well said...

"To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intellegent people and affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends. To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, wether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." --Ralph Waldo Emerson

Love this. Great words to live by.

from a to z...

Barb did this on her blog and I thought it was fun to read... so I thought I would do the same thing. Let's see if you learn something new!

A- Attached or Single: Attached
B- Best Friend: Too many to name them all
C- Cake or Pie: Cheesecake
D- Day of choice: Saturday
E- Essential Item: Tweezers
F- Favorite Color: PINK
G- Gummybears or Worms: bears, worms just feel weird in my mouth
H- Hometown: Wanship
I- Indulgences: Having my toes done
J- January or July: July, fireworks are one of the best creations ever!
K- Kids: Gotta have 'em!
L- Life is incomplete without: Laughter and Love
M- Marriage Date: :) ha ha ha
N- Number of Siblings: One brother, two sisters, a bro-in law, and a sis-in law
O- Oranges or Apples: An apple a day keeps the dr. away!
P- Phobias and Fears: Anything having to go up my nose
Q- Quote: Feel the fear and do it anyway!
R- Reason to Smile: When life totally takes you by surprise
S- Something new: New city, new job
T- Tag: Tricia and Barb
U- Unknown fact about me: I got a bloody nose when I was baptized... squeezed a little too hard. I was really really nervous okay...
V- Vegetarian or Meat: Hello... chicken is a food group at my house
W- Worst habit: Diet Pepsi
X- X-rays or Ultrasound: Neither, both have meant pain for me
Y- Your Favorite Food: Bread, gotta love carbs
Z- Zoo Animal: Hippo

how did this get here?

Well, I started to clean out a few things and I am trying to start boxing it up so that I can take a load with me every weekend. I am trying to make the big move day not as intense. But can I just tell you, I can NOT believe all of the stuff that I have accumulated in two years!!!! I definitely did not have all of this when I moved into this house. It is amazing the things you hang onto, the places you find to store it, and the reasons you talk yourself into keeping it. Pathetic. I will say one thing I am proud of though, I took so many clothes to the DI. Clothes, shoes, pants, shirts, jackets, coats, you name it. The guy at the drop off about pooped his pants when I opened up the car doors, and then the trunk. And to think that it all came out of MY closet. I tell you it is amazing that I still have anything left to wear after the drop off, and I do! My closet is still totally full. Although, now I won't have to put in an arm to make place for yet another hanger. I will tell you one thing, the local Lees Marketplace does not have enough boxes to haul all of this stuff to Stacey's basement for storage. And I don't know if Stacey has enough room in her basement for all of my stuff.... Temporary Stac, only temporary.... So, here it is , my pledge to throw it away. If I haven't worn it, used it, wondered where it was, tried to find it, borrowed it out, or wished I had something remotely like it.... it gets chucked. I promise. GONE!!!

bighunks!

So today, I had a few minutes at the salon so I made a 7-11 run to get a diet pepsi. Once inside, I decided that I needed a little treat. While I was walking down the treat isle, there it was, the BIGHUNK! A few years ago, when Kim worked at the salon, we went through this little phase. We would buy about 4 bighunks per day... and yes, usually they were gone by the time the last client walked out the door. Bighunks and Sugar Babies are about sixs on the sticky chart so it reeked some serious havoc on our teeth, but it is soooo worth it. They are just the kind of candy that once you start you can't stop. Sometimes one, two, it has even been known that three bars weren't enough. I knew that no one else at the salon would remember the Bighunk days of glory and without Kim there I would be the one that would finish off all three alone. Since I knew that I didn't need the calories... I went for something to suck on instead. Sometime we are going to have a day when we just throw all caution and will power to the wind and eat as many bighunks as we want! So Kim, here's to the Bighunk! The best nougat and peanut bar ever made!!!

what days... the big house... room for rent... remember when... off to the shower... tough D!

So many things have happened this week! It has been wild and crazy and I have loved every minute of it! On Wednesday I went to Salt Lake to an interview at a salon. It is called Hairwaves and is on 7200 south and 700 east. I was so nervous, I haven't had a interview in about 11 years. I was all prepared with a resume and letter of recommendation. When I walked in and met with the owner, she just asked... "so what days do you want to work?" ha ha ha... guess the stomach ache all morning was pointless. After being at the interview, I went and ran some errands and then I went to see Danny and the girls. It was so great to see them on a week night and just hang out. I was lovin' it! Thursday began with a trip to the local Walmart to get the bare necessities in makeup... I left my entire bag home. Not exactly the way I wanted to go and see family I hadn't seen in almost a year. After picking up the basics, I got ready and went to the Salt Lake Temple to meet my family. We did my Grandpa Sherd's temple work. Steve was proxy for him and we did all of the initiatory, endowment, and then him and grandma were sealed. It was so neat. So special. Uncle Ken was able to seal them. He was talking to Grandma and all of the sudden he said, "well Uncle Sherd is getting anxious, we better get this started." It was so cool. What an amazing blessing the temple is. It made me wonder what Grandpa was thinking and how he was feeling receiving those blessings and promises. I bet it was even more amazing for him than it was for all of us. Very cool day.

After the temple, I went and looked at a house to move to. It is going to work out perfect. I have decided to move the 17th of May. I feel so good about it and I am actually really really ready and excited to go... which I thought would never happen when it came to leaving Logan. The drive back to Logan Thursday night was a little teary, good tears though. It just feels so good, I am so extremely happy, and I know I am exactly where I am meant to be. Good feeling! Such an amazing couple of days... life changing in all ways.

After work on Friday I went to Riverdale and met up with old friends from high school for dinner. It was so much fun. I love that you can not see one another for years and it just picks right back up. It was awesome! And I must add, Jed, man he can remember anything. I mean anything. I couldn't believe it. Good times.

Saturday was Emmy Lu's bridal shower. It was alot of fun and good to see all of the aunts and cousins I don't get to often. She is so happy and I am excited for her and Adam.

Saturday night Danny and I met up with my girlfriend Jill and her husband Adam at the Spaghetti Factory for dinner. It was fun to see them. I miss Jill like crazy. Danny hadn't met them yet so it was good for all of them to meet. And last but definitely not least... after dinner.... yes, you are right....

GAME #1

JAZZ and the HUSTON ROCKETS

WIN!!!!

totally totally so excited for the playoffs to be here!

So, all in all it has been such a good week! One of ones that put a smile on your face and make you so happy to be you. Life is good baby! Movin right along and it couldn't be better!

big day in logan...

On Saturday, Danny brought the girls to Logan to hang out for the day. My whole family was here for the Spring Fling craft show, so he decided to come up and spend some time with us. It was so much fun. We took the girls to baby animal days at the heritage center. It was alot of fun. I actually even enjoyed it. There were lots of cute little lambs and pigs and chicks. The girls thought it was fun. Danny even lassoed a steer... a bale of hay actually... but he got the horn! After we went back to the celebration center and all of the kids played on the soft gym there. They had a blast. It was a good day for all of us to get to hang out and play together. I am so happy all of them were here! I have the best family and boyfriend around!

one year and a million memories...

Today is the one year mark for the day that we lost my sweet sweet Grandpa Sherd. In ways I cannot believe that it has been a year and in other ways it feels like it has been forever. I miss his smile, his laugh, his hugs, and just shootin the breeze with him. I have thought and thought the last twelve months about all of the memories that I have of him and with him. He was always a blast. There was rarely a dull moment with him around. He always kept us laughing. He always spoke his mind and you always knew where you stood with him. He had awesome stories and some of the best advice I have ever heard. He always made me feel so special. He always knew how to make you feel loved and important. Although, I miss him so much I have felt his influence so much in my life since he has been gone. I know without a doubt that he is with me and watching over me and I know that he has had his hands in my life. I am so thankful to him for all of the lessons I have learned from him. He taught me so much about what being Christlike is about. He was an amazing example to all of those around him and showed all of us what it means to take care of each other. I am so grateful for the plan of salvation and for the promises we have been given of eternal families. I know that he is so happy and healthy and although we all miss him so much here, I know that he is surely keeping things lively where he is. Until we are blessed to be together again, I hope that I can live my life the ways that he did...always loving those around me and taking every experience and turning it into something good. Pops, I love you and I miss you and try not to cause too much ruckus up there!

count your blessings...

Do you ever have one of those days that you just feel so amazingly blessed? You aren't really sure how it is that somehow and somewhere someone really knew what was best for you. It seems some days that this world is total madness and others it seems like everything is exactly the way that it should be. Well, that is one of the days that I have had today. Ya know, many times over the last few years, I have often wondered... what in the crap is going on? What in the world could one learn from some of the things I am experiencing? How exactly is this suppose to make me a better and stronger person? Exactly how is this making me into who it is I need to be? Well, you know what? I have learned many many things that I could only learn one way, all of the experiences I have had have somehow made me into the person I am today, good and bad. And yes, I have to admit that I am stronger, more tolerant, more sensitive to others and their situations, and more, I think, the person that I am meant to be. Don't get me wrong, I know that I still have miles and miles of road to cover before I am going to be translated... but I am grateful for the things I have been able to learn and for the ways that they have molded me. I have some of the most amazing people in my life and I feel so blessed because of each of you. Thanks to all of you for the love and support and friendship you offer to me on an everyday basis. I hope that I can only repay you the love that you have shown to me. Somehow, somewhere, someone does know what all of us need...He does... and He knows exactly when we need it. I couldn't be more grateful for that. All of these things shall be for our good and benefit and give us experience.

it's monday already?

I can't believe that it is Monday all over again. I swear that the weekends just go soooo fast. I can't even believe it! Anyhow, this weekend I went to SLC and hung out. It was so fun. On Saturday, while all of the boys were in the secret priesthood session, Barb, Trish and I went to this place called the Yogurt Stop and had some of the best froze yogurt ever. You could load it up with as many treats as possible. It was great! I just love my girlfriends. We have a blast laughing our buns off together.

On Sat night Danny and I set Barb up with his friend Josh. It was fun. We went to see the movie 21, which actually was a really good movie, and then we went and ate dinner. We hope they had a good time! We still don't know what actually happened behind the closed door... church it up! It is a first date!

she did it to me again!

So many of you might remember a few years ago, when I was still driving the rice rocket... Kim and the other girls at the shop totally got me on April Fools day. I was leaving work and when I got into my car I had it all started and was revving the gas, because you had to do that in the rice rocket so it wouldn't die, and put it into reverse. As I looked out my window to see if I could go, this guy in a truck was driving towards me laughing at me. I thought he was totally making fun of my hot little car, and I was getting a little, ok alot, irritated. I started to go backwards and I heard this huge pop... I actually thought that somehow I maybe hit him. Well, he pulled over and opened up his door, actually falling out of the truck because he was laughing so hard. When he finally composed himself enough to talk he told me that someone had played a joke on me and that it looked as if I had a cow's udder hanging off the back of my car. What had happened is the girls put a color glove, aka a latex glove, on my tailpipe and it blew up and finally popped. All of the girls were on the sidewalk cracking up... sure glad they got a kick out of it.
Well, this year, she got me again. The worst part was that I didn't even realize it until two days later. As I was leaving the shop on Tuesday night, which was April 1st, I heard a pop. I thought maybe I ran over something. I slowed down and looked into the rear view mirror but I couldn't see anything so I drove away. Yesterday I ran into the ATM and left my car running. As I came out, I saw the glove moving on my tailpipe. I just busted out laughing in the parking lot at the bank. I am sure that they all wondered about me. The best part of the whole thing is that they were all hiding in the parking lot on Tuesday waiting for me to leave so they could all get a good laugh out of it... and I didn't even notice what had happened. Guess the joke is on you girls this year!

most romantic date ever!

I had to add this post because it was really one of the coolest things ever. It did, however happen in January, but I thought that you could all enjoy it still. Danny loves to snow shoe and so he took me out on my very first adventure. I will be honest, I was a little nervous and wondered if it would make me look like a total geek... but fortunately for me it wasn't as hard as others had told me it would be. That, or I am just in amazingly great shape! We went up Big Cottonwood canyon and hiked to doughnut falls. It was awesome. When we got to the top there was a cave. We decided to climb inside. After checking for animals inside Danny helped me in and it was amazing. He had packed stuff to cook me dinner inside by the waterfall. When we finally left, it was dark outside. After a slight fall down the mountain and totally getting the giggles we were able to hike out with the head lamps and moonlight. It was so fun. One of the most romantic dates I have ever been on... major points for Danny!
P.S. I know that I look so hot in these photos... gotta love ear warmer things and what they do to your hair!

biggest easter hunt i have ever been to

On the day before Easter we went to Danny's family Easter party. It was alot of fun. I have never seen so much candy on a gym floor before. This is how they do it... they line up the kids and open the gym doors and they run in like crazy. Candy everywhere! They also had things for the kids like movies and kites and the best present ever... little toy recorders for all the kids. David assured all of us that it was not his idea to give out the noise makers. We ended up leaving the church with more candy and treats than two little girls could eat in a year. It was a blast!

and the day has finally come!!

Here it is... the day I get to meet the girls. I thought I might loose my lunch before I got to Danny's house. The girls are awesome! I am just loving spending time with them and getting to know them. We are all having a blast together.
The day after I met the girls we took them to see Disney Princesses on Ice. It was so much fun. Stacey and Sadie went with us. I think Danny was a bit bummed to not have Chris there to balance out the giggles and squeals from all of us girls. We went to McDonalds to eat and got all princessed up for the show with crowns, glitter galore and stickers. It was a blast. The girls ate it up! We did wonder in the show though... how exactly do you become a disney on ice skater... did they just not make it in the big scene?

My very first entry...

Well, here it goes.. my attempt to prove once and for all that i don't suck at the internet Barb. I thought that I could use this to keep in touch better with friends and family that I almost never get to see. It will also be very cool for those of you that I do get to see on a regular basis. Just in case you don't get enough of me. Which I am alsmost possitive is totally not possible. This way, we can share pictures and stories and just have fun with it. I am way excited to try it out. So, here it goes...