Exciting!

Everyone needs some excitement in their life. I think that it should be an almost daily thing. It doesn't have to be a big thing it just has to be a "OH YEA!" thing.

These are 10 things that I get excited over. They aren't in any order and some aren't even my top 10.

1. A sugary treat (lemon bars, cupcakes, Daddy N's pumpkin pie, Mum's molasses cookies)
2. A LDS based conference of sorts (General Conference, Women Conference, EFY)
3. Anything that my sister or mom makes
4. Trips (especially when they involve family, the ocean, a new place, a familair place I haven't been to in a while or a foreign country)
5. Eating out
6. Hugs from Super S
7. Seeing little people (anyone under the age of 8, which makes shopping at a busy time great)
8. When Brett comes home from work (I even did this when we were just friends)
9. Christmas
10. Changes in the weather (it changes my wardrobe options)

Whats great is that today will probably include four of those things. I just have to plan it so that I visit my sister when she is cooking. :)

Going to the Temple and We're Going to Get Married

We did it!

On the 20th of July Brett and I were sealed for time and ETERNITY in the beautiful Manti temple. It was a bit of a drive but well worth it. We were also blessed that so many loved ones were able to make it.

Here are some pictures celebrating the day. They were taken by the talented Mindy Kidd.

Loved

The last few days have been sort of crummy. Actually January was sort of a bu....um, that's a bad word to my Australian family...... Well just say it wasn't full of sunshine. Just some frustrating things. This week was much better though. It is because of the little things. For example,

My sister posted a funny picture of my nephew on her blog. It made me laugh.

While cleaning I came across a list of talents I posses that I had started that my TX Dad finished. I had written it so I would work on developing those talents but because he added to it it made me feel appreciated as a person and like I have something to offer.

I got a fun package from my Mom.

My AZ Dad sent me beautiful flowers

My parents in TX bought chickens. I know I'm not there now but knowing that they will be there when I get home makes me happy because I use to be a farm girl and in all honesty I miss it.

I was accepted as an EFY counselor. My cousin Kort says she is going to live vicariously through me. She is getting married so she can't be a counselor this year. I give her regular updates.

Yesterday I watched a ladies kids for her so she could go out. Her day had been crummy (sick kids, 5 hours at the doctors office.) but she said it was better because I was here now. She also said that I was going to be a great mom. Any compliment with the word mom in it is my favorite.

I got to talk to my mom on the phone today. She told me a funny story about my nephew who sure loves his dad.

As I walked home from work today it was snowing so I decided to eat the snowflakes. A guy in his fifties crossed the street to come say hi to me. He that I was the coolest person ever for eating snowflakes. We were walking the same way so he talked to me for a bit. He is from TX too. Since he is from Texas it is not abnormal to talk to a complete stranger as Texans are very friendly people. Before he left to go his way he told me that I have a special light and that Utah doesn't know it yet but they are lucky to have me.

Now THAT made my day. It was 't just that the guy took the time to cross the street to come say hi or that he ave me some really good complements. It is that Heavenly Father prompted him to give me those compliments. I needed them and I needed them then and that guy was in tune enough to listen. It was a tender mercy. All of those things are tender mercies that Heavenly Father set up for me. It is so nice of him and lets me know that he really does love me.

Kids

Why do we go to college?
S-"So we can learn to get married"

When picking up Miss Lou's rental violin S spotted a little one that was HIS size. He was very excited and thought he should have it. When telling him that it was to expensive didn't work Miss Lou took over. It went something like this
Miss Lou-"If you get a violin you have to take lessons so you will know how to play"
S-"No we can get it and I will play MY way"

After my mom wrote out the check for the violin Miss Lou said "Thank you so much mom." Impressed the cashier said he had never heard a child thank his parents before. My mom told him that it is very important to Miss Lou to be nice. Miss Lou told the cashier "I AM a nice girl" When my mom tells the story she adds "and so humble too."

My Aussie Dad was recently watching a BYU football game (see, football is so cool even Australians like it). He gets into watching games so he was yelling at the TV. Most likely somewhat surprised that his dad was yelling A says, "Dad, I'm right here. You don't need to yell"

Kids are the best. I am very thankful that my parents have blessed me with three cute kids that I have gotten to see grow from babies to their personality-filled selves.

Utah

I have always wanted to live in Utah. Now I get to. But lately Utah seems even better then it I thought it would be. Want to know why? Hope so because I want to tell you.
Craft stores
Yummy places to eat
BYU sports (FOOTBALL!!!)
My grandparents are here.
My cousin Emily from Australia is going to school in Utah
Church related things are EVERYWHERE
My sister, her husband and their soon to be here baby boy are moving here in a week.
My Cousins Tressa and Mindy are here (maybe they will let me babysit some time).
I have lots of aunts, uncles and cousins here. Some very close by and others just a few hours away. (I haven't lived so close to family since I was in kindergarten)
My Aunt Kim and Uncle Roger from Australia are coming in October and I will be here for it. (I think we ought to go to General conference together since they will be here for it)

I could go on but I will leave it at that. I am so happy and excited and being all of those things makes me thankful too.

EFC

My first session as a volunteer EFY counselor was amazing beyond description. I am so thankful that I get to do this. Every thing was awesome. And I got what I prayed for, patience. I didn't mean to pray for opportunities for it I just prayed that I would have it. I guess some of my kids were sent there so I would know I was being helped with it. Despite that I still love those kids. They have bright testimonies and great potentials. The reason I can see that and love them is because I wasn't just loving them for me. I was loving them for Heavenly Father. I love them because he loves them.

So, what is EFC? It's what happens after an area session of EFY when the kids go home. Especially for counselors was very fun. We got to say the things we enjoyed that day, eat, cram to many people in a car, and flirt because the kids aren't there to see. There are rewards to being a volunteer. Regretably I forgot to bring my camera cord so I cant add my pictures just yet. I'll tell you when I do.

My Mother

"All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother."
-Abraham Lincoln

Here are some reasons that I'm glad my mom is my mom.

1. She has endless patience. She has never yelled at me when I do things I shouldn't. If I was her I would have yelled at me.
2. She loves her children more than anything. Even when we are annoying and stress her out.

3. She knows when I need things or am having a hard time. Even when I am states away and don't tell her about it.

4. She talks to me and keeps my secrets.

5. She understands me.

6. She is creative. I love the things that she comes up with.

7. She gives without a thought of return.

8. She is an example of living by faith.

9. She makes me laugh at myself and she laughs at the silly things I do.
10. Shes who I want to be when I grow up.

Thanks, Mom, for being the best.

TV

I had planned on posting tonight but E, S and my Dad are having a sleepover. They are using the computer as a tv because our tv has decided to go to electronic heaven. I suppose if there was an electronic heaven that our tv would go there because only clean things are shown on it. This is due to my parents teaching us high standards about what we watch. Thanks parents.

A Great Mail Day

These days its unusual to get happy things in the mail (unless you order it yourself). So, today when I got two great things in the mail I was thrilled.

First, I finely got my general conference tickets. I thought I was only going to get 4 but nope, I got 12 for the Sunday morning session. This is great because with the 4 that amber got for that session we will have enough for the people we had planned for. Yea! Thank you President Powers. :) I am so excited to go.

Next, I must say thank you to My Aunt Kim. Earlier, I blogged about Possum Magic., a children's book that is popular in Australia. In the blog I mentioned that I wanted it for my collection. So she sent it to me. Not only did she do that but she also sent me 3 other Mem Fox books. Wombat Divine, Time for bed and Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge. Thanks Kim!

Oh, did I mention that she sent them to Amber too. She's the greatest!Amber said she was extra excited because she wanted to start a collection of children's books to read to the baby. Thanks for jump starting that Kim.

EFY 2009

I get to be an EFY counselor this summer!!! I have 3 sessions that I get to work. I am so Happy. My sessions are in Logan Utah, and they are stay at home sessions. The sessions are spaced though so I will be in Utah from about May 30th to July 11th. Yea because I love being in Utah. I also love youth. I think they are awesome with so much potential. I also love the gospel and want to help the youth see how much it can bless their lives. I am so excited for summer now.

Music

Today I am thankful for music
It entertains, enlivens, calms, motivates and uplifts.
I found this picture. I particularly like the legs.

Thankful

I'm feeling blue and starting to go on a pity party. Those are not fun so its time to count my blessings.

(I wish I could figure out the computer so I could put up some pictures. May be I'll update later)

Family- They make me laugh. There fun to talk to. They cheer you up on your down days. They give you hugs.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints- I love everything about it. It provides me with peace, direction, Friends every where I go, and things to do. Through the church I learn about my savior.

College- It provides me with classes that help me better myself and some fun things to do too. I want to take the horse back riding class next term.

Friends- They offer a change of pace and our the new people that you get to know.

Summer Vacation- Breaks and changes in pace are wonderful things

Little kids- They are so cute and generally cheerful

Craft Stores- A place to get your creativity going

Cars- They get you where your going faster.

The city buses- If they didn't exist I would be walking.

Restaurants- It means you don't have to cook.

Sugary Foods- They were made just for me.

The person who started cake decorating- The opportunity to be creative with out having to haul around the results when you move..........well, kind of.

Seasons- The constant change in scenery is refreshing.

Rain- an excuse to drink hot chocolate and it sounds pretty on a tin roof.

The list could go on but I will end it here for now.