Follow Your Calling, Follow Your Heart.

A little over a year ago, I was called to be a Gospel Doctrine teacher in Sunday School.  At first, I was terrified and very unsure of myself.  I thought there was no way I could fulfill this calling.  Not only was I terrified of speaking in front of people, but I was also a convert and felt like my knowledge of the church wasn't strong enough for myself and definitely not strong enough to be a teacher.  A year and a half later, I have been so immensely blessed to have this calling.  I can not even believe the blessings I have received.  This calling has done so much to strengthen my faith in the church and faith in myself. The Lord works in mysterious ways and He knows exactly His plan for me. Thus far, His plan is working. 

A few days ago, I received a call from a member of the bishopric asking if he could meet with me.  At first I thought I was going to be released from my calling.  I asked him right out the gate, "am I being released"? With a bit of hesitation he said, "NO!, do you want to be released?"  I nervously laughed and said, "oh no, I love my calling."  I think he may have thought I was just saying that to appease him but I really do... I LOVE my calling.  After meeting with him later that week he did inform me that they are opening up a new class and I had been chosen to teach it.  It's a "Marriage and Family Relations" class.  I was so flattered and filled with joy.  Even though I have had my fair share of struggles, I do believe my struggles have brought Andy and I closer, and in turn making our marriage stronger.  I think I have a lot to offer this class.  It's 16 weeks and I will still be teaching Gospel Doctrine afterward.  It will be a nice change.  I am really excited to do this.  I am so grateful for the church and all it has done for me and my family.  I am so proud to call myself a Latter Day Saint!

"As you overcome adversity in your life, you will become stronger. Then you will be better able to help other's -those who are working, in their turn, to find a safe harbor from the storms that rage about them". -Joseph B. Worthlin

Quality Time.. Is a Friend Of Mine.

 Andy has been studying like crazy this week for the CCRN test and this weekend was no exception. In order to keep the kids preoccupied and out of Daddy's hair, we got SUPER creative. Here are a few fun things we did on this awesome "Fall" weekend.

We have a couple of apple tree's.. So we have LOADS of apples. We decided to pick a bunch and make apple crisp. The funny thing is, is I for got to take a picture of the actual apple crisp. So here is what I did take a picture of. LOL

Ella made her first wreath!!! I asked her what kind of craft she wanted to make and she suggested a wreath. We got a clothes hanger and bent it into a circle the best we could. We had some old tulle lying around that we cut into strips and tied onto the hanger. She actually did most of the work. I just helped cut the strips.

While Ella was making her wreath, Rowan was painting me pictures of super hero's. LOL

These are his super hero's! Future Picasso right here. He insisted on putting Mr. Potato head in the picture.

Here is the final product. She REALLY did an amazing job. I am so proud of my little artist.

NY, NY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMG!!! This IS the most amazing city EVER!!!!!!!!! Words can not even describe how much I LOVE this city. We went to NYC for like four days, and it was AN INCREDIBLE FOUR DAYS TO SAY THE LEAST. Andy and I have not taken a vacation with out our kids... Well.. EVER!! We stayed in the heart of Manhattan right next to Central park and 5th Ave. While we were there I did the Anderson Cooper show and got to feel like a celebrity for an hour. We rode in a white stretch limo, met Howie Mendel, Anderson Cooper and the list goes on and on... When I say this was a trip of a lifetime I am not even kidding! 

 This was the roof top of our hotel! 

Time Square AT NIGHT!

We rode the SUBWAY every where! 

 We got to CBS studios at 7:00am. They had me all set up in my own room.

 Hair and makeup!

 Say what? Say What?

 Time Square during the day.

 THE Empire State Building!!!!!!11

 The top of the Empire State Building. This is where you can really get a good perspective of how big this city is!! It is absolutely breath taking!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

 I LOVE street food! I am a huge foodie, so I ate as much street food as I possibly could. LOL I think Andy got sick of stopping for falaffle.

 That little tiny thing out there is the Statue of Liberty. We missed the last ferry going out by like 20 min.

 Yes, another street food vendor. This was Andy's favorite. It was right next to Central Park. They served THE most amazing Waffles I have ever had. Seriously, this is my idea of "breakfast of champions". I could have eaten this every morning.

 LOL! 

 Central Park!! This place is so magical! I had no idea how big it is. It would take way to long to walk the whole thing, so we took a peddi-cab. Our driver was the funniest little man. He had only lived in this country for like 6 months, yet knew a ton about pop culture and NYC!

 Go Yankees!

 This was one of the many fountains in the park.. I love fountains.

 This particular fountain is where they filmed the beginning of friends... You know, where they are all playing in the fountain? This is THAT fountain.. OK, maybe I am a little excited by that. LOL!

 We were pretending to be in a romantic picture/movie. I think we pulled it off.. No?

 The building behind Andy's head is where they filmed Ghost Busters! I ain't afraid of no ghost... 

 This bridge is in a ton of movies.

 This is a memorial called "Strawberry Fields" dedicated to John Lennon.

 This is John Lennon's Home where he was assassinated.

 The Natural History Museum.

 Dumb, Dumb From Night at the museum!

 China Town

 Little Italy

 SoHo

 Ground Zero

 These are dedicated to those who passed during the 911 attacks.

 This is the new Freedom Tower! They are almost finished. IT IS HUGE!

 Frog Legs from a cute little Pho restaurant in China Town. 

 Andy and I eating a cupcake from the famous "crumbs bakery" in the middle of time square.

 5th Avenue!!!!!!

 I have been watching "The apprentice" for ever. So this was so cool to see in real life. TRUMP TOWERS!

Andy and I having Breakfast in TRUMPS building! This place is so beautiful. It's covered in marble and Gold!

 This is the church filmed in Sex and The City where she almost marries BIG!

 Rockefeller Center

 The Window displays on 5th Avenue are sooooooo amazing.

 F.A.O Schwartz! This pic is so funny. I was taking a picture of the building as Andy hi fives the door man on the way in. I can not believe I captured such a magical moment. LOL

 LOOK... It's the BIG piano! From BIG!!!

 Andy slid across the whole thing face first. I am surprised we didn't get kicked out. Actually, come to think about it. We almost did. Never a dull moment with Andy. LOL

 New York Cities Finest!! NYCFD!

 This was the chandelier hanging in in the lobby of our Hotel Room. I loved it!

It's so hard to say goodbye. Not to hard when your doing it in style. They got us a stretch LIMO for the ride home. Again, this was a trip of a lifetime!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!