Tender Mercies of Time

Wow what a week. When I think that my life will slow down, it just kicks into 3rd gear… I guess I can never complain about being bored. Here’s the rundown of the past week I had (which excludes work time in which I am also CRAZY busy!)

Sunday - I spent a total of 3 hours at home, that was just enough time to eat and talk to my mom on the phone!

Monday – FHE with Elder Hammond…AMAZING!

Tuesday – Cleaned the Temple (and somehow finished my book)

Wednesday – RS Chocolate Appreciation Night, yeah, it was divine!

Thursday – Worked all day, and nannied all night, the best kind of birth control is taking care of a screaming baby ALL night and then getting up and going to work on only 3 hours of sleep .

Friday – Sleep (maybe?)

That’s been my week, in between I’ve read a book, and halfway through another. I also got my brakes on my car fixed, and completed some major tasks for my Relief Society. Seriously, I’ve been blessed with so much time it’s incredible. Someone upstairs LOVES me and understands that sometimes I just need time to stand still! I’m also positive that He makes it so I don’t feel overwhelmed, because looking back at this last week I don’t know how I did it all. Tender mercies indeed!

Joy

This is my sister Mariah, she is a Senior in high school, AND just went to prom this weekend. I know I’m a little bias but I think she’s just one of the most gorgeous girls I’ve ever seen:

I finished three books this last week (don’t ask me when or how but I did, a small goal that I achieved):

I’m also enthralled with this new History Channel special (Sundays, check your local listings, ha ha):

I know that I’m a history freak, but seriously, our founders were so inspired and more importantly they had integrity and determination to do something about what they believed in! Very inspiring indeed!

Wild Wild West

I was looking through some old photos and stumbled across this...

Oh good times! It was before Scott or Austin was married, and before Hyrum was home from his mission. That was a crazy trip, and I love this picture from Lagoon, a bank robber, saloon girl, a squaw, and a pirate? We had an amazing time this summer!

Florida I Miss You!

Today is a sad day… It’s been one year since our magical trip to Orlando, Florida. I can’t believe that it has already been a year. That’s nuts! It seriously was one of the FUNNEST trips I’ve ever been on. Exhausting, oh yes, but fun! Mostly I really just enjoyed being on vacation with my most favorite people in the world, Hyrum, Jenn, Mackenzie, and Austin. We had so much fun. Jenn got to experience EVERYTHING that Orlando has to offer (since it was her first time) in a whirlwind event. I just loved being able to spend time with these great people. I also started my blog a year ago so Happy Anniversary blog! I never did post any of my pictures from my Florida trip, so this is the perfect opportunity…

This is just a glimpse of what we did, if you want to read the entire run down of my trip you can read it here! I want to go back soon, and maybe next time we go we'll all have little families and can expeirence it a whole different way!

Summer Plans

What a GLORIOUS weekend I had. Mostly I enjoyed the beautiful sunshine that doesn’t show its face much in this place called Iceburg! I’m so excited for summer… reasons being that I love the summers in Rexburg more than anything. It’s not too hot, but hot enough to enjoy a good tan and swimming. My Relief Society is already changing for the summer and at times it can be frustrating. Just when I thought I had a handle on things, BAM, it changes. Such is life and the gospel right? Anyway, Friday we went and saw Rigby High School’s spring production of Beauty and the Beast. It was SO good and the costumes were a delight! I love plays/musicals, it was so worth the $6 admission fee! I also found out that the Playmill (a small music theater located in West Yellowstone) is doing Beauty and the Beast AND Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (my most FAVORITE musical of them all)! I’m so excited, and this year I’m making it Yellowstone, considering it’s only an hour or so away… I have yet to make my summer list of things “to do”, but that will come shortly. Sarah and I are also currently planning a week trip to the east coast over Labor Day weekend, so we currently have planned to stop in Philadelphia, Hershey, Gettysburg, D.C. (I’m so excited), and travel through Virginia and see all the historical sites. Our trip will conclude in North Carolina. It should be a GREAT trip! Here’s to a great summer (even if it is only April) :)!

Jennifer Nicole Hansen

I’ve been meaning to post this earlier, but didn’t really have the chance! This post is dedicated to the one and only Jennifer Nicole Hansen. She’s just graduated from BYU-I and made her way into the “real world”. My brother Hyrum and her have been friends for almost 10 years give or take a few, but I really didn’t know Jenn until she was my roommate my last semester of college. I had always known she was funny girl with a huge heart, but there’s so many little things that I love about her, that many others do not know.

1. She’s possessed by music. It’s a good obsession though, and she’s open minded about ALL of it!
2. Organized. Not a little, but a LOT, and it’s a little quirky, but nonetheless I love it. Good thing she wants to make that part of her career!
3. Sensitive, and in a good way. I like to think I’m this girl who’s so rough on the edges but is a softy inside. Jenn is a softy through and through.
4. Everything ALWAYS, and I mean always, works out for her. Whether it’s sleeping in for a midterm, or really wanting to get in a class. It just always works.
5. She got out of college debt free… RUDE, but amazing!
6. I hear from her almost EVERYDAY and seriously if I didn’t, I might go crazy. To know that someone is thinking about you, is pretty cool!
7. Fiercely loyal – don’t mess with her friends or family!
8. Funny (especially when her and Hyrum are together, good times)
9. Creative.

10. Lives in the present. I know it might sound funny but so many people live for the future or get stuck in the past. Jenn doesn’t, she lives in every moment.

11. She knows more about fireworks than ANYONE you will ever meet!
12. Her name is not Jenny it's Jenn with 2 n's ... and I really don't know anyone who calls her Jennifer.
So Jenn congrats on achieving this GREAT milestone in your young adult life. Thanks for the great times we had this year, and can’t wait to make a million more! I love you!

Crafty

So I've been wanting to do a craft project for awhile now, and one weekend Jenn and I went to Porters and I got a great idea for some wall hangings. It took be awhile, but I finally managed to put it together (the craft is super easy just a blank canvas, paper, ribbons, flower, and glue) but it takes time! They are hanging over my bed. So cute. I think the final one I'm going to put a quote in it or something!

Summer Hair

This is my new hair color and new drastic bang (I've had all types of bangs, but this is a first even for me):

I really wanted to go super lighter for summer, but my wise hair dresser Nellie advised otherwise. She simply stated that I can’t go from super dark brown to a really light brown in one step. Good thing she knows that she’s doing! I’m also grateful she’s staying around here, because like my mom says finding a new hairdresser is like finding a good gynecologist!!

Easter Weekend

Ok so I had a pretty chill weekend. Friday night Jenn, Hyrum, and I went to see Clash of the Titans in 3D (not worth it) it was good though. I also got to venture to the used book store I’ve been dying to check out. It was good, but you’ve definitely got to know what you’re looking for before you decide to venture in. We ended up going back to Jenn's apartment afterwards and somehow Hyrum and Jenn ended up making homemade pancakes.

I not only LOVE Easter, but I also LOVE General Conference. What a delightful combination. I haven’t stayed home and just sat and listened to Conference in awhile so even though Sarah invited me to join her to watch it live, I decided I needed to stay home. I woke up Saturday morning to a BLIZZARD! Nice Easter weekend that’s for sure:

Since I was snowed in, I finished this book:

It was a good read, a CRAZY twist at the end, but I have decided I will read on to finish the series.

I made Easter Dinner (I cannot believe we didn’t take any pictures), but I made ham, funeral potatoes, and fresh rolls. Jenn, Hyrum, Julene, and some of Hyrum’s friends – Nathan & Jared also tagged along. It was great fun, and I laughed a lot which I totally appreciate! This is Jenn’s last week at BYU-I and I am totally reminded of my last days as a college kid. It’s so bittersweet, you finally achieve a goal you’ve waited your whole life to fulfill, but you also leave behind a place that you’ll remember ALWAYS!! But as much as I LOVED college, I love life now, things are simpler and I make more money. HA HA!