Home Teaching Message

Our Home Teacher came over last night and shared with us the message from President Thomas S. Monson that was titled "They Marked the Path to Follow". I was really touched by it. I recomend reading the entire article. I really liked this quote and our Home Teacher gave us this challange:

"My brothers and sisters, in this marvelous dispensation of the fulness of times, as we journey through mortality and face the trials and challenges of the future, may we remember the examples of these models to follow. May we have the unfeigned humility of John the Baptist, the unquestioning obedience of Abraham, the unlimited patience of Job, the unwavering faith of Noah, the undeviating loyalty of Ruth, the unflagging determination of Nephi, the undaunted courage of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and the unfailing optimism of President Hinckley. Such will be as a fortress of strength to us throughout our lives."

I really took this quote to heart. Those are such amazing qualities that I would love to remember and strive to have. Another quote that hit me hard was this:

"Down through the generations of time, the message from Jesus has been the same. To Peter and Andrew by the shores of the beautiful Sea of Galilee, He said, “Follow me.”21 To Philip of old came the call, “Follow me.”22 To the Levite who sat at receipt of customs came the instruction, “Follow me.”23 And to you and to me, if we but listen, will come that same beckoning invitation, “Follow me.” May we all do so and reap the eternal rewards reserved for those who follow the path that He marked by His exemplary life."

I want to strive to live each and every day Following the Lord and I know that if I take on the qualities such as unfeigned humility, unquestioning obedience, unlimited patience, unwavering faith, undeviating loyalty, unflagging determination, undaunted courage, and unfailing optimism that I can become more like my Savior and Follow Him each and every day.

I know that my Father in Heaven Love me and everyone else. He give us challanges and trials in our life to help us to become stronger and to learn how to rely on Him. I know that he loves to see us triumph and become a better and stronger person with every trial we go through.

Happy Halloween!!!

Mike and I went to Ryan and Danielle's Halloween Party on Saturday. It was so much fun. We dressed up as Mr. and Mrs. Dracula. Mike won the bobbing for apples. He got 3 appple in about 3 seconds. It was amazing. I won the costume contest. Everyone really liked my fake red eyelashes. We had a blast! We hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween!

Playing in the Snow

Our first real snowfall this year! It was about one in the morning but I couldn't help myself. I had to play in it. I love how soft and fluffy Utah snow is! It was melted two days later :(

Making my Snow Angel

Snow Angel completed
Our tree in front of our apartment.

I thought it looked so pretty.

The Hogle Zoo

Our trip the the Hogle Zoo with Aunt Traci, Emmy and Ally. It was a ton of fun. Especially with Aunt Traci. She knows so much about animals. We learned so much and got to spend time with family!!!

The Penguins

(as Mike likes to call them)

The Bird Show

The Famous White Alligator
Some type of Monkey.
I can't remember their name.
The Elaphants

I LOVE the Zoo!!!

Strawberry Days in Pleasant Grove

This was the very first Rodeo Mike and I have been to. We had so much fun.

We went with our very good friends Todd and Sienna. Todd's brother and his girlfriend met us there. It was such a blast. I didn't like it when the roped the poor little calf's but I loved it when the cowboys were trying to ride the bull and it kept bucking them off.

There was also this one armed cowboy. He was amazing! He got all his horses to walk one by one on top of his trailer. Then he rode his horse up to the top of the trailer too. He steers the horse with his feet. He is definitely an inspiration of someone that won't let anyone tell him he can't do.

California Trip

Well, this was in June but I just came across these picture and remembered how much fun we had. In June we went down to California to visit family of course and also to see Wicked at the Pantages Theater! It was so much fun and Wicked was so amazing!!! If you haven't seen it I strongly suggest seeing it! Idina Menzel who played Elphiba (the wicked witch of the west) had the most beautiful voice. She was amazing!!!

While we were down in California we also celebrated Mike's 24th Birthday. It was a lot of fun as well. Some of the pictures are from when we celebrated in California with my family and some of them are from his real birthday in Utah.

Mike made Bookie a hat sword and sheild out of his tissue paper from his presents. It was sooo cute and Bookie loved it!!! Bookie wanted Mike and Beenie Girl to have a hat too! They are so cute!!!

Trip to Cali and Kyle's Baptism

Last weekend Mike and I went down to California to visit family but mostly to be there for Kyle's Baptism! We were so happy to be able to be there and be apart of his big day!He has grown up so fast and I am so impressed with the young man he is becoming! (It must be the GREAT Parenting!!!) He has made such a wonderful decision to be baptized into the Lord's Church and to recieve to Holy Ghost to lead and guide him through life. It is always nice to go to baptisms and be reminded of the feelings of your own baptism and the amazing covenants that are made that day! I am so happy for Kyle! I hope that he will always listen to the promtings of the Holy Ghost. Through listening to the Holy Ghost we can experince true joy! I love you Kyle and I am so proud of you!!! Keep Choosing the Right!!!

Mike's Health

As most of you know Mike has been dealing with a flare up due to his Crohn's Disease. He has lost a lot of weight and has very little energy due to the fact that everything he eats hurts him and the fact that his body isn't absorbing nutrients very well. However, he is not deathly ill or even on the verge of death (despite how pale and skinny he appears). We have changed our diet and Mike is taking different vitamin and minerals to help his body to regain strength. His health he is progressing every day. This has definatley been a challange in our life but we are doing well. We are learning a whole lot about nutrition and ways to maintain a healthy life. Thank you to everyone that has fasted and prayed for Mike's health. We truly appreciate it. And we know that your thoughts and prayers are making a difference. The Lord has blessed us so very much. We have found an excellent doctor that has been a huge help and truly cares about Mike. He is Mike's mission president's son-in-law. We know that if we trust in the Lord we will be blessed. Mike has recieved Priesthood blessings and we know that this flare up will not last forever and that our Savior is with us every step of the way! Thank you Family and Friends for your thoughts and your prayers!!! We love you all and consider you one of our greatest blessings!!!

Snowy Days

This is from last year but it was such a fun night and I thought it was a good way to kick off the winter season with this story! Mike and I had gone to see the movie Eregon with our friends Todd and Sienna. When we came out of the move at about midnight it had snowed so much. It was the first time we had gotten so much snow that winter. I was so excited because the California Girl that I am had never had snow in my front yard before! I told Todd and Sienna (who were born and raised in Utah) that I wanted to build a snowman because I have never built one before. Besides when I was like 4 years old and it was more of a pile of snow than a snowman! So, at twelve o'clock at night there we were...4 grown adults in the courtyard of our apartment complex builting the World's Best Snowman! It was so much fun and a memory I will never forget! It is going to be hard to make an even better one this winter!!!

Gonzales Family

My family are still living in California. Mom is dating Tim and is as happy and giddy as ever! Rob and Rebecca have been married for a little over a year and are preparing to move up to Utah. Lance is on the track team at RCC and is doing very well. Brianne is experiencing the joys of growing up and surviving High School.

She is currently on the HS Dance Team.

Dad and Sherri have been married for about 10 years. Sherri's daughter is in her last year of HS this year so they will only have Trevor at home. They are getting closer to being empty nesters.

Lamoureux Family

Mike's family is currently living in Germany. They are loving it there. This is Dad and Mom's third time living in Europe and second time in Germany. They enjoy the time they have to be with their dear European friends. Megan is High School and is very busy with the play Sleepy Hollow that she landed a role in. We are excited for her and we know she will do great. We wish we could be there to see it. Rachel and Gil are homeschooled and enjoy it. Gil recently taught Mike a little German over the phone. He is such a smart kid. Rachel explained what their home looked like to me on the phone. It was so kind of her. She is such a sweet girl. We will be going to see them in December for Christmas! We are so excited and can hardly wait!!!

Patrick is super busy. He is a BYU student and just got a part in A Mid Summer Nights Dream at BYU. We are excited to see him in it.

As for now it is Practice, Practice, Practice. It is fun to have him so close by.

Jess and Ben have been married for a little over a year now and are living in Southern Utah. They are both very busy with school and Ben with work as well. We don't get a chance to see them as often as we would like but we always have fun when we do get together. Sarah is also living in Southern Utah. She is busy with school, YSA activities and all the many school clubs she is involoved in. She is planning to put her papers in to go on a mission in December. We are so excited for her.