Sugar Sugar

Lately life has been absolutely crazy but so great. One of my closest friends, Lindsay, left for Thailand this past week! Oh and Skyler will be going to Africa in a couple of weeks. It's so bizarre how everything can change in just one year. We're all going our separate ways. But to celebrate our short reunion with the girls, we decided to do a girls' night as one last hoorah. It was a blast! I love my friends and I am so grateful that I have them in my life. I have been blessed to have good friends who share my same standards and weird sense of humor...

 At Sugar in Tempe Marketplace

 Goodbye sweet Lindsay! May Thailand treat you well.

This past weekend Brenner and I went with his parents and sister, Kylie, for the day and took out the Freeman's Razor. It was SO much fun! I want it. I love his family and we had some pretty good times.

 Future seester in-law

 Gorgeous spring we found

Yep, life is tasting pretty sweet!

Planes in da Rain

Last weekend I got to drive to Tucson and have such a fun weekend with Brenner. I got some transfer stuff figured out (Go wildcats?), see our future house, go shopping, go on a hike, see an air show, and eat at the most delicious Mexican food restaurant! Truly, it is the only place my grandma will eat Mexican food, and that is saying something my friends. Mi Niditos is the name just in case you venture down to Tucson sometime. The airplane show was super cool and it was way fun to hang out with some of Brenner's classmates. You could say I am now aspiring to be a pilot.. Despite the freezing cold weather and the rain, we still had a pretty great time. Yeah, I think Tucson is pretty alright! It'll make for some good times and interesting adventures.

P.S. One more week of school for meeee! I couldn't be happier right now.

Overwhelmed?

The most well known phrase in The Book of Mormon. It came to pass. So learn a lesson from it! Know that whatever you are feeling, it will pass and you will be A-OK! Take deep breaths, exercise, prioritize, and understand that now is not forever. Maybe I'll frame this and stick it in my room.

Anxiously ENGAGED.

Well, well, well. Where to begin? So there's this boy....

Brenner Freeman and I officially met on Sunday, October 9, 2011. (Yes I did write this down in my journal) He got my number, asked me on a date for that weekend, and has been coming to Mesa every weekend since! He lives in Tucson where he is in the medical program at U of A so we only get to see each other on weekends and breaks, although we are big fans of skyping. So yes, things have been going GREAT for us to say the least! And on Thursday, March 15, 2012 we got engaged! I think he's a good cause, don't you? Anyway, he really did take me by surprise because the ring wasn't supposed to be ready until Friday. So Thursday night we went out to his parents' house by Saguaro Lake and we took a little quad ride and he popped the question at the top of their hill. I can't even describe my happiness right now! And let me apologize ahead of time if I get obnoxious about it. But hey, I get to be sealed to this guy for forever on Friday,June 8th,2012! We are going to have some crazy adventures ahead of us and I can't wait to face them together. Sure I am a young one and, well, there's an age difference if you will..but we simply fit together and it's just right. Ok, ok. Here's some pictures!

 Typical.

 You lucky bloggers get to see a sneak peak of some engagements!

 Yesssss

 There's that ring! (Yeah I may have stolen your picture idea Rachel Schlappi...)

"My Kindness Shall Not Depart from Thee"

This is one of my favorite songs and it's never left me feeling down, but rather lifted up with love from our Heavenly Father. A lot of things have changed this past week, including a new baby boy born on February 11, 2012 weighing only two pounds six ounces and 13 weeks premature. Milo Clark Hoffman is quite the little fighter and I cannot wait to see him this weekend. I already have so much love for him. I am so grateful for the technology we have today. It is what is keeping this little guy going and can give us much hope! Heavenly Father has a plan for each and every one of us. That I know. I expect Milo will go through trials and afflictions throughout his life but nothing can compare to the blessings he will receive in overcoming those times of difficulty with the help of our Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ, who know the beginning from the end. They are our advocates. His kindness and mercy will NEVER depart from us.

"The race that is set before us."

Why do I love The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints so much? It really is quite simple. It's perfect!  It makes me so happy and I always find comfort in it. Yesterday I came across a few comforting things that stuck with me.

"...Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." ~ Hebrews 12:1

 Another great quote is from an article in the May Ensign of 1994. This one, I believe, is the simplest truth there is to know. "Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live, and they are in charge of this world. They know me. They love me. They have a plan for my future. I will obey the commandments, work hard, and trust in their plan. (Here it is...) Sooner or later, everything will be okay." Ah I love it! Do what is right and everything will turn out okay. Now that is happy.

Well before any readers get worried, life is good! I haven't had any tragic moments or anything, I just love that when my trials do come that I have something to find comfort in. Ok the end!

At the close of 2011...

So I haven't updated in a while but boy, life has been treating me right! I ended my first semester of college with the grades I wanted and worked so hard for. All my cousins came in to town for Thanksgiving. You get a bunch of Salcidos together and it is a party! I was able to go over to the Rogers' house and skype with Elder Rogers for a bit on Christmas day, and my break was just grand. 

Why was my break so fantastic? Well the best part was spending time with ALL the people I love. And nothing makes me happier than having every one of my siblings and my little nephews in town. Oh and another boy is on his way! Surprised? You shouldn't be. I got to snowboard (for the first time in 5 years...) and try snow shoeing for the first time. It was definitely an adventure and I ended up really liking it! Yep 2011 was a great year and I have a feeling 2012 will be a fabulous one as well. Some pictures? Why of course.

 We are cousins. And best friends.