1: I need to take more/better photos so that I can use them to blog with. This is just disappointing.

2: Today was the Monday-y-est Monday of all the Mondays. 

3: But it ended with everything falling into place, and reminding me that that's how life usually goes, if only I'd learn a little patience. Totally easier said than done.

4: I've been really grateful for sincere friendships lately. I'm finding out more and more which ones are the real ones, and I'm in awe by the incredible people in my life.

5: I've been listening to the same song on repeat since Friday. I'm too embarrassed to say what it is.

6: Snowboarding is still one of the best things in the world, and I'm craving it like no other. If you follow me on Insta, then you already know that I woke up at 5:00 a.m. the other day, put on all my snowboarding gear, and then just sat around in it for an hour. Literally can't wait to take it out on some fresh pow-pow. powder. snow.

7: Can I just say how grateful I am to have a Heavenly Father that always has my back? I know I disappoint him about 99% of the time, but he is there for me anyway. Ugh. I'm so undeserving, but so grateful.

8: I made my bed today. You don't realize how proud you should be of that. I don't really believe in making beds.

9: Lately I've been feeling a complete and utter lack of confidence in knowing exactly how to get to where I want to be. Anyone who is qualified in life lessons should come give me some. Will pay in hugs and also maybe food that I steal from my parents house. Cause I don't grocery shop. Hence--I need life lessons. Did this just go around in a full circle? 

10: I'm feeling restless and ready for some change. Again. So I'm moving. Again. For the 6th time this year. lol @ me. 

Go kill your Tuesday, everybody! Only 13 more days until Christmas!! 

CAMI + KYLE | FIRST LOOK

"You are the finest, 

loveliest, tenderest, 

and most beautiful person 

I have ever known--

and even that is an understatement." 

-F. Scott Fitzgerald 

Cami + Kyle | First Look from Kalynn Petersen on Vimeo.

FAMILY + GRATITUDE

It was so good being with family over Thanksgiving. Early on during the week of Thanksgiving, I was feeling pretty sick, so it was a relief to feel better by Thursday and get to hang around the people I love most! I honestly felt a little overwhelmed the entire weekend because I have so much to be grateful for. 

My gratitude list for the month of November is simple:

I am grateful for the family I have. I am grateful that each member of my family seems to have been hand-picked just for me.

I am grateful for my loving Father in Heaven, who is SO aware of the challenges and obstacles I face every single day, who gives me not just what I want, but what I need--knowing it will be for my best and teaching me to trust in Him.

I am grateful for my perfect Savior, Jesus Christ. I am grateful for His mercy, His example, His love, and His strength.

I am grateful for opportunities. I am grateful for passion. I am grateful for change. 

TRICK OR TREAT! | BEATTY HALLOWEEN

This past summer, I was fortunate enough to film more weddings than I have so far in my career! I am lucky and blessed, and I never want to take that for granted. However, it was a nice break to be able to film a different kind of project last month! Following the cutest little family around while they went trick-or-treating was honestly such a treat for me! It really reminded me why I love doing what I do. 

I love these little moments. 

I love that personalities and these kinds of stages in life can be captured on video! 

Beatty Halloween from Kalynn Petersen on Vimeo.

MONDAY THOUGHTS

Today I came across this picture from a cabin/fishing trip with some friends a few months ago. I can remember this day vividly. It was an incredible day, for no incredible reason. That's just how fishing makes me feel. 

 Sometimes I get so wrapped up in the pace of life that I forget to unwind and revel in the beauty of God's creations. There is so much to be revealed to us in those quiet moments of contemplative privacy. Things incapable of being put in words and explained to others, but things known to ourselves.

You know what I'm sayin'??

I am grateful. 

LATELY.

These last couple weeks I've been happier than I can remember being in a long time. For me, I feel like that's really saying something, because I try to give happiness an honest effort every single day. I have a strong belief that happiness can be a choice when it isn't coming easily. But I've just been having the kind of days where I wake up happy and don't even have to try to be. It's a relieving feeling! 

These feelings have had me doing some self-reflecting. I'm trying to think about how I act and how I treat people. Does anyone else have a hard time treating their family as well as they should?! I don't know why I have this problem. I can be the happiest, most joyful and kind person to pretty much anyone, and then I sort of let that go easily when I'm around my family members. 

It's something I'm working on, because my family members are honestly my best friends. They're always thinking about me, and they don't let me forget it. I've had some good times with them lately.

\

A few weeks ago, my brothers and I went laser tagging! There are few things I take as seriously as laser tagging, haha. It was so much fun. Afterwards we got ice cream at JCW's. The whole night was exactly what I needed. We had wait time between games and there was a long line as JCW's, so we got to do a lot of catching up and talking about life. My brothers are honestly just the best. In every way.

Last Thursday I was able to attend the annual fundraising gala for Mentors International, the company my dad works for. Mentors International gives microcredit loans to people in third world countries to help them grow their businesses, as well as some business training that they wouldn't be able to receive otherwise. It's an incredible company, and they've made more of a difference than you'd think. I love going to this gala every year, because it's a reminder of how much good there is in the world. I'm so proud of my dad and all he does for people around the world. 

Last, but definitely not least, is being able to spend one night every week with Nathan. Life has been crazy busy lately, so I've been mixing up the night every week, but I always call my weekly date with him Tuesdays with Nathan. Last night he was extremely tired, so we stayed in and baked some cookies. I tried to give him some raw cookie dough, but he bit my finger SO HARD while I was trying to stick the dough in his mouth! haha. He was already coughing a bit last night, and probably didn't want to be choking on cookie dough as well. But seriously, my finger is still sore, haha. 

Anyway, life is good, my friends. :) 

THE SHADOW PROVES THE SUNSHINE

Have you ever wanted to show someone how amazing they are? And tell them that they have an army of potential, just waiting for be directed? And then just had to sit back and sort of wait for them to figure it out on their own?

It seems like every time I turn around I've got another friend who is facing some sort of glaring trial. It saddens my heart, and I feel like I can almost feel the weight of it, and I just wish there were something I could do. Life is so hard. 

I just want all these friends of mine to know that you have been the people who have motivated me and inspired me. You've been the ones to carry me when I was weak, and forbidden me to settle. Some of you I barely know, yet you've managed to leave footprints in my life with potent trails. From the time I wake up to the time I turn in for the night, I feel full of gratitude for all of you. I am blessed, I am blessed, I am blessed. 

And so are you. 

Just try to remember that as you go through all these hard things. And keep God close. And remember that He purposefully and intently gave us opposition in all things. 2 Nephi 2:11. Read that. And then listen to this song by Switchfoot. And then PLEASE, sincerely, let me know if there's anything I can do for you.

There is no such thing as a lost cause.

I won't allow it.

Love you all.

TWENTYFIVE

Yesterday was my 25th birthday! If I'm being honest, I never want to tell anyone that I am 25, haha. I suddenly feel so old! But I do have to say that I have incredible people in my life that make the transition easier.

Friday night my parents took me out to dinner to celebrate, we did a little shopping, and then my friend Carlee and I had a sleepover! It was fun and reminded me of the days when we were roommates, which were some of the most fun days of my life. The next morning (my birthday!) we woke up early to go to breakfast with friends at the Original Pancake House. Which, if you haven't been there, you NEED to go. They have the best breakfast in all the land, and I'm not exaggerating at all. Schedule a trip, stick to it even though you have to drive to Sandy, and your life will be forever changed. Pinky promise. After breakfast, Carlee, Cami, Kyle and I headed to Lagoon for the day! We walked around, waited in lines, and rode rides until our legs almost failed us. I had a wonderful birthday, and after all is said and done, I feel incredibly blessed with the family and friends I've got in my life. 

Brigham Steven Jensen | Birth Story

A few days before her baby was born, Abby and I were talking about a conversation we had in high school. I was giving her all the details about my first kiss, and she was absolutely disgusted! It was just a regular ol' kiss, but she could hardly handle listening to me! It was hilarious how grossed out she was, and she vowed to not kiss any boys for a long time. (That vow only lasted a few months, haha.) But here she was, 9 years later, PREGNANT and ready to give birth in just a few days!

I was thrilled and eagerly waited for her text that would tell me it was time to head to the hospital so I could film the birth. September 30th arrives, and she texts me around 8:30 to let me know I should come to the hospital in about an hour. I was so excited that I just started putting together my camera bag right then away! Which was a good thing, because only about 20 minutes later, I get another text from Abby: "Will you come now? :)" And then two minutes after that: "Come quick!" Haha! That boy knew he wanted to get here quickly. I made it just in time, and at 9:24 p.m. Brigham had arrived!!

It was incredibly special to be there with this friend that I've had for so many years. He's a perfect little guy, but I'll just let you see that for yourself.

CALEA + TAYLOR | ONE YEAR

You know how sometimes you meet people through social media, and it makes you appreciate the potential of social media again? That is how I met CaLea. I started following her on Instagram because she is one heck of a photographer, (that's a link to her work, and you should most definitely click it, because you will be ever-so-pleased) and then somehow we started talking, ran a giveaway together, and have been trying to make creative plans ever since.

Annnnyway, a few weeks back, CaLea asked me to work on a little video for her and her husband for their one year anniversary. We gathered some thoughts on their first year of marriage, put them together with some fun moments we caught on film, and this is what I came up with. Not only was it so much fun being up in the mountains with new friends, but it was also special to witness a relationship like theirs.

Happy anniversary, you two!

GNO + TRADITION

For as long as I can remember, my family has been full of incredibly fun traditions. Creating and developing these traditions has been one of my mom's favorite things to do, and she seriously kicks butt at it! I get baaaddd FOMO when my family gets together, and I can't be there for whatever reason, because I know how much fun they're having! I can't even really say that I look forward to any tradition more than the other, because my mom has made them each so creative and fun.

One tradition that I love is our Girls' Night Out while all the boys are at priesthood session. Dinner, Deseret Book, painting, and cupcakes make for the perfect girls night. I got the best mama and the best sisters in law in all the land. 

GIRLS DAY + PLEASE HELP ME BECOME A BETTER VISITING TEACHER

It was so nice to wake up on Friday with nothing to do except have a fun girls day with my girl Kenzi! She stayed at my house with me when she came up for the wedding, and we had a blast. We took our time getting out of bed, headed up City Creek and did a little shopping, had lunch at Kneaders, and grabbed some things for the girls I visit teach--on the last day of the month--oops! Later that night we stuffed ourselves with pizza and chocolate while we watched The Ringer and The Longest Ride, because what girls day doesn't end with good food and a chick flick, amiright? 

p.s. Anyone have any tips on how to be a better visiting teacher? I'm so not into the whole "visit once a month and leave a spiritual thought" thing. I'd way rather make some truly good friends out of it, and just don't know how to make that happen! 

My Best Friends' Wedding

This embarrassing little photo is the first picture Cami and I took together, along with our friend Brielle, of course. :) It was September 2013. We had randomly been put together as roommates at Ventana, and had been living with each other for maybe a few weeks when we all decided to go shopping for some apartment decor. We ended up finding out we all had a love for Duck Dynasty and came home with matching cups and a Duck Dynasty Calendar, haha. We've been best friends ever since.

  THIS is a picture from the first time I met Kyle. He's the dude doing the Chandler Smiles in the green hat and sunglasses. His cousin Kincade and childhood friend Keola both lived at Ventana with me as well, and when we all decided to go float the Provo River, Kyle came along. This was July 2014. That same summer we all went on a couple trips to Zion, and Kyle and I became good friends pretty quickly.

I was lucky to find this great group of friends, and my relationships with each of them were/are unique and special in their own ways. 

Kyle is a different kind of guy. It's hard to describe. If I've ever needed help with anything, he's there to offer his help before I can even ask. He also has this ability to make everyone feel like they're the greatest person he's ever come across. I don't know how he does it! But whenever I've felt the worst about myself, it's been Kyle who builds me back up. Cami is just...she's my girl. She's always the first one I go to for the hardest or happiest things that come along, and even though I'm not the perfect friend, she treats me like I am, and loves me no matter what. She's SUCH a gem. There's really no one like her! So, of course it didn't take Kyle very long to realize that she was the girl her wanted to keep forever! Unfortunately for Kyle, she was dating someone else for a while, and even after they broke up, she just didn't think she had those kind of feelings for Kyle. It was hard to watch, because Kyle is honestly one of the best guys I'll ever know. But in a way, I'm glad it took Cami so long to come around, because Kyle and I got really close during those times. 

Fast forward two years, and Cami finally realized that she never wanted to lose our dear friend Kyle, and things moved quickly from there! FINALLY they are married, and I keep saying that it was the best day of my life! Haha, but it's true. When you get to see your best friends' dreams come true...not even your own happiness beats that. Their wedding day was pure bliss for everyone there. 

I'm still on an emotional high from this weekend! 

I just hope they both realize that it was a two-for-one kinda deal, cause I'm never giving up either of them. ;)

Cami + Kyle | Couples Shoot

I am not exaggerating at all when I say that I was smiling ear to ear as I was editing this entire video. If you follow me on any other forms of social media, you're probably 100% sick of hearing about them, but they are my two best friends, and it makes my heart so happy to see these two so happy. Literally, it makes me utterly giddy, haha. Tomorrow is their big day, and they'll seal the deal for eternity in just over 24 hours. 

Cami and Kyle | Couples Shoot from Kalynn Petersen on Vimeo.

Kaleb + Aurora | First Look

                       Have you ever seen two such beautiful humans in your life?! All the heart eyes.


   
Aurora and Kaleb | First Look from Kalynn Petersen on Vimeo.

Goals + best friends.

It is September. This morning I wrote "April" in my journal. Get with it, Kalynn.

About two months ago, I set a goal to be more consistent at writing in my journal. It's about the only goal I'm really succeeding at. I've been failing pretty miserably at my other goals such as: 

-Go to bed early. This never used to be a problem for me! Around friends and family, I'm known as the grandma because of my typically-early bedtimes. But over the summer I moved in with girls I didn't know, and I didn't want to be lame, so I often stayed up late hanging out with them. Now I'm stuck in the habit, and it's been really hard to break! 

-Play the piano. My mom is incredible at playing the piano and has been a piano teacher my entire life, so nothing makes me feel as guilty as my inability to play the piano. I'm not gonna mention how long it's been since I've attempted to play.

-Learn Spanish. Duolingo says I'm about 11% fluent, so I think that says enough about how I'm doing with that.

However, I've had some awesome moments lately. I've been filming a lot, and something about all these happy moments I get to capture really brings me so much joy. Tonight I got to film a First Look/Bridals session for my two best friends. Cami and I have been friends with Kyle for over 2 years, and he's always had a major thing for her, but she only gave in this past summer. It's been the most magical thing to watch!! They give each other everything I would want for them. I'm a little obsessed at this point! I can't wait to edit their video, but since I can't share it yet, these are some screen-grabs from their couples session we shot a few weeks ago. 

PSA: if you haven't yet, hurry and get up to the Alpine Loop! We've only got a few weeks left before it closes for winter.