Happy Birthday Kim!

Today is my sister in law Kim's 23rd birthday... Just wanted to say happy birthday and that we love you!

Quote of the Week...

I'll be back so soon you won't have time to miss me. Look after my heart-- I've left it with you.

-Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer (pg. 95)

Thankful Thursday...

Today I am grateful for my sister in law Kim. She is such an example to me. She is one of the most amazing people I know. She not only works full time and attends school full time but she is a single mother who does an amazing job at raising her two wonderful children. I am so grateful for her determination to give Ry and Lilly a good life!

Quote of the Week...

When you loved the one who was killing you, it left you no options. How could you run, how could you fight, when doing so would hurt that beloved one? If your life was all you had to give your beloved, how could you not give it?

- Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (pgs. 1 and 2)

Spring Break Trip Day Four...

Kim and the kids, along with her friend Jenny ended up coming down to Cedar City on Friday night to spend the weekend with us. When we woke up on Saturday morning Lilly was feeling really sick so they ended up having to take her to insta care. Whit and I took Ry and went back down to St. George to hang out while we waited for the girls to get done with the doctor. We took Ry shopping and he found a package of cars that he really wanted, so of course we had to get them for him. He played with the cars in the park while we waited for Kim to catch up. They finally got down to St. George mid afternoon and we took off for Vegas. Kim, the kids and Whitney had never been so they were all really excited. Ry rode with us and I thought it was pretty cool that I got to take him over a couple state lines. We finally made it down there and started exploring the strip. The last time I went down to Vegas I absolutely hated the atmosphere (it could have been because I was the only sober one on the trip)... this time I had a bit more fun. While walking we ran into a man who gave Lilly a dollar.... "Dollar for the babies on the Sabbath" were his exact words. We had no idea what to really do with the money so Kim finally decided to put it in a slot machine and experienced her first time gambling. After this episode we got back in the cars and drove to the other side of the strip... It took us forever to get to the other side. We really wanted to go to the M&M Factory and to the Coke Factory. Vegas really wasn't bad until it got dark. Once the sun went down the psycho people really started coming out. One man asked us to take him back to our hotel room.... he insisted that he paid well. We finally made it to the two places that we wanted to hit and then decided to get out of there... We made it back to Cedar City around 1:30 in the morning and were so excited to be back in Utah! Once getting back to the motel we went to bed, but little did we know that we had an exciting night ahead of us. Ry slept in the middle of Whit and me... Around 4 he cuddled up to Whitney and put his head on her shoulder and said, "Deedee" (which is what he calls her) then he proceeded to throw up all over her and the bed. Needless to say... it was pretty hard to sleep after that. I ended up on the floor and Whitney took my side of the bed and got Ry back to sleep...Ry playing with his cars in the park...

At the park...

He is so adorable!...

Vegas...

Ry with his favorite object... (He LOVES cars)

The M&M Factory...

Coke drinks from all over the world...

These drinks did not agree with our stomachs...

We really wore him out...

Spring Break Trip Day Three

Today we spent the day in Cedar City. We went and toured SUU and then looked around for apartments. I love how at home I felt there. I really hope things work out so that I can attend school down there!

Spring Break Trip Day Two...

Today we spent the day in St. George. I took Whitney to the outlet mall and we had a blast shopping! We found a chocolate factory and had the most delicious caramel apples.... After getting our apples we decided to go and hang out over by the Tabernacle. We ended up meeting up with Marissa, who was down in St. George visiting her grandparents. While at the tabernacle we saw statues and of course couldn't resist taking pictures with each of them... After we took pictures we headed over to Blue Bunny, which was my favorite place to get ice cream from. I absolutely love their ice cream. After eating, we took Marissa back over to her grandparents house and spent the evening hanging out with them. I had a blast being back in St. George!

Whit found a boa that she really wanted to buy...

Hanging out at the Tabernacle...

Marissa playing London Bridges with the Statues...

Whit posing with the Statues...

I was supposed to look like I was stopping a fight...

I love reading!...

This was me pretending to skip...

I guess reading puts Marissa to sleep

I love gazebos!...

My interpretation of Sound of Music...

In back of the Tabernacle...

This picture makes me laugh...

Outside of Blue Bunny...

I love this water park... It was really cool to see all the families out having fun in the water in March...

This is a picture of the golf course where High School Musical 2 was filmed...

Thankful Thursday...

Today I am grateful to be spending the day in St. George. I love being able to spend time down here!

First Steps...

Well today I finally made a step in the direction I want to take in my life. Whitney and I went and rented a car and took off on a road trip for Spring Break. She really wanted to go and visit my uncle in California but unfortunately we weren't able to but instead I talked her into heading south to my favorite place in the world. I was able to show her St. George and the place that I lived. We were also able to walk the temple grounds and then went to Pine Valley. After showing her around we went back to Cedar City to stay...My old apartment... I really miss this place!I love this temple.... It really helped me become the person I am today...On the steps of the St. George temple...Pine Valley is one of my favorite places in all the world... It is located up in the mountains in between St. George and Cedar City. My mom's family helped to settle this valley...My great, great grandmother's childhood house...

Decisions...

I keep telling myself that I am ready to move to on with my life and to make something of myself. I have been really struggling with where I am in my life and want to change the person I am.... someone stuck in a rut. Yes I have a job but is it a job that makes me feel satisfied? Not really... In fact I feel that I am under appreciated and besides feeling this way it is a dead end job and I want something more. I have always known that I have wanted to teach but when it came down to it I went for the easy route in college. A route that I really don't want anything to do with. I really don't want to be a social worker... I only majored in it because of the pressure I felt from Sean. Now that it is just me I want to do what makes me happy! BUT... do I have the courage and the strength to do this? Am I ready to make a huge move in my life and leave my comfort behind?

Quote of the Week...

I had always thought that I would live happily ever after, but it got to the point where I had no idea what happily ever after even meant.

- Rules of Engagement by Stephanie Fowers (pg. 51)

My First FHE Lesson...

I gave my first lesson at FHE! It took me a while to come up with an idea but I finally decided to read a book called "Daughter of a King". It was a book given to me for my birthday by my sister in law Kim and I have found it to be an inspiring book that has helped me to remember who I am and my mission in life. Overall I felt I did a decent job on my first lesson!

Quote of the Week...

By faith the walls of Jerico fell down.

- Return to Love by Anita Stansfield (pg 23)

Thankful Thursday...

I am grateful for the Plan of Salvation. I am grateful for the opportunity that I have had to grow up in a family that has taught me the importance of family and being together forever. I am so thankful that I will be with my family forever! I can't wait to see my father again!

My New Calling...

I finally have a new calling in my ward! I was just called to be an FHE mom... I guess it must have been noticed that I seem to ditch out on the weekly FHE thing and I am now being called to repentance...

Quote of the Week...

If you never make the climb, you'll never be able to see the view.

- A Christmas Melody by Anita Stansfield (pg 109)

Adam's Baby Blessing...

My cousin Eric blessed his precious baby boy today... I drove my family up to his house early so that we could do the whole luncheon thing. Of course my mom made her famous potato salad. I always love getting together with my mom's sister and her family! At Eric's house visiting with family...

Kristine, Whitney and Cori having some fun...

Lisa and her husband Todd

My amazing mother...

Cute little Adam...

Uncle Jim holding his precious grandson...

After the blessing, we decided to drive up to see what the Draper Temple looked like. Of course we had to take pictures there...