Lara

ReStart

2011-02-27T19:23:00.000-08:00

So it has been a couple weeks since I signed the contract with my friend and I have to admit that I have not been doing so well. So I am posting this as my commitment to you and myself that I am starting over this week. I hope to report of my better doings next week. Here we go again!

After week one...

2011-02-08T18:59:00.001-08:00

So here is my weekly update of my training and contract with my friend. Last week was not as bad as I thought it would be. I did alright with following the rules of the contract, except one day I went over board and ate too much pizza, but even with that I still lost 4.2 lbs. Go me!

I road an actual bike last week, not just a stationary gym bike, but one that has gears and peddles and moves. It was fun, but it’s going to be a long 15 miles…rumor has it that the biking part of the triathlon is 9 miles up hill…ugh! I can barely ride well on flat ground. It should be fun.

I think that is about it for this week. And as promised my chubby picture, and not so flattering, but here it is.

Happenings Since May....

2011-01-29T17:56:00.000-08:00

It has been awhile since I have updated my blog and I have been nagged to for the last couple weeks to do it. I didn’t realize it’s been since May. Here goes. I moved back to California the beginning of November. I am currently still working at Wal-Mart, part time, for the City of Vista once in a blue moon, and I have privilege of watching my nephew, Bradley, once a week. I teach 5 year olds in Primary, and that is about the excitement in my life.

There are a couple of reasons why I decided to write, and hopefully will write more often. One, I have decided to do a triathlon with my sister April 30th in Henderson, NV. Don’t worry it’s not a full triathlon, it is an 800m swim, 10k (15 miles, for those of you like me who don’t know the conversion scale) bike ride, and a 5k (3.1 mile) run. I can swim no problem, it’s the other two events I am worried about. I have not owned a bike since I was 11 because I was diagnosed with knee problems and the doctor said I should not ride, and I have never been a runner, but I could walk pretty fast and far, so if all else fails, it might be a 3.1 mile walk. I am hoping my sister and I can stick together through the whole thing. I’ll keep you posted on training…. I just bought a bike tonight.

Another reason I have decided to post is to make myself accountable for a goal that I have set with my friend Shannon. We have made and signed a contract with each other to lose weight. I started working grave yards 2 years ago so I could finish school, which I was attending full time. I am sad too admit but I put on a good 30-40 pounds. So staring Feb. 1st I am going to follow the following rules, I hope she does not mind that I am sharing this with you:

• No Fast Foods
• No Sodas
• Drink 6-8glasses of water a day.
• Participate in a group activity at least once a week (aerobics class, YSA Activity, Study Group etc)
• Try to sleep at least 6 hrs!!! We both need to work on that one!
• Stay away from Starchy Enriched Foods
• Cardio 6 days a week for at least 30 min a day
• Eat smaller more frequent meals at least 5 times a day
• Eat protein for every meal
• Eat 5-6 servings of Fruits or Veggies a day
• Meal Preparation!!! Pack your meals the night before.
• NEVER SKIP BREAKFAST!!!
• Stay away from pre-packaged / preservatives
• Weighs yourself ONLY ONCE A WEEK
• Understand Portion Size. Pick out 1 bowl,1cup, plate and stick to that size.
• Chew Sugarless Gum
• Keep a Food Diary
• Celebrate success (but not with food)
• Keep your diet public. Own up to what your claiming you will accomplish.
• Eat negative calorie foods – celery, apples… more calories to digest than consumed
• Eat slowly
• Chart your weight loss
• Be Happy
• Don’t skip meals – have a meal replacement shake if necessary
• Skip dessert unless it is healthy – most desserts are not healthy
• Take before and after pictures (maybe some in between) But keep a fat picture on the refrigerator

We each set a goal to have lost by June 30th. I have set mine at 50lbs. I have between 80-100lbs to lose to be a healthy weight for my height. Fifty-pounds sounds like a lot but it is about 2.5 pounds a week, which is doable and a healthy goal. Before picture soon to come!

Thought....

2010-05-29T07:00:00.000-07:00

I went to visit my grandpa in Oregon last weekend, 8 hours in a car all by myself which gave me a lot of time to think and there is a thought that came to me that I thought I would share.

On my dad’s side of that family we have a line that were Jewish and came from Lithuania. This was my great-great-grandmas family. When she was 16 she married a non-Jewish man and her family disowned her. Because of this we cannot find any of her family besides a couple brothers. We have checked in so many places with no luck, even at the genealogy library. It makes me really sad that we cannot find this line of my family! It makes me sad because they are all on the other side of the veil waiting for their work to be done, and unless someone else does their work they will have to wait for the millennium.

I think that too often we forget that the choice we make do not just effect us but they effect our whole line of family that comes after us and all those that love us, whether the choice be good or bad, the effect will be felt for ever. Just like my great-great-grandmothers family disowned her, I am sure they are kicking themselves now because they are going to have to wait for a long time for their work to get done and they lost the chance to see their daughter grow-up and to see their grand kids.

This was a reminder to me that I need to do something that is going to leave a line that I can be proud of and that will be strong. Like they say to every action there is a consequence.

Forever later............

2010-04-26T10:58:00.000-07:00

Sooooo…. once again it has been forever since I have blogged so here is my life update… I graduated! YAY! Took me long enough! I graduated with a degree in Medical Administrative Assisting and certificates in Medical office assisting, medical transcription (which I am not so great at but I passed!), medical coding, and one in institute of religion. I did all that while working graveyards as a cashier at Wal-mart. My mom and Aunt Judy came to visit and attend the graduation. It was sweet.

What’s next…… I have to do and internship this summer for the medical administrative assisting and medical coding and then I can find a job that would let me have more of a normal life…I can wait! Until then, I am continuing to work graveyards until the end of summer.

Other than that not much else is new. The guy I had been dating for awhile left for Air Force Basic the end of last month. We are just friends now. Exciting thing happened though, the whole time we were dating I tried to get him to go to church, and he did….twice. Since he has been at basic he actually goes, according to an email from some missionaries on base and a letter his parents received from Elder Oaks. That would be a huge change for him if he actually continued going….miracles do happen though.

Other exciting news, my sister and bother-in-law had their baby! Cute little Bradley Daniel Edwards was born March 25. I have yet to meet him, but I love him already! I get pictures all the time to….thank goodness for picture phones.

That’s all for now! Have a happy day!

Stupid!!!!

2010-04-26T06:59:00.000-07:00

So I wrote this long entry and tried to copy and paste it from word and it won't let me! since when does can you not copy and paste into your blog? I know its been a while but come one now!

LIFE

2009-10-10T10:19:00.000-07:00

Hi, those few people who read this! My mom says I need to update this, so here it is. I am not very good at keeping this thing up to date because my life is not that exciting.

So I am in school for another semester, taking 12 credits equaling 7 classes. Yes that seems like a lot, a couple of the classes are just one credit each. I am still hoping to he done in April, but we shall see. I am thinking next semester is going to kill me! But if I do one more internship during the summer I can get another certificate on top of my degree. But we will see how it goes. I don't know what I am going to do after that.

I am still working in the great land of Wal-mart. I actually kind of like it there. I think it is more the people I work with than the actual work itself. I does get eventful sometimes. We had a gang fight in front of our store a week or so ago, don"t worry, the cops showed up before anything crazy happened. Everyone that was out there got arrested. It was pretty crazy.

So that is pretty much it. Exciting, I know. Oh, I had mentioned a guy I was dating. We are still dating. Nothing serious, don't worry.

I hope you all are doing well. Love ya!

Love this!

2009-09-17T13:06:00.000-07:00

I know all my post lately have been not about my life but about things I have found that I have enjoyed and would like to share with you, and here is another one. I got this email a while ago but didn't open it until yesterday. It is awesome! I will try to catch you up on life soon, but for now enjoy what I did.

Luke AFB is west of
Phoenix and is rapidly being surrounded by
civilization that complains about the noise from
the base and its planes, forgetting that it was
there long before they were.. A certain
Lieutenant Colonel at Luke AFB deserves a big
pat on the back. Apparently, an individual who
lives somewhere near Luke AFB wrote the local
paper complaining about a group of F-16s that
disturbed his/her day at the mall.

When that individual read
the response from a Luke AFB officer, it must
have stung quite a bit.

The complaint:

'Question of the day for Luke
Air Force Base:

Whom do we
thank for the morning air show? Last Wednesday,
at precisely 9:11 A.M, a tight formation of four
F-16 jets made a low pass over Arrowhead Mall,
continuing west over Bell Road at approximately
500 feet. Imagine our good fortune! Do the
Tom Cruise-wannabes feel we need this wake-up
call, or were they trying to impress the
cashiers at Mervyns early bird special?

Any response would be
appreciated.

The response:

Regarding 'A wake-up call from
Luke's jets' On June 15, at precisely 9:12 am, a
perfectly timed four- ship fly by of F-16s from
the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base
flew over the grave of Capt. Jeremy Fresques.
Capt Fresques was an Air Force officer who was
previously stationed at Luke Air Force Base and
was killed in Iraq on May 30, Memorial Day.

At 9 am on June 15, his family and
friends gathered at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun
City to mourn the loss of a husband, son and
friend. Based on the letter writer's recount of
the fly by, and because of the jet noise, I'm
sure you didn't hear the 21-gun salute, the
playing of taps, or my words to the widow and
parents of Capt. Fresques as I gave them their
son's flag on behalf of the President of the
United States and all those veterans and
servicemen and women who understand the
sacrifices they have endured..

A
four-ship fly by is a display of respect the Air
Force gives to those who give their lives in
defense of freedom. We are professional aviators
and take our jobs seriously, and on June 15 what
the letter writer witnessed was four officers
lining up to pay their ultimate respects.

The letter writer asks, 'Whom
do we thank for the morning air show? The 56th
Fighter Wing will make the call for you, and
forward your thanks to the widow and parents of
Capt Fresques, and thank them for you, for it
was in their honor that my pilots flew the most
honorable formation of their lives.

Only 2 defining forces have
ever offered to die for you....Jesus Christ and
the American Soldier.
One died for your
soul, the other for your freedom.

Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel,
Jr.

USAF

Movie

2009-07-28T17:07:00.000-07:00

I am not a huge movie buff and there are not many movies i will spend my money buying or waste my time watching a second time but I found one. The movie is called Taking Chance, based on a true story, its about a man who volunteers to escort the body of a fallen soldier back to his home. It shows the proses and the respect that he got as he was on his way back to his family. I'm not going to lie, I cried but it brought a new perspective to the soldiers who have died and Iraq. If I knew how I would have down loaded the trailer but I couldn't figure it out, so here is the link so you can watch it. http://www.hbo.com/films/takingchance/video/video.html

A thought

2009-07-18T13:45:00.000-07:00

I don't know how many of you know, but my bestest friend is servings as a soldier in Iraq right now. He emailed this to me and I thought it was really a good point of view.

A Soldier's Take on Michael Jackson's Death

This is written by a young soldier serving his third tour of duty in Iraq. Thought you might find his take on the Michael Jackson news interesting and he's right.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Folks,
Okay, I need to rant.

I was just watching the news, and I caught part of a report on Michael Jackson. As we all know, Jackson died the other day. He was an entertainer who performed for decades. He made millions, he spent millions, and he did a lot of things that make him a villain to many people. I understand that his death would affect a lot of people, and I respect those people who mourn his death, but that isn't the point of my rant.

Why is it that when ONE man dies, the whole of America loses their minds with grief? When a man dies whose only contribution to the country was to ENTERTAIN people, the American people find the need to flock to a memorial in Hollywood, and even Congress sees the need to hold a "moment of silence" for his passing?

Am I missing something here? ONE man dies, and all of a sudden he's a freaking martyr because he entertained us for a few decades? What about all those SOLDIERS who have died to give us freedom? All those Soldiers who, knowing that they would be asked to fight in a war, still raised their hands and swore to defend the Constitution and the United States of America. Where is their moment of silence? Where are the people flocking to their graves or memorials and mourning over them because they made the ultimate sacrifice? Why is it when a Soldier dies, there are more people saying "good riddance," and "thank God for IEDs?" When did this country become so calloused to the sacrifice of GOOD MEN and WOMEN that they can arbitrarily blow off their deaths, and instead, throw themselves into mourning for a "Pop Icon?"

I think that if they are going to hold a moment of silence IN CONGRESS for Michael Jackson, they need to hold a moment of silence for every service member killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. They need to PUBLICLY recognize every life that has been lost so that the American people can live their callous little lives in the luxury and freedom that WE, those that are living and those that have gone on, have provided for them. But, wait, that would take too much time, because there have been so many willing to make that sacrifice. After all, we will never make millions of dollars. We will never star in movies, or write hit songs that the world will listen too. We only shed our blood, sweat and tears so that people can enjoy what they have.

Sorry if I have offended, but I needed to say it. Remember these five words the next time you think of someone who is serving in the military;

"So that others may live..."

WOW its been a while!

2009-07-01T12:25:00.000-07:00

Yeah I'm a slacker! I am not very good at updating this so here is a nut shell of what is going on. I started a new semester about 3 weeks ago and that is going alright. I have 3 classes that are kind of boring, but we all have to take classes like that right.
I finished my internship today. I had been working for a chiropractor a couple days a week since March but I finished my hours so I'm done now.... I like it so it's kind of a sad thing. I am hoping they will hire me for part time but we shall see.
I am still working at wally world as an overnight cashier/stockier/binner/cash office person/whatever else they decide they want to make me do for the day. It's alright for the most part.
What else.... oh, I am dating a guy named Kambrin, he's fun, I like him.

So about a month ago my friend Jeanne and I road tripped to Montana to visit my friend Nate and his wife, Emily, while he was on leave from Iraq. It was fun. We stopped and spent a night in Twin Falls on our way up, so her are some of the pictures....

Me and My Friend.... that's what I call her...

Me and Emily

Nate and Emily Siebach

There are more pictures but I'm to lazy to put them up right now... so maybe later if requested.

Boots

2009-03-21T13:59:00.001-07:00

About a year ago I gave my aunt a couple of pictures that I had taken at the beach. She grew up I San Diego and then moved to Utah so I thought she would enjoy them. Well she married and cowboy who grew up in Utah and only wears boots when they go. She was redecorating the other day and decided it would be fun if I could take a picture of his boots with the mountains in the background so she could hang the picture up with the beach ones so there was a little of both of them there. Here is what we ended up with.....

The top one was the winner and the bottom one was just one I liked.

Tender Mercies

2009-03-21T13:34:00.000-07:00

This week has been a really good one for the most part. It is amazing to see the Lord answer a prayer after waiting so long for what you have been praying for. I am so grateful to know that He hears us and that when the time is right He will bless us with His tender mercies.

I was blessed with another one this morning and thought I would share it with you. This beautiful sunrise I was able to see as I was driving home form work. We get some really pretty ones here, but this one, I thought was one of the prettiest I've seen in a while.... welcome spring.

I like this one the best because there is and airplane in the middle left of the picture if you look closely.

The others are just for fun! I hope you can enjoy it as much as I did.

Mary and Joseph

2009-02-13T17:01:00.000-08:00

I have started working graveyards and they are kind enough to let us listen to our ipods with one headphone. I have found it a great time to listen to the scriptures as I don't have much time to read them these days. I love it!

The other day I was talking to a lady at work who was reading tis book called Mary and Joseph by Robert Marcum. It is historical fiction about the lives of Mary and Joseph, the earthly parents of Jesus Christ. My friend told me that Robert Marcum was doing a ton of research about the culture and all he could about the lives of Mary and Joseph....so I checked it out on CD from the library and put it on my ipod. It took me only two days to listen to it. It was an amazingly informative book! I don't think I ever really thought about Mary and Joseph as real people. This brought them to life for me and helped me to grow to love them. They knew before Jesus was born that He was to be our Messiah but could tell no one. They could not even talk to Jesus about it until he himself realized His call and mission to be the Savior of the world. As it went through their lives, and rituals it made me have a deeper understanding of the Jewish culture as well and a broader understanding of the law of Moses.
At the point in the book that was describing the slaughter of the children born in Bethlehem it never crossed my mind that they had no clue what had happened until years later. The point was brought out that so many children and parents had to die so that Jesus would live, but in the end He died so that they could live again.
This is a book I recommend. I could feel the Spirit confirm so many things as I was reading it. I love historical fictions and have a ton of time to listen to things, so if anyone has any book suggestions that are on tape let me know.

Panorama's

2009-01-10T14:25:00.000-08:00

These are a couple of my panoramas from photography last semester, I took a bunch of pictures and then Photoshop merged them together for me....
This is the Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News building ....

This on is the Olympic oval and the poll that was by it for

the 2004 Olympics

I hate how these pictures don't want to work with me!!

to the left and below is the new temple they are building in West Valley/ West Jordan area. I am so excited for that one... it is going to be beautiful, just like the other ones!!

Freezing Time

2009-01-10T07:41:00.000-08:00

I started working graveyard shift at this week at work and it has been a little bit of a challenge, but every day I find more blessings that come from it. First one was that I got an 80 cent raise, not too shabby. Second is that I don’t have to worry if school will fit into my work schedule, the down fall there is my sleep schedule suffers but I am learning to adjust.

Third is that I get to meet new people. I have come to find over the last couple of days that there are quite a few less/inactive members that work there. Some have no desire to come back, but there are a few that don’t seem too far off the path that maybe by my good works (missionary work) they will want to come back. and number four came this morning.

Oh how I wish I could freeze time! As I was driving home from work the moon was so beautiful. It was full and huge! It was even prettier because there were wispy clouds behind it that were illuminated by its light. My first thought was, I wish I had m camera, but I don’t dare keep my expensive camera in my car, so I decided to race the sun to see if I could get some picture. It was a warm 26 degrees outside and I didn’t have gloves so a lot of the shots were blurry.
I didn’t get it with the lit up clouds but as you can see I did get some pretty good shot. What a blessing it is to be able to see the beauty of this earth. It made me thankful for the gift of sight today, not that I am not grateful every day it is just something I take for granted. To add to the beauty of the moon I got to see the beautiful sunrise. It's the picture up top, it didn't want to go where I wanted it to. So there you have it.

2008-12-25T22:07:00.000-08:00

This morning I hopped on a plane from Salt Lake to San Diego. There was a big storm that was supposed to come in last night in Salt Lake and many people told me I probably would not make it.... I never doubted that I would get here with no delay, and I was right.

As I was waiting to depart one of my dearest friends called me from Iraq where he is serving in the Army. It was so good to talk to him. That added to the joy of my day. It makes me so grateful too for the military!!!

As I was flying in, just before we landed I looked out the window and this is what I saw... I thought it was so cool and had to get a picture.

Christmas was really good. It was so good to be with my family. My dad gave me my grandfather's old camera. It was so neat because then we watched some of my dad's old family slides that Mary and Josh (my sister and brother-in-law) put on a DVD that were taken with the camera.

I have 9 more days here in San Diego and I am so happy to be home, and away from the snow... I hate snow.

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and have a very Happy New Year!

Life.... my random blog

2008-12-12T10:35:00.000-08:00

I just finished for the semester and I couldn't be happier. It was a rough semester, not that the classes were hard, it is just difficult working full-time and taking 16 units and three semesters straight lead to burn out. I have an easy load for next semester, 12 units and four of the units are institute classes.... I'm so excited for that. I am also interning.

Another big change, I decided to work grave yards at work because they were having issues working around my not so normal school schedule. It should be interesting.

The other week I was listening to an old CES broadcast by Elder Oaks. He let his wife speak for a couple of minutes and she shared a quote by Elder Holland talking about why things are hard and why life is hard. It says "Elder Jeffrey R. Holland addressed that problem while talking to missionaries about their struggles in the mission field. He spoke about the price we must pay to return to Heavenly Father. His advice applies to anyone who is struggling to know and serve God. Many of the missionaries he addressed were frustrated, seeing little success, and wondering if their missions were of worth. They asked, “Why is this so hard? Why doesn’t it go better? Why can’t our success be more rapid? Why aren’t there more people joining the Church? It is the truth. . . . We trust in miracles. Why don’t people just flock to the [Church]? . . . Why isn’t it easier?”
Elder Holland replied: “I have thought about this a great deal. I offer this as my personal feeling. It is not Church doctrine. . . . I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience.” (And I would add that a university experience or this life experience is not easy because it is not a cheap experience.) “Salvation never was easy. We are the Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, He is our Great Eternal Head. Why would we believe . . . that it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him? . . . How could we possibly bear any moving, lasting testimony of the Atonement if we have never known or felt anything of such an experience? As [members and] missionaries we are proud to say we are disciples of Christ—and we are. But mark my word. That means [we] must be prepared to walk something of the path He walked, to feel something of the pain He felt, to at least occasionally . . . shed one of the tears of sorrow that He shed” (The Atonement [address at seminar for new mission presidents, June 26, 2007], 8).
Salvation is not a cheap experience, and we should remember that. Never let any trials stand between you and your allegiance to your Heavenly Father. Never let any insult or challenge separate you from partaking of the sacrament and lead you to spiritual weakness and possibly to a spiritual death. Hold fast, and remember what you know to be true."

How true it is. I think all of us at one point in our lives have those thought of why thing are so hard.

A this time of year I am grateful for the birth of my Savior, Jesus Christ, for his mortal parents who were willing to raise the Son of God. I am so grateful for the Atonement He went through for all of us so that we can make it through this life to return to live with our Heavenly Father and Mother again. What a blessing it is to have two holidays a year that are for Christ. Just think how much better off the world would be if we thought more like Christ and more of Christ.

If I don't happen to write on this again before Christmas, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and I hope you remember the reason we celebrate this time of year!

Lights on Temple Square

2008-12-01T17:38:00.001-08:00

Sunday night we went to Temple Square in Salt Lake and looked at all the pretty lights (I also pretended to be a photographer and took engagement picture for some friends in my ward). This one is blurry but my favorite super cool one I could not get to up load :0(.... so you are stuck with this not so pretty one. Here is a little of what they have going on....

This is one of the many manger scenes that is around temple square....

A side view of the reflecting pool .... these picture don't do it justice!

The Salt Lake Temple with some pretty lights..

This is in the middle of the reflecting pool. I wish you all could see how beautiful it is!

Music

2008-11-18T07:13:00.000-08:00

This might not make any since to anyone but me but, I was in the car last night with my friend Carrie and we were listening to one of our favorite band, Amber Pacific (http://music.aol.com/artist/amber-pacific/2136437). They are a punk type band with lost of crazy drumming, no no dirty language or vulgar thoughts (other wise I wouldn't listen to them). We just love them. Carrie made a comment that I had never thought of while we was listening to them, she said, "It's so nice that I can listen to this and still feel the spirit." It's kind of crazy how true that was and how grateful I am that there is music with a beat like that has and still you can feel the spirit.
That got me to thinking about some other music and how when I listen to the lyrics it makes me think about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. One song that I was listening to a while ago that made me think this way is actually written to be a type of love song but if you think about it as if you are singing it to Christ it is super cool or maybe I am crazy.

Lyrics to Bless The Broken Road :
I set out on a narrow way many years ago
Hoping I would find true love along the broken road
But I got lost a time or two
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through
I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you
Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
I think about the years
I spent just passing through
I'd like to have the time
I lost and give it back to you
But you just smile and take my hand
You've been there you understand
It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true
Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
Now I'm just rolling home
Into my lover's arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

Let me know if you see what I'm saying.

2008-11-11T21:57:00.000-08:00

Panoramas are one of our assignments for photography. Here are a couple of mine, that have not had to much, if any, editing done on them yet.

Here is the view off the top of our parking structure at school... not bad eh? It is actually a nice area to go to school in (when there is not something going on at the arena and have problem finding a parking spot or protesters on Temple Square).

It's the Bountiful Temple in case you were wondering. I love the view from here and it is beautiful inside as well.

I think this one is cool, it's up Big Cottonwood Canyon. The color is a little funky and don't look to close but one of the sides is blurry.

There you have it.... when i finish my other stuff I'll make an effort to post it. I hope you have a happy day!!!

Last weekend

2008-11-08T22:30:00.000-08:00

Last weekend my cousin Ty was ordained to a priest (not like a Catholic Priest, it is a little different in our church). It was great becasue a chunk of my family was brought to gether. Ben and Maria came up with their kids for the weekend. I am the old lady in the group, most of the cousins are younger than my siblings and I and my Aunt Kathryn's kids, but I still have fun with them.

So in the pictuer we have from left to right: Teone Koontz, Kellyann Harms, Me, Cecily Rosses, Tristen Harms, Trevor Harms, Jared Koonts, Sariah Koontz, Ty Rosser, Elaina Koontz, and Hannah Rosser.

This was a fun one, that's Elaina, Hannah, Me, and Cecily. We were playing around downstairs. I love these girls. I am a good number of years older than all of them so I have watched them grow up from babies and man do they grow fast.

This is my little Jared (aka Tarzan, or so he

use to let me call him). I when I left on my mission he was not really talking and by the time I got home nothing would make him stop. He is so grown up and so tall! He is going to be a little heartbreaker when he gets older.

I love spending time with my family!!! I am so glad for the God's Plan of Salvation (for more info click here: http://www.mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/basic-beliefs/heavenly-father-s-plan-of-happiness/heavenly-father-s-plan-of-happiness) that I am able to be sealed to my family through eternity. I am so grateful for that gift and that blessing.

The Monkey

2008-11-08T21:51:00.000-08:00

Isn't the monkey so cute??? The one crawling on my page for, my parents can't see it so I hope the rest of you can and don't think I am crazy. My sister put it up there without me knowing, she is my blog guru since I really have no clue how to do anything besides post what I write.

I am so excited, I only have 5 more weeks of school and I get a good long three weeks off and then right back to the grind stone. I am not looking forward to next semester as I have to throw interning on my plate of full-time work and full-time school. Bring it on! Ughhhh!

For those of you who don't know I work customer service at Wal-Mart.... it is not the most spectacularly job but I get paid alright and they are willing to adjust my schedule so I can go to school. I decided I am going to start writing down my experience and then write a tell book about the good, the bad, and the ugly of Wal-Mart Customer Service. I have told some people some of my stories.... wow is all I can say someday. All I can say is that my job has made me immune to being cussed at and for feeling bad for telling people no. it has also made me more familiar with dishonest people. I us to be a very trusting person but let me tell you I have learned that even the ones that look like you can trust them you really cannot. I won't get to into that but when I have a good story I'll post it so you can see what kinds of stuff I get to put up with.

Prop 8 and the Church

2008-10-29T21:46:00.000-07:00

I am born and raised Californian, but sadly I am not able to vote in California anymore; but the Prop 8 controversy is all across the country and is becoming a big issue in Salt Lake where I live. I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and they have given their support for Prop 8, which is the first political issue they have ever, that I know of, taken a stand on. For us and the leaders of the church it is for a moral issue than a political one. I am glad that the church is in support of it.
What makes me upset are the members who are petitioning against the First Presidency of the church. I’m sorry but do you not remember The Proclamation to the Family which is probably hanging on your wall, which states what we believe a family is? Did you not sustain these brethren as prophets, seers and revelators just a month ago? Have you not read in Doctrine and Covenants 1:38 where is says “whether by mine own voice or the voice of my servants, it is the same”? Honestly, Satan has made so many things in this world look ok when they are against God’s Plan and when we support those things who’s side are we on???
You know the end is coming when people chose to no longer support the leaders of their church. Nephi saw it: “And the multitude of the earth was gathered together; and I beheld that they were in a large and spacious building, like unto the building which my father saw. And the angel of the Lord spake unto me again, saying: Behold the world and the wisdom thereof; yea, behold the house of Israel hath gathered together to fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And it came to pass that I saw and bear record, that the great and spacious building was the pride of the world; and it fell, and the fall thereof was exceedingly great. And the angel of the Lord spake unto me again, saying: Thus shall be the destruction of all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, that shall fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”
I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion and that is why we were given agency, but when you have a prophet on the earth who is God’s mouth piece why would you not listen and support God and the leaders He has chosen for our day???

If Dr. Seuss Wrote The Book of Mormon

2008-10-21T21:08:00.000-07:00

We get handouts at institue sometimes an I thought this one was funny, so here you go:
Nephi:
Of goodly parents I was born
I’ve never drunk, I’ve never sworn
This is Lehi, he’s my dad —
Laman, Lemuel, they are bad.
And who is this? Why this is Sam.

Sam:
Yes, this is Sam; Sam I am!

Laman:
That Sam I am, that Sam I am
I do not like that Sam I am

Sam:
In a tent, my father dwelt

Laman:
And it’s so hot, I think I’ll melt

Lemuel:
Our father’s brain is out of whack

Laman:
Yeah. It’s too hot, I’m going back.

Lehi:
Then go and get the plates, my dear

Laman:
On second thought, I’m staying here.

Nephi:
You said you’d leave and go away
Now all you want to do is stay?

Lemuel:
That Nephi always gets his way.

Laman:
Here we are in this damp cave.

Sam:
We would not be here if you’d behave.

Nephi:
I will go and I will do.
There’s the angel, that’s my cue.
Laban’s had too much to drink
Now he’ll lose his head, I think.

Nephi:
Look what I found —
A brother from the quorum

Sam:
We will take him home.
We will call him Zoram

Laman:
Our gold and silver we have spent
I do not like it in this tent.

Lemuel:
I cannot read the Liahona
I must have drunk too much Corona

Laman:
We hate it here.
We have no lives!

Lehi
Then go back to the city
And get some wives.

Lehi:
A tree, a tree, I see a tree!!
The fruit is white, the fruit is free!
A floating building, could it be?
Why do they laugh and stare at me?
Laman, Lemuel, come and see!

Laman:
We will not eat your precious fruit.

Lemuel:
We will not wear a tie and suit.

Laman:
We will not help you build your boat.

Lemuel:
We do not think that it will float

Laman:
No not this boat, it will not float
Not even in a shallow moat
I do not care what Nephi wrote

Lemuel:
We will not eat your fruit I say.

Laman:
We will not eat it on a tray.

Lemuel:
And we won’t eat it in a tent,
Not even if your clothes you rent.

Laman:
We’d rather have a can of spam.

Laman & Lemuel:
We will not eat it, Sam I am.

Sam:
You do not like it, so you say
Try it, try it, and you may
Try it and you may I say.

Laman:
Sam, if you will let us be,
We will try it, you will see.

Laman & Lemuel:
Say, we like this fruit of life
Sorry that we caused such strife
You’ve saved us from an awful jam
Thank you, thank you, Sam I am!

Who Knows....

2008-10-20T21:07:00.000-07:00

I hate giving these things titles because I never know what to call them. I have been doing homework for the past couple (more like 5 than a couple) so I thought I'd take a break and write something since my family always asks when I a m going to post again so here goes, not that i have much to say. So this summer i had to change wards, it's a long story but in my last ward I got to serve in the Relief Society Presidency with with some pretty amazing girls and it was really hard for me to leave that ward and my calling, anyway, I went and had dinner with two of them tonight and what fun they are. I miss that calling and those girls so much. What a blessing it is to serve in calling even if it just blesses you with knew friends who are a good influence in your life.
On Sunday I got to go to a missionary fairwell for a girl that I worked with. She was called to San Antonio, Texas. Her topic was eternal merriage.... pretty crazy topic for someone leaving on a mission but she did very well. Look out Texas becasuse you ate getting a great missionary.
On Friday I went to this place called Gardner Village with my Aunt Nancy and my cousin Kellyann, who I live with. It was so cute we went to the animal petting part of it and there was a sheep and a goat and some other animals that were sleeping and Kellyann, she is 2.5, would bend over and tell tha animals to wake up, they didn't listen so she would move on to the next one. I love hanging out with 2 year olds, I find them very entertaining.
There is my life in a nut shell.

Update

2008-10-12T21:14:00.000-07:00

I think in my last blog I talked about a boy in there…..let’s just say that didn’t go anywhere.

So it’s been a while… I’m now back to the how school and work thing. I have 6 classes this semester my two favorite being Pearl of Great Price and photography. I have learned so much in my institute class it is amazing to me how amazing the gospel is. I have learned so much about the plan of salvation among other things. I have always loved photography so I will post a little bit of my work…

Reflecting pool at Temple Square.......

The one below was taken at a Silver Lake up Little Cottonwood Canyon...

I would post more but they take forever to download!!!! So maybe next time....

I went 4-wheeling at the sand dunes a couple weekends and that was a ton of fun.
I also had the privilege of attending my mission reunion as well as a session of General Conference last weekend. I love the Gospel and the Church so much for the blessings it brings into my life. I love going to mission reunions and being able to see those I served with and to see how the mission blessed their lives as well. I adore President and Sister Ashton. How I wish I could be as amazing as Sister Ashton, I don’t even have words to describe her. She is the type of person I want to grow up to be.

I wish I didn’t take so much time to upload pictures otherwise I’d have more to write about. Maybe if I did this more often it wouldn’t take me so long and it would be more interesting for you to read….. till next time…..

Update

2008-08-18T22:05:00.001-07:00

So here is the update and the fun I’ve have over the past month. Two weekends ago there was a huge YSA Summit Conference at the University of Utah… I missed the workshops on Saturday do to work but on Sundays I had the opportunity to sing in a choir in the Tabernacle. Steve Young was the key note and special surprise guest was Elder Joseph B Worthlin. What an amazing experience it was to be able to sing in the famous tabernacle and to be so close to an apostle. When Steve young was finished speaking, he is hilarious p.s., Elder Worthlin shared a short but oh so powerful testimony. He’s spirit alone walking in to the tabernacle brought tears to my eyes. It was like conference when the Apostles and prophets walk in and a very noise room goes quite in an instance. What a sign of respect and a confirmation that everyone in that room knew that he was a man chosen by God to be an apostle for us.
On another happy note they had speed dating there…with a little twist. I wasn’t there for the beginning of the day but two of my friends were and they were kind enough to sign me up. So what happens is you feel out a questionnaire with your number on top and if the person likes your answers they text you. So I got a date out of it and I have seen him a couple of times… I’ll keep you posted.
What else??? I get to go home for Christmas and New Years :0). I’m so excited that my work is letting me go. Wahooo!!!! So I’m going to try the who picture putting up thing but I’m not quite sure how it works. So that is the excitement as of current.

Pet Peve

2008-07-24T22:19:00.000-07:00

So I think the most annoying thing in the who world, ok maybe not the most annoying but pretty close to it, is when people people drive down the rows in the parking lot the wrong way. They put the big'ol arrows on the ground pointing the direction you are suppose to drive and the cars are angled the same way. Is it really that hard to go the right way? I think it bugs me more when people expect you to move out of the way when they are the ones going the wrong directions. I deal with this everyday when I go to work and it is annoying! So there is my vent! Other than that today was a good day. I had breakfast with an old friend and her family, it was nice to catch up. Other than that and going to work not to eventful.

*****

2008-07-22T21:51:00.000-07:00

So this is my first actual blog so let’s see if I can actually get it to post. So what do you right here anyway? I guess you all want to know what I am up to… well I just finished my last hard projects for the semester, now just a couple finals and I am done for a month, yeah! What a relief!
It is crazy raining outside, I love! It makes me miss the Canadian summer storms. I only got to see one bolt of lightning but it was cool.
I went to see Colby Callite and John Mayer last night with a group of people from my old ward. They are both really amazing live performers. If you like them and get to see them go it is worth it.
Let see, what else… Oh, so I’ve been studying on personal revelation for personal study and I found this AMAZING talk that I highly recommend by Bruce R McConkie called “How to get Personal Revelation.”So we all know that the prophets encourage us to get an educations, but it not just to get better jobs or make something of ourselves in this life but because “the better the intellect, the more we are able to evaluate spiritual principles.” So the more you know about history, math, English and all those good things, the more you will be able to have the ability to understand spiritual principles. Makes since to me. Anyway, I think that is about it. If anything else exciting comes my way, I’ll put it up. :0)

I Finally Caved In

2008-07-13T16:54:00.000-07:00

I finally caved in and started a blog. My sister has been bugging me to do it but since my mom aksed I caved in. Hopefully I will get the hang of it and post every once in a while.