Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! Apparently this just became one of my favorite holidays this year because you get to celebrate it with your family and friends and think of the blessings that you have in this life and are thankful to have. Below are the pictures I took yesterday. Enjoy!!

Doesn't this look nice? We did a great job with the table! Very creative and that is what I call art!

The entire Ricks Family. So happy to have my sis and brother-in-law here. Especially little Ellie. Isn't she the cutest thing you've ever seen!

Bre and Jose. Aren't they cute together?!

Me and my good friend the Scarecrow! I won't have to worry about the crows anymore. This is the greatest Thanksgiving I've ever had!

Gotta love my Ellie Bug! She's adorable! I'm thankful for the many blessings I have in this earth. Especially my cute little niece!

¡Feliz Dia de Gracias!

You Raise Me Up, and Happy Birthday Christian!

You'll never believe what I just did a few weeks ago!! I hiked up to the top of the mountain Squaw Peak with my Young Women president, two of the laurels and her kids. For those of you who never hiked up to Squaw Peak but want to do it and think it'll only take 2 hours, believe me it won't!

It'll take 5 hours to get there. And oh boy it was intense but we made it to the top. I was pretty exhausted hiking up there and I did think I would never make it but through the prayer I said in my heart that I would get enough strength I survived and you can now call me, along with the others I went with, the survival of the fittest. I thought of two songs; one, "Climb Every Mountain" from the most fun musical of all time, "The Sound Of Music," and the other "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban. Both of them tell us to keep going despite by our earthly challenges. I'm sure the people I went with on the hike did think of those songs as they were hiking up the mountain. It'll be hard once you're climbing up on that mountain but you never know what's at the end of it unless you try.

On Sunday, October 23, it was someone's birthday who's no longer living on this earth. If Christian were still alive, he would've turned 35 years old. Down below is a letter I wrote to him even though he is gone:

"My Dear Christian,

it has been 2 years since you left this earth. If you were still alive you would've turned 35 and we would've celebrated your birthday. But we are celebrating it in our hearts by remembering you and the memories we have in our heads. I have very good ones about you. I remember when you came to our house with your face covered in Mexican dirt and you looked like Harry the bigfoot from 'Harry and the Hendersons' and the plane ride we had with my uncle and cousins.

I've known you since I was eleven years old and I have thought of you as my brother even though we are not related. I want to give my thanks to you for your love, compassion, testimony and spirit that has touched my heart and brought me closer to you as it did my family.

Although you are gone from this human world and unseen by us humans, we know you are still with us because we feel your presence every time we think of you. And we will never forget you or the memories. I love you with all my heart as an adopted brother. You've helped me grow and I also thank you for that. I don't know how long I will be here in this mortal world but I will wait, enjoy every moment of life and endure to the end until I join you and my loved ones especially our Heavenly Father and Savior.

All my love,

Caela."

10 years ago... we suffered but we held on

10 years ago on this day... there were two airplanes that were flying uncontrollably and hijacked by terrorists, thus crashing into the twin towers of the World Trade Center. Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives in the attacks. It was a devastating event that brought us down with sorrow, anger and pain because our loved ones died of a horrible death.

I remember that day 10 years ago... I was only seven years old when that tragedy took place. It is a day that we'll never forget because we saw what happened.

As I thought of the event from 10 years ago I didn't understand why that horror happened in this world; and I wished it never happened because I wanted it to be a non-existent nightmare as much as a lot of you do. But then a thought came to my mind: I remembered the Savior and the sacrifice He made for us. While He was dying on the cross He prayed to His Father in Heaven and asked Him to forgive those who've betrayed Him and nailed Him on the cross for they knew not what they were doing. I also thought of our Heavenly Father who created us and loves us. I know it was hard for Him to deal with that event and He didn't want that to happen because He knew it would take place and it wouldn't be easy for us to face. But through prayer and trust in the Lord we have regained hope, faith and love after the trial. It's not easy to forgive but we are able to do it with the Lord's help and support.

"Love one another; as I have loved you."
-John 13:34

First Day of School

School began on Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at 7:30 a.m. at Timpview High School. First day okay.. Second day great... Third day better! There are a few classes I need to work on being confident and those are astronomy and geometry. Looks like I'll need a tutor who are good at those subjects because I've been getting slow on the two this past summer. The days got better when the weekend came... a ward party at Uncle Bud's Park, the bike ride with my very good friends Jim and Marianne Larsen, who lived in Rohnert Park while I was there; which they now live in Draper, and the welcoming of Nina and Andrew after they were gone in North Dakota for 2 and a half months doing a service project.

Earlier today, the youth sang the EFY medley, "As Sisters in Zion/We'll Bring The World His Truth," to a missionary who is leaving to serve in Australia. Because it is one of my favorite songs to listen to while it's bringing the powerful message it has, it felt so good to sing.

Have any of you ever felt surprised when you realize it's your last year in high school and think of the day you started Kindergarten? I have. It feels like yesterday I was almost 6 years old when I started as a kindergartner and I turned into a 17-year-old Senior overnight. I can't believe I'm a Senior! Ever since I was a kid, my dream was to go to college so I can be prepared for the adult life and have the opportunities that are available. I'm impressed with the hard work I've done for years in school and are my family and friends. Now this is the year to work hard to graduate and get into the college I want to go to. But I'm remembering to spend every happy moment that is wanting me to enjoy.

Best Days of Summer

This summer of 2011 has been the best of my life! There have been great memories of this summer that I won't ever forget. It started with a youth conference of the Oak Hills 6th Ward up in Lake Powell, which was a magical experience I'd never forget. I apologize I don't have pictures of my experiences there; I forgot to charge my camera and it was the last minute to do it. SO sorry! :(

Lake Powell was an adventure there and I never wanted to leave because of the beauty, peace and happiness it brings. And I have tried new things there I never knew if I'd love doing them. I've learned from them that I can do hard things even when I feel so discouraged I just want to give up.

The summer got more fun when I went to Cali to visit my sis Alexis and my brother-in-law Grant, who were expecting a baby girl. We did a lot of fun things there. One of them was visiting the beach, which is my favorite time doing there and other places with a beach.

The week at Girls' camp was a great opportunity for me to be a junior counselor to the younger girls. It was also a great opportunity for me to be Maid Marian after earning an award for the bullseyes I got in archery.

Two weeks after Girls' camp, I was sick with a fever on a Saturday, two days before the fun week began but recovered quickly after resting and taking things slow and easy. EFY was about to start when I was sick and I prayed so hard that I would get feeling better so I could have the fun that was waiting there for me; EFY in Sacramento was a great experience there. As you could see in this photo above is our group name, "One Heart" because each individual does have a heart for others as Jesus Christ does. As they say at Girls' camp when someone shows they have a BIG heart, "You've got heart!!"

                                   

The summer not only got more fun, it also got more special. We welcomed Lexie and Grant's first child, Ellie Ricks, into our family. And our hearts grew more strong and big for her. I am so excited and happy to be her aunt and have her a part of our lives; while I was at EFY, I thought about how much effort we had put forth by prayer, faith, and patience for my niece to come into this world; I never felt so thankful or happy for this blessing to be given to me and my family. Every time I look at her beautiful face with those eyes, I can see that she's a child of God and she was sent here by Him, who created the earth, because she wanted to be a part of our family. I can also see that she'll be a wonderful girl and a wonderful young woman that we would want her to be.

                                    

A week after Ellie was born, I had my first surgery on my mouth! My bottom wisdom teeth had to be pulled out this summer, and oh boy, did my mouth hurt a lot and I looked like a chipmunk with my mouth swollen. I even looked like Santa Claus with the ice packs wrapped in a white towel around my mouth. I did get spoiled because I got to eat ice cream, yogurt, pasta and all the other good soft stuff I had to have since I have stitches on and my jaw hurts from the surgery. Most favorite time of being a patient, least favorite: my jaw hurting like crazy. The recovery has increased, as it still is, and my mouth is no longer swollen after taking pain medicine and having the ice on my face.

Mom and I were sad to leave Cali to go back to our home in Provo because we didn't want to be far away from Lexie, Grant and baby Ellie. I do wish we'd have more time in the summer to spend with them. I also wish that school would start the day after Labor Day as it used to back in the old days. Why not do it in the same today?

The important part that matters to me the most is that I had the best summer of my life as I will continue to have while I grow older. Today is the last day of summer vacation and school starts tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. I'm prepared and ready to learn new things even though I don't want summer to end yet. Also ready to achieve the goals I had planned this year and I pray that I will succeed.

Happy Father's Day!!!

Today is a very special day to remember and honor our fathers who have been in our lives since the day we were born. I don't know what my life would be like if my dad wasn't around. He is a great man, our hero, a loving family man and fun guy to hang out with. There are so many things that I love about my dad:

1. He makes us laugh
2. Has a good heart and a strong testimony of the Gospel
3. Supports us and is willing to help others
4. Has always been there for us since the day we were born
5. Always pushes us to be PROACTIVE to seek our dreams and opportunities
6. Always up to spend time with my sisters, my mom and me
7. Never gives up

I know that there are more than 7 things that I love about my dad and there will always be an endless number of them. Father's Day makes me think of the days we spent together as father and daughter or as a family. I'm so grateful and thankful for my dad and the things that he has done for us. Couple of my favorite memories about my dad are when we went to Color Me Mine and worked on fun projects together, the California vacation 10 years ago, horseback riding in the mountains down home in Mexico and go-cart racing.

Whenever I needed comfort or help on problems I face in life he comforts me with his sweet hugs and makes me laugh with his jokes. I'm so thankful for the wonderful father God has given me in this life and I know he'll be this way and always be there for me even though he has to be in places where he needs to be.

Feliz Dia del Padre, Papi!

"I love my father as I love the stars- he's a bright shining example and a happy twinkling in my heart."
~Terri Guillemet

"Dad, your guiding hand on my shoulder will remain with me forever."
~Author unknown

Succeeding With Confidence

Yesterday morning, I woke up at 5:45 to get dressed and ready for the day because it was the day of the school year's end. I was feeling more excited than tired because I, along with the other students at school, get to have a summer break from all the labor and the hard work we have put our efforts in to succeed. I found out that my final grades for my classes for the 4th term were only four A's and three B's which make me feel proud of myself for working so hard in school. I have worked hard in school for years and I still have confidence that I can handle another year and make it through high school so I can finish it strong and graduate to get onto the next level of life. Ever since I was little I didn't really like school but with the thought of getting into college and becoming more prepared in life for things that I don't know will happen I decided to go to school so I could learn and be ready. I have been working so hard and I was able to achieve, which I still am. And I have earned certificates for doing successful hard work in school. I have been successful in three places: Mexico, California and Utah.

Myself is not the only one I am proud of for working so hard. There are others that I know have earned certificates and finished the year strong because of the hard work and the success they have put in school. There are also those that I may not know very much or not at all that have succeeded. I have learned from my family, my teachers, my friends and my Heavenly Father that I can do hard things and I can finish strong with faith, confidence and courage. I've also learned if we believe in ourselves we can do anything that we put our minds to. When I was little a few people didn't think I was smart or able to do anything I put my mind to because of my learning challenges but my parents refused to believe that because they knew that they were not willing to help me learn. They pushed me to seek the opportunities available for me and they were able to help me. They were not the only ones who did, my sisters, my friends and my teachers who believed in me helped me. Especially someone above my head. I am proud of myself and others for working hard in school, doing our best and standing up for what we believed in.

"You are doing all that you can do. Anybody can see that. Win or lose... we gonna walk out of this stadium tonight with our heads held high. Do your best. That's all anybody can ask for."
-Herman Boone, 'Remember The Titans'