Girlfriends

{Heidi, Calene, Keisha, Noelle, Kat, Jenna, Me, & Krista}

I have been so lucky this summer to have a great group of girlfriends. We have had so much fun doing things with the kids during the day and relaxing by watching shows together every night. I haven't had an office with lots of wives in a few summers so it has defiantly made a difference to have people to hang out with. The guys are going to sell in Louisiana so the girls are going their own ways in the coming week. I am going to miss these girls, but hopefully we can all reunite for the SYTYCD tour in November!

No Bake Cookie Kisses

A few nights ago Avalynn was tucked snugly in her bed so Brennen and I were taking some time to get a few things done. He was planning his week and I was sitting on the couch looking at some things online. Brennen came over with a half chewed No Bake Cookie in his mouth and gave me a big kiss! "Wow, thanks babe, smells like cookies" I said. We both then sat there enjoying a few rare minuets together since summer is our busy time. I asked Bren "What are we doing?", he responded, knowing full well I meant what are we doing with our life after the summer, "we're having No Bake Cookie kisses". He always knows how to make me laugh! But as we talked about our plans come October I kept thinking how I really do need to enjoy life in the moment. Even though some of our plans for the next year may not be set in stone I need to enjoy what we are doing here and now, and enjoy those No Bake Cookies kisses!

A Woman's Influence

I consider myself very blessed to have numerous women in my life that I look to as examples of beauty, wonderful mothers, leaders, and spiritual giants. I thought it only appropriate that on Mother's Day to reflect on these women and the influence they have made in my life. 

There really aren't words to describe how much my mom means to me. I am fortunate to not only have her as a mother but as a friend. I enjoy the time we spend together and am so proud of her for all her hard work and dedication to her business. I could go on a on about her but just a few qualities she as that I hope to take from her are, compassion, hard work, dedication, friend to everyone, spiritual, and fun!

My dear friend, Melissa, is such an amazing example to me in so many ways. This woman has defiantly had her share of trials and she never ceases to amaze me in her unwavering testimony of the gospel.  In my Dating and Adult Roles class I did a presentation for the students on leaders and used Melissa as my role model!

On my trip to Folsom I had the chance to judge the Folsom Pageant. The two women who run the pageant have always been ones I look up to. I have always had so much respect and admiration for Tiffany. She is a wonderful mother, mentor, and friend. Tiffany is one of the most beautiful women I know, not only on the outside but in. She is always doing things for others and has pretty much dedicated her life to "Donate Life" in honor of her son Connor.  She has taught me so much about myself through pageants and for that I am forever grateful. Ok, and look at that rockin bod at 37! 

There are so many other women and mothers I admire as well- Jenna Haynie, Shantay Ames, Jamie Hilton, Leslie Astle, Aunt Jody, and the list could go on and on. Thank you all for your lasting influence of a wonderful woman!

Baby Gone Wild

My darling friend Carly (sorry her blog is private), is pregnant with her first baby. Baby boy will make his debut in early June while all our APX friends are gone for the summer, so I threw her a shower on Saturday before everyone starts taking off. It turned out really cute and lots of people showed up to help us celebrate.

Be sure to check out my new party design blog Fancy Frills Style Studio

Jenna made the amazing cake!

I got the idea for the theme on this wonderful blog, Stem*Fabulous Parties Start Here

$100

If someone randomly gave you $100, what would you do with it?

I'm trying to decide what to do with mine!

Life's Trials

I have debated about posting about this or not, but this is my form of journaling so I figured I would, and I feel like I need to vent! It is in no way a pitty party for me. 

I have been very blessed in my life with little adversity or trials. I have often looked at friends my age who have been through so much more than I have at this point in our lives and thought how I knew my time must come to face some trials. Last April Brennen and I decided that we would start trying to get pregnant. In August I got pregnant and we were really excited about the thought of becoming parents. A couple weeks later at 6 1/2 weeks I miscarried. It was sad and hard but we got through it.

Two days before Christmas I found out again that I was pregnant, and was so excited to give Brennen an early Christmas gift. This time I was even more excited than the first. The first time it didn't really seem real, and after miscarrying I really wanted to have a baby. We went to the doctor at what I thought was 9 weeks, but the baby was measuring at 6 weeks but there was a beating heart! I was really nervous going to the appointment but after seeing the heart beat, and hearing the doctor say once there is an established heart beat the chances of miscarriage are 2%, I felt a lot of relief. Well for some reason I fell into the 2% category. On Friday night I was cramping really bad and went into the doctor on Saturday to find out that I had miscarried again. 

These two experiences have been the hardest thing I have gone through, but I am thankful for a wonderful husband, family, and friends who have been there and offered their love and support.  I have heard people say how you shouldn't really be sad because you didn't really have an attachment to the baby, but after being pregnant and going through a miscarriage, I feel like you automatically become connected to the thought of having that baby.I am glad that I have a knowledge of a Heavenly Father who loves me and has a plan for me. Right now it is kind of hard to accept his plan but I know that in the end it will all work out.

Baby # 2

Happy 2009

For some reason I am really excited about 2009! I think it may be that looking forward everything is looking good and exciting. No school to dread going back to, Brennen and I will have lots of time together with both of us graduated, and I know there are bright things in the future. For my goals this year I decided to just set 3 main goals and realized that everything else I want/need to do falls within those. 

1) Build a better relationship with my Savior Jesus Christ

2) Increase my relationships as a family member

3) Continually improve myself. Be better tomorrow than I am today

I also wrote down some ways that will help me to accomplish these goals. I am excited to work on them this year. My sister, Cami, quoted a scripture in her letter this week that I think I am going to have be my "scripture of the year" it is:

Helaman 12:1 "Yea, we can see that the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him." 

There are some things in my life right now that I need to have great trust in him, so I think this scripture applies greatly to me right now.

I wrote an article on Little Window Shoppe about goal setting, let me know what you think. Click here to go there!