Party!Party!Party!Party!..Party!Party!Party!Party!

Having two siblings live in Florida, means when we go and visit,

it's TWICE the party!

Beaching!!!!!

Spider Parks!!!!!!

Fairchild Gardens!!!!!!

And for the Grand Finale Party......

Kiara's Birthday Party

Thanks Samuel, Sharon, Abby, Rich, Kiara, Angie, Indigo and Chad for the

PARTY!!! PARTY!!!! PARTY!!!! PARTY!!!! PARTY!!! PARTY!!!!

Blue Moon?

I was walking out the door to the throw the garbage out, when

this

stopped me in my tracks!

My Roots

You Belong in London

A little old fashioned, and a little modern. A little traditional, and a little bit punk rock. A unique soul like you needs a city that offers everything. No wonder you and London will get along so well.

What City Do You Belong In?

"35" and still on the THRIVE!

The morning of the 29th, I layed in bed thinking about my 35 years of life. While pondering I came up with my motto for the next year:

"35" and still on the THRIVE!!

So I put on my fluorescent green scrubs, symbolizing my bright future ahead, and went to work. That evening after a Welfare Meeting down at Welfare Square, Julie and Audra took me to Hires.

While there I met a man from Spain...

He asked me if I would join him sometime for Paella....

He asked me for my phone number...

He asked me for a picture with him...

He got me a Birthday Sundae....

He practiced his English by singing to me...

He got nothing from me but a picture and a smile...

Did you know that I can tie a knot in a maraschino cherry stem with my tongue in 5 Seconds?

"35" and still on the THRIVE!!!!

You Jane....Me Tarzan

So I was a good Single Adult last night and supported my local Single Adult Activity, held up at the This Is the Place Monument Park. It took all of my courage, knowing that I would see and mingle with many twice my age. It ended up though, actually quite fun. I met some great new people and saw some old friends. The crowning jewel of the evening was when were just about to leave and I saw two women walking towards the exit. A man was hurrying along behind them yelling "Jane, Jane....... Isn't your name Jane?" When the women responded no, he said "Well my name is Tarzan and I am looking for my woman." The women chuckled nervously and as they kept walking on, sarcastically said, "That's a good one." I thought I was just about to loose it right then and there.

The Parable of the Gnats

The other night as I was laying on the grass, listening to an outdoor Celtic concert, I couldn't help but get annoyed at the gnats that kept buzzing my face. A whole swarm wanted to be nowhere else but by me. I tried everything, laying flatter on the ground than my friends, raising my arm above my head, shooing them with more force and yes, cursing at them, but to no avail. Finally I had a realization that changed the rest of the evening. "If you can't fight them or change them, just enjoy them". So I sat back and started watching the pattern that each individual gnat was flying, I then recognized that the whole swarm moved together as one. I became enthralled with their coreographed movements one with another and how they stayed together as a cohesive group, not one gnat straying. It truly became a beautiful sight. As the evening came to a close and the gnats disappered with the sun, I was humbled one more time for the lesson that I had just been taught.

The Master Dad!

How can one truly be as blessed as I have to have a dad like I do! There has never been a moment that I haven't felt his love and support. He is a man of integrity, love, patience, kindness, service and charity. He is a man who loves and respects his wife, his family and the Lord.





I have always loved being by my dad...whether it was sitting behind him combing his soft hair or him holding me tight while squeeking my neck. Whether it was short trips to Iceburg for a shake after a long day of yardwork, or long trips down to Laguna Beach with short days of play.




Whether he was lulling me to sleep by tickling my face and arms or him laying his strong hands on my head for a Father's Blessing. Whether its working on the yard or in the house or going out to dinner and watching a movie... I still love being with him.





He has taught me so much and continues to teach me by his wonderful example. Not only is he a Master Gardener, Master Chef, Master Contractor, Master Scriptorian, but he is a Master Dad! (how many hours of volunteer work did that take?)





I love you Dad!!!

My Brain's an "A"

Brain Academy -

a DSLight Nintendo game that challenges all parts of the brain

Think

Memorize

Analyze

Compute

Identify

This game was introduced to me by my mentor, Sharon, while in Florida last January.

It was ingrained into my soul by my own competetive nature.

Well 4 months later and a lot of test taking

I brought my score up from a

D+

to an

A!!!

Idle triflings?????? I THINK not!

Strengthen The Core - - 2007!

After realizing that my back pain was due to poor abdominal muscles, I knew that I had to make some changes physically. I had to "Strengthen The Core". I did my 3 sit ups on the body ball and I realized that maybe I was in worse shape than I thought.

Another thought hit me - - What about the other "cores" in my life? How was my spiritual core? My emotional and mental cores? Because really, it is all about the core.... it has to be strong so that all of the other appendages have a strong foundation to cling to.

So with deep reflection, I defined my cores....

First and most important..... My spiritual core is Jesus Christ

Second.... My emotional core comes from childlike attributes

So with a renewed dedication to be a true disciple, and with a snowman and snow angels in the yard.... I am on my way to

"Strengthen The Core.....2007"

Millcreek Canyon

This year I took a solitary drive up Millcreek Canyon - this is what I found!

Pretty amazing! HUH?

NY to DC

All growing up I watched Dick Clark drop the ball on Time Square to usher in a new year. This year for my 34th birthday, my friend Liz and I decided that we too, needed to drop the ball and go to New York. We packed our bags and headed off to Time Square, where we would find our hotel, The Millenium.

We had two fun filled days walking throughout New York, one in the pouring rain, the other with blue skies. I think we accomplished about everything you can do - we saw "Wicked" on broadway, ate a hot dog in Central Park, cried at Ground Zero, saw the Statue of Liberty, walked the Brooklyn Bridge in the pouring rain, ate pizza at Grimaldi's, shopped at H&M, took pictures on top of the Rockefeller Center, fell asleep on the subway, and saw the exhibit"Bodies" on the pier.



We then hopped on the Amtrak, down to D.C. where we stayed in the mission home with Liz's parents who are the Mission Presidents of the D.C. South mission. Our stay wasn't very long, but long enough to know that rest is a rare commodity in that home.

before...after

This Summer has meant a lot of changes in the yard!

BEFORE!!!!

AFTER!!!!

Pilgramage

There is something about a pilgrimage that brings a person back to the core of their belief.

As I walked the 40 mile path through the plains of Wyoming, my blistered feet remind me of the sacrifice of the "Mormon" pioneers, each painful step urging me to think deeper. We walk and walk, over the boulders of Rocky Ridge, through the refreshing coolness of the Sweet Water, through dry sage brush lands, over more hills and down into lush green meadows, along more streams and along what would be considered nothing at all. Yet songs and stories of the sacrifice of those who have gone before, fill our hearts and fill our minds. Their legacy of faith burns deep inside, and rekindles what I already know to be true.

We walk on paths we did not create!

We drink from wells we did not dig!

How grateful I am for those who have gone on before

and who have created a legacy of faith!

May I continue that legacy,

so that those who are behind me might enjoy the same journey

and the same refreshing drink.

Grapefruit!!!!