Ward Mission Leader Chaos: Part #2

The current Ward Mission Leader for the Jefferson 1 Ward in Kenner is someone whom the missionaries can't seem to get rides from, any exchanges, no nothing. I labeled this Part 2 because a long time ago, approx. 4-5 years ago, I was a Ward Mission Leader when I was active in the Church and now I feel like I am up for renewal again. Ya c, I was basically going above and beyond and doing everything a Ward Mission Leader should do if I had that calling only I did not have it-I fed the Elders, I did missionary work with them, I talked to them about what was going on in their respective areas, etc. all that I needed was the actual calling of Ward Mission Leader and it seems like now that is the problem here. There is a WML, but he is not doing the job to his full capacity & since I am doing all the work now, but going out on exchanges with the Elders-they want ME to b the new Ward Mission Leader. You should have heard them today when we were all together chillen at their pad. They were all going around in circles taking turns telling me y I would be great to have this calling. It made me feel so special, loved, respected, appreciated, etc. My heart was full of joy knowing that they love me and they love what I try to do for them. I don't need a label to prove n e thing to anyone. Just doing what I love and that is missionary work, gives me blessings and utter fulfillment! I LOVE it! I LOVE the work!

John Cena in "12 Rounds!": Louisiana Movies!!!

This movie was very good. I mean when I went to NYC, and now when I see movies that were filmed in New York City-I have instant flashbacks of the exact same places that I visited when I was there! But for this movie-Louisiana was in the center of this action-packed movie..I mean all the touristy places and it just felt that I was in the actual movie. It was weird being in a state and seeing a movie on SCREEN and in that same state, John Cena really did a good job! John Cena is a great wrestler-but an actor? The jury is still out on that one! But this movie, I could see again and again--I got chills when I saw it first come on because there was the French Quarter and everything! Whew!

WOW! 10 Years Just Flew On By!!!

I was on Facebook earlier today, and I noticed that my friend, Rafael joined a Facebook group, entitled, "John Ehret High School-Class of 2000". That was when I graduated high school on May 28th of 2000. I cannot believe that it will be 9 years just in one month! N e how, I joined the group myself and I looked at all the people that were members of the group and that graduated along with me and I felt for a split second taken back to those years of my life. I saw some of them were still single and had jobs, families, children, gotten married and it made me sad that I am not married, struggling with some personal things right now in my life,and all I have to show for 10 years is a college degree with no job! I mean, I was thrilled that things were going great form them and it was good that I found some of my old classmates, but could not help, but think-how do I get to that place that they are in. How?

French Quarter and Air Hockey

Today was the missionaries P-day & they spent it with me form 1PM til 6PM. The first stop that we made was to the Salvation Army. These Elders love the ties that they sell for some very odd reason! After that we drove to Downtown New Orleans and walked around in the French Market and they bought some memorabilia and such and then we took some pics by the river walk and just sat and chilled there. Next, we headed back to the car and watched some movie trailers on my iPhone-it was so HOT today! Geez! After we got back to the car, me, Elders Amacher and Jensen sat in my car waiting for Elders Bare and Burgess to get back to the car because they stopped and bought something else int he French market that they saw on the way back to the car! After that we went to Clearview Mall and we ate at Wow Wingery & Cafe. We then played a few Air Hockey games. I took them back to their pad andthey went on their ways and proclaimed the Gospel! Picture #1:This picture is one that was taken today and it is of me and Elder Amacher, whom is orginally form North Carolina. Picture #2 is that of me and Elder Bare, whom is from New Mexico and Elder Amacher is on the left of me!

"I Love You, Man!" vs. "Knowing": NO COMPETITION!!

First, I guess I should start off by saying that between these two films that I had seen thus far this weekend, it is NOT a competition; not a fair one anyway. "I Love You, Man! was a great comedy movie! It was filled with a bunch of laughter and even more laughter! Paul Rudd really outdid himself and went severely overboard for this movie!

"Knowing" is a totally different matter all together. At times, I feel that Hollywood/New York City are not promoting enuf the correct movies. There are just some movies that need to remain dormant and not be allowed into movie theatres across the World, if u ask me-in my very candid opinion! "Knowing" is one of those films-it always seems as if the dumb movies that do not make sense at all or is geared towards the younger children-those movies are always rated #1 Opening Weekend and it sux because there are so many other movies that can fill that position!

The previews for movies are always good and tempting-but yet when you go to see them-it is a different thing all together. Agreed? Maybe the trailers/previews need o be the actual movie because all they show are the good parts...I swear-I have seen more PEOPLE get scared in the trailers for scary movies than in the actual MOVIE itself! WTF?

N the beginning of "Knowing" it started out interesting and it had my full attention & it from there my attention span was getting lower and lower and lower til finally I was dozing off in the movie and at the end Nick Cage was DEAD and was ALIVE when the movie started! :(

Movies....will they change at all?

Hear Ye, Hear Ye....More Service! More Service! It NEVER Stops!!! :)

I live literally right down the street form the missionaries, and they call on me for every little thing! They want me to go on exchanges with them because they are on bikes and not in cars (cannot blame them for that), the want me to pick them up form meetings at the Church, run them to Cane's, want me to go out with them on their Preparation Day, need me to pick up someone for them, bring them to Church, bring them home from Church, I cannot get a moment's rest! If I had a job-I would not be able to do these things so I guess it is good that I can help them out because service is a major ingredient that keeps the Church running and I am going to get blessed for all I do. I love to help people whenever and wherever! Whew! Just today I had to run them to the post office to get packages that someone sent to them...they cannot call on me tonight because I am going out to see a movie! :)

As I normally do every Friday and Saturday night! The economy is so bad off right now, a movie is all I can afford! Nothing big and safe!

Baby Madison Bybee is Here!

I text'd my friend Brady today to tell him that I hope all goes well with his wife Rachel because she was supposed to get induced today and I wanted them to know that they were in my prayers! Brady text messaged me today and it was a picture of their daughter and she looked so precious! Children really are a blessing from God! I am so happy for them!

Great St. Patrick's Day '09.....

Today, I had no problem with the green because I have a lime green cell phone! HaHa! I carry it with me everywhere that I go! Next-I got my baby (mah car) back 2day & I was so thrilled! Y'all have absolutely no idea how remarkable it felt to be back behind the wheel of my own car!!! This has to have been my luckiest day ever and I will never forget this day as long as I live and going to see a movie with my amiga, Cinthia tonight made this day even better-the only thing that sux'd about it was that I had a massive stomachache! But all in ALL, I LOVED TODAY, NO DOUBT-HANDS DOWN! 100%

Springville Chicken N Jambalaya Showdown!

The Gang!

Fed Up With Food!!!

The Couple!!

I went to Springville, Utah with mah dear friends, Taylor and Crystal-I cooked some good old Louisiana food. Fried Chicken and Red Beans/Rice was not along WITH it as that is what many New Orleanians eat it with. I like to be diverse in what I eat/cook, so therefore, I made Jambalaya! They loved it as u can see and poor Taylor-he loves my cooking and anything extra he scoops it right up and takes it to eat at his job he tells me the next day. Reminds him of the South! HaHa!

"The Last House On The Left"

I was so thankful to be able to get out of the house today after it has been a week and a half without the use of my own car. Some friends picked me up and we saw the scary movie that came out on yesterday, which was Friday the 13th and I wanted to see it last night because in face it was the 13th, but who cares!

This movie was all over the place for me. At one minute, it was action filled and the next, it had a scene that was just hard 4 me to watch, but in that scene things and people like that does happen in real life-but they avenged 4 what happened to their daughter at the end, but be prepared for some really graphic images….it was NOT scary in the least-the way that the killings happened is scary, but NOT THIS MOVIE!

The Park City, Utah Alpine Slide Adventure!

I wanted to lock Lance in the car for trying to make me

fall to my death! :(

Lance trying to make me fall off this thing that was so high in the air!

What we had to ride on in the air that was freaking me out!!!!!!

Miss Utah, Jill Stevens and Me!

Lance and I acting silly as usual!



Once again, we are now in 2007 and I am back in Utah! At this time, Lance is dating Jill Stevens AKA Miss Utah! We took a ride on this fun car themed chase slide, but in order to get all the way to the very top, we had to ride in this big bench thing in the air and it was scary because I am terrified of heights! I even saw on the VH1 Reality Show, "Real Chance of Love" they took this same bench/procedure to get to the peak of where the fun had to begin and Chance was scared of it as well! Lol!

My Big Brother's Wedding!

Mah nephew, Kailen running with a piece of chicken!! Cute!!

My brother and his wife!

The Bride, Toya and Me!

My mom (in gold dress), my sister-in-law, Danielle and mah sista, and Me!

My sister and her two BFF's!

Tasha, my sister and Me!

My sister, Tasha!

My sister, Dana and her husband, James and my nieces, Jordan AND Jamie!






My big brother, Herman was married on June 16th, 2006 and these are just a few pics of my family.....We act crazy at weddings for some reason! Hard liquor and u got a room full of comedians!! Geez!

Saying Goodbye To Utah '06!

This is just once picture of my best friend, Brady, taking a pic before he drives me to the Salt Lake City International Airport to head back to the dirty South! :((

Brimgham Young Univ. v. Pei Wei

The Fancy PF Chang's Relative Restuarant!!!

Clay and I at the Baskin Robbins

Try another sign label, "Take Away???" Nate and Kristen and Me

BYU's Campus Pic That I Loved!!

This wall was breathtaking!

Well, on this day my friend, Clay took the liberty to finally show e the BYU-Provo Campus! I saw a lot of things that this school has that no other major university has, that's for sure! Later on, we met up with Nate and his wife, Kristen. We ate @ Pei Wei (Pay Way) and the menu was looking good! They told me that this was a restaurant similar to P.F. Chang's & that this place was for the low-working class folks!!! HaHa! I CAN RELATE TO THAT AND THIS WAS IN 2006 AND THE WAY THAT THE ECONOMY IS NOW, PEI WEI MUST B MAKING A LOT OF BUSINESS NOW! Hmmmm, I wonder??? What y'all thinking??

Temple Sq. n Salt Lake City-'06

Zach and me @ the Lindon Bowling Alley!

Lance & I showing off our bling bling!!

Andrew trying to grap my......HaHa! He is so crazy, but I love this guy! Love him!



Lance and I



Leaning over so Lance could get the SLC Temple and me in the same picture! But I look crazy...

I have never posted these pictures before because I have never had a blog and now I want to post these! These are photos that I took with my best friend, Lance whom lives in St. George, Utah. I have been visiting Utah every Summer for the past 4 or 5 years in a row because I know so many return missionaries who served missions in Louisiana and I kept in touch with them and that is THE main reason I go out there and because I hate the South and want a change in scenery! :)

He drove all the way down from St. George to Orem to spend the entire day with me. Eye will always be greteful to him for doing that just for me and now Lance is someone whom I can call a real and true friend! Till da end!

While I was with Lance-we met up with Andrew who lives in Salt Lake City and Andrew is one of the FIRST missionaries that ever encountered! Later on that day I went bowling with Zachary 'AKA' Zach & he showed me that he is s master bowler!! :)

And seeing snow and being in a place that has no humidity is WONDERFUL!

Severe Boredom Has Arrived For Cerain!!

My car has been giving me problems for a few weeks now and finally, yesterday a towing company came and hauled it away to the mechanic shop and the estimate to have it fixed and running back to normal costs a lot of money! :(

Hopefully, I can get it back sometime next week-but before when I was driving it, I was taking my time and driving it like an elderly person or something because that is what was advised. It was either that or no driving it at all. So the car remained parked and was not driven except from time to time, and it was not very often!!

Well, it has almost been a week and if it has not been, I cannot recall the last time I drove the car and I miss it. I will never ever complain that I do not have money to go n e place, or I am bored because I NOW KNOW WHAT boredom really is. I am so bored that I am TIRED of sleeping and watching DVD's! I am sick of sleeping....I go outside and wonder what is down the street, or around the corner-even though I know, I want to drive to see! Oh, I am going out of my mind-there is nothing for me to do. I have read books, I love movies, the Internet, etc. all this, but I cannot do it 24/7! I want my car back so bad! It sux that this is the 2nd Sunday that I have to miss Church and the first weekend that I cannot go to the movies and see "Miss March" or "The Last House On The Left!"

I will get to see every movie that I missed once I get mah car back!!

Talking With Jeremy Was Not What I Was Xpecting @ All!!!

Well tonight I talked with ex-Elder Rosenvall and it was not the conversation that I was finally looking 4ward, too! He was sick & that must have attributed to his attitude. I mean the guy who I was talking to on his mission and getting along with so well is changed and I hope that he does not stay this way. I was really disappointed in him tonight. This guy brought the Church back into my life and I respected him so much and when he got transferred from my area-it affected me so badly and I did not know what to do with myself. I pray and hope that Heavenly Father reveals to me that Jeremy will come around and be the friends that he swore to me that he would be because if he will not-I will be HIGHLY ____________!!! (and I don't want that!)

He put some photos of his mission experiences up on Facebook tonight and I looked at them and commented on them and seeing those pictures brought back some great memories and I want to create more with him, so I am hoping that he realizes that I still love him and want to be able to be the type of friend to him now that I was when he was Elder Rosenvall!

I Hate Missing Church!

My car is not acting right because the tires are acting up and my car is shaking as I drive it and that is not good, so until it gets fixed I will remain "carless!" This sux because there was a baptism tonight that I really wanted to go to and I had a meeting with the Bishop tomorrow and now all that has to get cancelled because now my car wants to take a break! :(

Daylight Saving Time: The Ultimate Switch of Time

I really do not hate Daylight Saving Time as much as many other people that I know. For me, I get adjusted to it rather quickly and just think of it as another day. 4 example, people make mistake of setting their clocks back instead of forward and vise versa and if u do set them correctly, they are late for work/school/etc.....missed an hour of sleep, gained an hour of sleep and so on and so on..... for me in the Spring-we go FORWARD AND in the Fall- we go BACKWARDS an hour. We GAIN an hours sleep in the Fall and we LOSE and hours sleep in the Spring. I do not even know y this time change thing exists or who invented it but to me it is so totally unnecessary!

Elder Horner N Travis: Cool Brothaz From da South!

Basically, Elder Horner is a missionary serving in Louisiana and we have gotten to know each other really well and I go on exchanges from time to time to fellowship with his investigators adn meet new recent converts, etc. and he asked me to set up a Facebook Account for him (he has Myspace) until he goes home from his mission and he knows that I love Facebook and I am great with some basic computer stuff! So last night I set up an account for him. Yet, another act of service that I did! I LOVE helping people! Elder Horner can dance like no person I have ever seen before! Had to tell u that! Isn't his outfit in this pic too cool? He's ready to step it up! The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a misionary Church AND I am ALL about the service and helpiong out in any capacity if I can and Elder Horner has shown me a lot and I have learned a lot 4rm him. I am very BLESSED to know him and I'm grateful to him for showing me things that I need to see to change certain aspects in my life! Thanks Elder Horner!

Wonderful World Of Credit Card Traps: Good? or Bad?

I decided to blog on Credit Card because I feel that they have a lot of weight and meaning to them.

Positives (that I have noticed): they boost ur FICO Credit Score; they help ur overall credit; they are good to have in case of emergencies esp. now that the economy is so bad-but u CANNOT abuse them because the over limit fees will kill u alone along with the hefty finance charges they love to access on you. So this last one can be a positive or a negative-it was just a warning to ya as well :)

Negatives: if you do NOT make ur payments on time-your FICIO score will go downhill and it is hard to raise back up; fees and over limit charges do not look good on ur credit report or the company on which u have the credit card; no one will offer u nothing at a low rate r with no deposit if ur credit/payment history is always late and u never make ur payments on time!

Everything now a days is based solely on credit so maintaining a good and strong credit history can carry u a long way when u apply for a car, home, etc. I just had to vent on this because I think people need to know about it!

"Taken": Top Movie of 2009 Thus Far!

This movie I have seen like 5 or 6 times already! I can't get enuf of it! I mean, sure it is sad that his daughter gets kidnapped in Paris after lying to him telling him that she was going to see museums but in reality was following U2 around Europe! I guess she got what she deserved, but I love it because it is filled with suspense, action, and mystery because you never knew what was going to happen next! Those are KEY ingredients to a successful movie and that is y "Taken" has been #1, #3, and #4 ever since it opened in theatres in January! This movie is STILL in the TOP 5 and we are now in March! This is a MUST see movie! I recommend it to you-to EVERYONE!

Whew!! Babies Are Coming and I'm Losing Track!

I think that this is the best way for me to keep track of my friends and their kids!! I am marking due dates on my calendar and I am still losing track. I am grateful that they are telling me their GREAT news that they are either going to be first time parents/parents again-but now that it is all in one spot like my blog-I can update this blog when needed! Brilliant Idea I had!!



Couple #1: Brady and Rachel ( Baby Girl Madison)



Couple #2: Zach and Lisa ( Baby Boy Olivier)



Couple #3: Taylor and Crystal ( Baby Boy Spencer)



Couple #4: Maurice and Monica



Couple #5: Sean and Bonnie



Couple #6: AJ and Christine

Will there be a Couple #7??? :)

Service: It's A Great Blessing! AND Murders: Not A Great Topic 2 Fight About....

I was in bed this morning when to my surprise I turned on my cell phone to see if I had any text messages or voicemails because I turn my cell off at night before I go to bed because I do not want n e interruptions! Well, I get a text message from the Zone Leaders texting me to find out if New Orleans has the highest murder rate in 2008!

I text them back, I dunno and they ask me to find and says a lot is riding on this. Hmmm...I am wondering why..I mean they are missionaries, what does death rates and murders have to do with the Church, missionary work, anything at all?!?!?

Well I stop texting and I call them up and I talk to Elder Myers who had me record an article I found online to read to him to prove that New Orleans was in fact the highest rated city for murderers since 1997 or something!

After I got off the phone with that nonsense, the Metairie Elders called and needed me to pick them up form the Chapel because they had no ride back to their apartment! I was in bed, in my pajamas still and it was not even 11am yet! I told them that I had to shower, get dressed and I would come to get them.

True! I did not want to go and pick them up, but I knew that I would get blessed 4 doing that. I love helping others! It is something that I am great at! Elder Bare offered to buy my Cane's because I came and picked them up, but I refused because they only have a limited about of money, and besides I had food back at my place!

In short, this morning was not my usual morning-waking up a a text message about murders. Even though that is happening here and all over the country-still don't like texting r seeing that when I get up because if I did, I'd wanna stay sleeping! :)

Mark Mabry's "Reflections of Christ Fireside/Exhibit"

I went to Church yesterday for the full 3 hours, as usual, and then I went home to grab some grub and then I picked up 2 sets of missionaries and a recent convert that they needed me to pick up and then we were off to the Westbank Chapel for the Fireside. It was cool. Mark was a very great speaker; he was making some jokes in his talk, but his talk had real meaning! He said that one day he was in a political science class and he wanted to be a lawyer until one day in class-he just walked up and left the class and College and never looked back and now he owns his own photography studio in Arizona...But after he left the ASU in Arizona, he went to a photography school in Santa Barbara, California...I saw some of his paintings at the exhibit and they looked so amazing and the one with the angels I would love to hang up in my home, office, anywhere...it is so heart-warming! I really do not have a love for art, but this kind of art, I would love to get to know. It was an amazing fireside!