Christmas Present Summary

Most expensive: Partial tuition payment $1000 - thanks Mom and Dad!
Most thoughtful: Scripture study kit - thanks Kim!
Most enjoyable: Wii / Xbox games (Lego Harry Potter - heck yes!)
Warmest: 10 pairs of socks - thanks Grandma!
Most useful: An ironing board for my apartment - Mom and Dad
From far away: 3 necklaces from India (they are so cool!) - thanks Jain!
Heaviest: Complete works of Shakespeare for my class this semester
- 3420 pages (!) - Thanks again, Mom and Dad
Cutest presentation: A necklace and a scarf - thanks Bronson!
(He was my secret Santa.  My mom asked him what he wanted to get me, and he said, "I want to get a beautiful necklace for Leesha."  Aweeeeeee.... Not bad for a little kid.) 

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.

I know I did!

10 Things I'm Loving Right Now

1. I love that I'm home right now.  I miss the feeling of HOME.

2. I love the taste of my dad's fudge he makes for Christmas.  Soooo yummy!

3. I love the feeling of my cold feet being warmed up by my heater.

4. I love that I'm re-bonding with my siblings over Mario Kart. 

5. I love that as a family, we've watched 5 Christmas movies in 2 days.

6. I love that I don't have to worry about homework or tests for the next two weeks.

7. I love the fact that I do not wrap gifts very well - I'm pathetic, in fact.

8. I love my new glasses - they were supposed to be my Christmas present, but I get to wear them now anyway.

9. I love the inspiration others around me have been providing.  You guys are amazing.  Really amazing.

10. I love that I get to spend this time with my family.

:)

TGS Time

I'm finally done with work for the week.  Now I get to play a little :)

Yay for Movies!

Ok, one last thing to do before I head into FINALS territory.  This is a really good book, and I've been waiting for the movie to come out - they keep pushing the date back on me!  But this looks like it's finally the real deal :)

Check out the trailer here.

Wish me luck.  I can't wait until this week is OVER!

Day 10 - The hardest thing I've ever had to do

Honestly (and I am especially feeling it at this moment), I think choosing to come to BYU was the hardest thing I've ever done.  I am constantly feeling incompetent.  I came from my high school out on top, and now I'm struggling to stay above the water.  There are moments when I feel completely invisible and unimportant because I'm surrounded by people with the same goals in mind.  I have to battle against this lonely feeling a lot - it's getting kind of ridiculous.

However,
I am challenged every day by new concepts and opportunities.  I'm learning more than I have ever learned before in my life.  I am privileged to learn with the Spirit, and my testimony grows as well as my knowledge.  I've made great friends with my roommates - the best I could ever hope for.  I actually have something you could call a social life.  I now know more than ever that God loves me, and He wants me to be happy.

My point, BYU is the hardest thing I've ever done, but it's also the best.  Often, that's how the best things in life are :)


I'll see you after finals.  (Assuming I don't die, of course!)

Day 9 - Five items I would grab in a fire

1. Family
2. Laptop
3. Debit card/money
4. Books
5. Notebooks

Day 8 - Write a letter to someone you have drifted away from and now miss.

Ummm.... I'm sorry we drifted away, and now I miss you.

Sorry, I can't do this today.

Day 7 - Favorite TV Show, Movie, Song, and Book

There's more than one per category - Sorry I couldn't pick!

TV Shows

Movies

Songs

Books

I liked this day :)

Day 6 - Three things you wish you could do right now

1.  I wish I could tell that cute boy that lives in my apartment building how I feel.


2.  I wish that finals week was over already - I wish that I could pass all of my finals and get a decent grade in each class.


3.  I wish I was still in Disneyland.  I miss that place...

Day 5 - Three things in your life that you regret doing/ not doing

1.  I regret not telling Tyler P. off for being such a jerk to me.  He was the kid I liked all through junior high and high school.  He found out about it (thanks to some stupid girls that liked to blab) and was so mean to me ever since.


2.  I regret not being secure about myself in high school.  I hate that I cared so much about what other people thought about me.


3.  I regret not talking to my mom more.  I always thought it was really awkward when I would try to talk to my mom about stuff going on in my life.  Now that I've moved out, it's easier to talk to her, but I will always regret not sharing things with her.

Day 4 - Tell the Story of your Favorite Memory

One day, my family and I went to the Old Spaghetti Factory for dinner.  This was about 6 years ago, I think... I'm pretty sure Bronson was only 2.  We went to our table and. and I had an extra seat next to me.  This was back when Gillian was really clingy to me, and I didn't like it.  

This was kind of mean of me, but I saw here going for the seat next to me and I said, "Sorry, this seat is saved for someone else who's name starts with a 'G'."  

She looked at me in that bratty 7 year old way and said, "Who?"  

Quickly, (and not very originally) I blurted out, "Grace, our older sister."  

Gillian said, "Yeah, right!  Where is she?"

"She's right here!"  I gestured to the chair next to me.

"There's no one there!"  

"Yes, there is!"  Pause. "Oh, no.  She ran into the bathroom because you hurt her feelings!"

I got out of my chair and "chased" her into the bathroom.  A few minutes later, I came out acting like I had my arms around Grace.  I led her to her chair, and then I sat down in mine.

I feel bad, because Gillian actually believed the fact for a few days that we had an older sister named Grace.  She was careful not to say anything that would hurt her feelings again.  Haha, to this day, Gillie and I still joke about Grace and how she is living her life.

:)

Day 3 - Describe your first kiss

Haha, sorry kiddies! I know you want something juicy, but I haven't had my first kiss yet :) Even if I do have it soon, I'm probably not going to be putting it on my blog immediately after.

Just sayin'.

Day 2 - A Letter to your Best Friend

Dear Best Friend(s),
You know who you are :)

I love you.  
You rock.  

Thanks for always being there for me and always supporting me in everything I do.  I don't know what I did to ever deserve you, but I'm so glad you are in my life.

Thanks for listening to me whine, being there for me when I cried, making me laugh, and building me up to be a better person.  I hope you know that I cherish you so much.  I would be aimlessly wandering around without the direction you have given me.

Your passion inspires me, and your kindness astounds me.

I'm so grateful for your loyalty.

I'm very glad that I trusted in you all of the times you gave me advice; it was worth it.

In case I don't say it enough:  THANK YOU.  FOR EVERYTHING.  I love you with all the love my little heart can possibly give.  Please remember, I will ALWAYS be here for you just as you have been here for me.

Love always,
Aleesha

Day 1 - Favorite Quotes

"I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best." 
— Marilyn Monroe


"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." 
— Albert Einstein


"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." 
— Ralph Waldo Emerson


"Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square hole. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do." 
— Apple Inc.


A snowball in the face is surely the perfect beginning to a lasting friendship." 
— Markus Zusak (The Book Thief)


"If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals." 
— J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire)


"I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells."
— Dr. Seuss


"People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. 
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. 
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway. 
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway. 
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. 
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. 
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway." 
— Mother Teresa


"Logic will get you from A to Z; imagination will get you everywhere." 
— Albert Einstein


"It is our choices, Harry, that show us who we truly are, far more than our abilities." 
— J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets


"I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book." 
— Groucho Marx


"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." 
— E.E. Cummings


"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." 
— C.S. Lewis


"I know God won't give me anything I can't handle. I just wish he didn't trust me so much." 
— Mother Teresa


"I am free of all prejudice. I hate everyone equally. " 
— W.C. Fields

"To love would be an awfully big adventure."
— J.M. Barrie (Peter Pan)

"For Attractive lips, speak words of kindness. 
 For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. 
 For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. 
 For beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it once a day. 
 For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. 
 People, more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. 
 As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself and the other for helping others." 
— Audrey Hepburn

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." 
— Winston S. Churchill

"THE FIRST TEN LIES THEY TELL YOU IN HIGH SCHOOL

1. We are here to help you.
2. You will have time to get to your class before the bell rings.
3. The dress code will be enforced.
4. No smoking is allowed on school grounds.
5. Our football team will win the championship this year.
6. We expect more of you here.
7. Guidance counselors are always available to listen.
8. Your schedule was created with you in mind.
9. Your locker combination is private.
10. These will be the years you look back on fondly.

TEN MORE LIES THEY TELL YOU IN HIGH SCHOOL

1. You will use algebra in your adult lives.
2. Driving to school is a privilege that can be taken away.
3. Students must stay on campus during lunch.
4. The new text books will arrive any day now.
5. Colleges care more about you than your SAT scores.
6. We are enforcing the dress code.
7. We will figure out how to turn off the heat soon.
8. Our bus drivers are highly trained professionals.
9. There is nothing wrong with summer school.
10. We want to hear what you have to say."
— Laurie Halse Anderson (Speak)

"Sometimes people are beautiful.
Not in looks.
Not in what they say.
Just in what they are."
— Markus Zusak (I Am the Messenger)

I could go on and on, but I think this is long enough :)

Disneyland! 2010

Okie dokie!  As promised, here are my pics of Dizzyland!  Ahh!! It was so much fun - I can't even begin to tell you how badly I needed a vacation.  

World of Color

I totally recommend going next time you are in Disneyland - it was mind-blowing!

Laser Zurg!  Sorry it's kind of hard to tell - the picture isn't very good.  But isn't it cool?

Meet my new boyfriend! <3

The Beach!

This was kind of a big deal, because I had never been to the beach before!

So gorgeous!

Just so you know...

Hey.  Yes, I'm alive.  Disneyland was a blast :)  Pictures to come, probably tomorrow since I'll have some spare time.  But, no promises ;)

Oh, and I plan on doing a 10 Days series like Courtney and Lexi.

P.S.  I think the storm hype was really funny - they ended up closing BYU campus early, which meant I didn't have to work late tonight :)  Hooray for anticlimactic weather!

Questions

Ask me something, tell me something - here.


Creativity to come as soon as I regain the use of my brain.

At the moment, it is partially dead.



Disneyland tomorrow!  Heck yes!  It's going to be FUN!

Beautiful Words

by The Afters


Slow down
This is such a blur
Tell me what’s the hurry now
Have we been running round in circles
Missing all that we could be
You say it’s not too late

We are words
On pages that we’ve left unturned
An ending no ones ever heard
We are a story slowly unfolding Beautiful words

I could walk across the ocean
With you walking next to me
And you could melt away this winter Now we’re starting over
We will see its not too late

We are words
On pages that we’ve left unturned
An ending no ones ever heard
We are a story slowly unfolding Beautiful words

That last when everything else has passed
Even when all the stars are gone
I know every single beautiful word that we were will live on

I know its not too late
We are words
On pages that we’ve left unturned
An ending no ones ever heard
We are a story slowly unfolding Beautiful words

We are a story slowly unfolding