My Spiritual Freakout!!

Todd came home from his meetings at church this past Sunday and said "I have 3 things for you". At the time that meant nothing to me and I had no reservations biting so I asked "Oh yeah, what?". Then he shook my spirit to the core..

"Well here I have you membership record", with his new calling being a clerk I just thought he was being cute. So I responded with a polite "Well thank you!", but he wasnt done.

"And the bishop let me know that sometime next month we are going to speak in sacrament meeting on gratitude", I have no hesitations with speaking, in fact I kind of like it, so I said "Ok, but we spoke a couple of months ago, are they sure?". Todd confidently said "Oh yeah they are sure."

Then he started to fiddle with this Book of Mormon manual on the counter and rather shyly said "And Brother Hampton (our awesome Gosple Doctrine teacher) asked that we teach Gospel Doctrine in two weeks." I freaked out instantly, my face turned red and I started to stutter. "I don't...I'm not...I can't...I don't know about this." Todd turned to me and with his gorgeous brown eyes gave me the look, the one that makes your knees go weak. And the conversation was over for now. We were going to team teach the lesson in two weeks.

I had all evening to stew on it and think about it, and I was still not sure how I felt. Well I come home this afternoon from shopping for my Halloween costume (I'm going to be a wicked witch) and Todd's beautiful brown eyes are smiling at me as I walk through the door. And my knees start to quiver and shake.

"I was thinking and pondering about this gospel doctrine thing and I get the impression that this lesson might be one for you to teach. I can do it if you want, or I can help if you want, but I really feel like you would be great at this lesson and its meant for you."

My hands start to shake and mind was trying to think of something, anything to get out of church in two weeks, but my mind came up blank. For the next five minutes I am debating with Todd and trying to get out of it somehow, but I cant help but feel like he might be right. I feel like this lesson, "The Gathering of Israel", might be a good one for me to take on. Deep down inside I am kind of excited and want to tackle this challenge.

So as of this moment I am spiritually freaking out!! I am nervous, excited, and overwhelmed with this task. Not to mention I am also going to be speaking next month in sacrament meeting, and I teach Young Womens every week! See the youth I am good with, I love the girls and feel like I can relate, but Gospel Doctrine I'm not so sure!! HELP!!!!

I've been tagged...

Ok here it goes...(thanks Sarah!!)

8 Things I am passionate about...
1. My handsome and sweet Todd
2. The entire Suppes'/Browning/Cottle clan really..we are crazy but a lot of fun!!
3. The gospel of Jesus Christ, I have been studying it a lot lately, and have truly come to appreciate and recognize its individuality and importance in our daily lives
4. Pickles....yummy yummy pickles
5. Food storage
6. A good book..always important to have on hand
7. Love; whether its romantic, friendship, or just giving out your love to those who need it.
8. Cooking and baking (new found hobby of mine)

8 Phrases I say often...
1. Are you flippin' kidding me (thanks Utah)
2. I love you
3. I get knocked down, but I get up again, you're never going to get me down!! (song from my childhood)
4. Unbelievable
5. Yeah baby (thanks Dad)
6. That's what I'm talking about
7. Say it again Todd, I cant hear you
8. Kaylee I said No!!

8 Things I want to accomplish in the upcoming year...
1. Babies
2. A better understanding of the scriptures
3. Becoming more patient
4. Bettering myself as a wife and friend
5. Scrapbooking...I want my pictures tangible rather than on a computer screen
6. Magnifying my calling and really making a difference to the youth of the church
7. Healthy eating habits; I am determined to find healthy sweets!!
8. Become less dependent on the television

8 Places I would like to go and visit...
I feel so lucky in my traveling thus far and I feel almost ungrateful listing more places, but in spirit of the tag I will continue.

1. Africa, I want to go on a safari
2. Australia, I want to scuba at the reef
3. Italy, I want to see Rome and Venice and Tuscany and all of Italy
4. Phoenix, I haven't been in a while and would love to visit my family!
5. Washington DC, this was my favorite family trip as a kid and I would love to see it again
6. Teton Mountains, so I can snowboard down the biggest best mountains
7. Hawaii, I would love to go through the temple where we got engaged
8. Never Never Land, (Peter Pans not Micheal Jackson's) Finding Neverland was an inspiring movie and I wish I could visit

8 Things I Need or Want...
1. I need new jeans (my hips have spread apart and none of mine fit anymore)
2. A robe and slippers (just because)
3. A healthy happy family
4. My Savior, I am nothing without Him
5. I would love to expand our little family and add a few babies
6. Temples...I can't imagine life without them
7. Food, I get uber cranky without some
8. My Tottle (hes my love, my life and my eternity)

I would in turn like to tag Cassie Cornwall, Jen Lameroux, Mia Smith, Britt Nabrotzky, and Leslee Cottle. Have fun ladies!!!

My Competition...

My sweet Todd is head over heels for our cat Addie. She is an adorable small black fluffy cat, she is very cuddly and loves Todd's attention. For all of these reasons and more Todd loves this cat very much. Every day when he gets home from work he gives me a kiss and then yells "Addie, Addie, oh Addie" and surprisingly enough Addie comes. These two are inseparable and I am starting to get a bit jealous. Whether its their welcome homes, or their hanging out, or even their good nights, these two are adorable.

To prove my point I have added a picture of what I see anytime I come up the stairs and look into Todd's office. Todd in one chair and Addie in the seat next to him.

Where did Fall go?!?

This past Wednesday was a very comfortable day, the temperature was around 74 and life was great!! No sweating, no freezing!! Then this morning we woke up and saw this...
The temperature is 31, and we currently have around 5 inches of snow on the ground. Oh did I mention it is still snowing?

Don't get me wrong I love the snow and we have a great time together. Whether its snowboarding, snow ball fighting, playing with Kaylee, or shoveling the driveway, but I am not ready for it yet. I still haven't unpacked my winter clothes and jackets from last year. Oh well winter is here and I need to accept it!! So welcome my good friend winter, I am excited to have you and look forward to the next couple of months together.

(I looked at the Farmers Almanac last month, and it said that we were going to have a long winter with 2 snow storms a month from November to May of next year!! I guess winter was a little anxious to get here!!)

Bowling Time!!

This Friday Todd and I doubled with our good friends Todd and Tisha. (The two Todd's just love hanging out together!!) We went out for dinner at Cafe Rio and then headed to the bowling alley!! It was a lot of fun, the first game I took first place with a whopping 119 points, but the second game I came in last with a fantastic 66!! Here are some action shots of each of us and our madd bowling skills....
Todd CottleMe

Todd Sanders
Tisha workin it out!!
What you don't like looking at our bum's?? Scary pic of me huh? I am not sure why I was making this face but I have vowed to never make it again! Despite this brief scary face moment we had a great time!

Hayden's Big Day!!!

Last week Todd and I headed down to St. George for a very special day! Todd's little brother Hayden was getting baptized. It was a lot of fun, and we were excited to be able to share his day! We are super proud of you Hayden!!

Yummy!!

In posting this I realize it is not going to be the most entertaining and 'fun' post of all time, but it is a mile stone for me and I am proud!! Most of you know that in the past year Todd and I have been focusing on food storage, and trying to put together our supply. Well this past week I have experimented with a new form of food storage, bottling!!! It always seemed hard and time consuming so I just ignored it, but no more. From here on out you can call me Bottling Brittany!!!

My good friend Ashley and I went in on 40 pounds of chicken and took to the bottling!! It turned out to be surprisingly easy and super gratifying!! Next on my list is beef and then fruits, jams, and salsa!! Watch out bottling world, I have arrived!!!
40 pounds looked like a lot before hand, but once we bottled them it turned out to be not so much. We finished with about 22 pint jars each. So Todd and I can split 1 1/2 chicken breast once every other week for a year!! I think I might do it again, just to get some more in our storage!!
It kinda looks like a biology experiment, but I swear its a chicken breast!! They say it will last up to 10 years on the shelf like this. A lady in our ward opened one after 13 years and it was still really good.

This was so easy, I promise, so all of you get out there and start bottling!