What you do when you have nothing to do.

Since the hubs has been gone, I have had lots of time to sit and reflect on life.

As well as get a few projects out of the way.  

Namely one, but I'll start with the Journal Jar first.

Have you ever heard of a journal jar?

I had one once when I was in Young Womens. 

I didn't do a lot with it, and don't know what ever happened to it.  

But at this journaling class, we got a Journal Jar:

This is mine.  Inside are tiny slips of paper with suggestions of things to write about in your journal.

What a genius idea for someone like me, that has nothing interesting to write about?

Well, with a cute Journal Jar, i needed a cute journal, right?

So, about this next project.

My dad is an EXCELLENT woodsman (?)

Not sure if that is even a word...

He has a knack for finding things around the house (made of wood)

that are starting to get old and rickety, or that we just don't need anymore

and turns it into something awesome.

A few years ago, he made me this headboard out of some old BUNKBEDS we had:

Seriously people, that headboard used to be a bunkbed.
Like i said, amazing.
It's white and made of pine.

Pine tends to yellow a little, so I wanted to paint it.

At first I had all sorts of visions of what color i wanted, designs, etc.

And then I kept putting it off and putting it off because

1. I'm busy

2. I can't lift that by myself

3. I'm cheap.

So what happened, is: One day I decided I was going to do it.

I went to Wal-Mart and got some paint.

Then I asked the Beardsley's if they would help me move it.

Ta-Da!

Ignore that little sploch up there, that's where I tested my paint.

And so, I set to work.  It was about a 3 week process

where i didn't buy the right kind of paint, so it required lots of 

coats and drying, plus I was studying for 2 big tests and working full time.

I love it already.  It makes the room so much warmer and gives it more color.  Also makes it not look so big.

And here is something silly that I did:

Did you know that you can get these wallplates at Wal-Mart for $0.37? each?

I got this brown one thinking it would go along with the new headboard, but it 

just looks kind of ridiculous.  So I will be getting a new one that

matches the color of the switch unless i can think of something creative.  

There was a Pinterest thing of painting/stenciling them to make them

unique.  I don't know if I'll have time to even think about doing that.

 Well, that is all for my projects as of late.

A Bit on Journals and Sunday Thoughts

So lately, I've had this feeling to start journaling.

You know, so your posterity can read it and be amazed at the life you lived.

HA.

The reason I haven't started a journal is because this is all it would say:

"October 19, 2012...

Today I got up and went to work at 8.  Then I went to school after work.

Then I went home to do homework and eat dinner.

Then I went to bed.  The end."

[REPEAT]

I've told Brennen that there is no one on the face of the planet that would ever want to read a years worth of that stuff.

Then I went to a 'Super Saturday' with my mom.  Together we took a class on journaling.

And you know what? It actually got me excited to write.

It gave me a few ideas of what to do, 

but first here 10 tips of how to keep a record of yourself:

1. Find what type of journal medium is right for you.

Do pen and paper work best for me? or do I type faster than I write?

Do I enjoy writer's cramp?

2. Decide what kind of journal you'd like to keep.

There are lots of different kinds of journals.  I know when I was 8, my grandma gave me a thankful journal.

3. Find the perfect place (or places) for writing

Where am I going to write that's comfortable and conducive to the thought process?  Where will I keep my journal so that I REMEMBER to write?

4. Find a time that's right for you

For me, this is the easiest.  At night.  Because i'm most coherent then.

5. Relax 

Because journaling isn't supposed to be stressful.

6.Find sources of inspiration

For me, this is music.  I find that the Mormon Tabernacle Choir station on Pandora is great and I listen to it when I'm doing homework or anything that requires my full attention.

7.Use your journal to work through the hard stuff

This I love because I always put my thoughts together better on paper (or computer) than i do in speaking.  It allows me to completely express my feelings

8. Fill your journal with whatever you like (don't forget the spiritual)

I heard today that there is an apostle, i forget which, that keeps a seperate journal for all his spiritual experiences and it's just for him to reflect on.

9. Reflect over what you've written now and then

Speaking of which, what a great way to track progress and growth.

10. Keep your journal safe.

Keep it in a safe place, out of places where it might be ruined.

More later on my Journal Jar.  

And now for my Sunday Thoughts

1. Obey the Word of Wisdom, and great blessings will come.

2. "If this law [the Word of Wisdom], that is adapted to the capacity of the weakest of us, is obeyed, it will be a foundation upon which may be added many great blessings that our Father will be pleased to bestow, that otherwise we would not be entitled to and could not receive   How can any of us feel justified in ignoring a simple law of God that He, by His own voice, has said any of us can obey?  Can we expect to be able to keep a higher law, and be able to attain great exaltation, if we fail to keep this simple requirement?" (Teaching of the Presidents of the Church: George Albert Smith, pg 208)

3. What things in my life do I need to give up to become as a little child and grow closer to Christ?

4. Something that I remembered our Elder's Quorum President said in a talk before he and his family moved out of our ward that really struck me: When the Savior was in the Garden of Gethsemane, he was praying to the Father.  His disciples were outside the garden--the Savior had asked them to tarry there.  He returned to his disciples who had fallen asleep--twice.  He asked them if they could not stay with him but one hour.  The Savior was doing the single most important act known to mankind, and the could not even stay awake for him?  The sacrament is a similitude of the atonement.  Can WE not tarry one hour?

Halves

I would like to blog about two significant halves.  Normally, two halves would make a whole.  

But. I'm blogging about one half of two separate things. 

Half No. 1: Today is October 14th, which means that Brennen is HALF way through his internship.

Hallelujah.

Have you ever had those months that drag by so slowly, yet fly by so quickly?

That has been my plight since September 2.
Thanks to my incredible friends the Beardsley's for letting me use their
Internet so that I can Skype him.

Ok, this isn't a real-time skype picture.  I actually took it when I was in
Iowa and he was in Pennsylvania.
and there wasn't very good internet so it was all choppy.
But still.  Thanks to my awesome friends.

Half No. 2:
Tuesday, October 16th marks my half-iversary.  Which means
Brennen and I have been married for 5 half years.
In real terms, that 2.5 years.
At least, that's what a pessimist would say.
An optimist would say
"We have eternity left."
With that in mind, I dedicate this next picture to my husband of 2.5 years:

He can have the other half in April.

5 Things that I think are Awesome

1. Super Long Nibs

Super super delicious

2. One sweep eyeshadow

Hello, genius.

3. Halloween Egg Nog

Again, super delicious.

4. Deseret Industries

I love thrift shopping.

5. This Boy

He is my hero.

Shopping

I love shopping.

But nothing compares to shopping for a 

NEW APARTMENT

that is

NOT IN REXBURG!!

Why am I apartment shopping you ask?

Because my

AMAZING

TALENTED

HARD-WORKING and

ATTRACTIVE

husband has officially been accepted to his

THIRD 

P.A. School.

And we will be moving 

NEXT YEAR!!

YIPPEEEE!

:)

The best week, and the worst day.

When we came back from our little vacay,

let me tell you.

It was GOOD to be back in Idaho.

Monday I actually LOOKED FORWARD to

going to work.

Tuesday too.  That's about all I remember from those two days.

We worked on our new car a little...

Where Brennen proceeded to dump tranny fluid all over himself.

Whoops.

Wednesday and Thursday were my days off.

And boy, did i savor those days.

Wednesday we went to see M.I.B 3

Kind of weird, but really funny. 

Plus it was free popcorn Wednesday.

SCORE.  

I heart popcorn.

Plus I sneaked in a water bottle and some 

frosted animal crackers.  You know, 

the ones they give you in nursery?

They aren't as good as I remembered them.

but they were a good contrast to the salty popcorn.

Thursday, we took Brennen's dad's

NEW BOAT 

out on the reservoir.

Holy Smokes.  Fun. 

  

So much better than the dinky tin boat we usually take.

For one thing, it doesn't feel like its going to

completely capsize when wakes from the bigger boats come along.

Let me give you a little advice about this next picture:

DO NOT wear florescent pink when 

fishing in the great, great outdoors.

My experience began with a BEE

flying down my shirt, followed by

a spider on my shoulder.  Seriously,

never doing that again.

 It was a great day to spend with my hubby.

The weather could NOT have been more perfect.

The fishing wasn't spectacular by any means, 

but it was good, quality, fun time we got to spend together.

Fast forward through Friday and Saturday

which were not that great.  I worked a lot

and Brennen worked a lot too.

We went out to dinner Saturday night

and just cuddled on the bean bag

till we couldn't keep our eyes open any more.

After a terrible night's sleep,

reality hit.  Today Brennen leaves for his

3 MONTH INTERNSHIP.

I thought I would be ready for it,

but can anyone ever really be ready to send their 

spouse,

best friend, 

and love off for so long?

I was just so GRATEFUL that he wasn't

leaving for active duty in the military or something like that.

This morning (and all of last night, actually)

was spent packing, cuddling, and talking

between bouts of tears (on my end).

Day 1 down, right?  

I don't even know what to do without him.

I just pray that time will go by quickly.

I ordered one of these babies (no pun intended)

for some light reading in the meantime:

and thought i might as well grab one of these, too.

Looks like i need to get me some yoga pants.

Just so you all know, we're not (pregnant).

But someday we might be (pregnant).

And when we are (pregnant), we're going to be prepared.

Or so we think.

Ha.

Before he left, Brennen gave me a

Priesthood Blessing.

Nothing in the world can bring peace and comfort

like a Priesthood Blessing from your husband.

It was the first time I had ever received a blessing from him.

And it gave me a little bit of hope to hang on to.

Saying goodbye is THE hardest thing I have ever had to do.

I just cried, and cried, and cried.

But. 

I don't want you to read this post and feel bad for me.

I want you to know that

through the pain

and tears

and trials

I HAVE BEEN SO BLESSED.

I have been blessed with family and friends who can help me through any trial.

I have been blessed with a great job and co-workers and management.

I have been blessed with a testimony of the Gospel.

I have been blessed with a personal relationship with my Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I have been blessed with enough financial stability that I can afford to pay for Brennen's internship in full.

I have been blessed to live (literally) down the road from a temple.

I have been blessed to be able to use my income for things other than furniture, vehicles, and expensive rent.

I have been blessed to have family so close by, I can visit whenever I need to.

I have been blessed with a husband who can and is willing to give me priesthood blessings.

I guess the moral of the story is this:

When life gives you lemons,

make lemon bars (because lemonade isn't my fave).

And while you're in a baking mood, make some

brownies,

snickerdoodles,

chocolate chip cookies,

pumpkin cookies,

Chili's Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie, etc.

you get the picture.

Take a bad moment, day, week, month, or year,

and turn it into something that will bring you closer to

Heavenly Father,

The Savior,

and the Spirit.

This life is a short one. make every moment count.

Fun in the sun has its price.

Guess what everyone! I made it to Vegas!

WHOOP

And I made it to California!

Double WHOOP!

So, for the last two days, Brennen and I, and Brennen's fam

have been at

DISNEYLAND.

That's right. I remembered to bring my camera.

Prepare yourselves.

First of all, how presh is this picutre?

It makes me excited to have babies :)

California Adventure goes on forever!

First row of the TOWER OF TERROR

Disneyland isn't good enough for little Janers.

Have you ever wondered what the inside of Space Mountain looks like?

One of the cars started malfunctioning, so they turned on all the lights.

It's pretty intense.

I knew they were going to take my picture, so I smiled.

Haha.

I love Lucy's face on Splash Mountain.

This was at Thunder Mountain.

(There are too many mountains.)

This was the Jedi Training show that Jack wanted to see SO bad!

It was actually pretty good!

And last, but not least:

My souvenir from this trip: 

A wicked awesome SUNBURN.

I didn't think i'd burn.

HA.

I should have known better.

Luckily I chose to wear my new one-piece swimsuit.

Or else i would be in my own personal heck.

Brennen keeps telling me that if i get another sunburn

i'm going to get skin cancer.

I just shrug it off and say

"I'm not going to get skin cancer.  If i was going to get skin cancer,

i would have gotten it a long time ago."

eh.....i'm a little worried now.

This is probably one of the WORST

sunburns I have EVER had. :(

it's going to be a rough night.