ONE MORE MONTH UNTIL THE EMERALD ISLE AND I BECOME AQUAINTED!!! CAN NOT WAIT!


And one of my good friends told me that she is pregnant......yahoo! Super excited.

God is Love!

(This photo was taken in New York. We walked passed it almost everyday. Thanks to Miss M)

I have been thinking a lot about this lately and it has become more evident to me that God really is love. Last week, I taught my Gospel Doctrine Class and it was all about adversity. I referenced Elder Henry B. Eyring's talk on Adversity from this past General Conference. It is an amazing talk, but in it he talks about how God does not give us trials because He hates us or is angry with us, but He gives them to us because He loves us. This got me to thinking. What do trials do? They can either make us really angry at God or they can humble us and help us to turn to Him...that's what He wants. He wants us to come to Him because He can help. Also, by giving us trials it helps us to become more like Him and more worthy to be in His presence. All God desires is for us to come home. His whole purpose is "To bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39) Then if this is true, all that He gives us is to help us achieve this goal. It's hard to sometimes see beyond the crap that life gives us to recognize that God love us and will help us. I have just realized this lately for myself (sometimes I am a little slow!), but I have had so many opportunities to learn from others and realize that God loves His children. I listened to a friend of my sisters talk about her same sex attraction and how much the Atonement helps her with that trial. Her talk was not only amazing, but it helped me realize how much we need Christ and how much He wants us to need Him. We can't go through this life without Him. We may try, but it's so hard to do alone. Last week was an especially amazing Sunday for me. It was one of those Sundays that made me realize that no matter what may happen in my life, God is aware of me. I forget that A LOT!! But, I just know that He is. It's so wonderful to know that as we struggle with different aspects of life, that God is there and will always be there. Anyway, that's my sermon for today. It's just something that I have been thinking about and have seen the love of God in my life so much lately and for that, I am truly grateful!

I had a dream that I was sitting on a roller coaster and sitting behind me was Oprah Winfrey, which is totally random because I am not a big Oprah fan, but there she was in my dream. I remember we talked about Park City and she mentioned that she was getting ready to go to her house in Park City. I said to her, "Well, maybe I will stop by and tell all my friends to do the same." I guess Oprah and I were friends, but probably not BFF because that belongs to Gayle King. We are probably the type of friends where I could tell her that she was being a bit annoying on her show and to lay off on the whole, "I know about every subject in the world!" (because sometimes she is.....annoying and a know it all!) Dreams are weird! (but, in all honesty, I would be okay with Oprah being my friend. Could you imagine the kind of Christmas gift you'd get?)

Winning Big in Pioneer Park!

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A VERY FUN NIGHT!!

Pioneer Park showed the wonderful flick "Footloose" last Friday at Pioneer Park. KSL sponsored a Fancy Footwear Contest. I was wearing my drab flip flops, but then like a stroke of genius I remembered that my tap shoes were in my car. I had yet to take them out of my car from when my tap class ended, so I ran to my car and got my tap shoes. KSL had a little stage for all the contestants to stand on. They put 4-5 on the stage at a time. I stood up on the stage with my friends and when it was my turn for the audience to see my shoes, I did a few taps steps. (Did I mention that this was in front of everyone at the movie? It was.) I ended up being one of the four finalists. Super cool! I wanted the prize. I had my eye on that prize. I felt in my heart and in my bones that I was going to win. Afterall, it was a movie about dancing. So, they went through the four finalists and had the audience cheer for their favorite. It came down to me and a girl wearing gold high heels, which I must say were pretty fancy, but I ended up with the crown. I was so excited. My prize? Well, I got $100 visa card, $100 gift card to Maverick, 4 tickets to see Footloose down at Tuacan, and a one night stay at a hotel in St. George. Super cool! Footloose is now my favorite movie and I will always have a special place in my heart for Kevin Bacon. Amen.

I have been watching "My So Called Life". A super fantastic show that was only on for a season and then cancelled. (This seems to happen to all the good shows). But, thankfully the library can help with my Jordan Catalano addiction.

Here is one of my favorite quotes from the show:

"I always thought that by the age of 15 I would have a love life, but I don't even have a like life!"

(does it seem totally pathetic that my life is still the same as when I was 15, except I actually did have a like life?! oh well.)

Reason #27 of why dressing in the dark is a bad idea...

I decided to attend my sister's ward. I woke up at about 10:15 and was ready by 11:00. I threw on my clothes, grabbed my shoes and was off to her ward. It wasn't until I was sitting in Sunday School that I looked down and noticed what I was wearing. I gasped and said to my sister, "My shoes don't match!" And, then we got the giggles. I couldn't stop. I told my nephew about it and he said, "I noticed it, but I thought you knew they didn't match!" Why, oh why would I wear two different shoes? I like to be funky, but this is just a little too funky! Well, it gave me something to laugh about the rest of the day. Oh my.

A Brief Rant....

During the summer, I do quite a bit of respite for some of my students with Autism. I like to take them to different venues. It's good for them to be out in the public. And, I think it's good for the rest of the world to be aware of these children and how to interact with them etc. Here's my rant: If you see me out and about with one of my students and it looks like we are having a struggle, like my hair, shirt or any body part is getting pulled, pinched, bit or scratched and my face is not looking happy. ASK IF YOU CAN HELP ME!!!! or STOP STARING!! The child I am with is not a spoiled brat and they just aren't getting their way. Chances are they just don't know how to communicate properly, so they are acting out the only way they can by either aggressing or throwing a temper tantrum. We are not a side show providing afternoon entertainment. I am trying to help this child and sometimes find myself in a spot where if someone could just carry my purse, I would be ever so grateful! I was out yesterday with a student and he became very upset that we had to leave the fun rides at Liberty Park. Understood. He tried to attack me by pulling my hair, scratching my face, biting my hand and pulling my shirt. Did anyone offer to help? NOPE. Did people stare? You betcha! It took a good half an hour to get to my car and by the time we got there I was sweaty and done! A kind smile or an offer of help would have been very very nice. I know it's not easy to ask if someone needs help, but oh it's so worth it! A kind lady helped me out last year and I am still grateful that she offered. Ok, my rant is over! Have a nice day.