Once In A Lifetime Opportunity

It isn't everyday that a temple in the Salt Lake valley opens up, and we are fortunate to have two temples opening soon. Yesterday was the first day the Draper Temple was open to the public and my stake had the opportunity to volunteer and help with this wonderful occassion. I felt truly blessed that I was able to partake and help with this event as well, and on the official opening day. I got to be an usher inside the temple, and let me tell you that it is absolutely beautiful.

They had a special training course for all members who were ushers or helping with other responsibilities (traffic, missionaries, food, etc). After the training was through everyone was bused over to the temple and shown their assigned posts. In my training everyone in the room was given an assignment at the end and I was confused as to if I was in the correct place as I did not have an assigment. I was and it ended up that I was a rover, which kind of made me sad, but then glad in the same moment as I got to thinking that I could see all parts of the temple and not just one. As everyone on my shift was new they really didn't need a rover at the moment so they told us that they would stick me and the other rover (the RS president from my ward) in the cafeteria until about 6:30ish. As we made our way to the cafeteria we found that help was needed in the baptistry so Jordan and I were put there for about a half hour before they moved us to a different location. For the rest of the evening (about 4 or so hours) we stood outside the Marriage Waiting Room while Jordan directed people towards the bride's room and kept them out of the chapel. We were not allowed to talk, just nod our heads and motion with our hands as to where people were to go. I got a job that I was able to talk to people (thank heaven...imagine me not talking for that long of a time). The Marriage Waiting Room is where those people who had disabilities were kept until their whole group was there then they were to take the elevator to each floor. I was in charge of calling the elevator and letting the person running the elevatorwhere that group was going. I was also in charge of directing people when they got off the elevator and asking if they were continuing the tour or finishing the tour and escorting/directing them as to where to go.

It was such a wonderful evening, even though I was standing for more than 5 hours, and it was completely worth everything. I am so glad that I was able to be apart of this moment as there are not too many temples in UT that are built. My stake has two more assignments and I will be helping with those as well. I will be playing the organ for four hours on the very last day of the open house as well as another day in February. I encourage all to go and see this beautiful house of the Lord. It is truly a great testimony builder!

Happy New Years!!

Can you believe that the year is almost over?? There are only a couple of hours left until we are ringing in the new year. As I look back I think of all the fun things that I have done and I just hope that I can make 2009 just as great.

I think the most fun that I had this past year was planning and going on a cruise with my closest friends (Spencer, Heather, Jackie and The Chad). Who knew that the five of us would travel so well together? We spent about 10 days together and went to Disneyland and Mexico. It was so much fun and I would do it again in a heartbeat!! See how much fun we had!! (I did find that other cultures could not tell the age difference between Jackie, The Chad and I. Our waiter thought The Chad and I were married and Jackie was our daughter...so many good times came from that trip).

My friends and I had so much fun this year. We had tons of parties, with lots of food and usually around a specific theme. We celebrated Groundhog's Day, the Chinese New Year, St. Patty's Day, Halloween and many more. We went to rodoes (which were so much fun), and they supported me with Citrine (the Celtic singing group I am a part of). We had two major fun cabin trips (one in summer and one in fall). Watching movies at Heather's (inside and out) and just hanging out. I was also a bride's maid to my friend Brittney and that was so much fun. It was a blast (even when one of the groom's men teased me and my aisle partner and the DJ dedicating a song to me...all my close friends know who it was!!)

My family had so much fun too. Jamie went on her mission to Halifax, Canada and will be home at the end of July 2009!! Time went by so fast with her gone, but I can't wait for her to come home. Madi and Emmie helped me celebrate my 26th birthday by going to the zoo. We had a new addition to our family in June (Brynlee) and she is so cute, and her sisters take such good care of her. Jessie flew into town from AZ and we went to the cabin and zoo. It was so much fun having her come into town. We celebrated the 2nd Annual Wilson Family Olympics at the family cabin and had a blast with that.

I am sure that I missed something (my short term memory is not good), but all in all it was such a great year and I can't wait to see what 2009 brings to me and those I care deeply about. Life is an adventure, and I look forward to the adventures that are out there.

Here are the fun moments of the year that I have in pictures!!

Breaking Dawn came out!! Going to the zoo with Madi and Emmie

Participating in FHE People Scavenger Hunt (I look like Luigi)

Fall Cabin Trip

Citrine (this is an old picture...there have been changes since our St. George performance)

The Institute Halloween Party

Having fun in Cabo San Lucas...CHARGE!!

Holiday Survey

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate. Egg Nog is just gross and can’t warm you up on a cold winter’s night (unless you have a little something special in it)
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Santa has all presents wrapped by the time the first week of December is over, delivered to our house where my mom and dad keep them in their room until Santa comes on Christmas Eve when he puts the presents in a pile by each child’s stocking. I think he does that so they don’t get lost.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? White lights on the crystal tree in the living room and multi on the family room tree (that has everyone ornament of every size and shape on there). I like both white and colored lights on the house, but Scrooge, aka my dad, won’t put lights up anymore. He says he is too old, and he doesn’t want me to do it.
4. Do you hang mistletoe? Yes, but oddly enough when we have hung it, it has been under the dining room chandelier. So for all you holiday table-dancing hussies, our dining table is the best place for you to get some holiday action. (Sorry, it was not put up this year...it was out last year)
5. When do you put up your decorations? Earlier and earlier every year. My mom likes to have it done by Thanksgiving so she can enjoy the holiday shopping.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish? I love plain old Ham and homemade rolls
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Someone doing “The Twelve Days of Christmas” for my family when my dad was down and out with a staph infection in his leg. (Probably 5ish) I also cherish those years that we spent Christmas Eve at Grandma and Grandpa Wilson's home. Oh...and there were those many Christmases that Christie and I would pretend we were Santa's elves and we would see a star off yonder (the one on the tree) and go in search of it (more like dance in search of it) and find one of our dolls under the tree. We did this all while listening to the soundtrack to the claymation version of Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? The truth is…you don’t believe, you don’t receive!!
9.Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes. It is a new pair of jammies to snuggle into.
10. What's your favorite stocking stuffer? Whatever 'Santa' decides to put in it each year. It is always different, never the same.
11.How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? Well, after I haul all the crap from downstairs I then go about setting up both trees and stringing the lights on both trees. After that my mom decorates her crystal tree and makes it look very beautiful, and then the family room tree has ornaments from throughout our whole lives. (Each child gets a new ornament every year, so by the time they move out they will have enough for their own tree. My mom and I also collect ornaments from places we travel to…good thing Jamie is gone, otherwise we would not be able to put all our ornaments on).
12. Can you ice skate? I can go forward, but have never mastered the backwards.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? The year I got my first kitten. I believe it was our first Christmas in the old Bluffdale house. It is where I found my love for cats. Oh...the cat's name was Millie.
14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Being with my family and friends.
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? I love them all, but especially Pumpkin Pie Cake
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? On Christmas Eve going to Italian Village for Pizza Benders and then walking around Temple Square.
17. What tops your tree? A multi-lighted star on the family tree (which we have had since I was two) and then an angel on the crystal tree
18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Giving is so much fun.
19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas but only if sung by Judy Garland…it always makes me tear up.
20. Candy Canes? I like them, but only in moderation
21. What is your favorite Christmas movie? Miracle on 34th Street (the newer one) and He-Man and She-Ra’s Christmas Special. I watch that every year (since I was 5)
22. Do you feel Christmas is too commercialized? Absolutely I do.

Thanksgiving Splendor

This year for Thanksgiving we were with my Dad's side of the family, so we went up to Hooper and had a wonderful Thanksgiving with everyone. Like usual there was tons of food and a lot of it was picked over by the time that we sat down for dinner. I love getting together with my family because we always have so much fun. Now that there are younger children too it makes it more exciting and fun (which I can't wait for Christmas). We did the usual Thanksgiving activities that our family (both mom and dad's side do) we have dinner, go shooting and then come back for games. I think this was the first year that we have done Thanksgiving dinner with the Wilson side where we have not watched football. We really don't watch football in my house, as it is all girls and it is hard to watch on TV. So that was nice. Instead we, or I should say the guys even though I was offered the chance, played Mario Cart on the Wii. It was such a nice relaxing day and I am so grateful and thankful that I have such a wonderful family and that we are close. In the end family is really what we have, and I have a great family. I love you all!!

Nothing makes one more sleepy than a good Thanksgiving Dinner!

My darling little Brynnie and her first Thanksgiving. Not my best pic...but what can ya do?

I have been out of practice and haven't been shooting in over a year, but I thought I did pretty good even though I was a little rusty.

The line up...we always have fun when we shoot guns!

Just sitting down and chillaxing and talking with the family after dinner and shooting. I love my family!!!

Cabin Weekend

A couple of weeks ago a couple of friends of mine and myself went to my grandmother's cabin for the weekend. We had such an amazing time. We went up previously in July and had a lot of fun, but to me this trip had a much more relaxed and fun feeling to it. Jackie and I got to the cabin earlier to clean up so it would look good when everyone came. Chris and Derick had gone up the weekend before and told us there were tons of flies that came out of hiding when the cabin warmed up. Before they left they sprayed the cabin down, so you can just imagine what the cabin looked like when Jackie and I got up there. It was kind of gross, but we got that cleaned up. While we were up there we ate more junk food than necessary, watched enough movies to put a couch potato to shame, watched Saturday morning cartoons, hiked (really wander) up near Smith & Moorehouse, took midnight walks, and just had so much fun. We had so much fun I can't wait to do it again!! Now that I know how to winterize the cabin and open it back up I can go up whenever?!?! I just love Oakley and look forward to going up every moment I can.

Yes, I know I look like the Coal Miners daughter!! Pop...I think I got the black lung.

This was the last to leave on Sunday evening (Heather, Spencer, Jackie, Nichola, Tracie and Damien)

Water Aerobics Is Not Just For Older Women...

Last night I went and tried something that I have never done before...Water Aerobics...aka Aqua at the 24-Hour Fitness. Sure my cousins and I have pretended that we knew what we were doing on family trips when we had a pool, but this was different. There was a real life instructor and everything. I can honestly say that I will not mock water aerobics from here on out. I used to think that it was an old woman's sport, but it really is not. There were more younger to mid-aged people there than there were older women. And it was a tough workout. I did find that you have to wear the proper swim attired...as did Heather. One piece swim suits are much better than two piece (which I had to look for), and yet so unattractive. Also, you need to make sure that you are not wearing a very low cut swim suit, the girls don't really like that! All in all it was a fun night with my two greatest friends....thanks Jackie and Heather!!

Long Enough...

Wow...it has taken me forever to update my blog. I hope that I will be able to keep it up. For those of you who do now know Jamie hit her half way mark on Monday 10/20. What does that mean for me?? I will have my sister home in nine months!! I am so excited. She is doing so good and having so much fun. We had a guy that was living in her area (Miramichi, NB) stop by our house as he was out here on business, or something like that. I wasn't home as I was having an anxiety attack and driving up to the family cabin to make sure that I winterized if properly. I found out that he is 27, good looking and single. My mom thought he was way cute. Why did I have to choose that day?? Oh well!! Here are some pictures of Jamie. She is just too cute!!

Her birthday was on October 12th and they were nice enough to celebrate her birthday. How fun is that?

This is the double wide where they go to church in her area of Mirimichi, NB

Jamie and the sisters after a baptism. I am not sure exactly who. We have never seen Jamie this dark before. The guy that came from Canada to our house was shocked to see Jamie close to Platinum blonde in a picture. Some of my friends didn't even recognize her in the pictures!

I can just imagine how beautiful it is during the fall up there. She has sent home some beautiful pictures of the flowers and leaves up there. She will be getting home in August 09 and we have talked about going back up to her mission when she comes home. I think that fall would be a wonderful time of year. Anytime other than winter woudl be great!!