Grandma and Papa came into town on Friday afternoon and went home this morning (Monday). Tony and Jeanne were so nice to let us stay up in Paradise for the weekend. We had lots and lots of laughs and so much fun together. We climbed up the Mountain?- no it's not a mountain, big hill maybe that is pretty steep, in the back. There were a couple places where we had to climb through the barbed wire. The first time Taylor lifted it for Papa and they both lifted it for grandma and me and then we held it for Taylor. The second time however... we were trying to figure out the best place to either crawl under or lift up again and go in between, and next thing we know grandma is on the ground rolling under! She would have been just fine except that her jacket got caught in the wire! Taylor went to get her out and Papa told him to wait and leave her stuck so he could get a picture! It was so funny. I was able to get a few pictures myself to remember the moment! It is beautiful site from up above. Papa kept pretending to be Julie singing from the Sound of Music. As the three of us carefully made our way down, Papa quickly made his way down the face of the hill. Pictures will show how we found him waiting. We went to Porcupine Dam, Bear Lake and had a picnic and yummy Raspberry Shakes. We are excited to go back for the Raspberry Festival during the first week in August. We played games and watched movies. It was nice to relax and spend time with them. A picture is worth a million words, so I will let the pictures share the rest of our weekend!
P.S Grandma and Papa looked at a house in Avon and are very much considering moving here! We would love it! Our fingers are crossed!
Back to school for me! I think this semester will be a lot easier than the last. I am taking a math class, another child development class (I feel like I have taken 100 and am hoping this class has more to offer than my past classes), and a 2 week family violence class that is 4 credits. I am actually excited about my math class, or at least trying to be! My teacher already told me I should be teaching the class! I am happy it is not online. I have class Monday and Wednesday evening up at the U, which I don't mind because Taylor is working anyways. So, I will have something to keep me busy. I am still serving as a ward missionary, although I have only been assigned one thing to do in the past 4 months. We have never even had a meeting yet. I have asked several times what I can do. The missionaries or our ward mission leader never get back to me. Sad, huh? They were looking for someone to teach English classes once a week and I volunteered but have not got any more information. We'll see. We both really do like our ward, despite my disappointments.
Taylor is continuing his internship at New Haven, which includes his normal work hours. He continues to work Monday, Wednesday, Friday evenings from 3 pm-11 pm. He also tries to pick up extra shifts as he can. He has a portfolio that he has to create for his internship class and also is working on his independent study class- Family Adaptation and Resiliency which he has some research for. He is also playing ball at least once a week with some of his old roommates, which he really enjoys. He still teaches Elder's Quorum. In fact, today is his Sunday to teach. His lesson is on Elder Bednar's talk, "More Diligent and Concern at Home." I really would love to be able to see him teach and learn from him. He is a good teacher and always puts so much preparation into his lessons.
We have has some fun dates this week. One day we made a picnic and went to the park near the Provo Temple and ate, sat and talked. It was so much fun. When we got home we laid in bed and played Boggle! It is so fun spending time together! Yesterday we got shaved ice and rented the movie "Extraordinary Measures" with Harrison Ford. It is such a good movie based on real events. We also found at Walmart this spicy ramen noodles, which Tay would eat all the time on his mission. We made that and ate it as we watched our movie. Taylor said it was soooo spicy and so he only put half the chili powder in and his nose was running and everything. I put the whole packet in and was just fine! It was a little spicy, but not bad. It was good. Definitely not healthy in any way, but it was good. We also took some pictures and posted some things on KSL, which we are trying to sell, such as my printer (we use Taylor's), a bride's maids dress, some dishes of my Nana's, also some of her wooden, rubber stamps. Hopefully we get some buyers! It would be nice to make a little extra money. We are trying to save for our California trip in August. Last night we also went to Comedy Sportz. It was so fun! It is so fun to laugh!
Grandma and Papa are coming to town next week, which we are both excited about. We are going to go up to Paradise. Which reminds me... we went up to Paradise last weekend for the day to help Taylor's dad out and also because the cows were pregnant and one of them had her calf. We were up there all day and 20 minutes after we left Cal (the neighbor) called and said another one had her calf! I was so sad! We were going to go yesterday, but all the cows had their calfs and since we will be going next week we decided not to, but we are so excited for this coming weekend!
It has been a great week. Had a couple finals and managed to finish with the support and help of Taylor. Taylor worked Wednesday morning so we had Wednesday evening together, which we do not normally have. It was so nice. We went bowling and played 4 games. I lost every game. I think I got more gutter balls than pins knocked down! I did get a couple strikes by throwing the ball down the lane. Taylor was impressive with many strikes! Yesterday Taylor went and played basketball in the morning. I expected him to come home and get me up. I woke up a little after 8 and noticed he called. When I called him back he said he would call me back. A half hour passed without him calling or answering his phone. About 8:30ish I got a phone call from BYU Health Center where they were stitching him up. He got about 7 stitches across his eyebrow. He's just fine though. I was going to give him sympathy until every minute he is reminding me he has a "head injury." He's so funny! We had his parent over for breakfast yesterday, in celebration for Mother's Day today. We had yummy crepes and bacon, cheesy, scrambled eggs. Taylor got me a few dressy capris for Mother's Day, we went to the temple and did sealings, got slurpees from 7-11 and red boxed the movie "Angels and Demons". Today has also been a nice day. Taylor and I helped out in the nursery. Well Taylor helped out and I helped him out for the 2 hour and then went to Relief Society the 3 hour because the Young Women had the lesson for Mother's Day and I wanted to be there for it. It was so sweet. I am grateful for all the wonderful women in my life and the examples they are to me! Happy Mother's Day!
So this past week has been super crazy between starting my new job and finals, but I have the best husband! We met at In N Out when I got off work before he had to go to work and had a yummy shake. I had a cheeseburger too, since I hadn't ate lunch yet. Mmmm so good! When I got home the house was clean! It usually is, but like I said... this past week has been super crazy. So... I have not cleaned as much as I usually do. I admit I can be a little obsessive about it and sometimes I am not the nicest wife and probably drive Taylor crazy. He always helps a lot, but we just have different definitions of clean sometimes. However, when I got home today was it clean!!! And there was a sweet note on the table that said, "Things you don't have to worry about.... and a list of all the things he did around the house. They were little things like Dishes----> Done, Vacuuming-----> Done, Garbage----> Done, laundry-----. Done...., but it is the little things that make a big difference! And there was also a sweet note from him too. He is the best husband and my best friend and I get to spend eternity with him!!!
Today is the Sunday Taylor has to work. I really miss him on these days. Especially since I feel like we do not have a lot of time during the week. He was able to go in at 9 am instead of 7 am though. He left about 8:30 and I slept in a little longer. After getting up I went to LDS.org with the intention of listening to some conference talks, but the "Mormon Message- LDS Charities:The Boy's Home" caught my eye. It is about how the church partners with another organization to provide for the poor in the Dominican Republic. It was really odd because I had a dream of Russi, a woman from my mission, who is from the Dominican Republic. My first lesson in the mission was with her. I love Russi! She is one of my favorite people in the whole world. She had such great faith and wanted to be baptized. Long story short- Russi was baptized a week after I left the mission! That's right- the mission, not the area. Almost 18 months later Russi was baptized a member of the church! I still stay in contact with her. Who knows, we may even name our daughter Russi (Roo-see)! Anyways, the message caught my attention 1. because it was about service and I really do LOVE service 2. I LOVE the people of the Dominican Republic and 3. there was a cute little child on the front and I LOVE children.
After watching the 3 minutes video I began searching for service opportunities in the Dominican Republic, which led to searching service opportunities abroad, which led to filling out an application to apply to the Peace Corps!! (Which is something I had always wanted to do)But then I remembered "Wait- I'm married now! I can't just leave the country!" So I did my research and found out that Taylor and I could go together! We both would need to apply and be accepted. They even have opportunities do get your masters abroad or even just get credits towards your masters while serving abroad. It would be perfect! We would have to volunteer for at least 27 months, but that's no big deal! I began filling out my application, but then thought, " Maybe I should discuss this with Taylor first..." So my application I started is saved and unfortunately will probably never be completed. If accepted we would not be able to serve and have any dependents, which means no children for a few years. So there goes that idea! So then I went back to searching for short term service opportunities abroad. There are so many! Unfortunately, volunteering abroad costs a lot more than your time... I wish we didn't have to work for money, but could work for free! That we could help others without getting paid with money, but get paid with the experience alone.
I want to live a life of service like Mother Teresa! But I have to remember she also was a Catholic Nun. I could have been a Catholic Nun! But I am grateful for the truth and testimony I have and continue to gain. I am grateful for my membership in Christ's church. I am grateful for the mission I served and for the people I know and love from other countries, such as Russi. I know that we are children of God and that he knows and loves us. I am grateful for Taylor and our wonderful families. I started this post before church. The opening hymn for Sacrament meeting was Scatter Sunshine which says, In a world where sorrow ever will be known, where we found the needy and the sad and lone. How much joy and comfort you can all bestow, if you scatter sunshine everywhere you go. Scatter sunshine all along your way. Cheer and bless and brighten every passing day. I know and must remember that there are so many people to serve right around me everyday. One of my favorite scriptures is Alma 26:27, Now my brethren we see that the Lors is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowles of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy and great thanksgiving and I will give thanks unto my God forever.
So, for now I will pray for and be grateful for the opportunies to scatter shunshine right here in Utah. And before I go making any more plans to leave the country I will discuss them with Taylor and we will discuss them with the Lord!
