Finally A Hair Cut

The last time I had a hair cut was a few weeks before we left for Europe so I was thrilled when I finally got a recommendation for Omar at Studio 9. He asked the usual questions, "Okay what are we doing today?" Me, "Um...basically you can do whatever you want." He continued to ask me questions like, "If you could get anything out of your hair what would it be?" I did have many answers and he started to believe me when I said "really you can do whatever you want." It's the best hair cut I've had since I left the Salt Lake area the first time.

Aaron's a little traumatized, but I warned him that I was going to forfeit all creativity to Omar. He likes it, he just likes my long hair more.

Before:

After:

Speak Up, I'm Listening

I heard today that it's go time for the Presidential race. Most people don't start really caring until this point in the race. I fall into this category. I think of life as a process of finding truth through knowledge and the help of God. I'll be the first to admit I haven't sought it out concerning these candidates. If coworkers were talking about it I'd listen, if there was a story on the news I'd watch, or if there was a link to CNN on my homepage I'd go read it. That's about it. Now I can't get it off my mind. I believe that our Country is Grand and I love the United States of America, but we find ourselves at a turning point. So, Mr. McCain, Mr. Obama here are my questions?

The war:

• Where is it going? What's the purpose in your mind? Are we still fighting to make life better? When should it end?
• I believe has made some Americans act poorly towards the honorable men fighting for the rights of others and our freedom. They have the courage to go and they have sacrificed so much, but why do we lack the courage to voice our praise? War is an unhappy thing, but I'm so grateful for our soldiers. What's going to happen to them when/if you become president?
  

The Economy:

• It's in a bad way. They keep printing the dollar to stimulate the economy and all it's doing is making the dollar weaker and driving prices up. I want to hear a game plan, please?
  
• We're scared to do much with our money right now because we feel we'll need to save everything we can to simply keep up with the cost of living. That's not a great attitude for stimulating the economy. How are people like me going to feel safe enough to invest?

Lastly, what are the values and principles with in you that qualify you to be my president? And please, don't say CHANGE or EXPERIENCE! I want to hear something a little less vague.

Gelter Family Fun

This weekend we got to go down to St. George with Aaron's family for a little vacation. We had a great time. We got to ride down with Tim and Megan. We chatted and played name that tune. Well, they all played I admired. We went to Fiesta Fun where the kids use to have their birthday parties. We rode go carts and the water bumper boats, it was a lot of fun. How awesome is this? Pizza Factory two weekends in a row!!! Ahh...yummy food!

After Dinner we went to Tuacahn Theater to see

Before the show one of the actors was performing and he let his little costar sing a song that she had written. We all thought she was adorable. Aaron couldn't believe she could play that big guitar. The play was awesome and I enjoyed the theater. I kept getting distracted by that stars but I thought that appropriate considering Inspector Javert's song.

It was so nice to just get to be with family and take it easy. I'm pretty sure Aaron and I won the sleepy head award.

When It's This Good, You Share It

This is a first for me, I've never posted a recipe. I think it would be fun to start a collaborative blog to share recipes...any takers?

ENCHILADA STUFFED SHELLS
-Rebecca Stout in Taste of Home-

Ingredients:
15 uncooked jumbo pasta shells
1 pound lean ground turkey
1 can (10 oz.) enchilada sauce
1/2 teaspoon dried minced onion
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 cup fat-free refried beans (we used black low-fat refried beans)
1 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese (I can't find this anywhere! so we just used regular)

Instructions:
1: cook pasta according to package directions; drian and rinse in cold water. In a nonstick skillet, cook turkey over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in enchilada sauce and seasonings; set aside.
2: Place a rounded teaspoonful of refried beens in each pasta shell, then fill with turkey mixture. Place in an 11-in. x 7-in. baking dish coated wiht cooking spray.
3: Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with cheese. Bake 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. We really liked this and it's pretty good for you because it uses low fat foods. If you're into weight watcher points it's only 2 points per shell (the way I prepared it, regular cheese adds one of those points) and it's very filling. I had two shells and tried to eat a third and couldn't finish it. The hardest part of this recipe is stuffing the shells- be ready to get your fingers messy. It still only took me thirty minutes to get it into the oven. I hope you try and enjoy!

She Just Made My Night!

Yelling while privately watching gymnastics in my home? You better believe it! I've been cheering for Shawn the whole time and she's been doing brilliantly, but FINALLY!!! GOLD!!! I have immensely enjoyed the Olympics, but tonight watching Shawn win the Gold will be the moment I remember as the 2008 Beijing games. I'm proud of our athletes and to be an American.

A Vacation With Shakespeare

For the last year I have been saving up a little extra each month so Aaron and I could join my mom and sister on a mini vacation to The Shakespearian Festival in Cedar City. I've been going to the festival with my mom for about 10 years now; it's something I look forward to a lot. We got to see 5 shows this year: Cyrano de Bergerac, Taming of the Shrew, Fiddler on the Roof, School for Wives, and Two Gentlemen of Verona. They all were very, very, well done. Taming of the Shrew is always my favorite. They did a fun version of it by setting it in Italy in the early 1950's. We were a very easy going group. We slept in, stayed up late watching plays and then stayed up even later watching the Olympics, and enjoyed good food. The best food award goes to: The Pizza Factory. YUMMY!!!

Lazy Hour

I got up this morning to a hyper puppy that was terrorizing me (this really only bugs me when I'm not fully awake), a house full of boxes, and a to do list. I looked around and asked Aaron if I could have a lazy hour to postpone the panicked overwhelming feeling from setting in. This is not an easy thing to ask Aaron because he is the biggest doer I've ever met and he never struggles with motivation (with the exception of his last semester in college). So, you can imagine my amazement when he said, "Yes, go ahead." I took advantage. I expelled some energy from my puppy by running him around the house, crawled back into bed, and opened my book. I got one chapter in and then feel asleep...oops. Two lazy hours.

I feel so much better now! I see all of these boxes and the progress we've made as a blessing. This Saturday our family members really stepped up and helped us a ton. My family came over to help haul away trash, bring in some of the heavy stuff, clean blinds, and windows. Later that afternoon Rachael, Tyler, Tim, and Megan showed up to help move us out of our basement. We also enjoyed a little Cinci Chili. Because of this service we can now watch the olympics, park our cars in the garage, sleep with the mattress off the floor, eat at a table, and start to rediscover our clothes! Little things but we're so excited. You know you've got good family when they will make time to come and help so willingly!

Guys, we love you! Thanks a million!

Recent Haps

I wanted a picture of Sydney with his paws up by his face like he does, so first we ended up cuddling to try to get the picture.

Then it turned into a game of lets try to bite Meg.

Then he crashed. I'm sure you all will get sick of seeing our puppy, but he's our baby. He just has four legs and is a little furry, that's all.

Working on touch up, we're almost finished painting!!!!

This was only 2:00 AM of an all nighter.
Baylee stopped by to help with the carpet prep. She's such a trouper and made us laugh so hard. She was very angry that there were so many staples in the old carpet pad. Happy Anniversary! Aaron got me some of my favorite flowers. Last night Sydney discovered our cabinets and obviously I didn't get the sandwich maker complete clean last time we used it. Gross! Inside our storage space is his new favorite place to nap. Then this morning I was able for the first time in 6 weeks to cook something on our stove! Yummy oatmeal for breakfast. We're ecstatic to be saying bye, bye to microwave food.
p.s. I was going to post the before and after of the house today, but there are boxes every where so that wouldn't make for very good pictures...soon.

Dilemma

Breaking Dawn... Every time I pick up something from the Twilight series my life gets consumed. I'm still trying to finish up A Tale of Two Cities, however, I haven't touched it for the last 4 weeks since we got Sydney and started pushing to get our house finished. I thought I could wait for once and enjoy this one later, but everyone keeps talking about it. I would hate if the book was spoiled because I accidentally heard some thing. I have a one track mind when it comes to novels; I try to finish my current read before picking up another. I'm starting to feel that this may be a flaw, I have. Do I : stop & return or finish & begin. Hmmm....Think...Think... Think... Those of you who have or are reading it what do you think? I know you're out there!
p.s. I might, no I would, be sacrificing getting my home set up if I start reading Breaking Dawn.

All My Love Forever

We were planning on celebrating our 4 year anniversary (Aug. 3rd) today because it fell on Sunday so we rescheduled only to re-reschedule. We like to celebrate the big events, but we aren't super concerned about when we celebrate. The good news is we're getting the house carpeted tomorrow so we're working on the house some more tonight. It's all just so exciting!

I wrote this just so I could enjoy reminiscing, but I thought you might enjoy reading it...maybe. If you would like to read our love story through my eyes read on; if not come visit us again. I'm hoping to post pictures of the house soon!

I had just barely turned 18, had just returned from a strong spiritual experience in Nauvoo, and was starting my first semester of college. I was determined to devote myself to education and preparation for a mission. I moved into the dorms the night before class started. I was stressed, nervous, and late for a building meeting. I rushed downstairs to the crowded commons room and cuddled between my roommates on the sofa. I started soaking in all the do's and don'ts our RA was going over to look across the room and there was this guy in a CREED t-shirt. Instantly I thought, "That will be fun to date him." I'm not that kind of girl! I just knew I'd date him. During the meeting my eyes kept finding him, he had a light about him. I later found out it was because he was only 2 weeks off of his mission. That was the first time I saw Aaron, I was much too shy to talk to him so we left the meeting and that was that.

I went about the business of school and this new college life. All through the first week of school my roommate kept me awake at night to talk about this guy named Aaron (remember I didn't know my Creed guy's name yet). I finally asked her if I could go with her to visit Aaron. He sounded interesting and I needed a face for the name if I was going to hear about him every night. She really didn't want to introduce us, but she did. We went over and there he was the guy from the meeting. We all talked (my roommate talked mostly). Aaron teased me for always being in my pajamas, I totally blushed. We went on an ice cream run to finish up the night. That night as my roommate and I went to sleep she loudly stated, "Crap! You're perfect for Aaron!" I just laughed and said, "I'm going on a mission."

The next sunday I couldn't get any of my roommates to attend the fireside with me. Aaron had ridden home from church with us and as we got home I toyed with the thought of inviting him to go with me. As I contemplated this a very clear voice came into my head, "If you ask him you'll marry him." Me,"no way!" voice, "It will happen!" Me."okay, what the heck" (I must have been taken in by Aaron's good looks) We went to a fireside all about marriage and started a friendship.

Later that week we went on a car ride together through the fall colored canyon to get peaches to go with our ice cream. We talked so openly with each other; we shared things that neither of us ever really talked about. We were both a little surprised at the connection between us. Then we talk about how strange we were behaving around each other. After that we spent every evening doing homework together.

Two weeks into my college career I went home to visit my parents. We met in Salt Lake for dinner. I walked into the resturant, scanned to find my parents and quickly joined them. Before I could even order my step-dad confronted me. Gregg,"What's his name?" Me blushing,"What are you talking aobut?" Gregg, "Oh, please Meghann it's in your eyes! What's his name?!" Me, "It's Aaron. How did you know?!" Gregg, " I just know. What is he like?" Me, " He just got back from his mission in Germany. He's a musician, he plays the piano. He's a hard worker and he's going into Electrical Engineering." Come to find out my mom was a little dumb-founded with thoughts like, "What are they talking about! My baby has only been gone two weeks! She just left!" Aaron soon got to meet my family and it became clear he would fit right in. They all liked him. When he meet my Grandma they butted me out of the conversation in under 2 minutes flat. They chatted a long time and Grandma let me know she loved him. Watching him with her is vivid in my mind; it was nice knowing that he was right with those I loved so he was right for me.

Aaron and I had started a relationship that had everything we both had hoped we'd find. As marriage seriously became a topic I dug out my list of things I desired in a spouse. Aaron had them all. I was praying to know for sure this was right. I attended Gerneral Relief Society and listened as President Hinckley spoke to the women of the Church where he said,

" You are hoping to catch that perfect man. I have yet to see one who is perfect. Aim high, but do not aim so high that you totally miss the target. What really matters is that he will love you, that he will respect you, that he will honor you, that he will be absolutely true to you, that he will give you freedom of expression and let you fly in the development of your own talents. He is not going to be perfect, but if he is kind and thoughtful, if he knows how to work and earn a living, if he is honest and full of faith, the chances are that you will not go wrong, that you will be immensely happy."
I had my answer, I knew that it was right and my mission was kaputt.

From the start Aaron and I were open, honest, and talked about everything. Why should the topic of marriage be any different? Aaron planned a special weekend for my birthday where we went to the spring formal and that night we got to talking about marriage. I was scared so I was being diffucult saying things like, "You can wait for me to serve a mission." He finally looked me in the eyes and said, "Meghann I love you! You're too young for me to wait for you to go on a mission. I would want to marry you sooner than that." It doesn't sound super romantic, but it was. I confessed he was right and that I was in love with him. The next day we picked out our rings! We were married almost exactly a year after we met.

The past 4 years have been filled with laughter, joy, sorrows, hopes, trials, dreams coming true, changes (rescheduling), adventure, and a unity that continues to awe me. We love each other there's no doubt about that, but mostly we're best friends! We stay up talking, giggling, and repeating over and over, "No really, we should pray," only to talk another hour. We have the funnest pillow talk. We have plans for the future, goals, and hopes you could say. But I know that if life doesn't go as planned Aaron and I will be together working through things and loving every moment we have together.

Aaron,
5 years later and I still enjoy seeing you in that CREED T-Shirt.
All my love forever,
Meg.