2009

Some of my goals for 2009 are below. Now is the time, life is not waiting for me to figure things out. Instead I am being left behind. I am missing out on things in life that I used to have, I am not fully embracing some things that I have, and I am not making progress where I should be. Tomorrow is here, I am not going to wait or put it off.


1. I am going to build relationships with the people I am around. There are people I interact with who I can become closer to, and who will help me to feel more connected, and give me opportunities to serve.

2. I am going to keep in touch with the people who I used to be close to. I am not just going to check on them using facebook, I am going to call them, and talk to them! I would like to maintain and rebuild friendships, I do not want to loose them.

3. I am going to study the scriptures, attend the Temple, and strive to build my faith.

4. I am going to read more books

5. I am going to see a Dr. who will help me to run again, so that I can loose the extra weight I have accumulated.

6. Most importantly I am going to Love with all my heart, I am going to Love my husband and continue to grow closer to him, I am going to Love my family, I am going to Love my friends, and I am going to be Happy and Active!

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin died at the age of 91 on December 1st, 2008. He was an amazing man and I am glad to say he is now reunited with his lovely wife. The picture below is from their wedding day, I love that picture! It is just so sweet.

Election Time

I have no idea who I am going to vote for...

Hope

Well, Chris and I have to give talks this Sunday at church. I really don't like giving the talks, however I really enjoy preparing them. I always learn a lot and it seems that it touches onto a topic which I really needed to study. My family has been having some really serious challenges, unlike we have ever seen or experienced. Things have been tough for my parents, my brother, and relationships have been strained between a few people. I know that Chris and I are suppose to be here to help my family, and that this is where the Lord needs us right now. I have found a few quotes that I love and that I plan on using in my talk about hope in the face of adversity. I really just wish that my brother could accept some of the council of these church leaders. I hope that these quotes will inspire, encourage, and uplift any who are struggling.

"Hope is the anchor of our souls. I know of no one who is not in need of hope—young or old, strong or weak, rich or poor. As the prophet Ether exhorted, “Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.”

"Everybody in this life has their challenges and difficulties. That is part of our mortal test. The reason for some of these trials cannot be readily understood except on the basis of faith and hope because there is often a larger purpose which we do not always understand. Peace comes through hope."
Hope, an Anchor of the Soul
President James E. Faust

"The adversary uses despair to bind hearts and minds in suffocating darkness. Despair drains from us all that is vibrant and joyful and leaves behind the empty remnants of what life was meant to be. Despair kills ambition, advances sickness, pollutes the soul, and deadens the heart. Despair can seem like a staircase that leads only and forever downward.

Hope, on the other hand, is like the beam of sunlight rising up and above the horizon of our present circumstances. It pierces the darkness with a brilliant dawn. It encourages and inspires us to place our trust in the loving care of an eternal Heavenly Father, who has prepared a way for those who seek for eternal truth in a world of relativism, confusion, and of fear."
The Infinite Power of Hope
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Both these talks can be found by following the links below! Please read them and enjoy, I know I have.

Hope, an Anchor of the Soul
President James E. Faust
Ensign, Nov 1999, 59

The Infinite Power of Hope
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
October General Conference 2008

Tag: All About Chris
The Man I Married

1. What is his name? Christopher
2. Who eats more? Chris... especially lately..
3. Who said I love you first? Chris
4. Who is taller? He is
5. Who is smarter? ummm not a fair question..
6. Who is more sensitive? Me
7. Who does the laundry? We both do
8. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? I do, he likes to be closest to the door.
9. Who pays the bills? Bill Pay
10. Who cooks more? Me
11. What meals do you cook together? Breakfast, dinner, lunch....
12. Who is more stubborn? Depends on the subject
13. Who is the first to admit they’re wrong? We both cave.. Chris usually will first though. He is so good to me.
14. Who has more siblings? He does. He has 3- 1 sister and 2 brothers, I only have 2 brothers.
15. Who wears the pants in the relationship? We make a good team.
16. What do you like to do together? We like to go camping, hiking, on walks, watching movies, cooking, playing games, among many other things.
17. Who eats more sweets? Tough call
18. Guilty pleasures? chocolate.. I don't think the guilty part fits though :)
19. How did you meet? A Halloween FHE was the first time we met.
20. When did you fall in love with him? Very early into our relationship.
21. Who has changed the most since you married? Couldn’t tell ya, change happens too slow to know.
22. Who proposed? Chris
23. His best features? They are all the best :)
24. What is his greatest quality? He takes his time and makes sure to do things right. He is very good about going to church, reading, and is always striving to improve. I think he is wonderful and he is always looking out for others and trying to help. I Love him with all my heart!

Teaching the Youth

Chris and I have a new calling in church, and in order to begin preparing I have taken a little time to read. I found a great article from the Liahona written by Robert D. Hales and titled, “Teaching by Faith.” I found many of the concepts not only vital and important when teaching the youth, but I feel they apply to me now and to many adults who are seeking to learn and grow in the gospel. I will try to compact the best I can and put the most moving concepts to me below. I encourage you to read this article if you are looking for teaching advice.

• When we teach youth by the Spirit, hearts will be touched and lives will be affected.
• You will recall the story related in the book of Mosiah about Abinadi standing bound before the wicked King Noah. Abinadi taught the gospel with the fire of the Spirit. He gave stern and specific warnings as he boldly taught the principle of repentance. Although Abinadi taught by the Spirit, King Noah was not touched. Alma, however, who was in the court and heard the testimony, was converted (see Mosiah 12:9–17:2). We do not always know whom we will reach, but I promise you that as you teach and testify by the Spirit, you will reach those who are ready to be taught.
• As teachers, we must require our young people to think. (They need to think, respond, question, and teach eachother)
• After discussing each story, we were asked questions such as “What does that mean to you?” “How does this scripture [or story or principle] relate to your life?” “How can you apply this teaching in your home?” “How do you feel about it?” We were asked to think. We were not learning only the stories. We were discovering how we could apply them in our lives.
• Teach the importance and power of pondering
• provide time to ponder, to think, and to exchange ideas
• Use practical application: “What does that mean to you?”
• Faith-promoting incidents occur in teaching when students take a role in teaching and testifying to their peers.
• Get to know what is happening in the lives of the youth.
• a true teacher, once he or she has taught the facts and the students gain the knowledge, takes them a step farther to gain the spiritual witness and the understanding in their hearts that bring about the action and the doing.
• “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? …
  “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
  “Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:35, 38–39).

September...

It seems weird that another school year has started, and I didn't start going to school. I am however still teaching preschool, which means that I had many children move up to the pre-k class and I got a much younger class. Next week should actually be a challenge because I am getting a difficult child. It should be okay. Chris will be starting an online class soon and I am excited for him to be starting some school finally.
My mom and I spent Saturday evening working on a fun Halloween project and am excited to see it finished. It is my first project of this sort I have done, I will put pictures up when it is done. I also am excited because yesterday Chris and I spent a majority of the day cleaning up the craft room and making it usable. So now I have a really nice workspace and I will be much more motivated to work on my scrapbook, and on the quilting projects that I want to do. It is nice to have a zone that I can work on my projects in and leave them out with out the house being a great big mess.
It is nice to be close to my family for a change. We are looking forward to a trip down to see family in California, and Nevada for Thanksgiving. It should be a very fun trip to see everyone!

The Cake: A Year Later

I thought that a before and after picture might be nice. Although you cannot see the beautiful detail in this picture very well. It was beautiful! It still looks amazing concidering it has been in my parents freezer for a year. It is very exciting, and I am incredibly lucky to have such an amazing husband!

August 25, 2007

August 25, 2008

Summer Adventures

Hi Everyone! I just wanted to update my blog. I will try to write more here soon, however I have posted a some new stuff (including pictures) on my other blog. You should be able to click on the title of this post and it will take you to it, otherwise there is a link on the right hand side and the blog is titled "It all Started With a Handshake." Anyways I hope all is well and please check out the other blog!

My New Quilt

This is the start of my new quilt, I still have a ways to go but I really like it so far.

Unfold

Sometimes there are lyrics that just touch me to the core. I found this song today on Myspace and it says so much and I have felt these feelings countless times in my life. I have struggled with overcoming my shy nature. I am improving in many area's but I still have such a hard time in others. I am blessed to have such safety with my husband. I just hope that someday I will not have to work so hard to "Unfold". The title of this post will take you to Marie Digby singing this song, she is definitly talented.

unfold :
by: Marie Digby

what i can remember is a lot like water
trickling down a page of the most beautiful colors
i can’t quite put my finger down on the moment
that i became like this...

you see i am the bravest girl
you will ever come to meet
yet i shrink down to nothing
at the thought of someone really seeing me
i think my heart is wrapped around
and tangled up in winding weeds

but i dont wanna go on living
being so afraid of showing
someone else my imperfections
and even though my feet
are trembling and every
word i say comes stumbling
i will bare it all... watch me unfold unfold

these hands that i hold
behind my back are bound and broken
by my own doing and i can’t feel
anything anymore i need a touch
to remind me i’m still real

but i dont wanna go on living
being so afraid of showing someone else my imperfections
and even though my feetare trembling
and every word i say comes stumbling

i will bare it all... watch me unfold
unfold my soul it’s dying to be free you see..
i can’t live the rest of my lifeso guarded
it’s dying to be free it’s up to me to choose...

what kind of life i leadbut i dont wanna go on living
being so afraid of showing someone else my imperfections
and even though my feet are trembling
and every word i say comes stumbling
i will bare it all... watch me unfold unfold

i will allow someone to love me
i will allow someone to love me.

Things Change...

One night can change your life. I went to bed on Thursday night and everything in life was mostly normal, very predictable. I was awoken on at 12:30am on Friday morning to a loud pounding on the door and Cooper barking at whoever it was. When Chris and I went down to the door we found in to be someone there repossessing our truck, which is current on it's payments. We were in complete and utter shock, because he had an order to take the truck and we had no clue why. we have since figured out the cause and if the bank had told us what we needed to give them the whole thing could have and should have been avoided. Instead they chose to steal our truck and then tell us there was a problem. It is just crazy to think that they can just decide to take a vehicle back whenever they want. The whole incident takes a long time to explain and we will be taking the company to court about the situation because we now have a 900.00 fee we have to pay to get our truck from the repo yard 2 hours away! The point that I want to make is that just because things seem like they are okay doesn't mean they are, and the opposite just because life seems to be terrible it does not mean it is. What will make or break a situation is how we as individuals choose to view and deal with the issues at hand. Chris and I have been actively making plans about how we think our life should go. I think that a few of the plans are going to be changing because our plans are not in line with Heavenly Fathers. At this point I am not at liberty to discuss the plan which is possibly going to change because we are still praying and contemplating. However it is exciting and I think that Heavenly Father is telling us that it is time. Life changes very quick and very rapidly, I just hope I can keep up. It can be so scary sometimes, but it is more than worth it. I am excited to live a full life on this earth with my husband and our families. This is definitely an exciting ride.

April Already...

Well folks it is already April, I have been working at my job for a few months now, and Chris is working now also. My job is okay, I am learning a lot about young children. I enjoy being with the one year olds especially and I should be teaching a class of 4 and 5 year olds soon. One of the amazing parts of my job is how much children can teach me. It is amazing to look at the world through their eyes. They can fight and make up a minute later, what is truely amazing is that they will never bring the incident back up. That is one of those well known facts I guess. There is truely an innocence which surrounds children who are loved and respected. That is the key because I can tell when children are not being nutured at home, when they are scared, when they have not learned to respect others because they are not respected by their parents. It is heartbreaking to work with the children who know more swear words and derogitive statements than nice things to say. Especially when they are not even three years old. I can't help but wonder what kind of person is being raised. Will they overcome the immense challenges in their future? I don't know, if a child is not given the proper tools and knowledge, how can we expect them to become functioning adults? It is these questions, it is overcoming these obstacles that makes my job worth it. Children are OUR future, by nurturing and raising children I can make a difference in OUR future. It is about giving them a positive start so they can do great things.
Okay enough of that, it is not what I was planning on writing...Anyways, Chris and I are doing good. He is working at Firestone (I don't like the company) none-the-less it is a job and he is wonderful in putting up with it. He has not had a Saturday off since he started and this week he has Sunday and Tuesday off, I always have Saturday and Sunday. It is hard to be apart so much. However it will not be like this forever. We are planning to start our own business, so that I can be at home and he can go to school. We have a lot of planning and development before we will know when this will happen but it will. I am excited for the adventures of our life, it will be an exciting road. We are also trying to plan a trip to Susanville to see family this summer. Lots of plans, it will be fun. Oh and Liz is having a baby and I am super excited for her and Tim!!! I wish them the best of luck!! I also hope to see them this summer when they come back to Washington to visit.

I HAVE A JOB!!

It finally happened I was offered a job yesterday and accepted it. I am going to be working as a teacher at Kindercare. I don't know what age yet, after I am trained they will find a class for me. I am really excited for this though.

I feel very strongly that the first five years of a child's life lay the foundation of who they are going to become. This has been proven in many studies and is taught in human development classes as well. That means that before kindergarten is a very vital and imortant time for a child and I am so excited to be a part of building these childrens personalities and hopefully a love of learning. I am really considering this as a possible direction for continuing my education, maybe getting my masters in early childhood education. Of course I will keep you all updated on my learning process. I am very excited to work with the young kids!

On another note, we recently got a lot of snow in Richland and I took a really neat picture
(above) I like it a lot, so I thought I would share it. I also wanted to mention that Chris and I have another Blog that will be about him and I. It is called "It all Started with a Handshake" and there is a link on the sidebar with the other links. I also found Becky and Melissa's blogs today and have added their link. I sure do miss hanging out with those two!

Mormon Myths and Reality

Mormon Myths and Reality

I thought this video was wonderful because it addressed some of the fundamental questions and misunderstanding about my faith and that of so many others. i encourage others to watch it and take it to heart, and share it with others.

Keith Urban - Days Go By

Hard Lessons

Well Chris and I moved, and we learned some valuable lessons. Unfourtunatly we learned them the hard way. Here are some tips for anyone thinking of moving.

1. Don't underestimate how much stuff you own. Rent a U-haul it is cheaper than making six trips.

2. Try to avoid moving during the winter... it is cold, wet, and makes planning really hard.

3. Have a job where you are moving.

4. Help is a very good thing- ask for it.

5. Plastic totes are wonderful- waterproof and can be used for storage later.

6. Pack early it is easier that way.

7. PLAN

Just a few idea's. Some of these lessons we learned because of our own mishaps, others because it is what we did and it worked very well. The totes are very useful, and are now storing our camping gear ect. All in all things would be very good here... except that after one month we are both still unemployed, and have used all our savings. On the up side I have a job interview Monday!