New Recipes with Good Friends

Hey yo... it's been a while. Here's a quick update. Dustin and I have moved back to Edmonton after finishing my final practicum in Raymond at the elementary with a grade 5 class that I LOVED and miss a ton. I stayed super busy the first few weeks putting my teaching portfolio together for my presentation with the board at Concordia on the 16th. It went really well and it feels great to have that off my chest. One of my closest friends, Ashton, graduated from U of A in December and they sent her off with zero info on how to do and what to put in her portfolio, so I was able to help her as Concordia was all over that :) I feel really blessed to be gaining such a great education at Concordia and feeling like I will be prepared to get into the teaching field right after I graduate rather than feeling like I'm starting from the beginning again.

Dustin is attending the U of L satellite campus up here in business management and he has two more classes next semester and then he graduates too! It's exciting for us to think that we will both be graduated within the next year and that we will be able to move on to the next chapter of our lives!! Whoo hoo! We've moved into a condo in south Edmonton and love our ward! Tim and Ashton are in there and a few other young couples that I'm sure we will get together with every now and then for some fun!

Today we invited Tim and Ashton Whidden over for dinner and I decided to cook up one of our newer recipes. I have found being out on our own as newly weds, I gotta up my game on home cooked meals because spaghetti and soup get old quite fast :) So tonight we are eating brown sugar salmon with veggies and rice. I got the salmon recipe from one of our friends and I dont' think I'll cook salmon any differently from now on.

Introducing my BEST friend!!!!!

We got married August 27, 2011 and I feel so incredibly blessed to have such an amazing man as my eternal companion!!! I knew I was lucky before the wedding, but since we've been married, I've become even more aware of how much better her makes me!

Dust is patient! I'm a pretty stubborn individual and am pretty stuck in my independent ways. Dust has and will continue to assure me that I don't have to always figure things out on my own and that it's ok to depend on someone else every now and then! He listens to my crazy ranting and then ever so kindly explains a different point of view in a way that is kind and caring.

He is a hard worker! I am so thankful that Dust grew up on a farm where he was taught the value of working hard! I know he will be successful in whatever he chooses to do just based on his work ethic! He makes goals and he accomplishes those goals. Even when he wants to quit, he keeps on going a little further and I love that he is so driven!

He shows/tells me he loves me every single day in small actions! Dust makes me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world every day... even on the days I roll out of bed and go about my day! I know he loves me for who I am and I feel so lucky to have a man who assures me daily of his feelings for me :)

Dust is a blast to be with! He loves snowmobiling and playing sports and it's so fun to see him in his element having a blast! He's active and takes chances, which sometimes scares me, but I'm glad that he isn't boring! He's not a afraid to branch out and try new things!

He's my best friend and I love him eleventy four!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Thought...

I watched this video tonight and it was one that hit me deep. I, too, am quick to judge at times. Shame on me. I was also reading my patriarchal blessing the other night where it mentions that I will help clothe and feed the poor and needy of the world who will be my friends, and that I will learn much from them. I think this could be a great blessing to me and my future family, but a sense of humility and kindness needs to be greatly evident and is something I will have to continually work on!

Have you ever met someone, who has caught you off guard and made your initial judgment way out in left field!?!?!? I feel like God puts people and situations in our lives to help us and sometimes those people come in many different circumstances and if we are not humble and open to hearing and learning from another, we will miss out on the blessing. I want to try to be more open, kind, and through those initial and ignorant judgments out the window and see what inspiration and blessings I can receive from having the true love of Christ and treating other how I would like to be treated too!

Ride the River With

When I was young, I always struggled with knowing who my TRUE friends were. The girls in my grade were always so catty and I spent a lot of time crying or being sad about the way my 'friends' were treating me. I remember coming home from school one day and finding my daddy sitting on the couch waiting for my arrival. He said he had something important to talk to me about. I quickly reviewed my daily actions to make sure I hadn't done anything that would've upset him and I was pretty sure I was off the hook, but the conversation that followed has been something that has stuck with me throughout my life and also a conversation I will be sharing with my kids when the time is right. This is a little of how it went...

Dad ushered me over to the couch and asked me to look up to the ceiling. As I glanced up, my eyes became focused on about 10 rectangular shaped pieces of paper. He continued to explain that they were cheques that were made out for different amounts of ranging from .02 cents to $1000.00. I shot a sly smirk his way and he continued to tell me that he was going to give me one chance to jump up and grab one of the cheques. If I got the $1000.00 cheque on my first try, it was mine. I, of course, didn't believe him, but he assured me he was SERIOUS, which in our family means it is the truth and there's no going back, so I took the challenge! I quickly scanned the ceiling for the winning cheque as visions of my future shopping spree played in my head. I finally zoned in on THE ONE and I leaped like M.J. to the ceiling.

I was pretty sure I had it... I turned it around... 5 cents... :( Disappointment quickly flowed over my face. Dad goes 'You know, I'm pretty confident... I'll give you another try'. So again I leap up... more like Lebron this time and grab another cheque.. I'm pretty sure this one was $2.00. Just when I thought my luck was gone, what does Dad do, but give me ANOTHER try, so up I go and down with my last chance cheque... it was made out for some measly amount like $1.24.

My dad then had me sit down with him as he explained that in our lives, we have the chance to meet many individuals with different values and more often then not, those values are not always measured up to our goal or desire. My wise father explained that many of the so called 'friends' I had at that time in junior high were not horrible friends, but they didn't treat me the way a TRUE friend should. He then had me jump up and grab the rest of the cheques... after a few more jumps I came down with the $1000.00 cheque and a big smile on my face. He then explained that every now and then in our lives, we are blessed to have a $1000.00 friend come into our lives. He reminded me that our family will always be a consistent friend in my life and that if I am patient and practice being a good friend to those around, I will be lucky enough to be blessed with a couple more of my own.

I thought I understood what he meant when I left the conversation, but as I have grown a little older and experienced life a little more, I have gained a strong testimony of this. My dad has always said, 'Find a friend you can RIDE THE RIVER WITH' and I have always remembered and used this saying with my close friends. To me, the river represents our lives. Sometimes the river can be rough with quick turns and sharp boulders poking out of the rapid water that flows down the narrow way. At times the river can be peaceful and flow at a steady pace, but you never know what's around the corner and what peace and a blessing it is to have a friend to help guide and support you through those rough, good and wild times on the river of life.

I have recently gained another friend to RIDE THE RIVER WITH. Her name is Robin and she has become one of my closest friends. We met early in Fall 2010 when we both entered our first year of the Education After Degree Program at Concordia University. We were put in the same group for a project in school and began bonding as friends. It didn't take long for us to realize the similarities we had in both our values, goals, and desires in life. Robin has consistently pushed me to be better every day. When I was feeling down about life or school, she found a way to make me feel like superwoman. She made and continues to make me feel like I can accomplish anything and I know she will be right beside me every step of the way!!!

I got flooded out of the previous house I was living during the school year and you know what Robin did... offered for me to move in with her family and her. She talked to her parents and explained my situation and they welcomed me in their home for the summer with open arms. I feel so blessed! They have been so supportive and kind and I will never forget the humility and selfless service they have shown to me! It's no wonder Robin in such a great individual... she comes from a quality and inspiring home!

Robin is driven!! She works harder than anyone I know. She always gives 120% and doesn't settle for less than she deserves. She does the little extra things that make a significant difference in your life. She has been an amazing help with my wedding plans. Her, along with my family, have kept me partly sane during this wedding prep business. Robin will text me randomly with ideas to help with the wedding! I truly cannot thank her enough. She is beautiful, talented, selfless, kind, funny, and a wonderful wonderful friend!!! It is her birthday today and I wanted to dedicate a little blog to her to remind her that I am so thankful for her friendship! Robin... love you eleventy-four (this is something my family say to each other and it means the very most love you can love someone :))

Happy Happy Birthday to one of my BEST friends!!!! You are AMAZING!!!!

Opportunity

Tonight I got to thinking a little.. reflecting if you will... where has my spiritual desire for growth gone!?!?! Not that I have turned all rebellious and all, but tonight I was sitting on my bed and decided to log onto the lds.org website and check out some of the new mormon messages. I honestly don't remember the last time I logged onto the website and it made me a little sad. My scripture study hasn't been as prime as it should and my prayer really haven't been given a lot of sincerity or thought... they've become more robotic and that ain't cool yo!!

After watching one video on thoughts by new mission presidents, I felt inspired to be better, to serve more, to have more faith in Heavenly Father's plan and to serve those around me more whole-heartedly. I'm embarrassed to say that I've let Satan distract me a little. It is a very subtle change, but it has had an influence on myself. It took one little video to give me this reality check!

So... you are probably thinking... well what are you going to do about it... well...let me tell you! I am going to make effort to read something from an Ensign I choose from the LDS website daily. I remember when I decided to do this in Korea and although at the time I didn't think it was making THAT big of a difference in my life, I WAS happier, I WAS healthier... I WAS closer to my Heavenly Father and it felt amazing!! I don't want to settle for mediocre. I want to strive to be the best me I can, and I know how to do that... it's doing the little spiritual things daily and not becoming distracted by worldly things and thinking our lives are too hectic to spend 10 minutes reading scriptures or praying with real intent. So I make my re-commitment tonight and I am excited about it :)

Life is still great! I have amazing friends who I know love and support me. I have a family who lead by example daily and push me to be better in subtle and at times not so subtle ways :) I know the church is true and I am so thankful for the sacrifices Christ made for me through the atonement so that I can be forgiven for the many sins I have made and will make in the future. I'm thankful for the scriptures and the joy they can bring to one's life. The power in the Book of Mormon is undeniable and I am so thankful for the testimony I have gained and will continue to build on of the scriptures. I am thankful for the temples and the opportunity Dustin and I have to be sealed in the temple in 50 days :) (not that I'm counting haha) I watched a clip on the re-opening of the Hawaii temple and it was so neat to see the joy in the faces of those living there and how relieved and blessed they felt to have it open again! What a gift we have been given to have a temple SOOOO close and to have the opportunity to be in the Lord's house and to feel the protection and strong spirit within! I just simply feel blessed... the end :)

Picnic for Two :)

So the other week, I was sitting here thinking about Dust and my schedule for the summer. You see, we have opposite work schedule and it's made for some challenges for quality time we spend together. I start work in the morning and work till early evening and Dust starts work early afternoon and works till late at night. Most nights we spend together, he gets over to my place around 10:30 ish... sometimes 11:00... well that is past my bedtime, so usually when he gets here, we'll chat about our days, maybe watch a show and then say goodbye. I decided that this was unacceptable and that we needed to be more creative about how we spent our nights. I tried to think of places we could go.... most places are closed at this point... then I thought we could go for some late night strolls... the last thing Dust wants to do at the end of the day is walk around some more :)... so... food was the result...but I decided to be a little creative about it.

I told Dust to not stop somewhere to get food and that I would have something for him when he got over. I worked for hours and hours (ok maybe not that long) to make sure everything was cut, cooked, and set up perfectly and I must say... it turned out pretty stinkin good!

We had a little picnic on my bed, which turned out to be quite a fun night! It still was late and we were both still pretty tuckered, but we had a lot of fun and it was a little more exciting and gave us something to look forward to! Now I just have to continue to find different fun ideas to do after 10 at night... I also need to find a way to be more awake at that time too... no promises for that one... I like my sleep too much!!! :)

Colors, Bridesmaids, Shoes, Dress, Ring, Food....

All of the things in my title, I have been pondering every now and then... mostly to satisfy my father. I know how seriously he takes this wedding thing and I wouldn't want him to be disappointed. I think he'd mostly be impressed with us putting him as our MC... so I'll just move him to the top of that list... oh I should have him sing a solo too.... oh he would just beam with joy to do that in front of everyone... perhaps a choreographed dance to represent mine how he feels about letting his second daughter go...let's see what else can I add to make this the most fulfilling wedding for my dear father... :) hehe I'm actually trying my best to keep daddy out of the planning because he thinks everything is ridiculous and that we should just take off on a trip after the ceremony, which I will admit... is quite tempting some days :)

Let's see what else have I been up to!?!?!? Well I finished up my spring class which was a big relief! It was super busy, but I know I will be soooo thankful when I don't have to take the class next Winter semester! I also finished up doing my SWOOSH basketball boot camps, which I am missing now, but am thankful for the extra time I have now! I met and bonded with some really great kids and we were able to see their growth over the couple of months training with us, so that was pretty satisfying!

I also started selling Scentsy, which I LOVE!!!! (oh that's another thing I can add on my daddy list... get dad to smell and fall in love with all the scents and pick one to be our theme smell for the wedding... :)) I had my launch party this Monday and it was super successful! I made some peanut butter squares and mom's speciality 'sex in a pan' dessert! Both were a hit! I'm hoping to do at least 2-3 more parties this month through other hosts, but haven't booked one yet, so we'll see what happens. By hosting the party, I received $111.00 worth of free product because the sales were so good! Yay for me :)

Dust and I are planning on heading home this weekend to get some pics done and hopefully set up a lil chat meeting with Brenda, Kenz and my mom to get some planning done!! Go team!!! Oh here's a sad story... so we were supposed to be getting my REAL ring this past weekend... but the jewellers called Dust last week and told him the ring wouldn't be in till July 4th... sad day, but it is only a couple weeks away, so I suppose I'll just have to suck it up a lil longer :)

I am still LOVING my job at Bridal Debut and have made some really good friends with the job too!! I am officially facebook friends with one of my brides who cried when she found her dress and was just so dang cute! I always thought it was silly when brides to be cried when they found their dress... I didn't cry, but for some reason when a bride I'm helping gets tears in her eyes, I start to tear up too.. i'm such a baby!! But really it is so fun to see the joy in their face when they feel the most beautiful they ever have!! So fun!!

And that's my life in a nutshell for these last couple weeks! Life is GREAT!!!