Don't Judge Me...

It's been almost a year since I've posted? Psha, calm down calm down...

It's been a crazy - fun - busy - kind of a year...so here are the highlights.

April -  I went to Italy with my brother and sister. My brother served his LDS mission there and loved it and we needed some Italian loving so we let him take us with him on his journey back. It was soooo much fun. First time to Europe, driving the el Panda and getting freaked out around midnight when we are driving from Rome to Batipallga and just minding my own business trying to stay awake when all of the sudden car brights flashing in my rear-view mirror and the car on my bumper telling me to scoot over or get scooted...Oh the joys of driving in Italy. We stayed there for about 10 days and were in about 3 different cities each day and a new hotel room each night (Rome, Battipaglia, Agropoli, Pompeii, Naples, Salerno, Positano, Sorrento, Cinque Terre, Siena, Verona, Venice, Florence, Pisa, Pistoia, Padova, Milian ...I know I'm missing a bunch but it's been awhile...).

                                   

 (yes we found MJ! He's in ITALY!)

July - My Nana passed away and her funeral was on my birthday. She was cremated and had her services in a Luthern Chapel. It was a different experience for me and it made me more grateful for the knowledge I have of the Plan of Salvation. I know I will see her again someday!

Also had the opportunity to be involved in an adoption of the sweetest little girl....all because of missionary work! Ya ya!

August - My sister, roommate, and I took a church history trip together. It was supposed to be a family trip but with family things unexpectedly happening...we made the best of the trip as we could. We might have flirted a bit w/ the rental car guy and he gave in and upgraded us cars. For some reason I am always the designated driver...and so I get to experience all the crazy traffic and roads...well surprisingly enough, I was the crazy driver in the Midwest. No one there speeds, everyone is relaxed and never in a hurry, but the roads were interesting. We had a lot of fun going as fast as I felt safe to speed up a hill just to not know where the bottom of the hill was going to take you.

We flew into Kansas City, MO and did a bunch of the sites there and then drove into IL and did Nauvoo and Carthage and stayed in Iowa. It is soooo beautiful back there and we were so blessed to have such great weather. We were pretty much the only ones at all the sites because usually it's their rainy season. I loved being where the early saints of the church were and served and learned about the gospel. There is such a neat spirit there. Highlights of that trip was the new Kansas City Temple - Nauvoo temple of course (we definitely got spoiled there! Heavenly Father loves us!) - Carthage - RLDS Temple

August/September - I had the opportunity to see two close friends get baptized.

October - I got to take both of them up to Utah for General Conference. We got in for two sessions and they loved it.

November - Thanksgiving with my family. Shot guns better than my siblings..okay I won't brag.

December - Not having to scrape snow off my car every morning for work!

I have had 3 nieces and soon 1 nephew born this year. The family is multiplying! I'm excited to see what 2012 brings, if we survive Doom's Day...


I have been pulled over 3 times this year (I made it 26 years and then I finally got caught). Luckily I still haven't gotten a speeding ticket...knock on wood. I thought I was just cursed to get pulled over only when my roommate was in the car but last week she wasn't with me and I was speeding along and BAM...all the way from Eagar and I get pulled over on the 60...BOOOOO.


Almost done with my MBA...hopefully by next summer and then I can start teaching again in the Fall. Woot woot!

2011 has been a pretty fabulous, yet very fast year! Bring on 2012!



Click to read my mormon.org profile :)

Singledom

About a month ago my Bishop of my ward used the word 'Singledom' and I have loved it ever since..even if it is a made up word.

Definition of Single: adjective. one only; one and no more; individual; separate and distinct from others of the same kind
Definition of suffix -dom: a total of all who are: (and my personal favorite)-State, condition, or quality of being, as in wisdom, freedom...freedom from singledom?? We shall see!

I'm sure all you married people really miss being single, ya know-going to parties, dessert night, game night, cereal parties, FHE at the single's ward, country and salsa dancing, firesides...want me to go on? Oh the lovely things that keep us busy and sane..sometimes :) Yes, we go, check people out (don't say you never have done that...and then leave) and go back home ALONE...

Alright, so I have swallowed my pride and still swallowing my pride as I say this...I know I know, everyone knows I Dislike with a capital D being 'set up' or 'hooked up' on a blind date (which they aren't so blind anymore...stalkers on FBook)...but like I said, I'm swallowing it and am going to give it a shot...(Richard, Lindsey, Mike, Ashley, Brittney, Lina don't get too excited now). I've done my fair share of hooking people up and have been pretty successful in it, so I'm anxious to see what y'all got, or should I say WHO y'all got up your sleeves.

I thought I'd make it more of a competition and have fun with it. We have been getting..well the boys have...been getting lectured about dating a lot! Let's have fun with it. Why not right? I hear you are only single and young once..SO this is what I'm going to allow myself to get into...

one- You are allowed to set me up with someone you think would be fun, gentleman, and doesn't stink
two- I know I'm asking a bit much..but please don't pick the 'crazy' ones or I will come after you
three- Remind them it's JUST a date and it's not marriage so it's okay..I promise I'll try not to propose to him.
four- Whoever picks the best match..per ME...will get a little something something..(Yes, you will enjoy it,        and no it's not a Laser Hair Removal from Groupon)
five- It can be a local date, webcam date, you name it..let's get creative..
six- If you want to hook up yourself...sorry, it's all about the Recommendations (Z and Aaron that's for you!)

Enough said. Short. Simple. I still can't believe I'm doing this...but WHY NOT?! We don't have anything to lose right?

Win Cherish Over in Eleven Days

My new project my roommate and I have come up is going B.I.G. and I wanted to share it with all 9 or is it 6 of my followers :)


We have started a Blog- Win Cherish Over in Eleven Days - and this has pretty big potential of getting pretty funny and entertaining so I would hate for you all to miss it. 


You can check it out for yourself and share it with your single guy friends or even just follow it and enjoy the many fun, crazy, touching stories that are going to start here in a few days. 


Enjoy and let me know if you have any ideas...I'm starting to document it into a book and would love to get insight of different ideas (yes, I'll give you a shout out in our book ;)

Two Thousand Eleven

Eleven years ago everyone was scared for Y2K. The Mayan Calendar stops after 2012. Some Non-Denominational Christian Church believes May 21, 2011 will be the end of the world. Have times turned crazy or what? I'm really excited for this new year even though it is ALREADY flying by super fast, so many great things to come.

We had a really good Ward Conference today about our new Stake Theme for the year: coming closer to Christ through following the counsel of the prophets. From Adam and Eve until now, everyone living on the earth has always had the opportunity to have a relationship with our Father in Heaven and draw closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ. It's simply amazing how Heavenly Father has a plan for every single one of us and He wants us all to return and live with him again and have ALL that He has.

We have a living Prophet today! How amazing is that? It just makes me simply smile to think about how much He loves us...we all make goals and resolutions and we get through maybe Feb, March-July if we are amazing and they tend to fade away and become the next year's project again..BUT look, Heavenly Father has always said he would bless us and give us Prophets from the beginning of time and He has never not kept His word.

Simply Amazing.

I know we all have the desire to do the Lord's Will and as we read, listen, and follow the counsel of our living prophets, we will never have to worry about Y2K, the end of the Mayan Calendar or May 21, 2011..."if we are prepared we shall not fear." Heavenly Father wants us to be happy and know He is there during the hard times and we can learn how through His prophets and apostles.

I hope you all have a great year and will think about how a living prophet on the earth is a blessing to you and how we can do better at following the prophets this year.