Constantly Changing....

It's been quite a while since I last posted and let me tell you, my life has changed quite a bit since the last post.

• I'm back home
• I no longer live in California
• I have a new job which sometimes I feel like I live there 
• There's no more missionary countdown
• I'm actually dating someone new that happened very unexpectedly 
• I'm not a hermit anymore (why didn't someone pull me out sooner!?)
• One of my best friends still lives in a whole different state then me
• I'm still waiting around to go back to school

Am I okay with the fact that my life has gone through some major changes the past 6 months? Completely! I wouldn't change any of it. Every up, every down.. all meant something to me or taught me something new. I'm constantly living in a learning experience and I couldn't be happier.

                Life wouldn't be the same without great friends who I know always have my back no matter what we've been through; old and new friends that make life 10 times more 

fun. 

Having a loving family that supports me in whatever I do. Family makes the best of friends and no I'm not biased, I simply just have the 

best family!

I'm ever so grateful for the fact the Lord works in mysterious ways and although life can change and be hard, 

change can also be one of our greatest blessings. 

I couldn't be happier with how sometimes one thing falls apart so that something better can fall together.

I've always said that waiting for a missionary is something I would never recommend to someone or wish for someone to go through, but I also wouldn't change all that I learned through my experience of doing so. 

I learned a great deal, not only about myself but about this simply amazing gospel that we are all so blessed to be a part of.

Things happen when you least expect them to is an understatement for how this incredible guy came into my life.

In just 3 short months, Tyler has certainly made an impact on my life for the better...has it really only been 3 months!? Not only can I call him the best boyfriend a girl can get, but I can honestly call him my best friend. 

Thank you Ty for making me want to be better, constantly making me smile, and being a champ and taking in not only mine, but my family's craziness as well.

As Elder Carl B. Cook says,

"We will come to realize that most of what we worry about is not of eternal significance—and if it is, the Lord will help us." 

Ty quickly learned that I'm a worrier...I stress over the little things and sometimes I just can't help it. But with his great example to me, I'm slowing learning to just let things go. 

"Experience has taught me that if we, like President Monson, exercise our faith and look to God for help, we will not be overwhelmed with the burdens of life. We will not feel incapable of doing what we are called to do or need to do. We will be strengthened, and our lives will be filled with peace and joy....But we must have the faith to look up and the courage to follow His direction."

Just like Elder Cook says, we simply must have faith in the Lord and things will work out how they're supposed to. I know the Lord has placed people in my life just when I needed them. Not only to help guide and direct me, but to help make my life feel complete.

He blessed me with a wonderful boyfriend that has already taught me so much in 3 short and sweet months...who knows what's to come in the future?

A special thank you to not only you Tyler Munk, but to all of my incredible family as well who are constantly leading examples to me and show me how to love more and more each day. My heart is full of gratitude and I can't thank my loving Heavenly Father enough for blessing me with such a blessed life!!

Santa Monica Bliss!

The weekend that my amazing mother and wonderful aunt brought the car out, after bringing all my stuff in, we headed to Santa Monica for the weekend! It was SO much fun and I can assure you all we were rollin' around in style! 

The lovely '98 gold Maxima that I get to drive around in, aka: Leo the Limo, was always a hoot to the doormen at the lovely, 5 star hotel, Casa Del Mar. Thanks to our good family friend, Scott Evans! We couldn't owe him more :) 

I could go into detail about just how fun our weekend was, but I'll let the pictures do the telling.....

Hanging out on the beach!

It was GOREGOUS

My "sexy speedo" friend! Haha this guy was a hoot! And thanks Shawna for telling him it was okay to put his hand on my butt....AH!

Our many late nights...Shawn was a trooper even! But she sure knew how to hit the pillow and be OUT (Snaggle Junior)

The "twins" let me "dress them up." In my jewels and all! Ravishing right!?

Perfect weekend!

It really was the BEST! LOVE YOU BOTH WITH ALL MY HEART!!!! Thanks for all you do for me!

Crafting!

About a week before I came out to Cali, my sister and I spent many late nights updating all the decor in my room. Everything I had was so outdated and I wanted to take some things with me to actually have a cute room instead of just staring at white walls! I failed to take pictures of everything up close, but you can check those out on my sister's blog (as well as getting to see the cutest nieces and nephew in the world) but I do however have before and after pictures of my room. 

For the first couple of weeks out here, I didn't have a car, half of my clothes, or any of my decorations. Not to mention, I had none of my jewelry which drove me crazy!! Anyway, this all came out at a later date when my sweet, sweet mom and aunt drove Dustin's dad's car out for me. Here are my living quarters :)....

Before:

After:

Oh and here's my bathroom:

A few things have changed...I've put up more pictures, changed a few frames, put a cuter looking blanket on my bed...but for the most part you get the idea! Nothing to luxurious but plenty nice and it works for me! I'm so glad my sister is one of my best friends and am so grateful for her example in my life!! Love you sister! Thanks for teaching me how to craft too :)

California Livin....

Boy have I been terrible at updating this thing! But hey, about 2 weeks ago I had a big, long post typed up and was posting pictures when all of a sudden it just froze on me and I lost the WHOLE thing! Talk about frustrating....

Give me some credit for it though! Anyway, you won't be getting as detailed as that post was, but I figured it was about time to play catch up... :)

As you all probably know by now, I've been living in Aliso Viejo, California as a nanny for the past 2 months. When I first got the idea, I pushed and pushed the idea away. I had just got accepted into the Special Ed program at USU, I had a missionary coming home in a couple months and I had a job that I really didn't mind. 

Why would I want to leave all that?
I'm not exactly sure.
But I followed what the Spirit was telling me and dear OC, here I came!

Bentley, Dustin, Kartchner, & Andrea  Bouwhuis

I had a dozen of interviews and a couple families offer me the job. But this LDS family with their two little boys just wouldn't let me tell them no.

 Eventually, I couldn't refuse and although they had the youngest children and lowest pay, I accepted the job. I have come to love and adore these two little guys and hopefully have brought some good into their lives!

Squeezing both boys into the single stroller! This was before my mom and Shawna were able to bring me my sister's double stroller

Here are some of our fun adventures we've been on so far....

Pinkberry one day while Bentley was at preschool

Before going to the beach

Eating PB & J's on the beach

We LOVE beach days!

Park day!

There is always going to be good days and there will always be bad days. I'm now learning why the Lord sent me here and am so grateful to have the whisperings of the Holy Ghost to guide me in day to day life!

How Could I Forget!?

Did I mention there's only 47 days left until this handsome and amazing missionary gets home??!!!

I CAN HARDLY WAIT!!!!!

SUMMER UPDATE!!

One of MANY nights of fireworks

You would think with it being summer that I'd have more time on my hands to do things such as catch up on my blog, right? Yeah, I would think so too but yet I've just kept finding other things to do with my time.

Considering I hate when I go to check on all the blogs I frequently stalk and come to find no updates, I really have no room to talk. I figured it was about time I do some updating!

Now I could go into great, lengthy details and write a whole bunch about my summer...but then again, who wants to read that? Nor do I really want to spend the time writing it all when I could be outside enjoying this beautiful, sunny Saturday! What do do instead? How about I just post some pictures :) It's what everyone ends up scrolling down to anyway, right?!

These are just a few of the fun and fabulous summer moments I've had...

Family barbecues...this picture was only intended in hopes of trying to get "Snaggle" to smile, which didn't even work :(

Birthday dinners at Fred's

Riding the train from Bob's to SLC to meet Matt

This was my first time riding the "fast train"

The kids LOVE the train!

It took a friend from Salt Lake to get me, a native of Cache Valley, to FINALLY hike the Wind Caves

It was awesome!

Brookelyn absolutely ADORES her new Aunt Amber and Uncle Brody!

Family day at the pool!

Brody and Amber finally got married :) (more pictures to come of the special day!)

Like I said, these are just a few of the fun and fabulous summer times I've had. But I figure a sneak peek is better than nothing :) I am so lucky to have such an amazing family and am truly blessed to be a part of so many loving people's lives! I LOVE my family and couldn't ask for better!!

I'll try to be a better blogger I promise :) Plus, I'll have to fill you all in on my big SURPRISE sometime sooner or later....:)