Farewell 2011 Greetings 2012

I don't know about you but I feel like 2011 just flew by. It seemed as if I was just welcoming the year and now here I am saying goodbye. 2011 has been an interesting year for sure. I have been working a full year in one job this year which has been great! I went back to school which has been fun but stressful all at the same time.

As I look back I do wish I could have done some things different but I am also thankful that I am able to see my mistakes and hopefully learn from them and not make them in 2012.

As the year comes I always think of goals for the next year and to be honest this year I feel like I really want to take my time to make my goals. I always seem to make the normal ones everyone make such as "I will lose weight." Well I work at a bakery where we always have yummy treats around us ALL THE TIME! One of my co-workers told me "Don't worry they are all natural treats" to which I replied "Yes they are all natural but the size of my butt is not! :/" So with that these are the goals I want to work on for 2012

Spiritual:
- Attend the temple more
- Read my RS & Sunday School lessons BEFORE Sunday
- Make a real effort to attend ward activities

Personal:
- Eat healthier
- Exercise (I miss running & my old running times)
- Focus on school
- Build and nurture family/ friend relationships

So those are my goals for 2012, I hope I am able to achieve them and be better because of it. So welcome 2012 I hope we both enjoy the journey.

Merry Christmas to All and to All A Good Night!

I LOVE the Christmas Season for so many reasons. Everyone seems to be in a better mood, we seem more willing to help others without asking "What's in it for me?" And I don't know what it is about Christmas lights that just cheer me up.

This year my friend Darryel came to spend Christmas in Seattle. A little about Darryel and I, we both worked at DLI in the CPAC. He was a GS employee and I was a "NAFI". The CPAC was a black hole that sucked your soul out, and Darryel was my sanity there. He is so funny and we would have a blast hating on people or just keeping ourselfs from going crazy.

I left the Army and went to work at NPS but we always remained close friends. For the past year I kept telling him to come visit Seattle so I was so excited when he finally decided to come and to top it off he came for my favorite holiday, Christmas!!!

We didn't do a big thing to be honest we laid low at home, went to the movies, cooked and played board games. Although Darryel will insist I cheated at Battleship. Really he needs a hearing aid :)

So here are a few pictures from our holiday. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas surrounded by people they love.

Reminder: Be Thankful

Today I was very excited to come in to work for many reasons, one it's Friday and well who doesn't love Friday's? And 2nd yesterday I had spend my day doing company Christmas cards and sending out the holiday bonus my boss gave out.

So I have to admit I was not expecting to have the kind of morning that I did. I get a call from our Boston location and the manager is just complaining about how the "bonus wasn't big enough and how they had too much taken out in taxes." I was flabbergasted the gwal of this guy!

We are living in a time where people don't have jobs and here he is complaining about not getting a big enough bonus. I was mad & the more I thought about it I became just flat out pissed off. All I could think of was that scripture Doctrine and Covenants 59:21 says, “And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things..."Earlier in the week I had been talking to Melissa and we were talking about the good ole days when we got nice bonuses but how we were just thankful to have a job.

I'm not saying that I am not ungrateful or a bit selfish at times, yes I am guilty of that myself. I think we all are, but today's event served as a reminder to me that I am so blessed in my life. I am thankful that I can see the hand of the lord in my life and in the life of others.

I had my little freak out and then decided that I was not going to let this ruin my day. I am still going to enjoy the Spirit of this wonderful Season. Now I am counting down for my day to be over so I can go hang out with Melissa and have our girls night out as we go check out the Christmas lights and displays.

Happy Thanksgiving 2011

Lately I have been reading a lot of people status on Facebook is things they are thankful for and it has gotten me thinking on what am I truly thankful for in my life.

As I thought about this I realized that it's easy to say the basic things such as family, friends, job etc but I really wanted to think about this. So below is a list of some of the things I am thankful for.

1. The Gospel in my life. No matter how crazy or hectic my life gets at times I always know where I can turn for peace and for answers.

2. Scriptures & the answers they provide. When I feel lost I always seem to find my way back through the scriptures.

3. Prayer: For me this is something I can neglect and take for granted as well, but I think what keeps me going at times is the fact that I know my prayers have been answered. It's those prayers that give me strength when I feel like questioning things in my life. I can look back and say "I know this is true" or "I know this is where I'm supposed to be because I received an answer to my prayer."

4. Family relationships: For better or worse they make us who we are but we also earn so much from them. I have been so lucky to have the opportunity to get to know my sister-in-law Melissa so well this past year. She is so freaking funny and resourceful and smart. I can honestly say she is one of my friends not just my sister in law.

5. I'm thankful for how beautiful Seattle is. I see the hand of my Heavenly Father on my drive to work everyday and I love it.

6. I'm soooooo thankful for my friends. This year I have realized how I was not a very good friend to them because I let other things take priority. But they were always there for me. I always get a call or a text from a friend on rough days when it would be so much easier to give up and say screw it. They call or text with exactly what I need to hear to keep going.

7. I'm thankful for books. I love them so much! I am sometimes amazed that I am enjoying a book because Heavenly Father has blessed someone with that amazing talent of writing.

8. I'm thankful to have had the blessing to serve a mission. This year I have been getting in touch with families from my mission and no matter how much time has passed by I love them just as much as when I had to opportunity to serve them.

9. I'm thankful for my talent of creativity. I'm not saying I am so artistic or anything by any means. I have always enjoyed decorating and building and I have had the opportunity to do so this year.

10. My job. I didn't always feel that way. There were times when things would get frustrating mainly because of miscommunication or mismanagement but my boss has a good heart. He cares for the employees and is always willing to help them and me. Without me asking he paid for my tuition for school.

11. Education: Being back at school has been a great and humbling experience as well. I am very excited to be able to learn but mainly I look forward to being able to be a contribution to my community when I'm finished.

12. I'm thankful for the Atonement. I think we all realize how imperfect we are and sometimes that can be a little overwhelming and discouraging but I am thankful for the sacrifice my Savior did for me. The knowledge that I can repent and start fresh gives me so much hope.

Well these are a few of the things I am thankful for this year. I hope everyone had an amazing holiday with family and friends.

On My Own Again :0)

As you know I have been having a blast with my roommate's a.k.a Monico & Melissa. But as much fun as that has been I missed living on my own and having my own space. In September after a trip to CA I decided to start looking for my own place.

I found a MIL in Renton, WA which is the perfect location because it's right in the middle of school and work, but the best part is that I get to stay in the Skyway Ward (I love this ward). I love Bishop Sablan, I have been spoiled by having amazing Priesthood Leaders in the places I have lived. I also love my Relief Society Sisters, they make me feel loved and always welcome.

Well with the move also came the decorating. Since I moved from CA almost 2 years ago I only brought some things with me. I got rid of all my furniture so I had to start fresh. I wanted to do my decorating on a budget so I hit up our local Goodwill's.

I wanted to add some fun color to the house so I saw this material at Jo Ann's and based the decor from them. And thanks to Melissa I now have curtains.

I'm also very glad that Melissa loves Goodwill as much as I do. The books are currents and at amazing prices, but they sometimes have some very nice furniture for cheap as well. The brown lamp Melissa found and I love it! Its all metal, brown color and cream design. It has its own personality.

I found the 3 drawer at Goodwill for $14.00 but it was Blue Tag which was the color of the day so I got it for $7.00. It was originally a brown color so I sand it and painted it "Sea Breeze" color and then sanded it again to give it an "antique" look. Melissa was not a fan but I think it's grown on her haha.

I also found the table at Goodwill for $12.00 and it was Pink Tag so I paid $6.00 and it was falling apart but I noticed it just needed to be re-screwed. The main thing that attracted me was that it was all wood. I also sanded it and painted it "Antique White" and then re sanded to give an antique look as well. The metal container under it I found on clearance at Marshals for $5.00 because it was missing a screw on one of the handles which was a simple fix.

We also have a HUGE IKEA which I love, so I put together the 2 white shelves and bought boxes that complimented colors from the curtains to add more color. I was very excited to finally be able to have all my books out.

But last night Melissa and I emerged from our Thanksgiving coma and went to some Goodwill's. We went to one where they has everything 50% off and that's where we found the TV stand. It was originally $39.99 but I got it for $20.00.

I will also be getting a "free" sleeper sofa from Monico & Melissa so in total so far my furniture cost has been minimal. I am going to learn how to make my own sofa cover so I am very excited about that. More pictures to come :)

Puyallup Fair

One of the perks of having a brother thats a teacher is that I can sometimes score free tickets for fun things. I love the fair! I always have so much fun. The AV fair is always a big thing in my hometown, so when Monico said he had free tickets to the Puyallup fair I was all over that.

It was actually bigger than I expected and reasonobly priced. We had alot of fun at the games mainly because my brother rocks at them so we got lots of stuff toys. I don't know what it is about cheap fair prices that when you win them one gets so excited.

We had a great time and can't wait for next year.

Vancouver Aquarium

One of the places we visited was the Vancouver Aquarium. I lived in Monterey and their aquarium is pretty amazing so I was excited to go visit this one. Again the weather was beautiful. Here are some of the pictures.