Grateful

Since I haven't really posted anything in a while (since nothing too new is really going on) I thought I would post a gratitiude post. I apologize in advance if this blog is a little indulgent. I was in a car accident this last weekend on my way down to Casa Grande to visit Christian and Addie who had just moved to AZ. My parents were coming in so I was very excited to see my family! Jason unfortunately had to work so I went down by myself. Just outside of Payson there was a rollover accident that happened right in front of me, I was able to stop in enough time to avoid not hitting the already damaged scene, but the car behind me didn't stop in enough time to avoid me. Luckily he was able to miss the back of my car but he ran into the side of my car and blew out the tire. It really could have been a lot worse than it really was, we both could have gone rolling down the mountain along with 10 other cars that were trying to get around that corner as well. While it was very frustrating and stressful to be in an accident, I am very grateful to my Heavenly Father for being there always in my life. He never leaves me alone. There were several things that He blessed me with that day to remind me of His love and existence in my life. First, i have no idea how to change a tire, I never have before! The man who ran into me offered to change my tire no questions asked just asked me where the spare was and changed it for me. The officer on scene noticed that I didn't have current tags (we were a few weeks past due since its like $300 to renew our registrations!) and decided not to give me a ticket. I would not have been able to drive all the way down to the valley on a spare tire and it was a Friday evening with no luck of a tire shop open or with the necessary rims that could fix the car that we could afford. So Jason called into work on a very busy and crazy night to come rescue me, his parents drove him and left as soon as they heard the news. My mom knew something was up (Mom's always have that feeling) and called about 5 minutes after the accident had happened when I needed a little supporting voice to know it was going to be ok. Jason drove me all the way down to Mesa and then all the way back up to Holbrook so that he could be at work that night by midnight and his parents drove our car home just so that I wouldn't miss spending time with my family. Then my parents drove hours out of their way to take me back up to Flagstaff where Jason's parents came and picked me up on Monday. Jason's grandpa even offered to drive all the way out there to tow the truck home if necessary. I really am so blessed to have a family that is so willing to be there for me, without question or complaint, to have a husband who knows how much I miss my family so drives me all the way to Mesa on very little sleep. I know the Lord was watching out for me, and continues to watch out for me. It is just a reminder to me that just when you think you might be alone and start to be pessimistic, we never really are alone. I am so grateful for His daily guidance and protection in my life. (My lifesavers, Dad you're included in there too I just couldnt find a picture :) )

Heidi and Travis - Contemporary (Calling You)

Can I just say how excited I am that So you think you Can Dance is back!! When I think of summer I think of BBQ's, the beach, watermelon, and most importantly So You Think You Can Dance!! This is just in remembrance of my favorite dance ever on there...Heidi and Travis did this amazing routine choreographed by Mia Michaels in season 2 and it has always been my favorite...oh if only I could dance like that!

Little Debbie

I have been warned so many times about the scorpians here in Arizona, and I guess I just figured it wouldn't happen to me it was just a myth or something. Well I was wrong, Jason found a scorpian in our HOUSE climbing up the wall. I was terrified and had nightmares of scorpians all night. He put it in a little tupperware and its sitting in our kitchen for Jason to show off. He named it Little Debbie. He said he has only seen three in his lifetime in a house and one of them was in our house, and he thinks that is supposed to make me feel better. Obviously he was not as traumatized as I was. Here is a website for the Arizona Bark Scorpian :http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/insects/az1223/#ARIZONABARKSCORPION

Happy reading...lucky us :)! Christian and Addie, don't let that scare you from coming to AZ, I hear they are just as bad down in the Valley, but don't say I didn't warn you!

Here are pictures of Little Debbie

Paintball

Jason and his Dad are really into paintball, and have both tried to get me into it forever. I've never really been interested because when they come back they both have these massive bruises where they got shot. Well I decided to be brave on Friday and give it a shot. I figured it would be a way to spend more time with Jason and it could be fun who knows. Jason figured it would be good if i got shot first to see if I really wanted to play after that. The first time he shot me in the leg (its ok because I shot him in the rear end after that) and it hurt so bad I was ready to give up, but then he shot me in the back and because I had more padded clothing on I couldn't even feel it at all. So I decided to give it a try and just pad up really well. We met up with a group of about 13 guys (I'm the only girl) and played in the middle of the desert for two and a half hours. I had SO much fun playing. Now I know why they got so into paintball, its such an adrenaline rush! I did get shot a couple times but it was well worth it. I got a few kills, including one of my teamates who wasn't too happy with me but he'll get over it. I tagged him back in then killed the last guy on the other team. Anyway, it was lots of fun so I think I found a new hobby. I wish we had taken pictures of our outfits, we were in Jason's Dad's old airforce camo uniforms. So instead I'll post some of my battle wounds. Sorry if its too up close and personal, but I have to have something to show for it!

My Visit to Utah

My brother Christian and his wife Addie just had another adorable little baby girl named Julia Alyse White and this past weekend I went up to Utah for the baby blessing. Sadly Jason couldn't get the time off work so I made the trip alone. I didn't realize how much I had missed Utah and all of my family and friends until I was there. I went to lunch with my old roommates at Costa Vida (girls I had so much fun!). We sat there and talked for almost 3 hours, it was so much fun! How I missed our conversations and our dinner chats! I miss our feminist talks haha!! I definitely had my fill of Cafe Rio/ Costa Vida, twice in one day should last me a while I hope! The good but sad thing is that Christian and Addie are moving to Arizona now so I probably won't be making too many more trips to Utah any time soon, but the good thing is that I will finally have family in Arizona, yay!! Here are some pictures from my fun trip, I'm sad it was so short! I miss all you guys it was so nice to see everyone!


Amy surprised us and flew up on Saturday so we got to spend time with both her and Nathan. He is getting more and more handsome everyday, just reminds me that the Whites sure know how to make cute babies :)! I think we probably had more fun than Eliana at Nathan at the park since we just followed them around with our cameras! Thanks to Addie for the great pictures as always!

This is the one thing I love about road trips, the beautiful scenery and the wide open spaces, this was just a gorgeos view I had to take a picture!

I actually took this picture (with Addies camera) but isn't Julia just beautiful. This is a pic of Addie getting her ready for her blessing, look at those eyes of hers!
Cute little Nathan being sweet as can be sneaking a quick peak out of the tunnel at the park!
The fam and friends who were there at the blessing!

Snoop Dog a Mormon?

So when I read this article it was pretty funny because earlier that day I had gone to a training at work about gangs and recognizing members of gangs and that sort of thing. Well it was talking about Snoop Dog being a Crip from Long Beach which I guess is fairly well known. Well then I read this article and didn't even think about it being April Fools day. The article is now expired but it was on CNN entertainment and it had a picture of Snoop Dog reading the Book of Mormon. All in all, I would say that is probably one of the funniest news April Fools jokes I had seen. I posted the article below, have fun its pretty funny :)!!



By Aaron NicholsCNN
DIAMOND BAR, California (AP) -- In what some may consider an unexpected move, rap artist "Snoop Dogg" has reportedly converted to Mormonism after nearly a year of study with the fast-growing, Utah-based faith.
(PHOTO CAPTION: Snoop Dogg says he "can't get enough of the Book of Mormon."}
In a statement, a spokeswoman for Snoop Dogg -- whose real name is Calvin Broadus -- said he considers himself extremely fortunate to have discovered such a deep sense of spiritual fulfillment at this stage in his life.

“Mr. Broadus is also very pleased to find that his family is as enthusiastic about attending church services as he is,” the spokeswoman said.
However, Snoop Dogg has not been enthusiastic about publicly sharing his experience and declined to be interviewed by CNN for this article. In fact, he reportedly informed producers of his E! reality show "Snoop Dogg's Father Hood" that this particular aspect of his family's life was off-limits to the cameras. Still, he left open the possibility of addressing the subject in future episodes.
According to the Associated Press, Snoop Dogg was first introduced to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as the Mormon Church is officially known, after attending a Gladys Knight concert in an LDS meeting house in Los Angeles.
Knight, who very publicly discusses her conversion to Mormonism several years ago, invited Snoop Dogg to what is known to the Mormon faithful as “Family Home Evening,” a church program that encourages families to set aside Monday evenings for gospel-centered lessons and family togetherness.
Though Snoop Dogg has been hesitant to publicly discuss his recent spiritual journey, he commented on the experience of attending his first “Family Home Evening” in a recent interview with People Magazine.
“I was hooked from the start,” Snoop Dogg said. “We talked about the purpose of life, played Mousetrap, and ate brownies. The kids thought it was off the hook, for real.”
In what Snoop Dogg now thinks was anything but a coincidence, Mormon missionaries had knocked on his door just one week before the Knight concert. He said he had initially turned them away because of what he knew about the strict Mormon health code, which prohibits members from smoking, drinking alcohol, and using drugs.
“Y’all know me,” he said grinning broadly. “There were just certain things the old me -- the "natural man" -- needed to do. And these young guys are telling me that God’s not down with disrespecting ourselves. But it’s cool now.”
Snoop Dogg said his conversion marks the end of his old life, one that included frequent run-ins with the law. Snoop Dogg was convicted in 1990 of cocaine possession and charged with gun possession after a 1993 traffic stop. In 1997, he pleaded guilty in exchange for a lighter sentence.
In 1996, Snoop Dogg was acquitted of murder after a purported gangbanger was killed by gunfire from the vehicle in which Snoop Dogg was traveling.
Snoop Dogg dismisses critics who claim his conversion is intended to placate a Salt Lake County judge, before whom he is appealing an alleged probation violation.
“Listen, the haters will say what they will,” Snoop Dogg said. “I can only do what I feel is right.”

Shady

We got a new puppy about a month ago. Jason's Uncle Kevin got these two puppies from one of his friends in Flagstaff who breeds hound dogs and trains them to be mountain lion hunting dogs. He convinced Jason and I to take one of the puppies from the same litter. She is part red bone hound and part walker treeing hound. She can be so cute and sweet but mostly she is a little "shady" which is why I named her that. She gives Charlie (our other dog) so much grief and thinks she is the empress. She is slowly starting to learn her place but its taking a while. Jason's mom has 3 labs at her house and Shady thinks that she can take them on too, but she learned her lesson when she tried to take food from one of the dogs and got bit. She was pretty traumatized and lost a good amount of blood but she is ok, she just has a small battle scar on her mouth. We are hoping that will get her to learn her lesson...but she surpises us every day.