A Quick Catch Up

I was stunned, astounded, even a bit horrified that I have not blogged since OCTOBER! i have missed being "connected" to the world via computer access. Matt got the Internet hooked up last week and I was so stoked to be able to blog again, only to find out our modem went out. I am supposed to be grading papers, but I decided I better blog while I have the opportunity.

How does one even begin to catch up on the last few months of our lives? I'll see what I can catch up on quickly....
We moved into our home in October. It is such a beautiful home and I really need to clean so I can get some pictures posted. How lucky and blessed we are! It is in our ward which is lucky for me as I get to continue to be the Sunbeam teacher. It has been a blessing beyond comprehension for me. I have learned so much about the Gospel and children from those little ones!
In November, we had our first set of missionaries move into our home. It, as well, as been a blessing. The spirit is so strong in our home and we are grateful to be able to house two of Heavenly Father's choice servants. I think it has taken some major adjustments on our end, but having them here is a blessing. Matt and I would get spooked out living in this huge house all by ourselves, so we are grateful for two more warm bodies.
In November, we also discovered....WE ARE PREGNANT! It still seems so surreal, but we are so grateful for the opportunity to become parents. (I plan on blogging specifically about that as well. )
Matt is still looking for a job and we hope it comes soon so I can stay home with the little one, due July 22. Wally and Doogie are such great additions to our family. Before we found out the little one was coming, we talked about how our family felt kinda "complete" with the two "boys." Wally knows all sorts of tricks and makes us smile constantly. Doogie just stares at the pup and I think laughs on the inside.

We have been tested and tried and we are so grateful for the blessings that we do have.

Home Ownership!!

So, we have been in our home for about three weeks and we have had such a fantastic time. Pictures coming soon, we hope. We haven't hooked up Internet access yet, so no facebook and I don't get to blog either. We love our new home! However, I really need to find a money tree so I can fix and get everything together that I want. I guess one thing and one step at a time.

I guess I never realized how much work owning a home is. It is always something. I have been raking leaves like a mad woman, cleaning, getting things together, and now with the snow fall, well, lots of shoveling to do! We got DUMPED on and it is incredible and beautiful!

So, that is our super quick update. We are still hoping and praying that Matt finds a job soon. Other than that, all is well! Hopefully, more details to follow! Sending love and hugs!!

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.