Fears and Overcoming Them

The last couple of days has been very long and stress filled. A few weeks ago our bishop asked us to speak in church. I totally thought that when he asked us down to his office he was going to have us set apart for our new callings, we had just been called as the CTR 5 teachers. So when a man came in and asked Travis if we would stop in to see the Bishop on our way home I assured him we had nothing to fear. Of course I was totally wrong.

As we were walking down the hall towards the bishop's office I was reassuring Travis that it was nothing, We were just going to be set apart no big deal and no worries. Instead of stopping outside the office Travis just kept walking towards the door trying to avoid the whole situation when I reminded him that we still needed to see the bishop, I thought it was pretty funny that he thought he could pretend that we did not agree to the meeting.

So we got into the office and we are sitting down and of course all the small talk of how are you and that sort of thing. When out of the blue the bishop asks us if we would be willing to speak in a few weeks. Total silence...I was taken aback. I was not expecting this at all. We just got called, we are supposed to be getting set apart, right? Well, I looked at Travis for a response and he said nothing. We had talked about this every week since moving out here. We had agreed that since we were both deathly afraid of public speaking that we would decline the offer imediately and have some kind of excuse as to why we would not be able to speak.

But there we were and no one was saying anything. Travis said nothing and so I asked the bishop if there was possibly ANYTHING else that we could do besides give talks, he just smiled and said nothing. So I came to the decision that we could not just say no. Everyone was expected to give talks when they are new to the ward, right? I mean it's not that big of a deal, everyone has a their day. So I asked him what the topic was and we agreed to speak. We walked out of the office wondering what we had gotten ourselves into.

So I was not too nervous up until last night. My legs were feeling like jello and that they would collapse at anytime. Travis has been nervous for a while now and he also had some big reviews going on at work that were stressing him out, so we just wanted the day to come and get it over with. I wrote my talk on delighting in the things of the Lord, from Sister Susan Tanner's talk at our last conference, and mainly focused on Eternal life as one of the main things that I had been given that I could find delight in. I had been thinking about it the whole day before and I was looking through the church website wondering what I wanted to say, and Eternal Life just jumped out at me and I felt really strongly that this is what I was to talk about. Travis Talked about not procrastinating our repentance until tomorrow, but to do it today. I was really proud of myself that I came up with so many pages, I had 14. I have never talked more than 5 min. before and the bishop told us that we each had 15 min. to speak. So I was armed with alot of info.

So we get to church extremely early and we are soooo ready to give our talks and be done with it. Sitting there waiting for all the people to come in I was actually alot calmer than I was at home. Once it was finally my turn to speak. I had a bit of a rough start, my voice was a little shaky but I told myself to just calm down and the rest went really smoothly. I talked for like 20 min. I was so proud of myself and I didn't even cry! I always end in a huge release of embarrassing emotion every time I talk and this time I felt really good when I was done.

After my talk the young women sang a beautiful song that I had never heard, it was really sweet. Then it was Travis' turn to speak and I had not left him much time but he did really well I thought. I was very proud of him. Anyway, so we were done with our talks and feeling really good for the rest of church. We also had to prepare to teach our 5 year olds their lessons and try to control them throughout primary which went way better this week than any other week we have had to teach so far.

I guess what I am trying to convey is that I had a HUGE fear, well, we both did, of public speaking , but I think that if I have to do it again, that it can only get better. I feel really good about how my talk went and better about myself. I am glad that we have the church to help us to overcome our weaknesses and become better people. And I am glad that I have Travis to help me and support me in whatever comes up in our lives. Sorry this is a long post but I really wanted to write down how this has effected my life specifically and I guess I am greatful that I got the chance to speak. I also think that now I feel more a part of the ward, more welcomed, and now people know who we are. It's good.

Hubby Tag!

My loving husband Travis! Love ya!

Here goes.

1. What is his name? Travis Tucker


2. Who eats more? Travis, he eats ALL day long!

3. Who said I love you first? He did. Right before I was about to leave school and go home for the summer.

4. Who is taller? Travis, I am a shorty


5. Who is smarter? We are both smart, but smartER in different areas


6. Who is more sensitive? Probably me, but I would have to say that I am not too sensitive.

7.Who does the laundry? That would be me.

8. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? If you are standing at the foot of the bed looking at it, he does.


9. Who pays the bills? I write out the checks and Travis' money pays them. All the money I earn is now savings!

10. Who cooks more? Me again, once in a while Travis will though.

11. What meals do you cook together? We don't cook together we will usually just split the responsibilities (If I cook Travis cleans up and if he cooks I clean up).

12. Who is more stubborn? We are both pretty stubborn, but always come to some kind of compromise in the end.

13. Who is the first to admit they're wrong? I would probably say Travis he is pretty good at knowing when he has done something to hurt me and say he is sorry.


14. Who has more siblings? Travis


15. Who wears the pants in the relationship? It's pretty fifty fifty I'd say.


16. What do you like to do together? Watch movies, swim, BBQ, and just talk and have fun together.


17. Who eats more sweets? Travis eats sugary snacks like they are the only food on the planet!

18. Guilty pleasures? Hmm...


19. How did you meet? We met while I was going to school in Orem, at work, we were both working at IceBerg Drive Inn.

20. Who asked who out first? Travis, he asked me if I wanted to come over and watch a movie and get pizza on Halloween.

21. Who kissed who first? He kissed me!


22. Who proposed? Travis did.


23. His best features? Definitely eyes and Eye lashes.

24. What is his greatest quality? Travis is very patient with me and everyone else, he is very hard working and has an awesome work ethic, he is very responsible and mature, and since we have been called to teach the CTR 5 class he has been so cute with all the ones in our class, I have loved seeing that side of him come out. I know he will someday make a great daddy.

25. Tag? Jamie, Liz, Joyce, Kim, Ally and anyone else who wants to do this, it is quite fun!

Logan Graduates!

The first event we had scheduled last weekend was my brother Logan's graduation. Three down and two more to go! Logan did great in High School resulting in a 5.o GPA, which I have mentioned before, and we are all very proud of his accomplishments. Now He is just focusing on getting ready for his mission, he leaves at the end of September. There will only be 2 kids left in the house in the Fall. That will be a huge change, Logan will leave on his mission and Amanda was accepted to Law School in Orange County and I am out here in the desert. Anyway, it was fun to see Logan graduate and spend the weekend with my family.

GOHS! Go Wolfpack!

They got fireworks at the end of graduation!

Logan and my parents

The whole family except Travis

Logan with his best friend Joe

All the girls from church that graduated with Logan

In the parking lot we surprised Logan with a silly string attack!

The Sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever

A lot was going on the weekend of Father's day, so I am now catching up on the other activities of that weekend. One of the adventures we went on was a search for a new truck for my dad. We went all over SD and Temecula looking, but no one had what he was looking for. While we were down in SD looking at the car dealerships I asked my dad if we could stop by the beach since I NEVER get to go anymore since moving out to this desolate desert. We stopped by the Torrey Pines reserve and it was a hot spot for sure! There were tons of people there, either taking pictures of the sun set or just leaving from a day of fun. It was an awesome sun set so I wanted to share some of the shots that I got. Now keep in mind that these shots are totally untouched, no editing took place here people, its pure Mother Nature at her best. Enjoy!

On one side you could see the sun set and on the other the moon

My Papa & Grandpa's & Great Grandpa's

Father's Day 2008! This post is dedicated to my Papa and Travis' dad and all my grandpa's and great grandpa's, without them we would not be the people we are today! Love ya, and thanks for all your Examples, Love and Time! I made this slideshow sorry some of the pictures are blurry...

Anniversary Number Three!

3Years!

Monday was our 3 year anniversary! Travis picked me up from my parents house and I had no idea where we were going only that we were heading north. Eventually we ended up in Beverly Hills! i was so excited! We stayed in a four star hotel off of Santa Monica Blvd, on the Avenue of the stars!

Our Hotel

Our hotel was right down the street from the LA Temple

The first day we just relaxed in our room and later that night we had dinner at the restaurant in our hotel where Travis gave me an awesome anniversary present, a pair of diamond earrings! I love them! I have been wanting a pair for a long time! I am a lucky girl! Thank you Travio!

We then went out to look around and down Santa Monica Blvd. and had ice cream!

On Tuesday we headed up to Hollywood and went to Universal Studios! It was a great day, perfect temperature.

The first attraction on the agenda was, of course, The Simpsons! It's new at Universal and Travis was very excited to go and check it out!

Then Travis dragged me, literally, into the House of Horrors! I am terriffied of Haunted houses! I love scary movies, but not when it becomes part of my reality! There were real actors throughout the maze of horror, and they always say that they are not allowed to touch you or you to touch them, but I don't trust them! I was freaked the whole time! We started out as the first people in the group to go through and I was so scared that all the "actors" were chasing me because I was a girl and I was screaming! We eventually ended up catching up with the group in front of us because I just started running through! Anyways, this is a picture to prove that I lived through the experience!

The Jurassic Park Ride!

Then we took a stroll up Notting Hill!

If only it were the real London! I have to wait 6 more months for that! But we had fun none the less!

The Jaws shark!
The HULK!

King Kong~this is on the Universal City walk on your way in and out of Universal Studios

We had to take these escalators down to another area of the park.

You had to get on like 5 just to get down there.

We saw Shrek 4-D

We ate lunch at Mel's diner.

It was really good, better than any other amusement park food I have had.

Waiting to see the Water World show!

After the Water World show. We sat in the wet zone, thinking that it would not be that bad because we were not in the "soak" zone, but we got soaked! I was not very happy!

Travis didn't get it as bad as me because he would lean over when the waves came.

So his back is what mostly got wet.

About to see Terminator 2

We went on The Mummy ride!

The last attraction of the day, the tramway Studio Tour.

There was a fire that broke out literally 2 days before we went to Universal Studios. It burned down some exterior NY sets, it only burned 1% of the studio and they said that it will all be rebuilt.

We saw a set where the War of the Worlds was filmed.

Most of the debris is from the homes of the cast.

The Bates Motel!

Dr. Seuss' The Grinch set

We got to see all the houses on Wisteria Lane.

Desperate House Wives set.

We got to see how the rain and flood effects worked on the sets.

Jurassic Park props.

And what trip to Hollywood is complete

without a picture in front of the Hollywood sign!

Funny fact: on our way back to our hotel we took a wrong turn and were lost in LA for 2 hours! But we got to see a filming of a music video for the Pussycat Dolls on Hollywood Blvd. Ok, maybe not so funny!

Wednesday we were off to Six Flags!
I hadn't been there in a while and we were pretty excited to ride the roller coasters!

Waiting in line for Ninja! Hi-Ya!

Gotham City! Riddler's Revenge!

I had to take a picture of this because when ever Travis asks me a question he always says, "Riddle me this?" It cracks me up every time!

Batman!
Daaa da daaa da daaa da daaa da Batman!

Taking a lemonade/water break! Yummy!

I was very thirsty!

Viper! I loved this ride when I was a teen!
I remember running through the line and riding as many times as we could!

The most relaxing ride of the day! The Swings!
Scream!
Xtreme 2 or X2
The scariest ride in the WORLD! No joke!
The survival pictures!
Seriously I was scared for my life the whole ride!
My eyes were closed 90% of the time and my mouth was open 100% of the time screaming!
Very scary but we did it!
And that concludes our 3 year anniversary!
We had a great time this year and I can't wait til next year!
Happy 3 years to us!