Promotion

So the day has finally come after 4 years of being a nurse and avoiding it...I am now officially a charge nurse!  Wish me luck!

Thailand

I had the opportunity to spend 9 days in Thailand with my brothers. One of my brothers, Jeff has been living there since September and just moved back home the other day. So my other brother, Scott and I decided we needed to take advantage of him living out there, so we did! I've always wanted to visit Thailand so this was the perfect time to go. We spent the first few days in Bangkok exploring the city then flew to Phuket for a few days then back to Bangkok for a couple more days before flying home. Bangkok is such a crazy, busy city! It was cool seeing for a couple days but after that I was over it. It is quite overwhelming with how many people there are! Plus the 90+ degree humid weather did not help. BUT going to Phuket was by far my favorite. I loved it! The beach, scooter rides, sunsets, islands, snorkeling, swimming, elephant riding...all of it!

Our bungalow in Phuket

Went to a couple different beaches

 

The next day in Phuket we took a speed boat tour to a few different islands

Our last day in Phuket we went on a tour in the mountains/jungle that included zip lining, river rafting, hike to a waterfall, elephant riding, ATV riding, monkey/elephant show, fish spa and a visit to a fruit garden.

In Bangkok we visited the King's palace, a couple really nice malls, Victory monument, Muay Thai fighting match, and got super cheap Thai massages ($3/hr!). One of our last days we visited the old capitol, Ayutthaya.

It was a great trip but definitely glad to be back in the USA!

as of late...

Valentines Day spent with my mom seeing one of my favorite bands ever, Lady A!

Took a trip down to Arizona to visit my sister and her family. Went to the harlem globetrotter show, dinner, played at the park, enjoyed the beautiful warm weather, watched the kiddos play their sports, and had a pretty sweet dance party!

       
Seth, the little spiderman :)

Cade (my now 13 yr old nephew!) at his football practice

Brinley at her soccer practice

Ava the gymnast

Seth, future rock climber :)

Playing with hair and having a dance party :) K, I know the last picture is crazy but they were hyper and it's the best blackmail picture ever!

So fun seeing my sis and her fam! I just got back from Thailand with my bro--we visited our other brother who was living out there.  I'll post more pictures later but here is a preview!

happy february!

Here's to love!

Absolutely admire these great quotes:

      "Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are.

       Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two."   -Louis De Bernieres

"Love is always patient and kind. It is never jealous. Love is never boastful or conceited. It is never rude or selfish. It does not take offense and is not resentful."  -from the movie 'A Walk to Remember'

"There are several kinds of love.  One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance.  This is the ugly and crippling kind.  The other is an outpouring of everything good in you -- of kindness and consideration and respect -- not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable."  -John Steinbeck

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!