Just to Smile...

Life is good. So good. 

Especially upon receiving photos like this. My "little nymph"  who takes a bad hair day and rocks it. 

So smile. Laugh. Giggle uncontrollably. 

It's the secret to beauty. 

If you don't believe me.....take a look again at this photo....Kids are definitely in on the secret. 

I think we just sometimes forget as we get older.

Happy Sunday! 

It's been a while...

The past two months have been a blur! One second it was March....and now...it's almost the end of May

I would fill you in on all of the details of our adventures the past while....however...like I said.....my days are so intertwined that it gets a little complicated....

So...Instead of my ramblings....here is a picture update of the past two months of our lives.

Aimee and Eric and their cute little family came to visit us! We loved seeing them! 

Sadly...in the excitement of having them here...we were lousy at taking pictures. 

The best part? We will be living much closer to them this summer! Hello Star Wars lego set building and lots of fun! We can't wait!

I think life is pretty great for these ducks!

This cute girl and I ran a bubble run! Who wouldn't want to run through a mass of bubbles!

For some odd reason....cameras come out and I instantly feel the need to put my thumbs up and look overly excited!

Spring was wonderful! I miss it already. Sigh. The heat and I haven't quite become friends yet. 

And cue the drumroll....we celebrated our birthdays! We started off by watching a Cirque de Soleil show....I think my mouth was dropped in awe for most of the show. Amazing wouldn't quite cover it!

To continue our celebration...we had a squirt gun war! Sadly...I was the one who ended up soaked! I need to work on my James Bond moves..

This picture captures the millionth reason I love him! 

I think we're starting to look older....

Vegas is now home to the world's largest Ferris wheel! We had to go look for ourselves...If you are a thrill seeker with heights...I'm sure this would be just for you! David was nauseated just looking at it.

I love this photo! Your eyes are not mistaking you...that is an onion. It takes a pretty great gardener to keep an onion growing for two seasons! I don't think I've ever seen an onion that big in my life!

There you have it....a brief overview of the past two months. Time has gone so fast! We now have less than a month left here in the land of Vegas before our traveling begins.

Stay tuned.

It's going to be quite the adventure!

Spring Break or Bust

Last week was my spring break. (Even though online classes seem to follow you with any internet connection!)

This week is David's spring break.

So..add that together....times it by seven...and subtract three....and you get....(pause for drumroll)....an extended weekend of great things!

We went camping. It was a long trip....it consisted of walking out the back door, and building a fort on the lawn. What about the roaring fire you may ask? Oh. We had that covered. Our roaring fire came directly from a can....filled with alcohol. Perfect for marshmallow roasting!

Can you see that blazing fire? We're pretty much camping professionals. 

The next day...after getting to go to the baptism of one of our new friends...we went to the temple! It was a beautiful day!

I'm secretly posting this picture...without permission of David. I couldn't resist sharing with the world my incredibly dashing husband!

Remember this little guy? He made a temple appearance too!

Love is better than they say folks. 

Wait just a moment! Our festivities didn't end there! We had a visit from our wonderful St. George family....but sadly...no picture. Use your imagination....5 really great people...eating dinner...and ice cream. Picture it? Great.

Today...we had some incredible goals to finish off our weekend. I got up really early to finish my assignments...And then we were going to go hiking at Red Rock Canyon! However...we never reached our destination. We ended up at a place even better. An undiscovered hidden gem of Las Vegas. 

Bonnie Springs.

Just skim over the following photos. You'll be hooked. And want to know how to get there. Wild burros.  A zoo.. a restaurant, and all of the "almost" western you could want! peacock. I'm certain that beats Red Rock any day. 

We didn't have any "next of kin" with us to notify. Luckily...we still made it out safely!

I don't think any words could sum up the odd humor I find in this photo..

I feel the look on David's face says..."You really think this will stop me?" 

So beautiful! 

Poor Jacob Carter. Maybe he should have tried the Bow and Arrow instead.

Also, future travelers note...you're not required to use the outhouse! Hooray for modern plumbing!

Sigh. Dear Vegas, please have this type of weather all year long? Thanks, my fair skinned clan and I appreciate it. 

A cowboy actor? Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Coolest job ever! 

I posted this picture specifically to point out.....my white skin isn't ready for the unsettling burns of summer! Time to bust out the sunscreen!

Of course....the perfect western day wouldn't be complete without seeing some wild burros.

It was the perfect finish to a great weekend! There is no one else I would rather get lost with. As the wise pre-Dr. Brown put it today....."The destination is overrated. The journey is much better." 

I hope you all are enjoying spring as much as I am! If you're not....take a trip to Bonnie Springs!

To be Happy.

I keep thinking "Next week, things will slow down.." However, my thinking seems to have the opposite effect. 

David and I seem to be especially great at being "Busy." I'm thinking it must be a talent. 

This week is Mid-Term week for David, (it is actually my spring break....but I'm trying to be pro-active instead of a pro-crastinator). This is his last mid-term week ever! How amazing! Be prepared folks....the title "Dr. Brown" is just a year away. 

Need something to make you smile?

Well, here are a couple things that made my day. 

Here is to hoping they make yours!

After all, aside from the people we love in our lives, it's the moments of happiness that make the day worthwhile.

And...let's be honest here....we all secretly have 10 extra minutes in the day...10 minutes which in this case, can be used to endulge in random, but great Youtube videos. 

As Kid President would say.....You are awesome. You can do this. Not only that, but there are people out there who are grateful for you specifically. You change lives.

And for that, I am grateful. Grateful and blessed to know so many incredible people!

Come Away With Me..

I love February. Maybe it's because I'm a hopeless romantic...or because I love...love....and because February is the perfect month to celebrate both of those!  

Two years ago...David took me on our very first date....on Valentine's Day. He was so smooth in asking me...I didn't even realize that he had asked me out on a date....let alone on Valentine's Day....until I got home and replayed the conversation in my head.

And you want to know a secret? I have been the luckiest girl ever since!

Love is real. It's powerful. Kind. Giving. Hopeful. Beautiful. Enduring. Quirky. Humorous. And better then what even the movies can portray. And the greatest thing is....it isn't confined to just one person, love can touch all.....friends...families....neighbors...even strangers.

David and I celebrated our Valentine's Day partially a little early this year. A couple weeks ago, we found a pretty good deal online from a friend for a nights stay and the fabulous Lake Las Vegas.

It was beautiful. We suddenly felt like we had been whisked away into some island resort. I think it is safe to say that we used the word "WOW" over a hundred times.....in the first hour. I never thought that such a peaceful place could exist so close to Vegas. We felt like celebrities.

Yesterday we stayed home, David is quite the chef! With everyone going out to Steak-Houses.....we thought we would simply cook our own steak...and eat in our house. So with that in mind, one could say we ate at a steak house! 

I wouldn't be able to pick my favorite portion of the night.....eating an amazing dinner....dancing around ridiculously to Frank Sinatra, listening to David play his newly written "Country Song" or watching cheesy movies on Netflix. 

It was a night that completely fulfilled my cheesy, hopeless romantic ideals.  I couldn't be happier to be in love with such a handsome curly haired boy!

 The view from our room at Lake Las Vegas! And...our hotel! 

Meet our new little Rubber Duck. Nothing beats a complementary duck. 

We tried to play things cool.....

But secretly we felt like this the whole time! Did I mention we even got a complementary driver to take us around? 

We were heart attacked by the Sister Missionaries! We love them!

We like to pretend we're pretty fancy.

Though looking  at the checkered cloth may hurt your eyes...Notice that there are no gross orange or yellow starbursts. That is true love! 

We tried something new...and made grasshopper pie! Definitely worth it!

We truly are so blessed! Happy Valentine's Day! 

Worthwhile.

Life can be hard.

Really hard.

There comes moments when you completely doubt yourself. You feel like nothing you can do is right, overwhelmed with a sense of worthlessness and imperfection.

And often world wants you to stay feeling that way. Maybe even some people around you want you to be stuck with those feelings; whether they may be friends, family, or simply an acquaintance.

Because you're not good enough, right? Who are you to decide that you are worth something? Those around you are clearly the ones who would know your worth.

Wrong....wrong,...WRONG!!!

I have this on my mind all week, caught up in those same feelings like many of you have had. Feeling the struggle to know my worth....or even to know what my worth was....

And you know what I realized? My worth isn't something for someone else to decide. It is mine. God loves imperfect things with an incomprehensible measure.

To Him, I matter. He loves me. He believes in me. My purpose is great. 

Because at the end of the day, the world does not decide my worth. My past, present and future does not designate my worth. My worth does not come from what someone else thinks. My worth comes from my loving God....and from how He  sees me. And you know what? He will never sees me as my flaws, but he sees me as who I can become. He will always see my potential for greatness.

After all, God makes no mistakes.

So, I am not a mistake.

And neither are you. Whoever you are, who has stumbled across this. Your purpose is great. You have infinite worth. There is a reason you are here.

When you can't see that in yourself, know He does. Your story is a glorious one, with every chapter, with every heartbreak, with every trial. You are His. 

Happily ever after is real, for each of us.

One that note, since I have taken a rather long break from blogging....here are some photos from the past month! I am truly so blessed.

Becca Stewart came home! She is truly, incredibly amazing. I sure love her! Little does that cute boy know he has one of the coolest aunts.

We celebrated our first anniversary! I couldn't be happier! Though who knew cake isn't as great after 1 year? As you can see, we had quite an amazing anniversary dinner.

Oh Christmas. Truly the best time of the year! I feel like I blinked and it flew by. 

We were given matching sweats....I know what you're thinking....with how attractive we look....you want a pair of your own. 

I love this dashingly handsome man more than anything. He helps me learn even more what love is every day. 

Here's to a whole new year!