Sweet Success!

I finished my first semester today!  What a sigh of relief.  I made it and actually managed to pull it all off.  I know for sure that I got an A in both of my social work classes.  I should hopefully know my math grade by Friday and my grade in Biology by Monday.  I have never felt as good as when I walked out of my math final today.  I could not quit smiling.  I am just so glad that it is over and at the same time a little sad.  My schedule is changing again, just when I was getting used to everything.  I am so thankful for the opportunity that I have had to go back to school.  It was a hard choice to make and I was so close to backing out the first few weeks of school.  I am so thankful to all of you who have given me so much encouragement and support.  I could never do half of what I do with out the love and support of so many people.  It is humbling to think of all of the people who have been of service to me.  Thank you to my main supporters:  Katie, Ryan, Sharon, Brad, Dad, Nan, Mom, Rod, and all the many others who have given words of encouragement.  I have learned so much in the past 5 months it is overwhelming for me to even think about it.  I feel like part of me has started to live again and I have a new hope for the future.  This experience has increased my testimony that when we are doing the things that we are supposed to that our lives will be blessed in ways that we cannot even imagine.  All we have to do is take that leap of faith, do all we can and then leave everything else in God's hands.  Now, I am off to Hawaii for a weekend in the sand!  After the snow today I am extra ready to get away.

What Spice are You?

You Are Black Pepper

You may be considered ordinary by some, but you're far from boring. You elevate the mood of any discussion, and people miss you when you're not around. You are secretly very dominant and powerful. Most can only take you in small doses.

What Spice Are You?

Flash back friday

Aren't those feet precious!  

A new set of eyes

This semester I took a social welfare class.  I am so glad that it is a required class for my major! I have thoroughly enjoyed every second of this class and it has changed the way I look at myself, my family, my neighbors and basically people and the world in general.  I will openly admit that I have had a very apathetic attitude, until know.  I have never been actively involved in politics because honestly I just didn't think that it would make a difference in the world.  My teacher, Jen, has inspired me beyond words.  I knew that I was going to either have to step up or step out from the first day of class.  I took the challenge and decided to find my passion and find a way to stand up and make a change.  I think that biggest thing that I have learned about myself is that I have passion and that I have just never had the courage to embrace it.  I am still deciding what my passion will be in the field of social work but I have learned one thing and that is my passion right now is for my family.  And what better place to start changing the world!  I have the world of a beautiful and precious beyond the realm of my imagination 3 year old in my home.  I have the responsibility to teach her how to find her own passion and how to make a difference in the world she lives in.  That is the best way for me to make a difference in the world.  It is my belief that one of the most important things I can teach her is that she has the world at her feet and that she can do and be anything she wants and the best way for me to teach her that is for her to see me doing it! There have been many topics discussed in class that have stirred great emotions.  Racism, Social Justice, Social Reformers, Poverty, Policy, Immigration, Health Care and many more.  I was extremely moved by the lecture on immigration last week.  We watched a documentary "Mojado".  It has really given me a different perspective on so many things.  The documentary follows the plight of four men crossing the border into Texas.  It started with giving back ground on each of the men and the reason why they wanted to come the U.S. for work.  Then it followed them on their journey.  It was a four day journey through the desert through rain, freezing temperatures, drinking contaminated water, eating moldy bread, being pricked by cactuses, and not know if they would really reach their destination.  I can't even imagine what these men were willing to go through just for the chance of providing a better life for their families.  It kept showing one man thinking of the face of his daughter when things were getting tuff and every time her face came on the screen the only thing I could think of was the face of my sweet Ava.  I feel like I understood what this men where willing to sacrifice for their families.  I still don't have the solution to the problem of immigrants in our country but I do know one thing is that every single person we come into contact should be treated with integrity and respect.  That is the best place to start.  We all need to take a step back and take a walk in the shoes of someone else before we decide how we view them.  So, here is my question to you:  What would you be willing to walk through the dessert with no food or water for? What would you do for the chance to change the life of another?  What's your passion?

Thanks Jen for helping me to see myself in a different light.  And even more importantly thank you for helping to see the world in a different light!

IF IT IS SANITY YOU ARE AFTER LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE

I truly believe that a good laugh is essential to the survival of ones spirit.  It makes me FEEL better.  It keeps me going.  I NEED to laugh at least once a day.  I truly believe that being able to laugh at oneself is one of the best qualities a person can have.  If I could not laugh at myself I would be one pretty frustrated person.  I do some of the stupidest things sometimes that if I couldn't just shrug off with a laugh they could ruin my whole day.  I probably laugh the most when hanging out with my two sisters and my mom.  When me and Katie get going we can't stop some times.  We get under control take one look at each other and start up again.  I love moments like these, they literally keep me sane. Laughter is the sensation of feeling good all over and showing it principally in one place.  Have you had a good laugh today?  This picture is dedicated to Becca, she is the queen of taking silly pictures, this one never fails to make me laugh at least a little.

I WANT:  a perfectly sculpted and tan body, no stretch marks please

I HAVE:  big plans for a much needed girls night out with Katie, thanks Ryan

I WISH:  i didn't have to study for my finals all weekend

I HATE:  when people don't use there signals when driving

I MISS:  my friend Tricia

I HEAR:  Shoop by Salt-n-Pepa, and Ava talking to herself in the kitchen

I WONDER:  if I will actually pull off passing my math class, it is close people!

I REGRET:  too many things, but the past is just that, the past

I AM NOT:  good at my current jogb, in fact I pretty much suck at it

I DANCE:  I have no skills in this department

I SING:  in my car

I CRY:  when I watch the movie Hope Floats 

I AM NOT ALWAYS:  on top of things the way I should be

I MAKE WITH MY HANDS:  pretty much nothing, not a creative bone in this body

I WRITE:  for the past four months I have written 6 papers for school, got A's on all them too thank you very much

I CONFUSE:  myself

I NEED:  a personal assistant and a maid, oh yeah and a sugar daddy :)

I SHOULD:  do better at keeping up with my house work and laundry

I START:  everyday with checking my email and everyone's blogs

I FINISH:  with kissing my sweet girl and telling her how much she needs and giving thanks for all my many, many blessings!

I love this......

This is inspiring me today:

Our worst fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.  We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?  Actually, who are you not to be?  You are a child of God.  Your playing small doesn't serve the world.  There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.  We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.  It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone, and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.  As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. -- Nelson Mandela

New Shoes

I know this is random but I got these new shoes at Costco on Saturday.  I love them!  So comfortable and cute.  Seriously they are pink and grey, how could they not be cute.  This is my view of them while doing my morning work out!  

The Fam

This is my family.  Well part of it, just missing my mom and and all the step family.  But really these people are my family.  It is too rare that we are all together and even actually stop the chatter to capture the moment.  It was so fun to see my family this week.  Thursday was definitely the best part of my week.  

I love you because.......

A few Sundays ago there was the most impressing talk given in sacrament meeting.  It was given by one of the High Council men in my stake.  It has really stuck with me.  He talked about an experience he had as a bishop at age 26.  There was a woman in his ward that had come to him with marital problems.  She was very angry with her husband and asked if they could come see him together.  He agreed and when the couple came to see him before doing anything he asked them to do what seemed like a pretty simple task.  He asked them to look at each other and list all the reasons they loved each other.  That was all it took, all anger and tension left the room. The woman in the story ran into him several years later and expressed her thanks to him for helping so save her marriage.  The funny thing is that he didn't even remember the experience until she told him the story.  He then when on to express how important it is that we share with the people in our lives why we love them.  He said that his family takes the time to have each member in the family sit in a chair and then everyone takes a turn say "I love you because...."  He then went on to encourage us to do the same thing when we pray and express our love specifically to our Father in Heaven.  "I love you because....."  This phrase has really stuck in my head.  It is so simple yet so profound.  I think mostly because lately it has occurred to me just how much I love my family.  Every single one of them for very different reasons!  I strongly believe that they are all in my life to teach me very specific lessons and to help me make it through life.  I have been able to spend some really fun days with my two sisters in the the last few weeks.  They are so AWESOME and words can never explain all the ways that I love them!  No two people can make me laugh so hard.  We have seriously laughed ourselves to tears every time we have been together lately.  I am thankful for their sisterhood and friendship to me.  I love you Katie and Becca!

Happy Birthday Sharon!

Happy Birthday Sharon!!! Thank you so much for all you do for me and Ava. I can't imagine my life without you and I am so thankful that you are part of mine and Ava's family. You are amazing and we LOVE you so, so much! Here are a few reasons why I love you:

1. You are seriously the STRONGEST person I know
2. Your smile always warms my heart
3. You love Ava and I know that you would do anything for her
4. You never hesitate to serve others
5. You laugh and cry with me

Here are a few reason why Ava loves her ( I did not edit these answers)

1. Its her birthday
2. she lets us come over and eat
3. she reads me books
4. she comes to church
5. we let her come over to our house