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.

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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. :) 

Guatemala Pt.1

Last week I had the opportunity to go to Guatemala to do some filming for my dad. He's the CEO of Mentors International, a company that strives to help end the poverty cycle of some third world countries by giving small business owners microcredit loans and business training. The clients pay back their loans and get new loans as their business grows, and eventually they no longer need help. They become self sufficient because Mentors International gives a hand up, not a hand out. These people have the ability to succeed just as much as anyone, and Mentors International helps give them the means. So, I went with my dad to get some footage of these clients and how their loans have helped them. 

Day 1 was filled 7 hours of flying, followed by a 5 and a half hour bus ride from Guatemala City to Huehuetenango. DoTerra is one of Mentors' sponsors, so a group of about 35 of their CPIs and distributors were with us on the trip, and the bus was filled with probably 100 different essential oils smells. (I'm not saying they don't work! Cause they always have for me. I'm just saying they have strong smells.) haha. To keep myself from getting to bus-sick, I had to either sleep (which I did most of the way, hence the lack of pictures--we just got off the red eye flight!) or focus on the beautiful scenery we were passing. It was absolutely breathtaking. I was amazed by all the use the Guatemalans were able to get out of the steep mountainside! I can't imagine working on those steep mountains all day, every day. The mountains go so high there, we were literally driving through and above some clouds. 

{Stay tuned for part 2!}

The one with the update.

If an "update" is what you want to call this. 

Basically, here's what you've missed/what I've neglected to blog about as of yet.

1: Papa had his gala for Mentors International. I wish you could all hear my dad ask billionaires for money. He is the most eloquent, classy guy that I know. The benefit show was amazing, complete with Elder Oaks daughter on the violin and some other fantasticly talented woman whose name I can't recall.

Matthew won this plant, and he was one proud father of it.

2: I hung out with all of my roommates for the first time! All four of us are crazy busy and I'm never ever at our apartment and this was the first time we all got to hang out together. We went to dinner at the cutest restaurant in the Riverwoods and we saw that actor from The Best Two Years! I really, really like my roommates. I know that in some other life, if I wasn't juggling school, work, AND a boyfriend, that we could have become really great friends.

3: Matthew and I went to Hee Haws. haha. I was craving a hayride, and Matthew enjoys all things haunted, so we went down the street for a haunted hayride at Hee Haws. It was the scariest one that I have ever been to, and we really enjoyed it.

 

4: We also carved pumpkins! We took Nathan down with us to Maceys to pick out the best pumpkins in the bunch, and carved away. It was the first time I've ever carved something other than two triangles and a jagged mouth into a pumpkin, and I was pretty proud! 

5: and last, but definitely not least, we all flew up to Disneyland for my birthday! This girl has now entered a whole new decade of life. Disneyland was so much fun. I got to go on all of my favorite rides and spend time with my favorite people. I'm the luckiest girl in the world. Oh, and p.s. For my birthday, Matthew gave me two good books, and a deep tissue massage at a local spa! I just got to go to the massage today, and it was my first real massage. It. was. glorious. I'm thinking I'm going to need more of those in the future.

Adam and his fiance, Kenzie. She's hardcore, as you can tell.

Hopefully I'll be blogging more often!

Tonight I'm off to see Footloose with the boyfriend!

What are your weekend plans?