I am grateful for my grandpa Malone. He spent most of his life serving others and he taught me the importance of having a good attitude while giving service. He could always be found around his neighborhood mowing and edging his neighbors lawns. I am so thankful for his loving example!
Once upon a time... well about 7 years ago I was madly in love with Josh Hartnett. He made a movie called 40 Days and 40 Nights and of course I just had to see it. My best friend Brenna and I went to the movie and since it was rated R and had a bunch of nudity in it I felt horrible for going to it but it really got me thinking about Lent. I really liked the idea of giving up a bad habit or changing something that you didn't like. We decided to make up our own little version of Lent and decided to call it Ment. Every year at this time I make a commitment to change something and I really enjoy doing this. This year I am working really hard at losing some of the extra weight I have put on and so I have given up eating red meat. We will see how this goes!
I am extremely grateful for my Grandpa Stubbs. He was an amazing man who I look up to. When I was around 10 years old my grandpa was diagnosed with cancer. He fought it for almost 10 years. I never heard a complaint come out of his mouth. He always had a good attitude and was a great example to us all!
The day before President's Day I was invited to go and spend the next day down at Goblin Valley. I had never been there before and I figured it would be a fun way to spend the holiday, which also happened to be my birthday. I really wasn't excited to be turning 27 and wanted to forget that I am starting to get really old. I woke up early and met half the group over at the Pike's house around 7:45. We then went and met the other half. I was happy that Adriane went with me so that I knew one person really well. We ended up sticking together the whole time. On the way down I ended up sitting next to this really weird boy who was overly excited about life and he pretty much scared me. The group decided to play a game of pick your favorite US President and tell about him. I have never seen people so happy to play a random game. I felt so out of place the whole way down.
The group decided to stop along the way and get some Subway sandwiches and fill up on gas. My mom and sisters called me right at that moment and sang "happy birthday" just to embarrass me. One of the girls overheard and soon the group learned that it was my birthday. One of the boys ended up buying my food for me, which was really nice of him. They also bought a box of doughnuts for us to have as my birthday treat.
The view from the car...
Another view from the car...
The group climbing on some of the rocks...
They decided to have some fun doing different poses for the camera...
The Eagle rock that I found...
The group looking through the little window...
Adriane and Me at the window...
Me with the turtle...
The group decided to see who could keep their arms up the longest...
I really liked the look of this tree...
Some of the group members hiking...
Adriane...
There were all kinds of fossil looking shapes in the rocks...
Our little snowman...
The boys decided to try to scare anyone who happened by this place...
Jon making a snow angel...
Nick and Adriane...I will be the first to admit that Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday. I love having a holiday that is dedicated to love. But this year I really struggled with even thinking about celebrating this day. My sisters decided that we were going to celebrate by having a movie marathon that would span throughout the whole day. Whitney was all for watching every single sad love story that we own. I on the other hand just wanted to wallow in self pity over being single. Instead we went out to Confessions of a Shopaholic with the women that my mother works with and then came home and watched Gilmore Girls episodes. It really made my bad mood turn around... Hopefully next year I will have a better attitude towards my favorite holiday!
I am so grateful for my mother. She has done an amazing job at raising us kids. She has always been there for me, especially during the times that I have really needed her. She has been there to comfort me when I have felt down, she has been there to talk to when I really needed someone. I am so thankful that I have such a loving mother. Thank you for all that you do!
Annie, Nicole and Whitney...
Whitney, Nicole, Annie, Me, Kim and DW at the dance
Whitney and Kim chilling...
My home teacher Mitch sporting the Cupid look... He is such a good sport!Just wanted to wish my dad a happy birthday and let him know that we all love him and miss him!
Ry and I went shopping this weekend at Target! We saw so many cute things and just had to get the following bedspread for his new big boy bed... After we returned home I went and shut myself in his new room and put together the bed with help from my mom. We really wanted to surprise him and not let him see what we were doing for him. I ended up taping his response to getting his new bed.... Unfortunately it is too big to upload onto here but I was able to get it onto facebook so you can look there for it...
Lilly seemed to really enjoy his bed almost as much as him...
As you can tell... Ry is obsessed with the movie Cars...
Today I am extremely grateful for my earthly father. While I was young he was always there for me. He never missed one of my soccer games or practices and I knew that he would support me in everything that I did. During my late teen years we didn't always get along but I still knew that I could go to him for anything. Even though he has passed on I know that he is still here for me. I love being able to feel his presence around me and feel of his love. This next week will be his birthday and I will be thinking of him and all the good memories that we have shared!
