Easter

Easter is such a great time to remember Jesus Christ's resurrestion. As I thought a lot about his resurrection I felt so loved and full of gratitude. Heavenly Father sacrificed his own son for us and as a symbol of his love, power and plan our father bought him back to life from the dead. I am so certain that Jesus lives and is there for us. This is a great time to give thanks and become even closer to our brother Jesus. I hope everyone was able to contemplate this great holiday and look beyond candy, gifts, easter eggs and all the glam. To often we get cought up in the festivities and forget the real reason, which is the most important.

Josh and I were very lucky this weekend as my mom and dad drove down from Canada and spent this holiday with us. We had a lot of fun together playing games, shopping, planting, talking but most of all just being together. I think it is so amazing how my parents travel all over the place to spend time with all of their children. It is a sacrifce of their time and money, yet it is their favorite thing to do. I feel blessed to have parents who make us a priority and treat us so well. We spent Sunday morning tie-dying Easter eggs and playing our new favorite board game- Ticket To Ride.

I told my mother that I really wanted to learn how to sew. Thus, my kind mother surprisingly bought me a sewing machine for my early birthday present. I was shocked and surprised. Wow, how nice is that. Well, I couldn't wait to get started so my first project was mending my husband and my jeans. I actually thought it was really fun. Thanks a million mom and dad for my very first sewing machine. It sews like a champ. I love it and I really plan on using it a ton.

Mom and I went shopping and I found some great material that I am going to make a blanket out of. I am hoping it will be as easy as she told me. As you can see I picked out our favorite colors; browns, tan, white, and cream. So here I go, I am trying to do an easier project first so I don't get discouraged and hate it. I think sewing will be a stress reliever and relaxer. I really look forward to learning more.

Our friends from the word gave us tickets to the Collective Soul concert that was at Energy Solutions in Salt Lake, last Thursday. There was a great comedian that started out the whole concert and he had everyone rolling on the floor. I have never seen Josh laugh so much. We had a good time. Thanks a lot Dave and Reesa for the great night.

First Tag Attempt

So I have been tagged and am going to actually do it. Thanks to Jen, she inspired me to write.
Top ten things I hope to do before I die:
1. Multiple and Replenish the Earth- Yes, you all know what that means, have some Shanny's and Joshy's of our own.
2. Visit Africa and do service for the people there.
3. Serve a mission with my babe.
4. Complete a number of paintings that I am proud to frame.
5. Master photography.
6. Run a marathon.
7. Travel the world
8. Learn how to sew quilts, blankets, shower cutains, pillow cases, curtains, etc.
9. Visit 50 different LDS temples
10.Live a BEAUTIFUL life and grow old with my husband.

Our Excitng Engagement Story

I've also been asked to write about our engagement. Well, if you have already read the section "About Us", you will know of our crazy, yet fun way that we got set up and began seeing eachother. Our story is quite entertaining and we always imagined that we would have to date our future companion for almost a year before thinking about marriage..

Yet, with us it is a different story. Josh and I only dated for about 3 months. Josh was the first one to say he loved me and I didn't even say it back. I told him that I wasn't ready to say it quite then and that when I did say it, he would totally know I ment it without a doubt. I finally said I loved him about 1 week later, which was on his birthday, May. 20th of 2006. About a month later we were planning our marriage. Josh proposed to me exactly 2 months before we were married. In July Josh and I traveled to Canada for my bridal shower. It was the only time that we could go for so long, yet I wasn't even proposed to yet. All my friends and relatives thought it was a little wierd preparing to go to a bridal shower before I was proposed to, yet it was happening anyway. As we spent a whole week in Canada at my parents house we boated almost everyday and just hung out with everyone. I really didn't even think that Josh would propose to me while we were in Canada. All I thought he was going to do was ask dad if he could marry me. Well, it was Monday morning and I was sleeping and secretly heard a little of Dad and Josh's conversation. Dad and Josh were in tears, talking about me. I knew he was asking for my hand in marriage. What an incredible experience to hear the 2 men that I love the most talk about you without them knowing.

Saturday morning all the boys told me that they had spent the last few hours playing ball, yet later I found out they had been getting all the props and supplies for which later I found out was for the proposal. I went boating with all the boys that afternoon and had no idea what was to take place in a few minutes. As a bunch of them took off, they came back and Josh was no longer on the boat. I questioned it and they just said he had to go to the bathroom. So I got on the tube with Mike(my brother) and Dad took us for a big spin around the lake. Mike fell off then all of a sudden dad started saying "Get of the tube, your weighing it down." I couldn't believe what I was hearing, dad never talks to anyone that way. Finally I just let go, cause he kept on me. So there I was left in the middle of the lake. I started swimming to shore. As I got to land I saw a bunch of rose peddles. I couldn't beleive it, I knew what was going on now. As I followed the rose peddles I say Josh and started screaming. I was so excited, I couldn't hold it in. My husband had been planning this for the last month. He had a new cloths for me to change into, a dozen roses, candles around a blanket, an amazing dinner and it was all under a grove of trees. He read an amazing poem he had wrote himself about how we had waited so long for eachother and how happy God is that we have finally found eachother. He continued with words that expressed how happy our children are as they are finally glad that they can come down and join mom and dad. Then he got down on his knee and proposed. I was so happy and knew that I wanted him as my husband without a doubt. I couldn't wipe the smile from my face, yet I had little tears of happiness rolling down my cheeks. As we ate and talked and enjoyed the moment together. I suddenly realized how much I really loved Josh. Josh is everything I ever dreamed of and we knew God aggreed with us too. When you know- You just Know!! As we cleaned everthing up, we went down to the lake and there was dad and the boat. He took us on a tube ride or about a half an hour. It was an amazing proposal. My hunny took my breath away, and even to this day, he still does.



Once we got back home, I had my bridal shower. It worked out perfect cause I was proposed to and had the ring to prove it. Thanks babe, for making our proposal so original, creative, memorable and perfect.



I DO...... Always and Forever

Now I will tag Robyn, Laura and my sister Amber. Have fun ladies. We want the details.

Our fabulous family

I could never ask for a greater extended family then the one I have. I always hear about nightmare mother in laws and disagreements between family members. It is so nice to have sisters and brothers who are so accepting, fun, crazy and thoughtful. I love it when we all get together. We have gone on trips together, met for family dinner,celebrated birthday after birthday, baptisms, blessings, graduations, accomplishments, we have stopped over unexpectably many times and have never got turned down once.I always thought I had the greatest family and that no other family could beat the one I was born into. Yet, as a year and a half has gone by so fast I must say that they are a dream family that is just as perfect for my personality and my life. Every single person is so different, yet each person bring something different in conversations, outings and situations. I love it!!! I feel grately blessed to marry a man that has such a tightly woven realtionship with his brothers, sisters and mother. Thanks all of you for being so warm, loving, accepting and fun. I always look forward to Sundays were we can all be together. There are no right words to express my gratitude and appreciation for each one of you. I love when we are all together. I love those moments where we can become a little bit closer each time. I am so happy that I am part of your lives. Life would not be complete without a family like the one I so happily have.
Josh has been born into a family of wonderful individuals. I love how Josh has always made it a priority in his life to keep his relationships so strong. It is a blast to watch Josh with his twin. They are so funny and even though they are always on each others cases, it is pretty neat to see how twins relate and always have eachothers backs. I know that Josh would agree when I say that we are so lucky to have each of you as our brothers and sisters. Thanks for putting up with us.

I have never called my mom mother-in-law. The reason for this is because I have never felt that she is just an in-law. Eversince I can remember, I have felt a connection with mom and know that I could tell her anything. I have cried many times with her and I know without a doubt that she will always be there for me. I know that I could never replace my own mother, yet I know that Momma Rose has definatly made me feel like her own. We always joke around about how I am her blood. I am lucky to have another mother. I think she is one of the most kind, loving, caring and giving person. She has shown alot of strengh during hard times and continues to amuse me with her example. I love watching Josh and Mom, they have been through so much together and therefore have grown so close to eachother. I don't think I have seen anyone who loves his mother as much as Josh love Mom. If it wasn't for their tight relationship, I don't think I would have this special relationship with mom either. Josh and I think the world of mom and know that she is someone we love so much. Love You Mom. Thanks for all you do for us and for just being you. You know we love you to death!!