clean house. clean heart. clean mind.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

The One Where I Smell Like Smoke

A couple of weekends ago my friends and I went up Millcreek canyon to have tinfoil dinners. SUPER FUN! (With a few exceptions)

Here is my list of tips for a successful tinfoil dinner outing:
1. Don't ask if we remembered to bring wood. Of course we brought wood...we aren't idiots.
2. Wear a cute outfit for pictures (see above).
3. Invite as many CERTS as possible.
4. If the women start the fire don't criticize...jut praise.
5. Bring cards games.
6. Limit the amount of card games Amber can play (she always wins which is NO fun).
7. Don't let me get trapped talking (or rather listening) to a certain person.
8. Bring candy & especially chocolate.
9. Don't ask me if I brought a mini axe. Of course I didn't. Why would I? The fire was going fine 30 minutes ago until the BOYS starting messing around with it.
10. Have friend Russian children next door that invite you to be in "the club".

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

My Dream House and Yours


My whole life (okay maybe from Jr. High to the present) I have loved looking at house plans. I love dreaming/scheming/thinking about my future home.

I am pretty sure this is mostly a female thing.

I can't help it. I can hardly wait until the day I get to have my very own "dream" home. I know my dream home won't be the first home I buy but hopefully I will own it some day.

What are the components that are "set" must haves for the DH? (Just a short list of the many things I want...)
* Windows. Lots and lots and LOTS of windows. My friend had a birthday party at a house with a billion windows (slash the whole front) and I loved it.
* Built in book shelves. Seems kind of weird/standard but I went to a house that had amazing built in book shelves in her front room and they were super full (artfully arranged) with all the owners favorite books. If you know me I have lots of favorite books and what a better way to keep them!! It was amazing...I was mesmerized.
* Arched doorways. I am not sure what it is about arched doorways...but I love them.

Last night I visited my sister-in-law and saw her new house (AMAZING) and I have a new *must have* for the DH:

Wait for it...

Wait for it...

Are you ready?...

Washer/dryer in the master bedroom closet! (There was another laundry room).

You love it...just admit it! I do too!

So...what are the *must haves* of your DH?

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Flying

Time has been flying by.
In just over a week I will start the SECOND and LAST year of my MBA!
I am so excited.
What happened to the month long summer break I had?
It seems like it has only been a couple of days.
I had these big plans.
The biggest plan being home/personal organization.
That was put aside in favor of hanging out with friends.
I have loved every moment.
And...there's always next week for home/personal organization...right?

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Trust: Learning How To

Two things in the last couple of days have reminded me of a a time in my life when I had to learn to be patient and put my trust in the Lord.

On Sunday in testimony meeting there were two testimonies that spoke of the Lord's plan versus our plan. They talked of how we need to sometimes "get out of the way" so the that we can move forward on the Lord's plan.

Then tonight (this is cheesy) I saw "Letter's To Juliet" and when Claire wrote the response for Juliet she talked of "What If's" as in "What if I had done this instead of that."

When ever I think of the Lord's plan for me and/or what if I had (insert statement here) I think of the last year of my time in Logan.

Let me just tell you that I was NOT happy to be there. I was excited to graduate college and get started on my life and in my mind that included leaving Logan. In my personal life (friends and such) there seemed to be lost of drama and I spent more than my share of time frustrated, irritated, and crying over the drama.

I graduated in April and during the summer anxiously looked for a job in SLC to no avail. I ended up taking a job in Logan which was NOT in my plan. I still continued to look for a job. Later that summer I got in a huge fight with one of my closest friends at the time.

Here I was in Logan not in SLC and had just had a huge falling out with the friend I did almost everything with. I was not happy. I just wanted to be somewhere else but nothing was working for me.

It felt like I was kicking against the pricks.

In November I had finally gotten a job offer from a company in SLC but for lower pay and responsibility than at my current job. I had a choice to make. Do I stay in Logan (where I thought I didn't belong and was determined to kind of loath) or do I take a pay cut and move to SLC (where at this point I thought I would be happy)? I just couldn't decide and didn't have a strong feeling either way.

I got a blessing and was given some great advice that "I make good choices and either decision would be a good one. That this was my decision to make."

I chose to stay in Logan but continue looking for a different job. I am so grateful that I made this decision.

Thinking back the Lord had a reason for me to spend an extra year in Logan after I graduated. There were specific lesson's I needed to learn and specific people that I needed to meet.

There were two big things that impacted my life:

1. That last year amongst all of the people that made an impact on my life I met two of the most amazing women. They have become great friends who have helped me stay close to my Father in Heaven. The other, and just as important, thing they have done is they have been honest and questioning. I love it and need it. Everyone should have at least one, preferably many, friends who aren't afraid to ask you hard questions and expect answers and then respond with care and love. I am so grateful I have this in my life.

2. I learned to trust the Lord. I learned that the Lord does have a path for my life and working together with Him will be rewarding and bring much joy to my life. What if I had left Logan a year earlier? Scary thought. There isn't a part of that time I would change. Not the heartache, tears, joy, or laughter. Not one moment.

My favorite scripture that not only defines this time of my life but reminds me to trust the Lord is: Doctrine and Covenants 101:16 "Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God."

"Be STILL and KNOW that I am God."

What comfort and peace these words give me.

Monday, August 2, 2010

CERTS: It's Just What We Do

Remember when I went through CERT training? Cool, right?

Well, what is even cooler than going through CERT training is having a photo shoot with your CERT buddies in preparation for making a CERT calendar. Let's just say 2011 is the year of the CERT.

My cute (extremely talented) friend Kristy took the photo's of Heather, Erin, and myself. Let's just say after you see these you will finally realize that you will pretty much want us around in an emergency.

You can check out some of the pictures (and Kristy's amazing wit) here: Chillygator.

AND

You can check out the full photo shoot here: Green Hills Photography

Ya...I know we are awesome!