Getaway to San Antonio

Eric and I took a little getaway to San Antonio this past weekend and it was so much fun. Savage is involved with the Valero Texas Open and there were a couple extra tickets so my dad sent them down to us and we were off for the weekend. Eric and I had never been to a PGA tournament before so we were super excited. It was only a three hour drive so it wasn't a very far drive and the perfect weekend away.  We left on Friday afternoon and drove down. When we got there, Eric had heard about a hamburger place that he wanted to try. We went to this place called Fattboy's and it was most definitely an experience. Eric and I left and decided that we probably wouldn't go back there. It was an adventure! After dinner, we headed downtown to the Alamo and the River Walk. Everyone had said how great the River Walk was and it was so much fun. We were able to see the Alamo and then had ice cream on the River Walk. 

We then headed to the hotel and at 10pm we got hungry again so we headed out to get some more dinner before going back to the hotel and going to sleep. We were so dang tired. The next morning, we got up and got some breakfast and then we went and saw the movie HOME. We had seen the commercials and thought that it looked super funny and it was. It is a kids show but we were laughing through the entire thing. Eric and I love going to the movies and sharing a bucket of popcorn and a drink. 

After the movie was out, we headed to the golf course. It was beautiful and it was so much fun! It was probably the nicest golf course that we have seen. We were able to sit up in the Valero tent with all of the other sponsors and eat yummy food, sit in air conditioning, and watch the golfers. Of course, our favorite part was seeing Phil Mickelson play. We stayed at the golf course and watched golf for 5 hours and we loved every second of it. Eric thought that I was going to be bored out of my mind but it was so fun to be out in the sun getting some sunshine and watching golf.

Eric and I had a blast and loved getting away for the weekend. Some times it is so nice to get away with my husband and just get a change of scenery. It has been so fun living in a different place and experiencing the things around us. I sure love this husband of mine that is always up for an adventure. 

Golden Birthday

This birthday was one for the books. My sweet husband made it such a fun weekend. My birthday is on March 22nd and I turned 22. Wahoo!! My birthday fell on a Sunday this year so we celebrated for a weekend. Friday consisted of Cheesecake Factory and seeing the movie Cinderella. It was so fun and so yummy to get out and do some of my favorite things. Between dinner, cheesecake, and a bucket of popcorn at the movie, we were sick! I kept reminding myself that it was my birthday weekend so I could eat whatever I wanted. 

Saturday was spent doing some more of my favorite things. We went to Outback Steakhouse for lunch and then we headed to Nordstrom and Anthro to do some stopping. After we got done shopping, we headed downtown to the Houston Rodeo and the Brad Paisley concert. The Houston Rodeo runs for two weeks every year and every night a different country singer comes and does a concert. Last year, we saw Eli Young Band and this year we were able to see Brad Paisley. We had the best time and Brad is incredible live. On the way home we were starving so we stopped at the Taco Stand. It is the best place to eat. Eric and I go there all the time and whenever someone comes to visit or I meet a friend for lunch, we go to the Taco Stand. That is one place that we will miss for sure if we ever move from the Houston area. 

Sunday was spent at church meetings and attending church. Eric got up and made me pancakes and then I was off to ward council. My sweet young women sang to me and were so sweet to remember me on my birthday. We then had church and after church Eric cooked steaks. Delicious!! Our friends then came over for cake and ice cream. After they left, we opened some presents and it was perfect. 

@madisonsavagececil

My dad then came this past week for a couple days to go to dinner and my parents wanted to get me a Blendtec but that is way heavy to ship down to Houston so we went to Costco here. It was the most perfect birthday! It was so fun to get gifts, cards, texts, phone calls, and Happy Birthday wishes. Even though I live so far away from my family, they still make me feel so special and loved. Eric does such a great job every year making me feel so special. Sometimes it is the little things that mean the most. I could not be more grateful for the people that I have in my life. I am one blessed girl. I can't wait for this year and all of the exciting things that are happening in our family.

YW New Beginnings 2015-Conroe, TX

You don't realize how much time and effort goes into an organization when you are a youth. When I was 12-18, my parents always reminded me that my leaders went to a ton of work to make everything special for us so we should always be in attendance and make sure that we are giving it our all. Over the past five months, I have truly come to realize that what my parents were telling me was true. I tell my younger sisters all the time that they should go to their weekly activities because they do not know what goes on behind the scenes. I spend hours with the help of the other leaders planning activities, lessons for Sunday's, birthday gifts, musical numbers, on the phone dealing with situations, meetings, getting ready for girls camp, etc. Over the past month, we have been preparing for New Beginnings. Last week we had this activity and it turned out perfect. As a leader, I want to make things super special for the girls. I love handouts, treats, decorations, etc. However, when I was called to be Young Women's President, I was told that all of that stuff just didn't matter and my main responsibility was to help these girls feel loved and help them draw closer to their Savior. I have really focused on that and I hope that I am doing some good in these girls lives and helping them know that they are a daughter of God and they are special! 
When we sat down to plan New Beginnings, I was totally overwhelmed. With the help of my presidency and three great advisors, everyone took a job and it turned out perfect! From the invitations, to the program, a musical number (that I was so worried that we wouldn't be able to pull off...but it turned out great), the decorations, and the food, the night could not of been better. It was a stressful day and the activity it started at 6:30pm. We spent all morning setting up and all day cooking lasagnas and at 4:00pm, I still didn't have my talk written but it all pulled together. Wahoo!!

I love the opportunity that I have to work with the young women and spend time with them. They are such special girls and I have loved getting to know them better over the past five months. I could not be more blessed when it comes to the ladies that I get to serve with as well. They put so much time into everything and I cannot thank them enough. There is no way that I would EVER be able to do everything on my own. Between my last semester of school, my calling, watching my friends baby a couple days a week, and being a wife, sometimes I feel like I am drowning. Thank goodness for incredible leaders that want to help in anyway that they can. I am truly blessed to be in such a wonderful organization.

2015 Utah Trip #1

We have 5 trips to Utah planned this year. Can't wait! This past week my parents went to London. My dad had to go for work so my mom decided to tag along. Instead of my sisters staying with my grandpa and grandma or my aunt, I flew out and stayed with them. I am so sad that I didn't get many pictures but it was so fun to spend the week with my sisters and enjoy some quality sister time. The week consisted of being a mom in the mornings and the evenings and catching up with friends and spending time with family during the day. I came home on Friday so dang tired. I told my mom that I do not know how she does what she does everyday. Now she only has 2 at home and I am sure her life was double crazy when all 4 of us were living at home. I spent 50% of the time in my moms navigator running the girls everywhere that they needed to go. It was fun to decorate sugar cookies with my grandparents (I haven't had one of my grandmas sugar cookies since they left on their mission. It has been 3 years so I was in heaven eating them), I packed the girls lunches everyday and they were not nutritious at all (Whoops...Sorry mom), and it was fun to be in the new Savage office on Friday to have lunch with my mom and dad before I flew back to Houston (They got home on Thursday night). The new Savage office is beautiful and it is so fun to watch the company grow and expand. I know my Grandpa and his brothers are proud.

I came home Friday so I could spend Valentine's day with my sweet husband. The day consisted of roses, dinner, strawberries, and The Notebook. My husband sure knows how to make me feel special on Valentine's day. So grateful that I have Eric as my Valentine forever. Morgan was able to attend her first high school dance on Saturday and she looked absolutely beautiful. Her birthday was yesterday and my parents got here a brand new Rav4 so she is loving life. Morgan has so much going for her and I could not be prouder of the woman that she is becoming.

Next trip to Utah is in April for GRADUATION! I need to get going on my homework but being a senior and in my last semester is making me tired super quick. Two more months and I will be done. I CAN DO IT!

Cecil Family Theme: 2015

Eric and I decided to start a new tradition in our family. When a new year starts, we all think of our goals for the new year and ways we want to be better. This year as I was thinking about the new year, I got thinking that it would be such a great idea to do a family theme every year and really focus on that certain thing that we pick as a family to work on. I am a little late in the year to be just barely picking the theme for the year but, I wanted to find one that I truly thought would be great for Eric and I can work on. As we do this every year, we hope that our future children will be excited about it and we can talk every week how we are improving ourselves. 

This year we picked one about counting our blessings. I had it printed and framed and it is in our home so we can be reminded of it daily. There are so many times where we all get so caught up with everything going on and the daily grind that we forget to sit down and really count our many blessings. We have been blessed with so much and I never want Eric and I to forget it. This year, we are going to focus on counting our blessings everyday and taking time out of our day, morning and night, to thank our Heavenly Father for everything he has blessed our family with. I am hoping this new tradition can be something very beneficial and fun for our family.

Eric is 26!

Wow! Eric turned 26 on January 4th and it was such a fun day to celebrate him. His birthday was on a Sunday so we did lots of celebrating over the weekend. We went to dinner at Bonefish Grill, shopped, and spent time together. On his birthday, he wanted to have steak and king crab legs. We went to Costco so he could pick out exactly what he wanted. I am not a fan of crab but, Eric was loving it! On Sunday, we spent the day going to church and attending meetings. After church we opened presents, had dinner, and then our friends Andrew and Kimmie came over for cake and ice cream. Eric doesn't love cake but I found a strawberry cake recipe that he really likes so that was his birthday cake! I love Eric and am so grateful for the life that we have together. Life is so much fun when he is there and I feel so lucky that I get to celebrate his birthdays with him forever!

Surgery and Sister's Engagement

The past week has been a crazy ride with so many different emotions. A month ago today, a cold came back that I had been fighting for 3 weeks. It just could not seem to go away. I was getting so frustrated and after talking with Eric and my parents, I decided that I was going to go see an ENT and see what he thought about having my tonsils out. I called a friend who I serve with in my ward and in Young Women's and she recommended a doctor that she thought was great. I gave him a call and they got me in the next day. I had strep throat twice last year, I always was getting a cold, and both of my parents had their tonsils out. After explaining all of this to the doctor, he decided that it would be best to take them out. It doesn't cure getting sick and sore throats. However, the hope is that it will cure strep. I set up surgery for 3 weeks later! I called my parents and told them I was having surgery and in 2 minutes my dad had booked my mom a ticket to come down and take care of me. Eric is busy working and I didn't want him to have to take off to stay home with me. Plus, sometimes a girlie needs her mommy when she is sick. It was so nice snuggling up to my mom when I didn't feel good and having her rub my back. 
Everyone had said that this surgery is horrible and I believed them but I am tough and I was going to be back up at it in 4 days no problem! I was totally wrong...Today it has been a week and I feel like I am on the up. I am getting there. I am no where near 100% but the doctor told me I would feel like garbage for 2 weeks and then hopefully after a month be better. I am hoping all of this nasty pain is worth it in the long run and I don't get strep again for a long long time if I am going to get it. My mom got her tonsils out at 18 and she hasn't had strep since. That is the hope for me! The doctor ended up taking my adenoids out too and geez..I have felt like I have a severe double ear infection. Thank goodness for pain medicine and hot pads. 
As I was going through all of this this past week, I have been reflecting on how grateful I am for good family and friends. My sweet husband for the past week has been setting his alarm for 2am to get me up and give me my medicine. My mom came down for 4 days to help take care of me. The letters, visits, flowers, texts, gift cards, etc. made me feel so happy and special and the picture from my Young Women made me feel so grateful for my calling. Now I need to lay low for one more week like the doctor ordered so I can be totally better. My dad is coming to Houston next week and is going to take me out for whatever I want to eat so I need to be better. I have lost 8 pounds but I hope I don't gain it back just in one night with my dad. I have heard many people tell me this is worse than child birth so if that is the case, I am more than prepared. I was sleeping one afternoon and after your adenoids come out you snore while you recover. Good thing it isn't permanent! My mom was getting a kick out of it and took this picture and sent it to Eric, my dad, sisters, grandparents, aunts, etc. I have loved my minky blanket this past week. I keep telling Eric that I need another one. 

My mom had to leave on Friday morning to get home for an engagement. It was the hardest secret to keep from my sister who I talk to everyday but, I did it. My parents, Morgan, Macie, Eric and I all knew McCall was getting engaged on Saturday but she had no clue. We could not be happier for McCall and Austin. We love Austin and think he is so great. I am so glad that my sister found him and that they are going to be sealed in the temple this summer for eternity. As an older sister, it is so weird to think that your sister is going to get married. I remember when McCall and I were just little and playing all of the time. Now we are both going to be married and it is so different. After Austin told me when he was proposing, I started to cry. I asked Eric why I was crying over something that is so happy but then I reminded myself that they were happy tears. Austin and McCall are great for each other. Seeing these pictures on Saturday night brought happy tears to my eyes. I can't wait for the day when Eric and I will be in the house of the Lord with Aust and McCall to watch them be sealed forever! I am a happy big sister thats for sure!