Rekindle the Spark

Yes, I'm am jumping on the band wagon that my dear sweet friend Tiffany has started, by sharing my top 10 favorite holiday Christmas songs! I put careful thought into my songs, and I realize, unlike my sister, they're not all warm and fuzzy. And you actually may have never heard of some of my songs. Some of these songs take me all the way back to my middle school years in choir, or my high school years with perhaps one of my favorite teachers of all time, the ridiculously crazy Mr. Carter. Looking over my songs, I kind of laugh because a lot of my songs are more childish and fun. But I guess that's just the "kid at heart" in me. And here they are in no particular order: 1.Here Comes Santa Clause- How can you not love this childhood jingle?!?!? This song just says Christmas Spirit all over it. With the reindeer and the bells in the background. It gets me excited, and spirited like a little child all over again. 2.Carol of the Bells- This song is by far the...

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. 1. I don't really like chocolate. 2. I had the meanest jaw surgery ever, where I had to have my mouth wired shut for a week (losing 25 lbs. in a week is not healthy and doesn't feel good at all). 3. I've never been outside of the United States. 4. Hawaii is my dream vacation, and have never been there. 5. I'm more comfortable in my dance clothes and sweats, than wearing anything else. 6. I find joy in beautifying myself, and doing my make up and hair, it gives me a sense of peace. 7. I'm OCD about random things like labels facing outward, and keeping things on counters in some sort of geometrical organization. 8. I just rediscovered how much I love apple butter. 9. I always have crushes on guys who never want me. 10. My boyfriend now, is my first boyfriend ever. He's the first guy to ask me out on a second date, and he's the first g...

Tearing muscle tissue in my leg, was by far the most frustrating ordeal to cope with, at a time when I felt so motivated to complete my university education. The shuttering thought of humiliation I went through in the hours and hours of endless therapy still haunts me. Day after day for 3 months straight, just learning to walk, run, and jump again, are the memories that still scar my mind. I dread of the nightmare I'd be in if I were to ever find myself back in that crummy situation. If you had asked any of my schoolmates back in high school where I would be in 7 years, they all would have definitely said graduated from the university. Now that I was determined to come back after working a long hard summer for school payments, I find myself still short of money. A girl with no money can't go to school. Barely making ends meet with bills, is no way to live. Be prepared for the rainy day, because you never know when in the blink of an eye your course is to change completely...

So 4 weeks ago my bestest friend Yoko, told me about how great of a time she had at this cafe for a poetry night. I wanted to attend really badly, but my mother was in town and I was just moving back into my Provo apartment from the east coast. 2 weeks later, it was poetry night again at the cafe. I was determined not to miss it this time, however, it was the first night that my boyfriend Justin was in town. I had no other choice than to drag him, I mean, invite him to the poetry party (He was such a good sport). I had a blast listening to all the inspired works of poetry and realized, "Man, I miss writing poetry." I don't think I've written much poetry since...high school? So I was motivated to let the creative juices start flow once again. As I was leaving poetry night I thought to myself, "The next time I come back, I'm coming back with a personal written poem in my hand to recite." Before leaving I was already thinking about what to write about...

What a crazy summer it's been. And little posts to show for it. But yeah. Here I am, in Holland, OH. Working in Toledo for the extended with AMP. Selling Guardian/Armstrong Security. Just a little under a full week left, and 4 sales to get to my second best month. So that's at least one sale every other day. I'm currently aiming to beat my second best month of sales, to have these numbers go toward my summer sales count for 2010. I'm trying to cushion my 44 sales. While in Columbia, South Carolina, I met a boy who I was very much interested in, but I felt he had absolutely no interest in me. I was more there at his convenience. And I just kept hoping he would change his mind. It's funny how as girls, we always give guys the benefit of the doubt. But realistically I should know to stop wasting my time hoping that he'll come around. The truth is, I don't think that boy was into me. The cruel reality, that no girl wants to admit to. So I moved up to...

"Much of the confusion we experience in this life comes from simply not understanding who we are." -President Dieter F. Uchtdorf After a difficult day, I cannot even begin to explain how precious the words of this man can bring so much peace to my heart. My down, aching, and disappointed heart. If only I saw myself the way the Lord sees me, then I would not doubt. "If only we understood who we are, and what is in store for us, our hearts would overflow with such gratitude and happiness,then it would enlighten even the darkest souls with the light and love of God." The Ugly Duckling...a favorite of my childhood stories. Enjoy this short video clip, and feel your heart regain strength, joy, and love. :)

Take a chance... Leaps of Faith. I think we do this constantly. I can't think of any of life's significant experiences that I haven't jumped forward in faith, not knowing how things will turn out for sure in the end. No regrets. One of the hugest things I've learned out here in South Carolina is how to control my confidence, how to build it, and how to make it last. I think it's funny because the one thing that I've always struggled with, no matter how comfortable I am with the task, is my confidence. Everyone always talks about my potential, and what I am capable of. I realized that everyone's belief in me can only take me so far, that if I want to progress beyond what I already have that I would need to start really believing in myself. As humans, we build up walls for ourselves, thinking that's all that we'll ever be able to live up to. When in reality, I think we limit ourselves to insurmountable heights. I've always been a bit of a dre...

Spoke with Haley today... She told me, "Gio you need to update your blog more." I respond, "I know." So here I am. Updating... I had originally hoped I would have kept a better journal of my summer sales experiences. But I haven't. But here I go. I think the most difficult of things that I deal with out here in South Carolina, are two things that begin with the letter D: 1. Doubt 2. Distractions I realized the other day that my biggest fear of this job is not the fact that I walk through some of the most strange and creepy neighborhoods, but more that I doubt my own abilities. I think my greatest fear is to fail. I'm too scared to reach the end of the summer and fail at summer sales. I don't want to fail. I really want to reach my goal. I don't want to be in a tough situation where I don't finish my last year of school due to finances, and struggle the way I did last year with my leg injury, and work, and school. It was too overwhelming, I...

I'm definitely long passed due on a handful of posts. But here's a short one for today. What I've learned since I've been out in South Carolina knocking: Most people in the South have guns. Most people in the South have dogs: Bulldog, Pit Bull, or a Lab. Most people in the South are laid back and chill, and love their cook outs. Working door to door will be the most difficult work I will ever do. That working door to door alone sucks, and you get lonely throughout the day. For every hundred doors I knock and speak to mean people who aren't interested in Home Security, there's always a door that understands the value of protecting their family and loved ones. Truth of the matter is, everyone needs Home Security, the only logical excuse is when $10 a week takes food off the table. I'm worth more than $9 or $10 an hour. I'm not a quitter. I love my family. I love my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ. Whenever I feel alone on the doors, I remember the...

I woke up this morning. Everything was as it should be, life was absolutely perfect with it's imperfections, and I was completely content. I began my morning brushing my teeth, reflecting on what had occurred the night before. I sat in my room, on my little spot clearing among a disastrous mess that I was trying to clean up, and after speaking on the phone with my mother, I decided to go to a corner of my room. I kneeled down to pray, and out loud I gave a long sincere prayer of thanks to my Heavenly Father. It's amazing how long we can go doing things incorrectly, even though we already know what we should be doing and that it will help us of we practice obedience. The Law of Tithing is one of those great commandments I struggle with. I could perhaps say that my parents didn't really ingrain this law in my head well enough, but I never had to deal with this type of responsibility until I moved out of the home. So I must face reality, and know that the responsibility...

Okay, so I can't take credit for this post. This is my roommate Haley's blog post for last night. But it was too funny. I couldn't resist putting it up on my blog. Quotes on nights such as this will live as long lasting memories in my mind and in my heart, I just love my roommates. They are so funny! ;) 1:00 AM: Random words of Gioconda Velez (yes, like an andaconda), Sarah Deaver (yes, like a beaver), and Haley McIntosh (yes, like an apple or a computer, except spelled different). Today sucked. All we want is to be pursued. One night with you. Why were you sleeping in your underwear? Isn't it a little chilly? Changing is for suckers. This music is too intense for me! Sarah look! This is how Haley and I stare at each other! Don't lie. You like it. And then he lied to me! He said he was at Ward Prayer, but he wasn't! I'm just happy he knows my name! Woa! I opened up my eyes and saw two Haleys! I'm so sleepy I might as well be drunk right now. I'...

I'm not so sure I've ever been a real big fan of dating, or speed dating at that matter. But then again, my dating experiences have been so few, that I can't really judge speed dating too harshly. If anything, I would practice meeting more people, spend time getting to know my friends better, and just have a great time laughing at the most bizarre conversations. So for those of you who haven't ever been speed dating, it's the funniest thing ever. Luckily, it was a combined ward activity, so there were a lot of people from ward there that I knew, and I had the opportunity to meet some new people from the other ward. On this occasion, I only had 90 seconds to talk to a person before I had to move down the line of chairs to meet someone new. At first I was like, I'm sitting among my ward member friends, and I already know them, but then I thought it will be fun to ask them questions I've never really asked them before. Some people were really interesting ...

Well, my best friend Tiffany, has been encouraging me to post up a new blog. So this is a special entry for her to enjoy, and for my favorite little "homeboy" Orion! It started out tonight when I decided to play around with different guitar tunings. This song is played in an Open D Minor. As I played it, I realized I was using the same chords I had used in a song I wrote a while ago for my sister Ligia. But this song would be entirely written for Orion. It is his lullaby. Something Ligia told me once was that she uses lullabies to put Orion to sleep. And as I was playing the chords I thought, "Heh...I wonder if I can make this into a lullaby for Orion." Then I thought of all the things that matter most to Orion...Cars, helicopters, balls, blue balls, lights, animals, Jesus, etc. And then I had an image of a star. One of Orion's favorite childhood songs has definitely got to be the famous, "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." And then the image of ...

By Tim Anaya & Katee Syphax No you weren’t there my honey, We may not have any money But we’ve got a lot to pay the bills Maybe I think you’re cute and funny Maybe I want to do what bunnies do With you, and you know what I mean Oh let’s get rich and buy our Paris homes in the south of France Let’s get rich and give everybody nice sweaters And teach them how to dance Let’s get rich and build a house on a mountain making everybody look like ants Way up there, you and I, you and I Well you might be a bit a confused, And you might be a little bit bruised. But baby, how it’s like no one else So I will help you read those books If it will ease my worry looks And we will put the loads up on the shelf Oh let’s get rich and buy our Paris homes in the south of France Let’s get rich and give everybody nice sweaters And teach them how to dance Let’s get rich and build a house on a mountain making everybody look like ants Way up there, you and I, you and I Oh let’s get rich and buy our Paris ho...