The Holiday Spirit

The holiday spirit brings about a feeling of rejuvenated excitement for living a little better. I get this determination that I am going to be more thankful this coming year, more dedicated to my study of the scriptures, take the time to love in the moment. I think about one thing I notice from all the great examples in my life that I am most thankful for and that is they always take time to show they love me regardless of how busy they might be.

Life is such a fascinating experience to be apart of! I think of the movie "It's a Wonderful Life" and can't help but think of one of my favorite quotes.

Attitude

"The longer I live the more I realize the importance of attitude on life. Attitude, to me is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, then money, the circumstances, then failures, then successes, then what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company, a home, a church. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it."

I have had this quote since I was a teenager and memorized it so I could let it become a little bit more apart of who I am. But the fact is I am grateful for these holiday seasons because it reminds me of what I've wanted to accomplish in this life and what character I want to leave this world with.

Then her top came off!

So in the dental office you never know what people might say. We've been working on this older woman in her 80's for a couple months now and she's become quiet comfortable around us. We finished seating her bridge today. Her husband came in to help escort her out when she decides to tell us how her and her husband met. She tells this long lengthy story. Then he says well when I knew she was the one was when I took her rafting down the river downtown. We hit some ruff water and I looked back to see if she was ok and her top had come off! He looks at her from head to toe and says WOW! She giggles for an awkward 30 seconds and I'm left thinking,"Don't bust up laughing!!" Then she goes on to explain how the swimwear back when had a t-shirt that went over your swimsuit. She had just lost her t-shirt and now her one-piece swimsuit was all she was left wearing.

Update:

So for thanksgiving Ryan's brother Jordon is driving out from Iowa with his girlfriend. I am so excited to be with family over the holiday! However, I keep dreaming that I burn the turkey. NOt all dreams come true!?!

I also have been having lots of weird dreams... 2 nights ago I was an FBI agent who was saving the world from a nuclear bomber who was on an airport runway. The night before Ryan and I were back at home and the baby had already come. I borrowed my sister-in-law, Jess's stroller, and I made my mother-in-law cry. So random! LOL! The list goes on and on. I get nervous to go to bed because when I'm an FBI agent I wake up with my body sore from tensing up all night and the other mornings I wake up confused!

Baby Bump

I'm pretty sure this was about 15 or 16 weeks

This is me at 18 weeks

This is me at 21 weeks




To be continued :)

We're having a GIRL :)... Trip to VA

I have been so excited to post for awhile but our internet has been down. We went in on the 25th of October and found out we're having a girl! :) I am so so excited! I can't wait to have cute little dresses, shoes, headbands, outfits, and most of all to cuddle all the time with her. It still seems surreal because I remember playing house with Kristin, Missy, & Kristy when I was a kid. I still remember Kristy teaching me how to swaddle my little baby doll. It's interesting that as a kid you are so excited to be a mom from the get go. I remember I used to pretend to go grocery shopping, do the dishes, cook, and take care of my baby doll. It's just so interesting how time flies by. When they first started showing us our little girl I'll never forget Ryan's face... he didn't say much but I think it hit him that this was his little girl. It was like the face when I told him we were pregnant. These are the moments to remember! Ryan had guessed our baby was a girl and I had guessed a boy. So I owe him a pumpkin pie this Friday since he was right. She was so active in my stomach I can't believe that I couldn't feel it! I felt her for the first time at 20 weeks. It really was like a butterfly. Crazy! In the ultra sound she was kicking around like she was dancing. She's an active little one. No we don't have a clue what we're going to name her so I'm hoping that we start to have some names we both like.

I also was able to go to VA and see a lot of people again! It was so fun!

Ryan and Craig posing for the camera! :) It was fun to have a mini lesson with Craig and help answer some questions he's been having since he's been a member. I went to downtown Williamsburg and got my chocolate covered Twinkie which I've been missing. We first went to Chesapeake and saw the Stewart Family. They are super strong and are doing great!

Then we weren't able to catch anyone else since we were only there for a couple hours before we went to Newport News and spent that night with the Barkdull Family. We played so many funny games and ate at the Chinese restaurant where Hilary works.

The Hamilton Family were so kind to let us stay all 3 nights there. How nice! They're such an incredibly family! Sunday at Church Bishop Hamilton had me bear my testimony. I don't know why I was so alarmed it's Bishop Hamilton but I guess I haven't been a missionary for a long time. I shared the fellowship of the unashamed which was such a special experience for me and made me long to see Sister Sowards, Moore, Case, Talbot, Dunn, Schorzman, & Stoehr. What incredible woman I had the opportunity to serve with. It was fun to see Cathy after church for lunch. She was like a mother to me on the mission always providing for any need we needed. Rodney I was able to meet the rest of his kids and hear about his temple trip. It was so fun to see Lori Harrell and her family. She was so kind to give Ryan and I a wedding gift that were antique vases representing husband and wife. It made me cry. I just was so overwhelmed with joy to be back and see everyone. The next day we saw Norman and had a fun little study of the word and recommited him to keep fighting to keep the commandments. It was so fun to have my husband there as my companion. I can't wait for us to serve a mission one day together. What joy! We then drove up to downtown Williamsburg and I showed Ryan around then we randomly bumped into an old stealers fan investigator we taught at Hardee's while I was companions with sister Sowards & Moore. It was so funny I ran into him at that same Hardee's. He was shocked I was pregnant. LOL! We went and had some good laughs with the Castro family about how much I loved their food :) LOL. Then we saw the Kelley's and sat down and chatted with them. What a fun trip! I'm glad we went back before the baby so we could see everyone! :)

Update:

Ryan had 7 day crazy diet where he lost 20 pounds and weighed 189 pounds for his air-force weigh in for his scholarship application. They measured him at 6 foot so he could have been 202 pounds. I felt bad for him. But it taught him he can do anything... WOW! I'm just grateful I don't have to worry about him collapsing from lack of nourishment since it's all over with!

I am so proud that my dinners are improving... one : more variety and two : I have some great recipes I've got from my mom! Thank goodness!