38 1/2

38 and a half... not bad!

1. Start your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train... I have on an Airplane
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping... Not yet...
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language... with a little help from teachers :)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa Not yet...
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud - Love the mud volleyball!!
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma ... I always chicken out
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt: doing one right now
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book ... Hopefully soon ;)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating... Ya but I didn't eat it, icky fish!
88. Had chickenpox:

89. Saved someone’s life ... I 'd like to think that I have
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake... It smells too bad!
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100.Visited Italy

My Weekend... OY!

This weekend was crazy! Let me explain:

Friday

I arrived home around 1pm. I then started helping Mom and Bill get ready for the HUGE dinner that night. Around 3ish Charles text me, asking me if I wanted to hang out, of course I say yes. So I picked him up at his house and from them we went to a park and played on the swings, cuddled and talked to 2 hours. I've yet to grow tired of our talks. After I reluctantly dropped him off at his house, I headed back to help in the mad dash at the house.

The party was... fine... I'm really not a huge fan of large groups crammed into my house. As the hours ticked on I got nervous for my double/blind date at 8pm. My friend, Shay's, boyfriend's friend was in need of a date and so I got roped into a date. His name was Josh. They picked me up at 8pm sharp and from there we drove to Iggy's Sports Grill. I ate very little due to the fact I'd already eaten and wasn't expecting to be fed.

After dinner we went to Kevin's (Shay's boyfriend) house to watch the Strangers. I absolutely HATE scary movies. I'm not very brave so I thought at least I'm sitting by a cute boy that could "protect" me. So the movie started and as it got scarier I slid closer to Josh for comfort... the movie got even scarier... nothing. It got to the point where I was cowering in his arm practically shaking and still he sat there. He didn't even put his arm around me. So finally, Kevin's dog jumped up on the couch next to me and cuddled me. I had to snuggle a dog because I was so scared!!!!! ARE YOU SERIOUS???? Isn't that why scary movies were invented, so that girls would cuddle guys? O well... according to Shay, Josh really liked me and thought I was really cute. Hmmmm.....

Saturday

Most of the day was spent getting ready for Witches' Night Out. My outfit rocked if I must say so. I was a 50's witch. At Gardener Village, we (Mom, Aunt Cathy, Amanda, Randee, Amanda... Randee's friend, Tiffany, and me) pranced around like witches. We ate a ton, I had my picture taken a bunch. That was weird posing for strangers. It was way fun. It was my first time going and most definitely not my last. I even got to dance around on stage during the Witches' Parade. All in all I had a really fun time!

On my way home, John and I started texting because we were going to hang out and try being friends. He was already out with a group of friends bowling and so he invited me to meet them there.

Here is where we need to rewind and look at a side note... Derek, my ex-boyfriend who I sent off on his mission when I was a senior in High School who I broke up with for John, came home at the first of the month. I've been really nervous to see him again.

So I show up at the Bowling Alley, after giving myself a pep talk that I could do this. As I walk in the door guess who I see...Not only is John there but Brittany (The girl John got with after we broke up, who John had recently broken up with when he decided he wanted to change), Jer (John's cousin) and to top it all of... Derek. I was completely unprepared to see him! Turns out, John and Brittany thought it would be hilarious to see the look on not only my face but Derek's face when I walked in. I was completely uncomfortable. I made John go outside and I punched him and yelled at him, saying how unfunny this was. I tried to make it not awkward but I couldn't handle it. I left after 20 minutes, furious, hurt, upset, etc. I went home, cried for a bit and then crashed.

Sunday

Derek's homecoming was at 11. Mom came along to be my strength. I walked in the chapel and guess who once again was there.... Not only Brittany (who barely knew Derek) but John also. He came with his cousin, Jer, is friends with Derek. But why did he come. There was no good reason for him to be there but to hurt me. When I walked in and saw him I immediately ran out and sat in the bathroom for a few minutes because I was so upset.

Derek's talk was amazing. I cried the entire time. Whether it was because I was so upset or the spirit was so strong or I was kicking myself... I don't know. But His talk was amazing. After church, Mom and I went over to Derek's house. Mom chatted with his family while Derek and I chatted. He hasn't changed one bit. It was nice talking to him.

That night I flew home to Cedar City, and that was the end of my weekend.

I'm two year younger than Randee!!

You Belong in 1994

With you anything goes! You're grunge one day, ghetto fabulous the next. It's all good!

What Year Do You Belong In?

My Talk :)

Developing a Relationship with Christ

Good morning! First off I want to introduce myself a little. My name is Kaytlen Bennett. I'm from Roy, Utah. If you don't know where that is, it's up North by Ogden. I'm currently a Sophomore but I'm going to be a Junior next semester. I'm a theater major and hope to some day be a make up artist and a high school drama teacher. So that's a little bit about me.

I was asked to talk about developing a relationship with Christ. I got a lot of my information for this talk from a talk given by James E. Faust called “A Personal Relationship with the Savior.” In his talk his listed five things that help build a relationship with the Lord. They are: A daily communion involving prayer, a daily selfless service to another, a daily striving for an increased obedience and perfection in our lives, a daily acknowledgment of His divinity and a daily study of the scriptures. Don't worry I'll go into a little bit more detail with each of these.

The first thing James E Faust said to do was to have “a daily communion involving prayer.” President Spencer W. Kimball said, “There is a knowledge that our Father in Heaven wants each of us to have, and that is a personal knowledge that he hears and answers our prayers....We each have so much need for his help as we seek to learn gospel truths and then live them, as we seek his help in the major decisions of our lives, decisions involving schooling, marriage, employment, place of residence, raising our families, serving with each other in the work of the Lord, and seeking his forgiveness and continual guidance and protection in all we do. Our list of needs is long and real and heartfelt.” Alma 34:18-27 says... (Look Up). The Lord wants to hear from us just like our earthly parents or siblings back home want to hear from us. My mom is always wanting updates on my life down here in Cedar City or just to chat. I've recently come to enjoy my chats with my mom because when I talk with her things are put into perspective and I'm able to get things off my chest. So why is the Lord any different? He not only wants to know the things we need or but He also wants to share with us our joy, our sorrow, our triumphs, our defeats and even if we just need someone to talk to. He's there and all we need to do is pray and he'll hear us and be there for us. Doctrine and Covenants 75:11 says... (Look it up). The Lord is waiting for us to pray to Him. The more we pray to the Lord, the stronger our relationship will become and the closer we will grow to him.

Second, we need to give “a daily selfless service to another.” Now I doubt President Faust meant that each day we need to go out and do a HUGE service project every single day, but that each day we should find and search for simple ways to serve our fellow men. In the True to the Faith , it says... (Read pg. 162, last paragraph). I cannot count how many times that I've been down, depressed, or just having a low self esteem day and someone comes along and smiles or a friends comes up and gives me a hug or something simple like that. Doing service can be just that simple. Taking a split second to smile at someone who is down, giving a compliment, or anything that takes us out of thinking of ourselves and thinking of others. In Matthew 25:34-40 it says, (Look it up). By serving our fellow man not only are we serving our spirit brothers and sisters but we are in turn serving the Lord. So through serving others it strengthens our relationship with the Lord.

Third, we need to strive daily for an increased obedience and perfection in our lives. The Lord said in 3 Nephi 27:27 it says... (Look up). If we live each day with the goal to be like Christ then perfection is our goal. I remember when I was a little girl, my aunt gave me a bracelet that have the letters WWJD on it. I remember wearing that everyday until it was shred into pieces because I wore it 24/7. That along with a CTR ring have been the most influential pieces of jewelry I've ever owned because they stand as a reminder to stay true and choose the better path. I had the opportunity to work a lot with the primary in my home ward this summer because my mom was the chorister. So just about every week it seemed I was either in playing the piano for the children or being the back up chorister when she was sick. There is a song called “If the Savior Stood Beside Me” that was apart of this year's primary program and it also became one of my favorite songs. In the song it says, “If the Savior stood beside me, would I do the thing I do? Would I think of His commandments and try harder to be true? Would I follow his example? Would I live more righteously if I could see the Savior standing nigh?” To hear little children sing it and to see their faces light up at the thought of the Savior standing right beside them really touched my spirit and strengthened my testimony at a time where I needed to be reminded daily that I needed to be living as if the Savior was walking right beside me. I know perfection at times seems like an unachievable goal but I testify to you that it's not. I am a long ways away from being perfect but if I try to live each day with the goal of being perfect and rely on the Atonement to make up for the thing I can't do on my own, I know that one day I will reach that goal. And ultimately in our daily quest to be perfect we will rely on the Lord; therefore, strengthening our relationship with Him.

Third, a daily acknowledgment of His divinity. Mosiah 5:13 says... (Look Up). By serving the Lord we strengthen our relationship with Him. By serving Him we learn more about Him. Also I think to acknowledge His divinity is also to appreciate all that He has done for us and the beauty of his creation. In high school I had the opportunity to go to choir camp with my Chamber Choir. We were up at the Environmental Center, if any of you know where that is up around Eden. It's tradition that on out last night there we go on a midnight hike. My senior year, the night of the hike was totally clear and when we reached our destination of our hike it was like we were in space because the stars were so vibrant. On our way back down, my friend Derek and I lagged behind and started talking about how beautiful the stars were. Then he said something that I think about every time I stop and admire the world. He said something to the effects of, “Isn't it amazing that everything around us testifies of a God and His love for us?” That's stuck with me because always when I stop to think about everything around me, my testimony of the Lord grows.

Lastly, to develop a relationship with Christ we must learn of Him. What's better way to learn of Him, then to read our scriptures. By reading the words hand selected by His own hand for us, we can grow so much closer to Him. For me knowing that the Lord cares enough for me to send the scriptures to help me through this life testifies of His love for me. I know when I faithfully read my scriptures I fell so much closer to the Lord than when I don't.

In closing, I would say to you my brothers and sisters, take the time to develop and strengthen your relationship with Christ. Our lives are already filled with trials and struggles and I don't know about you but I would not want to do it all on my own. I don't want to face Satan and his angels as the seek to bring me down alone because I'm only so strong but with the Lord and His strength I have infinite and eternal strength. Through developing a relationship with Christ we allow ourselves the opportunity to have the Savior walk along side us. Brothers and sisters I know that there are time when it seems that the Lord has abandoned us. In the words given to Joseph Smith as he was sitting in the Liberty Jail, “My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.” The Lord will be with us, I know that to be true. I know that with a strong relationship with Christ I can overcome anything. I love this gospel and I'm grateful for the opportunity that I have to speak. I want to leave you with His words in Doctrine and Covenants 19:41, “Come unto me thy Savior.” I leave that with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Let's see how many things I can squeeze in 24 hours, shall we?

Alright so I'm crazy. I do better when things are crazy busy, so why am I being such a slacker? I have so much to do and seems like I'm falling short. I just can seem to find the drive to do the things I should be doing i.e. homework. So they fact that my life is just going to get more hecktic is kinda freakin' me out. So I'm breaking down and buying a planner! And it's going to be hard to get used to using it but I"m going to! I've got to if I hope to make it through the semester. WISH ME LUCK

Do I have a sign that says, "Pick on me?!?"

I swear there must be a sign permanently posted on me that says, "pick on me, I'm dumb." Do you see it?? It has to be there because I swear every guy I know picks on me. Some I can stand because it's just like how Chace used to bug. That I can handle. But then there are the obnoxious guys that just don't know when to stop. Like the ones who think it is funny to lean over to my desk and take advantage of the fact that my computer is touch screen and exit out of whatever I am doing, no matter if it is important or not. Honestly I can take being picked on. I mean I was raised chasing after Chace, Mason, and Nick's shadows trying to be like them so I have gained a high tolerance. But honestly does it have to be 24/7. Are we really digressing back into elementary years where picking on a girl means she's cute?? If you think I'm cute... ASK ME OUT ON A DATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So this is what I get for trying to be prepared?!?

SO I'm trying this new thing where I'm trying to be more prepared for class and actually disciplining with school. So I thought I'd be really good and start reading the chapter we were starting to work on in Astronomy. I got about 1/4 of it read. I even took notes and highlighted stuff. I felt really good about myself coming into class. Then the horrible reality comes knocking. Out of the ENTIRE book we only skipping one chapter... the chapter I started reading. I was so freakin' mad!! I actually was prepared for class and I got denyed!!

The Audtion

It happened, and I don't feel horrible about it. It wasn't perfect though. I walked in and Peter Sham, the directer, immediately started talking to me. Commenting that I looked like a "Dorothy" and that he liked hope I changed my hair saying, "You were a beautiful blonde but now you're a beautiful brunette." When I sang it through the first time it was a little shakey so Peter, the AMAZING guy that he is, had me sing it again telling me to sing my heart out... and I did! I sang it the best that I can and so now I get to wait. Wait... wait... wait! Callbacks are posted tomorrow, wish me luck!

Halloween Hall Decorations

What a weekend with Mom makes me realize

So Mom has only been here for about a day and it's been the greatest. Having her here has made me realize how much I missed out on during my year and two months of self imposed exile from her and my family. This time last year, Mom and I probably would've pulled eachother's hair out and broken things because we didn't get along. I take responsibility for that tension, because I realize now that she was right about John. She's always right. John was trouble and because of my lust and stupidity for him I allowed a rif between my family and me to grow. I allowed a boy who broke my heart repeatedly, who caused me a lot of pain, struggles and heartache to come between me and the most important people in my life.

These past few months without that riff have been amazing! I've gone back to my family, I finally feel like I'm back to being me. I'm the real "me" not some mindless drone that bends to the demands of a stupid boy. Part of me wishes I could go back to the night I lost my mind and tell me to not got there and save myself all the pain that has occurred since then. But I'm not one to regret. I think going through all of that has not only helped my testimony but it also has made me appreciate my family.

I've been thinking...

So ya, life is crazy! School is going crazy. I'm busy all the time and I don't mind it. I've been thinking for a while and I've come to the realization that I'm young. :) My mind has been fretting over boys and I've realized that it's been pointless. I don't want to get married, at least not now, so then why would I need a boyfriend so bad? Honestly how dumb could I be?!?!?! I'm only 19, I'm young, I've got the rest of my life ahead of me, and I'm really not ready to give up my opportunities to travel and explore! I've got a lot of plans for my life and getting married this young would ruin most of those.