Talent?

I have a really good friend who is so creative and really talented, I mean she could try something once and it would be perfect! She's so full of talent! Then I looked at myself and there isn't nearly as half of the talent she has. So it got me thinking, well what am I doing to help me see what my talents are? So I've started a quilt. In high school I danced, I've tried to exercise, scrapbook, decorate, make cakes, bake, in Jr. high I tried violin, I've tried Make-up, hair, and tried to make bows for my girls' hair, etc.

So let me tell you what I think talent is.

Talent to me is trying something for the very first time and being good at it. Talent is something that comes effortlessly, something that's natural, second-nature.

Now with all the things I have tried I have had/have to work hard, and I soon become discouraged because I'm still not good at whatever I'm trying at the moment. For Dance I had to work hard, I mean work my BUTT off just to get where I was my senior year. I was good Really good.  For my concert I was in four dances three of them with my three different dance classes I had, and one was my duet I tried out for, with a good friend. Well the other day I popped in the DVD's of my concert and watched my dance... I wasn't as good as I thought I was, it totally upset me to see that I wasn't good. Now I'm just really bummed out cause the one talent I thought I had, I really didn't have the talent for. For one I worked so hard I had three classes and yet I wasn't that good. With my quilting I thought I would be really good at it, I enjoy doing it but as soon as I finished my blocks I measured the blocks and none of them were the same size! My aunt always reminds me that there was only one perfect man on the earth and none of us are him, which I totally get, but it's still really discouraging to think that you're going to be good at something and then, BAM, you realize you're not good at it.

I know they say Practice makes perfect. Practice, practice, practice.... Bla, Bla, Bla. But If it's talent shouldn't you be good at it right from the start?

50's!!!

One thing about me that you may not know is that I absolutely love 50's music!

Not only the music but the whole decade!! The Clothes, Malt shops, and don't forget the cars!

If I could somehow build a time machine I would seriously go back to the 50's so I could experience it for myself.

So if you haven't noticed I changed my music to some of the best music, Rock n' Roll, Love songs, classics EVER! Even today's hit's will never be like the 50's in my opinion. 

P.S. (I tried to put pic's up from the 50's and right now the stupid thing isn't working, sad sad day.)

INSANITY!!!!!!!

Okay so Greg got the Insanity workout DVD's from a co-worker and I've been trying them out. And all I can say is. HOLY CRAP I'M OUT OF SHAPE!! Now my cardio has never been great, in fact I hate running, and anything that get's my heart rate up. But when I'm huffin and puffin just walking up the stairs, I know that I need to do something, Let me tell you about the workouts, right now we have 3 DVD's , Pure cardio, Cardio ABS, Plyometric cardio circuit, cardio power and Resistance. They start you out with a warm-up and then do a stretch then the actual workout. You wanna know how pathetic I am, I CAN'T GET THROUGH THE WARM-UP! This is so freaking hard, but I try to keep up on it.  When I am by myself is so much harder to have the motivation to keep going and to ignore the pain pulsing through my body, it even hurts to breathe! But last night my bestie came over and I showed her one of the workouts and we started to do the warm-up, with her there I got further into the warm-up than I did alone. Now I know I can't get a group together to all do this workout even though it would be nice, but I don't think anyone would want to do this. So I'm just gonna have to do it myself and push through the pain.
Not only do I have to keep up on this exercise I have to eat right and that my friends is A LOT harder then the exercise! I absolutely love my food, sugar, junk, etc. I've tried in the past to not eat it and I was like a heroin addict trying to get off the stupid drug! within 3 days I gave up and pigged out on some delicious sugary food. My friend pointed out to  me that I can still have the sugar and snacks, but in moderation. So here's my plan Eat junk food in moderation. So now I'm not only exercising my body but my will power and self control.
I would love some words of advice and encouragement. Oh and just as a side note. I AM NOT doing this exercise to lose weight, I simply want some muscle definition, and energy so I don't lose my breath going up seven steps.

First quilting project and our fun weekend

Okay so this is the quilt I'm going to make. Last weekend, Friday-Sunday, we went down to Roosevelt and visited with Gregs Grandparents and his Aunt. His Aunt is really big into quilting and does a beautiful job at all of her quilts. I also have an Aunt *cough, cough, Kari!* who as well does beautiful quilts. I have always wanted to try my had at sewing. Gregs Aunt gave me this pattern and said that this was a really easy pattern and that anyone could do it. So I'm going to give it a go. So yesterday I went to the fabric center bought me some fabric (which by the way FREAKING expensive!) Then went to Wal Mart and bought the rest of the fabric. I got the fabric and then thought to myself, hmm, now what. Gregs mom sews so I can borrow her sewing machine since I don't have one myself. I need a rotary knife and a ruler to help make nice even clean cuts so I'll need one of those, as well as a cutting mat, which those are about 15 bucks each!  I have no Idea what I am doing. I don't even know where to start! HELP!!! I have no idea what I got myself into. I want to do it but I am seriously overwhelmed with it already. It says.. Quilt in a day project... I think this will take me a couple of months due to supply shortage. If you have any advice for me you know where to comment.

So now for the fun part. last weekend, like I stated above, we went to Roosevelt to visit with Greg's family. We drove up Friday afternoon went out to eat with Greg's cousins that also came up to visit, and then spent the rest of the night visiting and getting settled in. Aliesha loved the 3 hour drive, especially the ride through the mountains! Saturday day we went to Vernal and went to the Dinosaur museum.   

 Aliesha loves Dinosaurs but when we walked in she said she was scared of the big huge dinosaur that was in the middle of the floor. We told her we wanted to take a pic under it but she just wanted away! haha.

                           She was fine with looking at the big Dinosaurs when daddy was holding her. :)

 This is where she got to brush off some wood chips to reveal dinosaur bones! She was having tons of fun at  that station!

 McKenzie found the room with a dinosaur animal in it and carried it with her everywhere! She loved to walk around and explore. The museum was an open room so I stood in the middle and just let her run everywhere!

 I showed her the station where she can dig for dinosaur bones, which she loved!!!! She loves playing in dirt!

                 These rocks glow. They are some type of mineral rock that glow. It was really cool to look at!

                         Kenz was trying to run away so daddy had to go chase her down the spiral ramp.

         This was on the ride home to SLC. Aliesha slept all the way until we came out of Provo canyon!

And McKenzie slept all the way home! It was a nice quiet ride home! Both girls were so worn out from their fun trip I think they are still trying to recoup from it.

Unfortunately we forgot, once again, to take pictures of the girls with their great grandparents. But they loved playing with them. Grandpa is blind and he would roll a ball out to the middle of the floor and the girls would roll it back to him they did this for a good 10 min. Since Greg's family is pretty much all BYU fans we had to watch the basketball game Saturday. Grandma is a HUGE BYU and Jimmer fan. If you mentioned Jimmer she'd jump out of her seat and almost run to the T.V to see if he was on the T.V. And during the game it went to commercial then back on, but the commentators were talking and Grandma says, "Oh why don't you shut up and show the game!" HAHA it was so funny but then after she said that she said,"Oh maybe I shouldn't've said that!" We had so much fun making memories. Both Greg and I needed a break away from work, city, and everything so it was a really nice get-a-way for us. Hopefully there will be a lot more visits like this one! We all love going up and spending time with family.

Missed Opportunity

Awhile ago I was having a discusion with a family member about religion, she and her husband grew up in the church, but fell away. I don't even know how the conversation started. One minute we were talking about preschool and the next they were telling how false the church is. It was like they were planning this, to take the opportunity to pounce at any given moment to tell me what they thought. Now I'm not one to be rude so I listened to what they were saying, laughing silently at their words of hate. Moments like these I wish I knew scripture and doctrine better then I do. But with them I couldn't get a single word in! It was frustrating to be put on the spot and to be gained up on for my belief. They tried to tell me there was no such language that the book of Mormon was written in and that Joesph Smith was making it up. They said that doctors, and linguistic professors  could not translate the language and said that it was a false language. They told me that the people in the Book of Mormon didn't even exist and that there is no proof of such people. And every time I'd open my mouth to tell them about the tower of Babel and the Mayans I'd be cut off and couldn't get a word in. Then they said how ridiculous it was to even think about Eternal life. Their exact words were, "They teach that we will be able to create our own worlds! How can that be possible that would mean that there are millions of worlds out their and that's just impossible

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

This is a picture taken from Hubble in 1995. It spent 10 days looking at this particular area in space. In that 10 days it took a picture of ten million different galaxy's. Ten million! In that one little area, space goes on for eternity so if you were to take this and times it by infinity, the galaxy's would go on FOREVER. Now how is that so hard to believe that we can live forever and become kings and Queens of our own world? They then went on saying, "I know how you feel, we felt the same way when people were talking to us about the falsness of the church, we felt uneasy and we didn't really listen, but then we decided that if we were to go to a church that we should really study it." I do agree with the last part, if you want to know more about something study it. But their next words they said to me really threw me for a loop. "The church tells you not to read Anti-Christ/LDS articles, and that's because they don't want you to know the truth about the church." While they said this I was yelling to them (In my head) WHAT! REALLY? Wow I can't believe they would even say this. They kept telling me all these things about what they've learned about the church while reading these books. I was laughing inside my head and thinking wow Satan really is cunning and deceiving. I've never heard such lies in my life. 

I know that this church is true, it's too perfect to not be true. Yes at time it's hard to be christ like and to follow the commandments, but that's what it's all about, we are here to be tried in all things. We are here to gain a knowledge of things, to be more like our Heavenly father. I have had times in my life where I'd question the church, but every time I'd be reminded by family, friends, and my own realization that this is true, that I am making the right choice. I am not perfect, but it's like that old story of the rough stone that is smoothed out from the rough waves of the ocean, and once it makes it's long journy to the shore it's perfectly round smooth and polished into a beautiful perfect rock. 

Even though I felt uncomfortable wile talking to these family members, I was glad for the opportunity. It reminded me just how strong I am in the church. My mom told me once that you will know when you are doing good cause that's when things will get bad, hard, and trying. How true that is for me. After that conversation I was thinking man if only they would have studied the Book of Mormon just as much as the other books they were reading they'd have the true word, they'd have the knowledge that I do. But you can never teach to those with closed hearts. I was saddened by my missed opportunity to bare my testimony. But I think that it was a challenge for me, so that I can see just how much the church means to me. I am truly blessed to have the gospel in my life, I'm so grateful for repentance, and I am especially grateful for eternity and that I can live with Greg, Aliesha, and McKenzie as well as all my other family! How great that day will be to go to the other side and know that I've known the truth and that I was not swayed. 

 Such a beautiful place! I LOVE going to this room and thinking that it's going to be even more beautiful in the Celestial kingdom. Something that always reminds me to do better so that I can see just how much more beautiful it can be.

I was sorry for not being able to share my feelings to this couple I was talking to, but it has opened this opportunity to tell all my friends and family and myself that I love The Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints.

What to do, What to do???

Okay so most of the time I'm totally fine with being a grown up, but right now trying to make this decision is when I hate being a grown up. I wish I could just push this decision to someone else. Why is this so stinkin' hard?
Yesterday (Friday March 4th) we went and toured a preschool for Aliesha. Greg and I want the best for both of our girls, I mean what parent doesn't? The preschool we looked at was Challenger. It's a private school that goes all the way to the 8th grade. It's academics are amazing! They start teaching 3 year olds how to write and read and 4 years old the same but more advanced. I love how they teach them early. Greg and I want Aliesha to start this fall.. When we went to the tour I fell even more in love with this school! I couldn't believe the schedule of the class. They would most certainly teach my little girls and fill her potential. Aliesha absoultly loved the school. In fact she started crying when we walked out of the building! We asked her why she's crying and she said "I wanted to play with the kids!" Later, in the car, she said, "Mom I didn't get to learn." She says she want's to go to school.
What's the problem with having to chose this school you ask? When it meets our expectations? Well super amazing private schools are super expensive! Not kidding you, we'd put her in the half day program for two or three days a week (Can't decide on how many days). For two days it's 186 a month and for three it's 254 a month. Wow insane right?
Now I'm stuck. We can do it I know we can. since I watch my nephews I get paid from that so that money will go to the school. we'd still have some left to save, plus I'd be saving from now to August. So I know that We could do it, but when it comes time to actually doing it I'm sure I'd hate paying the money and seeing it leave my account.
What do you think we should do? My stubbornness tells me to just do it we'd be able to do it, but the other side tells me to really think about it. I've prayed about it, but once again I'm one of those people that need a kick, push, and a mega phone voice from the spirit to tell me the answer. :) I've felt nothing but good about this school, but still in the back of my mind I have that feeling of "Maybe you should second guess your confidence."
I think I need your opnions to really help me. Greg and I are two different people, I'm the type of person that's like "Common lets do it now!!!!! Stop thinking and just do it" and Greg is like "Okay well lets sit down and think about this before we jump into it." Man why does he have to be such and analytical thinker?  O well I guess it's for the best, I know one thing's for sure, because of his thinking we've been able to not get ourselves into big trouble with money.
Please help me with your opinions whether they agree with me or disagree let me know what you think. Thank you.

Havin' Fun in the Sun!!!!

Today was such a beautiful day out. So the girls and I headed outside to soak up the rays!!!! It was so nice to get out and not be couped up in the house! Both girls had a blast. This is Kenzie's first time playing out side and she loved to explore. Mostly she loved having me chase her to the snow cause she thought it was quiet tasty! Aliesha loves riding her bike blowing bubbles and running. Needless to say nap time was around the corner so when we headed inside they weren't too haply about that. Here's some pic's of our fun day, enjoy..

Both of them love riding their bikes! Of course Kenz needs a little push, but she loves to go fast

playing in the snow and running around. Liesha's workin' it!!!

Kenzie and her snow! She had it in her mouth but when she saw I was looking she hurried and handed it to me. Aliesha throwing the ball up, unfortunately it landed in our flower bed on a cactus and popped.

BUBBLES, BUBBLES and more BUBBLES








Kenzie thought the bubbles were as tasty as the snow


So there ya go our fun spring day!!! Hope there are more of these days to come cause it was way nice to get out of the house. Too bad the weather man says Friday and Saturday will have snow, boo!