DId, DoInG, wiLL dO

This post is to fill you in on what I've been up to since I've gotten home.

Well First of all I got right back into piano lessons and guitar. I LOVE MUSIC!!! I'm working on a piece "Praise to the Man" with the piano, along with the Hymns, and I just bought a version of "The Entertainer" to learn but with the guitar. . . I'm always changing. HaHa I just can't
help but want to try and play lots o' different songs. I don't think my teacher is too fond of this, and I'm not mastering or perfecting any songs, but I'm sure having fun picking out different familiar songs :). If you have any suggestions, I'm willing to take them. My teacher introduced me to Priscilla Ahn "Dream" and that may be one I try to perfect...

Second was our amazingly fun and relaxing trip to Florida with Sherry's and Mark's families.

It was so nice to be able see and stay with family while having fun at the pools, Disney World parks, and just chill at the condo. The condo was WAY nice and there were so many things to do just at the resort: mini golfing, crafts, they had a gym, eating places, lazy rivers, splash pads, karaoke, ping pong tables, playgrounds, BBQ pits, etc. . .

I enjoyed going for runs around the pond that was in the middle of all the different buildings and one day as I was about to begin my run I took my first steps onto the first bridge, there were a few bridges that crossed over the water, and my cell phone, that I'd only had for about 4 days, flew out of my pocket and into the alligator infested waters. So I fed my cell phone to the Floridan Alligators. . . heh heh Mom and Dad weren't too impressed, well heck I wasn't impressed, but such is my luck and life, so I just laughed about it and have a good tale to tell.

The week was great and I was so so excited to go swimming again, especially the day we went to the beach, even though it was overcast and super foggy. Mark ordered sushi at the Seafood Grill on the beach, which is on my goal list to try, and it was Delish!! I also fairly enjoyed the Circus Show "Cirque de. . . " something. . . at Downtown Disney. Oh and Kaitlyn introduced me to the Dancing game on the Wii to break me from my awkward inability to dance from 18 months of no dancing :). Wow did I get my butt kicked by an 8 year old haha (but not any more!).

Since returning from Florida I've had a few more practices with this Wii dancing game and now I am ready to challenge whoever stands ready to compete. Ha!! Actually I still am not very good, but I get lucky sometimes. I have been introduced to Zumba and paid for the whole month of March to participate in a local exercise place. It was so much fun, when I went, and a really good work out while having lots o' fun at the same time. I recommend it to everyone! It also helps with learning how to dance, I've never been one to say I wanted to go to dances (even though all my friends always seem to be big dancers), but after these classes I always had this desire to go dancing. Oh it's so much fun!! I've got to find a good place in Provo that does it and then, who knows, maybe one day I'll get certified and teach it myself. Fun as Gum!!!

Another weekend I spent staying with the Doty children while Sandra and Pat were down in St. George for a home show. HaHa it was so much fun!! It was pretty much a party all weekend and getting paid for it :). I just love my family!!!

We watched movies, ate (and cooked it even) good food, and Kailey and Taylor took me shopping to the mall to introduce me to the new styles of today (wow has it changed quite a bit).

I ended up only getting jeans, I think, that day, but it showed me what's out there and since then I've added a few "in-style" outfits to my wardrobe. Actually I just buy what I like to wear and what I want to wear. Which Kailey Doty you still have my 80's jacket which YES is my favorite outfit to wear Still!!!

Hmmm lets see what else have I been up to. Well being a return missionary my ward and stake have kept me busy. I've already spoken in two wards with High Councilmen, I spoke with the stake president at a ward conference to the YW, I was a guest speaker to the YW in my ward, I've taught Primary, Sang for ward conference, Participated in the choir for the Well's farewell, got a visiting teaching route, and have just been the RS President's daughter so I do whatever mom tells me.

Oh I did get asked by the bishop to go to the temple at least once a week, so that's been a joy and blessing since being home. It truly is amazing how much you learn after each time you go. It's not always the spoken words that teach though. This last week I was walking up the stairs to go to a session room with my group and I was being taught. Not a word was being spoken by a single person, yet I was being so spiritually fed with knowledge. That's the beauty of the Holy Ghost and how abstractly he teaches. I love it!!! I love the gospel! If anyone would like to go to the temple I'm willing!!

I've been volunteering a little bit at the MTC too. It's been so much fun. I go as an investigator and the training missionaries teach me. I always go as a Spanish investigator, which helps my Spanish since I don't have too many opportunities to speak Spanish in my ordinary go-about day. Sometimes I won't know the words, but since they're just barely learning right now too it's just a great opportunity to go and bask in the spirit and be spiritually fed. They really are changing the curriculum at the MTC and how they're learning Spanish is so much more effective than when I was there! Truly the missionaries are doubling in Amazingness now!! I love the MTC it truly is one amazing place.

Well as some of you may know I did end up buying Daddy-o's car from him. For the longest time I could never remember what kind it was and when asked I'd just say, "It's a really nice red one." haha, but now I've learned it's a 2007 Honda Accord. It's nicer than I'm used to driving and it's causing me to be a much more cautious driver. You may feel safe riding with me now. . .

Last weekend I went with mom and dad down to St. George because Dad had Mayor meetings and I hadn't been down to visit Ben yet. I got to visit Dr. Ben Cope who said I have the most beautiful teeth he's ever seen and even after 18 months I didn't even need to have the visit -Ha! Then surprisingly my trainer from my mission happened to be in Enterprise at the exact same time. It was crazy and what a coincidence! Her aunt lives there and so I got to see her after about 8 months. It was a way fun reunion filled weekend. Ben and Jodi's boys kept me entertained with trains and Reid played his violin for me and, of course, Ben and Jodi filled me up with lots of good food. You'll have to ask Ben about his invention of egg toast. It's pretty good! -just make sure you're hungry!

I got a new journal since I've been home to keep up-to-date with. I always have it with me. I carry it in my purse and whenever I get a chance or have a moment I just write. I've always been quite fond of writing and keeping a journal, but the hardest part is finding that time to write. I highly recommend going to Barnes and Noble and getting one of these leather little journals, actually you can get whatever journal you want, but if you get it small enough to fit in your purse ladies, men I don't know for you, you find yourself catching that time in moments you're riding in the car, waiting at a doctor's office, waiting outside in the car for someone you're picking up, etc... It's such a blessing to have and I'm constantly re-reading my journal entries. It's also a great de-stresser I think too! Helps clear your mind, get out your thoughts, and I find myself receiving my own personal revelation while writing a lot. It's no wonder we're counseled to keep a journal!

Well I have a lot more to up-date you with, but I'm flying out to Reno, NV tomorrow to visit my sister Julie and I just don't have enough time to finish right now. So this will be continued later. . . . I LOVE YOU ALL!!!