My Cute Grandpa!

This is me with my cute Grandpa Harris after the temple last week end.  He holds a very special place in my heart.  He has always been so good to me.  I remember when I was a little girl having sleep overs with my cousins and he would always to fee fi fo fum from jack in the bean stock and make us giggle uncontrollably.  He used to jump rope and do the coolest tricks!  I lived with my Grandpa for six months after Ava was born.  We were both going through very difficult times.  My Grandma died a month before Ava was born and he was so heart broken.  We both needed the companionship of another.  We had some good cries and some good laughs together. I will always be so thankful to him for opening his home and his heart to me and more than anything for helping me to start on the road to finding happiness again.  Love you Grandpa!

My Parents!

I love this picture.  To me it is priceless.  It is not very often that I get to be with both of my parents.  It was oh so very special to be in the temple with both of them.  I have been thinking a lot about the importance of parents and family.  I am so blessed to have grown up in a home where my parents taught me so many important things.  I have been reflecting on how my relationship with each of my parents has changed through out the years.  In my childhood I thought that were perfect and new everything.  I looked up to them and thought they could do no wrong.  As a teenager I thought they were a little embarrassing and had no clue about anything (because like I most teenagers, I knew everything).  I though that they just wanted to keep me from being happy and doing what I wanted to do at the moment.  I couldn't wait to break free of them and have my own life and my own rules.  It wasn't until I was faced with being a parent myself that I finally "got it".  My parents don't know "everything" but they sure now a lot more than me.  They have great insight and experience from there own triumphs and failures in their own lives.  I learned that they love me more than words can even explain and that all they have ever wanted for me was to be truly happy.  I am so truly blessed by there love and hard work as parents.  My parents have taught me some very important lessons!  They taught me the gospel.  And when I wasn't choosing to live by gospel standards they still loved me and most importantly they never changed their standards.  They just prayed for me and were ready to help me change when the time was right.  They taught me the importance of being a hard worker, setting goals, and never settling for less than being the best I could.  They taught me to have fun, how to serve others, how to love, and how to forgive.  They gave me my two best friends, Katie and Becca.  I have to learned that despite their faults they are both wonderful people that I could not make it without.  I have a very different relationship with each of my parents.  I love them and give thanks for each of them everyday!  I am so blessed by having both of them in my life.  

Sad Day

Today I am a little sad.  In fact I have been sad all week.  For the past year Ava has been going to Gail's while I work and go to school.  Sunday night Gail told be that she got another job and will not be watching kids any longer.  What?  I was completely speechless!  She watched Ava all of this week, but today is Ava's last day at Gails.  Day care is the trial of my life.  When that isn't working out, nothing else seems right.  Luckily I work from home so Ava can hang at home with me, it just makes my job a little stressful.  I do need to find someone by the end of summer though for when schools starts.  I know that everything will eventually work itself out but I am still so stressed.  I loved having Ava at Gails.  She loved being there too.  I never for one second worried about her while she was there and I fear that I will never find that kind of security again.

A Perfect Day!

I went to the temple today!  There really are no words to express all that is in my heart right now. I just want to thank everyone who has helped me make it to the temple.  There have been so many people who have influenced my life for good.  It was so special to be in the temple with so many of them today.  Every person who was there with me today has touched my life in a very special way!  I can't think of any other place I would have rather been than there with my family and so many friends today.  It was a wonderful experience!

Right now......

Right now I am really missing my girl!  I did talk to her this morning though and she sounded great and was full of questions for me as usual.

It's gone and its never coming back!

In February I decided it was finally time to shed a few pounds.  Katie inspired my to join weight watchers online with her.  I love it!  It has totally worked for me, along with working out.  I started with swimming and was going at least 3 times a week.  I had forgotten how much I love to swim!  It has been such a great way for me to relieve stress and get in shape!  I think it would be safe to say that I am in the best shape of my life!  As of Monday I have officially lost 20 pounds!  My goal was 25 so I have a few more weeks until my end goal is accomplished!

Me before

This is me today in my "chubby" jeans (above)

And me in my new "skinny" jeans (below)

Typical Ava

This is the typical Ava cheesy grin.  LOVE IT!!!!

Cute Girls!

LeaRose, Megan, Eva, Kallie and Jenny

These are most of the girls in my Mia Maid class. They are all so awesome and unique in there own ways. They are so cute and I feel honored to be part of there lives. I have been the Mia Maid advisor for two years now. I can't believe it has been that long! I love my calling and have learned so much from the girls as well as the other leaders that I get to work with.