I am so proud of my sweet husband! After years of Dan's parents hoping that he would become an Elder, he became one today! I feel like Dan and I have been waiting a while for this as well and am so happy that Dan did it at the right time for him! It was so nice to see how much support we have in our ward. I honestly believe that we were supposed to live in this ward. We have felt so welcomed and loved. Our Bishop has been such a blessing and help to us. We have a wonderful calling and we are surrounded by such good people. I am visiting teaching companions with the Relief Society President and she is so encouraging to me and teaches me so much. Dan is lucky to have the Second Counselor of the Bishopric as a home teaching companion. I really know that we have been blessed to be a part of this ward!
It was also so wonderful that Dan's Dad was able to do his ordination today. I am really happy that Dan's parents were able to be there and be a part of it because I know this is something they waited a long time for. I know they really wanted Dan to serve a mission but it is wonderful to know they support us in everything we do. It was also neat to talk to Dan's Dad afterwards and find out more about who gave him the priesthood. Dan received it through his Dad, who received it from a Stake Patriarch (I need to find out his name), who received it from President Joseph Fielding Smith, who received it from Brigham Young, who received it from Joseph Smith!
Anyway to say the least I am proud of Dan. I am excited to go to the temple and receive our endowments and look forward to being able to go back as often as we can and I cannot wait for the day (in June hopefully) that we are sealed as a family for time and all eternity! We have both made our own mistakes but doing this together and getting sealed is one thing I can say is a huge blessing to us. It has taken us a little longer than others to get where we need to be but we are happy none the less.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Happy Birthday Mom!!!
My mom is on the far right! She is so beautiful!
I wanna be like my mom!
Family Photo from way back when!
My mom and I at Ally's wedding in May!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
I'm so busy!
I can't even breathe!
I had a final on Tuesday that is OVER! 1 down 3 to go! Today I will have ALL of my work turned in for 2 of my classes and will only have the finals left. The last class (shiver) has this huge group paper and presentation that my group and I are going to work on this weekend! My sweet friend Alicia gave me a completed copy of our study guide for one class! I didn't even ask and she totally didn't have to but it took her 6 hours to complete it and its 26 pages and she just gave it to me to help me study! SO SWEET!
Yesterday I had a fun time at the doctor's office. I had a cyst removed from my upper leg and a mole removed from my arm. I had NO idea how they were planning on removing the cyst but lets just say they went a whole lot deeper into my leg than I anticipated.... I have a bunch of stitches on the inside and outside that I have to go back in to get the stitches taken out on the 23rd, the day before we go to Arizona!
I got my hair cut short yesterday!
And I am deep in the depths of studying and won't resurface till next Thursday!
I had a final on Tuesday that is OVER! 1 down 3 to go! Today I will have ALL of my work turned in for 2 of my classes and will only have the finals left. The last class (shiver) has this huge group paper and presentation that my group and I are going to work on this weekend! My sweet friend Alicia gave me a completed copy of our study guide for one class! I didn't even ask and she totally didn't have to but it took her 6 hours to complete it and its 26 pages and she just gave it to me to help me study! SO SWEET!
Yesterday I had a fun time at the doctor's office. I had a cyst removed from my upper leg and a mole removed from my arm. I had NO idea how they were planning on removing the cyst but lets just say they went a whole lot deeper into my leg than I anticipated.... I have a bunch of stitches on the inside and outside that I have to go back in to get the stitches taken out on the 23rd, the day before we go to Arizona!
I got my hair cut short yesterday!
And I am deep in the depths of studying and won't resurface till next Thursday!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Avoidance
I am ignoring the fact that I have a test in 30 minutes! Instead for the last hour I have been playing with our pretty pictures! This is not helping me with Gerontology, but much more fun than studying!
Monday, December 8, 2008
Finals are going to be the end of me
I am so exhausted... I have been sitting on a hard wooden chair in front of my computer for more hours than I can count... OH PLEASE LET THIS BE OVER!
I should be happy with my 11 credit hour schedule plus 25 hour work week this semester... Because next semester... I get to live this fun little schedule!
Thats right... 20 hours at the Health Department unpaid, 17 hours paid at the University Accessibility Center and 15 Credits of classes!!!!!!! (6 are my internship credit hours)
I cannot wait for the day I GRADUATE! I walk April 23rd however will still need to complete my Gerontology internship in spring... so I will OFFICIALLY be done with BYU the end of June!
I should be happy with my 11 credit hour schedule plus 25 hour work week this semester... Because next semester... I get to live this fun little schedule!
Thats right... 20 hours at the Health Department unpaid, 17 hours paid at the University Accessibility Center and 15 Credits of classes!!!!!!! (6 are my internship credit hours)I cannot wait for the day I GRADUATE! I walk April 23rd however will still need to complete my Gerontology internship in spring... so I will OFFICIALLY be done with BYU the end of June!
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Emotionally Drained
Sweet Susan Mortensen Turley passed away from Colon Cancer on Friday at her home in Tempe, Arizona with her family at her side. She documented her journey through colon cancer on her blog and she will be greatly missed. She was a track and field star at our High School as well as the University of Arizona. She and her husband Justin got engaged right after Dan and I did last year and were married the first week of January. She comes from an amazing family and their faith will always resonate within me of what the gospel truly means. Sweet Justin has lost his beautiful wife far to early in this mortal life but not for long in the grand scheme of the eternities thanks to the sealing of families for time and all eternity in the Temple.
The following is something Susan's father shared with her and her family.
"… the tests of life are tailored for our own best interests, and all will face the burdens best suited to their own mortal experience. In the end we will realize that God is merciful as well as just and that all the rules are fair. We can be reassured that our challenges will be the ones we needed, and conquering them will bring blessings we could have received in no other way.
If we constantly focus only on the stones in our mortal path, we will almost surely miss the beautiful flower or cool stream provided by the loving Father who outlined our journey. Each day can bring more joy than sorrow when our mortal and spiritual eyes are open to God's goodness. Joy in the gospel is not something that begins only in the next life. It is our privilege now, this very day. We must never allow our burdens to obscure our blessings. There will always be more blessings than burdens—even if some days it doesn't seem so. Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." Enjoy those blessings right now. They are yours and always will be."
As of yesterday, I realized there are some decisions I need to make. I have had lots of things happen to me while in college and right now I feel like I need to make my health, happiness, and sanity a priority in my life. I never anticipated having to make these decisions about my job and school, but now I am faced with deciding how I want to spend the next 6 months of my life.
I hate to let people down, but for some reason I never mind letting myself down. Hmm...
Dan is taking me out tonight to get my mind off things. We are going up to Salt Lake to see the Temple Lights and go to Cafe Rio. I love my sweet husband. Whenever I start to get anxious and stressed about life, he brings me back to reality. He reminds me that no matter what choice I make we will be just fine. I love him.
The following is something Susan's father shared with her and her family.
"… the tests of life are tailored for our own best interests, and all will face the burdens best suited to their own mortal experience. In the end we will realize that God is merciful as well as just and that all the rules are fair. We can be reassured that our challenges will be the ones we needed, and conquering them will bring blessings we could have received in no other way.
If we constantly focus only on the stones in our mortal path, we will almost surely miss the beautiful flower or cool stream provided by the loving Father who outlined our journey. Each day can bring more joy than sorrow when our mortal and spiritual eyes are open to God's goodness. Joy in the gospel is not something that begins only in the next life. It is our privilege now, this very day. We must never allow our burdens to obscure our blessings. There will always be more blessings than burdens—even if some days it doesn't seem so. Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." Enjoy those blessings right now. They are yours and always will be."
As of yesterday, I realized there are some decisions I need to make. I have had lots of things happen to me while in college and right now I feel like I need to make my health, happiness, and sanity a priority in my life. I never anticipated having to make these decisions about my job and school, but now I am faced with deciding how I want to spend the next 6 months of my life.
I hate to let people down, but for some reason I never mind letting myself down. Hmm...
Dan is taking me out tonight to get my mind off things. We are going up to Salt Lake to see the Temple Lights and go to Cafe Rio. I love my sweet husband. Whenever I start to get anxious and stressed about life, he brings me back to reality. He reminds me that no matter what choice I make we will be just fine. I love him.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Live and Learn
Something I have learned over the last 5 months is the fact that I know less than I thought I did. Go figure. I have learned over the last 10 months that I know a lot less about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! I have had an interesting journey over the last years with the Church and have learned a great deal from the "journey" I have been on.
We have been preparing to go to the temple since February and it will have been almost a year and a half since we decided to go when we get to go!
We have been taking a Temple Preparation course from a fantastic couple in our ward and really enjoy meeting with them.
We currently are getting ready for Dan to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood (possibly this Sunday!) I thought that we would just pick a Sunday and that would be it. I didn't realize that Dan would have to have multiple interviews and some counsel would have to approve it. I feel like I don't know enough about the Priesthood. I read this article and helped me feel better. What Every Elder Should Know - As Well As Every Sister!
Anyway I am so proud of my sweet husband for the steps he has made!
We have been preparing to go to the temple since February and it will have been almost a year and a half since we decided to go when we get to go!
We have been taking a Temple Preparation course from a fantastic couple in our ward and really enjoy meeting with them.
We currently are getting ready for Dan to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood (possibly this Sunday!) I thought that we would just pick a Sunday and that would be it. I didn't realize that Dan would have to have multiple interviews and some counsel would have to approve it. I feel like I don't know enough about the Priesthood. I read this article and helped me feel better. What Every Elder Should Know - As Well As Every Sister!Anyway I am so proud of my sweet husband for the steps he has made!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
May We So live
At the beginning of the semester I was assigned to present a 15 minute presentation about death and dying in my Health and Aging course.
Today I attempted to muster through it. My heart was full of emotions on this topic.
I read today President Monson's Ensign article entitled May We So Live. It helped me have a greater peace with the subject and reflect on what death means to me.
Today I attempted to muster through it. My heart was full of emotions on this topic.
I read today President Monson's Ensign article entitled May We So Live. It helped me have a greater peace with the subject and reflect on what death means to me.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
BYU 25th Ward Indexing
Just trying to do my part! But seriously, its easy and worthwhile!
"Hello Sisters!
I just wanted to send out an email about indexing, to get you all a little more familiar with the goal our stake has set & what indexing is. Indexing is the churches efforts to digitize old historical documents like birth records and what not. You can work on a batch over time and do it here and their. One batch can take about 30 minutes and has up to 50 names, this alone can help us reach our monthly ultimate stake goal.
Indexing is explained best in these terms "Volunteers extract family history information from digital images of historical documents to create searchable indexes that assist everyone in finding their ancestors." If you have already started indexing that is wonderful! If you started in a different stake and need help switching your information to our stake let me know and I can help with that.
We have a few computers reserved in the family history lab during Sunday School every Sunday for couples to come in and learn or just to spend some time indexing. The lab is just past the library in room 103. You can also index from home or pretty much any computer using FamilySearchIndexing.org
Once again if you need help signing up or have any questions, I am here to help.
Lastly, If you have not heard about our Stakes goal for Indexing it is a great project! Our goal is to have indexed 1 million names by June 2009. They started this goal back in June 2008 and we want to keep going strong. For us to succeed each ward should try and meet 10,000 names a month.
Here's the info about November from Sister Dicou:
"The BYU 18th Stake is having a terrific month for indexing. Four of Nine wards met the 10,000 name per month goal. This keeps us on track for a million."
The current numbers as of the 29th of November
25th- 4,791
29th- 24,494
59th- 8,512
85th- 7,110
139th- 3,420
147th- 11,083
170th- 21,212
199th- 13,481
200th- 3,767
"Hello Sisters!
I just wanted to send out an email about indexing, to get you all a little more familiar with the goal our stake has set & what indexing is. Indexing is the churches efforts to digitize old historical documents like birth records and what not. You can work on a batch over time and do it here and their. One batch can take about 30 minutes and has up to 50 names, this alone can help us reach our monthly ultimate stake goal.
Indexing is explained best in these terms "Volunteers extract family history information from digital images of historical documents to create searchable indexes that assist everyone in finding their ancestors." If you have already started indexing that is wonderful! If you started in a different stake and need help switching your information to our stake let me know and I can help with that.
We have a few computers reserved in the family history lab during Sunday School every Sunday for couples to come in and learn or just to spend some time indexing. The lab is just past the library in room 103. You can also index from home or pretty much any computer using FamilySearchIndexing.org
Once again if you need help signing up or have any questions, I am here to help.
Lastly, If you have not heard about our Stakes goal for Indexing it is a great project! Our goal is to have indexed 1 million names by June 2009. They started this goal back in June 2008 and we want to keep going strong. For us to succeed each ward should try and meet 10,000 names a month.
Here's the info about November from Sister Dicou:
"The BYU 18th Stake is having a terrific month for indexing. Four of Nine wards met the 10,000 name per month goal. This keeps us on track for a million."
The current numbers as of the 29th of November
25th- 4,791
29th- 24,494
59th- 8,512
85th- 7,110
139th- 3,420
147th- 11,083
170th- 21,212
199th- 13,481
200th- 3,767
Friday, November 28, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving!
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We spent the day at Dan's Parents house in Orem with his parents, Mark & Kathy, his brother Matt and his wife Kandace (who came down from Rexburg, Idaho) and my friend Mary!We had a great meal and lots of fun! The boys have spent MOST of the past 2 days playing xbox and the girls have spent MOST of the past 2 days quilting!!! Kandace and I are in Kathy Calkins Quilting 101 for Impatient Beginners!!!
Saturday we woke up early and drove up Immigration Canyon in Salt Lake and went to Ruths Diner! We highly suggest it for anyone who wants to have a fun experience eating good food in an old train car!
It has been a fun weekend and I am sad to see it end!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Calkins Weekly Update
We have almost made it to Thanks Giving!!! This week I have 1 class on Monday (and a million projects to work on) and Dan has 3 days of classes... We are excited to spend Thanks Giving at Dan's parents house with Dan's brother Matt and his wife Kandace and my friend Mary!!A week and a half ago I had a cooking adventure! I made my first Pot Roast! I was pretty excited. I made it for a family in our ward that had a new baby... so I hope it turned out alright! I had to call my mom about 5 times to make sure I was doing everything right!
Before! 
After! 
After! 
I have had a few other cooking adventures this week! I do have to say I am getting better! Dan and I had our friend Mary over so she could study on Thursday and I made STEAK for the 3 of us! Mary introduced me to the joy of broiling! It took us a bit to figure out WHERE our broiler was but turns out it was a drawer in the bottom of the oven!
I need to clean... all of this... because of STEAK! 
Due to cooking skills increasing and nice Visiting Teachers that brought me some new recipes to try I made this calendar... we are really needing to eat at home like 99% of the time now due to decrease in income that will be coming soon (our choice, we aren't getting fired)... 
Other than cooking, we held a Recycling Focus Group at our apartment on Tuesday with Dan, Mary, Allyson & Jon! It was fun... They helped me to finish my project (well that section of it!)
Tonight we fed the ducks at BYU's pond stale bread and we had a delightful evening around town and enjoyed spending most of the day together!
This week other than Thanks Giving I am going to get some school projects done/worked on and get ready for one of my classes Domestic Violence Awareness Day on Campus December 3rd in the BYU Terrace from 11-2!
Anyway thats all for now!
Other than cooking, we held a Recycling Focus Group at our apartment on Tuesday with Dan, Mary, Allyson & Jon! It was fun... They helped me to finish my project (well that section of it!)
Tonight we fed the ducks at BYU's pond stale bread and we had a delightful evening around town and enjoyed spending most of the day together!This week other than Thanks Giving I am going to get some school projects done/worked on and get ready for one of my classes Domestic Violence Awareness Day on Campus December 3rd in the BYU Terrace from 11-2!
Anyway thats all for now!
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