this is who i am.

seeing as the title of my blog is "simply me" i feel that i should write a post about who i really am. the things that are important and the things that define me.

my name is melissa ashley fitzen.

i am the daughter of david and donna fitzen. i am the oldest of six children.

i have one sister (Kimberly) and four brothers (Jonathon, Nathan, Parker, & Logan).

i love my family with all my heart.

i am a child of God.

i know with all of my heart that I am a child of God. I know that He loves me. I know that he loves you. We can't truly comprehend it but it is real and I feel his love daily through his tender mercies.

i am girl.

i do stupid things like eat ice cream while watching chick flicks and crying. i care about what others think. i dress up for guys. i watch wedding shows on TLC. i am a girl and i do girly things.

i am optimistic.

i know without a doubt that things will always get better. i know that our loving Father in Heaven is ALWAYS looking out for us. He will not rip us off. He cares so much about us and he ultimately wants us to be happy. Everything he asks us to do or allows to happen to us is to strengthen us and make us SO much happier in the end. life is good. (:

i am a musician.

i love music (maybe that is why i'm majoring in it). i love love love it. i love being able to share the gospel through music. i love playing piano. i love feeling the spirit that music can bring. i love to express myself when i play. it is something i have complete control over and can make personally mine (: it is incredible. i love singing. i love to smile and make people happy when they hear music. it is such an incredible blessing to have music in my life.

i am passionate.

i care deeply about the things that are a part of me: the gospel, music, family, friends. i don't know how to describe this but i am passionate in all that i do. i try to do things to the fullest.

i am loving.

i truly open up my heart to people. i love people. i don't need to know them. Heavenly Father loves them...that should be enough for me.

i am a teacher.

i find indescribable joy in teaching other people. i love to teach the gospel, music, or just things i have learned in school. it makes it feel like there is a purpose to all the learning i have done. i love to share that with other people.

i am confident.

i know who i am. i know that Heavenly Father loves me. nothing else really matters in the end. i am melissa ashely fitzen. this is who i am. take it or leave it.

"hope ya know, we had a hard time"

there are periods in our lives that are full of joy and laughter. times of accomplishment and pride. times of deep spirituality and reflection. times of sadness.

in hard times we are supposed to make a list of our blessings or things we are grateful for. here are some of mine:

family.
friends.
house.
food.
cell phone.
laptop.
camera.
internet.
email.
music.
piano.
the gosple of jesus christ.
calling (sunday school teacher).
car.
fully functional body.
lack of allergy to chocolate.
holy ghost.
scriptures.
jay patrick valle.
temple.
testimony.
education.
opportunity to sing in general conference.
opportunity to sing at president's club.
jazz choir.
chemistry.
nail polish.
pillows.
my own bed.
shoes.
mom.
dad.
technology in general.
shampoo AND conditioner.
church building.
TV.
brain.
ukulele.
graphing calculator.
candles.
headbands.
letters.
tender mercies.
socks.
the sun.
kites. (especially owl ones named roberto).
fruit.
grocery stores.
electricity.
pictures.
tears.
quotes.
mormon messages.
.........

i could go on and on. it's amazing how this simple act can make such a difference in a person's life. there is a mormon message based on a talk given by quinten l. cook. it is titled "hope ya know, we had a hard time." watch it. even though i am having a hard time this summer there is always so much good in the world. we may not know why everything happens the way it does, but there is someone who does know and he loves us more than we know (:

my weaknesses.

ok. i have to say i have a few weaknesses. and i am about to admit them to the world.

#1 chocolate. this is probably a given since i am a girl but still i can say i'm a succor for some good chocolate. #2 good jazz music. ever since doing jazz choir i can't get enough of it. jane monheit, ella fitzgerald, etc. tight harmonies, stylized vocals, improv, AH.
#3 a grand piano. a black steinway on a stage. kill me now. i want one so bad! yup that about sums that one up.
#4 a black dress. with a belt...and POCKETS. yes! and killer heals.

#5 a good chick flick. i love those cheesy, teary, over-rated movies. #6 a button up shirt. jeans. on an attractive male. with some wondeful smelling cologne. mmm. enough said.