Blessed Honored Pioneer

Here in Utah we celebrate the day the Mormon pioneers came to Utah. Because of persecutions and extreme prejudice against the LDS religion and it's people. The pioneers had to leave the area that they built up from a swamp to a beautiful city called Nauvoo. After leaving Nauvoo they faced bitter cold, blistering heat, Indians, and wild animals. They lost valuable oxen, cows and horses that helped pull wagons. They lost loved ones that they had to bury along the road in unmarked graves. The fought their way across the country before they stood overlooking what we now know as the Salt Lake valley, then a barren dessert wasteland. They heard the Prophet Brigham Young proclaim "This is the place, drive on". Through hard work, faith and prayers the pioneers turned this dry dessert into a beautiful city. By direction through the prophet the pioneers not only founded Salt Lake City, but St. George, Cedar City, Bluff, Brigham City, Heber, Coalsville, and many other city's here in Utah and even city's in Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming, Nevada and Arizona. I am so thankful for the pioneers and for all the trials and tribulations they went through for their God and their right to freely worship how they choose without persecution and the fear of mobs and angry people knocking on their doors. I am so thankful for a loving heavenly father who watches over and protects us.

Catching up

Well a lot has happened since I posted last. I need to go back before my birthday
July 12- Mom and dad Came home. I was in class when their flight flew in. But later that night James and I went over to Nancy and Gary's for a swim party and to see mom and dad. It was so much fun to see Mom and Dad and to talk with them. They came a little late so we had the chance to visit with other members of the family. Then when they came everyone had a chance to visit with them and say hello. After dinner mom and dad passed out gifts from Ecuador. It was fun to see what everyone got and to hear the stories behind them. It was a little weird seeing Mom and Dad. It felt normal but not at the same time since it has been awhile since I've seen them face to face. All in all it was a great day and really fun to see them.July 13- I got a call from Mom asking if I've had lunch yet. Her and Kari surprised me by coming and getting me for lunch. We walked to the gateway to go to Applebee's. It was nice to spend that one on one time with them. Mom and Dad were leaving the next day to go home to Monticello.July 15- My birthday! :) Okay so I did work on my birthday but only a half day. I went home around 1:00 James and I went out to do a little window shopping, both for things we want and need. Then he surprised me by taking me out to dinner and the 1 thing I have been asking for and craving for about 2 years. He got for me. :) LOBSTER! :) It was so good, I was pretty stoked that I got it. After dinner we went to fat cats and went bowling. We both haven't been bowling in a long time, it was nice. Kinda felt like we were dating again. The night was getting kinda late so we went fro ice cream and went home to cuddle up to a movie. What a great Birthday.
July 16- The birthday festivities continued, we picked up our niece Abby and went to the 7th Harry Potter part 2 WAHOOO!It was such a good movie maybe even my favorite one yet. I think they did a fairly good job following the book. Cant wait to see it again. After the movie we dropped off Abby and went to Mindful Women's. James had bought me a massage and I changed it to Saturday so it could be a couples massage. It was really nice to spend that time with him. This whole weekend has felt like we just took time to reconnect. No work, no school, just us spending time together. After the massage we did need to do some homework. So we went out to Mom and Dad A. house to do some home work.
July 17- Sunday dinner was at Kim and Gordy's house and it was a dinner of my choice. :) We had kabobs, asparagus, potatoes and then chocolate cake for dessert. The whole family pitched in to get me a new cover for my kindle...since my homemade one was starting to fall apart.It's exactly the one I wanted too. It has a light that pulls out of the top right corner so I can read my kindle in the dark. The light doesn't have any battery's that I have to change it all goes off the kindle battery. They also got me so scrapbook stuff, clips and a few e books for my kindle. :) This Sunday was also the Sunday of the Weber State Fireworks. So everyone who was going packed up and we all headed to the campus to watch the fireworks. If you have never been to this firework show it is SO good. They have a live sympathy playing and the Air Force brings in a Howitzer(sp?) cannon that they shoot off while the fireworks are going. It's such a good show. What a great birthday weekend.

It's My Birthday!

So James and I are big How I Met your Mother fans. We so far have every season and as soon as this last season comes out we'll have it too. This episode has been running through my head for the past couple of days. :) the sound is a little weird cause the person that posted the you tube video edited a lot of the background sound. Anyway enjoy! :)

P.S. I did this earlier today :)

Forever 29

My friend Katie did this on her birthday and I thought it would be fun. I thought I was going to be a little sad on my 29th birthday but so far it's been a nice day. :) Well I've learned a lot and experienced a lot in my 29 years, and though I'm not where I pictured myself being at this age, I still have a lot of years left to get where I want to be. So here are 29 little known facts about me...

1.I secretly love girlie things ( I am even coming around to pink)
2.I love the color Orange
3.I love learning new things, aside from school I am playing around with photography.
4. If I could I would do nothing but craft ALL DAY! I love trying new ideas and concept and making things look pretty.
5. I am an extremely slow reader ( I am still reading Pride and Prejudice and it's been 3 years since I started), but I love to read.
6. My sisters in law, niece and husband started a book club which has helped me branch out in my reading genres.
7. I love movies. I would be at a new movies every Friday night if we had the money.
8. Love anything Disney...with the exception of Winnie the Pooh. He kinda freaks me out.
9. Love horses (I'm sure EVERYONE knows that.)
10. I am color blind (not in the literal sense) I cant pair colors that match for the life of me.
11. I love shoes but hate to wear them. Jewelry is a guilt pleasure and I wish I had more style.
12. I NEVER forget people. I may forget their names but I never forget a face, and the role they played in my life. Seriously I have stories from kids in Kindergarten.
13. I have a hard time with the concept of mean people. I just cant understand why it's hard to be nice.
14. I have a hard time lying. Especially with a direct question. But I feel I do have tact.
15. I am an 80's music JUNKIE.
16. I have A LOT of collections and have a few more that I want to start.
17. I do really well with horses, dogs and other animals. People have a hard time believing me on this but I just understand them and know how to work with them.
18. I want a room in my house with Big fluffy leather couches that when I sit down it will eat me and the walls will be nothing but books.
19. My niece Lexi and I are so close in age and looks that people think we are twins. compliment for me..I think an insult for her. :p
20. On my 18th birthday I went and got a tattoo on my left shoulder blade of a black panther. I still don't regret it and think it still looks good to this day. Oh and I paid for it in one dollar bills from my tips I had made at Denny's.
21. When I was little I was playing under the frame of our hot house when I thought I cleared the beam, I didn't and when I stood up a framing nail went in m head. Luckily I was short so no real bad damage just a bad wound. :) I have been accident prone since.
22. I am an Inuyasha geek
23.I think my hair and eyes are my best feature and I try to stay Positive cause I cant stand negativity. It's one of my pet peeves.
24. I stopped drinking Caffeine. I haven't had a diet coke in about 4 or 5 months.
25. two of my very best friends growing up was my niece Lexi and my other niece Erika
26 I have 28 nieces and nephews (counting both sides) and one on the way and I am a great aunt to 4 cute kids. The oldest is 26 the youngest is 2 months old.
27. I am a HUGE Harry Potter fan. I got my friend hooked to it, and I got James, Nikki and Abby hooked to it too. :) Also a fairly big Twilight fan. Bigger Harry Potter fan though
28. I love to go rock crawling in Southern Utah. We use to plan everything around Jeep Safari...til we had to sell the Jeep.
29. I don't turn 29 (officially) till 5:02 PM :)

Hope you enjoyed these 29 facts. Now I am going to clock out from work and go home to celebrate. :)
Thanks for Reading!

Guess What!?!

Dear Mom and Dad:
Remember I got into Middle school and how excited I was? Remember how I brought home my first (and not last) F? Remember how you had to ground me for all my sophomore year and even the summer after because I wouldn't go to school and got F after F? Remember the frustrating fights and discussions, the trying to understand why? Remember how Dad thought Bribery would work? (A -$10 B-$5 C-$2 D&F $0) Remember the early morning long line to get me into Summer School just so I would pass my 10th grade year?

Dear Shelly and Nathan:
Remember helping night after night doing my homework? Remember helping get through those ugly pink, purple and maroon packets so I could finally graduate high school by the skin of my teeth?

WELL...THIS IS FOR YOU ...

"Dear Student:

Congratulations, we want to notify you that you have made the Dean's List for the Fall 2010 semester by maintaining a GPA of at least a 3.70 or higher while attending full time..."

JAMES AND I BOTH MADE THE DEANS LIST!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

Sunday Thoughts

So this is a little late and I apologize. With my parents coming home TODAY! my mind hasn't been in reality lately. :) But my Sunday thought this week is about Forever Families. This Sunday we had a missionary come home. he told us a story about a family that found a plaque that they liked at a thrift store that said Families are Forever. They had a friend who was a member that got to talk to them about the plaque and they invited the missionaries in their home. With my parents coming home I have been experiencing a lot of different emotions. Excitement of course, anxiety and nervous, saying a lot of prayers for their safety. (I do worry A LOT). I tend to think of the most extreme cases...I'm not sure why. But as I was thinking about my life, my family and my husband I am so grateful that families are forever.

In the LDS religion we believe that we don't have to be parted by death. We believe that through that proper authority and the sealing power that can be obtained in the temples of the Lord. Families can be sealed and bound together in this life on earth as well as the life to come. Forever Families. I know this is true and this knowledge has helped me get through the death of both my grandparents, a niece, and my own baby. To know that I can see them again in the next life and get to know them. There is nothing more comforting when you are faced with the death of a loved one.
I know our Heavenly Father loves us, and wants us to return to live with him. I know he wants nothing but Happiness for ALL his children. I know that families can be together forever. I am thankful that James and I have each other for eternity as well as our future family. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ with all my heart. I love my Savior Jesus Christ and I know that he gave his life so that we can live with him and the father again. I know that we have a living prophet today and that he is the mouth piece of the Lord. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church on this earth and that it truly is Christ's church. This is my testimony that I bare to you in the name of Jesus Christ himself. Amen

For more information about this topic and many more. Please click here.

Less than a week

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT! Well no you probably wont be able to till I tell you. :p My parents have been serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for the past 18 months. they have been at the Guayaquil Ecuador temple mission. In less than one week they will be home. That's right! Next Tuesday July 12 at 10:30 AM they will be flying in to the Salt Lake International Airport. YAY! The time has seemed so long and yet short at the same time. I haven't been able to talk to my parents (besides a very short broken up phone conversation) since last year. Senior missionaries are different then the younger missionaries. They get to talk to family more often. We usually used Skype. But their hard drive crashed on their computer and that put an end to skyping. So I am excited to be able to see/talk to them again. Love you Mom and Dad

Happy 4th Of July

I am not the wife of a soldier, but I do have soldiers in my family. My brother is a Marine, both my father in law and my dad served in the Army, James' brother in law Justin is in the Air Force Reserve, and the Armstrong family proudly displays Uncle Tom's purple heart from WW2 at Mom and Dad's house. I know that our country has it's problems, but that still doesn't take the pride from my heart when I see the flag fly. This country is so blessed with the freedoms that we get to enjoy.

"My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy!" ~Thomas Jefferson

I never forget what has been done to ensure the freedom of this country and it's people. We have so many wonderful opportunities that we enjoy and take for granted. I know I have, but I try to remember as I know we all do, the sacrifices that have been made for this great land.

"Freedom's natal day is here.
Fire the guns and shout for freedom,
See the flag above unfurled!
Hail the stars and stripes forever,
Dearest flag in all the world."
~Florence A. Jones~

I am so proud to live in this great nation where I can choose for myself how I want to live my life. I am so proud and grateful for all the men and women who fought to make this country free and who still fight to keep that freedom. I am grateful that even through trials, tribulation and people who have tried to get this great nation to change. We are still a country who holds to the belief that God blesses America and that we do still trust in him.

"In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved." ~Franklin D. Roosevelt

"The cement of this union is the heart-blood of every American." ~Thomas Jefferson

"I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him." ~Abraham Lincoln

"Freedom is never free." ~Author Unknown

I couldn't imagine raising our future children in a country where they couldn't make their own choices. I love to see the flags waving from people’s houses and the increase of red, white and blue clothing worn this month. I love to see Americans come together and forget petty differences and stand as one to celebrate the independence that we get to enjoy and live every day. I am Proud to Be an American!

"If you are ashamed to stand by your colors, you had better seek another flag." ~Author Unknown

"My patriotic heart beats red, white, and blue." ~Author Unknown (AMEN)

I love all these quotes, and I believe and feel everyone. So as we pull out our BBQ, buy those fireworks, get the water balloons and squirt guns ready. I hope we can take a few moments and proudly hang our flag and give a moment of silence to the men and women that are not here to celebrate with family and friends the reason why they are serving. To all the troops past, present, future. GOD BLESS YOU!