Pictures from being Kidnapped!

As you can see, laughing was common the whole morning!

Kidnapped one morning!

A couple of days ago my friend Dee asked if I wanted to have breakfast Wednesday morning before work, I had no finals Wednesday and just work so I said for sure!! I woke up this morning and got ready for work and waited for Dee to pick me up, at about 9 or so I get a text saying "I'm here come on out" so just as any other time I walked out to find Dee's car not there, but a car behind a bush in front which was weird, but whatever right?

No way!!!! All of a sudden I hear something behind me and it's my friend Joe running with a blanket towards me wearing a mask mind you. He threw the blanket over my head and he continued on kidnapping me. Now all of us friends joked around before that it would be a cool date to re-create the movie 7 brides for 7 brothers (I think thats the name) Us girls gave the guys this idea however were not expecting to be kidnapped ourselves. After getting me in the car, my friend went on to tying my hands together, blindfolding me and putting a pillowcase over my head, my friend Dee was in the back with our other friend Jerryd in the same situation (later I found out that Dee was in on it, but wasn't expecting to be kidnapped, but the guys surprised her too...I sure have sneaky friends!!) I'm sure cars driving past didn't think anything at all, 2 guys wearing masks and 2 girls with pillowcases over their heads..right? I'm surprised the cops weren't called..haha

Well we ended up at my friend Joe's house in Pima where his wonderful mom was cooking us breakfast!!! Waffles and sausage...it was delicious. And might I add complete with tiny roses on our plates..how cute is that? Oh and added to the breakfast, all of our hands were tied together while we ate, so it was a challenge! It was a great morning, good surprise minus the whole pillowcase over my head...totally ruined my hair and I liked my hair this morning..hehe

All in all, good morning. If you know any guys, this was a great idea for a double date!!! I laughed a lot this morning..it sure was fun. Once I can get the pictures that Joe and his mom took of us I will post them, they are hilarious! I think we were laughing is all of them!

Fun Night that ended with me in Pain...and a bad toe!

WARNING!!! Kinda graphic detail.

Well it was just another tuesday...well ok maybe not just any tuesday. It is the tuesday before finals, lots of homework due by Friday and only 2 weeks left with some friends. My friend Dee and I had made plans to make cookies and go visit a friend of ours who is having a hard time right now...we then were going to watch our other friend sing in the choir in the Festival of Carols. My night started by getting off work at 5, running to Walmart to buy cookie dough, go to the wellness center to sign in to get my hours, go home and make cookies and do homework. At about 630 Dee picked me up and we headed to our friend's house with a plate full of DELICIOUS cookies if I do say so myself.

Finally at about 715 we headed down to EAC for the Festival of Carols, we met our friend there and while they all waited for me I ran back to Wellness Center to clock out. Now this is where my night went a little sour...I was running back to the Fine Arts Building because my friends were waiting for me and we were late already so as I said before I was running, and as I was going through the doors of the Auditorium, I guess I was just too excited to watch my friend sing that as I opened the door I didn't get my foot out of the way fast enough and as I've many times before, I STUBBED my second toe REALLY hard!!! But I kept running and we went to get seats...after sitting down my toe was still throbbing and it really felt like I broke my toe, so finally after about 5 minutes or so I put my phone down to my toe to see if it was swollen or black and blue, but to my disgust...I found my toe covered in blood!!!

Dee and I went to the bathroom to find that my toe was really hurt, and if anybody knows me knows that I can't handle blood and I was getting sick and light headed just cleaning my toe off!!! Well for the time being we got my toe cleaned and just wrapped it in a wet clothe. My friend Jess was with us and she is the one whose job I took over so she asked me if I wanted to go see her Uncle who is the Doctor we work for. I really thought my toe was broke and I was worried that my nail was going to fall off.

I really wanted to see my friend sing so we sat through a few more songs until he was done then we headed to Dr. Bryce's house, now working in the Doctor's office, there are many jokes and I just knew that this was going to be one of them tomorrow. Well we got to Dr. Bryce's house and he sat down to look at my toe and moved it around checking for signs of it being broken, not that anything could have be done about a broken toe, but no signs of that, but he did say that my nail is going to fall off, but should grow back!!! I'm so annoyed...I don't want to lose my nail!!! I was also worried about the way the toe looked, there was white stuff on the side by the nail and he just said that it was tissue, which it gross!!! It does not look pretty!

The night went on, to me telling the story, my friends laughing at me, but feeling a little sympathy for me. We ended up watching Tommy Boy which always make me laugh and now I sit 1230 in the morning, realizing that I am going to lose my toe nail, and that I'm really sad about that. Oh boy, the jokes at work tomorrow, but I guess good thing I work at a Doctor's office now!

Lesson learned: Walk not run!!! When life gives you lemons...make lemonade!!!(I really don't know how to make lemonade with the lemons I was handed tonight but I will do my best!)

16 Days and Thanksgiving!!!

So I officially fly home in 16 days and I can't begin to tell you how excited I am...I'm so ready to go home to be with my family, to be back in Wisconnsin and to be done with this semester! With Thanksgiving tomorrow, today I was thinking of all the things that I am thankful for and I have a lot.

1. My Family!!!! I love my big family, we may get on each other's nerves but in the end we are there for one another and I wouldn't trade my family for anything!

2. I Love Wisconsin!!! Moving away has made me grow to truly love and appreciate Wisconsin! I love everything about my home state!

3. My Education....I have learned a lot at EAC and am so happy that I had the opportunity to come here and learn what I have. And I'm excited to further my education hopefully at BYU or a University in Utah!

4. Friends! I have the greatest friends in the world, and seriously they are pretty much everything in the counrty! I have great friends back home that I love dearly, I have met some great people in Arizona and Utah!! My friends mean the world to me and I am so grateful that I have them in my life!

5. Seasons! Moving away from Wisconsin, I have grown to really appreciate the 4 seasons! I hate cold, but I miss it. I am so grateful for grass and trees and snow and color..living in the desert you don't get that

6. The Gospel!!! I honestly don not know where I would be without the Gospel in my life!!

7. The Priesthood! I am so grateful that I grew up in a house that I was able to have a a father's blessing whenever, before school starts, when I'm sick, or just a bad day! Receiving a priesthood blessing is such a special thing for me, it makes me really know that My Father in Heaven is there and loves me!

8. My Trials..now that would never have been on my grateful list a few years ago, but now I can honestly say that I love my trials, I have finally grown to really know and realize that I am tested for a reason, everything happens for a reason!!!

9. Prayer! Prayer saves me daily! What more can I say?

10. My life!!! I have a great life, I have the best family and friends and I have so many blessings!!! I have a lot to work on and I have a lot of things I want to do, but I love my LIFE!!!

I can't wait to go home and be with my family! The countdown has begun!

My ABC's!!!

A- Attached or Single- Single...
B- Best friends- My Mom and Sisters
C- Cake or Pie-Banana cream Pie all the way!
D- Day of choice- Fridays...end of the weekdays
E- Essential Items- I have to go with Jeana on this one...all my products!! I think I get it from her..I need my good hair products and of course makeup
F- Favorite color-again with Jeana...Purple
G- Gummy Worms or Godiva Chocolate- Gummy Worms..not a big chocolate eater
H- Hometown- Good ol' Gresham!
I- Indulgences- Ice cream!! Cookies'n'Cream..got some in my freezer now..hehe
J- January of July-July...July 4th baby!
K- Kids- none
L- Life is incomplete without-Family and friends
M- Marriage Date- Hasn't happened yet...
N- Number of Siblings-I'm 6th out of 7! 3 brothers and 3 sisters..gotta love it
O- Oranges or Apples- apples mostly, but I'm always up for a good orange
P- Phobias or Fears- snakes, I can't even look at pictures of them...and I live in Arizona right now..what is wrong with me??
Q- Quotes- "Every ending is also a Beginning...we just don't know it at the time" "Dance as if no one is watching..."
R- Reasons to Smile-I have lots...the best Family in the world, the greatest Friends in the world, and knowing that I am a Daughter of my loving Heavenly Father!
S- Season- Having the experience of living in AZ and away from Wisconsin....I miss the 4 seasons for sure...as much as I don't like the cold, I miss the fall and all the colors and the winter of course
T- Tag Friends- Anyone that wants to learn their ABC's
U- Unknown Fact About Me- You probably know this, but I am a worry wart person....I worry about everything...
V- Very favorite Store- Maruices
W- Worst Habit- not that I can help it, but people to get annoyed with me that I can't wake up to an alarm clock that is right next to my head...seriously my alarm will go off for a good half hour every morning..I'm working on it I promise
X- X-ray, Ultra-sound or Mammagram- Out of the three I've only have had X-rays...when i fractured my thumb, but it wasn't that bad. I'm looking forward to an ultra-sound when I'm pregnant, but I'm definatly not looking forward to a Mammagram
Y- Your Favorite Food- I love food, lets just put it that way!
Z- Zodiac- Leo!!!

It is started...

I have officially started my BYU application for the second time this past week! I am applying to be a transfer student in the fall of 09!!! And I just had my interview with my Bishop today and I will meet with the Stake President in Wednesday night, I honestly can't say how I feel about everything yet. It hit me the other day that I am almost done with my time in Arizona and as excited I am to head up to Utah no matter if I get into BYU or not, I sure am going to miss AZ and the Gila Valley. I will definatly be leaving a part of my heart here, I've met some of the greatest people here and I am going to miss them so much!

I was told today that I have exactly 13 days of classes left and 26 days till I fly home!!! This semester has been interesting and definatly a learning experience, but it went by sooo fast now that I sit and take a look at it. I am so ready to go home, and I can't wait to get off that plane in good ol' Wisconsin!!! So it has started: my application, my limited time in a place I grew to love, and limited time with people I grew to love!!!

you are special....

Last week I was talking to my brother and we got talking about how confident his wife is and he made the comment, "its because of me..." at that point I chuckled sarcastically, but I totally agree that his wife is confident in herself, Thats one of the reason I look up to her so much. After I laughed, my brother then said, "if a wife is not confident in herself, its because her husband is not doing his job...don't you remember Johnny Lingo?? Johnny Lingo's wife began believing she was beautiful because of Johnny Lingo." Now I have been thinking about this for about a week now, and I keep thinking that it can't be just that. This is where the independent girl inside me comes out and says that it's not just beacuse of men that woman can feel confident and beautiful. The phrase comes to mind, "You have to love yourself to be loved!"

Now if that is the case, that it has to start with yourself...where and how??? We are taught in the scriptures that "the worth of souls is great in the sight of God" Does confidence grow with age? We are always taught that we as woman are Daughters of God...I remember Girls Camp one year we had that theme and I can tell you all week I felt like a true princess, but then I go back to the world, school and all, and that isn't always the case. Then I thought, isn't that what this earth life is about?? We are here on earth of gain earthly bodies, to fight through the struggles and trials of life to eventually gain Eternal Life, and isn't knowing ones worth part that??

Thinking about all about this, I got to thinking about the presidency lesson that I have to give the first week in December. I already decided that I was going to have my lesson be based off the book "You Are Special" by Max Lucado. And that I thought that this would tie in perfect. Now I'm asking how can I make this lesson work?? Any Ideas???

It could never happen...

Recently one of my closest friend's cousin passed away from cancer, and I have been thinking nonstop about the situation. This past weekend I saw my friend and we sat and talked about everything and it hit me how much you can love someone, when you just want to take the pain away. It killed me seeing her in so much heartache, and I've never met her cousin or most of her family for that matter, but I can't help but feel compassion for them. Her cousin was a beloved husband and father of two young kids, and my heart goes out to them. I couldn't imagine losing someone so close to me...you always think "it could never happen to me and this whole week I've just been thinking of how much I take for granted. I have so much to be thankful for and yet I find myself always wanting more and being selfish. This life is so short and I know that I need to make the most of everything and everyday...I want to wake up each day and MAKE is a great day. I don't want to have regrets and wish one day that I should've said "i love you" again to someone no longer here...so I am telling my family and friends now...I Love you!! Thank you for everything that you do for me, I don't know what I would do without you in my life!!

(especially to my friend..you know who you are...I'm always here!! I'm so sorry for your loss, I'm thinking of you)

Halloween!!

For Halloween this year I was Marilyn Monroe (well modest Marilyn Monroe)...She came back!!!! hehe it was a fun night, my friends and I went to the Institute for a Halloween dance then rented a scary movie (swimfan...not scary, pretty dumb actually would not recommend it to anyone) All together I had a good Halloween, but still wish I could've been home with all my nieces and nephews to take them trick or treating! Anyways, Jeana this costume is for you!! It was fun being Marilyn for the night!!

What a good weekend!!

This past weekend was a fun one for sure!! My friend Molli got married and her reception was saturday night so all my girls from last year came down from the valley! Saturday we carved pumpkins...it was a blast!! I went with the traditional pumpkin but I added freckles..hehe

Molli and Tyler's reception was beautiful, and of course there was soooo many people there! It was good to visit with old friends and be there for Molli and Tyler on their special day!!!!

I got Pictured Tagged!

THE RULES: You have to post the 4th picture in the 4th folder in your pictures folder. Then give a brief description before you tag a few others. So here it goes!
Institute Dance...theme High School Stereotypes...hehe How in the world did we ever come together?? A prom queen, nerd, and jock...ha
I tag Lyndee and Emily

Weddings and More Weddings...

Well since I moved down to Arizona, I have made many new friends who I've grown to love dearly! One thing that I have learned for sure is that this is the time for a lot of weddings and lots and lots of couples!! Gotta love the Institute... I have made many friends, but I also have married off many of my friends! I met my friend Rachelle in May after she graduated and moved here...We clicked right away and had a lot of laughs! September 13...she got married! Yes just graduated and married within 4 months! I am extemely happy for her and her hubby, and this last weekend was her recepetion in Thatcher so I went to see her in her beautiful dress!!!

Game Night!

Every sunday night our group of friends get together and hangs out...well this past sunday we wanted to play a game, but couldn't think of one to play. So my friend Kyle thought of the "Flour Game" We took a plate of flour and made a tower of it then out a Reeses pieces on top then took a butter knife and took turns cutting away from the tower..whoever knocks the tower down had to go in and eat the candy without using hands...lets just say there was flour everywhere, but it was so fun. There was only 3 of us that hadn't lost and it was my turn and my friend Nephi decided he would help me out and hit my arm...I lost! It was a fun night and can't wait to do it again!

After I lost...flour is not good...ha

Research Paper..Help!

So for my National Politics class I have to write a research paper on a controversial topic, so I was deciding between abortion and the death penalty. For the paper I have to explore both sides of the issue and take a stand...well I am firm on my stand with abortion, but I think I would have trouble exploring both sides so I turned toward the death penalty. I have books from the library and I've called my mom, dad, and brother-in-law Brandon to get advice and also their stand on it. Like my mom and dad, I am on the fence, Iam for it in some cases, but I understand the other side also. I was wondering what the church stood on the subject, but no one seemed to know exactly what it was, but now I am asking for your viewpoints....your comments will help me out greatly and I would love to hear how everybody feels about the subject. so please comment and tell me your viewpoint, you would be helping me out a lot! I love you all!!!

My New Love!!

Now don't be jealous, but here is my new love! I got a really good deal and just for the record (mostly for my brothers sakes because I know that they will give me a hard time) I am paying for this laptop myself! I love my new computer and am so happy that I got it!

It's midnight blue and just plain Beautiful!

And look...My wonderful Brothers and Sisters!!

Beating the Stereotypes...

The last institutue dance there was it was themed "High School Stereotypes" I went as a nerd (Jas said that it was a good idea cause I am one..I guess she is right) Jess is Prom Queen and a good one at that and Darleen is a jock...it was a fun night especially when we went to rent a movie in our outfits...yeah we got some looks.

GO EAC!!!

"We got spirit...YES we do!!" and that we did on Saturday night...It was EAC's first home football game so naturally we decided we needed to stick out a bit! That is actaully an under statement..we stuck out A LOT!!! We won the game and it was a Fun night, our friend Sarah came down from Mesa to dress up with us and We went fully crazy! our outfits consisted pof complete purple and yellow (School colors), beads, crazy hair, lots and lots of glitter and makeup, oh and of corse big fake purple eyelashes!! Can't wait to do it all again!

All of us...Brooke, Me, Sarah, Jess, and Dee

Watching the Game

Jess & I

Mudd Bowl!

So every year at the beginning of the semester the Gila Valley Institute holds the annual Mud Bowl! A local farmer floods his field and we get to play in the mud...soo fun!! So very dirty but so worth it, sadly last year I got a lot of mudd in my ear and for months after I was sick with an ear infection and now this year I think I ate too much mudd and I was a little sick over the weekend, but all better now. My mom told me the other night that I am not banned from any furure mud bowls...I guess good thing that I'm all done anyway! Any way here are some pics of all the dirt!

Before Picture!! (Carrie, Me, Stephanie, Darleen, and Jess-Jess sprained her ankle so she had to sit out..very sad)

Stephanie, Me, and Dee...After!

Me getting sprayed off by the fire truck

D-Backs Game!!

So this weekend...a few of us got together and went to a D-Backs Game and just hung out in Mesa! It turned out to be one of the greatest weekend! I'm still laughing at everything that happened. So we got to the game in the 8th inning...yes the 8th..my friend had to work and so we got there way late and we couldn't get our money back so we just decided to go in and see the rest of the game. About 15 min after we got there there was a streaker at the game...well she never really streaked but she was about to when the guard tackled her to the ground...It was so funny!!! It made that 1 inning soo much better...and after the game we walked around the stadium a bit and when we were walking to the parking garage...guess who we saw on the street?? Yes you guessed right..the streaker herself!! So we got our picture with her and talked to her. We asked why she did it and she said just because then we asked what happened after the guards had her in cuffs and she said that she just has to pay a fine and lastly we asked if it was worth it and she said YES! so there you have it!! All together it was a good weekend just to hang out with friends and have a good time and of course seeing the most eventful game ever..and I was there!!

The streaker right before the guard caught her

The tackle!!

The walk off in cuffs

Us and the Streaker!

HAHA

So while shopping that day...Jess and I found these shirts and we wanted to get the true baseball experience :)

2 Firesides in 1 Night...How blessed am I?!

So tonight I was able to have 2 firesides in 1 night...at 6pm we had a Relief Society Stake fireside and our Stake President spoke to us...it was AMAZING!!! He talked about women and being mothers and he said that a Mother's love is one of the strongest and I think that was pretty cool. So right at the beginning I thought of my Mom and Grandmas. I am soso blessed! My mom is my best friend and I look up to her so much! Everything about my mom amazes me, from when she was baptized to now being a convert and being so strong in the church!
During the fireside, my Stake President said something that really caught me and I couldn't stop thinking about it. He said that some women and mothers for that matter sometimes take the world on their shoulders when they don't need to. When I was thinking about this, I thought again of my wonderful Mom! She is so very hard working and has such a warm heart. I think about that and it makes me think of what my mom always tells me when I call home with either a problem or something I'm worried about. She always tells me that "Everything will work out, If it's meant to be it will happen." And that's what I remember of all the little things..Thanks MOM!!!

The second fireside was at 7pm at the institute and if you ever encountered or seen "Reflections of Christ" it's a collection of photographs of Christ's Life, well the photographer is from AZ and all the Pictures were taken in AZ, and he came to speak to us tonight! It was so cool, and it is so amazing how great the Spirit was there! Looking at the Life of Christ and all that was done for us, it truly amazes me and makes me feel so grateful for all that I have. One of the pictures is of the Atonement and the photographer told us a story about his son...it was his son's birthday and he looked away for a second and his son was gone, here he ran and found him in the whirlpool under the water, he of course jumped in and got him out, but he said that it made him think of the Atonement. How awful is must had been for our Father in Heaven to watch Christ suffer and Atone for our sins. And for that I am truly grateful and I know that Christ did that so I would be able to return to my Father in Heaven one day and that he knows exactly what I am feeling and that knows my pains also, I am not alone!!

(If you want to see the slideshow go to youtube.com and type in 'Reflections of Christ Slideshow' or go to www.reflectionofchrist.org to see the video!)

Home once again!

So I noticed that I never wrote about my last trip home...after my last summer class ended I had the opportunity to go home from July 31st to August 16! It was a good trip! I was home for one of my nephews birthday and for mine also. I got to go shopping with my mom which is always a plus...we do have some good times shopping and what makes it the best is just talking all the way there and talking while walking from store to store. My mom really makes me feel pretty darn special when I'm trying on clothes and she sits there waiting to see and then tell me what she thinks...I know it can't be that exciting shopping for someone else, but my mom is the best!!

We also had a family reunion while I was home and I loved it! It was from my mom's side of the family who I really never get to see so it was a lot of fun visiting. We went to Bay Beach one day and went Go-karting and on the bumper boats, which in my defense when I was hit by the kid while Go-karting and spun out of control...it was not my fault..hehe I got a lot of crap from my family who saw me and it was the joke of the day for awhile.

We also FINALLY took family pictures...we've been trying to do this since I came home in Christmas so it was finally achieved. And I must say that we have a pretty good-looking family...haha

I sure miss my Family, but being away makes going home that much more special and realize what I really took for granted when I lived at home!!

Back to School!!!

So I have started my second year of schooling yesterday...Back to reality that's for sure. I'm taking 14 credits this semester and will be working close to 30 hours a week, I'm sure going to be busy, but I am up for the task. My goal this semester is a 4.0..mainly because I need a 4.0 to up my over-all GPA for BYU to even look at me. Hopefully I can pull this one off. This morning I had my 6am beginning aerobics class...I like it when we did it in Volleyball So I said "what the heck! sign me up" OH MY GOODNESS! I am sore already..haha. The teacher is hardcore, she is in such good shape and she didn't even get winded throughout the class..then there is me..hehe Just imagine this if you will, I am out of shape and at 6am going full out with the class, I'm breathing heavy, beat red and sweating a ton...it was quite a sight I must say! We'll see if I can get up and move tomorrow morning.

Another funny story is my math class, it's an everyday class and it's my last math class that I need at EAC (Yippee!!) I go to class yesterday and the teacher that I signed up with didn't come back to teach so I was put in with a different teacher, a pretty new teacher at that. So I'm sitting in class and the teacher (Pedro Dabalsa) starts talking to us...here's the catch...he's from CUBA!!! Try understanding him speak...I maybe got a few words here and there out of his class yesterday. Well, there was no possible miracle on this earth that I was going to be able to get through that class with even a decent grade. Math being my worst subject and not being able to understand the teacher...YIKES!! So you guessed it...I dropped that one today and my luck there was no other math class so I signed up for my Intensive Writing class that I need. So I have to put off math until Spring.

For those who are wondering also...my calling is going great! I love it...I'm still learning everything and probably will never be an expert but I am trying very hard. Sunday at church all 3 wards combined so take a count and break up the wards...there were soooo many people there. And can I tell you how utterly scared I am for this next Sunday??!! I hope I can do this. I'm trying to get to know the knew girls as much as I can, but I'm still nervous! All I can do it try my hardest and hope for the best!

HELLO WISCONSIN!!!!

MESA!!!

Just a few pics from my trip to Mesa this weekend! After going to the Temple, Lyndee and I (Mary Anne studied at her brothers house...not fun) swam and was by the McNeils pool for the rest of the day..about 5-6 hours total...I am a bit burned!!! but it was sooo worth it!!!

"I know that my Redeemer lives!"

So these past couple weeks, I have had so many testimony building experiences it is unreal! For starters, most of you know that I am taking my second class this summer, English 102, and it has been a rough ride so far. It is very stressful and a lot of material and homework in such a small time space, but I'm getting through it! But last week I was in class and we are studying poetry (I'm terrible at poetry too by the way) and we were reading the poem "Out, Out-" by Robert Frost and we were discussing the different meanings of the peom and possible 'hidden' meanings and my teacher just said something about our lives and how we don't know the reason we are here and what we are supposed to do here on earth. When he said that it just hit me like a ton of bricks and I wanted to shout out, "But we do!!!" That truly was an eye opener how blessed we are as Latter-Day Saints to know the truth that this life here on earth is not just something to do and after we die that's it...We do have a purpose and a reason for being here!!

And secondly, last thursday night I had the opportunity to go with the missionaries and the ward mission leader to give the second new member discussion to a recently baptized girl in our ward. It was on the Plan of Salvation, and I just loved every minute of it! This was the second time I was able to sit in on a missionary discussion and I have always thought of the possiblility of serving a mission myself and both times with the missionaries, I just think, "I want to do that!! I want to devote a year and a half of my life completely to the Lord and his Gospel!!!" During the lesson, I just listening to the Plan of Salvation and The Atonement and I almost wanted to cry just because It hit me how blessed I am!! My Savior died for me!!! My Heavenly Father has a Plan for me to return to him one day!!! And listening to Jessica (the new member) bear her testimony how she knew it was true, was a testimony builder for me. Jessica has had a rough time, the day she was baptized, her mother flew into town and tried to stop it all together and she had family calling her trying to talk her out of it! How strong she was and strong her testimony was to know that she had to do this for herself? She knows her Savior and Father in Heaven loves her and she knew that it was true!!!

And lastly, friday night I was able to go to Mesa with my friend Mary Anne and stay the night with the McNeils, my friend Lyndee was already in Mesa. Saturday morning the three of us girls went to the Mesa Temple to do some baptisms and earlier last week, Kathy called me and said that she had a friend that had about 29 family names that needed to be baptized for so we were pretty excited for that. So we got to Temple and after waiting awhile because it was busy, we were able to be baptized for this woman's family. And everytime I go and do baptisms, I like to look at the year the person was born and where they were born (It was something I was told when I first went to the Temple, to see how long these people have been waiting for this day and that has just made it more personal for me) well after about 2 names, I finally opened my eyes and I almost wanted to cry!! Half of the names that we were baptized for were born in the 1800's in Wisconsin!!!! It really hit home for me and made it so much more special for me! I truly know that my Heavely Father knows the desires of my heart and it was not an accident that we were able to do these baptisms.

I do know with all my heart that this Gospel is True and everything in it is true! I love my Savior and I know he loves me and that he died for me and has felt all that I have felt. I know that my Father in Heaven loves me and has a Plan for me and hears and answers my prayers! I know that my Father in Heaven has given me these experiences along with so many others, to help me and to build my Tesitmony and I am so grateful for that! I know that President Monson is truly called of God and loves each and every one of us! I love this Gospel and and am so blessed to have it in my life!!!

Night with Lyn Lyn & Cream Puff!

So Lyndee has been gone most of this summer already so finally she got back from California Saturday night and we finally got to hang out! and earlier that day I made a cream puff or started to...Mom you would be sooo proud! It was delicious!! After going to a baptism of a friend of ours, Lyn helped me finish the topping then of course we had to test it to see if it was good enough to eat!! We ended going to the park swinging on the swings and just chilled all night! It was a good night and I sure did miss that girl! Lyn Lyn- you can't leave me again!! hehe Here are some pics from our night!

That's my Dad!!!

So first of all, I had no clue that this was going on and when I talked to my little sister, Jasmine today, she just said that my sister-in-law, Michelle was going to be sending me some pics that were going to make me laugh...well they sure did in fact! I am in no way surprised by this, this is truly my dad and all I can say is that I am so proud and happy to be able to call him my dad!! I have to be perfectly honest though, when I told my friend Lyndee that I was going to be getting some pics from 4th of July back home, she knew how much I missed it this year and how sad I was friday and she told me that it might make me cry. I really didn't think that from my sister saying that they were going to make me laugh, that they were going to make me cry too. When I opened the email, I broke out in laughter followed by (yes you guessed it...) me crying. Don't get me wrong, it was the most laughter filled cry that I ever had, but it just made me realize how much I did miss. By the looks of it, the 4th of July was a success and Happy 100th Anniversary Gresham!!!!

Christmas in July!

Maybe it's because I grew up in Gresham where July 4th is like Christmas, but I absolutly love this Holiday!! I love the parade and the games and food and especially the fireworks at night! This year, however, will most definitly not be the same....Arizona really does not care all that much of this day and the celebration is going to be nowhere near what it is like in Gresham. Of course my friends told me there is a parade and then fireworks at night, but that's about it. My friends and I decided to have a little cook out and have a party of our own. I'm pretty excited about it but I think I am going to be a little disappointed by not being able to be in Gresham for the 100th Anniversary!!! If you are there...Please take lots of pictures so I can see! I hope everything has a good 4th and I love you guys!!

Families are Forever!

A lot of my friends down in AZ have never seen pics of all my brothers and sisters together.. so I finally got some pics that we all took at Christmas time! I love our big family and everything that goes with it!! News that I just got today is that I am going to be an AUNTIE once again, not once but twice this time. I got a call today that Michelle & Jerod are pregnant and I got so excited then not even an hour later, I got a call that Jeana & Brandon are pregnant!!! So that makes 14 nieces and nephews and I love it! I am truly blessed to have the family that I do and I can't imagine my life without them. I may be far away in AZ, but I know that they will always be there when I need them!! So here you go Em (Left to Right: Me, Jerod, Jill, Jake, Jeana, Josh, and Jasmine)

Auntie & Brooklyn

Brooklyn and I having a laugh!