And so we'll begin with Summer 2011

Well, here I am, losing sleep in an attempt to start blogging again. I will probably have no more than 5 followers but my dearest friend, Aubrey Lee, practically put our friendship on the line if I didnt' start this up again! ;) It's going to be a work in progress, but here it is. I'll just start with the here and now- Summer!

For this next one, I'd like to share with you the acrostic poems we made for each other recently:

Musical Electrifying Literal Impulsive Sexy Sensitive Adorable

Tough Youthful Loving Exceptional Ridiculously-good-looking

Tyler and I moved in with my Mom and it has been a HUGE stress reliever for us all.
Here was my first Relief Society activity with her, it was hilarious.

And lastly, I am going to be a first grade teacher doing an internship this coming school year! My amazing mother in-law, who lives in Cali, gave me and bought me everything for my classroom. I can't even express how grateful I am for her being so giving. She, my awesome husband, my brother in-law, and I spent 4 days putting my classroom together. My good friend Katie also came up one day and helped me put up my final bulletin boards which was so helpful. I'm SO grateful for all their help! 

Growl Like a Bear

Eating a piece of candy, I walked through my kitchen and stopped to look at a picture on my magnet board. Something caught my attention, so I peeked my head around to the corner where another picture hangs. Yep. I knew it.
The picture on that wall is of me and Tyler and my smile is contagiously blissful. That smile matched the one in the picture on my magnet board. It's a picture with someone else-

my Dad.

For as long as I can remember, he's always been my #1 man. We'd be talking about my latest crush, or boyfriend and he'd be sure to ask, "Who's your number one man?" I'd smile, "You!"

And, now that I'm married, he and Tyler will probably have to come to grips that they have to share that trophy.

Seeing as I'm going to be a teacher, I'm very grateful that my Dad helped me to appreciate good grammar.

"Dad, you'll never believe it, today me and my friend went-" I hyperly began in one breath.

"You and who?" My dad replied.
(Sighs) "My friend and I."

I secretly loved that he did that, because I wanted to be a teacher and I knew I had to be good at grammar. Many people don't know this next lesson Mr. Dad taught me. I was having trouble pronouncing the "R" sound, so he sat me down privately to help me.

"Alright, Millie, growl like a bear. Say, 'Gurrrr'!" My dad said with a smile.

"Gwwwww!!!!!" was my attempt.

I finally pronounced the "R" sound a little after I turned 8 years old.

He was also my biggest fan in everything I did- especially the piano. He was the only person in my family who never asked me to play quieter. I could pound out Mozart, Bach, Jon Schmidt, or my own creation, and he would smile telling me how wonderful it sounded. He has no idea how much that support helped me to keep pushing through the harder songs. He seemed to simply understand how much I sometimes needed to play loudly because piano was (and is) a form of therapy for me. And I know he didn't want me to ever stop playing.

Anyway. I think you get the idea here. I'm a Daddy's Girl through and through.

I'm so grateful he taught me to love, laugh, think, express, hope, care, live.

And I'm especially glad he taught me how to properly growl like a bear.

Pick Your Battles

I was just thinking about the phrase we hear that "trials are often a blessing in disguise." I'm not sure if it's a blessing per se, but often trials are the best learning experiences we'll ever have. I don't think I was blessed to have stitches on my forehead, but it taught me not to pull a bungi- chord off of something when it's extremely tight. I don't think I was blessed to get in mean fights with my friends and family, but it taught me to forgive and speak kindly.
Trials come in all sorts of styles and sizes. Some are small and barely even phase us. But many are huge and change the entire course of our life.
Because I've been "blessed" with some big and small trials in life, I'm learning that some things are not worth getting upset over. For example, married life- it's a huge adjustment for most people. However, I'm continually learning that sometimes I just need to remind myself that it's not as big of a deal as I'm making it seem. My sister has always gave me wise advice of "Pick your battles." Sometimes there are things not worth fighting over.
Apologize. And one thing to remember- IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO APOLOGIZES FIRST. The imortant thing is that there are sincere apologies being said from both of you and hurt feelings are being healed.
Life is what you make it. Choose to have a positive attitude and pick your battles. Many heart-aches can be avoided by forgiving and moving on.

Nature

Today I was in need of some quiet change of scenery. And, it was hot out so I wanted to be near water. So, I hopped in Elaine the Elantra (that's my car) and drove a few miles to Utah Lake. Instead of sitting in the hot sun, I decided to sit near the stream which was protected by tall trees, giving plenty of cool shade. I had a towel with me which I layed on (didn't want to get dirty) and I just looked around and listened. A calm feeling surrounded me. All I could hear was the the quiet whisper of a breeze running through the leaves and the calm running of the water's stream. And, what I found so beautiful was the sun hitting off the water giving a pretty reflection on its surroundings. It was such a peaceful feeling. Literally, a tiny piece of heaven. I'm sure anyone has felt that same peaceful feeling. It is not the biology of the nature that brings us that peace, it is the love of our dear Heavenly Father, trying to give us hope and peace and quiet amiss this noisy, chaotic world. The beauties of this world are simply one of the many suttle ways Heavenly Father is showing us He truly is there.

Two Cute Little Angels In My Life

My two favorite quotes from the movie "Dan in Real Life" are:
1) "Plan to be surprised."
2) "Love isn't a feeling, it's an ability."

These two quotes make me think of my niece and nephew,
Kaylie and Jayden Pont.
My sister and brother in-law did not plan on having either of these
adorable kids when they did, but that is the beauty of life.

That picture of what we think our future will look like often
doesn't turn out exactly like that.

It's usually better.

Jayden and Kaylie always greet me with a huge hug, and instanly update me on their day.
They always tell me the happy things, nothing ever seems sad or wrong in their life.
They are full of smiles and laughter.
And the best thing is their incredible amount of love,
which me leads me to quote #2 up there.

Jayden and Kaylie's ability to love is powerful and contagious.

No matter who the person is or what that person's mood and attitude is,
Jayden and Kaylie will love them, and be their friend.

When they get their feelings hurt, they will be sad or upset at first,
but sooner than any adult is capable of doing, they forgive and they choose
to be happy instead.

So, I think we could try and learn from their examples:

• Greet those you love with a hug.

• Talk about the happy things in life.

• Fill your day with smiles and laughter.

• Let your love be powerful and contagious.

• Love those around you and be their friend.
  
  
• When you are hurt, choose to forgive and be happy.

Thank you Jayden and Kaylie for your examples to me.
Here are some fun pictures of these two heroes of mine.

Jayden after he bowled a strike!

Kaylie giggling

Jayden taking a picture of himself

Kaylie being silly

Brother-Sister love

The Blog World Welcomes Us

Well, here it is: a Blog for Me and Tyler. He really has no idea about this, but he is my husband so I thought I'd include him in the name! :)
We both just started school last week and it's already been a lot of work. We are happily at UVU. I'm in the Elementary Ed. program, and he is in the Culinary Arts program.
The exciting thing is we will graduate at the same time. The scary part is two years of early mornings, late nights, tons of homework, working, and somehow squeezing in eating, sleeping and a tiny social life. However, we are both doing what we love and that keeps us motivated.
I'll see how I do with this blogging thing. I tried once and got bored.
Wish me luck Bloggies. (Is that even a word)?