More prayer requests...for my Aunt who had a stroke a few weeks ago. She was doing a little better and responding to things, but then she took another turn and is back in the ICU. She's in a coma and her brain is continuing to swell, which is causing more and more damage. She is breathing a little bit, but the breathing machine is doing about 3/4 of the work for her.

Uncle Jason knows she is gone. They had talked it over together as a couple, and her wishes have always been for him to pull the plug if she got this way. However, her dad just won't let go. He is convinced that she is going to get better and will recover fully. There is little hope, however, that if she pulls through she will even be able to get out of the hospital ever. Her dad is calling Uncle Jason a murderer if he lets her go, but Uncle Jason wants to honor her wishes and let her go. She has been this way for several days now, and there's little they can do now.

Please pray for them, especially Uncle Jason, who has to deal with Aunt Doris's family. Also pray for my three little cousins who are in the middle of everything.

Currently Reading The Phantom of the Opera: The Original Novel By Gaston Leroux see related

Prayers....

Please pray for my aunt, Doris. She had a stroke on Friday night and is in the ICU. They placed a shunt in her brain this morning and had a surgery removing two parts of her skull to allow for swelling. They are waiting 48 hours now to decide where to go from here. They have given her about a 50/50 chance of survival. Please keep her husband, Jason, and their three little boys also in your prayers.

In other news:

-I played Chinese firedrill last night with Aleisa and Jared.... It was SOOO fun!  The Crenshaws were behind us cheering us on.  I can't believe I waited 18 years to play it!

-I gave a talk on Sunday.  Brother Wertman called me Saturday and said, "Hey Melissa.  Since you don't have a calling in the ward yet, we thought you can give a talk sometime instead."  I said, "Well of course Brother Wertman. Just say when."  He then said, "Umm.. well how about tomorrow?" Because I can never say no to something church related, I said "sure!"  Well I had to work until midnight, got home about 12:30 and started writing my talk.  It actually went fairly well for being written while I was 1/2 asleep.  One of the Elders told me it was one of the best sacrament meetings he has ever been to.  I asked him why and he said because the spirit was sooo strong when I spoke.    That was shocking.  One of my friends also said to me, "Melissa, that was really good!  Especially since you wrote it at like 3 in the morning!"

Currently Listening Cars Life is a Highway see related

Bustin' out the gun show!

Aleisa and I are so goofy....Sunday drives to the beach are awesome!.....I am going to be a model some day (not really).  I love life.  I can't wait to get out to BYU!  I am working hard so I can pay for tuition in the winter... I have been so exhausted lately.  I have been working 6 days a week.  My work has been good about giving me hours and giving me closing shifts.  On Monday morning I made $100 in  4 hours!!!  That was nice.  I have also had 3 photography jobs this week and I am being flown out to Utah to shoot 2 weddings in December! I'm so excited!

My goals for the next 6 months: Be more charitable-Share the gospel- Make someone feel special-Be more positive- To know God and Christ-Be like Him- Return to Him(Well.. not in the next 6 months... but you know what I mean)- Do His will-Go to BYU or BYU-I-Smile all the time, no matter what the situation-Live life to the fullest-Read my scriptures more-Be a good example.

"For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps"

Me on the beach

Me and Aleisa doing our Charlie's Angels pose

Who knows? 

Surfin' USA 

Oh man that tree was heavy!! 

Look at those guns! 

Currently Listening Sing-A-Longs & Lullabies for the Film Curious George (Jack Johnson) By Jack Johnson see related

This has been the most awesome summer!

I have been soooo blessed this summer with amazing friends, oppourtunities to grow in the gospel, and to do great things. 

Recap of my summer: May-Finished my classes at John Tyler, and graduated (With a broken foot.... that part wasn't fun, but I survived)

June- My last year at EFY!  My testimony was strengthened and I met some wonderful people.

July-Went on a mini-mission which was one of the most amazing things I have ever done, had my birthday, and worked.

August- I went to Kirtland, Ohio.  It was incredible!! We had a testimony and sacrament meeting IN the temple!  The spirit was sooo strong! My cousin got married so my mom went to Washington State, while I watched my sibling for a week.  It was a lot of fun. I was able to hang out with my siblings more than I have been able to in the past.  I have also not only been working a lot this month, but I have had the oppourtunity to go to the temple a couple times and to the beach.  I have been promoted at work and well.... I am going to say it again.  LIFE IS GREAT! 

YAY FOR PICTURES!

 Me and Aleisa at the temple.

Brett, Ben, Laura, ALeisa, Me and Allison

Our feet on the beach.

No swearing sign... I thought this just totally rocked!

Laura, me and Aleisa in our disco hats.... can you tell we were tired from a long awesome day on the beach?

Me and Aleisa

Crazy beached whales!!

Me and my buddy Ben

Silly Brett and Aleisa!

Our temple in the sand! =)

Currently Reading Following the Light of Christ into His Presence By John M. Pontius see related

This describes me perfectly....

Girls just wanna have fun.... at 3 in the morning......

Hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil

Ha ha!  This has been an entertaining summer.... full of no sleep, missionary exhanges, a testimony meeting in the Kirtland temple, goofing off at 3am, working, loosing horribly against 10 people in bowling, looking for disco costumes at the goodwill, watching silly movies like "Rocketman" and reading good books. Ahh yes.  Life is good.