Inexplicavel

Merry Christmas to ALL!! (Christmas photos and letter)

2011-12-19T16:03:00.000-08:00

Dear Family and Friends,

We feel tremendously blessed this year and so grateful for the family and friends that we call our own. Thank you for putting up with our craziness and loving us always.

Derek has been so busy this year (I don't know how he has done it). He finished up the training program at work and will be starting his permanent position sometime in January. It might mean a tweek of our schedule, but we are excited.

He graduated on Thursday with his Masters of Science in Civil Engineering... a feat that was in and of itself amazing!!! We are so proud of him.
I couldn't even begin to explain what his thesis was on as it is well above my head, but since it will be humorous to him, I will try. :) Basically (though not really), he took a design model for measuring the heat transfer of concrete and made an even better design... (Here, he would tell you that it isn't perfect and it needs more work added to it... but that is for another Masters Thesis). He used many equations of numbers that I couldn't possibly describe and so I will leave it at that.

All I know is that I love to have an engineer in the house. My pictures hang perfectly even on the wall, my shelves are straight, and I know that when he does any task (especially the dishes) it will be done in the most efficient meticulous way that only an "engineer" could come up with. I feel tremendously grateful to have him in my life.

As for me, I am a happy wife and mother to my amazing husband and adorable kid... I mean look at his face.

Wouldn't you like to wake up to that smiling at you in the morning. I am the luckiest girl in the world. I am working registry for Banner Cardon's center and when I get the shifts, I love it. Pediatrics is the best place in nursing as far as I am concerned. :) We have been so busy this year that it has flown.

We moved into a "new" (to us) home is an exceptional ward and close enough to everything and everyone we love.

I am so grateful for my little family and for the chance I have to be a mother to such a great little kid... speaking of....

Maxson is the joy in a long day. He is almost always content, unless he is tired or hungry.

He loves to be outside whether it is in a stroller on a walk or being pulled behind in the bike trailer or just going down the slide at the playground.

Give this kid five minutes outside and he will be happier and busier than you could have imagined... be prepared to run cause this kid is FAST!!!

He just started walking, opening/ shutting the doors and getting into everything that used to be out of his reach :) We love him
and think he is the greatest thing to happen to us.

Our newest news is that we will be adding a little girl to our family in April and are excited for the adventures that will come as a family of four. We love you all! Thank you for supporting our family and for being there when we need you. We are so blessed this Christmas!

Merry Christmas to ALL!!!

With Love,
The Morris Family

So much to say... so little time :)

2011-12-11T12:50:00.000-08:00

It has been too long since I updated my blog and I suppose I should be better, but with a 14 month old whose new favorite thing is to crawl on my lap and attack my laptop.... it's a bit difficult to type anything other than s;dhgoivndkjv khdgoibvn knv ...... lol.... SO needless to say, I am a bit of a slacker. Max is napping now and my hubby is content to sit beside me and do his thing, while I do mine.... so here it is without further adieu... an UPDATE. (especially dedicated to Danny who called me out on my slackerness.. :))

We are adding another to our little family... a baby GIRL!!! That's right! I am finally going to have a little girl in my life!

I remember begging my mom to have a little sister for me, and then she got pregnant and I was sure it was a little girl just for me. Ah, but there was a different surprise in store! Instead of a little girl, it was a little boy... and he became "my baby" from the day he was born.

My Dannyboy was my buddy, and I coddled him and did whatever he wanted me to do. He has grown into a young missionary who I admire and love. His heart is so big and he has an award winning smile! And he was born on April 15th 1991. I was 9 years old. My sweet little girl will also be born in April (of 2012) and I am glad she will share a birthday month with my Dannyboy.

She is healthy according to the ultrasound and already moving like she's ready to be here! Derek and I are so excited to meet her. I can't wait... but I guess I don't have a choice :)

My Maxson is growing up so fast. He loves going down the slide at the park and up the stairs at Grandmas. He is becoming such a big boy with a look all his own.

He climbs on EVERYTHING including the piano, the table, the bed, the couch and much more.

He hasn't fallen quite as much as I would have thought he would by now with all the obstacles he likes to tackle, and I am thanking my lucky stars for that!

He pulls everything out of my cupboards and especially love the dryer. He will put his face up to it when its on and just leave it there to feel the vibrations.

He hates for anyone to play the piano without him on their lap in the middle of it all. Daddy is the only one who can accomplish any practicing that way. I usually just end up letting him pound it out and then going for a walk.

Max is a good helper when we go shopping. Sometimes I end up in the check out lane with items I am sure that I did not put in the cart :)

Derek is graduating with his Masters in just 5 days! I can't believe it! I am so proud of him.... it has been a long road and he has accomplished a huge feat.

So we are doing well as you can see. We love our new home. We feel extremely blessed and grateful for the families we have and for our little growing family.

until next time,
L

Maxson is ONE!!!

2011-10-10T11:35:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how fast time flies. My baby is already ONE! He is such a happy little guy, always smiling and quickly outgrowing grandpa's nickname of "NITRO" to become the most mellow, content little boy around. He loves green beans, strawberries, bananas, noodles, grandpa Morris' soup (or basically anything grandpa M makes for him), yogurt and tomatoes.

He has figured out the sippy cup, but prefers his bottle. He loves to play with his toys. He spends a lot of time going in and out of the "play door" and just as much time shutting my house doors. Speaking of which.... I was cleaning the kitchen and max was crawling around the house.

When he does this, I shut all the bedroom and bathroom doors so that he can't get into anything he is not supposed to.

Well, my little guy makes a lot of noise when he is crawling around... talking to himself and giggling. So, when I didn't hear him for about a minute, I knew he was getting into something. I looked around my two rooms where he could go and didn't find him...

I started to panic and then I heard giggles from his bedroom. I opened the door and there he was trying to climb into the diaper genie... guess that door wasn't shut as tight as I thought....

He also loves to climb into the bottom drawers in the kitchen and sit there to play with his toys. He climbs in my cupboards in the hallway and shuts the doors only to come out a different cupboard. He really is one smart little guy. He LOVES to play the piano with his daddy.

He never wants to stand by the piano while you play. He wants to be on your lap in the center of the action while you try to play and he pounds it out. I LOVE IT! He has such a sweet and fun personality and his smile could melt you in a minute. I am so grateful to have him in my life. He's my little shadow and the best little buddy I could have hoped for.

Baking: Something new

2011-03-22T05:16:00.000-07:00

So as I was thinking about Max's first birthday/ birthday cake and looking online at all of the talented bakers out there, I had a thought... Man! I wish I could do that. After which I proceeded to have a conversation with myself (in my head of course so that no one would think I was crazy) It went something like this:

"Self, wouldn't it be cool if we were that talented?"
" Why, yes it would be, but how would we ever learn. They probably went to culinary school and all that.. we just got out of nursing school not so long ago. Do you really want to pay all that tuition and take all that time away from Max? I mean we do have an immense amount of free time, right? lol"
"Silly self, there has to be a class somewhere or a youtube video that could get us started... let's check it out!"
"Oh self, Why didn't I think of that in the first place!!?? You are brilliant!"
"Well, I am glad you think so, cause you're stuck with me"

So, I found course offered at a local store and off I went to sign up/ I have to say that it is a LOT more work than I imagined it would be, but I have learned many of the basics to cake design that would have taken me forever to figure out on my own. So I am putting these pics up. Keep in mind, these are my first attempts and are NOWHERE near to perfect, but I am proud of myself all the same. Just goes to show that if you see something you want to learn to do, just GO and LEARN it. Find a class, find a video. You can learn ANYTHING! So this is my current learning project and it has been SO much fun and worth all the Homework (that's right I said homework) The class has a lot of "practice and preparation" homework. LOL

So let me know what you think.

I forgot to take pics of the sugar cookies I made in Week 1: Oh well! :)

First Decorated cake Ever: Week 2 of class

It is a Vanilla cake with Strawberry filling (freezer jam) Yummmmmy!!!

It was Derek's Birthday and St. Patrick's day was the day after so I did a "I'm so Lucky" birthday cake. I really am SO LUCKY to be married to this amazing guy.

He makes me feel like I am the greatest thing since sliced bread :) to him anyway :)

And look at that handsome baby!!! He is getting so so so so Big and cuter every day!

This was my Just because "love you more" cake: my practice cake for the week

I could point out all the faults, but I wont. Just remember, it is just a practice cake :)

Also, ignore the fact that I am super cheesy. :)

Week 3: CUPCAKES and FLOWERS

These took a lot of time to set up for, but once you get down to decorating it goes pretty quickly.

So much fun.

My "shaggy mums" (the ones that look like pink 'cousin its') didn't turn out that great... a little droopy. I think my icing needs to be thicker. Otherwise, I think it was a pretty decent first attempt :)

They are vanilla cupcakes cream filled with
chocolate mousse!

One more picture... just because I am so happy with how they turned out!!!

I have one more class left and I will post my final project on here next week when I finish. It has been a great class and the instructor is awesome. It is the Wilton cake method through Michaels. So worth the money.

Side note: This is a diaper cake I made for a neighbor.

You really can learn anything off of youtube :) It was a lot easier than I thought it would be.

Just look up 'diaper cake tutorial' under google and it pulls up several different videos.

I put a wipe container in the middle of mine, but you can use a bottle of sparkling cider or baby powder.

Then all you need is a bag of diapers, rubberbands, some ribbon, tape and you are set!

Happy crafting!

P.S. I really do have the most handsomest kid ever. I love how BLUE his eyes are. He is just starting to roll over from front to back.

In fact, he startled himself yesterday when he did it. It was awesome. He is already almost 6 months. Can't believe it. LOVE HIM!!

The Max and the Treat :)

2011-02-23T22:30:00.000-08:00

Maxson Morris

So little update on my M&M. He's getting so big, so fast... to fast actually. Already starting to get his own little boy look. I love it!! And he has a killer smile!

Max loves to smile and he is always making me laugh, especially since he is at that age where he puts EVERYTHING in his mouth!!!

Okay last thing for this post. I made Samoas girl scout cookies and they turned out amazingly well!! Try them. The recipe I used is from this website http://leitesculinaria.com/37524/recipes-girl-scout-cookies-samoas.html. Definitely worth a trial run. You can't go wrong with these cookies. I must say they were a bit more time consuming than I expected, but turned out so delicious that it was worth the effort.

SAMOAS GIRLSCOUT COOKIE RECIPE

The cookie:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

The topping:
12oz bag caramels
3cups shredded coconut
3 tablespooms milk
1/4 tsp salt
12 oz bakers chocolate
If needed: 2T milk

The recipe says you can add milk up to 2 tablespoons if it is not sticking together. I didn't need any milk for mine. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt in a bowl. In a seperate mixing bowl cream butter, sugar and vanilla extract. Once creamed, add the Dry ingredients.

Cut the dough in half and roll each portion between wax paper until dough is approx 1/4inch thick. Chill in the fridge for 10-15 min. Once chilled, cut out small circles with a cookie cutter. I didn't have a cookie cutter, so I used an upside down cup. Cut a smaller circle out of the middle with a lid from a bottle or some other small circle you find in your kitchen to make them look like the original girl scout cookies.

Bake at 350 for 10 min or until bottom or edges are slightly brown. Remove from oven and cool.

Turn oven down to 300. Spread 3 cups of coconut on a pan. Bake for 4- 5min intervals stirring after each one until coconut is lightly browned (mine took about 15-20 min)

In a microwave bowl, place 1 bag caramels (I used the 14oz KRAFT caramels), add milk and salt to mix. melting caramel according to the directions on the bag and stirring every 30sec until smooth

Once the cookies are cool, scoop 1-2 tablespoons caramel onto each cookie (I used my fingers and got them wet in between to keep the coconut mixture from sticking to them)

Last of all, melt chocolate chips or bakers chocolate according to package directions. Dip the bottoms of each cookie in the chocolate and place them on wax paper to set. Pour the remaining chocolate into a bag and pipe in lines onto each cookie. Let them set on the counter or in the fridge. Just remember to put in an airtight container so they stay fresh!

The end result is pure deliciousness. Good luck should you wish to try this recipe. It was a lot of fun for me.

Note: I didn't have enough coconut for all my cookies, so I made some that were more like the Keebler fudge stripe cookies by dipping the bottoms in chocolate and then drizzling chocolate lines over the top.... delicious!!!

Soup that's Must try... at least once!!

2011-02-09T14:27:00.000-08:00

I have been on a real soup kick lately and found this recipe on one of my favorite blogs (thegirlwhoateeverything.blogspot.com) This soup is absolutely delicious!! nice thick and creamy.
I usually make enough soup for leftovers for my hubby for a couple of days while I am working. This only lasted 2 meals. The second day, you can just warm it up in the microwave or on the stove and its just as good as it was the day before. Try and enjoy!!!

Creamy Ham and Potato Soup

3 1/2 cups peeled and diced potatoes

1/3 cup diced celery
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup carrot, diced (optional)
1 cup diced cooked ham (buy a ham steak in the deli section)
3 1/4 chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 teaspoon ground white or black pepper, or to taste
5 tablespoons butter
5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk

Directions:
1.Combine the potatoes, celery, onion, carrot, ham and chicken broth in a stockpot. Bring to a boil, then cook over medium heat until potatoes are tender, about 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the salt and pepper.

2.In a separate saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour with a fork, and cook, stirring constantly until thick, about 1 minute. Slowly stir in milk so that lumps don't form and until all of the milk has been added. Continue stirring over medium-low heat until thick, 4 to 5 minutes.

3.Stir the milk mixture into the stockpot, and cook soup until heated through.

4. Top with cheddar cheese, chives, and bacon if desired. Serve immediately.

5. Makes 6 servings

Hot Yoga

2011-02-07T21:51:00.000-08:00

So I am trying something new... very new for me in fact and something that as an Arizonan I would have thought I would avoid. :) let me explain. Hot Yoga is exactly what it says and so much more. I heard about it from a girl at work who fell so in love with it that she teaches it now. The yoga class is similar to the classes I took at a gym I used to attend. The difference is that it is done in a Hot Room (98 to 105 degrees). I decided that I would try it. I have needed something that I can do for myself so that I can be a better mother to my son. You know the whole take care of yourself, give yourself what you need and you will be more able to give to others. I have felt a little bit drained the last few weeks with all the new events in my life :) Specifically trying to work full time with a newborn. Now, I am not complaining, really I am not!! I feel very blessed in life. I have this handsome kid who is such an important part of me, a wonderful husband, a great job and the gospel of Jesus Christ. I just feel that I need a little bit of balance in my life as I feel I've been just trying to survive over the last few months. Maybe Hot Yoga is the answer... or maybe its a just a step in the right direction. We will see. Today was my first class. I drank a lot of water before I went and woke up at 4:30 am to get there on time. It was difficult and HOT :) but it was AWESOME! I feel like I didn't really know what I was doing, kind of like those people who go to the gym, try out a machine, move things around trying not to look stupid only to realize they are in the painter's scaffolding (see Bryan Reagan)... but I survived and I don't think I totally sucked.... although, there is ALOT of room for improvement. It was so relaxing and I think I sweat at least a gallon of water in the first 5 minutes. Then followed 90 minutes of HOT YOGA. I felt so calm when I left, it was Amazing!! So on to tommorow. My goal is four times this week before I go back to work... if all goes well that is :)

Check it out if your interested
http://sumitsyoga.com/

Also, here is a website that shows the benefits of HOT YOGA
http://www.yogahealthtips.com/What-are-hot-yoga-benefits.html

Happy Four Months lil man!

2011-02-01T16:35:00.001-08:00

,Let me just say that my baby is the handsomest GUY in the WORLD!!!

He loves his ball! Well he loves to eat it anyway.....

Chillin with Daddy! yay! no clothes!

Okay, I bought this at old navy for Christmas and it was so stinkin cute! Perfect outfit for today. It was a bit blustery so we didn't spend too much time outside... Max isn't a fan of the wind.

Tummy time! Look at those eyes. I got him to smile right before this picture, but then he got distracted by the camera. All the same, he is still adorable.

Just a little video. Max is hilarious when he is tired. In this video, he ate and burped, now its down to relaxation and I do mean relaxation!

A day in the life.....

2011-01-20T10:14:00.000-08:00

of MAX ...WaKE uP!!, sleepy head... TimE to start the day...

diaper change!!! at least 10 times a day (or it feels like it anyway)
Take a Bath

PlaY with MomMy, No Rush to get ready when I don't have to work:)

Take a nap. . . on mommy's leg after eating!!

Run errands with Mommy
pLAY wITH cOusins!!!

and Take another Nap!!!

Visit Grandma Walter

Laugh at the toys in the bouncy chair and listen to the music while kickin my feet

PLay with DaDdy when he gets home from WorK

gET aLL ReAdy 4 bEd
KIssEs for MOM

Nighty Night!!!

.......And that my friends is a day in the life of Max!!!!

Dear Maxson

2010-12-12T21:33:00.000-08:00

Oh MaxSOn, you looked SO hANdsOme today! I can't believe how quickly time is passing. You are already so big. 2 and a half months old already and you slept 6 hours last night.

Mommy thanks you for that ExTRa few hours. After the last few nights, I really needed some sleep. You were so handsome in your blessing suit today. Thanks to grandma for buying it.

I have so many plans for you little man, so many dreams for you. Most importantly though, you should know a few things.

#1 Mommy and daddy love you so much

#2 You are a child of God

#3 You have limitless potential to grow and serve in the gospel of Jesus Christ
#4 No matter what happens in your life, you will always be my little man and I will always always love you

I love how you laugh to yourself while you are sleeping and are always looking around at what to me seems like nothing. But I have a feeling you are close to the angels still and that your cousins aren't too far away. I imagine you can still see or feel them close to you and have to tell them all the details of your life here on earth. I wish they could go through this life with you. You could have been three little buddies.... Daxton, Jacom and Maxson ....... but that wasn' t the plan that Heavenly Father set for our family. I am grateful for you Maxson, you fill a place in my heart that has needed healing for too long. You bring me so much peace and joy. I am so blessed to be your mom.

love you big as the sky,
mom

Maxson's first weeks

2010-11-23T20:31:00.001-08:00

Once upon a time, there was a little girl who dreamed of being grown up.
She thought of all the things she would do when she got Big... go to school, be a nurse, marry a nice boy, have babies...

Then one day she woke up and realized that she was grown up and she has this little person in her life and well.... he is PrEtTy great... better than she could have hoped

This is MaXSoN... the CuTEsT kid ever... can't believe how big
he is getting!! Already a month and a half old and getting handsomer every day

Grandma Morris and Baby Maxson

Maxson and Grandma Walter

This is my little guy, gets more personality every day

The family at the Arizona State fair

Daddy and Baby Maxson

Oh this little boy! So scary..... or maybe just cute :)

Mommy and Maxson on Halloween

Wore HiMseLf out... MaN, he's a BusY kid :)

Maxson Derek Morris: Newborn pictures

2010-10-23T11:02:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share a few of these sweet moments with you . . .

Look at his sweet little eyes

Oh the furrowed brow. . . always so worried

Just chillin'

Snuggled like a burrito baby

hmmm. . . love him!

SO wrinkled.. my little old man

just want to snuggle him. . .

Handsomest guy

This is my handsome little man, thought I would share him with the rest of you :) I love HIM!!

a special thanks to Sylvia for taking these pictures for us

Everything I ever wanted ....

2010-10-07T02:45:00.000-07:00

I feel like this day has been a long time coming. 28 years seemed like an eternity to wait and now I am here, holding my sweet little baby in my arms, with my wonderful hubby in the next room, catchin some zzz's for work tommorow. This is my family. Isn't life wonderful? This little guy is hands down the most amazing little miracle. I could watch him for hours. I am so filled with gratitude to my Heavenly father for his hand in my life and the blessings he has given me.

Baby's first bath

Perfect moments

2010-09-15T05:59:00.000-07:00

I can't imagine having a perfect life, that would require a perfect person which we all know I am not, but there are these moments in life that come along and as you are living them can only be described as Perfect to you. They are the ones that leave you smiling long after the moment has passed. They are sprinkled through my imperfect life to remind me of who I am and what matters the most. Here are just a few samples of the last few months of my life....
1. Saturday afternoons with Derek, running errands, making dinner, laughing about silly things and talking about future plans
2. Feeling my baby kick (and boy does he :))
3. The day I found out that I was pregnant
4. Learning that my baby is growing (already 6lbs 6oz), has tons of personality and is as handsome as ever (on the Ultrasound)
5. Looking around the room at my baby shower and feeling how blessed I am to have the friends and family that I do.
6. Isabella finally not crying when her mom leaves her with me
7. Talking to my mom and feeling like I am her favorite (even though she has five "favorites")

This list could go on and on. I feel so blessed to have so many people in my life who still care about me. Those who have known me since I was "Lollie" and the ones I have met on my journey to adulthood. Each has touched my life and I could not be more grateful for having them in it. So if you are reading, I hope you know who you are. THANK YOU for putting up with me. I wouldn't be the same without you.

IT'S A ......

2010-05-20T18:19:00.001-07:00

BABY!!!! not to be mistaken for an alien :)

AND IT'S A BOY!!!!

And check out his stinkin long legs!!!

We are so excited!! thanks for all of you who voted. It sure made it a lot of fun for us to have you guess. We didn't know if we were going to be able to find out the sex this time because the little man was too busy squirming around, but boy was I glad he finally flipped over :)

Now its time to shop :)

Survey

2010-05-18T08:24:00.000-07:00

Okay, there are only 3 days left to vote and I want to know what you all think!

So take a gander to the left and make a quick guess.

What will it be?

A BOY?

A GIRL?

AN ALIEN?

You are all awesome!

love you tons and tons,

lauralie

Secrets and Suprises

2010-05-15T10:42:00.000-07:00

I am near to impossible to suprise because I ask a million questions and I always want to be in the know. However, for the moment, I believe I am losing that "near imposssibility" as my husband has found a way around it and never ceases to amaze me with his suprises.

It was just last year yesterday that he proposed following dinner at Chino Banditos with a friend... lol. I had no idea then so when we went there last night, I didn't really think too much about it, just that we were celebrating the night with our date night and the same friend just happened to be there. I thought it was all this very strange coincidence (wow, I really have lost that ability to see a suprise)

The night followed almost exactly as it had last year, although my mom called me and asked if we could stop by and say hi cause dad's out of town. That didn't seem odd at all, I mean she always calls and says come over, so we did. Derek didn't get much sleep the night before and mentioned he would take a nap on my mom's couch. Also, completely understandable. We headed to mom's on the way home and stopped in to find my brother-in-law and the girls hanging out while my sister's at work. The girls were completely wired and excited to be at "gramo's" house. Savannah insisted on showing me something in the garage which I assumed would be a reason to ask me for soda or a popsicle, but she bolted right past the fridge pulling my had towards the back door saying "Lollie, come look at the flowers" Well, needless to say, in the backyard, in memory of a year ago, was my last surviving tomato plant which had up and decided it wasn't through with life yet, surrounded with red cloth and white lights and right in the middle of that beautiful little plant was a small red paper tomato.

My mind drifted back to the first one I had opened and the wonderful memories we have shared since then. I picked up my paper tomato and with the help of Savannah, opened it to find the wedding band that matched my ring. Oh, I am so lucky to have such a great husband!

NEWS * NEWS * NEWS

2010-05-14T16:42:00.000-07:00

They say (I am not sure who 'they' are, but they sure know more than me) that you should never believe everything you hear and I would have to whole heartedly agree with them. Rumors fly around quickly and some are never actually put to rest. I do not wish to add to that enormous pile, so I will let you in on my semi-guarded secret :) We are expecting an addition to our family on October 17th. Yes that is right, a little boy or little girl will add his or herself to our lives and I don't believe I could be happier. I am a little scared, a little bigger and a lot excited! As I look at all the amazing mothers in my own life, I am so grateful for their example to me. My own mother, my sister and my aunt most assuredly deserve so much credit for who I would like to be as a mother. This next adventure doesn't seem so formidable with them around. My incredible husband has shown me over and over again over the last 18 weeks that he will love me no matter how many strange things I send him to the store to get at crazy hours of the night, or how many times i start crying for no reason at all or how many different moods I might have. I must admit, I feel like the luckiest woman alive..... great family, wonderful husband and a sweet little baby kicking inside me just waiting to introduce his or herself to the world. What a wonderful life!

10 best moments of the last four months

2010-01-10T14:40:00.000-08:00

10. Straightening Derek's hair for Halloween :) it took about 20 minutes (70's style)
9. Haircuts: Derek cut off his curls :( and this is first time I have had bangs in 1o years (I am having second thoughts, good thing its only hair)

8. Taking the little girls to see The Nutcracker and trying to keep them entertained for 80 min... lol, i sure love those girlies, but it was certainly a challenge

7. Gingerbread house Contest with my Fam: We built a bridge or maybe better, I helped Derek build a bridge. We won for "most thought out and amazing graham cracker venture" Just kidding, but only because it wasn't a category. Oh well, maybe next year.

6. Going to see the play "A Christmas Carol" which was amazing!

And then having to change our flat tire after the performance.

No worries! Derek decided it was as good a time as any to teach me how to do it. It went well, until I tried to get the bolts off! They must have been saudered on... lol.

Luckily my husband is SO strong and got them off for me :)

5. After Christmas Shopping Sales!!!

Oh the LOOT! It was quite a steal!!

I LOVE CLEARANCE!!!

I can't wait to decorate my tree for next year!! ;)

4. Trying new recipes out on my Husband.He says he LOVES it! We have only had one real disaster when I combined fresh pineapple with cream cheese.... man! it was good for 5 minutes and then some sort of reaction occurred and boy was it disgusting. Nevertheless, the last few have been wonderful successes!

3. Night hikes: mmmm I love sitting under the stars with my husband; luckily we live in AZ and night hikes aren't too unfriendly in the winter

2. Kisserbella in a BOX (no explanation needed)

1. Waking up Christmas morning and every morning for the last 5 months and remembering that I am married to this wonderful guy

Pearls in the Kitchen

2009-09-15T08:26:00.000-07:00

I wore pearls today and not only that, but I wore them in the kitchen while I made the most delicious german chocolate cake that was ever made by me ..... lol. And to be honest, I am not a cake person by any means, but I have never enjoyed myself so thoroughly as I did while I made this cake. I didn't plan to wear pearls while I frosted and put the finishing touches on my self proclaimed masterpiece, yet I found myself doing just that. In my Sunday dress, pearls and apron, I felt like a queen. Funny huh? It was like a dessert high, without even tasting the dessert. I felt I had joined the ranks of Julia Child, okay lets not boast that high, I don't even come close. Yet, there is something about feeling beautiful and baking that is just plain incredible, to me anyway. So, maybe next time before I put in that casserole or bake my next delicious dessert, I will take a minute and fasten those sweet glimmering pearls around my neck, so that I can have one moment (or two) of absolute simplicit joy. :)
This is the final masterpiece in all its chocolatey goodness!!

(Derek needed a slice :))

Just a few pics from the wedding

2009-08-31T00:58:00.001-07:00

We are still waiting for our Pics to come back, but luckily for us, Derek's family took some pics and were kind enough to share them. So, because I can't wait to post them, here are some of them, just a taste of how much fun we had that night. We have wonderful families!!!

I am not sure how we all grew up so fast, but here is the most recent Walter family photo. 4 down, one to go (although not any time soon :)) I sure do love these guys! more than anything!

This is the beautiful cake! Isn't it lovely. Oh and did I mention that the top layer was a brownie? SO SO much better than cake! I almost didn't even mind when Derek shoved it in my face and wiped it all over my cheeks. :) . . almost.....

This is my bridal party and all of my nieces! Aren't they wonderful??

Leaving a trail behind us of bubbles and friends!

And no wedding reception would be complete without the getaway car, stolen of course and decorated by our friends and family :)
The End or just the beginning

Blessed

2009-08-13T17:37:00.001-07:00

Life passess steadily by, moving all around us so quickly that it hardly grabs the attention it deserves. We move through our days, running from here to there, grabbing something at the store, paying this bill, or cleaning that room, going to work or working at home, no matter.. time passes in its constant steady way.

And then there are moments when the world seems to stop, all things around you grow quiet and still as one single moment defies all of times rushing and stands halted like an unexpected gift. These moments are so rare and precious that they leave an imprint on your heart that cannot be removed. My wedding day was filled with just such rare moments, some of which are too special to share, yet a few that might give you an idea of what I am talking about.

My reception was in the backyard at my WONDERFUL AND AMAZING aunt and Uncle's home. Their kindness and love towards me over the years was reflected a hundred times that night and so many nights before. The backyard was brilliant gleaming in lights and soft glow. The reds and oranges blended in to soft glows from the light. All the people I love, friends and family came from so far to share in this sweet memory with us. I have never smiled so much, nor been so happy. My heart filled to the brim with joy and I could feel it as it tingled throughout my body.

I would look over at the wonderful, kind, honest and loving man beside me and could feel the joy rush in waves and the excitement of a future to come. He is ever so attentive, especially when I am not feeling well, offering service is simply his second nature. I love him.

Throughout the night and days that have passed.. not quite a week, I have looked over my life and its hustle, its driving forward attitude and rushed hum drum. I have asked it to slow down, to allow a small halt so that I might take the time and realize over and over again that in order to truly enjoy a moment you must give it time to stop.

And sometimes, there is plenty of time to look around see you are blessed. I could not feel more grateful, more happiness than I do right now. What a world! What a life! How lucky we are to be a part of it all, to be alive, to be free, to be in love. :)

Engagement !!!!

2009-07-08T11:02:00.000-07:00

So really, I have about a million things to do right now, but this is the funnest one so here it is. I promised pictures and by golly, I keep my promises (I had to think about that one for a minute just to make sure I wasn't telling a lie) So here they are :) without further adieu.

I love this picture!! I feel like we are in a photo shoot for Better Homes and Gardens.

Just a little bit of star-dazed gazing. Thought you all might enjoy as much as I did :)

Well thats all for now! I hope you enjoyed them. And for the record, my fiance is amazing ;)

Happiness

2009-07-05T17:49:00.000-07:00

Again my life comes to a crossroads and I find myself at my computer as I have been at many of the crossroads in my life. So many times over the past years, I have shed tears, smiled, found myself on my knees searching for understanding, forgiveness and love. Its been a rollercoaster of emotions. I miss my nephew, and understanding has come slowly for me, possibly due to my stubborness.

Happiness #1

Yet, here I am a year and a month later and I am Happy. For me, it is a time of new beginnings, the start of something great and long awaited. I am engaged to a wonderful man, who makes me smile when I don't want to, who loves me in spite of myself and with whom I am the happiest. We are getting married on the 7th of August, just a little over a month. He has inspired me with his steady kindness, his love for others and his desire to be better everyday. Hopefully I will find a picture and post it so you all can have a visual . . . I learn more each day of the Lord's plan and timing. Derek asked me to marry him back in May. He turned my parents backyard into a memory I will not soon forget. Huge thanks to his brother and sister-in-law. Now I just need to say a quick word about my future-in-laws. Derek's family is amazing. I feel so lucky and so grateful for their kindness to me, and for their quick acceptance of me. I have already caught a glimpse of how much love exists within the Morris family and I couldn't be more thrilled to be a part of their family.

Happiness #2

My mom's birthday was just last week. She has been my best friend for as long as I can remember. She is an amazing example to me and I hope that she realized how much we do love her as she went about her birthday. I really do have the most wonderful mother in the world!!

Happiness #3

Derek and I had my friend scott jarvie take our engagement pictures. He did an amazing job, of course. I will post pics as soon as I get them edited. :) Did I mention I am getting married :)???!!! to an amazing amazing man???!!!! jarviedigital.com

Well that is all I have to share for now. I will post sooner than later. I promise.

unlocking a broken heart

2009-02-21T02:27:00.000-08:00

I wrote this a while back, but I didn't finish it till recently so here it is...
Unlocking a broken heart

To fix a heart one needs more than tools
To fix a heart one needs love , not a fool
Other errands are easy compared to this task
A broken heart hides its shattered glass

I met a man who had some tools
He said he’d fix me, but here were the rules
“There’s pain,” he said, “and emptiness
But there’s love too, such that words can’t express.”

“Walk with me.” he gently guides
Leaning on Him, I begin to confide
Rushing tears feel hot on my cheeks
As I talk of the pain of those last few weeks

“Come here my child,” reaching for my hand,
“I once stood where you now stand,
The pain was anguish, the journey long
But the Father asked and he’s never wrong”

"The cup was bitter, the cuts went deep
I, too, felt grief. I, too have promises to keep
I bore these trials so yours would be light
Hand in hand, we will endure the night"

Medals, eagles, and awards

2009-02-15T08:44:00.000-08:00

My childhood was peppered with a series of goals each divided into a time period so that I could achieve them without too much grief (though my mom might disagree) That being said, I was looking through my jewelry box this morning for something to wear to church and came across the medallions I recieved while I was in young women's, a youth program in our church. Each year, I worked on goals, service projects and other similar tasks so that I could earn my Beehive, Mia Maid and Laurel medallions. For men, it is the boy scout program and eagle projects that help them to build character and teach them principles of hard work and what it means to be christ-like. As I held these medallions in my hand, I began to think of all the hours I spent doing my personal progress goals. Those goals kept me on track, helping me to learn what I didn't even know I needed. I contemplated on the goals I make in my life now. How are they similar? Do I make the right goals? I am getting better? Am I progressing or am I allowing myself to fall short of my potential because I haven't put the right goals into effect that will lead me to my best? Someone once told me that our progression is much like a descending escalator we are trying to walk up. If we stop we will move with the escalator, but if we use all of our strength we can successfully climb upwards. Goals are just the beginning. Acting on those goals, doing our best to be a little better, a little kinder, a little more loving, a little more diligent, a little more faithful, will bring us closer to our true potential. The medallions, the eagle were merely teaching tools meant to show us what it means to put your best foot forward and work for your highest potential. I think sometimes we get trapped in our own comfort zone and remain there for too long. The only way to grow is to set new goals, and move towards them, even if it means struggling a little and being uncomfortable at least in that you are reaching towards your best-self.

What is that L word anyway? A fitting beginning to Valentine's

2009-01-31T15:48:00.001-08:00

Why is Love something that comes so easily to some and so difficult for others? Some of us find it simple and uncomplicated while others of us spend our lives making it into this complex mess of rules, footnotes, conditions, and questions. I can't claim a complete devotion to either side, because I think I understand love in its basic form, but in its deliverance I find that while it looks simple I search for the hidden questions and conditions. Strange hmmm? I would have to agree. So in the last few months of my life I have decided to see it as it is, (however that may be or not be) I hope I don't offend anyone or say too much.

What is the L word anyway?

Love is taking the time to teach

Love is being willing to say the hard thing

Love is seeing someone's potential, who they are capable of becoming

Love is in a look (the best way to say I love you)

Love takes the weakness and strengths as a package

Love doesn't envy

Love provides a haven

Love whispers hope

Love is a good listener

Love is thoughtful and intuitive

Love often negates reason

Love provides a dream

Love is knowing your loved before it is ever said

Love is wiping a tear

Love is sitting silently beside your beloved when there are no words to be said

Love is wanting to be your best for your loved one

Love is acting on that desire

Love is in a simple act of kindness

Love is about giving

Love is the sweetness in giving a kiss

Love takes time

Love is patient (oh so very very patient)

Love is the butterflies in your stomach'

Love never ends, no matter what

Love can never be forgotten

Love is a choice

Love is more, ever so much more than a word

Happy Valentine's month! I hope all of you take the time to LOVE.. life is short, don't waste it

Isabella Kate

2009-01-27T12:16:00.000-08:00

Ten fingers, ten toes, perfect nose, rosy cheeks..... beautiful. There is a certain spirit that stays in the room when a new baby comes to this world. Isabella Kate entered this world on January 23rd at 7lbs. 10oz. and 19 inches long. (See Brittany's blog until I can post pics) Seeing Isabella and holding her for the first time seemed to soothe in ways for which there are not words. I am immensely grateful for the three beautiful nieces and one very handsome nephew that I have had the priviledge of loving. Nothing is more eternal or endless than the love for our families. Today, I am ever so grateful, more than words could express.

Camelback

2009-01-20T11:37:00.000-08:00

Camelback was a mountain like any other until this morning. For years I have heard of others hiking here and there, Camelback was always thrown in the mixed and discussed as a hard hike, but worth conquering. Well, today I added my name to the thousands of those who have hiked it in years passed. (I will post pictures as I am able) My friend and I decided to head up to the top... a feat that may have been too intimidating for me years ago (which my dad would attest to I am sure) I used to say I wasn't a good hiker.. I was afraid of getting lost or stuck on the mountain. Oh fear! Why must you always get in the way of life? So today we woke up early, put on our shoes and were on the trail by 6:00am. The rocky terrain looks a bit foreboding from the bottom, especially when the incline steeps and the trail turns around the bend. It is intimidating or could be, if you allowed it. As we hiked we talked about different metaphors for this mountain, and a few seemed to stick especially since life has shown me a bit of its rocky terrain over the past few months.
Just as the path was intimidating, this life is also foreboding when we don't know what is next or where the bend in our paths will lead us. We struggle through the rough patches and are grateful for the moments when the path levels out and we can see a few feet ahead. I found myself checking my footing constantly throughout the hike. Was the surface upon which I placed my foot solid and steady or would slide of it? Would I be able to maintain the speed at which we were climbing? was I running faster than I was able ore was I taking the time to do it right and safely? When I would check my footing, if it was sure, I would not fall. When I got in too much of a hurry or became overly confident and didn't step carefully, my foot would slip and I would slide a ways and fall. I kept thinking of our spiritual footing, our ability to look where we are stepping, to add those things to our lives so that we will be steady as we face challenges. As I climbed higher, my legs began to get tired and I suddenly understand the idea of standing on jello. However, I also learned that I am in control. I am the one that decides to stop or to keep going. I am the one who decides that it is worth the climb. Its my free agency. Now I can surround myself with friends and loved ones who will help me through whatever challenges I might face, but ultimately it is jsut me and the Lord. However, I have to decide what I want.
Now, let me tell you about the view.... we made it just before sunrise so we were able to take a few pics (again, I will post them)... more importantly... I have never watched a sunrise from a mountain until today. .. and it was AMAZING... We are so small in comparison to all that is around us. We believe that the beauty of man is something, but in my mind it does not even compare to the grandeur of the Lord's creations. Reaching the top, seeing the sunrise, looking back seeing how far we had come, all made the climb, the struggle and the tired body worth the trip. It was beyond words. I know that we are climbing our own metaphorical mountains each day... each trail is different and filled with rocks and tough spots, but we are the ones who decide to continue one to find the strength, trust in the Lord and become all that He desires us to become.

Being grateful

2008-11-27T10:52:00.000-08:00

When I woke up this morning, to the beatiful rainy day that it is, I began to think about this past year, about the gratitude that has grown in my heart amid trials I didn't think I could bear. If someone were to ask me what I have learned this year, mostly in these last few months I may not lead with this quiet virtue, but somewhere amongst the tears, frustrations and sorrow of these last few months, the Lord taught me a great lesson.
I read a talk this morning by President Monson. It comes from the presidency message in the 2000 Ensign. He talks about gratitude being apparent in our every day life if we will but take the time to review our lives. One part in particular touched on the quiet lesson so many have learned this year... he reminds us of a hymn many of us know by heart, but may not really think about in our day to day worries.

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings; name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done. …
So amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged; God is over all.
Count your many blessings; angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end

Putting that into practice, I have a list that I wanted to briefly share of the things I am grateful for this year.

1. the Savior: Knowing that we do not have to be alone, not ever, brings me the most comfort. Knowing that no matter how many mistakes I make, great or small, no matter how many times I fall, I can always lean on the Lord and take comfort in the fact that He overcame the world, He triumphed over sin making it possible for me to repent and become more like Him.
2. The plan of our Heavenly Father: I do not understand the great perspective at times especially when I am going through my day to day, but knowing that all things are known unto the Lord, that He has a grand design and that there is a place for me within that plan gives me strength to move forward in faith.
3. Daxton: tears feel my eyes before I am even able to write a word about this little angel from the Lord. My soul is unseemingly bound to moments with him. I am grateful for him and for the sweet tender mercies of the Lord.
4. My mom: my best friend, the one who cares when no one else seems to pay much mind. She is the one who wipes away countless tears and lets me know that no matter what she loves me.
5. My dad: the most patient man, I have ever known. Having a daughter like me is hard enough, but my father did more that just raise me, he took the time to help me shave off some rough edges, to see beyond what I am and see what I can become.
6. my brothers: who could have asked for better brothers. They've raised the bar for dating that is for sure. Their examples to me could not be contained by these few sentences, but I am indebted to my Father in Heaven for allowing me to walk beside such great men.
7. My sister and her family: My sister is the one I have looked up to since I was a little girl. She was the epitome of cool in my mind. As we have gotten older and our lives have changed, I am comforted by her strength (though she wouln't admit to being strong), and my heart has so often been eased by her testimony and growing understanding. As for her family, I could not hope for a better brother in law and I could not have wished for sweeter nieces.
8. friends: truth is, I believe that there are people in our lives at just the time we need them, the ones who listen to us whine, cry, and help us laugh when it gets too serious. Some friends become more than friends, they become family.

There are so many more, I could go on forever, but its thanksgiving and I need to get going or my mother will be wondering what happened to my helping hands.

Failing and Gaining

2008-11-06T11:15:00.000-08:00

I am one of those people who finds it immensely difficult to write about the mountains (trials) in my life until I have climbed to the top or at least to one of the clifs and am more able to look at it with a slightly different perspective. So here it is. On July 3, 2008, two weeks after my nephews funeral, I took the NCLEX (the nursing licensing exam). On July 4, I opened up the site to see if I had passed and next to my name was this simple little word: "fail." I felt my heart sink to my stomach and angrily thought to myself that the Lord had forgotten me. After everything that had happened, couldn't He see that I needed this? Couldn't He give me one thing when He had taken so much? How could I face those who were counting on me? How could I let them down again? How could I look myself in the mirror when all I saw was a failure? Oh, ye of such little faith. Why couldn't I see that "all things are for our good?" Understanding didn't come quickly or easily, I am too stubborn for that.
The last few months have been about more than just studying for a test, they have been about finding peace with Daxton's passing. They have been about him. They have been about finding forgiveness. They have been about grieving, loving, and most importantly about gaining. I am not saying that I have learned all of these lessons, nor am I saying that I am an expert in exercising these virtues. However, I am saying that these passed few months have been a lesson from a loving Heavenly Father who does not see me as a failure, but as one of his beloved daughters. I am saying that on countless occasions I have felt his love overwhelm me. I have felt the spirit testify to me of the peace that comes from living the gospel. I remember Daxton every day, some of the memories bring a smile, others a laugh, and many bring tears. People say that at some point your tears decrease, I am still waiting. As far as studying for the NCLEX, I did .... ALOT. Yet I learned more from it than I realized then. I learned that a test is just a test... even when it seems to define you. I learned that trials strengthen you. Experiences mold you. And most important, the Lord is aware of us and He loves us.
One last thing... perhaps one of the most important things I have seen in the last few months. The Lord has provided us with the most wonderful ability of forming relationships with one another. I would not be where I am today if it had not been for my wonderful parents who know just when to give me a hug, a word of encouragement or a call back to what is really important.... My brothers and a sister who are there for me even when I am stubborn and ornery..... my nieces who bring me more laughs and smiles than I could ever hope for.... and my friends who have been there for me through every moment, the crying and hysterics, the laughs and the smiles... you see, I realize how blessed I am. I know that without the relationships and the friendships I have in my life, I would not be who I am.
A friend of mine and I talked about failing the other day and here is what I have decided... The moments in our lives when we are the most humble, the most teachable by the spirit are those moments when we have failed, when we have experienced some luminous trial or maybe even some small set back that has caused us to look beyond our own capacity, to rely on the Savior to see what more there is. At that point, we become as children learning from the Master Teacher. Sometimes understanding comes quickly, sometimes it takes years.
On Tuesday, I took the NCLEX again. This morning, I opened up that same website I had 4 months ago and next to my name was a simple word "pass." Thankfulness and joy are overwhelming. I could never have done this alone. I am a Registered Nurse! What a beautiful thing to say when you have waited so long and studied so hard. I am so beyond excited and relieved. Yet the past few months have brought more understanding to me ..... that I am something so much more that.. ..I am a child of God...... and I will always be NO MATTER how many times I fail.

Intermission: memory lane

2008-09-27T01:22:00.000-07:00

I am in the process of writing part 2, but I needed a lighter subject for a few days so here is a trip down memory lane.

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

The picture above was taken by and incredible friend of mine, Scott Jarvie; if you think this is great, just go to his website. http://www.jarviedigital.com/ or his blog http://jarviestudios.com/blog/ He really does amazing work! He does weddings, family pics, basically everything (I am not getting paid to say he is great, just look at his stuff, it speaks for itself) and he has great deals!!!

Another's memory embedded in my heart..Part 1

2008-09-17T16:41:00.000-07:00

Please pay attention to this beginning: I have been struggling with the idea of writing this post for awhile now. I hope, though perhaps it may not be possible, to write this with other people in mind, knowing that the event that occured on June 9,2008 (8 days after my birthday) that took the life of my nephew, Daxton, (9 days after his birthday) is one that does not stand alone on the great canvas of eternity.

Some perspective: I believe we were all in heaven before we came to earth. We were just spirits, waiting to get a body. A plan was presented, one in which we were able to choose to come to earth, get a body and gain experience, learning to follow the Savior so that we could return home to our Father in Heaven. I believe we are all children of a loving Father in Heaven, that being said, ALL of us are here to learn, ALL of us are part of the plan, ALL of our lives are woven with happiness, sorrow, tradgedy, peace and love. We are not so different from one another, in fact, when you look at it in this light, we are not so different at ALL.

I was extremely blessed in college to be roomates with my cousin Joy. She is actually my second cousin, not that it made much difference to us. We laughed, talked, cried and most importantly, we shared. We talked for hours about boys, music, our family, and the experiences that defined us and brought us to the present. I learned so much in those few years with her. She was my rock, the one I knew would never budge. We would be friends forever, and that was that. We both left BYU-Idaho and went our separate ways. We didn't talk as much, but I always knew that I could pick up the phone and things would be just the same as if we talked every day. You see, I believe that the people you meet at certain points in your life are meant to be there. They become a part of you and you, in turn, leave a piece of yourself with them (you decide whether it is a good piece or not) All the same, the special ones weave themselves into your soul and no matter how much time passes the memories you share are just as sweet as the day they were written. It is this connection that I wanted to focus on in this post.

I talked to Joy before writing this as it is her experience and not mine. I didn't want to cross any lines and I wanted to do justice to the lives of those involved. I asked if I could call them by name and so I have, first names that is. It is an experience close to her and so many others, as such, I hope I can give it the respect it deserves.

Joy's Experience: We are the sum total of all we have learned through our trials, our happiness and each day that we have lived. Yet, there are moments that are clearly imbeded upon the fibers of our soul, the experiences that change our lives forever and by so doing create within us the compassion and ability to relate, to feel a portion of the grief that others might have felt before us.

Joy was 15 at the time of the accident that altered her life for forever. All growing up she had her best friends. They were seven, Jenny, Brittany, Julie, Toya, Jeanetta, Frankie and of course Joy. In a small town, you become closer than others can understand. There aren't thousands of people rushing around. There are only the few so with those few you are able to form the bonds that last through years. The bond shared between these seven girls was just such a bond. One night when the girls were 14 and 15 respetively, they headed to another city to watch a basketball game. Joy's mom was supposed to drive them, but due to other circumstances, she wasn't able to. Jenny had the solution, "My dad will take us anywhere!!" Frankie and Jeanetta decided not to go on the trip so Joy, Jenny, Brittany, Toya, Jenny's dad, Dave, and her little brother, Andy (11), piled into the car and headed for the other city where the game was held. What began as an exciting evening full of laughter and friends ended in tradgedy when the car hit a patch of black ice, spun into the oncoming traffic and was hit by a large truck. Joy was the only survivor. I think of these beautiful girls, their families, their mothers, their fathers, their grandparents. I think of the mother who lost not only her daughter, but her husband and her son all in the same night. I think of the flood of tears and cloud that must have enveloped so many hearts on that night. Joy doesn't remember how long she was lying in the car before the ambulances arrived or how long it took them to cut her out. She remembers waking up with the truck driver talking to her, wating with her until help arrived. The driver had been traveling from Wyoming, hauling loads to make ends meet. So many lives were changed that night, including his. There they sat, Joy floating in and out of reality and the driver searching for a glimmer of hope on this night.

I feel so much like that truck driver in so many ways. I imagine his prayers and pleading with the Lord were similar to mine the morning that Daxton passed away. I imagine his cries for help, his demands from heaven were similar to mine. "Lord, not this one, please, please not this one!" What can I do? It's in your hands, Lord, oh please, don't take him, let him (her) live, please! I will do anything. Don't let this be the end" The grief and overwhelming shock that makes it impossible to breathe must have overwhelmed him too. The vibrations of that shock that rocked through my family the morning of the accident as the calls were made and my sister and brother-in-law were reached, the cloud that enveloped our hearts must have been similar to the cloud that settled in the hearts of those living in the small town so many years ago when they too lost so much. The circumstances are different, the feeling of grief and loss is the same.

When Joy first told me of her loss all those years ago, I was unable to understand. I couldn't wrap my head around such a thing. I tried to empathize, I felt loss's echoing vibrations as I listened, but I had nothing to connect it with, nothing so close to home. Today, I feel those vibrations stronger and my own often overpower my every thought. This is what loss and grief have done. They have ripped through souls leaving them broken and stricken, yet just as a fire rips through a large forest, only to grow afresh with new life, new struggles, new challenges, so it is with our own lives. The tree ravaged by fire and wind holds a record within the lines of his trunk, just as we hold the record in our hearts.

Between dreams and reality

2008-09-12T18:40:00.001-07:00

I haven't blogged in awhile... and my brother Adam (who actually reads my blog, cool kid huh?) pointed out that maybe it was time to update. So without further adieu and several months later here's the update.

While I haven't taken an active role in writing or updating my blog, I have been reading many of yours. Some of you have no idea who I am, while others I have known my whole life. What a crazy world we live in that allows us to be connected with so many people who are similar to us that we have never met in person. What a blessing it turns out to be when you can share in others joys and heartaches. Strangers become friends with whom you cry and laugh. Many of us many will never meet in person, and yet we are connected through an endless number of friends of friends of friends that lead us to that one blog of that one family with whom we unknowingly share so much. I have found several blogs of women whose words have touched my heart, fundraisers that unite a community and compassion that allows me to see so much good in a world that suffers from such great afflictions. I have seen in many of these blogs, the character that exists at the core of humanity emblazoned with love, compassion, friendship, truth, honesty, heartache.... Someone asked me the other day what in the world draws people to the "blogging world" .. I responded, "start a blog and you will see."

The strength I feel as I write comes from the thought that someone might understand what I feel, that for a moment you are not alone in your trials or struggles, for a moment we are connected. Over the past few months, this last one more specifically, I have looked through blogs searching for I don't know what, but what I have found is strength in the written word and I have grown in admiration for those who experience trials and yet glow with the knowledge that "all these things shall give us experience and our trials shall be but a small moment"

I put together a newsletter for my family, a tribute to our chubabwubba. If I can find a way to post it here, I will. All of my immediate family contributed to the final product and it shows the strength and love I feel every day, being a part of my family. I can't help, but feel that the Lord gave me the family I have, that I chose them. I am blessed beyond what I can express to have a father and mother who love each other, brothers and a sister who will be here for each other no matter what and above all else, the knowledge that our trials are but a small moment, that the night eventually ends, leaving us in the clear brisk morning of a new day. This is not to say that the night ceases to be dark, unclear and often foreboding, nor in the dawn of the new day is the night forgotten. However, it gives hope to those walking in the dark, clinging to the Savior for guidance, at some point, the night passes and the freshness of life awakens in the clear lit morning of a new day. Sometimes, I feel like the night is endless, that I see a glimpse of the morning, and then then the night puffs it out.... but all I need is a glimpse to keep moving forward. Scriptures always come to my mind as I think of this topic.. and I think I will end with the one that has been in my mind all morning D&C 4:5 "And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work"
One more D&C 121:7 "Peace be unto thy soul, thy adversity and thy afflictions shall be but a small moment"

Take a Look, Larlie!

2008-07-24T23:24:00.000-07:00

I have only written a few posts since Daxton's passing. Maybe its because I am not sure what to say or maybe its because in order to write, I feel that I need to sort through my own thoughts. I don't know that I have many conclusions, but over the last 6 weeks, I have had several thoughts come to mind. At first, my mind was filled with questions. I never believed it possible for my family to be touched with this tradgedy. It is not something you ever imagine will happen to you. It happens to other people, how could it ever happen to you? You are so careful, you love the children entrusted in your hands.... it couldn't happen, it won't happen.... until it does. So what do you do when you become the owner of the accident/ tradgedy? What do you do when you feel the waves of grief, and guilt wash over you? What do you do when the only thing keeping you sane is the ability to compartmentalize? I didn't believe any of this was possible, until I was sitting beside my sister the day of the accident, holding her hand knowing it wasn't enough. This is the sister I have always wanted to be like, who I have admired from childhood, who I have followed my whole life, watching her world crash down and knowing that my life was now intricately woven into the events of that day was almost more than I could take. And yet, I watched the faith of Daxton's parents as they sought the strength they needed to endure that day and each day since and I have learned. I have learned the power of the plan of salvation, the strength and hope that has come through the atonement, and the marvel that is a Loving and forgiving Father in Heaven.
A new thought came...
A few weeks ago, I was sitting in sacrament meeting. It was one of the hard days and I hadn't wanted to get out of bed, but there I was ready for the three hour block... praying for comfort and ability to endure any questions or perceptions of judgement. I am not generally a public crier... but as I was sitting there, I felt the spirit so strongly that it moved me to tears which did not completely stop for the duration of the meeting. As I sat there listening to the speakers, the spirit touched my heart and I began to write...Now I didn't have a paper and pencil so I wrote all over the program and I would like to share a bit of what I learned in that 70 minute meeting....
I thought of Savannah, my sweet little niece and oldest sister to Daxton.....
"Take a Look, Larlie!" my niece says when I am not paying attention to her or when she has something important she has to show me. If I further ignore her, she becomes more persistent and will resort to patting my knee until I finally look at what she has to show me, which usually turns out to be a picture she drew or a new outfit grandma has bought her. At which point, I respond, "oh cute!!" and take her in my arms, spin her around and give her a big kiss on the cheek. Case and point: there is nothing more important to me in this life than those sweet little moments. ....As I thought of that saying,'Take a Look,' I thought of how so many times in our lives we hear those words from our Heavenly Father, through his prophets, his leaders and especially through the Holy Ghost. He calls to us, "Take a Look, _______ (insert your name here)" "Look at me, I have something to teach you." When you are going through a trial, "Take a look" focus on the Lord. He is there, but we have to turn to him and allow Him to show us, teach us and know us. By going through trials we come closer to the Lord and if we listen and give heed to His voice, we will ultimately (perhaps a very long way off) be bent, molded, and sculpted into perfection. Sometimes I feel that I look to the Lord and say that whatever it is he has given me is too much to bear, that I can't continue. I cry the words in my head, "Lord, take a look. Can't you see I am hurting that I can't continue in this?? It is too much, I will break, Lord, please??!" It is in those moments, as it was for me in that sunday meeting not too long ago, that the Lord takes us by the hand, walks with us, carries us and along the way He tells us to take a look around at all his love and the blessings he has given us. He teaches of the atonement, the plan, the purpose. He shows us the Last Supper, The Garden of Gethsemane, the cross at Calvary, the miracle of forgiveness, the gift of the Holy Ghost and eternal families. When we turn to Him, when we listen to the promptings, He teaches us, and we find that we are molded, changed by His sacrifice, and his love. This is the lesson I learned when I listened to the words now etched in my heart, "Take a look, Lauralie, and see what I have done"
I imagine that last conversation on a quiet beach somewhere where only the water can be heard on the shore, where two people sit in the sand reviewing events and understanding unfolding within the course of the discussion. I believe the Lord will slowly open my heart, showing me the purpose behind my own specific trials, allowing me blessings and comfort in times I need them most. He is my Lord and Savior, my redeemer, my salvation. He knows me and He knows my trials... He endured more and He understands. This is where the seed of hope begins, the root of Faith, The Refining.... this is what we came here to do, this is the plan. I thank the Lord for his grace and mercy, His understanding and peace, His love and nobility and above all else for his sacrifice in Gethsemane and on Calvary giving hope to a plan which otherwise would have been impossible. Today, I am grateful that I listened.

Unyielding Hope

2008-06-27T18:33:00.000-07:00

I have meant to write for days now, but I have been lost grasping for words to describe the last few weeks and even when I finally found the words, I didn't feel that I was able to share them. I began writing in a book I recieved shortly before Daxton's funeral. I wrote the pain, grief, joy, hope, frustration, guilt and doubt on the pages of that book because I didn't have the courage to write them here. I have thought about the sweet life of my nephew and his short time on this earth... I have thought of all the reasons why the Lord might have needed him early and all the reasons He might have performed a miracle and allowed him to stay. I have struggled with my own feelings and have only begun to untangle the array of emotions. The purpose of this post is to share something that I wrote while up at the cabin last week with my father. My last memories of Daxton are those from the cabin, when I would rock him to sleep singing all the songs I knew. He would follow me from place to place and would get so mad when I would put him down. He was my little tote the entire weekend and I didn't mind a bit. As I walked through the cabin this last week, I felt all the emotions of this month all at once. I spent countless hours on the deck struggling to find the peace that I knew the Lord could provide. I sat in the room which to me will always be "Daxton's room" and began to write. As I wrote, a poem started to form, or a song, I haven't decided which.... but I felt I should share it. Just remember I do not claim any poetic ability, but this meant something to me and the thoughts that led to it brought me to tears. It's called "In his room"

In his room (our Rocking Chair)

Quiet creaking in the dim light
All asleep this late at night
My arms are aching for you to hold
A refined gift, a sweetness untold

Alone I site in our rocking chair
Contemplating events and how lifes unfair
My dreams are tortuous what if's and whys
so here I stay to pass the time

A broken heart and troubled soul
The refiner's fire licks the coals
Wrenched too soon from sweetness and peace
Pain and quilt unwilling to retreat

An image, a dream envelops my mind
Of a ship tossed about by and angry wind
Sailors plead for help from on high
afraid of the unknown, afraid to die

Tempestuous waves own the night
Crashing against them with unyielding might
Scourging the sail of this small ship
Wind slashing their backs with his hated whip

All move below, but one stays behind
Pleading for solace and peace of mind
Unwilling to leave the ships torn deck
A symbol of her broken world, life's wreck

From distant wind, a voice begins
"Be still my child, the storm will end"
A peace descends upon my mind
Comfort and warmth, the spirit's sign

A broken heart; a healing soul
The refiner's fire licks the coals
Yet the soothing voice echoes within
"Be still my child, the storm will end"

Close

2008-06-10T12:27:00.000-07:00

12:20pm
Broken hearts, a pattern of blame
What more could be done to erase the stain?
A few moments sooner, an anticipated change
The what if’s unending, all choices arranged
Heavy hearts hold guilt as fuel for tears
Clutching tightly to hope, masking our fear
The hours are endless, the seconds filled with pain
The grief, the hope, the blessings feel the same

12:30pm
Watch over them, Father, help them to grow
In the love and wisdom as they struggle to know
All the blessings behind the trials they’re given
A greater mansion, love and a family in heaven
I can’t understand the nature of this day
As I find myself beside my bed to pray
So many moments and memories engrained in my mind
Answers we seek, unyielding love we find

WALTER PICTURES AT LAST!!!-- it's true!

2008-05-27T13:39:00.000-07:00

So after 5 years of waiting, our family is finally together!! What does that mean to the walter family..... PICTURES!! They were much anticipated to replace the carbon dated ones we currently have on the wall. The hope was that everyone would look amazing, lose ten pounds to the camera and all the children would be happy and smiling enduring perfectly the 30 minute photo shoot.... lets just say we aim high :) so without further adieu and for those of you haven't already seen the pics posted on Britts and Mom's site... here are the good ones along with the uh... more characteristic ones.. showing you that while we may not reach all of the high set hopes, we do have fun trying... ENJOY!!! I sure did :)

The Original Five

The first time we were all together since October 2003... and we can still pretend to like each other :) You will notice that Danny is the tallest! I should post our last family picture to show you the difference and the overwhelming need for a new one :)

The WHOLE Family!!!

(we wouldn't trade any of them.....unless.... nope! Ha! you thought I was gonna give you one? fat chance... !:))

not the best one, but not bad either... Daxton has about had enough of this photo shoot

Britt and Doug's Family

(basically, the cutest kids ever)

So here is the real deal... you know that pictures don't always turn out the way you would hope, not everyone is smiling, Logan is making a wierd face. My eyes are closed, Danny isn't even looking at the camera, Savannah stopped smiling, Mikenna is so done with pictures and Daxton wants nothing more to do with sitting still (comparable to an 8 hour trip from St. George, but only minimally)... so I have taken the best of the worst.. the ones that show our true colors because honestly, I think they are the ones we should put on the wall.. let everyone know that yes we are a crazy family who in the end doesn't have to pretend to like each other.. we really do (just, please, don't tell anyone :))

This is the part where you guess what everyone was thinking (I wish I could insert thought bubbles)..... Danny ("Logan, your tongue so isn't as long as mom's)... Mikenna (Funny??, you mean, like this?.... Savannah (uhh, kenna, you're supposed to smile).... Daxton (Are you kidding me? another picture!!!) Dad (oh yes, these are my kids!) Mom (My eyes are floating :))...Adam (SUPRISE!!).... Lauralie (me) (hey, is that a monkey in that tree??)..... Doug (yep, these are the in-laws :)) Brittany (Movie star pose! while holding a screaming baby, are u kiddin me?)...... Logan (hmmm... evil elf.. evil elf...lol).... Natalie (so this is how the Walters really are... :) YES!)

*** note: the quotes above have not been validated and are strictly the interpretation of this writer. Feel free to add your own comments**

SEE!!! We really DID have fun :) Britt got tired of the standing and pushed us all over (want proof.. you can see her hand)... Logan of course blamed it on our inability to stand, and the rest of us laughed HARD! In fact... you can't even see my eyes :) Thats my gold standard for how funny it is... can't see my eyes?? means its really funny! Danny maintained his level of coolness and stopped us before we toppled over :) thanks danny!

**note: the above are in no way a true interpretation of any of the aforementioned actions***

Final Note: It must be said that I trully do have the coolest family ever. I wouldn't trade them for anything.. It is great to have everyone back in the USA.. even if Logan and Natalie are in NY...Having everyone under the same roof for a weekend was a blessing.. I couldn't ask for better. Our lives are much different now than they were 5 years ago.. but we have grown. Our family has grown and I think life just keeps getting better (even if it is more stressful in many ways) Thanks fam.. I love you all! Natalie- we sure are glad you are a part of our family... Doug- same to you, but you already know that, I hope!

ASU Graduation!!!

2008-05-26T16:04:00.000-07:00

Well after 8 years, I have finally done it..... of course throw a mission in there and its only 6 years :) All the same, it is done. I am officially a graduate of ASU's Nursing Program and now can proudly say I have my Bachelors in Nursing! Wow, it feels good to say that. It's amazing that one little piece of paper can hold so much for me. We stood outside in the AZ sun waiting to march into the hall and officially graduate and all I could think was "I can't believe I did it! I can't believe this is it!" The last 18 months have been a whirlwind. I could not have made it without my family and the friends I made in the nursing school (who in many ways became an extension of my family). I have been tired and stressed for the last 18 months and I realize that I have missed so much in the last year, but I learned more than I could have imagined. All that is left is to pass my boards.... yikes :)
I have once again closed a chapter in my life and am now embarking on a new one. I start my first nursing job with Maricopa Integrated Health Systems in the pediatric unit in the middle of June. I am not sure what to expect and I am nervous as I prepare for my NCLEX exam.. but all will go as it should. The nerves, the studying, the emotion, the anticipation all play a part in any "beginning!"

Tagged by Lyndy!!!

2008-03-30T16:47:00.000-07:00

This delightful little Tag comes from Lyndy Lou.....
Ten Years ago..... I was enduring CP chemistry; I went on my first date, got my first job @ sunsplash. I was attending Mt. View as a sophmore, went to every friday night stake dance; My best friend was Jill Steiner and I went on a Magic Mountain road trip with my cousins and Aunt Drana
To Do List... oh way too much to put here, -1000 NCLEX questions, 59.5 hours left of clinical, Capstone project, study for Nursing Exams x 3; etc... I better stop before I get too overwhelmed
Favorite Snacks... yoplait yogurt, sweedish fish, Dr. Pepper, cottage cheese and cheese crackers or gold fish, hmmm... there's more, but those are the big ones
What would I do If I were a Billionaire: pay off all my student loans; pay off all my parents bills, buy land/real estate, invest; buy a several houses, build an orphanage; build a non-profit hospital; donate to the church
3 Bad Habits: hmmm... I have several.... I hit the snooze button at least 3 times every morning and I set at least three alarms; I procrastinate (I fight it, but it is an uphill battle), I stay up way too late, way too often
Places I have Lived; Mesa, Arizona; St. George, Utah; Provo, Ut.; Rexburg, ID; Brasil-Porto Alegre
Jobs I have Had: Alpine Valley Bakery; Western Watts; Sunsplash; Mesa Lutheran Hospital; Bel Aire Assisted Living; Guthries Mainstream; TLC Services
Things people don’t know about me: This is hard, I am generally pretty open: let's see..how bout things most people don't know about me.... I find all the dead ends when I go driving (no matter which direction I drive or which city); I have never broken a bone; I am scared of the ocean; I lie when I am nervous (I usually have to go back and explain)

Well thats a little about me.... I tag Brooke and Kami :)

My Ailment :)

2008-03-29T14:22:00.000-07:00

In nursing school, we learn to diagnose. In fact, we learn to create a plan of care based on that diagnosis. So, for any of you familiar with this area of nursing, you will undoubtedly understand the value of a correct nursing diagnosis. So, in the car today with a good friend of mine, a fellow nursing student suffering from a similar diagnosis, we searched for a nursing diagnosis for ourselves. As all nursing students will attest, most of us diagnose ourselves with at least 100 diseases or ailments throughout our nursing school experiences. The rest of the time, we diagnose our friends. In order for you to trully understand the beauty of a nursing diagnosis. I have created a sample.... diagnosing myself so as not to offend anyone who might read this. I am sure that I enjoyed coming up with it more than you will enjoy reading it, nonetheless, I love it and this is MY blog, so I will add it to the plethra of nonsense that is already on this page. (important nonsense, I might add).....

I suffer from ...

INSANITY related to (r/t) long work days, too many all nighters, too much Dr. Pepper, and wanting what I can't have AEB (as evidenced by) strange responses to normal questions, overythinking EVERYTHING, really and I mean really strange dreams, unfiltered talk, directness, and conversations with myself.

Here are some other beauties, I may or may not suffer from...

INEFFfECTIVE COPING r/t increased food consumption in response to stressors secondary to inadequate finances AEB school expenses of at least $300.00 a month, pt. stating that the food groups consist of chocolate, pizza and dr. pepper, and lastly, pt. has gained 5 pounds in 4 weeks.

DISRUPTION OF EMOTIONAL BONDS secondary to educational institutionalization r/t loss of contact with family and friends unaffiliated with nursing program AEB social isolation from outside world, numbers in cell phone that have not been used for months, family members complaining they don't recognize you anymore, strange smell coming from room which pt. never seems to leave, and losss of memory regarding life before nursing school, and pt. stating that she can't remember the last family activity she attended.

Wow, that was fun!

Which came first? the chicken? or the egg?

2008-03-24T21:54:00.000-07:00

Well the answer to that question doesn't actually matter, if the egg is cracked and eaten before the chicken comes..... I got this in an email and I just about died laughing... my strange quirky sense of humor epitomizes particular wonders such as this....

What a morning....to find out your best friend is someone's breakfast...

Life isn't like the Movies

2008-03-23T22:13:00.000-07:00

This is something I wrote back in 2003, I just read it again and it still makes me laugh so that was enough to promote it from my book of writing onto my blog so here it is. I hope it makes you smile, even if its just a smirk :)

Life isn't like the movies.... and there are several reasons for that simple thought. I watch the movies and I think to myself "Wow, if I could just find a guy like that!" He always knows just what to say and dang! what a sweetheart. Well look at it this way: Do you actually think they came up with those lines all by themselves? Yeah, right! I will bet you $1000 that there was a committee writing that script and I am even more positive that the committee was at least 60% female. Yes, my friend, the female minds saying to women exactly what the they want a guy to say at the perfect moment, which they have been rehearsing all day, and then we think to ourselves, "Wow, what a line!" when in reality the guy might have said something elegant like, "hey, wanna look at my car?"

So the suaveness, the charismatic nature and the sensitive side of the male movie star is simple a facade enacted on the movie screen reading the lines to a script that was written by a brilliant committee of women whose sole purpose is to 'think up witty love story lines.' So basically, the moments that we think are so sweet have been planned, preemptive and coordinated so that they look real. Do not be decieved by the beauty and eloquence of the big screens leading man, reality sings a different tune. Those awkward moments in life are not choreographed or planned. They are played out naturally and no my friend they are not so picture perfect as in the movies. But don't forget or be deterred from reality, cause Life is life regardless of what the movie say.... sometimes its a little better and sometimes its not :)

2008-03-20T20:40:00.000-07:00

This is how I felt today on trip to tucson :) except i didn't break down and I didn't call a tow truck and I didn't run out of gas, and I am a lot better looking than the guy driving that little hatchback, oh and my car is cooler.... but other than that, I felt just like this guy :)

hmmm... just watch it

2008-03-20T17:30:00.000-07:00

This one hit my top five favorite chick flicks of all time. I am sure that if you know me at all you could figure out the other four :)

Wrinkles

2008-03-18T14:59:00.000-07:00

it started out as a normal day..... lol.. sounds like the beginning of a seriously bad novel.... anyway its all I got, so here goes. It was a normal day, one that had followed 2 days of clinical, 3 days of work, 16 months of stress, 2 years as a missionary, 16 years as a student and so much more. I was getting into my car on the way home from this normal day of class and I pulled down my rear view mirror and there it was..... not a freckle (I wouldn't have even noticed it, I have so many), not a pimple (those go away...after awhile).....no it was none of those things. It was a WRINKLE! I looked again to be sure... how is that possible... I can't have a wrinkle... I am not old enough.... right? or so I thought. So there I was staring in the mirror at a reflection of my own eyes getting older. It shouldn't come as a shock, its what happens as time goes on. I could have driven home as fast as possible, put on some mosturizer and tried to prevent the inevitable (I haven't made a decision on that one quite yet) or I could just let it be what it was.... a wrinkle. So as I put my car in drive and thought of what that really meant for me (oh the inevitable fight with age...and I am only 25...seriously now...thats YOUNG!!!) I thought of my last 25 years and there is not a year I would give up for the removal of that wrinkle, not a moment I would undo, not a friend I would give up, not a trial I would give back..... Each has made me into the person I am today, so BRING IT ON AGE, I can take the wrinkles, I can take the "getting older" and the wisdom that supposedly comes with it (haven't gotten that far yet).... I came into the world with wrinkles and that is how I plan to leave...So here I sit, with my newly acquired feature... maybe its been there longer than I think and I only just noticed, but whatever the case... there it is, I can see it in my reflection and there it will stay... the proof that I am alive....I can't say I love it, but I understand its representation. So in what started out as my normal day, brought out a rather simple realization that well.... maybe wrinkles are more than just wrinkles :) they're creases... proof that show you have lived.

Livin' it up

2008-03-14T23:01:00.000-07:00

Thank goodness for the friends that get you through the tough times. This was the last week of school before the christmas break. My brain was fried, and to be honest.... "wits end" had begun to make sense as it never had before.....I think that generally people live with such high stress that they don't realize it until the weight is removed for a few hours and you just.... relax :) crazy how that works. I couldn't ask for better friends.

(besides, I think my hair is the same color as Tiff's :) guess I am closer to a red head than I thought) I think I am okay with that as long as Tiff doesn't mind. I guess she's the natural one... but hey it all works right? lol)

2008-03-14T22:28:00.000-07:00

so this is my nephew, Daxton.... basically he is the cutest little boy I have ever seen. I mean, seriously, look at those baby blues.... oh he's gonna be soo spoiled.... wait a second.... gonna be?man! this little kid puts up with a lot and still manages to smile at just about everyone. I can't believe he is already 9.5 months old... time sure flies... and kids grow up so fast...
" a little startled..." I am not sure why :)

2008-03-14T22:04:00.000-07:00

you know, sometimes it is just better not to ask.... and other times, I don't think you can help it! Well this is one night that hit the record books for us as one of the most random moments of our college days..... hmmm.. midnight bowling with empty bottles, outfits that would cause only the most accepting guys to swoon and well 4 girls with no plan to do anything, but have a heck of a time:)

Oh how I miss these girls.... I am sure they will kill me once they see this pic, but hey they are all several states away so I think that for now.... I am safe:) I love you guys! couldn't have made it through those days without you!

there's a first time for everything

2008-03-08T19:11:00.000-08:00

In everyone's life, there comes a point when you can no longer put off the inevitable and so here I am, taking my first steps as a blogger. Give me a few months and I might have this figured out. Now whether or not this site will become one in which I vent my frustrations and just write for the pure sake of writing or one that I use to keep in touch with my family and friends who have now ventured into cyberspace is yet to be determined. For those of you actually reading this blog, I warn you now. I just might say what I think.... wouldn't that be something?! All the same, welcome to the inexplicavel!