Meeting Mckenna and Gpa Tidwell

Friday, October 12

I had been dying ever since Mckenna was born to meet her in person. Of course my family had sent me many many pictures, and I had seen her on Skype, but it just isn't the same. Well morning came and me and Travis woke up around 4 that morning to get ready and head up to Fresno to catch our flight. The Fresno Airport is small and is never busy that early in the morning. Well I won't give all the horrible details of the story because I'd rather not relive it, but basically we missed checking our bags in for our flight by 1 minute. So we were totally bummed out because we were supposed to arrive around 9:00 AM MST, and the next available flight wasn't going to arrive until 3:20 PM MST. It was a TOTAL let down. Instead, we ended up going to breakfast and going shopping at the mall to waste time. Finally we arrived and I got to meet the new addition to my side of the family. She is an absolute doll, especially in person. I just could't get enough of her. We oo'd and aww'd over here the whole time I was there. That night we enjoyed dinner with the whole family: Mom and Dad, Shannon, Josh, Mckenna, Me, Travis, Jeremy, Amanda, and Shane. The guys then played Ticket to Ride while the girl's chatted away and caught up on everything.

All the girls in the family

Saturday, October 13

Saturday morning we headed up to the U of U hospital to visit with my Grandma and Grandpa Tidwell. My grandpa had open heart surgery a couple of weeks ago, and then they decided he needed a pacemaker as well. So they did that too. Lucky for us he is doing really well for being 82. He is actually home now and is working on recovery and gaining his strength back. He was really happy that they provided him with the ESPN sports package. He has always kept up on sports and his hospital stay wasn't any different. I am so lucky that I have been able to know all of my grandparents very well and they are all still with us.

Work Desktop

I have this as my desktop picture at work. I absolutely love to see this precious bundle of joy several times a day. This is my cute niece Mckenna. I can't help but smile and be happy when I see her sweet face. I can't wait to hold her a week from today, October 12!!!!

A fun date...just for two

September 29-30

 

 

Trav and I want to make sure that we explore California while we are here. We don't know how long we will stay, it could be a very long time, it could be short, but we want to make sure we go see the places that are now such a short drive away.

 

This weekend we took a trip to the Santa Monica Pier. We enjoyed the carnival rides on the pier. They are not as crazy and adrenalin rushing as Magic Mountain, but it was a wonderful date. I especially love the Ferris Wheel. The lights had so many varieties and it was kind of like watching an awesome firework show in a sense. For dinner, we ate at a place downtown Santa Monica called Yankee Doodles.

The next day we headed back down tot he pier, but decided to hit up the beach. Travis didn't want to miss out on Clam Chowder so we found a place on the pier and he had clam chowder while I had a burger. lol....I'm not a seafood fan.

 

--As a side note, Trav LOVES Red Lobster. I don't prefer to go there because there is basically nothing that I want to eat, well I just heard a commercial on TV that stated that Red Lobster will be offering a wider variety of foods. BEST NEWS EVER! lol :)--

 

After lunch we headed down to the beach. We laid out on our towels for while just feeling the perfect temperature breeze and watching the waves crash in. Of course we wanted to go for a swim. As we slowly creeped into the water it was super cold, but our bodies adjusted just fine after a a  few splashes. Because I have hard contacts I have to be VERY careful that I don't get the salt water in my eyes or I am down for the day. So I stayed closer to shore where the waves would crash up  high, but not completely cover me. Trav on the other hand, headed out to the deeper waters and eventually came to join me after being completely crashed on my a huge wave. He experienced being sucked under to the point he was worried about coming back up. So he thought where I was located looked perfect for him too. Which I was glad because we had a great time laughing together and loving the waves. I love the ocean! It is beautiful!! I could listen to the sound of waves crashing and seagulls all day....so soothing.

I really cherish the moments that me and Travis spend together. President Uchtdorf said it well today in Conference...."We cannot take for granted one single day. I pray that we will not wait until we are ready to die before we truly learn to live." I think that with not having much of his time while he was in school, I REALLY appreciate the time we have together to laugh, to talk, to become closer, and to share life experiences.

Mountains to Climb

Sunday, Septeberm 23rd-

Today I gave my R.S. lesson on the talk given by President Henry B. Eyring from the April General Conference titled Mountains to Climb.

Foudation of Faith

1. The footing or ground on which our foundation is built-Personal Integrity.

The ground on which we are building our foundation must be strong to withstand the storms that will come into every life. choosing good in the sight of god will help prepare our faithe for the tirals that are ahead of us in life.

"Our choosing the right consistently, and whenever the choice is placed beofore us, creates the solid ground under our faith. It can begine in childhood since every soul is born with the free gift of the Spritit of Christ. With the Spirit we can know when we have done what is right before God and when we have done gwrong in His sight."

2. The metal framework or rebar- The Gospel of Jesus Christ

 The Gospel helps us to build our faith in Christ and enables us to receive and keep the covenants, ordiinances, and principles given to us, which also gives our foundation strength.

3. Forms the concrete is poured into-Testimonies (My thoughts)

Your Testimony is wrapped around The Gospel of Jesus Christ. Sometimes your testimony is strong and and other times when it is weak, you can rely on others testimonies to hold you up in difficult times.

Curing Time-Requires action
That curing does not come automatically through the passage of time, but it does take time. Getting older does not do it alone. It is serving God and others persistently with full heart and soul that turns testimony of truth into unbreakable spiritual strength.


"It is never too late to strengthen the foundation of faith. There is always time. With faith in the Savior, you can repent and plead for forgiveness. There is someone you can forgive. There is someone you can thank. There is someone you can serve and lift. You can do it wherever you are and however alone and deserted you may feel

"If we have faith in Jesus Christ, the hardest as well as the easiest times in life can be a blessing".

I shared this quote that hangs on my wall from my Grandma and Grandpa Tidwell that includes this quote by Thomas S. Monson.

“Anxiously you ask, 'Is there a way to safety? Can someone guide me? Is there an escape from threatened destruction?' The answer is a resounding yes! I counsel you: Look to the lighthouse of the Lord. There is no fog so dense, no night so dark, no gale so strong, no mariner so lost but what its beacon light can rescue. It beckons through the storms of life. It calls, 'This way to safety; this way to home.”
― Thomas S. Monson

New Niece-Mckenna

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

 

My first niece on my side of the family was born this week. I'll leave Shannon to tell all the details, but her name is Mckenna Jassamine Ewell (Jassamine after my Great Grandma Ford). She was 6 lbs. 6 oz. and was 21 1/2 inches long. It is very hard not to be there and be able to hold her. I always imagined being at the hospital and seeing my sister's babies in the hospital, but I did get a chance to skype with baby Mckenna. It isn't quite the same, but I am grateful for technology that helps me stay connected to our families. I will be headed out to cuddle this little cutie on October 12th and it just can't come fast enough. I just want to kiss her cute little cheeks!!

 

 She is just a little doll and my sister says that she is a great baby thus far. Shannon and Josh are wonderful parents to baby Mckenna. We are so glad to have her here with us.

Flowers and Friends

Monday, September 17th

I came home from work and Trav had bought me some "Just Because" flowers. It was super sweet I love having fresh flowers to look at everyday. I love my honey!

For journal purposes..

Later that weekend, just for fun, Trav and I headed up to Fresno to go shopping for Trav some new work shoes and church shoes and to find my dad a gift. We also had to check out Dog House Grill, which is a burger joint (a good one at that) accross from the campus of Fresno State. We always have a good time singing in the car together and trying to duets. I love doing the small things together!!

Trav and I have been following Big Brother 14. We love talking strategy and about who we think the Head of Household is going to put up on the block and what the winner of the "power of veto" will do. This season just got over and geeky, but strategic Ian won the $500,000, but we were both happy that Frank (who was up on the block every week and who won a lot of HOH competitions) took home $25,000 for being the fan favorite.

Friday, September 21st

One of my co-workers, Belen T. , had a birthday this week. A bunch of girl's from my work went out to dinner to celbrate her birthday at Chilito's Mexican Grill. The food was really good and we had a great time laughing about funny experiences at work. Always nice to have a girl's night out and these girls are a hoot! My mouth hurt from laughing so much. Don't worry....I had a diet coke :) While I was gone, Travis and Evan went to a high school football game...I just don't think they can get enough football!

Marianita, Cristalia, Christina, Mya

Belen T., Maribel, Belen C.

Labor Day Weekend

San Francisco- September 1-3

 

We decided Friday night to take a trip up to Livermore-San Francisco for Labor Day Weekend. Our good friends Evan and Jessica Dean were kind enough to invite us. We had a great time relaxing and enjoying their company.

 

 Some of our fun.....

-Lombard Street

-Crossing the Bay Bridge

-Driving in the car singing with Trav

-Pier 39

-Walking Fisherman's Wharf
-Ghirardelli Square (Strawberry/Rocky Road Ice Cream)

-Movie and Pizza

-Breakfast at a little cafe

-Giants vs. Diamondbacks (Won 9 to 8 in the 10th inning)

-Playing with Lily (I just can't get enough of her)

-Lots of laughs

-Burning rubber on a almost vertical hill in a manual Corolla

Awesome street entertainer

Thanks Evan, Jess, and Lily for the fun weekend!!