Home Teachers and Cereal Candy

My home teachers for the summer semester came today, Kade and Paul. They are very nice guys! Kade has been in the ward since fall semester, and Paul has been in since this semester hehe. Anyways, I'm very impressed with these young men. Kade has been the only one in the ward that recognizes that I am a member of that ward and that I just don't live in the apartments. Him and Paul told me today that they are going to work on letting me know more about the ward activities and help me become more of a part of the ward then I feel. I really appreciate that. What a nice kid! Paul is sweet too. I sat next to him in Sunday School today and he was very nice and talked to me for a little bit. It's so surprising to me what people in these wards actually make an effort to make me feel welcome and what people don't. I've always had my home teachers come and visit. But no visiting teachers. No one in Relief Society talks to me, not even the RS president. But I've always had the guys talk to me and make me feel welcome. Anyways, Kade and Paul talked about temples today and what a tool we are for the temples and how we are the power for them and we need to be able to make ourselves worthy and keep ourselves worthy to enter the temple and for the blessings of the temple. Also how to take advantage of the Atonement and understanding the Atonment and keep ourselves out of temptation. Kade shared a quote from Elder Richard G. Scott's conference talk "He Lives! All Glory to His Name!" that stood out to me. It says:

"I energetically encourage you to establish a personal study plan to better understand and appreciate the incomparable, eternal, infinite counsequences of Jesus Christ's perfect fulfillment of His divinely appointed calling as our Savior and Redeemer. Profound personal pondering of the scriptures accompanied by searching, heartfelt prayer will fortify your understanding of and appreciation for His priceless Atonement. Another powerful way to learn of Jesus Christ and His Atonement is through consistent temple attendance."

I really loved this quote. Is that not the most straight forward guidance? I love that. I want to be able to go to the temple more. Even though I'm not endowed, I still have the opportunity to do Baptism's for the Dead and I need to get a recommend to be able to go and do it often. Anyways, I'm very excited for my home teachers and I hope that I will benefit from them a great deal. :D

Mom and I made Cereal Candy for our Moab trip this weekend. It's super super easy and so yummy!

Here's the recipe if you'd like to try it:

1 package of Golden Graham cereal

1 package of Corn Chex cereal

1 package of coconut

1 package of slivered almonds

2 tsp of vanilla

2 cups karo syrup

2 cups sugar

2 cubes margarine

Mix karo syrup, margarine and sugar together in a pot over the stove. Bring to a boil and boil for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, add vanilla and pour over the cereal, almond and coconut mixture. Mix well and enjoy!

Workout Woes

Alright. So does everyone remember my weight loss goal that I made when Cody left? The whole, "I'm gonna work out every night or every other night until he comes home?" Hahahaha... it was kind of a joke. Until...NOW.

I've been slacking, unfortunately. Just with the exercising, not with my eating habits, just with the exercising. About a week before I quit Sam's Club, I bought some Jillian Michael's work out videos that were like $5 each. Anyways, I've always said if I could be on "The Biggest Loser" I would want to have Jillian as my trainer because she wouldn't give up on me but she would be tough on me and make me work hard. Tonight that was the truth and she wasn't even there in person. I decided, after a few weeks of not working out, that I was going to push myself and do this whole Metabolism Boost workout with no stopping.

So I put the DVD in, (this is what it looks like if you're interested in trying it out) stretched while it was warming up, pushed play and got ready to work it. I got through the warm up fine, got through the first 2 circuits (out of 6) well kinda slow but I did them, then the 3rd circuit it when it got bad.

I had pushed myself too hard. I got super sick. I felt like I was going to throw up. So I sat down for a few minutes. When I felt like I was going to be ok, I stood back up to try it again. The second I was standing, my stomach got yucky again. So I sat down for a few more minutes. I drank some water, hoping maybe I was just a little dehydrated (even though I've been drinking ALL day). I felt fine again. So I tried it again, but once I got standing I got sick to my stomach again. What the heck!


If you haven't figured it out yet, this work out is a cardio workout, a very very intense cardio workout if you don't work yourself up to it. Which is exactly what I DIDN'T do. I didn't take it slow. I didn't work myself up to it. I pushed myself too hard and I made myself sick doing it. Which is not good.

I got really discouraged. I was thinking the whole time I was sitting watching the rest of the workout (what an oxymoron! haha!) that I was not good enough for this workout. I figured that I was never cut out for it in the first place and that I was never going to reach my weight goal by the time Cody came home. But after sittin there for a few minutes feeling sorry and all mopey, I got super motivated. That's exactly what I need to do! I need to work myself up to that intense crazy workout (I know it's intense because Jillian, the most fit and amazing trainer, was huffing and puffing after it) and once I get stronger, and make my heart and my lungs stronger that I will be able to do the whole workout without stopping like Jillian and the other two girls on the video did. Then I will be able to speed up my metabolism, lose weight and have a really good cardio workout all at the same time!

Don't get discouraged if you try something hard and don't succeed the first time. Keep working at it and keep finding things to motivate you. I'm going to try this again tomorrow and see how far I get. I'm going to work myself up but push myself at the same time. I won't get results immediately, which is what I was thinking was going to happen haha but I know better. It will take time.

But hey! If anyone wants a workout buddy, please let me know! I would love to have one! I need someone to tell me not to quit and to keep going, and in turn I will do the same for you! Haha!

Also... I found a website to help me get my blog all cutsie some more! So here's the first change... my signature! It's not really the font that I want it to me, but once I figure out how to do it the other way then I will do that but for now... TA DA!

Parker's Graduation

Parker graduated today! I am so excited and so proud of him! One milestone down, and many more to go. Here are some pictures of the fun night:

Parker and his diploma after he walked.

Parker, Chelsey and Jaelynn. Parker was ducking so he looks almost he same height as them, even though he's about 10 times taller!

Lindsey and Nash

Me and Parker :D

Me, Lindsey and Nash. Don't mind my face... I'm not good at multitasking!

Me and "Favorite"...

...aka my best bud Sean Ian King...

...or Sean "The" King haha!

Then after the graduation, Me, Parker, Mom, Dad, Lindsey, Deb and Claude all went to dinner :D We went to Pizza Pie Cafe! So yummy! It was a blast... especially with "Parkey" and the "Spicy Sunshine" hahahaha! Oh my! I love my family.

I'm so proud of Parker! And I'm also very proud of all of my friends that graduated today! I hope the best for them in all of their endeavors! Love you guys!

Don't Know What to Call This Post... haha!

Well. Parker graduated from Seminary today! It was soo cool to see the spiritual accomplishments that he has made. It was so fun to see all my football buddies, like Shaun Johansen and Sean King... aka Mr. King hehe!... and many others graduate!

I also got to see my favorite seminary teacher ever... Brother Goss. I had Brother Goss my last semester of my senior year, and what a great experience it was! I really looked up to him and his advice, especially when I had my not-very-good-we-don't-talk-about-him boyfriend haha. He didn't know what was going on, but he knew I was having a hard time with something with him and he always made sure to let me know that he was there for me if I ever needed to talk.
I also think that during that semester, I started to gain my testimony for Christ. I always thought that I had had one, but I didn't. Brother Goss simply "planted the seed" (sorry that probably sounds cheesy) and it has grown now that I have the greatest influences and faith and help in my life. I thoroughly enjoyed Brother Goss' class, and hearing him speak again tonight at Parker's graduation filled me with the spirit and made me miss seminary.

I also got to see my favorite... Michelle Gren! haha! I love her! I really got to know her during YW camp my last year when I got to work with her while she was in the stake and while I was a YCL. She's grown to be a great friend of mine and I look up to her so much! I hadn't seen her for a while so it was good to get to talk to her for a few minutes. :D

Anyways... I have to work tomorrow so I'll have a 4 day week this week! But that's alright! hehe! I gotta get to bed, acutally I have to email Cody first and then start a letter to him and then I'll read scriptures and go to bed! Loves!

O Happy Day(s)!

I had a great day yesterday!

First off, I got to spend some time with my Dad while he went with me to go get my car inspected (because I just feel better having a guy there. Not that our mechanic isn't super nice and awesome... ) Then he bought me and Mom some lunch and we went back home and ate it. Then I took him back up to work.

Then... my Mom and I ended up at Walmart. I love spending time with my Mom! And she's so patient when she's with me, because I want to look at movies and cd's and shoes and scrubs and books and jewelry every single time I'm there. She ended up finding some stuff to splurge with, which she never does so it was good for her.

After that, Parker and I had a brother/sister "date"! We went to dinner at Pizza Pie Cafe. Then we went and got some YoZone dessert :D MMMM! Then we went and saw "Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief" in the dollar theaters. How was the movie? Eh. See, Parker and I have read all the books and we've been wanting to see it. Well... it's a great movie if you haven't read the books. And it's just ok if you have. They've twisted the whole plot from the book in the movie, so things happen differently in the movie then they do in the book, and they left out some key people in the book as well. But boy let me tell you, the kid... Logan Lerman... he plays Percy, was quite a looker! hehe! Anyways, I got to hang out with everyone in my family, so it was a pretty great day!

Anyways, today was quite relaxing. I'm not used to not working Saturday's. I didn't know what to do with myself haha! I did finish my book, "Burned". It's the 7th book in the House of Night series by P.C. and Kristen Cast. Let's just say I can't wait for the 8th book to come out. Didn't really do anything else. I need to get used to not working on Saturday's.

I've been so much happier since I've been away from Sam's Club! The only thing that would make everything perfect was if Cody was close to coming home... almost haha! But I'm glad he's out doing the work that he is doing so I can't complain! Like I said, the Lord needs him more then I do for the next 2 years. (Sorry, you probably get sick of hearing about it haha!)

How Sad For Him

There is a man named Shawn McCraney that really makes me mad.

He is a returned missionary.

He is an ex-member of the church.

He is a man who likes to bring down the church on his television show.

The only reason I know about him is because my Mom was flipping around on the tv one day and heard a smidgen of what he was saying about the church and it made her mad. She kept watching just to see what he would say. She kept telling my family about him and how made he made her. Well one night, we were flipping around looking for something to watch and she saw him and went, "OH! Shelb! This is the guy!" I watched him for two seconds and started crying.

How could someone like him, being a returned missionary and used to be so strong in the church and then decide that it wasn't doing anything for him so he left? And now for a living, he has a tv show where he twists mormonism and puts lies into people's heads. How could someone do that!? I never would! I've heard the reason why this guy left the church. And it's a stupid reason. Obviously, he didn't have faith in the Lord and obviously he didn't love the Lord as much as he said he did because then he would never be in this situation. It reminds me of Elder David A. Bednar's conference talk a few years ago called "And Nothing Shall Offend Them." In it he says that those who have been offended by something in the church have chosen to be offended. In this case, Shawn McCraney has chosen to be offended by the church and some of the things that they did to him when he was having problems, when really, they were trying to get him back on track.

I remember reading in Mosiah a few weeks ago about this same sort of situation. I don't remember exactly where it was (cause I can't find it haha) but it was talking about the people that know the teachings of God are true and those who live by those teachings, and then those that know they are true but yet they deny the teachings and they deny God, they will be cast down to hell, or something to that effect. (If you remember where that is, please tell me cause I would love to remember!) I can only imagine what will happen to this man when he meets God. And I feel sorry for him. I'm sad for him.

I love the church! I've grown to love it even more the past few years of my life and especially now that Cody is out preaching the gospel. I've been taught and I constantly "...stand as witnesses of God at all times, in all things and in all places..." (Mosiah 18:9) I've learned to love the gospel, even after some of the trials that I go through and that I know I will go through. I can't imagine having the gospel in my life during these times and I can't imagine denying God and denying his teachings.

I got a letter from Cody yesterday, and in it he said, "Being out here has humbled me a lot, also makes me think about a lot of the stupid decisions that I have made in my life. Seeing the people that we teach struggle through their trials makes me feel bad for them. I've seen all kinds of crap down here, and it makes me sad that these people reject our wonderful message that we have. If they would just listen they would have a much better off life!! But that's part of the reason we are given the gift of 'Albedrio' (Agency)." It's so true. We can't make people listen to our message and we can't make people feel the same way about the church that we do. But it's the same for him. He can't make people listen to his message and he can't make people turn away from the church. Seeing some of the comments that people have left of his YouTube pages, obviously people have left the church just for him, but again, like Cody said, that's why we are given the gift of agency.

It's sad. It's sad that people think that way about God and his wonderful church. I rejoice. I rejoice in the fact that I know I have a friend in the Lord all the time. I rejoice in the fact that every day I continue to grow closer to the Lord and that I am growing closer to the gospel and relying on it more. I rejoice in the fact that I know all the things about the gospel that I do know. I odon't know everything, and even when I die I won't, but I will continue to learn and grow in the gospel my entire life and I love that fact! I rejoice for missionaries who give up 2 years of their lives to go out there and try to bring people into the wonderful love of the Lord and into living the gospel. I am grateful for them and all that they do, and all that the leaders of the church do.

I love the Lord. I love this gospel. No one or nothing can change that.

I Luv My Job :D

Sorry I didn't blog last night! I was so tired from a full day at the office that I fell asleep super early!

Well, all went well yesterday. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I work with a dentist named James Ashman. And guess what? He's 77 years old and still in there doin dirty work! Haha! He is so adorable! And so funny, so patient and so helpful. He didn't mind that I wasn't used to working with him and he was very patient and helping giving me tips on stuff. The other assistant that helps Dr. Ashman, Renette, told me that he is like your grandpa. And it's true. She also warned me that he is very old school and that he will do things and ask for things that I've never even heard of. Haha and it's so true! But he was very patient and very helpful when both of us had no idea what he was asking for. (Example: Reverse Plugger? haha I had never seen one but now I know what one is!) My x-rays are looking... G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S! I was so worried that I wasn't going to be able to do my x-rays right because I had the hardest time with Dex in school. But! They are so much easier on real people, and everyone kept telling me that but for some reason I didn't believe them. Now I do haha! I love taking x-rays! To me it's so much fun!

I don't dread going to work anymore. I always wanted to call in sick to Sam's Club, but not at the dental office. I think it's because there is so much different stuff going on every day that it's not the same lame thing like at Sam's. I am so excited to get in there and get working on people and get better at my skills.

Yesterday, I did get to watch the hygienist, Laura, for a little bit. And... I was a little nervous at what I saw. I am so excited to get my hygienist, don't get me wrong, but I didn't realize that I would have to learn how to numb people for procedures... with a NEEDLE! AHHHHH! If you don't know me very well, then you don't know how scared I am of needles for myself and having to stick a needle in someone else. I can load the needle, hand the needle, watch it being administered, take it back and unload it. But I'm scared of doing it myself! I don't know how good at that I will do! AHHHHHHH! My hands are shaking just thinking about it! :(

Well, nothing else really going on. Tomorrow is my last day of work until Tuesday! I actually get weekends now. Who knew they existed!? Definately not me. :D Have a good night everyone!