Family Update

I have been meaning to do this for awhile now.  I always say, "I'll do it next week when I have more time." - Ha!  I have come to the conclusion that there is only so much time, and if you don't make something a priority, then it won't happen!  So here is a little update on what my family has been up to...

We all made it through another year of school!  D ended up participating on 3 teams this year at his new school: track, tennis, and academic decathlon.  His academic team competed in the national championships and won, so he is a national champion! (In case you are wondering, academic decathlon is kind of like jeopardy.  It tests how much you know - both as an individual and as a team!)  He grows half an inch a month still which currently puts him at 6'3.5'' making him now officially taller than dad.  He is going to be a sophomore next year!  Can you believe it?!?  He recently got his driving permit and has obviously played too many driving video games.  He forgets to share the road and keeps looking for the reset button.  (Ok, he isn't THAT bad... but it is obvious why insurance for boys is more expensive than girls!)  

J played basketball and baseball this year and started really picking up the piano.  Where did his determination to play the piano suddenly come from?... He wants to "impress the ladies!" Haha!  He is now 5'10'' and claims that he shouldn't have to sit in the back of the car if he is taller than me.  (I claim first come, first serve... I was born first, I get to choose where I sit first, right?)  He asks if he can drive almost daily.  Thank goodness he has 2 more years before we have to worry about him driving!  

A took dance, piano, and basketball this year.  She came home the other day and said, "Mom!  Guess what!!  My friend has to be in bed by 8pm!"  Well, in a normal family that is not too surprising but seen as we are usually just finishing dinner at 8pm, she couldn't even imagine going to sleep right after eating.  Lets just say that bed time has never been a battle worth fighting in this home!  She is consistently awake PAST 10pm and still wakes up happy and ready to go... at 7 am.  Can you say energizer bunny?    

My mom and dad and D spend the past weekend up at youth conference with the rest of the stake.  They loved the break from the warm weather.  J, A, and I stayed and enjoyed a fun weekend of relaxing.  We had a ton of fun activities planned and then... I got the flu!  So J and A got their dream weekend: all the video games and TV they could have.  After about a day of that, A came to me and said, "I don't want to watch ANY MORE TV!"  Neither of them have really wanted much of TV or video games since.  Who knew the cure was giving them an entire day of it!?!

Well, we are looking forward to a fun-packed summer full of all sorts of activities!  I absolutely love my family.  There is never a dull moment at home, and to be honest, that is the way that I like it!       

EFY - Here I Come!

After 5 summers of the exact same job, I decided to try something new! And...I got it!  After 12 weeks of waiting to hear back from EFY, I finally heard from them this week!  I am officially going to be an EFY counselor this summer!  I can't even wait!  I loved EFY when I got to go as a participant, and I looked up to my counselors so much.  I know that I have a lot to live up to, but I am excited for the challenge!  It will be so much fun to spend a few weeks with great kids and enjoy the Spirit that is present there!!  For awhile there, I worried that I wasn't going to get the job, but I learned a great lesson about "AFTER the trial of your faith."  It took turning down my previous job and waiting with PATIENCE to receive the blessing.  I feel so blessed to be given such an amazing opportunity!  EFY, here I come!!  

Family

The past month or so seems to have flown by.  I am still enjoying school - or at least enduring it!  The countdown to summer has begun!! ;) I have started a new job as a nanny to 4 adorable kids, including twin boys who are only a few months old.  Nothing beats getting paid to play don't brake the ice, hold little babies, jump on the tramp, make paper airplanes, and... leave when it's time to go to sleep!  I absolutely love it!  It amazes me how trusting, loving, and innocent children are!  They remind me constantly that "except we become as a little child, we can in no wise inherit the kingdom of God."  Boy, I have some qualities to work on!! 

About a week ago, I went to the Easter Pageant with my ward.  What a great reminder of the true purpose of this season!  For General Conference, I got to drive up and spend the weekend with cousins and grandparents.  We were blessed to have gotten a hold of 16 tickets to the Sunday Morning Session in the Conference Center.  And, much to our delight, we could see the speakers better than we anticipated!  As Jake put it, "Look, they are a blob, not a dot!"  It was so neat to be gathered in the conference center with thousands of Saints listening to the words of the prophets.  There is definitely an added power when we gather together!  It was a very spiritually-packed weekend, and I am looking forward to studying the talks at a much slower pace!  I had so much fun catching up, playing games, and laughing with family and friends!  

If there is one thing that I have been exceptionally grateful for the past few months, it has been my family!!  There is nothing better than family!  They have helped me through the tough times and been excited with me through the good times!  I am so lucky to have great parents, wonderful siblings, and the greatest extended family!!  Here is a quote that explains it well... "Family is the most important part of your life.  Treasure the tears, treasure the laughter, but most importantly, treasure the memories." -Unknown  

My Grandpa, My Hero

About a week ago, a good friend asked me, "Do you have a new man in your life?  Because we haven't seen you in weeks!!"  Actually... I have one less man in my life... for now.  Close to the time when I was born, my Grandpa Garner was diagnosed with cancer.  For the past twenty years, my family and I have seen miracle after miracle as he has been blessed with health and strength despite the cancer.  Then, on February 23, my grandpa passed away.  He was and is an amazing man!  He always took the time to talk to people.  He was genuinely concerned about others and made sure they knew it.  I can recall numerous experiences in which he would stop me and quietly tell me that he loved me or that he was proud of me.  He wanted nothing but the best for each of us and frequently gave us advice and counsel on how to find happiness.  He had a great sense of humor and always found the best in every situation.  I could go on and on about the great qualities that he possessed but there is one thing that I think of most when I think of my grandpa.  He had such a vast knowledge and love of the gospel.  His face would light up as he taught from the scriptures.  In honor of him, I want to share what I have learned this past month.  I know with greater knowledge that families can be forever.  I know like Elder Holland taught that there are "angels dispatched to bless us in time of need" -seen and unseen.  But most importantly, I learned that when we ask the Lord to help us "bear our burdens," He does not take our burdens away.  Instead He makes our burdens SEEM light.  The Savior carries us as we carry our burdens.  I am so thankful for the gospel in my life and the peace that it brings me!  I love my grandfather.  He truly is one of my greatest heroes and I will miss him!!   

I DID IT!!!!! I Ran a 1/2 Marathon!

I have always had a place in my heart for running.  Throughout high school, I ran 2 miles almost every single day!  Then college started and I got out of the habit.  Many of my aunts and uncles have always been runners, and they always talk about their races and events.  For the past few years, I have had the urge to participate in the Turkey Trot with them, but I was too afraid to try!  Well, this year, I finally just registered months in advance knowing that I wouldn't let my money go to waste!  After running the 10 k (6.2 miles), I felt so accomplished!!   I didn't stop there; my aunt and uncle convinced me to run a half-marathon.  I started training with them, but it took me much longer to commit this time as I still doubted if I could do it!  Like Nephi, sometimes we have to "go and do" before we really even know if we can do it!  It wasn't until many weeks after I committed, that I realized I could run a half-marathon!  At a weekly Saturday practice we ran 10 miles, and when I finished, I thought, "10 down, what's 3 more?!"  So last weekend, I did it!!  I RAN A HALF-MARATHON!!  I ran 13 miles in just under 2 1/2 hours!  It is amazing to think that just 3 months ago, I had never run more than 4 miles at a time!  I am so thankful for my aunt and uncle's encouragement and support! 

It has to be one of the most physically and mentally challenging things that I have ever done, but I am so glad that I did!  I learned many lessons through the entire experience!  On the very last mile of our long runs, a quote from Elaine S. Dalton's recent conference talk would run through my head: "I can do hard things, [but] in the strength of the Lord, I can do all things."  A half-marathon was a hard thing for me, but I learned that I can do hard things.  Although I can do hard things, I can't do everything!  When my best is not enough, I can rely on the Lord to make up the rest.  With Him, I can do ALL things!  I am so grateful for my Savior and for the lessons that I have learned from running!

Winter Break

It's almost over, Winter Break, and I can't believe it!!  It has flown by in a blur!  I have been blessed to spend lots of time with family and friends and I have had a blast.  Now that my family is all a little older, the spirit of sharing has really been felt in our home this past Christmas Season.  We have shared many memories, presents, time, talents, laughs, love, the flu, etc.  We had a very merry Christmas and we are so truly blessed.  Here is a lightning fast update of my life the past month.  I watched Twilight at the drive-ins with friends, spent Christmas with the extended Garner Family, both my brothers are now officially taller than me, made gingerbread houses, relaxed, went to a masquerade party for new years, sat on the floor seats at the suns game, cleaned up over 70 rolls of toilet paper after being T.P.'d (not cool), worked away the break at my new job, and spend time with G-ma and G-pa Loveland who are visiting for a few days!! 

New Year, New Dreams

I have had fun the past few weeks reminiscing on the year 2008.  It was a fun year, but I have BIG plans for the new year.  Just recently my friends and I found these cute wooden signs at the Dollar Store.  We decided to each buy one and make a night of sanding and painting them.  The sign I bought says "Dream" and I of course, painted it orange - my new favorite color!!  This is a year of dreams!!  Last week in my ward, my Bishop gave us 10 goals to work on as a ward and encouraged us to write down a list of personal goals.  As I sat and contemplated this new year, I realized I have many plans, ambitions, and DREAMS!!  I am going at this year with a running start...literally!  :)