Bad day...

I am having a really bad day today. I think it's becasue I don't have much to do and everything is catching up with me. By everything I mean my emotions. I haven't really delt with the events that have taken place in the last couple of months. I have just kept busy with projects, work and staying around people. It's the first day that I have really spent alone. I have gotten down on my knees to ask the Lord for the strength to go about my day and put the past behind me. I think at this point I just need to relax and let what I need to express come out nautrally. I guess it's not bad to spend a day crying. It's just hard for me not to be able to pin point what the problem is. I have a need to label everything that pertains to me. I guess I just have to suck it up on this one. I know that I am loved and very blessed, so I will just let go.

My love for the Lord is growing...

Deuteronomy 6:5
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

I am finally reaching a point in my life where I fully understand what loving the Lord with all that is in me really means. My life has become much more beautiful in the last week. I have realized that I am very confident in the world, but not in the things of the Lord. I have never truely put God first in all things. Instead I have been very selfish and put my thoughts and motivations towards money, and success. I now understand that true peace and happiness comes when you put your whole heart, mind and soul to work praising and giving gratitude to the Lord. This is not to say that I have been void of him. I have just reserved him for morning and evening prayers, church, and whenever I have needed something. I will strive to praise him with every breath that I take. I cannot deny his presence in my life and I know that I have so much to be grateful for. I have such a strong burning in my heart that is somewhat overwhelming. It is because I am full of love for my Lord who is my God. I owe this change to someone very special who has come into my life... I am striving to put the things of the world aside and be on the Lords Side of the Line. He deserves my praise and obedience, and he wants me to be happy.

Work in Progress...

I have drastically changed my lifestyle in the past year and a half. I can't even remember the girl I once was. In the past 8 months I have worked very hard to become a good member of the Mormon church. There have been some trials, but I have been strong through the power of prayer and the help of my new friends in my ward. I have since realized that I still have a long way to go. I still do not understand most of what the Lord has in store for me. I don't even know some of the basic fundamentals of being a worthy daughter of God. I pray morning and night and have been reading my scriptures, which are a great start. What I am working on is expressing constant gratitude to my Father in Heaven for my many blessings. I want my love for the Lord to be obvious to all who come in contact with me. Not in an obnoxious way, but a calming approachable way. My heart is so full today. It could easily bring me to tears... I know that if I keep God's commandments and show him constant gratitude that I will be happy. Not without trials and hardships, but happy none-the-less. I never want to stop growing in the gospel. I am a constant work in progress, and I'm glad. Otherwise I would return to being complacent. I have so many great examples around me. It's becoming easier and easier to learn and grow.

You mean I'm not 18???

Ok, so I'm super competitive and hate losing at anything! Well not hate, but I love competition. I have been motivated to begin running again so I can keep up with a new friend to run long distance. I thought that I could just pick up where I left off without much training. Holy cow!!! I just ran, walked, hiked a couple of miles from my house up by the Phoenix Zoo & up the Papagos, and it wasn't without heavy breathing and spontaneous side craps. I think I am a little sunburned now too! How funny... when I first started my run I thought it was going to be a piece of cake, then I started to feel my age. It's amazing that I still mentally think that I am that track star! Now that my run is over I am back to thinking I can't be 28... where does the time go??? I was just 18!!!
This is a picture of me my senior year... I have a box of metals somewhere. I am such a bragger about these things! I am like Al Bundy sans the hygiene issues...

How I feel about mean people!

Seriously!!! Just be kind to one another... it's the way to be man!!!

Book of Jacob & Carlsbad Tavern

Last night I was scheduled to close the restaurant. Usually Sunday nights are pretty quiet, sometimes it's crazy... very hit or miss. I brought my Book of Mormon to read during my down time. Last night was a "dead" night. I didn't have any tables for the last couple of hours, so I sat in the dining room alone and read the Book of Jacob (it was the first time that i fully understood the parable of the Olive Trees, the Master & the Servent). The bar was full and the boys were getting pretty rowdy, so it was kind of funny to be reading that book in particular. As I was deep into my studying I looked up to see a regular of Carlsbad's standing right by my side quietly watching me. He always harasses me about my body and obnoxiously flirts with me. I thought I was for sure going to get some rude comments about Mormonism from him.
Instead he said "I'm so embarrassed that I am drunk right now."
Confused I asked why. He went on to tell me that his brother just married an LDS girl and that his brother is getting baptized. He said that he has read the Book of Mormon and that his brother is always calling him to tell him new scriptures to read.
Shocked, I let him know that I do not judge anyone, and that I am impressed that he shared some of his experiences with me. We had a few more words and at the end of it all he SHOOK MY HAND!!! This is a guy my age who has always been inapropriate towards me! What a difference it makes when you let people know that you are LDS. You never know if you can re-educate people about the gospel, or if they are already knowledgeable. Either way, I'm glad that I am finally going to get some respect from him. Now on to the rest of them!!!

New flowers!

Today was so beautiful. I went to Lowes and checked out the flower selection. I couldn't say no to these amzing flowers. It really allows me to enjoy our home so much more when I can personalize it like this. I hung out in the grass with Sophia for awhile and just enjoyed this beautiful day our new colorful additions to the yard.

Today is a blessing.

Today I woke up with a fresh outlook on life... again. I've done this before, but then I get caught up in the world and let myself get stressed out. Maybe it's the perfect weather, or the long prayer I said last night. The last 2 weeks have been insane. I have been picking up extra shifts at Carlsbad Tavern and working hard on real estate so I could have some time off this week. Derek just had elbow surgery on Thursday, and I wanted to be able to take care of him. Amongst all of the working, cleaning, grocery shopping, and errands, I let myself get into a funk. I have been so short-sighted and forgot how amazing it is to have the Holy Spirit in my life. By forgetting my prayers, scripture study and to slow down and enjoy life, I found myself feeling alone. At first I just thought it was because I have been so busy that I was tired. Last night I realized what it was and prayed for the Spirit of God to be with me again. So here I sit today looking out my open office window listening to birds chirping, planes far off in the distance, and music from the Parada del sol parade. I realize that I am very blessed. I am surrounded by so much beauty everyday. I need to rise above the worldly things and not let them get me down. The scriptures say "Men are that they may have joy." Today I am recharging my JOY button by letting go of worry and putting my trust in the Lord. I am so grateful today for my life, and want to let everyone know that life is what you make it. Mine is a real work in progress, but I am progressing forward with the help of my Heavenly Father.

Corona Cantina

The restaurant is almost done! The booths were installed yesterday, and the tables and chairs have been delivered. There is still a lo to be done, but it's moving so rapidly now! I'm so excited!!!

New office setup

I have hated the layout of my office since I first set it up 3 years ago. The shelves used to be where the desk is now, and the desk was infront of the window. It was really boxy and I hated working in there. Now I can view the entrance and outside the window. I love it! I still have some decorations to add, and a new chair or bench for reading and a real desk. I love that there are 3 seperate areas to the room; piano, desk & reading!

Funny Cruise Picture

I just got this hilarious picture from the cruise I went on this summer. I went with my mother-in-law and all or her fabulous friends. They are all school teachers, and we had a blast. This was formal night. (My mother-in-law Beverly is on the far left with the blondest hair.)

My new hobbie.

I used to be really good at playing the piano, but I haven't played for about 16 years! Derek bought me this great keyboard that feels and sounds like a real piano so I can learn how to play again. I am not picking it right back up. Its going to take some hard practice that's for sure. I want to be able to play music for my family on holidays. That will help make our house a home.

New back yard additions.

We had this really commercial red bird feeder in our back yard, and it was an eye sore. I bought this cute bird feeder and put in the tree right outside my office window. The bird traffic is crazy now. It's fun to watch. I loved this lantern too. It's so cute when it's lit at night.

Family Room

I really can't stand the huge block of a tv we have in our family room. It's just been sitting there like an elephant in the room for a year now. I know you are supposed to decorate in 3's or 5's, so I went with 5. I will change it up when I have more options, but here was my quick fix.

Dollar store find...

I love going to the dollar stores and finding fun stuff to use for crafts. Here is an ugly garland wreath that I found for Valentines Day. I went to JoAnn's and bought some scrap material. I made 3 of these. The blue and green one is for my good friend Hattie, and there are 2 in pink tones. They are cute for all year or just for Valentine's Day.

Snow in Arizona!!!

It's so beautiful outside today! It looks like a perfect spring day, but it's in the low 50's. Here is the source of the crisp weather. (These pictures are taken right up the road from my house at the Papago Mountians.) Sophia ran up those stairs like a champion!

My new blog

I finally did it. A new blog for the new me! I am constantly doing crafts or other projects and downloading pictures for my mother to critique me on. Now I can just post them on my blog, so they are easier to understand. I have also recently changed my life dramatically by becoming a practicing member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Ladder Day Saints (otherwise known as The Mormon Church). I have never been happier, and I want to be able to share some of my experiences as I grow. I'd better charge my camera... I have a lot of catching up to do! XO