Where to Start?

Where to begin? ... I feel like my mind is just so jumbled lately with soooo ... many thoughts and questions. The most prominent one of them all has been, "Where do I begin?".  Seriously I feel like I could scream, but that would wake up the baby, lol. 

Any-who, my second best solution is to write down everything that has been rolling around in this head of mine. At times I wish I had my very own Pensieve (nerd reference from Harry Potter, in case you don't know what a Pensieve is, Professor Dumbledore explained it to Harry this way, "I use the Pensieve. One simply siphons the excess thoughts from one's mind, pours them into the basin, and examines them at one's leisure (in third person). It becomes easier to spot patterns and links, you understand, when they are in this form."  It's basically a wizards way of keeping a journal, only you get a third person, 3D perspective from it. So after deciding screaming my frustrations out was a bad idea, I wrote everything down instead. Now I feel more relaxed and yet guilty for not writing in my journal more often than not, but that's another story for later. 

After reviewing my hefty list of thoughts, hopes, dreams, goals, etc. I realized that my priorities in life right now are out of sync with what matters most. While they are good priorities, they are not in the right order. I've discovered that when you make this realizations, the next step is the hard part of reorganizing and letting go of our past in persue with faith for a better future. 

"It's a puzzlement" as the King of Siam would say (from the King and I). Again after liberating my frustrations in writing, I again find myself faced with the same starting question. "Where to begin?". Where do I begin with my reorganizing and prioritizing, how do I start it all? And then a sweet still small voice calls to my mind, "from the beginning of what matters most." Finally, something I know the answer to. I know what matters most to me above all else in this life. My Family. 

And so the next steps I take into the future are all for my family, without them I would have nothing. They are my number one priority. 

(via)

Life

I know it has been a loooong while since I last posted.  Life has been nothing short of joy, excitement, surprises, bump and bruises along the way.  Some times it feels as if we're taking on a full frontal attack with various problems to be solved, but all is well.  It has been through these various trials that I have come to know more about my Savior and the plan of happiness he has laid out for me.  I was reading in Mosiah 23:21-22 where it says,

"Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith. Nevertheless - whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day. ..."

It has been in these two versus that I have found great peace.  The Lord is the master creator and knows exactly how to mold us into his masterpieces and reach our true and full potential. As he helps us along the road, he has to refine us. These refining moments can be viewed as our trials in life (where he trieth their patience and their faith).  However after we conquer our trials, we are left in a more perfect state from which we had started in the first place.
So the words, "he trieth their patience and their faith" are beautiful in that they are what qualify us and allow us to prove ourselves worthy to him. After we go through a trial, we can expect to go through another and continue in an upward spiral towards are full potential. It's beautiful.

Any-who, while reading in the ensign this morning I came across a wonderful quote that made for a great reminder.  Sometimes in life we're so caught up in solving our own problems, that we loose sight of what's truly important and the loved ones in our life who truly need us.  I wanted to share it with you all and in hopes that when the trials come and we are put through the refiners fire that we keep our eternal perspective and loved ones near.

If you arn't familiar with the scriptures I used click here on this link to learn about the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

This quote came out of the August 2011 Ensign article "Love at Home" on page 4

You can download this quote for free by clicking here.

Happy Mothers Day!

Baby K decided to put her own spin to Mothers Day morning.  While I was asleep dreaming of buying the most amazing turquoise painted, antique sewing machine from the D.I (thrift store) I was jolted startled awake by the unhappy cry's of Baby K.  

While I sat up and looked around our bed for her, I realized 1. Mr. B was looking for her too in a half asleep state 2. Baby K had stopped crying and 3. She was nowhere to be found on our bed!  (Baby K sleeps through the night in her own bed, but in the mornings Mr. B likes to bring her in bed with us.  She usually will play in-between us or fall back asleep, but she never goes off the bed.  However, since she is now a walking, talking, climbing, toddler, she's been getting more adventurous.  

Since she was no where to be found on the bed, we started looking on the floor in case she wondered off the side (which was a first).  However, no baby was to be found! We then looked back in her pac-n-play, but no baby there either!  Wow, now we were really puzzled and starting to get worried. We just heard her crying a second ago and now nothing!  

Panic was really starting to set in when Mr. B found her under the bed!  It turns out she must have gotten herself off the bed and crawled under the it a while ago.  When Mr. B put her back on our bed, he also found the source or her crying, baby snacks!  She had found some snacks in a container and couldn't get the plastic lid off.  However she quickly figured that one out and proceeded to treat herself to the strawberry/apple cereal puffs under our bed, hence why she stopped crying and the silence that quickly followed.  After knowing Baby K was ok and perfectly content with her treats, she we all couldn't help but laugh.

All-in-all it was the best 1st mothers day morning ever!

This is my favorite picture of the two of us.

Change: You Gotta Love it!

Change, it happens so unexpectedly. Sometimes it can feel like a punch in the gut that knocks all the wind out of you. However, Come what may and love it! This week has been a whirl wind of unexpected events that will affect our future for the best. We're not ready to share with the blog world just yet what's up, but very soon! I heard sometime during the week that when our smooth running lives unexpectedly become interrupted, it's the Lord's hand helping to guide us on the path he has set for us. This 100% feels like one of those times for us. This up coming week is going to be great because we have Mr.B's mother and sister coming to visit us for the week and I know we are going to already have a blast and so much fun! Life is grand and couldn't possibly be any better than it is right now. Life is amazing and at the end of the day no matter what happens, "come what may and love it".

Who Says?

This is an old post I did on my private blog a while ago and wanted to re-share it along with this awesome music video my friend Caley posted on her blog.  Check it out and leave a comment.  I hope you enjoy it and have a fantastic day!

Who said you can’t sing out loud to your favorite mix while getting ready for the day?

Who said you can't be best friends with your mother in law? She's the best!

good times, good times

Who said you can't teach yourself how to play the guitar?

me and my black acoustic/ electric fender

Who said you can't day dream your flying to the moon as an

astronaut in a trash can lid at the Home Depot?

Who said you can't draw with light?

we did

Who said you can’t dress up?

it's a favorite pass time

Who said you can’t finger paint when your older?

we had a blast!

Who said you can’t be yourself, act like yourself, and love being just you, an individual?

tra-la-la

Who said men can’t sew? They obviously haven’t meet my husband yet.

this happens a lot

Who said you can’t keep your beta fish in a blender?

This is Edward, watched him for a friend who went on vacation

Who said you can’t dream big?

I have always wanted a room full of clothes

Who said you can’t accomplish something you put your mind to?

me jumping 5'-0" my coach said I was to heavy to have accomplished this,

but here I am soaring backwards in the air

Who said you can’t put your own air soft squad together, compete in

competitions, win and gain sponsorship from companies?

Ben started this group back in 2006 with mis-matched camo they found around. Now they meet regularly on the weekends and shoot each other up for the fun of it in matching ACU's

Who said you can’t be crazy in love?

we've been since January 2, 2008 and we're still going strong

So who said you can’t? ... ... ... ... Fear

Don't let it stop you or hold you back.

A CINQUAIN Poem :)

Feet

tiny and small

quick, clumsily, sweet

foundation to stand tall

toddler 

This poem is from a previous poem day challenge.  Here is the template to write your own, enjoy!

LINE 1: one word    (the subject or title of the poem)

LINE 2: two words  (description of the subject)

LINE 3: three words (express action)

LINE 4: four words  (express a thought or feeling)

LINE 5: one word    (synonym for the title, restate the title differently)

I am poem

I Am…

I am artistically creative and talented
I wonder how I can make things work
I hear the blissful chimes of imagination
I see outlines of designs to be
I want to flourish in my creativity
I am artistically creative and talented

I pretend I live in an unexplored world
I feel the tentacles of curiosity to learn more
I touch the surface of a new found knowledge
I worry I wont be able to create to my fullest capacity
I cry when I see destruction
I am artistically creative and talented

I understand I am a child of God
I say anything is possible with the Lord on your side
I dream of what I can create
I try to create something new each day
I hope that I can create to my fullest capacity
I am artistically creative and talented

~ by Ashley Seare ©

Write a fantastic poem about yourself using this template.  Post it on your blog and leave a comment.  I would love to read what you came up with! 

I Am…

1st Stanza
I am (two special characteristics you have)
I wonder (something you are actually curious about)
I hear (an imaginary sound)
I see (an imaginary sight)
I want (an actual desire)
I am (the first line of the poem is repeated)

Stanza 2

I pretend (something you really pretend to do)
I feel (a feeling about something imaginary)
I touch (something you imagine you touch)
I worry (a worry that is real to you)
I cry (something that makes you very sad)
I am (the first line of the poem is repeated)

Stanza 3

I understand (something you know is true)
I say (something you believe in)
I dream (a dream you actually have)
I try (something you make an effort to do)
I hope (something you really hope for)
I am (the first line of the poem is repeated)

Just Do it: Get Ready ...

Ok, I'm starting a new 30 Day Challenge! I know the last 30 day challenge got the best of me, but this time I'm REALLY determined to see it through to the end! So check out my new tab/page "GO" for more details on the Challenge and follow along or join in to get into sweet shape (fingers crossed). After this work out challenge is over, I'll post another workout DVD and give feedback on if it's for real or a big bust. I'm going to start this challenge tomorrow April 4th and you can join in whenever you'd like. It's going to be great! So go check out the "Go" tab and get GOING!

Just Do it: Get Ready ...: "So the main reason for this page is to help me focus on my progress to getting back into shape. I really need and miss my former physi..."

30 Day Photo Challenge

I have loved doing this challenge as much as I could.  Unfortunately the challenge is currently beating me.  I will say I have been able to post more than I would of have had I not accepted the challenge.  We'll see, I 'll still post happiness when I get a chance. 

17/30

Day 17: Silly Signs

A friend posted a video of funny church signs.  They were really funny and creative.  Hear are a few of my favorite ones.

16/30

Day 16: A Stitch in Time

While looking through all of my photos that I have, nothing made me more happier than just reminiscing about the High School days :) I truly do miss them and my friends I have made, but I know they are still my friend and living their own unique adventures :) Thank goodness for Facebook.  But what I decided to show through these pictures that makes me happy, is my love to sew and create new things.  For all the High School dances I went to I made it my priority to wear something that no one else would have, and by 100% me.   So I made every dress I wore :)  Here are a few of my favorites that I made.  The first dress is my favorite and I wore to my Senior Winter Formal :) 

(I was eating a cherry tomato when someone caught me off guard with this quick pic)

My Mom and I worked on this dress for a long time until it was just perfect.  For this Winter Formal, I wanted to make sure I could really move and dance in the dress, so instead of making it long and elegant, I stopped the length at the knees so it could be fun, twirly and flirty ;)

 Home Coming :) 

Yeah, my eye's were closed in this one, but I couldn't find any others that showed off my sweet shoes.

So this dress was a little different, I found this dress on a steal of a deal, but had to do some major modifications to the sleeves and back to make it modest.  And of course I made my shoes to go with it :)

15/30

Day 15

I love this store hands down!!!  What's even greater, is that I live in a city with one in it! Oh the joy!  When I walk in this store, there is nothing but smiles coming off my face :)

 

Really, Really, Really behind...

Life is busy, what can I say.  If it's not one thing, it's another.  I owe you all 6 happy pictures, so here they are :)  It's been really nice to be able to just blog for a second or two. 

Day's 9-14

 Inca Kola, you can only get it in Peru or special import stores.  While in Preston, Idaho (home to Napoleon Dynamite) we spotted this diamond in the rough and our jaws dropped!  Who would have thought a small po-dunk town would carry such a luxury?  Needless to say, we bought all the cans on the shelf for the trip home ;)

 I love creating and making my own thank you card, invites and what-not.  If you need something, just give me a holler, I'd be more than happy to do it :)

Nothing makes me happier than curling up with a fresh pan of rice-crispy treats and a good book :)

Painting! Painting! Painting! I love to paint.  This is a set I did for the town's summer play.  I had a blast. Baby K is in her car seat to the left, she was about 2 1/2 months old!

You can never go wrong with food!  Quesadilla supreme is my favorite dish to make when I'm hungry. I'll make you one if you want!

Sleep :)  If I'm ever in a grumpy mood, chances are I didn't get enough sleep.  No matter what's going on, I can sleep just about anywhere in any situation.  I remember falling asleep on the bus in elementary and waking up to find my self at the bus stop.  That sure made for an interesting adventure.

8/30

I know I'm slaking on this challenge, life has been so crazy.  However, without further adieu I give you:

Day 8: Facebook Messages

So a while back, I found Mr. B once again for the millionth time logged on Facebook on my computer.  I really hate having to re-type and remember passwords and stuff like that. It's a small pet peeve, any-who!  I decided to have a little fun with him and wrote, "My wife is Hot!"  Just for kicks a giggles.  What I didn't expect were some of the hilarious comments posted to it.

7/30

Day 7: Jumping 

When I get bored, I tend to get bouncy.  I notice I start to just bounce on my toes or something.  For one thing I just plain hate being bored and two, I like to move about.  Even Audry Hepburn, Fred Astaire and the Beatles liked to jump! Look how happy they are :) 

 

Jumping is defying gravity for those few seconds.  It just feels good.  You can do it anywhere, any time night or day.   So the next time you might find yourself feeling a bit on the bored side or down, just give it a little hop and a jump and you'll start to feel better in no time. 

6/30

Day 6: Photoshop

I love Photoshop along with all the other awesome programs that came with my Adobe Premier Design Suite!  One day I found my self wondering what would it be like to live back in the Victorian age?  Well thanks to Photoshop Mr. B and I were able to take a quick field trip back in time (almost like the magic school bus!).  Or you can help you Father-in-law try out new hair style!  Either way, Photoshop makes me happy :)

5/30

Day 5: Culture

So I didn't mean to post this so late, but it was well worth it!  Mr. B and I got an awesome chance to see Tibetan Monks LIVE preforming various sacred rituals and dances for us to help raise awareness of their endangered culture.  It was truly amazing!!! What makes me happy for my dad five, is culture.  It truly is the spice of this world.  If we didn't have our various traditions and beliefs the world would be very boring.  I am truly grateful for these peaceful Monks.  Even tho this is a "happy" post, I am sadden by the fact that they are being killed and living in exile.  However, after the show they were selling various items the refuges have made, so we bought a few things because all the proceeds go to help monks in training and their people in need.  So that made me feel really happy that we could pitch in a bit.  One of the highlights of the night was seeing the almost completed sand Mandala.

    

They first draw a chalk outline and then begin filling it in with sand while chanting a continuous prayer.  You can see the outlined outside border and a partially completed orange border.  You can also see some of the vary intricate sand designs!  This camera phone picture doesn't come close to doing it justice.  To the side of the mandala, they have various intricaly decorated bowls that hold the various colored sands they will use.  The way they handle the sand was cool too!  They use a long hollow metal utensil called a Chak-Pur.  Outside the auditorium, they also had two sand mandalas set up  that you could try and build yourself!  Mr. B and I gave it a shot and had a blast.  You also have another utensil that looks like a metal skewer stick with a small fan at the end.  What you do is rub it up an down the Chak-Pur to coaks the sand to come out the way you want it.  

 Me working on a section of the sand mandala, the little yellow tassel is

part of the awesome bracelet I bought to help out the Monks, go world peace!  

They had traced out this mandala for us to work on before hand.

We were enjoying ourselves so much most of the people from the show had cleared out.  Out of the corner of my eye a noticed someone walking towards our table.  Then I heard in an accent, "Ahhh, very beautiful, very beautiful!"  I thought that was a nice complement for someone who has never touched or made a sand mandala before.  When I looked up to smile in at the friendly person, to my surprise, was one of the MONKS!!!  A MONK THOUGHT I DID A BEAUTIFUL JOB ON MY SAND BLOB!!!!  It truly made my day/ night.  I was so happy!  These people are so kind and loving.  All they care about is world peace and happiness.  If you want to see a good movie, watch Seven Years in Tibet with Brad Pit.  He did a great job and the film takes you all over Tibet.  One thing I know for sure is I want to travel all over the world and visit peoples different cultures.  We're all so amazing and unique and I would love to learn about everyone and their special traditions.  Tomorrow we're going to see if we can be there for the ending ceremonies when they destroy the mandala.  After they do that, they sweep up the sand into tiny little baggies and hand them out to people so they can take home a little piece of their culture with them. Sweeping up the sand also symbolizes the impermanence of existence in Buddhism.  It is all very interesting, amazing and joyful. 
 

 

Here is a close-up of part of the section I was working on.  I filled in the blue 

and tried to blend the green and blue together.

During the show, we got to hear and see the Monks play various instruments 

like the ones in the picture above.  (original image source)

4/30

Day 4: four legged friends

I have and will always love animals, especial four legged ones!  Before Mr. B and I were married, we were on our way home from a nice romantic walk when this little guy in the top photo followed us.  When Mr. B left me at my front door, we figured the dog would follow him now, but it didn't. He (the dog) stayed right at my feet and wouldn't budge one bit!  Since I missed having a good four legged buddy, I let him stay the night.  The next morning while I was reading my scriptures, he kept nuzzling up to me and I snapped this quick pic with my camera phone.  The bottom photo is of my good and faithful running friend.  She never complained when I leashed her up for a good long run and could always keep up with me.  Now she's running around in doggy heaven after a full and long lived life.  I can't wait until we have a place of our own and another wonderful four legged companion.

3/30

Day 3: Mr. B

I love, love, love this man!  These are easily my two most favorite pictures of Mr. B. I don't know if it's the color of blue He's wearing or what? But I just LOVE this picture of him. Nothing makes my heart skip a beat than when I see this dashing man!  The second picture come in with a close tie for first.  This was taken at our first 4th of July parade together when we lived in Rexburg.  I think the first photo is more sentimental to me because it was the day that Mr. B picked me up from the air port, took me out for lunch and surprised me with a trip to the SLC Zoo.  While a zoo trip seems normal, it wasn't.  Before we got out of the car He confessed his undying love for me and how he just had to have me for his own, AKA be his wife! I was going to wait and save his handsome face for the last day of the countdown, but I just couldn't help it. I love him to much, I just had to show his hot awesomeness to the world :)