updates, lots of updates

Wow I can't believe it has been since LAST JULY that I blogged. No one probably reads my blog besides my parents but I'll keep at it since it's a good way to document my life/thoughts/things I've learned and am learning. It is crazy how fast life can change. From feeling like you are on top of the world and that life is so good to experiencing your worst fear and the unimaginable heartbreak that follows. I never imagined that I'd go through the things I've gone through recently. But I have to quickly remind myself of how much worse it could be and that I have so much to be grateful for.  It amazes me when I think about the great power of choice--choosing to be happy, to be grateful, to be positive, to serve others, even in the midst of our trials.  It is extremely hard to do especially when you are in the thick of whatever trial you are experiencing but I am learning how healing comes when I have applied this to my life. None of us are immune to the trials of life, the heartbreaks, the disappointments, etc but how great it is that we have the choice to react to them in a certain way. And how incredibly refining it is when we literally turn our broken hearts to the Savior.  I came across this blog recently that has really helped remind me of these important truths.

I have been blessed with incredible family and friends who have supported me so much these last couple months and am just so very grateful for each of them. Thank you. Seriously thank you. Even though it is not fun going through hard things, it always amazes me the love and support people give when others are suffering. I don't know if I can say trials are a beautiful thing but what results from them through the love of others and God and how we choose to view them really is a wonderful thing.
My heart is still healing but I have hope that the things I desire most will work out somehow :)

So let the picture updates begin...

July 2011:
     4th of July spent with the whole fam--parade, games at the park, bbq, fireworks.

  Seattle trip with bff Lindsey to visit our friends Ilene & Eric.

August 2011:
      California trip with Lindsey to visit Steph and her new baby and also spent some time with my bro and other friend Shayla.

Fall 2011:
      Many beautiful warm nights with incredible sunsets, trip to Angel's landing, hiking/biking with my Mom, Rascal Flatts concert, San Francisco trip and a lot of other 'things' which won't be posted :)

Winter 2011:
         Spent Thanksgiving & Christmas with the fam & friends that came into town, moved in temporarily with my brother Phil and his family in Lehi, lots of time spent with the niece and nephews, and bff Lindsey got married!

2011 was quite up and down but there were lots of great memories and fun times I will always remember! Definitely looking forward to this new year...here's to 2012!

i have the travel bug.

I want to go everywhere. I've always loved traveling and for some reason this past year I've been itching to get out more and take advantage of this time in my life. I have the perfect job to do it and keep thinking my money isn't meant to just sit in my bank account. I need to enjoy it a little right? Of course I'm not going to blow my savings but I'm definitely believing in the philosophy of "work hard, play hard". Life is to be enjoyed, not endured as one wise man said :)

Some highlights from the past couple months:

In April took a lovely trip to DC with a couple of my bff's L & B. We're dorks and loved every minute of our educational trip back east.

 

About a week later took off to Cancun with the fam. Is it pathetic that I still think about this place pretty much everyday and want to be back there? It was quite possibly the best vacation I've been on.  My favs of the trip: spider monkey, snorkeling, Chichen Itza and the beautiful clear blue water!

June brought the yearly trip to Moab...

...and lots of time with these people!

July brings a trip to Seattle, August will be Cali and hopefully Thailand at the end of the year!

My dream list: Tahiti, Thailand, Europe, Egypt (or anywhere in Africa would be sweet), Brazil, back to down under & New Zealand, San Fran, Alaska...pretty much the whole world :)

Anyone wanna be my travel buddy?

conference weekend.

Steph and her little baby bump SJ came into town this past weekend. We had a mini baby shower for her that included dinner at the Dodo, decorating cupcakes baby style, and lots of laughing ('p' game, hey tell, talking tom...these little things keep us entertained :) can't wait for little SJ to come!

then woke up to a mess like this...

 

yay for snow in April...come on Spring! Conference was wonderful as usual. Seriously can it get any better? So grateful for inspired leaders and a prophet of God. 

Here are some of my favorites talks...

 

...and many more great talks.

here it goes again...

 

...hopefully more realistic this time.

        

my goals for the next 3-4 weeks:

                   *p90x lean workouts on my days off ~ 3-4x/week

                   *log my diet/exercise in the 'lose it' app each day

                   *eat only 1,573 calories per/day

                   *cut back on sweets, only 2-3 cheats per week

                   *go climbing at least 2x/week

Just finished day 2. yippee!

I feel pretty good. sore, very sore but I don't feel like such a slug anymore. 

and why am I doing this again?

many reasons. 

but mainly because I came to the realization that in just 4 short weeks I will be here...

...Cancun! 

and I have to look somewhat decent right?

26 good ones.

my loving family. my supportive friends. my health. freedom. my testimony. my job. my warm house. food. water. my clothes. my car. sunshine. knowledge. flowers. kindness. the mountains. humor. memories. books. love. children. sunsets. life experiences. photographs. vacations. beauty.

I have now reached another big one, the 2-6!
crazy, crazy but I feel very blessed for all that is in my life.
spent the day doing girly things with my mama,
met up with the fam for dinner/dessert,
then more dessert at Gourmandise with the slc crew.

one of the best things is having nieces and nephews. this one turned TWELVE today.

Happy Birthday Cade!

viva las vegas...or not.

 

Vegas weekend trip celebrating a friend's b-day.

highlights: 

staying in a suite on the 41st floor of the Vdara.

 pool time. relaxing in the warm sunshine.

dinner at a cute french bistro over looking the Bellagio water fountains.

going to phantom of the opera.

good conversations with good people.

my epiphany:

aside from the highlights, my hatred for Vegas has grown a hundred times more. 

I've never been a huge fan of that place and was quickly reminded why I never 

like going there. 

dirty. nastiness. smoke. porn everywhere.

not my scene at all.

please oh please remind me to never take a trip there again.

...instead give me my mountains, the beach or a much classier city.