Raiven with an 'I' SMITH!

2011-08-26T17:40:00.001-07:00

Get your free online pregnancy calendar from WhatToExpect.com

Its Been Awhile!

2010-10-20T22:58:00.000-07:00

I got married!! Its so wonderful and he is soooo wonderful!! I'm so blessed. Anywho, now we are back in Logan for another year of school. I took the semester off to figure out if I still want to study psychology but Carson is still truckin' away. I just ended my job at dreadful Taco Bell and I'm so happy about that. I even got another job the same day that happened to be my last day at Taco Bell. God is good I must say. We love our family ward we are in. Its like being back in Vegas and hearing all the babies crying through sacrament. I have a calling as the Relief Society chorister and I have no idea why they called me as that! I know nothing about reading or leading music. Carson is the musical one, not me! He got a calling to be the ward choir director which fits him very well. Though it is a pain having him leave me an hour early before church but I do love to have the whole bed every once and awhile. Well this is about it until next time. Life is great!

Ahhhhh!

2010-02-25T14:44:00.000-08:00

What a crazy and exciting Valentines Day weekend I had! I got engaged! Oh man I never thought I'd be the next one. I thought Jessica McMullin would surely be the one but she had me fooled. Carson popped the question at the Draper temple. At first being the smart girl that I am, I knew it was gonna happen. Who takes a girl to the temple at night and not come back engaged?! haha Then he told me he felt bad that he couldn't get me a ring for Valentines day so he got me these earrings from Claires. My first reaction was, "are you kidding me?!" but then I became supportive and told him I loved them and that it was okay he didn't buy me a ring. So we sat there in the cold trying to get my new earrings in my ear. After they were in, Carson proceeded to say, "now that you are wearing something of mine". He then knelled down and asked me to marry him! I was so excited and of course I said yes! I love him very much. He is the only man I know who has enough patience to deal with me and my moods. Mainly because he loves me. :) We are getting sealed in Las Vegas at the temple at 11am. I'm currently making a list of those in my family ward who I want to be there. I would love to know if you would want to come.

Testimony

2010-02-09T14:05:00.000-08:00

Me and Carson. His smile is HILARIOUS! Gotta love him though <3

It's been quite the hectic life. School has been kicking my butt right along with my lovely church calling. I'm a visiting teaching coordinator and I do love it but man is it hard getting these sisters to do their visiting teaching! haha I just hope they know they'll be blessed tremendously for it. So me and Carson have made a goal to attend the temple every week together. It has been a great experience thus far. I go to do ordinances and afterward just sit there and read my patriarchal blessing.

This pass Sunday was fast and testimony meeting for my ward and it was great! So many people got up to bare their testimony including me. Actually I was the first one. I do have a strong testimony of fasting working. Lately I've also been having trouble with my jaw. I think its my TMJ kicking in. I have to watch what I eat which I hate. Oh and Carson just got a great job through lots of fasting! I'm really excited for him.

This Lovely Vacation

2010-01-07T08:07:00.000-08:00

Being home in Vegas and getting to all my wonderful ward members was a refreshing feeling. Though every corner I turned I heard about me dating a boy (oh that mother of mines spilling the beans!). The Christmas program was so cute. I love seeing the little kiddos get up and sing. My singles ward is particularly quiet so being back home was new. I also got to attend my singles ward back in Vegas and it was kinda weird but I went to support a friend going on his mission.

Anywho, me and Caitlin went to hangout with some of our high school buddies, it was fun. Everyone has grown up so much and all our boys seem to be taking the righteous road by all being on missions! I'm so happy for them. :)

So Carson came to Vegas on the 29th and it was amazing seeing him! Absents truly makes the heart grow fonder. He got to experience my crazy family and they loved him. I had to take him to two special women in my life to get the approval from: Marlaina Harris and Kata Dean. It went well, but Kata's interview did crack me up. Not to mention that I thought I was cool while at her house and tried to pogo on CJ's pogo stick and totally fell on my butt!

I had some great opportunities while being in the Salt Lake area at Carson's parents house to go to two different temples. The Draper and Jordan River temples are truly beautiful! I love being in the temple doing work for the dead and especially being there with Mr. Carson. :)

He is an amazing man. He cares so much about me and it shocks me sometimes. Never thought if I actually gave a GOOD guy a chance he'd be everything I needed. Its great, but I'll stop being mushy. haha

This is him at our house in Vegas.

Us in my apartment back at school.

I'm so bad at this...

2009-12-18T12:42:00.000-08:00

So its been a couple of months...

I've finished my second semester, almost froze to death, got a job at taco bell, fell in love, and didn't catch a major cold.

Yes you read it right! I'm in love. and he is amazing. His name is Carson Smith. We met through friends plus he's my Elder's Quorum President ;). We live in the same apartment building and didn't really even like each other in the beginning. BUT the Lord works in mysterious ways, and it all just worked out!

I can't believe how cold it is. Logan, UT is probably the coldest place in the world next to Alaska! I think I want to transfer to somewhere warm for Spring semesters up at USU.

So happy to be back in Vegas. There is nothing like sun shine and no SNOW!

Winter Wonderland

2009-10-27T11:15:00.000-07:00

So it just happened to snow today in Logan, Ut. Hopefully the snow doesn't stick but it does look really pretty. I think I might even enjoy the winter a little bit if I'm prepared with warm clothing. I haven't had a white winter in 4 1/2 years so I'm looking forward to it a little.

Outside of my apartment

My Skin

2009-10-23T08:51:00.000-07:00

Well I think some of my prayers have been answered. My face appears to be returning to its natural pigment. There are areas where it use to be so pink but now its faint and my brown hues are in replace of it. My Vitiligo has been till this day my biggest trial I've had to face. It has made me the most vulnerable person ever. But as I look in the mirror I see improvement even when multiple doctors told me there were no cures and gave me a bunch of creams. I thank God.

This is my face this June

This is my face today.

As I look at the pictures, you have no idea how much it succumbs my heart with joy. My faith has been strengthened in prayer and in my Savior.

Conference Weekend!

2009-10-08T12:57:00.000-07:00

So I got the great opportunity to go see General Conference down in SLC for the first time ever! It was amazing to be able to be in the presence of the prophet, the apostles, and the general authorities. I learned sooo much that weekend. I took plenty of notes. The talkes I enjoyed the most would have to be:

Dallin H. Oaks who spoke of God's love and His commandments
Kent D. Watson who spoke on temperance
Henry B. Eyring who spoke on love being the motivating factor of God for us to become like Him
President Monson who spoke of losing yourself in the service of others
and of course Jeffrey R. Holland who did an AMAZING talk on the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon

All these talks opened up something within me that will help me to better myself. I love conferences and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints!

Ben, Whitney and Me outside the Conference center.

I'm so bad at this

2009-09-02T11:15:00.000-07:00

So pretty much I suck at blogging but I want to be better! Most recently I've:

Attended the Oquirrh Mountain temple dedication
Started my second semester at USU
Joined the Black Student Union (crazy that they have one in Utah)
Paid way too much money for school books
Went to Mississippi for a week in August
My mother started her MBA finally
Haven't been home since June
Dressed up for an 80's dance (hilarious)
Survived my aerobics classes (they are tough!)
Love my classes!
Caitlin came to visit me and Jess
My roommate is trying to fatten me up with her cooking

I'm loving school. It's qutie interesting having so many people on campus versus this past when there wasn't anyone here.

Pioneer Day!

2009-07-25T09:50:00.000-07:00

I never ever heard of this hoilday but I think its a great way to get out of school for a weekend. On Friday, I went tubing with a bunch of friends down the Logan canal. It was cloudy outside and looked like it was about to rain. The canal was FREEZING! I couldn't feel my body from the waist down after 5 minutes, but it was awesome minus some things.

#1 we didn't have enough tubes so I had to share one with my friend Kami (it was her first time so she was freaked out! lol) #2 We both had a hard time figuring out how to both be on the tube without bottoming out. So we managed it through the canal until some wise guy told us to get out of our tube at the most rapid part of the canal to see the valley over the clift. That was a BAD choice. Getting out was easy but getting back on the tube was horrible!

Everyone had gotten back on their tubes and continued to float down the canal and me and Kami were not having any progress, THEN I lost my shoe in the current! Not good at all, but my friend saved it down the canal. THEN we attempted again to get on the tube and Kami accidently tipped me over, totally didn't wanna get my hair wet. As I was falling, my second shoe flew out of my hand and over the clift wall! I HATE heights! So I had to climb over bare foot without killing myself to retrieve it THEN our tube made a quick get away and floated down the canal without us!

So we are bare foot, no tube, trying to walk in a rocky canal. We thought about walking on the ledge but that scared the living daylights out of me because I looked down to my death! lol FINALLY someone came back for us! My friend Curt brought my isolated shoe and our tube and EVEN helped us back in the tube. It was a ridiculous but fun second tubing experience for me.

Me in my purple Barney bathing suit!

Me and Kami on our way to the canal!

So after the canal experience we went over to the boys house and hung out. My buddy Joe made me cookies on request. He's an awesome baker. Then we ate pizza. I had a really intense but great chat with my friend/crush Chris about our lives and life itself and the church. He's the elder's quorum president and also an awesome guy.

Then I went home to get dressed. My friend Doug (Really cute too) invited me over for top ramen (hilarious). When I got over to his place, there was no ramen on the stove but there was baked chicken in the oven, boiled potatoes, and corn on the cob ready for me! The boy cooked for me! lol It was awesome. It was good too. We had a great convo and dinner.

Then we went to Eldrige Park for fireworks and me and Doug sat together and talked during the fireworks. I think he's a great guy, too bad he's moving in September to Ohio for dental school! :( Sad day. But you never know what'll happen between then and now.

This is the gang, I'm sitting next to Doug and he's sitting next to Chris.

Kami and Devin doing their model pose. lol

Me and Kami's model pose.

Me and Doug :)

Stupid bus drivers....

2009-07-23T09:47:00.000-07:00

My title is quite self explanatory. I was on my way to catch the bus because i had to make down to the Ellen Eccles Opera House by 11am for class. SO I'm pretty sure i'm gonna make it when I see the bus wizzing passed me so I start running! And the bus had to stop to let people off but as I made it to the bus it just took off like it didn't EVEN see me running! I was pissed off with a sore calve because running in flip flops are brutal! Stupid Logan bus stops...

Long time no speak...

2009-07-21T13:57:00.000-07:00

Yes yes I know, its been awhile since I've updated you on my life. Trust me, it isn't much. lol Well I'm finally an Aggie at Utah State and I'm almost done with my first semester. Its been an interesting experience being more than 30 min away from my mother but I'm managing. Umm the weather is awesomely better than Vegas but it is still humid than a motha! lol I'm taking three classes right now, Creativc Arts which the most time consuming class ever but I also have some operas under my belt. I'm taking a Astronomy class that has helped me identify where the north star is! lol And I'm taking a Nutrition class online...hate it.

I absolutely LOVE my singles ward out here. The people are so inviting and nice. And of course they love me because I stand out the most. Yesterday we had a water fight after FHE. Okay so I was very against getting my hair wet, but surely someone dumped a bucket on my head. It was WAR! lol It was cold but way fun. So I'll tell you about the guys I'm digging on. The elder's quorum president in my ward is a really really REALLY great guy! I like him alot BUT being around him makes me stupid nervous. lol I'm just gonna go with the flow for now.

Right now my Creative Arts we have to quickly put together a Shakespear play and its been stressful. We have chosen Taming of the Shrews. We are gonna fail...Wish me luck

Singling it out!

2009-01-17T21:54:00.000-08:00

So lately i've been making my transition over to the North Star ward and its been interesting. I've met some people and its been great. But its rather hard having to make friends and all. Its like me being right back in middle school and trying to fit in. It just seems like some people aren't willing to break apart their little circles of comfort and let me in. It sucks, but then there are those who have been really nice to me. Including me in their extravangza's and what nots. I don't know... its just way different from my home ward. I think growing up is a little hard. Because I could just hang out with the Laurel class and be content but I know I should be hanging with people my own age. Hmm well hopefully it looks up. I'm in school now at the University of Phoenix taking online classes for my Psychology degree. I've just been recently thinking about uprooting to Chicago in the fall. I've always been passionate about Chicago, my first school choice was there. So hopefully everything will work out in my favor if its meant to be. I know the Lords on my side of course.
At one of my FHE nights we had a Redneck Olympic night and it was hilarious! I mean I've never encountered rednecks before so I had no clue, but we did Gator wrestling and Seed spitting and Hog calling and Roadkill tossing. It was funny.

Tag I'm IT!

2009-01-08T18:18:00.000-08:00

Well i got Tagged to write 16 RANDOM things about myself.... We will see how interesting this gets. Oh and Annjilla tagged me!

I'm lactose and tolerant but I LOVE ice cream. I don't know why I can't stomach milk if I like ica cream.
I'm really anxious for marriage or for at least knowing who that guy will be.
I depend too much on people for my happiness. I think that can be a bad habit of mines because what will happen to me when no ones around for me?
I hate breaking hearts but mine always seems to be up for the breaking.
I'm knock kneed and have been FOREVER! If I could get reconstruction surgery to fix it I would. It's bothered me since childhood.
Our Christmas tree is still up. And will be until Monday when my nephew comes to town!
I hate wearing shoes because that means I have to put on socks.
I LOVE Grey's Anatomy. It makes my life alright.
I wish my own family was an example of how I want to raise my future family.
I look up to a lot of women in my church and how they manage to have all those KIDS!
When I got my patriarchal blessing I thought the patriarch made a mistake by saying that i would be a great mother to my "children"! Wait who says I'm having more than one?! lol
I have a fear of dying as well as failure. I want to live my life with NO restrictions.
I just ate some amazing chili. I crush Ritz crackers in it.
A lot of people say I sound white on the phone. Maybe it's because I'm a little more articulate than them.
I LOVE sweat pants.
I I haven't had a real bed since I moved from Michigan 4 1/2 years ago.

2008-12-30T13:36:00.000-08:00

I was at the McMullin's playing the Wii and this is Jessica taking her turn. I beat her badly in it!
My dad got a tie that had The Lord's Prayer on it.
DeMark got him some argyle socks.
My mom got a much needed house coat for Christmas.
Jaz got a MP3 and PSP game he's been wanting.

Christmas with the Jenkins/Betts/McMullins!

2008-12-30T13:24:00.000-08:00

So this season we didn't have all the family members like we usually do. My brother Dywaine couldn't make to Vegas from Michigan this year and it was a bummer. I got my oldest brother to stay the night at our house this time to wake up with us and open presents! I'm not usually a morning person, well let me not sugar coat it...I'M NOT A MORNING PERSON. lol But this year out of every year I've ever spent waiting for Christmas, I woke up first.Maybe I was anticipating whether I was getting my digital camera I've been wanting or not. I did get it! I was super excited. I also spent a lot of my holidays with Jessica McMullin because I never get to see her and well because she's my favorite person! I went to her house the day after and we played her family's new Wii! It was way fun and you can really break a sweat doing the boxing game! I had an enjoyable season from hanging with family and friends to the great Christmas program at church and the lessons that followed!

The Verdict

2008-12-16T12:55:00.000-08:00

I think that the Lord is giving me a test. I know he's telling me to slow down and that everything happens for a reson. I'm understanding now that what a person wants isn't always in the plans that God has made for us. So I'm staying in Vegas until the Fall to start school. It was a hard decision to come by because I really wanted to leave. I have a passion for learning. But I also know that maybe this wasn't the right time for me to go yet. Maybe all the obstacles that were placed in my pathed was Christ trying to tell me something. Maybe me staying will help to learn more about myself or help me to be more independent. But whatever the reason is for this detour I'm going to take it in strife and love what may come.

Ughh! So stressed!

2008-12-10T12:40:00.000-08:00

So as everyone knows because my mother has the HUGEST mouth, I'm going to Utah State university this up and coming January. I'm way excited but its just so much I have to put into it to actually GO! Financially its tough on me. All the scholarships I've applied for I won't know if I got them until the Fall! And I can't get grants because my parents apparently make too much. It's just soooo stressful because I want this bad. I feel like my life is nothing if I'm not in school and I'm definitely not waiting till the Fall to go back. So wish me luck or give me some advice! I've prayed to not be worried or stressed but I just can't help it! Idk it just seemed like it was so much easier for the other laurels who left to actually LEAVE then it is for me.

Girls Just Wanna Have FUN!!!

2008-12-01T12:03:00.000-08:00

So I've been writing this missionary named Mike Dunn for about the length of two years. He'll be back in March and I'm thinking we are definitely gonna be dating. :) But then again if you all don't know, I'm boy crazy! Have been since I was 4 and in daycare! lol I attend the singles ward to scope out guys, I drive down the rode peeping out the hotties. Maybe I have a problem! lol Not! But I do want to pursue this future RM but my attention span with guys is stupid short...so sad. But I know if its meant to be when he comes home then it will be right? I don't know. But I do know is that the singles ward is super fun! I wanna be good though. I'm not necessarily waiting for him because that wasn't the plan but hey I wouldn't mind my last name being Dunn... :) I just wanna have fun!
This is Mike!

My HAIR!!!

2008-11-21T21:35:00.000-08:00

So if you didn't know I'm rather attached to my hair. It isn't the longest but hey, it was mine! So one day I decided since my dear friend Jessica was home for Fall break I'd let her have a go at my hair with some scissors. I really thought I was ready for the change....turned out I wasn't! lol So this was me before I cut my hair.

And I can't say I don't miss it because I do but the new do is pretty cute! Everyone loves it! It just takes soooo much more time doing! This is the new cut with Chy Anne Ricketts in the back.
I've heard it makes me look older! Hopefully not too OLD!