23

Well I finally feel like I'm at an acceptable age to be where I'm at in life...married, owning a home in a different state than my family, almost done with college. Ya, I'm still immature, but I feel like I'm kind of a grown-up now. And it was the first birthday that I honestly and truly kept forgetting about before it came!

...but I had a special day. I got a lot of cards, and shout outs on the good ol' Facebook! I had a little bbq with some family and friends and they spoiled me. These are some of my great friends. (Left-Right: Sunnie Wright and Amanda Van Diest *from school* and Leah Harker). Life just wouldn't be the same without them! ♥

Lane surprised me with this vanity. It's in the back corner of our walk-in closet. It's now my little escape for when I get ready for the day. I love it!

Thanks everyone for making me feel so loved starting out my 23rd year!

Piano Solos

Yesterday I played a solo in sacrament meeting at church. I didn't want to. I agreed to it a while ago because it had been about a year since I did a solo last (other than the primary presentations). I just wasn't feeling it this time and didn't feel like I had my piece together enough. I played "The Olive Tree," and I would have liked to have someone sing the words because it is just such a beautiful song, but I didn't ask anyone. I really didn't think I did too great but I got so many compliments. I'm not bragging, I am just humbled. It was a great experience. I guess I need to start finding more pieces to play because the feedback made me feel wonderful.

This is a video they show at EFY and on the BYU channel that has the words as well.

The Olive Tree

The first one I performed in this ward, last year, was a rendition of I Know That My Redeemer Lives which is my absolute favorite! I played it in my ward in high school and had a few of my friends sing it, but in this ward I just played the music. This video shows some of Jesus Christ's life and really just fills my heart with gratitude, love, humility, and hope. I am grateful for the life that I have, my talents, my family, the gospel, our jobs, our home, the chance to go to school, our freedom, all that I have been blessed with and the examples in my life.

Goals

Being at the half-way point in the year, I decided to see how I'm doing with my "new year's resolutions."

*Eat healthier/cut back on soda

Wellllll, hasn't really changed, but I do have a little more portion control.

*Actually use our home gym

HA.

*Read the Book of Mormon

Still need to work on that. I have my weeks.

*Read/Pray daily
Read-see above. Pray-I'm doin' pretty well.

*Find ways to serve others more

Well I don't do a good job of "finding" but I'm not hesitant and I've had opportunities.

*DON'T procrastinate!!!

Started off bad but this quarter I've done fairly well! ~pat on the back~

*Be a nicer person/smile more (everyone always bugs me about not smiling enough)

I actually think I've done a little better. Maybe it's just because I know more people?

Maybe I need to set more realistic goals. Or just DO what I tell myself to do.

May '11...Onto June '11

Well we made it through May! It was kind of a busy month considering how many things we had to celebrate...yet I documented nothing. Well following Mother's Day, and my dad's birthday, Devin and Lane share their birthdays. I guess I'm not very creative this year (starting with Valentine's Day). Lane worked on his birthday, and then I worked. We squeezed lunch in between with his parents, Blake & Kim. Poor Lane, no party or anything! Well here's the 28 year old.

Then we had Leo's 1 year old birthday party (Brady & Leah's baby), Trevor's birthday, Lane's dad's birthday, and Blake's birthday.

...And to top off the month, we celebrated our 3 year anniversary. And by celebrating I mean Lane worked out of town during the day so I went to lunch with Brady and Leah, then when he got home we went and got burgers from Rusty's and went over to Brady and Leah's. I know, is that romantic or what?! I was fine with it. My burger tasted great and I got to spend time with him and our friends. (We were able to go to the temple together the weekend before, so I consider that part of our celebration.)  

I've probably said it before but our 3 years of being married feels like it's gone by super fast, but at the same time feels like it's been a long time already because we've lived in 4 different places--3 different states. Lane's had 4 different jobs, I've had 3 different jobs. I've attended 3 different schools. We bought and renovated a house for goodness sakes! We've accomplished a lot. I love Lane more and more every day. He continues to make me laugh and supports me which helps me grow. I wouldn't be where I'm at in life if it weren't for him (besides the obvious getting married). I'm so excited to have him for eternity.

Now we're in the month of June. I have a week left of the quarter-- my how those quarters fly! I will be student teaching in no time! My youngest brother (the last of the bunch) graduates today! I'm so excited for him! I'm also really sad because I'm missing his graduation. I missed Trevor's too! I'm a horrible sister. Trevor at least got to come live with us for a little bit. Devin is going all the way to Hawaii for school, and then leave on his mission probably and I'll never see him again! Ok, not that dramatic, I'll probably see him at Christmas and stuff. I feel for my parents becoming empty-nesters, but from a child missing home point of view. I can't imagine in like 25 years all my kids leaving the house. That makes me nervous to have kids, I don't want that part to come. Anyway, rambling.

ps. I feel like everyone around me is pregnant! (My best friend Jenna, Cate Hopkins, Lacey Somers, AmyLee and Marianne in my class, a couple others I'm not announcing to the public and/or am forgetting at the moment).

Mr. & Mrs. Dusty Harker

Let me tell you a little about the Harkers: They are awesome. Lane and Dusty have been best buds ever since 8th grade--and boy do they have some stories. I met Dusty basically when I met Lane. They're inseparable. They definitely have a special relationship. Sometimes I have to put some limits on them, but I'm basically out of the picture when they are together. Anyway, Dusty was the best man at our wedding, and gave a beautiful toast at our reception. During our first month of being married, it came time for my birthday. Lane and I weren't on the same page with birthdays and he planned to go to Fullerton, UT to attend Dusty's grandpa's birthday...aka golf the whole weekend and leave me with some random Harkers (see birthday post from 2008). They all made me feel like family, but being that I didn't know any of them, I felt awkward/bored/angry/etc. I became well acquainted with the Harkers at this time though, and ever since then I have considered myself family. We attend their family get-togethers when they all come home to Wenatchee. Dusty came over for dinner, went on dates, and even spent a Valentine's day with us in Rexburg. I love when Marti comes to visit. Brady and his wife Leah moved to Wenatchee almost a year ago and we hang out with them at least once a week. Leah is like a sister to me. So I'm basically Jannica Mitchell/Larson/Helton/Harker.

Anyway, after the long introduction to the Harkers, here's the wedding. It was great to be part of Dusty's wedding. Lane was his best man and gave a beautiful and emotional toast at their luncheon. I feel very happy for him in finding someone and settling down. He feels like a brother to me, whether he likes it or not.

In between the wedding and reception we found an hour to meet my grandparents in Temecula at a little bbq place. Like I said, we literally had to squeeze in some family time. I wish we had more than an hour but I'm glad they were able to meet us! Dusty tried hiding their car about a mile and a half away from the reception place so that it wouldn't be attacked. However, we didn't give up and of course located the vehicle!

Congratulations to Dusty and Jen! Because we consider ourselves family to the Harkers I say, welcome to the family, Jen!

Relative Time

We were able to go down to Southern California for a long weekend to attend Dusty and Jen's wedding (Lane's best friend since 8th grade). A lot of my relatives live down there so we planned to squeeze as many as we could in before the wedding (and during). We got there Thursday afternoon and went to my sister's cute apartment in Aliso Viejo, then met up with Becky, Libby, and Aunt Kandy to go on a beautiful walk down by the Montage in Laguna. We brought the perfect weather with us! After our lovely walk, Kandy made us a delicious pulled-pork dinner and we finished the night in the hot tub and watching American Idol with Brad (Becky's hubby), Mike (Britt's man), and Uncle Terry.

We started off Friday morning with another beautiful walk with Kandy and Libby. Then we headed to Laguna Beach and staked it at Diver's Cove for a few hours. Britt met up with us and we got some lunch. Lane got fried, I got a little burnt, but we enjoyed the perfect weather. We were even entertained by some dolphins jumping around, and a huge whale! It was awesome. After the beach and watching Michael Scott's last episode of The Office, Lane and I headed to San Diego and met up with Erin and Russell. We went out to dinner at Chili's with Dusty and Jen and some others, then us four sat in the hot tub for a little. It was a very pleasant day. (Oh yes, and Lane cut himself a mullet and handle-bar mustache to scare the bride and groom...it worked).

Easter Weekend 2011

My family was able to come up to visit us in lil ol' Wenatchee. I literally paced around my house, and stared out the window, timing exactly when they would get here. When they did the weather was PERFECT. After the grand tour of our house, and some relax time we went to Cashmere to do some bowling and pizza at Brian's. My family seemed to enjoy the small town place that we basically had all to ourselves. Then we played some Just Dance2 on the Wii which was quite entertaining!

Saturday we had some more of the perfect weather. We grilled up some brats, hot dogs, and shrimp and had a nice lunch in the sun out on our deck. My mom took me shopping for some plants to add some color to the front of our house. She bought me these beauties:

After lunch and lounging we headed to Leavenworth to walk around. Lane got a speeding ticket on the way there...he never speeds so that sucked. He just forgot to click off of cruise control when the speed limit changed. Leavenworth wasn't too exciting but we got some yummy fudge! Then we decided to eat some more food at Cashmere's Country Boys (the most delicious bbq ever)! We dyed some eggs with some jokes and giggles like usual, then we danced off some calories again with some more wii and ended the night with a movie.

Easter Sunday was a nice, pleasant day. We just relaxed in the morning, ate some cinnamon rolls, found our baskets, and then went to church. We hosted dinner at our house just like Christmas so we had about 30 people in our home for a scrumptious ham dinner. I dreaded my family leaving so I tried to push the night as long as it could go, but of course it had to come to an end. I am so happy they all were able to come though! I had such a great weekend, hopefully it was worth all the travelling for them!

Tobie missed Trevor so much! He was beyond thrilled that he was coming. He had been talking about it for months and he spent every second he could with Trevor while he was here. He didn't understand that Trevor wasn't staying to live with us again until the night before when he had to go home. He bawled his eyes out. It was so sad to watch but so cute to watch them together. Hopefully he'll get to see him again sometime soon!