New Beginnings~Bloom Where You Are Planted

I'm the 2nd counselor in my ward's Young Women Presidency, so I had the privilege of putting together this year's New Beginnings.

2013's Mutual theme is STAND YE IN HOLY PLACES...

D&C 87:8
Stand ye in Holy Places and be not moved until the day of the Lord come, for behold it cometh quickly saith the Lord.

So,  to coordinate with that we chose the theme BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED for our NBs.

Since it's been a good 10 years since I've been to a NBs I searched around on Pinterest for different ideas and inspiration. I actually found THIS blog & THIS blog that helped to inspire the direction I wanted to go for decorations and flow of program.

It turned out WONDERFUL!  The girls la la LOVED the decorations...which I knew they would...and it was an incredibly SPIRITUAL evening.

I gave the "keynote" talk, "Bloom Where You Are Planted."  I pretty much talked about how the girls are like flowers.  They need to STAND in Holy Places like a flower needs to be planted in good soil.  The girls need to nourish their testimonies through faith and keeping the commandments like a flower needs sunshine and frequent watering.  And when they continue to nourish their testimonies they bloom like a well-taken care of flower.  Yadda yadda yadda...

We had a few other great speakers, but my favorite was one of our Young Women who bore her testimony  on how Personal Progress has helped her to Stand in Holy Places.  She did a phenomenal job and I was just in absolute awe at how strong she and other Young Women in my ward are, especially considering that they live in an area where the Church is still not super strong.

Anyway, it was a wonderful evening and it was a blast to put together!

2012...You've got big shoes to fill!

I don't think there is any way that 2012 could possibly top 2011.

2011 was by far the best year of my life.  Here's why...

Met Nick

(technically that was in 2010, but it was at the end or 2010 so it counts!)

Dated Nick
Went to Vegas with Nick and met his parents

Got engaged to Nick

Married Nick in Mesa, AZ Temple

Went to Rocky Point for Honeymoon with Nick

Gained a whole new family
Ate at In-N-Out a lot

Sold a house

Moved to Texas

Bought our year-supply

Put together our 72-hour kits

Learned to bake good bread

Taught lots of dance to awesome students

Went to Disneyland

Became more informed and opinionated about politics and local, national, and world issues

And while I hesitate to write down any New Year's Resolutions, here are the things that husband and I have already been, and hope to continue, working on...

Decide on a home to buy

(city or country or somewhere in-between)

Become more self-reliant

Continue to add to our year supply

Garden

Stay in shape/get in better shape

(running together is actually one of our faves)

Pray often

Cook new things

Stay informed

Balance Balance Balance
Enjoy life
and
Love each other more and more each day!
(that one shouldn't be hard to do)

{WELCOME 2012!}

Our Wedding!

On May 21st, 2011 I married and was sealed to my best friend Nick Foster in the Mesa, AZ Temple.  It was the best day of my life and I feel like the luckiest girl in the world!

Here are some pictures that some of my family took...