GIGGLING WITH MEG

A New Addition to my life, A BLOG!

2011-06-20T14:15:00.000-07:00

Hello, yes, I am still alive!! I am sorry since nannying the twins I have been non existant on here.. but that will change, i promise!!

Just wanted to let you all know that I have a new weightloss blog. After winning an essay contest with "Wholly Guacamole" I have been blogging about that experience. I will get caught up with that and then come back here for other stories. Just wanted to give you all the link!

Loves to you!!

http://couragetofinishwhativestarted.blogspot.com/

Hawaii... where have you been all my life?

2010-09-18T09:06:00.000-07:00

ALOHA!

Ok, so Hawaii has been here, but only in my dreams!! This week my dreams became a reality, and for free and I get paid for it too!! Man, I am so blessed. And so far it has been paradise!

We left on Thursday Morning on US airways! The girls were AMAZING on the flight, seriously, AMAZING!

Natalie and Ainsley sat like this playing for lots of times during the flight. The fussiness was few and far between!

Wanna see the PARADISE that we are staying at (I have my own sweet with an AMAZINGLY deep bathtub!) YES! I am in LOVE!

So this week, if you are wondering where Meg is.. I am in Hawaii looking for a husband, cause I don't wanna be here alone again!! hahahha Wish me luck! :)

P.S. Maybe the next time I am looking for a husband, I shouldn't have 2 twin newborns with me,

it's kind of hard to get them to believe I am just borrowing them!

Missing in Action?... Somedays!

2010-08-23T01:16:00.000-07:00

I know, I know.... I fell off the face of my blog!

Literally I did!!

But when you see this picture it might give you a better understanding why.

That's right TWINS!!

Believe me, there is never a free moment in the day and by the time I get home at 6pm, go to the gym, I am DONE! But I will tell you what, I have NEVER felt so blessed. I love them, like I birthed them myself!

INTRODUCING....

Miss Ainsley
(A.K.A. Ponyo)

AND

Miss Natalie
(A.K.A. Princess Buttercup)

I am residing in the HOT state of Arizona and will most likely be with these sweeties till the start Kindergarten, unless you all find me a Man so I can have one or two of my own!

So... now you have it! I am a FULL TIME nanny of just one family! I never thought I would do that, but I found where I am supposed to be, and I am going to soak it in while it remains where I am supposed to be.

Guess who is taking me to Hawaii in 3 weeks.... THANK YOU GIRLS!! :)

If you want to follow our adventures, see us at http://thevacationnanny.blogspot.com/ This is where I will post things about them. I will continue soon with this one as well! Comment so I know someone even is looking!

Birthday Wishes for one of my FAVORITE AZ Friends! Happy Birthday Stephy!

2010-05-31T22:29:00.000-07:00

39 years ago today,

SUPER STEPHY WAS BORN!!

I am so excited to do this Blog Tribute! I met Stephanie the FIRST week I moved to Arizona. She was in the Relief Society Presidency and came to visit me at Verna's house with Carole (the President) and her little 6 yr old Presley.

The minute these two woman walked in the door I thought I had known them for my WHOLE LIFE! Stephanie sat there and got my whole life story out of me in the 30 minute visit. And poor thing has been getting more and more glimpses the past 6 month... I just can't stop blabbing my guts to her!

Within the month of moving to Arizona I was put into the RS Presidency working side by side these woman, and I soon found that Steph was THE REAL DEAL! She was who she acted like. She was real and I wanted to be around her all I could be! Steph is also unique cause she has an identical twin Tiffany who sounds and acts like her, who looks like her, it is amazing how as adults they can still be so ALIKE!

Steph makes me laugh A LOT! I feel comfortable sharing things that are weighing on my mind or to tell her how I am feeling whether it be funny, sad or frustrating! She was a pillar of strength to me as I went through challenging times with Verna.

Some of my favorite memories in the last 6 months have been: group walks, Tuesday Night tradition where I was invited to eat with her family and then we would watch the Biggest Loser together, Birthday Pedicure, Easter with her family, our love for food, cleaning out Verna's things, helping me set up her tribute at the funeral, decorating wedding luncheons and Laurisa's shower, helping me get Grandmother's funeral, She taught me what it REALLY MEANS to throw a party (this girl has more talent on one pinky than most do in their whole being), party throwing, hot tubbin', movies, daily texts, decorating her yard, her fun doorstep surprises, did I mention laughing?

One time I was shocked when she brought me a gift of "her favorite things" and they were all things I use on a daily basis! I love when you find someone that just "get's you!" Steph has showered me with so much support, she even bought a one way plane ticket so she could drive me to Dallas for my new job (that is another post) and fly back! Many times on an off day she has shown up with dinner, bread, a card or just let me come over and hang out so I wouldn't be alone and I have loved her for it! We shared our lives ups and downs and instantly I felt like I have known her forever!

One of the MOST POWERFUL things that I have learned from Stephy Girl is SERVICE! I call her SUPER STEPHY! There is no one I have witnessed serving 90% of their life. She is an example that you are NEVER too tired, NEVER too maxed, NEVER too downtrodden to serve someone else. If I am looking for Steph and she isn't available by phone or at her house, I can know that her feet are walking someones child in a stroller, picking up dinner for a new mother or struggling friend in the ward, redecorating some frustrated or overwhelmed friends home, taking her sister's children some times for multiple days to give them a break, volunteering at her children's school, sitting for hours at her Mothers side as she goes through chemo treatments, helping someone move or clean their own house (even when she has her own laundry, dishes, bed making to do). There is a saying that I say to Steph almost daily, "Have you done any good in the world this hour?!" And I am so glad to know that this is NOT an exaggeration it is just the woman that she is!

The highest form of worship is the worship of unselfish Christian service. The greatest form of praise is the sound of consecrated feet seeking out the lost and helpless. ---- Billy Graham ----

Steph, I know your feet get MUCH mileage every day! I want you to know that example makes me want to get out of bed and do something good in the world that hour! Arizona has been sweeter because of you!! So glad that we have connected!! I learn SOO much from you! Thank you for being there for me and helping add to the goodness I have found in Arizona! You are the real deal and I am so glad to have you as a true friend!

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY

STEPHY DEAR!!

My Mother's Day Surprise....

2010-05-13T01:29:00.000-07:00

I had a BLAST this last weekend surprising my Mom with the most LAYERED surprise I have ever pulled off. The idea started when Kiley Humphries in my home ward talked to me about wanting to do an "In A Coming Day" Reunion (A song that I taught the primary kids 6 yrs ago...most those primary kids are now graduated or graduating this year!). I emailed Bishop Jenkins for permission and recieved it so then it was nailing down when we would do it. A few days later I got a email back from the Bishop asking that if we do it Mother's Day if I would ALSO speak in the ward! That is all it took to make it happen, I mean, what Mom wouldn't think that was the GREATEST Mother's Day gift Ever?!

So plans were underway and Kiley went to work recruiting and I went to work booking my ticket from Phoenix to Utah and figuring out how I could surprise my Mom the BEST.

I flew in late on Friday night and was picked up by my besties Jen and Erica. We had a sleep over that night at Jen's and it was so fun to be back together.

The next morning (Saturday) Erica and I left early for Orem and she ran me around finding the music and getting things together for one of our ONLY practices with the kids. By 10 am I was at the church practicing with the 4 kids that showed up. Amazingly I wasn't STRESSED out at all cause the 4 kids alone did a great job, I knew it would ALL work out!

Spent that day visiting with people and surprising other's as well. It was a fun day. At 5pm I got dropped off at Mimi's Cafe in Orem where all the women in the family were meeting for a Mother's Day celebration and surprised them all. Mom and Gram were crying.. it was GREAT!

One thing Mom didn't know is what I had up my sleeves for the next day..that was the best part! I loved having more surprises coming! I stayed up till 2am reworking my talk, making sure that it was perfect and what I wanted to portray. Melba met up with me in the wee hours and of course brought food!!

I woke up at 6am to get showed and ready for the events that were about to take place that day. I did have to lie to my Mom and tell her that I was going to hear someone talk when I left at 8am that morning, really I was going to have one final practice! When we got to the church and about 15-20 youth were there to sing... I WAS ELATED!! They did such an AMAZING job and really sang with their testimonies!

I was THRILLED!

I was so thankful for the quotes that I was able to find that supported the feelings of my heart as a single. I don't think of not being a Mother as doom and gloom. Although it really is the ONLY thing I can see myself doing for the rest of my life. But whether it is my kids or others, I am still able to be an example and nurture the kids and people in my life.

I am sure this isn't word for word of my talk...but I just wanted to keep it for posterity sake.

Mothers: A Light Unto the World

By Meg Gazaway. With teachings from Sheri Dew, Elaine Dalton, Joseph F. Smith and President Gordon B Hinckley

It has come to my attention in my Adult years how there is this thing in the church where Mother’s HATE Mother’s Day. I have been so intrigued by this that I continue to ask question to my friends as to why this may be. Some of the answers are that they feel let down by the day, that no one follows through with the celebration (basically there is no such thing as a day off as a Mom) others have responded that they feel inadequate to be celebrated in that way. Other’s shared that it isn’t really a special day, nothing really changes, kids don’t stop fighting or talking back, some husband’s don’t go the extra mile and so it just feels like a waste. I have been so surprised by these answers and didn’t quite understand till a recent experience with Mother/Daughter Achievement Day activity gone wild! It’s the kids comments that make you feel inadequate isn’t it? Hahaha

I am living in Gilbert Arizona and attend a family ward there. When the children were asked to tell what their Mother’s "Hidden Talents" were the following was my favorite responces.

1. My Mom is really good at yelling.
My Mom likes to hide candy in her room and eat it in her bed.
My Mom can toot on demand.

I just want to assure you Mother’s that I have not asked ANY of your children about your hidden talents or will I throw any of you under the bus. But today instead we will just talk about how as Women of God in general, we are a force to be reckoned with!

In April Conference 2006 Sister Elaine Dalton shared a poem that her grandfather used to say and I have loved it and repeated it since.

You don’t have to tell how you live each day;

You don’t have to tell if you work or play;

A tried and true barometer stands in its place-

You don’t have to tell, it will show in your face,

If you live close to God and His infinite grace-

You won’t have to tell, it will show in your face!

As Women of the church we are blessed with this light in our countenance. It comes to us when we keep the covenants that we made with our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ and you have made the choices which qualify for you to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost. That light that comes to us is the Savior’s light. It is the light of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. By the way you live the gospel, you reflect His light. Your example will have a powerful effect for good on the earth

Sister Dalton continues, “Can one righteous woman change the world? The answer is a RESOUNDING YES! You have the Holy Ghost as your guide, and He “will show you all things…you should do” It is the daily consistent things that you do that will strengthen you to be a leader and an example—daily prayer, daily scripture study, daily obedience, daily service to others. Are any of us perfect at this? NO! But we still try and this TRYING makes us worthy of that light!

As we do these things we become more like him and His light shines through us. And when other’s see that light, they want to be around it!

Do any of you like to play the find a Mormon is the most random places game? I don’t know if I am alone in this quest, but I LOVE to people watch. Especially on vacations! And my most favorite thing to do is find the Mormons! You know the people with that special light in their eyes! I have found them in airports all over the US, in shopping centers outside of the typical Utah towns, on cruises you name it. Now I am pretty friendly person and after observing that light and watching a few of their mannerisms revealed, I have dared to say are you LDS? And 99% of the times I have asked which have probably numbered in the 20’s they have said YES and I have an instant friend and bond.

One such instance happened to me in Puerto Rico. I went with a bunch of my friends there. One early morning we decided to take an adventure to the island of Culebra. To do this you have to stand in line by 6am and get a ticket for a one hour boat ride that takes you there for the a day excursion and brings you back that evening. As we were standing in line I noticed a group of girls with that “Mormon light” within them. I mentioned to my friends that they were for sure Mormon and they teased me about my theory. We continued to watch them. Another girl joined their group and when I looked over at the new arrival I saw she was wearing a shirt that said Old Nauvoo. I laughed told the Spanish speaking member of the group to read the shirt and He rushed over to communicate with them in Spanish and let them know that we too were LDS. We spent the whole day on the island with them and had a BLAST! All because a glance at their bright light radiating from them.

The one thing that we can know for sure is that Satan is very opposed to that light that is within us! He has DECLARED WAR on Motherhood or Womanhood in general! Sheri Dew in a talk entitled, “Are We Not All Mothers?” Talked about this very thing. She says, “He knows that those who rock the cradle can rock his earthly empire. And he KNOWS that without righteous Mothers loving and leading the next generation, the kingdom of God will fail.”

I connect with Sheri Dew and feel her light and her understanding of Motherhood without being a Mother herself. She explains things in such a way that it excites my spirit! One thing that I learned from this talk that I never have thought about before is she shares this thought, “When we understand the magnitude of motherhood, it becomes clear why prophets have been so protective of woman’s most sacred role. While we tend to equate motherhood solely with maternity, in the Lord’s language, the word mother has layers of meaning. Of all words they could have chosen to define her role and her essence, both God the Father and Adam called Eve, “the mother of all living”—and they did so BEFORE she ever bore a child. Like Eve, our motherhood began BEFORE we were born. Just as worthy men were foreordained to hold the priesthood in mortality, righteous women were ENDOWED premortally with the privilege of Motherhood. Motherhood is more than bearing children, though it is certainly that. It is the essence of who we are as women.”

As that was not powerful enough to describe our roles of Motherhood President Hinckley declared, “Men have to have something given to them in mortality to make them Saviors of men, but not mothers, not women. They were born with an inherent right, an inherent authority, to be saviors of human souls… and the regenerating force in the lives of God’s children.”

As we know, not all of us get to exercise the gift of Motherhood directly, that is in our own homes. But the Father doesn’t take that away from us who fit in that category. We still have great opportunity to do so vicariously. We just simply have to find other ways. All around us are those who need to be love and led.

Nearly a century ago President Joseph F Smith said this to the Women of the Church,

““It is not for you to be LED by the women of the world; it is for you to LEAD the women of the world in EVERYTHING that is God-like, everything that is uplifting and... purifying to the Children of God.”

Sheri Dew makes this point,

“How will our young women learn to live as women of God unless they see what women of God look like, meaning what we wear, watch, and read; how we fill our time and our minds; how we face temptation and uncertainty; where we find true joy; and why modesty and feminity are hallmarks of a righteous woman? How will our young women learn to value women of God if we don’t show them the virtue of our virtues?”

Few of us will reach our potential without the nurturing of BOTH the mother who bore us and the Mother’s WHO BEAR WITH US! Those Mother’s are in each of us. I have been blessed with some of those adopted Mothers in my life who BEAR WITH ME and because of the sweet relationships I have with them it helps me TO KNOW that you don’t have to give birth to someone to LEAD them, to love them. Infact, it is because I know they love me that I let them help lead me. Their light is such a calming force in my life.

I wish that you could all know how blessed I was the day Our Father sent me into the arms of my own Mother. When I was only 9 months old my parents got a divorce and my Grandfather moved my Brother and I along with all 11 of his own children from Marshalltown, Iowa to Provo, Utah. Since that time my Mother raised us on her own with no help or support from my Dad at all. My Mom is a true example of that light. She has always been full of love, testimony and truth. She has been my hero as long as I have known what a hero was. I am thankful that I never had to question what side of the line my Mother was on.

Sheri Dew put it this way, “WE ARE THE LORD’S SECRET WEAPON! Our influence and light comes from a divine endowment that has been in place from the beginning… The world won’t tell you that, but the spirit will.”

Sisters, today is a special day of rejoicing in that endowment! It isn’t a day to bring discouragement, frustration, or pity. It doesn’t matter whether we don’t have any kids, or we have 18 and counting we are ALL given that same endowment! And it is up to us to use our light in ALL Ways to love and lead those, even each other, back to the one who blessed us with such a high honor!

Many of you have blessed me to live vicariously through your families and allowed me in small ways to love your children and to you I am so thankful. I learn from you, I lean on you and I watch the magnificent job you do in bringing light to a world of darkness and confusion!

When you live close to God and his infinite grace-- You won’t have to tell, it will show in your face!

Should I or shouldn't I.......?

2010-03-11T01:15:00.000-08:00

I am feeling torn.
I don't know if I can do it?
Yes I am obsessed with it, but really can I put myself out there again... in person?!

Here I live in one of the cities where a HUGE population of Biggest Loser contestants have came from. I live less than 5 minutes away from the casting call.... I just don't know if I have it in me to face another rejection...

If you were me... what would you do?

The Power of OUR Words

2010-03-07T12:01:00.000-08:00

Today in church we had one of the most beautiful lessons on the SACREDNESS of our words. How our words make a huge difference on those around us and most importantly our own self and our own countenance.

This struck me a lot after having a conversation with my cousin last night about a time when a family member was overly harsh to her about a situation with her boyfriend that they didn't understand and felt as though her boyfriend had been wrongly judged.

How many times do we misjudge someone's intentions or think that we know better? How many times do we bubble over and are impatient rather than take the few extra minutes to communicate something better or make time for someone's silly request? How many times do we let our words be DESTRUCTIVE instead of using them to help people see themselves the way the Lord and other's do?

Although this video may be 16 minutes, it is some of the best minutes you could spend to think and evaluate how this could help you in your life. I have watched it 3 times today already and fully intend to use it in my life.

Watch it! Share it! LIVE IT!

CHANGING THE WORLD ONE VIRTUOUS WOMAN AT A TIME..VERNA I WILL MISS YOU!

2010-03-01T22:54:00.000-08:00

How do you write a post like this? How do I even begin to explain the lessons, feelings and love that I have in my heart for this dear 99 yr old woman? How do you thank someone who changed the way you look at life?

The answer that I came up with is be true to the things she taught you and live the example that she emulated!

The end of January thru February 19th has been one of the most challenging times of my life. I can't remember the last time that I have felt more physically and emotionally exhausted, yet how much EXTRA strength was given to me by my Father in Heaven to do even more than I thought was humanly possible.

In January the dear granny that I have been taking care of (since Dec 13th around the clock care) came down with pnuemonia. If you would have asked me a month before, I would have NEVER guessed that you could have slowed her down.. she ran circles around me! She had more energy and more drive than an energizer battery! This stupid illness took her down. She was so sick. At times she was in real pain. I watched her struggle with so many things.

Many times she asked me why she was still here. Why she couldn't die because she felt so bad. The antibiotic had a weird reaction with her and I spent MANY sleepless nights with sweet Verna as she had a case of the "crazies". This medicine made her mentally confused at times. I just felt so bad that this sweet lady had to go through all of this. I was so thankful when everyone got on the same page and took her off of that miserable stuff. Luckily we were working with Hospice and they tried many things to help us with pain control and comfort.

Some might ask, "why would you do this kind of work?" "Why don't you ask for a raise?" and to that I would answer, because the GOOD's out ways any of the minor bads. The lesson's that I learned from her even when she wasn't in her right mind were SOO precious... even when she wasn't all the way there (mentally) she was being a missionary to me and it touched my heart. In the middle of the night one night as I was chasing her around the house as she went through everything in her closet, she turned to me with her imprinted Book of Mormon that I would guess she has had for YEARS and looked me right in the eye and said, " I want you to have this, and read this! I know that this is true and I know that this book will change your life!" At this time she wasn't remembering that I too believe that. She thought she was teaching me something that I didn't know, and it was so precious to me. Later her daughter Mareen told me that she had told her, "I almost have her converted." What a cutie.

Since we had plenty of them.. I decided to capture a picture of us on one of those all nighters. Here we are in our FAV jamies. Those are the one's I gave her for her 99th Bday.

Another lesson that was so sweet to me was one night she was feeling really sick and she was scared because she didn't understand what was happening to her and her mind. Around 3 am after I got her calmed down she looked at me with those innocent eyes and said, "Will you say a prayer for me?" I said, "I would love to say a prayer with you Verna. But I need to know what it is that you want me to pray for?" at that question Verna grabbed a hold of me and started to offer one of the most humble, faithful, tender and pleading prayers I have EVER been a part of. I don't remember all the words that she said, but I want to record what I do remember to have forever. " Heavenly Father, I have been praying to you every day since I was 10 years old. I have been righteous.... I have done everything that I was supposed to do and I am ready to come home..... I am asking you to please take me home." Both of us were crying and I held her in my arms for a few minutes and told her that I loved her. I thought she would go home that night after that heartfelt and humble prayer. It touched me so much. I felt like I was in heaven that night... the veil was so close. (I tearfully related that story to her daughter Sherry a few days later and found out that when she was 10 yrs old her Mother died. Of course that is when she started to really pray to her Father in Heaven and have a personal relationship with him.. she needed that comfort and she knew where to go even at 99 for that comfort.) Well even after that prayer she still remained for another 3 weeks on this earth.

I left to Utah for a couple days for my birthday and prayed the whole time that she wouldn't go while I was gone. I wanted to come back to be with her.

After coming back she didn't have very many good days after that. We had one Sunday where she felt a little better than most days and I painted her toes and fingers and took her on a wheelchair ride to her daughter's for Sunday dinner.

By the time Jen was in town over Valentines she was put in a hospital bed(which saved my back it was on it's way out from lifting her so much) and was pretty non responsive.

(Jen helped me sooo much both in emotional support and physical help. Her coming here was not by coincidence.. I needed her so much by that time in the illness! Thanks Jen for all your support!)

One morning she was trying to get out of bed. I tried to explain to her that her legs weren't working right to get out of bed (by this time she was even too weak to even communicate through words) at that, she grabbed on to me and forced out the words..GO! I tried to talk her out of it and she again said GO. I grabbed onto her two hands and walked backwards and she walked all the way from her bed room to the living room and that was the last time she walked. The rest of the days I did all the lifting, changing of diapers and bathing for her.

This is what Valentine's Day looks like when you are LOVED by everyone that you come in contact with...

I always called Verna the WARD MASCOT! She seriously was one of the most beloved people on the earth. I only wish that she was alert enough to realize all the flowers that were brought in to her.. she would have LOVED them every second!

In her last days on the earth Verna was in a coma like state. VERY rarely would she make a sound. It was a lonely time in my life and so hard to see her go out like that. A woman that just 2 months before was gardening, and living on her own, was now unable to even care for herself.

The last 24 hrs of her life was one of the most precious, tearful, spiritual and blessed days of my life so far. While I sat with her for nearly the WHOLE 24 hours without sleeping I talked to her, I told her I loved her. I thanked her for helping me gain great perspectives on life. I sang her songs that I knew that she liked. I listed to the music her daughter brought over with her. I knew she was going to be reunited with heaven really soon. I got the special experience to watch her, in her coma state, lift up her arms TWO different times to hug people that with my earthly eyes I could not see. Knowing that she was leaving this mortal body, her breaths getting more and more scarce, I decided it was time to do my final act of service for my sweet friend and help her to go out of this life the way that she would want too.

I got two bowls one of hot soapy water and one of hot water. And I gave her a bed bath, lotioned her up and put on deoderant, changed her garments and placed the Jammie's that I gave her for her 99th birthday on her. Then I washed her face and combed her hair. I knew that would be important to her. After that, I layed down on the bed that was set up next to her hospital bed and watched her through the night. Around 9am she started really breathing weird... I got up and checked her blood pressure and it was beyond low. I knew this was it. I kissed her on her forehead. Told her how much I loved her. at 9:17 am my sweet friend took a deep breath and I watched as her whole body just went calm. The pain in her face relaxed. She was with heavenly friends. What a reunion she was having! She hadn't seen her mother in 89 years! Her Husband, her daughter and ALL her sibling reunited again!

To my sweet friend... I will miss your giggles, your sense of humor, your love of roses, your cute quirks, your tight hugs in the middle of the night, your sassy ways, your love of your house (in which I still live and it feels so empty without that love in it), your sweet prayers, your stories, the perspective that you taught me, your hate for the stray cats in the yard, your love of poppy seed dressing on ANYTHING, and just YOU.. I miss you! I am happy that after 99 wonderful years of life you finally got to go home. Who knew that after 2 weeks I could love you THIS much!

Farewell sweet Verna for now.. until we meet again!

Miracles Still Exist

2010-02-15T16:49:00.000-08:00

I have been following this families journey. It is amazing how much a perfect stranger can change your perspective on life. This is such a touching video and worth every minute of the 9 minutes to watch it. Prayer is powerful. Calling on the powers of heaven does work!
I think with all the hard times we sometimes forget that good things happen. Congrat Staker family on your miracle...

If you would like to read more about this go too.. http://stakerzxposed.blogspot.com/

SOOOOO EXCITED!!

2010-02-03T22:36:00.000-08:00

I don't know if I have ever wanted a VACATION MORE IN MY LIFE!!

Mama... I am COMING HOME!!

Even for 2 days... it will be the best Birthday EVER!!

Utah watch out.....HERE I COME!

Celebrating my sweet GHETTO!

2010-01-25T21:45:00.000-08:00

Today is one of my bestest EFY's friend's Birthday! She is off to the Bahama's to celebrate...JEALOUS!!

Back in the first year days of EFY (2002) this darling girl, Stephanie Nelson and I found each other and FELL INSTANTLY into friendship!

She is ABSOLUTELY one of the funnest, sassiest and adorable people I had met in my life!

We each call each other GHETTO.

I started calling her that when she was telling me that she had a "ghetto butt" and now that is ALL I call her. The sad truth is all of our friends (that aren't all friends with the other one of us) only know us as Ghetto.. They don't even know our REAL names!

I have had so many tearful heart to hearts with this girl and we have also had tearful belly laughs together. My wedding business would have been NOTHIN' if it wasn't for all the sacrifice, love and help that she put into the weddings. She would always call me and volunteer her time to help build my business and she was DANG GOOD AT IT!

We went to Puerto Rico together 2 years ago and had an absolute blast. Our whole group received 3rd degree burns! We did moan and groan but still found cause for laughter! We are fake smiling in this picture. How could you not smile though..look at that scenery. Ghetts was soo sunburned lets just say it wasn't her choice to have that skirt on..

Here is the proof of our sad sunburns that we had to fly home with (doped on TYLENOL PM) and all ended up in urgent care facilities!

All of us..

This is us buying Aloe Vera at the Walgreens.. All the workers only spoke Spanish but as soon as we walked in, they KNEW what we were there for and directed us to the aisle!

My sweet Ghetts, I love you so dearly! I am so proud of all that you have become in the past 8 yrs of knowing you! You have handled many difficult challenges, overcome such mountains and become so full of charity and so much better through those times! I am so thankful that I can call you're one of my besties, you definitely deserve that title! Thanks for you love, compassion and charity towards me!

Be safe on your vacay and come home to me soon!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARLING!!

ARIZONA JUST DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY!!!

2010-01-21T18:42:00.000-08:00

This is not a lie.. check the news...

Arizona has declared a State of Emergency!!

Yes, this SCORPION inside the back door of my house is a REAL

EMERGENCY!!!

I am seriously ready to pack my bags and head for home... forget about a job.

Why did God create these ugly, iridescent, stinging creatures anyway?!

(Don't answer that.. I want to be dramatic right now.. Monica!! hahaha)

My skin is crawling with the thought of scorpions stinging me in my bed (thanks to that story from my home teacher), in the shower, on my feet as I walk barefoot (thank Monica)...

I am just beside myself! Pray for me... Alexis Drive truly has a state of disaster tonight..

I might just go mad.. thinking about all the ways I may get tortured by Mr. Glowing Scorpion.

Now, to talk about the REAL state of emergency (although I feel like mine is also one!)!

It's Raining...It's Pouring... It's Flooding...

Tornado Warning!!

Governor of Arizona Jan Brewer signed a declaration of emergency for her state after it has been experiencing severe storms, according to theOffice of the Governor.
The Governor’s declaration will release $200,000 from the Governor’s Emergency Funds, which currently contains approximately $2.7 million, to pay for emergency response and recovery expenses from the weather events

I have been gigglin' about the RAIN since I got here. I arrived with NON-working windshield wipers and everyone told me, you don't need windshield wipers here, it NEVER rains in ARIZONA (yes these were AZ natives that told me this!) It has rained 50% of the days that I have been here! Granted not all day most of the time.. but rain for sure! It is so interesting to me how much the people here LOVE these storms! I had a lady at the bank today dance when she saw how wet my check had gotten in the rain, friends telling me how wonderful.. haha I guess I still feel like I am on vacation and it steals from my daily walk in the sunshine.. so I am NOT a fan!

Right now as I type this (still glancing to the wall, floor and doors scoping for scorpions I might add) the wind and rain are BEATING against my house. I keep thinking that the granny has gotten out of her sick bed but no..it's the rain!

The Emergency Essentials side of me, is coming out, with the tornado warnings to the Phoenix Metro area tonight.

Don't worry Pectol family, I have filled my van with gas (with non working windshield wipers, I don't know how that will help), I have candles gathered in one area, I know where my purse and granny's meds are, I have 100 calorie pack chocolates on hand and a case of water bottles...

MAN, I AM in a state of emergency.. sooo unprepared in this AZ home!

Arizona Whitings.. you better watch out.. we may be joining you for homemade bread.. hope you have a box oven! :)

Thankful Thursday: 25 years of Jamie Ann Schroeppel Gillman

2010-01-21T17:38:00.001-08:00

If I was going to come up with a word that combines every word that would stand for this girl the word would be POWERHOUSE!

Meet my Jamie Ann! She is one of my MANY, MANY cousins. But one whose life I was able to be part of for all of it, and that was a BLESSING to me for sure!

Growing up I didn't have a sister and so my poor cousins had to just amuse me and let me adopt them.

Jamie was always great about letting me lug her around and I think she actually enjoyed it.

Since Jamie was a little girl, she had more personality than most people have in a lifetime of growing it!

She was sassy, knew what she wanted and was remarkably mature at all her ages. As she has grown into such a wonderful adult I know why the Lord blessed her with such greatness and maturity because she has had to go through A LOT! As I have watched her loose her first baby, nurture her second, bury her third and continue on have a fourth with a fifth on the way my heart has been touched by the strength this young mother has and the peace she exudes. She has taught me so much about the plan of salvation by watching how she has handled her struggles. Beautifully is the only word that describes how she handles trials.

Jamie KNOWS who she is. She also SHARES who she is with all those around her. She is a master decorator, party thrower, chef (except when she puts a pizza box in the oven and catches it on fire! haha), sister, cousin, mother, shopper and has a humor that will put you constantly in stitches!

Some of the fun memories I have of Jamie include:

Jamie was named Andrea at birth and at her blessing her Dad re-named her to Jamie Ann to all of our suprise.. even her Mom's! (Most people don't have a story like that!)
Playing School, house, cashier...fighting through it too
The Tiffin Room at ZCMI
Sleepovers
Overnight babysitting
Laughs and laughs
Helping me clean and organize things ( I am pretty sure she is still a freak about it like me!)
Drive-In's
Funny girl's nights with Grandma
Jamie and Amy's New Kids on the Block obsession (night gowns, sleeping bags, telephone...)
the face she would give when she was "up to something"
Her teasing personality
the natural mothering that has ALWAYS been in her!

James, I adore you! I have loved you from the VERY second you entered this world and I will love you FOREVER. Thanks for being all that you are! Thank you for being real. Thank you for your faith. You are such a ROCK and I am so thankful that the Lord allowed me to be in your family! Love you CUZ!!

HAPPY 25th BIRTHDAY!

Yes! I met Blaine Kotter, Season 7 Biggest Loser Contestant

2010-01-17T22:18:00.000-08:00

What a fun, insightful night!! I loved learning all the behind the scene things and how he compared to the gospel to the things on the ranch.

Here are some of the tidbit "insider" things he told us!

Biggest Loser sends you home with nothin but a couple resistance bands, 3 boxes of cheerios (because I did a commercial) and a one year to 24 hour fitness (like you will only need to only work out a year! haha)
Worked out 4 hours then had lunch, a lil break 2 hours then had dinner 2 hours then went on a walk. Sometimes they wouldn't get home till midnight
Jillian kicks the snot out of you. He learned what suffering was. He likened that suffering to the atonement and repentance!
When he was in the final process of being chosen, Dane and he were sequestered in a hotel room for 3 weeks. Take away all communication, don't give you a room key. He said it prepared him for the prison like feeling of the Ranch!
6 baptized members in that season (Black team: Dane and Blaine, Blue team: Sione and Fillipe and Yellow team: Aubrey and Mandy,how ever Mandy and Aubrey aren't active)
They have fill in trainers. Bob and Jillian are only there 60% of the time. There are other trainers who take you on outside workouts.
Biggest Loser spend $100 a day on the contestants food all organic, high quality things
The ranch is old and worn down. (they make it look nice on TV...it isn't) Used to be owed by Gillette Razor guy. It is a on national park land so you can go right up to it (tourists)
Ron is as scuzzy as he appeared to be.
Kristin really DIDN'T get baptized :(

He learned about repentance and treating his body right. Before the show he was on 8 different medications and he had high blood pressure and an enlarged liver from them. Within 4 weeks he was off all meds. He ended up losing about 155 lbs and ran a 1/2 iron man, 2- 1/2 marathons and a full marathon before the finale.

His wife had a baby and he got to go home for 24 hours. It was while at home he realized the STARK contast of home life with The Savior as the head and the world contrast on the ranch.

Dane and him still set "game days" to get to the goals they want to achieve and to remember to get there. He elaborated on this. He said every week that everyone looked forward to the challenges, the "game days" where they could accomplish something they have never done before. He said that we should set a date (game day) and set our success in motion. He gave this

acronym.

G oals

A ccountability

M otivation

E ducation

Some spiritual insights he gave throughout his talk...

"You can't give what you don't have!"
"Pain is temporary, Growth is permanant!"
"Be accountable to God."
"If you haven't suffered, you haven't repented."

My favorite thing that he talked about was how before he left to sequestered state in the hotel his wife gave him a book To Draw Closer to God: A Collection of Discourses by Henry B. Iring.

There was a talk given by President David O. McKay that he quoted in there that taught the following principle,

“Man is a spiritual being, a soul, and at some period of his life everyone is possessed with an irresistible desire to know his relationship to the Infinite. … There is something within him which urges him to rise above himself, to control his environment, to master the body and all things physical and live in a higher and more beautiful world” (True to the Faith: From the Sermons and Discourses of David O. McKay,comp. Llewelyn R. McKay [1966],

244).That pull upward is far beyond what you would call a desire for self-improvement. When I felt it, I knew I was being urged to live so far above myself that I could never do it on my own. President McKay had it right. You feel an urging to rise above your natural self. What you have felt is an urging from your Heavenly Father to accept this invitation:

“Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.
“And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot” (Moroni 10:32–33).
That urge to rise above yourself is a recognition of your need for the Atonement to work in your life, and your need to be sure that it is working. After all you can do, after all your effort, you need confidence that the Atonement is working for you and on you.

I think that I really got what he was saying! I appreciated his words, the laughs, the spirit and his willingness to talk to me after and answer any questions that I had. It was a great night. It was fun to see someone that you cheered on, on your television set, right in front of your face and still working towards that goal of self mastery. I appreciated his hard work on the show and I appreciate his continued drive to have that GAME day and keep himself focused and his success in motion! Thanks Blaine for sharing your challenges, suffering and testimony with us tonight!!

Thankful Thursday: The Women in my life!

2010-01-13T13:21:00.000-08:00

This past 2 weeks have been really challenging for me. I won't go into detail right now but some past issues have resurfaced and I am going through some stuff emotionally because of it.

I have been reflecting on my life and the things that I know and believe about myself and just being reminded of truly how blessed I have been and how protected I have been from some pretty ugly things that have happened.

Today I was thinking about my Mom. I am so blessed that I got her as my Mom. She is virtuous, lovely, of good report and praise worthy! She is a women of strength, determination and steadfastness. But most importantly she is someone worthy of being called Mom and I am so thankful that I get to keep her as that, FOREVER!

As I thought about my Mom, I thought about others to that have loved me, buoyed me up, praised me, listened to me, counseled me and just loved me right where I was at in the moment. I am TRULY blessed to be surrounded by ALL of you angels! Your comments on my blog, your texts, your phone calls, your own trials (watching how you dealt with them), chats, gifts, kind acts, hugs, but far beyond all that your EXAMPLE has done wonders for me in my life.

I know that my Father in Heaven loves me, because I feel it through each of you in countless ways! What great peace that is to know. It is something that I come back to anytime I feel weak, alone, scared or hurt. He is a constant in my life and I am so thankful that I have people who have taught me how to find him.

Thanks to ALL YOU women in my life for being YOU!

I need you and I love you!

>P.S. I am SOOOO thankful for technology so I can still hear the words of our Beloved President Hinckley. Oh how I still love and miss him dearly!

If you could live till 99, what would you hope to be??

2010-01-09T09:18:00.000-08:00

This may not be a question we ask ourselves too much but I will tell you what, after living with Verna I know EXACTLY what I would want to be! She is SUPER GRANNY!

She garden's, walks all by herself, doesn't have oxygen, still takes complete control of her hygiene and only has 3 medications.. she seriously doesn't act a day over 80. The secret to her success? I think it is that she has NEVER stopped moving! I wanna be her some day!

Her daughters Mareen and Shari threw her a glorious 99th birthday luncheon with her friends from the ward and grand daughters. I am pretty sure that everyone that received and invite came! Now that is impressive. Her party shows the respect and admiration that people have for her, don't you think?!

Happy, Happy Birthday my dear Roomie! One more year and you will be an official LEGEND!

Dear Readers....

2010-01-08T23:21:00.000-08:00

It feels weird to act like I have all these readers that want to know about my life enough to care that I have new blogs posted.. but I thought my family might want to know how I spent my holidays.... so if you care to read, I posted Christmas Eve and Christmas blogs today. I like to keep them in Chronological order, so they are down a little ways.. (By Sunday I hope to be all caught up with the blogs I missed the Month of Dec...they will be in order that they happened, just a heads up!).
http://meggazaway.blogspot.com/2009/12/twas-night-before-christmas.html
http://meggazaway.blogspot.com/2010/01/blessed-by-christmas-craziness-3.html

Thanks for stalking :) If you read my blog and have never posted something to me.. give me a SHOUT OUT! I would love to know!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy Birthday Ginga!!

2010-01-05T14:24:00.000-08:00

Ok, I know that some think the word Ginga is a mean word to describe someone that is redheaded... but what if there name is Ginger and they are redheaded then I think it constitutes Ginga!!

This is my sweet Holli Dolly's Mom Ginger or Ginger spice, which she is SPICY!! Oh how I love this woman!I looked up the defination for her name and found: Definitions of ginger

n. - The hot and spicy rootstock of Zingiber officinale, which is much used in cookery and in medicine.

^{They have Ginger down pat.. she is}^{hot and she is spicy..especially her famous salsa!! To die for!

Being friends with the Whiting's since I was 12 yrs old, I often heard Aunt Ging stories but when}^{I got to meet her a few years later I was in heaven!! We clicked!! I just loved her. She is the life}^{of the party. Within seconds of being around her you are grinning from ear to ear and laughing gut laughter at the comical things that she is saying!

She is a headliner!! She is one of the trendiest people I know.. if there is something fashionable on the market, she has it and she wears it like no one else can!

She always has a smile on her face and a clever thing to tease you about. She will always be found with a diet drink with lipstick marks on the straw or cup! She is always made up beautifully and dressed to the nines.}

^{But Ging goes much deeper than the style she wears! She is a devoted Mother who has shown such strength through the many trials she has faced.}^{She is a dedicated sister and aunt who loves her family to death.}S^{he is a devoted, sexy wife who dotes on her husband and so in love and not afraid to tell you.}^{But the most important part of Ging is that she is a daughter if God and knows it and shows it by the way that she lives her life.}

^{I know, I know, just from reading this you all want to be friends with Ging, but she is mine, all mine and boy am I glad!!}

^{Happy 30th Birthday my sweet Ginga Spice!! May you keep looking better and better through the years!! I adore you and Love you!!}

Birthday's all around....

2010-01-05T10:03:00.000-08:00

Erica or "ER" as we call her has been my friend for many years. We met originally at EFY and then I got the privilege to be her roommate at Crestwood Apt's in Provo for 2 semesters! At Crestwood we had plenty of good times. From laughing so hard I thought my guts would fall out to late night chats with Jen, Er and I piled on my twin bed in the middle of the night talking about boys (Er would wake up for those... now that is a TROOPER!)
I remember Er's grandpa recliner in her room and how proud she was of that. I was more proud what she did in that recliner, I would wake up to go to my job at Mountain Ridge and find Er bundled up in the recliner reading her scriptures every morning. She was such a GREAT example to me of that.
While we were roomies we came up with "ISM's" of each other and then took a funny picture and put all the ism's around it and hung it on the wall. I wish I could remember all her ISM's cause we all laughed for hours coming up with them. Instead I am going to tell you some of the things I love that ENDEAR me to sweet ER!

Er is a born leader. She is now Young Women's President in her ward, was RS President in our single's ward, Administrator for the EFY program and served a mission to California and survived the food to tell about it:) Er has an AMAZING shimmy! Loves healthy food, especially 'dilly beans" and found a guy to marry that was also raised on dilly beans! She loves to play games especially Settler's of Catan. She is now a wife and mother of the cutest little girl Emmy.
She LOVES talking and watching politics and sports...she's a die hard. And did I tell you she is a killer soccer player? She is!
I am so thankful for Er! Our chats about life, love, hardships, kids, cooking, you name it we talk about EVERYTHING!

I will share two of my favorite Ism's I remember about Er: I never knew there was such things as "I'm having a skinny day" until I met her and she said that! I busted laughing out loud and said, "WHO SAYS THAT?!" and the second is, you can always tell when she is tired, she has what I called a quasi eye. It would droop when she is feeling tired and droopy :)

Er was even such a great friend that when Jen and I moved to Carbondale, IL she came and visited us for a few days!! We had a blast, just like ole' times although we couldn't find dry ice for her Graeter's ice cream so she could take it home.. thanks for the extra 10 lbs it put on me Er.. my body wil be forever thankful!! LOL

Once again you can see why I am so lucky, I have the best example's and greatest friends on the planet!!

Love you Er. I hope you skip mutual tonight and watch Lost and The Biggest Loser while eating a jar of Dilly Beans!

Happy Birthday BESTIE!

Granny's, Granny's, GRANNY'S!

2010-01-01T22:51:00.001-08:00

"Life is just a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get!"

How true this quote has been for me in 2009. My life as most of you know from the blog has gone in a up and down, round and round roller coaster ride that seriously at times felt as though I was in the spin cycle of a washing machine. It makes me dizzy to even think about the whirlwind I have been through.

In 2009 I have worked doing so many things it is insane. Supersonic Car wash as a Cashier, Emergency Essentials as a Customer Service Rep, Alpine School District as Substitute Teacher, A Selection Committee for a research group (I would test products out and give a review), Selling at boutiques/trade shows, house cleaner, A Vacation Nanny, Wedding Planner, Wedding Caterer, and now A Granny Nanny!

As you can see I had my hand in many pots. I loved it though. I love the knowledge I would gain with each responsibility! It wasn't as though I was starting and then quitting, I was doing many at the same time! But for the time being, one has stuck, I am now a Granny Nanny.

This all started back in October when a favorite mission companion of mine Kirsti Turpin Canova called and asked me what I thought about taking a leave from my vacation nannying and watching a Grandma Whelan for a bit. I told her I didn't know what I thought and that I would have to think about it. I prayed and fasted and thought and was so shocked how GOOD it felt! I called her Mother in law back and accepted the position.I began the process of getting everything squared away to go to Arizona in a few weeks and was so excited and even started to love this woman I had never met. Two weeks before I was to report to AZ, I was with a nanny family at disneyland, and got the call from "Turpin" that she had passed away that morning!
I didn't know how to feel. Numb would be a way at looking at it. I was looking forward to this new adventure, a more extended way to gain more knowledge, more perspective and it was taken a way just like that.
(This Granny is pictured above)

A few days later I recieved a call from my adopted Dad Lynn Whiting asking me to go and live with Grandma Whiting (Dale Whiting) in her home in Salt Lake City and care for her. I was elated at the experience. How I loved her already and to take care of her was an honor! I got all moved in with help from My Mom and went the next day to the rehab facility to pick her up. Seeing how happy and anxious she was to be home made it seem even more worth it.
That whole day I just followed her around to learn the "ropes" and find out what things she wanted me to do. We laughed, reminissed, ate and then retired to our rooms. The next morning we awoke and got ourselves ready for the day. Around noon I left for a bit, hadn't even been gone for 40 minutes when I got a call from Life Alert that she had a fall and I needed to get home.
I rushed home and it was a serious fall. I had to call 911 and grandma and I spent the next 4 days in the hosital. Some of the sweetest, most emotional days of my life, watching her go through that. After those days she had to go back for physical therapy and back to the rehab. My life as I knew it was again like a juggling act. (Grandma Whiting passed away on December 13th more to come about her)
After this loss of job I was beside myself. I didn't understand what the Lord wanted of me, why he would allow me to feel such peace and then yank it away from me.
This is when Monica Whiting became my angel and set me up with a family in her ward that needed help with their Granny. I have been in Gilbert, AZ for nearly 3 weeks. I have loved every second (who knew I could love AZ!!) since I have been here. This Granny (Verna Taylor)
is hand picked for me. I have laughed and laughed my way through each day. She has the best one liners you have ever heard and she isn't even trying to be funny! She will be 99 next Saturday and doesn't act a day over 80. I have only spend 3 weeks with her but have learned a lifetime of lessons and perspectives that will forever shape my life. This job has been such a blessing to me in so many ways. I love waking up and going to work. I love to cook for her, laugh with her, help her pick out clothes, do her hair and makeup, take her out, talk with her family, help her out in her yard. It is such a sweet experience...I am so thankful! So glad she is alive!

Life is just a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get rings through in each of our lives today, doesn't it? We have to go on blind faith knowing that we have a loving Heavenly Father who knows countless more than we do. He knows where we need to be, when we need to be there. He knew that I needed Verna and she needed me and so he arranged situations to help me open my heart to get there.
If I didn't love Turpin so much I would have probably never considered that offer and now even though her Grandma and I never got to meet face to face, because of the need she had, I have found a sweetness I may have never known.

I am thankful for the tender mercies of the Lord. I am thankful for trials that open up our eyes to the things we REALLY have had all along. I am thankful for a Heavenly Father who molds me and sometimes even had to put me in that spin cycle so that I can get what I need to get out of this earthy life.

"In all of life, have much joy and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured!"

President Gordon B. Hinckley

Ten Years Ago today.... was Y2K Where were you at midnight?

2010-01-01T17:29:00.000-08:00

I was just thinking last night as the ball dropped that 10 yrs ago it was Y2K. I was on my mission. Serving in an area I loved, Westerville, OH and freezing to death!

My mission president, President Robert A Sharp from San Diego area made it a rule that everyone had to be inside, in their own residence (no missionary sleepovers) by 6pm so that the Zone Leaders and District leaders could do a role call and make sure everyone was safe and if there was any crazy thing that really happened, we could EASILY be accounted for and given direction.

Sister Michelle Casper (Hadley now) and I were wondering what on earth we were going to do with ourselves for so many unaccounted hours. So we choose to play scrabble and watch church movies all night! It actually was really fun!

Y2K came and left with no turmoil caused, minus the 2 laurels (Laura Hessler and Bree Beddos), that showed up at our door scaring us to death at 1am to tell us Happy New Years.. they couldn't believe that we were asleep! They threw rocks at our windows... gotta love them!Besides not having the frumpy look and hairstyle that I had 10 yrs ago, a lot has changed. My life has gained better understanding, purpose and meaning then it had at that time. I have met many more people and have had deeper relationships that I could have then understood. I have a better understanding of the atonement, charity, love and life than I then had as well.

Yet even with this knowledge of how much I have grown in these past 10 years are there days that I wish I could recapture those mission days? ABSOLUTELY! Life was so simple then. All you had to worry about was other people. You never had to think of yourself, what you had to do next, which path you had to take. Everything was just layed out for you. You didn't chose your companion, you didn't pay your rent, you didn't have to worry about anything but progressing the gospel and finding those who wanted Christ more fully in their lives.

So with this all said, I want to try to get back portions of that. To simplify my life even more to alleviate the things that get in the way that make life more complicated than it needs to be. Too many games, too many distractions. I want to remember how to put all that garb aside so I can be a better instrument in the Lord's hands!! I am thankful this year how the church is going back to basics this year teaching out of the Gospel Principles for everyone. I think we can all use a little going back to the basics, don't you?!

*** A special shout out needs to go to Kyle Maguire the teenage stud that I paid to make all my mission pictures digital.. you will be seeing a lot more mission pics on this blog because of him!! Thank you Kyle!

Happy Birthday, Princess Buttercup!

2009-12-26T22:19:00.000-08:00

My sweet Natalie is celebrating a birthday today and I have not yet got the opportunity to do a blog for her on her special day so I am excited to let you know why she is one of my dearest friends.

Natalie just radiates the spirit of the Lord. The reason why is because she is so selfless and would give or do anything for anyone.

She has been to many foreign countries doing just that. Her most recent one was just a couple years ago when she went to Taiwan to teach English. She even made it on a billboard in Taiwan! (Look closely, she is in Blue on the left)

I met Natalie (like most of the greatest people I know) at EFY. Instantly I was drawn to her. I loved her. I could tell that she was real and sincere. Fun and loving. I wanted to INSTANTLY be friends with her!

In 2004 I got to work on the same BC (Building Counselor) team with her. We had so many laughs, sleepless nights and memories created during that time. I was so lucky to work side by side this spiritual, serving giant. The next year we got to be coordinators together (not at the same sessions though) and we did lots of our work to prepare for the summer together. The following summer I was working in the Midwest and able to drive over to her sessions in Buena Vista, VA and watch her at work. She really knows what she is doing and does a brilliant job!
Natalie has blessed me with so many awesome phone chats, gifts, lunches, sleepovers, problem solving, girl talk over our friendship. I am just so blessed!

Natalie became one of the 10%-ers for EFY when she married one of my other EFY buddies Kevin Peterson! What a match made in heaven, I tell you! I was so blessed to be able to go with Nat to pick out her dress. I nearly passed out from how radiant she looked in her wedding dress. The world hasn't seen too many brides as beautiful as she was! In fact, at their wedding photo shoot (following their sealing) Her and her husband were all the rave on temple square. Strangers were taking pictures of them, people were asking if it was a magazine shoot! It was a riot, it looked too perfect to be real!

Primary Children's is so lucky to have her as a nurse in the NICU. I am sure she makes a lot of very stressed out parents feel at ease.

Natalie is uber talented. She is an amazing friend, wife, scrap booker, baker, decorator, crafter, hilarious, thoughtful, service oriented, big hearted, coolest handwriting, planner, organizer, and I could keep going!Natalie, thanks for always being there for me. For caring, really caring about my needs, my feelings and my life! Thank you for living a life that is worthy of emulation! You make me strive to be a better person every time I am around you! I love you sweet Nat!

HAPPY, HAPPY Birthday!

Back for a good reason... Happy Birthday Auntie Leslie

2009-12-26T21:41:00.000-08:00

I know, I know I have been struggling with the blogging lately. I intend to make up for lost time. And will eventually put things back in the order that they happened when I get settled here in AZ. But for now I had to take some time to do some honoring!

Anyone that knows me fairly well knows that my aunts mean the world to me!! I have such great ones. And although I haven't blogged about any yet, I thought today was a good as day as any to start!

My Aunt Leslie is a RIOT! She makes everyone comfortable, feel loved, gives the greatest non-pressuring advice, always good for a laugh, makes my favorite spaghetti on the planet, is the life of any party, loyal, loves family and celebrations and is one of the most talented seamstresses in Utah County who also runs the best Bridal shop in Utah county, (at least me and all my brides have thought so)Veronica Michaels. http://www.vmbridal.com/

When I was a teen Aunt Leslie was the highlight of all my birthday parties, ask any of my friends they would concur... yes I would invite her to my friend Birthday Parties! The nice thing about my Aunts is they aren't just my Aunts' they are my friends. I am so blessed to be able to say that!

I have so many fun memories with Lez. Some that I witnessed, others I have only heard about. But my top 3 favorite Leslie stories in order of favorite-ness would be...drum roll....

1. When she mooned the pizza delivery boy (no this was NOT on purpose) 2. One Christmas we had a family Girl's night out and made ginger bread houses. Late nights and Leslie don't go well together and she was so tired when she left that she proceeded to carry my Mom's broom out the door... we laughed till pants wetting about this one! And last but not least number 3. We were at my Grandma's house one day and someone told all of us around the kitchen table that they heard to be able to get ketchup that was nearly empty down to the bottom of the bottle that you swing your arm around in a circular motion (almost like a pitcher getting ready to pitch) and the gravity will force it down.. Leslie wanted to try it, grabbed the plastic Heinz bottle and proceeded to quickly rotate it in a circular swing and forgot to hold the top of the cap. Everyone got sprayed with ketchup including the walls and the popcorn ceiling...as long as I can remember the ketchup stain remained on the ceiling until the selling of the house!! hahaha

Auntie Leslie!! We love you! We celebrate you! You add such life and love to all of us! We are lucky to have you! The bride world is lucky to have you! And the Lord is lucky to use your strengths to bless so many!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to one of my greatest friends!

Blessed by Christmas Craziness... 3 families, such limited time!

2009-12-25T22:07:00.000-08:00

Who knew that being away from home could be so INSANE!! My Christmas started at 7 am when I got back onto SKYPE with my family and watch the Christmas mania begin at Pat's house!! The kids were so excited (minus Chloe who was still in comatose state!)! It was fun to see their excitement and feel the spirit of Christmas magic in the air. After talking with my family, Verna and I took the yummy egg casserole and went to The Layton's for Christmas Brunch. The family really treats me well, it is always a riot and good company! They spoiled me this year with TONS of towels, 600 thread count sheets, different kinds of jewelery pieces, lotions, and accessories. I felt very loved and blessed by their generosity!
The all time favorite part was to watch the kids get their little go-carts from their Grandparents. They were all about it, lined up, helmets on and spent loads of times racing each other up and down the drive way!! (this is a tradition. Each year they get some kind of bike thing) The Mom's even got some action with it, even to the toddler's dismay :)
Many, many laughs! I love the laughing picture I captured with Verna too!

Afterwards I took Verna home to rest and headed to The Whitings who were ANXIOUSLY AWAITING my arrival. We had a relaxing Christmas Day together. We exchanged our gifts to each other, once again I was given WAY MORE than I deserved. Monica gave me a watch making kit and after hearing my love for Cabbage Patch kids and hearing my "splash em kid" story she bought me a "Giggling with Meg" cabbage patch doll. It is seriously the cutest thing and will make me keep giggling on the hard days! Monica, Laurisa and Jos even gave me new head gear.. I am obsessed and wear all of them, all the time! We watched The Christmas Blessing and just had such a relaxing afternoon!

Following our relaxing time, I went back to pick up Verna's and we headed to Jake and Kelly's for a panini party! They were DELICIOUS! It was so fun to just sit around and get to know them all a little more. I found out that they are cousin's of the Orem High Beeson's! Small world.

Returned Verna back home, helped her get ready for bed and then headed back to the Whiting's to play the game I gave them for Christmas, Sedarahc (Reverse Charades) . All of you need this game! It is such a blast and was developed by former EFY counselors. Here is the explanation so you can see how many hours of fun you can have playing!

SEDARAHC (“suh-DARE-ic”) is indeed, charades with a twist—spelled backwards and played in reverse! Instead of the usual—one person acting out words for the team to guess, SEDARAHC spices things up so the entire team acts out words for one person to guess. It’s fast-paced, fiercely fun team competition that’s an absolute riot with large groups, families, kids, at parties or among a few close friends. You can even play it with pets (although we don’t recommend it). Carry it with you to work, to the gym, to the DMV—the possibilities of SEDARAHC breakout sessions are endless. But be warned…you’re in for big and dangerous doses of fun!

This is the kind of funny that you have when you are playing this game! Seriously, every home needs this game!More fun and laugh's to come with this game.. I guarantee it!!

All in all, I was so BLESSED this season. I got to spend time with 3 families I love. Never felt lonely, always had something fun and adventurous and then I got to come home and finish off this day in prayer of Thanksgiving to my Heavenly Father and the one that made it all possible our dear Savior Jesus Christ with whom I celebrate his birth and glorify his name.
What a celebration!

Twas the night before Christmas...

2009-12-24T23:03:00.000-08:00

This Christmas eve was completely different than ANY I have ever had and it was kind of fun to change it up a little and then end it with my family on skype.

Since I was in AZ I was able to go with the Wade Whiting family to Aunt Lynelle and Uncle Glen Jackson's house in Mesa. I am very familiar with them so it was fun to take part of this Wright family tradition! They have Mexican Fiesta Christmas Eve. Most of the siblings and cousins were there. We had yummy tamale's, quesadilla and I brought black bean salsa which was a huge hit!

We had many laughs (thanks to Richie, he is a hoot)! We had some performances by Kristin's little girl as well of The Whiting kids with the traditional "Sister's" song and Mitch and Jake gave us a fun Jack Johnson Christmas rendition. Richie, Terrie and Debbie were our crowd dancin'performers. The highlight was to have Santa come and I even got to get a updated Santa picture :) Thank you Jackson's for being so wonderful and ALWAYS hosting family parties! It was a great night!

After leaving the party we went back to the Whiting and did the traditional opening up jammies on Christmas eve tradition. We had Christmas music on and even got some more Whiting entertainment. After the opening of their PJ's I got to meet with my family on SKYPE and watch them all open the PJ's I had picked out for them and ready The Christmas Jars's book with them via SKYPE. I committed my family to work on Christmas Jar's this year and next year on Christmas eve we will choose someone to deliver the Christmas Jar too anonymously! I am so thankful for technology and that even though I am miles away, I could be a part of my family tradition and feel like I am there with them.. I miss these faces!

Never a dull moment in Boise

2009-10-24T12:37:00.001-07:00

We are having a fun Saturday here in Boise.. We had to do our seasonal jibjab. Hope you laugh as much as we did!!

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

We also had them record the favorite song amoung all my nanny kids.. My favorite is Grace really thinks it says your so fat, and I'm still working on that!! Makes me laugh everytime!

Thank you for everyone's comments already!! These kids feel like superstars and love to read them!! We decided that we are going to post the original music video for this song so that you can see the "real " words.. although, we think ours were pretty darn cute!

General Relief Society Broadcast Fall 2009

2009-09-26T23:25:00.000-07:00

There were GREAT things that took place both in the meeting as well as in my own heart. My mind has just been flooded with thoughts about this Relief Society meeting that I am anxious to get them in writing.

The General President, Sister Beck, made an announcement about the name of activities in the Relief Society. In my lifetime it has been Homemaking Meeting, Home, Family, and Personal Enrichment, and Enrichment Night. They have now changed it to the name, "Relief Society Meeting" with an emphasis of what you are focusing on that night! I love that! Go back to the basics, simplify, don't make it sound so foreign. I love how the church leaders really look into what is happening even in an "un required" activity in the Relief Society and then they bring that vision to us.

All the teachings were heartfelt, inspired, and touching to me but in this blog I am going to concentrate of the talk that stuck out the most with me and then end with a quote by President Eyring.

I bet you can't guess the one I am going to talk about? I will give you a hint...it was given by a sister that COMPLETELY understands the stage of life that I am now in, Sister Barbara Thompson, who has Enjoyed her Journey a lot longer than I have and has stayed POSITIVE in the midst of being single! I love seeing woman who are older than me and still practicing that positive, hopeful attitude. That is the way I hope I will be.
Sister Thompson, taught about a really neat principle "Mind The Gap". I really connected with this strongly. This caution, "Mind The Gap" is found in London subways. She taught that this helps people realize that there is "danger", a gap between the train and the loading dock and the sign "Mind The Gap" reminds people not to let their foot get caught in the gap or not to drop anything in gap cause it will go under the train and be lost. I loved that she taught this. Isn't there so many "gaps" in our lives that if we don't heed or are not worthy of the promptings of the Spirit we too may find ourselves in danger or under that train lost without realizing how it happened or how we got to that point.
She taught us, " that sometimes it is the difference between what we know, and what we actually do. Or the gap between our goals and what we actually accomplish. These gaps can be reminders of ways that we can actually improve or if ignored can be used as stumbling blocks in our lives."

She gave some great examples as to what some of those gaps can be. I have seen some others in my own life or in lives of people that I truly love and hope that this talk can help us to improve and narrow the gap so that we can be safe from letting ourselves fall under the train.

We are in a time where it is getting more and more confusing. The voices of opposition are becoming louder and louder. The world welcomes things in which I know are not right, in fact, I find them really wrong and yet so many of us who "know" seem to get caught up in them without even remembering what our main objective is in this life, our goal. Before you know it you have a gap that is getting further away from eternal things and closer to things of the world. I am not immune from the gap and neither is anyone else. But if I listen the caution given to "Mind The Gap" in all the choices that I make, I will be a lot closer to making choices with eternal value, then making choices that can ultimately lead me to danger or even worse being lost without direction.

She reminds us that the "IF'S" sometimes get in the way. Oh do they ever! If God loved me than why would he ____? If God loved me, wouldn't I get the chance to ______? She taught, "There is NOTHING that can separate you from love of God. We are all children of God and we should never doubt it and be assured that he loves us dearly and we are his precious children."

I am going to stand a little taller. I am going to proceed with caution the gaps that may come into my life and remember that I have a legacy to live up to, a legacy to fulfill. That I don't just have the responsibility to mind my gaps solely that I have the responsibility to remind those I love, to caution them when I see them heading toward that gap. We need each other to make it through these times, we need each other accomplish our goals, we need each other to keep this great legacy going!

"Just remember that the legacy is past from heart to heart. Charity, the pure love a Christ, is part of the mighty change of heart which the Lord promises to his faithful disciples so it is not hard to see what simple things you can and must do to pass the legacy along." -President Henry B. Eyring-

I am going to try everything in my power to keep the faith, to spread the love, and to be an example of the believers by showing that I believe and listen to the cautions myself!

My heart has been changed and my mind has been spiritually fed. I am so thankful for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the leaders that have been called of God to caution me and counsel me in the things that need to be focused on in my day. We live in a world that is loud with opposing voices, and because of the teachings of Men and Women of God, I still hear!

"The Two Shall Become One": Meet the Peterson's!

2009-09-24T23:33:00.000-07:00

I am still rejoicing over this eternal union! I have been a fan of this couple since before they were even a couple! Some people are just supposed to be together and these two are a PERFECT example of that!This is Kevin and Natalie. I was blessed to meet them both at EFY (are you all surprised?!) . I have always been SUPER impressed by them both and just wanted to be around them as much as I could manage because there was ALWAYS good conversation and lots of fun when they were around(together or separate).

Years ago I nicknamed Nat "Princess Buttercup" because anyone that knows her wants to do "as you wish" for her because she is so sweet and doesn't expect anything of you but to just be yourself! Kev was nicknamed "Ken" cause doesn't he just fit the part?! Practically perfect in every way!

I was so blessed and thankful to be involved in all of their wedding activities! They had such a fun dinner the night before at The Joseph Smith Memorial Building complete with a quiz we all had to do to figure out how well we knew them individually and as a couple!

A lot of neat things were said about them at their sealing. The sealer kept referring to the light that they possess as a couple that they just "twinkle". He even said that he was worried that they were going to be translated before they even made it to get sealed! They did look so beautiful and he was right the radiated true love!

Outside those temple walls it was no less beautiful! The weather was picture perfect! It was cool and breezy yet clear and sunny! There was some GREAT people who also were celebrating with me today! As you know these THREE are some of my fav gals.. they are NO STRANGERS to this blog! Wow they are glowing too! hahaha see Kev and Nat rub off on us all!

I don't know if I have ever seen a couple have more fun at their after wedding photo shoots! They were skipping, growling, Tarzan calls, and letting their true FUN values come out! Here is one such moment! The reception didn't disappoint either. It was just as gorgeous, just as exciting with so many fun people attending and I hear the chocolate bar was a HIT! Be proud of me, I stayed away with only a half of mint cookie eaten :) (It was the chocolate mint Schmidt's Bakery cookies, I just had to indulge!)

I was able to get to set up the centerpieces and chairs and decorate the cake with fresh flowers (my first time ever!) I had a blast helping them out a little bit. It was fun for once to not "be in charge" during the reception, especially with so many friends there! I have taken a TON of pictures at ALL the events so I am going to end with a collage of the reception. (to see bigger views click on it!) Kev and Nat, you will have a full life filled with love, the gospel of Jesus Christ and FUN! What more could ANYONE ever want?!
Love you both SOO much!

Eldredge Manor: A class act!

2009-09-24T17:09:00.000-07:00

Wanna know of an EXCELLENT Reception Center in the Bountiful area?! You will find it at Eldredge Manor! This is gorgeous inside and out! It has several large rooms and fun Brides and Grooms rooms upstairs! Beautiful gardens out back where you can have the bride and groom situated and guests greeted before coming in for their deliciously catered food!

They have a first class staff that really ENJOYS there jobs and are eager to help with anything that you ask them to do.
You are assigned a hostess that is around all night making sure everything is running safely and also assures that the bride and groom get goodies packed up from the reception and all the cake gets boxed up to take home!
I have now been to this center for a few weddings and each one has all the elements that I would recommend to a bride to have! Way to go Willam's family for running such a CLASS ACT place that anyone would happy to include in their most anticipated day of their life!

To contact the Eldredge Manor you can go to http://www.eldredgemanor.com/

Dear Elliott

2009-09-03T22:22:00.000-07:00

This is such a sweet story of a Dad who writes letters to his baby everyday he was alive! This is so touching and I wanted to share it with all my readers. Life is a gift!

And the world has never been the same.. Happy Birthday Andrea!

2009-09-01T20:42:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had a friend that you can't wait to get a hug from? Has anyone made you laugh so hard you fought to catch your breathe again? This person for me is Ms Andrea Aguiar!! She is the life of the party, the friend to all, has more talent in one hand than most have in their whole body and with all this said, she is still willing to be my friend!!

I met Andrea at EFY (of course!) and she was like a breath of laughing gas for me. She just has a way to put things that make you go into gut laughter!

A few quick snipets of the things that I admire about this girl...

She can laugh at herself
Although she has had many trials, she can joke through her pain
She has a good eye for fashion and decor
She is faithful even as a nursery leader ;0
She is so tall that she straddles you when she hugs you!
She is loyal to the core
She follows the spirit, does things even when she doesn't understand why
She is a family gal
Adventurous and spontaneous
Smart and organized
Thoughtful and serviceable
A good listen
Gives good advice
Stands for something

There aren't enough words to express my love and respect for this sweet girl! Drea, I love you and I celebrate your birth and love what you have brought to all who love you!
HAPPY 29th Birthday my dear!

Three's a Charm!

2009-08-23T10:49:00.000-07:00

This day is a blessed birthday with 3 family members at once! (OK so Joslyn maybe an adopted family member but you can't tell me that) It is one I am thankful that can be celebrated!

Uncle Doug
Cousin Dakota
Joslyn Whiting

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

The birthday celebrations started off Whiting style with a family dinner for Jos. They made her favorites crepes and Pazookie's for dessert. She received a quilt from her mom with all the T-shirts from each event she was in as youth and a singing Hannah Montana card! We had a fun For Strength of Youth FHE knowledge bowl too!

For any of you that know Jos you know that she is a burst of positive energy! Finds joy in life both during hard times as well as the best of times! She is always seeking out high adventure (thanks Wade!) and you will catch her singing and dancin at any given moment if she has the chance. She also has a love for a pretty face! Believe me if she has a chance to talk about Zac Effron she will :) Jos is very creative and crafty like he mama. He recent love is making the CUTEST headbands ever!

She handle's lives challenges with faith and optimism and never let's anything get in her way! She is a girl that is dedicated to finding joy in the journey, reaching her goals, family time and the gospel. I am SOOO lucky to have sweet Jos in my life!

Next was Dakota's surprise 29th Birthday celebration! She has the best hubby around and he planned a birthday surprise that was RIGHT UP HER ALLEY! We all showed up at their old reception center and he had There she is, Miss America music on repeat so that when she walked in blind folded that was what was playing! Amazingly enough we got everyone including small children to stay quiet so she thought they were just going someone privately! When she was allowed to lift the blindfold, SURPRISE! He 3 small boys were in front of her with a cape, a sash a crown and 4 dozen roses!! Oh yes the reaction happened! Tears were flowing and kisses being handed out! She was a HUGE fan! Then we Karaokied the night away! So much fun!

Koty is one of the most amazing women that I have in my life! She is so on the ball! Not only does she have 4 boys under 7 yrs old, she runs a fully functioning farm, has a few side businesses, serves people freely and willingly, is the go to girl for EVERYTHING! Believe me I call her for food quanities for a wedding, sales, to borrow things, get advice, vent.. she rocks! You should check out the things that she shares on the If you care to share blog! Always useful items, sales, and crafts!
She was one of my bestest friends growing up and continues to be well into my adult years. She has never gotten tired of me.. now that is LOVE!

My Uncle Doug is one of my Mom's youngest brother's so he was always around as I was growing up. I remember writing him as a 10 or 11 yr old on his mission. And the way I felt when I got a letter back it was so awesome! He is so patient and loving. In our older years I have LOVED watching that loving, patient side of him shine through with how tender he is with my aging grandparents. He is always trying to help them and I can tell that he really enjoys serving them. He has always been so family focused! He comes to our family things even if for only a moment to lend that support! It means the WORLD to us! He even showed up while he could be out celebrating his own Birthday to Koty's surprise party! Now that is commitment and love! I think that says a lot about a person. I am thankful for his choice in who he married as well. His wife Kim was instantly my best friend and some of my fondest memories are with her! Way to go Uncle Doug! Lot's of reasons why we celebrate you!

The Whiting Family Reunion!

2009-08-21T13:22:00.000-07:00

JULY 30 -August 2

2009
I am thankful to Monica for doing such a great job with picture taking!! I just grabbed some of her photos from this glorious event and they are great!!
We stayed around Utah this year! It was so fun to explore our own state!

We went to The Mt. Oquirruh temple open house. It was much more reverent this time around. What a beautiful house of the Lord!

I got to go to This is the Place State park for the first time and would HIGHLY recommend it to ANY family, any age! There were pioneer crafts to be done, music played throughout, we got to go to see what an old school day would be like, there were pony rides for the kids, a little candy shop, a train ride all for $8! Well worth the money! I also heard that Christmas time is AMAZING there! I am planning to return!
I got to feed this great crew for 4 meals during the week and LOVED it! Thank you everyone for being so gracious and eating what I had prepared! You are troopers!

We had a blast whether it was trying on pioneer clothing, throwing horse dung (yes Wade started it!) or the lovely solo's that were sung in a church with some GREAT acoustics!This is the Place State Park is definitely a treat for young and old.. no chance you can get bored!

I love this family and really love when we are all together.. we missed Justin and Beth...at least they both came a few weeks before to see us or we would have been ripped off!

My favorite of all the activities would be WHITING IDOL!! There is some serious acting talent in this family! From the parents on down! We got the privilege of seeing an older and younger version of Sony and Cher. I think the both were out of this world AMAZING!! We had Hans and Frans show up from Saturday night live with a rendition of "Muscular" from the wicked song Popular! Loved that! We had various children perform great delights! Jeff even wowed us with his poetry memorization and presenting skills!

Our Judges were: Simon (Matt Heaps) Paula (Jill Heaps) and Kara (Monica Whiting) Still Not sure what happened to Randy! These judges were true to their character and as Randy would put it...WE LOVE YOU DAWG!

Saturday I wasn't able to do any of the activities and heard I REALLY missed out. But I was able to be at Nunn's park for a fun night of laughter, food and Charades. We stayed up till 3 am that night ending it with a nice stroll in the neighborhood.

We didn't want all the fun to be over! Even the Buhrley's stayed longer than they planned to continue the family adventure!! Sunday we celebrated Lynn's Birthday and had a blast together!

What great adventure, family building and togetherness we enjoyed!! Thank you for adopting me in and letting me in on the FUN!!

I LOVE YOU!!

Next year??? Bear Lake anyone?!

There are reasons for everything: Biggest Loser

2009-08-19T18:35:00.000-07:00

Today when I found these sneak previews of Season 8 I didn't feel bad anymore. They have GREAT people on there this season!! And Dan is one of my all-time favs! Can't wait! Don't take my word for it.. see for yourself how AWESOME it is going to be! Get ready to be inspired... maybe it will be one of these days ;)

This woman has such a light to her! I can't wait to follow her journey this season!

Dan is the man!! He was on last season and got kicked off way to early! He as been given a second chance this season!! He is going to ROCK IT!

So as you can tell, I am excited for those who made season 8. Everything happend for a reason!

Happy Birthday MUDDA!

2009-08-11T15:11:00.000-07:00

I need to send a SPECIAL SHOUT OUT to my Mission Mommy Mudda Mandi Thomas!! Hope you live up your Birthday.. you deserve it!! Love you!

Classic Mandi face!
Here is a post from last year so you can get to know one of the people I love mostest from my mission!

http://meggazaway.blogspot.com/2008/08/memory-monday-my-mission-mommy-trainer.html

A taste of Heaven...Try it you'll like it, hey mikey!

2009-08-06T10:32:00.000-07:00

Aebleskiver

So this isn't a NEW obsession... I have ALWAYS loved these thanks to my Boise family, but I have been thinking about what I am going to do for breakfast at the Pectol family reunion and this craving for Aebleskiver's came to me.

Now if you don't know what they are, I feel horribly bad for you! They are a piece or Heaven! I have however after placing the need for the pans on Facebook, found out that LOTS of my friends enjoy them and have these unique pans!! YIPEE!

To some of you this may be a foriegn thing. Let me explain what these are: (wikepedia)

In Denmark, æbleskiver are common before Christmas. In Norway, warm waffles have much of the same function as æbleskiver in Denmark.
They are also often sold at charity markets, scout arrangements, local sports gatherings and similar, or served at children's birthday parties, due to their popularity and easy preparation.
Unlike what is sometimes assumed in America, Danes don't eat
æbleskiver for breakfast (at least not in modern times).
I am American and I eat them for BREAKFAST and a yummy breakfast they are!! Now there are wonderful things that you should know about these delights..

You can make them plain or you can add things in them
Adding things in depends on your creativity. A few added items include: apples, blueberries, strawberries, sausage and cheese, bacon, eggs, cream cheese, frosting, pudding...get the point..anything goes!
They are delicious with strawberry jam, powdered sugar or syrup too!
And of course, they can be made into desserts to!! VERSITILITY RULES!

You should try them!! Yes you do have to buy a special pan which they carry at most Bed, Bath and Beyonds but it will create endless yummy food memories in your families! Maybe even a knew Christmas one!

Here is a video that shows how it is done. Pam works just as well instead of oil.

Here is a recipe for plain ones.. I will add more as I have them!
2 cups white flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups buttermilk
3 eggs, separated

DIRECTIONS
Sift the flour, salt, and baking soda together in a bowl. Add the buttermilk and egg yolks; stir until you have a batter.
In a separate large glass or metal mixing bowl, beat the egg whites until foamy until soft peaks form. Lift your beater or whisk straight up: the egg whites will form soft mounds rather than a sharp peak. Fold the egg whites into the prepared batter.
Place an aebleskiver pan over medium heat; prepare each cup with cooking spray. Pour the batter into each cup to about 2/3 full. Cook until golden brown on each side, using a toothpick to flip, 1 to 2 minutes per side.

Two greats share today! Uncle and Niece

2009-08-04T16:08:00.000-07:00

These two are definately NOT strangers to this blog! These are two souls and faces that I reverence and love so much! Happy Birthday Lynn and Holls! What a blessed day today is!!
I have written about Lynn last year click here to be reminded of his greatness!
http://meggazaway.blogspot.com/2008/08/just-like-dad-to-me-happy-birthday-lynn.html

And of course the Dolls. Can't wait for her to be here next Thursday!! I don't know if I can sleep until she comes I am SOOO excited!

http://meggazaway.blogspot.com/2008/08/celebrating-life-of-one-and-only-holli.html

I wish you both the BEST birthdays ever!! Know that you are loved and I am so THANKFUL YOU WERE BORN!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Happy Birthday Sweet Jen!

2009-07-29T09:50:00.000-07:00

HaPpY BiRtHdAY WiLlIs!!!

Anyone that really knows me.. knows that this is my Willis!! I don't make many decisions without counseling with her! She has become such a HUGE part of my life in the last 5 yrs... I don't know what I did without her before it!

Jen is a LOVER! She loves people, pooches, family, friends, good food and diet coke, laughing, teasing, traveling, serving, the gospel, the scriptures, playing the piano, singing, concerts, road trips (even spontaneous ones!), hanging, she even loves me!

I have traveled from Mexico to London with the girl! We have so much fun together!! I wish it was more often but that is my fault, not hers!

Jen is truly A-mazing in every way!! Ask anyone that knows her! I love that she is tender and that she is close to the spirit. She gets teary eyed hearing a good story or even watching a Disney parade.. I LOVE THAT!! I think that is a good way to be!

Jen thanks for sharing so much of your time, talents and love with me.. I cherish you more than you will ever be able to comprehend!

***There is some more about her on my blog from last year check it out... you may want to turn off the music that is with the video.. it is pretty annoying. Just click the right hand bottom corner of the video.***

http://meggazaway.blogspot.com/2008/07/tribute-tuesday-jens-bday.html

It's my Bombee's Birthday

2009-07-28T11:38:00.000-07:00

Today is our sweet Shelisa's Birthday. I have called her Bombee since she was 1. It is really Bambi but that is how I pronounce it. There is a reason but it is a long story.

Shelisa has been my buddy since she was a baby. I would watch her and love her. She was absolutely beautiful then and she still is today.

Shelisa is loyal. She is protective and she loves deeply. She has some great qualities that anyone would want to possess.

She is a second cook at her Dad's Mexican Restaurant Cocolitos by Harmon's in Orem. You should try it out if you haven't it is DELICIOUS! She is such a hard worker and I can tell she helps her Dad out immensely!

Shelisa has always been really responsible and put other's first before herself. She is also so faithful and puts the Lord first. Bombee has a GORGEOUS singing voice which I wish she would do something with.. I could listen to her sing all day!

Shelis, you are so special, talented and have a family of 106 people that ADORE YOU! Thanks for being you!

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Kylie Smiley turns 21

2009-07-27T10:34:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Ky Ky!

Today our sweet Ky Ky turns 21 yrs old!! There is a lot of celebration to be had in those short years!!

Kylie would ALWAYS keep us over-entertained. She was very theatrical and dramatic! She would talk and talk and talk to you some more. From the time she was a 4 she thought she was a teenager! She always talked like an adult.

Ky was a little rascal. Because she felt older than she was, she would always get herself in to mischief! But then you would look at the pretty little porcelain face and it was hard to get mad at her!

Ky has always had a good sense of humor and could always laugh at herself.. there is something to say about someone that can laugh at their blonde moments.. one of the many reasons I love Kylie Lynn.

Now all grown up and a mommy I love to read he blog and see her insights. I have always known she was wise, even as a child, but now I get to read it!
Kys thanks for sharing your life with us! You are a delight and I am proud to call you my cousin!

Sunday Sampler: Broken things to mend

2009-07-26T23:36:00.000-07:00

This subject has been resting in my mind for a little over a week. I had a deep discussion with a dear friend of mine last weekend and it ended in us talking about broken things.. that each are broken at one point in our life, and from one thing or another.

I remembered two powerful things in my life that had to do with this topic. First was a time that I felt the spirit so POWERFULLY at EFY while this principle was being taught. and Second how I felt when an apostle of the Lord addressed us with this very topic.

One of the Coordinators at an EFY counselor training shared a story about a time that he was able to go with a youth to meet with an apostle at church headquarters. This youth had been through some really hard family issues and this apostle has been made aware of them and had asked to meet with the youth to give an apostolic blessing. Fernando related this experience with us and the spirit completely filled the room and tears began to flow from all in attendance. The apostle shared with this youth an experience he had while visiting in Jerusalem a while back. While on a tour of this sacred city he saw a Shepard in the distance who was carrying a lamb around his neck. He thought that it was quite interesting seeing in person what he had seen depicted in pictures many times before. He asked the tour guide if he could go closer and meet this Shepard. When he got there he asked the Shepard, why he carried the lamb around his neck to which the Shepard replied that the lamb had broken legs. You see, this lamb wandered away from the flock and when lambs do this the Shepard would break their legs and carry the lamb around their neck until the lamb recognized the Shepard's voice and then they would put the lamb back down and the lamb would never stray because it knew the Shepard's voice!

This illustration has meant the world to me. There are so many times in our lives when we too feel broken or are broken. Whether it is something that we ourselves did or something that was done to us we are in the need of "The Shepard's" healing. We need to be picked up, carried around his neck, and then taught his ways and learn once again what his voice is saying to us. We each have those broken things to mend in our lives.

In this very talk by Elder Holland he teaches us that not only does the Lord know the way out, he knows the way up! He knows it because He has walked it. He knows the way because He is the way.

Many of you understand how much I have been deeply touched by this apostle of the Lord. I have had such intimate and personal experiences through his words and actions that I will never doubt that he is a man of God and a true messenger of Jesus Christ. The closing of this talk gives a plea to us all:

"Brothers and sisters, whatever your distress, please don’t give up and please don’t yield to fear. I have always been touched that as his son was departing for his mission to England, Brother Bryant S. Hinckley gave young Gordon a farewell embrace and then slipped him a handwritten note with just five words taken from the fifth chapter of Mark: “Be not afraid, only believe.” I think also of that night when Christ rushed to the aid of His frightened disciples, walking as He did on the water to get to them, calling out, “It is I; be not afraid.” Peter exclaimed, “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.” Christ’s answer to him was as it always is every time: “Come,” He said. Instantly, as was his nature, Peter sprang over the vessel’s side and into the troubled waters. While his eyes were fixed upon the Lord, the wind could toss his hair and the spray could drench his robes, but all was well—he was coming to Christ. It was only when his faith wavered and fear took control, only when he removed his glance from the Master to look at the furious waves and the ominous black gulf beneath, only then did he begin to sink into the sea. In newer terror he cried out, “Lord, save me.”

Undoubtedly with some sadness, the Master over every problem and fear, He who is the solution to every discouragement and disappointment, stretched out His hand and grasped the drowning disciple with the gentle rebuke, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”

If you are lonely, please know you can find comfort. If you are discouraged, please know you can find hope. If you are poor in spirit, please know you can be strengthened. If you feel you are broken, please know you can be mended.

In Nazareth, the narrow road,
That tires the feet and steals the breath,
Passes the place where once abode
The Carpenter of Nazareth.

And up and down the dusty way
The village folk would often wend;
And on the bench, beside Him, lay
Their broken things for Him to mend.

The maiden with the doll she broke,
The woman with the broken chair,
The man with broken plough, or yoke,
Said, “Can you mend it, Carpenter?”

And each received the thing he sought,
In yoke, or plough, or chair, or doll;
The broken thing which each had brought
Returned again a perfect whole.

So, up the hill the long years through,
With heavy step and wistful eye,
The burdened souls their way pursue,
Uttering each the plaintive cry:

“O Carpenter of Nazareth,
This heart, that’s broken past repair,
This life, that’s shattered nigh to death,
Oh, can You mend them, Carpenter?”

And by His kind and ready hand,
His own sweet life is woven through
Our broken lives, until they stand
A New Creation—“all things new.”
“The shattered [substance] of [the] heart,
Desire, ambition, hope, and faith,
Mould Thou into the perfect part,
O, Carpenter of Nazareth!”

I am so thankful to know that I too can be mended of broken things. I have needed mending so many times and I have clung to the hope and called out "Lord, save me!" and he has done just that. He has sent someone my way, given me the words to read, or spoke peace to my soul in ways that no one else could have healed me and made me feel whole. I am thankful that it is never too late to be mended, that no matter how long we have held on to the broken things that we can be made whole again in every way. The Savior DOES LIVE! He DID atone for our sins! He is the ultimate healer of our hearts, minds, and souls. May we all be mended in the ways that only HE understands!

Sammie-Sammo! Birthday Wishes!

2009-07-25T23:26:00.000-07:00

I wish I had all my OLD photos on CD or I had a scanner. I have some real good ones of this girl from the years before my mission, my preschool teaching days!

Sammie is a wild one :) She is for sure an independent spirit. She has always been adventurous and never afraid of a little dirt! But the thing I remember the most about her is that she was SOOO creative and imaginative! I guess that is why Harry Potty would be one of her favorite movies right?!

Sammie loved food and if I remember right she loved JUNK FOOD! She would always beg for the treats!

One of the saddest days for me was the day that I went with her mommy to check out the new daycare in Springville cause I was leaving on my mission. I didn't want to leave them to be loved by strangers!

I haven't got to be around Sammie a lot since I have been home.. but when I do get to hear conversations she is having or be a part of it she can still make me chuckle!! I love you Sammie! Hope your Day is wonderful!

Birthdays Glore.. Celebrating Josh!

2009-07-25T22:51:00.000-07:00

What more can I say about a cousin that was the same age as me growing up!! He is amazing!! I have always thoroughly enjoyed every minute of him!! Can you blame me?!

Josh will always keep you in stitches with his sarcastic ways. He was a pretty interesting kid. A few random memories. He would ALWAYS be in just his under ware. I am talking all the way until I was 16 I was seeing him in his under ware. At the time, I didn't think it was a big deal... now I think it is HILARIOUS!

Also I am envisioning his staple food from teens years.. a loaf of white bead and a pint of Sour Cream.. I know.. VERY weird.. but I swear he would eat it a lot!

He was the best of friends to me. He even had pity on me in high school and came to a Sadies Hawkins Dance with me!! Now that is LOVE! Funny thing is we just all dressed in matching shirts and went to get pictures and then ditched the dance. ha ha ha

It is so fun to watch him in love. I can tell that he REALLY loves his wife, can you blame him.. HE SCORED!They do a lot of fun things together. I will tell you what, I would have never thought that Josh would have an interest in running marathons but with her I believe he has run 2. I could be wrong on my numbers.. but just the fact that he ran 1 would be a FEAT!

And my favorite thing that I love to see as Josh has grown up... his even bigger role as Dad. He is such a good Daddy and you can tell he COMPLETELY enjoys the joys of Fatherhood!JOSHY WASHY!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Isn't 31 GREAT!

17 today.. Happy Birthday SCHWEE!

2009-07-24T10:19:00.000-07:00

Today is Ashlee's Birthday. Ash has always shared her Birthday with Grandpa Schroeppel. I have never heard her complain or not show up to the family party on their birthdays. What a special girl she is!!

Ash is tender hearted. She has always been a cuddler, a lover and a peacemaker. And look at her she is also a LOOKER!!

I got to hang out A LOT with Ash when she was younger. Is always had a contagious giggle and a fun personality. I still remember all the songs that she would sing as a very young girl. At Christmas her Mom and I spent so much time in ShopKo she would sing, "help me make more of the magic HOPKO the store for you!" When her Mom and I worked at Casual Corner she would use the cash register hanging pole as her microphone and sing to her hearts desire!

I will always have a special place in my heart for my dear Ashlee Ann! I celebrate your Birth my dear girl! Thanks for being so loving, caring and selfless on your birthdays and always!!

HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT DAY!!

Being 80 is a GREAT reason to celebrate!

2009-07-24T10:09:00.000-07:00

See this Handsome guy... no this is not a movie star, this is MY Grandpa!!
Today Grandpa turned 80!! Now that is reason to celebrate!

We had a fun, family and friend filled day with Grandpa at Timpanogas Park, also known as The Storyteller Park. Lots of yummy food and lts of family sharing musical tributes as well as story tributes. Even though the sun was really hot that day we all seemed to leave with smiles on our faces knowing that this man was well celebrated!

Happy Birthday Gramps!!
So glad that I got to help celebrate you today!

Celebrating Rachel Squires!!

2009-07-20T11:12:00.000-07:00

I am about to blog about someone that I think is absolutely PHENOMENAL! I tell her this every Sunday that I get a chance to talk to her.. but today I need to put it in writing cause she truly is!

Not only does she excel in everything she does in her callings she is also a chemist!! Yes I said it, a chemist.. atleast that is what I remember! She is one smart cookie!

Today is my sweet Rachel's Birthday and she deserves a MAJOR shout out on my blog. Why you might ask? The reason is simple.. her smile. That smile has cheered me up on SOOO many occasions! Seriously.. Rachel is in my ward and some Sunday's I am not gonna lie going into to a single's ward kind of bums me out.. then I see if from across the room her smile that lights up everything it reaches!

Rachel and I were in the RS Presidency together for a couple months and I felt so blessed to be able to sit next to someone every Sunday that has such an amazing spiritual presence to her. Rachel is a spiritual giant. I am in awe of how you feel when you are around her.

Now make sure to not let Rachel fool you though, she pretends to be so quiet and shy but my girl Rachel can hold her own.. she is so charming, funny, a tease and can recite movie lines with the best of you! She has a quick whit to her and I love it because if I find something EXTRA comical in church I can look over at two people and know that they feel the same about what is being said or done. Rachel is one of those I can count on to be getting a kick out of it too!

Although I don't know everything there is to know about Rach, I do know that I love her already and appreciate the meekness she brings into our presence every Sunday.. I think I need to be around her more often.. what do you say RACHIE BABY?!

Widdo Wowie is all growed up!

2009-07-17T01:34:00.000-07:00

Valerie, Valer-ra, Valerie, Valer-ra-ha-ha-ha
Most people don't get a song written after them!

I have wrote about this cutie before and she is back on my blog for yet another debut! Let's just call it her Birthday Debut!

Read the blog from last year for a slew of reasons why I have the greatest cousin in the world!
http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7325810029368490061&postID=8472676157453128685

Val especially made it to the GOLD STAR list this week when she dropped everything and took me to a Dr's appointment in Salt Lake only to have me have an emotional breakdown in her car... she handled it like a champ!

Her husband who I call "Janet" had a really sweet cousin surprise Birthday planned for her today but I blew it by sending a text question to him and Val accidentally seeing it. It was so sweet and thoughtful of him but Val is far too humble and knowing about it she had to say, no way HOSEA! So Val, even though I am not able to be with you today on your Birthday, know that I adore you! I CELEBRATE your birth and I have loved you since the beginning!

I love watching you as a mommy of two. You are a natural and act like it is no biggie! Your kids adore you! I love hearing of your fun adventures, your silly mishaps and the temperature differences just 12 hours away!I am so thankful for our phone conversations and venting sessions that we have now that you aren't here in person year round. You are an amazing person with such great talents that I rely on too much probably!

Thanks for being such a happy part of my life! I love the memories that we have together!
CELEBRATE!! YOU DESERVE IT!

Mitch.. today you get some attention!!

2009-07-16T23:11:00.000-07:00

HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY MITCH!

Sorry there is a random picture of Em in here but Mitch loves her.. and this is the only way I could use these pics and I love them!

You see this adorable face? This is the face of my Mitchy!! Oh how I adore him. When I get to go to Boise, he is always so excited to see me and so excited to come up with fun plans for the week.
He is one of the best helpers that you could ever get and has one of the funniest personalities. Mitch is the life of the party! He has had a personality since he was born. He could always melt my heart and make me laugh till tears!But above ALL else, I LOVE THAT MITCH WILL CUDDLE WITH ME! You are never too old to cuddle with those you love, right mitch (don't you dare out grow it!) Mitch and I have an understanding. We figured out a GREAT way to work with each other and that is anytime that he feels like he wants to start teasing one of his siblings.. instead he comes up to me and says, "Meg, I need attention!" and so I will tickle him.. sometime for just a second and sometimes for LONG periods of time and then when he is done with his "attention" he will sit next to me and we will cuddle and chat! ISN'T he the BEST?!!

Mitch, I think you are fabulous! I love you so dearly! We have so many fun memories and we will make SOO many more! Can't wait for you to be in Utah tomorrow.. need some attention?

HAPPY 10th and please let me still call you Mitchy (okay, okay not infront of your friends!)

Desiree' we have reason to celebrate you today!

2009-07-15T23:12:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the THIRTIES! It is a great place to be!

Everyone needs to meet Des! She is a bucket of fun! She is ALWAYS planning get together's and always the life of the party! I often wonder how she keeps up with it all?! She always keeps up with her friends and knows what is going on. She is a social butterfly and makes things happen.

Another thing I love about Des is her laugh. It is contagious! When she laughs I cackle and you can only imagine what that combination does to the other's in the room!

Des NEVER does anything part way. She puts her whole heart into everything that she does. She is an extra-miler this girl! I mean she even started a funny face game at my Bday party this past February. Here were the instructions, "We were trying our classic funny face. You're supposed to shake you're head, bug out your eyes, stick your tongue out and blow, take a picture and see what you get"Natalie and Kev take a stab at it!

Next Bretters and Jen try to dominate

But who comes out TRIUMPHANT?! Des and Chuck
I told you she is an over achiever! Every time I see this picture... I nearly wet myself!

Des has a really good balance. She not only works FT, looks glamorous ALL the time, does fun things with friends, makes personal time for her husband, she also works in the temple! This girl has it all!

If you want to see someone that rocks red hair that would be our Des. She is not afraid to try ANYTHING and she looks good no matter how dramatic the style. YOU GO GIRL!
Des I love you! Thanks for being there to support me. I am looking forward to all the fun new things going on in your life. Thank you for being a shining light and an example in my life!

THE HAPPIEST OF BIRTHDAY'S TO YOU!

Three Amazing Reasons Why today is a blessed day!

2009-07-12T00:25:00.001-07:00

I am so lucky to have so many people that I LOVE so dearly in my life! And THREE of those have Birthdays today! Let's get started...

My sweet Cousin Amy Nicole is one of them. I grew up spending a lot of time with her. They would come over to be babysat by my mom on weekends a lot and then as she got older I would steal her away for myself. She was like my little sister.

Amy, Jamie, Val and I would take visits to the Tiffin Room and ZCMI and act like we were all grown up! We would play house and store and school and fight over who was going to be in charge.

Some of the things that I absolutely adore about my Amy is that she can always laugh or find humor out of situations. She has such a fun personality and will find a positive side to nearly anything.

She was always so pretty. But most importantly she is pretty on the inside and outside. I love to watch her as a mommy and see how much joy she finds in her family. She isn't afraid to ask anyone anything. I love her upfrontness. It makes her real. No games being played by this girl!!

Amy you have come through so many hard challenges and it has made you the amazing person that you are today. You are compassionate, loving and friends to all.

Thanks for being my cousin but more importantly my friend!
Happy Birthday!

Kelly Stayner was my beehive advisor (12-13 yr old girls in church) and has been one of my bestest friends ever since. I wrote a blog about her last year that sums up how much I love her. Kelly thanks for all the sacrifice and love you have given me! You have helped me with my wedding business more than your fair share. Anytime I have needed anything... you are always there!!

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! I LOVE YOU!

Click here to see what an amazing part of my life she is!
http://meggazaway.blogspot.com/2008/08/thankful-thursday-kelly-stayner.html

Mama Pectol, or Robin. The life of the party. Nurturer. Provider of all the goods. Love you til the end, regardless of how you treat her back. Protector. Heart or gold. Always gives more than she takes. Unconditional Love. Disneyland guru. Amazing cook. Sunday dinner yumminess. Decorator.

These few words don't even come to describe the amazingness of this women. She puts EVERYONE, EVERYTHING first. She loves you like you are her own. Her hugs, her laughs, her smile makes you feel like everything is and will always be okay. She has the Mom role down to the tee and has many adoptee's that love her just as they were her own.

Robin treats everyone like they are her family members and always has kind words, a diet coke and food to share... more than enough to go around.

Robin is humble and Christ-like. She makes fun happen and makes sure to always have something planned to keep the family together.

I love her stories, especially the ones that embarrass her children, her cooking skills and spending time just chatting with her. I love the little kid that is inside this grown woman. bottom line.. this woman KNOWS HOW TO HAVE FUN!

Love you Mama Robin!! Thanks for being born!
Life is just so much more enjoyable with you around!

See... I told you! I AM BLESSED!

Mom's 55 Today and never looked Younger!

2009-07-08T23:10:00.000-07:00

My Mom is no stranger to being written about on this blog! She is my everything and I am so lucky to have her... I know she doesn't always feel that way about me! LOL

My Mom IS my best friend and she takes care of me better than anyone can. Lately, I have needed a lot of "taking care of" and my Mom is there.. no matter what!

Here is the Birthday blog from last year so you can re-read what a woman I have for a Mom!

http://meggazaway.blogspot.com/2008/07/i-definately-celebrate-your-birth-happy.html

Mom as always thanks for saving me from myself as I go through this crazy whirlwind of single life! Thanks for your example. Thanks for your listening ear.

THANKS FOR BEING YOU!!!
Happy Birthday to a woman with many names and many roles!
Mom, Mommy, Kim, Kimmie, Auntie Kim, Grandma, Sister Gazaway.
Can't wait to party with you at Brick Oven tonight!

Shout hooray! Meems is 25 today!

2009-07-05T13:56:00.001-07:00

Today is a special day for one of my best-est friends in the whole world! Today is my "Meemsy" whose real name is Amy Pectol Oberhansley's BIRTHDAY!!!Amy is one I adore spending time with. She knows how to fulfill my "time" love language better than most anyone because she is hardly ever in a hurry. She is always content enough to sit down and chat or snuggle you and just talk, watch TLC with or chat about cooking or yummy food with. She is a great listener and really helps me work through the thoughts in my head a lot because she listens and is truly interested. I love that when I come around she doesn't have to be busy! She totally just sits and enjoys the time and if for some reason she has a busy day, she just takes me along with out me feeling like I am putting her out! You will never know how much I love you for that my Meems.

Amy is an people person. She never wants to make anyone feel bad or left out. Unloved or alone. She is the first to say sorry and to explain why something was done or said and she won't rest until all misunderstanding is cleared up. She is a peacemaker.
Amy is the snuggliest person I know. If you are sitting next to her or even walking next to her she is touching you, cuddling with you or holding your hand. It goes to prove that she has much love to give. She also will never hang up the phone or say goodbye to you without saying love you. I can always count on her telling me a few times a day that she loves me!

Amy is artistic and creative. She is a very accomplished artist. I keep telling her she needs to submit her church art to Deseret Book. It is touching and amazing!

(Wanna see more? Visit www.amypectol.com)

Amy is a born leader. She puts her heart into anything she starts and she follows it all the way through. She took me on a trip with her to her fav non-profit organization that goes to Mexico orphanages several times a year it is called, Kaaizen. Amy left several pieces of her heart with those children in Mexico. Not only did she love them and spend many trips there serving them, she also drew murals all over their orphanages to brighten up their days when she was away from them.

Amy has a natural desire to be obedient. She is always striving to make correct choices and to be the best that she can be. She has a strong testimony and love for God and shows that through choices in word, deed and art.

Amy made an absolute gorgeous bride. It has been so fun to see her transition to her wife role. I am ever more excited to see her as a mother. She has made her house such a beautiful home which will continue to grow as she adds to her forever family.

Best of all Amy is my dear friend who I love and cherish. She is so easy to love because she loves you just as deeply back. She is fun to tease, laugh at when she trips or says something funny, she likes a lot of the same things as I do, she is a great story teller and always has a dramatic memory to share, she is fun to plan things will and travel with as well.

Meems, I am thankful for our many fun memories and making it through life's ups and downs because each one makes us closer and love each other more each time. Thanks for taking the time to know me, love me and teach me things that I need to know.

Your birth is celebrated not only in Utah but in Mexico as well.
Feliz Cumpleaños my dear friend.

Sunday WILL come

2009-06-30T00:26:00.000-07:00

I will never forget this talk from conference Oct 2006. I remember the feeling vividly. It was one of those, "this talk is for me" feelings and I needed to cleave to this talk the way that I cleave to the talk "Cast not therefore away thy confidence."

I love when you have those teaching moments from the spirit. How I am thankful to know that this is true. I have seen so many Sundays in my life and have felt that relief from being broken and being renewed with hope and knowing that those darn Fridays won't last forever, that Sunday does come and so does the comfort, relief of pain, and understanding.

Some of the promises that I like that he makes in the talk are..

No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday will come. In this life or the next, Sunday will come.
In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come.
Because of our beloved Redeemer, we can lift up our voices, even in the midst of our darkest Fridays, and proclaim, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
That we may always know that no matter how dark our Friday, Sunday will come

We all have these "Fridays" in our lives. But we also have these promises that if we endure them, we will have a heightened joy because of our Redeemer. There are many more Fridays that will come to each of our lives. I am just thankful for that Sunday that comes every once in a while to remind you of the blessings that you have and focus on the end result, peace and happiness in the love and sacrifice of the Savior of the World. The Fridays seem worth it then.

For any of you who are going through your Friday right now. Know that I love you. I know you can do it! It is worth every second of heartache, darkness or sorrow for the light that will shine when all is said and done!

In My Lifetime...

2009-06-25T16:56:00.000-07:00

I decided today that I needed to start recording the things that future generations will read about so that they know that I was alive at that time.

Although these current events this week aren't necessarily earth shaking and everyone has mixed feelings about how they feel because of the character of one, All celebrities that died this week have been legends in their own right.

Ed McMahon gave millions away for Publishers Clearinghouse. I remember seeing him on TV all the time with his jovial smile and wishing he would come and give me that money! I also remember him as a host on Star Search, co-host in telethons as well as TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes. He passed at age 86.

Farrah Faucett was a female icon since being one of Charlie's Angels on a hit TV series and sadly she lost her 3 year battle today with cancer at age 62. I remember all the rage in 4th grade was to have the Farrah Faucett feather hair do. I have pictures to prove it!

Michael Jackson, The King of Pop music, so they call him, also passed away today of Cardiac Arrest. I grew up listening to his music and watching his dancing. STill my favorite of his music above all is from the Jackson 5. ABC and Ben were in my favorites of that era. The ones I remember most is of course Thriller, Black and White, Bad and also the song we had to sing in elementary which I don't know what it is called but has the chorus "make this a better place. For you and for me and the entire human race.."
Michael was only 50 when he passed away today.

I am glad that I am going to start chronicling the things that take place while I am alive. I know that I have loved to hear my family talk about events that took place when they were younger and I want to have that for my generations as well.

Father's come in all forms

2009-06-21T23:00:00.000-07:00

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY -- 2009

Today is Father's Day and for a girl whose Daddy hasn't been so much a part of my life I am still so blessed with some great Father's in my life.

My Heavenly Father. I go to him more than any of my other Father's. He always knows the right answers and the right ways to love and care for me. He knows the right storms to send my way and always finishes them up with great rays of sunshine. He knows how to love me where I am at and also is the best at putting me in my place. He will never leave me, I have him for eternity!

My Birth Father. After we reconciled when I was 18 he has tried to be more apart of my life. I have talked to him more, spent more holidays with him and even had a visit a couple years ago in Utah with him for a whole week. Although this relationship still isn't where I want it to be, I am thankful that my Dad helped create me because I love my life.

My Mother-Father. Have you ever heard of that? Well if you met my Mom you should know what that is. My Mom wore all the hats growing up. She not only nurtured us the way Mom's do but she also fixed flat tires of all kinds, played sports, made pinewood derby cars, cooked on Mother's Day, Did all the scouting things, mowed the lawn, worked FT, paid the bills you name it!

My Grandfather. He took me to Daddy-daughter dates, helped us financially where he could, took me shopping for Mother's Day gifts for my Mom, disciplined us when it was beyond Mom's control (OUCH), sang to me, told silly corny jokes, spent all my birthdays with me, protected me, supported me, picked me up from my mission and always encouraged me to be my best self.

My Self-Adopted-Father's.These men have been there to lend a hand or a much needed hug. A kiss on the forehead. Given me blessings in time of trial or illness. Been my biggest cheerleader. Make me believe that not all Dad's are absent Dad's. Teach me when I needed to be taught. Counsel me when I needed correction. Rejoice with me in good times. Pray for me in bad times. Help me see that heaven really closer than we ever knew. Shared their own families with me and let me be a part of them.

Father's really come in all forms and I am so thankful that I have been given many to watch over me throughout my life cause every girl wants to be a Daddy's Girl!

Displaced...again!

2009-06-12T21:11:00.000-07:00

Have you ever felt displaced in life? Have you ever wondered what is supposed to happen next? Too much changing too fast? Just when you feel settled in somewhere-- you get all shook up again?!

That has been my realization of my life for about a month now. I thought I was safe for awhile since I have finally lived somewhere for 2 1/2 years but with the help of non-communicating neighbors, I am going to once again find myself homeless.

I am really trying not to complain because I have been blessed so GREATLY the last 2 1/2 yrs by the ability to live in the gorgeous house my brother bought (in hopes that he and his family could move in). We (rommmates and I) moved in here just as we had been kicked out of living in my Grandma's condo due to a loss of my cousin's husbands job. Luckily for me at the time my brother would buy his in-laws house and I would live here until the sale of their recently built house. Due to a crash in the selling markets just months after he purchased this home my 6 other roommates and I got to stay in what was supposed to origionally be "temporary housing". My heart has stuck here as I have taken care of this beautiful home. In January however something upset my neighbors (still not sure what) and they tattled on us to someone who called and told my brother we had too many living in our house (although room wse we have plenty of rooms for the number living here) and that he needed to become compliant to housing code.

Basically it has been a downward spiral since then and I am now living in a huge home all by myself and my Brother and his family will now be moving in the next couple of months (this decision was made this week). Which means, I will once again be homeless.

Being 31 and homeless is pathetic, I know! Just the thought of it makes my anxiety levels quadruple! Here I go being displaced once again. There are so many unknowns for me at this moment. And for a person who doesn't handle change well, my emotions are in a frenzy!

I was barely starting to build a new business of wedding catering and now what am I going to do? I won't have a kitchen with the ability to cook like I have. I am now back to square one!

Am I going to be able to triple my nannying business so I can survive and just eliminate weddings all together for this time? I won't have the storage space nor the kitchen space to continue with this type of business anymore.

I guess I just naively thought that this was going to work itself out and I would be able to continue my life as I've known it so it kind of caught me off guard when it worked so different than I thought it would. It came at a really trying and changing time in my life already and I really just don't know what to do with all this right now.

I really am just sorting this all out in my head as I type so I am sorry if this seems so random to anyone that is not in my head right now.

I would give anything right now for a consistent life with my own family and kids and not having to feel so transient all the time. I know that life also has many struggles and hard times but you go through them with someone else there with you, you aren't fighting it alone. Having said that, before you all think I am faithless, I do believe in the Lord's timing. I do believe all of this will come in his time. It doesn't make it any easier believing that. Only helps as a reminder. Although sometimes that reminder does give the glimmer of hope to many lonely nights-- don't get me wrong.

Regardless of how I should feel or not feel the bottom line is I feel displaced. I feel confused. I feel like everything that WAS just a month ago, is no longer. I feel challenged. I feel frustrated. I feel like a has been. I feel weak and I feel scared.
I know that none of these feelings are coming from the right source. I know that I need to get the peace that I can get from a higher, brighter source. Believe me, I know all these things! But first you have to face the hardship before you get around it or through it.

This next few months are going to be months of great change and challenge for me. There is so much going on in my life and I was ready for the other stuff until this new challenge hit now I am just full of so much confusion and can't wait till the peace comes.

I know everyone has felt this way throughout their life at one time or another or maybe you are going through this now. I know that great trials bring great character building. I have learned that many times throughout my life. I just need the courage that I have seen in so many of YOU to make it through yet another displaced moment.

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T15:47:00.001-07:00

No painter's brush, nor poet's
pen
In justice to her fame
Has ever reached half high
enough
To write a mother's name.
~Author Unknown
We are all so blessed to have Mother's! There is not a species on this planet that doesn't have a mother. Whether we get our Mom for our lifetime or for just a short time, we are all blessed greatly by having a Mother that loves us no matter where they are at this given moment.

I write A LOT about my Mom and by seeing the videos I have posted lately I have heard a lot of you comment about my sweet mother and how she is so amazing! I would have to agree! She is always just where I need her to be, when I need her!

This Mother's Day, I am in Boise being a 10 day single "mother" to 5 children! I have been teary all day seeing how hard my Mom really had it! Single Mom's have an added element of hard when there isn't a second person around to lift the burden's of getting the kids fed, dressed for church, keep them getting along, making sure their needs get met. This morning was one of those days that I realized such hardships my Mom went through on her own as she tried to balance us, church and work. Mom, thank you from the bottom of my heart, for being EVERYTHING to us. You wore LOTS of shoes around our house and I am glad that you were blessed to get through it! You are a remarkable person and I am so proud to call you Mother. I am excited to have our girls nights once again with season passes to The Scera. Those are some fun/funny memories... you know what I am talking about! hahaha

There are SO many Mother's who too have touched my life! Although I may not have a chance in this life to be a Mother of children who bear the name that I named them, I can and do have a Mother Heart! Thank you to ALL you Mother's who share your kids with me and allow me the blessed opportunity to feel like I am contributing to society in just a little way! Whether your children are big or small, so many of you allow me to be part of your families and I am so THANKFUL for the blessing your kids, grand kids, and families are to my life.

I hope all you Mother's don't allow yourself ONE MINUTE to get discouraged or hate this day in which we celebrate you. Take it for what it is worth.. YOU ARE LOVED... JUST AS YOU ARE!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Monica... They say it's your Birthday!

2009-05-07T21:55:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET MONICA WHITING!!I just arrived into Idaho and had to rush into the house to make sure to give this women a tribute that she deserves!

Monica is so much fun! She always has some adventure brewing! This year alone she has gone to Mexico, Las Vegas , a cruise, women's conf and who knows where else!! This women is a jet setter extraordinaire!!

Monica has created a family that plays together! They have a blast together! They are always coming up with themed parties, fun vacations, date nights and they set some awesome spiritual goals together.

Monica has a desire to learn and is always increasing her knowledge in parenting, scrap booking, cooking, genealogy, jewelry making and even attends institute each week.

She is a go to girl. Everyone is friends with Monica and values what a good friend that she is.

I will NEVER forget the love that she showed me on my mission. I was the luckiest sister in Ohio because of the AWESOME care packages I got from Monica. She didn't ever miss ONE holiday. I even got to celebrate St. Patrick's day with green lotions and fun decor! I owe her my life for keeping those packages coming... they were some of my brightest days!

A really cute talent that she has is making Swarovski Crystal necklaces. Check out the one one she is wearing in this picture. She made a black and white one for me and so far it has been to Cabo with me, St. Lucia with my friend Sarah, and now Spain and Italy with Jolyn this week. I call it the Sisterhood of the traveling necklace ( I will do a blog about that later). It is truly a coveted necklace!

As you can tell she doesn't look a day over 25 yrs old... I am sure she gets accused of that all the time! Monica you look great! You are great! And I adore you! Thank you for being born!

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Who says that?! Oprah what is up with you?

2009-04-20T12:53:00.000-07:00

So.. this blog is SOOO overdue! I have been fuming about this for over a week right now.. and I think that it is such FALSEHOOD that I need to speak up about it. And yes, Oprah is getting a letter from me.

Beware this is adult material so if you have a kid that reads this, please use caution as to what you want them to read.

Anyone that knows me, knows I have been an Oprah JUNKIE since I was 12 yrs old. I would buy all magazines with her on it, read her auto biography's I just really connected with her. And even though there were shows on that I didn't want to watch, I loved the heart that she put on her show.

It seems as though Oprah this past year has traded her feel good-family viewing and sold her viewing network to the Liberal people. Sad to see the feel good show that I love come to an end and be traded for politics, worldly garb and liberal philosophy's.

This past week she did a series on Talking about Sex with your teens. There were some good segments until she brought Dr. Laura Berman on who suggested such a RIDICULOUS philosophy about what you should do for your teens that I had to turn off the show and have been fuming since, wondering what the best forum would be to STAND FOR SOMETHING! And let them know what they would be doing.

To spare those who may not want to see the video details and to help you understand why I share this next story what she suggested was forms of "Self Love". I am going to show you this clip because I would love for all my readers to write to Oprah and others and let them know what a ridiculous thing it is that they are suggesting!
http://www.momlogic.com/videos/?autoplay=true&mediaKey=5b8c2a25-fa81-43fa-a710-21c414f0f002
Besides the OBVIOUS reasons why I DO NOT think this is okay. There is an experience I had while living in Illinois that made this so clear to me why we are counseled by our church leaders to not give in to the "natural man" and how sexual desires are appropriate and essential within the bonds of marriage of a man and woman.

I lived in Illinois for a year while my best friend Jen was attending grad school. While their I worked at a Residential Treatment Center for kids with Brain injuries. I sure loved those teens. I loved the things they were learning retrain themselves to get back in the real world after their traumatic injuries and live back with their families. It was a very organized, structured and safe program. Sic months after working there, we received a new program director. She made "self Love" an accepted behavior. The youth were told that they just needed to tell staff that they needed "personal time"and that would be appropriate in their rooms. What happened when we embraced this concept? All hell broke loose. ( I don't know another term that more adequately describes what happened!) We had kids molesting each other because they didn't know how to control themselves anymore. The state was called in so many times because of rape reports that had to be filed. The center that was so recommended and so respected started to come under major scrutiny. I saw with my own eyes that if you give girls free rein to masturbate in all forms you create sex addicts and teen pregnancy rates will rise.. you mark my words.. I watched it flip my rehab in 3 months time!
I want to protect the innocence of children and teens. I want to make sure that the world doesn't put these promoting ideas into their heads. These rituals are NOT OK, they are NOT normal. Those feelings should be saved within the walls of marriage period.

So for now, Oprah.. I am sad to say goodbye to a show that has brought such sweetness into my life with the guests that it has featured and the stories they have told. Let me know when you come back to your senses!

Happy Birthday Melba Dear...

2009-04-18T18:11:00.000-07:00

How I love this girl! This is my Melba Faye Latu and today is her Happy Birthday! Merba and I have been through so much together and have helped each other through many obstacles.

Merba is amazing! She is so motivated, dedicated and when she puts her mind to something, she does it! She even completed law school a couple of years ago!

Merba and I love to have girls nights, eat yummy food together and have unplanned sleepovers!

I have seen such spiritual strength in this tongan sister of mine. Not only has she conquered overwhelming trials and accomplished more than anyone would have said she could, She served a spanish speaking mission in California, she stays close to the spirit and is now serving as The Relief Society President in the tongan singles ward.

Merbs is the queen of asking fun, thought provoking questions and sometimes it catches you off guard and really makes you have to stop and think hard. These questions are like, "If you had to marry someone tomorrow who would it be? If you could change 3 things in your life past, present or future what would it be? etc" It always gets us laughing and keeps good conversation.

Melba/Merbs, I totally celebrate your birth! I am so thankful for ALL the memories, chats, food, and testimony that we have had together and look forward to a lifetime of those things and more!

Ofa Atu' My dear sister!

***This song is one of Merbs and my favorite. This song was played on constant repeat when melbs was in the hospital. At the time it was a little annoying but it was all that she wanted.. now it provides sweet memories.. ***

If YOU Care to Share Blog... check it out!

2009-04-15T19:44:00.000-07:00

So my wonderfully, talented sweet Ang (the one that edited my BL audition video) has started such a FUN blog for Mommies, Nannyies or Grammies what ever you are and ALL are welcome to contribute to the blog!

Here is what she wrote to introduce the blog.... www.ifyoucaretoshare.blogspot.com

Hello bleader family! I have a new idea, and a new website as you can see! I wanted a blog where parents and homemakers can share ideas, hints, and maybe even some how-to's that they've figured out along the way. I know there are so many of you out there with great ideas, but you just haven't created your own blog yet! Well, I've done it for you! This blog will allow many different authors and I'm going to keep it public so anyone can get ideas from it.Now, don't be shy, send me your e-mail address or just leave a comment and I'll add you to the authors list.

This will enable you to post on this blog too! Then, go for it! Whenever you figure something out, find a new way to do something, find something creative for a school project or holiday, or just have something inspiring to share, you can post it here! Or, if you have a question, that you just know there are mom's out there who could help you find the answer, don't hesitate to post it too! We're all in this together, and with each other's help, we'll have lots of fun ideas, traditions, or maybe something fun to laugh at.

Now, don't worry if you don't know how to blog, just call me and I'll walk you through the process. It's quick and easy and lots of fun! Come on gals...if you care to share!

Wanna Join?
Do you want to join our panel of mom's? Send your e-mail address to supersullis@comcast.net along with a little bio and a picture and you too can "share!"

Nannying fun

2009-04-12T22:06:00.001-07:00

Since I was 12 I have always told my Mom that I would be happy to be the mommy of a Down syndrome. I used to watch the sweet Robbie Mcclellan and loved every second of the things that he taught me. Since the first day I watched him, I wanted to one day be blessed with such an amazing spirit in my home. I got another little sneak peak of how great these sweet ones are when I was able to watch this family of three for 11 days. I had a blast and loved every minute of it!

Meet the sweet Macy

This 18 month old baby has my heart! She is so much fun. From signing more food to me every 3 seconds to her "gollum" crawl. I had a piece of heaven in my midst for those 11 days. I had fun playing dress up with her, laughing and snuggling. And even when she threw fits, there was still things to laugh about!

Now on to the two adorable boys. Andrew and Even ages 4 and 5. These two are such good pals. They love to play dress up and play games together. We had many adventures. We went to Color me mine, The Air force Museum, Fun center, Chuck-e-cheese and some fun restaurants and such. Can you tell they were having fun?! Evan was my pal. He loved to snuggle, watch movies and tease me. Andrew was a true BIG BROTHER. He was SOO helpful and really wanted to help with anything that he could. Another great time with some great kids!! Thanks Family H for the great experience!

Working with kids with Disabilities

2009-04-12T00:21:00.000-07:00

FAMILY H

I had the blessed experience to work with the H family from March 27th to April 6th. I had such a great experience and a great time with these 3 cuties!

Macy is the sweetest of the sweet and was born with Down Syndrome. If you haven't goten the chance to be around a child so precious as this, please make time to do so.. they will melt your heart!
Evan was a sweet heart. He always wanted to be by my side and cuddle, watch movies and tease me by thinking of different names to call me. He always had me chuckling!

Andrew the oldest brother loves sports. He wanted to watch March Maddness and loved the sports that he played. He also was such a great helper and always willing to bring me items that I needed.

All in all the 11 days flew by quickly and we had SOOO much fun! We did a TON of activities. Played dress up at the airforce museum, went to chuck-e-cheese, made bowls at Color me mine and bounced at the fun center!Thank you for letting me love your kiddies for some fun packed days!! Hope to see you again!

Meg

The Vacation Nanny

I didn't make the cut...

2009-04-10T18:39:00.001-07:00

I just thought that I would let all my supporters know that I didn't make the cut... I got the information just seconds ago. THANK YOU EVERYONE of you that believed in me!! It means the world to me and I love you ALL SOOOO much!

I believe in dreams coming true... just don't know how or when!

I STILL BELIEVE!

The Video is in....

2009-04-10T00:14:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to let you all know that this will be the last update from me about Biggest Loser. I just wanted to let you know that since the 3rd of April at 1:55pm my Audition video for Biggest Loser 8 is offically in the hands of the NBC casting directors. I tried to make my envelope stand out and Angie tried to make my video stand out! I think we did a great job!

The next step of the process is hush, hush so you won't be hearing from me about any of that till after I win season 8!

When they decide they want to know more about me, I will recieve a call (sometime this month) and then after that I can't say a peep about what is happening! Basically you meet with Casting Directors somewhere in LA and you are sequestered (held without any outside communication) in a hotel till they decide to use you or not. If they do use you, you go straight the ranch and start kickin some trash! (Atleast that is the info I read by a casting director)

PRAY ME ON!!!

I REALLY want and need this experience!!

Thanks for all the LOVE and support!

Grandma's 76 TODAY!

2009-04-05T17:00:00.000-07:00

Seventy-six years ago today one of my best friends was born. You've got it right,

My Grandma Schroeppel.

I got the awesome privilege to spend A LOT of time with my grandma growing up, since Mom had to work. I talked to my Grandma about everything. She taught me to cook, she played games with me and taught me my first lessons in service! Gram was ALWAYS serving someone.. everyday. She would write letters to missionaries and orphans, take in food ALL the time to the needy, drive people places, take her kids and grand kids (Pat and I) to places. My Gram taught me how to drive, I could always sucker her into to let me drive at least, she has been a pillar of strength and love to me all the days of my life.

Gram is Patient. A little background... When I was 9 months old my parents divorced and my grandparents moved my family (Mom, Pat and I) plus their other 10 children to Utah. I grew up with uncles around similar ages as me. One uncle is one year older than me and an uncle one year older than Pat. Grandma jumped right in and helped take care of us in any way that she could while Mom went to work to financially support us. Yes as you can tell, Gram has the PATIENCE of Job!

Gram plays with her grand kids. Some of my fondest memories include cooking with my Gram, playing dress up in all of her heals and handbags (someday I want to own them!), visiting people in her ward, hanging out with her when I was sick, her homemade popcorn, Sunday night popcorn and caffeine free Dr. Pepper for dinner, her sneaking homemade popcorn in the movies in the shoulder's of her coat, glass bottled soda pop, her swimming pool and the hours of fun and recreation that brought to us, her chuckle (her whole body shakes but not much noise come out), singing me silly songs, taking naps with her and hearing her snore, The red mercury and all the many adventures we had in it (pushing it down the hill with fireman, forgetting to take out the gas hose and pulling out the whole gas pump as we drove away, and then finally me ending up totalling it).

Grandma has a Mother Heart. I always admired Grandma's nurturing spirit. She always had needy friends and she loved them where they were at. She would let them talk to her on the phone for hours and never complained about it. She has for sure written and sent out hundreds of get well cards in my lifetime. She would give anything to anyone and has been reprimanded by our family for being too nice and getting taken advantage of.

Gram is selfless. Gram lives in St. George(Ivins) and really gets homesick there and wishes she could be with us in Utah County but stays and chooses to be happy cause that is what Gramps needs for his health. She has quite the people that miss her while she is gone. 11 children, umpteen grandchildren and we aren't even going to try to count the greats!! SHEESH! She is the WOMAN. (When Gram let's me know the counts after reading this, I will post the real numbers!) Growing up I wanted to have 12 kids cause Gram made it seem so easy and so I thought could get one more and be OK.. as you can tell, that isn't going to happen, but I thank Gram for letting me believe it were possible.

Grandma loves unconditionally. EVERYONE that crosses paths with my Gram has nothing but POSITIVE things to say about her and that always makes me feel so proud to call her Grandma, in fact anytime that you introduce her to any of your friends she says, "Hi, my name is Grandma!" and that is what they call her.

Grandma is prayerful. I don't know of any other women alive today that prays as long, as much, and as individually as my Gram does. I remember as a child waiting forever to talk to her in the morning cause she was saying her prayers. She is a spiritual giant and the FIRST person that I want praying for me when I going through something.

As you can tell, I have the best example, the most Christ-like friend, the most patient person in my life and it is an honor for me to call her Grandma!

I love you FOREVER Gram!!

Happy Birthday!

BL Audition Video

2009-03-31T13:41:00.000-07:00

Getting this made has been a HUGE production and you wouldn't be viewing this video without the talented editing styles of my sweet, talented, caring and angel Angie Pectol Sullivan!!

Anyone that knows Ang knows that she is one of the most supportive and caring people you will ever meet. When the editor I was planning on using dropped out on Sunday I was SOOOO sad that I after all the time I took of my cousin Kylie's as she filmed and all the people who agreed to say something, my dreams of my best effort to getting on the biggest loser looked as though they were not going to happen.

In comes Ang! A mother of 3 busy girls she took a time out of life to make this video happen. Not only the audition video, but this blog video, and a charming case complete with cover that I will take a picture of when I get it. Ang, sacrificed hours away from her normal routine because she knew that this was important to me and she BELIEVES IN ME!

Thank you to Angie for Editing and adding music and keeping such a great flow, Kylie for the hours she spent filming and Meems for inspiring me that I CAN DO IT, and Mom and Pat for your straight from the heart tributes. I LOVE YOU ALL SOOOO MUCH!

Since getting word that I didn't make the show.. I decided to repost this so that you could all see the starting of my Biggest Loser Journey

Let's here it for the Girl... The Birthday Girl DEVENEY!

2009-03-28T09:12:00.000-07:00

I couldn't start my day off with out a shout out to my sweet Deveney! She has celebrated my birthday with me oh so many times since our blessed meeting at EFY! I even have a birthday picturebook she made me one year! One of my prized possessions!
Dev is an all star! She is a trend setter! She is the first to make you laugh your guts out! She is the life of the party, a diva! If only I could come close to looking so fashionable ALL the time, even when she is dressed down! Dev is the only person I have EVER turned over a nanny family too. She became a member of the family! I was so glad that it worked out! I knew they would love her as much as I did!

We have had more fun in groups than I could ever count! I worked a summer with her on my specific team at EFY and I don't think I have ever had more fun and she was always so good at entertaining my wacky ideas... tuck in anyone?

Then the day came when she found her one true love.. Oh how we love Chris!

They started their Happily ever after and now how this most adorable baby, Paisley that I have yet to meet but can tell from all the pictures that I see that she is a bundle of personalty like her Mommy!

Dev I miss your smile, your laugh, your look, your fun... I miss having you at get together's. You are the BEST!! I hope this Birthday brings you a day full of love and magical memories!

I love you my sweet Dev!

** I am sorry if I have missed your Birthday. I depend of facebook to remind me. If you aren't in there or you don't have your Birthday listed chances are I won't remember to do a birthday blog for you. Sorry...

The only Utahan on Biggest Loser this far!

2009-03-27T10:38:00.000-07:00

Some FYI about this girl. She is the ONLY Utah contestant who has made it on Biggest Loser. She is a member of the church and her name is Heather Hansen.

Her braveness payed off... She nearly won season 3. When she came back for the grand finale though.. she was PREGNANT! So instead of winning they gave her a baby nursery!

I think that is the best prize that she could get! Doesn't she look adorable?! Today she has still kept off the weight. Here is a recent picture that I found of her...To think that you may be given a chance to learn such healthy lifestyles and a once in a lifetime chance to work out for hours a day... I am just excited by the thought! Just thought I would share.

Biggest Loser Audition Tape.... Here I come!

2009-03-24T00:10:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I did it!! I finally committed to going to the next step and submitting the tape to be considered for The Biggest Loser!
This is really a big step for me. Granted, there is thousands of people who send in audition tapes so the chance that I get picked is very slim. I am just so proud of myself for actually trying and putting myself out there like this!

I have been watching this show weekly since season 1, I love it! The people on the show inspire me and I am now looking for an opportunity to inspire myself.

It has especially been fun to see 4 members of the church it this season! (it aires every Tuesday night at 7pm on NBC) Having a common connection with the players always helps to feel an even deeper connection.

Special thanks to my cousin Kylie who has been helping me with the recording process and my family members who have willingly donated their thoughts for my sake!

I am finishing up the interview/about me portion in the next 2 days and then will hopefully have someone amazing to edit it for me. The audition tape is due March 31st!

Hopefully I can say.... SEASON 8 HERE I COME!! Season 8 contestants start May 4th!!

Wish me LUCK!!

STAY TUNED...

A complaint sometimes go a long way!

2009-03-20T14:30:00.000-07:00

I had a new experience today. I realized that sometimes a valid complaint can benefit you greatly!

I have been a mothers helper to a family in Highland quite a bit lately and being in highland gives a good excuse to go to my Fav sandwich shop from the days I lived in Carbondale, IL... Jimmy Johns. I love that shop. They make the most delectable homemade wheat bread and add on the special tuna fish and you have a delicious lunch! I have been going about once a week and have thoroughly enjoyed it.

Well today I had a situation in their drive through... I ordered a my adoring sandwich spoken of above, granted these sandwich's aren't cheap ($6.87)and asked also for some ice (i had a drink from earlier today and wanted to make it colder) as well. Surprisingly they told me that if I would like some ice, I would have to pay the full price for a drink. I said to the lady in the speaker, "Really?, you want me to pay $1.79 for a cup of ice?" She said that is the only way I can give you some. So I said, I will just take the sandwich.

When I came to the window the lady just had a weird smirk on her face, like saying, I am in a NO mood today, as I pulled up and handed her the money, I politely replied, "Could you put some ice in a bag for me?" she said, sorry we don't have plastic bags. I said, "will you please put it in a paper bag for me? I am just going to dump it into my own cup" She said, Sorry, that is a violation of health code and then she just starts giggling like she is playing a game with me. I took my sandwich out of her hand and drove off.

The ride home is about 25 minutes and I was getting madder and madder as I drove. Finally I decided that as dumb as this is, I am going to call the manager and tell them how dumb I think it is that they would make such a HUGE deal over a thing like ice. Our conversation went like this...

Me: I have never done this before and definitely not over something as small as
this but I just wanted to let you know how frustrated that I am feeling
Jennifer the manager: Ok, what happened?
Me: I just drove through and
bought a sandwich and asked for some ice to go with an existing drink I had and
was refused ice.
Jennifer: Jimmy Johns has a no free drink policy
Me:
Well, I can understand that, but I wasn't asking for a drink I was asking for
ice.
Jennifer: I am sorry but it costs about $2.00 for a cup of ice.
Me:
Well, that is absolutely ridiculous. Ice costs you nothing. I was more than
willing to pay something for the cup but not full beverage price.
Jennifer:
well that is Jimmy Johns policy. I am sorry if you don't understand that.
Me: Jimmy Johns corporate policy?
Jennifer: Yes, ma'am.
Me: Well
then I apologize Jennifer for stating this complaint to you, it appears I should
be calling Jimmy Johns corporate. Sorry to bother you with this complaint, I
will get a hold of them. Have a good day (hung up)

***No more than 10 minutes later my phone rings (granted I hadn't called the corporate office yet, I was still in my car) ***

Me: Hello?
Jennifer: Hi Megan, this is Jennifer who you just talked to at
Jimmy Johns.
Me: Oh.. hi?
Jennifer: I just wanted to call you back and
apologize that the owner heard our conversation and let me know that we do give
complimentary cups inside for water and the same should be in the drive through,
so we want to have your next 4 meals here on us!
Me: I really just wanted to
call and let you know that maybe you need to change your policy cause asking for
a cup of ice isn't the most unusual request.
Jennifer: And we just wanted to
call and tell you that you are right and would like to show our appreciation
with the free meals.
Me: Thank you for your apology, I really appreciate it
and will love the meals!
In the past I have been afraid to stand up for a SMALL minuet request like this, but today, it paid off and I am sure the drive through now knows all to well, that ice is FREE!! Thank you Jimmy Johns for being able to admit a mistake!

The Difference between Male stress and female stress.. Wish I had a Nothing box!

2009-03-19T17:39:00.001-07:00

I just had to share this with you all.. you will love it!!

Friends Blogging about little ole' me?

2009-03-16T00:05:00.000-07:00

Since I use my blog as a journal to myself as well, I had to post this blog entry that was written about me on my friend Em's blog! Thanks Em for loving me and honoring me.

Monday, March 16, 2009

my favorite plus size barbie

So, I know this girl, Meg, who's fabulous and amazing, and who I love, and I just spent an hour or so cyber-stalking her on Blogger and facebook. Anyway these, are her favorite quotes that she has on facebook, and they are now my favorite quotes for the evening, and I'm posting them in honor of feeling lifted and inspired by all of Meg's writings.

Yay Meg.

**It's okay to have a bad day, not a bad life!
**Fat people are harder to kidnap!
**Sometimes you have to trade something we want, for something we want
more!
**Girls, lock your cupboards and stop letting the freeloaders in!

There will be days so dreadful that you may regret ever getting out of bed,
and there will be days so beautiful that you'll wish they would never end. You
can make something good and valuable out of all of them.Some people you meet
will make you instantly feel that you've known them for years. Others you meet
may make you want to get as far away from them as quickly as you can.All kinds
of people are equally worthy of your kindness, respect and consideration, and
have their own valuable gifts to offer. Remind yourself often of that.There will
be stretches of time when you'll feel you can't get anything right, and there
will be periods when everything you touch seems to turn to gold. Don't allow
either extreme to get the best of you or to compromise your precious
integrity.You'll experience times of boundless joy, and moments of overwhelming
frustration. You'll discover places of extraordinary beauty, and regions of
terrifying ugliness.Through it all, remember that whatever you may encounter is
virtually insignificant when compared with what you choose to do with it. Always
choose the best response, no matter what comes your way, and each day you'll
rise a little higher than you were the day before.-- Ralph Marston

I was so honored that my sweet Em would post these things that she has learned from me! Of course they are things I love, but someone else has said them first! But I am SOOO glad to be her favorite plus sized barbie!!

Em, you are a shining light to everyone that you come in contact with! You have wisdom beyond your years and I have and always will adore you! I loved our magical BYU team summer we spent at EFY! You were always so on top of everything and kept us all going and laughing! You are a true woman of GOD!

Thanks for spending time with me on my blog and facebook tonight. It means the world to me that as busy as a mother can be, you chose to spend time learning about me and my life! Love you always!
*** EXTRA SNIPPET*** If you wonder where the Fat people are harder to kidnap saying comes from.. it is from a YOU TUBE video I saw and nearly died laughing. It is a Marriott commercial from Singapore and I thought it was clever.... It is a good laugh. a disclaimer... I have heard from others when I post You tube videos that if you click on other videos that pop up they aren't very appropriate. So don't go searching You tube off this video link.. just watch this video... happy laughing

HAPPY 50th BIRTHDAY....Uncle Mark

2009-03-13T00:12:00.000-07:00

As you can tell this has been 3 days in a row of BIRTHDAYS! But I just had to post about my Uncle Marky.. He is such a BIG part of who I am...

I mean where do you think I got my loudness from?!

As most of you know, I grew up with my Dad out of picture and my Uncle Mark was one of the men in my life that picked up a few pieces. My life was blessed several times by Uncle Mark at Daddy daughter dates and blessings of healings etc. I always felt like the luckiest girl there when I had Uncle Mark at my side!

Mark was my protector. He also took the role of Dad when My brother and I were having issues. He would always come to my rescue, probably LOTS more than he wanted too! :)

Mark always has a joke in a hand, always relentlessly teases the waitress at the restraunt, gooses you in a store when you don't even know he is around, but our whole family will tell you what the BEST thing about him is.. HIS LOUD BIRTHDAY SONG in public places. He sings a few notes behind everyone else at the top of his lungs.. and yes this is on purpose! He has done it our whole lives and it still makes us laugh to tears every time he does it.. Never gets old!All the joking aside Uncle Mark has one of the purest and loving hearts of anyone in my life. He is sensitive to the spirit and loves deeply. Whenever he comes into family things the first thing he does is go hug and kiss everyone. I love that I can always count on him for that!

Uncle Mark, I hope you always stay a child at heart and even though this is considered a doom and gloom Birthday, I hope you see it as a celebration of all that you have. You have loving parents, 1o wonderful Brothers and Sisters, millions of neices and nephews (even though you don't know most of the little ones names) A gorgeous wife, 5 amazing and beautiful children, 3 fantastic son-in-laws, 6 grandbabies, and HUNDREDS of people that love and support you!

50 years doesn't seem so bad after all! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

THANKS FOR ALL YOU'VE MEANT TO ME!

I LOVE YOU!

You have arrived... HAPPY 30th KEV!

2009-03-12T00:39:00.001-07:00

THIRTY ~ FLIRTY~AND THRIVING!

How could we not celebrate the birth of our sweet Kev! I love this boy!

You can always count of Kev for a great phone chat, a listening ear, a big chuckle or as a stalwart friend. I love the spontaneous side of Kev where he breaks out into song or dance. Where he gets everyone involved in a fun themed party or a game that pulls you out of your comfort zone. He always has been the glue that holds such good friends together. He is the first to build you up and make you feel that you couldn't have done better and will also laugh with you when things go differently than imagined. Kev has a million dollar smile that never stops!

I love when I see him or even a picture of him, it INSTANTLY brings a smile to my face. He is always so great at keeping in touch and keeping track of people through emails, get togethers, phone calls and texts. And he is so intuitive as to when he does contact you, it is EXACTLY when you need it!

One of my favorite memories of Kev was from my first BC summer at EFY. When we were checking in for BC training registration I went to his table he was busy at work as always and didn't realize that he didn't look up. When I saw that he didn't know who was standing there I took advantage of the situation and when he said, "your name please?" I looked down at the name tags there and saw one that said Barbie (for Barbie Brett) and he looked up and gave me a grimise and I said, "PLUS SIZE Barbie" it was the talk and joke of BC training and so the first week of EFY. I made him Ken, Julie Little, Skipper, the real Barbie, barbie of course and I was Plus size Barbie and I made them all shirts and we were the Barbie family! I don't know where the picture is where ALL of us are in it together.. but here is a sample! There is not a single person you will ever meet that does not adore him or have something positive to say about him! I admire his people skills and the fact that he realizes the most important part of life besides the gospel of Jesus Christ is the truth that it is the people that matter most. Kev thanks for your abounding love and friendship to all of us! Thanks for you constancy in our lives. For the things that you share and for the ways that you love that is so unique to people in our days. I love that I know I will always be in contact with you. That I can count on Peterson family parties and themed get togethers forever because that is who you are! I love how you know how to love so individually to fit peoples needs and that you aren't afraid of embracing the creative things (scrapbooks, chick flicks, decor, cooking) in life, in fact you do it head on! You are truly amazing and I love you! HAPPY 30th!
CELEBRATE WELL!

You all know him as the infamous SCOTTY in my life!

2009-03-11T23:24:00.000-07:00

Today is a treasured day, a hallowed day! For on this day 28yrs ago a star was born and the heavens sang!

As many of you know Scotty is not only like a brother to me, he is one of my bestest friends in the world! We have lots of fun times together. How can you NOT have a fun time when most of the fun times are critiquing food!! YUMMO! We love to shop, eat, watch movies, laugh and people watch together!! What more do you need from life right?!

Writing a blog about this man is like drinking water from a fire hose. There is just too much great things that I can say and TOO many memories that I can share. Some of you will get it and others of you may need more explanation, but all that matters is that "the boy, potkins, dottie, creapy uncle" whatever the nickname of the day he is called get's it!

Scotty here are some of the memories or things that I love about you...

Cruisin together is one of the best things that we can do. We win BIG (even a bottle of wine...don't worry we gave it away to the first drunkards we found) and we eat like KINGS no calories spared!
We are definitely not afraid nor embarrassed to pay a little skinny man in Cabo $5 to bike the two of our chaffed, not little skinny bodies 3 miles to the ship dock
Scotty hypnotised? Need I say more?!

Scotty is the awesomest boss of all times. My fav was us NON morning people working the opening shift together...where does depression hurt? EVERYWHERE!

There is no one I would rather be irreverent with at church (hence why we no longer sit together!)

If I want someone to REALLY enjoy the yummiest thing I have made or found in a restaurant, he is who I would chose to be with

He wins the most immaculate house award hands down

Never know what accent is going to come out of his mouth when he is telling a story or making a point

Car sense? Scotty's got it!! He knows everything about cars and loves to help anyone find a good deal

Scotty can't walk near a penny slot machine.. there is something about the fact that you can pull the lever 100 times for only a dollar that makes him go crazy! But it is literally one of the funniest obsessions I have ever seen him possess!

Want a trip buddy.. scotty is the perfect travel companion!

I have never seen a boy more adored by his sisters. He starts to tell stories and they are glued in ready for a good one!

Scotty and I had bordering missions (Michigan/Ohio). It is so much fun to talk about the people we taught, the places we shopped and the food we ate.. it is so similar!

Scotty is just good company. I am always glad when I get to spend time with him

He is loyal, dedicated, and always someone that can be counted on at church or at home.

These are some of the fun and dearest things about Scotty Pectol. But the most important of all is he is NEVER afraid to be exactly who he is, no matter where he is and that is the NUMBER ONE thing I love about this boy!

Happy Birthday my dear partner in crime!! Can't wait for MANY MORE of these memories in the years to come!

BOISE LOVIN'

2009-02-23T22:39:00.001-08:00

I spent from Valentines Day til this Sunday with my Boise family! It was so much fun to be with them again! We had a BLAST!!

Jolyn and Lou went to Seattle for their 18 th Anniversary for the weekend. While they were away the kids and I had some spontaneous fun! We went Valentine's Day morning to a little hole in the way.. but SOOO amazing cafe called Merritt's! We had Cinnamon scones and Boston shakes for BREAKFAST... yes, you heard it right BREAKFAST! You only celebrate Love Day 2009 once right? Then for dinner we ordered out Panda Express.. YUM YUM!

It was fun to have Lou and Joni come home because I got to spend some much needed bonding time with my sweet Jolyn.

On top of all the Buhrley Family excitement my best friend Jen came and joined in with the fun! The moment after she arrived (10:30 pm) I swooped her back in her car Emmy and off we went to me our sweet girl Katie Featherstone at.....where do you ask?... Merritt's the home of the scones!

After our lovely treat..we went to Katie's house to see her newly born pups.. they were darling!I was so blessed to be in Boise with SOOO many people I love so much.. all at once! And then to top off an already great time Jolyn treated us all to a Girl's Night Out (GNO) Saturday with a fun movie, the yummiest burger I have EVER had at Goodwood and then Walmart fun!

One of my highlights is I got to introduce my sweet Jen to my fav store in Boise... TJMAXX Home and she found one of her favorite treasures for he newly re-decorated bedroom!Boise Fam thanks once again for some more GREAT memories!

I love you DEARLY!

Come What May, and Love It!

2009-02-08T20:25:00.000-08:00

Thanks so much for ALL the wonderful, thoughtful and funny Birthday shout-outs! It buoyed up my spirit and made we want to strive to be the person that you all say I am! Thanks for your confidence in me and for seeing me without my flaws in the way! Thanks Jolyn for starting the chain of wonderfulness by "hacking" in to my blog and posting it. I love you dearly!

Today has been a really reflective day, humbling, and emotional day for me. It is amazing to me how many emotions you can feel in a matter of a week and today they all came to the surface. These reflections included my own discouragements, people I love who I know are hurting and going through tempests great and small which also hurts me greatly to know they are hurting. Disappointment from not getting the job I so greatly desired, and the unknown that seems to be going on alot in my life as of late.

There are so many times when I let myself feel so inadequate and my thoughts get the better of me and yet even when everything seems to be so heart wrenching there is still such hope, such joy and such miracles and such opportunities for growth to be found, right underneath our very noses!

Today was one of those days where you know there is a brighter tomorrow. First off... the inevitable happened to me today, I was released from my calling as second counselor in the relief society (our church's women's group) and given the assignment as Sunday School teacher! In my mind I have always thought that is the most dreaded assignment for me to have. I struggle with all the differing opinions and tangents that sometimes accompany these classes and to have to juggle them I feel so un-prepared and not scholarly enough to have that responsibility. After a nervous breakdown in the Bishops office, he gave me the faith that this is what will bless my life at this time and that will increase my strength and endurance through the trials that beset us all. I was humbled. I was feeling so inadequate. After talking with my Mom (who is my hero) and getting on my knees, I am ready for the challenge. I know that in this situation I just need to set aside all the stereotypes that I feel is expected of me and just teach and testify of the things I KNOW are true in the scriptures. Thinking of it that way, it doesn't seem so daunting.

My roommate Michelle gave a great talk in church on overcoming adversity and referenced the talk by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin in the Oct 2008 conference, "Come What May, and Love it!". I am nannying a family of teens right now and they didn't want me to entertain them tonight (although I did con them into a game of Sorry!) so I entertained myself by reading this talk! What a great choice I made in doing this! I have now printed this talk and plan to have it close by forever! I just wanted to remember a few things that stuck out to me...

**Every life has peaks and shadows and times when it seems that the birds
don't sing and bells don't ring. Yet in spite of discouragement and adversity, those who are happiest seem to have a way of learning from difficult times, becoming stronger, wiser and happier as a result.

**Learn to laugh: the next time you're tempted to groan, you might try to laugh instead. It will extend your life and make the lives of all those around you more enjoyable.

**Seek for the eternal: Learning to endure times of disappointment, suffering, and sorrow is part of our on-the-job training. These experiences while often difficult to bear at the time, are precisely the kind of experiences that stretch our understanding, build our character,
and increase our compassion.

**Understand the principle of compensation: The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude."

My heart has been so touched today as I realize that no matter what any of us are going through we will get through it and once again be able to say, "Come what may, and love it!"

To all of my friends and family with heavy hearts know that I love you. I am rooting for you and believe in the principle of compensation! Hang on there.. it does pay off.. everyday my discouragement has become smaller and smaller through the hope and prayers of all of you!

HE LIVES!