My Cousin's Wedding

Wow, what a week it has been! Last Tuesday, I flew down to Salt Lake City (where my mom joined me from her flight - for work in Phoenix). Mom and I were then able to drive back home together and enjoy plenty of "catch-up" conversation. Man, it's amazing how much things change when you're gone for even the shortest amount of time. My small hometown is now even building a Costco. We also have two new restaurants: Chili's and Texas Roadhouse....but unfortunately, we lost The Bistro. I suppose I have fond memories there, since that's the last place d.h. and I went to eat a VERY nice dinner (he even wore his blues for the occasion).

After several days of lounging around, mom took Friday off and went shopping all around town with me. We went to several yard sales....one of which, I happened to see both my grandma and uncle at! I also helped mom pick out new curtains and towels for the downstairs remodeling project she's been working on with dad. It will be so nice when both d.h. and I travel back home for the holidays and get to stay in a newly carpeted/painted basement with a new bathroom! Yeah! Dad has also been working hard on his shop (which has room for a vehicle, probably the four-wheeler, in addition to his jewelry making center). All he seems to have left is a little painting here and there.

Saturday...was a bit different. My family and I all woke up early to head down to SLC to attend my cousin's wedding. She's the closest in age to me out of all of my cousins (one day older to be exact). After a horrible traffic jam and a lovely lunch at P.F. Changs (where dad demanded his chocolate flour-less dome dessert), we headed to the wedding. It was a gorgeous, small wedding....where I got to see all the family I hadn't seen in well over a year and a half. The bride's sister's (the one who's pregnant in the photos) even brought her adorable daughter! Lucky for my cousin, her (now) husband's mom works for an airline company....and got them a trip to Hawaii for their honeymoon!!!! Wow.....was I a little jealous! (D.h. and I went camping for our honeymoon....so sometimes it's a bit surreal when I hear of other couple's romantic honeymoons).

L to R: Brother of bride, Bride, Mom of bride (aka...my aunt), Sister of Bride (with baby boy in "oven" and baby girl in arms). Sorry - no names on the blog....just in case :)

Aww...how sweet!

Everything else went great! We spent the night at the Hilton hotel (which was, by the way, extremely nice). And I left on a flight around 8:45 the next morning. Today (Monday) was a bit hectic with a large group meeting at school for T.A.s who plan to teach science labs this fall quarter (which includes me). I finished off the day with an hour of "Butts and Guts" (an exercise class here on base).....and I will definitely be hurting tomorrow! Well, that's all for now....school starts up Wednesday, so I'll have plenty to tell you about by then! God bless...

When Reality Hits

It is amazing what one person can learn over the course of a few days. D.h. and I got into an argument Saturday that made me realize a few things.

I would like to think of life as a mini fairytale, with all it's ups and downs, but always followed by a happy ending. I suppose that's why I read so many fiction novels...I get swept away by the fantasy of it all. Unfortunately, life isn't fantasy...it's reality. My expectations for a perfect marriage, an always romantic husband, and a problem free life simply aren't reality. Sometimes, though...it's hard to admit that.

However, I want to make a goal to view reality in a positive light. I know my d.h. and I will have arguments, as well as differing opinions and expections, but in the end, I know we will have learned something from it all. I know life will always present it's little disappointments...but in the end....God has a plan and a purpose for me...through the good times and the bad. He will always be there for me, to give me strength and push me forward.

"But he said to me,

'My grace is sufficient for you,

for my power is made perfect in weakness.'

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses,

so that Christ's power may rest on me.

That is why, for Christ's sake,

I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,

in persecutions, in difficulties.

For when I am weak, then I am strong."

2 Corinthians 12:9&10

Just Another Day...

Wow, I've been so busy the last couple of days! I agreed to help out my school advisor with painting/washing windows/caulking/etc. for the past two days and boy was that tough work! I worked with her all summer (until about the second week of August) - helping her side her two story garage and finish up several other projects. I can honestly say that siding is one of the hardest jobs I have ever had to do! So, this last Tuesday and Wednesday I helped her out once again.

I also attended a Monday exercise class on base, called "Butts and Guts." The first 1/2 hour is devoted to the lower body (usually the upper legs and gluts), while the second 1/2 hour is devoted to stomach/ab exercises (like crunches and situp variations). This time, the class focused specifically on the hamstrings and obliques. Needless to say...I'm still sore...lol!

Today, after cleaning up around the house, I headed into town for a well-deserved trip to Michaels! I got some scrapbooking storage supplies, a stamp, some ribbon, and plenty of cute stickers. I can't wait to use them all! And I'm still waiting for my "Stampin' Up" stamp set to come in. Although I attended the class on Monday, I had to use the demonstrator's stamps because I had joined the party too late. So...mine are on the way!

Speaking of on the way...my moosejaw shirt just got here!!! It took over a week to send and I'm ecstatic that it's finally here! So, in honor of the t-shirt, here's a picture...

And...my clock turned out great! D.h. spray painted a second coat on the clock before we both headed to bed. By the morning it was all dry and ready to hang! So here it is...

That's all I have for now...my eyes are so tired...and sadly, it's only a quarter to nine! I guess I'm following in the footsteps of mom (she becomes a "pumpkin" at nine....or so dad says!). :)

"Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the Lord

will renew their strength..."

Isaiah 40:30&31

I had a great, but busy day today! I wanted to go for a run this morning...but we'll just say that Edmund convinced me to take him for a walk instead. For those of you who don't know...Edmund is our great pyrenees puppy (around 11 months old and well over 100 lbs.).

Later on in the afternoon, I decided to go to my first ever "Stampin' Up" get-together! It's a company that sells stamps (obviously) as well as many other scrapbooking supplies. It is run similarly to Pampered Chef - in that there are demonstrators who sell the products and hold classes in order to show you some of the many creative things you can do with the products. Today's class cost around $20. I was able to create a cute brown and corral colored card, a "seasons" card and card box, and a cute little party favor in light pink (all of which are shown below). The materials were all provided and my $20 bought me a set of (I believe) 6 stamps. It was a great experience! Not only did I get to meet people, I also got to gain some creative insight on some new projects to do.

One project that has been on my mind lately is the "Cards for Soldiers." The project was brought up by a member of the DT at creativexpress.com. It is an opportunity for creative individuals to create cards for what-ever occassion and send them overseas to soldiers who are fighting for our country or whom are just away from their families. In turn, the soldiers can use the blank cards to write back to their families. In a way, I feel like I'm saying thank you to both the soldiers and their families. I'm really excited to participate in the project this year (even though I ran into the project quite late). I plan on making plenty of Christmas cards!!!

Well d.h. just decided to spray paint my new clock. When my parents came early last month, we had bought a clock from Target (as a birthday gift), but it didn't really match our decor. So, I decided that I wanted to get creative! I sanded it down and stained it with the darkest stain I could find; unfortunately, the clock didn't take the stain very well. SO....Plan B....SPRAY PAINT!!! I suppose we'll see how it turns out after it dries.

That's all I have for today...tomorrow I plan to help my college advisor paint the trim on her house and new 2 story garage...should be fun! I leave you with my bible verse of the day:

"...I have learned the secret of being content
in any and every situation,

whether well fed or hungry,

whether living in plenty or in want.

I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

Philippians 4:12-13

Redeeming Love

Well, I finally gave in and got a blog. Hopefully I can keep everybody up to date with all the fun, new, and exciting things that are happening here!
My d.h. is in the airforce (stationed in Washington) and I'm a college student at a local university. My d.h. does networking for his squadron (computers, phones, etc). I, on the other hand, am working on two degrees, one in biology and one in secondary education. I have two years left...which still seems like a long time. But soon school will start and time will fly by just like the summer did.
I'll keep it short, since it's getting late. I did want to mention that I finished reading a book yesterday, by one of my favorite authors, Francine Rivers. It's called Redeeming Love; it's about a young woman forced into prostitution during the United States' gold mining years. She meets a young farmer who has a love for the Lord and some surprising plans of his own. I encourage y'all to read it - I won't spoil the ending... It was such a great inspiration for me. It seemed to speak the words of Jeremiah 29:11, 13 & 14

"For I know the plans that I have for you,"

declares the Lord,

"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future...

You will seek me and find me

when you seek me with all your heart.

I will be found by you," declares the Lord,

"and will bring you back from captivity..."