Cali tradition - year #2

Last year Jason and I went to California to spend some time with my parents, catch some rays, go shopping and of course go GOLFING. We had such a great time with my parents and they spoiled us the whole time we were there. When we left Jason and I said it would be fun to make it a tradition to go down every Family Day holiday in February. We booked our flights back in September and were really excited to go again.
We flew out of Great Falls Saturday morning. The weather was -35 and there were problems with the plane arriving late because of the weather. Because of this delay we missed our connecting flight in Salt Lake and couldn't get another flight until 9pm at night. We were stuck in the SLC airport for 6 hours. Fun times!

Once we reached Palm Springs it was 10:30 at night and we arrived just in time for a down pour. The Palm Springs airport is outside because it "never rains in the dessert" but this week day it was a different story.

 
This is my mom and dad's new trailer. I think my mom would be mad at me when she sees this picture. Her trailer was always so clean and I should have folded those chairs up before taking the picture.  We loved staying there and their place is so cute.

  

We had a great time all week. Jason played golf almost everyday and I played 3 times during the week. We mostly played at the Sands Golf Resort. It is a pretty easy course and since I am still a beginner it was perfect for me.

Mom and I spent a day shopping and also got pedicures. Thanks MOM! I had such a great day

We also went to the Redlands Temple while we were there. We did initiatory work and then did sealings. It was a pretty cool experience. One of the sealings that we did was Jason's grandparents. It was really neat to kneel across the alter again with the love of my life and to hear the words and promises we made when we were sealed for time and all eternity. I am so grateful for Jason. I can't imagine a better person for me.  We make each other laugh and cry. Yes we have our little quarrels but we also don't let it last too long. He is such a great Priesthood holder and is always striving to be a better person. He makes me want to be a better person and to learn and grow in ways that I didn't know possible. I love him with all my heart and I still feel like I am the luckiest girl in the world. I love you babe and thanks for making me so happy.

Have you ever eaten at the Cheesecake Factory in the states? Don't confuse it with the Cheesecake Cafe because there is a big difference. Last year we ate there and it was so delicious. When we knew we were going back to Palm Spring we knew that the Cheesecake Factory was on the "to do" list. It did NOT disappoint and we left the restaurant as happy and pleased as we did last year. Our meals were delicious and the red velvet cake was even better. I've got a couple months to figure out how to make Red Velvet Cheesecake for Jason's birthday.

New Beginnings 2011 - Live like you BELIEVE

New Beginning 2011 - 9th Ward

We first introduced our new Personal Progress Board to the new Beehives and the rest of the YW. This board will be a group board that we will have up every Sunday. As the girls pass off goals we will turn the correct tile over in the appropriate value. On the other side of the value is a picture of the temple. Once the whole board are Temple pictures then we will have a PERSONAL PROGRESS PIZZA PIE PARTY. We are hoping this gives the girls a little more encouragement and motivation to keep working on their personal progress every week. 



The Theme for the night was:    LIVE LIKE YOU BELIEVE

We did an infomercial to start of the shopping. I will post the video later.

Tonight we did a Value Mall to introduce the new Beehives into the YW's program. We had 4 new Beehives there and it was a fun night. Each of the YW were in charge of one of the stores. They were to decorate the store with the appropriate value. As the new beehives walked around the gym/mall they would stop at each store and learn about the value. At each store they walked away with gifts from that value to add to their shopping bag. The first 7 values were in the gym and then the final Value was Virtue and it was in the RS room where the girls learned about the TEMPLE. 

At each store the girls would introduce themselves and the store/value. They would read the scripture and the value motto, tell a personal goal they have achieved in that value, give them their gift and instructed them to visit the store next door. 

Welcome to ALDO - The VALUE of FAITH

Welcome to THE BODY SHOP - The VALUE of DIVINE NATURE

Welcome to SHADE CLOTHING - The VALUE of INDIVIDUAL WORTH

Welcome to BARNES AND NOBLE - The VALUE of KNOWLEDGE

Welcome to HALLMARK - The VALUE of CHOICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY

 Welcome to BEST BUY - The VALUE of GOOD WORKS

 Welcome to SPORT CHEK - The VALUE of INTEGRITY

The last value was VIRTUE - We talked about the the TEMPLE and how all the values lead to VIRTUE/TEMPLE. We talked about the 13th Article of Faith and how if we LIVE LIKE WE BELIEVE and if we BELIEVE in begin honest, true, chaste, benevolent and in doing good to all men that we shall receive the best GIFT, which is the GIFT of eternal life.

At the end the final gift to add to their shopping bag was a board of the Cardston Temple that read "I'm going there Someday". If we live like we BELIEVE will have the opportunity to enter the Temple someday. That was our message to our Young Women. The Bishop closed the night with a few remarks and did such a great job. We hope the girls had a fun time and we also hope they walked away with a stronger testimony of the Young Womens program and our Savior Jesus Christ.

It was a really fun night and all the girls pulled through and did a great job at decorating their stores. For refreshments we had Orange Julius and Cinnabon. A special thank you to all the leaders and YW who put in a lot of work to help this be a successful night.

Valentines Day 2011

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY 

Jason and I are going to California this weekend and so we promised to not buy anything for each other for Valentines Day. We promised that we would only do cards since we were going to California and will be spending money there. So.... what does Jason do? He came home for lunch and had bought me flowers. But like any other girl I was so happy and loved them.



That night I made a candle light dinner and made Jason's favorite meal. Sweet Pork Salad. We both love this dinner and it is a weekly meal in our home. For dessert I made Chocolate Strawberry croissants. We had family home evening together and read the first chapter in the new Church handbook and then watched the Flames game. It was a pretty low key night but it was really nice just to spend an evening in with my man. I feel very blessed every day to have him in my life. Happy Valentines Hun! I love you

2010 pictures that I forgot :) oops

FAMILY REUNION 2010 - Glenwood, AB

                                     

       This was our old home in Glenwood. I love me family. 

May 2010

When we first moved to Lethbridge we were both called into the nursery. It was a lot of fun to play with the children for 2 hours. Jason also loved it and would take off his shoes and shirt tie right away. Everyone in the church should have a chance to be in nursery.

That didn't last long though.... a couple months later we both were called into the Bishops office on Tuesday night. We both thought that the other person was getting a new calling. The Bishop talked to us for bit and then extended a calling to me. Young Womens President! WHAT?! My first thought was , "YES" but then a rush of responsibility and fear came over me. I didn't even know anyone in the ward yet, since we were put in nursery right away. I was in shock and was wondering if I actually heard the Bishop correctly. I started crying and was very humbled by the calling. There was a lot of prayers that next week to try to choose counselors and advisors. I am LOVING YW's now and work with such great leaders and the YW are awesome.

Then that following week Jason also got called back into the Bishops office and got called to be the Ward Clerk. Jason loves working with the Bishopric and being evolved in the ward. We also were asked to speak in church that next Sunday. I called up my parents that Saturday and told them we were speaking in church and they said they wanted to come. I had not told them of our new callings and so when they announced it over the pulpit they were quiet surprised. Troy and Andrea and their kids also came. It was fun to have them there and then they all came over for dinner after and Ryan came as well. I feel very blessed to have such great parents and siblings.

Here is a picture that was taken the day I was set apart as Young Womens President