We are still alive!

  Poor blog, I've left you to shrivel up and die.

  This is me posting to let everyone know that we are indeed, alive and well.  (Read: as well as we can be as two full time-students trying to juggle school, home, jobs, church, church calling, family, and and each other.  ;)  Read also: messy house and waaay too much eating out.  Haha!

  I am in my last semester of nursing school!  Those five stinker letters (BSN, RN) are getting closer by the day!  Honestly, it doesn't even seem real.  It took me forever to realize that I've done nothing but school and breaks for 19 years, so that's probably why it isn't clicking in my brain that I'm almost done!
 
  I don't really have a church calling right now.. I was a nursery leader but I got "relieved" (they never officially released me) and they said I'm the first person they'll call to substitute.  Doug has been the 11 year old scout leader for several years and he loves it.  This year has been rough, though.  The other scout leader who was fantastic moved away last year.  Since then, there has been nothing but problems of one sort or another.  He hasn't had a reliable leader partner (there have been 4 others called since then) since the awesome partner moved.  For most of this time too, there haven't been very many boys, or very many boys who will come.  Doug is such a good sport about it all!  The newest leader (#4) seems to be doing pretty okay so far though, so we'll cross our fingers tight!
 
  Doug will graduate in December 2013 in Integrated Studio Arts (emphasis in Graphic Design) with a minor in Web Development.  He loves his work!  It's such a good thing too, because he has SOOO much homework all the time it's ridiculous.  He is always sitting on his laptop working on something for his graphic design class.  Can I tell you how rude people can be when I say my husband is going into graphic design?!  I was at the dentist's office and told them I was going into nursing and Doug is going into graphic design, and the lady had the audacity to say, "At least you'll have a real job."  Umm.  Rawr.  I think my blood pressure is going up just thinking about it!  ;)

  On a totally random note- I've been thinking about starting a new blog with Doug.  I was thinking something along the lines of "A Nurse and her Graphic Designer."  I could post about all things girly and nurse-ish and Doug could post about graphic design stuff that is totally useful!  (How to install fonts from the internet, simple Adobe Suite tutorials, etc).  I just don't know if it would be too random for anyone to enjoy!  I have way too many interests...hair, makeup, cooking, nails, health... Would anyone read a blog like that written by us?!

Technical difficulty

Last night I was going to post our 3 days in Island Park so they would show up in order and our internet decided to freak out after the day 3 post. :( I'm at work this morning, so the others will be up later. :)

Island Park Day 3

The last day we had a slow morning and enjoyed breakfast burritos. Andrew made several smaller ones and lovingly referred to them as "Mini 'hos" (mini Idaho burritos). Haha! We went to Big Springs and fed the fish, birds, and some sort of little creature. It rained pretty hard while we were there but it was still really fun. Everyone got into their tye dye for a group picture before we left.

How many people does it take to get a shirt on Ty? ;) Steven and Lynn got it on eventually. Plus you can see a couple of the awesome (but sadly pink) tye dye shirts.

Andrew attacking Stacey. Haha :)

Ty feeding the cool little animal at Big Springs..not really sure what it was but it LOVED bread!


It was raining pretty hard!

I was trying to get pictures of him to show the rain on his face...isn't this one adorable?

"Remember This: Kindness Begins with Me"

I was reading this talk from the 2011 General Young Women Meeting. It is so wonderful! I just want to share it with you!

This is how the talk starts. "A few weeks ago I learned an important lesson from a Laurel who was the youth speaker in my ward. I was touched as she confidently taught and testified of Jesus Christ. She concluded her remarks with this statement: 'When I make Jesus Christ the center of my life, my day goes better, I’m kinder to my loved ones, and I am filled with joy.' I have observed this young woman from a distance over the past few months. She greets everyone with sparkling eyes and a quick smile. I’ve watched her rejoice in the success of other youth. Two Mia Maids recently reported to me of this young woman’s decision to forfeit her ticket to a movie when she realized that it was not going to be an experience that was “virtuous and lovely.” ¹ She’s loving, kind, and obedient. She comes from a single-parent home, and her life has not been without challenges, so I’ve wondered how she maintains her happy, kind spirit. When this young woman testified, 'I center my life on Jesus Christ,' I had the answer."

Don't you want to meet that girl? And be just like her?

Another thing I LOVED:

"President Thomas S. Monson taught us how to interact with our peers and everyone we meet when he told the young women of the Church, 'My precious young sisters, I plead with you to have the courage to refrain from judging and criticizing those around you, as well as the courage to make certain everyone is included and feels loved and valued.'"

Courage. Don't you love that?!

Have the courage to refrain from judging and criticizing those around you, as well as the courage to make certain everyone is included and feels loved and valued.

I LOVE IT. I want to post it somewhere in my house...

One more. "President Monson...has always had a special place in his heart for the elderly. He recognizes the value of a short visit, a ready smile, or a squeeze of a well-worn, wrinkled hand. Such simple acts of charity bring color into a life the sometimes is made up of long, lonely, gray days. I would invite each of you to be mindful of your grandparents and the elderly. Look around at church tomorrow and identify those who could use your shade of color added to their life. It doesn't take much: greet them by name, engage them in a short conversation, be available to assist them....'Remember this: kindness begins with me.'"

LOVE!

Now, I'm giving you an assignment. Ready?

http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/remember-this-kindness-begins-with-me?lang=eng&query=kindness+begins+with+me

GO!

Read the rest of this talk. Pretty please? You will LOVE it!

Happy birthday Doug!

Doug's birthday was last week. Here's a little info about him. :)

He is ridiculously handsome (evidence above!)
He is SO patient.
He loves kids, and they love him.
He is such a hard worker.
He never gets mad.
He doesn't complain.
He is going to school to be a graphic designer.
He makes me laugh.
He is my favorite!

I'll post more about his day after the gift from my parents come. :)

"Calling All Angels" 2

This is Doug's sweet cousin Angie and her husband Neal. She went into preterm labor and they only had a few hours with their little Jayden. They are AMAZING people. This is the second year they are doing this service project in memory of him.

Can you make time to help?

I'm more than happy to collect blankets from you if you don't want to ship them. Let me know! Send me an email at imgone2mexico@hotmail.com.

Yellowstone

This is from a couple months ago, but oh well.

We decided to go to Yellowstone on free entrance to national parks day. I surprised Doug and booked a "cabin" for that night. We had so much fun!

I can't figure out how to move pictures on here now...so they're in a weird order.

Only in Yellowstone!

A bear! WE SAW A BEAR!

The inside of the lodge. Don't you want to curl up in one of those chairs and read?

Cool sunburst picture at the tiny "lake" on the Continental Divide. (I think its a pond, but who makes the rules anyway..)

The gorgeous view from the amazing dining room in the lodge! Sunset at Yellowstone Lake.

Our cabin.

It was so fun to get away for a night and just be together. We had a blast!