DAY DOS

A PICTURE OF SOMEONE THAT I HAVE BEEN CLOSEST TO FOR THE LONGEST TIME

Facebook's 30 Days

As few of you know (because I'm guessing I don't have many readers haha), facebook has had a recent trend called "30 days". I thought it would be a good idea for a blog too. For the next 30 days (with a week break because I will be gone during spring break w/out internet access) I will post a picture that can help others get to know me better.

DAY UNO: POST A PICTURE OF YOURSELF WITH FIFTEEN FACTS ABOUT WHO YOU ARE

1. I lovelovelove kids. Did I mention that I love kids?
2. I miss my hair being as long as it is in this photo.
3. I am married to the funniest, handsomest, coolest, smartest, nerdiest man in the world.
4. I miss BYU, but I'm excited to go to TCU
5. I LOVE coach purses-like a ridiculous amount of love
6. I am majoring in Elementary Education
7. When I was little, I wanted to be a "plain old mom" just like my mom. And to this day, that's still what I want to be.
8. I get really, really, really bored on Sundays.
9. If I could eat mexican food for breakfast, lunch and dinner-I would.
10. I have a crack kitten. Seriously, he's crazy...crazy awesome!
11. I really love to sing my heart out when I'm alone
12. I am obsessed with pizzookies. Talk about the most delicious concoction of awesomeness in your mouth.
13. I am willing to try anything once. Even asparagus.
14. I love my family more that I can explain. Especially my mom, she is way cooler than your mom-trust me.
15. I love my life! :)

-Amber

milestone

Tonight marks a milestone in my short little marriage. Tonight is the first night I have been left alone, all night alone, and be alone while my husband is out of town. Bummed? Sorta. Totally capable? Of course. Whining? Not trying to.

But for the first time in a while, my mind has been racing about decisions I've made in the past, and how it's brought me to where I am today. Some decisions I regret, but who doesn't have life experiences they wish they could re-do? Fortunately for us, (although most people would think of this as unfortunate) a re-do button doesn't exist, and those mistakes are the refiner's fire. Some decisions, on the other hand, I am SO grateful and relieved that I made the right decision.

In a nut shell, my journey down memory lane led me to this: the little decisions we make every. single. day. are what determine where you'll be in a week, month, year, decade. Not too deep, right? Actually, not deep at all. Sometimes it takes a deep thought process to make a simple epiphany hit you to the core. At least, for this little girl it does.

About two years ago, I was in the worst situation I've been in thus far in my life. I made A LOT of decisions then. Some of those decisions were undoubtably the RIGHT choices. Others...well, I still hurt, and cry, and have nightmares, and try to shove them in a back corner of my mine that I try not to open. Other choices were very, very, WRONG.

The funny thing about choices, is that for the most part YOU have complete control. It is YOUR choice. MY choice. Trials don't work the same way. Some trials we bring upon ourselves due to our actions, but others cross our paths that no decision of ours could have changed. Isn't that the beauty of agency? It is completely our decision if we want to do better, and be better, and live with our Heavenly Father again. Choices are in our control. We can't control the decisions of others, but we are in control of ourselves, if we make the conscious effort to do so.

So, I guess my thought for the day, evening, night, whatever time of day it is (who knows!) is that whatever trials do come our way, our choices are what will determine how that trial will mold us, and where it will put us in the future. We may not have control of losing a job, family member, or heck the weather, but we do have control over how that will effect our attitude and future self improvement.

Amber's next personal decision for the day: brush teeth.

Not a major decision, but hopefully this choice will keep me from having cavities in the future.

See what I mean? Choices people, all about choices.

-Amber

The joke's on me!

One reason (among a billion others) I decided to marry Steven was that we would be moving somewhere nice and warm and sunny-just like Phoenix. Dallas is usually about 10 degrees "cooler" than Phoenix year round. After a year in Utah, that was sounding more than fantastic. Don't get me wrong, I miss BYU terribly, and if I had it my way I'd be going to BYU-Texas right now. But the weather...??? Meh, it was something I could definitely leave in my past.

This last week I think our entire country decided to have a second ice age. From what I understand, I'm pretty sure EVERYONE I know was wrapped in their snuggie eating a bowl of warm soup at least once this week. Dallas was no exception. It snowed Monday night, followed by ice Tuesday,Wednesday and Thursday. Every school I know of was cancelled for 4 days this week. The reason for that is that Texas does not have snow plows, salt, and they ran out of sand on Tuesday. On Friday morning, this is what Steven and I woke up to...

I'm pretty sure Heavenly Father has a sense of humor. In fact, I can almost guarantee that he's a pretty funny guy. Who else would send a blizzard to Texas??? Oh, and another little plug, it was literally 75 degrees last week when I was playing outside with the twins I nanny for.

Because we we're stuck indoors most of the week, Steven decided that he wanted to make a fancy carrot cake, while I made soups, stews and spaghetti. The cake was very yummy, and it has definitely become a favorite of ours. I can't resist anything with creamcheese frosting...

I have also attached a few pictures of our sweet kitty. We love him SO much! Poor little guy has quite the cold right now along with some worms...:( We are giving him medication for both. He should be as good as new within a couple of days.

(Please ignore the unmade bed and laundry)

(I love this picture!)

-Neeley Crew of Two + Scampsters

Christmas, changes and new additions

Well, the last month and a half has been fun and exciting. Not much of our day to day life has changed here in Texas, but there have been some fun things going on lately. Our trip to Arizona was great, and it was so fun to spend Christmas with my parents and siblings. Our new little addition, Lydia, is a joy to be around and I adore all of the pictures and videos Rachel sends me. Lucky for me, I am going home again in 9 days so I get to see her sweet little face again soon! I think something I've noticed as I go home every once in a while is how quickly people change in short amounts of time. This isn't a bad thing, but it seems like my brothers turn more and more into men every time I see them. I always leave home feeling more inspired to be better because of their example. I truly feel blessed to be a part of the family that I am in.

This is a family photo from our shoot on the 27th

Since we've returned to Texas, there have been a few changes. Steven is still studying his little butt off, but he really seems to be incredibly interested in what he's learning. He is finishing off the second half of his Physiology course right now, and he started Cell Biology when we got back from Christmas break. He had a test last Friday, and he is studying for another exam this upcoming Friday. Other than that, his life is pretty much the same.

As for me, my life has made a few changes that are a bit more dramatic. After a considerable amount of thought, prayer and tears, I have decided to transfer to TCU in Fort Worth. I already nanny for a family that lives across the street from the University, and I really want to go to school there. The education I was getting from UNT Dallas was NOT fun, and I was miserable going to school there. I was really worried about tuition, because it is about $16,000 PER SEMESTER. Fortunately, the transfer advisor that I met with told me that I would most likely qualify for the faculty scholarship which is a huge blessing. There is no way we could make TCU work if I couldn't get a scholarship. I have applied, and I am just waiting for that letter in the mail that says that I have been officially accepted, and that I have received my scholarship money. If all goes as planned, I will be starting school there this May. I am SO SO SO EXCITED :)

Exactly one week ago today, we adopted our newest member of the family. His name is Scampi, and he is the sweetest little guy in the whole world! He is playful and cuddly, and he never begs for food-which I love! Both Steven and I are totally in love with him. I honestly can't imagine my life without him now!

Last, but certainly not the least, Steven and I are now temple ordinance workers in the Dallas, Texas Temple. WE LOVE WORKING THERE! We serve on Saturday mornings from 6am until 12pm. This has become such a blessing in our lives. I have attributed all of the blessings I have received this last month to our decision to start serving there. It is another beautiful house of the Lord, and it has become the highlight of our weeks.

-The Neeley Crew of Two + kitty