Reflection

I am sitting at my sister-in-law's house babysitting the sweet, sweet girls and I realized this is the first time in almost a week where I have had a few minutes to reflect on things. I think the last post I did was saying how I need to remember to be more positive and count my blessings. Well, things got crazier really quick and now I am hoping I am dealing with it better than I feel like I am. I literally leave for China next week and I can't even start to think about all the things I need to do to prepare. School is so nuts and I am trying to get some assignments handed in before I leave so that I don't have a ton of stuff to do when I get back.
Oh and as I was driving to school today, I got a giant horrible anxiety ridden ball of yuckiness in the pit of my stomach when my mind finally wrapped around the idea of me having to fly on an airplane over the ocean for almost 14 hours!! Ummm... I don't know if you all know this but, I HATE flying. Yup, like hate it super duper bad.
Whatever, I will get over it once I am up in the air and hopefully at that point I will be self medicated but ya nerves are on edge right now for sure!

Well what I am trying to get at is that I was really excited about conference because I really really NEEDED it... and then I just happen to have to deal with our rental house and that is a whole nother story, but ya... its sitting at home recorded and that's all I want to do is watch it.

This little urge of mine... to want to watch conference is a sign that I am still a good person and that I still am on the right path. No seriously, have you ever just got SO caught up in life that you don't even remember what its all about? Sometimes I forget to do the right things and to remember to pray and all that other stuff that keeps us connected the way we should be. And perhaps that is why my life feels so much more crazier than it should be because I am not finding the time to do the things that are TRULY important.

So all of those thoughts have been running through my head and then today I went to Cathedral of the Madeline for a field trip in art history. I have driven past it many, many times but never been inside. OH my gosh. It is beautiful. The man that gave us the tour got choked up a couple of times when he was speaking about certain things regarding Christ's life and it touched my heart. It was such a neat experience.

As I was leaving the cathedral I was driving West on the back road of it (not quite north temple or south but right in the middle) and I drove over this hill. As I got higher on the hill I saw the top of the temple come into view. It seriously choked me up. The skies were so beautiful and the fountain was on and the temple was seriously the most amazing thing I have seen in so long. It made the whole day worth it... just to see that. It reminded me what is really important and I can't wait to make the time to go. I miss it. I just want to sit and do nothing and hear nothing and just be in peace... the temple really is SO special and I am so grateful to have it in my life.

So now you have a sneak peak into what my mind has been doing all day (because I write like I think and probably speak sometimes). Sorry that there aren't any fun pictures on here and just more of me venting and blabbering but I needed to tell someone... so hopefully someone reads it :)

Whirlwind..

So as I expected... I have had little to no time on my hands lately with work, school, my car getting wrecked and homework. I took the summer off of school thinking that would prepare me and get me geared up for a full schedule of school as well as trying to get at least 25 to 30 hours of work in a week. Boy, was I wrong. Nothing could have prepared me for the madness that has become my life. There have been moments in the last three weeks where all I have done is complain or act miserable about my situation. This always ends up making me feel even worse, because this is something I chose to do. I WANT to go to school. I WANT to accomplish all of these things... so why such a negative attitude? I have still found a few nights where I have been able to go out and hang with friends... and just be, which I am grateful for.
The reason I am spewing all of this out is that I viewed a friends blog and her most recent post was about people being negative and "debbie downers". I realized that was me. Oh my gosh how did I get this way?!
It helped me get perspective and realize that I am SO blessed with all of the opportunities that lay before me. I am going to an amazing school, with great professors. I also have a great job that works with my schedule and its more like fun than work. I have great friends and family that listen to me vent when I really, really need it. I also have an amazing husband that helps and supports me through all of my crazy days and my bad moods at times. I have a cute little pup that always loves me even when I do get mad at him for peeing on my floor. I also have a lot of talent that I am so ready to explore and hopefully grow.
School can be really hard at times but it is helping me to grow and think in ways I never thought I could. It is also really, really fun!
Anyway, I am grateful for what I have and what life is placing before me. I have also been dreading my upcoming birthday (25). I feel like this is the age that I have to officially call myself an adult. There is no going back from here... I will be a quarter of a century old and a while ago I would have said that it's only down hill from here. I wish I never would have said that, because its so, so wrong. In fact life is only getting better and as an 'adult' I appreciate things so much more than I did when I was a kid. I even think school would have been more of a burden than something to appreciate... that's why I am a firm believe that everything has its time and everything happens for a reason. So now rather than dread my birthday, I am going to embrace it and make each year better and better! I said 2009 was going to be great, 2010 is going to be even better. I hope that I can keep up the good attitude and continue to simplify in order to make my life a little less hectic and leave a little time to reflect and not forgot what a great life I have.

Pioneer Celebrations!

So somehow this particular blog post was left in the 'draft' section never to be seen until now :) Time apparently has really flown by when I am just barely posting about Pioneer day. Whatever. I can't believe it is basically September and I am already back to school.

Someone please tell me... where did summer go? Is it just that the older you get, time goes by faster? Seriously I need answers!

Anyway, above are some pictures from a little camping trip Brady and I took over the 24th of July. My parents and their friends were staying just outside of Manti somewhere. It was a really great place to camp and we had a lot of fun. My parents took us shooting and drove us around. We went past the highest point on Skyline drive so we had to snap a few shots. Oh and we just had to get pictures of about every single wild flower you can imagine... apparently my mom is doing a documentary or something.... ha ha ha!

Just a side note: I have officially started school at Westminster. So far I love it!! Try to remind me that I do once I have absolutely no time in my life for anything but school and work...mmmkay? Regardless, I am saying this so that you all know who don't talk to me everyday, that this is the reason why my blogging is going slower than usual. Thanks for the understanding :)

The Sleeping Bag

So the sleeping bag just came in the mail today. Probably the cutest thing I have ever seen!!! And I totally thought Reggie would hate it and I would have to shove him in it and hold him there to take pictures... but no. He hopped right in and laid down, as if he knew that it was his. Have I mentioned that I have a REALLY smart dog?! Anyway, here are a few pictures of him laying in his new sleeping bag. I think I am going to make him sleep in it every night because it just makes me melt.

SOOOO BIG!!!

Reggie is getting sooo big! He is just about a whopping 7lbs. He is so fun and still full of energy. He recently lost about 4 or 5 teeth in a matter of a day... thanks with the help of Warhol his buddy. Thanks Warhol! He finally sits when I tell him to and his recent trick is rolling over. Yes, thats right he rolls over and its super cute. The only problem I am running into with that trick is that I tell him to do something else and he just rolls over. Can't blame him... he just wants the treat! He loves treats like his mommy :)
Its like pulling teeth to get pictures of him because he won't sit still. So here are the only pictures I have of him recently.

He's our little luck dragon!! Falcor!!!

Why is Tim so amazing??

Since I am an idiot and I don't know how to load video's to my blog... go to this link http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810078365/video/14698134

I am so excited I can barely even stand it! I love Johnny and I love Tim Burton. Just thought I would share with you my obsession for the day :)

Family, Besties, Work and Randoms...

A few things...

Just to update all of you who haven't or aren't around me all the time to hear my life stories... here are a quick few things that I feel the need to get off my chest :)

I have to just say how proud I am of my brother and my sis-in-law Jayme. They are some of the best parents out there and I look forward to when I can strive to be as great of parents as they are. Their sweet baby girl Berklee was born not long ago and she happened to want to come out a little too early (by early I mean almost 3 months early) she weighed a whopping 2lbs 3oz. She is the prettiest little thing you have ever seen. She is so perfect and I can't even stand it but I just want to squeeze her and I can't imagine how Jayme and Stevie feel. I admire them for their strength to keep moving forward with all the hurdles they have faced with Londyn (their first daughter) and now Berklee. It's amazing to see how much strength, hope and persistence they all have as a family. I know that the hard times make us better people and I see that in all of them and how much they have and continue to grow each day! They are going to kill me for saying this, but I can't believe my big bro (Stevie) is 30!! Our family has come such a long way and I love all of them so much. There are so many things about Stevie that I admire and I always have... both my bros for that matter. And I am lucky to call Jayme my sister. Keep up the good work you guys.... I love you :)

Here is the cutest little picture of Berklee... (I stole this from you Jayme.. hope you don't mind)

While I am sitting here reflecting... It is currently Lily's 1st birthday (My bestie Lisa's daughter). Its amazing how fast that first year flew by. I am sure it went by faster for Lisa but I seriously can't even believe that it has been one whole year. I feel like she just had that dang baby :) I am so proud of Lisa and can't wait to see all the little ones she produces. She is a great mom and don't let me forget to say that Marty is a great dad too. They both amaze me! Happy Birthday Lily!! Love your Auntie Ree.

I also am so proud of myself for some of the things I have done so far this year. I was working at Buona Vita (a restaurant located in Draper, its really good you should try it) and I was just doing it for a short period of time before school started to save a bit of money for China. Anyway, besides the fact that not one bit of it is going towards China, it was a great experience nonetheless. I learned a new skill that I NEVER thought I would. I can't recall exactly how long but for a very long time I have said that I could not do the job of a server because I am not that coordinated or whatever you want to call it. It was definitely a challenge in the beginning and thanks to Ally I kept continuing on and I feel like by the end of my little hoorah as a server I was doing a pretty good job :) Anyway, it was a fun time and I am glad that I have my Friday nights back but it was well worth it! Oh and not to mention that I have a whole new perspective on tipping and service when I go out.... never tip under 20%.... PLEASE! If they suck still give them 15%... its not easy work!

So I am sure you are all sick of me spouting off about random things, so I guess I will start wrapping it up.

Things I can't wait for this year: Free concerts every Thursday night, running at least three times a week, going swimming and laying out at the pool every Friday (or every day) I can, getting prepared for China, puppy kindergarten, camping, backpacking, biking, climbing, new music, and learning how to cook better.

THE END.