Dear Erika:
Congratulations! We are pleased to offer you admission to Brigham Young University-Idaho. Rich blessings and life changing opportunities await you here. yada yada yada
I got in!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait to go back to school. Rexburg, Idaho here I come!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
24 is my year.
So friends, I guess I'm officially 24 years old now. Mid-20's.
I rarely make New Years resolutions, but I do make "age resolutions." My goals for age 23 were to start working out and to run a 1/2 marathon. Well, after doing Insanity (it actually is insane. I wanted to throw up or die during every workout) and running, I accomplished my goal and finished the 13.2 miles in 2 hours and 9 minutes. I never stopped running the entire time and I'm proud of my time!
For age 24 I have some bigger resolutions/goals. This year I want to work out my MIND!! (That was suppose to be overly cheesey) I want to go back to school. I'm not exactly sure what I want to major in yet (which has been a large contributor of why I haven't gone back until now) but I think I'll figure it out soon. I at least know what I don't want to do. So, I applied to BYU-Idaho for hopefully Fall/Winter semester- but we'll see. It will be nice to return. I won't have to transfer credits and I'll be around people just like me. Plus, BYU-I has much more to offer than a typical state school- smaller classes, teachers that remember your name, a fast track where you can attend school 3 semesters a year instead of 2, and really inexpensive tuition. We're moving to Southeast Idaho as soon as one of us can find a job.
My other goal is mostly for my family, but it's to have our Independence back!! I can't wait to reunite with our belongings safely stored in 2 separate storage units. It's been 2 years since I've even seen our beautiful black breakfast buffet table. That reunion will definitely be sweet/similar to Christmas morning.
So there you go.
Oh, you want to know how my Birthday went yesterday?
Great! I got to sleep in until 10:30. My mom took me to lunch and Dustin took me to KFC (it's what I wanted) and to get dessert at Papa Haydens in Portland. Dustin surprised me with a mini fridge stocked with beverages galore and the first season of The Middle. I also got a creme brulet torch w/ ramekins, some cute clothes, jewelry, some awesome sandwich shape cutters (which even got Lillie to eat her entire heart-shaped PB&J today), a gift card to Applebees, VS lipgloss, shower gel, slippers, OPI nail polish, and even a homemade cherry cheesecake from my visiting teachers!
But I have to say, the best gift of all was logging on to facebook today to see my entire page full of Birthday wishes. Who doesn't love that?
I rarely make New Years resolutions, but I do make "age resolutions." My goals for age 23 were to start working out and to run a 1/2 marathon. Well, after doing Insanity (it actually is insane. I wanted to throw up or die during every workout) and running, I accomplished my goal and finished the 13.2 miles in 2 hours and 9 minutes. I never stopped running the entire time and I'm proud of my time!
For age 24 I have some bigger resolutions/goals. This year I want to work out my MIND!! (That was suppose to be overly cheesey) I want to go back to school. I'm not exactly sure what I want to major in yet (which has been a large contributor of why I haven't gone back until now) but I think I'll figure it out soon. I at least know what I don't want to do. So, I applied to BYU-Idaho for hopefully Fall/Winter semester- but we'll see. It will be nice to return. I won't have to transfer credits and I'll be around people just like me. Plus, BYU-I has much more to offer than a typical state school- smaller classes, teachers that remember your name, a fast track where you can attend school 3 semesters a year instead of 2, and really inexpensive tuition. We're moving to Southeast Idaho as soon as one of us can find a job.
My other goal is mostly for my family, but it's to have our Independence back!! I can't wait to reunite with our belongings safely stored in 2 separate storage units. It's been 2 years since I've even seen our beautiful black breakfast buffet table. That reunion will definitely be sweet/similar to Christmas morning.
So there you go.
Oh, you want to know how my Birthday went yesterday?
Great! I got to sleep in until 10:30. My mom took me to lunch and Dustin took me to KFC (it's what I wanted) and to get dessert at Papa Haydens in Portland. Dustin surprised me with a mini fridge stocked with beverages galore and the first season of The Middle. I also got a creme brulet torch w/ ramekins, some cute clothes, jewelry, some awesome sandwich shape cutters (which even got Lillie to eat her entire heart-shaped PB&J today), a gift card to Applebees, VS lipgloss, shower gel, slippers, OPI nail polish, and even a homemade cherry cheesecake from my visiting teachers!
But I have to say, the best gift of all was logging on to facebook today to see my entire page full of Birthday wishes. Who doesn't love that?
Friday, January 14, 2011
Lovingkindness- yes, it's one word.
"Be kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." When I first heard this profound statement by Marjorie Pay Hinckley, it resonated within me. I hurried and scribbled it down on some scrap paper with a broken crayon I managed to find down in the depths of my purse/diaper bag- whatever you want to call it. The statement was too significant not to remember, and since that moment, it has become a motto for my life.
Being born and raised in a middle-class suburb of Vancouver, Washington was exceptionally ordinary. I attended public school, made good friends, was obedient, and then began the first leg of my college journey at BYU-Idaho.
My average life quickly changed in June of 2006. I got married. I began my first "hard battle" of halting my education, running off with my "newly degreed" husband, and starting our idealistic newlywed life in Las Vegas. But after our first lay-off, first baby, and a never-ending pile of bills, I realized we were headed for a war.
My dear husband has been laid off seven times. Right when life started going great, we got "let go," a child got sick, our insurance company denied another claim, or we needed to replace our timing belt. I've cried a lot. I pitifully wondered what I was doing wrong. Then, one day, as I was contemplating our lack of income, I realized that everyone around me was going through something even harder. I have friends who are dealing with foreclosure, cancer, death, depression, an inability to get pregnant, or divorce. I then taped my scrap paper quote to my bathroom mirror and sincerely began serving others who were facing tremendous challenges of their own. The battles I fight are unrelenting, but my perspective has changed. We are all in this together, and I've found lovingkindess to be essential for survival.
Being born and raised in a middle-class suburb of Vancouver, Washington was exceptionally ordinary. I attended public school, made good friends, was obedient, and then began the first leg of my college journey at BYU-Idaho.
My average life quickly changed in June of 2006. I got married. I began my first "hard battle" of halting my education, running off with my "newly degreed" husband, and starting our idealistic newlywed life in Las Vegas. But after our first lay-off, first baby, and a never-ending pile of bills, I realized we were headed for a war.
My dear husband has been laid off seven times. Right when life started going great, we got "let go," a child got sick, our insurance company denied another claim, or we needed to replace our timing belt. I've cried a lot. I pitifully wondered what I was doing wrong. Then, one day, as I was contemplating our lack of income, I realized that everyone around me was going through something even harder. I have friends who are dealing with foreclosure, cancer, death, depression, an inability to get pregnant, or divorce. I then taped my scrap paper quote to my bathroom mirror and sincerely began serving others who were facing tremendous challenges of their own. The battles I fight are unrelenting, but my perspective has changed. We are all in this together, and I've found lovingkindess to be essential for survival.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Dustin
No, it's not his Birthday. Nor is it any of our many anniversaries! My New Years Resolution is to be more appreciate and more loving towards Dustin.
You could say I got lucky. It could have been a huge mistake- after all, we were engaged after a record-short courting period. What you may not understand is that despite how fast everything went, it was the easiest decision of my life and I've never second-guessed spending the rest of my life with him.
So, there you have it. Instead of making a resolution to lose weight, eat healthier, watch less TV, or some other unrealistic goal that I'm sure to fail at by March- I've decided to be nicer and more appreciative of my husband.
You could say I got lucky. It could have been a huge mistake- after all, we were engaged after a record-short courting period. What you may not understand is that despite how fast everything went, it was the easiest decision of my life and I've never second-guessed spending the rest of my life with him.
So, there you have it. Instead of making a resolution to lose weight, eat healthier, watch less TV, or some other unrealistic goal that I'm sure to fail at by March- I've decided to be nicer and more appreciative of my husband.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Our Amazing Photographer
A couple weeks ago we had our family pictures taken. Our photographer, Eric Harker out of Salt Lake City (ericharker.com), happened to be in town and did a very professional job. He understood my complicated vision of what I wanted these pictures to look like and captured them perfectly. I loved the indoor lighting, the formal clothes, and the classy and elegant location. Of course, we have a million pictures to choose from, but these are 5 I really liked out of 230. I could have posted 20 more. Enjoy.
I would recommend him! Thanks again, E^2.
I would recommend him! Thanks again, E^2.Saturday, December 4, 2010
Tip of the day
Want a great seasonal tip? When you go to make your gingerbread houses this year, instead of making icing that doesn't taste so great out of confectioners sugar, instead buy a normal-sized container of white frosting and add 3-4 tablespoons of cornstarch. You won't taste the cornstarch and you'll be surprised how stiff your frosting will dry. Plus, it's cheaper.
Also, instead of worrying about using knives to adhere all your candies- simply spoon your frosting into some Ziploc baggies and cut a small hole off of one corner. Zip up the top, and you've made yourself a mess-free, less-hassle way to frost your gingerbread (or Graham cracker) houses.
Your welcome!
Also, instead of worrying about using knives to adhere all your candies- simply spoon your frosting into some Ziploc baggies and cut a small hole off of one corner. Zip up the top, and you've made yourself a mess-free, less-hassle way to frost your gingerbread (or Graham cracker) houses.
Your welcome!
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