Wicked!

So I am just going to say that I have the most amazing boyfriend in the WORLD. Months and months ago while I was working at Steiner I listened to the Wicked soundtrack every time I was in the car. And Logan had to just deal with it. Well, I told him the story, and he slowly began to like the music and wanted to see how the songs tied together. Well, my major Christmas present from him was tickets to go see Wicked in New Mexico. (For those of you who don't know what it is... It is the prequel to the Wizard of Oz. It tells the Wicked Witch of the West's story and why she is "Wicked.") Time finally came and we had figured it all out. We drove and then stayed with my grandparents, because they are amazing. I love them. It was free so we saved a lot of money.
Well the show wasn't until Saturday night. But we headed down on Thursday. Bright and early we filled up my car and headed south. Well, we don't have GPS so we were going off Google directions. They were good, I'm just directionally challenged. Get this.. We got "lost" in UTAH. Totally my fault I told him to go west on I-70 instead of East. A few, quite a few miles, in the wrong direction we turned around and didn't have a problem the rest of the drive down there. We made it to my grandparents with welcoming hugs and offers to feed us. We'd munched all day in the car, we weren't hungry just tired of driving. So my Aunt Misti, Uncle Dave, and my cousins Hunter and Jaegar come over and we just sat and enjoyed the company.
Well on Friday I took Logan to the mall for a bit of New Mexico life. The mall was really clean. And HUGE. It was fun. The food court has the highlight of New Mexico on their ceiling. It has hang gliders, and hot air balloons. It's all 3 dimensional and its hanging upside down. I wish I had a picture. It's cool, but hard to explain. The worst part of that mall is that it had an entire store simply for the Dallas Cowboys. My heart broke a little. ;) sorry to those who like them. Anyway. The mall was quite an adventure. But we went back to my grandparents and watch one of John Wayne's first movies and and Hello Dolly! (I found Hello Dolly and Fiddler on the Roof for less than $20 TOTAL! Major find!)
Saturday morning I woke to the smell of bacon. My grandma was making Wheat Belgium waffles and bacom. YUMMY. My grandma's waffles are so light and fluffy they are fantastic. Well, we got ready and we went to find something to do in Old Town Albuquerque. We went to find the other mall, but we didn't ever find it. We found the Albuquerque Museum. It was an art museum. One artist photographed everything with polaroids. It was insane. The rest of it was local artists. Sorry to say, but the Snow College Art Majors are better than what I saw in that museum. But it had exhibits about the history of New Mexico and had cool artifacts. Logan particularly liked the weapons. hahaha! But after that we went to The Natural History Museum. That was cool. Big dinosaurs skeletons, and fossils, and every time we went into one room the building just continued to grow. It was fun though. Logan has the pictures we took there. (I'll eventually get them and put them on Facebook.) The wind picked up and we headed back to Rio Rancho so I could get ready for the show.(This was one of the sculptures. It was weird, but cool. This picture is actually upside down. Whoops!)
It was a good thing we left when we did. The show was on the University of New Mexico campus. The directions we had were WRONG. And I called and asked my uncle for directions after we missed the campus and had no idea where it was. Once we found it we had 15 minutes left before the show started. Our seats were great. It was up in the balcony so we could see everything without a big head in our way. :) The thespian in me has to say that the stage was ASTOUNDING!! In the first picture of the blog it is how the show opened. The dragon lights up and moves and every piece of scenery is on wheels and tracks. Every thing just rolls on with ease and the scenes just transitions into one another without stopping. I don't think I blinked more than 4 times through the entire show. And that was too much. The actors were amazing, the show was fun and the energy they presented just held the audience in suspense with every word. In short, the show was AMAZING! There is nothing else to describe it. Anyone who has a chance to go see it while on tour should, and those who have seen it would probably agree with me. I love love love LOVED it. Logan did too. He was just as into it as me. After the show Logan bought me a shirt and a "green elixir" water bottle. (Green elixir is what turned the Wicked Witch of the West green.) He also bought a shirt. We're twinners ;)

My favorite line---
Fiyero-"This is an engagement party?"
Glinda-"Yes, aren't you surprised!!!!"
Logan, my little drummer boy, he was drumming his fingers to the beat of the drums of the music.


I have the best boyfriend ever!! Thank you so much sweetie!!

A Moment..

Guess what! No matter what we do time will consider to go on. However I can NEVER remember what I was doing every minute of everyday. But I do remember moments. I remember moments of love, happiness, sadness, accomplishment, sickness, and even loss. Each of these moments have made me who I am.
LOVE. <3
One moment where I felt loved was at the start of my junior year of high school. I was stressed to my breaking point. I literally cried in my sleep. Well, I went to early morning band and continued to cry as I was about to collapse. I went home because I seriously needed a mental health day, but all through the day I had friends texting me to make sure I was ok. Logan called me during his lunch and stopped by after school. And my mom just held me and let me cry on her shoulder. I felt so loved that I knew that if I ever felt alone in the world I knew I would never be.
HAPPINESS :D
Oh geeze. Since Christmas has come and gone it has made me happy. I got the amazonKindle from Santa. Also, tickets to WICKED, from Logan. (38 days) and the piano music to WICKED from my brother Paden. The music made me squeal with joy! haha! Christmas made me very happy. It was a great Christmas. And everyone was happy and loved their gifts. And it was fun to see my nephew's first Christmas. Happiness is easy to come by and keep.
SADNESS. :(
I can't avoid having sad moments, I just try to avoid how long I am sad. Sad moments always hit me like a ton of bricks, I never see them coming. Like tonight I am having a sad moment because I miss my dad. I miss having his influence in my life. The holidays are always hard for my family, and it affects us all differently. I would love to hear if he approves of Logan, and how he would react to being a grandpa. I would love to sit next to him during sacrament meeting and hear him sing his favorite Christmas hymn. (#207 It Came Upon a Midnight Clear) It is little things. I always feel sad when I see the father/daughter dances at wedding receptions. I'm having a rough time, but I always cheer myself up by thinking that my reunion in heaven will be a welcomed one because I know my dad is just as impatient to hold me in his arms again, as I am to be held by my dad.
ACCOMPLISHMENT
There is nothing better than the feeling of accomplishment. My favorite moment of accomplishment was anytime I was performing in front of an audience. Knowing that i worked so hard for MONTHS to bring joy to someone in the audience. I don't think I can count all my performances on all my fingers and toes. hahaha! But there is not a great feeling than accomplishment.
SICKNESS
Yuck. I hate being sick. And usually it's normal stuff like allergies, or a cold. But still it sucks. I've only been really sick in public once that I remember. It was the first weekend of my Christmas break 2010. Logan took me to the Gateway to shop and watch movies. Well, we were watching How Do You Know and I got massive heartburn. It was uncomfortable but the end of the movie was almost over so I wait. It FINALLY ended and I got up to move and the heartburn turn to nausea. I'll tell you this, Caesar Salad doesn't look pretty the second time. Just saying. Being sick sucks and I wish a REALLY smart person would find the cure to everything already.

Memories are the special moments that everyone should take a mental note of, and then eventually write them down. I have many written down some that will continue to help me through life. But take a moment to remember the moments.
Love,
Elora

Love&&Christmas Eve

First off! My personal definition of love is being completely selfless for anything. Love is wonderful. I love many people, and I am told I am loved by many. So when you love, you will also be loved. :)

Love

Here are some top picks for the best quotes of all time on love:

“Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.”

- Aristotle

“Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.”

- Robert Heinlein

“Love is friendship, set on fire.”

- Jeremy Taylor

“Love doesn’t make the world go round; love is what makes the ride worthwhile.”

- Elizabeth Browning

“It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages.”

- Friedrich Nietzsche

“Love is, above all else, the gift of oneself.”

- Jean Anouilh

“Love at first sight is easy to understand; it’s when two people have been looking at each other for a lifetime that it becomes a miracle.”

- Amy Bloom

“Love is the irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired.”

- Mark Twain

“Friendship may, and often does, grow into love, but love never subsides into friendship.”

- Lord Byron

“Love is like a virus. It can happen to anybody at any time.”

- Maya Angelou

That is what I think about love..

CHRISMAS EVE!
I am so excited for Christmas th is year. Not really for the presents, but the FOOD! OhMy'Lanta! In my house we do a Mexican food FEAST with some normal Christmas feast food. Throughout the day we make tamales, enchiladas, chalupa (a spicy frito pie dish), nachos, mash potatoes, a turkey breast, cookies, cinnamon rolls and more tha t I cannot remember. But it is fabulous. It's a couple days work, and it is a lot of food, but we eat like kings until New Years. It's amazing! And I cannot wait.
Although, this season has been kind of rough in my house. From the beginning of December someone in my house has been sick with a cold or the flu. (I was thankful to be away at college during the worst of it all, however, two days after my return home I came down with the flu.) Since my family ha s been sick we haven't had the energy to put up our usual decorations, which makes it feel different. But it will be amazing without the decorations. My family has had fun being sick together.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL! AND TO ALL A GOODNIGHT!

Stress.

Just a fair warning... I'm venting, because I always feel better after I write all my feelings out..

It's that time of year, yes it's Christmas time, as well as college finals. I haven't been too worried about them, but when I came back from Thanksgiving break my body realized the stress before my brain did. When I am stressed I have very VERY strange dreams. For example, last night I dreamed that I was in the shower and I was washing my body and when I looked down my stomach was covered in dark disgusting hair! So I grabbed my razor to shave it off and one swipe the hair made my razor dull so I could not even shave the rest of it! It was nasty, I woke up and checked my stomach for hair. And even when I showered I was afraid to look down at my stomach for fear that my dream was true! hahaha! See what I mean.... VERY STRANGE. So after a week of strange dreams like this, I finally clued in to the fact that I was stressed.
This fact was only enforced by what was said in my Wednesday classes. I went to math only to find out that I have a practice final next week, and then in two weeks (December 15) was my math final from 12-2. Then in my Theatre class I was told that in two weeks we had to perform a scene and that would be my final,(Wednesday, the 15th from 230-430) as well as next week I have a quiz on chapters of the book that I never bought. Then in Biology I was told that I have a regular test on Mon/Tues on 4 chapters, as well as a comprehensive Human Bio final the week of December 13. My Human Biology LAB final is next Wednesday (December 8) as well. And my English paper was due on Tuesday and I slept through class as well as never writing the paper. And I read the assignment sheet for my paper and it is part of my final, which only sent me into almost panic mode. I wrote the paper, and it's decent just not "Final" paper ready.
What fully put me into panic mode is what I subconsciously did. Today, I woke up at 830 and I've had my Ipod on and earphones in all day except while I was in class. I avoided any serious conversation with friends. I basically avoided social contact. And this isn't just today, it's been all week. This isn't like me, I like to talk and listen. But I honestly can't do it. Music is my escape, and I didn't even realize I was making sure that I was listening to music. ALL DAY. Mainly my happy play list which is all soundtracks from musicals. This is not normal. So I am all panicky tonight.
And it doesn't help that I'm having issues with my apartment. Not my roommates, at all. I love them dearly. But I guess I feel like I am not safe in my apartment. I'm safe physically, but I'm not safe emotionally or spiritually. Let me explain... at college I meet many people, some good and some not so good. Well, there is this one guy who've I met and have had some great discussions with. He's a good guy, but he made a bad decision over Thanksgiving break that I never thought he would make. And ever since then, every time I am in the same room as him, I feel my spirit being attacked. That's the best way to describe it. It's a weird feeling because nothing is being said that would effect my spirit. I'm not put into positions or incidences that would normally attack my spirit. This guy is a wonderful guy, but I feel as if something dark is always with him now. I don't like it, so I flee. I go to the library, I retreat to my room. I haven't talked to my roommate in a few days and I keep making excuses not to be around them. I'm scared. So this on top of everything else has made me stressed.
I've been stressed before, so it is no stranger to me, but this time I feel as if I don't know how to handle it. I talked to my mom for about 45 minutes about it all and she gave me great advice and encouragement. I just wish everything wasn't all at once. But I do know that Heavenly Father won't give me more than I can handle. So, I know that I can make it through this. I just wish I could see HOW. (Haha! Wouldn't that be nice.)
Love,
Elora

My Best Friend.. :)

My best friend.. now this is a tough question. Through out the years I have had friends that have influenced me in many ways. And I have many best friends. However for the worst of the worst and everything I have gone through there has been one friend that I can talk to for hours and she will still look at me the same..... drum roll please......
KAYLEE BANKHEAD!
Now, I only really got to know this little bundle of joy our sophomore year of high school. And man did we go through A LOT. She was the first person I actually sluffed with. We went to 5th period then went and got manicures and massages the rest of the afternoon.
We developed a LOVE for drummers, band members, dancing, and Vanilla Crazes from Sonic.
Our issues with liking the same boy never was a problem, even if we were getting played by him... and knew it.
She is the one girl that I go to when I am in tears. Tears of joy, of pain, of stress etc. Anything I cry about, I cry on her shoulder. I talk to her about just everything.
We even quote "Mean Girls" to each other without hesitation. I love this girl. She is beautiful and talented and always makes my day when I talk to her. And when we get together it is just like we saw each other the day before. Kaylee is a wonderful woman, and when trials come her way she just astounds me with the way she handles them. Kaylee is my best friend because God forgot to giver her to me as my sister. Kaylee, thank you for everything you have helped me through. Love you!

Senior Year Drama Banquet... "You're coming and you better look amazing!"
Senior year drama banquet, taking pictures was the highlight of the night.
Homecoming 2009
Zoo Pictures. Kaylee and Bree Rydalch kidnapped me and made me go to the zoo. My sister from another mister... :)

My Siblings. :)

All our names come from favorite movies of telvision shows that my parents watched!
So, I am the middle of 5 children. I have two older sisters and to younger brothers. There is I believe 9 years between the oldest and the youngest.
Let's start with Chelsea.(Legal Eagles)
Chelsea is my big sister. She is 4 years older than I am. She is beautiful. She has the biggest heart! One Christmas, one of her friends was having financial problems and the banks closed her account a few days before Christmas. Well, Chelsea came home in tears and told my mom that she wanted all of her Christmas presents returned and she wanted the money so her friend's children had presents for Christmas Morning. This is only one thing that Chelsea has done. She is just all around a good person. :) I love her. She is currently working for the Tooele School District as a para for a blind autistic kid, and she is also working at the Home Depot. She is just amazing.
Next would be my dear sister Natasha, (Star Trek) or Tasha as she likes being called. All I can say is WOW. I look up to her now. Tasha has not had the most easy life. She has a roller coaster that has more ups and downs and loops than mine ever will. With the trials that have been thrown in her way she has gotten through them and she has turned her entire life around. Her life story could be a Lifetime movie and it would be amazing, WITH a happy ending. She is the mother to my beautiful nephew. And she is WONDERFUL. I will also include my almost brother-in-law Nick. He is also a wonderful guy. He helps out and he is a great guy. I can't wait until they are married, for I know that they are perfect together. I love this new little family, and it puts joy in my heart to know that my sister is taken care of.
(This is from the day that Akadian was born!)
Paden. (Silverado) I don't even know where to begin. He is 2 years younger than me, and now, it seems that he is two feet taller than me. Ok, not really two feet, but he is 6'3". That is still tall. Paden is 18, and brilliant. I take my computer home when I don't know what is wrong with it and then in less than ten minutes it is already fixed. He is so talented and goal orientated. If he wants to do something and he has access to do it, it will get done. He has built a computer, and I find that impressive. I find Paden fascinating. If I was into science (which I am not) I would want to study him. And find out how he works and thinks. That would be amazing. The picture I have of him is a little dated, he is about 8, and he is showing off one of his ummm.... quirks. Paden has lots of those. He is double jointed, he has a weird diaphragm, and he has a lot of other things too, but they are too hard to explain. For whatever reason. I still love him. He is pretty unique. Now, he has grown up a lot, in many ways. On Halloween 2010, he received the Priesthood, and that is so cool. I, personally, thought that it would take a little bit longer, but now that he has it, it feels like our home is complete again. I am so proud of him. I can't wait to see what he will become in the future.
RIKER!!! (Commander Riker from Star Trek) He is the baby of the family. Not in attitude, but because he is number 5 of the 5 of us. And I won't lie, he was a little bit pampered by his older siblings. His sisters thought he was the cutest little thing ever when he was little. He was in love with Blue's Clues, so on his first day of kindergarten he was covered with Blue's Clues paraphernalia. He was, and continues to be the toe head of the family. HE is blonde!! The rest of us all grew out of the natural blonde, but not Riker. Riker is currently in his sophomore year of high school. He goes to an alternative high school in Tooele. It is just smaller class sizes and less people. He is exceeding expectations. He is even in Yearbook. (That makes me giddy inside, because I did that too!) He is just amazing. He is so smart, and even with the challenges he faces everyday he gets through them. It is pretty amazing what he can do when he puts his mind to it. I love him. He is my baby brother, and I find him just as fascinating as Paden, but in different ways. I love listening to Riker as he tells stories. He tells his stories with such enthusiasm! He loves animals, and I hope his dreams of working with animals when he is older comes true.
I love my siblings, I just may not always like them on certain days. :) But I'm glad I have them in my life.
Love,
Elora (Willow)

Oh! How I love my Parents. #3

I will start off by saying I love my mom and my dad!
Let's start with my dad. My dad, Charles, or Chuck as he prefer, was a big guy. He had two daughters already when God blessed him with his Snuggle Bunny. AND that was ME! I was his baby girl. We have so many pictures of us with him holding me and I was sleeping on his lap. I love my dad.
He was sent home to live with his father and our Heavenly Father in June of 2001. But I know he still watches over me. And wants to interrogate every guy I date. I love him.
My Mother. :)
Terry Ann
If I could choose anyone to grow up to be like... I would want to be similar to my mother. She is my hero. She has been given some the hardest children to raise and she has done pretty dang well. I can honestly say that my mom is my biggest fan. I can't remember a play that i was in that she wasn't in the audience opening night. I can remember her sitting through the cold to listen to the marching band. I can remember her at all of my concerts. She paid for my dance classes and let me cry on her shoulder when my life became to "tough." I remember one time in the beginning of my junior year when I cried for two hours straight on her bed about nothing but how this one girl hated me and how Cramer's class was stressful and along with the play, yearbook, marching band and dance I was too warn down. She demanded that I take the next day off from school to recuperate myself. I should have listened to her, because the next morning during field show practice I broke down and cried in front of the entire band. It was one of those embarrassing moments that would not have happened if I just listened to my mother.
Through the years, I have discovered that my mother and I are identical. We look and talk the same. And even have a few of the same skills. I love her dearly.
My parents are wonderful, and I happy that I can be with them forever.
Love,

Elora