Summer Reads.

Now that summer school is over, I have a little bit more time to do one of my favorite things in the entire world: READ!

I grew up with my nose in a book, and since starting college, I have had little time to read anything other than textbooks - gross. Now that I finally have time to read for pleasure, I have a huge list of books that I am super excited about! Warning: I am a lover of teen and young adult literature and I don't care who knows it.

Here are a few of my most recent reads:

Not a teen/young adult book, but it was quite a thriller! I love Dan Brown's works, and this one didn't disappoint. He did a great job of incorporating the history into the book without making the reader feel confused. I have never read Dante's Inferno, but I did not feel like I was missing pieces of the story. Well written, with lots of twists and turns to keep you entertained!

This book has been made into a movie, which I haven't seen, but I hope it's better than the book was. The concept that the book is based on is fascinating and exciting, but I did not think the book was well written. I tend to be super picky about the wording and formatting of a book, so I am aware that I am extra critical, but for me, my enjoyment of the awesome story line was hindered by the lack of maturity in the writing.

This next book was amazing. It reminded me quite a bit of the Hunger Games, but with a lot of unexplained aspects that require the reader to dig to uncover as the story progresses. Very well written and absolutely intriguing. 

This is the sequel to The Maze Runner but I was not as impressed as I was with the first book in the series. It is well written, but the story line was redundant and never really answered any questions that I had. I suppose the author did this on purpose to keep readers interested and motivated to read the final book in the series, but I found the lack of information irritating. I have yet to read the final book in the series, and if I don't get my answers I might flip my lid.

I re-read this book because the movie is coming out in a few months. Even having read this previously, I couldn't put the thing down. Suzanne Collins is a literary genius. Geez.

Go read this book. Seriously, who cares what I have to say about it. It's incredible and fascinating and thrilling and all things a book should be. Couldn't put it down.

The sequel to Divergent and just as good. I don't have a bad thing to say about either of these! The third book in the series comes out in October and my heart skips a beat every time I think about reading the final chapter in the trilogy. Amazing story line, it makes you think and question things. Definitely on my Favorite Reads list. 

Hahaha yep I read this. In like a day. And it was surprisingly informative. I would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in their gynecologic health, it has helped me to sort through some bodily issues I've been having. Again, hahahaha.

I love that books teach and entertain at the same time. I've always been a reader, and I always will be. My current goal is to build up my book library. Digital books are super convenient, but nothing beats the feel and smell of brand new, never-before-turned pages. 

What's your favorite book?

Happy Reading!

Decisions.

I'm facing a few big decisions in regard to school and work, and I always find it helpful to record my thoughts when trying to decide what to do.

First, I have decided not to go to school this upcoming year.

DJ is beginning graduate school next month which is pretty much a full time commitment. I am going to be responsible for providing for our little family during that time, which is hugely stressful for me to even think about. While I make decent money, we still rely on DJ's income to supplement mine. It is going to be a difficult year for us, and I just don't think I can handle trying to succeed in school on top of things. Therefore, the decision to take a year off.

I know, I know, "If you stop now you'll never go back!" 

I feel confident that my determination to get a college degree will pull me through the difficulties that taking time off and re-starting school may present. It has always been a goal of mine to graduate, and not doing so is not an option in my mind. Sure it will be challenging, but like most challenges, the end result will be well worth it.

What to do?

I'm Not Broken.

Here's another TMI update.

On Tuesday, after two and a half months of confusion and mystery, I finally got a positive OPK. Such a tiny little step but what a blessing it is to know that my body is, indeed, functioning normally. 

Can't wait to see what happens next!

Goals.

I believe in bettering oneself.

When I am going through difficult times, or when I am not satisfied with how I feel about my life, I often find myself pondering on the things that I am doing, and what I could do better. I then like to formulate a plan to improve those things that I am dissatisfied with.

I am a goal setter.

Recently, after finding ourselves in a bit of a funk, DJ and I decided that we needed to make some changes in our life. 

First, we set a goal to eat healthier, fresher foods. 

This goal was particularly difficult for me. 

As the wife who does the majority of the cooking, setting a goal to eat out less and cook at home more meant meal planning, grocery shopping, and turning on the stove.

Like I said, difficult.

I set about creating weekly meal and shopping plans, and after about a month of committing myself to my routine, I am proud to say that I am getting used to things. We are eating out only about once a week, usually on the weekends, saving SO much money and reducing waste by shopping every week and only for things that we need, and we are both feeling healthier and happier as we introduce whole, healthy foods into our bodies. 

Our next goal involved keeping a clean home where the Spirit would be welcomed and easily felt. 

Our cleaning routine historically has gone something like this:

Spend 10 hours every Saturday cleaning and scrubbing and doing the laundry and then trash the place throughout the week and do it all over again next Saturday.

It was exhausting and super disappointing to come home to a house that got messier and messier as the week went on. Not to mention the fact that I could rarely go out on Saturdays due to the giant mess that I had to clean. 

DJ and I decided that we would dedicate 10-15 minutes a day to pick up the house. In addition to picking up each day, I have also been trying to do one bigger chore (such as vacuum, dust, scrub the toilet, etc.) and a load of laundry each day to minimize the amount of work that I will have to do on the weekends.

I am still working on getting the bigger chores into a cyclical system, but I seriously cannot BELIEVE how much of a difference a clean home has made. It is SO refreshing to open the front door and see a spotless living room, and then continue on to see that the dishes are done, the bed is made, the laundry is off of the floor. The irritation that was caused by messiness is gone, and because we are dividing the workload and doing a little bit each day, DJ and I have more time to spend with one another and less time to stress over a messy home. We are pretty proud of ourselves for doing such a good job the past two weeks, and I think that because there has been such a drastic change in the atmosphere of our home that we are both very motivated to continue keeping our home peaceful and clean. 

Our next goal has been to exercise weekly. 

DJ has been doing an AWESOME job at this one, going to the gym 3-4 times a week and going on bike rides in the mornings on the days that he doesn't go. 

I, however, have been once in the past month.

I really hate working out and sweating, but I do know that it is supremely important that I exercise on a daily basis. Therefore, I have set a goal that beginning today, I will try my hardest to go to the gym 3 days this week. This morning, I woke up a little bit earlier than usual and packed a bag of gym clothes and DJ and I made a plan to meet at the gym after work. I am trying to be committed and preparing ahead of time always helps keep me from bailing at the last minute. So, we will see how today goes, and I really hope that I can get my lazy bum working out 3 times this week! 

Wish me luck.

Finally (for now - there will be more goal setting in the future, I'm sure of it!) DJ and I have been trying to be more committed to studying our scriptures and praying together every single day. We have always struggled to be consistent with this, and we have felt the blessings of doing so missing from our lives. We decided that we needed to make a greater effort to follow the Lord's counsel, and have started reading and praying each day. Some days we do a really awesome job and read a chapter and then write about our thoughts and feelings, and other days a half hour after going to sleep I have to wake DJ up because we forgot to pray and we hold hands and say the prayer in bed. We are definitely not perfect, but we are feeling a difference. The Spirit is more present than it was and we are able to easily recognize the Lord's hand in our day to day lives. It is such a blessing to be able to read and pray together, and I regret that we haven't been more diligent in the past. I look forward to continuing to grow closer together and to the Lord and seeing the blessings that will manifest in our lives through our dedication.

Goal setting is super important to me. It's a part of my personality, a part of who I am. Some people can better themselves naturally and effortlessly, but I have to look ahead and make a plan to get where I want to be. If I'm not setting goals for myself, I am not progressing. But I am thankful that that is the way I am, because through goal setting I can look back at where I was and see where I am now and easily see the changes I have made. I have big plans for myself, and one step at a time, I will get there. 

Monday.

Happy Monday.

Today I woke up feeling pretty good, which doesn't usually happen on Mondays.

I even did my hair and makeup for the occasion. 

I'm grateful that I'm feeling good today, and I am excited for a fulfilling and productive Monday!

Here's a short update on Haley's Happenings:

Last Thursday, we went and watched Brandon and Ella compete in the City of Mesa swim meet. They both did a great job, and I'm so glad to be their big sister!

I love these goonies.

On Saturday, DJ and I went and helped one of the family's good friends, Dee, and her three daughters into their new house. We were supposed to meet at 10:00 to begin helping, and when DJ woke me up at 9:45 I considered staying in bed for another hour or so and then joining up with the rest of the crew. But then I thought about all of the crap that my family would give me if I did that, and rolled my lazy butt out of bed. 

Nothing quite like the fear of endless grief to motivate a girl.

And now today I am back at work, doing my thing. 

It's a Monday, and it's a good day.

Sisters.

Well, as I mentioned, this past week was a wild one. And I'm afraid that it wasn't the "good" sort of wild.

Last Sunday we almost lost my sister.

I didn't find out until Monday morning when my mom called me to tell me that my sister was in the hospital.
I left work as soon as I could, but unfortunately by the time I got back to Mesa, my sister had been moved to a facility that doesn't allow visitors for the first day or so that a patient is there. All I could really do was comfort my family and try to make myself useful. We were able to visit with her the next day, at which time she was stable and doing much better. She stayed in the hospital for 5 days and was released last Friday.

Thankfully my sister is here and well, although the doctors informed us that it was a close call, and that we are lucky. This experience got me thinking about how much I truly need my sister in my life. Sure, we grew up picking on one another (like most siblings do) but ultimately, when it comes down to it, there would be a huge hole in my life if she wasn't here. As I heard the news and then had time to ponder while waiting to hear from the hospital, I realized just how much I regret every mean thing I have ever said or done to hurt her. The guilt was overwhelming. I love my sister, and while our relationship is now SO much better than it was when we were teenagers, living in the same house, in the same bedroom, I look forward to and am so grateful for the many years I have ahead with my sister. I need her to know what a beautiful part of my life she is, and just how much I need her.

MIA.

I assure you, I am well aware that I have been missing in action for the past week and a half. 

Crazy stuff has been happening. 

But things are finally slowing down, and I'll have an update coming soon.

Peace, love, and everything happy.

A Benny Update.

 Remember this little dude?

He ain't so little anymore.

Benny has doubled in size in four weeks. He now weighs a whopping 20 pounds.

I can't even believe it!

Here's some pictures documenting Benny's climb from infant to toddler.

Ever seen a more adorable little nose?!

He still loves taking naps and sleeps quite a bit throughout the day.

 He continues to take said naps in the most awkward positions.

He has turned into quite a little acrobat and loves to play rough with his Daddy.

Well rather with his Daddy's leg hair.

This picture shows his incredibly cute head-tilt that he does when he is curious about something.

We can't help but laugh at him when he cocks his head to the side!

Speaking of being curious, Benny out-smarted us one night and learned how to 

climb up the side of his little play pen gate and escaped. 

So we have had to resort to keeping Benny in the guest bathroom while we are at work during the day.

Needless to say, he wasn't too thrilled.

(That's a shredded pee pad. A shredded peed on pee pad.)

He also has learned to climb up his crate. 

The other day we came home and he had pushed his crate over to the cabinets, climbed it, 

and was hanging out on the counter, waiting for us to get home.

He is WAY too smart.

He is so smart, in fact, that he likes to watch documentaries on Netflix in his spare time.

He is quite a playful little buddy.

He loves to wrestle and chew on his sister Bailey.

He also loves to run around the backyard as fast as he can, chasing Uncle Brandon and trying to eat him. 

He is now big enough that he can eat an entire small-sized rawhide in one sitting.

This is his usual position when doing so. 

Our big guy continues to be super loving and playful.

Every day when I'm making dinner, Benny comes and wedges himself between my legs and the counter and lays on top of my toes. It's his favorite spot in the house. While it's super inconvenient for him to lay on my toes while I am trying to get things done all over the kitchen, I can't help but adore the fact that he loves to be near me!

Our cute dude is getting so big!

Stud muffin.

Here and Now.

Last night my father-in-law gave me one of the sweetest blessings I have ever received.

I prayed all day long and the night before that I would be prepared for the blessing, and that my heart would be softened and that I would be able to accept whatever was said. I prayed that I would find answers and strength in the words that were spoken.

While the blessing was powerful and filled with the Spirit, it was much different than I expected and I didn't necessarily hear exactly what I was hoping I would hear. But, after falling to my knees and asking the Lord for understanding, I came away with a new resolve to better myself and prepare for the future that is in store for me.

One critical, recurring point in my blessing was that my experiences and trials would be used to bless others.

While I do not fully understand how that will happen, knowing that it will help others creates a greater sense of appreciation for the hardships that I have been through, as well as hope that I will continue to understand and discover the Lord's plan for me. I have complete and total faith that the struggles I have endured and the ones that I have yet to endure will mold me into the person that I am meant to become.

Counsel to enjoy the journey and embrace what is around me now was also a recurrent theme in my blessing.

Which is something that I seriously struggle with. 

Patience does not come easily to me. I constantly am looking forward to the next big thing, the next adventure ahead of me, and I let the here and now slip by. But here and now is a beautiful place to be, and I often find myself looking back and wishing that I had better enjoyed the experiences that have now passed me by.

Through further reflection and counsel with the Lord, I have been inspired to make some changes to better embrace the wonderful life around me.

I will rid my life of the negative, 

the things that are hindering my progress towards becoming the best me I can be.

I will not allow myself to sink to that scary place that lacks happiness, 

even when things get difficult or overwhelming.

I will be more diligent at praying and reading the scriptures daily.

I will fill my days with meaningful activities, and avoid aimless downtime as much as I possibly can.

I will better serve and love those around me.

Each day I will reflect upon the goodness that I discovered around me and 

record my progress as I try to implement these goals into my life.

 I will enjoy the here and now.

I would be ungrateful if I didn't mention how blessed I am to have the power of the Priesthood in my life. I am so thankful for a husband, a father, a father in law, uncles, grandparents, cousins, friends, and countless other righteous men who are worthy to possess the Power of God here on this earth. I am grateful to my Father in Heaven who's Plan of Happiness allows me to be blessed by the Priesthood and witness the miracles that faith can manifest.