Baptism Covenants

Last week my roommate gave a talk at Church about Baptism. She had an idea of what she wanted to say but was still looking for a little more to help share her thoughts. She explained to me what she wanted and I started Google searching. I found this sermon given by a man of another faith entitled Remembering Our Baptism. This part really stood out to me...

"Every baptism...ought to be an occasion to remember our own baptism...whether we have a memory of the actual event or not, the fact of our baptism ought to have continuing significance and impact upon our lives. It ought to be for us a source of continual strength and comfort. Baptism isn’t just a onetime past event but an ongoing reality. We have a new identity in Christ. Every day we are to live out the meaning of our baptism. When we are baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, God says to you and me: “You are mine. I have called you my name. You are my beloved child. Follow me."To remember our baptism is to realize afresh that we belong not to ourselves but to God; Knowing that makes all the difference in the way we live:

To remember our baptism is to find new courage in the scary situations of life. If we truly

belong to God, if we are God's own, we can be sure that no matter what frightening thing may

come our way, God will not allow us to perish."

Conference Kit

My Mom found these super cute ideas for General Conference to make for her visiting teachees. I was wanting to do something for mine as well and decided to copy her...they turned out pretty cute!

Looking inside...sorry you can't really see very well.

A list of the contents.

*Can I just say that Dollar Tree is one of my best friends? I was able to buy everything there for seven kits for less than $10! I don't mind spending the money but why spend more when I can spend less?

Got Sun?

Apparently there was sun out today...and as I'm discovering my body just loves to suck that sun in. Walking to and from work plus going to the park with the girls gave my body ample opportunity to suck it in. Guess it's time to dig out that sunscreen, I don't want this happening again!

Butcher It

Last night my roommate Candace and I went to Smith's do some grocery shopping. I needed some hamburger for the lasagna that I was making for the Stake Leaders. I was looking at the different prices, there was some that was really cheap but you had to buy 5-6 lbs, which I didn't need. I looked over at the butcher counter where they have the pretty meat on display and noticed that it only cost $.10 more per pound (as compared to the smaller packs which cost almost $1 more) and decided to order it from there. I rang the bell, waited until the guy came over, requested a 1 1/2, was handed a white lump and walked away. For some reason this experience left me feeling so grown-up :) I had never ordered meat before from the butcher and it has always seemed like it was something that grown-ups and rich people did...and here I was doing it! Candace told me afterwards that I sounded like I knew what I was doing-yeah for being a "grown-up!"

Double Duty

Sign that I'm getting older and lots of my friends are getting married...two bridal showers tomorrow with another one next weekend.

When the Lights Go Out

This afternoon about 1:30 Brea and I were sitting in her living room looking at the computer when we heard an explosion and then the lights started flickering. They continued flickering and many things were making noises so we started unplugging things so they would stop. Finally they stopped flickering and were out all together, Brea's upstairs neighbor came to see if we had done something and that's when we heard the sirens and saw a firetruck at the end of the block, I walked down and talked to some of the neighbors that were standing around. They said that the transformer for the area had just blown, I made sure that no one was hurt (like had run into it or something) and headed back to Brea's to report what I had found out.

So we had no power for a couple of hours...what do Brea and I do?

Give Addie a flashlight to play with...which she LOVED! (to eat anyway)

Luckily Brea's stove was gas because Addie was hungry---who would have known that so much of our basic functions are powered by electricity. (we did have to re-light the stove)

We lit a couple of candles and played...

SCRABBLE!

I'm not a huge fan of playing word games just because I don't know a ton of abstract words but it was fun playing Brea. We did use every single letter and Brea beat me by 8 stinkin' points! (I had been 20 ahead of her but then I played a word that allowed her to get a ton of points, grrr!)

The power may or may not have come back on before the end of the game and we may or may not have continued playing with all the lights off and by candlelight :)

Awesome Roommates!

Yeah I'm Home! and I have plenty to write about, I will as soon as I get pictures from Mom!

I've heard from many girls (and guys) about the drama that they have in their apartments and how they don't get along with their roommates and are just counting down the days until they can move out. I have been really lucky and never had that problem before, in fact it's quite the opposite--I really enjoy getting to know the people that I'm living with, talking with them, hanging out and learning/growing because of them. Sure we don't always agree but why focus on that?,

That being said I currently have some awesome roommates (not to downgrade the awesomeness of past roommates), this morning when I came home I was greeted with this (please forgive the upside-ness of the words, I didn't really think as I was taking the pictures and just shot as I saw it):

I had a wonderful trip and being home was made a gazillion (:D) times better seeing the thoughtful thing that my roommates did for me...I missed them too and glad that I'm back!

Worn Again!

Do you see that dress that I'm wearing at Nathan and Sallee's wedding? Yesterday I wore it for the first time in a little over 2 and a half years. Why you may ask did I wait so long to wear it again?.... because until only a few months ago it was lost and not to be found. But I did find it, care to make a guess at where it was discovered? I'll tell you, in a box, in the back of Kyle's (my single brother) closet. The other items found in this box-another skirt or two, two purses, my hairdryer, plus some other assorted items. How my brother did not notice the box there I will never know, but it has been found again AND worn again. It will be worn soon again I believe as I got lots of compliments on it yesterday! :)

Getting to Know You

(When I was thinking of a title for this post I thought of that song and this movie and realized that I haven't seen it in awhile and I would like to...good thing my Mom has it so that I can borrow :D)

This evening at ward prayer my apartment did the spotlight (which we have been avoiding for awhile now). Basically you are supposed to think up a creative way to introduce your apartment, we decided to split of the ABC's and introduce yourself using those letters. I got D,F,L,and X.

D: Don't Drink Dairy

F: Filled- my passport is half filled with Peru, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Cambodia (afterwards I found out that our new 1st counselor in the Bishopric served in Cambodia so he asked me about why I had been there and what I had done)

L: Love blogging and baking

X: X-Ray, I had an x-ray on my brain (well I guess my whole body technically) after blacking out while driving on the road.

Childless...What!?

I read a blog called Kazooisms that is just a blog of things that this mother hears from her preschooler, it is quite funny and I can't believe some of the things that Caroline (the daughter) says sometimes. I'm beginning to wonder if I should start a blog for the same idea but of things that I hear from Emily and Addy when I am at work.

I'm not sure where it came from on Tuesday but Emily, Addy, and I were sitting on the couches in the living room when out of nowhere Emily asked me if I was Mom...

B: No, not yet.

E: Oh, how old are you?

B: 22

E: 22? You're almost a Mom then, right?You should be a Mom when you are 22.

B: I have to get married before I can become a Mom.

E: When will that happen?

B: When I meet the right guy...someone that loves me and that I love him.

E: What if every guy loves you?

B: Then that would be awesome!

E: The you would be married to a lot of guys.

Oh the logic of a 4 year old, but indeed it would be awesome if all the guys loved me :)

Nail Be Gone

Have you ever had one of those moments where you go to a sporting event only to be a onlooker/cheerleader but somehow keep on getting pulled into the game? Yesterday my ward had a pick-up game of soccer and invited anyone that wanted to come, I don't play soccer but four of my roommates were going to play and I thought that it would be fun to go and support them (you know something to get me out of the house). It was a beautiful day with the sun-shining and I was enjoying myself but for some reason the ball kept on being attracted to me...I would say that it came flying at me at least 5 times!

The last time is what really did it for me though, I was looking at something on my phone when I looked up and saw the ball flying towards my face, I put my hands up to block the ball. The ball flipped up and went behind me, I suddenly noticed a little of tingling on my hand, I looked down and noticed that a nail was missing from my left hand! I started looking around trying to find it when Josh (from my ward) pointed it out to me 10-15 feet from where I was sitting, he said that he saw it flip from my hand and land there.

And that is how I got "injured" without even playing the game :)

Challenge Reflection

Wow! I can't believe that I finally finished the 30 Day Challenge, there were times I wondered if I would just give up and not finish :) I'm really glad that I finished though, there were several questions that were rather silly and as such got silly answers but there were some also that caused me to reflect on myself and what I really thought about certain things. While writing the different posts I laughed, I had many blank moments, and I cried--kind of silly but I'm grateful that I did it, while doing so I think that I learned a little more about myself.

Day 30

Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss.

It's sometimes hard to accept that death is part of this life, that we eventually have to be prepared to let loved ones go. I don't think that the missing them ever goes away but with the knowledge of the gospel also comes a peace, a comfort that though they are gone for now it is not forever.

Day 29

Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile.

There is nothing like the cuteness of my nieces and nephews with Grandma to make me smile...I especially love that even in this snapshot you can see their different personalities. I love those kids! (and their Grandma too :D)

Day 28

Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of.

Snakes...try as I might I just can't find a good reason as to why Heavenly Father created them.

Stick It!

I went to my very first lacrosse game on Friday with Brea and Darrell...it was awesome! I learned that in the future if I'm going to go watch a new sport I should probably read up a little bit about it beforehand but luckily I had my beautiful phone that offered me connection to the internet so that I could learn a little bit about the sport. It was such a fun, fast-paced game. I even (sorta) got used to them hitting each other with their sticks and body checking each other.

BYU is ranked #4 in the nation and they are un-defeated (how cool is that!?), we barely one with a goal with less than one minute left! You can read more about it HERE (on page 10--the last page). I may be becoming a new fan...the next home games are Saturday (March 12th) and Tuesday (March 15th) if anyone wants to join me!

P.S. BYU Lacrosse's webpage can be found HERE

Day 27

Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member.

We got family pictures taken right after Christmas and we just got copies of them...I'm so excited and love them so much! (and to think it's still growing...by the time we take another all family picture we will have at least one more--Yeah Joel and Becky!)

New Page!

*Update*

I found out that they don't add to your reader automatically and decided that, that wasn't really what I was wanting so I decided to create another blog instead. Sooo...introducing FOOD ON MY PLATE!!! Be sure to check it out and tell me if you have any yummy recipes that I should try :)

I'm adding a new page on my blog! (mostly just playing to see if I like it and want to keep the idea :D). It's called RECIPES I'M TRYING, every time I try a recipe (new or old) I'm going to start posting under this page...I think that if you read with a blog reader it will still come through as the same thing. This is going to be my cheating way to have all the recipes organized in one area-sort of like a cookbook.

Take a Deep Breath

It has been raining pretty much all day here in Provo...at home when it would rain I would go outside and take a deep breath- smelling the fresh, clean, pure smell that would be there. Here if I take a deep breath when it is raining I am left feeling like coughing. Listening and watching the rain falling outside made me realize how excited I am to go here:

and here:

I was realizing the other day that I haven't really been "home" since Christmas 2009. I miss it so much and am ready to back for a visit, I know that it will be a short visit but I'm ready for the rejuvenation that it will give me.

Day 26

Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you.

Friends (and Family)...they are amazing! They are always there to be silly, serious, adventurous, fun, and many other things with. I love them (the good ones that is) and they are always there ready to offer the support that I need.

New Hair!

So I had been trying to grow out all the blonde that I put in my hair Christmas a year ago (and growing out in length), but I've been helping Brea do hair lately and I finally gave up and asked Brea if she would do it for me. I let her pick out the colors and decide what to do (good thing I know her well enough that she wouldn't do something crazy like rainbow hair or something). She chose a copper red and blonde to put in...I really like it and am excited about the change.

Day 25

Day 25 - A picture of your favorite day.

One of my favorite days is when it's in the middle of fall, the leaves have changed colors and some of the leaves have begun to fall on the ground and it's perfect light sweater weather. I love to go take walks and read a book outside and look at the colors/beauty that earth has to offer.

Day 24

Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change.

I wish that everything in our world wasn't based off money--either how much you have, can get, or don't have. I think that if everyone wasn't so focused on that many people would be more pleasant and life would be less stressful (though I'm sure that there would be another form of stress with the absence of money...but I can dream right :D).

Day 23

Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book.

I'm really a sucker for any LDS Romance (:D) but I love the series Gables of Legacy by Anita Stansfield. I have read them many times and cry my eyes out every time, there are many parts that I feel like they are living my life and the same experiences. This series was actually given to me by a Sister that used to be in my home ward and I am so grateful!

Day 22

Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at.

I wish that I was better at school in general but tests are definitely where I struggle.

Day 21

Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget.

In the ward that I grew up one of the families owned a Christmas tree farm with lots of space, every summer my ward would have a camp-out there for one night. One of the traditions was that we always played capture the flag in the trees (at night when it was dark). I don't remember how old I was but we were playing, we weren't supposed to have any lights on but I was carrying a flashlight on my wrist in case I got scared (not a huge fan of the dark). I was running by someone when the flashlight on wrist swung up and hit them in the head...I have always felt really bad about it (and I'm still not sure to this day if I every told him that it was me---I may or may not have kept running into the dark so they wouldn't know it was me).

Day 20

Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel.

New Zealand...just tell me that you don't want to go there