vaycay: picture overload!

Labor Day weekend the hubby and I went up to Utah for a little vaycay.

A companion from his mission was getting married, so we used that as an excuse to go up.

On our way there, we stopped at the Grand Canyon.

Patrick went when he was little but doesn't remember it, and I went a long time ago.

We figured this was a good excuse to go.

We decided to go check out the Provo Temple before arriving at our hotel in Salt Lake.

On Saturday, we went to do a session at the Salt Lake Temple. That was an amazing experience.

The history of the pioneers is so rich in that temple and the spirit was so strong. 



After the session, we drove up north to Bear Lake. Another missionary from Patrick's mission lives there with his wife and little boy. We enjoyed lunch, drove around the lake, and spent time catching up.

When we left there, we drove through Logan, UT. And guess what? We saw another temple!

I forget how absolutely gorgeous this temple is! See for yourselves..

..and some pretty flowers from the grounds.

Our next stop took us to a little town of which the name slips my mind at this time...;

but it is right outside of Brigham City. We saw another companion of Patrick's.

He took us to see the new temple being built in Brigham City,

and we also went to see the tabernacle that is just across the street.

On Sunday we started out our morning going to see the This is the Place Monument.

It is where Brigham Young said to the pioneers that this is where their journey ends.

{cheese!}



It was amazing to again, feel the spirit of the pioneers in this place.

Looking out at the valley, I thought to myself:

 "Take away the buildings, and this is exactly what the pioneers saw at the end of that long, hard journey. The joy that filled their hearts must have been great."

I mean, just look at this view!

We also saw the monument (well, the lower one)

where Brigham Young and a few others went on the top of a hill

and mapped out where the temple and other things would be.

{gorgeous}

The rest of the trip was spent doing random things like....

eating

 {carmel apple, dipped in white chocolate, coated in cinnamon and sugar}

seeing beautiful views....

{salt lake city temple}

{bridal veil falls}

{cheese again!}

{the four corners}

Being Healthy - Body and Mind

So last week Patrick started going for walks. Not long ones, just around the block - maybe 1 mile - 1 1/2 miles. It's amazing how good you feel after doing just that though! We went a few time last week, and once so far this week. On the nights that he works late and comes home exhausted, I go to the little fitness center and lift weights or whatever.

I'm hoping to lose some weight while doing this....

but if not at least we're beginning to live a happier life style together!

As far as mind goes, I started school again yesterday.

 I'm taking 15 credits this semester. That on top of working full time is hard work.

 However, my goal this semester is all A's! I need to get my dang GPA up!

I figure, it's 16 weeks. 16! 16 is not a big number at all when you think about it. I'll just take it one week at a time, one assignment at a time. I'll kick each and every assignment's butt and master these subjects!!!

With lots and lots to prayer. :D

life.

I haven't posted anything about what we've been up to for a while, so I would give you the readers digest version:

Patrick's shoulder is healing well.

We're both currently working more than ever.

Patrick's going to be transferring to the Fiesta mall in the next couple months and be manager.

I'm starting school again on Monday.

We're preparing to go on a vacation to Utah over Labor Day weekend. (So excited!)

Ya..that's pretty much it. Because I'm starting school life's going to be crazy hectic. But, I'm going to try to write more on the blog, since it's a form of journaling (is that a word?) and we're supposed to do it. :)

A while back we inherited a table and chair set from my moms aunt. The chairs had these blue pads on them that we didn't think were too attractive. So, we went to the store, bought some fabric, and a few months late the pads are finally recovered! Having never done any sort of surface recovering at all, and having no help at all I think they turned out pretty darn swell! See for yourself!
Before, they were this color:

This is the after results:

tithing

i just want to take a moment and share what wonderful blessings our Heavenly Father has given us. i strongly believe that he has given us these blessings because we pay our tithing.

you can go here to learn more about tithing.

first, our brother in law recently started working for state farm. he gave us a quote for car insurance and renters insurance. turns out by switching to that company we end up saving about $30/month. well, i called our old ins. companies to tell them that we were going to be cancelling services with them. long story short they mailed us a check for almost the exact amount that we will owe for car ins this month. the point? we don't have to come up with that money this month! which means more extra money for paying for surgery bills!!

next, while they are not as big, we both have reliable jobs that pays enough to support our needs. the things that we can't afford we have wonderful family who help us with what they can.

I can't say enough wonderful things about the principle of tithing. it really isn't that difficult to give 10% of what we earn to the Lord, when he gave us everything we have.

Cowgur Creations

Alright...so for those of you who don't know, I have FINALLY started my hair accessory shop!! I am so excited about this and hope it goes well!
To check out what is available please go the shop's blog at cowgurcreations1.blogspot.com .
((((((Just a heads up, if you become an offical follower there will be great benefits in the future!)))))))
Also, please check out the shop itself at cowgurcreations.etsy.com

Here's a very small preview...

:D

What's goin on?

All I'm going to say is that tonight I had a job interview. I think it went well. I don't want to say anything else in case I jinx it. So please.....though you don't know any details, please keep your fingers crossed for me!! :D

By the way...Patrick's shoulder is healing well. He still hasn't gone to physical therapy that stubborn little butt head ;) But I guess if he is gaining motion (and he is...quickly), and is in less and less pain everyday then I won't fight him too much about therapy. Is that being a bad wife? Or a good one? Hmmm... I'll go with good!

Member Missionaries

This morning we went to my friend's ward for his homecoming talk. The topics for all of the speakers was missionary work, specifially that of the members of the church.

As i was pondering the things that were said I realized that I am lacking in my part of sharing the gospel with those around me. I decided to go onto the church website and read some talks by modern day prophets on this topic.

While doing this I came across this quote by Erich W. Kopischke, of the seventy:

"Missionaries and members must speak one language. We must become one in our efforts to proclaim the gospel. It will better enable us to become tools in the hand of the Lord, for He said, “And even so will I gather mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, even as many as will believe in me, and hearken unto my voice." "

I want to be a part of those elect people and I want others to learn about this wonderful gospel so that they can be there with me.

Surgery

So last time I posted about what going on in our lives I mentioned that Patrick might have to have surgery.

Well if you don't already know this, he had that surgery about 2 weeks ago. He had a torn labrum.

He had arthroscopic surgery.

This is basically what they did to fix it...including putting 3-4 screws in to hold everything in place. (we'll find out at his drs apt tomorrow how many there are exactly...i was a bad wife and forgot to ask when talking to the surgeon.)

pic found here

All in all he's recovering well. He has to sleep in a recliner

(that my Dad so kindly let us borrow)

 so that he does accidentally roll over in his sleep.

I miss him in our bed :(

Here's some pics of right after to surgery

Actually...this one was right before...

This one was right after we got home...he has to be in this immobilizer sling constantly.

Somehow he's managed to get his arm out of it on 2 separate occasions while sleeping...crazy man!

Stitches. Not nearly as gross looking as we thought they'd be :)



Day 19 - Day 22

day 19: a picture and a letter

i'm not going to lie, i have no idea what this means.

so i'm going to skip this one..:)

day 20: a picture of somewhere you'd love to travel

the bahamas.

right here.

under this palm tree

with a cold glass of lemonade.

with "island music" playing

yup.

that sounds like paradise to me

day 21: a picture of something you wish you could forget



i wish i could forget the day

that i witness a stabbing at

a bus stop of my bus

in high school.

since then i have been afraid of knifes.

not when using them in

the kitchen.

but any other time,

don't come near me with

a knife or i will start to

freak if you get too close.

day 22: a picture of something you wish you were better at

i wish i had kept up with

my dancing.

i miss it more then anything.

if i could be doing anything

anything in the world

i would still be dancing.

maybe fulfilling my old dream

of being in the nutcracker.

day 17: a picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life so far

the day i went through the temple.

since i went through the temple for the first time,

i realize that i have such a responsibility

to be the best i can be and to

try to be like Jesus all the time.

it makes me feel close to my

Heavenly Father

knowing that I am worthy to enter into his house.

it makes me want to continue to be worthy 

to do just this in the next life.

(if you aren't a member this church,

 you can click here to learn more.) 

day 16: a picture of someone that inspires you

my parents are my biggest inspiration.

they both have been through so much

and so me what it takes to be a great person.

my dad:

he is such a hard worker.

he cares for his family more then anyone could imagine.

though he had some rough times growing up,

he shows me that no matter what you go through

you can  be the best person you strive to be.

he is so strong in the gospel and serves the Lord

with everything that he is.

he preforms his church callings to the best of his ability and beyond.

that preformance is almost always better then anyone would ever expect

could be preformed.

he was a great example to me of what to look for in a husband.

my mom:

my mom is the sweetest person you will ever meet.

she too loves the Lord with all her heart

and you can see that in everything she does.

she is a convert to the church but you would never know it

without her telling you.

she is a hard worker and does her best to be the best mom ever

(and does an excellent job at it)

she is the perfect example to me of how to be an

excellent wife and a wonderful, loving mother.

she, along with my sisters, is my best friend.

i love you both very much.

thank you for all you do for me.

life these days

so life has been kinda crazy this weekend.

patrick went to have his dad work on his shoulder on...

friday i believe it was.

his dad told him that he should go see a doctor

to have it looked at.

this is pertinent to the story because patrick

and his dad are not fans of doctors.

not one bit.

they also both have a very high pain tolerance.

so to have him tell patrick to go to the doctor means that things must be pretty bad.

so yesterday (monday) he went to see his doctor

to see what he thinks.

he told him to go get some x-rays done and

referred him to a orthopedic surgeon.

so off he went to get x-rays done. and he set up

an appointment to see the surgeon on friday.

so i'll keep you updated on what the surgeon says when we know more.

now for some good news!

patrick had an interview last week at the corporate

offices of massage envy.

they said if they're interested, they will have one

of their store managers call him.

well, he got that call this morning!

he has an interview in the morning. :)

again..to be continued

now..i ask anyone who is reading this is do him a huge favor.

please keep patrick in your prayers.

1. he will most likely have to give a massage tomorrow,

and with his shoulder that is going to be hard.

but like i said - he has a very high pain tolerance.

 he is such a fighter.

he is very passionate about what he does that i know

he'll do great no matter what.

but help from the man upstairs definitely doesn't hurt.

2. all in all the situation about his shoulder

is a little nerve racking.

i asked him earlier today if he was nervous about

the thought of surgery.

he said that he's not so much nervous about the surgery its self

but more about the recovery process.

he doesn't like not being in control of his body, so having to be patient during recovery will be hard.

again- we aren't positive that he will actually have to have surgery, but he is pretty positive that he will.



" 'This was the time to show loyalty to God and to acknowledge that we depend on Him, that His will must be obeyed, and that we are subject to Him.’ ”

-quoted by Rafeal L. Pino

day 15: a picture of something you want to do before you die

i really want to go on a hot air balloon ride.

with my hubby preferably.

and drink sparkling cider

while soaring above the earth.

sounds romantic to me.

Catch up

ok, i know i totally suck at blogging everyday! so....instead of pick up where i left off on that challenge, i'm going to just sum up the last few days in this post.

ready. set. go!

day 7: a picture of your most treasure item

i know, it's slightly pathetic that after much thinking this is probably my most treasured item but hear me out.

i do everything with my laptop. i keep up with family and friends.

i do my school work online.

i look up craft ideas to beautify my home.

i'm currently researching tips on gardening at an apartment.

i can read my scriptures and watch conference if i don't have those things on me.

i can do sooo much with this thing. therefor, it is my most treasured item

day 8: a picture that makes you laugh

hehe.



day 9: a picture of the person that has gotten you through the most.

my friends. each one at a different time for different time.

but all in all, they are always there for me.

day 10: a picture of the person you do the craziest things with.

my hubby :)

day 11: a picture of something you hate.

hamburger helper.

it's seriously making me nauseous just looking at this picture.

the look, the smell. everything.

ok, moving on.

gross.

day 12: a picture of something you love.

anyone who knows me well at all knows that i LOVE earrings.

 they are the best accessory ever!

they also know that i love to sleep! i sleep anytime i can.

it's kinda the joke with my in laws that they see me sleep more then being awake.

ya...sad.

(and i love kids. and this pic i found on the internet is adorable)

day 13: a picture of your favorite band or artist.

i don't have a main favorite, but if i had to pic one i'd say that

rascal flatts is definitely up there.

day 14: a picture of someone you could never imagine your life without

more like people.

my family.

i love them all so much. both sides.

and not just my immediate family, my extended family as well.

they really do make me who i am and are always there for me.

they pretty much rock my world.

they really are my best friends!