Miss me yesterday?

I'm thinking you probably didn't, and that is OK :)  Still...I missed one of my Valentines notes...so here it is now.

Presenting: 
My sister Logann

 (Aka Logy, sis, bubba, beautiful, silly-pants) 

This beauty is my youngest sister Logann (I have one other beautiful sister...will talk about her soon :).  Here she is at work, teaching her kids how to count, spell, and measure.  I was able to go out and visit her classroom over a year ago and see her in action.  I'm not sure if she was super happy with me taking pictures...maybe a little embarrassing...but that is me.  We get to hear about these most precious of souls every once in a while, so I wanted to have pictures for my memory.  

My little Logy is my idol.  She is such a hard worker.  She knows how to give tough love and is so patient and kind.  More patient and kind then me for sure!  She has been "blessed" with one of the hardest years in her life this past year, and amazes me with the increased strength she shows each and every day.  The beginning was rough, incredibly rough, but she just keeps growing under the intense and painful pressure.

 

Through her trial, she has had a relationship with my parents that I will forever envy (always have to begin with), and be so very grateful for.  Because of the distance between us, we weren't able to help much.  That part was super hard, but I will be forever grateful for the understanding that my parents were able to show that have blessed our whole family through this time.  Life still isn't easy, and the healing will need more time, but this kid, this is one AMAZING kid.  She will bless many because of her life, her spirit, and her strength.

Amanda and the Essential 55

 

Yesterday we didn't get to do an Essential 55 rule for our activity.  I was feeling crummy, so we needed to make it quick.  We were able to go shopping for some Valentine treats with the idea in mind to give out a Valentine a day.  This was for both of us, which meant 14 Valentines each, and one to distribute each day until le jour de la Saint-Valentin.  She got some jelly bracelets and candy, and I did pencils and candy.  I'm excited to stretch my brain and think of others to share some goodies with...and hopefully she will too!

People I am grateful for--Day 2

Ok, so obviously this doesn't quality as a direct "person", but I LOVE history.  I am so grateful for the people that came first, that asked questions, and that searched for the best answers they could find to said questions.  Some of them were seeking for shelter, some for  art and/or entertainment, and others...well...I'm not quite sure ;D  In any case, here are some of the places and things we've found that we love.  Hopefully there will be many, many more finds like this in the future!

Not sure if these are real or made of wood...in any case, they had character, and that was what I loved!

Hopefully our friends in the neighborhood know where this one is! :)

Right next to the Church

This is for my grandma and her P.G. heritage

I would recommend driving by this place.  Not only will the beauty of the building stop you, but also the smell is SO nice (love fresh cut wood smell!)

This came up out of no where...

Love texture...nothing better then age can bring this on

Anyone seen the show "American Pickers?"  We thought they might want to bargain for this piece

So much history in our little valley!

If you are ever in Springville, would recommend stopping here. These people are good at lighting the Family History fire!

The things my poor husband has to put up with.  I'm so glad he likes adventures (and has taught me to be careful  and aware when he's not there)

The other part of the bus was located somewhere else on the farm

Oh how times have changed

So sad respect is gone for buildings like this

AF Main street...still a place I want to go inside and visit!

I am grateful for old buildings and for the stories that come with them.  There is still much to discover...I can't wait!

People I am grateful for--Day 1

In honor of the month of love, I thought I would a few weeks honoring some of the people who mean the most in my life.  I should make a schedule (so that I get through all those that I want)...but we're just going to wing it for now :)

 

This wonderful person is my friend Misty.  She's been on my mind much as of late, just with the different things going on in her family (i.e. Sister having back surgery, her parents are leaving for a mission in like 10ish days, the fact that she lives 5 min away from my grandpa...).  Anyway, Misty and I first met here:

For those who don't know, this is a map of Brussels, Belgium.  On my first official day in the mission (the day after we arrived), we were taken to the Grand Place and went on splits with the Louise (or Strombeck?) missionaries.  Needless to say, I was a bit nervous.  After all, here we were...no more MTC...surrounded by people who spoke French and Dutch, and to top it off, it was C-O-L-D.  I was the only Soeur in the group, so Misty (at that time Soeur Halley) and her companion Soeur Loo came and got me and we started walking the streets and trying to talk to those around us.  Her companion noticed my shivering, and pulled out her extra scarf.  She showed me how the Europeans tied it, and can I tell you...that made all the difference!  We didn't make any "golden contacts" that day...but I got a small view of a town I would later serve in and love.  When we went back to meet up with the other missionaries and head to our next activity, I noticed a couple I had met on the plane from England and said hi.  I think most of the missionaries were rendered speechless at that...until I explained I'd just met them the day before.  Such a funny coincidence.  

Anyway--Misty and I didn't see much of each other until we were both transferred to the best ville on earth--St. Quentin.

 I may be a little prejudice...but this is a city I grew to love.  And I couldn't have asked for a better companions to make the start of that journey even more memorable.  Misty and I would serve with Soeur LeFevre for 6 weeks, and then she would move on to Lille, France.  However, we would be friends and sisters from that moment on.  We became roommates for over a year, and were active participants in each others weddings.  

  

I love Misty because of her attitude.  She is one of the select few who really know and apply the phrase "work your tail off."  When we were on the mission, she had a harder time them most learning the French language.  However, she didn't let that stop her; rather, she would get up early and study before Soeur LeFevre and I were out of our beds.  There have been times when she has struggled with feelings of  self worth, but she never lets anyone around her feel that way.  Rather, she makes you feel like the best, most important being on the earth.  She has a way of loving others that are "different" that I will always envy. She has the best and brightest smile...one that cannot be duplicated by many.  I am so blessed to have her in my life!

Lesson number 1 (on the blog)

My life has been full of lessons, and especially good ones when I've been willing to listen. I know I just need to accept them and say "thanks!" but sometimes it's hard, you know? 

So, this past weekend, I had some lessons to learn.  One major one was: Even if I am "right" about something, I make it all wrong by acting out.  There was an incident...and I won't go into the details, because they don't need to be re-lived, but needless to say at the end of it all...I acted out.  Yes, me, the 30-year old you see above, reacted to the situation.  And you know, I ALWAYS get myself in trouble by reacting.  It doesn't solve anything, doesn't make me (or anyone else feel better), doesn't change the outcome...rather, it just makes me feel guilty.  You would think I'd learn a little faster...but no...I still need a few more "go's" at it before I will get it most of the way down.  I am so very grateful for my sweet husband though...he always knows just the right things to say and how to bring comfort and resolution to my heart.  I can't remember exactly who said it (or how it was said), but I think Elder Packer said something at one time about how our husbands are able to bring peace and comfort (besides the Spirit of course :) that no one else can.  I totally second that!  So until then, please forgive me if I forget to think and speak instead, or say things and need to come back later to apologize.  I am grateful for forgiving people who help me learn and move on.

Now...I'm off to the doctor.  Blah.  I have been sick (on and off) for a few weeks now and I'm done with it!  Hopefully he'll find something that can be fixed ;0)

Randomness and other goodies :)

So, I didn't post yesterday...mostly because I didn't have anything good to talk about ;0)  However, just to keep up with the journaling part of my blogging goal, I will continue on my quest to write down our events.  Really boring honestly...but important for us.

This week has been good for the goal sheet.  Why you might wonder? Well...

1. I only burned one meal (Teriyaki crock pot chicken), but still managed to have home-cooked meals for us every day of the week (Which was essential to my plan of not eating cheese or bread)
2. I've exercised 3 times this week!  Feat for me...I'm just trying to find some kind of  schedule to get it done since I stink at getting up early to exercise (too tired).
3. Schedules are hard to keep...but so worth it!  We've been working earlier this week and Trent has been studying lots...but it is helping to get things done and helps us both feel good about what we see finished at the end of the day. 
4. The Nursery Rooms are clean again!  (At least for a week) Liza and I and her girls went and cleaned and de-junked, straightened and organized.  I didn't get everything done I wanted to (still need to add some Valentines decor) but it felt most wonderful.  There is just something about an organized room/closet/area that brightens my spirit :) 
5. I love having a great Visiting Teaching Companion.  Paula and I keep each other "on task" and have been to visit our girls twice now.  Another January down...many (MANY) more months (days and years) to go.

Only problem now is that I am SO tired.  I hope I'm not getting sick...just working enough throughout each day, but still...need to watch it!    We don't have any super exciting plans this weekend, except for:

1. A visit to this handsome guy 

2. Finishing a project for our nursery "graduates", and

  3. Finishing our planning for quality learning activities with these sweet little ones.  

There you have it!  We hope that you have a most excellent weekend! 

Amanda and the Essential 55

 

So, after some input from the woman that is over the mentor program, we changed our focus this year with Amanda.  After all, the poor girl has been taken all around Utah County and has been subjected to many things:

 Hugging the fake Santa at the Jamestown assisted living center (a place that she LOVES by the way...especially because Leah lives there...our little friend Leah has a way of helping her to feel loved and accepted (and me too!)...love that woman :)

 

Walking down the railroad tracks for a good picture...this, a feat in and of itself because for the first year we spent together, she wouldn't hardly let me take her picture :)

Looking for cool buildings...some that are nearly dilapidated, but that peak our interest (Culture tour of Utah County) 

And finally...more pictures (can't forget the "sassy pose")

Anyway, as I was saying, we changed our focus to working on learning the rules listed in the Essential 55.  This is a book written by Ron Clark, a teacher that had difficult children.  Let me qualify that though...Amanda is not necessarily a difficult child, especially for us.  However, she was raised in circumstances that were much different then we were, and as such, has ideas, thoughts, values and attitudes that are different then mine.  Let me also say, however (this part seems like one big run on sentence...blah), that my ideas, thoughts, values and attitudes are not always as refined as they should be...so we both had something to learn on this journey.  Long story short...we were both in for the adventure!  So far, we've done Rules 1, 5 and last night was Rule 11.  Rule 11 basically states that you should perform a random act of kindness for someone that is totally random once a month.  This act of kindness cannot be something that is expected or asked for (i.e. birthday or anniversary present); rather, it has to be something that is thought out beyond just buying someone a gift.  The reading that went with the rule was quite lengthy (after stating the rules, he'll give an example of how he taught his class this rule), and very enjoyable.  After we finished, though, I asked if she had thought of someone we could do something nice for.  She didn't have any ideas, but I did.  She has an older sister that lives in Payson that we've never been able to do anything for.  I suggested going and getting her some flowers.  She was all for it.  We went to a new flower shop in Spanish Fork that we'd just noticed that day, and I let her pick out 3 flowers (2 roses and a daisy).  After the girl wrapped them up, we jumped in the car and off we went.  She was so excited to do something for Jill...we hadn't before, just because of the drive to get to her house...but now with Amanda living in Spanish, that made the distance much shorter.  She directed me around the roads and right up into the driveway.  Then she ran into the house while I waited in the car.  

We'll have to work on the random act of kindness once a month.  I think it will be good for us both to think of others and what we can do for them.  This might involve visits, gifts, notes...who knows, but we will come up with something good sure!

Stay tuned for next weeks episode...