No Place Like Home

Throughout my life I have lived in many houses, but have been blessed to have just one home.

Never have I felt like my home life was crumbling or even shaky.
My parents have always been incredible examples of making my home life very stable.
I moved when I was seven years old to Washington and then to Montana when I was eleven. Funny thing is, while it was hard to leave my friends, it was always exciting to go somewhere new with my family knowing I would never have to leave the feeling of "home" behind. Even now, when I spend eight of the twelve months in a year at school, I look forward to the holidays and breaks where I get to see my family and go home.

When I was little I used to get homesick just spending the night at a friend's house or spending a week at Girl's Camp during the summer. Funny now that I am in college, I don't really feel homesick ever. Not saying, I don't miss my family because I think about them daily and keep up to date by talking on the phone or through Skype (I'm pretty blessed to have my sister and brother-in-law living nearby when I am at school, so if I need a dose of home I just go visit them.)
I think the reason I don't get "homesick" anymore is because I keep that feeling of home close to my heart at all times. I'm not saying my college apartment isn't homey because we are a family in a sense. We fight and laugh together constantly, just like ordinary families do, but I know there is a reason I am a Holyoak.

One of my favorite memories of family vacations (besides Jace's rendition of "On The Road Again") occurred when returning home from vacations when I was young. When we would get close, my dad would always say this chant/song and it always pops in my mind when I think of home. It goes: "H-O-M-E, HOME!, HOME!, HOME!" and I can remember us all saying it together. I don't know why I remember that memory exactly, but I love it.

So, in summary, I love home. Dorothy couldn't have said it better, there truly is no place like home. Amen sister!

Monopoly

Sometimes I catch myself looking back on the past:

The regrets that I have, the choices I’ve made,

And I wish I could “return to start. Collect $200.”

Then I look at myself today and see how strong I am.

I see the choices I make now, and the opportunities I have

And am ready to tackle life.

I still make wrong decisions. “Go to Jail. Do not collect $200.”

It seems like sometimes the “property” I gain is sometimes a bonus

Other times a burden.

Exchanging with others, generally beneficial, but sometimes leave me worse off.

Life is not perfect, but God is.

Sometimes I see myself through others’ eyes:

In childhood, the girl scared of everything who liked to talk and eat popcorn with her toes.

In high school, the girl who liked to be liked, the band-loving geek.

In college, the girl who laughs the loudest says things off the top of her head without a filter sometimes.

I carry all these parts of life with me, some attributes I have discarded, others I try to keep.

All-in-all it doesn’t matter because they all make up the parts of me.

I continue across the board with my chin up, shoulders forward.

Prepared for the struggle ahead.

Hoping the dice roll the way I want them to, but realizing life will go on if they don’t.

Grateful for the struggles because without them, learning is unattainable.

A Fair Life

The phrase "life is not fair" always seems to pop in our minds when things do not go our way.

• Example: You work really hard and are dedicated to your job, but people that do not work as hard as you are getting paid more than you. -Life is not fair.

• Example: You have a crush on a boy, but the boy is more interested in your friend or roommate. -Life is not fair.

• Example: You studied, but did not get a good grade on your test. -Life is not fair.

• Example: You practice really hard, but do not make it into the band of your choice. -Life is not fair.

• Reality: Other people have families to support and need more money. Ask your boss about it and discuss available options.

• Reality: You don't want to be with a guy who doesn't like you anyways. Duh.

• Reality: There are other methods of study you should try out that would probably help you learn more efficiently.

• Reality: Keep practicing and eventually you will get to go. That's how others made it, through hard practice.

It's funny how we so often have a sense of entitlement to things. We expect Google to pop up 0.5 seconds after we push enter on the keyboard. We expect that the older we get, the more respect we will receive. The reality of it is, you have to view situations from all angles. If you keep the right perspective, life really is fair ☺

Charles DeLee Pennington, my hero

I miss him already.
Today I said goodbye to my wonderful Papa, Charles DeLee Pennington.
Tomorrow he will return to Heavenly Father.
Charles DeLee Pennington has been known by many names. Yesterday, I learned my grandma first knew him as "Chuckypoo," the handsome air force stud that all the girls lined up to kiss. My mom and her siblings knew him as Dad, the always smiling, happy-go-lucky guy that loved them all so much. Some people knew him as a handy-man, always willing to put in ceiling fans or electrical outlets, Brother Pennington, a silly man from the ward, or a McDonalds manager, keeping the work environment enjoyable and spoiling his kids with happy meals.

I know him as Papa.
Everyone should be jealous of me and my cousins. We have had the best Papa any grandkids could ever have.
My Papa has a bald head. We always teased him about his bald head. I don't think I can count the number of times I kissed him on top of that head or asked him "Papa, do you use soap or shampoo?" He wore a cowboy hat and a southern drawl, and wore them well-- A Texas boy all the way through. My papa would make friends with anybody and everybody. Some of my fondest memories of Papa's visits set me at Home Depot, playing in the doors and with the faucets while Papa picked up stuff for a new project. I remember when he installed ceiling fans in almost every room of our house.
Usually when we'd go on these trips, we'd stop and McDonalds on the way home and pick up a Happy Meal.
I remember one time Papa decided to take Aubrey and I to the movies for a day. We went to three movies in a row, all at the movie theater. I can't remember what time we started, but can remember falling asleep during the midnight premiere of the movie Dodgeball.
I remember Papa and Grandma had a jar of coins in their Cedar City House and we would always have to ask Papa for a coin if we wanted candy from the gumball machine.
I also remember when Papa redid the backyard and put in a swingset for us grandkids.
My most recent memory of Papa was made this week. I had the chance to spend all of this week with Papa in the hospital. My Papa is a flirt. He loves to make people laugh. This week he told all of us how pretty the nurses at the hospital were and how he already had proposed to four of them!
Today I said goodbye to my Papa. I told him how much I loved him, hugged him and held his hand, and planted one final kiss on top of his head. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have had to have Charles DeLee Pennington in my life as my grandpa. I will always cherish the memories I have of him and be grateful for the wonderful example he has set for me of living the gospel and loving everyone around him. I am so grateful for the gospel and for the knowledge that I will get to see him again. I am thankful to know that Papa will be greeted by his family on the other side when he passes.
Papa, I love you.

110 Loves

This is one of those dumb Facebook notes people write that I did a while ago, but I actually kind of like this one! So I'm posting it here!!

1. I love honesty.
2. I love friendship.
3. I love eternal families.
4. I love good hair days.
5. I love good face days.
6. I love learning.
7. I love challenges.
8. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ.
9. I love the Book of Mormon.
10. I love adrenaline.
11. I love sleeping.
12. I love cuddling.
13. I love hugs and kisses.
14. I love music.
15. I love watching sports.
17. I love summertime.
18. I love Christmas music in November.
19. I love Andrea Boccelli.
20. I love being barefoot.
21. I love eating.
22. I love school.
23. I love being outside.
24. I love my saxophone.
25. I love dogs.
26. I love living in the United States.
27. I love facebook.
28. I love girl talks.
29. I love rough housing.
30. I love reading.
31. I love How To Train Your Dragon.
32. I love my phone.
33. I love sarcasm.
34. I love water.
35. I love singing.
36. I love procrastinating.
37. I love chocolate.
38. I love burping.
39. I love hot showers.
40. I love star gazing.
41. I love old memories.
42. I love sneezing.
43. I love board games.
44. I love driving.
45. I love napping.
46. I love the internet.
47. I love acoustic guitar.
48. I love piano.
49. I love life.
50. I love new clothes.
51. I love makeup.
52. I love Montana.
53. I love bonfires.
54. I love hiking.
55. I love folf.
56. I love relationships.
57. I love apple pie.
58. I love new shampoo.
59. I love clean teeth.
60. I love my bed.
61. I love my future husband.
62. I love optimism.
63. I love parks.
64. I love free music.
65. I love Google.
66. I love texting.
67. I love the smell of sagebrush.
68. I love jewelry.
69. I love unique art.
70. I love my High School band director.
71. I love pizza.
72. I love sunshine.
73. I love floor hockey.
74. I love sledding.
75. I love siblings.
76. I love parents.
77. I love flowers.
78. I love technology.
79. I love gym memberships.
80. I love jigsaw puzzles.
81. I love crossword puzzles.
82. I love dry humor.
83. I love dance parties.
84. I love the United States.
85. I love freedom.
86. I love movies.
87. I love new friends.
88. I love nail polish.
89. I love blogging.
90. I love camping.
91. I love Thai food.
92. I love air conditioning.
93. I love jeans.
94. I love sweats.
95. I love trail mix.
96. I love Super Mario Brothers.
97. I love yellow.
98. I love new socks.
99. I love awkward situations.
100. I love best friends.


10 Am's
1. I am Lacey.
2. I am a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
3. I am special sometimes.
4. I am a music connoisseur.
5. I am a college student.
6. I am American.
7. I am pale.
8. I am sarcastic.
9. I am a saxophone player.
10. I am a future band director.

My Addiction

I have a problem.
A big one.
I love Christmas music.
I couldn't help but start listening to it the minute the first snowflake fell here in Rexburg. I think that was about two weeks before Thanksgiving...
Truth be told, I sneak Christmas music into my listening throughout the year. Don't tell.

There is just something about Christmas music that instantly brings me a feeling of joy. I recall reading the Christmas story with my family every Christmas Eve, shopping for presents for my friends or families, the Christmas my siblings and I all got sleds and headed out to the sledding hill as soon as all the presents were open, or Christmas mornings with my siblings where the clock seemed to be stuck on 6:59 a.m. for two hours (we weren't allowed to do presents until 7.)

Music is a big part of my life. It has been for very long time and I have this habit of associating memories with songs. Whenever I hear the hymn "Love at Home" I always think of my mom singing it when my siblings and I would either scream at or try to beat on each other . Or, when I hear anything by Bad Company I always think of the jam sessions I had during the opening shift at Wendys with my manager and my coworker at seven in the morning. My thing with Christmas music is that it can range from Frank Sinatra singing "Baby it's Cold Outside" to Whams "Last Christmas" to the hymn "With Wandering Awe" and all my Christmas memories surface and send me into Christmas euphoria. I love it. LOVE IT.

I think the main thing I love about Christmas is my family. My family is the best. THE BEST. I am thoroughly convinced that if every person had a family like mine, world peace would be obtainable (well...maybe worldwide love lol.) Anyways, enough bragging. My family has a lot of Christmas traditions. Every Christmas Eve we invite the missionaries over for dinner and to participate in the world-renowned Holyoak Christmas program to sing, read the Christmas story, watch the LDS short film Joy To The World or Mr. Krueger's Christmas, each open one present (yes of course we have awesome presents for the missionaries too), then head downstairs for some sweet pool action or a ping-pong tournament. We end the night by piling all the kids in the basement. In the olden days (before Aubrey had to go get married to Kenny, whom we all love) we would all pile into Aubrey's bed and stay up late listening for Santa then wake up super early and stare at the clock until 7 o'clock would come around so we could go open presents. Now us unmarried siblings pile into my room and generally pass out on my bed and wake up right on time (or a little after hehe) to open presents. I love it. After that we all head upstairs to search for the pickle ornament (whoever finds it gets a extra present. Bonus.) Then we spend all of Christmas day loafing and watching movies and eating delicious food...or candy. Whatever works.

Writing this is making me homesick. And I was just home last week. Wow.

I can't believe I just told you all my life story of Christmas (well actually not ALL of it, because I probably have a million more things I could say...) but that just proves my point. THIS is what Christmas music does to me. I flashback EVERY time! I think that is why I love it so much. I wish it could be Christmastime ALL THE TIME. Maybe that will be one of my New Year's Resolutions! To keep the feeling of love I get around Christmas with me throughout the year.

I'm Lacey Holyoak and I'm a Mormon.

♪I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
I know who I am. I know God's plan. I'll follow Him in faith.
I believe in the Savior Jesus Christ. I'll honor His name.
I'll do what is right; I'll follow his light. His truth I will proclaim. ♪

At our Stake Conference last month, my stake president, President Kush, asked everyone to write their testimony down somewhere, whether it be on a blog or in a journal. I'm finally accepting that challenge.

I know for a fact that I am a Daughter of my Heavenly Father who lives in heaven.

I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. The greatest prophet there has ever been.

I know the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ and that it is a book of truth.

I know families are eternal and I am so grateful for the family I was blessed with. I can't imagine my life without them.

I know Thomas S. Monson is a true living prophet and that he receives guidance for us directly from the Lord.

I know that through prayer we have a direct line of communication to the Lord and I know He hears our prayers.

I know that only through the Atonement of Christ and by His grace are we saved.

I know Jesus Christ is my savior. I know that He was sinless upon this earth and went through pain beyond comprehension so that I can return to my Heavenly Father.

I am so grateful for the life I have been given. For my wonderful family, my beautiful friends, and my faith. Without my church, without the gospel, I know I would be lacking in my life.

Thank you all for the kind words, the constant support, and the occasional slap on the back of my head. I love you all.