Many Roles of Life

During the holidays, I was talking to my aunt and somehow we got talking about all the roles I've had in my life and she suggested I list them all. I thought that would be fun so here you go. List yours on your blog and let me know so I can see if we have matching ones!

Age 0: Daughter, Granddaughter, Niece, Cousin
Age 2: Sister
Age 4: Student
Age 8: Member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Age 9: Best Friend
Age 10: Babysitter
Age 12: Beehive President
Age 14: ASB, Math Club, and Mind Olympics Participant
Age 15: Basketball Player, Pole Vaulter, Choir member
Age 16: Girlfriend, Legal Driver, Laurel President, Receptionist
Age 17: Actress, Jazz Singer, Gym member
Age 18: Roommate, Freshman at BYU, Traffic Dispatcher
Age 19: Bank Teller, Study Abroad Student, World Traveler
Age 20: Librarian, Interior Decorator
Age 21: Missionary
Age 23: Landscape Management Student, Greenhouse Specialist, Relief Society President
Age 24: College Graduate, Plant Science Intern at Walt Disney World, Mary Kay Beauty Consultant
Age 25: Plant Research Assistant at Walt Disney World, Sister-in-Law
Age 26: Adventure Guide, Resort Concierge, Fiance
Age 27: Wife, Daughter-in-law, Landscape Designer, Horticulture Teacher, Health Coach

And I can't wait to add Mother to the list someday :)

Fall Plantings

Just a short little post showing my happy little flower bed. It's got kale and cabbage, violas and mums. Can't go wrong with combinations of bright yellow, deep purple, and calming green. The pumpkins and gourds were given to us by a friend who grew them in her garden! I love fall time :)

New Horizons

While Shanam goes to work every morning, I get to do something a little different...I play :) To some it may be work, but to me, it's what brings me happiness! For the past four months I've been a gardener/landscape designer for a woman in our town. She owns 20 acres and is building a new house and I got to design the new landscape while freshening up her old one. So much fun! However, something new is on the horizon! Together with the county extension agent, I'm putting together a HORTICULTURE PROGRAM for the community! We had our first meeting on Tuesday this week and had a pretty good turnout of about 20 people. I was interviewed on the local radio station to advertise the program and the word is getting out!! I'm so excited and can't wait to do a little movin' and a shakin'!

Raindrops for the Soul

I love the rain...and more specifically, I love rain in West Texas! Do you know why? CUZ IT NEVER DOES!!! But, right now, it's raining and I feel like my life is complete :) Inside my heart, I can feel every green living thing singing! I look out my window and watch the grass, imagining the joy it feels to finally recieve pure, natural water. I watch as the dry, red dirt becomes darker and the green grass gets greener. Rain always brings a sense of peace with it and always leaves behind a sense of new beginning. After a good rain, I love going outside to take in a deep, long breath, filling my soul with new beginnings, then exhaling with a peaceful knowledge that I can keep moving forward.

Why do we over eat?

I wasn't able to embed the clip, but on Democracynow.org there is an excellent 45 min segment on overeating in America. It's very fascinating and I encourage you to take a look!! Dr. David Kessler is the guest speaker.

Veggie Tales

I love a fridge PACKED with fruits and veggies!!

Back in September of '08, after months of research, I decided to cut out meat and dairy from my diet and focus on whole grains, organic fruits and vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds. My diet has adapted a little since then, but that is still the foundation. I have not had fast food since that day and I have not purchased chicken or beef at the grocery store since that day. Also, since that day, I have not had any sicknesses, no colds, no flu, I have not had heart burn or indigestion, I have not felt so full I could burst, my blood pressure and cholesterol levels are excellent, and my body feels great ALL THE TIME! My skin has cleared up, my pant size has decreased, and menstrual cramps have almost disappeared completely. I don't have cravings for greasy, salty food anymore and my body thanks me everyday for what I feed it. That was the best decision I could have made! Despite the weird looks people gave me, despite the negative comments I received from my friends, despite what our society perceives as normal, I knew what I was doing was best for me and my health and I've never felt better. The greatest thing is, life only gets better from here :) I want to live a long life, I want to provide all the healthy nutrients to my baby when I'm pregnant, I want to raise a family that understands the importance of being good stewards over their bodies. Live beautifully and life will be beautiful.

More presents!

Today, a huge box from home arrived with tons more wedding presents and gift cards and sweet notes and I sat on my couch opening and reading and crying. I was so touched that so many people would still make an effort to send something or write something. I'm still crying as I think about how many special people have been a part of my life. It brought back so many great memories of great times I've shared with amazing people, and made me so grateful for all that I've been able to experience before getting married. I just feel so grateful to have lived the life I've lived!!! We got a card from an amazing French family that helped me tremendously on my mission, a creative gift my favorite seminary teacher new I'd love, a funny card from an old Disney co-worker who never ceases to make me laugh, sweet notes full of love from distant family members I've only met once, a letter from an awesome college roommate who's serving as a missionary in Arizona. This is just to name a few. What wonderful people! We have received so much love and support all throughout our relationship, I don't think I could ever really say enough thank you's to cover it :)

As I go throughout my day, I have a lot of time to think and ponder, and my thoughts will often think about friends from the past. Wondering what they are up to, remembering good times we shared, and especially thinking about how they have influenced my life for the better.

You are not forgotton. Thank you for enhancing the beauty of my life. I feel truly blessed to know you!

My new calling!

Two Sundays ago, I was called in to meet with the branch president and I was asked to serve as the First Counselor in the Young Women's Presidency! Of course, I said yes! I had only met these girls once, the Sunday before, but already felt a great love and connection to them, so I was delighted with my calling. Then the branch president proceeded to tell me that girls camp was that week and that the girls would be leaving on Tuesday. Smiling, he asked if I would be able to go. I laughed and then realized he was serious. So I said, well of course! Although I did miss Shanam, the girls and I had such a great time and it was a great bonding experience. The beautiful desert sunset on the drive down to Big Bend National Park.

This is 4 wards combined! 18 awesome girls!

On the hike up to the waterfall taking a little breather.

Cattail Falls. The girls had fun splashing and diving in the freezing spring water.

Erin and I, queens of the mountain!

These are my 5 girls! Ready to canoe down the Rio Grande!

2 More Weeks!!

I've been counting down since day 178 so it's great to finally be at 14!!!! So exciting!! Everything is coming together nicely--family from out of town will be arriving shortly, bridesmaids skirts are almost done (the amazing Anndalyn is making them!), both my bridal showers were a blast and it has been so great to see so many old friends, I'm almost all packed and ready to move to Texas, and Shanam and I can't wait for the honeymoon!!! Mom loves watching the travel channel and just watched a show about the top 20 hottest Carribean islands to visit and St. Lucia was Number 1! We just can't wait!!

Camarillo Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!!

The invites have gone out!! This reunion/bridal shower is going to be amazing! I can't wait to see everyone!! Check out this guest list! Did you know so many of us California girls live in Utah now?

Aiden Malcolm (Johnson)
Amanda Carter (Bunker)
Amber Marsing (Plymale)
Amber Phillips (Speakman)
Amy Cobia (Miller)
Amy Orton (Bergeson)
Andrea Tao (Olson)
Angie Taylor (Kent)
Atalie Afu (Johnson)
Bethany Campbell (soon to be McGaughy!)
Bre Ahrens (Bell)
Brittanie Stott (Morris)
Channing Hoybjerg
Char Parker
Cherilyn Miller
Cindy Ludlow
Cindy Plymale
Corinne Beede (Jenkins)
Diane Wunderli
Dorothy Christiansen
Elaine Marz
Heather Melo (Florence)
Jamie Styre (Goodrich)
Jamie Towse
Janine Anderson
Jann Downs
Joy Hopkins
Julie Bell
Kate Barlow
Kate Plewe (Maygren)
Kathy Speakman
Katy Broughton
Kelley Airapetov (Goodrich)
Kelly Taylor (Spangler)
Kitte Robbins
Krissy Blickenstaff
Kylie Woodley (Wunderli)
Leanne Barlow (Hafen)
Lygia & Mileah Johnson
Mandy Florence
Marjean Lewis
Mary Ellen Southwick
Melinda Barlow
Pat & Sarah Bluth
Peggy Snyder
Shannon Brown (Marz)
Sharlene Campbell
Shawn Perry
Summer Florence
Tammi Roberts (Miller)
Tena Maughn
Terri & Anine Hotvedt
Trine Krueger (Lassen)
Vicki & Valerie Reynolds
Wendy Heath (Parker)
Whitney Rose (Wunderli)

If you know of anyone else who lives here in Utah please invite them! We're going to have a blast and I wouldn't want anyone to miss out. Can't wait to see all of you and your cute kids :) And a special shout out to my best friend Bre for helping put this all together. I love you girl!

Gratitude

I just feel so overwhelmed with gratitude tonight! I could go on and on with a list of how the Lord has blessed me just in the past few months. It seems like everything is just falling into place and I really couldn't ask for anything more. I love life and all the dear friends and family I share it with. I love the amazing man I will be marrying in two months and for the life that lies ahead of us. And I love my Heavenly Father. He continues to work miracles in my life and I will continue to serve Him in all that I do! Life is beautiful!

Leaving on a Jet Plane

It's been exactly one week since Shanam was called out on an emergency business trip to Texas. He called me last Thursday while I was at work to tell me he was headed to the airport in an hour and that he might not be back for a COUPLE MONTHS! We were so distraught that we wouldn't get to see each other before he left, it was horrible! Don't worry, I pulled myself together :) But it really is strange to go from being with each other every single day to nothing at all! But to count my blessings...I've had so much time to prepare for the wedding! All the big things are ready to go, now I get to focus on all the fun details :) I hope ya'll are planning on coming because this is going to be one spectacular day!

Isn't it about...Time? NO!

Yesterday, as I was studying for my Sunday School lesson, the lesson mentioned how the Restoration was a combination of three things--the right time, the right place, and the right person. God had prepared every little event leading up to the Restoration in order for the Resoration to be perfect. I noticed, interestingly enough, the combination of those three things are what modern day prophets have said about marriage--the right time, the right place, the right person. This got me to thinking about relationships. Before I had met Shanam I remember thinking...WHEN is it going to be my turn...why can't I get find him right NOW...why do I have to WAIT so long? Here's my conclusion. Time is irrelevant to the Lord. Time is something that was created for us here on earth to measure the length of our probation, but the Lord doesn't run on time. The Lord runs on events. Just like the Restoration, everything has to be in order and prepared for the next step, no matter how long that takes. I realize now that certain things had to happen in my life, certain decisions had to be made, before I was ready to meet Shanam and before I was able to recognize the incredible blessings he brought into my life. This moment of meeting the right person happens at different times for everybody, but as long as we have faith that the events in our life are preparing us for that moment, it will happen. And when that moment "finally" happens, the rightness of it feels soooo good :)