I can't believe that you are already 9! You are becoming so grown up. I am so proud of the person you are becoming and I can't imagine my life without you! I love you so much! Happy Birthday!
Love, Mommy
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Happy 9th Birthday Kaitlyn!!!
I can't believe that you are already 9! You are becoming so grown up. I am so proud of the person you are becoming and I can't imagine my life without you! I love you so much! Happy Birthday!
Love, Mommy
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
w-ology
MOUTHOLOGY
Q: What is your salad dressing of choice?
A:Bleu Cheese, but I normally opt for a fat free Caesar or a fat free Asian
Q: What is your favorite fast food restaurant?
A: Del Taco
Q: What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?
A: Ginza
Q: On average, what size tip do you leave at a restaurant?
A: 15-20%
Q: What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of?
A: Sushi or Bagels
Q: What are your pizza toppings of choice?
A: Ham and Pineapple
Q: What do you like to put on your toast?
A: butter and American cheese
TECHNOLOGY
Q: What is your wallpaper on your computer?
A: a pic of me in the village in Africa
Q: How many televisions are in your house?
A: 1, yes just 1
BIOLOGY
Q: Are you right-handed or left-handed?
A: Righty
Q: Have you ever had anything removed from your body?
A: tonsils, adenoids and wisdom teeth
Q: When was the last time you had a cavity?
A: right after I was pregnant with Kaitlyn so almost 9 years ago.
Q: What is the last heavy item you lifted?
A: HMMM...I think it was probably the suitcase we took to Brian and Jami's
Q: Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
A: No, but I did pass out the first day of College.
BULL[CRAP]OLOGY
Q: If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?
A: I think I would so that I could make sure I accomplished everything that I want to do in my life time.
Q: If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
A: When I was a kid I always wanted to be named "Victoria", but I love my name and wouldn't change it for anything now.
Q: What color do you think looks best on you?
A: Black or pink
Q: Have you ever swallowed a non-food item by mistake?
A: Not that I can think of.
Edited to add per mom's request.... When I was about four the girl who lived next door and myself went out in our front yard's and ate every single toadstool. I will not eat mushroom's to this day.
Q: Have you ever saved someones life?
A: Yes, I saved my brother from drowning after being thrown in a pool when he was very little. I have also saved Kaitlyn from being hit by a car.
Q: Has someone ever saved yours?
A: I'm sure that I was saved in some way but I can't think of anything specifically.
Once again edited due to mom's request.... As per the toadstool episode my mother and friends grandfather gave us ipecac so that the toadstools wouldn't poison us. That stuff is awful, but I am sure it saved our lives. Love ya mom!
DAREOLOGY
Q: Would you kiss a member of the same sex for $100?
A: No way.
Q: Would you allow one of your little fingers to be cut off for $200,000?
A: Nope I don't think so.
Q: Would you never blog again for $50,000?
A: Yeah, I think I would.
Q: Would you pose naked in a magazine for $250,000?
A. HECK NO
Q: Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1,000?
A: HMMM, I don't know. Depends on how hot the hot sauce is.
Q: Would you, without fear of punishment, take a human life for $1,000,000?
A: NEVER.
DUMBOLOGY
Q: What is in your left pocket?
A: No pockets.
Q: Is Napoleon Dynamite actually a good movie?
A: I've seen it twice and while I like to use quotes from it I actually think it is a stupid movie.
Q: Do you have hardwood or carpet in your house?
A: Both.
Q: Do you sit or stand in the shower?
A: I didn't know that people sat in the shower. Ours is too small to sit anyways.
Q: Would you live with roommates?
A: This is a dumb question. Aaron and the kids are roomies of sorts but besides that I have never had a roomie. Well, unless you count sharing a room with my sister growing up.
Q: How many pairs of flip flops do you own?
A: I think 4 but I would have to count them to be sure.
Q: Last time you had a run-in with the cops?
A: It was about 8 years ago when I was pulled over for speeding, but he was nice and didn't give me a ticket.
Q: Who is number 1 on your top 8?
A: God, then Aaron and the kids.
LASTOLOGY
Q: Last Friend you talked to?
A: Kristi
Q: Last person who called you?
A: Kristi, called to tell me she was on her way.
Q: Last person you hugged?
A: Aidan
Q: Last person to stick their foot in your face?
A: probably Aidan
FAVORITOLOGY
Q: Number?
A: 7
Q: Season?
A: Fall
CURRENTOLOGY
Q: Missing someone?
A: Always since I live so far from family.
Q: Mood?
A: I'm getting really excited to give the kids their Christmas gifts...they are both getting their rooms redone. (Aidan is getting a bedspread, sheets, some cool pillows, and maybe painting his bed and dresser, and some curtains. Kaitlyn is getting a new dresser, having her walls painted...tinkerbell green, and a new bedside table. She also has some fun hooks and things to hang on her walls! )
Q: Listening to?
A: The heater rumble.
Q: Watching?
A: the computer screen.
Q: Worrying about?
A: getting everything done.
RANDOMOLOGY
Q: First place you went this morning?
A: Ikea
Q: What can you not wait to do?
A: Christmas. I love making people happy.
Q: What's the last movie you saw in theater?
A: HMM... oh we saw that one with "The Rock" in it...game day or something like that.
Q: Do you smile often?
A: Yes
Q: Are you a friendly person?
A: I think I am.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Hands of Praise.
I can't believe that it has been more than a month since I last posted. Things have been incredibly busy around here and it is all that I can do to keep the house picked up.
I did want to let all of my reader's know though that Kaitlyn, Aidan and myself will be performing so come check us out. It is an interpretive dance and sign language ensemble. I have really enjoyed being in this group. So if you have some time mark your calendars to come and see us and worship the Lord!
Hands of Praise and the Children’s Dance Ministry
of Holladay Baptist Church
Present
“First Light”
The greatest story ever told, the birth of Jesus, will be celebrated through an evening of
Sign Art and Dance. Experience the wonder of
of the shepherds, the joy of the angels and the
tenderness of a baby’s birth.
Sunday, December 9th at 6:00 p.m.
Monday, December 10th at 7:00 p.m.
Holladay Baptist Church
2780 East 3900 South
Admission is Free
For more information contact 277-9412
I did want to let all of my reader's know though that Kaitlyn, Aidan and myself will be performing so come check us out. It is an interpretive dance and sign language ensemble. I have really enjoyed being in this group. So if you have some time mark your calendars to come and see us and worship the Lord!
Hands of Praise and the Children’s Dance Ministry
of Holladay Baptist Church
Present
“First Light”
The greatest story ever told, the birth of Jesus, will be celebrated through an evening of
Sign Art and Dance. Experience the wonder of
of the shepherds, the joy of the angels and the
tenderness of a baby’s birth.
Sunday, December 9th at 6:00 p.m.
Monday, December 10th at 7:00 p.m.
Holladay Baptist Church
2780 East 3900 South
Admission is Free
For more information contact 277-9412
Friday, October 12, 2007
Getting Ready.
So, I'm getting ready for our Missions team report on this upcoming Sunday. I'm reminiscing over the entire Africa trip trying to figure out why God wanted me to go. What was His purpose? Did I really make a difference in such a short amount of time? The answers to these questions might always go unanswered until I get to heaven to see the results, but I do know a couple of things.
God has put it in my heart to do more... more with my life, more with missions, more with my prayer life, more with keeping in touch with friends that are far away, more with my giving... just more. He has put us on earth to worship Him and telling other's about him is one of those ways! I would love for my family to have a part in this overwhelming feeling I have to do more. I mean if you are always living to your full potential you will always feel overwhelmed with God's love for you and for others, and why does it take sending me half way around the world to figure that out?
And right now I want to encourage my readers to do more! Send an email or a phone call to a person that God has laid on your heart. You never know what your friends may be going through. I did learn that we are really Corey and Jenni's link to the world they knew before and fellowship and laughter can be hard to obtain when you are in a country where you don't know the language (or very little of it) and there are very few people that you can fellowship with and those you do are your coworkers that you might not have much in common with. Those little "Hi how are you" emails from friends at home show that they love you and did not forget about you.
Maybe, God sent me to Africa to see how much we really have here. We are really spoiled in the United States! The people of Mozambique are really happy with nothing...literally nothing. One of the village children that we saw at the Bible institute really stood out to me in this. He was wearing a pair of those footed pajamas, actually Kaitlyn had the same pair when she was little, it had been cut off at the waist and he was wearing just the top. It was tied at the waist and his midriff was showing, his sleeves came about a third of the way up his arm. And through all of this, he had the biggest smile on his face and they all were singing at the top of their lungs! Yet, they have nothing. We have everything that this world could offer, and yet we are still sad.
Everyday we see commercials on TV about the newest anti depression drug, and how you will just be happy if you buy this new product...and yet there is a new commercial for another new must have product that will turn your life around the very next day. I wonder if we were to SHED all of this stuff, just gave it all away if it would turn our lives around. Christ says in
Mark 10:21 "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Jesus was talking to a rich man in that passage, but I think that here in America we are more rich than so many people that we could give half of what we have away and still be considered rich. I think that we are weighed down by all of the stuff we have too. Now, I am not saying that everyone who is depressed should give their stuff away and then they wouldn't be, but I do think it is a contributing factor for some in our culture. I also think that we are so focused on acquiring more stuff for us that we forget to think about other's.
I have this passion to share Christ's love with everyone, and here in the United States I have this fear. I have a fear of rejection from people I know and love. I have a fear of being ridiculed, and I have a fear of confrontation...which I don't do well. I only had some of these fears in Africa before the TLW rally, but after that all fears were gone. I know that God has the powers to take these irrational fears away, but it isn't easy since I am not usually the type of person who likes to just put myself out there. In Acts 18:1-11 it says "One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision 'Do not be afriad; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.' So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God." Now Paul was persecuted for teaching and preaching the Gospel, but God said that no one was going to attack him in Corinth at that time...and he spent a year and a half there! But not only that Paul went to prison with a happy heart. God used that time to seal Paul's extreme faith and to get him ready for the persecution that was coming. I'm sure that Paul had his times of fear as I clearly see in Acts 18; but if God can do that from this man who was awful to Christians surely he is quietly trying to tell me the same thing. He can get me through the fear! Now if only I would listen and get out there and do it!
So, one more thing on Africa before I leave this topic for awhile and get on to my "real life". Capalana's...African skirts. I think they have the right idea on that one. They are very comfortable to wear, you don't need any sizes and they fit everyone. No more being worried about your weight. It is really a freeing experience to not have to worry about clothing fitting!
If any of you want to hear more Africa stories I encourage you to come to our share night this Sunday. It is at Holladay Baptist Church at 6pm. If you would like to come and need directions just send me an email!
God has put it in my heart to do more... more with my life, more with missions, more with my prayer life, more with keeping in touch with friends that are far away, more with my giving... just more. He has put us on earth to worship Him and telling other's about him is one of those ways! I would love for my family to have a part in this overwhelming feeling I have to do more. I mean if you are always living to your full potential you will always feel overwhelmed with God's love for you and for others, and why does it take sending me half way around the world to figure that out?
And right now I want to encourage my readers to do more! Send an email or a phone call to a person that God has laid on your heart. You never know what your friends may be going through. I did learn that we are really Corey and Jenni's link to the world they knew before and fellowship and laughter can be hard to obtain when you are in a country where you don't know the language (or very little of it) and there are very few people that you can fellowship with and those you do are your coworkers that you might not have much in common with. Those little "Hi how are you" emails from friends at home show that they love you and did not forget about you.
Maybe, God sent me to Africa to see how much we really have here. We are really spoiled in the United States! The people of Mozambique are really happy with nothing...literally nothing. One of the village children that we saw at the Bible institute really stood out to me in this. He was wearing a pair of those footed pajamas, actually Kaitlyn had the same pair when she was little, it had been cut off at the waist and he was wearing just the top. It was tied at the waist and his midriff was showing, his sleeves came about a third of the way up his arm. And through all of this, he had the biggest smile on his face and they all were singing at the top of their lungs! Yet, they have nothing. We have everything that this world could offer, and yet we are still sad.
Everyday we see commercials on TV about the newest anti depression drug, and how you will just be happy if you buy this new product...and yet there is a new commercial for another new must have product that will turn your life around the very next day. I wonder if we were to SHED all of this stuff, just gave it all away if it would turn our lives around. Christ says in
Mark 10:21 "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Jesus was talking to a rich man in that passage, but I think that here in America we are more rich than so many people that we could give half of what we have away and still be considered rich. I think that we are weighed down by all of the stuff we have too. Now, I am not saying that everyone who is depressed should give their stuff away and then they wouldn't be, but I do think it is a contributing factor for some in our culture. I also think that we are so focused on acquiring more stuff for us that we forget to think about other's.
I have this passion to share Christ's love with everyone, and here in the United States I have this fear. I have a fear of rejection from people I know and love. I have a fear of being ridiculed, and I have a fear of confrontation...which I don't do well. I only had some of these fears in Africa before the TLW rally, but after that all fears were gone. I know that God has the powers to take these irrational fears away, but it isn't easy since I am not usually the type of person who likes to just put myself out there. In Acts 18:1-11 it says "One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision 'Do not be afriad; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.' So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God." Now Paul was persecuted for teaching and preaching the Gospel, but God said that no one was going to attack him in Corinth at that time...and he spent a year and a half there! But not only that Paul went to prison with a happy heart. God used that time to seal Paul's extreme faith and to get him ready for the persecution that was coming. I'm sure that Paul had his times of fear as I clearly see in Acts 18; but if God can do that from this man who was awful to Christians surely he is quietly trying to tell me the same thing. He can get me through the fear! Now if only I would listen and get out there and do it!
So, one more thing on Africa before I leave this topic for awhile and get on to my "real life". Capalana's...African skirts. I think they have the right idea on that one. They are very comfortable to wear, you don't need any sizes and they fit everyone. No more being worried about your weight. It is really a freeing experience to not have to worry about clothing fitting!
If any of you want to hear more Africa stories I encourage you to come to our share night this Sunday. It is at Holladay Baptist Church at 6pm. If you would like to come and need directions just send me an email!
Monday, October 08, 2007
Safari
I have put off posting this long enough! I'm having a hard time figuring out what to write about our Safari because it wasn't all it was promised to be.
We flew from Mozambique to Johannesburg on Friday. It was a longer flight because we had 2 stops, but we made it to Johannesburg in time for dinner at McDonald's and then off to bed.
Saturday morning we got up and went back to the airport to wait for the safari company to come pick us up. The man was a little late, but we drove to Siyabona's lunch stop right out side of Kruger park. It was there we found out that we weren't actually staying in the park (where we had reserved) but outside the park at a place called "Cheetah Inn". We were also supposed to go on an evening safari drive, but that wasn't set either. Jenni talked with the travel agent she booked through and was told that Cheetah was 3 minutes from the park and that we would be so happy there because it was deluxe accommodations. We managed to get our van driver to take us through Kruger on the way to Cheetah Inn, so we were able to see some animals before going to Cheetah. The park gates close at 6 so we had to be outside of the gates by then, and then it took another 2 hours! to get to Cheetah! So, we had been in the van from 9:30am to 8:00pm! By then we were all tired and just wanted to eat and go to bed! We did manage to eat a wonderful soup and Braai (an African BBQ) and then we headed off to bed with promises that we would be staying in the park the next night, so we needed to take our luggage with us the next morning. The accommodations were not luxury, and the showers were the worst! We had to push a button down to make the water come through the shower head, but then you had to hold it the entire time you are taking a shower! It was quite interesting to try and rinse the soap out of your hair with only one hand!
The next day we were up at 4:45am and off for our safari by 5:30am with our luggage in tow. From Cheetah to a different Kruger park gate it was only about 30 minutes. It was fun being in the open vehicles and we had a good time looking at animals during the morning. We then stopped for lunch, we had about an hour and a half off of the vehicles and the main driver was pushing us to get going again. We also found out at this time that we were back at Kruger for the night, again. So, we loaded back up into the vehicles and off we went again, only this time it was extremely HOT! It was in the middle of the hottest part of the day.
Originally, we were supposed to have a 3 hour safari in the morning and a 3 hour safari in the evening and down time in the afternoon because it is really too hot to be driving around in an open vehicle. We even had to stop at one point because our driver was dehydrated. I should stop and say this now...when you are on safari you CANNOT get out of the vehicle unless you are in one of the gated camps. It is dangerous with all of those wild animals out there! Well, our other vehicle got a flat tire! Everyone in that vehicle had to get out so the driver could change the tire! We were too far away from them so we didn't know this until later.
We drove around until about 6pm. Had a quick pit stop to use the potty and buy some cold water and then it was back on the road to get to Cheetah. They had already served dinner when we got there and turned off the water. We were so dirty from the dust that one person from each room was trying to take a shower when the water just stopped coming. I had decided that I would wait and it was a good thing because we found out that they had to wait for the tanks to fill back up! I did end up with a nice shower after our reheated dinner.
The next morning we were back on the vehicles at 5:30. We safaried until noon although we had asked to be dropped off at the location our van driver was picking us up by 11am. We convinced our driver to let us have a few minutes to shop as we had very little shopping time on our entire trip! We had fifteen minutes so it was in and out and then on our way back to the Siyabona lunch stop. When we got there the owner just happened to be there. We had found out that the place we were supposed to stay in the park has been full for a long time because it was a holiday (we had been booking this since June and Jenni had been given the run around since then). She talked to the owner and he was really upset. He wanted us to go back on the safari the correct way, but we had a plane to catch the next day! So, he told us he would refund our money, and also talked about giving us some vouchers for a free safari...not that we can actually use it, but maybe Corey and Jenni can get one. Then it was back in the van to drive back to Johannesburg! It seemed to take a lot longer to get back and we ended up stopping at a gas station which had a Wimpy burger in it to get some dinner. We finally made it back to Joburg, took a shower and off to bed! By this time it just felt good to be out of a car and not moving! I was feeling pretty shaky after traveling for that many days straight...but we weren't done yet, because the next day we were back on an airplane to come home...24 more hours of in air time!
Ok, so that was the bad stuff. Here were a few of the highlights on Safari! It was really amazing
to see all of the wonderful creatures ,that God has created, in their own natural environment. The elephants were what really scared me though. They were bigger than the car and at a few points I could have reached out and probably touched one if I really wanted to. We saw so many things...Impalas, Kudu, Giraffes, Sable Antelope (which is really rare to see), hippos (although not close up), Monkeys, crocodiles, and Zebra just to name a few.
The highlights of the safari were though...A mother hyena and her pup (we saw them twice), an entire pride of lions I was able to get a picture of 11 of them but we actually saw 13 the other 2 were just a bit further away, and wild dogs which is another really rare animal to see. The wild dogs were funny though we saw a pack of them, and were taking pictures of them when all of the sudden there were Zebras coming through the brush behind the dogs. We asked if they would go after the Zebra, but we were told no that the Zebras are too big for the dogs. Well, the dogs had another thing on their minds and started to chase the Zebra. Well, the Zebras wanted nothing to do with it so they turned around and started chasing the dogs! It was really funny, and I tried to get some pictures of it, but they were too spread out to get one of the dogs and Zebra's at the same time.
Anyways, here are some of my favorite Safari pictures:
We flew from Mozambique to Johannesburg on Friday. It was a longer flight because we had 2 stops, but we made it to Johannesburg in time for dinner at McDonald's and then off to bed.
Saturday morning we got up and went back to the airport to wait for the safari company to come pick us up. The man was a little late, but we drove to Siyabona's lunch stop right out side of Kruger park. It was there we found out that we weren't actually staying in the park (where we had reserved) but outside the park at a place called "Cheetah Inn". We were also supposed to go on an evening safari drive, but that wasn't set either. Jenni talked with the travel agent she booked through and was told that Cheetah was 3 minutes from the park and that we would be so happy there because it was deluxe accommodations. We managed to get our van driver to take us through Kruger on the way to Cheetah Inn, so we were able to see some animals before going to Cheetah. The park gates close at 6 so we had to be outside of the gates by then, and then it took another 2 hours! to get to Cheetah! So, we had been in the van from 9:30am to 8:00pm! By then we were all tired and just wanted to eat and go to bed! We did manage to eat a wonderful soup and Braai (an African BBQ) and then we headed off to bed with promises that we would be staying in the park the next night, so we needed to take our luggage with us the next morning. The accommodations were not luxury, and the showers were the worst! We had to push a button down to make the water come through the shower head, but then you had to hold it the entire time you are taking a shower! It was quite interesting to try and rinse the soap out of your hair with only one hand!
The next day we were up at 4:45am and off for our safari by 5:30am with our luggage in tow. From Cheetah to a different Kruger park gate it was only about 30 minutes. It was fun being in the open vehicles and we had a good time looking at animals during the morning. We then stopped for lunch, we had about an hour and a half off of the vehicles and the main driver was pushing us to get going again. We also found out at this time that we were back at Kruger for the night, again. So, we loaded back up into the vehicles and off we went again, only this time it was extremely HOT! It was in the middle of the hottest part of the day.
Originally, we were supposed to have a 3 hour safari in the morning and a 3 hour safari in the evening and down time in the afternoon because it is really too hot to be driving around in an open vehicle. We even had to stop at one point because our driver was dehydrated. I should stop and say this now...when you are on safari you CANNOT get out of the vehicle unless you are in one of the gated camps. It is dangerous with all of those wild animals out there! Well, our other vehicle got a flat tire! Everyone in that vehicle had to get out so the driver could change the tire! We were too far away from them so we didn't know this until later.
We drove around until about 6pm. Had a quick pit stop to use the potty and buy some cold water and then it was back on the road to get to Cheetah. They had already served dinner when we got there and turned off the water. We were so dirty from the dust that one person from each room was trying to take a shower when the water just stopped coming. I had decided that I would wait and it was a good thing because we found out that they had to wait for the tanks to fill back up! I did end up with a nice shower after our reheated dinner.
The next morning we were back on the vehicles at 5:30. We safaried until noon although we had asked to be dropped off at the location our van driver was picking us up by 11am. We convinced our driver to let us have a few minutes to shop as we had very little shopping time on our entire trip! We had fifteen minutes so it was in and out and then on our way back to the Siyabona lunch stop. When we got there the owner just happened to be there. We had found out that the place we were supposed to stay in the park has been full for a long time because it was a holiday (we had been booking this since June and Jenni had been given the run around since then). She talked to the owner and he was really upset. He wanted us to go back on the safari the correct way, but we had a plane to catch the next day! So, he told us he would refund our money, and also talked about giving us some vouchers for a free safari...not that we can actually use it, but maybe Corey and Jenni can get one. Then it was back in the van to drive back to Johannesburg! It seemed to take a lot longer to get back and we ended up stopping at a gas station which had a Wimpy burger in it to get some dinner. We finally made it back to Joburg, took a shower and off to bed! By this time it just felt good to be out of a car and not moving! I was feeling pretty shaky after traveling for that many days straight...but we weren't done yet, because the next day we were back on an airplane to come home...24 more hours of in air time!
Ok, so that was the bad stuff. Here were a few of the highlights on Safari! It was really amazing
to see all of the wonderful creatures ,that God has created, in their own natural environment. The elephants were what really scared me though. They were bigger than the car and at a few points I could have reached out and probably touched one if I really wanted to. We saw so many things...Impalas, Kudu, Giraffes, Sable Antelope (which is really rare to see), hippos (although not close up), Monkeys, crocodiles, and Zebra just to name a few.The highlights of the safari were though...A mother hyena and her pup (we saw them twice), an entire pride of lions I was able to get a picture of 11 of them but we actually saw 13 the other 2 were just a bit further away, and wild dogs which is another really rare animal to see. The wild dogs were funny though we saw a pack of them, and were taking pictures of them when all of the sudden there were Zebras coming through the brush behind the dogs. We asked if they would go after the Zebra, but we were told no that the Zebras are too big for the dogs. Well, the dogs had another thing on their minds and started to chase the Zebra. Well, the Zebras wanted nothing to do with it so they turned around and started chasing the dogs! It was really funny, and I tried to get some pictures of it, but they were too spread out to get one of the dogs and Zebra's at the same time.
Anyways, here are some of my favorite Safari pictures:
Friday, September 28, 2007
Africa.
There is so much to tell. I'm not even sure where to start. I guess that I should start at the beginning but I am warning anyone that reads this that it will be an extra long post!
We left for Africa on Sept. 12th. Our flight left at 8:30 am. It was the longest flight ever! Total flight time to get to Mozambique was 28 hours, that is in the air time. Luckily, we had a few layovers and a over night stop in Johannesburg.
When we got to Johannesburg none of our luggage showed up at baggage claim, we came to find out that they had checked it through all the way to Nampula. So, we paid some porters to go downstairs and find it, which they found all but three. We were worried that the other 3 pieces were missing but they actually found it the next day after we had talked to everyone we could. They told us right before we boarded that it was being boarded on the plane. God is so good! Nothing was stolen out of those bags, which is a big issue in J-burg.
We flew into Nampula and our friends who are missionaries there had a huge sign that said "Welcome, HBC team!" it was so fun. I think someone got a picture of it through the plane window, but we couldn't take any other's because it is illegal to take pictures of public buildings in Mozambique. It was actually really hard to know what to take pictures of and what you could not, so I ended up not getting nearly as many as if I had free reign. I am so glad that the whole team is sharing pictures!
The first thing we did in Nampula is go shopping for Capalana's. They are traditional African
skirts, and we needed them for anytime we were teaching. We were so tired that it was hard to know what to pick! We did manage to get a few each though.When coming out of the Capalana shop we were getting into the truck and a man came up behind me, I thought he was trying to steal something, but he grabbed my face and tried to kiss me. I screamed and pushed him away! I was told that he is crazy, but I was really wondering if this was my welcome to Nampula what else did God have in store for me during the week! Luckily, it got much better!
On the 15th we did our True Love Waits Rally! I was really nervous for this because I was a main speaker and it is not a topic that I usually talk about. I'm a pretty private person and some of the questions I asked them to answer were pretty tough.God really prepared people's hearts as there was much discussion going on! That is something that doesn't happen with Mozambicans and they were actually asking questions and giving us answers to our questions! One of the question's that is asked in the True Love waits program is "What age do girls and boys start having sex?" The answer that came from the mouth's of
Mozambicans is 7 years old for girls and 12 years old for boys (which Corey and Jenni said is probably much younger). I almost started crying on the spot, I just couldn't believe that girls a year younger than Kaitlyn are having sex! It is so young, I'm so glad that God gave me boldness to finish going through that program with them! It is something that the entire continent of Africa needs to hear as so many people have AIDS! I pray that God used us to touch the hearts of those that were at the rally, they so need it.On Sunday the 16th we got a special treat and were able to go to a church service. It was so
much fun! I loved hearing the people sing in a different language! They sing in beautiful harmonies, they must be taught at a young age. The pastor asked us to sing and luckily Jenni had prepared us for that, so we got up and sang a song she had taught us. The people thought it was so fun that we were singing in their native language of Makuwa, even though we might not have had it quite right they still loved it and it was so much fun for us!After church we went out to lunch at a restaurant named Bamboo. Tony, the guy that went with us ordered a meal that was called "Beef on a hot rock". The beef comes raw and they provide a slab of hot rock for you to cook it on. Well, Tony decided to put some pepper sauce on his beef before he started cooking it. As soon as he put the meat on the pepper sauce started to smoke and it started to waft around the patio. It was so funny because when the smoke got to each person we started coughing, it was burning our throats! Our translator Fernando thought we were crazy because he was sitting at the head of the table and it had not hit him yet, as soon as it hit him he started coughing too, so he finally understood what was going on! It was so funny!
We also got to go to the Sunday Market, which is the only day it is open. There were so many people there and everyone would spot the "white man" and start following us around saying "sister, sister" or "brother, brother" it was crazy! I did manage to get a couple of things at the market, but we had limited time there. I think we all would have liked a bit more time to buy souvenirs, but that isn't what we were there for anyways! God had more in store for us!
We went prayer walking after the market and I really enjoyed that. It was good to walk through the city and see it a little better. Nampula has a big Muslim influence and Ramadan was happening while we were there. We were able to pray for the Muslim's while walking by. We also saw a nursing school, the hospital that we were to visit later and many buildings that looked like the smoke from the war was still on them. It was interesting to see and yet hard to see at the same time. The city is in much poverty.
The next day was my favorite of the trip! We visited a village and did a "Creation to Christ" story. We were split up into two groups and half of us went to the hospital while the other half visited the village. I was at the village for the first group and one woman, Marcella, accepted Christ and when the next group came she had brought her husband (and several other's showed up as well!). God was really working there, and we all said we felt like "real missionaries" (like what you think of as a child). It was such a neat experience and I hope that someday my family can experience something like that!As I said earlier after the village we visited the hospital. That was so hard for me. I enjoyed visiting the children in the play room, but when we went to the AIDS wing there were babies just laying listlessly. It reiterated to me why God had called me to be a big part of the True love waits program. Without teaching that program Africa is not going to last, as of right now I think 13% of the people have AIDS. We also visited the Malaria wing as well and those kids were a little more active and most were on the road to recovery. The sad thing in that room was there were mosquito nets hanging over all of the beds, but they wont use them! The people just don't know what will help prevent it. A few other things to note about the hospital: The pediatric ward is up about 4 flights of stairs (maybe more), there are usually 3-4 children and moms to one bed and in their culture that is actually preferred I think, and one last thing at visiting hours you can see hundreds of people lined up to visit their loved ones. The people of Mozambique are really community oriented, I think Americans can learn a lot from this.
On Tuesday we went to the beach! I got to put my feet in the Indian ocean! It was beautiful and restful. We were supposed to go snorkeling and that morning the company called and said it was too rough to go out. We were a little disappointed, but I think God knew that we just needed a time of rest and rejuvenation. We had fun looking for seashells and I even saw a small eel while looking in the tide pools. The water was beautifully turquoise and the sand white, just beautiful!
Wednesday was back to mission work! We visited an orphanage! It was so wonderful! The children were very welcoming to us, which I guess doesn't happen as quickly. We did crafts with them and one of those crafts was to take their picture and print it out, then they put it on a foam frame. I got to take the pictures, so I have a picture of each orphan. They thought it was great fun to have their pictures taken! We also made T shirts and necklaces with them. At lunch time they had a surprise for one of my friends, Roberta, it was her birthday and they sang to her. They also brought out a cake and we had a
fun time of singing and dancing with them! It really broke down some barriers and I got to love on the smallest of the orphans, Mena and Ofieta. They are just adorable.Thursday we were back at the orphanage, this time we did True love waits with the older orphans. It was not as exciting as earlier in the week, but I pray that God will use what we taught them. We also gave them the goodie bags we had put together for them! You would have thought it was Christmas! They were so loud and
excited! It was such a fun way to end our time in Mozambique!I have more to share about our safari, but I think I will save it for another post as this one is already long enough! I am just so thankful that God called me to go! I felt truly blessed by this experience. I also want to say thank you again to everyone who helped me to get there and helped my family while I was away, there are not enough words to express how grateful I am!
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
One Week to go!
By this time next Wednesday I'll be in an airport waiting for my flight! I can't believe that we are leaving next week, it seems as if this has been a whirlwind of planning and prepping and fundraising! I'm really excited and have hopes that God is going to do some great things while we are there!
Today, I start my new job as a 2 year olds preschool teacher. I think it will be fun, although, I don't relish the idea of changing diapers again. We have been diaper free in this house for an entire year! I love the little guys they are so cute! Aidan is very excited that he is starting "school" too.
Today, I start my new job as a 2 year olds preschool teacher. I think it will be fun, although, I don't relish the idea of changing diapers again. We have been diaper free in this house for an entire year! I love the little guys they are so cute! Aidan is very excited that he is starting "school" too.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
New camera and other fun stuff!
Well, it finally came! I'm so excited! My new digital Pentax K10D arrived just about an hour ago! I'm dying to play with it, but unfortunately I have to wait until the battery has finished charging.
I'm so happy if got here in time!
Kaitlyn has started school. Her teacher seems nice although not dressed the way you think a 3rd grade teacher should dress. Kaitlyn says she looks "fancy" and that would be the word I would use for her too. Kaitlyn is happy to be back at her old school with some of her old friends. We will miss the year round schedule, but 29 kids per class is just too much!
Aidan is ready for the start of preschool. He has a new "Cars" lunchbox and is not so patiently asking me if TODAY is the day he starts. Poor thing has a week to go! I know he is going to love it though!
I am in the midst of getting ready for Mozambique still. Memorizing True Love Waits material. Seeing what hand me downs I have to take to the orphans. Trying to figure out how I am only going to take 35 lbs of clothing and toiletries with me for a 2 week period. I usually take that much for a weekend trip, let alone 14 days! I'm sure I can do it though! I've purchased everything on my list for things I need to take with me and now I just need to get my Dr.'s appointment to round out my list. I can't believe that in 2 weeks from today I'll be on my way there!
Aaron is working hard and enjoying *almost* every minute of it! I think he really likes this job and it will be one that he can probably stick with for the rest of his working life. I'm so grateful that he enjoys his work.
Alrighty, off to go see if my battery is charged and to play with my new camrea. Pictures to come soon!
I'm so happy if got here in time!
Kaitlyn has started school. Her teacher seems nice although not dressed the way you think a 3rd grade teacher should dress. Kaitlyn says she looks "fancy" and that would be the word I would use for her too. Kaitlyn is happy to be back at her old school with some of her old friends. We will miss the year round schedule, but 29 kids per class is just too much!
Aidan is ready for the start of preschool. He has a new "Cars" lunchbox and is not so patiently asking me if TODAY is the day he starts. Poor thing has a week to go! I know he is going to love it though!
I am in the midst of getting ready for Mozambique still. Memorizing True Love Waits material. Seeing what hand me downs I have to take to the orphans. Trying to figure out how I am only going to take 35 lbs of clothing and toiletries with me for a 2 week period. I usually take that much for a weekend trip, let alone 14 days! I'm sure I can do it though! I've purchased everything on my list for things I need to take with me and now I just need to get my Dr.'s appointment to round out my list. I can't believe that in 2 weeks from today I'll be on my way there!
Aaron is working hard and enjoying *almost* every minute of it! I think he really likes this job and it will be one that he can probably stick with for the rest of his working life. I'm so grateful that he enjoys his work.
Alrighty, off to go see if my battery is charged and to play with my new camrea. Pictures to come soon!
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Summer fun.
Summer is almost over! I can't believe how quickly it has gone this year, and that is without any big vacations or trips scheduled. Our days have been filled with volunteering, playing in the sprinklers, and keeping the house clean. I have also been busy with getting ready for my big trip in September!
I can't believe in a little over a month I will be on my way to Mozambique! Well, that is IF my passport ever gets here! I have received notice that it was being mailed, priority, and should have been here yesterday. Well, nothing came yesterday OR today. So, I will wait and see what happens tomorrow and if it doesn't show up then I will call the agency again.
We have learned a bit more of what we are to be doing while there. A lot of it involves working in the orphanage, which I am very excited about! We have our schedules in hand and plane tickets. We are working on getting our visa's (my passport is holding this up). A few more fundraisers, a few more training dates and we are on our way!
Speaking of fundraisers.... I only have about $1,000 left to earn! I don't think that I will have much trouble raising it, God has been so faithful to provide!
Something else that is going on right now is that I have gotten another job! This one is for Aidan though. I will be teaching at our Mother's day out program at the church. It is a 2 day a week program and I am really excited about it! I get along really well with all the rest of the ladies that work their and Aidan will love "going to class" as he calls it. He is VERY excited that he gets to go to school this year, and I'm excited that he will get to go for free! I don't know what age group that I will be teaching, but I will find that out in a couple of weeks when we have orientation. The director asked me if I would like to teach the 4-5 yr olds, but since Aidan is in that class I would prefer not to. Not because I don't love my son, but because I think he needs some time away from me this year before starting kindergarten! (NEXT YEAR! ACK!)
Well, that is the gist of what is going on around here. A few things that you could pray for: That my passport gets here tomorrow, so we can get our visa's sent in. That all of the fund raising dinners go well, and that everyone raises the money they need. That my new job adventure won't be to stressful while in the midst of planning this trip. And that the people of Mozambique can have their hearts prepared to hear God's message while we are there!
I can't believe in a little over a month I will be on my way to Mozambique! Well, that is IF my passport ever gets here! I have received notice that it was being mailed, priority, and should have been here yesterday. Well, nothing came yesterday OR today. So, I will wait and see what happens tomorrow and if it doesn't show up then I will call the agency again.
We have learned a bit more of what we are to be doing while there. A lot of it involves working in the orphanage, which I am very excited about! We have our schedules in hand and plane tickets. We are working on getting our visa's (my passport is holding this up). A few more fundraisers, a few more training dates and we are on our way!
Speaking of fundraisers.... I only have about $1,000 left to earn! I don't think that I will have much trouble raising it, God has been so faithful to provide!
Something else that is going on right now is that I have gotten another job! This one is for Aidan though. I will be teaching at our Mother's day out program at the church. It is a 2 day a week program and I am really excited about it! I get along really well with all the rest of the ladies that work their and Aidan will love "going to class" as he calls it. He is VERY excited that he gets to go to school this year, and I'm excited that he will get to go for free! I don't know what age group that I will be teaching, but I will find that out in a couple of weeks when we have orientation. The director asked me if I would like to teach the 4-5 yr olds, but since Aidan is in that class I would prefer not to. Not because I don't love my son, but because I think he needs some time away from me this year before starting kindergarten! (NEXT YEAR! ACK!)
Well, that is the gist of what is going on around here. A few things that you could pray for: That my passport gets here tomorrow, so we can get our visa's sent in. That all of the fund raising dinners go well, and that everyone raises the money they need. That my new job adventure won't be to stressful while in the midst of planning this trip. And that the people of Mozambique can have their hearts prepared to hear God's message while we are there!
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Becoming a "World Changer"
What an incredible week this has been! On Sunday we had a group of about 300 teens show up in Salt Lake City. They are a group called "World Changers". Each teen paid approximately $200 to come and work on people's houses for a week.
It was HARD work: Re-roofing, painting,
re-framing doors and windows, yardwork, building porches and wheelchair ramps are just a few things they did.
While here they also go into the community and share God's word. A quick story about that:
On Wednesday, a man came up to one of the groups and started asking them what they were all about. They started sharing the gospel and found out lots of things about this man...his name, how many children he has etc. He told them that he could not talk anymore at that moment, but he gave them an address and told them to please meet him the following day at a certain time. They show up at that time and a man answers the door not the same man. So, the group tells him that they are looking for the man from the day before, he says well that is my name but I did not meet you. They gave him information about how many children he has and he says those children are mine. So, they then tell him that they were coming to tell this other man about Jesus Christ and the man says "You see, you were sent to tell me about Jesus and I must accept him!" and he did right there on the spot! What and incredible God thing!
Ok, so I know you are all thinking "Wow, cool story but what does this have to do with you?" Well, I was a "Lunch runner". Each day I would take lunches and treats out to the site where my team was working. Kaitlyn and Aidan were there each day as well to help pass out lunches. My kids got to meet some awesome roll models! They had a blast meeting all of the kids, we ended up meeting about 5 groups total. My favorite part was when we decided to drop off popsicles for our groups (Our church hosted 7 groups). Well, there was a group we didn't know that was working close to our group so we bought them popsicles too. One of the guys said, "God bless you! I just have to give you a hug" and gave me a big bear hug. They were all great group and it was so much fun! In fact I had so much fun that I was asked to play a bigger role next year. I will be the food coordinator for the entire group that is coming. We already have ideas on to make things a bit better and I can't wait to see the kids (hopefully they all come back plus more!)
It was HARD work: Re-roofing, painting,re-framing doors and windows, yardwork, building porches and wheelchair ramps are just a few things they did.
While here they also go into the community and share God's word. A quick story about that:
On Wednesday, a man came up to one of the groups and started asking them what they were all about. They started sharing the gospel and found out lots of things about this man...his name, how many children he has etc. He told them that he could not talk anymore at that moment, but he gave them an address and told them to please meet him the following day at a certain time. They show up at that time and a man answers the door not the same man. So, the group tells him that they are looking for the man from the day before, he says well that is my name but I did not meet you. They gave him information about how many children he has and he says those children are mine. So, they then tell him that they were coming to tell this other man about Jesus Christ and the man says "You see, you were sent to tell me about Jesus and I must accept him!" and he did right there on the spot! What and incredible God thing!
Ok, so I know you are all thinking "Wow, cool story but what does this have to do with you?" Well, I was a "Lunch runner". Each day I would take lunches and treats out to the site where my team was working. Kaitlyn and Aidan were there each day as well to help pass out lunches. My kids got to meet some awesome roll models! They had a blast meeting all of the kids, we ended up meeting about 5 groups total. My favorite part was when we decided to drop off popsicles for our groups (Our church hosted 7 groups). Well, there was a group we didn't know that was working close to our group so we bought them popsicles too. One of the guys said, "God bless you! I just have to give you a hug" and gave me a big bear hug. They were all great group and it was so much fun! In fact I had so much fun that I was asked to play a bigger role next year. I will be the food coordinator for the entire group that is coming. We already have ideas on to make things a bit better and I can't wait to see the kids (hopefully they all come back plus more!)
Thursday, July 12, 2007
100+ Things I love about you....
Today Aaron and I are celebrating our 10th Anniversary! I can't believe it has been that long!
Aaron, it has been a wonderful 10 years with you! I'm so thankful for a wonderful caring
husband like you! So with that said....100+ things I love about you!
1. I love that you love me.
2. I love how you play with our kids and make them scream even though it drives me crazy.
3. I love that you are a leader in our church.
4. I love that you put God first.
5. I love that the kids and I are a very close second.
6. I love that you teach Sunday School.
7. I love that when I told you I was pregnant with Kaitlyn that you switched careers to better our family.
8. I love that you wash the dishes most of the time because you know that it is one chore that I despise doing.
9. I love that we are celebrating our ten year anniversary but we have really been together for 14 years.
10. I love that you were in RCC marching band.
11. I love that you encouraged me when I tried out for RCC color guard and was totally embarrassed when I flubbed the audition.
12. I love that you encourage me in my singing.
13. I love that you play the saxaphone, and wish you would play something just for me.
14. I love that you have a sense of humor.
15. I love that we took a chance and moved to Utah when we didn’t know anybody here.
16. I love how that move bettered our marriage.
17. I love how sexy you are when you are smoking your cigars.
18. I love that it was with you that I smoked my first itty bitty cigar.
19. I love that you love photography as much as I do.
20. I love that you mostly listen to me when I give you hints about a gift I would like for birthday or Christmas.
21. I love that you have good taste in jewelry.
22. I love that you spur me on to be my best.
23. I love that you don’t say anything when I spend most of the money, but don’t actually make it.
24. I love that you let me go on trips by myself, even though you know if the tables were turned I would be totally jealous.
25. I love that even though I have gained weight that you still think I’m beautiful.
26. I love camping with you. Especially our honeymoon.
27. I love that you are so passionate about BBQing, and that you have created you own marinade that is really yummy!
28. I love the way you call Cookie “traitor dog” when she sits with you and not me.
29. I love that for a year of our lives you ran the evenings everything from making dinner, to baths, to homework, to carting the kids to their various activities, and never complained about it once. I wish I was more like that.
30. I love that you are an instructor and made it there in just a few short years.
31. I love that you love your job.
32. I love that you carry on a piece of my families history through working for the railroad.
33. I love that you are a handy man and can fix pretty much anything…except plumbing.
34. I love that you love to have a vegetable garden even though you hate vegetables.
35. I love that you are teaching our children how to care for a garden since I can’t even keep a house plant alive.
36.I love that you don’t work in the field anymore.
37. I love that you don’t come home all greasy anymore.
38. I love that you don’t work out of town anymore.
39. I love that you endured the time when you worked out of town all the time and never complained about it.
40. I love how you love the character of old homes and can see the potential in them, even if they need a lot of work.
41. I love that even though you were really picky about what you ate when we first met that you have branched out and will now even eat sushi…and love it.
42. I love that you are so passionate about football.
43. I love that you don’t think I’m crazy when I’ve met people over the internet.
44. I love that you let 10 strange women come stay with us for a few days when we had QKU.
45. I love that you encourage my love of scrapbooking.
46. I love that you love to go sledding with the kids, because I hate hiking up those hills and don’t really care for the ride down either.
47. I love our movie nights.
48. I love us time.
49. I love how you treat me, and how that is teaching Kaitlyn what type of person she should pick to be her husband.
50. I love that you are an example to Aidan of how to treat his wife.
51. I love that you let your hair grow out from the mullet before our wedding.
52. I love that you insisted on wearing a white tux at our wedding because you deserved to also.
53. I loved how sexy you looked in that white tux.
54. I love that you waited for me.
55. I love that you are my one and only.
56. I love that I am your one and only.
57. I love that even though you don’t like cats so much that you are still willing to have one.
58. I love that you agreed to get a little dog instead of a big one.
59. I love that you let our pets sleep in bed with us each night.
60. I love to sleep in with you on a chilly morning.
61. I love that you have a knowledge of many things.
62. I love that even though many people thought we were too young to get married that we are still going strong.
63. I love that we have had our fights because that makes our bond stronger.
64. I love that those fights are forgotten.
65. I love that you told my mom 3 weeks before we got engaged and asked my dad for permission to marry me.
66. I love that it was before senior prom that we got engaged…it was so beautiful.
67. I love that you mow the lawn because it wouldn’t get done otherwise.
68. I love that you don’t mind my love of going to Disneyland.
69. I love that we used to have season passes to Magic Mountain, and actually used them.
70. I love that our first date was to see Jurassic park, and that you helped me clean up my purse when Ryan spilled coke all over it.
71.I love that you wrote me a poem to ask me to be your girlfriend…
72.And that we were on our way to magic mountain that day.
73. I love that you don’t mind a flowery couch.
74. I love that you tracked down the antique dealer that bought Mammom’s couch and continued until you were able to give it to me for my birthday.
75. I love that you don’t say anything when we use antique open cellar salts rather than a regular salt shaker. Even though secretly I know you hate those little spoons.
76. I love that you tease me that I want all of our wood furniture to be white.
77. I love that you have promised me that you will take me to Paris someday, and I know that you will because you always keep your promises.
78. I love that you always keep your promises.
79. I love that you make me feel safe.
80. I love that you make the kids feel safe.
81. I love that you don’t begrudge me sleep in days when Kaitlyn is off track and you have to work.
82. I love that you always tell me a new hairstyle looks great even if you secretly hate it.
83. I love all the poems that you wrote me when we were dating.
84. I love that you wrote a poem for Kaitlyn.
85. I love that you have dreams for our retirement…even though we are only in our thirties.
86. I love that we are growing old together.
87. I love that we have grown up together.
88. I love that you love my family and make them feel welcome when they come to visit.
89. I love that you said “Wow” when I came down the aisle on our wedding day.
90. I love the way you kiss me.
91. I love that when I need an opinion that yours is the one I ask for first, and respect the most.
92. I love that you are willing to make a fool of yourself to make the kids or me laugh.
93. I love that you want me to bring the kids to have lunch with you so they can see where you work.
94.I love that I never have to ask you to take out the trash.
95. I love that you don’t complain when I start painting another room in the house…even though it means that we will probably be changing outlet covers.
96. I love that you are always willing to go to the store for me when I’m cooking dinner.
97. I love that you never say anything about me being completely forgetful.
98. I love that you always are willing to try a new dish that I make for dinner, and tell me how good it tastes…even if it tastes awful.
99. I love that you eat vegetables for the kids, even though you don’t like them.
100. I love the relationship you are building with our children.
101. I love that you are the person I can be totally honest with and know that you will still love me no matter what.
102. I love that I can tell you my secrets.
103.I love that you will probably tease me about this being more than one hundred things.
104. I love that you know when I need a break, time out, a hug, quiet time.
105. I love that you play with our kids.
Aaron, I love you! I am so glad God has blessed me with you! I know that He has a plan for the next several decades of our marriage and I am excited to see what God has in store for us! Happy 10'th anniversary to my one and only!
Aaron, it has been a wonderful 10 years with you! I'm so thankful for a wonderful caring
husband like you! So with that said....100+ things I love about you!
1. I love that you love me.
2. I love how you play with our kids and make them scream even though it drives me crazy.
3. I love that you are a leader in our church.
4. I love that you put God first.
5. I love that the kids and I are a very close second.
6. I love that you teach Sunday School.
7. I love that when I told you I was pregnant with Kaitlyn that you switched careers to better our family.
8. I love that you wash the dishes most of the time because you know that it is one chore that I despise doing.
9. I love that we are celebrating our ten year anniversary but we have really been together for 14 years.
10. I love that you were in RCC marching band.
11. I love that you encouraged me when I tried out for RCC color guard and was totally embarrassed when I flubbed the audition.
12. I love that you encourage me in my singing.
13. I love that you play the saxaphone, and wish you would play something just for me.
14. I love that you have a sense of humor.
15. I love that we took a chance and moved to Utah when we didn’t know anybody here.
16. I love how that move bettered our marriage.
17. I love how sexy you are when you are smoking your cigars.
18. I love that it was with you that I smoked my first itty bitty cigar.
19. I love that you love photography as much as I do.
20. I love that you mostly listen to me when I give you hints about a gift I would like for birthday or Christmas.
21. I love that you have good taste in jewelry.
22. I love that you spur me on to be my best.
23. I love that you don’t say anything when I spend most of the money, but don’t actually make it.
24. I love that you let me go on trips by myself, even though you know if the tables were turned I would be totally jealous.
25. I love that even though I have gained weight that you still think I’m beautiful.
26. I love camping with you. Especially our honeymoon.
27. I love that you are so passionate about BBQing, and that you have created you own marinade that is really yummy!
28. I love the way you call Cookie “traitor dog” when she sits with you and not me.
29. I love that for a year of our lives you ran the evenings everything from making dinner, to baths, to homework, to carting the kids to their various activities, and never complained about it once. I wish I was more like that.
30. I love that you are an instructor and made it there in just a few short years.
31. I love that you love your job.
32. I love that you carry on a piece of my families history through working for the railroad.
33. I love that you are a handy man and can fix pretty much anything…except plumbing.
34. I love that you love to have a vegetable garden even though you hate vegetables.
35. I love that you are teaching our children how to care for a garden since I can’t even keep a house plant alive.
36.I love that you don’t work in the field anymore.
37. I love that you don’t come home all greasy anymore.
38. I love that you don’t work out of town anymore.
39. I love that you endured the time when you worked out of town all the time and never complained about it.
40. I love how you love the character of old homes and can see the potential in them, even if they need a lot of work.
41. I love that even though you were really picky about what you ate when we first met that you have branched out and will now even eat sushi…and love it.
42. I love that you are so passionate about football.
43. I love that you don’t think I’m crazy when I’ve met people over the internet.
44. I love that you let 10 strange women come stay with us for a few days when we had QKU.
45. I love that you encourage my love of scrapbooking.
46. I love that you love to go sledding with the kids, because I hate hiking up those hills and don’t really care for the ride down either.
47. I love our movie nights.
48. I love us time.
49. I love how you treat me, and how that is teaching Kaitlyn what type of person she should pick to be her husband.
50. I love that you are an example to Aidan of how to treat his wife.
51. I love that you let your hair grow out from the mullet before our wedding.
52. I love that you insisted on wearing a white tux at our wedding because you deserved to also.
53. I loved how sexy you looked in that white tux.
54. I love that you waited for me.
55. I love that you are my one and only.
56. I love that I am your one and only.
57. I love that even though you don’t like cats so much that you are still willing to have one.
58. I love that you agreed to get a little dog instead of a big one.
59. I love that you let our pets sleep in bed with us each night.
60. I love to sleep in with you on a chilly morning.
61. I love that you have a knowledge of many things.
62. I love that even though many people thought we were too young to get married that we are still going strong.
63. I love that we have had our fights because that makes our bond stronger.
64. I love that those fights are forgotten.
65. I love that you told my mom 3 weeks before we got engaged and asked my dad for permission to marry me.
66. I love that it was before senior prom that we got engaged…it was so beautiful.
67. I love that you mow the lawn because it wouldn’t get done otherwise.
68. I love that you don’t mind my love of going to Disneyland.
69. I love that we used to have season passes to Magic Mountain, and actually used them.
70. I love that our first date was to see Jurassic park, and that you helped me clean up my purse when Ryan spilled coke all over it.
71.I love that you wrote me a poem to ask me to be your girlfriend…
72.And that we were on our way to magic mountain that day.
73. I love that you don’t mind a flowery couch.
74. I love that you tracked down the antique dealer that bought Mammom’s couch and continued until you were able to give it to me for my birthday.
75. I love that you don’t say anything when we use antique open cellar salts rather than a regular salt shaker. Even though secretly I know you hate those little spoons.
76. I love that you tease me that I want all of our wood furniture to be white.
77. I love that you have promised me that you will take me to Paris someday, and I know that you will because you always keep your promises.
78. I love that you always keep your promises.
79. I love that you make me feel safe.
80. I love that you make the kids feel safe.
81. I love that you don’t begrudge me sleep in days when Kaitlyn is off track and you have to work.
82. I love that you always tell me a new hairstyle looks great even if you secretly hate it.
83. I love all the poems that you wrote me when we were dating.
84. I love that you wrote a poem for Kaitlyn.
85. I love that you have dreams for our retirement…even though we are only in our thirties.
86. I love that we are growing old together.
87. I love that we have grown up together.
88. I love that you love my family and make them feel welcome when they come to visit.
89. I love that you said “Wow” when I came down the aisle on our wedding day.
90. I love the way you kiss me.
91. I love that when I need an opinion that yours is the one I ask for first, and respect the most.
92. I love that you are willing to make a fool of yourself to make the kids or me laugh.
93. I love that you want me to bring the kids to have lunch with you so they can see where you work.
94.I love that I never have to ask you to take out the trash.
95. I love that you don’t complain when I start painting another room in the house…even though it means that we will probably be changing outlet covers.
96. I love that you are always willing to go to the store for me when I’m cooking dinner.
97. I love that you never say anything about me being completely forgetful.
98. I love that you always are willing to try a new dish that I make for dinner, and tell me how good it tastes…even if it tastes awful.
99. I love that you eat vegetables for the kids, even though you don’t like them.
100. I love the relationship you are building with our children.
101. I love that you are the person I can be totally honest with and know that you will still love me no matter what.
102. I love that I can tell you my secrets.
103.I love that you will probably tease me about this being more than one hundred things.
104. I love that you know when I need a break, time out, a hug, quiet time.
105. I love that you play with our kids.
Aaron, I love you! I am so glad God has blessed me with you! I know that He has a plan for the next several decades of our marriage and I am excited to see what God has in store for us! Happy 10'th anniversary to my one and only!
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