"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"

Ok so I admit- I am a little guilty of blog catch up, but I do love this time of year and it seems I have been busier than ever. There is just something about Christmas time that you can't help loving. I am thankful for my wonderful family and that I was able to spend time with some of them over the holidays. Karina and Tamar- your families were greatly missed. I love you guys. Here are some pictures for you to enjoy.

Working Gril

401K, stock buying options, pension plans, paid vacation and holidays, full medical, dental, and vision benefits, tuition reimbursement.
I have finally stepped into the real world. After over a year of searching for a real job I have finally found one. I started working for ADP (the payroll company) on November 9, 2009. Through the help of a friend I was able to land a job and become an associate at a great company. I am starting at an entry level position as a Teledata Representative. Although this wasn't the "job" I was looking for, ADP is a wonderful company to work at and can be a great place to start a career. They do offer tuition reimbursement so more schooling may be in my future. I do miss school sometimes since I love learning. I especially miss having winter breaks when everyone else gets time off and I still have to go to work, but I guess for everything there is a season.

Allergy to being thankful!?

Happy thanksgiving!

It has been awhile since I posted last and although life has gone on since I last cut my hair, I'm not doing any catchup posts. But I do have a lot of things to be thankful for.

I always seem to get sick on or around Thanksgiving time. Growing up I always came down with a horrible sore throat. I remember my glands getting so swollen that my family used to tell me there was an elephant in my throat. In high school the one year I didn't get a sore throat I got some virus that caused a full body rash for a month. Two years ago my UC flared up worse than it had ever been. I think I was actually relatively healthy last year, but I have continued the tradition this year by getting shingles- yes, the old person disease. I have decided just to accept the fact that I just must be allergic to being thankful.

I have so much to be thankful for. I have a wonderful family who I love and who loves and supports me in everything I do. I have wonderful friends who make me laugh. I have an unshaken testimony in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that he lives and because he lives I can return to live with him someday with my family for eternity. I am so thankful for the atonement of Jesus Christ- which I know we seem to remember more at Easter time, but I am grateful everyday for that gift and for the gift of the Holy Ghost in my life. I am thankful for being back home in beautiful CA where today it is a sunny and warm Thanksgiving Day. I am thankful for a country where I have the freedom to choose. I could go on and on about the things I am thankful for, but it is almost time for me to go enjoy some turkey and family time.

So although I seem to have some type of allergy to being thankful, I would rather be sick and thankful than healthy and dissatisfied with life.

Happy Day of Thanks!!!

Going Short!

It had been about 7 months or so since my last haircut. I have really enjoyed having long hair. I would say I was pretty attached to it. After getting a lot of advice and looking at lots of pictures I decided that is was time for a change.

I went from this...



to this after losing about 8". I wish I would have taken a picture of the floor when she was done cutting. My hair lady was even surprised there was so much on the floor.

I am still getting used to it and I miss the long hair, but I think it's a good change.

I like it.

Happy 24th to Me!!!

On September 16th not only was it Mexican Independence Day, I celebrated my 24th birthday!!!

I took the day off work which in itself made for a great day.

I got to wake up without an alarm. I started the day off with washing my car. It really needed a bath.

Then I took a trip to one of my favorite places ever... The Beach!!!!
It was such a beautiful day. I couldn't pass up the chance to spend a few hours there. The beach was pretty empty.






I did make a few new friends.

These seagulls. They waited for me to go put my feet in the water before they decided to check out my bag and see what they could find. It was their lucky day because i hadn't finished my grapes. They thought they were pretty good. Silly birds.

On my way home from the beach I stopped by Disneyland to see my friend Grace. She was celebrating her half birthday. We hung out at CA Adventure.



We learned how to draw Tiger- Yes I drew that. Not so great, but they don't give you an eraser.




I went out to dinner with these wonderful people. I love my parents. They are awesome. It has been fun being back living at home. I am glad they haven't kicked me out yet because I think I might be here for awhile.

After dinner I went to Institute before coming home to have cake and ice cream with Mom, Dad, and friends. Mom made me a delicious ice cream cake-(chocolate cake, strawberry ice cream, with cool whip frosting)

It was so good!!!! Thanks Mom!

I blew out all 24 candles (my lungs are still good)



Here are some of the people who came to celebrate

And Thanks Darci- Love this girl!!

If my birthday is any indication of how this year is going to shape up I am looking forward to a wonderful year!!!

Attack of the Killer Hornets

So I was sitting at my desk yesterday at work and I look up and notice that something didn't belong. About 2' above the door frame to my office was this abnormally huge giant hornet. (Wikipedia says that hornets can grow up to 2.2" long. This one was should have been inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records. It was pushin' the 2.2" mark.)

When I got my heart to start beating again, me and the hornet had a stare down. It won. I picked up a few things and walked out the door as quickly as I could. It was watching me the whole time- his head moving as I did. Really- It was creepy.

Thankfully the owner was in the office yesterday and he ended up killing this mother of all hornets. I think this must of upset or caused concern for the other members of the colony because an hour later I look down at my leg and there is one of its friends making itself comfortable on my knee. Yes- the hornet was on my leg. Thankfully I decided to wear a pair of my think jeans yesterday. But don't worry I freaked- I jumped up and down a few times and of course let out a little scream and after a little dance with the hornet, I triumphed and he fell to his death. Sorry Mr. Hornet- you should have stayed outside.

After a little investigation we discovered there to be 2 nests outside my office door. One about 1" in diameter and another once just starting to form.

Well I get into work this morning and those 2 nests are still hanging pretty right where I left them yesterday. Thankfully one of the guys from the field came in this morning and was very concerned for my safety. After he took a quick look around he discovered that not only were there 2 nests there were 6 that he could see. He went to Home Depot and bought some spray. After returning to take care of the hornet problem, he came into the office to tell me all the hornets had been obliterated. Oh and there were not only 6 nests, but 10+ hornet nests mostly being in the 2" diameter category.

oh how I wish my camera was working- the pictures on google images just wouldn't do them justice.

Really I can't make this stuff up.


---Side note: The payroll company did not process our checks again today. Any one know of someone who is hiring???

Seeing life from a different "Vue"

After a year of being car-less, I am finally a car owner.

I said GOODBYE to this





And HELLO to this!

I am now the happy owner of a 2008 Saturn Vue.



No more feeling like I am sitting on the ground.

No more melting from the heat on my way home from work



So far I can say I really am enjoying the Vue.

Current Happenings

I have been a total slacker on blogging and updating with pictures. I just haven't made time for it. Tonight is my first night home in a few weeks so I thought I would take a minute and post some pictures of current happenings around here.

Dad- I really didn't forget about you! I'm just a slacker and a procrastinator which you really know all too well about me.

I am SO thankful for all the wonderful things you do for me each day and for our family. We are all so blessed to know you and have you be part of our lives.

Here are some pictures from his birthday and Father's Day.








A couple weeks ago I was able to make a trip up to the Northwest to visit Karina. It was a short trip, but so good to see her, John and cute little Kelsi. That little girl sure is cute and so much fun. She is definitely going to be a heart breaker. I got to check out John's cool new practice. The place looks really good. I can't wait to see them again when they come to visit in a couple weeks.











It's summer time which means there are more than enough baseball games to choose from to go too. We finally talked Mom into coming to a game. Although it was a sell out and traffic was bad we finally made it in and enjoyed a good game and the fireworks afterward.

Speaking of Fireworks... We had a great 4th of July. We started out the morning with the Fullerton Stake's annual breakfast. There was more than enough food to satisfy anyone's hunger. I don't think I have seen so many eggs in one location before. Then we headed to the beach. We stuck it out for as long as we could, but the wind was a little too much and after being pelted with the sand for two hours we were done. That night we got to watch the fireworks show at La Habra High School. Our neighbor was the pyrotechnic guy so we got a special tour before hand of how it was all going to go down and got to watch him light them as the spectacular show went on. I love fireworks and it was a great show- so my day was complete. I am thankful to live in this country and enjoy the many wonderful freedoms we have on a daily basis.

*I did not take these fireworks pictures- my camera is definitely not that good.

Feeling Blessed

I keep a daily journal so usually I don't write my thoughts on here. We all know I am not the most articulate writer, so just consider yourself warned if you choose to continue reading.


As I sat down to write in my journal last night I ended up thinking a lot more than writing and since my head goes 110X's faster than I can write I didn't write a fraction of what was going on in my head. I really don't like to complain about things or dwell on things too long because it takes too much energy and effort for me. Its a lot easier to smile and be happy. But, I think I have been complaining a lot lately or at least I have felt like complaining a lot lately due to things things that I would want to change at the moment that I can't- like my job or lack of a car. But as I sat thinking last night, I reflected on and remembered how blessed I really truly am.

I am so blessed to have the family that I have. Some people would say I am lucky. I'm not sure if luck has anything to do with it. I don't know why some people seem to have it easier than others, but I am thankful to be blessed with the family that I have. I am thankful for my parents. They have been married for 31 years now as of yesterday and I am thankful for the love that they have for one another and that they have for me and my sisters. They are always willing to help in anyway they can. I have three wonderful sisters who I look up to and respect on a daily basis. I love that I have a close enough relationship with them to be able to talk to them about anything. Although we are all far apart from each other I am glad that I can pick up the phone and talk with them whenever I want. I can't wait for everyone to be together in August.

I am so thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I really don't know where I would be without it and am grateful that I haven't had to find out. I know that God is real. I know that he loves me. I know that he hears and answers everyone of our prayers that we offer humbly and sincerely to him. I know that Jesus Christ lives for me. I am thankful that he sacrificed everything for me so that I can have joy and be happy now and in eternity. I know that there are times in our lives when we may not think anyone knows what we are feeling or dealing with, that words can't express what we feel, but the Savior knows. He knows exactly what we need and when we need it because he has been there too. I am thankful to have the gift of the Holy Ghost. I know that he is a member of the Godhead and that as we live our life worthy and do the things we are supposed to do that we can be under His influence for good and the choices we make will lead us where we need to go.

I am thankful for agency. I was reflecting on the last year of my life and the choices that I have made. I am thankful that I have the ability to choose. I know that our decisions not only affect ourselves, but those around us as well. Sometimes we are affected by someone else's choice in a way that would not have been of our choosing, but we all are free agents. And although we can't change someones choice, we can choose how we are going to react to it. There is always a choice involved in everything we do.

I know without a shadow of a doubt that prayers are heard and answered. I know miracles occur everyday in our lives and in the lives of those around us. Sometimes we don't recognize them, but that doesn't mean they aren't there.

I am thankful to have a love of the scriptures. I know from experience as we open them up and read them and study and ponder them, that life seems a little less complicated. The answers to all lives questions really are in there. It's like our own little life instructions book. If you don't believe me then read it and find out for yourself.

I am thankful to be blessed with good friends who care about me and support me in the things that I do.

I really believe that perspective makes all the difference. I got this quote from a friend and I really liked it-
"Don't be dependent on people to make you happy...it's your job"

10 of the Reason's why I need a new Job

These are in no specific order

Number One
I don't like it

Number Two
It's Boring

Number Three
Owner's computer Crashed on Monday due to huge Virus
We have no IT dept and no back up.

Number Four
The other 2 computers in the office anti-virus software has expired (and no one seems to care) so my computer could be next

Number Five
Little pay

Number Six
My safety- 2 disgruntled employees were fired Monday after 1st day on the job and are now feared to seek retaliation
(who is the girl that sits in the office alone all day long?)- Ya that's me

Number Seven
No real financial or business sense by those making financial and business decisions

Number Eight
I attended and graduated from college

Number Nine
No Health Benefits

Number Ten
Cobwebs on high windows with holes in them and bars on them are not my idea of good decorating.

Number Eleven
Spiders- I greatly dislike bugs and unfortunately I see them here everyday.

Number Twelve
Oh wait- I said I would only list 10

***I really am thankful to currently be employed, I just wish it was somewhere else doing something else***