The Temple

The temple never ceases to amaze me. I am glad that Endrit and I have always lived within a couple of hours of a temple. It has been one of the biggest blessings of our marriage. Upon going to the temple our first times, Endrit and I made the goal of going once a month. To this day we have kept that promise to each other. 4 years and 3 months so far for Endrit and 4 years and 6 months for me. With the temple cleaning at the SLC temple this month and family visits, we almost missed this month. We were able to go to the 7:00 pm session today. We always feel so peaceful and uplifted while we are there. Today was one of the more peaceful sessions that I have had the opportunity to go through. Life has been a little rough for the last month and a half since we have gone. Endrit has his pre-oral that he is preparing for and I am entering my last year of my bachelors while doing summer school. It has been hectic. We went through and got everything confirmed that it will all work out and that we are on the specific path that the Lord wants us on.

I love knowing that I have the Lord on my side. I love knowing that I can turn to Him in all things big and small. I love personal revelation and peace in knowing that you are doing the right things for YOU. I love praying in the temple and feeling as close to God as I can on this Earth.

I had a great night. My heart is full. I am ready for the next month of challenges before I will have the priviledge to enter the temple again. I am excited for the 10th of August. I will have the opportunity to go to the temple on a Monday in order to clean it. I know it is only vaccuming or slight painting, but it is something that I can do physically for the Earthly home of the Lord.

Fan of Sales

I am a huge fan of sales. I don't think that anything is worth paying full price for. I have a love affair with bath and body works which to me is expensive. More specifically, I like the antibacterial foaming soaps and body cream. So, I wait for deals. I get a deal in the mail (thank you to the previous tenant) and it is 7 for $20 with the soaps. It also came with a buy $15 worth of stuff and get a free $12 body cream. I had to go and get the deal. There was nothing more about it. I had to. I give the soaps away as gifts for some people. So, I go to the store and the total before discounts is $47. I can't believe anyone would actually pay that. I got it all for $21. I am just good that way. That is why ebay is awesome. Endrit thinks that it is funny that I seem to have a 6th sense for sales. I am not ashamed of this. It means that we can buy higher quality things for less than the cheap stuff.

New Playlist

I have been wanting to sit down and create a new playlist for myself. Endrit has always done this for me, and we differ in music tastes most times. So, I have spent the last few hours going through my music and got an initial 155 songs of my own choice sorted through, organized and placed in my MP3 player. I have much more to do, more bands to find that I like, and listening to my new playlist. I am glad that I finally got this started.

Seriously I am not Pregnant

I truly am just sick. I am not sure with what, but it is nothing more than that. I had my period 3 days ago! If I was pregnant...I wouldn't be posting about my morning sickness this early. So, Sorry I posted the other blog. This would be the absolute worst time to get pregnant. I still have to do my student teaching and my Masters.

Still not hungry

I have been not feeling well for the last week. I just have zero appetite for anything. I am hungry but if I look at food I get nauseated. I have had a grand total of a bowl of cereal with no silk. I just ate it with my fingers out of the bowl. Yesterday, I had a nectarine, honeydew and rice. I don't think I ate on Sunday. It isn't fun. Nauseated all the time. I have been trying to get my homework done, but it just doesn't work. I am tired but I can't sleep. I am sick of bland foods. Even bread didn't look any appetizing today. I have lost 7 pounds in 5 days. I could stay sick for a little longer if that keeps up. So, blah.

I can't believe that I will be done with my summer class in 2 weeks. That really makes me happy :) Then I can read the 5 books I have on hold at the library and do my Wii fit again. I might just have to get more books too. Any suggestions. I like non-to-deep books. Grisham fan, Dan Brown fan...Things like that.

Twilight

Over the last week I have decided I would jump on the Twilight saga band wagon and read all the books. I am a fan of fantasy so I thought warewolves and vampires would be up my alley. So, I have seen the movie from the first book and it wasn't a horrible story-line. Actually in all honesty, I enjoyed the movie more once I read the book.

The second book, rubbed me the wrong way. I am not really a fan of Jacob. 2 years younger and much less mature. I have to say that once the vampires were back in the story, it was better.

Third book, a little dry, a little gruesome and over the top. Too much fighting over the female lead. I was glad that the last vampire trying to kill the human was destroyed.

Forth book, my favorite of the books. It was nice to see her actually turned into a vampire.

I wasn't too impressed. I think that I will stick to the movies. I have read them. Now I am trying to figure out the books I will read the 3 weeks I have off of school. I have read SO many books this summer. So...I say, don't waste your time reading twilight. It was an easy read. It was a very sappy romance(ish) novel. I don't know why it is a bestseller.

Comparison

Endrit and I talked today about how he feels to be American. He is more than glad to be a citizen. It opens a whole new world to him. But, there were similarities that we found with gaining citizenship and getting married.

Driving to the luncheon after our temple wedding we talked. Both of us didn't feel any different. We went to a ceremony that was awesome, got a piece of paper that signified a change of status. That was it. We didn't feel any different about each other than we did before. NO difference.

This is the same as citizenship with Endrit. He has always been patriotic to this nation even without being a citizen. He had better have been or the family wouldn't like him at all. So, we go to an awesone ceremony today, he gets a piece of paper and his status changed. That was all. Just the same as getting married.

That piece of paper in both cases comes with perks, like being sealed for time and all eternity to the one person you love more than anything, or the right to vote. It is just interesting. He kind of did get "married" to the USA today.

DONE!!!

Endrit is officially a citizen. It was an amazing experience! Endrit and I got there early so that he could sit near the front to leave the soonest. When we got there, I thought that I was just going to be sitting outside the theater waiting for him. Well, they said new citizens this way...friends and family on the balcony! I was able to be there and watch the whole thing!! It was so crowded. I sat next to a wonderful lady. She took pictures of Endrit and will be emailing them to me. She even said that she would email pictures of the judge and the speakers as well. She even took pictures of me! She was the nicest lady! I am glad that she was there because if she wasn't I wouldn't have the pictures because my camera just wasn't cutting it. I am happy that it is over! Endrit is happy that he is a citizen. Now we are just a regular all American family. Thank you to all the people that have helped Endrit and I on this long road to citizenship!

Citizenship Party

Yes, I am aware that Endrit does not in fact have his citizenship quite yet. But, since it was a day in between my brother's Army weekends (or the 2 weeks) that could come and Endrit and I would be in Preston for a vet appointment for Jimmy, my Mom and I planned a nice surprise get together to celebrate Endrit.

Here is the cake that my brother Phillip had made for the occasion! It was awesome! It is the only picture I have because funny thing, I took pictures with my Mom's camera and not mine.
She should be emailing the rest later.

Endrit also got an "All American" wood wall decor plaque from Bill and Tina Stewart. The Stewarts are awesome friends. We are lucky to have met that wonderful family. When I have a baby, it will be blessed in Weston 1: because it is a nice in-between place for people to meet without driving forever and 2: because the Stewarts will be there. That is how great of friends they are. They have done a LOT for Endrit and I over the years that I don't think it is possible to repay them. (Similar to how you can never repay your parents).

We had lots of fun. We are excited for Wednesday because there is an almost 100% possibility that he will be sworn in as a citizen of this great nation by US district court Judge Ted Stewart, of the afformentiond Stewart family. He says that this is the best part of his job and it is a big step for all the people that get sworn in. I will post pictures of Endrit with the Judge when it is totally finalized. I will also get more pictures from my Mom and post more of the party.

Other than that, my kitties are really not happy after a trip to the vet. They have little fevers and Jimmy is so clingy...not that I mind the clinginess. They didn't even play when we got home. Usually we have to kick them off the bed to get to sleep, but no. Dexter was at my feet and out in 2 seconds and Jimmy was on the "kitty's pillow" I keep above my head (I am short enough to give up a couple of feet of bed space for a cat). I think that they will be a little better today, but they did get 2 shots. Poor little things. I don't like knowing that they are sad.

It was a great weekend. Thanks to all the people that came and sorry to the ones that were not able to make it. Thanks to my Mom for hosting it. I think that we all had a good time. I know that Endrit and I did.

Wii Friends

I am sad I don't have any Wii friends. It says that I have to register people and those people have to register me. If you want to be my Wii friend I will need your wii number.

To give me this I am assuming that people don't know how to do it, so I will explain. On the Wii menu you go to the lower right corner and you click on the Wii message board. In that menu, on the left, you click on the create message button. TO be more confusing it is the right most button on the lower left of the screen. If you haven't registered anyone (like me:( ) click on the yellow envelope and it will tell you what your Wii number is. If you have registered people, you don't need this direction so whatever.

So, if you want to be my friend, comment me or email me rachelshurdha@gmail.com your Wii number. Mine is 5458 2263 5195 9876

Steals

So, I have been following a site called babysteals.com for baby shower gifts, and now the same people have broadened their steals with 2 more "topics" other than baby. There is now a scrapbooksteals.com and also a kidsteals.com. So for babies, kids and scrappers, you can get 1 deal a day at 9:00am MST for at least 50% off of regular price. Fun!

300

So, I have gone to 300 posts. I blurb a lot. I guess that is okay. This next picture is nothing against my mother. It is actually the dedication to a book that I am reading for my literature class. I thought it was funny how she caricatured her mother so I thought I would share.



I have read 5 books. I am glad I am getting into the swing of things. I read an entire book today. I am excited to start reading the rest of them and write my larger paper. It isn't such a bad class even though I will end up reading 15 books in 6 weeks. Luckily they are juvenile. So, I can't believe it has been 300. I like having this blog. I also think that people should read Tove Jansson's work.

Next Wednesday

I have just realized that July 15th is nice for several reasons. Not only will Endrit get his citizenship that day, Harry Potter and the half blood prince will be in theaters. Who would have thought? I have to admit that I am more excited about Endrit that Harry Potter. It isn't even comparable. Sorry all you Harry Potter fans out there.

Primary

In 2 weeks, I will no longer be a primary teacher. I finally talked to the bishop and he agrees that a sabbatical from Primary would be the best thing.

Jimmy and Dexter pictures

Sleeping kitties are just too cute. Jimmy fits in our family so well. He is just sleeping up there upside-down.



If you look close, you see Dexter's tongue licking Jimmy's head. They are just so cute together.

Poor Dexter

Something happened to Dexter's foot. He is limping around. He is still eating and putting up with Jimmy well with playing. I just don't like that he is in a little pain. So, I went to Smith's and bought some Epsom Salt. I mixed up a little bath for him to soak his little leg in with cool water. I held him and put his leg in and after just a couple of seconds he just laid there. I massaged his leg and he stayed with me soaking his leg for 5 minutes. He is now playing much more heavily with Jimmy. I had to tie Jimmy up for a bit because he was being too rough with Dexter. It is so sad. I will soak it again tonight and tomorrow, but if it doesn't get better, we will go to the vet.