The Eve of Christmas Eve!!

Well here it is, Christmas is here! I am loving every second of it. I have been listening to Christmas music since the day after Halloween, and no, I am not sick of it yet!! Haha this is my favorite time of year. It has been snowing like we live in Montana and I just can't get enough of it! I asked for a white Christmas and we sure are getting one!

I am also exhilarated that I completed all my finals at UCMT with 4 A's and 1 B!! It was hard work, but I really am loving it. I have Advanced Massage, Anatomy/Physiology II, Acupressure and Professional Development II to look forward to in January. But I am thrilled that I get a break from school and work! Starting tomorrow afternoon, I will not have school or work to go to until January 2nd, and I will still be paid! I am going to enjoy that and get caught up on things I haven't had time for, like sleep, playing my violin, reading, watching some Christmas movies, cooking, cleaning, and just being with my amazing hubby. Yes this will be a fabulous break.

I am going to post pictures of our very real and very beautiful Christmas tree and decor. We are very proud of it!! I love you all, and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!!

Just wanted to tell everyone that I wish them a very Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow! Remember what you are thankful for, and thank your Heavenly Father! We live in hard times, and we need to cling to those we love and to what truly matters. I am thankful for my husband. He is the most amazing man and the biggest blessing in my life. I thank my Father every day that he loves me and I love him eternally. I am thankful for my family. I love my mom and dad with all my heart. I honestly couldn't ask for better parents. My siblings, Jorden, Landon and Kylie are my darlings. I love being their big sister, and I only hope that I have and will always be there for them and be a good example. I love my whole extended family, including my in-laws, and am grateful that we are all close. Scott and I pray for them on a regular basis. I am thankful for my job, and the wonderful people that I work with. I truly am blessed to have the managers I do. They are more friend than boss. I am grateful for my husband's support in my decision to attend UCMT and persue my dreams. I love massage school so far, and am succeeding more than I thought I ever could, and I know that is because my Heavenly Father is guiding me and supporting me when my 16 hour days are just too much. My brain is retaining information better than it ever has in my life, and it really is a miracle. I know I am not doing this alone. I am grateful for my friends. I have a few very, very close friends, whom I treasure deeply (You know who you are). I am thankful beyond words, for my never-ending and true testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know I am a daughter of God, and therefore, I can get through anything. I would be nothing without that knowledge. I am grateful for the small things in life. The beautiful leaves that crunch under my feet, the snow-caped mountains that are laced with clouds, babies that are so adorable I just can't help but smile because they just shine with God's perfect love. There are so many things I am thankful and grateful for. But these are my thoughts today. I love you all!!

Twilight not so spectacular

Twilight was not as cool as I wanted it to be. There were several scenes that were completely changed, and the acting was not exceptional. It was fun to watch, but you can tell that they only took 4 months to film, and had a low budget. (Edwards sparkling skin just made me laugh). But it was ok. It really did no justice for the book. If anyone watches the movie first, please do not think that the book is that cheesy, because I promise you, its not.

TWILIGHT!!!!

It is finally here!!! Words cannot describe how flipping excited I am! I have been waiting for this day for a very long time. HAHAHHAHAH Yay! Jo is having a birthday party/twilight party. It should be amazing!! I will comment on what i thought of the movie tomorrow:)

New Goal...

Last night in my Professional Development class, we learned so much about the power of positive thinking. If any of you have not seen The Secret, look it up. It will change your life, and the way you view the world and how you have the power to control your happiness. This is a picture of me when I was 19 at the St. George temple with my roommates when we were going to Dixie State. I want to look like this again, and I believe I can. I am going to recite this everyday:

"I am happy and grateful now that I am slim, trim, and beautiful and weigh 125 pounds. It is so. Thank you."

I know that if you focus on something, the universe will help it happen. I know that thinking as if I weigh 125, and love the way I look, will help me achieve it. Thinking "I hate being fat, I am fat" will only keep me fat. I have to think positively, and love myself, and my subconcious will help me make the right decisions in order to live a healthier lifestyle.

Halloween!!!

Happy Halloween to everyone!! I am dressed up as Cleopatra, and am loving it!! Thanks Jo!! I hope everyone has a great Halloween and has a lot of fun!! And Happy Birthday Geoff!!

Anatomy here I come!!

I conquered my first Anatomy quiz and assignment!! I received a 100%!! I am so so happy, I attribute my success to studying hard, being quizzed by Amanda Engebretsen, and a little prayer I said right before taking the quiz. I prayed that my mind would be opened up with the knowledge that I already have and that I would remember. I have never taken a test that hard so fast, and I felt completely confident!! This is just a small testimony to me that with the Lord's help nothing will be impossible to me. I know that this is where i am supposed be. I know it with every fiber of my being. I am so excited to be apart of this journey I have started. I am grateful for my husband who supports me 110%. I am grateful for my friend's support. I will return the favor with a massage someday!! I promise!

The adventure called Massage School

So I started my first week of Massage school at The Utah College of Massage Therapy on Tuesday this week with much excitement, anticipation and a little anxiety. But to my relief, I have loved every minute so far, and the instructors I have met so far are awesome! My classes this semester are Professional Development, Massage Basics, Anatomy and Physiology, First Aid/CPR, and Reflexology. Massage Basics is very hands on, which is great because I learn faster that way. Last night we practiced "Draping", and if any of you are wondering, we all had to "disrobe" under our sheet while laying on our massage table, which is called "tenting", and practice how to properly drape our clients so nothing private is exposed. This was a very new experience I believe for all of us, and there were many giggles throughout the room, since most of the students are girls. Here it is, the 3rd day of school, and we were forced to step out of our comfort zone and get serious. It was awesome!!! I did better than I thought, and apparently am more comfortable with my body than I thought I would be.

We learned a new concept called "Beingness", which is to completely "be" in a moment. To give your undivided attention to another person and completely focus on just them, and nothing else. How often do we have time to give someone that? With all the distractions and chaos that this life produces, we rarely have time to just "be". How often do we look at our child or a friend and just say, "Tell me everything about your day. You are the most important thing to me right now, and I have nowhere else to be, and I truely care, and will listen completely until you are done". Has anyone ever experienced "Beingness"? I know I have, on a few occassions, and those moments are treasured most in my memory. We learned about beingness in our class, because when you give a massage, you need to be at one with your client. You have nowhere else to be. You have a full hour to give, and you must give it your all. Ask questions like, "What does this person need from me?" What can I give to them that will make them feel better than when they first came to see me?" Giving a massage is ideally to be a moment of selflessness. Your complete at utter attention needs to be on them, and what they need from you. What a cool thing I get to do for people? I have the power to aid in healing someone! I only hope that I will be able to master Beingness, and I plan to practice this more in my everyday life.

Tonight I have Anatomy/Phisiology, and am slightly nervous at memorizing every muscle and every bone, but I'm sure I will find the fun in it. If any of you took Anatomy in college and think you can help me find ways to memorize maybe a little easier, let me know.

Wish me good luck!

Finally starting to feel like October!

I am so happy for this storm to come in this weekend and get rid of the summer! Haha it is so funny, I used to be in love with summer, but lately I have changed my mind. I am happy for fall. I love the trees changing colors and the cool, crisp weather. I love the rain. I honestly love it now! Instead of wanting to move back to St.George, I want to move to Oregon! Scott and I loved our honeymoon there, and it is so green and gorgeous. But would I love it for long? I wonder if I would get sick of it and long for summer again. I guess that is why Northern Utah is so great; you experience every season, and appreciate when it changes. So we may end up staying here forever. We will see:)

So, is it weird that I put on Christmas music today? With the change of the weather, it has gotten me so excited for the holidays! Not only that, but a magazine came in the mail today at work that displayed Christmas decor and I immediately found myself excited and hearing, "Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat..." I am just so excited for the holidays; Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years. I love this time of year! I know my dad would be appauled that I was already listening to Christmas music, but I don't care. It makes me happy. How can you be sad when listening to Christmas music?

School is starting soon, and i am finding myself both excited and apprehensive. I cannot wait to start my Massage Therapy career, but it will be a tough year getting to it. Monday-Thursday 7-10:30 pm every week, and working full-time on top of that during the day. I know I can do it, but I think I have mono again, which is really annoying. But I know God will take care of me.

Those are my thoughts for today.

No longer newlyweds, or are we?

So, it has been a year since we said "I do", or rather "yes", unless you are Scott, who combined them both into "Yes I do." What an amazing year. I am surprised at how easy, how hard, how stressful, how exciting, and how educational this past year has been. I am happy to say that we made it through with no permanent scars. I have a deeper appreciation of all those who endeavor to be married. I understand my parents a little more everyday, and I am grateful for them more now then I ever have been. I am sure that gratitude will only increase with time, and especially when we add a little one to the equation. Although I was anxious to have a baby almost a month after we were married, (which I honestly didn't think would happen. Amy, Ashley; you were right!) I am glad Scott had enough patience and firmness to say no to me when he knew it wasn't the right time for us. I say this, because I have been able to learn and grow and mold with Scott. Becoming not just Latissa, but Latissa and Scott. I never knew that the challenge of molding two lives together would be so natural, yet so complex. I love Scott so much deeper and stronger than I did a year ago, when I never thought possible. I appreciate him more. Knowing his faults and weaknesses has strengthened my ability to be more patient and loving, and I am sure he has learned from mine. He is my friend, my confidant, my safe-haven, my literal other half, as if he was made for me. I know that may sound cliche, but it is the truth. I am always telling him that I swear God created him for me; from his unwavering patience with me, to his tolerance when I attack him with a million kisses, to his perfect shoulder that feels so good to lay on, to his beautiful face that absolutely takes my breath away. Building this foundation of Latissa and Scott has come with desire, love, pain, tempers, and our Heavenly Father who has constantly guided me back to him, and has helped us learn to love like he does, even on the smallest level. I know that I could not have come this far without a temple marriage. Knowing that I am sealed forever to this man that I love is the most incredible and inspiring thing that has ever occurred in my life. I know that I need the Lord as a constant guidance in my marriage, and am humbled that I have it.

In the mix and jumble of molding Latissa and Scott together, I fell into the inherited pattern of forgetting about who Latissa is. My mother, who is the most selfless woman I know, is perfect at forgetting about herself, and has taught me it is not a good thing. You need to love yourself, and be the best version of yourself, before you can love others. I hit a point where I needed to refocus, and came up with several things that I am now doing and looking forward to. First off, marriage has put some unwanted pounds on my frame, and I have recently set some goals and am working out at Gold's Gym four days a week with my dear friend Joanna, and so far I am feeling quite accomplished and sore. I am also taking voice lessons again from my wonderful and very talented Grandma West, who could charge me plenty but is doing it for free every Monday. I am happy to sing again. I love music, and have always been in choir, but I hope to perfect my voice someday. I want to write more, and that is one reason I wanted to start this Blog. I used to write poetry all the time in high school easily, but lately I have felt as if there is a wall that I can't get past, and I fail at coming up with anything good as of late. But I will post my favorites on here, and maybe inspiration will come. Last, but most life-altering, would be my decision to go to the Utah College of Massage Therapy next month; taking classes part-time for a year. I will also be working full-time during the day. A month ago I thought this would be impossible to accomplish. I know me; I do not handle stress well. But with a blessing and a prayer, I have found that nothing is impossible for me if I have the Lord on my side. I know he will make me strong enough to accomplish this, and I know this is what I want. I am very at peace with it. I have always wanted to help people, and this will be a perfect way to help even in a small way my family members, especially my mom and mother-in-law. Needless to say, I am excited to start!

Scott is working right now, and hopefully starting an apprenticeship that we will give more details of if everything works out. I will get him to write on here one way or another:) Thanks for reading.