Landon and Lucy

This thing we call life....

2013-01-04T14:04:00.001-07:00

Goodbye 2012...can't say I'm sad to see you go. Yes it has been a year since the last time I posted. Ironic that in the last post I put my life was dull and I had nothing to blog about...How I would give for that dull life, instead I don't blog because my life is too depressing to blog about. I have not even got on this blog in a year, and please don't be offended I have not looked at anyones blogs because in reality I can't see how perfect everyone elses life appears to be. The depression would be too much for me.

I started the year off pretty good. Landon and I found out we were expecting a baby...again...number 4 in December 2011. We were very nervous and reluctant to tell anyone because we had already lost 3 previous pregnancies and our hopes had been dashed again and again. A trip to a specialist in September wasn't too promising either.

So we cautioulsy went into this pregnancy. At nine weeks I started bleeding again, no surprise this had happened before and my OB was sure we were miscarrying again. So I went in week after week after week. Ultrasound after ultrasound and by some miracle my baby was still surviving. I had just begun to believe this baby was my miracle baby and he was going to make it and we would be a happy family when my husband passed away in late february. My life, dreams, hopes everything shattered and came crashing down on me. What was I to do now? My whole life was wrapped up in this person I called my best friend, my husband, better half, partner and soon to be dad. At a time I should be so happy and excited for life became so devastating. I wasn't even sure I could be a mom anymore at this point. But God had other plans for me and by some miracle my little one did make it. He was born August 18, 2012. He is the light of my life and truly the only that has kept me going these last 10 months. I truly don't think I would be alive today if it weren't for him. I would have given up on myself and life.

Yes 10 months I say...You are probably thinking that it has almost been a year I should be starting to piece my life back together. In reality I feel as if it happened yesterday. I still struggle to fight back the tears, I still sit in disbelief and awe wondering how I ended up alone and a single mother. I thought I would grow old with him. This past week I celebrated my 6th anniversary without him. I can honestly say it hasn't gotten easier. My little guy makes life bearable but just barely. I still feel like I barely can function from day to day and feel like I am sinking and sinking more all the time. I wonder...will I ever be happy again? Will I ever have something to look forward to? Goals? Right now I can only put one foot in front of the other and hope I continue to get up everyday and be able to be a good mom to my sweet angel boy. He deserves a good life so I have to be the one to give it to him.

So yes forgive me for being awol and truly I have debated even having a blog anymore. My life is not ever what I dreamed. I feel like I have had heartache upon heartache and just when you don't think life could possibly get any worse...the unimaginable happens. I pray and hope that somewhere in the future I can see sunshine and happiness again. I truly believe my angel boy Titan is a miracle and sent to me at this time for a reason.

So here is hoping for a better year in 2013...I really don't think anything could be worse or top 2012 but really I don't want to temp fate so I won't officially say that. So when you are feeling down or discouraged about your life, you can visit mine and hopefully feel better and blessed with what you have been given. Through it all I do know my savior lives and has been the strength and saving grace to keep me going. I have never felt more pain, sorrow, dispair or heartache but I have also felt the comfort from a loving heavenly father. Glad to know families can be together forever...but doesn't take away the pain or loneliness I feel now.

Update...Overdue

2012-01-20T16:43:00.004-07:00

So I have been the worst blogger ever. Biggest reason I don't blog....um my life is dull and not much to blog about. But even when we have pictures like from our family vacation in August I still have not posted and now will probably not :( I have not even downloaded the pictures from the camera onto the computer. Tells you how totally lame I am!!

We did make a trip to Utah for Christmas which was fabulous. Wish we could have stayed 2 weeks at least...instead it ended up being a couple of days. The weather was great for us though so can't complain.

Winter was made it's mark here in Spokane. We have had a snow free winter pretty much until 2 days ago. The snow wouldn't be so bad if they had ever heard of something called a SNOW PLOW! Seriously the roads are crazy and coming from Utah we are not used to streets never being plowed.

Landon and I celebrated our 5th anniversary Dec. 29th. Love him more everyday! Can't believe it has gone by so fast...I guess depends on who you talk to :) We didn't do much to celebrate this year but hopefully we will be able to get away for a mini vacation soon.

Landon started his second Internship Jan. 9th. He is in an outpatient office and he is very busy!! His last internship (since I have not blogged since then) was in a pediatric office called Youthful horizons. It was a good experience but what he is doing now is more of what he would like to end up in. He works long days 10-12 hours and has been studying a lot on top of that. He is super busy!

For me I am still working full time at WIC. Recently applied for a promotion and had an interview on wednesday so I will be waiting to hear back :)

I am challenging myself to take some pictures and post something new and exciting in the next month...There that is my new years resolution since I didn't make any others. For anyone out there that still even reads our blog. Sorry we are so lame!

God’s Will

2011-08-20T09:41:00.001-06:00

What does it mean to accept God’s Will? Verbally saying, thy will be done. Praying for what we want and then adding as an afterthought but thy will be done? How can we truly align ourselves with God to accept his will and have it become our own?

“The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them.” Bible Dictionary

I often think that we think we will/are accepting God’s will but in reality we wait patiently until he grant’s us our will. I think sometimes we are waiting for God’s will to align with our own instead of the other way around.

I have been thinking a lot about what God’s plan for me must be. Very different than what I thought life would be. I feel in my young 29 years of life I have endured many trials. At times I have felt my trials have been more than I should have had to bear, or more than others have been asked to bear which has left me bitter, resentful and feeling very alone. Close to a year ago I told myself I just wouldn’t be able to handle anymore. But we will always have trials…life is hard…and rest does not come in this life. So as long as I am still living I can expect to have trials. I think the key is learning to truly accept God’s will. Maybe then these trials will shape us into what God wants us to be. Often we are too close to the situation to see the bigger picture, where God can see all things and knows so much more than we do.

I have been praying so hard for what I want to happen, what my plan is and I need to start listening to hear what God’s plan is. I had thought the lord was just teaching me patience but in the end I would eventually get what I wanted. But I am starting to see that may not be true and I need to accept whatever he is willing to give me.

At a time when I think that I should be in the pit of despair I feel something very different…not sure if it is denial…numbness…or truly just peace.

A beautiful hymn and poem written by someone in her darkest hour…truly in turmoil and grief

Where can I turn for peace?

Where is my solace when other sources cease to make me whole?

When with a wounded heart, anger, or malice,

I draw myself apart, searching my soul

Where, when my aching grows, where when I languish,

Where, in my need to know, where can I run?

Where is the quiet hand to calm my anguish?

Who, who can understand? He, only One.

He answers privately, reaches my reaching

In Gethsemane, Savior and Friend.

Gentle is the peace he finds for my beseeching.

Constant he is and kind, Love without end.

God is the only who can give us peace because he is truly the only that has suffered in the same way we personally do. I pray for the strength to accept his will whatever that may be. Just when we think we can endure no longer he will be there to carry you. Life is hard and always will be, but that is why God sent his son so we can be made whole.

Long Overdue!

2011-08-14T13:02:00.001-06:00

Well it has been quite a while since I posted. I guess our life is lame and not much to blog about. I have been working full time so I actually have not been looking at blogs as much as I used to. Landon keeps up on everyone’s blogs more than I do. So I am sitting at home today and Landon tells me I should update our blog. I am not very computer savvy and really hate posting user the actual blogger so I like that I have live writer on my computer that lets me type out what I want and add pictures in the sequence I want and then it posts to my blog. So I get on here today to open it up and it is gone. I was not very happy. So I tried to post via blogger and was getting annoyed at how I couldn’t arrange the photos the way I wanted. So I finally figured out how to download live writer again so I can use it. Landon must have erased it…we have been having a lot of problems with the computer so he is constantly getting rid of programs and stuff to see if it will help. We probably need a new computer…who knows maybe we have a virus. So I finally put some of our pictures on the computer so I could put them on the blog. I really hardly ever take pictures so there aren’t very many but it has been several months.

This picture is from when I was in Portland (last post) and I met up with a couple of my high school friends for dinner. So fun to see them. I wish I could get together with friends more often!!!

Yep Landon and I went to WICKED! It came here to Spokane which I was pretty excited about. I had always heard it was the best Broadway play. I pretty much loved it! Landon liked it too. We went to dinner before the play which was right across the street and we ended up being like an hour early. So we are just hanging out and I was talking to a friend who was also there. I decided I better visit the Lady’s room before it started and my friend came with me. So we leave and come back and the guy won’t let us in….it had just barely started. Would’ve been nice if he would have let us know before we left, we did walk right past him. So yep I missed the opening of the play I still loved it though. I would totally go again.

Phyllis (my sister) Nick and Kensie came to visit for the 4th of July. It was fun having them here. We hit up all the beautiful places we could think of here in Spokane. This is the Spokane Falls in downtown Spokane. The river was flowing so fast since we had so much rain this year. We spent the day (4th) In Riverfront park and Manito and then watched fireworks at Riverfront park. I left my camera in the car for fireworks though…oops.

Heather I was wearing those earrings you gave me (love them) and by the end of the day I had lost one I will have to have you make me some

This is Manito Park and the Japanese Gardens. It is beautiful. Awesome place to take pictures. Leslie you would love it!

Yes that is a Pig! Roasted in the ground! Landon’s friend Jamie from school invited us to celebrate her daughter’s 1st birthday where it is tradition to have a luau to celebrate them making it through the first year. So they roasted a pig in the back yard. It was pretty cool to watch them dig it up.

Landon just finished school for the summer. Took his last test! Now he has one year of internships and then he is done done done! We can finally see the light! Can’t wait for our vacations in a couple of weeks, one to Port Townsend Washington with Landon’s family and the other to the Sorenson Reunion. No cruises or mexico this year I’m hoping our next big Vacation can be to Hawaii! Have a great summer!

Same Old Same Old

2011-05-06T13:09:00.001-06:00

So I really don’t have anything to blog about today but thought I would write anyways. This week has been a nice change. I got to go to Portland for a work conference Sunday through Tuesday. The conference was pretty lame but we were downtown with lots of shopping and yummy food places so it was great. I did so much walking my feet were in agony by the time I got home Tuesday night. I grew up in Vancouver for those of you that did not know so very close to Portland. So I got to meet up with two of my friends from High School for dinner Monday night, so fun!!!

I have been working full time now since January so this was a change and I got to have Wednesday and Friday off since the conference started Sunday and we got back at like 11:00 Tuesday night. Nothing really new is happening for us right now. Landon is still plugging away at school, he is definitely ready to be done. He did find out that he will have all his internships here in Spokane next year so no moving around for him which will be nice for the both of us because I probably wouldn’t have gone with him if he had to leave. Only one more year, can’t wait.

Landon’s brother came home early from his mission due to medical reasons, he had two surgeries this week to repair both his shoulders. They came to visit us Easter Weekend so that was awesome. What a great kid, he is so positive even though so much has happened. What a great example to us, we love him! We hope he will get to go back out on his mission soon.

As far as my self-pity goes I think I am finally starting to do better. Today I read that one of my friends is expecting a baby and I think it is the first time I have not cried when finding out a friend or family member was pregnant. That is progress right :) I know that I have a long way to go to be a good person and be able to rejoice with people in their joy when it is something I too want so badly. I think I am finally starting to get there.

Feeling great today after my Zumba class. Still loving it. Wish I could go every week 3 times instead of just Saturdays, dang work. Just kidding, I feel very blessed to be working to support our family right now. It is truly a blessing even though sometimes I hate it. That’s all for now. Sorry no fun pics. I do have a pic of me with my friends at the Moroccan restaurant we went to, but too lazy to download it. Ta ta for now.

Older and Wiser?

2011-04-05T13:21:00.002-06:00

Well I have not posted for quite some time...Partly because I have been busy working fulltime and partly because I really have nothing fun and exciting to post about. However it was my birthday on Sunday...yep another year older and wiser? Many of you wished me Happy Birthday on Facebook, thanks so much. It was General conference so my hubby and I spent the day listening to conference on the couch. I didn't even get out of my PJ's and shower until 3 pm :) The funny thing is I am starting to get to that age that I kinda don't want to tell people how old I am when they ask. Yep I am officially 29 years old. Many of you are thinking NO that can't be...thanks I don't know if I should attribute that to my beautifully young skin hahaha or to my immature nature J/k. Really though why is it that most women you meet stop counting at age 29? If you ask an older woman how old they are don't they usually say 29...of course we know they are lying. What is it about 29. Have I reached a big milestone or is this supposed to be the best year of my life and that's why they want to remain 29 or is it that after this year you go downhill? I hope that this year is a great one and that I too will love 29 so much I will want to stay 29 forever right? So here are a few of my new favorite things: 1. Zumba...I have started doing zumba and quickly becoming addicted, mainly only my saturday morning class with a specific instructor. It is in the YMCA gym and ~150 people or more come every saturday. I have tried a couple of evening classes with different instructors and I always leave disappointed. I wish you could all come with me :) 2. Samoa Girl Scout Cookie Ice Cream...Yep I know this kinda contradicts my #1. And trust me the scale sure is showing it :( More zumba less ice cream, my new goal 3. Prison Break...this is actually a rediscovered love. Landon and I loved this show and watched all of the seasons. We are now watching it for a second time on Netflix and I remember why we loved it so much. It's amazing how much I had forgotten. We watch it almost every night. 4. Reaffirming how awesome the spirit is when someone is inspired to say something I most definitely need to hear. Looking forward to a new year...As a 29 year old. Hoping to make it much better than the last year. Sorry our Blog has been so dull and boring!

Happy Anniversary

2011-01-15T21:38:00.002-07:00

Landon and I celebrated our 4 year Anniversary on December 29th. I can't believe the time has gone so fast! I have such a loving and understanding husband who puts up with so much from me!

In the last four years...

I was accepted into the dietetics program
Landon and I both graduated from Utah State with our Bachelors degrees
We have been on two cruises
Spent two summers on forest fires and one selling for APX
One vacation to The Mexican Riveria at an all-inclusive resort
Landon was accepted into PT school
Moved to Spokane, WA
Suffered through two miscarriages
Started several new jobs

And continue to love each other more and more all the time!
Neither one of us are perfect...But we are a perfect fit.
Love ya Babe!

Christmas 2010

2011-01-15T21:17:00.001-07:00

This year I had to work the few days before Christmas and the whole week after Christmas so we went home to Utah to celebrate Christmas the week before Christmas.

The Sunday before Christmas we had a Big family breakfast and opened a few presents. Landon’s mom decorated the house like a stable and we read the Christmas story.

This is what we got for Christmas!! I love it!!

We also got Boce Ball, we haven’t got to use it in this cold weather yet.

Christmas Eve we went over to the Murphey’s, they are the closest thing we have to family here in Spokane. We played minute to win it. Way fun, but I totally sucked at it!

We had two teams, I was on the losing team, I’m afraid I may have helped us lose!

For those of you that know my husband very well he likes to wake up VERY early on Christmas morning. Our first Christmas together he woke up his whole family at 5 am to open presents. Last year we were here in Spokane by ourselves and we slept in on Christmas morning, I was hoping he had outgrown it. This year though…I got up to go to the bathroom at about 3:45, not an irregular thing for me…and I come back to bed and Landon says lets get up and open presents. I really didn’t want to plus we basically knew everything we were getting for Christmas but Landon had one surprise up his sleeves. He got me two diamond band rings to go on both sides of my wedding ring. He totally spoiled me!

Landon got most of his presents before Christmas! On black friday actually. He got a big screen T.V. and x-box and black opps video game. A blu-ray player and lots of movies. I also got two pairs of boots and some shoes. We totally splurged this year oops! Now we are on a spending strike. Hopefully we can keep it up.

I love Christmas, can’t wait till next year.

Christmas Cards

2010-11-21T17:21:00.002-07:00

Oh how I love Christmas!! It is definitely my favorite holiday. I love the music decorations and of course shopping! I also love getting ready for Christmas which involves decorating the house, buying gifts for loved ones and sending out Christmas cards and receiving Christmas cards.

I have friends and family that make some very cute Christmas cards (you know who you are) every year. I am not that talented. Last year I printed my christmas cards through a photo website, this year I am going to do my Christmas cards through shutterfly.com they have some very cute christmas cards. If you are anything like me and need some help making really cute christmas cards visit this website http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-cards

I have been wanting to get more into digital scrapbooking and being able to make photo books. Shutterfly in addition to cards and other products does photo books as well which I plan on making to capture great memories. This year shutterfly is offering 50 free christmas cards to bloggers, check them out!! http://bit.ly/sfly2010

Hope you all have a wonderful time getting ready for the Christmas Season.

Family Pictures 2010

2010-11-15T10:40:00.001-07:00

My amazing talented Sister-in-law took these pictures for us in September when we were home visiting. Many of you may have already seen these on facebook but I thought I would post some of our favorites anyways! Thanks Leslie

This one is probably our favorite, we put this one up in our living room. The last picture we had up was our engagement pictures, it definitely needed to be changed.

This one is one of Landon’s favorites.

This one is probably my favorite

We also got a couple of pictures with my family while we were in Utah. My sister’s boyfriends sister took these ones. We haven’t had any pictures with my family for several years.

VaLaun and Jaxson, Phyllis, Deanna, Me, Landon, James, Kensie and Hope

This is all of us. Phyllis’ boyfriend Nick was supposed to be in these but got stuck at work.

Sisters

Vacationing In Mexico

2010-11-05T15:34:00.001-06:00

This post is long over due! I get so lazy about posting on this thing. The end of August Landon was off of school so we took a vacation, part of the time we were in Utah. Then we also splurged and went to Mexico. We went to the Mexican Riveria, south of Cancun. We were only about 15 minutes from Tulum. It was so much fun, we loved soaking up the sun on the beach!

Our First night in Mexico this was the view from our balcony. We had a pretty good view. We also had a hammock on our deck, which we ended up breaking, we must be fatty’s!! That first night we took a walk down the beach close to midnight and we got to see the sea turtles laying their eggs. It was pretty cool!

We spent a lot of time Laying on the beach, soaking up the sun…

Playing Volleyball…

And more Volleyball! We would play close to 4 hours a day! Loved it!!

When we weren’t playing Volleyball we would go snorkeling, kayaking and of course eat lots of Sushi! The water was great and the weather was perfect.

This guy would come to the Resort to sell his paintings at nights. He would finger paint anything on tiles. We bought two of them. They are pretty sweet. He was making this picture for us, we decided we didn’t want it oops :)

We went shopping in Playa del Carmen one day. We just went and stood out on the main road and within seconds a van/shuttle was picking us up and took us wherever we wanted to go. Landon was getting the bartering down well, even on things he had no intention of buying. He just liked to see how low they were willing to go. (A little annoying)

The next day we visited Tulum. Ancient Mayan Ruins. Very cool place. We tried to sneak into a tour group, but it ended up being pretty boring so we just walked around ourselves.

This was the fertility temple. Each corner had a face, kinda hard to tell in these photos.

Here is the staircase down to the beach, we had to go swimming cause everyone told us the beach at Tulum was amazing and was the best, they were right, the water was great and the sand was perfect. Plus it was such a HOT day it felt so good to get in the water!

Each night was usually some type of entertainment. This night they it was mexican night. They served all their traditional mexican food outside and had music and dancing playing. Landon liked those fried tortillas with cinnamon and sugar! They were dripping!

This was our last night, it was out on the beach, with drums and fire dancers. It was pretty sweet.

We loved our Vacation! Wish we could take another soon, probably won’t be for a while. We did get to spend an extra week in Utah after we got back from Mexico. We visited with friends, family and got to go to the Sorenson Reunion. It was so much fun.

Now we our back to life, Landon is back into the full swing of school. He is already sick of school…It’s going to be a long year!

Can’t wait for our next Vacation!

Why Me?

2010-10-13T18:28:00.004-06:00

Have you ever asked this question before?
Why me?
Why are these things happening to me?

But of course we are not supposed to ask these kind of questions.
We are supposed to think of all of the wonderful blessings in our lives and give thanks.
What about the times when all you can think of is pain and hurt?

We have heard all the comforting words...
God has a plan for all of us..
Everything happens for a reason
God never gives us anything that is too hard to handle
This to shall pass...
Everything will be ok..
I'm sure I have offered similar condolences, but do they really offer any comfort when you are truly in pain and suffering..I don't think so.

Today I have a flood of emotions
Pain
Hurt
Anger
Loneliness
sadness
despair
lack of understanding

Yesterday we found out that we have miscarried AGAIN and will not be able to have a baby right now.

Yes I am 28 years old, have been married almost 4 years, of course the first question we seem to get from everyone is why we don't have kids...when are we going to start having a family...Why are we waiting...

I'm sure most of you out there that know us have wondered, have asked...
When really all we want more than anything is to start our family.

It is so hard to watch everyone you know get pregnant again and again and again and have healthy babies. It breaks my heart everytime I hear someone new is pregnant, I try not to feel some sort of resentment, I just wonder why can that not happen for us?

I do know God has a plan for us... It sure is hard to accept sometimes though
I have just kept thinking of that song

Heavenly Father Are you really there
And do you hear and answer every childs prayer?

I know he hears all of our prayers, but it as times like these you wonder is he really listening?
Doesn't he know how much pain this is causing us?

I know we can't always have everything in life we want... I know we all have trials and things we need to experience to make us stronger... but sometimes I do wonder if some people really have too much to bear.

I'm sure we will get through this, we will move on... and I pray we will have a family someday...
but for today I am hurting, and really not understanding..
I pray God will give me comfort and strength even though I may not have the faith right now.

2010-08-02T00:17:00.001-06:00

HOOPFEST!

Spokane has a huge 3 on 3 tournament each year for all different levels. It is insanely crowded in downtown Spokane, hoops set up and down the streets. It was pretty cool to see. Landon’s buddy from school was playing so we watched his games and then scoped out the surroundings.

This picture shows how the hoops were set up down all of the streets. It was crazy! They had girl, guy, little kids, elite athletes. Tournaments for everyone.

Shock Football

We also got to go to indoor Arena Football. A family in our ward has season tickets to the Spokane SHOCK and were not able to make the game and asked us if we would like to go. We said yes of course. What else do we have to do. The best part was the guy sitting next to us. Literally we took a picture of ourselves just so we could get a picture of this guy without you being able to tell that we were taking a picture of him.

Fourth of July

Fourth of July we went with our friends to Airway Heights, had a BBQ and watched fireworks. We set some fireworks and watched the local fireworks from the neighborhood. There isn’t any illegal fireworks in Airway Heights so the Neighbors were lighting off pretty amazing fireworks. It was freezing cold though. I’m used to it be HOT on 4th of July, not this year! Landon is holding Parker, my friend Steph’s son. He absolutely adores Landon of course. He was scared to death of the fireworks.

This is my good friend Steph and her son Parker. She had to cover his ears. He sat like this most of the night.

One more week and Landon’s Summer Vacation will finally begin. I know summer is almost over for most people. We will be going to Utah for a family reunion and going on a vacation to MEXICO. We are going to CANCUN all inclusive resort. We are so excited. Hopefully I will post those soon after the Vaca and not wait for 3 months. So sorry I’m a lame blogger!!

Summer Fun!

2010-08-01T22:06:00.001-06:00

So as you all know I haven’t posted anything for several months. I know I am horrible. This last month has been really busy for both Landon and I. I started another job beginning of July at Holy Family Hospital and have been training and working at WIC. I sometimes don’t get a day off of work for a long time. Landon has been doing an Internship in Pullman, WA which is about 1 1/2 hours away. So he lives in Pullman during the week and comes home on the weekends. Before our busy month we did take a trip to Utah for Landon’s best buddy from high school’s wedding and to meet our newest nephew. We had a great time. Here are some of our pictures from the trip.

Here is Jacob Chalmers and his wife Netti.

Landon’s old high school buddies. After the reception we went out with two of his buddies and their wives for dinner at firehouse…Oh how we miss firehouse! Nothing close to firehouse out here in Spokane.

Is this not the cutest picture? Landon taking a nap with our cute Nephew Taeden, only 2 days old.

We couldn’t help Leslie much with the baby, but we could entertain Kaysen. Anyone who knows my husband knows he is amazing entertaining kids. All kids LOVE him! Kaysen constantly wanted us to jump on the tramp with him.

So funny…Landon is jumping with Kaysen and says Wow it is really hot out here and I’m sweaty so he takes his shirt off and is putting it on the fence..as Landon is turned around Kaysen says, “yeah it’s hot and sweaty” and starts taking his shirt off. I was dying laughing. He is the cutest little boy ever! We love him to death.

I really just wanted to put this picture on here so you could see Kaysen’s underwear hanging out of his shorts, gotta love it!

We loved Playing with the little ones. Can’t wait to see them again this month!

It’s that time of Year!

2010-05-28T00:23:00.001-06:00

It seems like this is prime time for weddings! Yes wedding season has just begun. We have had several wedding invitations plastered to our fridge. Just a couple of weeks ago I got to go to one of the best weddings of all, my cousin Angie. She has been like a sister and my best friend for many years now. I love her so much and I’m so glad she is finally happy. Everyone kept asking me if I was going to go to the wedding since I no longer live in Utah, of course what a silly question. It was so good to see my family, the only thing missing was my handsome husband he had to stay home and go to school sorry babe!

This is me and Angie, she is such a beautiful bride! What a gorgeous dress, loved it!

Here are a few of my fabulous favorite roommates! So good to see old friends.

One of my best friends Chelle my Bell

The night before the wedding a few of us girls went out for a little fun. We rode go-karts and got ice cream. Yep I know really livin it up :)

The happy couple coming out of the St. George Temple!

My cousin Tyra and my sister Phyllis

My cousin Berlyn, she had her baby the very next day! Yep I got to go and hold the brand new baby, only 2 days old :)

It was so fun to get to see family.

Next wedding we are off to, Landon’s best buddy from high school. Just two more weeks!

The Journey to the Cross

2010-04-24T18:17:00.001-06:00

Here are some of the pictures from the Easter Pageant we went to. I was really impressed with their props. It was called Journey to the cross. I liked that this display of Christ’s life helped me remember the real reason of Easter, and the wonderful gift he has given us all!

Jesus at the wedding when he turned water to wine…one of his first miracles

Jesus healing the sick, the blind and raising the lame. He truly performed so many miracles and continues to perform miracles in our lives every day!

Judas negotiating to trade the master for 30 pieces of silver

The last supper with Jesus and the apostles.

The garden, where Jesus fell on his face and bled from every pour as he felt our every pain, suffered for all our sins.

Judas betraying Jesus at the garden.

Pilate washes his hands of Jesus, the crowd chanting crucify him. He lets Jesus be taken to be crucified.

The Crucifixion

Three days later, the tomb is empty…

He is Risen! He lives, and because He lives we may too live again!

How grateful I am for my savior Jesus Christ.

Easter!

2010-04-05T22:49:00.002-06:00

Well I do have a few photos that I will have to add later because I am too lazy to do it now. I just wanted to reflect on some of my feelings that I have had this easter season. I loved President Monson's talk where he quoted Job, when a man dies, shall he live again? I think many of us know the answer to that question but how often do we ponder what that really means? I love that easter gives us the time to reflect on the resurrection. For anyone that has lost a loved one the resurrection becomes a very real thing as we long for that day that we can see our loved ones again.

Yesterday we went to an outdoor depiction of christ's life leading up to his crucifixion and resurrection that was put on by a local church here in our neighborhood. At first I thought it was kinda cheesy because the acting was not very good but as we continued through the life of our savior and especially as we approached his crucifixion I could not help but be touched with the awful pain he must have felt and endured for all of us. To have the father's spirit withdraw from him would be more than anyone could bear, yet he endured. How blessed we are to always have the spirit with us and be able to partake of the special blessings offered by the atonement of our savior Jesus Christ. I am so grateful to know my savior lives, that he was resurrected and because he lives we too may live again and be able to see our loved ones again.

I hope this easter season as you celebrated that you were able to feel and remember the real reason why we celebrate easter and give thanks to our savior who has given us the greatest gift of all.

New Recipe Ideas

2010-03-08T16:09:00.003-07:00

So I seem to get bored with the food I make really easy these days. I am always wanting new recipes and ideas. My friend gave me a link to a food blog quite a while ago and on that blog is a link to another recipe site. The website is www.ourbestbites.com I have recently been looking through quite a few of the recipes on this website and I have already found a lot of great ideas and recipes that I like. I recently made the baked creamy chicken taquitos which I thought turned out pretty good. I also have written down many other recipes that I will be trying soon. Thought I would share this with anyone that also wants new recipe ideas. Enjoy!

Finally!!

2010-02-01T15:32:00.002-07:00

I am finally working! Yeah I know it is about time. I started at WIC two weeks ago. I have just been doing training and should be on my own soon. I was hired on as an intermittent dietitian, which means I am on call. I am hoping that I will get to work the maximum hours majority of the time. I love having something to do and actually getting to use my degree is nice too. It is so fun to be with babies all the time. Except when they cry because I have to weigh them and measure them, they think I'm the bad guy. The restaurant I was supposed to start at still has yet to open, I'm beginning to wonder if it ever will.

Landon's Birthday was the 24th, happy b-day honey. We had some friends over for cake and ice cream, I realized our place is still a little small and not very entertaining for kids (Sorry) :) He is the big 26 now. What a great husband I have.

We are totally loving our winter here so far. We still have yet to have more than an inch of snow last more than 24 hours. A few weeks ago it was 50 degrees outside. It has been quite rainy but we will take it. It has been so nice to have a break from a hard miserably cold winter!!

Home For the Holidays

2010-01-17T22:57:00.001-07:00

This year we stayed at home for the holidays. It was a bit different just being the two of us, but we still had an enjoyable time. Landon was out of school for three weeks and I still have yet to start working so we had a lot of time together. We spent a lot of our break being very lazy, watching 24 mostly. We have made it through 6 seasons in a month :) Somewhat pathetic but we have enjoyed ourselves.

About a week before Christmas we went to see a Christmas play, the Nuncracker. Yes NUN. It was a spoof off the nutcracker with nuns. It was pretty funny. The Murphy’s in our ward gave us the tickets to go. They are so sweet!

We Also went to Bunko party we several families, it was very fun. Landon won a prize for the longest winning streak and I won a prize for the longest losing streak! Hey I still got a prize.

We spent Christmas eve with the Peterson family from our ward. They have 4 children and some of their family was also there. Every year they eat soup and rolls for Christmas eve, act out the nativity and sing the twelve days of Christmas. Landon and I got to help with the Nativity :)

We were two of the wise men. We even had gold, frankincense and muir.

Joseph, Mary and Baby Jesus

Christmas Day we had dinner with another couple from our Ward. I made my first ham and a sweet potato casserole. It was nice to be able to have dinner with someone else so we weren’t all by ourselves. Christmas morning we opened our gifts together, we didn’t get up so early this year, it was nice!

Yes I got two pairs of shoes and slippers. This was my good deal at thanksgiving! Landon spoiled me and got me Henkel knives. I’ve been wanting a good set of knives for a while. They are amazing.

Landon Also got shoes and slippers for Christmas. We also got a lot of nice gifts from Landon’s family. His parents spoiled us and got us a new comforter set, a shop vac, card table and chairs, a cookie sheet, and some emergency preparedness stuff. Skyler gave us a popcorn popper, love it. We had a great Christmas. We were pretty frugal this year, but it’s nice to know that Christmas is more than just gifts!

We celebrated New Years with a few friends at our house playing games and of course eating lots of food. It was a great year!

Best of all over the break Landon and I celebrated our third Anniversary. I can’t believe how fast it has gone. I am married to the best man ever. We have so much fun together and he is truly my best friend! It was a great year!

Jobs

2009-12-05T14:55:00.003-07:00

Well here is the job sitch... for those who have been asking. I decided to take the job at the Restaurant as a server. The job at the barber shop kinda yanked me around and then told me they were only gonna pay minimum wage so I was mad. The restaurant pays minimum wage plus tips so I figured I would make a lot more money and it's a lot closer. I had an informal orientation on Nov. 18th to turn all our paperwork and stuff in. We were supposed to start training the following week (thanksgiving) but training was pushed back to start Nov. 30. So we get back on sunday and I have email that training is pushed back again to Dec. 7th a whole week later. Then on Dec. 4th I get another email that the restaurant isn't opening now until dec. 31st and we won't start training until dec. 28th. It has been really annoying and frustrating!! So yes I am still not working. I had an interview yesterday for the WIC job but it is only an on call position with really no hope for advancing. The lady doing this position has been there 5 years. I will know in two weeks if I got that job, but not sure how I would make it work. So I guess I should start looking for jobs again. I really can't believe I've been unemployed this long, I'm really not that big of a loser I promise!!!

So Much to Be Thankful For…

2009-12-03T14:18:00.001-07:00

Last minute Landon and I decided to make the drive to Utah for Thanksgiving. I was supposed to start training the week of thanksgiving so we didn’t think we would be able to make it, but then the training was postponed. We figured with me starting a new job I wouldn’t be able to get time off for Christmas and the weather had been pretty good up to this point so we decided to go. We let Landon’s dad know we were coming Sunday evening, but we didn’t tell Landon’s mom. I think she thought we might come but we thought it would be fun to keep her in the unknown :) So we left for Utah Tuesday after Landon got out of school and got in park city late late that evening. My cousin Angie and my Aunt Joan came to visit on Wednesday and then my sister Phyllis came Thanksgiving day, it was fun seeing some of my family at the same time as Landon’s.

So here is the Gang on Thanksgiving. The whole family is here :) My sister is taking the picture. Somehow I didn’t even end up with a picture of the two of us.

Tyler received his mission call on Wednesday, but waited a whole day to open it on Thanksgiving with the whole family there, I don’t know how he waited that long I don’t think I could’ve waited… So we were very grateful to be able to be there to see him open it…

He read the whole letter, but left out where he was going, what a turkey!! He is going to Londrina, Brazil. Good luck Ty we love you!!

This is such a boy picture, why do guys hate to smile in pictures…I just don’t get it.

We also went shopping on Black Friday, no pictures to show. I should have taken a picture at Wal-Mart, mass craziness. I don’t usually go shopping on Black Friday but I wanted to get some good deals. Landon and I both needed new running shoes. Landon’s family always goes shopping on black friday, so we get out the ads on thanksgiving and decide where we are going to go. So we hit up Wal-mart first, then we went to Shoe Carnival, this was mostly for me. I was looking at shoes for me and Landon and I told my mother-in-law and Tyler they could go to the next store and leave me there. They were doing a raffle at 7 for a $100 shopping spree. So we all got tickets they left and I continued to shop. I got me running shoes and boots $30 each and then I was looking at running shoes for landon, they were on sale for $45 but as I was looking at them they priced them down to $30 for the next 10 minutes. So then I just sat and waited for the raffle. About 5 min. before it started Maureen and Ty came back they had gone on a wild goose chase to JC Penny, apparently cottonwood Mall no longer exists. So we went to the raffle and they start calling the numbers. After each number they called if you had that number you were supposed to yell wahoo. So we were all yelling wahoo, and then the last number was called and it was ours, I screamed for real that time! I was so excited I have never really one anything. So then I went and found another pair of shoes for Landon and we got Ty some shoes at half off. So we got 5 pairs of shoes and a package of socks for $75 I was so proud!!

Yep we went to the BYU Vs. Utah game. Landon was pretty excited when Grandma and Grandpa offered their tickets to us. It was fun. Mike, Leslie, Tyler and Rich also were at the game with us. BYU won, sorry Mike.

Before and after the game we got to visit with our friends Mike, Whitney and Brig. It was good to see them again.

About a week before Thanksgiving Landon’s PT class did a Turkey Bowl, well kinda. They even let the girls play how nice huh.

I’m taking the picture so I’m not in this one.

Nice try Blake..maybe you’ll get the tackle next time :)

These are my friends Stacie and Katie. We were BFF in junior high and High School. Seriously inseparable. I would go on vacations with Katie, I lived at her house one week and she was going to live at mine. We used to tell people we were twins and they actually believed us. The three of us spent all of our free time together. We would always spend the night at each others houses…and get in trouble together too, sneaking out of the house in the middle of the night, what were we thinking. Well this was our reunion we hadn’t seen each other in like 7 years. I moved to Utah as a senior in High School and we lost touch. But now I’m back in Washington so we could get back together. Stacie just lives in Kennewick. It was so fun just catching up and remembering old times.

So Now here Comes some Old Pictures..Sorry Here is Halloween, I know it’s almost Christmas

Landon’s Class did a Sterotypes party a week before Halloween. Yes we dressed up as bums, or homeless people or hitchhikers, whatever you want to call it. It may seem weird but really there are so many of these here in Spokane. We live right off the freeway and whenever you go to get on the freeway they are there with their signs begging for money, food or a ride somewhere. Downtown Spokane is even worse, they are everywhere.

We weren’t the only one with the idea either…We picked this one up on the way to the party J/k

These were all of the girls at the party. Most of them are in Landon’s Class.

This is Jenny, I just had to have a picture of her outfit, she said she was Jane Fonda, I thought she was Richard Simmons!

Second pic, mechanic and his pregnant smoker girlfriend (so funny)

I wish this picture would have turned out better. This is Mike and Regina, Regina was a cross-dresser, except she is really a girl but Landon thought she really did look like a man.

We went to another Halloween party at our Friend’s Stephanie and Kirk. Their house was decorated so cool. I wish I had better pictures to show. It was quite fun. We also did some pumpkin carving. I think this is the most we have ever done for Halloween. It was fun.

Now it’s time to get ready for Christmas!!!

Hope you all had a great thanksgiving, we did.

Perspective

2009-11-21T23:12:00.003-07:00

Today I had one of those days that you (Maybe I'm the only one that has these) sulk all day and have a little pitty party about all the things that I feel are going wrong in my life. So as I am feeling my life is so hard I receive some horrible news from my sister...I can't even imagine the pain she is going through, in addition to this news I hear a friend has lost her baby and my heart aches for her. I was definitely humbled today! I am truly so blessed and if I would recognize more often the blessings I have been given maybe I wouldn't have the pitty party days. I do know that everyone goes through hard times and I know that in some of the lowest times in my life the only way I was able to push through was through the help of our savior Jesus Christ. He loves all of us so much and through his healing powers anything is possible, I do believe that, sometimes I forget this but he is there if we will reach out our hand for help. I want to say thank you to everyone who has touched my life and been such a great example of humilty, love, patience and endurance through hard times. I have been blessed with a wonderful husband who puts up with so much from me and I have wonderful friends and family..if you are reading this you are probably one of them, thanks so much!!!

2009-11-07T16:27:00.002-07:00

Well this may be somewhat of me babbling but if anyone wants to offer me a new perspective and advice I would love to hear it. I've been looking for a job here in Spokane for about two months. Thursday I had my second interview with a new Restaurant opening up and was offered the position. Today I went in to learn the computer system of a high end barber shop and was offered the receptionist position. I frequently check websites for the hope of a dietitian job opening. This morning as I was browsing my regular websites I found that spokane regional health district is hiring a wic nutritionist, however it is only an on call position, no benefits with maximum of 70 hours per month. I will apply on monday and see what happens. In the meantime I have to decide which job to accept. The restaurant doesn't open for a couple more weeks. I will get 30-35 hours per week getting paid minimum wage plus tips, they are open until 2 am and I would most likely have to work sundays. It's only a few miles from my house. No time off for holidays. The barber shop I would get 35-40 hours a week, no weekends, off by 7 at night. It only pays 9.00 an hour, I have to drive downtown (20 min) and pay for parking. I will be eligible for benefits after 3 months. I see pros and cons about both jobs. Not sure exactly what to do. Thanks for listening!!

Random

2009-11-04T01:51:00.001-07:00

Well it's after midnight and Landon is in bed and I can't sleep. I went and played volleyball tonight and came home to a sleeping husband. I tried to go to sleep but I had just been running around for 2 hours playing volleyball, not gonna happen. For all of you that are wondering Spokane is great! We really like this area so far and have met so many nice people. The job hunt has been frustrating and not very fruitful but we can't have it all now can we :) Here are some random pictures that I never got around to posting before. I do have some Halloween pictures but I need to download them on my computer, not tonight!

Here are some of our friends in Florida that sold APX with Landon this summer. We were having a barbeque on a Sunday Afternoon.

My sister Phyllis came out to visit for a few days. We spent most of the time at the beach! Here we are at Red Reef.

We went snorkeling, don’t we look so cute, yeah right!

The last day Phil was here we went down to Ft. Lauderdale to do some shopping and get her some souvenirs. I asked her before we left if we should bring swimsuits to go to the beach she decided we would just come back to Del Ray. Well we get down to the shops at Ft. Lauderdale and we are right off the beach and the water looks beautiful. One of the shops was selling swimsuits buy one get one free so Phil bought two swimsuits a towel and we went swimming. It was funny but we had a good time!

On our way home from Florida and before we made it to Spokane we stopped in Bear Lake for the Sorenson family reunion. We had a great time. Here we are with Grandma and Grandpa Sorenson. We love you guys!!

Oh look at that brotherly love!

This was so adorable, Kaysen pulling Addie in the Wagon.

We look forward to more Sorenson Reunions!