Nerve Burning...Tree Finally up!

So, I'm getting my nerves burned off tomorrow. I'm a little nervous, but I had a blessing the other day, saying this is the right path to take.

So, I know I'll be okay, I just really don't want to go through it! ugh!!!

But, we did get the tree up! Yea!!!

It was fun! I usually don't like Christmas music, do to the Marching Band fact of playing it all year...I just get so burned!

But, we listened to SheDaisy, Trisha Yearwood, and Sarah McLachlan's Christmas CD's. It was fun!!

We're still stuck in snow, we had two big storms back to back with record temps (it was -20 at my house!!!) and it's just icy and blah. Hard to drive in!

Anyhoo, starting to get back into the swing of things here!

Chelle }}i{{

Starting my 101 things in 1000 days again!

Ok, so I've decided to start my 101 things again!! I was only 55 days in it to begin with, but there are a lot of things on my list I had goals for that I can cross off.

So, I need to start over again, but I'm going to keep my list the same, as some of these goals were really big goals!

Look for some updates soon!!!

Chelle }}i{{

Great Advice From Colbie Caillat..."Dog girl" my meet-n-greet experience

Mel and Me With Colbie!


It's a little lengthy, sorry!! But soooo cool!!!

So, my best friend, Mel and I went to the Colbie Caillat concert. She was performing at the Casino I work for, so I was able to get free tickets and meet-n-greets. We were sooo excited! We LOVE Colbie!!!

So, the night before the concert, they were going to be checking in around my shift. A woman comes up and shows me her Hawaiian ID. I noticed the last name Caillat. I asked her if she was related to...she cut me off and grinned proudly, 'She's my daughter!!!!'

I got so excited and told her that I'm going and have meet-n-greets. I also told her thank you for raising what seems like a great kid. B/c her husband (Colbie's Dad) is a famous producer...he worked alot with Fleetwood Mac. And instead of saying 'hey dad, do me a fav.' Instead, she wrote her own songs and posted them on Myspace. I told her mom how much I respected that.

She thanked me and then asked if we allowed dogs in the hotel. I said yes, and she got excited and gushed, 'I have my friend in reno keeping our dog! Colbie hasn't seen her in months!!' So, I hooked her up to allow the dog in the hotel.

She then sat in the lounge to wait for colbie. I saw Colbie walk in and they headed up to their rooms. Her mom comes down an hour later with a signed autograph saying thanks! I was totally shocked! how down to earth she was! It was great!"

...too be continued...

Great Advice From Colbie Caillat..."Dog girl" my meet-n-greet experience - Con't

(This is the writen advice Colbie wrote in my book. She gave much more spoken advice...this was a turning point folks!!!!!!!)

Then, the concert. Colbie was great! Mel and I were waiting to go in for the meet-n-greet.

I saw her mom again. I waved and said 'Hi Diane!' she said, 'Michelle!!!' and gave me a big hug! And again thanked me!
A woman whipped around and asked, 'Are you the dog lady?!' I laughed and said yes. I asked if she was the friend from Reno. She said yes, and I found out she lives out where we just bought a house. So, we swapped info and now talk all the time! She's nice!

Then, I met Colbies' Gma, she asked if I was the 'dog lady'. I laughed again, she shook my hand and thanked me too.

Then, we get back to meet Colbie, and I walk up and said, 'Apparently I'm 'the dog lady' in your family. I work here and checked in your mom last night.'

She smiled and exlaimed, 'Oh! Thanks for everything you've done for us, and your hotel has just been awesome!!'

I was floored! She knew MY name!! I then asked her as she was signing my book of songs I have, 'I'm a songwriter, what advice would you give me?'

She told me to write from the heart, be honest, sometimes writing from a different persepctive is a great way to get a song. She told me song 'Breakthrough' is actually about a friend and her relationship with her dad. So, now that song has a whole new meaning to me.

Long Road, Fresh Start

Wow! It's been a while since I've been on here!!!! I miss it! I miss my daily blogs. Life just got too crazy!

I'm doing good in school....I mean, at least I'm passing, lol.

We just moved into our new house!!! We love it!!!! It's twice the size of our old one, we pay $200 less a month!!! I love it!!!!!!!!!! It's was the right thing at the right time.

It hit me after our primary program, we had just found out we got the house, and we're just waiting to close. I walked into the primary room after the program and I just started tearing up.

When I was set apart as the Primary Chorister, I was promised that if I put my heart and soul in the calling, I'd had the things I needed in my life.

Well, it came true. I was able to have my breast reduction, I was lucky enough to see my dad before he died. I'm going back to school, and we have our new house.

I feel so lucky and so blessed!! I know that I am on the right track, and that I'm finally finding myself again. I hate feeling so lost sometimes. It just sucks.

Anyhoo,

Time for home work!!!

Chelle }}i{{

How Great Shall Be Your Joy....My Testimony of Primary and Visiting Teaching

**names have been changed**

I want to share two things with you involving blessings and the church. Both came full circle this week for me, one of them tonight.

First of all, we have a house!!! Yea!!!! It just passed inspection, and we close on the 14th!!!

Well, when I got set-apart as the primary chorister almost a year ago...I was promised two things. I was promised, that if I put my heart and soul in this calling, that these children will know the gospel and Christ through me and through song, and that everything will fall into place the way it is needed in our own lives. Well, I did put my heart and soul into this calling. I love it so much! It is my favorite calling by far.

Sunday was the primary program, and the kids sang AMAZING!!! I was soooo wired after wards b/c I was sooo proud of them!! As I walked into the Primary Room from Sacrament, it hit me and I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that EVERYTHING came true. These children DO know Christ through song!!! And although it has been overshadowed by some grief (car accident, my dad, my friend's baby dying)....our life has worked out. We've become more financially stable, I was FINALLY able to have my breast reduction surgery, and we are moving into our own house!!!!! We are getting twice the house for about $250 less!!!! You can't beat that!!!! My life has been soooo blessed and I know it is in part because of my calling.

The second is the wonderful blessing of being a visiting teacher. My life long friend Terri (the above-mentioned friend who lost her baby) and I re-connected in this ward. She was in Primary with me and also my V.T. Companion. Without her, I probably wouldn't have done my v.t., as I hadn't received a testimony from it....as I've never had regular v.t.'s.

Well, we got an inactive sister. Sara. She let us in, and we had a WONDERFUL time!!! I remember telling Terri that I had a strong impression that her and I were the key to getting her back to church....and we were. We watched her grow and start coming every week. Then, she got a calling in Primary....soon her hubby started coming. Now they are regulars. They pay their tithing and are soooo close to going back to the temple, it's amazing!!!

Well, I swung by to visit with her, as this is probably my last month to visit her, being we're moving next month, and Terri moved this month out of the ward. We sat and talked. She thanked me for coming and doing our v.t.ing. She said, " I have had visiting teachers come and visit me, and I've always welcomed them in and thanked them for coming...When you and Terri first came into my home, you had this Spirit about you both....I forgot what it felt like, and I want that back in my home. I don't want it to ever leave again." I told her how proud and amazed I am to see this change too, but we cannot take all the credit, for she's come along way too in changing.

After I left, I was just in tears, so grateful, so full of joy. I'm reminded of the scripture, "And if ye bring even one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy." Well, my heart is about to burst. One person can make a HUGE difference in someone's life....and my joy is for her...

I just needed to share these things, for my heart is about to burst out. I have a strong testimony of this gospel, and of the Primary and Visiting Teaching....How Great Shall Be Your Joy indeed.....

We Bought a House!!!!!!!

We Have a HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It just passed inspection! We close on the 14th!! I'm doing cartwheels!!!

It's out in Lemon Valley (a suburb of Reno).

It is 1675 sqft.

The Ironic thing? We will have almost DOUBLE the house (we live in 950 sqft duplex) for about $250 less a month!!! You CAN'T beat that!!!!!!!!!!!

It's going to be our own home too!!! I'm sooo excited!!! We did qualify for a home loan through the bank, but Aaron's Gma is loaning us the money. We'll pay a little less interest, and she'll be getting more interest than it would be just sitting in a bank. It's a win/win situation. :-)

It's in a court, single story, 3 bed, 2 bath. It's beautiful!!! I can't wait!!!!!

I'll post pics as soon as I can!!!!