What do you see?

 

As we head into a new year, look around you and count your blessings.

Realize how blessed you are.

Life isn't the greatest sometimes and things happen that turn our world upside down. But what good is it going to do if we just sit around and dwell on the things that aren't so great in our lives? It brings us down. It sucks all the happiness out of our day and blurs our vision so we cant see what's really important and what we have right next to us. It fogs the people that matter most and puts a dark haze over everything.

Things in life don't work out sometimes. Period.

But more times than not, things do work out.

Count your blessings!

Not everything is going to work out the way we plan it or the way we see it in our head, but that doesn't mean that we've failed or that were not good enough.

Realize how blessed you are.

Take a look around and try and see what you have been blind to recently.

Realize what is really important.

Once we start really seeing, we realize how amazing our lives really are.

We start to see the beauty in everything. Instead of always being in a hurry and rushing around, we stop. We look around and take it all in. 

Trials come and go and hardships finally pass.

We need to open our eyes and see.

See, what has been blurred and fuzzy.

Realize how blessed you are and count your blessings.

 

Signed,

A girl with clearer vision



September 13th.

I went to work on a Saturday morning and Tyler told me we were going out to dinner with some friends after we both got off work. Work came and went and I got ready for going out for dinner. Tyler came and got me and drove to a restaurant I had never heard of (Well I come to find out later on that night that restaurant hasn't been in business for years). He drove to first dam instead and said that he wanted to show me something first. We got out of the car and walked to the water. There was a wooden sign that had a tiki torch by it. One arrow pointed to the bridge and it said "I <3 U." That's where Tyler told me he loved me for the first time. Another arrow pointed to a different part of the water and it had a symbol of a fish. That is where me and Ty went fishing and I caught my first fish. Another arrow said "Danced." It pointed to the pier where we would dance at night. The last arrow on the wooden sign had a "?" and it pointed ahead of us. There was a row boat on the shore next to us and we got in it. Ty rowed us across the water to a bench on the other side with tiki torches on both sides to light the bench. We got out of the row boat and walked to the bench. He grabbed me and kissed me. He got down on one knee and said "Shanna Larae Cappel, Will you marry me?" I have never been happier! I said yes! He's adorable. I pulled him up off his knee and hugged him and cried. We sat on the bench together and then all of sudden fireworks went off in the sky.

September 13th, to most people is just an ordinary day, but to me is a day I will never forget. I love this life of mine and I am so blessed to have this amazing man in my life.
I'M ENGAGED. When did I get this old?

Signed,
On Cloud Nine

The Person I Want to Be

This summer I got the opportunity to be an EFY (Especially For Youth) counselor for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This literally has been the best experience I have ever had in my entire life. I have grown so much and love the person that I have become.
When I was a youth I went to EFY and it was the best week of every year I went. It changed my life as a youth and showed me what was really important. Back then was when I said I wanted to be an EFY counselor when I grew up...

Provo 1B and Gainesville GA 01

First day on the job! (Provo 1B) All the counselors from Georgia on the right!

I'm not grown up just yet, but I sure got to fulfill and check off what I think is one of the best and most important thing on my bucket list. I still can't believe that I got that opportunity and everyday I was at EFY I thanked the lord for that amazing blessing. I caught myself looking around and saying to myself, "I'm really an EFY counselor...how did this happen!?" and probably way too many times!

Fourth of July in Gainesville GA 02

Provo 4A

These kids have taught me so much and they have each individually blessed my life more than they will ever know. I wish I could go back and be with those amazing kids and around that spirit all the time. This summer has been amazing and has truly strengthened my testimony.
I know that my Savior loves me and knows me. I am so blessed that I had this opportunity.
I will never forget the feelings that I felt and the miracles that I saw.

Provo 9A. Never laughed so hard in my entire life this week!!

Such an amazing speaker Brad Wilcox! This picture is hanging up
in one of the main buildings at BYU. Just sporting EFY!
Too bad I go to USU! 

I will NEVER forget what EFY has taught me.
Anxiously Engaged 2014
D&C 58:27

Signed, A better person


Provo 9A

Blessed.

This past semester of school has been crazy but I have been so blessed through it all. I've learned new things, gained new knowledge, and had fun with what was thrown my way.
This semester I tried to learn how to longboard. Successful? I probably wouldn't go THAT far...I can get on the board and go straight but hey, I'm still learning!
 

 

I got to see some old friends that I haven't seen in years. Jackson was on an LDS Mission and I hadn't seen him in about 3 years. He is an old friend from Georgia and was visiting Utah and dropped by! So good to see an old friendly face! Harry is an old friend from dance. I got to see him when I was in Georgia visiting the family. Love these people and so glad I got to visit with them.

 

Jackson

 

Harry



Speaking of friends I met some good ones this year!! I basically lived with these crazy girls all semester. Having the same Major and same program meant we had all the same classes together. Early mornings, late nights, and long days with these crazy ones but I love them to death! Funny talks and awesome date nights! I have definitely made life long friends this semester!
 

Raquel, Lindsey, and Me

Being an Education Major, our classes rock! We get to build things, paint, color, play with play dough, and get children's books read to us! Basically it's the greatest thing ever. I loved these classes and I loved these girls. I fell in love with Kindergarteners this semester and I love teaching them. Those sweet little 5 and 6 year olds will forever have my heart. I love them to pieces!  

Lindsey and Raquel



The rest of the crazies!!
Teachers gone WILD


Lindsey, Raquel, and I decided that we would run to be on the board of the Council for Exceptional Children. Why not!? We needed to join the council for our program in school anyways so we decided why not be on the board for it? Well...we actually ALL THREE of us got on it! Woohoo! Raquel and I are on the activities board and Lindsey is State Rep! So that was pretty sweet!
 
Also did I mention I got all A's AND got on the Dean's List...?
WHAT'S UP WITH THAT!? I guess all the hard work paid off.
 

 
Even with all the craziness of school I still made time for lots of fun!
Late night Motorcycle rides with my boy NEVER get old! Always have to make time for those.
Love this boy!





 Camping outside of Al's Sporting Goods for their big open sale. We brought a tent to sleep in and we were 1st in line! Lots of people said we were crazy but we got tons of free stuff and had a blast doing it!

 

One of me and Tyler's good friends got married! So awesome that we got to be there for the wedding! <3 Congratulations you two! We love Shawn and Kelsie P.

 

BBQ's with my girls and our boys! Grillin' whatever we can find and watching Lindsey start fires (or trying to). Summer breeze and playing with the cutest puppies. Good people and good food! So glad I met these two.

 

 

And lastly, I got accepted to be an EFY COUNSELOR this summer!! EFY stands for "Especially for Youth." It is a week long youth-oriented "camp" that focuses on the teaching and the principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). I went to EFY when I was a youth and I went for 5 years. It was so much fun and I always thought that being a counselor for it would be amazing. Well folks, looks like I'm gunna be one for 8 weeks this summer!

 

I have been incredibly blessed. 2014 has been good to me so far. I can not wait for more adventures to come and to share them with the people that I love.

 

Signed,

Counting more blessings than I deserve 



California Adventures.

Spring Break.
I've had the most work load I have ever had in one semester in college this year. So spring break was definitely a NEED. Tyler, Nels, Kenzie, and me went to California for the week! It was a week full of adventures and experiences.

We started off the trip getting pulled over at 4am in St. George on our way to Cali. Ty got his first ticket. Minutes after, we RAMMED into a deer lying in the middle of the road. There was a semi in the lane next to us so we were unable to move out of the lane we were in. We hit the dead deer so hard we were AIRBORNE. The bottom of the car was covered in deer. Luckily we were all okay but I can't say the same about the poor deer. Great way to start off the trip!



Beaches. We went to so many beaches on our trip but our very favorite was La Jolla beach. We all became pro kayakers and got to go kayaking in caves!



After the kayaking adventure, the boys rented wet suits and went snorkeling with Leopard Sharks.
Best friends forever.

 

We hung out on the beach and relaxed while the boys were off trying to play with sharks.

 

 



We all had tons of fun on other beaches too. Found lots of sea shells. Went in tide pools and found starfish, crabs, and enemies.

 

Boogie boarded in the freezing cold water. Danced on the beach while the sun was setting and watched the sunset in blankets

 



We all went to see the beautiful San Diego Temple. It was so big and bright, it was definitely an amazing sight to see.
We love to see the Temple.

On our way home we went to Venice Beach. So much entertainment there and full of so many people. The boys found a shop that had tons of longboards.
They ended up buying new longboards to take home!

 

This trip was so much fun! Good friends and awesome places with great weather!
Spring Break was definitely a success this year.
Well needed trip and one that will go in the books!
California, I will come back to you some day.

Signed,
Slightly burned and happy friends