Falling

Man oh man I'm glad FALL is back! For a few days I was really frightened that we were going to skip one of my favorite seasons and go right to cold cold winter! Luckily, the 30's degree weather left and today was a beautiful, crisp fall day. Nothing better than jeans and a hoodie. I really love Fall. I really love Spring and Summer too.... and we won't mention Winter :/.... let's just say I'm so grateful for Christmas!

Oh, and fun fact.... Brian and my 6-month anniversary will fall on Christmas Day! Glad it's so easy to remember :).

Why Fall is so fantastic!!!:

1. Crisp. I love that crisp yummy air!
2. Pumpkin and everything pumpkin! Most recently... pumpkin chocolate chip pancakes :).... true story: I had a dream last night that when I started carving my pumpkin it wasn't fully of the slimy seeds and gunk, it was full of pumpkin pie. Yes, pumpkin pie. Maybe it could happen?
3. Hayrides
4. Hoodies/jeans/cardigans/boots/scarves/mittens/comfy jammies/hats

***it is important to note that while I do also wear these in winter, in the Fall I wear them and they actually keep me warm. In the winter it seems nothing can help my freezing fingers, nose, & tosies.
5. Hot chocolate
6. General Conference (already did that one!)
7. Blankets
8. Hot chocolate + blankets + good book = great afternoon!
9. Getting the itch for Christmas music - I know! I know!... I can't help it.
10. Beautiful leaves
11. Drives through the canyon
12. Leaf fights
13. Cuddling and not wanting to get out of bed because it's so warm and cozy
14. Blow-drying my hair is no longer a pain, but a pleasure because it's warm!
15. Rosy cheeks
16. Decorations for the holidays
17. And I must mention the holidays... I love Halloween and Thanksgiving!

Ok, that's enough for now, I'm sure I can think of more, but I'll just have to count those blessings in my head.

BEST website I've seen in a while

So, I came across a website and it is the BEST WEBSITE ever! Somebody made a list of a bunch of things that just make the average person smile... it's so happy! I put the complete list (490 items) on my other blog about tender mercies, but here is a small collection of some of my favorites! Check it out... it just talks about the little big things in life... I like to call them our little tender mercies. Isn't it amazing how many things we have that can brighten our days and make us feel grrrrreat? Just looking through this list made me feel more grateful and excited about the next time one of these things happens! The original website is listed at the bottom :)

http://justlittlethings.net/page/7 - thanks!

I couldn't help but share this.. TT #7

Makes me never want to complain about anything ever again. This guy is so amazing... he really knows how to count blessings.

Beautiful Day (T.T. #5)

You know those days when you wake up and just feel.... good? I LOVE those days! 

Today is one of them. 

I woke up a few moments before my alarm, a light breeze was blowing through my window bringing in the fresh morning air, Brian was there sleeping next to me, and I just smiled. It's good to be alive! 

 Things I'm grateful for this morning:

• Sunshine
• Crisp "almost-fall" feeling in the air
• My wonderful husband
• Being an "almost nurse" (the light is getting brighter at the end of this long tunnel!)
• Kind people
• Babies - newest addition to my life is my new baby nephew :)
• Love
• Living in America where I can be free to go for my dreams
• God/Restored gospel of Jesus Christ

Testimony Tuesday #2

Time for a testimony about family time. I got to have a whole lot of family time on the cruise last week with my mom's side of the family and it was so great! I also like having my personal family time... like in FHE. I love Family Home Evening! Even though my family is very small.... 2 people to be exact (Brian & me)... we can still have a great family night, laugh, learn, and have fun together. Last night we had a great lesson about how we want to become more like Christ together (from Preach My Gospel chapt. 6) and develop his attributes. We talked a lot about where we are in our personal development and where we want to be. We went on a bike ride, ate delicious cantelope w/ ice-cream, and danced around to Mexican music! I love family. I love Brian. I'm going to bed - but I'll post about the cruise and the upcoming semester soon!

After an extreme canopy (rappelling, zip-lining, mule-riding, waterfall jumping) adventure in Puerto Vallarta!

Testimony Tuesday #1

I'd like to start sharing my testimony every Tuesday. Since I'll be in the middle of the ocean next Tuesday, I'll have to skip a week, but I want to try and do it every Tuesday after that!


Today I am just so grateful for missionary work. I have been rereading over my mission journals these past few days and have been just overwhelmed with gratitude for the experiences I had, the people I met, and how much my testimony of Jesus Christ and His power grew. I saw miracles weekly, if not daily, and really learned how to draw close to the spirit and find true inner peace and joy. I really miss that. 


I know that I need to be more diligent and pray more, pray deeper, really study my scriptures, and soak in church meetings like I used to. I want to be near Him. I am grateful to know that is possible. I also know that it requires a lot of work, humility, and faith. I plan to set some good short and long term goals to get where I want and need to be again. Simple things. Prayer, scriptures, journal writing, and getting active in the ward. While they are simple, they are time-consuming if done right. It is important to make them a priority. So, that is what I want to try and do!! Yay for missionary journal inspiration!




Para ustedes que solo hablan español... voy a empezar a escribir cada martes tocando mi testimonio del evangelio. Y pues, me encanta el idioma español! En serio, extraño hablandolo todos los días. Por lo menos puedo escribir de vez en cuando aquí en el "blog", verdad? Pues, hoy quiero hablarles sobre la gratitude que tengo por la obra misional. 


De recien, he leido mucho en mi diaro misional. Durante la mision, escribía acerca de muchas experiencias, actos de fe, milagros, y, por su puesto, mi testimonio y la forma en que se creció. Mientras leía, pensaba en como quiero tener el espiritu como antes. Creo que los misioneros tienen un espiritu especial, pero tambien creo que personas que no son misioneras todavía pueden tener el espiritu fuerte! Sé que necesito leer las escrituras con más diligencia, orar con más fe, y, pues, tener más fe en general. Por eso, voy a hacer metitas que puedo cumplir cada día para lograr mi ultima meta de ser una persona con más fe y más testimonio. 


Sé que es importante compartir mi testimonio, por eso empiezo los martes de testimonio!

cosas que me hacen feliz! (things that make me happy)

I've just been thinking about what makes me tick and what makes me happy and decided to make a list :)

In no particular order...

1. genuinity (is that even a word?)...People who are genuine :)
2. My family!
3. Happy people - especially when they happen to be my husband, other family members, friends, or random children!
4. Thinking & talking about the Gospel plan
5. Good media entertainment - books, movies, youtube videos, wii, plays, musicals, etc
6. Delicious food
7. Hugs and kisses (but only kisses from Brian!)
8. getting active! Walks, sports (most recently tennis), hikes, adventures, sprinkler running, bike riding, etc etc.
9. making plans and doing them
10. goals
11. learning new skills and new information
12. painting/creating beautiful things
13. fresh flowers in my home
14. new jars of peanut butter. New jars of most things actually...
15. surprises (good ones)
16. yummy smells (ie baking bread, cologne, flowers, rain, etc....)
17. made beds and a tidy room
18. good music
19. Family Home Evening
20. Things to look forward to
21. babies :)
22. puppies
23. weddings
24. blogging
25. holidays & celebrating anything!
26. getting old-fashioned mail
27. gifts
28. kind words & deeds/acts of service
29. clean home (especially the kitchen and bathroom!)
30. Talking about good memories, the wonderful present, and the exciting future!
31. hot showers & bubble baths
32. sparkly things
33. friend time
34. gratitude
35. big smiles & contagious laughter
36. Spanish!
37. working hard and earning $$
38. new clothes & shoes
39. helping others
40. prayer & scriptures
41. teaching
42. playing piano and singing
43. tie-dye
44. ding-dong ditching
45. medical stuff
46. bedtime stories - Brian tells the best ones!
47. cuddling
48. camping
49. photos/photography
50. LAUGHING
51. stretching in the morning
52. finding good deals
53. bubble wrap
54. Bloomer (my bike) & Pig (Brian's bike)
55. thank-you cards
56. soft things
57. nature
58. rainy days
59. thunderstorms
60. hot-air balloons
61. pictures of Christ
62. toaster ovens
63. cookie dough
64. air conditioning/fans
65. laying in the sun by a pool
66. pedicures
67. love