Freedom

E-vin, jake and my's church has started an Art Group. We are beyond excited to share the gifts and talents that God has given us with others in our community. But mostly we love putting our hands to something to bless God and to give Him all the glory. Our first event happened on the Sunday morning just before we flew out to Minneapolis. The Presence of God and the Joy in my heart that morning were immeasureable. I think mostly it hit me during worship, which was done accustically off the stage with a couple guitars and a Djimbe...it was music for the soul. I wanted to post a few pieces of art that various people in our congregation put together for our expression of Freedom. One talented friend of ours wrote a 20 minute drama for the occassion and asked Jake to act in it...(I got to do a voice over. that was fun.) I don't have snaps of everything that contributed to our first art event, but here's a preview.
Enjoy..and Praise God in everything because He is the reason we have Freedom in the first place!This is part of the drama...jake's character struggles with addiction while his friend encourages him to get some counseling, Jake's character chooses to refuse freedom

My amazing friend Susanna choreographed a dance to a song. she's wonderful.

The woman who painted this had never attempted art before. God came through in many ways for her. You never know until you try eh?

This is the ASL sign for Freedom. I thought it came together nicely.

This one speaks for itself. I'll try to add a video, but last time no luck.
oh well. guess the stills will have to do.

Tradition!!!

Beignette day started on Dec. 2, 20005 after Elizabeth, Rebecca and I returned home from our fun trip to New Orleans. We decided that Cafe Dumont was not the only place that could offer Beignette's and Cafe au Lait. So...in honor of our 3rd annual Beignette day....here are some photos. (side note...Dec 2nd is also Josh Craner berfday, and John and Betty's anniversary...31 years and counting..how awesome...) anyhoo..this year due to the girls being abroad, we held Beignette day on Nov 30th instead, and had the other half of Prosphatos to stand in...and Daniel, Jake, John and Betty. It was a blast...as you can see. (the the 4 of us "youngins" played Settlers of Catan...and I won...as Betty predicted...yeah for me.)

getting older

I realize more and more each time I am around a mixed group of people, that I just don't have as much patience for most teens as I used to.

I love games...but I like focused people. It's like when you go bowling..i'm there to bowl...so when it flashes your name...you should bowl right?

well I find that I have been losing my patience with the younger crowd that we hang out with..anyhoo. no more time to write...
just thought i'd mention.

The truth is...

Last night we had game night. It was a blast...We drank lots of Mountain Dew and Pepsi...and some water....ate candy...(cause all the carrots were eaten last nigh)t....and played games....cause that's what we do best.
We played Apples to Apples...i wound up with Addictive...fits eh?
Jake had Cold and Peaceful....he doesn't think he's cold, but maybe a little aloof.
then we played a few games of Mafia...then Encore...it's a fun song game. You are given a word and broken into two teams. Each team has to sing at least 6 words of a song containing that word, then the game goes back and forth until one team can't think anymore. Last night we had words like Beach, She, Over, and That. Sometimes your brain just gets stuck...but it was fun.

Then we played more Mafiea. While hanging with wonderful friends, I realized how much we miss our TRAVELING FRIENDS, Elizabeth and REBECCA...so I took advantage of the moment and snapped a pic. as you can see we are most sorrowful without you lovely ladies.

Then we played something called "4 on a couch" and we forgot all about our sadness....JUST KIDDING...and that wasn't even funny.
The boys wound up winning...but it was a blast, I definitely think it's something we'll be adding to our bag-o-fun-games.
FOR anyone reading whom didn't come to game night...ask us about it ...and you can come over next time!!! cause it's fun fun fun.
Thanks for all the friends that did come...It's an honor to know such wonderful peeps.
and as always...thanks for reading.

pictures are uploaded!

Our bowling league team...The Mafia...aka Clint and Michelle Mason...and us....(yes, that's jake's ball.)

S'mores Brownie Incedent...

I found a recipe online for S'mores Brownies...
just the name of it makes your mouth water eh?

well...we set up a time to visit with some friends, and decided it was a good time to try out this recipe...this past sat.

we made a graham cracker crust...baked it for a bit, then added the brownie mix...and let that bake for it's allotted time...and then for the tricky part.

The marshmellows that go on top....in order to give it the appealing visual you are to turn the oven to broil and the heat to low...(if that is possible..) and let the layer of marshmallows turn that golden brown color that you strive for at a campfire...

well like campfires if you don't watch the mallow close enough it might just light on fire and turn from golden to scorched....

well in between our baking event we were trying to finish an episode of House on the dvd...before leaving to meet our friends for dinner...
1 minute
1 mintue 30 seconds...jake checks it to make sure all is well...and it is...

2 minutes...jake checks....and from the cornder of my eye I see bright orange monster trying to escape from our stove...
the mallows had gone from perfection to no return.
i run over to jake who is trying to remove the pan from the oven with out being lit on fire...
and i say, "i don't know what to do.."
thought's were going through my mind in these split seconds iof...we have no extinguisher...and what do i grab from the house.....

and jake just simply patted the flames out with our oven mit and the scarey part was over. we were both laughing at that point.

we scrapped off the black parts, added more mallows, put it back in the oven, let is stay for



1 more minute...removed, and was on our way. with a successful S'mores brownie..and none would have been the wiser, but the story was too good to keep secret.

the brownies can out very tasty....just thought the story was fun.
i'll post a photo of the burnt oven mit when i get the other pics loaded.
again
thanks for your time.

Halloween

Just another friday for the most part, but I did get to dress up for my photography job. This has been a tradition for the past almost 10 years to dress up for the kids that come in to take pics on this festive day. I'm not sure how I stand as per what Jake and I will do when we have our own children as to Trick-or-Treating or anything, but i dig the dress up part..prehaps i might try to find photos of my various costumes through the years....anyhoo.
this year

i wore the punjabi that i got in India. normally i like to wear something that represents my travels or experiences over the past year, but didn't think my wedding dress would be conducive to taking photos and crawling on the ground.

So, I did that, then got my hair trimmed and dyed so that the blonde would be all out. The color turned out a little darker than I had planned, but so far it seems to be a success for those who have seen it...for my traveling friends, we might need to set up a skype time...so i can get your opinion.

Jake and I headed over to Oasis to "help" with the Harvest Party/Play tug of war and potatoe sack races, and hang out with some old and new friends.


We finished the night up bowling with the youth group..well, they bowled two lanes over from us...we just were there at the same time. Don't get me wrong, they are a good group of kids, but i'm not sure i'm built to work with the teens. God bless those who helped me through those years...smiles. there are reasons i embrace getting older. ...

we all had our fair share of candy for the night...it was fun...
and in reality jake and i took the excess candy home with us, so we'll have enough candy to last us....atleast till thanksgiving....i think...we'll see. (evil laugh....not sure i can do it justice rebecca.)

a bit frustrated...and apologies

I'm sitting at my job...which means I'm not on my home computer, or I WOULD be taking this time to upload photos from Tahoe, and Halloween, and our burnt Smores brownies experience. Alas, i am left to leave you all but with words. I PROMISE the photos will be put up...i just need some time okay...for those of you that have been hounded by me in the past...i a m feeling humbled and I extend a great apology for any pressure you might have felt from my over zealousness...(not sure the word over needs to preceed the last word.)



So Tahoe...
Jake and I went out there with my parents for about 3 days. I never knew how pretty it was. My only knowledge of the lake was from the wonderful movie LIFE AS A HOUSE...needless to say, i knew nothing of the beauty that awaited us on the Nevada California border. There was a big clear lake, and endless acres/miles of tall green pine trees full of lucious pine cones. It became sort of a scavenger hunt to find the biggest intact pine cone around. I "think" dad won, but i'm not sure. We went kayaking on the lake. It was Jake and I's first experience...I took a photo of the water, and I"m serious, YOU COULD SEE THE BOTTOM IN THE PHOTO.


The drive was long, but I believe worth it. We took my car (manual) somewhat in hopes that this would be the opportunity for me to teach Jake to master driving in this foreign fashion...but it didnt' happen....We realized it would be better in a low stress situation like an empty parking lot. But JAKE is the BEST keep awake..he read me trivia questions for hours not wavering or complaing of boredom. He is the best...."around!"(singing the song from Karate kid..anyone with me?)

i know this might be long..so i wonder if i should end this first one before starting in about last friday/and or sat...i think i will..thanks for reading in my mind with me...

We took a cruise across the lake also...it was romantic on the top deck after the dinner was over...cold but nice. and us being the silly gooses that we are...sat in the side room for the remainder of the cruise playing cards..between pitch, speed, and cribbage...we are funny, but enjoy every minute of it.

I suggest anyone and everyone go see Tahoe. It is a big lake and there are lots of different parts to drive around and hikes to see....and the HRC on the border as well...(of course that was our first stop.) smiles and as always..thanks for reading.

anniversary...come and gone

i have a few pics. i'll post someday from my computer and upload them. JAKE and i are officially 1...and 1 day. we are very excited...and still enjoying ourselves....being married that is...anyhoo.
thanks for reading and for caring, and...i'll post more, i promise....

11monthiversary

oh yeah,

i did forget about something somewhat exciting happening this past saturday.

jake and i celebrated our 11 monthiversay of marriage..

(anniversary doesn't fit due to the lack of annuals in our celebratoin..as of yet)

we celebrated with a shot of Jack Daniels from my HRC shot glasses from Melbourne, Australia. it was our first shot together...over all the whiskey wasn't bad..we actually enjoyed it...(ode to rebecca..just so you know.)

I'm not on my computer right now, but i'll load the photo we took of it...(cause you know i had to take one!!!giggles.)

thanks for reading

awkwardness

I noticed this past weekend that I feel awkward when talking with people that I don't see on a regular basis. I guess I don't feel like the mundane; going to work, watching HOUSE at home on dvd and playing games with Jake feels like anything to update people on. So then there is the need to brag about stuff, like going to Minneapolis this Christmas, Jake playing gigs up in PC, my brother stopping in St. Louis to buy me a Hard Rock shirt...umm..and even as I'm typing, I realize how hard it is...

Don't get me wrong, ...i was a bit sick last week, watched the season premire of The Office with some friends. (i'm not normally a fan, but i was there to support jake, and i will admit, I enjoyed myself.) had friday off from school, bowled a 177 on sunday with my neices and nephew, celebrated a 1st berfday with a friends kid, won a small poker game with some friends...

so there are things i can talk about, but...I don't know it just seems "not up to snuff.." I guess i don't know what it is that people want to hear. Not that I only want to tell people waht they want to hear...but...oh I don't know.

maybe there's nothing to this, It's just when people ask what I've been up to..just saying working sounds sooo...non personal. I don't want to cut myself off from friends, but sometimes i just can't think of anything to say.

I really appreciate people on these blogspots, because even though i might not have time to write a lot, at least i can read about what's happening to everyone else.

thanks for reading

lagoon...awhile back

mom and daniela on the jet star

selah on bumper cars

angelina's dream car

sling shot...this was really cool

hatley and me..
.it was a fun day, including the rainfall that forced us under the rock-u-to the top pavillion..i have always liked watching the show where the singers and dancers cover songs and entertain the audience, but i get a little irritated that it seems whenever the girls are out on stage they can't dance without being suggestive. I think dancing is such an art, but do they always have to play the "sex" card?...I think it gives dancers a bad rep....some of it is nice, and the cast definitely has talent, but the boys can do it without taking things south...why can't the girls?
it was a fun family day.
thanks for all that was involved for being apart of my family

reminiscing

I've been chatting with Rebecca and Elizabeth online.

Hearing them talk about all of their travels makes me miss being out of my normal surroundings

I sure like photos for this very reason

Then again, Elizabeth was with me for most of these pics

sigh. the world is a beautiful place eh?

not much new

i got sick this morning...couldn't sleep, stomach hurting really bad.
So i stayed home from work today.
It's also my dad's birthday.
I want to see him, but I don't want anyone to get sick.
SO, here I am, working on Shara's birthday present...(her's was last week)
listening to the dishwasher running,
looking at the game we played Sunday night, realizing I need to put it back in the closet....but first I should pull the DVD out of the machine and put it in the box.
my stomach is grrring at me, and my head is still pounding.

I feel like when i don't go into work, that i should just lie around all day...being sick. But then part of me doesn't want to waste time...
then i move my head from one way to another, and i realize if i do too much, i might not be able to do work tomorrow also.
and that doesn't want to be an option.

Jake and i went bowling last night. he finally got his ball...i'll have to take a photot and post it soon.

i got a 147 and 158 last night...i was very happy.

we're supposed to go camping this weekend with some friends. we'll see what happens.
I just wanted to update cause it's been awhlie.
I'm excited for Christmas to come ....we both are looking forward to MINN.

the cold chill in the air outside right now...(sept23rd) feels nice. Although i know that just means it's about to be winter time...

and frankly, i like it when the bottoms of my pants stay dry!

some day.

be happy...and joyful in everything.

catch up from summer ...

We went for a hike near Stockton, Utah
It was off trail, as in there wasn't any trails, other than what the dear and cows had created from their many treks through this beautiful place. I was scared by the pheasants that heard us coming close to where they were nesting....and as they were practically flapping their brains out to escape us scary people, I about had a heart attack. I think Jake and Sanna were laughing their "brains" out, only at me...smiles.
Susanna named the area we were traipsing around...backbone alley...or something like that BECAUSE we found what looked like a dear skeleton. (or coyote, we weren't sure.) There was almost the complete skull, including jaw and a few teeth, and what looked like a femur bone, and a few else. Jake decided to claim the territory by putting the skull portion atop a tall plant ...sort of like how you would display a founders flag.
I wanted to write more, but my brain is fried right now.
I'll put up the other pics from later that week someother time.

On another note, exercising your brain and your body are two different things. I think the latter is less tiring.

bowling

confirmations happen in threes...so they say.

my vickie mom came into town this past weekend...which means we would inevitably go bowling. it dawned on me that i have been putting off buying jake a bowling ball/bag and shoes for two years now. we decided it was time, so when we went to the bowling alley my mom used to go to while she lived here, that we'd buy the package for him, including his smiley faced ball (i'll post a photo once he actually has it..they had to special order it...)

i then asked/decided that if we went bowling once a month, we'd be good...jake concurred...

a friend called today asking about a photo shoot thing....and then says," do you and jake bowl?" and i said...yes, we LOVE bowling, why do you ask?" and the conversation unravels that our married coupled friends...(don't think that's proper english, but i'm in a hurry) needed one more couple to join a bowling league for it to work.

I've been toying with the idea of joining a couples league for awhile, but couldn't seem to nail down the details of peoples schedules and desire....and so it just never worked out.

and me being as busy as i am....it would really be nice to have something "fun" and outside of the home to do...

and...i'm not sure if i laid out the three/confirmation thing...
point being.

jake and i are on a bowling league...and we're headed out the door right now for our first night.
i'm so happy and excited...and i say thanks to GOD as always for paying attention to the little things yet again. You are sooo faithful.

crazy times

...how many of you have a jars of clay song in your head by the mention of my title.??? just curious.

i really have no time to write, but i wanted to post something. I've started my crazy busy schedule once again...only this time with a third addition to my job titles. thus...monday through friday i'm gone from around 645am to 6-8pm...and snug in bed..hopefully before 10pm. this is week 2 of my 36 week school year...or something like that. I'm very happy with my jobs....and i'm also very happy that i can drink a pepsi in between shifts to give me that extra kick in my step.

This will all be worth it, and really IS worth it right now, becauseI love the people i get to spend time with, and with the greater goal of being out of debt and continuing with my desire to travel the world whenever humanly possible....and to go back to school, and and and to do all the things i love to do....I'm happy.

with one small exception. Last night when i went to bed i didn't realize that the following day i'd be gone all day just to have my amazing husband be gone to a gig when i got home from work, to also remember that by the time i go to bed tongight that he won't be home and that i won't be seeing him until after 6pm FRIDAY. I know to some married couples this is a reality and almost a way of life sometimes, but for me...

this is a rude awakening.

this is the first night in 10 months that we haven't been toghether....harsh reality....

but i'll get over it. he's doing his thing and loving it and succeeding at it...and i only wish that i could be in the audience clapping and encouraging him in person. alas....it'll have to wait till tomorrow.

for all of you veteraned married people....sigh....kudos to you for being so strong, independent and willing to go to bed alone. i'm still pouting about this...but as they say...the honeymoon has to end sometime..

then again....the honeymoon isn't over...nope! nope! nope!
giggles....and goodnight.

Timpanogos Cave

(Then on Jakes birthday we did this...and then...Lagoon!...maybe a hike in between...or boating...we'll see!)


I've heard of it
I've driven past the exit numerous times
NOW I've hiked it!
It was so pretty.
I'll let the views speak for themselves. I don't know self control...if i load one photo, i have to load lots of them...hope you like them

you don't stop on the red lines cause of falling rocks, the whole path was really pretty to walk up...but worth a few stops along the way (mike and mary, maybe next time we'll take you up here...but you might have to hug the inside wall as we go. It's a bit steep looking down.

birthday boy posing for me...thanks babe







This was taken in "The Big Room"
for the most part though, jake was practically crawling through the cave.

it's green naturally because of the iron in the cave...cool i thought.



isn't he the cutest!