Apple Hill

I am grateful that we were able to have a family picnic at Apple Hill. The weather was perfect, there were no crowds (because it was Thursday and not Saturday), and we had lots of entertainment from the boys. Some of my favorite highlights were Tyler eating all of the raspberries, Ryan herding the little boys, and Garrett bossing everyone.

I am grateful for the fun memories we made that day.

Home

I am so grateful to my parents for sharing their home with Jonathan and me. It's been such a blessing as we've been working to save money for school and figure out our next step in finishing school.

Two for One

Even with an extra hour yesterday, I didn't find enough time to post.
Today I'll share 2 to make up for it.

Yesterday I was grateful that I had an extra hour. I taught the teenage girls at church and was so grateful for the extra hour I had to prepare for it. I finished figuring out the structure of the lesson and noticed I still had more than enough time to make handouts. So, I took my time and then saw a clock that said 9:45 and nearly had a heart attack because I had to be at church by 10. I started running all over the house trying to get ready and then I realized that I looked at a clock that hadn't been changed. My morning was so much more relaxing after that. This is the lesson I taught.

Today I am grateful for a new week. Last week got really crazy and overwhelming. This week will probably end up the same, but it just feels like I am more prepared to handle the craziness.

Work

Today I am grateful that I am able to work in the laundry at the temple. It has been a year since I started and I still feel so blessed that once a month I get to work there. Today was a crazy busy day because the baptistry was double booked (oops!) Thankfully, my partner and were able to catch up before our shift was over. I never realized how much work is done behind the scenes at the temple and I am grateful that I can do a small part.

A Thankful Month

After my last post, I was thinking that I should start blogging more regularly again. Then I remembered that the next month is November! This will be my third year of daily gratitude posts! I'm probably going to have some similar ones (it's hard not to) but this year I think I have a few new things to add to my list.

Today I am grateful for a seemingly simple thing. I am grateful that I slept through the night without ear plugs. Jonathan is a loud snorer and that has made it very difficult for me to sleep. Ear plugs helped but not all of the time. I remember being really tired and hearing Jonathan start to snore and think that I should grab my ear plugs. I woke up this morning without any ear plugs! It was amazing! I hope that this is the new normal.

Playing with Our Camera

This fall has been crazy. That's why I haven't posted since the beginning of the month. Any way... ever since we got our camera this summer, we have had so much fun going around to familiar places to take pictures.

Here's a few from downtown Roseville:

This is Roseville's version of Red and Guido.

These are from Diamond Oaks Park:

Shots of the temple:

Here's some from Old Sac:

We love having a camera as we've been going around town.

It's Coming!

This weekend is one of the best weekends of the year! It's time for General Conference. It's when our church gathers together all over the world to listen to wonderful, inspired messages from our church leaders. 

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I am really feeling the need for their words more than usual. I'm working on a list of questions that I want answers to.

I invite you to listen too!

Life Lately (According to My Phone)

Since I've been terrible at blogging this summer, I think I'll just share some pictures of what we've been up to since my last post.

Jonathan is just about everybody's favorite person to be with.

We realized that Tyler is part spider. He can 'walk' all the way down the stairs without touching the carpet.

For anyone that has seen the movie Pollyanna, I was able to eat her dream dinner of steak and ice cream. It was awesome! I wish I could have steak and ice cream every night for dinner!

My grandpa's brother Gerald came in to town and we were able to visit with him. He was very disappointed that I didn't bring a saxophone to play for him. (That's the next instrument I want to get!)

One night, Jonathan and I went on a walk and we ran into one of our friends from church and asked if we were going to the park to feed the bunnies. We had no idea that there were bunnies there and she gave us some of her left over carrots and we went to the park and sure enough, there were bunnies! We've gone back since then and there are some baby bunnies now!

For Mother's Day, I painted a small painting for my mom. It's the first one I've done since I was in elementary school!

We've been enjoying watching our cute little Charlotte grow up! 

Back in June, Tyler and I flew to Idaho to visit Chris's adorable family. This was Ty's first time on an airplane and he was so excited! (Though he didn't understand why we had to go through security.)

While we were there, we played outside, found rocks and worms, flew kites (that was mostly Annie and me), visited farmer Wayne and Denise (Annie's wonderful parents), picked strawberries, and fed ducks.

Finding worms in the sandbox.

Don't be fooled, this only lasted long enough to take the picture.

I love sweet little Clara.

Annie and I moved pipe because all boys (including my dad and brother) were at a huge Scout encampment.

Jonathan and I got a killer deal on a camera and have been going around taking some pictures.

I've been working all summer and I get to use a stack of Apple products.

They're not as new as the stuff my brother uses, but that's because he actually works for Apple and I don't!

Lyla loved playing with the balloons for her dad's birthday.

So this is what we've been up to. Lots of work and lots of playing with the nieces and nephews. We're so excited that Andy's family is moving to back to Roseville at the end of this month!

Sacramento California Temple

Jonathan and I took pictures of the temple with our new camera.

I love how going to the temple feels like going home.

 If I could, I would move in. 

Life is clearer at the temple.

It is such a blessing to live so near a temple.

Excuse Me, But Can I Have My April Back?

Today can't really be the last day of April can it?

I seriously believe that time is speeding up. Please stop! There is so much that I still need to get done before I am ready for next month.

This month, though a blur, was good. Jonathan and I went to UC Davis for a series of Physics lectures. Oh man, it was good! I'm so glad that I have someone to share those kinds of things with.

The guy sitting next to Jonathan kept falling asleep.
We were both rather alarmed!

My birthday celebration started on Thursday and ended on Monday. I don't think my birthday has ever been celebrated for that long before. I liked it and am expecting the same thing next year. (Good luck Jonathan!)

It started out with my two favorite red heads and miniture glofing.

My gorgeous friend got married! I am so excited for her and her handsome man. We now feel like real grown ups!

Just gorgeous!!!

That same night, I lost my phone and about a week later got set up on Jonathan's old phone. Yes, it is a flip phone and yes, I do feel like I traveled back to the early 2000's with the lack of technology. (It's really only about 4 years old, but it seems older.)

Before we moved in with my parents, there was some water damage in one of the rooms we were going to use. It seeped into the carpet, so after a couple of months of trying to decide on what carpet to go with, it was finally installed. It is amazing! I sometimes just lay down on it because it is so soft and lovely. Now that we have the carpet, we've been able to set up the room the way we want it. My favorite thing that we've done so far is setting up Mega Desk. One entire wall is a desk with plenty of space for both of us. It is awesome! (I'll share pictures when it is actually done.)

Things have been good and productive this month. Next month will bring the end of another semester, Taylor and Kenzie moving (BOO!!! It's actually good for them, but I'm in denial of that part), and more projects. I guess I will be okay that April is over.

My Favorite Church Meeting

I love General Conference. It comes around twice a year and we are taught countless truths. This conference has been no different for me. I love the wisdom of the leaders that speak to us. They have a perspective that I don't have. They have raised children, worked in the world, served countless callings, and seen many changes that have brought us to where we are currently in the world. They give us counsel so that we can learn from their experience and know that when we do make mistakes we can always repent.

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Our world is very confusing when we are left on our own to figure it out. Our Father in heaven knows that and has given us guidance throughout time. We have the scriptures to show us how He has helped and prepared his children. He gave them prophets and leaders to help teach them proper principles. Today we have prophets and leaders and they teach the same principles in a way that fits in with the world that we live in. I know that I would be lost if it wasn't for doing my best to follow the teachings of all of the leaders I have had throughout my lifetime. I hope that as I continue, that I will be able to help those that I have been called to serve. I know that Heavenly Father lives and loves each and every single one of us. He gives us commandments to protect us and guide us back to him. This is a path that yields eternal happiness.

I Promise I'm Still Alive

I was getting back into the swing of blogging regularly and then WHAM! I got hit by a homework avalanche! My professor kept warning us and I was ahead and then suddenly, I got swallowed up by it. Then during spring break, it felt like all I did was work. Now life is back to its busy normal self.

For us the highlights of break were:

having 20 Pattersons together (yes it was insane!)

saying bye to Chris, Annie, Seth, and Clara before they moved back to Idaho (unfortunately)

and spending some time with Hannah before she went back to Vegas. (I have no pictures, but trust me it really did happen!)

I am going to put more effort in blogging somewhat more regularly, plus I think I have some pretty cool things to share!