The Vote.

I went to vote early this morning, and....... I felt like I was the only person there under 60.  Haha, it was definitely an experience.  When I walked through the doors, this old man looked at me as though I shouldn't be there.  He thought I looked too young to vote, but I told him I wasn't and that I had registered to do it. So I proceded to walk around until I could find the line where I could pick up my file with the ballot to fill out, and let me tell ya.. it was chaos!  I kept thinking to myself, "If the church was able to run this thing it would go so much more smoothly."  haha! But even though it was hectic and crazy, I am grateful for the opportunity to vote.  I am excited and nervous for tonight.  I just keep hoping and praying that the right person (Romney) will win. haha :)  So I sit here, eagerly awaiting tonight...

When the cats away, the mice will play... dress-up ;)

 Adam is so lucky!  Ernst and Young paid for him to fly to Utah this weekend to help recruit students in BYU's accounting program.  In other words, he got to visit family ;).  How awesome is that?!  I'm so happy he was able to go.  He works so dang hard.  He deserved it.  Meanwhile, I spoiled myself and watched 2 chick-flicks, baked a cake, and played dress-up.  Who says you can't play dress up when you're older?  I think all girls need to and should do it every once in a while. It reminds you that being a girl is fun... which, I admit, can be hard to remember sometimes haha.  

(Me after playing dress-up)

Oh!  And since today is Sunday, I thought I'd share a really good line that I heard in one of the talks given today in church.  My friend Ah-Ling (don't know if that's how it's spelled, but that's how it sounds haha) spoke about trials and how they help us to learn and grow.  She said,

"If there are no challenges in our lives, there is no meaning in our lives."

How powerful is that? I never really thought of challenges, or trials for that matter, as the thing that gives my life meaning, but when Ah-Ling shared this in her testimony I felt the spirit so strongly that I knew it was true.  I hope I can remember this when life seems crazy and I question "why me?"  

Hope you enjoyed this message as much as I did!

Since time has been whizzing by, I have been having feelings of nostalgia... 

I remember sitting in the back yard on my Dad's knee as he told me and all of the other neighborhood kids a scary story.  I remember being woken up by my Mom to go for an early morning run/walk before school.  I remember racing to "King of the Mountain Rock" with my brothers to watch all of the hot air balloons float weightlessly on the air above.  I remember walking through crinkling leaves as I embraced the smell of roasting green chilies on my way home from X-Country practice.  I remember the feeling of absolute freedom as I drove home from high-school to be home just because I could:).  I remember singing my heart out to Taylor Swift in the white van as my mom drove me to my first day of college.  I remember being overwhelmed by butterflies as I first chatted with the handsome man that I would eventually marry.  I remember glancing out the plane window to see my introductory view of NYC. 

  As I have reflected on all of these experiences in my life, I am reminded of how many blessings the Lord has poured down on me.  I am so grateful for all of life's experiences and look forward to making more wonderful memories...

IF YOU LOVE ME, FEED MY SHEEPS.

(You can't see it in this picture, but that same little girl tagged, in pencil, an S onto my "sheep")  

A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to teach the 4-7 year olds in primary. I taught the kids about service.  I had the children read the scripture that talks about "...If you love me, feed my sheep..."After that, I gave each child a piece of paper and asked them to draw a picture of an act of service they had done that week.  After they drew their cute, stick-figured pictures, I had them write the scripture on it too.  When the first child wrote the scripture on her paper, she said, "See Sister McKell!  This is how it SHOULD be written."  She then proceded to show me her paper which had the scripture written out like this...

"If you love me, feed my sheepS."

After proudly showing me her picture, she said, "Sister McKell, Jesus wants us to serve EVERYONE! He doesn't just want us to serve ONE person.  That's why you have to put an S on the end of sheep!" haha, I didn't have the heart to tell her that sheep is already plural. ;) 

Even though the wording wasn't exactly correct, this little girl taught me a profound message.  How often do we do a small act of service for one person and then say to ourselves, "Hey!  That was nice of me to open that door for that old, tired woman!" and then call it good? Or we help someone out and say to them, "It's okay that I helped!  That'll be my act of service for the day."  

As I have been reading the New Testament I have realized just how much Jesus gave, gave, gave.  He was always serving and loving others.  Not just some of the people some of the time, but ALL OF THE PEOPLE ALL OF THE TIME.   

This is one thing that I want to really work on... 

recognizing and acting on opportunities to serve.

I will never read this scripture again without reading it like the little girl read it in our class that Sunday. 

"If you love me, feed my sheepS."

(Who said adults can't learn from children? :)) 

Since I make a living off of being a hair stylist, I couldn't help but laugh when i saw this picture.  

SEE!  A person's hair style DOES make a difference;)

Hope you enjoyed this as much as I did.

These past few days have been filled with exciting events.  Adam and I had fun visiting and catching up with friends, Jeff and Chelsea, on the Upper West Side.  While there, we went to The Upper West Side Cafe.  It's a little cafe that is right along the Hudson.  It was SOOOO beautiful.  As we ate, we enjoyed the company and the New Jersey lights twinkling off of the water ;)  Here is a picture of what the cafe looks like...

Pretty right? ;)

The next event was the Truman's/ Bonobos Men's Apparel Pop-Up store kick off  (for those who don't know, I spend my time these days at Truman's, a men's salon located in Midtown).  While most crowded around the bar for the beer tasting, I protected the hors d'oeuvres station.  Waaaay better! ;)  Here are some pics of the event...

 My Station

The Snacks 

Some of my fellow stylists

Oh!  And to end, I thought you might get a laugh at this.. Look at how my name is spelled on the list my boss typed up.  For my own sake, let's just leave the joke right there :)

So.... Adam and I soaked in the fun today! 

Whether it was

playing frisbee in the park, 

taking goofy pictures on photo booth,

watching the Hunger Games,

eating pumpkin pie cake,

or cuddling on the couch next to our pumpkin spice candle

today was AMAZING!

Here are just a few pics...

mmmn... lets not forget the best part ;)

Riding the train this morning I couldn't help but just look out the window and soak up all of the sunny scenery.  The perfect feel of fall makes me want to curl up on a porch swing and watch little kids play pretend on the street.  Fall...mmmm, the smell of fall ;) I just love it.  When Adam and I were out shopping the other day I had to get a pumpkin spice candle for our little apartment. Haha if fall had a flavor, I am sure pumpkin spice would be it.  I am so grateful for all of the wonderful seasons we are blessed to have here on this earth!  Whether it's changing from summer to fall, or moving from Utah to New York with my man, I am so blessed and grateful for all of life's experiences.  

       These past few months have been crazy!  So crazy in fact (at least that's what I tell myself haha), that I have not updated the blog in forever....Like.... 8 months forever.  Lame. I know.  I have made it a goal to personally update it at least once a week.  One of the highlights of our summer was vacationing with both families in Utah.  It was amazing to be with the fam. :)
        It's funny... you really don't know how awesome it is to be with them until you live on the opposite side of the country from them.  I really do miss everyone... especially my mom, but I am so glad she is just a phone call away.  Haha I think I have learned how to cook more of her recipes this year than I did living at home.  Moms are great aren't they?  They are always there for you, and never complain every time you ask them for help.  They just willingly give give give.  Adam and I were so lucky to be blessed with such great mothers.  Time with family really is the best!
      Another adventure Adam and I had during Memorial Day weekend was a perfect, much needed, trip to Palmyra, NY.  We went to the Hill Cumorah Visitors Center, the Sacred Grove, the Joseph Smith house/ Farm, the Print Shop of the Book of Mormon, and last, but not least, the Temple.  And, no.  We did not go during the pageant.  I am glad we didn't though.  It was perfect.  Just Adam and I and the cute little village of Palmyra. ;)  The spirit and peace we felt there was a breath of fresh air from the hustle and bustle of the city.  Our favorite part was watching the new Joseph Smith movie at the Hill Cumorah Visitors Center.  It does a great job of depicting the life of Joseph Smith.  If you watch it, just know that you WILL cry.
     Here are some pics of our vacationings recently :)

Mom enjoying her motherly/ grandma the great role:)

Jammmerrrrzzzz:)

Of course, it's not an Allen Reunion unless there's football:)

Nick just chillen

Adam being the favorite uncle and playing with the kidlets

On our way to the Brigham city Temple and Tabernacle

The nephews!

View of the Brigham City Temple from the Tabernacle

The girly little one!

Now  

The church we went to on Sunday in Palmyra

Oh... the beauties a flower garden

A cute little house in Palmyra

Yes... I did take this pic 

The Gold Plates :)

The Hill Cumorah

Me running to my prince charming:)

The view from the top of the Hill Cumorah

This pic is for Stevie

Do you see the dragonfly?

Back to some pics from the reunion haha ... don't know how they got down here ;)