Pictures from Christmas and Some of My Cute Nieces and Nephews

Trent

Kayleeya, Alijah, Jeremiah, Aspen, Colt

Colt

Aspen

Jeremiah

Kayleeya

Alijah

Aspen

Trent



Hiking

Christmas '09

Jonah & Jeremiah

Christmas Eve Gingerbread houses

Old Treasures, Old Memories

So I was looking through some stuff and I found a notebook that I had not seen in a while. I started to look through it and I found two FHE activities that Jonah and I did right after we got married and I wanted to share them with you. The first one was that we had to write our testimonies down and let each other read them. I can only find what I wrote so I guess you don't get to hear Jonah's. But there is some personal stuff in here so don't judge. The second activity was to write the traits that you think describe a good husband and a good wife.

My Testimony from FHE on 8/25/08

I can honestly sat that my testimony has been tried and tested more than I would have wanted. But I don't regret it, just for the fact that it has helped shape me into who I am today. I think the first major thing that tried my testimony was my relationship with Mike. In that relationship I was manipulated, controlled, and blind to what was happening to me. I learned that I can't let anyone or anything get in the way of what I know is right in my heart. And that is that the gospel is true. It was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. He went through many trials that could have broken him down. But he stood strong for what he knew was true in his heart. He is a very good example of perseverance.
I remember something that happened that helped me want to find my testimony after I had lost it. After I broke up with Mike, my brother asked me to go to lunch with him one afternoon. He talked to me about what had happened and what I was going through and was a comfort to me. He talked to me about the church and assured me that if I would turn to the Lord and seek him for help and guidance, that I would be ok. Even thought that is something a primary child would say, it was just what I needed to hear. It was nice to have my brother there to help me through it.
Something else that, not necessarily tested my testimony, but made it stronger, was moving away from my family. I could no longer lean on my parents testimony. I needed to make it my own. But being away also made me realize how much I do love my family and how much I want to be with them forever. My family means the world to me and there is no other group of people that I would want to spend eternity with. By moving away, it tested me in some ways. While living on my own, I had to be the strong one to tell myself to get up and go to church. I was in charge of myself. That was a very good opportunity for me to become stronger.
With all the hard times I have gone through, and with all the trials, I am so grateful that I have had my Savior there by my side. When I was at my lowest point, he was the one that carried me through. I know now that he will always be there for me. I just have to be the one to ask for his help. He loves me and wants to see me progress and become the person he know I can be. I know that he lives and that he will come again. I know that he atoned not only for my sins, but for the sins of the world. He sacrificed his life so that we can have the chance to be like him. Through living by his example, and by keeping his commandments and the covenants I have made, I can experience true happiness. And I have received so many blessings. I have been able to attend the temple with my eternal companion, who I know will be by my side for whatever life brings us. I know that we will both help each other strengthen our testimonies as we progress together. I know that by attending the temple and keeping close to God, we will be happier that we ever could have imagined. I know the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. I know that families can be forever. I am thankful for the early Saints who play a big part in where we are today. I know that by the atonement we can be forgiven of our mistakes and we can return to be with our Father in Heaven. I know that I still have a lot to learn and I am excited to learn all I can.

FHE What I think makes a good wife and husband
Wife: Ad good wife is one who will support her husband in whatever he does. She is strong in what she believes in . She loves her husband and family. She does her best to keep the spirit in the home. She is there when needed and there to listen or talk to you. She is not selfish.
Husband: A good husband is one that provides for his family and honors his priesthood. He loves his family and not selfish. He is willing to help when he is needed. He works to fix problems and helps to keep the spirit in the home. He is someone who brings joy and laughter to the home.

What Jonah thinks makes a good wife and husband
Wife: You try to understand me and love me and want to be with me. You always are willing to work with me to get through things whatever it may be. that you come to me with your problems and confide in me and are not lazy, and don't get mad at me if I am :)
Husband: that I am always there for you and willing to help. I do my best to provide for you and take care of you. I admit when I am wrong and try to fix it. I am humble and love my Savior. Pick on you and tease you and help you around the house :)

So those are two things that I found from when we were first married and it is fun to see that we still have the same views basically. We are still just as happy now as we were then, if not happier. I am grateful to have such a wonderful man to share my life with.

New Job!

I can't believe that I forgot to mention this in my last post but I finally got a new job! I will be working at Rosewood Dental with my uncle. They had an opening for an assistant and offered it to me. I know it is a long ways away, but I will only be working four days a week and more important I will be getting the experience that I need. I am so excited! I start on the 28th of this month. I am grateful that they gave me a shot. I will miss my current job though. Ok not necessarily the job itself but I will miss the people. I have worked with some pretty neat people and I am going to miss them. They have been so flexible with me. Its not everyday that you find a job like that. So wish me luck! I will keep you all updated on how things go!

St George Get Away

Jonah and I went down to St George this past weekend to get away from this cold weather and snow. Man was it a nice break. It was so warm down there compared to here. We did not get there til about midnight on Friday so it was a late drive. On Saturday, my dad took Jonah out for a ride on their new ATV!!! He had a blast. My mom and I went shopping and taught me how to make some good whole wheat bread. It was so much fun and pretty good if I do say so myself. When we were done with that, my dad took me out for a ride on the ATV. I had so much fun. I can't wait til we can go down there and spend a day just riding around. When we got back we decided to go to a movie. We went to see 2012. Its just another end of the world movie where they escape EVERY obstacle by the skin of their teeth. Kind of dumb but the graphics were good. And it was 3 hours long. A little to excessive for me. We left the theater and I realized that I had left my purse there. I was freaking out. We hurried back to get it and luckily it was still there and had all my cards and cash left in it. Thank goodness for the honest people that found it. We then went home and played Five Crowns and called it a night. My mom also gave me our wedding afghan from my Grandma Chris. It is so pretty. My grandma has not been doing to well lately so she was not able to finish it. But I have a great Aunt and cousin that came for a visit and finished it for me. I was so surprised and thankful! Thanks Chandra and Linda. It really means a lot to finally have it.
We went to church the next morning and it was good. We really like this one Sunday school class in my parents ward. Its taught by a really neat lady. Its a marriage family relations class, but the fun part about it is she is a therapist and she has a lot of professional input. She makes the class very interesting. After church we went back to my parents with Darcee and her kids. We can tell that little Jeramiah is a two year old. He has some lungs on him and would scream and cry every few minutes if he did not get something he wanted. Alijah is getting so big. He just turned four this week and he is such a sweetheart. While my mom was making lunch he kept saying "Grandma I wanna help you!" He was so cute. And Kayleeya is getting more grown up every time I see her. I can't believe that she is going to be nine in May. I remember spending almost everyday with her when she was younger. I can't believe how grown up she is.
Well the time came to soon when we had to leave. We headed up to Cedar City to pick up our dogs from My sisters. She said that somehow Reign kept getting out of their fence. When we got there we found that he was out of the fence and across Main Street which is a couple streets down from where my sister lives. I couldn't believe it. But he kept getting out all weekend. I felt bad but I am glad that my sister was willing to watch them so we could go down there. We stayed and chatted with her for a while and we got to see Aspen and Colten. They are still as cute as ever and they are also growing like weeds.
It was nice to get home and be in our own house and sleep in our own bed. But I can't wait til we go back down for the Parade of Homes. Thanks to my family for making it a great trip.
P.S. We did not get to see Justyn and Alisa this trip around. From what I hear they are still trying to get moved into their new house. But hopefully we will be able to see them next time around

Thinking of New Years

So I have been thinking a lot about what I want to try and do for my new years resolutions. I have thought of a lot. I most likely will not get them all taken care of but I am sure going to try and get some of them done.
1. Build up our food storage.
2. Read scriptures every day.
3. Get a new job in a dental office.
4. Support Jonah in his hope to start a snow cone shack.
5. Do better with my visiting teaching.
6. Put more of my money into savings.
7. Try and be more patient and understanding.
8. Lose weight and keep it off.
9. Learn to cook better and cook for Jonah more often.
10. Get down to St George to see my family more this year.
11. Watch less TV and spend more time with my husband and dogs.
12. Do more service for others.

I know some of these might seem silly but they are all things that I need to work on. Its a new year and I need to try and make my self better. I will never be perfect, but at least I will always have something to work on. I hope that you all have made some goals for the coming year, and if so good luck with them. I know that it will be a challenge to get some of mine done but I will do my best.

Christmas(Pictures to come later... hopefully)

Welcome 2010!!!
We had a great end to 2009. For Christmas we were able to go to St George and spend it with my family. We have not been down there for so long. It was so good to see all my nieces and nephews. I missed them more than I thought I did. It was good to see my siblings and parents as well. We had an eventful Christmas morning. Darcee and her three kids stayed at my parents house on Christmas Eve so they were with us on Christmas morning. Christmas with an 8,4 and 2 year old was very interesting. Jonah and I were very fortunate to have a good Christmas with good presents and good company. I also had a good birthday. We saw the movie the Blind Side and it was a very good movie. Darcee had and eventful Christmas too. Her dog had her puppies on Christmas morning. 14!!!! Sad to say one of them died so she is down to 13... but they are all so adorable. We took Koda and Reign down there with us and they had a good time playing with Brutis....my sisters dog. We also found a new dog park in St George thanks to my mom. We took them there before we left and they had a really good time. We had a nice family Christmas Party that was really fun. My parents work so hard to put things together and I want them to know that I really appreciate all their hard work. I love having the family get togethers. My mom and dad gave everyone an Ableskeever pan. I can't wait to use mine. They also got us a clock, a bronco duffle bag and a ticket to see one of the Tuacahn shows. And my lovely mother got me a BOSCH MIXER for my birthday. Does she know what I like or what. Thanks mom.
As for New Years...well we didnt do much. We stayed at home and watched a movie...and fell asleep before midnight. I know, we are lame and can't even stay up til midnight...I will say that we were able to stay up past 1 AM on Christmas Eve. Jonah worked on New Years Day. He volunteered for it so that he could get paid for the holiday. We also ended up buying a Wii!! We have been having so much fun with it so far. We got the Super Mario Brothers and and Olympic Summer Games to play so far. Hopefully I will be able to get the Wii Fit soon.
I am hoping to be able to find a new job here soon. I have been putting in applications to a lot of places and have had two interviews so far. Hopefully something will work out and I will be able to start working in a Dental office soon. I will probably be going out to my uncles office once a week to hopefully keep up on what I have learned so that I don't forget it. I feel like I have already forgotten some of it. But I will let you know what happens with that....if it happens.
We got released from the Nursery this last Sunday. I was so excited. I am excited that we get to go to our classes now and hopefully meet the people in our ward.