Smiley Summer 2010

 SENIOR SUMMER! Wow, can't even believe I made it this far! This is what I've been up to the last 3 months...

My Summer 2010 Bucket List... :)

• Camp out by the B next to the football field. (In a tent, duh)
• Finish Book of Mormon in 100 days

• Drive-in in Casey's monster truck
• Movie Under the Stars counts

• Bonfire with friends up Mueller Park Canyon.. complete with s'mores, corn, hotdogs, stars and great memories
• Due to scheduling the bonfire was not held in MPC, but we still had it!

• IKEA. Seriously- been on the life bucket list for like 2 years. It's happening!
• Ahhh!!! :( Due to stupid wisdom teeth removal and super disorganized little brother, failed to visit Ikea!! :(

• Midnight Happy Hour sushi at Shogun
• Hang out with or call every person who said "call me, cute gurrrl!" in my yearbook. Not to be bitter, but I was slightly disappointed in the comment quality in my yearbook this year...

• Get a haircut

Do a random act of kindness every Tuesday.. I was thinking like food related (you know if it involves food, I'm game) and call it "Tasty Tuesday". Just make something delicious every Tuesday I'm home and anonymously drop it off at someone's house. I did this with cheesecake and salsa this month to a few neighbors and ward members (as anonymously as I could.. I'm not great with being sneaky I guess) and it was great. 

***Tasty Tuesday has been edited. Instead of EVERY Tuesday, I will alternate or do what best fits the schedule so Tuesdays will either be TEMPLE TUESDAY or TASTY TUESDAY. Anyone invited to join:) A goal of mine for 2010 was to go to the Temple at least once a month and I've gone 7 times so far woo love that place.

Go to Church, Mutual, and Summer Seminary every week

Bare my testimony in Fast and Testimony Meeting

CREPES! For a lovely summer morning:)

My "Lisa's Summa 2010 Postcard Adventure Tour" :) If you know, you'll know.

• People that are DEFINITELY in my plans this summer no exceptions:

• Jefferson 
• Steph 
• Andrea 
• Kim 

• Casey 

• McCall 

• Melissa

• Alexander 

• Sami and Connor

• Camren
• Leslie
• I'll see you soon, Les! :)

• Dan

• Katie 

• Aticus my Harvard boy

• Op Smile Fam.. too many to list! Claire, Jenn, Jenna, Logan, Jessica, and the MTW  fam!

______________________________________

Wow!!! I can't believe that summer has gone by so quickly!! It has been a hard one, but definitely wonderful. June and August were super busy, and July was a very chill month at home doing fun things! I only didn't do ONE thing on my Summer '10 Bucket List!! woo wooo!  Looking back, it doesn't seem like a lot, but I did so much this summer! Let's see..

The rest of my summer...

• Saw off the graduating class of 2010

• Went to Vegas
• Became the YW Laurel President

• Went to a Court of Honor, several farewells, and a homecoming
• Went on many long walks and had lots of meaningful conversations
• Donated 12 inches of hair

• Went on a 20~ mile Pioneer Trek
• Went to 3 Leadership Camps

• Governor's Honors Academy (GHA)

• International Student Leadership Conference (ISLC)

• UT OpSmile Retreat

• Drove all the way to Cedar City

• Was honored to be chosen to give a speech at GHA

• Went to 2 National Parks

• Gave 3 Operation Smile Presentations

• Got the TOP SCORE (6/7) out of my entire class in the IB Psychology Exam:)
• Went on a Facebook Fast for an entire month!
• Sent my boy off to play college football and school
• Scored my first Soccer goal!
• Updated the number of missionaries I write to 9
• Read several books (The Memory Keeper's Daughter, The Lost Symbol, Mercy)

• Saw a crazyy movie- Inception

• Made lots and lots and LOTS of new friends!

• Went to 2 firework shows

• Went to a GHA reunion

• Got ridiculously dizzy on a teacup ride:)

• Went on a few fun dates

• Went to Disneyland with the whole fam!
• Took my mom on Tower of Terror;)

• Saw some Jazz players at the Fan Fest with their new jerseys!

• Danced in the rain, several times!

• Went Boating with the ward

• Manyyy a sunset:)

• Helped my Dan Man shop for college

• Hung out with my family a LOT

• Got several packages from lovely places:)
• Took my lil bro driving
• Gave a talk
• Pulled all nighters

• Went to LJ's Graduation

• Got Senior Pic taken:(

• Was honored with the David Schick Award at ISLC.. wowww
• Got an Honorable Mention in the Jiffy Lube Scholarship

• Got my wisdom teeth out:(

• Had my 3000th visitor to my OpSmile Blog:)
• Currently in 24 Countries and 22 states:)

• MADE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL 2011!!! :D :D :D
• Skyped with Alexander

• Chatted with the Magees:)
• Got my first college acceptance letter and full scholarship to SUU
• Saw 5 shooting stars
• Went to a World Cup Party!
• Almost got killed by a hobo

• Listened to Jessica Simpson speak about confidence, Doritos, Boy/girl, and give a BIG hug

• Was incredibly inspired beyond belief by Maggie Doyne at ISLC
• Went to the my last first Bountiful Football game

________________________________________

So that pretty much sums up my summer! I'd have to say that not one part of my summer could be described as the "best" part, or the most exciting, or anything like that. It is all a culmination of spending time with those I love, making memories, and enjoying the blessing that is life. Little moments like having my nephew Joe Joe smile up at me for the first time, or   spending time reading my scriptures on Trek, or having so many ecstatic "Hello's!" and "See you soon's!" at the airport, or sharing an incredibly sacred and tender moment with one of my biggest role models on a dingy dorm couch-- all joined by a single thing, a smile.

My last summer before I start the rest of my life as a real (responsible?? ;) adult. It just blows my mind that this time next year I will know what school I will be attending, where I will be living, and a more specific course of plan of what I will be doing. I had such an incredible time these last 3 months. Growing, reading, learning, writing, basking in the intense summer sun, smiling, sharing memories and creating moments to remember for a lifetime. It hasn't always been easy.  In fact it was a very difficult summer for me, but I find the knowledge that everything is going to work out to be a very comforting thing.

Starting my Senior Year this Monday! Wow! I can't believe it has gone by so quickly! I look forward to a year of having a lot of fun, cheering at a lot of games, taking rigorous courses, serving on the ELC, fulfilling my church callings, and of course, having the time of my life! :)

Good luck to all who are starting school soon or whatever comes with the end of your summer. Thank you for sharing your summer months with me and letting me be a part of your lives.  I still have to share with you my experience at ISLC and the Utah Op Smile retreat! I also have some great news to share with you about ELC 2011!

Always,

Lisa :)

3,000 going strong!

Today, we had our 3000th visitor to B-Town to A-Town

We have had a presence in 23 different countries around the world including:

India .Greece. Germany. London. South Africa. Jordan. Japan .Romania. Russia. Moscow. Italy. Saudi Arabia. Canada. China. Brazil. Mexico. The Philippines. Netherlands. Vietnam. Hong Kong. Australia. Haiti. Pakistan.United States

US

Utah. Washington. Kentucky. California. New Jersey. Oregon. Kansas. North Carolina.  Idaho. Maryland. Georgia. Massachusetts. Hawaii. New Mexico. Texas. New York. Nevada. Colorado. Virginia. Pennsylvania. Florida. Ohio.

For every person who see's or hears the message of Operation Smile, our organization grows and strengthens and it leads to maybe something phenomenal. It all goes to the kids. Thank you so much for all your support; your visits, reblogging, Facebooking and spreading the word- it all is a part of something so much bigger than we could ever, ever imagine.


Hope you have a wonderful week, thanks so much for everything!


Lisa

I S L C 2 0 1 0

was amazing. 

Check back soon for a special explanation about my experience coming soon which includes:

MTW Reunion and Best Friends! :)

SO many new and old friends

Inspiring speakers

Teammates

Heart to Hearts

&

Many happy tears

My life as a WELC (5:30 am making pudding pies.. )

&

Reppin' SOUTH AFRICA
Jessica and I look eerily alike in this photo...

David Schick

A new drive

Revamped passion

Inspiration to Be the Change.

And many more!! Comin' soon:)

For now, I'm off on an another adventure in California with the family!

Thanks to the ELC's, Staff, Sponsor board and all the many volunteers, speakers and students who contributed to another amazing experience for 400+ students!

I am so thankful I got to meet you all, hope you all made it back home safely, See you soon:)

Have a beautiful week and remember

Smile! :)

Lis

Just Smile!

Tonight my mom and I went to dinner and shopping. Our experience was a little less than what we expected


We decided to try out a new restaurant in B-town which had been greatly anticipated.


You probably know by now that I am a very particular person and when I know what I want- I expect to get it. Whether that is a class in school or goal of mine, I expect myself to get reach it. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm all about giving chances and being patient.


However- I don't think we will be making a second trip to this particular restaurant.


1) Our server was glacially slow. Seriously. She was only taking 1 other table besides ours and the restaurant was not busy at all. Slow in every aspect. :/
2) The food came out cold and less than average.
3) The water tasted like it had chemicals in it
4) Everything was very over-priced considering what we got to eat
5) The overall feel of the restaurant was dull
6) There were about 15-20 people working in the restaurant, all of which were teenagers from the local schools in my area. They all looked frantic and confused. They were slow and unprofessional, inefficient, dazed, looked like lost puppies, and had zero ability to multi-task.
7) My food was so cold that I asked them to reheat it for me. Ok, I'm picky but not THAT picky. I seldom say anything about my food unless it's really that bad.
8) The quality of the food was not nearly as good as other places that compete
9) My mom and I watched the servers and workers as we waited... and waited.. and waited.. they were so entertainingly funny. There was one girl who went back to the kitchen 4 times. Each time carrying 2 cups from a table she was clearing. I wondered if she might consider using a tray instead of making the commute each time just to carry 2 cups.
10) The manager came to apologize for my cold food but in such a scary tone that both mom and I broke a small sweat.
11) So many mistakes...


We filled out a comment card (I promise I wasn't mean, just friendly constructive criticism) and it told us to leave it at a box in the front of the restaurant. There was no box to be found so we asked the two girls at the front desk. They both looked at each other in frenzy and finally gave us another card. No, I smiled and explained. Where can I put this card? Ohhhh! Uhh... here, we can take it- just give it to me. 


With that, my mom and I looked at each other and kindof nervously smiled and said thanks and left. Card in-hand.

Overall, I would just describe the experience as: Unimpressed.

But  you see, the above mentioned things would not have bothered us so much if for one thing.

Anyone in the restaurant smiled.

We made this observation as our meal progressed that everyone was really dull. Like there was no happiness there. It kindof exhausted me to be honest! I definitely can say some good things about the place. It was clean, the ice was my favorite kind, and it was nice of the manager to come out immediately and apologize. I know it was the first week it opened and so the servers and staff were unexperienced and probably nervous to be working in (most of their) first jobs. But, no one was smiling. At least not for real. We both left the restaurant $30 poorer and laughing about how sadly pathetic it was.

After dinner, we went to the store. Immediately after we walked in, the cashier of the store looks up and with no emotion in her face says "Welcome to ____". I was like uhh.. thanks. Don't be too excited. We spent a good half an hour in the store perusing and ended up not finding anything. But, the entire time, I could only think about one thing. The awfully sad or expressionless welcoming we got to start our entire trip inside their business. No sincerity, no happiness, no smile.

This has consumed me for the last day and a half. At a leadership conference I attended earlier this summer, I had the opportunity to listen to various speakers from around the world about everything from Shakespeare to Chemistry, Diversity to Happiness. One of my favorite speakers shared some thoughts on the Power of a Smile. This was a PERFECT topic for me. I absolutely loved what he had to say about how a smile has the ability to turn a day around, to make someone happier and to bring someone joy. That is incredible.

"The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything they have"

At the conference, I was given the nickname "Smiles" because well.. yeah, I do love to smile;) I think that people like being around people who are happy. Smiling has the power to erase bad feelings or negative aspects because smiling=happiness, and happiness=lack of negativity. It's important to me to share my smile and not take it for granted because I know like so many of the children I met in Jordan and also all around the world, their smiles are something they wish to have. 


On my mission, I vividly recall the immense happiness I felt while I was with the kids. I did not remember their  deformities or burns, clefts, and anomalies, but the happiness I felt in their spirits and their eyes. They had beautiful smiles to me- but we were able to give them a much more beautiful outlook on life. 


A smile is one of the most powerful and influential forces on the earth. I truly believe that if anyone at either the restaurant or the store had given us a genuine, happy smile- all the negative aspects of the experience would not have seemed so bad. Maybe this post would rather have told about the one server who took our table and even though it was chaotic and not the best, but made our meal so extraordinarily pleasant because of a happy, smiley personality. 


After all, "A Smile is a curve that sets everything straight" 


;) Oh come on, I had to interject a little cheese in here somewhere haha


I hope that you can take away what I was trying to say today. No matter what is happening around you- but especially in times of chaos or need, evaluate those things around you that you can't change and the things you can change. Oftentimes it is a rarity to be able to completely change every single circumstance, but the one thing you can change about any given situation is yourself. Sure, maybe you just started your job and you don't really know how to do it well yet, or maybe you are seasoned at it but just hate it. Look at yourself and see how you come across. Remember this post and maybe, remember to Just Smile.

New York

Whoever my reader is in Great Neck, New York- are you preparing for a mission?

Lisa

Blogs of Happiness*

The other students I have met through Operation Smile have got to be the most influential, powerful and inspiring individuals I have ever met! Many of them have started blogs of their own and their stories and experiences in their respective missions and journeys are life-changing to me. I hope that you can spend some time today or anytime and look through some of these wonderful blogs that document the world being changed- one smile at a time.

Off to the Philippines

Katie Osterloh (Utah)

Cebu, Philippines Mission

March 2010

Katie is an exceptional person. I am forever indebted to her for her great example to me. She is a student in Utah here with me! We met at ISLC '09 and have worked together and become great friends since! She told me in person the life-changing experience she had on her mission, I would highly recommend reading her blog!

Melanie's Blog

Melanie Boyle (New Jersey)

Pampanga, Philippines Mission

May 2010

Melanie was my roommate in Portsmouth this January while we were at MTW. Her blog is pretty much just as cool as her:) She went on her mission this May with Mary Claire- whose blog I mentioned in an earlier post but can be found here. They had an amazing time together! They are both inspirational girls.

Frannie Smiles in Fortaleza

Frannie Coxe (California)

Fortaleza, Brazil Mission

August 2010

Frannie is fantastic. Seriously. She inspires me so much- She is making her way from Cali to Brazil in just a few months! Her blog right now is following her preparation to Fortaleza. Visit and follow!!

Leave a Legacy

Andrea Joseph (South Africa)

Madagascar Mission

September 2010

Andrea is one of my best friends. She lives in Cape Town, South Africa and is going on her mission to Madagascar in September. She interns at Operation Smile South Africa and is so passionate about it. She is one incredible person and I am a better person for having her in my life. Follow her blog if you need just a little bit of happiness or inspiration in your day- the way she conveys her feelings is just beautiful.

One of the greatest things that I have received from OpSmile is the enormous amount of support from students just like me. The ones that I have had the privilege to meet and befriend are among the tops in their classes, communities and are on the tracks to be the leaders of the tomorrow- today. There is never any competition or jealousy- we are always excited for one another and help each other reach our full potential. We all share a common goal, dream and drive that is united in love for something so much bigger than ourselves. 

I am inspired daily by amazing students who are doing their part in making the world a place they want to be. They take the initiative to get things done and to start making a difference. I am so thankful I've had the chance to be a part of this. Some of my very best forever friends are those whom I've met through this incredible cause.

We are so blessed to live in a place where we CAN be that difference and start making the changes we wish to see. Happy Independence day to those here in America- may God bless all of you wherever you are!

Never forget to smile!!

Lisa