Busy...

Wow I havent been good about trying to post on here weekly..life can just get so busy but honestly I just have so much to be grateful for. Thanksgiving was a great holiday week we did lots together as a family which I love. I feel busy with work and school and church lately and I'm getting so excited in 11 short days I actually get to see Tommy. I cant wait. I'm so excited for christmas to come and I just love this time of year, the christmas songs, the lights, the joy that is in the air. I ponder how grateful I am to have a savior who lives and loves me. I feel so blessed. Sometimes I think we get so busy and caught up in life that we dont always take the time to remember the small things that make us happy. My greatest blessing is to have the gospel in my life. Without it I'm sure I wouldnt be who I am today and I probably would realize the things that are most important to me.

its been too long...

so i had a goal of writing on here once a week and i failed..ha ha..its been forever...lfe has been crazy which i guess is a good thing...i only have about 3 weeks left and i finally get to be with my tommy again..its getting really exciting and feels so real..i never thought this day would come..my family gets sick of hearing about it and they keep telling me they will be happy when hes home cause then they wont have to hear about it anymore..kind of funny to me..ha ha...anyways so last week i got to meet one of tommys favorite elders from the mission. Me and my mom went to the airport so that was cool. and then today me and caitie went and heard his homecoming talk. hopefully when tommy gets home we will actually get to hang out with him... I'm really looking forward to seeing the family 4 thanksgiving and so excited for chirstmas. I love christmas music so much and the season. It always makes me so happy.

Reunited...

So this last week has been a good one..and im happy to say im down to 7 weeks..how exciting right...i cant wait...thats not even that long when you really think about it...so I was able to meet up with my bestest girl friend tiffany bench...aka...kramer..it was so fun...we got to chat and laugh together and we went to the beach and went out to dinner. it was just good to be around her...sometimes i get so sad that we dont get to see each other regularly cause she feels more like family to me so it was nice..today i went to my political science class...i was so discouraged a few weeks ago because i feel like alot of stuff is over my head but i felt like i studied hard and i still managed to get an f on the test..when you try really hard that kind of makes you not want to try..but i decided i was gonna continue to give it my all and try my best..i took a quiz 2nite and im happy to say i got 10 out of 10..i was so proud of myself and my professor said theres still hope of me passing the class and that the next tests arent as hard as the first one so thats pretty comforting..i have seen lately how much happier i feel when i try to pray and read scriptures everyday..im not perfect but i can def. see the difference its making in my life...my so grateful for conference and the reminders we get to be better...well i think thats about all my news for right now..i just feel blessed...

only 9 more...

9 more weeks and hes finally home...i cant wait...i can count that on my 2 hands..and weeks go by fast...super excited...=)

Court's Homecoming Rally...

well friday was a super fun day for me. I had the privilege to go with caitlin to watch courtney dance at her homecoming rally and also announce the top 5 who made homecoming court. This was sooo fun for me. I was only gonna go to 1 rally and then go to work so i would make it on time but I decided to be late since I just had so much fun watching her dance with this huge grin on her face. I loved every single bit of it. Im so glad I got to be apart of it. It was also fun that night our family went to the football game and there she announced who the winner was for court. 1 of her really good friends ran and I'm sad to say she didnt win but she almost did. It was just alot of fun to be there to see it all. On a sad note, I have worked for about the past year with a girl named Trish at my daycare job. She has become such a great friend and I have enjoyed learning from her and talking to her. She gives great advice and is always a good listening ear. I really love her so much and Friday was her last day at work. I'm really gonna miss her but I'm grateful God let me have her in my life for a while and I'm grateful for the bond I have with her. I'm excited for her and her new job, with having a little baby it will be much nicer for her to get off work at 2pm instead of 6pm. I hope we will be able to continue to stay close and keep in touch with one another.

L.A. County fair...=)

What friday after work i had the chance to go to the L.A. county fair. I havent been since before my mission so it has been a few years. We didnt have much time to walk around but none the less it was really fun to spend time with my sisters (minus manda =(...) and just have a good time together. I love watching mom at work there cause it just seems like she has a good time and enjoys herself. She was nice enough to go early with my sisters since i couldnt get off work until later and stand in line to see if we could get tickets to the concert that night. so a few weeks ago caitie asked me if i wanted to go with her to see leann rimes perform. I was all excited. I remember as a child always liking to sing. I have never really been that good at it but i always enjoyed it in the privacy of my home...so i had a little karoke machine and leann rimes was one of those singers i always loved to sing to for some reason. So I love her cause she brings back fun memories. ha ha...anyways they ended up getting the tickets for free. i was all excited...once i met up with them we ate together and there was a wierd like 5 minute pouring down rain storm..ha ha..it was so random. so the concert ended up being really fun and we even got to see kelly pickler before. it was really fun im glad we got to spend some time together as sisters. =)

General Conference...

I feel so lucky and so blessed...conference was wonderful and it always is but i just love that i can be reminded of the things most important and how i can improve. i love that everybody in my family is to the point where conference is really important to them and means a lot to them. like really we all get excited and take notes ...something that i love that my parents do and its something i want to do with my kids is after conference we all sit together and share things we loved about conference. its kind of funny cause we all get excited and go on and on and don't want to stop sharing..like we want to talk about all the talks that we liked so we don't even give everyone a fair chance. something that i loved that we brought up tonight as a family was the talk by Elaine s. Dalton and how she spoke to fathers raising daughters and how important it is for a man to love his wife and show his daughter how special she is to him. this made me reflect on my dad and how lucky i am to have a dad who really loves my mom and shows it always. we knew to always talk to our mom with respect and if we didn't we would hear it from dad. they have always made it a priority to take time to spend with each other and go on dates. I started thinking about how important that one thing is. Like i look at people once they have kids sometimes they put their kids first and its important to take care of Ur kids and nurture them and raise them but i just started thinking like about how its important to always make Ur spouse feel loved and important and help them know their #1 to you. this was good for me to reflect on before I'm married so i really can think about whats important to me and what i want. as we told my told how grateful we were for his example he got tearing eyed and it was just a sweet experience. he told us that we should want nothing less then a man who loves us and that the reason why their marriage was the way it was, was because they always put god first and because of the gospel. I cant wait to be able to have my own husband one day who will take time to love me, and be a good example to my future children. i could go on and on about conference just because i loved it so very much. i would have to say my favorite session was sat afternoon and my favorite talk would have to be Neil L. Anderson's..he spoke about families and how their ordained of god and having children. this was special to me probably cause i really cant wait for kids and its something i have always wanted. As i listened to this talk i reflected on what a sacred calling it is to be a mother and how important it is to have children in the lords time instead of Ur timing. he talked about how the world suggests to delay having children and how the worlds ranks it below college, the gym, a job. but just how important it really is, its a calling not a hobby. I loved that. I am a person that stresses and sometimes i think i couldn't have kids if my husband didn't have a good job or if we were not set. but this talk really made me realize its all about putting our trust in god and how much happier we will be if we do things his way instead of our way. we will be so much better off and so much more happy. I really cant wait to be a mother when heavenly father reveals to me its the right time. =)...i guess it would be a good thing to be married first too..ha ha...1 thing at a time, but i think its good to think about..ha ha...like i said i could go on and on but i think ill leave it at that and just say how grateful i am to have heard what i did. I'm grateful for conference and the strength it gives me to face the world and try a little harder to be a little better each and everyday, cause if were not progressing were digressing.

SpIrItUaL hIgH...

lets just say this past weekend was AMAZING...such a spiritual weekend and i needed every minute of it and loved every minute of it...i was able to go with tommys family to az to witness the blessing of his 1st and only niece (hes probly a little jealous since hes never met her) and the sealing/endowments... of his brother edward, and wife renelle to their beautiful baby kyleigh...i felt so honored to be able to go...renelle actually even asked me to be her escort in the temple. what a special experience...and then during the sealing i got to hold baby kyleigh...i love the spirit in the temple and just to think about what an important and eternal decision they made to bless their family forever is just that more exciting...it was so good to spend time with tommys family and be with them and get to know them better. they always make me feel so apart of the family and i just love to be with them and get to know them better. we were able to go to the womens relief society broadcast...it was just for me i felt...i am at a place in my life where i really needed to be reminded of how much i am loved and tha everything happens for a reason and at a certain time..and that the lord knows best...

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave an increbible talk and i felt it was just for me...i was in tears..almost sobbing thru it...ha ha...heres just a few of his main points that i loves so much...
Forget Me Not….Since I was a child I have had a tender connection to the flower forget-me-not….I’m not exactly sure why this tiny flower has meant so much to me over the years. It does not attract immediate attention; it is easy to overlook among larger and more vibrant flowers; yet it is just as beautiful, with its rich color that mirrors that of the bluest skies—perhaps this is one reason why I like it so much.Tonight I would like to use this little flower as a metaphor. The five petals of the little forget-me-not flower prompt me to consider five things we would be wise never to forget.

First, forget not to be patient with yourself.

Second, forget not the difference between a good sacrifice and a foolish sacrifice.

Third, forget not to be happy now.

Fourth, forget not the “why” of the gospel.

Fifth, forget not that the Lord loves you.

to make a long story short it was increbible...so then sunday we went to church and witnessed kyleigh being blessed...then came home ate, had a family meeting where the spirit was very strong as well...then we attended a musical fireside..the tears came again..i love the spirit and how it makes me feel..im so grateful for my heavenly father and all he teaches me and how he knows my needs..i just feel so blessed i really do...i got home super late and i was so exhausted the next day which just happened to be my birthday...btw that reminds me...tommys family was so thougtful to get me a cake to celebrate..me and his twin brothers on their mission share the same bday so it was fun...i worked for my bday and my mom was nice enough to make me some yummy home-made lasagna before i had to rush off to class...and she surprised me with the best bday present ever...a quilt with tshirts from my mission. ive been wanting it...she said she didnt even know how..well she firgured out how to do it and made a beautiful quilt for me..i love how it turned out...so as u can tell..it was just a happy great, fun, uplifting weekend...and i cant wait for conference this weekend...should be way good...so excited for it..the best part to me..is that we can do it as a family...even though mandas far away, and bryce is on a mission and tommys on a mission...we all watch conference at the same time even though we are miles away..its always a special thing to me...=)

Bitter Sweet....

Today was a good sunday...dads not in the bishopric anymore...hes on the high counsel over missionary work...i know he will do good at it and work hard..and im sure it will be nice to sit with my mom at church at least hopefully...so today my good friend Beca Gutierrez gave her farewell talk for her mission. I cant believe shes really going...Im gonna miss her so much..she has been such a good friend to me and shes very special to me, at the same time I'm so grateful for her example and willingness to serve and im just so grateful for her growth and testimony. I's just so proud of her. She will do great things. She mentioned in her talk how we are very similar in the way we got the answer to serve a mission. Like we both didnt want to go, but we put away our wants and realized that the lords plan for us was grateful and we went and did as he asked us to. I loved as she shared her experience of prayer and finding answers in the scriptures. it brought back all the memories i had when i knew i was suppose to go...i cried alot...her testimony was strong and her story was inspiring and i just was thinking about all the good memories i have with her and just how very much im gonna miss her. I feel blessed to have great friends like beca...=)

grandma and grandpa miller

highlight of this weekend was def. seeing the grandparents. we went to their ward in phelan to hear them speak and it was so nice. I guess my grandma miller is very scared to speak and church and my dad said she has only done it 4 times in her whole life so we took the opportunity to hear her. she spoke about how she gained her testimony and the joys of being a grandparent. it made me grateful to have been brought up in a strong family and even more grateful to realize that my dads side of the family has so many strong active members for me to look up to. in my grandpas talk he shared that out of 21 grandchildren i think 11 have served missions. what great examples we had to follow. I am so grateful. after wards we took a few pictures and got a pretty funny one of my dad and unlce larry. hopefully the cousins and family check this one out cause im sure they would love it..ha ha...im so grateful for all the wonderful memories i have of my grandparents growing up and im glad that for part of my life they lived so close and we were able to see them so regularly. I feel lucky to have also had a very close bond with my great grandfather who would come over alot growing up as well. I remember going to church with them and having sunday dinners with them.

Fun Friday...ha ha

yesterday was such a long day...went from job interview to work to job interview then took a test for a job then work again and after met up with the family for a bike ride on a really fun trail in alta loma...loved it..the weather was so nice and it was fun to be together...(sad we didnt take any pics...) finished it off eatting together...i love my family and i love spending time with each other...I really enjoy riding bikes too...its just something i have learned to love in the last months..I really dont like going up big hills though...im not that in shape yet. maybe one day..i swear my dad almost killed us at the end of our bike ride yesterday. made us go up hill..i was dying but i was so proud at the end to say..wow i did it and i didnt even have to take a break...ha ha...about these interviews...i feel so blessed to actually have some job interviews. I have applied for many over the last year in hopes of getting something with more hours so i dont have to have so many part time jobs. its just so hard these days. I just honestly believe everything happens for a reason and its all meant to be the way it goes. if heavenly father wants me to get another job i will. I just feel blessed to have the jobs i do at this time. life is good...=)

Life is good...

This week end was a good one...love spending time with the family...sat went to a baseball game with the singles branch...it was whatever...a little boring to me...but we still made it fun...sunday church, had dinner with the mahinas...feels like its been forever and loved our fhe lesson from cassy about desire...got me thinking about the things that matter most...monday i am back in college...yep its been like 3 years and im finally back at it...only 1 class i decided i wanted to ease myself into it but i feel so good about it and im so super proud of myself...(im not a fan of school...ha ha) its fun cause me and caitie are taking a class at the same time so we can carpool and stuff so it makes it nice...and today i got the best news ever...i found out the exact day and time my tommy is coming home..this means its pretty close...dec 15th...i dont have too much longer to wait and im so excited about that...=) life is already great i just cant wait for it to get even better with him around...

just need to vent...

today was one of those days...i try to be positive on here but some days are hard and just suck...so before work i was having some issues but i got thru them...then work it was so hot and i had to work longer hours cause the kids got out of school early...and it was just long and hard and the kids were not listening good...and we had to be outside alot even though it was hot and it was just one of those days...then i came home just feeling crappy...and alone in away...tommys so close to being home and i cant wait...thankfully i was able to talk to tiffany and she just made me feel so much better...im so thankful to have good friends that can just cheer u up when ur down...=)i dont feel that bad right now so i guess thats a positive thing...

My Name Tag...

So tonight for fhe mom talked/read a story from the ensign about a missionary and his name tag...she asked me and brett to reflect on our name tag and what it meant to us. oh my gosh...i can remember before i went on my mission a good friend of mine telling me she was jealous i got to wear a name tag with jesus christs name on me each and everyday and to never take it for grantid. I remember thinking ok yeah. But i never really knew what she meant until i now long for that sometimes. I miss my mission so much some days. I miss the great joy i felt, I miss the people i met that became my family. I miss represently my savior each and everyday. I miss it and im just so grateful for it. I think how lucky i am cause everyone doesn't get to represent there savior the way i got to. I can remember times on my mission when i would think something, or want to do something, and then i would stop myself because i would remember who i was representing. It was such a good reminder and i hope i can continue to remember that and strive to be that way even though i dont physically have his name on me. I hope i can always remember this quote and live up to it... "Live your life so that those who know you, but don't know Him, will want to know Him, because they know you."

some times it takes time to see the fruits of our labors...

What a blessing today i had the opportunity to witness a baptism. And such a special one to me. last week i got a text from kristina saying she would be baptized this sunday and she even asked me to give a talk. I have been so emotional all week as i think and ponder how exciting this is. you may wonder why this is so so so special to me. Dec 26th 2009 i came in contact with kristina in new jersey on my mission. She was a media referral and we got a text message to take her a book of mormon. I had the great privilege of being able to share the gospel with her on my mission and watch her grow. after i came home from my mission she still was not baptized yet but i always knew kristina knew the church was true. a few months after i came home i found out kristina was moving to rancho cali to live with her bf. I was excited for her to live so close to me. Then a few months later i found out they got married and then to be able to witness her baptism today was just so so special to me. I am so grateful i got to be apart of it. it was so funny cause she asked me to give a talk and i was crying so hard at the beginning i couldnt even speak. its amazing how the spirit and really just take over sometimes. Its amazing how things can touch ur heart so deep and just bring that joy that means so so much in life. The gospel is true and im so glad to have it bles my life. I so grateful to see how it can change other peoples lifes as well and make them so so happy.

nice to be reminded...

in the last week my little sister caitlin made me aware of the most touching story. she often babysits for a lady in our stake. Well she told me that the ladys sisters baby, so her neice was in need of a liver for a diease she had. i thought this was so sad. she later made me aware of this familys blog and i began reading it. oh my gosh i was brought to tears and i read what this mother and family and poor little 7 month old baby was going thru. this sweet little baby girl went to heaven last week. i have continued to read this blog and have been amazed at how it has touched my life. i started thinking about how when i have kids its going to be so important to me to cherish every moment i have with them and what matters most. Soemtimes we just get caught up in life and everything we have to do, that we dont take time for the ones we love most. We dont always treat them the way we should. We look past the same moments that matter most. I have been truly amazed to watch what friends of this family have done to help with this sweet family and all the medical bills they have. its truly amazing. it shows me that there are still great people in the world willing to help one another in need. if any of you would like to read a very touching blog or would like to donate to this family...here are the links...

http://aniandmatttaylor.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Bows-for-ruby/241863879180231?sk=info

my week and week end...

Well this has actually been an eventful week end for me and i had lots of fun...and im proud to say that i actually have been doing good with my goals...not perfect but im not perfect...when i fall short i got to pick myself up and keep trying dont give up...i got a calender to mark it off..i know may sound lame but for me to be able to look at the calender like wow i did that all those days it makes me proud of myself...ha ha...so i have realized that something i love so much is to ride bikes at the beach...any chance i get i will go...new favorite hobby for sure...something about being at the beach on a bike just makes me super happy...so friday we were able to go as a family (minus brett =( he had to work...) but we brought an adopted brother jr...ha ha...we had lots of fun..just riding together and then rushed home and took the fastest shower and went off to hang out with jr, helton, and boo. we went to a dance..its been a while since ive actually hung out like that...had lots of fun even though they probly thought i was the lamest..ha ha...it was just fun to hang out with them again...we stayed out way too late for my grandma self...ha ha...sat i got to go to the temple for the first time with one of my sweetest friends beca...(im sad ti say i didnt take any pics...) but it was very special for me to be there with her and her parents are so nice they treated us to dinner after...it was way fun...and church of course today was super uplifting as always...thats about it for now...

i MiSs ToMmY....

Do you ever have those days where there just harder then others and you just want what you cant have? well thats how i feel right now...i just wish i could have my tommy back with me. I long for that more then anyone will ever know and i cant wait for the day until we will be reunited again...i miss him so so much...

gOaLs...

Do you ever feel like you have lots to work on and your not making any progress towards your goals. well thats been me lately. I feel like i can be so much better so i decided to put my foot down, suck it and try a little harder...I set 2 daily goals for myself and ive been able to stick to them for 7 days now and it feels so good i cant even begin to tell you...Now hopefully i can keep it up...from what i hear is after 21 days it becomes a habit so thats the goal. Life is simple but it just feels happy, all thanks to heavenly father that is. Yesterday in the singles branch we had lots of changes come... Its sad to see great leaders go but its always good to have change. Life hasnt been too too exciting...just working and staying busy as usual but i am trying to blog weekly so here it is. I have a confusion. Ive found something i love. Over the summer twice we have taken bikes down to the beach to ride. It is just so much fun to me for some reason i just love it. I have been wanting a bike of my own for a while now and my mom loves to find good deals at yardsales. Shes so thifty..ha ha...im trying to save money like crazy so sometimes i tend to be a tightwod...ha ha...anyways we ended up finding a new bike(it had only been used once) for me at a yard sale...it was such a great deal..($50) im so excited to hopefully get lots of use out of it...ha ha..well thats my interesting life these days...hope something more exciting happens in the future...=)

UtAh....

Well last week i wrote a little bit about our week in utah but i wanted to add to it...it really was so fun and enjoyable...it was nice to be away from work and just have free time. im not gonna lie it felt like the week lasted forever since i seem to be busy alot of the time. I went to the movies 3 times in 1 week...(this is crazy to me since before this i have only been twice since ive been home..WOW) The week included: concert, temple trip, eatting out (a little too much, it always makes me feel sick if i over due it..yucky=( ..ha ha) , movies, seeing old friends and comps, a hair cut at jessica's spa, hiking a little and of course shopping. I dont know if anyone else feels this way but shopping away from home is something i really enjoy and i always try to find time for it. I really missed my sisters most of the week while they were at efy but being away from them makes me appreciate them more...I felt like i had alot of time to reflect and just think about my life and how i can be better. One cool thing about utah is that they have the $1 movie theatre so we always try to go when were over there since its so expensive over here. We saw soul surfer. its about a girl who loved surfing and her arm got bit off by a shark. wow this movie had me in tears. really a feel good movie and it just made me grateful and think about the things that are most important in life. Because of her accident her heart was softened and she thought of others. I love how the lord does that to us at times when we need to learn things or have room for growth in our life. It amazed me how she got out there and started surfing again and was able to learn to do it with one arm. It made me start thinking and pondering my own life. Just how important it is to never give up and if we want to do something to keep trying and we can do it because all things are possible. Loved being in the temple and the peace i feel there. Im always so happy when i make the time to go. I also watched another movie it was about the poineers and what they went to so that i could have the gospel of jesus christ today. Wow i was in tears again. I just felt so grateful. sometimes i complain and think my life is hard or i have to deal with this or with that. but wow life is so good and so easy compared to them. I take so much for grantid and i need to be more grateful. Loved being with my family and friends but really i loved that i had time to ponder and think. it really made me reflect and was really good for me. =)

RoDeO....

so i dont want to get too far behind when it comes to blogging since i could be way better...but just wanted to give a little update of the weekend so far...so are in utah and its been way fun...sad that we had to leave dad behind at home but its been great spending time with cait, court, mom and brett...it was nice we were able to leave on friday night and we stopped in vegas to sleep...thanks for helton (and jr even though he wasnt home) we had a nice place to sleep...it was great to catch up with helton since its been so long since we have hung out...just felt good to catch up...we left super early on sat to finish our roadtrip to utah and sat we got to go to a rodeo. we were all excited since u know our roots go back to texas so we all like that kind of stuff...it was sooo much fun i hope i can go to another one sometime soon..bull riders, and stunt women and just watching cowboys doing crazy stuff...they really are so talented i would never do that stuff cause it looks like it would kill ur back...ha ha...it was so fun to be able to spend time together as a family...loved it...

PiCtUrEs...

LoVe My FaMiLy...

Since July 1st life has felt so busy and i loved every bit of it...ive been able to spend so much time with family that i have missed so much...I love being with my family and cant wait until the day when bryce comes back from his mission and we can all be together again...im not gonna lie anothber reason why i love this time with my family is cause it makes time pass so fast and i love when time goes by fast cause that means tommy gets home sooner...only 5 more month now...thats nothing when u think of 37 altogether...i can finally count it on one hand...wohooo...=) so some highlights...dad, mom, manda, scot, brett, caitie, and court, and myself of course got to go to newport beach...dad got a way nice hotel for us...we had so much fun together and got to go on a mini vacation...went out to dinner...enjoyed the pool, went to witness room...got frozen yogurt...then headed over to the beach on sat...oh my gosh remind me never again to go to the beach on 4th of july weekend...it was so CROWDED...but its all good at least we were together...we parked blocks away since we couldnt even get in the parking lot...we brought bikes to ride...all of us...to bad there was sooooomany people we couldnt even really ride...we went to the shops on the peir and after a few hours decided to just have a bbq and hang out at home...still way fun...best part was spending time together...4th of july had to wake up bright and early to go to work the parade on euclid...made it so much better that brett and caitlin had to work with me...afterwards came home and then enjoyed a bbq with moms side of the family...we went to westwind to watch fireworks after...on wednesday night aunt kimmie and her family got into town from texas so we went over to aunt sherrys house to hang out...stayed a little too late...but it was well worth feeling so tired the best day at work...thursday got to go have lunch with amanda alone...i realized we havent done anything just the 2 of us since she got married since she has always lived away from home...it was good to be together and talk just the 2 of us...after went to cousin jessicas house to swim with aunt kimmie and the kids and manda and mom and aunt sherry...heather and jess..friday after work we all headed to the beach....most of moms side of the family...then came back home...made smores and hung out together...feel so blessed to have such an amazing family and get to make so many wonderful memories together...pictures coming soon...=)

Another happy week...

This has been another great week...i told myself that i was gonna be good about keeping up on this so this is gonna be quick and short and sweet sinc ei got to get to bed soon since i work early in the morning...dad, mom, cait, and court were all at girls camp this week. It was so quiet and im not gonna lie i didnt like it...i missed them alot...i like having people to talk to and hang out with and it wasnt the same with out them around. i was happy when they came home...tuesday i was having one of those days and just feeling lonely...called jessica up...(my cousin...) and we hung out..im so grateful to have family close by...its been too long...our lifes are both so crazy...on friday i hung out with her again and her sister heather...we took baby rio swimming...which was way fun...and then on sat it was his 1st bday party...cant believe hes already one...time flys i swear...and grandpa keith even came from texas so that was nice...havent seen him in a while...i wanna say close to 3 years or more...

today i had to teach relief society...it was a good thing for me...u know what they say is so true the teacher always learns the most...so true...it was on developing our talents....i asked the class to share how someone elses talents have blessed you in ur life...as i pondered this question myself it made me think of my older sister amanda...i dont think i have ever really exressed to her just how much her talents have blessed me in my life so i wanted to take the time to express it on my blog...amandas one of those people that is just gifted and blessed...shes a good example of not hiding her talents but sharing them so that others can enjoy them and so that her talents can grow even more...i can remember so many times that amanda would stay up late with me helping me with homework, or a paper so that i could get a better grade. since school came easier for her then for me...she always would help me get a better grade as she would proof read and correct...she was always patient and loving and caring...i am so grateful for not only her love but also for her example to me. i hope i can be like her in some ways as i continune to grow up...love u manda...=)

Institute...

so tonight i was reading in the ensign...and i came across an article titled "making spiritual education a priority"...as i read it makes me think about my own experience and how much institute and spiritual education mean to me in my own life...wow what a blessing. i attended college for almost 3 years before ever going to institute...i never wanted to go alone so i just didnt go and i missed out on so much...but i cant focus on that but i can focus on the blessings that came when i finally decided to make the decision to begin going. It almost brings me to tears when i think about the eternal blessings that came from attending. I encourage every college age person to attend institute because i have never heard of anything bad coming from it, it has always been good. for me i gained the 2 biggest blessings in my whole life. Because i attended institute i met my best friend tommy. If i wouldnt have gone i would have never met him. looking back i know that heavenly father put him in my path. i was at a low point in my life. i felt so alone, i felt like i had no friends. Yes i decided on my own to go to institute but its not like i put myself out there and talked to people. i was shy and im not very out going so i would just sit there with brett and talk to each other. every week tommy would come and talk to us and be nice to us. just what i needed. a good friend to talk to. thats what we truly became. the best of friends, it got to the point where we saw each other everyday and i never knew at the beginning that tommy would become someone i love so much and someone that means so much to me. I dont know what i would do without him. He completes me and is my everything. even though he is so far from me i still feel so close to him as i drawer nearer to my savior and as i hear from him and his miracles as a missionary. its amazing how close we have become even though we have been so far from each other. Its like a different kind of closeness if that makes any sense at all. The next big blessing i recieved from attending institute is my answer to serve my mission. I would have never had the idea to even serve a mission if it werent for lessons heard in institute and honestly i dont think i would have been intune spiritually to recieve my answer to serve. what a great decision i made and something that will bless me for the rest of my life. i will forever be grateful for institute, my best friend and boyfriend tommy, and my mission. Im grateful for the reminder i had tonight of how important it is to gain education spiritually and thru-out our busy weeks. it keeps us strong and helps us feel close to god. even though my schedule doesnt always although me to go to institute i need to be better about studying and being close to my father in heaven because when i really think about it, nothing else really matters in life, what really matters is that i do what i need to now so that i can live with my father in heaven again one day...=)

need ur help..

im really slow when it comes to blogging and making my page look cute and changing the font or colors or backgrounds so if anyone has any advice of easy ways to do this please let me know...ha ha..thanks..

Finally blogging again...

its been too long and so much has happened...this is just for you ru...and im gonna try to be better since i know your gonna be checking up on me...ha ha...feel like i've been so busy lately and i just feel so tired but so many good things have happened...still missing my tommy like crazy but thats life and im learning that its going fast...i dont count the time but trying to work on my and how i can best improve before he comes home, staying super busy. life is good...last wednesday got to watch my little baby sister caitie graduation...felt so good to be there since i wasnt able to be there for bryces due to my mission. brought back so many memories of my days at chaffey and my own graduation..makes me feel so old...ha ha...was also so proud of baby sister court who got to be in ivy chain. they let the jr girls who got the top grades in the school hold this ivy on the field during the graduation...it was a nice night after we just had the family over to eat...i was so spoiled...tommys family wanted me to go with them to az to see the first born grandbaby (tommy's older brother edward and wife renelle just had baby kyleigh 3 weeks ago 2day...shes so beautiful and it makes me so excited to have my own baby one day. I wanted to be at cait's graduation but i always wanted to go with them. they spoiled me, came to caitie's graduation then we headed to arizona. had a really good time with the family over there and loved seeing the baby. went swimming, shopping, zhalia's birthday party, church, good food, watching movies together, and my favorite part was the family meeting. could feel the spirit so strong...great to be together. i only have one more week of work and im actually a little sad for the summer to come. i love my kids and i love what i do. i feel so blessed....friday was lisa's b-day (second mom) we took her out to dinner and then went to the temple. felt so good to be in the house of the lord. felt so peaceful and it was much needed in my life. i have felt so weak lately like i need to be better. I have had a quote in my head for the last few weeks by president Uchtdorf..."Remember the heavens will not be filled with those who never made mistakes but with those who recognized that they were off course and who corrected their ways to get back in the light of gospel truths." ...love this quote and it has helped me realize that really its up to us to get back on track when we feel off. This was a great sunday for me...felt the spirit so strong and had the chance to bear my testimony in church...was reminded of my mission, its amazing that it still brings me to tears and i miss it so much...im just so grateful i had the chance to serve cause its helped me in so many ways i know it...it has prepared me for my future. was able to go to ruby's baby blessing today. was so nice to be with fia and ruby again. it felt like old times in high school. miss them both...i feel behind...the only one not married and no kids...in due time..ha ha...it was nice to catch up though and baby is beautiful....glad u could be there...well thats my week...gotta go get some stuff done...i'm truly so blessed and life is great...=)

time goes by...

the last few weeks alot has happened...i feel so blessed...time goes by fast and i dont always get to do alot of what i want to do...like write on this blog weekly like i had planned...its been great to be able to spend time with family and just enjoy life...i have been loving the nice warm weather and because of my one job (after school daycare) i get to enjoy it out on the play ground and actually kind of get a tan...so its a farmers tan but at least i am getting some color right...i feel so blessed to have the jobs i do...i was talking to a friend the other day she was telling about her stresses at work and then she asked me about my job...i could honestly say i love my jobs so much...of course there are hard days here and there where the kids dont listen but over all its just the best feeling to work with kids and help them and spend time with them...last week we were able to go see my grandma lorrianne...its been a while...u know how life gets so busy but it was so nice to see her and spend time together..she sure does hold a special place in my heart... she gave us her life story printed out with pictures and everything. it is just so special to me... one of my good friends marina is preparing to go on her mission and went through the temple over the weekend...that was a great thing to be able to witness...watching her join the church and get to this point just makes me happy and feel blessed that heavenly father allowed me to see her come unto the gospel and feel of the joy it brings...well i think thats it right now...hopefully i can be better about posting more often and actually posting something exciting...ha ha...although i do live a pretty simple live...its good... =)

I LoVe SuNdAyS....

Today was a great sunday actually it was a really fun weekend I think...

Friday night me and courtney went shopping and hung out..it was fun to spend some time with her...
Saturday we left early and went to the outlets in Carlsbad then off to san diego for rachel and frankies wedding...it was a really nice day and really good to be with all the family..and fun jessica and baby rio came..i wish i would have taken more pictures...oh well...

Today went to the family ward to hear Eden speak for his farewell...Hes going to Panama City Panama...wow he spoke with so much power the spirit was strong and i know he will be a great missionary..when he was talking he cried alot and just his stories he reminded me so much of his daddy...after church we went to the mahinas for lunch...it was so nice to catch up and talk with old friends that have moved and just spend time together...felt like old times...we went down memory lane talking about stuff we did growing up and we watched home videos had us all laughing for days...it was alot of fun...we were all in pain from laughing so hard...anyways...it was so much fun...