Spiritual Thought Sunday

Well- today was a great day.  We were able to spend the day in Rifle, Colorado to participate in the baby blessing our our niece Reagan!  What a fun time we had.

My spiritual thought comes from the feelings and blessings that family bring.  It was such a joy to be with family this weekend.  We laughed, talked, joked, ate, and visited with each other.  Mostly we laughed... which is a good thing.  It was a great thing to be in the company of those we love.  The newest addition to our family has just stolen our hearts.  We love her.

Jordan (Harrison's brother) gave a beautiful blessing in church.  I am so thankful that we were able to be a part of it.

I am so thankful for family.  Both my own, and the family I married into 7 years ago.  I am thankful for their support and the relationships that we have with each other.

I am thankful for the knowledge of being a part of my family forever!  What an amazing blessing that is.  I am thankful to our Heavenly Father for the blessings of being sealed for time and ALL eternity.  I know without a single doubt that I will be married to my husband forever into the eternities.  I know that our own family (when they decide to come) will be my own family forever!

Thankful Thursday

Well friends- I really do have a lot to be thankful for this week.  I have had some huge ups and downs but overall... I shouldn't complain too much.

Best Friends:
I love her!  Jane.  She is amazing.  She and her husband made a last minute trip down our way and we were able to have dinner and play tour guide for the evening.  It was really really good to see her and Rodger.  We get really silly when we get together.

Like- this silly!

I feel like we should be freakin' comedians when we get together!  We are so funny!  We had a good time!

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My Church Girls:
Yeah- I know that I talk about them a lot... but it is because they are fabulous and they keep me feeling really really young!  Seriously- those girls have so much energy and I love it!  We went and got our make up done last weekend at the MAC counter.  We decided to call ourselves the MAC PACK!  It was a hoot!  I was also able to introduce most of the girls to Judith Leiber clutches.  That was super fun too!

Last night we had a swim party for our weekly activity.  I showed up a bit late and it was to the point that all the people in regular clothes (including leaders) were getting thrown into the pool!  I made sure to keep my phone in hand so that I would not be one of those getting dumped into the water.  It worked.  Here is a picture of the clothed girls getting dumped and after they swam to the surface:

This is seriously one of the most rewarding and satisfying parts of my life.  To have these girls in my life! They are so much fun!  I really love spending time with them and getting to know them!

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Harrison:
Yeah- he has been a life saver this week.  I had a couple of emotionally horrific things happen this week and he was there to give me a hug, a pep talk, and take me away for a day.  I sure love that guy.  Like a lot.

Tapas Dinner at Cosmo

POOL DAY at Mandalay Bay Beach

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Stay-cations:
We finally made it to Mandalay Bay this year!  We usually go the week of our anniversary, but we were on a tight budget that weekend and room rates were sky high- so we decided to wait to find a good deal.  We did.  We got a screaming deal which included our room, 2 for 1 breakfast, 2 for 1 VIP seating at the Beach, and free admission into the adult only pool (which we opted out of).  It was super fun!  We love the pool!  We loved the VIP seating we had too!  The chairs were so comfy and we were pampered!  Here is our view from our seats (click on it to make it bigger):

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I am very thankful for the life I have.  I have a wonderful marriage which includes a pretty amazing husband.  I have a very nice home complete with air conditioning and two funny cats.  I have a great family both from my side and Harrison's side who are there to lend support when we need it most.  I have a job (which right now I am not in love with... but you know... it could be worse).  I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints which brings me so much joy, stability, and overall happiness.  

What are you thankful for this week??

Pinterest Review!

Well- time for another Pinterest review.  Fun.  Here are some things that I have done lately and either loved, hated, or somewhere in between.

Gold Gradient Mani

My Review: 10 out of 10.  This mani was super easy and went off without a hitch.  Instead of the purple underneath, I used a green.  Anyway!  It was great.  I painted my nails with the green and then used an opaque gold polish and painted about 3/4 of the way down.  After that dried, I used the big gold glitter polish just like in the picture (it is Sephora by OPI... but I can't remember what the color is).  The mani looked great.  I will definitely be doing this again with a different colors for sure!

Cloud Mani

My Review: 7 out of 10.  The idea is super great, but without a steady hand and nails at least the length of the ones in the tutorial... it doesn't look that great.  I used different colors but the same technique.  It looked more like big blobs rather than awesome scallops.  Maybe when I grow my nails out a little longer I will try this again and see if it comes out any better.

Peep Pops

My Review: 10 out of 10.  This was super easy and really cute!  I made these for a Sunday lesson right around Easter.  The girls thought it was amazing!  Even though I do not like Peeps at all, I loved making and looking at these!  I might make these for Easter baskets in the future as well!

Crock Pot Pizza Casserole

My Review: 8 out of 10.  We really liked this.  It was super easy to put together.  Instead of putting it into the crock pot and waiting hours, I made it and put it into the oven for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.  I did add almost double the sauce that was recommended and I feel like there should have been even more than that.  I will add more next time.  Also- I will omit the red bell pepper and add some black olives instead (maybe even some green chilies).  Harrison loved this too and the huge recipe made enough for me to freeze half (which froze beautifully).

Sock Bun Curls

My Review: mixed actually.  As far as the sock bun goes for a hair style in just the bun... 10 out of 10!  I love wearing my hair in the bun.  It stays quite secure with just a couple of extra bobby pins.  I get compliments on it every time I wear it up.  Now for the actual curling of my hair... 4 out of 10.  I don't get much curl.  The ends of my hair curls but that is it.  I had a friend tell me that her curls are much better if she does two buns on either side of her head.  I might try that next time.  The one single bun does nothing for curl for me.

Spiritual Thought Sunday- Finally

Hi friends!  It has been a while.  I am sorry I had a meltdown and then you never heard from me again.  I needed a while to adjust my attitude and get back to what was important.

I don't feel like I am running quite as fast these days.  I also feel like I am finally beginning to get my 3 major "life responsibilities" into a good rhythm (those three things being a wife, employee, and young women's leader).

Not even two days after my blog meltdown I knelt down and prayed my little heart out.  I have not prayed that long or so intently in a while.  It felt good.  I felt like I was just kneeling at my Father in Heaven's feet and pouring my heart out to him.  I talked about how tired I was, how stressed I was, how "done" I was.  I cried.  I talked some more.  I asked him to help me.  I asked that my burdens be lightened because I felt like I was being crushed.

Well- my burdens were not lifted, but my prayers were answered.  I somehow have found more strength.  It seems that there has been more energy put into my life.  I had to laugh actually... I wanted to have things TAKEN from my plate and instead... I had about 4-5 things added to my plate at work (kind of major things too).  So- that was pretty interesting.  But- I have found energy to go faster and father without feeling overwhelmed and tired.

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OK- now... onto my Spiritual Thought.

Yesterday was great at church.  I felt really inspired in all three of my meetings.  My thought today comes from the lesson we had in Sunday School.  We were studying in the last few chapters in Mosiah.  We read Mosiah 26:30 and it really stuck with me.  The scripture reads:

30 Yea, and ^aas often as my people ^brepent will I forgive them their trespasses against me.

How wonderful are the words AS OFTEN?  I really had a confirmation at that moment that the words in that passage were true.  

We all make mistakes.  We all sin.  We do it every single day.  It is so amazing to know that we can repent as often as we need.  Heavenly Father will forgive us a million times if we need it!  Satan is very good at weaseling his lies into our mind... especially the one that makes us think that when we sin we are not worthy to approach our Heavenly Father.  NOT TRUE!  Our Heavenly Father is a loving God.  He wants us to be happy.  He does not want us to suffer or be sad.  He definitely wants us to return to live with him in the Celestial Kingdom someday.  


It made me so happy to read that scripture.  

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It feels good to blog again!  I am thankful for the blessings in my life.  I am thankful for the power of prayer and for the answers that I receive when I pray.  GOD IS GOOD.

Thankful Thursday- on Friday

Some thoughts about what I am thankful for:

Lotion
My right arm was sunburned quite nicely on our temple walk last weekend.  I have been thankful for lotion to apply to my burned and dry body.  Especially living in the hot and dry Vegas weather.

Surprise Thunderstorms
We had one a couple of days ago.  Harrison and I were sitting in the living room and we heard a rumble.  I asked what the sound was and Harrison thought thunder.  I didn't see or hear about any rain in the weather forecast... but sure enough... when we went outside and there was amazing lightning and thunder outside.  We sat and watched it and the rain that fell for about 10 minutes.  It was gone as quickly as it came.

The Car Wash
I had my oil changed last week and I received a month's worth of free car washes!  I can get my car washed every day for a month!  How cool is that!?  It has been very nice to just roll through and have a sparkling clean truck every single evening!

I hope you find things that you are thankful for this week.  Post a comment and let me know what you are thankful for!

Spiritual Thought Sunday

My thought really comes from Saturday and not Sunday... but what is a matter of 24 hours??  Yesterday our Young Women walked from our neighborhood in Henderson to the LDS Temple in Las Vegas.  It was a distance of almost 14 miles.  Yes- they walked almost 14 miles in the Las Vegas desert in May.  Not an easy thing!

Over the last few weeks the girls and leaders have been doing some genealogy to try to find an ancestor that needed to have their temple work done.  The girls would take those names and "walk for them" to the temple.  The girls took this very seriously.  They dedicated so much time and effort into finding those names.

The girls started at 7am.  I met them at a park for lunch and walked with them the rest of the way.  The girls had already walked so far when I met them.  I just cried when they came skipping down the street towards the park.

There was not one work of complaint.  Nobody was in a bad mood or critical of one another.  This was amazing to me!  10 teenage girls and not one complaint!?  AMAZING!

We walked to the chapel right next to the temple and changed into our church clothes.  We then walked next door to the temple and did a session of Baptisms for the Dead.  What a great thing.  We were able to do the baptisms and confirmations of those names that the girls had searched out and had prepared to do this great work.

There was such a special spirit there.  Our Heavenly Father poured out blessings upon us that day.  His spirit was with us the entire day.

I am thankful for the knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that I have.  I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the full and true gospel of Jesus Christ here on the Earth.  I am thankful for His guidance and His love that I feel in my life each and everyday.

Thankful Thursday

Well- I haven't blogged since my mini meltdown.  I needed a break from a lot of things to regroup and get a better perspective on life.  I am ready to post about another wonderful Thankful Thursday:

Noellee
Did you know that I have a very cute niece named Noellee.  She is my brother's daughter.  My brother and his family came and stayed with us last Sunday on their way through to their new home in Bakersfield, California.  Noelle is full of personality and her facial expressions are HILARIOUS!  We went out to dinner and fed her lemons!

The Book of Mormon
I have received so many answers to prayers while reading this amazing book.  I have had fears dissolved, inspiration, and anxiety taken away.  I truly believe that this book is the most correct and true book on the face of the Earth.  If you want to know more about what I believe- click here or here or just ask me!

Pay Day
Sometimes knowing there is a new paycheck in the bank, some of my worldly worries just go away!

Clinique
I just went and got my stash of cleanser and eye primer and mascara.  I love love love this brand.  My skin loves it so much and the price is right!  It really is just all around fab stuff.

I hope you have something that you are thankful for!  Love to y'all!

What if I stop running??

Today was a hard day.  I had a bit of a melt down.
Actually- it was kind of a big melt down.
OK not kind of- it WAS a big melt down.

I was upset about my stress and was venting it (quite loudly) to Harrison this morning.  I feel like I have lots of things to take care of.  My mind is constantly going like 100 miles an hour and I don't know how to stop.  For instance... this morning at one point I was thinking about the following:

I need to get ready
My hair doesn't have enough root pump in it and I can't back comb it very well
How am I going to get my hair done so it doesn't look a mess
I need to get to work
I wish I could just take the day off
If I don't work today my check will be too short
Do I have enough gas in the truck
Oh yeah- I filled up on Monday
I want to wear shorts today
I need to shave my legs to wear shorts
And I need sunless tanner so I don't look dead
I heard somewhere that shaving your legs in the morning isn't as good of a shave because your legs swell a bit while you sleep and the shave won't be as close
Frick- my shorts don't fit anymore
I need to go to the gym
When can I find time to go to the gym
Are my gym clothes clean
I wish weight would just fall off
Did I get the invites done for church
I need to make a couple of phone calls for work
Oh man- I feel like I am neglecting Harrison
What am I going to eat for breakfast
I don't want to make breakfast a big production because the floor is still being painted and I don't want to spill anything on the floor before it is sealed
I hate not having the kitchen all put together
Did I feed the cats
Do they have clean water
Man- I still haven't folded the laundry and so my clothes are all wrinkled in the guest room
I don't want to iron anything
Could I get away with wearing pajamas to work
Crap- I forgot to send the congrats card to Brok for his track meet
Am I a bad sister now that I didn't send that
I didn't call Charnae back
Freak- I am a bad sister
How is she feeling
How is Laura feeling
I am so glad I talked to her last night
How did she do on her test
I should have texted her to see
Did I email that X-ray over yesterday
Man it is getting late
My headache is coming back
My arm is so itchy
I think it is eczema but I don't know
How much is an appointment for a dermatologist
I wish this lotion would help it



Yeah- I thought about all of those in about 15 seconds.  WHAT!?  Now that I write it all out it seems a bit crazy.
Maybe I am crazy.

Anyway- I was sobbing to Harrison about how I feel about my stress level and all the things I have to worry about.  I told him about how I view myself right now.

I feel like I am running down a road to catch up to something.  I don't know what that something is.  I can't see it.  It is actually kind of dark in front of me.  Almost like I am running into a storm or into the night.  I am also running so that the "things" won't catch up to me.  It would be bad if the "things" caught up to me.

Harrison asked, "What if you stopped running?"

I immediately said, "I can't stop.  The "things" will catch up to me and crush me.  I will be hurt if they get me."

We chatted (well he talked and I sobbed) about my stress level.  Then he asked, "Well, what do you wish would happen on your run?"

I replied, "I wish that there was something that would block the "things" and I could just stop to take a break."

He said, "Well, who can save you or block you from the danger?"

"I dunno!  ME!?"

"No Jaala, Jesus Christ can!  He can stop the danger and give you a break!  That is what the atonement was for."

He is so wise.  I love Harrison so much.  Then I just started crying more thinking that the answer was in front of me the entire time and I didn't even see it!

I need a break.  I will pray for a break.  But I really need to prioritize as well.  I need to drop the things that don't really matter and also just take time for myself.

I feel better even now... that I have just vented.

Am I crazy?  Do you feel the same at times?  Should I just stop running??

Spiritual Thought Sunday

I know I have been slacking mucho on the blog.  Sometimes I just don't know where time goes.

Today church seemed to fly by... and I didn't eat anything before I left- so I had a headache after the first hour.

But I did have a nice moment with my young women today.  We were talking about the relationship changes that happen with daughters and parents as daughters get older (especially in their older teen years).  We talked about how hard it is and how sometimes being that age is hard for both the daughter and for the parent.

I was able to bare testimony to them about life after this time.  It always gets better.  I also reminded them that parents are just trying to do their best.

I cried a lot.  I remember that time in my life.  I definitely remember how hard it was for me.  I didn't want to be a kid anymore, but I sure wasn't ready to be a total adult either.  What a crappy time really... for most teenagers I think.

But we left class with tears, hugs, and smiles.

I love my young women.  Like a lot.

Pinterest Review

Hey folks.  Well- if you know me personally or if you have been reading my blog for any amount of time... you know that I love Pinterest.  Like a lot.  I am on it more than Facebook these days.  But- I am also a believer in actually following through with projects on Pinterest and not just looking at them.  Well- I am going to start reviewing different projects, recipes, and stuff that I find and do on the site.  Here we go:

PS- the titles are linked to the original links... so take a look for directions and recipes if you'd like.

Chicken and Dumplings

 My review: 10 out of 10... well sort of.  The recipe was quite easy to follow and the ingredients were few.  It took me about 5 minutes to throw it all in the crock pot.  The recipe itself was JUST chicken and dumplings.  I thought... yeah right- like that is gonna keep us full after dinner.  So I added carrots, baby red potatoes, celery, and a can of corn.  It was really tasty.  We ate it tonight actually.  There were tons of leftovers and I am excited to eat it again.

Mexican Casserole

 My review: 2 out of 10.  It was pretty gross.  I made it a couple of days ago.  I should have known that three... yes THREE cans of different creamed condensed soup was just gross.  It was really easy to put together but it just tasted bland and very cheap... which it was.  So- take it from somebody who tried... don't always trust Paula Dean.

Stain Remover

 My review: 6 out of 10.  I made and used this today.  I don't think it works as well as the reviews says it does.  I followed the directions precisely too.  I used it on a few different things to test it out.  FIRST- a white dress shirt of mine that had some sweat stains in it.  The stains were old... like 3-4 years probably.  The bloggers say that it doesn't matter if the stains are old or new... but it does.  I put the mixture on the stains and gave it a good scrub.  I then let it sit for about 2 hours before throwing it into the wash.  The shirt came out with lighter sweat stains, but they were not completely gone.  SECOND- my husband's dress shirt collars.  He always has me pretreat the shirts with soap before I throw them in the wash- but I did it with the mixture today.  The collars are REALLY clean!  Not even a small trace of neck dirt!  THIRD- some treating of some "unmentionables".  Girls- you will understand this one.  Well- the stains started to come out while I was scrubbing... but there was too many of the same unmentionables in the load of laundry so I couldn't find the exact one while I was tossing them into the dryer.  So- I don't have a grade for this one.  Something tells me though that the stain won't be completely gone... but better!

Phone Charger Clip

My review: 10 out of 10!  This has seriously been a life-saver!  Why didn't I think of it first?  HA!  My phone cord by my bed would always fall and get lost in the black hole between the bed and the night stand.  One clip and the problem has been solved!  I just had to make sure to use a medium sized clip so that the end of the cord that plugs into the phone fit through and stayed secure.  But really- this has been awesome!  DO IT TONIGHT!

OK- so there you go!  Try most of them!  They are worth it... except the casserole.  That was gross.  Don't bother.  Funny story about the casserole.  Harrison and I were determined to eat at home Saturday night.  We finally got to the store at about 8:45 that night.  We got the stuff we needed and got home.  The casserole finally came out of the oven at 10:30pm.  And we were hungry but we ate about two bites and that was it.  Bleh!  And- there is 3/4 of a 9x13 pan left of it.  Shoot!

Anyway- I hope you enjoyed this!