Elder Whittaker

Elder Whittaker comes home in four months. I can't believe it. I am so excited to have my best friend home. He amazes me each and everyday. He is such an amazing missionary who strives each and every day to be obedient, and to give it his all. He is a completely different person from when he left. What a huge example he has been to me. Below is his testimony from his last letter. Pretty powerful......

All i can do is bear my testimony of how the mission has changed my life. Not gonna lie i dont know how i got on the mission because it all just happened so fast and calmly but mom and dad and heavenly Father got me here. Ever since i have been on the mission i have tried my best to work my hardest and learn everything that i can. I know that i have to become the man that my Heavenly Father needs me to be to continue being his servant after the mission. The only way of completing that is forget about my needs, if i am hungry, thirsty,
tired, that doesnt matter because i am not here for me. I have been able to see way too many people change their lives just by living the principles of the gospel and can only hope that the same thing is happening to my life. I have been able to understand what the spirit is and how it really works. I have understood that i do nothing here  as a missionary i am just a way that the spirit can touch the hearts of these people and convert them. I have seen many missionaries even change just by living and doing what Jesus Christ has taught us. I
dont care who you are or what you do but there is not a greater thing in the whole world than my mission, and i will be eternally grateful for my mission. I could not do anything to thank my Heavenly Father. I dont want to go home I feel at home here and hate thinking that this is going to end. The worst part is that it is close. Jordy, the most important thing that i have learned on the mission is that Jesus Christ is my Savior. I hasve had to suffer a little bit and read a lot to really understand what he did for me. It is incredible that i can
mess up and do something against what he asks and then repent. Only a missionary can really come to understand the atonement.

Sure do love you Log

Nursing School

I am almost through my first year of Nursing School. Can you believe it? I sure can't. It has been a huge challenge for me, but I am really enjoying it. I feel like I am constantly going with school, 20 piano students, and working 48 hrs. I can't picture my life any other way. People constantly ask me how I do all that I do, but I do it because I love it!

We had a clinical last week where we went to Life Flight. It was awesome! I loved it! Life Flight is the best of the best. I would love one day to get to fly with Life Flight. I think it would be very rewarding, but also very hard at the same time.... You are looking at the newest pilot. We got a tour of the planes and the helicopter. I can't imagine the adrenalin rush that the crew gets when they get a call. Talk about CRAZY, but I think I would love it.

One great thing about Nursing School is all of the friends I have made. This is Sarah, and I think she is pretty great!! She has been through so much in her life, but is solid. We have a good time together.

Meet Amanda... She is so darling! While on the plane she pulled on something and totally broke it. It was hilarious because the pilot was giving her such a hard time, but was totally joking. He had us all laughing pretty hard.

This is one of the Helicopters. I was amazed at how tiny it was inside. It would be so hard to work on your patient in that small of an area. These Helicopters can go pretty much anywhere. We watched some clips of some places that they had been. It was unreal.

This is Melissa aka my study buddy. She is great to put up with me. She loves Grey's Anatomy just as much as I do, and so every Friday when we study we have to watch an episode. It is great!!

This is one of the planes that they take when they have to go far distances or if they have more then one patient. It was a great Clinical. The paramedic that we were with said that it would take around 10 years from where we were not to become a Life Flight Nurse. So if 10 years this is where I hope to be. I have a lot of work to do, but I think I can handle it.

I love getting to be the patient. We were talking about Blood Transfusions, and I was the lucky one to get all dressed up. It was awesome! Although I felt like I was going to pass out because I couldn't breath. It was a lot of fun!! I love nursing school even though it kicks my butt. I am learning lots, and hope that one day I will be able to be an amazing NURSE!!!

Weekend with DEV

I got to spend the weekend with Devyn because her family went racing in California. Boy did we have a great time. This past year we have gotten really close. We truly are best friends. I love spending time with her. We have so many great memories together. She is constantly making me laugh mostly because she thinks she is so funny. Okay, more like because she really is pretty funny!! Jamming out in the car, kneaders french toast, midnight movies, talking about how dumb boys are, being there for each other, british accents, baby voices, pedicures, red box, and dancing the night away are all the things we love to do together. It was fun to spend the whole weekend with just her.

Dev and J the best of friends. Dev takes J to school everyday and tells me that is the highlight of her day.

We went and got Pedicures. Talk about a little piece of Heaven.

Our cute Valentines Toes

After we went and saw This Means War... Which was fabulous by the way!

Inside joke that only Dev will laugh at!

I really just love this girl! She has such a big heart, and is so determined to do hard things. She can turn a really bad day into a great one.

This Video is Classic. We were doing our homework or more like goofing off. So I am the one talking. She is pretty good at what she does if you ask me. We decided that we are going to make up our own comedy act. We would sure make the big bucks because we are pretty much hilarious!!

My life lately in a NUT SHELL

If you were to ask me five years ago where I thought I would be today it is nothing that I would have imagined my life to be like. I used to think that in order for me to be happy I needed to be married, be a nurse, have children, have a boyfriend, have the perfect body etc., but what I didn't realize is that yes those things are great, but I can't rely on the future to make me happy. I have to live in the NOW, and realize all of the blessings in my life that I have that brings me true happiness. Those things being my family, the gospel, friends, my job, my education, my bed, a good hair day, and the list goes on and on. I truly am so blessed, and so HAPPY! I have a loving Heavenly Father who is aware of my every need. Who loves me for me, and who is always there no matter what. I have recently moved home. The past couple of years I have tried to fix everyone else problems, and to make everyone else happy, but what I wasn't doing was taking care of myself. I was so worried about making everyone else happy that I was forgetting to be happy myself. I have had a huge boulder lifted from my shoulders. It feels great to be home with people who love me the most. To have a home cooked meal everyday. To get to sleep with my brother J every night. To be happy!! I loved every minute of living in Orem, but change is good! I need change in my life right now, and moving home will give me that change. I have chosen to go to my home ward. I need a break from the dating scene. The last couple months have been very rough. After I was cheated on again for the third time I finally realized that living a life where there was no trust was not the life I wanted. Living a life where I wasn't happy, and not treated very well was not worth it. For the first time in my life I finally realized that I DESERVE to be happy. I DESERVE to have the best! After a long journey I have FINALLY ended things with Clayton forever and for always. Again, a huge boulder was lifted, and I can be myself again. I am grateful for my family, and friends who always supported me through my relationship. They trusted me to make the right decision. They stood by me through the thick and the thin, and loved me for me. I am grateful to have such amazing people in my life. So back to the home ward.... I got a calling today. Drum roll please...... I am the new PRIMARY CHORISTER. Yes, I said Chorister. For those who know me I can't sing at all!! I play the piano, but can't sing. I am terrified, but so excited at the same time. Children have always held a special place in my heart, and I am so excited to learn and serve the children in our ward. So if any of you have suggestions please feel free to let me know. I need all the help I can get. I had another neat experience today, and also a answer to my prayer that I have been waiting to hear, but that will come in further time......As for now I am grateful for my life right now. I am grateful for these past couple of months and the trials that I have faced. They have made me who I am today. I am grateful for a Heavenly Father who has led me to where I need to be! So there ya have it my life in a NUT SHELL!!

Grand Targhee

Grand Targhee is a Family tradition that I love. I look forward to it every single year. We have taken the past two years off due to a wedding, and other stuff. We were all very excited to go again this year. We figured this was our 12th trip up to Targhee. We hope that the tradition continues. We ski and board hard every day, take a short lunch break, then back at it again, eat, play games, BINGO, swim, and just enjoy each others company. We stayed in the condos this year which was really nice. We all had our own bed, and were right by the lift which was perfect. The snow was amazing! We had pure powder every day. My family went up Wednesday night, but due to school I had to leave a date later which was torture. I was grateful though that I got to go up at all.

Targhee is beautiful to me. I love it when you get to the top of the lift, and get to look out on the Valley. It is gorgeous. Especially on a really clear day. The older we get the more fun we have because we can all go down just about anything.

Tyler and I

Kyle and Shea

I think my mom was exhausted what do you think? We are all pretty warn out by the time we come in each day, but are ready for more the next day.

Jensen had a swim meat that he had to prepare for so the boys were great about going and swimming laps each day. I think it was more a party then actual swimming laps. I forgot my suit so I didn't get to join in the fun. I have so many memories of running and jumping in the snow and then running to the hot tub as your body tingles. My family has so many amazing memories at Targhee. It is what we like to call Disneyland.... aka the happiest place on earth.

Kyle was up and ready to go before the lifts opened.

This is a person I like to call STELLA. Yes, she is the life of the party!!!

Dad and E John

J, Kyle, and I

My sweet parents who work so hard so that our family can do fun things like this. I am so grateful for them, and for the many traditions our family has. I still can't beat my old man down the hill. Pretty impressive eh!!

Shea and KJ.... Next year we will have another little one with us!!

J and his new attire. He looks pretty good if ya ask me!

Easton did great this year!! He took a lesson the first day and then was ready to tear it up. He will go down just about anything. I was so proud of him.

Me and my new attire... I look pretty good if ya ask me!!

We had such a great trip! We were really nervous about going because the snow was supposed to be very good, but oh were we wrong. It snowed every single day. We were blessed with POWDER every day! It was such a beautiful thing. There is no place like Targhee. We are lucky to spend it with such great friends. The Larsons, Petersons, and the Morleys. We missed the Whitt clan this year. Hopefully next year we can all be there!!

Date Night With Shea and Kyle

So my dating life lately is well... NON EXISTENT!! So Shea and KJ being the great people they are took me on a date. We had such a great time. It was one of the funnest dates I have been on. No stress about trying to impress someone, no stress about the doorstep scene, no stress about what a great bowler I am, no stress about dancing in the front seat and embarrassing myself, and no stress about having to deal with a dumb boy again!! We had a great time. We went bowling, and then to Roxberry my favorite!! Let's just say I am a great bowler, and totally dominated. Okay, we all know that is a lie. I think I got the lowest score, but had a great time loosing.

I am grateful for my amazing sister. The last couple of months we have gained such a stronger relationship. I am grateful to have her in my life. Isn't she beautiful?

These two earn the best brother and sister award. Thanks you two for always putting up with me, and including me. There is never a dull moment when us three are together. Shea has learned to sit in the back seat because she is embarrassed with our amazing car dances. I think we also get the biggest DORK AWARD!! KJ is the older brother I always wanted. He is so good to me, and to my family. I can't imagine my life without him in it. Sure do LOVE you BOTH!!

Highlights of 2011

2011 was a great year. Full of lot's of good memories, trials, newness, adventures, sorrows, new friends, new roommates, dumb boys, more dumb boys, and the list goes on and on.....

Ten Highlights from 2011

-Finding out that I am going to be an AUNT in July of 2012

-Getting into Nursing School at MATC, and completing my first semester of Nursing School

-Getting to talk to my Brother two times on the phone, and realizing that in just 5 months he will be home. I am not counting down at all.

-Coloring my hair BROWN

-My Best friend in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD getting married

-Continuing working at Labor and Delivery (Going on FOUR Years, and I still love it)

-Completing my first Triathlon

-Running a Half Marathon with Shea, Kyle, Mom, and Kim

-Three amazing trips to Lake Powell

-Finally Breaking up with my Boyfriend of 3 years, and finally realizing that I deserve the BEST!!

-Realizing I have the best FAMILY a girl could ever ask for!!

-Becoming a Relief Society Teacher and getting the opportunity to learn and grow, and strengthen my testimony.

2011 was a great year!! 2012 HERE WE COME!!