You never know what lies beneath the smile.

It could be true happiness or horrible sadness.

This blog is just an insight to me and who I am.



Sunday, November 25, 2012

Warning Sign?

Remember that scene in Bruce Almighty when he is driving down the road begging for a sign from God and the truck in front of him is basically throwing signs at him? Well I had that moment today...

I've kinda been seeing this guy lately.  Nothing totally serious but something was truly there until both sets of our roommates started to annoy us with questions about when we were getting married, my ring size and 'The Date' which really made us panic and so we agreed on taking a step back.  I was ok with this agreement, no it was not my ideal plan but it just seemed to feel right.

Within in days of this agreement he had a new girl on his arm at the ward activities and when she was distracted he would come over and be all lovey-dovey with me.  I wont lie, this broke my heart.  But I did my best to be strong and I prayed every night that he would come back to me.  I had become so used to him making me lunch and dinner every day, to him calling me first thing in the morning,to spend my every waking moment with him, to calling him and listening to him talk while I fell asleep, that I did not know what to do with myself.  Days would go by without a word from him.  Then one Sunday I spoke in church (for the first time ever might I add) and BAM!! he was at my side, holding my hand, parading me around after sacrament, talking with my family, it was just insane.  And then another week would go by without even a text from him.  I did my best to not fall for him every time he decided he had time for me.  It didn't always work...ok fine...it never worked...

Then my home teacher asked me on a date which was an awkward idea but I went along with it.  Hours before the date I found out that it was a double date with him.  My family has been going through some pretty awful trials lately and this was my breaking point.  I could not go on this date and watch him flirt with some other girl while I was stuck with my sweet -but awkward- home teacher.  I called my poor home teacher and told him I had a family emergency and left.

That Saturday was our monthly free breakfast at my complex.  Both my home teacher and him were fighting for my attention.  Even to the point of trying to put food in my mouth as if I was a baby.  Thankfully my roommates had my back and helped me shun both guys.  When I had finally hit the point of no return I stood up with my roommates to leave when my other (yes, I know it's really confusing) asked me how my family was doing and if I was ok.  I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes, whether for my heartbreak for him or my family I don't know.  All I knew was I made an awfully, stupid squeak sound, turned, and ran out of the clubhouse.

The next night, Sunday, I couldn't do it anymore.  My life was in turmoil and I needed a blessing.  But I had no one I could really feel like I could ask... except for him. So I did it.  11:30 at night I texted him asking for a blessing and before I knew he was calling me.  I did my best to get myself under control before I answered but the second I said Hello he knew I was crying and ran over to my apartment.  2 minutes later we were sitting on my couch with me crying my eyes out to him.  He held me for the longest time, saying everything I needed to hear, being everything I ever wanted.  He promised that first thing in the morning he and his roommate would give me a blessing.  I swear, he was crying just as hard as I was.

Time for the blessing finally rolled around.  It really helped so much, those 2 guys were everything I needed.  But it was a battle to not allow my feelings for him to return.

Another week goes by without a word.  And with all my free time I have found out some dirty little secrets about him and some other girls in the ward.  By this time I am past any emotion for him and I am determined to move on.

You see, to back-track, there was this guy that I had a minor crush on since the day he moved into the ward late July.  No matter what I did, how hard I tried, or the dress I wore to church, I never really had his attention.  We had joked about going on a date but nothing ever came from it until today after Sunday School when he TOLD me we were going on a date this Thursday and that he would be at my door at 7 for mini golf.  Let's just say I am still in shock.

TONIGHT at ward prayer this guy, Tyler, that has finally noticed me barely even spoke to me.  And the main guy in this story came up and asked me how I am doing.  I completely shrugged him off, I really did not want to talk to him about any of it.  Then he asked me (because he is a film major at BYU and is beyond talented) if I would be his main girl in the next movie he is shooting.  He said he needed a 'beautiful, red carpet kind of girl'.  So I asked him when he was filming because let's face it, I have feelings for him and cannot say no. He said Thursday night at 7.  I'm not kidding when I say Tyler's head popped up and he was staring at me just waiting for me to answer.  He looked kind of scared to be honest.  That's when I told him that I had plans and Tyler took a very needed breath.  He hugged me, told me to have a good week and walked away.

Is this my huge truck full of warning signs telling me to move on?  Am I this stubborn for my boy drama to get this bad?  Should I just date outside my ward from now on?
Don't answer that.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Sickness

It's in the air again... oh the joys of getting sick.  First my roommate got sick and we all laughed and said, "thank you, Karma!" because no one gets a long with her.  Then I got sick, and now a fellow beloved roommate is sick. We're just waiting for the last one to get sick.  Then we can all cough and sniff together!!
Until then...
When will this cold go away??

Monday, September 24, 2012

Rough draft

I have a paper due in my English class that is suppose to be about an event that changed our lives.  This has probably been one of the hardest things I have ever done because not only does it force me to look into my past but to pick it apart and to write it down for others to read.  It makes me nervous, beyond uneasy, but in a way it has been kind of nice to let it all out.  So here is the rough draft.  Mind you, it isn't done, not even close and please don't judge.  Ingwish aint me friend.


Rebecca Murdock
Dr. Jim Birrell
English 1010
September 24, 2012
Fallen Angel
In this paper I will talk about the event that changed my life forever, the day my Grandfather passed away.  At the time I looked at the event as a form of punishment from God and acted against Him but 13 years later I have realized how far from the truth I was.
I was 8 years old and had recently been baptized into the LDS Church.  A Monday morning in September my Mom received a call informing her that my Grandfather, her Dad, was once again in the hospital.  By the time my Mom picked me up from school I knew this wasn’t a small trip to the hospital like all the times in the past.
The entire family was gathered around my Grandfather’s hospital bed.  A prayer was said some where in a corner and a storm raged outside the window.  I held my Grandfather’s hand as the heart monitor stopped beating.  My life changed for the worse in that moment of silence.
First off my parents have been divorced since I was two years old.  This left my Mom forced to work a full-time job while my Grandfather stepped in to raise me as one of his own.  There was not a day in my life that I didn’t spend with him.
My Grandfather taught me right from wrong, to never give up, and to be strong.  From the very beginning my life was full of trials but with my Grandfather’s help I could face them.  Before long he became more of a Dad than a Grandfather.  He was my foundation.  He was my life.
So when my Grandfather passed away I felt more than lost, I felt abandoned by everyone.  The Church no longer mattered to me and God became my enemy.  How could the ‘All Powerful’ punish such a young girl who hasn’t done anything but survive?  How could everyone continue on with their lives when mine was destroyed.  No one even noticed when I left the Church and gave up on school.
By Christmas I had become a cold shell of a girl.  My Mom had encouraged me back into school but I never gave any attention to it.  I had pushed away all my friends and my family was in such distress by my Grandfather’s passing that I had no one left in my life.  I had devoted the rest of my life to fight against God.
When I was 12 years old I heard a story about Fallen Angels.  It was said that the Angels were God’s right-hand warriors who had done something to upset the All Mighty.  He stripped them of their wings and banished the Angels to Earth for eternal punishment.  This story sounded so similar to my own life.  Finally I had some new belief to hold onto.  Some thing to give me answers as to “Why me?”
At the time of my 16th birthday I had become a professional liar.  I had made friends that had no idea how cold my heart was.  No one knew of the daily pain I suffered.  No one could understand the constant battles I had with God.
My Grandfather was the glue that held my family together, with his passing some how I became the glue.  It was my duty to keep everyone calm and friendly, to keep everyone together.  This was a job I didn’t want.
As the years passed, trial after trial began to build up.  The lies I told were like handcuffs on my soul.  I had no bright future, no future at all.  I began to wonder how much longer I could live with my unloving heart.  I was beginning to tire from my constant war with God.


Sunday, September 23, 2012

Tiredness

Well I'm not off to a great start but can I just say that I am up and gone by 8 in the morning and fall into bed well past midnight.  Ugh, it's been a long week.  I am soooooooo tired.

But I have been able to attend two different ThePianoGuys concerts this week which were unbelievably amazing! Steven Sharp Nelson is awesome!  I really hope and pray the group and make it big time! Love those guys!

The kittens are doing great!!! Apollo opened his eyes last night!  They are so close to that fun playful stage!!

And that is my life.

It's crazy.

It's random.

It's tiring.

But I love it!

Goodnight y'all.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Trials and Pick-Me-Ups

It's funny how I can't remember if this lesson was taught in Sunday School or Seminary, let alone the teacher, but I do remember a small part of the lesson.  That God did not pick our trials that we face on this Earth, we did.  We chose our own trials.  Then and now I thought, "Why did I hate myself so much?!?!  Why did I pick all the hard trials?!"  That idea always bothered me in a way.  If I really got to choose my own trials before coming to this Earth I most certainly could have chosen a little easier set.  

Yesterday I was walking through a small part of Hell when I decided that if in fact I did choose this for myself, that I knew how hard it was going to be, I would have set up a few pick-me-ups along the way.  Now where were they??  I had lost my marbles for the day and my temper was next when I got in the car and drove to Springville.  There on the porch was our adopted outdoor cat and 3 tiny kittens.  Hello pick-me-up!!  They are about the cutest things I have ever seen!  Spooks is the new mom, Pascal is gray with long fur that almost looks unreal, Abu is the runt who is black with a white spike down the center of his face and of course we have little Apollo (or maybe Kocoum) who is also black but with a white tummy!

I have spent every possible moment snuggling my new little friends!  Paying attention in school is going to be difficult tomorrow after spending the day with the little ones.  At least I have the weekend to play with them!

So in the end, I failed at picking out trials for myself but I ROCK at the pick-me-ups!

And yes, they are all Disney names!!!

Monday, September 17, 2012

Growing Up

So my English Professor is making us blog every single day for the rest of the semester. Yuck. Yes, Dr. Birrell, I said YUCK!  But I will do my best to do as asked and post daily about my silly little life.  Here we go.

Today the subject of growing up has been in the air.  Along with the awful smog and smoke in the air we, as in my roommates Melissa, Rachel, and I, have discovered we can no longer live like this.  Some one needs to grow up and I'm not afraid to say it's not one of us.  Her name is Vivi.  The fourth roommate.  Talk about a 'Molly-Mormon'. Oh dear, the battles we have had. But in our defense we have tried to get along with her.  We have tried to be nice.  We have tried to not be rude.  Yesterday it all blew up in our faces and all four of us were put on the path to Hell.  Vivi has had enough of our 'party ways' and is finally moving out.  I don't even feel bad, I doubt Meli and Rachel do either.

Apparently she has told the entire ward, including the Bishop, how we are awful human beings and that we party every night until 4 in the morning.  That is really funny to me because I must have missed all the parties in my own apartment. Must have been when I was wearing sweat pants and watching Tangled with Meli and Rachel.  Funny.

Tonight the three of us got dressed and attended the FHE to show that we aren't what our other roommate has said about us.  We were hoping to start fresh and that things will go better for everyone.  We soon realized that we really are the party girls compared to the rest of the ward.  Oh no.  These poor girls need some serious help and the boys are well, just that, boys.  We didn't make in an hour before we were inching toward the door praying that no one would notice our leave.  And then we all laughed the whole way home realizing how silly this all is.

Some one needs to grow up.  My two roommates and I are from different walks of life.  We see the world so differently and yet we get a long.  We laugh. We love. We are enjoying our lives.  We have grown up for the time being and we have put aside our differences.  It is the fourth roommates turn.  I'm sad to say that I doubt she will.  She is very set in her ways and not willing to move.  I sure hope she can survive her life because she is only making it harder on herself.  As my roommate Rachel stated tonight, "That girl needs to either go suck her thumb or grow up!"  So Vivi, here's your chance.  Other than that, don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Bring It On

It is truly amazing how much a life can change in a year.  

For example, not that long ago I was engaged and planning a wedding while still going to school.  Now I'm flyin solo and actually loving it!  It has been nice to focus on school and my family.  Yes, there are bad days.  Times when the day can pass and I didn't even try to get out of bed.  Some times I stay up late and cry over the future that was lost. I beg the clouds "Why me? What did I do to deserve this pain?"  I know that God has a plan for me and that every thing will work out in the end, it is just getting to the end that can be tricky at times.

Family. ily. I love you.  It's true.  I love my family more than anything!  They are my foundation.  And like every family some times even a single look from one of them pushes a button.  Still, I look forward to every single Sunday Dinner.  Nothing can compare with the joys of sitting around in a big circle, eating and talking about the important things in our lives.  Watching all the little kids running around is always fun as well, even though it makes me feel old when I can't keep up with them... There is also the family that I don't get to see every Sunday but they are just as important to me.  We are a family that is forever.

My roommates have brought a new kind of crazy into my life!  Some days it rocks... other days... not so much.  Either way I look forward to every day with them, it's never boring that's for sure! on my own is crazy in of itself.  Like I said, my roommates have brought a new form of crazy into my life.  I live with 3 girls that I never knew before and if you know me at all you understand just how crazy it is that we all live together and get along!  I love those girls!  And even in these few months we have all grown so much.

I'll be right honest with you all.  I was inactive for a good part of my life but now I'm strong in the Church, stronger than I have ever been.  I read my scriptures and for once in my life I have a testimony.  I know the trials that I have faced were for my benefit even if I couldn't understand why.  I have finally let go of my stubborn pride (as much as possible) and I'm leaving my life in His hands.  He has better plans than I do anyway. ;)
 
11 years ago I was sitting in class with my friends watching those towers.  We all sat in silence and wondered what waited for us in the coming months.    
A year ago I was in my first month of school and wondering where to go next.
I never would have dreamed I would be standing where I am today.  So all I have to say to the next year for America and myself is, Bring It On!

Monday, March 12, 2012

Friendship

What comes to mind when you read this word?  It can mean so many things to everyone.  I know when I hear this word I think of Kaylee Rae.  Man, that girl is the bestest kind of friend a girl could ask for.  It's weird to think that we have been friends for so many years.  The trials we have faced since that first day are unnumbered and yet here we are.  Still bff's.  What a cool thing!
We are so different from each other and yet we are so similar.  I love that we can not talk for days, weeks, or months and that second we begin talking it's like there was never space between us.  Even when she moved to Hawaii and we didn't get to run together every day or at least talk in the evenings our friendship remained intact.
I have been through Hell many times and every time that I'm ready to look up, there's Kaylee reaching out a hand.  Especially since we moved into our little apartment together.  There were so many nights that I just sat on the floor and cried for hours.  Every single time she was there for me, tissues and ice cream in hand.
When I think of the word friendship memories play through my head like an old slide show.  I see swing sets where we would play on instead of running in cross country, posters of Zac Efron covering every inch of wall space, bags of chocolate chips, hiking mountains, and just driving down streets getting lost for hours talking about life.  Tears are always involved but so is laughter.
Tonight we took each other out to Pizza Pie Cafe to kick off Spring Break.  Probably the best date I've had in a while!  We could have eaten so much more but laughing always makes it hard to keep food in the mouth! I seriously love that girl!
It blows my mind that she is planning a wedding.  I couldn't be happier for her and Matthew!! What a lucky guy!!  It's just weird to think that my best friend, my sister, will be married a year from now.  And yet, I know things wont change between us.  Late night calls looking for advice or a needed ice cream break will always hold our futures together!
Come Hell or high water, we're all in this together!!!
(Yes I did just quote Zac Efron....Twice... Be jealous.)

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Day 1

Breathe in.
Breathe out.
In.
Out..
Whew!!
Here we go.
The love of my life is now in the MTC.  What a crazy mix of emotions.  I am so very proud of him!! He is the first of 5 in his family to serve a mission.  What a great thing to choose to do with his life.  I know he will serve the Lord with honor and bring so many people joy and peace with the gospel he will be teaching in Australia.
Eh.  Australia.  8009.5 miles away. For 3 weeks he will be literally blocks from me. And after that....8009.5 miles... It's a good thing too.  I know if he was in the US I would probably find a way to see him.  But Australia is good.  It's far away. Far. Far. Far away.  And pretty safe.  I don't have to worry if he'll get some strange disease or anything like that. Mail takes 3-4 weeks. So not too bad.  A letter sent every week should be good...
Australia is so far away.
But I can do this. 730 days. 96 weeks. 24 months. However you choose to look at it.  One of my little cousins gave me the idea to make a fleece blanket for Thomas.  Every month tie on another square.  So by the time he comes home he will have a full size blanket.  Cute, huh?  And I have a list of 22 Temples to visit in 24 months.  Also there is a blog with ideas of something to do for every month.  Plus going to school is going to help.  Kaylee and I are training for a few races this summer so that will be good too.
Every post I write about waiting for Thomas I'll add in a little story or a favorite memory from our time together.
I guess I should start off with the night I met him.
December 3rd 2011
My girl friend, Raven, had the biggest crush on this guy from her work and she wanted my stamp of approval. She found this dance at a local apartment complex that was a masquerade dance and she asked him to it.  Her other girl friend was coming to give her stamp as well.  Raven had to drive and her friend, Lindsey had a dress so large that she had to sit up front.  That left me in the back.  The entire time I was kinda not happy.  I really did not want to sit next to Raven's crush.  He lived somewhere in Provo and we couldn't find his house!  Raven's GPS didn't work nor did Lindsey's.  Only mine worked which I still find odd to this day.  We pull up to his house and he's standing there waiting for us.  He climbs in the back seat and Raven begins to introduce us to each other.
Raven : "HI!  Are you having a good night? Well this is Lindsey and that's Becca."
Raven's crush : "Hiya! Thanks for picking me up guys!  Nice to meet you Lindsey and Becca.  My name's Thomas.  So... how old are you guys?"
Lindsey : "I turn 20 in June!"
Me : "I'll be 21 in April..."
Thomas : "Wow..... you're old...."
Me : 0_o "EXCUSE ME???  Don't you know you should respect your elders?"
How rude right?  Well for the rest of the drive Thomas and I sat in the back seat of Raven's car just talking, teasing and kinda flirting.  I'll never forget the feeling I got when he climbed into that car.  I was ready to give attitude and make this kids night awful.  If my friend was crushing on him, I had to make sure he was worth her love.  But just a single moment with him and it was like I was falling through the air.  I had a hard time breathing, it was like my lungs forgot how to work.  I had goose bumps all over my body.  And yet, through all of that the biggest thing was that I felt peace within me.  When he would look over at me I couldn't help but smile.  And I was just myself.  Nothing else.  It was like the mask I have worn my entire life meant nothing to him because he could see right through it. He could see straight to my heart and at that moment my heart was his.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

What Now?

Tomorrow is the start of my 730 day countdown.  I'm going crazy here!!!  Most of my homework is done for the day and I even started/finished homework that isn't due until next week.  Clothes are in the wash, dishes are done.  What do I do now?  I have no letters to write. No one is home to distract me.  I've read every possible blog about waiting for missionaries and that helped a lot but it's only 4 p.m. Time is going by so slow today!!  I need to be busy.  But there's nothing I can do today. I wish I could just sleep away these next 2 years.  Yeah, that would be great!! And then I could wake up to my true loves kiss.  Awww!! :)
Ok I need to stop watching princess movies...
Maybe it's time for a horror movie night.

Friday, February 24, 2012

Living In A Barbie World

Kaylee and I currently live in the awful world of Barbie Land.  Our 2 roommates are barbie dolls.  I always knew there were high maintenance girls out there but man, these girls put others to shame.
Our fridge is full of diet foods and other scary things that make my milk smell funny.  One of the first days we were living together I walked past the bathroom vanity to see our roommate, Brittany, doing her hair. But half of her hair was on the counter!! It took me a minute to realize that they both have extension that must be clipped in at the start of every day but still! It was a shock to my system.  They spend hours in front of that mirror getting ready every day. It amazes me every time.  At least when I get married my husband wont wake up that first morning wondering what happened to my face and hair.
Yes Kaylee and I do have boyfriends and will both be married fairly soon so we couldn't care less how we look and this fact drives Julie insane.  All we eat is junk food. For example Breakfast is two bagels, Lunch is some pasta, Dinner is chili and ice cream is a little snack we have about every hour.  Since moving in I have lost over 17 lbs (not on purpose mind you. stress and being anemic is an awesome diet). Julie has gained my weight.  She gets so upset when Kaylee and I sit on the couch watching wedding shows eating a bucket of ice cream and she's nibbling on a carrot.
The first time Julie tried to make us attend FHE we had just finished a hard core work out and were still sweaty and gross.  Julie promised she would dress down so we would feel more comfortable.  20 minutes later she comes walking down the hall in a Nordstrom hoodie, skinny jeans and toms.  Kaylee and I laughed and walked back into our rooms with a wave.  We live on such different worlds than these girls.
Julie currently has eight boyfriends who all know each other and enjoy staying at our apartment until curfew almost every night.  Brittany only has three boyfriends but one of them is a player and likes to hit on me and Kaylee which makes things so very enjoyable the next morning.
We have silent battles in this apartment.  No word is ever spoken to the other side but lines have been drawn and crossed.  I've had it here some days.  For example, our counter for the bathroom is shared between all four of us. One big mirror and two sinks.  The right side belongs to Kaylee and I, the other, Brittany and Julie.  1 morning I plugged in my flat iron and walked back to my room to get dressed.  When I returned my flat iron was unplugged and moved under the counter while Julie and Brit were getting dressed.  Umm no.  Not ok. I have to get ready too.  Even if I only take literally two minutes to put on make up IF I even put it on I still expect you to respect my things. Easy enough right? Wrong.  There might come a day that their flat irons, curling irons and 3-barrels just maybe end up in the trash.
One other thing.  I don't care if it's just Kaylee and I watching a movie or if we have friends over or if our boys are over.  We're watching a movie.  Don't kick the door in, turn on all the the lights and talk as loud as possible.  If you must make food, make it quietly. And then leave.  You are aloud to eat in your bedroom.  You are not a part of our date night so buzz off or the next time you have boys over you're gonna miss the nice, quiet, random girls you live with.
Well my ranting is over the time being but I would like to leave on a happy note!
I'm not sure how many know but I am getting married May 2nd, 2014.  Yes I know, I meant to put 2014.  The man I'm going to marry is named Thomas Elder.  He leaves to serve an LDS mission in Australia Sydney Mission next Wednesday.   Crazy huh?  We have the wedding planned out for the most part and everything else I can take care of until he gets home.
He truly is the love of my life!  I cannot wait to spend the rest of time with him!!  Now just to get through these next two years.  Here is a photo of our 'pre-engagement'.  It's one of my most favoritest pictures ever!!
And this photo melts my heart every time I look at it.  We got to spend a short amount of time falling in love together and now we have to cross the bridge in front of us that is going to take two years but after that our path takes off into the unknown for all time.
Only 798 days left until I become Mrs. Rebecca Elder!!!