I feel like I need to write. I don't know why, but I do. I love to write. Someday I will write a book when life slows down. Although they say it never slows down. I always thought when I finished school life would slow down, but it only sped up. Today was kind of a lazy day. I stayed in my PJ's until almost 4pm, which is something I truly hate to do. I hae so many things to do on my to do list, which I mostly got done. They were little things, register for boards, renew state and national license, scrub mold from toilets, laundry, straighten house, get a plane ticket for Christmas which I got for $408, sounds like a lot, but the cheapest I have seen for a few months for that time of year, pay bills, and study scriptures. I still have a few hours to finish up a few more things, but they can wait for tomorrow, so I can spend 30 minutes studying for boards and the last 30 minutes of my day getting lost in my latest novel, "The Falcon Heart" by Jaroldeen Edwards one of my favorite authors.
Tonight I did reach a goal that I actually set for myself in August 2008 when my grandma Betty asked what my goals were for the next 6 months. One of those goals was to start a cycle class at the gym. I have always heard it was a great class and did try it once or twice a few years ago, but today I did it. The exciting thing was one of my favorite instructors that I haven't seen in at least a few years was subbing. She is 42 and looks like she is 25. She makes me want to work harder so I can have a half way looking body like she has. I felt so good after the class and actually was sad when it was over. I had been expecting at least 10 more minutes when it was done.
After my cycle class I rushed out to my sewing class, where we learned how to put in zippers. I feel like a kid in that class, because it is something completely new to me. I love it and am really enjoying the sister's that I am getting to know better. I love how our teach Robin Wegerer loves teaching this class and am so grateful for her time and patience in teaching us. Life is good, even though sometimes I wonder if I am ever making a difference in my life or other's.

Fall Trip Home

So last week I got to go home for a week. Of course I worked six days straight before hand. I worked 4-2 then caught a plane at 5. I don't sleep well on planes, so by the time I got home I was exhausted. But oh no sleep for the tired. First things first. Mom picked me up from the airport Curb Side. She never comes in anymore. You know how everyone has someone waiting for them, no not me. I just continue on toward baggage claim, although I do always hope there might be someone waiting for me. So when I finally got my luggage, which really didn't take long considering Charlotte takes at least an hour to get your luggage out, we headed to the Olive Garden where we met Tristen, dad and my new niece Aidree. Oh, it was such a fun thing, even though I was tired. We had to have the never ending pasta bowel, which ended that week. I love it even though I can usually only eat one bowel.
After lunch we sat and talked for a while, which was fun. I am sure our waiter wanted to get us out of there, but instead we enjoyed conversation over a piece of delicious Pumpkin Cheesecake. I love this time of year all because of autumn leaves and pumpkin. I love pumpkins, pumpkin cheesecake, ice cream, cookies, you name it or make it and I will eat it!
Later in the day we went to Tyler and Danielle's to visit them and Kadyn. And on our way home, Troy called to say him, Beckie and Gavin were at my parents. Let's just say when I hit the bed that night, I didn't hear anyone snoring. It was the best night's sleep in at least 3 days.


Tuesday morning mom and I went to Costco, where Beckie and Danielle met us. We also ran into a few friends, which is always fun. That day was Tristen and Mitch's third Anniversary, so they brought Aidree over and they went to dinner. Oh, she is so darling. But when she is hungry, you better feed her.
Wednesday the girls came over for lunch and I made my friend Karen Mattingly's fabulous Chicken Sandwiches. Oh, they were to die for. In fact we had them again on Thursday for lunch too. Tristen's husband went to the temple with the youth, so she spent most of the day and evening at mom's.


Thursday we decorated Halloween cookies with the boys. Let's just say that only lasted for about 5 minutes, but it was fun and brought back the day's of my childhood when my mom made sugar cookies for every holiday.

Thursday night I met my cousin Alisha and her husband and Tristen and Mitch at a fake Cafe' Rio, I can't remember the name, but it does kind of resemble Cafe Rio. The kicker was when I found a hair in my salad. Alisha, Jason, and I then went to the temple, where their ward had ward temple night. I don't think that our ward has ward temple night. I have never heard them announce it anyway. Probably because it is too far for the whole ward to drive all in one night. Anyway, we did sealings because we would have had to wait over an hour for endowment. There were that many people and they start every half hour. Talk about fill the temple. It was great.
So I drove home from Boise and then drove back, because Tristen was afraid that I wouldn't make it over in time to babysit Friday morning. After babysitting, the kids came in from SLC and mom and dad came to Tristen's and we had Pizza. I don't eat Pizza very often, because I can't eat a whole pizza by myself.

Saturday Tony, Tanner, Tenielle, and I went to lunch with Grandma Betty. She loved it. She had us each tell a good thing and a not so good thing going on in our lives at the moment. It was fun to hear the different things that my siblings were dealing with in life. Later that evening we met Tyler and Danielle at Johnny Carino's for dinner. After dinner Tanner, Tenielle, and I went over to Grandma and Grandpa Young's. We chatted with them for over an hour. Grandma seem very well and they both made us laugh. I get my love for candy from my Grandma Young, because she has it all over her house and she had just restocked because it was all fresh.

Sunday we went to my cousin Ben's Homecoming. He went to the Washington D.C. South Mission. He did an amazing job on his talk. After we went to my Aunt Thalia's and had my only home cooked meal of the week. My mom has gotten lazy in her old age.
We then drove back to SLC. We stopped off and saw my friend Steve in Ogden. It is always good to see him. He makes me smile. Tony then took me to the airport, where I was suppose to take the Red Eye, but because they were overbooked I got a $400 voucher and they put me up in a hotel room. I should have just gone back to Tenielle's, as I didn't sleep too well, but It saved them from getting up to early to take me back to the airport, not that it matter's, because she only lives 10 minutes from the airport. So that was my trip. It was quick and mom said that next time I go home that we need to just stay home and not go anywhere. We really didn't got anywhere, the time just flies by so fast. We had a great time though and I am looking forward to Thanksgiving, when we will all be in SLC.

Aidree's Day

I really wish I had the time to write my thoughts each day. But life is so busy and doesn't allow for such enjoyment, but today I am making the time. Today as I type, I hold in my arms my most precious niece Aidree Lin. She has my chin. I truly believe Grandma Gladys Swensen sent each of her great grand babies down with her pointy chin. I have had Aidree mostly all to myself today, well that is except for a few minutes while my mother stopped by to bring me lunch and probably to check in on me. Hello, I may not be a mother at age 32, but I do know how to do this kind of thing.
Tristen had a continuing education course from 8-5 today. So that is why I have been with Aidree all day. Aidree screamed at the top of her lungs this morning around 9:30. I got her dressed along with a pink bow in her hair. I was sure she was hungry so I tried to feed her a bottle. It just wasn't the real thing and took her several minutes to decide she was hungry enough to eat. She fell asleep for a few minutes, enough for me to put my make up on, before she was awake again. She fell asleep in my arms, I laid her down, did my hair and she was awake again, this time with her second dirty diaper for the day. It was the third dirty diaper that helped her fall asleep for at least 30 minutes. When she woke up again, I decided I would try to feed her again, that was about 2:00. She fell asleep about 2:30. I laid her down, thinking I would be able to finish my enrichment newsletter. Nope, she was awake by three.

So I have decided, that instead of doing anything that really isn't important today, that I will just sit here and hold my sweet little niece, because today it doesn't matter if I get the newsletter finished, or if I study for boards, or read a book. I am going to enjoy the next few hours listening to Aidree moan in her sleep and the fact that I can enjoy this moment, because it will never return. I remember a quote I heard when I lived in Kentucky, which said, "Enjoy the season you are in, because you will never be able to go back to that season." So today, I am enjoying this sweet child so fresh from heaven and the spirit that she has brought with her to this earth. I am sure she had great potential. It will be fun to see what kind of person she will become.
As I have sat here today, I have pondered on how I can love someone so much, when I just met them. The love that comes each time a new grand baby enters our family is indescribable. All of a sudden your heart feels this new love and makes me understand maybe a little of how our Heavenly Father loves each of us.
Last night I did sealings with Jason, Alisha and their ward. It was a wonderful experience as I was able to ponder the blessings of eternal families and imagine the joy of the families that we were being proxy for to be sealed together. How truly blessed we are to have the gospel in our lives that allow us to know that we can be together with our families for eternity.
She is awake now. I think that she must just want to stare up to her Auntie Terah, so that she can remember me, for when I leave for a few months again.