Moving again!

Good Afternoon, We're moving again, we went from Alaska where we would never leave to Tonesket Washington to Spokane Washington then to Neola/Vernal/Roosevelt Utah to hunker down for the winter where We didn't didn't have to worry about freezing to death, we didn't get any snow here this year and we didn't get much below 20 degrees, I was extremely happy about that because I knew God was watching out for us again as he always has. But now its time to move on again, I applied for several jobs in Portland Maine and one was one of my dream jobs which I interviewed with that following week and got an offer the next week, the offer couldn't be beat. So naturally I took it, we move at the beginning of June going to Portland Maine, I will be working on public Transit busses at greater Portland metro transit. I belive this will be the last move for a while, at least across the country anyways, I never dreamed of leaving Alaska much less going this far east or being this far south either. The furthest south I said I would ever go was Laramie Wyoming and here I am a lot more south than that, everything everyone has ever told us about leaving Alaska has been a complete lie, the people we have meet regardless of their political views has been great, except for one person that thought they owned the dog park, and they decided to beat oreo with the dog toy on camera and they got kicked out of the RV Park we we're staying at in liberty lake Washington but other than that we have had an amazing experience here in the real world. We have done a lot of exploring while we have been here and moving around and one of our favorite places we have found so far is McCoy Flats, the dogs love it, it wide open space in the hills between Roosevelt and Vernal Utah and they can be off leash to roome the wide open space freely without worrying about people.

We want to get some better cameras for the types of Photography that we like to do but I get a few good pictures here and there, we saw Turky Vultres last night their massive 

It was neat.

Here's one last photo I took, its one of my favorite ones. 

That's it for this post as it's already pretty long but I hope you enjoyed our update and we will post more soon, Tabby did some fun stuff to so maybe she will share some of her story next. 

Thanks for your support and remember to keep an open mind and find the good in life ignore most everything everyone else tells you because every experience is what you make it, travel,  explore and love what God has in store.

Back to the Blogosphere!

 Hello, everyone! 

It's been a few years since we've posted on this blog, and we want to start posting again. 

Something that has been on my mind recently is the development and cultivation of gifts and talents. I was rereading some of the things that I've written in the past, and I was reminded of how much I used to enjoy writing, photography, and videography. I was reminded that my unique style of writing is a gift that needs to be cultivated and shared.

I want to get back to the things that I used to enjoy and share more of our story. I love storytelling using words, video, photos, and music. God has been reminding me that Brandon and I have stories that are worth writing, thoughts that are worth sharing, and gifts that are worth cultivating. 

Come join us for the journey!

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The Diamond House

This is our house, it is a log cabin attached to a trailer home, it is approximately 55 feet long and 20 to 30 feet wide.

This is my shop, it reminds me of a trappers cabin, I have always dreamed of hanging tools on the side of a cabin nicely organized like this, I used what was already on the cabin for hanging stuff and will fix it latter.

The only real thing missing is a few traps

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Opinions don't matter. why I don't sugar coat

Today I was thinking about what happened in life that makes me not care what other's think when it comes to opinion and I feel like people just think I'm heartless and don't care about people. I don't know if that's really what they think but thats the way I fell sometimes. I was thinking about my childhood and growing up, we were required to work hard for everything we ever had and got and it has made me appreciate everything I have, one of the hardest things we dealt with was never being able to build friendships like most people do while there young. Friendships are hard to build the older you get especially the one's  that are close and the ones I dream of all the time, the one's that you see all the time where you go hang out every week, those one's are the ones that don't come easily when your older. I have friends that have best friends they had when they were in preschool and they go out at least weekly and there married and most have families to care for but they stay close and they become a part of each other's families on both sides of the friendships and they don't hide anything from each other,  that is one of the things I have always dreamed for and it makes me sad to see other's that live that dream. One of the reasons I was never able to build this dream is because we were never able to get to know anyone and all of our childhood friends were stolen from us when we moved from Anchorage to Kenai in 1999 and after that move we were isolated and every time we made friends it got stonewalled and we were never able to nurture those relationships and it has made me me today but it also left a permanent hole in my sole that I often find empty, how does this make me heartless when it comes to opinion? Mom always taught us to stand up for what we believe and for what's right and she always said that often and other things happened later in life where I was important for telling the truth and it made me opinionated and I'm vocal about it, I don't have a filter to shield your feelings and often times I don't care about your feelings and I believe its because of this life history of mine that has made everyone else's feelings less in value to me. I don't say that in the terms of knocking anyone down as in I don't value them at all, I just don't value sugar coating everything. I don't know how to filter my mouth for your feelings or opinions. I never had a best friend to talk to that would tell me I was to mean and it's why a lot of people don't like me and a lot of people do but in the end its the lack of that friendship that isn't there that would have filled that hole that is there. My best friends are my sisters, and now Tabitha but growing up I was close to my brother's and sisters for the longest time, we only had each other.  I still long for that hole of a true life long friend that most have today that I never had and will never have the chance to have. It makes me sad often 😢  I hope everyone that reads this really cherishs there friendships and hold them close,  especially your best friends. 

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2020 stay out of my bubble and you'll be just fine! and yes I'm always wrong!

Crazy year that is crazy fast with civil rights violation's if you're right and the go left and left and there is no right. Everything that has happened from left to right, top to bottom has been completely against everything our founding fathers have ever gone against and everything we have fought for over the years and even against slavery and racism that Martin Luther King fought against, history must be destroyed because they claim it's racist but it reality history isn't racist the times we're racist the history only reminds us of the story that had happened, destruction of it reminders will only cause us to repeat it but it goes even deeper than that! The destruction of history today has nothing to do with racism and everything to do with control, a few years before China became a communist country they destroyed everything that reminded the people of where they came from and what had been fought for, they had did this 1. To test the powers they had to see what they could get away with while not disrupting the everyday life of the citizens and shortly after the government took control, today we have a similar situation going on, good is evil and evil is good and if you stand up to it you are persecuted by those in control and in most cases lately even locked 🔐 up for defending yourself even on video and there is beyond reasonable doubt that they we're trying to kill you and disarm you and it was in total self defense but you are required to roll over and dig your own grave for them! War is coming! Let's not talk about the fake pandemic! Everyone in most everyplace is required to ware masks and stay 6 or more feet apart from each other for a so-called virus that has a better recovery rate that the common flue because people are to stupid to make there own decisions for themselves to keep them safe? Sorry to brake your heart but it's not my job to keep you safe from your own stupidity, it's my job to protect myself and my family and extended family! That's where it ends now on that note most of us will do what we can to protect our friends and there families but within reason! Forcing people to protect others over themselves is assanin at the least! For example I have a respirator mask that filters the air coming into my breathing area and I cannot ware it because it only protects myself! Some cities have made these mask's illegal because it don't protect you! Sorry but go protect yourself and get lost! Yes I said what people aren't brave enough to say! For now that's my rant! Like it, don't like it, I don't care! I'm a mechanic 😁 mechanics learn quick to not care what you think! Arm yourself, protect yourself! We will not do it for you! It's like telling my to change your undies because you craped in them and are a hazerd to yourself, do it yourself and stay out of my bubble and you will be just fine! 

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2018 is Almost Over!!!

I can't believe that next week is Christmas! Another semester is over, another round of grades are in the books. Next semester will hopefully be my last until student teaching in August! I'm so excited to be so close to finishing my degree and earning my teaching certificate! I'm still praying and pondering about what comes after graduation. Brandon and I think we have a pretty good idea of what we will be doing and where we'll be living in the next few years, but we haven't yet figured out the details. So, more information on life after graduation will come over the next year or so.....

I wanted to take a few minutes to reflect on how 2018 has been so far, seeing as there are only a couple of weeks left in the year. Then I'll share some of my goals for 2019.

In January, I decided to focus on faith and relationships for the year. My faith has been on a roller coaster these past few years: sometimes it's strong, sometimes it's weak. I have had experiences this year that have strengthened my faith. I have also had experiences that have strengthened my relationships. Going to the Lower 48 was especially beneficial because I was able to see people that I've seen in 5 years. I'm making it a goal to get down to the Lower 48 at least once a year to visit people (and maybe even more often than that, depending on how future plans pan out).

For a refresher of my goals for 2018, go here. 

For the most part, I accomplished my 2018 goals. I went to the temple, and I went to the Lower 48. I made an attempt to use time wisely, even though I still have my lazy days! I was especially grateful that my church leaders encouraged me to take a break from social media. That really helped me to prioritize my time. I need to take breaks from social media more often!

Thinking ahead to 2019, I have decided to base my goals on a framework that I learned in my child development classes. The acronym PIES represents different areas of development:

PIES Chart Created using Google Sheets

P- Physical
I-  Intellectual
E- Emotional
S- Social

I also added an extra S: Spirituality.

Here are my goals for each area of development:

Physical: Exercise at least 3 times a week. I also have a reasonable weight loss goal which I will not disclose to online world.

Intellectual: Begin student teaching.

Emotional: Write in a gratitude journal at least once a week.

Social: Attend a conference in a city that I've never been to before.

Spiritual: Attend the temple at least 4 times in 2019.

Goals with PIES chart

Here's to a great 2019! I hope you all enjoy your Christmas!



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I survived another semester!

Sorry dear blog for ignoring you! I had a busy semester, but it's all done now!

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Spring Semester

I am a few weeks into the Spring Semester, so I thought I should finally write about it! Haha

I am crazy so I decided to take 18 credits (6 classes) this semester:
ED 100 Linguistics and Education
MATH 212 Math for Elementary Teachers
ENG 270 Creative Writing
ED 201 Intro to Education
ED 204 Children's Literature
GEOG 101 World Geography

I'm also serving as secretary for my church's children's program, so you can definitely say I'm busy!  Hopefully I'll be able to survive this semester.

It's interesting, though. Even though I'm super-busy, I magically have time to get things done and actually feel like I have a social life. I'm forced to interact with people more on a daily basis. So I'm slowly becoming more friendly and coming out of my shell again. I experience seasonal depression plus I'm introverted so this is kind of a big deal for me. I can be social but it takes work and drains me. I really like my "me time" and need to recharge after social events. But I've been getting better.

I'll try to write more but if I'm absent more often than not, it's because I'm so busy!

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Hot Topics: the Plus-Sized Life

My sister recently wrote an awesome post about life as a curvy cutie and all of the emotional turmoil that often brings. You can check out her post here: https://djslifestory.blogspot.com/2018/01/being-plus-size-woman-self-esteem.html   Her post was so awesome and thought-provoking, and I could relate to a lot of what she had to say! That's why I decided to write a short response to her post and share it with y'all.

My sister wrote a lot about how being a curvy cutie affected her social life, how she dressed, and how she felt about herself. Despite her challenges, she finds different ways to rise above them and be comfortable being unique. She's developed a style all her own, and let me just tell you, sometimes I want to raid her closet! I want to be like Denali when I grow up.

I too can relate to self-esteem issues related to my size. I've always been bigger, even when I've been more physically fit. Add shyness and quietness, and that makes it harder to make friends. I've had moments where I let my challenges get the better of me, but I've done some hard scary things just to show myself that I could!  I did cheerleading my junior and senior years of high school! I did have to wear the largest size skirts and I had a hard time keeping the beat but I didn't let that stop me! Being a cheerleader scared the snot out of me, but it was so rewarding. It increased my confidence and gave me something to look forward to.  So did serving a mission for my church, being a preschool teacher, going to college, and serving in various responsibilities at church. All of these things have helped me to be a more confident person and helped me to see what I am capable of, no matter my size.

I have tried to exercise and diet before, but I realized that trying to lose weight will make no difference unless I learn to love myself the way I am first. That journey of self-love is a constant work in progress. Some days are better than others. I try to look at the positives, like my smile and laugh, when I get down on myself. I am planning to make improvements for my physical health this year, but I don't want to get down on myself if the scale doesn't move or if I stuff my face with chocolate. I'm still beautiful no matter my size. As long as I'm striving to improve, the number on the scale or tape measure doesn't matter. The size of my heart is much more important than my dress size.

The same is true for you too! Whether you think you're too fat or too thin, too hairy, or have a face full of acne. You're beautiful inside even if all that people look at is the outside.  God doesn't make junk; He made you special for His purposes. Never forget your great worth.

I wanted to share a few songs that have gotten me through hard times and showed me that I'm awesome just the way I am.  At the end of the post, I have some lovely pictures of me rocking awesome outfits at different stages of my life.

Proof that I was a cheerleader!

Junior Year

Senior year rocking denim on denim

Picture with the hubby

That one time I dyed my hair purple

Anyone can be a mermaid!

I love love love Junie Blake dresses! Modest, adorable, and affordable

Sometimes you can find cute dresses at thrift stores!

Wedding reception with my sisters!

My pretty wedding dress! And Hubby looks good in purple!

Love this dress!

My high school style!

We are princesses!

Trees need love too and so do you!

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A Tribute to Thomas S. Monson

Last night, an important leader of my church passed away. His name was Thomas Spencer Monson, and he spent most of his life serving in the church in a variety of capacities, with his most recent responsibility being the prophet and president of the church. His life was one of service and love.  Below are just a few of the things that have impressed me when I think about Thomas S. Monson's life:

Trust- Thomas S. Monson trusted in God and in His plan, even when things were rough.
Honor- Thomas S. Monson honored his covenants and promises to God and others.
Our Prophet- Thomas S. Monson met many people and he will always remain in our hearts.
Mercy- Thomas S. Monson has met people of all walks of life and strived to be kind to those he meets.
Altruistic- Thomas S. Monson served others without thought of reward.
Strength- Although his health sharply declined toward the end of his life, Thomas S. Monson served to the best of his abilities.

Military- Thomas S. Monson served in the military as a young man and showed bravery.
Obedience- Thomas S. Monson followed the commandments and promptings of the Spirit.
Natural Love- Thomas S. Monson showed natural, Christlike love for others.
Stories- Thomas S. Monson used stories as he discussed gospel principles.
Ordinary (with a little extra)- Although Thomas S. Monson was an ordinary man, the Lord helped him to fulfill his duties and touch many lives.
Nurture- Thomas S. Monson cared for others, especially the widows and fatherless.


Heaven gained another angel last night. Thomas S. Monson will be missed, but his legacy will live on.

Images from lds.org

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New Years Resolutions

Hi everyone and Happy 2018!
I've enjoyed reading friend's posts about their goals and resolutions for this year. I have decided that I don't want to have a lot of resolutions this year, but I do want to have two focus words to outline my purpose for this year: faith and relationships. I chose faith because I want to increase my faith in God and also increase the faith and trust that I have in my family and friends. I also chose relationships because strengthening my faith and trust in God, family, and friends will improve my relationships with important people in my life.
While my focus words will guide me throughout the course of the year as I set daily and weekly goals, I have set one goal related to each focus word that I hope to accomplish by the end of the year.

Faith Goal: I will attend the temple at least two times by the end of 2018.

Relationship Goal: I will go on a vacation to visit family and friends in the Lower 48 by the end of 2018.

Overarching Goal: I will use my time wisely as I strengthen my faith and my relationships.


Here's to a wonderful 2018!

Pictures and Clipart from clipart-library.com

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Hot Topics: Non-Committal Make-out Sessions (NCMOS)

Hello blog friends!

My sister has been blogging up a storm, and as I mentioned before, this has inspired me to take up blogging again.  You can check out some of her work over at https://djslifestory.blogspot.com .

My sis and I have been discussing ideas for blog posts, and one of the ideas that we came up with writing an opinion piece about a common practice among young people that has the potential to lead to much more than the participants had bargained for. NCMOS (non-committal make-out sessions) are a plague among some of the college town social scenes that my sis and I have been involved in, so I wanted to talk about why I don't like NCMOS and would discourage young people from participating in them.

What are NCMOS?
NCMOS are non-committal make-out sessions, where individuals who are not in a committed relationship repeatedly kiss each other just for the fun of it. Sometimes the partners have previously met, sometimes they're friends, but often they're people who will likely never see one another after the make-out session. People sometimes describe NCMOS as one-night stands or hookups that don't lead all the way to sex.

Pros and Cons?
I have known people and heard stories about people who have participated in NCMOS. I have also participated in make-out sessions when I was not in a relationship. Some found it to be exciting and fun, plus kissing feels good.  Some liked that it was "no strings attached," meaning they could have the benefits of kissing without having to work at a relationship. Many people dislike NCMOS because they feel that kissing should be saved for serious relationships. I will share how I feel about NCMOS personally, but first, I would like to share some background information.

What do kisses mean?
Kissing can be fun, but I don't think that people should kiss one another willy-nilly as they please. I believe that kissing and other displays of affection have meaning. The meaning of the actions can mean something different depending on who you ask.

For this section of the post, I will draw from the words of LDS author and speaker, John Bytheway. He has given advice to teenagers and young adults for many years and has been one of my favorite authors since I was in Junior High. The New Era, a magazine for LDS teenagers, published an article which John Bytheway wrote about kissing. Bytheway (2004) warns that our actions often speak louder than words, especially when showing physical affection. Even a simple hug between two friends can speak volumes.

According to Bytheway, each person can interpret an action in different ways.  A boy and girl may hold hands while walking at the fair. One might think they are just holding hands so they don't lose one another in the crowd while the other thinks that holding hands means that they are boyfriend and girlfriend. A young man and young woman might share a goodnight kiss after a date. One might feel like they will have a good story to share with their buddies since they finally got that kiss, while the other may feel an outburst of emotions and attachment to their kissing partner. I highly recommend reading John Bytheway's article. I really changed my perspective on kissing and the messages it can convey.

My Take on NCMOS
In my personal opinion, I absolutely agree with John Bytheway. I think that actions speak louder than words, and physical actions can often be misinterpreted. Without going into detail, I will say that  I have had experiences where I misinterpreted messages that guys were sending, and I've had my heart broken a couple of times.

When you kiss someone, you can't take it back. Like it or not, the memory stays with you and can come back to haunt you when you least expect it.  I've thought about guys I've kissed even years after the fact. When you kiss someone, you develop an emotional connection. If your make-out buddy is still in your life after the NCMO, it can strain the relationship and make it more complicated, especially if they make out with or start dating someone else. Making out can also lead to other things way too easily, and the temptation to go further can be quite strong. That's why I strongly caution against NCMOS and even lengthy make-out sessions when you are dating.

Since I made some mistakes when I was younger, when I was in my early 20's, I actually went on a kissing hiatus for several years. One reason was because I wasn't dating anyone. Another was because I served a mission for my church. The biggest reason was because I wanted my kisses to mean something, and I didn't want to kiss anyone else unless I was committed to the relationship and wanted to marry them. After my mission, I made a promise to myself and to God that I wouldn't kiss anyone unless I knew that I was going to marry the guy. I kept that promise, not kissing anyone except for the man I married in 2014. Our first kiss was special because we knew that we were committed to one another and the kiss was an expression of our love. I may regret some of the kisses I gave away when I was younger, but I don't regret saving my first kiss with my husband after an almost 5-year kissing hiatus.

A Final Note

I have shared my personal opinion about NCMOS. I know that everyone has a different opinion, and I respect that. Each person has personal agency to choose how they will act, so although I discourage people from participating in NCMOS, the choice is ultimately up to you. Talk to your make-out buddy to set boundaries and discuss expectations. Use your personal judgement to determine who you want to kiss, when you want to kiss, and how often you want to kiss. The choice is yours to make. Please be responsible though.







Source Cited:
Bytheway, John. 2004. "What Do Kisses Mean?"  New Era, October 2004 issue. https://www.lds.org/new-era/2004/10/what-do-kisses-mean?lang=eng

For more information about kissing and general survival as a teenager, you should check out this book by John Bytheway:
  https://www.amazon.com/Crash-Course-Teenage-Survival-Bytheway/dp/1573459305
The book can even be helpful for college age young adults. John Bytheway has a ton of books and talks available for a variety of age groups. He tackles difficult topics with humor, and I really enjoyed his books growing up.

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Hello blog!

 I realize that I have neglected this blog for over a year! Shameful! My lovely sister is an awesome blogger and has encouraged me to take up blogging again, so here we go! I’m also taking a creative writing class next semester so blogging will help me get back into the spirit of writing. I’ll write about everyday adventures as well as thoughts and crazy ideas. I might even have a guest post or two in the near future. Here’s to blogging bliss!

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Health and Loving Yourself

Health and body positivity post from Tabitha


Hi everyone, so I mentioned in a post a few weeks ago that I'm working through some health issues. I wanted to share a little bit about that today. Please remember that this is my personal battle. I'm not looking for sympathy or pity. I'm not looking for criticism either. Being overweight and unhealthy sucks, but I've learned to accept my condition and I am taking action to improve my health.  I want to share more about my condition so that you can understand what's happening and why I am sensitive when it comes to people wondering about us having kids. I feel comfortable sharing this much with you all.
I've been overweight for a while. I had a problem with portion control, sugar addiction, and emotional eating. Since my weight gain was steady, for a long time, I didn't really notice it. Before I knew it, I was way over what my weight should be. I was constantly tired and cranky. Other health problems started to creep up.
Last year, I started making changes to eat healthier. Despite my efforts, I GAINED 30 pounds in a year! I was shocked and discouraged. I went to the doctor last month and learned that  I have PCOS-poly cystic ovarian syndrome. Basically I have insulin resistance and my hormones are all messed up. I have difficulty ovulating and having regular menstrual periods. I will need to get my insulin resistance and ovulation under control before I can think about getting pregnant. Even then, I may need some help.
I've started taking Metformin to help with my insulin resistance. Next month, I'll follow up with the doctor and go from there. I'm also reevaluating my eating and exercise habits. I will continue to tweak them as needed. I'm trying to eat more fruits and vegetables and drink more water. I've also been cutting back on my chocolate and candy intake. It's been hard, but I'm already seeing great results!
I still have a long way to go on my journey, but I'm learning to love myself and take care of myself better. I'm learning to love myself as I am right now, while still looking to the future and visualizing a healthier, smaller version of myself. I want to take care of myself NOW so that my health problems don't get worse.
I'm the happiest I've been in a while and I'm grateful for the support of friends and family. I'm excited for this next part of my life as I improve my health and sculpt a better version of me.

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My Future path?

February 21st 2016
My future path?
This week I have been thinking about what I want to do… With so many things and so much drama on a daily basis you can't help but to ask yourself “Is this for me?” And my answer at this time is unknown! I love what I do but physically how long will I be able to keep going with minimal pain, mentally are you willing to drop your standards to make everyone happy and eat your pride? Is the money worth it? Though the pay is great for now but in the end I feel it is going to cost me more than I can make especially with health issues getting worse and I believe what I do as a mechanic isn't helping with the amount of bad chemicals I am around on a daily basis to the exhaust, to the extreme exposure to the cold weather with playing on frozen metals and the high stress that comes with being a mechanic, I have been a mechanic since 2012 and no longer feel 100% that this is what I'm supposed to do! I have a doctors appointment on March 3 and they are going to do allergy testing to try and narrow my issues down. I've had they really important stuff tested for a month ago and they didn't find anything however just because they didn't find anything the first time around don't mean there's no problem it just means it's in a neutral state at the time of the blood draws. I have thought about going into business for myself as a mobile mechanic and thought about it for about 3 weeks and decided that isn't for me either (at this time) so recently it came to mind that we may eventually end up in Oregon but don't know why right now, I have never been there in my life! (That I can remember) as far as my career I am going to look into becoming a building/construction inspector I love doing construction but it's to seasonal so I can't do that here in Alaska and I'm not ready to move! Anyway that's my current thoughts and what's going on! I hope you all enjoy it!

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PSA: Our Future Pregnancy Announcement Will Be Super Obvious

The following is a public service announcement from Tabitha:

I'm not trying to be rude, but I feel the need to say something. I know that people mean well and that they are eager for us to expand our family. Nevertheless, I'm irritated that whenever I post anything about kids, people tend to think that it's an announcement. Nope, I'm just posting something that I thought was cute or interesting. It's come down to me having put a disclaimer on every child-related thing I post.
Allow me to let you in on a secret: when I'm really pregnant, I won't announce it by posting some random picture or article. What I post will include both Brandon and I with something baby-related and a caption that's extremely obvious about what's happening :-)
Of course, family members and close friends  will get a phone call or visit where we tell them the exciting news. We love you too much to tell you by some random Facebook post.
Just in case anyone is curious, I am currently working on improving my health. Once I can resolve health concerns and we improve our finances, we will be  in a better condition to welcome a little one. As for specifics of our health and finances, we prefer to only discuss this with family and close friends.
Again, please understand that I'm not trying to be rude. I just felt that it was important to share this information so you can better understand where we're at and not jump to conclusions based on what we post. :-)

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~An Open Letter to My 17-year-old Self

I wrote this letter to a younger version of myself, looking back to when I was a Junior in high school. This was a way for me to reflect on what have learned over the past few years and to think of advice that I would give to myself as a teenager.

Hey Beautiful!
Congratulations on turning 17! By the way, you're already more than halfway done with high school! I know that the decision to switch schools was tough* but you were brave and took the plunge. You're going to learn so much at this school and meet some amazing people.  I know right now you're excited about cheerleading, fun assignments, and cute boys in gym class, science class, every class.... But I have a little bit of advice to help you through the next few action-packed years.
1.   You are beautiful, inside and out! You don't need to wear shorts skirts or cake your face in makeup to be beautiful. You have a light that shines from within. It may take you a while to recognize that light, but when you do, it will be glorious. All of the jewels in the world can't compare with the beauty of a young woman who knows who she is and shows respect for herself and others.
2.  Talking to cute boys is fun and exciting (and I know that boy a few lockers down has his eyes on you), but you don't really need a boyfriend just yet. You need to get to know and love yourself better first. You're going to transform over the next few years. Yes, you'll meet some good-looking guys, steal a few hearts (and kisses), and maybe get your heart ripped out a couple of times. Everything that happens will shape you and prepare you for the future. God has an awesome guy waiting for you; He just wants you to be better prepared for your future relationship. Be patient; it'll take a few years.
3.  Treasure your relationships with your family and friends. Yes, I understand your siblings are annoying, I had to grow up with them, remember?  The good news is, they will grow out of their annoying habits.  They may even surprise you with what they know and the skills they have. You guys will help each other through trials and grow closer together. You may even become really good friends.  Also, don't write your parents off as old farts who don't know much. They know A LOT and have really good advice. Listen to them and consider their advice. It can save you a lot of headache and heartache.  And enjoy your friendships. Get to know different kinds of people. Learn to get along with different kind of people. It will help you a lot!
4.  Don't be afraid of your school teachers and church leaders. They are actually pretty cool. You'll be surprised by the stories they tell and the advice they give. I know that it can be hard to pay attention sometimes, but listen up. You never know what you could learn! Also, don't be afraid of your bishop or branch president*. They want you to succeed, and they are here to help! You'll make some great friends by getting to know your teachers and leaders better.
5.  Be yourself! Be genuine. Be real. You don't need to be someone you're not to get people to like you. Don't be afraid to speak up. People will love the real you, quirks and all!
6.  Find a balance. Life can be pretty tricky when you have to balance early-morning seminary*, school, cheerleading, homework, and church activities. Things will get even crazier after graduation, when you have to balance a job, classes, homework, church responsibilities, a social life, and a car with which you have a love-hate relationship.*   It will be tough. You'll crash and burn. But eventually you will find a good way to balance your life.
7.  Exercise and eat healthy foods!  This one is hard to do! I know you're probably about to shove a pizza into your mouth and then eat some candy. I know that at this age, carrots and apples do not sound as appealing as pizza and soda, but you'll pay for poor health habits down the road. It's much harder to get back in shape and change eating habits when you get older. I'm having quite the struggle to lose weight and be healthy. Cultivate good habits now. Trust me, you'll thank yourself when you get older!
8.   Do your best work.  A lot of subjects come easy to you, and you find a way to put your personality into your assignments.  I have some bad news for you: classes are not always fun or easy. You will have some tough classes in college, and sometimes you will be bored out of your mind!  But don't give up. Remember that mediocre efforts results in mediocre grades and mediocre learning. Study and apply what you learn. Don't be afraid of talking to your teacher or going to study groups.  There are people who want to help you succeed.
9.    Be open to the unexpected. Life will throw you curves and give you unanticipated opportunities. Things will happen that will shock you. Doors and windows will open up when you least expect it.  For example, for a couple of years, you'll tell everyone you know that you're not going to serve a mission. Then you'll eat your words when you're 22. You'll end up serving a mission* and loving it.  Life isn't going to go exactly how you expect it. You won't always get what you want, but you will get what you need.
10.   Pay attention in your church classes. I know it's hard to stay awake at 7 in the morning*. I know it's hard to understand Bible language. You will learn some valuable lessons when you pay attention. You will learn about how to build a relationship with God. You will learn about what Christ's sacrifice means to you. You will be able to apply what you learn on a very personal level and become a better person. Even when a class seems endlessly boring, pay attention, and you can pick out hidden treasures of knowledge.
Well, dear, this about wraps it up. I hope you learned something from the future version of yourself. These next few years will be fun and challenging. You will be stretched. You will laugh, you will cry, you will learn many things. Hang on and enjoy the ride!
Love, Future You in 2015

* Some background information:
1- My Junior year of high school I switched to a high school that was technology-based because I was ready for a change.
2- A bishop or branch president is a leader of a local congregation of my church.
3- I had a car in college that happened to break down at the most inopportune moments. Being stuck on the side of the road at -40 degrees is not fun!
4- I served an 18-month mission for my church. I served the Spanish-speaking population of Las Vegas.
5- Youth in my church attend a class during the school year, called seminary, where we study the scriptures. In Alaska, the class is held before school.

Post Created by Tabitha

Conference Review

This month, we had two conferences for our church. They were awesome! What I got out of General Conference (a worldwide broadcast) was that families are super-important and that we need to all work together to bring to pass much good. Everyone plays an important role; we all need each other. From Stake Conference (a local meeting), I received a message that I really needed: I am enough. I don't need to be Super Woman; I just need to do the best I can and understand my limitations.  I loved both conferences and learned a lot. What did you learn from conference?

Post Created by Tabitha

Trials and tragedies

I have been thinking a lot lately about trials I've had in the past. Many of these trials were because I needed to learn something. I have this stubborn tendency to want things done in MY way and in MY timing, but that's not how it works. I've had many trials in my life, but it's been interesting to see how the Lord gave me a trial but prevented a tragedy. For example, I have had a few experiences where I was involved in an accident: I fell down a hill, I fell backwards off a horse, I smashed up a car or two, I nearly drowned. I should have died or been seriously hurt, but I walked away without a scratch from each incident. To be face to face with death and walk away without a scratch is a miracle to me.  If I have had had several experiences where I stared death in the face and was able to just walk away, that must mean that my life is worth something! This gives me the courage to press forward in whatever struggle I may face.  I know that these experiences help to shape me into a better person so that I can be a greater influence for good in the world. I know that all things will work out. They may not work out when I expect or how I expect, but I know that I will be blessed.
Love,
Tabitha

Post Created by Tabitha

Continued of what's to come!

Hi everyone I wanted to continue my post I made a few days ago. I wanted to let you all know we're doing great and we have been thinking hard about what we want to do for our future living arrangements and I've been doing a lot of research on buying a house or property VS renting and feel like if I play my card right we can buy a place to live for less than renting which is sad and also I will have the freedom to do as I please to my place! I'm not going to tell you all the specifics but I will tell you that I fear renting a place and not being able to move out because we would be stuck in a stupidly expensive apartment. I know if I worked the cards right I can get something around 70,000 or less and a few acres of land  and have a lower payment then rent and we can pay it off within five years easy fix it up with repairs and improvements and have something with more value to sell and use towards our final resting grounds with sizable land.  That amount of money would get us a 2 to 3 bedroom house and the down payment is about the same as security deposits here in North Pole and Fairbanks yes I know most of you aren't going to support us buying a place and that's why we're not asking, I do not like apartments and will not get stuck in one for 10 years it's a dumb place to be and I know many people that are there now and I will not be one of them. I love my land and freedom to do as I please within reason in my yard! Anyways that's what's up in my head and I miss you all and miss hanging out with everyone. Oh and no we aren't buying a place until December if we do at the earliest, it depends on how some things on my credit go as they are resolved! Have a good night.

Post Created by Brandon