Oh Yes....MORE Wilderness!!

After girls camp, I went straight to camp with my family. Coming to a grand total of camping for 7 days! At least here there was showers and warm water. We had fun playing in the water, sleeping a whole lot more then at girls camp, and 4-wheeling. It was a nice getaway with my fabulous family...along with a great reunion back with them!!

In The Wilderness...

Girls camp ROCKED!!!! I have found my dream calling and would do it every year. For all who don't know I went to camp as the assistant stake camp director. We had a BLAST and hope that we touched every single girl there. Here is camp in pictures with a little bit of explanation.

The RAIN...



Some FOOD...



The CLEANING...


The CREW (well some of them)...





The Stake Presidency...


The BEAR!!!!!(this is NOT a joke!!!!)




What can I say? IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!!

Blessing and the long journey to get here...

As I sit here and listen to the song "The Climb" I think about the past several years. Well actually my entire life.

Here are the words to the song:(It is the song playing on my blog right now)

I can almost see it
That dream I am dreaming
But there's a voice inside my head saying
"You'll never reach it"

Every step I'm taking
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking

But I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down
But no, I'm not breaking

I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most, yeah
Just gotta keep going

And I, I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on

'Cause there's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb, yeah!

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Somebodies gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb, yeah!

Keep on moving, keep climbing
Keep the faith, baby
It's all about, it's all about the climb
Keep the faith, keep your faith, whoa.

The message in this song is so incredible. As I have gone over many many mountains in life, I am amazed at how the journey is what made me strong, not the reward at the end of if it.

I look back at the bumpy journey as Big Bean and I endured school with one child, then two. There were times I thought we were crazy, or wondered if this was all going to be worth it. My last huge mountain was graduating from school. Talk about once sense of accomplishment. I was talking to a family member on Saturday and her comment was "Well, that took you forever." You know what, it did, but I DID IT!!!

I am SO SO grateful for my hubby and kids. After graduation came one of the steepest slopes of my schooling mountain. Boards. I was at a loss and just didn't know how to study, partially because I was SO burnt out with school and partially I just didn't know what to expect. The morning of my boards I was beyond overwhelmed. The ocean of tears kept coming like a flood seen in Noah's time. With the sweet support of my monkeys and Big Bean I received a blessing.

I was off to take boards. I cannot tell you much about that test. I truly feel like there was another person there clicking that mouse on the answers. When I was done (done meaning the computer just shuts off, yes people, there is no knowing if it was passed or failed) I was sure that I failed. Again Noah flood tears came and I had no confidence. After taking a nap, I felt like things were complete.

Well I found out the next day late late at night that I passed. I PASSED!!! Again, tears...though this time, they were tears of completion. I passed, I finished school, I was a nurse. This was a goal that I thought I would get to one day, but not today. I did it, that day!!! I knew I was truly blesses by my Heavenly Father for making it though the most grueling schooling of my life. He blesses my kids while I was gone, and he blessed my hubbs with the patients needed while I was gone.

The next part of this journey was to make it over the peak and find a job. One that I could be home, but one that I loved. A year ago that would have been easy, but because of the economy nursing jobs are very hard to come by other then in home health. So again, I prayed and prayed. Then an opportunity opened up through a connection. One interview, one job application, and I was hired. I got my JOB!!! I am so excited.

I will be working the hours and minimal days I wanted. Life was finally starting to take off. I know that Bean and I have spent many hours praying, fasting, going to the temple hoping that one day all this hard, sometimes impossible feeling work would all pay off. I know that because we were so dedicated and set clear goals, though they make have taken longer then planned, we would be blessed.

I would be so ungrateful if I did not openly say how blessed I am!!! I know that Heavenly Father loves me and my family. He does want us to succeed and obtain our righteous desires. I am SO SO blesses to have the awesome husband that I have. I was told the other day, that he is truly a kind man. I had to agree, and fight back the tears (after all, we were walking into Costco). He truly is the most kind man!!! I am grateful fo Lima and all her "You can do it mom" support, and Pinto for her squishies.

To the next mountain in life....HERE I COME!!!!

The BIG day...

Lima has been dancing since she was two....and LOVING it!!! This year the dance studio she attends chose The Wizard of Oz for their performance. Lima's class were the munchkins who helped Dorothy follow the yellow brick road. We are not allowed to video tape to performance but I will post her dance as soon as I get the DVD from the dance studio.

I was very proud of Lima. Dancing on the stage at Kingsbury is a big thing for a little kid. This is her second year dancing on the "big stage" (in her words) and she looks forward to it from the first day of dance every fall. Pinto was sad that it was not her turn this year to dance on the "big stage". But Lima shared a flower and she was reassured that next year, she too could wear a fancy costume and dance up there with the big girls.

Here are some pictures of the BIG day!!!

We are getting ready to go.



She was SO excited to receive flowers...funny girl!!


While we were waiting for them to take them down to their waiting rooms, they let Lima hold the wicked witched broom. SHE was stoked!!! After the performance we went and bought ice cream and she kept telling everyone she was the witch. Then she would proceed with a shrieking cackle.


Pinto wanted in on the picture taking. So she posed with glow dog. And yes, the dog went to the performance with us. She kept telling the lights to turn off so glow dog could help everyone see. FUNNY girl!


We had a great time!! It will be nice to have a month off then back to it!!
I cannot not even think of the cost of it now...for next year.

What I Woke Up To This Morning...

My response to that? I LOVE MY FRIENDS!!!!!

Oquirrh Mountain Temple

What a year for temples. We had the opportunity to volunteer at, and tour the Draper temple. AND we just went to the Oqiurrh Mountain Temple open house. What an experince. We were not only able to go to one but two open houses in a 6 month period.

The temple was beautiful and simple. It was one of the most simple celestial rooms I have ever been in. LOVE IT!!! The girls enjoyed it and the cookies at the end were a bonus.

If you live close by...GO!! It is so worth it.

Happy Birthday to a big 5 year old!!!

So I am a little late but we had to have both the actual day pictures and family party pictures.

I cannot believe Lima is already 5. If I had a scanner I would attach pics of when she was born...bummer. The last five years has been a great joy along with many challenges. As a baby from about 2 months on, she was perfect. A great sleeper and easily entertained. As she has gotten older the sleeping is still fabulous but the easily entertained has been a little challenging. This child has SO much energy that I run out of tasks for her to do. That energy comes in handy when she is being a princess though, because all the princesses clean in the movies, so she cleans everything too.

For her birthday we kept things low-key this year. We decorated for her to wake up to in the morning.
She decided that she wanted to decorate her room more, so with masking tape and a ton of leftover streamers in hand, she got busy.

Then the birthday fairy (thanks Brit) left donuts for her to eat for breakfast.

After opening presents and friend came over and the giddy girly giggling began. They watched a movie while having a picnic lunch on the floor followed by decorating cupcakes and staining everything possible, pink.
Then off to run through the sprinklers. It was a very fun day for her and a very laid back day for mom. Almost 2 dozen cupcakes were consumed that day but hey, calories don't count on birthdays!!!

On Sunday we had family over for presents and cake. I took on the task of making her cake again this year. There were stressful moments but I loved it.

Happy birthday you crazy energetic, singing, dancing, wild, imaginative kid!!! Mom and dad love you.

Taking a deep breath....

I PASSED MY BOARDS!!! I AM NOW A REGISTERED NURSE!!!!! Do I feel like one? NO. Am I freaking out right about now? YES. Do I have a job? NO. Do I care right now? NO. Am I numb with excitement? YES!!!!

So here is how the story goes:

As I was leaving for my boards yesterday, I broke down is sobbing tears of fear and the feeling of unpreparedness and inadequacy. My cute family offered lots of hugs and "You can do it" support. I asked the hubs to give me a blessing to calm my heart, brain, and thoughts. I felt better after but was still FREAKING out. So I went on my way. I was more nervous then i had ever been. I sat down and started the test around 11:40. I went through the tutorial (yeah apparently clicking is a hard concept hehehehe) and then the first evil question appeared. Oh dear, was the thought, then the next question (imagine blank stare at the screen) and it kept going from there. I had to calm myself take a breath. The last time I looked at the questions answered I was in the 40's, THEN the test shut off.

I ABOUT YELLED!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. But it is a silent test. I looked at the clock. 1:00, 1:00? Oh no!! I went to the car, and cried. Drove home, and cried. Walked in the door went to my room, and cried. I cried and cried and cried. I was so sure I had failed. So what is a person to do? Take a nap of course. When I woke up from my nap I had a feeling of completions and peace. Then of course anxiety and chaos of the test sneaks in. Then it is back to worry, tears, overeating, and stress!!!!

So today I decided I was over it (like that lasted) and went and played. Though it seemed like every moment i was gravitating to the dumb computer to see if my license was posted. I finally gave up at about 7:00. Well that a fellow class mate sent me a message to check the website. I could not type fast enough. As I held my breath, I waited for the page to pull up. i thought I was going to have a hear attack waiting....waiting....waiting. It is insane how 5 seconds seems like MINUTES.

Then it was there, Lori Anne Green Registered Nurse. And yes, yet again there was tears, heart palpitations, and FREAKING OUT. I passed!!! I PASSED!!! I can not even describe my relief, excitement, emotional deep breath, and the best and final feeling of self satisfaction. I did it!! I DID IT!!!! So here is my joyful jumping up and down I can run miles (bahahaha, yeah right maybe to the end of the drive-way) over filling indescribable delight.

PEOPLE.....I AM OFFICIALLY DONE WITH SCHOOL!!!!!