Just another crazy day in paradise

This post is a conglomeration of thoughts from the past two days. Eric gave a family night last night on the article by Thomas S. Monson found in the April 2008 Ensign titled, "Treasure of Eternal Value" that really hit me. My dad today then titled one of his e-mails to me "Just another crazy day in paradise" and that once again got my mind going.

It is so important to live today as if tomorrow isn't coming. I have definitely put off doing this since my college career and have made it a goal to get into the habit of making every day count. I can't use homework, tiredness, or projects as an excuse to put off serving, loving, and progressing in life. (Not that these were ever good excuses beforehand.)

I love what President Monson said about life. He stated, "There is no tomorrow to remember if we don’t do something today, and to live most fully today, we must do that which is of greatest importance. Let us not procrastinate those things which matter most." Procrastination is for people who are too afraid to live life or too blinded by the world to take the time to do what matters most.

In addition to not putting off the good things in life I want to make sure I take time to enjoy each thing I do. Sure, life is hectic and hard but we can make life paradise each day, even if it is a little crazy. Life isn't meant to be perfect and I plan on working hard to make the most of each day, even with the bumps that get tossed in.

I want to make today a day I never forget, a day that wasn't wasted, and a day I can say was just another crazy day in paradise.

Stole of Gratitude

Graduation has come and gone (pics to come soon) and I have had some time to look back on my four years of college and remember the good and the hard times. A lot has happened over my four year period at BYU. Marriage, a baby on the way, Eric's broken back, several moves, a broken arm, an experience in writing a 30 page paper, arrythmia, and countless assignments and projects have kept me very busy. Sometimes I think I let school keep me too busy. I am grateful to all those who have put up with me and pushed me to keep going when I was tired and ready to give up. I have had amazing support from my husband, parents, parents in law, brother and sister, and countless others. From the cookies on the doorstep after a hard day of class to the phone calls, e-mails, and hugs encouraging me, I feel overwhelmed with the love I have felt as I have journeyed through school. Thank you to all of those who have made my journey a memorable and wonderful experience. I felt your support and prayers daily and I was so blessed to have people cheering me through thick and thin. Many times your kind words and thoughts were an answer to my prayers and I love you all.


Some small moments that made life wonderful:

• Going to celebrate high school graduation with my parents


• Moving into Glenwood


• Having my mom here to help me get ready to start college


• My dad helping me get a scholarship from the navy for school


• Walking over to Lindsey and Blake's apartment to babysit, eat dinner or just enjoy their company.


• First WalMart trip with the roommates


• Snowboarding on the table in Glenwood with a pineapple in hand with Bonnie


• Going to a BYU dance and drinking so much fruit punch our mouths turned red


• Working with Lindsey and going out to eat way too much for lunch
• Bonfires


• Walking to Blackjacks for dinner
• Going down a giant water slide at Rock Canyon


• Christmas breaks


• Reading Harry Potter during Christmas break
• Talking to my family about how I liked Eric and then didn't like him
• Going to Phantom of the Opera a million times when it first came out


• Going to Moab with Eric


• Having my dad laugh at the idea of me going to Moab with Eric for 5 minutes


• Getting engaged to Eric


• Planning a wedding in two weeks
• Getting married and loving every minute of our wedding day
• Moving into our first apartment after getting married
• Discovering the Disney channel
• Getting new clothes every once in awhile
• Late night dollar store runs
• Spending the night at Lindsey and Blake's house and eating grapes and being hyper all night
• Going to general conference
• Getting e-mails from my dad


• Going to Yellowstone
• Getting holiday treats in the mail
• Going to lunch with my Auntie B
  
• Going to Lindsey and Blake's house after my first anatomy class to cry


• Trips to the outlet mall
• Going a good run
• Getting a belated mother's day gift from Eric
• Teaching primary


• Going on hikes
• Talking to my mom on the phone


• Going to the scera pool
• Coming home to find a new bedspread and sheets on our bed


• Going to Lake Tahoe
• Cheating and eating dark chocolate every once in awhile
• Sitting and talking to family on Sundays


• Pizza factory with Steven and Eric
• Getting cute notes from Eric
• Playing board games and learning Egyptian Ratscrews


• Rediscovering how good Papa Murphey's pizza is


• Having Steven come do laundry at our house on Sundays


• Going to the temple
• Having so much emotional and financial support when Eric broke his back


• Getting ready to have a baby
• Getting my back scratched or rubbed
• Going to Lindsey and Blake's for dinner and to play games
• Falling asleep by the fire instead of doing homework
• Walking on campus during the spring
• Walking to my car after getting a good grade on a test
• Wearing sweats
• Eric making me nachos or a cheese crisp when I had morning sickness
• Spotting my family at commencement and waving
• Shaking Elder L. Tom Perry's hand during graduation
• Not being able to wipe the smile off my face as I walked across the stage to get my diploma

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! I am now a graduate of my online college algebra class! After a year of procrastination and confusion I am free!!

How Cocoa saved my life

Last night I was craving a delicious sweet treat. The Easter candy sitting on my table was definitely calling my name. Starburst jelly beans are one of my favorite Easter candies and they just sat their teasing me. Since sugar is out of the question I had to get creative. While I love fruit I needed something that didn't taste so healthy. :) I settled on a banana shake which is an all time favorite but decided to add some cocoa and vanilla in for a twist....mmm...talk about a sweet treat! It definitely satisfied my sweet tooth and left me sugar free! For a delicious treat I definitely recommend throwing together a banana, some milk and ice, a little vanilla, and some delicious cocoa to top it off!

Words that get my through the day

Be positive
I am asking that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I am suggesting that as we go through life we “accentuate the positive.” I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment virtue and effort. I am not asking that all criticism be silenced. Growth comes of correction. Strength comes of repentance. Wise is the man who can acknowledge mistakes pointed out by others and change his course.
What I am suggesting is that each of us turn from the negativism that so permeates our society and look for the remarkable good among those with whom we associate, that we speak of one another’s virtues more than we speak of one another’s faults, that optimism replace pessimism, that our faith exceed our fears. When I was a young man and was prone to speak critically, my father would say: “Cynics do not contribute, skeptics do not create, doubters do not achieve (from Ensign, Apr. 1986, 2–4).
Let us go forward in this glorious work. How exciting and wonderful it is. I do not know how anybody can feel gloomy for very long who is a member of this Church. Do you feel gloomy? Lift your eyes. Stand on your feet. Say a few words of appreciation and love to the Lord. Be positive. Think of what great things are occurring as the Lord brings to pass His eternal purposes. This is a day of prophecy fulfilled, … this great day in the history of this Church. This is the day which has been spoken of by those who have gone before us. Let us live worthy of our birthright. Keep the faith. Nurture your testimonies. Walk in righteousness, and the Lord will bless you and prosper you, and you will be a happy and wonderful people (from Ensign, Aug. 1996, 61).

What color are you?

you are paleturquoise #AFEEEE

Your dominant hues are green and blue. You're smart and you know it, and want to use your power to help people and relate to others. Even though you tend to battle with yourself, you solve other people's conflicts well. Your saturation level is low - You stay out of stressful situations and advise others to do the same. You may not be the go-to person when something really needs done, but you know never to blow things out of proportion. Your outlook on life is bright. You see good things in situations where others may not be able to, and it frustrates you to see them get down on everything.

the spacefem.com html color quiz

Here are some pictures from our Moab/Canyonlands trip this March. It was a much needed vacation!



Eric is a cone head! Behind us is the green and colorado river. Can you tell which one is the green river? Suprisingly it wasn't the green river....

There wasn't a lot of water in Moab when we went...but whatever water there was we found it!

This is Eric's Michael Jackson pose....feel the wind baby!

Crawling the rocks...I thought this was a cool view.

This was one of my favorite things we did.....who needs roller coasters when you have sand dunes!

Ahhh! We are stuck! These are the mazes in Moab.

If you are afraid of heights...don't look down!

I liked to stop along the way whenver we could find something to climb up on.

Apartment Search

We are once again on the hunt for an apartment. I think we waste more gas and more time looking for the perfect place on a yearly basis...we have definitely been lucky in what we have been able to find in the past but I am ready for the hunt to be over. It would be so nice to settle down and sit tight for a few years. Because we are college students and our family is growing it is hard to settle. I can't wait to decorate my own place and paint the walls whatever color I want. All good things are worth waiting for though! For now I will be happy not having to worry about paying all the utilities, keeping up a yard, or doing repairs on our house. There are definitely pluses to apartment living that I enjoy and I am glad to just have a roof over my head! I can handle living in transit a little longer. :)

Grow the Belly!

The belly is starting to form! Keeli or Sage is growing and growing. This week I hit the 24 mark! Maybe by the end of my pregnancy I will be able to stick my tummy out farther than Eric can. :)

51 days and counting

Yes I know my blogging skills have never been up to par; however, I only have 51 days of school left until I graduate and I am hoping that being homework free will allow me to focus my creative juices on different things in life such as blogging. I am still alive though and am hoping to revamp or vamp up for the first time by blog sometime in the near future. In the meantime I will be going to school, doing homework, taking tests, working, giving a church talk, trying to stay away, and getting ready for our little gal coming soon!

The month of Halloween

October has to be one of my favorite times of the year. The leaves are vibrant and gorgeous, the weather is crisp and not too warm or cold, and the promise of holiday festivities make it hard to sit still without smile. As we drive down the canyon everyday to head to school and work Eric and I pick out our favorite trees covering the mountains. My favorite tree is hot red and overlooks Deer Creek Dam. I love going to corn mazes, drinking fresh apple juice, eating chili with corn bread, and wearing my sweatshirts and sweaters again. Fall is just a comfortable season. I can sit by the fire with a good book and look out my window at the moutains that have flaming trees which look as if they are melting the snow beginning to settle on each peak. Yes, I will always love the fall.

Ah, ha, ha, ha, Staying Alive!

Yes I know it has been centuries since I have written last and no I was not touring Europe or sailing the ocean blue. Life caught me by the hand and has been taking me on a ride without any brakes. School has started again and with that comes less time to devote to the life of blogging and quite a few other things. Not to fret though, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and I believe I will reach the light around April 24th or 25th. That's right ladies and gentlemen, I will be graduating from college! While I have loved school and how it has helped me grow, I get quite stressed at times. Here are the things I am looking forward to doing after I finished with college:

1. Start having a family

2. Spend more time cooking

3. Read

4. Go to the pool in the middle of the day on a weekday with Lindsey and Sadie

5. Do my visiting teaching before 8:00 at night

6. Paint

7. Work out in the morning

8. Clean the house more than once a month

9. Take a dance or yoga class

10. Study the scriptures more in depth

11. Go camping with Eric

12. Plant a garden

13. Clean out the closet in our second bedroom

14. Sell junk from closet on EBay

15. Do a little jig just because I can.