Happy 2011!

Towards the end of every year, we make new year's resolutions. Some people's resolutions are to lose weight, get married, stop eating junk, do better in school, be a better friend, go to church, be nice to strangers, donate time/money for a good cause, work out more, etc. You get the picture. At the end of every year, we reflect on how good or bad the year was and what we would change or hope for in the upcoming year. So, here is my reflection of 2010 and what I hope for in 2011:

2010 was a year of growth for me-I learned a little bit more about myself. At the end of 2009, I decided that I was going to move. I applied to BYU, BYU Hawaii, and BYU-I. I told myself that I would never, ever live in Utah...EVER! This was my mentality since I was in high school. I was accepted to the University of Utah when I was in high school, but decided not to go because I was never going to live in Utah. Well, by March, the applications were in and all I could do was wait. The notification for BYU Hawaii came first. That was at the top of my list because I wanted to study International Cultural Studies with an emphasis in communications and finish my schooling in Hawaii. Sounds perfect, right? Well, since I was finishing my third year at UCCS, they said that I was too far along in school to transfer. Darn. I was upset, and cried, but I moved on.

I wasn't too thrilled about Rexburg or Provo, but I would go to either one-whichever one wanted me. The next letter came from BYU-I. I had been accepted. What sounds better than extremely cold winters and tons of RM's who want to get married? HA-not for me. But, one of my best friends, Tami, goes to school in Rexburg and I figured it would work out like it was supposed to-at least it wasn't Utah. (Deep down I was hoping to get accepted to BYU because over the winter I had become close with my long, lost friend, Jessica.)

The last letter had finally come. I was so nervous to see if I had been accepted to BYU or not. I opened the email to find out I had not been accepted. I cried. And cried. Now what was I going to do? I didn't really want to go to Idaho because I knew more people in Provo and it was a little closer to home and family in Salt Lake. You know how it turns out since I'm in Provo now. I decided to go to UVU and moving to Utah has been one of the best decisions I have ever made-and one of the biggest changes in my life this year.

I have met people here who have changed my life and uplifted me. Not all of my credits transferred to UVU, so I'll be here longer than I thought, but there is no rush to get out of here. Of course, I miss my family. But I wouldn't trade the memories I've made, the people I've met, or the experiences I've had, for anything. I have learned to appreciate my family, and the time we get to spend together, much more than I ever have. You'll never know if anything was worth it unless you take a chance. And most of the time, it is worth it. Even if it didn't turn out how you wanted it to-you always learn something.

I have a lot of learning to do, and the challenges aren't always fun, but, I have enjoyed this new journey that I started this year. It's not over yet.

As far as my hopes for 2011 go, I hope that I can be more patient. It would be nice to get in shape and be more organized. There are improvements I would like to make in my relationships with my friends and family. I hope to do better in school this semester. I want to finish the Book of Mormon again this year. I'd like to travel to new places. No matter the changes or improvements that I make, I just want to continue being happy with who I am. Yes, I'm a little bigger than I'd like to be; I'm not as organized as some; I'm not as funny or charming as others; I'm not as smart as some folks; I make a lot of mistakes and I am not perfect. But, I think I have the perfect life for me.

2010=success.

Bring it on, 2011!!

Happy New Year, folks!

Time Flies When You're Having Fun

Goodbye 2010.

I can't believe this year has come to an end. Here are some pictures from over the year.

Trip to Colorado with my favorite people. The start of something great.

New York Yankees Game

22nd birthday dinner in Times Square.

The Empire State Building.

Trip to NY with the fam.

The Dream Team. DOMINATION.

Haleigh Jade was born!

Crystal had her second shoulder surgery.

Surprise birthday party for Aunt MaryAnne in Arizona.

Tami and Bryce got married! :)

This was my last Sunday teaching primary.

Portland, Oregon Temple

I went to Portland to visit Molly and her family.

Crystal came to visit Halloween weekend.

Hook&Tink.

Spiderweb cake.

Decorating the Hampton Inn for Halloween!

Maren and I went to General Conference.

Trip to the Provo Temple.

I got to go home and visit some of my favorite people.

Denver Temple.

Girls Night Out with Crystal and Amanda.

Crystal's team won STATE!

Photoshoot with my ladies.

Shelby Dawn Archibald was born December 10, 2010.

2010 was a great year with lots of changes and new people in my life. I can't wait to see what 2011 has in store for me!

Life is....

"Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it."
-Mother Teresa

Life is unpredictable and beautiful.

And I love it.

Salt Lake City, UT

New York City

Central Park

Salt Lake City, UT

Colorado Springs, CO

One Step at a Time...

Life has been nothing short of crazy this week. Between work, school, eating, HOMEWORK, dates, and trying to find some time to sleep, my life has been pretty out of control. I have found that I don't sleep enough. Surprise, surprise. I've been sick off and on for the last four weeks or so, and my body decided this week that the little hints it's been sending me just weren't enough. I ended up going to the doctor Monday night because I felt so awful. And the result? Well, it came out fairly complicated, but the end result was, "We're glad you came in when you did because this could turn into serious pneumonia." YIKES. I'm on some serious antibiotics and this killer cough syrup. Tuesday night I decided to go to bed early so I could wake up feeling refreshed the next morning. I went to bed around 9p.m. and woke up at 5a.m. with a terrible headache. I took some Advil and decided I'd sleep in until 6 and then hurry to be ready by 6:30 for work. 6a.m. rolled around and I felt worse than ever. I called in sick to work and went back to bed...next thing I know it's 1p.m.!!!!!! I could not believe I slept for that long. But I feel 10 times better today. 16 hours of sleep is the best medicine! Even after all the craziness and some nights wondering how I survived the day, I am still so grateful for the life I live. I am thankful to have a job, have the opportunity to go to school, live in a free country, be young and able to do tons of fun things, be supported by a great family, make mistakes and learn from them, have great friends...basically I am grateful I get to live my life. The sunny days wouldn't be so great if we didn't have the rainy days. One thing I am trying to get better at is just letting go and just having fun. There's no time to waste and there's nothing to lose. There's no risk if you don't take one.

I am so incredibly blessed.

There's No Place Like Home

I went to Colorado this last weekend to visit my family. I had to miss Amanda's baby shower the weekend before because I had to work. I was SO bummed, but it was nice to be able to go home one last time before my niece finally arrives! Here's a quick update on Amanda: she only has 7 weeks left in her pregnancy!! Woohoo! She's still so tiny! Amanda is such a beautiful pregnant woman; she's going to be a great mother. This wonderful new chapter in her life is so fun to watch :)

Here are a few pictures from my weekend in Colorado; it's a beautiful time of year.

Girls Night Out!!!

We went dancing at Copperhead on Saturday night. It was so fun to spend the night with Crystal and Amanda. We saw Mr. Chambers and his wife out that night. It was fun to see old friends and make some new ones :) There is nothing better than a burrito from Taco Express at 2:30a.m. All in all, we had a great night.

Crystal and I went shopping in Denver, and then headed to the Denver Temple just for a bit. Colorado is so beautiful this time of year.

I love these kids more than I can express.

I took this picture of the sunrise from the plane on my way to Colorado.

Life in the Fast Lane

Manhattan skyline. This is probably one of my favorite pictures taken while we were in NY.

22nd birthday in

New York City

We got to go to the Yankees/Red Sox game while we were in NY. We had amazing seats and great food! Sushi at a baseball game? It was actually really good!
An afternoon stroll through Central Park wouldn't be complete without some gelato :)

I'm pretty sure I have the cutest parents in the entire world.

The Statue of Liberty and Times Square

At the top of the Empire State Building. I am blessed to have the best family.

Thank you for being so good to me, New York.

Since I've lived here in Provo, I've been able to do a ton of fun things, and meet some great people!! I've converted Jessica to being a Suns fan! We have had so much fun watching the games together and talking trash to all the Laker fans here in Provo :)

We also went to the Provo Temple last night. It was so fun to have a friend to go with and we plan on attending often :)