A few Fun Photos of LIfe.

Enough is Enough! I need to take time and be oh- so grateful. My life is so incredibly blessed that I am going to chose to take a couple free minutes and express some serious graditude.

My life is so awesome.

My sisters. My 2 sisters who live in Ohio (I still think that is so random!) I adore them so much. I need to be better to them. My dear Lindy Loo has had trail after trial in this last little bit. She moved from OK, to Ohio, she had twins 2 weeks before the move. That’s enough to send me over the edge (let alone the birth story). THEN, they couldn’t find a house so her and her 5 kids and hubby are living in a hotel. Her Hubby starts a new job (shout out), and the ac in the hotel goes out! My sister gets a kidney infection and is hospitalized. My other sister takes her 3 kids to the hotel to help with the other 5 kids. That’s a total of 8 Children in 1 hotel room. And I’m not helping anyone cause I’m playing gaga games in Utah (time off work is a whole other issue). Then after all this her little boys eyes start crossing. My niece Abby had eye crossing issues and many surgeries followed the crossing. This is when they lived out in Houston, and I usually made it to the surgeries. Now, being an adult and having a job it pains me that I can’t be there for little Alex. Growing up SUCKS.

What would I do if I had a million dollars? I’d fly to Ohio and watch my sisters babies so she could have a nap. Literally, that’s what I would do. THEN, I would go to my other friends house and help babysit, and then I would go to my other friends house and sit with her while she recovers, THEN I’d fly to Ecuador and give my nephew a big wet kiss (on the cheek-y)… So much to do, and so little resources to do it with.

I have the best boyfriend; so cute, so fun, so just right for me. A year ago today I would not have believed if someone would have told me the greatness I would be in a relationship with. He is a giant, and “wise beyond his years.” We’ve got issues, but I’d say we are a winning team and more than 90% of the time we are apart I just want to be with him. I’d say those are pretty good numbers.

I have such good friends. Seriously good friends. Let’s say Mal in specific and a few other Shout outs. It’s tough when life changes and things are unexpected. Adjustments are hard. I’m grateful for friends who believe and have the faith that I do, it makes changes easier, and the common goal clear. I love them, regaurdless of the time I can invest in them.

Which brings me to my next point. I LOVE LOVE my Long – far away friends. Amanada, Lind’s, Virg. All of whom I need to be better to. Amanda, who just had surgery, Lind’s who just had twins, and Virg who had a baby also. These friends of mine always focus the conversation on me and continually give to me emotionally. It’s like my own fountain of endless support. I love that there are people you can walk away from and not see for literally years, but for some reason when you see each other, it’s like no time passed.

And then, My nephews. My perfect, sweet, angel boys of nephews. They make my Mondays worth living… Jason doesn’t have as much time to email as Josh, and we’ve had some intimate emails that I adore. He is truly being Shaped and formed to what the lord would have him become. It’s fun to watch, but at the same time any one who has been shaped and formed knows its painful and really hard. It’s hard to watch. I can’t imagine how Heavenly Father feels. Horrible, helpless, but excited feeling all at the same time.

All of these would- haves and should haves between the BBq’s with mister perfection and family stuff, and days with the nieces, and and and. Seems like it’s never ending. I sometimes feel so torn with all the should be’s that need to get done. I’m pretty sure it’s pretty normal to feel like that, however doesn’t make it any easier. I’ve ordered a Covey refill to some how soften the blow of craziness. Heaven bless Steven for his awesome invention.

PS. Pictures are to come... Derrek has the camera!

Grateful Again.

I feel like life these days is one big blur of packing for Salt Lake for the weekend then work monday morning, then Driving to SLC again on Thursday with some customers between the time. Holy blur. Last weekend derrek's work had a big race and it was alot of fun to go see him in his element and be introduced to a whole new world of racing and stuff I haven't really known too much about. As you can see in the photo's below, we went go karting, hung out at the museum, and watched the races... All in all a good time by everyone. Derrek's birthday was on Tuesday so it was fun for me to get to see him during the week. We went out to dinner, drove around looking at houses (the houses in Down town are awesome) went to get some cards for some serious Rummy, and then a knock at his door. The knock was his dad and the night ended with some chatting by his father. Derrek seemed to like his gifts, although he is not the excited type- I'd rather some one jump around happy, and he did not do that, but none the less a great evening with my BF. (still weird to say) Derrek is rad!

I had a few experiences this week that made me so grateful. each of these experiences I'm going to share will count as my grateful lists... I hope thats ok with everyone.

#1 I have made it my goal to thank every veteran that sits at my desk. Not an easy task because they are usually Felons, toothless, or currently drunk as I stumble through what I can do to help them. As bad as it sounds, I have become numb to people and their issues-in my work you have to detach at some point or you'll go crazy. So I had this one specific Veteran at my desk that I decided to be nice to and bend over backwards to help- this is a new thing for me. As he stood up to leave I looked him in his eye and thanked him for his service. He pulled back his sleeves from his shirt and said to me "I'd do it again." I was especially touched when I looked down to his arms where he had pulled his sleeves back, and they were covered with scars from burns, clearly this guy has been through some serious wounds.
I thought about that, and got emotional. The Hero's of my day are literally sitting in front of me at my desk, or are all around me... how grateful I am for men and women who do the ultimate, and sacrifice for me. That's a Christ like attribute that I reverence, rather, I am learning to reverence.

#2 I deeply miss my sisters and their kids. This I am grateful for this feeling. If you are anyone in my family I have always been a little removed and wanting to live far away from them. I have always wanted to live on the east coast, but right now it wouldn't matter where we lived. I just want my sisters. I feel home sick, but really its sister sick. I want the feeling thats usually at christmas. Everyone sitting around talking, and teasing the kids. With the Twins here, and my other sister at girls camp, and then another sister across the States- far far away, I'm feeling a whole in my heart. i've turned in to a girl that would live on the same street as my sisters... I'm some one I've always made fun of.

This is all I have time for now, however I am a frequent blogger. I love you all...

SO Grateful.

Thankful Thursday!

Thank goodness it's THURSDAY! Feels like this week went Super Fast, but Also amazingly slow. Here are some highlights of the week:

* The stake rented out the surf and swim which I went to with Mal and Zach. How I love that those two are dating! It's like totally awesome.
Highlights of surf and swim: The BBQ of FOOT LONG hot dogs (these winnies were HUGE), Heated water (So nice to hang out in warm water when it's freezing cold out side), Malorie (we don't have much time to just hang out much), My bishop and his wife (they are so so NICE, I love them), the hot life gaurds (I know they are like 16 but still fun to gaze at them), oh and how could I forget the Special Ed guy that almost drownd: I know it's aweful aweful to say, but man I enjoyed watching the rescue effort.

*Bed time at 8pm monday night and before 10 the rest of the nights of the week. I have enjoyed going to sleep, seems like I can never get enough.

*Jack and Cheryl "Special" time. We don't get the chance to talk alot like we use to and I genuinly enjoy talking to him. He has had girl drama so it's been fun hearing whats going on. Plus, he is in rare form, like so excited to be dating and he just wants to party... Love the energy.

*I invented yummy breakfast food. Corn Tortilla's, ham and swiss cheese. Divine.

*I got the invitations completed for the family reunion the Butler's are incharge of. It's going to be August 7th (all are invited), and we have some seriously cool stuff planned. I'm excited.

*I talked to my supervisor and I'm offically in for a transfer Down Town. Deep breath, Huge deep breath. It will be great I know it, but still a big deal in my small little world.

OK time to be grateful.

#1 My awesome Sunglasses. I always feel fab when I am wearing those things, it's an instant facelift.

#2 Working with Elizabeth and Rene. They are Crazy, and so much fun! I admire Rene for being true to her self, and always doing what she know's is right. Some times in a work place full of nasty politics it's hard to find a genuin person. I am grateful for Elizabeth because of her example or service.

I'm done for the day, Peace out.

Happy Happy

My goodness I’m so grateful!

#1 Bag water. I found boxes of bag water for $2.29 at Maceys grocery store and let me tell you it’s fun! Doesn’t taste very good at all, but it’s worth just carrying around a little bag of water. Love it, thank you Macey’s.

#2 My skin tag. I had one in my arm pit, until Derrek attacked me with dental floss and strangled the little guy right off. HOLY ouch. He got half the tag, and I have an open ouch in my pit. Derrek swears my quality of life will be improved. What ever. The best part is there will need to be a round 2 cause he only got half of it. I am grateful cause it entertained us for a good 10 minutes.

#3 My ring. I have a pretend wedding ring that saves my life at times. I work among real champions of citizens, and a semi attractive girl has no hope of being repested with out a ring on her finger. Fair? Not at all, however they are the rules of society so embrace them we must!

#4 My purple walls. I love my Surfer girl room. Love them. They make me smile with hope of another trip to CA.

#5 Garments. Comfy. Breathing. Mine are currently too big, and Oh how excited I am to one day replace them all and have all new, clean, and amazing garments to wear. Yummy.

“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” ~G.K. Chesterton