Honorary Bridesmaid

My roommate Tennasyn got married just a few weeks ago. It was a really nice day. Marie and I went up to the sealing and then later we meet up at the reception. When Tennasyn was planning her wedding she said we could be bridesmaids if we found dresses to match her colors. Well, I did just that. But it was on accident until Marie reminded me of the promise she had given us. The dress I had found was one of Tennasyn's old prom dresses. She left a pile of stuff for us to go through when she moved. The dress was in the pile. So indeed I wore it to the reception. And indeed I did squish into the line to greet people as the honorary bridesmaid!

A Castle for My King

The Saturday before the wedding, Hunter came into town with his Grandparents. Todd and Deedra couldn't leave until late Sunday so I got to babysit Hunter when he arrived. I was so overjoyed to see him that I am pretty sure I pushed people out of the way to get to him. He came during the bridal shower. That was the end of the shower for me. All I wanted to do was hug Hunter. I couldn't believe how excited Marley was to see him. They are such good friends. After the shower we went home and had dinner. After dinner it was fort time. I kept calling it a castle but Hunter insisted it was a fort. I made it big enough for two pint sized humans as Marley wouldn't be left out of the fun. Hunter stayed the whole night in the fort while Marley only lasted about an hour or so. They had so much fun in it though. Uncle Ryan told funny stories and Hunter just kept asking for more. I hope we get to do this again soon but the next time the fort needs to be bigger so the grown ups can join the fun!

Finding Happiness NOW!

Today I am speaking in church! I decided to speak on finding happiness in our daily lives. It was an inspired topic from my recent post about being single and shouting hooray. As I have been preparing I have realized that this talk was really for me. I have learned so much! One thing that was mentioned in one of the talks I am reading was to write down the things that make you happy. Since I will be sharing this thought in church today, I decided to do it. So, here we go; a list of things that make me happy:

Praying to my Heavenly Father

Reading something inspiring

Going to the movie; even if it is by myself

Acting like a goof ball with children

Visiting family at the drop of a hat

Writing Thank you notes

Talking with my family
Laughing with my roommates
Cuddling
Finding my favorite Easter Candy
Having friends visit
The list could go on and on! But we will leave it at this for now!

Celebration of Life #7

Today was long!! The thing I want to write about is the love of children that I have. I love children and am so blessed to be surrounded by them on most days. I subbed today in a class that was filled with students that knew me in one way or another. They were awesome. I also got to see my 10 year old best friend, my little neighbor children, and my mom's class. I would list names of the children in my life but that would go on forever! Here's the picture for today!

2006- First time being a counselor at Be The Best You!

What I am reading right now

I was inspired by the last post to write down the books I am reading and maybe give some recommendations for those that might read this blog! This will not be a complete list of what I am reading, just the ones I like!

Here we go:

A Ball for Daisy: Christopher Raschka

This book was really cute and had a good message. The best part; there are no words in this book. Cute illustrations, one that young children would really like!

How To Catch a Star: Oliver Jeffers

This book is about a boy that wants a star for a friend. The problem is how to you catch a star that is so high in the sky!

Mirette on the High Wire: Emily Arnold McCully

I read this book as a child and loved it. Mirette finds great courage as she helps someone else get back up after falling from the ground. Beautiful pictures and great story.

The Gardener: Sarah Stewart

This book was so sweet. It's an easy read and reminded me to make the best of each situation. Eventually time replaces time and the sun does shine for flowers to grow back.

The Heart and The Bottle: Oliver Jeffers

Have you ever had your heart broken but the passing of a loved one? This girl did and decided that she would put her heart in a glass bottle to keep it safe. She soon learns that life isn't what is once was with her heart in the bottle.

Me...Jane: Patrick McDonnell

I loved this book. It is about Jane Goodall as a child and how she realized her dreams. One day she awakes and her dreams have come true. This is an easy read and young children would understand it! Beautifully done, with good information in the back that goes into more detail about who Jane Goodall is.

Books that are on my shelf waiting to be opened:

Bigger than a Bread Box: Laurel Snyder

Clementine: Sara Pennypacker

From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

COL (Celebration of life) #6

6. I love that I love books! Right now I have at least 20 books checked out of the library. They are all children's books except for maybe three of them that are chapter books for older school children. How am I ever going to read them all? The picture books are easy, but three chapter books! It makes me so happy to look at them! I smile so big just at their sight!

2007-My first Halloween costume I sewed with minimal help

Valentines Day

Holding hands with someone's that are smaller than yours

Sharing Valentines treats from a bag of cards that were given at a party

A big heart tin full of gourmet popcorn

Doors that are opened and chairs that are pulled out by a little gentleman

Running down the halls laughing out loud

Teddy Bears that say the sweetest things

Dinner conversations that consist of cars and trucks

A small boy that remembers my favorite color

Sweet kisses on the cheek

Sharing ice-cream with a six year old

These are the things my day contained

And you ask what I did for Valentine's Day?

I had the BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!!

Change of Mind: A Repost

(I posted this yesterday, then took it off because I was afraid it was too much, but then changed my mind and am putting it back up)

DISCLAIMER: THIS WAS WRITTEN AFTER BEING TOLD REPEATEDLY THAT THE ONLY WAY TO BE HAPPY IS TO BE MARRIED, IN MORE OR LESS WORDS. I AM UPSET WITH THIS BECAUSE I FEEL THAT I CAN BE HAPPY WITH THE POINT I AM AT WITH MY LIFE. THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT I DON'T WANT TO BE DATING SO THAT ONE DAY I MIGHT GET MARRIED. I WANT A FAMILY MORE THAN ANYTHING. THERE ARE DAYS THAT IT MAKES ME SO SAD THAT I AM NOT AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE. BUT FOR THE MOST PART I AM OH SO VERY VERY HAPPY WITH MY SINGLE LIFE. THE POINTS I MAKE ARE TO REALIZE THAT THERE IS JOY IN THE HERE AND NOW. AND THEY ARE NOT TO SAY THAT I WOULDN'T GIVE UP MY SINGLE LIFE IN A HEART BEAT TO START A FAMILY!!!

So, it has been awhile. So much has happened and there is so much to say. But this is what I have decided to write about for my first post of the year 2012. Lately it seems that I am getting farther into singlehood. Scott got married, my roommate is getting married, everyone that I go to school with is married or is getting married, and I happen to be the only one(besides my brand new roommie) that doesn't currently have a boy in her life. Most days I am fine with this fact but what does the world around me think? Here are just a few things I have heard people say in the last several weeks to me and to others of the single population: (The next couple of quotes are going to be written without giving names as some one might read this blog some day!)

"You must be sad to see Scott get married since you can't even get a date."

"You can sit over there because you have no one else to sit by."

"Single girls are just depressed because they aren't married."

So in so "is depressed because all her friends are getting married, not because they are being horrible bridezilla's to everyone around them."

"Now that Scott is married, I guess we will start praying for you to find someone for eternity."

"When was the last time you had a date? Aren't you getting old?"

"I have been doomed to a life of SOLITUDE and I am only 21!"

"Marriage is so much fun and life is just dull without someone next to me."

"I am so happy that I graduated from the singles ward."

What the Smurf is everyone's problem? (Can you tell what movie I watched this weekend? Yes, an advantage of being single is deciding to watch movies all night and then sleep the whole next day without anyone caring!) Why can't I be happy and single? I am sorry that this culture that I live in thinks something is wrong with me because I can't get a date. But I like being single. I am happy with my singlehood. And I want to tell you, well I guess me since I am pretty much the only one that reads this blog, why I love it so much. Here are my top ten reasons:

1. I make my own money and I can buy whatever I want after the essentials.

2. If I want to go to Disneyland, Hawaii, New York, Florida, Cancun, etc.... I could go tomorrow if I didn't have class or work!

3. I can cuddle with my girlfriends till 2 in the morning watching movie, after movie, after movie.....

4. When I need an hour or two to myself, I can have it.

5. I can work on bettering myself without having to worry about someone else's problems.

6. I can read for hours on end without affecting anyone else's time.

7. When I want to, I can go visit my friends, my family, and all the little children that I love. This is once again without affecting anyone else's time.

8. I am furthering my education and not having to worry about paying for someone else.

9. I can be absolutely selfish without hurting someone that is permanently attached to me.

10. I am getting to know myself better which leads me to believe that I know what I want in a man better. (Is the second part of this true?)

11.Have I mentioned how much I love my roommates, well at least the majority of the time? I want to be able to spend time with them!

12. I am there for most family events and am able to help with my niece and nephew whenever I want to.

13. Speaking of my niece and my nephew, I get to be an awesome aunt to them without thinking about my own children.

14. At this point, I am the only director of my life. But one day I do want to share the directors role with someone else!

15. No sharing the remote, no sharing the bed with a snoring person, no having to make dinner at night, and the excitement that Mr. Right could be around the next corner!

Like I said in my disclaimer, this is not to say that I don't want to be married. I want to be able to give myself wholly to someone else. I am more than willing to give up all my time, my money, my roommates, my family events, my listening ear and caring heart. It is hard at times to be single, some days it hurts. Just two days ago I say the cutest couple hold hands and my heart ached for a moment. I want to get married and have children but for now I AM HAPPY. I want to shout HOORAY as I have time to better myself. And when the day comes I will shout hooray again. Isn't it about finding the joy in the journey? So why can't I do a happy single dance? Contrary to popular belief if your single and you know it, YOU CAN BE HAPPY!

My Brother's Wedding

Well, it came and went so fast! I can't believe that the baby of our family is married!!! It was a beautiful day and there was so much good that went down. It was a long process, one in which I tried my best to help with! I am not going to lie, it was stressful and at times I want to run away from the craziness of it all. But then I look at all the good that was accomplished during the time leading up to the wedding and the day itself. I want to write down those special moments that made the day so good and the other culminating events!

• At the reception, I had my cousin's little girls on my heels the whole night. I accidentally stepped on one of them at one point. I LOVE these little girls. Two of the girls belong to my cousin Brian. The older one always has a million questions to ask me. She won't stop talking and with every word my smile gets bigger. The younger girl is the most giggly thing I have ever met. She laughs more than she talks! All you have to do is look at her and her whole face laughs!
• Seeing flower clips that I had helped make in Kirstee's, Anna's, Michele's, and Aunt Carolee's hair.
• And let me tell you the smile that crossed my face when Kirstee walked in having done her own hair for the evening.
• Eating slice after slice of pie with Hunter and Marley wasn't too shabby either!
• Getting a cute free apron didn't hurt my feelings.
• Sitting under a table and laughing with Marley was awesome!
• Leaving early with my FAV made me feel rebellious.
• Holding a new baby every 5 minutes was pure heaven!
• Talking to a hundred people that I haven't seen forever was fantabulous.
• The family that helped so generously at the luncheon and the shower.
• Framing a picture of myself so that one day in a house somewhere, Scott and Sara can proudly display there favorite person made me laugh.
• Baking cookies, making fruit dip, and preparing for the shower with my besties (Marie, Jeremy, Emily, Brooke, Ciara, Kirstee and Makadee) made me heart swell with joy!
• Watching Kirstee purr, behind the couch, like a cat while there were cuddlebugs on the coach was priceless.
• Makadee smile while helping stir cookie batter with her favorite Marie!
• Kirstees devious grin when Brooke bought her candy when I told her she couldn't have candy!
• Oh, the fun and laughter that came from the friend bridal shower. Especially with Marie and Sam.
• Seeing Marie's face after Sam told her that she had punched the wrong date in all the cards for the invitations.
• Hanging out with Michele and Heidi the night before the wedding, making flower clips for their beautiful girls!
• Being in the temple with all of my siblings and seeing Todd's sensitive heart show through.
• Having the BEST valentines day's date ever because Hunter was here.
• Spending every night of the week before the wedding with Todd and Deedra. Eating Korean, celebrating Valentines day, staying up talking late with Marie and I, laughing and talking, and shedding tears as they left!
• Watching the wedding video with the cutest niece and nephew in the whole entire world. The bouncing Marley with every picture that she thought was her father and Hunter screaming every time he saw his dad or me!
• Yummy, yummy, yummy pie: coconut cream, chocolate, peach, and apple!
• A set of glasses that were desperately needed for the house!
• Stethescopes: Gavin at the luncheon and Hunter screaming into it when it was in my ears. Marie checking to see if Deedra had pneumonia, listening to Hunter's and I's lungs, and then Hunter getting upset because Marie hadn't checked out Todd!
• Tennasyn waking up early to do my hair and makeup.
• Getting to talk with my cousins previous to the sealing.
• Laughing at Scott who forgot his real glasses in Texas.
• Sleeping next to Anna Mae in the middle of the craziness.
• Knowing that I will, without a doubt, be the next one in my family to get married.
• Watching people walk into the sign pole that was in the middle of the room
• Writing on chalk bubble signs for the new couple
• Having a Florida table at the reception

I know there is probably more that I missing but for now this will do. Overall, even though it was crazy, it was wonderful and full of magic. I am ever so grateful for those that helped me make it through that weekend and the weeks before!

A Celebration of My Life

This year I will be 25 on the 25th day of March. That means its my golden and silver birthday. Today it hit me that I want to write everyday until the 25th about the things that I just love about my life, along with a picture of me over the years! I think this will be fun for me to look back for years to come! Since I am already behind today I will write five things. I also want to try and get photos up of me through the years! The pictures aren't going to necessarily correspond with the words, just FYI, they will go in order by year.

1. I love the people around me: my parents, Todd, Deedra, Hunter, Ryan, Sam, Marley, Scott, Sara, Marie, Brooke, Brittany, Kerstin, Kayde, Emily, Ciara, Elise, Faith, everyone that works in my building, Brad, Martha, Whitney, all the girls and boys in my classes here at BYU, Ally Adams, Heather Peterson, Cindy Sager, Heidi, Michele, Kirstee, Makadee, Anna May, Brian, Eloise, Saydee, Kelsee, all my cousins and all of their children, my second graders, people from my ward, everyone that is from Florida, the list is just going to go on and on. I will just say that I don't understand why Heavenly Father has blessed with such amazing people in my life.

2011- I don't have any pictures yet from this year. My BFF!

2. I am so glad that I am a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! I wouldn't want a life without it! It is who I am and what I do! I am so grateful for the Lord's hand in my life!

2011- My first year as a teacher at MAT camp

3. I love that I had the opportunity to serve a mission and the Heavenly Father is still giving me that opportunity. I am so glad that God gave all of us the opportunity to serve missions here on earth. I can't begin to name the missionaries I see around me at this moment and you better believe I admire each one of them especially those without tags!

2010- My first stitches

4. I love my job. Right now I am at work. I am grateful that I can get my homework done here. My boss is awesome and always works with my schedule. I will be so sad at the end of this summer when it is over. It has been such a good run.

2009- My first baptism where I found and taught

5. I love being crafty and being able to make things with my hands. This weekend it will be fort kits, last week it was flower clips, and soon it will be a culmination of a thousand things as I get ready for MAT camp!

2008- My first nephew

If your single and you know it, SHOUT HOORAY!

As I lay in bed tonight, I realized that my previous post was written out of frustration! I decided to change it! Pretty much to sum up my feelings about life at this point, I would like to say that I am very happy with my life and the where I am in it! I love you life! Thanks for being awesome!