One Month Straight of Blogging - DONE!

Well I made it. I was a little nervous there that I wouldn't get in a couple of those days when we didn't have electricity. Thanks to a great roommate, it happened. It feels good to accomplish another one of my 30 by 30 goals. Let's see, here's what I have checked off so far from my 30 by 30 list (30 things that I want to do before I turn 30).

Learn a new instrument: the harp.

Buy a pencil skirt. (I bought 3 - only because it

was Black Friday, I had to).

Read the entire Chronicles of Narnia series.

Sing outside the metro for money. Which, I ended up changing to dressing up as an elf and singing at the National Christmas Tree.

Blog everyday for one month straight.

And here's what I hope to check off in February:

• Read "Jesus the Christ"
• Memorize the Gettysburg Address
• Memorize "The Family: A Proclamation to the World"
• Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Buy fancy perfume for the first time ever (I know, how grown-up of me)

Time's a runnin' out folks. I turn 30 in 42 days!

Best Sunday Ever

I wish this Sunday could be repeated every week. Church was incredibly uplifting from the talks, the music, the acappella singing in Relief Society and a whole RS meeting of testimonies. Can church get better than this?!

First of all, my dear roommate, best friend, Ashley, spoke in church. I knew it was going to be something special and I wasn't disappointed. The entire congregation was captivated with her talk about love, loneliness, and letting Christ penetrate into our hearts to fill in the gaps. The other two talks were fantastic as well. I felt like our whole congregation had been lifted to a holier place during sacrament meeting, like we were floating in the heavens, closer to God.

The choir also sang today. We sang "My Shepherd Will Supply My Need." As we were practicing I really started to ponder on the words we were singing. The men sing the first verse and every time they sang the following line, I was moved and comforted and I felt that our Savior was very near: "He brings my wandering spirit back, when I forsake His ways." I feel that as imperfect humans, we are in a constant battle in choosing between good and evil. The world around us forces us to be on guard at every moment. But I know that even when I make a mistake, He will bring my wandering spirit back to "paths of truth and grace." Then the women sing a verse. I love this line: "A word of Thy supporting breath drives all my fears away." That's the overall feeling I had today. I felt that as I was uplifted by the Spirit, the cares of the world seemed to blow away.

The talks in church were about Christ and I know that he supports, sustains, comforts, and loves us each individually. Ashley spoke about the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 38:27, "The Lord said, 'I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one, ye are not mine'." In sacrament meeting today we were one. It was a beautiful moment to feel that love, unity and peace with my ward. We were all feeling the Spirit and I really felt it drew us closer together.

During Relief Society today, we didn't have a piano available so we sang acappella. It was so amazing! Not only were the harmonies gorgeous, but I was able to really concentrate on the words more rather than the tune. We sang "I Believe in Christ" for the opening hymn and in the 4th verse, 1st line it says "I believe in Christ, He stands supreme, from Him I'll gain my fondest dream." All things are possible through Christ. I know that a lot of people my age, myself included, are trying to figure out our dreams and what would be most fulfilling in our lives. I know that if I follow God's commandments and keep the sacred covenants that I have made with Him, I do not have to worry about failing in life. Sure I'll fail at some things, everyone does, but that doesn't mean that life is over. I love to have an eternal perspective about things. I think that is one of the greatest blessings that I have, to view everything that I do and the decisions I make and the good and bad things that happen to me and others close to me, with an eternal eye. God loves us and wants us to succeed. What wonderful, beautifully blessed lives we all have!

More Awesome Disney Adventures

Sammie and I went on King Tritan's Carousel a couple of times and loved it. I also loved that there wasn't a line. She's so cute!

Katelyn, Dad and I all tried to pull the Sword out of the Stone. No luck, but KK was close!

The Mad Hatter's Tea Party is one of my favorite rides!
Fred, Eric, Dad, Katelyn and I went on the teacups and spun as fast as we could. I was laughing and screaming the whole time. It was just one of those moments in life that you'll always remember. Definitely one of the best moments of the trip!

Beautiful KK in a Teacup


Meeting Characters was a highlight of the trip. KK & Sammie had an autograph book and got pictures with a bunch of them. I loved watching their faces as they were in awe to meet them.

KK enjoyed talking to Snow White, but it looks like Sammie was struggling to focus on her.


But then we saw Cinderella. Sammie loves Cinderella. Look how she is staring up at her.

COLD!

This morning I woke up and although our apartment is freezing, I was warm in bed. I wore sweats and a hat to bed and had layers of blankets on me. It reminded me of when I lived in the Brandon Ave. house. My room was not connected to the central heating system and every night was like that. It's just harder to get up knowing that you can't have a hot breakfast or a warm shower.

Anyways, I started thinking that there are so many people in the world that suffer each day. Surely I could "suffer" for a few days, if you can call this suffering. It reminded me that I am so blessed to have what I have and should stop complaining about our situation without power. I need to do the best I can to stay positive because I know that this is only a temporary situation. Still, I'd love to have the power back on when I get home from work. :)

UPDATE: The Pepco man came and turned on our power about 45 minutes ago. I regret not running out of my apartment and yelling a big THANK YOU to him. It's great to have the power back on.

Apt 102 Adventure

Wednesday, January 26, 2011
3:00 p.m. - We are released from work to hopefully beat the storm

3:00 p.m. - The rest of D.C. is released from work to hopefully beat the storm

3:30-ish p.m. - On GW Pkwy and the rain turns into sleet/hail. It's coming down harder

4:00 p.m. - Arrive at home

4:00 p.m. - The sleet/hail turns into snow

4:01 p.m. - Get into my sweats

4:15 p.m. - Eat 2 bowls of Quaker Oatmeal Squares (hint of Brown Sugar)

4:25 p.m. - Get in bed and read a book

5:00-ish to 6:00-ish p.m. - Fall asleep while reading and take a short nap

6:07 p.m. - Power goes out

6:08 p.m. - Power comes back on

6:17 p.m. - Power goes off again and never comes back on

6:30 p.m. - I'm hungry again so I eat a bowl of cold baked beans

night vision :)

6:30-ish p.m. - 8:10-ish p.m. - We sit around and chat about whether or not to drive down to our friend's house in NW DC to watch the BYU vs. San Diego basketball game.

Sometime in the 7:00 hour - I forgot about the strange light flashes that reminded me of what a UFO would put off, if they were real.

8:25 p.m. - Help some guy get his car unstuck. Yes, 4 girls pushing and he attempted to drive. Kelly had to keep telling him what to do. 4 broken backs later he was out. He apparently offered to help us get out of our spot, but I own a Subaru, 'nuff said.

8:31 p.m. - We leave our parking lot to head down to our friend's house. Approximate mileage from our house to his is 7 miles.

9:00-ish p.m. We have gone about .5 miles from our house and have circled back so we can get onto Beach drive. There was traffic everywhere with cars stalled and abandoned all over the street. This is what it looked like.

Us in the car having the time of our lives. What an adventure!!

10:15 p.m. We arrive at our friend's house. I look like a homeless woman and my knees hurt from pushing on the break, clutch and gas for the past 2 hours.

10:15 p.m. - 12:15 a.m. -Watch the most amazing basketball game. Watch Jimmer kill it.

1:00-ish a.m. - Arrive home to a cold dark apartment

1:00 - 2:00 a.m. - Keep reading that book, I'm hooked

2:00 a.m - Go to bed, after checking a strange beeping noise in our kitchen

Livin' the life!

power is out

We Work at the FB..."A"

I have the great pleasure of working with my best friend. Even if work is stressful, Ashley and I still manage to have a lot of fun!

Today Ashley and I went downtown for an event and then we went to the Old Post Office on our lunch break before returning to work. I have always wanted to go to the Old Post Office because I heard the view from the top is pretty great. And it was!

The beautiful Old Post Office.

In the tower of the Old Post Office

It is so exciting working in the DC area. I love being able to go downtown once in a while.