Congrats, Mo!

This weekend I was so happy that I was able to go see one of my dear friends get married. Melissa Vincent (aka: Mo), married a really cool guy named Scott in the St. George temple on Saturday and Nathan, Eli and I were able to make the trip to take part in the festivities.

Now you have to understand something about Melissa--she is one of the best, most loving and kind-hearted people I know. We were college roommates together, she taught me a bunch of fun card games, I helped her get adjusted to life post-mission, and she even watched as I met my husband and started dating him.

Those 4 months we lived together were packed with some of the most fun times I've ever had in my life. I sometimes miss those wild and care-free times, but I'm also glad to know that our lives are moving forward and we can stay in contact with each other. Luckily, they're also semi-close to us, up in northern California, so hopefully we can see each other more soon.

I just had to say that I love this girl and I'm so happy for her and her new hubby. I'm sure they're going to have a great life together, and make a wonderful family. Much love, Mo!! :)

Grateful

I have been extremely blessed in my life. I've been thinking about things lately and how there have been so many blessings given to me without me knowing the importance of them at the time they were given. For instance, when I met my future husband, I had no idea of the significance of our meeting. I thought he was a nice guy who was ingeniously smart and knew a lot of interesting (and rather odd) facts about all sorts of things. I didn't know he was going to be the father of my children or that I would experience the most excruciating pain and the most exquisite love with him. But the Lord knew it. He knew me and Nathan well enough to know that once we made that decision to be together forever, that it would be real and tangible and that we wouldn't let anything stand in the way of our happiness together. I'm glad He knew.




One day when I learned that my very good friend was pregnant and I decided I wanted a baby, I had no idea that going through the process of creating a life, growing a child and becoming a mother would be one of the hardest and best things I would ever do. I had no idea that making this decision would change me so completely that I would hardly remember my previous life. But the Lord knew it. He knew me well enough to know that I would love this little one with so much devotion and ferocity and loyalty that it would change me and make me strive to be a better person. I'm glad He knew.




I also had no idea in my life that learning to use this program called Photoshop would open up a whole new world of possibilities for me. I was mundanely introduced to it at my studio job. At that time, I had no idea that this would turn into an all-consuming way of life for me, creating and fixing and painting and retouching and making beautiful things. But the Lord knew it. He knew me well enough to know that I would love this type of work so much and would be able to do so many things with the talent that he had given me. I'm glad He knew.




Looking back on past experiences in my life, I know that the Lord has had me in His arms and He has known what would work out best for me. He still knows it now. I just need to trust in Him and do what He asks of me. He knows. And I'm glad.

Recent Layouts

Here are a couple of recent layouts that I've done. I haven't really felt all that creative for the last little bit, but I'm hoping to get out of that slump really soon! :)

This is Eli trying to reach up to the big kids who were playing at the park while we were there. He's such a sweet little thing, so enamored with the 'big kids' that we see. I know he wants to be just like them.

This is Eli on the same day at the park, watching the older kids play. He wasn't so sure what to think of them, so he did his 'nervous' thing where he puts his hands behind his back and just watches for a while. I just love it when he does that, it's so adorable. My sweet little guy. :)


I love this template by Angie Briggs over at ScrapGirls and so I dug up some wedding pictures to use with it. I made all the papers in it with different ScrapSimple paper templates, also available at ScrapGirls (of course!) and I think it turned out kind of fun! :) I just love doing stuff with my wedding photos. I only wish I knew then what I know now about digital and photography. Then it would be a whole 'nother story! :)

This is Eli and Reener at the beach a few weeks ago. We went out there when Renee was here for Spring Break. It was so fun to see her and hang out for a while. That girl's got a good head on her shoulders! :) She's the best.

I just love this one! It's from when Matt and Remi were down for some interviews for med school. Remi and Eli got to have their long-awaited reunion after many long months of missing each other. (Hey, it's hard to be away from your girlfriend for that long, he told me!) I can't believe how big she's getting and how cute they are together. What fun!

More new layouts to come as soon as I get a couple finished. (I'm always working on at least 10 different ones at any given point.) Stay tuned! :)

Happy Easter!

The two loves of my life.

What goofy, cute men I've got!

Me and the little one.

We had a great Easter Sunday yesterday and I just had to share. :) We decided not to do the basket thing with Eli yet, because he just doesn't get it and I know that he'd have sticky chocolate and gooey sugary stuff all over himself and the house! So, we decided to play it cool and calm. We went to church and then went to dinner with Nathan's parents. They had gotten him this cute little outfit that he looks so adorable in! (Yes, I'm biased, but I don't care!) In lieu of Easter bunnies and baskets, we did some Easter pictures. That's what is important, right? The memory of it all? :) Don't worry, next year he'll totally be finding hidden eggs. (Even if they do have to be in the house because we don't have a yard....)

I hope everyone had a nice, relaxing Easter Sunday spend with family and friends. Love you all! :)

We're Back!

Hello everyone! I'm glad to say that we're back home and excited to have had such a wonderful weekend. Nathan and I dropped Eli off at Grandma and Grandpa's house while we drove up the coast to Cambria to just take it easy for my birthday. It really was a needed trip, and I truly appreciate all of the effort that Nathan put into planning and executing it. Ya know, you just sometimes need some time to recharge your batteries. I can't believe it, but this was the first time that Nathan and I had been away together without Eli since he was born. I was a little nervous, but everything turned out peachy. We got to relax, Eli got to spend time with his grandparents, and I now feel refreshed, energized, and ready to get back to being mom. It's a win-win-win situation! :) The ocean was gorgeous, the weather to die for, and the company was great. :)

This is a picture of the fog and ocean that we saw while on the hill, driving up to Hearst Castle. It was almost like we were up in the heavens, it was so beautiful. The ocean (which you can't see) is straight out there and it was just gorgeous.


Next is a picture of one of the peaceful garden walkways that were all around the property. We took 2 tours and were able to see a lot of different parts of the house. Next time we go, we'll take the twilight tour, where the docents all dress up in period costume for the tours. Can't wait to get back and see that one!