More Fun

Sunday we loaded up and went to Springdale (I think) to go to an elk farm that Keith and Karena had found sometime ago. They were a little disappointed because there weren't as many animals due to economic reasons.

One of the bull elk didn't not like Keith. This one to be exact.

He would ... not charge the fence but lower his antlers and push on it. Any and everyone else could pet him and he was okay with that. This is a picture of Allen petting the elk that did not like Keith. Poor Keith was insulted. lol As soon as Keith got any closer though he would drop his antlers and challenge him.

They had a few bison there. I didn't think they would let people get too close but once they heard the paper bag that the food was in they were all over coming to the fence to get some food. The funny thing is they kind of eat like a cow, ya know reach out with their tongue. This was not expected though, they stick their tongue out, through the fence, then wait for you to drop the food on their tongue. Pretty comical to watch. Oh, and their tongues were so pointy.

I couldn't stop taking pictures of the mountain that this elk farm was nestled up against. It was just so pretty and the way the clouds would sweep across it... It was just so pretty. I wish I knew how to take pictures that would do it justice.

 

On our way out one of the other bull elks wanted some yummy food out of the bag and to get some lovin' from Allen. It was so funny this elk came up to the fence basically begging. So of course the men obliged. Allen reached through the fence and scratched him behind the ear, like you would a dog. This elk responded the same way a dog would. He turned his head a bit and leaned into it, and look how his eyes kind of closed. Just like a dog. Such beautiful animals.

After the elk farm we went to find a park to eat lunch at and we were thinking about going down through Zions but we didn't have enough time. But we did have time to take a few pics. Here's one of Allen and me.

I think it would look a lot better if I would've been behind the camera taking the picture instead. But the mountain is pretty and Allen looks good anyway.

The picture of the day though ... in my opinion was our nephew beating Allen up.

Maybe it's just me but I see a look in his eye like, "Yeah, that's right, I'm a bad "A". And if I'm not mistaken he's telling me, "I'm #1" with the other hand. Not even a year old and he's already coppin' attitude. What a cutie.

It was so nice to get away from home for a couple days and just relax. No having to worry about dogs even, thanks to my Aunt who is so awesome and stayed at our house to take care of them.

Weekend Fun

Over the weekend Allen and I went down to Cedar City to visit his little brother and family. We had so much fun! We were going to leave Sat morning but then he got work off so we decided to leave Fri night.
The weather was fine and roads were clear until about 45 min down the road. Then there was snow ... lots of snow. The road disappeared beneath a blanket of white. Then we look up ahead and there is a line of cars and semis completely stopped. Crap! When we get there we realize they are all stopped because the road was slick and the semis couldn't keep going, they had spun out.
Thank heaven for small miracles, just as we were getting to the tail end of the line a plow was turning around to go up our side. We got to follow right on his tail past the line of cars and trucks. I don't know how far we traveled in white blindness. So glad someone thought up the road markers and rumble strips, that was the only way we knew we were still on the road.
Anywho, obviously we made it safely and without accident. Keith met us at the Parawan entrance. He had just gotten off work. It worked out really well because we had never been to their new house. When we got there we just crashed, it was 2:00 am after all.
Saturday we went tubing up at Brian Head. At first I was a little nervous. I hate heights and this hill was big. Not real steep but big. Tall and long. Best kind of hill for tubing. Allen's nephew was skeered to death though. It took over half an hour and one of the workers riding down with him to convince him to go.
The tubes they had had a cover on them and on the cover was a handle. The handle was used to hook us too the line to pull us up the hill and to pull the tube behind you. When you went down the hill you threw it into the center of the tube.
Here's a picture of Allen going down the hill. They were all taken on the flat at the bottom because that's the only place I could stand to take them. You can tell he was at the bottom because he was dragging his feet to slow down.

This is the hill at the bottom they had there to stop you from taking a real long ride down to the road. If you didn't get slowed down enough at the bottom and you hit the tubes at the top of the hill your tubing was over and your pass taken. This isn't even the whole hill. It was a pretty good ride just on the stopping hill going up and back down then to a stop.

Here's a pic of Al's nephew. I just had to throw it in because look at his face! You can see the "woohoo" mixed with a little "holy crap". The second time he went down the worker said tricked him. He told him he was going to ride down with him but ... he didn't. It was so funny because when he got to the bottom and stopped he turned around and the worker was gone. He asked, "Where did he go?"

 

Oh, I didn't mention my crash. Keith tells me it was "spectacular". I don't think Karena got to see it. Allen's disappointed because he didn't get to see it. I'm disappointed because nobody has a picture of it. It must have been good because here it is almost a week later and it still hurts to breathe deep. I think I might have cracked a rib. Right after I couldn't hardly talk or breathe ... it hurt so freaking bad! I haven't slept worth crap since then because I can't assume my "relax to go to sleep" position on my stomach at night. Oh, how I wish I had a picture.

Here we all are in front of the hill. You can't really see it because it's all just white. At the top it has a pretty good drop off to get your speed up, then it levels out for a bit then another hill, the second one isn't as steep but it was a little longer. Then it levels off for quite a bit then up the stopping hill.

 

It was so much fun! Thanks K&K for inviting us down!

Woohoo! Finally Finished!

If you know me at all you know that I don't do "crafty" stuff very often. But when I get an itch ... I just gotta. Needless to say a few weeks ago I had an itch to do some of that crafty homemakey type stuff and this is what came of it.

 

I think it turned out pretty well for not following the pattern really. I had every intention of doing exactly what the instructions said, but in different colors. Then as I started I decided to change this and to change that. This cute little baby afghan turned into a much bigger project than planned.

It was supposed to be small for a baby ... it's more the size for a child. Oh well. It turned out pretty good for a very beginner crocheter. Now with all the left over yarn I'm thinking about doing another (smaller) one. 

I think I may be kind of a freak though. Everything I have made, crafty wise, in the last year has been for babies. I have a cedar chest almost full of baby quilts and now one afghan ... thinking soon to be two.

I guess I'm letting my wishful thinking/hoping get carried away with my inner homemaker.

Our New Caseworker

Yesterday it hit me how frustrated I am with the whole waiting to be able to adopt. I hadn't really thought about it until visiting with our new caseworker. She asked us how long we have been approved and how many caseworkers we have had. She apologized a million times that we've had so many, it was pretty comical.
I really like her, she had a confident aura about her. It probably has to do with the fact that she is done with school and is settled in life. All of our other caseworkers have been pretty young and in school still or a newlywed or whatever. Just not settled, not quite where they want to be in life. But Stephanie, I think, is going to be great. I really hope she is our caseworker when we are finally chosen...if we ever get chosen. *sigh*
I know there are families that wait way longer than 1 1/2 yrs but for me longer than a couple weeks is a long time to be waiting for anything. lol I don't think it would seem so bad if we hadn't had our hopes up about getting a baby in June or July then...then the mom decided to choose abortion instead of adoption. I still don't and will never understand why, but I guess that's why we are all here to be tested and tried. I know I've failed quite a few trials (a lot of them having to do with patients, lol) in my life most of which only I and the Lord are aware of so who am I to judge her? My heart still aches for her because I don't think there is anyway that she doesn't regret it every day and want to turn back the hands of time to take it back, have it undone so she can choose differently.
Oh, and come to find out yesterday during our visit, our blog hasn't been linked to our profile! Grrr! The only reason I started blogging was to give them a place that they could come to get to know us better. No worries though, we've got that straightened out. Now it is completely obvious where to find our blog. Maybe that will help speed up the process...or it might slow it down if we (or really I since I do the blogging) are psycho or weird and we don't even know it. I don't know, I guess there is just no tellin'. lol

The New Year

It's been such a long time...the end of last year really took the wind outa my sails. Guess that's why I haven't posted for so long.
Anywho...the good news is it's the new year now. It seems that the new year is the easiest place to start fresh on things. I've never understood this because every morning we wake up to a new day so why not start fresh then...hmmm.
Anyway, starting fresh this year (still haven't done it completely yet) is going to include but is not limited to: 1. getting healthier, not necessarily losing weight, although I'm sure that will be a by-product of getting healthier 2. being a support and strength to Allen by showing and telling him how I feel about him and let him know how much respect I have for him 3. get better organized, I don't know what happened there, I used to be so organized but now...well, it's another story 4. shrink the gap between the Lord's will and my own. These so often, especially lately, are so far apart I lose track of the Lord's will. It seems to disappear over the horizon. This is not good because his will is unchanging and steadfast so that means only one thing...yup, you got it, it's me moving farther from Him. So we are changing that this year. 5. Get knocked up. I know I don't have any control over this one but the way I see it, if I take care of the other 4 things this one might take care of itself, or someone who can control it will let it happen.
I guess we'll see. Hopefully I'll not be absent so long again.
Hope you all had a happy and joyous Christmas, and I wish you a happy new year! Little late I know...sorry.

That Ain't Cool...

Well, looks like we won't be adopting, not this time anyway. She got an abortion. A choice I will never understand anyone making...except in extreme cases, anyway. Thank you all for your prayers and support.

My Favorite Books

My last post got me thinking about how much and how many things have changed in our marriage. I mean obviously the first time we were married it was a complete disaster. We should've know though when on our wedding day neither one of us was excited. Oh well, live and learn.
Anywho, the thing I credit the most for the changes or transformation is books. Soon after being remarried we were introduced to a group of people who were very big into personal growth and relationships. We found them while doing and MLM of all places.
Even though the business part of it didn't work out, neither one of us would go back and not spend the money. The wealth of knowledge we were introduced to was so amazing! We used to have a book of the month come every month. The books always had to do with relationships, leadership, self-improvement/discovery, how to achieve your dreams, or money management.
Out of these books there are four that I just fell in love with. The first two I would recommend to any couple, whether they have a "good" marriage or a "bad" marriage. I know in my heart of hearts that without these two books our marriage would be very unhappy today.
"Love and Respect" is an amazing book! This single book fixed so many things. Okay, it didn't fix them but we did using what this book teaches. I can't say enough about it.
I thought I understood myself pretty good and what drives me. I also thought that because I grew up with brothers that I understood the male part of our species.
Reading this book soon made me realize I had a lot of things wrong in my thinking.
Allen and I read it together (kinda) and talked about different things. In talking about it and asking each other questions, usually consisting of, this is what I thought, the book says otherwise. Whose right me or the book?
Whithout fail questions of that nature were always answered with "The book." or "You really thought that? Why?"
I was definitely an eye opener for both of us. We were both surprised to  how wrong we were about ourselves. Funny reading a book to help your marriage and it not only does that but also teaches you a thing or two about yourself.
"The Five Love Languages" is also a really good read if you're trying to figure out why someone doesn't love you that you think should.
We've all heard it, "If they loved me they would..." You know what I'm talking about. This is a gigantuous mistake. The problem isn't that they don't love you, the problem is you are just speaking a different language of love than they are.
This was one of the biggest problems the first time we were married. If we would've known the things that are wrote about in this book...oh, the heartache and loneliness that could've been avoided.
My primary Love Language is quality time, in the dialect of quality conversation. That is the hardest, most difficult language for Allen. At least it was. Luckily I have an amazing husband that is willing to work very hard to make me feel loved and appreciated. Now...it's still not easy for him but he does it anyway and is getting better all the time.
Allen's primary Love Language is service. That a very hard one for me. It's not because I dont' like doing things for him, it's just that I have a hard time getting past my, "If I want it done I can do it myself" thinking. I have to conciously remind myself that he can do it himself but he feels loved and appreciated when I go out of my way to do things for him that he can do for himself. Not even big things. The small things like maybe taking his shoes off when he gets home from work, having dinner on the table, running upstairs to get his phone when he has forgotten it. You know...the little things.
"The Anatomy of Peace" a spectacular read! Oh my goodness. I love this book! Love it!
In short this book explains the human race. If everyone would use this book as a guideline for their own personal life...this world would not be anywhere near the end.
I would even recommend this one to teenagers, especially teenagers. It's easy to read, some of the references I don't fully understand simply because I dont' know history much, but you still get what the point is.
If you want to understand where some of your thinking comes from that you stop yourself and wonder, "where did that thought come from" or "why do I feel about this person the way I do". This book explains it. It explains it very well.
I would suggest though don't start this book when you know you are going to have to spread it out over weeks. Once I started reading...I couldn't put it down. I've never been big into reading but this is a book you will want to immerse yourself in and soak it all up.
It's just one of those books that will strike a chord with your soul because it is right.
"The Dream Giver" is a very short and entertaining read. But it is also one I will forever have in my library of books.
It's about Ordinary who lives in Familiarville, but one day decides to  leave his all too familiar home to find out what he was really meant to do in life. Which ends up being something big and wonderful. Not any bigger than any of us though, remember his is Ordinary.
This story is a parable. So everything in it is symbolic of something. The thing is the symbolism is so obvious, you won't miss it.
It only takes an hour maybe an hour and a half to read. The second half of the book is an explanation of what everything symbolizes. I'm pretty sure that if you are raised LDS and have read scriptures at all...you won't need to read the second half, you'll know exactly what it's talking about.
This is actually a book I intend on reading as a bedtime story to my kids. I want them to know from the beginning that they are not ordinary, they are meant to do great things upon the Earth.
Just a warning though...this book will bring a tear to your eye. Or if it's a day you are having a hard time...it may bring a lot of tears to your eyes.
I seriously highly, highly recommend any of these.
If things seem tough in your marriage though, before it gets tougher, read "Love and Respect", phenomenal book and if you are both ready and willing to work through the crappy times, you won't be sorry you did.

Happy 10th Anniversary Baby!

Today is the 10th anniversary of Allen and I getting sealed for time and eternity. It doesn't seem like it was that long ago.
We were sealed in the Manti Temple. I was so nervous! But after having my recommend checked at the desk and walking around the corner to where I could see down the long hallway...I was even more nervous! There were what appeared to be angels lining the hallway on both sides. Not like shoulder to shoulder but it seemed like every 10 ft or so there was one. I realize they were just the temple workers but it gave me chills. I'll never forget the feeling. I still can't walk into that Temple and not get chills, I guess every Temple should make me feel that way but they don't. Just Manti Temple, it's kind of like when I walk in there...I'm coming home after a long stint of being gone and Heavenly Father is giving me a big hug.
Going through the Temple and being sealed for time and all eternity didn't fix our problems. We've had ups and major downs, but we have got through them somehow. I know without the Lord's help we would not be together now. There were just too many "coinsidences" that had to happen, and did happen, to bring us back together.
I can't wait to spend eternity with this man! I would be lost without him. When I look in his eyes I can't help but fall in love with him all over again. He's so kind and gentle but at the same time so big and strong. I'm not just talking physical, but emotionally and spiritually too. There is no better man for me in this world or any other. I am so thankful for him!

Interpretation Anyone?

K-so, this is going to sound a little weird but I went to my best friends house Saturday for dinner and to try my hand at painting with acrylic paints. This is the picture that ended up coming from my paintbrush.

You may think I'm a geek but my friend told me what she saw in it, now I would really like to know what it makes other people think of.

So Many Things to be Thankful For

Hmmmm.......Where to start???

I guess I'll start with my favoritest man in the world! Isn't he handsome?

I am so Thankful that Heavenly Father brought us together! Without him life would be kind of meaningless. There is no better match for me in all the universe. He really deserves to be a daddy. But because he is such an phenomenal man I'm sure Heavenly Father will bless him with that priviledge.

Next is Family:

My family is so awesome! Love' em. Gosh, without any one of them I wouldn't be who I am today. Sorry about the VERY outdated picture, not to mention it's not very good. It's all I could find. There are 5  additions since this picture, 4 kids and 1 wife.

Allen's family is fantabulous too! Love 'em. They are so much fun, always on the move. Without them my prince charming/knight in shining armor wouldn't be who he is. This pictures a bit better. Not quite as old but still outdated. Missing 1 kid and 1 wife.

Can't forget the furbabies:

Tank and Skunk what a couple of turds. So dang cute though! Look how good they share. Life around here just wouldn't be the same without them. I guess you would have to be a dog person to understand.

Meow-meow (picture would be here but computer is wigging out so I'll have to add one later.) We lucked out on having a cat. She is such a good kitty. When I'm sick she sits with me, and lays with me at night. It's so fun to watch her "play" with the dogs. She acts really mad but she always comes back for more...silly kitty.

Besides the people (and furbabies) in our lives we are both very Thankful for the Gospel and the peace it brings into our lives. No matter what is going on or what trials we are working through, we know that things will work out because Heavenly Father loves us and wants only the best for us. And if we do what we are supposed to do, he will reward us with the best. (Evidently he doesn't believe in socialism either, lol)

We are Thankful for the scriptures ancient and modern day. How would we know what direction to go without them? How would we know what is expected?

We are Thankful for the Priesthood and that Heavenly Father trusts man with such a powerful tool.