Life

I found this quote not to long ago, from the moment I read it I fell in love with it! 

(Such a good quote huh!!!)

There are times in life where... sorry there is no other way to put it..... SUCK! But after the suck-ie part of life has past looking in hind sight I see all the blessing that came from the suck-ie time. Growing up whenever I would complain about....well anything girls come up with to complain about (which is endless some days) my mom would always say "count your blessings" (Which would drive me crazy). Such a simple concept but so easy to forget. So lately I have been trying my best to take my moms great advice.

  I AM so incredibly blessed. I have a wonderful supportive husband, bills are paid, a warm home in winter, a semi cool house in summer, comfy bed, pinterest account (don't judge, It helps make yummy food), running car, 2 dogs, stray cats (to eat the evil mice!), food in my fridge, an amazing family, and I live in a great community. And the list goes on!

My mom is such a smart lady! So instead of being bitter through the "suck-ie" times I am challenging myself (and anyone reading)to focus on blessings from the start. 

1 year...2 years...3 years...4!!!!

Hank and I celebrated our 4 year anniversary over the weekend (HOLY CRAP!).

We ate chocolate cake on our wedding day soooooo why not eat chocolate cake 4 years later

After some road rage due to the lack of parking in Salt Lake City, we were able to enjoy a fun dinner with an old missionary companion and his sweet wife. Of course Olive Garden (a anniversary dinner tradition) made up for the oh-so-suck-ie drive to get there! YUMMM-O!

Enjoying the Saint Patty's Day Parade!

So happy to be seated finally! Enjoying dinner with my handsome hubster at Texas Road house.

My friend had her baby about three weeks ago, it I was so fun to be able to spend some time with her and her sweet baby boy Owen!

Getting some baby snuggles in before we had to get back on the road!

On the way home we stopped for a visit at Zeb and Jami's (bro and sis in law). It was so fun to see them and the kiddos! Thanks for letting us crash your Sunday. 

I am so blessed to be married to such a hard working, funny, handsome, selfless, strong, handy (because I break a lot of stuff), funny, smart man! 

FAMILY Pictures 2013

I felt silly wanting to get family pictures done this year. It kinda felt like we were taking engagement pictures again .  After 3 1/2 years of being married, all the pictures hung in my house are our wedding pictures. And things have changed a little in the past 3 ish years . We've struggled together, celebrated together, got angry AT each other; but the best part is we grew together! So why not document those changes.  I look at these pictures and I see a lot more then just two people. 3 1/2ish years ago we took engagement pictures as a soon to be married couple. This day we took pictures of a family!

I am so grateful for my awesome sister in law Bonnie for taking these pictures! 

                                     I love my little family!

FLOWERS!

This year I loved growing my flowers. I started about 50% of these flowers in my house back in March. It was so fun to watch them grow and enjoy the beautiful flowers all summer/fall

My Zinnia and Comso’s back in March

Not great quality pictures, my camera phone was all that I had at the moment.

Now on to my 2nd favorite time of year.....FALL!!!!!!!!!

Girls Camp '13

I was put into the Young Women's last September.. Not going to lie I was, and very much still at times very intimidated with this new calling. I work with wonderful ladies which makes it easier. In July it was time for girls camp; I drove up Wednesday and stayed till we came home Friday. I made it just in time for the hike(cringe!) I was put on the 3rd year hike. A 7......mi-hi-hi-i-i-ile hike! Ya I pretty much died. Those girls were CHAMPS. Don't get me wrong, I love nature and camping...I just don't understand why you would want to walk UP the mountains.

I have loved getting to know all these crazy girls!

Made it .....to...the....tooooop!!  ( Look at that red face, I wasn't lying when I said I died!!!)

This is what we were hiking all that way to see.  It was beautiful! But I was tempted to just have the girls roll me back down the mountain by the time we reached this place.

My Mia Maid girls 

Dietrich Branch Young Women's (we were missing a few)

Love these ladies!

The theme for Girls camp was "NO ONE LEFT BEHIND"
we had to decorate our own shirts for camp..... I'm not so good at the decorating part but I felt this was good enough. 

Carey Ranch Rodeo

Hank has been wanting to get into one of the local Ranch rodeo’s for a long time. Back in July Dwight(father in law), Hank, John ( uncle….in law ( is that how you would say that??), and Whit (brother in law) all entered in the Ranch Rodeo in Carey. It has been years since any of them have been in a rodeo, but they all still did good. It was so fun to watch. Next year they will be practiced up and ready to take first!

The Elder’s are always such good sports 

Just thought I'd end this post with some eye candy! You're all very welcome      :D

Relay for Life

I had a chance to go to my first relay for life that was in my hometown Gooding. I was asked to perform with a friend Kendra Cockerham for the candle ceremony. Needless to say I was a nervous wreck. It has been a very long time since I have done anything in front of people. Once we got started I just got caught up in the song and all my nerves went away ( maybe it was because It was pitch black outside so I knew nobody could see me, that maybe helped) 

These paper bags lined the trail all around the fairground. Each one has a name of someone who is fighting or has fought cancer. It kinda took my breath away to see so many people who have been affected by cancer.

I had a blast catching up with a old friend and playing for such a talented singer.