If I Had a Million Dollars

Have you ever thought about what you would do with a million dollars? C'mon, you know you have. Here is what I would do.

1. Take my family on a trip to Japan. My dad is the only member of his family that does not live in Japan and the last time I saw our extended family I was nine years old.
2. Buy a small condo. Not a house, because then you have to do yard work :-)
3. Go on an trip to Europe. Spain, London, Paris, Austria, Italy, etc. Anyone want to come?
4. Donate money to Primary Children's Hospital. A few times a year, my mom and I would drive down from WY and I would see a special doctor at Primary's. I did this from the time I was in 4th grade until my Senior year of High School and he was amazing!
5. Go clothes shopping. I'm a girl, what do you expect :-) Knowing me, I wouldn't find a whole lot and probably wouldn't really spend much.
6. Donate money to the Perpetual Education Fund and BYU.
7. Buy my parents a beach house in Hawaii. They deserve it. Man, this means I would have to visit them there!
8. The rest of the money I would save and invest.

Well, it is fun to think about, but then it is back to reality. I'm just grateful I have a job!

Famous

This made me laugh so hard...

The 4th grade girl that I work with is so funny. One day as the group was sitting down to the table, she told me I looked famous. She said it was because of the green cardigan I was wearing. I asked her what famous person she thought I looked like. After she thought about it for a bit this was her response....Rihanna!

You guys be the judge. Asian/African American, long hair/short hair, hmmmmm.

Happy Mother's Day Mom!!! Here are 20 Things I love about you.

1. You give great advice, which I should learn to take more often :-)

2. You are selfless. There is definately not enough room to write all the times you have put me and your family before yourself. One example is when you took off work to visit me in VA.

3. You are patient. You have four children to thank for that!

4. You are a hard worker.

5. I loved seeing you laugh so hard when watching "Dan in Real Life".

6. You call me just to see how I am doing. That makes me feel loved.

7. You took the time to talk with me for 5 minutes before I went to bed almost every night.

8. Even though I didn't like it, you made me practice the piano and wouldn't let me quit.

9. You would encourage me in my extra-curricular activities (Student Council, soccer), even if it was playing on the volleyball team in Jr. High (What was I thinking?).

10. You are a fabulous cook.

11. I remember one time I was playing with a soccer ball in the house and broke the light in my bedroom. I felt sooooo bad. You didn't get mad, which you probably should have.

12. You tried so diligently to teach me how to cook and sew. I still remember sewing a skirt together.

13. You read books to us and then when we could read on our own, you'd give us a dollar as a book mark. When we finished the book, we got the dollar. I also remember you reading "The Secret Garden" to me.

14. I love your face when dad tells a weird a joke. That is so funny to me.

15. You always made us breakfast before school.

16. You are a determined person. When you say you are going to do something, you do it.

17. On Valentine's Day, you would give us "Love Coupons" that said things like, "Good for one night of dishwashing".

18. You wrote me every week on my mission and I looked forward to your emails.

19. You serve faithfully in your church callings.

20. YOUR TESTIMONY OF THE GOSPEL!!!

Finally got a new car!!!

I've been wanting a new car forever. My Mazda Protege had 125,000 miles on it and wasn't running the greatest. My parents came to visit and one of the things on the list was to go car shopping. They helped me pick out a car and get the best price. (Aren't my parents awesome!). I ended up getting a 2009 Hyundai Elantra. My car is carcoal gray with a light gray and black interior and I love it!!! Thanks for your help mom and dad!!!

Grandpa

Today at 1:34pm my Grandpa passed away. He had went in for a minor heart surgery. The blockage was worse than expected and he went into cardiac arrest leaving him on life support and brain dead.

This was unexpected, but our whole family has felt peace because of the amazing man our father/grandfather was. He was faithful and steadfast in the gospel and geneology was his passion. He had a great testimony and was completely obedient. Grandpa wouldn't even think of doing anything wrong. He was humble, but courageous when standing up for what is right. He loved BYU, black licorice, and taking walks.

One of my favorite memories of grandpa is going to the Ogden temple with him and then we drove to the house that he grew up in. It was just me and him. I also remember that when I was little, he took me the local fire station in Bountiful to see the fire trucks. He was so great about spending time individually with each of his 25 grandchildren and made us all feel special.

I lived with grandma and grandpa for almost 3 years while I worked to earn money for school and then while attending graduate school. I feel so lucky to be able to look back on this time and realize how close we became.

This is a sad time for our family, but we feel gratitude in our hearts for the Savior and to be sealed as a family for eternity.

Five Things

Five Things

Five Favorite Restaurants
1. Cafe Rio
2. Cheese Cake Factory
3. Applebees
4. Chilis
5. California Tortilla

Five Things I Was Doing Five Years Ago
1. Moving to UT
2. Applying to Grad Schools
3. Applying for jobs
4. Making the transition from missionary to "normal" life :-) (I can't believe it has been that long!)
5. Getting back together with college friends

Five Things I Do Not Like
1. Fish or any kind of seafood except for shrimp
2. Car problems
3. Paperwork
4. Feeling stressed
5. Sewing

Five Things I Like To Do In My Spare Time
1. Facebook
2. Read
3. TV
4. Movies
5. Play the piano

Five Favorite Drinks
1. Hot chocolate
2. OJ
3. Chocolate Milk
4. Strawberry Fanta
5. Fresca

Five Places I Have Lived
1. Cody, WY
2. Casper, WY
3. Provo, UT
4. Bountiful, UT
5. Auburn, AL (mission)

Christmas Travel and Gratitude

Well, I did get home to Cody, WY for Christmas, but I actually was pretty close to not making it. When I got to the airport I found out my flight was delayed about 20 min. No big deal. I had a two hour layover in Minneapolis and wasn't worried. The flight continued to be pushed back, until eventually I wasn't going to make my connection. As I'm waiting in line to see see when the next flight to Billings, MT is, they change their minds and decide that I am going to make my flight. We eventually board the plane almost 90 minutes after it was originally suppose to take off. Then we wait on the plane about 30 more minutes while they defrost/de-ice the wings. By this time I really thought I wasn't going to make my connection. We finally landed in Minneapolis and I start running to my next gate, hoping I didn't miss the flight. (Let me just add that I use to run a lot in high school playing soccer and there was time in college when I was a religious jogger. But those days have passed for sure!) When I got the gate I had time to spare! Thank goodness!!!

With that said, I am just grateful to be home for Christmas! Here are a few more things I am grateful for...

1. My family - They are incredible, especially my parents. I am extremely blessed to be born into a family with parents who taught me the gospel of Jesus Christ and loved me.
2. My friends - Moving to VA has made me appreciate my friends in UT even more. I also am thankful for the amazing new friends I have in VA.
3. Prayer - I will forever be grateful that God answers my prayers.
4. My job - Even though it has its ups and downs, I feel lucky to just be employed. JoAnne also makes my job sooooo much fun :-)
5. Gospel of Jesus Christ - Over the last two years, my testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ has deepened though special, sacred experiences. For that I am humbled and my heart swells with joy!

Loves to you all and Merry Christmas