My first backpacking trip!

Dallin and I backpacked around Diamond Peak, Idaho back in June. Our camera batteries were dead for the majority of the trip... But we still got some good pictures and videos :) I got pretty worn out trying to keep up with Dallin, and I was terrified of the heights part of the time. But Dallin was patient with me and we still had an awesome weekend together :)

Table Rock..... Attempt

Dallin and I finally got our car fixed after five and a half long weeks of being cooped up without it. So obviously we had to take advantage of our wheels and get our butts outside to enjoy an awesome hike :) We were going to hike to the top of Table Rock, but our hikes get slower and slower the more pregnant I become.... We still had a blast together and LOVE being outside!! Idaho/Wyoming is BEAUTIFUL!!!! 

Here are some pictures and videos we took :)   

Why I am a Mormon.

WHY I AM A MORMON. 

I was born into a family whose foundation and premise is the gospel of Jesus Christ. I was taught my divine identity and worth from a young age. I have known since I was a child that Jesus Christ is my Savior, and that he knows and loves me. In my teenage years I read and studied the Book of Mormon for myself, I have felt the confirmation of the Spirit each time I read from its pages. I know that the Book of Mormon is a another witness of Jesus Christ, and that it was written specifically for us in our day. The Book of Mormon gives my life direction, purpose, and testifies that Jesus is the Christ, and that he Atoned for me. I know also by the confirmation of the Spirit that Joseph Smith was called as a Prophet of God, and that through the power of God he restored the fullness of the gospel to the earth. I know that God lives and that he loves each of his children. I know that Christ performed the Atonement for all of us; I have been able to use and feel the cleansing and redeeming power of the Atonement in my own life. I know that through the Priesthood power that has been restored to the earth, we can be sealed to our families for eternity. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because I know this is the fullness of the gospel. It is the purpose of life. I love the gospel with all my heart, and I hope that if you haven't already, that you will read the Book of Mormon and seek to know if it is true.

HOW I LIVE MY FAITH. 

One of my favorite quotes is "Live your life in such a way that those who know you but don't know Christ, will want to know Christ, because they know you." I live my faith by trying to be an example of Christ to those around me. To share the light of the gospel and the happiness it brings to everyone I come in contact with. The Creator of the Universe knows and loves each and every single one of his children, it's important that we first understand this for ourselves, and then we in turn, make it known to those around us. I also live my faith by working my hardest to keep the Lord's commandments, and to always honor and keep my covenants with him. I strive to strengthen my relationship with my Savior daily by reading my scriptures, praying and seeking answers to my prayers, and by serving those around me. Christ's church is a church of love and service; we each are given the opportunity, if we are willing, to serve in various capacities or "callings" within the church.

Alcohol, and why I hate it.

My 21st birthday is NEXT WEEK! With me turning 21 a lot of people have wondered why I choose to never drink alcohol. It's for you people that I have written this. These are my feelings explaining exactly why I hate alcohol and exactly why I have never, and will never put any of that CRAP near my lips!
Please read! :)

FIRST AND FOREMOST (One of the most important reasons to me!) I know that each of us can have the opportunity to be guided and directed by the Holy Ghost. I know that this guidance comes usually through a still small voice. Simple promptings, that keep us safe, and help us to be an influence for good in the lives of others. When you drink alcohol you are allowing a foreign substance to take control of your body and mind. If you cannot even control your actions (and will not be able to remember any of the things you did) you're forfeiting that sacred opportunity to be guided by the spirit. If you cannot think for yourself, you will not be able to hear or recognize the promptings of the Holy Ghost. Why we would willingly forfeit that privilege is beyond me!

NEXT: Also VERY important to me! My family has done foster care since I was a little youngin'. I have seen children in my own home whose lives have been destroyed by alcohol. I have seen alcohol tear apart and suffocate marriages, and families. I have seen the affects of parents losing their sense and abusing their precious children. I have seen the affects of a child being born with alcohol fetal syndrome when a mother carelessly drinks while pregnant. I have heard about way too many car accidents resulting in death, due to drunk driving. Alcohol HARMS. I do not care how fun it is to party with your friends, I do not, and will never trust a substance that alters my mind.

I will never partake of a substance that makes me forget who I am, become distant to the promptings of the spirit, and harm those around me.
I. Hate. Alcohol.

If you made it to the end of this, thanks for reading my rant! <3 Aubrey Marie

Ohh 2011 - You were GREAT! :)

I don't think I have ever successfully completed a New Years resolution before! But for 2011 I did a 365 day picture album... Checkkk for my first successful resolution! Haha It was such a blast and to be quite honest I'm bummed I'm already finished with it!! I stinkin' love looking through it! 2011 has been an awesome year and I'm so glad I captured it in photographs! ;)

So, what have I learned from you 2011?!


- I am so proud to be a BOYER! :) I miss you Gramps! But I do know that family's can be together forever :)


- Some things I've "planned" for my life haven't quite worked out how I'd hoped.. But it's really been re-emphasized this year the need to put the Lord's plan first, we'll be happiest when we seek his will for us. :)



- Never take someone for granted. I love my family so much, I'm really grateful that we were able to turn to the Lord during my Mom's ordeal, and that he blessed us time and time again. He was really looking out for us, and I will never ever forget the Lord's love for me :)


- My life didn't end when Harry Potter did... (Yes, I really did think it might.) Call me a nerd. Call me a loser. But it was very depressing for me when the last of the Harry Potter's came out! Haha But I have found there are other things to live for ;)

- I finally picked a major.... and I LOVE IT!! International Studies with an emphasis in Health Science. It has been AWESOME. All my favorite things rolled into one! :)




- My family is incredible! Really, I love them SO much! I loved getting to travel around to see all of them during 2011! And honestly being an Aunt is my favorite job in the whole wide world. Who knew someone could have 16 best friends that are kids? I LOVE THEM! :)



- Some friendships never change with time :)





- I have made some new really really amazing friends this year! Love love love them all!!! I'm quite glad they meandered into my life :)






- I finally got my freaking license!!! Haha





- I've realized how kind people are. People truly are amazing, and have really really really really blessed my life this year!



- I went to my first ever BYU basketball game this year! Supa fun!!


- Chocolate and Bacon have the ability to fix ALL things!


- The scriptures are amazing. This year I really studied the four gospels in the New Testament. It's just been an incredible experience to really study the Savior's mortal ministry and to know that he lived and died for all of us! :)

- God lives. I have seen his hand in ALL things this year. He's been there to comfort me through all of my struggles. And boy, this year really was challenging, some of the hardest, scariest experiences in my life. But the Lord really will bring us through anything if we put our trust in him. I love him so very much! And I hope I can always do more to show him my love for him!

What now 2012?! My resolutions for this year: To be more GRATEFUL! ima keep a thankful journal, just writing everyday what I'm grateful for. Should be fun! I'm supa excited! :) And also, I found an awesome schedule for reading the entire standard works in one year, going to do that as well!! I'm super super super excited for 2012!!! :)

I am SO blessed!

I have seriously been SO blessed to live with the girls that I lived with this semester! Tonight we had an apartment Christmas party. I think it was my favorite night this entire semester. We went around in a circle and said all of our favorite memories of each other, and shared what we love about each other, and did a gift exchange. We were pretty much all balling. Seriously my roommates are absolutely amazing. I love them all so much and am SO grateful I had the opportunity to live with them. The end of this semester is pretty bittersweet though, my dear Natalie is getting married... And I am SO excited for her that she found her prince charming, but I'm so sad she won't be living with us again! And then good 'ol Shelley is headed back to Minnesota! For good! :( And Libby is going on a mission!! I am SO happy for everyone and the exciting changes going on in their lives, but I am seriously going to miss them so much. They have all been so wonderful to me, and I've really really really enjoyed this semester, and getting to know all of them. :)

Oh... and we also did a dog pile... fun stuff... check out the video, it's pretty funny ;)

And here's a picture of all of us!