Home Ward

Recently one of my good friends from my home ward returned from his mission. Today he spoke in church so I ventured out south to hit up the 9:00 church. I was really glad I went, not only was it really good to see him, but it was so fun to visit my home ward again.

I was lucky enough to grow up in the same house my whole life which meant the same ward growing up as well. When I say my home ward, it truly is my home ward. I grew up and know so many people in that ward and am amazed every time I go back. It is always so fun to see so many people that care so much about me. I saw so many of my old leaders who I have so many fun memories with. I really feel so blessed to have had so many kind people in my life because of my ward.

Blog Awards

Tonight I was at Jamie and Mike's for some fun when they divulged the information that Mike gives out "Blog Awards." As he said "Everyone has their roles, some people post and some people read, I'm a reader." And apparently the king judge. He awards honorable mentions and of course first place. I think I have yet to win first place, but I know Jenny has taken the cake more than a couple of times. I guess I should take some cues from the master. Why did he have to go out and make this a competition?

I think I've lost the most points because he is doesn't like my blog template with the transparent pictures. I guess I should work on that.

New Extension

The day has come that I had to change my extension at work. For two years I have had the same number and now after all this time, I have to change. I thought I was going to get away with having the same number with my new job, but that is not the case. So for any of you that may call me, my number has changed to end in 7055 instead of 7022.

(This may seem insignificant to all of you, but I hate it.)

Spring has Sprung!

The weather has been getting warmer and warmer and I am loving it! Today was really the first day that it felt warm and comfortable just in a short sleeve shirt. I had school today and loved being on campus in the warm weather. Warmth and sunshine seem to make everything seem happier and better. I think that the U has a beautiful campus, and although the spring foliage hasn't fully began to bloom, the sun shining down on all of it still made it seem like spring. I am so excited for the warm weather and the fun summer activities that are yet to come. Who knows, maybe I'll get to have some summer romance, you never know.

Easter Bunny

Being that I am 21, I don't expect to get a visit from the Easter Bunny anymore, but the Easter Bunny is way to generous to stop giving despite my old age. This year I got a fancy "Easter Basket" with some very practical gifts this year.

My fancy Easter Basket

My practical (yet exciting) gifts

Excluded Weekend

This weekend, although not over, turned out to be a weekend of "Exclude Jill." Jake came into town on Thursday so Trent and Amy had made plans for him to come up Friday and we would go to dinner and watch a movie. We were set on going to Cafe Rio and I was looking forward to it all day. I drove home anticipating this delicious dinner only to find that they had already gone without me. Sad I know. Later, after the kids went to bed, it was time to start a show. Jake picked to watch "3:10 to Yuma" and this being rated R excluded me from this activity as well. So I finished some homework and went to bed, eventful Friday night, right?

The weekend had better prospects as Brooke was in town as well and was going to come spend the night with me at Trent and Amy's. We had the plans made and travel arrangements set, only to have Brooke tell me she is no longer coming. So, here I am on my Saturday night, laying on my bed, alone. I know, you are all jealous of my exclusion.

Luckily I don't have much expectations for the rest of the weekend for people to exclude me from, unless my grandma moves the Easter party and doesn't tell me. But I hope for my sake that doesn't happen.

Loving My New Job

I officially started my new job on Monday and I am loving it! I didn't know how big a difference it would make NOT being on the phones. I have had a phone job for the past 4 years and it's all I've known. Little did I realize how much nicer a "real" job is. Granted this is only the first week and it is still work, but I think I am really going to enjoy my new position.

Little Annie

Last night I got to see my newest niece Annie for the first time. I stopped by Jamie and Mike's house to see her and it was so much fun. She is such a cute baby and Jamie and Mike are so fun to watch with her. They are going to be great parent and already seem to be transitioning well. I was lucky enough to spend several hours just hanging out with them and I loved it. They are always striving to have a "fun house" that people just want to come stop by, and I think they have achieved that. They are so fun to hang out with. I love you guys!

Travel Calendar 2008

So in the past few days I have added possible two trips to my event calendar for 2008. Currently on my agenda is my exciting trip to New York in May with Brooke and my mom. This trip I am so excited for, who doesn't love New York?

To add to this Stephanie asked me to join her on a little "road trip" as she completes her homeless battle and moves to Seattle. So I am going to drive up with her, spend a couple of days in Seattle and then fly home. I am pretty excited. I have never been to Seattle and have always wanted to go and this will be perfect because I can catch up with Lindsay and see where they are staying and living their lives without me now.

The more uncertain trip is a little excursion with Jake in the fall to hit up the Utah vs. Michigan game. I have been thinking of flying out to St. Louis to meet up with Jake and drive to Detroit for the game and then hit some nearby cities to make my trip complete. I have to make sure this trip will fit into my budget before I move to far along in my plans, but I would love to go to all these new places and get to spend a lot of time with Jake. From my previous post, many of you know what a big fan I am of Jake.

I love traveling and so far this year is shaping up to be a good traveling year. I am so lucky to be able to travel right now and see all these new places!

Cause for Celebration

I just finished my last mid-term and I am so happy! I know that mid-terms are common and they usually all happen at the same time but this semester it seemed even worse. Most of my classes just have two tests so the mid-term is a big deal. I have been used to 4 test classes or project classes that these mid-terms were killing me, especially since they were all at the same time. I know that most of you have been through this and it probably wasn't a big deal. But when you are a world-class procrastinator studying a half-semester worth of information for 5 classes all at once isn't fun. Maybe I should learn how to study better.

Needless to say, I think that every event in life should have a celebration so I am going to look for some way to celebrate!

A Little Change

So I've been wanting to do something different with my hair and so instead of cutting it all off I decided to cut bangs. I got them cut yesterday and I really like them. I am still yet to do them myself, which is always the real test, but I feel good about the change.

I have added this Picture for Lindsay so she doesn't think I shaved my head.

(Please feel free to express your opinion)

Blog Stalkers

Tonight I was telling Scott about this map that shows the location of those who visit my blog. I got home and decided to check it out again and saw just how diverse the random people are that look at my blog. I didn't think anything I wrote was of any importance to anyone, especially not to anyone globally.

Pseudo Hot Tub

Tonight when I got home from work I decided to indulge myself and take a hot bath. I don't know what it is about a hot bath, but I just love them. All that was missing were jets and it would have been perfect!

Chili's......Again

Last night Stephanie and I went to Chili's again. We have decided that we are addicted to the amazing combination of their Diet Coke and chips & salsa. We have both been multiple times this past week, and I already have plans to go again this weekend. Can we say obsessive? I don't think operation "Fat Jill No Mo'" took into account this little addiction.

Happy March!

I love new months!!! I got to work today and was able to change my calendar which is always nice because now I have a new picture to look at. March is already a bittersweet month. First the bitter, it's mid-terms and I have three tests this week and one big one next week, and it snowed so much this weekend. But that leads me to the sweet, March is the turning point in the weather (mostly). It doesn't get hot by any means, but Spring is defiantly on it's way. And now my birthday is officially less than two months away! I know that I am way too old to be counting down to my birthday but I can't help it, I just LOVE my birthday.

Just What I Need...

This week in institute I had one of those moments that you hear exactly what it is you need to hear. It came from a girl who gave the quote during our devotional and she quoted from Joseph B. Worthin's talk "Sunday Will Come." I looked it up this morning to re-read it and it made me so grateful that the Lord knows how I feel and what I need. It is a little long, but I took out the best part and thought I would share it with you..

I think of how dark that Friday was when Christ was lifted up on the cross. On that terrible Friday the earth shook and grew dark. Frightful storms lashed at the earth.
Those evil men who sought His life rejoiced. Now that Jesus was no more, surely those who followed Him would disperse. On that day those men stood triumphant.
On that day the veil of the temple was rent in twain.
Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Jesus, were both overcome with grief and despair. The superb man they had loved and honored hung lifeless upon the cross.
On that Friday the Apostles were devastated. Jesus, their Savior—the man who had walked on water and raised the dead—was Himself at the mercy of wicked men. They watched helplessly as He was overcome by His enemies.
On that Friday the Savior of mankind was humiliated and bruised, abused and reviled. It was a Friday filled with devastating, consuming sorrow that gnawed at the souls of those who loved and honored the Son of God.
I think that of all the days since the beginning of this world’s history, that Friday was the darkest.
But the doom of that day did not endure.
The despair did not linger because on Sunday, the resurrected Lord burst the bonds of death. He ascended from the grave and appeared gloriously triumphant as the Savior of all mankind.
And in an instant the eyes that had been filled with ever-flowing tears dried. The lips that had whispered prayers of distress and grief now filled the air with wondrous praise, for Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God, stood before them as the firstfruits of the Resurrection, the proof that death is merely the beginning of a new and wondrous existence.
Each of us will have our own Fridays—those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces. We all will experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays.
But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death—Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come.
No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, in this life or the next, Sunday will come."

I bolded my favorite part and love the way he describes the way we feel at times. I don't have these moments very often that I feel like the lesson or thought was just for me, but I was so grateful for this thought this past week.

Bravo Broadway

Earlier this week Scott called me and told me that he had bought tickets to "Bravo Broadway" and he wasn't going to be back in town to use the tickets so he said I could have them. I called my mom to see if she would be interested and we made plans to go.

We met at The Garden for dinner and enjoyed the view of our beautiful downtown and then headed to Abravanel Hall. The concert was a series of Broadway songs, such as "For Good" from Wicked, "All I Ask of You" and "Music of the Night" from Phantom "Don't Cry for me Argentina" from Evita (just to name a few), sung by three singers who have performed on Broadway. It was so much fun. I didn't know all of the songs, but the energy and entertainment of the singers made every song so much fun. I have always been a huge fan of musicals and enjoy the way music tells a story. It was an incredible evening and I was so glad that Scott let me use the tickets (I think my mom was glad he did too).