First Snow in my house

So it is just a day until Christmas Eve, and to be honest with you, it doesn't feel like it. The snow has been beautiful, really the first snow this year and it has come at a perfect time! Here is my house covered in snow! Melissa, Lance and the boys are all in Arizona this year and it is lonely without them. Their two boys Keaton and Andrew bring so much more to family gatherings. Well, here's to an ending of an old year and the soon to be new year 2009! Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

The cutest thing ever....

Yesterday my little sister Rachel brought over their little Persian (still without a name) to play for the day with Bella. As I was eating lunch and left my glass on the coffee table, this is the picture I captured of them both trying to steal a drink, SO CUTE!!! As I go into my home office each day, this is where I find Bella, on my desk, all curled up and sleeping, just waiting to be with me all day as I work!

Happy Birthday Kady!!!!

Kady Cluff had a birthday!!! A bunch of us in the singles ward went to the Russian Bear in Eagle to eat dinner. It was definitely an acquired taste and I would not go back, but it was to support Kady and try something new! Here is the group of us that went.

Grateful for good friends

Last night for FHE, we had a Christmas gift exchange and Brother and Sister Tingey's home. It was probably the best FHE I have been to in the Singles Ward, we had a blast!!!! The gift exchange was the best part about it because everyone wanted an other's gift and the exchanging went on and on! I am so thankful for great friends like Libby, Alex, Kelsie, Sarah and so many others. Thanks guys for helping me get through these seemingly endless times.

My Little Bella

This weekend my little sister Rachel got a Persian kitten for Christmas from her husband Jason. I fell in love with theirs that I went out and got my own, she is a little girl and I named her Bella. She is the most adorable thing ever!!! She needs a bath because she is really dirty, so I will post some pictures of her all nice and clean! Here are some pictures of her, more to come. I have also put in bead board in my dining room, I will post pictures of it later, any ideas of what color to paint it???

More pictures of Utah...

Here are more of the gorgeous pictures of the trip!

Trip To Salt Lake City!!!!

This weekend, me, Kyle and Shelley, a.k.a. the "Road Trip Bandits" made another mini trip to Utah. Shelley received three tickets to the First Presidency Christmas Devotional and asked us to attend with her. We left Friday afternoon and arrived in Salt Lake City late Friday night. It is great traveling with both Kyle and Shelley because they are so easy going and in no rush to get or go anywhere.

We stayed with Shelley's friend Quinn right in Salt Lake. Her apartment overlooks the Gateway Mall downtown close to Temple Square. We all slept in the living room on blow-up mattresses and had a great time watching movies and talking. Saturday we slept in and then Kyle made us the BEST egg mcmuffins! We attended a live session at the Salt Lake Temple. Words cannot and will never describe the Spirit that I felt there in the House of The Lord! I had never been to a 'live" session of an endowment session and it was the greatest experience ever!!!! The artwork and detail in exquisite in every sense of the word. The feelings I received here in the Temple I will not ever forget!

After the Temple, we saw the lights on Temple Square, then went over to the Joseph Smith Building to watch the new Joseph Smith movie. Later that night I was able to meet up with Jaime Harker, a friend I met at a business trip in Canada this past March, we all went out to Applebees to eat.

On Sunday I met up with Jess and ate lunch with her, sorry I know, but she had some really great advice for me and I needed to hear it. At 5:00 pm we all met back up at Quinn's house and went to the Christmas Devotional, we sat pretty close to the front of the Tabernacle, I could see President Monson. What a fun trip, full of laughter, playing the "If" game and singing to our favorite songs. Thanks Kyle, Shelley, Jess, Quinn and Jaime for a memorable weekend in Utah!

Mini-Road Trip around Idaho

On Saturday, me, Kyle, Shelley and Sherilyn took a little one day trip up to Idaho City, Sun Valley and some of the hot springs along the way. We had a blast just us four, definitely an experience to NEVER be forgotten. It was a rough week and I needed this much mini vacation. We left early on Saturday morning and arrived home around 2 am that same night.

We made our first stop in Idaho City to see the old graveyard there and to see some of the old buildings and sites. If you are looking for a place to see, I would recommend Idaho City, plus they have great hot springs! Along the way, we sang at the top of our lungs, played the "if" game (thanks Shelley for the idea) and ate junk food until we were sick.

The first hot springs was just outside of Lowman, so fun and so so hot! There was a cool little outhouse there just before the hot springs with a tub inside, seriously sick! We were the only ones there, what a great time we had! After that, we drove to see Stanley and Alturis Lakes, such amazing places to camp by the way. We were all starving, so we drove into Ketchum and ate Pizza and Ricos! We made one more stop at a local hot springs, just 10 miles or so outside of Sun Valley. We met some really interesting people there, this dude, his girlfriend and his 15 year old daughter. All I remember is that her name was Laurel and they were now residing in Twin Falls. We sat and laughed with them, it was a series of Jerry Springer moments, so white trash, but for a good laugh none the less.

Kyle and I laughed so much, our faces were basically hurting by 2 am we had laughed so darn much. I am so thankful for laughter and the simple pleasure it is to have it!

Picking which battle to fight?

These past few days I have begun to realize that I, like many, are waging the war inside with ones self. My depression and focus have been completely off balance and I am desperately trying to get my life and spirit back on track! I am coming off of my current medication, Effexor and I am loosing my strength to win this seemingly endless battle with my mind. My doctor has lessened my dosage each month and next month begins the "cold turkey" method of NO medications until my current one works itself out of my system.

During this time of torture and sadness, I am learning of other methods of how to cope with this mental illness and it has not been easy. Today I couldn't even find the strength to get out of bed! it was so hard to think of depression and being unhappy, so I locked myself in my room, and tried to hide the hurt, sleep actually makes it worse. A close friend called me today and told me to meet her at a park, to take a walk and clear my mind. It was so comforting to speak with her and to hear of her advice. She put all of this into perspective that in essence, this is my own personal "Gethsemane."

I had never once before thought of it like that, but it brought me so much clarity and peace of mind. Just like our Savior did endure his trials of crucifixion, I too must overcome and learn from my own. I have been going to the Temple more frequently, twice in the last 4 days, in hopes that the Lord would reveal something to me and give me strength to overcome. It is going to be a long process, but I have faith I too can overcome my life's very own Gethsemane.

A crazy Halloween weekend!

I realize that this post is late and Halloween has already come and gone for another year, but I wanted to post some pictures from this weekend. I had my first party at my house and it was a huge success. We had a bonfire going in my driveway, Daren Bundy grilling steaks and plenty of food inside to feed an army. It was good to be surrounded by friends and family, in all there were about 40 people that showed up!

Two of my best friends...

Last night I got a call from Eric Leveque who just returned from his two year mission to Russia. it was hard to believe that his mission was already over and it has been two years since I last saw him. His twin Greg has also just returned home from Taiwan. They came to FHE and played dodge ball with our ward. So many great memories came to mind in just seeing them and talking to them. They both served honorable and faithful missions. I am grateful for them and their examples. Welcome home guys!!!!

My new idea

I have been working on getting a side business up and running. You can view some of my pictures and ideas at www.jsdecoratingideasandmore.blogspot.com. If you are interested in me coming to your home or office and looking at your space to see how we cna make it more appealing, please e-mail me at quinn6201@juno.com, or call me at #208-859-5642.

It's time for Halloween!!!!!!

Fall is definitely here. Tonight for FHE we went to the Tingey's house to carve pumpkins. I love our ward and the close friends I have made there. Life is great with such amazing people to surround yourself with! I didn't care a pumpkin, but had such a great time looking at everyone else's pumpkins and awesome creations. I basically ate, laughed and caused havoc tonight, sorry Tingeys!!!

Simply Out of Control...

A week ago, Krista came home from Utah for a visit. Late Friday night I met up with her, Jess and their mom for some good food and laughs at IHOP in Meridian. All I can say is that these three are some of my most favorite people of all time. The lives they live are truly a fairytale. Always shopping, vacationing to Mexico, or just being them. They always make me laugh with their outrageous personalities and humor. Thanks for the great weekend guys!!!! Oh and how can you forget their dog Abbey, they take her everywhere!

A new business idea......

For years now, I have found that I love to create, design, make better the places I live in and visit and see. My imagination runs wild when it comes to color, spaces and designing. I have always wanted to start my own business helping people beautify and change their homes. I want to go into people's homes and help them re-arrange and decorate. It would cost the client no money for me to come and look at the space, create a plan, then see that it gets done. The only part that I would charge, is my actual time that I spend in their home re-arranging. Any thoughts on this??? Would it really work? Is anyone interested in giving me a shot? Let me know, I would enjoy coming to your house, looking at the spaces and furniture you already have, then making the transformation!!!!! I want to do this so bad, really I do, but have been so afraid to make it happen. So today I am taking a stand against fear and doubt, you do the same!

I'm getting a gree thumb!

This past weekend I went to the nurseries with my mom in search of some plants and flowers for my house. I found these beautiful ornamental grasses. They are not very tall right now since they were cut back for the winter. Come next Spring they will be tall and gorgeous. It was fun to help my mom plant on Saturday. This could be a potential obesssion, plants, landscaping and going to the local nursery!

More of my house!

I am completely loving being on my own! Putting my house in order consumes my time and money for that matter, but it is, in a way healing to me. I moved my office home today and I am going to enjoy working at home and not to mention that money saved in gas. Here are a few pics of my new home office and the drapes I put up in my dinning room and living room!