Gardening with Dallin

This week is my spring break. It has been wonderful! My mom had to work today, which meant that I got to spend the day with this kid. Man I love him!

We decided to plant part of my garden. I planted beans, peas, onions and lettuce. Dallin planted sticks, rocks, and bark. Dont worry he even used Miracle Grow. Given my lack of success with a garden last year, I'm a little nervous that Dallin's garden will put mine to shame. ;)

Lesson Learned:

There is happiness is simplicity. Any of you who know Dallin know that the small things make him happy. You make the kid a cheese sandwich and he gives you a hug while saying "thank you, this makes me SOOO happy." As Dallin and I were driving in my car today singing along at the top of our lungs to Sieze the Day from the movie Newsies, I thought to myself "this is what happiness is."

I love this quote by Joseph Smith, "Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if will pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God."

Happiness comes from the simplicity of obedience. We are meant to be happy! I'm so glad Dallin is here to remind me.

27, My Favorite Year So Far

Today I read an article that said that old age begins at 27. Read it here. My first thought was "Man, I misplace my keys at least twice a day, it must be true." My second thought however was "Are you kidding me?" followed by a few eye rolls. I loved (a very sarcastic love) that the picture they used for this article was one of Beyonce with a caption saying the she is "past her mental peak." Maybe I'm being rediculous, but did Beyonce have an amazing mental capablilty before she was 27? That was rude, sorry...but come on, they chose to use Beyonce!?! Anyway, my point is that I love being 27! I am happier, more confident, and am learning more about life than ever before. If this is what "old" age is, then BRING IT ON.

Here are just a few reasons why I have loved being 27.

1. I became an aunt! My little brother Neal and his wife, Becca, had a little girl named Lydia. Being an aunt is wonderful! Sure, I would love to be married and have my own little girl, but until that happens, bring on the nieces and nephews!

2. I'm realizing more and more every day that I dont want to be "normal," I want to be myself. I want to be quirky, a little nerdy, and even obnoxiously optimistic. Hey, if Flo can do it, so can I.

3. My friend Kami and I went back to El Salvador (that's where I served my mission) for the dedication of the temple. We also went to Costa Rica and Nicaragua to visit some of our friends. It was wonderful. It was exactly what I needed spiritually, mentally and emotionally.

4. I bought this little beauty! A 2012 Ford Focus. Candy-apple RED. Buying it was very unlike me. I'm usually very frugal and logical about big purchases....but then I thought WHY NOT? I bought it, and love everything about it. I'll just blame "old age" for effecting my sense of reason.

Recently I have thought a lot about the quote by Joseph B Wirthlin, "Come what may and LOVE IT." Believing/following that has made all the difference for me this year.

Joseph B Wirthlin said that when he was 91 years old...."27 is the peak of a persons mental capacity"....?.... I don't believe a word of it.

Bad date stories to tell my kids one day

Good times #1

My good friend set me up a few months ago with one of his friends. After an awkward dinner he invited me to play games at his house. While driving to his house he explained to me that he is a night security guard, so he would need to change into his uniform because he was going straight to work after dropping me off at the end of the date. He then said, "Although I'm sure you wont mind because girls like a guy in uniform ;)" GAG ME. We got to his house where he gave me a complete tour of his house including his alphabetized dvd collection and food storage. My favorite part was the excessive amount of vinal lettering all over the house. When I asked about it, he told me that his former girlfriend had taught him how to do it. Odd? Maybe it's just me. After playing games, he changed into his "uniform" and said "don't worry I'm not wearing my gun belt, I didn't want to scare you." I smiled and secretly rolled my eyes.

Good times #2

I happened to sit next to this guy in sacrament meeting one Sunday. The next Sunday he walked up as I was talking to a friend and gave me a note. The note had his name and number and said "maybe we can get together sometime." I decided what the heck and sent him a text. He ended up asking me out for the next Friday. He picked me up, and between my house and the restaurant he told me his entire life story. It went a little like this. "So, I went on a mission, but came home to Flordia early because I was sick. While living at home I got in a really bad car accident where the person in the other car died. I decided to go to school at BYU but because I was so depressed about the accident I gained 300 pounds, stopped going to school and became inactive. I moved back to Flordia, had gastric bipass surgery and lost the weight. Loosing the weight gave me more confidence so I started sleeping around with girls. But don't worry I'm active in the church now." I pretty much wanted to open the door and jump out. The icing on the cake came while we were at dinner. I mentioned that I had five younger brothers who happened to be taller than me. He looked at me for a second and then said, "wow they must be tall because you're a big girl." I was drinking water when he said that and started choking. He then said, "Oh, sorry was that offensive?" HELLO! The rest of the date was thankfully uneventful, and I wasn't sad to see it end.

He got hitched!!!

My little brother Neal got married yesterday. He married a wonderful girl (Rebecca), someone perfect for him. The wedding was perfect and the reception was a PARTY. What a wonderful day.

Camp Cherry Valley

I spent the last three months on Catalina Island in CA working at Camp Cherry Valley.

Meeting new Friends + Beautiful Weather + the Ocean + Hundreds of Boy Scouts + the chance to Laugh every day = HAPPINESS

Just a picture

Here is the picture of me with Fisher and Peggy (from 106.5) at the teacher awards dinner. The dinner was at Archibalds (such good food!) in Gardner Villiage. It was a wonderful experience. Thanks Mikey for coming with me!

It's official, I must be an adult

I remember the days when my seemingly large, although realistically small tax return came in the mail. I bought "childish" things like clothes, or shoes, I may have even payed full price for a movie. This year I am an adult. How do I know this you ask, well. . . I spent my tax return on extreemly boring (yet useful) things like a new printer, fixing my sprinkle system, a garden hose and most importantly a lawnmower. Check out this little beauty. It is the Torro 20300T self-propelled lawnmover and it is guaranteed to start on the first pull (That was adult talk in case you were wondering). I wonder what fun things I will get to buy next year. ;)