Take the CHANCE

This is the last week of ninth grade, and boy! this year has flown by. Looking back on my year, I would say that it was pretty fun. But, I do have some regrets. I didn't "take the chance" enough. In seminary, I was always terrified to bare my testimony. I thought that I would just get up there and my words would slur and I would blush. But, I did promise myself that I would do it just once. The last period I had was the last time for baring testimonies, and I got up and did it. It wasn't scary. I didn't slur. I didn't blush. And I sat down feeling happy, and for the rest of this weekend, my life has been blessed and I have just felt generally better and more confident. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I was so held back by my fear, when in all reality, it was unrelavant. I would have also liked to participate in classes more than I did. I wish I had been more vocal everywhere. I wish I hadn't been so shy! So, next year, I want to be MORE. I don't want to be scared. That's about it.

My Life Soundtrack!

Life Soundtrack: Songs of Innocence and Experience

I haven’t really had that many exciting, extravagant or tragic events in my life; I am what you might call very ordinary. But of course, like all other teenagers, (and pretty much the whole of society) I spend loads of my time listening to music. And with those constant tunes in my ears, I tend to connect certain songs with people, places, events, and even feelings. Throughout my life, I have had certain songs stand out for being very connective with an event. I have listened and tried to put them in chronological order, and for the most part they are. I hope you enjoy the Sound Track of Mim, and if you ever want to go on to YouTube, you should give it a listen.

“Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles

Whenever I hear the beginning notes of this song, I have very strong happy feelings. I can just picture a sun coming up over a mountain to greet excited faces ready to be refreshed after a long, cold winter. “It’s been a long, cold, lonely winter. It seems like years since it’s been here.” This winter (and practically all the other winters I have had in my life) has seemed to take forever. But it does take a winter to realize how much I really love the warm sun. Who wouldn’t associate this song with the joyous times of summer?

“Somewhere Only We Know” by Keane

Until the third grade, I was homeschooled. In this song there is a specific line that reminds me out growing out of homeschool and has my argument for why I should go to public school, this line is as follows: “I’m getting older and need something to rely on.” I guess this doesn’t remind my exactly of homeschool itself, but the words appropriately show the feelings that I felt. I remember feeling like I was maturing, and another line from the song “Oh simple thing, where have you gone” reminds me of how I felt.

“I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz

In the sixth grade, I went to one of my best friend Josie’s cabin. I remember I had just been becoming familiar and fond with Jason Mraz’s songs, and upon meeting Josie’s dad, I thought that they looked so much alike. Whenever I hear this song, I think of her dad, and going to her cabin that fine winter week!

“Redemption Song” Bob Marley

In fifth grade, my sister, my dad, and I went to England to visit relatives, and just see and experience things in general. The plane ride was broken into two parts, 9 hours, and 3 hours. Luckily, I had my trusty brand new mp3, but the only music I had was Bob Marley. For those long hours on the plane, I listened to Bob nonstop.

“Island in the Sun” Weezer

In 2009 (I do believe) I went to Mexico with my dear friend Myrinda. One night, (yes, it was night, and to my excitement we didn’t get eaten by sharks, though it is unknown if there were some lurking around. And until my dad told us “we didn’t know what was in there” we had no intent of getting out of the water until sun rise!) the waves were ginormous. We were out there  on our little boogie boards singing our modified version of the song “Island in the Sun” which included all of the colors of the rainbow, Oh, good times, good times.

“Nobody’s Home” by Avril Lavigne

8^th grade was a rough year. I went through this phase with so much drama and just teenagerness that I got really depressed and turned into a real punk. “Nobody’s Home” was my main jam when I was feeling down. I was sad, and this song sunk to my level. Just to give you a taste of this song: “She wants to go home, but nobody’s home, it’s where she lies, broken inside.”

“Banana Pancakes” by Jack Johnson

I made new friends earlier in this year, (Tori, Brandt, Shane, Jake, Alex, Myrinda, Eliza…ETC…) and one of the first times we were at the Nye’s, Seth was entertaining us by singing this song in various different voices.

“Happy” by Nevershoutnever

This was the first song that I learned on the ukulele, and was also the first of many songs that we would play in the “Ukulele Group” we formed. I think it also symbolizes the group of all our friends. “You make me happy, whether you know it or not”. We are all pretty weird but fit into the group perfectly in our own ways.

“Better Together” by Jack Johnson

November of this year, I went to California with Myrinda. During the car ride home (it was a daunting 15 hours) I decided to memorize the song “Better Together”. Memorizing a song in one sitting takes listening to the song over and over again, which can be a tedious task. This repetition has resulted in me thinking of California, or rather the car ride back from there, every time I hear it.

“Tighten Up” by The Black Keys

This song reminds me of moving because when I was organizing my parent’s closet (in which I earned $100) nobody else was home, and I was belting this song with all of my heart and soul.

“We are Young” by Fun, and “Sail” by Awolnation

Both of these songs remind me of my best friend Tori because I found out about both of these songs through her, and whenever we are in her car, we like to blast them (along with others) and yell, practically scream them. She does this dance to “We Are Young” that I have to do every time it plays. Haha.

“I Just want to Run” by The Downtown Fiction

As you probably expected, this reminds me of track, and just running in general. When it is track season, I get in the best shape, and like this title of this song states “I JUST WANT TO RUN.”

Thank you for looking into my life soundtrack. You have probably taken some things out of it that you may or may not have known before about me. I have a really fun filled life, with only one or two sad events taking place. I am pretty much your average Joe, but I may look at things differently than you, or any other average Tim might.

Mother's Day: my mothers

 Well, Happy Mother’s day to all. Included in this post will be the letter that I wrote to my mom for this Mother’s Day. But for part of this entry I would like to include a tribute to women that I consider one of my “mothers”.

My Aunt Diana. Throughout my life, me and my cousin Makenna were what you might call “best cousins”. We did so much together (I resist saying EVERYTHING, but it was pretty close to that). We had sleepovers at least once a week (I was homeschooled around this time, so I had a pretty clear schedule). Since I was over there so much, I became very close with my Aunt Diana. After the years of freedom passed, and both Makenna and I’s schedules fogged up, I kind of broke off from Makenna for a while. We ceased having sleepovers weekly, and only got to see each other every once in a while when we would have a family gathering. I always was close to my Aunt Diana though. I remember once my parents were going on a backpacking trip, and my siblings and I had to spend a few nights over at their houses. Because my cousin participated in dance, she had to be gone for the day. I went to All-a-Dollar with Diana, got some snacks, then went back and just watched movies. I love my Aunt Diana.

Mama Nye. I have lived in the Nye’s ward for about 7 or 8 years, and all the years previous to these last two I would always hear the term “Mama Nye”, but thought it was just a catchy phrase for her. I didn’t think that it would actually apply! I started to call her Mama Nye after one rather depressing night in mutual. I was the newest beehive, and just felt like I had no friends. I was trying to fit in so hard, but it just seemed as if everybody had their crowds set and I wasn’t in with any of them. We were walking on this trail (which I can’t remember the name of) and all the girls had bikes except for me. Mama Nye was walking with me, and just talking to me. It made me feel so much better about my position in the Young Women’s! I remember another time, again after a mutual night, I was still kind of having troubles fitting in, and I asked Mama Nye for a ride home. Of course, she agreed to, and we set off. We were just sitting in the car the whole way, a few chit chats here and there, but mainly the whole ride I was busy feeling down because I didn’t fit in. When I stepped out of the car, I said “Thanks” and she replied with something like “Anytime other daughter!” Once again, it boosted my self esteem. Mama Nye continues to be a person that I look up to. I am over at their house a lot, mostly until late into the night, and I love it there, there is so much love in their home. Mama Nye IS Mama Nye to every kid she associates with. She holds a very big part in my heart because I know that I can always turn to her. There is no better way you can describe her.. “Mama Nye” has its own description, and I wish that I could somehow explain it. She is like a second mom to so many lucky people, and I am happy to list one of them as me.

Lastly, I would like to express my love and gratitude for my own mother. Though I love these two women that I have written about, my Mom is a different story. Of course she gave birth to me, raised me through the rough and even the smooth, and continues to provide for me, there is more than that. My Mom is my friend. Sometimes I can see myself in her actions, and it is very reassuring that maybe, just maybe, I could grow up to be like this miraculous woman. She has the best work ethic I have ever seen, and is truly my inspiration for my drive with everything I can do. Gotta impress Mom! It is the best gift when I get her approval, and I love her oh so very much! She’s stuck with me for so many years, and I know she will stay with me for however more! I love my Mommy!

Now, here is the letter that I wrote to my mom for this mother’s day!

 Haven't I already told you?

How pretty you are?

How understanding you are?

How funny you are?

How your style is on the dot?

How generous you always are?

How you’re so healthy?

Haven't I already told you!!!!

How I love to go shopping with you?

Walking is the best (for my health, and for a good time) when your around?

You help me in time of crisis (like that one time {almost every week} when I didn't have any clothes? Yeah, you got them for me.

You pay for all my wants and needs.

You got my back, like a good friend should.

You read so fast I can't even keep up.

Honestly. Haven't I already told you?

How good you make me feel about myself when I am down?

How you are so supportive?

And honest when it comes to...everything.

How you know what cute boys look like when you see them and you point them out to me?

How you are so cool? (Seriously though. I am so happy you don't wear mom jeans... I got to have my extra supply of clothes!)

That you have great work ethic?

You work harder than you sleep. (Which is a big thing for you)

How smart you are?

How you have great ideas always?

How you are so outgoing and can talk to anyone?

Haven't I already told you all of these things?

Don't I tell you them on a regular basis?

Well, yes, I do!

But I will continue telling you these things for the rest of your life!

First, because I love you, and they are true!

And second, because (even out of all my "moms") you are the best mom in the world!

Have a very happy mother’s day!!!!

(And while you’re at it, enjoy being your stunning new age of 30!!!! {The age everyone thinks you are})

Love, Mim

I just cant think of anything fresh to write about. Enjoy some science!

          Water is one of the main factors of life. The planet is 74.3824% water. 97.5% of all water on Earth is salt water, 2.5% as fresh water. So, we don’t have much water that is drinkable, comparably. This article interested me, because everyone needs water, including me!

          Suat Irmak is a professor in biological system engineering. He is trying to make it so that less water is loss from evaporation from plants and soil. Nebraska uses a lot of water to irrigate crops. So he decided to do the research and experiments there. To try to save water from being unnecessarily evaporated, he has made an underground drip catching system to prevent it. There are also machines that measure how much water is being evaporated from the crops, so they can make the necessary changes and adjustments to save as much water as possible.

          My opinion on this study is that it is a good way to use their time and money since water is so vital to the survival of everything. But, as always, I will stick with my theory of leaving things as natural as possible. More problems could come to the surface after using this new system. I also don’t know why they would do that right now, when it has been raining so much. So, I think they should really take a long look at the different things that may come up. Determine whether it is really worth their time, and money.

          I know that it has been raining a lot lately because my basement got flooded, along with many others in my neighborhood. So, I don’t know why the rain shouldn’t just be used to water the crops, and let the natural water cycle go on in its ways that it was created to be made in. If “global warming” is really happening, then fresh water from glaciers and stuff will be melted and we will have that much more drinkable water. But I do support this, because you can never have enough water.