My Current Happy Thought

Cancun is just around the corner for the Gardner family. . . I seriously cant wait. Just the thought that soon we will be soaking up the sun, sipping strawberry smoothies and livin it up is what keeps me going until summer. CANCUN OR BUST!!!

I Need Followers

Upon first reading the title of this post, you may be inclined to think I am a) starting a new religion. b) promoting myself for President or c) I need people to follow my blog.
The correct assumption to this posed inquiry is C. I need people to follow my blog, or should I say blogS. I just started a new one for my photography business and need to start promoting myself. So go ahead! ....

Follow me.

http://www.neverlandphotography.blogspot.com/

Let me know what you think about it and let me know if you are interested in getting some pics done. Contact me if you are interested. neverlandphotography@yahoo.com
or
lauren_e_jones@yahoo.com
or
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1136088786

Come follow me.... (Not intended to be sac religious)

Demo Reel Scenes

A few months ago, I put together a bunch of scenes to make a demo reel for my acting "career". This story ideas were put together by Gav, my mom, my dad and myself. The sound is kinda bad, and my horse was being naughty but we still had fun.

This scene was also made up to go along with the story of Day Zero (Another film I am involved in.) I got myself to bawl but its hard to tell because we didnt get too many close ups. And the sound isnt the best. But it was way fun and I want to thank everyone who helped: My mom, sisters, Gav, my dad, Brad Gashler and Brenden Whitney.

Let me know what you think!

Soul Surfer

This weekend I finally had the chance to go see the movie, Soul Surfer. For those of you who havent heard of this film, it is about a professional surfer named Bethany Hamilton. Bethany has an amazing story I am sure you heard about. When she was 13, Bethany was attacked by a 14-foot tiger shark while surfing off Kauai’s North Shore. The attack left Bethany with a severed left arm. Miraculously, just one month after the attack, Bethany returned to the water to continue pursuing her goal to become a professional surfer. This film stars Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt as Bethany's parents, Carrie Underwood as the youth minister and AnnaSophia Robb as Bethany. I loved this movie. I thought Robb's performance of Hamilton was amazing. She has such depth as an actor and I sincerely felt for her and her situation. With an amazingly upbeat attitude you cant help but want to be more like her. One of my favorite lines from the movie was given by Carrie Underwood. It takes place after the shark attack and the youth group and gone to Thailand to help after the tsunami. Bethany is talking to a survivor and gets emotional hearing about their ordeal and runs away to get her composure. Carrie approaches her and tells her not to be ashamed of compassion. It can move people to do amazing things. It made me feel alot better about crying during the movie. :) I would recommend this movie to everyone. The cinematography is amazing, the acting (AnnaSophia Robb especially) is great. The story is inspirational and lifts the soul.

One disclaimer though. . . For the most part, the film would be fine for younger kids, but the actual shark attack might be frightening. One moment Hamilton is just lying on her board, laughing with her friend, and the next moment her arm is gone and the water is red with her blood.

I gotta admit, that as an audience member, even though you know what is going to happen, it still makes your heart drop a bit when you see a massive shark come out of the water right next to Hamilton. Scared me, thats for sure. I am pretty sure I dreamt about sharks that night too... But I would DEFINITELY give this movie 5 stars, two thumbs up, whatever it takes to get you to go see it! :)

The above picture is of AnnaSophia Robb and Bethany Hamilton.

Prom

It's prom season and my little sister is going to the dance this weekend! I am so excited for her and cant wait to see her in her dress. I still cant even believe that she is old enough to date, yet alone graduate this year! I remember my first prom... At the time I was dating a kid and we were planning on going together. I was involved in student government and was partly in charge of putting it together. I remember that it was a lot of work but I honestly dont remember even the theme! I know we had fun and I know that I felt beautiful in my cinderella blue ballgown. (I do remember that) And I remember it was snowing like crazy and that it was clear out at the fairgrounds. I also remember that I got a kiss at the doorstep and when I said goodbye and opened the door, my mom and dad darted around the corner trying not to be seen spying. (For realz. I cant blame them though, I'll probably be doing the same thing with my kids) For this weekend, I told Lex I would come and take some picture for her and I think I might be more excited for her than she is. . . This boy better treat her like the princess she is or else she will have Gavin, Levi and her policeman Father to answer to... not to mention her crazy big sister.

It's Been Awhile

I love following blogs and I get mad when people dont update theirs so I can have some good reading material. . . but then, I dont update mine that often lately either. So, while I have nothing TOO exciting to report, this can just serve as an update. I am really thankful for the opportunity I have to blog. Blogging, at first sounded to me like yet ANOTHER social media network that would slowly fizz out, but I realize that even if no one else blogged, I think I still would because its like a journal and I know I dont put in time to physically write in a journal, so this is a great tool. Also, its a way to connect with family who live far away and we arent able to see as often as we would like. This past week was my birthday and I was spoiled by my hubby. He has known for a long time how much I wanted a camera to start taking more professional pictures as well as to develop my film making skills and he surprised me with the camera I've had my eye on for a long time.

This is my Canon Rebel T2i

I am estatic! I was so shocked and so happy he had worked so hard to get me one. He is such an amazing husband. I am so lucky to have him. (And not just becasue he buys me stuff, because he supports my hopes and dreams!)

Gav is happy that school will be out for the summer soon. He has been working so hard and I know that those classes he is taking are not easy. Not only is he working hard in school, he is helping my family with the building of their new house. For the last 5 years, my mom has been working really hard at developing the land she bought in Kaysville and selling it so she and my dad could have their dream home. 5 long, hard years later, they finally finished! She is holding an open house for two weeks, then they close and are free to move in. I was talking to my dad yesterday while we were sitting in the new living room and I told him how it finally feels like home. Like we've been away from home for a long trip and we are finally where we are supposed to be. I wonder if thats what it will be like when we go to heaven. The feeling that we are FINALLY home. Like you didnt realize how much you missed it until you were back to where it feels right.

I am so proud of my mom. She is such an example to me. I hope I can be as amazing to my kids as a mom as she is to me. She is so dedicated, so creative, so talented, caring, goofy and loving all at once. I have learned so much from her and look forward to learning MUCH MUCH more. I hope my siblings see how amazing she is and take advantage of learning from her every chance they have because when you move away and are starting your own little life and family, you appreciate what your parents do for you so much more.

My friend, Makenzie Koehler, is getting married soon and I couldnt be happier for her. She asked me to be her Matron of Honor. I was thrilled and so honored she would pick me. Thank you Mak! Mike is a lucky, lucky man. :)

That's all for today folks!

XOXOXOXO