Farewell Summer - It Has Been Real.

What a solid month. It was sunny, it was fabulous and full of good times. It was rough as well, but I learned a lot and it helped me prepare to turn the big 25 this month! 

I went to the fair! We rode on rides, ate fritters, took group selfies, acted like we had no cares in the world and just loved summer. 

I want you to just look at each individual in this picture. I still have no idea what was going on.... 

What a fantastic group!

I had my first real surgery (I don't count my wisdom teeth). I had a deviated septum, basically I couldn't breath out of my nose. 

I was excited to have my mom record me when I was waking up hoping to get some viral worthy footage. Turns out I just kept saying how much I hated how I felt. Turns out I hate medication even when I'm half awake and under the influence of a lot of drugs.

On August 11th three of my students gave their farewells for their mission. It was a very emotional day for me. I love each of these kids so much, they are going to be amazing missionaries! I've been blessed to teach them and also learn from them.

Elder David Wolf - El Salvador San Salvador West Belize Mission

Elder Hensley - Philippines Laoag Mission 

Sister Bourque - Peru

 I went to the Ape Caves at Mt Saint Helens with my family. I wish we had pictures of inside the cave, so cool. It was the weirdest sensation to come up out of the caves where it had been 42 degrees to a 80 degree day outside.

My favorite part was when we'd do "blackouts" and turn off all our lights. Every time one of us would scream and pretend like we were being attacked and someone would sneak up on someone. But good times were had by all. Even the five boys who range from 1 year old - 10 years old were champs the whole time!

Then the month ended perfectly, with Mariners tickets in the Diamond Club (behind home plate)!!

I had so much fun teaching my mom all about baseball. I knew I loved baseball but this night truly confirmed it!

So lucky to have great parents who will take me to do things they know I love. They even stayed till the end of the game for me!

Check out this guys pockets. I know baseball players are superstitious but is this really necessary?

August you'll be missed, but I'm excited to see what adventures come with the change in weather.

September is my birthday month and I've been dreading it all year, but I've learned so much this month that I've decided to embrace it with my arms open wide and a smile on my face. I've learned to be more positive, to always assume the best, to serve/love others more, I am blessed with a loving supportive family and that I am strong!          
So bring it on 25!

South Sound BBQ Festival

So I know my posts are a little random sometimes. From what I've been doing with my life to whats been on my mind but remember this blog is a form of a journal for me and my future family. When I don't feel like blogging I remind myself this is the best way to document my life!

Anyway a little over a month ago, July 5th to be exact, the South Sound BBQ Festival, that I mentioned here, took place. (Remember I'm the Event Coordinator for the Lacey Chamber of Commerce) It was the biggest event I've ever been in charge of and while it was so exhausting, I have to say it felt really good to be a part of. Not to mention I had a great team to help me out!

We estimated that the attendance was about 14,000 people, so a huge success! We guessed that I walked about 25-30 miles that day, and when I say walk I mean speed walk. No strolling occurred between 6 am and 10 pm. The most frequent thing said to me that day was, "You look like a man on a mission". Lets just say I struggled walking the next day....

Here are some pictures from the day of.....

We had a dunk tank where all the money went to our Kidwiler Scholarship Fund, and all the people dunked were important people in our community.

I live in Washington. Home of the 2014 Superbowl Champions, the Seahawks. So we were lucky enough to have Blitz and some Sea Gals in attendance.

Had a Chicken Wing Eating Contest... 

And lots of great vendors...

 This is actually my mom at her DoTerra booth. She got stung by a bee the day before and had a severe reaction (hence the swelling), but being the champ she is she still came!

Some jamming music...

The Backyard Joes Competition (amateur bbq contest)...

And my sisters were the best and made sure I got food. They were even caught on camera!

And I rocked my CamelBak and everyone was jealous, no really I got a million and a half comments about it....but lets be honest here, how could you not be.

 If I point it looks like I know what I'm doing

 This picture was taken around 9:30 pm when I finally sat and I had to be helped back up.

What a great day. Lots of good food, great people and good times were had by everyone! I feel blessed to have a job where I get to be a part of great events that bring my community together. 

Stop. Breath. Live.

Life is crazy right now....

Next Saturday is the South Sound BBQ Festival in Lacey, WA.

I'm the Event Coordinator in charge of it and this is my first year doing it and we are expecting 15,000 people. So as you can imagine work has been non-stop for the past few weeks. Man I'm excited, but I'm a little bit more excited for the day afterwords.

Last Saturday my parents and I took a day trip down to Portland to see my sister and her family. It was only a day but it was fantastic! Hung out in her backyard, soaked up some much needed sun and then went blueberry picking.

Don't mind my face. I'm obviously not very photogenic, but the whole purpose of this picture was to show you my amazing multi-tasking skills. I mean look at me, holding a baby and picking blueberries. I'm living the dream.

Monday I got to go to one of my favorite places in Seattle with one of my favorite families. This is Sydney's family minus his dad (he is taking the picture). They are so great to include me in family outings even though Sydney is gone. 

 Safeco Field to watch the Mariners vs. Red Sox. So much fun. And since I'm a fan of both teams I knew I'd leave happy either way. And guess what the Mariners won, 12-3 so I was extra happy.

David Ortiz doing his thing. So much fun to watch.

The rest of my out of work time has been filled with helping my mother at her fantastic DoTerra classes, hanging out with my new Brazilian friends, re-arranging my room, mission call openings, and church. I get to go out with the Sister missionaries tonight. I always love going out with them because it is an opportunity for me to really forget myself and help others feel the joy and happiness that I feel.

My goal right now is to start becoming more productive with my time outside of work. Usually I get off work and I'm so tired I don't want to do anything. But after writing about confidence last week I realized this is probably why I've been struggling lately. I'm not doing anything for me or even for others. I'm not living!

I want to work on making my room a clean, peaceful, inspiring place for me. Get back to my music side. I haven't practiced piano or violin in ages! Not to mention the only singing I do is in the car and shower. Oh and I really want to learn to play the guitar. I also want to up my exercise. Ideally I want to start exercising in the morning but I really have a hard time getting up earlier then I need to. Any tips? I'm all ears!

Here is to life and to living it, instead of letting it live you. Who wants to join me?!