WE MADE IT!!!

After a very exhausting day of travel we have made it to London! We started traveling at 6:30 A.M. and finally reach our hotel around 2 A.M. Mountain time. We were convinced that we wouldn't need anything to help us sleep on the plane ride over because the night before we left we only got 2 hours of sleep, and who has a hard time sleeping with only 2 hours rest? WE DO!!! We fought like crazy to stay awake until the long flight to London to try and prevent Jet Lag...good plan, until we couldn't sleep on this flight. When we got to the hotel we decided we needed a little nap before we went back out exploring. We set an alarm of about an hour later to wake us up...we got up 5 hours later, oops. After we got up we started walking around Paddington trying to get a feel for things. We then found a deli for dinner. After dinner we decided to go check out Hyde Park, which we discovered is actually a whole bunch of "Royal Parks" in one great big conglomerate. It's amazingly beautiful. We kept looking up saying, "Oh can you see that over there? Let's go that way and get a better look." We walked a bunch and now we're tired so here's a slide show of what we did today. For details read the captions and if you would like to have a closer look just click on the show.

Congratulations!!!

There a three special women in our lives that deserve a shout out!

1. Baylee--I'm so proud of you for Graduating! You did it girl! You're awesome!
   
2. Karli--YAY!!! You Graduated too! Congrats on being done with high school!
   
3. Megan-- Hope you have a happy pregnancy! Remind that baby to be nice!
   

Memorial Day Weekend

What you're seeing (For a closer look just click on the slide show and a bigger version will show up):

• Grandma Lynda's Birthday Bash...I think she turned 30 this time.
  
• Barbeque In K-Town with the Family--Aaron played catch with me! Something I didn't think I was capable of. YAY!!!
• The Bee's Game with the other Fam.

Goodbye Sleeping In

This is just a little vent... For the past 9 month's I've had to get up at 5:30 A.M. to get ready and be to work on time, because of my commute. Before that 7:00 was my rise and shine time, which in my mind isn't too shabby. Now on the weekends and days off I can no longer sleep in! Like this morning, I woke up at 7 A.M. after going to bed at midnight. Not only did I wake up but I was wide awake and could not fall back to sleep. It's not a bad thing, and I'm actually grateful that I've learned to be a morning person. Believe me, this was learned, as a teenager I could sleep until 2 in the afternoon and still be cranky when I woke up! This morning I felt so bad for wiggling around trying to go back to sleep while Aaron was still catching the last phase of his REM cycle, that I got up. Normally I would get started on french toast, hashbrowns, and cheesy eggs (wow I'm hungry) for Aaron, but I don't have anywhere to cook it. So I thought well I'm just going to complain a little bit on my blog. :) It's actually been really nice, because I'm sitting in our Guest Room/Nursey on the floor admiring this angle of our home, and imagining what it will look like when we get it finished, and all of the happy moments that await us here in this home. How exciting! I wonder if I can sleep after Jet Lag. We'll see.

Get Ready, Get Set...

We're doing lots of last minute things to get ready for the trip. One of the things we wanted to get before we left were some nice walking sandals for the trip. Well...TADA!!! Chacos for two! They're super comfy although they took a little getting use to.
Having Aaron put his feet in the air made me laugh so dang hard, it was so amusing to me. He's not very flexible...he he.

Livin' It Up Until the Paint Goes Down

The JOYS of moving. We would have never gotten here if Aaron's family hadn't come to help us! Thanks Everyone!

There have been a lot of questions about our current living situation, and well I just can't seem to put it into words. Aaron didn't really want me to post this video, because when we're together we talk like children and he forgot to stop it when filming, but oh well love. Hope you don't mind to much. :) In case you can't understand me, we are living downstairs in our unfinished basement, until we can finish the rest of the house. :( that's going to be after our trip. Our bedroom features concrete flooring and the lovely wall color of pink insulation, with a blanket for draperies. I really don't mind the new bedroom because we are still sleeping on our mattress, but the part I can't stand is not having a place to prepare meals! We keep trying new microwave things, but it just isn't cutting it, so we're eating out too much.

Grateful for the Busy, But...

Luckily I'm busy with my new hour and a half one way commute to work, teaching school, our trip, and our home improvement so there isn't much time for dwelling on yesterday. Yesterday was the one year anniversary of my Father's suicide. However, if I hesitate to move quickly from one task to the other the pain finds me. I don't want to complain, simply acknowledge it so I can deal. This is how I've chosen to do it, so please understand that it's just something I need to get out.

I know it's normal to feel this way especially at one year. The memories of one year ago have been filling up my mind. How my Dad showed up Graduation day thinking he had missed my ceremony, but had been early, because he wouldn't answer his phone to talk with me so I could clarify the time with him. Then I couldn't get him to stay for the actual ceremony. Although, it wasn't my fault, I still feel badly about it, and it makes my heart ache. When he showed up at my house he looked bad for Dad, but he had a single rose for me. It was an orange rose. Simple as it was it was the most cherished gift because it came from him. Gestures like that weren't as often as when I was a child. He had acknowledge his love for me. I knew he loved me, but not very often did he show it, like other fathers. I always knew he loved me though. I watched the rose blossom and then slowly die. I remember watching the rose and thinking, "It's like Dad so beautiful, but it's fading and I can't stop it."

It's weird how the Lord prepared me and my siblings. All of us had premonitions at least a year in advance, although we all had hoped they were just crazy thoughts. The night I got the phone call from Mom letting me know Dad had taken his own life, the Lord was with me and Aaron. At the time I didn't realize it. We were on our way home to Logan, and randomly decided to stop at his parents. I remember being antsy to get home, because it was getting late. Each time I got that feeling something whispered to me that there was no hurry, and stay put. Although the news left me and everyone who witnessed my sorrow traumatized, it was a huge blessing to be in a home where we knew we were loved. In a home where the Priesthood was present so I could receive a blessing right away.

I never thought that I would be strong enough to speak at his funeral, and at the first suggesting of it I just shook my head and bawled. But, I did. It brought a peace to know I could respect him like that. I also played a simple fiddling melody that captured the sadness in all of us for Dad. It was an extremely sad day. My Father was a good, kind, and loyal friend. But he had great big demons in his life. He was too prideful to see things as they really were, to ask for help, or to take responsibility for his choices and his life. We all have problems and demons, but all of this combined with alcohol addiction and depression lead to his death.

The months that followed were a constant remind of our loss as we went through his house, and discovered how terrible things really were in his life. With time comes healing though. 6 months after my Father had passed away Aaron and I were with Rachael and Tyler waiting for a table at a restaurant when a George Strait song came on. I was sure I would have to run into the parking lot to hide my tears, but I just wept a little so it wasn't super noticeable. George was my Dad's favorite! Every morning I spent with him I would wake up to the smell of a greasy breakfast and the sound of George's voice. Well, today on the way to work I ripped off the band aid and put in George Strait's Greatest Hits. I cried, but it was sweet because music reminds me of long forgotten moments. I was also able to get over his voice, and I think for the most part I will think of Dad when I hear one of George's songs, and I might cry a little. But it will be a happy sorrow that fills my eyes, because I loved the man! Thank goodness I remember enough to be sad, and he's a part of me. I've got his heart and he still has mine.

I love you Daddy! I miss you!

Today's Funny

Now you may not find this funny, but I did.

G: Mrs. Gelter my water bottle spilled.

Me: I'm sorry, do your best to clean it up.

G- 2 minutes later, after cleaning up: Stupid wet folder! From my stupid water bottle!

Me (doing my best not to smile, which isn't very good): G, please, don't say stupid.

5 Year What?!

I got the e-mail saying "we are looking for help, are you in?" I didn't realize until our first meeting as Senior Class Officers that we were in charge of planning our Reunions! Oops! How did I not know that? I was just happy to make it into student government, but was a little unsure about the reunion responsibility. Thank goodness for our Class President; she only ran so she could have this responsibility. I never though I would say this, but I'm way excited to be involved in planning it. I never thought I would be this excited to see everyone again. I'm not a townie, I lived outside of the town I went to school in (the very small town) and not being a local sometimes brought around some negativity. By my sophomore year I was just part of the crew, though. I thought I would dread going back to G-ville, but I've gone soft. I'm actually excited to go back and be with those hallway buddies I never get to see. I just can't believe I'm this old! I hope I'm not the only person who doesn't have kids. Yikes!

"As The Curtain Falls We Bid You All Goodnight"

Two points if you know the origins of this title. :) Aaron you don't count!

It's really coming to an end! This part of my life that I have so dearly loved, and learned to function in, is ending. I'm in a little bit of shock! I've worked so hard to get to this point, and now it's just around the corner. I find myself scared of taking that last step forward, and filled with exhilaration to think of the new exciting things that are in our not so distant futures.

Leaving Logan is really tough. This is the first place that I ventured away from home on my own, to prove to myself that I had wings to fly solo, and I did. I feel in Love here. I lived in our first tiny apartment here. I got my education and degree here. I have intertwined my life with the children of this valley, and I don't want to separate it from them. Aaron and I have grown in love and have learned how to be good at our marriage. This is my home and to not call it that anymore makes me sad.

But last weekend Aaron's family came and helped us move out. He is already living in true ghetto style in our unfinished basement. I'm still here cleaning the place, but I will leave at the end of this week as well. Sad, but how exciting to be moving on. We have a beautiful house to make our home, new roles to learn in our marriage, and a once in a life time adventure in 18 days. I guess I embrace the sadness for it comes from happy memories, and have faith in the journey that is life. I know that we'll be happy, we've got each other!

My Mommy

These are the things that go through my head when I think of my Mother:

1. She loves me.
   
2. She's the reason I can read. It was a huge trail for her, but I'm so grateful she never gave up on this kid who shouldn't have been able to learn to read.
   
3. She's been my longest supporter, and encourager.
   
4. She taught me how to dream big, and work harder to reach those dreams. Mostly she helped me believe in myself.
   
5. She is ready to chastise me when no one else will. It's really nice to have someone keeping you in line.
   
6. She taught me the gospel! What a blessed woman!
   
7. She's my role model.
   
8. Because of her I can: clean a toilet without cutting corners, make a bed with boxed corners so the sheets lay nicely, and I can understand Shakespeare. She also taught me everything I know about cooking. I continue to learn so much from her. I'm sure that will continue once the children start coming.
   
9. When I go to do something in life I always ask myself, "What is Mom going to think of this?" and that helps me make better choices...most the time. ;)
10. The Best Thing about my Mom is that until my Husband came along she was my BEST friend! While I was still living at home we would stay up just talking about things, and goofing off together. Or we would be eating Oreos while watching late night sitcoms, and getting so tired that we'd start singing show tunes. I've never seen West Side Story, but I know all the words to "I feel pretty!"
    

Thanks just isn't good enough, but it will have to do.

I LOVE YOU WITH ALL OF MY HEART MOMMY!!!! XOXO

The CoupLeena Wedding

Friday was a wonderful day, just like I thought it would be! I really just had this feeling like, FINALLY! They have been best friends for 4 years now, and even though they were apart for two years, they never once ended on a bad note. Now I cannot take credit for these pictures, because my amazing sister in-law Ashely took them.

NEWLYWEDS!
The Family Photo. Isn't her family beautiful? We all laughed at the sleepy baby Sky on the right had side.
This made us all smile, when Couper was getting his picture taken Kaleena could not take her eyes off of him. It was so cute!This is me and some of my sisters, Ashley is the one in the middle who took all of these pictures...amazing right?!

CoupLeena

This weekend is going to be filled with lots of happy moments. My little brother Couper is getting sealed to his best friend, Kaleena, tomorrow! They are so cute and perfect for each other! I'm so excited for them! I can't wait to take some pictures so you can actually see them beaming with happiness!

Spa Secrets

So maybe this isn't as big of a secret as I think, I could just be out of the loop. The girls told me to check out this new song, and artist. They were headed to the concert as soon as my pedicure was done.

They Call It the Green Monster

"A little piece of us dies inside every time a friend has a new success."--Wilde

I'm not sure I agree with this. Perhaps when we first react to something that might make us jealous, but I don't think it stays that way.

The reason I'm thinking of this subject is because I went to the Spa for a pedicure, and for some reason when I'm there lots of Women come into talk. It's happened three times now, and when I'm the only one actually getting a treatment it's a little awkward getting that much attention. I'm getting to know all of my beauticians girl friends. And we women really have that instinct to compare and be jealous. They are all still single and fighting for that MAN OF THEIR DREAMS, the PERFECT MARRIAGE, and the FUTURE WITH LOTS OF PROMISE, and trying to balance that with all their GIRL FRIENDS. I've already got my WONDERFUL HUSBAND and HAPPILY EVER AFTER, but I'll be honest jealousy gets me once in a while. Concerning other things of course... And when it does I have to take a step back and think it through...I'm definitely still learning, but I think everyone is. The little things I've learned are:

1. My Jealous comes from fear and worry. Worries that I might not get to reach my dreams, as those around me already have or will.
   
2. I've learned that number one is silly. I'm the person that has to work hard to achieve my dreams, and sometime that takes time.
   
3. Now the Lord may throw a kink into my dreams, and if He decides to do that it's okay. I can always be happy with my life, that's my attitude, and I do have a choice of what it is. It's all a mental/spiritual choice.
4. Yeah, I'm stubborn...I don't like to let those feelings go as quickly as I should, but I hope I always will. Bad feeling hurt me more.
5. If I stop and evaluate my life, a swift spiritual prompting (aka The Holy Ghost) comes over me and tells me to, "Knock it off! Let it go! I can sweep those right out for you, if you ask me to."
   

All Done

Five years and countless sleepless nights are finally over. Friday was my last final and graduation. It's kind of a weird feeling. School has been my life since I got back from my mission, so it doesn't seem like it could possibly be done. I'm sure it will hit me at the end of August when I don't go back this fall. I know my boss is ecstatic. My first day as a full-time employee, I finnd myself in San Jose, CA, for a three day training at Xilinx headquarters. Hopefully I learn a lot so I feel a little more confident at work. As nice as it is to be sitting here in a hotel room with nothing to do, I wish i was at home working on the house. It's going to be a crazy couple of weeks trying to get the house done, move out of our apartment in Logan, and still work full-time. We'll keep you updated!

3/4 of a Check Mark Isn't Bad

Tonight I packed everything I possibly could for Europe. There are some things that for some reason I forgot to pick up when I when shopping, for this very purpose, so those will have to wait. Then there are some things that I'm just not willing to pack for Aaron while he's out of state. Of course there will always be things that you have to pack the day of because you'll need it that morning before you fly out, but for the most part all the major items are ready to go! Small Victory!

Overwhelmed

There is a very long list of things that need to be done, in what feel like a little tiny bit of time. I had an anxiety attack/emotional break down today because it all caught up to me and with my hubby leaving, I lost my calming constant. I keep thinking of these lyrics, and I need to remember them when my thought of stress, work, weddings, u-hauls, and the soon to come camp outs in the unfinished basement pop into my head.

1. O soul, are you weary and troubled?
   No light in the darkness you see?
   There’s light for a look at the Savior,
   And life more abundant and free!
   • Refrain:
     Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
     Look full in His wonderful face,
     And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
     In the light of His glory and grace.
2. Through death into life everlasting
   He passed, and we follow Him there;
   O’er us sin no more hath dominion—
   For more than conquerors we are!
3. His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
   Believe Him, and all will be well:
   Then go to a world that is dying,
   His perfect salvation to tell!

These are moments I've been waiting for, there here, now I need to rise to the challenge. I know the Lord has faith in me and He will help me if I just follow his plan for me...not mine.

Tile with grout, but not yet clean

Aaron went by the house today on his way home from Sandy and took some pictures for me to see. I kinda think the grout's a little too light, but it's almost right. What do you think?