I like this

It's sometimes hard to explain modesty and why it's important- especially the little things.

I like the way this woman put it: http://yourfriendlymormonneighbor.wordpress.com/2011/04/14/modesty-why-you-rarely-see-a-mormons-shoulders/

There is a purpose behind everything we are taught as Latter Day Saints. God knows.  

Friends and People

It's interesting how people come and go in your life. Sometimes you meet someone and you think nothing of them and then you never see that person again- but then sometimes later on in your life that person becomes a huge part of your heart. It makes me want to go back in time and whisper in my ear, "Hey look, pay attention to this guy (or girl) your introducing yourself to- he's going to mean something to you one day."
The best friends I have ever made have been instant. The kind of friend you just know right from the beginning- there's no awkward get to know you period- you just know them. Other friends have taken years of knowing them and being with them to develop a close relationship, and I do feel close to them but never as close as those friends that touched my heart instantly- I don't think they will ever reach that level because its just not even the same kind of friendship.

And sometimes you lose people.

Sometimes you have a flash of brilliant adventures with someone who you love instantly. And it was one of those instant friendships but that instantaneity is true throughout- for it only lasts but what seems like an instant in time, and then they are gone, off to do the next great thing in life and meet the next great friend, just like I am. I never second guess why this happens, I know people come and go, I know sometimes (no matter how great the spark between two people) you were just meant to be in each other's life for a short amount of time.

You never know though, so look at every person you meet- really look at them and appreciate your moment with them. They may stay, they may come later, or they may never come again, but either way you should know them.

Utah: the land of acceptance?

Take this survey HONESTLY and then read my post: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1fH8zZJysF6j9rO5VPhxEfQBs2o_cZ0wDthmY8iviYqQ/viewform

As you should know by now, I have a lot of African and African-American friends. It has been brought to my attention lately, that racism still is relevant in Utah- just maybe not how most people would think. I have dated a couple of men who are black and they have really given me an inside look on how they feel about how they are viewed.

Racism in the typical sense would be referred to as someone looking down on another race, but I’ve seen the focus to be more on just treating someone differently- even more positively.

Every time my boyfriend (who is black) and I would go somewhere we would always seem to get some kind of reaction. People would tell us how cute we were together and sometimes make comments later to me about how we should get married because we would have beautiful children. These are all nice things to say but still not something that is as commonly said to me when I am dating a person who is white. My boyfriend would complain that he didn’t want to go to parties where he didn’t know anyone, not because no one would like him but, because everyone would look at him and wonder who he was and where he came from and then make it a point to go talk to him. I laughed when I saw this actually happen (at a party where I knew no one either). I walked away from him for one second, and turned around to see a crowd of people literally surrounding him.

I can see how this attention can be annoying but I know most people are just curious because, lets face it, Utah is not very diverse. 

How to Talk to Your Kids

(Notes written by me as I was being raised- and still am)

1. Let them know that they have the freedom to choose. It's all about PERCEIVED freedom...

2. Always talk calmly. If you raise your voice then they raise theirs. If their voice is already raised then theres no chance of it lowering. If you want your message to touch them then it has to be spoken softly.

3. Just hear them out. Hardly anyone is ever completely at fault, listen to their side of the story. Someone might be less at fault but everyone has a point. Make sure you understand, and verbalize that you understand, their side of the story. Everyone wants to feel heard.

4. You can't save someone, you can only love them. 

My Bio

Abigail (Abby) has always had a love for people and a desire to make them laugh or smile. She began acting when she was eight years old and performed as the lead (Lucy) in "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe". She then went on to perform in several other small musicals at the Hale Center Theatre in Salt Lake City. Later Abby discovered a new-found love and talent as an artist.  In the fifth grade she began painting and drawing in a wide variety of mediums and excelled in all of them. Since then she has won too many awards to mention and has been featured in numerous art exhibits around the state. Another huge passion of hers is humanitarian work and travel. In high school she was awarded Service scholar and began traveling to Africa. She has been on service trips to Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda. Abby now has a trip planned for this summer to live and work in Ghana and is currently a student at Brigham Young University-majoring in Recreational Therapy. 

Find out more about Abby by visiting her other blog: http://abbyevansworldadventures.blogspot.com/ 

I am proposing getting school credit towards my major (Therapeutic Recreation) for my work I will be doing in Ghana this summer. I have talked with the Kennedy Center to receive the forms for an "Individual Experience" to set up my registration with them. I am requesting permission from the Marriott School of Management to get credit.

This summer will be my fourth time working in Africa and will add to my experience, I have had, using recreational therapy to benefit others. This year I will be doing similar activities to what I have done in the past. Over a span of six months I have lived in various countries working with non-profits companies and educating people on many different subjects. I started a campaign called "I'm Proud to be a Girl" with a mission to inspire and teach young women about their personal value, women's health, HIV/AIDS prevention, and the importance of education through school. My recreational therapy experience has come into action as: I allow time for individual counseling for the girls after the assembly, play games together (as a group) to build friendships, and during my lessons we always discuss talents and productive (positive) activities that the girls are doing (and can do) in their spare time- to further develop themselves into stronger young women.
This year, in Ghana, I will be assigned to be a full time teacher in a rural school (through "International Volunteer HQ"), help out at a orphanage for children with disabilities and also work in other orphanages.  As I teach, I plan on having my "Proud to be a Girl" assembly and will also have the freedom to plan and implement after school recreational activities for the students. I will be in Ghana for a little over a moth and will use my time to implement activities to help build the students self-esteem and build valuable relationships. I will process the activities to make them more therapeutic and try to be a good consoler to the children when they ask for advice.
I have met with Shalece Kehl and she is excited about my proposal. I hope my request is granted- as I would love to receive credit towards my major for the revenant work I will be doing in Africa, again, this summer. Thank you for considering my request.

Introduction:

I want to dedicate this blog to all of my crazy and abstract ideas about life. I often have thoughts come to my mind about how interesting life is and how small things make all the difference... This world is so big but yet so connected! Every idea can spark a new one, and adventure is always just right around the corner.

First Thought-

Thinking about the world being connected: 

The moon has seemed unusually close and bright this past week. As I looked up at it, I just had to stop and remember a year ago as I had stopped and looked up at the bright moon while in Africa. The temperature was different, the noises, even I felt different, but that was the SAME moon. No matter where you go on this earth, and no matter how different of a life you may be living from someone else, you will still look up at night and see the same moon that someone, somewhere else, will see. 

No matter how far apart, we are only one glance away from being the same.