Mustache Partay!

A few weeks ago Matt and I were invited to a birthday party at a couples house in the ward!
We went to their cute house and played awesome board games! And wore our wild mustaches!!! I love our ward and all the great people we have met while we are going to school. I can't wait to get to know more people an gain more friendships!

Nearly a month after being in Cali

We debated for a few days on if we were going to be working on Memorial Day.  And well it turned out we just took the whole day off.  It was very much needed.

Monday morning we went with Grandma Dune to the Memorial service at the cemetery.  It was great to see some important people in my life.  Like Mr. Bacca--the crossing guard at Mupu School.  He was still just as happy as I remembered him, and he remembered me.  :)  I visited with my old piano teacher Donna Nelson.  It was great to see her and be around her great spirit.  One other person that I had not seen in a long time is my Dad's "brother" Ralph.  My Dad and Grandma were both super happy to see him and visit together.  After the service Matt, Grandma, and I went to visit Grandpa.  She had picked a beautiful bunch of flowers for Grandpa.  We cleaned up his grave, and saw Tressas' pennies still on the head stone.  Grandma couldn't believe they were still there.  Then it was lunch time at Carrows with Grandma.

After coming home we took the time to clean our bedroom, and then headed to Dustin's with Tatum and Eirely.  We had a fun day planned at the beach. We made it to the beach after being here for just about a month.  We went kayaking in the harbor.  It was Matt's first time out in the ocean.  It was super fun for me, I hope he had a good time too.

 

 Their  just getting ready to launch for some fun.

"Matt are you going to wear that life jacket on the sand too??" hehe











Tatum is in the back and Matt in the front.  They needed to chant "right left right left..."  They did a great job as a team.  It sure was a perfect day to be at the beach.

Cali..

Well we are here in sunny Cali working our bootays off. It has been so great to be out walking around for hours each day enjoying the sunshine that has been nearly non-existent in Utah. Best part about being home is the chance that I have to be around the animals again and wake up to happy animal noises every morning. Life is good!

Quest for Christ in "The Book of Mormon"

Over the past 6 months Matt and I have been reading The Book of Mormon together every day. This book -- an amazing testament of Jesus Christ--showed us in each chapter how many times our Savior is referenced.  I personally did not count how many times Christ was reverenced, but a professor at BYU did.  Donald W. Parry counted "101 different names for Christ in The Book of Mormon. 

These are some of the names that can be found:

Lord God

Omnipotent

Redeemer of Israel

Shepherd

Son of the Living God

The names/titles are each found twice;

 Stone

True Messiah

Mighty One of Jacob

 and Great Creator

The names/titles each appear 10 or more time

Holy One of Israel

Lamb of God

 Lord Jesus Christ

 Redeemer

 and Messiah

 The names/titles are each found at least 100 times in the book

Christ

 God

 Jesus

Lord

and Lord God

 …Christ

 Christ Jesus

 Christ the Son

Creator

 Eternal Father

 Everlasting Father

 Father of Heaven

Holy Messiah

 Jesus

 Jesus Christ

 Lamb

 Lamb of God

Lord Jesus Christ

Mediator

 Messiah

Only Begotten of the Father

Only Begotten Son

Redeemer

Redeemer of Israel

Savior

Savior of the World

Shepherd

 and True Redeemer.

(Parry)

“In all, the 101 names/titles of Christ are collectively presented 3,925 times in 6,607 Book of Mormon verses…Christ appears once every 1.7 verses. 

 The Book of Mormon is in fact a testament of Jesus Christ.  It is a true record of the people of the America's.  I have prayed and received an answer multiple times about the truthfulness of this spectacular book.  And because this book is true, the prophet Joseph Smith is a true prophet, and he did translate this book from the golden plates that were given to him.

The church is true.

 I will stand as a daughter of God knowing that Christ is MY Redeemer for the rest of eternity.

Source: 

http://www.schoolofabraham.com/findingchrist.htm 

Once in a Life Time Oportunity

This evening we took the chance to go help clean the Lord's House.  Right after entering in some special doors, the worker at the temple told us how different the temple is going to be because of cleaning.  Stuff will being laying around, there will be ladders, paint cans, and stuff out of place.  Boy was he right! There were many things out of place which made it really weird to be around.  

The custodian that was in charge of our group was super awesome.  She first took us to these beautiful stair cases in the east tower of our temple.  Gave us our jobs cleaning the staircases and dusting the hand rails.  My friend Suzi and I decided--due to the serious lack of dust in the temple--that if our house ever becomes dust free like the temple was after 6 months of not being dusted, that our home has become as holy as a temple.  :)  We had a good giggle. 

Cool part about our jobs, was that we were on the same level as the Priesthood room.  The walls were about 30 or 40 feet tall with a ceiling that was immaculate.  The hard work that the pioneers put in was absolutely breath taking. The wood work was indescribable.   So perfect and exact. Beautiful paint and velvet covered seats.  I just stood there looking around in awe at where I was standing.  I was in a room that so many important people had been.  The Spirit was so strong, I was then reminded about how true our church is.  I later at random said, "Matthew, the church is true."  He just looked at me and laughed.  But my thought is how could anybody come into the temple and see the beautiful workman ship, the organization of the church, the Spirit that is felt with in the temple walls, and then not have your faith strengthened about the truthfulness of the gospel.  

After working super hard on the stairs our group director took us into the up stairs attic area.   This is super cool because the men who build the top of the temple were Scandinavian men who only knew how to build boats.  So they put their skills to work by building a boat up side down creating a very sturdy roof that lasted far over 100 years.  I felt extremely blessed to see this amazing sight.  I looked around studying everything around me, so I could tell my Mom all about it.  We have always had a particular closeness with this temple.  We had so much of my Dad's family help with the creation of this temple.  This was truly an honor to see these parts of the temple.
Our next job was to go into the baptistry to help clean around the font.  This was super cool too.  

There were so many times that I would try to hurry and get my work done, but then I'd look at a history professor from school as he worked slowing, cleaning his absolute best.  I was impressed by him and his diligence.  This immediately reminded me of the pioneers that worked throughout their lives to make this temple their best job.  They worked slowly, doing the best they could do.  I told myself many times.  "Slow down.  Quick work is not the best work.  This should be the best cleaning of your whole life.  This is THE house of the Lord.  Do your best at cleaning these oxen."

Some things I always want to remember:

The Priesthood room 

Secret door 

The beautiful ceiling of the Priesthood Room

The old original glass in the windows

The huge awesome rocking chair, by the Priesthood room.

The up side down boat.

The thick walls and awesome stone work

The super old chandelier up in the same room as the roof.

The hoists for the chandeliers

The heating and AC rooms that were built for a reason that the pioneers didn't understand.

The space built for the elevator, even though they had not been invented yet.

The old organ by the spiral stair case

The fixed horn of the ox

 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true.  Joseph Smith was indeed a prophet of God, who translated The Book of Mormon.   I know we currently have a prophet now, President Monson.  I believe with every part of me that he is our latter day prophet, and is a very special witness of our Savior.  I know that he leads and guides us today. His apostles are men of God who are also witnesses of Jesus Christ.  They are true messengers.

Temples are such a great blessing to our lives here on Earth as well as those that are waiting on the other side.  I feel such peace in the temple, I know that the covenants that I made their are everlasting. 

I love the gospel and I know that without the organization of this church I would not be the driven and motivated individual that I am today, striving to always be progressing.

Looking Back on the year

As much as Matt and I have been anticipating the end

of this school year, it has still snuck up on us.  Just about three weeks ago we laid in bed thinking,

 “Holy cow!! We only have a few more weeks until we’re done!”

Now we are to the end with only

two more activities for me to do on campus,

five more days of classes,

and well about two weeks until we are down in California.  

It was insane to think today in our last formal Student Body meeting,

 that we are to the very end of

Something that we have been working so hard on ALL year!

It blows me away at all that has happened since I have moved here to Utah.

Just about a year and a half ago I moved here to beautiful Utah, when my parents dropped me off to start a new life at a great school.

 Just 1 month after that, I found my eternal companion down stairs from where I was living in the Marry Nielson dorms. 

Just 1 month and 23 days after dating he asked me to marry him. 

And without ANY hesitation we got married in July. 3 months after being engaged. 

I knew then, like I know now that he is the most perfect man that I have ever met,

and I love him more than anything.

My position as a SBO has been a very big learning experience

that has pushed me to my limits as an individual. 

I have better skills—not num-chuck skills mother—but skills like

·         Time management

·         Organization

·         Delegation

·         Trying to be more professional

·         Working with others

·         Creating lasting friendships

·         Relying on help from others

·         Trusting that other people will do their job

·         Budgeting money

·         Plan sweet activities

·         And so much more

I am so so so thankful that I took this opportunity to serve the students of Snow College,

 and to be a part of the best team that has ever lead the students of this amazing college.

This next year has many new and exciting opportunities for us.  Like our sweet summer job and working as Community Leaders in a new dorm for next school year.  

I can honestly say I am excited for the new chapter in our life!

It's killin' me...

We find out in.....

2 DAYS

where we will be living next school year!!!!!!! I CAN’T WAIT! I hope it’s somewhere cool, exciting and fun!
Will it be...

Castilleja Hall??

(Boys & Girls)

Married Housing?

(Of Course boys & girls HEHE)

Nuttall Hall????

(Boys & Girls)

Snow Hall???

(All girlies)

Anderson Hall??

(Boys & Girls)

Mary Nielson

(Boys & Girls)

My new hobby...

 My New favorite hobby is…

book binding.

 This is something I now think about pretty 

much all the time. 

I think about who I can make one for, 

 what colors I should do next or... 

different ways I can use these books.  

I love them.

This is the biggest stress reliever I have ever found. 

Bagged the Boots

Yesterday was a liberating day when I finally decided to part with my Fat Babys.  These poor boots had surgery by knife like 5 months ago because the leather just behind my heel was all jacked up.  So after that I could get my foot in and out without any problem. Wahoo problem solved.

Not really.

  Then the cut out leather was not very soft on my feet, but I would wear them anyway because they are cute boots.  Pain is beauty right? NOT I was over it by the end of my school day yesterday.  I came home and without hesitation gave the boots a kick to the trash.  I told Matt, "If I don't do it now I never will."  

I love the feeling a get when I part with unneeded things by throwing them in the trash.

Ingenuity of Twine...

Tonight we decided to really start pinchin' our pennies.

We have really horrid washers and driers here in our building. And what is no fun about them is they don't dry our clothes very well at all. So when we put in $.50 and they come out damp I'm not too happy. No Bueno!

So during family home evening I decided to make use of our TWINE and make-shift a clothes line in the living room. Wahoo! Our heater works really well, like really well so I know that we won't have a problem getting the clothes dry over night.

Some Firsts for this week...

Over the past week Matt and I have experienced some very cool things.

For weeks we had been getting excited for taking Larin to Salt Lake City, because we were planning on doing a session at the SL Temple. I was especially excited to go because we had just watched the church video of the stone cutter in institute. The temple had a new meaning to me because I was able to visually see what hardships people wen through in order to full fill their callings to the prophet.

During the session as we went room to room we were blown away at the wood work, and the extravagant detail that was put in to this creation. I thought the Manti Temp

le was spectacular--it still is--but I just fell in love with the SL Temple.

It is amazing.

I can't wait to go back and see the inside of it again.

The next new thing we got to do was go snowmobiling.

Our bishop is absolutely the most giving man. He inviting the ward to go up a near by canyon to go play on some toys. He brought 4 mobiles and as the couples were given rides to the "hangout spot" the bishops daughter told me how scary her dad was to ride with and,

"He goes REALLY fast." I thought, "OH great I'm next to get a ride, and its from the bishop." It wasn't that bad. :) Thank goodness. When we got to where we were going to spend our time,

Matt and I were pushed right on, and we just went for it. I was screaming the almost the whole way up the mountain. BUT It was a absolute THRILL.

When we got to the bottom I hopped off and Matt took off again to play, then he went toobing down the hill and had a BLAST. It was a good time accompanied by only three other couples not including the bishop and his family, and the second counselor's family, so everybody got a lot of turns.

As the day got later Matt and I started to walk to our car, and the bishop comes flying over and asked if I wanted a ride to the car. So I said yes and well he tricked me. lol He turned right around and said, "Are you sure you want to go home to do homework?? How 'bout just one more ride up the hill and I promise you will live to do your homework!" Well it is hard to tell bishop no so I said, "Okay...I'm kinda scared.." And we were off. His daughter was not lying, bishop is crazy. He was going really fast. I scram in his ear a little bit. Oops.

It was a good day.

We sure are blessed to have such a great bishop that is so giving.

Community Leaders

Today we had our final interview for the Community Leaders of the dorms for nest school year. I thought it went well, I hope it did at least.

This new opportunity/job will be so awesome for us to grow as leaders and we are going to have the opportunity to make an impact on new students of this amazing school.

We will know if we got this new job in about two weeks.

AND I CAN'T WAIT! ahhh! We shall see!

We're set for Summer

Today was an adventure. Matt and I had our first team meeting in Provo today. We showed up at the new office, and we were welcomed to the team and offered awesome jackets among other things like gift cards and lunch. :) Matt and I were both surprised at the sweet gifts and happy people. We got our pictures taken for Facebook, then we started our training for our new job. At the end of the training we were pumped about this great opportunity that we have to grow and become better leaders, and the knowledge we were given about the company and the pesticide product. I won't have a problem selling something I have such confidence in. It is going to be awesome.

With that Matt and I will officially be moving to the good ol' ranch and we will be working in the Closest office for Clark Pest Control.

"It's going to be OUR best summer!!"

Poetry Night

Tonight Matt and I were lucky enough to attend Poetry Night at our friend's house. It was awesome to sit with peers and listen to their deep poems or their absolutely hilarious poems. It was a great opportunity to visit with friends and grow closer to them. And of course gain memorable experiences. Such as Katie slipping off the bench, Erica acting out one of her poems, oh but the best yet was Erica's poem, "That's What Made the Smelly." It was hilarious.

These two poems below are our favorites from the night...

Matt's Favorite:

"Reincarnation" by Wallace McRae

"What does Reincarnation mean?"
A cowpoke asked his friend.
His pal replied, "It happens when
Yer life has reached its end.
They comb yer hair, and warsh yer neck,

And clean yer fingernails,
And lay you in a padded box
Away from life's travails."

"The box and you goes in a hole,
That's been dug into the ground.
Reincarnation starts in when
Yore planted 'neath a mound.
Them clods melt down, just like yer box,
And you who is inside.
And then yore just beginnin' on
Yer transformation ride."

"In a while, the grass'll grow
Upon yer rendered mound.
Till some day on yer moldered grave
A lonely flower is found.
And say a hoss should wander by
And graze upon this flower
That once wuz you, but now's become
Yer vegetative bower."

"The posy that the hoss done ate
Up, with his other feed,
Makes bone, and fat, and muscle
Essential to the steed,
But some is left that he can't use
And so it passes through,
And finally lays upon the ground
This thing, that once wuz you."

"Then say, by chance, I wanders by
And sees this upon the ground,
And I ponders, and I wonders at,
This object that I found.
I thinks of reincarnation,
Of life and death, and such,
And come away concludin': 'Slim,
You ain't changed, all that much.'"

Kiely's favorite:

"'Twas the Night Before Christmas" by

Clement Clarke Moore and Henry Livingston

(Please read this poem with a Spanish accent. It will make the experience so much better. Thank you.)

"‘Twas the night before Christmas y por toda la casa,
Not a creature was stirring-Caramba! Que pasa?

Los niños were tucked away in their camas,
Some in long underwear, some in pijamas,

While hanging the medias with mucho ciudado
In hopes that old Santa would feel obligado

To bring all children, both buenos y malos,
A nice batch of dulces y otros regalos.

Outside in the yard there arose such a grito
That I jumped to my pies like a frightened cabrito.

I ran to the window and looked out afuera,
And who in the world do you think that it era?

Saint Nick in a sleigh and a big red sombrero
Came dashing along like a crazy bombero.

And pulling his sleigh instead of venados
Were eight little burros approaching volados.

I watched as they came and this quaint little hombre
Was shouting and whistling and calling by nombre:

"Ay Pancho, ay Pepe, ay Cuco, ay Berto,
Ay Chato, ay Chopo, Macuco, y Nieto!"

Then standing erect with his hands on his pecho
He flew to the top of our very own techo.

With his round little belly like a bowl of jalea,
He struggled to squeeze down our old chiminea,

Then huffing and puffing at last in our sala,
With soot smeared all over his real suit de gala,

He filled all the medias with lovely regalos-
For none of the niños had been very malos.

Then chuckling aloud, seeming muy contento,
He turned like a flash and was gone como viento.

And I heard him exclaim, and this is verdad,
Merry Christmas to all, y Feliz Navidad!"

We had a day of buying.

Yesterday was full of a lot of things. We made breakfast for Grandpa Aitken, we went to Hobby Lobby-- I'm glad I could control myself yesterday, because I could have bought a lot of stuff. Then we went to Costco, in Orem with half of the world. We scored with a 10 pound of chicken breasts, I think the chicken's that they stole the meat from were godzilla chickens cause the chicken breasts where gi-normous. Or they are from Beverly Hills. LOL anyway. Next was a dance store where I got my tights for dance. It was great! I can't wait for jazz tomorrow! Then we ended the day at Wal Mart in Payson. We made my favorite purchase fo the day! A NEW COMPUTER! It's super nice. We are both really happy with it. Yahoo for buying, not shopping. Right Dad?

This computer is awesome because the tower is so bitty. It is maybe a foot tall and is super quiet. The monitor is great. I can't believe how clear the images on the screen are. Great buy.

Our First Christmas

Our first Christmas Tree.

Our first time with Christmas lights.

Our very first Christmas tree and our very first ornament.

Time..

As the time has flown by since Matt and I have been married. I have been wondering what our password was to our new email account. Which is now seven months old. :) I finally got the idea of checking my email account to recover the password. Email is magical I tell you. Yay for google, we're back in buisness.