Pictures of Adventures

Washington trip.

Trip to Utah.

Kennedy's Homecoming and a yummy treat.

A couple picture of Vivi just for fun.

 Christmas in July at work!

And the desserts I made with Miss Ashley!

The Scoop

Beautiful friends and family,

Here's the scoop:

1. I know I have been so grumpy lately. Especially to my family. I am so sorry. These past couple weeks I have not been home much because I was out having adventures which I will tell you all about in a second. I loved my adventures. So so much. Then I came home and was brought back down to earth with drama at work, knowing I really need to go to the singles' ward (more on that later as well), the fact that a lot of my clothes aren't fitting the way they used to, and the reality of my upcoming start date for grad school. It is just a lot, and I have not been handling it well. Again, I am so sorry.
2. Washington. Mom and I got to go to Washington state and enjoy some time together. I got to see my Aunt Diana and her family. I got to see her oldest get baptized which is where I really learned the reason why Heavenly Father wants us to be like little children as she stood up after receiving the Holy Ghost with tears streaming down her face. I also got to see her youngest get a name and a blessing. Little Rhett has a lot to look forward to in life. It was just special. I got to see my friend Julie Anne. My mom met her, and after she walked away my mom said she knew exactly why we were friends. I love her, and even though the glass museum was a little bit of a let-down I loved spending that time with her. And, the glass ceiling was more beautiful than I could have dreamed. One day mom and I went to a little town and went up and down the street shopping, eating pastries, and talking. Also, I got to HOLD a starfish! I just wanted to see one, but I got to HOLD some! It was amazing. And of course one day we all went out to have amazing seafood. I got the best clam chowder and salmon tacos. Yum! Having that vacation was perfect, and I could not have asked for more.
3. Utah. After coming home from Washington I had two days at home and then I was off to Utah. Normally, I would never plan trip like that because I kind of get motion sickness and planes and I don't get along so well, but this was important. Janessa got married. I was so excited I got to be a part of her special day, and catching up with old friends was a wonderful bonus to an already fun trip. I stayed with Meghan, but I also got to see Amanda, Alyssa, Kim, and Leah. Janessa's sealing was a dream. I had never gone to a sealing before, but it was perfect. I was a little bummed about not walking down the aisle or saying "I do" before, but after seeing a sealing I'm not bummed at all. Jan was beautiful, my dress fit, and I just had fun for a day. This trip was perfect because I got to spend the 4th of July with Meghan like we've done since we met. We went to the parade, went swimming, and then went to Kaysville for some good old fireworks. I loved getting to go back to Utah. Going to the mountains is a part of me going home.
4. I got to go to the temple with mom this past week. On the way home we got Sprinkles cupcakes and Snuffer's cheese fries, but how often are we in Dallas for leisure not work? Barely ever. Anyways, in the celestial room a random movie quote came to me. I had been praying about finding friends, and the quote from Devil Wears Prada played over and over in my head. At one point in the movie Andy is complaining that she has been trying so hard for really nothing in return. At that point the guy she is talking to turns to her and says, "You haven't been trying. You've been whining." So, here is my new perspective. I haven't really been trying, and I need to. Even if I only go to one activity a week. Even if I only go to church on Sunday and enjoy it and talk to people I will be doing better than I have been.
5. Kennedy came home! I got to go to her homecoming talk today. She is the cutest. She really is the same old Kennedy, and I love the spirit she brings along with her all of the time. Eric and Maddie also came to her talk, so we had half of our old BYUSA crew together today. It was nice, and it almost felt normal to have my BYU and Texas worlds collide. It was just good to see old friends again. And my mom got to meet them which I know makes her happy. She didn't get to meet many of my BYU friends while I was at school.
6. I am pretty intimidated by grad school. I know it is the right thing for me to do right now after a lot of prayer, but I am still pretty anxious about it. Some of the "To Do" list items have been sitting there for weeks because I am just so intimidated. I know when it starts it won't be nearly as bad, but until then... Moving on is scary. Trusting in Heavenly Father can be scary. You just have to jump. You know He will catch you, but that doesn't make the feeling of falling any less terrifying. I'm still learning how to let my plans go, trust in Him, and be patient.
7. As much as one of the girls at work stresses me out and drives me up the wall, I love my job. I love spending time with kids, learning about them, and having fun. We had Christmas in July this week. Let's get real. It's hard to beat giving out presents with Santa to kids in the hospital in the middle of July.

I will try to post pictures of my adventures tomorrow. Ta ta for now!

The Single Life

A lot of my friends are getting married or are already married. I am still single. My mom thinks I am depressed, but really I am not. I am just working toward my next step in life. Until I get to post about my Washington and Utah adventures, here is a list of reasons why I'm still single. 

1. I don't date just to date. Lately I haven't been dating at all, but when I am asked on a date I am not just going to keep going out with a guy if I don't see it going anywhere. Honestly, if I don't see myself ever wanting to get married to you, I am not going to waste my time on you. Sorry fellas.

2. I refuse to settle. Let me tell you, I have had so many friends that have just settled. I refuse to do so. If I have to wait until heaven to marry a stripling warrior or Captain Moroni so be it. I will settle for nothing less.

3. Boys are dumb. Let's get real ladies. As sweet as they can be, they are not always the most intelligent beings. They hurt you, and you get shattered. Some girls step up and are fine a few days later. I am not that way. I am still trying to get over the way I have been treated. Until someone comes along and shows me they aren't all the same, I probably won't trust them. Guys have hurt and insulted me too many times. If I was known for anything in college it was that I don't put up with crap. Go somewhere else with your mess.

4. I am waiting for Heavenly Father to just drop the right guy in front of me. All of my roommates had a guy just come around that was so right for them at a random time. They still had to step out of their comfort zones and work for it, but he was just there. Can that happen to me, please? Like somewhere other than singles' ward? I mean seriously I hate going there. Anywhere but there. Is that asking for too much?

5. I have high standards. I know. I have people tell me all of the time. I just want the right guy. I want someone who loves me, takes time to get to know me, is attractive, and will be a good dad for our kids. We are talking about eternity here. Don't tell me my standards are too high. 

I have a lot of reasons why I don't date. I like my life the way it is. Although I do want it to change,  change scares me. It is just new. Also, I haven't gone on a lot of first dates, but the ones I have been on are so awkward. Why do they all have to be that way? When you do start dating there is so much pressure. There was a lot of pressure when I was in school. I don't want to imagine what it is like now that I am graduated and older and supposed to be going with this already high-pressure singles' ward. Yikes! I mean, I never go on more than three dates. The one time I did it was a disaster, and after of month of dating it just had to end. Maybe I'm picky, or maybe I am just using my education in Family Life to choose the right guy. I don't know. Like I said, I don't have a lot of experience dating, and that only holds me back. It's scary, and with all of the horror stories I've heard I have become more and more hesitant about it over time. I'm still figuring out who I am. Yes, I want to get married and have a big family, but can I really do that without knowing who I am first? I always say I am too busy to date or don't want to get hurt again. Those are just excuses, but they make me feel a little better about never going on dates. People sometimes act like my time is counting down or I am making the wrong choice by chickening out of going to singles' ward activities last minute, but I'm just scared. Of all of it. For now I am content with just going with the flow. In the next few weeks I get to see two former roommates get married for eternity, and I hope one day they will be there for me when it's my turn.

Summer Happenings

A lot of people say that their lives are either a mess of chaos or smooth sailing. I do not feel my life is that way. If you want to stay with the sailing analogy my life is always sailing. Sometimes I am sailing through storms, sometimes it is only a small wave that hits just right and knocks the boat over, sometimes I have to paddle because there is no wind, sometimes the wind does hit just right and helps me cruise along. The funny thing about sailing is that no matter how well it's going you still have to be careful and steer your boat. 

I am so thankful that I have a loving Heavenly Father help me throughout my journey. I would never be able to do it alone. On June 6, I got to go through the temple. After what felt like everything going wrong beforehand, going in the temple was so peaceful. It was beautiful and perfect, and I am still so excited and just in awe of it all. After going through, mom and I went to the riverwalk. We got to ride the river boats, we explored the little mall they have there, we went in some of the little shops, we had the best enchiladas with cilantro cream cheese sauce, and I got a little flower crown made of paper (when I was little we went to San Antonio, and I got one with curling ribbon coming out the back; this one was the grown up version). I do wish my dad and brother had been able to go, but I loved it anyways. 

Yesterday, my baby turned one. She is such a great blessing in my life with all of her love. My sweet, sassy, rambunctious, playful, snuggly puppy is one! I was going to make her healthy dog treats, but it was her first birthday. She needed something extra special. Naturally, I made brownie pops.

 And in other news, I applied for Master's programs at TWU and ASU. I got accepted to both, but I accepted the offer from ASU. I start in August, and I will finish in a year and a half if I go full time and two years if I go part time. I'm going to be a sun devil. Don't worry though. I won't be wearing that red all of the time. I'm going to stick with my classy navy and white. :)

The rest of my summer is going to Washington, lounging by the pool, working, and being a bridesmaid in two of my best friend's weddings!!! I love summertime.