Two weeks ago mom and I participated in the Walk for Arthritis held at Sugarhouse Park with some of her co-workers.

We walked a total of a mile and a half … it was a very brisk day with lots of wind but the day was clear and beautiful.

Doing this walk really made me miss doing 5Ks.

Okay so I have been really, really bad about writing on here and keeping up with my friend’s blogs and such, but I am going to try to be better. I kind of have been missing it.

Let’s start with a catch up on life since Christmas. First off, Christmas was awesome. Nothing like having the entire gang in ton and a house full of 12 nieces and nephews! It was just a beautiful holiday season. I will try to get some photos posted and maybe share a few stories about that in the upcoming weeks.

On the work front, In January my supervisor gave notice that she was leaving the bank. Because of this cahnge they made some additional changes. We were moved under a new manager/department and I was promoted to what is called a Team Lead. My job is basically overseeing all of the job duties for my group. It has been a fun change that constantly challenges me. I feel like I am constantly learning something new about my job and about my self.

About two weeks ago I paid off my car which is a big deal for me! I feel so excited and am over the moon about it! It is the first time I have ever fully owned a car and I am thrilled!

That is the jist of my life over the past few months. I will work on getting things up to date around here and sharing more about what has been happening along with some pics!

Two of my favorite Christmas times were the years I was involved with the singing group L.D. Singers during my time at Snow College. I think the reason I liked these so much was that we had many opportunities to sing in various communities. We did performances at senior centers, high school seminaries, church programs, community centers, the local prison, Temple Square in Salt Lake City and at the Cathedral of the Madeline. I loved spending time with my friends while getting to share the message of our Savior’s birth. And along with all the memories of singing there was memories of trips on a tour bus, hitting my head with the noise maker at one of the concerts, falling off of chairs during rehearsals, turning a poem I wrote into a song, playing in the snow in parking lots, and so many other wonderful things.

Here are some of my favorite pics from the 2 years of Christmas tours, concerts and fun times with good friends.

Thank you to President Willmore, J.R., Ben, Jeremy, Becky, Channie, Justin, Lynette, Kami, Wendy, Kendra, Bonnie, Jessica, Jeremy, Marnette, Erin, Rachel, Tiffani, Bryan, Shane, and all of the others who made those years so special and left me with so many wonderful memories.

One of my very favorite memories is something that happened on multiple occasions but each time we participated in this I came away feeling all warm and fuzzy.

My mom has a very big heart and likes to do for others. One tradition she has is that she takes her scrap yarn every year and makes up mittens to donate to the shelters in town. One thing we used to do each Christmas was to find a family that was less fortunate and who didn’t have the opportunity to have Christmas like others did. My mom would try to find out as much as she could about the family and then make dresses for the children in the family, purchase toys and gifts to go under the tree and buy all the things for a nice dinner on Christmas day. We would go on Christmas Eve night and leave the boxes of items on the door step and knock and run. I always loved watching the reaction of the person when they opened the door and looked around trying to figure out who it was. And if we saw the people at church or around town and they were wearing the new clothes it felt good too know that we helped them.

I am grateful that my mom taught me what Christmas is truly about.

I thought with it being December and the Holiday season is definitely here that I would occasionally share some of my favorite Christmas memories with everyone.

This first memory is kind of a funny one.

The Christmas that I was 9 we were living in Kornwestheim, Germany just outside of Ludwigsburg where my mother was stationed in the military. We lived in an apartment that was just across the street from the bahnhof (train station). The apartment had this beautiful glassed in patio area that looked over the bahnhof and mom put the tree in that glassed in area.

The night before Christmas I was given strict orders to stay in bed until mom came and got me the next morning. I woke up in the middle of the night and was so excited that I ran to the living room to check the clock on the VCR. I had totally forgotten the instructions mom had given me until I was on my way back to bed (having passed the Christmas tree on my way back) and noticed a beautiful red bicycle. I had just learned to ride a bike without training wheels (yes I was a bit slow learning that) and mom had bought me this beautiful bike. I quickly ran back to bed and was so excited I could not go back to sleep. So I just sat there anticipating the fun that would be had with that bike.

When I heard mom get up I quickly closed my eyes and pretended to sleep until mom came and “woke me up”. I did my best “surprised” reaction and quite enjoyed all the fun that bike had to offer.

This year as Thanksgiving has been approaching I have been trying to ponder on the things I am the most thankful for and have been sharing some of them on facebook. I decided to spend time focusing on those and a few more here.

1) I am grateful to be a daughter of God. I have learned to love being a woman and am so grateful for the many wonderful women who are apart of my life and are such amazing examples to me. I have an amazingly gifted mother who teaches me through example about developing your talents, about having a giving heart and so much more. I have adopted sister figures who are great listening hears and companions in laughter and memories. I have beautiful nieces who show me what love is all about and share warm felt hugs. I have wonderful friends and teachers who are good examples. I am thankful for the knowledge I have that I am a daughter of God.

2) I am grateful for my love of culture and the opportunities I have been given in my life to travel to different areas of the United States and Europe and more. My love of history stems from these opportunities.

3) I am grateful for my cats. Both Annie & Sammy give me so much love and company in my home. Neither of them were planned but I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

4) I am grateful for photography. I love taking pictures. I love that my talent of photography gives me the opportunity to look at the world in a little different light. It teaches me to appreciate the art of our father in heaven in both people & places. I am thankful I get to share this talent with others.

5) I am grateful for a warm home to live in.

6) I am grateful my ability to love. I have seen that as I get older that my heart grows to fit the love I feel for so many amazing people. Every time a new niece or nephew enters our family my heart swells and I am always amazed!

7) I love doing websites. I have been able to develop this talent as I work on my fansites. I have made good friends online through that.

8 ) I am grateful to know that I am gluten intolerant so that I can take care of myself. I am thankful for the advances that have come out recently to make living gluten free easier.

9) I am thankful for the color orange. It always makes me happy whenever I see it.

10) I am thankful to be alive.