My Competition for COOLEST Auntie

The last week I got to go to Milwaukee to help Becky and Courtney with the little kidlets. Lucky lucky me!!!

I didn't take very many pictures because I was simply having too much fun with the kiddos. Here are the some of my favorites of the few that I took.

Wesley is only a couple of weeks old and I can't even believe how much I love him already. It feels like we have been family forever. I'm so grateful that I can now share the rest of eternity with so many little angels.

Lou and I couldn't seem to get a picture in focus but I did get one of my most favorite look of hers. Her little laugh and wrinkled nose are for sure my new favorite things.

I also found some cute pictures of Jane and Norah. I'm going to have to be better about taking pictures if I am going to prove that I am the coolest!

I couldn't resist putting this one in as well. Jane, Norah, Grandma, and Me all having a party in Grandma's shower! As Jane put it, it was full of "sunshine, butterflies, rainbows, and flowers."

I Love Being an Auntie

... Speaking of cute babies, I just found out that Anthony and his wife Sutomi are going to have a new baby girl in October!!!!

I Hope They Call Me on a Mission...

How pathetic that it has taken me almost six months to update my blog but my darling friend Jacque helped me today with my mission pictures and I had to share. She did a great job of making a plane girl look presentable. ;)


So the update is this... I can't wait to go!! Ok, I guess that isn't much of an update as it has been the case for the last six plus months. Regardless, I get all kinds of butterflies of excitement when I think of how blessed I am with the oportunity to share my most precious possession, the gospel of Jesus Christ, with the world. I have been given so much in my life, it is about time that I turn around and give back.

Step Into the Darkness

As I was driving home from Idaho a few nights ago I was surprised at how dark the road was before me. Just by looking you would have thought that at any moment the earth would simply drop off into nothingness. I snapped a quick photo as I realized metaphor that laid before me and how perfectly it applied to my life. I have my ideas of what is ahead as I prepare to head off to Africa but, mostly it is all unknown darkness. Yet as I think of the adventures yet to come I am reminded of a quote from Elder Boyd K. Paker -


"Somewhere in your quest for spiritual knowledge, there is that ‘leap of faith,’ as the philosophers call it. It is the moment when you have gone to the edge of the light and step into the darkness to discover that the way is lighted ahead for just a footstep or two.”
We can never truly know what lies ahead but if we put our trust in the Lord and make that Leap of Faith, I am certain that just ahead we will find the bright sun rising.

Story of My Life Right Now

I stole this picture off Sabriel's blog but it just fits my life so perfectly at the moment.

My Home Away From Home

So someone was complaining the other day, that I never post anything anymore. So in response to that pushy little wench, (yes Madam Mim, I'm talking about you,) I thought I would post a little something about my life in Rexburg Idaho. I usually document my life by taking pictures but ever since my camera broke I guess I just stopped thinking my life was worth documenting. I realize now that I was sorely mistaken. There is usually someone out there who can capture the important things in my life just as well as I can. In this case better.

So my somewhat new life in Rexburg is amazing. I don't really know anyone but am learning how to make friends really fast. More importantly I'm getting a remarkable education that is focused on becoming a better disciple of Jesus Christ. It is a miracle that I am here but I can see why God gave me such a wonderful blessing. The Spirit in the place is so strong it is almost tangible and as you can see I don't need a camera of my own to show everyone the most important thing in my life right now. I try really hard to go the Rexburg Temple as often as possible but lately I just want to be there all the time. It is truly my home away from home. How blessed and grateful I am to live in a place were I can walk to the temple everyday. (Although it is so cold here that only on warm days can I brave the mile hike up the hill to it.) I am also very blessed to have a great car that gets me there on the days that temperature drops below zero. Most of all I am grateful to my Heavenly Father for the gift of his Son. With my Savior I am always home.

Benzo McGerk

I got to talk to my darling Benny today. It is funny how even after months I still miss those boys like crazy. He was so happy to tell me all about the cool something that he got for Hanuka. I'm still not sure what it was but it had bright blue and red lights. I guess I thought I had moved on because when we hung up I was so surprised to find myself crying. I realize now that when you love someone that much it sticks with you forever.


My little Star Wars Hero & Partying With Webkinz

On another note, school is great and I usually don't just break down and cry around here. I'm having too much fun. This post was really just a place for me let it all out. I really am so grateful that I don't work in New York anymore. Even though it is warmer there I love getting an education and being able to draw closer to God every day.

Oh the Good O'l Days

While randomly wasting time the other day I came across some of my favorite children's books by my favorite author Bill Peet. Kelly now knows what she wants for her birthday. Bill Peet Books! Just looking at the different titles made me so happy like Randy's Dandy Lions, Big Bad Bruce, the Whingdingdilly, Cowardly Clyde, Chester the Worldly Pig, Buford the Little Bighorn, The Spooky Tail of Prewitt the Peacock, The Pinkish Purplish Bluish Egg, Farewell to Shady Glade and The Gnats of Knotty Pine, just to name a few. If you can't tell that I love this author... then you can't tell anything. Oh, the memories of cuddling up in Mama's bed and reading all these wonderful stories.