I have never been okay with failing a class.

Ever.  In fact, I have only failed one class ever in my whole life.  ONE CLASS!  And, because of that class, I have been working my butt off to try and get my GPA to be better.

I actually have worked enough to bring my GPA up to a 3.2.  I am very proud of that.

But, here's the thing.  I am fairly certain (like 85% sure) that I will fail one of my classes this semester.

85% SURE!

And, I don't care... In fact, I am somewhat okay with failing it.

Is that bad?

Okay, for reals.

I need to start getting work done.  The end of the semester is in just over one week.  ONE WEEK!  How did I get back into this mess of not wanting to do work?!  I need to get out of this funk, or I will NOT, I repeat, NOT do well on my finals.

Oh, please help me find a way to concentrate.

Loves <3

Isn't my brother a stud?

So, my brother is now in the Provo MTC.  We are so excited for him, but sad at the same time.

He is so excited to go!  He is going to Puerto Rico on his mission, which is where my mom is from.  Crazy stuff, huh?!

I miss him already, but I know that he will do well. :]

Good luck, Elder Stout!!  You will do great things.

My Dad

The guy in the picture?  That is my dad.  Today is his birthday, so I decided to write a blog all about him.

My dad grew up in Washington, so when we go visit Seattle, he knows where most of the non-touristy places are.  Which are actually pretty cool.

He is a doctor, and a darn good one.  At least, I think so.  He cares a lot about the people he works with and the patients he sees, and you can totally see that.

My dad is one of the greatest men I have ever met.  He respects the priesthood, and understands the importance of it.  He is compassionate, and slow to anger.  He loves all, and says the funniest jokes.

He has always been there for me.  He still loves me, even when I have made mistakes.  He has never left me, and he has always been such a constant person in my life.

I truly love my dad, and I am so grateful for the influence he is in my life.

Happy Birthday, Daddy.  I love you. :]

<3

My "wish list"

So, there are certain things on my "wish list."

Like... this.

Or, this.

Or, maybe this. 

Or, this.

Yep.  Someday, I will have these things. :]

You know what?

I am actually grateful that things didn't work out the way I wanted them to at the beginning of this semester.  There are so many things that I have learned, not just about myself but about the gospel and about different things.  I have grown so much in the last three or so months, emotionally and mentally and spiritually.  I really don't know if this amount of growth would ever have come if things had happened according to my plan.

This is proof that the Lord really does have a plan for everyone, and it isn't always what we have planned.

So, thanks for allowing things to not go according to plan.  It helped me grow. :]

I want to...

Get better with my photography.  Does anyone out there have any photography project ideas that I can do in order to get more practice?  I would appreciate ANY idea!

Thanks!

I Love This Necklace!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/65900391/heart-shape-143-i-love-you-necklace?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=App_Seller&utm_campaign=fb_seller_item&utm_content=items
(copy and paste the link to see it :] )

So, if you ever feel so inclined to spend about $50 or so on me, you should totally buy this necklace!

Hahaha just kidding. :]

<3

Missionary Song

Woot woot!  Chelsie and I (you can find her here) made a song about missionaries to the tune of the Jonas Brother's song "Burnin' Up."  Here are our lyrics.  And a video of the song.  Hope you enjoy! :] (P.S. you don't have to watch the video if you don't want to... Actually, you should just play it to hear the song.  Since there is a lag between the sound and video.  So yes.)

First Verse

You’re hot, and we’re cold

Cuz we’re stuck up in Idaho

You’re down there, in Utah

Waiting to go to Mexico

                           

Chorus

You’re going towards the equator

And you’re gonna bring the people their Savior

Proselyting all around Tampico

While you’re burnin’ up, burnin’ up in Mexico

Come on Elders

Second Verse

Water bottles, scriptures

Sometimes stopping to take pictures

White shirts, name tags

Never by yourself, never taking a drag

Chorus

You’re going towards the equator

And you’re gonna bring the people their Savior

Proselyting all around Tampico

While you’re burnin’ up, burnin’ up in Mexico

Third Verse

You’re walking around

The sun is beating down

Oh!

Investigators are found

All around the town

Chorus

You’re going towards the equator

And you’re gonna bring the people their Savior

Proselyting all around Tampico

While you’re burnin’ up, burnin’ up in Mexico

Rap

Yo, they’re burnin’ up in this place tonight

The Elders sing it loud, and they’re feeling right

This Gospel’s for real, don’t try to fight it

It’s easy to share, and that’s no lie

Stop, drop, and roll and touch your toes

You keep on burnin’ up more and more

Chelsie and Misao playin’ it down

Come on, Elders, bring the chorus around.

Chorus

You’re going towards the equator

And you’re gonna bring the people their Savior

Proselyting all around Tampico

While you’re burnin’ up, burnin’ up in Mexico

Burnin' up, burnin' up in Mexico

Remember Who You Are

Within the hustle and bustle of everyday life, I think that we, as humans, tend to forget to really stop and think about who we are, who we always have been, and who we can become.

My name is Symone Misao Stout.  I was born in Utah on August 8, 1990 to Julie Pena Stout and Sean Stuart Stout.  I am the oldest of six children.  I have been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints since I was born.  I have lived in Utah, Indiana, and Washington.  I am going to school in Idaho.  I have met some of the most incredible people here at school.  And I am a Daughter of God.

With everything that goes on in my life, it is sometimes difficult to remember that I have a Heavenly Father.  That He wants to help me with all the things I need to get through.  And since I am a Daughter of God, I have a divine nature and individual worth.  But what do these statements REALLY mean?

Divine:

·         of or pertaining to a god, especially the Supreme Being

·         proceeding from God  or a god

·         godlike; characteristic of or befitting a deity

·         heavenly; celestial

·         Informal . extremely good; unusually lovely

·         being a god;

·         of superhuman or surpassing excellence

Nature:

·         the elements of the natural  world

·         the particular combination of qualities belonging to a person, animal, thing, or class by birth, origin, or constitution; native or inherent character

·         the instincts or inherent tendencies directing conduct

Individual:

·         a single human being

·         a distinct, indivisible entity; a single thing, being, instance, or item.

Worth:

·         good or important enough to justify

·         excellence of character or quality as commanding esteem

·         usefulness or importance, as to the world, to a person, or for a purpose

Basically, we are of worth to our Heavenly Father.  Every single one of us means something to Him, and that will never change.  We all have a bit of Diety within us, and we can become Gods and Goddesses if we just work on it.    

"It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses... There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal... it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit." -C.S. Lewis

We are all immortal.  We all lived before being born here on this Earth, and we will live again after we die.  Why is that so hard to remember while here on Earth?  Why is it something that we don’t think about as often as we should.

YOU are a Child of God.  I am a Child of God.  We can become Gods and Goddesses.  We can live with Heavenly Father.  We can live with our families for ETERNITY!  We just need to remember that, and in so doing, work hard on keeping the commandments and staying worthy to get the blessings the Lord wishes to bestow upon us.

You are a Child of God.  You have a divine nature and individual worth.  You are loved and cherished by a Heavenly Father who will always be around to help you through every experience you will face.  He constantly wants to help you, and He will always love you with His entire heart, whether you feel like He does or not.  Keeping this in mind will constantly bring happiness and joy at all times.

You are a Child of God.  And I love you, no matter what.  There are always people who will love you for you.  Don’t lose sight of that.  Ever.

Washington sets my soul on fire.

I came home for the weekend, and already feel so much better than I have all semester.  While trips to Utah and Boise helped me feel better, nothing gets me to feel the best I have felt than coming home and spending time with my glorious family.