28

i thought, since this is going to be the best year yet, i wanted to kick it off right.

recently, i've had a goal to experience new things especially pertaining to arizona.

so, jeff and i took some good friends out to a new-to-us mexican joint.

DELISH!

(friends)

after dinner we dared mill ave for a dueling piano bar.

this dude called me up to stage where jeff joined me and we boogied to the hokey-pokey. all of our requested got played and the musicians were great.

no birthday is complete without a birthday song by the little ones.

my heart is expanding

yesterday was my birthday.

i turned 28.

i awoke feeling incredible.

28 is going to be a good year.

in-fact, i decided that it's going to be my best year yet.

not sure why or how 28 is going to be different,

but i can just...feel it. in my bones.

right in the middle of my day yesterday,

on my birthday, i attended a funeral for these

two sweet twin girls:

Taylor and Emma are their names.

they shared a seven-chamber heart and stole the heart of

my community and all those who knew of them.

at the funeral i was inspired, saddened, up-lifted, filled with

hope, felt love, and my testimony was strengthened.

i was touch by words that were shared and the

beautiful musical talents shown.

two things though...

two things were imprinted on my heart.

(excuse me if i begin to ramble now)

1. the final speaker shared with us two familiar stories from the Bible: the first being of the death and resurrection of Lazarus. the second being the death of John the Baptist and subsequently the Sermon on the mount, finishing with the miracle of the fish and bread.

from the first story we read that once Jesus heard of Lazarus' death He wept. even Jesus, the perfect man. the same who had perfect faith and knowledge of the plan wept and felt the sorrow of a loss. the same who, once at Lazarus side, raised him from death, cried as we do. Powerful for me.

the second story began with Jesus learning of the death of his dear cousin John. here we read that Jesus desired to be alone and began to ascend a mountain for solitude. he was followed by multitudes of people that desired to be with him. Jesus' disciples began to turn them away, but Jesus allow the people to follow. He then taught them and blessed them, and healed the sick. all this done as he was mourning his loss. later, he preformed the miracle of the bread and fish. service and love in the midst of trial. Powerful.

2. the parents of the twins (who btw are pillars of light) shared a phrase to describe, in-part how they are feeling: "My heart is expanding". they spoke of the love they feel and how they feel as though the Spirit is making their hearts grow.

for me, this means that one can feel more intensely the love that the Savior has for us, and that we being to understand the plan more fully. in turn this allows us to love others with a more pure, sweet, and raw love like He loves us.

my testimony is stronger now than when i was 27.

my birthday wish this year is to have an ever expanding heart.

it's going to be a good year. 

my dad turned 60

all the sibs got together with most of the families to

surprise dad for a fun filled weekend.

on friday we had a wonderful dinner and fun with cousins.

(warning: you may get motion sickness)

summer utah 2010 from Alisha on Vimeo

on saturday we presented dad with a book of memories.

we then preceded to make more memories as we spent

the day at Deer Creek.

(yep, that's dad and mom on a jet ski)

we also rented a couple kayaks for our paddling pleasure.

the party was a success.

love you dad.

happy birthday.

(on a side note: i've always thought these two were twiners.

my thoughts are unchanged)

Taylor Cabin Retreat

there we all are (minus one. jared.)

Jeff's family planned a wonderful long weekend

vacation up at the cabin.

caitlin moved back into town just in time

to complete the fab five sibs.

and if you know me, i'll jump at any

opportunity to get into the mountains.

especially to the cabin with family.

my girls are incredibly lucky to have such great older

cousins to look up to and learn from.

the cousins went on a many hikes

mostly lead by the self-titled "nature-girl" sadee.

and really enjoyed eating otter pops.

our days were filled with crafts,

games with guns,

which, coincidentally i'm pretty good at shooting a

gun at three different targets after sprinting 20 ft

under a 15 sec limit. who woulda' thought?

here's proof:

one of my bulls-eyes'.

and the winners pose:

games with the wii,

birthday games for emma and sadee,

and of-course, a trip to fossil creek.

we can't go to fossil creek without cliff jumping.

even jill couldn't resist.

the evenings were the best though.

we all gathered together for a little goofing around.

and then ended the day singing camp songs and

learned more about our heritage from mom and dad taylor.

great memories made.

in other news

we had a low-key 4th of july this year.

jeff was working in Prescott so me and girls

joined the Taylors for a nice sunday BBQ and some

fun with the wii.

on the drive home we stopped in the parking lot to

watch a few fireworks.

low-key. 

in other news:

the girls have started dance lessons together.

i love watching them and they really do enjoy it.

and, since jeff has been reaping the rewards of

hard work in his new business, i put my two weeks in at

mercy gilbert hospital.

i continue my employment with the other hospital i've been with

for over 5 years now as supplemental income if needed.

i'm listed as 'registry' so i have no guaranteed hours.

pretty much on-call, but only if i want to work.

sweet gig huh?

SAHM here i come.

NoNv

i had not been to my home town in over 5 years.

i needed to see the home i grew-up in.

jeff made sure i really got to see it.

he ran up to the door, knocked, and then promptly ran back

to the car and left jill and i on the front steps.

the intruders...i mean new owners were nice enough

to let me walk through.

i left in tears knowing i may never be back and grateful

that the place i love is being taken care of by a family

that loves it as much as i do.

the mother said that right when her family moved in the

home had a great aura and feeling of love.

she also said that she and husband love it so much that

this will be there their last home.

we got to go to lake lahontan with my bff's family.

the girls weren't timid at all with the brown/green water.

hayley's brother brought out his boat and the girls loved that too.

when we busted out the wakeboard, jill and camille were

glued to the back of the boat watching all the action.

 

their dad looked pretty hot throwing all his sweet tricks.

i even landing my first jump ever.

while hayley showed me up with jump after jump.

hopefully soon we'll have a boat of our own...

later in the week, we went to my college town.

and spent the day with my brother's family

i wished we lived closer together.

my trip to NoNv was made complete by one. last. stop.

lake tahoe!

easily in the top three favorite places ever for me.

i think the girls agree with me.

the beauty of the place surpasses the pain felt by the

frigid temps of the water.

i chased schools of fish around as i snorkeled in the crystal clear water.

jeff admired the wildlife we miss living in se arizona.

"there is a place that i love the best,

fairer than all i can see.

out in the heart of the golden west,

home means Nevada to me."