Gratitude and New Calling!

Thanksgiving is this Thursday! And to be honest I can't believe how fast this month has gone! My youngest sister has been 6 for a month on thanksgiving! gah! Both of my sisters are growing up so fast! I wanted to talk a few things of what I'm grateful for! :D

1. My family- They are so Loving and so Supportive in everything I've done in my life. I Love them and so grateful for them! I'm glad and grateful that I am sealed to them for eternity. They have been there through thick and thin. And since moving out and since September, I've kept a open communication with them as much as I can and it's amazing to think that just by doing that it has kept me out of trouble! (just like my bishop mentioned in September)

2. The Atonement: That has been the best thing ever for me in my life especially this past year! I marvel at how much I have changed this past year! And it's quite amazing! I have such a different view on everything! Especially with Christmas and Thanksgiving right in a row! I'm so grateful for what Christ has done for all of us and for myself individually! He knows me so well and he knows what to do when I need things the most! Especially when there are times when I'm having a hard time!

3. The Gospel: Almost the same as the Atonement, but I'm glad that I have the knowledge of the gospel in my life! I have learned so many things of the gospel in my life that I know that it is true! And I know for myself the more that I know of the gospel the more of a responsibility I have to live by those things!

4. The Book of Mormon and other Scripture: I have been reading through the Book of Mormon this year, and that is such an amazing book! I am in 3 Nephi right now and I hope to finish it at least by next year then on to Doctrine and Covenants! I want to see more of what is in there, then back to the Book of Mormon! And hopefully I can get onto a good schedule and keep up with it the best I can and not let myself get too busy!

5. My job: I Love my job and so grateful that I work with such amazing people that are so patient with me! I'm still learning how to do what I'm supposed to do and getting used to things. I sit in front of a computer all day, clean my office(since most of the time I'm all by myself anyways) I prepare court reports for clients whether they are compliant or not with the Courts orders, and I do drug testing. I also do CD(Chemical Dependence) and DV(Domestic Violence) Evaluations. So Clients come in to take some tests, and I score them and give the results of those tests to the Counselors for them to review before their interview. I do other things but it just piles up and up and up. And frankly I like having a lot to do because I don't have to do all of those tasks all in one day! I do different tasks everyday and getting used to what I'm consistently doing all day! :D

6. My Friends: I love my friends and so grateful for them! Especially my Best Friend Amanda Fox! She is so amazing and always there for me! She is basically like my sister! I hang out with her all the time!I simply just love being around her! She deserves so much! And I dearly hope the best for her! I'm so excited to see her sometime this week! I miss her like crazy with her being busy with School! But I love that she's keeping busy, and that she's getting school done for her dreams and achieving them! :D

7. Adoption: Even though, I haven't placed or been formerly adopted. I do know people and have been affect by those experiences that other people have had! I just Love them more and more because of the Sacrifice and Love that comes from Adoption! I dearly support Adoption and I gladly promote Adoption because I think it is a sacred thing to do! Happy Adoption Awareness Month!

8. The Temple: Ever since I received my temple recommend in September I have gone every week with out hesitation! It's been amazing and has made life so much easier! It has blessed my life like non other! I hope to keep going there no matter what obstacles come my way! :D



I got a new calling in my ward(finally!) haha! I am the Ward Chorister! What perfect timing for my favorite time of Year(despite the fact that it's winter... :P)! Christmas Time! Next Sunday, I'm starting Christmas Hymns! My mom has done it before and she said that I could do each of the Christmas hymns in Sacrament meeting at least once by the end of the year! Awesome! I hope to be able to do that! If people are opposed to that! I'm sorry! Here's my opinion and I hope you have an open mind and heart to read and listen!

Thanksgiving for me is the kicker for the Christmas Season! Trust me! It's not forgotten! It's just apart of it! My family is Canadian, so we also celebrate Canada's Thanksgiving which is in October(so my mom starts listening to Christmas music in October), I get 3 turkey dinners before the year ends! One in October, November and Christmas Day! :) Now, What should we focus on when Christmas comes around? Christ's Birth! And what is one of the things we are grateful for at Thanksgiving? Not just the food(and that shouldn't be the main thing I'm sorry!) On Thanksgiving Day, I observe on the gratitude I have for my Savior, Redeemer, Brother, Father, and My God. Because, I wouldn't have all the other things I'm grateful for with out him! We wouldn't have this wonderful Country of ours with out him, we wouldn't have the jobs we have, or our homes, our food, our families, etc. With out him! Everything exists because of Our Heavenly Father! So this Holiday Season, don't focus on "Oh Christmas! You forgot Thanksgiving!" Who ever said that Thanksgiving is forgotten when it's almost just as important as Christmas? We wouldn't be here with out the plan the Christ and Heavenly Father made for us! Look around you! At the wonderful Mountains, the trees, the rivers, the lakes, the Ocean, the beautiful Animals that live upon this beautiful earth exists because of HIM. Think of our Heavenly Father as you eat Thanksgiving dinner with your family!

I'll name one tradition that I love that my family has done the past few years that I will definitely carry on into my future family. When you're sitting around the table for Thanksgiving this Thursday, go around the table and have every person say at least one thing they are grateful for! It creates such a spirit of Gratitude for the rest of the Meal! It also brings so much meaning as to why we celebrate Thanksgiving! :D

I hope all of you make it a wonderful Thanksgiving this Year! And Happy Thanksgiving! :)

Pray for our troops! God Bless America! <3
"Life is tough but it's even tougher When you're stupid." (Do what works in Life) -Anonymous

Date Dance and Tucanos

The Institute had a Date Dance. It was an interesting day and night I guess you can say. That morning I found out my phone is temporarily shut off till I can pay for it(Which is Monday! I'm going to have my phone back!). Talk about the perfect weekend for that to happen! I've been wanting to talk on the phone with my loved ones especially my Parents and Amanda! And the only phones or modes of communication is my work phones, of which I'm not at work till Monday(tomorrow) and I was at Taylor Drug Yesterday morning.

Anyways, Friday night I went to the Date dance at the Institute. I went with a friend named Jordan Byrd. He asked me to the institute Dance. It was actually kind of fun. :) We went to Ihop for Dinner(because I wanted to), and When we were going inside I waited for him to open the doors to go inside. on the Second Set of Doors he READ the Sign "Pull" Guess what? He pulled a "Natasha!" Haha! He pushed the Door and the Door of Course didn't Budge! I started Laughing my Head off! I even almost went to the Floor Laughing! It was totally something I would do! Anyways, Conversation went kind of flowing. We went Quiet when we got our food. We both got a Breakfast Sampler. And it was delicious!

When we got to the Dance, they had Activities there like Mini Golf Course, a Blown up Obstacle Course, and Kareokee and of course dance! :)

We did the Obstacle Course first. I got a burn from that one right on my elbow! haha! But it was funny the last part we use a rope to go up to go down a bigger slide. And I had a hard time at first then I imagined Amanda being there telling me ok, one step at a time but take bigger steps! "You can do it!" You're getting closer! Yay! You did it" I know! I motivated myself technically, but, I also imagined my best friend! I have missed her this weekend! :'(

Saturday, I went to Tucanos with Jordan and His Family(We're not going out or in a relationship he invited me as a sister figure in his life), and it was so funny! He was warning me about his brothers and all that. Crazy things happen when he and his brother's get together. During the whole night, at Tucanos, I was observing everybody. It's very funny to me because, I  wasn't suprised, I wasn't uncomfortable with how crazy things got because, I have cousins that are very entertaining in their own way! And You just go with the flow! Some parts of the conversations that went on were a little crazy! But then they'd move right onto the next subject. It was really fun! One of his brother's asked if they could call me "Tash" That nickname is very precious to me.. Only my close friends and family call me by that name. Some people naturally get that privilege. Others don't and I make it known. People can Call me Tasha with out having my permission because it just comes naturally to people. It's easier for them. And I respond to all my nicknames. :)

Well, I gotta get ready for Church. I hope you guys have a wonderful Sabbath! :)



"Life is tough but it's even tougher When you're stupid." (Do what works in Life) -Anonymous

David Archuleta

I went to the Jordan River Temple Last night and the experience there was amazing! I felt so much peace, and Warmth and my Questions  were answered very much! It feels so nice to just serve and being able to go to the Temple and take my time while I'm there!  I just enjoy the Spirit and the Love that's there.

When I arrived at the Temple the Recommend person was like, "Now, don't get a heart attack, David Archuleta just went down stairs to do baptisms." I just smiled! And I was surprised to see him there. I don't know why. I guess I didn't think I would expect to see him come or any Celebrity for that Matter. I know David is LDS, and I know and heard that he's had a desire to serve a LDS mission. I didn't get up the courage to say "Hi" to him and introduce myself. 1. Because, I'm Shy like that. :P 2. Because, we were in the Temple. I understand perfectly as to why he was there and it's similar to everybody else's reasons why they go to the temple. So, I chose to let him enjoy the temple. If he talks to me, then, I would talk to him. I'm not that Giddy about David Archuleta. I Like some of his songs, I just haven't either listened to them that much, don't have have the money to get it... I do want at least one CD. Also, you'r talking about me... I go more crazy for seeing our Leaders than other Celebrities. It made me Smile to see David at the Temple just as much as it would to see one of my friends at the temple. I don't know how else to describe the feelings I had upon seeing him at the Jordan River Temple.  Also, a Temple Worker asked me to keep it to myself, and not make it known he was there. They told me that he goes quite often. That also made my day! I did come to thinking though, if I were someone that people knew my name all over the country, I would literally ask for the same thing. I'm not one for Attention.

With Seeing David Archuleta, I liked what I saw in the sense of his features and his Language. I saw humility, and I also saw that he was struggling with something. He was pondering and reading for quite a while. And I don't mean to sound like a stalker, I am an observer, I like to observe people and their behaviors. I'm of course not perfect with it... But once I see their eyes, everything makes more sense. I look at the Eyes first when I see people. And somehow I know what's inside, even though, I don't know physically, in my mind I understand it. Because, My spirit sees what's inside. After I was done, I stayed a little bit when he finally was in the font. I read some more on my personal reading. And Left. It was so fun, and it made my day! And I hope that if he does end up reading this, that he is definitely an example. For living the way he knows to be true. Cause, deep down inside I wondered if he was doing the things he knows we're supposed to do. Last night was the answer to those questions. I don't expect to see him again. But if I see him. It just means that he's doing the best he can like the rest of us. :)

I think it was last week, but I took some pictures of the Jordan River Temple! And it's totally one of my Wallpapers on my phone! It has a rich fading sunset behind it. The Angel Moroni looks so Amazing and so Golden in the evening! I love it like crazy!! I'm so glad it's basically right around the Corner from where I work! I Look forward to keep going! :)

On a random note, in Dating and Courtship, I'm being challenged to flirt with guys and practice some Flirting Skills. And yeah, I hope to be able to practice them soon!  This is going to be interesting. Hopefully it won't look too obvious that I'm practicing. ;) Wish me Luck, Cause, I'm going to need it! I want to try to go on more dates, but I'm done asking the Guys out! It's their job! So Guys pick up on it! Even if you're just wanting to make more friends. Dating is the best way to do that! :)

"Life is tough but it's even tougher When you're stupid." (Do what works in Life) -Anonymous

New J.O.B!! :D

If a couple of my friends were to see this they would laugh their Heads off! haha! :D It's totally an inside joke!

        I totally got myself a new Job!! And I'm totally excited for it and so far I really like it! :D I'm doing something different everyday at my job and do you know how nice that fact is? It's so nice that it's not even funny! I still get to interact with people, and craziness and what not. But I also get to other things! :D

Ok, I'll get to it! I'll get to it! I know work at Addiction and Psychological Services(APS). It is an out patient facility where people can get treatment and correction from different addictions and other things! And I'm a Full Time Office Manager where I answer the phones, make appointments with different Counselors I work with, and ring people out for groups, education classes, ect.. And I will be helping people with their UA(Urinary Analysis Drug Testing), BA(Breath Testing), And ETG(Which I don't know what it stands for I just know that it is a more expensive UA and it takes like 10 days to analyse it and it's sent through the Mail... Can you say GROSS! :P)

Anyways, I started on my training last Thursday, and it's been really fun! I know not a lot of people wouldn't like sitting down all day in front of a computer... With my Job, I'm sitting in front of a computer but I'm doing other things. I also score peoples tests for Mental Health Tests, IQ Tests, and other tests that might need to be taken for different Evaluations or Assesments(I'm still trying to figure out what the difference between those are). 

How did I get the Job? Plain and Simply Connection! :D My Dad used to work with APS as a LPC(License Professional Counselor), he started the SOP(Sex Offender Program) as well as Programs for Spanish Speakers. If you know my dad, he still is fluent in Spanish, He works at the Prison as the Director over the SOTP(Sex Offender Treatment Program) in the State of Utah, and he's a Counselor at LDS Family Services(LDSFS), where he does Marriage and Family Counseling, SOP stuff( I think), and other programs that he's able to do. 

Ok, now back to the Story and you've heard about my Dad. :D My Dad is still really good friends with my bosses, and told them I was looking for a Job. So Bob Hired me on the spot, and I started out with a Part time position as a Court Representative. Where I would go to court, and I would Collect Referrals for APS. And if there were any Order Show Cause(Non-Compliance), or Review Hearings, If those clients were APS clients I needed to get information whether they were compliant and if they were improving in Treatment or not. When you go to Court everyday, you learn a lot about our Law System and see the Law Side of things with this job. Now as an Office Manager up in South Jordan. 

Ok, I know South Jordan is Merelly a 45 Minute drive(I've timed it trust me), but I'm only going to make that drive for 6 months. Because, in May, Amanda and I are moving up to South Jordan Area! And want to know the best part? The Jordan River Temple is right around to Corner from where I work! And It is totally the best! Most of the people I work with are mostly Christian and our music system is either Gospel Music, or classical Music. :D So, it makes thing awesome when I'm wanting to have the spirit with me as I work! And not just having the temple right around the corner as feeling the spirit from that! :D So, it's totally the best! 

With working up in South Jordan, I was able to figure out my schedule during the week and the only day I can really go to the temple is on Wednesday. And here's my awesome plan! :D Wednesdays, after work, I change, and then go to the temple as I'm waiting for the Rush hour Traffic to cool down some! hehe! I think it's awesome! :D I'm basically excited! And I totally love how everything just fell into my hands months before the move up to Salt Lake Valley! :D 

I Love life like crazy! And I look forward to anything that's ahead! :D Woot! :D I hope you guys had a good Halloween! :D

"Life is tough but it's even tougher When you're stupid." (Do what works in Life) -Anonymous

So totally not cool! :(

I go to work today and feeling pretty good. I went to Church, took the Sacrament and just totally feeling really good in every aspect! :D And not even an hour into my shift, one of the regular patients that comes to fill prescriptions with us, asks me after asking for some help from a Technician to send something through the system so that I could ring her out. And as I'm ringing her out she asks "So... When are you due?" I look down, and in the course of 10 seconds or something like that, I'm thinking "Oh Crap, my worst nightmare just happen... Someone just assumed that I was pregnant! Luckily I'm doing more workouts with Amanda, and I also need to get something healthy to eat... :P" I verbally say... "Uhh... I'm... Not Pregnant." After that I'm thinking "What the Heck!" I don't look pregnant do I? While she's saying "Oh my gosh!" I'm so sorry, Wow! I'm totally embarassed now!" My thoughts: "Yeah... You should be." But I forgive you. So I was verbally saying, oh you're fine, and thinking I forgive you. And Yeah... I'm kinda laughing about it now... But still! SOMEONE THOUGHT I WAS PREGNANT! :( That's like every woman's nightmare!  Ok, So I'm freaking out just a little bit... But seriously, my self-esteem kinda crashed for a little bit there... :P This is the time where I'm totally going to fake it! And people just a fair warning, I'll do my best to accept a compliment(which trust me I've been trying for like ever since I started loosing weight when I was on the Swim Team!).

This experience just triggered another thing going on... I am wanting to do what ever I can to get a Rec Center pass so that I can start swimming again! Cause Swimming is the only thing that motivates me! I just love the feeling of going through the water and what swimming does for your body! :D But yeah... That experience was so not cool! I know I'm in ok shap and not looking too bad... but apparently bad enough that someone assumed I was pregnant! :P I'm going to let it go! I'm going to let it go! Ok, I Let it go! I'm good! Ok I know I'm good! I have good friends and family that encourage me to do the best I can. I'm a Daughter of God, and I know I'm beautiful! Haha! Now you get to see my thoughts going through my head! :P You get to see myself lifting myself up! I can do it! Just do it! I can do it! Well, Yeah, you got to enjoy a unique situation that someone goes through at least once in their life time!




"Life is tough but it's even tougher When you're stupid." (Do what works in Life) -Anonymous

Chad's Baptism! :D

On September 18, 2011 My Childhood friend and best friend got baptised into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!  I had the privilege as well as other members of my family participated in the program! He asked me to speak on Baptism.  This is my talk: I'll do the best I can of what I remember teaching... I apparently did a really good job on it! :D

We believe that the first principles and Ordinances of the Gospel are: First, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Second Repentance. Third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins. Fourth, Laying on of Hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost. 

                                                                                                     -Article of Faith #4
You asked me to talk on the topic of baptism. Today, I'm going to focus on the covenants you're going to make. What does Baptism Mean? What are the Covenants you are making are and what the mean? And How you can renew them.

In the Bible Dictionary the definition for Baptism is a Greek word meaning "Dip" Or "Immerse." When you're in the water with the person doing the ordinance, you have two witnesses making sure your whole body is immersed in the water and that makes it essential for that part of the ordinance to be completed. Then you receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost(Which will be talked about later on in the evening).

When you get baptized, you enter into a covenant with your Heavenly Father. "You Promise to take upon the name of Jesus Christ, to keep his commandments, and serve him to the end." In Doctrine and Covenants 84: 19-20 it states:

(19)And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom,even the key of the knowledge of God. (20)Therefore in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.

Each time we make and renew our covenants we make with our Heavenly Father we become more like Him as we go doing the best we can!  Heavenly Father is Sculpting us through each day of our lives so that we can be with Him again! Chad, you remember When we were on the Swim Team? Coach told us to use Zan-Shin to help us through School and our races. The same concepts with the gospel. God Expects our 100% out of us as we go through our days. He wants us to do our best in our everyday lives and he'll make up the rest through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

When we take upon ourselves the Name of Christ we have the opportunity to do Christ like things. We have the chance to serve those around us. As we keep and renew our covenants we will gain a Power of protection! The more we follow the promptings we have the more promptings we will recieve as long as we live righteously! Everyone needs to recommit ourselves to our Heavenly Father. How? Going to the temple as often as we can and whenever we get the Chance. And Partaking of the Sacrament every week! :D

I know that this gospel is True. And that the Lord our God lives as well as Christ! I know the Atonement is real and that it works. I know the Book of Mormon is True, and I know that Joseph Smith as a True Prophet and that there is a Living Prophet today to share what the Lord Desires us to do! In the Name of Jesus Christ Amen.

 At the Salt Lake Air Port When he got home.

 Travis and Chad 

 Travis, Jackie(Chad's Mom), and Chad

 Colby(Trav's Younger Brother), Travis, Me, and Chad

 Steven Wing and Chad in Ephriam(Steven gave him the Gift of the Holy Ghost).

 Chad and Aaron(Don't you see how Excited Aaron is? It's awesome! haha!)

Chad and I in Ephriam visiting and dropping Steve off! :D

There were some good times that weekend! It was awesome! I like to call it one of the best weekends of my life!

Chad was home for a month and left a couple weeks ago to settle into his new place in Seattle. And He leaves in a bit to go to the ship he's going to be on for a while till around Spring( not sure exactly when he'll be back at this time.) He serves for the U.S. Navy, and I'm proud to say that I support our troops because not just him but others that I love have served for our Country!

Before he Left, He gave me a Necklace set that I Love to wear and alternate it with the other Necklace he gave me Last Christmas! :D

The Necklace I'm wearing in this picture is the one I got from Chad for Christmas! :D It's a Genuine Amethyst Because my favorite Color is Purple(as you can tell by the color of my blog and my font! ;) My Birthstone is the Diamond. :D

I haven't taken a decent picture of myself with my new Necklace yet... but I will post one as soon as I take one! :D I've already gotten compliments on it! :D It's a cute little Genuine Tanzinite(really rare and expensive, and yes, I'm spoiled...) Pendant that looks super elagant! I Love it! :D 

I hope you guys were able to enjoy this post and able to join with me in the Joy of a New Member of the Church! :D

"Life is tough but it's even tougher When you're stupid." (Do what works in Life) -Anonymous

1 year anniversary and the Temple

All three of these pictures were taken when Deitrick and I first started dating.

Yesterday was the 1 year anniversary of when Deitrick and I broke up. I have mixed feelings about it. I still miss the good times we had while we dated, and I still have somewhat of a connection with him. I can say I'm doing a lot better today cause if you, really think about it or when I look back. I wasn't in a good situation, I wasn't as happy as I thought I was when I was with him. I still respect him for letting me go, he loved me enough to let me go do the things that I felt and he knew were important to me(that was getting myself back to the temple). At the time he said that he wanted the same thing, but I don't know where he's at in that process at this time. There are qualities in him that I did like, and I would like to have that in my future spouse. Anyways, I'm not going to talk about my ex today. I'm going to talk about myself.

My friends and family have witnessed the change I've gone through. And I'm so much a better person today than I was a year ago! Last year I had probably the worst attitude that I've had in my life! And that was super crazy and it was ridiculous! I prayed for a best friend to help me through cause, I know that family is always constant, but I also needed a friend that I could trust, and confide in whenever I had a hard time! Literally a couple weeks later,(on my younger sister's birthday), I met my best Friend Amanda Fox! She has helped me through so much and visa versa! She has encouraged me to do so many good things, we've done so much together it's so awesome! I Love it! She has been there when I told my parents that I wasn't in good standing (July), And I've been so grateful for my parents Love and Support through this tail end of the process and they've seen so much tears this past year, and they got to see tears of joy when I received full fellowship in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It has felt so good! I'm still waiting for a calling in my ward! But I'm probably close to getting one soon! I so want to feel more accepted into my ward and so excited that I'm getting to know new people everyday! Especially when it's harder for me to go up to someone and say "Hi! My name is Natasha. What's yours?" Yeah, I let other people come up to me instead!

Since receiving my temple recommend, this month has been a lot easier, I got a 2nd job at A.P.S (Addiction & Psychological Services) and I go to court everyday to receive referals from the Judge. And I do about 25 hours a week at that job and about 12-16 hours at Taylor Drug each week. I'm one busy girl! But I Love being able to keep busy and not being home all the time! Keeping busy just keeps Satan away from my mind when times are really slow(Like today... :P But I plan to keep that from happening... :D). And with all the business I'm able to attend Institute Thursday nights ( I may go to ASL Insitute Tuesday nights), and attend the temple.  My life revolves around Court though! haha! But there's not a dull moment in what I do. It's always different when I go to court. And it gives me a variety through my days! :D It's pretty awesome! My hair is getting longer! And I Love it like crazy! Although i'm going to be getting a trim soon... I have split ends like crazy and my hair feels so dry! But I'm not going to cut much off... It's been at least 4 months since I have trimmed my hair! And almost 6 months since I've colored my hair(amazingly though my roots just blend in really well with the color I have! So It's all good! :D)

Last Tuesday, I went to the temple with one of my roommates, and for some reason she was a little bugged that I took so long getting ready for everything. When I go to the temple, that is a time when all time just freezes and I just want to embrace the feeling of the temple! I refuse to just go to the temple and go through the motions and not even ponder where I'm at. I've done that once before, I'm going to do my best not to do that again! I've lost the privilege  of going to the temple once, I'm going to do whatever it takes to not do that again! I desire to be a temple going person! I want to fulfill my calling as a tribe of Ephriam and go to the temple every week to feel the spirit of our Heavenly Father, I want to help those that want to join the Church that are on the other side! I look forward to when I have the opportunity to go through the temple and receive my endowments to make new covenants with Heavenly Father! I'm doing my best to be patient though! haha! But, I do look forward to the future with full intent to follow God's will. The gospel is so important to me, I can't loose that part of me again!   Thanks for Reading, I know I was rambling, I didn't know exactly how to start the whole thing! haha! :P

"Life is tough but it's even tougher When you're stupid." (Do what works in Life) -Anonymous