HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Well Christmas has now come and gone. The "Festivas for the rest of us" has come to an end. It's hard to believe that it will be the year 2009! It seems like yesterday we were waiting to see what would happen when 2000 hit. All the hype and anticipation and now it's 9 years later.

I am not one to usually set New Year's resolutions, probably because I can never seem to keep them, but this year I am trying something new. There are many areas of my life that need some serious work!!! I find myself just floating along not thinking much about the future. So, with that said, I am going to start looking at these important things from a spiritually futuristic point of view.

WORK: Well, it's time to really think about how I am going to take care of myself as I get older. Now I know I am not old yet, but I am also not getting any younger. Is my Career giving me what I need financially? Am I being provided with the things I need such as benefits and growth? Most importantly am I doing what Heavenly Father wants me to do? Am I listening to Him? I would like to think that I will someday find that "special someone" to make sure all these things are taken care of which leads me into the next part of my life I need to work on......

DATING: AHHHHHHHH!!!! Is what I have to say about that!!! It's killing me to think of things I need to do to get this part of my life going. Oh the agony of all the first dates yet to come. I just might have to suck it up and go to the 31 - 45 singles ward........I know I know you all have your opinion on this issue. Unless you can arrange for mister right to fall into my lap here pretty soon, I have no other choice!!!

SCHOOL: Not to get going on the whole economy thing, but my line of work has no guarantees of being around if things get bad. Extracurricular activities will not be a priority. So, with that in mind I have decided to go back to school and figure out what I want to be when I grow up. I graduated college with a degree that I really don't want to go in to. Just my luck. I have not decided exactly what I will be doing yet so I have postponed my original start date from this Spring to this Fall. Lots of my credits will transfer, but I will also lose a lot cause it's been awhile since I have been in school. Just the thought of taking tests makes me gag, but I really feel like it's what I need to do.

HOME: Even in my quaint little area that I live in there should be some order. I must get organized!!!!! So wish me luck. We are told to have a house of order so that's what I am going to have......someday......maybe in 10 years haha

NEW STUFF vs OLD STUFF: I need to do more things that stimulate my brain. I just might start piano lessons or start playing the violin again. Or I might do something brand new that I have not the slightest clue of how to do it. I am up for any suggestions.

MOVEMENT: For the love!!!!! I need to do something to get my fat butt back in shape! I hate running so that is out out out so there will be no more Triathlons for me! I will come and take pictures of all you freaks as you cross the finish line and I will cheer my brains out but I WILL NOT RUN ANYMORE!!!! So I am just going to stick to biking and swimming and maybe some tennis? Whatever I decide to do, I just need to do it!

ART: Not drawing. Not painting. Not sculpting. Not things that you have to have talent for. Just taking pictures. I LOVE to take pictures. I need to do it more often. Not just of people, but going out and just shooting away. It's my most favorite thing in the whole world to do.

READING: I HATE TO READ!!!! So my goal is to read 1 book every 2 months. I only like history books and autobiographies of people I find interesting. All the letters and words....they just don't like to stay in my head for more than a few seconds. I think I can do it. That's 6 whole books!!!!!

So that's what I am focusing on this year. I am sure I will learn a lot about things I don't really want to know about, but it will make me a better person and lead me in the right direction.

Have a very Happy and relaxing New Year............

When Life Hands You Lemons.......

Ok so maybe that is a little harsh....BUT STILL!!!!! That's what I want to do to the idiot who busted in my car window and stole my bag which had my wallet, I Pod, all my work papers, my sunglasses, 2 of my camera flash cards, and who knows what else. They took my ski jacket, a bag of christmas presents I had bought the day before and to make matters worse......I was the idiot who left my bag in the car!!! I never do that and today for what ever reason, I did. Maybe I should squirt the lemons in my own eyes! So I guess I should remind all of you to not leave anything in your car!

Christmas Puppy Pictures 2008

Yes, I dressed up the dogs and took their pictures. Yes, I know it may appear that I am a little bit crazy. But, the fact is they are pretty dang cute and I love them. MERRY CHRISTMAS

Mollie 2 years old

Leila giving bones 4 1/2 years old

Tis the Season To Be...........

Thankful
For the Gospel and how it influences my life
For the wonderful, loving people in my life
For my good health
For my cute puppies
For my prayers being answered when they are supposed to be answered
For being able to provide for myself
Jolly
Because it's almost Christmas
Because I am almost all done with my shopping
Because work is finally fun again
Because there are lots of fun things coming up that I get to do
Because I can listen to Christmas music....officially
Because Madagascar 2 was so stinkin funny
Stressed
Because I start meet season in TWO WEEKS!!!!!
Because it is going to snow soon and I HATE HATE HATE to drive in the snow
Because I have to have 24 kids ready to compete in TWO WEEKS!!!!!
Because I have to get up extra early because it takes me extra time to get to work because of the snow
Grateful
That I can go to the Temple whenever I want
That I have someone to go to the Temple with every week
That I have been adopted into a family that loves me just the way I am
That I live in a wonderful neighborhood
That Ryan hung the Christmas lights this year
That Trish loves to cook and I assume that she will make yummy holiday treats
That I still have TWO WEEKS until meet season!!!!!
Giving
To people who need it....no matter what it may be
To the people who mean alot to you
The best of yourself

Realizing what we have

This past Tuesday my sweet friend Julie Nawrot had a seizure while driving and hit a tree head on, killing her instantly. She was on her way home from a doctors appointment when it happened. She leaves behind her husband Jeff and her two sweet children Siera and Cooper. I have know Julie for about 11 years and will miss her dearly. She was so full of life and by far the loudest person I know. She was the friend who would do anything for anyone. I got to spend many fun times with Julie over the years and have so many crazy memories. I can still hear her saying MISS WENDY! You always knew when she entered a room.

Having had a lot of loss in my life, I know too well how hard it is to lose someone you love. My heart aches for her family. It seems that over the past few weeks I have had numerous chances to see past my trials and to find blessings. I have realized how much I am loved and how much I love others. I have seen the light of Christ shine through so many people in so many different ways. I have seen the importance of service and how it feels to be served and to serve. How often do we forget what we have? Do we get so caught up in the little things that we forget about what is really important? Do the people we love know how much we love them? What if today was our last day on earth. Would we be ok with how we were leaving things? I am not sure if I would be. I need to be more forgiving of the people who have hurt me. I need to tell the people that I love, that I love them more often than I do. I need to put more effort into my callings and my job. I need to read my scriptures more and I need to pray more. I need to not put off things that need to be done because I might not have a chance because tomorrow I could be gone.

I am comforted in knowing that Julie is in a good place. I know she is up in heaven just making everyone laugh there pants off! My life is better because I knew her.

Friends and Blessings

You wouldn't believe the week I just had! Even if i tried to explain it in this post, you would not even be able to make sense of it all! So, instead of telling you about it, I will tell you what blessings have come from it. Heavenly Father blesses my life with lots of wonderful people. People who love me and care about me and who brighten my life. He also blesses me with people who need my help. He has blessed me with so many things.

This week I am feeling extra grateful for my a few of those people that He has blessed my life with.......

The one who still loves me and forgave me even though I yelled at her for no good reason.

The one who turned the car around and picked me up and took me where I needed to go even though she was on her way to do something else

The one who answered the phone and was waiting at the door when I got home to comfort me. And the same one who always asks how I am doing when she knows I have been stressed about something.

The one who is just always there to let me vent, to make me laugh and help get my mind off everything. The one who went out of her way to get me places even though she is so busy.

The one who is always there. The one who knew what to do when I didn't. The one who rearranged her whole schedule to help me and didn't complain even once! The one who sat in people stew with me. The one who has called everyday to make sure I am ok. The one who went to all ends of the earth to help me.

The two who saw a need that I had and took care of it without even asking. The two who hardly even know me and have made me feel loved.

These are just a few of the things these people have done to bless my life this week. It would take me hours to tell you all of the things.

We are so lucky to have a Father in Heaven who loves us and knows just what we need. I am so grateful that he put these wonderful people in my life because I don't think I could get by without them. Sometimes I can only see the bad things in my life and worry too much about the things that I can't control, but the things that my friends have done for me have made me stop and be grateful for all that I have.

So, the blessings that have come from my crazy week have been worth every tear and moment of nerve racking stress I have had.

Ok Bonnie!!!! Thanks for Tagging me!

Well here it goes..... 6 insignificant things about myself that no one really knows!

1. I have almost no cartilidge left in my right hip

2. One time I had the hicups for 4 hours straight. Then I threw up and they were gone.

3. I hate to read, but if I have to, I love to read autobiographies

4. I love love green olives and maraschino cherries.......and I will eat a jar of each at the same time

5. I secretly want to be a princess

6. I can only fall asleep if the back of my heel is inbetween my big toe and the one next to it



Well there you go. I bet you will all sleep better tonight knowing all these new things about me!
I'm supposed to tag 4 other people--So...if you read this....I'm tagging Kristi, Suzanne, Teresa, and Julie!

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!!!!!

It's not a vacation until someone gets hurt. . . .

Last weekend I traveled down to Arches National Park for a quick hiking / camping trip with some folks from the neighborhood. We had so much fun and had many adventures. We had to be back for the Primary program on Sunday so we were really only there for about 24 hours. Here are just a few of the things that we did.

Here we are at Delicate Arch. It was quite the hike to get there especially since it was smack dab in the middle of the day.




So we all decided to jump over this bush and land in the sand. Well it did not go so well for Amy. She may look like she is having fun, but come Friday when they harvest a tendon from her hamstring to repair her ACL that she blew out while landing the jump, I think fun will not be in her vocabulary.


This is Kristi and I at an arch. Not sure which one but it was still neat!


Here are some of the kids. It was fun to follow them around and see all the places they found to explore. They took us into tiny slot canyons and up huge rocks and they never ran out of energy.

Should we free the Gorilla's?????

My dear sweet friend asked me the other day while driving, what I thought about keeping the Gorilla's caged up.....Yes very random but that's what I love most about her. If these animals can learn sign language and communicate with humans she said, maybe they could function in the real world. I thought about it and think that maybe it could work. I am not sure what would happen if you ran into a Gorilla's car while driving.......Would it give you the finger....or eat you!!!!


Sure he looks nice......until he gets hungry!

Life.......From a different point of view.

Do you ever have those moments where you stop and think hmm....wonder what the world looks like from a different point of view? That's exactly what I did on my fun Canyoneering adventure with the girls a few weeks ago. I went with Kristi, Amber, Suzanne and our oldest friend Nicki (haha). We spent the weekend in St. George and in Zion's National Park. We canyoneered through Pine Creek and spent the rest of the time relaxing, eating, watching the Olympics and Laughing. It was a much needed vacation! We may have had to swim through some mucky water and get sand lodged places that sand should never be, but most of all it was so much fun and really good to reconnect with each other. There was never a dull moment in conversation and we got to experience Suzanne's first Chinease fire drill! We hid fake bugs in Amber's bed, had a heated debate over dinner one night, teased hard, took pictures with giant wire animals in someone's front yard, talked and laughed, sang.....belted out songs on the way home and came home with one more adventure under our belts and lasting memories. I can't wait for our next adventure.....I will give you a hint.....there will be donkey's involved!!!


Amber and I wondered what the world looked like upside down

All of us Girls after we finished the last repel



This is me on the last repel. It was 100ft and so much fun

We had to hang onto a tree to get down. It was cold and very stinky as you got closer to the water


This is what we had to swim through when we got to the Cathedral. If you could have seen the look on everyone's faces......

We must have been having an interesting conversation!

This is us walking up to the final repel. It got really windy.

Girl's Camp 2008

What can I say.....I loved girl's camp. I want to go back to life in the mountains where I don't have to worry about all the thinga at home. It was such a great experience and I walked away with a stronger testimony. It was fun to see the girl's grow and become better friend's. I will have a lot of great memories. Here are some fun pictures

Happy Birthday Leila!

My cute little puppy will be 4 years old on Wednesday! I can't believe I have had to be responsible for something living for that long haha. She was only 1pound 8 ounces when I brought her home and now she weighs in at a solid 22 pounds. They said she would only be about 12 pounds at the most. Guess she has a stray gene inside. It makes sense that she is so big because she inhales food like no other! She is always so happy to see me and I love her so much:)

HOORAY! WE WON!!!

The season is FINALLY over! We won 1st place at the Utah State Meet. 25 teams from all over Utah competed in the competition and all our hard work paid off. Not only did we win the team competition, but we had a lot of individual success as well. Now it's back to the gym to start training for the next season. It was a great year and I am excited for the adventures that next season will bring.

Do or do not. There is no try!

This has been my theme of this year. If I could now only figure out how to actually do it! It all came about when Yoda starting attending every competition we had this year. He became our mascot and has helped us to have an undefeated season so far. We even dressed him in a leotard to match the girls. I encouraged the girls to stop trying and start doing. I think it has had some effect on our overall performance. I would like to think that I could apply this quote to my daily life. Any given day I can look around and see all the things that need to be done that have been staring at me for weeks and yet I "try" to get around to doing them but never do. So, my goal for the summer is to start doing! Wish me luck with that haha

State Meet

Well only three more days until state and the stress level is rising. All my girls are prepared and looking great, but I can't help but wonder if we can still pull off first place. We have had an undefeated season and I could not be more proud of my kids!