Five Years Together!

Today is our Fifth Anniversary! Five years ago today, Matt and I were married in the Bountiful Temple for time and all eternity. It was a beautiful day in September! Looking back five years ago, I never would have thought we would be where we are today. I had in my mind the route that our "happily ever after" would take, but I know we will look back someday and understand why we had to go through what we are. I am so grateful to my wonderful husband and the man he is. He is the man I dreamed about marrying as a little girl. He is my Prince Charming, my knight in shining armor. I can't imagine spending eternity with anyone else! We are a perfect fit for each other!

When we were in the Single's Ward in SLC, I was offered a job at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. I called Matt, who was my home teacher, to tell him about the job offer and to tell him I was going to the temple to pray about it. He asked if he could accompany me. My answer was clean, I knew I had to go. We sat in the Celestial Room and I remember looking up at him and asking him if he would still be my friend when I left. He looked down at me and said he would be my friend always and forever. That was so significant. I didn't find out until later he was sitting next to me praying about me, praying about asking me to be his girlfriend. And really, the rest is history. We were inseparable! I love him dearly, truly, eternally.
Para sempre meu amor!

Our New Home

We are so excited to introduce our new home! Well, it is not officially ours, but we are pretty sure of it. :) We close on September 24, which is our 5th Anniversary. Looks like I won't be getting that second band for my ring after all. But all is well. We only have a couple of pictures from the exterior. But here are the specs:
4 Bed, 3 full baths (Not looking forward to cleaning all of that space!)
Family room and sitting room (I call the sitting room the visiting teaching room)
Unfinished Basement, Heated Garage
Built in 1973 and still has all of the original everything! I have a lot of remodeling to do, but I am excited. We really only plan on living here for about 5 years, fixing it up and selling it. We are going to be in the same ward. We find it quite funny because we were looking at homes everywhere, but were drawn back to the ward. We think we still have some unfinished business to take care of there.

The view from the the front yardOur HUGE tree! We love it!

Our backyard is ginormous!

Hopefully, more pictures to come soon. Thank you all for your prayers! We are so excited to be homeowners!

Happy 30th Birthday Matthew!

Happy Birthday Matthew!
I am officially married to an old man! Today is Matt's 30th Birthday! I love him oh, so very much! He is my rock and I am ever so grateful to be married to such a strong, faithful man! All of our photos are packed, so I only have what we have uploaded on the computer, which are just the last couple of years (I am kinda behind). I included a few photos of my handsome man from the past.
30 Things I love About Matt:
1: His little boy smile
2: He is a worthy priesthood holder who honors his priesthood
3: He makes me smile
4: I love when he cuddles me at night
5: When I can't sleep, I love the way he rubs his fingers across my face and sings me a lullaby
6: He wants to make me happy, even at his own expense
7: Matt is so faithful
8: I love the way I fit so perfectly in his arms
9: He sticks EVERYTHING on his forehead
10: He is so tall and handsome
11: He is going to be a fantastic father to our children! I know because I see the way he acts with our nieces
12: I love that he tries to fix things. What a man thing to do!
13: He will occassionally get a laughing fit that makes me cry and it just cracks me up to see him laugh so hard!
14: He is so smart, smarter than I could ever hope to be
15: I love him for taking me to the temple to marry me for time and all eternity
16: He always wants to be and tries to be better
17: Matt supports me in anything and everything I do
18: Matt has a HUGE heart and he loves unconditionally. He would give the shirt off of his back for anyone
19: He has an incredible voice!
20: Matt is one of the most sensitive men I know
21: He knows so much about the most random things
22: Matt is incredibly patient. I'm not sure I deserve the patience he gives me
23: He will do silly things to try and make me crack up
24: He is a mountain man and loves and respects nature
25: I love that the wants to provide for our family
26: I love that his feet are ticklish
27: He serves anywhere he is asked. I love when he helps me with my Sunbeams!
28: Our hands fit perfectly together!
29: He has thick hair, and long amazing eyelashes!
30: EVERYTHING! We are a perfect fit for each other and I wouldn't change him for anything! Happy Birthday hunny bear!

I'm Famous!

Well, at least I feel that way!
A reporter came to the school and asked to do a story on one of the instructors. Since I have been there the longest, and hold a true vision of what the school is all about, I was chosen. I got to be interviewed and photographed (although the photograph wasn't that great!) and published in the Your Hug section of the Newspaper. It is so rewarding! I love massage therapy and I love teaching it and it is great to get the word out. I love my students and I love the curriculum. Check it out! Thanks so much for sharing!!

Brandy is Famous!!

The Fourth and other Channanigans

It has been quite some time since I have posted with pictures. Living at our in-laws we were using their computer until recently. We set ours up and I finally took a minute (actually, a couple of hours) and loaded my hundreds of pics from my memory cards. We have lost out on five houses, but we are hoping and praying that the right one will come along. Everyone keeps telling us that Heavenly Father must have some magnificent plan for us, and has a specific place he wants us to be. We keep praying this is correct. Thanks for your prayers and your love!
Please enjoy the pictures, in no particular order!
My cute Hubby and I on the 4th of July this year! What a sweetie he is! I am ever so grateful for his love and constant support! Without him, I am nothing.
My sister in law, Molly and I enjoying fun before the fireworks! I love this girl so much! She teaches me volumes everyday about patience and the love our Heavenly Father has for each of us!

Sweet little Hannah who makes me smile and feel like a million bucks!
I made this adorable diaper cake for my sister-in-laws baby shower. It was so fun! I can't wait to meet my new nephew.

Angela and I had a hilarious time throwing the shower with Amber's other sister-in-law Angela. (that's a lot of Angelas!)

Molly took this picture of the 3 of the "Sister's-in-law" from the bottom of the playground equipment. I love these girls!

Mother-in-law, Kathleen, and I got into a frosting war. I am pretty sure I won!

One of the most spiritual moments of my life was my sister-in-law, Molly, baptism. The spirit was so incredibly strong and there was not a dry eye in the room!

Matt helped with the baptism.

From the lense of a 4 year old. How fun to see the world from their perspective.

Princess Molly

Matt's brother, Ben, graduated with his Master's degree.

Hannah Banana and I!

Heather Ridge Ward Pinewood Derby 2009

What a proud moment...winning the fastest car! I feel like a proud wife knowing my husband can build such a fast car!

Doogie did not particularly enjoy going for a ride in the baby stroller

When David and Amber were here from Kansas, we went on a big brother date. (Travis called it a Fourple). We had a blast at the Denver Aquarium. I love to see the 3 big boys together. It cracks me up and makes me laugh. I love these guys!

Sisters-in-law Again...Amber, Angela, Brandy
We make Kathleen laugh because Angela has dark hair, Amber has auburn hair, and I am a blonde.

Happy Father's Day!

What a very special day this is! Today is my sister-in law's birthday and baptism day as well as Father's Day. I look at some very special people in my life today and have to take a moment to give thanks.

My Dad: Growing up, I was always "Daddy's Girl" and I took great pride in that. I am not sure where we fell apart along the way, but I have great memories of my father. I remember him putting in Cinderella and watching it with me over and over, lying in my bed. My fondest memories are riding motorcycles and camping up in the mountains. I think it is from him that I gained my love and passion for the outdoors. I loved dancing with him at my wedding. One of my favorite shots on the wedding video is his hand placed on my back, both of us with a little tear in our eyes.

My Husband: He is a father. Point blank. He has been a father twice over and for that, I am so proud of him. He is the "father" to our puppy, Doogie, and he loves him so very much. I love sleeping every night to my best friend. In fact, I have a hard time sleeping when I do not feel him next to me. I am proud of the man he is and the man he continues to become. I love him unconditionally...at times we make each other angry, but I think making up is an important part of marriage. I look forward to the day when I can make him a daddy. I see the way he looks at and loves our nieces and I just know, he will be an amazing father! I love you hunny bear!

My Father-in-law: I call him Dad. I love him to bits and pieces! How could it be that I could marry into such an unselfish, strong family? My Father-in-law is my husband's hero, the man he wants to become. I never hear him complain about anything. He loves and loves and never expects anything in return. He is a source of strength and inspiration for our family and I am so grateful for him! I love him so dearly as my own, and he accepts me and loves me like I have always been there!

My Step-Father: Chris loves my mom and that is the most I could ever ask from anyone! I love my mother dearly, and she deserves only the best! Chris has such a contagious smile and even though he hasn't even been part of our family for a decade, it seems like he has always been there. He is a strong willed man and I am grateful for him!

Grandpas: My Grandpa Jensen passed away many years ago, but I will always remember his amazing smile. I loved sitting and playing in the hot hub with him. He was always so proud of me and I take a little bit of him everyday with him. I love playing solitare because I remember watching him for hours playing, giving me all of his little tips. Matt never got to meet him, but we have both had special dreams about him watching over our little boy in heaven. We KNOW that my Grandpa Jensen is with us!
My Grandpa Willey: I love him for everything he is and does! He is one of the most unselfish people I know! I remember as a little girl he would give me the money to pay for lunch and I would always ask if I could keep the change. He has such an electric smile that makes me giggle like a little girl all over again. I love it when he tells me stories of when I was little...I feel so special! And his "whiskies!" I am a grown woman but I still have to ask my Grandpa for "Whiskies" every opportunity I can!
Grandpa Wilson: I am so grateful that he has accepted me as his own. What an amazing man! I am grateful for his love, his testimony, his priesthood, his smile! He shares such amazing stories and jokes. I love to hear him recite poetry. He has accepted me as part of the family and he is a great example to my husband.

I really could go on and on with other men who have loved me, accepted me, counseled me, held me during times of trial, comforted me, and been great examples to me. I have to mention just a couple:
Daddy Dennis Hill: Thank you for always being there for me! Thank you for your love, your support, your hugs! You have always just loved me as your own! I consider myself your "adopted daughter"!
Larry Petersen: Thank you for your humor, your laugh, your hugs. Thank you for welcoming me into your home and your family!
Kurtis Hill: What a fantastic brother you are! Thank you a billion times over for the friend you were and the brother you are! You are a fantastic father to your little ones! So much of the woman I am today, I owe to your friendship and love!
Ben and David: Thank you for always making me laugh! Thank you for being such great men in my husband's life. We are both so lucky to have you and we miss you!

Thank you to all of those I call "brother!" I have been so blessed an hundred fold and then some! Thank you for the worthy men, priesthood holders, fathers, sons, friends and examples that you are! I appreciate you! My life is full of men who do nothing but love and for that, I consider myself blessed on this Father's Day!

I'm still alive

I realize I haven't done a lot of updating. I think part of it is that I am waiting for something amazing to happen, and it just doesn't seem to be. We have put bids on three different houses and been outbid every single time. This last one was very upsetting because we walked into the house and felt so "at home." I could picture my little boys throwing parachute men off the staircase (and even jumping off and breaking an arm), late night book reading in my master suite, birthday parties in the back yard...we even overbid on the home by $7,000, but the house went for $25,000 more than the listing price. We didn't stand a chance. I even bought furniture, we were so certain and had such a great feeling about this one! I guess the furniture will really go in any home. :)

So, we have some frustration around the house. Thank goodness for an amazing realtor. She is in my in-laws ward and she said, "Maybe we are looking in the wrong places. Heavenly Father must have a special place for you prepared and we just need to find where that is." She said that her family would fast for us this Sunday to find the place where we needed to be. We have asked all of our family to do the same so we may "find the place which God for us prepared." In the meantime, we are so grateful to my in-laws for letting us bunk with them. I love them dearly!!! They are incredible people, but I think I am ready for my own place. :)

Somewhere around eighth grade I was diagnosed with clinical depression. It isn't something I am extremely open about because of the stigmas that so many people have about depression. One thing I am certain is that I am not faking it (as I was told so many times). I am seen by so many as a typically happy person, and I am! But things have been so hard lately. I try to stay positive, I try to keep the faith. I don't use my depression as an excuse as to why I have been so down lately. I am working hard.

Thank you for all of your kind words and support! I am so blessed to have such amazing friends and family! I love you all so dearly and I miss you!