Luckiest Lady

Today has been so great! My husband amazes me and he really went above and beyond. He did the dishes before I woke up this morning. He took the dog out to potty so I could sleep a few more minutes. He fixed the toilet lever that has been broke for weeks. THEN I come home from school and he surprised me with one of my most favorite things in the world...A CUPCAKE!!!! I am feeling like a princess today!!!

Thank you so much hubby!!!

Loyally,

AM

Faces

Before our adventure to California, my dad gave us a camera. A really nice camera. It only has a short lens on it so in order to zoom in or out you have to MOVE in or out. hahaha. However, this camera has been so much fun and last week I took it to Kappa Chili Cookoff and took some face photos which turned out awesome! This might very well be onE of my new favorite things!

I will be posting a how-to: 'the bun' very soon as well as a surprise blog coming at the end of the week!!

Loyally,
AM

Here is to Dads

The king mountain man in this house has a truck. Her name? Francesca. Well, this little lady all of sudden started making loud screeching noises and how will not start. "WHAT?!" My reaction exactly. Well, I knew just who to call. So here is to Dads...

Dads who know exactly what is wrong with your car even when he is across the state...every time.
Dads who figure out emergencies with ease and get things taken care of so we don't have heart attacks.
Dads who know facts about everything.
Dads who fix up cars which is just plain awesome.
Dads who laugh and light up a room.
Dads who work hard every single day of their lives and still seem to get off for family vacations and rock concerts.

Here is to Dads. Here is to my Dad.

What is awesome about your dad?

Loyally,
AM

Roommate Wanted

Hello friends! 

I picked up JM and then sent him off again on a work retreat. I am thinking about getting a roommate because I pretty much live alone now with that guy adventuring around the globe. (okay, maybe this week has just felt REALLY long)

A few weeks ago, the hubbster and I went and visited my brother-in-law and his girlfriend. Family is awesome. 

The Sassybun counts for height, right?

To celebrate Labor Day and surprise JM, I made pistachio ice cream. So good, I had to hide it in the back of the freezer so I wouldn't eat it all myself. The recipe is an original from Janice @ thekitchentwist.com. Recipe will be up when we stop eating all of it and she can actually get a picture. 

 

Loyally,

AM

phone call

Before I head off to bed, I just wanted to update everyone on Joshua's status!!
He called me today from the high camp on Mount Rainier and said he and Mark will summit early in the morning (maybe to see the sunrise).
He amazes me every day. He is so brave and adventurous and I am lucky because he helps me be those things too. When people think of achievement they liken it unto climbing a mountain which he is doing. What an achievement to add to his book of life. I will let you know if I hear anything more and will write his whole story when he returns home!!

The view of Mount Rainier from high camp

Good night dear friends.
AM

To Change

The idea of change has such a bad reputation. In general people don't like change. So I am here to clear the air about me and my big, fat, elephant in the room of change.

I have changed. I am not the same person I was and my hope is that you will all understand this on some level and be happy for me not ignore it or pretend I am still the same because I am not and I NEVER want to be again.

The gospel of Jesus Christ changed my life. I personally choose to make changes and accept a lifestyle very different from the one I was living. I needed to. I was dieing inside. I was unhappy but had no reason to be. I fought myself every day about this unexplainable unhappiness inside but could not find a solution. I had been given everything...I was supposed to be happy. There was this giant hole in my life and his name was Jesus Christ and his gospel saved me from myself.

This was never Joshua's decision. He never made me join his church. This needs to be a clear understanding.

Please do not tell me that I am the same. My hope is that you can look outside yourself and see that this is not about you. This was about me and my life and the hurt I felt for years. I am not the same. I will not give you the same advice. I will not support the same decisions. I will not ever do many of those things that were ruining my life. but....
I will be your friend better than I could have ever been before.
I will love you unconditionally despite your decisions. I have realized through this all--that actions do NOT make a person, my love for you makes our relationship.
I will be more patient, more positive, more accepting, more understanding, and I will always support righteous decisions that you make. (I promise to try at least)
I will work every single day to change and be a better version of myself. I will not accept the phrase "well this is just who I am" No! I was given the blessing of choice from God and I will exercise my freedom to choose every single day who I want to be, how I want to improve, how I can be different and better.

My goal is to admit my mistakes and apologize. To support those loved ones around me and never let them forget how much I love and support them. To grow the Lord's kingdom. Most of all, go to sleep every night happy with the person that I CHOOSE to be and wake up every morning willing to be even better.

If you want to know me, you must know this. You must be willing to know my story, the whole story.
I am happy. I choose to be happy everyday and proud of who I am and who I have the potential to become.

All my love,
AM

Its been a while...

This summer turned from vacation/internship to working 40+ hours a week!! Instead of being tourist, the hubby and I settled in to a normal day to day routine and life seemed normal. (except we lived out of suitcases and all my friends were in Texas!) Here are my top 10 favorite things about this summer/California...

1. The Weather. Duh!
2. The View. Both Mountains and Ocean.
3. The People. Their view of life, the beautiful people we met, the times we shared...my heart is full.
4. Irvine Spectrum Nordstrom. You are my home forever, so small but so big.
5. RockReaction (JM's work and our climbing gym) Took us in like we have been there forever and made friends that will be forever.
6. The Food. OH THE FOOD! Mother's Market and Native Foods in particular...LOVE LOVE LOVE.
7. The Camp. It is like it was built for us. Such a sweet treasure.
8. Ben, Joseph, and the Emily's plus 2 awesome babies. Thank you for your friendship.
9. The Acceptance. Acceptance of change, difference, and love all around.
10. Joshua. I could not have been so brave to do this alone and I had my best friend on this great adventure.

Loyally,

AM