August and The Move

The beginning of August brought our 7th wedding anniversary. We celebrated low key and decided to focus on getting moved into our new house. Once the painting, drywall and patching was finished and everything was cleaned, our last act was getting the carpet and tile cleaned.

To say I loved it would be a major understatement. The 2 guys that came to clean it were awesome and I would definitely use them again, Zerorez is the company we used.

After the carpets were cleaned, Jeff and I started moving over little things

And then some bigger things so that we could sleep here for the first time.

Master Bathroom

Office

Spare Bathroom

So by Tuesday evening we were ready to spend our first night at the new house. Both of us were scared and nervous but excited at the same time. 

Our new Bishop came over for a visit and offered to help us move in the rest of our stuff and we decided not to pass up on free help. So that Saturday it took members of our new ward about 45 minutes to get everything over and in to the new house. 

I was overwhelmed by the kindness of the men that came to help us move in. I wanted to cry a few times because I was so touched by these strangers. They might have thought it was no big deal, but to me it was everything. It's not news that Jeff and I struggled in our last ward, so this experience touched my heart.

As the Bishop was leaving he asked "If someone were to make a sonic run right now, what flavors would you choose?" Again I almost started to cry and told him Diet Coke and Dr. Pepper. 30 minutes later he showed up with sonic drinks in hand and said to call if we needed more help. As I thanked him and said goodbye, a line from the musical Annie ran through my mind "I think I'm gonna like it here".

Chowder the photo bomber in the family room

Kitchen

Living Room

Living Room

As I started unpacking boxes I had a smile on my face all day. Now, don't get me wrong, I cried sad tears as I packed up my old house and said goodbye.

That house has served as my sanctuary from many storms and trials. Jeff proposed to me in that kitchen and too many other experiences to write out. I spent the last 7 years of my life in that house and if those walls could talk, oh the stories they could tell. 

The rest of July

As vacation came to a close, the real work began. Moving into a new house is a lot of work. We did a little remodeling, LOTS of painting and LOTS of cleaning.

Getting to pick out paint colors was more fun than I imagined and this was the gray I picked out and instantly fell in love. It took some time to convince Jeff, but he eventually came around and saw the light.

This beautiful ladder pictured above is the platform that I chose to try out some of my acrobatic skills on. It did not turn out quite the way I had hoped, but I am still in one piece and lived to tell the tale.

As I worked on the new house everyday, I brought Chowder over to try and get him used to his new home. Once this guy feels relaxed, he will pass out anywhere. So that is how I knew he was happy with his new home!

However when he decided to lay right next to my freshly painted walls, he gave himself some wicked highlights in his fur.

One of my favorite parts of this new place is flowers. I LOVE FLOWERS. Especially rose bushes, because my dad has always been the master gardener in my life and I feel like now that I am at home full time, maybe I can become a master of my own garden too. Its challenging and hard work, but I feel like I have found a new hobby.

This is the laundry room. I originally painted it gray like the rest of the house because I was too nervous to pick a different color. But I pushed away my nerves, and went to home depot and picked out 5 sample colors and this is the one that hit me!

California and 29

Wowzers!!! Where has the time gone? 

Not working anymore makes me feel like the days are going faster and faster.

So many things have happened!!

We ended June and started off July in one of my favorite places

 Carlsbad, CA.

It was overcast and humid almost every day, but I still had fun in the water and playing in the sand with my girl Livy.

I also celebrated turning 29. Sometimes I can't believe that this is the last year in my twenties.

Sometimes I feel much older than 29 and other times I feel much younger. I remember being 14 and imagining life as an adult.

I can honestly say this is nothing like I imagined, but I wouldn't trade it in for the world.

No trip to Carlsbad would be complete without a little shopping spree at my favorite store on the planet. I am spoiled and crazy for loving this place as much as I do, but what can I say? I'm a shopaholic and I'm not afraid to admit it.

I was SO SO lucky to spend an entire week in paradise with some of my favorite people. I was so sad packing up to come home, but life has to step back in at some point, right?

Round 2

A few weeks ago Jeff and I decided it was time to start round 2 of fertility.

As most of you know this is something we have been struggling with for quite some time now. I decided it was time to see a new doctor and see what our options are.

I am so incredibly excited for this new chapter of our lives. I met with the new doctor and what he accomplished in 1 appointment took our last doctor 5. He is a fertility specialist and endocrinologist. I was amazed at his level of knowledge and his compassion for this subject. He renewed my faith and hope in this grueling process and has me truly excited for our future.

So in the next few weeks we should have answers to questions we have been carrying for a long time and will be well on our way to starting our family.

June has been quite the month so far and now, more than ever, I know without a doubt in my mind that Heavenly Father is mindful of Jeff and I. He has a plan for us and for me personally. My faith in His timing has grown exponentially these last few weeks. Faith and patience is something I struggle with on a daily basis, but know I am finally beginning to see the blessings that come when you trust in Him 100%. Giving him the heavy burdens I chose to carry on my own for so long. The Atonement is not just for sin. Am I thankful for the trials and pain? Yes, I truly am; because I know that I would not be where I'm at now if I hadn't gone through everything else. 

Experience

I got this fortune the day we closed on our house and it is the second best fortune I have ever received. (The best one said "Jenny, will you marry me?")

Ever since this day, so many things have started to make sense and fall into place. I am going to be 29 in just a few weeks and I finally feel like my life is moving in the right direction. I have felt stuck on a very hard/trial ridden path for a very long time.

However, I do feel that I have gained incredible amounts of experience along this path. And experience is something I don't think I would trade for anything in this world.

So cheers to experience and cheers to finally being a grown up!!

Music

I have come to the realization that the older I get, the more emotional I'm becoming, especially when it comes to music. 

As many of you know, I have always had a special place in my heart for music. I am so grateful everyday that I was given the gift of music in my life. It can always turn my day around, no matter what!

But lately, I have started getting more and more emotional whenever I hear certain songs, or sing certain songs. I used to pride myself on the fact that I could hold my composure whenever I had to sing in public. But lately, that is not the case. And ever since I saw the new Les Miserables movie, I cannot listen to any song from that movie/musical without getting overly emotional and crying. 

So if you see me driving down the road with tears streaming down my face, don't worry. It's probably just me listening to a song.

He is Risen

Photo found here:

http://www.reflectionsofchrist.org

I often find it it difficult to express my feelings for My Savior and for the sacrifice he made for me.

The older I get, the more emotional I get when trying to express these feelings. As I learn and grow and live each day I find need for the Atonement more and more in my life.

As a child, I always thought, and assumed, the Atonement was meant for sinners. But as most of you know it is not. The Atonement is SO MUCH MORE.

I have a testimony.

I know that the Gospel is True.

I know that My Savior, My Redeemer, died for me. Personally. So that I could return home again some day.

Every day I feel the love of my Savior and every day I am grateful for it.

I am far from living this Gospel perfectly, but I also know that is the reason for the picture above.

This Easter, in my ward's sacrament meeting, I was overcome with the spirit and overcome with the love from my Savior. I felt truly blessed to be there to hear and feel the words and music that were presented.

I KNOW it, I {try to} LIVE it, I LOVE it.

I AM A MORMON.

And I am blessed.

Fried Rice

Ashley, this one is for you!!!

Fried Rice

3-4 cups cooked Rice

1-2 cups frozen peas and carrots

1 bunch chopped green onions

1 garlic clove (or 1 tsp. minced garlic)

3 eggs

3 Tbsp Sesame Oil

1/2 cup low sodium Soy Sauce

In a large skillet on medium heat add Sesame Oil

then stir-fry onions, garlic and peas and carrots until tender

Add eggs and scramble with veggies until cooked

Add rice and Soy Sauce and let it marinate 4-5 minutes to let the flavors set

Then Serve!!

Enjoy!!