Thanksgiving 2012

Yay!  I can finally post again.  I have a lot of catching up to do.  First things first: Thanksgiving.  I went home for the break last Tuesday after school.  Wednesday was a major cleaning and set up day from 7:30 in the morning until 9 at night, followed by a Hallmark film-you can't help but love them.  Thursday was the big day!  We got some things done in the morning and then went to a Zumba class with other family members.  I LOVE Zumba.  Maria was the one who invited us and I think that we are all glad that she did.  It feels good to exercise when you know that there is going to be so much delicious, calorie-filled food.  We got home in time to shower and finish the last-minute preparations before guest started showing up at 1:30.  We had a smaller group of 28 this year.  We really enjoyed being together.  Here are a few pictures of the tables before the food arrived:

 And here are the guests (minus the kids-they ate too fast and were off playing before I could catch some shots):

*starting at the bottom and going clockwise

Grandpa B., Grandma B., Taylor, Maria, LaRae, Bryson, and Karen

 My Dad, my Mom, Bev, Mark, Heidi, Lex, and Carli

 Brooke, Derek, Brad, Lance, Brandt, Kelly, Zach, and me

 Little Zach with sweet potatoes on his cheeks.  Aren't his eyes beautiful?!

 Trevor and his tower

 Carter

 Lincoln and his tower

 The Turkey Bowl

 People hung around until 11:30, but I headed to bed at 9:30 (thanks to a sinus infection).  We had pie galore and played games and visited.  I am thankful for Thanksgiving and for having a holiday to remind me to count my many blessings.  I hope that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving as well.  I am thankful for you!

The Book of Mormon

I have been thinking a lot about my blessings, especially with Thanksgiving tomorrow.  I have countless blessings!  This year, I have been especially grateful for the many people who influence and bless my life.  I have also been grateful for knowledge of truth.  One source of truth that I rely on daily is the Book of Mormon.  I LOVE the Book of Mormon.  I love the feeling I get when I read.  I love how every time I find answers or peace or comfort or all of the above.  I love how everything in life goes better when I take the time to study and ponder the words that it contains.  I have had a great love and appreciation for it all of my life.  Ever since I can remember I participated in family scripture study.  When I was in Elementary School the best time to study together was 5 in the morning before my Dad went into work.  It was hard to get up some mornings, but it was worth it.  I truly have seen how our family is blessed when we read from the Book of Mormon together.  I loved the Book of Mormon as a missionary.  I loved sharing it with others and watching their lives fill with joy and truth as they took the time to study, ponder, and pray about it.  When I was 7, something sparked in me the desire to read the Book of Mormon before I was baptized.  I wasn't the best reader-I actually disliked reading-but I made up my mind that I was going to do it.  My Mom let me use her old seminary Book of Mormon because of the larger print and the pictures.  I loved reading the verses that she had marked in her teenage years-it gave me insight to her testimony.  I would sometimes read with my parents but I read mostly on my own.  I quickly discovered that my reading time was the highlight of my day.  I still remember, the night before I turned 8, I finished reading the last chapter of Moroni.  I had reached my goal.  At that time in my life, I don't think I could have fathomed how that decision to read would bless me for the rest of my life.  I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God.  It contains the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It brings us peace and joy as we read from it.  I am so thankful for it.

I hope that you all have a very happy Thanksgiving!  It is sure to be a wonderful day.

By the way, I just found out that I get to speak on Sunday in Sacrament Meeting.  My topic is Patriarchal Blessings.  I am really excited about it and feel blessed to have the opportunity.  I am going to be studying tonight for a long while as well as the next couple of days.  If you have any insight that you would like to share about the topic, I would love to hear it!  Thanks in advance:)

Childhood

I read a friend's blog the other day and she had posted a picture of herself when she was a girl.  It was so fun to see the picture-she was absolutely adorable.  It made me want to take the time to look at some pictures of myself as a child.  Since I am home this weekend and have access to the pictures I thought I would take the time to do this post.  I have been thinking a lot-wondering what I was like as a child.  What kind of personality did I have?  How did others view me?  How did I view myself?  I decided that I am going to take the time over the next few weeks to document some of my childhood memories. I realize that they are getting fainter by the day so I need to record them.  I want to remember the happiness and blessings of my childhood so that I can share them with my children and grandchildren.  For tonight, I just have some pictures.  I could only go until 3rd grade and then they started to get a little scary.  I hope you enjoy!  Can you tell that it is me from the pictures? 

2 months

1 year

2 years

3 years

5 years

6 years

7 years

8 years

Another One Bites the Dust

Tonight another dear friend got engaged!  I was privileged enough to be a part of the big plans and it was so much fun!  Before I fill you in on tonight, I need to catch up on the rest of the week:

*There are so many pictures that need to be added to this post from my phone; however, that will have to be done at a later time since I don't have the energy to do it right now:)

Monday: Red Ribbon week at school, bean soup, bread bowls, fruits and veggies, pumpkin pie, great company, visiting teaching, Stake Halloween FHE

All the single ladies-Heidi, Wendi, me

Steph and Tomsen

Austin and Jami

Tish and Mike

Tuesday: Figuring out a Halloween costume, extremely excited students, making blocks, time at the apartment

Wednesday: Halloween, witch costume, crazy fun at school, Zoya, fortune cookies, Carli, party hopping
*I so wish that I could include pictures of my adorable students on Halloween-I just don't feel like it is my place to post pictures of them on the internet

Me, Steph, Carolynn, Chuck, Dee, Wendi

Heidi, me, Steph, Candice

Thursday: Long visits and good conversations, rougher day at school, dinner in a pumpkin, a feeling of gratitude for many blessings

Heidi made the dinner in a pumpkin and it was delish!

 Friday: End of the school week, well-behaved students, temple visit, Steph gets engages, dinner with the ladies at the Bluebird

 So to expand a little bit with the big engagement plans...
Tomsen was super on the ball and called me last Friday to see if I would be available to help.  He didn't even have to ask-I was more than happy to do it!  Wendi and I arranged with Steph during the week to have a girls night tonight.  This is a picture of Wendi and at Wendi's house before Steph had arrived.  We had our little secret!

This is the three of us on our way to a park (the first stop of the scavenger hunt).  Steph had not a clue what was going on at this point.  

We went to this park in the island.  We didn't realize how dark it was going to be.  Luckily Wendi was prepared and had a few flashlights.  We had to walk up this little trail to find the flowers and clue.  Wendi had just told us a murder story so I was all freaked out!  I hate the dark and I hate feeling scared.  Thankfully we returned to the car safely!  This is a picture of Steph right after she found the clue.  She was quickly catching on.  

 We drove to the next stop by the temple and found Tish there with the next clue and more flowers.

 We then drove Steph to the next spot, Afton Apartments, where she found Sarah, Annalynne, Dee, and Carolynn.  Tish, Wendi, and I snuck off to change into our black dresses.  We went to a house up on cliffside where Tomsen was waiting.  He was decked out in a tux and saddle shoes.  The other girls arrived only a short time later while Steph was told to wait outside and count to 59 until she could come in.  When she came in, she sat on the couch and Tomsen started to play the Frank Sinatra song, "The Best is Yet to Come" on the piano.  We started snapping to it (I wish that I could explain this better) and he sang the whole song with us as his back-up snappers.  At the end he got down on one knee and popped the question.  She said YES!  It was so exciting!

 We quickly left so that Tomsen and Steph could have their time together.  We went to the Bluebird for dinner and had a great time!  I think that we were all so tired that we were laughing and everything!  Here are some of the highlight quotes of the night:

• "We are all seeds.  Steph just sprouted and when she has a baby she'll blossom." -Sarah
• "When she said 'warmed up' she meant lava!" -Carolynn
• "All of my friends married good gu...well, most of them." -Wendi
• "That nut just moved." -Wendi  "What nut?" -Annalynne  "Your nut!" -Lauren
• "We hit a bird with two stones tonight!" -Sarah
• "Yes, I am doing this in public." -Sarah  "Doing what in public?" -Lauren  "Taking off my belt." -Sarah
• "Oh my heck, oh my heck, oh my heck, oh my gosh!" -Sarah

I promise that they were really funny when they were said-I guess you just had to be there:)