I pretty much just wanted to do this...so I am. My blog. My rules.

Instructions: "with as much creativity as you can muster, show your heart in: a picture, a poem, a song (or piece of music), a phrase (or quote), an item of clothing, a place, and (just for fun) a Disney princess."

Picture:

this is like my life dream. a room overflowing with books.

Poem:
(I'll preface this with the fact that poetry is often lost on me...but this is longstanding my favorite poem. i love e.e. and his strange punctuation and hatred of capitals.)

i carry your heart with me --e.e. cummings

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)


Song:
You Belong With Me--Taylor Swift.
It's pretty much the story of my life, but I love how she describes it.


Quote:

Item of Clothing:

I'm pretty much always happy if I'm in sweats (especially cropped ones) ... and DEFINITELY if they're BYU related.

Place:

the house in the milf.

Disney Princess:
(this one was a toss up. i heart sleeping beauty {i think she's gorgeous} but i LOVE ariel, and prince eric is a HOTTIE.)

plus you can't go wrong with a boy who falls in love with your voice so much he's looked everywhere for you...and finds you in a old crinkly sail and still loves you.

these walls that you put up to hold us back fell down

photo courtesy gabby she wrote.

i had a visitor tonight.
one i thought i'd lost, finally.
and while he seems to have been on sabbatical...he creeped back through my door tonight.

he tapped me on the shoulder.
"hello, old friend," he leers as he climbs into bed with me.

"you, my friend, have been waiting for me."

i sigh. it's not true. well, mostly not.

"i was here last night. you just didn't see me."

worry and i are old 'friends'.
i'd banished him for so so long.
but he decided now was a good time to visit.

see...things have been stressful this week.
and i have been thinking about my future, about the way i hope some things may play out, and where my life is going.
(i'm a control freak. i like to keep things going forward.)

but you know what, i bested him once...i can do it again.
it might not be easy.
and it might come with my fair share of uncertainty.
but it will come.

senor, you are not welcome here.
i am happy (usually).
and i want to remain that way.
and refuse to let my fears overcome me or to let them become realities.
i will survive.

Damaged people are dangerous.
They know they can survive.

— Josephine Har

and while i may not be completely damaged ... i still know i can survive.

everything will be okay.

The Siovhan Show's Frequent Flyers: My Girls and The Boltons

Disclaimer: These are in NO way all the people...or even nearly a smidge of the people I love, adore and care about.

I just thought I'd give you a highlights version of people I talk about so you can match names with a visual. Plus I've been playing around with Picnik all weekend...and I love it.
**I didn't include my roommate Mel, because she hates pictures. **

This is Brandi. These are her babies. I adore them. Brandi is often the major thing to help me keep my sanity at work. She is an inspiration to me on so many levels and I'm so grateful she's in my life both professionally and personally. She's one of those people that quickly became more like family than just friends. And the girls?! I would do anything for them. Anything.

These two are Taron and Libby. Libby is one of my bffs--and I set her up with Taron. (I have impeccable setting up skills--all of the people I set up get married, with ONE exception.) They make me laugh all the time. They are the best of friends and I love how wonderful and funny and comfortable they are with each other. I love the time I get to spend with them.

This is Sarah. She's my Eug-BFF. She was a LITERAL God-send. I prayed for MONTHS to have someone to befriend and someone who would understand me, love me and help me because I was so so so very lonely here in Eugene. The Lord sent Sarah. The means by which we came friends was fast and it was awesome. We became so very close in such relatively little time we've known each other. I am grateful every day for this wonderful lady.

This is Megan. She's a HUGE facet of my life, even now. Most of my stories begin "One time Megan and I..." or "Megan always used to..." or "Megan HATES when I eat on the floor!!" Megan was a strength to me when I couldn't find my own. She is such a funny, vibrant woman and I'm so glad I am blessed to have her in my life in such a capacity. I am grateful for her example, her love, her humor and her tenacity for life. Plus we share an overwhelming love of plaid--that bonds people together.

This is my Andrea. She IS my crazy side. Andrea was my shorty--in every funny manner of the word. Diminutive in size...but never in spirit. I love her for everything she's taught me, done for me, helped me to learn and to see, and for her unfailing example of what we should all try to be in life: fun, Christlike, and happy. And she and her husband? ADORABLE. I miss spending time with this girl.

This is my Dani-girl. No matter how much time passes, no matter what's happened or where we are--we pick up right where we left off. She knows my secrets, my fears and craziness (and still likes me!!). She's been my bff for years now--and I just love her. We have thousands upon thousands of memories together, and some of my favorite adventures. From being coworkers to political aspirations, to late night trips to Manhattan, to Denver to watch some good football, to getting lost in Salt Lake shopping--we've done it all. I miss having her right around the corner when I need her.

This is my lovie. My Lyndsi Shae. This girl is my revolution hero, and someone I admire more than I probably have ever said out loud. You can find pieces of this girl here. I highly recommend it. I don't really know what or how to say things about Lyndsi Shae. I love her. I'm grateful for her influence in my life, and her patience with my slow learning curve. I'm awestruck by the immense amounts of talent inside this vivacious woman. I long to live life the way she does. She once visited all the places she lived in Provo to remember how they felt. I LOVE that. I wish I could be that open. She is my inspiration because when you're free and honest and healing--you can be honest with others. [she's a big part of why the blog once again became public] And if you hurt her--I'll bust your knee caps. And I'm serious about that.

These are my parents. Now, this picture may not seem like much, but it makes me laugh SO much every time I look at it. They are, and always will be, the rock solid people in my life. Nothing can shake these two. They are the most Christlike people I know and have always taught us the gospel by living it. They do everything for us and are so caring. I love them with all my heart and feel so incredibly blessed to have such fantastic parents, such great examples. I hope to one day measure up to the people they are.

These are my inspiration. My wonderful siblings who I love more than life itself. They are the bright spots in my day. To Braden asking me endless questions about BYU, to Ben texting me Office quotes, to Mikaela passive-agressively telling me goodnight and not to text her because she needs her sleep. It is a wonderful feeling to know that, no matter what, I am loved. No matter how far away from home I may be, there is someone (or three someones) always praying for me and hoping my life is going well. I love them. I'm so excited for their futures and the great things that lie ahead for my little brothers and baby sister.

I want to be 5 years old again.

When having black-bottomed feet was socially acceptable because you were not the only one who was walking around barefoot.

When a job was something your mom and dad had, not something you quickly needed to find in order to maintain living in America.

When naps were a thing your parents forced upon you, not something that you guiltily took pleasure in.

When school work consisted of 2+2 or 4+5, not "Please explain why journalism is important to society and why the deterioration of the newspaper is the catalyst to a lost documentation of history." in 12 pages.

When it was socially (and professionally) acceptable to paint all your nails a different color.

When you thought you were so clever and a little rebellious for getting away calling something stupid or for saying shut up....and when the worst four letter word you knew was dumb.

When love was simple and that boy who spit in your face was obviously crushin hard core. When loving someone was easy and uncomplicated and you knew you wanted to be around them forever and that life with them would be one giant jungle gym.

When being someone's Best Friend was as simple as asking and then making sure your parents arranged playdates (sometimes much to their chagrin).

When dress-up was a game and mom's jewelry was always the perfect accessory.

When makeup was a novelty, not a requirement.

When crayons were the writing tool, not just something you kept hidden in your craft drawer waiting for the right occasion.

When a popsicle and day at the pool were commonplace, not something fleeting.

When Jackson Pollock was cool because he got to do things with paint that your mom wouldn't let you.

When playing soccer, doing ballet and gymnastics, playing the piano and still being a bookworm made you cool, not separated or classified you as a certain type of person.

When life was simpler and, ironically, all you wanted to do was grow up.