GIFS

Lately I have been enjoying these internet gifs.  I don't know why they are called gifs, but they are very enjoyable.. Here are a few of my favorites!

The music of life...

The past few days I have had some "black keys" in the song that is life.  I am so glad for a wonderful loving husband who is there 100% to help me make it through those days.  

Yesterday was particularly rough.  I'll spare you the details... suffice it to say I was received some very sad news and it was very hard for me.  

Mike was very supportive and loving.  We worked on this craft project and watched movies together.  

We got these glasses as a gift from my mom-in-law, and they worked perfectly for our sports logos to be etched on.  

I am grateful for a loving husband.  I am grateful for the tender mercies of the Lord.  And I am glad that through hard times, I know He can be there to carry me through when I can't do it on my own.  

It's Here!

Today I got a pleasant phone call from my husband asking me to come downstairs and help him carry in a surprise.... 

my Christmas present is finally here! 

I can't wait to relax in style on our lanai in this baby!

Merry Christmas to me!

{daughters of a King}

Some excellent food for thought on womanhood:

If every husband and every wife would constantly do whatever might be possible to ensure the comfort and happiness of his or her companion, there would be very little, if any, divorce.  Argument would never be heard. Accusations would never be leveled.  Angry explosions would not occur.  Rather love and concern would replace abuse and meanness.

"I want to be happy

But I won't be happy

Till I make you happy, too"

-President Hinckley 

May I invite you to rise to the great potential within you.  But don't reach beyond your capacity.  Don't set goals beyond your capacity to achieve.  Don't feel guilty or dwell on thoughts of failure.  Don't compare yourself with others.  Do the best you can, and the Lord will provide the rest.  

-President Uchtdorf

I am amazed at the inspired words of our inspired leaders - In my marriage, I have found that when we are both working to put each other first, conflict rarely arises.  It is times when one of us (and both are guilty of this at times) is being selfish that idyllic flow of marriage seems to slow and we have to redouble our efforts... 

But then, as President Uchtdorf emphasizes, DO NOT DWELL ON THOUGHTS OF FAILURE!  Move forward, and do the best you can.  

It's humbling to know that many are seeking these answers, and we are blessed with the ability to find them- all we have to do is study the words of our prophets.  There is no great secret to life - it is living day by day, and realizing that today is a part of eternity.   

{the tide, FURT, tebowing and other bits of random}

2013 has started out well in the Reynolds household.  We are both staying busy and there is a lot going on ... Sometimes when I think about updating this blog I can't just choose one thing I want to focus on, because that's just how my brain works, so here are a few of the events going on here... 

1.  Of course the first event I talk about HAS to be the Alabama football game.  a.w.e.s.o.m.e.  For some situations, there are just no words, and this is one of them.  Loved, loved, loved every moment of that game.  I am thoroughly enjoying every moment of the Nick Saban era.  

2.  On the same note, a friendly wager may have been made on this singular national championship game with a co-worker.  This may or may not appeared on my desk on Tuesday morning, enclosed with a sizable sum because aforementioned co-worker wanted to bet $5 on the point difference.  Ouch.  

3.  We had a super fun game night with the Aubrey's and Wallaces.  I really need to work on getting my camera out sooner, but I was able to get a few fun shots.  Our favorite game just might be 'Furt'... a game which creates a bond with people that just can't be created any other way.

4. I purchased flight tickets home to Utah for a ten day trip for my best friend's wedding!!  I am so excited for her, and to get to be there and see her get sealed to Landon.  It has also been since June since I was last home (for four days) so this will be great to visit with family.  March 17 could not come quick enough.

5.  It's been pretty rainy lately.  But I love moments like this where the rain stops and the sun peeks through the clouds and this is what you catch a glimpse of.  Gorgeous.  

  

6.  Work is good.  Stressful but good!  A few days after my birthday the office had a meeting and everyone sang happy birthday and I got a lei, which made me feel very special and happy inside!  Even though the job is hard, I have the best co-workers a girl could dream of. 

7. I decided to do the Personal Progress program again along with the young women I am working with.  It's changed quite a bit since I have been in Young Women, so this will be a fun goal to work on.  I've got my work cut out for me if I'm going to accomplish this before I leave!   We'll see how it goes! 

8.  Speaking of the young women, we had a wonderful activity recently where we incorporated the value of 'faith' and had an obstacle course.  It was a blast, and Sarai shared with us a story about Tim Tebow standing up for his faith - which led to the obligatory tebowing moments.  I couldn't love my calling with the youth more.

Welp, I think that about covers it folks!  

Be happy! 

Hau`oli Lā Hānau to me!

That, ladies and gentlemen, is Hawaiian for HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 

Indeed my birthday was a happy one this year.  

I turned the illustrious age of 24!  I suppose I am on the cusp of starting to feel old and not wanting to count birthdays, but thus far I have not felt that way.  I have been more concerned with my "birthday wishes" being fulfilled :D  

They certainly were this year! 

I had to work during the day, but when I got off I had a nice surprise to look forward too!

Mike took me to my favorite steakhouse in Waikiki - Kobe Steak house!  

He gave me the earrings I am wearing in this picture and a sea turtle necklace (I really love sea turtles, so I was super excited)!

To top it off he made me this awesome jewelry holder...

Yep, I had a pretty great birthday if I do say so myself! 

A challenge for 2013

I haven't really thought of my resolutions this year, although I certainly need to. 

This morning, however, I did sit down and hammer out a list of books I want to study during 2013 that I feel would really help me progress and grow spiritually.  

Here is my 2013 reading challenge for myself - 

The Book of Mormon

Jesus the Christ ... James E. Talmage

Joseph Smith- Rough Stone Rolling ... Richard Lyman Bushman

Mere Christianity ... CS Lewis

Covenant Hearts ... Bruce C. Hafen 

Finding Peace, Happiness & Joy ... Richard G. Scott

The Inevitable Apostasy and the Promised Restoration ... Tad R. Callister

There you have it!  My list of reading for 2013.  I will post something on the blog as I finish each one - here's to hoping I can complete these all before 2014! 

2012 - A year in review

2012 was a pretty big year for us.  Before I move on to '13, I just wanted to remember some of the best moments of last year.

January:  Such a great month.  We started the month with this... 

The 14th national title for Bama made for a pretty happy husband.  Hopefully we start 2013 the same way! 

Then Pinedo Family came out for a trip in January also.  We went to the pro-bowl with them - so fun!

Maxwell had fun meeting all the pro-bowl cheerleaders

February was another fun month.  My best friend Emilie came out here for a fun trip for two weeks.  We did all sorts of fun things - including swimming with sharks! 

Julie, Erik & Grace also came out to visit in February.  

Poly Cultural Center

March brought Mike home from a mission in Cambodia just in time to celebrate his 30th birthday! 

We were lucky to have Marianne and Jim in town here to welcome Mike home also!

April was the best month of the year for us.  On April 28th we were sealed for time and all eternity in the Bountiful, Utah temple.  It was such a wonderful day and we had support from so many friends and family members... I will never forget it! 

May was back to the island for us!  We moved from our apartment in Waikiki to a much nicer place in Salt Lake/Aiea area.  It has been a lot nicer for Mike to not have to commute through all the traffic to get to base!

Our old place in Waikiki

Our new place in Salt Lake!  

May was spent with friends and enjoying island life!

June was an adventure filled month!  Mike was a groomsman for his buddies wedding in Iowa.  So we got to take a two week trip around the U.S. filled with friends, family, and awesome sightseeing! 

We started with the Vegas temple and Hoover Dam! 

We headed to the midwest for Sam & Rachel's wedding. 

We shot guns and went kayaking in the days before the wedding. 

We also got to spend a day in Nauvoo, Illinois.  My favorite part was seeing the Nauvoo Temple and Carthage Jail.  

We headed up to Minnesota and spent a day with one of my best friends, Morgan.  It was so fun to see her and catch up for a while!

Then it was off to Utah to visit family some more.  

We went to Arizona to see Mike's parents who happened to be there at the time.  On our way we stopped by the Grand Canyon 

We spent a relaxing few days in Prescott with Marianne and Jim.

Then it was back to Vegas to catch out flight home.  But not before stopping at the Stratosphere and riding all the rides! 

July slowed down a little.  I did cross off one major hike from my bucket list - conquered the 'Stairway to Heaven' hike! 

August brought more family out here!  Jana, Greg & the boys were able to make it out here for a fun filled Hawaii trip!  Sadly, Mike was only here for part of it since he had to go to the big island for some training for work (He hiked the Moana Loa volcano)!  We had a blast visiting with family! 

September brought more with it yet another fun visit with the in-laws!  They were busy cruising the world, and we were lucky they got to stop for a day in HAWAII!  So my sweet mom-in-law and I had a wonderful adventure going zip lining in Maui! 

Another fun thing September brought was the discovery of our deep love for shaved ice on the North Shore!  Mike and I like to take trips up their to savor the goodness whenever we can! 

And last, but certainly not least was the Moanalua Ward roadshow.  It was so fun to get to know all the awesome people in our ward, and Mike's part of the skit was probably one of the funniest thing I've ever seen. 

October was back to work for me!  I started working in scheduling for Ho'okele Care at Home.       We also started hanging out with the Garrett's and the Aubrey's a lot this month!  We are so lucky to have great friends out here! 

November was an eventful month.  Mike spent the month in Tarowa for work.  My parents came out to visit and we had a wonderful week together!  I was so happy they were able to come out here! 

December brought with it some new callings for Mike and I!  We had been teaching in the primary... we both got called to be in the Young Women/Young Men's presidencies respectively.  I am so excited about working with the youth!

Mike's buddy Sam also flew out here for a few weeks in December and we had some fun adventures having him here as well! 

Mike's parents caught us one more time in December as they cruised back through...  They came in on a day that Mike was involved with an arrival ceremony of some of the remains they had found in Tarowa.  It was a really touching experience to be a part of! 

"Year's end is neither an ending nor a beginning, but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us." -Hal Borland