...

Just thought you should know.

just take it in

First off, two words. Lee. Brice. His songs just make me happy. So without further ado I'd like to introduce my new favorite song: A Woman Like You by Mr. Brice. I fully endorse this video. Enjoy :)

Isn't it wonderful? Yeah it is. I love country music. I think I might become a country-tarian for a while. It's kind of like a vegetarian but its different. Mostly because I like how country music feels better than the other crap that I listen to. 

Anyways, onto a more serious note. I'm feeling inspirational right now, so buckle down and take notes :) 

You know those days when you just feel not too great about life? Not that you feel like you have a bad life, it just feels kind of... bleh. You know? Yeah that happened to me the other day. Well that's been happening to me a lot of my days lately, and I don't like it. Not one bit. 

So mostly I've been praying about it a lot lately because no matter what I do, it just doesn't go away. And Heavenly Father knows me best; so what better solution than ask him, right? So anyways, I've been asking about it in pretty much all of my prayers for the past month. And guess who just got an answer! This kid. But it's not like it came all at once. 

Background info: Sometimes I think that I know the solution to everything. I have a big tendency to turn to "fix-it auto drive" and do what I think will make it better when something's broken. I think I get it from my mom. Or my dad. Or my grandparents... on both sides. Yeah, I guess it runs in the family. We're fix-it-and-get-it-done kind of people. So when something's wrong in my life, I always feel like I have the solution. But here's the disclaimer: I don't. I just think I do. Clearly.

So that was my main problem. Every time I'd ask for help I'd say, "Please help me with this, I think I need to do [insert solution of the week here] more to make it better, please help me to do that." I think I've had like 1000 prayers like that in the past few months. It's not like my solutions were bad or anything. But here was my problem: I wasn't listening. I definitely do not know everything. But He does. So duh, Jess. For a girl who's got all the answers, I sure am oblivious sometimes. I think it's important for us to take the time to put our wants and needs aside and be willing to listen up. Because He's got some things to say to us. 

To quote one of my favorites: "When you pray, be sure that you listen also. You have things that you want to say to God, but He also has things He wants to say to you." -anon 

So let's move on here because I have more things to say about this. This is what I learned: my Heavenly Father loves me. He cares about me. He wants me to succeed. He wants me to do my very best. And He wants to help me with everything. But if he just forced us to do every single thing that would make our life a breeze, that wouldn't be helping us at all, would it? We wouldn't learn anything at all. So that's where these trial things come in. Trials aren't designed to make our lives miserable. They're designed to make us stronger, and happier, and closer to the Lord. 

"Past mistakes [&trials] don't define us, they refine us." 

No matter how hard the trial is, we can always make it through with the Lord's help.

The last thing that I learned from this, is when you're having a rough time with something, try helping someone else with whatever they're going through. It helps so so much, and it really brings the spirit of Christ into your life.

I'm so thankful for every little bit of my life. The good, the bad, and everything in between. Mostly, I'm thankful for the gospel. My life would be so much different if I didn't know the things that I know today.

I'm sorry if this post was a little bit all over the place, but I just had to say it :) spreading the knowledge one blog post at a time.

word.

Confessions of a College Student

So last night my friends got a rotisserie chicken for dinner.

Then they left it on my car as a joke. And it stayed out there all night long.

Today I got hungry so I ate it...

Well? It was practically refrigerated out there in the freezing cold... So I felt like it was safe. 

All I know is, I'm ashamed of it a little... But it's fine. 

^ those sentences were all in the form of a haiku. Trust me. Count the syllables. ABCAC. 

Tricked ya. It's not, they're just abnormally short sentences... sorry. 

Bye.

This Sweet Little Miracle

Let me tell you something cool here.

Yesterday was a big day. Why? Because:
A) I didn't do anything but chill at the hospital. Hollaback for no school!
B) I discovered the inner-photographer in myself (see below photos)
C) My sister birthed a beautiful baby girl!!
D) I'm an aunt now!
E) I witnessed the miracle of life. Crazy, right?

This is real. I watched the sweetest little baby come straight out of the womb. It was weird. But it was so cool! It really is a miracle how people can grow babies inside of them. And then they just pop out when they're ready! Okay, so they don't really just pop out, but still! A living thing grew inside of you.

So do you want to see this little miracle? She is literally the most precious little angel that ever came to earth.

Caleb and his sweet little daughter

Holland Grace Johnson

Me and this precious little baby!! Isn't she the cutest?

Seriously. She's the cutest ever. I love her so so much. I love babies. But mostly I love Holland.

White Noise

So you know that episode of Boy Meets World (one of Disney's better shows) where Shawn comes to sleep over at Cory's, and Shawn can't sleep because the noise is different than the noise at his home? And so Cory decides that they should get a white noise tape to help him sleep. And Shawn gets one that reminds him of home.. and the tape sounds like downtown New York, and he goes right to sleep but Cory can't.

Sorry for that awfully long explanation for an episode, but what I'm trying to get across here is that's how I felt last night.

All night long there was a super annoying beeping sound in that darn construction right by my apartment. It's getting a little ridiculous. There was an also a really loud ambulance at one point in the night. And not only that, there were people just chatting it up in the lobby. To those people: I'd like to let you know, I'm trying to sleep at a reasonable hour, and you're messing it up for me. I realize that you're just a freshman that want to have a fun college experience because you're free! But let's get real here. You're ruining my relationship with sleep. And I don't appreciate it.

So needless to say, it was a rough night last night. And I still had to wake up ridiculously early. Yay for practice!! Too bad I love it too much to give it up for sleep time. Maybe it's good for me though. All I know is I look like this in the morning:

#notamorningperson (excuse my twitter lingo on a blog)

So excuse me if you see me today and I'm not in the greatest of moods. Feel free to tell me I'm being ridiculous. I'll get over it :)

Much love. 

Apologies and some words and stuff

Hi.

I'd like to formally apologize for missing a couple of days... I mean every resolution has to be broken somehow, right? But I know you all sincerely missed my posts, so I'm super sorry you had to go without hearing from your number one blogger.

Alright, now that we've gotten the formalities out of the way, it's ranting time. Topic? Grammar.

Now, I'm no English teacher, and I do have my fair share of mistakes in life, but let's get one thing straight.

You're, your. To, too, two. Their, they're, there.

Okay, so that was three, but really guys?? These are literally the easiest things to know the difference between. And people switch them ALL the time. I think facebook might be an English teacher's nightmare. So I decided, out of the kindness of my heart to help y'all out here.

You're the best. Your facebook page. I want to go clubbin'. This is too rad. I had two pizzas last night. Their bags are super cute. They're super weird. Check out that attractive man over there.

Help much? You're welcome.

Now this may be an oxymoron, but part two of this post is my other pet peeve. Those few people that designate themselves as the facebook grammar police. Now, I hate it as much as the next guy when someone misspells something, or uses the wrong form of you(')r(e), but let me tell you something. Just because you comment EVERY time saying "*neighbor lol" does not make you seem smart, or funny. It makes you obnoxious.

That's really all I had to say.

Notice: I'm not trying to be the "grammar police" in part one of the post. Just a sister trying to help a girl/boy out!

Also notice: the punctuation and grammar in the following pictures. I know, they're funny. But they have a good message, so take it to heart please :)

Real life applications:

love forever,
jess

Relationship Status

Maybe I'm jumping the gun, but as you know, valentine's day is right around the corner. Kind of.

So let me just set something straight here.

I am definitely not one of those girls that goes around pitying herself and boo-hooing about how she's eternally single and whatnot and crying about "single awareness day" or whatever. That=not me. If I'm single, I'm single; if I'm in a relationship, I'm in a relationship. It's as simple as that. But I just saw a quote that I thought was pretty darn cute, and I suppose it could apply to me these days... So I inserted it below for your convinience :)

"I'm not single, and I'm not taken. I'm simply on reserve for the one who deserves my heart because they say good things take time."

Cute right? I thought it was pretty adorable. So those of you feeling bad about yourself these days, don't! It'll happen when the time is right. And for now enjoy being single. Because there is beauty in everything: in marriage-ness, relationship-ness, and even single-ness. So love your life, whatever situation you're in!

You're welcome for being such an inspirational person ;)

Much love.

Love Yours.

Alright, this post is solely dedicated to all the roomies out there. Mine in particular, but I guess all can apply.

I found this lovely picture on pinterest today that almost exactly describes my life every day ever since I've been in college. Check it out.

Note: Please ignore the alcoholic beverages in the photo. Pinterest/facebook/blogging/absolutely nothing are our late night addictions.

Well? What more can you say other than "let's go to bed at 9 tonight" ends up being "shoot! It's one already??" Hence why we are always so exhausted.

Picture #2 I found on pinterest as well.

We honestly ask ourselves this every day. I'm not so sure everyone else would agree, but we entertain ourselves--that's all that really matters right?

That's all I wanted to say. Peace an blessings. Love my roommate. Love yours--it makes life a whole lot more fun.

Get it Done

I have a mild case of writer's block at the moment. And I'm tired. So I guess I'll just leave you with a quick thought and be on my way....

Everything happens for a reason; now is right on time. So don't dwell in the past--live in the now! And get it done.

Much love. 

Honey Badger Don't Care

Needless to say, it was a pretty darn successful day today.

I realize that 90% of you could care less about my cheering career, but it's a big part of my life sooo if you don't care then you have my permission to skim :)

I kept having these nightmares. Cheer nightmares. About how when I get back into it, I'll be awful. And then I won't be able to double down... and then I'll get kicked off competition and my coach will hate me. And then I'll cry a little. And then I won't know what to do with my life.

But guess what?? Today we got to stunt!!! (in case you didn't hear me say that 50 times already) And my nightmare didn't happen. Hallelujah! I'm so so happy. No more cheer nightmares for me!

Us. Just kidding.

Anyways, I also got my whole class schedule figured out finally! Yay!! No more stress. Plus I'm taking a cooking class! Which I'm decently really excited for. Why? because it's satisfying my childhood dreams to become a chef a little bit.

Also, MONDAY!! Mondays are the best because I get to hear what's going on with my missionaries. Mostly Brayden just emails home that day, but his are the best. There's just something about his that make me want to be a better person. I guess that's true for all missionaries. That's what makes them so great! I wish I could be a boy and go on a mission right now... but I guess I can be a missionary here right? I was called to the Provo, Utah mission. Maybe that can be one of my new new year's goals. (I should really start writing down these goals)

And last but not least, we watched the Alabama vs. LSU game for FHE! Best suggestion for a family night ever, if I may say so myself.... I might be a little biased but it's whatevs. I mean, me and Lex were the only ones really watching, but I'm fine with that. Go Bama! Roll tide roll. Maybe honey badger should have cared a little bit more...But we won't judge him I suppose. Sorry. I'm sure you don't care about that so I'll move on.

So then that's all I really did. But that's all a girl really needs right?

Anyways, I'll be done telling you about my lovely day :)