Stress Management

Last night, I went to the most stressful PowerPoint presentation of my life. The topic was stress management. There was an plethoric amount of yelling, patronizing and above all, clipart. Here's what I learned in no particular order:

1. Flurrying is a word.
2. Drinking and smoking are both bad ideas for coping with stress. Who knew.
3. The same goes for violence. Huh.
4. Financial problems cause stress. Weird.
5. Difficult homework assignments cause stress. There's a new thought.
6. Not only are most Americans stressed out on a daily basis at school and in the grocery store, they are all driving on the same freeway as me.

All of the sudden, I have been strategically unprepared to cope with stress.

We do hard things

Any time we are confronted with challenges my parents always say "we do hard things!" This phrase has never been more profound to me than it is now. My parents do not only encourage us to do hard things, or say they do hard things, but really do. Over the past few weeks I have seen my mom selflessly serve my dad as they both go through some pretty hard things.

They both have an unfailing good attitude and faith in the Lord. I adore, admire, respect, love, and am so impressed by my wonderful, faithful, selfless, loving parents. I have a fear of the daddy-daughter dance at my wedding because I know I'll just bawl through the whole thing. I love my daddy so much. I trust that he'll make it through this cancer but I also trust that the Lord knows what is best for us. I'm so grateful to have been born in my family. I have so much to be grateful for. <3

My fairy tale parents. :)

YLIML.

I present to you the best glygs a girl can have.

First, there's gorgeous Jago on the far left. She is a family history genius, lover of all things Disney princess, and does the cutest things with her hair.

Next we have hot stuff Murph. She is a violin genius, lover of all things Oreo and otherwise scrumptious, and does the most attractive mating call this world has known.

Next to her we have beauteous Slim. She is a marathon runner, lover of all things in the forest, and makes the best squeals while wearing the cutest cardigans.

I am in love with these hot mamas.

I love ASL.

My Immortal Daddy

We found out a few days ago that the best man I know may have cancer. My daddy. He has a few blood clots and what so far looks like cancer in his lungs. So today, I'm loving him and posting a poem I wrote a few years ago for father's day.

Immortal Daddy 

To a child, a dad is a hero. 
No one else's can quite compare.
However, this view won't always last 
and if it does, it's rare. 

Children grow and begin to see, 
Dad is not all they believed him to be. 
He becomes mortal, with flaws and fears 
they've maybe now seen him shed a few tears.

And yet, I seemed to have skipped the stage 
when dads are supposed to mold, 
for mine has always been stronger than all! 
My daddy could never be old. 

His aging only increases my faith 
in the things he's taught and endured; 
his love for the gospel, Scythians, and birds 
all experiences from which I've learned. 

My fingernails dig into my hand, 
when he arm-wrestles Skylar, or Reece 
My daddy is immortal, I'm sure of it, 
so I pray that he stays in one piece. 

He will never fail! He will never die! 
He will be our family's anchor and lead our battle cry! 

I cry 
for all my weaknesses,
the many times I've let him down 
the times I've stayed in-the-box 
and disgraced the name Brown. 

Except for a humble, broken, heart 
I don't have much to offer. 
How did one as proud as I 
deserve such a father? 

I've grown to know, a Heavenly Father, 
who's glory will never cease to be. 
He's left me with you for a while, 
with great plans I can't yet see. 

As life paces forward, 
through trial and ease, 
I strive to earn a place above, 
with my eternal daddies. 

-Tori 2010

There is a blog my mom made for updates on his condition: rolandslatestadventure.blogspot.com if anyone is curious about his progress.

Building blocks

So here I am in the JFSB.
Not to be confused with the JSB.
Or the JKB.
I feel like these acronyms just make the buildings even more confusing.

I brought a whole jar of peanut butter to campus today. I'm not sure that's the best way to get dates.
Tasty though. :)

Progress Report

Okay, so remember when I was worried about withdrawing from SUU?

Well I clicked on that scary red button. 

Guess what happened?

It asked me if I was sure! Ah! 

But look. 

I did it.

   You withdrew from the Spring 2013 semester on Dec. 29, 2012, 1:21 p.m.

Eep. It's official!

BYU, here I come.