Farewell, Sister Case

Jennie had her farewell today and I am getting worried about her leaving now. This is getting real. I can't have another best friend leave. I just got one back and I'll be getting Mike back in July. I thought all of this waiting was over. But it's not, and I honestly could not be more proud of Jennie. She is ready to get out there and change people's lives. She's the best. Jennie is such a great speaker and I felt the spirit so strongly today as she gave her farewell talk. She will be such an amazing missionary. It was great seeing everyone come together for her, so of course we had to take some fun pictures. 

I have such wonderful friends and I am reminded of that constantly. And guess who else joined me this day... JAKE AND WILLIAM. They were actually pretty good and were excited to meet everyone. I also took them to hang out at my house afterwards and they met my cat and caused mischief of all different kinds. 

Jennie is going to do wonderful things. Looks like I lost Natalie as a pen pal, but I have gained another. Hurrah!

Love you, Wennie, Dennie, etc. 

everywhere we go

It seems like everywhere I take these two lately, we make a scene. Today we were at IKEA and I actually sped walked through the entire maze there to just keep them entertained. But then when I got to the duvet section, I decided that I wanted one, so while I was looking, of course the boys were going CRAZY. They were in the tiniest cart and kept hurting each other and just making a complete scene. Yet, I still got them cinnamon rolls at the end. Funny thing is... they always talk about how they make a scene, but still do it.

Kids. 

k's nanny life

Nanny life is going lately. I've actually kind of been struggling a little, losing my patience faster. They have been sick and misbehaving a lot, so I feel exhausted. I have a week off after today and it is much needed! But I am remembering to be grateful even through struggles, grateful for such an amazing job. Cheers to my week off! Time for me to reconnect with myself and others (and catch up on sleep).

To BE

Life is kind of weird sometimes. We go through different phases in life and then we leave them. We go through harder times and then those hard times escape us in return for happy times. We all struggle, whether we will admit it or not. And I think sometimes admitting it is the first step to progressing. This past year I really struggled with a lot of things, one of them being my faith. I struggled to know what I actually believed. I struggled to find the place I want to be in my life. I struggled to find peace. And in the meantime, I neglected relationships, I felt bitter, I felt exhausted, I felt defeated, and I was not a good friend. Certain relationships were neglected more than others. I really neglected my best friend and in the midst of both of our struggles, we almost lost each other. We forgot what each of us needed from the other, we forgot how to act, we forgot how to love unconditionally. 

And I think most unfortunately, I forgot what it meant to be a good friend. 

Now I look back on these harder times, the times of struggle, and I have found peace and happiness. I am grateful for the harder times because I believe that it made me a better person and friend. It shook me into place and opened my eyes. Finally. I have learned began to learn what it means to be a true friend. I feel at peace with the relationships with my friends and I feel that I have come so far (although I know I still have a long way to go). To be a true friend, you have to accept accept accept. You have to CUT SLACK. You have to validate feelings and listen. It's important to remember that it is always better to listen than to be heard. You have to be interested. You cannot choose to not acknowledge things that you may not agree with. You must make people feel of worth and bring them up, not down. You must serve and be selfless. You should be able to be honest with them and share your opinions and beliefs with them. You should respect them. You must keep up with your friends and make time for them, giving them your undivided attention. 

You must love them, love them with all your heart. NO MATTER WHAT. 

my best friend M

This girl right here, she is my best friend. She seriously gets me like no one else. She's such a light in my life, someone I go to for seriously everything because she understands. To say that I am grateful for her would be such an understatement. She brings out the best in me, she lets me cry with her, laugh until I pee with her, she lets me talk to her about anything and somehow knows exactly what to say, she trusts me, she's everything. I have been blessed with such amazing friends and she is one of them, the one I have grown up with, the one I have done everything with. Last night we sat in my car and we laughed and cried together and it felt so good. I think it was what we both needed. It's times like that that I will cherish forever

Madi, I love you.  

always there

I think more often than not, we all have a feeling of being alone - whether it is feeling alone in your life, alone in your thoughts, alone in your busyness, alone in a group of people. Whatever it is, I think we have all felt that way at one point or another. And I think it is important that we remember that He is always there. Always. He knows us better than anyone else. He has been in our shoes. He is there waiting for us to reach out to him. 

I am so blessed in my life and I often times get so in the routine of everyday life that I forget to stop and be thankful for all of my blessings I have been given. And I also forget that others need me. I pray every day that I will be led to someone who needs my help. 

I'm so grateful for my Savior.

Chopped

All I can say is WOW, I really need to step up my game. I did so well at blogging last year, but this year I have struggled a little. Not too much, but I'd like to be a little better. Life has been great lately, just enjoying my life on the rails, being a mom, etc, etc...

Let's see... First thing is first. I CHOPPED MY HAIR OFF and dyed it. Well, technically Payt did. But yeah. It's gone. I love it, but do miss my long hair sometimes. Simple year meant simpler me. 

Jennie and I took a trip to the airport because... my best friend Natalie has returned, safe and sound and boy is it good to have her back... although I have not seen her since the day she got home. I hope that changes. I know she has been spending lots of time with her family, which is important but I am excited to spend some time with her, too. She is amazing and so happy. Natalie served and loved the people of Roseville and they will forever remember her in their hearts. She's the best and I'm glad I get to call her my best friend. I've missed her. But I do have to say that I will miss having a best friend as a pen pal. I sure do love those handwritten letters. 

We celebrated daddy's birthday this weekend with bowling on Saturday with grandpa and then the Superbowl on Sunday. I think he really enjoyed his birthday this year because the Pats WON. He was so excited. I think he had the best birthday yet. I am so grateful for my dad and the amazing man he is. He does so much for our family. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, dad. 

And then it's all about my mom life that I now live... well, part-time. I found out this past week that Bill's real name is William and boy was that good news. I have kind of been weirded out by a kid with the name Bill, so I am glad I get to call him Will and William now. Their spanish is coming along quite nicely. William told me that the other day at school he said "por favor" to the lunch lady and talk about a proud moment for me. We enjoy taking picnics in the cold with rotisserie chickens, swimming, going to the Natural Curiosity Museum, filming slow motion videos, using my teacher skills on them (as they call it), giving them extra and dextra credit (don't ask), and anything else that we can think of. I sure do love my Jake and Willy. 

That's what I have been up to lately. In between, I guess I do homework and study (maybe). I really hate studying. It's something that I just really dread and frankly, don't do much of. But somehow I survive. I am absolutely loving my program at UVU and I love the school. I also love my cohort and I am glad I will be spending my next two years with them. Can't believe I am already a month done with this semester! Time is flying. 

Mikey will be home in just five months. Insane. Absolutely insane.