The day I felt I let everyone down

Saturday, was just a hard day. I was really sick and my mouth was hurting really badly. I think I've developed some sort of toothache and probably an infection in my gum. Otherwise, I'm not sure why it would hurt so bad. I broke my tooth back in July and thought nothing of it because it didn't hurt. Plus, while we have insurance, we just didn't have the money to go see the dentist. (I'm almost done paying off the doctor bills) I pretty much forgot about my tooth until it started to hurt.

Sadly, on Saturday it was the day of the big race. I trained for it and everything. Somehow, I just had to catch a cold the week of, miss lots of class, sleep away the days, not update the blog, not finish my homework, not read textbooks, not unpack, not clean and just sleep the time away. I hated it. There's a famous quote from my favorite book. "When you're in bed, you're dead."

I certainly felt like that. My sister-in-law Bethany came over the morning of and must of freaked out by the mess she saw. I bet she couldn't believe the amount of clothes that were everywhere. I did have them organized but the flimsy rack that they were hanging on decided to break. We just didn't have enough time to get a new one.

While they were gone, I did a lot of sleeping and when I woke up, a lot of cleaning. Mostly because I was pretty upset that I have lost Nie Nikon once again in the same week. I found it earlier in the week in a HUGE pile of laundry. So I attempted to search for it once again while trying to organize everything. Second let down, is because I had some amazing pictures of the Nixon family and their garden, which I still plan to share with you (once I find the camera). I just hope it's around the apartment and not in the Comm building.

I literally waste so much time looking for things around this apartment. I think I've lost my mind and I feel so behind on everything. However, I have a plan to buy hooks to put keys and cameras on so I don't lose them. I just don't know where to put my glasses quite yet.

I felt bad not running the race. They had such a great time! Just look how dirty they got. Lexi ran with my team and replaced me. It was nice of her to do that and be covered with mud, literally.

When Kevin came home, there was no sign of Nie Nikon and the place still wasn't that clean. Too many boxes still, if you ask me.

Luckily, I have a forgiving husband and took me out to buy a new rack to hang my clothes on after he came home (and showered, of course). Then he gave me a coupon to Orange Leaf for some frozen yogurt to use after Women's Conference. Good thing too, Jen and I had a wonderful time just catching up. We both had cake batter mixed with red velvet cake, with cheesecake bites on top. Way to end a hard day.

I'm sorry if I let you down. This whole sick thing better end soon.

I also really hope that this teacher has Nie Nikon. I have two classes in the same room. I'm hoping that it was an honest mistake there.

I'm going to the dentist later today, lucky me. First time in almost two years. Poor person who has to clean my teeth. I think they'll have to pull that tooth out. We'll see.

Pick-me-ups

You know those days that you're just feeling down? I'm sharing my two most favorite things that help me feel better on days I think I can't make it through.

Today just happened to be one of those days. . . woke up with a cold and stomach problems. It's that time of year.

First off, bring on the yellow. Yellow is bright and cheery. Yellow reminds me of my mom and the two of them can brighten any room. So when we moved into the apartment with only white walls, everything else had to be the color. Can you really be depressed with something like this?

The second is an essential for anyone. I use an oil from doTERRA called Elevation. I put a little bit on everyday mixed with a few drops of coconut oil on the back of my neck, my hands and feet. It's an immediate lift.

Elevation is the perfect blend of lavandin, tangerine, elemi, lemon myrtle, melissa, ylang ylang, osmanthus and sandalwood. All of my favorites made into one. Now oils may seem a little bit expensive but if you've ever taken an anti-depressant, the medicine is expensive and has harsh side effects. I would recommend this first before you try ANY anti-depressant. It's natural and has no side effects at all because the oils are from the earth. There's nothing to lose.

After both of these, I'm already feeling much better. I guess I better stop procrastinating my homework. Oh and by the way, I got so many responses from my earlier post that I will post my finished story. Coming soon.

I hope your days are happy, continuing to be filled with JOY always, even on a day like me when it's spent in bed with symptoms of a stomach flu.

What are some of your pick-me-ups? I'd love to hear your tips!

Randy's birthday

After I took Randy and Yvette's engagement pictures, we all went out and celebrated!

There's a new Peruvian restaurant in Bountiful out by Office Depot. It was really good and very authentic. We had an appetizer of potatoes covered in a spicy cheese sauce. I ordered pollo con arroz (chicken with rice) and the rice had a really good seasoning.

I think the best part of all was the company. Kevin's cousins Trisha and Michael came too. It completed the party as Trisha can speak Spanish and relates more to Yvette because she is from El Salvador.

There was lots of singing and laughing from all over the restaurant. Sue commented, "It was one of the best nights she's had out long time!

Game day!

I'm posting for Kevin about the UNLV game. He has been really busy with our move, school and work; I think I'll give him a break.

There was a great play done by the Utes where they ran over half the field and scored a touchdown. For this game, the end was pretty obvious. We even left early so we wouldn't be late for a Jones family dinner.

The most exciting part was when they announced the score of the BYU game. Everyone started cheering loudly and the stadium lit up. Well, we're also in the MUSS (Mighty Utah Student Section) and everything is just a little bit louder there. We're the ones singing the entire "Utah Man" and yelling at the ref for the all the bad calls. "No other gang of college men dare meet us in the MUSS!"

Football means fall. The sounds of the fans cheering mean fall. I love fall and Ute football!

Second Anniversary

It was Nate and Jen's second anniversary last Sunday so on Labor Day, we did our traditional outing to Cheesecake Factory. It's a great yearly tradition.

We love coming up with what we're going to try next since their menu is ginormous. I don't think that's a word but either way, it's a big menu. A lot to choose from, you can't be disappointed. Plus, the best desserts.

It was an all adult trip. No babies this time. Last year Aiden screamed her head off because she was just starting to teethe and had a double ear ache. We didn't know about it quite yet. That explains the screaming though since it's loud at the restaurant. We had my parents come with us this year.


We all got our cheesecake to go since we were so full after three appetizers and larger than life dinners. I ordered a herb roasted chicken, they brought out what seemed like an entire chicken. Kevin and I will be eating it all this week. There was enough food for four on my plate alone. Our waitress was sweet and brought this out still. I love it.

My parents
Jon and Ruth

Kevin and I
You can see the chicken and Kevin's huge burrito.

Happy Anniversary Nate and Jen!
We love you and your sweet family!
We're so happy to be the aunt and uncle of Katelyn and Aiden. We can't wait to hear whether you're having a girl or boy this week. That will make number 16 of our nieces and nephews. It's going to be a party.

El Pollo Loco

Whenever I think of foods that I ate too much of on my mission, the first thing to come to mind is always chicken. Lots and lots of chicken. There was one restaurant, however, where I enjoyed eating chicken. El Pollo Loco has the best Mexican grilled chicken that I have found. Needless to say, I was excited when I first saw the franchise that opened up in Utah County.

Tonight, Lisa and I went to try it out. I was not disappointed. Even though it is fairly Americanized (it is in Utah County, after all), it still had the juicy chicken and flavorful salsa I remembered from Monterrey. Good chicken with good memories. At this time when there is so much hardship in Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas, it's good to have some warm, happy thoughts of time spent there. Que Dios bendiga la gente que sufra del diluvio y de la maldad en Monterrey y Tamaulipas.

Upset

They say a picture's worth a thousand words. Need I say more?