Colby's Hope

Last night my mom and I had the opportunity to go with our friends to a really awesome event. It was for a foundation called Beauty Redefined. It was founded by twin sisters Lexi and Lindsay Kite who got PHD's in media and body image. They do lots of presentations and other events to share the messages that they have discovered.

One of the first messages that they shared with us is to See More. Be More. They talked about how we need to see more in ourselves than the images and other things that are showed throughout media these days. Then they said that once we see more, we need to become the person that we were meant to be once we see the best in ourselves.

They gave some some statics that I thought were really interesting. They said that when people feel self conscious about their body image these things can happen. I thought these were really interesting and a lot of us can probably relate to some of these.

• Define worth by value 
• Low self esteem
• Unhealthy dating relationships 
• Comment on others appearances
• Anxiety and Depression
• Eating Disorders 

They then shared four tips that we can use to feel more confident in ourselves. I really like these ways and I feel like they can help if we really practice them. 

1. Mental Mind - We need to be asking questions about the images that are shared through media and if they are real or not. (I thought this next one is really interesting). The more time spent on social media the more likely it is to lead to envy, depression, loneliness, and many more things because of all the false images we see.

2. Physical Fortitude - We tend to focus a lot on the outside image when we compliment people by what they're wearing or how their hair looks, instead we can compliment them on something unique about them or something that has inspired you. I think this is something that I need to work on!

3. Spiritual Strength - They said this was one that really surprised them in their studies. They said if people believe in some spiritual being, than they have more self worth. They said it's important to go to a quiet place and pray and meditate often.

4. Social Skillfulness - It's important to be social and talk and communicate with others. But, like the other one, we need to focus on what is on the inside of people than what's on the outside. If we compliment and get to know someone from what's on the inside, then we will have a better relationship with them.

At the end they shared some quotes that I really liked. I would like to share one of them.

"There is no beauty finish line you have to cross to feel good about your life." 

I really enjoyed going Beauty Redefined last night with my mom and friends. I learned a lot about self worth and things we can do to feel good about ourselves. If you would like to learn more about them and their cause you can visit their website at beautyredifined.net. I hope that you visit and learn more about it! 


Always have hope,

Last night my family and I had the opportunity to go see the Dave Rose Coaches Show live. My dad got us tickets and we were able to go to Malawi's Pizza to participate in the show. We went to one of these a few years ago except it was on campus. We ate dinner during the show. They had us fill out questions when we first got there that Coach Rose would answer later in the show.

For the first little bit, Greg Wrubbel, who was the host of the show, asked him questions about the upcoming games and what they have gotten out of their past few losses. That was kind of boring because I already knew about a lot of the stuff. But then he started talking to him about how the team was handling the different situations of some of the players in preparing for the next games. That was fun for me to here because I want to make sure the team is ready for all of their games!

 During the commercial breaks Greg would ask trivia questions and the winner would get a signed mini basketball. My brothers and I kept pressuring my dad to answer the questions. We knew that he knew what the answers were but he just didn't want to answer. Then finally he answered a question and gother wrong (even though I thought it was the right answer) but we were happy he tried.

Then halfway through the show they brought in one of the assistant coaches. I had never heard of him before but he seemed like a really nice guy. Before he came in, Coach Rose told everyone some of his responsibilities and the things that he does for the team. It seems like he does a lot and the players really like him. He was quite a funny guy and talked some funny things that have happened in his life and while he has been a coach. It was fun to listen to him. 

For the last ten minutes of the show it was time to answer the questions that we had filled out at the beginning. Six questions were chosen to be asked. My little brother Cooper's question was picked. At first he didn't want to do it, but then he got excited for it. He asked "What is your favorite game you have ever coached?" Dave responded the Gonzaga game at the championships when we beat them by more than thirty points. It was really fun to go to the show and learn more about the BYU basketball team!

 What is your favorite basketball game you've ever watched? 




Always have hope,

Always have hope,

I really love organization. Ever since I was little I have always loved to be organized. It makes me feel better knowing that all of my stuff is in a specific place. And since it is the new year and a perfect time to try something new and exciting, I would like share a few of my favorite organization tips, some things that have worked for me.

1. Use Shelves- I know it sounds weird but it really works. I have shelfs everywhere in my room and closet. It's nice if be able to put things on display. And I also like to organize my papers and books nicely on shelves. I have shelves for a lot of different things throughout my room, books, games, folders, stuffed animals, etc. 




2. File Folders/Organizers- I love these! They are so nice and easy to use. There are a lot of different kinds depending on the type of files you have. I use one where the shelves can be pulled out easily for easy organization. I use these for extra school work and papers that I want to keep so they are organized. 


3. Totes- I use totes for a lot of things. Some people think that you shouldn't use totes for organizing things but I disagree! I use totes for a lot of things and I like them because they are also very easy to store. You can put anything in them and then can stay more organized. I use totes for things like crafting supplies, doll clothes, papers, etc. 



4. Drawer Organizers- My mom buys these things at Ikea and other stores. They are so nice for toys and socks. You can put them in your drawer and it helps everything inside to stay organized! These are good for younger kids if they have lots of things that are stuffed in drawers, you can label these to help them stay more organized. 




5. Jewelry Hangers and Organizers- I have a lot of jewelry that I've received over the years. I was given a cute jewelry box to put them all in. But since I have so much jewelry, it wouldn't all fit in there. And every time I got a piece of jewelry out to wear, it would be tangled with something else. So with a gift card from my Grandparents, I got this jewelry hanger where  I can hang necklaces and bracelets, etc. It hangs on my wall so I can get to it easily. I also have an earring organizer where I can put earrings through a screen and they will stay nice and organized. 


6. Pot and Pan Hangers- My mom uses these more than I do right now, but I'm sure I will use them in the future! These are so nice especially if you have lots of pots and pans. It frees up more space for other things in your kitchen. Our hangers hang right above the stove and oven for easy access. 



I hope the tips that I have shared can help you stay more organized this year. Organization is a wonderful thing because it can help you feel more calm if you're organized. Please feel free to comment below with some organizing tips you have! I would love to hear them! 



Always have hope,

I've been thinking lately about courage. Courage is an amazing thing that some people don't have. It is important to have courage for all of the things we go through in life.

Courage has been shown throughout many events in history. The soldiers who fight in wars have to have a lot of courage to leave their families and go fight. Courage is had when somebody goes through a tough procedure. Courage is needed whenever somebody does something that they aren't exactly comfortable with doing. 

I was thinking about some areas where I need to have more courage. One area is public speaking. Ever since I was little I have not liked to talk in front of people. I get really nervous when I speak. My hands get sweaty, my legs shake and feel numb, and I have to swallow all the time! But the interesting thing is, every time I tell somebody that I don't like talking in front of people, they always say "but you're so good at it!" Even though I might be good at it, it still takes a lot of courage for me to speak publicly. 

I think that sometimes when we tell ourselves that we can't do something we completely lose whatever confidence we had before. They actually did a test where they had people who were lifting weights say "I can do it". Then it became easier for them because they were positive. Our minds are very powerful and what we think affects how we act. 

Something I've found that helps me to get over the fears that I have is to face my fear as often as I can. I think it will help us if we practice and face what we are nervous for so that we can get over it. I know that we can find courage as we do the things that might push us out of our comfort zones. I'm very grateful for the courage I've been blessed with. 

This is a picture of me when I was eight or nine talking in front of a group of elementary school students about my family's foundation. Even though I was nervous to talk to them (and swallowed a lot)--I still did it! 








What things prompt you to have courage?





Always have hope,

I've been thinking lately about goal setting. With the new year beginning, this is a great time to set goals because it is a fresh start and we can think about what we want to achieve in the new year.

I've always loved setting goals for many reasons. I like being able to think about the things you want to change in your life. Sometimes it takes a lot of thought to think about specific goals you want to accomplish. I also like the fact that you can create deadlines for your goals so that you will be more determined to complete your goal.

In my Leadership class at school, we always do a unit where we talk about goals. Something we always talk about is SMART goals. I was super excited when I learned about this way to set goals. Let me explain how it works, because it is really cool. This is an acronym so each letter stands for something you should think about when you are setting goals.

Specific-The goals that we make need to be specific so that we know exactly what we want to accomplish. One of my goals is that I want to buy a computer by the end of the summer. 

Measurable- This means that we need to set a specific amount of time that want to accomplish the goal. My goal is measurable because I know I have 6 months to earn the money. 

Achievable- We shouldn't make a goal to earn $1 million in one week because that is not going to happen. We need to make goals that are actually possible to achieve. My goal is achievable because I can earn the money in time. 

Relevant-This kind of has to do with the previous one. We need to make goals that are relevant to us. We want to make goals based on what we want to accomplish, not just something completely random. My goal is relevant because I really want and need a computer!

Timely- Our goals needs to be timely so that we can know when we want to finish the goal. This is important so that we don't get sidetracked in what we want to do. My goal is timely because I know exactly when I want to accomplish it.

This would be a great way to begin to make goals this year. It gives you a certain format and way to make the goals. I love to make goals and to think about changes I want to make in my life. I hope you can use this system to make your goals.  







Always have hope,

In my Leadership class the other day we did a really fun activity. We got into groups of three to create a tower. We were each given a bag of straws and a long piece of tape. We were asked to build the tallest freestanding tower out of straws and tape.

At first it was hard to figure out how to start. We knew that we needed a strong base to make the rest of it stay up. Some of the groups were complaining about not having as many straws as some other groups. After a while we figured out what we wanted to do with our tower so we started to make some progress.

Then after a few minutes of building, my teacher passed some scenarios out to us. Groups got a bunch of different ones like more straws and tape, less straws and tape, having to start over, etc. My group wasn't allowed to talk. It wasn't that bad because we weren't talking that much anyway.

Everyone successfully finished their towers and we decided on the winner, whose tower was 98 cm! Afterwards we had a discussion about it. We talked about why the winners had won. We said that they had built their tower on a strong foundation. Then we talked about why my teacher gave us the challenges. I commented that it is because sometimes life throws us things that we are not expecting and we just have to go with it. 

I was thinking about how much this relates to life. Our lives are like the towers we were building. The different things we are experiencing everyday are the straws and the tape we use to put our lives together and figure out who we are. And the scenarios we got are the unexpected trials and challenges that come in our lives.

I know we can't always be prepared for the things that come our way, but I've learned that we can always find a way through them if we have hope and never stop trying. If we do this, we can build something wonderful out of our lives. Don't give up!!




Always have hope,

I've been thinking over the past couple of days about gratitude. Gratitude is a very important thing to have in the word we live in. We receive so many things, some we don't even think about or feel grateful for. I think it's good to learn how to be grateful so that we never forget to do it.

I was telling my family about a story we read in English a few months ago. It was about a couple who was out to eat at a restaurant. And since it was her husband's birthday, the wife had arranged to have a cake brought out and have the waiters sing happy birthday. When this started happening, the husband looked at his wife with annoyance and anger because he was embarrassed. His wife saw that he wasn't happy about this and began to cry. She had worked so hard to plan this, only to have him not like it. This whole story was being told from the perspective of a person who was sitting at another table watching them.

I think there are a few things we can learn from this story about gratitude and recognizing the effort that others have made for us. It's important to be grateful if someone does anything for us. Even if it's not our favorite thing, we should still be grateful that they went through the effort for us. We should also be careful how we act because the people around us will always watch and see how we are acting.

Sometimes it's hard to remember that we need to be grateful. We expect things to happen because that's how they have been our whole lives. But even if we know something's going to be there, we should still be grateful that we have it. 

I've heard a lot about having a gratitude journal, and I think it's a good idea. My family has kept a gratitude journal and is great to look back on. If you keep a personal journal, this can either be separate or combined with this. Your gratitude journal is meant to record the things you're grateful for every day. I think this a good idea, especially for younger kids trying to learn about gratitude. Here is a link where you can make your own gratitude journal.

This is a great talk about being grateful in any circumstance. I know that sometimes in our lives we go through harder circumstances and it's harder to remember to be grateful, but gratitude will bless us no matter what situation we are in. 

How are you grateful in any circumstance?


Always have hope,

I've decided to write this post on the heroes of our lives. I've been thinking a lot over the past few days about the different heroes in today's world. Normally when children think of the word hero, they think of superheroes like Batman and Spider Man, but those aren't the types of heroes I'm talking about.

The types of heroes I'm thinking of are not the ones who fly out of the sky to save the world, nor are they the ones who blast things with an iron hammer. The heroes I'm thinking of are the ones who go out of their way and risk their lives in order to save ours.

A couple of days ago I was watching a movie where a fireman saved lots of kids from a burning school. He came back to the school and was looking at pictures of the firemen who died in that fire. He started crying and began to question why he was offered a medal and recognition, when these men died saving others' lives.

This made me think how much we don't recognize and thank all of the heroes who have lost their lives as a result of saving others. There are so many people who do many heroic things and aren't thanked for it. I know a lot of people think of soldiers not being thanked and recognized, but I also think we need to recognize other heroes that work hard to keep us safe like firemen and policemen. I am so grateful for all that these men and women do to keep me safe.

Another type of hero that we have in our lives are people who have influenced us and changed the way that we life our lives. They are the ones who we look up to and love because of all they have done for us. I have many heroes in my life who have done so much for me. 

One hero that I am very grateful for in my life is my mom. She works so hard and does a lot for me and my family. Even though she is busy, she always finds time to spend with us. I know that she loves me and I love her too! I am so grateful to all of my heroes for changing my life. 

I think that we should recognize all of the heroes in our lives and the things that they do for us. The men and women who risk their lives to protect us deserve a thank you. It is important to realize how blessed we are to live where we do and have the protection we do. I'm very grateful for all of my heroes. 


Always have hope,

My mom and I have been talking lately about positive affirmations. I think positive affirmations are very important because we often get down on ourselves and think negative thoughts. If we let those thoughts stay in our heads, than we will convince ourselves of those things and become a negative person. And sometimes we are going through a hard time and need something to calm ourselves down and help ourselves stay positive. If we are positive and think good thoughts, than we become positive people. Positive affirmations are good because they boost our self-worth too! I would like to share 12 positive affirmations that we can say to ourselves when we are feeling down. (Notice that each affirmation starts with the words I am).

1. I am great

I think this one is important because we need to understand that we are great people. Sometimes we compare ourselves to other people and that brings us down. We need to understand that we are great no matter what other people think of us.

2. I am powerful

When I first heard this, I laughed really hard. It kind of sounds like we are wizards and have all power! But when I thought about it more, it began to make sense. We are in charge of our own bodies and how we think and act. So we really are powerful when it comes to ourselves.


3. I am strong

This one is a good one for mental toughness.  If we believe that we are mentally strong, then we will be able to do so many more things. This is also good if we are talking about physical strength. It's all about what we think in our mind. So if we are trying to lift weights and we tell ourselves "I am strong", then it will become easier.


4. I am enough

This is a good one. I think in today's world we often think that we don't measure up to what everyone else seems to be. It seems that everyone goes through a time like this. That's why it's great to have things like positive affirmations where we can realize that we are enough. In my church, we talk a lot about individual worth. It doesn't matter what other people think about us as long as we're doing the best that we can. I know this really good quote that goes along with this. "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."


5. I am kind

It's important to realize that we are good and kind people. Sometimes we can get down on ourselves and think that the things we are doing are not what we need to be doing. But if we realize that we are kind and doing good things for others then we will feel better about ourselves.

6. I am amazing

I feel this one is important to boost our self-worth. If we know that we are amazing and wonderful then we will be able to realize our full potential. We are all amazing people, I just think sometimes we need a little extra push to notice it.

7. I am brave

I personally get really nervous for a lot of things so this is a good one for me! We need to tell ourselves that we are brave and then we will be more confident with the things that we re doing.  This can also work with anything we want to do in our lives that take courage.

8. I am determined

This is another good one that we should tell ourselves often. At times we face hard challenges in our lives that take a lot of courage and determination to overcome.  It takes a lot of gut and determination to push through a lot of the challenges and problems of today, so it is great to be determined.

9. I am considerate

I have found that often it is easier to be kind if we tell ourselves that we can. I heard a couple of days ago that it is hardest to be kind to the ones we are closest to. But it is very important to be kind and considerate to everyone, whether they are friends and family, or complete strangers.

10. I am thoughtful

This is a good one because we need to be thoughtful towards ourselves and to others. If we are thoughtful then we take into consideration everyone else's feelings and think about what they are feeling and experiencing.


11. I am a child of God

This is an affirmation that I find to be one of the most important. It's good to be able to know that we are loved and cared for. In my church, we believe that everyone is a child of God and that he loves and cares for all of us.

12. I am 100% Responsible

It's good to remember that we are responsible for everything that we do. A lot of times if we are accused of doing something, we often tend to blame some else. But everything we do, we are responsible for because we made the choice to make the decision.





I think looking at pictures like these is a good way to stay positive and happy. Whenever I'm feeling down, here are some things things that I do. I think of a happy place and go there in my mind. I sing a song that makes me happy and gets my mind off what is bothering me.

This is a really good talk by one of the General Authorities in my church. It talks about hope and ways that we can find hope and why we should have hope.


I think it very important to be positive and say positive affirmations to ourselves every day. I know that if we do this we will become more positive people, be happier, and have a better attitude about life because we will feel happier. What are some of the positive affirmations you say?


Always have hope,

Last Thursday I saw the new "Annie" movie with my family. I was very excited because I had heard so many great things about it. The old "Annie" has been one of my favorite movies growing up for many reasons. I love the music and dancing, along with the messages of the movie.

I really enjoyed the movie. One thing that made it great was the actors. I had never seen movies with any of the actors before, but I had heard that they were good, and this movie proved it. Cameron Diaz does an excellent job and she makes the movie a lot of fun. Jamie Foxx did an excellent job. I love how funny he is and the character he adds to the movie.

One thing I have always loved about "Annie" is the music, which brings energy and fun to the movie. I loved what they did with the music in this new version-- it's much more modern and unique than in the original. I was really excited when they added a beat and cool dance moves to all of the songs.

The character Annie is a great example of hope. Despite all of the things going wrong in her life, she still maintains hope and knows there are better days to come. The song "The Sun'll Come Out Tomorrow" is a great example of staying positive even through hard times. 

"Annie" is a great family movie and very fun to watch. To be honest, I liked it better than the original! If you get a chance I hope that you could go watch this movie with your family, I highly recommend it. What's your favorite movie you've seen lately?



Always have hope,

Basketball season has begun! It seems fall and winter are very busy times for my family because we have football season and then basketball season right after, and my brothers play both sports! My family also has season tickets to the BYU men's basketball games, so I go to a lot of those and enjoy watching them. 

Basketball is my favorite sport for many reasons. I love watching it, and it's good to be inside instead of out in the cold. I really enjoy the sense of unity and teamwork that is shown and taught through the sport. The ball is passed around multiple times before it gets into the basket. I love that basketball is seemingly easy to understand as you're watching it, but when you're playing, it can become very complicated. I've learned that it can be very frustrating and hard from having brothers who play, and a dad who coaches. I also love how fast-paced the game is. Since it is so fast-paced, you can always stay interested. 

I have been the ball girl for the Utah Valley University Women's Basketball team for several years now. I love Coach Nixon and that great team of girls! In my responsibilities I help my co-ball girl, Anissa, to give the players water bottles and towels.  And of course, cheer them on.  It's fun to sit behind their bench and have an up-close view of what's happening.  

A few months ago, I was told by a fan that I looked like a basketball player, he then asked me if I played. I replied that I did not.

I would love to play basketball on a team, but don't for a few reasons. Most of them relate to me having a disability.

1. Because of my disability, I tend to be worried about the other players on my team passing the ball too hard and then I might get hurt. A few years ago I went to a basketball camp run by a college team. Every time we did a passing drill I would do it with one of the players because we could go at our own pace. One time the player wasn't available at the moment, so I had to pass with one of the campers. It was fine until she passed it too hard and I got a bloody nose!

2. I am also worried about not being able move as quickly as the other players. When my brother was playing Jr. Jazz, one of the players on his team got a bloody nose. Her dad has always loved to tease me and said that I should go in for his daughter because they needed another player. My dad didn't think it was a bad idea. Since he was the coach, he went over to the ref and explained the situation. Even though I was older than the boys, they had all played basketball before and I hadn't. The ref said I could go in until the other teammate got better. I put on her jersey and passed the ball in. I kind of followed what everyone else was doing. I was the last one down the court and wasn't sure where I should be. One of the players passed the ball to me because I was open for a shot. Everyone around me yelled, "Shoot it"! Not knowing what to do, I just chucked it up. I missed the shot, then came out of the game. I felt bad that I didn't make it because they could have gotten those points, Although it was kind of on the spot and I didn't do very well, I still felt it was a good experience.

3. I've always said that if I could play on a team with my friends I would totally do it. I would feel a lot more comfortable because they would know my situation and be softer. But none of my friends are basketball players, so that wouldn't really work. For example in P.E. in Elementary School when we would do our basketball unit, we would scrimmage on teams. Being with my classmates felt more comfortable than complete strangers. I would tell the people on my team to not pass it to me if they wanted me to shoot the ball because I wouldn't do it. For the most part I didn't get the ball very much, and I was okay with that. But when I did and I made the shot, everyone cheered and that made me feel really good.

4. My mom and I have talked multiple times about the Paralympics. I have always thought it sounded fun to do sometime in the future, and I have thought about all the work and effort I would need to put into it if I was going to do something like that. But a positive affect of being on a team like that, is we all would have challenges and we'd have to work through them together.

I might play basketball sometime in the future, but for now I'll just enjoy watching it and learning more!!






As you may have noticed, on the left sidebar of my blog, I added some of my music suggestions. I have decided that every month I am going to share some of my favorite things like music, movies, crafts etc. Keep an eye out for those and if you have any suggestions about what I should do, please feel free to comment.


Always have hope,

Happy New Year! I am so excited for a new year. I love this time because it gives us a chance to put the past year in review and make goals for the new one. I love making New Year's Resolutions because it is good for me to know what I want to accomplish this year.

In looking at everything that I have done this past year, these are a few of my favorite things from 2014.

In February my family and I went to California and spent some time in San Diego and Disneyland. It was great to go visit some new places and spend time with my family.


Also in February I participated in the Miss Amazing Pageant, a pageant for girls and women with disabilities. It was a great experience for me and a good chance to meet other girls my age. I was nervous to be on stage, so it felt good to face that fear.  I shared a little statue of a cat that I made.  I learned that it's okay to be different and that we can all learn from each other.








In May I completed my seventh grade year. It was hard at first to adjust to the new environment and other things that come from being in middle school, but overall it was a really good experience for me.

In June I had the amazing opportunity to visit Washington DC with a school group. It was so awesome to be able to learn more about our country and the amazing events and people who have made our country what it is today.



In June I also had the chance to go to Girls Camp with the girls from my church. It was great because we got to learn more about Jesus and spend time together. I learned that it is important to spend time with your friends and get to know them better, and it's always good to be in nature. Here I am sucking the juice from a lemon with a candy stick!
In July we went to Oregon to visit my family there. It was so much fun to spend time with my cousins and grandparents because I don't get to see them very often. What I learned from this experience is that you need to cherish all the time you spend with your family.


In August I started 8th grade. It was great to be back in school and with my friends. I knew it was going to be a fun school year because my brother joined me at middle school this year!


In September I turned 14! I was so excited to be older and do the things I can now do at 14.


In November I had a fun Thanksgiving at my house. We had lots of good food and plenty of football after! Thanksgiving is a great time to spend with your family and be thankful.

In December I enjoyed a delightful Christmas morning with lots of smiles and hugs all around.

More fun pics from 2014!



I'm grateful for all the fun I had and the things I experienced in 2014. I learned a lot and I am looking forward to having a great 2015!! I'd love to hear your favorite memories from 2014. Comment below.


Always have hope,