Trials and Blessings

Lately, I feel like I have been in a rut of trials.  I have been trying to figure out for a few weeks what I was doing with my life education wise.  I found out that my Early Childhood Education major was going to take me an extra semester to finish.  I am getting sick of school and just ready to be done.  I have been in school for awhile and just want to start a new chapter in my life.  

Luckily for me Jason found the Liberal Studies Major with an emphasis in teaching and learning.  It is a shorter route to what I want to do, and when I graduate I can take a few classes while I work to get my teaching license. It works out perfectly because he and I will now graduate in May 2012 and when he gets a real job we will probably move closer to where his job is.  I have an awesome counselor who it made possible. Thanks to many prayers from family members I am feeling extremely blessed.  

On top of that, I got asked to speak in the Spanish and our ward about the Lord's covenant people.  I think the Lord needed to remind me of the blessings we receive when we strive to live up to our covenants. I am glad the trial is over but glad for the lessons learned.

Fun in the Sun

We decided we needed a vacation and took a trip to visit Jason's family in Virginia.  Along the way we went to Virginia Beach.  It was a very nice time.  It was fun to play in the water and feel the sand under your toes.  Jason and Chad (Jason's younger brother) tried to get me ride on a bogey board.  Unfortunately the first night I was feeling sick and the waves were not helping Surprisingly the water was very warm and the hotel we stayed in was just off the boardwalk.    

Jason's Mom and brothers and I

Jason and I

Virgina Beach sunrise

Jason and I on the boardwalk

our view from the hotel and the boardwalk

A slide on the beach

Sadly, the last day we were there the fire in North Carolina blew in smoke and made it hard to be outside but we were able to walk around in the stores and enjoy the beach again. It was a good week off and just spending time with family.  Also, we took family pictures so I posted some of them.

One year Anniversary--July 21, 2011

One year ago today I married my best friend and husband Jason Barber.  I cannot believe that a whole year has passed by and it has been awesome. Jason surprised me with two dozen red roses, a beautiful necklace, and a scrapbook of memories from a year. I gave him a jar full of 100 reasons why I loved him.

It was so cute, we also went to one of my favorite restaurants Olive Garden. Our waiter was not very interested in us so the manager felt bad and gave us a free piece of cake.  We also went bowling and had a blast. I am so glad I have him in my life and many years ahead of us. 

Minnesota Family Reunion 2011

In mid July I flew to Minnesota to my family reunion on my mom's side.  I have not seen my mom for a year so it was fun to see her and my sister Gabby.  We went up into Northern Minnesota to go camping and swimming in the lakes.  Unfortunately, Minnesota was on a state shut down because they were having money issues so some of our favorite parks were closed.  We still got to go to Saw bill Lake and swim, and it was definitely a lot cooler in Minnesota than it has been in Tennessee.

As we drove up North we stopped in Duluth, MN and saw these tandem bikes.  There was one that seated six people. My cousin Sara, Terrance, Morgan and Spencer, Gabby and I all pedaled around this track.  It was so fun but it was hard work.  We were all sore the next day. It was a great family reunion.  Mom, Gabby, and I went to the Mall of America.  It was a lot of fun spending time with my family.  Sadly, Jason had to stay home because he had class and had to work.  It was hard being apart for a whole week but we survived. 

Country Music Association Festival

For the first time we went to the CMA festival in Nasvhille.  It was a blast.  We spent the whole Saturday downtown, weathering the 94 degree weather and humidity.  After many bottles of water, fans, misting stations and good food we had a blast.  There were many stages with country singers singing, a family zone with dogs jumping in water, ABC block party, the sports zone with these awesome new cars.  We got alot of free food and many t-shirts.  It was a good time, apparently it is a big thing here. People from all over the country come here to see it.
 
That night we had tickets to go to a concert in LP field where the Tennessee Titans play football.  It was alot of fun.  Josh Turner, Martina McBride, Trace Adkins, Little Big Town, Clint Black, Rascall Flatts, also Scotty and Lauren from American Idol performed too, and other upcoming artists played. It was such a good concert, the temperature dropped while we were there and I think Jason got sick unfortunately.  But, we enjoyed ourselves. 

This is our view from our seats

The LP field sign

Jason and I in our matching shirts

Martina McBride and Lauren Alaina

The AT&T building

My Sister's Visit to Nashville

My sister Gabby came to visit us in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. She came with us when we drove back from Atlanta. It was fun to show her our apartment, Nashville, and just spend some time with her. We took a day trip to Nashville to show her the sites. For lunch we went to the Hard Rock Cafe here. She had this awesome drink with a fruit salad on the top side of the glass. We hit some of the shops on Broadway and we ate White Castle burgers, they were delicious. It was really good to spend some time with my little sister. Technically, she should be younger sister since she is taller than me now but she will always be my little sister. Love you lots Gabby.

Jason and I by a guitar pick in Nashville

Gabby and I by Elvis in Nashville

Atlanta Trip

At the end of May, we took a mini weekend trip to Atlanta ON May 27th-May 29th. My step brother Sergi graduated from high school. We drove down to Georgia to spend some time with my dad and his family. It was fun, my little sister Gabby was down there too so I got to see her. It had been a year since we saw each other, so it was a good time.

We also got to spend some time with Jason's dad and his fiance. That Saturday we went to Six Flags White Water Park. It was a water park with a lot of water slides. I like water slides, but cannot ride roller coasters. I am a wimp, Gabby, Sergi, and Jason talked me into riding this ride called the Tornado. You sit in a inner tube for four people and ride down this tube which drops you drastically and then you swing back and forth in this tunnel. I was so terrified, I crouched down the whole time and screamed. It was so scary, but after I was amazed I did it and survived.