Remember the Name

I absolutely LOVE my last name!

GARNER

It means to "gather or collect."

It is becoming a more popular word in everyday language. But this isn't why I like it.

My name is one that is pretty common in the valley and up here.

Because my grandpa worked in church education for MANY years, many people know him and our family. This means that no matter where I go, people hear my last name and ask if I am somehow related to him.

I am so privileged to say, "Yes I am."

(One time, the person then said, "congratulations!" I wasn't sure what to say to that,

but it helped me realize how ever grateful I am to have a good name!)

Usually the conversation is then followed with a memory of him.

I treasure these moments.

I love to hear stories about him.

I love to be reminded of him.

He passed away 2 years ago today.

Hardly a day goes by that I am not reminded him.

There are still days where I wish so badly that I could sit down with him and ask him a question and hear his advice. I still always wonder what it would have been like to take one of his institute classes. I miss his gentle way of teaching and leading. I truly was SO blessed to have 20 years with him and I look forward to the day when I will see him again!

...Until then, I have a name to live up to.

Here is a story that I absolutely love:

When George Albert Smith was in his later years he had the following experience:

“I became so weak as to be scarcely able to move. It was a slow and exhausting effort for me even to turn over in bed.

“One day, under these conditions, I lost consciousness of my surroundings and thought I had passed to the Other Side. …

“… I saw a man coming towards me … and I hurried my steps to reach him, because I recognized him as my grandfather. … I remember how happy I was to see him coming. I had been given his name and had always been proud of it.

“When Grandfather came within a few feet of me, he stopped. His stopping was an invitation for me to stop. Then—and this I would like the … young people never to forget—he looked at me … and said:

“‘I would like to know what you have done with my name.’

“Everything I had ever done passed before me as though it were a flying picture on a screen—everything I had done. Quickly this vivid retrospect came down to the very time I was standing there. My whole life had passed before me. I smiled and looked at my grandfather and said:

“‘I have never done anything with your name of which you need be ashamed.’

“He stepped forward and took me in his arms, and as he did so, I became conscious again of my earthly surroundings. My pillow was as wet as though water had been poured on it—wet with tears of gratitude that I could answer unashamed” (George Albert Smith, Sharing the Gospel with Others, 1948, p. 111).

It's one of those stories that makes you think...

What have I done with my name?

Hello World

So many things in the past week have seemed to show me an entirely new view of the world. I don't know what it is, but I have had lots of time to think about why I am here, what I am doing, where I am going, and what really matters. It has been awesome!! Every time one of these moments comes up, the song, "Hello World" by Lady Antebellum pops into my head.

• I went to a birthday party for the little 4 year old girl that I tutor. While playing a mini game of bowling with her and her friends, one of her friends came and slipped her little hand in mine and played with us. I was reminded of how we all need a friend... Hello World.
• One of my friends got in a terrible accident recently and literally walked away with just a few scratches. I was reminded to never take life lightly... Hello World.
• I pass the many cemeteries that spot campus and I have thought about all those I love that have passed on and I have been able to thank God that I know He is there and that I will see them again... Hello World.
• To have my body heal in a matter of days so I am up enjoying the world around me again reminds me that miracles are so abundant... Hello World.
• And for the past many months, I have felt somewhat "cold as steel and broken like I'm never gonna heal" but recently I have seen that glimpse of light to remind me what it's like to feel... Hello World, Good to see you my old friend!

It is truly a blessing to be able to feel the world again.

In this previous general conference, Elder Quentin L. Cook said, "My personal experience of living and interacting with people all over the world has caused me to be optimistic. I believe that light and truth will be preserved in our time." I agree! My personal experiences here on earth have caused me to be optimistic too.

There is so much good in this world we live in!

Traffic crawls

Cell Phone Calls

Talk radio screams at me through my tinted window

I see a little girl, rust red minivan

She's got chocolate on her face

Got little hands, and she waves at me, yeah she smiles at me.

Well Hello World

How you been?

Good to see you my old friend

Sometimes I feel, Cold as steel

Broken like I'm never gonna heal

I see a light, a little hope in a little girl, Well Hello World

Everyday I drive by a little white church,

its got these little white crosses like angels in the yard

Maybe I should stop on in, say a prayer

Maybe talk to God like he is there

Oh I know he's there, Yeah I know he's there

Well Hello World

How you been?

Good to see you my old friend,

Sometimes I feel as Cold as steel

And broken like I'm never gonna heal

I see a light, a little grace, little faith unfurl.

Well Hello World

Sometimes I forget what living's for, And i hear my life through my front door,

and I'll be there,

oh I'm home again

I See my wife, little boy, little girl, Hello World

Hello World

All the empty disappears

I remember why I'm here

Just surrender and believe

I fall down on my knees

Oh Hello World, Hello World, Hello World

Here is the music video for Hello World. If you haven't seen it, you should watch it! It's awesome!

LoVe

(I am going to be one of those moms that decorates the house for EVERY holiday... see, I'm already getting started).

I absolutely LOVE getting out of the shower into clean pajamas and clean sheets!!

I LOVE chunky peanut butter and have yet to find an all-natural peanut butter that is chunky but still tasty!

I LOVE libraries... you instantly feel smarter just by being in them!

Bubble baths and a good suspense romance novel = LOVE!

I LOVE being crafty. I rarely have time to make much (or the means) but when I do, I'm in heaven.

There are few things I LOVE more than little kids. They are just so squishy and cute!

Waking up all on your own without an alarm is another LOVE I have.

I also LOVE seeing the sun rise (yes, I know that this one contradicts the last, but I love both).

If I could, I would go and get fake nails every two weeks! LOVE 'em.

I (like it states on Letter to Juliet) LOVE to have my hair brushed.

Who doesn't LOVE the amazing views at the tops of mountains?!

And... I LOVE my family, friends, and my church more than anything in the world!!

Happy LOVE day!

I Do Not Like to Study and Cram, I do NOT like it Sam-I-am!

Instead of studying the other day, I figured out that I have been in school for 141.5 months. I've literally spent 53% of my life in school. I only have 17 months of school left. That means that I am 87.9% of the way done with my schooling. That means I'm almost done!!!

The problem?

I am about as unmotivated to study as ever!!!

I have time to study. I am not too busy, too stressed, or too tired. Honestly, I have NO excuses to NOT study and learn!

But...

Senioritis has hit unfavorably early!

Have you ever read Dr. Seuss', "Green Eggs and Ham"? - I've adapted it to express my dislike:

I don't like homework, projects, or tests. I do not like them even after I rest.

I do not like studying or reading the book. I honestly (and shockingly) would rather cook.

I do not like it after I play. I do not like it the following day.

I do not like it here or there. I do not like it anywhere!

I do not like to study and cram, I do NOT like it Sam-I-am!

I can't seem to find my motivation ANYWHERE!!! Then today, I got my first test score back from this semester... I wouldn't call my new desire to do well me finding my motivation.

I call it FEAR!

Either way, I guess it will have to do! Ugh! 17 months is still a LONG time!!

Tempted?

I have never seen a rated "R" movie in my life. To be honest, I have never even been tempted to see a rated "R" movie before. Until today. There is a movie out right now called, "The King's Speech." It based off a true story about a king who stutters and how his Speech Pathologist helped him overcome his speech impediment. (Remember, I am going to school to become a Speech Pathologist.)

To make things worse, I looked up the ratings for the movie on a website I go to before watching any movies. It's called Parent Preview (I highly recommend it!). It is very accurate and let's you know just what you might be getting yourself into. To put the ratings in perspective, this website gave Disney's "Princess and the Frog" (rated G) a B- and gave "The King's Speech" an A- (rated R).

Really?!? ARGGGG!!! I want to see it SO bad! And although I know that watching this movie would be much cleaner than many of the PG-13 movies out there (apparently it's cleaner than even the G-rated movies), I also know that a prophet of God has asked us not to watch rated "R" movies, and if I want any blessings coming my way, I better listen! So listen I will... while I try to find a website that will edit this movie and let me buy it!

Sometimes temptations are REALLY hard to stay away from! But I know much better than that! Giving into them never brings happiness!

Dear Satan,

I hate you!

Love, Kourtney

It Was Only Just a Dream

You know those mornings where you wake up and it's as if you had the worst dream ever and it seems to carry over into reality?! And then you can't seem to convince yourself it was only a dream?!

Well, the other day, I woke up sad. I couldn't even remember what my dream was about. (I rarely do.) Apparently it was depressing though because I couldn't seem to shake it. I moped around as I got breakfast ready until I saw this...

No Joke.

Heavenly Father has quite the sense of humor! :)

Dance Like There's No Tomorrow

So... my dad told me all growing up that I wasn't supposed to wear basketball shorts in public unless I was playing basketball. Apparently they aren't very "lady-like."

Sorry Dad, it was the only bright shorts I could find!

And the dance theme was NEON PHENOMENON.