A favorite quote

"Women of god can never be like women of the world.
The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender.
There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind.
There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined.
We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith.
We have enough greed; we need more of goodness.
We have enough vanity; we need more of virtue.
We have enough popularity; we need more purity."

Margaret D Naudauld, 2000
Young Women General President

I love this quote! That is all I wanted to say.

Uncertain.

For the first 18 years of your life everything is planned for you. When you are in 3rd grade, you know next year you will be in 4th grade - and so forth all the way up to 12th grade. Then you graduate from high school and everyone takes their own path. But for the most part these different paths are still composed of basically predictable parts. I went to college where I knew after freshman year came sophomore year and so forth. I even followed a planned "course map" mandated by the food science department. Now that phase of my life is over and I'm married, working, and living on a foreign coast - and everything seems a bit more uncertain. Not uncertain on a day to day basis as most of my weeks are the same, but uncertain in the long 5-10 year run. Part of me thinks this uncertainty is exciting. Nathan and I can make whatever we want out of our lives. We can go anywhere, do anything, and decided for ourselves. A lot of times I sit and think about all the possibilites and adventures we have in store. Its just a matter of realizing what goals are most important and going for them. But another part of me feels really anxious about all this uncertainty. It seems like we have a lot of big decesions to make in the next year or so in regard to careers, where to live, family, and so forth. I feel blessed that we don't have to make all these decesions on our own though. Thanks to prayer that is. It is crazy to think that unlike the last 10 years of my life, I have no idea where I'll be in the next 5 even 2 years! But how awesome is it I get to decide? Because there is no 23th grade.

I Love Weekends...

Nathan and I had a lovely weekend this past week! We have both been busy busy (nate working 70+ hours a week, my 9-5 job, nate going to a beach campout with the YM, both of us going on buisness trips, working at the temple, family get togethers, friends, me finishing an online class, YW/YM activites during the week, planning lessons, going to the gym, trying not to let our apartment become a disaster, and more!) so it was a nice break to just spend time together just the two of us. I thought I would have endless time to do whatever I wanted after I graduated from college - but boy was I wrong! I think every phase of life is busy for everyone. Because who am kidding? I'm sure life now is nothing compared to when we have 3 little kids running around. But I think having things to do, places to be, and people to love and spend time with is what makes life full and wonderful.

On Friday after work, Nate met me down at the beach in La Jolla by my work. We bought wet suits last week and Nate wants to teach me how to surf! I am excited about it but have never experienced anything like the waves on Friday. They were HUGE. I grew up going to the beach in North Carolina every summer with my cousins - and the Atlantic Ocean does NOT have waves as big as those in the Pacific Ocean. Nate thought it would be good to swim in the waves without surf boards first so I could get used it. When we got to the beach and into our wet suits Nate zen-fully sat me down on the beach and explained that I need to first "understand the ocean" and "learn to feel the rhythm of the ocean as the sets come in". I don't think he realized quite how organic he sounded - but it was a good pep talk. Then we went swimming and boggie boarding for few hours. It was great! I was still slightly terrified but that wore off the longer we swam. That night we went and got Italian food at Tommy's and there was a live jazz band! It was a surprise to us but I guess every Friday night they have the same band come. I loved it!

One Friday night/Saturday morning my sister-in law Angela had a baby girl! Her name is Alice Marie Collins and we are still waiting for pictures of the newest member of the Collins family! On Saturday night Nate and I also went to his neighbor and friend from high school's engagment party. It was fun to meet a bunch of Nate's old friends and get a glimpse into his "high school" self. Little known fact about Nate is his high school superlative was "best personality" (and he also got nominated for "biggest heart" but choose the personality one because he was embarassed) and I have to agree!

There was a party shuttle taking people up to the party!

Why didn't I think of that?


On Sunday we made dinner for Nate's Dad and Grandma. Nate's Dad is living bachelor style while Helen is visiting the Grandkids in Virginia and waiting to visit her newest granddaughter!So he was happy to have company! We made pot roast, salad, and really good brownies! Yum!

I just love weekends! I think thats all there is to it :)