Dawn

That little girl of mine is so adorable. She drew all these pictures and sent them to me. So we put them on the fridge!

Week 3 of NJ

So for weekend #3 we went to NYC, the Big Apple, Times Square! We did a lot of walking around but we also took public transportation, gasp! I actually went on a train, light rail and subway all in one day! I've been on the train in Chicago before which is kind of like the light rail. But the train runs underground and above ground and the subway well we all know what those are like! It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Buying the tickets was a bit confusing and figuring out how to get where we wanted to be was rough at first but we caught on quickly and luckily we can read and understand maps! 

Riding on the subway from Battery Park up to Times Square!

The Empire State building. Although we were outside we didn't go in. By the time we got there the line was horrendous and we didn't want to wait. There were a lot of things we'll do next time around. :)

Cookie Monster!

Ellis Island we didn't get off b/c the next ferry to the next stop was an hour later and we really didn't want to wait that long so we just stayed and spent time on Liberty Island.

Leaving NYC

Week 2 of NJ

So for the 2nd weekend here in NJ, AJ took me to PA to an amusement park called Knoebel's. It was SO much fun! We had a blast.

Driving into PA! (Add another state to my list!)

On our first ride at the park the magic carpet ride! woohoo!

The pirate ship - ya we were being goobers!

If you're going to stand on the bridge you must hold on with both hands to the railing... 

Waiting in line for a kick butt roller coaster ride!

Week 1 of NJ

So I'm out in NJ for a month visiting AJ. Things are going very well. The first place we went was to Michigan to visit his family and go to a church camp they were having. I was really nervous but overall things went smoothly and the family was great. 

AJ with his mom and her husband and his son.

The church group from Michigan. AJ, his dad, his sisters and I are all in there somewhere

Kevin (Mary's boyfriend), me, Mary, AJ and Vanessa - AJ's sisters

Conference Weekend

Imagine if you will driving in a car up to Utah from SoCal about 10-12 hour drive; depending on traffic, stops and well speed; with five people in the car. That was the trip I chose to take to Utah this conference weekend. My friends Danielle Anderton, Megan Moody, Rachel Heiner and AJ Salisbury were the occupants of my vehicle. The drive and the company was wonderful. 

I had the opportunity to get to know everyone better as we (minus AJ) stayed at my Mom's house in Alpine. The girls attended every session of conference while AJ and I attended the Saturday afternoon session but listened to the others. As is customary, we had game night and played Killer Bunnies - I won, hey that rarely happens! It was still fun and good times though. It was a wonderful experience and great time. My family, friends and AJ all were able to meet each other and it went well. 

   

I Love the Lord

Here's the lyrics to the song I was talking about in my last post. I can't yet figure out how to get a song uploaded here. 

I love the Lord, in Him my soul delights.

Upon His word, I ponder day and night.

He's heard my cry, brought visions to my sleep,

And kept me safe o'er deserts and the deep.

He's filled my heart with His consuming love,

And borne me high on wings of His great dove.

Yet oft I groan, "O wretched man am I!"

My flesh is weak and I'm encompassed by

A world of sin, which holds me in its thrall,

If I give in and to temptations fall.

Then strength grows slack, I waste in sorrow's vale.

My peace destroyed, my enemies prevail.

Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin.

Rejoice, my heart! And let me praise again

The Lord my God, who is my rock and stay

To keep me strict upon His straight, plain way.

O let me shake at the first sight of sin

And thus escape my foes without and in.

I'll put a link here for the blog I found it on so you guys can click here it if ya want. It's to the tune of Be Still My Soul and is the Psalm of Nephi found 2 Nephi 4. Amazing!

Changes over time

It has now been 36 days since I have had any form of chocolate or anything with chocolate in it! I had no idea how many things I eat that have chocolate in them. My resolution here is to get halfway to my ideal weight or go the full year without chocolate. The reasoning here is to make change. By the time either of these things comes around I will have made a change so drastic to my life and self I hope to not find a further desire. This applies to so many other things in life as well. I feel I can apply it to any form of temptation I may have and with the Lord's help, it will be removed.

So the other thing I've been doing has been walking around Lake Mission Viejo lately too. My walking partner Emily Judd has been keeping me in check. I went thru a couple pair of old shoes until I finally broke down and bought new Asics to walk in. They aren't quite broken in yet but walking three times a week 3.1 miles or the 4.6 we do every now and again - the shoes should be broken in soon. It is a bit frustrating tho because it has been a month now and I haven't seen any results. Grr... these things take time right??!?

Other than that I have been getting a lot of music in my life lately. I am still the Relief Society pianist and am now playing for the ward choir and back up for pianist during Sacrament on Sundays. Now I also have a calling as the primary pianist in my family ward. Don't get me wrong I love playing the piano and would play for hours if I could. I just feel like I still haven't quite gotten my schedule down after graduating from college. I haven't even had a chance to play my flute much lately, only for a brief period last year. I have also decided, well have been wanting for awhile to, learn how to play the guitar. I found an amazing song, well actually Brandon Judd (no relation to Emily), told me about it and I looked it up. The BYU Men's Choir sang it at the close of the Priesthood Session for Conference in April 2007. If I can figure out how to put a song on here I'll post it.