Institute and Biking

During the summer months, Institute holds one class and it covers the May Ensign which contains all the April General Conference talks. We've had 3 classes so far and I've been able to attend 2 of them. I am so grateful for Institute and the great teachers that are there. I really learn a lot and can feel the spirit so strongly.

I've been able to read the General Conference talks before class and make my own markings based on what sticks out to me at the time. I'm so grateful for prophets today and for the modern revelations that they receive for us and that we can receive personally for ourselves. God and His Son, Jesus Christ, have not abandoned us, but have set out a plan for us to return to live eternally in their presence. That is an incredible knowledge; that there is someone who loves me and everyone who has ever lived and will ever live so much that He wants us to grow and learn and then return to Him. He has established the way in which we can do so if we have the faith to believe in and to follow Him. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to have the Holy Spirit with me at all times. The peace and comfort which comes from that presence in my life is extraordinary. I strive to follow Christ and His prophets' teachings, and I know that I can ask in prayer for guidance to do those things. I am so thankful for the Church being a part of my life and being a support system for me when I am separated by distance from my family. <3

My goal for the summer exercise wise is to bike or walk to Institute each week. It's roughly a 2 mile stretch, but I don't know how accurate that amount is since I cut through campus to get there from my apartment. When I bike I can get there in about 15 minutes, so it's a good bit of a ride :) I'm also continuing my nightly routine of ab exercises and push ups :) As well as almost being done with the Book of Mormon for the first time all the way through (I'm in Ether :D I know this has nothing to do with exercise but it is part of my nightly routine and I'm pretty excited about it)

Anyways, life is grand and I'm enjoying a break from school before I take classes in July. I'm working, volunteering with Family Promise (which I've been doing for about a year and a half off and on; I just sit in their Day Center and answer the phone if it rings), reading a bunch of books, and having a great time!

Yoga, Cold Weather, and Bangs

Caroline and I finally made it to the yoga class and I really enjoyed it! We worked our hips and legs for the most part and I felt it the next day as I was power walking it across campus! It's been below freezing for three days now and I don't want to be outside for very long so I make sure to bundle up and move it! And this cold weather finally paid off with snow this morning! :)

Oookay, I brought back my bangs! I've been thinking about it and just decided to cut them today, and so far so good. Go check out my facebook page to see the results :D

New Job and a 9-Person Dinner

So i figured while I'm waiting for the cake I'm making for a friend's birthday (Happy Birthday Sara!) to finish baking I would send a little shout out to my blog :)

I got a new job! I had to leave Kids Klub after one and a half years because my class schedule next semester won't work with their schedule :( I loved my time there, but I'm ready for a change of venue and coworkers. Now I'm working with a country club as a hostess for their restaurants. I start training this weekend, so wish me luck! :) I kinda fell into this job and I'm so grateful for it! Now I don't have to run around town asking places if they're hiring like I was planning on having to do.

Hmm... whatever happened to my goal about cooking? This semester has been crazy busy, but I did make dinner for the missionaries (5 of them), my two home teachers, and Leanna. It was spaghetti, alfredo, chicken breasts, salad, garlic bread, and pink lemonade. Leanna bought some of the stuff, but I ended up putting it all together while she cleaned the house for our guests (and ourselves) :) I cheated a little though: the chicken breasts were precooked and frozen, the garlic bread just had to be heated, and all I did for the salad was put it in a bowl. But I did watch the noodles boil, heat up the sauces to go on top of them, add the last of my frozen broccoli to the alfredo, and stir the lemonade powder :) As well as clean off the kitchen table and set everything out. It turned out well, it was edible and we only had a bit of spaghetti and garlic bread left over.

New Routine

So I've been trying to wake up at 7am every morning, it works better some days than others haha. I've also started being more consistent in reading from my Ensign every night (I'm behind a few months, so I'm not reading the current issue) and from my Book of Mormon every morning after I wake up. I've been really good about reading an article before bed, but reading in the morning has been a bit more difficult as I seem to keep falling back asleep, haha. I'm trying to figure out where the best place to read in the morning is for me, so far my bed's not working! But I'm enjoying the effort I'm putting towards reading more spiritual things each day :)

Red, White, and Blue Breakfast

So while this isn't technically cooking, it does involve food so I'm gonna say it anyway :)

Leanna bought cream cheese and bagels this week and told me to help her finish them (thanks Leanna!). So as I was fixing my half of a bagel, I decided to put some raspberry/blackberry preserve/jam/stuff on top. SO delicious! After I made it I noticed how it was white and red and if you put some blueberries on top you'd have the perfect breakfast for the Fourth of July! haha :) So I may have to try that...

A friend told me about another breakfast idea where you make a sandwich with cream cheese and raspberry/blackberry jam/stuff and then french toast the sandwich (dip it in eggs and cook it). She said it's amazing and I am going to HAVE to test it out some time! :)

Dating in the Sea of Life

Life is like being in the sea and we're all trying to keep our heads above water. Sometimes you find a boat with someone, but for whatever reason you either get tossed out to sea or you jump off the boat and you're back to treading water. Dating is this whole process of finding stability and getting tossed out to sea again and again until you find the person who will share their boat with you for eternity. Now you may face rough storms and waves, but you will be together throughout and you won't be tossed out on your own again.

Cardio Step!

The Student REC Center had a free Cardio Step Mix class this morning, so me and a friend went to try it out. We really enjoyed it! I had never done step before, and the instructor included some kickboxing moves as well. But it was a great start to our morning! :)

So I needed a new watch that I can put on my bike and went to Target to look at what they have. Found a nice $10 one and then HAD to look at the $1 section :) I picked out 5 things to get, go to check out and my total is $1.35--- they were all on sale for even LESS!!! haha. That made my day :)

Kickboxing it hard core!

Last week in my total fitness class we did kickboxing. I'd never done it before, but I liked it. Plus it's something simple that I can do at home on my own :)

My elbow hurts :( I don't really know why... I played ping pong on Friday before Midnight Yell, so maybe that made it sore but I'm not sure. I also have some cuts on my leg above my ankle that I have no idea where I got... I wouldn't mind these things as much if I knew where they came from! haha

The Semester of Pain and Gain

I have to ride my bike across campus two days a week so that I have a chance of getting to my classes on time and back to my car to leave for work on time. My classes are back to back so I also have to pack my lunch and sneak in bites between classes (or during class :D).

I'm taking a total fitness KINE course, so once a week we have our work out day. This past week we worked our core- and I'm feeling it!

I'm also in an advanced/rescue scuba course!!! :D So excited about it, but I'm sure at times it'll work me pretty hard as well.

And then you can't forget that I chase after children 5 times a week for my job, that Leanna and I are walking together whenever we find time to do so, and that I plan to attend volleyball each week.

Also add in the fact that I'm not keeping junk food/desserts in the apartment this semester.

Needless to say I'm gonna be sore for the most part of this Fall, but my body is gonna appreciate all that I'm doing!

Riding Against the Wind

Went to volleyball tonight, got to play 2 games (somewhat successfully for my no talent at sports). Came home and just really needed to be on my own, so I got my iPod and bike and went on campus.

It felt amazing being on my bike again (but I really need to put air in my tires...). I rode for only 20 minutes or so because I was paranoid about my tires and I have an early morning tomorrow. But riding did the trick :) Getting my heart pumping and being outside helped me to realize why I wasn't feeling that great tonight and maybe by recognizing why, I can figure out how to prevent/overcome it.

line up!

Despite not waking up as early as we have in the past for our Sunday morning walks, we did go out and do it :) It was a very short walk, about 15 minutes, but we did lines behind a building using the cracks as our turning points. So we got our hearts beating a bit and lost our breath haha.

On Friday, Leanna wasn't in town and I went on a Temple trip with the ward (so amazing!) and afterwards a group of us and others who weren't able to go on the trip went and played sand volleyball and go swimming. I actually played this time! :) And getting in the pool felt great despite the fact that I kept getting attacked and dunked haha.

The elementary schools start up this Monday, so soon those kiddos will be making me run and chase after them all afternoon long! I don't want work to start but I know I'll enjoy it once I go :)

Volleyball y'all :)

The public schools are starting next week, which means so is my job. So this week is training and meeting the new hires. So I've been playing gym games and running around in the hot hot Texas heat for the past 2 days. BUT in keeping with our goal Leanna and I walked around our church building for 30 minutes and added some lunges and squats into the mix as well. Go us! Oh and Leanna played some volleyball while I tried to stay awake and not get hit haha. Today was a tiring day for me for some reason.