MIA

It's been a long time since I've posted anything, but we really haven't been up to much since we started serving as ordinance workers in the Provo Temple. When we finish our shift, we are exhausted both physically (from climbing all of those stairs!) and spiritually. I know with time we will be able to handle it.

The temple was closed for the General Women's session of General Conference as well as the General sessions the following Saturday. On the 26th, we had an Easter family BBQ with our Patterson cousins. My cousin Kinzie's son Mike refused to speak for at least an hour. Instead he would write notes on napkins. It was hilarious!

For Conference weekend, we went up to Idaho for our first trip of the year. In between sessions of conference, the kids showed off the new mat for their trampoline. Jonathan and I may or may not have been kindly asked to get off because we bounce too high.

During Ruby's nap, I painted with the big kids. I feel bad for not doing this sooner. Clara loves doing any kind of art project. I promised the kids that from now on I will bring paint supplies with me.

Seth's paintings had a very clear theme - military. When he grows up, he wants to be an Army Engineer.

The red plane blew up the first green plane, so a second green
plane blew up the red plane.

This is an aircraft carrier on the ocean.

This is a practice battlefield.

Clara's paintings were much more colorful. I love how she signed her name on the first one.

Clara is the one with red hair and Annie is the one with blue hair.

I love how her flower looks!

The next day after breakfast, Clara told me that I needed to come and take a picture of her and Ruby hiding in the couch.

During another break, we played outside. Ruby could have spent hours on the teeter totter.

After dinner, Annie made a delicious early birthday cake for me!

I love Ruby's solo at the beginning!

As much as we love serving in the temple, it was nice to have a break!

Another Step Closer

Jonathan has an internship! He only has two more semesters and then he will graduate. Then who knows where we will be! For the past few months it hasn't felt like much progress was happening, especially after his first interview for an internship was really sketchy. Like they weren't sure when they would be able to pay Jonathan... I'm glad we passed on that one!

This is the company Jonathan will be interning with!

Something (or rather someone) that has helped us stay hopeful and persistent has been the example of my brother Andy and his wife Amy. They were able to make it through year after year of Andy in school. They didn't give up hope and Andy just celebrated his 5th anniversary at his dream job. If they can do it, so can we!

Join Me!

Tomorrow evening is the first session of General Conference! I love the Women's Session. It is uplifting and encouraging. Please join me this Saturday and next weekend by watching General Conference. You can stream it live on LDS.org so you can watch it anywhere.

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Another Year

Last week we celebrated the birthday of our family!

“The day that a couple kneel across the altar in the sacred House of the Lord becomes the most important day of their life because on that day you create a new eternal family.”

President Gordon B. Hinckley

Since it was Friday, I went to work as usual and didn't expect anything out of the ordinary. Well, after lunch a man came walking towards my desk in a suit and my favorite tie with flowers. Jonathan totally surprised me! He had been planning on delivering flowers for a few days and had a hard time not telling me. All the girls that I sit by thought it was adorable.

That same night we went to the temple and did the sealings for some of our family. As we were in the sealing room, I felt the same excitement doing the sealings for our family as I did when Jonathan and I were sealed. It was beautiful.

On Saturday, we went to dinner after finishing our shift at the temple. This time I surprised Jonathan. Earlier in the week, I talked him out of going to Tucanos for our anniversary dinner. After he surprised me with flowers, I decided to surprise him with an amazing dinner! He was very happy with my surprise.

It doesn't feel like it's been 5 years since we were married, but we've been through a lot during that time. Having Jonathan by my side through it all has made the hard times more bearable and the good times even better.

Totally Worth It

Jonathan shaved his glorious beard last Friday night. I'm still getting used to seeing his naked face. He needed to shave because the following morning we started serving as ordinance workers in the Provo Temple and men are required to be clean shaven.

Even though I miss his beard, it is already worth shaving. We are getting a deeper understanding of the work that goes on in the temple and the symbolism behind it.

I still don't know how to dress for winter.

Living In A Winter Wonderland

This year, we are trying to enjoy winter. This past Saturday we went up into the mountains and tried snowshoeing for the first time. We knew it was going to be cold, but we both ended up being over prepared.

We both kept overheating because of all of our layers.

As we were going it started lightly snowing. With the sun shinning it looked more like glitter was falling from the sky.

It looks like we just might have picked up a winter hobby that isn't sitting in our warm apartment!

A Year In Review

Another year has come and gone, though it feels like this year went a bit faster than most. Here are some highlights from the year.

Surprise, surprise. Our year started out at the Salt Lake temple.

My very own desk at work while our office was still in Orem.

We explored Park City.

I helped Jonathan find his own family names to take to the temple.

Back in February, Jonathan and I were sick for about three weeks.

In March, the company I work for moved it's office to Lehi.

In April, the wind kicked up so much dirt in the air that it was raining mud!

We went to a UVU baseball game.

We had a small Cinco de Mayo celebration.

For Memorial Day, we found the graves of our ancestors.

My least favorite day of the entire year. The day the apartment turns on the swamp cooler.

We saw fireflies for the first time!

We went to the Manti Temple Pageant. 

We went shooting on the farm in Idaho for the 4th of July.

We spent time exploring BYU with Tyler.

I searched for my cousin, Elder Van Matre.

We went to Promontory to see where the transcontinental railroad met... 

and stumble onto ATK where they build the rocket boosters for the space shuttles.

We visited the University of Utah.

We visited the mine my great-great grandfather worked at when he first moved to Utah.

We got a new nephew in the summer. Theodore Nelson.

We went to a CRAZY good BYU game against Boise State.

I got to see Stephanie Nielson speak. (It was amazing!)

We finally made it to the Ogden Temple.

We saw Abby kill it!

We went to a Spanish fireside where Elder Christofferson spoke in Spanish. (Also Jonathan shaved his beard. I think I'm still recovering from that. I LOVE the beard!)

We played in California with all of the Pattersons!

We went to a crazy good UVU basketball game against Weber State. UVU won after the game went to double overtime!

We had a wet visit when we saw the lights at Temple Square.

Our apartment was toasty with our pixel fire.

It has already snowed more times this winter than last winter. I'm dreaming of wet California winters.

We got a second new nephew just before Christmas. Spencer Wadman.

We had a merry little Christmas in Idaho. We weren't sure if the weather was going to cooperate, but thankfully it did!

It was maybe 4 degrees in Idaho. It made me happy when we got back to the toasty 20 degree weather in Utah. (You can see why I really miss California!)

We had a good year. Jonathan's getting closer to being done with school and I have a great job. We still love being in nursery and get nervous anytime the bishop or Relief Society president talks to us. (Luckily the Relief Society president has a daughter in nursery and she loves having us there!) We look forward to seeing what the new year brings us.