Happy Halloween

This is my and some of my Nieces and Nephews just before our Trick or Treating adventures...Yep you got that right I am WONDER WOMAN

Here are my Nephews in Washington...I miss you guys

Run for the Cure Pictures

Okay so it was really cold and we wore our run t-shirts on the ourside of our jackets. Mom and I had our pink hats on!

I have been TAGGED!

8 TV Shows I love to watch:
1.House
2. Bones
3. West Wing
4. Frasier
5. Army Wives
6. Gray's Anatomy
7. 24
8. Prison Break

8 things that happened to me yesterday:
1. Got a hair cut
2. Retrieved a forgotten purse
3. My sister climbed into my bed
4. Make an origami box
5. Got an emergency phone call
6. Talked to all of my clients
7. Woke up at 6am
8. Talked to Val

8 Favorite place to eat:
1. Mom's house
2. Cheesecake Factory
3. Applebee's
4. Olive Garden
5. Dairy Queen
6. Fiesta Ole
7. IHOP
8. Nato

8 things I am looking forward to:
1. A hug from my best friends
2. My next BYU football game
3. Disneyland with my children
4. My wedding day
5. Knowing the secret to making dinner roles like my mom
6. Christmas fudge made by dad
7. Paying off debt
8. Finishing my Master's degree

8 things on my wish list:
1. A brand new VW Passat (Red)
2. Vacation to England
3. A digital camera
4. A home office
5. A grand piano
6. Really big Kitchen
7. Church history tour
8. Visit the temple in Sweden

Earthquakes...and rants

So growing up in California I have been in a couple earthquakes, I have seen the earthquake movies, and so I have learned that different buildings are ratings...specifically how much of an earthquake a building can handle.

Sometimes I think we as people need to realize that we have earthquake rating for our emotions. I bring this up because I have been told over and over again that I don't seem to have any problems I would like to pose my earthquake rating.

I can withstand a 10.0 emotional earthquake. That means that when a 2.5 or 6.4 problem goes through my life my foundation doesn't shake. This doesn't mean that I don't feel it, or that there aren't problems. What it does mean is that I am not going to tumble to the ground.

So what is my point. My point is that when I get a 9.5 earthquake and I am still standing it is not because it has no effect, it is because I have worked for years to reinforce my foundation and my structural soundness. This is the reason that I don't sway when trials come. I feel it, but I know that my foundation is secure.

This is my not so silent plea to the world to understand that your small quakes hurt, but I still stand and have to withstand the bigger earthquakes. I may not be bleeding from the head, but I might be more pain than you can tell.

If you didn't grow up in California or just need a refresher here is the earth quake scale.

I. People do not feel any Earth movement.
II. A few people might notice movement if they are at rest and/or on the upper floors of tall buildings.
III. Many people indoors feel movement. Hanging objects swing back and forth. People outdoors might not realize that an earthquake is occurring.
IV. Most people indoors feel movement. Hanging objects swing. Dishes, windows, and doors rattle. The earthquake feels like a heavy truck hitting the walls. A few people outdoors may feel movement. Parked cars rock.
V. Almost everyone feels movement. Sleeping people are awakened. Doors swing open or close. Dishes are broken. Pictures on the wall move. Small objects move or are turned over. Trees might shake. Liquids might spill out of open containers.
VI. Everyone feels movement. People have trouble walking. Objects fall from shelves. Pictures fall off walls. Furniture moves. Plaster in walls might crack. Trees and bushes shake. Damage is slight in poorly built buildings. No structural damage.
VII. People have difficulty standing. Drivers feel their cars shaking. Some furniture breaks. Loose bricks fall from buildings. Damage is slight to moderate in well-built buildings; considerable in poorly built buildings.
VIII. Drivers have trouble steering. Houses that are not bolted down might shift on their foundations. Tall structures such as towers and chimneys might twist and fall. Well-built buildings suffer slight damage. Poorly built structures suffer severe damage. Tree branches break. Hillsides might crack if the ground is wet. Water levels in wells might change.
IX. Well-built buildings suffer considerable damage. Houses that are not bolted down move off their foundations. Some underground pipes are broken. The ground cracks. Reservoirs suffer serious damage.
X. Most buildings and their foundations are destroyed. Some bridges are destroyed. Dams are seriously damaged. Large landslides occur. Water is thrown on the banks of canals, rivers, lakes. The ground cracks in large areas. Railroad tracks are bent slightly.
XI. Most buildings collapse. Some bridges are destroyed. Large cracks appear in the ground. Underground pipelines are destroyed. Railroad tracks are badly bent.
XII. Almost everything is destroyed. Objects are thrown into the air. The ground moves in waves or ripples. Large amounts of rock may move.

Do you BELIEVE?

" Be not afraid...Only believe" the Savior said in Mark chapter 5. I have thought about faith a lot over my life. How does faith work? What exactly do you have faith in? What happens when you do have faith? If I have faith and nothing obviously changes then did my faith work?

Faith is a believe in God. Not just that he exists, or that he loves me but that God can bring the blessings that I need for my salvation into my life.

This is what faith means to me. Not that what I want will happen. Not that my prayer will be answer the way I hope it will. Not that there won't be pain. Not that it won't take longer than I ever thought it could. Not that it won't mean I have to grow in ways that are literally painful.

Faith means that I know that each day when all my hopes and dreams remain just hopes and dreams that I know that God has a plan for me. That this plan is on track, on time, and in play.

Faith...it is work. To call it faith it has to be hard it has to be a little, or even a lot, painful.

Cave Time

So back when I first started studying relationships between men and women I learned about "cave time" This period of time that men pull away to distance themselves. So I can logically repeat this theory to many people. I can handle it with family and friends...but now I have learned that I hate cave time just as much as any other woman. No amount of logic can help me understand what I am supposed to do while the men in my life go to their cave.

What if decisions need to be made while you are in the cave?

What if I have a crisis during their cave time?

What if I have attachment issues?

What if I just want to hear their voice?

I know they need their cave time, but I hate it and I am not any good at being patient. Girls can I get an amen!

Run for the Cure

So even though the temperature of hovering around 30 and there was a threat of snow mom and I started the morning out at the annual Run For the Cure!....Before we went I told mom about some of the breast cancer awareness shirts I had seen at the mall. My favorite was "Save the Tattas!!"

The race more than doubled from last year and it was great to get out and support such a wonderful cause. I think that it will be an annual tradition for mom and I...come joint us next year.

I will add pictures tomorrow...Come back to see my pink hat!

Playtime at the neighbors

I love Conference Weekend. This conference weekend is even better because Bryan and the little one and I went to my best friends' house for the weekend.

During the conference break today we went out and made friends with the neighbors...which are horses. The little man started climbing the fence as daddy looked on.

He wouldn't get on the tractor, however James and Will were not shy!
Alexia is picture perfect and is a miniature of her mother...which is awesome!
Will is super sweet and was very good and making sure I had my fill of hugs all weekend long!
I can't explain why, but this might be my favorite picture of the little guy...maybe because this is the look he gives me most of the time.
They are on their way back to the desert with a cooler full of good food and good memories.

Jumpin in the Rain

Today between Conference session my desert men went outside to enjoy the rain. At first he wasn't so sure about the water coming from the sky. After a couple minutes daddy helped him find the opening to get in...Will is already in full jump movement at this time.

Then Will started to chase our little guy.
There was questions if this was fun enough to get my pants wet?

but he turned around and started to do some chasing on our own.

Tank for the Rain...and all the jumping.

Lost Art

There is a lost art...it is the Relief Society craft night. Don't get me wrong I totally support the enrichment program, but why can't we all still craft together on a regular basis. There was a day when the sister of the church got together and traded ideas oh how to bring beauty to our homes and bond over toll painting and floral arrangements.

I am not saying it needs to be all the time, but there is a art to women coming together. Like a quilting bee...Yep I am young, educated, not married and still would find a quilting bee fun!

So here is why quilting bee used to be popular:

"Many times groups of women gather for a quilting bee. The bee is a form of socialization and relaxation for these women. It's a time when they can get together to visit and "catch up" with one another once their household duties have been completed."

Are any of your interested in bringing back this lost art?