I am way too much of an "open book" on this blog.

Lately....

I've had my Grandma Koyle on my mind.  She hasn't been well for the past little while and everyday seems to be worse for her.  My Grandpa Koyle had lives like a cat.  We said bye to him through out the years more times than I can really remember.  She was by his side through everything.  Near the end of his life, you could start to see the tired in her eyes.  And then a couple weeks before my wedding my Grandpa died.  I assumed my Grandma wouldn't be able to come to my wedding because of the weeks before and her own health.  But I was blessed by her suprise when my Uncle walked in the door with her by his side.  It meant a lot that she was there.  Now, to see her (or pictures of her at this point) in such a bad state of health makes me really miss her.  It's hard to see the strong one weak.  Husband and I are hoping to be able to travel one of these weekends to Gooding to see her.  I'm a little nervous that I might not be able to hold it together though...I'm a baby these days (when did that happen???  Is that a growing up thing?  ...Or a...I haven't taken my happy pill in 12 days thing?)  Last night my Mom and Dad were with her and they put me on speaker phone to talk to her.  It was really special to me.  Anyways, I am thinking a lot about her and missing her.  Hoping I can see her before her health is worse than now.

Lately..
I have been keeping very close eye on the calendar.  And that could be why January has been the LONGEST month of my life.  Come on, be done with already! :)

 I've had a love-hate relationship with house hunting sites.  We aren't buying just yet...but I like looking.  I am realizing though, I am way too picky for my own good...and for my bank account. 


Lately..
Cade and I are back on our Whole Foods Kick.  Thanks a lot Kami :)  My sister told me that The Green Smoothie Girl  was going to be in Syracuse Utah and told me to hurry and get tickets.  So I did and we went.  I really expected like a room of 20 but we got there 5-10 minutes before it started and were lucky to find a chair...there were about 350 people there I think?  It was good and we've been eating raw 80-90% I would say since.  We've WAY simplified it this time around.  Living on a budget and not being able to cook well, will do that. 
Really, what sealed the deal for me second time around was when she talked about getting orange from carrots.  I AM ON BOARD.  My snow white skin could use some natural orange.  Yes please! :)  Seems cheaper than getting a tan membership?  I'm kidding....kind of.  Maybe it was because just a couple of days before The GSG event my Idaho doctor told me I needed to find a doctor in Utah and didn't allow my anxiety prescription to be refilled.  Really?  Just a few weeks before moving back??  So that kind of forced me to look again into natural remedies/medicine foods and take another go at it.  I am actually really glad that she didn't have it refilled.  (..Glad.  But you can bet I won't be going back to her for my next Doctor visit).  I have tried winging off my medicine in the past and couldn't last for 4 days.  I know I owe it to eating right that has made it possible for me to have made it 12 days (like said above) now, with hardly any problems.  Hardly any problems-except that lately I cry during commercials, or when a friend is telling me her sad story right while I'm working and anything spiritual of course turns me into a mess.  You'd think I was pregnant...I'm not though.  Nope, I guess I just...feel things again.  Dang it. :)  
I went running for the first time in like 4-6 ish months Friday and I have to owe it again to eating really well....I didn't feel heavy at all and was able to jog run for a WHOLE SIX MINUTES.  Haha.  Whoa, right?  Yes, there is no way that was a full mile, but I jogged ran non-stop for six minutes which is a step up from a whole one minute, which was probably what it was last time I went.

And...I put in my two weeks notice at Sam's Club.  It's been a really long week and a half.  Finally seeing a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel.
 

Lately...things are good.  Not really a lot of exciting going on but we're happy and life is just good.

What I needed last night

This talk.  I needed this last night.  It was one of those nights where I couldn't stop thinking about how much there is for me to improve on.  Feeling discouraged about my new years resolutions already failing.  Feeling hopeless and just bluesy I guess.  

Do you ever feel like you have so much motivation for a day the night before but the day comes and you start the day off completely opposite of how you wanted to?  You can pray for strength and whatever else the night before but when it comes down to it, you have to still try--it's easier not to though.  It's easy being a lazy bum, it's hard convincing yourself to be productive throughout the whole day.  Easy bluntly pointing out the negative, hard talking about the positives.  You know?  

So, feeling discouraged last night.  Prayed a little harder and little longer than lately.  And then laid in bed.  (Cade fell asleep before my prayer was even over).  Holy moly, that guy has not a worry in the world!  Haha.  Thank goodness though, two of my personalities would never work in a marriage. :)  

So I'm laying in bed thinking and had the thought to go read the Ensign.  First talk was this talk.  What a tender mercy.  I am thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who hears my prayers, knows my worries and blesses me continually with answers and comfort.  I am also so thankful for a very inspired Prophet.  I am so blessed!  I love this talk.      

Living the Abundant Life -By President Thomas S. Monson

---

Living the Abundant Life

At the advent of a new year, I challenge Latter-day Saints everywhere to undertake a personal, diligent, significant quest for what I call the abundant life—a life filled with an abundance of success, goodness, and blessings. Just as we learned the ABCs in school, I offer my own ABCs to help us all gain the abundant life.

Have a Positive Attitude

A in my ABCs refers to attitude. William James, a pioneering American psychologist and philosopher, wrote, “The greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.”¹

So much in life depends on our attitude. The way we choose to see things and respond to others makes all the difference. To do the best we can and then to choose to be happy about our circumstances, whatever they may be, can bring peace and contentment.

Charles Swindoll—author, educator, and Christian pastor—said: “Attitude, to me, is more important than … the past, … than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.”²

We can’t direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails. For maximum happiness, peace, and contentment, may we choose a positive attitude.

Believe in Yourself

B is for believe—in yourself, in those around you, and in eternal principles.

Be honest with yourself, with others, and with your Heavenly Father. One who was not honest with God until it was too late was Cardinal Wolsey who, according to Shakespeare, spent a long life in service to three sovereigns and enjoyed wealth and power. Finally, he was shorn of his power and possessions by an impatient king. Cardinal Wolsey cried:

Had I but served my God with half the zeal

I served my king, He would not in mine age

Have left me naked to mine enemies.³

Thomas Fuller, an English churchman and historian who lived in the 17th century, penned this truth: “He does not believe that does not live according to his belief.”⁴

Don’t limit yourself and don’t let others convince you that you are limited in what you can do. Believe in yourself and then live so as to reach your possibilities.

You can achieve what you believe you can. Trust and believe and have faith.

Face Challenges with Courage

C is for courage. Courage becomes a worthwhile and meaningful virtue when it is regarded not so much as a willingness to die manfully but as a determination to live decently.

Said the American essayist and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide on, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.”⁵

There will be times when you will be frightened and discouraged. You may feel that you are defeated. The odds of obtaining victory may appear overwhelming. At times you may feel like David trying to fight Goliath. But remember—David did win!

Courage is required to make an initial thrust toward one’s coveted goal, but even greater courage is called for when one stumbles and must make a second effort to achieve.

Have the determination to make the effort, the single-mindedness to work toward a worthy goal, and the courage not only to face the challenges that inevitably come but also to make a second effort, should such be required. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says, “I’ll try again tomorrow.”

May we remember these ABCs as we begin our journey into the new year, cultivating a positive attitude, a belief that we can achieve our goals and resolutions, and the courage to face whatever challenges may come our way. Then the abundant life will be ours.

It's "That Day" (My Retail Rant)

You know how Black Friday shoppers are crazy?  Well, turns out those crazies don't come out just once a year.  Nope...once, twice...maybe even five times a week?
It's my first year working retail and if you are a FB follower you probably have my status' blocked for whining too much about work.  (That or political posts.)  Yes, I'm thankful for work.  Yes, yes, yes.  Doesn't mean I like it.  AT ALL.  Ughhhh I HATE it.  In fact my sister works in Idaho Falls for the same store and I think we have both been close to tears as we've shared our awful work stories.  Ok, that's an exaggeration...but I do know we've both cried privately from complete dread of having to go to work the night or day before.  Haha.  Why didn't I just go find a different job?
1. I tried.
2. This economy is stinky, hello.
3. Really, two months before moving back to Boise, it would be pointless now.

Anyways, lately I've been classifying certain annoying shoppers into catagories...maybe sharing it will make me feel like the world gets me now.  No, that's an exaggeration too.  Just trying to make you feel better about your job?

One thing I have found out working in retail is that overly sensitive, easily annoyed, stubborn and high stress people--should not work in retail.

My biggest pet peeve:
This is me at the beginning of every transaction.  "HI!" And this is what I get back...nothing.

Resulting in this feeling:

WHY CAN'T YOU JUST SAY HI BACK?!

I don't know what is on this ladies face.  Ignore it.

 I also deal with on a daily basis at least one of these five kinds of people:

"Sneaky People"

 I have caught two people trying to shoplift.  One lady had stuff stuffed inside a cooler she was buying.  

The other lady just took what I rang up and put it in her cart on top of stuff I hadn't rung up and then got mad at me for catching on and starting the whole order over.  Nice. 

"Dumbies"

These are the people who seriously leave their common sense at the door.  The people that can't do anything for themselves.  For example: People that frantically ask you, (while using your debit/credit machine), "Where do I sign?"  

Me: "Well, is there a line?"  

Them: "Yes..." 

Me: "Then sign on the line".  

Or.

Them: (Reading the machine) "Do I want cash?  No, I don't want cash.  What do I push?"

Me: "Push 'No Cash'".

Really though, you can be about as dumb as you want to be, as long as you are nice.  If you aren't nice and you are dumb then I am going to have a hard time forgiving your stupidity as is the case with these two examples. 

"Mama's Never Taught Youz.."

Manners.  Your mother never taught you manners.  I feel bad for you.  

I feel bad that your Dad didn't teach you to smile even when you didn't feel like smiling.  Thank you Dad for that, I now realize that that lesson was taught to me JUST to make a cashiers shift a little nicer. Ha...possibly for other reasons too. :)

I'll spend 5 minutes packing a persons cart without their help and then they'll finish their transaction and not even say, "Hey thanks for lifting that 40 lb bag of cat litter".  Oh you're welcome, thanks for not helping me.

Another example, some lady said to me, "Grab me that box..." and I seriously almost said in a correcting tone for a small child, "Please?"  Didn't.  Almost wish I could have.

"Jump the Gunners"

Me: "Would you-"

Them: "No!  I don't want to upgrade to that Plus Membership."

Me: "Ok...but would you like a box for your chicken?" 

Calm down people.  

Even if I was trying to sell you the Plus Membership, couldn't you just let me do my job, let me get my 5 second "Our Plus Membership is our best membership and offers the greatest savings, would you like to upgrade today?  You're amount is pro-rated to your renewal and would only cost you $24 today" line out that I don't even want to talk to you about and then kindly tell me, "No, thanks, I'm not interested." 

"Grouchies"

The mean, impatient, take all frustration out on you people.

Hi, I'm just a cashier.  Not the CEO.  If you have a problem...talk to someone who can do something about your complaint.  Thanks.

Oh and the EYE ROLLERS.  They could have their own category.  They roll their eyes when you can't understand their very broken english or when they realize we don't accept the card that they are paying with or anything that goes wrong during an order.  These are the people who have never made a mistake in their lives.  Nope, did you know some people are perfect?  It's true, there are perfect people out there-I call them the Eye Rollers.

Me: "Would you like to renew your membership today?"

Them: "No".

"Ok, well, has anyone told you that you can renew it early and it won't affect your renewal date?  It's just for your convenience".

Them: "I don't trust you guys.  You've messed up my membership before, I don't trust you guys anymore."  

REALLY?  What are you doing shopping at and supporting a store that you don't trust?  Wow lady.

There are of course other kinds of annoying shoppers..."The Obsessive Compulsives" who re-organize all the items after you place them in the cart, "Know-it-alls", "Lazies"..but I'll end there because this post is already way too negative for it's own good and I'm probably going to regret having said what I said..  Let me say though, I do enjoy the cute old men that tell silly jokes and compliment me, FAMILY and FRIENDS coming in and seeing me and work friends that let me throw a mini fit, (complete with feet stomping and all, (jk) everytime I get to work before my shift starts. 

CHECK LUPE OUT!

TWENTY ONE LBS lost in 26 days!  We made Lupe's order for January on December 31st and I was able to go over that night and see her.  She looks SO GOOD!  One thing that I've heard that people on the program appreciate is that they lose weight in every part of their body.  It's not like some DIETS that take in your waist but leave your hips.  I noticed this with Lupe- she has lost weight all over.  She is so happy and I'm so happy for her!  I can't wait to see what January brings for her.  I am hoping the most for her that she will soon be able to get off or reduce some of her medications.  That would be what I consider SUCCESS. 

.  

   

Back from Boise

Cade and I couldn't have had a more refreshing week than this last week was for us.  It was so good to go to Boise and see our friends and family.  So good.

HIGHLIGHTS: 

-Getting together with our "Married Friends". 

-Burger Express with my sister and her family---Three year old nephew awkwardly staring at a guy, saying hi three times without a response and then turning away from him and yelling, "Mom!  ...Mom!  That guy's OLD!" :)

-Celebrating Christmas just a tinsy bit late with the Hansen Family.  So fun.  Love them!

-Watching "17 Miracles" with my family (it being their first time and my second).  It was so good...except that I was the only one crying.  Really?  Come on people!  Kami...you are too a crier, I remember you cried in "I am Legend", what the heck? :)  Haha, (Ok, she was a hormonal pregnant lady at the time...but STILL).

-And seeing Miss Lupe.  She looks GREAT!  21 lbs lost in less than one month.  Holy smokes.  So impressed and proud of her!

-House hunting...kind of.  We didn't get anywhere.  It was still fun though.


A not so great highlight..

 Monday after we started on our way home we realized that our headlights were not working a long with our automatic locks and a few other things.  So when we got to Burly just before it was too dark we stopped at O'Reilly's and they couldn't tell us for sure what the problem was but what they thought it might be they also didn't have a part for.  So we had no option but to stay in Burly that night.  Actually, I could have probably called family to come help us out but....I'm shy and hate feeling like a burden so we grabbed a hotel in Burly and left early the next morning.

Yesterday Cade tried to get the car checked out but didn't want to pay $95 at Dodge for them to just look at what the problem might be.  So this morning we decided we would take it into the shop just early enough so I could take him to work after dropping the car off...  Cade put on his hazards (SO HE WOULDN'T GET PULLED OVER) and he followed behind me.  He got pulled over.  We were seriously less than one mile away from the shop....the cop gave him a ticket for driving without headlights THIRTY minutes before sunrise and driving with his hazards on.  Seriously?  The worst part about it is that by the time the ticket was given and the cop let Cade go it was already bright enough that he didn't need lights to drive.  OH so mad.  SECOND TICKET this year.  So annoyed.