It's about time!

So it's been a little while (to say the least) since I've blogged. I guess i just haven't really felt like there was anything worthwhile to write about the past few months. Or if i did, it didn't seem like that big a deal to actually put it in words. This being the month of thanks, i decided to write down the things that i am grateful for (and hopefully jump start my blogging again)

I feel like it's been one of those years that when it's over it'll be like a big sigh of relief. Ok, so it probably was not THAT bad. Right now feels like a "downtime" in my life and it's given me time to look back and reflect. I DO have so much to be thankful for!

My family is amazing! Granted, you probably wouldn't hear me say that everyday (or during a period when i've lived with ANY of them) BUT they are pretty amazing! I have been blessed with good parents who love me and definitely show it in different ways. They've tried their best with me and man, i sure have given them a run for their money. I think i've turned out ok though. ;)

I couldn't ask for better sisters!
Michelle- the oldest, such an inspiration to me and a huge example! One of the most selfless people i know and i get to call her my sister! How lucky am I?!
Julie- haven't always "understood" each other but as we've grown older, our relationship has also grown! Always so positive when i talk to her and between us, a little jealous of all the places she's lived and the cool things she's done!
Danielle- such a fighter! i admire her strength. literally, she could probably kill me! haha i guess being in the marines kinda does that. but really, she's amazing!
and then there is the baby-Caitlin - man, she amazes me and if she only knew how much of an example she is to me! I wish i was more like her! So gifted and talented and she actually does something with those!! That girl is going places and meant to do great things.

So pretty much, my sisters are amazing and I am so grateful to have them in my life!

I am thankful for my J.O.B. considering it took me awhile to find one when i got back to Texas, I sure and grateful i have one. (oh, and i don't work at Sears anymore. got a full time job elsewhere)

I am thankful for the good people that I have met in my life and the few that i get to call my best friends! (you know who you are). I truly believe that certain people are meant to come into your life for a reason. whether it's for an hour, day, month, year or lifetime.

I am last but certainly not least grateful for the knowlegde that i gain of the gospel and of my Savior. I know that there have been, are and will be trials in life but by knowing Christ and living through him, I can grow and become the person Heavenly Father meant for me to be.

I love this time of year and this Season!

SO....................

I finally got a job!! Yay for me! It's at Sears as a cashier and it's only part time but hey, some money is better than no money! I'll still be looking but I'm glad something came along in the mean time!

I really do feel so blessed! It's been hard to stay positive but I think I did ok....granted, I did have my days...ask Jen! (thanks for putting up with my complaining!)

Everything seems to be looking up though.

PS...can't wait for SUMMER!!!!!!!

Dallin H. Oaks

So we had the wonderful opportunity to have Dallin H. Oaks come and speak to our stake today! He was coming to speak at a leadership training for all the bishops in the DFW area. He called our stake president a few weeks ago to ask if he could come and speak to the Denton, TX stake! Naturally it was. President Petersen (stake president) asked for the institute choir to sing. I decided to be apart of it and I'm so glad I did! It was an amazing experience!
The meeting started at 10 am but we were asked to be seated by 9:30. I drove my parents up there at 7 am so they would get a good seat. A few people had the same idea. I had to be there by 8 for choir to practice. Elder Oaks came in around 9 am and started shaking hands with EVERYONE! I took him a good 45 min. to do so! The meeting started a little before 10 and WOW! It was so wonderful to hear from such great leaders!
Speakers:
President Petersen
Sister Thurston (Tx, Ft Worth Mission President's wife)
Elder Thurston (Tx, Ft. Worth Mission President)
A memeber of the quorum of the 70 (i forgot his name) :(
Dallin H. Oaks.

All in all, it was an experience i don't want to forget.
Elder Oaks spoke on SO many different topics that it was sure to have touched everyone in some way or another!
He spoke about being clean. He spoke about the different roles men and women have! He spoke about D&C 38:42 "And go ye out from among the wicked. Save yourselves. Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord."
I was great to listen to him explain this scripture and to hear from an apostle! What a blessing it was to be in the same room as him and to shake his hand and to hear his message for us from the Lord!
I love this gospel and i know that we do in fact have a living prophet on the earth today. I know that we have apostles and I know that they are called of God! What a beautful Sunday and great preparation for General Conference in 2 weeks!
I can't wait to hear more from our great leaders and most importantly, I can't wait to continue to learn more about my Heavenly Father and brother Jesus Christ to become more like them!

My list of wants

I thought I would sit down and write out a list of things I really WaNt. Here it goes...

• job
• Fly to Sacramento to see my best friend Jen and my niece Olivia!
• Fly to Utah to see my sister Michelle and her family (extended too)
• Go visit Camille and family in Houston!
  
• Take a trip somewhere just for fun ie: Mediterranean cruise, Italy, Greece (i could go on and on about where)
• get more healthy which along with that lose some of this stupid weight!
• do something really fun and maybe a little crazy....life is a bit boring right now to say the least.
• make out with a cute guy! (it's been awhile! haha) it's my list so get over it! ;)
• finish school as fast as I can
• maybe go to beauty school after i finish my bachelors (I've always wanted to go)
• did I mention a job?!!
• JOB!! maybe is i write it enough, I'll get one....wishful thinking, i know!

ok, so it's really not that long....really i just want t a JOB and to travel. No big deal right?!

Not much has been going on hence the lack of blog posts. Life is good though. School is going really well. I'm enjoying all my classes and am learning so much! It's been great being at home and being here for my little sister Caitlin. She was basically an only child before i moved back. So it's been great getting to know her better!

I like my singles ward for the most part. It was a little strange at first since it's like all the younger, younger siblings of everyone I grew up with. I have a good calling though that I enjoy and it's been good getting to know the people in my ward. I do get to go out with the sister missionaries a lot and I honestly love it! They are so great and we get to talk to so many people about this wonderful gospel!

Like I said, nothing too exciting right now but I thought I would write a few things down anyways!

So i haven't had my hair done in 8 MONTHS!!! EEK!! Since i can't really afford to go get it done, I had to do it myself. This is the result (my face looks dumb so excuse that)

Grateful for the small things

This has been the longest i have ever gone without a job. It's a bit frustrating and probably the worst month ever. Sorry to be a little pessimistic but i have never claimed to be an optimist 24/7. I don't want to be a grouch though so I have really been trying to find the positive things in my life to focus on. Heavenly Father has blessed me in so many little ways. Instead of thinking about all the things i want and sometimes need, I look and see what i do have and things get a little brighter. I do have school to focus on which i know will better my life. I have a family that lets me stay with them for free. i have a car that works and somehow enough money to pay the bills that i do have. Hopefully a job will come along soon because i don't know how much longer i can hold out. So if any of you know of ANY jobs around the Denton area, please let me know! :)

First Time For Everything

So I've been applying for jobs all over the place. I've pretty much stayed away from Craigslist with the exception of applying for 2 jobs. This morning, I get an envelope with a check inside for $2,850. Of course I'm not dumb enough to cash it so I search the name of the company that is on the check and find a number. I call them and the Office Manager that I spoke to said that she had had several calls about the exact same thing that morning. She said that the account was closed and doesn't know how someone got it. Anyways, she filed a Police report there (in Missouri) and suggested I do the same. So on I go down to the Police Station to file a police report. Was very anticlimatic but I feel a little better guess. I just hope it ends here and nothing else comes of it. Still no job though... :(