How I want to be remembered....

This post may seem weird....but I was thinking of the kind of person I want to be remembered as.

I want to be remembered as someone who people could count on.

Someone who was full of joy, and pretty optimistic... in short... Pollyanna!

I want to be remembered as the Aunt that was loving (like a "second mother") who was willing to take the time for those she loved.

I want to be remembered as the sister that accepted and encouraged.

I want to be remembered as a daughter that respected and deeply cared about her parents. For I truly do!

I want to be remembered as someone who loved to laugh!

I want to be remembered as a true disciple of Jesus Christ.. one that others could feel His love through....

I guess that is all for now... more will come in time.

What do you want to be remembered as?

8 Things

8 THINGS THAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY
1. Went to Church
2. Had a lovely visit from my friend, Kaija
3. Visited Dad and Sharon
4. Got a hug from Mom
5. Delivered Christmas presents
6. Ate dinner
7. Took a short nap on the couch with Pouncer
8. Read scriptures and other good books!

8 THINGS I LOOK FORWARD TO
1. Christmas (giving gifts)
2. Wicked
3. 2009
4. Getting my feet zoned on Wednesday
5. Grandma Therapy
6. Gardening
7. Bonfires!
8. Camping

8 THINGS I LOVE ABOUT CHRISTMAS
1. Snow
2. The love and kindness in the air
3. Hot Chocolate
4. Giving presents
5. The excitement on the kids face for Christmas Day
6. The Holiday smells (candles)
7. Wassail / Monkey Bread / Wecca Bread / Bratzlies
8. Miscellaneous Christmas movies

8 THINGS ON MY WISH LIST
1. Finish the flower garden
2. Pay off car
3. change the inside of the house (paint, furniture, etc.)
4. sleep
5. For Jason and Tricia's house to be done
6. Bonus from work ....yeah right... I work for the State!
7. For my family to be happy and healthy
8. Being knowledgeable in the scriptures...

PEOPLE I TAG ARE: (emailing works too!)
1. Keely
2. Sheri
3. Dad and Sharon
4. Dan
5. Michelle
6. Robin
7. Cathy
8. Renee

Merry Christmas!!

I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!! Here is my annual Christmas letter that I sent out....enjoy!
Love,
Missi

December 2008

Merry Christmas!!

WOW! What a year! I honestly cannot believe how quickly 2008 has gone. I feel like I just sent Christmas cards out yesterday. This has been a terrific year, full of ups and downs, decisions, and laughter. And through it all, I have come to know that the Lord truly wants us to be happy. It’s just up to us to decide!

Work is going great! I really like my job, because I actually know what I am doing (or at least I pretend to know). I am the secretary for 14 people, which literally keeps me on my toes. The Governor just made most State agencies move to a four 10 hour work week. This has been a bittersweet experience for me. I basically don’t have much of a life during the first part of the week… but boy do I love my Friday’s!! I try to ride the train to work when I can to save money. That has been a pretty cool thing. I can sleep, read, work, talk, and not have to worry about traffic! It’s great!

School is good; I am still maintaining my 4.0 GPA. I really liked my Writing class this last semester. The teacher let us pick topics to write about, which helps, because then I can write about something I have passion in, or something that interests me. Next class will be American Civilization… Woohoo!

This year I moved my records over to a student Ward at the University. I absolutely love it. Not that I didn’t like my home ward in Hooper, but it’s nice to be around people who are in the same boat as I am in many ways. I have grown leaps and bounds in the Gospel. I truly love this Church!! I love how it builds and strengthens my relationship with Our Father and Our Savior.

One of my projects this year was laying flagstone around our fire pit outside. That was a lot of work, but very therapeutic for me. I also had a lovely garden this year. I am just going to refer you to my online blog: http://missimayobx.blogspot.com/ .Check it out to see what I have been up to! And there are pictures and music to go with it!

My family is doing great! I went camping again this year with Dad and Sharon to their “spot”, and I can honestly say that it too now holds a very dear place in my heart! We had a lovely time (as always)! Mom is so cute! She always is there to help everyone and anyone. What an inspiration she is to me. Jason and Tricia are building behind us. Their home is beautiful. Jason is doing most (if not all) of it himself. He is such a hard worker! They have three kids that are all so cute! I love being an Aunt. Dan is still teaching Junior High kids English. He is so smart. Now I know where the brains in the family went to! His daughter Austyn is so adorable. She is totally a dancing girl! What a joy my family is to me. And how could I leave out my baby, Pouncer! We are two peas in a pod. I truly have been blessed!

Again, I hope you are doing wonderful, and that you too have had many experiences this year. I hope that they have all brought you closer to the Lord, and I hope that you find joy in all you do. What an amazing year, I look forward to more years to come! Merry Christmas, and May the Lord bless you in all you do!

All My Love,
Missi

Flagstone Update

Well, the update is that I am done!! And I finished in time for our neighborhood bonfire. Now I can relax... and get a massage!!
Enjoy!

I got and A!!

WOOHOO! I got an A in my Writing class.... this is wonderful for me!! Let's all celebrate!!

New Car

I bought a new (well, new to us) car on Friday. It is a 2004 Honda CR-V. I will post pictures of it soon. It was a big thing for me, because I have NEVER really done the whole "building your credit" thing. I was nervous, but it will be fine... right?! I am excited though, because mom and I really like it. We are sharing it, since her car died...

Well, pictures will come! I promise!
;o)

Twilight Movie

So, here is my feelings on the movie... I will try not to spoil anything for those who have not seen it yet! I really liked it. In fact, I liked it better the second time I saw it. The actors / actresses really grew on me, and I really thought they all did pretty good. Of course, in my mind and heart, there is no one that can look like them, or act like them from what I have created in my mind.... BUT, for a movie, I really liked it a lot. I loved how they stayed pretty true to the book.

I loved when Bella met the Cullen's for the first time, how they were making her dinner... that part made me laugh. I really like the guy who played James, he really fit the part for me... really creepy! Charlie was good to I thought... I love the shot gun scene (when Edward meets him for the first time). Alice is perfect to me. She fit the part so well...I just wish it would have shown her getting Bella all dolled up for the prom, because that is where I feel that Bella and Alice start their friendship! All in all, I loved the movie!

English Class

So, I have just sent in my portfolio.... ON LINE!! Yes, I am moving up in the world!! If you want to read my stuff, here it is:

http://missileak.edublogs.org/

Enjoy!

Thank you to my sister Tricia!! I LOVE these things... just kidding, this one is kind of fun! These facts might seem lame, but I am at work, and I don't have much time to think about them.

1. Snakes don't bother me, but spiders do.

2. One of my shoulders is lower than the other one, but thanks to Kristie Call, they are now looking even... WHOOHOOO.

3. I like the Jonas Brothers (they are cool!)

4. I don't like talking on the phone.

5. I love animals (sorry Tricia). I try not to kill anything, except mosquitoes!

6. I really don't care for red meat.

7. I like to work with my hands, or be constantly on the "go".

There you have it! Some strange facts about me. Now, I am not much of a blogger, but I will try to find seven people to tag.

WOW, it sure has been a while since I have been posting. I have been keeping really busy lately. Let me post some updated pictures of my work... though... like usual, they are a little outdated.... heehee!












This is when I was at the "half way" mark in laying the flagstone... anyway! It has been a lot of work, but very enjoyable! I also painted this door frame that leads from the garage to the outside (back) door.... it says "Adventures Begin Here"... Kind of fun!
















Other than laying stone on the weekends, I have been keeping busy getting things ready for winter. There is just so much to do. One thing I have been doing for school lately is service learning. That is where I do community service hours for an organization as part of my class. I have LOVED it! I volunteer at Hooper Elementary in their resource class. I have 3 cute little kids that I work with, and they have a special place in my heart. These kids are so smart. I truly believe that if parents and teachers would be more encouraging (not saying that they are not....), than kids with disabilities would have a better self esteem (heaven knows that they are not receiving it from their peers.) Anyway, we have fun! It has strengthened my desire to go into Special Education!

And last but not least... I am really enjoying the Student Ward that I attend. I just received a calling... Ward Missionary! Yup! I am really excited.... I think this excitement magnified when I got my companion... she is so adorable. I know that we will work good together. This is a growing area for me, even though I was a full-time missionary before, but this will help me to overcome my fears of meeting new people and talking to them. Yes, over the past 6 years I have developed a bit of a phobia... but this will help me get back to how I used to be!

TTFN

Flagstone

I have been doing something very therapeutic lately! I know this will sound far from therapeutic, but I think it's been that way for me. I have been laying flagstone around our fire pit. It has been a lot of fun for me. For those who know me, I really love puzzles, and I look at this as a giant puzzle! It is so much fun. I also put out some pea gravel and the bird bath this weekend. I am just determined to get things going in our project area.



I've had my church records moved to a University Singles Ward. I am now a member of the University 12th Ward.... WOOHOO! I have had so much fun there. The Lord's timing always amazes me. I know that it is where I am supposed to be right now in my life. I will miss my old home Ward very much, but I look forward to meeting new people and making more friends.

As I was spreading out the pea gravel this weekend, I found a new friend... yes, he is a bat, and yes, he looks really mean, but he was so cute! I made my brother move him to a ditch pipe to live and eat all the mosquitoes to his hearts desire!

A Sad Day!

I just read the news that Stephanie Meyer has a hold on her novel Midnight Sun (it's Twilight written from Edwards perspective) ... because someone posted a draft of it online without her consent, etc. So she has decided to put it on hold.... she may never pick it back up again..... truly sad for those of us who are honest were excited about its release!

http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/midnightsun.html

Mama Mia!

I went and saw this movie.... I was laughing SOOOO hard that I was not just crying... but sobbing!

I can't say anymore than.... I loved it!

;o)

Camping

I finally got my camping photo's back! PLUS, Dad was good to give me some of the pictures he took too... WOOHOO! I am so excited!! There is SOO much to post, so many stories, so many memories. It was a vacation I REALLY needed.




This is what camp looked like. We are right on the edge of a beaver pond, and believe me... they are fun to watch. Just don't try to talk to one (clicking your tongue) or they will get upset.... believe me... I KNOW!! My tent is the red one in the center... Dad and Sharon's is hidden!!!


Dad and I went on this hike that was..... oh... just over a couple ridges.... and up to a peak! We were gone from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM..... it was a lovely long hike that I will always cherish! The scenery was perfect, and the sounds were calming!! We heard a hawk screech and it echoed all through the valley! That was so cool. I felt like I was in a movie. It was a pretty cool day (temperature wise) and that just added to the beauty of it. Dad and I had a lovely time talking about religious subjects and just plain life. It was wonderful spending this time with him. Something I will always cherish!


My Grandma Leak loves Indian Paintbrushes (the red flowers behind me in the picture). We saw SOOO many up there. They were beautiful.




















We were able to see a couple Bucks (Deer)... They stood there SOOOO still... If we didn't stop to catch our breath, we would have missed them! They were so beautiful!! I named them "Bucky" (the older one), and "Boy" (the younger).























The next day we went on another hike to Bacon Creek Saddle. (NOTE: We both had blisters from the previous hike... so this one wasn't TOO far, but still very enjoyable.) We both took our journals and found this dead tree to sit on. As we were writing, I noticed that this black butterfly was attracted to my camel-back (backpack). I tried many times to get it to climb on my finger. It was the coolest thing when it actually did crawl on there!! No words will ever describe my "Spots". She was the prettiest thing. Her oval eyes were Grey, and her face was fuzzy... she was lovely! After she flew away, she came back to my bag ( I think she was as curious about me as I was her!). I waved my hand in the bye-bye motion, and she flapped her wings. It was sweet! "Spots" holds a spot in my heart!







































The last pictures I will post are of the sunrise and sunset! These don't do it justice... but they are pretty to look at anyway!


















We always had hot cocoa every morning! Here is a picture of my last day drinking hot cocoa with Dad and Sharon~

I had a wonderful time! There is so much more that I didn't include... It was a wonderful vacation!

Beat It!!

Last night, mom and I picked beats and topped them. I was sad to see them go, but I guess that we are coming up on that time of the year when you are able to reap the harvest of your labors. We have really been blessed with TONS of yummy veggies. I am still offering Zucchini's for free!! We didn't have very many beats... which is ok.... I was surprised they even came up this year! We hope to get a half dozen bottles out of them. YUM!
After we picked the beats, I decided to weed my carrots and re-build the row (that is how I like to weed.... just tear it all up, and then rebuild it later!!) I knew I was pushing it with time, meaning, it was getting close to my bedtime, but I couldn't pull myself away! We picked our first tomato, and loads of Zucchini's, along with some squash and peppers. I love this time of the Gardening Year!
To back up a little... I have to go to bed around 9:00 PM, because I have to get up at 4:00 AM. Technically, I should be going to bed by 8:00 PM, because I need ALL the beauty sleep I can get! Why, you ask?! Because our Governor has forced us to work four 10 hour days! That is grand and all, for those who don't want any kind of life during the week. I get home around 7:30 PM, and you'd be surprised how fast an hour and a half goes!! At least it gives me an excuse to not date... that I can thank the Gov'nah for!!
I went camping with Dad and Sharon this past week... I will save the spill for another post... when I can show my pictures!! They are being developed as we speak! I have to just say this... It was incredible! Just what I needed! More to come....
Oh, I wanted to post this picture of this animal. As I was coming in last night, I saw this ... thing... licking the flowers. It was really neat. Pictures just don't do it justice. It reminded me of a humming bird (fast wings) mixed with a butterfly.... maybe that is all it is... a "hummfly"?!?!
Well, happy trails!

Garden Bliss

Can I just say that I truly enjoy gardening?! I finally got my pictures on this computer. Funny thing is.... now my garden is twice as big!! Today I picked 2 peppers and 3 zucchini's. Funny story about the zucc's (pronounced: z-oo-k-s), this year I only planted 5 pockets on my mound (meaning, I poked 5 holes with my thumb and put 3 seeds in each hole) where as last year I did 7-9 holes.....haha, yeah, we had zucc's coming out of our ears! So I thought I was pretty safe this year by just doing 5......and I thought I was even MORE safe when only 4 plants came up....I was wrong! One day, I was out whacking morning glory with my hoe, when I noticed that what I had just hit was either a squash or zucchini plant. I looked around, and wouldn't you know, there were two others just growing out of no where!! Actually, they were from my last years crop.... who knew that they would be annuals?!?! Our neighbor who we pay to come and plow our field must have dragged some seeds to a new location and WALAH! we have even more zucchini that last year! It's kind of funny, because this year I bought a new kind of zucc, so now I have 2 different kinds in my garden. By looking at what is producing now... I will be picking zucc's everyday for the rest of my life!! BUT, I am grateful we have crops this year, and I am grateful for those blasted zucc's!















Zucchini













overall look @ garden













Cute little corn (which has now tripled in size!!)














Tiny tomatoes!! They too have tripled!

Here are a couple of pictures of our flowers in our front yard.... to pretty to not share~

Grandma Therapy

So, every Wednesday night for the past six years (for me anyway), my cute cousin Stacey and I spend the evening with Grandma. We have had SO many fun times, special times, and very touching moments with her. Therefore, we titled it "Grandma Therapy". She listens to us tell our adventures of the past week, and then she gives comfort or advice to us. Then we help her get ready for bed, beginning with "Phase 1" as Grandma calls it! It is very fun to help her, I especially love washing her face, combing her hair, and putting lotion on her feet (she has cute feet). But before I go on I must say that without Stacey, Grandma Therapy would not be complete! I have really enjoyed coming to know her better, and she has become a very bright light in my life. Both women have influenced me more than I can say. I want to start writing funny things, or just moments that have touched me.

Last night, while waiting for a VERY slow nurses aid to help grandma, she sang, "Here we sit like birds in the wilderness, birds in the wilderness, birds in the wilderness....." At which point my cousin and I were laughing! It was very cute and funny.....and very appropriate!

The next thing is something that happened with just Stacey and Grandma (Stacey also goes every Sunday night to be with Grandma). Stacey shows up Sunday night and Grandma was watching 'Perry Mason', well, a Mr. Burger was called to the stand.....
Grandma: " I wonder if his first name is ham?"
Stacey: "Why do you say that?"
Grandma: "You know, hamburger!"
Now, this may seem silly, but it got both Stacey and I laughing!! Grandma's sense of humor is so adorable! She is so funny!

Well, in posts to come, I am going to share how cute and funny she is, and how dear she is to me. I hope you enjoy getting to know these two amazing women that I love!

Updates & Things

I love gardening! But I don't like morning glory and stickers! I have been really struggling this year with both. BUT, things are growing, and that is always good to see! I will post some pictures after I till and weed tonight (so that it looks pretty). My brother's family ( http://jasontricialeak.blogspot.com/ ) sold their home and just gave an offer today on another one. I am so excited, because it it closer to our house. Hopefully they will build behind us in a few years. Mom and I are getting anxious and excited for our garden project. I need to take some before and after pictures (even though it will take a couple years). We are turning a section of our house into a flower garden equipped with a waterfall, gazebo, and fire pit (among other things). Yes, this will be a HUGE project for us, but it has been a dream now for years.

I didn't write about my High School Reunion. I am so glad I went. It was so good to see people and find out what they have been up to. The magic number that night was 3. A lot of people (I'd say 90%) have 3 children. I really had a great time! I felt like I left there with positive feelings about people (especially those who didn't really like me in High School), so it was good leaving there feeling positive. I have to say, walking in the school, I felt those feelings of anxiety, nervousness, and just plain fear. But leaving, I felt closure, peace, happiness, and love for people. It was great!

Babbling!

So, tonight I am going to my 10 Class Reunion..... in ways it feels like longer, but at the same time I feel shocked that it has only been 10 years. Weird! It will be good to visit with some friends and see how they have been.

So, I wanted to post that I love being an Aunt. The other day Payton, Parker and Abbey came over. I wasn't feeling the best, so I was laying in bed. In came the two boys, asking if they could lay down with me..... as we were laying there, Parker asked about this huge key that I have hanging up. I told the boys that this was a "magic key", and that it goes inside a magic door where animals talk and flowers are everywhere! A little too Narnia I know, but hey, it was all I could come up with. Now they are asking if we can go find the door and go inside this magical land. I love it!!

Another story~ When my mom was taking the boys home after they came to play at our house for a while, mom forgot something at the house and came back. She left the boys in the car (with the windows down) and asked if I would go sit with them while until she found whatever it was she was looking for. SO, I got in the drivers seat and we pretended that the car was flying to the moon. It was so fun!! Now whenever we get in the car, we have to fly to the moon first! I love being with my nephews and nieces. They are so much fun!

I'VE BEEN BITTEN!!

Ok, really, I have 7 mosquito bites in various places, and they itch! I don't like this business. I swear, they populate all of Hooper!! I have a friend that lived in Kodiak, Alaska, where she said that for every person that lived there.... there are two bears. I think that for every person, dog, cat, and muskrat in Hooper, there are 200 mosquito's!! A thought along those lines.... my cute friend Kathleen had the opportunity to visit Truman G. Madsen, a historian for the Church and a wonderful speaker, and someone asked him a question concerning mosquito's and if they will live in the millennium....he told them that we will be glorified beings (no blood, etc.), so if they are there... it will be hell for them. I thought that was funny!

The Beginning

Well, here you have it... I've joined. Who knows what I will post..... and if anything will be interesting! For now I will just say that I have the cutest family /dog, and that they are my life. I love being an Aunt, though I don't like to be called "Aunt".... it just makes me feel so old. I love being a sister, spending time with my siblings is a blast! I love being a daughter, especially to my wonderful parents. They are my hero's, they are who I want to be. My dog is adorable! He follows me around wherever I go. SO, on that note.... let's get this thing goin'!!