ALL CAUGHT UP!

Yahoo...I'm all caught up on the blog!

FINALLY!!!

Some of you may be wondering why I even bothered to go back and put everything in rather than just to start where we were at. Well, to quickly explain myself: I eventually want to print off the blog into a book, and therefore wanted to have it start off with Rand and I and cover everything in our relationship. I'm not sure how often I'll print a book off, or if I'll eventually learn how to do digital scrapbooking and decide to do that instead, but I wanted to make sure to cover everything so that way if I do decide to just print blog books off, then I haven't missed anything. So that's also why there are so many pictures and more detailed descriptions of everything.

Thanks for being patient while I caught everything up and I guess I can say that we are ready to GO LIVE!

Some thoughts on some of my favorite people!

Okay, I had to add this in because I wasn't able to at the time they happened (I wasn't caught up on the blog then). So...I didn't want to just not put them in because I was behind...so here they are:

Happy Anniversary!



On April 14th my parents had their 35th wedding anniversary. Just thought I'd throw in some fun pictures for my friends to see of them (for kicks and giggles). I probably don't say it enough, I just assume they know, but I love and appreciate my parents very much! In so many ways they are wonderful examples to me of the person I should be. It's funny to me too as I've gotten older to catch myself doing something where I say, "oh my gosh, that's totally what my mom/dad does!" But as I have also gotten older and have grown closer to my Heavenly Father, I have been even more grateful for my parents and what they've done for me. They have been a tangible, on-this-earth example to me of the love that my Heavenly Father has for me. As I've looked back on all the 'rules' they gave me as I was growing up (even ones I thought were there to purely ruin my fun and were a little strict...but as my cousin Ashley knows, you just didn't argue, it wasn't worth it, you just obeyed!) As I've been able to look back and have seen the wisdom in these 'rules' and the blessings I've received from them (or the heartache I got from not following them), and I think about how they held their ground even if I talked back or was rude to them about it, it shows me how much they really cared for me and loved me to do that...to take all the flack I gave them knowing they were doing something better for me. Recognizing this, I've been better able to grasp the concept and understand the relationship and care our Heavenly Father has for us as he gives us commandments and guidelines to follow. He loves us that much! Sometimes I may not really understand why He's given us a certain commandment...but I don't need to. I just need to know and understand that He loves us more than we could know, and therefore only has our best interest in mind. And He puts up with all the 'flack' that is given Him because 'we don't want that' or 'why this or that' and even those who choose not to even recognize Him as who He is, because He loves us and He wants the best for us. I will always be grateful to my parents for the example they are to me in that way more than anything!



Thanks Mom and Dad...and Happy Anniversary! Of your 35 years of marriage...I'm sure the last 28 were the most enjoyable (right?!) Ha! Ha!



President Thomas S. Monson



K, I get another small perk at my job that I really enjoy. BYU encourages all their employees to attend the weekly devotional. Some years I'm really good about attending, and not so good other years. But I always enjoy them and there is always something you can gain from them if you go with the right attitude (kind of like church). Another great thing is that when something big happens, like the announcing of the new First Presidency, everyone at my work wants to see it and so we gather into the meeting room and turn it on the TV. It was neat to hear President Monson answer questions in such a casual setting. He is the master storyteller! There was a question that was asked that seemed small and 'get to know you fun'...and yet he gave my favorite answer to it. A reporter asked him his favorite color (along with other 'favorites'). His response to this was so thought provoking...he responded 'yellow'. He said that as a man who worked in the newsprint business he learned the importance of the color yellow because it was the color that gave life and light to all the other colors. It is also the color that will fade the fastest. He mentioned that he can see a picture and know right away if the yellow has faded because all the other colors will have faded as well and will have lost their 'light'. I loved that...so much like the spirit in our lives. I can't tell you how many times I've met people who aren't members who say, "there is something about you" or "there's just this light about the mormons", etc. That light, the 'yellow', is the Spirit. If we don't take care of ourselves and our testimonies...that spirit fades and in a sense, so do we as well. It's very obvious when you see a person who once had that light and you see it fading. And how awesome it is to see it come back, the contrast. SO...next time you see a picture and the brillant blues and greens and red...don't forget about the yellow!

President Hinckley's Passing

The night that President Hinckley passed away Rand and I were at a ward Elder's Quorum dessert night at our neighbors when one of the couples there received a text from their parents. It was a neat experience as it was announced to everyone there in the room to feel the reverance there for President Hinckley. I think most all of us there were not surprised or caught off guard by the news. That night Rand and I went home and turned on the news and listened to all the coverage about his passing. I definitely was grateful to be in Utah at the time where the church does get so much coverage and we could see and hear so many people pay tribute to this wonderful man and prophet of God.


That next week had a lot of coverage about his life and service and the forthcoming funeral services. That Saturday morning I watched the funeral proceedings. It was really neat to see all the people lining the streets as they headed to the grave site. I loved seeing everyone with their canes in honor of him! Following this they showed the video of his life...what an amazing, hard-working and faithful man! What an example! I thought alot about this during that week as I listened to everyone talk about him with such high regard; not just those who were members, but so many other non-members as well who loved and respected him. I thought about what it was that made him so loved and respected universally. The answer I came up with is that he was SO Christ-like. He did all the things that I, and I think most of us, would like to do and be. He knew who his Savior was and he learned of him and studied his life and served him so much, that he truly had the Saviors image in his countenance.

If you haven't read his biography, Go Forward with Faith, written by Sheri Dew, I suggest you do. One of the best books I've ever read! Just like when you would see him or hear him speak, it makes you want to be a better person! That was always his message, to "stand a little taller and be a little better".

One quick story: I am really grateful for the employment I've had at BYU and the opportunities it has afforded me to meet different people as well as different leaders in the church. In June of 2006 I was working for the Campus Visits office. Because this office would eventually be moving into the new Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni and Visitors Center, we were invited to attend the groudbreaking. I went with my boss and some others from the office. We were able to sit about 3 rows back and were able to be a part of this event with President Hinckley and other church leaders. Following this event, my boss Troy, was so kind and let me take his ticket to the birthday luncheon for President Hinckley (the groundbreaking was held on his birthday). Troy could tell I was so disappointed that I couldn't attend this because I wasn't an administrator...so he gave me his ticket and he went to lunch with some of his friends. I attended the lunch and it was so awesome and amazing to be sitting just 2 tables away from President Hinckley. I wish now that I would have had the guts to go up and shake his hand...but I didn't want to bother him and intrude on the family table (and security would only bring him in once everyone was seated, and escorted him out before we left). It was still a really neat and humbling experience to be so close to a prophet of God and such a wonderful man!

Destined for 2nd Place!

I think my first few years in intramurals was a fluke! I won three t-shirts: soccer, co-ed basketball and softball. It's been a dry well every since! Sure, we put ourselves in position to get another one...but then fall short! Well, after doing this in the fall with flag football, add basketball to the list for winter! At least we had fun!

This team was kind of randomly thrown together my myself and my friend Krista. We wanted to play and so we each just asked some friends. It ended up being a really fun team and we just played better and better together as the season went on. Not only did we have a decent team, but everyone had awesome attitudes, which just made playing together that much more enjoyable. Even though we lost the championship, we had a great time playing together and made some new friends! I call that a successful season anyway!

Back row: Chelise, Jessica, Nancy, Becca and Krista (who couldn't play from pregnancy sickness)

Front row: me, Kelly and Veva

Here's some of the action shots during the game!

Thanks for taking pics Trish!



At the end of regulation play we were tied!



But as you can see from the final shot...they pulled off a three point victory in the end.

Campus Visits Reunion

Most of you may know that I worked for three years in the BYU Campus Visits office. Over that time I worked with one administrator, Troy, and about 20 student tour guides. This was one of my absolute favorite jobs ever! Not just because I got to be lazy and drive golf carts all over campus...but mostly because of all the people that I worked with. It was such a fun office and everyone was great friends. We tended to always support each other in things, and often would hang out outside of work. Some of my closes friends today I met while in that job. I always felt like I got to work with some of the best students who attended BYU and am so grateful for everyone that I met and worked with while I was there (those in our office and in other offices on campus as well).

We decided to have a little reunion because most all of us have moved on to other things (other jobs, graduated, grad school, etc.) We had a BBQ up at Troy's house and most everyone in the area was able to attend. It was so great to see everyone and to catch up on things and just hang out. It's doubtful that this will happen again because so many more people graduate this year and are leaving Utah for jobs or more schooling. Troy did suggest though that we start holding reunions every year at conference time just like mission reunions (because that's probably when we would catch more people in town! haha!)

It was so good to see all those who came and we missed everyone who wasn't able to come! Thanks Troy and Corinne for letting us party it up at your house!

Amy, Heidi and myself

Catch-up

JACK IS BACK (in Utah)

Anyone who knows Rand knows that he is a HUGE Jack Johnson fan. I found out from a co-worker that he was coming back to Utah in August (thanks Eddie! Last I checked I didn't see any tour dates.) Since Rand hadn't mentioned anything, I figured he had no clue he was coming and it would be a perfect surprise. So, I ordered the tickets and thought of a fun way to surprise him with them (I'm surprised I kept it a secret...I usually get so excited about it I would just tell him.)

So, I decided to send him on a scavenger hunt around our apartment. I set it all up and then went and picked him up from work one Friday night. When we got to the front door there was a note with a clue waiting for him. Each clue used lines from Jack Johnson songs that led him to somewhere in our apartment where the next clue was waiting. Once he had collected all the clues, he had to piece all of them together like a puzzle. Then he flipped the puzzle over to find the 'prize'. I think it is safe to say that he loved it! He knew pretty quickly from the clues that it involved Jack Johnson. He thought he was getting the CD at the end...but was pleasantly surprised to find it was tickets instead!

Lori's Baby Shower
My old roommate Lori had a baby shower for her first little one on the way. She should be having her little girl any day now (poor Lori has been having steady contractions for about a month now! You could see her in slight pain throughout the shower.) I hadn't seen her in over a year (though we do talk here and there on IM). It was fun to see her and Sam and to catch up on some things. Her sister-in-law had all these cute baby games (none of them consisting of guessing the baby food or candy bar in the diaper, thank you Cindy!) As well, she had made some very scruptious (that's a Lori type word being used for a post about her) foods!

Trevor Time

Brian had asked us to watch Trevor while he went mountain biking with some friends (Emily was in Salt Lake on a 'Girls Weekend' and Ellie was in California with my parents). We weren't able to do it because I had Lori's baby shower to go to. Well, while at the shower I get a call from Brian asking if I can come and help him with Trevor because he crashed while biking and dislocated his shoulder! Poor Brian...it seems stuff like this always happens to him.

After the baby shower I headed up to Brian's and picked Trevor up to take with me on a few errands I needed to run. In the 15 minute drive from Brian's to Costco, Trevor was out! I tried to wake him up before going in, but he wouldn't budge. So...I just got him comfy in the cart and picked up the few things I needed to get (most of them packed under the cart so not to disturb Trevor). It was fun to see everyone looking at him sleeping away in the cart as I pushed it through the store.

Then we went and picked Rand up from studying and headed home to put the stuff away before taking Trevor home. It was Saturday night and the NCAA playoffs were on. Trevor was fussy so I put on his Mickey Mouse movie to make him happy while I put stuff up. Rand couldn't believe Mickey Mouse was winning over basketball and told Trevor it was a sign of how much he loved him. Well, Trevor got side tracked and decided to help me put up stuff in the closet (such a big helper)...and Rand took the opportunity to turn on the game. After we were done and Trevor got his fruit snack treat he walked back into the family room and looked at the TV and started crying, "where's Mickey, I want Mickey". I immediately start to laugh and just can't wait until Rand gets to deal with this on a regular basis with our own kids! Seriously...how many dads out there know the theme songs to Dora the Explorer, Hannah Montana, the Backyardigans, etc. Somehow though, Rand actually talked Trevor into 'watching basketball like a man' and it worked!

Here's Trevor fast asleep in the car and the cart!

Random Post

General Conference
We were able to attend the Sunday morning session of General Conference this year with my Dad and brother, Kevin. I love attending conference and I try not to take for granted the fact that we usually get to attend one meeting each session of conference when there are a lot of people who would love to go and never get the chance. It's neat to be in the conference center with all the leaders of the church. I, like my dad, love to just watch all the general authorities come in and converse with each other. This year my dad brought some small binocular's (camouflage color) so he could look for his mission president and other general authorities before the session started. He told us that we didn't need to be embarrassed because the binocular's are camouflage and noone could see them. To this Rand responded that he still looked pretty funny just holding his hands up to his eyes! It was at this point that we dubbed my dad the 'conference groupie'...but really, that's a good thing! He loves attending general conference and loves to be so close to all the leaders of the church (and especially to his mission president, Elder John Madsen, of the First Quorum of the Seventy) and that's something that I really admire about him. So really, 'conference groupie' is a good thing.

This session of conference was obviously a really neat one seeing as how it was a solemn assembly in which we were able to sustain a new prophet of God, President Monson, as well as a new First Presidency and a new apostle. As well, Rand's mission president was called to the First Quorum of the Seventy, Elder Lawrence Corbridge, and he was really excited to hear that.

I also love hearing all the words that are shared. I went back and read some of the talks from the priesthood session (since I wasn't at that, obviously) and I loved Elder Uchtdorf's talk, "A Matter of a Few Degrees". I loved how he talked about the disasters that can happen just from one small incorrect decision...and it is so true. What I loved even more though, is when he talked about how we can correct those wrongs, no matter how far off course we have gone, and get back on the right path through repentance and making correct decisions. I'm sure that most all of us, at some point in our lives, feels like we've made a stupid decision (or series of decisions) and can let that get us down or feel we have failed. I love hearing such wonderful messages of hope! Of knowing that nobody is beyond help from the Savior and His atonement. Much like was once shared by Elder Bednar in one of his first talks as a general authority, the atonement is there to better us...it can make bad people good and good people better. It's not just there to help us overcome our sins and mistakes, but it's also there to give us the enabling power to be better and to do things that perhaps we just don't think we can do. And that's awesome!

My Free Time

Well, since Rand and I got married these two things have taken up most of my free-time...which is okay, I'm wierd and I really like them both! Rand is so busy with school and he helps me when he's able to (which I really do appreciate because he really is swamped with his studies!) But we decided to do some major cleaning of the apartment and it has been a long process. First we had to get organized (because I'm OCD like that and I need 'a place for everything and everything in it's place). Once things were pretty much together that way, I started the 'deep cleaning'. We've been scrubbing walls, doors, baseboards, behind the fridge and oven, cupboards, blinds (these are a pain), and more. I discovered this new cleaning tool: the sonic scrub brush. It is a miracle worker for the baseboards and the details in the doors! I love it! It's taking so long because by the time I get home from work, have dinner with Rand and get ready for the next day...cleaning is the last thing I want to do. And Saturdays have piled up with numerous things as well so that I only get a couple hours in here and there. I can't wait for it all to be done!!!

Cooking: this is the other thing I have spent lots of time doing. I noticed that my sister-in-law would have some frozen dinners she had pre-made in the freezer at their house. I thought this would be a good idea for Rand and I. I'm so busy during the day and coming home and making a big dinner just isn't feasible most days for me (especially as we start training for our triathlons this summer). So, I've started taking a couple of days out of the month where I make a few big meals that freeze and re-heat well (chicken and rice, stir-fry, pasta dishes, crock pot recipes, soups, chili, etc) and then break them down into tupperware containers. They pretty much fill our freezer up...but it's easy for us to just get up in the morning, grab one and go. Not to mention that Rand tends to eat at least two dinners at night, so he can just grab them out of the freezer (cause I am not making two dinners!) Even though it takes a little planning and a few hours to prepare at one time...it saves SO much time in the long run! And this summer, with my busy work schedule and Rand's increased appetite from getting back to working out...this is the easiest solution!

More Catch-Up

Intramural Basketball = Stitches for Rand
Now I just want to note that the first ER trip in our marriage was for Rand...not for me! Wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles!

Rand had an intramural basketball game and it was a little intense! He took an elbow to the nose (the foul was called on him too) which caused immediate bleeding, a delay in the game as they cleaned it all up, a band-aid for Rand (who continued to play) and a win for the DubVC (their team name). After the game we took a look at it and decided it was going to need stitches. So after about an hour and a half at the ER, we came home at about midnight with less money in our bank account and 3 stitches in Rand's nose!

He also got a nice 'shiner' from it as well!

March Madness
If you read the post about Rand attending the World Series and you were jealous...then skip this next one! Rand, again the recipient of a kind brother, was able to attend the first day of the NCAA basketball championships in Denver. He spent all day that first Thursday watching four games from about the fourth row. Jason was there to cover the games for the WAC and Rand was invited to join him (which he ofcourse did not pass up). All throughout the day I would receive a text from Rand here and there asking if I 'could see him'. It's kind of hard to see him from my cubicle at work where there is no TV! I did try to spot him later that night (for the few minutes I was able to watch due to some church meetings), but was never able to see him. Sad. But he had a great time and loved spending time with Jason and Marisa as well.

DanceSport Competition
My job comes with a few perks from time to time. Because I work with a lot of the different dance directors and instructors at BYU, they are at times very generous with me. I was given a pass to the DanceSport competition this last March. This is the National championships held each year in the Marriott Center on campus and peole come from all over to compete. As well, all the different dance classes at BYU, the students compete as well. My cousin Trent is in a couple of classes, and so I was able to see him compete. He did great and it was so fun to watch him compete. I was able to see other friends as well during the competition, as well as all the BYU Youth teams that I help behind the scenes with throughout the year. They all did so well!

I know it must seem so unfair to all those people who love dance that this girl who never grew up dancing a day in her life (unless you count stake roadshows...which you shouldn't) gets to enjoy these things. I think it really was just all of my dad's prayers my whole life: this was the closest Heavenly Father could get me to being a dancer for my dad!

Trent and I watching the competition!

Trent and his partner performing the Waltz.

Uncle Ed
Rand's great-uncle Ed passed away in March (Rand's grandpa's brother). He lived here in Provo and we got the chance a couple of times while we were dating to go and visit him. He had the cutest little voice (caused by a surgical procedure), but it was really cute and fun to listen to. Uncle Ed had written the words to the hymn "Our Saviors Love". Rand had promised him that he would stop by and sing for him in spanish that hymn, and I'm really glad that he was able to do that before he passed away. He was a really bright and driven person; competed in track in college and was a Rhodes Scholar. He taught at BYU for years. His service was really nice. I noticed a poem on the back of the program that I likes...and found out that he had written:

The Gentle Way

He left to other men the path

To wealth, that turns to clay;

He left to others hate and wrath,

And sought the gentle way.

Though life was filled with joy and pain

And threatening decay,

He never challenged God's design,

But chose the gentle way.

Temptations offered subtle cures

For ills, and time to pay;

He stripped the mask off ugly lures,

And kept the gentle way.

He earned the sweetest word known - peace,

Striving day by day

To live to the last breath's release

In love, the gentle way.

I like this poem...I think it's really easy to do things the way the world does them. It's easy to loose our temper, point a finger, lack in patience, etc, etc; but the measure of a man (person) is truly shown when they seek, choose and keep 'the gentle way' (being Christ-like).

Uncle Ed Hart (center: with 2 of his siblings)

A little Catch-up

The MTC

I think most everyone knows that Rand teaches at the MTC (he teaches spanish). He loves this job and I know that the day he stops working there he will be really sad. This is just one of the many districts that he has taught. At the time that we got engaged he had Kurt Thomson (my home ward) in his group, and he has taught a few other people from back home during his time at the MTC.

BYU vs. UNLV Home Game 2.16.08

Rand's cousin Jarend (and old roommate) came down to visit from BYU Idaho and attend the basketball game with us. Before the game, Rand and I went to dinner at Macaroni Grill with his parents. Rand and I had some fun playing hangman on the paper tablecloth that they put down for you. Rand was the winner for sure.

The game was fun! BYU won (too bad they didn't win when it really counted...the conference championships!) We met up at the game with: Jared and Mandy, Jimmy Joe and Joanna, Tyson and Lauren, and Nick and Stef.

Valentine's Day

For Valentine's Day Rand and I joined our neighbors, Craig and Veva, for dinner at Tucanos. The boys especially loved it (unlimited meat is always a good thing to Rand!) Rand and I look a little dressed up...but we both came straight from work!

After dinner I came home to a scavenger hunt in our apartment to find a gift certificate for the mall (someday I'll find time to go shop and use it!) For Rand I made some cards for him that I gave him throughout the day (with some chocolate dipped strawberries and raspberries...his favorite.)

Chilean Deli

Rand and I met up with one his mission companions, Lincoln, and his wife Jenny and their daughter Evie. Rand and Lincoln served in the Chile, Santiago North mission. It was fun to get together with them, eat Chilean food (I actually do like it), and listen to them speak spanish (which they both love to do). Lincoln, Jenny and Evie are off to Duke here in a few months. We'll have to make another trip to the deli before they go!

Thanksgiving Point Museum

Well, here it is again...the Adventure Passport! Rand and I decided to check another place off our 'passport list' by going to the Thanksgiving Pointe Museum. But we thought it might be a little more fun to take Ellie and Trevor with us. So...we gave Brian and Emily a night off and took the kids with us.

The museum has a lot of 'hands-on' exibits where the kids (adults too) can feel the different fossils and things. Ellie and Trevor loved it. They especially loved the little area where they could play in the sand with the toy dinosaurs and the water. Ellie quickly became friends with another girl who knew far more about dinosaurs than I ever knew you could know at that age! She knew the names of all the dinosaurs as they picked them up and played with them (then again, I know nothing about dinosaurs...how do I know if she was right or not?!) And Trevor...well, he loved to drop the sand into the water, that was all the fun he needed!

Actually, Trev didn't even need water...he just liked playing with the sand (as seen below). They have an exhibit where you can go digging for fossils. You grab a brush and go in and start searching for the hidden bones underneath. Ellie ran into her dinosaur loving friend again, and rather than uncover things...they decided to try to bury the other girl. And Trevor...back to dropping the sand! I guess playing with fossils is just so out-dated (haha...get it? Fossils...out-dated!)

And this is where I started to have a little more fun with the kids (as you can see below). I wanted Trevor to act scared of 'jaws' with me...but he wasn't acting. He really was scared to death of the shark and was trying to get away.

And lastly, a little trick photography! I was a little behind on the 'spear throwing' pose...but Ellie pulled it off perfectly! It really looks like she threw one of them.

By the time we got through the whole museum (without really even seeing everything), we were all tired, hungry and ready to go. But we had a great time and I absolutely love spending time with my adorable niece and nephew.