Politics

What do you do when two of your friends are going up against each other in BYUSA elections?
They both have asked you to help with the campaign, but you can't decide who to help?
Well basically you play rock, paper, scissors...and then you hope the best for both. haha


These past two weeks have been crazy because of these dang elections. It has been so hard for me because I want both of them to be able to win! I finally made my decision who I think will be better fit, but both Brandon and Mckay are so great.

HAPPY POLITCS:) HAHA

Photo Recap of the weekend

ipod dance party?

Last night my friend Ynna had an ipod dance party. I was very skeptical and wasn't sure if I wanted to go at first because...

1.) I am not a hipster
2.) I am not a cool dancer
and
3.) I am not a hipster.

What is an ipod dance party you might ask?
It is where everyone dances to the same song from their Ipod and listens to it with their own headphones. The song isn't you average 3 minute tune, but it is a compilation of different jams turned into one long 32 minute ballad. You are constantly dancing for a good 30 minutes. Does that make sense? Basically, if someone did not have headphones on listening to the song, they would see a bunch of random people dancing in silence.


When I got to the party I was intimidated. I was in a room filled with people who looked like they had just walked out of a magazine. Everyone was so beautiful, and mostly everyone was already friends. They had all done this before, they knew what to do. I was worried I was going to look like a complete idiot, and I was definitely worried about what everyone would think.

We all walked down to a parking garage, stood in a circle, then 3...2...1...pressed play. The dancing began.

I felt like a complete fool at first. I felt as if people were staring at me, thinking I was dumb.
After a few minutes, something hit me. I finally learned something that I have needed to learn.

That is:
It doesn't matter what people think of you, BE YOURSELF.

I began dancing hard and crazy. I stopped caring about what others might think. I realized that I should be able to be myself no matter what. I shouldn't care what the world around me thinks. I shouldn't worry about if people judge me or think I am weird. If someone doesn't take the time to get to know me because I dance weird, or don't dress perfectly, then it is their loss. I am a Daughter of God. I am worth so much... far more than I could even imagine. If someone doesn't take the time to see that, they are not worth my time.

We live in a society where people are constantly judging. Everyone does it. Sadly to say, I judge! Even though everyone judges, we shouldn't let the fear of what others might think get in our way. We cannot let anyone determine who we are going to be. We must be ourselves! We should be the person who God intended us to be.

We were all created differently. That is what is so beautiful about life. We are all different so that we can impact the world in a way that no one else can.

So today as you go throughout the day...Remember to...

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.”

Secret Valentine?!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY:)

I just love this holiday!

Want to hear a funny story?

So my freshman year of high school I didn't have a Valentine. I was pretty bummed because I felt like EVERYONE had their significant other. I was sitting on the bus moping in loneliness when we drove past my house and it looked like there was something at my doorstep. I was so curious and excited! I hopped off the bus and hurried home to find a SECRET Valentine...for me! I was so happy! For once I, ELYSSE ALLMAN, had a Valentine!

It was this cute white teddy bear holding a heart, with a Valentine's balloon, a box of chocolates, and a note saying, "To Elysse: XOXO". It was so cute and I was ecstatic.

(This is almost exactly what it looked like)

My day made a complete 180 turn, and I was no longer upset that it was Valentine's Day. I was actually quite happy. I had a VALENTINE!

It was a complete mystery who it was from. I asked everyone I could think of and no one would fess up! Years passed, and I still never knew who gave me this gift, until...

Last year I was in my kitchen talking to my mom when I asked out of curiosity, "Mom, I never figured out who that secret Valentine was from in high school! I wonder who gave it to me?"

This mischievous, smirk lit up her face. She began laughing hysterically.

I was completely dumbfounded. I then responded: "NO!! IT WAS YOU! YOU GAVE ME THE SECRET VALENTINE! YOU GAVE ME THE VALENTINE THAT I HAVE BEEN WONDERING WHO IT WAS FROM FOR YEARS! I WAS SO EXCITED TO HAVE A VALENTINE AND IT WAS YOU THIS WHOLE TIME?!?!"

She finally caught her breath from laughing so hard and responded: "I don't know what your talking about!"
She gave me a devious smile, laughed some more, then walked away.

(I felt so stupid, and especially felt like this picture above) haha

Ladies and Gentleman, that is correct. The one Valentine I have had was from my mother.

hahaha I am not going to lie, at first I was mad! For those 5 years I really thought that I had a secret Valentine! I thought someone liked me! But, in reality, the whole time it was my jokester mother.

So, if you are feeling alone today, just remember one thing....
YOU ALWAYS GOT YOUR MOM:) hahahah
(My mom haha)

Well I hope everyone has a wonderful day! Even though you might not have a Valentine, today is the day of love! Tell everyone you care about how much you love them. No need to be sad, just be grateful for all those amazing loved ones you have in your life. I promise that as you do that, your Valentine's day will be one of the best yet:)

These past few weeks have been a roller coaster. Lets just say a lot has happened, both good and bad, but it has all been great because what I have learned.

This General Conference talk has really stuck with me lately.

I love this part:

"God the Eternal Father did not give that first great commandment because He needs us to love Him. His power and glory are not diminished should we disregard, deny, or even defile His name. His influence and dominion extend through time and space independent of our acceptance, approval, or admiration.

No, God does not need us to love Him. But oh, how we need to love God!

For what we love determines what we seek.

What we seek determines what we think and do.

What we think and do determines who we are—and who we will become."

I especially love the part, "but oh, HOW WE NEED TO LOVE GOD!"

How powerful is that? God might not necessarily need our love, but we need to love him, and as we do, we will be blessed beyond belief!

HAPPY MONDAY!

I will be better at post pictures soon:) I promise!

Withdrawals

I honestly am not a big fan of when people blog about missing their study abroad. I don't know why, but it has always really bugged me. Now I feel their pain. I was debating to write this post, but I just felt like it would make me feel better. So here is my I miss my study abroad rant. Sorry!

I am having MAJOR withdrawals. I miss the city of Vienna. If I had the choice, I would have stayed there, I would have lived there! If the opportunity would have presented itself, I would have enrolled in Wien University, and not come back.

I miss it so much. Not only the landmarks, beauty, and food, but the amazing people I met while I was there. I have blogged a lot about the people I met in Vienna, but I don't think anyone really understands what an impact they left on me. They were so strong in their testimonies. In Vienna, religion is not important. People don't need religion. Bad things are just the common way of life! The wonderful people I met at the Institute were so amazing. They were firm in their beliefs and were not afraid to stick out.

Do yall remember the first time I met the Lds Austrians? Well it was a total fail. I was determined to become friends with them, and let me just say, I am so glad I didn't give up. I made friendships that I know will last a lifetime. I know I will always have friends in Austria.


Ahh I could rant for hours on how amazing Vienna is. It simply is the best.

Thank you Oliver, Naemi, Samira, Raphael, Emanuel, Joel, Arnulf, Robert, David, Rebekka, Dago, Larissa, Marcella, Melissa, Magdalena, Marvin, Perry, and more, for making Vienna the wonderful experience that is was. IHR SEID DIE BESTEN!

I had another tender mercy of the Lord hit me today:)
I babysat my sister's kids all weekend in Layton and I came back early this morning. I had work at 8 and left Layton later than I hoped, so I ended up missing breakfast. I rushed into work and one of the teachers I worked for came in, said hello, then handed me a clementine.

Tender Mercy?? I think yes:)

Happy Monday:)

and Remember...."It's a Beautiful Morning."

Play this sometime today and I promise you will have a good day:)