Red Neck Weekend

Pablo, me, and Anne getting our red neck on

Monster Trucks

The RV Demolition Derby
Here's the aftermath.
It was hilarious to watch all the debris
including the mattresses and sinks go flying

The whole group

Happy Weekend

Rach, Mom, and me

Mom came to town for the weekend a few weeks ago.
As always, it was super fun to have her in town.

We enjoyed spending time at Cousin Ryan and Nichole's Wedding.

 

Congrats to the new Mr. and Mrs.!

Word of the Day

I've gone my whole life thinking REDD was just a name.
Maybe with origins from a man who had red hair.
Maybe red with a stutter.
Maybe red with emphasis.
Maybe someone with a stutter who is very emphatic. 
I didn't really know.

Then one day recently my friend enlightened me with the true meaning of REDD.
I didn't believe him until I looked it up on Dictionary.com and sure enough it read: 


REDD:
noun the spawning area or nest of trout or salmon


Seriously?!
I had NO idea! 

How does REDD go from being a just a name to meaning that, of all things?

Oddly enough, it also means:


REDD:
verb (used with object), redd or redd·ed, redd·ing.

to put in order; tidy: to redd a room for company.
to clear: to redd the way.

because knowing what it really means has made me feel like my life is completely out of order slash turned upside down, if you will. 

Em's Graduation

 

 

 

Beach Lovin'

The WHOLE crowd on Sunday

San Diego Temple

I sure love this kid

Doesn't get much better than this!

B's Graduation

Celebrating at B's Graduation

Me Llamo Hermana Redd

Excuse me while I get a little sentimental.

10 years ago TODAY my life forever changed

10 years ago today I entered the MTC!

10 years ago today I started sporting skirts/dresses, knee highs, clunky shoes...
and the oh, so famous missionary badge.

What an honor and privilege it was!

It's sure hard to believe how fast time flies!
10 years ago Steve and Dad dropped me off

I experienced so many emotions...
It was so hard to say bye and yet
I was SO excited to dedicate
a year and a half to the Lord
{and the people of Houston Texas}

10 years ago I met these lovely ladies...
my companions

10 years ago today I learned how to pray in highly limited Spanish.

10 years ago today I knew I was in for a ride
and that I'd learn a lot, but
I had no idea HOW much I'd learn and
how much I'd absolutely cherish
those days as a missionary for the rest of my life!

I {heart} Nana

I recently visited Nana's house and was excited to see that she still has a pillow that I cross stitched for her when I was a little girl.

Proud to be an American

Yesterday I got recorded call from the wife of a local political candidate inviting me to attend a political rally with her husband and Sarah Palin.

 Lucky for me the rally at a grill just around the corner from my house.

Sarah Palin and Kirk Adams were serving BBQ.

The BBQ and the sign

Up close and personal
Sarah endorsed the local candidate Kirk Adams

Me, Anne, and Sarah Palin
She was super gracious.

Attending the rally made me extra proud to be an American.

Last Year's Haboob



Gilbert/Mesa, AZ
I found this picture just the other day of last year's haboob
that I took while I was stopped at a stop light.
It was one of the craziest things I have ever seen.
You could see the BIG, THICK wave of dust come roll through.
I was lucky I got to my destinatation before it got right overhead. 



Cousin Visit

Cousin Dana and Aunt Jill came to visit.
We had a great time visiting and hanging out.

Visit with Mickey and Friends



I recently went on a weekend trip to the Magin kingdom with some friends.
Here's the group.

Me with one of my favorite Disney characters

Not the best pic, but this is Travis with Robin Lopez (from the Phoenix Suns)
in the background.
He's freakishly tall. I think I reached his elbow.

My Daddy-O

 

I have the bestest dad in the world.
No joke!

Anyone that knows my dad knows that he
has what we refer to
memory distortation
{that's why we call him JEFF R., M.D.}
and that he has an addiction to
Post-It Sticky Notes!

He uses 'em

a. remind himself to do
any number of things
or
b. write quotes from talks/meetings that he attends.

The best part for me is getting in his car and seeing all the Post-It notes
all over the dashboard!
The more there are...
the more hectic his life is.

This Father's Day I thought instead of sending him the
oh so typical Father's Day card that I'd compile
a random of assortment of memories of my dad.
Luckily, Rach went home that weekend and was able to post 'em on his door for me!

Puerto Rico Extravaganza

My roomie recently completed her Master's degree and wanted to celebrate...
in Puerto Rico.
Here's just few pics of our adventures. I'll post more later.
A dish called Jibarito...fried plantain with pulled pork and cheese along with a side of rice.
(Plantains are a pretty typical food)

We ordered fresh red snapper for dinner...
and a whole fish came!
It was pretty tasty!

View from our hotel deck...absolutely beautiful

In the San Cristobal castle's dungeon

View at San Cristobal

Tower at the castle

Last Day of 30

Today's my last day being 30!

Suns