my Loves

I tried out a new recipe on Sunday and had the family over. I made turkey meatloaf with asiago gravy, served with roasted tomatoes and broccoli. I also made cupcake pops that I couldn't keep from Cony- the big pig! Our apartment is not very big so after a while we took the kids outside to get some energy out.. in the rain! Even mom and Emily were out there splashing away. I've realized that I cover our blog with pictures of our nieces and nephews, but they are my loves and it scares me to think what this blog will look like when we actually have kids of our own. Watch out!

Cony started school last week and has some sort of interview today. I hate to even mention it because all I know is that it has to do with his UN class. He has the opportunity to be on the board or something. Whatever, I slaughtered that explanation.

I personally have been stressing over my job. I'm quitting today. I've been there for over 2 years but feel it's time to move on. I've had some great offers that I'm really excited about and hope things work out to plan. But let's be for real.. when do they ever work out to plan??!!

I wanted to mention a talk our home teacher gave on Sunday because it really hit home for me. He talked about trusting the Lord and trusting that He knows what we NEED. So we don't need to stress out so much about the little things of life. And I know that in the end it just doesn't matter anyway!! We are here on earth to gain a body and to have a family. That's what the earth was created for, it wasn't created so that we can get the best job out there, or we can have a fancy car or the biggest house on the street. Simply it was created for families. I've been telling myself this for almost a year, I especially think this when we talk about when we should have babies. But when we were planning dads funeral it hit a nerve. (a good nerve) If we do get pregnant soon, what a wonderful blessing it will be and I know the Lord will provide for us no matter what may happen!

my Savior

I've been doing a lot of thinking about the plan of salvation and what it means to me. I've always believed it, but now I'm experiencing it from a whole different perspective. I know that my Redeemer lives! And because of that I know my dad is still very much a live (spiritually of course) and working. I know he is in a place that is so beautiful it's beyond our imagination and he is happy! I knew that almost instantly after I heard of his passing. So this picture gives me great joy and hope.

My Dad

My dad could be considered a jolly o' fellow. At times he even looked like Santa Claus. He may have been stubborn but he had a great sense of humor and passion. He loved his country. He loved his family. He was wise. He was Intuitive. (sometimes too intuitive).

I haven't slept since my mom called me at 2 o'clock this morning beside herself and said my dad had an attack in the bathroom and was gone. Right now that memory alone is what's haunting me. I feel the need to write about this while it's fresh in my memory.

Mom called me and asked me to call Clark and Emily. Emily was on her way immediately but getting a hold of Clark was another story. He was staying at his in-laws for the weekend. No one can be prepared for the emotions and physical pain death causes. Over the last two years dad has had 5 brain surgeries, leukemia, high blood pressure, etc. etc. He was making progress after each surgery. However, we all knew there was a chance the end could be close. We just didn't expect it to be in the middle of the night having a heart attack. (I personally feel all the medication he was taking had a big factor).

I didn't know what to do. It was physically hard for me to walk. Somehow Cony got us to my parents and we were met by mom and dad's brother Earle and our Aunt Ann. It didn't seem real. How could this be? He was just at our house this afternoon for Jordan's birthday party eating hot dogs and cupcakes.

Neither mom or I could sleep. All we wanted to do was clean. So that's exactly what we did. Clean. I was overwhelmed by how many people came to show their love by bringing a ton of food, we live in the south so our kitchen was stock full. And my dad's family has been wonderful. We aren't very close to them, but they have really shown compassion and love to us. It has brought me to tears a few times today thinking of everyone who has served us in some way today. The house was filled all day! Towards the end after we had gone to the funeral home to make arrangements it was getting to be a little much for me. I just wanted somewhere to go to be a lone. But I couldn't because everywhere you turned... someone was there. At the funeral home Clark asked if we could see dad. He had been em bombed but he only had a sheet over him. I didn't care to see him like that but it made it real for me. It was a moment that will live with me forever. Because I kept expecting him to walk into the house making some kind of smart remark and all the grand kids yelling "Papa!!". Or him keeping everyone up at night with his snoring. Or just to come sit down with us at the dinner table and talk for an hour. He worried about us. He worried about a lot of people.

My mom has been great. She's a real trooper. She just got to work calling everyone that loved dad or dad loved. Cleaning. Talking. Hosting. Planning. What a strength to have!

And that is why I love the gospel. I love what it has taught our family. That we are a family, forever. I'm so grateful for the priesthood power and the strength it brings in the hour of need. And by that same priesthood power we have been sealed together as a family in the temple for time and all eternity. Isn't that beautiful? It has brought much peace in our home today. Yes, we all cried but we were also able to laugh and enjoy each other because we understand that this is just part of the plan.

I know my dad is so much happier now and doesn't have any pain. I'm so happy for him! I'm trying really hard not to dwell on the what if's and just be grateful that I was able to spend a little bit of time with him on his last day on earth. He was a man that inspired and he has inspired me in many things that have molded me into the woman I am today. I'm so honored to call him my dad.

Jordan turns 4

So Jordan turned 4 today. It's crazy to think that it's been 4 years! Since that was a big life-changing summer for me, I correlate and judge time when Jordan was born and in the hospital. I LOVE all my nephews and nieces and was tickled that we spent a few hours with them tonight in Cartersville near the Allatoona Dam, eating pizza and cookie cake. Yummm. Here are a few of my favorites moments.

Sisterhood of the Traveling (something)

'the Sisterhood'








We finally did it! We finally went on a girls only trip that we have been planning for over a year. It was short but sweet. We headed down to St. Augustine, FL early Saturday morning and stayed late Sunday night. We planned to just stay on the beach all day both days, but of course it started to rain after we got there and had lunch. So we did a little shopping (none of us bought one thing!). Come to think of it, none of our plans were executed. Except for Sunday.. we did get on the beach and I thought the weather was perfect. Not too hot, but just hot enough to jump in the cold water every 30 minutes.

Charity, Emily and I went on a run, although Charity went and did her own thing. I know at least for Emily and me.. we had a great run! We saw a wedding, saw a purple star fish and the light after the storm on the beach was incredible. Emily wore some of my old shoes and couldn't walk the rest of the trip. Poor girl.

We did have a chance to walk around Historic St. Augustine and found the best fudge! During our walk, more like a hunt for food, a really cool lady called out to us.. "Look! It's the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants"! It was funny since we planned to go see the movie that night and the town wasn't showing it.

All in all it was a great trip. Short, cheap and got a little sun.

Macro, what a Concept!

My little sister Chelsea (not by blood) turned 18 this weekend. I forgot I was going to make cupcakes for her so instead I made her a Birthday Banner! I'm still aching to be creative and domestic.
With Chels turning 18 it reminded me of the time I was at that age and the time I had no real responsibility. Wouldn't it be fun to go back in time with the knowledge I have now? I wondered how it would have changed my course in life. Then I quickly quite thinking about it because I don't regret one thing. (well except not finishing my degree). But I know Heavenly Father knew what kind of person I wanted to be, and that meant learning a valuable lesson early in life and in a way I never thought possible. Wow, talk about distraction..

Highlights of the weekend:
*Chelsea turning 18!
*We competed in the Georgia Games- I won 2 gold, Cony won gold & bronze
*I learned Macro on my camera!! Hello, why didn't I know about this sooner!!!???
Here are a few pictures with my new learning tool..

Happy Independence Day!

I had a few days off from work, so we decided to take a little road trip! We went to visit our good friends Nick & Lindsay in Newport Beach, VA. We were hoping to get there much earlier than we actually did, but I guess that's how road trips go. Thanks to a good book, an iTouch and our PSP to watch movies on, the time flew. Here are a few of our adventures...

Taken on a hidden pier near the Hansen's house.

Our friends with their darling boy, Gavin.

I LOVE barns. I can't wait to have one someday with horses, a cow, milking goats, and chickens.

We celebrated the 4th by going to Yorktown, VA. This was a really cool experience because this was the last battle during the Revolutionary War, where we won our Independence thanks to the French Navy that came at the last minute to save us. I imagined this was the place the soldiers saw the French Navy coming and knowing they were saved. I also love history, even if I have a hard time retaining all the information I learn.

The little band that played during a parade. I was a little surprised that the celebration at Yorktown of all places wasn't more dramatic. But Less is More and I really did think it was perfect.

After we toured Yorktown and the Riverwalk we sat down to watch fireworks, but it began to rain and thunder. Since we were allowed to park on the battlefield we had a ways to go, and I was wearing white shorts!! Not a great combination in the rain.

I had to take a picture of these..They were the perfect amount and I wish all candy came in small packages!

Our camping site on Cape Hatteras Beach. It was so fun to camp on the beach. Until of course it stormed ALL night! It rained so much our tent began to leak. So unfortunately we didn't get a lot of sleeping done. We just stayed one night and since it's a National Park it only cost $20 to stay. With that $20 you get a nice cold shower. I will say, it's better than nothing after you have spent the entire day in salt water.

After we set up camp, we went Jet Skiing!! Which was such a blast. We rented two for an hour, and I kinda wish that we just rented one so I could have the task of hanging on. Although it was fun to race and then win. Cony was doing all kinds of tricks I didn't know he had up his sleeve, but he also fell a few times and now has a bruise on his hinny.
Cape Hatteras is part of the Outer Banks, but we drove south from our camp site to a beautiful part of the beach. It wasn't as crowded, the sand was so soft and the weather was perfect. (Until the storms showed up later that night of course..)

This is what Cony did to keep himself entertained while I took a nap and later went running. Which by the way was one of the hardest runs I've been on.. running on soft sand is a great leg workout!

My steamy HOT husband. Later that night we found the Outer Banks Fudge Company. Well it's a tradition for us to buy fudge while we are on vacation, so we went in almost at closing time. The nice lady working was older and we started talking, making nice conversation, when she started to hit on my husband. She said "You sure do look like Ashton Kutcher!" (this is the 2nd time I've heard this) She blamed it on her age and she can get away with flirting with younger men... and continued to say "I may have white on the roof top but it doesn't mean there isn't fire in the furnace!!!"
We almost passed out. We paid and quickly ran out.

On our way out the next morning we stopped at one of the 3 lighthouses on the island. Lighthouses always make me think of Maine, which is a state that I have ALWAYS wanted to visit. Which is funny because Cony's ancestor's are from Maine. Apparently George Washington stayed with the Metcalf family for a night and I think the house is now a historical landmark. Not sure about that though... I should really get started on his family genealogy...just add it to the list of things to get done.