Take A Walk With Me

Welcome to Nampa! This is where I live.

Billy and I have gone on some long walks exploring our new little town. Last night I took some pictures along the way and thought I would share them. We began our walk on the Greenbelt. It is such a peaceful path that boarders a rushing stream that is home for many ducks that walk along with us hoping for some hand outs of bread. They are so fun.
We came to this giant field of sugar beets. The actual beet is the size of a football. I don't know when they harvest them, but there is a sugar beet factory in Nampa and often you can smell the processing of the beets. I'm not sure how I feel about that smell yet.

Just a little bit past the field was this barn - I thought it was such a beautiful setting.

Then just down the road was some random garden. There was a housing track that wasn't fully developed so someone decided to plant this huge garden on the lot. It was so cool. They had pumpkins, cantelope, gynormous sunflower seed plants, squash, beans and more.

We didn't see these guys on our walk, but I had to post their picture. These guys are the parking lot greeters at Walmart. They are always there waiting to say, "Welcome to Walmart".

More Walmart greeters.

This place is great!!!

Faith

It’s funny how little “pick me ups” seem to slip into our lives at just the right time. Today five little words had a very big impact on my attitude. “Have faith during our trials” The past few days I have needed a “pick me up” in the worst way. Everything I do these days seems to take so much energy, and I fight against the adversary as I feel him pulling me in a direction I do not want to go.

When I moved to Idaho I was filled with exuberance for the challenge ahead. I imagine it might have been similar to the way the pioneers felt as they headed west. Excited for the journey, and faced with new experiences they proceeded with faith. I felt like that when we packed up our proverbial handcart (UHaul) and headed to Idaho to totally start over.
I guess in the back of my mind I thought MY journey would be short and easy. We would get to Idaho, Billy would get a job, I’d get a job, we would get a house and life would carry on as usual. I had sort of a fairy tale built up in my mind as if at the border someone would be standing there waiting with a great job and directions to my new home. Well, that’s not exactly how it is happening. Instead there has been no job, no house, and we find ourselves in the very unfamiliar territory of true poverty. I realized it’s easy to have faith at the beginning of the journey – feeling energized and determined I did not anticipate a rough road. I think I thought I was leaving the rough road behind me.
I have often asked myself, “What am I supposed to be learning through all this”? I have realized that it’s easier to have faith when things are going well – the true test is whether or not I have faith during my trials. The saying, “when life gives you lemons – make lemonade” sends a real message. It’s easy to be happy and grateful when life has no complications, and when we get what we want.
I think rather than be discouraged I just need to create the energy needed to push on. Push on with faith through this rough spot in my life. Push on with determination and gratitude for the challenges that enable me to grow and become a better person. It is during the difficult times that we fall to our knees to gain the strength we need.


Five words I will hold on to…… have faith during our trials.

I will!

My New Dog - Someday!!!

I can't wait to get a dog. I'm a dog person. I'm an animal person and being without one just doesn't feel natural. Animals are comforters and unconditional friends - I have always had a dog - until now.

I found the dog I want. The picture above is of a Goldendoodle that I met at the Boise Farmers Market last week and I am in love. It is a cross between a standard poodle and a golden retriever so you get the best of both breeds. A huge PLUS is that they don't shed. I love this dog and I can't wait until I have one of my own.
Who wouldn't love that face?

Walk Around Boise

This weekend we went into Boise to walk around the Farmer's Market. We also walked around two parks - Julia Davis Park and Ann Morrison Park. The settings are beautiful and they both border the Boise River.

Isn't this so cool? It looks like there is a lizard sitting on top of this hill.

According to John I've Had Enough Schooling!

This morning I was talking about scheduling my second board exam, and John (my step-dad) said, "I think you've had enough schooling, - how much schooling does it take to poke a rod down someone's throat?". I thought that was hilarious.

However, the above image does reflect the true picture of how I have looked the past few weeks. My family is anxious for all of this to end, so I can breath again be a part of "life". Getting a job, and making money would also thrust me back into living. But, for the next few weeks I will continue to look like the frazzled girl above as I continue to saturate my brain with formulas, calcuations, ABG interpretations, and other random respiratory information.

There IS and end ISN'T there??????

I passed!!!!

I took my CRT board exam today and I passed. When I saw my score I did not react the way I thought I would. I suddenly felt overwhelmingly tired and beat up. I had studied virtually non-stop for two weeks preparing for this exam, and when it was finally over I just felt numb. I think the best way to describe it is, "surreal". I did feel relieved, but there was no display of exuberance. I had just spent 3 full hours answering 160 questions, and I was literally out of energy.

This was just the first of three steps. I will take a couple days off to give my brain a rest, and then start studying for the next exam. I am looking forward to the end of this journey. It has been long, and it has been hard, but I know it will be worth it.

Two Of My Greatest Blessings

Savannah and Abby on their second birthday
Abby

Savannah

Isn't she so sweet?

Abby hitting her birthday pinata'

Life Isn't Always Easy

At a very young age we become very aware that "life isn't fair" as is shown in the title of the Sesame Street Book above. We realize early that circumstances do not always go our way, and disappointments are a part of life. It is very common for a child to display their displeasure with what they deem as not fair, but as life goes on we learn that disappointments come, and we sometimes just have to accept them.

Today was the second Sunday at our new ward and even though Mormon chapels are for the most part visually the same the people were new and that unfamiliar feeling was there. The members were so nice and talked to us like we were old friends which made us feel comfortable and welcome, but it still wasn't "home".

When we went to Sunday School I noticed a piece of paper on my chair. I thought it was left over from another meeting so I tucked it in my scriptures to discard of later. I began thinking how this was my least favorite meeting on Sunday and how the lesson never really touched me like Relief Society or Sacrament meeting. Well, that was the last time I will ever think that. Today's lesson was specific to my life's circumstance, and you know that paper I was going to toss? Well, it was a quote meant to be read during the lesson and it was meant to be read by me. Coincidence? I don't think so.

I don't know who said this quote, but it is from the April 1997 Conference Report:

"Life isn't always easy. At some point in our journey we may feel much as the pioneers did as they crossed Iowa -- up to our knees in mud, forced to bury some of our dreams along the way. We all face rocky ridges, with the wind in our face and winter coming on too soon. Sometimes it seems as though there is no end to the dust that stings our eyes and clouds our vision. Sharp edges of despair and discouragement jut out of the terrain to slow our passage....Occasionally we reach the top of one summit in life, as the pioneers did only to see more mountain peaks ahead, higher and more challenging than the one we have jut traversed. Tapping unseen reservoirs of faith and endurance, we, as did our forebears, inch ever forward toward that day when our voices can join with those of all pioneers who have endured in faith, singing 'All is well! All is well'"

I will carry that quote with me forever as I feel it was a message sent directly to me by my Father in Heaven. Billy and I are indeed "up to our knees in mud, forced to bury some of our dreams", but we will "[tap] the unseen reservoirs of faith and [endure]".

I loved church today, I love my new ward and I am grateful for lessons that give me hope and inspire me to keep going.

BUT IT IS SOOOO WORTH IT!!!!!!!!

This Is My Day

I study to prepare for my board exam that I sit for in about a week.
About mid-afternoon I run the track to prepare for the 5k on September 26th in Boise.

Then I study some more until.............

I go to bed.

That's it!!