Life, Designs, and More

Akston...

2012-02-10T06:58:00.000-08:00

I have a new nephew! He was born on tuesday. He's darling, and was cuddly when I last saw him. He's been in NICU since wednesday morning early, so I've seen some pictures of him. He looks a lot like his biggest brother. The nurse that helped in the delivery, said she was trying to be all professional, but the second he came out, she was like, "holy cow! That's a little Collin!" Way cute! I'll post a picture later, gotta get little Ford off to school!

Really!?

2012-02-10T06:55:00.000-08:00

So, I have two confessions: 1. I secretly want to own a bakery. 2. I secretly want to be a motivational speaker. The first one is probably not that big of a secret, since I love baking, and any chance I get, I take advantage of it. The second one, I would imagine is a secret and probably a surprise, seeing as how I don't do much talking as it is. I rarely have chances to speak, and when I do, I stress for forever about it beforehand. However, when I'm up there, and actually speaking, I find I quite enjoy it.

So, I'm not going to go on about a business plan for owning a bakery, but I am going to discuss this motivational speaker idea.

This thought came to me sometime since Grandma died, so in the last 14 months. I've observed midsingle women, and how they act, and just want to tell them how wonderful they really are, and give them a boost of self confidence. I want them to see how Heavenly Father sees them, and get past how they see themselves. I want to point out the things I see them doing, that aren't doing them any favors. Now, in my circumstances, obviously I don't have the answers, at least I don't have the answers for me. I'm not saying any of this, for people to feel sorry for me or to have people ask "what can I do to help you get married," that approach doesn't work and makes things worse. Who wants to be a midsingle? I want to be a wife and a mom more than anything in the world. It's not my timing that matters, it's the Lord's timing that matters.

I have the opportunity to be a leader of an LDS midsingles organization. Being the leader is challenging, fun and sometimes hard. For whatever reason, people think they can come to me, and I'll have all of the answers to make their dating lives better. Hello, I'm in the same circumstance, I don't have the answers, or I wouldn't be in the same circumstance. It's made me feel inadequate, that I don't have any answers or suggestions for them.

There are many situations and stories that I've been told, and I'm going to share some of them. I'm omitting any names to protect the innocent :) I hope no one is offended by me sharing their stories.

There's the let's go get a frozen yogurt, because you're not worth me spending an extra $15 and actually taking you to dinner.

Picture Joe Jr. from While You Were Sleeping. Ick! Here is this guy that thinks he's pretty dang cool, not catching on at all that she's not interested, no matter what she says, he's still pretty certain there's something wonderful going on.

Another version of Joe Jr.: "You know Pops would knock the rent down; I could move in with you." Someone who says, "Let's go to the park first, and depending on how that goes, I might buy you dinner."

Then, there's the guy that talks your ear off for forever, and you can tell is missing a few things up stairs, and asks, "Aren't you going to ask me for my number?" Hello! If you want her to talk to you on the phone, ask for hers! Then, followed up by telling her friends, unknown to him, that she's not his type, but would be great for networking, to introduce him to her cute roommates.

Then we have this guy, "You're pretty, but I'm not gonna lie, I don't like weight on anyone... Especially me." Would you look at that guy? Of course he's funny, but really?!

Then we have the guy with the Gaston complex! Thinks he's everyone's gift, and loves going out with a different girl every night. Hello, do you have any depth to you at all?

Then we have Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy appears to be the cream of the crop, a little stand offish to some, but a charmer when he wants. He needs to humble himself, take the pride down a notch or two. Remember the scene where he's telling Elizabeth he loves her; he loves her against his better judgement. He just keeps rambling, digging himself into a deeper hole, wounding her pride (what little she had, in real life. Not that the midsingles' version of Mr. Darcy is professing love to anyone, he just gives excuses.)

These are just a small portion of the stories I've heard or experienced. I don't know why I've been called to lead the midsingles, I do know that this is where Heavenly Father wants me to be, and hopefully, with time, obviously not my time, I'll know why, and have a better picture. Until then, I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing. Thanks for reading my rantings!

2012-01-20T07:09:00.001-08:00

Having faith in

Heavenly Father,

includes having faith

in His timing

Comings and goings...

2012-01-17T13:58:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time, again! Life is so insanely crazy at times, and then on the off chance I have an evening without anything to do, I sit here going "What's up with me? I should be doing something!"

The holidays have come and gone, they went by quickly.

The mid-singles combined choir did an amazing Christmas fireside! I am so grateful to be a part of it! A friend of mine ran it, and he did an amazing job! I had no idea how big it was going to be, having it be the first one I've been a part of; but it was huge. There are so many amazingly talented people out there. The Spirit was so strong through all of the songs and the talks, it just worked out perfectly. I got to decorate the stage, and that was really fun! People were amazing at loaning me their trees, garlands and white lights. I even got a tree out of someone's (Vickie :)) front room. It was a great experience!

I've been working out really hard since September 1st. It's been a huge challenge! The first week I thought I was going to die, LITERALLY!It was the worst experience, EVER! My thoughts at the end of that week, were that if I felt anything like that on Monday, I'd be done; however, the second week got better, and I've stuck to it! I have 10 1/2 weeks left that's paid for with my trainer, and hopefully, at the end of that, I'll be able to do it on my own and maintain. The hardest part was changing from how I ate, which wasn't very much, but the wrong kinds of foods, to eating wheat and vegetables. I've always hated vegetables, other than zucchini. I'm still not a big fan, but I now eat more than zucchini- broccoli and mushrooms have become favorites!

At a fireside in October, I was sitting there, by myself, listening to the program, and had this impression that I was going to be "called" to lead this mid-singles group. I, immediately, was like, NO WAY! I so didn't want to. I feel unqualified to do it. However, it wasn't very many weeks until I was asked to lead them. I officially began leading it two weeks ago, and still feel inadequate. I'm amazed at how the way my mind has changed from being a participant, to having people's names pop into my head, and need to know how they're doing or what I can do to help them. I'm pretty reserved, so it's getting me out of my comfort zone. Sometimes, I let myself fall back into that area. Like last night, I was totally fine, and then all of a sudden I had this overwhelming feeling of not fitting into this. "Not fitting in," as in the sense of how an 8th grade girl feels, isn't what I mean. I'd rather stick out in the crowd than be like everyone else. It was just a weird experience, but that feeling doesn't happen as much as it used to, so hopefully, it won't happen anymore.

Young Women's is keeping me busy, with ward conferences, New Beginnings and an upcoming Especially by Youth (instead of EFY). We have some amazing kids that are going to teach workshops, hence the "by."

I just HAVE to say life is good and great things are happening!

What a week!

2011-11-12T20:34:00.001-08:00

This week has been fun, crazy, overwhelming, and super busy! On Monday, I made cake pops for FHE. It was my first time, and baking them is way easy! Decorating them is a different story! You have to freeze them for a few minutes, then stick the stick into them with frosting or chocolate, and freeze them again. Then, you frost them with whatever you're using, and decorate them with Oreos, sprinkles, I toasted coconut; and then freeze, again. It took five hours! They turned out really well, and they're yummy! FHE was super fun, and that chalks up monday to being a really good day.

Then, Tuesday came. I had a presentation at 1:30, I had just put the finishing touches on my stuff, and went to print them, and my computer made this horrific sound, and the screen was flickering gray and white. It was 12:30, and I ran it over to PC Laptops, where they found it was a fried motherboard. I had a breakdown! Crying, and all! Totally bawling my eyes out. Needless to say, I have a new laptop, and they gave me the "please stop crying" discount :) That took all day, and then we had an Evening of Excellence.

Wednesday was insanely crazy with getting other things situated for my rescheduled appointment, and a presentation I had to do on Thursday. Then, we had another Evening of Excellence, and then I went to institute and choir. I didn't stick around to visit at choir, because I had to put a slide show together for our leadership meeting, the next night. With this new computer, I don't have many of the programs, I had on the other computer. I didn't know what I was doing, or how I was going to do it. It ended up coming together perfectly, and it was the perfect amount of time for the song I had picked out.

Thursday, I made it to the gym, finished my preparations for my presentation, and presented it. I presented what I can do in home staging to a brokerage firm. I got lost on my way there, and it was just in west Layton. I was so dying, and then, they didn't tell me which suite they were in, just that it was on the second floor, so needless to say, I was late. I think it went well, he said I'd hear in 2-3 weeks. Hopefully, this will raise some business. Then, I did everything I could to prepare for our leadership meeting that was that night. Then, I went to a choir practice for 23 minutes before I had to be at our leadership meeting. I'm so glad I was able to get everything done, and be everywhere I wanted to be.

On top of all of this craziness, I had piano, too. It was just constant business! Friday, I did my presentation, and I think it went well. I got to talk to two of my bestfriends in the whole world, which was great after all that went on!

I've discovered things about myself this week, like when I get nervous or feel a little uncomfortable in situations, I use my phone as a coping mechanism. It's like a distraction from my nervousness, which, probably appears rude, or that I'm not interested in whatever the task at hand is, so, I'm going to not take it with me, to see if I can face my fears :)

Thankful for...

2011-11-06T20:09:00.000-08:00

November is always a time to remember things we're thankful for, although, I think we should be thinking of things we're thankful for daily. I'm not one to be following the people on facebook, with the daily "thankful fors" or your shoe size or bra color or whatever fad they're doing at the time.
I have a sinus infection, and as I've said before, I have no insurance. So, I've been living with this for about 2 1/2 weeks, but the pain in my teeth was getting to be unbearable. I called my doctor's office, and he's out of town until next wednesday. (I wish I was a doctor, he's been gone so much lately.) Anyways, so they transfered me to the doctor that is taking his patients, and I left a message explaining what I had, and that I needed an antibiotic. They couldn't find any record of me ever having a sinus infection, so they didn't think they could do anything, unless I came in. Well, they ended up just calling in a prescription for me. Thank goodness! The reason they couldn't find any record is because my doctor hasn't charged me for the last two years. He's an old family friend that we met through Collin's soccer team. So, I have to say I'm so thankful for soccer in my life and the friends that I've made, because of it!

I'm, also, thankful that I was able to spend so much time with Grandma Mamie. It's nearly been a year since she passed away, I can't believe it! I'm grateful that Collin's kids got to know her. Today Everett wanted us to all go down and see Grandma's grave. What three year old would think of that? It was so sweet! Both boys kept their church clothes on so they'd be dressed well for Grandma. I'm so thankful for them and for Addy.

I'm thankful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! I don't know where I'd be without it.

Temple Walk...

2011-10-15T19:42:00.000-07:00

Wow! Two posts in a week, I don't think that has ever happened!

Today our young women and young men along with adult leaders and some ward members walked/rode a bike (for 6 miles) from our church in Layton 22.8 miles to the Bountiful Temple. I'm so amazed at all of them! My mom walked most of it, too; I'm WAY proud of her! I helped at a couple stations, and got to greet them at the temple. A friend of mine asked me the point to this forever long walk (as Ford says, "It's like 2200 miles!"). I don't think I ever really answered, so I'm going to share that now! Sister Dalton had talked (http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/guardians-of-virtue?lang=eng) about a group of young women that walked from the Draper temple to the Salt Lake temple, which happened to be about 22.? miles. We immediately thought we could do that as a stake! Our stake president had some questions, that we never really answered, so our ward did it, and now we have our answers. So, next year, all of the young women in our stake are going to make this trek! The walk to the temple was symbolic of our actual preparation for the temple. You can't just go to the temple, and expect to get in. You have to be prepared and have a recommend. Our girls needed to remember to have the correct kind of shoes and have exercised enough to get up the 3.8 mile trek up the gigantic hill. Life is like that. Reading the scriptures, praying, attending church, following the standards in the For the Strength of the Youth book, and doing Personal Progress are all things that help prepare us to attend the temple. Of course, there are going to be hills and mountains to climb, big trials, but we can do it, by choosing what's right. When we fall off the path and make mistakes, through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can repent and get back on the path. When we sin, our priesthood leaders (bishop), young women leaders, parents and friends are there to help us through. Just like today, when people were struggling, there were people there to pick up kids and help them along, a nurse to comfort the blisters, Bishop Macrum to fix the bikes. I loved seeing people helping each other, that normally don't have much to do with each other. After nearly 8 hours, they were blessed by having a member of the temple presidency come speak about the temple, and say that as they commit to prepare themselves to enter the temple, that when that time comes there will always be those wonderful temple workers there to welcome them with open arms. After listening to his sweet message, Pres. Theurer, in our stake presidency spoke, as well. It was an amazing day! Thanks for letting me be apart of it!

I'm so grateful for the temple in my life! I'm grateful for the many blessings and miracles that I've witnessed in my life and in the lives of family and friends! I'm so grateful that I'm sealed to my family, and that I will one day get to know my daddy, and one day, hopefully, I'll be able to be sealed to my own family!

Favorite Quotes of the Week...

2011-10-12T22:22:00.000-07:00

I decided that I would share a couple things I heard this past week that I got a kick out of and some things I just really enjoyed. So here goes:

Q: Do you want to wash your hands?

A: No, I have dark socks on!

Me: Remember to play with your left hand.

Student: Oh, umm, no, I don't usually pay attention to that part.

(And then continued not to play her left hand.)

Q: What's the worst part of your day?

Ev: Grandma didn't come scrape the parmesan off my spoon.

(For whatever reason, Ev was put out that he had a parmesan sauce on his chicken, and wanted ONLY Grandma Colleen to get it off. Of course, she was at home in Layton, and he was at his house at the time :)) Oh, and this was told to me from Ev or Krystal to Collin to Mom to me.

At this workshop I attended on Saturday, it talked about Stepping Forward. It was done by Kerry and Jill Shepherd. She talked about the different shoes she has worn, and what they mean to her... i.e. National Guard boots, combat boots for Afghanistan, pumps for Miss Utah. Anyways, she said, "We're given many different shoes in our lives, but it's what we do with them that's important." I really liked that, of course I would enjoy anything about shoes, but I totally loved that idea, because it's so true! It's up to us to make those choices and decisions to get us where we want to go.

"The Lord sometimes referred to Joseph [Smith] as His servant, His son and His friend. What's the difference? Servants are required to work. Sons are expected to work. However, friends work because they want to."

Forget Me Not...

2011-09-25T14:03:00.000-07:00

Last night, I attended the General Relief Society Broadcast at our stake center. I have to admit that I struggled with going, because I wanted to watch the Real game and go to this Improv night in Salt Lake. I'm grateful I went. I loved President Uchtdorf's talk! He just has a way about him, and a way he delivers his messages that are so exactly what I need to hear! I have loved his "Happily Ever After" talk (http://lds.org/general-conference/2010/04/your-happily-ever-after?lang=eng&query=Happily+Ever+After ) I know that talk was written just for me :) It was exactly what I needed to hear at the time, and since then, I've read it often.

So, here is the link to this wonderful message! Read it! It's great for everyone in any circumstance!

http://lds.org/study/prophets-speak-today/unto-all-the-world/president-uchtdorf-reminds-sisters-of-five-things-to-forget-not?lang=eng

2011-09-16T10:56:00.000-07:00

I started working with a trainer three weeks ago at the gym, and just had a realization yesterday... When I got started, we talked about my diet, and have changed things up. Because I was drinking so much Mountain Dew at the time, she said to cut down, but not completely. Well, I've had very little, but some every once in a while. Well, yesterday, I wasn't feeling very good, and knew that the cure for the pain is a mountain dew and a few ibuprofen. So, I went to Maverick and bought an x-small mountain dew fountain drink. Guess what has happened... I didn't like it! I was so sad! I know it's the best for me, but I couldn't believe that in just 3 weeks, I am over Mountain Dew. Proud of myself? Yes!

Missing people...

2011-08-16T16:07:00.000-07:00

So, it has been 14 months since Grandpa Ross passed away. I've been missing him SO much! When I was packing for Snowbird, I started grabbing movies that he'd want to watch, without even thinking. Needless to say Italian Job did not make the cut this year. I don't remember doing this last year, and I know this was our second year up there without him. A couple nights ago, I had a dream about him. It was a really weird dream about me helping someone out at our Back to School Bash that's coming up this weekend, and no one came. (Hopefully it wasn't a sign of things to come :)) Anyways, all of a sudden he was there sitting in a lawn chair, and I ran to him like a little girl, and said that I'd missed him so much! We talked for a while, and he told me he loved me, and that he wasn't going to leave me again, and then right after that, he said he had to leave for a while, and he was gone.

It has been 8 months and 12 days since Grandma Mamie passed away. I've been so grateful not to be driving behind the Apple Village bus. There for a while, everywhere I went it was in front of me, and I'd just break down bawling. This week has been interesting, though. Yesterday at Maverick, one of her CNA's was there. It was one from the place we had her in last. (I can't even remember the name of the place, weird.) She was the one who kept telling us it was going to happen any second, and to not go anywhere without the phone. Seeing her made me physically sick. Then, today, while playing the piano at McKay-Dee, her hospice nurse walked in, and I was so excited to see her. It's so weird that so many people were such a major part of our lives, but are gone now. It seems like we lost a lot of people, when we lost that cute little Grandma. On Sunday, I'm playing a musical number in Apple Village's sacrament meeting. We'll see if I can get through that without crying my eyes out! :)

SNOWBIRD...

2011-08-14T21:39:00.000-07:00

Every week 32 our family goes to Snowbird. My mom and dad bought a time share up there when they were expecting me. Lots of people make New Years' resolutions, well I make Snowbird resolutions. I didn't have a lot of time to think about it this time, being busy playing with the kids. I'm not complaining, I totally love them! It was so much fun getting to see so much of their individual personalities. Ford has the best imagination I've ever witnessed, and is always planning something! Everett is so logical, and plays a tough guy, but really isn't. Adelynn is a riot, and she knows it! We had a lot of fun getting to slide on the Alpine Slide and the tram. They jumped on jump houses and stuff, and loved it! There were only two things I didn't do that I really wanted to, ride the Zip Line and sit down at the edge of the river and relax. This time was the first time I came down the mountain during the week. I came home for my institute class and went out to dinner with Amy. It was great! Next year we'll hopefully be able to get a new room. The room we have had forever was perfect for Collin, Mom, Dad and me. Next year there will be a new baby, and when I eventually have a family, there's definitely not going to be room for all of us!

Anyways~ back to my new goals... I'm not going to tell you :) I can just say that I feel very happy about the future, not that I'm really knowing what that holds. I can tell you that I'm going to step up on Designs by Pyper. I've been slacking during the summer, so I've really got to get moving!

One goal is to get past this dumb shyness of mine. I've improved, but I have a long ways to go.

2011-07-24T19:21:00.000-07:00

So, I'm not very good at keeping up on this anymore! What's gone on since the last time I was on here?

Birthdays...

Selling Grandma's house...

Here's Grandma's empty house. This was WAY harder than I thought it would be!

Other things have been Daughters of Faith. Going to one of the girls' camps. Teaching piano, and still not having the summer schedule set with everyone's vacations, so every week is new. (I even forgot some were coming at a certain time, and woke up 6 minutes before piano :)) Going to the rodeo. ReAL!!! Having a good time meeting new people and making new friends. Spending lots of time with the funniest kids, EVER!!! I'm sure there's more, but I can't think of it at the moment. I can just say I'm having tons of fun and keeping busy!

New things I've done this week...

2011-06-22T21:36:00.000-07:00

Remember how once I said I was going to try new things... Well, I had quite a few things this week...

1. Refinished cabinets

2. Sanded a front door and back door and refinished/painted them.

3. Played Danishball :)

4. Trimmed a tree (not decorated :)) actually cut branches off

5. Used an electric trimmer on the shrubbery around the sidewalk, driveway, and porch.

6. Drilled holes in someones wall and hung some drapery rods.

7. Got a CD that I recorded a while ago :)

Pretty fun stuff!

Yellowstone Lake!

2011-06-21T11:56:00.000-07:00

Part of Yellowstone Lake was still frozen over, when we there a couple weeks ago. So, we were standing at Fishing Bridge, and were able to see and hear the most incredible sound of ice pieces crashing into one another, and forming more ice crystals. It was awesome! So, I've tried to upload the video, but it's taking 10 years! So, here are some photos...

Can't sleep, so I'm blogging...

2011-06-20T23:36:00.000-07:00

On the mondays before I play the piano at the hospital I always try to get to bed at a decent hour. Well, it's so not working tonight. My mind is wandering and running so fast it's driving me crazy! There's no way I'm going to play well in the a.m., and no way I'll have the patience to teach when it's time :( I'm sitting in my comfort chair, looking for the comfort that will make me want to sleep, and it's no where to be found. Don't you get frustrated when things seem wonderful, and then you catch a part of what someone is saying, and it changes the whole picture? Anyways, I'm just rambling, because I'm so tired. I'm sure everything will still seem wonderful in the morning!

June 5, 2010-June 5, 2011, and beyond... :)

2011-06-05T19:39:00.000-07:00

I know this is not that big of a deal to others, but it is to me, so I'm going to write about it for a minute! For complete details, you can look here. I have been blessed tremendously! While sitting in Sacrament meeting today, I thought back to where I was last year. I was in an operating room, having a young surgeon trying things, that hadn't been done in decades, to save me. It worked! I know that he was guided by the Lord in doing what he did. It hadn't been done since before he was born. How amazing is that!

As I've contemplated what happened and how I can see the Lord's work in every step of the way, I am overwhelmingly humbled! Everything in my life changed, everything! I gained a greater appreciation for everything and everyone. Small things changed, like my hair. It used to be brownish-reddish, now it is black (not that you'd really know by looking at me :)) When playing with the kids, I frequently had to take breaks, due to having stomach issues. Now, I get to play! I love it! I can sing better, because I can breathe deeper. Bigger things changed, like I can eat anything, besides lettuce, and can go out to dinner and a movie without stomach issues, when prior to this, I would have stomach issues a couple times during each meal, and then not trust going to do anything else.

I've gained a greater faith and a greater understanding as to why I'm here, and what lies in store for me. I don't know what, but I do know that Heavenly Father has a plan for me!

Last night Mom, Collin and I went out to dinner before going to the ReAL game, and Collin said, "Happy New Birthday!" which is exactly how I look at it! Heavenly Father, through Dr. Varela's hands, gave me a new lease on life, and I am beyond grateful for that!

2011-04-29T20:14:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been another interesting couple of months...

Collin broke his leg in a soccer game on February 1st. Mom and I were going to Vegas the next day, so we didn't go to his game. All day long I felt prompted to go to his game, but it was at 11:10 p.m. and I couldn't imagine driving to St. George, after not getting home from his game until 1:00 or later in the morning, so I didn't go. I physically felt sick about not going and wondered why in the world I would feel this way. He'd played in millions of games, and nothing serious had ever happened, and I just kept ignoring the prompting. I went to bed at 11:45 p.m., and at 12:03 a.m. the phone rang, and it was Collin asking us to come down, because he broke his leg. Can I tell you how extremely guilty I felt? When the Holy Ghost prompts you to do something, you're supposed to do it, and I failed. It was so sad! I felt horrible for him. The field is in Woods Cross, so it took us 20 minutes to get down there. By the time we got there, everyone had left him, and he was alone in his car in a scary parking lot. We took him to the nearest hospital, which was Lakeview. (We've had experiences with Lakeview before, and were sad we had to go there, but he was in so much pain!) While Mom and Collin went into the ER, I went and got gas in his car, and got him something to eat, because he was feeling sick. It was the strangest experience, I went to Common Cents on 500 W. in Bountiful, and it was like that scene in Cars when they're all sitting there counting how long the flash of the street light is. I was the only person in sight. It was so silent. Anyways, his right leg was broken a number of times. The fibula (if I'm right :) the outer bone) on his right leg was broken in 3 pieces with little fragments floating around, the tibia was broken at the ankle. He ended up having surgery with getting a plate, screws and a titanium pin. Well, it didn't work, so he had to do it again. So sad! The guy that did this to him got a 2 minute penalty, when there wasn't even 2 minutes left in the game. Look at this to see how the injury occurred http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/mls-suspends-mullan-additional-nine-games .

Anyways, the good thing that came out of this, in my opinion is that we got to spend so much time together. I think it was a great thing for the seven of us! He's now doing much better and will be done with a cane soon (I think :)) He's enjoying physical therapy!

Mom had surgery a week ago, removing a tumor and parathyroid from her neck. She went to the doctor in January to get an antibiotic, after suffering with a cold or something like it. While there, the doctor said, "Oh, your calcium level is pretty high. You should come get that checked out when you're better." Okay, so she had blood work done LAST year before she had her knee surgery. Come to find out, elevated calcium levels indicate a tumor on one or more parathyroids or some kind of kidney disease. In March sometime, she was diagnosed with hyperparathyroidism. She had appointments with her regular doctor, an endochronologist, a surgeon and had huge tests done at University Hospital, where they shot her full of radiation and took pictures for 4 hours, and had bloodwork done nearly every 2 weeks. She never seemed scared, except for right before the big test at University and then the night before her surgery. Her surgery went really well! Her surgeon said they took time looking for the tumor, but then realized it was in his nurses hand. He thought he was holding onto the thyroid. Kind of funny! Her tumor was the largest he'd seen. As soon as the parathyroid with the tumor was removed, miraculously (and I don't say that lightly) the other 3 parathyroids kicked in immediately doing what they need to. It's amazing how our bodies are designed!

She's doing really well, now. She's still really swollen, but has better energy. She worked all day, tuesday through friday. She definitely needs this weekend to rest!

I've been keeping busy teaching piano and doing some design work, as well as crafting signs. I'm looking for a boutique to sale out of, if anyone knows someone please let me know! I currently have 21 students. It keeps me pretty busy! I'm loving life! I started attending an institute class in Centerville, and have enjoyed it when I've been able to make it. ReAL's season has started and I absolutely love it! It's so much fun going to that! I miss Grandma so much, and I still have moments when I feel lost, because I should be visiting her at the time. I don't cry much anymore.

Anyways...That's that for now! Sorry it's so long!

Look what I made!

2011-03-29T21:00:00.000-07:00

I've been attempting to try new things out, such as different crafts, drilling wood, painting, doing a bunch of DIY stuff.

Well, the other day I made Beef Ravioli's. They were kind of hard (as in hard to chew, not hard to make), but quite tasty!!! (I took pictures to prove it :))

Things I am Scared Of...

2011-03-29T20:48:00.000-07:00

I'm putting this out there, and hopefully I'll be able to get over my weird fears :)

Number 1... Birds! Giving me chills, just looking at it!

Number 2... Now I admit this one is really weird. All those tufts on the back of the chair. Ick!

Number 3...This one is weird, too. You see how there's a plant that's about to pop out all of the way... It's kind of curled over. The first popping out of the soil and then straightening out is icky!

There you have it! I know, totally strange :)

January

2011-01-26T21:12:00.000-08:00

So, I've been on a blogging hiatus. I don't know why exactly. I guess, I've loved everytime I look at my blog to have that picture of my cute little grandma on, and haven't wanted to not have her there. I miss her so much!

On January 7th it is Serbian or Bohunk Christmas. We used to get together at Aunt Mil's house, with all of Mom's side of the family and celebrate it and eat Yugoslavian food. We haven't for the last few, because Aunt Mil decided she didn't want to do it anymore, and Grandma wasn't able to do it. So, this year, Collin decided he wanted to have it at his house. Mom was extremely sick, so she didn't go, but she made sarmas (stuffed cabbage). I made pogacha (round bread with money in it). I'd never made it before, and I remember asking Grandma how to do it, but it's been a long time since then, and I'd never done it. So, while I was making it, I was talking to her telling her she'd better intervene if I was messing it up. It ended up working out just fine, although, it wasn't as round as the ones that Grandma and Aunt Mil made. The kids got a kick out of this. You pass around the bread and break off pieces of it, and if you're lucky you get a coin, and if you get a coin, they you're going to have a lucky year. Other traditions include growing wheat grass. We didn't do this, because I don't think we would've had this had Grandma still been with us. We always have a blue, a red, and a white candle lit through the meal.

In general, I am not a New Years' Resolution maker. The time that I set new resolutions is in Snowbird every August. This year, I sort of made one. No matter what comes up, I am going to make the best of it. So there it is, out in the open. I'm, also, going to step out of my comfort zone and try new things :)

THIS IS TURNING INTO A REALLY LONG POST... SORRY ABOUT THAT!

Another thing that happened on Bohunk Christmas, is that Collin got in a really scary car accident and totaled his car. He was being watched over for sure, because he should not have walked away unharmed. So, while looking for another car, he found one on Ebay in Houston, TX. His plan was to fly down and drive it home. He needed a buddy to go with him, although, he doesn't think he did. So, I flew down with him. He decided last friday that we were flying out at 7:10 a.m. on Saturday morning. So, we flew off, having an hour layover in Phoenix, and landed in Houston around 2:00 p.m. This place was an amazing! They had cars I could only dream about, IF I KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT CARS :) Can you imagine spending $109,999 on a used car?

We drove to some podunk town in Oklahoma, stopping first in Dallas for the best wings I've ever had! We then drove on through the rest of Oklahoma, Kansas and into Denver on Sunday. The strangest thing was that we never saw people. Of course, while we were in gas stations and restaurants there were people, but just driving in little towns, there were NO people anywhere. It was like Kansas had been evacuated! We had so much fun, and we were safe the whole time, even in scary areas, we were guided on when to turn around.

While in Denver, we drove passed a building designed by Frank Gehry! I've always wanted to see one in real life. It's amazing! I was thrilled, but we never got super close, so here's a photo that I found on line. Crazy, but beautiful, huh!

Grandma Mamie

2010-12-07T20:35:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, December 4, 2010, my sweet little grandma passed away. It's amazing, I can't believe how fast she was gone. When she left Apple Village, she was doing so well. She had three wonderful days at Legacy Village of Layton, but then they didn't care for her very well, and that was the beginning of the end. We moved her to North Canyon Care Center in Bountiful on Nov. 9. I've said this before, but I am so grateful that I was able to be with her as much as I was. In the end, I was with her twice a day for many hours. I couldn't bare to have her be alone. Especially the last week of her life, I was there as much as possible. We left her on Friday night, not even guessing that that was really going to be our last time to see her, alive. We had asked them to call us, when the signs were getting closer together. However, there wasn't time. She had thrown up, and the nurse went out to get something to clean her up with, and returned 30 seconds later, and she was gone.

Here's her obituary...
"Mamie Church 1915 ~ 2010 Mamie Price Church, 95, passed away on December 4, 2010 in Bountiful, Utah. She was born on October 1, 1915 in Midvale, Utah to Milan and Eva Derikrava Prica. Mamie married Dan Church on September 25, 1935 in Midvale, Utah. She loved cooking Sunday dinners for her family, gardening, crocheting and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her entire life was devoted to serving others. Mamie was baptized a member of the LDS Church at the age of 88 and loved her visiting teaching assignment. She was sealed to her family in the Jordan River Temple at the age of 90. Survived by her daughters, Darlene (Earl) Nelson; Colleen Nicholes; son, Max (Faye) Sluga; seven grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; siblings, Mitch (Norma) Price; Ann Theos; Amelia Price; Don Price; Ellen Parmley; many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dan Church; son-in-law, Sanford Ross Nicholes, Jr.; grandson, Russell Phipps; nine siblings. The family would like to thank the CNA's at Apple Village Assisted Living and the staff at North Canyon Care Center for their loving care. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 9, 2010 at the Midvale East 2nd Ward, 7250 S. 300 E. Friends may call one hour prior to the services. Interment, Midvale City Cemetery. www.goffmortuary.com "

I'm going to explain a little bit about her family listed in the obituary... Grandma had two daughters, Darlene and my mom Colleen. Max Sluga is actually her nephew on my grandpa Dan's side. Grandma and Grandpa took care of Max a lot, when he was a kid, and he lived with them while he went to college. In 2007, he was officially adopted into the Dan & Mamie Church family, as their son, and on the records of the church, he is listed as their son. Grandma was thrilled when this happened, because she had always loved Max and knew that Grandpa did, as well.

My heart is broken, I miss her so much! She is a major part of who I grew up to be. I'm so glad I was able to have her so close, and be able to help her with anything she needed. She devoted her life to serving family, friends, neighbors, and those who were in need. She had to quit school in the 8th grade to raise her siblings, she babysat her great-grandchildren into her 90s. When I grow up I want to be like her :)

Love you, Grandma Mamie! I'll miss you forever!

2010-11-23T14:28:00.000-08:00

I was reading in 3 Nephi the other day about the destruction that happened in the America's during the three days between Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. Every time I've read this, I've read it at it's face value. The people were destroyed, because of their wickedness. However, this time, while I was reading, I had an overwhelming feeling of while the people in the Americas were being destroyed, the feeling of those people that were Jesus Christ's disciples in Jerusalem, what Mary, his mother, was feeling. My testimony grew so much from my position on the Colonade, during The Savior of the World. I'm so grateful that I was able to feel the powerful affirmation, once again, of His life and what He went through for me!

Update...

2010-11-03T19:49:00.000-07:00

It's been a weird, rough month. It's been extremely busy, extremely!
We did get to participate in an amazing show! We were part of Savior of the World. I have to admit that the time commitment about killed me. It kept getting bigger and longer daily. I had a bad attitude for some of the rehearsals. However, as the dress rehearsals and performances came, I loved it! There was the greatest spirit there. It was such a blessing to be touched by the spirit every time we sang the songs. It was amazing to see how people in the audience were affected by it.
Grandma Mamie was kicked out of Apple Village, because she has become a two man transfer. As we were looking for places to move her, we happened in at the new Legacy Village retirement center in Layton. It was the same distance away as Apple Village. It would be perfect! We went in and talked to the director, after we explained the two man transfer thing, he said it sounded like it would work, and he'd send someone out to evaluate her. This Tiffany, who is the marketing manager, came out and evaluated her. After talking to Mom and the CNAs, she said there would be no problem. She called the next day to say that she'd been approved by the directors of the facility. So, we stopped looking. Then they had their nurse, Kelly, come out and evaluate her and interview me and the CNAs. She approved her. That was on October 21st. We moved her in on October 25th. We got her there about 1:00 p.m., and by 7:00 p.m. they were saying "this is just not going to work. we'll give it a few days, but she'll have to go." Fan-freakin-tastic! After Darlene spoke to her attorney, and then brought that up, they said they would give her a 30 day notice, which is the law. They kept saying, "we're just concerned about what is best for Mamie." Mom said, "No, you're not. You were only concerned about having enough people here (they had to have 3 people before the health dept. will come out and evaluate them, before they can open. Grandma was #2.) This hasn't been about Mamie, it's been a business deal." So, that's where we're at. The one person there, that I actually can stand, but still don't know what part he had to play in this, has been "trying" to help us find somewhere to go. All of his options were extremely pricey!
Oh, Mom's car blew up while we were driving in it over UEA. That was thrilling!
Anyways, there's an update. Busy and tramatic and annoying as it is!

Agency

2010-10-10T19:46:00.000-07:00

Just a thought...

Today in a meeting an interesting topic was brought up. We were discussing different talks at General Conference that stuck out to us. Of course, someone was going to bring up President Packer (check it out here: http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-1298-23,00.html). We were sent here with our own agency. We can make any and all choices we want to, because of the gift of agency. Say, I was born to be a murderer. Would I or could I NOT be a murderer? Would I have a choice or would I be out murdering people, since I was born that way? Our Heavenly Father would not take away our agency, so using this example, because Heavenly Father gave us our agency, I could decide whether or not I was going to be a murderer. It would be my choice. I'd never thought of it that way!

I love this!!!

2010-10-03T19:18:00.000-07:00

During conference, Elder Lawrence of the Seventy talked about our youth theme for the year: Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." I love this verse! It's one of my most favorite ones. It's such a wonderful promise, that He is here, no matter where and when. I loved how he applied it to the parents of the youth right now. I think it is so important that the parents are strong and have good courage, to stand up for what needs to be done. I liked how he talked about how if you saw your daughter sitting on the train tracks and heard the train horn honking, would you run and get her off the track or be worried about offending her and let her make her own decision about getting off. The train is a physical threat, but there are so many other threats that aren't, that parents need to step up and take care of. I loved it!

In other news... ReAL is in 1st place for the first time ever!!! (Except of course, winning the actual MLS championship last year). Of course, this will be ending in about 20 minutes, when the LA Galaxy vs. Chivas is over.

TIM MCGRAW!!!

2010-08-09T11:18:00.000-07:00

I got Tim McGraw tickets for my birthday!!! It was at USANA on July 30th. He's hot!

This looks like a cartoon!

I've gone to Tim every time he's come over the last 12 years. The concert was awesome! The crowd was ridiculous! I can't believe the decline in the type of people that were there. Collin and I stood out in the crowd, because we were dressed modestly and not drunk!

Lady Antebellum opened for him. We were late, because I needed to eat first and Collin needed Dad's cowboy hat, so we had to go back to my car. I was way sad, because I'd missed out on hearing them at a different concert, because of traffic. Right after we sat down, they came out. I was so excited!

Blessings... :)

2010-07-26T19:45:00.000-07:00

I am so grateful for the many blessings my Heavenly Father has given me! It's amazing to see the power and love of God daily! As many of you know this summer has been a huge struggle!
Here's just a few examples of the Mighty miracles that have taken place in my life...

First of all, my family doctor had suggested that I have a gallbladder ultrasound in May '09. I didn't, because he said I should wait until I have insurance, which I never got. I know this doesn't sound like a miracle, because obviously he had a concern. However, the blessing in this is that, because I didn't have that ultrasound at Tanner Clinic, I didn't have to be treated for this at Davis Hospital. (Davis Hospital is so scary!!!) So, because of my lack of insurance, I didn't have to suffer through being there.
My surgeon, Dr. Varela, is really young (and cute :)). The procedure (T-TUBE) has not been done for decades. The fact that he knew this from so long ago, and was able to make it work IS a miracle. Every injury or sickness I have ever had is always worse on me then it is on whoever gave me the sickness, so I just planned on that. Overall recovery was easy!
The many priesthood blessings I received. The wednesday after my surgery, my liver numbers were still extremely high. I called Collin for a blessing, and the next morning, my numbers were near normal.
I have never felt better in my life! I never realized how sick I actually was until the past two weeks where I have felt amazing!
I've had a sinus infection for the last five weeks. Instacare had said it was a virus, and wouldn't give me any antibiotics. So, I went to the aforementioned family doctor, and because Collin and his son played on the same comp. soccer teams, and he's known me, he gave me a free doctors appt, and prescribed me some antibiotics, that are working quite well! Thanks Collin and Krystal for your help here!
My business has been quite slow, and piano lessons have been at a minimum with people moving and going on vacation during the summer. So, it's been a financial struggle, not to mention my hospital bills and no insurance (more on this later!). Had business been good, there is no way I could've done it during the last few months with me being so sick, having surgery, and the six week recovery. However, within the last week, I've had four design contacts and new piano students referred to me. I start work on a house next week and new piano kids in two weeks!
My hospital bills were over $34,000. My surgeon was about $2500. The anesthesiologist was about $2500, as well. There is no possible way that I could do this on my own. I'm extremely grateful for the kindness of those that are close to me that have helped with this situation. The hospital has financial assistance and they've been amazing. Up until today, they were taking care of 80% of my surgeon's fees, and about 89% of some of the hospital bills, and no word on the largest part. So, I've been able to pay the doctor, except for $25 that will be taken care of soon. Today I got a bill in the mail saying that I owed $24,862 that was due in full on August 10. I was having a total meltdown, so I called the number on the bill to really hear my balance. After hearing it, I was pretty certain it was mistaken or not all inclusive. So, when I got home, I got online to check. All of it was there except the anesthesiologist. My total balance is just over $300!

I am completely humbled and so extremely thankful for all I've been given! I know that the Lord's hand has been in all of this. It's His plan, and I am in awe!

A crazy month...

2010-06-14T22:13:00.000-07:00

It's been a horrendous, sad, painful (both physically and emotionally), miraculous few weeks. Here's how it went...

On May 18th, ALee called me and asked if I'd heard how Grandpa was doing that day. I hadn't yet, since I'd been running around seeing Mom at her Arts' Week performances and awards night, and teaching piano. I decided during that phone call that I was going to switch my piano lessons for the next day so I could spend time with Grandma & Grandpa. So, I quickly rearranged my schedule and got down to AF before 10:00 in the morning. At the time Grandpa was sleeping, but he soon got restless. He was antsy wanting to get out of bed, but his legs weren't strong enough. He hadn't been eating and the nurse said not to give him food unless he asked for it, because they were afraid of him choking. He asked for some shredded wheat, so we got him up and he ate some, then he said, "Can I at least get some juice?" It was kind of cute! Then he wanted to go back to bed. We got him in there, and he never really woke up again. As we have Grandma Mamie on hospice, I've been told signs to look for in the death process, I saw it was happening, but could not believe it was really happening, because he seemed so strong. I couldn't bare to leave. I knew when I kissed him goodbye that I was kissing him goodbye for the last time, in the back of my mind. I had to come home to teach piano to one family that couldn't change, so I left, so not wanting to leave Grandma alone, and not wanting to leave his side.

At 6:23 a.m., on May 20th, Grandma called and said, "Ross is gone, and I can't talk more..."

The next 5-6 days were kind of a whirlwind, but at the same time slow motion. There was a peace in Grandma's house. I didn't feel peace about Grandpa. I'm glad I got to spend that day with him.

The peace came.

Since about Mothers' Day, I'd been feeling pretty crappy! I thought it was acid reflux. The pain persisted, sometimes increasing, sometimes just being a dull pain. The day Grandpa died, the pain left. The pain started around Memorial day, again. On June 1st, the pain was so horrendous, that I didn't sleep that night until 5:40 a.m. on the 2nd. I had made an appt for June 3rd, so I was biding my time. As many of you know, I have no health insurance, so I was just waiting until then. I went to Cory's graduation dinner at the Olive Garden, and by 7:00 I was in tremendous pain. I couldn't ride in the car all the way home, so we stopped at Grandma Mamie's house, so I could lie down. We got home a little after 10:00, and by 2:00 a.m., I couldn't handle it one more second, so we went to the ER. At the ER, they gave me some fantastic medicine, and ran some tests. The ER dr. came back and said I had a really sick gallbladder that he'd like to get an ultrasound, but that there wasn't a tech to do it until later, so he sent me home at 5:00 something. I returned to the hospital for an ultrasound at 9:40 a.m. After the ER dr. saw the results of the ultrasound, she said that they needed to get me in for surgery soon, "so, what does the rest of your day look like?" I was amazed it was that urgent. She called over to the surgeon to see when he could do it, and he couldn't until tuesday, so that was the plan. Then, they had me go over and meet him. he explained what was going to happen, and said there were ways to have the surgery be sooner, if absolutely necessary, but to take the pain meds, and he'd see me on tuesday. He said if I was running on pain pill to pain pill to call him, and he could change things.

Friday morning I woke up to yellowish eyes and yellowish skin. I called the nurse to see what I should do, because it was listed as a "serious side effect" to the medication. After she called around to the pharmacist and doctor, they decided I needed to go in for an MRI at 9:35 p.m., so I was running on half a sandwich all day. The MRI was about 24 minutes long, and thank heavens for KSOP not having many commercials, I was able to make it through commercial free!

Saturday morning I felt horrific! I waited around to hear the results, but then called in around noon. No one was going to be there until 1:00 to read the MRI. So, I waited.  I asked for a blessing and Derrick, Seth, and Michael from our ward came and gave me one.  It was very nice. Right after the blessing the dr called and said I needed to go to the hospital immediately, and that he'd already have me admitted by the time I got there.

Saturday night-  I had to have a scope down my throat to get a gallstone, that they thought was blocking the bile duct of my liver. I had adult jaundice. The surgeon that was going to do that, told us he was the best in the nation at this procedure, and that the national average was 90 min., and he could do it in 7-9 minutes. Well, after the procedure he came out and told Mom that there wasn't a stone there, but there was a toughness that wasn't normal, and may be a tumor. (Mom kept this a secret from me.)

The liver numbers are supposed to top out in the 50s, mine were in the 322+ range. They said my numbers were too high to perform the gallbladder surgery.

Sunday morning 5:00 a.m., the dr decides he has to do the surgery. Laproscopic gallbladder removal takes 45 mins. to an hour, and recovery is 2-3 days. So, that was the plan. Now remember it was Sunday, and the hospital didn't have it's normal staff. So, while in the surgery, they couldn't get my gallbladder out laproscopically. So, my 45 min. surgery turned into 4 1/2 hours. My poor mom sitting out in the waiting room was never told anything. She just had to wait and wait. I feel so bad for her! They had to hold down my intestines to carve out my gallbladder that was stuck to some other organs.   They had to use a T tube, which is from like 30 years ago, and they never do those anymore, but it apparently worked.

Five days later, I was released from the hospital with two drainage bags and a lot of pain. Today I had my first check up since, and I came home with only one bag, which I'll have for the entire 6 weeks of recovery, and no more staples! The pain is still quite severe, but is manageable, and hopefully one day, I'll be able to eat anything I want.

I'm so grateful for all of the prayers that have been offered in my behalf and the blessings that have been given. I'm grateful for all of the visitors and phone calls and flowers from everyone showing their love and support. I know I've been blessed through this, and that the Lord is watching out for me.

Grandpa Ross...

2010-05-22T22:47:00.000-07:00

"Sanford Ross Nicholes, age 76, passed away May 20, 2010 at his home in American Fork, Utah. Ross was born Feb 2, 1934 in American Fork to Howard Wing and Hope Hatton Taha Nicholes. He married Orpha JaNae Batchelor on Oct 13, 1953 in the Salt Lake Temple.

Ross has many titles. Most important, a loving husband, and second most important, Dad. The funnest title he holds is that of Grandpa. Many experienced his great love for cooking. He learned to cook while spending time herding sheep during his younger years. His reputation in the kitchen gave him an opportunity to serve an LDS mission cooking in the cafeteria at the LDS Cannery in Lindon. This was an 18 month mission, but after three years he was released to share his other talents elsewhere. This reputation also got him a job as a hunting camp cook. For tips he received money, hats, and even a pair of shoes. It’s rumored that he received a $100.00 tip once. As a family, we loved to eat the fruits of Ross’s labor. However, the family favorite is his homemade ice cream. Over the years, whether waiting for ice cream, prime rib, or any other time, Dad could be heard playing the spoons.

All through Ross and JaNae’s house and yard is evidence of Ross’s love of woodworking. The plans for the arbor in their backyard were taken from a 2x2 picture from a magazine. When most people say, “They have had a change of heart” they are referring to a change in attitude or a decision. Ross had a literal change of heart in July of 1989. From time to time one would hear him say, “I’ve had a change of heart.” Ross’s heart transplant gave him 20 extra years to witness all the events of his growing family. Ross has always been a farm boy. From playing on tractors in his youth to his Kubota, to his last tractor, a Sears riding lawn mower. He has loved being on a tractor, and the grandkids took advantage of getting rides anytime they could. Though Ross was somewhat of a kidder, he wasn’t much of a game player. In recent years Ross and JaNae could be found sitting at the kitchen table playing 5 Crowns; many times at Ross’s suggestion. Of all the games the two of them played, it is thought, unfortunately, that Ross ended up with the losing record. And he was okay with that, because he was spending time with his life long sweetheart.

Survived by his wife, JaNae, his children, Colleen Church Nicholes, Todd (Jeanne) Nicholes, Juli (David) Larsen, Bartley (Jennifer) Nicholes, and ALee (Jason) Blake, 20 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, his sister Sydney Thomas, and his brother Doug Nicholes. Preceded in death by his parents, his son Sanford “Sandy” Ross Nicholes, Jr. and 2 brothers, Frank and Tracy Nicholes.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. in the American Fork 5th Ward Chapel, 380 South 300 East. Visitations will be held Monday evening from 6 to 8 pm in the Anderson & Sons Mortuary, 49 E 100 N, American Fork and Tuesday at the church from 9:45 to 10:45 am prior to the services. Burial, American Fork Cemetery."

2010-05-14T21:02:00.000-07:00

I've been hearing about people who blog and inspire readers, strangers to become better people. I'm amazed by how open some people are sharing their i nner struggles. For example, watch this: My New Life. Today on http://studio5.ksl.com/, there was a woman who blogs to help her with her weightloss. She was something like 289 lbs., I think she said. Here I am weighing a ton less than that, and would not share that amount if my life depended on it. I am totally impressed!

While listening about these people that are blogging to inspire, it got me thinking about what inspired me to start blogging. I have to admit, in the beginning I thought blogging was dumb. I understood people like Tyler & Becca who live in Africa or Deric & Stephanie who live in Germany, but I thought me living her within an hour of most of my relatives, why blog? Then I listened to Elder Ballard (I THINK) about how we can use the internet to share the gospel. I'd been told previously, by a guy in Hungary that I'd never make a good missionary, because I don't talk much :). However, even if I don't talk, I sure can type, so that was one of the reasons I started to blog. Another reason was that I knew someone that had such negative things to say about the church, that I wanted to be a voice out there, maybe to balance out.

Anyways, I hope that somewhere out there, I may inspire someone to be happier and to love life, no matter what cards they're dealt. That is my goal!

Isn't this beautiful? It's in front of the Ogden Temple. I'd been admiring the tulips, and finally remembered my camera!

So, again it's been a while...

2010-04-18T21:06:00.000-07:00

Here's what I've been up to...

I don't think I ever even talked about Mom's surgery. She had a torn miniscus in her right knee. She had surgery on March 18th. She should've gone in and gotten it taken care of sooner, it was originally injured on Dec. 17th. She kept putting it off, because of all of her many responsibilities. It ended up that the tear was larger than they thought, and that because of the damage she got arthritis in her knee that got pretty bad. She went to choir 3 days later, even though she wasn't supposed to. She's doing pretty well now. She's pretty sore this week, but she's continuously getting better.

Look what We Made...

hOmEMaDe DoNuTs!!!

Just a short post...

2010-03-31T11:48:00.000-07:00

I haven't been posting anything for a while. I was dumb and broke my internet card, so I haven't had much access, except for running to Amy's or Collin's, so life has been pretty busy. Mom had surgery on her leg. She's still in a lot of pain, but hopefully on the mend. I've been working out a lot, and have lost 18 lbs. in 4 weeks. I'm pretty excited about that! So, there you go. I'm looking forward to conference. I have tickets to Saturday morning's session. Anyways, hope everyone is doing well.

Grandma Mamie...

2010-03-08T20:13:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, my cousin Ashley brought up her baby, Ember to meet Grandma Mamie. Ember is Grandma's first great-great grandbaby.

Grandma goes in and out of responding to people. She's generally sleepy midday, so I didn't have much hope for her to even be awake. She was bent up in her wheelchair, like she does when she's sleeping, but her eyes were open, not wide, but still open. Ashley put the baby seat right next to Grandma on the floor, and Grandma's eyes just opened up. She kept just looking at her, and mumbling. She's not a loud talker, anymore, if she's going to talk at all, you really have to listen. Anyways, I caught that she was saying "Baby" and just looking at her. While the rest of us (Darlene, Terri, Erikka, Ashley, me) were chatting, I noticed that Grandma was reaching for the baby. To have her aware is such an amazing thing, but to have her trying to touch her was really neat. So, Ashley and Darlene held up her chair and she held her hand and just kept her hand on her. After they put the chair down, she put her hand on the handle, and I helped her rock her for a while. It was so cute, and brought tears to my eyes!

Five generations... amazing!

It's been a While.....

2010-03-05T08:07:00.000-08:00

So, I don't know why, but I guess I've been so busy blogging on the stake young women blog that I've become a slacker on mine. So what's been going on since January, you may be asking yourselves (probably not, but just in case) :)

Beyond my piano lessons, my interior design work, and the many meetings and activities I get to be a part of in young womens, I've developed a new routine. Now I'm not going to say that any of these are "addictions," some of them might be getting close, but I'm sure enjoying them. Nearly every morning, I turn on some music (lately it's been on shuffle between Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum and Darius Rucker). After I'm ready for the day, I play the piano for a while. Whether it's 10 minutes or a couple of hours (depending on the day), I really don't care, as long as I get to have that wonderful experience of using my talents, even if I'm the only one that gets to hear it. (ONLY, as in the only one at home, but as many people have said, they can hear it outside, so other people do have to put up with it.) I love to play with my cricut. It's so much fun! (This one might be one of the close to addictions!) I love to make cards. I love to cut things out. I love making posters advertising for YW activities, even when it's so time consuming. I've lessened my time on the computer, which has felt great! I'm trying to read at least one book a week, beyond my regular scripture reading, some books take longer, but it's really fun! I love learning! No, I'm not going back to school, EVER, but it's fun learning on my own. Then I end my day with a workout on the wii. I love this EA Sports workout. I've only had that for a week, but I'm loving it! Oh, and ending my day with a heart racing workout, causes me to be up and at it, at the crack of dawn and have tons of energy!

Here's just a sample of one of the cards I made...

First time...

2010-01-17T20:33:00.000-08:00

I recently was called to work in the stake young women, as the secretary. I'm so excited! Today was my first time to teach a lesson to anyone older than eight, in church. I was nervous when I first found out, but I was amazed to see the Lord's hand in what I was supposed to teach. We were given a topic, but we didn't have a lesson book or anything. This was another first for me. Well, I guess if you count sharing time, it really isn't the "first" first, but it was different. I'm so grateful for the power of prayer, and that I can receive personal revelation through that prayer!

Infinite Power of Hope

2010-01-10T21:30:00.000-08:00

Click on the link below to watch a great message!

Infinite Power of Hope

2010-01-10T20:45:00.000-08:00

So, I had a new philosophy that I decided I was going to live by today. It was "Hope for the best, but expect nothing." I was thinking this was a fantastic way to look at life, maybe a little negative, but safe. Safe. However, after thiniking about it on my drive home from AF today, I decided it was wrong. Doesn't the Lord say something about asking with real intent? If I ask, but then expect nothing, then why would He answer my prayer? In my mind, I was thinking that I'd still go out with the intention that I needed. I think it was a way to help me refocus, so I don't get disappointed. This was only my philosophy from when church ended until I drove home, so it wasn't that long, but I do have to work on changing my mind set. Anyways, that was my new thing of the day, a philosophy that lasted a mere 6 hours.

2009 is almost over!

2009-12-29T10:43:00.001-08:00

I'm grateful that 2009 is almost over! I'm excited for a new beginning! As I sat here thinking about 2009 and all of it's occurances, I realize I have so much to be grateful for. It has been a year of ups and downs, but I'm so thankful for the blessings that I've recieved through all of it!

I was sick for pretty much the first 6 months of the year, nearly constantly sick. In the middle of June, Bishop Thompson came over and gave me a blessing with Collin, and other than a few minor sicknesses, I've been feeling great!

It's been a rough year financially. Thank heavens for my savings account! This has been my first full year of owning my own business. It's taken a lot of faith and prayers, and has shown progress every month! I've had moments of being scared to death that I wasn't going to make it month to month, but Heavenly Father answers prayers. :) Whenever it has gotten really scary, somehow a new piano student comes along or a new client calls and needs work done on their home immediately. I'm grateful more than words can describe.

I'm so grateful for my mom, Collin & Krystal, & Amy who have been so helpful at rough moments for me this year. Whether it's been letting me borrow a vehicle when mine's been in the shop, or paying for my prescription or just always listening to my complaints. Thanks to ALee for listening to all of my complaining, as well.

This year I've been teaching the seven year olds and playing the organ at church. I've had seven boys and one girl (every once in a while). Other than having a phone go missing, and some other small stresses I've enjoyed it. I've missed going to Sunday School, since I've been in primary for nearly three years. I've been amazed by the kids and some of the struggles that some of them have had to go through, and how faithful they are. I've, also, been challenged by their busy-ness and weird conversations (like the day a girl announced she had 3 dads, and then proceeded to inform those little boys how that's possible). I've struggled with every other sunday of organ playing :), but I think I'm getting better about that. I hope. I enjoy playing the organ. Somedays I play perfectly, other days I don't. Oh, well!

There have been scary moments for grandparents, that I'm not ready to face, but probably should be. I have a niece! I've watched struggles happening within our extended family. I've been saddened by choices that others have made and how it affects everyone. I've appreciated the relationships that have seemed to grow.

Most importantly, I'm so thankful for the gospel. I'm thankful that I'm a daughter of Heavenly Father. I'm thankful that I know that I am. I'm grateful for the temple, and the peace it brings to my life. I'm grateful for the atonement of Jesus Christ and because of Him and His life, crucifixion, and resurrection I'm able to return to Him and Heavenly Father, and be able to be with my dad for eternity. I know that Jesus Christ understands what I'm going through, when I'm sad, or happy, or in need of forgiveness or needing to forgive.

Here's hoping that things are bright and wonderful and productive in 2010!

Gingerbread House...

2009-11-26T20:53:00.001-08:00

Collin and Krystal went with her family to Transiberian Orchestra last night, so we were lucky enough to get to babysit their darling kids!

Here are just a few photos...

RSL wins MLS Championship!!!

2009-11-23T10:03:00.000-08:00

Congratulations RSL! What a game and what a last half of the season! I've read that the seasons turn around started the day Andy Willliams was able to play more, August 24th was the beginning of their road to the championship.

I love soccer!!!

2009-11-14T21:50:00.000-08:00

What do you get when you add 8 colors of frosting, m&ms, skittles, redhots, candy corn, licorice rope, mini chocolate chips and three 7 year old boys? Oh, and of course, sugar cookies!

~Funny looking, frosted to the extreme, cookies for the bishopric!~

Music...

2009-11-11T22:24:00.000-08:00

Isn't music funny? It's such an amazing thing, how the music in a movie or tv show lead your emotions. For example, if in Psycho instead of the high sliding strings they had a soft flute going on, you wouldn't be scared when he was stabbing. It would still be a scary picture, sight wise, but your heart wouldn't be racing, you'd just be sitting there. Or if on Driving Miss Daisy they had the haunting music from What Lies Beneath, while they were driving down the little road, you'd totally be expecting some horrible thing to happen. I do have to admit that I haven't seen Psycho for a very long time, and I don't know if I ever saw Driving Miss Daisy, but you can see the comparison, right?

Other funny things about music, is that you can hear some song from the past and remember exactly where you were, what things looked like, what things smelled like when that song meant a lot to you.

For example, I was just listening to Pandora and it was on one of my country collection stations, and Cowboy Take me Away came on, which brought back good, fun memories. One memory was of Collin, ALee and me driving in one car while Mom, Grandma, Grandpa and Orpha Sue drove in another car up and back to Hillsboro for Tyler's (?) wedding. We listened to Earl every hour on the hour, and then we'd listen to Cowboy Take me Away. For any of you who don't know, it took us what seemed like 22 hours to drive home. So we heard a lot of those songs! There was one part of Idaho that was so beautiful; the sun was setting, we were driving past a huge field of wheat or something in that color that just spanned on forever, and that is the scene I picture every time I hear Cowboy. The other memory that comes back every time I hear it is sort of bitter sweet. I was driving up American Fork Canyon with this guy that I totally loved in highschool, the radio was on, and we were singing to it. Cowboy came on, and I was singing, and he said, "You are singing this about me." At the time, I totally was, but we see how life changed for both of us. I'm lucky to not be involved with that whole situation.

Another example is everytime I hear Everyday, by Rascal Flatts, I can see the DWTS where Apolo Ohno and Julianne Hough were dancing at the end of one of the seasons. It was right at the same time that he was shopping at SFD to get furniture for his home, and everytime he came in was total excitement for everyone. I had so much fun, because some of the girls were all shy around him and the other customers were giddy and would follow him around. It was so much fun, and he's a great guy to talk to.

Then my last example for tonight is I'm Already There, by Lonestar. This one doesn't exactly bring back memories of where, when, who and how; instead, there's not a time that I listen to it without thinking of my dad. I know he's around to help me, so in a way he's already here, without physically being here.

Anyways, guess that's enough for now!

2009-10-10T19:47:00.000-07:00

Today is my dad's birthday. It, generally, was a really good day. He would've been 54 years old. It's crazy to think of him being in his fifties, but I can imagine, his hair would've been quite thin and graying. He was such a loving, fun, and amazing guy. I wish that everyone that has joined our family since Oct. 17, 1987 would've had the chance to know him. They would all have loved him. They would know what an honor it was to know him. They would all remember him today and honor him and celebrate his life.

The day started with Collin and his boys coming over for a few minutes. It was really nice to be together, if even for a short time today. You know, days come and go, but there are days like today and days like a week from today, when we need to be together to feel that support for each other. Then, we went and got flowers for him and headed to American Fork. Grandma JaNae, Mom and I spent some time at the cemetery, and then when to the temple. It was a perfect way to celebrate his birthday! After the temple, we went to Parkers and then ate at Grandma's and Grandpa's. Great day!

I miss him so much! Sometimes, the missing him is just a dull pain somewhere in the back of my mind, and sometimes the missing him is almost tangible. I'm grateful for a Heavenly Father that has a plan for all of us. I'm so grateful that I'll be able to be with him again someday. I just wish sometimes he could just tell me what he's thinking about me, and my choices, and what I'm doing with my life. I wish that he could give me advice when I need it, but I know that he's there, when I need him, and I can feel comfort and peace from that.

Busy days...

2009-09-22T09:32:00.000-07:00

This last little while has been pretty busy. Darlene had surgery on Sept. 11 to remove some cancer. The surgery was successful, she will still need to have chemo and radiation. Mom and I went down and sat with Terri, Earl and Darlene all day that day. I've never heard Earl talk so much in my life, he was nervous, and it kept him going. Right down to him asking, "Where do you suggest buying furniture? I guess it depends on what you're looking for. There's this place..." He just kept going without taking a breath. It was pretty funny, and as soon as we knew that the surgery went well, he was as silent as a mouse. Darlene coming out of it kept us all entertained, and Collin said that we probably were able to get a glimpse of what she'll be like, when she's at Grandma's state and in Apple Village.

Mom and I threw a "coming out" party for Adelynn, instead of a shower, that everyone got to come to last saturday. So, all week long we were preparing for that. Before that party, Darlene and Earl celebrated their 50th anniversary. Terri threw a party, but then ended up in the hospital from Tuesday to a few hours before the party. I went down early and dropped off the chinese chicken salad, and cleaned Grandma's house, so Darlene didn't have to, and then came home, because Ford had a performance with the singing group he's in. He was absolutely darling! I'll post pictures at the end of this post.

Then, we went to the party. It was fun to see everyone. It was weird having a party at Grandma's house, and have her not there. I'm not going to lie, I teared up. It was great that all of Darlene's kids, kids-in-law, and grandkids were able to be there. It's rare that EVERYONE comes, so that was nice. It was a neat party!

We got home really late, but had to finish as much as we could that night. So, I didn't go to bed until 2 something, and woke up at 7 to go to a practice for Standards' Night, and then get ready for the party. We had a really fun time, and everyone loved Adelynn. Everyone, but Gracie, who was very jealous if her mom or grandma touched Adelynn, as long as they weren't touching her, she was fine. So funny! We had great food and great company. Thanks to everyone who came!

Sunday was Grandma JaNae's birthday, and we went down after church for a party in American Fork. It was really fun! The kids were darling, and it was great talking to everybody. The little girls all line danced to some Hannah Montana song, and then Mandi started playing other line dancing songs, and we danced to that. It was hilarious! I couldn't believe Grandma was okay with us all dancing in her family room and having the music up loud. What a funny thing!

On the way home we were laughing about it, and then Mom got a phone call from Darlene that stopped that mood immediately. Russ, Terri's husband, passed away that night. I'm really glad that he came to the party on Friday and that we were all able to talk to him. My heart goes out to them, especially to Miss Erikka. I know what it's like to lose a dad, and I was glad I was able to be with her for a while yesterday, so she could ask questions, and we could just talk. It's so unreal, that he was here, and now he's not, in so short a time.

Well, that's what I've been up to in the last couple of weeks since my last post.

2009-09-03T21:55:00.000-07:00

I have an addiction I need to admit! I love Jane Austen novels. I've written before about how I love Pride & Prejudice. I love to read it, I love to watch it. I often remind myself of Meg Ryan in You've Got Mail, when she's talking about not knowing who is more prideful, Elizabeth or Mr. Darcy, or can't wait to find out what's going to happen next. I have to say, I've read all of her books a few times. A while back I found a book with a compilation of all of her novels and some short stories on some clearance rack and bought it for $14.97, hard back! I was so stoked! So, in the last couple of weeks I've read Sense and Sensibility and now I'm on the last page of Pride & Prejudice. I can hardly stand that it's over. I love Mr. Darcy! I know everybody loves Mr. Darcy, but I find myself reading his monologues over and over again just loving him. So, there you go, I've confessed! Now on to Mansfield Park!

2009-08-29T21:48:00.000-07:00

Today was pretty much a fantastic day! It was jam packed, super crazy, but really nice! There was a baptism at 1:00 of this guy that married one of Mom's laurels. It's neat to see the changes that take place in everyone's life. I was thinking that maybe the entire reason for their little girl to come into this world, the way she did, was to bring him to the gospel. The spirit was very strong there. He had tons of supporters! It was so great to see all of these people that love him and their family step in and show their love and support. There was only standing room in the relief society room, where the font is. These little girls sang a song, that I totally wished I could remember, but I can't, but it was beautiful! I've never heard two voices blend so well, and I've heard millions of people singing! His mom-in-law gave a talk about the Holy Ghost. Once we're baptized members of the church, we take on the name of Jesus Christ. When we are confirmed we are given the gift of the Holy Ghost. We have the Holy Ghost with us constantly, if we live the way we should and keep our covenants. She said it this way, "We're not lucky enough to be living on the earth WITH Jesus Christ, but because of that HE has given us the Holy Ghost, which is HIS way of walking with us through everything." Through the ups and the downs, the joys and the sorrows, the Holy Ghost is with us, to comfort us. Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. He's our elder brother. The Holy Ghost is the Comforter. He does just that, comforts us.

After the baptism, I played the piano for a practice for a play that a few of the youth in our stake are doing for "Standards Night." Then I went to the temple and did some work there. What a wonderful day!

Another video...

2009-08-28T12:49:00.000-07:00

Here is a youtube video called: President Reagan's response to Obama and his supporters...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS4yf723kmY

So weird how this many years later, his thoughts and speeches still apply!

A Ford-ism!

2009-08-27T11:27:00.000-07:00

Last night we went to a ReAL game. Collin and Ford came with us. Collin was at work, so we got to bring Ford down with us! He's the smartest kid I know! He thinks logically and like he's 30, not 3. The ride was so much fun, he had so much to tell us. The funniest thing was this: "I'm going to sing you a song. Are you ready to listen to it? Okay, 'Emily, my friend Emily, I met her at stool, prestool (school, preschool). My aunt Mindy was our teacher. Emily.' So what did you learn from my song?" So, I answered that he met her at preschool and Mindy was their teacher. He told me I had to listen again, and sang it again adding in new things. 'So, what did you learn?" What a funny kid!

Check this video out!!!

2009-08-17T14:56:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeXA4A8INJ4

2009-08-12T19:39:00.000-07:00

Well I'm sitting at Snowbird right now, listening to the last few minutes of the kids' pool being open for the evening, with the darkness coming over the canyon. I can just see the outline of the pine trees off the deck. It's such a peaceful place. I'm totally sunburned, and my shoulders can't stand to have anything touching them. On Monday morning, still in bed, there was a knock on the door. It was a fantastic surprise! Collin, Ford and Everett were here! Krystal and Adelynn stayed home, since she's so young. We quickly got ready for the day, and were able to play at the park, go for a walk, get ice cream, swim in the pool after Robbe, Ashley and Sam got here, and go down the Alpine Slide. Sam rode with Ashley, Everett rode with Collin, and Ford rode with me. Sam said there was no way he was going to race us, because he didn't want to lose. We didn't go that fast, but we did beat them down! The whole time Ford was saying, "We better slow down, this is dangerous!" with the biggest smile on his face. He loved it! Ev fell asleep at the top while we stood in line, so he looks like he's kind of in a mood!

Aren't they so cute?

More Adelynn...

2009-08-05T20:42:00.000-07:00

I just can't help myself! Here are some more pictures!!!

Adelynn Emery Nicholes

2009-08-05T14:01:00.001-07:00

This is my new niece, Adelynn! She wasn't expected to make her entrance into this world until Friday, so it was really weird to be awakened by a picture mail of this little darling! Apparently, she was in a hurry! Krystal got in a bed at 7:07 this morning, and Ady was born at 7:11. She's just darling! The boys love her so much. She's beautiful!

MLS-ASG

2009-08-03T20:06:00.000-07:00

This last week we were able to go to the MLS All-Stars game! So much fun! It's fantastic that we were able to have it here at our stadium. It was such a great game! It was really fun to be there where so many people from across the nation and even some from England. It was fun cheering for players that I never would have otherwise. It was a one time only thing, but really fun! It was great to see the three players from our team getting to play for fun with the best of the best!

Mom & Ford Ev

Andy Williams, wasn't one of the All-Stars, but he spoke during half-time, to thank the fans for their support. His wife, Marcia, has a rare form of Leukemia.

Kyle Beckerman, RSL Everton, FC

2009-07-21T16:56:00.000-07:00

So, it's been a while! It's been pretty busy! My birthday was on the fourth, and things weren't how we normally have it, so I wasn't really looking forward to it. However, I was mistaken! It was probably the best birthday I've had in a long time! I wasn't rushed to get to the parade. I didn't really care if we were late, I wanted to make sure to spend some time with Grandma, because it may be my last with her. She didn't know it was my birthday, but when we walked in, she said, "Everyone!!! These are my friends!" Like we're never there, but she doesn't remember from minute to minute sometimes. After that we did go to the parade, it was fun! Then we had a picnic at Grandma and Grandpa's and that was really nice, too. For dinner we went to Cheesecake Factory! It was really good and really fun with the little boys! They're so cute! The night before was Grandpa's heart party. That was really fun, too. We were only missing a few people, I think it's the most we've had together in a really long time. He's had his "new" heart for 20 years. It's such a miracle! I know that he's lasted as long as he has because we've all needed him. I think Heavenly Father has let him stay with us, because Collin and I needed a "dad," since our's is gone.

For my birthday, Mom gave me a tennis racket, and I've been trying to play a couple mornings a week. I've got a long way to go, but it's really fun!

This last week was Mom's birthday, a bridal shower for Ashley, and Steel Days in American Fork. Busy week! Very fun, though!

Explanation for my music: I'm admitting that I'm a convert to David Archuleta! I saw him perform at a ReAL game, and loved him! Then there's a tribute to MJ. He was a talented guy! Weird as can be, but his music is great! David Cook is singing a Lionel Richie song. Whenever I hear Lionel Richie on the radio (his old stuff) I smile and think my dad's saying hi! He didn't even like him that much, but I remember listening to that tape with dad. Brad Paisley's song is my new favorite! Who doesn't like Daughtry! Anyways!!! I'm out of here!

Time to play movie critic again...

2009-06-19T18:14:00.000-07:00

I've seen quite a few movies lately, both old and new ones. The three I've decided to critique today are:

1. UP

The previews didn't show anything like what really happened. I really enjoyed it, and it's been a couple weeks since I saw it, and I've decided I really liked it. It was written more for adults than kids. I was surprised by how grown up the context was. I was heart broken for Mr. Fredricksen, when he lost his Ellie. Ford leaned over, and said, "This is a sad movie." Very cute show, even the scary parts!

2. Kung fu Panda

I didn't see this when it was originally in theaters, but I got to go with my nephews to it this week at the Syracuse theater, with the summer kids' movies. I was laughing so hard, during so many parts. Jack Black is funny as a cartoon! It was so funny and creative! It was a great message about finding yourself. You're important, just as you are! Great message and fun with so many fun characters!

3. The Proposal

I love romantic comedies with Sandra Bullock. There are so many characteristics that you see from her in most of her movies, which makes the movies somewhat predictable, but still really fun! I've only seen a couple of Ryan Reynolds' movies, and he's so cute! The office workers were ridiculous, as the supporting cast. So over done! Oscar Nunes, was so different from his character in The Office, but he was so embarrassing in parts, it was uncomfortable. Betty White was hilarious! Craig T. Nelson didn't have much to do, he was hardly in it. Mary Steenbergen was really cute, like an everyday normal lady. It was a cute story, but they could have changed up the ending. It was sort of like they took "I fell in love with you." "Me?" "All of you!" from While You were Sleeping, and plugged it in to this movie! I still loved it!

2009-06-01T21:45:00.000-07:00

Don't you just hate when you try and try and try to get things to work out, and then they don't work out. No matter how many days, months, or even years you work on something, and it's as if you haven't tried. It's so crazy! Or when you should feel completely comfortable in a situation, and instead you feel like an outsider, like you're sitting on the fence looking in. Sometimes things seem so backwards. Or when you know something, really know it, but can't figure out how to get it across to someone else, so strange! Anyways, that's my ranting for the day!

2009-05-21T17:38:00.000-07:00

Medicaid is so ridiculous! I can't get approved, because I'm single and NOT pregnant, without children! So dumb!!!

No insurance...of course I'm going to need it...

2009-05-19T16:17:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been a while since I've blogged, but I'm ending my hiatus today. It's been a really long few weeks. I started having some tooth pain the second to last week of April. I cannot afford the dentist, so I was living with the pain. It started in the lower left part of my mouth, but started to spread. People thought I had an abscess, and so I'd definitely need to take care of it. Well, the pain got so bad and had spread into my ear and my head, that I broke down and scheduled a dentist appointment. They couldn't fit me in for an "EMERGENCY" until the next Tuesday, this was a thursday. I thought I'd die, but what could I do? So, I continued my bouts of pain, and drugging up on about 800 mg. of ibuprofen, and then 600 mg. of excedrin, every two hours-ish. Then, on Saturday the pain got so bad, that Mom told me I needed to go to an after hours clinic. So, I did, and for $128 I had a delightful doctors appt. (Catch the sarcasm in my voice!) The doctor ended up being my old drafting teacher from college, that hung out at my desk most of the semester so in the end of the class, I was like, hey, we should hang out sometime, or something sly like that. So, that was so embarrassing to see him again, and have him poking and prodding, and then sticking his hand in my mouth to see if I really did have an abscess, which I had just come from a Pampered Chef party and had garlic breath. Come to find out I had a sinus infection. He gave me a prescription for some heavy duty amoxicillin, but told me it was viral, so if I wasn't better in 14 days, THEN I could fill my prescription. Well, that lasted until Monday, and I filled it anyway. Well, I've been pain free in my mouth, jaw, ear, and teeth for approximately 5 days! Yay!

Three days before I ran out of insurance I was in the emergency room with the worst pain I'd ever experienced, in my chest and back. Well, they had given my some prilosec, and that fixed it and all of the other tests turned out perfectly fine. Well, that was in the end of October. Since then, I've had the same pain every once in a while. Usually, I can take a prilosec, an excedrin, and a half a piece of bread, then lay in a really hot tub for about an hour or so, and it passes. I know it sounds like a weird combination of things, but trial and error has led me to this, and it's worked. Well, about 3 1/2 weeks ago, maybe 4 weeks ago, it started in the middle of the day, and I couldn't finish my piano lessons. Generally, it happens at night, and lasts about 3 hours, so this was the first time that it was day time. Well, about 8 days later, it happened again. Then, 6 days later; then, 4 days later. Which gets us to this last Friday. Also, it used to be brought on by onions, so obviously, I don't eat them anymore. I had decided that I wouldn't drink pop anymore, thinking maybe it was the carbonation, or something. So, I'd been eating the way I should and drinking pretty much only water, and was making peanut butter bars for a baby shower we were giving on Saturday, and had a tiny drink of juice at 7:45-ish. By 8:00 I was nearly dying in this horrible pain. I didn't even fall asleep until 6:00 a.m. on Saturday. The pain subsided a little bit, enough that I could move and we did the shower, and at 1:00, it was so bad again, that I just had to lay down. It didn't get much better until about 8:30, but not completely better. Sunday I went to stake conference, and by Sunday night was in even worse pain. Collin gave me a blessing, and I was finally able to sleep most of the night. I don't have a regular doctor, but one of Collin's old teammates' dad is a doctor that I trust, but you can never get in to him for weeks. I called yesterday to schedule an appt. with him, and by some miracle, and I really mean it, I was able to get in today. However, the best scenario for this issue will be that it's my gallbladder. However, we won't know that until I have A LOT of tests done. The other possibilities are pretty scary. He must've seen the fear on my face, because he quickly told me that the scary stuff wouldn't be occurring right now, but if it's this esophagus thing, then it ALWAYS turns into cancer, but it won't be for 30 years or so. So, there's my story of the last few weeks... So much fun. However, Dr. Bob is an amazing man, and gave me back my copay, and gave me a whole bunch of medicine, and he said, that when I run out of it, just come back, and he'll give me more. That was a blessing and a relief for today!

My thoughts are that it's going to be my gallbladder, and not the other. I see what other people are having to suffer through, and I'm really fine with only having to suffer for a few hours every once in a while. I really do feel very blessed!

Message on Revelations...

2009-04-26T18:05:00.000-07:00

This link leads to a message by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. In it he discusses that the Lord still speaks. I know this to be true! I know that the Lord spoke to the people in both biblical times and Book of Mormon times. How could a loving Father in Heaven just stop speaking to his children? I know that He still speaks. He speaks through President Thomas S. Monson and the other church leaders to all people. He speaks to me as well. I know that I can receive personal revelation from Him. I'm so grateful for that!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GACIAgjUJlg

Easter and Conference and such...

2009-04-18T21:01:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been a while since I last blogged. It's been a couple of weeks that seem both very busy, and at the same time like nothing has really gone on. This was the first Saturday in ten years that I've been able to watch general conference. It seems crazy to me that it's been that long. Of course, when I was manager at Meier & Frank, I just happened to need to do stock during the exact times of conference, so I could listen to it in the back room. I loved conference! I guess it starts with the young women general broadcast. I went with the stake to that, and absolutely loved it. I am so glad that they added Virtue to the list of values in the personal progress. What a great value to focus on! I got tickets to attend the saturday afternoon session at the conference center. The feeling was amazing! It was wonderful to be able to sit in the presence of such great leaders and not have the distractions that happen while watching it at home. There were so many messages that seemed to be meant just for me. I loved it!

In between conference and Easter I had the stomach flu. Not the whole time, but long enough that it was annoying! The Friday before Easter, Mom, Darlene, Earl, Cory, Robbe and I worked on cleaning Grandma's house out from the last 55 years. I didn't have much energy while recovering, so I spent time weeding and cleaning the inside ie dusting, vacuuming, going through drawers stuff like that. They cleaned out the garage. Grandpa had the most amazing things in there. D and E are going to take a bunch of stuff and donate it to a museum in Whitehall, MT. It was pretty fun to see things. Grandpa had lots and lots of old broken things, that he must've thought he'd one day get to fix. He had this really cool tackle box, that once you opened the lid, this cylinder would raise and inside the cylinder were many different cubby holes for different kinds of flies and reels. It was awesome!

For Easter, we went to a family party at Todd's on Saturday. It was nice to see everyone. We then went to the ReAL game, in the pouring rain. It didn't rain for maybe ten minutes of the whole game. It was awesome, though! They won 2-0! Not at all like how they played today, which is a totally different story! (They really need to change their mindset when going to play a team they've never beat before. They psyche themselves out! ANNOYING!!!)

On Easter, we did the regular church things. It was fast sunday in our ward, so we didn't have an "Easter program," but that was alright. After church, D & E and Terri came, and then Collin and his family, and then Robbe and his family. We had an Easter/birthday party for D & E. The kids had an easter egg hunt, that Fordy was way excited for! He kept asking if it was time, yet. I hear this was where Evy finally realized what to do with the eggs, instead of giving them away. They, also, got there baskets from Mom, and Ev was really quick to eat some candy! It was a really nice day!

On Monday, it was Mom's spring break, still. So, she had to get her's and Grandma's taxes done, So, I went with her and then we went to Grandma's house for a minute and then went to Sweet Tomatoes for lunch. It's tradition! It was sad to not have Grandma there, though. We then went up to Temple Square and saw the Joseph Smith movie that is playing at the Joseph Smith Building. It was Mom's first time to see it. It was a great day!

Here are some photos of Easter!

This was my first attempt of making chocolate suckers! Sorry it's blurry!

Doesn't Ev just look like a big boy coloring!

Ford, Sam and Grandma Colleen are looking for eggs.

Ev is seriously looking for eggs!
Grandma's there to get the eggs that are just too high!

My Dad

2009-04-02T12:58:00.001-07:00

A woman in our ward drew this for my Mom. Isn't it amazing!

Preach My Gospel

2009-03-30T14:23:00.000-07:00

I have just recently started using Preach My Gospel with my scripture study. I absolutely love it! What a blessing it is for anyone, even people who aren't serving a full-time mission. I love to read the scriptures anyways. I always do it before I go to bed. Lately, I've been so excited all day, knowing that I'm going to study from it!

What a Trooper!

2009-03-18T18:49:00.000-07:00

I am amazed at this little grandma of mine. She's led such an amazing life. She had to drop out of school in eighth grade to take care of her siblings and her sick mother. Grandma was the second child born here in America, and was followed by eleven more kids. She carried her little sister, Mil, while she was a baby, and kids from Grandma's school saw her, and gossiped about how Mil was the reason she had to drop out, that Grandma had had a baby. She continued to take care of her family for many years. She met Grandpa Dan at a dance in Midvale. He lived in Bingham Canyon, and she lived in Midvale. He'd asked her to marry him, and she didn't give her answer right away. Then she got in a fight with her mom, who was mean to her her entire life, and told Grandpa she'd be glad to get married. Thinking that she would be able to have her own family, own home, and own life with this wonderful man. Little did she know that she was going from taking care of her siblings to taking care of her drunken mother-in-law and her children. They, eventually, got their own home and had Darlene. Twelve years later, and a house later, they had my Mom. She has spent many years taking care of a lot of people. She continued to take care of her mom. She would take care of the things at her house and when my mom left for school, Grandma would leave for her mom's house to take care of her, until she passed away. Grandma has taken care of many people throughout her life. She babysat us while we were little, and kids are her most favorite things in the whole world; especially, little girls. She's still absolutely darling with Ford and Ev, whenever they stop to see her. She's always been someone that gave service, no matter who needed it she freely gave of her time to help them.She's now 93, and is so strong. Her life is coming to an end, and I'm going to miss her so much. I'll be happy for her, when it happens, because she's wanted to be with Grandpa for so long. The hospice people have told us that it could happen at any time. She's strong, though. So, for four days she could be sound asleep, not really responsive, and then wake up the next day and be wide awake. Two days ago, she said she needed Dan so they could dance, again. I love her so much! I know she'll be happy, though.

I need a logo. What should it be?

2009-03-13T21:22:00.001-07:00

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Option 4

These are all rough drafts. I am interested in which color way you all think is best or of course which design is best.

Temples...

2009-03-12T09:33:00.000-07:00

Watch this video on YouTube produced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x_-TQivCx8

Nicholes' Temple Night!

2009-03-03T09:57:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone! It's that time, finally! Jordan River Temple on March 12th. We're going to meet in the chapel at 6:30 p.m. Hope to see all of you there!

2009-02-22T22:45:00.000-08:00

There was a horrible tragedy in our old ward last week. On Sunday morning, I was awakened by Mom coming home and telling me she had terrible news. A young man in our old ward had been in an accident that wasn't that bad, until he got out of the car to check the damage and another car hit into the back of the first car that had hit him. I didn't know Josh that well. What I did know, was that I was so impressed, the few interactions that we had, with the spirit about him. He knew who he was, he knew the Church was true, and you could see that eminating from him. He passed away on Sunday. His family donated his organs, which is the best gift that can be given. I'm so grateful all of the time for the family that chose to donate a heart to Grandpa Ross. I definitely think it's so much easier being on the side of receiving rather than donating. Josh's little sisters were in my primary class, and I just love them so much! They talked about him often in class and couldn't wait for the day until he came home from his mission. He came home in August, and was able to confirm them each as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. What a great blessing! My heart has broken for those two little girls, and their big sisters, brother, and parents. Upon hearing the news, I immediately wanted to go hug them, but waited a day until I did. I was nervous of what to say, but I was so grateful I had gone. I was truly honored to be asked to play the piano for the funeral. I picked out many songs that I felt prompted to, and I loved being able to share that with the many people who love Josh. For not knowing him very well, other than right when he got home and a few chats on facebook, I bawled so hard. I could barely make it through the opening hymn, Called to Serve. I was grateful to be able to accompany his sisters doing their musical numbers, as well. My heart goes out to them, and I hope they know that they can depend on me whenever they need me, they're such a great family!

Tonight we went to Celine Dion. I bought tickets for Mom for her Christmas present 2007. The concert was supposed to be on Nov. 21, 2008, which happens to be Mom and Dad's wedding anniversary. I thought that would be a great way to spend that evening. Well, about four days before the concert they sent out an e-mail saying that the show had been postponed to today. I was bugged by that because today is Sunday, and that was a special day for Mom. I have been bothered by the whole Sunday issue, but I had spent about $160 on these tickets. So, we went. It was amazing! The opening act wasn't so wonderful. It was a comedian that works the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas. He was quite talented, but there were some pretty bad things that he said. However, Celine Dion was amazing! I feel like a total dork saying that, but she is so talented. Her range and her breath control, I just can't believe it. Anyways~ other than some really strange choreography and dancers and a couple of facial expressions, it was totally cool! She had seven costume changes and they were stunning. My most favorite part of any conert is the way the lights are progammed and how cool the stage and layout is. I've been to a lot of concerts and have never seen a stage like this one. Everything moved! There was a moving sidewalk around the entire stage. The stage was in the center of the court, a giant square and then had two walkouts with circular stages. It was so great!

Kindness and Blessings...

2009-02-14T16:59:00.000-08:00

Well, the last few weeks have been busy, crazy, trying, and fun. On January 28th, our stake had Sis. Julie Beck up for our stake enrichment meeting. I was so excited! As we pulled into the parking lot, Apple Village called and told us Grandma was non-responsive, and her blood pressure was extremely low. Mom told me to stay with Amy and Roz, and she'd just go, but I didn't. We took Amy's van and sped over, glad we were pretty much across the highway from her. So, after seeing how she was, we called the paramedics and spent the next 9 hours in the emergency room. All of her tests came back fine, but she wasn't fine. So, they took her in and did this nuclear test that takes about 45 minutes, with her being in a tube the whole time. It ended up that she has multiple blood clots in her lungs. The ER doctor was going to admit her, and at about 12:30 a.m., said a doctor needed to talk to us first. This "hospitalist" guy came in and was pretty tense and defensive and told us either he would treat her, and she'd probably end up falling and bleed to death internally (she falls a big fall every couple of weeks, so...), or he wouldn't treat her, and she'll eventually die from the pulmonary embolisms at anytime. That's a lot of pressure to have to choose at an instant, to have to decide whether or not your going to let your mom die from something has got to be the hardest decision for someone. Mom shouldn't have to make decisions like that. It ended up that we decided not to treat it, and instead have hospice coming in to "make her comfortable." Such a hard decision!

Once we got her back to Apple Village, she just got right back into her regular routine! We were so grateful for this. It made it so we could go to St. George the next week. Mom had a music conference that she HAD to be to, for the credit, to renew her license. We were going to go on Wednesday, the 4th, so we could go play in Las Vegas, and I could go to the World Market Design Center (which I still need to do!!!) Mom started to get pretty sick on Tuesday, and by Wednesday, she was pretty much a disaster, and I was pretty sick too, so I made an executive decision, and we didn't go until Thursday, so we could rest a bit. While we were down there, I had a great time playing with Porter, Rhett, Bergen, Jason, Daisy (the calf in the backyard, that I actually fed), and ALee. ALee and I got to go shopping and look for accessories for her beautiful house, which was so fun! Mom, however, was sicker than I've ever seen her, and sicker than she remembers ever being. She did her classes, and the rest the time she sat in the lazyboy. Jason and the boys built her fires in the fireplace, because she was freezing the entire time. We did get to go to a movie, New in Town, which ended up being quite funny. Renee Zellweger and Harry Conick, Jr. are an odd couple, but it was still fun! We didn't sleep much, the whole time, and the first night, I'd gone into the bonus room around 2:00, because I couldn't sleep. I just laid down on the futon, with it still up like a sofa, because I couldn't figure out how that worked. I was tired! Anyways~ I shifted my position at some point and the futon threw me out and then flipped on top of me. I thought I broke my shoulder, but at that time of night, everything's horrendous! After that, I used it like a bed, because it was then laying out! DUH!!! On Sunday, Mom was so sick, Jason gave her a blessing and we left. She seemed better during the ride, but by the time we got home, she was worse again! So, Collin came over and gave her a blessing, as well. The priesthood is such an amazing thing! Well, Monday we got her to the doctor, and she has pneumonia, the flu, and two ear infections. What a mess! She has been home all week, which she's never done before!

I called Collin to tell him the prognosis, and he talked about it with Ryan, who is in our old ward. Ryan called me later that day, and told me he'd called the relief society president in Hobbs Creek, because he didn't know who to call from our ward. Right after that, a member of our relief society presidency in the 28th ward called to check on her. I'd assumed that Laralee, from HC, had called our ward, but she hadn't. Anyways, people have just randomly dropped over dinners. We're so grateful for them. It's not that I can't cook, because I have been, but it's been so nice. The guy across the street let me borrow his snowblower, during the huge storm on Monday, and then Brandon did it the next day. We'd gotten a warning about our sidewalks not being clean in front of the house and north of us, but the two houses up were vacant. Anyways~ someone did that for us yesterday. Today, someone did our driveway, again. Then this evening, I was sitting on the couch and heard some noise outside. A couple of young men from our ward, one of the leaders, and his son that is in my primary class were shoveling our mountain, that was covering the stairs. They then gave us each a valentine, and a red rose! How cute!

Today is Collin's birthday, and we went to the Draper Temple open house. It was beautiful! What a great experience for kids. As we were walking out, I asked Ford what he thought, and he said, "That was so fun!!!! and so beautiful!!!!!" Then we went to lunch with Grandma and Grandpa. Fun day!

New Temple Night!!!

2009-02-02T21:51:00.000-08:00

Nicholes' temple night at Jordan River on March 12th. Meet at 6:30, in the chapel. I promise I won't cancel, again!

Everett!!!

2009-01-27T12:53:00.000-08:00

I just had to post this. Look at his eyes! He's got some surprise in his mind! He's got the Nicholes' gleam!

2009-01-26T21:06:00.000-08:00

So, things are much better, now. Last week, after my annoying Sunday, I then got the stomach flu one Tuesday night. It was kind of like a 24 hour flu. Anyways, since then life has been much better. I got a new phone (my old one was returned on Sunday, one of my primary kids had it in her bag), it only cost $40 because I have insurance. I decided to insure my phone after I lost the last one on Indiana Jones at Disneyland. I'm so glad I was thinking ahead this time.

I kept score for the stake young women's basketball games. I volunteered for one game, but ended up doing all of them on thursday night, and woke up early on saturday, so I could do it again. It was so much fun! I'm glad that I've been able to get to know the young women of our stake. There's only one ward of parents that I absolutely can't stand, so if I ignore them, then things are good. After basketball on Saturday, we went to American Fork to have lunch with Grandma and Grandpa, and play Five Crowns. It was so fun to be with them and with Collin and his family. It was so much fun to play with the boys. They're such special boys!

I'm so glad that I have an open schedule, right now. On Friday, Grandma Mamie was having one of her off days. Apple Inn called to say she wouldn't take her pills or her shower, and she was just being really mean. I went up there to give her her meds and stayed with her for about an hour feeding her lunch and getting her dressed. She wasn't mean to me, and I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to help her.

This Sunday was a great day! I woke up early and got ready for the day. My lesson was on the early life of Joseph Smith. I watched the movie, Praise to the Man, while I made treats for primary. It was such a peaceful day, not having to rush for anything, and to be able to sit and read and study. It was great! Our meeting was really nice, as well. The spirit was so strong!

What a Crappy Sunday!

2009-01-18T22:20:00.000-08:00

So, today started off alright, but that was about it, in the good department. I haven't been feeling the best, so I slept in. I got up and started color coding Book of Mormon's for my primary class (I color code the books, like the tabs in the better copies, but I do it with color and it really helps them, because I have flash cards with the color on them, so I just hold up the blue and they know to go to 1st Nephi.) Anyways, so I did that and I felt so prepared for church, and then I took my time eating breakfast and then went in to get ready for the day. I was putting on my contacts, which just happened to be my last pair. I put on my right, then I thought I put on my left, then I went to my room for something, and thought Wow, I really can't see out of my left eye. They're old, but I haven't been able to get new ones, so I just figured that was the problem. Nope. I never actually put it in. However, it's missing. I couldn't find it anywhere, so I was really glad that I got glasses my last eye appointment or I would've been in a big mess. I still kind of was, because as I sit on the bench, I can't read the music, see the keys and play the pedals on the organ with glasses, because there is that void space where there are rims and then no lens when I look down. It's great! So, The Spirit of God was about seven minutes long. I never am a slow player, but I couldn't focus. When I was done with the second verse I thought I'd die, because it was so long. The rest of church was fine, until I'd run home for a second, because I forgot their treats, and when I got back, I just had my phone sitting on my lesson manual next to me in sharing time. I should've put it in my bag, but for some reason I didn't. So, then we went to class, and I swear I had it. I don't wear a watch, and I don't have a clock in my class room, so I use my phone. It's on vibrate and no one really calls while I'm in church anyways, so it's never been a problem. I went to look at the time, and couldn't find it, and so I sent one of the boys back to the primary room to get it. No one had seen it. Well, after church I looked everywhere for it. I talked to everyone I could think of, and no one found it. I was hoping I'd dropped it in my car or something, but no such luck! So, I came home. Then I had to go look again, just to be sure. No phone. Then I went and visited Grandma, and then Mom and I went back to look for it. No phone. All the while, people had been calling it to hear if anyone would hear it vibrating. No such luck! So, yep, I cried. My phone is the only way I'm going to get business, and it's gone! I don't really have the funds for it either, but at least I insured it, so I won't have to pay the whole amount. I called t-mobile to report it lost or stolen, and they said, Well, it hasn't been used since 3:55. I was in primary at the time. So someone has my phone, how sad!

Re: Nicholes' Temple Nights...

2009-01-16T18:35:00.000-08:00

So, I feel so bad about this, but Mom & I have tickets to the King Singers on February 12th. So much for us attending the first Nicholes' Temple Night. I hope all of you still go, and I'll come next time. Oh, well!

2009-01-15T18:04:00.000-08:00

I am applying to work for my mom's district for a few hours a week helping kids learn how to read. Besides an application, my resume, and proof of my degree I, also, had to turn in some letters of recommendation. I was so touched by the letters I received in the last couple of days. I am so grateful for all of the support I'm given at every turn in my life!

Nicholes' Temple Nights...

2009-01-13T17:07:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, I love the temple and I love our family! I have talked to Jen, Mandi and Grandma JaNae about this. We've decided that we are going to have a temple night quarterly. So, announcing our first night... Thursday, February 12th. We will trade temples for each time. We are going to start at Jordan River, this time. Anyone is welcome to come! We'll meet in the chapel at 6:30 p.m. for the 6:40 session. So, pass the word along. Hopefully everyone that is able, that lives in this part of the world will be able to make it to at least one of our temple nights. I love you, all!

P.S. Mandi I had such a great time today. Thanks so much!

Awakening!

2009-01-12T17:45:00.000-08:00

Well, I've been a little discouraged lately. My company is taking longer to get going than I planned on, and I'm running out of money. Advertising is way more expensive than I ever would have guessed. Although, nothing has changed in regards to all of that, I woke up feeling much better today. I decided that I was going to have a good attitude. Today I went and bought some books for my piano students and ran errands, and it was so nice to be out and about, and not staring at the fact that I need to find some way to advertise more. I, also, went to the gym today, which I'm trying to do every week day. I feel so much better! Anyways~ that's probably enough of my rambling today!
Talk to y'all later!

Happy New Year

2009-01-03T11:28:00.000-08:00

I was just telling Grandma Mamie how it's now 2009, and her jaw dropped! It's crazy to think of all of the progress the world has made in my 28 years on this earth, but to think of all she's witnessed, I can't even believe it.

I went to the Salt Lake Temple for my first time yesterday with Mom and Amy. It was such an amazing experience! As many of you know, I love learning about church history. I was just reading about how a few years before the temple was complete some men were sent to France to learn how to paint and how to sculpt, so that the Lord's name could be glorified through the arts. What an absolute amazing testimony that the Lord's hand is in everything, to be able to go to France to learn how to do it for a few years, and be able to get results like that is amazing!

As the new year is here, I hope everyone will have a loving, successful, and healthy year ahead of them.

2008-12-30T21:08:00.000-08:00

Today is our stake's New Years activity for the youth. It's a four stake activity. The youth counsel put it together. Well, due to an unforeseen event, the person in charge of the decorations was unable to do it. This was fun for me, because then I got to do them. Mom and I had been thinking about it for a couple weeks, and we were going to go buy everything at the after Christmas sales. Even with those, the deals weren't good enough for us, so our ideas evolved and in the end, I love what we did. The theme was black and white. Here are some photos. They're not the best, because by the time I got back with my camera the kids were already showing up.

They actually look way cuter in person. They look tiny here and the chairs are pretty ugly. Oh, well!

Christmas...

2008-12-25T19:11:00.000-08:00

This Christmas season has been one of the best in a long time. It started when Mom and I went to see Savior of the World. What a beautiful musical depicting the birth and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ! Then I've been lucky to not be working retail. I've loved being able to participate in different Christmas activities, like being able to see the lights at Temple Square and shopping on a saturday! I, also, was able to help Mom with a couple of her concerts. I played the piano for the night performance of the wealthiest school in the Ogden school district and I was able to play for the poorest school in the Ogden school district. I absolutely loved playing at Madison with all of the funny kids. They weren't the most talented group I've heard, but they were so excited about it all! Playing for Wasatch was a different story, they weren't super excited about anything, except for a couple of 3rd graders. The teachers were rude, as well.

Yesterday, we had Christmas Eve with the Nicholes'. It was so much fun! There were about 35 of us there, so we were missing sixteen, I think, well seventeen including my dad. Dinner was delicious! The kids were so much fun! It was just great to be with all of the cousins that we don't get to see that often. It was so great!

Mom & Grandpa

Maggey, Ally, Spencer & Abbey

Grandpa being the Angel

Today was a different Christmas than we've ever had. Usually, we'd have Grandma Mamie sleep over and Grandma & Grandpa come up for breakfast, then we go to Grandma Mamie's for dinner with the Nelson's. Because of the snow, Grandma & Grandpa weren't able to come up and Grandma is at Apple Village, so there was no party to go to. Instead, Collin, Krys, Fordy & Evee came around noon and we spent the day, just the six of us, opening presents, eating, and playing. For a little while we went to visit Grandma, so she could open her presents. I made cinnamon rolls, so we took them there and she shared some with the CNAs and some of her friends. It's been so quiet, and restful, being home. It's been a great day!

Ford saying, "I've wanted this my whole life!"

Everett surrounded by his gifts!

Merry Christmas to everyone!

2008-12-21T18:36:00.000-08:00

Today, being the sunday before Christmas, we went to two Sacrament meetings. We first went to our ward, where the talks were all about charity and the charity of Christ. They were very good talks and the ward choir sang Christmas songs, but it was so weird to not have a "Christmas message." Then I had primary. I was playing in Hobbs Creek ward at 1:00, so I had my primary class go into class time with the senior primary, so that I could teach some of my lesson. That didn't work out too well, because I had to go practice and opening exercises went on for a really long time. However, I did have enough time to get them in class and give them their little Christmas presents. Then, I had my cute mom take the first part of my class and then I had a sub for the rest so Mom could come listen to the Nicholas' family do the Christmas program. My class thought they were so cool, because they didn't have just one teacher, they got three teachers!

It was such a great Sacrament meeting. The spirit was so strong there. I was talking with Mom about it, to see if she agreed with my thinking that it wasn't so strong just because I love the people doing the program and I love the ward. There is a completely different spirit between the two wards that is almost tangible. I loved getting to play the piano for the primary, the young women group and the Nicholas' family. I'm so grateful for the gifts and talents I've been given, and I'm so happy when I get to share them. While I was playing for the young women, my stomach was doing flips, which is weird, because I usually can play anything anywhere without getting nervous. Then I realized what was causing me such discomfort. My old drama teacher was sitting by me to make sure my music didn't fall off. I'd asked him to, not realizing that I was sinking back into my self-conscious issues like I was in highschool. It took me until the next song to say to myself Hey, there's no point in being stressed. I can play the piano, I shouldn't let him affect me. He's just a regular person. I have nothing to prove to him. Then I was fine. I was grateful he was there to turn my pages, and it was fun once I let go of my self esteem issues! What a dork am I sometimes! I just have to say I love my old ward!!!

Salt Lake City!

2008-12-18T15:10:00.001-08:00

This is so funny, but I have to tell you how much I love Salt Lake City! I love the busy-ness! I love the buildings! I especially love it at Christmas time! I was down there today to meet Deric & Stephanie for lunch. I got there early so I walked around Gateway. It was freaking freezing! That doesn't even explain how freezing it was! It was still so nice to walk around and be in that beautiful place. Then we went to Cafe Rio on 4th South. We sat near a window that looks out on 4th south, so you can see up near the avenues and the north end of campus. I love it so much! It's hilarious! I didn't graduate from the U, but I just feel so excited being near campus. I know, weird! I just love the air in Salt Lake! (Not the exhaust and stinky air, though.) I can totally see how "this is the place."

Christmas Time is Here!!!

2008-12-15T20:20:00.000-08:00

I love Christmas time! I love the music. I love the lights. I love the parties. It's so fun! We went to see the lights at Temple Square on Saturday night. It was the first time with my cute nephews! It was freezing and snowing, so we kind of just ran through. Ford loved the huge nativity scene. He loves nativity scenes. He has some of his own that he can play with, and year round he has Mary nearby. While we were listening to the presentation at the nativity scene, when President Hinckley's voice came on, it brought tears to my eyes. What a wonderful man he was! The spirit there is so amazing! I love it!

My Website!

2008-12-15T20:12:00.000-08:00

I finally have my website up and running! It was a challenge, but it's up. Hopefully, it will bring in some business! I was just looking at advertising on Google, and it's going to cost $50 a month to get it within the top 25 listings or something like that. Crazy! Anyways~ check it out tell me what you think! www.designsbypyper.com

Rhetters!!!

2008-12-04T14:58:00.001-08:00

This is my cute, little cousin Rhett! I've been thinking a lot about him, so I decided to write about him. Now I don't remember what I was like when I was six, but I doubt I asked questions like he does. I'm sure these topics came up after Dad died, but that's because that experience made me aware of everything, and I needed the answers so that I knew that I would be with my dad again.

Last wednesday, I don't know how we even got to the subject, but Rhett asked me how come the church can't have missionaries in China. I explained as much as I could, and then he asked me, So, can the Second Coming come tonight? I told him there were some steps that had to be taken care of, before Jesus Christ would come again. Like what? I told him that the whole world had to be able to have the gospel taught to them, so that every person had the chance to know about Him. Rhett then said, You've already had the chance and so have I, huh? Then, on Thanksgiving we were talking about it again, and then he brought up how in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Ausland is like Jesus, he had to die for them, and then he came back to life, huh? I figured that all out on my own. What a smartie! Then he had a really, really long nap, so he ended up being up all night long. He was sleeping in the same room with us, so I went out into the hall to use that light so he could sleep. I was laying on the floor reading my scriptures, and the bedroom door slowly opened, and he said, Are you reading the Bible? I told him I was reading the Doctrine & Covenants. I love the Doctrine & Covenants, will you read it to me? So, we read a section, and he had tons of questions about where they were going on their missions and why and who would they be teaching. Then he got out his Book of Mormon, and wanted to read out of that. He wanted me to read the introduction, because I've never read that part before. So we started, but where it says that it was translated by Joseph Smith, he wondered why he had to, and why it wasn't written in English, before. So I told him about different languages, and we had to look in Genesis at the Tower of Babel and read that. He had me on my toes, because I needed to make sure I told him the facts. It was so fun! He's such a special boy!

Comfort food...

2008-12-02T12:43:00.000-08:00

You know how some people have comfort food when they're sad, tired, or sick? Well, I don't really have a specific comfort "food." Instead, when I get sick, like I am right now, I have to watch Pride & Prejudice! It just makes me feel so much better. Jane Austen was brilliant, and I love all of her books, but watching the Kiera Knightley version, I just love Mr. Darcy!

For Thanksgiving, we spent a few days with ALee and her family, and Grandma & Grandpa. We had great food, and it was really fun for all of us to be working to make dinner. I think that everything went off splendidly! Only one dish was broken, and yep, it was me who broke it, and I was the only one who got burned, so all in all, it was great! I dipped marshmallows in broken candy canes to put in our hot chocolate. Rhett and Porter helped, Rhett was diligent in helping until all the marshmallows were covered. It was so much fun! Hopefully, Grandpa will be feeling better soon!

I've been tagged twice, so here goes...

2008-11-27T20:36:00.000-08:00

I was tagged by Juli, so here goes...

Five things I was doing 10 years ago...1. Graduated from high school 2. Going to the University of Utah 3. Went to Homecoming at NHS with a model, that was hot! 4. Learning how to play brass instruments 5. Went to Disneyland

Five things on my to do list today... (It's pretty late right now...) 1. Watch Get Smart 2. Work on my website 3. Read a little of The Host 4. Read a few sections in the Doctrine & Covenants 5. Go to bed

Five of my favorite snacks...1. Mt. Dew 2. Popcorn 3. anything chocolate 4. Crepes 5. chocolate/marshmallow shakes

Five jobs I have had... 1. Shoe department manager, Meier & Frank 2. musical director at Rodgers' Memorial childrens theatre 3. Asst. Manager Bass Outlet 4. Interior Designer at San Francisco Design 5. Owner of Designs by Pyper

Five things I would do with a million dollars...1. Get photoshop, 2. Buy my mom a new house, and while I'm at it one for me as well, 3. Travel all over the world, 4. Buy a new car, 5. Donate lots of it

Five things that made me laugh this week...1. Grandma pretending she was smoking her sucker stick, 2. Everett trying to feed me, 3. Ford teaching me how to fly like peterpan, 4. Bergen yelling my name at the top of her lungs for no reason at all, 5. Rhett's constant ramblings about brilliant things a six year old shouldn't even know!

Five people I tag: 1. Collin, 2. Melissa, 3. Amy, 4. Camille, 5. Jenelle

Here's Haylee's tag:

8 things

8 TV shows-The Office, NCIS, CSI, CSI:Miami, CSI:New York, LOST, Monarch of the Glen, Ballykissangel
8 Things that happened yesterday- Made Cranberry Sauce, Played 5 Crowns four times, Played with Bergen, Went to Walmart, Played with Porter & Rhett, lazed around in St. George, played ALee's new organ
8 Favorite places to eat- Pizza Factory, Olive Garden, Sam Pan, Grandma & Grandpa's house, Cafe Rio, Boston's, Maple Gardens, Iggy's
8 Things I'm looking forward to- Seeing Grandma Mamie, again, Everett's birthday, Playing with Ford on Saturday, Christmas, When my website is up and running, Christmas Lights at Temple Square, Christmas Eve with the Nicholes', Decorating the house for Christmas
I tag the same 5 from above, plus Mandi, Krystal, and Wendi

Kids say the funniest things...

2008-11-24T22:30:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, in opening exercises of primary, the two speakers didn't show up, and their mom's didn't bother to inform the primary presidency, so they had to ad lib. So, one of the counselors decided that it would be a great opportunity for the children to share something they were thankful for. She started with the sunbeams. They all pretty much said their families, except one little girl that said Jesus. I was pretty impressed with that. Then they went to the 5 & 6 year olds, and they had very similar answers, plus video games and tv. Then they got to my class, the 7 year olds. I only had four kids there. They all got up, except for Ian. He leaned over and said, I just don't think I'm thankful for anything, especially not my brother. Trying not to laugh, I told him he's probably thankful for his mom and dad. (His mom was sitting right behind us subbing in the older class.) Anyways, so after he did his thing at the mic, he came back and said I stole your idea, oh, and I'm thankful for you, too. So cute! Then they went through the rest of the primary, and they all were very similar, other than one of the older girls who is thankful for cute shoes (a woman after my own heart). Then they said that it was time for the teachers to get up as well. We were egging each other on, but eventually we all got a turn. While I was procrastinating, Ian leaned over and said, You could say you're thankful for our primary class. So, of course, I did say I was thankful for my primary class, my family, and the temple. When I sat down, he said, See, you used my idea, so did all the other teachers, I didn't know they'd say that too.

At dinner on Sunday night, Ford would only eat chicken and a roll. We only had turkey, but hey, it looks like chicken, so that works. I was trying to get him to try different things, to no avail. However, I had made raspberry fluff, which is just coolwhip, sweetened condenced milk, raspberries and lemon juice, to solidify it. So, I said, You should really try this, it's like pudding. He replied with, Didn't I tell you? I only like pudding without raspberries. Like, duh, Aunt Pyper!

The Temple...

2008-11-17T21:25:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking how important the temple is in our lives, and how important family is. Isn't the whole point of our being here to get bodies, be families, and be tested, so we can make it back to our Heavenly Father? Besides going to the temple with my mom, I haven't been more than once with most of my family. So...any of you that want to go anytime, let me know. I'm willing to drive south to do it!

So...

2008-11-12T22:11:00.001-08:00

So, it's been a while. It's crazy, because I feel like all I do is work. I'm at home 95% of the time, but I've just had no time to blog. Maybe I haven't had much to say. I don't know.

Anyways, I've been so busy working on my perspectives for my website, that my hands are worn out. It's been an amazing experience, though. In school, I drew perspectives while looking at a picture from a magazine or something. It was hard, but I could do it. Since I don't have any photos I can use on my website, because I can't use any of my projects from SFD, I've decided to draw my rooms like a photograph. It's been challenging, but I've been able to do it. I haven't drawn a perspective really since school, but they're really turning out. Only about four more to go, and I'll be ready to put it on the web! WooHoo!!! I'm so excited to get it up and running.

In other news, I started to teach piano last week. I was kind of nervous, because I haven't taught piano for a long time. I was worried about remembering the terminology and stuff, but it has been so fun!

Speaking of not remembering things. I was teaching primary on Sunday, and we reached a part of the lesson where I was supposed to share my favorite story about Jesus Christ. I brought the book "The Woman at the Well" by Emily Freeman, illustrated by Simon Dewey (who just happens to be one of my most favorite artists!) I didn't read the book, but the pictures were the perfect visual aide. I really like the story of the woman at the well, because it depicts how Jesus knows us individually. He knows that I'm Pyper Nicholes! It's amazing to me.

Anyways~ so for my forgetfulness. After I told my favorite story, I was supposed to have the kids tell their favorite story. Remember they're six & seven. They looked at me with blank stares, except for Manav, and he was trying really hard to come up with something, but just wasn't. So, I thought I could say things to trigger their memories. I'd say, "What about when He healed the blind? What about when He fed 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish?" all of these what abouts, and then my last reminder was, "What about when He healed those people with...oh, no, what was it they had, oh, I've even made bandages for them. I can't remember. You know, the people who no one wanted to be around. They had to ring a bell (here I even moved my hand like I was ringing a bell)." What a dork! One of the girls, Zoe, said Leopards? Yes, that's right, lepers. So sad! I guess I've spent too much time in the alzheimer's unit!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2008-10-31T20:09:00.000-07:00

We carved pumpkins for a neighborhood pumpkin carving contest. It was pretty fun! I never liked carving pumpkins when I was little, because I hated the feeling of the pumpkin under my nails, but it was so fun! We went to Collin's and dropped Halloween bags off to the boys. I didn't have my camera to take pictures, but I have a picture of Ford that I took at his birthday in his penguin costume. Then I went over to Apple Village to see how Grandma did with the trick or treaters there. She was so cute! Here are some pictures!

This is Mom's pumpkin. She won "The Battiest" award!

Mine won "The Goofiest"

Isn't he the cutest little penguin, you've ever seen?

Here's Grandma with her princess hat on passing out candy!

Falls, Flats and an Emeregency Room...

2008-10-28T10:59:00.000-07:00

So, since coming home, it's been kind of an adventure. Wednesday night I was taking Grandma's laundry to her and instead of carrying the laundry basket in front of me to go down our stairs, I was holding it on my hip. Duh! It's a big basket, and we had a wreath hanging on the railing, so with all of those widths added up, I bumped the basket into one of those things, and ended up falling down four stairs, hitting my back pretty hard on the wood railing. I thought I cracked a rib, but I think it just ended up being bruised.

The weekend was pretty wonderful. Mom was called as Stake Young Womens President. It was an enjoyable, spiritual experience.

Then, yesterday, I was driving around looking for different design sources up in this area, talking to ALee on my phone, and I heard this weird noise. I couldn't feel anything, but it sounded weird, so I pulled off the side of the road. I had a flat tire. After contemplating what to do, Mom was in school, Collin was in Florida, I called Amy. Thank heavens she wasn't too busy. Then I got out all of the equipment to change my flat, and couldn't get the lug nuts to even move. I was jumping up and down on the thing, and it wasn't budging. So, I sat on the curb, thinking of another plan, when a truck pulled over. It was so sad, my first thought was please don't kill me. It was this cute old man, that was so nice. We tried pumping it back up, with two different pumps, and then Amy got there. The pumps weren't doing a thing. So, Amy and the guy changed my tire, and somehow I was the one with grease on my forehead, face, and ear. Don't ask me how that happened. So, I ended up having to get two new tires.

Then last night, I was working out at the gym, and I was working on a weight machine for abs, and I started to get this horrible pain in my back and chest. I thought back to what might have happened and figured I really had broken a rib when I fell, and that's what all of the pain was. So, we went home when we were done, and the pain got worse and worse. I tried to sleep, but laying down made it worse and sitting wasn't helping, and standing up wasn't helping, so after about three hours of pain, I finally decided I'd better get to the ER. Everyone knows I'm sick a lot, but this was my first time ever to the ER, and usually I don't go to the doctor. Anyways, we got there and my blood pressure was really high for me, maybe for anybody, I know the bottom number was causing concern at 159/113. They did a whole bunch of blood work, an EKG, and x-rays. Everything turned out to be just fine. He gave me some heavy duty acid reflux medicine, and told me I might have an ulcer, but nothing life threatening. I was so scared it was a heart attack, and Dad had his first at 29, so I'm almost there. The doctor said your enzymes should be under eight, to be considered healthy. Mine were zero! My blood pressure, also, got way better 107/60. Back where it should be.

So, all in all, I've had a very expensive couple of days!

More of D.C.

2008-10-23T20:43:00.000-07:00

We got back to D.C. on Saturday. We met Jilly at our hotel, and got to meet her cute husband, Tom.

It had been about seven years since we'd seen each other, and in the meantime, she got married without me there. We only had one afternoon/evening with them, but it was so much fun. Well, we first started at the Holocaust museum, so that wasn't so fun, but it was interesting and heartbreaking. We got there pretty late in the day, and ended up getting kicked out, because they were closing, and we weren't even a quarter of the way through. I can tell you that I really didn't like the feeling there, and I tend to depend on my feelings a lot, so going off of that, I decided I didn't want to go finish up the next day. I'd seen enough.

We then went and met up with Tom at the Washington Memorial. (He didn't get to go into the museum, because he had a pocket knife.) Anyways, we walked over to the Korean monument.

Isn't it beautiful? We had a good time hanging out and laughing a ton! We went to a yummy seafood place in Georgetown. I was the only one who got seafood, it was delicious!

Sunday, we went to a ward in Arlington, VA. We called up a ward in the morning, and found out what time the next Sacrament meeting was. It was a beautiful chapel, done in kind of a Georgian/Federal style mix, which was really fun to see. There were about ten oriental people with headphones on to translate the meeting. All of these people had kids with them, so it was a large group of people. We later found out that the sister missionaries who had brought all of these people were from Mongolia. What a neat experience to be called on a mission to Washington, D.C. and end up converting about two dozen Mongolians! Jackie Leavitt, the former first lady of Utah, sang the musical number. The spirit there was so strong! I'm so glad we picked that ward.

After church we went to the Arlington Cemetery. It was a great way to spend the Sabbath! We then went and saw the White House. Isn't it amazing that we have all of our freedoms, and those freedoms make it possible for someone to sit outside of the White House and protest? Yet the protesters want to take others freedoms away. We, also, went to the Vietnam Memorial, and found a relative on the Nicholes' side on it. It was neat to come home and find how he was related to us.

I have to tell you, I absolutely loved DC and NYC! I had my fears after hearing stories about how dirty and unsafe these two cities were. I was amazed at how friendly all of the people were that we came in contact with! People were so helpful! I loved that everywhere we were in DC, people were out running and playing in the parks and on the side of the streets! It was so fun!!!

New York City

2008-10-22T09:44:00.000-07:00

On Friday, we rode a Greyhound bus to New York City. Getting to the bus station was quite a challenge. We had metro transfers, our metro tickets wouldn't even work at first, and it wasn't until Mom said, "We're dumb, we're from Utah," that the metro station guy was even nice to us, but then he did give us passes to get us from point A to point B.

I took tons of pictures on the way up, and hardly slept at all, which I was surprised at. The time change was weird and we were on the bus by 8:00 a.m., so I'd been up since 5:30 (3:30 our time).

This is Baltimore, MD

We got to New York City and met up with one of my best friends, Amy Nicholas, and her sister Kari. They came down from Boston. The first thing we did was eat at Chevy's. It was pretty good. After that we just walked around wanting to see the sights before our appointment to do a session at the Manhattan Temple at 8:30. Our first stop was Ground Zero. What a humbling, but beautiful experience! The devastation was horrific, but seeing the way the people were honored (Ladder 10 Fire department) and the way the development is coming along, to see that the New Yorkers, the Americans could overcome something like that was beautiful!

We went to see Rockefeller Center. We wanted to get to the ice skating rink, so we had to go through the building to get there. As we were walking through, we just happened to run into Amy's and Kari's cousin-in-law, Gil. He works there, but really what is the chance in a city of 9,000,000 people we would run into him. He was so funny, and so excited to see them. He took us up to the "Top of the Rock." It was amazing! I got some pretty cool pictures.

Central Park. Next time I go, I'm going to spend time here.

The four of us with the Empire State building behind us. Kari and I should've been in front, since we were shortest.

The City
Then we went to Times Square. It was so funny to be there in the place we see on tv and to really be there, was so fun. I couldn't live there, but it was a really fun place to visit. We went to a cute little cafe for dinner, and then headed to the temple, we missed our appointment, but still spent time there.

I borrowed this from the Church website, because when we got there it was way too dark for good pictures.

Then we spent $60+ on a taxi to our hotel, which cost us only $2.50 on the way back on a bus. Oh well, we didn't know what we were doing. It was so much fun! I absolutely loved it! The people were not like how they portray them on tv, yes they were walking swiftly from place to place, but everyone we talked to was so nice and helpful! It wouldn't have been the same had we not run into Gil. He and his wife were so welcoming!

Washington D.C.

2008-10-22T09:09:00.000-07:00

Mom and I went to DC over UEA weekend, plus some. We arrived in DC on Wednesday, the 15th, around 11:00 p.m. there, which was only 9:00 for us, and there were no restaurants near our hotel, well within walking distance, so we ordered room service. The most expensive quesadilla I've ever had!

Our first real day we spent at the Natural History Museum.

We spent all day, nearly just in this one museum, and could have devoted probably another full day there, but there was so much to see. All the museums close around 5:30, which is so sad. While we were in the gem part, some Mongolian guy stopped me to ask if American's like a certain shape of stone. He's a jewelry maker, and has only been in the States for about 6 months. He then started talking to Mom and wouldn't let her end the conversation for over 15 minutes. It's so funny! People find her wherever we are and tell her their life story!

After we left the Natural History Museum, we walked around the Smithsonian over to the monuments.

It was beautiful! The Korean monument was my favorite, I'll post pictures on another post.

Sanford Ross Nicholes, Jr.

2008-10-10T23:04:00.000-07:00

Today is my dad's 53rd birthday. It strange to think of him at that age, but I'm pretty sure I know what he would look like. To celebrate, we as a family always go to Sunday Brunch at Little America, the Sunday of General Conference (Good thing we can see the replay online, when we get home). He and Mom would go to Sunday brunch the weekend of our Snowbird week, but this is easier, so we don't have to miss out on our Sunday assignments.

I never enjoy working on Oct. 10 or Oct. 17, due to Dad days. However, I had to this year, at least today, but it wasn't that bad. I was sad that I didn't get to go to the temple with Mom, but from now on, I'll go with her.

I'm so grateful for my dad. I didn't have him here on this earth for very long, but I know he's watching out for me. I just have to ask Heavenly Father for him to be able to help me, and I can feel Dad with me. I'm so grateful that we have an eternal family. One day, we're going to spend eternity catching up and getting to know each other better.

TAGGED

2008-10-10T11:16:00.000-07:00

So, Aunt Juli tagged me, so here goes...

1. I'm so afraid of birds. 2. My favorite place on earth is American Fork Canyon. 3. I want to learn how to play the violin. 4. When faced with stress, I want to escape, north towards Logan, for who knows what reason, or south to St. George. 5. I just opened my own business, called "Designs by Pyper." 6. If I had all the money I needed, and no responsiblities, I would want to travel the world, by boat, plane, and train. 7. I'm about to embark on my dream job! Yay!!!

The seven people I tag are:

Krystal Nicholes http://www.little-wooden-nickels.blogspot.com/

Jenelle Nicholes http://www.dannonnicholes.blogspot.com/

Jefferson Boswell http://www.boswellbunch.blogspot.com/

Jen Nicholes www.bjnicholes.blogspot.com

Amy Nicholas www.nicholasfamily-amy.blogspot.com

Brittany Adams www.angequidanse.blogspot.com

Trevor Taylor www.trevorandemily.blogspot.com

Just another thought...

2008-10-06T14:52:00.000-07:00

I found this while I was preparing my primary lesson on talents, today.

"That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do; not that the nature of the thing is changed, but that our power to do is increased." -Heber J. Grant

When I decided I was going to be an interior designer, I could only draw stick figures. I'm not even kidding, I couldn't draw a thing. I went into my first perspective and rendering class, and about died. Having had no artistic ability, I thought I was making a huge mistake, but I knew I had an eye for design and for color, so I persevered through that class and by about five weeks into the semester I absolutely loved it.

I can testify that we've been given many talents. We may need to search to find it, but once we do, if we work and shape ourselves in that area, we can do anything we have before us.

Just a thought...

2008-10-02T19:02:00.000-07:00

I found this today, as I was going through old notebooks at work:

"It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don't worry. I say that to myself every morning. It all works out in the end. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith & confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers." -President Gordon B. Hinckley

I love this quote! I often remind myself of this. I sometimes am scared to move forward with faith. I try to figure it all out on my own, but I can't figure it all out. As soon as I turn it over to the Lord, I feel confident and peace.

I put my two weeks in today...!!!

General Relief Society Meeting

2008-09-27T19:34:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed the meeting today. Sister Beck is such a neat lady. I enjoyed her thought of Relief Society being "another mom." Granted, at this point, in the ward I'm in, I don't enjoy the relief society activities. I haven't been to any Sunday RS meetings, because I'm in primary, though.

Anyways, I loved Sis. Allred's talk about the temple. I can't believe the sacrifices that some people make, to get to the temple. The part about her stake traveling five days both ways to get to the Mesa, AZ temple, to have to eat crackers and margarine to be able to afford the trip is such a huge sacrafice. I feel so lucky to have temples so close to me. Within one hour north or south, I can reach two temples to the north, and including the two that haven't been dedicated to the south, I can reach six temples. What a blessing! I remember being in Hungary and visiting with people who's goals were to make it to the temple once in their life time, and we have them right here.

Sister Thompson is always fun to listen to. I enjoyed hearing about the history of Relief Society. I felt like Pres. Uchtdorf's talk was aimed directly at me. It's amazing how the spirit works to show you things that you're in need of hearing. I am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ!