Bama Life

     I've been on a blog hiatus for a bit. I'm not going to try and write about all of the things that have happened since the last time I wrote on here (over a year ago). I will say that we LOVE Alabama!
    
     I am still working in the insurance business by day and have been teaching dance two nights a week at Strut, USA in Rainbow City, AL. I love the girls I teach and work with! Dance brings so much happiness to my life. I find joy in what I do in the studio. I am also the Seminary teacher for the Hoover Ward. I love those chillens! They make getting up at 4:30am every day worth it. It can be a hard gig, I'm not going to lie, but they are such good kids I [sometimes] forget how tired I am when I'm learning with them.

     Hunter is working at UAB Health System and just started his LAST semester of grad school!!!! He will be graduating in May, and then we will be heading off to our next adventure. We are excited to part with the student life and are ready to settle into a new job and new phase of life. 

We love our little dog, Mr. Peanut, like he is our first-born. He is spoiled in every way. In fact, the temperatures have been in the teens and twenties this week and I keep finding him wrapped in a blanket somewhere.

We hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday Season and that your 2014 is fun and fulfilling!

   

It's Fall!

Fall is my favorite time of year! Here's why:

#1 As soon as it starts to get chilly outside I start counting down the days until my birthday. (15!)
#2 Leaves changing colors, in my opinion, is one of the most beautiful things
#3 It makes for great camping weather and photo ops.
#4 I love the clothes that accompany the weather. (I'm a sucker for sweats, coats, scarves, gloves, etc)
#5 Fall food is delicious! Who doesn't love a good caramel apple?

This year was fun to have Hunter is the south with me to partake in fall festivities! We have a Gilland Family tradition just before Halloween to go up to North Georgia and get apples and visit Burt's Pumpkin patch. Hunter loved it! We bought some little baby pumpkins for Peanut since he wasn't allowed in the pumpkin patch.

 

 

We also visited Amicalola Falls! It was a fun little hike that ended with 175 stairs to the falls!

 

 

Happy Fall Y'all!





 

Weekend Getaways

We closed out the month of September with a trip to Georgia where we explored with our new little guy, Peanut. We love having him around!

The first weekend in October we went to Mississippi with our awesome friends Hope & David and Annie & Spencer! We (well, Hunter and I) went to go support our Broncos! Southern Miss was playing BSU so we roadtripped over to watch. We had a blast!

We met a little girl named Lori who kept coming to sit with us. She kept screaming at the USM mascot and calling him a chicken. He was an eagle. She told us she wanted to cook that chicken!

Not only did we get to watch the Broncos claim victory but we had some much needed girl time and the boys went fishing afterwards as well. We ate at the famous Leatha's barbeque in Hattiesburg. Apparently, Morgan Freeman visits there quite frequently for some delicious ribs!

I would say that was all we had planned for this crazy month but I'd be lying! I'll be sure to take lots of pictures to commemorate! Happy Fall!

Mr. Peanuts Arrival

On Monday we welcomed a one year old Yorkie into our family. We rescued him from another home and we love him already. He loves being outside. Hates baths. Loves playing all day. Hates water. Loves snuggling his sock monkey. And loves his new home. He is a tiny little guy! When we take him on walks he gets tired after maybe 100 yards. We usually end up carrying him home to his water bowl. Enjoy this cute face! We sure do! Happy Friday!

Just a little fun

This labor day weekend was quite a bit of fun. We headed over to Atlanta to watch as our friends Kevin and Kayla get married in the temple! They are so precious!

Of course in honor of the official start of college football season we got the BSU game in on Friday and the Georgia, Alabama, and Auburn games in on Saturday. By the way, I decided that while living in Alabama I must choose an allegiance second to Georgia (Go Dawgs!) so I have something to contribute to conversations here. So I chose Alabama. I have chosen Alabama for 2 reasons. #1 they won their game this weekend (sorry, Auburn) and #2 I am getting my State of Alabama insurance licensing through Alabama's continuing studies program. Seeing as how I'm a student there I have to cheer, right?

Mom and dad came over on Sunday for a slumber party with the intent of going to the fair with us on Monday. We stayed up late catching them up on all of the Marvel movies so they could go watch the Avengers and not be confused. Needless to say Monday brought nothing but rain... I was bummed because I was so excited for fair food! We decided that we wouldn't let our Marvel Movie Marathon got to waste so we went and saw the Avengers!! What a good day! Mom and dad left and Hunter and I decided to do something crazy!!!! We cut 10 INCHES off of my hair. Well, Hunter did the cutting. He was so pleased with his work that he said he had found his calling and he should drop out of grad school and open up a shop.

Our New Home, Roll Tide.

Hunter and I moved into our new apartment a week ago. Hoover, Alabama is where we now call home. This place is heavily football oriented, as Hoover High School is the school from the show 2 a Days and they are apparently unstoppable. I hear its nearly impossible to get tickets to their games! It is also laced with an SEC rivalry of "Roll Tide" and "War Eagle"! Now don't get me wrong we still claim our home teams (Go Dawgs! and for Hunt's sake Go Broncos) but it is fun to be living in that ESPN commercial where everyone walks arounds saying roll tide to each other. We like to join in for the sake of community.

Hunter will be starting his masters program this week for an MHA and an MBA. He is excited to get started.

I am working with an insurance agency and am loving it! I hope to be able to find a studio around here to teach dance.

Moving to a different place always puts us in this weird stage where it doesn't feel real for a while. On our first night here we went on a date and checked out the area. We LOVE Hoover! I take back all of those things I said about Alabama growing up...well most of those things anyway!

Last night, my parents came over for dinner and it was so cool to have them be close enough to do that! I am excited to be closer to my family and friends but we do miss being so close to our Idaho friends and family!

Summer livin'

We graduated from BYU-Idaho April 6th! We were so exciting to be done but also a little sad to leave our friends in Rexburg. We will always cherish the memories and the friends we made there.

On April 7th, we moved across the state to Boise where we will be for the summer. Hunter is doing an internship at St. Alphonsus Hospital and I am working at Sears and loving it!

We are so excited about what the future has for us. Hunter is starting grad school at University of Alabama at Birmingham in August!

For now we are just having fun and loving life together! Happy summer, everyone!

Hooray for summer break!

Hunter and I had such a fun and relaxing break! Hunter worked while I took some classes online and we played lots of games and watched a TON of movies! We beat seasons 5&6 of the Office and season 1 of Modern Family. The last two weeks of our break were the best! First we went to Twin Falls, Idaho where we gained a sister, Miss Anna K Gilland! It was so good to see all of the fam and watch my brother get married.

After the wedding, we gallivanted off to Orlando, Florida (the home of Mickey Mouse and his friends) to take the most well-deserved vacation of my life! We had a blast with my parents and my in-laws. The six of us joined our "cousins" the Mitchells at Disney World for a couple of days as we celebrated a "Family Reunion" complete with celebration buttons.

Florida was so hot and humid that my little potato got a heat stroke on the golf course. He was fine as soon as the Georgia vs. Boise State came on a few hours later. In honor of the game my mom gave us a UGA pillow pet, and because Hunter felt he needed a prize for his team winning the game we got a bronco pillow pet as well. They play nice in our living room.

We had such a great time, but now it's time to get back in the school rhythm. Today was our second day of school and we love our classes so far. I'm sure that will all change by midterms but we will enjoy it while it lasts!

Last NT Assignment!

Jude chapter one tells us that if we contend for the faith and be diligent we can multiply mercy, peace, and love. You can “contend for the faith” by remembering the things that you have been taught by the brethren.

Jude 1:6 talks about the “first estate”. This refers to the choice we made in the preexistence to side with the Lord and come to earth to gain a body.

This institute manual said that Michael and Satan fought over who would bury the body of Moses. Michael was charged with the duty, but Satan wanted the body because he said Moses was a sinner which meant that he was the ”lord” over the sinners. This is being quoted by Jude from a piece of scripture that has been omitted from the Bible.

The Savior will return to the earth in power and glory in the Second Coming with “ten thousands” of his saints.

In order to avoid the evils of false teachers we need to be in tune with the spirit. Our prophets and apostles have given us guidance that will steer us clear of preachers of false doctrine. We can avoid the evils that would try to deceive us by knowing the true doctrine for ourselves so that we cannot be deceived.   

More From 2 Peter

Peter tells how to recognize false teachers in 2 Peter chapter 2, so here is a list of things that Peter cautions us to look for:

·         They will “bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord” (v 1).

·         They will lie to you in order to “make merchandise of you” (v 3).

·         They are not afraid to speak evil (v 10).

·         They speak “great swelling words of vanity” (18).

·         They appeal to the lusts of men (18).

This list helps us to identify false teachers today as well. The false teachers that were described in this chapter exemplify people who just want to be praised by men. They want to preach things that will keep them popular with their congregations.

                In 2 Peter 2:20 Peter refers to returning to the “pollutions of the world”. This dangers of this is hatred, living in sin, and even brothers overcoming brothers in war. If we let ourselves engage in the things of the world then we will end up being without the light of Christ and tearing each other down.

The General Epistle of James

James 1:5 says, “If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him”. This encourages us to come unto Christ. He will help us get those things that we ask for in faith and righteousness. James goes on in verse 6 to explain, “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” When we ask things of the Lord we must ask with a sure faith that he will help to guide us whenever and however he sees fit.

James 1:8 says, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” This verse is kind of confusing at first glance, but with the help of Matthew 6:24 and 1 Kings 18:21 we see that this is talking about attempting to love two masters. We can’t love good and love evil at the same time.

In our lives, we can be better disciples of Christ by not giving into temptations that would lead us to sin. We should be slow to anger, because our tongue offends when we do not guard it. “Be ye doers of the word and not hearers only” as this scripture states. We must be willing to go out and do the things we know to be right. We also need to keep others in our minds who are afflicted, and be willing to help them.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie said in regards to James 1:5-6, “…this single verse of scripture has had a greater impact and a more far reaching effect upon mankind than any other single sentence ever recorded by any prophet in any age. It might well be said that the crowning act of the ministry of James was not his martyrdom for the testimony of Jesus, but his recitation, as guided by the Holy Ghost, of these simple words which led to the opening of the heavens in modern times.”

·         This passage of scripture is what prompted Joseph Smith to go to a grove of trees and ask if which church to join. This experience led to the restoration of the gospel.

Paul's Counsel

Paul ended his epistle to the Hebrews with counsel and teachings. Here are some questions that can be answered in chapter 13 of Hebrews:

·         How should we treat strangers and those in bonds?  Verses 1 and 2 talk about this by saying that we should “entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares”. We need to help those who are in need whether they are friends or strangers, because we never know who the Lord has put in our path. We are to remember those that are in bonds that suffer because we need to treat them as if we were in that same situation.

·         How is marriage looked upon?  “Marriage is honourable”. God is pleased with those who get married and do not defile themselves.

·         What warnings are given about covetousness? We are supposed to “be content with such things as ye have”. We should not want for other people’s possessions, because we have our own.

·         What is “the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever”? Jesus Christ. He does not change his convictions nor go back on his promises. He is always there to help us when we go to him in faith.

·         How are we sanctified? We are sanctified through the blood of Christ, by his infinite atonement.

·         How do we respond to those who rule over us? We are supposed to obey the people that rule over us and submit ourselves to them.

·         Who did Paul ask the people to pray for? He asked them to pray for him and his fellow men in Christ.

R Mountain!

Last week, Hunter and I hiked R Mountain with our friends the Kings! Some advice...do not eat Taco Bell before you go. Bad idea! We made our own trail on the way up and when we got near the top we found out that you weren't supposed to go that way...Oops! No wonder it was hard! It was worth the pain when we got to the top though.