Quick Update

Lately:

-I started taking a Zumba class for exercise...love it!

-Jeff got a 90% on his BIG summative medical school exam.

-I am taking X-rays of people's teeth at an orthodontic office.

-I have had three interviews for teaching positions...we'll see!

-Our new bedroom set will be arriving on the 1st of October.

-On average, we eat one watermelon in two days...beat that!

-I am trying new crock-pot recipes I've never tried before and they're turning out great!

-We just booked our flights for a trip to Disneyland with my family *MaGiCaL*

-ALMOST finished with the Hunger Games series, and I don't want it to end.

-I got SO excited when I saw pumpkins at the grocery store!

-I am loving watching episodes of my favorite old TV show 'Hey Arnold.'

-I bought oatmeal-raisin cookie hand soap from Bath & Body Works.

-Jeff bought me a pretty pink Gerber daisy.

-We discovered a tasty self-serve frozen yogurt place in El Paso (feels like Provo now!)

-I care more about BYU football (maybe it's because I miss being in Provo for the games?)

-I got a big bonus at work last month!

-We were called to be Sunday School teachers of the 15-16 yr. old class.

-Jeff and I are in love (well, that's not just lately, it's always, but I thought I'd throw it in there :)

The End

Forget Not...

Tonight was very inspirational. As I listened to President Uctdorf speak to the women of the church in our General Relief Society Broadcast, I heard many things I needed to be reminded of. It centered around Forget-Me-Nots...



The five Petals of the Forget-Me-Not flower remind us of 5 things we should never forget:

1. Forget Not to be patient with yourself. Sometimes, we look at our successes as small, not good enough in comparison to others, but remember this...no success is small to our Heavenly Father.

2. Forget Not the difference between a positive and a useless sacrifice of your time. It probably isn't necessary to stay up all hours of the night finishing the fashion accessory for the dress you'll be wearing the next day. However, it is a good use of your time to lose a few hours of sleep caring for a family memeber who became ill in the middle of the night.

3. Forget Not to be happy. Remember the story of the Golden Ticket in Willie Wonka? Eventually, the joy of the candy bar was lost unless a golden ticket was found. In life, don't wait for someone to hand you your Golden Ticket, be grateful for the delicious candy bar.

4. Forget Not the WHY of the Gospel. Make sure you are understanding the real and purposeful reason behind the things you're doing, instead of making them into something to cross off a checklist.

5. Forget Not that you are not forgotten...that Heavenly Father loves you. That you are a daughter of God. You are known and loved by the most supreme and majestic being in the entire universe.


I'm so grateful to belong to a church that I know has the fullness of the truth of the restored gospel, and for the loving words of counsel we receive to remind us of the things we should "Forget Not."

Youth Conference in the heart of Texas...well El Paso anyway.

A lot of the younger couples in our stake got asked to volunteer at the Youth Conference activities last weekend.


Growing up, I LOVED Youth Conference, so I was way excited to help out.


On the TX Themed Friday night, we led 250 kids teenagers in get-to know-you games, had a BBQ dinner and a 3-hr. dance with yes, surprise bull riding! I'd never done it before, but I tried it and actually stayed on for a good amount of time. Jeff was the first to try it out while the kids were on the opposite side of the gym for a fireside. Timing being perfect as it was, Jeff was riding the bull really fast when the wall separators opened up, the youth came through, and screamed with excitement to see Jeff on the bull.


It was great fun to be a chaperon for the first time at a church dance and to remember what it was like at that age, standing in a circle with all your girlfriends when a slow song came on, wondering who'd ask you to dance, doing the electric slide and the Cotton-Eye-Joe, and being the first few people to start a train and then have the entire group join in. And Jeff and I did all of this...except for the wondering who would ask you to dance part ;)
;

Yee Haw!

Thirsty Anyone?

Jeff and I finally decided to get going on our food/water storage. We've have realized that it's kind of a trial and error thing. For instance, we recycled a lot of Gatorade bottles and filled them up with water first. Then we figured that wasn't the best approach because our entire fridge was full of 1/2 liter bottles and there was no room left for other fridge necessities...(you know, like food). Plus we only had about 3 gallons of water in total. So we got THIS...


...HUGE 55 Gallon Monster-sized water drum from the Pepsi Company. When we got it, there was still about 4 cups of pepsi rolling around in the bottom of the barrel, so we rinsed it out in the bathtub (I wish we'd gotten pictures of that) and started filling it. We finally got into a groove where we would each bring one pitcher to the barrel and dump it in while the other pitcher was filling with water. Jeff had the bathroom sink and I had the kitchen sink. After an hour and a half of walking back and forth, the barrel was filled, weighing over 400 lbs. And of course, a huge water fight broke out between the two of us close to the end. So, if you ever are without water, come on over! Petty sure we have enough for you and your posterity down to the 3rd generation.

Tribute to Friends

I once got a decorative sign for my birthday that said, "In the cookie of life, friends are the chocolate chips." Lately, I have been thinking about how much my friends mean to me. They truly are one of my greatest blessings. From memories that make you laugh, cry, or just smile... to the anticipation of the future and the memories waiting to be made, my friends really make life sweeter. Thank you friends. Love, Jill :)

End of an Era

Warning: This post may seem overly dramatic and cheesy to those who don't know about my love for the Harry Potter Series (actually, it may even seem that way to those who do).

Harry Potter has been a part of my life since I was 11. It's weird to think it's actually over. As Jeff and I left the midnight showing on 7.15.11, I had to keep reminding myself there wouldn't be another book or movie. It's complete. It was a bitter-sweet moment for me as I watched the last few seconds of the film and stared at the three characters who have brought such fun and anticipation to my life for the past 11 years. I teared up as the Hogwarts Hymn played, and the screen faded to black. "To Harry Potter...the greatest series of all time."

06/06/11

This post is totally out of order, but it must be done! For Jeff's birthday, I surprised him by taking him to Tucanos where I planned for his entire family to surprise him by meeting us there. It was a great day. He got sung to at the restaurant, I made him a Mint Chocolate Chip cake, and he got some great gifts. Happy Birthday Jeff :)

Ode to Rachel

Rachey...


You are SO cute!...


How did I get so lucky to be your Aunt?...


I miss you...


And LOVE YOU!


(I love you too Adam) :)

White Coat Ceremony

On Saturday, my dad flew in from Las Vegas to attend Jeff's White Coat Ceremony. This ceremony is for all the medical students at Texas Tech Paul L. Foster School of Medicine who are beginning medical school. During the ceremony, each of the students is called up, shakes hands with the president of the school, receives their white doctor's coat, and recites a medical oath with the rest of the class. This year, 2,700 students applied and only 85 were admitted. Of those 85, Jeff is one of the two that is not a TX resident. Congratulations Jeff!

Medical School!

This is Jeff on his first day of medical school, with his lunch I packed him and his new backpack! The weeks before medical school, I kept asking what he needed for his first day..."New folders? New binders? New Taiconderoga pencils? New Crayons?" (I guess it's the teacher in me...I LOVE first days of school!) He said he didn't need any of that, probably just his laptop for the first day. I guess the new backpack's a start, after all, you have to have something new on your first day of school! I love you Jeff!
Here's to the next __?__years!