Trip to Nevada

I don't think I have gone this long without blogging before. This winter we decided to paint our bedroom. I was wanting to do browns in our room. But right before Christmas we found a gray and yellow bed set so we decided to paint the walls gray.. I really like how it turned out. Now just need to get new flooring and decorate it:)

Then in April I went down to Nevada with Todd. I had planned on going down there when he started his job but I never have until now. I was there for four days and it was a very long four days. I loved being there with Todd but man Crescent Valley is boring. There is nothing there. The third day I was there I drove back to Elko and had Lunch with one of my friends from High School. It was a lot of fun to get to see her again.  

 

CRESCENT VALLEY!!

Hold on the Light will Come

Today was a good day in Relief Society.. Our lesson was about trials. I am not good about dealing with trials, I never have been. I know that The Lord never gives us more than we can handle and that he is always there to lighten our load and help us through everything that he places before us. And we learn and grow so much from the things that we go through here on earth. I love this song that our teacher played for us today. This isn't the exact video she showed but its the same song. This song has  always been a constant reminder to me when I am feeling so lost and feeling like there is no way to keep going, that there is always a way and that things will get better. That our Heavenly Father has a plan for us and that we are never alone.. We must always keep going, holding on to the things we know to be true. Hold on the light will come. Our Father in Heaven knows our pains, our sorrows, our deepest desires. He knows what we long to have and know. Just hold on he will come and take our hand!!!

I figured I would just add all these pictures into one post:) We put a wood burning stove in our home back in November I was so EXCITED!! I grew up with a wood burning stove and there is no heat that compares to the heat of a stove. Well on Christmas eve when we got home from Todd's parents house the wind was blowing pretty dang good out here in Malta.. We started a fire when we got home and about ten minutes after starting the fire we had smoke filling our house full of smoke. It was coming out of the chimney and our stove it was a freak in nightmare. Well we finally got the fire put out and decided to just head to my parents and stay the night there. We didn't have anymore problems with our stove for about a month and then within a two week time frame we had this happen again probably about 4-6 different times. By this time I was getting very irritated. We had paid to have this stove put in professionally and we cant even use it because every time the wind blew it filled our house full of smoke. And I mean our 2400 sq foot home was completely filled with smoke it was so bad at times you couldn't even see across the room. We called the place who installed it for us and they made us get a special cap to go on top and that didn't help. So by this time I am seriously ready to snap.. I am pretty sure I have had about five panic attacks by now because I can not breath at all in any kind of smoke.. So I started to do a little research online and I talked to my dad and we thought that maybe the tree that was just west of our chimney could be causing all this trouble.. So Todd cut it down:) And ever since he cut it down we haven't had any problems:) And we have had some strong winds since. I just pray that this was the problem..   

 

Todd got me these beautiful flowers for Valentine's Day.. I truly love him so much and I am so grateful that we have eternity together.

 

So Todd and I got released from being Primary teachers and I was called to be on The "enrichment committee" I am not sure what they call it anymore. But for our Relief Society Birthday Dinner we did a pinewood derby. I have never been to one of these before so I didn't even know what to expect. And we encouraged the sisters to make their own cars without any help from there husbands. I had no idea how I was going to do this because once again I have never been to one of these never even seen a Pinewood derby car cause I grew up with all girls. But I was determined to do it on my own. I knew that I wanted to do something that represented me somehow. And since I figured if I tried shaping it at all on my own I would probably ruin it. So I decided to do a can of hairspray:) Todd helped me put the wheels on and glue on some weight but other than that I did this beauty all on my own!! And she won 3rd place out of 16 cars. I must say I was pretty impressed with my little car. And I even won Judges Favorite!!  It was a lot of fun and I am glad that I have this calling and I am getting to know some of the sisters in our ward a little better.  

 

 Here are just a few more pictures of Ainsley and Madison. This particular day Ainsley was suppose to be taking a nap but she decided that hanging out with Aunt Tana would be more fun. And she was right.. She was so goofy this day and full of energy.. I couldn't stop laughing at her.  

sNoW!!!

I remember when I was a kid it seemed like we use to get a lot of snow. I remember there being snow drifts all over the place and building forts in them and tunnels. But it seems like any more we just don't get that kind of snow. So a couple of weeks ago when I woke up and this is what I saw when I opened my blinds I was blown away it was absolutely beautiful outside. So I had to go take some pictures because I was taken back to when I was a kid and the winters we use to have..

ANOTHER WEDNESDAY WITH THE GIRLS!!

Todd has been home the last two Wednesday's and Madison has loved it she hasn't left Todd's side.. She just wants to go and do everything "BUBBA" (that's Todd's nickname Madison gave him) does.. I just love seeing Todd with Madison and Ainsley he is so good with them and they love him. It makes me know without a doubt in my heart that he is going to make an amazing Father someday, whenever that day comes.. One of Madison's favorite things is to get on my phone and find Carrie Underwood singing the National Anthem at a baseball game and Madison loves to sing along with her. So I decided I better record it before she moves onto something new. She just makes me giggle when she sings..  

Snow Angels!!

Last Wednesday while Madison and Ainsley were here Madison and I went and played in the snow. I laid Ainsley down for a nap and outside we went. Madison LOVED it. I was trying to teach her how to make snow angels and she was very hesitant to lay in the snow but after we finally conquered the first one she kept running around saying more, more. So needless to say I had snow angels all over my yard:) I also was trying to teach her how to throw the snow (since it wouldn't form into a ball)... So the first time she went to go throw the snow she threw it right into her own face.. I have not laughed so hard in a very long time. I love this little girl and I am grateful I get to spend days like this with her!!
 

 

 

 

 

2012 Moments..

I can not believe that 2012 has come and gone. It seems like this year has gone by so fast. So much has happened in 2012; There were good and bad.. But I am so grateful for everything that Todd and I went through and got to experience this last year it has been a good year. I have learned a lot and have grown to be a better person because of it. As I was thinking about this past year I thought about 12 things that I feel had a big impact on my life. So here they are

 

#12: IN JANUARY TODD AND I WERE CALLED TO BE PRIMARY TEACHERS AND WE WERE TO TEACH THE SUNBEAMS!!! I was so scared when they asked us to teach. I love kids and I love being around kids but this calling was a HUGE testimony builder and it taught me a lot. I am not going to lie at first I was very negative about this calling. Here we were new to the ward and they throw us in the primary to teach the sunbeams: or as I thought of it as a Babysitting job at church. How was I going to get four little sunbeams to listen to me and to respect me as their teacher. Time went on and I came to love these kids I looked forward to seeing them every Sunday. Our lessons only lasted ten minutes and then the rest of the time we spent coloring and playing games getting to know each other. I was really starting to enjoy my calling... And then they released the other sunbeam teacher so now we had eight sunbeams.. It was hard I am not going to lie. But I am grateful that I had the opportunity to have this calling. There is a special spirit that you feel when you are surrounded by little children. They truly love their Savior and are so innocent when it comes to the outside world.  I have learned to have so much more patience and love for little kids.  

#11: In February after three months of phone call after phone call we were finally able to close on our house.. This was a true test of patience for me. I have never been so frustrated in my life. We moved to Malta in November and we were suppose to close in December and then it kept getting pushed back two weeks here and two weeks there. Before we knew it it was February and we still hadn't closed. I was getting so frustrated. It just seemed like we were hitting road block after road block. I would get my hopes up thinking this week would be the week we were going to close and something would come up. So when we finally set a date and time to sign all the papers I WAS EXCITED!!!. Buying a house is very stressful and it can be very stressful on a marriage. I was constantly calling Todd asking him where certain papers were and then when he would come home for his days off it seemed like it was consumed of more and more paperwork for the house; no time to just sit and relax with each other. But my love for Todd grew even stronger through all this. I am so grateful that I married such an amazing guy. And I am grateful we have a home to start our family in!!

#10: At the end of March Todd had some fire training in Denver so I got to go with him.. It was a lot of fun we were there for a week and it was a very much needed getaway for Todd and I. Its amazing with Todd working out of town how these little get aways are something we need. Todd is such a hard worker and he is so dedicated to his job and doing the best he can. I am grateful that he was raised to be a hard worker and give a 110% in all he does.    

#9: At the end of April I was headed home from Twin, I had been there doing hair that day when I was headed out on Addison and I had a semi pull out in front of me and I totalled my car. I have never been in a car accident before and I pray that I will never have to go through that ever again. It was one of the scariest things I have ever had to witness. I am so grateful that I was not injured. I know without a doubt in my heart that my Father in Heaven was watching over me that day and that my time here on this earth is not done that I still have a lot to do here. I am grateful for my family and for all they do for me. They were all there for me and I am so grateful for that. I am especially thankful for Tara she was the one who came and got me from the scene of the accident and I am so grateful that she was there and for her love for me.

#8: So in May Todd and I had to go shopping for a new vehicle since mine was totalled in the car accident. It was an experience to say the least. We spent the day in Utah looking for cars and it was one of the most stressful days of my life. I wanted another bigger SUV because just being in a car accident I didn't feel safe in anything else. To make a long story short Todd and I had our first fight that day cause we both were frustrated cause we weren't finding what we were looking for and we were running out of time. And Todd was wanting to settle on a certain car and I wasn't willing to. It might be bad for me to say this but I am grateful for that fight it taught us a lot and we are so much closer because of that silly fight.

#7  In August Todd had a competition in Gillette Wyoming so we headed there for a week. I got to go along with him again. While we were there we got to go see Mount Rushmore. Ever since I can remember I have always wanted to go see Mount Rushmore it just fascinates me. I am grateful that I got to have the experience to go there and finally see it. Its mind blowing that they were able to create something like that it truly amazing and beautiful talent.   

#6: In July all my moms sisters and their daughters and my grandma got to go kayak the snake river. It was a lot fun we didn't make it all the way back to the finish because it started to rain and lightning. We had a horrible storm come through while we were still out on the river. We were able to get all the kayak's out of the water and get under some trees. The guy who is in charge of it all finally showed up with a pontoon. So we all boarded the boat and sat under some shelter till the storm passed then he took us back to his place. While were were just hanging out on the boat waiting for the storm to pass I don't know how prayers I said in my head. I have never been out in a storm like that before it was raining so hard and the lightning was hitting all around us; it was so close. I just kept praying that Heavenly Father would keep us all safe and let us be ok... My testimony of prayer was strengthened that day. Heavenly father brought me peace and I knew that things were going to work out and we were all going to be ok. I am so thankful that I can pray to my Father in Heaven whenever I want.  

#5: Todd built a fence for our backyard this fall. It is amazing how much security this fence has brought me. I love living in the country but living on this main road has me freaked out a little bit. It is like we have no privacy at all. It is amazing what people say they saw you outside doing the other day.. (thankfully nothing too bad).. So we decided to build us a fence. It has been a learning experience. The wind has blown bits and pieced down several times. Todd has gotten so frustrated with it he has even threatened to tear it down and start over:) But I am grateful for the fence and for the safety that I feel because of it. I know that might seem silly but it truly brings me comfort knowing that we have a fence and that its there to provide us with some privacy.

#4: At the end of November we got to go to Salt Lake for five days cause Todd had a conference to go to for his job. I love Salt Lake especially during the holiday season. While we were down there we took a carriage ride around Temple Square. It was one of the neatest things I have ever gotten to do. It was so nice to be able to get away from all the crazy cars and enjoy the lights from a different perspective. After the carriage ride we went over and listened to the choir practice. I love the spirit of the gospel. I love that I know that this church is true. I am so grateful for my membership in the church. And I am thankful that I had the opportunity to go to temple square and be reminded of the love I have for the church. I love the Salt Lake temple it is breathtaking.

#3: I got to go to Las Vegas again this year with my parents. My dad got the opportunity to rope in the World Series team roping championship again. We were there for a little over a week and I had so much fun. I got to know and see a different side of my parents and I loved it. I have amazing parents and I am so grateful that I am close with both of them. My dad did awesome this year he ended up 5th I am so proud of him and I am glad I got to experience this with them.

#2: This is a hard one for me to talk about. Todd and I have been trying to start our family for a year and a half now and we still have had no luck. This has been very hard on me emotionally. There have been many nights when I am here by myself that I just cry and cry and cry.  I long to be a mom I long to have a baby of my own to hold and to cuddle. I want a family so bad I want to fill this big house of ours with kids. I want toys scattered all over, I want loads of laundry piled up. I want this house to not be so quiet that I hear every single thing. It has been so hard for me to accept that it is all in God's hands and that he has a plan for Todd and I and for our family. I continue to struggle with this each and every day. But over the past year I have learned to much. Instead of envying those who say they are expecting I have come to be excited for them; I am not saying that it comes easy but I am working hard on it. I know that we will be blessed with a family.

#1: On September 16 Todd and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary. What a blessing these last three years have been. We have been through so much; the good and the bad. But I would not want to go through any of it with anyone other than Todd. I love him more that the day I married him. I remember the day we got married. We both were crying as we sat in the sealing room and the temple president talked to us before he sealed us together for Time and all Eternity; The spirit was so strong. We were where we were suppose to be. I am so lucky to be married to Todd he is my best friend and I love him so much.   

2012 You have been a good year I am a better person physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritual because of the things this year has brought me. I hope that everyone had a wonderful new year and that 2013 will be a great year for all my family and friends. I love you all!! Happy New Year!!