If you haven't heard of Holy Yoga, you should try it- It will change your life.

"I am Breathing In, I am Breathing Out"

I have been reading an interesting book written by a Buddhist, and it's really got me thinking. It's all about living in the present. I really struggle with this concept.

I look too far into the future, even if the future is just a few days ahead.

So, I am practicing the awareness of the present, and really tuning in to how my body feels and its reaction to the world around me.

Just reminding myself that I am breathing, forces me to focus on a simple but essential part of my being.

It's riveting.

Rest. Drink some tea. Breathe. Listen.

Love: Jumping High Fives, Fall, and Makayla Hamilton

Makin' Memories in the Sisterhood

The closeness that I share with one of my roommates AnnAlise could come across weird and sometimes disturbing to some people. We laugh as much as we should and happen to be the only two girls (out of 6) in the house who don't mind running around with limited clothes on. One of the best parts of my day is when Ann and I go work our butts off at the gym, steam, sauna, talk with our feet in the pool, and then come home and hit the showers. We turn on the most gangster stuff we can find or Justin Bieber. It usually is JBiebs, but Ann is getting tired of him! How that happens? I have no idea...

YEESSSSSSSSS!!!!

I was sitting with a few of my friends in the cafe today. It was two of my favorite guys in the world (Danny and Dillon) and one of my soul sisters (Makayla). Makayla and I are crazy together. We have developed weird habits and sayings that make a lot of eyebrows raise and just make us look ridiculous.

Our most common and odd behavior, is when we are excited about something we throw our fist in the air, flex our arm, squeeze as hard as we can until our veins are popping out of our neck, and with our teeth clenched, scream "yeesssssssssssssss!!"

It gets me every time.

These odd behaviors make me happy. Makayla was home this last week, and a part of me was missing without our fist-making behavior.

That behavior makes me happy.

That single, simple thing makes me giggle every time.

Jeez...It really is the little things huh?

Dillon asked me today, "How are you just so happy all the time?"

Well Dill, it's the little things. :)

Dear Grandpa

Grandpa,

Happy birthday! Today you are consuming my thoughts. I miss you. I never stop missing you. Mom, dad, and grandma are all going to visit you today and since I can't, I wanted to write you a letter.

I had two tests today. I wanted to do so well, because you had this faith in me to succeed that I never have in myself. So that is my gift to you today, my success.

I think about the person you were everyday- all your accomplishments and your tender heart...Since you left, I haven't been able to wrap my mind around the man that you became! Such a man of God. A pure heart. A ear to always listen. A chuckle to always laugh with.

Lately, I have really begun to notice the man that my dad is as well. I love my dad, thank you for him. Thank you for passing on the traits that I admire so much in you onto him. You raised a father that couldn't be more perfect for me, couldn't be more perfect for your home and your family.

You would be proud of dad. Something about him lately, is just so full of spirit. When you left, I never thought another YOU could exist, but I think my dad is well on his way. I hope one day I will have another YOU in my life for my own family.

Grandma is doing well, she stays busy and of course always stoic. You leaving, gave me time to get to know her and you even better. I have learned to look for those great qualities in her as well. She prays for me everyday just like she did with you. She prayed with me today, and I know God hears her prayers. Her loyalty to Him is unreal.

We were blessed with amazing people in our lives grandpa! I miss you. I am going to try to be better everyday.

Love,

Hillary

Here is your favorite song:

Jumping Out of the Box

I am a psychology major. It took me a long time to get to this point, but now that I am here, I feel pretty confident in my (hopefully) final choice of a degree. It is fun having a main focus in school now! My classes are becoming more alike and I have pretty much weaved through all the classes that have me thinking, "Why am I here?" all semester long. The interesting but almost scary thing about it all, is that I find myself consistently thinking in ways that involve A LOT more out-of-the-box thinking.

I am basically taking psychology and philosphy based classes right now. Can you imagine how much thinking goes through my head in one day?! LOTS. I sit in one class where I am learning to question everything I believe (don't worry, it isn't a class designed to change my beliefs), and then I sit in another where I learn that optimism is a pretty naive way to look at life.

But I love optimism!

I guess this is what growing up feels like. Where we start to learn that learning involves so much more than math, science, and english. Learning is so much more than knowing how to draw the structure of an organic compound or writing a paper on the most influential person in my life. No, learning isn't black and white. Learning well isn't about getting that A I wanted on my test.

Learning is scary and uncomfortable.

But I love this uncomfortable state of contemplating life's great mysteries and questions.

As an example often used in classes similar these, the questions, "When does one become an adult? When did you know you were woman? What classifies one as an adult?" always happen to come up. I think that I would say that I am finally starting to find myself becoming more of woman.