I love being an aunt!

I may be the baby of the family. I may have missed a few big family events. I may have not been around when my family was dirt poor. I may have not seen what my dad was like as an athlete. I may not know exactly what it was like when my mom was going nutty trying to make dinner or clean the house. I may have felt like the only child when everyone was grown and moved out. I may feel like I'm the only one who doesn't have a family of their own.

I may be the baby of the family but I am not complaining one bit! There are a few things I that I would have liked to be around for. However, I have had a lot of opportunities that my older siblings didn't have. Spending one-on-one time with my mom and dad was not something my older siblings did very often. For many years I had them all to myself. I wasn't around when my family was just starting or when my mom had a new baby, but I get to watch each of my siblings start their family and have their own children. I don't remember a time when I felt like we didn't have enough money. I have seen a switch in the roles of my parents. My dad has retired and my mom works. My siblings never saw my mom stressed out about going to work everyday or my dad waking up to make my mom breakfast before she leaves. I am grateful for being the caboose and the roles that come with that.

One role that I'm especially grateful for is being an aunt! I became an aunt at seven years old when Bryson was born. I remember holding him for the first time in Kristy and Randy's small apartment in Atlanta, Georgia. After that the nieces and nephews just kept coming! It was so much fun when they started getting old enough to talk and play. I didn't ever have a younger brother or sister but I had many nieces and nephews to play with. And of course I was always the favorite aunt!



A week ago today my sister-in-law Katie gave birth to baby girl. They named her Camille. Lucky for us BYU students they had the baby in Provo. That night Kevin and I went to the hospital to see our new niece. She was beautiful.
As we were driving away Kevin said something about how babies aren't as fun as a toddler that can walk and play. When I was a lot younger I did like when they could talk and play. Now I would rather hold a baby.

A couple of months ago I was talking to a friend. For some reason we started talking about evil spirits. After he left I went to my sister's house to spend the night. I was driving by myself and I was really scared. Not only am I sensitive to things like that anyway, but at that time I was working at Oakcrest. The spirit was especially a big part of my life. I hated how I felt. Finally, I arrived at Debbie's house. I walked in and quickly went to see my two month old niece Betty. I soon as I looked at her all of the bad feelings vanished! As I looked at her I felt so peaceful. I love babies and I love being an aunt. This is Betty

Anna and Betty

I love being an aunt! I love being the youngest of my family. As of last week, I have 17 nieces and 13 nephews. 29 total and 2 on the way.




I'm taking a genealogy class right now. Even though we haven't really got in to it yet, I already gained a better understanding for the unity of family. I love my family :)

the game of life

I usually don't do write about personal things. Deep thoughts and funny things, yeah but as far as how school's going and stuff I just usually don't get too personal. But today I want to at least get a little more personal.

The last couple weeks have been hard. My brother warned me about winter semester before he went to China. He said that winter semester is usually hard because we don't have many breaks and it's cold. I'm definitely feeling that right now.
A few weeks ago I had a break down on campus. I was tired from the continuous lack of sleep and I had a lot to think about. I went into the bathroom in the Jessie Knight Building. I went into the stall and just cried without caring who heard me. I really wanted to talk to my mom but she was at the temple I think.
Most of the time I'm happy and I feel fine, but for some reason when life is busy and I have a lot to think about it's harder than it usually would be.
I miss my family a lot. I talk to my parents often but the last little bit I haven't really talked to my siblings. At the first of the semester around my birthday, many of my brothers and sisters came to visit or they called a lot. I just haven't seen anyone for a little while. My brother's not here at BYU this semester either. He's in China and sometimes I'll be walking on campus and remembering the times when he was here too. It seems like ages ago! I'm sure he doesn't know it but he helped me a lot. My family gives me strength and when I talk to them my problems seem much smaller. I did go home this weekend to go to a funeral and it was great to see my parents. I love BYU but when it was time to leave home and come back to Provo I just didn't want to.
Last week Brother Archuleta, the first counselor in our bishopric, came up to me after ward prayer. Because I'm serving as the relief society president I expected him to pull me aside and inform me of someone that needs help or someone that I should be aware of or some kind of assignment. Instead he asked how I was doing. I told him that I was good because that's just what comes out in casual conversation but this wasn't just a "hello how are you?" He really wanted to know how I was doing. I told him that I had had a hard week and I've been pretty stressed. For some reason he felt that he should see how I'm doing. On the verge of tears, I told him thank you. I was very grateful for this because sometimes life just gets lonely. Even though I have friends and roommates and family, life still gets lonely. Even though I know that my family and friends love Satan works hard on trying to make me forget. After talking to Brother Archuleta I gained a better understanding that my Father in Heaven is aware of me. I'm grateful for Brother Archuleta's kindness. And for a Father in Heaven who watches over me.
Brother Archuleta talked to me again yesterday. He told me not to keep my feelings inside and that it's good to talk to people. I've been thinking a lot about what he said because I think that I do keep my feelings inside. I do like to open up and talk to people but it's different going to someone and telling them MY problems. It's also hard to talk to someone that isn't really going to listen to me. Yeah they might sit and listen but I mean really listen. Anyway I need to enjoy the last little bit of this semester!
Life is a roller coaster that's for sure!! I got a blessing from my dad on Saturday and in the blessing he said something like I'm having these experiences to help me have a full life. Which I completely believe but when you're going through hard times it's not that easy to say "Oh this is helping me learn about life". It stinks when it's hard and usually I JUST want it to end! It will end. I know it will :) And I have so much more in life to look forward to, not to mention an AWESOME summer being an Oakcrest counselor!!!

Love

In honor of the day of love:

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love."
Rebecca - age 8

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth."
Billy - age 4

"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."
Karl - age 5

"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs."
Chrissy - age 6

"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."
Terri - age 4

"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."
Danny - age 7

"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss"
Emily - age 8

"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen,"
Bobby - age 7

"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,"
Nikka - age 6

"There are two kinds of love. Our love. God's love. But God makes both kinds of them."
Jenny - age 8

"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday."
Noelle - age 7

"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."
Tommy - age 6

"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore,"
Cindy - age 8

"My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night."
Clare - age 6

"Love is when mommy gives daddy the best piece of chicken."
Elaine -age 5

"Love is when mommy sees daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford."
Chris - age 7

"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."
Mary Ann - age 4

"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones."
Lauren - age 4

"I let my big sister pick on me because my Mom says she only picks on me because she loves me. So I pick on my baby sister because I love her."
Bethany - age 4

"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you."
Karen - age 7

"Love is when mommy sees daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross."
Mark - age 6

"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget,"
Jessica - age 8


I don't really care for Valentine's Day because I don't have much to look forward to except the weekend and my daddy's birthday. However I still love the holiday! These kids are very intelligent aren't they?

By the way if you want to read an entertaining dating story you should read my sister's blog. It's hilarious!

Janet's Blog- A hormonal disorder story

19th Birthday

Happy Birthday to me!


It was an excellent birthday. I woke up to surprise decorations everywhere! My roommates and I did a Taebo workout video. They made me pancakes for breakfast. Could a day that starts out so awesome continue to be awesome? Yes!

You know how you want your birthday to be a good day simply because it's your birthday? I remember when I was little, on my birthday I would expect a lot. So then, when it wasn't an excellent day I was disappointed.
This year I had a great day! Not because it was my birthday. It was just a good day that happened to be my birthday. There wasn't anything to bring it down! In my New Testament class we had a quiz that I completely forgot about. I took it and got 2/8. After the quiz, I thought, "Well this is the only bad thing about my birthday so far". But then my professor told us that it didn't count. It was just a good day :)
My parents came and we went out to dinner. Then later that night some people came over for cake (Both of my roommates made one! see above) and games. It was a lot of fun!

The best thing about my birthday was the devotional that day. This is only my second semester at BYU so I haven't had that many devotionals but it was by far the best one yet! Elder Holland spoke and it was incredible!
He started his talk out with talking about Lot's wife. I would love to tell you about it but I just want you to hear it from Elder Holland himself. I don't know if you have time, but I promise that if you listen or read this talk you will be uplifted!

Here's the link you can either read the PDF file or listen to the MP3.

Elder Holland's BYU devotional

I love my roommates!!!

I don’t think I could ask for better people to live with. They inspire me to better myself. They’re a HUGE part of my college life and I love them! I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have good roommates. College life can be hard and many times last semester it did get really hard and my roommates helped me more than they even know.

Melanie is an amazing cook! Someday she will feed her own family very well. I have had many, many delicious meals made by her.

She’s also hilarious!! After you get to know her she’s a lot crazier than she appears to be. She loves to laugh and she’s quick to make jokes. I love her laugh and I think I would recognize it anywhere. I think ‘fun’ describes her well and I’m sure Camille would agree with me:) I can’t wait to see where life takes her!

Camille is one of the most caring people I know!

We had the opportunity to visit Provo Care Center together. I remember just watching her and I could just see that she loves people. When she spoke or played with them you could just see that she was interacting with important people. She was quick to love them. I knew Camille before I moved to Provo, but not well. I knew that she was nice and that I could have fun living with her. I’ve loved getting to know her and I’m so grateful that we could be roommates! I wish I were more like her in SO many ways!

Last semester there were many times when I was tired of homework and working and I would come home and my spirits were quickly lifted by Melanie’s laugh or by Camille funny/cool stories that she wanted to share. I have had memorable experiences with both of them individually, but when one of them is missing it just doesn’t feel right. They have become my family.

I want to apologize to them though. About the last month of school last semester there were many times when I didn’t feel like myself. I was going through a low point in the roller coaster of life. There were times when I’m sure I seemed rude. I’m sorry. I had some really hard days and I didn’t even tell my roommates about! For some reason I was being hard on myself for many different things. I wasn’t like that all the time but even if I was “happy” I just didn’t feel like myself.

So far this semester has been going great!!! And I’m VERY determined to keep it this way!

I’m ready to start fresh this coming semester!! There are so many things that I want to improve this semester!! I love my roommates! I want to stay close friends with them for many years to come. I’m so excited to see where life takes them!! They have so many great things ahead of them!

I love you guys!!!!!

Ipod game!

So Camille told me about this game that she played and I thought I would put it on my blog because I haven't done anything for a while... And I thought it was pretty hilarious! I have to share it with people!

So here's the game...

Directions:
1. Put your iPod on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS




1. IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?

All At Once- the Fray



2. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?

Ain't No Fun- Guns and Roses (hilarious!! and true, just kidding)



3. WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A GUY/GIRL?

Everytime We Touch- Casada (For sure! ha ha I'm kidding)



4. HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?

Those Canaan Days- Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat ( I miss those good days :) it works!)



5. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE PURPOSE?

Never Let Go- Josh Groban



6. WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?

Some Kind of Miracle- Kelly Clarkson



7. WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?

March of the Witch Hunters- Wicked (This is SO funny!! The song starts out as "Go! And hunt her! And kill her!!... KILL THE WITCH!!" Oh man that's funny! )



8. WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?

Familiar- EFY 2007 Power in Purity (Maybe because of the preexistence?)



9. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?

Battle Hymn of the Republic- West Jordan Concert Choir (I like my country)



11. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?

Less is More- Relient K (Honestly, I didn't cheat! )



12. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?

High of 75- Relient K (This song is about how the girl he likes is kind of like the weather and she brought a high of 75. It works)



13. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?

Weeping- Josh Groban ( Oh man! Weeping? Ha ha ha)



14. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WHEN YOU GROW UP?

Dirty Little Secret- All-American Rejects (That's horrible!!! Can believe how well some of these matched!? I didn't cheat I promise!)

15. WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?

Mama, I'm a Big Girl Now- Hairspray (This is horrible too!! This song is about how she's a big girl and it's inappropriate )



16. WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?

Remember When It Rained- Josh Groban ( In mourning on my wedding day? )



17. WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?

Sway- Michael Buble ( I don't dance! I actually hate it sometimes! )



18. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?

How Can You Mend Broken Heart- Michael (This is SO true! Maybe not my biggest fear but it's pretty high up there!)



19. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?

One More Night- Cascada (Huh?)



20. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?

The World Will Know- Newsies ( I don't know how to take this one... My friends and I are forming a union maybe?)



21. WHAT SONG THEY WILL PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?

You and I- Michael Buble ( I like this one! )




This was a ton of fun and those that have blogs should totally do it!!! I guess you could do it even if you don't have a blog too. Or if you do have a blog and you don't want to post it on your blog then... fine but I you should still do it!!

if i had my life to live over

Today in my Introduction to Family Processes class we talked about some things that got me pondering about life. Here is what brought my deep thoughts.

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER

by Erma Bombeck

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television- and more while watching life.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner."

There would have been more "I love you's"..More "I'm sorrys"...

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute... look at it and really see it... live it... and never give it back.

This got me thinking. What is it going to be like to look back on life here on earth after it is over? What things would I want to go back and change? My life is young but with that being said… what can I change now to be more grateful for my life?

I have an image in my mind of what the pre-existence might have been like. I can imagine we were learning and preparing to come down to earth in all sorts of ways. We were getting ready to come to earth!! We were nervous but of course excited. Some may have been a little more nervous than others. Maybe some were scared it would be too hard. I’m sure others were fully ready to take on the world. Of course we knew it was going to be hard. We knew that. But I can just imagine that we were SO excited for our long awaited opportunity to final come to earth!

Maybe we would talk to each other about the big things we were going to do here. Or about how grateful we were to even have the opportunity to come. And what about getting a body!?! Can you imagine that anticipation to finally get a body? We probably had some idea what it would be like, but could we REALLY comprehend it? I bet we marveled at the thought of having a body that was all ours and that it was our responsibility (when we are older old enough) to take care of it. We knew that our bodies were a marvelous creation. It’s amazing how our bodies work!! Only God himself could create such a thing!! We wanted to be apart of that and I don’t think we were too worried about what our body would look like because it would be ours. Some were so excited to get a body that they were willing to only have it for a day. We came here to gain a body of flesh and bones!! So isn’t great that we finally have one!?

Have you ever wanted something really bad and waiting for it seemed like eternity? And then you finally get what you were waiting for, do you stop and take a minute to be grateful? Here what I mean. When I was little, I loved Lagoon. I would say things like “I can't wait to go to Lagoon!” Then, when I did go to Lagoon, I would think to myself, “I’m at Lagoon! I’ve waited for this for ever and I’m here!” I do it all the time, whether it's Christmas or with summer time or when I miss someone. When I finally get to be with that person I think “I’ve wanted to see them and here I am, next to them right now!” I know that in the pre-existence we were excited to come to earth. We waited for a long time and the anticipation was great! But guess what! We’re living it right now! We're right in the middle of it! It’s going to pass us by before we know it, so even though life is hard we need to stop and think about how we waited for this very moment! I know need to be grateful and just stop and soak in all of the beauty around me.

With my blue and white personality traits, I dream big but sometimes I don't follow through. But I’m not always like that and I don’t have to be. Today while we were reading this poem I just had a lot of thoughts about what I want to do with my life. And I CAN do great things! Since I’ve started college I’ve had to come out of my shell a little bit. I've had the opportunity to expound on my thoughts rather than just doubting myself. And even though I'm at a University with 30,000 smart and talented people, I still have a lot to offer! Also, I've gained an even greater testimony that with His help I can do ANYTHING!!!

Life is great and we need to live it to its fullest!! Later we will look back at our life. Most of all we need to be grateful for everything around us! And just for the chance we have to be here!