Thankfully Thankful

It's that time again to feel thankful for all the things we have in our lives. (Funny how there's a day to be thankful, not like be thankful all year) My cute sister- in- law to be gave a talk in church on Being Thankful and she read this cute email that although I never would have thought about being thankful for these things, reading this i truly am.

Things to Be Thankful For
Be thankful for the clothes that fit a little too snug, because it means you have
enough to eat.
Be thankful for the mess you clean up after a party, because it means you have
been surrounded by friends.
Be thankful for the taxes you pay, because it means you're employed.
Be thankful that your lawn needs mowing and your windows need fixing, because
it means you have a home.
Be thankful for your heating bill, because it means you are warm.
Be thankful for the laundry, because it means you have clothes to wear.
Be thankful for the space you find at the far end of the parking lot, because it
means you can walk.
Be thankful for the lady who sings off-key behind you in church, because it
means you can hear.
Be thankful when people complain about the government, because it means we
have freedom of speech.
Be thankful for the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours, because it
means you're alive.

I thought that was super cute and agreed with most of them, except for the snug fitting clothes...really i could do without those.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

The Stripling Warrior Gang

I know i should have posted this a long time ago but alas, I fell into the "my life is too busy" rut. as you all know, the Golden Boy left for his mission last week and i had the honor to take him to the MTC. Please don't be offended when i call him the Golden Boy. usually, this nickname refers to a child whose parents adore him above their other children. In our case, this name and meaning stretches out the the rest of the family. He is "golden boy" to all who know him. He is the shining example of strength, patience, friendship and love. He makes everyone around him light up because of his personality. everyone who knows him instantly loves him. The last two days i spent with him before he entered this amazing new adventure were the hardest, most emotional, most happy days that i have ever had. I picked Jordan up from the airport at around 9:30 and we drove around Salt Lake while i showed him the temple, my old school and we said goodbye to his friend Gina. We drove to Matthew and Leslie's where they had stayed up to greet us. (thanks by the way..it was way late) We talked the whole way to Benjamin and that was way nice to spend time with just the two of us. When we arrived my Nichols bladder got the best of me and i couldn't move let alone walk inside the door. As i hysterically laughed, the situation got worse and Jordan thought this was the most hilarious thing ever. Finally, i ran behind a huge tree while he told me he was going to tell everyone about it. The next morning we woke up and hit the trail for all the errands we had to do. We went and got him all of his necessities from the Springville Walmart( which made me really miss my mom since we stop there all the time during education week. Can't wait for this year!) We ran around Provo looking for a bank to get him a debit card and finally found one. After that we hit the Quilted Bear(not his favorite store, but mine for sure) and then the dollar store since he wouldn't pay $1.98 for a lint roller when he knew there was one for a dollar. (Thanks mom for teaching us how to be thrifty, but i wish he would have just let me buy it seeing how it cost probably $5 in gas just to get to the other store) We then went to lunch at the Pizza Buffet called Docs. It was $6 for all you can eat salad, breadsticks, pizza and ice cream. Jordan did not waste that money for sure. We were the only ones there and they had to keep making pizzas. We finally decided he had had 13 pieces and the biggest ice cream cone ever. When i asked him why he needed such a huge ice cream he told me we were only allowed one cone and so he was going to make it the biggest cone ever. oh did we get looks! We went and visited Brent and Tiana and their family and we got to see Stacie also. We had dinner with Carrie and Ralph and Cassidy and Kali. It was so nice of everyone to come and Jordan really appreciated it. Wednesday we woke up and went to BYU for Jordan's scriptures. We then went to lunch at an amazing Brazilian Grill called Tucanos. (one needs to be opened in Bakersfield along with all the other chains) Grandma and Grandpa Nichols came and we had so much fun. We also met a missionary at the restaurant who was going to Paraguay also.
Finally, i had to take him to the MTC. I had been so brave and was super proud of myself for not crying about it until then. My wonderful dad sent me a text message saying "There's no crying in Baseball or the MTC." Encouraging. We put his bags up and he went and got his missionary tag. We took pictures and then went into the meeting. It was nice to sit there with him and here people talk about how well the missionaries are taken care of and how so many people love them at the MTC and on their missions. When they told us that it was time to go and missionaries go through one door and families through another i couldn't hold back the tears anymore. (Sorry dad) I think having to find the right words to say was the hardest thing ever. Of course there were I Love You's, but i wanted to give him some of my 20 year old wisdom. Needless to say there was nothing good. I tried to say all positive things and be super strong, but when he gave me a hug and told me he would miss me and that he loved me, i don't think i have ever had so many mixed emotions. I wanted him so badly to stay with me and protect him like i always have felt i needed to my whole life, but a bigger part of me saw what a great young man he had grown to be and remembered him telling me how badly he wanted to go and so i hugged him close and bawled my eyes out as i watched him walk though the doors. I was so nervous for him and thought that i couldn't cry anymore when he turned around one last time before walking through the door. I just stood there with my cute cousins Stacie and Brock and sobbed. it felt good to know that one of his best friends Eugene would be looking for him and i knew he would be fine, but holy cow was that hard. He is such a great example and a rock for our family. He will be greatly missed but this is such an amazing and exciting time for him. So sorry about the sob fest, but here's some pictures to go with this novel.

Some Funnies from Elder Urmston

• He asked me if he could say 1,000 different words including "Flaming Homosexual and Fagot"
• Aunt Carrie saw his Stripling Warrior Ring and thought it was his class ring and Jordan preceded to tell her how this was his second ring because the first one got stolen. We then decided that there is probably a hardened criminal starting a Stripling Warrior Gang.
• he tried to tell me about a place that was "caddy corner" to the school. i thought it was called "kitty korner" and he assumed i was right and told me he said "catty corner" because its farther away and a cat is bigger so its called "catty corner"

you can't fix ugly

for fun: conversation between Winston Churchill and Elizabeth Braddock

Elizabeth Braddock: Sir, you are a drunk.
Churchill: And you, madam, are ugly and in the morning, I shall be sober.

A Plane, A Pool and a Ring

it's been one day since i have flown back from Bakersfield back to a life of work and monotony. I hated leaving, i love seeing my family and friends and my freaking cute niece and nephew. I thought i was going home to see my brother talk in church, my family and maybe some friends. I had no idea that coming to home meant i would have to answer a question that i had no idea was going to be asked. It all started with Brigham coming down from Idaho to fly home with me. I left work a little early to get everything together and was so excited all day to see him. He called and told me he was in salt lake and asked if we could go on a picnic. I thought he was crazy. i mean we had a flight to catch..what was he thinking? I told him i was sorry but that we didn't have time. I was almost ready to go when he asked me again if we could go on a picnic...now this time we had an hour before we had to board our flight. I told him it was important that we were to the airport early so we don't miss our flight. He got pretty quiet and remained so the whole trip home. I was so confused...why in the world would we go on a picnic? We arrived home and the next day went over to Mom and Dads to go swimming. He went upstairs to change and when i came out of the bathroom heard him calling me. I told him to come downstairs becaue i didn't know what he needed. He said he needed to show me something so i ran up and he was standing in the middle of the hall. Now, this kid does some pretty weird things sometimes, but this was weird, i asked him what he was doing and he smiled at me and told me he was going to ask me to marry him. I. being my ever so patient self told him to "Shut up, you are not. Let's go swimming." Well, he wasn't lying. He got down on his knees and asked me to marry him with the most gorgeous ring ever. I had no idea what to do or say, literally i just stood there and then he asked me if i was going to say yes. Finally i came to my senses and said yes and then screamed for my mom to come upstairs. (which by the way, i was sick and had no voice so screaming was very difficult and sounded ridiculous) So now i have a ring, a fiance and a wedding come up in June. I am SOOOOOO excited. I have planned my wedding since i was interested in boys...so pretty much the day i was born. Brigham is so wonderful and i love him like crazy. He is way too good to me and i can't wait to be married in the temple to him. Countdown begins now!!!!

My Gorgeous Ring(sorry it's blurry)

For My Big Sisters

The End of a Saga

Well my friends, the time has come to say goodbye to the Vampires and Werewolves in my life. After just one day of intense reading I finished the last book. I told myself i would never read these fantasy novels, but little did i know that after some coaxing from sixth grade girls at Challenger i gave in and was (in the new saying) "Bitten" by the books. Call me a silly girl reading a silly teenage love novel, so be it (yes i still watch The Little Mermaid) Read them and see. Yes, it holds nothing to The Great Gastby (my favorite book of all time) or even a Jane Austen, but if you want a great summer read, this is your book. On a side note: I feel utterly incomplete when a book that i love comes to an end. Yes, i am the girl that feels like she is the main character and completely lose myself in a book. But really, i am sad. Guess I'll have to get hooked on something else. Anyone read any good books lately?