Sayonara January

I don't know what it is, but January has put me in the worst funk. I am so glad it's over, man. I've been "tagged" by a couple of people (thanks, Whitney & Sarah!) so I decided to answer my cute cousin Sarah's tag. So...I know you're all dying to know more about me. Tons of people are.

A- Attached or single: Single, but if you know any good looking guys with a good job, I'm not super picky.
B- Best Friend: No best friend, but I have a ton of great friends.
C-Cake or Pie: Pumpkin pie!
D-Day: Um...right now, everyday is busy and I wake up at about 7:30 every morning. Ugh. I just got my Saturdays back from the gym so I look forward to having my weekends back. Anyone up for hanging out?
E- Essential Item: Lip gloss--specifically the lip gloss from Bath & Body. That stuff is awesome. Also, in true Rory Gilmore-fashion, I always have to carry a book with me. You never know when you'll have some time to kick back and read a couple pages.
F- Favorite Color: I'm just winding down on this huge red phase. Now I'm really digging chocolate brown and tiffany blue.
G-Gummi Bears or Worms: Definitely worms. I second that statement from Sarah.
H-Home town: Zillah, WA, but I've lived in Utah for almost ten years!
I- Indulgences: Chocolate! My trainer punishes me almost every time.
J- January or July?: I'm so ready for January to be over.
K-Kids: None. Probably a good thing since I'm single, eh?
L-Life is incomplete without: Reading.
M- Marriage Date: I'm shooting for 2008. Ha ha.
N- Number of Siblings: 1 of 5. 1 brother, 1 sister-in-law, and 3 sisters.
O- Oranges or Apples: Apples, but they have to be crisp. I really enjoy sweet oranges but it's been forever since I had one.
P- Phobias or Fears: This is so cryptic, but I'm terrified of getting a divorce.
Q- Quote(s): "That guy is such a toolbox."
R- Reason To Smile: Because I have a fabulous smile. j/k
S- Season: I love the changing of every season. I would hate it if we didn't get to see the leaves change color, falling snow, green grass, and trees full of pink and white right before the leaves become green.
T- Tag: Two--Holly & Kaylin.
U- Unknown Fact About Me: I never cry at sad movies (minus PS I Love You), but movies with a happy ending tear me up every time. At the end of The Mighty Ducks, when they're playing "We Are the Champions" always gets me a little choked up. Did I seriously just tell people that?
V- Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animal: I love, love, love meat, especially red meat.
W- Worst Habit: Obsessing over how much time I spend at the gym. I drive my sister crazy.
X-Rays or Ultrasounds: Yeah, I don't get that question.
Y-Your favorite food: Peanut M&Ms. Kaylin makes this killer pepperjack pizza that I LOVE.
Z: Zodiac Sign: Leo--fire sign. Leos tend to rule their domain and love to be the center of attention. That sounds nothing like me.

Remembering President Hinckley

With the passing of President Hinckley, it's made me think about his life and ministry, and especially of the effect he's had on me. President Hinckley was the prophet during my formative years. When I first began to discover the stirrings of the Spirit in my heart he was the prophet who figuratively and literally led me along my way. In so many ways, I have listened to his words and not felt that he was a random, unknowable man speaking tiredly about the age-old subjects of scripture study, prayer, faith, etc., but a man who genuinely cared about me even though he never knew me. I have felt his love radiate through the airways, especially for his wife Marjorie. Except for the love that I have seen my father show my mother, and my grandfather show my grandmother, his love and devotion for Sister Hinckley reigns as one of the most supreme examples of how a man should love a woman. Even after her death, his affection for her never ceased. I am awed by that fact. It's love in its purest sense.

My favorite memory of President Hinckley is my freshman year at BYU when he visited for a devotional. Being on the other side of campus, I dashed to the Marriott Center only to be ushered to the top of the stands--the nosebleeds as they are affectionately known. At first I was bugged and thought I should have just skipped class so I could have been closer when he arrived, but when President Hinckley walked into the Marriott Center--he at the bottom, me at the very, very top--the Spirit flooded the Marriott Center and it welled up inside of me until I thought I would burst. I was amazed that the presence of one man who was so far away and yet so close could impart such a strong sense of the Holy Ghost. To this day, I can still feel it. I don't know if it's possible that anyone could have ignored the buoyant, weightless feeling of the Spirit as one man--the prophet--entered the room. I have loved President Hinckley from afar, and I am grateful for the words he's spoken, the books he's written, and especially for that sly sense of wit. He will be missed. But I look forward to the future, for the next prophet to build on the foundation that President Hinckley along with every other prophet has laid.

Bright Eyed and Bushy Tailed

Migi and I on New Year's Day, reenacting New Year's Eve the night before. We look so convincing.

Amber, Kaylin, and me. The main event of the night--cheesecake! Who wouldn't be smiling?

Mother Nature--Vindictive or Merciful?

Here are some of the surprises that I found on my doorstep this morning:
Enough snow to get lost in, buried under. I find it exhilarating, falling snow is one of my favorite things in the world. But, when you're trying to dig your sister's car out from under the heaps of snow and you're just in your exercise shorts with snow seeping into your shoes and the wind is whipping around your face and your ankles, I can't deny that palm trees and beaches sound pretty desirable.

Inside the Twisted Mind of Melissa

Book I'm Currently Reading: Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmage

Lately, I've been doing a lot of blog hopping and catching up with old friends I haven't talked to in years (oh, the power of the internet). So this is if we haven't talked in a while and you're just finding my blog. Who knows, maybe if you know me now you'll learn something new about me as well!

What's your full name? Melissa Ann Phillips

What's your favorite sandwich? Turkey, bacon, and avacado on focaccia from Kneader's

What's your biggest pet peeve? Insincerity, and gangsta speak in text messages

What did you want to be when you were a kid? This ranged quite a bit from a ballerina, ice skater, a princess (all of the girly stuff). Then there was a time when I thought the idea of an archeologist was perfect until a teacher pulled out a penny and asked, "When do think this was made?" "What can we learn about the time period from the materials it was made from?" I quickly, almost instantaneously, lost interest.

Where would you go if you could travel anywhere in the world? England, so I could chase all of my literary heroes. And the Mediterranean, it seems like it just might be the most beautiful place in the world.

Do you wish on stars? No, but I say a lot of prayers!

What's your favorite soda? I'm not much of a soda drinker. I love water, though. Aquafina is my favorite.

What are your best moments? College, my first time through the temple, every time I finish a session with my trainer.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Who knows? Life is one endless surprise!