Best YEar of My Life!

(Thailand in May)

As I came to the beginning of 2012, I naturally reflected back on 2011.

The first thought that came to my mind was,

"This was the best year of my life!"

It really took me by surprise! Why would that be my first thought?

What happened this year that would make me think that?

It's not that I haven't had other great years, pretty much every year i think is great.

I just realized that I haven't had one that is better.

HOW did that Happen (i asked myself)?

As I pondered that questioned, I realized that it had a lot to do with this.

Putting first things first made all the difference.

Especially reading the scriptures first thing every morning.

Specifically the Book of Mormon.

It changed my life.

After one month i was changed (see here)

Can you imagine a whole year of this?

I am happy, I am content. That is what striving to live the gospel

of Jesus Christ does for you.

It doesn't make life less of a challenge, only changes one's outlook.

No matter what, you see God's hand, and feel God's love

in your life. You get it, and that makes all the difference.

So my goals for 2012?

More of the same.

+

I want to forgive more freely, nourish my mind a bit more,

and love as much as possible. I feel anything is possible

with what I learned this year.

God is real. There is a purpose to making all these goals

and bettering ourselves. And there is joy in the journey.

I know for sure. I feel it every day.

If you aren't feeling it, I challenge you to take the time to be still,

and listen.

Deep down we all know it, sometimes we just forget.

We forget who we are, and how important we are.

How very valuable every one of us is to our Father in Heaven.

you are loved.

happy Valentines day!!!

ps-after looking at all of these pictures, i think i need to go and snuggle my valentine.

(and plan how to get back to thailand asap. smile.)

in case you are worried or weary...who isn't right?

“The best antidote I know for worry is work. The best cure for weariness is the challenge of helping someone who is even more tired.

One of the great ironies of life is this: He or she who serves almost always benefits more than he or she who is served.”

President Gordon B. Hinckley

(aka, my favorite prophet)

My sister Gloria had this pinned on her pinterest page.

LOVE IT!

(and it's so true!)

technology can be pretty awesome. totally.

Jacob reading the scriptures last night with his girlfriend Alex

using face time and the ipad. How cool is that?

Alex has been going to seminary

(class before school in the morning. they are studying the old testament this year).

and church for a while.

She makes us realize all over again how

wonderfully life changing

having a knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and

Heavenly Father's plan for us is.

It brings a peace, joy, and contentment to your life

that is better than any amount of wealth, beauty,

or even chocolate (smile).

Jacob is even more excited now to serve a

full time mission.

He sits next to the missionaries when they are meeting

with Alex and pretends he is one of them with a

happy little glow on his face.

We die laughing too because the missionaries are american

and not used to speaking english to teach the gospel.

The one elder apologized before starting that he speaks very

proper Korean, but teenager english.

Let's just say we are always teasing him saying,

"awesome, totally, sweet, fer sure"

He is so dang cute.

I'm off. Going with friends to the flower market, and costco.

SWEET! (fer sure)

suburban heartthrob.

Jacob's coach told us that he calls Jacob the suburban heartthrob.

He does put on a good show for sure.

The coach owes him a lot of steak dinners too.

He promised the players that if they get a double double

(double digits in score, and double digits in rebounds)

he will buy them a steak dinner.

I must admit, i love to watch him play.

He is so driven, focused, and lives for the win.

He gives it all out on the court.

It is amazing that he has never been injured.

He's a lot like his father that way.

see what i mean. ridiculous right?

He gets real crazy when he is mad or they are behind.

Look at his twisted body in this one. He's lucky he is flexible like his mama.

It's like basketball yoga.

cutie Rachel cheering her brother and osan on to victory.

he looks like a midget in this one. ha.

and look at the two guys behind them. They are like,

"I am getting out of the way of that!" ha.

I can just hear my dad, brothers and brothers in law putting

in commentary for this one. Jacob had some pretty good

ones. He's a Reneer for sure.

he looks like he is running up to the basket here.

he rarely misses a free throw. I'm proud of him.

and of this girl too.

Ammon and Pooh are sure to follow in Jacob's footsteps.

Jacob is telling me how he is going to give ammon

drills to work on, and have him weightlifting at 12 etc. etc.

he cracks me up.

I'm sure ammon will be calling Jacob "uncle rico" as he recounts how

back in the day he could throw a pigskin a 1/4 mile, and such.

can't wait to see jacob at one of ammon's games cheering him on.

I'll probably be a grandma then.

so weird.

off to bed. This old lady needs to rest her bones.

good night.

17 Miracles-love this movie.

I really really love this movie.

Not only is it an amazing true story that of course is miraculous,

but the main character Levi Savage is so dang good looking.

I think he looks like Brad Pitt, except better because he

is a humble, righteous dude!

(he is almost as handsome as you dave. wink)

Great family movie.

Myeong-dong

We girls had a fun MLK holiday shopping in Seoul at

Myeong-dong.

Dong means Neighborhood in Korean, and Myeong means

bright and clear. It should mean fabulous!!

Do you see their happy albeit blurry faces?!

Myeong-Dong is a huge famous shopping area in Seoul,

and one of Rachel's birthday coupons included a trip here

to go to the clothing store Forever 21.

It has huge dept. stores, and then lots of American stores. All the

name brands. But we heard the Forever 21 was amazing.

I just read that over a million people pass through this shopping

district every day!

We drove to the army base in Seoul and then took a taxi from there.

here we go!

Rebecca went to bed early on Sunday, she couldn't wait to wake up and go!

This 5 story Forever 21 did not disappoint! It was amazing!

and really reasonably priced.

We got to a point where we just set up shop on the top floor.

We all dumped our bags in one place and would rotate who manned our spot.

Yes, we got a lot of funny looks. Look at our pile?

It was hysterical. It was often our dressing room as well. We would

just try things on for each other right there.

It was really hard work and I was sweating by the time i got out of there.

ha ha.

proof of our hard work. smile.

The work really was trying to carry all those bags the rest of the day.

But really we had spent so much time (and money)at Forever 21

we didn't last too much longer.

but we had worked up a hearty appetite. Nothing tastes so good as

eating after a good day of shopping. And we were super excited that there

was a California Pizza Kitchen!!

There were a lot of American restaurants in the area. Which is very

exciting when you live over seas.

Ahhh, perfection. It had the perfect view.

We were so hungry and so excited about the menu...we ordered

a ridiculous amount of food. Yes, they thought we were

crazy here too. Our waiter forgot one of our pizza's and when we

let him know he said, "I'm sorry, there was just so much food!"

Us piggy Americans. hee hee. I mean oink oink.

too funny.

but as full as we were. Everyone had to get something at Jamba Juice.

oh the things you take for granted in the states. smile.

no i didn't get these shoes, but the guy who worked there was so funny.

(see him in the back?)

Have you ever seen a 4 story Dunkin' Donuts before?

Cool huh?

there are a lot of Dunkin' Donuts in Korea. and krispy Creme too!

We barely made it back out alive!

Although the real challenge will be getting past our husbands

with all of this stuff. ha.

the taxi ride back to the base, ahh...it was a "happy sale" day.

(see the seoul tower below?)

the end.

eye candy galore!

(one of the pictures on kelly's pinterest page. I think rebecca's hair will look super cute like this.)

Need some eye candy? Look no farther. My sister's pinterest page fills you up. My sister is one of those people who just exudes style and coolness. People are always really drawn to her because of it. Actually, both of my younger sister's are like that. They keep me young and hip. Or at least they try! ha ha. I love them for it. If you read my blog, you probably know about hers. If not here it is.