Spring is in the Air

Today I wore flip flops, ate frozen yogurt and hammered nails into a fence.

  

Thanks Mai Nails!!  

UGLI?

Ugli fruit can make you beautiful

 

Hello Seattle

So my friend Rachie is getting married.  I love her a lot.  So I went this last weekend to see her go through the temple for the first time with her fiance, who I like a lot too.  They make a super cute couple.  I don't have the pictures from the temple, hopefully I'll get those from her soon.  But I decided to go see Ellen and her fam since I'd be out that way, and since it was spring break, Smiley came with me. It was a quick road trip, but fun times.

We took the kids to OMSI and had VooDoo Doughnuts for the first time.  Not super kid friendly (my doughnut was the dirty bastard) But a fun Portland-y type thing to do.

Ellen's fetus really wanted a maple Bacon bar....
probably cuz he already
knows that aunt bacon is the coolest!

Good things come in Pink Boxes

Smiley is confused...

But the kids know what to do with Doughnuts!

Don't worry, I didn't leave Vancouver without doing the most important thing...Sheridan's Frozen Custard!!  The Closest thing we can get to a Culver's out here.  Oh bliss!

We went got up super early for the endowment session in Seattle, and then spent the rest of the day playing in the city. We explored Pike's Place:

Paying for parking first

So we can enjoy the water

Obligatory pike's place pig....

I was inspired by tangled

And so excited that LA called me to get a phone number while I was in the hat shop

Don't be jealous because you've never been to the SUPERMALL!!!

Then we met up with a Spokanite friend...And went to the cheapest entertainment we could find. Green River
Community College Presents:

And this was how excited we were about it!

Thanks Seattle for another great adventure.  Till next time....

Winter Fun Part Two

LA also wanted to celebrate her birthday by going to a Chief's hockey game.  It was on our winter bucket list after all! Someone in this part stole my camera....so all the pictures are not getting posted, but here's a few.

Smiley, Me, and LA

Space Case and Smiley

Tacoma and Kern-is....I love this picture.  Seriously. 

LA and Lexus

 The game went into a shoot-out....so I was late for work that night.  But it was worth getting to witness it.  And winning!  Woot! Go Chiefs!

And then the really big sporting event of the year....March Madness!  Before I get into this, let me just say that even though I didn't joint he competition, I think my bracket has done the best so far. What a year to not compete.  Anyways, so BYU is joining the West Coast Conference next year, the same conference as Gonzaga.  Now, I've always been a Gonzaga fan, but I am a True Blue Cougar through and through.  LA....is the biggest Gonzaga fan I have ever met.  So next year is going to be interesting.  Well, we got a taste of our future 2 weeks ago when BYU and Gonzaga played each other in the tournament.  We had a little party/BBQ at our house, the BYU fans on one couch and the Gonzaga fans on the other.  BYU pretty much killed them, we were mature and didn't rub it in too much, and I'll admit, Gonzaga's team is probably going to be much better than BYU's next year, but let us live it up a little huh?  It was a good win!  And Jimmer was a big deal when I was still at the Y....Go Jimmer!

Here's our pre-game "war" picture

Don't worry, we still love each other!

Winter Fun Part One

 So here's all the stuff I should have been blogging about.  Better late than never huh?

Here's the sledding gang.  I especially love Paxton's action pose.

I've gotta say this  hasn't been my most favorite winter of all.  Things were pretty good up until January....basically when school started again I guess.  I feel like as I get older the sun affects me more and more.  It's definitely making me rethink my desire to relocate to Boston after graduation.  Maybe I should shoot for somewhere more like Arizona or Texas?  Anyway, the one good thing about the nasty weather was that we got a snow day!  My roommate even called in "stuck" since our street doesn't get plowed.....so naturally we went shopping and sledding ;)

Smiley and Tacoma in a snow angel fight.

It was freezing....but still happy

I didn't get any good sledding pictures, but the snow wasn't great, mostly just powder, and Paxton just chased us down and jumped on us if we got going anywhere anyway.



Then we celebrated LA's birthday.  It just so happened to be the same day as Dr. Feefae's birthday, so....double-party!  LA's mom said that macaroni and cheese was her favorite dinner...apparently we caught her off guard when we asked and it was the first things she thought of because that's usually what she eats when she goes home!  HAHA!  Mine is steak by the way.....and my birthday is in a month ;)

Cooking crew

Non-cooking crew

The birthday kids.  They're good at sharing ;)

Dad Is Great! He Gives us Chocolate Cake!

I have a lot of things I need to blog about….now that my spring break is half over, but I couldn’t go to bed without journaling my latest thoughts.

First of all, my parents are moving to Missoula, best thing ever! I could go on and on forever about how big of a deal this move and this job transfer is for my family, and how perfect everything has worked out and all the miracles we’ve seen, and the long struggle of a road it’s been, but that would take forever.  Let’s just say, it is wonderful.  So my dad is out here now.  I used to really hate the drive between Spokane and Missoula, but that’s because I’ve always done it at night, in the winter, in the fog, in the rain, and it scares me to death.  But I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to see my dad, especially after he called me so excited Saturday night to tell me he got an apartment and he’d buy me a cot to sleep on if I came.  He’ll be here all spring and summer until my mom can get the house sold and get little Jimmy graduated and off to college.  So, even after a long weekend trip to Portland and Seattle and back in 2 days, I drove this morning to Missoula to spend the day with dad.  We had fun touring and looking at neighborhoods and church buildings and other points of interest, and buying stuff to furnish his new crib. I also loved visiting his new office, and meeting his boss and some of his coworkers.  As soon as I met them they said that he’d been telling them all day about how his little girl was coming to visit him today!  See, I really am his favorite ;) 

I’m so glad I came though not just for that but for the great discussions we’ve had, one in particular which has touched me in a very profound way. 

 We went to a movie tonight.  The Adjustment Bureau.  I’ll admit I mostly just wanted to see Matt Damon, and dad let me choose, so…..  woot.  Before the movie started we talked a little about relationships and knowing when it’s right and lots of great stuff.  I asked him if he ever had any misgivings or hesitations about the men my sisters had married, and in the end he said basically that no, he never felt wrong about any of them, and I agreed and now feel like all of them have turned out to be pretty spectacular and just right for each of my sisters.  Well, this movie is pretty good, and in the end is all about free will and choosing our own destinies and learning to take control of our lives (it really was a good message) but one of the underlying themes is of this couple that no matter how much the “powers above” try to force them apart, deep down they both know they are meant for each other and always were.  After the movie dad said “that movie was about me and mom”

      Jokingly I said “why cuz everything is trying to force you apart?” 

      He said “no, because I always knew we were meant to be together, and no matter how many other people we each dated, no other girl every measured up to her or fit like she did”.

     Then I said, “Do you tell her that?” 

      He replied that he tells her all the time but she never believes him.  We talked about it quite a bit more, but it took all I had to hold back my tears for so many reasons. 

1.                I am so grateful that my parents have that relationship.  I never worry about them and their devotion and love for each other, what a special blessing and example for me to have

2.              I’ve never felt like that with any boy.  There’s never been anyone I’ve felt like was really perfectly right for me, which hopefully just means I haven’t met him yet (cue Michale Buble song)

3.              I can’t wait to have a man say that about me. I hope I believe him, and that I will feel the same way. 

I really hope my parents appreciate what a great thing they’ve got.  I know they do.  I guess I really hope that I and all my siblings appreciate what a great thing we’ve all got.  We had a family prayer tonight and dad thanked Heavenly Father for helping us to grow as an eternal family, and asked him to help us keep it together.  I can’t imagine not having the happiness each one of them brings me.  Wow I am a lucky girl.

On a side note – this conversation reminded me of a good lesson I learned from Itsy, when I was deciding to go through the temple, and trying to receive an answer to my prayers she said that the only time she’d ever gotten a clear direct answer like the one I was trying to receive was when she was praying about whether or not to serve a mission.  She said even when she was praying to decide whether or not to marry Eric that she never got a yes or no answer, and why?  Because she said that she eventually realized that she always knew that she was supposed to marry him.  She didn’t need someone to tell her because deep down she had always felt that. 

Handling Trials With a Frowny or a Smiley Face

Church was great today. Definitely what I needed.  What was great was the girl I sat next to during sacrament kept saying, that she felt like the talks were just for her today.  Join the club!  I love that we can all go and hear the same talks and lessons, and yet come away with completely different spiritual revelations for our own personal lives.  One of the talks today shared this story:

The second talk was about optimism.  It reminded me of something one of my mission companions showed me.  In Mosiah chapter 21 of the Book of Mormon and then in chapter 24 there are two different stories of two different groups of people going through a very similar trial.  But they handled it very differently.  

Mosiah 21 is the story of Limhi's people who are taken captive by the Lamanites.

5And now the afflictions of the Nephites were great, and there was no way that they could deliver themselves out of their hands, for the Lamanites had surrounded them on every side.

 6And it came to pass that the people began to murmur with the king because of their afflictions; and they began to be desirous to go against them to battle. And they did afflict the king sorely with their complaints; therefore he granted unto them that they should do according to their desires.

  Limhi's people battle the Lamanites 3 times, and each time they are driven back and suffer many casualties.  Finally after having no other choice, they humble themselves, submit to the bondage and remember God.  

15And now the Lord was slow to hear their cry because of their iniquities; nevertheless the Lord did hear their cries, and began to soften the hearts of the Lamanites that they began to ease their burdens; yet the Lord did not see fit to deliver them out of bondage.

The people started receiving blessings and prospering more and more and eventually Ammon finds them and helps them escape out of bondage and into freedom.  

The story in Chapter 24 is of the people of Alma.  They come into captivity under Amulon.

8And now it came to pass that Amulon began to exercise authority over Alma and his brethren, and began to persecute him, and cause that his children should persecute their children.

Amulon put task masters over the people of Alma and made them slaves, but these people turned directly to God and started praying "mightily".  Amulon commanded them to stop praying and had guards watching them to make sure they didn't.  This was their response:
12And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts.

 13And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.

 14And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

 15And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

The next verse says the Lord promised them to deliver them from bondage the next day.  

I wrote next to these chapters "Handling Trials with a Frowny Face" and "Handling Trials with a Smiley Face." The trials of these two groups of  people were the same, the end result was also the same, however, there was a huge difference in the way they handled their situations, and in their happiness and peace during the trials.  

We are all going to be faced with many trials and hardships in this life.  It is part of mortality and is no respecter of persons.  However, living the gospel and turning to the Lord during those times gives us the strength and help we need and desire to pull ourselves out of those trials, to make them less debilitating.   "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matt 11:30)
I believe this is so true.  God wants us to be happy, he wants to help us and strengthen us and ease our burdens, we just need to have faith and turn to him.  It can be as simple as a prayer and as difficult as repentance, but it's always worth it. I need to be more humble.  I need to remember the Lord more.  I need to have more courage to accept His will and realize that I will always be faced with trials, but I can always choose how to respond to them.  The Lord's way is always easier, and I don't have to go it alone!  

Little Women

I have had goal every Christmas for the past 3 years to read the book Little Women.  I've never made it past chapter 5.  This Christmas I was really serious about it....really. 
I made it to chapter 6. 
Someone suggested I try listening to them on tape....which really....was a good idea.  My commute everyday is about 20-30 minutes depending on my clinical schedule and the loaner car from the parentals only has a tape deck.  ;)  HAHN  Yup.  Seriously.  And I hate that I always use the excuse that my reading time has to be studying for school....I want to read for fun again dang it!
   So I did it, I rented the tapes from the library, and I gotta say, it has been pretty excruciating.  The narrator's voice was horrible.  She did the worst man impersonation voice ever, and towards the end of the book when she's voicing for the small children....ugghhhh.  But guess what?  I finished it!! Yesterday morning on my way to school!!  I feel so good. Here's my thoughts:

When I first started the book I decided this was gonna be the first time that I actually liked a movie better than the novel.  My mind is slightly changed now, but really, the beginning of the book is so unrealistic.  All the girls are so proper and portrayed so angelically, it's just really hard to relate too, although I felt like that changed as they grew up, especially Jo, she becomes much more real and fallible towards the end of the book. So I'm torn.  It's worth making it to the end for sure even though the character's at the beginning are so bothersome.

I LOVE the story.  Beth's death makes me cry like nothin else.  She's my favorite character by far, although I sympathize with her the least. Amy's realness and shallowness are just, real.  She is the epitome of little sister....me I guess.  haha.  shoot.  Meg is totally oldest sister....I love you Shawsh ;)  And Jo is a definite middle child. Well rounded, spunky and unique.

Toward the end of the book I got really mad at one part. Jo goes off about how now that she's 25 years old she's resigned herself that she's just going to be an old maid (she decides to be a happy old maid) and it made me cringe.  Granted I understand that times were much different then, and people married much younger, and if you didn't marry before 25ish there was something wrong with you, and you'd never be a girl that men pursued, but, have things really changed that much?  How many 25 year-olds do I know that seem to have given up and become bitter man-haters (In the church at least)?

Most of all, I just love the story of these 4 sisters who are so close and go through so much of family life together, and the way that the author portrays it is so nostalgic and happy.  I love it.  I love my family and my sisters, sometimes I wish I would have lived back then when things were so much more simple, and yet, so much more difficult. 

Well, I'm hooked on audio books.  I used to only get them on road trips, and Panda helped me find some great ones for those times, but now.....Smiley offered to give me Peter Pan because she has the audio version on her ipod (I've wanted to read that book forever) and.....Tacoma sold me her itouch....don't tell anyone I finally gave in and bought my first mp3 player.....I had to do one exciting thing with my tax return for goodness sakes!!  Paying off student loans just isn't that....fun ;)  Let's see if I can keep up this goal!

Just One of Those Days

I've discovered that I become fairly incoherent in my writing when I do so at 3am while at work, but I have strong nagging urges to express some things tonight. 

It's amazing to me really how one shrill voice and 20 seconds can turn a pretty awesome "look-forward-to" type of day into a crappy one; one where you question who you are and what you're doing and whether your whole life is a joke.  I'm probably just in an emotional state right now, but gosh, my skin is certainly become less thick than it used to be.  I really was looking forward to today, and all in all, it was good! I got a clearance in clinicals in the morning, we had pizza for lunch, I got out early, the blood drive at church was very successful, and I made it to work despite the many forces trying to make me call in sick again.  (I'm not sick....)  

But it only takes one apple to make the barrell rotten right?  It's not a glass is half-full type of day.

Today both the junior and senior class was supposed to come out of clinicals for lunch, officer elections, and the show-down to see who would represent our school in the "knowledge-bowl"  at the x-ray conference in a few weeks.  I think in high school and even most of my undergrad I would have been the type of person to do these type of things, you know, run for office, and participate in competitions, but I have NO desire now.  I feel busy, all the time.  I feel overworked, and justified in not  trying to do everything and be involved in everything......I'm the only student in my class with zero clocked hours of x-ray club service.  boo.  I'm the freakin relief society president!


Proof that I once was cool......seriously.

Anyway, I do well in my classes, I excel in clinicals, and I do my best in other areas of my life, and it's enough for me.  But today, while trying to determine who would be the faces of SCC's x-ray program the the distinguished conference in Wentchee.....our class performed quite horribly on a test of things "we should know".  Well we didn't know much, or at least didn't take the test very seriously, regardless, our instructor was very "disappointed"  and exclaimed so, loudly and very high-pitchedly in front of the other class, and made us feel about 2" tall. Well me at least. 

I know I could have done better, I know I should try harder to retain the information I'm learning.  I know I should be diligent in my homework, but I'm not.  I'm imperfect. And I really take it hard when other people point that out.  Now I wasn't singled out, the whole class was chastised, but it doesn't change the fact that I am definitely one of the ones she "expected more from".  I'm wearing thin.  literally. I really pray that the rumors of 3rd quarter being significantly easier than the first two are true.  If not....I really do wonder if I'm where I need to be.....