"The most important things in life are not things"

I loved this quote I saw at dinner group. I think that sometimes we get caught up in the 'stuff' and focus more on that then on the amazing things we have around us that will last. The 'stuff' we have around us will go after we die, but our families, our testimony, our friendships, our knowledge etc. are the things that we can take with us. These should be the most important things in our life especially with our Heavenly Father at the very top. Having him first in our lives always will give us the eternal happiness that we want and desire.

Australian Dream

Ever since I was young I loved the Rescuers Down Under which made me fall in love with Australia. I don't know if I'll ever go there, but I love:

1) The Outback: the red color of the earth and the beautiful range of landscape.


2) Sydney and the many great buildings they have, especially the Sydney Opera House


3)The Kangaroos! They are so cute I always have wanted to play with one, even though they can be vicious.


4) How big the country is and how there is so much to see!


5) Koala Bears this picture is so adorable


6) Sexy accents from sexy people


7) Sugar Gliders. They are so tiny and cute.

Green Magnetic Board

Supplies: Magnetic board with wooden frame (I got mine from Roberts), scissors, paper, Mod Podge, paint brush, vinyl lettering (opt).


I cut diagonal strips to put along the inner edge. I found 5 12x12 pieces of green pieces of paper to put into place. After cutting a strip out, I used Mod Podge to paste it down as flat as I could.


Here is the board with the paper completely on. I then painted Mod Podge all over the paper and right when it was dry, I placed the face of the board on a flat ground so it would dry flat


I used my Cricut to make a letter to place in the lower right hand corner.


Ta Da!!!

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.

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

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 :)

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