Elder Parker

I am obviously a little blog happy right now. This is 3 posts in one day. Kind of pathetic if you think about it. Anyways, Spencer has now been gone 3 months and it feels like it has been longer then that. When I went home to Mesa, I really missed him b/c it's home and there is no Spencer and I got so emotional when I prayed for him one night as a family. It's hard but....he is exactly where he needs to be and where the Lord wants him to be. He told us he is grateful for beds since he has been sleeping on tile, AC because they don't have air conditioning in Guam and Spencer is a sweating machine so looks like he will need new church shirts soon. And he is grateful for couches and food that doesn't involve pasta. But he is doing GREAT and has really immersed himself in the work and you can tell that he is just putting his whole heart into it. Here is super cute picture of a family they are teaching.

Coldplay Videos

These are the videos from the concert. I am sorry they are blurry in some parts and I kept zooming in and out. But they are worth watching. Trust me!

Thanksgiving!

I know this isn't a very good picture of the stage, but I went to the Coldplay concert last Wednesday at the arena in Glendale and it was simply amazing. I just didn't want them to stop playing and Chris Martin sounds incredible even live. It was kind of last minute but Danny was able to talk me into going and the picture below is the pretty cool group I went with. And Danny's girlfriend Katie is just adorable. He better marry her:) I took some videos of a few songs but I will post that later. It isn't working right now for some reason but they are definetly worth posting.

Turkey day was so good and I think I consumed like 10,000 calories just in that weekend. But Stacie ran the turkey trot with me. That was also very last minute and we didn't even register. We just showed up, ran and left. And I finished the 10K in my best time so I was happy about that. And Stacie did really good too so great job Stace! There is something about running with other people. I can't let them get ahead of me. haha.
We then had dinner at my parents house and then went over to Rachel and Alan's for dessert because Rachel needed to put Kaden and Jackson down for their naps. And like always, Mom's pumpkin pie was amazing. She doesn't cease to disappoint.

We then went to Sedona to visit with my Dad's side of the family...the Evans Family! I just love them all and it is always so fun to see them. The picture above is of all us girls going out to eat after doing some shopping while all the guys went golfing. I just love them all! WE had such a fun time with them and only Dallin and I went with my parents and so Dilly and I had some quality sister/brother bonding time. haha.

And I am the first to admit that I think my nephews are just about the cutest things ever. And Kaden can say my name perfectly so he is always like, "Bekah, Bekah, Bekah" and I think it is fun for him to say. But I just love it. He has the cutest smile and Jack is so calm probably since Kaden is always bouncing off the walls. He talks non stop and even when he is speaking his jibberish, you feel like you should understand him b/c he acts so serious. It's adorable.

Here is Kaden helping my dad start the fire up at the cabin in Heber. We went up there on Saturday and Alan, Rachel and the boys met us up there and it is a super cute place. It will be fun as our family grows with more in laws and grandchildren. I am not going to lie...being the next in line, I am feeling a little pressure. My sister keeps telling me that Jack and Kaden need cousins to play with but everyone just needs to be more patient with me. haha.

So the weekend was eventful and successful and now I am back in Provo and I can feel the pressure with finals just around the corner. It is back to long nights in the library. Wish me luck!

My Friend Jake

I have a love for apples. I try and eat at least one a day if not two. It's like carrot sticks

and

bananas but I am going to focus on apples. I like Gala apples the best, but Fuji apples

are good

too. But the very best is when you find just the right looking apple and then you bite

into it and it's all you imagined. Nice and crisp and juicy and not too cold so it doesn't

hurt your teeth. But I was so mad today because right before one of my classes, I

went

and bought an apple and the look was so deceiving. It was nice and round and shiny

but not crisp at all but like soft and not very good . I was so tempted to go back and

ask for another one. Just goes to

show to never go for looks. Not just with people, but apples too! I am very

specific about my apples. I used to like the green ones growing up but not so much

anymore

because they can be pretty sour so I am back to the nice red ones. Oh I just love

apples!

And if I think I am hungry, then I eat an apple, and it takes away my hunger pains.

And the

organic ones at Costco are not all that bad, but an apple is an apple, right? Wrong!

There are lots of different kinds, colors, textures, but we won't get into that. So now I

will

introduce my friend Jake Nelson:

This is Jake. He is pretty awesome! And he is my library buddy and we are always

there pretty late. But we went on a date like 2 months ago since I guess it has been

in the works for awhile. His family is good friends with Brooke and Tammy

Mortensen

who are good friends of mine. We had such a fun time and Jake is just so

refreshing and nice and just an awesome guy. Well he knows I like apples and he lets

me keep my laptop in his locker on the 5th floor of the library and when I went to

get my laptop to study, guess what he left me. That is right...a nice Fuji apple just for

me. Almost every night in the library I say how much I could use an apple. So

thanks Jake!

I

do love apples!

Agreed!

That's All!

Thank You Mr. Locksmith Man

Today was one of those mornings where I felt like I was going a million miles an hour. My run went kind of late and long and so it was making me late to my 9am class which I had a quiz in this morning. So I didn't even take a shower after my run (I know, I know. Not the smartest thing but if you had a quiz in 15 minutes, you wouldn't have either ) so I could get there early to review the chapter for my quiz. So I have my quiz on my mind and trying to plan tomorrow and flying home with everything else and I am in such a hurry that I park, jump out of my car, lock it only then realizing that my car is not only locked but still RUNNING!!! I had locked my keys in my car with it still running. It was one of those moments where I didn't know if I should laugh, cry, scream or cuss. I would never cuss...out loud. Anyways, so I am so stunned at this point that I just have to laugh about it. I go in to try and study for my quiz while in the meantime, Lena is back at the apartment searching for my spare key. Bless her and Sifa's heart. They were really trying to help me out. So after I take my quiz, I go out to call campus police to have someone come unlock my car. And FYI, it's only $20 while a normal locksmith is anywhere from $45-60 here in Provo. So Sifa is in the process of dropping off Lena at school and bringing me my check book so I can write a check to this locksmith man. Mr. Locksmith man comes, unlocks my door so dang easily with all his cool little tools that it got me thinking I should get them. But then what if you lock your keys in your car with the tools in your trunk? Therefore POINTLESS! So anyways, me and Mr. Locksmith man are waiting for Sifa to come with my checkbook and then the most heavenly words I have ever heard:

Mr Locksmith Man: "Don't worry about paying for it. I found $10 in the glove compartment."
Me: "Are you serious?"
MLM: "Of course. It's not big deal. You have a nice day Ma'am."
Me: (hardly being able to contain myself) "You too! And you have a fantastic Monday!"

And then I proceeded to tell him that he deserves a raise.

Moral of the story: Call BYU police if you lock your keys in your car and do it really early in the morning, so the guy won't want to stand in the cold waiting for your friend to show up with money.

It's going to be a great week!

Oh and P.S., Mr. Locksmith Man's name is Justin, he is from Bountiful and majoring in International Relations. We had some time to burn.

Oreo Truffles

I have been looking for a good idea for holiday treats for home teachers, my visiting teachees, and friends and I think I found it. I want one right now...or 2, or 3!

Oreo Truffles

1 package oreo cookies (divided… use cookie including the cream center)
1 8oz. package cream cheese (softened)
white chocolate bark

1. Finely crush 7 cookies in a food processor or place them in a ziploc bag and crush into a fine consistency. Reserve for later.
2. Crush remaining cookies and stir in softened cream cheese. Use the back of a large spoon to help mash the two together.
3. Roll the mixture into 1" balls and place on wax paper covered cookie sheet.
4. Melt chocolate as directed on the package and then dip balls into chocolate, tap off extra and set aside on wax paper covered cookie sheet to dry. You can sprinkle the tops with the 7 crushed cookies for decoration. (I usually eat mine before they make it to this stage.)
5. Once dry, refrigerate and enjoy!

Makes about 36 truffles.