Where Did You Come From Where Did You Go...

-So today there was no church due to a temple dedication and I had a lot of extra time on my hands. I decided to go back through my old blogs and see what my goals were last year to be reached before the end of this year...Check out this blog post from Monday, October 6th 2008.

"What is she going to do with her life now?"

GERMANY! I am saving up to travel to Germany to visit some family this year! (maybe bring some friends?) (Check)

CONCERTS! Any and all...I want to live it up this year. (Check)
CAREER! I figured out what my career will be, and I am now putting it into action. (Check)
FAMILY! I want to sit down with my family and find some way to get to know each other better. (Check)
DEBT. (No exclamation point here...) I plan on getting out of debt by spring. (Check- PAID OFF MY CAR and credit cards!!!)
WORK IT! I have been working out a ton. I would love to run a marathon. (Check-still working on the marathon but I am more toned than ever before)
CREATE! Whether it is a beaded necklace or a new company... (Check)
LOVE! I want to find my Prince Charming. Emphasis on Charming. (Check- Not that I found my prince charming...but I have learned to love and trust again!!)

TRAVEL! I already have some pretty fancy plans for a Thanksgiving on the beach this year...but I hope to get out every other month to a new place I have never been before. (Check)
PRAISE! I will be growing closer to God through all of these experiences. (Check)
FRIENDS! My goal is to grow closer to all of my friends and have spiritual and fun moments with them. No shallow conversations. I have also been QUITE bold lately in making new friends. More people to learn something great from. (Check)
LEARN AND LISTEN!! I am working on being a better listener, and taking advice from people who care about me. I have been practicing meditation and mind exercises to expand my attention span. (Check)
SO many things to do in so little time!!
Enjoy your journey and remember to stand in the light.


K so basically I accomplished each of these goals!! I actually WENT to Germany when at the time I wrote this I had NO idea how I would get there...I just knew I needed to go.
I thought it would take me until October 2009 to accomplish these goals and I covered them by July. Creating goal lists, to me, is like making a Christmas list. "Who do I want to become...I get to choose! What do I want to do? I get to choose!" It is like sitting down and thinking, "I can have whatever I want from life...what few things do I want to ask for this year...what few things can I set my mind to?"
I am going to NOW set another goal list for next year.

Grades- I want to keep up my 4.0 next semester. This is a high goal but I believe I can do it.
Strength-I will continue to tone and strengthen my body.
Travel- I want to travel more this year. Seattle, Canada, and Oklahoma are on my list of places to go.
Love- I will love to the best of my abilities and trust in God that my prince is getting ready for me as I am getting ready to meet him.
Safety- No more texting or talking on the phone while driving.
Painting- I LOVE painting. I will set aside more time to sit down and paint.
Deutsch- I will continue to strengthen the family relationships that I created while in Germany and continue to learn the German language so that I can better communicate with them.
Let go- I have a really hard time letting go of the past and I want to box up the bad parts of my past and let them go for good. I have come so far from where I was at this time last year, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally.
Service- I will participate in a major service event this year. I will know when the right opportunity arises.
Calling- I will ask for a calling and fulfill it to the best of my abilities.
Piano or Guitar- I will broaden my musical abilities.
Politics- I will participate in political events, and try to better understand politics in general. This is a weak area for me.
Math phobia- I will overcome my math phobia and become excited about obtaining mathematical skills once and for all.
Financial Security- I am going to build up my savings account and food storage this year now that my debts have been paid off.
Knee high boots- I have always wanted knee high riding boots and I am going to finally buck up and buy them this year.
Learn to swim and CPR- I will learn how to swim better and I want to become CPR certified.
Family Prayer- Maybe it will be at Christmas or Thanksgiving...but I want to pray with my entire family...all together at once.
Sell it- I have it, and I love it, but I can't keep it, and must sell it.


K I think that is my list!! This year I did so many things that I have ALWAYS wanted to do that should be documented.
Sleeping under the stars
Going on a real horse back ride in the mountains...no trail, and running through a field with my horse.
Getting in shape
Traveling over seas
Meeting my family
Getting a GOOD job
Getting INTO school and doing WELL in school
Learning a new language
Updating my old wardrobe finally. (I still never buy dresses...but I need to and will.)
Wearing my hair curly, often.
Loving again
Trusting again
Growing closer to my family
Making new GOOD friends
Staying temple worthy
Discovering that people talk about you and say what they think about your situation...but they never truly know...because they have never and will never be in your shoes. Truth always prevails and karma persists.
Learning to relax and go to bed at a good hour. (This is a huge one for me)
Positive thinking
Writing music again
Jumping in the lake...even though I was scared
Buying a new camera and taking lots of pictures
Buying cowgirl boots and my first pair of skinny jeans and leggings. haha
Wearing a bikini and feeling confident wearing it
Learning new card games and being good at them
Being there for my family no matter what.

WHAT a year it has been. :) Enjoy your semester and make time for little adventures here and there.

German Lessons and Another Married Friend

Taunia is married!!!



We spoke German for much of the day.

A wedding photographer came up and took a picture for us. What a nice guy. :)



I love love love Taunia!



We ate a huge lunch and I wanted nothing more than a good nap. ^

Hanging out at Dan's favorite park.

v- We found this on the ground...and tried to figure out what it is.

it could be...a pretend piece of food?

It could be...a flower?

We figured it was an "arrow".
Two kids playing cowboys and Indians in the river.

The State Capital building.


Climbing to no avail...



aaahhh dinner time...

German food!! Yum.

We love opening Kinder eggs together. German chocolate eggs with toys inside.

After a full day of playing it was time for the baseball game which was followed by fireworks. What a fun weekend. :)

Everyday's A Start Of Something Beautiful

"There are things that we don't want to happen but have to accept, things we don't want to know but have to learn, and people we can't live without but have to let go."
~ Author Unknown

Things are going unbelievably well these days. Here are a few updates.

1.With my work promotion I got a new Blackberry Storm so that I can email my new clients. :) I love it...even though it can be temperamental at times.

2.I have been spending a lot of time with my best friends lately...nothing like good friends to bring peace into your life.

3.Dan gets back from WY this week...finally. I am counting down the hours until his return. ;) I got the sweetest piece of mail last week including a long letter and a painting from Wyoming... I don't think I have smiled so big in a very long time.

I got my hair done this week and it is newer and cuter than I have had it in a very long time. Very blond though!

4.My body is finally looking sculpted!! I wore a bikini last week and actually felt cute wearing it. After a month of intense working out I am feeling good and healthy again.

5.I wrote 2 new songs on my guitar. One is called "Ivy" and the other doesn't have a title yet but...it is coming together. I LOVE the blisters that have formed on my fingertips again!!!

Dan and his best friend are sooo talented. Here is one of his songs called "We'll Never Know." The song actually reminds me of our rafting trip last weekend. We had DJ there by the campfire to serenade us. :))

Politics and American Idols!!

Congressman Rob Bishop


Congressman Pete Sessions

Jason Chaffetz Campaign manager Deidre and Congressman Pete Sessions

Colt and new friend John. He is an intern in DC for Chaffetz.

Me and Colt talking to the Governor.


Colton hanging out w/ the Governor

THE FOOD WAS AMAZING!! We got spoiled.
Jason CHAFFETZ!!! (Below)

At 5k a ticket...we felt pretty special to be in attendance at the very private National Republican Congressional Committee meeting last night in Park City. We were fed by an outstanding Chef, serenaded by American Idol Carmen Rassmusen (I also hung out with American Idol, Jackie Tohn, a few months ago...Utah loves American Idols!) and we got to meet some pretty important people. I may not be big into politics...but dipping my toes into this pool was most definitely a great opportunity and something that I would consider diving into in the future.

Biting My Tongue (kinda) Thanking My Lucky Stars

I am blessed with good friends. :) One quoted Horton Hears a Who and said;

"Those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind".

The other sent me the link to this video. :) I LOVE my friends and the positive influences they are on my life.

Kalai with Josh and Jordan

Well hello Kalai...!!

Jordan and Joshhhh.

When he played "Divide Me" my heart melted...

Oh hello friends!! We spotted some of our crew back on the bleachers.


This chick was awesome...I forgot her name though...^

I am taking FULL advantage of all the music and art festivals this summer. mmmmm!!! Good times. Many more good times to come in the few weeks of freedom that remain.

Idaho And Jackson Hole

Picking Raspberries



Me and Colton.



Saddle up!

They own over 500 Acres...phew!

Crops were turning GOLDEN!! So pretty!

Me on my palomino.

He lassoed me!

Square Ice Cream!! Don't let Colt fool you in this business attire. He is a cowboy...

The Teton mountains.




He was a GOOD horse!!

The 4 of us went on a tough horse ride up to the top of a mountain. Way fun. Only a few injuries.


HUGE Dandy Lions

AHHH This trip was amazing. We slept under the stars, ran wild with our horses in open fields, 4-wheeled, white water rafted, and much more. I felt right at home at the ranch. This trip was exactly what I needed to make my summer complete. Maybe I can squeeze in ONE more trip before school begins. :) We shall see!!