Ghosting

I want to try this...who's with me?!?!

26th...I mean 3rd 24th Birthday!!!

So Monday is my actual birthday, but both my parents will be out of town for work, so we celebrated tonight (Saturday)...if you saw this on Facebook, comment anyways! And YES...it was a FAKE lottery ticket! I was so depressed! For a total of 10 seconds my life had changed! I thought I was one of those 1 in 10 billion people who win!!! LOL!!! Oh well! Better luck next year!!!

"Innumerable As The Stars In The Sky, Or Sand On The Seashore"

I. Love. Institute. Period! Our institute director Bishop Bowcutt is such an amazing teacher, as are his parents who are the Missionary CES couple who are serving their mission here. Tonight was the first class of the new semester and I always love the first lesson for a few reasons...1. we ALWAYS start the semester off with the plan of Salvation (the plan of Happiness, the plan of Mercy, the plan of Redemption) and 2. it just gives me a reminder of who I truly am (cause I need a little reminder every once in awhile!)...



This semester we did it a little different, we divided up into 6 groups and were assigned different parts of the Plan. I was in group 2, the Veil (of forgetfulness) and Earth life. Then once we talked about our topics we broke into 6 other groups and went in order of the Plan and talked about what we learned! I loved it this way! We were able to share with a few others what we know about the Plan! I love how perfect the plan is! It makes so much sense!





After we got done talking about that we went on to talk about some other stuff that really made me stop and think. Like in the scriptures when they talk about when the stars in the sky and the sand upon the seashore is the innumerable amount of children that our loving Heavenly Father has. I had heard also that there are as many worlds as there are grains of sand. It all of the sudden makes me feel so small and insignificant in the grand scheme of things! But then I realize that there is someone who is all knowing, who knows the end from the beginning and even with all the stars and sand in the world and other worlds, He knows ME personally by name. He loves ME, even when I do the silliest things, He is patient with me even when I'm not patient with Him. Til the end of time, He will know me. What a great feeling that is. I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to not believe, to have no faith in anything, not looking forward to seeing anyone on the other side when you die. It's slightly depressing. But I am so very glad that I have the knowledge and faith that there is more. That I am one of those stars and grains of sand and that I matter.

D & C 132:30- ..."out of the world they should continue; both in the world and out of the world should they continue as innumerable as the stars; or if ye were to count the sand upon the sea shore ye could not number them"

2009 In Review!

2009 was a great year!!! I was able to go to the temple almost every month! I LOVED being able to be there! I turned 25 (or 24 for the 2nd time)! I got to go to Utah in August for a family reunion, went on several outings with my good friend Ray, moved out of my parents house...and lots more! Here is my year in pictures!!!! I have almost every month covered except for October I think!

Here I am at the Temple the day before my birthday!!!


A few guys from my ward were on a city league basketball team that I went to see almost weekly! It was so much fun! The guy making the shot in the background is my friend Ben! He's awesome!


One of the things I did A LOT of this year was babysit! I just love my cousin Annalise! She is such a riot!


My friend Ray is from Ft. Lauderdale and we just have a blast together! She's become a ray of light and a wonderful friend! We've gone to the beach, Wakulla Springs and the Mary Brogan museum to see the "body exhibit"...that was interesting to say the least!!!




And only in Florida can you go to the beach in February!



In March me, my mom, sister, and sister's roommate Lindy went to Time Out For Women in Orlando! I love going to those because it always reminds me of why I LOVE being a woman!!


M & M's anyone?!


In April...I did MORE babysitting! I took these ones when we went to the park then when we got back they played in the sprinklers, again only in Florida can you play in the sprinklers in April!!!


In May we had a YSA activity in Dothan Alabama at a place that had a rink to skate, laser tag (our team DOMINATED!!!), arcade games etc! It was fun! (please excuse the horrid picture of me!)


Also in May my sister and her roommates invited me to go to the beach, that was a blast too!!!


I absolutely LOVE having family in town! I get to enjoy watching everyone grow and change!!!


The past year and a half my calling has been FHE "Mom" and in July someone had the activity of playing water balloon toss, or water balloon volleyball...except we didn't make it past nailing each other with the balloons!!! It was TOO much fun!




Of course in August we went to Utah for a family reunion of sorts! I had such a great time! I just love my family and friends!






I wish I had picture from Thanksgiving, but my camera was broken and I just got a camera for Christmas (thanks mom and dad!!!) But here are some pictures from Christmas!!!



Christmas Dinner!


I just love my little brother! He is so cool!!


Dad and Lauren take a load off!!!


I hope 2010 is just as wonderful, if not better, than 2009! I am so blessed to have the family and friends that I do! I love you all!!! Happy New Year!!!

New Moon...the MOVIE!!!

Okay, SO the movie. I LOVED IT! I'm not going to lie, the 2nd book was my least favorite, but I loved the movie! To my mom's graciousness, she lent me $10.00 to go see the movie!!! I called my friend Ray up to see if she wanted to come with me. We were going to go see it at 9:45 in the morning, but I absolutely couldn't wait 12 hours! So we went with hopes of seeing the 10:55 movie (we got to the mall to at 9:30...) they were SOLD OUT! I was like ARE YOU KIDDING?!?! haha! So we were going to see it at 11:35 but we got up there and the lady was like there is a show at 11:15...SCORE! So we got our tickets and waited in line! We got decent seats and waited about 30 minutes...aka an eternity! Also while we waited about 30 annoying 13 year olds came in and raised the volume about 79%, I would be lying if I said I wasn't annoyed...but as soon as they walked in someone in the row behind us said "if you scream, I will KILL you"...that took care of the problem! THEN, finally after a whole year...the movie started! I sat there with a permanent smile on my face for 2 hours! I LOVED every MINUTE OF IT! Even the very abrupt ending!!!! That actually might have been my favorite part! I can't wait til June for when Eclipse to come out!!! That one for sure I'm going to opening night! I was bummed that I couldn't go to see this movie on opening night! But I saw it within the first 24 hours, so it's all good! Not to mention that New Moon BLEW The Dark Night out of the water for opening night sales! Some 27 million buckaroos! HOLLA! Anyways, back to the movie. I loved all the shirtless scenes ;-) the only unfortunate thing is that Taylor Lautner (Jacob) is ONLY 17...such a shame! Hahaha! I might even be on the fence about jumping from Team Edward to Team Jacob....the movie followed the book pretty well. Anyways, I'm going to see it again sometime this week! Yes, you read that right, I'm going to see it again! You better believe it! What did all 3 of you who read my blog think of the movie?!?

Christmastime...

Christmastime Lyrics:

Candy Canes, counting days, kids who still believe
Falling snow, mistletoe, trimming the tree,
Laying under the glow of colored strings of lights
Dreaming of Christmas eve night,

Popcorn chains, China plates, the smell of pumpkin pie
Wrapping gifts, ornaments, stockings hung high,
Baking cookies, and reading stories,
A different tale every night,
Seeing it again through a child's eyes.

It's the hope that one day the world will know peace,
It's the love that we feel helping others in need
It's the shepherds who follow the star in the night
All wrapped up in the gift of Christmastime.

Holy Night, the perfect gift divine, unto us has come,
A perfect child, the baby mild and holding her son,
Mary sing a lullaby as peacefully he sleeps,
And she marvels at what this miracle will mean.

It's the Son of Heaven as angels sing
Its the grace that only the Savior could bring,
It's wise men who follow Him each day of their lives
All wrapped up in the gift of Christmastime

It's wise men who follow Him each day of their lives,
It's love and hope, it's joy and light
It's Christmastime.


I found this song on youtube by Hilary Weeks off her new Christmas album a few weeks ago and just fell in love with it. I love the words, the music, it just touches my heart like no other song. Today I was listening to it on my mp3 player on repeat and I was thinking about when I really started to understand that Christmas wasn't about presents, it was about His presence. Christmas is by far one of my favorite seasons. I know it's not Christmas time yet, but the weather here is starting to cool down and I love thinking about the birth of the One who would come to save us, from our struggles, our pain, our sorrow, and for me, from myself. It's such a beautiful concept to me. Without Him, we would all fail. He came into this world in the most humble of circumstances and He lived his life to the will of His Father, our Father. I know it's still 2 months away, but listen to the song and let it touch your heart the same way it touched mine. Thanksgiving is coming up, what are you all thankful for? Me? I'm thankful for so many things, mainly the people in my life. Every single person in my life has touched me in different ways. So to all who read this, in some way, shape or form you have touched my life and I thank you for it.

Heart Walk

So I went on vacation right? While I was on vacation somehow I got nominated to be our team captain for the American Heart Association's heart walk. I got back and my friend Ashley was like oh yea btw...we think you'd do a great job! Haha! Well, we were only allowed to do fund raising on 1 day and then we were not allowed to solicit to our clients...wow so I met with the other team captains in my building, I guess they decided that since there were 3 floors we should have 3 captains! Well I pretty much spear headed everything for our office. We decided to do a breakfast and have a jeans day. So we raised somewhere around $250.00, which I don't think is TOO shabby! Well along with that was the heart walk. We found out that it was 2.5 miles and I thought hey that's pretty easy, so I started enlisting my family and friends to come! Well my mom and brother showed up and as soon as the raise started they TOOK OFF! Lol, it's okay though cause my friend Andrew who works in my department and his wife, Katie and their 9 month old son Beckham, and their dog, Lily came and I walked with them! We did the walk in about 40-45 minutes or so, which for me, is good time! But I will say that all in all I'm proud to say that I was part of the walk! It was a little on the chilly side this morning, but it was so nice! Here is a picture of me, my brother and my mom at the end of the race! We might be lookin slightly rough, but hey we never felt better!!!!