The first day of summer.

Did you know that starting Monday, June 21st the first day of summer has arrived? On the contrary, I believe the first day began several weeks back. But to honor my FranklinCovey planner I will attribute Monday to summer's arrival. We are defining our first summer together by attending baseball games, bbqs and working a lot. We were fortunate enough to view the Gila Valley temple dedication in the Gila Valley. It was a beautiful experience! Did I mention Ryan works a lot? He has currently worked himself all the way over to Monterey, Mexico where he will have spent two weeks working at the mine. I'm on day five. Today was the first day I was able to speak with him on the phone. I answered the phone not expecting to hear him and not recognizing to whom I was speaking with. Maybe another ten months of marriage will cure that.

Maybe since I turned our internet back on I'll blog more in the next week and a half. Happily, my brother Jesse is staying with me. So I don't find myself too bored. Last night we went to Chipotle where I bought myself a kids meal (first time ever) and we later watched Jurassic Park. "Hold on to your butts." Newman has got to be the grossest character in that whole movie. Also, I am trying to do some summer reading as I anxiously await the third installment of the Hunger Games. I have discovered that I am not the only person loving this series.

Ok, that's all I have for tonight. Maybe I'll blog sooner than later next time. Just maybe...


Please ignore Ryan's tucked in shirt. He was helping with the sound at the Gila Valley Cultural Event. It's all I can really say about that.

Every day.

Every day can seem a little more tedious than yesterday.

And every day I struggle to be a little bit better than I was before.

Every day I feel compelled to be a better member of my faith and a better missionary to those searching for answers.

And every day I fall short of my perfect reality.

But every day I know that my Heavenly Father loves me.

Today is the same as yesterday and tomorrow because my Father in Heaven never gives up on His struggling daughter.

So every day I should be thankful for the life I have and the person I am becoming.

Please, watch this. It may help you remember your own divine nature...My New Life

It's almost time.

Please let us make it through finals...

And not end up looking like him.
Thank you.

It's true!

We have proof- we DO do stuff! Contrary to what you may believe, we aren't just boring, non-eventful people. And I have the pictures to prove it. These were all the good pictures I had on my camera.

My homies. Isn't it great to have friends that date back to elementary school and junior high days?? I love being with Ashley and Kaycee. Here's to girl's nights and greasy dinner at Chile's!
Sweet baby Wesley. Isn't he so stinky? And by stinky I mean cute. This is Brett and Lindsey's new baby boy. And if you look closely, that white and brown object in the front right is my new baby... a brand new purse! Way too expense. Way too cute.

Spring Break 2010- camping in Safford. Our first camping trip! It was seriously cold. Three blankets and a highly insulated sleeping bag couldn't keep me from shivering all night long. Things I'm grateful for: not being homeless and memory foam.

My co-workers and I said goodbye to our dear Nathan Askins. Lifetime Fitness feels empty without him. He's serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Brazil. We sure miss you, Mr. Nathan!


EASTER PAGEANT! Worst seats ever. We really enjoyed it though. Thanks to Ashley and Trevor for coming with us. No pictures of our friends, only us. Apparently we only take pictures of ourselves.


Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill. Yes, you got it. My first (and definitely last) bar experience. I was way bummed that Toby wasn't there. I guess he really doesn't love that bar and grill.

Two of our most favorite people, Lisa and Tanner! Always so good to see you guys. Good thing I love my in-laws :)

So there you have it. Ryan and I are completely capable of doing stuff. I'm excited for summer time- I'll be sure to document all our cool adventures.

Missin' you lately...

It's like I was taken from my birth mother and put in a foster home for the last 17 years.
"Take me home country road..."

Things I miss most about Washington:

Safeco Field and Ken Griffey Jr. (thank GOODNESS for baseball!)
The joke shop at Pike Place
... everything else at the market for that matter
including the pig statue at Pike.
Evergreen Trees
brick houses
picking berries on Camano Island
homemade jam
grandma and grandpa mac
walker reunions
Ivar's Fish and Chips.... mmm
the wharf (where my obsession with marinas began)
the trashy bums EVERYWHERE in downtown Seattle
riding ferries to different Washington islands
Tim's Cascade Chips
my dog, Elvis
not my cat, Felix. bad Felix.
fresh crab
the absolutely tranquil rain
the music! what a hotspot for rock and roll.
how everyone still dresses like they live in the 90s
mostly... my family.

"Take me home country road, to the place where I belong."
John Denver

Now you wish YOU could live there too, I bet! Hopefully we can go visit soon so I can post my own beautiful pictures of Washington. For now, I'll keep saving my pennies for a trip.

HAPPY EASTER!

Don't you fret

A little fall of rain can hardly hurt me now.

A wise friend taught me that there are no such things as bad days,
only bad moments.

Tomorrow will feel better, friend.

A little fall of rain can hardly hurt you now...
for the sunshine will be your umbrella.

Delicious!

This week I ate one of these...

while wearing one of these...

and smelling some of these...

Isn't springtime WONDERFUL!?! Everything is so delicious in Arizona right now. Flowers, shorts, fruit, pony tails, flip flops. And most importantly, General Conference. Hope you all enjoy the delicious treats that spring has to offer!