The Zoo and Temple Open House

A couple of weekends ago I got to go up and stay with my sister for 3 days. We went to the Zoo and to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House. That was the only time I've been inside of a temple besides just doing Baptisms for the Dead. It was such an awesome experience and I'm glad we got to go. I am taking Temple prep classes right now and am planning to go through the temple sometime in August! I am so excited! We went to the zoo with my friend Lisa and her kids. It rained most of the day, but we still had fun and got to see some of the animals!

This is just a picture I took of Payton and Treyson. I ♥ these two so much!

Payton and Garret riding the Tigers!

Us with the Tiger!

Payton trying to decide if she wants to drink from the lion's mouth!

Payton and I riding the merry-go-round, she would not sit on any of the animals so I held her and she was happy!

Payton all ready for the Zoo!

Treyson all ready for the Zoo!

All of us at the Temple.

The Temple again! (the pictures didn't turn out so great!)

It was a fun 3 days and seemed to go by so fast!

♥Happy Father's Day!♥

Happy Father's Day Dad!!!

I couldn't let today go by without blogging about my dad! He might seem like a tough guy, but really he isn't! Here are some things I love about my dad!

~He taught me the value of hard work.

~He always made me do well in school. I was really mad for it at the time, but C's or below were not acceptable in our house.

~Him and my mom put me through college, even though we have a family business that has been pasted down starting with his great grandpa he always knew it was never my dream to work in a restaurant and never pushed me to do it. He gave me the means to go to college and have the job I love today.

~He tells me he's proud of me!

~He taught me the value of being honest.

~He made me be a good sport, and boy was that a hard job! (it sorta worked dad!)

~Even though he always talked about wanting a boy I know secretly that he couldn't be more happy he just has Kacie and I.

~He taught me the value of money, and how important having good credit is. He started me young establishing credit and boy am I grateful for that now!

Happy Father's Day Dad!

Happy Birthday Melissa!!!!

Today is Melissa's 29th Birthday! Only one more year until that dreadful 30! Melissa is the best friend anyone could ask for. I love her so much and want her to know how much she means to me! So..here are just 10 of the things I love about Melissa! (Yes! I stole the picture of her blog!)

10.She is always happy! I can always count of her for a pick me up!

9. She is my friend no matter what I do or say.

8. She listens to me ramble for hours about things I know she could really care less about and no matter how boring I get never tells me she has to go.

7. She is one of those people who has been an awesome example to me, when I wasn't living the way I should be she would give me gentle reminders about how she felt and what she believed, but never pushed.

6. She loves me and listens to me no matter what.

5. We think the same things are funny and could laugh together for hours!

4. I feel comfortable asking her anything and everything.

3. She waited for a long time for Parker to be here, but I never heard her get bitter or mad, she looks for the positive in every situation.

2.She isn't afraid to show emotion, her true feelings (something I really struggle with)

And the number 1 reason I love Melissa...

1. She always remembers to tell me she loves me. Without even knowing it, I think, she has taught me how important it is to let the important people in your life know you love them. She never hangs up with phone without telling me she loves me, and in turn it has made me realize how important that is.

Thanks Melissa! I love you tons and hope your birthday is great :))

Now..for a story about Melissa! So a couple of weeks ago Melissa, Devin and Parker came to Cedar, so I was more than excited to finally get to meet Parker and see Melissa after not seeing her for quite some time..Well..we had dinner at Chilis and then went to Maggie Moos for ice cream. Parker needed a diaper change so Melissa takes him out of his car seat and walks around to the other side to lay him down on the seat. In the mean time I close the door, with her keys in the diaper bag! Yep! you got it we were locked out! Here are a few pictures from our "adventure!"

"What do you do?!"

Hoping the peoples van we put the camera on top of weren't coming out anytime soon!

And the man that came to save the day!

♥Happy Birthday Grandma♥

Today is my Grandma Dianne's 70 something birthday! There are so many things I love about my grandma. I know all twelve grandkids would agree with me when I say that WE have the best grandma in the whole world! Here are just a few things I love about my grandma.

*She doesn't talk badly about anyone. She finds the good in every person.

*She would do anything to help someone who she thought needed it.

*She spoils us.

*She is seriously the best cook in the whole world and she loves to feed everyone.

*She welcomes everyone and anyone into her home I always loved that I could bring anyone to her house and they would always feel welcome.

*She cares about me and always wants to know what's going on in my life.

*She makes me feel good about myself.

*She is ALWAYS thinking of someone else.

*Her and my grandpa always made sure we kept close as a family

*She always has time to talk to me.

*She supports and loves me no matter what.

I ♥ you Grandma!!!!!

My New Calling

I have been a little heistant to post about this because it is pretty personal to me, but at some point I plan to print this blog out and want to remember it. As many of you know I haven't been active in the church for about the last 13 years. Back in November it seemed like my life was spirialing out of control nothing seemed to be going right and I felt lost. With the help of some great family and friends I decided that I would start going back to church and just see how I felt with the idea that I had nothing to lose at this point if I wanted to I could always go back to my old self. The Relief Society Presidency along with Visiting Teachers had been trying to come to my house since the day I moved in and I had always avoided them. They left me these little notes on my door that for some reason I always kept with their numbers, so when I was ready I called the Relief Society President. Her and her 1st counselor were over at my house the next day and I decided I would go to church that Sunday. For the sake of not making this too much into a book I knew it was time for me to go back. The Singles Branch I'm in is the best branch ever. The welcomed me and really made me feel like I belonged there and I was no different than anyone else. As I kept going to church I of course kept having the nagging feeling that I needed to go in and talk to my Bishop. This was so scary to me, going in and telling someone you don't know everything you need to repent for. I knew about the Atonement, but in no way did I understand it at all! With a lot of help, encouragement, patience and love my best friend finally made me understand that even though I had made some major mistakes Heavenly Father was ready to forgive me, as soon as I was ready to truly repent. I went in and talked to my Bishop, told him everything and felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off my shoulders. From there, I met with him weekly we talked about everything and I felt so comfortable. I started reading The Book of Mormon and knew without a doubt this was what I needed to do. So, skipping over a few parts I've been going to church faithfully and meeting with my Bishop faithfully every week for the last 6 or 7 months. In May, I missed a few week of church for Treyson's blessing and Daniel's Homecoming. I came back to find out that our Bishop had been released! I kind of freaked out wondering what would happen. I had the opportunity to talk to him a few weeks later and he reminded me that I had repented I didn't need to start over and there was nothing to be worried about. So, two weeks ago I get a call that our new Bishop wants to meet with me, I figure he is just calling everyone in to get to know them. To make a long story kind of short he asks me to accept the calling of 2nd counselor in the Relief Society Presidency. I really thought he was joking I couldn't believe that I was actually being trusted to do this job. After a lot of questions pertaining to "Are you sure? Me?" of course I accepted. If someone would have told me last summer that this is where I would be this summer I would have bet everything I have against it. It's amazing to me how the Atonement will work in your life, if you're ready and will let it. A book my Bishop gave me that really made me undetstand is "Believing Christ" by: Stephen Robinson. This book is excellent! I am very excited for my calling, but am also really nervous thinking Do I know enough? I have so many people in my life to thank for slowly bringing me back. I have so many family members and friends that are such wonderful examples and without knowing it you have really helped me :) I have made some wonderful friends in my branch that have included me in everything and have been patient with me. My little sister Kacie has always been an awesome example to me and has never given up on me. I only wish me being the older sister could have been a better example to her. She's always had to be the mature one though :) And my OLDER (adopted)sister Becca for never giving up on me. When things got hard (and there were some really hard times) she never let me give up. She is always there to ask me the hard questions. She is so strong and her strength and example help me to be the person I want to be. And of course my Heavenly Father who has walked beside me through this whole thing showing me how much he loves me. I still struggle every day, but with His help I know I'll be able to make it through. I am so grateful that he has trusted me with this calling. I am sorry about the rambling, and I know this probably wasn't the most interesting thing to read, but it's something I want to remember.