College Days reunion

 ( last weekend)

We finally had a long over-due college girlfriend/roommate reunion. We all went to Utah State together and had one year that will always go down in the history books. For me it was my Sophmore year at USU. We all lived in Old Farm together and were nuts and every day was a party ( not like a frat house party, a nice mormon girls kind of party ) it felt like one of the longest years of my life because I have soo many great memories from that one year. I loved that year. It was also the year I met Braden. Those memories will tie to each other for the rest of our lives. Life is crazy and we all live far away and have totally different lifestyles but when we get together it feels the same ( almost). We are alot more boring than we used to be! Half the fun was just reminiscing about how much fun we used to have! Jenny is our friend that is still living it up as a single girl. I slept over at her apartment and it was so weird to be there and be married. I was there and it seemed familiar but being single and in college with roommates feels like a dream, like something that happened a lifetime ago. Good memories. Glad it's over at the same time. It helped me remember who I used to be and I used to be more confident and carefree. It's hard to be that way when you have so many responsibilities but I need to remember to still have fun and not take everything so flipping serious all the time! Thanks girls! I loved being with you and forgetting about all of my grown up worries for a few hours. Everyone needs a little girl time in their lives, am I right?

There's a lake in our backyard!

 

Look at all that water! Our lake is attracting all manner of wild beasts. Okay they're just birds but I was still blown away at all the wildlife that was just down the street because of all the flooding. I literally just stood there and looked at birds eating who knows what for like 45 minutes. I'm easily entertained I guess! Got a nice farmer tan to prove it! I've always loved wildlife though, I got so excited about this and I wanted Braden to be just as pumped as I was-he never humors me! What a dud. I even saw tiny baby ducklings and baby goosen! or is it geesen? What a swell day. I don't need friends or a social life- I have my little bird friends to keep me entertained! Those pictures really don't do it justice, I promise it was really cool.

Our weekend in pictures

Braden calls us "weekend warriors" because we seem to go nonstop all weekend, every weekend lately. And it's so fun! No work, no worries really. We have become experts at squeezing every possible ounce of fun and excitement from those two and half precious days of freedom! I have good intentions to clean my entire house on Saturday but there are soo many better things to do! I'm lucky if I vacuum, do the dishes, and get one load of laundry done on Saturday. I don't think I really did any cleaning this last weekend, I should probably catch up on that now. Oh well.

So we had another splendid weekend with Mother's Day and graduation and everything. On Saturday we went to the temple and went running, I planned my RS lesson and Braden prepared for a Sunday School lesson. All the men took over the classes so the women could enjoy Relief Society, it was really fun to have all the ladies together for once. We went over and played volleyball with family and celebrated our sister in laws college graduation, well I didn't play any volleyball because it's just too embarrassing, I'm really good at eating so I stuck with that instead, went home watched my husband play another sport with our fun neighbors. Sunday was fun too. Holidays are so fun. Being with family and friends is just what it's all about. The Merrill's really know how to have a good time. We play a lot of cards. It sounds boring but with the Merrill's I promise it can get preetty wild.

It's Tuesday and that's okay because there is always a weekend in my future.

M.O.M.

I need to pay tribute to these two special ladies! They tried so hard to raise me right and what can I say, you can't win em all but hey they gave it their best shot! Really though, they mean the world to me.
My sweet grandma, we call her Muzzy, her idea, she's wonderful. Her laugh is my favorite sound in the world, she made up songs and sang to me when I was little, crocheted me dresses and blankets that I'll treasure forever, loved me unconditionally, I feel so special when she's around, she has amazing taste and even designed her house they live in now, the best example of loving service and warmth and I'm so lucky to be her grandchild!

My amazing mommy doola (Julia), her laugh is also one of the best sounds in the world, she is the most beautiful lady inside and out, we look nothing alike which is so unfair, I totally got jipped, she is tireless with serving others and an incredibly self less person, loves to sing, loves Michael Jackson and Aerosmith, gives the best advice, has the most immaculate house ever and is the queen of decorating especially at Christmas, loves animals, taught me to be kind, say your sorry, take responsibility, be honest, taught me that God loves me, taught me strength and faith and taught me that whenever hard things come my way to pray, to fast, to ask the Lord for help because He is always there for me. I owe my testimony of the Gospel to my mom. I have never doubted it. I felt the Holy Ghost in my life often because she made our home a haven and was always an example of a true follower of Christ. She is so fun, stylish, warm, caring, dedicated, hardworking, loyal, courageous, and talented. She is my mom.

I love you. Happy Mother's Day.

Just stop for a second and smile

We had fast and testimony meeting yesterday and it was just wonderful. I was too scared to go up, even though I sit on the front row every time, I'm a wuss. Anyway, I loved it because this month(s) have been hard and it's not that any one really bad thing has happened it's just alot of little things going wrong right after another, in this seemingly endless stream of just really bad luck or something. I told Braden that I think I know why people turn their backs on the church or on God- and it's not necessarily that they are mad or angry. I just think that your spirit can become broken. Like you become apathetic, you are past anger. You are past discouragement or bitterness. You just don't care. Like learned helplessness. I don't think I have sinned greatly, I mean I make mistakes every day and I have to ask for forgiveness everyday. I know that there is always more to do but I felt so blah, I would go through the motions but my heart wasn't in it. I don't think I had the faith that reading my scriptures, praying would actually help me or do any good. It felt like I was in a wave pool, as soon as I reached the surface and felt like I'm free and I can breath, another wave comes crashing down on you. And soon you just don't have the strength and you begin to drown. I felt like I was spiritually drowning. It didn't matter what we did, and watching Braden just work so hard and try and try day after day, it was watching him that really got me too. But I felt horrible saying that I think I understand why people just give up. That's what I felt like doing because it almost felt like the harder we tried the worse things became. I felt punished or something. Since Saturday I've been blessed and comforted and I know now that it will be okay. The Lord isn't punishing us. He loves us. I just needed to be more humble. The moment I asked the Lord What more can I do? Is there more? Can you help us please?? Not giving up but giving "in". Giving in to Him and allowing Him to help me. . . He was there. On Sunday everyone that got up talked about trials! And so many more people got up then I've ever seen in this ward. The majority of them talked about trials and getting through them. One girl told us her husband has cancer, others lost family members or their home and they were so wise and strong in their testimonies! And other things have just been working out a little better- I've won 3 gift cards this week already- tender mercy? I think so!  The Lord knows who we each want to become, and only He knows how to make that happen. I already feel through our challenges our marriage has become much stronger, our testimonies have grown, and we are focused on more eternal things. So, it's all good. "This too shall pass."

And just a few miles away

Spring has officially sprung!! We love Logan but spring it just weird and annoying! Where are our blossoms? Everything here is still dead and just an hour away it's spring! I guess I should be grateful it was just an hour away right? This weekend we went down to SL bright and early to watch our sisters and mom ( my in-laws) run in the SL half marathon. If you ever want to get motivated to run, go to one of these please! Watching the finishers, especially for the full marathon, is amazing and inspiring. We saw the very first person to complete the marathon, of course he looked like he was probably from Kenya or something, amazing! Finished just over 2 hours- a marathon!! Those people are nuts! Are we comprehending that that is like a 5 minute mile?? That to go that fast would be to set your treadmill at like a 12 and run that way for over 2 hours? I usually set mine at a 6 and I can barely run for 30 minutes. Apples and oranges but still! It's incredible what a body can do. We love the city. Braden and I love people watching so being in the city is the most entertaining thing for us. We were driving and had stopped at a light, looked over, and this lady was standing next to a building all alone waving her arms around like mad. She wasn't talking just flailing her arms around her head, I don't know if she was cleansing her aura  or praying or what the heck was going on but it was sure funny. When we went to the temple a man was there protesting-I can tell you about it but I don't really feel comfortable writing about it on here where anyone can see it.  Brade wouldn't let me talk to him but I really wanted to. What is the world coming to? Nothing is sacred anymore! To be honest though, it didn't bother me like I thought it would. I just thought, how sad. He will be accountable for that and that is a very serious thing to be accountable for. And he really isn't doing anything to me. To my testimony. It just makes me love my church all the more and the people in it! Most of us cherish what is good, we keep it sacred, we know it's value. We are happy and blessed because we know. I feel bad he doesn't understand. Last guy, went to Zupas, homeless guy out front with a sign that read: Boogieman ate my family, need money for a new closet door. Get it? He got 2 dollars out of us for comedic effort. You just never know what you'll see in the city. I'm always glad to come home to quiet, peaceful, calm Logan where people drive 10 miles below the speed limit because they can. home sweet home.

The weather is bipolar here

oh hey husband! shall we go for a walk on this lovely, sunny afternoon? Look at the sun shining and the practically clear skies, it must be at least 70 degrees outside!

Okay parents, you were right, the wind is actually really cold, but the sun is out! Bundle up and come outside!

 See? The sun is so bright we have to squint to get our picture taken! This was a great idea!

Yes, the wind is pretty much stinking my face right now, but it's still a nice day, we are walking!

Ignore me, I have horrible ideas. Never listen to me again. Let's walk, no run, back to the nice, warm house. See that house in the background? That's the house. Is that even a block away? We made it about a block before nature decided to ruin my lovely plans and start blowing evil snow darts at us! You let me down April, you really did. That's okay, mom's house is really cozy and we watched Tangled. Now I want to grow my hair out and light a lantern on fire. Why is Utah so crazy? I hope you figure out what season it is soon so I don't go crazy too!