4th of July

Ok, so one reason I have not been posting too much lately is becuase my camera has acting strangely and not working very well for me. Good news is that I got a new one over the weekend and so I hope to be posting more often and showing you pictures of all the goofy and fun things I do.

I'll start of by telling how much fun I had celebrating our Independance Day. I started off the day by going to the parade. It was lots of fun, but it could have used more floats..I think there might have been one in the entire thing! My friend and I told our bishop that we think our ward should do a float for next years parade so they will at least have two! :)

After the parade I spent the day doing various things... One- I went and bought my camera, Two-I went and walked around all the booths at Cherry Days. It was fun, but way too much temptation to buy little things I didn't need. Last, but not least I went up in the mid-afternoon to lay down our blanket and secure our spot for the fireworks. As I was walking along the field heading back down to the parking lot I was startled when a bee flew in my mouth! I tried spitting it out, but when I did the bee just flew further down my throat. I tried gagging it out, but in the process of doing that the bee stung me and out of instinct from the pain I swallowed! Pain is a very difficult thing to describe but if I were to use the rating system of Brian Regan I would give this level of pain two very enthusiastic thumbs up!! It burned!! I tried drinking water at first and it seemed to help to keep my throat wet, however the pain was still really bad. It hurt to even take a breath. I realized this was becuase the stinger was still stuck in my throat. I went home and ate a few pieces of bread and luckily the stinger loosened and went down with one of the pieces. I then ate a big bowl a rainbow sherbet to try and soothe the pain. This brought a bit of relief, but not enough. My throat still hurts today if I swallow something hard or talk too much. However, I can't help but laugh at the whole story...I mean really...who swallows a bee! Ugh!

Despite the pain in my throat I went to the fireworks with a few friends and we had a good time. As we waited for the fireworks my friends played games while I played with my new camera and sat on my blanket reading my book (I'm addicted to Fablehaven). As I was playing around with my camera I noticed it has a special setting just for fireworks. This made me very happy and I got really excited to try it out. You'll find some of my favorites below. The fireworks were great and all in all it was a good day.

Waiting for the fireworks

I love this picture!!

Look at the clarity of these photos!

I love my new camera!!

And finally the grand finale!

Enjoy!!

Bring On The Rain

For those of you who live iin Utah you will understand what I mean when I say we have had some strange weather lately. One minute it's raining like crazy and the next the sun is shining. It seems like my life has been pretty similar lately. One minute things are going well and the next it's raining. The good thing about it is that I know somewhere past all the dark clouds the sun is shining again. Thinking about this reminded me of a song I love by the christian band called Mercy Me. The song is called Bring The Rain. I love the message it teaches that many times it's through our rainy days our struggles and trials that we grow closer to God. If our lives were only filled with sunshine and no sorrow we wouldn't have chances to call upon Him for help and grow as we feel His love and comfort in our lives. If I had the choice to have a life full of sunny days and no problems or a life with rain and sunshine and more opportunities to turn to God. I would shout...Bring Me The Rain!! I'll list the lyrics below the video clip. Enjoy!

Bring The Rain

by Mercy Me

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that
I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You

Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings
You glory And I know there'll
be days When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to
praise You Jesus, bring the rain

I am yours regardless of the clouds that may
loom above because you are much greater than
my pain you who made a way for me suffering
your destiny so tell me whats a little rain

A friend tagged this to me on her blog so here ya go...hope it's not too boring.

ABC Tag-

A- Addiction - Internet. I have a hard time going a day without checking my email, facebook, etc...

B- Breakfast (what you eat) - When I have time I usually eat Cocoa Puffs or Captain Crunch, when I’m in a hurry usually a glass of juice.

C- Chocolate or Chips - Depends on the day
D- Dessert or Appetizers - mm..usually dessert
E- Essential Items- My scriptures, my phone, and my meds

F- Favorite Color -  Purple all the way!

G- Gummy Bears or Gummy Worms - Gotta be the worms they are just plain funner to eat!

H- Hometown – Good ole Roy

I- Indulgence - Reeses Fast Break
J- January or July - July, I hate January it’s  just cold with icky ugly snow. July is full of sunshine and fun all around!

K- Kids - I love em’ all !!

L- Life isn’t complete without- My sister

M- Most exciting memory - mm..that’s a tough one. I get excited over lots of little things. It’s hard to say which one was the most exciting. I guess the most exciting thing right now would be if I actually remembered m most exciting memory!

N- Number of brothers & sisters - One sister and One brother

O- Oranges or Apples - Apples for sure, I’m not a citrus girl at all.
P- Phobias or Fears - I have way too many of them to name.. but I am very afraid of the dark.
Q- Quote - “Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!”

R- Reading currently -.Finding Peace Happiness and Joy by Elder Richard G. Scott
S- Summer or Spring - Summer... my birthday isn’t in the spring

T- Toenail color: Currently purple but outside in the sun it changes to pink.. hehe
U- Unknown fact about me - One of my favorite things to do is run and jump through puddles.

V- Vacation I want to go on - Church History Tour

W- Walking or Running - Walking..I’m not a very pretty runner... been told I look like Elmo when I run
X- XRay or Ultrasound - Ultrasound they are more fun

Y- Your favorite Food - Cheese Enchiladas with chips and guacamole

Z- Zoo or Bowling - Bowling!! I love bowling!! Wish I was bowling right now!!

Bummer

Well, I had another of my fainting spells yesterday. I went almost three months without having one! It was a bit of a bummer when I woke up and realized I'd gone down, but at the same time I am very blessed that I did go so long in between this episode and my last one. I can't complain about going down yesterday, even though I was really hoping that my spells were over for good. I can only thank my Heavenly Father for the time I had without going down. It has been so nice, and I can only hope it's a while before my next one. I don't know what the Lord has in store for the future of my health, but I do know that it is in His hands and it will work out the way He wants it to. 

In other news...after being in school since she was just a baby my sweet sister graduates this Friday. She is SO excited! We are all very happy and proud of her. We're not sure what she is going to do with her time now, but she is excited to get out of school.

Tara Turns 22!!

Wow, time flies so fast. My cute little sister turned 22 yesterday. I was only 6 when she was born, but I remember that day like it was yesterday. It seems so strange to think that she is 22 already.

She had a fun filled day...other than the fact she had to go to school...hehe. She did take some treats to school though and loved having the whole school sing happy birthday to her during lunch. Just before she came home from school my mom and I went outside and hung a big happy birthday sign on the garage so she would see it when she got off the bus. As soon as the bus pulled up we ran outside to see her reaction. She got off the bus with a huge smile on her face and walked right up to the garage just giggling and smiling. She read the sign out loud and said, "Sweet! I just got a garage door for my birthday!" Mom and I busted up laughing, it was classic Tara!

As she walked in the house the first thing she noticed was the smell of cake in the air and that again fueled the giggling laughter. The second thing she did was glance at the piano bench (the "present place" in our house) and was in awe of all the gifts lined up waiting to be opened. After presents we went to Applebees for dinner and so they could sing to her, and then we went to the movie 17 Again. It was fun. After the movie we went back and played with her gifts.

All in all it was a great day!!

Paul Cardall

I just have to get on today and talk about what a wonderful experience I had last night. I had the opportunity to attend a benefit concert held for popular pianist Paul Cardall. It was absolutely amazing. For any of you who don't know, Paul has a congenital heart defect and is in need of a heart transplant. The concert last night was to help raise money for Paul and his family. I know I bought a ticket and that I was there to support Paul, but it didn't feel like that last night. Last night there was a very special spirit that filled the room. I felt so honored to be able to be in attendance.

There were many great performances during the concert. Kurt Bestor started off with some beautiful and touching pieces, including a performance of Prayer of the Children. It was awesome. Then there were some fun performances by Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband, they were a hoot to watch on stage! Peter Brienholt sang some beautiful and fun songs. Colors (pretty much my favorite band ever!!) played some songs and Russ did his traditional rap. It was a great concert. There were times you were laughing, dancing, pondering and crying. The highlight of the night was when Paul and his family came up on stage and thanked everyone for coming, then Paul took a seat at the piano and played one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. I was bawling by the time he finished.

It was the best concert I've ever attended. The spirit of love that was there was undeniable. It felt so good to be there and doing good for someone else. Listening to everyone talk about Paul's condition and the other "cardiac kids" at Primary Children's Hospital just solidified that I want to go into the field of pediatric cardiology. If I could help one child to feel any better, or ease the pain of one physical or emotional heartache, it would all be worth it.

Thank you Paul for your example. You are in my prayers. May God bless you and your family.

General Conference

I'm so excited that it is now conference time again!! I love listening to the Brethren!! I love how every conference it seems like there is always that one talk that was meant just for you. I am looking forward to hearing what the Lord has to say to us at this time.

Just for fun I thought I'd post this fun video/song to get into the conference spirit.