Primary Program Debut

At church, we had our primary program today. All the kids age 3-12 have been practicing songs for months (and the older kids years) to sing today in front of the whole ward. I am in charge of the 4 year olds. Since I am a convert to the church, I've never been in the program before so all week I've been inviting everyone to come to my debut. {Thanks Casey for being the only one to witness my debut} The program was the last hour and twenty minutes of church. So the first hour and forty minutes were spent practicing.  Some laughs and sweet thoughts are listed below.

- The sunbeams are all boys. During practice, they made guns with their hands and pretend shot things.
-soo many reminders "this is the chapel"
- 4 bathroom breaks!! Including one in the middle of the performance.  Awesome.
- one little boy had a CTR ring.. yeah, he got it stuck on his thumb.
-Each kid had a speaking part. My favorites were "I can take care of my body by eating healthy foods like broccoli." And "I can take care of my body by keeping it clean and getting my hair cut." Rock on boys.
-I, and 95% of the kids, do not know 'I am a child of God' in spanish.
- 4 year old boys cannot be left unattended in the bathroom.
-nore can they redress and tuck in their shirts. Whatevs. I let em look hard core with shirts untucked for the program.
-"teacher, does the bread come now?"
- I don't think my class sang most of the songs. Thats a lot to remember when you're 4.
- Afrer our speaking parts one little girl came back and exclaimed, "I get to go to preschool tomorrow." Yeah, I think the front 3 rows heard.

Anyways, they rocked it and are super cute kids. They just really need to stretch their bladders.

Wedding Day- Temple Pictures 01.17.13

 How cute is this guy? I sure love my dad.

 Sigh, cute red coat Mom.

 The Sisters!

 I sure love this tall fella

These are just a few of our favorites. I can't seem to get enough. I swear our whole house is decorated in wedding pictures!

Judge Away

As a wife, sister, daughter, director, student, CNA, decorator, cleaner I OFTEN feel inadequate. I think it's a woman thing. And might I just say how thankful I am for Casey. He tells me it's ridiculous. He reminds me to stop comparing myself to others. He reminds me it doesn't matter. And I'm so grateful that I'm finally catching on!

So, I'm going to be real-

○ I love visitors. It terrifies me when people don't call first. I definitely don't wear a bra after work and I think our house is a pig sty.
○love our dogs. Hate their hair. It's impossible to keep clean. Or at least for me. I judge myself when people come over.
○I sucked in college. I'll be real. Going back makes me sick to my stomach, because I am afraid of failure.
○Casey is crazy smart and we are talking about Masters programs. Intimidating.
○Casey makes more money then I do. By a lot. I once got called a gold digger. While I'm not, it still affects me at least weekly.
○I never finish my craft projects. The last one sat inside the front door for two weeks.
○I need to loose some weight. I just love food and coke so much. I feel like a blob when I see pictures of me.
○I am addicted to coke. (The liquid beverage, obvi)
○I had a few really bad years. I am so thankful I am no longer miserable. But man I wish I could get those years back.
○I only snowboard the bunny hills. I'm a slow learner.
○I wish I was better at my job.
○I miss being a CNA and want to keep my certificate current, but again I worry I don't have enough time to be good at it.
○I didn't do my visiting teaching from May to August.
○Teaching Primary is hard. Really hard.
○I don't go to the temple enough.
○I've made cookies for the neighbors once. It's about the same number of times I've made them in my life.

Okay, I've had enough. I feel so free. I only write this because it needed to come out. No one is perfect! I can't look at others lives and compare their accomplishments to where I feel mine are lacking. I work full time. My house probably isn't as clean as someone elses. My job is hard, we probably do eat out more than most families.  I'm freakin tired when I get home. But I'll get there. I'll get good at this wife stuff.

Then we'll have a baby. And life as we know it will change again.

Happy Wednesday.

Salary

Monday ◇9am-12am
Tuesday ◇9am-5pm
Wednesday ◇8am-5:30pm
Thursday ◇9am-7pm

...

We aren't even through the week and I'm almost to 40. 

Sigh. 

The life of a real life grown up. 

Happy 6 Months- July 17, 2013

Casey and I have been married 6 whole months. Phew, we've crossed all the hurdles. I kid. I kid.

In 6 months, we have

1. spent an amazing week in Cancun 

2. spoke in church and got our first callings. (Young Men's Presidency and Primary)

3.hung pictures on the wall. No more bachelor pad (ish) We still have projects.

4. went to Park City for my birthday and stayed at the fabulous Park City Hotel

5. Went camping with Casey's family in Bryce Canyon

6. Ran our first 5K on July 4 and celebrated Casey's 29th birthday

Of course this isn't it. Just a brief overview of life in general. We have had so much fun so far and we love being hitched.I sure do love this fella.

To celebrate, Casey sent me flowers at work. Then we went and got gas in my car and got a little fro yo at Cherry Berry. It was really low key, since we have celebrated like crazy all July. <and already went out twice that week for Casey's Happy Birthday>

August 2013 Goals

July was apparently not a great goal setting month for me. Time just passed way too quickly. ( or insert your own lam.e excuse here)

Therefore, I am starting August goals a little early. I need a 3 day head start! I really like to write my goals and post it because I feel like then I have to do it. It's awkward if I don't. Also, you may look at my goals and think they are way lame and easy. I set small goals. I'm into attaining them. :)

1. Blog More- at least once a week. I want a book of awesome! I plan on making a book each year for our anniversary. After I start completing this goal maybe I'll add in some old stuff
2. Schedule Better- at work. at home. I swear I'm always in a scramble. I can't do it much longer peeps. I need to be ahead of life curve balls.
3. Spend Less, Save More. This one is of course put in place by the accountant. We eat out way too much. It's that scheduling this coming back to bite me. Each week we have a budget that we can't spend over. It includes going out to lunches or dinner, ordering food in, gas money, house decor, etc. It does not include groceries. Thank goodness!
4. Learn to Coupon. I don't plan on being a crazy couponer and hitting up multiple stores. I just do not have the smarts or patience and energy for that. Even just using a few coupons here and there. $5 saved is $5 for Dirty Coke! Yeah Buddy!
5. Exercise 20 minutes, 3 x/wk. We started this and really did okay. After our 5k we took an extended break and haven't gotten back to it.
6. Cook dinner 2 x/wk. I am not a chef. It is just not an ability I have. I am workin on it!
7. Eat better. Some of our goals mesh together. If I cook more, we eat at home which is healthier and better for us. If I coupon I can get more groceries for cheaper and not feel like I am wasting money on food I'll forget to cook.

Does anyone else have to set goals in order to feel accomplished? If I don't I just wonder what the heck I wasted my life on this month.

Grateful

I started a new job right after we got engaged. As in I was offered the job two days later. Wow. It was definitely no coincidence that the open position and promotion at my work changed from Salt Lake to Weber County. I was so excited.

It has been the hardest job I have ever had in my life.
It's not just 9-5, but a constant. It's 2 a.m. phone calls and Sunday afternoons. It's always.
 I have never felt more inadequate or overwhelmed.

In December, I had to do a training for some of the staff. There were two groups. After the first training, I walked into my office and cried. I emailed my boss and said I couldn't do it. It had went horrible and it didn't make a difference. While I waited for the second group, I got on my knees and prayed. I prayed the training would go well and I could help these people know how important they were, how vital their job was. I don't remember what I said different in the second training. I do recall one person crying and thanking me for making her feel like I cared. I know I went into that second training with a new mindset and with the spirit.

I am so grateful for my Heavenly Father.

I am so grateful for the ability to communicate with Him whenever I need him and especially when I feel that it is too hard to continue.

I'm so grateful for the MANY examples I have had on how to be better each day. I am forever inspired by all of those in surrounding offices. For that boss of mine who never fails to answer his phone after hours. For those who call me their boss, but who teach me far more than I could ever teach them.

And today, it's when I had all but given up. It's when I was at a complete loss. It had been hours with no solution and no light at the end of the tunnel. And I once again prayed to my Heavenly Father. Prayed for the calm following the storm. And as it always seems to, when I felt I was at my end. It changed.

And it was calm.

Oh, how grateful I am for the power of prayer. IT WORKS. I hope that everyone has the opportunity to grow closer to Heavenly Father. I am so grateful for the many options we all have as to how to draw closer to him. I am grateful to whatever religion that makes you feel closer to Him. I hope everyone has the same amazing feelings I do. I hope everyone feels the Savior's love. It is more than I could ever ask for and I am so thankful for the chance I have had to receive the gospel in this lifetime.

It is the best.