My Mom and I are driving to Las Vegas for the Mamma Mia audition ... woot! We just got in to our 3-star $27 Hotel and Casino.... ballah. I forgot my journal so this will cover it for today.  

Something I'm trying to be better at is recognizing God's hand in my life.  
I've been stinkin' that up lately.  For some reason (that honestly I'm not sure of) I've been really angry the last few days.  I don't have a legitimate reason.  My suspicion is that I'm car-lagged from driving so much to and from LA.  But the hard part is that my mind keeps trying to blame my anger on something - my mom, an old ex, traffic - whatever's present.  So I've been praying to understand what's really going on and also just to get over it - cuz being angry sucks.   

I haven't figured out what it is, I've gotten some inner-inklings and suspicions.  But what I was really grateful for today was how pleasant I've been feeling on this drive with my Mom.  I was worried that I would be sour and that we wouldn't enjoy it.  Before we left we prayed in the car that we would have fun, that we'd be safe and that our relationship would improve.  I know that God helped me/us out with that.  And I'm grateful :).  

I also was thinking a little today about a blog I read recently.  For each day the writer would choose someone in her life who had affected her profoundly and would write a paragraph about how.  Using only the first name of the subject to secure their privacy she also sends them an email to let them know that she had highlighted their influence (my sister was recently featured...cuz she's an amazing person).  Being inspired by that I'd like to send a shout out to two people who's word's were in my mind today, encouraging and inspiring me: 

Logan: "Be a grown up! Get up early" 
Jordan: "Don't worry, you have all the time in the world" 

Now that I think about it, in one sense they contradict each other.  The first is to be applied to your short term view, the second a broad perspective.  

Goodnight world :)

WHY:  These blogs aren't touched or shortened BECAUSE I want them to be an unedited, unprepared look into what I'm thinking about, going through, and who I really am.  Thanks for watching - please leave a comment so I can get to know you too! 

Links! 
Talented friends LA: 

Nicholas Larsen - http://njlmusic.com
Kelly Martin - https://www.facebook.com/pages/CKK-Finds-Designs/329059257134129
Scott Foster - http://therealscottfoster.com/music/
Taylor Olson - http://www.taysings.com
Ari Herstand - http://aristake.com

Janelle Monae- http://www.jmonae.com
Sheryl Sandberg - http://www.ted.com/talks/sheryl_sandberg_why_we_have_too_few_women_leaders.html

This blog playlist is raw and unedited because I want you to know me as I am.. and editing is annoying haha. Love you!

The holidays have come and gone, it's been so nice to take a break and spend time with family and friends.  I'm staying with my parents right now so my siblings from out of town, and all their kids were my roommates this Christmas :).  Children are so wonderfully time- consuming.  It really is so hard to get things done when they're around, mostly because I never get to see them so every moment I'm not with them feels like I'm missing out haha. 

New Years I spent with my sister :), we went to see Frozen.  And then on New Years' Day I drove with 4 girlfriends to Las Vegas and we had the best three days ever! We made a music video http://youtu.be/ioZ8Xg37-SQ. We all met in Boston at school.  We used to make music videos then as well - it's just a bit of silliness really :).  
My favorite thing about the trip though, were the late night long talks about our relationships with each other, and the men in our lives and also our relationships with God and discussions of our faith. I've been so blessed by such amazing friends and I love them so much.  They gave me so much strength.  And in the past I've actually struggled to feel like I have a solid group of girlfriends, and this trip really confirmed to me that I don't have to struggle with that anymore.  I belong with these ladies.  :) 

This isn't a very well put together post but... that's it :)