Bucket List

I'm a dreamer and have so many things I want to do with my life. I even want to go to school and become so many different things i'm a little crazy. Besides school most of my dreams involve traveling. There is nothing I love more than a vacation, whether it's camping, the beach, a cabin, you name it and I'll go! I have only been to California and I went to the Bahamas last year with my mom but there is one place I've always wanted to go.... New York City! My best friend Meagan went there when we were in 7th grade and i've secretly hated her ever since so we decided it's time I go so I can get over my grudge :). Not only am I going to NYC but i'm going at Christmas time with two good friends. I'm crossing off number one on my bucket list and I can hardly contain my excitement! The best part is we got super cheap flights and I have a relative (kinda) who lives in New York who is letting us stay in her apartment while she comes to AZ for Christmas and I am so so grateful. We are going to save a whole lot of money. This is just what I needed to get me through this semester.

I've always wanted to write out a bucket list so I will finish this post with my Bucket List:

1. Go to NY at Christmas time

2. I dream about going SKYDIVING every night (who wants to join?)

3. Be married in the temple and raise a famliy

3. Have my own horsies

4. Own a cabin up in the mountains

5. Go to Paris, London, all those fun places with my husband

6. Go to Hawaii

7. Spend a summer in Africa helping at an orphanage

8. Nanny on the East Cost

9. Go hunting (weird right? I dont want to shoot any cute animals though)

10. Swim with sharks, in a cage of course

11. Go to New Zealand and zip line and bunjee jump in Queensland

12. Ride a horse on the beach

13. Do a triatholon

14. Scuba Dive somewhere super cool

15. Learn another language

16. Teach English in like China or something

17. Learn to play the piano

18. Learn to yodel (Just Kidding! would be cool though ha)

19. Go on an airboat ride through the everglades (done and was awesome)

20. Ride in a hott air balloon

21. Ride on a motorcycle

22. Go hiking in the rainforest

23. Ride on a subway

24. Go to Cedar Point in Ohio and go crazy riding rollercoasters

25. Swim with dolphins

26. Ride an elephant

27. Go on a safari ride and see lions

28. Visit the concentration camps in Germany ( I love learning about the Holocaust)

29. Become pro at ping pong

30. Learn to quilt

32. Have a freaking amazing shower in my bathroom

33. Kiss Josh Duhmal

32. Meet Jack Bauer and Michael Scofield

Obviously the last two will never happen but I can dream! Next one on the list I wanna do is Skydiving so im serious who wants to go with me!!

He will carry you

I love this quote and it is so true. This week I had one of my friends lose her dad and it has brought back a lot of the feelings I had when my dad died. Going through something like that has strengthened my testimony more than I could ever put into words. I have learned more from that trial then I think I could ever learn in anything else. I just feel so incredibly grateful for the atonement and for the plan of salvation. The only thing that brings me comfort is knowing that we will all be with our families forever in the next life. Knowing that Christ suffered for every one of us and bled from every pore makes me want to do what is right. Every time I hear a lesson on the atonement I can't help but feel overwhelmed with not only the love Christ has for me but the love I have for him also. He suffered through every thing anyone could ever have to go through so that we can repent and live with him forever. If everyone were to keep that in their mind I know we would all be much better people. All of this relates to everything in life not just losing someone. Everyone has trials some are small some are big but I know that if we go to the Lord that he will help us through them. There was a song that I really liked that was sung at the funeral called He will carry you so I will just end this post with the lyrics from a part of that song:

And when there are moments when no earthly words
can take away your sorrow
And no human eyes could see what you’re going through
When you’ve taken your last step and done all that you can do

He will lift your heavy load and carry you

And he's off!

Dallin left for his mission on Wednesday and I am so excited for him! It was definately bitter sweet having to say bye for two years, he even got my mom to cry when we were saying bye haha. He has basically lived at my house for the past 10 months and has been such a great example to not only me but my whole family. The week before he left he gave my little brother Travis a fathers blessing before school started and it was hands down the sweetest thing i've ever heard! He has such a strong testimony and love for the gospel and such an excitement to serve a mission. The people of Singapore and Malaysia are going to just love him, I know it! I'm a better person because of him and everything he's taught me I could go on and on but I don't want to bore you all :) Good luck Elder Parker.. time to start stalking the mailman!!!