Christmas via My Phone

I finally did it. I got a smart phone. And I love it. Obviously.
Christmas was full of great entertainment, parties, friends, and adventures.
(Sorry for some Instragram repeats...)

1. Snickerdoodle hot chocolate. Nuff said. --with April Cazier
2. Temple Square --with Saryn Haynie
3. Mexican Train --with the fam
4. Ugly Sweater Friend party, yep. The party that I wore a University of Utah sweater too...
5. Tis the Season for Fuzzy Socks --with the fam
6. Frigid Manti
7. Loving my new flats from Christmas!
8. Family love
9. To Run or Not to Run in the snow. Yes, we did run. --with Kelli
10. Beautiful Christmas Day --with Kelli
11. New Waterskis for Christmas!!! Can't wait to use them! --with Kelli
12. Beautiful Manti is in the middle of no-where.
13. Christmas dinner table setting, courtesy of pinterest
14. Gorgeous Manti Temple. Miss this place already.

Happy Christmas!

Christmas for the Masses

Remember how I got a new job?
Well, guess what? I LOVE it.
Just a little bit lot.

Starting in October, I was thrown into the fire of Christmas planning.
Yes. In October.

Christmas in BYU Athletics is kind of a big deal. And filled with lots of blue, silver, and white decorating. No red. Obviously.

Christmas planning has included:

• Department Party Planning
• Christmas Card Creating, Ordering, and Delivering (Total ordered: 6500)
• Kneaders Christmas Basket Ordering for University Contacts Gifts (Total ordered: 98)
• Poinsettia Ordering (Total ordered: 60)
• 12 Days of Christmas Charity Event Planning, Coordinating, and Delivering
• Athletic Department Gift Decided, Ordered, and Delivered
• University Gift Delivered
• Christmas Decorating

Yes. My Christmas has been busy already.
Not to mention a bazillion shopping trips. So many, in fact, that I have no desire to do my own Christmas Gift shopping. My Christmas Gift to you is this lovely blog update on my life. Conceited. I know.
But Merry Christmas.

With all of that ordering, my office, went from bad messy to worse messy.

But the decorating went underway, the cards were created, gifts were ordered, charity money started coming in, and and the poinsettias were delivered and are now dying. Gotta remember to water them...  

And of course major party planning proceeded.

1. Department Christmas Gift: Large Beach Umbrellas. Ready for the beach anyone? Yes.
2. Poinsettias
3. Small Christmas Tree
4. Office Decorations. Yes. Red. It's Christmas. Get off my back.
5. Christmas Card
6. Is decorating always this much of a pain??

The party was absolutely successful!
But wow, our group is growing. An expansion is definitely going to have to happen next year!

Party Decor and Tables:

A BYU Athletic Department completed with 500 Guests, Cosmo, Gingerbread Houses, Coloring, Sugar Cone Christmas Tree Decorating, and Minute to Win It Games.

After weeks and weeks of planning, coordinating, ordering, delivering, and decorating, my office is finally tidy, kind of. I'm almost Christmas-ed out, shopped-out and decorting-out, but boy,
I LOVE my job!

Sports are My Life

Between BYU Soccer-ing for Halloween,

(and my gorgeous Sis as Pretty Woman)

BYU Football Games,

Dixie State Football Games,

Zion Canyon Race Running,

(2nd place in my Age Group! With my sweet Aunt Joan and Uncle Byron)

And Frigid Soccer Games,

My life is full of sporting events. 

Good thing it's what I love! 

The Adventure of Fall

Oh what joys the fall season brings. 

Aside from craziness of work, the fall adventuring has been in full force.

Canyon Walks and Soccer Games

Visits from Parentals for BYU Football

Visits to Good Ol' Manti

Sighting in Guns... Just wait for it.

You guessed it. For the first time in my life I went hunting. Legit hunting.
Here's how the story went:

February 2011
     Dad: "Do you want to put in for the deer hunt?"
     Me: "What??"
     Dad: "Do you want to put in for the deer hunt?!"
     Me: "Dad. I've never been hunting in my life."
     Dad: "I know! I think it's about time you went!"
     Me: "Dad, I have no idea where I will be in October. I could be in Timbuktu for all I know."
     Dad: "Well then, it'll give you a good reason to come home!"
     Me: "Ok fine. Go for it."
**Didn't draw out in 2011.

February 2012
     Dad: "Do you want to put in for the deer hunt again? We'll most likely go this year!"
     Me: "Sure. I'll only be in Provo in October. Easily done."
**Drew out for October 2012 Rifle Deer Hunt.

Although Bambi lived to see another day, 

we did see lots of great sites, beautiful animals, and gorgeous skies.

Parachute, All American Rejects, and Boys Like Girls Concert!

All in all,
the adventuring has been a wild, fun ride!
Oh how I love fall!!

A Coming of Age

In 1.5 weeks I will move from:

• BYU Athletics Secretary for Soccer, Gymnastics, and Tennis
• 6 Hour Work Days
• 30 Minute Lunch Breaks
• Only 401K Benefits
• A Cave Office

To this:

• BYU Athletics Administrative Assistant to the Associate Athletic Director
• 8 Hour Work Days
• 60 Minute Lunch Breaks
• Medical and Dental Insurance + 401K Retirement Benefits + Paid Holidays, Vacation, & Sick Time
• Legit Office

It's a coming of age. I actually have to be a real adult now with a real full time job.

Feelings:

• Sad to miss out on day to day interaction with awesome coaches and athletes
• Man! I'm going to miss my incredible soccer team! (Ranked #4 in the Country!)
• Gonna have to get more sleep at night so I can actually wake up EARLIER to run... ugh.
• Super nervous for the overwhelmingness of a new job
• So stoked for this new opportunity and the adventures it will bring!

P.S.      Dear Future Husband:
                       I can give us awesome insurance, tickets and put you through school if need be.
                       Just thought you'd like to know.  :)

Pocketheart Love

Clear back in July, when the leaves were bright green, the days were blazing hot, summer flowers were in full bloom, 

and BYU campus was wonderfully quiet, 

as BYU Athletics Office Professionals, 

we created some pocketheart love.

Between about 20 of us, we made just under 150 pockethearts for Primary Children's Hospital. These hearts are given to the kids and it's amazing that such a simple, little thing could make them feel special, important, and loved.

We had a few crazily creative persons in our bunch. 

And we had to embellish the hearts a bit.

Of course we had to leave our BYU mark...

Wayyyy above my skill. Thank you Jenny.

I had the wonderful opportunity of being the deliverer of these wonderful little pieces of love. 

Thank you Primary Children's Hospital for letting us serve you.

Feel free to follow this great tutorial and create some pockeheart love of your own!

A Second for Everything

Wow. What an adventurous week it's been.

(**Warning: many words coming. But it's all good. Of course. Why else would I be posting?)

The Sis and I took a fabulous afternoon trip to SLC for a special service project (post coming), and did a little shopping while we were at it.

Beautiful City Creek Center

Don't mind our clashing matching shirts. We have to have bright colors for the last bit of warm summer weather.

Among many other adventures, work decisions, and sporting events, the weekend quickly came.

In every kind of competition, there is always someone who comes in second place. In general, taking second place is much harder than taking first place (obviously) or third place. Third place is just happy they got in at all, but second place constantly questions themselves and beats themselves up--always wondering if they could have pushed it a little harder, try a little more, or did a little better.  
Could they have taken first instead? Yes, a first place winner should have good sportsmanship but,  
a second place winner is where true character is shown. A second place winner needs to have the  
class and confidence to accept their award, accept it with pride, and then have the drive and determination to change the outcome next time.

Yesterday, I ran the UVU Pride of the Valley 10K race. I have always loved 10K races, but this one was extremely fun. As the run began my legs felt like lead and I worried that this was going to be a long 6.2 miles.

After about 3/4 of a mile into it, the adrenaline kicked in and I pounded the pavement all the way to the end to take 2nd place in the overall Female Division! In this situation, although a certain amount of "classiness" was required to take second place, I was more surprised and crazily stoked that I had actually done that good!

What a glorious feeling that is!

It's crazy that even this week, I sort of felt like I needed to change things up in my routine. I was getting in a running slump. And then this crazy weekend comes and my motivation is built up once again!

I think that is similar to what happens in life in general. We start to get in a slump, but if we push through, Heavenly Father gives us those glorious experiences that spark our motivation and determination to make our lives the best they can possibly be!

Push through. A glorious moment is coming. Guaranteed.

For the Love of BYU Football = Ticket Giveaway!

How do you feel about Brigham Young University Football?

Gosh, I LOVE football season!
Well, if you didn't know, I work in Athletics and I have some tickets to giveaway for free!
You could be sitting at a BYU Football Game this season!

Winner can choose from 1 of 3 games to get 2 tickets to:

• October 5, 2012 vs. Utah State 8:15 PM LaVell Edwards Stadium
• October 13, 2012 vs. Oregon State Time TBA LaVell Edwards Stadium
• November 10, 2012 vs. Idaho Time TBA LaVell Edwards Stadium

1 Parking Pass will be included with tickets.
(Official Schedule Found Here.)

Enter via Rafflecopter below.

Good Luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

I Know

I know that I have some truly incredible examples in my life.

I know that today, this scripture was meant for me:

Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed. D&C 123:17

I know that Fall is an incredibly beautiful time of year. I wouldn't switch Fall in Utah for anything!

I know that Sister Missionaries are extraordinary people. Thank you Sister Kendra. You made my whole day.

I know that I have one fabulous family and I'm so grateful that we will be together forever!

I know that God has a plan for me.

I know that we have magnificent freedoms that so many have sacrificed a great deal for. 

I know that there should be no place for simply "averageness" in my life.

I know that when amazing opportunities come your way, you have to seize them, cause you might never get that opportunity again.

I know that I was placed here at this time for a reason.

I know that running makes any day better. :)

I know that if I have faith everything will work out exactly how it's supposed to, in exactly the right timing.

I know that some days are tough but even more, I know that the tough days make the glorious days that much more glorious!

I know that a life well lived leaves no room for regrets.

Love you Lil' Sis + Photoshooting

From the first moment that she came into my life,
we've been best friends.

Like all best friends, we had our ups and downs. We loved to play together, tease each other and fight with each other.

In fact, I remember telling her one time that "Mom and Dad are going to have to send one of us away because we fight too much. And they are going to keep me because they love me more because I am older."
Typical older sister right?

To this day, I am incredibly grateful that our parents didn't give either of us away!!!

A sister shares childhood memories and grown-up dreams.  

~Author Unknown

As we grew up, we each went through our struggles, but friends we remained.

The best thing about having a sister was that I always had a friend.  

~Cali Rae Turner

Eventually, we parted ways as we grew up. But coming home to play, to pamper, 

and to hang out, 

made for some of the best memories through my college experience.

 
 







 




 

A turning point in our relationship came when we overcame great struggles and ran a half marathon together. It was then that we became equals. 

No longer older and younger, but sister to sister, friend to friend.

One of the best days of my life was when I got the job at BYU and realized that I would be moving to Provo and would finally live in the same town as my sister again. 

The last year has been such an incredible journey full of fun, laughter, many sporting events, random adventures, a few tears, but amazing growth.

Sisters is probably the most competitive relationship within the family, 

but once the sisters are grown, 

it becomes the strongest relationship.  

~Margaret Mead

To my fabulous and amazing sister, KelliAnne,  
I love you more than words could ever describe.
You've been my rock, my adviser, my teacher, sometimes my mother, my inspiration, my competitor, my example, my friend, my fellow adventurer, my opponent, my enthusiast, my confidant, 
but best of all, my sister. Forever.

 Photoshoot by: Kylie secondstarphotography.blogspot.com

She is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities.  She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway.  She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark.  She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink.  Some days, she's the reason you wish you were an only child.  

~Barbara Alpert