Monday, April 25, 2011

Happy Easter!

Easter is such a great holiday! It is a day that we get to focus more on the Savior. Not that we shouldn't do that every day, but it is a nice reminder and very humbling to think of Him. I am so grateful for His atoning sacrifice and for what it means to me personally. I was recently introduced to a book called 21 Days Closer to Christ, written by Emily Freeman. My sorority issued all of us a challenge to draw closer to our Savior and follow the 21 day challenge this book gives. Each day there is a certain scripture and task to focus on and I am so glad I got to participate. I want to start it again because at the time I was really busy and stressed, despite that I still felt a difference in my life and I realize how powerful the challenge can be. If I felt that way while I was only partly dedicating myself to it, I can't imagine how great it will be to fully focus on it! I am so grateful for this Easter season and it always comes at the most perfect time.
(If you would like to take this challenge as well, I have the book you can borrow. I also have the daily challenges on my computer that I would be happy to email!)

To me, Easter is also about spending time with family. I love being with my family and this year was so much fun! Amy, Jeremy and Austin came over after church and we had a big Easter Egg Hunt and a delicious dinner. It was so much fun to see Austin hunting for eggs with his little basket. Although, he was a little more interested in playing with his new golf clubs, rake and shovel. Oh, and shoving as much candy as possible into his mouth at one time.




Such a cute and slobbery little guy!

I love being festive for holidays, but for some reason I am very against the prep work. I don't like carving pumpkins for Halloween, decorating the Christmas tree or dying Easter Eggs. I know, I know! This year, I dyed maybe seven eggs total. My sisters went to town and made 40+ more beautiful eggs, they were so cute! With all the plastic, candy filled eggs my mom worked on, we had a total of 140 eggs hidden in our front and back yard. It was such a fun Easter! I hope yours was just as great!

OMEGA!!!

The last four years of my life have been solely dedicated to one thing, my sorority. Lambda Delta Sigma is a sorority at the University of Utah's Institute and is made up of 17 chapters, my chapter is Omega. I can't tell you how much I have loved having this program in my life! It's an LDS sorority so it has been great being with girls who have the same beliefs and values. It has strengthened my own testimony of the church in so many ways, especially through the examples of my amazing sisters. I have my wonderful cousin Brittney to thank for getting me to Rush in the fall of 2007. She was always talking about how great Omega was and after two years of her trying to convince me to join, I finally decided to do it. I just never pictured myself to be a "sorority girl", I still don't know why I changed my mind but I'm glad I did. I rushed with my friend Bree and we had a great first year in Omega! Everyone was instantly my friend and I met so many great people who I am still friends with four years later.






My second year I was called to be Vice President of Omega. I was so nervous accepting this calling, I didn't know what I was getting into being an officer and I didn't really know the other officers very well. I am a very shy person until I get to know someone so I felt really outside of my comfort zone. But, luckily the Lord was on my side and helped me open up and I ended up having another great year! This was also our new advisor Laurie's first year in Omega. I had a great time getting to know and love her, she helped me feel comfortable that year and I am so grateful for her.



(2008-2009 Officers : Angie, Sam, Lexy, Sydney, Laurie, Chelsea, me, Becky, not pictured-Niki)

My third year I was asked to serve as the Pledge officer. I loved it! It was great getting to know the new girls and to be their "mentor" throughout the year. I am so grateful for that opportunity because, again, I learned a lot about myself and grew closer to my Savior through that service. I wasn't sure I could handle another year being an officer, it's a lot of dedication and hard work. But it was always worth it and I wouldn't have changed anything.



(2009-2010 Officers: Ashley, Angie, Kristen, Laurie, Lizzie, Brett, Alli, Cali, Sarah)

This last year, my fourth year as an Omega sister, is the closet to my heart. After much hesitation and worry on my part, my sweet and very patient advisor Laurie asked me to be the President of our chapter. I told her no three times, I was worn out as an officer. As much as I loved the program and loved the girls, I wasn't sure I had it in me to be an officer again...let alone be the President! Also, none of my close friends were active in Omega anymore. I felt a little alone and a little old to still be so involved, as lame as that sounds. But ultimately, my heart was in it and I just had a feeling I needed to do it. I put it all in the Lord's hands and was given my answer, I accepted and was set apart to be Omega's President for the 2010-2011 year. Best decision of my life! I'm a very shy person, as I said before, but I found myself acting with no fear this year. I was extremely outside my comfort zone most of the time and that made me learn so much about myself. I am so grateful for the opportunity and I'm very humbled by the blessings I have received. The girls this year have been amazing! I honestly love every single one of them and I hope they know that. I am a few years older than most of them but I have loved being their "big sister". It was challenging and I felt very intimidated with my responsibilities at times, but nothing has been more worth it. This year was extremely successful for Omega and I'm proud to have been a part of that.







2010-2011 Officers: Laurie, Cali, Scottie, Kristen, Emily, me, Sara & Lauren.
My amazing officers! I am so grateful for each and every one of them! This year would have been a disaster without them. They are all so dedicated and truly love Omega and the girls so much. Thank you for the hard work ladies! I would have been nothing as President without all of you! It was definitely our year to serve together, love you!

Allie, my "twin" sister who I love! I am so lucky to have spent this year in Omega with Allie. She has been very patient and has served as a wonderful "Assistant to the President". She has helped with my arriving early every Wednesday night, setting up, cleaning up, being the last to leave, waiting for LONG officer meetings to end and has been my therapist during all of my worries. I am a perfectionist which makes me extremely stressed and I turn into a crazy person, she has kept me sane...through both my personal drama and Omega drama. Thanks for all the reassuring and fun times Allie! I love you and I am so glad you decided to pledge Omega. We are now Omega sisters too! I hope Lambda Delta Sigma blesses your life as much as it has mine.

My amazing friend and advisor Laurie is finished with her calling now. She served as Omega's advisor for her three years and I can't believe it's over. We have shared many laughs and tears together. She has been my best friend through this experience and I will always look up to her. I know that Omega is what it is today because of her example. She is so sweet and loving. She sacrificed so much of her time and really put all her heart and soul into Omega. The girls will be forever blessed to have known her. Also, congratulations to Scottie on being called as Omega's President for next year! She will be so great! The girls love her, she is always making us laugh and she genuinely loves everyone. She will make next year the best ever!

If you didn't get it from this long post, I love Omega! I can't believe I am free from my officer responsibilities after three years. It feels so weird, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't relieved. I would never trade the last four years for anything, I learned sooo much and met my best friends. But I am excited to make decisions for myself now, Omega has always been my first priority but now I can do whatever I want. I guess I get to figure out exactly what it is I want now...wish me luck!

Saturday, April 23, 2011

...Stays in Vegas!

So I am finally getting around to posting about Vegas! I was obviously excited about going...I love being with my family, watching softball and seeing the sun. It was a great trip!

The drive down wasn't too bad. Eight people all in one vehicle doesn't sound so great, but we love a good road trip! Things I liked about the drive: snacking the entire time, listening to music, making music videos with my sisters, listening to my nephew scream with excitement when his mom put on the movie Cars, taking lots of pointless pictures and my nephew very happily jumping in the very back with us whenever we made a stop.


Things I didn't like about the drive: having NO leg room being in the very back row of seats with my two sisters, not being able to get comfortable enough to take a nap, getting hit in the face with anything my nephew decides to throw behind him...this includes squirting his water bottle all over me, that nice pain in my lower back from sitting in one place for too long and never getting the car's temperature right. 


Not a bad drive, but I was so glad to finally get to there! Our hotel was awesome! It was condo style so our room had two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, laundry room, dining/family room and a balcony. The flat screen tv's, fireplace and four themed swimming pools to choose from were also a nice touch. They were under major construction so we got it for a great deal! Again, all eight of us stayed there so it's a good thing we are used to being together all the time. I do have to say, sleeping on the sofa bed was my least favorite thing...and my back's least favorite. But I put up with it because hey...I was finally on a vacation!
The next two days consisted of softball and more softball! I LOVE it! My cousin Spencer plays in the same league so it was fun to see more family down there. He used to play on Jeremy's same team but he decided to play on another team this year, it's so weird not having them on the same team! But it was still fun to support both of them. Jeremy's team, SA Academy, won the tournament! They played so well and it was a great way to start off another season.



My brother has played baseball for my entire life. I grew up around it and didn't love it at first. I was always more concerned with finding the best playground to keep me occupied. But when Jeremy started playing High School ball everything changed. I LOVE the game and love cheering on the team. I'm so glad he found a way to keep playing now that he is an old 25 year old. We have a blast watching! We also love working on our much needed tan and watching little Austin play his own game of baseball :)





We can't go to Viva without visiting the strip! It's so dirty and gross, but I have to see the fountains at the Bellagio...it's a requirement! We always stop at Caesar's Palace too, this year Austin was old enough to appreciate the huge fish tank in the Forum Shops. He was so cute! I wish I had gotten a picture of him in his stroller, jacket collar popped and wearing his baby Ray Ban sunglasses at 9:00pm while walking down the strip. SO CUTE!




The drive home was pretty much the same as the drive there. Just not as fun because it's back to the real world...and in my case back to the snow! So not fair! But the trip was wonderful and I loved spending time with my family. I am so lucky that they are my best friends...and that my nephew is so stinkin cute!!!

Friday, April 1, 2011

What Happens in Vegas...

Las Vegas! One of my favorite places and one of my least favorite places. Very much a love/hate relationship. And I'll be there tomorrow!

Movies I want to watch right now: What Happens in Vegas, Oceans 11, Fools Rush In, 21 and Vegas Vacation

Things I'm looking forward to: baseball, sun, wearing shorts, laying out by the pool, Bellagio's dancing waters, food, family and shopping (not necessarily in that order)

Things I'm not looking forward to: long drive, missing conference (thank you dvr), sunburn and the trashy/dirty/disgusting strip.

In the morning it's up early, pack, finally hug and kiss my nephew after almost a month, pedicure and hit the road! Time for bed! I'm so ready for a vacation!!!

PS- I'm really trying to be better with this blog. I'm terrible at it!