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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

Well Jill went to Texas for a weekend series of concerts that Idina was doing down there. I was so jealous as I would LOVE to see Idina in concert! I will admit as much as I love Taye I also love and admire Idina too! Well Jill asked for my mailing address because she had gotten me a cowboy souvenier. I was excited to see what it was and totally flattered that she would think of me. Well when the package came this week I was a bit surprised because the envelope did not contain a cowboy. Instead it contained one of Idina’s cds and it was also signed with a personal message to me! Jill told me that when she had Idina sign it and told her who I was Idina knew who I was and was excited to do it! Totally made my day … actually my week … it’s been a few days and I am still giddy over it!

Here is a clip of one of Idina’s songs … she has such a beautiful alto voice and I would love to one day see her perform live!

I am not sure if many of you know where I live but it is near a busy commercial area that includes restaurants and a movie theater well in the middle of the road was a tiny baby kitten which I almost hit with my car … I managed to miss him and pulled over to the side of the road. There were others cars coming and I was certain that little kitten was not going to survive his adventures in the road.

I got out of my car and tried to go and get him when another car pulled over and I asked if the kitten was his and he replied that it wasn’t, that he had thought it was mine and was helping me catch him. So between the two of us we were able to get the little guy. I couldn’t just leave him there so I put him in my car and headed to my mom’s work for some advice.

Annie is still adjusting to having him around but this morning the two of them were chasing each other around my bedroom playing so I think she is warming up to him as long as Sammy doesn’t try chasing her tail … that leads to a problem.

Sammy wasn’t planned but I am so glad that he is a part of my home.

The talk that really hit me the most was the one by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf from the first presidency of the church.

His talk centered around a small flower that is often times over looked called a Forget-Me-Not. He used the example of this small yet beautiful flower to remind us to never forget five important things:

1. Forget Not to forgive yourself.
2. Forget Not that some sacrifices are more worthwhile than others.
3. Forget Not to be happy now.
4. Forget Not the “why” of the gospel.
5. Forget Not that the Lord loves you.

As a child, when I would look at the little forget-me-nots, I sometimes felt a little like that flower—small and very insignificant. I wondered if I would be forgotten by my family or by my Heavenly Father.

Years later, I can look back on that young boy with tenderness and compassion. And I do know now I was never forgotten.

And I know something else. As an Apostle of our Master, Jesus Christ, I proclaim with all the certainty and conviction of my heart and soul—neither are you!

You are not forgotten.

Sisters, wherever you are, whatever the circumstances may be, you are not forgotten. No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you may feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. In fact, He loves you, with an infinite love.

This beautiful talk really gave me much to ponder and was so uplifting.

You can watch his talk below …

We weren’t able to get through all of the villages due to lack of time but we went to Samoa (where we saw a guy climb a tree and start a fire using two sticks)

Tonga (where there was a drum performance)

Tahiti (where they did dancing – which I loved watching)

And Hawaii (where we were taught how to Hula – not my strong suit)

In the middle of the day we attended a show that is held in the middle of the center where each of the islands come out on a flat canoe and do a traditional dance presentation from their island. I loved Samoa & Tahiti the most.

Once the presentations were done we headed to the Luau that is held. We sat next to some very kind couples … one was from Tennessee and another from Toronto. The food was amazing!

Especially the Kalua pig, which they cooked in the ground … so tender. We had so much food … if you left the luau hungry it wasn’t the center’s fault! LOL!

Next came the night show, which we had the most amazing seats for! We were in the center in the second row from the front. We weren’t able to take any pictures because it is prohibited, but trust me the show was amazing! It is called Ha: The Breath of Life and tells the story of a young man and his travel through life. If you ever visit Hawaii I encourage you to make a stop at the Polynesian cultural center for at least one day (but two would be better because there is so much to see, do and learn).

Yesterday was an open day and we did some shopping and went to the movie theater to see The Smurfs before having lunch at the Old Spaghetti Factory. Then we went back into Waikiki and went to a local farmers market.

We head back home tonight after a trip to the Honolulu Zoo which is right next door to our hotel. This has been an amazing trip! Aloha!

To see the photos from Day Six go here.
To see the photos from Day Seven go here.