Blame it on the Pop 2009

Since I love music so much, this rocks my world right now <3

My Dream

I have always loved weddings. Anything and everything about weddings is just my favorite thing. At about 10 I started keeping up with recent trends and constantly watching the modest gown sites like www.eternitygowns.com, www.beautifullymodest, and www.totallymodest.com. I even started drawing out designs for fun (and still do). I'm secretly (maybe not-so-secretly for some!) a complete wedding fanatic!!! I love the rings, the dresses, the flowers, the locations, invitations, the jewelry, the food, the favors... ALL OF IT! So now to my dream... I want to open a modest wedding dress shop right here in Flower Mound! I have always loved the idea, but I really want to do it because 1. The closest decent shop that carries modest gowns is in Houston 2. I don't think it would feel like work to me and 3. My biggest reason... I cannot stand it when girls, especially high school age girls, can't find a modest dress so they settle for an unmodest one with a shall/jacket (but let me tell you, they DO NOT leave it on!). They end up with a dress they don't like that they're not comfortable in. And unless you travel to Utah or order online (which is risky), you're kind of stuck. When I was up in Utah last semester I made frequent visits to Allyse's Bridal & Prom in University Mall to check out new styles, talk to the girls that work in there, and of course try on a few :) They ended up offering me a job starting in January, but I came home so I couldn't take it. But anyways, as to when it will happen... no idea, maybe never. But it is my dream and I even have my Mom wrangled into it (Dad's not totally against it either!) and thinking about locations, names, etc. Just the thought thrills me... now if I just had the $200,000 or so to get started! Hmm...

Just a sample of what I would like to carry in my store... this has been one of my favorite dress for about 4 years now :)

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

And I think to myself...

... what a wonderful world!
Wow! It's so great to be home. I love my family! And friends too! Had lunch with my sis, adorable nephew, and Momma yesterday at Spring Creek (YUM!). Then took my nephew shopping and to play with the animals at Petland. We played with and looked at lots of animals, but our favorite was a tiny Pomeranian puppy that Jake named "Shoot". Last night I had a couple friends over and it was so great to see them. We wanted to roast marshmallows, but my Dad has been sick and didn't want to go get the wood to make a fire so we went to Wal-mart and bought marshmallows and tea light candles... that didn't work out so well! Haha! But we made a ginger bread house and started a puzzle and it was just good to be with them. Then today since my Dad still wasn't feeling well, I drove to Austin and back with him so I could be his co-pilot in case he needed me. He had to go to a meeting there for his new business. So I just sat and listened. I was supposed to go to Institute tonight, but we didn't get back in time. I was sad, but just seconds after we pulled in to our driveway I was ambushed by my friends so we could go resume the after institute tradition of 1/2 price appetizers at Applebee's. I suggested it one night last year and we have gone every Tuesday night since then!
My heart is just so full right now. I can't believe how rejuvenated I feel. I live in a great place, with great people, and a great family. I missed coming home for the night, whether early or really late, and finding my Mom and Hug-Attacking her... even if she's asleep :) and not letting go until she pries me off of her! And me, my sister, and my Mom's silly jokes that make NO sense to anyone else, but us. And sitting and talking to my nephew while he tells me anything and everything (even if it's made up half the time!). We have little jokes too :) When I came in from church Sunday he was at my house and, mind you, I hadn't seen him in 4 months. I came in the door and he came running into my arms and just kept saying "Hi T!" and smiling... oh buddy I missed you so much! When he saw the picture that I posted in the last post, he said, "That's my T! And me, her Sugar Bunny!" LOVE IT! I'm just looking forward to what life has ahead of me next. So many adventures in life... some good, some not so good, but all worth it. I will be working as a Phlebotomist (drawing blood) for at least the next semester and hope to just be able to not be so stressed and enjoy life!

No Place Like HOME!

I'm back home! And loving it :) Can you tell?

Missing You

Dear Little Buddy,
When I get home, I'm gonna hold you like this and never let go.
Love, Your "T" Jordan

I'm Certified!!!

As of November 14th, 2009
I'm a certified Plebotomist!
YAY!!!

The Time Has Come...

IT'S HERE!!! IT'S FINALLY HERE!!!
I can't believe it! It seems like it's been forever waiting, but it's here!
I wasn't going to see it until tonight, but last night my friend Heidi talked me into seeing it with her at 3:30 AM!!! I was so tired, but I'm so glad I went because it was amazingly incredible!!! I'm going again tonight and I am just as excited or more to see it the second time!
It was about this time last year that I posted this... http://comingtoyoufromflowermound.blogspot.com/2008/11/twilight-torture.html

Then quickly posted this… http://comingtoyoufromflowermound.blogspot.com/2008/11/uh-oh-obsession.html

Then I read the books after being bribed by my Mother and Cullen Lightsey, who was tutoring me at the time. Consequently, not much tutoring/work got done after I entered my Twilight frenzy. My Mom, Cullen, and I would just sit around the table and talk Twilight for hours… we all had a serious case of Twilight-itis. Fun times :)

But now I can’t wait for Eclipse to come out! My friend (Heidi, that I saw the movie with) said it’s coming out in June 2010 which makes me happy that I don’t have to wait a year! And she said Breaking Dawn will be 2 movies instead of one! I’m also really glad that Stephanie Meyer’s contract says that the movies have to be PG-13, so I don’t have to worry about them being rated R! Oh man, my obsession has been renewed. It’s like a 5 year old on Christmas, but better… and boy does it feel amazing!

Inspiration!!!

Yesterday my Stake President read this poem in stake conference and I immediately love it... It's a bit long, but read the whole thing... you'll thank me later :)

“Quit! Give up! You’re beaten!”
They shout at me and plead.
“There’s just too much against you now;
This time you can’t succeed!”

And as I start to hang my head
In front of failure’s face,
My downward fall is broken
by The memory of a race

And hope refills my weakened will
As I recall that scene;
For just the thought of that short race
Rejuventates my being.

A children’s race- young boy, young men,
How I remember well.
Excitement, sure! But also fear;
It wasn’t hard to tell.

They all lined up so full of hope
Each thought to win that race.
Or tie for first, or if not that,
At least take second place.

And fathers watched from off the side
Each cheering for his son.
And each boy hoped to show his dad
That he would be the one.

The whistle blew and off they went
Young hearts and hopes afire.
To win and be the hero there
Was each young boy’s desire

And one boy in particular
Whose dad was in the crowd
Was running near the lead and thought:
“My dad will be so proud!”

But as he speeded down the field
Across a shallow dip,
The little boy who thought to win
Lost his step and slipped

Trying hard to catch himself
“Quit! Give up! You’re beaten!”
They shout at me and plead.
“There’s just too much against you now;
This time you can’t succeed!”

So down he fell and with him hope -
He couldn’t win now-
Embarrassed, sad he only wished
To disappear somehow…

But as he fell his dad stood up
And showed his anxious face,
Which to the boy so clearly said:
“Get up and win the race!”

He quickly rose, no damage done -
Behind a bit, that’s all-
And ran with all his mind and might
To make up for his fall

So anxious to restore himself -
To catch up and to win-
His mind went faster than his legs;
He slipped and fell again!

He wished then he had quit before
With only one disgrace
“I’m hopeless as a runner now;
I shouldn’t try to race.”

But in the laughing crowd he searched
And found his father’s face;
That steady look which said again:
“Get up and win the race!”

So he jumped up to try again -
Ten yards behind the last-
“If I’m to gain those yards,” he thought,
“I’ve got to move real fast.”

Exerting everything he had
He gained eight or ten,
But trying so hard to catch the lead
He slipped and fell again!

Defeat! He lied there silently -
A tear dropped from his eye-
“There’s no sense in running anymore:
Three strikes: I’m out! Why try?”

The will to rise had disappeared;
All hope had fled away;
So far behind, so error-prone:
A loser all the way.

“I’ve lost, so what’s the use,” he thought
“I’ll live with my disgrace.”
But then he thought about his dad
Who soon he’d have to face.

“Get up,” an echo sounded low.
“Get up and take your place;
You were not meant for failure here.
Get up and win the race.”

“With borrowed will get up,” it said,
You haven’t lost at all.
For winning is no more than this:
To rise each time you fall.”

So up he rose to run once more,
And with new commit
He resolved that win or lose
At least he wouldn’t quit/

So far behind the others now, -
The most he’d ever been-
Still he gave it all he had
And ran as though to win

Three times he’d fallen, stumbling;
Three times he rose again:
Too far behind to hope to win
He still ran to the end.

They cheered the winning runner
As he crossed the line first place.
Head high, and proud, and happy;
No falling, no disgrace.

But when the fallen youngster
Crossed the line last place,
The crowd gave him the greater cheer,
For finishing the race.

And even though he came in last
With head bowed low, unproud,
You would have thought he’d won the race
To listen to the crowd.

And to his dad he sadly said,
“I didn’t do too well.”
“To me, you won,” his father said.
“You rose each time you fell.”

And when things seem dark and hard
And difficult to face,
The memory of that little boy
Helps me in my race.

For all of life is like that race.
With ups and downs and all.
And all you have to do to win,
Is rise each time you fall.

“Quit! Give up, you’re beaten!”
They still shout in my face.
But another voice within me says:
“GET UP AND WIN THE RACE!”

Disclaimer: Don't read if you don't like blood or needles!

One week from today, I will be a certified Phlebotomist! I'm so excited and it's something that I really love! I amazed and excited every time I get to draw blood and even more excited when I get blood! Sounds creepy, but it's such a thrill. I think I'm pretty good at it too. I missed the first few times and 1"hard stick", but other than that I have gotten blood from all my draws! Last week my instructor let us take home a "goody bag" so we could practice drawing on people at home during the week. I practiced on one of my roommates, my FHE Mom, another roommate's fiance, my Relief Society president and her friend this week. It was so fun! And all of them said I was really good and it didn't hurt! YAY! The whole thing a lot more complicated than I thought it would be. You don't just stick a needle in someone's arm and be done with it. There's so many things that I never knew like the tubes that the blood go have to drawn in a certain order, etc. I can't wait to do my internship and then get started for real!

Some pics of me drawing my brother-in-law's blood & him being a HUGE baby about it!

You Tube Hilariousness!

Just a couple videos that happen to be my absolute favorite right now...

Please Vote!

I entered a little 'modeling' contest for fun! So please vote!
You can vote once a day until 12/31/09... Here's the link:
http://www.exploremodeling.com/Contest/Faceof_ELF_2010/14176/Jordan_Hall.aspx

Favorite Quote

Let us not find ourselves as indecisive as Alice in Lewis Carroll's classic Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. You will remember that she comes to a crossroads with two paths before her, each stretching onward, but in opposite directions. She is confronted by the Cheshire Cat, of whom Alice asks, "Which path shall I follow?"
The cat answers, "That depends on where you want to go. If you do not know where you want to go, it doesn't matter which path you take."
Unlike Alice, we all know where we want to go, and it does matter which way we go, for the path we follow in this life surely leads to the path we will follow in the next.
~President Thomas S. Monson~

Update

Hello Everyone! It's been a while! Sorry! But I figured I should update you all on my adventures here in Provo. And man an "adventure" it has been! First, I have been ridiculously homesick! And that has not been fun, but I'm hoping it will get better soon. My ward is pretty good. I have been called as Stake Extraction Director. I love my roommates for the most part. One (Brittany) is from Virginia and she graduated early from high school so she's a sophomore, but she's even younger than me! Another (Martina) is really sweet. She is in a wheelchair from a paralyzing snow board accident in February. And then there's Kate. She's secretly my favorite... shhh! She is from Fort Worth and so we like to talk about Texas a lot! So I can say something Texas related and she knows exactly what I'm talking about. AND she's getting married in December and since I love all things wedding... it's fabulous! On another note, I have been pretty sick. I have only been here a month, but within that month I have had 2 bad colds, severe stomach pains, and a trip to the ER because I passed out in the shower and lost my hearing and eye sight for a bit! So quite eventful I would say! But I had some testing done last Wednesday and they found a few abnormalities, but I have no official results yet. I'm a bit scared because I don't have Momma here with me to "hold my hand" :( But I'm hoping everything will be okay and that my stomach will be able to feel better. Let me tell ya, waking up alone on my bathroom floor without hearing and eye sight is quite terrifying!!! I have also stayed busy with my job. I am a nanny for 4 kids in Mapleton. There is a 5 year old girl named Tayla, a 2 year old girl named Lili, and 8 month twin boys named Timoteo and Tomasi. They are half Samoan and pretty cute (there's a picture at the bottom of this post)!
I think that's about it for now! Hope everyone is doing well :)

Guess who I have a date with every Monday night for a little while!!!

CANNOT WAIT til Monday to see this guy dance!!!

Way Back When...

Do you remember when you were about 14? I barely do! My friend Joy (Venancio) back then found these old pictures and added them on Facebook yesterday. Here is a picture of me way back then with Joy, and...well, the last one is of my in 7th grade with my boyfriend Rick Shuman! Isn't this so fun! These pictures were taken about 32 years ago, can you believe it! Don't you just LOVE the shorts? They were our school's P.E. shorts! We went to Palo Verde Elementary School in Glendale, Arizona. Thanks Joy for the memories! It's been fun!

Apartment Pics 2!

So the other pics I posted were just off the website. Here are my actual apartment pics...

I'm gonna miss this...

I'm moving Monday. I gonna miss Texas. I'm gonna miss Flower Mound. I'm gonna miss my Mom, my Dad, my sister Amber, my Bro-in-Law, my Grandma, my Texas buddies, etc. But sorry everyone... you know what I'm gonna miss most?

This.
I'm gonna miss this little boy more than anyone knows.
The first picture is of Jake and a tower we built with his blocks and the second is Jake in my laundry basket :)
Also, he came to work with me Monday! He loved it!

DO IT ANYWAY by Mother Teresa

People are often unreasonable, illogical,
And self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you
Of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some
False friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank;
People may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building,
someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness,
they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today,
people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have,
and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis
it is between you and God
It was never between you and them anyway.

My Apartment

These are not pics of my actual apartment, but they are pics from the website! I love it! Isn't it pretty?!

My Friends...

This last 8 months has changed my life. Before that I was in high school, which I didn't particularly enjoy, and I was in pain from my EDS all the time. I was miserable, but never knew just exactly how miserable I was until last October... then everything changed.

I was really beginning to enjoy college. I was busy and loving it. My doctor put me on a pain medicine that made my body take a 180! Well, almost. I still have painful days, but they're fewer and further in between. So I was settling in quite well. I had begun attending institute regularly. There, I made some new friends. Bri and Courtney quickly became my sisters. I spent nearly everyday with them. Then January came. Some people came home from BYU to begin preparing the go on missions. I soon became pretty good friends with Foster and Daniel. Next thing we knew, we were thrown into what could possibly be the best institute council of all time. The five of us were practically inseparable. I have now watched the boys get their mission calls, one has already left, then Courtney left for BYU-I. Our group has remained great friends, but has begun to disperse. They will all remain my dear friends for life.

The next chapter begins in May. The semester was ending and summer was beginning. I remember one of my friends saying, "Hey have you heard about the Bug Boys?!"... My first thought, "OH YES. Yes I have." They sell pest control in the summer and are famous/infamous for causing a "good" ruckus among the girls, especially in Flower Mound for some reason. It wasn't long until I met them. Little did I know they were going to have such an impact on my life. There is about 10 of them that I am pretty close to and many more that I would love to get to know better. They are probably the best guys I have ever met. Such a great influence. We have had 2 months of very long talks about how I should be treated by a guy, late nights of games and fun in our homes, a concert, dates, etc. Three of my best girl friends are dating three of them now. One of these Bug Boys actually took me on my first "real" date... I will say that it was quite a good date. Anyways, the majority of us will all be in Provo together and we are so stoked! I cannot wait to be up there with the guys I believe are the big brothers I never had and the girls that I love so much!

So many other things have happened I can't even remember! It has been a whirlwind roller coaster, but SO great!!!
So, until the next chapter... that's my story for now! Soon I will be posting pics of my apartment!!!

The Fray/Jack's Mannequin Concert!!!

Jack's Mannequin

THE FRAY!!!!!!!!

My friend Justin! He's hilarious!

The Fab 4... minus Sam :(

We could see the Texas State Fair Ferris Wheel from where we were! And the moon too :)

Me and my friend Brooke!

Me, Brooke, MaKayla, and Justin!!!

The concert was amazing!

My Nest Is Soon To Be....Empty

This is my nest. This is how it will look in about a month. Empty. I'm not sure I like it like this! But it's a fact, that all your little birdies have to leave your nest eventually. That's what they are supposed to do, after all! That's what you raise them to do! We've all done it (hopefully), and it's all good in the end.

I hope all my birdies know that they can come back any time. Especially when they bring along THEIR baby birds!!!

If you haven't figured it out, Jordan is leaving for Provo soon! I am so excited for her! Striking out on your own is so exciting. When I left home, I went straight from my parents to my new young married apartment(well, with a two week stop at my in-laws because our apartment wasn't ready when it was supposed to be grrrr). I never had an in-between nest. I'm not saying I regret it (well, okay, maybe a tiny bit)- it was the right thing for me. But I am so happy for all my daughters that they have the opportunity to live on their own - with roomates - first. It's a good thing! Jordan will be doing online classes, as this was sort of last minute decision and she didn't even apply to any schools up there. We'll see how things go and make more decisions come January.

She is excited and so are her dad and I, although it will be a whole new ballgame for us. We have been parenting for 26 years total, and I'm not sure what to do with myself. I'll probably get a job. Yuck. I LOVE being home. We will see what happens. One thing is for sure though, there will be new adventures for all of us!!!! Oh...and I still have grammy here...and Maggie...and Cameron...and BRENT!!! He's like a kid anyways!!!!

Think About It.....

"They invented hugs to let people know you love them without saying anything."
-Bill Keane

One more video from Utah... Starring Jake and Asher!

Our "little" Extended Family Pic :)

The Whole Hall Clan!
We were separated by color: In green is the other Hall's, We are in White, In the bright blue in front is the Savage Family, In pink are the Keele's, in light blue are the Martinez's, and Popsie and Nanny are in the middle front!