September in Review!

Hey there Journal, It's been a few weeks! But that's okay. I'm just hoping to update you real quick on what's been going on. Probably one of the most exciting things on my agenda is that I have been cast in.....

I am very grateful to announce that I will have the joy of playing Ghost of Christmas Present. I'm kinda obsessive about how excited I am for this opportunity!! In summary my character is sassy American who knocks some sense into Mr. Scrooge. I cant wait to belt it out and do my best. Ah! In other news, I'm just chugging along in school and trying my very hardest to pass theory. I've been going to see the tutor frequently and I am really happy to say that it is helping out a lot and that I am working up the chain to getting an awesome grade in the class. The proof is real :)

Other than that, I've been trying to work hard and just enjoying time with the people I love. We went to the D-Backs game last night and the boys kicked the Cubs, 8-3! Way to go, dudes!!!! In closing, don't ever forget that the gospel is true, and that Heavenly Father is always listening. He is always ready to answer our prayers, but far too many of us won't even take the time to ask. But once we do, he answers in His own way and time without fail. I know this to be true. All my love, Calli

Three Months of Bliss!

Dear Journal, Not only is today Sunday, one of my personal favorite days of the week, but today also marks three months that me and Trent have been dating. I can hardly believe it! Granted, he was in St Louis for about a month and a half of that time because of his summer job, but the fact still remains that I thought about him every day that he was gone and not a second went by where I wasn't thinking about wanting to be by his side. Ever since he has been home, life hasn't been perfect, but it has become glorified and that much sweeter. I rather enjoy the feeling of realizing that when it comes to relationships that you will never ever find yourself a perfect person to be with. You may be perfect for each other, but you are still both human and completely vulnerable to make mistakes. Perhaps the greatest joy I have found, however, is being able to care about someone and in turn have them care about me even through the mistakes, and the screw ups, and the ups and downs.

Haha this picture is from a lake trip that we went on recently. Trent was definitely the toughest guy there, hands down, and kicked some butt on tube wars. Although, he found himself alone on a tube that was quickly deflating and I was horrified to see him beat around the water as the tube folded up like a taco around him! But did he let go? Nah! He's too tough for that. In other news, I don't mean to toot my own horn but I just wanted to put in writing somewhere that me and my mother were the two who popped right up on the wakeboard and showed all the guys how it was done! Ahhh yeah. There were a few high school boys on the boat with us and I kid you not they were pulled about three times (not making it out of the water) then they would throw their hands in the air and say "I'm done! I'm done!" Now, before you call me hypercritical, I am all for trial and error. That's how you learn! However, they only tried about three times, then gave up! "Pansies!" I muttered under my breath. ;) Edison tried about a thousand times to make a light bulb. Success takes consistency!

Haha this picture just exemplifies the idea that we have way too much fun together. Everyone says that a picture is worth a thousand words, so I best give the story behind these ones, because there are about 3,000 words unspoken right about now! Trent had a job interview and didn't want to make a bad impression with scruff on his chinny chin chin! So I sat on his bathroom counter and giggled while he started to look like Santa Clause and then progressing to a Tony Stark look, then finally being smooth "Like a baby's behind!" {Oscar, anyone?} Anywho, the moral to the story is that life doesn't have to perfect, but that you can find perfect happiness, just as long as you know where to find it. Happy Sunday, and don't forget that with God, anything is possible. {That's what I keep telling myself thinking about the theory hw I have to do..} And as I leave you, take this scripture with you and may it give you courage: Ezra 10:4 "Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: We will also will be with thee: Be of good courage, and do it." All my love Journal, Cal

I'm Alive!!!!

Ten thousand yeaaaaarrrrssss! Can give you such a crick in the neck! No, it has only been just over a year. But that is still a very long time to not post a darn thing! So here we go! Dear September 8, 2012: It is seriously incredible to look at life in one year, and examine it and see how much it has changed the world around you, and most importantly how it has changed you as a person. This past year threw a lot of twists and turns and ups and downs and all arounds. There were times where all I could do was hold on for dear life, and hope that I would be able to make it through, even if I had my eyes squeezed shut just like on a roller coaster,or had my hands in the air while I screamed. This past year has taught me more than I could possibly put into words in one post. I only hope that even a fragment of what I have learned will be reflected in what I write from now on. A very wise woman once said that "Girls are poison until they are about 20." I think she was right! It's incredible thinking about how much I have learned about myself in the past few years, and feeling like now I can take on the world in a much more positive and optimistic way. Watch out world, this 20 year old has a grip on who she is. Here I come! This past year saw a lot of great times. I was in a few different shows, per the normal routine for me, my favorite production having to be Little Women. I found myself very blessed to have the opportunity to play the role of Beth, and in turn learn a lot of life lessons about the way we look at life, and the capability to love and serve others with all of our hearts. I'm not much of a reader, but music has clearly been something that always speaks to me. So when I found out that Little Women was now a musical, I couldnt wait to hear the music and see the story brought to life. Without fail, I fell in love with the story and lived every moment of the run of that show to the very end. I still carry the message and lessons that I learned in my heart.

In more recent news, (Though anyone who knows me knows that it is not particularly news), this past summer a dear friend of mine set me up and put me on a date with a returned missionary who was just fresh home off of his mission. She texted me and said, "Calli, I know who your future husband is!" and I replied, "Oh good! I'd love for you to clue me in! When do I meet him?" Within a few days, me and this mystery man made contact over the phone with one another, and the rest is history. We were set up on one date, and after only a few hours, we were toast. We were hooked. We were sunk. However you want to say it! Out of all of the things that I could say about this man..one of the first things that comes to mind is that he is pretty much a genetic copy of me, only man sized! I have people come up to me daily saying "You know, you two are freakishly alike!" And I just smile and say, "I know. Believe me, I know" :)

Trenton, (Oh yes, that's his name! Silly me!) has changed my life completely. I wake up every morning and think about just how lucky I am to have him in my life, and find myself wanting to be the very best person that I can be because of his impact on me. I know that we have a loving Heavenly Father who is very aware of us, and I know that he never intended for us to be alone. I know that he blesses us with guardian angels both seen and unseen, and gives us help all along the way. He is always with us and is calling to us to come unto him and to trust Him. All we have to do, is listen. Thanks for listening, Journal. - Cal

Wow.. it's been almost a year!

I was a few months out from overlapping my last blog post with a post that was a whole year later! As you can see, a LOT of time has passed since last I wrote. And what an adventure and a ride it has been!

I completed my first year of college. One thing i regret is that I thought for sure I could just get by in college the way i did in some of my high school work. But oh, how wrong I was. I still came out with decent grades, but my feeling of accomplishment was very low. I knew that this next year needed to be better. It needed to be a time where I truly strived to be successful and hard working, rather than the feeling of barely surviving. :) I know that through this next school year, that if I stay close to my Savior, that anything is possible and that He will help me make it through all the rigorous things that will be required of me. If there is one thing that I have learned from about my 10th grade year, is that when you take time for Heavenly Father by reading your scriptures before your homework, that you will be immensely blessed, and your homework will run so much more smoothly. I am very excited for the opportunity to work hard this year, and make up for lost time.

So many people have changed my life in the past year. I can't even thank them all. Within this past year, I was called to be a Beehive advisor. I was so terrified at first to think that I would be teaching, but once I let go of my doubts and fears, I fell in love with my calling. And now I cherish it with all my heart. How grateful I am for the examples who have blessed my life in the young womens program. Whether it be leaders whom I was taught by when i was a young woman, or leaders who i now work with, they have helped to mold and shape me into the person I am today, and the testimony which I live for. I'm so grateful for people like Julie and Sheree who have been leaders even since I was still in the Yw's program and for the example they've been to me in my life. How grateful I also am to all the other leaders who have been so kind to me, and have taught me so much. Kasey, Carol, Becky, Shelly, Heather, and of course Alyson... you all amaze me and I appreciate the love you show in all that you do.



It has been a year of struggles. But when do we all not have struggles? However, this year the struggles were more prominent and cutting in my life. How grateful I am for those struggles which I faced, and for the opportunity I have had to turn to my Savior, Jesus Christ, and feel of His embrace and the realization that he is always there. I am so grateful for those who have come into my life this year and have changed everything. Those who have been examples to me in all that they do. I live in a family that never fails to be examples for me, and keep me going in the right direction. I am so grateful to my friends,particularly my Lindy Lou. What would I have done without you this past year, my friend? Thank you for your love and support and for all of the things which we went through together.



I am in the midst of interning for summer musical theater workshops for kids ranging from grades 5-12. How grateful I am for the oppotunity which I have had so far to learn to meet so many young people and find what it means to truly love them like they are your own. So many of these children in the first session stole my entire heart, and Im not sure if they will ever give it back. It is simply amazing how much you can grow to love a child in such a short amount of time. Although most of them were taller than me, I met some teens who I will never forget. They have kinda become adoptive younger sisters, and I cant wait to keep in touch with them and watch where their lives take them. Here are some of the kids who I got to work with. :)

Addy, Chan Chan, and Maddy


Sophie and Alli. Me and Alli had a special bond because our names are exactly the same except that mine starts with a "C" of course. :)


Group of girls who i got to tell all my crazy stories to!

Ahhh! This girl stole my heart once we discovered we have the same undying love for all things little mermaid.. and Prince Eric of course :) How I will miss my Laynee.

Life is rough at times, but all the times of darkness are WORTH IT in order to bring forth the light out of obscurity. It's good to be back, I hope to keep on top of posting this year! Over and out, my friends!

Startin fresh!

Today we had a special stake conference with a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Quentin L. Cook. It was pretty darn amazing! The topics were wonderful, and I really got a lot out of it. It really made me realize how our time here is so short, and how we cant afford to just sit back and be lazy and not fill our time with worthwhile things. After conference today, I just wanted to go out and love others. We talked a lot about having bowels that are filled with compassion. Our stake president made sure to excuse himself in front of Elder Cook for talking about bowels in stake conference :p hehehehehe. Pres. Smith actually defined the definition of the "bowels" which they refer to in the scriptures. And he described it as emotion that derives from the very essence of you. Emotions that arise from the depths of your soul. So having bowels that are filled with compassion and charity, means loving others from the depths of your soul, and loving them from the very essence of who you are. We are commanded to show this love to all of our neighbors. Not just those who share fence lines with us, but everyone who we come in contact with.
I realize more and more every day that taking the time to love others, and to have charity, is what ultimately makes me the happiest. There is nothing else that can replace that feeling in my heart when I take the time to care. So I guess if you're reading this right now, and have taken the time to read this far, that I ask you this. Please take more time to love others, and to genuinely show that you care. I know I have been blessed for it. And I know you can be too, and find the happiness that I find. I will leave you with the wise words of Henry Ward Beecher~

"Of all the earthly music, that which reaches farthest into Heaven is the beating of a truly loving heart." :)

This is the time of my life

It is so incredible how fast life can pass you by. It reminds me every single day that I cant afford to take one second for granted. I look back over the years and realize the relationships that may have slowly slipped away. And how I wish they could come back to the time that they were in their prime. But sometimes those relationships are only intended for a season. Yet, those times can have more powerful influences on our heart and soul than we ever knew possible.

It is incredible what starting college can do to a person. I have only been in the official college world for about a week, and I am already seeing a transformation, once again, in who I am. And who I am becoming. Junior high and highschool were all about cliques. As you went on, everyone knew every body. But college is so much different than that. When everyone walks in on the first day of shcool, every one is brand new. No one is quite sure what to expect. And everyone is searching for the opportunity to find a new friend. To feel loved, and accepted.

There was one time this past week, where I decided it was finally time to introduce myself to a young lady who is in almost all of my music classes. I thought I was doing a small, and simple task, that didnt mean much. Later that class period we took time to publicly thank others who had touched our lives for the better. That very same girl chose me. She thanked me for the simple task of introducing myself, and making her acquaintance, and was overly thankful for that. It made me realize how much we all truly have to give. And that we can make a difference.

I have already met so many incredible people this past week at school, and I am seriously so thrilled to continue in the path that I have already created. Choir is so amazing, and I love making music with others who I know share the same passions as I do. I cannot wait to start vocal jazz tomorrow and come back to a place where I feel at home. Singing jazz makes me feel at home. The home that was such a major part of me the past two years at Mesa high. I love my family. I love my friends. I love my Jazz (hehe). But most of all, I love my Heavenly Father and my Savior. I'm so thankful for every day, and for every breath I take. Because life is not measured by the amount of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.

Keep Holding on, there are angels all around us

I know that there have been times when people say "there are angels all around you." I believe that full heartedly. I will never forget the conference talk by Jeffrey R. Holland which spoke of the tongue of Angels. And the impact that they have in our every day lives. He spoke of angels who are unseen, yet leave us feeling their presence. He also mentioned that there are angels all around us who are in plain sight. But sometimes we dont take the time to acknowledge that they associate with us, or are right under our noses.

I have true angels in my life. Both seen and unseen. There are times when I am offered protection, or have a quick prompting to do something, or suddenly feel comforted when there is no one around, and I know that it is the unseen angels. I know that Heavenly Father has angels that attend us and comfort and help us, as we live our lives. We are His children, and He loves us, and wants us to feel as much comfort and love as humanly possible. I have angels in my life, who are seen. They surround me, and remind me why I am here. Why life is so important. They are there to teach me, and to understand the things that I cant handle alone. I know that I have been blessed with angels all around me, to help me in the moments when I feel alone. They are truly gifts from my Heavenly Father, and mean so much more to me than anything the world has to offer.

I love my angels without wings, and I do not know what I would do without them. You make every day of my life beautiful, and worth breathing, and I see His image reflected in your eyes. I love you my angels.