Happy List from last week, Thanksgiving, and FAMILY PICTURES!

-seeing progress with our financial goals
-talking with Jill for couple hours
-being told I do "a good job" by a customer. Haha. It helps after being yelled at on the phone. :)
-Oaklee looking at a picture of Jared and quietly saying to "him".. "Jared, you're the best!!" :D Haha
-Cuddling with Oaklee while watching Pocahontas & her falling asleep on me
-a really incouraging email from a co-worker
-ChickfilA and Breaking Dawn with Whit, Chels, and Cami
-laughing histerically in the car
-beautiful winter photoshoot
-going on a double date night that included new underwear, pizza factory, Harry Potter, and "Truth or Truth"
-Walking to Stake Conference in the snow with Jared
-feeling the spirit at Stake Conference
-Justin's birthday party
-visiting my mom & dad
-playing Upwords
-getting our family pictures back :) :)

This last weekend was so wonderful. Besides getting smacked in the nose by the edge of my car trunk while putting away groceries, that is. :) (Yes, my nose is bruised but thankfully, not broken) Smooooth, I know. On Saturday, I had a photo shoot with an adorable family, cute hats, and fresh beautiful snow. Perfect. We lounged around, I edited.. Then we went with some dear friends to buy new underwear (and it was more exciting than it probably should be..), go eat at the Pizza Factory (just thinking about the bread sticks and salad bar makes me hungry!), and home to watch the last Harry Potter (I need to get those on tape so I can finally finish)..

On Sunday, we had Stake Conference. Jared and I put on our coats, I wore boots with  my skirt and it was officially Winter in my mind. We walked to the church holding hands. We had told ourselves we’d get there early but, getting there just a few minutes before the meeting began, we had a difficult time finding a seat. We lucked out and found a great spot. We sat and listened, back tickled, and whispered. We felt the spirit when our leaders spoke and when the choir sang and we were edified.

I couldn't be more excited that Thanksgiving is nearly here and my long weekend begins at the end of today. I am so blessed and have so much to be grateful for. I'm most grateful for.. The gospel of Jesus Christ, my family, my friends, and of course.. This guy. So grateful to have him forever.




Photos taken by Travis Buhler. :) Trav, I love them.

Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you have a wonderful Holiday. :)

The Weekend Song

This weekend, I had a five day weekend. FIVE. When it was finally time for me to go back to work, I was convinced I no longer had a job. (a girl can dream)  Things that made me happy this weekend:

-getting my hair dyed dark.. just how I like it.

-my favorite ice cream flavor of all time, Tillamook Mudslide.

-meeting Whitney's friend from England, Pam.

-playing with Kody, the puppy
-English chocolate. Divine. Normal Kit Kats no longer suffice..
-spending the day with Whitney and Pam.. going to Gardener Village and up Little Cottonwood Canyon
-listening to Pam's accent. :) I spoke with an accent to Jared for 20 minutes after being with her on Friday, just because it sounds so blasted cool. Haha.
-Fall leaves
-embarrassing Whitney at 7-11 by saying "Wowza!" to the the cashier :)
-Copper Hills Homecoming Game with all of Jared's friends
-snuggling baby Legend and making him smile
-dinner at Chili's & sharing divine desserts with Brian & Hilary
-staying up late & watching a movie with Jared
-a delicious Winder Farms BBQ dinner with the Witts (they split their Winder pancakes & bacon with us and we split our Winder steak & potatoes. Yum on all accounts.)
-a walk to the park & swinging
-playing games



I so (very much) look forward to this next weekend and I especially look forward to General Conference. I'm in need of some wisdom and direction and this is just the place to receive such things. :)

“If you trust God enough to listen for His message in every sermon, song, and prayer this conference, you will find it. If you then go and do what He would have you do, your power to trust Him will grow, and in time you will be overwhelmed with gratitude to find that He has come to trust you.”

-President Henry B. Eyring

Happy Wednesday!

yes, I do reward myself with ice cream..

weekend happy list (despite my pain and agony of a toothache)

going to lunch with my cousin Austin, Mom, and Aunt Deanne
going to Coldstone to reward myself for surviving another day of pain :) haha.
spending time with Whitney, laying on her bed and looking through her mission memories
going to a Bee's game on a double date
a lazy Saturday
soup and salad at Red Robin
going to the movies on a double date
a neighborhood BBQ
watching movies with Jared
my root canal!! (I can't believe this is on my happy list.)
rewarding myself with a strawberry cheesecake shake from Arctic Circle

& now for pictures..

 at the Bee's Game

watching the game :)

my first time making deviled-eggs. YUM.

Our neighbor, Jon, made delicious fried-green beans!

When a friend is house sitting a posh house in the Avenues..

You have a girls day with lunch & swimming. You admire the unique art and the art done by their children. You race noodles in the pool, like you did when you were little. You listen to music, feel like you're in the movies, and dance to "Life Could be a Dream".. :) 

I won't back down

Check out this timeline..

Friday, June 24th 11:00 PM - Pick up Jared from work and start our roadtrip to Oregon
Saturday, June 25th - Thursday, June 30th - Oregon.. :)
Friday, July 1st 4:00 AM - Arrive home & straight to bed.
Saturday, July 2nd - July 3rd - Camping!
Monday, July 4th 3:00 AM - Arrive home, shower, & straight to bed.

26 hours of driving, 5 states, 1 waterfall, 2 lighthouses, 2 Burgerville shakes, 2 Candyman ice cream cones, family time, 3 games of Upwords, 3 campfires, 10,000 mosiqutos, fourwheeling, 32 fishies, and 2 very sleepy Toblers.

These past 11 days have been quite something! I have much to edit, much to blog, and much to do. There is fun to still be had.. now dear ShayLee is visiting. :)

For the 4th, Jared and I planned on going swimming at Seven Peaks. We got into our swimming suits and put on some sunscreen but, when we walked outside there was no sunshine to be seen. So, we went back inside, put on our pajamas, and watched sitcoms on the couch. It was just what we needed.

Jared later went to work (bless him and bless holiday pay) and I went to watch fireworks with the girls..

I am obsessed with the Instagram App. It's true.

p.s. blog title explanation: I heard Tom Petty while filling up my car, it made me instantly happy, and I decided it was today's anthem. Plus, what's more American than listening to Tom Petty?

beautiful

From start to finish, this weekend was wonderful. 
I had guests over on Thursday night..

(their mommies were there too) We made Alfredo for dinner with Caesar salad. Then, I burnt the brownies! Heartbreaking, isn't it? So instead, we had Reeses and whipped cream for dessert while talking until the late hours. Bliss.

On Friday, I spent the morning being lazy with Jared. After he left for work, I chatted with ShayLee, who now lives in Italy.

Friday night, I went to Richard & Emily's beautiful wedding. I love weddings, especially when two people as wonderful as them are involved..

While we were eating Coldstone and admiring Emily's dress (which she designed herself, by the way) we met the Duchesnes..

This couple told us the story of how they met and fell in love and how this sweet man purposed to this sweet woman. When she was done telling the story, he looked at her and said, "That was such a fun time, I love you." Then he leaned over to give her a kiss. After that, they began to tell us that, though they have lead wonderful lives, it hasn't always been easy and that there have been many rough days. He said that despite the fact that he loves her so much, they are very different people and that it has taken a lot of work to be where they are today. She gave the advice to "choose each other" everyday. Choose each other, despite the hardships. I was uplifted talking to both of them and I'm grateful to have met them.

When the night was over, I talked in the car with Chelsie and Whitney for hours. It was wonderful and just like old times. It was the perfect night.

The next morning, we went to Ihop for breakfast and then went to Bridal Veil Falls. It was beautiful weather and I hope to go on little adventures like this every weekend.

Everything about this weekend was amazing and I'm grateful for weekends like that. So full of beautiful moments. I am grateful for the friends and family that Jared and I have been blessed with. Happy Wednesday!

Sundays

My favorite day of the week is Sunday.

Big breakfasts, going to church, family time, relaxing, delicious dinners, game nights.. and a full day with Jared.

Last Sunday was Whitney's Homecoming. She gave a wonderful talk in Sacrament Meeting and afterwords, we had delicious pancakes and parfaits while we reminisced about our elementary days, trying to see how much we could remember. We remembered polka dot art, spelling on our desks in shaving cream, celebrating the Jazz with Miss Snow, and our lunch seating chart. :)

Jared and I were able to spend the rest of the day at home, just the two of us. We had chicken tacos for dinner, took a long nap, and watched a movie. It was bliss and I'm already counting down for next weekend. Happy Wednesday!



Today is the day

Today, dear Sister Whitney comes home to me.
If you don't know about Sister Whitney, please click here.
She's been serving a mission for our church. If you would like to know more about what we believe, please click here. She has been gone for a year and a half and today she comes home. For the last year and a half, I have missed her so much however, I have loved to read about her adventures in England. The people she has met, the sights she has seen, and the gospel she has shared. Yesterday, her dad forwarded me her last e-mail to her family as a missionary. Here are some pieces of that e-mail:

My mission means everything to me. I know that this is where I've belonged personally for the last 18 months. Heavenly Father truly answered my prayer by not only sending me to the exact mission that I wanted, but by sending me to the exact mission that I needed. What a loving Father He is. He created the entire universe, yet he notes the fall of a sparrow. He knows me. He knows all of us! I love this gospel. I love it with all my heart. I believed in the gospel before my mission, but now I know. This knowledge is cemented into my brain. This is truly Jesus Christ's church. The very same organization that was here when he walked the earth Himself.

Joseph Smith was an honest man. He told the truth. He translated the beautiful Book of Mormon by the power of God and not of Man. He had visions. Angels are still coming to the earth! It makes me smile! I've never felt the spirit stronger than while I was reading the Book of Mormon. This book is absolutely drenched with the love of Christ for us. You know such a huge indicator ot me of God's love? The fact that we have Agency. The freedom to choose. He wants us to be able to figure it out for ourselves. He'll help us as much as we'll let him!

If you don't know this for sure, read the Book of Mormon, and then pray about it for yourself. I've seen many occasions of other people finding out for themselves that it's true. It's really special for me to know that I personally know this is true. Heavenly Father is really patient with me. He's told me over and over again that it is true. And I know if I ask again, he'll tell me then too!

Welcome home, Whita!

My handy Countdown App...

in just about one month..

..this lovely will be home! I can't really believe that is true but, I am beyond excited to see her. Sister Whitney has been serving a LDS mission in England, that lucky soul.. Some things I would like to do with her when she returns:

-listen to her stories and look through her pictures
-drive around singing Sara Bareilles and Taylor Swift.
-going to Taco Bell
-a girls trip to Manti
-hiking

I definitely can't wait!

You can learn more about missions here.

The Random Song

I love this time of year and the magic of Christmas. I am trying not to be overwhelmed but, I could use more hours in the day. Luckily I am leaving work 4 hours early tomorrow to do some much needed Christmas shopping and package sending! (yes, I am worried that they wont make it to England and Korea on time.. Yes, I am a procrastinator..)

I look forward to the fun things planned for the rest of December. Last night we went to a Voice Male concert with 5 couples, 10 of our closest neighbors. :) Our friends. We are so blessed to have found a whole neighborhood of some pretty wonderful people. I love our home and I love where we live.

I have been missing Sister Richmond something fierce lately. I can't believe I haven't seen her in 14 months. I was reading my happy list from the week she left and about our one tearless hug goodbye. She told me not to cry so, I didn't (against all odds). She comes home in about 4 months.. four. I can't believe it. I'm beyond excited and for some reason, just a bit nervous. However.. Mostly, thrilled!

Speaking of missing people.. I miss my friends. I sometimes long for the days of doing nothing together. Hiking in the mountains, going out for pizza after working out to a silly work out video, having Office parties, sitting around talking.. This is for you, my group. My loves. You know who you are. Come to me now and let's have fun. (after Christmas of course because, this is a busy time for all, you know)

I've been thinking a lot about the new year that is knocking on our door.
2011, I am excited for you to be here.
I am ready to take on new and challenging goals. I am ready to grow and become better. I hope you will bring with you some wonderul life changes and I know there will be hard times but, I promise to grow stronger.

If you've read this far, bless your heart. Random thoughts are sometimes needed and today, they were.

Happy Wednesday to you all. :)

lollipop lady

Today, I received a letter from my Whitney. She is still crazy.
She told me that I should be a "lollipop lady."

I have no idea what that means. But, it sounds like fun.

Is 8 months too early to start the countdown until we can go to the movies together?

:)

Reading about the wonderful adventures makes me want to go to Europe even more..

..Also it makes me very happy that she is sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I must admit, I miss her. I miss her.

But, reading this blog helps! If you miss her too, please read. :)

-From the sound of her letters, it sounds like she is doing fantastic!

I'm weird 'cause I hate goodbyes..

To my best friend,
Good luck in England! I will miss you terribly but, I am so happy for this new adventure.
I love you! Love, Sarah

To follow Whitney's adventures on her blog (that I will be running -she's too busy) please click here. It's not much yet but, her adventure just started. :)

Whitney's Farewell 9.27.09

Whitney's Goodbye Party 10.9.09

Do you think it's possible to have TOO much fun??

..Because, Whitney and I laughed the entire time we were at the fair and it was a very good time.