) , played basketball with my old team, had an actually conversation with a certain young man, ate a brownie, cleaned my room, got an A- on my Chemistry test, oh. and got to see this girl:

while watching these guys:

Don't worry I'm in a good mood(:

dangers may gather--why should we fear?

So short version: The Church is true.

Long Version: My stake had a "special" Stake Conference today and it was amazing. Elder Craig C. Christensen and his wife came to speak to us, the messages shared were amazing.

However, since I don't think any of you are telepathic and can see exactly how wonderful this conference was I'll just share a few thoughts from the speakers instead:

"Don't ever become discouraged." President Trent (my wonderful Stake President)

There is ALWAYS hope. always.

He also shared some ways that we can be happy and not be discouraged:

1)Keep the Commandments

2) Do the "Small and Simple Things"

3)Serve Others

4) Constantly Give Thanks

5) Experience true love and joy through living God's plan for us.

We sang "We Are All Enlisted" and during the third verse I was overcome with joy singing the lines:

Dangers may gather--why should we fear?

Jesus our Leader, ever is near.

He will protect us, comfort, and cheer.

We're joyfully, joyfully, marching to our home.

Isn't it a beautiful thought that Christ is always with us. We have no need to fear. 

"We don't need to go anywhere to be in the mission field. This is the mission field." -President McCune (Mission President)

"There's a work to be done, and the work is hastening." (oh!oh!oh! that's exciting)

He shared the story of the Olive Vineyard and especially stressed the end of it. "Go play offense. Go find those who have already been taken by the enemy."

"Of course we're not perfect, but we have the Savior." -Sister Christensen 

"We can love a Laman or Lemuel back into the fold," -Elder Craig C. Christensen

Elder Christensen radiated so much love. He shared with us his thoughts on General Conference and of how the first talk after President Monson (Elder Cook's) and the last talk before President Monson (Elder Bednard's) were about being truly converted. To live in a way that shows what we know is true. "It's not how quickly we get through the scriptures. It's how quickly the scriptures get through us."

This is the true Church. And I know it. I live it (at least I try.) I love it.

let it snow

I'm not a skier or snowboarder, I'm just a "White Christmas" fanatic.
When it started flurrying outside my English class yesterday I was bubbling.
I got home and listened to 106.5 the whole time while on the computer.
On the way to a friend's house last night I had a snowball fight with someone before I knew who they were.
This afternoon I enjoyed snow angels, and sledding in my yard with my brother.

(cheesy picture of my boots. it's a must.)

(inspirational picture. another must.)

did some good

do you like it when you get recognized for being you?
It just makes me smile.
Story: I'm Choir President so I am supposed to help out in choir. We had a sub on Friday and our Chamber Rep. was doing her job and people were being a bit difficult so I just told them to be respectful.
So yesterday I am called down to the office and guess what? I got a Key Card for doing my job.
It was a good day.

And today. I did my duty as a citizen.
That's right. I voted.

(so did she.)

(and just so you know people clap for you

 if you are a first time voter... awkward? yes. but fun.)

(so did Melanie, and Cassie... kind of did. ;] )

It feels good to do good(:

I have 6 best friends.
I have lived with them all most of my life.
Today I will talk about one.
She's always been there for me and I love her so very much.
Her name is Sarah. Sarah Armknecht.
You wanna know why?
Story: I leave motivational sticky-notes all around my house to remind me to do things, I came home around my birthday and found these posted on my mirror:

(see the one on the cupboard? that one is mine)

She is beautiful and I am so grateful for her. 

♪ oh how I love those Mormon boys ♪

I most definitely love each of these young men.

Thank you Grantsville West Stake for having such amazing young men.

 If any of you come to Lindon anytime soon I wouldn't say "no" to a date.

    Seriously though, this brightened my day.          

I hope whoever is reading this has a happier day now too.

Another happy thought: Isn't it so wonderful how many Young Men are getting their mission papers ready now? At church on Sunday all my friends who graduated last year came to get their Bishop interviews and then a large group of my friends (boys and girls) have been posting on Facebook about it. It just makes me ...how did Elder Holland say it? ..."I'm bordering on the giddy." Oh goodness it is just so amazing!

happy tuesday!

best bud

my little brother is my best bud.
I love my whole family but with only one brother he is my only bud.
And he makes me laugh the most

Example from this morning:

"I'm part girl"
no you are all boy
"Then why am I not YY"
Because you get a X chromosome from mommy and a Y from daddy.
"Then why don't you get a Y?" (pause for a second) "Oh! Because you get your other X from daddy!"

-It's a great moment when your brother learns more about genetics-