Legend. To say the least.

Dear Mr. Legend,
I love your music. Thanks for the concert on New Year's. Sorry I arrived an hour late. How did you know to play my favorite song for the encore? I like to think you waited for me. Well, thanks again...for the incredible start to 2010. Your song "Refuge" makes me happy. So does a certain someone who came with me to the concert. I'd like you to meet my perma-grin (permanent grin) :D I wore it while you sang to us. Thanks again, Mr. Legend. Oh. And Happy New Year.

Fondly,
Lana.

P.S. In case you forgot your lyrics, feel free to take a gander at your song that is frequently found on repeat on my iPod. Not to mention a pretty legit explanation of my life right about now. K bye.


Refuge (When It's Cold Outside)

I pray for better days to come
I pray that I would see the sun
Cuz life is so burdensome
When everyday's a rainy one


But suddenly there's no more clouds
I believe without a doubt
That heaven sent an angel down
And then she turned my life around


You know and I know
Friends come and friends go
Storms rise and winds blow
But one thing I know for sure


When it's cold outside
There's no need to worry cuz
I'm so warm inside
You give me peace
When the storm's outside
Cuz we're in love I know
It'll be alright
Alright it's alright

Oooh...

Now peace is so hard to find
We're terrorized and victimized
But that's when I close my eyes
And think of you to ease my mind
You take me to another place
There's no more war (no more war)
Just love and grace
Baby you restore my faith
I know the struggle's not in vain
You know and I know
Through all the battles
Baghdad to Israel
There's one thing I know for sure


When it's cold outside
There's no need to worry cuz
I'm so warm inside
You give me peace
When the storm's outside
Cuz we're in love I know
It'll be alright
Alright it's alright


Alright it's alright
Alright it's alright
Alright it's alright


Oh...
When it's cold outside
There's no need to worry cuz
I'm so warm inside
You give me peace
When the storm's outside
Cuz we're in love I know
It'll be alright
Alright it's alright


Oh it's gonna be alright
Ooh...


Cuz you give me peace
In the middle of the storm
When it's cold you're keeping me warm
It's alrightIt's alright
I'm never gonna leave
You give me what I need
It's alright, alright

for the love of tying the knot.

so i havent blogged in a while. and the last thing i should be doing at this moment is blogging.

yet here i am.

writing.

LJ and Kaylie finally tied the knot and although stressful and laborious work, I miss it. I miss the excitement that led up to the blessed event, the black tuxedos, the royal purple dresses, the curly hair, the exchanging of rings, and doing the stanky legg at both of the receptions. Aside from all the fabric, music, and creative minds put into this milestone, the best part of the whole weekend was watching my brother and new sister walk out of the temple doors. They were so happy. They are so happy. I love seeing people so happy.

Marriage is the climax of one's life. Parents spend their lives loving each other and raising children until they are ready to leave the nest and start their own families. After marriage, a whole other life begins. I'm blasted sixteen years old and I love thinking about marriage..not just my own, but the actual idea of getting hitched. In just about all the Disney movies, a "happily ever after" ending consists of the princess or heroine smoochin her stud. She in a gorgeous gown. He in a smashing suit. In the foxy Robin Hood's case...tights. I could really care less when people say that life isn't a fairy tale, or rather, a Disney movie. I love to think of mine as one-just another thing that makes me happy.

So here I am,

looking at wedding magazines with dog eared pages from the past week,

dreaming.

Besides, a dream is a wish your heart makes.

Nomad.

Why is it all so hard? I feel like the list of things I'm putting off is consistently growing. It's like they're on a scroll that unfolds, but it never ends. But whenever I listen to music, everything stops. Maybe that's why I've been so mesmerized by music so easily recently. A song allows me to think freely, without the interruptions of that evil "to do" list. I need to listen to pure piano. Or to Hawaiian music. Music gives me the okay to think as I wish.

"Pua Lililehua" by Hui Ohana.

...thoughts....

I miss my brothers. I miss laughing with them in person. It's not the same over the phone. 

LJ gets married in 20 days. I spent over an hour trying to figure out what song I'm dancing (hula) to for him for his wedding. It's gonna be hard to choose...

"E Ku'u Morning Dew" by Keola Beamer.

...I wish you were back home. with me.

...why do I feel so alone, all of a sudden?

hmph. just realized that sounded a little too emo. but whatever. everyone feels it every once in a while, right?

...sorry this is all over the place, folks, but that's exactly where my mind currently resides. all over the place.

dreaming state of mind.

I've always thought it was illegal to write more than one blog in one day. If it is, then I'm probably breaking a couple of them, since my last one was less than 5 minutes ago.

Speaking of breaking laws, I heard this interesting thought on a tape Trey was listening to pre-mish.
What does it mean to "break" the law? I never even realized how awesome of a personification it is. It's not just the law you're breaking. It's you.

I just spent seven minutes trying to remember the word personification. I hate it when that happens. I asked my dad what the word was, but he gave me that deer in the headlights look. Of course he had to justify his expression by saying that it's my job to learn for myself. Right.

"Keep it Loose, Keep it Tight" by Amos Lee is one of the most chill songs.
so is "Fever Dream" by Iron and Wine.

For the past few days I really have just been in a dreamy type disposition. The kind where I listen to music non-stop. I listen to slow songs, or songs that require thought. Bleeding Love.

I can't even put my finger on it. I find my eyes just going into that daze where I'm looking down, or looking into space, daydreaming. Thinking about the way I felt at certain times and places within the past few months.

There I go again.

Daydreaming.

creative juice activity: negative.

List #1: Today.

1. This morning was the first time I actually, legitamately fell asleep in seminary. Yeah, there's the days where I close my eyes, but I honestly don't fall asleep. I listen. and I think. but Dain and I were out this morning.

2. I was in a really unusual mood for the first few periods of the day. I wasn't unhappy, but I just didn't say much to anyone all morning. I felt like I was in a dream, drifting and floating from class to class...like I was the Disney Hercules when he meets his supreme father Zeus, and Zeus picks him up from his toga and places him wherever he pleases as Hercules just dangles. That was me. Ms. Dangle.

3. After prayers and announcements at the end of the day today I took a trip to the classroom of my world cultures teacher frosh year. I wanted to tell him about my weekend. I was looking forward to telling him about it all day, even though he had no clue I was coming. I have no clue why I was so hooked on telling him about it, but I was stoked. And he wasn't there. Gah.

4. "My Girl" by the Temptations just came on my iPod. I watched Father of the Bride, one of my favorite movies EVER last night with Dain, and I can never get enough of the scene with this song. You know, the one where George and Annie are playing one on one as the melodic music weaves smoothly through the scene "I've got sunshine, on a cloudy day."

5. Today is the first day this school year where I am finished homework by 5:00. Unbelievable.

6. I haven't been on facebook for a few days, and I checked it when I completed my work. 4 notifications. I'm really cool.
however, I got a wall post that made me smile. I guess thats all that really matters.
:]

7. My English teacher gave me an extraordinary compliment on a paper I broke my back over for countless, endless nights. I'm thinking that was the climax of my day. It's pretty much the best evidence I have for being a geek, because thinking about it actually makes me really happy.


List #2 A shuffle on the pod.

1. Tell Me I'm Wrong ... Hema Heimuli
2. Here I Am...Leona Lewis
3. Save the Last Dance for Me...Michael Buble
4. Ballerina Girl...Lionel Richie
5. Good Old Fashioned Loverboy...Queen
6. You Are...Lionel Richie
7. I'll Be There...The Jackson 5
8. The Climb...Miley Cyrus
9. Mary's Song (Oh My My My)...Taylor Swift
10. Ilonga Ha Taha...My Sister (The Wolfgramm Sisters)
11. Sky (feat. Ingrid Michaelson)...Joshua Radin
12. Open Arms...Journey
13. Lost...Michael Buble
14. Thankful...Josh Groban
15. I Wanna Know...Joe
16. Wild Horses...Natasha Bedingfield
17. No Air...Jordin Sparks ft. Chris Brown
18. Scenes from an Italian Restaurant...Billy Joel
19. Who's Lovin' You...The Jackson 5
20. You Make Me Feel Like Dancing...Leo Sayer
21. Refuge (When It's Cold Outside)...John Legend
22. Stuck on You...Lionel Richie
23. Reasons...Earth, Wind, & Fire
24. Step in the Name of Love...R.Kelly
25. For the Beauty of the Earth...Jon Schmidt
26. She Will Be Loved...Maroon 5
27. Human Nature...Michael Jackson
28. Forever...Chris Brown
29. Bennie and the Jets...Elton John
30. Got to be There...Michael Jackson
31. My Girl...The Temptations

Fair share of scrunchies and grass stains

Growing up, I never thought having three older brothers could be so life changing. My thoughts were always geared towards wishing for a perfect little sister that would let me paint her nails, do her hair, talk about boys, go shopping, give her advice, watch chick flicks, take pictures, throw surprise birthday parties for, and take "girl trips" out to lunch every other weekend. I remember my first babysitting job was with the Lewis girls-Emily and Sarah, who were just a few years younger than me. They were both the perfect kids to babysit. It was almost as if I were being paid to hang out with my friends, or even better, my two little sisters. They're now the oldest of seven kids total, and are still so mature and fun to be around.

As the years have passed, I have come to notice how much I love having three older brothers. And how much I love them. I had my mom to do all of the girlie things when I was the little princess. You know, matching my headbands and bows with my outfits to a T; painting my nails while I slept in my royal bed..and didn't make a single smudge once; dressing me up in my favorite glittery gold dress; the endless effort and time put into my updo for me and daddy's annual "Daddy Daughter Date" on my birthday weekend; and most importantly, teaching me to sit, talk, and act like a lady at age two. It was not difficult to follow her counsel at such a young age because she was and is the ultimate example for me on how to be lady. How else am I supposed to learn those little smidgens of feminine advice with a house full of macho's?

Aside from the countless amount of girly goods my mom provided, my brothers and dad made up for them. BIG time. Playing with worn out Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle action figures and toy guns; and having no mercy in the backyard with infinite games of baseball, football, dodgeball, run the bases, and my personal favorite, jailbreak. During the summer I would challenge the neighborhood kids to a race almost on a daily basis-barefoot, of course. Then we would chase the ice cream truck with quarters flying from our pockets to buy tons of candy and ice cream. Landon always bought something different, LJ never left without an ice cream sandwich-the chocolate chip cookie kind, and Treybo always exchanged MY quarters for a foot long cherry laffy taffy. My favorite was the Mickey Mouse shaped chocolate and vanilla ice cream on a stick. I could never forget playing baseball with Trey until dusk on school nights while in elementary school. We always negotiated with Mama when she called us in for dinner for a couple more innings, but she made us come in right away and eat our vegetables. On those days my hair took control of my hair tie and was in a crazy loose ponytail with wispies all over the place. No matching bows or headbands. Maybe an occasional coordinating scrunchie. Grass stain streaks ran across my Limited Too shirt and shorts.

But all of that has changed. The boys started attending high school, liking girls, going to dances, then college, and then missions. Now I'm in high school.

My childhood is in the past.

And I'm okay with it.

That's all part of growing up, isn't it? Accepting the fact that you're growing up is a huge step, but probably an even larger step for the parents. I still tie ribbons in my hair, and I still love playing backyard baseball games with the neighborhood kids, even if we're in high school and college.

The craziest part about this is that LJ is getting married.

hitched.

tying the knot.

So my dreams of having a sister are coming true. Not only that, but she's an absolute doll. I'm coming to love her in a familial way, which is a different feel, but incredible nonetheless. Soon to be Mrs. Kaylie Sikahema. There will be seven of us. I couldn't be happier with our new addition. I love you, Kaylie Jean...just as much as my mud-covered dress days.

Update..although most of you already know.

I don't even know what to say. It's almost been a month since the last time I posted, and SO SO SO much has happened. So instead of elaborating on a ton of things, I'll give a quick update on all the things that have happened. They won't be in order, just because I'm just gonna let all of it fly...

1. Leland James came home.

2. Leland James got engaged...

to Kaylie.

3. Level 4 at GC set a record of hiking the mountain: 45 minutes.

4. went to Education Week at BYU

5. hung out with the Jersey crew who are now freshmen at the Y for a week

6. helped LJ get a [possible] job of writing children's books.

in Chinese...SO stoked for him!!

7. I turned 16.

8. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

9. went on a date..doubled with my engaged brother. and had a blast :]

10. school started. meh.

I'm really not feeling very creative, to tell you the truth. And I'm sure you can already see it in this post. But I promise that I won't wait as long as I did to write in my next blog. Until next time. :)