A realization!!

So yesterday was a pretty drag day, I went to work in the morning came home and took a nap :) Well then I woke up got ready for the dance and waited for dinner! Well dinner wasn't done by the time I had to leave so I went to get the Wilkinson's mini van then off to round up all the girls! Well as we arrived I felt so old!! I don't think I knew 95% of the kids that were there, which is definitely the first. I think I danced with one guy that was the same age as me, I am ready to graduate and go to college! I know its not going to be easy and then I have to deal with older guys!! ahhh YIKES! lol Well it's weird because I feel like I am still a little girl but when I went to that dance it put into realization that I am growing up and about to take on this big world!! whoa hoo!!
Shanel

Being Sick!!!!

So this last week I have been super sick! I found out that I have some kind of Sinus Virus; which means my body has to fight it off, and on top of that I have an ear infection! So life has been pretty miserable! See I get sick maybe once a year, and it is always the worst! All I do is sleep because medicine makes me do that and then I wake up with head aches because I sleep to long. All last night I had a stomach ache and a fever. Yeah I keep getting fevers at night which is really annoying. I am also under a lot of stress hehe so that could be another reason. Well the medicine makes me feel sick and my noise bleed. So if you wanted to see how big of a whiner I am when I am sick here ya go, I am a girl with things to do and really do not have time to be sick :) Well hope everyone is doing well!
Shanel

Yorkshire and Nutella

Smile for the camera!!!

Yummy Nutella


So for Valentines Day I got this Yorkshire and Nutella which is a great dessert that Derek has been getting. I found out that Canada calls the Yorkshire which is like a puffy bread dessert, is pudding mix haha way funny and at first confusing haha. Well I cooked it on Friday and found out that I love Nutella!!! It is so yummy! My mom and sister also liked it. The Tulips my dad got us are gorgeous when they bloomed open this week. This is why they are my favorite!

Oh I did get to have Thais spend the night Friday!! We went over the plan of salvation so she could give part of the lesson on Wed. next week. She thought it was going to be hard, however she is now excited, and fully understands the plan! I am going to be so ready for Youth Conference!!
Well my over all weekend has been stressful and painful, between work and meeting I am ready to hibernate for the year;. Well Saturday I had to clean the pool by hand because we didn't have water pressure and ended up pulling my back :/ not good. So I have been in pain the last couple of days. I spent basically all Sunday with Megan after her mom almost passed out at church. I had to drive their van home, and Cilest a girl that lives at their house had her family birthday party latter that night so I just hung out with the family, which is always a ball at the Diuguids house.
Hopefully this week isn't as stressful.

A day helping Karrie!

Wow are Mondays fun!I woke up to go to the doctor with my dad, that went really quick which was nice. Then we grabbed a bite to eat and then he took me to the Allen's. Spending time with my dad is so much fun, we always laugh and make fun of people on talk shows (probably not a good thing) but he is a fun dad. But also on Mondays I get to go over to Grandma Jones and help Derek's Mom, Karrie on her scrapbook pages. Well I didn't have school so I went over bright and early. We accomplished a lot today we almost completed 3 kits! Helped her update her e-mails and organize e-mails, update who was is the classes, and helped kitting. Well we also did a little shopping for Derek getting his memory card and camera case, then a few things she need for her business. We talked about my plans for the next 3 years and a question she always asked Derek but he never talked to her about it,PROM haha no biggie just a little miscommunication between Derek and I at the time. We also talked about how the Lord blesses our lives and makes up is the littlest things when times are ruff. Well Brother Allen brought Karrie and I dinner which was very nice, a salad with chicken and bacon topped with crackers and Italian dressing way good. Then my parents picked me up however I was beginning to not feel well :( I think everyone is getting sick, the whole right side of my face hurt so bad, my mom gave me some medicine and ear drops hopefully that helps. Well I am off to bed
Love Shanel

Valentines Day!!!

So today is V-Day!! probably the most hated holiday in America ;) Well Valentines day is a tradition in my family. Ever since my little sister and I were younger my dad would put our favorite flowers and candy on our dresser so when we woke up we would be "Surprised:)haha So even at 18 years old I still look forward to waking up to see the flowers on my dresser! So this Valentines Day I got red Tulips and a heart can of Tinker Bell candy!! My dad is so cute!

Well having Valentines day on a Sunday I think is a great idea. Everyone was so happy and lovey! I don't think I have ever got so many hugs at church. The goodies were great, and the lessons were on family and how the home is so important! It was great. then to get hyped up for Girls Camp we had a meeting oneverything. Most of the girls are going to be 4Th years so they are really excited :) Which Megan and I will be over them, plus Thais and Sindi will be with us!!! I'm so excited!!
Well I hope that your Valentines Day is filled with Love
Love Shanel

I Felt Honored!

So today was just cold and rainy!! everything I dislike. However at work I get a dis trout voice mail from one of my friends. So thinking the worst, or that she is in trouble I call her back. She answers and asks me if I will teach her the Gospel!!!! Wow random, this girl I have known for a while and is very sweet. She wants to find out if the Gospel is true for her self and not for everyone else, which is what everyone thinks. She has been through missionary lessons but just felt they were rushing her, she told me that she has been going to one of the churches with a friend but just felt she didn't know enough to teach her what she feels she needs to know. She told me that she wants to make sure that she is converting to a church for the right reasons, and that she knows it is true for her self! She told me that she new I have a pretty good knowledge of the church and asked if I would be willing to teach her, but to where she could understand it and would go a little slower for her? Wow how honored I felt today! I love sharing the gospel and especially when people ask me to teach them. So being the little mini missionary I am, I am setting up appointments to where we can talk step by step the Book of Mormon!!! She told me that something is telling her that she needs to figure this out for her self right now and to know for her self! I love these opportunities. I am grateful for the testimony I have for the church and my Heavenly Father, that I can share something so meaning full to me!
Love Shanel

A Fun and Learning Day with Karrie

So Mondays I usually go over to Grandma Allen house to help Karrie (Derek's mom) with her scrapbook business, putting kits together for her classes. Well this Monday she helped me put together a great, I guess you could call it a "candy note". See today is New Beginnings for Young Woman's and each of the presidents and counsalors had to put a little hand out together. So of course I go to the amazing Karrie for something crafty and cute :). It is so cute and perfect for Divine Nature which is the value I picked. Well I got there early because I figured I could put it together real fast then help her with her kits. Well lets just say I am new to the technical stuff with Scrapbooking! So it took me a lot longer then I expected. Karrie is very patient, I'm sure she learned that from having 6 boys. However I messed up a lot and just wanted to leave it the way it was, Karrie she wants it to be perfect, which is not a bad thing at all (Derek is a lot like her I have noticed), it helps me to learn not to just give up when I am frustrated, but if I take some extra time it will turn out :).. I understand that the little things really do matter and made it look ten times better. She is also an awesome cook!


It was Dillon's 14th Birthday which of course he loved the attention! She made this kind of Mexican food type soup with a salad and pineapple! It was very good, then for dessert she made this chocolate cake, but it was a chewy brownie almost with chocolate chunks with fondue chocolate on the top, then topped off with strawberries!! It was delicious!! I enjoyed just hanging out with her and the boys, they are like the little brothers I never had!!! You know kids just in the kitchen two boys one girl there are bound to be messing around. Between the sandwiching and who is stronger, it's pretty entertaining.
Oh I also got a letter from Derek that day! I was excited because I didn't get one last week but figured he was busy :).. Well he had a lot to say and is very excited to be out there. He does miss home a little but not to much; that's pretty normal. He has developed a deep love for others, he realizes how much the lord truly cares for them even when they deny him or don't want to listen to the Gospel! It's really cold there but heavenly father is giving him a lot of energy while he is doing the work. He also responded to my Priest/Laurel letter which is probably why I got a 5 page letter! What is funny because I learned a lot about how boys minds function and so forth, so I told him about it and he replied that yes boys can be dumb sometimes, and really don't ever grow up "if you give a man a toy, he will play with it!", However I am still the guy that fell in love with you on the dance floor!" that is my favorite quote by Elder Allen!
I never thought that somewhat dating someone on there mission was a good thing or would be easy, but it really hasn't been that bad. I do miss him a lot but hearing what he is exercising and how he has grown so much in just about 3 months is amazing!! I truly do not know what the future has in store but I know that I have the Gospel in my life and "My plan" which never goes according to plan, but my goal for the next 3 years is to get my Bachelors degree in 3 years! then I will be ready for what is in store for me next, mission, getting my Doctoral degree in Science/Chemistry , or getting married! Who knows, Heavenly Father seems to go against my plan sometimes so I am not having a set plan! :)
Love Shanel

Senior Life and Growing up!

So being a Senior is pretty much what every Senior tells. It is the easiest year and also the most sad year. I think getting accepted to college really put it into perspective for me. I can't believe that I am a senior, the big hancho, the mucho grande nino. I see all the girls in ward, and how they look up to me and really do copy everything I do. I remember being in there shoes thinking when am I ever going to be like them. Well I hate to say it but it happened! Haha I never thought the day would come where I appreciate everything my parents have done for me, I mean really raising 4 kids is a lot, and me being the first one to go to college!!! My Brothers are so proud of me, to hear their expressions on the phone is amazing it makes me want to cry! Thomas and Christina understand the hard work that goes into going to college and getting into a college. But for their little sister to actually go to a University is even more awesome. Hmm I know my parents aren't looking foreword to the day I walk out the door to start my own life, but I think I am ready. I have a tough road ahead but I have a great mom who has taught me well :) just like the stripling warriors (I think) they had great mom's that taught them to CTR which helped for all of their son's to come back from war. All the mothers on earth today have a huge responsibility towards their kids. They are responsible for raising them and providing them with the knowledge of our Heavenly Father each day I understand that special love that our Heavenly father has for us, because all we do to provide for his children. I grateful for the choice I have made to keep holding to the rode and doing whats right so I can be one of those great mom's someday (after college ;)).. Hmm well off to bed :)

Love Shanel

College!!!

Well I had a pretty exciting time this week with Megan Diuguid it was really sad to see her leave today. However last night as I was trying to download something for Thais, I noticed a e-mail from BYU about my status to BYU-I. As I opened the e-mail and it told me that I got accepted to BYU-I. I started to scream the excitement I felt and the relief that I got into college was amazing and put into perspective I am graduating and growing up. I have been having emotional melt downs that I wasn't good enough to go to A University. I have always taken hard classes such Dual Credit and AP but have always struggled. My GPA is never what I wanted it, and my ACT score scared me. However I put trust into my Heavenly Father and I know he will put me where he wants me to go. Most Teens in the church think oh BYU-I, I would rather go to BYU- Provo. but President Eyering has come out and said that the people at BYU-I are the most spiritual individuals and truly will be successful. How great to know that I was accepted to that school. My heart, I will have to admit has always been to go to BYU-Provo. However the more of my friends that go there it kind of turns me away from it. Idaho might be a small town, but that's how I have lived my whole life, I think Heavenly Father knows what's best for me and if I get accepted into BYU- Provo I will be very happy, but will still have to ask the Lord if that is the place for me. Faith is very key in my life and i rely on it everyday t keep me on the right track.
Oh I forgot to finish the story :) ... well after I saw the e-mail I ran up stairs and screamed to Megan and she asked "What What, is the house burning down?" I said no I got into BYU-I and then she began to scream. I love that girl she is truly amazing and I wish deeply that she would go to BYU-I with me, however BYU is just not for her. She loves Texas (I don't know why ;)) but she has lived here her whole life and her family is here. Well the journey of growing up has official started.
Love Shanel