Simply Smiddy - The Idaho Convert

This year at Open Dance Nationals I was honored to choreograph a duet with Gabe Wistisen. Many ask when Gabe started dancing.... A month before nationals. Why? Well... I called him and asked if he would do a duet with me and he said, "um.. sure" and I said, "good cause I already paid for it!" haha. Gabe worked really really hard for a month to learn not only the new choreography, but the basics as well. Gabe has taken tap classes, but other than that he was not informed of the technique needed to pull of a contemporary dance. Gabe has also been in many plays so I knew that he would be a good option as a duet partner because he would perform with his face. We were really nervous to compete at Open Dance Nationals because we were entered in the Advanced Contemporary division for age 17. We were honored to not only take first, receiving high gold and king/queen, but we also were honored to make the National All-American Team! Which only the top fifteen dancers are...

A view from the top of the stadium! Yes I performed in front of that HUGE crowd. One Step Closer to achieving my biggest dreams! I have been blessed with so many amazing opportunities in my dance career and performing at the Jazz vs. Lakers game beats them all. I was incredibly blessed to perform at Energy Solutions on April 14th, 2014. It was the Utah Jazz's last game and it was against my all time favorite Los Angelous Lakers! It was very tempting to wear my Lakers jersey, but i decided since I was performing with the Utah Jazz Dancers I should probably represent them.  Being in the stadium, on the floor, with the Jazz players is an experience I will never forget. I was standing within inches of some of the greatest basketball players. As they warmed up and we marked formations I was able to talk to some of them. They would pass the ball back and forth barely missing an arm or leg or your face! It was really funny because as they passed the ball back and forth they would t...

Because of Him death has no sting. I will be with my missed loved ones again. I have the amazing opportunity to be married in the most beautiful places on earth, the temples, and I can have an eternal marriage. I can be with my family forever through a simple sealing. I can be forgiven every day and every day i wake up and live a whole new day. I  can feel peace through all the craziness in the world around me. Because of Him I am able to see blessings through my hardest trials. We will see stand again with Heavenly Father and Christ. Because of Him I have strength and confidence in ALL I do. I never feel alone, not even on my darkest day. Because of Him this life became more than a pass or fail test. We are not perfect and Christ suffered for our sins. Because of Him we can return to our Fathers loving arms. Because of him the unthinkable, the impossible, the unfathomable, and the unpredictable is possible. He is our greatest example, leader, and brother. I'm more than gratefu...

This past weekend I had the opportunity to participate in Distinguished Young Women. There were 27 contestants and it was a tough competition. The girls were incredible and we created a bond I will never forget. Each girl was blessed with her own talent and confident that just glowed onstage. I walked into the competition knowing I wouldn't win because my scholastic score would not be within the top five. But I was blessed enough to win first in talent and first in fitness. Getting a total of $900 in scholarships. It was amazing to show my school and community my dancing abilities and my confidence onstage. Honestly it was a thrill to be onstage. Many ask if I'm disappointed in not winning... I don't hesitate to say no I'm not disappointed.. I am proud of myself and my accomplishments but I am even more proud to have the best representative to go compete in state. Not only do I have scholarship money but I have 26 new friendships I didn't have before. This is a ge...

 I've grown up in an unstable family that I love so dearly. My mom has had two divorces, my dad's side of the family are constantly getting arrested and in and out of jail. My dad has six kids and there are three mothers. He has no contact with any, one in which passed away. I never grew up around my dad. He didn't really want me around when I was young, but we have made contact lately. My step dad was a wonderful wonderful dad and he raised me well but after there divorce this past year he has wanted nothing to do with me. So none of my previous family were religious and if they were they were Christian, but I don't know any members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints..(other than my sister and I)..I had no immediate family to be a worthy example for me, but I did have friends. Back in sixth grade my mom had a friend who had a daughter my age. We were best friends. They were a very inactive family but they still had pictures of Christ and temples around ...

Yesterday I was so lucky to go to our regional laurel conference, Patterns for Life. It's always fun to be with the amazing girls that are my age, but it was especially amazing to be there and to learn about all these qualities that are going to help me and bless me as I move on to the next chapter in my life. I am a junior in high school and I'm preparing to apply for all sorts of colleges and just take on the best chapter! We learned about applying for scholarships, how to handle financial situations, self-defense ( which was very fun, but slightly scary because I'm not the mean "fighter" we had to be to defend ourselves in that class), how to prepare quick healthy meals, and simple things you can so to make your clothes modest. It was really awesome to learn these skills because, even now, it's great to be able to "take care" of yourself and be more independent. In my life, my mom and I have different standards and we think little differently just...