Drink. Pee. Repeat.

OH MY GOODNESS! Downtown Nashville was crazy insane tonight with people that, most of which (such as ourselves) should have stayed home. Apparently ever year for the 4th of July, they put on a big fireworks show. I had no interest in going and Jen didn't either. Mikal cooked on the grill, I played with Abby, and then after dinner since they had fireworks, Mikal shot them off. Abby liked them and clapped during and after they were over and all was right with the world. We so should have left it at that but that's just not the kind of people we are. Jen and I were raised so that if you could possibly go for a drive and look at the stupid people, you should do so by all means. What you shouldn't do, is join them.

Lesson learned as I turned down 4th and Commerce in stead of staying strait on Church. We were literally stopped for about 20 minutes not moving at all. I had a conversation with a man that was turning the opposite way we were sitting still for so long. Oh, and what I forgot to say is that we even got there too late for the fireworks so we didn't even get a show out of it. Well, not that kind of show. We got to see a lot of idiots with flashing lights on their heads, people with stars and stripes on their tapered pants. Shoot, I forgot to tell that guy that he got a phone call. Dang it. If anyone sees him, the message was that the 80's called and wants the pants back. As if that wasn't enough for one person though, he had the classiest shirt. It said, "Drink. Pee. Repeat." I'm sure his mother is proud.

Even though we had to go way out to BFE to get home and I wasted so much gas, it was a good time and something different to experience. Everyone that knows me knows that my car gets like 2mpg and when we went down, I had about a quarter of a tank. I'm not parked safely at home and it's allllmost on the E! Are you freaking kidding me?! I'm so glad to be home and in the comfort of my pj's with G curled up beside me licking his butt.

This is an awesome life and I'm grateful for it. We can all thank a soldier for having the freedoms that we have to wear the stupid crap we wear and being safe to drive (or sit) on roads and not have to worry about the government rolling up and down them on tanks while praying we can make it home just one more day to see our family. I'm thankful for the men and women who Honor, Serve, and Protect us and with this, I bid you a good night.

Sweet dreams, everyone.

Well, I can't seem to keep up.

A lot has happened this year already and I just can't keep up. The rundown is, new friends, new shift, General is now 4, I took Abby to Arkansas to see my mom and it was awesome, got my TiVo back, great concerts, new hair color, and feeling content. There are too many details to note but just know that I'm happy, healthy, and on a negativity break. lol Have a great day!

Day 1 @ the gym and...

IT KICKED MY BUTT!!! Holy crap I didn't remember how difficult it is to get into shape. My goals are simple. I want cute clothes and to look cute in them. I can buy them no problem but buttoning and zipping are a different story so that's my goal is to get into them and not be muffin-topping it.

I'm not going to "diet." I'm done eating out every day. It's expensive and unhealthy. I'm done buying anything other than water to drink unless I go do go out so because that's not going to be often, then I'm not drinking soda often. I will, however continue to buy juice once a week because I'm addicted and the soda isn't really a habit to break actually now that I think about it. I will make better choices when I cook such as healthier pasta that I love so much and little cream sauces. My biggest issue? Potatoes. Oh how I love thee. So, the salad in my fridge is my new best friend and the water that I've got stored up is the best thing ever! Right? RIGHT!

I expect hold myself accountable and I expect to be held accountable by others. I CAN do this!

Happy New Year!

2010 is going to be an awesome year; it's going to be MY year! For this year, I wish us all peace, love, and happiness blah, blah, blah. For real, I do hope that we can all find the strength through our Heavenly Father to help us through all of the difficult times and be able to overcome any obsticles that get in our way as well as enjoy all of our blessings and gifts!

For 2010, my goals are to continue to work on my debt, become healthier, and continue to learn and grow within the gospel. I have a lot of debt from when I was with Cliff and even though the divorce papers say he has to pay for certain things, ultimately he isn't going to and I will end up doing it. OK. I will deal and be the better person (I always was ;) ) and just pay it to get it off my back. I would love to be able to buy a house by the time I'm 30 and with this much debt, it will never happen.

Becoming healthier is tough. I love pastas and breads and all of those forbidden types of food. I'm not big on sweet stuff but do enjoy a little every once in awhile. I'm not going to get a candy bar all the time and I'm not going to pig out on chips either but I will stop at Sonic any chance I get and since there is one up the road, I have a lot of chances. Must. Stop. This. So my fridge is full of salad stuff and yogurts and good stuff for me and I'm even going to cook it! *Gasp* Yes, people I will cook it and try not to burn the place down.

The Gospel. Wow, there is so much for me to learn! There is so much for all of us to learn. I try and make myself stay for relief society but the truth is, it isn't my favorite meeting of the day by any stretch of the imagination. I figure that's why it's so important to go so that I can learn more and be more willing. I'm trying to get back to basics with reading my scriptures more and praying every day again. I don't know why it's so hard lately but it is. My scriptures stare me down and I pass them by but not anymore! It's here for all to see and hold me accountable so I expect you to do just that!

Onto other news, General and I have moved! YAY! We now live in a crackerjack box! Seriously, I've never lived anywhere so small but I like it and it's nice to be able to be completely on my own. I don't have to worry about others' morals and the things they are doing. I'm comfortable in my own home and know that nothing is going on that I don't agree with...except General farting 24/7. Seriously, he can clear a room in one "poof."

I like my job SOOO much more than I did. It is very much same ol' same ol' with my job but things are going better. Still loving my supervisor and he is very much the reason that I'm doing better with my scores and such. I think the entire call center could learn a little something from him and how he treats his team.

My nieces and nephew are growing up SO incredibly fast and it just blows my mind. I wish I was able to be with Sam & Briley half as much as I'm with Abby. Abby, by the way completely stole my heart the other night. I put her down for bed and she bawled and bawled and I bawled with her as I sat outside her door and I finally couldn't handle it anymore. I picked her up and went to lay down with her in Jen and Mikal's bed. Laying there with her on my arm is so nice but she kept putting her hand through my hair and kissing me and then turn over and rinse and repeat. Ahhh, I love her!

On that note, here are some pics that we've had done and some snapshots too from this past Sunday when we went to Charlie Brown’s ICE! It was a blast and soooo cold but it was fun to slide down the slides and just enjoy friends. Enjoy the pics and I hope that your 2010 is going to be as great as mine!

Jax

Christina Cole Photography

Update for Shannon.

I made a new friend. She's wild and crazy and I love her kids to death.

Happy Fall, Ya'll!

Here are a few updates:

I went to the temple! It was quite possibly the most spiritual feeling I've ever had and it just confirmed so many things for me. Jen is always saying this is new for me. The feelings being so deep in my heart are, yes but knowing this is the true church is not. Everything I've ever learned was confirmed there and as I fasted and prayed about going and what I would be learning I kept getting a reassuring feeling that I was doing is right. It was SO incredibly special that Mother was able to go with me. I loved having my family there and my bishop too. He is wonderful and without his support, I wouldn't have been able to go when I did as I just knew I would have to wait for so much longer than I did.

Abby turned 1! Oh my gosh, it seems like just a few weeks ago Jen and Mikal were bringing her home and she was SOO tiny!

Now she's big and SO much fun! I love nothing more than to go to their home and almost every time she sees me, she smiles soo big! It makes my heart swell to know that she loves me as much as I love her. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I'm amazed by her every day and can't imagine what a privilege it is to be a mom. I can't wait to have babies of my own someday!

My job is getting better. I have an awesome coach and he really is concerned with our success. I still want out more than anything in the world but I have no other experience except retail so it doesn't matter that I know I could do it since everyone wants you to have experience already. I just want to have the weekend off and work 9-5. I want a regular schedule so I can go and do things at night. It will improve. I just need to be patient.

September is flying!

Wow, I can't believe how fast this is going by! I was able to receive my Patricarchal Blessing on September 6 which was fast and testimony Sunday and also my favorite Sunday of the month. I can always count on others to draw from their testimonies and add to my own. It was a great blessing and I fell in love with our Patriarch. He and his wife are so sweet but I think that's a requirement to become a Patriarch; you have to be the sweetest person in the world. Jen and Auntie went with me and we all cried. I opened my eyes at one point because they were burning so badly I couldn't hold them shut any longer and the entire room was glowing a magnificent glow! It was awesome.

I go next Friday to receive my endowments and I'm quite excited for that. My family will be there and we have an opportunity to do other work as well. It's going to be a great day.

Saturday (Sept 26), our baby girl turns one. I cannot believe how this year has flown by with her. She is such a blessing to me and I am so thankful I have the opportunity to be her aunt and to know and love her. She is just perfect and I couldn't ask for things to be any better.

A rundown of things

When you go to work and come home, go to church and come home, and don't really do anything else, not a lot happens but there has been a little action.

I'm divorced. I just got my final papers in the mail. I'm relieved that I got them and I'm glad that it is final and I don't have to worry about it any longer. I do still talk to him a little though and the kids are doing ok so I guess all is well.

I'm not going to Nauvoo for my endowments. In stead I'm going to Nashville. I'm telling myself that it isn't about the destination, it's all about the ordinance. So far, it's working although I will go back to Nauvoo and do an endowment session for someone that has been waiting and that makes me happy.

September 6 @ 5pm I get my Patriarchal Blessing. I should have done this years ago but I wasn't ready by any means. Some of us take longer than others. I was rebellious and didn't appreciate it. I'm just thankful that I have the opportunity to do it now because I certainly appreciate what it means and I'm super excited!

I moved! From upstairs to downstairs (lol). I have my own bathroom and a larger closet and it's better. I'm in a home with 2 men at this point though and that was the decision that I had to make. Noone is thrilled that I'm the only female and I'm certainly not either but at least I do have my own spaces. I am looking for a house with Jen and Mikal. Hopefully we can find one that has a finished basement and a seperate entrance. That's pretty much the only way we will be able to live together.

Speaking of Jen and Mikal, they have been out west for the past 3 weeks. It's driving me insane! I miss them like crazy and I know I'm missing stuff with Abby too and I hate it! It just confirms for me that I'm obsessed with her and it can't be healthy. Maybe I need to join a group or something but she is all I think about. :)

Briley is a year old!! I can't believe it! It seems like just a few months ago I was driving down to meet her at a week old. She was so super tiny. She's got 9 teeth and is trying to walk. She gets soo mad at her Pawpaw (who can blame her?!) that she tries to bite him and herself too. She's a funny one.

I am doing research on ways to get into school. I've got to go back again. I've taken a class or two here or there but I'm ready to go back full time. I'm deciding between a few different medical things but I'm still leaning toward nursing. We'll see where it goes.

Nauvoo....sweet, sweet Nauvoo.

absolutely loved my vacation to Nauvoo. It is exactly what I needed and it came at the right time. I missed Abby and General like crazy but it was great. I accidentally left my phone in Tennessee so I had no phone service the entire time we were there unless I used someone else's which I really only did on my birthday (I turned old...27). It's crazy to me how we used to survive and never had cell phones but it was a blessing because I would have been preoccupied the entire time if I'd had it. We saw so many different sites and I learned so much that I never would have learned if I hadn't had the opportunity to go.

I encourage everyone to make a trip to Nauvoo. If you need a testimony builder, that's where it's at. My testimony was strong but now it is rock solid and stronger than ever. I absolutely cannot wait to receive my endowments in the Nauvoo Temple! We will be going this fall and I'm super excited for it because that is "my" temple!




Joseph Smith's home

The Nauvoo Temple @ sunrise