Something Uplifting

The girl who taught our Relief Society Lesson today read a portion of President Uchtdorf's talk from General Conference. I really like what it said so, I am posting it on my blog. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

"As you live up to this mission, in whatever life circumstance you find yourself - as a wife, as a mother, as a single mother, as a divorced woman, as a widowed or a single woman - the Lord our God will open up responsibilities and blessings far beyond your ability to imagine.


May I invite you to rise to the great potential within you. But don't reach beyond your capacity. Don't set goals beyond your capacity to achieve. Don't feel guilty or dwell in thoughts of failure. Don't compare yourself to others. Do the best you can, and the Lord will provide the rest. Have faith and confidence in Him, and you will see miracles happen in your life and the lives of your loved ones. The virtue of your own life will be a light to those who sit in darkness, because you are a living witness of the fullness of the gospel. Wherever you have been planted on this beautiful but often troubled earth of ours, you can be the one to "succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.


My dear sisters, as you live your daily life with all its blessings and challenges, let me assure you that the Lord loves you. He know you. He listens to your prayers, and He answers those prayers, wherever on this world you may be. He wants you to succeed in this life and in eternity."

It's BBQ Time

My family came down for a barbeque at my house last week. Monica and Scott's visit from Texas was the purpose of the celebration. I love it when my family comes down. We had some good food and great company. I took some pictures of the kids. They are always much cuter than the adults. No offense guys..I'm just stating a very true fact! :) I love you all just the same.

My 30th Birthday

I had my 30th birthday last month!! I am so excited to be 30. For whatever reason I have always wanted to be 30. I think it is because I feel like at the age of 30 you become a real adult. Not just a 20 something year old trying to be an adult. Regardless of how I feel about being 30 the important thing is that I had a really great day! I started the morning by sleeping in a little bit, then I met my Mom and sisters for lunch and to get pedicures.

The pedicures were a great experience because my sister Colette, my Mom and sister in law Alysha had never had pedicures before. Ha! I hope that Colette won't be mad at me for saying this but, she was the funniest ever. She had to go to the bathroom so bad and she didn't feel like she had time to go before we started. When she put her feet in the hot water I thought she may wet her pants right there in the massage chair. We also discovered Colette's uncomfortably ticklish feet that day. Alysha and I couldn't stop laughing at how she would flinch and try not to kick the pedicurist in the face because of the tickle she was feeling in her feet. Ah, it was such a good time.





After the pedicures we shopped for a minute and I headed home to my house. I got opened some presents and then headed to Salt Lake to meet some friends for dinner at the Cheesecake factory. The dinner was so so good. I love that Cheesecake factory place! Yum!! The best part was the cheesecake...White Chocolate Caramel Macadamian Nut goodness, with whip cream of course. I loved it!





Such a good time and such a great day. I love being 30. I can't even wait to see what the rest of life will bring to me.

Independance Day

Yesterday, I had the most overwhelming gratitude come over me when I started thinking about the 4th of July and the purpose of why we celebrate it. I couldn't stop thinking of all the freedoms I enjoy. I woke up around 11 o'clock in the morning. Did some laundry, sat outside on my deck, and started remodeling my kitchen. All things I did in the luxury of my own my. My very own home. Then I took a warm indoor shower, listened to my music while I got ready in my very own bathroom. Drove my car to a friends house, sat in her backyard, ate all the food I wanted. Then I walked over to the park, wrapped up in a warm blanket and watch fireworks all night long. It was such a simple day but a day filled with tasks that are the complete benefit of the men and women who sacrificed their lives and their liberties to make this the United States a free country. A place where everyone is free to pursue life, love and happiness. God bless America!

A Backyard Concert w Kalai

Last year I went to a concert at Thanksgiving point that featured Kalai. I hadn't ever really heard of him before but quickly fell in love with his unique sound and individual style. Since then I have continually searched for venues where he is playing and listened to his music hundreds and hundreds of times on my Ipod. A few weeks ago my boss called and said, "hey, who is that artist that you love?" I said Kalai right away. He said, "one of my friends is having a private concert with him in their backyard. I am not going to be able to go do you want to go?" Of course my response was heck yes!!! The private concert was amazing and I was so excited! I truly do love Kalai's music. It was so so fun. There were probably 50 people in the backyard. One of the best concert I have ever been to in my life!!

The New Love of My Life

I love to lay out. I think it probably started in High School when my girlfriends and I would sluff and layout in the back of my truck for an hour during the middle of the day. Then when I graduated and went to college my roommates and I decided to take a tanning trip every year in May to start off the tanning season right. We just had our 5th year tanning trip anniversary in May. When I bought my house one of the first purchases I made to accessorize the place was some white armless lay out chairs.

So, it should be no surprise that this weekend I fell in love with the best place I have ever laid out. The pool at the Wynn hotel in Las Vegas. Look at that picture...how can you not like that? From the gold and white striped bath towels, to the water misters and complimentary water..you can not go wrong. The pool is gorgeous. And I absolutely loved it. If you ever get a chance to go, do it and make sure you spend the night!

The Love Bug

My sister did this post a few months ago. I loved reading about the things she loves. I meant to do it then but I didn't make the time. I stole the post picture from her blog. I hope she doesn't mind.

Things That I Love...

25. I love to celebrate holidays...any holiday you give me. I will celebrate.
24. I love being outside.
23. I love hiking.
22. I love laying out in the summer.
21. I love freedom.
20. I love learning.
19. I love to hold a sleeping baby in my arms.
18. I love to feel the warmth of another person next to me.
17. I love my job and being good at what I do.
16. I love a newly mowed lawn and the smell of fresh cut grass.
15. I love Springtime...tree blossoms, flower buds, and the warming of the sun.
14. I love being an Aunt, a sister, a daughter and a friend.
13. I love to create things.
12. I love to decorate and accessories, either my home or my outfits.
11. I love knowing I have really good friends.
10. I love my parents will all of my heart.
9. I love my membership in the LDS church.
8. I love the memories I have of serving a mission in Brazil.
7. I love helping people.
6. I love to make new friends.
5. I love a clean, well kept house.
4. I love to sleep.
3. I love the way I feel when I work out.
2. I love experiencing new things.
1. I love life.

Happy Easter to Me!

I have been looking for a new car for months and months. I new that I wanted a bigger car that was AWD, first of all to make the snowy months living in Bountiful with its many hills more bearable. And to be able to haul trays for work easier. I found the car I wanted last Tuesday. I couldn't stop thinking about it all week. So, yesterday I went back down to the dealership to just check it out, not necessarily with the intention to purchase it at that moment. I test drove a different car of the same model and year before I drove the one I bought but, the one I bought had a lot more features than the original one I drove. The car with more features was listed at only a $1000 more and was a lot better car and the one I had originally caught my heart. So, I asked if I could drive the better equipped one. Once I got in the driver's seat, I knew she had to be mine. I am so excited. I have been looking for so long. It feels good to finally find something that I absolutely love and in the exact price range for my budget. So, Happy Easter to me..now, I'll have to drive it until the day I die!! Ha Ha!

Happy Easter...I mean Keester!!

The WINDY City

So, last year I went to Chicago with my friend Aubrey for the weekend. I fell in Love with the City. It is so clean and alive and beautiful. It sits right on the edge of Michigan lake so not only do you get great shopping but you also get a beautiful water front. This year I went back to the Windy city again...My new true love! Just kidding...however, I do really love it there!! I actually went with a group of friends for the St. Patrick's Day Celebration. It was quite the event. I feel a must do on everyone's to do list.



A picture of the city from Navy Pier at Sunset.



Waiting in line to get some Chicago deep dish Pizza! Totally worth the wait.



The famous "C" of the Cubs at Wrigley Field.



The Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier.



The famous Farmers Statue. Me and my friend Sarah.

A Little Perspective

I thought this email I received from my friend the other day was great to put a little perspective into things. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee...You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make
it and wanted to give up, She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the
first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without
saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, ' Tell me what you see.' 'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied. Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean , mother?'

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in
strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile.
Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The
ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it
releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy. The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The
brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches. When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

May we all be COFFEE!!!!!!!

St Patrick's Day in Chicago

I went to Chicago for the St Patrick's Day Celebration. I loved being in Chicago again because I absolutely love that place and it was fun to see the crowds of crazy people supporting the Irish and watching them turn the river green. Fluorescent green might I add.



My Party Shirt for the Day.



The crowd...all these people just to see a green river.



Very loyal St Patrick's Day supporters.



It's green!!!



The guys dying the river looked like Umpa-Loopma's from Willy Wonka! Ha!



Happy St. Patty's Day!