Why BYU?!?

Sometimes I think I am surrounded by a bunch of self-righteous crazies, then sometimes I realize I am one of them, then sometimes I realize how truly blessed I am to go to BYU. Not only am I getting an amazing education and that I have so many opportunities that people in other countries can only dream about but sometimes I realize how great it is...like yesterday...when the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints came to talk specifically to us. I thought I would share.

We started off singing my favorite song: I Stand All Amazed

Then He started talking about how times are hard but we will make it through

He then went on to talk about all the prophets that have lived during his time:

Heber J. Grant-started welfare program and if he had a motto it would persistance!

George Albert Smith-His quote was "There is a war against the Lord and Satan. Stay comfortably on the Lord's side." He would say to be compassionate!

David O. McKay-"True Christianity is love in action." His motto would be to be considerate!

Joseph Fielding Smith-He was a great scholar and his motto from Alma was "wickedness never was happiness." He would say to be studious!

Harold B. Lee-"Stand ye in holy places and be not moved." He would say to be intune and responsive to the spirit. I love how he say to be responsive, not just listen.

Spencer W. Kimball-He believed that obstacles are opportunities. He used to wear worn out shoes with holes in them even to nice meetings and the temple and he said that his life was like his shoes to be work out in the service of the Lord. His quote was to "lengthen your stride." His motto would be dedication!

Ezra Taft Benson-"What manner of men ought you be? Even as I am." His motto was love!

Howard W. Hunter- His motto was courtesy and to look for the best in people!

Gordon B. Hinckley-"And now,after the many testimonies that have been given of Him, this is the testimony last of all, that He lives, even on the right hand of God." His motto would of course be to do your best!

He then ended and said that his story was not written yet but that we can learn from previous prophets and realize that they never wavered, they were persistant, and dedicated to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Then the part that struck me the most is that no matter who was look to or follow there is another you can follow, even the Lord Jesus Christ for He said come follow me! We must invite Him in!

Well that is why sometimes when you think something can't really be so great it is truly a blessing in disguise.

Just my own experience...when we were in Logan I was asked to talk on the Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley. I love President Hinckley but I am so glad that President Monson is now our prophet. He truly knows what the Lord has in store for us and he loves us so much. I leave my testimony that the Lord knows us and wants all of us to succeed even in these hard times. He knows our needs and He has a plan for us. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

To Work or Not To Work...Not Work For SURE! Just Kidding!

So I was just curious thought I would throw this out there to ask your own opinions or experiences. Jake is wondering if he should not work during school or just work a few hours or should he work a lot so we can keep saving money. He is getting stressed out but we don't want to be broke too. We could do it without working and just working in the summer but is it the smartest thing? Just throw me your ideas.

Here is a tribute to breaks!

I want to just say how nice it was to have Labor Day. We just chilled on Friday night and then met our new neighbors who were in our ward before. I think we found some fun new friends! Then on Saturday we went to the cabin and stayed until last night. It was so fun fishing, sleeping, eating, going to church (they are a different breed in Fairview but so nice) and listening to the half our testimony of a woman and using a hymn book to prop up a head that was sleeping were just a few of the sights. It was so nice. Back to classes and especially late tonight because of my work class that I have to go to until 9:30pm but I really do love school sometimes it just seems long. I am really excited though because I have met a lot of new people this semester and super fun people. Oh yes one last thing my cute husband has his first intramural football game tomorrow night which I am so excited for! I know we are married and people think we should just being with each other and not hang out with other people (I guess that is what most people think that married people only do those things and they get boring) but not us! Jake is very perticular on us being young and still keeping in touch and so this is another way of doing that. It really is fun especially because a lot of our friends are married now but we aren't old and we still have a good time! I love being young I am not going to lie!

Swiss Days and the start to my Labor Day Weekend!

I have the best mother in law ever...So here is the story. Missy and Teri were going to Swiss Days with the girls but of course I had work and then a class at one so I couldn't go with everyone but my mother in law called me and said that if I drove up she would go with me later in the day also. So today I called her after class and after 5 hours of being up there already she met me to go again. I was so excited to go but afterwards (2 hrs.) I was so exhausted because I left for work at 6:30am. The next thing I have to show is my new picture that I bought. I have wanted a big panoramic picture of the Manti Temple but due to money restraints and not much space I found a really nice one for a lot cheaper and smaller. I got it for 20 bucks! I was so excited. They had so many cute things. Oh and for those of you who don't know Swiss Days is like a big swapmeet (but nice) or farmers market (without the farmer part) in Midway, Ut up by my sister in laws house. I have gone there since I was a kid but I haven't been in a while so it was so nice to go.

CRAZY CRAZY CRAZY!

So here is the deal I had my schedule all figured out and I was taking Calculus I because intro to Calc wouldn't fit into my schedule. I kept wondering why the heck I should take this for my major....after almost a week of class I felt so lost and super stressed. I got some of the concepts but I kept thinking why should I have to take this. Talking to some people they thought the same thing...what do you know...I don't have to! I talked to a teacher who teaches the lower level and she said that I could take stats instead which will be so much easier. Well tonight is my first class so wish me luck! Then I got a call about an hour after talking to the Math 119 teacher and I accidentally grabbed her planner! It is the basic BYU planner so it was obvious why I did. She found my name from my class role and by looking at my picture which has changed because I had long hair and today I had it up. For some reason the number on my profile was Jake's so she called Jake. Low and behold I got it back to her and I am signed up for my new class. Jake got a kick out of it! He said that it made his day so I guess it was worth it!

End of Summer 2009

Jake and I


my first time wakeboarding!


So we just got back from our final kick off of the summer...Lake Powell. Well actually this was our one big kick off to and after the summer. We had so much fun. We went and stayed on a house boat with the Tolds. It was Josh, Sha, Dave, Belinda, Hannah, Jake, and I. I also went wakeboarding for the first time and it was a blast but man am I sore. I went kneeboarding and extreme tubing too. I just wished I could have skiied maybe. Oh my gosh was it fun! Well school starts tomorrow. I may sound like a chicken but I am super freaked out. I feel like a little kid going to the first day of middle school. It is probably because I had a little hiatus from BYU so it will be interesting to get back into it. I am excited because my boss is working with my schedule though. It will be so nice. Jake finishes his internship the middle of September and he has loved it. I am so glad he did it because he likes it but he has realized that it isn't always about the money but about loving what you do. I don't think he will work for a big corporation again even if they do offer him a lot of money. I am very proud of him. I am just glad that he has more strength and he will be providing for our family because I would have a really hard time if I made a lot more money and choosing what I really love instead of money. Oh yes and we just got internet hooked up so there might for me to say lately.

Pictures of the last couple of months!

Here are just some random pictures that I have taken. It has been a while!


Race for a Cure-May 2009
Jesse, Katie, Meagan, Nana, Papa, and Ruby


The Whole Clan in Salt Lake City


I kept telling Jake that we needed to take pictures of our place in Logan and just whenever to show our kids. These were from all of our "dates" in Logan or should we say Jake had to go to plays and concerts for his class so I went and we called it a date. Hey that is what happens when you are poor college students. It really was a blast.


Once again Jake with his crazy faces. I wonder if some of them he means to?!



For all of you who get grossed out close your eyes for this one. We just found this picture of Jake's back from his surgery last August. It has been almost one year of recovery. Yahoo!He is doing great and it is crazy to see the difference of his scar. You can hardly see it...but part of that may be because of all the hair! Don't tell him I said that. Just kidding it isn't that bad!



Well I believe that is all. We will keep posting. This week is shopping in Park City, family dinner, and family moving from California. Crazy week!