I met Lexi & Nate a year ago when I moved to Logan. Lexi was one of my roommates and Nate lived next door! I loved living with Lexi and getting to hang out with Nate & his roommates all the time last year. Definitely think it was a blessing to be able to meet them and live with Lexi. They've both blessed my life in more ways then they know! 

They got engaged a while back and asked me to take their engagement photographs. We finally found a time to do the session and headed into the canyon. The fall colors were absolutely amazing with all the leaves changing. It was breathtaking and we got many fantastic photographs. The lighting combined with the fall colors was stunning. They had me laughing most of the shoot, which made for such a fun afternoon. 

Finding Happiness in Unlikely Places | Real Thoughts

If there is one thing that everyone desires most often, it is to be happy. Honestly, who doesn't want to be happy? Not just temporary happiness from something, but to feel true, genuine happiness. This can be hard to find, especially living in the world we live in with promises of "happiness" surrounding us in social media, advertisements, movies and television, and so much more. Don't buy into that though. The "happiness" referenced in those things will not be lasting happiness. Sure you might be happy for a couple hours after watching the newest movie or after tasting a new flavor of ice cream. However, it is a very, very temporary form of happiness. It won't last.

The long-lasting, true, and eternal happiness is what I am seeking. Sure, I have some things on my 'list' of what I think will make me happy like a good job in my career field, dating someone and always having them to talk to and make me laugh, graduating college with a high GPA, getting enough sleep, making money, and a couple others. Yes, those may make me happy. But only for a small moment. After all is said and done, all those previously mentioned things are not the most important thing to me and won't bring me the most happiness. My family and the gospel are two of the most important things to me, which also bring me great happiness; happiness that will last.

As I've started a new semester of school about a month ago and have been busy with classes, extracurricular activities, and personal things, I have put a lot of thought into what my happiness comes from, particularly following a bad or stressful day, or a trial. 

I have quickly learned that happiness can come from the littlest things and often be found in the most unlikely places. I have stopped waiting for Friday, the big game, a vacation, or until after the semester is over to be happy. Why should I wait for happiness when I can get happiness from things all around me on a daily basis?

I've found happiness in some of the simplest and unlikely places: class getting out early, a kind stranger smiling at me or saying hi as I walk by, Dr. Pepper, a random text or message from a friend, laughter, falling asleep to the sound of rain, adventures on a whim, sunshine, a scripture or quote that was placed in front of me for a reason, a beautiful photograph, watching baseball games - especially with my brother or watching his games, free food (a tender mercy for college students), encounters with good people, talking with old friends, missionary emails from Taylor, going home for the weekend and seeing my family, and so many more little things. 

I am truly happier now that I have decided to abandon old ways of being happy and find joy and happiness in the smallest, everyday things

Stay happy friends❤️

Real Talk | Late Night Thoughts

If there's one thing I've learned from recent experiences & from moving home from college for the summer it's this:

Life isn't easy. We all are faced with challenges & trials at different points of our lives. I've had many, some easier & smaller than others. As I have gotten older & learned more, I now have a better understanding & react better to what comes my way. This has been a long time coming & a hard learned lesson, but the most rewarding lesson. 

A few years ago, I would get so worried or frustrated about almost everything. I reacted so negatively to anything that came my way. Because of that, I was often unhappy. But, that was pointless because most of those things I would worry about or get frustrated about were out of my control. I couldn’t change what people did or what happened in this crazy world. What changed was my reaction to those things. Since I can’t change what happens or change people and their actions, I had to change the only thing in my control: my attitude and reaction. This change hasn’t always been easy, but it has been so so worth it. I have never been happier, even in the midst of challenges & struggles. I might get frustrated for a small moment, but bounce back so happy and joyful & with a new attitude. It has been an immense change in my life that I wish I would have done sooner. 

Not only did having a better attitude about life help, but the gospel, my family, & great friends have helped. First, I wouldn’t be where I am today with a few people, you know who you are. I am so fortunate to have the incredible family that I do & the friends I do as well. Not only that, but I am so blessed with all the little & big things everyone does for me. To everyone who has helped me or followed promptings to text me or whatever it was, THANK YOU! I haven’t forgotten it & it all means so much to me, more than you know. I only hope to be able to help you just as much and repay you.

Lastly, I would be completely & utterly lost if I didn’t have the gospel in my life. It brings me so much joy, peace, comfort, & hope. The gospel is so fantastic and I have been immensely blessed because of it. I know that my Savior atoned for the sins of all mankind. I know that He is my older brother and loves each of us infinitely. One of the things I love most about the gospel & the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is that there is always hope. No matter what has happened, He is always there for you and He is waiting, just w a i t i n g for us to ask for help with “his hand is stretched out still” {2 Nephi 19:17}. Even if we are hypocrites or evildoers like in that previous scripture, "his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still." {2 Nephi 19:17} How comforting it is to know that we are never alone in this journey of life. I am humbled often as I learn more & more from the scriptures & am uplifted by the Spirit at church or by those around me through their examples. The church is true & the book is blue.

Don’t ever give up, keep your head up & find a reason to smile. There is good in every day, just look for it, & guess what? It’s often found in the little things. Don’t worry so much about those things that happen or the things/people around you. It will make you happier and life simpler. 

Hazel | Idaho Senior Photographer

Hazel & I have known each other for years, in fact, her dad was my 5th grade teacher a few years back! My family knows her family pretty well, we always have fun when we get together! She is the sweetest girl with such a fun personality with a great love for books! 

We had a blast taking her senior photos and laughed the whole night at some perfect locations. She even was up for all my crazy ideas for photos and was a great sport!

Congratulations Hazel! Have an amazing senior year and make the most of it, don't forget to have too much fun.

Holi Festival of Colors | Ogden, UT

This weekend I was able to take a little road trip to visit my friends from college and while I was there, we went to the Holi Festival of Colors in Ogden. It's an event with live music, dancing, and yoga. They also do 'color throws' every so often when everyone gets the colored chalk (also called color) and throws it in the air all at the same time.

Color throw!

We all wore white shirts so that more of the color would show on us. We barely got a 'before' picture of all of us except Garrett before everyone started throwing the color around.

Before

After

Right before the first color throw we snuck into the middle of the big group because then we would get more color on ourselves. The dude in charge was talking about the color throws and thats when we realized that we didn't get a 'before' photo taken yet so we hurried real fast and managed to get that done just in time!

After just the first color throw, we were all pretty well covered in chalk and had it everywhere! The cutest was when the little kids would have a bag of chalk and thought it was just the funniest thing to throw color on other people and splatter us with it! We had a couple kids throw some on us and it was the cutest thing!

Lexi & Nate!

Jess!

Emilee! 

Me, with my not so white of a shirt anymore, ha ha!

By the end of it, all of me was covered in chalk! I thought my shoes looked cool since they were black and showed all of the color. Emilee also pointed out to me that my hair looked cool too!

We were about to leave, but Jess & I both still had some chalk left. Nate had the brilliant idea to take a slo-mo video of us just throwing the chalk in the air.

If any of you ever have the chance to go to the Holi Festival of Colors, I highly suggest you go! It's such a fun experience with lots to do and just a fun, happy, and inspiring environment! The musicians were great and had us do some chants which were fun ha ha.

Group shot of all of us! 

Happy weekend! Stay happy!