Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas!!! I'm happy to celebrate this day with my family in my hometown Mexico. This morning I found out there were more presents than lastnight. Did we magically get more presents??? Hmmmmmm......... This is interesting.

Another Evidence: The banana bread and the milk in the cup are all gone. Could this have been the figure who wears red and comes to our houses on Christmas Eve and leaves us wonderful presents???

The suspect is definitely Santa Claus! But, no worries, he's a great guy! Fun, too! Love Christmas and so do a lot of you guys around the world.

I love to look at the Nativity set because I remember the birth of Christ, His life, the miracles He performed and the huge sacrifice He made for us. I know that if it wasn't for him, we wouldn't have the atonement that he has given us so that we can live again and have our sins forsaken. 

I wish you all around the world a Merry Christmas!!! 

¡Feliz Navidad!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Hey Everyone! December is finally here! Yay! This one of my most favorite times of the year. I'm so excited for Christmas! But that's not the only thing I'm excited for. I'm excited to celebrate the birth of Christ with my family. And in three days and three hours, I'll be 18!!! WOO!!! I can't believe I'm getting old but on the bright side no matter how old I get, I'll always be young at heart.

I'm hearing Christmas songs in my head... and sleigh bells ringing. Are you listening for them?? You better listen, watch out and not cry because in 12 days Santa Claus will be coming to town with presents for everyone. Enjoy your December moments, everyone!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! Apparently this just became one of my favorite holidays this year because you get to celebrate it with your family and friends and think of the blessings that you have in this life and are thankful to have. Below are the pictures I took yesterday. Enjoy!!

Doesn't this look nice? We did a great job with the table! Very creative and that is what I call art!

The entire Ricks Family. So happy to have my sis and brother-in-law here. Especially little Ellie. Isn't she the cutest thing you've ever seen!

Bre and Jose. Aren't they cute together?!

Me and my good friend the Scarecrow! I won't have to worry about the crows anymore. This is the greatest Thanksgiving I've ever had!

Gotta love my Ellie Bug! She's adorable! I'm thankful for the many blessings I have in this earth. Especially my cute little niece!

¡Feliz Dia de Gracias!

You Raise Me Up, and Happy Birthday Christian!

You'll never believe what I just did a few weeks ago!! I hiked up to the top of the mountain Squaw Peak with my Young Women president, two of the laurels and her kids. For those of you who never hiked up to Squaw Peak but want to do it and think it'll only take 2 hours, believe me it won't!

It'll take 5 hours to get there. And oh boy it was intense but we made it to the top. I was pretty exhausted hiking up there and I did think I would never make it but through the prayer I said in my heart that I would get enough strength I survived and you can now call me, along with the others I went with, the survival of the fittest. I thought of two songs; one, "Climb Every Mountain" from the most fun musical of all time, "The Sound Of Music," and the other "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban. Both of them tell us to keep going despite by our earthly challenges. I'm sure the people I went with on the hike did think of those songs as they were hiking up the mountain. It'll be hard once you're climbing up on that mountain but you never know what's at the end of it unless you try.

On Sunday, October 23, it was someone's birthday who's no longer living on this earth. If Christian were still alive, he would've turned 35 years old. Down below is a letter I wrote to him even though he is gone:

"My Dear Christian,

it has been 2 years since you left this earth. If you were still alive you would've turned 35 and we would've celebrated your birthday. But we are celebrating it in our hearts by remembering you and the memories we have in our heads. I have very good ones about you. I remember when you came to our house with your face covered in Mexican dirt and you looked like Harry the bigfoot from 'Harry and the Hendersons' and the plane ride we had with my uncle and cousins.

I've known you since I was eleven years old and I have thought of you as my brother even though we are not related. I want to give my thanks to you for your love, compassion, testimony and spirit that has touched my heart and brought me closer to you as it did my family.

Although you are gone from this human world and unseen by us humans, we know you are still with us because we feel your presence every time we think of you. And we will never forget you or the memories. I love you with all my heart as an adopted brother. You've helped me grow and I also thank you for that. I don't know how long I will be here in this mortal world but I will wait, enjoy every moment of life and endure to the end until I join you and my loved ones especially our Heavenly Father and Savior.

All my love,

Caela."

10 years ago... we suffered but we held on

10 years ago on this day... there were two airplanes that were flying uncontrollably and hijacked by terrorists, thus crashing into the twin towers of the World Trade Center. Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives in the attacks. It was a devastating event that brought us down with sorrow, anger and pain because our loved ones died of a horrible death.

I remember that day 10 years ago... I was only seven years old when that tragedy took place. It is a day that we'll never forget because we saw what happened.

As I thought of the event from 10 years ago I didn't understand why that horror happened in this world; and I wished it never happened because I wanted it to be a non-existent nightmare as much as a lot of you do. But then a thought came to my mind: I remembered the Savior and the sacrifice He made for us. While He was dying on the cross He prayed to His Father in Heaven and asked Him to forgive those who've betrayed Him and nailed Him on the cross for they knew not what they were doing. I also thought of our Heavenly Father who created us and loves us. I know it was hard for Him to deal with that event and He didn't want that to happen because He knew it would take place and it wouldn't be easy for us to face. But through prayer and trust in the Lord we have regained hope, faith and love after the trial. It's not easy to forgive but we are able to do it with the Lord's help and support.

"Love one another; as I have loved you."
-John 13:34

First Day of School

School began on Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at 7:30 a.m. at Timpview High School. First day okay.. Second day great... Third day better! There are a few classes I need to work on being confident and those are astronomy and geometry. Looks like I'll need a tutor who are good at those subjects because I've been getting slow on the two this past summer. The days got better when the weekend came... a ward party at Uncle Bud's Park, the bike ride with my very good friends Jim and Marianne Larsen, who lived in Rohnert Park while I was there; which they now live in Draper, and the welcoming of Nina and Andrew after they were gone in North Dakota for 2 and a half months doing a service project.

Earlier today, the youth sang the EFY medley, "As Sisters in Zion/We'll Bring The World His Truth," to a missionary who is leaving to serve in Australia. Because it is one of my favorite songs to listen to while it's bringing the powerful message it has, it felt so good to sing.

Have any of you ever felt surprised when you realize it's your last year in high school and think of the day you started Kindergarten? I have. It feels like yesterday I was almost 6 years old when I started as a kindergartner and I turned into a 17-year-old Senior overnight. I can't believe I'm a Senior! Ever since I was a kid, my dream was to go to college so I can be prepared for the adult life and have the opportunities that are available. I'm impressed with the hard work I've done for years in school and are my family and friends. Now this is the year to work hard to graduate and get into the college I want to go to. But I'm remembering to spend every happy moment that is wanting me to enjoy.

Best Days of Summer

This summer of 2011 has been the best of my life! There have been great memories of this summer that I won't ever forget. It started with a youth conference of the Oak Hills 6th Ward up in Lake Powell, which was a magical experience I'd never forget. I apologize I don't have pictures of my experiences there; I forgot to charge my camera and it was the last minute to do it. SO sorry! :(

Lake Powell was an adventure there and I never wanted to leave because of the beauty, peace and happiness it brings. And I have tried new things there I never knew if I'd love doing them. I've learned from them that I can do hard things even when I feel so discouraged I just want to give up.

The summer got more fun when I went to Cali to visit my sis Alexis and my brother-in-law Grant, who were expecting a baby girl. We did a lot of fun things there. One of them was visiting the beach, which is my favorite time doing there and other places with a beach.

The week at Girls' camp was a great opportunity for me to be a junior counselor to the younger girls. It was also a great opportunity for me to be Maid Marian after earning an award for the bullseyes I got in archery.

Two weeks after Girls' camp, I was sick with a fever on a Saturday, two days before the fun week began but recovered quickly after resting and taking things slow and easy. EFY was about to start when I was sick and I prayed so hard that I would get feeling better so I could have the fun that was waiting there for me; EFY in Sacramento was a great experience there. As you could see in this photo above is our group name, "One Heart" because each individual does have a heart for others as Jesus Christ does. As they say at Girls' camp when someone shows they have a BIG heart, "You've got heart!!"

                                   

The summer not only got more fun, it also got more special. We welcomed Lexie and Grant's first child, Ellie Ricks, into our family. And our hearts grew more strong and big for her. I am so excited and happy to be her aunt and have her a part of our lives; while I was at EFY, I thought about how much effort we had put forth by prayer, faith, and patience for my niece to come into this world; I never felt so thankful or happy for this blessing to be given to me and my family. Every time I look at her beautiful face with those eyes, I can see that she's a child of God and she was sent here by Him, who created the earth, because she wanted to be a part of our family. I can also see that she'll be a wonderful girl and a wonderful young woman that we would want her to be.

                                    

A week after Ellie was born, I had my first surgery on my mouth! My bottom wisdom teeth had to be pulled out this summer, and oh boy, did my mouth hurt a lot and I looked like a chipmunk with my mouth swollen. I even looked like Santa Claus with the ice packs wrapped in a white towel around my mouth. I did get spoiled because I got to eat ice cream, yogurt, pasta and all the other good soft stuff I had to have since I have stitches on and my jaw hurts from the surgery. Most favorite time of being a patient, least favorite: my jaw hurting like crazy. The recovery has increased, as it still is, and my mouth is no longer swollen after taking pain medicine and having the ice on my face.

Mom and I were sad to leave Cali to go back to our home in Provo because we didn't want to be far away from Lexie, Grant and baby Ellie. I do wish we'd have more time in the summer to spend with them. I also wish that school would start the day after Labor Day as it used to back in the old days. Why not do it in the same today?

The important part that matters to me the most is that I had the best summer of my life as I will continue to have while I grow older. Today is the last day of summer vacation and school starts tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. I'm prepared and ready to learn new things even though I don't want summer to end yet. Also ready to achieve the goals I had planned this year and I pray that I will succeed.

Happy Father's Day!!!

Today is a very special day to remember and honor our fathers who have been in our lives since the day we were born. I don't know what my life would be like if my dad wasn't around. He is a great man, our hero, a loving family man and fun guy to hang out with. There are so many things that I love about my dad:

1. He makes us laugh
2. Has a good heart and a strong testimony of the Gospel
3. Supports us and is willing to help others
4. Has always been there for us since the day we were born
5. Always pushes us to be PROACTIVE to seek our dreams and opportunities
6. Always up to spend time with my sisters, my mom and me
7. Never gives up

I know that there are more than 7 things that I love about my dad and there will always be an endless number of them. Father's Day makes me think of the days we spent together as father and daughter or as a family. I'm so grateful and thankful for my dad and the things that he has done for us. Couple of my favorite memories about my dad are when we went to Color Me Mine and worked on fun projects together, the California vacation 10 years ago, horseback riding in the mountains down home in Mexico and go-cart racing.

Whenever I needed comfort or help on problems I face in life he comforts me with his sweet hugs and makes me laugh with his jokes. I'm so thankful for the wonderful father God has given me in this life and I know he'll be this way and always be there for me even though he has to be in places where he needs to be.

Feliz Dia del Padre, Papi!

"I love my father as I love the stars- he's a bright shining example and a happy twinkling in my heart."
~Terri Guillemet

"Dad, your guiding hand on my shoulder will remain with me forever."
~Author unknown

Succeeding With Confidence

Yesterday morning, I woke up at 5:45 to get dressed and ready for the day because it was the day of the school year's end. I was feeling more excited than tired because I, along with the other students at school, get to have a summer break from all the labor and the hard work we have put our efforts in to succeed. I found out that my final grades for my classes for the 4th term were only four A's and three B's which make me feel proud of myself for working so hard in school. I have worked hard in school for years and I still have confidence that I can handle another year and make it through high school so I can finish it strong and graduate to get onto the next level of life. Ever since I was little I didn't really like school but with the thought of getting into college and becoming more prepared in life for things that I don't know will happen I decided to go to school so I could learn and be ready. I have been working so hard and I was able to achieve, which I still am. And I have earned certificates for doing successful hard work in school. I have been successful in three places: Mexico, California and Utah.

Myself is not the only one I am proud of for working so hard. There are others that I know have earned certificates and finished the year strong because of the hard work and the success they have put in school. There are also those that I may not know very much or not at all that have succeeded. I have learned from my family, my teachers, my friends and my Heavenly Father that I can do hard things and I can finish strong with faith, confidence and courage. I've also learned if we believe in ourselves we can do anything that we put our minds to. When I was little a few people didn't think I was smart or able to do anything I put my mind to because of my learning challenges but my parents refused to believe that because they knew that they were not willing to help me learn. They pushed me to seek the opportunities available for me and they were able to help me. They were not the only ones who did, my sisters, my friends and my teachers who believed in me helped me. Especially someone above my head. I am proud of myself and others for working hard in school, doing our best and standing up for what we believed in.

"You are doing all that you can do. Anybody can see that. Win or lose... we gonna walk out of this stadium tonight with our heads held high. Do your best. That's all anybody can ask for."
-Herman Boone, 'Remember The Titans'

The Seamons' Easter Egg Hunt

The three of us, Mom, Nina and I, went to the home of David and Anne Seamons, the parents of our late friend Christian, for an easter egg hunt a week ago. There were a lot of laughs and joys at the Seamons' home; we had dinner and we talked about things with our friends there. When we were in line for dinner, Nina and I were freezing because we didn't bring our jackets and we didn't think it would be that cold. Thanks to Todd, Christian's older brother, he gave us two jackets to keep us warm from the cold weather.

When the time for the hunt began, I didn't really want to go because I thought I was too old for it now but to tell you the truth, I'll always be young at heart. I decided to go on the hunt with the little children and the other teenagers like me. There were many candies all over the yard; it was like a huge cloud just came and dropped tons and tons of candy on there when we were still inside. It really felt like that!

While hunting, I found my favorite chocolate, Hershey's bar! Yes! I've loved those things ever since I was little. Those things are so darn good even though they make me break out and feel sick.

My basket got bigger and bigger when I found a lot of candy on the trees, the grass and the plants. Even better, I found a neat surprise... $1.00 given to me from Sister Seamons. It was the best easter egg hunt ever!

Christian Taylor Seamons

1976-2009

But while I was there, I looked at the portrait of our dear Christian. I saw his face; I remembered he's not here with us in this mortal life and we can't see him but we can feel him. I miss him and I mourn for him. I wish he could have survived the very bad illness but it's too late to save him because he's now gone and there's no way to re-do the past.

When that feeling came to me I kept imagining that Christian was really alive and inside the house but I kept remembering that he isn't visible in our presence. My eyes were starting to fill with tears and I was about to cry. I had to get out of the house and I did; I got up from the chair, walked slowly and calmly to the door, opened it and then walked outside. As soon as I saw the yard and found it was "safe" enough for the people not to see me cry and begin to wonder why, I started to run to the playground with tears rolling down from my eyes to my rosy cheeks. I cried when I got to the fence and I was so upset that my 'adopted brother' is no longer alive. I turned around and saw the swing; it was a way to comfort me and it helped me. I sat down, held onto the chains, and began to kick my feet up in the air to keep me going. It was such a comfort to me; I closed my eyes and I felt the air coming back and forth; I felt like I was flying or floating. I was there for probably 30 minutes and when it was time to go I felt so much better from the swing and I felt strong enough to endure and be happy for Christian. I've learned that it's alright to feel sad about something but in your heart you don't want to be sad because your loved ones want you to be happy throughout the human life. That's what is best for us to do as mortals: don't worry, but be happy.

The World In The Sky

I wrote my own poem for English class assignment since we talked about poetry. This one is about Amelia Earhart, the first female aviator to fly across the Atlantic Ocean without any failures on her first flight. I became so inspired by her I decided to write a poem about her. Enjoy this while you read it!

Ever since I was a little girl

I have wondered what the whole world looked like

And I've always wanted to do a whirl

Around it. I would rather do it by plane instead of hike

Because of the great wide ocean

With more deepness than of a normal swimming pool.

Up in the air with strong, gentle motion

I can see the new world that a fool

Can hardly see or not see it at all.

Before I flew up in the sky

Many people thought of me as a madwoman and tried to make me fall

Out of the air with every lie.

But on the day of my first flight, it was successfully completed

And I had proved to the world that anyone can do it and never fall.

A few would not see it my way

But mostly everyone would imagine it, see it and fall

For it, including my husband who is never away

From me because of our love.

We can and will never depart from one another

Even if death parts us because a dove 

Will keep us sealed for eternity and we will never individually bother

Breaking our marriage.

Priest and Laurel Prom 2011-San Rafael Stake

On March 10, 2011 I flew over to Rohnert Park, CA for a special event that every teenager loves to attend: the Priest and Laurel Prom. I was so excited to be there for it because of the dances, the music and the moves that everyone shares. It took me 2 hours to get ready for it because of my hair, the makeup and the dress. The theme was, I believe, "The Royal Red Carpet," which was a very unique title for a Church prom because of the formal outfits we wore to the prom we looked like movie actors and actresses. Inside the Church building we had our prom in, there was a chandelier with crystal clear water bottles, which made our night the best night of our lives.

I did go with a date for those of you who are wondering if I did or not. He, Ryan Yanes, and I have been great buddies ever since freshman year. Ever since he became a convert to the Church he's brought a lot of joys and laughs to everyone with his enthusiasm and his acting skills; he showed his hunkin' moves at the dance and everyone enjoyed them. He's been a great buddy of mine, which he will be forever.

My friend Emma, who also came to the Prom, has been a great friend of mine for almost four years. I remember when we first met and became really good friends, which we still are. Oh, what am I going to do without her and Ryan now that they're graduating from high school and go onto college to fulfill their dreams of becoming what they want to be? I will always remember the good times we've had together as friends. And the good example she has been to me, regardless of the choices she makes. She and I are forever friends. 

Prom night was the best night of my life and I will miss the friends I know who will be graduating from high school this year. I will never forget everything that happened there; the dances we had, the moves everyone did, and the music that we had and enjoyed.

Makeover Day-March 2011

April is finally here but the snow is still coming so I may have to wait another month or two for Mother Nature to end the cold snow coming and start the sunny spring to come now that we are getting ready for summer to come.

Somewhere in the month of March Melina (Nina) did a makeover on me and I turned out to be a beautiful supermodel. I looked like a princess so I felt like showing it to everyone, which I am right now.

Because I couldn't take my eyes off of it, I took a lot of pictures of my new makeover. I give my thanks to my sis because of a well-done job that she had successfully completed. This could have been the right makeup for Prom but I didn't have the stuff that Nina has when I was over in California for the Priest and Laurel Prom; but at least I had great makeup that made me look beautiful.

This was taken on a Saturday in March after Nina did her beautician skills on me. I just had to do some modeling photos with my camera. After all, how could I remember what my makeup looked like if 10-20 years had passed?

It's always time for a change because that's how we grow, right? I've learned that changes are everywhere; no matter where we go there will always be changes but they are there for us to grow. Some of them will be easy but most of them will be tough.

If we grow with faith, patience, love and a sincere heart we grow successfully and turn into a beautiful person that we need to be on both the inside and the outside. That is what's so wonderful about life on this earth for me. That's one of the great promises God has made for us.

The Preparation of Spring

The snow is finally melting, the fresh green grass is finally showing, the cold weather is starting to fade and everyone is starting to wear their spring clothes, which excites me because we are doing the preparation of spring. And the sun is warming up, which will then start to heat because of summer's arrival.

Spring and summer are two of my most favorite seasons because of the good and calm weather. I am always excited that they are coming when we are in the middle between winter and spring. I love to walk on the fresh, green grass on my bare fleshy feet because of the softness and the freshness that the ground contains. And I would love to walk through a vineyard in California like I did when I was there for Girls' camp a couple years ago. I miss walking through there with my family and I miss California because of the good and nice weather, the beaches that I love to visit and the people that I met, became friends with and love to see.

I have learned that there are always changes that happen every year and they'll never stop; there's always a new chapter to begin with. Our own stories about each of us will never end until the day we join our Heavenly Father. Some of them are hard for us to deal with but most of them can bring happiness and joy, like my sister Lexie is going to bring a baby girl into the world this summer and I know she and her loving husband Grant will be great parents to their child.


Ever since I was 13 I have visited Lexie and Grant in Rohnert Park and they are such great people and I'm so thankful for their unfailing love and the sacrifice they have made when I had to come to live with them when things were starting to get violent in Mexico. They have been very great guardians of mine for 2 years and they have helped me a lot with the challenges I went through. And they taught me all the things I needed to know. Now they are getting ready to become the parents of a little one that will come into this world and experience life's challenges.

I don't know what would happen if I didn't come to live with them and stayed in Mexico when all the violence was taking place. But I know that I wouldn't have received the blessings that were waiting there for me to have if I didn't come. There are always blessings to count, one by one.

The Time to Remember...

Today is the day to remember someone who passed away 2 years ago this very day... he was a close family friend of mine who was like a brother to me and all of my sisters and loved like a son by my parents. We had known him for 4 years and now our dear Christian is gone. I remember the day his mother called us to let us know of his passing... the shock that came all over my body... the broken heart that I began to carry... and the tears I shed. As months were passing I felt sad, confused and blameful toward our God. I did blame Him for Christian's death and I asked why he had to die.

But later on, a feeling of love and joy came to my heart and my soul. I realized that when our loved ones die, they are not gone forever; they are in the arms of our Heavenly Father and will never die. Their bodies may be dead and buried in the soil but their spirits live for eternity and never age nor die. And they are free from the destruction in this world. I also realized that Jesus Christ died for us so that we can live again. If it wasn't for Him we wouldn't have resurrection in the next life and be saved from sin and spiritual death. And we would be with our loved ones in the next life after we die in the mortal life. I know that I will be with my loved ones, including Christian after my human life and we will all remain together forever with our Father and Savior.

The Month of Love

It is now February, the month of Love. That means I may have to send Valentine's Day cards to those I love and care about. It is a great month for us to send notes, emails, cards or messages to our friends and families. It is true that Love is the most powerful thing that we need in life because it makes us STRONGER and helps us grow closer to God and His Son and the people that are around us. Love is something to have in this world while we are living and facing the challenges of life. That must be something special about Valentine's Day. Even when it's not February anymore we do send messages through notes, songs, poems, letters and cards.

New Year, New Me, New Goal: Hair Donation

A week ago my sister Melina put my hair into braids, grabbed a pair of scissors and started cutting my hair because before this new year I made a new goal and that was to donate my hair to a child who is diagnosed with cancer and living a life without hair, which is very hard because they're not able to brush their own hair, put them in ponytails or get them wet when they're swimming or taking a bath. It was hard for me to have my own hair cut but I was willing to do it because I've done it once before and I feel like a new me since this is a new year. And I was willing to help someone with their challenges. It was a good and generous thing to do and I felt blessed to do it. This is a new year with new challenges, new experiences and new inspirational things.

Beautiful to Him

I watched a video on youtube about recapturing beauty this evening and it made me remember that we are created beautiful in God's image and that we should love ourselves for who are regardless of the outside appearance of our bodies. I thought about Stephanie Nielson and what she had to go through after her tragic accident that took place 2 years ago. I could almost feel the pain that she had and I felt very sorry for her but there is one thing that she and I know, she is still the same person that she was before the accident and I know that everyone still loves her for the person that she is to them, including her family. And she is still beautiful.

"I am more than my body." -Stephanie Nielson

Then I listened to this song called "Beautiful to Him" which brings a very good message that everyone needs to hear because the Lord is talking to us as we listen for His voice that brings the love that we need to have in our lives. It brings comfort to me as I listen to it when I'm having a hard time with how I look. I know in my heart that my Heavenly Father loves me because I am His child. He is telling us to forget the negative comments in this world of destruction that have been said to us affecting our Hearts and He wants us to tell ourselves, "I am beautiful because Heavenly Father loves me."

To me, beauty is something to have in our lives because it doesn't just mean that we're beautiful on the outside, we are also beautiful on the inside because we are created with the hearts that God gave us. It's something to judge on someone in positive ways that God would do because there are people who judge our beauty wrong. No matter what we look like, we are always beautiful on the outside and inside of ourselves.

"It's not about your scars. It's all about your heart." -Mindy Gledhill 

Love for Basketball

Today was a better day than the day before yesterday and I have a good feeling that things will turn out great.

This afternoon I got home from school and got ready for a special time that I really love to do: basketball. My mom dropped me off at the Church today because the Youth are doing basketball for fun and it's a part of our stake. My interest for the sport came while I've been playing with the Young Women and it felt so Good to have that feeling inside my entire body, my heart, and my spirit.

I remember as a little girl I would watch my older sisters play basketball outside on the court of our old house when they were teenagers or at basketball games and I started to love the sport because of the movies I would love to watch about basketball such as "Space Jam" or "Double Teamed." And I decided to play basketball because it was my favorite sport ever as it always will be.

In this photo I'm in front of another player that has the number 11 on her shirt at a Church basketball game.

After we finished the series of Church basketball games we later got awards for doing such a GREAT job on doing our best and working hard together as a team. In the photo on the left, you'll see me in the blue shirt wearing an award around my neck. I felt so good getting my award because of the HARD work I've done. We did lose some games though and I did feel bad that we didn't win but I've learned that it was just a game, it doesn't matter whether you win or lose and all it matters is having fun with a positive attitude and doing your best.

Basketball may not be what I want to do for life but it's definitely something I want to do as an activity whether for mutual or anything that can be fun and make me happy and want to do it. It's one of my favorite sports and I will always do it whenever a friend or family member of mine asks me if I wanna shoot some hoops with them. It is a good sport for exercise and maybe I will continue to do it outside when it's not so cold at this time of season.

Back to School with New Semester Classes

At 5:45 a.m. yesterday my alarm clock woke me up because it was time to get ready for school. I was so tired I didn't wanna get up so I slept in for about five minutes but I shouldn't have because my mom had to drive me up to the bus stop. So I've learned my lesson on that one, "NEVER SLEEP IN FIVE MINUTES AFTER YOUR ALARM RINGS WHEN GETTING READY FOR SOMETHING IMPORTANT!!" I was able to make it on time though and I rode on the bus but I'm gonna remember next time not to sleep in late. And go to bed early.

A new day of a new semester with a couple new classes feels different and a little scary. Yesterday was okay but I felt that same feeling I had when I moved here from California: that scary, sad and uncomfortable feeling was in my heart but today was better and I think I will enjoy my new classes. It's HARD to go through CHANGES but it's sometimes good for us to have those things happen in our lives because they help us grow. Trust me, moving here wasn't easy but it was worth it. As I lived here while I had been facing that challenge my seed was growing with faith. And I've learned to rely on our Heavenly Father's understanding instead of my own when it comes to these kinds of challenges and I've learned to trust Him.

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths."

Proverbs 3: 5-6

A Day to Remember Martin Luther King, Jr.

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men are created equal.'

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

From every mountainside, let freedom ring. When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, 'Free al last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last'!"

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King Day came when the clock stroke midnight while we were sleeping. It is a day to remember the man who brought freedom to our nation and taught us that we're all created equal by God. If he hadn't stood up for what he believed in, we probably wouldn't have the freedom that we needed a long time ago. But gratefully one man who wasn't treated equal when he was growing up changed our hearts and made our eyes see clearly instead of blindly and we know what it means to have true freedom.

Today my mind woke me up because it was aware that I wake up early for school and it was thinking "Wake up! It's time to get ready for school. YOU DON'T WANNA BE LATE!!" And also my sister Melina was getting ready for work but then I went back to sleep 'cause my entire body was so tired and exhausted after going to bed late. Today will be a good day though 'cause it's a special day to remember when our freedom of equality was brought to this nation.

Snowy Sunday

Today is January 16, 2011 the beginning month of a new year. Everything outside is covered in crystal white snow, which makes this Sabbath Day a cold Sunday but it will be a good day though because it's a beautiful day.

For some of you who don't know me or may know me, my name is Micaela Jones, the daughter of Michelle, who is also a blogger and the main author of our family blog. I'm 17 years old and the youngest in the family with fun and beautiful older sisters and strong loving parents.

I am excited about this beautiful snowy day but I am waiting for Spring to come with the cool moist weather that I love and enjoy feeling. I am patient though and I will continue to be patient even though it can be hard sometimes.