Garside Family

Becoming all we can become

2011-10-12T20:14:00.000-07:00

Hi Readers,

It's been a long time since I've posted. A lot has transpired over the summer. Our family is very happy and doing well. I won't bore you with details, but just say that we are grateful and happy with our life and little family.

The biggest piece of news for us is this: My dear husband was accepted to the Nursing Program! For those who don't know, we have applied two years in a row, and received rejections two years in a row now. I don't think I need to go into too much detail to explain how hard this is been on our family. Rob takes his responsibility of provider for our family very seriously and is doing all he can to prepare himself to take on that responsibility fully, as soon as possible. For me, it was difficult watching him struggle, second guess himself, and we both struggled with our faith.

Rob is one of the most studious people I've ever met. He LOVES the medical field, and can't get enough of his studies. He works so hard and I'm so proud of him. We couldn't understand why we were turned down twice. Our future family is reliant upon him getting in and through the program, and it was so hard to see our plans being pushed back. Many tears were shed and many confused and heartfelt prayers were said, along with much fasting.

Then, out of nowhere, our prayer was answered. Before I tell this story, I will testify to you that I KNOW Heavenly Father stepped into our lives and made this happen for us. I know that beyond any shadow of a doubt. He loves us and knows our desires.

Here is the story:
Rob was on the waiting list to get into the Spring program, which starts in January. 50 people are admitted to that track, and he was number 18 on the waiting list. We figured there was NO way the list would dwindle that far down, so we either needed to wait until next year, or he needed to move on and choose a different career path. We were leaning towards the first option, but were exploring the second. All throughout this time, Rob was in close contact with the individual who handled nursing admissions for the school he wanted to attend. They got to know each other, and he definitely made an impression.

About three weeks ago, Rob heard from the admissions counselor that the waiting list had dwindled down so far the list that he was one person away from getting in. So many people had decided to go to other schools or had turned down their position for some reason or another. There was one final spot to be claimed, and there was one person standing between Rob and that position. We prayed and held out hope that the individual had made other plans or wouldn't accept.

A few days later, Rob learned that they did accept the position, and all 50 spots were filled. The admissions counselor told him this personally, and during this conversation, she explained how impressed she was with him, and how confident she was that he would do a great job in the program. She then told him that she spoke to the dean and asked if the dean would consider opening an extra spot in the program for Rob. And the dean agreed to do so!

We were overcome by this news. Rob called me immediately and told me the story. I was at work, and I broke down into tears. I had to force myself not to think about it for the rest of the day so I could concentrate at work and not break down crying in my meetings. I was SO grateful and humbled. Later that day, when he picked me up from the bus stop, we just hugged each other, overcome with gratitude. It was a feeling of humility and recognition that God played a hand in our lives.

I know He loves us. Here is a major lesson I learned in this process:

Here in our mortal journey, we get so caught up in life and our plans and desires, and we forget the whole point we are here on earth. It's not about checking off our to-do list, or meeting our time table, or fulfulling all the temporal hopes and dreams we have. It's about becoming that individual our Father in Heaven knows we have the capacity to become. He tries us and tests us, and sometimes waits to answer prayers. But that isn't because our plans aren't good ones, or because He doesn't care. It's because going through that experience will help us become someone better, someone more faithful, someone more humble, and someone more dedicated and grateful.

Rob and I will not take this for granted. I know he will work harder than he's ever worked before, just to show his gratitude for this opportunity. We will always remember this. And because we didn't get admitted when we had planned or hoped to, we have been able to take part in so much. Rob has been able to bond so deeply with Ryan. I've grown and learned so much in my job, but being a working mother will make me appreciate so much more the opportunity I will have to be a full time, stay at home mother. We now live in Minnesota, and have had amazing opportunities here to help us in personal times of need. Those needs could not have been met in our situation before coming here. These are just a few, small details of what we have experienced and learned over the past two years. The more personal and sacred experiences I will not share here.

God does love us, and he has wonderful plans for us. But those plans are long term ones that go beyond this veil. I am grateful that He is all knowing and loving and willing help us understand that as we continue our life here on earth.

Still no picts

2011-05-05T09:18:00.000-07:00

Sorry, still no picts, but here is an update:

-Rob didn't get into nursing school. No, we don't know why, but we heard that only about 10% of the applicants got in. Yes, we are a bit depressed about it. No, we don't exactly know what's next. No, we're not giving up on this plan. No, we don't want to answer questions about it. We'll share our plans when we have them. :) We are grateful for trials and are trying to have faith that all will go well.

-I ran a 5K last week. An awesome experience, I was so proud of myself. I don't think I've ever done anything like that for the kind of reasons I did it. It was totally and completely for myself. Not to impress anyone, not to meet expectations, not to get into a good school or get a good job or anything like that. I did it because I wanted to. I half expected that I would give up (I'm so not athletic) because I rarely have much endurance for things that I do for just myself. So I got a little emotional when I crossed the finish line. Or at least, i thought it was the finish line. Actually it wasn't. I still had about a 1/4 of a mile to go. So then my state of emotion transferred to a bit of anger that I wasn't done. But I made it. It was great.

-Ryan is 10 months old. He crawls all over, and cruises along the edge of the couch. His first official word/phrase is uh-oh. He loves to drop his pacifier, or sippy cup, or bottle, or anything he's holding and say uh-oh. It's pretty cute. He's pretty close to saying bye bye and understanding that the syllables da-da mean daddy, but we're not quite there yet. He hasn't even said ma-ma yet, but don't worry, I'm not bitter. Not like I gave birth to him or anything. :) J/K. He knows his mommy. I love the bond we have, and I love him. More than I can ever describe on a blog.

Happy Spring!

Update

2011-04-04T14:02:00.000-07:00

So I promise that I will soon post pictures, I'm so sorry it's been so long since I've posted. In my defense, I am working full time and don't get home usually until after 6 pm. That leaves me with maybe about 1 1/2 hours with my baby each day, so sorry, this just isn't a priority. We are doing great! Ryan is now 9 months old and is crawling all over and is as cute as ever. We're so happy to have such a wonderful son. He basically refuses to eat baby food (of course, he started doing that the day that I bought like 25 jars) and only wants grown up food. Unfortunately, that's limited to noodles, crackers, cheese, and pieces of the occasional mandarin orange slice. We're working on expanding his appetite, which is hard with no teeth (I know, right? 9 months old, any day now, bud!) so our selection is pretty limited. Tator tot casserole (gross!) went over pretty well with him the other night. Guess I'll have to start liking that. We've been waiting and waiting to hear whether or not Rob got accepted to the nursing program. We were told that we'd probably hear 6-8 weeks after his application deadline (which was Feb 1st), but the eight week mark came and went and no word. We've heard that people that didn't get in find out first, so no news yet is good news. I'm certainly hoping. The nursing department chair told Rob that he should have no problem getting in, so I told him he'd better hold her to that. We're so excited for him to start the program, one step closer to him reaching his goal and me not having to leave my baby boy each day (which is so hard). I'm working towards running a 5k at the end of this month. I'm up to interval running at just over 2 miles, so hoping to reach my goal. It feels good to say "I'm a runner." I've enjoyed pushing myself and am starting to see results. I try to get away from my desk at lunch time to go work out at the Y that's in downtown Minneapolis (about a 5 minute walk through the skyway), but it doesn't always happen. Next time I get a chance, pictures will be posted! Hopefully soon, Ryan has gotten so dang cute. He likes to look at you and move his head from side to side almost like he's dancing, but I think it's him just being happy. And he pulls himself up everywhere he goes and is actually getting pretty close to being able to stand without holding onto something. He is a busy boy.

2010-12-12T14:33:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays! Sorry I've been so bad at updating this. A few big things have transpired since I last wrote. Shortly after Halloween, Rob found out that he was layed off from work. Which meant we were jobless. It was a really stressful time for us. But Heavenly Father helped us make it through, and December 1st we both started jobs. Rob is working a seasonal job as package/mail sorter at the MSP airport with the post office, and I am working as a contractor for Target Headquarters in their Marketing Dept. Grammy is taking care of Ryan for us, which has been a huge blessing. We're VERY grateful for her and our jobs. We're looking forward to this opportunity to get our debts paid off and be more financially secure.

Thanksgiving was fun for us, we had the opportunity to go to Utah and spend the holiday with Rob's family. His brother Royce wanted the family to be together so he was generous enough to pay for us to come out there. Rob's father has been having some major health issues, so it was a wonderful blessing to be together. It was quite the event, with all of Rob's siblings (9 in all), all the grandkids (24 in all), and spouses and Rob's parents together. I believe all but 3 of the grandkids are under the age of 10, so it was pure chaos most of the time, but still fun.

Below are a few pictures showing off how cute Ryan is getting and other exciting events...

This is a picture of the snowstorm Minnesota just experienced. Due to snow plows, the snow drifts and mounds were above my head. We received nearly 2 feet of snow in a matter of 24 hours. It was incredible.

Ryan just getting better and better at sitting up. Today he sat up all on his own without any support for nearly a minute. He loves sampling whatever we're willing to feed him. His favorite "real food" is mashed pototoes. Don't tell his pediatrician I feed it to him. He's sucking on a cracker in this picture.

I recently turned 25 (nov. 3rd)! Still so young...

This is Ryan in his church clothes. He's not to happy at this moment. I sure love him!

We hope your holiday preparations go well and you all have time to remember the joy and true meaning of this season. I have been reflecting lately about how Mary must have felt when she was told she would be the mother of the Savior of the world. And then the moment when she first held Him in her arms. It was an overwhelming experience for me when I first held Ryan, and I can only imagine what she went through. I am so grateful that I have been given a child of our Father in Heaven to raise, and that He had entrusted such a sweet, wonderful boy to me. We are all His children, and He loves us dearly. As parents, He entrusts us with His children and relies upon us to raise them up unto Him. What a responsibility. Yet such great joy comes from doing this. I am truly grateful for my little family.

Happy Halloween!

2010-11-01T12:35:00.001-07:00

We had a great halloween this year! It was fun to dress Ryan up and attend our ward party. He is an adorable little guy. Grandma Green sent Ryan a superman costume, so Rob and I decided to dress up as superbaby's mom and dad... Lois Lane and Clark Kent. My costume was pretty lame, but Rob's helped tip people off.

At one point I was asked if I was a librarian. Not so much. Thanks though, cuz I've worn that outfit to work before. At the end of the night Rob lost the shirt and tie and just had the superman shirt on and perched the glasses on top of his head. Ryan was off with his Grammy. We then were asked if we were the nerdy couple or something. Guess it's time to update our wardrobes.

Ryan is getting so big, he's just adorable. Grandpa taught him how to do raspberries, which is his favorite thing to do when we're feeding him. Yes, we've added rice cereal to his diet, which is definitely a treat to feed him. (Not so much, over half of it ends up all over your hands and all over him). The other day I tried out some baby food on him (carrots!) and he just loved it, he wanted more and more. Here is a picture of the delightful mess he made:

He certainly makes us laugh! Tomorrow he'll be four months old, which is crazy. He likes to do these stomach crunches, where when he's laying down he'll completely lift his head and legs up and sit in that position forever, longer than I can do it. Rob figured out a little trick, he'll hold the pacifier just inches away from Ryan's mouth when he's laying on the floor, and Ryan will do a tummy crunch to reach up to the pacifier and get it in his mouth. It's hilarious. Grammy and I joke that he's trying to get a six pack of abs before he starts nursery so he can impress all the girls. He really is a flirt, at church or in any public setting, if he's in a good mood, he want to look around and give everyone adorable little smiles and get them to coo all over him. Kind of a distraction in relief society! We sure love him!

Thoughts on Conference

2010-10-06T12:16:00.000-07:00

I thoroughly enjoyed General Conference last weekend, it was so wonderful to be uplifted and strengthened by our General Authorities. I know that President Packer's talk was met with some resistence by several individuals. Our church has definitely received a lot of criticism due to our stance on homosexuality. I can definitely understand why our beliefs are met with such anger and resentment. However, I wanted to say that we have never preached hatred against the GLBT population. On the contrary, we've been told to treat them with love and respect and as sons and daughters of God. Anyone who treats these individuals contrary to that is wrong. I have the utmost respect and compassion for homosexuals. I will honestly say that I'm grateful that isn't my lot in life.

On the otherhand, I am grateful for church leaders that are willing to take a stand and aren't afraid to teach hard doctrine. I have no doubt Elder Packer knew the reprocussions of making such statements, but I fully sustain him as a prophet, seer, and revelator, and I know that the doctrine of marriage and family as taught by our church is the word of God and all that is said in the Proclamation to the World is true doctrine. I'm grateful to know that the leaders I look to for guidance will not be swayed by the views and current issues in the world, but that they will speak according to the teachings of Jesus Christ. They are not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and neither am I.

Family Pictures

2010-09-08T18:32:00.001-07:00

We took family pictures last week, it was so much fun! Abby Van Stone, a friend from high school, took them for us. She is way talented. Here are some favorites (they all were amazing!)

He is an adorable little boy, we love him so much. We're so happy to have him in our lives. At two months old he is more than a mother could ask... sleeps through the night, cooes, takes a bottle, and loves his mommy and daddy. It is wonderful being parents, I thank my Heavenly Father for him and my dear husband every day!

8 weeks young

2010-08-28T16:41:00.000-07:00

It's true, Ryan is 8 weeks old! He is growing like crazy, and we grow to love him more and more each day. He has started smiling, which just melts anyone's heart that is lucky enough coerse a smile out of him. We haven't caught on camera yet, but Grammy is working hard on it.

A few weeks ago he was blessed, below are pictures from that special day.

I feel so blessed to be his mommy. He just melts my heart. Being a mother is definitely stressful and tries your patience, especially in the wee hours of the morning, or late hours of the afternoon after a sleep deprived evening. However, I am so glad Ryan is in our lives.

Thursday I had my gall bladder removed, which wasn't the most pleasurable experience I've ever had. It's a pretty non evasive surgery, but still required four incisions in my stomach. I'm on percocet, way powerful drug. Every four hours I take that, and in between doses I'm taking four IB profen. It's making the pain tolerable, and now I'm more sore than anything. I've missed giving cuddles to my little boy, but it's hard when he wiggles so much. I'll be as good as new before we know it I'm sure. My parents have been helping out a lot as I've been recovering and Rob has been working.

Here is some exciting news: I have two job interviews next week! One is with an ad agency, and the other is with a firm that creates loyalty campaigns for retail clients. Hopefully a job comes through soon for us.

As far as updates about other members of my family:

My sister Danielle is getting married on October 16th in Mesa, AZ. I'm hoping to make it to the wedding (hence the hope for a job).

My brother Mitch was just married at the end of June, and within a matter of weeks he'll be leaving for Iraq. His wife Aly will be coming to live out here in Minnesota. When my parents recently parted with them before Mitch reported for training duty, my dad gave him a blessing and promised that he would return to his family and he has more to do in this life. That was such a comfort to us all.

Life is crazy and wonderful!

Ryan William Garside

2010-07-08T09:57:00.000-07:00

Our little boy arrived! Ryan William was born on Friday, July 2nd at 5:57 pm, weighing 6 lbs 14 oz and 20 inches long. He is absolutely wonderful!

Both Rob and I were overcome with a deep love for him. Its an incredible feeling and experience. We're so grateful for the trust Heavenly Father has placed in us to raise this sweet little boy.

Everyone has been asking how the delivery went, so here is a run down on the day. It all started at 8 am on Friday when I first started noticing signs of contractions and cramping. Rob was already at work, but was only working a half day so he would be home withing a few hours. I called my mom and she came and got me so I wouldn't be alone in case it turned into full labor. By 11 am Rob was home and the contractions were coming steadily, between 6 and 10 minutes apart. They really hurt! :) Here is a picture of us relaxing and timing out the contractions:

By 2 pm, they were coming strong and steady on average of five minutes apart, some even closer. We went to the hospital (Rob may have sped a little out of excitement and concern for his life as I was grabbing his hand pretty hard during the drive.) They got us checked and settled, and found I was already dialated to a six! I immediately asked for an epidural, which came just in time.

Before I knew it, I was dialated all the way, and the pain was returning, letting me know it was time to push. After about 20 minutes or so of pushing, Ryan arrived at 5:57 pm. It was all so fast, I couldn't believe it. Its hard to put an experience like that into words. So much pain and exertion, and then suddenly its gone and this precious little child is in your arms, directly from our Father in Heaven. Both Rob and I were overcome with this deep love for him. The rest of our lives will never be the same.

Sunday we were released from the hospital, but before we left we took the chance to read from the Book of Mormon for a few minutes. We read in 3 Nephi where Christ was about to leave the Nephites. The chapter is filled with evidence of the love both our Savior and our Father in Heaven have for us. I love the part when He gathers the children around him and blesses them, and then Angels come down and administer to the children. Rob and I both felt the Spirit very strongly, and gained a stronger sense of the responsibility we've been given and the trust Heavenly Father has placed in us.

I have no doubt Angels are administering to my little boy. There is nothing quite like holding a newborn baby, so precious and innocent. We truly were placed on this earth for a reason.

We love our little boy! Despite the sleepless nights, the crying and constant feeding, I couldn't be happier and more grateful.

One Year Down, Eternity to Go

2010-06-23T17:13:00.000-07:00

We're doing well settling into life here in Minnesota. Our house is pretty much all put together, except for the fact that Ryan's room is a disaster right now. I'm somewhat at a loss as to how to organize all his stuff. Luckily mom has offered her help, so Friday morning we'll be tackling that. Just so everyone knows, I have the greatest mom in the world.

After spending so much time with her over the past few weeks, I'm truly starting to understand what it really means to give of yourself completely to your spouse and your family. She is constantly serving her husband, her children, and in her calling. She's set such a good example for me, and as I have followed that example more closely it has helped our Rob and I's marriage grow stronger even more.

Speaking of Rob and I, this Saturday (June 26th) we celebrate our 1 year anniversary! Crazy that time has passed that quickly. I am such a lucky lady to have him as my eternal companion. Here is a video that was shot just shortly after the happiest moment of my life:

Thank you honey for truly showing me what love is, and for being there for me through so much over this past year. I love you for ever and ever.

A couple thoughts...

2010-05-30T19:04:00.001-07:00

We have five weeks to go until this baby is born. Hallelujiah. Pregnancy is not fun. But I'm grateful for the blessing to carry this child.

Tuesday we move into our place. Very excited to get settled and be on our feet again. It's been great staying with my parents, they've been wonderful, but I'm definitely ready.

Oh and one more thought. I'm so happy to be here. Life is wonderful.

Getting Settled

2010-05-19T14:06:00.000-07:00

Well we've both made it to Minnesota and it's so clear to us that this really is what Heavenly Father wanted us to do, as everything seems to just be falling into place for us. It's been wonderful. Since we've arrived, we've found a job for Rob that will give him the pay and hours he needs to support us over the summer. We've also found a place to rent that is absolutely wonderful and meets our needs. It is this little three bedroom house on a farmhouse property, we're renting it from the sweetest lady in the world. See the picture!!:

We're so excited. The garage is about as big as the house!

Two cars can fit in the garage door opening, and then tons more space right there through the door. Rob really likes that! :) It's in my parent's ward, which Rob was nervous about at first, but has become ok with it. It's a big ward, lots of younger families and couples that we've started making friends with.

Rob has been getting a bit of cabin fever as he's been waiting for his job to start, so we took an outing to visit Red Wing, the town that I grew up in. It was fun to spend the day together and for him to see where I grew up. Here is a picture of us at Memorial Park with a beautiful view of the city:

And here is another of just me and the baby bump:

I'm 33 weeks along, only 7 more to go (hopefully). He's getting to be quite the kicker, pretty painful at times. And I get up to use the bathroom on average of 3 times a night. It gets old, but I'm just getting used to having disrupted sleep. We're so excited to have little Ryan come, he will be such a blessing to us.

We're so grateful that everything is working out so smoothly and that we're being so blessed. It's also been so wonderful to be around my family, I have missed them so much.

Back to the homeland

2010-05-01T14:25:00.000-07:00

I'm in Minnesota... Rob is in Utah. We're apart for three weeks. I miss him. Only 10 more days and we'll be together again.

I'm spending a week and a half watching four kids from a family in my parent's ward. Their parents are on a vacation in Paris (so jealous...!) Hadlee is 4 (and a half, she'll insist), Sophie is 6, Noah is 11, and McKinley is 13. Been interesting... in three days I've dealt with wetting pants, refusing to eat anything but go gurt, being late for curfew, getting a balloon from the grocery store caught in the ceiling fan, homework, spelling tests, lacrosse practice and game, fights over who gets to get the mail, and many other fun times. It has been fun, the kids are great. I am VERY tired. Definitely will appreciate having my husband around when we have kids that age.

I'm really glad to be back in Minnesota. I've missed it. And my family. There is nothing quite like it.

Moving to MN!

2010-04-08T14:25:00.000-07:00

It's official, we're leaving the west and headed to Minnesota. A few reasons have led us to this decision, and we're confident we're doing the best thing for our family. I'm really looking forward to being closer to my family while going through the experience of having our first child.

The main reason is that with Rob still in school, it presents the need for me to continue working. He still has the nursing program to go through, followed by his masters which will be very time consuming. I know that there are several options here for child care, and Rob's family has all offered to help, but I just feel the most comfortable with my mom helping us take care of him. She's offered, and is delighted with the opportunity to have her grandson nearby. I have the best mom in the whole world. I know I'm lucky to have such an understanding, respectful, loving mother.

The other reason, is Rob's schooling. There is a nursing program in Minnesota that he has a good chance of getting into, compared to the high competition here in Utah. He's currently on the waiting list and it looks like he will be able to start the program in January. If we had stayed here, he would have had to wait another whole year to get in, and even then it would be highly competitive for him. The school is very respectable and feeds into other great bachelor's programs.

I'm really ready to move. I've loved the opportunities we've had here, the people we know and all of Rob's family has been so wonderful. But it's time. Our apartment isn't home. I struggle with the culture here, and miss the green hills and lakes and rivers you see on the other side of the mountains. I'm sure once the dead of winter rolls around I'll have moments where I'll be wondering what we were thinking to move back to the tundra of Minnesota, but all in all it's the right place for us to be right now.

Less than two weeks I'll be back to MN. Rob will come shortly there after, and when he joins me I'll be able to finally say (and mean it!) that I'm HOME!

Road Trip!

2010-04-06T10:46:00.000-07:00

So we've been having troubles (AGAIN!) recently with Rob's car, and it needs fixed. We don't want to pay a mechanic to do it, too expensive, so we're waiting for Rob's brother Royce to come back from a job assignment in three weeks and he'll fix the car. But, until then, we can't drive it. So last night Rob and I took a little road trip up to Logan to pick up an extra car Royce has hanging around so Rob can get around to school and work over the next few weeks.

A storm was coming through Utah, so I left work about an hour early so we could get on the road before it hit too hard. We managed to stay ahead of the storm on the way up and had a lot of fun spending time together. My favorite part of the trip:

About 5:30 I was really hungry, so we stopped at Sonic to grab some dinner through their drive through window. Rob ordered a double cheeseburger. There was this big picture of it with 2 patties, 2 slices of cheese on each patty, and all the fixings. They asked him what sauces he'd like on it, and after he told them, he was like, does it come with cheese? The guy was like, uh, yeah, it comes with it... Of course, considering it is a cheeseburger! I about busted a gut. Way too funny.

The way back was a little scary as we were now driving into the storm, but we made it home safe and sound. My back was pretty sore from driving four hours straight, but I didn't say anything about it. However, Rob being the sweet, sensitive guy he is, knew that I would be in pain so he immediately went to the bathroom and started up the bath water and poured some bubbles in. I was like, who is that for? He responded saying for you of course, I'll bet your back is sore. I just fall in love with him over and over.

Ladies, sorry to disappoint you all, but I've got the best guy out there. Even if he does ask if his cheeseburger comes with cheese. :)

:(

2010-03-31T08:08:00.000-07:00

I just wanna cry... bad day. I wish I could stop feeling so sick.

Red faced and pregnant

2010-03-17T12:37:00.001-07:00

So there are a couple perks to being pregnant, the biggest one is that you pretty much always have a scapegoat and something to blame when you do anything out of ordinary or stupid. You take a second helping of food, no one thinks twice. Even helping your self to a second donut is encouraged. You fall asleep in a public setting, and you don't have to admit you were just bored, people just assume it's the regular pregnancy exhaustion. You forget someone's name or an important fact, you can pass it off saying, darn pregnancy, I forget the simplist things lately! Pass gas around anyone but your husband and it's laughed off when you say it was the baby, not you.

However, it doesn't always work. Such was the case today. I'm wearing my black floaty skirt, a skirt that you have to be careful with when you use the restroom and should always check that everything is tucked/untucked just right. I wasn't careful, and when I left the restroom I had no idea that the back of my skirt was nicely tucked into the back of my tights and giving the whole world a wonderful glimpse of my butt. I walked down the hallway to head back to my desk, and heard a pssst! Nicole! come from behind me. I turned around, and there was our office accountant with a big smirk on his face encouraging me to fix my skirt. AWKWARD! Red-faced, I thanked him and fixed the embarassing situation.

Don't worry, he's gay.

At least I thought it was nothing to worry about because of that fact, but I failed to remember that gay guys love to gossip as much as the rest of us. So not even five minutes later when I was over in one of the art directors cubicles explaining a project, I overheard him laughing in the cubicle next door about the experience to a fellow co worker. Oh so embarrassing.

One thing is for sure, it'll be a while before I wear this skirt again. In the meantime, thought I'd give the rest of you a chance to laugh at me along with the office gossipers.

I'm not crafty, but....

2010-02-26T15:40:00.000-08:00

If any of you are looking for some great crafty ideas, visit my friends blog, she's pretty amazing. She also has links to a lot of other crafty businesses/talented people out there. The blog is dangginagives.blogspot.com. (http://www.dangginagives.blogspot.com/) Or you can click on the button on the right of my blog.

I wish I were as talented as her... :)

It's a boy!

2010-02-16T14:40:00.000-08:00

We found out today that we're expecting a boy, and we are so excited. He was being pretty stubborn there for a bit and wouldn't let the tech get a good enough look, but finally after some prodding and poking he gave us a glimpse.

Rob was especially excited, he can't wait to have a little buddy to play with. We've decided to name him Ryan William Garside. Ryan is Rob's brother, and William is my grandfather's name. We feel like it flows quite nicely. :)

I'm becoming obsessed with Whinnie the Pooh decor, I've always wanted to decorate my baby's nursery in Pooh decorations.

We are so excited, and it is all the more real to us now that we can start calling him by his name, rather than referring to him as "the baby". Hope that July 5th comes soon!

I hate mornings...

2010-02-01T10:59:00.000-08:00

My lovely morning routine:

7:00 am- Rob's alarm clock goes off. I groan, dreading the fact that the day is starting. I realize my stomach hurts.
7:15 am- My alarm clock goes off. I hit snooze. By now, Rob is out of the shower and in the kitchen getting me something to eat. Stomach still hurts.
7:20 am- Force myself to eat either cereal or toast. Force down whatever I can and roll out of bed.
7:45 am- Step out of the shower and make it to the toilet in time to lose my breakfast. Lovely. Stomach still hurts.
8:00 am- Dressed and trying to fix my hair and makeup.
8:25 am- Hair and makeup done... just in time for me to throw up again. My eyes water, causing my eye makeup to come off and streaks from the tears mess up my foundation. Very lovely. Baby is pushing on my bladder already, so as you can guess, heaving like that creates a need to change my clothes.
8:35 am- Try and figure out something else to eat for breakfast. Run out the door.
8:45 am- Arrive at work, already wishing the day was over.

Is it any wonder I hate mornings? Seriously, this has happened everyday for weeks. Grrr....

Blessings

2010-01-22T12:33:00.000-08:00

Do you ever have days when you wonder what else could go wrong? Where complaining just comes all too easily, and you get into this slump of feeling sorry for yourself?

Well, I've been good at that lately. Between working full time, being pregnant (SO INCREDIBLY TIRED!), planning for our baby coming, and trying to be the wife that I want to be that cooks, cleans, balances the budget, and gives my husband all the attention and devotion he deserves, I run out of fuel. Life happens, you get sick, cars break down, parking tickets accidently don't get paid, unexpected expenses happen, dinner sometimes fails, and not always does your hubby get the big fat kiss he expects to get when you see him after a long day.

Marriage is wonderfully hard. I think right now I need to start over, erase all expectations and hopes I had when I was a nine year old little girl playing house. I need to reflect on what I have right now and realize how lucky I am, and take life one step at a time. Sometimes it's easy to think about what you think you should have, all while hundreds of blessings are right in front of you.

Right now, I have a wonderful husband that still loves me when I'm a bratty pregnant wife. Who lets me be emotionally exhausted and cry through my frustrations. A husband that will do anything for me, because he loves me and is so unselfish. I have a knowledge of the fullness of the gospel and a current temple recommend, which paves the way endless blessings and peace. I have a job that is a really good job, a job that I'm lucky to have, and that has given me confidence and skills that will help me throughout my whole life. I have wonderful parents, siblings, friends, and the support of a wonderful extended family. And, of course, we have a child on the way, that will bless our lives beyond measure.

I think one of the things I'm most grateful for is the fact that I'm not laying under a pile of concrete in Haiti, praying to be discovered, starving, dehydrated, injured, and wondering if my family is alive. Nor am I wandering the streets looking into the faces of the thousands of dead bodies hoping to recognize a loved one.

Count your blessings. It will do wonders for your attitude.

Big News...

2010-01-05T16:06:00.000-08:00

So most of you have heard, but yes, we're expecting a baby! The little one is expected to arrive July 3rd... maybe he or she will have fireworks to welcome them into the world. :) We're definitely excited and I'm already eagar for the pregnancy to be over. Here's a little background on how it's gone so far.

Early October: Find out we're expecting. Hurray!

Late October: Start getting sick. A lot. Not fun, but I can handle it. Miss a day or two of work.

Most of November: In about a matter of two weeks, I lost 20 pounds. In and out of the hospital 3 times. Received an IV twice, once in the ER, once in the doctors office because the ER bill wasn't so fun to receive. Tried lots of different medications, none worked, ended up on a feeding tube. Threw that up. Special family fast and lots of prayers... got better within a day. Had a great week, went back to work.

Beginning of December: Got sick again. Missed another week of work, almost ended up on feeding tube again. Horrible week, lost the few pounds I'd gained back plus some, ward had a special fast for several individuals going through health problems. Got better. Back to work...

End of December: Went HOME for Christmas. I struggled here and there throughout the month, but stayed on top of it by taking medication consistently and being careful with what I ate and smelt (seriously). Christmas was wonderful, only sick here and there. I hit 13 weeks the Sunday after Christmas and I've been doing fairly well since then! I'm actually starting to get a little baby bump. :)

All in all, we're so excited and can't believe we'll be parents in about six months. Although the little tike is grounded for making mom so sick.... J/K... sort of.

We'll keep you updated on plans, gender, name, and all the other fun details.

Thankful for Christmas

2009-11-20T09:55:00.000-08:00

I love Christmas music. It makes me so happy! I know that many feel that listening to Christmas music before Thanksgiving robs this wonderful holiday of it's true recognition, but I'd like to argue that point.

There is something about hearing festive music about joy in the world, peace on earth, and holy nights that makes me grateful for what I have and especially for my Savior. I think there is no better way to get in the Thanksgiving spirit than through listening to this inspiring music. So, to emphasize my point, I'd like to create a list of what I'm grateful for. This list is not all inclusive, just simply highlights a few key things.

1. My Savior Jesus Christ
2. A loving Father in Heaven
3. My wonderful husband
4. A roof over my head
5. My education
6. A job that I enjoy and provides the necessities for our little family
7. My family, both my side and Rob's side.
8. A mother that knows exactly what I need to hear when I call her exhausted, frustrated, sick, or just want to hear my mom's voice.
9. My friends
10. A tiny apartment that only requires an hour to clean :)
11. My calling, that allows me to serve and forget myself once in a while
12. A wonderful, supportive ward we've grown to love
13. Tender mercies from Heavenly Father that too often go unnoticed
14. Inspiring music
15. A beautiful world full of flowers, falling leaves, sunsets and sunrises, and fresh air.

I'm thankful for this wonderful season!

Married Life Update

2009-09-22T16:00:00.001-07:00

So now that almost three months have gone by, we decided maybe it's time to come out of hiding and reconnect with the world. We're doing really well and loving married life. Now more than ever we really understand what is meant by "Men are that they might have joy." Marriage has been a wonderful blessing.

Rob is working hard with school, he's taking some tough classes but is loving what he's learning. He cut some of his hours at work so he can dedicate more time to his studies. I've heard more about the body makeup and functions in the past three weeks to last me a lifetime! We're looking forward to being able to apply for nursing school after this semester. Our hope is that he'll get in to school next fall, and four semesters later will have his bachelor's degree as an RN. One year of work as a RN, followed by CRNA school (2 years) and we'll be done! We're excited for our future.

I'm still working at Love Communications as an account coordinator, working at the only ad agency in Salt Lake that hasn't had layoffs or pay decreases, so I definitely consider myself lucky. The recession has been tough for this industry, but I'm hanging in there.

I was called to be second counselor in the YW presidency, which has been fun. We live in Rose Park, which is considered the "ghetto" of Salt Lake City, so these girls definitely deal with things that I only heard about in movies. I hope I can be the kind of leader they need. They are fun, sweet girls.

We're counting down the days until Christmas (long ways off, we know!) as we are going to Minnesota for the Holidays to be with my family. We can't wait to see them and have a fun little vacation. Until then, we'll continue our routine of working hard during the week and enjoying the time together on the weekends. We're in love!

Forever and Ever Babe

2009-08-06T12:12:00.001-07:00

Sorry it's taken me so long to update this. We have been married just over a month now, and LOVING it! It's so wonderful to be sealed together, to have each other to lean on, learn from, and love. The wedding was amazing, filled with many wonderful memories. Here are some of the best moments (at least we think so now, maybe not then on a few).

5. Losing the handkerchief Granny made for me when I was born. She made it as part of my baby blessing outfit, it was initally worn on my head. It was made so you could take out a couple stitches and it became a handkerchief to use on my wedding day. My mom had been saving it all these years, and gave it to me at our rehersal dinner. It was mistaken for a napkin while cleaning up thrown in the garbage. Thanks to Rob's cousin for diving in the garbage bag and finding it!

4. Rob thinking that he would get to spend the morning with me on our wedding day. He didn't really get it that I needed the whole morning to get my hair done and makeup. He was quite frustrated when I wasn't ready until about 20 minutes before we needed to leave for the temple. He watched Bride Wars that morning. Then of course we forgot our recommends in my car as we were rushing off to the temple. Then we forgot something in his car once we parked and had walked half way from the parking lot to the temple. It was nice to step inside and just breathe.

3. Tow trucks at our reception! So fun. A lot of people were parked in the AT&T parking lot, which isn't Studio 600 parking until 8 pm. So AT&T called the tow trucks and put a bit of a damper on things. At one point I was standing in the receiving line watching our brothers run back and forth across the room with keys, and just thinking, really?? Anyway, nothing a couple hundred bucks couldn't fix. AT&T lost my business forever.

2. Dancing the night away! I loved dancing together to "Lucky" by Jason Miraz and Colbie Callait as our first dance. It was the perfect song for us. Then dancing with my Dad, who is the best Dad in the whole world. I couldn't have been raised by a better man. It was great to celebrate with so many family members and friends. I wore these awesome red heels, and only tripped in them once when Royce (Rob's brother) grabbed me and starting swinging me and dancing... he's not as smooth as Rob. :) Rob and I met dancing at Studio 600, and it was pretty great dancing with him as my husband at the same place we met.

1. Being sealed to the love of my life for all time and eternity. That was a moment I'll never forget. Rob is the man I never thought I'd find, who loves me like I've always wanted to be loved, and who I love more than I ever thought possible. Life, although stressful and crazy at times, is a joy with him. No till death do us part for us... we're in this thing forever and ever. Thank goodness, because it wouldn't be Heaven without him by my side.

Can I just say...

2009-06-08T15:18:00.000-07:00

I am ready for this stress to be over. Let's just get on with it. Rob, let's go get married.

3 Weeks!!

2009-06-04T15:45:00.000-07:00

We are getting so close to the wedding only three more weeks! It has definitely been crazy the past two months trying to put this wedding together. Who knew announcements could be so difficult. Wow. :) We are so excited and can't wait to start our life together. The wedding will be fun, but we are so excited for what comes after.

We got our engagement pictures taken a few weeks back. Neither of us were very comfortable getting our pictures taken. But once we got going we started having

fun and getting in the swing of things. We had a hard time deciding with picture to use for our announcement, but we'll definitely end up framing a lot of them! If anyone needs a good photographer, I highly recomment Stephanie Hutto (www.stephography.com).

I also did my bridals yesterday, a friend from work did them for me. It was fun wearing my dress, but I'm going to die of heat on the wedding day. It was fun though!

I'm moving in to our new apartment on Tuesday, it will be fun getting our apartment ready before the wedding. I am excited and so happy! (And exhausted and overwhelmed and stressed, but that's the nature of it all!!)

Then we danced

2009-04-22T13:07:00.000-07:00

A couple weekends ago, Rob and I had one of those exhausting Fridays. We had planned on going to the Red Carpet Date Night up at the University of Utah, and we almost didn't go because of how exhausted we both were. But I was set on going on a date and getting all dressed up. So at 9:30 at night, after working on Rob's car, we got all dressed up, put our dancing shoes on, and went to the dance.

It was SO much fun. We were both glad we went. We met dancing at Studio 600, and it was a fun reminder of that night that we had met. I felt so pretty, and he looked so handsome. I can't wait for our wedding when we get to dance again!

Engaged, FINALLY!!! WoooHOOO!!!!

2009-04-04T19:03:00.000-07:00

I'm Engaged! This has been a long time coming, and I'm so happy to be able to finally say that Rob proposed and we are officially getting marred June 26th in the Salt Lake Temple!! I'm so happy.

A lot of people have been asking how he proposed, so I'll tell the story. We went to dinner at Chili's, which is where we went on our first date. We both loved that date, it was the most memorable first date either of us have ever had. After dinner, we drove to this place where we had once taken a walk when we first started dating. It's so beautiful, especially at night. It's down in Draper area, and it is a path along a beautiful river with a bridge and there are lights and it is just gorgeous. I had just told him earlier that week that when we had taken that walk months ago, it was when I realized how much I really cared for him and I realized what a great relationship we could form.

Anyway, we were walking along, and it was crazy because it was SO cold! We walked across the bridge and down the path a little further, but then he was like, ok it's cold, let's walk back. As we walked to where the bridge was again, these two girls came up the walkway and stood on the bridge for like 5 minutes taking pictures. He stopped me and suggested we sit for a while (he was waiting for them to leave). We sat down, and I was like, this is weird, it's freezing and we can't even see the river or any of the scenery. He was barely talking to me, he just kept looking at the girls. Finally they finished with their picture taking and walked past us. He helped me up then we walked to the bridge and he stopped me, got on one knee, pulled out the ring box, opened it, and said, Nicole Anne Lash, will you marry me? And with little tears in my eyes and joyful laugh I said yes. He put the ring on my finger, kissed me and gave me a hug, and then was like, wait, I didn't hear you, did you say yes? It was cute, I was giggling and laughing out of pure excitement he didn't even hear my answer. I assured him that the answer was yes!

When we got to his car again, he pulled a dozen red roses out for me. We then went to his parents house, showed off the ring and shared the good news with all our friends.

JUNE 26th!!!! This is going to be such a wonderful day, and I hope to share it with as many of you as I can. I love him, and I can't wait to be Mrs. Nicole Garside!!!!

Update

2009-03-02T07:42:00.000-08:00

Ok so I haven't updated this in a long time, and I've been getting a lot of questions, so I decided to finally pick up the slack and fill in all my faithful followers (all four of you). I am back together with Rob! Things are so great, I'm way happy. We've been able to work through a few things and we've built a great relationship. In 2 weeks we're taking a trip to Altanta so he can meet my family. Big step!!

I also moved to a new place, I'm living in a house with four other girls in Murray. Rob and his brother were kind enough to help me move over the weekend, which I'm way grateful for. I seriously hate packing and moving. It's not that I have that much stuff, it's just annoying. But I'll admit that it was fun to have Rob help me.

I'm holding on to my job for now, we'll see what happens with the economy. I have my resume polished up and a few back ups in case things don't go well. Which is the way it's looking...

Life is good.

My life is a chick flick

2008-12-09T21:22:00.000-08:00

Well, the inevitable happened... I'm single again. It happens I guess, part of life is experiencing sadness and heartache and growing from feeling those emotions. I will say, I must be bound to have a lot of daughters some day and I will definitely be able to show an emmense level of compassion when they go through the heartaches that most teenage and young adult girls experience. I am grateful that the Lord loves me enough to give me experiences that will ultimately make me a better person.

Being single can be quite fun sometimes. You really never know quite what to expect. At any moment your life can change through a brief meeting or interaction. I have been asked out at the most random moments, and it definitely makes life interesting. Listed below are the top five:

5. Rock climbing at Momentum
At a stake activity about two weeks ago, I was walking from one group of friends over to another, and this guy stopped me and said, Nicole, that is a lovely name (I was wearing a name tag...typical LDS single's activity). He then proceeded to tell me that he had been working up the courage for the last 15 minutes to ask me out. He was a bless your heart kind of guy, and I had barely been dumped 3 days earlier, so I was in no mood to be hit on or go on a date, but his intentions were so pure and it was obvious that he was incredibly nervous. So I gave him my number.

4. BYU-I library
Ok, so if you knew the atmosphere at the library at BYU-I, this really wouldn't be that weird, but the whole situation was awkward so I couldn't help putting it on the list. I was working as a library aide and it was slow so I was reading the Ensign. This guy walked up to me and asked me if I had plans for the next evening. I did already have a blind date lined up, so he encouraged me to come play soccer with a group of friends if my date and I couldn't find anything better to do. He told me they were playing with the biggest soccer ball in all of Idaho, but we had to pay $2 and sign a waiver...(yeah, I don't get it either). He then asked me if I'd like to go on another date. It took a minute to register that he was asking me on a date. I agreed. He called me the following Monday to set everything up, and we made plans to go out Tuesday evening. Tuesday morning, I saw him in the library and stopped him to say hello. I'm not lying, he looked at me and said, how do I know you? I couldn't believe it. I reminded him that we had met last week, we had talked the night before, and we had a date for that evening. Needless to say, the date was awkward. Come to find out, he was trying to fit in 100 dates during the semester.

3. Walmart
I decided to make a pit stop on my way home from work and pick up a few things at a Walmart not too far from my house. As I was waiting to check out, I noticed the guy in front of me was looking at my right hand, on which I wear my CTR ring that is in spanish. He was hispanic. He struck up a conversation with me about how I knew spanish. He then checked out and stalled a bit after going through the line while I paid for my items. I walked right past him and went to my car. However, lo and behold, he was parked next to me and we met up again in the parking lot. He asked me on a date right then and there.

2. Airplane
It not only happens in movies, but in real life! On my way back to SLC from visiting my parents over Thanksgiving, I had a connecting flight in Las Vegas. On the flight from Vegas to SLC, I sat across the isle from a young man who appeared to be about my age. After I got settled in my seat and the plane was getting ready to take off, I got out my Book of Mormon. I read a couple versus when he looked over and struck up a conversation with me, noticing that I was also LDS and...single. We talked the whole plane ride (about an hour) and he got my number at baggage claim. He then called me the next Sunday and we went to the First Presidency Devotional together. Romantic, isn't it?

1. Trax stop (no lie)
The first month I lived here I used the public transportation system to get to work, also known as Trax. I was reading a book called Amour, by Elder Kim Clark, one morning as I was waiting for the train to arrive, and a guy that obviously attended the U of U struck up a conversation with me about the book, where I was from, etc. We boarded the train shortly after the conversation began, and sat in separate areas on the train. We got off on the same stop, and he caught me before I walked off, told me that he and his friends made a goal to ask a girl out to the upcoming Jazz game, but it had to be a girl they had never met before. He got my number, we went out, and he became my first friend here in Utah.

So, while none of these random encounters have developed into anything, one of the days, I may just meet my prince charming while waiting in line to buy postage stamps. It could happen. And when it does, I'm writing a script and selling it to make a major motion picture.

The important topics of life: Love, politics and religion

2008-11-17T21:22:00.001-08:00

Life is good. I have been really happy lately. That may partially have to do with the fact that I have been dating a wonderful guy, who honestly treats me so well and just inspires me to be a better person. We have a lot of fun together.
His name is Rob Garside and we met dancing about a month ago. He asked me to dance twice, and after the second dance told me that he would kick himself later if he didn't ask me on a date. So he got my number, but was hesitant to call and took a week and a half to call me up. But, since our first date, we have spent a lot of time together and things are going really well. One step at a time, but for now things are great!

The election has come and gone. While I tell people that I am moderate, I truly am more right winged than left. And the thought of having Barack Obama as a President left me a bit nervous, because of his policies that I struggled with. However, I am confident that the Lord will bless him these next four years.
I realized something recently. I think we sometimes forget really where we need to go to find a solution for the problems in this world. We forget who really is in control. While it is our responsibility to vote for the best candidate and be involved as much as we can or desire... ultimately the right answers to resolving the problems in this world and in our country will come from inspiration from our Father in Heaven. He is in control, and He knows more than we or any President-elect will ever know. My prayers will be directed towards the leaders of this country, and that they will have the humility to turn to the One that really is in control and can inspire them to do what is best for this country.

God Bless America, and those who serve.

Bring on skiing season... I'm staying here!

2008-10-13T20:54:00.000-07:00

So... I made my decision to stay here in SLC. I actually was planning on taking the job in New York, I was looking at plane tickets, getting moving quotes, and processing in my head all the things I'd have to do before Nov 1st. So, I went in and talked to my boss and told him that I was in final negotiations for a job in NY with my old employer, and he was in shock. He really didn't want me to leave, and we spent about a half hour talking about what my future holds with the company. It was a great talk, and I felt great to hear that he really values me and has been impressed with my work so far.

I really honestly love my job here, and I didn't like many things about working for Coltrin. So, after debating longer and weighing in the raise that my boss offered me to stay, I decided to turn the job down and stay here. And I feel so good about the decision.

If I were to go to New York, one of two things would happen. I would get wrapped up in the NY lifestyle, and completely forget who I am, or I would remain the same old Nicole and be completely miserable out there. I love the company I'm with, and I have a lot of potential and a lot to learn, and I'm looking forward to it all.

Life altering decisions...

2008-10-05T11:52:00.000-07:00

I recently had a long conversation with my previous employer, who asked me to come back to the firm. He wants me to come back and manage some great accounts, take responsibility for them and be in charge of developing and moving forward on strategic initiatives for each of these accounts. This is a major opportunity for my career. The only thing is... the position is in New York. I previously worked in the Salt Lake office, but he wants me in New York. And he's willing to make it worth my while. Tomorrow, we're talking again and he's going to let me know how much they're willing to offer me.

I'm overwhelmed. Career wise, I'd be stupid not to take this offer. I love my job right now, but business is at a standstill and there is no way that I'll be promoted anytime in the near future. I'm scrimping by with my salary as a recent graduate. I want to pay off my student loans as soon as possible, I really need to get myself financially stable, especially with the economy in the state it is. This could be the answer to all that.

But... my career isn't the most important thing to me. I am so excited to be a wife and mother. Moving to New York would mean being in a culture where work is your life. There are few LDS members, much fewer than here in Utah. My social and dating life would be completely different. However, I can't just chill here in Utah and wait for prince charming to come my way and ask me to marry him. That's just stupid.

I guess I can't make any decisions until I know how much they are willing to offer me, but in the mean time I continue to run through my mind the pro's and con's. New York...how amazing that would be. I'm young, very young, and this is an opportunity that is hard to come by. I have nothing holding me back, the world is at my fingertips. However, I LOVE my life here. I have so many wonderful friends, people that have come to mean SO much to me. People I truly care about and it would break my heart to think that I may never see them again.

I don't know where the Lord wants me to go, and I'm not ready to ask him until I know all the details of the situation, but I pray that I'll have the faith to do what he wants me to do. I never pictured my life to be like this. I never thought I'd be faced with these types of decisions. I'm so grateful for the influence and guidance of the Holy Ghost.

I'm an aunt and a future mother :)

2008-07-28T18:36:00.001-07:00

I'm an aunt! I had the best weekend visiting my sister, her husband, my mom, and my beautiful new nephew, Nathan James Johnson. He is the most beautiful little boy in the whole wide world... not that I'm biased. It was so great, there really is nothing like holding an infant. He was a week old on Thursday, and just the tiniest thing.

I was reminded how being around a small, innocent child can be such a spiritual experience. As I sat there holding him, humming and rocking him to sleep, I couldn't help but feel impressed upon the great potential of Nathan. I thought about where he came from, and all that lays in store for him. Its so easy for us to forget who we really are, and I'm so grateful for that reminder.

Life has been fun for me lately. I'm single, graduated, and I have a great job. I have the freedom to do what I want, when I want. My life is simple and I can live quite selfishly. I know that will all change once I get married and children are everything that my life revolves around. I still have looked forward to that, but I won't deny that I'm relishing what I have now.

But after spending a few days with that little baby, it reminded me how I would be willing--not just willing but excited--to give it all up. I can't wait. :)

Backpacking in the Uintahs... Definitely worth it!

2008-07-06T21:12:00.000-07:00

This last weekend was an amazing experience. I went backpacking in the Uintahs for about 2 days. I've never been backpacking before, and I went with four guys that are outdoor experts. They could all probably be left in the forest with nothing but a knife and survive, quite comfortably. I was proud of myself for keeping up with them, although I'm sure they slowed down a bit for my benefit.

The first half of the hike was all pretty much uphill, and the muscles in my legs and back burned continuously. I'm not accustomed to the thin air, so breathing was definitely a struggle. As I put my body through this abuse, it was hard to remember the reasons I decided to come on the trip. All the guys talked about how much they loved backpacking and how great it was, and at the beginning, all I could think was how crazy these guys were. But after opening my eyes to the scenery all around me, I realized what a great experience this was. I was completely away from busyness of life and just enjoyed the beauty. I haven't seen such beautiful scenery since I went to Maccu Piccu. We spent several hours hiking, and I had a lot of time to just think. It was a great blessing.

It was definitely hard, and there were times as we were hiking where I wondered if my body could actually handle this. My legs are scraped up and bruised, I'm pretty sure almost every muscle in my body is sore, and I hardly slept at night because I was so cold and uncomfortable. But after it was over, I decided that it was all worth it. The guys I went with were so great, they were so nice and considerate. I was definitely taken well care of. Chris was so great about making sure I was warm enough at night and staying with me pretty much the whole hike. Tony carried my tent for me so I'd actually survive the hike. And Ben taught me how to fly fish! It was great.

Definitely a memorable Fourth of July!!!

Family reunion fun

2008-06-29T22:48:00.000-07:00

I just got back from a family reunion, it was so great to see my family again. We went up to Island Park, and there were so many people there. I saw my immediate family for the first time since Christmas, which was so great. It was a bit of a hectic weekend but it was wonderful to be with them.

Families are such a blessing, and I am realizing that even more so now since I'm living so far away from my family. I've usually had extended family living close to me, but out here I'm pretty far away from them all. It is so amazing to think that I can live with my family for all eternity. I can't wait for that, I love and miss them all so much.

This weekend has also been a strong reminder to me that I am slacking a bit in the area of dating/marriage. I am the oldest female that is not married on both sides of the family, and the only male that beats me is my brother. It can be awkward when everyone in your family that you used to hang out with at reunions are now married and have two or three kids. I have realized that I have been spending most of my time just hanging out, and probably not putting myself out there as much as I should be.

Life is great, and I can't wait for it to get even greater! :)

Camping at Bear Lake

2008-06-15T12:42:00.000-07:00

This weekend I went camping at Bear Lake with a great group of friends, it was a blast. I have to say, though, my generation is SO technologically addicted. When we arrived at our campsite, Grant was already there and had a fire going. He also had his ipod all set up on that dock thing (whatever its called, I don't have an ipod...) and music was playing. Then Cara got out her laptop, found a wireless signal, and checked her facebook and email. Mulitple people got on their cell phones and were talking to friends, etc. I just sat back and watched with a smile on my face.

It was a great trip, we camped one night and spent Saturday at the beach. Friday night got pretty cold, down into the 30's and I barely slept because I was freezing all night long. All the girls were in a tent, but we all were still freezing. The guys decided to sleep out under the stars, and they claimed they were as warm as ever. We did get some sun on Saturday, I am quite burnt. After spending the weekend in the sun and camping, it certainly makes you grateful for things, like a bed, shower, clean clothes, and aloe vera. :)

I am so grateful to have such good friends with good standards. I love being around people that encourage me to be my very best. My friends are one of my greatest blessings at this point in my life.

And they say PR people are famous for spinning the story...

2008-06-07T15:39:00.000-07:00

So a little background for all you viewers that are unfamiliar with the field of PR and the media in general. Public Relations professionals, among many things, are responsible for representing their clients to the media. One of my key responsibilities in my last job was to call reporters and tell them what my clients were up to, what was newsworthy. Getting our clients name in the news is a huge deal...its free advertising and its more credible since it's coming from a supposedly unbiased, third party.

I have developed some un-Christlike feelings for reporters, I must say. I am working to overcome those, so please don't judge me on this.:) Reporters act all interested, say they want to interview your client, you set up the interview, monitor it, and your client gets their hopes up.

And then the article comes out.

And the reporter digs up dirt, focuses on other things, and completely turns the story around. And you come out looking like the bad guy. My new job in advertising is more and more enticing as I see articles come out recently that I landed for clients at the firm I worked with previously.

Anyway, I just had to vent on that. I'm sure reporters are wonderful people deep down, but professionally, I can do without them.

Let's try this again...

2008-06-05T21:06:00.001-07:00

So I created this blog a long time ago, wrote once, and I haven't written since. I've decided to try it again.

I got a new job, and I love it. Its so great to have a job that you love, to be excited to wake up in the morning. It has been such a huge blessing. Its been a challenge to understand and fit in to the dynamics of the office. But I love it.

I've been taking a break from the dating world, too much disappointment and a long series of bad dates put me on the bench. I am awed at the fact that people actually find each other in this world. They make commitments and are happy. I would start to think its actually all a fairytale if all of my friends weren't getting married. I swear, I get a wedding announcement about once a week. I promise I'm not bitter, just confused.

Anyway, that's my boring blog post for now. I'll try to have some fun story for next time. Until then, chao.

Commencement

2007-12-26T16:39:00.000-08:00

So I sort of graduated from college, minus the internship. I'm way excited to move on with my life, but also scared to death to be honest. I have a great internship lined up, a new car, a townhouse to live in, and new windows are opening to me like crazy. But its change, and I have a hard time with that. I don't know what to expect. I'm going to miss my friends and life at school. But it sure feels good to know that I almost have that degree!