I love the Latter-day Saint movie clips!

This one made my heart cry.

I love my Jesus!

As we get closer to the holiday season I am reminded more and more of the amazing sacrifice my Savior gave me. Lets us all remember him more and strive to be more like Christ.

My mom bought this sign the other day, she is hilarious! She has been having a crazy time with work, church callings, and life. What a great philosophy :)

This is what I miss, SNOW!!!

I am so excited to go to Utah for Christmas!!!

My cheerleader screams, 

"You CAN do ANYTHING"!!!

Everyone needs their own personal cheerleader

Sometimes I'm a very black and white thinker, I'm a very logical person. If it doesn't logically fit together or if the pros don't weigh out the cons then it can not be done. There are SO many things I want to do in life that don't logically fit together:

1.How can I get more schooling, open a bakery, travel the world, magnify my callings, start a NGO, make home cooked meals, and still be the best mom and wife in the world?

In my head I constantly  think, "there is no way I can do everything I must choose"

Thank the Lord for my husband who is the worlds best cheerleader! 

He is the constant ear to my endless dialog of  dreams, fears, and "how is everything going to work out". He listens empathetically, speaks when words are needed, and ultimately reminds me of my potential. 

Why do we put a cap on our own potential?  

I remember a talk given by one of the 12 apostles (sorry can't remember who it was) who talked about how our potential is unlimited. We can do, make, become anything or anyone we want! Amazing isn't it?

Dream big and don't put a limit on yourself.

You CAN do ANYTHING you set your mind to!!!

I love traditions!

I was looking online at work today and I happen to stumble across some awesome new traditions that I immediately fell in love with.

Tradition Ideas:

1. Halloween traditions- Go to the pumpkin patch and pick out a pumpkin and enjoy a hayride.

2. Halloween tradition - Caramel Apples, a simple easy yummy treat!

1. Christmas tradition- Have friends and family come over IN THEIR PAJAMAS to read Christmas stories and enjoy hot cocoa. http://www.skiptomylou.org/2007/12/20/traditions/ 

2.Christmas tradition- Letter stocking stuffer. For the 12 days of Christmas count down every day you write a love note/letter to someone in your family and put it in their stocking. On the morning of Christmas you get to read all your notes/letters in your stocking first before opening up any presents. http://anordinarymom.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/keeping-the-spirit-of-christmas-stocking-stuffers/

Bucket List

My mom is a dreamer. Thanks mom I am eternally grateful for that. Growing up she used to make us (literally, make us) make "vision boards". We would cut out, draw, and write things we wanted to do in this life. She would always say, "if you can see your goals and remind your self of them often you will accomplish them".

She is a living example of what dreaming/vision boards can do. By 53 (sorry for disclosing your age mom) she has:

• Graduated with Bachelors and Masters Degree
• Served a full time mission in Peru
• Had 5 awesome sons and a stellar cool daughter
• Lived in New Zealand, South Korea, Germany, and the US.
• Traveled to: China, Thailand, (other Asian countries, I can't remember them all right now), France (this was her weekend getaway while living in Germany), Switzerland, Ireland, Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, Greece, Belgium (and probably more), and she has live and traveled all over the US. If anyone wonders why I am a nomad or gypsy hint hint.........it's from my mother. 
• Still speaks, reads and can write Spanish even though her mission was over 20 years ago
• She has had the job of her dreams, house of her dreams, car of her dream, and now she had the man of her dreams

These are just a few of the millions of ideas that have gone on her boards. She is constantly adding new dreams to the board and crossing off the ones she accomplishes.


Seriously this lady rocks and has taught me so many life lessons, #1 be a dreamer.

So here is my Bucket List (well the start of it anyway)

• Learn to play the piano (right now I can kinda play but I want to be GOOD at playing not just mediocre)
• Scuba Dive the Great Barrier Reef
• Take my kids to Curious Cove; an awesome family vacation camp in New Zealand. My family would go there every Christmas. Some of my most memorable memories come from there.
• Travel Egypt
• Go back to Europe with Mike. I would love to revisit: Cezch Republic, Spain, Italy, Greece, Ireland, and Belgium. I would like to also go to Turkey, Moldova, and Hungry.
• Go fishing in Alaska (I love to fish)
• Learn how to ballroom dance. I love dancing .I don't know how good I am at it but I love it. I'm the girl who secretly wishes she would have danced in high school and played basketball not just done basketball.
• Start a NGO that takes optometrist to Central/South America to help people with their eyes. Eye care is horrible there.
• Places in the US to visit: Grand Canyon, Moab, San Fransisco (I love this city), and millions of others but I wont bore you with that list.
• Go to culinary school
• Start a small bakery that specializes in bringing desserts from around the world into your mouth
• Learn to paint. I love abstract art. The feeling you get when you're staring at a painting not knowing exactly what it is but being captivated by its beauty. 
• Fix up a "Fixer Upper House", not a major fixer upper just one that need interior remodeling done. I love projects.
• Learn the stock market
• Serve a mission with Mikey

and much more...........................

Be a Dreamer

Learn to Save a Life

Everyone Can Do it

You know you have lived in Hawaii to long when a trail of ants is entertaining rather than annoying.

A Day in Hawaii

Some friends and I set off on an awesome day of spear fishing (the guys did this), snorkeling (holding onto a kayak), sun bathing, eating fresh coconut, and enjoying each others company.

*where was Mike? Writing essays for Optometry school, good job hun :)


Oh beautiful Sun, how I love you.



Avi, Marci, and Hilary at some beach we pulled off to by Punaluu. Avi has the spears ready to catch some fish.



The view from the beach



Our plan: paddle out to clear water & go snorkeling

What happened: We would see what looked like to be clear water to snorkel in, paddle over there, be disappointed with the murky looking water, and start paddling else where.

Needs to say we didn't do to much snorkeling :)






#1 thing I will miss about Hawaii, the SUN



Hilary + sun ='s burnt.
Solution = Hawaiian Tropics Tanning Lotion



Me and Hil :) I love this girl!



Ok, I got really into sepia. I love it!!!

Hilary and Marci



These are the two fish the guys caught for the day. Seriously the one I was holding reminded me of Dori on Finding Nemo. Poor little guy.



Coconut Expedition

Who better to have with you when you see fresh coconuts than two Fijian guys?

Avi ran up the tree (I love the look on his face, so excited)



Coconuts were grabbed



Machete was busted out and we enjoyed coconut milk and flesh






The inside of the coconut, yum!