Who are you?

You are an eternal being.

You have a physical body, housing that eternal spirit. Your spirit is more powerful than the weaknesses and temptations of mortality.

You have talents, gifts, abilities and potential that are a product of your divine nature, and the choices you've made before this life and on this earth.

Who and where and when you are is no accident: you have a purpose.

Attended the best fireside with Elder Hamula (our Area President) last night, and this is what he reminded us. The Spirit was so strong there and I just felt so inspired and motivated and capable. I love love love having so much truth in my life; I need to share it more!

The night before, I was at a smaller fireside with Sister Linda Reeves (Second Counsellor in the General Relief Society Presidency), and afterwards when she was meeting all the sisters there, she came up to me and told me I had a beautiful smile and dimples, which she'd noticed while she was up on the stand. Aww. Some people are just full of so much goodness and love. :)

Well, I'd better go get ready; the best friend is coming over again today. I am so proud of him and all his mission preparation. He's going on a 24 hour mission tomorrow... I still haven't decided if I'll be "waiting for him" or not ;)

<3 Sariah

Where is the love?

Many people ask the question, 'Why do bad things happen to good people?' but all I can really think right now is, 'Why do people do bad things?

Sometimes I feel down about the evil in the world, about the hate and lies and selfishness that exists all around us. But then I think about how my Dad just came and gave me some of the pizza he just made when I got home from work, hungry. And how my best friend rushed home after he finished work last night, changed into a suit and tie, heated up some food then drove all the way to the Temple just to have a quick dinner date with me when I came outside. And how customers at work call me 'pet' or 'sweetie' or 'hun'. And how people smile back at you as you pass on the street. And how young men give up their seat for women and elderly people on the bus. And how a people slow down for other drivers to cross over into their lane. And how strangers offer to share umbrellas when it suddenly pours. And how parents take time to teach and encourage their children. These are just small examples, tiny acts of love, service and humanity. But they make all the difference in the world.

& I will help you keep your smile, promise me you'll stay a while.

This song is just so ahh. I love it.

The other day the best friend and I visited the Museum of Contemporary Art in the city. Neither of us consider ourselves particularly 'arty', but I think that made it even more interesting. I suppose it did get a bit tiresome hearing him say, "I don't get it" all the time, but we still had fun exploring and learning together. I don't have many photos from the museum because, being the goose that he is, the best friend took more photos of me than of any artworks or scenery.

This was made from aluminium cans the artist had collected.

This was one of my favourites: mirrored strips hanging from the wall, sending ripples of light swimming across the floor.

Another of my favourites. I just loved the different shapes and sizes and textures and designs and the way the shadows  overlapped and multiplied across the wall.

After the museum, we had lunch (Tuna Subway and a chocolate frappe from McDonald's) and bought some shoes for me, because I can never seem to have enough.

Black open-toe wedge heels, Rubi Shoes ($5)

One of the most amusing features of the day was the best friend's skinny jeans, and his self-consciousness about them. He has never, ever worn them before. Luckily for him, they weren't too tight because otherwise I would have made him change anyway. :P Actually, I made him change anyway, into outfits assembled by me hehe. He wasn't too pleased with modelling them but he is such a good sport. And at least he walked away with some free shirts (I gave him some of my ones he tried on). Besides, he knows I love him no matter what he wears. :)

This one makes me laugh so much. Don't worry, he was only posing like that as a joke. 

Shirt: Abercrombie & Fitch, thrifted

Jacket: Jay Jays

Jeans: April 21

Shoes: Kmart

Sunglasses: Cotton On, $2

 (we bought them when we bought my shoes)

Jacket: Jay Jays (I have a matching one :D)

Checked Shirt: Glassons (borrowed it from my sister)

Thrifted shirt, $1.

Another thrifted shirt, $1

After dress ups, we had a dance party in the hallway, had din dins, then watched Merlin episodes till 1 am with Daddy-o. Needless to say, we were tired the next day so we just chilled at home, watching more Merlin episodes, looking up old favourites on Youtube, eating lunch all rugged up in blankets, wrestling, riding scooters around the back deck, pretended we were magic, etc. It was so sad to watch him leave in the afternoon, but I got to see him at Institute that night, after his mission prep class. :D

The Old Testament class I usually attend was really good last night (Isaiah 29); we talked a lot about the Book of Mormon and the last days. There seemed to be a lot of people away, though. At least I didn't feel bad for sticking by the best friend's side the whole night (usually I have to tear myself away so he can have time with other people, and so I can talk to my friends/others who need me). We are so silly sometimes. We made shadow puppets on the projector screen that the teacher had left on. We invented a special way to hold hands. We played tag as if we were the only two in the room, weaving through people and chairs like they were just part of our game. Sometimes we are so childish and probably seem naive to others, but when we talk about the gospel, when we read scriptures and pray together, when we discuss our plans and our goals an our dreams, when we think about how to help our friends, I know that we aren't really. I realise how blessed I am to have someone who takes me as I am and who knows he can be himself around me. We don't pretend to be anything we're not (except sorcerers and sandwiches and dragons, etc. of course). 

<3 Sariah

& a perfect day is every day I'm spending my life with you.

Nothing But Love - Trading Yesterday

We sat on a cliff, surrounded on all sides by the bush, the beach and the city. It was one of those rare moments when it was just us and the world. Us above the world, really. We stared out across the green, blue and brown view, dotted with buildings and vehicles and people. We imagined what they were all doing, what they were all thinking, whether anyone would look up and see the pair of smiling observers watching them from above. He told me about a book he read when he was younger, where pigs flew but no one except one boy noticed, because everyone was too busy looking down. I thought of this talk, "It is better to look up." It really is. There is so much beauty in life, so much joy to be found in the simple things, so much peace to be felt through Heavenly Father's love.

Kissed by sunshine on a cool winter's day.

He is so goofy and silly, but he is mine (for now).

Happiness.

Raindrops began to tickle our faces and speckle our clothes, but still we stayed, wrapped in our picnic blanket and each others' arms. Everything was so magical and pure and alive. We never make foolish promises like forever, but in that moment, I almost wished we could. Only the setting sun and a mother's insistence that we be home before dark could drag us away from our special place.

I love you and as much as I wish I could keep you for always, I'm so excited for you to go. Just promise you'll remember.

<3 Sariah

& over the mountains, across the sky, need to see your face, I need to look in your eyes.

Be Alright by Justin Bieber.
Ah I love this song so, so much.

I haven't seen my best friend for a week, and I miss him so, so much.

Thankfully, he's currently on the bus to my house and I can hardly sit still. I love that even though we've been friends for over two years, we still get so excited to see each other.

Well, I'd better go make myself presentable. Even though he thinks I look beautiful no matter what (because he's a goose), I still like to make myself look nice for him. He deserves that much :)

<3 Sariah

When the answers & the truth take different sides will you still find me?

Through Smoke - Needtobreathe

Well, I haven't posted in a while. Today has been a bit of an icky blicky day, those ones where you don't get up till it's nearly afternoon, where you have the tickle in your throat and runny nose that signal the beginning of a cold, where you spend the whole day inside in your pyjamas wasting time, missing your best friend who you've just spent the whole weekend with. On a positive note, when I checked my uni account this morning, two of my assignments had been marked, both High Distinctions :) :) I've been so blessed this semester and though it didn't feel like it at the time, when I look back I realise that I really did work hard, which is why I was able to have so much help to do everything. It went so quickly, though. One week of holidays has already passed and while it has been nice to relax and spend time with the best friend, I really want to accomplish things this month. I don't even know what yet. I need to set some goals.

I have bought way too many clothes and shoes lately, which is terrible considering I have no money nor space to put them. Here are some of my favourite purchases:

Cotton On tie bottom, buttoned midi skirt, $3 from an op shop.

Temt floral knee-length skirt (actually a dress but I'm converting it), $3 from an op shop.

Cream woollen bobble jumper, $1 from an op shop.

Jay Jays black PU jacket, $13 from eBay (but postage was about $12 :/).

Floral tie top from Kmart, $3.

Burgundy knit top & brown and black striped sweater, 2 for $15 from Jay Jays

Cotton On blue and gold lace top (to wear over a black shirt), $5.

Chunky white watch, $3 from eBay.

Green oversized blazer, under $5 from Kmart.

Brown Rubi boots ($10), tan Jay Jays brogues ($5) and Rubi grey high top sneakers ($5).

Brown satchel from Cotton On, $5. I also bought a black one too, but the handle broke so I had to just tie it up. Luckily it wasn't expensive in the first place.

These are only a few of the clothes and accessories that I've bought over the past little while. I haven't even been working that much, so I should probably try to save up more money for next semester! Well, it's probably time I got off the computer, because I need to be around people. My family is amazing, I need to appreciate them more.

<3 Sariah