To Stay or Not to Stay... That is the question!

So there is a large possibility that I will stay in Rexburg until July. I am a photography major, I want to take photography classes that will help me be a better photographer. There is one that I have wanted to take since day one, but I had to take everything else first. This class is Portrait Photography. So today in my studio photography class, Bro. Brown was explaining very interesting things and then he said, I won't go into too much detail because you will learn this in the portrait class... that is the case with so many things!! From what I have heard, the portrait photo class is something I don't want to miss out on, especially because I want to do portrait photography for the rest of my life.
So, I am thinking very hard about staying another semester, taking the one class, and getting a job. What this means is that I won't have much time at home before I go to Hawaii. I'll have a week in April, and a few days in July... and some weekends when I decide to go down. So there you have it. I'll be figuring it out in the next couple of days, and I'll let you know.

Be Careful What You Pray For

I hear all the time Be careful what you wish for, but I say be careful what you pray for! The scriptures say Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you. And you would think after a lifetime of getting answers to prayers I would have learned by now, but I guess Heavenly Father has a way of getting you to ask for things that you need without you realizing it.
So, it's the beginning of a new semester, a new year. So I made a few goals. One of them was to grow spiritually. So I asked Heavenly Father to help me with that. So I guess I'm in for growing a lot spiritually because He called me as Relief Society President! I kind of knew it was coming last Sunday. I guess I just got that feeling, but I didn't want to believe it.
My first thoughts were WOW and are you sure? I feel a little inadequate to be a Relief Society President, but I guess there is something I need to learn, something big. I'm nervous and I just hope I can do a good job. I look at the relief society president from last semester and I am no where near as spiritual as she was, I guess I have a lot to learn.
Sorry for all the rambling. HELP!

Sleepover

Right before Christmas we had a little sleepover with Mark's and Scott's kids. Deegan conked out at the beginning, but the other 4 were little stinkers. They were just so cute I had to take pictures, now I wish I would of thought to take pictures of the stuff they did while I was sleeping.

I pumped up the air mattress, and so they jumped on it.







I tucked them in bed, started a movie and they calmed right down.. I thought they would be asleep in no time. I was tired and fell asleep for a minute and woke up to the sound of giggles. Conner had gotten into a chocolate covered pretzel and had it all over his face. The girls were playing in my mom's hair stuff and had their hair all pretty. I got them back in bed and they were settled down and I drifted off again and awoke to the sound of giggles. They had taken all of the books (and there are a lot of them) off of the shelves so they could read them... there were books everywhere! It was really funny. I just love those stinkers!

LIGHTS

This past Sunday, I took my roommate, Krystal to see the lights at temple square. It was her first time. Brian and his kids came too. It was pretty cold, but fun!

Christmas means Candy

Every year at Christmas time, my mom and my grandma get in the candy-making mode. Here are just a few pictures of what has been made:



There are Oreo Balls, Peanut brittle, toffee, caramel (both regular and licorice), marshmallow snowmen, cookies, and more.

Inspiring Message

My bishop sent this video to us for Christmas, as our Christmas card. I thought it was very inspiring, so I thought I would share it with you. Watch it, it is worth the 6 minutes!

Watercolors

I've posted my latest watercolors on my photo by natalie blog. Check 'em out!

A Home For My Art

So, I've decided to create a new blog for all of my artwork that isn't posted on my photography website. The link is on the right.. photos by natalie or the blog spot address is: photobynatalie.blogspot.com I figure this way they are all in one place and you can see what I am working on.

Painted Pony

Here is my latest work of art. I took this photo back in October, I don't think the guy knew I was taking a picture of him... he he he. I decided to do a painterly effect, which made it look old fashioned. I kinda like it.

Okay, so what if I'm odd

So I started my 9 week program to help me build up to a 5k today. And I decided that I need some motivators. So, I looked online for pictures and this is what I came up with. I put my head on the runner so I could visualize myself. he he he