Endings

It's already the last day of February!!! 

YAY!!! 

You know what this means??? 

.......

Spring Break is on it's way!!!! 

.......

I am so excited for Spring, and Spring Break, it means that this semester is almost over. 

When the semester is over it means that we will be going to the beach in North Carolina for a week. 

Also, it will mean at that time that it's SUMMER.

Oh how I love summer, and the thought of summer right now. 

So, Thank you February for going by so quickly, and being so busy. 

Thank you for keeping us on our toes all month long, and making us wait to find out what our 

future hold for us. 

Thank you for letting Nathan interview in both Houston and Tampa. 

And lastly Thank you for letting us file our Taxes and get a nice big tax return before the month ends :)

I now have a couple of requests for March:

March, you have some pretty darn big shoes to fill. You need to fill them and fill them good. 

I ask of you March to bring us better weather, so I can enjoy my runs like I did last week. 

I would like you to bring us good news for our future, and to bring us more business at work, and a lot 

more fun out in the sun. 

March I would like you to be nice to us, not snow (at least on the weekends), and to allow me to fulfill my goals. 

For now that will be all, but I may ask a little more of you soon. 

.......

Happy End of February everyone, and I hope, that March will be an exciting month for us all as we look forward to the beginning of spring and the news of our futures. 

This weekend I have been thinking a lot about my goals an aspirations in life, yes they are going to take many years, and a lot of hard work. But I just want to say that I am so so lucky to have such a supportive and encouraging husband. He really helps me when I get down on myself, and my goals.

It's been a great month, a lot of learning, and I have much more a head.

Productivity 2

So, this morning was AWESOME!! First I was kinda bummed because I didn't hear my alarm when it first went off but I got up around 6am. From the time I got up until the time I left for work (8:20 am) I did my legs and back work out for today, emptied the dish washer then cleaned the dirty dishes and loaded them, swept the floor, talked to Nathan on the phone, showered got dressed and took out the trash. Man I feel awesome today. I am so happy to have a clean kitchen when I come home today.  I just LOVE being productive. Now I feel like I can have fun tonight, maybe to a project or two when I get home.

Also, today Nathan's in Florida enjoying the 77 degree weather while we have the snow here. He has interviews all day today, along with lunch with students and some fancy dinner thing tonight. It's a big day for him. Hoping to hear back from Houston still, and hoping that we will soon hear back from Florida :) It's just so exciting!!

Productivity

This semester has been crazy. I am in school and working full time, as well as a wife and housekeeper. I've got a lot to do all the time and I feel like I am never getting enough done. Last semester I felt on top of everything, I only had one less class to worry about so why is it different this semester??

I was thinking about it last night and I have come to the conclusion that I was working out a lot more than I am now, when I work out I tend to be more motivated and get more things done. My objective in cutting back this semester was so that I could spend more time with Nathan, but it's like we just watch T.V. all night and nothing gets done. I don't even get the dishes done unless I get super bored of the crappy shows on T.V or get frustrated with how unproductive I've been. I get quite a bit done at work, for example yesterday I took notes on 4 lectures and did a quiz to follow up those lectures, as well as got started on some of my other assignments that aren't due until the end of March. In a sense I feel forced to be productive at work while staying right next to the phone so I get a lot of school work done. But when I get home I am so used to sitting around at work all day that it's hard for me to transition to go mode and run my errands and get stuff done.

With my conclusion, I have decided that I am going to do my work outs in the morning with the P90X and on my lunch breaks go running, to help mix up the day, and in the evening shut off the T.V and get things done, if I need to get a boost of energy I will pull out the kinect and play with Nathan so there will be together time as well as more activity going on. That is my hope that it will help mo be productive.

I just need to be more useful of my time off work. When I am not there are days like today when I have 10 things I need to do after work but I have institute after work and a family party right after. It makes me stressed and frustrated. Especially because I didn't get a work out in this morning so that makes for more things I need to do tonight.

Let me just finish by saying I am SO ready for Spring and the warm weather. That helps me be more productive as well, I am less likely to hide out in my apartment all week.

What do you do to be more productive through out the week? Do you give yourself incentives or something?

Readings

Over the weekend I was going through my journal and scriptures, and I came across the Proclamation to the Family, it reminded me of my roles as a woman, and the divine gifts I do have. Then this morning I decided to read The Living Christ. What a wonderful testament of Christ and his life. I am so glad that I have such readings in my life to remind me of my own testimony, and why I do the things I do. The Church of Jesus Christ is the true church, and I do have a testimony of it. I have been having a lot of hard times lately, and trying to come to grips with so many issues that have come about, and after reading these things, and continually reading my scriptures I am reminded to be faithful, and to know that it's all in due time. I just need to be patient with my Heavenly Father's timing, and this is just the beginning of my waiting career. Waiting to find out where Nathan's been accepted, is only a small minute, but as we will prepare to apply and submit for a family and for those blessings we will be waiting longer than comfortable, but with the knowledge we have of the gospel and my Heavenly Father will provide the comfort I need in everything I have ahead. I suggest to you to read both of these readings, and ponder on the words written. They will bless your life. I know they will.

Valentines Gift

full view

don't they look great!

 Finally got Nathan's Valentines gift done. Yay!!! I framed and put together some of our family photos and a temple picture. So excited with how it turned out!! It's funny that we are finally decorating our apartment even though we will be moving soon. Oh well, better late than never. Also Nathan did a great job putting up the pictures, they look pretty even to me. 

Miracles of our Bodies

3 weeks ago my boss Steve, or as many may know him as the High Council man in our ward, was reffing men's basketball tripped and fell. He's been real sore for weeks and they've done many x-rays and haven't found anything. Yesterday they did an MRI and found that it wasn't his hip, but his femur that's broken. What a shock for all of us! 

While we are talking about this at work, and the details of the surgery he has to have this weekend it reminds us of our past injuries and such. It's sad that other's ailments remind us of so many problems and remind us to be grateful for our health and our ability to walk. I've been complaining about my own stress fracture in my foot, but it's getting better. I feel horrible that I've complained about something so silly when even I have had worse. We got talking about hip injuries and I am so so glad that I have been able to live with minimal hip pain this last year. It's been amazing. I lived with so much constant pain for so many years and when it subsided I was so quick to forget it and forget to be happy for the little pain I do have. 

Our bodies are amazing and can do so many wonderful things. I will be a new aunt by the end of the day today, and the miracle that he will be in so many peoples lives. Today let's remember to be glad that we can walk, and run and to so many things. I feel horrible for Steve and wish a quick recovery for him. :)

Competitive

Okay so I am very competitive. You can ask anyone and they would agree with this. It's just my nature. I grew up competing in sports and it just got me really into sports and winning. I did a lot of sports, some of which include: Swimming, Diving, Gymnastics, Running, Water Polo, Track, Triathlons as well as church sports like Basketball, Volleyball, and Softball. I have a lot of experience winning and loosing. If I don't compete often it gets built up and it needs to be released. This winter it's been, I think worse than ever before. In high school I swam all winter long so I was able to get my competition fix. After hurting my foot in December I've been slowing down, so it's been emotionally rough.

I am just now trying to get back into the swing of things. Last week I went to ward basketball and it turned into a disaster. Everyone, I mean EVERYONE on our team was getting heated. Not just me. Our team is okay not very good with ball skills, so the other team starts playing bad, and then we all end up getting a billion fouls. Well, I wasn't very level headed. Not many of us were. As a result, I almost fouled out, several of our players had left so we didn't have any subs, and we lost and I had to do sprints to cool myself down. It hasn't worked. I'm still frustrated with something. But from now on I will never participate in church sports, and I will not being going to any activities. It's not worth getting frustrated and bugged over.

In my opinion church sports need coaches. I have been a coach for 6 years, and I am also in a Coaching Class at the U. I am getting a lot of experience and learning a ton and from what I am learning is that all sports need a coach even just recreational teams.

After all this competitive vibe has stored up and is eating at me I need to do a race. I really think it would be good for me to do a marathon or something to get it out so that I can get this released. Church sports are not a good idea. It would be more helpful to do group runs a such to help encourage each other and to lift each other the way we are taught not to get competitive and focused on winning.  

Updates

Over the weekend Nathan flew to Houston Texas for his interview at the University of Texas Houston for Biomedical Sciences. It was a successful weekend. He was able to meet many great people, and explore the large city of Houston, as well as the Medical city. It was so nice that they flew him down there, and treated him so well. I am real excited for his next interview in about a week and a half. He will be going to Tampa Florida, which is where the University of South Florida is located. 


So far I have been doing some research to look at which place we would like to live, also trying to find good housing options and schools for me. It's been a lot of fun, but it's making me pretty anxious to just find out. Though we did find out this weekend that we will not being staying in Utah. We did not get accepted into the program here, which I think is just so odd, but I think that it's so that we wouldn't be tempted to stay here when we need to be somewhere else. As we pray for those reviewing his applications, and for us as well that we can be accepting of what happens, I can't help but think and remind myself that there is a better location for us right now, and by not getting accepted here will help push us where we need to be. 


Though Nathan had a great time this weekend, he felt that Houston was just too big. There were other great things about it, but at the moment he would prefer to go to USF. It will be close to family, and it's where he's from so there are several bonuses. But I think there are great bonuses for each, I will list just a few for each that I've come up with. 

Tampa, Bing Images

USF: It's closer to both of our Parents. Instead of being on the opposite side of the country, we will be about 45 min from his parents and about 9 hours from my parents (driving). Florida has great weather, perfect for me. I will be able to go to USF as well I wouldn't have to go to a separate University. Also, we will be closer to Luke and Cindy (our niece and nephew), they are just so funny. Also, I'd have a possible running buddy (Jessica :). Also Nathan already knows his way around there so we would be less likely to get lost, me on the other hand I probably won't drive for a while I will get so lost I'd end up in Utah again. 

Houston, Bing Images

UTH: I will be a whole new adventure for both Nathan and I. I will end up at the University of Houston. The housing market is pretty darn cheap so we may end up being able to purchase a home. There are a few Dr.s that really want Nathan in their lab. We'd be close to Nathan's family in Texas and Oklahoma (and the few of mine that live around there). Also, we would live in the middle of the Country, that's pretty cool. 


Both places are pretty much on the Gulf, so cool!! Which means great weather, but also flash floods and hurricanes. But I am just so so happy to get out of the cold. We have a lot of decisions a head of us and I am so excited. This will be quite the year we have a lot going on, but it keeps life exciting. 

I love NEWS!!!

Today started out on such a great note. 

I was productive this morning, and on time for work. 

I even left for work not in a rush!! That's huge for me.

So, Today has just been a great day. 

I got a call from Nathan this afternoon....

His tone was sad and not so great, so I was getting nervous as he read me an email he had received. Well as he kept reading it said they were inviting him to interview on Feb 25th at the University of South Florida!!!!! 

Oh I just started screaming while on the phone. 

It's just such a relief to hear back from another school. 

I am just so excited!!!

Weekends

I am trying to figure out what weekends are really for... Ever since I've started working full time I have felt like weekends are my time to accomplish everything that didn't get done during the week such as: dishes, laundry, cleaning... You know, the fun stuff right?? Ha ha. 


The last couple of weekends I have been able to get absolutely nothing done. Last week I even prepared my Sunday School lesson during the week because I had no time to prepare it over the weekend. But what is it that is keeping me so busy during the weekend that I don't get anything done??? 


Well, my friends I have been doing nothing. That's right. Friday nights I just sit around entertain myself on the computer, or with the T.V as well as Nathan's high tech phone. Saturdays I have been sleeping in until who knows when (so unlike me), then slowly getting myself to the gym, only to return home and sit around with Nathan. I usually don't shower until 3 or 4 on Saturday's as we are getting ready to head out somewhere to play. 
Sunday's are much the same, except I have Church in the mornings. Usually around Sunday evening I am bored out of my mind so I start cooking random things to put in the fridge to hopefully get eaten during the week, and sweep the floors, do the dishes as such to wear my self out enough to go to bed on time so I can start my routine of early mornings again. 


I get a lot of relaxing in on the weekends, but for some reason I come back to work on Monday not feeling a. relaxed enough, b. still tired and c. that I didn't get anything done. So odd. But I did accomplish one thing. That is that I hung out, and had fun with my husband. (also we went to Nickel Mania and I won 500 tickets on one game so fun!!)... So what are weekends for??? My guess is that they aren't for cleaning and organizing like I would like them to be, but they are for having fun and relaxing. I sure hope that your weekend was a great one. I look forward to this weekend, though Nathan will be gone I will have a three day weekend to get everything I need to done as well as play with some of my in-laws that are coming in town. :) 

Friday!!

Happy Friday everyone!! 


I love Fridays because: it means tomorrow is Saturday and I get to relax and be lazy, it means I have made it through yet another week, it's usually a low key day at work, I get to go to the gym tonight while Nathan play's Xbox. It means that it's the weekend. Yes!! Oh how I love weekends. 


It's interesting, growing up I always loved weekends, no school it was great. When in College it means that it's time to party, go on dates, and just get all your play time in. Yes, I am still in College, but being married is a little different than being single. I am a lot more boring now. Besides being boring a married now, haha, I work full time as well as school. So when the weekend comes oh boy is it exciting. It's a chance to unwind from the week and finish things I didn't get done. But now that I work full time, I feel like weekends are shorter. I think every weekend should be a three day weekend. Oh wouldn't that be wonderful? I think so. 


For now I will enjoy my two day weekends, and look forward to sitting back and enjoying my days. Happy Friday!!

VS.

I have been thinking of new ways to mix up my work outs as of late, and I have decided I want to try P90X. But my most amazingly smart husband suggested I do both P90X and INSANITY and compare and contrast them. GENIUS!! 

With that, the new project I want to take on is to do P90X and write up about it each day, and how I feel each week, and the kind of progress I make through out it, then do the same with INSANITY and decide which I thought was better. 

I am now fixed on the idea of doing it, now I've just got to make it happen. What are your thoughts? Any of you tried either one and have any input?? 

Love Month

Well, it's the 2nd of February, the verdict is that Spring will be coming early this year (which I am looking forward to). February is the month of love. Everyone gets their Valentine and shows them how much they love them, often getting engaged, married or some I have known break up. It's quite a roller coaster of emotions this month is. I always hated February, although it's better than January. I didn't like the emphasis of dating and such, it made for some real awkward Valentines for me. Most of the time I had to work that day because everyone else was out on some hot dates, so I'd go home and hang out with my parents or usually just my dog because that's who was around. In Junior High and High School the week before people would send flowers to their friends or who they liked (I always wished for one, even if it was from my mom). It would feel nice to get a flower during school. I don't think I ever did. But you know what? That doesn't matter now. 


I would call Valentines Day Single's Awareness Day, and would dread it. Now it has a whole new meaning to me. Who knew that I would change my negative outlook on such a Holiday?? Not me. 


 I have been very blessed. I have a wonderful family, and always have, recently I married into yet another wonderful family. Wow. I have three families? Even to just have one I should have been celebrating my love for my siblings, parents and my cute dog (even though she always snuck in my room and ate my valentines candy from my mom). We are given so many things to celebrate everyday, so why not embrace it? Why didn't I see it earlier? I would have been more fun to be around I am sure :). 


We really should celebrate everyday as Valentines Day. We don't need a day on the calendar that comes once a year for us to tell our loved ones how much we love them. We should be doing it everyday! 


My goal this month is to work on showing Nathan how much I love him everyday, by helping out even if I have a lot going on, by letting him play that extra game when I want him to pay attention to me, and by playing at least one game with him when he asks instead of saying no because he's no fun to play with (I always loose, it's not fun). By making small sacrifices for our loved onces this year we can improve our relationships and better how we feel as well. 


I am real excited to try this, and it will take a lot of work for me to do, but it's going to be worth it. Happy February! <3

Fear

Back when I was about 9 or 10 (not sure) I was big into diving and gymnastics. I was sure that I was going to go to the Olympics either one or both. 


 My mom would take my siblings and I to our neighbors to swim during the summers, and we would have fun playing games, jumping off the diving board and practicing our dives and tricks. One summer after noon we were practicing, and I wanted to perfect my back flip. I was destined to be awesome. As I was practicing I didn't rotate right so I ended up hitting my head and back on the board, which knocked me out and dumped me into the pool. 


Luckily for me I have an awesome older brother that jumped in and saved me. I don't remember much from the whole thing except I have been really scared of the deep end since. 


Most of you may know, that I swam and played water polo in high school, as well as compete in triathlons. I was also a Life guard and swim instructor for almost 7 years. So, why would someone who had spent more than 50% of her life in a pool be afraid of the deep end? 


Well, you see, when other people are in the pool and swimming, I am okay and don't think about it. But as soon as I am the only one in the pool I have a panic attack. I also often have panic attacks while swimming in open water (i.e. the ocean, lakes). Yes, I am sure this just sounds so odd, oh well. It's just one of my deep fears is drowning. 


While I was working as a life guard, I actually strapped on a weight belt, had an oxygen thing, and jumped to the bottom of the pool for a drill. We were testing one of the life guards on his submerged rescues. What we didn't realize was that he was a complete idiot. As I was down there we decided that I should undo the oxygen hose so he would think it's a rescue, but what happened was that he didn't see me, so I was stuck at the bottom of the pool. With the weight belt on I weighed around 200 + lbs. I am not used to that much weight, so I couldn't swim up with all that heavy weight attached to me. I started to panic when after a minute he didn't rescue me, and I couldn't get the weight belt off me, the strap was stuck. Again, luckily for me one of my friends who was supposed to be monitoring the rescue noticed that I was panicking and jumped in and rescued me. 

Again, my fear of being in deep water was instilled in my brain. Though I still have continued swimming, I just can't swim by myself. 


Last night I went to the University of Utah pool for a swim. Boy was is busy. So I hopped in the pool to start my laps, first I had some goggle issues, but eventually fixed them. I started my swim, I was feeling a little sluggish, but it felt good to be in the water. Eventually I realize I am the only one in the pool. I stop look around and realize everyone that had been in that pool had left. Though the other pool was still full and busy, I watched the life guard to see if I needed to get out, but they didn't say anything. I watch people around me they all head to the other pool. I still don't get why no one got in the pool I was in. I decided to start swimming. I went under water and started to panic again. I just kept thinking what is wrong with me? I am 22 years old I have been swimming all my life I am a pretty decent swimming why can't I just do this. I took another 5 minutes to coax myself back to my swimming and to just take it 100 yds. at a time. So I did. Though I only did another 500 yds I did it. I swam all by myself in the pool. In the deep end none the less. 


This is the time for all of us to look our fears in the eyes and understand them, why we are afraid of what ever it is and to give it a nice punch in the face. I got home and told Nathan I was just so excited that I did it. I made it 500 yds all by myself. I faced my fear (not by choice) but I did it and I gave it a nice upper cut to the jaw and a jab to the nose. 


I hope this year we can all work a little more to become more confident in things that give us a hard time, to stand up to our own personal bullies. Just know that YOU CAN DO IT!!