Country Livin'

A few weeks ago we were able to sneak away for a few days and spend some time in good old Utah!

We went to my cousin's wedding...

Are they cute or what?!

Spent some time exploring the lava tubes by Tyrel's parents house...

Met up with the whole Beckstrand crowd to go the Ute Stampede!

Still not quite sure what to think of it...

It has now been proven that I am most definitely a city girl through and through ;)

And met up with Tyrel's super awesome mission president!

The trip wore this poor doggy out!

Over all, a fantastic vacation indeed! :)

Nature Walk

Yesterday, Tyrel and I miraculously found a few minutes of free time in our crazy hectic schedules.

We decided a nature walk was in order...

 

There's something about an afternoon stroll that does the soul some good.. don't cha think? :)

Here's to another week with new hopes and dreams!

The Best of Friends

I've known McKenzie since... forever. 

I really can't remember a time in my life where she wasn't in it. 

We've been through a lot together, she knows me better than most and still loves me! :) 

I don't tell her enough, but I love her so so much! I've always felt so lucky to be able to call her my best friend.

 And the best part? We've been best friends since day one. She has shaped me and encouraged me to be a better person, and I've learned so much from her constant example. 

I'm so proud of what she has done with her life. She embraces life and loves it. She tries hard things and masters them... easily. She uses her talents and gifts to bless the lives of everyone around her! She has always been so much fun to be around. I miss her everyday. 

I hope she knows how much I value our friendship and all the experiences we've shared... Especially the late nights of driving nowhere blasting any kind of music with a beat. 

She is the absolute best and deserves all the happiness in the world.

I love this boy.




That is all.




:)

Dear Mom,

I know that Mother's Day has come and gone but this particular week, I have wondered what I would ever do without my beautiful mother. 

I know this is cheesy but words cannot describe my love for my mother. Especially my words. It seems as though I can never get out my truest feelings in the form of... words. But here goes...

My mom is my hero. She's been my best friend for years. My shoulder to cry on. My advice specialist. My source of knowledge, my source of know-how, my #1 source. 

My mom is the greatest example to me. We've always gotten along. I've always looked to her more as a friend than as a parent. But she's been better than any friend could be because she loves me unconditionally and always puts my needs, and anyone's for that matter, before herself. I love her so much. She does so much for me. Sacrifices time, hobbies, sleep and always puts me first. She's the most talented person I know. She can do (and does do) just about everything. She could be anything she wanted. But she chose to be a mother. To be my mother. And being my mother requires a lot. She'll do things like stay up late (like 3am late) helping me finish unpacking our new house before company comes the next day. I just love her.


Dearest Mom,
I love you to the moon and back and around a couple times too. Thank you for always being there for me. Thank you for putting up with my phone calls to complain. Thanks for your uplifting words and inspiration. For your little love texts you send me throughout the week. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for little splurge trips to Home Goods, for spoiling me to a lunch date. Thank you for your example of a constant desire to learn and grow. I want to be you when I grow up. I can only hope to be half the mother you have been to my own children someday. Thank you for believing in me when I've lost hope in myself. You are my rock.


I love you!


Alexandra

Hello world,

Hello world, 

Today was a good day.

This week has been.. not the best week.

This month has been... stressful.

My life has been, is and always will be wonderful.

{I really truly believe that}

It is wonderful because I am so blessed.

I'll admit, sometimes I forget.

I forget how blessed I am and sum up the nerve to consider for a moment that life could be better.

If only I were:

smarter

prettier

richer

healthier

skinnier

etc.

life would be better.

"Think of all the beauty still left around you, and be happy."

Happiness is a choice.

Focus on the positive things.

Focus on today.

No ifs of the future.

No buts from the past.

Life is good right where I'm at.

Not everything is perfect.

Which is perfectly fine with me.

Babies Everywhere!

ok. i'm going nuts-o.
There are babies EVERYWHERE these days. I'm being hounded. Baby commercials. Friends getting prego with babies. Babies in stores who smile at us from grocery carts. Baby stories on TLC. Babies on blogs. Babies last night on tv that almost made me cry {ridiculous?}, babies in class, TALKING about babies in class, babies that wave and smile at me in parking lots like they know ... something. what the heck is going on?

I keep going back and forth talking myself in-and-out, in-and-out of this whole psychological hounding I've been getting. Brain thought: "We've been married one year ... I'm almost done with school ... it could work ... oh stop thinking about it, it's not part of the plan ... we need this time together ... but what if you're getting these thoughts because you CAN'T get pregnant and you need to start trying now ... but then what if you get pregnant right away? and you're still in school? and what about money ... and what about those times that you are so glad that you hadn't started a family yet because you needed time with husband? ... yes, but it's time ... NO ... just calm down, it's not time."
Okay? you see? I'm going bi-polar here!! I'm a freakin nut-case about this and I shouldn't be


I don't mean to alarm anyone, or give the impression that we're gonna go make ourselves a baby just because I'm having a 'heart-attack', {if you will}.


And surprisingly... I do feel a little bit better now. So ... there you go.