5 on friday

Reading through my gmail social tab , I skim through all the blog posts waiting to be read and I came across alot of blogs talking about 5 on friday. I clicked on one and found out it was a link up and thought it would be fun since it's pretty simple. you can link up here too if you want :)

 

Numero uno//

being sick is tiring. lol.

I wanted to at least feel a little productive while being sick, so this is the post you get for today. It's been confirmed as of this morning I have an infection in my chest, so started those antibiotics!

hot herbal tea is my friend on this overcast day.

Numero dos//

I seriously have amazing grandparents. They came over Wednesday as part of our weekly visit. 

Before they left back home, they went to pick me up more mucinex. 

While they ran to Walgreens (grandpa drove, nana went in the store), their baby dog, Perla, looked like this:

whimpering for her mommy and daddy. so cute. not even gone 20 minutes.

Numero tres//

I am not a big football fan. 

I don't know any one who plays on any one team, but because SuperBowl is this weekend, I am craving chicken wings. hmm, maybe a good ol grilled hamburger too?

Now, I would totally watch the superbowl if I was at a party or had some friends over.

and I love seeing what kind of awesomeness will be displayed during the halftime show.

at least i know the two teams playing.

Go Seahawks!!, since my friend Alison is in love with them.

Numero cuatro//

I believe credit cards can become the devil.

I get super annoyed when I get mail from credit card companies or insurance companies, week after week.

the to-shred pile is really piling up.

Geico, I don't even own a car. 

 State Farm, I am not a homeowner either.

Discovery, I learned from past mistakes. never again.

Stop sending me letters and printing my full name five times throughout your plea.

help save trees instead.

Numero cinco//

wishes can come true.

miracles do happen.

it doesn't matter what you wish on: a star, a candle, a hummingbird, a coin, or dandelion.

i think, as long as you believe, the universe of divine forces help make them come to pass.

being sick + AZ YSA conference pics!

My body has been trying to get sick the past few weeks and finally today, well, last night, it got a hold of me. I don't know if it's our weather here in AZ, which has been on the warmer side (not complaining) but I've been getting hot to the point I'm sweating to freezing cold where I need my space heater on..so weird! My caregivers and I were all joking around those weeks that maybe i had pre-menopausal symptoms. Really? I just turned 31. I don't think so.

On one of the freakishly weird extremes of temperature change, my roommate sherri asked, "are you getting sick?" I said, "NO! I dont have time to be sick! I've got plans and things to do. Hmm, let me go take my temperature." I did and I screamed because it was 99.1 which for me is a slight fever because im ALWAYS below normal, in the 96.5 to 97.8 range. So because I feel sluggish today, with my upper chest feeling like someone punched me and left me to suffer with bruises, i will leave you with some photos of the weekend I went to the YSA conference January 10-12th. It was so fun, enlightening and inspiring. I am so blessed to have the friends I do have. I am so blessed because of my faith and God just keeps surprising me with lovely blessings. I have alot of catching up to do on the blog, so bare with me :)

FRIDAY NIGHT

best pilot

three classy ladies right there!

amanda and brookie, so cute

OOTN (outfit of the night)

love!

Eve found me!

what?! only 4 rows from the stage!

Mr. J & I

SATURDAY-amazing guest speakers, lunch and workshop with the Nielson's!

KJ & David

Meeting the Nielson's was THE highlight of the conference for me. I think KJ would agree. Don't mind my crying mess face!

SUNDAY-Sacrament (communion) meeting in gammage!

OOTD

met a new friend!

love.

31.

Are you thinking of Baskin Robbins 31 flavors?! 
I think that sounds good too. Oooh, mint chocolate chip ice cream. Hmm, maybe in a couple months when it warms up more!

Are you thinking of Proverbs 31?!
Whenever I hear 31, I think of Proverbs 31, from verse 10-12,

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.   

And in verse 30, Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

I know alot of women who aim to be a proverbs 31 woman. I know I am. I believe it can be done. With this new year, I look forward to the opportunities and experiences that can bring me closer to God and into the woman he envisions for me. I want my heart to be more open and giving. I want the words that come out of my mouth to be ones of encouragement and kindness. I want my thoughts to be more pure and my responses to be slow to anger. and...I want to be more healthy. I will be more healthy!

So it was my birthday two days ago and I turned 31. I know, I know, I don't look a day over 21!  I look so young but I have an "old soul" as some people say.  I love having intellectual conversations and reading cozied up in my bed. Most nights im tired and ready for bed by 10pm!

I had a wonderful, laid back birthday. nothing too surprising or crazy like last year!! My cousin Annette came over with lunch, and baked treats. It was so nice to visit with her one on one. She is married with two young sons but has a busy schedule as she volunteers alot at their school. I have missed her. 

Later in the evening, I had some friends come over to celebrate. We had pizza, lemonade from AJ's! and dunkin' donuts ( i am not really a cake person). After we all ate, we all played games. We played Trivial Pursuit family edition (thanks to Lyndaloo and Nate!) and Monopoly Deal (thanks to Kj!). 

Amanda, Kj and Heide (she's my friend and one of my nurses too) put everything together including gifting me these beautiful flowers! I ended up getting three bouquets. I do love the colors green and yellow. 

I had many texts, phone calls, cards, and facebook comments left for me throughout the day, plus a couple packages that from it all, I truly felt so loved. Everyone's thoughtfulness just made me smile. I have the best family & friends. Blessed, indeed.

it's a beautiful life

Without going into too much detail yet (more later), I just want to say that I had such an amazing weekend. You see, I went to a YSA, (young single adult)Church Conference this weekend in Tempe, Arizona. There were such wonderful speakers and musical numbers, that at least a handful of times, my eyes were tear filled as I felt the Holy Spirit present.

I know God uses his children as instruments to say exactly what we may need to hear. There were many important messages that can only improve my life, but help me to serve others. I love helping others when I can and my life is so enriched with service. It makes my heart happy.

One message was about our divinity and how each of us, as sons & daughters of God, are so blessed because we are chosen. Doesn't that make you feel important? We were chosen. We are wanted. Each life has value. It surely does add to and help us identify with who we are. We all have a purpose on this Earth and I am so thankful that God created me, loves me and has given me this beautiful life.

Sure, there are trials and hardships I face and will face in the future, but I know I can succeed, because I choose to walk alongside God, Jesus Christ and the Spirit. With God all things are possible and that gives me hope. So much hope that I know my future shines bright. and so does yours.

hope. in the new year.

Happy New Year!

I'd like to share what I posted on facebook earlier today,
         "Cheers to the new year! May we leave all the negative behind and surround ourselves with the positive! May your days be bright all the year through. Turn your doubts into possibilities born of faith! Reach out to those who may be forgotten or seem like they are having a bad day. A smile & kind word can make a difference! Thank you family & friends for enriching my life. Love to all!"

I want to start the new year right, especially with a brand new post for the first day of the new year! Yay! The past few weeks have been insane and there's so much to get caught up on on the blog. I feel that this year is going to be AH-MAZING! Do you?! I am so excited because there are some things that I do know that will be happening this month, like MY BIRTHDAY! haha. I've seen around the webosphere that some people choose a word for the year to focus on and help them to stay grounded.

My word for the year is: hope.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

Time and time again I remember that my hope is in God. How comforted I feel to know that His Spirit can be with me, through all the days of my life. The Spirit is there to help, guide and comfort. That really brings peace to my soul.


"The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By His mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each day. I say to myself, "The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in Him!" Lamentations 3:22-2

I find hope as the thread that keeps my faith alive in Christ and that through Christ and because of Christ, he gave hope to the world! How thankful I am for that and for the life and mission Christ gave.

Did you pick a word for the new year? What is your word?