Thanks, Stephenie Meyer!

No, this isn't about Twilight! :) I was perusing her website the other day to see if anything had been updated and her latest was on some book/music recommendations. I've been itching for a new read so I decided to pick up The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Here is a quick blurb:

The Hunger Games takes place in an unidentified future time period after the destruction of North America, in a nation known as Panem. Panem consists of a rich Capitol and twelve surrounding, poorer districts. As punishment for a previous rebellion against the Capitol, every year one boy and one girl from each district are forced to participate in "The Hunger Games", a televised event whereby the participants, or "tributes", must fight to the death in an outdoor arena until only one remains. The story follows 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, a girl from District 12 who volunteers for the Games in place of her younger sister, Primrose. Also participating from District 12 is Peeta Mellark, a boy whom Katniss knows from school and who once gave Katniss bread when her family was starving.


I was a little weary at first, as I knew this book would be a bit... violent, and I normally don't do violence. However, I was intrigued by SM's review and recommendation so I gave it a shot... SO good! So so so sooooooooooooooo incredibly good! It makes you stop and think about how far we've come with reality TV and how much further we might one day go... scary, really.

So yeah, if you're looking for a good read, check it out! Catching Fire, the sequel (its a planned trilogy) is being released next week, on Sept.1st. When I went and got book 1, Catching Fire was actually already sitting out but I had no idea it hadn't yet been released. I wonder if I had tried to buy it, if they would have let me... When I went back today to see if it was still there (after I realized it wasn't "officially" out yet) they had removed it from the shelves. When I asked, they told me it was a mistake and while they have them, they can't sell them just yet... grrr!!! Oh well, it's only a week... :p

So NOT Team Jacob, but...

I had to share this. I'm loving all the new clips they keep releasing... talk about teasers, argh!



So... cool effects and growls (calm down Paul!), Jane (Dakota Fanning) looks uber creepy, and I'm SO excited for the Volturi!!! November is just too far away!!!

Heehee...

Ok, I just had to share this because its hilarious. My nephew Brandon has this new thing that he does... its quite comical, please- take a moment and enjoy!

WATCH ME!

So what is he really trying to say? Bubbles! He loves them but just can't quite say the word just yet. Uncle Ben was having a little fun with that yesterday at Nana & Papa's and Brandon was nice enough to give us some footage!

Ahh, kids... gotta love them! :)

Jigsaw puzzles and eternal perspective

Yesterday was Stake Conference, and as always the talks were great. As it goes with these things, there was one particular talk that struck very close to home for me and was exactly what I needed to hear at the moment. (Don't you just love that?) In one talk, the subject of jigsaw puzzles was brought up and how they are very frustrating. I immediately connected with the sentiment, as I too hate them because I get so flustered and have little patience with them. He went on to say that many times he is tempted to grab a piece and snip it with his scissors to make it fit, rather than keep searching mindlessly for the actual puzzle piece that really belongs there. (Again, something I myself would do if left alone with a puzzle) Then he compared that to our lives. Sometimes we get these odd pieces that we don't quite know what to do with, and in frustration, we want to "force" them and mold them to what we want them to be like. In doing so we forget that while this may be a short-term solution, in the end the big picture (completed puzzle) won't come together the way it should!

As most of you know, for the past 4 years, I've been struggling with a particularly stubborn puzzle piece in my life... infertility. For over 3 years Ben and I tried to "cut and mold" that piece so that it would fit the way we wanted it to... we did countless rounds of fertility treatments, surgeries, etc. I pushed and pleaded with Heavenly Father to grant our desires NOW. After all, isn't having children a righteous desire and an essential part of the Plan? It became an obsession, a battle of wills, and I forgot to trust in His will and His timing for our little family. Eventually we came to the realization that it was time to stop pushing and let whatever is meant to happen, happen. My health was failing, we certainly couldn't afford the next and final step (IVF) and so after much prayer and internal battles with myself, I decided to just let it go.

This decision has allowed me to pursue other dreams I had forgotten I had. I'm back in school working on my RN, which I'm sooooo excited about. I haven't been this excited about something in so long, and it feels good to be back in school and accomplishing something, rather than feeling like a big fat failure month after month, year after year. I have been sure and at peace about this decision for quite some time now, but every once in a while, that yearning for motherhood pushes it's way back to the front of the line and I get all crazy again and start doubting our decision to take a break from it all.

I've been struggling with that especially over the past couple of weeks and hearing this talk at Stake Conference was just what I needed. A gentle reminder of what I already know to be the right path for Ben and I at this time in our lives. I'm thankful for a Heavenly Father that knows me and understands when I need these reminders. I'm grateful to know that He does have a plan for us, and while the puzzle pieces may not be fitting how I want them to right at this particular time in my life, I know that if I trust in Him, the finished puzzle will be perfect and more glorious than I could ever achieve on my own.

As promised!

Here are some pics from my visit to Hilton Head, South Carolina!

I had an awesome time! It was SO good to see my family again, we hadn't all been together since 2005 and I hadn't even seen my parents since April of 2007. I got to meet my newest nephew, Alexander who is almost 2, and catch up with my oldest nephews, Elliot (14) and Douglas (12).

Some highlights:

* Goofing off at the pool with my boys and getting fried to a crisp!
* Spending time with my parents, chitchatting late at night in between them in bed like the old days.
* Teaching Lil Alex how to say "tia" (which means aunt) in Spanish!
* Eating my mom's good old homecooked meals... yuuuum, I miss that so much!
* Going to church with my daddy!
* Feeding, bathing, changing, and singing Lil Alex to sleep.
* Watching movies together.
* Spending hours translating jokes from English to Spanish and vice versa at mealtimes!
* Going to the beach... I miss the ocean!
* Getting stung by a jellyfish! OUCH!
* Taking a boat tour around Hilton Head and it's adjacent islands and the fireworks at the end!
* Watching "Tom the boat sheriff" arrest some dude for drinking and... boating?
* The dolphins! Almost close enough to touch, that was awesome!
* Hearing my brother snore... heehee!
* Playing with Kong, even though he bit me 4 times!
* Staying up talking with Elliot and Douglas (but mostly Elliot since Dougo passed out first) until the wee hours of the morning every night!

Time for pics... lots of them!

I just got home today and am so excited to post all my pictures! well, not all, but a lot of them... I'm going to try and do one of those slideshow thingys rather than posting them one by one... let's see how long it takes me to figure that one out... stay tuned! :)