fate (and lots of other good things)

remember that one time that i saw this really attractive boy in my ward only to find out the next day that he was dating someone? blow to the heart, right?
and then remember that time that fate stepped in and helped me out by assigning sad boy to be my ht? (that's home teacher, for all your non-momos out there. and what that means is he and his companion are great male figures in anyone's life, who help ya out, make sure your needs are covered and that everything is nice and dandy in your life)
so basically, we were meant to be friends. or lovers. fate wants us to be together. so basically, that puts a smile on my face, espesh during this wicked cold front which has only brought a leetle bit of snow to the valley floor. (cold without snow is so not worth it)

another time fate stepped in? remember in my last post how i was upset/saddened that i wouldn't be able to use the awesome tickets i had received in the mail for the MoTab Christmas Concert? well, little miss caitlin informed me (and reminded me of how awesome she and colton are) that their reception is during.the.day. how rad is that?! which means i get to go! and even better, miss breezy marie might be flying into the SLC THAT DAY and will be my date! (and then subsequently have to deal with driving 10+ hours home with me 2 days before christmas. it's a good thing i love my sister/pseudo-twin! can't say the same for her though...)

also, i have friends. yes, blogosphere, you heard right. i, kayla ann abilez, have friends. and what a grand thing it is.
i truly love my ward. such great people. and i'm so SO grateful for the calling i received because not only is it perfect for me, but it forced me to socialize and get to know some really awesome people.

guys, life is so good.
and it can be that way for everyone. just look around you. really think about the things you have, realize how blessed your life is despite the crap/trials/whatever that goes on either in your life or just around you. god loves you. if you don't know that, come talk to me, and i'll remind you and show you His hand in your life.
(and yes, maybe this was a little bit of a Thanksgiving plug, but whatever. i try to be grateful everyday. not just during the holiday season)

also, said home teacher? and his companion? totes blessed my home yesterday. i mean, how awesome is that?! love those men. so glad i'll get home teachers that will turn into friends, because i need people like that up here. i've never really been blessed with good ones (or at least ones that i use for the reasons they're set aside for) except for andrew who was (and still is) awesome.

the beatles

so, i'm sitting here waiting for my pumpkin cookies to bake and watching the history channel's coverage of the beatles. maybe it's the reintroduction of them to the music scene (thank you itunes) but i've started listening to them again (i have most of their albums on my ipod) and have realized that although i can't call myself the BIGGEST beatles fan, i DO know most of their songs. it probably has to do with the fact that i grew up listening to KEARTH 101, oldies radio in california. i knew the songs, but probably didn't know (or didn't understand) who sang it, and the importance and significance of it.

i told caitlin on thursday though that i really started listening to them again after Across the Universe came out (and subsequently the soundtrack for the movie, whose songs are ALL beatles hits). i love their versions of the songs, and it's reminded me of how great the rest of them are as well.

maybe this is the start of my thanksgiving post? i'm thankful for {music}, reintroduction to good music, and the beatles, for creating such a following of music.

thanksgiving week, day 4, aka THANKSGIVING DAY

Ok, today's the day! My massively large list of what I am grateful for this year.

Ready?

Here goes...

I am ETERNALLY grateful for:

my health.

my ability to wake up every morning and go to sleep every night, allowing me to enjoy another day.

my family, especially my mom, for supporting me in this post-graduate life, while I try to figure out what the heck I am going to do with myself.

my friends--both old and new. I couldn't have made it through this past year without them.

my faith. Never before has my faith been tested more than this past year. Without the knowledge I have of the Gospel (and the support of those aforementioned friends) I couldn't have survived my last year at BYU.

my education. BYU has truly shaped the person I am today. I am a different person now than I was 4 years ago when I first stepped onto campus.

California. for always being beautiful and warm (even if i do love the snow)

Utah. I fell in love with its mountains, its crispness, its seasons and its weather. i miss it this time of year.

the memories I have, both of good times and bad. They bring a smile to my face, and remind me of the lessons I have learned.

In particular:

mark, for being my best friend, helping me through my tough days, and being one of the reasons why this last year in Provo was one of the best. I could go on and on about how much I am thankful for him, his friendship and the memories we share--but I won't.

lindsay, again, for listening to me when I needed to talk, for giving advice, for being an exemplary friend, and a HUGE example to me, especially when it came to church and spiritual things. I am a better person for knowing her.

kaisha ann, only the BEST roommate ever. seriously. out of the 8 random roommates I had throughout the years, Kaisha was one that i actually became friends with. We hung out, shared friends, talked about EVERYTHING and had a blast this past year. She is one roommate/friend that I still talk to, and I know I will for years to come.

all of the 35th ward--best ward I've been in. I got involved, knew most everyone there, and always hung out with them.

Every day I thank God for all the blessings in my life--for a roof over my head, food in my stomach and friends and family to support me and uplift me. I may not have much in the way of material things, but I think I am the luckiest girl in the world.

Now, what are YOU thankful for? :)

thanksgiving week, day 3

today (and let's be honest, every Tuesday and Wednesday)

I am thankful for these two shows:

(and ok, it's a little superficial, after my last two posts, but, they have a major part in my life)

So You Think You Can Dance

and

Glee

These shows make me

happy.

giddy.

and giggle, just a little bit.

(ok, maybe laugh out loud to the point that if I were drinking something, it would come squirting out of my nose)

Dance has been part of my life since I was a sophomore in high school.

It brings such joy to my life.

I can be dancing it myself, expressing my feelings,

or simply watching it, allowing the choreography and music take me to a different place, on a whole other level than what I am used to.

I can be touched by dance in the same way that music touches me.

Watching SYTYCD amazes me every week--the skill and the grace with which these dancers perform is incredible.

I get chills when I watch, and there are times when I am brought close to tears.

And Glee--well it brings one of my favorite things to the television screen--music and comedy.

There isn't much more I can say about this show.

If you haven't seen it yet (either, actually) then I highly recommend them.

thanksgiving week, day 2

today, (but really, EVERY DAY), i am thankful for

TEMPLES.

Los Angeles, CA

Salt Lake City, UT

Washington, D.C.

Draper, UT

Oquirrh Mountain, UT

Newport, CA

These temples (and the other hundred or so around the world)

seal families together, not just for this life, but for eternity.

That's a long time.

They bring peace and tranquility.

I have received numerous witnesses to the truthfulness of the Gospel from attending these temples.

Plus, they are so dang gorgeous!

Thanks for giving

It's a week later and I'm FINALLY posting about Thanksgiving. Basically, it was amazing. Given, I DID have a 15 page research paper due the day I got back, BUT I tried to enjoy the time I had at home with my family and friends. It was a much needed break. The weather was a little iffy, but a lot better than what we were experiencing in Utah, at least, temperature wise. We drove all day with Luis and his gf Rachel, stopping for dinner at her parents' house in St. George, getting in late Tuesday night. I played a few rounds of Guitar Hero while Brianna showered and crashed. Wednesday morning we were rudely awaken by my mother running in and jumping on us. Sure, it was close to noon, but we were tired! We ended up sitting and talking to her and Kiana and Bryce for a good while before we actually got up and got going. We ran necessary errands, Target, Newbury Park HS, grocery store, before heading to Toppers to meet our dad for dinner. We saw our brother Chris, and the Lytles! Love them! Later, Brianna, Kiana and I met up with the TO stake crew to head down to Santa Monica Pier. Unfortunately, it had rained the night before and so everything was wet and closed down. I also

 think it was on account of it being the day before Thanksgiving. Oh well. It was enjoyable anyway. 

Thursday was a lazy day, watching tv, playing games, attempting to write papers (me) and cooking. Dinner was delicious, as should be expected, and once it was all digested (mostly), we headed over to the Sorensen's house for games and desserts. We started out with the Celebrity

 Name game (two rounds! so fun!) and then went in for the kill (dessert). Delish!

After dessert, the kids and some of the adults wanted to play knock out, so we went into the backyard and played about 4 rounds of it (I never won...bummer. Out of practice I suppose).

 After some bball, we came back inside and broke out the board games: Sequence (new favorite game!!! Kandice, come down to PROVO and play with me!!! haha), chinese checkers, sorry, and a game of monopoly for the little boys. Laughter, conversation, cheating. It was fabulous. We

 stayed there until 1 am (the latest I've ever stayed out with my entire family...EVER) just

 chatting and catching up. Quite fun.

Around this time, I found out that my best friend Jacob Chun was coming home early from his trip to Texas, so I convened with his older brother Russell to surprise him after he got home

 from the airport on Friday. I'd say it was quite the success :) Such a grand reunion! He just got home from his mission to Everett, Washington early October, so I hadn't seem him, although

 I'd talked to him on the phone twice. Wow, it was great to see him again and to hang out with him. That night Brianna, Jacob, Russell and I decided to hang out, but things got a little messy. Russell left, and the rest of us (including Lindy-Jacob's gf-and Jessi Cumins) headed over to Bret Caldwell's house (who had just gotten home from HIS mission two days prior) to say hey. Another great reunion! Things definitely haven't changed with those two...still exactly the same. :) We were supposed to meet up with Russell but I didn't have any gas or money so Bri and I headed home. But Saturday was our shopping day, checking out the renovations over at the Oaks Mall. Fun, even though we didn't buy anything. 

Oh I forgot...we took family christmas pictures Friday during the day too. Turned out better than usual haha. While watching the USC-Notre Dame game, I made plans to hang out with Russell and Jacob again. They picked me up and brought me back to their house where J made a special spaghetti concoction and we watched Batman and Robin before getting the crew together to head to Zuma Beach for our traditional beach night.

I ended up sitting with Jacob on the beach for a good, half hour, 45 minutes just talking about everything. His life, my life, high school, news, college. Everything. We laughed, we got deep, we were serious. We headed back once we realized that Lindy would not be very happy with me particularly for stealing him away for a bit :/ After that I hit some golf balls with Jerrid and Eric into the ocean...another tradition for us :)

Definitely a good night especially getting to talk to Jacob, just like old times. Sunday we left again and of course it was a gorgeous 85 degrees and sunny! We also found out that Provo was going to be around 32 that day--joy. Such a short break, but a great one. Now it's only 2 weeks until we're back again for Christmas...Can't wait!