Thanks for the memories

In honor of Memorial Day, I would like to pay tribute to something I shall never forget. Yeah, I know Memorial Day is about soldiers and what not...and in a round about way this could be about a soldier...but just humor me for a minute.

Last week my Branch members had a talent show. Originally I was going to participate in the talent show by doing a funny video or something non-talent worthy with a group of friends. To make a longer story short, we never got together to plan something, so I was relieved not to be involved in the talent show. About a week before the talent show I got word that a guy in the Branch needed a piano player so that he could sing a solo. I was asked if I would be willing to play for him and I agreed...as long as he could get me the music right away because I am not a sight reader and/or extremely talented, can-play-anything type of piano player. A few days pass by and I hear nothing from this boy or anyone else...so I think I am off the hook. WRONG! The night before the talent show, he gives me a little call and asks me to play the piano for him. I wanted to kick him in a tender spot, but told him that I would look over the music and see what I could do. Of course he chose songs I had never heard before and one of the songs was impossible looking to my little brain. I stayed up until midnight stressing about these songs and trying to learn one so that I could help him out. Honestly, he is extremely talented and has an AMAZING voice so I was happy to help...I just wish I could have been given a little bit more notice. The next day I had to work and actually ended up leaving work early just so I could practice the piano more. I finally got to the point where I felt comfortable with the song and could fake it where needed. I was ready to go.

Fast forward to the talent show that night. This is a picture of our performance:

Before going in to details, let me preface this by saying that we NEVER practiced together before the talent show. I guess he was too busy practicing for his other talent that he didn't think ours needed practicing. Number two stressful thing for me (number one being lack of time to learn the song). So I get up to play the song and I am freaking out to begin with because I barely know the song and we have not practiced together. Now, I want you to look closely at the picture. See the two people hovering over me at the piano? Well, those people were kind enough to help me because the minute I started playing the piano, all of my music fell to the ground. And my music fell down the entire performance. To say that I was freaking out was an understatement. I was shaking uncontrollably, I was sweating, I was a mess. Worst experience of my life. Ok, so maybe that is a little exaggerated. But to put it plain and simple...it was a disaster. Definitely something that will stick with me for a while.

So since the boy singing is/was a soldier...happy Memorial Day boy! I hope you enjoyed it...because I am not sure that I did. Just kidding. He was really sweet about the whole thing. He even made sure to point out to everyone that he was a jerk and gave me the music the night before. And he promised to make it up to me. So we shall see...

On a happier note, look at my little nephew:

I just think he is delicious and I can't wait to see him in a month. LOVE that kid. LOVE being an aunt. LOVE everything.

{Happy Memorial Day Yo}

happiness is...

This picture:

Why you might ask? Well, there are several reasons why this seemingly boring picture brings me happiness. First of all, that pink sticky note is a self-portrait that my co-worker made for me. Looks just like me, don't you think? So that represents me now. Then the blue sticky note represents me in the future. Ok, probably not...but it was wishful thinking. Just a little motivational code to get me through the days. And then below the blue sticky note {and barely visible} is a fortune I received a week or so ago inside my fortune cookie. It reads, "Your talents will be recognized and suitably rewarded." Man I sure hope that is true! But honestly, the thing that makes me the most happy is that there are a plethora of pink things around my computer. And pink just makes me happy. Seriously folks, just go with me on this one. I haven't blogged in forever and am just grasping at straws trying to figure out what to blog about...

Today

I became an aunt today...for the 7th time. This is my newest nephew,

Landon Bryan Holbrook:

Isn't he cute?! I am so sad to be missing all of the action, but I will be flying to Utah the beginning of July for his blessing and will see him then. I am in LOVE!

{congrats Matt & Natalie}

it's official

I suck at blogging (among other things). I thought I would have a desire to do it more now that I have a functioning computer and the internet at my house, but mostly I have just wasted my time doing other things that are less important. So today I am taking the initiative to blog, and hopefully this will be the start of better things.

This is something I have been meaning to post about for a really long time because it is something that touched my heart in ways that you cannot imagine. Remember this post? Well, I have never claimed to be a gardener and I honestly don't enjoy any part of it, but my backyard was screaming for some love and attention. I also don't have anyone that is willing to help me with things around the house, so it is all up to me. Well, before I left to go to Utah my home teachers came over. Before leaving they asked the typical, "Is there anything we can do for you?" question. I usually never respond, but just as a joke I said, "You can weed my backyard for me." Ok, so maybe it was more of a cry for help than a joke. Anyway, they asked to see my backyard, which I {reluctantly} showed them and then they left saying, "Don't be surprised if your backyard is weeded when you get home from Utah."

Never, in a million years, did I believe they would actually do it. But they did! And I LOVE THEM for it! I got home from Utah really late on Sunday night and had completely forgotten that the conversation had even taken place. But then it came into my mind and I had to go look outside. It was dark, but I could already tell that my backyard was weeded. At that very moment I got a little teary eyed. It was a true blessing! I am so grateful to have such awesome and caring home teachers. Thanks guys! My backyard looks amazing...don't you think?

Another somethin' somethin' I have been meaning to post about also happened at the beginning of April. It was conference weekend and the girls decided to have a little girls' night while the boys were at the Priesthood session. After playing a mean game of Quelf (highly recommended... but only with people you feel extremely comfortable with) we decided to go forking. Maybe it's an Arizona thing, but I had never heard of forking before. The idea is that you get a bunch of forks and stick them in people's front yards. Fun right? Yeah, it was!

We only had access to clear forks, so we wrote little messages on the forks to make them a little bit more visible. We wrote all of the fork related comments we could think of, like: fork it over; Forks, Washington; fork, it's what's for dinner; etc. They didn't all make sense, but we did the best we could. Oh, and we even decided to stick one spoon in the mix just for fun. Here is the proof:

Here is Tricia using a "dinglehopper" (the name given to a fork on 'The Little Mermaid' that Ariel used to brush her hair with):

And here are the signs we made to let our culprits know that they had been forked, with love:

And, here are we are placing the forks in the yard of our unexpecting victim. Side note: forking works best in yards that contain grass... rocks are not recommended {as we discovered the hard way}. The pics are a little dark, so you will need to use your imagination:

We may or may not have forked our Branch Presidents' house.

Moving on...

Yesterday was my one month anniversary of going through the temple! I have been very dedicated to going to the temple once a week since then, and I am happy to announce that each time I go I get a little better and understand a little more. I LOVE the feeling that comes from attending the temple. A peace is felt inside the temple that cannot be felt anywhere else. A couple of weeks ago I spent some time outside of the temple just trying to appreciate the beauty of the temple grounds before entering. The temple grounds are beautiful and just walking around the temple brought me so much peace. Here are a few of the breathtaking sights I caught around the Mesa temple:

The temple truly is magnificent. It is the house of the Lord. I love going there and feel so blessed to have a temple so close to me!

Last weekend my parents and I went to our cabin in Snowflake. We decided to do a temple session while we were there. The temple was a smaller temple, but still so beautiful. I am grateful that I was able to experience another one of the Lord's temples.

And then yesterday I was privileged to attend the Gila Valley temple open house with my singles branch. The temple is about 2 1/2 hours away so we all carpooled over. Once we got there we had a nice little dinner and then attended the open house. For those of you who don't know, an open house is just as it sounds. The temple is opened to the public so that they can see the beauty in the temple before it is dedicated and before any sacred ordinances take place there. I would highly recommend going to a temple open house if you have the opportunity. There is definitely a feeling of reverence and peace that comes from entering within it's walls. It was gorgeous! And I hope that I can find time to go do a session there soon!

I am a happy girl. I am so blessed. And I am so excited for the possibilities my future holds.

Speaking of excited, I am going to be an aunt again this Thursday! I don't yet know the name of my newest little nephew, but I already love him and can't wait to see him in a month and a half.

Woohoo!

I'm just sayin'...

I like long walks...

especially when they are taken by people who

annoy me!

wouldn't you know it?

After a lovely phone call with a good friend in another state, I ventured into my local Subway to get myself a sandwich. I try not to eat out very often, but today I had to because I haven't had time to grocery shop. Anyway, I looked over the menu and decided on something that I don't usually order, mostly because it was a better deal. When the cute little worker boy was making my sandwich, I thought the meat looked odd, but didn't dare say anything. I am sure you can see where this is going... But to make a long story short, I checked the meat when I got back to the office and it was pretty much questionable. I made a little phone call to the shop and then threw the sandwich away. Yep, I just ate a bag of chips for lunch. Wouldn't you know it? Luckily I ate a really big breakfast and wasn't that hungry...so I think I will survive. But then again, it wouldn't hurt to miss a meal or two...

On another note, I recently developed a love for pigs. And when I say recently, I mean last night. Without explaining or divulging any information, I will just say that this:

really means a lot to me right now. Maybe later I will tell, but for now it is just my little secret.

And I know that I have been a lame blogger lately. I really have a lot I want to say, but really just lack the desire to do so. Hopefully I will get better. Check back later for some fun stuff...maybe.