Hmmm... Blogger is being yucky and not letting me comment anyone's blog. Today was really long and I have a lot of studying to do for two big tests tomorrow, so I'll make this short and sweet.

I am so thankful for Gordon B. Hinckley and all of the work he accomplished in his 97 years. We are all so lucky to have temples so close to us and I know this was his life's work. He was such a sweet man, I couldn't help but smile everytime I looked at him. I love the prophet and I know that he is happy to be reunited with his wife, and especially with our Heavenly Father.

Thank you everyone for the really nice comments about Jack's special cake! I really am lucky to have so many people that care enough to check and see how I'm doing, it makes me feel so special! So I hope y'all are having a really great week and keep checking, I'll post some more pictures soon!

My attempt at Birthday Love!

Cakes at Albertson's start at like $30 and that's like a half a week's worth of gas, so I am just going to surprise Jack with his birthday cake (like a week late!!) when he gets home tonight! Here's my sad attempt. One icing was frozen and one was melted, so I did the best I could! Don't judge me, just laugh!

Another New-ish Start (Sorry no pictures)

Yesterday I received news at my job that they are going to hire a full-time cashier. This job was offered to me a few weeks ago, but I declined because it meant quitting school to have open availability. Because I could not accept the position, my hours were going to be cut to 10 hours a week and as many of you know, a newly married girl can't get by on that pay cut. So I went to Horkley's (my old job, it's a video rental store combined with a gas station) to grab a Mountain Dew and they had posted a Help Wanted sign. I knew the pay was really low, as are all of the jobs in Rexburg because college students will work for minimum wage. I asked the manager if I were to reapply how many hours she could give me. She said 25 to 30 hours. I hadn't feel the weight lift off of my shoulders that way in quite some time. For all you math whizzes out there, I decided to take the $1 pay cut and get twice the hours. It was really sad taking my resignation into Big 5 this morning, but the manager said she would mark my final papers and rehire-able and I could come to them if I need some extra hours this summer. I never had real jobs in high school, and while this is retail, I learned a very important lesson today. A lesson of leaving my job dignified and respected and I know that I can get great recommendation from any of those managers. Also, I learned that going to school is hard, but I don't want to be writing this same story ten years from now. I can't wait to have my RN and for Jack to finish school as well. It's hard right now, but I still feel like we're really blessed.

It all started with a rug!

Lately we've been talking about how frustrating it is that we don't have a kitchen table, then to top it off.. I broke the TV stand!! It was this stupid wrinkle in the rug in the middle of the living room floor. First I said it was one couch causing it.. Jack lifted, I pulled the rug, but the wrinkle got bigger. Maybe I have OCD or something, because I eventually made him move everything in our living room. When he walked to the other room, I sat thinking that if I moved the TV stand just a few inches that maybe that stupid wrinkle would just work itself out. So I did. I moved the TV stand and out pops a wheel! I tried to fix that, but it looked a little lop-sided! Jack just laughed when he saw what I'd done!

For Jack's birthday we went to Idaho Falls (not as big as Columbia, but it does have a mall) for a movie and out to eat with his parents. We decided to kill some time at DI (Deseret Industries, the mother of all thrift stores) where we found a beautiful, wooden, STURDY entertainment center! It probably cost hundreds of dollars to it's previous owner. Then we went to Fred Meyer and found the most beautiful table (the 5-piece below, we still have to put together 2 of the chairs), well within our price range! And it's tall enough for Jack! Jack's birthday was wonderful and our house feels even more like a home!! We needed something to reward how hard we're both working and after rearranging all of our furniture again last night with the new addition, it's needless to say that this oughta last a while! I have class early, so I better get some rest, but I love you all and hope you're having a wonderful week!


PS - I know it looks like the 70's exploded on my kitchen floor, don't laugh! Okay, laugh, I laugh all the time. But I love our first house!!

ISN'T THIS BEAUTIFUL!!!

I can't wait to get sealed here! Isn't it beautiful!? Jack's 22nd birthday is Monday so we have tomorrow and Monday off! It's going to be wonderful, I can't remember the last time we had two full days to spend together!!

"I can do hard things!"

Well, I have three hours to do a massive load of homework before I go to work, but I just wanted to share my two resolutions.

1. On my friend Laresa's page she shared the idea of adopting a word or phrase into your life for a year to remind you of what to work on for that year with yourself. I really liked hers from last year, so I'm going to borrow it as it fits in with everything I'm going through. The phrase is "I can do hard things." I don't think I've ever realized how hard it would be to balance church, school, work, and marriage, but I'm learning quick that if you don't find a balance you're sure to fail. I really want to succeed in the RN program, be involved in my ward, work at least 20 hours a week while in school, and get sealed in the Rexburg Temple in August. So I think this year, I will have to keep reminding myself that "I can do hard things!"

2. I really like helping people and picking up the shifts at work or staying late to make our store look nice. I got a call late last night and agreed to pick up someone's 8hour shift today, but as I woke up today around 8:00AM and pulled out my books, the stress I'm taking on overcame my body and tears welled my eyes. I have so much to do and not enough time, so Jack made a comment that I've heard before, but never took seriously. He said 'You've got to learn that it's okay to say "no".' I have such a hard time telling people 'no' when something is asked of me, especially because I'm newly married and we can use the extra money anytime. So this year, I will work hard and take on what I can, but I WILL learn in 2008 that I can say 'no' if it keeps my body internally and externally balanced.

HOPE EVERYONE'S HAVING A GREAT NEW YEAR AND ATE THEIR COLLARD GREENS!

It's a Wonderful Life!

I have SO much to be thankful for! Jack and I got a steam cleaner and Mickey/Minnie Aprons from Disney World from his parents. Then I got a package in the mail today from my mom with all kinds of goodies! (including grits and some workout tapes YAY!) It's way too slippery and cold to go running! Then tonight, my dad called and I got to talk to my little sister, Ivy for about an hour. She is so adorable, she has a real love/hate for Jack. She says "I love Jack a lot, but y'all never come visit since you married." Tonight, she explained in detail to me how to play Yahtzee...did I mention she's four. Anyways, I really miss her!! And then tomorrow, we get a new stove!! I can't wait!!! This has been a wonderful year, a wonderful Christmas, and to top it all off we get to go to the open house of the Rexburg Temple where we are planning to get sealed! I hope everyone is having as wonderful a week as I am!

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S YALL!

I believe 2007 was the best year yet. I've grown so much, I feel like I've matured into the woman I'm becoming. I love and miss my family so much, but 2008 has so much in store for us. The time has flown, but I sure have enjoyed myself and hope y'all have as well!

"Life goes by pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." -Ferris Bueller