flashback with pictures!

I thought I'd post a bunch of pictures I found. Some from 2 years ago on vacation, Ace as a puppy, me at the MTC, and just a bunch of random family pictures. I was so skinny! Darn it all....

Quick or slow? you choose.

This week (so far) has been eventful. The first couple days after a long vacation, you collapse in bed, and get up for meals once in a while. I called a bunch of people about jobs, started orchestra at SLCC, Choir in the mornings(with Rachel in it too!), proabably institute soon, Saw Jocelyn(yay!), realized my room was a mess beyond measure, and noticed I ate out too much on vacation. Time to start running again :( .

This week I get to meet with the man who ultimately decides if I can go back on a mission. Did I mention I was planning on going back? Well there you have it. I have to wait until my "Sessions" are over, so about 2 months until I'll know for sure. I've been keeping up on my spanish study lately and trying to cram in scripture study. I'm just worried it's been so long I may have to get a completely new call and maybe even a new language. It will all turn out how it's supposed to though. If I go, I go, if not, I'll move on this time.

So today I finally got see Jocelyn! She came home on the 11th when I was on vacation. She kind of talks like a Samoan, has hair past her shoulders now, she's gorgeously skinny, and has dark brown hair. We got to sit down and talk for about two hours about her mission, my mission, dating etc. Her homecoming talk is this sunday at her ward at 1pm if anyone is interested in seeing her again. I'm all flushed because I thought I would have to find a substitute for my primary class until next week, but it's this sunday. As Shell would say, SCRAP!

Tomorrow my dad is bringing home an external hard drive so I can transfer my vacation pictures from his laptop to my computer. Lots and lots of pictures. I'm excited to show you all where we went and what we saw.

I went to Walmart with my my brother Michael today. We thought Ace was mature enough to be out of the kennel when we go out, but alas, he proves us wrong every time. We came home to a living room full of garbage neatly spaced across the floor. I think he ate half a bag of chocolate chip cookies. Hopefully the chocolate won't kill him. Ace insists on not only eating garbage, but new unopened foods left within range of his paws on the counter. Whole loaves of bread, bags of chips, full casseroles, you name it, he'll eat it.


bec

Aftermath

so, the fast lasted 3 days. Not bad I'd say. The wedding threw everything off and was insane crazy for the past four days. Tomorrow starts another fast. Nothing huge going on so nothing to distract me. I think I'll be drinking a lot more water this time though. I got a little dehydrated last time. Need to keep track of it.

So, have you seen the mission counter 25 days to go! yay! I still have the bajeezez scared out of me but I'm way excited still. Lots to pack and prepare. The list is endless. As soon as I get my mission picture back(sometime this week, I'll be sending out the invitations to my farewell. So, Toni, Tony, Joe and Michelle, I need your addresses!!! please send me an email with them included!!! Thanks a bunch. wouldn't want you to not get one!!.

Happy fasting
Bec

One month till New York!!!!!!

I figured, I've got one month till I leave, I better start updating a lot because you'll only get my letters once in a while when I leave.

Can you believe it? One month exactly. I'm becoming more and more nervous each day. Still tons of stuff to do and buy and pack. I have two weeks left of work and them I'm outta there!!! yay!!!

Michelle's Bridal shower was yesterday and the reception is next week and thigns have been crazy around my house like they've never been crazy before. With all the wedding stuff I hven't really beeen focusing on the mission, so that's helped in not being nervous. But next saturday, that will be my whole family's and my focus until I leave. So scared!!!

Yesterday I recieved my Endowment 6.14.07

All I can think of right now is, WOW. You think you know what to excpect when you go through the temple, but you can't even comprehend the feelings you experience when recieving your endowment. I wish I could write down every little detail and how I felt about each part. It was an awe inspiring event that I will cherish my entire life.
I chose to go to the Salt Lake Temple as they have the live endowment session. The Salt Lake and Logan Temple are the only two in the world that have the live endowment. All other temples have the videos. I also chose the Salt Lake temple because it's where my parents were married and is where I promised myself when I was 12 years old that I would be married in that temple.
There is SO much to learn in the temple! You wouldn't believe what a learning experience it is. I now understand completely why we need to go to the temple and return as much as possible. It pertains to our Eternal Salvation to recieve our endowment, be sealed in the temple and return often to learn everything in the temple.
I have never felt so at peace in my life and so happy that I knew I was clean to enter the temple and then come out an even better person with such a strong desire to do my best in this life, which desire I never thought possible for me. You gain an awesome understanding of the plan of salvation. You just have to go to the temple!!!!!!!!
When the session is complete, you end up in the celestial room. A ton of people came to the session I was in, as it was a live endowment. Even my coworker who's brother in law was going through for his mission was there. Anyway, the Celestial room, you can stay as long as you want and ponder, read scriptures, pray. whatever. The room is so GORGEOUS!!! I could stay there forever. It's on the top floor of the temple, so there are stained glass windows the sun shines through, and a magnificent chandelier in the center of the room. You see everyone in the same clothes, all there for the same reason. It's amazing how you feel a sense of belonging and that everyone there is your brother and sister. It's just amazing. I can't wait for all of you to eventually go through the temple (I believe all of you will one day be it this year, or 20 years away) and experience the spirit and power. I can't wait to go WITH all my friends. I wouldn't want anyone left out of it. My family came, Lema (Michelle's Fiance), and my grandma. My little sister of course couldn't come, but I will be able to go through with her. Randy also couldn't for his own personal reasons(He screwed up) and that was really sad. I felt real sorrow that he couldn't come. not the sorrow that is a pity "I'm more righteous than you" thing, but that he is my brother and I wanted him to be there, as well as with our family for eternity. I hope he gets his life in order and things taken care of. As I want all of you to partake in the blessings of the temple. You are all my brothers and sisters and I want you with me in the nest life and to have everything I've been able to experience. Make yourselves worthy and make this a main priority in your lives. It changes you and your outlook on life. I love the temple and am going to try and go once a week before I leave on my mission. I know I'll get to go to the Provo temple while in the MTC as well as the Manhatten Temple when I get to New York.
Holy Cow!! check out my mission countdown!!! I can't believe how time is flying. I'm not ready yet!!! A month and 2 weeks. Get your backside in gear Becca!!!!
Oh, I just remembered. I mentioned my grandma came, turns out she recieved her endowment 50 years ago to the day I recieved mine. Wasn't even plannes that way!! My Grandma and my mom both recieved a Spanish woman's name to go through for. Coincidence? I think not.
Right when we were about to leave The woman who played Eve through the session came up tp me and said, "You must be a missionary" turns out she just got back from the Palmyra, New York Mission with her husband. She said they learned to spot out the good missionaries after three years of being in the mission field. *grin* what a compliment!!!
Before you go through the session, they brief all the new people on the session so you're not completely confused about it. Their were a couple of girls getting married, and Me and another soon to be missionary. The other missionary leaves the same day (Aug 1st) to Pennsylvania, and the lady doing the talking said a girl went through a session before us that was going to the SAME mission as me and it was spanish speaking, and leaves August 1st!!!! That was probably one of my future companions!!!
Yesterday was quite the day. I came home exhausted and crashed on the couch for the night. I managed to survive going to Denny'swith everyone for dinner after the temple and stay awake. It was a three hour long session!! I was still pretty sick from my tea drinking day. I went thorugh a box of the temple tissues in the time I was there for the session. I didn't even go to work yesterday in hopes I would feel good enough to go to the temple by the end of the day. Today I'm at work still nursing a cold/allergies type of thing. My eyes won't stop watering and everyone thinks I'm crying. Oh well, only 3 hours left, and I am so far behind in my work I'll be nice and busy to make it go by fast. Then, the loverly weekend. YAY!!!
When I was getting ready my mom gsaid she had a flower for me kind of as an endowment gift (other than all thr temple clothes she bought me which was gift enough!!) She said sh wanted to give it to me now because it would go bad if we left it in the hot car during the temple session. She came out of her closet with this 2 ft tall tube of candy/chocolate covered sunflower seeds that had this big sunflower at the top. If you haven't seen or tried these little candies, you HAVE TO!!! they are so DELISH, possibly becoming one of my favorite candies next to Gushers and Hot Cheetos. Sad thing is, they are about 3 bucks for 4oz. Worth it though if you like them as much as I do!! My camera battery died last night so I have to charge it for a full 12 hrs before it will work again, I have pictures of all of yesterday and post them as soon as I can. Still working on the MOAB pics, please have patience.

Bec
Hey, I'm coming down to the Provo/Orem area on saturday FYI. My mom, dad, sister and I are coming to see the museum @ BYU with all the paintings of Christ. I plan on taking tons of pictures. Also we are stopping at IKEA on the way home, just to scope out the place..

Life as of Late

My older sister got engaged last night. She has known him for 3 days. Well, not technically. SHe has been emailing him and calling him every day for thr past month and he just last weekend came (indefinately) to Utah to meet her. They have been attached at the hip since friday. Last night under some fake palm trees at the valley fair mall, he proposed on one knee. No one was around and their was no ring. Kind of sentimental I think. I hope it all works out for them. And there is a 50/50 chance of them moving back to Hawaii where he lives. If not, they will stay in Utah. He is polynesian (Somoan to be exact) he's 22 (she's 25) his name in Lemalea Laulu (pronounced Lema-lee-ay, La-oo-loo) But he goes by Lema. Michelle Laulu. Lots of L's in that name. She's getting married on June 30 (SOON!!) So, I'm hoping my bishop will let me get my endowments a week early and be able to go to their wedding.

Oh speaking of - When I do get my endowments I will probably invite all those friends and family who are endowed to go through the session, and then everyone (endowed & not) to dinner afterwords at Olive Garden. So June 23 is when I will probably go through the temple. Leave you calendar's clear! It will be the Salt Lake Temple btw.

Yesterday I did some research on Bermuda. My mom has gone nuts with New York and gotten every book from the library imaginable and my brain has O.D.'s on New York Facts and culture. I'm way excited though. But about Bermuda; Population is about 65,000 about half and half African American and White. English is the official language with portugese in second. They didn't actually mention Spanish at all. odd. It is $6/gallon for gas. Glad I'll be walking. You drive from the west side of the island in an hour and walk across it north to south in about 15 minutes. Very small place. It said on the website that tourists/visitors can stay no longer than 21 days no matter what and they are very strict about it. I wonder how that works with missionaries. Bermuda is sub-ruled by the U.K. but has their own laws and government so they are kind of like their own country. No one would even be living their unless a ship on course to Virginia in the 16oo's hadn't shipwrecked. They have a mid-high crime rate in Bermuda. They said on the travel site to lock your doors day and night, and never carry a purse because you'll get robbed. *comforting* So there is the history of Bermuda in a coconut shell.

Last night I ordered my Mission shoes. I knew is would be nearly impossible to find COMFORTABLE walking dressy church shoes that were approved for a mission. That would be like trying to find a tip of a needle in a hay binding plant. So, I started my search the day I decided to go on a mission. After 100's of shoe sites, I finally found some good ones with shoes that might work (Toni, pay attention!!!!!) Onlineshoes.com has large women's shoes(cute too) with decent prices, Footsmart.com has all the REALLY comfy ones, and Massey's.com has a small variety, mostly in the wide department. Also, Amazon.com has quite a selection for size 12 women's shoe. That's where I got my boots. So ina couple weeks when they all get here, cross you fingers they will all fit!!! Here they are!!!

Cute huh? They have to be conservitive, black or brown, close toe, closed heel and no more than 1 1/2' heel. But still, I think they are cute. These are the shoes I'll be wearing for 18 months other than P-days once a week. These suckers better last too. I spent $254 for all three. Big feet suck.

I bought my winter coat today during lunch. I got a wool one for less than $100!!!! sweet. Very good find If I do say so. This is a pic, but imagine it in black. I'll feel like I'm in the Matrix!!!

Well, there is the update on me as of late. Tomorrow The Orem (well, one of em') chicks will be getting together for a girls night out. Going shopping tonight to get everything for it. So excited!!!!!

Oh, for an ending story- Today after lunch I took a quick walk around the building to help me digest(McD's is not the easiest thing to stomach) and while admiring the greenery around the building I heard a *Crunch*. Looked down and I had just murdered about a thousand ants. My flip flop is a graveyard. GROSS!! From now on I'll watch where I'm going an try not kill things during my lunch hour.

Have a fantabulous day!!!!!
Bec

77 days till I leave to the MTC

The death of blogworld

Wow. Everyone is killing off there blogs left and right. All I can say is, I hope everyone keeps reading mine! I plan on blogging forever. I wasn't ever good at keeping a journal, but this!! This has been my relief to life. Where I can write anything down I want and no one cares. I can piss-off about my problems, talk about the latest crush, whine about my weight and tell about when my dog throws up. I LOVE this blog and love writing in it. It is part of me and part of those who read it(if they still do!!) I will stay here in the land of blogging even if I'm by myself. Just me and my blog, I'm fine with that. I'll keep it going on for anyone to read whenever. It will always be here, never changing, (HA as I just changed my layout) and always here to comment on. I'll still have my sister post all my emails and letters here with pictures as well. so Keep me bookmarked!!!!!

Well, Here is what's been going on in my life this week.

Papers have been in SLC since last week. I could get my call on Wednesday!!!! I'm not getting my hopes up though. I'm expecting it next week.

Today I go to the Bank to sell my car to my brother. *sadness* I cleaned out my car last night and I wanted to cry. My first car, favorite car, my FREEDOM!! It's now going to belong to my stinky brother Randy who will speed like no other, kill the engine, scratch it to peices and make out with his girlfriends in it. Yuck. Well, another part of life moving on. I saw the 2007 passat parked next to me today. I LOVE IT!!!!! I doubt that's what I'll be getting when I get back though. I can dream :) I never even named it............sad.

Today was our April B-day party. We had 4 people in our group (including me) with a b-day this month. Seeing how I'm the Admin, I got to plan it with $80. We had Pizza Hut, Rootbeer floats, and Cake. YUM. Very good lunch if I say so myself. Well planne on my part. Plus getting paid to go shopping at Walmart is nice too :) I hope I go somewhere with a Walmart on my mission. I think I will go into withdrawl if they don't have one where I'm going.

Bffffff. I'm stuffed with cake and rootbeer and pizza.........bufffffff....

I had my last choir perf. last night for Institute Graduation. Kind of sad. I will miss it a lot. I got my copy of our Christmas CD from last semester. We sound good except for some stupid soprano(it'a always a soprano isn't it?) that sounded like she was whining the whole time. Other than her, we sound Pretty good. My director will finish this semesters CD by the fall, so I won't get to hear it till I get back. Darn. Maybe I'll see if I can post a song on here when I get home. Still working on getting the DSL hooked up though. I have to do all my internet stuff at work. Annoying. ONe of these days.....

I'm so behind on Grey's anatomy and Lost. Maybe I'll stay late tomorrow and watch them all after work. there's a thought.

Oh, I almost forgot, Whe I do get my call, I should find out in the morning and call everyone to come to my house that night if you can. We'll be having a ton of people over and Pizza while I open the call. I want everyone to guess!!!!!!

I went to a Bachelorette part on saturday. It was cute (and clean) and held at Applebees. We dressed the bride up in Boa's and a viel and tons of jewelry. all the gifts were cards and money, chocolate and lotion type of stuff. Then some guy that makes balloon animals and such came over. The bride requested a "pole" for her bedroom. she then texted her fiance that a hot guy gave her a pole for their honeymoon. It was hilarious. I even got a picture with her leg wrapped around it. It was fun. But NEVER order Applebees Zexty chicken sandwhich. It was nasty. It had this wierd pepper flavor and was just gross. Their Buffalo wings appetizer is delish though.

Have I rambled enough for you? My lunch is technically over, even though I was setting up the food for 20 minutes of it. Tonight after the handing over of my car, I am going to the gym. I am getting what I think is the beginning of stretch marks on my under arms(either that or a wierd looking rash) and vowed I would never get large enough to get stretch marks. that was my ultimate fatness limit. So, off to work out my arms!!!!!!

OH!!! almost forgot!!! Yesterday right before I leftm yhouse for the choir performance (which Tony sluffed) I was coming down the stairs and my heel (3" mind you) got stuck in a piece of our carpet that was ripped (Top step of course) I'm in my long dress too and Wa-BAMO!!!! I totally fell down the stairs. Not the falling where you skitter down on your feet as if they were ski's, but where I fell, my shins caught my fall on the bottom step (yes TOP to BOTTOM step) so I cut up my shins and have these massive bruises. swollen too. Then after my body realized it had more momentum to keep going, I face planted into the floor. It was acrobatic I tell you. After laying on the floor for 5 minutes in a sense of shock, crying because of the pain (I never cry, so it was quite embarrassing) my family is freaking out wondering if I split my head open and broken every bone in my body. It was traumatic I tell you, traumatic. I was then 10 minutes late for my performance (I am NEVER late for performances) so my entertainer brain kicked in and told me to buck up and start driving to SLCC so I would make of fool of myslef walking in late to the performance. Several people asked me if I got a sunburn, I told them yes, but it was from crying. (like I would admit to that) But other than a slight Gimpy walk, You can't even tell that I saw my life flash before my eyes yesterday and almost died.

I'd say that's a good way to end a blog for the day, wouldn't you?

Tootles,

Still gimpy, Bec

Some people were just not meant to be president

Thought I'd freak you all out by starting my post off with a frightening picture you hope never to encounter in real life.

Anyway, I guess I'll give you all the 411 on my life right now.

1st- so sad to read that Toni will no longer be posting on her New Beginnings Blog. It was short lived, loved, and is missed already. If you still read this Toni, I hope nothing offensive was done or said to make you stop. It has been hard for all of us doing our own thing, going our own way in life and I could feel the falling apart of our happy little group. A Marriage changes things. A BABY (that I'm still DYING to see)changes things. I hope to be a part of your life and keep our friendship alive-no matter how distant it gets- forever. We went to copperhills together, Brockbank, and Cyprus. We have known eachother since Kindergarten when you first made fun of my glasses and pigtails :D That part of me will never forget the good times we had. The nano baby days, Creative Persuits, Dustin (aka: Skippy) Jackson, Our trolls that we would dress up and make houses out of our pencil boxes. Part of you will be part of me forever. I will do all I can to keep us alive and strong!!!!!! I hope you one day start up the blog again. Even if all you talk about is marriage and baby stuff. I DON"T CARE!!!!! I want to hear it!! Your blogs were my looking glass into your life. Please start them up again when you can!!!!

2nd- My mission papers are in to the Stake President!! It's all up to him now and the wait has begun!! 1-3 weeks and I'll be getting my misison call!!!!!!!!!
WAAAAAAAHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait. Actually, I can wait. I don't have any shoes or clothes yet. I can't until I find out where I'm going. My parents got me a luggage set for my B-day though, so I'm good in that department! I've been reading SO much Book of Mormon Lately. It's amazing what I have been missing out on. I have recently been reading in Mosiah. By reading it every night, I can picture each thing that is going on in the book. It is really amazing. I have never read the scriptures so dilligently before and I am LOVING IT!!! seriously, I used to see the scriptures as a task to be done. I look forward to reading and can't get enough of it. I know, I know, I sound like a molly mormon. You guys need to read it like you mean it. you will be amazed.

3rd- Actually, I don't have a third topic. I'll just reamble for a bit. Work is busy, but good. I really like my job and don't mind going to work everyday. I definately plan on working here when I get back from my mission. I'm going for a bike ride after work to Cemetary Hill-if it's not raining. Should be fun.........um............ My brother Randy is buying my car before I leave. So it will still be in the family when I get back. Now I don't have the stress of needing to get it sold before I leave. On financial matters, I have $100 more to go before I am completely out of debt!!!!!!! I got a line of credit to fix my car in December and it has seemed impossible to get it paid off. But with my tax returns, I got it all off but $100!!! Yay!!!!!!! DEBT FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. Good feeling. What else what else....Tony leaves for R.I. this Saturday(*tear*) but maybe it will be good for him. (don't ask me how I just wanted to sound thoughtful) I probably won't see him for the whole 18 months I'm gone, and if he leaves for a mission during that time, It could be even longer. Odd thought.

I have talked with my sister, and I'm going to let her use my computer when i'm gone on the condition that she doesn't downlad anything whatsoever, and that she posts my letters and emails on this blog for all of you. She'll be copying all the comments and emailing them to me as well. I'm not sure if you guys can email me yet, but definately can write letters. Oh, We are finishing our back yard right now, and for my farewell we are having a "luncheon" after my talk at my house. I'll be sending you all invites with a pic of me as well. So that's something to look forward to in a couple of weeks.

Well, I should really get back to work now and stop slacking off. Everyone update your blogs!!!!!!

Tootles,
Becca

The happinings of conference weekend

Ok, taking a break between conference sessions trying to keep myself awake. Not that I am bored with conference or anything, the speakers release a natural endorphin to make me sleepy.

FREAK!!!!! This stupid Ice cream truck is going .2 miles an hour on my street playing THE most annoying song in the world. Great, now some kid is buying one and he's parked in front of my house! If I had an AK-47, It would be out of ammo by now and I'd be going to prison for life. I think Later in my life when I have nothing to do, I will join the government and pass a bill banning ice cream trucks from playing music. They can still drive around for all I care, but no music. Die stupid ice cream trucks.....DIE. You rip people off, and the ice cream is nasty anyway. just die. I MY HECK!!! He is two streets over and I can still hear it!!! Eech long note in the stupid song goes half a pitch flat as it plays. AAAARRRGHHH!!!!! Somethings drive me mad and this tops the list. Man...sometimes i don't know myself. I have a temper like lucifer himself. Jeez..

Ok, I'm back now. I went downstairs to get some friend salad Rachel made. Dumb truck is out of hearing range. I feel a bit better now. I love sunday conference at my house. Everyone is home, we have sandwiches and fruit and chips and all watch it together. Good times.

My mom said the other night she was praying (nightly prayer) and was praying for my mission prep to go well and that I would have a good mission when all of a sudden Italy popped into her head. She wasn't praying that i would go where I'm supposed to or anything, but It just popped in her head at that moment. I hope it was inspiration of some kind!!! I would love to go to Italy!!

Yesterday I was moving my car because my parents car was in front of it. It was reaally hot, so I unrolled the windows. My sister has this obsession with my car where she just likes sitting in it, even if we don't go anywhere(kind of like a dog). So she came prancing outside and jumped in my car. When she closed the dore, it sounded a bit strange/loud, but I didn't think anything of it. Then when I had movved my car, I rolled the windows up, and the passenger side window made this terrible screeching sound! I looked over and the window was rotated completely vertical! I guess something that holds the window right side up fell off when she closed the door and it was just kind of hanging there. We got the window up all the way, but now it's going to take who knows how much to get this fixed. Dumb car issues.

The dentist went ok on friday, lots of scraping(I've been slacking in the flossing department) and one small cavity to take care of(darn) So on monday back to the torture chair. After that, just my picture and I'm done!! YAY!!

Last night me and a bunch of friends(Kristy, Megan Carlisle, Heather Beck, Craig Riding, Cameron Ellsworth etc.) about 16 people total got together after the priesthood session and played games. At 11pm we went outside to play big buddha. After about 20 minutes a cop pulled up and said to keep it down or go inside because neighbors were calling. Dumb people. Can't a group of young adults have any fun? Have you heard of ear plugs? we weren't even being that loud!! Anyway, we went inside nad played the "what-if" game which was hilarious and way better than big buddha. We stayed up till about midnight and all went our seperate ways. All around a fun night, other than the cop part. you know me....Always getting into trouble with the law...... :)

My brother Michael went on a date on friday....amazingly enough.... and they went to a new restaurant down town. The waitress asked if they wanted anything to drink, so my brother asked for something fruity. He got the drink and said it tasted like pineapple and dirt mixed together. He told the waitress he would like something else because this was terrible, She said fine, and gave him the list of alcoholic drinks and said to choose something else. My brother drank half a glass of alcoholic drink!! It was a total accident, but funny. I told him to go to his bishop and confess. He's the executive secretary of the ward. Kinda funny.

Well, conference is starting again, so I will see you guys/gals later!!!!

Bec