Compliments are nice

So since the beginning of the semester I've been writing down nice things that people say to me so that i can look back on them when I'm feelin' down. Some of these i think are pretty hilarious, and others are just plain sweet. Today was just an incredibly good day in general for a dozen tiny reasons. I love love love Rexburg, even though i complain non stop about the heat. and i LOVE my classes, even though i cry about the homework loads. and i absolutely LOVE my ward, especially my Family Home Evening group. some of the best people you'll ever meet, honestly. they're just really good people. I love them. I'll miss them when they leave in 3 weeks!
so here are some backhanded compliments and some real nice compliments:




"you know, I've always wondered what angels sound like. Then you sang. And I don't have to guess anymore." - Chris Moen

"So i used to love looking through my grandmother's senior year book from 1948. You look like you stepped right out of it!" - Taylor Davenport

"Your personality would make a great new spunky Disney princess. they could call her, 'ghetto-leisha' and she could be from Fresno, California. You'd be a really good voice for that." - Mark Allen

"It seems like you have really cool parents, i would love to meet them. I like who you are and i wish i could see why you are this way." - Jake Huskinson

"I really like the way you wear that fanny pack. fearless. Like Stacey and Clinton could pop out from behind that bush and try to take it, but after a few minutes of talking to you they'd realize that you're pulling off like, the greatest fashion achievement ever! Because really like, fanny packs look horrible on every other person, but you make it look good! like it's completely natural to have a giant pocket strapped around your waist. " - Ryan Conferro

"Has anyone ever told you that you look like princess Leia?" - Issac Nelson

"I know that you're really my friend because you dance in front of me. and you're a really bad dancer." - Mark Allen

"Hey Elleni's in town, can you skype sometime today??" - Jason Ibrahim
That made me feel good because he respected my opinion and our friendship so much that he wanted me to meet his girlfriend, even if it was only via skype.

"Your face belongs on a Christmas card" - from 'Elf', but still nice. - David Wood

"so, i was looking at your eyes today, and I've come to the conclusion that blue eyes are grossly over appreciated. I mean, have you looked at your eyes lately? They're like perfectly gooey brownies straight from the oven." -Shain Weiderholt

"Forget that guy, he's a loser for not asking you out again. I'd date you over and over." - Chris Moen

"Melissa I kind of want you marry my brother, just so you can be in my family forever. I feel like you could really easily fit into my family." - Rachel Holland

"Oh my gosh I hate you, your hair looks like a Pantene commercial." - Sarah Williams

(after successfully juggling for the first time in my life and doing a happy dance in the kitchen)
"that was probably the cutest reaction to a minuscule accomplishment I have ever seen. you belong in a hallmark movie." - Chris Moen

"you're like the kind of person that i wish my future sons will marry." - Jessica Bartley

Adam-Ondi-Ahman

We got off the bus and walked a trail to the top of hill where you can see the whole valley and i felt like someone literally took all the breath out of me, it was so unbelievably beautiful. 

The greenest place I've ever been.

Our professors sat us down and we had the most amazing lesson! We sang hymns for a few minutes and then had some time to go off by ourselves. I sat and wrote in my journal and thought and hummed hymns to myself and prayed. 

This was my favorite stop because it was the most peaceful place!

I honestly felt like i was in a temple, it felt that still.

Tranquil. Holy, even. 

I sat beneath a tree and wrote and prayed. And i have never felt more compelled to do good than i did there on that hill. 

I wanted to share this bit from my journal entry at Adam Ondi Ahman,

 "Never before has my heart longed for something so fully. ... I never want to leave this place. I want every one i love to be here with me. ..."

"...Christ died and was ressurected for me. God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph Smith. Jospeh Smith translated the Book of Mormon by the power of God. ... it happened. I know it. ""

 "...Never before have the words of a hymn so adequately mirrored the words in my heart than today as we sang, 'I know that my Reedeemer lives. He lives! all glory to his name! he lives, my Savior, still the same. Oh, sweet the joy this sentence give. I know that my Reedeemer lives!'..."

"...I don't know that i have ever felt 'longing' before, but i think i'm feeling it now. that's how deeply i want to be with God, and for everyone i love to be there with me together. ... I wish i had more to say, but this is what i know: It is all so true. -melissa 05.17.13"

Certain Seconds

Today, my bishop, that I look up to very much, complimented the choir on our easter worship service.

"The spirit was so strong, that I just know I'll always remember hearing you spill out your heart like that. It was powerful, and it made my easter one I don't think I'll ever forget. You did a marvelous job today."

He's one of the kindest people I know. He was talking about things we don't forget. Moments. Emotions. The powerful ones that you always remember. Even when its years later and time has smudged the details, but you can never forget how you felt right then. In a single, certain second. He said those moments were really important for us to remember, because they shape us.

So I'm going to share a couple of my shaping moments. Some I'm sure seem insignificant, but they're not. Not to me.

- me and brandon are climbing a tree. The eucalyptus on the corner by berenda. Probably third grade. We're laughing. Eating crackers. Playing and talking. I told him he was my best friend. He shoved another cracker in his mouth. He was wearing khaki shorts, a plaid buttoned up shirt and a cardinals baseball cap. His knees were scraped and one of his socks was up a lot higher than the other. He just said, "okay, melissa." And we kept playing.

- I'm in the parking lot of our church building after seminary. Laughing with nolan and ernesto. My aunt pulls up and tells me that she's taking me to school. She says my mom Is on the phone. I get in the car and take the phone. I know someone is hurt just from the way my mom says my name. We're driving out of the parking lot. Mom tells me tearfully that landon was killed in a car acccident. The world stops. Absolutley screeches to a halt. I gasp. I hear my aunt tell my cousins and they seem miles away from me when they gasp too. I squeeze my eyes shut. My mom explains what happened and who called her and asks if I want to come home. I stutter no. We're at school and I'm walking up to my friends. In shock. They know something is wrong, they ask. I tell. And when I heard myself say it outloud, I know it's real, and I breakdown in sobs. The rest of the day is slow, and gray and everyone is glancing at me nervously like they don't know what to say. Everyone is hugging me and I'm at peace with landon's death, but I'm devastated for his family and for my brother.

- I'm standing next to marissa and ernesto in a sea of people all wearing purple. The stands are shaking. We're stomping. I'm screaming so hard my throat feels on fire, but I can't hear myself over the roar of the entire school, jumping and shouting. We won! We finally won! And it's the most amazing thing to feel so connected with such a large group of people. I run out to the field, waving my sign: "This is our year". Travis catches me when I hit him at a dead run. We laugh and spin. I'm screaming, "we did it! We won!" Then there's jason and brandon and stephen and we're all yelling. The alma mater is playing and we all shove our fists in the sky. We're so happy. And it's high school in one moment. And it's 4 years all smashed into one night. And it's all the friendships and sacrifice and hope for change in one hug. And we're smiling so big our cheeks and ears and eyes hurt. There's cameras and tears and nobody sleeps a wink that night because we're all just laying in bed beaming to ourselves. We won. Finally, finally finally.

- we're talking for hours in the parking lot. we're doodling in the frost on your car window. And your eyes look honestly gold. And your smile is the most enchanting thing I've ever been the cause of. And the midnight glaring at us from the clock on the dash seems impossible. And we're laughing at nothing. And I'm falling hard, with no intention of holding back even though I know it's naive. I don't care. I'm blushing as you hug me goodbye and tell me a secret. I float all the way home, and you have no idea.

- I'm in the woods. I'm dressed in biblical costume and there's a small handmade clay lamp in my hands. It's empty. Bone dry. A minute later I'm sprinting toward a door that's swinging shut. It's like slow motion. And there are five of us running now. My body slams up against the door just as it closes. I pound on the door. I look in at the window. There's my little sister. My mother. My best friends. Their lamps are all lit. I'm weeping, because I can't go in. I didn't have enough oil. I'm ashamed and forgotten and rejected. I know that it's just acting, but the emotions are very real.
I make a promise to myself and to God to never let this happen. I promise To always be ready. To always try my best to do what's right. I finally get to go in once it's all done. We sing. I hug my sister with all the strength I can muster.
I'm changed right there.
I'm different from then on.
I know it will still be hard and I'll mess up. But I tell myself that I will never ever feel that empty again. And then there's peace. And I'm calm. And I know everything will be fine if I'm living my best everyday.

That's not all. Just the first five that came to mind when bishop was talking about moments. I thought: skinned up knees. Landon. Football. Gold. Ten virgins.
And I'll probably end up doing these a lot. It's theraputic. You should try it. I'd love to read them!

Happy Easter!