T-minus 15 days... 'til Valentines Day.

happy six months.

... To the very best part every day, from the moment I wake up to the moment we say goodnight (even if sharing a queen bed hasn't been a favorite... :) I love you to the moon and back and can't imagine navigating through life with anybody else now that I have you. Thank you for making six months the very best I've ever had. I sure do love you a whole lot.

christmas and forgiveness.

Christmas is my favorite time of year, and almost more than any other year before, Christmas this year has been most needed.

2012 has been an unimaginably wonderful year, but growing has inevitably been a part of it. I have often thought on the lessons I learned in a book (which I've mentioned before) called The Peacegiver. If I could, I would send it to every person I know, or stand on street corners handing it out. I loved it, I loved its teachings, its messages, and its relevance no matter what you believe or ascribe to. At the time I was reading it, though, I had no idea how many more situations would come in the following months where I would need to remember those feelings I had felt before.

To be quite honest, there have been times I have found myself conflicted with those teachings and feelings that I had once felt with so much confidence; there have been times since when I have desperately struggled to fully accept and emulate those lessons, especially when it comes to forgiving those who seem not the least bit concerned with any injury or pain they've caused others. I'd be lying if I said it were easy.

This Christmas season, though, I've made it my primary goal to focus not only on the birth of our Savior, but on His life. What His life has meant for me, what the purpose of His life was (and is), and what that means not only during Christmas, but every other day of the year: good or bad, better or worse... Especially the worse.

"We are not perfect. The people around us are not perfect. People do things that annoy, disappoint, and anger. In this mortal life it will always be that way. Nevertheless, we must let go of our grievances. Part of the purpose of mortality is to learn how to let go of such things. That is the Lord’s way. Remember, heaven is filled with those who have this in common: They are forgiven. And they forgive."

                               --President Dieter F. Uchtdorf



I saw this video a few years ago, and I was entirely amazed (and especially moved) by this story and his dependence and faith in Christ, and his willingness to forgive. An amazing story, and an incredible example.

that's what's up.

I'm pretty sure that this is the cutest video,
ever, ever.

but why?

I remember the first time I attended an Opera. It wasn't romantic... or that much fun. I was 13 years old, and my dad had bought tickets for the family to attend a Saturday night production of La Bohème at Capitol Theater. I dreaded going, I dreaded even the idea of sitting through an entire two hours of people singing in French, and worst of all, I dreaded spending any Friday night without the company or quality of my Dream Street CD.

I remember asking my dad why we had to go. A lot. I'm sure he said something about spending quality time with family, but when I kept persisting, but whyyyy ... I remember him saying something about the importance of broadening our horizons.

Years later, in a British Lit class at BYU, I had a very wise professor ask us why we were in college. Beside, perhaps, becoming informed citizens, gaining necessary credentials, and socializing - why were we there willing to study History? Art? or Literature? Why did something that happened in 1809 matter over two hundred years later? Why read Wordsworth? Practice the piano? Travel thousands of miles to see the Mona Lisa? Or barely survive reading The Odyssey for the first time? Why do we care?

My dad must have taken a class from this same professor, because he said something about broadening our horizons, too... But then he quoted something I doubt I'll ever forget:

Make your mind an interesting place to live for the rest of your life.

ode to summer.

An Ode to Summer from Kinfolk on Vimeo.

I remember in an English class a few years ago, we each had to use one word to describe one thing. Out of the thousands of words he could have chosen from, the boy to my left used the word "magic" to describe summer.

Kinfolk magazine is becoming a fast favorite; beautiful and refreshing... Kind of like this time of year, which always goes by so fast.

So long, summer. I'll be missing you.

life of pi - trailer

“What a terrible thing it is to botch a farewell. I am a person who believes in form, in the harmony of order. Where we can, we must give things a meaningful shape. For example - I wonder - could you tell my jumbled story in exactly one hundred chapters, not one more, not one less?"

-Yann Martel, Life of Pi

A lot of people I know have a love/hate relationship with this book, but I happened to side on the love end of it. I read it a few summers ago (thanks to my kindred spirit Elin's highest recommendations) and it was also the summer Cupcake Chic came into town; so my memories of reading The Life of Pi are combined with coconut cupcakes. Maybe that is why I love it so.

Just a few weeks ago, I was able to convince Max to start reading the Life of Pi, and he stayed up way past our bedtime last night just so he could finish it. The end of the book is worth reading all 110 chapters alone - and is definitely one of the biggest twists I had not expected the entire time I was reading it.

Two other books being made to movies are The Night Circus and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (starring Kate Winslet). I loved both of them, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. People always have opinions about books being made into movies, but if I loved the book, I usually hold out hope for the on-screen version of what I read, too.

I've concluded that Les Mis, Wreck-It Ralph and Pi will probably be my three movie friends this Christmas. I still don't know if I'd recommend the book to everyone, but the movie trailer sure makes it look good.

call me maybe?

A night with a cabin full of cousins, inspiration from our favorite Disney Channel stars, and a bunch of bruised bananas equals one Walch family music video. These kids were out of control. There is no such thing as babysitting, because I have just as much fun with them as I do with any of my friends at home!

And to make it all even that much better, I don't think I had ever laughed as hard or as much as I did when our parents decided to join in on the fun, too.  My cheeks hurt, my wrinkles disappeared, five more years were added onto my life. Making the Grown Up version of the music video ended up turning into a PG rated dance party -- which was way more fun than anything I had ever seen or been to in Provo. (but I guess that might not be saying much :) so all I can say is what I said before: out of control.

This years' vacation proved to me that the Walch family reunions are the highlights of not only my summer, but probably my year. To be in my favorite place in the world, with all my favorite people, even if I'm listening to my not-so-favorite song on repeat... its the best.

mr. & mrs. bingham - engagement video

My new last name is Bingham, and before my very first name comes a Mrs. I've only been married for 10 days now, but it's been the best ten days in all my life. I have a million things I'd like to say, but it's mostly that I've never felt so happy. Like a really, really, real real real happy. I can't compare this feeling to anything else. Waking up every morning (after a whole night of listening to Max talk in his sleep! which is totally worth an entire post of its own,) and looking over to see Max's freckles and sleepy blue eyes is the best part of my day.

So although I'll go into all sorts of meticulous detail in the next few days about the wedding day itself, (amazing, amazing, amazing!) and Alaska (amazing, amazing, amazing!) I wanted to share our engagement video. Sara (the best kind of friend you could ever have!) made this beautiful piece for us for our wedding day, and it was special in a lot of ways because Sara has been a part of everything from day one. I couldn't have been more happy with how it turned out, and I just love it so much!

Happy Mothers Day.

I couldn't help but think of all that my mom has done for me (the last few months especially) as I watched this video. Knowing that I'll be leaving home in just a few weeks, and won't really ever live with my mom (and dad) again, makes this Mothers Day all that much more special. There's a reason why the First Presidency of the Church has said,

"Motherhood is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels."

Happy Mothers Day to all Mothers,

but to mine especially, who I love so much.

it's time.

I could listen to the song below over and over and over and over again. I remember listening to it on the last day of school one year ago, driving away from campus with my windows rolled down. It's the best kind of song, and one of my newest old favorites.



With the end of this semester though, I feel a little different. This was my last semester at BYU. With only a few online classes left to take, I'll never again step back into the classroom, (at least that's what I'm telling myself for now :). But truthfully, I'll miss school. I feel like BYU was a huge chapter in my life. And it was. A whole five years.

I look back and am surprised at my own experiences; what I learned, and even what I'd do over again. In a very small, small way of saying things: I feel so grateful to have learned so much. It was in my first college writing class that I first read ee Cummings, "not even the rain has such small hands." It was then I knew I loved him. I remember as a sophomore sitting in my first Sociology course realizing how profoundly proud I was of my country, even if my Professor didn't seem to be.

Everything from reading Dante's Divine Comedy to reporting for KBYU Eleven News, it's almost ironic that some of my favorite memories were in some of my most difficult classes. So today I feel like I'm not only taking the past three months with me, but the last five years -- so much stretching and shaping and changing and growing and learning and really, so many wonderful, wonderful things.

I could go on and on about my experience at college; what I would recommend and what I wouldn't. What I'd change and what I'd keep the same. But for now, I just plan on listening to this song once again on my drive home this last day of the semester. I'll forget for just a moment that this chapter is ending.

And then I'll let myself feel really, really grateful.

it's finally friday

"Let us not give up on the Lord, his blessings are eternal."

I should steer away from watching Mormon Messages at work because I always cry and that's always asking for an awkward situation when you're sitting at a front desk. But this video I loved, like I do the rest, and I wanted to share. Am I the only one who has a countdown to General Conference weekend? Nothing gets better. Unless you add Cadbury eggs to the mix.

And it's Friday - which means date night, which means holding hands and ice cream and sitting on the sidewalk talking about nothing in particular. And tonight we have an adventure scheduled in the grand old Salt Lake Cit-ay. I'm excited.

maybe it's what some people call stalking.

SAVE THE DATE from Hailey Haugen on Vimeo.

I promise I only really stalk people through their blogs, because blogs are so much more fun than Facebook. But after obsessing over Haugen Creative videos (like this one and this one and this one) I ran across her own personal Vimeo account a few days ago, and posted on my own blog her own video about her missionary coming home. This is when I knew we were probably meant to be real life friends.

And then Kylie, my stalker-in-crime, texted me this afternoon and told me that Hailey (we're on a first name basis now) was engaged. And she had posted a video of the whole thing.

So you can't blame me when I admit that it made me cry, because it's "shark week" (if you know what I'm saying) which also means I cried during Modern Family last night, too... but that's beside the point.

And yes, admittedly I found her on Facebook, and although we only have 1 mutual friend, I feel like adding her just to say: Hi. I think you're awesome and your videos are awesome and your love life is awesome and we'd be as good of friends I think as I would be with Taylor Swift if I knew her in real life, too. Awesome.

So that's all I have for today. Watch the video above just because it's cute, and because you can stalk her through me, and I have to say it: it's the best time of the year to be in love.

book of mormon stories.

Mormon Messages are always beautifully done, but I loved this one especially. I've read The Book of Mormon many times and have had special experiences while reading from its pages, but I still remember being about eight years old and for the first time, feeling something different inside of me as I read a few verses to myself one night.

Since then, I have found so many answers to so many of my questions while reading from this book, and have felt peace even when life has been the most difficult. The best part of all is that when reading from The Book of Mormon I feel closer to my Heavenly Father, and something inside always assures me that I am His daughter and I am loved.

"I promise you that if you will prayerfully read the Book of Mormon, regardless of how many times you previously have read it, there will come into your hearts an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord. There will come a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to his commandments, and there will come a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God."
-President Gordon B. Hinckley

I don't think there is anything that makes me any happier.

mission impossible: krispy kremes.

I know I say it so often, but this time I really found my kindred spirits.



Sargent
Dr. Ross
Lieutenant
Agent 89
Caroline
Heaps

And we're all off to Hollywood. I'll be sure to write a postcard.

as is tradition...

Summer 2011. from Kelsie Christensen on Vimeo.

Another summer documentary.
Here's to: thelma and eleanor, (their new bff luna!), wesley's timeless advice - naturally shared at cafe west, utah lake, the river bank, ray charles, fireworks, emails, penpals, and sunshine.

--

And I'll miss it. Just like I do every single time school starts again.

move.

MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

I love being home. When you leave the country for a period of time and land back on American soil, there is a feeling you get that I can't really describe; it's like love and pride all mixed into one. When my friend lived in the Ukraine for a few months, I remember her telling me that as she went through Customs once arriving in the Chicago airport, they stamped her passport and said welcome home. It made her cry. And I know this may sound funny, but I honestly felt the same way.

However, I've got to be honest... after watching this video earlier this morning I felt like packing my bags again. This makes me want to travel and travel and travel and only come home after I've seen all there is to see,
(watch the videos eat and learn, too - both so inspiring!)
But school starts in a few weeks, work resumes on Monday, and I have a lot of friends with a lot of catching up to do.

So I guess this will have to fall into the category of: One day.

a sunny disposition.

I hope it stays sunny this weekend, so a red boat and pink swimsuit can become a part of my plans. In the meantime, I have to go get some blood work done this afternoon (not so fun) and I can't eat until then (even more not fun).

At least my mom agreed in going to get a tigers blood snow cone with me afterward. I'd have to say that the one good thing about Spanish Fork (besides the horse on top of "Western Wear and Saddlery") is the island of palm trees around the snow shack.

One day I plan on writing about my adventures in SF.

In the meantime, though, I thought I'd share this video. I love it so much I watched it twice.

class of '07.

Class of 07. from Kelsie Christensen on Vimeo.

This isn't the first video I've shared online, but this is definitely where it all started. We began documenting life through our videos toward the end of our senior year in high school, and now I'm so unbelievably grateful we did - (despite Wes, Heaston and Ben protesting it most of the time.)

When I watched this video a few months ago with some of the friends who are in it, I could hardly believe that four years had passed since I wore my red gown with gold tassels, and tossed my graduation cap up in the air. Admittedly, I would never trade even the stressful or more hectic parts of life now, for my untroubled cares at seventeen -- but a part of me will always seem to miss it deep down.

And although I don't think I could have told you where exactly we'd all be four years from that day, (engaged, married, single, nursing/film/broadcast/elementary ed degrees, returned missionaries, only 5 months left missionaries, engaged after only one month, married for almost three years -- etc etc etc) I bet I at least could have told you we'd all still be friends.

Phone friends, only-see-each-other-every-few-months friends, friends who still put too much salt on their food, friends who still believe Merlin lives at Maple Lake, friends who sing along with The Rocket Summer and Jamison Parker, friends who are finally friends again, and friends who are still in love... Whatever we are to each other, I'm just glad we're still there.


--


And PS...
While we're taking this trip down memory lane, it should be noted that the only name they got wrong out of the hundreds of students during the graduation ceremony was... yours truly.
Yep.
As they snapped my picture for the entire McKay Events Center to see (think: at least two thousand people) they announced me as "Malerie Loveland" instead of Kelsie Christensen. My jaw dropped to the floor and my final glorious moments as a Spanish Fork Don were unsurprisingly somewhat of a disaster. Literally my face was as red as my cap and gown - so it's a good thing red was one of our school colors anyway.

Meeting President Monson.

Several weeks ago, I was invited by a friend to attend a small wedding dinner for his grandpa who was being remarried after his wife had passed away several years ago. When I arrived, I had the opportunity (and privilege!) to meet President Monson (the prophet of the LDS church) who was also in attendance that evening.

I was so, so, so excited (more like beyond ecstatic) that I forgot to take my camera off of "video mode" to the picture setting.
Which is why we have the results below!


Wedding Dinner from Kelsie Christensen on Vimeo.

(I thought that no flash meant that it was off! Not that the video was on! When I thanked him afterward for the picture, he said he liked my pink camera even though it seemed a little slow - haha. this comment made my night.)

Although I was only able to speak with him briefly, the opportunity to meet the President of the Church meant a lot to me. I will never forget how familiar and kind he was, and how remarkably cheerful and optimistic he seemed as I spoke with him and as I watched him speak with others, too.

With that being said, this weekend is one of my favorites because it's the weekend President Monson and other inspired church leaders will be able to speak to us. Because General Conference only comes twice a year, it's always something I start counting down the days for a few weeks in advance... And best of all, you can watch it here from the comfort of a cozy bed and laptop screen!

So I'll be stocking up on Easter candy for the weekend, mainly Cadbury eggs even though I was supposed to swear off sweets this year (this goal literally lasted all of 4 days) and my pajamas will be the only wardrobe I need.

I'd like to argue that life doesn't get any better, but instead I'll just wish you all a very happy start-to-spring-weekend!