R U N dare?

Yup! I'm still alive! I've been living without internet...and it's cramping my style. I'm getting all situated in my house. I'm LOVING it, by the way! I'll be getting internet sometime soon and then I can be more of a regular blogger!

Signing My Life Away

As many of you know, I recently bought a house! It's such an awesome feeling to own your own home. A life long dream has finally been realized. i signed my life away last week. Ecrow will be closing tomorrow which means I'll finally be getting the keys...a momentous occasion! I seriously can't wait. I've learned a lot along the way. It's been so fun house hunting, but I ended up with the perfect house for me. It's got 3 bedrooms and 2 baths...just the right size. It's got a small little back yard...the key thing is that it will be low maintance...right now it's just dirt and weeds, but that'll change. I'm excited to try my non-existent greenthumb skills. There's even a community pool and a walking trail right behind the house. It's all around just right! I love it! Another major plus is that I'll be right around the corner from my oh so great cousin Angie and her fam. Wahoo!

I can't wait to decorate and get all moved in. Let's be honest...it'll be pretty bare for a bit, but...little by little things will get together. My couches will be arriving later this week. They're adorable, black leather with white stitching. I have my eye on a cute black, high/pub kitchen table.

I'd love to show ya around....

Humble abode

Rachel & Brandon

Corte de Pelo

Hooray for a hair cut!

I was definitely in dire (I love that word) need of a haircut and it finally came to pass! Hallelujah! Remind me again why I didn't do this weeks ago? Hello, healthy, luscious locks! Goodbye DAILY up dos/messsy buns (used to avoid/hide the "nastiness!").

One of the best parts of going to the salon is the shampooing. I LOVE having a professional do this almost dreaded, daily chore! :) Besides it just feels so stinking good to get a head massage. Mmm! That, right there, is worth EVERY penny! $$$ The cute just left the salon hairdo is just an added bonus!

Every time I get my haircut I am reminded of a time when I had a friend who had just gotten her haircut and was modeling her new do to her boyfriend. He told her, "I thought beauty salons were supposed to make you beautiful." Ouch! She forgave him (and even married him), but the rest of us never let him live it down.

I even learned a new blow drying technique. So cute! I definitely need to practice, but...

I have a renewed commitment to myself that I will not wait nearly has long as last time to get my next haircut.

If I ever get my act together I'll take a pic and upload it for your viewing pleasure.

Welcome, Welcome Sabbath

Just a few reasons why I LOVE Sundays...
-not setting an alarm
-reading the scriptures
-perusing the Sunday ads
-shaving :)
-going to church
-Sacrament
-testimonies
-lessons
-resolves to be and do better
-Spirit
-friends/family
-listening to Church music
-family dinners
-Linger Longer
-Firesides
-resting/chilling
-beautiful weather (it always seems that Sundays are the prettiest days of the week)

T.H.E. Mission

Howdy, all y'all!

Serving a mission was the best thing that I've ever done. A while back I made a list of SEVERAL of my favorite memories from serving in T.H.E. (Texas Houston East) Mission...there's more than one hundred...and it's just a start! Here it's goes...

companions
tracting
zone conferences
district meetings
letters from home
Book of Mormon
morning studies
beans and rice
Humble (pronounced without the "H")
members
investigators
Pasadena
South Houston
Preparation Days
President Sutherland
letters to the pres
journal
cockroaches
humidity
salsa ("salsita")
prayer
service
fire ants (ouch)
mosquitoes
pass-along cards
fire ants
floods
flooded out car
tres leches cake
cottage cheese
new insights
churches (of every religion) on every corner
Bible Belt
truths
skirts
April Fool's
Redd Day (all the elders wore red ties the day that I went home)
knee highs
Cici's Pizza
thunder storms
bikes
helmets (the hot, humidity, bikes, helmet, knee high combination isn't something you'd want to imagine...let alone see...We sure looked great! Let me tell ya! Other people thought so, too!)
carports
fake flowers in yards
Spanish
appointments
pecans
patience
diligence
suitcases
love bugs (I'm talking about the actual bugs)
inactives
converts
Sister "Redo"
"Hermana Redd"
"Hermana Colorada"
chaparrita
"Sister Polly Pocket" (courtesy of Sister Perry)
teaching
April 17, 2004 (the day I returned home...yup it's been almost 4 years)
November 5, 2002 (the day I got to Texas)
September 4, 2002 (the day I entered the M.T.C "empty sea")
tortas
homemade tortillas
bolillos
dogs
name tags/placas
golden investigators
Familia Gonzalez
Gina
Eric
"great and spacious" apartments
"Wake up and Smell the Gospel" (One Saturday morning we were tracting and no one was answering I think they were all still sleeping and didn't want to be bothered. I just wanted to yell out that our message was worth waking up for and listening to. And so much better than a cup of coffee!)
work
trainers
training
"all y'all"
"just fixin' to" translation "just about to"
H.E.B. (it's a grocery store)
Blue Bell ice cream (Texas is known for its oh so yummy/exclusive ice cream.)
refineries (I'm not talking about the refiner's fire...although that's true, too)
Navidad en El Barrio
Nativity Exhibit in Kingwood
Sisters' Day
Familia Perez
Familia Quintanilla
Familia Hernandez
Familia Felan
Christmas
Living Christmas cards
La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias
flautas
horchata
crab soup
pica, pica
library
teaching English
Carolyn and Hearthstone
discussions/charlas
testimony
spirit
blitzes
armadillo
snake
falling in a manhole
Rosa
Enma
excema (still plaguing me today. Argh!)
transfers (or lack thereof...I only had 2 areas...my companions came and went...)
dinner mishaps
Schurdells
door slams
"Somos representantes"
HOT
ice cream vendors
20 months
"You pie"
temple
baptisms
2815 W Lake Houston
"fat, little heart" (Hermana George)
hand over heart (sign of deep emotion), courtesy of Sister Perry
"breathe" (with the hand high above the head and then brought down to the heart), courtesy of Hermana Jensen
"Smile for life is ever so beautiful" (Hermana Butler)

It's amazing to me how much T.H.E mission impacted my life! I can't even begin to describe all the ways that I learned and all the things I experienced. It's still affecting me today. I still love those people so much. I recently had a dream where I saw several families and companions from the mission at an Angels baseball game. Random, I know, but I woke up so happy...and then so sad that it didn't really happen. I learned so much about myself, the gospel, and about others. I wouldn't trade it for anything. I hope and pray that my service was acceptable to the Lord and I continue to strive to do what he would have me do.