The Amazing Race Auditions

So December 8, 2007 I tried out with one of my bestest friends Naomi for the Amazing Race. We had talked about trying out before we both served missions for our church. Naomi was super sick and I ended up covering for her a lot at work. However, we ended up still making the trek to Ft. Lauderdale. It was totally awesome! We got there late at night and we stayed in this really dumpy motel. It stank really bad - but was the cheapest place we could find. We had walked up to the line for the Amazing Race and it was in this place where there is the BODIES exhibit (I don't know if you have heard of it, but it is a bunch of dead bodies and you can look at all the muscles and things of the body - sounded cool) - well it was a really happening place at night - tons of clubs, music, drinking. There were about 3 teams in line about 1:30 AM. So we went to the hotel and slept - we wouldn't have gotten any sleep there. We woke up really early and got in line - we were nearby some sweet people. We played Phase 10 - a game that lasted about 3 hours - we talked, filled out applications, jammed to music. There were some interesting stories of people. It was totally awesome being there and doing it. We were team 18 in line. Open call auditions were only for 2 hours (1-3pm) - we got done about 1/2 hour into it. I was amazed at how people were still showing up to get in line at 1:30 pm. We drove by later that day about 2:45 and there was still a huge line! No way did half those people get interviewed - because they cut it off at 3pm! It was so nerve-wracking. We had 1.5 minutes to tell who we were and how we would win amazing race 2008. We were rattling off our reasons and the guy held up his hands to tell us that there was 10 seconds left - we thought he was saying to stop. We stopped and he said you have 10 seconds left - so I just was like "UHHHHHHHHHH..." and then added "because we are amazing!" - they laughed at us - we left. I thought I would faint. But it was totally fun. Ft. Lauderdale is a pretty cool city. Call-backs are Dec./Jan. for pre-liminaries...Feb. is Finals and the show films in April. Say a lot of prayers and many Hail Marys and we might get it. How awesome would that be! But at least we tried and I can say I auditioned for a reality show. I think of all of the people there we for sure had the best story. Both returned missionaries. She served in Germany and learned German and I served in Texas and learned some sort of spanish. We have known each toher since I was born and have been friends since then, but never had we spent more than 8 hours together - we even went to college at the same place and everything. I could go on, but I won't.

The Celestine Prophecy

I finally finished this book a few weeks ago. It was so awesome! I felt this connection with this book. It talks about a manuscript that is in Peru. I have been thinking about going to Peru and this book talks about how there are no coincidences and people and things are placed in our path to help us to be able to learn, grow, and be able to fulfill our mission. I really liked how this book talks about the energy that we receive from others and how everything in this life truly is an energy battle - everything is about receiving and giving more energy. That the people we fear are energy takers and that we give our energy to them by allowing them to manipulate or control us. Also that those that we generally like to be around are those that give us energy - they make us feel good. That life truly is about learning how to control and increase our energy. This book allowed me to think more about what religion or God - there roles are in life. I totally recommend this book to all...it will get you to think and wonder - is the Manuscript real?

Miami/Palm Beach Trip

 
 
 
 
I have lived in Florida all my life and had never been to Miami. So I drove down with my mom to Miami. I spent the day with my friend Ismael. He showed me the North and South Beach - pointed out all the famous places and hotels and homes. We ate lunch on Calle Ocho in a Cuban restaraunt. I had milanesa, marduras, y platanos. The next day my mom and I drove back via Palm Beach where she showed me the home where my grandma lived, we walked down ___ Blvd. (which is like 5th Avenue New York). I couldn't believe how many jewelry and designer shops were there. Everyone has dogs there - you go in the store and there are little dog bowls of water and treats...very rich people.

Georgia Trip

 
 
 
 


So I have been back from my trip to Georgia for 2 weeks now - but have been too busy to update this thing. It was awesome! I visited my aunt Dianna and Uncle Marshall - I hadn't seen them since before the mission. Kelly also said her good-byes as she is now serving a mission. It was fun doing a little road trip just the 3 sisters - we have never done that before. Up in Georgia the weather was awesome - we had a bonfire (you can see my uncle going all crazy with the leave blower getting that thing fired up!) where we roasted hot dogs and smores, we talked and talked, went to the mall and had makeovers, and I even was able to sleep outside in the tent! I loved every second of it. I need to go on more trips!

Sarah's Faith

It is amazing how you can read a book at just the right time. When I read "Sarah: Women of Genesis" it was when I was making some decisions in my life. I have been working doing insurance stuff and I liked it fine and all, but had been struggling to know if that was what I should be doing. There were a lot of pros to staying with my job and not as many cons. But for some reason, I kept coming back to the question of whether it was right. I had been praying and doing many things to get my answer.
But I realized that the Lord had been telling me all along, I just didn't have the faith to accept the answer because I couldn't see the end...what would be the outcome. I love this part:
“Faith. She felt hypocritical, pretending to a confidence she did not feel. Of course, she could hear Abram’s voice in her head, saying that to give the appearance of confidence was an attribute of faith, for to behave as if you were certain when you had no certainty was to throw yourself into the hands of God, and encourage others to make the same leap. But if she could not be certain in the first place, it was hard to then be certain of the rightness of her pretense of certainty. It was like the way four-legged creatures moved across ragged ground. Having three legs to stand on while the fourth found a new step, their bodies remained steady and their forward found a new step, their bodies remained steady and their forward progress smooth. But Sarai was a two-legged creature, and so when she walked the same ragged ground, she lurched back and forth like a drunk, She just didn’t have as many legs to balance on, when it came to faith.”
That is what it has been for me - stopping what I began when I got home. Now I am walking with crutches, leaning on the Lord to help me to know what it is that I should do with my life (at least for the moment), that will not only bring me great joy and wonderful experiences of learning, but serve Him to the best of my ability. Faith - the answer is so easy, but never comes easily.

Mutant Message Down Under

I'm just blown away by this book. It was recommended to me by Nancy Pratt. It is one of her favorites. I can't even begin to explain how it has touched me. I want to copy so many parts of it down and just absorb it. To become one with the incredible lessons taught within. It explains perfectly not only the purpose of the Gospel now and in eternities, but how we can overcome that natural man. Who would have ever thought that really the native aboriginies have it right. Her experiences on her 120 day walk-about is incredible.
While I was on my mission my family went through the garage, to my dismay, I returned to learn that many of my precious items such as my tent, sleeping back, treking poles, and other items were thrown away. This was a great tragedy to me. But really this book, helps me to understand more about how each thing is a lesson in life, and how we can't hold onto anything material. It is insignificant. How bound we are to our imitational surroundings. How we don't see what is real. How we aren't real - we are mutants. I can't even explain the way this book opened my mind and heart to harsh mutant reality that I live in. I recommend it to everyone to read.

Fun at Sarah's House

Caleb, Devon and I

The Samba Room

Last night I went dancing at the Samba Room. They play Latin music. It was a lot of fun. I'm learning, but I love it. One of my friends, Jesus and I talked a little bit, and I just realized even more why I love the Hispanic people and their culture. Sometimes I think that I was meant to be born in some other country. The thing I love about them is just how they live life. They live it - they can live it without all the American things that we have. They just have fun with everything that they do. A lot of them are poor and so humble. They love their families and having a good time. I think they have their priorities in check. I wonder sometimes why we work so hard here in America. We work so we can have that new car, or big house, the newest electronic device, but why? In the long run - there will always be a newer car, a bigger house, and a smaller and quicker electronic device. When do we live? Maybe its next weekend or the next holiday when I have a break...or when I don't have that mortgage or payment of some sort. The bills always seem to pile up, and it makes it that much harder to really have an enjoyable time. I think that the Latinos have it right.

Welcome Home - Warrior's Don't Cry

So I finished 2 books - one my old boss from BYU sent to me - "Welcome Home: Advice for the Returned Missionary" - it had some good reminders and showed me a little of what I can try to be better to keep up with the spirit and the things that I learned in the mission. The other book Warrior's Don't Cry I thought I would read since about a week ago was the 50th anniversary of integration in Little Rock High. This book taught me more about the need to act, rather than to be acted upon. One quote that I really liked was where the grandma says: "Embarrassment is not a life-threatening problem. It can be washed away with a prayer and a smile...Dignity is a state of mind, just like freedom. These are both precious gifts from God that no one can take away unless you allow them to." Truly, we may not be able to choose what happens to us, but we can definitely choose how we will react to it. The Little Rock 9 to me, were great examples of courage, bravery, and choosing to act. I'm grateful for their part of giving this country a little more freedom.
I love this picture of Elizabeth Eckford - I just can't imagine!!!

Return to San Antonio

It was completely unexpected right now to go to San Antonio. I got the call from one of my companions who was still in the field that some of my converts (Joe & Carol Amar) were going through the temple for the first time and were to be sealed. I was told before that it would be later in September if not October. I guess they changed their mind. They lost my phone number and so my companion called me. I made the quick decision to go. I had made a commitment to myself during my mission to see my converts go through the temple (if at all possible) and bought a plane ticket. I was gone from Friday until Sunday. It was a great trip. It actually was a huge blessing. I was able to help one of my other converts, Nnenna to get back on the road, and see another convert Brandon. There were a lot of other people that I really wanted to see as well, but I knew it would have been really impossible since I had little time and didn't want to be rushed. Plus if you see one, you have to see all. This trip was truly one of the greatest highlights of my life - God blessed me so much - I will never regret it.








Nnenna, my Nigerian convert - I stayed at her house the first night - she lives close the Amars





One of her cutest kids in the hole world " Mama" or "Madupe"

If their cute African clothes don't make you want to move - I don't know what would







Joe & Carol being interviewed after they went through the temple by the church for the missionary training videos

Brandon Quiroga (18 year old convert), me, and Sister Back outside the temple









My old three-some back again - Sister Back, me, Sister Higgins

Sister Back, Carol Amar & Joe Amar (converts), me, Sister Higgins outside the temple after they were sealed for time and all eternity

us again











cutting the cake at the Woods Home











I stayed Saturday night and went to church with the Amars - us at a BBQ dinner.


watch them cut the cake

watch one of Brandon's memories from when we taught him before he was baptized

Ender's Game

I've been told this is my sister's favorite book - I got it and read it before she even knew, so I have talked to her about it yet.

This book for some reason seemed to effect me. I can't tell why. I feel like I was part of Ender, part of his mind, his feelings. I wanted to cry - because everything seemed so unfair. Is that how it is with people today - that have what seems all the talent, all the abilities - but yet they are cheated out of what is the most important thing perhaps - real life. What others experience? What really is real life? Is anyone's situation really better than another - what do people really think - do they mean what they do or is it all just miscommunication? I think that it all goes with the relationship with the Buggers and Ender. We are all trying to figure out ourselves really during our whole life - what makes us happy? what do we love? whom do we love? what is important? for what reason do we really do what we do? what is our mission? Somehow the Buggers were at peace. Maybe if we knew who we were and our true mission and purpose, we could all live happily like the buggers did because they could communicate perfectly. Or maybe it would all be just boring. But with humans we feel there is some competition because of the fact that we don't understand one another. Or maybe that miscommunication really is somehow perfection that allows us to use our agency. Or maybe I make absolutely no sense.

Rachel & Leah

Once again I am amazed by Orson Scott Card and his ability to think of how in the world things might have happened in the Bible the way they did. How would Jacob possibly mistake Leah for Rachel on their wedding night and how it could all work out okay. He truly can write to your heart and open your eyes. I think the thing that I learned most from this book though is truly how we are the leaders of our own destinies. That often times we pray for the things that end up happening and little do we realize that was what we were praying for the whole time. Not only that, but how important it is for us to "choose" to be happy. Leah, spent practically her whole childhood being unhappy and causing everyone to be miserable and feel bad for her. The interesting thing is that she never realized that it was her choice - she always thought that God was the one who was punishing her and that her life was meant to be that way. How often I am like Leah. How often I don't know how "to walk with Him" because of my choices. What a difference in her life when she realized that she could and needed to change and worked to rid herself of her weaknesses in her thinking. What poison we can be to ourselves sometimes - killing our inner, spiritual person. When we truly are walking with God, as Leah became better at doing, that is when the pride, the jealousy, the hate, the pure selfishness can leave us and we can be the person that we were created to be and fulfill our divine destiny.

"The ugliest sandles in the world"

I have been told by many people, my family included, that I own the ugliest sandals ever made. There hasn't been a day that I have worn them in Florida in which I haven't received some sort of negative remark about my "Utah Sandals". They have been compared to sandals that were worn in Jesus time period. They supposedly leave red-marks on my skin because the straps are so embedded in them. Not to mention my cousin claims that he was almost unable to walk because one tapped him on the leg, and they are "very heavy". I gave in and bought some new sandals this past weekend. I was wanting some new ones anyhow - after all I'm not going white-water rafting or hiking any mountains in the next few days. Don't worry - I will continue to wear my ugly sandals, because oddly enough I don't think they are ugly - I think they fit my personality...and they are comfortable. The nice thing is, I don't have to worry about anyone stealing them

Rebekah: Women of Genesis

This book really opened my eyes to learn more about the culture and the way day-to-day life must have been in the Bible. Not only that, but I really saw through the characters, just how much we are self-criticizers and doubt ourselves. We doubt the love that others have for us, we doubt most especially the love that God has for us. How do we compare ourselves to others - maybe its an older or "more-loved" sibling, a mere friend who seems to have unending talents that are unachievable, or someone who just seems to have complete faith and trust in God. Really, God wants to love and show us the same tender mercies and blessings - but the person most likely standing in the way is ourselves. It all comes back to that first basic principle - faith.

Why do girls have to like chick flicks?

Last night, I watched a classic "chick flick" movie. Pride & Prejudice leans more on the classic, than chick flick in my opinion, but why in the world do girls or people in general have to like such movies? They kill me. Everytime I see them it is a reminder of my singletom and the lack of so called "perfect guys" out there in the world. If they weren't so good, I wouldn't watch them. There is something about the Cinderella story that just seems to be in the heart of every girl of the perfect romance and love story that they will be the center of. Is life anything like the movies? I'm just not quite sure...look at Mr. Darcy here strutting up for the last time to propose to the only one who is the keeper of his heart...who could dare say no?
I know I couldn't.

Out of Egypt

I’ve been reading the Book “Out of Egypt” by Anne Rice. It is about Christ and when he and his family left Egypt when he was about 7 years old. It has been really interesting. It talks a lot about maybe his experiences in coming to figure out who He is and what that must have been like for him and his family. It gives the genealogy of his family, how learning was back then, the culture, the wars, society in general. It is all very interesting. I have found that I have never really thought about that before. What it must have been like for him. How he really did figure it out. How much help was he given? Was he really treated differently? It is all very interesting. By learning more about the circumstances and culture that surrounds the life of Christ I can understand a little bit more about Judaism and also about the stories in the Bible and how the play into Christ’s latter life.
I think the same is for me. I’m also still trying to figure out who I am. What does the Lord want with me? What truly is my divine nature and my worth? I feel that it is a blessing right now that the Lord is actually giving me time in my life between the mission and working to think and ponder these things – a little break from just working and working and working. Maybe I can figure out a little bit of my mission here.