Happy Birthday and Testimony

Sometime last week I got a fairly long post all laid out, ready to go and as I hit "Publish" I was told Blogspot was down. I didn't think to save it, I just got mad and deleted it. So, here I am again, ready to post...
Last Wednesday was Matt's 29th Birthday! It tickles me funny to think he will be 30 next year!! Matt is my everything, my reason for living, my light, my love. I am eternally grateful for him and his patience with all of my shortcomings and quirks. Matt always tries to make my laugh and I am forever in love with his little kid smile. Matt is everything I dreamed of in a husband!! He is a worthy Priesthood holdler, he loves me exactly for who I am, he is a provider and a nurturer, he loves children and wants a family; I can even wear his suit coat in church when I get cold! ( one of my silly teenage pre-requisites!) I love you hunny, more than words can explain! I thank Heavenly Father daily for you and I am so grateful I get to spend eternity with you! Para Sempre meu amor!

There really hasn't been too much going on. Work has been crazy for me with teachers coming and going, papers to grade, and some special needs students. I really truly love what I do however! On a happier note, we have started round two of fertility testing, so we will see where this leads us to. A wonderful woman in my ward who has been TTC (trying to conceive) as well, spoke with me on Sunday. We share so many of the same feelings, heartaches, and thoughts. She shared with me a passage of scripture in John 9:2-3,
"And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him."
This really hit home. Neither of us have sinned. Neither of us in unworthy of the blessings of children. I have been given this trial to make known the glory of God, to find it within myself, help others to find that same glory, and to turn it all back to Heavenly Father. It doesn't make sitting through a baby blessing or watching pregnant women in the mall any easier, but it does put it into prospective for me! How grateful I am to a Heavenly Father who never gives up on me, who loves me despite all of my shortcomings and sends me encouragement when He knows I need it!

Matthew for President??

I saw this on a friend's blog (thanks Shantal!!) and I knew Matt would get a kick out of it. Love ya hunny!!

Memory Lane

I have seen this on a number of my friends' blogs! I finally decided to do it. Love ya!

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

DCI

I haven't posted in awhile...I feel pretty silly about that! Matt came home last night and said, "I visited our blog for the first time by myself" (occassionaly I will show him postings) and I just had to laugh. He is so adorable! Do other people post as a couple? I guess there are no blogging rules, that I know about anyway.

A couple of weekends ago we went to DCI (Drum and Bugle Corp. International) and it was amazing! Matt and I share the passion of music and even more, marching band, so this has been a fun tradition of ours. I was even more excited because the Blue Devils were there. When I was in high school I was Drum Major for one year (along with the amazing KT Whit!!) and we went to camp in Boise. I remember being so close to the Blue Devil Tubas and just being in heaven!! So of course, they have always been my fav! We had a great time just listening and watching! I tried to upload video clips, but I guess they were all too long. Sorry!

I just noticed all of the pictures of the two of us are the same! Thank goodness for the Self Portrait setting on our camera! My shirt says, "Without Music Life would Bb" (Be Flat!)

The Troopers!!

I think this is probably the Blue Knights, Denver's DCI band

4th of July Festivities

We had a fabulous 4th of July! We got to sleep in together (which hasn't happened in forever!) and it was just wonderful to kinda lounge around the house and take it easy for a morning. We went over to the In-laws for dinner and it was yummy! I have to give kuddos to my Mother-in-law who is just absolutely fabulous! She is everything I hope to one day be!!
We went to the church grassy area for fireworks and had a blast! Matt and his brother David played catch, Amber and Becky were running around, everyone was having a good time. Molly and I sat on the blankets and laughed and laughed. I have to say, I don't think the fireworks in Colorado are as wonderful as they are in Idaho (maybe I'm biased) but anything sparkly is good in my book! Below are some photos of our fun day.

Matt and his brother David...they are sooo goofy when they get together!This is Molly and I on the blanket waiting for fireworks to start. I love this little girl sooo much! She gives me so much inspiration and makes me smile!
Matt and David were playing catch. I love the look on Matt's face as he is concentrating soo hard and catching the ball!
FIREWORKS!!!
This is Steve, Matt's dad with his propane torch. It cracks me up that every year they light fireworks with this torch instead of the traditional matches. What makes me laugh even more is all of the "big boys" want a chance with the torch. Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't!
This is Matt and the kids in the street lighting off fireworks. I get such a kick out of watching them!

God Bless the USA

I want to take a moment to wish everyone a Happy Independance Day. I have always been very Patriotic, but I don't think I really understood much about what that meant until recently. I had two brothers who served over in Iraq and have had many friends serve in all branches of the militry. Matt and I have Grandpas who have served and his dad as well. Our freedom is not free. We have men and women who risk their lives everyday for our freedom and well being. I am ever so grateful for that, and it is something I don't take lightly. Matt is so very Patriotic. He reads books about our country like there is no tomorrow, and in turn, he educates me about it. I don't always listen attentively to what he is trying to tell me, but I know that our forefathers loved God. The Declaration of Independance was written by men who believed, trusted, and had the most supreme faith in God.

Sunday, we sang "America the Beautiful" for the closing song in Sacrament. As I stood next to my husband (who has an amazing voice by the way) I looked up into his eyes and he was crying. He loves the country so much! He knows what it stands for. He is such a wonderful example to me and others what America is and stands for. I am grateful for him and his love of God and country! I am so grateful to live in a land where I can say, believe, write, worship how I see fit. I am grateful to those who risk life and limb everyday to give me these freedoms.

I love the song "God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood. It just says it all! God bless the USA!!

http://www.brownielocks.com/godblesstheusaWAVE.html

Odds and Ends

Last week was Spirit Week at school. (I organize these once a quarter for the students) and one day was Impersonation Day. I am on this HUGE American Gladiator kick, so I decided I would be a Gladiator. My students all know that I am a fan, so several of them give me a new name every now and again. But I chose my own name for this day and it was "Twilight." (yup, just like the book!!) Here is a pic of me and one of my cute students who was impersonating me. (She said I wear a lot of sweater vests and pink!!)

The Sunbeams and I had sharing time this past Sunday. I fretted about it for a long time, and on Saturday I called Melinda. She gave me a wonderful idea, and I ran with it. We had been learning about temples all June, and Melinda gave me the idea of learning about Temples around the world. I worked so hard (thanks for helping honey!!) and each Sunbeam ended up with a sign to wear with a temple and then a map on the other side. I was so excited about it!! It didn't go as planned. They were very rambuncious and crazy, but I loved it anyway. I don't think anyone got anything out of the lesson but me, but I wouldn't trade those little faces for anything! I love my Sunbeams so very much!!! I actually started crying in closing exercises, not because it was quiet and I could hear the lesson being taught, but because I could feel how much our Heavenly Father loves these choice spirits! I was given a small glimpse into that. At times I miss Relief Society, but I wouldn't trade my time with these little spirits for anything. They are sweet, innocent, beautiful and they teach me so much more than I will ever teach them!

I just wanted to share a pic of Matt and Doogie. They are so sweet and the lights in my life. Matt loves me unconditionally and Doogie is just our little guy! We never thought I first baby would be so hairy! :) At night, Doogie gets up on the bed to have "Family Prayer" with us, then Matt puts him in his puppy bed. It doesn't take long for Doogie to jump onto the bed and he sleeps the rest of the night cuddled between my legs. It is so sweet!