Give Service

This last week has been entirely insane, from car shopping, to some family stuff, and then Ashley's soon to be sister in law's husband was killed in a car accident on Friday night, and Heidi's roommate is also having some health problems. Truly, when it rains it pours! So I have felt out of wack, per se, this last week. Just with so many different things going on from tragic, to troubling and sad, to anxious and excited, exhausting and thrilling.

More than anything I needed a Sunday - but I have noticed something this last week or two. I am not as happy as I used to be. There seems to be something missing, and the trouble is I know exactly what it is. For one, I have not been reading my scriptures as I should have. Which has been since the beginning of the year, and has just gotten worse! I need to buckle down and get it done. Figure out a plan and stick to it! Satan is just so good at putting little things in your way to distract you - I need to get shampoo, out of milk, work... and so on. So, I am going to do it this week - I must!

But, even more than reading I have noticed how miserable it is to simply serve yourself. I think the reason that missionaries re so happy is because they spend so little time thinking about themselves, but it is so easy to get into the mode of just getting your life in order - but you know what i have figured out, your life will never be in order! There will always be something you need to do - one more load of laundry, dishes, and errand to run, the gym, the post office, work, etc - none of that will ever end, and so it is not okay to just give service when it is convenient but we need to do it regularly, consistently, daily. Just as we are commanded to read and pray - we must serve every day. So that will be my main focus this week - how can I be of more service to others.

New Car

Finally after a week of car shopping, test driving 20+ different vehicles, spending countless hours haggling with car salesmen, and more stress than I needed - it is official... drum roll please.... Mini Cooper S.



There are few times in my life that I will actually be able to drive a car like this, so I took advantage of it and got a killer deal (always shop end of the month!). The car is practically new - 2008 with 6,000 miles on it - it's a six-speed, which will likely get me into trouble fast, although I have noticed (comparing my GPS speed to the odometer) that the odometer tells you faster than you are actually going, so whether that is on purpose or not I appreciate it! It took nearly 4 hours yesterday to decide - with a close call that I would not be getting it due to a possible accident that was in the car, but it seems that it was false and somehow got picked up on a car check thing. We have till Monday at the close of business to have it looked at by a body shop and return it if that is the case (pray that its not!).

So, now the real test will be my dating life - my cousin swore that it would cut my single life in half, so now we will have to see what happens! Honestly, either way I'm good - I may not want it to cut my single life too much as that means I may not be abel to drive it as long!

Car Shopping

I don't think I detest anything more! You know shopping for a car seems like a fun things to do. You can test drive all sorts of cars, some of which you would never buy and can't afford, and then all the others that you are comparing, etc. Let's just say after two days I am done! And still haven't found one!

Here is the debate: I have always thought I would get a CRV. I love Honda's they're awesome cars, they run forever, they're very reliable, and affordable. Well, from my research - looking at 2007 EX-L models they run between 18 - 22K. And a brand new 2010 is about 26K. It is amazing how well they retain their value. While looking for CRV, which by the way are nearly impossible to find. Even on KSL there are only a handful listed, and the Honda dealership I went to yesterday had 10 backordered! CRAZY! So, since we were looking - we started looking at Mini Coopers. They're about the same price point, especially when we look at 2007 models. And for my life right now - commuting from Provo to Salt Lake (about 40 miles one way) daily and single - they're a great fit for me. Not to mention they're cute and a thrill to drive!! They are so much fun. And the one I looked at only has 6,000 miles on it, it's a 2008, listed at 19K.

So the debate is between reasonable, functional and reliable with a proven track record or a nice car (Mini's are made by BMW), reliable, but a hell of a lot of fun, which I will not likely be able to purchase later in my life as it would be completely impractical. And so I weigh the options - I am currently in the Pro and Con lists, if you have anything to add please let me know!

What's the likelihood?

So, I was with Meredith again tonight - okay maybe we are both just losers, but together were not! So, it is my typical 24 night so I was in charge of dinner, but after a 90 minute commute I was late and grumpy. So I ran to Smiths with Meredith - she kept my mind together otherwise we would have walked out without cabbage for cabbage salad, so thankfully she came with me. Well, we are grabbing the cabbage and see Elder Ahrendsen, go figure! Truly what is the likelihood of running into two Elders from the mission in two days... looks like this week could be crazy, wonder if we can make it 3 for 3.

Read tomorrow and see if we hit 1 in a million when we run into another Elder from the mission...

Target, FHE, and "the shirt"

So, yesterday Meredith (translation: Sis. Walch) and I went to dinner, but we had to stop by Target to get a few things. So we are on the way out talking about how we will never shop at Wal Mart again, and we go to leave... run right into Elder Whitaker, who got home on Wednesday and was holding hands with a girl! I am pretty sure we wet our pants! What a small world it is.



After dinner we had FHE, and Eric (co-teach temple prep with him) and I planned our lesson for Sunday, than it was off to Chris' to get my new training schedule - full on for the half marathon. Well, since I have been taking pictures in 'the shirt' all week, i figured he would be a good person to take a picture with, well lets just say I have never had such a positive reaction to the shirt, in fact he wishes he had one too! Well, that was a first - since everyone else tells me... well, not so positive things. So, Tom if you find the shirt again please buy two smalls. (I was having fun with the photo editing)

Old Mission Companion

Finally got back to Provo super late last night, and crashed. Then I took a four hour nap - thank heaven my sister offered to make dinner! Although when I got over there to help her I made the dessert - cream cheese filled pumpkin muffins! Yep, I am pretty amazing! Both, Ashley and Heidi, were quite surprised that I actually cooked something - and frankly I was too! As a quick note, I began teaching temple prep, I have a co-teacher, Eric, who is awesome and I am super excited to teach with him. The class was very ready to learn and we had a great spirit in the class! I reckon i am going to learn so much in that class!
Back to dinner - my MTC companion came, Sis. Meredith Walch! It was so fun - and we talked forever! I really haven't seen too many people from the mission since most of my companions are still on the mission and I am not really big into the whole reunion thing, although it looks like a bunch of us are going to get together this weekend so that will definitely be interesting. While me and Sis. Walch were only companions in the MTC we actually served in several of the same areas which was so cool to hear what happened there after I left - there is no doubt the Lord has poured out blessings on so many people I was able to have contact with and teach. This picture is for Bro. (Tom - he wants me to call him Tom, but I still find it very difficult) Pottorff - he would wear this shirt all the time. Every time we went over to his house he had it on! Well, thankfully he had two, because there is no way it could have been clean that often! Well, out of love - which some may question - he gave me one! I pretty much love it. And think it is awesome! And he has been wanting me to send him a picture with me in the shirt since I got home, so this week you are likely to see more of these pictures as I will be taking one everyday in a variety of activities with different people - the best part of the shirt is seeing people's reactions!

The Calverts

Well, the greatest part about coming to Arizona was that I was able to see my cousins Chris & Camille! Camille picked me up this am at my hotel and we went to her house - which is beautiful! Their neighborhood is how you picture Arizona - desert, in fact Camille told me they are not allowed to have grass in their yards, it has to be natural desert landscape - which is actually quite lush, not lush like you think of a jungle - but there are lots of desert plant everywhere and the way that the houses are designed it blends right in and you really feel somewhat secluded which I reckon is a plus!
Their kids are adorable! Calahan is two and full of energy! I don't know how kids have so much energy, I really wish I could capture that in a bottle and drink it every morning! It would be so helpful - and would certainly help the mid afternoon drag, which currently requires a little diet coke! And Crewe - this was the first time I was abel to meet him. We walked into the room where he was sleeping, and he woke up when we came in. He was adorable! And played shy - he's a little flirt! He is adorable and so cute! You just want to squeeze him! It was such a joy to see them and get caught up on their life - I feel like it has been forever since I have seen them!

It is so wonderful and such a blessing to have an incredible family! I wouldn't change it for the world!