10 Yr Anniversary

Ten years ago on this day, I was sealed for time and eternity to my husband in the Washington, D.C. temple.

It was the happiest day of my life. 

What a journey!

It's amazing that we can experience LOVE more and more every day. 

Look what Steve sent me at work for our anniversary!

And the card reads....

"It has been a great ten years and I can't wait to share the rest of eternity with you."

Love him tons!!

How I Met My Husband

Kelly's Korner this week is hosting a 'Show Us Your Life - How you met your husband'.

This is a story all about how my life got flipped turned upside down....

(The very condensed version)

Steve and I met in highschool.  He was interested in me and I was only interested in being friends.

While we were in HS, he told me he was going to marry me.  I didn't believe him.

We both graduated (1996) and went off to college (I went to Utah Valley for a semester and he went to BYU-Hawaii for a semester).  When I asked him why he wanted to go to BYU-Hawaii, his response was (and I quote) "To get as far away from you as I can."  (I guess he was tired of waiting around for me).  He doesn't remember saying that, but I cleary remember it. 

My father passed away during my first semester and I transferred home to be close to my family (we reconnected because of my father's passing).  Steve returned home to work a bit before he went on his mission.  He served two years in Las Vegas (1997-1999).  

(What a handsome missionary)

When Steve returned home from his mission, we started dating.

After six months of dating we were engaged.

Three months later, on June 24, 2000, we were married and sealed for time and eternity in the Washington, D.C. temple.

And that was the happiest day of my life.

We will be celebrating our 10 yr anniversary in June.

 He is such a huge blessing in my life and I thank God everyday for him.

My New Hobby

Isn't she BEAUTIFUL??

I haven't the slightest idea how to use it yet, but I'm hoping to learn.

This is going to be my new hobby!  I am so excited I even created a photography blog;

Oh, Snap!

If you have any experience in photography or know of any blogs/websites that would be good resource, please let me know.  I need all the help I can get! (There are no classes offered in my area so I have to learn on my own and with the help of friends). 

I will not be taking it on vacation with me since I don't know how to use it yet.  And it's way too expensive to take on vacation because I can't risk something happening to it!

See what everyone else is showing and telling over at Mel's. 

Show and Tell - Ballet

Abbey started ballet last Saturday. She loves it and I love watching the cute little girls dancing around in their tutu's.  So, this will be our Saturday mornings for the next six weeks.

Check out what everyone else is sharing over at Mel's. 

Show and Tell - Monogram Wall Plaque

Look what I won from Burkett Blessings! I just have to figure out where to hang it.

Check out what everyone else is showing at Mel's.

Show & Tell - Nieces - part 2

Here are the pictures from the photoshoot with my nieces a few weeks ago.  Join the show and tell at Mel's to see what everyone else is sharing.

Mya wasn't not very cooperative so we only got in a few shots of her. 

Here's Abbey.  She looks so big in this picture.

Silly Pictures

Show and Tell - Nieces

I had two of my nieces over with us last Saturday, Abbey and Mya.  I scheduled a photo shoot with my friend to get pictures of the girls.  Sorry, I don't have those pictures to share with you at this time (maybe I will have them for next week's show and tell), but Steve was able to snap a picture of us right before we left. 

Abbey (6), Me (thirty something), Mya (18 months)

I was having a really hard week last week, and these two bundles of joy really lifted my spirits.

I am grateful for these blessings in my life.

I love all my nieces and nephews!

I love to spoil them with love.

My sister got me this magnet, and it rings true....

Hop on over to Mel's to see what everyone else is showing and telling. 

Show and Tell - Curtains

We've been in our house for over four years and just painted the foyer and kitchen last year. I've been wanting to get window treatments since forever, but they cost soooo much for custom treatments.  I was quoted $600 - $800 JUST for the kitchen window and sliding glass door!!  (Who in the world spends that kind of money on curtains for two windows??!!)  I finally broke down and just bought some simple ones, just to have something covering the windows in my kitchen and breakfast area.

This is my kitchen window BEFORE

This is the AFTER. Simple. Purrty.

And here is the sliding glass door with two panels (that did NOT cost me an arm and a leg!). I didn't take a before picture, but you all know what a plain sliding glass door looks like. Now I just have to find something to go above it.

Next on my list is the family room and dining room. Hopefully it won't take me another four years to get those done! 

Hop on over to Mel's to see what everyone is showing and telling about. 

 

Show and Tell - Painting Pottery

For this week's Show and Tell I am sharing pictures of our finished Pottery Paintings.  This was our first time doing this and it was really fun! I went to pick up our finished pieces last weekend and was pleasantly surprised. 

Abbey painted the fairy jewelry box for her mom.  I painted the purple polka dot vase. Steve painted his orange Kubota tractor. 

Here's a picture of my vase with beautiful Hydrangea's picked from our front yard! (I love Hydrangeas! Too bad they don't smell at all.  But I still find myself instinctly sniffing them.)

Show and Tell - As American as Apple Pie!

This week I would like to share with you what we did with all the apples from our apple picking day a few weeks ago. We only picked half a bushel because between the two of us, we can only eat so many apples.

I found a great recipe on line and was suprised at how yummy it turned out. 

  Yummy Granny Smith and Fuji apples!

Love the apple slicer!

We bought the pre-made refridgerated pie crust. Just roll it out and put it in your pie pan.

We went with the crumble pie top. So much easier!!

Ta-Da!  We made two pies and gave one to our neighbor.

Since making these two pies were so easy (and did I mention yummy?), we have since made one more pie and sliced up the rest of the apples and made the filling and froze it for next time!  Now we're thinking of going back to the orchard and picking more granny smith's to make more pie fillings to freeze.  It's nice to have on hand so when we want a yummy dessert, we can whip it up.  And it's nice to be able to make for great neighbors or family/friends.

Hop on over to Mel's Show and Tell to see what everyone is sharing!

Show & Tell - My 2005 trip to Vietnam

I am joining Mel's Show and Tell today.

One of the BEST trips I've ever taken was back to Vietnam in 2005. That was my first time back in over 20 years. My family escaped the communist country in the late 70's and spent a few years in a refugee camp in Thailand. We came to America in the early 80's. I was about three years old. I don't have any memories of Vietnam at all, that's why returning there was so important to me. I won't bore you with my life story, so I will just share a few of my favorite pictures from my trip.

This is me at the market holding up some Toddy Palm Seed. Love the exotic fruits there.

This is my maternal grandmother. She is the reason I am here today, literally (there's a story behind that, but I'll have to save it for another time). Before I decided to go on this trip, my grandmother was ill on and off for a while. I knew that I had to see her before it was too late and that she would not leave this world until we were reunited. When I first arrived, I will never forget the sparkle in her eyes, as she looked into my eyes and started crying. Due to a stroke, my grandmother could not speak and was paralyzed on the left side of her body, but I knew that she knew who I was and although she did not say it in words, her eyes said loudly 'Welcome Home.' Three months after my trip, she passed away.

This is a picture of my uncle (my dad's brother) and my paternal grandfather. Again, this is my first time 'meeting' them as I have no recollection of them at all as a child. My grandfather is around 90 years old. He is a sharp man for his age. My dad passed away in 1996 and I was never close to him at all until that year. That was my first semester away at college. It was also the first time in my life that I truly felt my dad's love for me. I distinctly remember the phone conversation I had with him two weeks before he died.

The opportunity to meet my dad's side of the family was priceless. My uncle looks exactly like my dad (duh, they're brothers), but I didn't realize how much until I first laid eyes on him at the airport. It felt like I was looking at my dad.

So, there you have it. My first trip back to Vietnam (I say 'first' trip because it certainly won't be my last). It truly was a trip of a lifetime. It help remind me how grateful I am for Eternal Families.