*Quotes That Stick*

I saw this quote today and it's exactly what I needed...

"Waiting on God requires the willingness to bear uncertainty, to carry within oneself the unanswered question, lifting the heart to God about it whenever it intrudes upon one's thoughts.” 

-Elisabeth Elliot

I know that our trying to become parents and our adoption process is completely in the hands of my Father in heaven. I know that when we are supposed to become parents he will make it happen for us. He knows when, how and where our little one is going to come to us. I just need to make sure that I am "willing to bear uncertainty", our path through adoption will most likely throw us some curves and lead us through some hard times (ex: adoption placing not going through, financial struggle, long waiting periods, doubt). And I need to make sure that I am "lifting my heart to God about it whenever it intrudes on my thoughts", I can do this through prayer prayer and more prayer. He knows what we are going through and he expects to hear from us about it. He's there to help us, prepare us, comfort us and guide us! And I will most definitely being "carrying with me the unanswered question(s)"... Where? How? When... when??? And I need to be able to "bear" that question while it is constantly in my head, consuming my thoughts.

So, this is me, recognizing once again that God has a plan for me. I will continue to wait... Wait and pray :)

*Day 5 Of Me: Part 2*

Day 5: A song to match your mood:

"Breathe" by Ryan Star

Today has been somewhat troubling. I arrived home yesterday to warning signs on the roads for "high water flooding", I unloaded my truck just as soon as it started raining, started cooking a yummy dinner of oriental marinaded tuna steaks and mashed potatoes. Joey got home and we had dinner by candlelight and everything was awesome. I was so glad to be home (still am)! At about 11PM the electricity went out so I grabbed a big down comforter and we all got ready to cuddle in bed. Before we did that though we looked outside and realized why the electricity went out... Super wet, heavy snow. Instantly our hearts sank, our poor cows and calves. We went to bed with fingers crossed and prayers sent that no calves were born in the night. 

Apparently, yesterday, one of our cows that hadn't yet had her calf had gotten on her back in the field full of cold, wet, melting snow. She drowned. So, first thing this morning Joey had to go to the ranch to check and see if anything was born in the nasty weather and to move all the cows into a different field, out of the growing water levels of the lower fields. I had been excited to spend the morning and afternoon with Joey, cooking a big breakfast and watch our church's General Conference together. Instead I woke up alone, next to a cat throwing up on my bed, and as I got up to get paper towels, I nearly stepped on a huge, bloody, half-eaten mouse. After cleaning up the chewed up mouse throw up and the dead animal, I made myself a morning drink(I have to drink this certain drink because, while in Idaho, I went to our family doctor because I was having problems and we found out I have a Hiatal Hernia. I won't get into that right now though) and sat down to watch the first session of conference by myself, I looked up just in time to see Coatsy, sick with the runs, squirting(sorry, graphic) diarrhea all over the living room carpet I had just cleaned a couple weeks ago. I called Joey to see when the heck he was coming home, he commenced telling me about his morning. While they were moving the cows out of the field, a calf ventured off, bee-lining to the half frozen swamp. Trying to turn around and get back to the herd, he kept breaking through the ice and was making no progress. Joey had to jump off his horse and wade through the freezing swamp to grab the calf and carry him back. He then had to strip down to nothing in order to not freeze on the way back to the house. And a calf was also just barely born in the wet, so far so good though. 

After I calmed down and realized that it isn't as bad as I made it out to be, I got to thinking about how these certain "issues" happened, almost ironically, right when I got home, right when I was having a hard time with my hernia, right when I was wanting to spend the day with Joey, right when we were about to watch our General Conference, right when we thought we were out of the clear weather-wise during calving, right when things were starting to "look up". The exact things that "push my buttons" happened, the exact things that really upset Joey happened. It's almost like someone was trying to make us unhappy, right when we were finally de-stressed and happy again. We snapped at each other, Joey said some choice words, I hung up on him, I had a cloud over my head while trying to listen to the words of the leaders from our church, on a day that was supposed to be relaxing and peaceful. After calming down and thinking over all of this I said a little prayer and went to check on my husband. We hugged and said sorry. We vowed to not let these things knock us down and that we need to lean on each other and help each other and lean on our Heavenly Father. He's always there for us, he knows what we are going through and he wants us to be happy. We are here on this earth to be tested and tried, to learn how to push through those trials and be happy, grateful, humble, prayerful and faithful. I am going to make sure to breathe, relax, love my life, realize just how blessed I am, stay close to God, and I will be okay.

"Breathe, just breathe. Take the world off your shoulders and put it on me. Breathe, just breathe. Let the life that you lead be all that you need."

p.s. Listen to this song. It's so good. He opened for Bon Jovi and I'm in love :)

30 Day Challenge 

Day 1: Introduce, recent picture of yourself, 15 interesting facts

Day 2: Meaning behind your blog name

Day 3: Your first love

Day 4: Your parents

Day 5: A song to match your mood

Day 6: A picture of something that makes you happy

Day 7: Favorite movies

Day 8: A place you've traveled to

Day 9: A favorite picture of your best friend

Day 10: Something you miss 

Day 11: Something you're afraid of

Day 12: Your last 5 Facebook statues

Day 13: Favorite tv shows

Day 14: A picture of you last year - how have you changed?

Day 15: Scripture verse

Day 16: Current Project

Day 17: Something you're looking forward to

Day 18: Favorite place(s) to eat

Day 19: Goals

Day 20: Nicknames

Day 21: Favorite Picture of yourself ALL TIME Why?

Day 22: What's in your purse?

Day 23: A letter to someone

Day 24: Something you've learned

Day 25: Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs

Day 26: Dream vacation

Day 27: Original Photo of the city you live in

Day 28: Something that stresses you out

Day 29: 3 Wishes

Day 30: a picture of yourself this day and 5 good things that happened since you started the challenge

*In Bed*

Right now I am sitting in bed next to my sleeping husband.  When this cough settles and I can lay down without feeling like I'm going to drown I will be able to shut my eyes and dream about the man of my dreams who just so happens to be breathing soundly right next to me.

Tonight has been amazing.  Joey & I, along with some great friends, were able to go on a wonderful group date to the "big city".  And get this, it was all our boys idea!  They planned to... take us to the mall!?! And out to eat (at Rodizio Grill which I love).  Joey got me some stocking stuffers from Anthropology and I let myself pig out a little bit at dinner because common, Brazilian food, umm yes please and thank you!  Joey & I pretty much ate a whole grilled pineapple by ourselves.  We all had a great time laughing until our guts hurt and us girls got to show our adorable, amazing boys off.  It was such a great night but, let me tell you, I'm content at this very moment.  I'm all warm and snuggled up to my man.  He might be dead to the world but he has his arm securely wrapped around me like he always has to in order to fall asleep, his poor swollen nose (he was running with Dolly in the pitch dark outside with only a tiny flash light and got clothes-lined by the clothes line haha) is having a hard time breathing without making a little snoring sound.  So cute.

I love him more than I can think, more than I can imagine to think.  I can't even remember what my life was without him besides not complete.  He is my husband, we're married, and where I come from that is the most important commitment/promise/purpose you can ever be a part of... ever.  And wow, I wouldn't have it any other way.  He & I are the makers of a new family, and we're gonna be a family f o r e v e r.  I can't describe the way that makes me feel, it's a feeling I've never known before that day he and I held hands in the LDS Temple where we got married(sealed) and made promises to each other and our Heavenly Father.  It's a feeling I wish everyone could know.  I love this man, I love our marriage, I love our family, I love our life, I love our future family and life together, I love my HUSBAND.

*My Grandpa*

My grandpa is slipping away slowly, he's been removed from his IV's recently and is making his way to heaven :( All three of his sons got to say goodbye to him and now he's ready to go.  I just wanted to share my last and most cherished memory of him...

September 2008

Grandpa and my step Grandma Lora were visiting from Kentucky.  I came over from Rigby where I was living to spend a few days at my parents house while they were there.  We were in the backyard just finishing up a BBQ and I had the feeling I should ask for a blessing because at the time I was trying to decide what to do with my life... Should I keep working three jobs? Live in Rigby? Rexburg? Finish school? Get back into BYU-I? Go to Utah State?  I had recently been accepted to Utah State University but didn't receive any scholarships, and because I was from Idaho I would have to pay out of state tuition (3x's the in state tuition aka: A LOT of money).  It just didn't look like it was going to work out.

When my dad was about to give me the blessing I had a feeling that I should ask my Grandpa to give me one instead.  And I'm so glad I did because...  In his blessing he told me I should go to Logan and attend USU, that this to him felt like the best decision and that it would all work out.  From that moment on I knew I needed to go to Logan.  That probably was the last time I get to see my Grandpa here on earth.

Those following months I moved back home to Rexburg, put my 2 weeks notice in at all three of my jobs, spent the holidays with my family, reluctantly ended my relationship with my boyfriend I had been dating for 2 years, toured USU, registered for classes, found an apartment in Logan, bought school supplies and new sheets for a twin sized bed, said goodbye to my friends and moved the end of December to a whole new state.  1 week later I sat next to a cute boy in my class that I realized was also in my class before that one, but I also noticed he would always sit next to the same girl and figured they were dating(which didn't stop me from flirting, I know I'm horrible).  1 month later I asked that boy for a ride to an extra credit activity across town.  Found out he was actually single, they were just co-workers.  Next day he asked me on a date.  Less than 2 months later I got engaged to that boy.  6 months later I married that boy.  My Grandpa was too sick for him and Lora to make it to our wedding, which made me cry.  But I made sure to thank him from the bottom of my heart for insisting I go to Logan.  I know I was prompted to ask for a blessing from him for a reason and I know exactly what that reason was.

I love you Grandpa and I can't wait for you to meet my wonderful husband someday in Heaven.

*Daddy*Grandpa*Uncle Chance*Uncle Rupert*

*Quotes That Stick*

"The truest mark of your success in life will be the quality of your marriage"

Gordon B. Hinckley (Former LDS[Mormon] Prophet/Leader ) 

This is my momma's favorite quote.  I love it.  Every time I am cross with Joey, or think our marriage is "tough" on me I think of this quote.  Marriage isn't a one person show, it takes two to make it last forever.  So, if I'm not doing my part to make it work and make it the best marriage ever than I am failing on my success in life... here on earth and in heaven

*More*

I am a list maker extraordinaire.  I make grocery lists, to do lists, cleaning lists, weekly goals lists, monthly goal lists, yearly goal lists, 5 year, 10 year plan lists... You get the picture.  Well, today in church I was looking through the hymn book and came across the song "More Holiness Give Me" by Philip P. Bliss written in 1873.  And I came up with yet another list.  And the "goals" are already written down and everything for me, they just so happen to be the words of the song.  

So here is my "More Holiness" list:

• More holiness give me
• More strivings within
• More patience in suffering
• More sorrow for sin
• More faith in my Savior
• More sense of His care
• More joy in His service
• More purpose in prayer
• More gratitude give me
• More trust in the Lord
• More zeal for His glory
• More hope in His Word
• More tears for His sorrows
• More pain at His grief
• More meekness in trial
• More praise for relief
• More purity give me
• More strength to over come
• More freedom from earth-stains
• More longings for home
• More fit for the kingdom
• More useful I’d be
• More blessèd and holy
• More, Savior, like Thee

Try and top THAT list ;)

*Quotes That Stick*

"Delete from the mind any unworthy thought that tries to take root"

-Elder Boyd K Packer

I have to say I did like this post 

*Our Church Calling*

Well it happened, Joe and I got stopped in the hallway by the Bishop aka: My Father-In-Law and he asked us if we would sub in primary when they need us. So this sunday we taught the 4-5 years olds. It was way fun, they are all so cute. During sacrament Joe got asked to say the opening prayer and as we walked up to the pulpit you could hear all the kids from our class saying to their parents "Look that's our new teacher!" haha it was cute. The couple that taught their class have moved so we will be teaching that class til they call someone to teach it full time. We had a blast though, Joey is so sweet with the kids and is a good teacher. I love him :)

The TEMPLE & Birthdays!

Friday, July 31st I got to go through the temple for the 1st time. It was awesome.

The Rexburg Temple

My brother Chris & his wife Aline came up from Brasil and will be here for the wedding! I'm so excited they are able to be here! Both Joe & I's parents were at the temple with us and also my brother Eric & his wife McCall came up for the temple and birthdays. My uncle Rupert also went through the temple with us. It was great to have them all there!

My mom is gonna kill me for having this picture on here :) hehe. Oh yeah, and that's my hair that got completely screwed up, bleached, fried and most of it got ripped out. I wasn't able to change it till the next morning. It was pretty gross looking in person. But it's all better now, a little thinner but loads better thank goodness!

Us and our parents! Oh, by the way... I'm really not that tall, I have 3 inch heels on haha.

We celebrated lots of birthdays today since almost everyone was in the Burg! Molly couldn't be there seein' as she lives in England but her b-day is Aug. 7th. Jared was at youth conference so we didn't celebrate his either (Aug. 26th). But we celebrated Joey's b-day which was that same day, Jasmine' s (Aug. 12th) Eric's (Aug. 13th) Aline's (Aug. 14th) and mine (Aug. 15th)! It was lots of fun and Joe and I even got some wedding gifts thrown in the celebration as well!

Joey got toy pistols from Chris & Aline haha. He was pretty excited about those.

They brought the cake out 5 times with each of our ages on it so we could each blow out our own candles.

Birthday dinner. Chris made some very yummy steaks!