Gratitude

I have tried to write this blog over and over again. Each time I was complaining about this or that. The more I wrote, the more selfish and awful I felt. So instead of my gripes, I am going to share with you my gratitude's:

1. My sweet husband who never complains or criticizes me or anything that I do.
2. My mom who is always there for me to cry on her shoulder.
3. My 2 best friends who are always super fun to be with.
4. My in laws. They have really accepted me for who I am and supported me thru all the tough times.
5. My dad who is always there to make me laugh. He always knows how to make me feel good.
6. My former trainer, niece, and dear friend Danette. She has always seen the potential in me and I am very grateful for her love and support.
7. My sisters who always try to make me a stronger person (I am such a baby sometimes!)
8. My nieces who think that I am the greatest thing since sliced bread.
9. My new home. It has been more work that I expected, but it is worth it.
10. My safe steady job. It seems I am always complaining about it, but I really am glad I don't have to worry about layoffs.
11. My life experiences that have made me the person I am today (good and bad).
12. My friends from my current and past wards and neighborhoods.
13. My brother, Robert, who understands me wholly.
14. My love of the gospel. Though it has been hard at times, it has always been worth it.
15. My Webelos Troop. They are all getting their Arrow of Light this week. I am so proud of them.

A new President...

I have hope for the future with our new leader in office. I trust that he will lead us out of this depression we are in. I pray for him to make the right decisions and to not let the nation down. I encourage all who are out there to make a stand for what is right and good in the world.

I saw this list on a friends blog and thought it would be fun to do.
The ones I have done are in bold.

1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (does junior high count?)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain (how far up are we talking?)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise (this was the best vacation ever!)
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy (All of them),,,almost!
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (Helen Hunt)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Visited to Mt. Rushmore
101. Learned a musical instrument
102. Graduated from college

My trip to Arizona

Well, as some of you know, I am the youngest in a large herd of Reese's. Therefore, when my nephew sends me a wedding invitation, it actually is a good thing. So on December 17th, my Dad, Papa Lou, brother-in-law, Fred, my niece, Debbie, and I loaded up Fred's Buick Park Avenue (a very nice ride) and headed south. Brilliantly I packed light because a: I knew it was warmer down South b: everyone teases me that I always pack too much. So, we are on the road. We make our first stop in Lehi to my brother's home to get a gift they are sending for Christmas. We are back on the road and remarkably the roads were fairly good. Second stop, Fillmore, for gas. Third stop Cedar City. The sky starts looking a little menacing, but nothing that can't be handled by a few seasoned Northern Utah drivers, right? Our next stop was unplanned but very much necessary.





This my friends is Las Vegas. Yes, I was in Las Vegas the night they recieved thier record snow fall of 5 inches. It had not snowed that much in Las Vegas for 50 years. Well, a bit unprepared for the weather, the state shut down all roads leading out of Las Vegas. So we were lucky enough to find a decent hotel and we crashed at the Holiday Inn. The next morning to beat the traffic and being a bit anxious to get on the road, we awoke about 5:00 am. Needless to say the roads were still closed so we ended up at an IHOP for the morning.





We were there until about 9ish. We thought, "Surely the roads would be open now?" but to no avail they were still closed. So we headed over to my Uncle Joe's house to visit until the roads open. They had a few trees that had broken in the storm, but other than that they were unscathed. We visited for a couple of hours and then headed out of town. Well from Vegas to Mesa is about 5 or 6 hours, so we were barely going to make it in time for the wedding dinner that night.

We had the cool chance to see the progress on the new bridge spanning the Hoover Dam. It was awesome. And not just awesome as in "awesome dude" but in every real sense it was amazing the feat the are accomplishing. I have never seen such a bridge being built. It was great!







When we finally arrived in Mesa, the weather was a balmy 65*. It was great. We went to dinner, then went to the hotel to bed. It was a long day.

The next day we went to the Mesa temple to witness the wedding ceremony. It was beautiful. Here are some pics from the temple:

Johnny & Allison

Papa Lou

Johnny & Allison

The Allen Family (snap, snap)

The Reese's (Bill, the dad, is one of my older brothers)

While we were waiting for the Bride and Groom, we thought we saw President Bush and his secret serviceman.

After the ceremony, we enjoyed a wonderful reception/dance at the church.

This is my dearest friend Christi in AZ

My darling niece, Kylee. She would not go to sleep!

Until Papa Lou took over. He is so good!

We did have to rest our weary feet after the wedding. It was way too much fun!

Well, we made it to the wedding and enjoyed a few days in the fun and the sun. We made it back home safe and sound. It was a fun, quick trip, but very well worth it.

We saw the remnants of the storm we went through

We saw lots of cool things...

On our way home, Debbie and I took the back seat driving position. We are very good at it.
All in all, it was a great trip!

Happy New year, Y'all!