Our 7th Anniversary

On February 16, 2002, Geoff and I were sealed for time and all eternity in the Logan, Utah temple. What a wonderful day! There are many things that I remember about that day, but one that has also stuck out in my mind is something that our sealer said to us. He said that at this moment we think we love each other as much as we possibly could, and he just laughed to himself. He went on to say that as we look back in 5 years, 10 years, and so on, we will have realized that our love for one another is stronger now, and has grown so much deeper than on our wedding day when we thought we were so much in love. As I look back and remember that amazing day, I can't help but laugh to myself...he was so right!!! In these last seven years, we have experienced so many things that have brought us closer as husband and wife and most importantly, closer to our Heavenly Father. I love my husband deeply and I am so grateful for him. He is an incredible person and I feel honored to say that I am his wife. How grateful I am for the gift of eternal marriage and eternal families. What a blessing!!! Geoff, I love you more than you will ever know. Thanks for an amazing seven years and I look forward to all the great things instore for us. I love you!!!

I love you!!!

This is Emily's way of signing "I love you." Grandpa Meredith has been trying to teach her the proper sign, and this is what she's come up with. Now, every time we leave either grandparents house, she give hugs and kisses, blows kisses, and then does her I love you sign. We're pretty impressed that she can twist her fingers like that!!

Live for today...

I know that some of you have heard about the trials that our little family has had to face these past few weeks. I just want those of you who have shared your concerns, your love, and your experiences, to know that we love and appreciate you more than you’ll ever know. I can’t begin to explain the pain and suffering that has plagued us. But yet, we have been taught so much! I can honestly say that the peace that has flooded our home and our hearts has been overwhelming. One of the most important things that I have learned is that my Heavenly Father and my Savior love me and my little family!!! I also been reminded that there is a plan for me and that no matter the pain and suffering that I have to go through, I have not been forgotten. I have learned to hold my head high, love with all I have, and live for today. I found a few quotes that I have really come to love.

“There is only one day that you and I have to live and that’s today. There is nothing we can do about yesterday except repent, and there may be no tomorrows. This thing for us to do when we arise from our beds as God gives us a new day, is to pray that whatever comes to our hands, we will do it to the best of our ability.” --Harold B. Lee

"On my way to visit the Jameses the other evening, I saw a wheat field that appeared to be greener and taller than the others. Thinking about it for awhile, I concluded that occasionally some loving farmer drives over the field with his tractor and pumps manure all over it. I thought, 'My, it's just like life. Here we are minding our own business, growing our little hearts out. We're really quite green, somewhat productive and very sincere. When out of the blue, life deals us a dirty one, and we're up to our eyebrows in manure. We, of course, conclude that life as we have known it has just ended and will never be the same again. But one day, when the smell and the shock are gone, we find ourselves greener and more productive than we have been.' Unfortunately, no matter how often we go through these growing experiences, we are never able to appreciate the sound of the tractor or the smell of the manure." --Harold W. Wood

Anyway, thank you to my truest friends and my loving family for being there for us in our hour of need. You helped make a devastating experience much easier to bear!! From now on I am really going to try to make each day special and be the best I can be. (I’m also really going to try to start appreciating the smell of manure, too.)

Our Greatest Blessings...

Sledding

We took Emily sledding for the first time and she had a blast! I didn't think she would like going down the hill, but that was her favorite part.

Our funny girl

Emily loves anything and everything to do with music and dancing. She just learned all the actions to Popcorn Popping and is very proud of herself. She loves this song and would listen to it all day long if I could stand it. Sorry it's going the wrong direction...I can't figure out how to rotate videos. It's pretty cute, anyway.

These are Emily's 18 month pictures that our good friend, Jared Guardipee, took for us. I LOVE them! Jared did such a good job and we want to thank him for putting up with us. Emily wasn't in the best mood and it was so cold! He really captured her personality. I know we're biased, but we think she's the cutest little girl ever!

Cute as a bug!

This was Emily's first "real" Halloween and she had so much fun! She LOVED wearing her ladybug dress. She would run and spin around and everytime she saw a mirror she would stop and say "Oh Pretty!" This was taken at Inkley's. Every year they take Halloween pictures for really cheap. I think it turned out pretty good.

Livvy, Emily, and Mason

We went trunk or treating with Peggie and kids to our church. Emily thought it was pretty great! Some of the people would left her pick out her own candy. She would look over everything in the bowl, pick her favorite, and put it in her bucket. Then she would wave at them and say "Ya Ya!" (See Ya) and then move on to the next person. She caught on to the idea pretty fast. She loved to carry her bucket and didn't want help from anyone. It was getting so heavy, but it was HERS and would cry if we tried to carry it for her.

She started digging into the candy pretty fast. She also learned a new phrase today. "Candy! YUMMMM!"

That's alot of candy for a 1 year old! Luckely, she has a Dad who is more than willing to help her out with it!!