Christmas...

I still cannot believe that Christmas is less than a week away. I guess time flies when you are having fun! No, time flies when you are working and living your life to the fullest. For Christmas this year, I am going to Florida with my parents. We are specifically going to Orlando where we will go to places likes Disney World and the new Harry Potter wizarding world. I think my dad is most excited about that one. He loves Harry Potter more than life it self. Just kidding!!! It will be fun though I joke that I am going by default. What does that mean? Both my brother and sister are spending Christmas with their in-laws this year so I am the one who gets to go along with my parents on this trip. I do not mind at all. I am excited to be going to Florida. In all reality though, I will miss having my siblings their, but that is how life is. I want them to have great Christmases. Both of them will be celebrating Christmas with a brother-in-law who just returned from a mission. How cool is that?

I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Some weeks are just better than others

This past week at work was hard. It just was. It just did not start off right. Last Sunday night when I returned from California, I arrived in the middle of a blizzard. Yes, I left sunshine for eighteen inches of snow up at my house. This is the kind of snowfall you get when you life up in the benches and you can tell that I am not the biggest fan of snow, but I will deal with it to the best of my ability. Though the snow stopped by Monday morning, we had to dig out our driveway and our cars. In doing this, I was just late to work. There was no way I was going to be on time, but my boss understood. So Monday was okay and Tuesday was too. But by the end of Wednesday, I was just mentally exhausted and it carried over to Thursday and Friday too. We are working on some big projects that just take a lot of you. I would come home and be like, "I just want to sleep." Wednesday I laid on my bed for a few hours, destressing. I was so excited for the weekend.

Yesterday, helped me get over my rough week. I took my sister out to get manicures for her birthday (Yes, I know her birthday was in October, but she did not care). That was so much fun and then we had lunch after. I love hanging out with my sister and I love the pizza at Cafe Trio. After lunch, we decided to go shopping. The highlight Costco because we went around and tried all the samples. I ended the day by going to watch a friend of my play the piano at Assembly Hall in Temple Square for the LDS Business College with my roommate. It was amazing. After, we walked around Temple Square and looked at the lights. I love Christmas!!!

This coming week will be better as I begin it in Northern California!

Turkey! Pie!

Two weekends ago, my roommates and I throw a "mock" Thanksgiving. It was tons of fun and was the first time I ever cooked a turkey by myself, which was an interesting experience. As my roommates had to go to church early, I was left with the task of getting the turkey in the oven. Mind you, this was a 20 pound turkey. So I prepared the turkey to be cooked by flouring the oven bag you cook the turkey in. After this, I diced celery and onions and spread them on the bag's bottom, which I placed in a roasting pan. Next, I gave the turkey its very own butter bath. Once I finished this, I then realized I had to get the turkey into the bag, all by myself. So I opened the bag as wide as I could and then just hefted the turkey into it. I am still amazed I got it in there, but I learned that next time I cook a turkey, a second pair of hands would be great. However, the turkey tasted so good. I was quite proud of myself. Again, I give all the credit to my mom, who is the best cook I know. It is just in the Litchfield/Hall genes. Along with the turkey, I made stuffing. My roommate made a chocolate pie she covered in meringue. That was delicious too! It was a fun night all around. And it tasted oh so good.

The following is pictures of my turkey:





The pie my roommate made:



So this past weekend, I decided to make a pecan pie. I love making pies for some reason. I promised Lewis I would make this one for him. It was quite easy to make as all you do is mix together corn syrup, brown sugar, melted butter, molasses, eggs, flour, and vanilla and dump it over the pecans you placed in a pie shell. The pie tastes really good, especially warmed up with ice cream. Here is the end result:





I am so excited for Thanksgiving. In my family, it is a total group effort these days. I am looking forward to going to California and spending time with my family, especially with all the snow that is rolling into Utah at the moment.

Cake, Stuffing and Gardner Village...

I was going to post this last Monday, but life got in the way. Last Sunday, I decided to make a Buttermilk pound cake. I borrowed a bundt cake pan from Renee and went to work. However, the most important lesson I learned when making a pound cake is to flour the pan because if you do not the cake comes out in pieces. And though it looks a little funny, it tasted oh so good!

The cake

After making the cake and attending church, I went over to Renee and Lewis' for dinner. Renee and I made my mom's stuffing. Her stuffing recipe is truly amazing and because it is so good, I basically will not eat anyone else's stuffing. This stuffing just is so delicious. I meant to take a picture before we dug in, but I forgot so I made Renee hold up the leftovers. I am planning on making this stuffing tomorrow for my apartment's mock Thanksgiving.

Renee and the stuffing

Today, my roommates and I along with a good friend of ours went to Gardner Village. I had never been here before, but it was so fun. The village is filled with shops that include quilting, knitting, sewing, candy, etc. I loved it. Their Christmas shop was amazing and I bought some ornaments for my family's upcoming ornament exchange. We also visited their candy shop!
Here are some photos:

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

If You Don't Believe in God after reading this story...

At my work, we have daily missionary devotionals every morning. During these devotionals, a spiritual thought or scripture is given. Yesterday, one of my co-workers gave the spiritual thought. Since we work for the Family History Department, her thought was motivated by her love of the story of LDS President Wilford Woodruff doing the temple work for our Founding Fathers in the St. George temple. Then she told the following story about George Washington during the French and Indian War in 1755.

The Lord protected this man because he knew that Washington was going to play a pivotal role in our country's founding. Without him who knows what direction our country would have taken. The Indian Chief realized that this man was truly protected by the power of God. Washington realized this too and always told how this story helped confirm that God has given him a great calling in this life. And what is sad is that this story was taught in our schools 1934 and then it was removed because heaven forbid we teach our children that God does exist and performs miracles. Washington believed in the Lord. The Lord protected him and others witnesses this protection. He never forgot what happened to him that day during the French and Indian War and we should not either. Maybe it is time for our country to remember the Lord's pivotal role in our country's founding. We should not be taking stories like this out of our textbooks. What would Washington think? It was one of the most pivotal moments of his life and now people just want to sweep it under the rug.

God exists. I have a strong testimony of his divine power and protection. He always provides me with guidance and protection. I love him!

Settling in...

It seems like I have lived in Salt Lake City for longer than three weeks. And that is a real good sign for me because I know without a doubt this is where I am suppose to be. Though moving up here was crazy and hectic, I am settling in quite nicely. I arrived up here on a Friday, moved into my new place on Saturday, and began work on Monday. How did I do this? Well... I had help. My sister, brother-in-law, and mom were great. They helped move my boxes and unpack. Renee was awesome and such a trooper. On the Saturday of my move-in, she went with me when I bought my bed. As I wanted to get my bed that day so I could sleep in on it that night, we told the sales guy we would pick it up from the warehouse. If you are wondering where my brother-in-law was, he woke up sick Saturday. We got my sister's truck and went to pick up the bed. It just barely fit into her the bed of her truck, but we made it back to my house with it and the moved it in. Also, when I purchased my bed, I got a free XBox 360 with it. Truthfully, I did not really want it because I am not a big video game player. So Renee happily took it off my hands and now it resides happily in her house. Lewis and she have given it a great home and lots of love.

In Salt Lake, I live with two other girls in the basement apartment of a nice house. My room looks out to the backyard and I have plenty of sunlight. I love it though we have deer that like to wander around the property. One night when I came home one scared me when it jumped out of the bushes. Also, I have woken up to one eating apples from the tree outside my window in the morning. Hopefully, I never hit one! My new roommates are fantastic and we get along well. One works at a bakery. She has a degree in culinary arts and she always brings back cookies that are so good. My other roommates goes to University of Utah and is working on two Masters'. We have a lot of fun together. My singles' ward out here is amazing. It is full of singles who are either in graduate school or working. My new Bishop is wonderful. He is so understanding and compassionate.

The view from my window

I love my new job. I am constantly learning everyday though some days can be a little overwhelming, but I work with a great team. The one part of my job that I love more than anything else is working with missionaries, especially, missionary couples. They have taught me so much about service and love. There is one particular sister I have really bonded with. Everyday, she checks in with me to make sure I am doing okay and gives me a hug. I am well cared for and happy. I am right where I am meant to be. Everything has gone so seamlessly. And though this should scare me, it does not. I am thankful for how everything has worked out. The spirit has confirmed that I am on the right path.

For so awhile there, I was worried about where my life was going. It stressed me out, but my mom was right all the time. She told me to be patient and that things would work out for me. She let me feel what I needed to feel and never told me it was wrong or how to feel. Instead, she focused on understanding why I felt that way and always listened when I needed somebody to talk too. Thanks mom!

I'm glad to be settling in so well. I love that I have health insurance and a good salary. I am thankful for a wonderful and supportive family and friends.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful sister Renee! I know you wish you were spending it hugging a giant yellow macaroni noodle again in Boston. Just kidding. Have a wonderful day with lots of cake. You are the best wife, sister, daughter, aunt, and friend. I am so glad you are my sister and my best friend (and I am very happy that we now know only live 10 minutes from each other). Thanks for always listening and always being there when you are needed. You are amazing. Happy Birthday!!! I love you. Plus, I decided to include some fun photos to show everyone how awesome you are!!! Happy Birthday!
















Happy Birthday!