Fourteen

Day 14-'A picture of you and your family

This is a hard task because besides my wedding pictures (which we've seen plenty of) I don't have any current pictures. Bry has been gone for almost two years now and Lizzy, KT and Andrew have all changed so much we don't look like the same family. This picture was taken on my 21st Birthday. I feel like this is an accurate depiction of my family. Andrew is being a goof, KT is trying to act tough, Bry doesn't want to have anything to do with the picture and Liz is happy to be there front and center. I love my family so much (as is the norm with most people.) I think they are pretty cool!

My two sisters Katie (KT) and Elizabeth (Liz, Lizzy, Little one and Izzy) are really close. I feel guilty about my relationship with them. Especially Liz. She was 5 when I left for college. I remember going into her room the morning that I left. She was still asleep and I picked her tiny 5 year old self up out of bed and I just started to sob. I knew that I wouldn't get to see her grow up like I did the other kids. I wouldn't be there for a lot of her "first" and she wouldn't know me or remember me the way the others did and it broke my heart. I do the bet I can with phone calls and "dates" when I go home but its not the same as being there to see her every day. Katie is a firecracker. She has given my parents a run for their money and made my teenage self look like a saint. But she has the BIGGEST heart. She's a lot like me in that way. She also loves me and looks up to me (which how could you not love someone more for that?) Usually when she is really upset I'm the only one she wants to talk to (and it's not because I tell her what she wants to hear... I give her the truth) but because she knows how much I love her. She is also super talented which I have already discussed. My favorite memories of her is the day my mom brought my little baby sister (finally) home from the hospital. I promised that day she would be my best friend.

My brothers Andrew (Andy Roo) and Bryant (Bry Bry & Brother Bear) are two of my favorite guys in the world. Andrew has the best sense of humor! I don't care who you are (unless your my mom) you will laugh at everything he says. He also is very dedicated to the things he is passionate about. He taught himself the piano, has a killer golf swing and can pole vault like a champ. If Bryant being on a mission has had any advantages it is that it has given me the chance to get closer to Andrew. I think I might officially be allowed to join club Andrew and Bryant. My brother Bryant and I are 2 years apart and have grown up together. He is one of my best friends, he knows all my secrets and has been my shoulder to cry on (and mine to him.) He has been one of my biggest examples since leaving on him mission and I'm sooo excited for him to get home in 35 days!! WAHOOO!!

My Parents are awesome but I will talk more about them when day 24 when I write a letter to my parents. My grandparents also rock. My Grandma once flew out to Rexburg ID (from Columbus OH) just because I called her crying and told her I was homesick. Then one time BOTH my grandparents come to Rexburg from Columbus to spent mothers week with me (when my mom couldn't make it.) I mean how awesome is that. They also drove the two hours from Cbus to New Phila multiple times a month to see every play, game, track meet, performance, talk, birthday or holiday. As far as grandparents go I don't think they come better than this

And finally my new in-laws. I LOVE THEM. You might think you married into the best family in the world... your WRONG!! I DID!! Seriously the BEST family in the world. I have all the older brothers and sisters I could have ever dreamed of with wisdom and support ever flowing. I have beautiful, hilarious and energetic nieces and nephews. Not to mention that I have the BEST mother and father in law. They both have made me feel just as special as any of their other children. I have learned so much from them already and am looking for an eternity more. I can't wait till the next time we can all be together because let me tell you it is a party and I love every second of it!

While we are on family... my brothers newest cover. Fire by Augustana its only 2 min and he rocks, seriously!

Thirteen

Day 13-A letter to someone who has hurt you recently

Dear Owner of the Dirty Gray Honda,

I know I left you a note on your car, but I feel like a little more explanation is needed. You see we have had A LOT of snow this winter. Something like 50 some inches since Dec 26th. After every snow storm (all 7 of them) my husband and I have been outside shoveling the snow. Last Wednesday when we got 16 inches we spent an hour and a half shoveling both my reserved spot, my husbands spot and the empty spot beside my reserved spot. I knew with that 50+ inches of snow piled up I would no longer be able to maneuver my car in and out of my reserved spot since that 10 ft tall/10 ft wide snow bank was in my way. You can imagine why I was so upset when I came home to find your car parked partly in my spot and partly in the one next to mine. You don't live here... that much I know. I don't see your car everyday or during the weekends only some nights. I also know that you never have been parked here during on of the storms so you haven't helped shovel our parking lot (well if thats what you want to call those 6 spots in front of our condo.) I couldn't find a spot on the street (who can with all this snow.) So I had to take the chance of being towed and park in the medical parking lot. (I would have made you pay for my towing fees had I had them.) Anyways, my point is I was FURIOUS with you that night. Partly because you were kind of in my spot but also because I hate all this snow and I was tired from babysitting. The good news is they have come and removed the massive amounts of snow in our parking lot. Now that we have all 6 of our spots back I feel silly for being so upset. You can park beside me if you want. I won't actually key your car...

Regards,

Owner of the Green Saturn

(The picture above is the massive mound of snow I mentioned and I was very happy to see it removed on Sunday. It has taken a serious stress of my shoulders. Especially since I'm the last one to get home at 9pm (after babysitting.))

Twelve

Day 12-How you found out about blogger and why you have one

My amazingly talented and beautiful friend Aubri helped me set up my blog on a snow day 2 years ago this month. She has been blogging on various sites for years and taught me all the basics. The reason I have a blog is so that I can document what is going on in my life with pictures. It is like a scrapbook/journal. When I have the summer off this year I plan on making my blog into a book. So there you have it.

Eleven

Day 11-Another picture of you and your friends

These are two of my favorite pictures of my friends. I can't tell you why because I don't know why. The first one is of us playing games on a Sunday night (acquire to be exact, one of our all time favorite.) This is what a typical Sunday night is like for us. Have some friends over, eat yummy desserts and play fun games (usually they are strategy games, and usually if Ben is there he wins.) I know that playing games is typically thought of for older couples and is kind of a silly thing for a 23 year old to do on a weekend night, but it works for us and I wouldn't trade it for anything!

The second picture is at my first Yankees game this summer. It was a blast! I love exploring new places and being adventurous. Especially when I am with my friends. I also like how we are all being a little goofy in this picture (some more than others :) That is one thing I love. When you become such good friends that you can 100% COMPLETELY let go and be your crazy self without worrying what they will think. I'm lucky to have such fun friends!

Ten

Day 10-Songs you listen to when you're bored, happy, sad, mad, hyped

This is a hard one for me because the music I listen to isn't defined by my mood. When I am bored I get on the computer and spent to much time on facebook, blog stalking you, or looking at vacations or other random things, I don't turn on music. When I'm happy I call Mike and my mom to tell them the reason for my excitement or happiness. When I'm sad I cry, I don't turn on music. When I'm upset I work my problem out or simply stop thinking about why I'm upset, I don't turn on music. When I am hyper... I'm usually with Mike or my friends and I'm not usually listening to music.

However, I LOVE music. I love to sing it! When I am in the car I turn on my favorite country (yes I am a redneck at heart) CD's (since my town has NO country music radio stations.) My favorites are anything Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Emerson Drive or Taylor Swift. I make my own harmonies and sing my way to work and home. I love singing some good country twang.

When I am at home cleaning you will usually find me listening to my Glee sound track or a random assortment of Broadway show tunes (Wicked, Phantom, Fiddler, and Bye Bye Birdie are some favorites.) When I am home alone I love being a diva. I sing with the biggest voice I can muster, I pretend I'm on stage having my big moment and sometimes I even stop cleaning for my big finish... I'm sure my neighbors love me.

On Sundays I put on my EFY and other church music (usually not the mo tab.) As I make Sunday dinner I sing beautiful prayers to my Father in Heaven. It is usually accompanied with tears and gratitude as music is a way I feel I receive inspiration and answers to prayers. For me singing these songs rededicated me to livings a more Christ centered life and makes me feel gratitude for the blessing I have received.

When I feel like singing I turn on the CD of my High School Choirs tour to Europe. I wish I knew how to put a few songs on my blog so you could hear how good we really were. The music is incredible, the harmonies impressive for a small high school choir and the lyrics are almost all religious which is cool. It also brings back memories of singing in beautiful cathedrals, Abbeys and with the Vienna Boys Choir.

(The Delphian Choral and the Vienna Boys Choir. I'm on the first one of the first girls on the right behind/between the first two boys on the right.)

(Singing at the "The Sounds of Strasbourg {where the Sound of Music takes place} I'm the first girl on the front row on the right and my brother is the first boy on the front row on the left.)

And finally when I am at work babysitting I sing Disney Princess songs ALL three hours. Both the little boy and the girl love the songs and insist I sing them. It is kind of funny actually how much they love them and listening to them on a CD isn't good enough. Luckily we all know how much I love the Disney Princesses, so it doesn't bother me. When their grandma visits she request that I sing the songs and now has even moved into Broadway show tunes. It is slightly awkward being put on the spot to sing and I feel like I can't say no. Luckily I am comfortable enough with my voice that I don't mind at all. I'll sing all day if someone sits there and praises my work :)

Nine

Day 9-Something you're proud of in the past few days

Well in the last few days I have been EXTREMELY PROUD of my husband!! We found out on Tuesday (after a sleepless night) that he passed level I of the CFA!! Not only did he pass it he DOMINATED IT!! Only 36% of the people who took the test in December passed. They give you a break down of the ten sections of the test and in what % range you were in for each section. For 8 of the 10 sections Mike was in the highest level (70%) or above. The two sections he scored lower on were worth the least amount of points. One of these sections was alternate investments, which is actually what Mike does at work. lol. It was only worth 8 points so he probably missed one of the two questions on that topic.

He has been a great example to me on how to be dedicated and to preserver. He spent about 400 hours studying for this test (the majority of those hours put in over a 3 month time span. There were a lot of early mornings, long nights and whole Saturdays spend in preparation for this test. So yesterday he started studying for level II (there are 3 levels to the CFA) which he will take in June. So for the next 5 months I won't see him at all on Saturdays and he won't get home till after 8 or 9 at night since he will be studying. But that is how it goes. There are a lot of other couple who have it much worse so I can't complain to much. He is a stud and regardless of if he passes level two in June I'll be proud of the effort he puts forth studying for it and persevering till he passes all three level!

In celebration of Mikes accomplishment we went out to dinner to an awesome Hibachi Grill in Darien called Fuji of Japan. We were accompanied by our friends the Johnson's. (Ben and Cynda know and understand just how hard this test is. Ben and Mike have spent many, many hours studying for it together and will resume studying together for level II in April after Ben's tax season is over.) Our Bachelor friends Scott and Moroni also joined us (both of there wives are out of town visiting family.) It was a wonderful evening with amazing food and friends. The perfect way to celebrate all of Mike's hard work!

Yumm... the meats

Cynda and I

Making our fried rice (which was AMAZING!)

Happy early Valentines day

Scott and Moroni

Ben and Cynda

We ended the night with this amazing fried ice cream. It tasted like it was straight from a carnival (so naturally I enjoyed every bit of it!)

This is a quick cool video of the onion ring of fire...

Eight

Day 8-Short term goals for this month and when you'll accomplish them

For the past year I have been serving as an advisor in the Young Women's organization. I've spent most of my time with the beehives (12-13 year olds) teaching on Sundays. This past Sunday I was called as 2nd Counselor in the YW Presidency and will continue working with the beehives in a more personal way. Since receiving this new calling I have had my desire to earn my personal progress award (again.) renewed. How can I tell the girls what an amazing program this is and how it will bring them nearer to their Father in Heaven if I'm not actively working on it. I've competed about 4 goals so far this month.

The goal I have been working on for the past two weeks is Individual Worth #3 : "Read Doctrine and Covenants 18:10 and 121:45. Do all you can to build others and make them feel of worth. Every day for two weeks notice the worthwhile qualities and attributes of others. Acknowledge them verbally or in writing. In your journal write what you have learned about the worth of individuals and how your own confidence grows when you build others."

I have been doing it for the past two weeks and should complete it tomorrow. However, I think I want to work on it another week. Building people up is a wonderful skill to have and I want to really polish it before checking it off.

I have to take a minute to tell anyone who is reading how wonderful the personal progress program is. ALL of you should get your own PP book (or go here for an online version) and start working on it. You don't have to be a young women to receive the award. I can't tell you how much closer I feel to my Savior when I am working consistently on my PP. The goals you set, the scriptures and talks you read and the experiences you will have are truly a way to walk beside the Savior. As a teenager my testimony was formed by doing PP and as a young adult it is being strengthened and fortified! I know my Savior lives, He knows me personally, He loves me. He wraps his arms around me when I'm a depressed, lonely, sad or struggling. He rejoices in my successes and righteous decisions. He is the way back to live with our Heavenly Father and Himself one day and I will do all I can to live my life as he did his.

On a slightly unrelated note my other goal this month is to go to the gym 3 days a week and to do push up/sit ups every morning. I've been doing this for the past few weeks but want to continue it in the month of Feb.