Ordinary People Can Do Extraordinary Things

SPRING MOUNTAIN RANCH

2011-07-23T11:53:00.001-07:00

This weekend was spent out at Spring Mountain Ranch watching this musical:

The story line was a musical in a musical. That might sound odd but it was so clever and actually pretty funny! We laughed hard through the whole show!

This is me and Rochelle, a good friend from my ward, and we also work together in Young Women's. She's awesome and the PERFECT person to put in charge of sides for a picnic. Just look at the picture below! She always goes above and beyond in everything :)

These two fun girls were there too. Lauren, who is also in my ward, and Julie, her friend who is now our friend! Julie is HILARIOUS and we all had good times laughing, and eating, and enjoying the cooler weather under the stars.

Look at this spread! What better way to spend an evening than with a picnic, some music, and a cool breeze coming out from the canyon. Delightful! Next month is Fiddler on the Roof, so it's something more to look forward to! Thank you, Spring Mountain Ranch!

FRUIT PIZZAS

2011-07-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

Tonight the Young Women got together for some Fruit Pizza and down time. We've been focused on camp preparation for the last couple of months, so we figured it was time for something simple....

We had two sheet cakes of sugar cookies, so the girls devided into teams and created their own 'masterpieces.' Team #1 decided to do a Mosaic piece (at least that's what they called it):

Team #2 opted to creating a picture of Ashley, one of our Laurels. There's the obvious face, and the rest is hair, a shirt, etc:

The best part about them is how they tasted when we were done! Delicious! I love fruit pizza almost as much as I love these girls!!

JUST BECAUSE

2011-07-05T17:50:00.001-07:00

MACI'S BAPTISM

2011-07-02T13:00:00.000-07:00

This little girl was baptized this afternoon in the river at Martin's Cove. We sure are proud of her!!

Everyone was able to make it, including Grandma and Grandpa Wilkerson, who surprised us by being there when we arrived. It's not very often that we get to see them, so it made it that much better!Most of Crystal's family was also able to make it out here, so it was a whirlwind weekend full of playing, and cousins, and food, and oodles of pictures!

What a great day for a baptism. Lots of sunny skies, a slight (and sometimes not-so-slight) breeze, and lots of people there who love Maci and love each other. It was perfect!

DECORATING FOR THE HOLIDAYS

2011-07-01T18:00:00.000-07:00

My mom brought a box full of holiday decorations down to Casper, so Maci and Chloe decided that they were going to participate in getting ready for the 4th. When they put the flags in the planters out front they ran back and forth, and back and forth, making sure that they were at the same level. Well done, ladies!

DAISY THE RABBIT

2011-07-01T16:00:00.000-07:00

Today I came back to Wyoming for the weekend, and the first place I went was to my brother and sister-in-law's house to see my cute little nieces and nephew. And the rest of the family, of course! They were thrilled to introduce me to their new pet rabbit, Daisy, and we spent the entire afternoon playing with her, petting her, and acting like she had accomplished astounding feets by eating grass out of our hands. Seriously. That rabbit is TOO cute!!!

BIRTHDAY TRADITIONS

2011-07-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

Every year my friend, Danielle, and I go out on our birthdays to celebrate. Mine is at the beginning of July and hers in August. I had planned a trip back to Wyoming during my birthday, so the day before we grabbed breakfast at Mimi's Cafe on my way to the airport and made a special stop at DSW for some shoes. Hooray!! I love Danielle. I love that we're so different but that we are still such good friends. Everyone needs a friend like Danielle. And everyone needs special birthday cake at Mimi's. Yum! Looking foward to a year full of adventures and experiences!!

BEEHIVE BREAKFAST

2011-06-29T21:03:00.000-07:00

Whenever we have a new Beehive join Young Womens, Teresa does a special breakfast for them at her house. She even makes little 'bumblebee' cupcakes and has everyone come in their pajamas. How cute is that?! She's so good with these girls!

Here's our new, darling beehive, Kayla! Everyone was so excited for her to finally join them and it was non-stop giggling and talking. Add the other 5 girls who weren't able to come that morning, and imagine the fun that will be had.....

MODERN DAY LOVE STORY

2011-06-24T08:40:00.000-07:00

One of our residents passed away recently and this was the obituary that her husband placed in the paper. It made me emotional reading it, partly because I knew her, and partly because it will just make you emotional. He would faithfully come every single day and visit her. One day I hope to feel this way about someone:

EMMA STILWELL This is not an obituary to notify everyone that a person has died, it is instead a tribute to the best person I ever knew in my nearly 85 years on Earth. Emma Mae Stilwell, Mae as she preferred to be called, was born Oct. 2, 1922 and passed into Heaven May 20, 2011. She was the third child of 12, born into a very large, very poor, and extremely dysfunctional family. Her older sister was sent to live with her grandparents, leaving Mae as the eldest daughter at home. As a young child, when her mother produced a new baby almost annually, the midwife would hand the baby to Mae and was told to go clean it up. After her second grade in school at the age of eight, her father gave her to a couple to live with, that he said he owed a favor. She had to tend to their three children, do housework, and any other chores they might find for her. The youngest child was a girl with epilepsy, and they showed her how to put a wooden spoon or paddle in her mouth when she had a seizure, so she wouldn't bite her tongue off. Quite a life for an eight year old. The only plus was that they sent her to a nice school where she started to learn acrobatics, which she loved. After one year there, her father decided that she was being abused, and took her back home. She completed grades four through six in school, and then her father removed her from school at the age of 12, and sent her to an Italian couple to work for $5.00 a week, and she had to pay him the bulk of the money. She said they were good to her in many ways, and she was taught how to cook. I would put her spaghetti sauce far ahead of any Italian restaurant I ever ate in. She worked there for a number of years. I met Mae by a God given miracle. My first wife walked out on me one night, and left me with my twin daughters who were less than three years old. I was young, hadn't any money, and had no idea what to do. My father (who was a saint), told me to advertise in the newspaper for someone to be a live in Nanny for a motherless home, and he offered to pay them $25.00 a week. It sounds crazy now, but that was 1952. I advertised and must have had 75 calls. Some were not interested, but many were. I interviewed several and chose Mae for the job. She was just wonderful from day one. The children loved her, and she in turn loved them dearly. It was strictly a business relationship for nearly a year, but then we fell in love, and here it's now 2011. I'm not real religious, but I'm either the luckiest person that ever lived, or God stepped in and sent me the most wonderful person that ever lived. It is almost impossible to imagine how much I miss her. There was never an easier person to get along with than Mae. Whatever I wanted to do was just perfect for her too. I truly believe, that if God gave everyone alive one wish, many would choose wealth, many health, a long life, and all kinds of wishes, but if he gave Mae that wish, she would have chosen, "To make "Harry" happy, and for him to love me." I had the best. She wasn't educated, but she had higher morals, ethics, and honesty than anyone I ever knew. My only hope is for God to not keep me around very much longer, and send me to be with her. I'm not sure that I deserve to go to Heaven to be with her, but if I do, I surely can't wait to be with my darling again. - Your devoted husband, Harry

TINY TEMPTATIONS

2011-06-23T11:14:00.001-07:00

Yesterday one of my co-employees brought in a bag of watermelon taffy and put it in the candy dish in my office (usually reserved for mints and candies with less long-term effects). Darn those tiny taffys! They've sucked me in!! But at the same time, many thanks to Debbie for always being so good to me.....

GOT THIS SICK DOG

2011-06-21T14:16:00.000-07:00

This isn't a picture of Jack, but it might as well have been last night. Poor little Jack the Dog was super sick and there wasn't much I could do to help him. From the way he was acting and whimpering, I could tell that his stomach was hurting him, and every time he took a step or was picked up he would breathe heavy and give a little groan. Luckily my Administrator at work raises show dogs, so her prior recommendations of water, pepto bismol, chicken, and rice did the trick. Today he's still sluggish and not moving very fast, but he's back to staring you down when you're eating, hoping that you'll give him something. I seriously love that dog!

MY BIG FAT GYPSY WEDDING

2011-06-19T12:36:00.001-07:00

As fascinating as it is to see their culture come out in the show, here's why I'm really grateful I'm not a gypsy:

1. Their average age to marry is 17 years old. 17!!!!!
2. The traveling gypsys live in trailers. I'm a big fan of them when I'm camping, but not so much to live in.
3. Their wedding dresses are usually twice their weight....which causes them scarring on their hips from it pulling at their skin. The bigger the scar, the better.
4. Girls are expected to clean and have kids. That's pretty much all they are allowed to do. They even have to have permission from their husbands to go out and see family and friends.
5. If a woman divorces an abusive husband she's not allowed to remarry. He can marry as many times as he wants, but she's 'used goods.'
6. There's not an emphasis on education. In fact, it's discouraged when you're a girl because you should be cleaning. Seriously?!?! Even the boys are discouraged once they get older (older meaning 15 and 16) because their focus should be finding a wife.
7. Disputes and disagreements are settled by fist fights that last until one or the other person gives up. You never talk out your problems.
8. They marry their cousins. Enough said.

CHALLENGE

2011-06-17T19:37:00.001-07:00

Last week our Bishop issued the challenge to our ward to all read the Book of Mormon before the end of the year. We could do it as families, or as individuals, whichever way we decided we wanted to do it. It's only been a week, but I've already had multiple conversations with people who have been experiencing the effects of it. I love that no matter how many times you read the Book of Mormon, you can always experience the peace and power that comes from it. The excitement of knowing it was written by prophets who saw our day. In February I was in Guatemala and saw numerous sites that Church Historians have indicated were sites from the Book of Mormon. The City of Nephi, the Waters of Mormon, even just the wilderness that they walked through. I'm imagining it as I read and it's making it become more real to me. It's making me appreciate even more the sacrifices that were made to keep the plates, and to travel with them, and to preserve them for us. For me. Tomorrow the Young Women are coming over to my house to read. We're going to read for an hour, have lunch, and then spread out and read for another hour. What a great way to spend a Saturday morning, and what a great blessing to be able to bring the Spirit of the Book of Mormon into my home. If only weight loss challenges were this enjoyable......

CH-CH-CH-CHANGES

2011-06-16T18:33:00.001-07:00

It's been a while since I posted anything. Partly because I've been incredibly busy with some aspects of my life, and partly because I haven't felt like there was much to 'talk' about in my life. It's been almost 3 months so I'll do a quick recap of some changes in a nutshell:

1. New job: I'm still working at the same company as before, but my title now is 'Director of Human Resources.' I'm putting Social Work aside for a while (yippee) and focusing on something different. I started it a couple of months ago and so far I LOVE it!!! I enjoy being able to interact with all of the staff, I like that everything still feels familiar, regardless of how different it is, and I like having a window and private office again. I don't have much time to look out my window, but I like that it's there :)
2. New kind of house: Not a literal new house, but for the first time EVER I am living alone. I know it makes me sound sort of ridiculous saying that, but I like being around people and not having a roommate right now is a HUGE step for me. On the upside, I now have guest bedrooms and a whole slew of new appliances, so if you're ever this way, come by and stay for a bit. Seriously. I'm starting to talk to Jack like he's an actual person.
3. New attitude: Hahaha! Just kidding! But I like to think that I'm trying to stay positive about the little things that life throws my way. I feel like I went through a bit of a slump a couple of months ago and was feeling pretty frustrated with life in general. It didn't take long for me to realize that me feeling down wasn't changing the reality of the situation, so I implemented some goals for myself. It's been awesome and I feel like I'm on the upswing. I'm a big fan of re-evaluation, and it was a good time to do that.
4. New favorite show: NCIS. I'm a bit obsessed with this show right now, and thanks to Netflix I'm going to spend my summer watching all of the episodes from the beginning. Kudos to my old roommate, Melissa, for putting up with hours and hours of episodes when I first discovered it in March. It's fantastic!
5. New favorite food: Vegetable meatloaf!!! Don't wrinkle your nose at this because I found a recipe for meatloaf you make out of ground turkey and oodles of vegetables. It freezes easy, and is delicious!! I literally have been eating it four and five times a week for over a month now and still look forward to it. Yummy!
6. New computer: This was inevitable because my other one shorted out. I still haven't had a chance to touch base with the 'Geek Squad' to see if my information can be salvaged, but I sure am hoping I can save even some of my information. Note to self: Always do a backup!!!

So that's my life right now! Nothing hugely significant, but lots of little things going on. I feel like my life is similar to the picture I posted with this. Lots of awesome scenery and things to be appreciative of, and a road that I find myself on with bends and turns, and the inability to see around the corner. But it's a BEAUTIFUL road and I'm excited to see what lies beyond the tree. Life is good!

SAFETY

2011-03-22T09:34:00.000-07:00

Feeling safe has always been a big thing for me. Even if I KNOW I'm safe, I want to make sure I feel like I'm safe. So I was thrilled when they came over the weekend and installed a security system in my home. Any entry into my house is safeguarded, and the thought of being alone at night is less daunting. It's been a good thing.
So the following Monday I came to work with the assurance that there would be less to worry about when I'm not home. It was a short-lived victory. Two hours later I went into my desk and found my wallet missing from my purse. All of my money, checkbook, IDs, Credit and Debit cards, gift cards, contact information....everything was gone. Right out of my office, which would require that the individual go behind my desk, open my drawers, lift if out of the place where it's hidden, and take it out of my purse. Really?! It's like one step forward and two steps back ;) Sigh.......

A FEW LITTLE NEW THINGS

2011-03-12T09:27:00.001-08:00

I love the Spring!! It makes me so excited when the weather starts to warm up and I find myself looking for any excuse to be outside. Plus, you get to air out your house, the days start to get longer, and all of a sudden you have motivation for projects like these:

Project #1: Garage makeover. My parents are in town for a week, so my dad spent the last couple of days re-installing cabinets and building shelves in my garage. He is a lifesaver!! I wish I had gotten a 'before' picture, but basically the things in that pile were lining both sides of my garage. Grrrr. I hate clutter.

Thankfully my little CRV doubled as a pickup truck so we could go get supplies! Another reason that I have never had buyers remorse over this handy little vehicle.

So here is the finished product!! It makes such a huge difference when things are organized and it makes me want to do things in my garage again. Thanks, Dad!!!!!

Project #2: Landsaping. Doing something with my yard has been placed on the backburner since moving in to my house. My funds are limited, so I knew it was going to need to be simple. The picture above was how it looked before, and that's AFTER I filled 7 industrial sized bags full of thick weeds that were starting to look like trees. It was hideous.
And here's how it looks now! It's perfect for my lifestyle. Low maintenance with minimal work required. I love it. It's not completely done though. The landscaper, is going to bring some more rock to fill in some areas, and then next week there's a tree being planted in the back corner. I can't wait for the flowers to come out on the bushes. Plus, on two of the plants when the leaves turn white you can eat them and they taste like honey. Just a random tidbit of information.
Jack the Dog is also a big fan. When I can't find him now, he is usually here. Laying in the grass, soaking in the sun.

So special thanks go to: 1. Uncle Sam for helping me fund these little projects 2. Dad for being willing to do TONS of things around the house that I've tried myself but failed at miserably 3. Ed, the landscaper, for giving me such a great deal 4. Mom for helping me clean and organize 5. The man who invented low maintenance, artificial grass 6. And finally...special things go out to the 70 and 80 degree weather that we've been experiencing this last week. Seriously. Thank you!

I GUESS I WAS MEANT TO BE WHITE

2011-02-08T20:48:00.000-08:00

I'm one of those people that burns with sunblock. Really burns. So about a month ago I decided I would start tanning a few times a week to slowly build up some color and hopefully eliminate the inevitable vacation sunburn. Four minutes, then five, then six. I built my way up to what I THOUGHT was a decent tan. That was until today, which ironically was my last time to go tanning. As I was walking out of the tanning place the lady said to me, and I quote 'Wow! Your legs are really white!' Yep. Epic failure! I guess I'm meant to be this pasty shade of white.

SICK OF SICK

2011-02-07T10:09:00.000-08:00

These last two week have turned me into a cleaning fiend. And not in a good way. At work we've been quarantined because of a nasty flu, so it's been all day long cleaning and disinfecting. Then I go home to a roommate with tonsillitis and another mystery infection that almost landed her in the hospital. Normally I would hope that I don't get sick, and maintain my distance, but in less than a week I'm in Central America sharing hotel rooms and a van with 5 other people. The stomach flu and tonsillitis are not on my travel agenda. So it's been almost two weeks of constant washing, disinfecting...and then washing and disinfecting. It's turned me grumpy and I hate it when I feel grumpy! Yesterday I started getting a sore throat and little white pockets appeared on the back of my throat. Tonsillitis....maybe. Strep Throat.....perhaps. I'm not taking my chances though. Tomorrow I'm starting on a 10 day round of antibiotics. I'm officially sick of the sick!!

JANUARY IN A NUTSHELL

2011-02-01T14:22:00.000-08:00

Likes

1. Sales: I can't stand shopping, but I LOVE getting deals on things, so when I replenished my entire collection of Christmas wrapping paper for under 6 dollars I was thrilled!

2. Warm Weather: January was uncharacteristically warm this year. I think we even hit record highs. For someone that doesn't care much for cold anymore, it was a welcomed treat to be able to go outside with nothing but a light jacket, and some days, short sleeves.

3. Young Women in Excellence: We had our YWIE program this month and it turned out so cute! The girls were pretty much in charge of everything and I love seeing them step up and pull it off so nicely. It also helps that they are organized, since I tend to be a bit disorganized!

4. Back yard work: In the process of digging, pulling, and complaining over thistles, I didn't much care for this January event, but what I DO like is how it was when it was done with. Well, mostly done with. This spring I'm going to figure out landscaping and the back yard will be complete!

5. 12 Step Program: I know this is going to sound odd, but last Sunday the missionaries who are over the church's 12 step addiction program came and did a special presentation during the last hour of our 5th Sunday. I LOVED it. I felt the Spirit as they were talking. I felt a desire to help others who are going through difficult trials in their lives. They discussed several addictions like drugs, alcohol, gambling, etc, and put a special emphasis on the addiction of pornography. I've been lucky enough to not have to personally deal with these issues myself, but I appreciated so much the notable love that they feel and openly expressed towards others who are. That's how it should be. The gospel should be a gospel of love, and understanding, and acceptance. It made me appreciate that there are such wonderful people like them to teach us how to be better, and it made me even more grateful for the Atonement in our lives.

6. Office: My pseudo-office was finally, sort of, painted. There have been holes on the walls and white patches for a while, so it's nice to have one solid color. I think the solid color is sort of hideous, but I can't complain. At least it's a solid color.

7. New Testament: I like that we've started studying the New Testament this year. It's familiar to me, and contains some of my favorite stories and teachings. Plus, we got to talk about the birth of Christ again this year, so it felt like the best parts of Christmas again. It was awesome!

Dislikes

1. Dumb injuries: At the end of last year/beginning of this year I started running again to get in shape for my upcoming trip. Less than a week into it a pulled the muscles behind my knee, which I discovered, is INCREDIBLY inconvenient because you can't do anything without bending your knee or straightening it (both hurt - it was super annoying). After going to the doctor and spending the last 3 weeks doing as little as possible with it, as per his request, I'm finally on the mend. I've gone out a couple of times this week for quick walks in the evening, and it is sore the next morning, but nothing like before. This was a ginormous DISLIKE for the month of January.

2. Fees and Dues: I always dislike the beginning of January because with it comes my insurance payment and my HOA payment for the year. It's a huge chunk of money all at once, but I ALSO dislike making a bunch of payments every month, so the one time deal is more convenient. More costly, but more convenient.

3. Planning a trip to Central America: This sounds like an oxymoron since I'm really excited to go, but the actual planning of the trip has been pretty frustrating. Third world countries are way harder to make schedules for than other countries! You can't find anything online, and when you ask about bus schedules everyone says, ' you just put your arm out and grab one.' Ironically, that's the truth, but it's hard planning that way when you need specifics. Plus, it's hard when you have 5 people from different states, and most of them are too busy to give much input. You feel like a travel agent, but like a frustrated travel agent. I know I sound ridiculous complaining about this, but it really WAS a dislike during January. A big one.

CENTRAL AMERICA OR BUST

2011-01-27T18:42:00.001-08:00

In just over 2 weeks I'll be in Guatemala climbing to the top of this:
It's called Pacaya Volcano and it's currently active!! You can hike right up to the lava flow and take pictures! Considering how much activity these legs have had in the last 3 months, I'm also stocking up on a lot of this:
We're heading up north and taking some time for climbing around the ruins here. You get to see monkeys, which I'm really excited about, and possibly snakes, which I'm really NOT excited about:
And before we come home we're stopping off at Semuc Chempney to float through caves and play in these natural lagoons in the middle of the jungle:
I'm pretty excited at the though of going to Belize to see this:
And I can't wait to spend a day at Lake Atitlan and kayaking on this:
It's going to be 10 days of memorable adventures, sore muscles, incredible views, and oodles of pictures. Hoping to make it back in one piece....that's the goal :)

UN-ENCHANTED

2011-01-24T08:15:00.001-08:00

This movie was on last night and despite the fact that I never liked it in the first place, I found myself watching bits and pieces of the second half. While it was on I was talking to a friend and mentioned that I found it annoying and unrealistic. Because what kind of man would fall in love with someone as spacey and seemingly mentally unstable as her?! After those words came out, I found it ironic that it wasn't the fact that there were cartoon characters coming to life that made it unrealistic to me, rather the thought of people falling in love under those circumstances that put it over the edge. Um....I'm thinking I'm still feeling a little jaded, perhaps.....ha, ha, ha!! :)

DOPPELGANGER

2011-01-23T07:53:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I ran into the doppelganger for Biff Tannen, the bully from Back to the Future. Except he was older, had kind of a gross tan, gold chains, sweatpants, and a shirt unbuttoned almost all the way down to his bellybutton. It took everything in me not to ask him how many times he's been told he looks like the actor from Back to the Future. But considering his strutt, I figured that would add to his ego, and middle-aged men that wear gold chains and unbuttoned shirts like that really don't need anything else to add to it.....

CONFESSION

2011-01-20T21:55:00.000-08:00

I don't take vitamins because they're good for me. I only eat these because they're sort of a justifiable, sour candy. Sometimes I'll eat 4 or 5 of them in a day. I'm hoping that counteracts the fact that Tuesday when I was in a rush I ate stale chips and string cheese for dinner......

HACHI

2011-01-15T22:30:00.001-08:00

I've never cried at a movie as much as I did at this one. Seriously. There were sobs.

TOP 10 OF 10

2010-12-30T16:52:00.001-08:00

It's time for the annual update of my year. I love my updates! Really, I just love going back and remembering my experiences! Fortunately the years are going up because I feel blessed with a life full of fun adventures and experiences, and it was hard to choose only 10 of them. Drum roll.....and here they are.....

In March I went to San Diego with Charla for our annual California trip. It had been years since I'd been to Sea World or Old Town, so it was good, good times! Except for the time when the seagull swooped down and stole the churro out of Charla's hand. That was sort of freaky!

In April mom and I went up to Portland to visit Kimberly and it just so happened that we were there during the tulip festival. I LOVE tulips. They're my favorite flower. So imagine how thrilled I was to be able to see thousands of them in every color available. I love it!

May brought a lot of new things. A new job...a new car...and a new appreciation for light colored interior!! After 3 weeks of driving around all day in my black car, with black leather interior, in the heat of the Vegas sun, I was done. My car was payed off so I traded it in for a new one. Sweet relief! I'm very happy with my new one and haven't had a single regret :)

In June the Wilkerson girls (minus Chloe) met up and went to Disneyland as a surprise for Maci for her 7th birthday. It was AWESOME!!! I'd never been to Disneyland and discovered that it really is the happiest place on earth!!! I'm excited to go back again one day!

Another first....in July Wayne and I went to Hawaii for 10 days and experienced pretty much anything Hawaii has to offer. We stayed with my friend, Gayle, so the days were full of fun and adventures and at night we went to movies, sang karaoke, went out to dinners with her, and just relaxed. It was quite possibly in my list of top 5 vacations. I might even put it in the top 3. It was a lot of fun!

In August we met up at our cabin outside of Yellowstone and enjoyed some free time. We went into Yellowstone, played games, hiked around the mountains, and enjoyed being together with the entire family. It doesn't happen very often, so when we're all together it's very much appreciated!!

For over a year Calvin and Karissa have been living in California and I'd never been to visit. In September I went and discovered it's not that far after all! So a few weeks later me and Wayne went up there for a food festival in LA, only to discover that it had been cancelled. What followed was a day FULL of unexpected adventures and discoveries (like how incredible Rosa Mexicana is during lunch). Seriously. Such a fun day!

I've always enjoyed Veteran's Day, and have especially grown a special appreciation after working with the elderly. This year at our nursing home we decided to design, build, and sponsor a float for the Veteran's Day parade. It was a TON of work and lots of manpower, but it was incredible. There's nothing like seeing the joy on a Veteran's face when they are congratulated and given thanks for their service. Such a special experience!

Since 1998 Andrea Bocelli's concert has been on my bucket list, so when I found out he was coming for a CHRISTMAS concert this year, I was ecstatic!!! My friend, Joy, and I went together and I'm not embarrassed to admit that I cried...actually cried....at the end as he was singing Nessum Dorma. There's nothing better than Christmas, but Christmas with Andrea Bocelli - fantastic!!

Holiday: I have to put these two together because both trips were worth mentioning!! For Thanksgiving the Bagley bunch invited me along with their group in California. It was memorable. Seriously memorable! Then for Christmas I went back to Wyoming and hung out with Benjamin and my parents. It was a great combination of relaxing, playing, and soaking in Christmas!! I won't go into detail about both of them, but just will mention that my experiences during the holidays made me enjoy the holidays that much more :)

And that was my 2010! It was a year full of some pretty great things, mixed in with some experiences that my Heavenly Father knew I needed. As I look back I realize how BLESSED I really am. With friends, and protection, and family, and understanding. I love my life....I'm not going to lie. But I think the key is to love your life, no matter what situation you find your life in. So I'm going to just keep loving it! Happy New Year to any of you reading this...and thank you for being a part of me :)

CHRISTMAS TIDBITS

2010-12-28T19:09:00.000-08:00

This Christmas I went home for a few days and soaked in the Christmas spirit!! Here are some highlights from the trip:

There are decorations as far as the eye can see!!! You literally can't walk into a single room (bathrooms included) without seeing something Christmasey. It's awesome!There was LOTS of food to be eaten!!! Traditional foods like our sausage and egg with waffles for dinner, Ham for lunch, and Christmas Eve Tamales. Yum! We also had cheeseballs, meat and cheese platers, homemade ice-cream, carmel corn, cookies, pies, candies...you name it!! I'm officially on sugar lock-down and am hoping for some respite for my digestive system in the near future!!

We participated in some of the local events and drove around the town, looking at Christmas lights. There was one house that set up a radio station to listen to music that went with their dancing lights on their house. It was fabulous!!

For the last few years we've had tamales on Christmas Eve, compliments of my friend Sylvia. She is from Mexico, and has all of her relatives over on Christmas so she makes hundreds of these. I wasn't able to help this year, but I've helped in the past and they take forever to make!
You can't have Christmas without reading the story of the birth of Christ! And you certainly can't have Wilkerson family gatherings without pulling out the card table and playing a game, or two, or three........

There was lots of down time and Benjamin could either be found reading, sleeping, or watching television.

The day I flew out we went down to Casper and spent a few hours with Daniel's family before I left. The kids opened their gifts from us and then we played for a bit. I love them!! They are at that age where you can totally justify acting like a kid because you're with them!!

So that was my Christmas weekend. Lots of relaxing, lots of laughing, and LOTS of Christmas!!! It was the perfect break for the end of the year!

FROSTY THE SNOWMAN

2010-12-17T20:38:00.001-08:00

I don't know what year this cartoon was created, but apparently back then children never wore pants to school during the winter.

BUCKET LIST CONCERT

2010-12-17T19:16:00.001-08:00

I remember the first time I heard Andrea Bocelli singing. It was September of 1998 and my mission companion and I had walked back into our pension after a long day. He was performing in Santiago, Chile, and the family we lived with was listening to him. I immediately made the decision that one day I would see him perform. I was smitten with his voice!

So 11 years later, it finally happened! Hooray!!! My friend, Joy, and I went to the MGM Grand Garden Arena on December 11th and listened to 2 1/2 hours of Christmas songs, opera, and classical favorites. It was incredible and I found myself becoming emotional when he performed Nessum Dorma. I have always loved Christmas, but put it together with Andrea Bocelli and it creates the BEST holiday season ever!!!

THOSE WHO ARE WILLING

2010-12-15T17:45:00.000-08:00

During this time of year, it's important to remember what is most important. I am grateful for people like this....people who know Christ's love and are willing to share it with others. Merry Christmas!

HOMEMADE GIFTS (OH YES SHE DID!)

2010-12-12T23:14:00.001-08:00

I am not a creative person, so imagine my delight when these little gifts for our Young Women turned out so adorable!!! Teresa saw the idea when she was out East on vacation, so we painted, sanded, and modge podged our little hearts out yesterday. I can't wait to hand them out at our Christmas party Wednesday night!!
Utilizing our skills in our little 'workshop.'
Aren't they great?!?! We were thrilled with how they turned out!

Pay no attention to the fact that I was up until 3:00 the night before and still hadn't showered, put on makeup, or done my hair. Or that I voluntarily used the words 'delight, adorable, and thrilled,' during this post. That's what crafts do to you. It should be out of my system in a few days! Merry Christmas!!!!

APPETITE'S BACK

2010-12-09T23:18:00.001-08:00

I've been fighting some sort of head cold/sinus thing these last three days that took my appetite away. Wouldn't you know that tonight, at 11:00 pm, I got it back and the only thing I wanted was a taco. Thank you, Del Taco, for setting up station next to my neighborhood AND selling your 39 cent tacos! It worked out perfectly!

SIGH

2010-12-07T18:23:00.000-08:00

I'm having one of those days. One of those days where I wish I was just a normal adult who didn't look at things from the perspective of a social worker, over-analyze, and internalize. How must it feel to not be me? Today I wish I knew......

SAVED

2010-12-04T10:47:00.000-08:00

Last night was Manor's annual Christmas party, and when I say 'party' I mean P..A..R..T..Y!!! It's pretty much 4 hours of eating, laughing, and dancing, but mostly dancing. The last several years have taught me that 4 hours on a dance floor in heels results in significant amounts of pain, so about 3/4 of the way through this year, when others were dancing barefooted, I just slipped these babies on and voila! They were little miracle workers!! Thanks, Dr. Scholl's!! I'll be seeing you again next year.....

SILENT NIGHT

2010-12-01T20:51:00.001-08:00

Tonight for Young Women and Young Mens we went caroling to the homes of some members. There was just a small group of us, and the first 3 homes we went to ended up being empty, but it was still such fun for everyone! I know I always say it, but working with the youth is the best calling ever! I love their enthusiasm and willingness to do anything...even when they don't always want to. It's like living some of my favorite years again with them, but without the insecurities and awkwardness - It's the best of both worlds!

TUESDAY'S THOUGHTS

2010-11-30T20:58:00.000-08:00

1. Footed pajamas should be more readily available for those adults who don't enjoy cold ankles at night. The socks keep my feet warm and the pants keep my legs warm, but that little space where the pants ride up and the socks slouch down is really suffering. I could really use a good pair of footed pajamas.

2. Jack the Dog is unusually fluffy and bear-like today. I know the world is full of people who are indifferent towards dogs (and I used to be one of them) but I'm pretty sure that given a chance, Jack would really grow on them. He's just like that.

3. The Lord really knows what I need in my life. Just when I've determined that he was NOT a part of the process of calling me to be a Young Women's President, he reminds me through others that he, indeed, wants me there. It's reassuring.

4. I love Christmas. LOVE it! There's something about wrapping 200+ gifts and imagining people opening them, that makes me want the holiday spirit around all the time. I don't think I'll ever get tired of looking at Christmas trees or getting whiffs of cinammon-scented pine cones. They're delightful.

5. I'm grateful for friends. I've always been that way, but the older I get the more I realize how significant they are to me. Close friends, work friends, home friends, church friends, traveling friends, college friends, mission friends - all of them. They helped me become who I am and they make me so grateful for the life I've been given. How unfortunate to not feel like you have someone you can be yourself around. I would hope I never have to experience that.

6. I should have gotten gift cards for everyone for Christmas. I think I might spend as much on the shipping as I spent on the gifts. I'll plan better next year.

7. Today when I filled out my vacation request for a trip to Central America in February, my boss looked at me, and said, half-joking, 'another vacation?!?!' I quickly responsed by saying, 'I'm living the dream, Joe Ann.' She couldn't really argue with that logic. The vacation request is already turned in to Human Resource!

OTHER REASONS TO LOVE THANKSGIVING

2010-11-25T09:06:00.000-08:00

I've never been a Thanksgiving person. It's a family holiday and I haven't lived around family for years, I don't like huge dinners, and I HATE the thought of cleaning all of those dishes. However, because it is a holiday, there are some definite benefits associated with it. To name a few....

#1: McGriddle: These little babies are filled with bad calories and grease, but they are just so, so good. I've limited myself as to how often I'm allowed to eat them. Basically on special occasions and holidays....so thank you, Thanksgiving!!! I ate one for breakfast. It was delightful!
#2: Christmas: I'm no longer criticized for listening to Christmas music, wishing it was December, or saying 'Happy Holidays.' (True story: I said happy holidays to someone the other day and they 'reminded me' that it's not appropriate until after Thanksgiving is over). There are some serious Thanksgiving people out there and I'm going to have to say that they sort of ruin it for the Christmas people. Not listening to Christmas music until the day after Thanksgiving?!?! Pish-posh!
#3: Time and a half: Around this time is when my 6 months insurance comes due, my HOA fees get paid for the year, and Christmas gifts pile up, so the thought of being able to work and earn more than I normally earn - well that just makes sense! Plus, it makes other people that don't want to be working feel like they aren't alone in their endeavors. It's a win-win situation.
#4: Vacations: Nobody is going to question why I'm taking yet ANOTHER vacation when it falls on a Holiday weekend. I'm not going to lie. I love my vacations. So when I can say 'I'm going out of town for the Thanksgiving weekend, so I won't be here Friday,' it makes it seem like I'm joining the rest of the world in celebration of the holiday. It distracts from the fact that I will use any excuse to go on a trip.

So Happy Thanksgiving to all

(and I really mean it)

LAKE LAS VEGAS

2010-11-21T01:33:00.001-08:00

Last night my friend, Wayne, and I went out to Lake Las Vegas to explore the Christmas lights that were put up this week. I always look forward to this time of year!

I LOVE Christmas, so this gigantic Christmas tree made me super happy!!! Because of the economy the Village at the lake is somewhat of a ghost town. It's sad because the place is magical!! There are so many things they could do with it!
Wayne is such a sport! He'll do almost anything I ask him to do! This was supposed to be one of those fun pictures where the lights are glowing around me and I'm sort of a soft hue in the background. Nope. He had it on the wrong setting. I'm just a weirdo standing in the middle of a treeAnd so ended our adventures at Lake Las Vegas. After we were done exploring we went and got ice-cream sundaes at McDonalds - Yum! Happy Holidays!

VETERANS DAY PARADE

2010-11-13T11:46:00.000-08:00

This year at work we built and decorated a float so that some of our Veteran residents could participate. Las Vegas has the largest Veterans Day Parade west of the Mississippi and there were around 40,000 spectators there. It was TONS of work, and it turned out to be a cold and windy day, but totally worth it to see the reactions from our darling residents. I love my job!

Snuggled up and ready to roll!
There were just under 160 entries in the parade

Each resident had a flag from their specific branch of Military
I am GRATEFUL for our soldiers

Diane, our darling liaison

Seriously, how cute is Mister P.?!
Spectators cheering on the residents

Our only female Veteran

Dormisha and me trying to keep warm before it began

This was the first time I'd been to a Veterans Day Parade and it was AWESOME being able to watch all of the spectators cheer for the Veterans and come up to the float, shaking their hands and thanking them for their service. It was a fantastic reminder of just how lucky we really are!

LOS ANGELES ADVENTURE

2010-11-12T20:19:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday (November 6th) my friend, Wayne, and I went to California to meet up with our friends, Calvin and Karissa. The plan was to attend a World Food Festival, but when we got there we found out it had been cancelled. I'm pretty sure out day was even BETTER with our 'Plan B.' Here are some highlights:

Rosa Mexicana Restaurant

The food was AWESOME!!! We will for sure go back!

Grammy Museum: John Lennon exhibit

This is Janice Joplan's car. It was the only thing we

were allowed to take pictures of :)

Headed up to the 'Hollywood' sign!

I love this picture of our shadows!!

Exploring the Getty Museum

The Getty Museum: Seriously the best place EVER!!!

Enjoying an original Van Gogh piece!!! Never mind that we got into

trouble for using flash photography but we had no idea!!
Our driver and navigator getting us to the next stop....

The Griffith Observatory!!!

Such fun views of the city
Waiting for the Planetarium show to start

Playing with the Planetarium special effects!!! He was pretty protective of it :)

What else are you going to do with a statue of Einstein?

These were just a few of almost 200 pictures that we took, but a person can only look at so many of someone else's pictures!!! It was a non-stop, whirl-wind adventure and we laughed and laughed all day long. I LOVE real-time adventures!

IN THEIR SHOES

2010-11-09T20:40:00.000-08:00

Tonight as I was standing in line at the store I noticed a gentleman, probably in his late 30s, yelling at his 3-year-old daughter in a language I didn't recognize. He was notably irritated, and was roughly grabbing her arm to push her to the other side of her brother. Through all of this she didn't seem to be doing anything wrong and her confusion to the situation seemed to add to his frustration. Several other people in line were watching uncomfortably, and scowling at him. I've worked with child abuse before, leading to limited tolerance for mistreating a child, and I found myself thinking that if it escaladed, I would step in and say something. The scene itself stopped quickly, but I was still irritated with this man, disgusted by the way he treated his children.

We soon went to our separate counters and I was facing him as we were both checking out. As my items were being wrung up, I overheard his cashier asking him if he had a card. He seemed frazzled and replied that it was that it is under his wife's name but that he needed it changed to his name. He then become emotional and stated 'she just passed away. I'm trying to figure out how to do everthing.' As I saw the pained look on his face and the two little faces peering up over the counter, my heart broke. The cashier awkwardly apologized and offered to help him, and the rest of us looked down. I imagine that I wasn't the only person who had quickly pegged him as an impatient, disrespectful father, and it made me feel horrible for how quick I was to assume the worst of him. None of us can at all understand what someone else is going through until we've gone through it ourselves. And hopefully, we'll have someone there to help see the good in us, even if we aren't in a position to show it.

COLOR CODE TEST

2010-10-30T20:29:00.001-07:00

I was home sick today and taking it easy, so I decided to take a color code test for fun. It determined that I have a 'white' personality. Here's what it said about how white personalities are....I've inserted my own thoughts on it:

'Whites are motivated by peace. Whites will do almost anything to avoid confrontation. They like to flow through life without hassle or discomfort. Feeling good is even more important to them than being good. (I'm more of a 'be good' person).

Whites need kindness. While Whites respond beautifully to thoughtfulness and amiability, they have a strong, silent stubbornness that surfaces when they are treated unkindly. They resent being scolded. They dislike harsh words. They open up instantly to people who are kind, but Whites recoil form those who are hostile. They are motivated by kindness - and cannot understand why other people are unkind. Whites like to keep a low profile. Whites enjoy their quiet independence. What appears to some people as quiet desperation can show itself to be bullheadedness. Those who misinterpret the peace-loving nature of a White as an invitation to be demanding and bossy will soon meet a wall of passive resistance. (Ha,ha! So true!!)

Whites are tougher than people think. Whites like to be asked their opinions. They won't volunteer them (This isn't necessarily true about me - I'm more than happy to volunteer my opinion). They value the respect of others, but they rarely go out of their way to seek it. They need to be coaxed to talk about their skill, hobbies and interests. Whites are independent. Unlike Reds, who want to control others, Whites seek only to avoid being controlled. They simply refuse to be under another's thumb, especially when treated without the respect they feel they deserve. Whites want to do things their way, in their own time. They do not ask much of others, and resent it when others demand things from them. They often comply with unreasonable demands - just to keep peace. They will only express their anger and frustration when they can no longer stand being bossed around.

Whites do not like to be pushed, and they can be fearsome when they finally "blow up". (Yep!) Whites are motivated by other people's desires. Whites are open to the recommendations of others on ways to resolve any and all situations. White executives value new management ideas from employees. White children welcome help - they are eager students. Whites make agreeable dates. They are interested in making sure the other person has a good time, and are willing to do whatever the other person wants. (This is annoyingly true!) Whites, however, want suggestions - not demands.'

The color code results were surprisingly accurate, with some exceptions. What color are all of you?!

SLEEPLESS NIGHTS

2010-10-18T15:56:00.000-07:00

"You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because

reality is finally better than your dreams." -Dr. Suess

I loved this quote!! Unfortunately my lack of shut-eye stems from too much play and a lack of self-discipline. I've determined that Dr. Suess's reasoning has more appeal....

SO SORRY

2010-10-07T23:23:00.001-07:00

Tonight I realized that I've gotten into the habit of apologizing to bugs before I kill them. I don't know why I do it or even when it started, but I think it stems from a guy that I dated once who insisted that bugs have families. So now each time I have to squash one I find myself saying ' I'm sorry!' I still feel grossed out when I grab them with the toilet paper, and it makes me squeemish when I flush them down the toilet, but at least they know I'm sorry. I feel like I've done my part.

As a sidenote, yes, I DO realize how ridiculous it sounds....

MINI NEW YEARS

2010-10-03T21:25:00.000-07:00

I love having different experiences throughout the year that make me feel like I can start fresh at doing things with more meaning and being a little bit better than I was before. One is on New Years Eve, one is on my birthday, and the best ones are two times a year when General Conference rolls around.

I loved, LOVED Elder Holland's talk when he said 'we become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become.' Selfishly I believe he gave that talk just to me! I've been thinking about this a lot in the last week. Last Sunday during sacrament meeting I was remembering when I came back from my mission and reported to the High Council. I remember feeling so peaceful and happy, and ready to take on anything that came my way. I long for those feelings again and I want to be that person again. The person that was consistent in doing the little things on a daily basis that helped me feel close to my Heavenly Father. Who worked hard every day and loved even harder. I miss that person. And I want to become that person again.

So it's time to take Elder Holland's words to heart. Time to work on consistently being who I want to become and being mindful of the little things every day. Time to work hard again in each aspect of my life and not just the areas that seem to come easily to me. And last, but not least, it's time to learn to love again, unconditionally, despite how scary it is to me to actually love again. It's my 'New Years Eve' and tomorrow is a new start - now all I need are fireworks :)

SURPRISED BY A MOVIE

2010-09-20T08:42:00.000-07:00

So I've decided that this is one of my new favorite movies. I don't know if it was the sinus medicine I was taking that made it seem so funny, or the fact that it was British humor, but when all was said and done I had laughed, I had gotten a wee bit teary eyed, and mostly I felt inspired. Surprisingly inspired. Make sure you see it, but maybe wait until your kids are asleep before you do. That British humor and all...

I'M STARTING TO WONDER

2010-09-15T23:19:00.000-07:00

So should I be worried about my dog?!?!

JUSTIN BIEBER

2010-09-14T08:35:00.000-07:00

Remember how at the ripe old age of 13 Justin Bieber has a bodyguard AND backup dancers?! I feel like I should invest in my own backup dancers. That really shows you're going places.

I'VE SEEN THAT ONE BEFORE

2010-09-11T19:34:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I feel like my life is like the movies, but not in a glamorous kind of way. Tonight I found myself at home on Saturday night, hanging out with my dog, watching Lifetime Television shows, and staring at my phone, waiting for it to ring. Seemingly pathetic, I know! When did I become this version of me? The one who spends as much time as possible doing my calling, and not just because I'm dedicated to it, but because other than work, it's the only thing that I have in my life that makes me feel meaningful. When did I start cringing when coworkers asked me what I was doing this weekend, because I knew I would have to make it sound like my life is so busy so I'm 'taking it easy' this time? I'm stuck in a transition that seems wrong, but that unfortunately has become a comfort level. I don't know how I got here! The irony in all of this is that I'm not even feeling sorry for myself. I'm just acutely aware of reality right now.

But I know I've seen this movie before. I remember it ending well - I just don't remember how it got to that point. And I don't remember if the lead character voiced the same frustrations that I'm feeling tonight. I imagine she did. And I imagine she got all sorts of supportive feedback from others around her, telling her what she needed to do to change things. But did she do it, or did she let life take its course? Either way, I know it ends well. I'm going to hang on to that....

BUCKET LIST

2010-09-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

Going to this gentleman's concert has been on my 'bucket list' since the fall of 1998 when I walked into a cement casita in Chile and heard his heart-warming singing coming from the television. Thanks to Vegas PBS and their fabulously discounted tickets, I'll finally accomplish my long awaited goal on December 11th. Oh, Andrea Bocelli....you are good to me....

QUIETLY WISHING

2010-09-04T09:03:00.000-07:00

I have always been secretly envious of creative people. People that can knit scarves and 'throw together' a meal from scratch. A goal that I've had for YEARS is to be able to make a homemade quilt. I picture a fun, bright one, with lots of exciting patterns and designs. On my quest to be able to accomplish this, I practiced my skills at the LDS distribution center some time ago. After proudly displaying the work I had done the darling sister missionary patted me on the arm and quietly said 'it's okay. We'll fix it later.' Sigh........

One day, I'll defeat you, quilt (I shout into the night with my fist waving into the air). One day!

TODAY I LOVE.....

2010-09-01T21:37:00.001-07:00

....how it feels when the weather starts to cool down at night
....eating lunch with a large group of people
....my new job
....how my hair looks the day after I get it highlighted
....being able to work with the young women
....having a large, colorful flower to put in my hair
....new clothes
....when it's crisp at night and you bundle up, but your face is still cold
....seeing good things happen to good people
....sleeping all the way through the night without waking up
....looking forward to seeing old friends
....when I come home and the house is clean
....repeating good songs over and over again
....the fact that I have so many things to be grateful for

RECENT MODGE PODGE OF LIFE

2010-08-28T08:58:00.000-07:00

The end of summer has been BUSY, BUSY but here's a recap of my last month:

Last weekend was our Mia Maid sleepover. We swam, watched movies outside, played games, ate junk food, and got almost no sleep!! Robyn and I woke up to toothpaste on our face and giggles coming from behind us. I seriously love working with the YW! Playing truth or dare while we were swimming
Jenga - Jenga - Jenga

Camping out back! It was nice and cool....the perfect (and unusual) summer night!

So on to the next.....My friend, Wayne, and I took a 9 day trip to Oahu, Hawaii at the end of July. It was a much needed break for both of us and probably one of my funnest trips I've been on! Here are some highlights:

Everyone always talks about how great the food is, and, according to Wayne, I guess the Sushi there is pretty spectacular. We would go get Sushi for Wayne and then a hamburger somewhere else for me. We both agreed on the shaved ice though - it was pretty good! Hawaii's got some pretty amazing beaches and we spent time going around the island, exploring a lot of them. I had my favorite beach (with almost no waves) and Wayne had his favorite (it was pretty much a death trap). Admittedly, Wayne sacraficed his fun beach so we could go back to my calm one over and over again. You can't find a better friend than that!

We went on a movie tour on the island that showed where different movies and shows were filmed, including LOST!!!!! I love that show!!

This was Hawaii's version of sea word, and also the setting for '50 First Dates.' Both Wayne and I had been to Sea World in San Diego this year, so this version was super boring!

They had an indoor 3D golf course that was really fun. At the end if your ball goes in the hole the volcano goes off. Wayne's did...mine didn't.... I sort of suck at miniature golf.

Exploring the Polynesian Cultural Center: You'll notice I was wearing pants. Remember how I thought that it was mainly an indoor event?! Pants in Hawaii is a no-no!!

Eating at the Luau at the PCC: My favorite part was the darling dancer with the big teeth. I wanted to put him in my pocket and bring him home...sigh...

Ha: Breath of Life - This is the night show at the PCC

The catamaran boatride around the island was SO MUCH FUN!!! It was also the beginning of a pretty painful sunburn....totally worth it!
Dole Plantation: They have the world's largest maze that you can walk through and follow a map to find stations, and the Pineapple Ice-cream was delicious.

Jonas teaching me how to make Sushi. He's a chef up in Salt Lake City and teaches classes at the college on how to make Sushi and other dishes. Pearl Harbor

Exploring the USS Missouri: This was one of the my favorite parts...it's the Battle Ship that they signed the peace treaty on when World War II ended: I became a little bit emotional listening to the stories of it

Exploring Waimea Valley: You can't see it, but I was swimming under the waterfall!

Hiking up Diamond Head Crater: It was hot, humid, and steep! My smile at the top is sort of fake!

So that was our Hawaii trip. We don't have pictures of our kayaking because the boat was tipped, my sandals broke, and my camara was ruined. To be honest, I probably wouldn't have looked that happy in the pictures anyways. The ocean scares me, the water was rough that day, and I was freaked out. Again...thank you Wayne for being such a good friend :)

So then our family took a trip up to the cabin outside of Yellowstone at the beginning of August. It was nice to get away from the heat and especially nice to have everyone together. That rarely happens.....

Me with my nieces Maci and Chloe - aren't they darling?!
This is what you do when you're from Wyoming. Chloe, the two-year-old, loved it!
It rained at night, so we had to do mid-afternoon s'mores. It wasn't the same when you're sort of hot, but they were delicious! Crystal was pretty good at making the perfect roasted marshmallows!
All of us stopped and took this picture before going into YellowstoneWe went to fishing bridge, saw some scenery, and then had a picnic outside. It was cold and windy that day, so the girls went back to the cabin and the guys and little kids rented a boat and went fishing. To each their own.....

We went ot the night Rodeo in Cody, Wyoming and Benjamin was one of the audience participants! Chloe and McKay also chased a calf, but you can't really see the pictures that good.

We went down to Lovell, WY to go to church with G and G Wilkerson, and then had lunch after. Since we've never all been together when them we decided we should take some pictures.

Here we are all together after church. I love short little family get-togethers!

As you can see, it's been a busy month....but a good one...and the perfect way to end the summer! Bring on fall.....

LOVE HIM

2010-07-22T17:28:00.001-07:00

SO FAR, SO GOOD

2010-07-16T21:46:00.001-07:00

Things I love about this month so far:

1. Another new job: At the beginning of August I'm going to be starting a new job that has NOTHING to do with social work. My resignation has been turned in and I'm oh, so excited to be doing something else for a while! I'm seriously burnt out with social work.

2. Trip to Oahu: My friend and I leave on the 24th of July and are looking forward to 9 days of snorkeling, kayaking, hiking, and playing! Sunblock has been purchased - bring it on!

3. We took the young women to laser tag last week and I'm happy to report that for the first time in my life, I didn't receive the lowest score. I was 10 out of 32...not too shabby. Apparently I am growing up and maturing!

4. Eclipse: I can't help it. I realize that the story line is ridiculous and the characters can sometimes be annoying, but I can't get enough for some reason. I'm embarrassed at how much I like it!

5. Summer is 1/2 over, and when you live in the desert that is a GREAT thing!!!

TWO MORE WEEKS....

2010-07-08T19:00:00.001-07:00

...and this is where I'll be spending my days....

BEST COMMERCIAL EVER!!!

2010-07-06T17:33:00.000-07:00

I've never enjoyed a diaper commercial so much!

I'LL BE WHAT YOU WANT ME TO BE

2010-07-04T11:23:00.000-07:00

This morning as I was getting ready I was listening to a playlist on my Ipod, and "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go" came on. I've heard this song a hundred times, and in all sorts of settings. When I was on a mission, and was called to my last area, I found myself replaying it over and over again in my mind, telling myself it would be okay!

So when I heard the words in the background this morning, I suddenly felt my Father's gentle nudge, when I heard the final phrase that I've heard so many times before: "I'll be what you want me to be." It struck me that at different points in my life, I've been so willing to move to cities, and change jobs, and uproot my life if I felt like it was what the Lord wanted of me. I never looked back or doubted. I've prayed that he would lead me in the right direction and give me those experiences that he needed me to have, and I have been okay with that.

But recently I've struggled with feeling any kind of peace about my personal situation. Maintaining a positive attitude has become difficult, and there are moments when I don't believe what I hear from others, or even tell myself. As time passes I become more aware of the fact that I haven't received those blessings of marriage and family, while my desires for those blessings increase. I've prayed and pleaded for understanding, and felt such feelings of loneliness at times that I've thought I wouldn't be able to find comfort.

This morning was a gentle reminder to me of that element of faith that I have struggled with. The willingness to be what he wants me to be. I felt such a strong spirit when I listened to that phrase over and over again, and I know that it touched me for a very specific reason. I know that I have a Heavenly Father who is aware of me and who seeks for my happiness. And I know that one day I WILL understand his plan for me. But in the meantime, it's my responsibility to be that person who he wants me to be. And right now, he wants me to be me....single, and learning, and put in opportunities to serve and help others. And he wants me to be happy, regardless of what stage of life I'm in.

So I'm still going to look forward to those promised blessings, and not lose sight of what is most important in this life. But for now I'm going to try my hardest to remember what I was allowed to feel this morning, and move forward, faithfully, not focusing on who I think I should be, but 'trusting my all to his tender care'....and being what he wants me to be.

THROUGH THE EYES OF THE WORLD

2010-07-03T14:13:00.001-07:00

Look what just came in the mail!!! It's going to be a GREAT afternoon!!!!

'E' FOR EFFORT

2010-07-03T12:37:00.001-07:00

This morning I got up, got ready, and drove up to the temple, all excited about doing a session. When I got there I found a sign saying it was closed for the day. Apparently the Saturday before a holiday that is celebrated on a Monday, is a holiday for the temple. Sigh.

It wasn't a complete loss though! The distribution center was open so I bought this video for all of our Young Women to have. I LOVED when I saw this for the first time, and have watched it over and over again. They're getting it as a Christmas gift for our 'Christmas in July' activity this month. I love any excuse to celebrate Christmas!!! Happy Holidays :)

TO SUM IT UP.....

2010-07-01T07:18:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the first day of my 33rd year. Sigh. I made a goal for myself to accomplish 32 things before I hit the double-digit, so here is a recap of what was accomplished up to the last day of my 32ews:

1.Learn 5 new songs on my guitar: Nope. The only time I picked up my guitar was when I was moving. It has been a lovely decoration this last year!

2.Participate in a sprint triathlon: I started training for one, and then I sort of fizzled. It’s the story of my exercise life!

3. Purchase a home: Done, done, done! I bought my first home in November and while it continues to deplete my savings, I LOVE it!

4. Finish my mission scrapbook: I’m still working on it. I’m much closer, but not completely finished yet. I feel good about the progress though!

5. Start my food storage: I have everything for my72 hour kit and about 3 months of food storage saved. Last month I finally added my water.

6. Ride a tandem bike: So close! Last summer my sister and I went to go ride one when we were in Oregon, at the coast, and when we took it for a test run it ended up being broken. They didn’t have any other ones, so the parking lot is the furthest we went. To be honest, though, they freak me out a little. I felt like I had no control and I was a tiny bit happy that it was broken.

7. Make a quilt: No, but I talked both grandmothers into making one for me!! I know that doesn’t count, but my desire is still there. One day it will be done.

8. Read scriptures every day: I’m embarrassed to admit that I didn’t complete this one. There were days that were hit and miss. I envy those people who are unwavering in this area of their life.

9. Learn to cook a new dish and host a dinner every other month: I did dinners, but not as regularly as anticipated. I did learn some delicious recipes though, and had fun in the process.

10. Exercise at least 3 times a week: Um, this one was hit and miss, but it was better than the year before. Those tennis shoes are my nemesis!

11. Go on a hot air balloon ride: Nope! This, I’m finding, is something that you really have to do with someone else that wants to do it. It’s not cheap either, so I’m still looking for participants.

12. Organize, clean out, and replace make-up: Done

13. Buy a nice camera: I bought my camera last November and have taken full advantage, although I'm sure people get tired of me saying 'okay, now smile!'

14. Go golfing on an actual golf course: Nope, but I don’t really mind that I didn’t do this. I went to the range just to hit balls and have discovered that I really stink at it!

15. Send a hand written letter to my nieces and nephews every month: I did it for half a year but then it sort of fizzled. I even sent pictures with them. I never heard back from them, or got any response, so I'm not sure if they even noticed it or not. It's probably something they would appreciate when they are a little older.

16. Get married in the temple: No comment!

17. Complete all assessments at work before leaving for the weekend: I actually did pretty good at this while I was working at my old job. I’ve been in a new job for a few months now, so it doesn’t count anymore.

18. Save at least 250 dollars a month: I was able to do this except for the 2 months after I bought my house, and up until I started my new job. Still, overall I was able to save about 3,500 dollars this last year, which ended up being more than 250 a month. Thank you, first time home buyer incentive!

19. Go sea kayaking: This was on our list of things to do when we were in San Diego last summer, but the weather didn’t cooperate. We were disappointed.

20. Get a barbecue grill: I bought a barbecue grill, but it ended up being a present for someone else. I’m still going to count it.

21. Go to Disneyland: Done, and I’m pleased to report that Disneyland really IS the happiest place on earth!

22. Get my cavities filled: Unfortunately my cavity filling turned into 3 cavities and a crown, but it got done!

23. Become a volunteer at Child Haven: This wasn’t done, but we are going to do a service project for Young Womens at the end of the month there :)

24. Go snow shoeing: Nope. I didn’t even look into it. I stayed as far away from snow as possible!

25. Take a cooking class: My friend and I signed up for an evening cooking class but not enough people were enrolled so they cancelled on us. We were going to learn how to make homemade pasta. Yum!

26. Get back into a size 8: Um..in my dreams

27. Go white water rafting: Nope

28. Visit Death Valley: Still no, and I REALLY want to do this one!

29. Teach Jack the Dog to roll over: That dog won’t learn anything! I worked on this one, but he just didn’t get it. Everytime he was down and I used the treat to try to get him to roll, he would jump back and think I was trying to play keep away. I love that dumb dog!

30. Go to the temple at least once a month: Yep..at least that many times.

31. Visit my grandparents, parents, and siblings at least once: Done! It wasn’t always at their house, but I was able to see all of them in some setting over the last year.

32. Go on 32 dates while I'm 32-years-old: Nope. There were dates, but not that many.

So I didn't accomplish all of them, but I found myself focusing on most of them throughout the year. Some of the big ones were reached (like the house), and even the little ones kept me remembering that I had things to look forward to. All in all it was a good experience. 32 was a good year, with it's little ups and downs, but mostly ups. We'll see what comes next! 3 is a lucky number, so having 2 of them HAS to be good......

THINGS I'M DISCOVERING

2010-06-26T17:14:00.001-07:00

1. Dusting when you live in a desert is pointless
2. Jack the Dog loves spaghetti
3. I'm not meant to be in a job where I drive around all day...which, ironically, I'm in
4. Disneyland is magical for adults too
5. Aleve works significantly better than Extra Strength Tylenol
6. There are always good movies on the Hallmark Channel
7. Thinking you've let go of things isn't the same as actually letting go of them
8. Most movies can be seen for free by going to tvshack.net
9. Birthdays become increasingly difficult when your personal life doesn't change that much
10. Ceiling fans are lifesavers
11. If you don't pull weeds they eventually grow to the size of a small bush....landscaping :)
12. If I don't prepare my lunch the night before it doesn't get done
13. Celine Dion is my all time, favorite singer
14. No matter how old I am, I still find myself getting homesick
15. Financial worries can become consuming if you allow them to
16. Every once in a while a Diet Coke really DOES make everything better

ADVENTURES IN DISNEYLAND

2010-06-23T21:06:00.000-07:00

For Maci's 7th birthday the Wilkerson girls went to Disneyland as a surprise. She just thought she was going to California to see the ocean. A few minutes before we got to our hotel, we let her read her card, saying that she was really going to Disneyland. It was 2 days at the 'happiest place on earth' and such good, good times!

And back again for a second day.....

FAVORITE YW ACTIVITY EVER

2010-06-12T15:06:00.000-07:00

As a YW presidency we've decided that we want to get to know our youth better. Our girls are amazing and we want to make sure everyone knows everybody. We decided that once a month, all of the leaders will do an additional activity with just one class. This month it is the Laurels and since it's Katelyn's birthday, we made it a birthday extravaganza!!!We got up and went to Katelyn's to surprise her and to have an early morning (7:30) breakfast. We ate french toast, fruit, juice, bacon - it was delicious!!!

Then we headed off to the outskirts of Las Vegas to do some target shooting with some super fun guns (and people that knew what they were doing). We've been talking about this for a month now, so we were way excited and ready to go!!

We had the best instructors today! Scott Hendricks is in our ward and works for the FBI. As a random sidenote, he also assisted in the arrest of Warren Jeffs. Anyhow, he and his friend, Matt Kershaw, who is also in our Stake, took the entire morning off just to let us play with all of their guns and ensure that we were safe. They seriously were awesome!

Me and Holly M., who is the Secretary, were on one team and the others on another. We divided up at first so we could have time to go through all the guns. Holly is new to our ward and she's always up for a good time!

Katelyn V. rocked the rifle with the clay pigeons. She's the only one who was able to hit them after they were in the air, and she did two in a row. This was her 'going away' activity, now that she's turned 18 and is going to be headed off to college and singles wards. We'll miss her! She is such a fantastic girl!

Aubrey N. was our little hand gun superhero. She had never shot one before and she literally hit black almost every single time! She's fantastic! When I have a daughter I want her to be like Aubrey. She is HILARIOUS and always makes us laugh.

Robyn V. is such a fantastic friend to have in your corner!! She is Katelyn's mom and my first counselor, and the woman never ceases to amaze me. I loved that she got to do this with her daughter! She is young at heart and I love that every time she teaches the girls you can just tell how much she cares for them. She is such a sweet person.

Holly proves that even being 7 1/2 months pregnant won't stop you from having fun. I only hope that I'm a tiny bit as cute as her one day when I'm pregnant! She did awesome!

Admittedly I was the special kid on the playground today. For some reason me and the hand guns just weren't feeling it, but me and the M-16....yes, we were. I LOVED shooting the big guns!!

So here is all of us. It was honestly one of the best Young Women activities I've ever participated in....as a youth or as a leader. We had so much fun!! Our instructors made it a great day for us. Good, good times. Can't wait for the Mia Maid activity.

THANK YOU

2010-06-11T16:54:00.001-07:00

To the creative mastermind behind gummy vitamins for adults, I just want to say thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!! I'd be willing to bet he or she is similar to myself. Hates swallowing pills, LOVE eating candy, and in desperate need of a daily vitamin supplement. Being healthy has never been so easy.....

TENDER

2010-06-01T16:02:00.000-07:00

This made me so emotional

LEST WE FORGET

2010-05-29T11:32:00.000-07:00

Harold B. Lee

'Men may fail in this country, earthquakes may come, seas may heave beyond their bounds, there may be great drought, disaster, and hardship, but this nation , founded on principles laid down by men whom God raised up, will never fail . This is the cradle of humanity, where life on this earth began in the Garden of Eden. This is the place of the New Jerusalem. . . . This is the place where the Savior will come to His temple.

We are living in a time of great crisis. The Country is torn with scandal and with criticism, with faultfinding and condemnation. There are those who have downgraded the image of this nation as probably never before in the history of the country.

I plead with you not to preach pessimism. Preach that this is the greatest country in all the world. . . . It is the nation that will stand despite whatever trials or crises it may yet have to pass through.

We must be on the optimistic side. This is a great nation; this is a great country; this is the most favored of all lands. While it is true that there are dangers and difficulties that lie ahead of us, we must not assume that we are going to stand by and watch the country go to ruin. We should not be heard to predict ills and calamities for the nation. On the contrary, we should be providing optimistic support for the nation.

You must remember . . . that this church is one of the most powerful agencies for the progress of the world, and we should . . . all sound with one voice. We must tell the world how we feel about this land and this nation and should bear our testimonies about the great mission and destiny that it has.

If we do this, we will help turn the tide of this great country and lessen the influence of the pessimists. We must be careful that we do not say or do anything that will further weaken the country. It is the negative, pessimistic comments about the nation that do as much harm as anything to the country today. We who carry these sacred responsibilities must preach the gospel of peace, and peace can only come by overcoming the things of the world. Now, we must be the dynamic force that will help turn the tide of fear and pessimism.'

DUCK...DUCK...GOOSE

2010-05-28T18:02:00.001-07:00

Tonight when I took Jack to the dog park there was a group of dogs standing around. One of the little dogs was sort of frisky and would go from dog to dog, trying to hump each of them.

A little girl, standing near the dogs, ran over to her dad and yelled excitedly, 'look daddy! They're playing duck, duck, goose!"

Darling, sweet little girl. Duck, duck, goose indeed!

AN OPUS

2010-05-20T19:57:00.000-07:00

I always get emotional at the very end of 'Mr. Holland's Opus.' When she announces that they will be performing his piece, and the curtain opens, revealing all of his students, my heart jumps a little. Tonight when I turned on the TV it happened to be exactly that moment, and I still become a little teary eyed. I love good feeling movie moments like that!

PULL OVER

2010-05-20T07:15:00.000-07:00

This morning as I was runalking (my combination of running and walking), a motorcyle cop drove by on my left side. For a split second I found myself worried about my speed and automatically slowed down. No worries, though. My little 4 mph pace created NO issues with our neighborhood police this morning!

DO YOUR JOB, DOG

2010-05-19T20:17:00.000-07:00

Gone are my dreams of coming home to my dog, saying 'let's go for a walk,' and watching him get all excited at the thought of going outside and exploring. Nope. I don't even have to say the word 'walk.' When he sees me getting my tennis shoes out he runs under the bed, just out of my reach, and hunkers down. Take him to the dog park and he runs nonstop for an hour. Drive up to Mount Charleston and I have to coax him back to the car. But pull out that leash and it's over.

PUT IT OUT

2010-05-17T15:24:00.000-07:00

I'm really enjoying my new job but today I came across a situation that I hate! Part of what I do requires going into people's homes, so when you're there, you get what comes with it. I've never minded going into a house where there are smokers. It's not my favorite thing, but I respect that it's their home. Still, there's nothing more annoying than having cigarette smoke blown in your face, and especially when it's done disrespectfully by someone who is angry at the world. Sorry friend, but Megann don't play that game.... I won't be going back there any time soon....

AND I'M BACK

2010-05-15T15:05:00.000-07:00

For those of you wondering about how today went...the picture says it all. Ha, ha! I won't spend time going into detail. It wasn't horrible - it just was a one time meeting for lunch with someone who seems pretty great, but maybe wasn't great for me.

So I came home a little disappointed but a couple hours later I received a text message from my dear friend, Charla, who lives up in Salt Lake City. She had just come back from a walk with her dog, Sophie, and was sending a random text about how much she was enjoying the change in the weather. She said to me: For as much as I hate being cold and winter being long, I don't think I'd enjoy the first long evenings of late spring without winter.

She didn't know that I had gone on this date today, and was referring to her literal experience with the evening temperature, but as I read that it struck me how similar that is to my situation. I feel like I'm having a long, cold winter. A very long one...and I'm really tired of being stuck in this season. It's been frustrating and confusing, and at times seemingly painful to deal with. However, one day I know that Spring is going to come and I know that I'll appreciate it that much more because of what it represents.

So I'm going to hang in there, and try to stay positive, and know that there is a reason for everything and that I have a Heavenly Father who is more aware of me than I am of myself. I have so many things to be thankful for right now, and I'm going to let myself be happy because of that....and the lasagna I ordered really WAS pretty good!

IS IT WORK IF IT'S SO FUN?

2010-05-12T19:54:00.000-07:00

Last week I was called to be the Young Women's president for the family ward I'm in. I've worked with the Young Women in the last 3 wards I've been in, so while I felt a tiny bit of anxiety, I also felt reassurance in knowing that it wouldn't be completely out of my comfort zone.

Last night we had a presidency meeting and all of a sudden, as we were discussing things coming up, I realized that I played a big part in helping make the choices. Not in an 'I'm the one in charge,' kind of way, but in an 'oh my gosh! We can plan such fun things' sort of way. We literally get to play with these awesome girls. I love the fact that I get to work with youth. They are strong, and fun, and they teach me every day how amazing they are.

So now it's pool parties, and sleepovers, and play, play, PLAY! I cherish that the Lord knows me enough to give me a calling that brings me such joy, and I'm grateful that he has given me the opportunity to learn and grow alongside some of his choice daughters. Hooray for what's coming up ahead....

FINAL STRAW

2010-05-11T07:38:00.001-07:00

I'm not a really public person about very personal things, but I figure the only people who read this are the ones I would feel comfortable talking to in person anyhow, so if you don't like personal things, don't continue reading (also, I put spaces between paragraphs when I typed, but it won't post that way).....

So I gave in and tried online dating. Gasp, I know. It's something I NEVER wanted to do!! The truth is, when all is said and done, if I'm asked if I did everything I could do to find the illusive 'one,' I wanted to make sure that I can say yes. On top of that, I'm in a family ward with NO singles, and no way of meeting anyone there, so push has come to shove.

I'm back aand forth as to how I feel about online dating. My experience has been, well, interesting. I've had one too many divorced men in their 50's send me messages, and apparently I attract people from other countries who don't speak very good English. I don't get it. Admittedly it is frustrating at times, but I'm trying to have a positive attitude. So then I talked for a while with a guy who was actually pretty decent, but then when I met him in person, there was nothing there. Nothing. Back to square one.

So this last month or so I've been chatting back and forth with a guy who actually seems pretty great. He's educated, he has opinions, he enjoys some of the same things I do, he feels strongly about the gospel, and he seems a little nerdy (which I like). Good, yes? So yesterday he sends me an email and asks if I want to meet for lunch. AUGH!! While this should be a good thing, I just have images of meeting him, and then the same thing happening as before. Back to square one. I have actual anxiety about it, but I'm trying my hardest to have a positive attitude. So Saturday it is. A little Olive Garden, a little conversation. If anything, it will be nice to get out and talk with someone. And even if nothing happens, it's nice to know that I'm not dead inside when it comes to possibilities.

Must.....think.....positive.......

GETTING OFF TASK

2010-05-08T23:31:00.001-07:00

Yesterday when I left the house for work I made a mental note to pick up toilet paper before coming home. When I came home I didn't have toilet paper but I did have a NEW CAR!!!! I've been thinking about it for a long time so naturally when I went to get my oil changed at the dealership I did some browsing. Long story short, I found an offer that was far below what I had anticipated paying, the timing is perfect, and I felt no anxieties about it. The color is new this year and in different lights sort of has a different hue. I love it, love it, LOVE it!

Meanwhile, I still need toilet paper......

FOR EVERYONE

2010-05-04T07:11:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was in the home of one of the families I visit and I saw this large picture of Christ on their wall. I knew they were Catholic, so I asked the husband where they got it from. He said that his daughter gave it to him and when I asked if she was Mormon, he said 'NO,' and looked sort of embarrased. I explained that I, myself, am Mormon and that you see this particular picture a lot in the churches and on the walls.

'Oh,' he said, ' so this is the picture of the Mormon Christ?' His question sort of surprised me so I just smiled and said 'No. It's just a picture of Christ. He's the same Christ for everyone.' He grabbed my hand to shake it and said 'he IS the same Christ for everyone.' What a sweet little experience to help me remember something that is so simple, yet so fundamentally important to everyone. I am so grateful for a Savior that was, and is, here for every single one of us.

LOVING LUNCH

2010-04-30T07:49:00.000-07:00

There is nothing that brightens a work day like Cafe Rio for lunch. I don't know what they put in the mixture that makes it so addicting, but well done, Cafe Rio. Well done!

2010-04-27T09:16:00.000-07:00

Now that my car has become my office, this little guy is my very best friend:

But as the days progress to summer, this beast is becoming my worst enemy:

Is it reasonable to want summer over before it even begins?! I think I need to find some better tint for my windshield.....

950 MILES TO GO

2010-04-24T11:23:00.000-07:00

I've been surprisingly consistent with my '1000 miles in a year' goal and as of today I've knocked off 50 miles so far (I started April 1st). It doesn't seem like a lot but the goal was to start slow and build from there. I've experienced sore shins, blisters, aching muscles, and a variety of other aches and pains. However, I've also experienced tiny bits of progress, like yesterday when I was able to run for 5 minutes without stopping, which is a HUGE change from the 1-2 minute intervals at the beginning. Slow and steady wins the race.

Anyhow, if you have any advice, experiences, or recommendations, PLEASE share!! I love learning from others and have gotten some great advice I've implemented (except for the random toe shoe thing that Roberto suggested - I just can't do it). You can follow at: http://www.1000milesorbust.blogspot.com/. Happy (hopefully) running!!

TULIPS ARE MY FAVORITE FLOWERS

2010-04-15T20:12:00.001-07:00

Last weekend I went with my mom and sister to a Tulip festival up in Oregon. It was beautiful weather and the colors were incredible. Here are some highlights (and they don't do it justice):

LAZY SUNDAY

2010-04-04T12:26:00.000-07:00

yep. it's that kind of day.

2010-04-02T07:24:00.001-07:00

Last night we took Brookes to Mon Ami Gabi for her going away dinner. French food, views of the water show at the Bellagio, matching necklaces (compliments of Brooke), and yummy fruit crepes for dessert. I love this restaurant! If any of you come and visit, here's where we'll be going.....

IT'S FUN TO PLAY AT THE.....

2010-03-31T13:37:00.000-07:00

RANDOM TIDBITS

2010-03-30T21:55:00.000-07:00

1. My last day of work is in a week. I don't know if I'm excited, or sad, or a combination of everything. I'm just taking the emotions as they come. I still think my job is awesome.
2. I DESPISE the wind. They said the gusts are supposed to get up to 65 mph tonight.
3. I went back to my natural hair color. Sort of a light, semi-blonde color. Not an extreme change but somewhat different - It's time to get back to basics.

4. My parents are both coming into town this Sunday. I'm pretty excited. I'm feeling a tad bit homesick.

5. I'm starting my running project. It's time. If you wonder if I'm surviving you can catch up with me HERE.

AND IT BEGINS

2010-03-28T09:47:00.001-07:00

I'm in the middle of this book, hoping to get some inspiration on what it takes to LOVE running. I think I've mention this before, but I've always been incredibly envious of people who are able to effortlessly hit the road and run a few miles to 'clear their head.' Running a few miles for me requires a 30 minute, schizophrenic conversation to talk myself into going out there in the first place, trying to figure out how to let people know where I live when they find me passed out in the middle of the sidewalk, and understanding the correlation between an increased heart rate and a collapsed lung. It's not a pleasant experience.

Still, despite the reality of it, I want SO BADLY to make it a positive experience. I've been talking to and getting tips from people that are runners, reading books on running, and coming up with a plan to become 'a runner.' Yesterday as I was thinking about it I decided that I was going to set a goal for myself to get out there until I DO learn to enjoy it. Starting April 1st my goal is to run 1000 miles within the next year. Totally doable. That's roughly 3 miles a day, 6 days a week. A couple of years ago I was doing that twice a day. The weather is cooperative right now and the goal is easy to accomplish.

So as of Thursday if you're wondering where I am, you can find me running (well, gasping and trudging at first) down Elkhorn and back up Sunny Springs. You may even find me in a gym one day. Don't hold your breath, but perhaps. If any of you feel like coming along, give me a couple of months to get on board with it and then feel free to meet up with me. If any of you have any tips or pointers, PLEASE share them with me. This is something I have always wanted to accomplish, and I need all the help I can get!

PROM

2010-03-24T08:42:00.000-07:00

Oh yes, today's the day! Pictures to come....

CAKE BOSS

2010-03-20T21:03:00.001-07:00

I LOVE this show!! I don't know if it's because of their strong italian accents, or maybe because they have a way of making it look so easy to do their jobs, but each time I watch it I yearn to be a fabulous cake decorator. Perhaps that will be my new goal.....

CBT

2010-03-19T08:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went to a conference on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I won't go into the details of it (for those of you who don't get excited like me about things like this), but I will say that everyone would benefit from understanding it. It basically teaches that when we become aware of a situation in our life that our thoughts regarding the situation leads to our emotions, which can lead to our actions. Pretty simple. If something horrible happens, we can't control what has happened, but we can control our attitudes towards it. Duh. It's easy to get, but when in a crisis people are so wrapped up in their emotions that they miss it. I love that I had an 'aha' moment yesterday when listening to the speaker, and I love that it's something I can implement in my own life, with my own experiences. Thanks, Dr. Punni, for sharing your insights.....

TRUE JOY

2010-03-17T17:52:00.001-07:00

One of the best parts of being a missionary was not only being able to share the gospel, but to be part of a team of such fantastic people doing it with you. I loved the missionaries in my zones! We worked hard, and we played hard, and we took advantage of the time that we had as missionaries.When I got back from my mission I kept in touch with a lot of the missionaries I served with, and thanks to Facebook I've been able to reconnect with those who live pretty far away. A few months back I reconnected to an elder from Uruguay named Gustavo Garcia. He was hilarious! He was ridiculously tall, and always positive, and sometimes a bit of a clown. I loved his outlook on life and as missionaries we became fast friends.
Several weeks ago we were online at the same time and we ended up talking about the gospel. We were talking about how Alma felt when he saw his brothers, and he knew that they were still strong in the gospel. We discussed how we felt that same joy when we reconnected to people and knew that they were still faithful in their beliefs, and specifically each other.

Last night I went online to see if Gustavo was there, and decided to send him a message. When I saw his page I was shocked to see that the week after we had spoken, he passed away. The sudden impact of it left me heartbroken, but I think the majority of the tears last night were tears of joy....and of understanding....and of gratitude that he DID stay strong in the gospel and knew the truthfulness of it.

I am so grateful I am for the plan of salvation, and for the blessings it brings. I am thankful that when I see him again, if I do my part, I will be able to feel that same joy that was felt so long ago by those other missionaries. How I love little Elder Garcia and oh, how I LOVE the gospel!!!!

ROOT CANAL

2010-03-16T16:57:00.000-07:00

I've had horrible experiences at the dentist before, and I'm not afraid to admit that I intentionally avoid going. I once waited almost 4 years before I went in for a check-up. So you can imagine how EAGER I was to find excuses to not get a root canal taken care of. The excuses lasted as long as the Tylenol took care of the pain, but these last few weeks have been rough. So today was the day. Special thanks to Dr. R for understanding when I let out a yelp of pain during the shots (just like the 7 year old in the stall next to me did). And kuddos to his little helper for being so quick to retract her instruments when I would gag. I wish I wasn't such a sissy, but last time I went to the dentist actual tears were rolling down my face, so it's fair to say I am getting better with time. Baby steps, Megann. Baby steps!

NEW JOB

2010-03-15T21:29:00.001-07:00

I've worked in the same job for almost 6 years now, and I've loved my time there. Still, I know the itch for change has come and I'm not fighting it anymore. My last day at my current job is going to be April 7th and then on April 12th I begin as a social worker for Creekside Hospice. A lot of people have asked why I would want to do something like hospice, and isn't it depressing? I don't know why but I've always wanted to be a part of it. After I graduated from college it was added to my list of things to do before I die. I think it's because providing comfort to others allows me to feel the Spirit, and specifically when dealing with death, it reminds me how precious life really is. I'm excited for this change, and nervous, and a little sad to let go of the past, but mainly I'm just grateful that I'm going to be working in another area that I know I'm going to love. Three cheers for Social Work!!!

GOT THIS COUCH

2010-03-13T23:32:00.000-08:00

Today I bought my first official piece of furniture for my house and I love it! To see it click HERE. These are my favorite things about it:

1. Microfiber = EASY to clean
2. I'm a fan of the color (Celedon, which I have never heard of before)
3. Hide-a-bed in the middle section so I can sleep downstairs and watch TV when I'm alone and scared
4. Lots of sitting room
5. On SALE! I saved almost 50 percent
6. Buying it makes me feel like an adult - and I figure it's time to start being an adult :)

ANNUAL TRIPS

2010-03-12T20:17:00.001-08:00

Every February me and Larcha head to San Diego for a little getaway from our lives. Last year it was a massage weekend and this year was an Old Town and SEA WORLD weekend. You can't have a girls weekend without LOADS OF junk food and girl movies!!The park was practically EMPTY so me and Larch were able to go to all of the exhibits, stand in the same spot and take as many pictures as we wanted without worrying about cutting in on others, and never have to wait in a line!!
I really liked the Polar Bears and the fact that they looked so cute when they were all spread out and just soaking in the sun.

So this is how Charla reacted when she was walking through a polar cave and there was a bear 'roar' from the speaker. This was not a re-enactment!

Even though I've been here before, it's still fun to see the different animals - we watched the sea lions for a while

Pretty much I've decided that penguins are AWESOME! They were suprisingly entertaining to watch!This little guy struggled for a while to make it up the wall. He had an entire audience on the other side of the glass cheering him on!

Charla bought a churro and a killer whale pretzel. About 2 bites into her churro there was a swoosh from behind and a nasty sea gull came and took it OUT OF HER HAND!! I screamed like a little girl and she was confused..and then sad....and then annoyed. It was really good churro!

I love this picture. If only I was better with photoshop I'd find a way to get rid of the girl's head that this dolphin obviously considering eating....

This was Charla's favorite exhibit. The rays were slimy and hard, but it was just cool to play with them. They would come in swarms for you to pet them.
Oh fake Shamu! Why did your friend in Florida have to kill that trainer, making it impossible for me to see your show?!I was admittedly disappointed when I found out the shows were still cancelled. That is one of my favorite Sea World memories from years ago. Sigh. Maybe another year.....

THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE AIR

2010-03-07T21:58:00.001-08:00

I don't know if it was 'El Nino' blowing in, or the fact that I've started to feel a little restless, but there are some big changes coming my way within the next month. I'm facing a new job, my roommate moving up north, and hopefully a much healthier lifestyle. Some good, some emotional, some necessary. It's time to let the wind blow me where I need to be!

WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?!

2010-03-06T09:53:00.000-08:00

I feel like I'm LOSING my mind!! Already twice this week I ran into pre-scheduled, long awaited for, significant things that came up that I had completely forgotten about! So this morning I was determined to not mess something up again and called a woman from my ward about some food I wanted to drop off before I came in to work. Here's how the conversation went:

Me: Hi! Is Teresa there?
Husband: She just stepped out a couple of minutes ago. Could I have her call you back?
Me: I actually just wanted to get your address so I could drop off my food for the ward party tonight.
Confused Husband: Is there another party tonight?
Me: Another party? Wait...was the ward party last night?!
Husband: Yep.
Me: Awesome.
Husband: (Reassuringly) I guess you won't have to worry about food for a while! That's a good thing!
Me: (Sighing and shaking my head) Please tell Teresa I'm really sorry about this!
Husband: (Laughing) Don't worry about it! Have a good day!

I think I've been working with Alzheimer's residents for too long

LESSONS AT THE DMV

2010-02-20T09:26:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I spent over 3 hours waiting at the DMV to get my address changed and tags renewed. Here's what I learned:

1. Parents should never take their kids ANYWHERE without treats or games
2. There is irony in the statement 'my little girl is all grown up,' as she's waiting to get her drivers license and having to consistently re-adjust her shirt so her boobs won't fall out of the too-tight, shows everything, made for a hooker, tank top she is wearing
3. Nothing smells better than a cheap hotdog when it's 6:00 and you've not had anything to eat since morning
4. Parents who yell angrily at their kids to 'stop yelling,' have not taught them anything
5. The Kindle is better than a real book - if you finish reading the one you're on, you just download another
6. Las Vegas really IS a melting pot
7. I should never take MYSELF anywhere without treats or games
8. Never underestimate the kindness that people demonstrate after long periods in stressful situations
9. Cell phones do not come with a body bubble - I can hear EVERYTHING you're saying about your boyfriend who is on house arrest, and no, he probably shouldn't have spent the money on the poor quality drugs that his 'brotha' hooked him up with
10. Going to a DMV at 4:00 in the afternoon on a Friday is the WORST DECISION EVER!!!!!!

SO MANY PEOPLE....

2010-02-18T14:46:00.000-08:00

I just made a list of all of the people I have lived with since graduating from High School. I was surprised at how high of a number it was....but it also has been the source of some pretty great memories! I think maybe 50 should be my magic number and then be done. Dare to dream!

H20

2010-02-16T16:26:00.000-08:00

This week my goal is to drink at least 8 cups of water a day (in addition to the 5 fruits and vegetables, which I've been suprisingly consistent with). Yesterday I drank just over 11 cups and spent the majority of the day in the bathroom. So, does this mean I can drink 3 less today? I'm looking for my happy medium....

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

2010-02-14T11:28:00.000-08:00

For those of you who just don't know WHAT to get that special someone on Valentine's Day!

P. AND P.

2010-02-13T20:46:00.000-08:00

I can't get enough of this movie. The scenery, the story, the accents, the emotions. If I could only choose one movie to watch ever again, this would be it.