A story with a lesson...

One day, I arrived at the far away place name Sandy..where my family lives. It's a great place. =)  I just finished another week at the wonderful fairytale land of Provo, and was ready for some family time, and relaxation. Haha...that turned out to be a joke...because the house decided to throw a temper tantrum, and stop working... 

The first thing I usually do when I arrive back home is to go to the fridge, open the door, and see what there is to eat...yes I know...eating is everything in my life....haha...Expecting the fridge to be nice and cold, I was surprise to find that it was quite warm. It was so warm, the butter was starting to melt... and as much as I know about household appliances, which isn't much...I realize something was seriously wrong with it. haha...go figure right?? =)

Anyways, because of that, I went on an adventure (which means going up the stairs, avoiding all the bags, fighting through all the clothes laying around the floor, and finally arriving into the study room) to find the queen of the home, which is my mother, and was told that the fridge has been broken for a whole week!! One whole week!! Isn't that crazy? (I don't know how I can survived without a fridge for a week...but you know...i guess it's possible...heehee..) 

So, without a choice, I decided it was acceptable to spend a couple of days without a fridge...it was a close fight...but i finally convinced my can't-stop-eating alter ego that it was okay....haha. But that gives us another problem. there was no way to keep food in our house! 


I mean, not overnight anyways...so we had to come up with really creative ways to cook dinner, and frankly, it was quite a lot of fun. I don't think I will ever do it again, but you know...it was fun. =) But just as I was getting use to the idea that I won't have a fridge for the weekend....there came another problem!! (Just when you know what's what....haha.) 


...On Monday morning, I woke up just like any other day at home, and started to clean around the place. I got to the point where I needed to put things back in the 'right' place, which meant going down into my wonderful basement. But on that morning, there were something different about the basement. It was wet. Now, I don't know much about carpets, but I do know one thing: They aren't suppose to be wet...


So, once again I had to go on another adventure to find out what was going on with my basement. I finally found the source of the mysterious wet carpet! It was coming from the water boiler...the water boiler which holds 40 gallons, 40 GALLONS of water. Um....That is A LOT of water!!! No wonder the carpet was wet.... Not only the carpet, but everything around the leaking boiler was wet...clothes (that always seem to be lying on the floor in our house..), boxes, shelves...and everything else around the place. So needless to say...that was A BIG PROBLEM. 


Since NOBODY else was home during that crisis, I was left alone to fix the problem. And trust me...it was no easy work...but don't worry, I semi-prevented the basement from flooding. =) Which was really impressive if you knew what, and how much I actually had to do. Turning off the gas (which fueled the fire), stopping the water, and a lot of other...stuff. I was really quite proud of myself....still am. Not prideful...just proud. =) 


But with all of that..happening just within couple days of each other, I learned something. Even though I am quite sarcastic about the whole situation (especially now since it is all over with...), it was actually quite serious and tense during the whole craziness. 


Even though it wasn't the most wonderful time, this whole adventure made me realize exactly two things: One, I need to have a little talk with my house, and tell him that it's completely inappropriate to throw a temper tantrum like this (haha..never again okay house?...), and Second, We don't really realize what we have until it is gone. 

I never really realize how important something like a fridge is in our lives until one day it stops working. Or the loveliness of hot water until we are taking a shower in freezing, breathtaking cold water. It's something small, and something we usually don't think about, but when we lose it, we wish sooo bad to have it again. And that doesn't only count for small things like fresh food, and hot water....it counts for EVERYTHING in this world. 


In our lives today, we have so much that we take for granted. Day to day things like television, cars, and grocery shops, all the way to deeper relationships with others.The relationships in our lives can't take for granted. Our family situations, with brothers, or sisters, parents, all the way down to our friendships with roommates, co-workers, neighbors, or even a significant others. When we have them, we are so happy, and content. But we don't really understand how important those relationship means to us until one day we wake up, and it's not there.


But why do we always wait until it is too late? Until we wake up and feel that pain? Isn't there anything we can do to prevent that from happening? To make us see how much we actually have in our lives, and cherish it there and then? Why wait until it is too late? I don't want to! I think that is a stupid idea! So...lets find a way to prevent that from happening...

Coming back to the story of my fridge and water boiler, those problems weren't something we couldn't of avoided. There were things we could of done for it. Check the refrigerator fan every once in a while so it doesn't build up with dust until everything is clogged, or go down and make sure the fire isn't too hot on the boiler so it doesn't make a crack in the metal! Just the little touch up things to make sure everything is working in the most perfect condition they can be. 


It is the same way with relationships. Every once in a while, instead of taking a relationship for granted, cherish it. Do something to make sure others know that you care about them. Give them a hug, or a nice note. Tell them you love them, and care about them. Make sure they know how important they are in your lives. I am sure if it would of made a difference, I would of told my boiler how much I loved him before he decided to throw a temper tantrum... =) BUT don't only love the good and perfect parts about them. Love every single flaw and imperfection they have too. Because the relationship isn't only about the good things, it's about BOTH the good and the bad. It's about (as always...) EVERYTHING. 


Our lives is a gift, and the wonderful people and things we have in it is the treasures that makes life so wonderful! Sometimes we just fall into a pattern in our lives where we don't really realize it. But don't let that happen to you! It's not fun! Actually, it pretty much sucks! Take it from somebody who knows what she is talking about...because I had more painful adventures other then the one with my temper throwing house. =) Don't let something that's wonderful, and meaningful just slip from your finger tips because you forgot, or didn't want to see how important it actually was in your life. 


I been through this, and I don't want anyone else to go through the pain I had to. So please...take care of those relationships you have around you. Don't let it be something that you regret. Let it be something you hold on, and cherishes forever. Relationships don't come easily, and once you have them, with anybody, hold on to it tight, and make sure you never ever take it for granted. =) Make sure you know, the other person know, and all the other inanimate objects know how much you appreciate, love, care, understand, and cherish them. Because that right there...is everything (or close to..) you need in a great relationship. 


Try your best to remember everything you have around you. Love everyone, and love everything. Don't let something that could of been avoided become part of something you regret. Everything you have around you is a gift...a wonderful treasure. Treat it as such. Try your best, to be your best. Because, as always, I am. =) 


With all my love,
Q2

OMG!!!! =)

OMG!!!! I love music!!! 

Especially Piano Guy's music!!! =) =) 

So tonight, my family and I had the great privilege of going to the Piano Guy's live concert in the Sandy Amphitheater!!! 

It was so amazing!! Definitely on my top three concert/theater performance experiences!! First one is Taylor Swift Speak Now....=) go figure right?! =) 

[for all of those who doesn't know me that well, Taylor Swift is my favorite music artist. =)]

Anyways!! If you don't know the Piano Guys, below I have inserted one of their most amazing song ever! And definitely one of my favorites! (Although...I have a lot of them...so ya..)

They are so freakin amazing!! I never thought I can love classical music so much! Or enjoy the sound of the piano and cello together with this much love! It is soooo beautiful! I can't even explain the feeling I got when I listen to them play TONIGHT... LIVE!!! 

Ahhhhh!!!! Haha...if you can't tell...I am still coming off my high from this wonderful, amazing, awesome, unbelievable experience!!! 

I really don't have much more to say! I just wanted to exclaim my love for the Piano Guys, and tell you what fantastic musicians they are!!! =) [one day, I hope I can play music like them....haha..]

Oh, I did try to take some pictures too, but they didn't turn out very well. But I will put the best ones on here. Although, just so you know, these pictures don't even give 1/10th of the credit this wonderful concert, and musicians deserves! 

THIS CONCERT WAS ABSOLUTELY 120% COMPLETELY, AND TOTALLY WORTH IT! MIND = BLOWN!!  

I SEE THEM!!! Do you?? 

=)

I love Steve's face when he play his cello!!! =) So serious, and so happy at the same time!!! 

Anyways, hope you enjoyed my little post about the Piano Guys! 

If you don't know them, seriously go and listen to the song right away, and then, go find them on youtube!! =) 

They are super, duper amazing!!! TRust me!!! =) You won't regret it! 

An adventure in the kitchen...

I love adventures! They are so much fun! 

Now, I am not talking about the big adventures that you seen on movies where some non-important character travels to an unknown and dangerous land, where he has to fight all kind of dangerous things, save the girl, and run back to his home country where they crown him the hero. No, I am not talking about those adventures, even though they are pretty cool. 

I am talking about the adventures my roommate and I (meaning the wonderful and beautiful Becca dear...)find ourselves on when we are bored. =) 

So, one day over the last week, we both had a lot of time where we didn't have anything to do. I mean, we could of done something productive I guess, but we just weren't feeling like it. 
(isn't that the best feeling ever??)

So we decided were were going to try something new. =) We decided to search up recipes online, and make them for dinner together! Sounds brilliant right?? (We thought so!)

So, off we went to find our recipes...I choose one for Apple Crisp, and Becca choose one for a very delicious Chicken Pot pie. =) 


Next stop: Grocery store! =) 
(Now, I wish I took pictures of our grocery store experience, but I thought it wasn't quite appropriate...so i didn't....) 


But we did have a lot of fun at the store. I love shopping...even at an grocery store. There are so many things in there to choose from!! 


After that, the third step is to: Make the food!! 
Now, this part I did get some pictures of, so I will share them in a minute. This was also the most exciting part! I love cooking, and I love cooking with my roommates. =)

(actually, I like baking more...not cooking...there is a difference! but anyways...)

Oh, and I definitely love my roommates too! =) All of them! Because we are not only roommates, we are also friendS! 
(Don't be confused...it's an inside joke..Becca...)


So...enough with the talk...Here is the pictures!!! 


Oh, another thing...I truly, and deeply apologize for the quality of my pictures...my phone just isn't that nice to me.....but I tried my best! Enjoy!!! 

Becca, making her chicken pot pie~ 

Sorry for the reflection, but just in case you can't tell,
there is an apple crisp baking in the oven!! 

30 mins after the apple crisp came out of the oven....

Me, Cassandra, and Becca!!! 

Oh, and just in case any of you were wondering, all the food turn out to be amazingly delicious, and was basically gone the next day! =) Heehee!!! 


Have a wonderful, beautiful, deliciously, adventurous day!!! =) 

A holiday with Spark!

Hello all!!! =) 

So, I know it's a bit after the holiday, but this is the first time I had a chance to blog about it!! 


One of the best thing of Summer is our wonderful Independence day!! I never really understood this holiday until a couple years ago in a middle school class (like 9th grade)...and after I actually knew what it was for, I totally fell in love with it!!! 
(Because in China, we don't have The Forth of July!! 
Crazy right??)


So, it became one of the holidays that is so unique to me, and one that I really cherish and love. And I mean I just love everything about it! 


I love being outside in the wonderful weather, barbecuing with my family, laughing and just plain having fun. =)


I love the ability to celebrate the fact that I an American in this wonderful country. I love that we have a special day to be reminded of that freedom that we have in this country. 
(It's really just awesome.)


Freedom really is a gift. So many people died for this country just so we can have that freedom. And not only that, our own Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ created this wonderful planet, and made a great Plan of Salvation just so we can have the said freedom and AGENCY. 


It was so important to them that even our own Savior sacrificed himself for all of us on this Earth, just so we can have our own agency, and to choose to go back and live with him forever one day. 


Our agency is really a special gift, but sometimes it is so hard for us to use it, and make the choices that we NEED to make. I know, because that is what I have been struggling with too, but this 4th of July holiday has taught me something: 
We need to cherish and love our very own Agency. 


We have to use it, and not let it slip from our fingertips. It is truly a wonderful and loving gift our Father in Heaven, and Savior has given us. And I know that when we start using it in the correct, and responsible way, we will feel the love, support, and peace we are all looking for in every single aspect of our lives.


 Sometimes it's hard to do that, I know, but I have faith that by using my agency, I will find happiness. And that is really one of the most important things in life. =) I hope you will too! 


Anyways...now that I pour out all my feelings for the 4th of July, freedom, and agency, I think I will just get to the fun, and more exiting part of this post: 


The activities, and pictures of my wonderful holiday. =) 

I got my face painted!! =)
 Isn't it so festive and pretty?? 

Before the city fireworks! =)
I love this girl!!! 

Me and my sister love taking weird pictures..and fireworks!!! It was really nice spending time with her, watching the beautiful beautiful fireworks above us. [oh, and mom was there too.. =)]

Fireworks!!! =) 

My sister, me, and my best friend Amber.
We were in the middle of doing our own fireworks!! =) 

So, sometimes I come up with great spontaneous ideas, and guess what?? After the BBQ that night, I was like 'Hey! Lets get a bunch of friends together and do fireworks together!!!' with like 4 hours till midnight....But you know what? It was all good because at the end, it was a great turn out!! Did fireworks all the way until 12:30 AM!! =) So much fun!!! 

Well, there you have it! =) Other then the lack of pictures of my BBQ with my family, this is what my awesome holiday consist of!! =) I hope you guys had an awesome one too!! 


Have a absolutely wonderful day!! =) 

Moments...

A moment can change anything. A moment can change EVERYTHING. It doesn't matter where that moment comes from, and it doesn't matter where or when it ends. All that matters is what the moment was about, and what impact it had in your life....

We always want so much in this world. We love to plan everything out in our minds, or on a piece of paper, but we never know what life brings to us. Nothing is ever constant. And guess what? That is what makes life so much fun and meaningful! 


We don't have to know everything in the world. We don't need to plan out every single moments of our lives. All we need to do is to live it. Believe in it. Trust it, and love it. That's all. And those moments will come when everything will change for the better, or for the worst. Those moments, good or bad, will become our memories. 

 People always tell us to "look at the big picture", and that is true. You can't ever forget what life is suppose to be for, and what we can achieve in the long run, but yet...you don't want to forget a small moment either. 


I know I talk about this concept a lot, but I just couldn't keep myself from bringing it up again. I had an experience a couple days ago when I really realized the impact those tiny moments make in our lives. It is a little more personal then I can share...so I won't. But what I will share is what I felt afterwards.


That experienced humbled me. It made me realize that we have moments in our lives to makes us change and grow. Some of those moments can someday define us. I know for me, I will never forget that one moment. It made me really see WHO I wanted to be. 


Not just a regular girl going through regular day stuff. Not a girl who take things for granted. I want to be a person that cherishes every single moment in her life. NO matter the bad, or the good. 


Of course, even for me, that is a lot easier said then done. Life is so hard sometimes. Hard enough sometimes that you just forget how to cherish those moments. You forget the love you feel for this wonderful opportunity to be on this earth. There are moments when all you remember is the pain you are going through, and the darkness that you feel. 

I know, because I have felt that too. But you know what I figured out from my humbling experience? I figured out that those bad moments are the ones that are going to matter the MOST. Of course they are not fun, and they are painful, but if you really think about it, those hard, trying moments are the ones that CHANGE you forever. 


We have all heard the song "Stronger" by Kelly Clarkson. It's a great song right? And I think it has a really good point. What doesn't kill you in life, just makes you stronger FOR life. And that is something we always have to remember. The hard moments in our lives that stick with us forever, are the times that are going to make us stronger for whatever we need to face in our future. 

Those hard moments combined with the good moments, and it makes what we know as life. (That might not be how it works completely, but you know...in my mind, it is.) But seriously, we have to have some bad mixed in with the good. =) That is the only way we can really cherish the awesome moments we have in our lives.  And at the end of our lives, our families and memories are all that really matters. 


I don't know if what I have said today made any sense today. I know that in my mind, it all makes sense. I guess the main point of all of this is just how much moments mean to our lives. At least MY life. And I don't ever want to pass a moment by, not remembering to cherish it, and love it. 


I hope you guys all do your best to realize those moments. Don't just let them pass you by. No matter if you bring you happiness or pain. Cherish them all, and remember that those are the moments that will become your memories. Try your best to be your best. Because as always, I am. =) 


I hope you all have a absolutely, beautiful day!!! =) 


With lots of love,
Q2

A FHE Night out! =)

 Oh, what a fun time I had tonight! I can't imagine it going any better then it did tonight! 

Because guess what happened tonight? Family Home Evening! 

Me and my awesome roommate! 

Now, just so you all know, I am not one for going to an activity where there will be a lot of people, and a lot of noise. It kind of makes me nervous, and I feel really overwhelmed in those situations. So, as a result, I usually don't go..

But tonight, thanks to some of my awesome roommates, they convinced me to go. 

And I have to say, it was one of the best night I have had in a while. I don't remember laughing that much, or for that long in a very, very long time. =) It was so much fun to just laugh and joke with my roommates. 

The sunset was really quite pretty!

You know, in life we kind of get overwhelmed by a lot of things. And sometimes we forget to take a moment and just laugh and have fun. 

We forget how nice it is to take a walk with a friend, family member, or a significant other and just watch the sun set below the mountain, or stop to smell the flowers on the way. 

I just lover her!
She stopped and smelled all the flowers!
=) 

I know I certainly forget to take moments in my day and just appreciate what I have, and just have FUN. But it's okay, because tonight, I finally took that moment, and had the funnest time ever! =) 

[Okay, not ever, but it totally felt like it...]

I never realize how something as simple as sitting outside on the stairwell, or spending time to make food with my roommates can make me so happy, and so relaxed! =) 

And on that note, can I just say how much I love all my roommates?! I can't think of any other group of girls else I would rather live with for the past couple of months, and the next couple to come. They never fail to make me feel loved, and special. They truly make me sooooo happy. 

(Our laughing sessions are the best!) 

All these wonderful girlies have been put into my life by the power of God, and I can't ever be grateful and thankful enough for how much they do for me. They teach me so much, and help me through so much, I don't know what I would do without them. =)

I want them to know how much they all mean to me, and how much I cherish and love their friendship. <3 

Awww! 

I hope all of you will take some time out of your busy days to just enjoy the small and beautiful moments. Take some time and just laugh. Take a moment and spend it with a roommate, friend or a family member. 

Don't get super overwhelmed by life. I know life is hard, but there is more then just the hard parts. Because if we let those parts in life stop us from having fun, then it will be harder then it ever needs to be! (Trust me!) =) 

Hope you all have a great night! Enjoy the moments, and enjoy the laughs! 

Peace! <3