There are no coincidences!

It made my whole Christmas Eve to see my cute mission companion & cousin Breanne!  She was in town visiting from New York City.  I just love her laugh, positive attitude, friendship, motivation and sweet heart.

We went to KNEADERS for breakfast to eat their famous french toast (which they were heebes all out of and so we settled for the pancakes).   We chatted and laughed our heads off of mission memories and Chileans and updated memories and new ideas ...of me moving to NYC!  That is Breanne trying to persuade me to move out there....we'll see how effective her skills are :)

This cute man came over to take our picture and was asking how we knew each other, where we were from etc.  We started asking him a bunch of questions and he ended up telling us this cute story.  

"You see that fireplace over there and the little table in front of it?  Well, my wife died 3 years ago.  I came up here from Vegas to visit some of my grandkids and we came to eat here at KNEADERS.  Well I left my coat here and had to return to find it.  No one could find it and so I just sat down to eat some breakfast by the fire and the owner of the store came out."

She said "Oh I'm sorry did you loose your coat?"

Man "Yes, oh it's ok.  So are you the owner?"

Owner lady "Well yes.  My husband died 2 years ago and now my daughter and I own it."

Man:  Extends his hand, "Well it's nice to meet you."

She sits down....they eat breakfast...date...fall in LOVE...get MARRIED....and the REST IS HISTORY!!!

We were LOVING THEM!!  So of course we took a picture with them!  I told him after the story "Well you know, I always tell my friends that THERE ARE NO COINCIDENCES!!!"  I truly believe this!  I think that not much happens by chance and that if you are living right, everything in your life comes as a blessing to you not from randomness or coincidence but it is from the Lord.  

Then the man said "That is what Elder Bednar says!"  

I was happy to know an apostle backs up my theories:)  I looked up the talk tonight.  Some of you probably remember it "The Tender Mercies of the Lord."  Google it and read it.  It's SOOOOOO GOOD.  

A few highlights of what he says:

"I testify that the tender mercies of the Lord are real and that they do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence. Often, the Lord's timing of His tender mercies helps us to both discern and acknowledge them."  

" I believe I have come to better understand that the Lord's tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ. Truly, the Lord suits "his mercies according to the conditions of the children of men" (D&C 46:15)."

"We should not underestimate or overlook the power of the Lord's tender mercies. The simpleness, the sweetness, and the constancy of the tender mercies of the Lord will do much to fortify and protect us in the troubled times in which we do now and will yet live. When words cannot provide the solace we need or express the joy we feel, when it is simply futile to attempt to explain that which is unexplainable, when logic and reason cannot yield adequate understanding about the injustices and inequities of life, when mortal experience and evaluation are insufficient to produce a desired outcome, and when it seems that perhaps we are so totally alone, truly we are blessed by the tender mercies of the Lord and made mighty even unto the power of deliverance (see 1 Nephi 1:20)."

 "As I indicated earlier, the Lord's tender mercies do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence. Faithfulness, obedience, and humility invite tender mercies into our lives, and it is often the Lord's timing that enables us to recognize and treasure these important blessings."

There was no coinsidence with me and Breanne meeting in Chile, spending 5 months together, playing hard and working harder and even laughing harder.  

There was no coincidence when she told a story of her great grandfather and it was the same story as MY GREAT GRANDFATHER!  What?  

We frantically hit the computers the next day trying to contact our moms to confirm that we were actually COUSINS!  And yes we are!  We are 3rd cousins.  Ever since then, everyone in Chile would shout out "It's the primas!  the primas!  (cousins).  he he.

I am forever grateful for this girl to come into my life.  She is so amazing and helps me to be a better person by her example, love, encouragement and faith. 

 Thank goodness for tender mercies!!  

REAL Christmas Joy

You know you work for HOSPICE when your patient cracks open the door and says "Oh just a minute honey, let me go put on my hair!!"

It has become a tradition to participate in a sub for santa project that my friend Lindy puts on every year and it's been amazing (thank you!!).  The last 2 years we have included some of my hospice patients.  It was TRUELY AMAZING  to see their faces light up with a visit, a song, some love and cheer brought to them in a very lonely time for most of them.  

My patients I had to blur the faces because of legal documents I have signed.  The ones that aren't blured are not my patents and I have no HIPPA regulations to apply to:)  We just asked the nurses in the nursing home which people never get visited and dropped in with some holiday cheer.

The girl above made this cute blanket!!  This lady was so happy!!

This sweetheart told us that she started wheeling out to her room thinking "Another Christmas all alone."  She told us how her family lives away and the love of her life died 3 years ago.  Then she said "I thought that until you all came and now I dont't have to spend my Christmas all alone!  Whenever I cuddle this monkey I'll think of this wonderful memory of Christmas."  What a blessing to be apart of this moment.

She was so sweet and SO excited!!

This is one of my patients below with a lack of clothing so Santa brought him some nice warm things ;)
These faces pretty much just say it all.

This lady was so sweet.  It was especially humbling because she was only 31 years old, had been in an accident and was paralyzed with brain damage.  She has two twin daughters that she hardly ever gets to see :(

She was SO excited to get his cute hat that Sierra made!
This cute guy came with us that is 6'5 and every time the ladies would see us they would size us up and down and then get a huge grin when they saw him.  It was so funny...they were LOVING HIM!!  This lady said " I used to say 'bring me in Tom Selleck' but now I'll say 'bring me in him!' "  ha ha
Sweet patient from Lebanon.  

I hope these photos brought some joy to your heart and could help remind you as they did me, that we are all so AMAZINGLY blessed!  Happy holidays!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

There will be Christmas present wrapping,
and Santa Clause loving,
and Kurt Bestor singing,
and harps will be ringing,
and girls will be baking,
and random Christmas parties will be attended,
and 'The Christmas Story' will ROCK at Pioneer Memorial Theatre, 
and TREES will be sparkling,
and Sub for Santa's will be started,

IT'S THE HAP, HAPPIEST SEASON OF ALL!!!

A little redecorating

So as of Dec 1, Alana has officially moved in.  With her being an interior designer, I have taken advantage of her talent and we have done some redecorating!  
I was way sick of the yellow color on the walls that I originally did to match the harps.  It was good for 3+ years, but now we decided to do a little grey action. We showed the sample color to a few visitors and pretty much everyone said the same thing, "That is way too dark." 
Good thing we went with our own instincts because we LOVE IT now that it's all up and on the walls!  

PLEASE BLESS that my sister-in-law helps me make this little number to go over the table.  I found it at Anthropologie for $398.00. GOOD ONE!  Ya right.  I thought "Heck, I could MAKE that" ....well, with her help that is.  She is a perfectionist at home decor and can copy any idea and make it look even better.  Cross your fingers....

Not too many big changes in the kitchen area.
EXCEPT, this amazing picture that my mom painted!  She painted it and gave it to Alana for her college graduation.  She sure is talented isn't she?  :)
And so is Alana!  This is her hanging up some of her own art work that she painted.
Loving the TV room 
She brought these cool chairs to go in front of the curtains....
That I made!  Yep, I'm a little proud of myself since i haven't sewn since the bugs bunny blanket that I made in Jr high (you MAY know the one I'm talking about)
I splurged a bit on the front room curtains since the other ones were budget style (thanks Cathie for the encouragement and the help!)

These mirrors are from my cute GRANDMA!  I love having a little of her inside my place.  When I got them they were teal colored with pink flowers.  I spray painted them black and now love them to death.  When I told Lane they were my grandma's she said "Cool, that's like REAL vintage."
A few things I picked up in Dubai.  I found the dish at an antique market then the picture that randomly happened match the dish in a Vietnam shop.
It's so fun to have a fresh new look once in a while.  Thanks to Lane, Cathie, and a few others who helped contribute :)

"When I'm 64"

Remember that Beatles song "When I get older, loosin' my hair....la la la....When I'm 64" ?

I always think of old people in retirement homes when I think of that song.  Probably due to the movie "Happy Gilmore".  You know the part at the retirement home..I think that's the show. Am I right?  

Well, my dad turns 64 today.  What?  I feel like my dad is not old at all!!  He is active, adventurous and still young in mind and heart!

This is us yesterday for a little birthday dinner.  My dad delivered my cousin Joel when he was born.  He is in the Air Force and leaves for Afghanistan just after Christmas.  We love him!
We have a family tradition to tell the person whose birthday it is something that they like about them or a fun story.  The reoccurring theme for my dad was that he is patient, kind, giving, charitable, and dedicated.  All of us said we have hardly never, if ever, seen him mad.  How would you like that said about you after 64 years?  A goal we could always strive for!  
Every year I decorate the mantle and tree for my mom.  This year we had Alana's expertise in the mix.  We had so much fun decorating!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD...YOUR THE BEST!!

Good one

So who wants to wake up saturday morning to NO CAR?  That's right, my car was towed last night.  Good one.  Let me just tell you that I have the WORST parking situation here at my condo.  There are only 4  GUEST PARKING stalls and you can only park for 2 hours then guess what...yep, your car gets towed.  Oh real smart people.  I want to know who designed this place.

The reason why I didn't park in my space is that I had borrowed a truck to move some things and left my opener in my car.  I was SO TIRED and a little SICK and just worn down from the week that I decided to just park out front and vowed that I would move it before 2 hours was up to avoid the towing consequences.  

Well, I clunked out without realizing it and woke up at 3 am in a panic, ran outside to find my car gone.  Good one.  So I politely waited till 9 am to call the towing company. 

Me:  "So my car got towed.  Where can I come pick it up?"

Mean man:  "You can make an appointment after 3 pm."

Me: "What?  I need it like right now.  I have to play the harp this afternoon at a Christmas party, I need to move things all morning etc."

Mean man:  "Sorry"

Me:  Crying

1/2 way Mean man:  "Fine I'll do noon. AND THAT'S THE BEST YOUR GOING TO GET!!"  

Me:  "Ok, where is it?"

Mean man again:  "I'LL TELL YOU AT NOON!!" ....dial tone

Good one!  People can be so mean sometimes!  I've been listening to this seminar on CD called "Becoming Spiritually centered".  The presenter says that all these things that 'bug' us are just 'incitements'  in our lives.  They are designed specifically for our spiritual growth.  So when we get an incitement (like my car being towed, someone cutting you off, someone yelling at you, something annoying you), it is just to see if you'll handle it in the spiritual dimension or temporal dimension.  

I'm still trying to figure it all out.  I don't know if blogging about it is handling it spiritually or temporally :)....but I'm actually feeling better already.  

So since the '1/2 mean man' said I can come get it at noon, I will make it to my harp gig.  It's been a crazy week since returning home.  I have been booked out to play every night at Christmas parties and weddings.  It's interesting that Christmas is my busiest time for playing out.  You would think summer would be with all the weddings.  Anyways, I am very grateful!  Now I can pay off some of the trip :)

Last night was my first night off of playing for something.  So, Becca invited me as her 'date' to her work Christmas party.  They had the best chicken Cordon blue EVER!!  I love me some good chicken cordon!  It's funny because her work is probably starting to wonder since she invited me last year to the Christmas party as well!  :)  Ok, off to get things done for the day!  MERRY CHRISTMAS ....TIS THE SEASON!

Almost done...

Ok, ok I am ALMOST done posting pics about Dubai. However, I had to include some pics about this incredible beach club that we were able to spend a few days at basking in the sun.
It was so swanky with all the big yachts and beautiful setting.
When the workers saw you walk onto the beach they asked where you wanted to sit and would drag over lawn chairs. While laying there, they would come up and bring you FREE POPSICLES to eat. HEAVEN!

My first time swimming in the ARABIAN GULF!
We were eating lunch just LAUGHING, not believing the atmosphere.

Ok, so this is the AMAZING hotel next door. All the stars stay here I guess. The boat man was telling us that George Clooney and Bill Clinton were there last week.
Don't worry, you just rent out one of these condo things and the only way to get to and from is by these little boats. So cool!




Thanks to Alana's family for letting us come to the beach club. We loved it!

Tallest hotel in the world!

I will definitely always remember this view! oh, ps the water was way warm like Hawaii. Love the beach in November :)