A Smattering of Pics and Events

Here's a bunch of pictures/ memories from the past year...

That time that MiMi came to visit:) Can't wait for her to come again for thanksgiving!

When I used to have long hair.

At Kage's homecoming from his 2 yr. mission in CHILE. The boys gave mom roses for being such a rockstar mom:)

That time Adam and I got to go with our good friend Jen to see the musical Lion King in Seattle. 

The show was AWESOME!

The theater.. we had such great seats.

When we had to make the trip to go to the new Cafe Rio with friends:) It was Definitely worth the drive!

Oh, and Adam's back surgery. Had to put this picture in since it was such a big event to have RIGHT before Christmas. Adam is such a trooper! 

Oh, ya know... when your husband has to work crazy long hours, you sometimes have to hug them and not let go while they work :) Let's just say I was missing him a little.. or maybe A WHOLE LOT!!!

After Adam's work Christmas party.

Loved getting to visit my family and go shooting with Dad and Kagumzz.

Yes, of course I hit the bulls-eye every time:)... okay maybe exaggerating.

Look at dem STUDS!

Let's not forget the highlight of this year! Baby girl due Jan. 23rd.

That time I made homemade chicken pot pie. Our favorite meal of the year.

When Annie and I just had to pose for a pic on our family trip to Vancouver.

Look at how dang cute Eleanor looks in those glasses!

Our bike ride around Vancouver.

Our bikes rocked! They even had baskets baby:)

Austin and Chandra holding hands as they biked.. takes skillz

Look at that beautiful view!

Adam just loves kids. He is going to be an awesome dad.

Oh yeah, This is when I went to girls camp for a week in upper 90 degree weather! Did I mention I'm pregnant here? Talk about exhaustion. 

When my parents came to visit us in Seattle. I just LOOOOOVE my family!!!!

Hiking up to see the falls with the fam.

Loved getting to spend time with all my nieces and nephews this summer!

Let's not forget Austin and Chandra's wedding! It was absolutely beautiful.

Overall, I would say we have had such a busy, fun, eventful year so far. I just love making memories:)

Blur

Wow. I feel sheepish. I guess I'm not so great at this blogging thing. Haha, Oh well. We do the best we can right?

So the past couple months have been a blur. Recently Adam has been super busy with work due to busy season, and I already can't wait for it to be over. I hate coming home to an empty house. I think it's from growing up in a big family. Going from a house full of noise and boys running around playing laser tag has made me realize how quiet a place can become when you're in it by yourself. But, alas, I know this busy season will not last forever (I hope). I can definitely see how living by family would be so nice. To be able to get dinner at mom's house instead of making a bowl of oatmeal because you don't want to bake a full meal for one would be so nice.  It's so true what they say, you don't realize how much something can matter to you until it is gone. How I can't wait for the day Kage comes home from his mission! I look forward to going home, and getting to hang out with family:)

But, for now I will keep busy with work. A couple weeks ago I started a job as a receptionist and it has been nice to do something different. I enjoy learning new things, and like the change of scenery.  I have also started to teach beginner piano lessons to a few kiddos from church. They are all a highlight of my week and I look forward to teaching them. The things they say crack me up and make me excited to have my own kids someday! One of them asked me if I had any kids, and I said, "not yet" and he said, "oh, well, when you have a baby will you name him my name?" I couldn't help but smile:) I told him "maybe." He seemed to be happy with that.

I have also been enjoying teaching the Beehives in Young Womens at church each Sunday. All of the girls in my class have the sweetest spirits and I feel it a privilege to get to discuss and study the scriptures with them. As I plan and prepare the lessons for Sunday I can't help but feel how much Heavenly Father must love his children. What a wonderful opportunity to be surrounded by such amazing youth! I learn from each of their examples and testimonies and I am so excited to spend more time with our YW at girls camp this summer! Even with the spiders:) haha I know it will be awesome!

Well, I better sign off before this gets too long:)

Here is a pic Adam said he had to take of me before church. I had said "I have turned into my mom:) I have all the bags for church to prove it:)"

This whirlwind we call our L.I.F.E.

 Wow!

Time just keeps whizzing by.  I would have posted sooner, but alas, we did not have internet. So here's a little update on what we've been up to these past few months...

-  Flew to Hawaii for an AWESOME McKell family vacation
-  Accepted a new job in WA
-  Packed up our apartment with the help of some amazing friends
-  Flew to Utah for another amazing family reunion
-  Picked up our very first (new to us) car as a couple
-  Drove to WA
-  Found a place to live
-  Un-packed with the help of the very BEST parents in the world!!! (Seriously, don't know how they      put up with us kids!)
-  Visited the WA temple (IT'S GORGEOUS!)
-  And... last, but not least we went to our new ward.  Literally. It's new. The stake boundaries were just   changed and a new ward was created. This last Sunday was the first time that a combination of people   from SIX! different wards met in their new ward.  So our first Sunday was basically a "meet and        greet." Lots of people would start out by saying, "What ward are you from?" and so I'd answer.. The Brooklyn Chinese Branch;).  Haha I thought it was funny:P.  Anyways enough of me talking.  Here are a few pictures of this whirlwind we call our L.I.F.E.

Me, My Grandma Elliott, and the Gorgeous Cousin Crystal standing by Grandma's favorite flowers.

no food + no sleep + packing = you turn into a Zombie

Our view driving into WA... LOVE IT!

Me and Adam at the Temple grounds = our favorite place ;)

This past week Adam and I got to go with the youth in our branch to plant a garden of flowers at a nursing home.  At first I thought, "go play in dirt??? Aren't there spiders in there?" Haha my  family will understand this one;).  Buut, yes.  I did muster up the courage to go... Even with the thought that I might possibly see spiders in the ground.  But I'm here writing this post to say that, no I did not see any spiders, but I DID see worms.  Funny thing though... Somehow because I was wearing gloves I felt protected and unconquerable, like none of the worms or possibly even spiders could scare me.  This is a huge improvement for me if you know me.  Anyways, after playin in the dirt with Adam and other youth for a couple of hours Adam and I noticed that our gloves were pretty much shredded to bits.  I realized after that that I didn't care if I accidentally touched a worm and I certainly wasn't worried if I got dirt under my nails.  And then it hit me.  I actually enjoyed gardening.  I enjoyed playing in the sun.  And I enjoyed beautifying the nursing home grounds.  I think I might just have to have a garden when I have my own yard someday.. Even if there are spiders;).

Powerful quote

 Comfort in expressing your emotions will allow you to share the best of yourself with others, but not being able to control your emotions will reveal your worst. 

I saw this quote and thought it was powerful.  I hope we all can master the art of expression. No one should let angry emotions get in the way of communicating with love.  Communicating ALL emotions IS possible, as long as it is being expressed in love. It's the HOW we communicate our feelings that will either unify and edify or berate and degrade. We cannot let anger get in the way of communicating effectively. I know... This is easier said than done, but I hope we can all strive to indeed live with our "hearts knit together in unity" by expressing ourselves and our emotions with love.  Love is the key!

Hope you all are having a great day and enjoyed my morning thought ;D

Sometimes practice doesn't always make perfect...

Have you ever had those moments where you really wish you could just switch talents with someone? Well, considering what you read in the first sentence of this post, it won't surprise you to know that I sometimes do. Ok, maybe a little more than sometimes..more like, a lot of times.  I don't know. I know the line "practice makes perfect" is constantly repeated by teachers, but I do think there are certain instances where this type of thinking is false. For example, no matter what I do I still can't write the way I would like to.  I wish upon all stars that I could just sit down and wrte exactly what I am feeling, but I have a hard time doing this.  I don't understand. I can play my
Heart out on the piano, but I can't write a simple poem to go with it?  Some how some people can just sit down and write something beautiful.  I really wish I could do this.  Oh to be able to  sit down at a computer and write something great without taking 20 hours of your life! I have been reading a lot of books recently and I love how a book well written can transport you to another time, or another place and bring out emotions in you that you never knew you had.  I have longed to do something similar... Except not through writing books, but through writing lyrics to go along with my music.  I have the music.... The only problem is.... I don't have the lyrics.  Why does writing have to be so dang hard?! I have written hundreds of essays in my life. You'd think I'd be able to write one simple set of lyrics.  Is that so much to ask for? Haha ;)

The Cute Things in Life

So I don't know about you, but I just live for lovey, dovey moments. You know, the kind where you do something cute for your man, or even better... When your man does something cute for you;).  Well, I am also a fan of adorable stories and thought I'd share one with you. This morning I did my usual morning routine which consists of getting up, getting dressed, making lunches, making the bed, tidying up our apartment, and packing my backpack for work. Needless to say, this morning I wasn't overly happy either.. I was, for lack of a better word, grouchy. Well, just as I was about to leave the apartment I decided to grab a book to read during down time at work. Anyways, after a few hours of being at work I decided to open my book, and what lay between the pages of my book was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. It was simple.  It was sweet.  And it was ALL I needed to feel overly happy and ready to conquer whatever I needed to.  It was a little piece of notebook paper that read, "I Love ya!" - Oh the power of a love note - it really is the little things in life that mean the most.  It is funny isn't it? How one small act of kindness can change Your whole day. Yes, it's true.. I live for moments like that;D and Adam, if you are reading this, I love you more! ;)

A book a day keeps stupidity away;)

Scripture study.. This past year I have worked really hard to establish a fixed routine of scripture reading.  I used to hate riding the train to work because it was so looong and boring, but now have replaced that boring time with Spritual Enlightenment time. From trying to study things out for myself I have come to the knowledge that the scriptures are like a giant reservoir of wisdom and I have but merely scooped up a few handfuls of it's knowledge.  The saying "the more you know, the more you realize you don't know" definitely applies here. I have begun to ask myself how can I come to better understand the scriptures and the things they teach? I always feel like I don't know everything, and want so badly to just know it well enough to answer any questions someone might have.  Well, as I was trying to figure out how I can better understand Christ's gospel, I had a line from the sound of music pop into my head. Seriously! I did. You know.. The song where Maria sings "Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start..."Well, once I heard this line I also had this thought pop into my head, "all I need to know are the basics and I can keep building from there." I realized I can't expect to understand everything all at once, but the knowledge I seek will come line upon line and precept upon precept.  It definitely was a comforting thought. So, on that note I thought I would indeed "start at the very  beginning" by also reading gospel principles along with my regular scripture study.  I have to tell you.. I just LOVE that book.  It makes everything so simple.  I know this book is a teachers manual for the gospel principles class, but I promise.  You won't regret reading it.  In fact, you may just come to LOVE it;).  So if you're looking for something to add to your reading list, I'd recommend gospel principles. 

Sent from my iPhone

A Tun of Fun!

What a fun filled 3 months!

 First, Adam and I enjoyed having his family come for Thanksgiving! It was fun being able to show them around the city.  Adam and Mark went to a basketball game at the new Barkley stadium (go BYU! :D) while Susan, Annie and I went to go see Wicked.  It was AMAZING!  We also went to see the movie Lincoln.. Truth be told, I fell asleep haha, but what I did see was good.  Watching a movie in a dark theater after a long day of work is a recipe for sleep.  Then we ate a delicious thanksgiving feast, which Susan helped me prepare.  She taught me how to make the best gravy ;).  Overall, our time together was great.

Our second fun adventure consisted of Adam and I surprising my family for Christmas;).  It was fun being able to play with the little kiddos and being able to perform our christmas program at the care center .  All of the elderly folks there were adorable! I even got a kiss on the cheek by the sweetest old man. :) Christmas Eve was the best one I have ever had!  the little nieces and nephews make it the best!.  Just watching their eyes dance with excitement, and seeing them rip open their presents was too much fun. Surprising my mom, dad, and siblings will forever be one of the best memories I've ever had.

Our third exciting event was having Allie and her friend Hannah come stay with us. We took them to China town to get dumplings, and we took them to little Italy to get New York's number one best canolies;).  After that we took them to the Two Towers memorial site and looked at the reflection pools.  It was beautiful. Then, we went to the Metropolitan art museum;).  It too was beautiful! After that, we went to Shake Shack.  You can't come to New York and not go there. It's the best! Haha needless to say, having them come visit us was SO MUCH FUN!

Adam and I are so grateful for the most wonderful family and friends! We truly are blessed to have them in our lives! Love you guys<3

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 ;)