have big dreams..you will grow into them

I never in a million years would have thought that i would be where i am today.  I had a million dreams and quote "to live in a big city" was one of them..now i can cross that off my list and dream 

even bigger!!

My journey has been amazing, its helped me grow and become someone who loveslife and the journey that life throws at me. 3.5 months left...and i still won't be readyto leave at that time. 

wow.. time is flying by so fast

it FREAKS me out sometimes..i have 3 months left here. 

where did the time go?

This is exactly how i feel about Josh's mission, he gets home in 4.5 months!! Its honestly the weirdest feeling to think that i am almost done in New York and than when i get home Josh will be home soon after. I couldn't have imagined it any better than this!

Update on my life..

Mormon Helping Hands 

We finished up an entire house. From top to bottom
It's amazing to see the difference many hands can make

Many early morning and long days..but we had a blast!!

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Amazing friends

I had to say goodbye to two of my amazing friends!! I don't know what i am 

going to do without them here with me, i am so very sad that they are gone.

Last sunday with my girl..i was sooo sad!! Miss my girl so much!!
Krista come backkkkk!!!

Had to say bye to one of my best friends back home!!
Miss her like crazzyy

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Valentines Day 

 I got to spend my Valentines Day with the 3 sweetest kids!!! My little angels :)

You could say that my Valentines Day was amazing :)

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Home 

I got to go home and spend a couple of days there

My cute nephew Van!! Seriously crazier than ever :)

Got to meet my beautiful and perfect niece Remington Rae Anderson!
She's the most perfect thing!!

Remi :)

This little ball of joy is the cutest boy you've ever met!! 

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Bye bye Utah

At the airport i saw Josh's parents, Paul and Kay :)
They went to Hawaii to get some sun, and i headed back to the beautiful NYC 

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Couldn't love a city more!! This has been the best decision in my life hands down!

I wouldn't trade it for anything. Have so many more things to see and explore, 

and with the good weather coming around the corner..i get to do them!! 

I could not love this lady more!!! Seriously my idol :)

Stephy's first sunday!! She is an aupair from Austria..we love her :)

West coast > East coast

My branch is the best!!! ^^^

The time of my life

 

4 months...i cannot believe that i only have 4 months left here in amazing 

New York 

It's amazing to realize why I am suppose to exactly where i am, right now. 

Last week it hit me that i was out here to be with this family. The way things worked out. The way that i fit perfectly in the family. The timing. The amazing friends i have made. The people i have met for some reason or another. The hardships and trials i have run into. The most memorable time of my life. 

I honestly can't think of a better way to spend these past couple months than out here with the most perfect host family. They have been nothing but amazing to me. I cannot complain a bit. And to hear other nannies out here complaining about there families, i kinda just laugh inside and smile because i know that mine is by far the best! (this family needs a nanny starting in the summer..hint hint)

I ask myself all the time how i got so lucky? I even just catch myself asking others how i got so lucky with this family? I must have known that it was right all along because i trusted my entire life with them  by coming out here and trusting that everything would be okay...it turned out to be more than okay, it has been amazing! 

I know i have 4 more months left..but honestly these past 5 months have been everything i could want and more. Not always easy, but it ain't easy always right?

I am learning so much from this family..so much that i wouldn't have if i didn't come out here! I now know that trusting yourself and running with a good feeling isn't always gonna turn out bad. There is always opposition, but when you look back and realize what you have accomplished..nothing feels better. I have grown closer to my Heavenly Father by trusting, praying, and counting all of my amazing blessings that i have been given. There isn't a time in my life when i have felt closer to my Heavenly Father.The Gospel is such a blessing in my life and i don't know what i would do without it, i wish everyone who doesn't have it, will one day know what its like to be truly happy!! It's amazing to see your life change from good and not thinking it could be any better, to amazing when new people come into your life!! 

I truly am the luckiest person in the world. I have an amazing family. Boyfriend. Friends. And Host Family and i truly know that is all because of the decisions and life that i have chosen. I wouldn't want to have it any other way! I must have done something right to be given so much :)

Typical Wednesday night playing Volleyball and ping pong 

Three cutest kids in the world!! Vivi, Scott, Zac 

Our weekly Saturday service 

Last time in the City with us three!! They are both leaving me :(

Me holding the statue of liberty at Battery Park

Some more Saturday Service. Amazing opportunity
for missionary work!

Battery Park 

one step at a time

Wahoo is a new year..

a better me. new goals. and my happily ever after.

2013

you will be wayy to good to me!! 

It's insane i came out here in September of last year..to think i have been out here for 4 months already just completely blows my mind. I feel like i just got out here and am still learning how to drive in New York, but the other day i realized that i knew exactly where i was and i didn't have to use the navigation system to direct me around anymore. That feels way good! I still have so much to do while i am out here so i am glad that my time isn't up yet..and plus the time is going by so fast that i probably wont be ready when its time to go home! I did get my 'release' date though, i will be flying home 

June 21, 2013 :) Doesn't seem close at all..but i know that it will come faster that i think. Until than i get to enjoy the journey :)

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Knicks vs. Celtics what???

k i don't mind basketball, but i would much rather watch football and baseball. I don't know what it is but that don't mean i would say no to tickets to the Knicks Vs. Celtics game! My host dad gets these season tickets to the Knicks, Nets, Yankee's and Mets games..so whenever they don't go, he gives them to me! So he asked and of course i said yes! And every time I always invite Tia of course! It's been so fun having her here with me and get to go to all of these amazing places with me. 

to excited :)

we always gets shirts wherever we go!

knicks fan..... jk :) just trying to be cool!

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Mormon helping hands changes lives!!

I know that Heavenly Father puts things in our path to be able to bring people to the Gospel. Who knew that he would have to wake people up by having a Hurricane? not me, nor was i ready for that. 

Being able to help people come closer to Christ through service has been nothing but a blessing in my life. I know for a fact that even if i wasn't placed out here for this family that i nanny, that i was able to help all those effected by this disaster. Its been 2.5 months since the hurricane and there are still people without homes. We have been able to help every single weekend since the hurricane hit. 

A group of YSA Canadian's came down for a weekend and helped with our YSA branch to be able to serve more people from the list of many still in need. With the help of all the Canadian's, our YSA Branch, and about 50 missionaries serving in the New York, New York South mission there was 200+ helping hands willing and wanting to help..and everyone with a smile :)

Elder Tanner LeBaron is serving in the New York, New York South Mission.
Someone tapped on my shoulder the morning that we were getting ready
to go serve, and i was so shocked that it was Tanner!! He is an amazing
missionary, and New York is so lucky to have him. We went to Elementary,
Junior High, and a year of High School together 

The girls that are super strong and can pick up tree's! haha

Missionaries just doing what they do best!! 

This looks not so heavy, but it seriously is very heavy :)

so many hands helping :) 

***

I feel very blessed to be able to have a chance to be out here and serving and helping others :) I have had so many adventures, it's going to be soo sad when i leave! I have grown to love the kids and it's been amazing the impact that they have on my life. I know that they will come around, that they will accept this Gospel. "By small and simple things, shall great things come to pass" is the quote that i live by while i'm here. Little steps, and being an example!  

The branch here is amazing! I was just put into the Relief Society as the 2nd Counselor. Isn't it amazing that the Gospel doesn't change wherever you go in the world? No matter where i go i always feel loved and welcomed!! :)

Sister Hawks (serving a mission here, with her cute hubby)
Krista and I at church on sunday :)

I adore her! Lauren is a new convert, and is truly amazing :)

I have made made so many amazing friends out here!
Violet (who went home to serve a mission), Lauren, and Emma :)

2 crazy weeks

December..finally!!!

 I was soo excited to be able to go home for Christmas that December flew right by it was insane. So December 18 came way to early...like 2:30am to early. Yes i seriously had to be up that early because I had to make a train at 3:20am. I packed the night before so i only got a nap..yes a nap because i slept from 12:00-2:00am. It was awful, but soo excited so the tiredness rubbed off! haha. 

I had a friend traveling with me because she was going home that day as well..but she was going home for good and wasn't coming back. So we got to the train station where we had to say our final goodbye. And trains aren't that easy to use when you have a ton of luggage so it was a bit difficult. After saying goodbye to Violet i headed up the stairs to make the AirTrain to JFK Airport. 

Violet and i on the train ride home...we were tired but very excited :)

After a very long flight from JFK to SLC, i was home...i was in bea.you.tiful UTAH!!! I was anxious to get off the plane, so i hurried to get to my family!!! As i came around the corner before going down the escalator there were 3 missionaries who just got done hugging each other (cutest thing of my life), and said to each other, "okay, here we go..our mission is over, lets go get our families!!" seriously i wanted to cry right then..but i didn't. I followed them all the way down the escalator almost in tears because i was happy for them, but also because i am excited for the day that i get to stand at the bottom of those stairs and be so happy like all there families that i am in tears when Elder Stephan comes home!! As i came down the escalator i spotted my nephew Van, and he came running at me as i came down them!! I was soo happy once i had my two nephews in my arms again!!! After hugging them i hugged all of my family :) They are the cutest for picking me up at the airport!!

Some of my cute family and cousin!!

I missed them a little to much! love my nephews :)

***

That week was filled with fun family traditions, seeing friends, lots of shopping, eating, and of course being home on Christmas with my amazing family!! It was the best week to spend with everyone and was soo happy to see everyone who i cared about. Even though it was only a week, i wouldn't have changed it!! On Christmas i was able to Skype with Elder Stephan (last christmas on his mission). It was the best thing to be able to see his face, i can't even begin to tell you how happy and amazing that boy is!! He is changing lives, and i am so proud to be able to call him mine! :)

Cruz and I (sean and ariels twin boys!)

Parks and I 

My bestest friend :)

Our annual girls christmas party!! love these girls soo much 

temple lights with my family!! Missing someone important, next year!

last christmas with these cuties not married :)

my boyfriend is the best

still Joshua Ty

I love my  missionary :)

thank you joshua ty :) i love it more than anything!!
u r my happy :)

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The day after Christmas i was able to fly to Florida and meet my host family there so we could go to Disney World!! The kids had an amazing time, and i had so much fun being there with them!!! We stayed in a beautiful hotel where they made cute animals out of towels everyday while you were out :) I had never been to Disney World before so it was so good to be able to go!! 

Vivian and I infront of the amazing castle. 

the cutest kids :) they were sick though, so they kinda looked so sad!

Splash mountain pic :)

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That same day that we flew home from Florida i was able to go to the Coldplay Concert!! Amazing right?? Yes yes, i do actually have the BEST host parents in the world and they gave me Coldplay tickets...why?? Because they are amazing!!! So i invited Tia to go with me and we absolutely loved the concert!!! One of the best concerts i have ever been too :)

Tia and i at coldplay

we heart coldplay

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The next day was New Years Eve so since its about a once in a lifetime that we are here in NYC this year we decided that it would be amazing to go into Times Square to see the ball drop!!! It was cold, and boring while waiting until the program started, but it was so worth that wait to be there in real life instead of just watch it on TV!!! It was soo cool :) A New Years to remember for sure!! 

waiting for 7 hours

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! 2013 is going to be an amazing year :)

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I had a crazy couple of weeks, but honestly some of the funnest memories are made out of crazy fun times!!! :)