Fishing!

Well, I believe it was Monday or Tuesday night when the gigantic thunderstorm rolled through Mesa. The thunder was so loud that it shook our apartment around 4a.m. I told David that even though it kept us up for what felt like the entire night, its not something we get to hear and see often so its worth it! David woke up around 5 and I said, you need to tell Ryan you are NOT going fishing in this weather...there is lightening everywhere and thunder like crazy. Needless to say David, Ryan (his brother) and Ryan's three girls went anyways and for the most part had clear skies. They were not able to catch much but tiny little fish which they ended up just throwing back into Canyon Lake.

David begged me when we went to the grocery store, if he could buy some fish since he didn't get to eat any of what he caught. I told him that he'd half to wait until the next week to get some (I don't care for fish anyways lol)....So I wish have to live up to my promise this week. Hope it turns out well-we are not much fish cookers!

On another note, I have had some pretty crazy dreams this week, some of which were very urgent and very realistic. The one I had earlier this week, I dreamed that the world was being destroyed and my family was trying to grab as much food as we had in our house and get to a safer place. Well, there wasn't any food, or enough to sustain us for more than a day. In my dream I was crying and I just kept saying to myself "If I had only gotten our seventy two hour kits put together, we would have been ok, and because I am not prepared, my family is going to suffer". Our bishop has asked us for the last two years to get a food storage going and to get our 72 hour kit going. I finally got as much food storage together as our little apartment will hold but we need to work on the 72 hour kits. I don't know why I have the urgency to get this done, but I had the same feeling right before I started packing away on the food storage.

I forgot to mention on my last post that I got a speeding ticket from one of the lovely photo radar vans in Mesa and now have to find a defensive driving course to get rid of the ticket and points with it. Suprisingly they now have online classes and you just have to take the final exam in the presence of a notary!

Lastly, one of the supervisors at my work backed into my corolla and then sped off. He left a few scratch marks and that was it. But i was told I really should take the chance to use the cash he is offering and just get the minor scratches fixed as our car is a 2007 but is only a year old to us. My time is very limited so we'll see what happens! :)

David and I enjoyed watching the play Wicked at Gammage a week and a half ago. The music and the acting were phenomenal. The play is a spin off of the Wizard of Oz, going back before the movies time to describe what happened to the witches Glenda and Elphaba (the green witch). Glenda is a total blonde in every way and Elphaba is shunned because she's green and a witch and was born to non-witch parents. Apparently her mother had a fling with the Wizard of Oz, and thus Elphaba was created. Anyways, the play made me truly sympathize with Elphaba who really was a great witch and tried hard to use magic for the good, but when she would not do as the Wizard asked, he turned all of Emerald City against her and told them she was "wicked".....



This past friday we also went to Hale Theater in Gilbert to watch Beauty and the Beast. Compared to Wicked it wasn't that great at all....the performers had great voices but the acting was very poor and the actual instrument music was pre-recorded. We were a little disappointed...then again we saw Wicked first and nothing compares to that.



My sweet sister in law Fawn also bought me one of her stakes cook books and suprised me with that. I absolutely love cooking and now I have a book full of recipes women have actually tried out before. Thank you Thank you Fawn!

Saturday morning I got to go out to Ihop with some band friends from high school and it felt SO good to see them and get caught since none of us have really been out together since High School. One friend, Krystal Dickensen is moving to Las Vegas and so this was like her farewell breakfast.


I am about to start another 46 hour work week with working as a secretary, childrcare worker, and babysitting......Sometimes I wonder what the heck I am doing and then I say to myself, its just for another year and a half, and i'm doing this for my family...so we can get through school and get a house and start our family. I must be crazy tho..... :)

The Price of Freedom

This Fourth of July has been really hard on me emotionally. It is the second year celebrating Independence day at my in-laws house. They have a great view from their backyard, to see fireworks at Rockin'R Ranch. We invited my family over there this year because we were told that there would be no fireworks in Mesa. My family came and a harsh comment was made to them that them by one of my husbands aunts that because of all the "extra" people that came this year, that there would not be enough homemade ice cream. Needless to say, my family left shortly after because they didn't want to be the cause of david's family not getting enough ice cream, even due to my pleading that there would be enough. Not only that, my in-laws big family is EXTREMELY competitive at games and some comments were again thrown at my family how terrible they were in a round about way. I was hurt. I hadn't spent the last two fourths with my family and they were leaving because of a several harsh comments. I was upset all night and told my sister repeatedly how sorry I was for what happened. Emotionally I was a wreck and that carried on to the Sabbath

In church today, the relief society teacher told us this story: In 1868 the British were at odds and ends with America and had captured several patriots. Francis Scott Key, as a lawyer, was asked to negotiate to get our patriots back, which he successfully did. Shortly after, a British man came to him and said "our warships will be here in two hours and they are bringing the entire fleet. You can save yourself if you lower your flag at Fort Henry, thereby telling us that you have surrendered". Francis said "you don't understand, Fort Henry is being used as refuge for our wives and children" The ships arrived, and still the flag was not lowered. Francis heard the previously captured patriots praying amidst the bombing. In the morning, Francis looked at Fort Henry, and saw the flag was still there, the pole was bent and the flag shredded, but it still stood. He wondered why the flag was bent and not fully fallen down. Inside Fort Henry, he saw that men and women, dead, were piled around the flag. When one had fallen, another patriot replaced him, trying to protect the flag until they were all killed. However, there weren't enough bodies and so the flag bent to the side. Francis Scott Key, shortly thereafter wrote the Star Spangled Banner.

This story brought me to tears...I was still emotional. It suddendly dawned on me that not ONCE yesterday, had I or anyone else except my dad mentioned one thing about freedom, about those Saintly Patriots that DIED to keep us free. Who piled their bodies next to the flag to preserve that symbol (the flag) of our freedom, and yet mine and my extended family were too involved in eating ice cream, in playing games, in satisfying ourselves--being selfish, to realize that yesterday was the day that so many of our forefathers loved their country and their children and future Americans for decade to come, that they DIED to preserve out freedom. I haven't heard the Star Spangled Banner for two years now, and how sad it is that Americans, including myself, don't Breathe or pause for a little while on this day, to quietly and thankfully observe this day. Amidst the bombs, the patriots still prayed for their wives and children. How much do we love our families to talk to them about our forefathers, to say prayers of gratitude for allowing us to be free from tyranny, to be free to believe and practice what we want, to be free to express our gratitude for our government and military, and most especially to be free to worship and thank our Heavenly Father for preserving our freedom. What can we change so that our families and children understand the great service performed on our behalf on this Independence Day every year? What is the price we personally are willing to pay for freedom?

If we understood how blessed we are, would we be a little kinder to those around us? Would we make sure to see others needs are placed before our own? Would we thank those around us for the small acts of charity they do for us?

So what did the Bunzell's do after a long stressful week? Well, we worked 8 hours on Saturday and then got to see this movie.....
The Proposal.....
Let me tell you that that was one of the most hilarious movies I have seen in a long long time, not to mention it was a romance. Needless to say, I loved it. It had a few parts that I shied away from due to its crudeness but overall it was great.

Skipping back to Friday night, David and I got to go to his cousin Diana's wedding. How beautiful everything was. I was so excited for her, we are alike in the fact that both of us are going to school to become Speech Language Pathologists! Unfortunately Diana is moving to Colorado with her new husband, and we will miss her so much! Here are some pictures from the night....Grandma and Hailey

Giving Aaron the look like "Ah! you're going a little far!"

Michael was the lucky winner of the garter toss! You know what that means....... :)

A venting post.....

Today has been rather difficult as a culmination of things have been on my mind. For my sanity I just need to vent and let my emotions go.

#1 Today my father in law collapsed and has been in the ER all day getting tests done. He also has a tumor, making the situation even more scary. I have been worried about him all day. He is still really young...in his 40's.

#2 We have slightly less than two weeks before judgement day comes and David either keeps his job or loses it. This is resting on his ability to get 90 solutions (people opening savings/checkings/debit card/credit card) within a period or approximately three months time. He has around 70 right now...you do the math. We've been praying for miracles to intercede on our behalf, which is really what its going to take to save his job.

#3 I don't technically have a job this summer, which means we are losing a BIG chunk of our savings this summer in order to make things work. My small wages of 120$ every two weeks doesn't cut it.

#4 Family.....need I say more

Now, I know this seems small, but I am at breaking point almost. You see, a few weeks ago on the last day of my research methods, again when I had just about had it, my professor (bless her heart) stood up before out final exam and said (in words close to these) "Now, I usually have grad students at my door crying the last few weeks of class. I want you to know that you guys are special. When we considered your applicants we looked for the cream of the crop....and we selected you because you were the very best and the very brightest. We knew we could pretty much push you to your limits and you would still succeed".

Those of you that are willing please send a prayer on behalf of the Bunzell family, both mine and my in-laws. We need a few miracles :)

DISNEYLAND!

Not this past weekend, but the one before (Memorial Weekend), David and I had the chance to escape the heat and head to Anaheim, AKA Disneyland town! I don't know what it was but the curvy freeways on the CA-60 nearly drove me nuts. I can't stand so many sharp curves, on a very bumpy freeway with cars going so fast!

The first night we got there, we shopped a little in Downtown Disney, although I was not very impressed with the shops I saw. We ended up buying some peanut brittle, taking pictures and then heading back to the hotel to catch up with my brothers crew. Dinner was at Applebees.
Sunday we headed out to the LA temple and got some really beautiful shots there. Chris drove us down Sunset Blvd and I got to see the Hollywood sign, the stars walk of fame and some other really cool places. Now I can die happy :)

We then went to Hungtington Beach and for the first long while I was very hesitant to go in and Boogie Board with the others because of the coldness of the water (I am a chicken when it comes to the cold). After sitting in the water with Kiara as she was terrified to go in too, I got the nerve to go in and had the BEST time! I even caught a few really good waves. Chris and David dug for Sand Crabs and we found some really giant ones. As we were leaving, a group of dolphins decided to jump around by some of the surfers. It was pretty amazing to see dolphins up close in the ocean.

Monday we went to Disneyland and enjoyed getting to use several fast passes. I had forgotten how ridiculously expensive the food was at disneyland with everything being around 10$ a plate for a decent meal (something other than churros and ice cream). My thoughts were that I'd rather fork out the money and get something that would make our bodies feel good, rather than pay 3$ and feel like crap the whole day. The fireworks show was absolutely amazing-thats what really made Disneyland feel magic. For those that haven't been in awhile, they play sound clips from various disney movies and rides paired with perfectly timed fireworks and jolts of fire around the castle.

And now I am back to the real world...working with adult stroke clients at ASU and losing sleep over the stress of how to do therapy with these people. Have to understand their disorders and I don't, at least to the degree I need to!
Anyways, here are some pictures from our trip, enjoy!

Chris pretending to eat one of the sand crabs

Yes, we like kissing!

Miracles

Yesterday, when David and I were lying in bed thinking about the days events, David told me that he forgot to mail my really large credit card bill (large because of the wicked tickets we bought). He then went out to his car to collect the bill and bring it inside along with the check so that there would be no possibility of someone stealing it.

He came back with no check, no bill ...nada and said he couldn't find it anywhere. I prayed all night long that somehow we would find it A) so we wouldn't have to pay a fee to cancel the check and B) so that it wouldn't fall into the hands of someone dishonest. In the morning, I got up extra early for some reason and looked and looked and looked on our counters and in David's call-still nothing. I was absolutely beside myself...upset, frustrated and overwhelmed and this event just put me over the top. I wasn't as nice as I should have been when David woke up and as nicely as I could blamed him for losing the bill. I felt horrible afterwards because I knew it was a simple accident. He took the bill with him to put in the mail after his eye appointment but somewhere in route it has just fallen out somewhere.

I think i feel so overwhelmed because I won't have a job over the summer (due to working in the schools), i'm stressed financially, I have all these shots/TB tests, fingerprint cards, cpr cards to get in a week before clinic starts on top of trying to pull things together for my vacation to California next week. Anyways, I asked David to check with our front office to see if it had fallen somewhere outside and if someone turned it in. Around 10 this morning he texted me and said someone had turned it in to the office and she mailed the check out. I feel like we have been watched over....and miracle after miracle has happened lately.

Just last week David got thrown into his parents pool by his cousins and came out with a vibrating white screen phone that wouldn't work. After a full night of drying and countless silent prayers, it started working the next morning.

Time after time i've learned that during these moments, I HAVE to pray because nothing else works. I am so grateful for Heavenly Father, for watching over us and seeing that these small things are taken care of. I again am grateful for David for being patient with me.

Over the last two years, I have really learned a lot about myself, good and bad. My habits have not changed, they are just more well defined as I am on my own away from my parents and siblings. David constantly shows support and love for me and catches me when I fall. Rarely does he see the bad things that I do (or tells me :)) and if he ever does verbally tell me my mistake, its in such a loving way. He cleans and cleans and cleans (what husband does that without being begged???) and the more he cleans, the more lazy I feel I've become, or the more I just let him because I have so much on my plate that cleaning is the last thing I can make myself do.

I feel like I have been too quick to judge, too slow to serve, and I have failed to keep up on those things which should be the most important in my life. A temple worker once told the guys in my sealing room that they couldn't return to our Heavenly Father without the women and that they needed to make sure we got back together....I keep telling David and have realized that I absolutely wouldn't make it back without him, I fall so short and I need him to keep me where I should be.

So to David, thank you for standing by my side, and loving me no matter what. Thank you for seeing the best in me and giving me wings to fly. Thank you for encouraging me to finish my masters program even when I get too tired and sad that I am putting off a family for this. Thank you for working so hard every day even when your not in the career that you want to be, and when its hard for you.

We took this picture when I graduated about a year ago, and its funny how similar the picture is of Christ in the garden of Gethsamane right before he was going to die. David reminds me how to be Christ-like and I am so grateful for that reminder. I love you!

The Happiest Place on Earth

Thank you for those that posted comforting comments. I CAN get through this next week and a half of school! I feel like the little engine that could, chugging along saying "I think i can, I think i can, I think i can"!

David and I decided this week that we will be heading to California in the next few weeks to enjoy some get away time. We haven't had a formal vacation outside of playing in the snow for a day each year, since our honeymoon two years ago, and boy do we need one! We're gonna "rough it" and stay at one of the KOA campgrounds in a little cabin. This is my kind of camping with a sturdy roof over our heads and showers near by (I'm hoping they don't have any icky critters and spiders in them!). Then we will head to Disneyland one day and the beach another. Does anyone know where to buy discounted Disneyland tickets? I can't believe they are 70$ a piece!

We are also going to see Wicked with David's parents in July, which i'm very excited about. I've heard nothing but good things about the play. It's nice to say that summer is coming and with it many long needed adventures!

Emotional Rollercoaster

So many things have happened in the last few days that have nearly made me lose my sanity.

1. I forgot my binder for school on Tuesday that I needed for notes in class that night since I couldn't drive home. And I needed the binder to study for my second out of two exams in that class for the entire semester.

2. Shortly after I realized I left my binder, I checked my yahoo email account and noticed a letter from my professor stating that I had failed to turn in two final exam questions that were to take the place of our last quiz (only those who showed up to class last thursday got that option) and that as a result I would be taking the quiz next week. This goes from spending 15 minutes coming up with in-depth questions, to spending 6-7 HOURS studying for the quiz. I had spent all week rigorously trying to finish my 15 page preschool class (same class) written project and had absentmindedly forgotten to do that questions. I failed to see the fairness in having the study this many hours for simply forgetting to do this assignment.

The positive: I, being so flustered, email the professor a few hours later and told her I didn't think this was very fair-I accepted responsibility for my mistake and asked if she could narrow the quiz down as far as what I needed to study. She emailed later in the evening and said she would talk about the quiz and narrow it as it got closer to the date. Five minutes later she emailed and said, ok, finish the questions tonight, and that will be good enough. Thank you Mary!

3. Tonight I went to a meeting with my professor of my speech program to discuss my schedule for the next year and how I could get observation hours with a certified Speech Therapist at Banner Baywood (another professor informed me that all the students in my program wouldn't get to do a hospital rotation period because of budget cuts). The professor showed me my updated schedule and I proceeded to ask her what I needed to do to get certified observation hours at the hospital, after I called Baywood. The professor said to not call them because I did not have the education or experience to even do a rotation. Not in these exact words but words similiar she said "So I gather from your emails that your are upset and bashing the PEP program, Lynette we are working and do everythign we can for you PEP students. It seems like a lot of you are unhappy with your program. If you want more experience in the medical field, perhaps you are in the wrong program." I kept saying ok...ok...ok...because I was shocked out of my mind that this normally sweet and very helpful lady was even suggesting that I was bashing the program and leading others to get riled up as well.

I merely said in my emails that I really wanted hospital experience and that I would find SLP's to observe me on my own since the ASU staff wasn't going to help us. And all the other students in my program wanted the experience as well. Anyways, I left in tears and I felt like I was just slapped in the face.

Good things:

1. This week is IA (aide) appreciation week and so my sweet SLP that I work under suprised me with flowers and a card. The principal said she could take me out for lunch and he would re-imburse her. So sweet and thoughtful.

2. I got to write my two questions and not take the quiz

3. I finished my preschool project

4. I have a friend who came to class today in tears as well from hearing bad news from the same professor so I had someone who understood what I was feeling

5. I have a loving and supportive husband who sees me through everything

_____I've realized more than anything I NEED a break_____I need to get out and do something not related to school. I think I have just been worn thin, i'm tired...mentally and physically.

Easter

So I have been trying to post this blog for a few days now...last night David needed the computer for homework so I wasn't able to get on. Here ya go...

This past weekend was absolutely wonderful as I got to take Friday off, since I work in the schools. Friday morning I spent dying eggs with my in-laws....something I haven't done in years it seems like. It's amazing to see what kinds of egg dying/glittery/tie dye kits they have these days. After that I went to my friend Shars house to help her pack things....it turned into a 3-4 hour chat session which I won't complain about :) David and I have been talking about how we never spend much time with friends anymore because we're so busy, and that we REALLY miss it. So thanks Shar for letting me come hang out with you and your kids.

Saturday morning was my niece Nikki's baptism---we are so proud of her for making good choices. Then later that evening we had my side of the family's easter egg hunt with all my great aunts, their families, and my grandma, aunts, uncles and cousins. My cousin Robin didn't get to cleaning their yard so David later noticed (Or I did because I kept smelling it) that he had dog poop on the bottom of his pants. We rushed to the Easter Pageant (I told David "I keep smelling dog poo" and he found what looked like mud on his pants, sure enough...) It was amazing because shortly after we stepped on the temple grounds the pouring rain stopped. There were dark rain clouds all around the temple, but nothing above the temple. And a guy from the president of the 70 gave the prayer. This year the pageant made me cry, and I"m not sure if it was because it was an emotional day or because more than ever...through the songs...I could feel the Savior's love for me. That he understood what I was going through. My desire to have a family, but not being able to quite yet. My desire to because a speech-path. My desire to help my husband find a job where he is happy. My desire to show my husband that I am not this boring old lady who studies all the time. I am grateful to know there is one person who truly understands my needs and is there at every moment to see me through the good and bad times.

Here are some fun pictures of me and my nieces, and other family members on Easter and from Friday. My little brother had his birthday party at chuck-e-cheeses so several of the pictures are of my niece kiara on various rides. My sister in laws (yes Fawn and Sarah) are obsessed with Easter and our egg hunt this year consisted of 680 eggs which beautifully dotted my in-laws back yard. I'm interested to see how many eggs will be accumulated by the time my kids roll around :)

My brother Kyle looking for eggs

Niece Kiara

So dang cute--I have THE most adorable nieces

Alauna sneaking some jelly beans ;)

Look at the two giant bowls of Jelly beans that Sarah and I are holding that we emptied out from the Easter eggs the kids found!

My niece's searching for Easter Eggs

Hailey bean searching for eggs with Weston

My niece Lanae twirling

Lily struttin her stuff

Savannah twirling in her Easter Dress

Uncle David playing with Auria

Auria in her Easter Dress

My niece Alauna in her Easter Dress