Gathering #35

Hawaii!!!
I just spent the last 13 days in Hawaii. We had a great time and did lots of crazy things.
We left on June 10 and drove to Las Vegas. We ate at the MGM Grand Buffet and then chilled until we had to leave for our flight. We were on a red eye flight so that we could be in Hawaii early the next day. We stayed in Princeville Kauai for the first part of our trip. It was GORGEOUS! We did lots of playing on the beach and seeing the sights. We ate a couple of snow cones. The boys jumped off cliffs and we found a rope swing ( yes I did it once and only once, scared me to death). We also ate an amazing Mac Nut Milkshake. My favorite part of Kauai was watching the sunset at night and hanging with my family.
We then went to Molokai, while Kauai is green and lush Molokai is dry and barren. We have been to Molokai before and so I was ready to play. We had a few bumps in the road on this Island (i.e. dead mice in our oven) but it turned out to be great. My cousin Erin is engaged and we (my uncle paul and aunt wendy) surprised her by flying her fiance over to this island. We built towers in the water, snorkeled, and just played.
My families flight left earlier then my cousins so we headed out at 8:30 Hawaii time and traveled for 24 hours to get home. I am frequent flier after that day. Molokai to Laina (20 min flight), Lanai to Oahu (30 min flight), 3 hour layover in Oahu, Oahu to Portland Oregon (5.5 hour flight), 6 hour layover in Portland (yes we stayed at the hotel, and yes it was from 11 pm to 5 am), Portland to SLC (1.5 hour flight).
So to sum it up:
I played hard
Got tanner
Hung out with my amazing family (cousins, uncle, aunt, brothers, parents)
Ate way to many ice cream cones, milkshakes, and shaved ice.
Laughed until I cried
HAD A GREAT TIME!!!
see gathering #36 for pictures

Gathering #34

Wish me luck I am making up my a recipe!!!
Vanilla Blackberry Ice Cream
I will let you know how it goes
I am kinda scared

Gathering #33

School is out summer is officially started. I love the first part of Summer. I love the anticipation of thinking about what I have planned for the upcoming months. I love thinking about my vacations. I leave for Hawaii this week. I love Hawaii. I love relaxing. I love playing in the water. I love seeing the beauty all around. In July I am going to Washington DC. Big plans this summer for me!
What are your plans for the Summer?

Gathering #32

Today I gave a presentation for staff meeting on Investing Personally. I have worked on this presentation for a couple of weeks and it has opened my mind and eyes to what I need to change in my life. Investing personally in a work place is something that take a life change. So in the interest of investing personally, I am wanting to make a few changes in my life. I need to have a better attitude about things. I can only control myself not those I work with or talk to. If someone chooses to not hire me or take what I say too personally there is nothing that I can do about it. I need to see the world as a spot of beauty and sun shine, even on rainy days there are good things. I need to come what may and love it. I think that when I start making these simple changes that things will get better.

Gathering #31

25 days from today I will be getting in a car and driving to Las Vegas.
26 days from today I will be getting on a plane.
27 days from today I will be lying in the sun.
28 days from today I will be seeing Waimea Canyon.
29 days from today I will be getting tanner.
30 days from today I will be relaxed complete stress free.
To sum it up in 25 days I will be on my way to Paradise!

Gathering #30

5 years ago today my life changed. Before May 14, 2005 I went about my life not knowing what I was missing out on. I loved my life and could not see anything wrong with it. Then on this day 5 years ago, my older brother got married. It was on that day that I realized that I had been missing a sister. So this post is for you Ash. To the women who became my sister 5 years ago today! I appreciate the way you include me in all your girl things. Shopping, crafts, and pedicures. I love the way you share your sisters with me. Thanks for everything you have done over the last 5 years.

Gathering #29

Your prayers have paid off. My life has changed dramatically over the last couple weeks. So here is a list of exciting news:

1. My Dad graduated this past weekend. I am so proud of him. He went back to school 3 years ago after not going to school for 30 plus years. He has worked hard and it was a great moment to sit with my family in the E-Center and watch him walk across the stage.
2. My older brother got an internship in Washington D.C. and they leave in a week. My older brother is one of the hardest working people that I know and he deserves to go far in life. I hope that this internship leads him to where he needs to go in life. I am hoping that I get to go see them this summer.
3. Since my brother got an internship, they are moving. I am going to miss talking to them at Sunday dinner. I am going to miss going places with my sister in law. I am going to miss my little sweet niece. All in all I am going to miss them.
4. As most of you have heard being a teacher is not the best job to be looking for right now. Lots of budget cuts, so as of today. I am out of a job come June 3.
5. Good news I go to Hawaii in 36 days!

I know that this list is not long but it is what is going on in my life!