This made me smile

Merry Christmas!

New York

For Shanna's 25th birthday, Jeff told her that he would take her to Boise, Idaho for a birthday getaway. Meanwhile, the sneaky Jeff actually planned a whole trip to New York City. We, along with Jeff's mom Stephanie, left Sacramento on Thursday, November 4 and arrived in Seattle in the afternoon. Our next flight was going to Newark, New Jersey with a "stop" in Boise. Stephanie works for Alaska Airlines and we were able to fly stand by with her flight benefits. Stephanie even got the clerks at the counter to announce that our flight was stopping in Boise so I wouldn't know that we were going to New Jersey and not Idaho. We arrived in Newark at around 2am on November 5 and Shanna still was clueless about what was going on. Finally, after landing and being asked if she was going to New York or New Jersey she figured out she wasn't in Boise...you would almost think she was a blond. Jeff pulled off the best birthday surprise ever. We got off the plane and stayed the night in Newark. In the morning we took a taxi across to New York City. We checked in at our hotel, the Millenium UN Plaza Hotel located at 44th Street between First and Second Streets. We loved the city and we saw so much- Grand Central Station, Chrysler building, Rachel Ray studios, NYC library, three famous skating rinks, Times Square, Statue of Liberty, 9/11 Memorial, Ground Zero, Rockefeller Center, Magnolia Bakery, Tiffany and Co., Central Park, Manhattan temple, The Plaza Hotel, Apple store, FAO Schwartz, Empire State Building and more! We loved it all and we already want to go back. Such a great birthday memory.

Christmas Cards

I love the holidays-the crisp, crunchy fall leaves, the smell of cinnamon and freshly baked cookies, the family togetherness, the Christmas cards and reconnecting with old friends and the Spirit of Christ make me so happy. This year has brought a lot of change and I can’t wait to share some new pictures and a little update in our Christmas cards this year. I’ve made my cards in the past but because of a great deal from Shutterfly I am going to use one of their templates this year. I am super excited to choose a cute Christmas card and have Shutterfly take the stress off of me (especially with finals creeping up). Not only am I using them to do my cards this year, I am also creating a scrapbook of our trip to New York. If you’re a blogger and want to check out this deal go here. Check out their awesome cards here.

The Well

Most weeknights after class you will find Jeff and I hanging out here. To be completely honest, I go more for the entertainment than the exercise. I get on the bike, turn on the Food Network and life is good. I watch other people put on the calories while I am working them off, it really works out nicely.

Apple Hill

Today we went to Apple Hill with the Fruits and we couldn't have asked for better weather. We drank some really yummy apple cider, watched the fish jump out of the pond, went on a hayride, watched 'R' ride a pony, picked out pumpkins, had tri-tip sandwiches, picked apples off the trees, had "Denver Dan" (who is actually Apple Al) put delicious apples on our thumbs, and tried some very yummy sour cream apple pie with a crumb topping. Such a fun day, we love the Fruits!

We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day.

Jeff and I enjoyed an uplifting and "sweet" weekend watching General Conference and eating these 'oh so delicious melt in your mouth cinnamon rolls' every chance we got. Go here to read one of my favorite talks. Happy Fall!

We went to the River Cats on August 27th. We had delicious tri-tip sandwiches and Big Spoon yogurt. Go River Cats! 11-3

Cabin Trip

For our last weekend of freedom before school started (Aug. 20-22), we went to the Jarman family cabin in Arnold and we brought Rick and Nicole. We spent some time at the lake, played with Lincoln Logs and kicked it old school with Sega Genesis. It was nice and relaxing!

Snowboard Bench

Jeff decided to put some old snowboards to use by making them into a bench. He recruited the help of his brother Rick and together they cut the wood, stained the wood and screwed down the boards. It looks fantastic.

Dillon's Beach

From July 22-24 Jeff and I stayed in Dillon's beach at a beach house with my family. It was a lot of fun and Jeff even braved the chilly water of the ocean. We were celebrating my grandparent's 50th wedding anniversary. My grandparents are such good examples and they truly love and support us.

Utah

Jeff and I went to Utah from July 9-12 and stayed with Phill and Jeannine. We had a blast with Isaiah and Chase the whole time (and all the adults too). Jeff's grandparents flew in from Texas and lots more family came too! We went swimming, saw Toy Story 3, ate some good food, went to Salt Lake, celebrated three birthdays and squeezed in a visit to Lehi to see my uncle Jim and his family. We can't wait to see everyone again.

Here is what we have been up to during April and May...

• CAR ACCIDENT

I was in a bad car accident last Saturday where a car rammed into my passenger side at 40 MPH. Our Nissan Sentra is totaled but I am okay. It was scary and intense but I know someone was looking out for me to have walked away from such a bad scene.

• TORN MENISCUS
  

Jeff injured his left knee at work (UPS) and just found out he has a complex tear on his meniscus (the cushioning on the inside of the knee). We learned today that he will have to have surgery to have the tear cut out. The healing takes anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months. Looks like he has new summer plans!

• WE MOVED!

Our first place :)
2007-2010

We live closer to Sac State now. Our whole apartment is the size of our old master bedroom, but we are nice and cozy and having fun! Jeff only has to commute 5-10 minutes to work, rather than 40 minutes. And he walks to school from home. We couldn't have been more grateful for the opportunity we had to start the first years of our marriage house sitting for such great friends, the Bassett family. It was something that has blessed us immensely and we will never forget their kind service to us.

• RANDOM

• Jeff has been super busy with school, and he finishes his last final tomorrow for the semester.
• I have been wearing my welcome out at Kaiser, still trying to adjust medicine for my stomach problems.
• We celebrated my sisters 19th birthday and I am still trying to believe that she is that old.
  
  
  
• We took pictures for Mother's Day...
  
  
  
• We went to a Rivercats game and had some fun in the sun.

Happy 3rd Anniversary...

• Breakfast in bed
• Shopping
• Bowling
• Hot date at Benihana's
• Drive Ins

Each day gets better with my best friend.

Things I'm Grateful for this week...and always

• Doctors (who know what they’re doing)
• Pain Medicine (it works like magic)
• Blood Banks (GIVE BLOOD, it saves lives-it saved mine)
• A flexible job and caring boss (love my dad)
• Medical benefits through UPS (my drug benefit saved me $2,789.10 on my new medicine and my hospital stay was FREE)
• Drugs (not the street ones…the doctor ones that make me feel better and keep me alive)
• The most supportive and understanding husband, family and friends

This week has been a rough one. I have Crohn’s disease, which is a chronic disease that affects my intestines and lines them with ulcers, resulting in severe abdominal pain and many other not so fun things. I went to the hospital last Wednesday very weak with a dangerously low blood count. I ended up staying five days and getting a blood transfusion. My hemoglobin was a 6.7 and normal ranges from 11-15. I am now a firm supporter of giving blood, and while I can’t donate my own blood, I urge everyone who can to donate blood. My health issues continue to remind me of how blessed I am each day and what a wonderful support system I have around me. Thank you for the visits, the prayers and the sincere get well wishes.

The Best is Yet to Be

"The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead and remember that faith is always pointed toward the future. Some of you may wonder: Is there any future for me? What does a new year or a new semester, a new major or a new romance, a new job or a new home hold for me? Will I be safe? Will life be sound? Can I trust in the Lord and in the future? Or would it be better to look back, to go back, to stay in the past? I call out, Faith is for the future. Faith builds on the past but never longs to stay there. Faith trusts that God has great things in store for each of us and that Christ truly is the "high priest of good things to come." -Elder Jeffrey R. Holland