Reevaluation

OKAY, so lets pretend it's December 31st. It's about 6 o'clock at night and your with your family and friends getting ready to celebrate the new year. As time gets closer you decide that you want to join the phenomena of creating one, or more New Year Resolutions. You go crazy and think about as many things as humanly possible that you would like to improve on and write them all down in hopes to complete all of them. The clock strikes midnight and you are determined to be that person you just described on those 1+ sheets of notebook paper.

Now lets skip forward in time. It's May 31st, it's been six months since you've created that list. You think to yourself, "I am doing the exact same things I was doing last year. Didn't I make a list of New Years Resolutions? It must be some where." You then go to your room and search through EVERYTHING and to your surprise--but not really-- that paper that once held all of your goals has vanished into thin air. Now, considering I am not in the same room as you right at this moment, you don't have to confess that this, indeed, is you. But if you're not guilty of this, then go you! I sincerely applaud you, for I have not learned the art of making and maintaining a goal.

 I tried to think of what some of my goals were that I made, and realized that there was no reward to go with them. There is only one that I have kept, and that was the only one that I could see the reward! I've come to the realization, it is easier to create a goal if you can see how it's going to benefit you in the end. Am I right? (this is where you say yes, even if it is just to make me feel good--ha ha) Thanks.

So what sprung this on? Well, today the sun finally decided to come out and say hello so my Dad and I went for a ride up to Midway and Heber for lunch. I don't know what it is about that Spyder but every time I'm on it, I get some REALLY good thinking done. Ha ha. So I reevaluated at came up with some NEW goals, that I can see the reward for in the end. I thought that instead of writing them down on a little piece of paper, that it would probably be best if I wrote them up here so that everyone could see them, and help me to stay on track. So hear are my NEW goals for 2011

Goal #1: Continue going to the temple once a week, and if time for it, attend twice.
(The reward for that is simple, ha ha. I've already seen the blessings it brings from starting this goal last summer... this is one of those life time goals that will never go away. :))

Goal #2: Don't drink soda pop for one whole year from today. Yes, that means you Mr. Diet Coke.
(The Reward: I heard somewhere that you could weigh 25 pounds less a year by just not drinking soda)

Goal #3: Exercise daily.
(The Reward: Getting to my goal weight, getting more fit, and becoming healthier)

Goal #4: To be able to run a mile without any trouble from my asthma
(The reward: I've never been a runner, no have I been able to run. I've ALWAYS wanted to be a runner, but my asthma has been my draw back. While in Idaho I started running on the treadmill and elliptical and realized that the more frequently I did that, the less I had to use my inhaler. So, I'm going to try to control my asthma)




Goal #5: To be able to run at least two but most likely more than that, 5K's by this time next year.
(The Reward: I'll become a RUNNER! :))

Goal #6: Keep my bedroom and bathroom CLEAN!
(The reward: It's so much nicer to life in a clean environment, and it's easier to welcome the spirit into a clean room. :))

Goal #7: Cook dinner for my parents and I at LEAST once a month.
(The reward: I'll become a better cook, and be able to provide for myself and my future family without giving us food poisoning--ha ha)

Goal #8: Not miss one day without reading at least one scripture out of the Book of Mormon. I want to read it twice by this time next year, so once before Christmas, and another before next June.
(The reward: Simple again, :))

Goal #9: Get better at writing in my journal by writing in it at least every other day.
(The reward: I'll be able to remember fun things that happened, and be able to share my history with my future family)

This next goal was inspired today on the bike ride. I thought we were just going to go home after going to Midway, but when my dad passed our house, I just thought he needed to run a quick errand or something. But then my Dad pulled into the stake center and turned the bike off. I figured that he must of had something that he needed to drop off for meetings that night, until he said, "Okay, your turn to drive!". I was shocked and a bit scared, but after a few seconds, I moved forward and my Dad got behind me and next thing I knew, I was driving the motorcycle! I thought that I'd ride it around the building a couple of times and then we'd switch again and he'd take me home..... nope! I got to drive it home.

So, the last and final goal,

Goal #10: Get my motorcycle licence by the end of the year!
(The Reward: My dad won't have to drive the bike all the time and he'll get to enjoy the ride and not have to worry about driving it. I'll also be able to go on bike rides with my brothers, dad, and sister when she gets her licence. So more family time. And last but not least, it'll just be fun to be able to ride a motorcycle and SAY that I have a motorcycle licence! Ha ha, bet you never thought you'd see me riding one in your life huh? :))

That is it for now, but they all really aren't that hard, and they're all pretty simple to maintain once getting into the habit. Anyway, I will be achieving these goals until a year from tomorrow. I will keep you guys updated every once in a while and I will think of prizes for YOU guys if I don't follow through, like if I slacked one one of these goals during the week, the first person that comments on the post will receive some money from me. That way I will stay motivated because we all know how much it stinks to loose money like that. Ha ha.,

So if you find yourself in my position, and you want to reevaluate, I think you should join me and start your NEW "New Years Resolutions" now.

My theme for this year will remain the same though,

"2011, Closer to Heaven"

Happy reevaluating!!!...........................and THAT'S a sip of Livi's Lemonade! :)

*

............................................and THAT'S a sip of Livi's Lemonade! :)

The month of May-hem!

Okay so maybe it took just a little longer than I thought, but I'm back! The reason why I was gone is because I agreed to be in a musical at CVJH for their banquet show. We only had two weeks till show time. That was including learning the music, the dances, and memorizing all of the lines. So that is why I had to stay completely away from the computer and just devote my time to the musical. It was a VERY VERY stressful week, but thankfully, we did it! (and it's done... haha)

This month was a CRAZY month! Not only was I in this musical, I also choreographed and performed in a dance for my old ballroom team at OHS. It was so fun to be able to perform again! Even though it wasn't the same school I performed at, it still brought back memories! So lets just say, I am very grateful that after Tuesday, this month will be OVER and it will officially be summer!! I'll be graduating the end of June, and then finishing up my internship in September! I've been giving it some thought and I also think I'm going to be going back and doing the Pharmacy Tech program. It would take me from August until December and it's night school so I can still hold my job doing Medical Office Administration, so we'll see how that goes!

But besides all the craziness this month, there were just a few things that got me through it, and I thought I would share them with you. :)

1. Fish-- My best friend Kristy just sent her boyfriend off on a mission to Ohio this month so she and I have been hanging out LOTS. One night we were sitting in her room and I was watching her fish. She has a 10 gallon tank, and a 2.5 gallon tank in her room. For some reason they mesmerized me and made me feel so calm! So what did I do? I went to Petsmart and Animal Ark. Next thing I know, I'm an owner of a 2.5 gallon tank with 6 fish! It sounds kinda weird, but I love them all! I would lay on my bed and just watch them swim around in my tank at night and it would make me not feel as stressed and I'd fall asleep! I LOVE my fish!

you can see 4 of them in this picture, the other two are hiding in the tower. :)

2.Being with my mom-- My mom and I are best friends. Some people think we are sisters because of the way we act. It is seriously the best. When we do stuff together we just laugh and laugh. It's the best therapy in the world just being with her! Yesterday we drove up to Bountiful to take my Grandma to my Grandpa's grave to put flowers on it and I had SO much fun! We just laughed and talked the entire time! I love my mom. :)

3. Nannying-- I seriously LOVE my job. For safety purposes, I'm just going to say T & E. There are 4 girls, but 2 of them are in elementary and I babysit from 10:30 until 2:30 so I only have T & E during that time. They make me so happy! Haha. When ever I see T with her curly brown hair and bright blue eyes I can't help but smile! She is SO funny! She's just learning how to talk and when ever she wants to get my attention she'll say, "We-ee" (Livi) and she says it so excitedly and had the BIGGEST grin on her face. I LOVE IT! Then E and T and I will just sit and watch Elmo on the couch and have tickle fights and laugh our heads off. Even when we made cookies and T accidentally dropped sugar... everywhere... I laughed and loved it! I love the messes little kids make, most people hate the clean up, but you've got to just let kids be kids! They are so cute and say the darnedest things. One time when E and I were sitting on the couch, she looked up at me and said, "I love you... Miss Hanigan!". Seriously, so cute huh! Haha. Even though I don't know how I like being related to Miss Hanigan (from Annie) I still just loved it. I just love them. Haha. Every day is a new adventure and everyday they make me happy. I love my job!

4.YouTube-- Kinda random, I know, but if you've ever watched Miranda Sings, or Glozell, you'll know what I mean. They both have channels on YouTube and they're just SO funny to watch! Glozell tells stories, and Miranda, you guessed it, Sings. They're both comedians and you can't not laugh when you watch them. But one thing that I loved about YouTube yesterday, I just decided to type in Jacob's name not really thinking I'd find anything.... but I was WRONG! Some wonderful person recorded Jacob singing "Hardest Part of Love" when we were in the musical "Children of Eden", and posted it on Youtube! The first time I ever heard him sing this song I cried, partly because of my recent break up, but because Jacob's voice is amazing and he did SO good! That honestly was a HARD day. I was already on the verge of tears but when Jacob opened his mouth and sang this song, the flood gates broke loose and I sobbed. Right after he sang, thankfully rehearsal was over. Jacob saw me crying and he and Tiana took me out to ice cream. Haha. He and I were honestly BEST friends I tell you! We were ALWAYS there for each other! Anyway, I cried when I found it and just loved my life ever since. I'm not going to openly admit to how many times I've listened to it on YouTube, haha, but just know, I've listened to it it quite a bit... haha. I love it.

This was after "Once Upon a Mattress" I couldn't really find a "Children of Eden" picture, but this works!

5.LETTERS-- of course. :) For some reason, none of my letters came on Friday this month! Until 2 days ago, but that was when the chaos was all over with! Haha. HE IS DOING SO GOOD! I love hearing from him! He is amazing! I stand in awe at how wonderful he is everytime I get a letter. But letters seriously make my week, every week! I just sorta kinda love that boy... a lot. :)

6. Spyder-- Seriously, anytime I was just about to my breaking point I'd go into my dad and say ready for a ride? And five minutes later we would be on the road! With the warmer weather we've been doing canyon rides a little more and I LOVE IT! I am so grateful to live where I do! I love being able to go up the canyon and just take in the beauty of it all! There is something about riding on the Spyder and being able to not be in a car and just take in the wonderful nature! Our world is so beautiful and I LOVE the mountains! I need to take a camera on one of our rides sometime. I seriously am amazed at how different it is than driving in a car. It's beautiful. I love it!

7. Photo shoot-- My bff Kristy that I mentioned earlier, is a photographer and she wanted to take some pictures so Ciarah, Kristy and I went in the canyon and had a photo shoot! I'm really excited to show them all to you! She's not done editing them yet, but when she is, I'll give you the link to her blog so you can view them. It was so fun!

8. Temple & Scriptures-- I'm still going to the temple once a week, and in 4 weeks it will mark one year of me going to the temple every single week. I know that it is blessing my life and it is just a peaceful place to go. I love being there and being able to feel of the spirit. It brings me such comfort, it's the most wonderful place on earth! A Heaven on earth. :) Also reading my scriptures is a great comfort as well. They are filled with the most wonderful things. I love reading them. You can learn SO much from them! This gospel is amazing isn't it!?

So amidst the chaos, this month really was a wonderful one. Even though I'm not a big fan of stress, I grew so much this month. I'm so grateful for trials, they make us so much more stronger, and closer to our Heavenly Father, I'm so grateful for this gospel, and families. It really is amazing! So on this Sunday, even though it looks like it may be a rainy one, don't take it for granted. We are so blessed! Take some time and write down the things you're grateful for, visit family, serve a neighbor, or make cookies for someone. Make this last Sunday in MAY a memorable one................ and THAT'S a sip of Livi's Lemonade! :)

Ready or not, here it comes...

Alright Ladies and Gents.

This is the week! The week where I will totally fall off the face of the planet earth and become invisible. I can't fully go into detail as to why that is the case, but just know that I am VERY looking forward to the end of this week and truly hoping I will survive it.

You could say this week sounds like it holds endless stressful responsibilities, but that would be a bit of an UNDERSTATEMENT. 

The next time you hear from me (electronically) will be Sunday at the earliest, for there will be no time for it!

So while I hope you all have a wonderful week, the most I can hope for is that I will take more than one shower and remember to brush my teeth twice a day!

*YIKES*

 Maybe it IS a good thing you won't be seeing me this week. And if you do happen across the tragic event of running into me, I apologize in advance. Ha ha ha.

So if any of you need to get a hold of me, it will have to be by the good old fashion phone, or snail mail.

I love you all! Remember to make lemonade out of your daily struggles! ciao.

........and THAT'S a sip of Livi's Lemonade!

Just a little thought... :)

SORRY I've gone AWOL again... May always ends up being my busiest month of the year, no matter what I'm doing, so just bare with me and as soon as this month is over, I'll get into my usual routine. Ha ha :)

Everyday when I wake up, I read a book called, "He Shall Fulfill All of His Promises" by Lloyd D. Newell. It's a book that has a spiritual thought for every day. Today's though, I felt like I needed to share with you. So here it is:

"Choose good friends. Friends will help to determine your future. You will tend to be like them and to be found where they choose to go. Remember, the path we follow in this life lead to the path we follow in the next."

~Thomas S. Monson

(ensign, May 1998, 47)

"All along our life's course, we can choose to associate with those who build and bless others, or we can choose to associate with the damaging or the apathetic. Especially for adolescents, friends are a vital part of constructive development; they can help us to stay faithful and strong, or they can lead us in a negative, harmful direction. President Thomas S. Monson said, "In a survey made in selected wards and stakes of the Church, we learned a most significant fact: Those persons whose friends married in the temple usually married in the temple, while those persons whose friends did not marry in the temple usually did not marry in the temple. This same fact pertained also to full-time missionary service. The influence of one's friends appeared to be a highly dominant factor--even equal to parental urging, classroom instruction, or proximity to a temple. The friends you choose will either help or hinder your success. (Ensign, May 1998,47)"

(He Shall Fulfill All of His Promises, by Lloyd K. Newell page 144)

 

I think that all is pretty self explanatory. I am so grateful for the many people that have come into my life to help ME come closer to Christ, and become the person that I am today.

Thank you all!

 "People come in and out of ours lives every day. But no matter who they are, every single one of them made a difference in your life. "

Be grateful today! :)....... and THAT'S a sip of Livi's Lemonade! :)

Miracles

Today has been a crazy day. It started at 4:30am when my parents were roaming about the house and out the door at 4:45am to get to the hospital for my dad's heart surgery. Because my body hates me, once they shut the door, I was completely awake. So I went down stairs, got some breakfast, and watched "Boy Meets World" on TV. By 6:30 it was time to get ready and head to school. On the drive out to MATC I was starting to get a little tired. When I got into class I couldn't focus at all. So I took a test and received a text from my mom updating us on the surgery, and decided to leave and go meet my mom at the hospital where we would wait for my dad to come out of surgery.It was a surgery that hasn't really been performed very much, and it's a tricky procedure. Luckily my dad's surgeon is the best heart surgeon in the world (so we've been told, and so far it's proven to be true :))

On my drive over there, at a stop light I looked down
at a tiny notebook that I keep in my car.
It's a notebook that I got in seminary that has entries from most of my friends. For some reason I grabbed it and picked it up. As I flipped through the pages there was one random entry in the middle of all of these blank pages, totally out of place.

I quickly flipped back to that page and smiled as tears came to my eyes.

It said, "Miracles happen. Expect them. And if you ever doubt that they do, remember that you were one of mine.
Love, Jacob Parmley".

I have no idea when he wrote this, but I am so grateful that it wasn't until today that I found it. It's amazing to me how even though it was written probably 9 months ago, it wasn't meant for me to find until today. My heart is full, and I am VERY grateful for promptings of the spirit, modern medicine,

wonderful amazing inspired doctors, and tender mercies. :)

Everything went fine with my dad's surgery and he is now recovering. My mom and I will probably only venture out of this room about two times the rest of the day, so don't be surprised if there is more than one post today. ;) So today, I challenge you to notice the tender mercies in your life and write them down. I promise you that there will be more than you think they are.
:)................ and THAT'S a sip of Livi's Lemonade! :)

love you all :)

Slacker...

Okay, I've been producing some SERIOUS slackage. BUT I have an explanation, and a very GOOD explanation I might add. Yes I do know the quote, "Excuses are like armpits, they always stink". But this one doesn't! I promise! :)

So since the day I was born, my dad has ALWAYS owned a Harley Davidson. Along with two of my brothers. (Todd on the left, Dad in the middle, and Spencer on the right) When I was 8, we moved down to Orem into our newly built house with an unfinished basement. What does that have to do with anything? Well, two years later, when I turned 10, my dad sold his Harley to finish our basement. Being that young I hadn't ridden on the Harley that much and didn't realize how much I would miss it.


Well, you see, the past year has been a crazy one for my Dad. Last summer he started looking for a new bike and found one that he wanted to get. A Canam Spyder. He went to a dealer and searched through the many kinds they had, and decided to get the 2011 special edition Spyder (one that has all the bells and whistles, of course ;)) and they are only making 50? I believe? In the whole world. So in October, my dad put down 1,000 dollars that couldn't be refunded on his new Spyder, that would arrive in March.


My dad was SO excited to be able to have a motorcycle again. He even blew up a HUGE poster of his bike to put up in his office at work. Well, two weeks later, he started having knee problems, and was scheduled to have a knee replacement in December. A week before his surgery, he went into the Canam store and told them that if someone else wanted his Spyder, that they could give it to them because he didn't know if he'd be able to ride it. Well life went on, and he had his knee surgery. Then after one of his doctor appointments that I drove him to, we went to the Canam store. He walked in and told them that he would be able to ride the Spyder and he wanted to still have it. Luckily, nobody had claimed it so it was still his. After spending about a half hour in the store, I REALLY started to get excited about the Spyder and the fact that my dad was going to have a motorcycle again.


My dad bought my mom and I these decked out motorcycle jackets, and these REALLY cool helmets. His Spyder was supposed to arrive in March, and he was going to retire on March 28th. PERFECT retirement gift right?! Then on March 12th my Dad went into tachycardia, his heart rate was 196 a minute and had to spend three days in the hospital (He was fine). He has a pacemaker, artificial valve, and a defibrillator, but the defibrillator didn't go off. Even though that happened, that wasn't going to affect anything of the upcoming events, OR riding his new Spyder when it arrived. Well on March 18th they called my dad and told him that the Spyder was in Canada just waiting to be brought down on a truck and that it would be about a week. Well the week came and went, and then the next, and then the next, and then it was time to go on our cruise and it STILL hadn't arrived. The store owner told us that it should arrive the Monday that we got home from our Cruise. So when we got home, one of the first things my Dad did, was called him, and the Spyder was STILL NOT HERE! I was going CRAZY! I was so ANXIOUS to get on that bike!


There is a happy ending to this story, I promise. Monday April 25th, they called my Dad and said that his Spyder would be ready for him to pick up on Wednesday the 27th. That day I drove my dad down the the dealer and hurried home so that I could get all geared up for a ride! :)

So my fellow followers, may I introduce to you, the much anticipated, Spyder Mabey..... (Yes, I treat him as my own brother, haha)

So the reason why I have been slacking is because I have been spending ALL of my free time with my Dad, and Spyder. We've been on rides EVERYWHERE! My favorite features are I get to control the music, AND the HAND WARMERS! It's the best thing in the world. It's so comfortable. AND a side note, my mom's back usually hurts when she sits on practically anything, BUT it DOESN'T hurt when she's on the Spyder, Cool huh! Anyway, My dad is going in for heart surgery tomorrow and has to lay in bed for 4 days after he gets home from the hospital. So we've been riding a lot today. Speaking of which, I can hear that he just started the motor in the garage. Time to go! I'll be back soon! There will be lots more time to blog because Spydie is going to have to sit in the garage for a week. So until then, love you guys!..... THAT'S a sip of Livi's Lemonade!

P.S. If you hear a motorcycle go by your house, it's probably me. I'm obsessed with riding on Spyder. ANY time of the day! :)