Summer of Numbers

TEN weeks of classes
FIFETEEN classes I have to attend
TWO presentation to be given
ONE take home exam
SEVEN cases to prepare
TWO papers to write
FORTY THOUSAND dollars (well actually more than this) paid to get me to this point
ONE HUNDRED FIFTY NINE classes I attended
TWO years of my life spent getting more education
ONE MBA diploma earned

NINE days until I fly to see the Koreans
ONE new(er) car to pick up while visiting and drive back to Utah
THREE days and nights of play
ONE HUNDRED SEVETEEN times I will hear "Como Nellie, can I play your iPod?"
TWO birthdays (potentially) to celebrate while there
TWELVE hours to drive back, unless I can do it faster like I did last time
ONE pretty excited Aunt getting to see some cuties!

TEN weeks of prepration until until girls camp
ELEVEN weeks until girls camp
TEN Sundays to get to know the girls
FOUR dinners at girls camp to figure out
TWO activities before girls camp
TWELVE girls that could go to girls camp
TEN girls that I am pretty sure will attend
THREE adult leaders going for sure (including myself)
ONE really excited/nervous me!

SIXTY FOUR days until the Joseph, David, and Frank (oh and Joe and Misun) come to Utah
TWO cute nephews staying at my house to play with
ONE crazy weiner dog
FIVE days to play with the Koreans
SEVENTY NINE the age Ardell will turn on her birthday while the Koreans are visiting
TWO things to celebrate at the party we will have while they are here
ONE MBA graduation
ONE birthday party
FOUR HUNDRED THIRTEEN the estimated number of times David and Joseph will ask to play the ipod
THREE the current number of different kinds of meats being served at the grad/birth party

ONE exhausting summer
ONE goal accomplished
ONE amazing academic experience completed
ONE week spent at girls camp helping the YW recognize and feel the Spirit and strengthen their testimonies
ONE absolutely amazing summer planned
ONE really excited me!

Needed: New(er) Vehicle

I was thinking the other day that it might be time to purchase a new(er) vehicle. The CORROLLA is 12 years old. I have had her for 9 years.

NINE YEARS!

Can you even believe it? I can't.

Corrolla has been a good car with very few problems. She has gotten me where I needed to go and taken all my abuse and lack of keeping her in spic and span condition.

While driving the other day I found a possible replacement for Corrolla.

Features of new vehicle:

1. Bigger than Corrolla. I could have more friends ride with me and WAY more room to haul stuff.
2. It would be easier to keep clean since I could just turn on the hose and wash him down.
3. I would definitely have the "party" vehicle.
4. I would never lose my car in a parking lot or forget where I parked.

What is this new AMAZING vehicle? Well, check this baby out! And is a GREAT deal at $7,995!


So, what do think? Should I purchase?

EXCITED!

Just so you know...I am pretty excited to see David Sedaris this week. If you don't know who he is...well...you should.

What a humorous guy!

I Can Hardly Believe It!

I see the light at the end of the tunnel.

AND...I can hardly believe it!

Being 6 credits away from completing my MBA seemed like an impossible dream just a short while ago. I remember during the first semester thinking "this is going to take FOREVER" and it felt like I would never be done.

BUT GUESS WHAT?

I'm almost done!

Here is the real question: What am I going to do when I am done?

SERIOUSLY.

What goals should I set?
What is my next move in my career?
Where should I live?
How should I celebrate?
What is the next big thing to tackle?
Will all of the people I have practically ignored for the last two years ever talk to me again?
Is it time to get rid of the corrolla? (Okay, this has nothing to do with graduation...but is a real question.)
What trips should I go on?
What habits do I need to break?
What habits do I need to start?
And this list goes on and on and on...

But let's not lose focus here...

I AM ALMOST DONE!

How Did I Get Here?

Choices.

I have been thinking a lot lately about choices. Specifically, about the choices I have made that have gotten me here.

Here. Where I am now, in every aspect of my life.

For some of the "here's" I can trace specific choices back to find what seems like the "original choice" that led me here. Other "here's" are much more tricky, and for them, I have no clear concept of how I got here.

After I contemplate how I got here, I think about what choices I made and what if I made a different choice. Where would have that different choice gotten me? What would I have gained and what would I have missed out on? What "here" would I be living?

I do know this, that with out FAITH and TRUST in my Savior I would have less peace and more anxiety. I would have less happiness and more fear. I would be less.

Is "here" where I want to be for every aspect of my life? Maybe, maybe not. But together with my Heavenly Father, through prayer, I know the "here" I am moving towards will be more right than where I am now.

New Technology

This Christmas Santa gave me a really great fun present...a new iTouch!!! To say that I am obsessed is putting it mildly...I love it.

There is this really fun app called PocketBooth that helps you re-create the awesome experience of cramming all of your friends into the photo booth to take pictures.

I am sharing a few of my favorite "photo sessions" with you...you lucky, lucky, LUCKY people! (By the way all of these pictures were shared WITHOUT the permission of the people in the pictures...I am nice like that.)

Of, COURSE there is a strip of just me taking pictures of myself. Why wouldn't there be?

If you would like to have a PocketBooth session with me...just let me know!

Giving Thanks

(Nikki and Liberty)

Last night I got to go to dinner with two of my nieces, Nikki and Shannon and then to "The Forgotten Carols" with Shannon.

Why am I telling you this? Well, just be patient for a moment...I am getting there.

For the last little while there has been this scrap of a thought/feeling rattling around in my subconscious. Last night it formed into a full fledged, heart touching, soul pricking, punch to the face.

(DeeAn laughing so hard I think she might fall over)

During the dinner the thought started forming and then during the performance it came to me. I have been given one of the greatest gifts.

A wonderful, fun, energetic, caring, opinionated, unique, LOVING family.

You know what else? I wouldn't trade them for any other family in the world.
My family is perfect for me.

(Lily)

And I get to have the best of both worlds. Awesome siblings AND fantastic Nieces and Nephews...who often feel more like siblings. I just love them.

This is going to sounds cheesy, but a firm sure knowledge that being a part of my family was not a coincidence but a divine gift really is the best Christmas gift I could receive.


Besides, what other family could love this face AND get my sense of humor!?

(P.S. I have a wonderfully talented niece Megan who is a photographer. She took all the pictures above and I stole them from her FB. Meg, don't be mad).

Ummm...Really? Is That Fashionable?

Disclaimer: I am not the trendiest person alive.

Okay, sitting in the cafeteria at school chatting it up with my fellow classmates, generally having a great time.

In walks a woman, a fellow classmate, at first I thought she was wearing knee high boots.

SHE WASN'T.

Picture this:

White long sleeve button up blouse. (Nice, very professional)
Fitted navy knee length skirt. (Again, nice.)
Maroon knee high socks. Socks not nylons or knee high nylons. (uhhhhhh....)
Black ankle boots or "booties". (eh?)

What in the HECK is going on??

Is this high fashion or just plain crazy? My vote is the later. Crazy woman. I wish I could have taken her picture.

Must Go: Loud Eating

I am sitting in my class before class starts catching up on reading.
It's a pretty good size classroom.
All of a sudden what do I hear? Crunch, chomp, CRUNCH, chOMP, CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP....
A person was eating chips...it was sooooo loud.
Instead of giving them the stink eye I chose to put in my ear phones (skull candy earphones...in case you are interested.). I CAN STILL HEAR THE CHOMP/CRUNCH.

Seriously???

I turn up the volume which helps somewhat...
But not completely.
I am not sure why but loud eating just grates on my last nerve. The. very. last. one.
I know this is petty and you are probably saying "C'mon lady chips are just a naturally loud food."

Guess what? I don't really care.
And neither does my last nerve...

For heavens sake let's just try to be quieter when we eat.
I this an unreasonable request?
When eating some food items...probably.
But still...please?

Today. Tomorrow.

Today.

Two years ago today I got a call from my brother telling me that I should probably go see Dad. He told me Dad wasn't doing well.

Two years ago today my heart started hurting.

Two years ago today I said goodbye and told you that I loved you. I knew when I saw you it wouldn't be long. I didn't want to believe it but I couldn't deny it.

Tomorrow.

Two years ago tomorrow I got a call from Mom that you had passed away. I had just gotten out of the 1st elevator I had to take to get to work. I knew when I saw the caller ID what she would be telling me.

Two years ago tomorrow I rushed home and peeked in on your body and knew you weren't there.

Two years ago tomorrow my heart hurt so bad as it was breaking because I knew I wouldn't hear your voice or see you again for the rest of my Earthly life.

Today.

Today I know more than ever that families are forever. I am so grateful the for knowledge of Eternal Families and that I am a part of one.

Today I know that you still watch over me and the rest of your family. I can feel your love.

Today the heartache is less and I choose to remember all the good things you taught me.

Today, and really everyday, I am thankful for the blessing of having you as my Earthly father. I am excited for the day when I get to see you again. I love you!