Happy New Year!

I'm just wishing everyone a happy 2009!!! I hope that everyone feels grateful for the past year. I feel like I have become a better person this year, or at least I have learned a lot of things. I am truly grateful for the many blessings I have had in this past year. My friends and family, for all that I have learned from them. For my roommates. For the strength that I have gained. For my recital, for my jobs, I have just learned a lot and have had a lot of blessings. I know that I have a lot to work on this next year.

Last year, my new year's resolution was to be more organized. I dunno.. how have I been with that? I know that at first I did really try. and I think that I have improved. So I am going to keep working with that. But this year I have a couple. I want to practice 3 hours every day, but I'm not sure if I can do that with the holidays and with some abnormalities in Mexico. But my resolution is to practice 3 hours every day possible. Wish me luck!! My other resolution is to know myself.

Well, for Jamilyn's happiness question, I said what makes me happy is knowing who I am. How do I know better who I am? By coming closer to God, by stretching myself, seeing what new things I can do. By a more intense scripture study, by studying my patriarchal blessing more, by more fervent and heartfelt prayer. By really trying to follow the Spirit. I really want to focus on school, but I think that I have been putting my spiritual things to the side. I am really grateful for my calling, and for the many great spiritual experiences that I've had, but I have been lacking in the daily scripture study, the daily routines.

I think it would be so awesome to also read the Book of Mormon in Spanish every day. That can help me immerse myself in the language while I'm in Mexico.

I'm at the Gilberts now and having a blast. I guess another New Year's resolution I have is to be friends with Brian. Even though I can't say I'm doing perfectly because I'm not. But I think I am still doing well, and everything is going to be okay. That's the important part. Everything is okay. And I know we can do it. Hey, it's the New Year! A time to start over. I am glad to be leaving because that will help. And I think that we are such good friends. It's worth it. And my future husband is worth it too! I wonder who he will be. And I am glad to know that I have friends who understand me. I feel truly blessed.

Well, I hope everyone has a fabulous 2009. Happy New Year!

Love,
Stephi

La Vida en México

Hey, my title's in Spanish! :) I am going to try to take Jami's advice to keep my México trip in the same blog. Christmas has been awesome! time to play rock band! ttyl! :)

Gratitude List - Christmas Eve

Wow.. It has been a long time since I have written a gratitude list! So hopefully I can write lots.

I am grateful to my Heavenly Father that:

-I am HOME! My Daddy came and got me and Debbie and all of my stuff and brought us home to Grand Rapids. The roads were great and we had some good talks on the way up.
-I got to eat delicious food - always good.
-I survived my shift at the library this morning.
-I have money.. I just deposited a bunch of checks and that was a good feeling. lol.
-I am grateful that I am caught up with my tithing. Well, I was until yesterday, but it will be easy to do.
-I got really cool gifts tonight - Lime Green pajama pants with Cherries on them that Lisa's mom made, some awesome slippers that Lisa picked out, and a headset to talk on skype with from Collin. Good thing I didn't buy one because I almost did!
-I got so spend time with my family. I really missed them.
-We have a tradition of reading the Christmas story from the Bible. This year (and I think he has done it the last couple of years too) my Daddy read a combination, switching back and forth from the Bible to the Book of Mormon. That was neat. It's a good tradition that I want to have with my own family.
-I got to go to La Mexicana today with Nick. We spoke in Spanish almost the whole time and ate yummy food. It was really nice to catch up. And he got to meet Debbie and Sam, well, actually talk to them anyways.
-I have been able to hang out with my friends during all of break. Just in the past week I have seen Justin, Brian, Annalaura, Caity, Rudi, Kari, Mary, and Nick. I am so glad that I have had great opportunities to see my friends before I leave! That means a lot to me.
-I was able to finish packing!!!! Now that is an achievement I have been working on forever. I am so glad to finally have sorted all of my stuff out.

To be continued.. I've got to go. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!!!!!
Love,
Stephi

Brian's home!

Well, Brian's home. We have had some great times together. We still like eachother, but we know it is worth it to be friends, and we are both happier that way. Well, let's see.. on Friday I went to his house and played UNO with his family and helped Sue decorate for Christmas - I don't want to admit it because it took way longer than I expected, but I enjoyed decorating, especially since I didn't get to do that at my apartment or at my house in GR. I still love his family very much. Lauren was there and she is ADORABLE. So cute because now she can say words and I love hearing her talk.
On Sunday Brian was supposed to come and hang out with the missionaries, Sam, Debbie, and I, but Sam and the missionaries cancelled (Sam had to work early and the missionaries didn't want to drive in the snow, I don't blame them.) So Brian helped me pack and he was also supposed to help move my bed which we still did in the blizzard. lol. We also got to listen to cheesy Christmas music and we talked too and it was a good time.
Monday was quite the adventure. Brian did me this huge favor by helping me get my car to Otsego. On the way there.. my car overheated.. so I had to pull over on the freeway in the snow and freezing cold. I called my dad. He said to put water in the radiator. Brian drove me to the nearest gas station to get some water. But after we filled it, it was acting up still. I realized that instead of filling the actual radiator, we filled the reservoir.. which did nothing. So Brian filled the radiator for me because I had no gloves (I knew I should have dressed warmer!) Well, that finally worked. And we were still able to go the mall and get some presents, thank goodness it closed at 10 instead of 9! And that was a good time too. We had a fun, a really great time, but now it's time for a break. I'm not going to see him until Friday. And that's a good thing. I can't wait for Christmas and family! I'm happy to go home.

Meanwhile... I feel impatient because I'm waiting for Justin to e-mail me back. I know that it has been no time at all since I've e-mailed him but I thought of a great gift to get him for Christmas, and I can't send it to him because I don't know his address in Idaho. :( Plus I miss him. But I need to be patient! I was patient on Wednesday just fine. I guess it comes and goes, haha. Nah.. I think I've been patient since then. :)

Well, I've got presents.. suitcases almost finished being packed.. I'm almost ready to leave my apartment.. but some last finishing touches including cleaning the bathroom.. it's getting kinda gross.. haha. anyway, I hope everyone has a great holiday! Oh, one thing, I was thinking about making a separate blog for Mexico trip stuff. Should I? Well, I need to write a gratitude list soon. It's been a while! wow! I will very soon. I will talk to you all later. :)

Love,
Stephi

Hayden is ADORABLE!!!

Today Rudi came over and took pictures of me and Debbie and Sam - she had huge cabin fever, haha. We had a good time. Then we went to the hospital to visit Kari and Bret and brought them MacDonalds. :) We were so tempted to eat Bret's McFlurry.. haha. Hayden was absolutely beautiful. We each got to hold him and every time he moved or made a sound we just melted. He has SO MUCH HAIR! haha. He's gorgeous. I'm so jealous and really happy for them. They are doing great. Bret is happy and so is Kari, and mom and baby are doing very well. I am so grateful for that and that I got to see Hayden before I leave for Mexico!
Thanks for taking me, Rudi! And for the pictures. I think I'll post some of them, maybe for the top of my blog and put my family picture on the side. I love that picture but I like changing things up once in a while.
Lots of Love,
Stephi

SNO DAYYYYYYYYY!!!

wow.. what a blizzard.. apparently we've got tons of snow.. I've hardly seen it though, haha. I think I should get out there sometime. But for now.. packing as much as possible and practicing. Wish me luck! Be safe out there!

Yeah, Healthy!

I love Char living here already - she's the one replacing me in the apartment. She and Debbie have been good friends since high school. Anyway.. she's a good influence on Debbie, and in turn, me, in terms of health. She lost a lot of weight and now I can see why. She eats healthy and exercises. Go figure! Well, somehow they started doing some exercises together and today Debbie and I did some - wow! me exercising again! It hasn't been too much but it's making me feel like I can accomplish something. Afterwards, Debbie said.. I want to cook something healthy! "Can you make me some?" "No.." "Can I use your stuff?" "Yeah." So I took her new recipe - Jami would be proud - well, that is if you eat eggs.. I can't remember. We made an egg and tofu salad. it is SO good

The official recipe as created by us:

Scramble 1 egg and some tofu in vegetable oil (I'm sure olive oil would work great for this too).
Add Pepper, Garlic Salt, Salt, and Italian Seasoning.
Put the scrambled mix on top of a plate of Sweet Baby Lettuce
Sprinkle with cheese
Enjoy your healthy meal.

My favorite recipes are the simple and yummy ones. It is SO good.