General Conference

What a fantastic weekend so far! I love General Conference. Two excellent sessions yesterday. I had some questions answered. The BIG news of conference yesterday was President Monson announcing two temples(Tucson, AZ and Arequipa, Peru) AND, AND the lowering of the minimun age for missionaries both elders and sisters(which is the one I really care about). As an option for young men, if they are ready and worthy, they may go at 18. For sisters they can now go at 19 instead of 21. I freaked out. I cried for joy. Not that I'm 18 or 19. But for the girls that don't have to wait anymore. I talked to a friend of mine who is 20 and is preparing her papers. She had already emailed her bishop. She can send in her papers this month now, instead of January. She can leave that much earlier.
Two wonderful sessions. The talks were all beautiful. I felt the spirit and learned something from all of them.
My Relief Society had an activity during Priesthood session. We made some compassionate service meals(Taco Bake) and some tied fleece blankets for the hospital for still borns. After we finished we talked, sang along to Disney, danced and counted how many times we could get our one friend to snort(she snorts when she laughs). It was hilarious. We got to 221!
I'm excited for today. It is going to be rich.


Watch General Conference here

Family History

My ward was cancelled today because the city was replacing fire hydrants on the street during the time we have church. Instead, I got to go to the ward that meets 3 blocks from my house. It was pretty sweet getting to walk to church. It was a nice meeting. Sunday school had a great lesson on 3 Nephi 9-11 given by my friend's dad. Relief Society was combined with Elders Quorum, Young Men and Young Women. Again, my friend's dad, graced us with a lesson. This time it was about doing family history. It was probably the most helpful one I've had. I'm really excited to actually get going on my family history. I know some of it's been done. I know that I can do more. I especially want to take names to the temple. In a previous post I listed my goals for this year and one of them is to take 12 names to the temple. Luckily I have a fantastic roommate who is a family history buff. I'll post again on my progress.

This is a link to the New Family Search website for doing family history.

New Family Search

Color Vibe

Today was really fun. I did the Color Vibe 5km fun run/race.
It was not the best weather...
Rain? Check. Wind? Check. Cold? Check.
We had a great time though.

This is us before.

...and after.

It was hilarious. 

There are a few colour stations around the track and people there to throw it at you. There was a lot at the end. We were the last heat and got the rest of all the colours on us. We were mostly blue. We were called "The Avatar group". We were that blue.

I've showered and I'm still blue and purple in spots. Too funny. 

www.thecolorvibe.com

NEW YORK CITY!

I'm so excited! I'm going to New York City tomorrow. The only thing is it's nearly midnight and I haven't finished packing and I need to shower. I have to get up at 6am tomorrow to catch a bus to where I'm meeting my friend who is driving me. Yikes! Today was such a long and busy day. I ran to the grocery store at 8am to buy a few things to make cake. Tomorrow two of my friends have their birthdays and I wanted to make cake for them. I used a meat pie tin. I called them "cakelettes". They're bigger than a cupcake and smaller than a regular cake. Thus, "cakelette".
Bed time for bear. Sleep sweet.

Week One

So far so good on the many goals I have made for myself. I missed a photo one day, but I went back and took it.
fatmumslim blog

30 August-Card
I thought this was perfect timing because it was my birthday.
















              31 August-Hidden 
My sister hides her money in Casablanca. Don't tell her I told you.

1 September-You, Now

Me at my favourite mini golfing place. It's my birthday tradition. 

I also one a free game this year! Woo Whoo!

2 September-Father

This is my brother-in-law. The father of my nephew and nieces. 

3 September-Far Away

The train tracks taking me far away.

 4 September-In my mailbox/postbox

Nothing for me today.

 

 5 September-Bright

I found the fantastic solar powered patio lights at Ikea.

6 September-Everyday
Reading my scriptures daily is one of my many goals.

7 September-Natural

This is my awesome little lemon tree.

                                      

8 September-Night
Looking out my front door tonight.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today is my birthday. Hurrah!

It was a pretty rough start. I had to get up early to drive 2.5 hours to the funeral of a good friend. I cried my eyes out. It was really hard to see them like that. It hardly looked like them. Thankfully I was surrounded by friends who were also feeling the same way. I am grateful to have the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life to bring me peace in these tough times.

After I got home I bused to the Museum of Nature. I met a few friends there and we enjoyed learning about dinosaurs, mammals and birds. I even ran into a girl from high school that I haven't seen since! It was pretty fun. They even surprised me with birthday cake! Yum! It was chocolate, if you wanted to know.

The point of this post is actually about how I make a number of goals for the number of years I'm turning. This year it's 29! These are my goals:

1. Go to Greece

2. Read The Book of Mormon 4x's

3. Learn the Ukulele

4. Learn the harmonica

5. Pay off OSAP

6. Take an art class

7. Save 1000$

8. Get G2

9. New Recipe Every month

10. Photo every day

11. Learn French

12. Blog once a week

13. Read Much Ado About Nothing

14. Do income tax on time

15. Run 1/2 marathon

16. Only have a sugary dessert once per month.

17. Buy a bike

18. Go to the Hill Cumorah Pageant

19. Daily act of service/kindness

20. Temple Monthly

21. Study Preach My Gospel

22. Buy new luggage

23. 12 Names for temple work

24. Write in my journal everyday

25. Write a missionary once per week.

26. 100% Visit teaching

27. Set and live by budget

28.Learn about astronomy

29. Call Mom once a week

For the most part I have a plan for each of them. I have a rough calender to get them done. I divided them into daily, weekly, monthly, once, and ongoing categories to help me keep track.  I am going to have to work really hard on some of them. I already have #10 started and an appointment set for #14.

Wish me luck!

Still, not a good day

You know how you wake up feeling great, there's a bounce in your step, the sun is shining and the sky is blue?

That is how my day started. It quickly diminished from there. I got to work and my manager is outside talking to a coworker in her car and walks over to me with a grim look on her face. I knew it was bad news, but it wasn't the bad news I was expecting. I work in a retirement home. Bad news happens. This was worse, much worse.

My dear friend and coworker committed suicide. It has been a difficult day. I loved my friend. I knew they were going through some really tough times. No one expected this. I don't even know what to think or what to feel. I feel like I'm in a haze.

I am well acquainted with death and grief, but this was new for me. My neighbourhood grandfather passed away when I was 19. My Gramma at 20. My boyfriend, three weeks before I turned 22. And many since then. It doesn't get easy. I, thankfully, know where I can find peace. I know that I will see them again. I know that they are not gone forever. I know.

Until We Meet Again

This is a short video from a talk that President Thomas S Monson, prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gave.