For Memorial Day Weekend I got to go home! Thanks to Kira who drove from SLC. On Saturday Kira, Tibi, Landon and I went to the Valley of Fire and hiked around. The weather couldn't have been better and we had a lot of fun. I love the desert. So pretty. Here are a ton of pictures of our adventure. It was really nice to be home for the weekend and hang out with the family. Thanks Kira! Happy Memorial Day and hello summer! P.S. If you click on the pictures you can see them a lot better.

I love this picture. I think it needs to be in a magazine.

My 60's spread of the Valley of Fire.

This shadowed canyon was a fun little place to play.

Landon.

I imagine he is thinking, "Don't act like you're not impressed."

I love holidays and adventures! Bring em' on!

How did you spend your Memorial Day Weekend?

I'm glad that all dogs go to heaven because I love these two dogs. Shasta, the Oddou's dog, died earlier this month. A few days later Kit love died. I was really sad and home won't be the same without her. I always wanted Shasta and Kit to be friends. Now that they are in doggie Heaven they can be friends and maybe get married. My mother wrote a great post about Kit that can be read here.

Shasta

Kit love

"We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues." thomas s. monson

i am so grateful. i am so blessed. there are some things that i am indescribably grateful for. words could never explain. here are just a few.

today i went to the temple. all i can say, is that there is no place i would rather be. i'm grateful for the temple.

i'm grateful for this. my heart. my heart is a dear friend of mine. it's through this heart, that my Father in heaven created, that i'm able to feel. it's this heart that the holy ghost touches, so that i can feel of God's love and know of His power. i love feeling the spirit. it's through this heart that i'm able to do that. my heart. i'm grateful for my heart.

i'm a student at byuidaho. i am learning new things every day. i'm gaining experience. i have the opportunity to feed my brain, open my mind and gain knowledge. i'm a student at byuidaho. i'm able to feel the spirit on my university campus. i'm grateful for the opportunity to learn in a spiritual environment.

words could never describe how grateful i am for my Savior. He saves me everyday. i love Him. i could never be anything without Him. i'm grateful for my Savior's love and grace.

i love God's creation. everything. everything about this natural earth is beautiful. i'm grateful for the beauty of the earth and the brightness it brings into my life.

i'll never be able to say how much i love these two people and how grateful i am for them. they are selfless. they are caring. they are loving. they are hard working. they are tenderhearted. they are forgiving. they are faithful. they are what i hope to be someday. i love and am grateful for the love of my parents, and the love they have for each other.

i love the beauty of innocence. i'm reminded of childhood innocence and purity when i'm surrounded by my niece and nephews. they are so perfect. if only i could be like them. i love their bright eyes and their optimism. i'm grateful for the example of children.

i love trying and experiencing new things. i'm so glad that i am able to make choices for myself and have personal experiences. i'm grateful for adventure.

friends are precious. true and close friends are rare. i've been able to make friends that will always have a special place in my heart. i'm grateful for friendship.

i've been lucky enough to grow up with 5 siblings. we are all friends and we are a close family. i love my siblings so much. i'm grateful for sisterly and brotherly affection.

And now! I will post about BYUI. My first day of school - can I say fish out of water? I cannot stress this phrase enough. I felt this every way possible. I'm in this ridiculously tiny town, absolutely dumped with snow. It suddenly appears to be 1850. I'm in school and have no idea what I'm doing. I felt like I literally looked like a fish out of water. Picture a guppy fish from the Pacific Ocean. This fish loves having fun and loves the sun and salt water. Now picture this guppy wearing snow boots and a backpack, walking around a snowy, University campus. A fish! Keep in mind it's a fish. That was me on the first day of school. But! By the second day of school that little fish owned the place.

I seriously love school. I love my classes. I love learning. I'm so lucky to be here.

I lucked out with awesome roommates. Seriously. I'll introduce them later.

My classes are... Math, Book of Mormon, Art, American Foundations, French and Fashion Merchandising. I stay really busy with all of them.

I love school.

I don't necessarily love Rexburg. I miss the desert. I miss the coast. I miss the warmth. I don't hate it here, but I would prefer to live elsewhere. I just remind myself that this is temporary and that someday I'll miss it.

Love school. Don't love Idaho. Glad to be here. :)

Catch up! Some things have happened. Like this ->

Sister Gutierrez left us. We are smiling in the picture,

but we were sad.

Stephanie and Juan got married!

They looked amazing and I was so happy

to be able to go to Carlsbad and be a part of

their wedding weekend! Love these guys.

I had an "old fashioned Christmas" with

Grandma and Grandpa's ward in Carlsbad.

I wished everybody a Merry Christmas

and bid the beautiful sun farewell.

Spent Christmas in Logandale with the family.

Said goodbye to these wonderful sisters.

I was able to spend quite a bit of time with them.

I love these girls and I was sad to leave them.

Sister Gonzales and Sister Drussell

It's coming on Christmas! We're decking the halls. We're trimming the tree. We're stringing the lights. We're hanging the mistletoe. We're singing yuletide carols. We're lighting candles. We're wrapping boxes. We're tying bows. We're dressing the turkey. We're baking goodies. We're sipping hot cocoa. We're looking at lights. We're sending good tidings. We're sharing the Gospel. We're thinking of Christ. We're loving each other. What a great season.

And there went November. Thanksgiving was great and is basically all I remember about this November. Seriously. So, here is a picture overload of Thanksgiving in Santa Clara.

The family enjoying the Thanksgiving Feast. We were only the 2nd table to get in line for food this year! Not bad considering there were about ten tables and one hundred people. I think the trick is to sit by Randy and Penny's family. OR the sure trick is to not sit by the family in charge that year.

Teenagers doing their yearly duty of Thanksgiving dishes. Tibi, Jorgan, Jensen, Landon and Zack.

Shulte Sisters.

Everybody mixing and mingling after the feast.

The audience enjoying Family Home Evening. Levi, Peter, Jonah and Connie.

Landon, Me and Tibi having a Vans Party before the Thanksgiving Feast.

Tibi doing what she does best. Effortlessly entertaining the happy little children that gather around willfully.

Mom and Dad welcoming the Christmas Spirit and Season.

Randon, Kylee, Jaden, Tiffany, Melissa and friend.

It was great to see everybody! Until next year, take care Willards!