thai thursday

miss mclaughlin and i went out for our weekly 'date' night last night
we went to Spicy Thai (down on University Avenue)

we got lots of yummy food.

eggrolls
massaman curry
pad siew

yummy, huh?

i love it!

do you like thai food?!

this is what i wore on easter.

i know, kinda late, and kind of a shady photo, but deal with it.

dress: old navy

sweater: banana republic

belt: banana republic

shoes: target

royale mcqueen

when i went to work this morning, i made sure that the TV in the operatory was on NBC. 
i gasped when i saw this gown this morning.

GORGEOUS!
can you believe it?!
i know that the royal wedding has been all the rage the past few days or so, but i only cared about seeing the dress.
so beautiful.

one day when i get married, i want a similar looking dress.  I love the lace sleeves, how gorgeous, huh? :)
maybe i can get alexander mcqueen to make me a dress too.

happy friday

a nacho libre Easters

"do you not realize that I've had diarrhea since Easters?!"

Happy Easter

planning

my grandpa Warner passed away on Thursday evening in the McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden, Utah.
All of the family had been sitting with him the entire day.
I got the chance to hold my grandpa's hand while he was sleeping peacefully in his hospital bed.
It was a tender moment and I am so thankful I was there with him.

Yesterday I spent the day up in Layton with my grandma and my aunts.

We helped Grandma plan the funeral yesterday.
I never knew how much effort and work (and talk about MONEY) goes into
planning a funeral.  We started off the morning by helping grandma write the obituary.
Next we planned the funeral service.
Then off to the mortuary we went.
We discussed all of the plans from the coffin (which grandpa had already bought and paid for)
to the program, to the flowers.

It was another tough day, but I think it's finally starting to sink in more and more.

My grandma asked ME if I would speak at the funeral service.
I have NEVER spoken at a funeral before and I am slightly nervous about it.

I hope I can make grandpa proud by what I say.

Have you ever spoken at a funeral?  Any suggestions?!

saying goodbye

last night was going all great and happy.
i hung out with hayley and bree.  we were laughing and having a good time.
then all of that changed with one phone call.
this wasn't a good phone call, I could tell by the sound of my moms voice.

she told me my grandfather had called my dad and asked him to come up to see him in the hospital.
immediately.
my grandpa has been in and out of the hospital for the last few months with various illnesses, heart attacks, falls, etc.

last time i saw him, about two weeks ago, he looked frail and so thin and weak.
it was hard to see him then.
its hard to see someone who was once full of life and joy sink into the pains of 'oldness'

my grandpa is NOT a complainer at all. 
typically if you ask him how he is feeling, he'll joke back and say, "with both hands"
he never complains at all.  even among all of his pain and suffering.

as we reached the hospital late last night, around 10:45 PM, I entered the hospital room.
not knowing what to expect.
i saw my sweet grandpa laying in the hospital bed.
he looked tired, he looked worn out.
now, it's a Warner family trait to be blunt and honest and very stubborn.
my grandpa told my dad that he wanted him to give him a priesthood blessing
it was the sweetest experiences i've ever had.

i am so thankful for the knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ I have in my life.
the gospel is so dear to me. 

last night was also the last time I think i'll see my grandpa alive on this earth.
as I hugged him and kissed his head I felt a wave of calm come over me.
i will miss my grandfather dearly, but i know he is an amazing man.
he has served others his entire life and has been a tremendous
example to me of what a disciple of Christ is.
Someone who truly has charity for others in his heart.

i love my grandpa so much.  i cannot fathom life without knowing him.
he has taught me much and has been an anchor in my life.

i love you grandpa.  and i cannot wait to see you again, in the eternities.
i hope that i will make you proud with the way i live my life.
i hope that you will watch over me in the following days.
i will miss you dearly.  i will miss your jokes and your smile.
most of all, i will miss you.  and the hugs you give.
i will miss you asking me how school is, how the boys are.
i will miss you.
i can't reiterate that enough.

my thoughts are constantly with you and my prayers too.
i am so thankful I was able to tell you last night how much I love you.
you have been such an inspiration in my life.
i am thankful i was able to see you on last time and say my goodbye.

This past weekend I was able to attend a special musical fireside called "The Living Christ" which was all about the life, atonement, sacrifice, healing, and ministry of the Savior Jesus Christ.

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and I am so thankful for this blessing in my life.

As I sat at that musical fireside on Sunday night I listened for over an hour to songs of praise and love.  I love how powerful music can influence a broken heart, a hurt soul, or give peace to someone who has lost their way.  More than once in my life has music been able to bless me and give me the comfort and peace that I was seeking.

As this week begins, I've challenged myself to remember the life of my Savior, Jesus Christ and study it daily in preparation for Easter Sunday. 

I would just like to share a few songs of faith and inspiration that I heard on Sunday night.
I shared one of the songs yesterday on the blog called, "Greater Miracles" by Hilary Weeks



How Great Thou Art


Nearer My God to Thee


Beautiful Savior

Greater Miracles

Have you any that are sick?

Bring them here, He will heal them
Have you any that are lame, bent in pain, hurt or yearning?
Bring them all old and young and He will lift them up
He will make them whole
And if they put their faith in Him they shall see greater miracles than these

Have you children who are blind?
Bring them here, He will bless them
He will truly make them see wondrous things
when you let them
Go to Him on bended knee and He will lift them up
He will make them whole
And if they put their faith in Him they shall see
Greater miracles than these


Did you know that He can heal the widow's broken heart?
That His love can change your life, save a world torn apart?
Did you know that He holds the earth and sky at His command?
But when you feel forgiveness come then you'll understand
That's the miracle
The greatest miracle

Do your burdens weigh you down?
Go to Him. He will lift them
As your brother as your friend, He has love enough for all men
Trust in Him, take His hand
And He will lift you up, He will make you whole
And if you put your faith in Him, you shall see
Greater miracles than these
Greater miracles than these

15 minutes or more saved me on my car...but not insurance

here's the fun adventure I had this week

{background story}
last year, I went to St. George and on the drive home my "check engine" light came on and wouldn't go away.  I drove into town and took my car to a Japanese car repair shop to ask them what the dealio was with Eunice (yes, my cars name is Eunice).  The dude at the shop told me I needed to get my catalytic converter fixed.
cost?  $1200.  TWELVE-HUNDRED bones.  Now, if you're anything like me, you probably can calculate that that is like a whole new wardrobe from Nordies, Forever 21, Target, Banana.  I mean, come on.
{back to real life time}

I got the oil in my car changed last Saturday morning. No biggie, right?
wrong.

i have been driving a ton the past week and as I was getting on the freeway, I noticed a really horrible smell coming into my car. I thought it may have been the old truck in front of me. Well, I shrugged it off.

then I was driving somewhere again and the smell came back (this time, no old car in front of me)

so I called the oil place and told them my story. I took my car in and had them look at it. The sweet little guy came inside and told me that my oil cap was missing and that there was oil all over my engine. He felt so terrible I could tell, he kept apologizing and telling me how sorry he was. To make up for the mistake, and for my lack of breathing well, he was going to order me a new cap (free of charge), top off the leaked oil (free of charge) and vacuum my car.

As I patiently waited, he comes back inside and tells me that he noticed my emissions test paperwork from the state that hadn't been completed yet.
My heart sank into my stomach.
April is the month I HAVE to get the catalytic converter fixed in my car.
April is the month my bank account loses $1200.
I am so not looking forward to that dreadful day.
As I have the pit in my stomach and look at the guy and just tell him "sure, try and pass my car"

He comes back and said I was all set to go.  The car passed. The oil is changed. The car is clean............................................................................
.............................................................
..........................................
..........................
............
......
.
 As he's talking, all I can do is just stare. 


My car did what? My car PASSED?!
are you joking me?
where is Ashton Kutcher, because I think I'm being PUNKD.

after I gathered my thoughts, I just smiled and said, "what? you're sure thats right?" he said, "Yeah. Um, your car is just fine Miss"

I was so excited I almost started doing a little dance in the store
He then proceeds to tell me that he won't charge me for the emissions test either because of the spilled oil incident.  He sends me on my merry little way.
$1225 still in my bank account.
And making me one of the happiest ladies alive.

Am I a LUCKY LADY or what?!
Getting your oil spilled on the engine could potentially save you $1225 bones.

I am so happy and cannot believe my luck.

whew!

do you ever?

do you ever feel like you HAVE to post daily on your blog?
I used to feel like that.
I used to think that I had to be a certain 'stereo-type' of a blogger.

well, since I began my new job on Monday I honestly have not had time enough in my day to even look at blogs, facebook, etc.

what a refreshing thing for me.
i am the first to admit that i waste too much time online.
its been a great couple of days to unwind and disconnect from the less-important things in life.

I've been able to:

- go bowling
- go to the dinosaur museum
- do laundry during the week
- lose 2 lbs
- make a few new friends
- tutor and teach piano lessons
- read my scriptures
- study general conference talks
- rest
- talk with a good friend on the phone
- get a random call from an old friend
- asked out on a date

whew.  i feel pretty accomplished this week thus far.  and it's not even over.
excuse me while I go get my sweat on at the track.

have a fabulous Thursday.
and please, remember to MAKE IT COUNT

(photo from last summer at Rasmussen Lake)