Goal #1

Goal #1: Get married in the temple...

                                                          .... that is the plan!

Who?

My best friend

What?

Marriage!

When?

Where?

Timpanogos Temple 

Why?

How do you say no to this? :D

Goal #36

Goal #36 Invest in Real Estate

Not quite there BUT I'm starting to figure it out. Love this book! Recommend it to all beginners out there like me!

Robert Allen, a family friend, took on a daring challenge. He said he could take 3 people out of an unemployment line, teach the basic principles of Real Estate and in 90 days they would have $5,000 in the bank. So he does it! (Shameless plug for my dad who helped in the project.) The reason I'm loving this book is because it follows real people (beginners), teaches basic Real Estate principles, and motivates me to accomplish my goal.

Highly recommended.

More to come... hopefully!

Goal #23

Goal #23: Work with troubled youth

The dreaded job hunt. It's the course of life right? Graduate, find a job. 

Well I finally bucked up and started applying for EVERYTHING I could. I got a couple of awesome offers but they weren't quite right. And then I got a call from...

 It's a resiential treatment center that uses experiential learning/therapy along with traditional therapy. And its obviously the best job EVER! I love the fact that I come home from an 8 hour shift and still love it. These kids are inspiring! I'm so glad I held out for the right job. 

STRENGTH IS IN THE STRUGGLE.

discovery ranch motto

Sibling Sleepover

Haven't done this in a long time. ha ha.

Sure love 'em....most of the time.

Just because its been on my mind...

Let us earnestly seek the light of personal inspiration. Let us plead with the Lord to endow our mind and soul with the spark of faith that will enable us to receive and recognize the divine ministering of the Holy Spirit for our specific life situations and for our challenges.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Elephants

Goal #22: Ride an elephant

This really has nothing to do with me riding an elephant since I still haven't. But look how incredible this is!

I know some animal activisit disagree with me but no one (including the elephants) were hurt. The people in torn Joplin could use as much help as they could get. I think it would have put a smile on my face if I was there cleaning up the wreckage of my house and saw an elephant helping out.

I was creative!

Ok. So not at all BUT I used this fabulous idea from pinterest (love!)...

...to put all of my cards together so they are organized and not shoved into some corner of my desk.

This is what I got. The covers are a little cheesy. Although, the Graduation one is not half bad for my poor scrapbooking skills. One day I'll try and make a decent cover for the other two.

It's a start!

Why are we so hard on ourselves?

I had a nice long chat with a dear friend of mine today. I told her she is to hard on herself. She told me the same thing.

Why do we compare ourselves to the ads we see of size -2 women?

Why do we criticize everything we do? We don't do that to anyone else.

Why do we assume the best in others and the worst in ourselves?

Why do we choose not to see our own talents?

Why do we only recognize our failures and never see our successes?

It's time for a change.

I am and you are too. Admit it.

Don't believe me...

The Best Birthday EVER!

I'll admit... I was NOT (and still am kind of not)

excited about turning 25.

25 is when you are supposed to know what you are doing with your life and you are already well on your way there. Well... supposedly. I have yet to experience that. That may be why I was dreading 25. Plus, a little fact about my family: we love celebrating birthdays. So you can image my dread even more when I didn't want to turn 25.

But since I have the best family ever they knew how to make it special... and less dreadful. :)

This is what contributed to the BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!

Goal #30: Swim with dolphins-CHECK

I have ALWAYS wanted to do this! So when we happened to be in Florida for a family vacation over my birthday we finally took advantage of the opportunity.

What did I learn? That I love these animals just as much as I did when I was 6 and told myself I was going to grow up to be a dolphin trainer. I think I'm addicted. I'm not sure once was enough.

Goal #7: Go skydiving or hangliding-half CHECK

Ok... so this sort of counts as skydiving because... well... it was... just inside a big tube. ha ha. This is definitely going to be a new family favorite activity.

What did I learn? That it is harder than it looks. ha ha. I also decided that I would really like to jump from a plane... I think. If someone pushes me out the door I think I'd be okay after that. :)

I also have to add to my new experiences one really cheesy one: I got to wear a Disney "Happy Birthday" button. First one in my 25 years of Disney experience.

I'm not sure why I was so excited about this... but I do know that being wished Happy Birthday all day by complete strangers was great. See it's not so dreadful afterall.

Happy Birthday to me.

Here is to 25 years of life!

Can I?

2011 Reads

“The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”

-Dr. Seuss 2011 Reads

• A Disciples Life by Bruce C. Hafen=A+
• I very much enjoyed this book about Neal A Maxwell. I would recommend it to anyone. I would also highly recommend studying it closely with Elder Maxwell's talks and BYU/CES devotionals.
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• Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson=A
• One of my mission companions recommended this when I came home from my mission. Its an easy read all about how Neverland and Peter Pan came to be. I'm probably partial because I love the story of Peter Pan.
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Touch the Top of the World by Erik Weihenmayer=A

Simply inspiring. A man who has hiked all of the major mountain ranges blind. It inspired me to look past my excuses. Great read aloud book.

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom=A+

Wow. If you haven't read it go to the library today and get it. She taught me so much about WWII, life as a prisoner, loving others and forgiveness.

October Sky by Homer Hickam=A

This is also a favorite story. The book is (of course) WAY better than the movie... which is saying something because the movie is pretty darn good.

1776 by David McCullough (audio)=A

I listened to 1776 during my long car rides. It was a great learning experience. Great writing.

Emma by Jane Austen=A

Its a classic. Enough said.

The Chronicles of Narnia (all of them) by C.S. Lewis=A+

This was my first time reading them. I literally couldn't put them down (even during my family vacation). They are also a MUST for every a. Christian and b. Child.

Beyond the Blackboard by Stacey Bess=A

Also an inspirational story about a teacher who taught in the homeless school in SLC. Quick read. Excellent voice.

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery (audio)=A+

Anne kept me company for a few weeks while I exercised. She was the perfect companion. Lots of laughs. Again, excellent writing.

The Help by Kathleen Stockett=A-

This might be the first time in my life that I have said that the movie is better than the book. A little slow. Easy read. Good story.

Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw (audio)=A

Eliza also kept me company while I exercised. George Bernard Shaw is a fascinating read.

3 Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson=B-

I have to admit it was an excellent story although I often got distracted by a. the poor writing and b. always pondering about why he would lie about his "experiences."

The Marvelous Adventures of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo=A+

I received this as a Christmas present and read it all the next day. It is an easy independent read, however, it is a sweet story and quite thought provoking. I will reread it often I'm sure.

Goal #102 Lazyman Triathlon

#102: Complete a triathlon

Well... we sort of... kind of... completed this.

In other words... we actually DID complete 26 miles running, 115 miles biking, and 97 laps swimming (approx 2 miles)...

Our team: Kelsey, me, and Afton

... all in one month!

Thus, the "Lazyman Ironman."

But I still think it counts.

I think we all learned how nice it is to exercise regularly. I developed a new love for cycling. We had some good roommate time. It was great.

One day I'll do this whole thing in one day.