Palm Spring Tradition 2013

Every year Jason and I try and go away for a week to California. We love to go and visit my mom and dad, relax by the pool, go golfing and of course do some shopping. My parents treat us like gold when we are there. We stay up late, eat lots of delicious food, play lots of rook and just have a great time all week. 

This year I met up with some old friends from California and it was such a blast. I miss those girls so much and it was so good to see them all. Tera, Tami, Kaci, Jessie and Jennie. I didn't realize that Celina still lived in California. I was sad that I never got in contact with her to see her as well. We were also missing one of my other roomies Jamie Smith Pearson. We all talked to Jamie through FaceTime to make it feel like she was there right with us.   

Morning breakfast before a day out on the golf course

 And while the men golfed Mom, Aunt Sheila, Aunt Ann and I hit the Outlet Mall and Target

Target never disappoints! 

 This was not my outfit leaving home today but by the end of the day it was a little chilly so I threw on my new purchase. My mom bought me this adorable blazer for me from Banana Republic. I love it so much and I wear it often for work. 

 Rook Rook and more Rook

Sweet hand mom! As a result of great hands and our mad rook skills we came out on top over the week. The few times that Dad loses he likes to rip up the proof. This one I quickly snapped a picture of so he couldn't deny our victory. That's right Mom and I won. 

Going to the pool every afternoon and evening was a daily ritual  

Another tradition that we do every time we go to California is a trip to the Cheesecake Factory. It seriously is the best place to eat in Palm Springs. We have never had a bad dish and we always end the meal with a piece of Red Velvet Cheesecake.

 My beautiful Mother whom I adore and admire

We also made it to the Swap Meet which is always fun. 

 Sunday dinner with some of my Aunts and Uncles. How fun would it be to retire with your siblings? Sounds like a plan to me.  

Just me and my Dad! Oh how I love this man.

Come What May and Love it

My heart is pounding so hard right now and  I feel like I must write my thoughts down before I forget how I feel and forget how truly blessed I feel this day.

About a year ago I went through a lot of pain and misery. I had a miscarrage and went through a pretty tramatic event with an eptopic pregnancy.

Today I have new hope and assurance that my Heavenly Father knows me as an individual. He knows my pains and he knows my hopes and dreams.

Lets start back to Sunday at Ward Conference ; Pres Low gave a wonderful talk on growth and hope. He shared a story of a husband and wife who had been trying to have children for a number of years and had no hope on their own, with fertility or even adoption. They had almost given up hope when they were selected to be parents of 5 amazing children that had come from a home through LDS services. It was hard to keep the tears back and the joy that family had.

Then monday night Jason taught family home evening.
Count your many blessings
We did a little activity. For 3 minuites we wrote down all the blessings that we had. We then compared lists and realized ALL that our Father in Heaven has given us. We are nothing without him and we are so grateful each day for each other and the love that we have for each other.

Tuesday Morning i had a Dr's Appt with Dr Kahn. She was the Dr I saw in the hospital when I had my miscarriage. She was excellent!!!! She understood me and understood my wants and dreams. She made me feel so important and walked me through the whole process of what we needed to do from here. I left that appointment feeling calm and at ease. I now feel like I am in good hands and my best interests are at heart. I have an up beat attitude today knowing that one day I will be a MOM and that a baby will come into our family. I can't stop smiling all day just knowing that we can do this and that our hopes will come to pass one day.

I just feel so blessed and so many things to be grateful for. I was born into a wonderful family with parents that would do anything for me. They ache when their kids ache and would take away the pain if they could. I have the best siblings/friends in the world. Jasons mom has been so supportive through everything as well and we are grateful for her. I have a carling husband who loves me for me and wants me/us to be happy. Most importantly I KNOW that I am a DAUGHTER of GOD. I know he love me, I KNOW he is there for me.
Everyone goes through trials and everyone has their problems. If each of us really stopped and counted our blessings then we would truly see how the LORD loves each of us and how much we have been blessed with.

I love my Savior with all my heart and am so grateful for the knowledge that I have that families are forever. I feel him in my heart, I feel him in my life. I don't know if I can truly express how I am feeling at this moment. All I know is that I feel the love of my Saviour more than ever at this very moment. I feel his warmth and can feel his comfort. He is my my everything and I am eternally grateful for his life and his love.

For those that read this and are stuggling with trials and if  - please know that he knows you and he feels your pain. Know that there is hope in the future.

Come what may and LOVE IT!

Dinner with old high school friends

It was so great catching up with these girls from High School. We were sad many others couldn't make it but it was a lot of fun reminiscing about the good old days. 

This is kinda random placing. Amelia was one of my young women when I was Young Womens President in the Riverstone Ward. She is such a sweetheart and we have become good friends. She made the prettiest bride and her wedding was straight out of a magazine. Love this girl.