Monday, May 31, 2010

Memorial Day Meaning



"Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May (May 31 in 2010). Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. soldiers who died while in the military service.[1] First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War (it is celebrated near the day of reunification after the Civil War), it was expanded after World War I to honor dead Americans from all wars." Wiki

Let's remember all who have died for us in war for the freedoms we have so we can live in this beautiful country.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Cheering at Special Olympics


BYU holds a Special Olympics every year for people with special needs to participate in activities with each other. It was SUCH a great experience.
Service always has meant a lot to me. Here in college I have learned that this time of my life is so selfish, it's also such a great time to also give and there are so many chances all over. When giving ourselves (whether it be time, money, talents, etc) we are serving the Savior and in turn bettering ourselves as we become more like Christ because we are acting like He would.
Sometimes its hard to serve because there are other things we rather be doing, better things we believe we could be doing with our time, but we have been promised that we will feel better, be happier, and again become LIKE Christ when we reach out to others. When we WIllingly do this, we can return to Him. We are being tested for how we use our time in bettering ourselves or helping others. We are so blessed and have so much to give whether we think so or not.


In the Special Olypmics at BYU, I went to the front desk and asked how I could help. The person directed my to a spot on one of the four soccer fields and said "we need more people to cheer and help on the sidelines if soccer balls go out." I watched a game with about fifteen children of all ages with Downs Syndrome. Me, and a ton of other people were cheering, but when you listened everyone was cheering for every child on that field. It didn't matter whoever won, I don't even know if they were keeping score. I do know that every kid was out there not caring how their team did, but just wanted to have fun and feel accepted.
These kids were so kind as they helped each other up from falling, pass the soccer ball to others, and had such a great time even if they were losing. There was one point I looked around all four fields and I felt tears in my eyes because the sounds you could here was pure cheering. This I'm sure really impacted the kids as they were encouraged and heard these uplifting voices and uplifting calls, even if they weren't directed toward them.
By half time I learned a majority of the names on the field and even though I wasn't directly talking with them, I really felt more of a connection with them. I encourage you when you serve with others around you, learning the names of those you serve makes such a great difference.


It reminds me of our lives and how we need to recognize more of what's happening around us. Sometimes are we taking things too seriously and not seeing others around us who might be hurting or are dying for a friend or some attention? Are we being too focused on ourselves instead of lifting someone else up? Are we putting others down instead of bringing them up?
I tell you, I learned so much from these kids even though I was the volunteer helping out. I didn't get the chance to sit down and talk with anyone directly from these games but cheering them on and observing how they treated these games opened my eyes.
Some ideas I had learned this weekend for serving:
1) Really take time to get to know the names of those you are serving,
2) forget yourself and serve even if it's not making a significant impact,
3) look more outward and help those around you

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Poolside Watching Shows with Roomie

Finally! Yesterday it snowed but today felt so great! Aimee and I went to the pool and had such a good time relaxing and talking about life. We brought my laptop out to catch up on some new episodes but.. the plug didn't work so we reconvened later inside. The sun felt great, it feels like forever we have seen it.My favorite was spending time with my roomie. We've had so much fun being roommates for a few years now and from the following pictures... we LOVE the sun. Please have it stay out for the rest of summer!

Going rope swinging at Mona together
Aimee and me, look at us go!

Perfect beach weather for us
Tender... mercy...

Catching some rays last March/April 2009

Really weird, to the pool today I wore that swimsuit, and she wore that one... This was from last years California Trip where she met Naters! This one is so tender :)

Monday, May 24, 2010

Hallie Baby

A baby has a special way of adding joy in every single day.

-- Author Unknown

Natalie and Jeff had Hallie last week. We've had so much fun seeing her and am so excited to see her grow up. Babies have such a sweet spirit and are truly little angels. I also loved seeing Chris and other family and friends hold her close. She is such a sweet little girl!

"A new baby is like the beginning of all things-wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities." -- Eda J. Le Shan. "A baby is sunshine and moonbeams and more brightening your world as never before." -- Author Unknown. "Babies are bits of stardust, blown from the hand of God." -- Barretto. "Child rearing myth #1: Labor ends when the baby is born." -- Anonymous. "Babies touch the world with love." -- Author Unknown.


Ten fingers,
Ten toes
She's laughter and teardrops
So small and brand new
And amazingly angelic
She's sent to bless you
She's one special Baby
The best of life's treasure
And will grant and bless you
Many hours of great pleasure.

-- Author Unknown


Saturday, May 22, 2010

Cutest Quilt for Baby Hallie

Me, Lynsi, and Chris' mom have helped put together a quilt for new baby Hallie. She is so cute and we've loved seeing her already. I didn't help as much with the quilt as with the flowers to go on the blanket.

We made a ton of flowers and sewed them onto the bottom right corner of the blanket.


This blanket was unique because some of the flowers that we made for the blanket were made into hair clips for the baby. We sewed buttons on the blanket so a handful of the flowers can come off and on for the baby to wear!

Here's a few of the flowers we put onto the blanket:




Friday, May 21, 2010

Cricutting Calendar

I needed a calendar for my room so I bought this one from Michaels for $2.40. I filled in the dates and used my Cricut to make pictures for each month.

I made sure to leave room on each month that I've done so far so I can place my monthly goals in a place.

Hopefully it will be summer by June!

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Take Me There

Rascal Flatts Take Me There was the song going over and over in my head when Chris took me to his old high school which is going to be taken down. They built a new school right next door and it was the last time to go through and see the school.
Chris took me around and showed me the gym, where he had classes, lockers, lounge area, lunch, and heard a bunch of stories I loved it. Thanks for Taking Me There!

Monday, May 17, 2010

Anniversary!!!

I love our month anniversaries. It's so much fun to look back on when we began dated or the journey. I looked back on a few pictures of when we've dated. So cute!

Picture from one of his cousin's wedding receptions in the wintertime
The first picture I could find of us. This is before we were dating, we went up with some of my friends to a park where we had a bonfire and roasted some marshmallows.

This was the day of or day before we were official. I was staying at Kelly's apartment before going back to Michigan and on our way to our date I wanted to take a picture by Cosmo.

One of my favorite dates! Chris took me to a park and we swung on the big swing, watched the duckies, watched interesting people, and had a great time just talking.

Same date with the duck pond behind us.

Stopping for gas on our way to the lasagna party. There was a rainbow and I wanted us to get a picture in front of it (same time we took the picture that's on top of my blog). The guy who took our picture actually offered both of us jobs on the spot for something.

We went to a BYU at the Energy Solutions Arena. I got everyone in for free it was fun. I did marketing for BYU athletics and could get us really close for basketball or football.
Temple Square seeing all the lights. So beautiful. You can't really see us in this pic but this is a favorite for us. We were bummed out that night because we arrived at like 9:58 saying how excited the lights were still on and BAM.. the lights were out by 10:00 but eh, we were able to be there and see the temple.


When we went to Park City with his roommates. I bought a cute watch while we were up there and I got so car sick. Thanks for being there for me like always!

Dove in blue foam for a BYU event. So fun, I've always wanted to do it but my first three years here I was always working. We finally went and was a blast turning blue!
Watching BYU basketball. We were able to get onto the first few rows because I was with marketing. It was such a great basketball season.

Another reception we went to. It was fun being with Chris' family and he looks so cute.

More BYU football games. I had to help out a bit for this game but came up to visit him and the fam. Our eyes look the same color in this one.
Thanks so much for all the good memories and so much more to come!

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Heads is right - Tails is left

Today was gorgeous! Better weather recently I hope it stays like this and gets even hotter!

After family dinner, we went on a drive in the convertible. Chris wanted surprise me this time on our drive and so he took me to Utah Lake where we drove around a lot of it and admired the beauty and talked. On our way home we decided to flip a coin to determine our path of direction. Heads is right, tails is left it's pretty fun. We did pretty well for getting back home without being too off course.

Even though we were just having fun, when looking for the right way to go the Savior is always the right way and will lead us back safely. I loved a talk years ago by President Hinckey about the Lord being as steady as the Northern Star. The Northern Star will never change its course and is so reliable because it never changes, and is always there. When following the Lord we know we can depend on Him because He is the way and He knows how we can make it to our Eternal Destination.

Friday, May 14, 2010

Time with Chris

As a couple it's so important to make time for each other no matter how crazy one's schedule is. Right now my schedule is not busy at all, but I love how Chris always makes time to see me, take me out, just talk, or just spend quality time.


Last night we fondued! I don't know if that's a word.. but it is now. I put together some toppings of kiwi, grapefruit, orange, rolos, Goo Goo clusters, starburst.. so basically what I had laying around. We ate it in front of a movie it was so fun!


Today we went and played some tennis. It was perfect tennis weather because it was cloudy, about to rain but thank goodness it didn't, and a cool breeze. It felt great and he is so good!


This morning I went grocery shopping and I got some things for us to eat. Throw it in a crock pot and tonight we are having a scrumptious pot roast which is super easy to throw together! (No this is not mine but I'm sure it's just as yummy. I'm glad Chris isn't a picky eater).
So fun, thanks again babe for always taking time for me :)