About Me

I graduated from BYU in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology and I am working as an SLPL at a school district. I enjoy it and it keeps me SUPER busy. I also teach spin classes at LA Fitness. I refuse to ever pay for a gym membership. I live with 2 awesome girls: Erika and Christina. I love Diet Dr. Pepper, ritz crackers, bunny tracks ice cream, shopping, cooking, sleeping, reading, and working out. I have the 4 cutest nephews in the world: Kaden, Jack, Nixon and Bentley and 1 adorable niece: Alena. This is my simple yet really awesome life!

Monday, November 5, 2012

My Plan Doesn't Really Matter Anymore...




I have been thinking a lot lately about the will of God and
how we align ours with His.  How do we forsake
our will and have full faith in His plan for us?

I remember when I was sick, I was in the
hospital and I had just been told
that it was cancer and that I would need
intense chemo and that I would lose my hair.
I was trying to process everything but was very
overwhelmed.  It hadn't yet settled in that my life was
about to take a very different path.  I remember wondering
if I was going to die and if my Mom would be ok
and if I was really ready to die.   I was 
very overwhelmed.  That same night, after all my nurses
and family and friends left, I laid in bed by myself and
began to really cry for the first time that day.
I was too weak to get off my bed and I was hooked up to to 
many machines...so I began to pray.  I prayed 
like I had never prayed before.  I just
asked why this was happening.  I am so young
and I have so many plans.  How can this be happening?
I would be lying if I didn't say I was a little upset/ frustrated.

Within in moments this very overwhelming and thick
blanket of comfort washed over my body.  I was
filled with peace like I had never experienced.  And my own
voice came to me very clearly,
"Bekah.....everything is going to be fine.  But
I just need you to do this.  Trust in me."

From that moment on, I never gave up.  I fought
like I had never fought before.  I still had my moments
of anguish and pain emotionally and physically, but I knew
God's plan for me.  I knew that this was my refiner's fire and
that I was starting to become the person He needed me to be.
The "why" didn't matter anymore.  It became more "how can I
turn to my Savior and trust in Him?
  How can I become better through
this?  How can I become whole through the
Atonement of Jesus Christ?"

As I look back on that....I am who I am today because of the cancer.
But not just the cancer...I gave up my will.  I turned it over to
the Lord and just focused on getting healthy and doing whatever
He wanted me to do.   My relationship with God was
all the mattered!

I am again at that point.  I have been trying to control/ force 
certain things in my life and it is not working.  In fact...it is kind of
back firing and it is very painful. I have
been stubborn, selfish, prideful, and have
made many mistakes.  


But...what I want doesn't really matter anymore.  I just want to
do what Heavenly Father wants me to do.  I just want to
do His will, be obedient and have faith in Him and
in His plan for me.  Just like the current bush,
we have to be cut down, hurt a little to
get to where He wants us to be.
Pain is necessary for growth.  

My patriarchal blessing states many times
that I am to influence those around me.
I will be placed in different parts of the world and it will be
my responsibility and purpose to lift those around me
both spiritually and physically.
Because of this....I am to be very selective about the
companion I choose to marry.  

I had a blessing a few weeks ago that I am not living up to
the promises in my Patriarchal blessing and that
I have not been listening close enough to promptings I have been
given.  It was a very humbling
experience since it was given by a  man who doesn't know my blessing.

I felt very chastised and I knew that I needed
to repent and get focused.  

God lives.  He loves us.  He knows
what is going on.  We can't give up.  
We can't quit.  We just need to keep trying.
There is so much good and happiness ahead.

I pray that we may all seek God's will for us.
Honestly...it is the only way to go. 










Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Fall Break!

Fall Break happenings:

1.  Saw my beautiful niece Alena
2.  Saw my brothers and Megan
3.  Hung out with my Grandma
4. Went up on campus and ate at the
Cougar Eat with Spencer.  Very surreal 
for me.  
5.  Saw Code and Dayna and their adorable children
6. Drove the 15 about 20 times between
Draper and Provo
7.  Flew to California
8.  Went to California Adventure
9.  Went to the beach
10.  Football tournament in LA...we won!
I didn't play since I haven't been able to
go to practice.  
11. Saw Danny Ellsworth and Rachelle Gleason!!
12. Dreamt about living by the beach

Overall... very successful!



 I love her



Avery and Audrey




 We got soaked on our very first ride







Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Falling Behind...

I have been so terrible at 
updating my blog.  I can hardly
keep up with facebook and Pintrest...
and then this too.

Yikes.

Oh well.


Spent the weekend with these girlies...
had a lot of fun.


Made this today...amazing...




And even if you don't feel like it...



School/ Work starts in 3 weeks.

Not. Ready.  

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Souls to Save




I just love this.  Love his accent too.  
It makes me remember I can do better 
at loving others.  

One of my very favorite quotes is by Elder
Marvin J. Ashton.  I kinda feel like it is
 my motto in life.  

"Be the one who nurtures and builds.  
Be the one who has an understanding and forgiving
heart who looks for the best in people.  Leave
people better and happier then you found them."

That's all...

DC was amazing.  Happy to
be home but it is kind 
of bittersweet for me now.





Monday, May 28, 2012

She did it!!!!!


These pictures are way out of order.

Carly got married.  I just can't believe it.
It was such a beautiful weekend and I couldn't
be more happy for her.  I was so emotional
during the sealing and I didn't
think I would be. 

Jared is perfect for her.
It gives me hope again. 


At the reception...
Love these girls...so grateful for them.

 I caught the bouquet...
I took off my heels and jewelry...
I was all business...




This is how we really felt in the sun.


Isn't she beautiful!  I have seen her almost
everyday for 2 1/2 years
and she looked more beautiful then ever.






 Her awesome parents.
Love them.






I told Carly I wanted only one thing at the reception and
that is chicken salad sandwiches and she
did that for me.  Loved them.  I may or may not have
eaten 4.

It is weird to be moved out of her house.

The other night after the wedding dinner,
we had a girls night
and we went around and said what we loved about
Carly.  Naturally I went last cause I really needed to gather
my thoughts since she has been such a huge part of my
life for a long time.

But as I was thinking about it the thing that hit me the most is
that these past 2 1/2 years have been very difficult with me.

There has been a lot of change and inconsistency with my family, 
job changes, boys, dating and engagement to Steven.

But there is always one thing that remained constant and
that is Carly.  She was always there
no matter what.  It is where I felt safe and
her home became home for me.  She was 
the one sure thing (other then the gospel)
that didn't change.  And I am 
so grateful for her and her friendship
and loyalty me.  She is truly a blessing in
my life and I know we both needed each other
at this point in our lives.

But now she is 
Mrs. Carly Reynolds.


Love.


Monday, May 7, 2012

2nd Annual Lymphoma Run

The run was almost a month ago
and I am just barely updating.  

Oops.  But anyways...
I am so happy with the way the
run turned out.  We have raised over
$2100 so far and I am still waiting
on a couple more people (you know who you are).

And instead of giving the money to the 
Lymphoma foundation....
we are giving it to a man
that Carly works with that was just barely
diagnosed with Hodgkins
and they don't have very much money.

I know I will just cry when I meet him and
give him the money.

But anyways....I had 35 runners 
and we had prizes and an awesome raffle.

I ended up having 10 sponsors and 
over $1200 donated in sponsor ship money
and prizes.  It was awesome!  I am so grateful
for so many people who helped me make this
possible.  Next year...it will be even bigger!















Thursday, March 29, 2012

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies....


My two favorite desserts...brownies and anything
to do with chocolate chip cookie dough...

I made these last night for the 
heck of it...and then took them
to work cause Carly and I are trying to eat better...
she is doing WAY better than me.


They were pretty incredible if I do say so myself

chocolate chip cookie dough brownies
Yield: 32 brownies
Prep Time: 30 min + cooling time
Cook Time: 25 min
These brownies are a major treat for cookie dough lovers...
Ingredients:
BROWNIE:
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
1 cup butter, melted
2 cups light brown sugar, packed
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
COOKIE DOUGH (EGG FREE!):
3/4 cup butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
3/4 cup granulated white sugar
3 Tablespoons milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups mini chocolate chips
1/2 cup semisweet chips + 1 teaspoon shortening for drizzle, optional
Directions:
1. Prepare the brownies: Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Spray a 9x13-inch pan with nonstick spray. In a medium glass bowl, melt chocolate in the microwave in short bursts of 30 seconds; stir after each burst and remove from microwave when melted and smooth. Set aside to cool slightly. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the butter and brown sugar. Add the eggs and vanilla extract and whisk those in too. Mix in melted chocolate. Whisk in the flour and mix just until combined (don't over-mix). Spread batter into prepared pan. Bake 25 to 35 minutes. Watch closely and remove from oven when toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool completely.
2. Prepare the cookie dough: In a medium bowl, use an electric mixer to combine butter, brown sugar and white sugar. Mix in milk and vanilla. Mix in flour just until combined. Stir in chocolate chips.
3. Spread cookie dough over the cooled brownies. Refrigerate until the dough is quite firm. It's okay to speed up the process and place it in the freezer too. The firmer the dough, the easier it will be to cut into neat squares. Use a sharp knife to cut the brownies. You may need to wipe the knife off with a paper towel in between cuts since the fudgy brownies and cookie dough will tend to stick to the knife a bit. These brownies are best to serve placed inside cupcake papers and served with a fork.
4. If you'd like to add chocolate drizzle on top, melt 1/2 cup chocolate chips with 1 teaspoon of shortening in the microwave; stir until smooth. Scoop the melted chocolate into a zip baggie and snip off the corner. Squeeze the bag to drizzle the chocolate on top of each brownie. Sprinkle additional chocolate chips on top, if desired.


Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Easiest $200 Ever...

My football coach has a friend
that makes game mats and asked
to use my face for a mat.  Ok....

Well...didn't know I would become some
mystical creature...


It came in some big mat
and it was by my door when I got home
from work.  I was hoping it was
like a new pair of shoes or something.

hahahahahahaha....weird.

So weird.  But I did get $200 out of it!

Easiest $200 Ever!

Too bad it doesn't really look anything like me.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Rocky Point Part 3


We went to Rocky Point...again...and it was
amazing....we went for 5 days and loved every
minute of it.  It is a tough
life I know...

(Caution...picture overload)


I had to stock up...don't judge
but I do need to stop drinking 
cause I have been running a ton and
I need to get faster...



you would think we were going for a month


On the way into town in Puerta Penasco...





And...jump...







A little bit of nerts...I lost...came in
4th...I am ok with that...
Chad dominated.  Lame. 


Eating out...it is all we did...




We went and ate at this restaurant called
The Lighthouse...
The atmosphere was so fun...
I had really bad indigestion the whole
time so I couldn't eat but it was still fun...



All of us girls...


The whole gang...



We love life...and pretty views...




Getting ready for our early morning run...




Chad was making me laugh so hard...




A little bit of "botchy" ball..we had to use rocks





Banana boat riding...






 Shopping at the Fish Market



Carly's boyfriend is a plumber and
he has a company called Reynolds
Plumbing and we all have shirts...
we are his fans...







Our translators...couldn't have done
all we did without them...



Last photo at some amazing
fruit place...

It is good to be home
and speaking English.
I missed my bed but it was nice
not having any reception on my phone.

I decided I need to learn Spanish...

It was a great time!