Testing Testing

So I don't feel like calling, texting emailing ect everyone in the family so Im posting it here. If you don't like it tough :) Today I was called to be the First counselor in the Relief Society. And to mix it up they decided that I would be over enrichment instead of teachers. Im very overwhelmed right now and feel totally unprepared but know my father in heaven will help me. Prayers in my behalf are much appreciated.
Also Im hoping to get pictures posted of my new room sometime this week. There are some finishing touches I want to do before I post them
love you all

Saga of the dog who's afraid of the kitchen

So as some of you may know we have been dealing with a small problem involving our dog for over a month now. At the end of May one day we realized that our dog would not go into our kitchen. Why is this a problem you ask? Well because in order for her to get to her food and the back yard, she has to go into the kitchen. I noticed at the first part of that week that she (Cheyenne) wasn't eating. I wasn't too worried because John told me that sometimes she doesn't eat when it get warm outside. What worried me was when I realized that she wasn't drinking water. She finally got so thirsty that she drank out of Johns cup one day. It was then that we realized what the problem was. We couldn't figure out why she wouldn't go in the kitchen. So we moved her bowl by our dining room table while we searched for a resolution. When we went on our cruise Johns parents watched her and they said she had a hard time going in their kitchen as well. Well a few weeks later we noticed that she would not go on any non carpet floors. It was then that we discovered that her nails are so long that the pads on her paws don't hit the floor properly. Yes we need to take her to the vet but thats not in the budget right now as they have to put her to sleep to do it. She doesn't like anyone messing with her paws.
What we ended up doing was buying some rugs from the JCPenny outlet this weekend and putting them in the kitchen. Sure enough that was the problem. She was scared at first but we immediatly moved her water bowl and food dish back into the kitchen and she will eat. What was cute was the greatful look she gave John and I when she felt the carpet under her paws. I will post pics later.
Shes a sweetheart and yes we ( actually its more me) spoil her rotten.

Job? What Job

I couldn't think of anything more origonal for a title haha.. I just realized I hadn't updated the blog in a bit so I thought I would. First off no I still haven't found a job. Although I was given a lead on three positions which I could have had any, but after some rather quick soul searching, prayer and after talking with John I decided to decline all of them. Why you ask? Well long story. As some of you know I have been rather homesick since moving here, but I have been working really hard to become involved in the ward and some of the groups. Had I taken any of them it would have required me to work nights and weekends. This would also have taken away from the little time I would have to be with John. I asked John if it was selfish to turn down jobs because I wanted a life. Of course he said no. I realized while doing my swimming workout, that Heavenly Father, by giving me these opportunities was saying if you really want a job here. However if you continue to be patient I will provide one. I also realized that he wants me to have a job that makes me grow and utilized me to up utmost potential. So that's the job front. I'm very grateful to a wonderful husband who's been so supportive.
John and I continue to go to the gym three times a week. I am able to swim a little over a mile, and recently set new best time of 45 minutes. We also bike and do weights. I love going to the gym. I'm slowly losing weight and have felt better than ever for a while. Also recently I have been reading The Continuous Atonement by Brad Wilcox. I highly recommend it to everyone. I have a whole new appreciation of what the atonement is and how much our Savior loves us. Sometimes I am truly Humbled at how much he has seen fit to bless me.

Alaska

Here are a couple of pictures from our cruise. I have posted many more on Facebook for you all to see. Also to my family back in Oklahoma I am sending a DVD with pictures on it to mom and dad as soon as I can get it together. To the rest of you well if you want to see more you have yet another reason to come visit. Let me start of by saying that noone should wait until retirement age to see this wonderful part of the country. Its amazing that there is so much of this great state that is untouched by human hands. There is so much rich history that Im so glad there are many people who are working to save it. We absolutely loved it and soaked it all in. Pictures just can't do the beauty justice.

Fun Facts.

So as some of you know I have been having trouble sleeping at night. One thing I have started doing to try to help this is to listen to podcasts at night. Two of the ones I listen to are from Howstuffworks.com. The other night I listened to one about the Vikings. I must admit I fell asleep shortly before the end but one fact I found interesting is that the Vikings didn't wear hats with horns as is depicted.
One other fun thing I have found while searching out podcats was the collection of CBS Mystery Radio Theater. I remember as a little girl listening to this from time to time in the car with my parents on KSL Radio. I don't know if the program was still on the air at that time or if itwas a replay but I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to those again as well. I also found a podcast that plays some of the old time radio great dective stories. It makes me wish we still had wholesome stuff like that today.
As for life with us we are busy. John more than me. I have enjoyed getting together with some of the ladies in our ward. On Tuesdays I go with a group to the movies. It has been fun to see some of the new releases. I will say that if you haven't seen The Clash of the Titans heres my recommendation. Don't pay the extra money to see it in 3D as most of the movie isn't even in 3D so you are only getting ripped off. John is still really busy with work and school. Hes taking 2 classes at a time and this time hes finding he has to read a lot and deal with a teacher with a crazy grading system. Fortunately he will be done by March of next year. I am still looking for a job and am staying positive. We are leaving on Saturday for our cruise to Alaska. Im excited to spend some time with some family in Seattle as well as seeing the beautiful country.

What to see in Reno

As John and I were driving home from Utah yesterday, we started to talk about the things there are to see and do here. I decided that I needed to give you all a list of things there are to see and do here to entice you to come visit us. Yes we do expect visits, and we don't want you to wait to see when and if we have children. This morning I did some research and compiled a list of things to do and added it to the list that John and I made yesterday. Some of these are things that happen once a year, some are seasonal and some are year round. Some of them are in towns that are an hour or less drive from us. I was surprised at how big the list was and I left a lot of things off. If you have questions on any of it feel free to ask. We look forward to each and everyone of you coming to visit. So without further adu here's the list.

1. Lake Tahoe of course
2. Mormon Station State Historic Park
3. Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center
4. Nevada Discovery Museum
5. Wild Island Family Adventure Park
6. Great Basin Adventure
7. Arboretum at Rancho San Rafael Park
8. Sierra Safari Zoo
9. Nevada State Fair
10. National Automobile Museum
11. The Balloon Races
12. The Air Races
13. The Best in the West Nuggett Rib Cookoff
14. Bartley Ranch Park
15. Bowers Mansion Museum
16. Chollar Mine
17. Comstock Firefighters Museum
18. Glendale School House
19. Great Basin Adventure
20. Golfing and lots of it
21. Mills Park Railroad
22. Nevada State Railroad Museum
23. Radio Museum of Virginia City
24.Sparks Heritage Museum
25. Steamboat Villa Hotsprings Spa
26. Stewart Indian School Museum
27. Virginia and Trukee Railroad
28. Jazz Festival
29. Blues Festival
30. Art in the Park
31. Chamber Music Festival
32. Skiing
33. Camping
34 Reno Rodeo
35. Street Vibrations
36. Hot August Nights

If I haven't given you enough of a list of all the great things there are to do here then well I will be back with list number 2.

Don't be Afraid

My dad forewarded an article to me today from Elder Dallen H.Oaks entitled " Fundamental Premises of our Faith." This was a talk he gave at Harvard law school. After reading this I realized how often I don't share the gospel with my non member friends and family. I discovered where some of my weaknesses are in being able to share the gospel. For those who read this who are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints I encourage you to read this so you can better understand what it is we believe.
http://http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/fundamental-premises-of-our-faith-talk-given-by-elder-dallin-h-oaks-at-harvard-law-school