End of another year and Finally!!.... After 20 years!!!

With Christmas being all of a sudden at my doorstep... I find myself completely grateful for EVERYTHING. Literally everything. I've been so very blessed this year- how do you possibly hope to count them all. I of course have a wonderful and WONDERFUL family that I feel has rallied around me and boosted my spirits so much this year. I'm so grateful for the support system that I can always "go home" to.

Awesome friends! I can honestly say- there's not a single bad apple in the bunch. I absolutely adore every single one of them and I'm so grateful to have every single one of them in my life! As the saying goes "You are who your friends are..." Well my friends make me look AWESOME just by being awesome themselves!! :)

I've been so blessed with the jobs that I've had this year...Sure there were definitely some rough patches...but I feel I've learned many life lessons that I probably would have learned else where---but I was able to learn them sooner :) and now I have a job that is not only challenging and rewarding- but it will teach me those life lessons that will prepare me for that BIG job that I hope to one day have... Mom. :)

And last but not least. A loving Heavenly Father. Need I say more. :)Everything comes through him. And he gave us the greatest gift-his son Jesus Christ. And because of his gift- I can be with my family forever. Relationships that I make here won't have to end with death. And I have the chance everyday to just flat out be Happy.


Also with Christmas being here- I'm reminded of many past Christmas'

I remember making neighbor gifts...for practically the entire town :) with my mom. Using the Home-made ornaments for the tree. Using the same stocking from birth and as our family grew how the fireplace started looking smaller and smaller.
I do remember being 6 or 7 and getting up early and sneaking downstairs and totally opening my presents before anybody else woke up. Yeah.....
Some years later- waking up to see a trampoline in the backyard and about 10 years worth of memories that came afterward with that gift.
Driving around town to look at Christmas Lights!
The silent competition between my dad and our neighbors with Christmas lights.
Christmas programs put on by the Elementary school-as well as the middle school and high school.

And here is the FINALLY!!!

let me back up a bit
I think that I was about 4 or 5--- It was getting close to Christmas...and me being the 'snot-nose' kid I was ;) I probably totally brought this on myself....but maybe not.
I told my older sister that I knew what our mom and dad had gotten her for Christmas. And she comes back with "I'll tell ya what I got for you if ya tell me what mom and dad got for me."
Me being gullible as well..... I told her exactly what she was getting for Christmas. She in turn "told me what she got me for Christmas"

Well---I was pretty excited about the gift that she "got" for me. But when Christmas morning rolled around...this "gift" was no where to be found.

Hmm....I'd been dooped. :)

Well- I'm proud to say that after almost 20 years... I finally got that gift from my sister this year. Took long enough :) hahaha!

and even after all these years.... I still get excited over new BOOKS!!! :)

4th of July CRAZY-tacular!!!!!

So I watched a Youtube video this morning---I absolutely ADORE Kandee Johnson's videos and tutorials!!! C: She's so freakin cute!

Anyway-she did a "Crazy-tacular July 4th" video and I about died cause I was laughing so hard. But after that I totally wanted to do something fun like it too C:

Here's some of my pictures and then her video--her's is so much more entertaining C:

What July 4th means

2 Nephi 1:5

"But, said he, notwithstanding our afflictions, we have obtained a land of promise, a land which is choice above all other lands; a land which the Lord God hath covenanted with me shoud be a land for the inheritance of my seed, Yea, the Lord hath covenanted this land unto me, and to my children forever, and also all those who should be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord."


D&C 101 : 79-80

"Therefore, it is not right that any man be in bondage one to another.
And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood."


1 Nephi 13 : 16-20

"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles who had gone forth out of captivity did humble themselves before the Lord; and the power of the Lord was with them.
And I beheld that their mother Gentiles were gathered together upon the waters, and upon the land also, to battle against them.
And I beheld that the power of God was with them, and also that the wrath of God was upon all those that were gathered together against them to battle.
And I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles that had gone out of captivity were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations.
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that they did prosper in the land..."

"It appears to me, then, little short of a miracle, that the delegates from so many different states (which states you know are also different from each other in their manners, circumstances, and prejudices) should unite in forming a system of national government, so little liable to well-founded objections." -George Washington



I am the flag of the United States of America...

My name is Old Glory!

I fly atop the world's tallest buildings, I stand watch in America's halls of justice. I fly majestically over great institutes of learning. I stand guard with the greatest military power in the world.

Look up! And see me!

I stand for Peace, Honor, Truth, and Justice...

I stand for Freedom...

I am Confident

I am Arrogant

I am Proud

When I am flown with my fellow banners...
My head is a little higher
My colors a little Truer...

I bow to no one.

I am recognized all over the world. I am saluted, respected, revered, loved, and feared. I have fought every battle for every war for more than 200 years...
Gettysburg-Shilo-Appomatox-San Juan Hill-The Trenches of France-The Argonne Forest-Rome-The South Pacific-The beaches of Normandy-the rice paddies and jungles of Guam-Okinawa-Japan-Korea-Vietnam and many more. A score of places long forgotten by all but who were with me.

I was there.

I led my soldiers

I followed them

I watched over them

They loved me

I was on a small hill in Iwo Jima. I was dirty, battle worn and tired, but my soldiers cheered me, and

I Was Proud

I have been soiled, burned, torn and trampled on the streets of countries I helped set free.

It does not hurt, For I am Invincible.

I have been soiled, burned, torn and trampled on the streets of my own country, and when it is by those with whom I have served in battle--it hurts. But I shall overcome.

For I Am Strong.

I have slipped the bonds of Earth and stand watch over the uncharted new frontiers of space from my vantage point on the moon. I have been a silent witness to all of America's finest hours.

But my finest hour comes when I am torn into strips to be used for bandages for my wounded comrades on the field of battle...

When I fly at half mast to honor my soldiers

And when I lie in the trembling arms of a grieving mother at the graveside of her fallen son.

I Am Proud

My Name Is Old Glory

Dear God-Long May I Wave.

One Nation Under God - Jon McNaughton

While working at Downeast- I had to great opportunity to see this painting from the start and see it all come together. It is one of my favorite paintings and it hangs in my home.

Beautiful America

Mormon Tabernacle Choir Flash Mob - Colonial Williamsburg

On the way to the Ranch for Easter

So we all headed to Alamo, Nevada for the annual Anhder Easter shindig. And boy did these kids have quite a trip.

Awe Valentines

I Wuv You!
I will Always Wuv You!
Even if you UnWuv Me-
I will never UnWuv You!

Precious really :)

So this month - I decided to bring in Valentines Day with a different attitude. Still aware of my "singleness" but I don't wanna brag ;) Let's be honest- you don't gotta have a "signif" in order to enjoy V-Day....I'm sure they're great to have but I can't say that I know from experience. And I don't think that Valentines Day was made to only show love to one other person in your life---but to everyone in your life. One of my favorite memories of love came in a cute little stuffed animal all tied up with balloon strings that my mom had delivered while I was sitting with my 3rd grade class way back in the 90s :P And the little "Be Happy" note that was dropped into my high school locker by one of my best friends because he knew that I was having a bad day.

So Valentines for me this year isn't about the many bombarding "Signifs" wandering around- or the flowers - or the jewelry. It's about LOVE....go figure. Think of it more as a "Show your Appreciation Day" right? There's plenty of people around to show your love and appreciation to!

You gotta tell them when you can-and mean it when you do.