Busy Busy Busy

It seems we have been so busy since the beginning of this month that I can't even believe April has pretty much come and gone. So here is a quick update since we have had no time to blog. March 31st Jer's brother Jordan came home from his mission. He served in Philadelphia. He says he loved it so we will just take his word for it! (: He was a great missionary but we are glad to have him home to hang out with again! Here he is with his very PROUD parents!

Being at the airport for a missionary brought back so many memories of the last time I was at the airport for a missionary. That was when Jeremy came home. Being there again reminded me how excited I was and all the aniticipation of seeing him at the top of the stairs. Of course that was the best day ever and the longest day at the same time. Jer got home around noon and was supposed to be released around 4 that evening. Well I thought 4 hours was going to be a long time to wait to hug him but he actually didn't get released until about 8 that night due to some confusion....very long day but a whole other story...

Jeremy's brother and his wife, Jake and Julie, were planning on coming in from Alaska to be here when Jordan got home but they were stuck there for another week or so because of the volcano eruptions. So, they were able to come down for Easter instead which was really fun. We actually don't have any pictures of when they were here but we did have fun. Their dog, Nora and Koda really got along after Koda decided she wasn't as big as she seemed. He wasn't quite sure if he was afraid of her or not for a day or so at first. But he loosened up and had lots of fun teasing her and then running for his life when she chased him.

Easter was fun to be with the whole family. Once again, we forgot our camera but we were busy with all the family and Jordan's friends for his homecoming that we probably wouldn't have used it anyway.

Jer and I had a good Easter. I got some summer clothes and shoes and Jer got a movie and some tools! Man that Easter Bunny sure loves us!!

More recently....

These are some flowers that my husband suprised me with the other day just to make me smile, which of course they did! And they are my favorite because they stay alive so much longer than any other flowers so I can actually enjoy them for longer than a week... Unless.... you have a little puppy named Koda who wanted to see if they tasted as good as they smell....Jer and I left to go do some shopping last weekend and we came home to this....

Flowers don't last long with dogs get to them. Thankfully, he only demolished a couple instead of the whole thing. Apparently they don't taste as good as they smell. The funnier thing is that I stuck Koda in the corner and told him "Bad dog!" and he sat there with his head hung the whole time we cleaned up the mess. He didn't even move!! He doesn't like to be a bad dog. Of course I couldn't be mad at him for long. He is just too cute!!

How Grateful I Am!

I have been thinking a lot the past couple of days of how blessed I am for the life I have and for the people in it. Jeremy and I have made it a goal again this year to go to the temple at least once a month if not more. So far, we are 100%! Actually a little bit more because there was a month or two we went more than once. It's actually gotten to the point where people at work know I'm going to the Temple when I am dressed up. I'm glad that people know I love to go to the Temple. My mother in law sent a powerpoint to me and I enjoyed it a lot. (I can not figure out a way to put it on here because it is a powerpoint but if you want me to email it to you I can. Just send me your email address in a comment or something and I'll be more than happy to. It's worth watching. )

It basically talks about how the world is becoming more and more chaotic and dark. The pictures of the temples on it are absolutely stunning and the message is powerful. Our temples will be and are now a refuge from the outside world. They are a safe haven and a place to go to forget about all the darkness and evil around us. I have definately noticed a huge difference in my life, my marriage and my happiness as I have made it a point to attend the temple. Not that my life was not happy before because it was, but regularly attending the temple has some how made a wonderful life and marriage....amazing.

I know that dark and terrible things are happening in the world today and how grateful am I to be able to have somewhere to go for complete protection from that awful dirty world. The temple has been my source of happiness in this time when Satan has taken hold of so many people. He is so very real and is trying so hard to tear families apart. But I know that going to the temple is the one place he will not be. And everytime I go, I feel that a little bit of it comes home with me which makes it so much easier to live the gospel and stay away from the temptations of everyday life.

I am so very grateful for the wonderful husband that I have. He is my rock that I lean on for everything. How wonderful it is to know that I can be with him for ETERNITY! (Which isn't even long enough if you ask me!) Going to the temple with him is my most favorite thing to do. There is nothing better in the world and I am so glad that he has the strong desire to go to the temple as well.

And there is nothing better than being married to a man who has and honors his priesthood. It has been a huge blessing in our life together. I can not imagine my life without that wonderful blessing and power.

And of course, we are so grateful for our families. I love living so close to both mine and Jeremy's families. We are able to do so much with both of them and I love doing that. Their love, support and advice are priceless to us. We love them and are grateful to be sealed to them FOREVER!