How was MY weekend?!

This past weekend was the world-wide broadcast of the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. President Uchtdorf challenged the members to share spiritual messages with our friends and family through texting and blogging. He mentioned that the question "How was your weekend?" is often answered by telling about the sports events, movies, or social events that we attended. He then encouraged us to share what we learned at Church over the weekend when we are asked how our weekend was. So between my desire to more frequently update my blog and this simple suggestion from this great leader, I have decided that every week I am going to post some gospel nugget that I gained from Church.

Some of my favorite sermons from the General Conference included topics about family, trials, and service. One of the 12 Apostles spoke mostly about his late wife, who he knows he will see again and their love will be even stronger after their time being separated by death. It was also very precious to me to see all of the apostles leaving the Conference center with their beautiful lives. There is something wonderful about seeing our leaders arm-in-arm with the loves of their lives!

Right now I cannot remember who gave the other sermon that I really enjoyed, but it was about enduring through our trials. I love the analogy he gave about climbing a mountain: The hardest part is usually the final climb to the summit, which if we make it to the top, we can enjoy the magnificent view of the valleys and canyons below. Many times our hardest trials and darkest moments are followed by marvelous miracles that we could not have experienced if we do not endure.

I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to hear from the leaders of our Church. They are truly inspired men and they want us to be happy and achieve eternal life. I know that this is Christ's church and that I must always be an instrument in His hand to help His work and glory move forward.

It's Been A While...

So not too much has happened in the last 5 months, hence the lack of blog posts. Here is a little list of some things we have been up to:

Rachel:
- called as 2nd Counselor in Ward Young Women's Presidency
- Joined Las Vegas Masters Swim Team and starting back into competing this weekend
- Thinking about starting a Pie Shoppe

Andrew:
- called as 2nd Counselor in Ward Elder's Quorum Presidency
- in 2nd semester of Grad School (Accounting) @ UNLV, also working as a Graduate Assistant there
- Continues buying stock/investing books
- Starting a 'Tax Business' (if you want your taxes done for cheap, let me know!)

It has been nice to have Sunday dinners with my family every weekend. We also have had visits from some friends from Idaho (Kate & Nate Mower, Jet Arnett), as well as my cousin & her husband. Probably the best thing about living in Las Vegas is it is a wonderful half-way point for many people. So, if you are ever traveling through Las Vegas, give us a holla and we will feed you and show you a good time!

ANNOUNCING....

So I had a nice little surprise waiting for me in my mailbox today. It was the key to the large package mailbox. As we made our way to the mailbox labeled on the key, Andrew & I racked our brains to figure out what large package we could be expecting. Upon opening the compartment and seeing my waiting package, the only words that I could say were: "I JUST GOT MY DIPLOMA!!!"

For those of you who know of the frustration that I have gone through, I imagine you will share in my excitement! Since the beginning of the year, whenever I would mention that I have a degree in child development, Andrew would correct me that I almost have that degree. However, now no one can ever say that I did not finish college.

The sense of accomplishment & completion is amazing! I never thought that this is what it would feel like to finish something so big as a college degree! For those of you who may be wondering if school is for you: if for no other reason, do it to say you did it!

Our Newest Family Member

Moving back to Vegas has been a lot of fun! Rent is less than $450, so we are saving money to buy other things. We had some friends, Taney & Alexis Kurth, who had a Toyota Tacoma that they didn't need anymore. It also overheated quickly because the radiator was busted. We took the truck off their hands for them for $1,000, and then got it fixed up for only $500! However, we did not get it entirely fixed. Taney had rear-ended someone (that's how the radiator got busted) so the front bumper is dented and sagging a little. There also wasn't room for the A/C radiator when we put the new radiator in, so we don't have any air conditioning. We drive mostly the Honda, but the truck is handy for lots of things, like: picking up our bed 2 days early, giving the missionaries rides with their bikes tossed in the back, hauling a dresser across town from my parents house, and many other amazing opportunities! It is so nice having a truck, much less a second car!

Elevated Sleeping

When we lived in St. George for 4 months, all we had to sleep on was an air mattress. When that adventure was coming to an end, Andrew promised me that, once we got our own place here in Vegas, we could get a bed. Well that promise came true yesterday! I came home earlier this week to find lvfurnituredirect.com pulled up on the computer. Andrew told me that he decided it is time that we got our bed! He said that I am so good to him & patient with him, that I deserve my bed. I am so glad that my usually complacent nature is translated as patience!
So Friday we went down to the warehouse/showroom to look at the bed that Andrew liked best from the website. When we got there, he decided that it wasn't that cool, so I got to pick my favorite bed that was on display. They told us the bed would be delivered either Saturday or Monday.
I work from 8-2 on Saturdays, so when I got off work I called Andrew to see if our bed came today. He said, "No, they didn't deliver it today." I was a little disappointed as anyone would be. When I got home, the bedroom door was closed. After a couple of minutes passed and I still hadn't gone in the bedroom, Andrew hinted at the fact that the bedroom door was in fact closed. I opened the bedroom door, and sitting in the middle of our room was OUR BED!!!! At first I accused him of lying to me, but he technically didn't because he said that the company hadn't delivered it. After calling them to find out if they would not be delivering our bed until Monday, he decided to take our Toyota Tacoma down to the warehouse and pick it up himself.
Now whenever we are home, we just chill on our bed, instead of sitting on the couch. This is the first time since we've been married that our bed is not sitting directly on the floor. I had forgotten how wonderful elevated sleeping is!

I need your input!!!

Okay faithful friends: I need your help! I have decided to start teaching private swim lessons, but I need a business name. The only one that I can come up with is Swift Swimming. Andrew says that it is too generic (& I think he's jealous that I'm using my maiden name!). Let me know if you like it or if you can think of something else. I would really appreciate it!

Trip Back East

Andrew & I just got back from traveling the country. We spent some time in Oregon with his family, drove to Pittsburgh with his friend, Greg, visited my cousins in Washington D.C. & NYC, and spent a day in Palmyra, NY! It was a great little vacation. The best part was that everything in DC is free...our kind of vacation!!! Pictures soon to come!

We also found ourselves a nice little apartment! It is in a little bit older part of Las Vegas, but older = bigger & cheaper! We move in on Tuesday, June 1. I am so excited to finally stop living out of boxes & suitcases!