rules to live by:

1. make your bed. EVERY morning.

2. don't drink diet coke before noon.

3. wash your hands often. it's a must.

4. ALWAYS say "thank you". so important.

5. let those around you, know that you love them.

6. be respectful and polite in all that you do.

7. NEVER gossip.

8. begin and end each day in prayer.

9. paint your finger nails often. life is fun.

10. tell your parents you love them. frequently.

11. be grateful. we've been given the world.

12. eat sweets. life's too short.

13. spend summers barefoot.

14. buckle up. make it a habit.

15. look into the eyes of the person you are talking to. (guilty, i know)

16. love with your entire heart.

17. chew with your mouth closed. always. please.

18. dream big. why not? you have nothing to lose.

19. lift your legs up when crossing over railroad tracks. just do it.

20. wear a watch. be classy.

team USA!

you could definitely classify him as another one of my "little obsessions".

artistic performer and insane athlete.

not to mention his gorgeous legs and smile. yum.

GOLD medal, well deserved.

{mlh}

As expected, words cannot describe the accurate feelings my heart so deeply protects. It is as though my feelings of love, friendship and emptiness were locked up five years ago on that devastating day. Five years ago? I simply can't believe it has been that long. As I reflect upon these last five years of my life, there is no shadow of a doubt that Madeline has been my little angel. She has lived through my experiences with me; each and every one of them. She has danced within my soul during each performance, laughed with me over funny boy drama, helped me conquer my fears and doubts, shared tears of joy and sadness, influenced the way I view life's decisions, taken adventures hand and hand with me, and she has given me hugs and kisses when times are tuff. I often ask myself, "what would Madeline be doing right at this very moment"? As I sit there and ponder such a question, I am motivated to live life to the fullest. What an example she was to me; always full of life, energy, love and smiles. Her testimony holds a special place in my heart. I begin each morning in prayer asking that she may walk with me through my day. I am instantly reminded of her endless love for our Savior and her unquestioning faith in Him. I strive to have the perfect knowledge that she did. It amazes me at just how much Madeline is a part of me today. In fact, I would be so lost without her constant guidance and companionship in my life. As hard as coping with a best friend's death, her absence as been a blessing in disguise. She has given me a form of life through the passing of hers. Through her example, I am reminded that life is a blessing. Time is also a blessing given unto us. Each day, is a new day granted unto us for learning, exploring and loving. How grateful I am to know that Madeline lives within my heart. Her spirit is often one with mine. Even though I have never felt so empty without her, I marvel at how close we have become during the last five years. She fills my heart and always will. I long for the day I will get to run into her arms and tell her how much I love her and thank her for all she has given me. Madeline will forever have a profound influence on every aspect of my life. I love her dearly. Happy Valentine's Day Madeline!

muah!

pucker up! check out these kissing facts. thanks to a conversation at work today, i had quite the learning experience. due to my questioning, we ended up researching "kissing". pathetic, i know. however, don't judge quite yet- you'll be quite surprised and intrigued at this list. i'm still in shock at a few of these.

the average person spends 20,160 minutes of his or her life kissing.

that's two weeks!

kissing improves our skin, helps circulation, prevents tooth decay and can

even relieve headaches.

like fingerprints or snowflakes, no two lip impressions are alike.

2 out of every 3 couples turn their heads to the right when they kiss.

the science of kissing is called philematology.

French kissing involves all 34 muscles in the face. A pucker kiss incolves only two.

you burn 26 calories in a one minute kiss. (a Hershey's kiss contains 26 calories.) a one hour session of kissing can burn over 600 calories! that's more than jogging.

the mouth is full of bacteria. when two people kiss, they exchange between

10 million and 1 billion bacteria. (yuck!)

our brains have special neurons that help us find each other's lips in the dark.

50% of people have their first kiss before the age of 14.

international kissing day is February 5th.

your lips are 100 times more sensitive than the tips of your fingers.

believe it or not, kissing is still illegal in some parts of the United Sates.

kissing increases your life expectancy. studies show that men live up to 5 years longer, if they kiss their wife before going to work.

as a rule, 66% of people keep their eyes closed while kissing.

passionate kissing elevates your blood pressure, causing your heart to beat faster.

during the middle ages, people signed legal contracts by making and "x" on the document then kissing it to pledge their honor.

according to U.S. statistics, and American woman would kiss an average of 80 men before she gets married.

the list goes on. crazy, right? just something to think about.

my fact? kissing is lovely.

xxx

MERDE!

this is for you. I LOVE YOU. in fact, i love you so much words can not begin to express just how much you truly mean to me. you hold a very special place in my heart and always will. our biggest fear right now? living apart from each other. truth be told, i don't ever want that day to come- but it will. i have a feeling we'll somehow manage to come up with a genius plan to prevent multiple miles between us. mainly, i just wanted to get on here and say.... GOOD LUCK on sunday. i know you are nervous- but don't be. you are exceptional at what you do, your passion is obvious, and people like me aspire to move like you. as my dad would say, "knock em' dead and give em' hell". or midge would tell you to "dance pretty". however, my advice is to relax, just be you and remember that giving it your all will prevent regret, tears and denial. speaking of which- don't worry about the silly denial letters. they simply don't know what they are missing out on. never give up. have a fabulous weekend. i wish you the best of luck. please call me and tell me everything. i am going to miss you this weekend- a lot. infinite x's and o's.

fortune cookie

"You have a charming way with words. Write a letter this week."

i certainly don't think I have a charming way with words... but i AM going to write a letter. and you should too. there is nothing like receiving a hand written letter in the mail. a true treasure. i challenge you to write a letter to someone you love. {keep in mind it is the month of love.} no matter how short or how long the letter may be, i promise it has the power to brighten someone's day. and check your mailbox often- my letter may be coming your way. thanks to my yummy dinner at PF Changs last night, i now have a challenge for the week..... and so do you. pick up that pen and get writing.

p.s. i need your address. yes, you. please share.