Life goes on as normal

I haven't been very good at keeping the blog updated but not much i feel has really happened.

Today while i was outside playing basketball by myself i saw one of the cutest things i have ever seen! the basketball happened to roll out into the street and when i looked up i saw a mommy mallard duck waddling across the street with 8 ducklings behind her. oh it was so cute! I was so worried about where they were going! There wasn't any water around close by that i knew of and it was sad to think of that mom all alone with out her husband there to help with the protection. I went and talked to mom and she said that this duck couple - that's what they call them - have been coming and nesting in this neighborhood for at least 5 years. and so she said that the canal isn't very far and that's probably where she's headed. I really hope she made it safely and that she is able to raise all those ducklings =) so cute!! That mommy duck i am sure made it safely to water =)

I can't wait to have a garden someday. We went to IFA today and oh how i wish austin and i could have our house now and have a big garden full of vegetables and lots of flowers and all sorts of stuff! it will be so much fun!

I wonder where we will end up living... We still don't know where we will be moving to. Austin has his CO interview in a week from today and i am so excited for that to be done so that i am not stressing about it. I just can't wait for austin to get a job or a grad position. Oh i wish life would speed up just a little. ugh...

well i am watching singing in the rain and its been pretty good so far =)

blogging

hello blogging world!! =) its so nice to know and see that i am not alone in this love for blogging. i really enjoy all those cooking blogs. they make me feel so inspired! there are so many talented people in this world! I am curious how people have so much time to cook, take pics, and then blog to the world about it. how do you do it? especially if you are a wife and mom or etc?? how do you manage?

Update on our life

Just in case you are all interested, as i know many of you are, we didn't get the wisconsin job position...ugh...

so now we are really excited for austin's CO aka Conservation Officer interview which will be coming up in the next month or so. we are really excited for it!

after the interview we will be heading up to washington for to visit family for a couple days and to watch a high school graduation. it will be fun =)

we got may a new water bowl. she loves it. she sits in it with one leg and her head resting on the side. she is so cute. she was even blowing bubbles with her nose! who knew a sulcata would be so amusing to watch?!

duke was almost doing back flips the other day(sunday) because he had a spec stuck on one of his eye lashes and it was hanging right in front of his eye and he though it was a floating spec and he kept trying to catch it =) it was so adorable! i couldn't stand due to laughter from watching him. he fell down a couple times but got right back up to keep trying to catch it. haha don't worry though, i did move the spec so it wouldn;t bother him. =)

that is about all that is happening in our lives.

anything new happening in your life? =)

Life at the in-laws

my mother-in-law is the greatest one i could have ever asked for! she is so sweet and kind and fun to talk to. she is so nice as to let me come along when she runs her errands and i have a blast! it is so fun! we have been to walmart, copy store, harmons, fabric store, library, target, sports authority, and all sorts of other places =) its so nice to get out of the house and go shopping with her. i also enjoy seeing what a stay at home mom does throughout the day. she does so much and yet so little seems to be appreciated by all. I am learning how much a mom really does for the house hold and the family doesn't even realize it. wow. i hope that i can be as productive in a day as she is. and she is cooking something upstairs that smells amazing!! well i hope that i can be a great mom someday. =)

one word

baby back ribs.

okay,... its more like three words but still! enough said right?? =) well my amazing husband took me to Golden Coral because they were having the "All you can eat baby back ribs"!! I had seen the commercial on tv and ever since then i really wanted to go and so austin took me yesterday evening. isn't he the best?! =) i ate at least 7 ribs =) the bummer thing is that i couldn't find any BBQ sauce and they would only give me like 1 or 2 per plate! is that really fair? no! but luckily austin was so kind as to get me some ribs also when he would get himself another plate =) it was pretty good! although they weren't the best ribs I've ever had but it was so worth it =) i had A LOT of food. I felt kind of sick after but it was so worth it! i had a hard time walking out to the car and thought i was going to be sick. ha ha

i certainly love ribs =) yum yum =)

Friday date

I have the best dates with my husband ever!! yesterday we went on an all day date!! As many people know we love animals and we love looking at animals so for our date we went to as many pet stores as we could. we went to those pet stores that actually sold pets and not just pet supplies. It was so much fun!! we went to about 6 different places, some were better than others but overall it was really fun =)

I also came to the realization that i NEED the following
1. A ferret that i can take on walks and be my lap pet =)
2. A big rabbit, one that is big enough so that i don't lose it and is easy to see, also would make a great lap pet =)
3. A chameleon! i have always wanted one and since Tangled i am sure that i need one =)
4. A toad that will sit next to me while i read the frog prince and be happy that he isn't a frog =)
and....
5. A hermit crab, the kind that doesn't have to be in water because they look like the easiest pet in the world to care for =)

yup those are definitely my needs at this moment =) someday i am sure all my needs will be met hahaha =)

what kind of pets do you dream of getting some day?? =) i am curious to know if i am the only one that likes pets this much =) (besides my husband of course haha) =)

dog park

today we went to a dog park for duke! It was so much fun!! duke LOVED it!!! =) he ran around with at least 10 other dogs and i am pretty sure that is what heaven looks like for a dog =) there was a dog named morgan there and he was such a sweetheart! he was a poodle-aussie mix, so cute and a good looking dog! we really enjoyed going there and we will definitely be taking him there as often as we can =)

hello!

it is such a nice day! i think i am going to spend a majority of it outside with duke. there is no wind and the temp is perfect! =) yup it is going to be a good day =) now what's for breakfast???....

getting the effort...

I am tired today... i haven't ran yet and usually i would have run for at least 30 min but i am tired. i am really trying to work up the will power to actually stand up from this comfy chair and change into my running clothes. too much effort.................ugh............sigh.....i really should run. I didn't exercise all school year and now i am really paying for it. well to be perfectly honest my body hasn't changed this whole year. i think i have actually lost weight.

my weight has been a big issue for me though...a couple months back i was worried about my weight because my freshmen year i was at 115 or 117. I got mono in march 2008 and my weight dropped. Since then i have yet to get back to 115 or 117. when i went to the doctor a couple months ago i asked them my weight record since i have been at BYU and here is what i heard
112
117
110
108
106
105
103
i was a little worried because i do eat. alot! i know when to stop because i have self control but i don't know why i am dropping weight. what worried me more was that i am on the pill and that usually makes the girl gain weight after the first 3 or 4 months of use. well it had been a year since starting and i was losing weight. and i was definitely NOT working out at all. weird. I had my blood tested to see if any abnormalities would show up but nothing. after that i talked to a dietitian. that was a unique experience because she probably told me the exact opposite from what she tells all the other patients. she told me to eat fatty things; butter on my popcorn, etc. It was kind of funny. basically it was to see if i could put on weight. she also said to change up my diet. shock my system a little if you will. and to be active; running, lifting weights, etc. well i have been not so diligent in eating fatty foods(i try to eat healthy and cook healthy for austin and i) and i ate even less after that meeting because of finals and the stress of school. she also said that stress could be the culprit of my weight loss.

I know all of this might sound weird. what girl complains about losing weight??! well i do because there could be a serious problem causing it. but luckily it doesn't look like there is anything wrong with me, or at least what the doctor can tell. so currently my weight fluctuates between 104 and 101...but maybe it will change with my running... but i don't know.

well i am off to change into the running clothes and run while watching a movie...i wonder which movie i should watch?....hmm...decisions decisions...

haha

Talk given a couple sunday's ago =)

Anxiously engaged in the rescue

Good morning brothers and sisters. I am happy that I have this opportunity to talk to you today. First I would like to introduce my husband and myself. We met while working together on a summer field crew measuring plants. We are both in the same major at BYU, Wildlife and Wildlands Conservation and Austin will be graduating on Thursday , which I am excited for-maybe even more so then him!, while I still have a couple generals that I put off till the end. (haha) =)

We have been married almost a year now and have a dog, 4 snakes, and a tortoise. We have quite the zoo in our house! It’s been a great year and within that time we have attended 3 different wards! We have been in the ward for about a month now but we have been living in the same place since august. It wasn’t till late February/early March that we found out that oops! We were in the wrong ward! So we happily moved to the new ward even it would be for a month. We will be moving in a week and a half but it has been great being in this ward.

Now on to my talk =) We were asked to talk on being anxiously engaged in the rescue and being asked to give this talk right in the middle of finals I thought, “I am anxiously engaged in finals! That’s enough right? I get how to be anxiously engaged, believe me!” But I knew that wouldn’t be enough sooooooo here I am giving a talk and even though I didn’t think my brain could learn anything else after all the stuff I have been doing this week I was surprised that there is still room for more, especially spiritual matters.

To me, being anxiously engaged means to be fully committed in what we’re doing. And that is what I am going to focus this talk on is being fully committed in the rescue and not half hearted.
While taking a final yesterday I saw a quote in my teachers office(where the test was being given) and I am not sure of the author but the quote really struck me and related to this topic,

“There are three kinds of people; those that make things happen, those that watch things happen and those who don’t know what’s happening.”

So I ask this question to you, what kind of person do you want to be? What kind of person does the Lord need us to be?

Brothers and sisters we are needed more today than ever to be anxiously engaged in the rescue of those around us. The rescuing and help is needed most in our own homes, neighborhoods, and communities. These people can be reached out to through a kind word of encouragement, a note of thanks, a phone call, a loving smile, a helpful deed and by letting them know that God loves them and always will. A great way to reach out to others is through home teaching and visiting teaching.

Brothers and sister when we are given those assignments each month we need to take those to heart and really pray for those individuals. If home teaching or visiting teaching is done half heartedly your family or sisters misses out on the blessings they could receive from your visits and you would miss out on the blessings of doing it whole heartedly. We need to know what’s going on in the lives of our families and sisters. We need to be that person that knows what’s happening. We can make a great impact not only on them but ourselves too. In the scriptures it says, in

“For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.

“Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;

“For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.”

We have been promised the rewards of our good works so why do so many people not do what is needed and receive the blessings?

We must be anxiously engaged in our home teaching and visiting teaching. We are needed by those individuals and we need them. Every person needs some rescuing I believe from either a rough week, medical issues, loneliness, tough economical times, or even just a friend to talk to. Brothers and sisters we need to be anxiously engaged in the rescue of our brothers and sister, both in the ward and not.

Some people are afraid to really try to get to know their families or sister because they don’t want to feel like they are prying. I try to do what I can and pray for them and be a friend to them. A friend can make a difference in a person’s life. Abraham Lincoln offered this wise counsel, which surely applies to home teachers and visiting teachers: “If you would win a man to your cause, first convince him that you are his sincere friend.”

An example of a group of people anxiously engaged in the rescue has to do with a grebe, an eared grebe. The eared grebe is a small black waterfowl that has little yellow tufts of feathers fanning out behind their eyes. These grebes go through many changes throughout a year and are very unique. These birds on their migration wait for a cold wind pushing them south, but the problem with those pushes is that during the winter there are many storms as many of you know. Some of you may remember the mass downing of birds in December of 1991, these birds were eared grebes. A storm came in while these birds were migrating over Utah and in a mass of confusion mistook the freeway and lights as water. Many birds were hit by cars or died on impact hitting the hard ground. though Some birds survived.

The freeway was shut down for a short time to clear the birds that were in the road and taken to a safe place. They had to be cleared manually because they can’t take off on solid ground, they have to be in water to take off. Many men and women were very anxious to save these little birds from further harm. They didn’t have to save these small birds but they chose to rescue them and lead them to safety. These birds were taken to Utah lake and the provo river and other safe places. With all the effort of these kind people, most of the birds didn’t survive past two weeks after the terrible accident. A guy in one of my classes said that he once helped with a bird downing event and translocating them to open bodies of water but that he didn’t think that it was important to do because only a small percentage survive. I responded to him by saying that even if most of them don’t survive those ones that do are worth it. Those ones are worth that extra effort of putting them in a safe place. I know that many times we don’t see the reward of our actions or the results but just like how the savior took the time to search for that one lost sheep, is our effort not needed when searching for just one soul to bring to the gospel and bring them to safety.

We need to open our mouth and not be afraid to share the gospel with those around us; those who are less active, inactive, or not a member. I believe the scriptures and L. Tom Perry explain how to share the message with those individuals and share with them the message:

“Open your mouths and they shall be filled, and you shall become even as Nephi of old, who journeyed from Jerusalem in the wilderness.

“Yea, open your mouths and spare not, and you shall be laden with sheaves upon your backs, for lo, I am with you.

“Yea, open your mouths and they shall be filled, saying: Repent, repent, and prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (vv. 8–10).

Elder Perry simply puts it as the three things that must be shared when talking with others about our beliefs. 1) Declare our beliefs 2) Share story of first vision 3) testify of the Book of Mormon. When is it put into such simple words it doesn’t seem like such a tough task to accomplish?

In this room right now we have people from all walks of life. No two people are alike but here in this church we can be one. One group of latter day saints anxiously engaged in the rescue of those inside this building and those who are not with us. We need to be fully committed to seeking those in need of our help and being willing to accept help when we are struggling. When rescuing others the catalyst in the process is love and will always be. When we show love to those in need of a rescue our work will be received better then if we don’t not have love in our hearts for them.

In closing I want you to remember the quote I shared in the beginning, “There are three kinds of people; those that make things happen, those that watch things happen and those who don’t know what’s happening.” So I ask you again, what kind of person do you want to be? The one that makes things happen or the other who has no clue of what’s happening?

I would just like to close by bearing my testimony that I know that if we are anxiously engaged in the rescue that we can make a difference. I want all of you to know that I know that this gospel is ture. I know that my heavenly father loves me and each and every one of you.

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ amen.

Cute duke pics + one of may =)

I really like these pictures of duke that i took yesterday afternoon =)

Cute!! =)

FHE-Monday night

(Dad's plane)

Monday night austin and i went flying with dad. He has his own plane and it was the smallest plane i'd ever been in! I was REALLY nervous before we took off because i didn't know how good of a piolet dad is and it might have been really bumpy and awful and scary! BUT! I survived!! =) I am still alive and had a great time! It was a blast! =) Mom doesn't really like flying so she has never flown in the new plane and she was a little nervous for us i think =) She's so cute =) haha we saw patrick and beki's house, it was so cool! =) austin actually pointed it out! We flew from the SLC airport(small airport) to the Ogden airport, landed, took off, flew to Provo airport, landed, took off, and landed in SLC airport. Dad had to do 3 landings at night. so overall really fun and i want to go again when its light out =)

Thanks dad for the fun evening!

moved out...now what??

We are currently living in Austin's parents house(which is 45min away from where we use to live) and its been an adventure. Haha! It was tough the first couple days because we don't have much of our stuff out of boxes. we are living out of a duffel bag of clothes(i only packed like 4 shirts and 1 pair of jeans aka not good) and no bathroom essentials for victoria aka deodorant(i know, ew-gross but i can't remember where i out it! ugh!) and hair brush. So i guess frequent showers(ugh) and my fingers will have to do now. AND! my perfume! =( I miss all my beautiful smells! =( sniff sniff. Oh well though, i won't die without perfume for a week or so. =)

Austin has been working at his dad's shop yesterday and today. He mowed the lawn yesterday and he was as red as a lobster!! Haha! But he has a great! farmers tan =) He was so happy to not be so white which he really isn't that white. well not as white as i am =) haha

Duke is liking being outside but i think he misses being inside with us. I miss having him at my feet constantly and that wet nose in my face smiling at me =) but at least he can be in a nice yard =)

I had May go walking around today. she really enjoyed it! chowed on some weeds, ate a little bird poop(oops) and sniffed at wood chips =) so cute =)

BYOC - Be Your Own Chef ... My new motto in the kitchen =)

I really want to grill corn on the cob =)

What should i make for dinner?...I am starving!!

I have watched the food network the past two days and i am so inspired and yet the wallet won't allow for frolicking through the grocery store and spending $200. oh well. one day we'll be rich =) haha

I went running(on a treadmill) today and yesterday and i am feeling pretty good =) a total of 40min(3mi) yesterday and 74min(4.5mi) today. I am quite proud of myself =) Austin will be proud of me too =) I watched Mulan II while running today =) It was funny =)

Well i think that is all that is up with us right now. What's going on in your life? I am very curious because i don't do a ton during the day =) So talk to me. Leave a comment. Shoot me an email or facebook post. I am here =) Have a great day everyone!! =)