A Trip to Idaho

[First off ignore my hair....]

In August we headed to Idaho for Julisa's bridal shower and to pack up all of our stuff for our parents. But the story really started a few weeks before. Jared was at work and thought "Hey I should text Zac" (his friend from high school), so he did. Throughout the conversation he learned that Zac was flying into town and would be in Idaho that same weekend so they decided they would meet up sometime. Then Jared asked him when he was flying in and Zac said that he was flying into SALT LAKE on Thursday at 5. Jared then realized it was a prompting. Zac's dad was going to drive down and pick him up and then drive back; that was the exact time we were headed out of town to Idaho. He offered Zac a ride and we killed two birds with one stone-a long drive and time to catch up with Zac. 

The Sunday before when they announced the Ogden temple open house in sacrament meeting I told Jared that he should see if Zac was ok with stopping. Jared really didn't want to but then decided what could it hurt-if he said no then we could just go another time. I told Jared to be prepared for 23 year old Zac and not 16 year old Zac and that he probably would be fine with it. Zac was totally open to it and it was an awesome experience! 

We got to answer a few questions, share our testimonies in a round about way, and most of all let him feel of the Spirit.

Emery loved being in the Temple and was pretty good, she just wanted to get down and walk, but hated the things on her shoes so we just carried her. She loved once again (flashback to the Brigham City Temple Open House)  the Celestial Room and the "pretty" lights. She was mesmerized, we loved getting to take her and will have a few more opportunities coming up with more temples close to us under construction/near completion!

The bridal shower was great, even though I got there 15 minutes late because I didn't know what time it really started....oops!

On Friday and then Saturday after the shower we packed, cleaned and de-junked (some). It was a bit stressful to get all of our stuff from our parent's but it was also really nice! It has been nice and not nice having it here. It is nice because there are things we forgot about, but also not nice because it is a lot of stuff to go through! We have FILLED my car TWICE and taken stuff to DI, sold some stuff, and still have more to go through!

Enjoy the Journey.

Three Years

I have no idea where the last three years went. I'm so happy that I made the decision to marry my best friend, it is the best one I have made. Jared is there by my side NO. MATTER.WHAT. He truly is my better half and makes me want to be a better person every single day.

Here are a few of the life changing events from the last three years. I'm so glad I got to go through them with him.

A trip to San Fran. and a move from Rexburg to Lehi.

My completion of student teaching and being officially done with college.

First anniversary, we were both sick in bed and 7 months pregnant.

June 11, 2012 Emery Kate was born.

First "holiday season" as a family of 3.

Second anniversary.

Jared's Graduation from BYU

First "real" job.

The girlie's first birthday!

A move back to Lehi.

Granma's funeral.

Christmas 2013

March 2014

 I'm so thankful for the memories that we make together everyday and his support in all that I do. I'm thankful that we don't have to ever say "goodbye" again. I'm most of all thankful for the decision we made to get married in the temple and that he is mine for eternity. I'm truly blessed.

Enjoy the Journey.

Brigham City Temple Open House

A few weeks ago on our way to Idaho we had the opportunity to attend the Brigham City Temple Open House. As all temples are it was beautiful. It is always a great experience to tour a temple and it was fun to be able to take Emery. She was so quiet the whole time. When we walked into the Celestial Room she couldn't quit staring at the chandelier. 

 Enjoy the Journey.

Priorities

Jared and I have had this discussion about once a day for the last sixish weeks. We just talk about how things do and don't matter as much anymore-not in a bad way but in a good way. 

With things happening all around and life changing our priorities have really changed. We definitely have more of an eternal perspective. When things come up that bug us we vent about them but then remember that all that REALLY matters is our little family. Going in for surgery my mindset still wasn't about me but about my sweet Emery. I wanted everything to go okay and for there to not be any complications for HER sake... not mine. When I was coming out of it and could hear the nurses ask about her and how old she was I knew she was fine and I was comforted. 

It is amazing how your life changes with the birth of a baby. My heart has grown in ways that words cannot describe and Jared feels the same way. My love for Jared has grown and my appreciation for the covenants we made in the temple has grown. 

We see life in a completely new set of eyes now. The way we drive is different, when we eat is different, when we shower, get ready, everything. Our world revolves around our sweet Em but in a good way. She is what matters, our family is what matters. 

Some of the best feelings come when people tell you how beautiful your baby is. When people ask about her, look at her and fall in love, anything to do with her. All we do is look back and tell them we couldn't agree more. We cannot even begin to explain it so all we do is look at each other often and say "I love her."

Enjoy the Journey.

Emery's First Trip to Rexburg and the Temple

My dear friend Heather got married in the Rexburg temple on July 3 my sister watched Emery while my mom, Jared, and I attended the sealing. The sealing was small and beautiful. The sealer was my dad's favorite professor from Ricks back in the day. Heather and Aaron looked stunning and we were so happy for them. Apparently she was very unhappy (hungry) the entire time and cried. I felt terrible when I found out.

 Emery also got to meet my dear friend Felicia.

Enjoy the Journey.

Erik and Jessica Castillo

On March 24 my dear friend Jessica Kirkham was married in the Idaho Falls temple. We were able to go to the sealing and then Jared did their wedding videography. It was so great to see her so happy and not quit smiling the entire day. She will always hold a very special place in my heart. I am so happy for this sweet girl! From my experience with Erik on their wedding day he is just as great as she is! 

Jared just finished their first wedding video check it out at:  https://vimeo.com/40135708

(Also if you are on facebook make sure you "like" his page KottonField Productions)

Enjoy the Journey.

The Temple

On Sunday the theme of church was the temple. The sacrament talks were on the temple, 3 of the 4 given by Temple Ordinance Workers. Then in Relief Society/Priesthood the Bishop talked on the temple. He started by playing President Monson's talk on the temple from this past conference. Then he discussed the importance of going to the temple often. He gave a few statistics about how many members in the ward were endowed, then he told the ward that only 79% of those currently hold a temple recommend and how he thought that even fewer than that use it regularly. It was inspiring to be better at attending the temple, but Jare and I felt a little better because we had attended the temple the night before. During the lesson from the Bishop a sweet older sister raised her hand to share a story. She spoke the first week we attended this ward, and Jared and I were very impressed with her. She is a small petite woman and her husband is a larger man (tall) in a wheelchair. I don't know anything else about them but I felt such love for them as she shared her story. She talked about how they had been given names to take to the temple and do their work for them. They attended and did a lot of the names, then summer came including traveling and children coming into town. One day/night her husband heard voices, the other 4 names of those they hadn't finished. He immediately felt the importance of needing to go and do their work. They attended the next 2 days to finish their work. As she was sharing this story her husband sat next to her. At first just a tear rolled down his cheek, then another, then you could hear his sob. It broke my heart because you could tell he truly felt bad about forgetting these last 4 names. As Jared and I talked about this later we discussed the sadness that we felt for him, his guilt in forgetting for a few months to do their work. We concluded that we now understand what WEEPING is. This man was truly weeping because of what had happened. 

As we start this year (well now a month into it) Jared and I have set a goal to make even more of an effort to attend the temple. It is a beautiful place where we can grow together and closer to our Heavenly Father. I challenge you to attend the temple even more often than you already do.

Enjoy the Journey.

Vacation!! Part II

After we left the Cahoon's we headed to the Sacramento temple. We got out a bit later than planned so we didn't make it in time to do a session. We had the privilege of doing sealings and it was a great experience for us!

We stopped in Fairfield, CA at the Jelly Belly Factory. We took the tour and learned all about how they are made. It was fun and a good break from being in the car! We highly recommend the fudge there! Cookies and Cream Avalanche...  mmmmm soooo good!!!

These were all made out of Jelly Bellys

Getting a penny for Jared's smashed penny collection.

Enjoy the Journey.