Is it just me or did September fly by?

I feel like I woke up one morning and poof, "Hello middle of October."

September kept me very busy because I was helping a Laurel in our branch at church pass off one of her Personal Progress projects. I assisted her with coordinating a Young Women's Fall Fashion Show on modesty. It was a LOT of work, but I think Beverly felt really good about her accomplishment and success of the show.

Beverly and I after the show.

I didn't get very good pictures because I was running around like crazy, so these will have to do. I was even in the show as the wedding dress model. I love excuses to pull out the ol' dress. Beverly modeled one of my prom dresses. She loved it!

The girls had a fabulous time modeling their outfits and feeling like they were on America's Next Top Model.

Or maybe it was just me...

Here are the girl's getting ready for the show to start.

September and October have also brought back nights spent at the softball field watching Robert and his team play in Stetson Intramurals.

Robert loves to spend Wednesdays down on the field helping out with umpiring and game management.

October shot off like a gun, as we celebrated Robert's 25th birthday!

We enjoyed a wonderful night out on the town in downtown Gulfport trying out a local restaurant.

After dinner, we came home to open presents and watch the BYU game. It was a low key birthday for him this year because I ended up taking an unexpected trip out to Utah where I got to see my first snowfall of the year. Crazy Utah weather!

I flew out to Utah because my dear cousin, Colter Tolsma, passed away and I wanted to be there for his funeral.

He was a talented motocross rider.

To a dear friend and cousin with whom I shared many memories with,

like camping trips and sleepovers,

dinners out at El Matador,

and many more, you will be missed! RIP Colt.

I was very glad and blessed that I was able to make it to the funeral. It was a beautiful ceremony and a great opportunity to spend time with family.

May we always cherish those around us and keep the memories of those that have passed strong.

Fall is in the Air...Or Not

It's that time a year again when the seasons begin to change, well for most of the United States. Here in Florida, we are still experiencing summer temps. However hot it might be, I like to imagine it is fall. I even try to pretend it's cool enough outside to start wearing three quarter length sleeves and jeans most of the time...

So what have we been up to this past month? Staying busy of course with lots of reading and studying (for Robert), working (for JoAnna mainly, but Robert too), church and settling into the post summer groove.

Robert is staying busy with intramurals again. He is playing tennis, football, and softball.

We still find time to catch some Rays baseball games. Fingers are crossed that they make it into the post season, 2 more games to play!

On our last outing to the ballpark, we picked up an early birthday present for Robert.

An official baseball bat from Evan Longoria's collection. His eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas. He loves his new bat.

We enjoyed our last summer concert, where we saw Miranda Lambert (or shall I say Mrs. Shelton).

We enjoyed the concert with some friends, three of which went to my high school. It was fun catching up.

Well, the boys did try to enjoy the "country girl power" concert. However, they mostly looked like this throughout the event - trying to find anything else that would keep their attention.

While Leigh and I enjoyed ourselves, well...maybe just me then?

A few videos for you from the concert:

Happy fall everyone!

Unexpected Trip

Right before Robert started back to school, I was given an opportunity to travel back to Utah for some work and training. I love going back to the 'ol stomping ground. It always brings back so many fun memories and I enjoy seeing friends and family.

I traveled all day Wednesday to get there by Thursday. The only good thing about traveling all day and arriving very late into the airport is that the economy car you rented may be gone by the time you arrive.

So instead, say hello to my new best friend for the next week:

It's a funny story actually, when I arrived at the window to pick up my vehicle the guys in the office said they apologized but the car I had reserved was all out, but that they had a MINI VAN for me. I responded with, "a mini van?????" with a look of all seriousness.

I mean, I may be a female, but does it look like I want to go cruising around Provo in a mini van? I think he took the hint and quickly suggested with doubting eyes that the only vehicles they had left were large SUVs. I laughed and said I would definitely take one of those instead. So, I ventured for the Yukon. Needless to say, it was a fun week.

I went back to work to train a newly hired office admin and lend some help around the office for a week or so, while in the meantime I enjoyed wonderful lunches, dinners, and activities out with co-workers. I work with really great people. I even learned how to play racquetball, there's always a first time for everything, right? I think I may need a helmet next time though because I can see myself running into a wall and doing some damage upstairs (not that I am talking from any personal experience).

In between the work week, I went up to Ogden for some family time, where I spent some time with my mom getting pampered with a mani and pedi.

Our toes and nails looked fabulous by the time we were finished.

Just in time to get all dolled up for a wedding reception. I lucked out that one of my good guy friends from back home, Brock, was holding a reception that evening.

It was great to catch up and see some of my GA friends. It always amazes me how we can go a long time without seeing each other, but pick up right where we left off. I love having good friends.

It was a great weekend visiting family and friends. I spent time with my Grandpa Whitehead, Dad, Susan, Kevin and Shari, and Grandma Tolsma.

There's nothing like sharing a quick Sunday nap together on the floor with Grandma. We spent the day together making dinner (tuna casserole), driving around town visiting places, and talking. Thanks for a great day Grandma!

After the weekend concluded, I headed back down to Provo for some more...fun?

Well, that's what it looks like...I promise I did do work.

Tiffany, a co-worker of mine, and I definitely had some fun hanging out after work. :)

This photo makes me laugh. Only Tiff and I will know why it's so funny. Tiff, I'm glad you are my friend! What can I say, girls will be girls. I was able to see a few other friends before returning home. There's never enough time to see everyone. I definitely missed some important people. Next time!

Summer Wrap-Up

Well, it's sad to say, but summer has officially come to a close. I feel like we have been really busy, but yet I still feel like I didn't get to do everything I wanted this summer.

(Robert on his last first day of school)

Robert started back to school this past week. He is entering his third and final year of law school, for those that are counting. Then he takes the bar exam! I can't believe we are nearing the end. It's weird to think he will be finished with his education and entering the work force soon. I'm going to miss being apart of a school (even if it was vicarious for the last two or so years). So, this brings us to the close of summer and a need for a recap of events not previously mentioned in any posts already.

Play ball!

What is summer, without some baseball? We have enjoyed living so close to a Major League baseball team and watching the Rays play over the course of their season.

One added benefit to enjoying free games is getting to enjoy some free concerts as well. The Rays put on a summer concert series after some of their home games.

One of the my favorite ones that we have gone to so far has been the Goo Goo Dolls.

We have also enjoyed trying out some of the neat restaurants downtown. The Z-Grille serves some of the best deviled eggs I have ever tasted (sorry mom!) and this delectable dish that consists of fried chicken breasts atop a grilled waffle over a splatter of chipotle grits and then topped off with syrup.

Let's go Rays!

Summer fun must include a BBQ or two with friends.

Our friends John and Kristin hosted a fun night out for all the Stetson students that were still in the area over the break.

Robert continued to work hard this summer working as an intern for Minor League Baseball.

In order to really experience the summertime, you must get caught in the rain at least once.

And, well I guess you have to go to the beach as well.

Oh, how I love the summertime. Now to gear up for fall, in the meantime, I may try to squeeze in a little more fun in the sun.

I Survived

Today at church, in sacrament meeting, the Young Women held their annual program. I'm so glad that it is over. I was stressing about my talk and how all the logistics of the program were going to go. To stress things out even more, three of my girls that were slated to speak did not show. It's a good thing that I anticipated this might happen and asked both of my counselors to be ready if needed.

So, we had three girls speak and all of the young women presidency spoke as well. Thank goodness for counselors who were ready and did a wonderful job filling in the time, so I didn't have to go on forever. I think that was best for everyone involved. :)

Although, we started out a little chaotic, with three girls not showing, we still pulled off an excellent program. The spirit was very strong, and I know that the girls that kept their commitments and delivered their talks will be blessed and grow their testimonies even more.

During the program we performed a musical number as a group. We sang one of my favorite hymns, "I Know that My Redeemer Lives." It was beautiful. I have provided the music below for your listening pleasure as you continue to read the rest of this post.

Enjoy:

At the end of the summer, we try to hold our annual Young Women's program so that we can report on all the great things we have done as a Young Women's group during the summer months. Summer is a busy time for the youth program in the church because we do lots of activities like:

Going to Girl's Camp.

Girls camp is a week long camp where the girls go with other young women in the area to learn skills, escape the world, have some fun, and most importantly to develop their testimonies and grow closer to their Heavenly Father.

I was lucky enough to go up and spend some time with my girls. We shared lots of wonderful moments together having fun and feeling the spirit. Some highlights for me were the night we spent star gazing as we pondered God's love for us, our group devotional, and the sunrise devotional one morning when we woke up very early to watch the last space shuttle arrive back into the atmosphere. Following that, we were blessed to hear a devotional and read scripture. It's always nice to get away and escape the everyday routine and just enjoy the little things.

Here are a few of my girls in action at camp:

Brittany:

Rhonda:

The best alligator impression you will ever see from Ivy:

Moriah and Beverly:

The girls enjoyed other activities this summer like Youth Conference and a trip to Nauvoo, Illinois to visit some church history sights, but our summer is never complete without a trip to the Temple.

Florida currently has only one temple and that is located in Orlando. It's a full half-day event for us just to get over there and back, so we always try to make the trip during the summer. It is always a wonderful experience to be with these beautiful young ladies (and guys) in the temple.

Some of the Gulfport Branch young men and young women:

A temple trip is not complete without a trip to McDonald's afterwards. YUM!

To reward them for all of their efforts during the summer, we throw a back to school pool party at our place. The girls love to come over, and it is always a fun experience.

Here are the final words from my talk that I gave today that I think is appropriate to end this post with.

I have been so blessed to watch these girls grow in the gospel. Each of them has a beautiful growing testimony that I have both seen and heard. I have witnessed the light in their eyes. They are striving to do what is right and find their way back to our Heavenly Father’s home. I love each one of them dearly and hope and pray that they will remember these choice moments in their life and remember to continue to follow the path of righteousness that will lead them to eternal life by entering into and receiving the ordinances of the temple and by keeping and following the commandments and covenants they make.