Married

On 04June 2011 I was sealed to the most beautiful man ever! James and I have been right for each other from the start. I never knew he was really out there, someone who could really love me for me, really laugh at what i think is funny and smile and be happy with me. He exemplifies everything that I have ever wanted and most importantly everything that Heavenly Father has wanted for me.

So here goes girls.. Don't EVER settle. I am 36 years old and have never been married. I always thought that I needed to change my corkieness or that I needed to be better. Ok, sure, there are things in my life that I have worked really hard on but I did't have to change, just refine some of my weaknesses. Through the power of the atonement, I have been able to make weak things strong. So the take home is, work on yourself, refine yourself but love yourself for you are the way Heavenly Father made you and he has someone out there for you, for EACH of you. Don't give up, don't loose Faith in yourself or in Heavenly Father. Pray for your Eternal Companion and don't ever give up or settle for less!

Ok I'll get off my soap box now...

It was such a glorious event! Thank you to EVERYONE!

Wedding Prep

Wedding Plans are in full swing! I have not put any pictures of my ring out there for anyone to see yet, so here you go. I don't know if you can see it really well but I love it! When we went "jewlery" shopping, James and the sales clerk kept pointing out all of these rings that ere just way too big! When I spotted this one, the sparkle caught my eye! It came with a matching wedding band so how perfect could it be. Know, I worry because we all know just how destracted I become with shiny things and wow does this sparkle! I love it. Sometimes when I am at work, like ifI am lecturing infront of my students, I will catch a glymps of the shiny thing on my finger and it just makes me smile so much. I love James. He was so sweet with his perposal. He took me to the spot where we had our first date and got down on one knee and said all this mushy romantic stuff and then he pulled out the ring, and remember i get destracted by shiny things. So after he put it on my finger and stood up, I put my hands on the side of his head and said"wait, James, I want to make sure, I did say yes, right? Cause I say YES! YES! YES!" it was a bit funny!

The dress, ok, come on girls we all try to deny it but when we are getting married, after we have found the perfect man, it is ALL ABOUT THE DRESS! Here is a little shot of my dress. This was the second time I tried it on. When I put it on for the first time, it felt so right, so like me! I have to have a little bit here and there altered but not much, mostly in the shoulders! I did go and try on other dresses but did not feel the same, so I went back to Kathleen's Bridal (funny right, kathleens's see it is perfect) tried it on again and I almost felt as good in it as on my first date with James when he gave me this look across the table and I totally melted! Oh yeah June 4th bring it on!

We willbe sealed in the Bountiful temple on June 4th! I am so EXCITED! We are having a ring ceremony and a reception in Tooele the same day.

I am so grateful to have found James! I know that Heavenly Fathers has much bigger and better plans for each of us then we have for ourselves. HE really KNOWS each of us BETTER then we know ourselves. He gives us what we need at exactly the time we need it. I spent so may hours on my knees in prayer with my Father in heaven, crying out to him for my eternal companion. In those times of sorrow, I was ALWAYS comforted but the ache for my love never left. I am so amazed and humbled by the love Heavenly Father has for each of His children!

This new phase in my life is going to be terrific! I am so thankful for all of my family and friends that are able to fly so far to come and join James and I in such a celebration! I also am so grateful to all who cannot come in person but send their prayers and love! I really feel all of the out pouring of prayer for my union with James.

Thank you All

Catch up:

I have been so busy. If that an excuse for not writing for almost a year? Ok, maybe not! Life is good! Since March, I have had lots to do and talk about .....where to begin?...

So In early spring, I did some PR work at the motor raceway in Tooele. I know some of you would be saying"that Kathleen she is so good, always helping" Well truth be told, I found out that James ( he is the one running from the camera, on the right) was going to be there too and I have had a crush on him for about six months before and hadn't had the guts to talk to him.

So I did talk to him during our hours at the booth and WOW, i made a total fool of myself. (I'm sure you are all thinking"whats new about that". So I got his number and called him. I asked him if he would be my "desicnated Mormon" and escort me to a choir concert on temple square. Thankfully he agreed. If you ask him to tell the story, it will be a little different! He says that he constantly was inviting me to go to church with him. Which is totally true but I don't think he really understood the ramifications of being a single guy bringing a "new girl' to church!

I have also been working ALOT! I have traveled to Indiana and to Nebraska during the heat of summer!

But I have also been able to have alot of fun too! James and I got to see my fav family! We had such a good time on pioneer day! it was so special to be able to see Jed play the organ in the conference center!

The holidays were wonderful! James and I went back to Virginia and got to see mostly all of the family for thanksgiving. Christmas was very nice and simple we stayed at home and made our first Christmas Goose! Yeah I know I helped cook a goose with the bones still in!

All and all life is good, I can't complain! I sure hope everyone is enjoying the beginings of 2011!

Ma's House

Remember all of the Bird houses and bird feeders..... Oh and the flowers and trees!

I wonder what the record is for the number of people we could fit on the lawn glider?

Here is the side veiw, Such an inviting porch! I sure loved sitting out inthe yeard with all the children playing, just chatting or listening to the birds!

This house has been home to so many for a lot of years. This house and the fantastic person who lived in it are both physically gone now, but will always be remembered as the rock in our family. It is now our responsibilities to make all of our homes a rock for all to enter and feel the love of Jesus Christ. We all have our faults and weaknesses but when we add the love of our Father in Heaven and the Strength of our family, we are a fortress to be reckoned with! I love each and every one of my family members, EVERYONE brings something to strengthen our love and commitment to each other and to bettering the world!

One special sweet soul, my Ma!

This is my "Ma". She is actually a lot of people's " Ma". My Ma passed away this last week. I have no doubt that the love, care, friendship, service, and strong hold that she gave each of us here on earth, she is giving to all the people she has so dearly missed and those she will get to know now that she has moved on. I have such fond memories of my Ma, just sitting and talking with her was always a treat! She gave the best hugs! Made the best biscuits and shared the love of Christ with everyone.

Here she is with one of my great aunts, sure had a good time that visit. Do you see that smile on her face, I can only imagine how big of a smile she has now. Some people think it is selfish for me to miss her, but isn't there a difference in missing her and wanting her here. She has moved on to grow and progress further in her relationship with our Father in Heaven. I will forever be grateful for the time we had together on this earth and I look forward to seeing her again when it is my turn to pass on. I love my Heavenly Father for allowing such a strong soul to be on this earth for so long, she lived a very good 91years! The greatest gift she ever gave me was teaching me that the Love of Christ is for everyone no matter what you have done, there is healing in His Arms, through the atonement of Jesus Christ we can all repent and be healed, permanently. I love you Ma!

In Loving Memory

Oh to my Pig:
Well it is the end of a great era, Curly my beloved pig is no more, he has finally made it to stuff animal heaven, maybe he and my dog are now reunited, she sure did love trying to chew him up!!! He was the last in a long line of pigs, there was mamma and baby ham, there was snot nose, gosh so many pigs!!! Now Robious and River can fight over him!

He was a great pig!

I'll miss that not so curly tail!

Some of the Beauty in Utah

I am loving my time here in Utah.

I have really been enjoying the weather in Utah. Check out these pictures. There is little commentary but the pictures need no intro, it is almost majestic!

It may get warm a couple of days but the evenings are so cool and the sun shines for so long! It has given me lots of opportunities to gallivant around and have some fun!

This is at the beginning of this way easy(1.5mile) hike to Donut falls. It was so green and beautiful. I went with two of my new girlfriends (Allison times 2), and we had a really enjoyable walk to the falls. We found a really cute circle of trees just tucked off from the trail. We had a nice time. Once we reached the falls, we got to run and jump and play! Let me tell you I was very glad I wore my Teva's because my feel got wet! And that water was so cold. There really is a difference in the temperature when it is snow run off, WOW,it was cold water!

I had a wonderful time. I have missed being outdoors. I am glad I can have such adventures while I am in Utah. I'm not sure where I will end up next so I am enjoying my time while i am here.

Eight Years Ago, Today!

There will not be any fancy pictures and words will probably be spelled wrong but I would be very ungrateful if I let this day pass by with out writing a few words.
On Aug 5th 2001, I was confirmed a member of The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It has been one amazing Journey that I know will never end! I have travelled through dark and low valleys and have climbed high on the mountain tops. I am so grateful to my two missionaries who were obedient enough to follow a prompting from Heavenly Father to knock on my door. I hope I never forget the amazing wonder of that first meeting. I was reading a book and there was a knock at my door, I would not have normally answered it as it was dark outside, but I got up and looked out the door and saw this brilliant light around these two young men. I was so taken by the peace I felt before I even opened the door that I had decided "Whatever they were selling, I needed it!" Little did I know just how true that thought was, granted they were not selling anything but offering me the sweet peace and comfort that comes from knowing the true Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life.
It did not take me long to want to be baptized. I took the missionary discussions and was fortunate enough to have a missionary couple (the Gurrs) to help me with all of my questions as they lived in the apartment below me. I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It contains the FULLNESS of God's teachings and HIS message of HOPE, of PEACE, of LOVE that HE offers to everyone living or dead! He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow! HE is the Alpha and Omega. I love the Lord.
I am especially grateful for all those who have helped me along the way, who have been a strength too me, who have been there every step of the way. Heavenly Father really knows each of us individually. He knows exactly what we need and is always their for us! I thank Him for giving me such great family and friends. I know that He is not finished with me yet, I must endure it well to the end. I am glad that enduring it well involves so many wonderful people to meet and to love along the way. Thank you to everyone who has helped me. Thank You to our Father in Heaven for sending us his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, who suffered for each of us in the garden of Gethsemane and through his Infinite Atonement we can all return to live with our Father in Heaven someday!

Can't Get Enough

I just had to post more pics of my fav family:.... Kenton is such a special boy! He amazes me with most of the things he thinks about!

McKay is full of life! I love seeing the world through his eyes!

Jed is a really good daddy! He amazes me with the patience and love he shows his family all the time, no matter the situation! He has a very deep devotion to his family!

You just gotta love those smiles! Lynette is very lucky to be able to see those smiles everyday!

Holiday with Friends!

I went to Az the other week. I had the best time ever. How could I not, I got to see the best family in the world!! It had been almost a full year and gosh I was having withdraws. My 11 hour drive began way too early but hours later I was rewarded with a majestic sunrise.
I am not sure really how long the drive was, I stopped a couple times for gas, for the potty and for pictures.

There was this rest area that was really nice. The bathrooms were clean and there was this way cool purple cactus. out front.
Once I finally arrived in Phoenix, I met my favorite family at this kids museum. We had a fantastic time. There was this entire Legos land! There was this really big castle that had a thrown you could sit on and all these places to build your own lego creations. It was great fun watching Kenton and McKay and little Ellyeen play with the blocks. I did observe that all of the pink"girl" blocks were designed to make castles and princess stuff. Whats up with that?

Once we had all the fun we could, we headed back to Melissa's house. They have such a lovely home, so warm and inviting. I instantly felt at home, which is hard for me to do. We had so much fun. Kenton showed me how to play the Wii. Mckay and I played cars a lot and went swimming. Ellyeen let me hold her, eventually. I think the first time was pure desperation, she was on the floor bored of entertaining herself and I was better than the floor.
She eventually warmed up to me and everyone else. It was very nice to meet her, she is a beautiful little girl with a nice personality, she seems to really take everything in and just absorbs it all! See how interested in those sunglasses she is! Wow, just look at her, she is a cutie!

We had such a fabulous time, I LOVED, LOVED! every minute of my time. I sure am glad to have true friends.

Here are just some of my Fav Pics!

Hope everyone enjoys theses as much as me! Lynette Thanks for letting me share in some of your family vacation!