No Place Like Home

In 14 days we are going to Utah....and this time we aren't just going for a visit....yup! You heard me right....WE ARE MOVING!!!......Utah here we come!!! Dave was offered a job today in Clearfield, Utah!!! It is with an amazing company (ATK)and to top it all off, his position will allow him to work in the feild he loves most...AREOSPACE!! He will be a CATIA guru and also design for the Airbus Structual Compsites..(whatever that means!) I can not express how excited we are! We have been trying to move to Utah for the past two years and now it is finally happening! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!! When Dave told me the news this afternoon I burst into tears, bawling my head off like a baby! I couldn't stop! All I could say over and over while whaling at the same time is "are you serious?" "are you serious?" ...We are so incredibly excited! Thank you everyone for all your efforts, support, and prayers, we could not have done it without you! And we could not be more excited!! Thank you honey for never giving up and trying you hardest to find a job in Utah! You did it! THANK YOU!! Congratulations! I am so proud of you!! 14 days and counting....see ya oh so soon!! "There's no place like home...there's no place like home...there's no place like home."

To court....thanks for the idea!

O.C.D.

Do you know people who can not start something without finishing it? I do! Dave started his little design in his mind...(its an orignial), designed it in using CAD sofwate, then rendered his data and made this lovely image for all to enjoy! If you understand how design software and rendering works...this is pretty darn cool..and impressive! (I can brag all I want!) This is the same image I posted last week, only now it has been rendered making it look like a digital photo! It is now an official design, start to finish...one of a kind! It's ready to be manufactured and sold..... any buyers??

"I will Ease the Burdens"

When I think about trials, I can't help but feel a bit frustrated and angry. I always ask WHY? WHAT? HOW? I've felt/feel confused, afraid, and at times alone.

I read a wonderful message today about Alma and his people. It helped remind me of important principles that will help me in times of turmoil. I wanted to share it in hopes that it may enlighten you the way it did me. This message was written by Elder Maury W. Schoof and is found in the October issue of the Ensign. (It will be available online in a few days)
In hopes to separate my thoughts from his words...I have put "parenthesis" around his words and italicized them. My thoughts are the ones not-vitalized.

Synopsis:
Alma and his people hearken to the words of their prophet Abinadi who advised them to flee into the wilderness. They began to prosper for a while in the land of Helam, but their peace was soon interrupted when the laminates (their enemies) came to conquer them and their land. Alma "exhorted them that they should not be frightened, but that they should remember the lord their god and he would deliver them" Mosiah 23:27

The laminates made a promises to Alma that if he would give them direction and help them find their way home then his people would be set free. The laminates broke their promise and took ownership of the land and Alma's people. This caused much pain and tribulation for the people of Alma. When I read what happened next I realized I needed to learn from and then apply the techniques that Alma and his people practiced..

"And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the lord their god, but did pour out their heats to him: and he did know the thoughts of their hearts." "And the voice of the lord came to them in their afflictions saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage. "And I will ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs...and this will I do that ye may stand as a witness for me hereafter, that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, Do visit my people in their afflictions." Mosiah 24.11-14

Heavenly father kept and keeps his promises! He strengthened the people of Alma, and made it possible for them to "bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the lord" Mosiah 24:15.

The lord delivered them from their enemies....Take notice to their actions immediately after they were released from bondage?
"They poured out their thanks to god because he had been merciful unto them.”And they gave thanks to god, ....lifting their voices in the praises of their god" Mosiah 24:21-22


Elder Schoof points out four important things that can be learned from this story.

1."The lord tests the faith and patience of his people"
Impatient is my middle name. I want it now; immediate results are what I am looking for. I've finally begun to realize that that's not the way it works...

"Elder Richard G. Scott said the following about trials "The lord gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding, and compassion which polish you for your everlasting benefit. To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain."

.....I've felt that stretching, discomfort, and pain. I can't help but ask myself if my burdens would seem lighter if I thought of my trials as the lord polishing, stretching, and molding me to become more like him?

2. "We need to trust the Lord"
"The Lord's view is much broader than ours, and he has promised that he will not try us beyond our ability to withstand. Elder Scott said".. "To exercise faith is to trust that the lord knows what he is doing with you and that he can accomplish it for your eternal good even though you cannot understand how he can possibly do it."

Does that hit home for anyone else?

3. "We should not murmur"
GUILTY!
"Alma's people did not complain about their afflictions" "Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught: "Murmuring can...be noisy enough that it drowns out the various spiritual signals to us, signals which tell us in some cases to quit soaking ourselves in indulgently in the hot tubs of self-pity! Murmuring over the weight of our crosses not only takes energy otherwise needed to carry them but might cause another to put down his cross altogether. "Being of good cheer is what is needed, and being of good cheer is equally contagious. We have clear obligations to so strengthen each other by doing things 'with cheerful hearts and countenances." Doctrine and Covenants 59:15

When I think about the trials that weighed/weigh heavy on my heart, It's obvious that my murmuring did make my "cross" heavier and harder to bear. When we are personally feeling the pain and anguish that trials will bring, it seems a lot harder to "be of good cheer". But what if we tried it...would it help? Would our crosses seem lighter? Would our burdens be easier to bear? Would the lord lighten our load as he sees us fulfilling our obligation to "be of good cheer"? I think I know the answer.

4. "We can look to our leaders for comfort and encouragement"
"The people of Helam listened to and heeded their leader and he quieted their fears."
President Gordon B. Hinkley also quieted the fears of many when he spoke in general conference following the attack on the United States on September 11, 2001." "I am Optimistic. I do not believe the time is here when an all-consuming calamity will overtake us. I earnestly pray that it may not. There is so much of the lord's work yet to be done. We, and our children after us, must do it!"

Our leaders are called through divine inspiration and are willing and ready to give comfort, encouragement, and direction if we but seek it!

Life is rough. Sometimes the load seems too heavy. We must remember that life is merely a journey, a step in our eternal progression.... we must remember that heavenly father is stretching and molding us... and it WILL hurt... BUT all these experiences will strengthen us, enrich our lives, and help prepare us to return to his presence.

We are so blessed to have a father that "will ease the burdens which are put upon [our] shoulders, that even you cannot feel them on your backs."

We are loved.

Fun Times

Weekends are the best! We had some friends stay with us this weekend which made the weekend that much better! We have not seen them in quite some time, so it was so fun to catch up! Since I failed at finding a baby sister (sorry!) We decided to hang around the house Friday night and let Amelia get her beauty sleep. We ordered take out from PF Changs and chatted the night away. Saturday afternoon we headed over to NW 23rd street and strolled around for a bit. We had some yummy lunch and then got one of our favorite treats found on 23rd street...The best ever White Hot Chocolate from Vivace Cafe. We also hit up the Saturday market and spent some time with the homeless at the waterfront! I also smelled "burning leaves" (Marijuana) the first time while at the park! Fun times! We had a great time visiting a few hot spots in Portland, and really enjoyed the company! The last time we saw Amelia was over a year ago so it was really fun to see her, play with her, and get to see her cute little personality. It took her the entire time to warm up to us, but right before leaving her and Dave spent some quality time playing with Turtle. Thanks for visiting Smith family! It was so great to see you after such a long time! We had a wonderful time! Come back soon!!

Dave, Amelia, and Turt


Downtown Waterfront

UPDATE

After reading my post, I think Dave got really excited and once again could not get these Four Wheelers off his mind...as a result check out the design he sent me today from work:




He drew this in his CAD (computer aided design) software. This is not an easy task. This image was designed using 3d mathematical data and equations, he drew it from scratch, from an image in his mind! Its kinda hard to explain how it works if you've never seen it done! But its a really hard to do. This is just a screen print of what he was working on. Its a picture of the user interface with the tire opened as a file on the page....but at least you get the idea!

It looks great babe! Very cool!

He was so excited for me to see it and to tell me how my post inspired its creation! ha ha ha...I couldn't resist posting it for everyone else to see!

CAN AM OUTLANDER MAX 800 R LTD

Ya know that feeling you get when you go into your favorite clothing store and you are surrounded by cute clothes and you just want them all! You picture yourself in everything you see and imagine just how good you would look and then magically everything around you somehow ends up in your closet,.... take that feeling, put it into a guys mind, and then amplify it by ten... I think this is how Dave feels when he thinks about, talks about, looks at, listens to, researches about, and or anything that has to do with Four Wheelers! Does it even seem possible? Could someone really get that excited about a machine? Answer = Yes!

ATVS. All-Terrain Vehicles. Four Wheelers. QUADS. I'm sure there are tons of other names out there for them, but these are the most common ones spoken of in our home. Dave loves these things. Sometimes I think they take up a large majority of what he thinks about. It cracks me up! There have been plenty of times when I ask him what he is thinking about and he looks at me with a sheepish grin and laughs....ha ha He doesn't need to say....I know the answer.. FOUR WHEELERS!!

Unfortunately for Dave, the closest store that carries "his" four wheeler is about 45minutes away...don't worry though, we have been there one million times. I have to be honest here, the store itself is not that exciting or impressive. Pictures this...its about 1000 Sq feet, they carry only a handful of machines... and they don't even let you test drive. Doesn't that take the fun right out of it! So basically we go, we look...and we conquer...well, not exactly..the only thing we conquer is Dave's burning desire to see these bad boys in real life again. He feeds the need to feel it, touch it, sit on it, and imagine riding it. He checks out the engine, and all of the features he loves. He even asks the sales clerks questions that he knows all the answers to, just because! Its pretty funny! Along with these visits, he spends endless hours watching You Tube videos, any and everything about them. Thus starts the cycle, he watches fun, exciting clips, day after day until he just can't take it anymore.....he gets so excited and has to show me pictures, wants to talk about it..and expresses his deep desire to go look at Four Wheelers again...and so we go! It's like he needs that fix....he loves to take it all in, to imagine what it would be like to have his own and be able to ride when and where he pleases. I always go along for the ride and express to him how cool these puppies are...even if they do all look the same to me and each visit to me is just the same as the last! ha ha I'm not complaining, not at all really... I am actually really glad that he loves them so much! Its so fun to watch him get so excited about something and have such passion! He acts like a little boy that wants a new bike or an ice cream cone..its really cute! I can not wait until we move and can finally buy some. It will be so exciting when he does not have to imagine but can actually go out and ride anytime he pleases! Until then... I think I just might add You Tube to my list of things to be thankful for in my daily prayers! It really helps "bridal all that passion!"

-here are a few pics for you babe 143-

New Favorite Show

Don't jump to any conclusions! This is not taking the place of my all time favorite favortiest show....the one and only LOST...It is however being added to my list of favs!...and its getting up there after just two episodes! It's a REALLY great show! Imagine a mix between "The X-Files" and "Twilight Zone" and then add the genius minds from the creators of Lost and Alias to the mix! What do you get? A really cool, creepy weird, action packed, mystery filled, exciting show!! When I found out the producers of Lost and Alias were making this show, I hoped with all my might it would turn out wonderfully...and to my excitement it did! There are even times in the show where they play that weird sound effect music from lost..(I thoroughly enjoy those sounds!) I wasn't sure how I would feel about Joshua Jackson being one of the main characters, but it turns out he fits the role perfectly! Good think I was not in charge of casting! Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) the main character is very like able as well. She's really pretty (not importnat, but maybe a little right?) but more than that she really is a perfect fit for the role! If you have not yet seen the show...you can catch the first two episodes by clicking here FOX.COM and then pick up where you left off next next Tuesday @ 9/8C...its 9:00pm at our house so figure out where you live and do the math!

Now a little treat for all of you TV buffs out there that are wondering what Fall 2008 TV has in store for you! When do your favorite TV shows start? What are the new shows, and what are they all about? Anybody wondering these things? Well, I know I was.... SO...I took the liberty of creating my own schedule, and I thought it would be a shame if I kept it to myself. So after doing a bit of research and watching tid-bids of all the new fall shows, I can say with little hesitation that I am really excited, and am pretty hopefully for the new fall tv schedule! GEEZE LOUISE... All this talk about TV is making me excited to go home, get in my comfys and snuggle up next to my honey and watch something fun! I love the excitement that Dave and I share together when we know its the day that our favorite show is on! This summer has really sucked as far as TV shows go, so we are very excited about the upcoming schedule! My list includes new and returning shows that have started or will be starting in the near future. These shows are shows I plan on watching or shows that I plan on trying out for an episode or two to see what I think.

So to all my fellow tv lovers out there..Get those DVRS ready, wash your pjs, put the kids to bed...and get ready for some serious ACTION....you, your husband/wife...and the TV!!


(If you click on the show itself it is hyperlinked to its home page where you can find out more about the shows times, watch previews, etc.)

Mondays
Terminator Sarah Connor Chronicles FOX Mondays 8:00 pm
Hero's NBC (Sept 22) 9:00 pm
Prison Break FOX 9:00 pm
My Own Worst Enemy NBC (Oct 13) 10:00pm

Tuesdays
Biggest Looser NBC Tuesdays 8:00 pm
Fringe FOX 9:00 pm
The Mentalist CBS (Sept 23) 9:00 pm

Wednesday
Knight Rider CBS (Sept 24) 8:00pm

Thursdays
Kath and Kim NBC (Oct 9) 8:30pm
The Office NBC 9:00pm
Eleventh Hour CBS (Oct 21)10:00 pm
Life On Mars NBC (Oct 9) 10:00 pm

Friday
Crusoe NBC 8:00pm (Oct 17)

Sunday:
24 FOX Sunday 11/23 (Season 7 Jan 2009)

LOST EARLY 2009 (that is all the info they give us..those dirty bags!)

PS...if I'm missing a show that you love to watch please leave a comment and tell me about it because trust me I want to know!!

LONG OVER DUE!!

After almost 2 years of living in Portland I finally found someone that I trust to highlight my hair! Up until now I have been getting my hair done every time I go home to Utah. Before yesterday it had been over 3 months since my last cut and color!! And my hair was really really long even 3 months ago!! Since I work out in the morning and don't have too much time to get ready I find myself resorting to a pony tail pretty much everyday. (lucky me, Dave's likes it the best in a pony) Anyway, I haven't worn my hair down and straight for two.. maybe three months. I think I tried to wear it down and straight a month or two ago and Dave said..."honey not to be rude, but I think you need a hair cut, you're hair is looking like the girl from the ring!" ha ha ha that was funny! That comment was made about a month and 1/2 ago..so it has only gotten longer! When its down and I curl it, it looks fine since the curls shrink it quite a bit, but...as you can see from the before picture below, my hair was way to long long long OVER DUE and in desperate need of a hair cut!! It was almost embarrassing to take it out of my pony tail and have the girl cut it..and I am also a little embarrassed to even post this picture because it looks so gross....I actually couldn't even where my hair in a pony tail without it being in curls because it was too long. It looked like a horses tail... ewww!! I have just been so busy lately with the job search and then starting with a new job that I put my hair needs on the back burner. If and IF I ever wore it down it was in curls, but lets be honest, most days it just ends up in a pony tail. As a result of my laziness...this is what it looked like right before I got it cut...(disclaimer, it looks extra gross in this picture not just long gross but gross because it wasn't flat ironed, it was really frizzy because I had just taken it out of a bun after I got done exercising so it was kinky and gross...but still, how could I have let it go for that long?? So here is a before and after pic...she took off about 3 1/2 inches off... maybe a little more. It made a HUGE difference! Take a look...

The New Job

I got a new job! It's AMAZING....its fabulous! Imagine being in
H E DOUBLE HOCKEY sticks...and after a lot of hard work and many many prayers you are lifted to a place that feels like heaven....aka my new job at Mentor Graphics www.mentor.com! I am working in the Marketing Department and my role covers the online marketing for events, workshops, seminars and trade shows for our department. I think that's the best way to explain it without going into boring detail. Guess what? I love what I do! Can you believe it? Because I can't! But it's actually fun! The people I work with are GREAT! My manager could not be cooler. He is so laid back, down to earth, funny, fun, and just great. My group is amazing...the environment is laid back and just great! Without evening knowing that I would love the job and what I would be doing or knowing anything about the company, I was excited to start something new. I had met the people in my group and I felt great energy and I was excited to work with people who were happy, positive, upbeat and hopefully had souls, unlike the people at poopliner. Ha ok that was rude, but not an exageration. With that in mind when I got to work on my first day, I was in for more excitement than I could had ever imagined! I met with my manager he brought me to my desk and showed me some break areas....listen to this, they provide free soda of every kind in these break areas, every kind of herbal tea, coffee, milk, coco of every flavors, sugar free, low sugar, splenda, they also have this movie style popcorn maker with fresh popcorn in the afternoon! So after I got settled at my desk which sits right next to a huge window with a great view, I was given a tour of the campus, which might I add is beautiful! There are amazing walking and running trails covering the grounds. There are ponds inbetween the trails and the buildings... little walking bridges connecting the walking paths, huge trees covering the grounds. The outside landscaping just beautiful! Its like they plopped the buildings (4 buildings in total) in the middle of the forest. There is a building called "The commons" which has the cafeteria, the gym, and other amenities including: a few pool tables, a fuse ball, a big screen tv with couches, a ping pong table, and a saloon to get your hair cut and colored. There is a huge outside eating area with picnic tables and umbrellas that sit along side a pond with a fountain that is surrounded by green trees and beautiful landscaping. Its just unreal. Then on top of that there is a great gym in this common area. It has all the weights you would need, 6-8 treadmills, elliptical, bikes, all the cardio stuff, tvs, etc. balls mats... a full sized basket ball quart...they also offer DAILY AEROBIC classes! And my manager also told me to feel free to go to whatever classes I'd like whenever. There is a daily schedule that offers Cardio, yoga, Pilate's, weight training...ect...the commons has a locker room, including hairdryers, Sana, and a jacuzzi! And to top it all off, if you would like they provide you with free personal training sessions for as long or as little as you'd like. UH HELLO IS THIS WORK? YES IT IS AND I WORK HERE! I can not believe it! Its just unreal! So needless to say I am LOVING, absolutely loving my new job! My schedule has changed it bit which is still taking a bit of getting used to, but its still great. We sleep in a bit longer than before until 4:45 then I leave at 5:00 it takes me about 25 minutes to get here..(which is about the same commute we had at freightliner)then I work out shower and get ready in the locker room (I'm the only person at the gym and in the locker room..most people don't get to work here until 8:30-10:00 its weird) but I start around 7:00 and work until 4:00 that way I am home by 4:20-4:30. I'm used to being finished with work by 2:30-3:30 but honestly, you can not beat all of this. I could not ask for anything more! We really had our prayers answered. Heavenly father ALWAYS knows what he is doing and what is best for us.....its just seeing through the trial or the hard time to get to the good time that is so hard. Dave told me that leaving Freightliner would be a blessing and something really good would come of it. I was so upset and caught up in the thought of us not working together and not being able to spend the extra time together. We have seen so many blessings come through me leaving freightliner...way to many to list. Me finding this job is just the icing on the cake! I feel so blessed to have found this job and this company! I actually get excited to go to work! So there you have it! I actually love my job! I never thought I would or could say that! What a change!
http://natalieanddaveshaw.blogspot.com/2008/03/devil.html
(check out this post from 7 months back)

Weekend in Bend

Last weekend Dave and I headed down to Central Oregon to a little spot called Bend. Population 75,000. It's very well know to Oregonians, and we found it to be a wonderful place to visit! Our weekend get away was kinda a last moment thing although we have been wanting to do it for quite a while now... so we are really glad we were spontaneously spontaneous because we had a blast! So, Friday afternoon Dave met me at work..(I got a new job, which is a whole other post in itself..I LOVE IT) we drove 3 1/2 hours south eastish to Bend. We stopped in a po-dunk town and had dinner at a little ma and pa restaurant that ended up being really great! When we arrived in Bend at the Eco lodge (high rollers)that we originally booked for $64 a night we were informed that our online reservation was booked as a "smoking" room and they were all sold out of their non-smoking rooms...lucky for us on the drive in we saw that the Sugarloaf Mountain Motel was $54 a night, had free wifi, and had vacancy! So with little hesitation, we checked in, got settled and headed the next store Sonic Drive Inn for shakes...mmm mmm good!

The next morning I got up and went on a run and explored the beautiful town. There was a mountain with a gorgeous golf course and huge homes across from our hotel. So I around an explored the area and ended up running to what seemed like the tippy top of the mountian and found an amazing view that looked out over the entire city/town. It was so fun to run around and explore the area and see the beautiful homes and landscaping...I found cool trails and golf courses and even met some nice people that were running as well.. it was really fun! I came back and we got ready for the days adventure. We headed up to Sun River which is a huge resort about 30 minutes outside of Bend. We planned a bike riding tour called the Paulina Plunge. We got on a bus with a group of about 20 and headed up the mountain where we would start our adventure!






This bike tour had us ride over six miles down a winding forest trail on mountain bikes, we would then stop and hike for a bit into huge waterfall where we would swim around and play in the falls. There were even natural slides that these falls created that we slid down...it was so fun!




We swam in the natural pools, and jumped off rocks into the deep cold water. Some of the water was a lot colder than others, but lucky for us it was warm out side so we warmed up pretty fast. There were a total of six falls.




We would ride for a mile or so, set our bikes down, hike in, find the fall, play around, hike back out, ride again 1-2 miles....hike again, swim around....etc. It was a riot! Sometimes we were going really fast down hill, and other times it was slow and steady.



The views were amazing! Mt. Bachelor was huge and seemed so close, the weather was really warm too... 80-85, it was just lovely!



In the middle of the day we hiked to a beautiful fall and had a picnic lunch.


We ended at the bottom of the mountain where the bus took us back to our car. What a fun day! It was amazing! We loved it! If you ever go to Bend we highly recommend this tour (Paulina Plunge)!
They used the ash from a burnt tree to paint tribal symbols on our faces


That night we went downtown and ate at the Deschutes Brewery...YUM oh it was good! We also went to a old fashion candy shop got waffle cones with cookies and cream ice cream...k I must stop thinking about it or I'll want one right now and its 7:30 in the morning! The next day we woke up really early and went on to a trail called the "Upper Deschutes River Trail". It was beautiful. The trail ran right along the bed of the river.



We walked about 2 or 3 miles right along the river bed. The river was running pretty fast but it was so quite and still. You could not hear it moving at all, it was really neat. After we walked for a while we got to a part of the trail where you could see fields and fields of lava formations in the distance that stretched for miles, it was really neat. The surroundings were just beautiful.



Our camera started to die...so I did not take too many pictures! After the river trail we did one last hike before heading home...it was called Tumalo Mt. The trail started us out at 5800 ft elevation and ended an hour later at 8200 ft so its a pretty big increase, and being that we're used to exercising at 300 ft...we were out of breath to say the least! It was a tough hike..and all up hill, our legs and butts were burning the entire hour.



(Bend is high desert, a lot like Utah, so these mountains were very similar to the Utah mountains, much different than the mountains we have started to get used to in Portland.)After about 20 minutes, the view was amazing. By the time we reached the top, we were speechless. You could see for as far as you can imagine in all directions...we were at the top of the top. Mt. Bachelor was so close you felt like you could touch it. Go figure my camera was dead. But we did get it all on video camera and took some pics with that camera, so hopefully I can figure out how to put those ones on here. To say the least the view was incredible and the burning of the butt and intense work to make it to the top was SO worth it! There were huge mountains and volcanoes surrounding us on all sides and it was incredible. The wind was blowing really hard and it was really cold so we stayed as long as we could to take it all in, and then we booked it down the mountain. We ended up making to it down in 28 minutes! It was an AMAZING HIKE! On our way home we stopped in Sisters, OR and ate at a yummy brewery (what is it about breweries that make their food so incredibly good?)We looked around at the cute shops, got a treat at the bakery and then headed on home. The scenery on the way home just blew my mind. Detroit lake....wow! Talk about amazing. Its picture perfect! How is it that there are so many beautiful places here in Oregon? I am sure there are places upon places that I don't even know about that are just unbelievable! I am now adding Bend to my list of favorites! Needless to say, we had an incredible time. What a fun place to visit. It was beautiful. There is so much to do, so much to see, we really did not have enough time! We hope to go back very very soon!

Hero's

Dave and I have started watching the Hero's serious and WE LOVE THEM. They are so entertaining and action packed. The show is about a special group of people who have a different variety of special abilities or powers. Some of these people use their powers for good, and few use them for bad. Most of them are trying to figure out how they got these powers and what their purpose is. They begin to wonder if they are all connected? Some of then begin to realize these powers may be used to "save the world". This is at least what I have gathered from watching so far.... and don't worry I have not given too much away! We have watched all of season one and are almost through season two. They are so action packed! I find myself thinking about the show and its characters throughout the entire day. I wonder what each new episode will hold and how everything will unfold. And this isn't a new habit I picked up with theHero's series (spending lost of time thinking about TV shows I am currently into). I was telling a friend last night that as I was getting ready the other morning I said to Dave, honey....what if someone finds out that Clair?....do you think that they will have to move? or do you think that they will come up with something and they will fix the problem??...That question was then followed by a bunch of other questions that I will spare you, but they were intense and well thought out in my head the night before as I lay in bed thinking intently all about the show! Its true!!...I can't help but think about it. In the grocery store, in bed at night, while I'm driving, cooking, exercising... I think about these people, their life, their powers, their next move, what I'd do if I were them, for all I care and know...their real, its real, its not fiction, and I'm living it, the series that I'm watching that is...needless to say, Dave and I both love the show.. I also thinking it is even more exciting to watch since we are watching them back to back with out breaks in between.

So as great as this show is and as much as I'd love to dedicate the entire post to it...this post is not intended to be about the show Hero's....(even though the first part of this ended up being really long) This post is dedicated to my personal hero...I like to call him little honey, but his real name is Dave.
Since watching the show Hero's I have confirmed my suspicion that my husband, my little honey... (Dave), has the exact same special abilities and powers as these fictional characters in the Hero's series. I'm not even kidding!! These characteristics are so incredibly similar to the characters in the show it is uncanny. Now you might be asking yourself "is she serious?" Is Dave really a hero?? Does he really have super powers? Great question!! The answer is a big fat YES!....and just because you asked, I'll prove it to you! I'll tell you a bit about each character and their abilities and then I'll tell you about Dave's. I'll also tell you how Dave has used his "powers" and "abilities" in our life in the exact same ways as these characters and show you how he has literally "saved the world" by doing so.....well, my world that is.

If you have seen the show, you will be familiar with the characters and their abilities and that I am about to list. If you have not seen the show, follow along and you will do just fine. (ps..if you plan on watching the show and do not want to know about the abilities of these characters DO NOT READ ON)

*****DISCLAIMER*****
Before I begin, I want to make sure it's understood by all, that I'm not trying to brag, boast, or do anything of that nature. This is all coming from a wife that is completely greatful, thankful, and madly in love with her husband. I am dedicating this post to Dave in a humorous fun way because how much I love him, and because of how blessed I feel to be married to such a wonderful man. He has done some HUGE sacrificing for me lately and I want to make a special post for him, something kinda dorky but sweet. So I hop to share this with him, and with those who care to read it. I also want to have it for my own personal journal keeping on my blog in the future! So please keep that in mind as you read on! I can't help that I love him OK!??

Molly
Molly's ability allows her to locate anyone no matter where they are at anytime. All she needs is a map and a push pin and then she is able to locate the exact location of the person. All she has to do is close her eyes and think about them.
I know Dave and I were soul mates. I know we knew each other in heaven and were separated when we were sent to earth. I am positive that once he was ready to find a wife he used this ability that he has to locate me, his future wife. Once he was baptized and was ready to find his me, he got a map, a push pin, closed his eyes and stuck the pin directly over Provo, Utah. That's right! He used this power to locate his eternal companion. ME!! There's way more to this power than that, but I'll leave the details out for time sake.

The Haitian:
The Haitian can erases specific thoughts and memories for a specific amount of time or forever. He can also make it so other people who have abilities can not use their abilities when he is around.
Before I met Dave, I was always very comfortable on first dates. I didn't really get nervous or have a hard time when meeting new guys. It was easy for me to carry on conversation and be myself. That is until the day I met Dave for the first time. He decided to use this ability on me to erase my memory. I could NOT REMEMBER MY NAME, I felt so confused, flustered, I felt butterflies, nervous, embarrassed, feelings I had never felt before! I sat there in augh as I could felt confused in more than one way. I didn't remember where I parked, how I had even gotten where I was, or who I even was. It was like someone had taken me very breath away! Luckily, he was able to give my memory back and I remembered where I parked, I remembered my name, and I got back to my regular self again! That was the one and only day that I literally lost my words, thoughts, and memory in front of a guy...and I that is when I knew he was special...I just didn't realize at that time how special!

Isach Mendez:
Isach paints pictures of the future that end up coming true.
One rainy Seattle night after only spending 5 days together, he decided to share another one of his abilities with me. He whispered the future into my ear. He told me that he knew I was going to be his wife and that we would be married one day. Eight months later his "painting of the future" was fulfilled.

Elle:
Her body is full of Electricity. This girl can shoot electricity from her hands and shock anyone she comes in contact with.
Before Dave and I kissed for the first time he actually sent and electrical spark from his lips to mine which pulled me into him...it freaked me out a bit and hurt, but after the initial shock, it was amazing! Wow, what a powerful kiss! The electricity was so powerful! Talk about electrifying!

Clair Bennett:
Clair can heal herself. No matter what happens to her, her body will automatically heal itself. She can never die.
I have asked myself if I could choose one ability would this be the ability I would choose to have? Although Dave can heal himself, he is so selfless and instead has been so patient with me and has used his ability to heal me. He has healed my heart, soul, and healed my life and who I used to be. I think back about who I was before I met him and I don't really love everything about who I was. I was still me....but I was not the me that I know I could have been. Dave has freed me from any pain, insecurities, and sorrow that I ever knew. He has helped me take on the things that I pushed aside in the past. Things that I did not stand up to, things I procrastinated and those things were the very things that stopped my personal progression both spiritual and temporally. He has helped me face many obstacles and over come them...He has help led me become closer to the person I have always wanted but never could quite be. He continues to heal me every second of every day. I am so thankful to him and his continual healing and help in my progression. This gift has healed me in more ways than I ever dreamed or imagined possible.

Nikki Sanders:
Multiple Personality Disorder
If you've watched the show, you'd think this is an horrible ability and nothing you'd ever want. And for the most part I agree. But lucky for Dave, his multiple personality disorder is a positive thing. He is a computer geek, a spiritual giant, a math matitian, an inventor, a dork, he's funny, sweet, kind, gentle, fun to be around, incredibly good at making people feel comfortable, he's likable, understanding, hardworking, honest, forgiving, the list of his personalities goes on and on, is just too long to list....this ability is one of my very favorites. He is so charismatic. It's fun when we are around different groups of people because they think they know him so well, but really its hard to get to know Dave because he really is so different around so many different people. You many think he is shy. You may think he is really out going. You may think he is a computer dork. You may think he is a Genius. How well do you really know him?? And which Dave do you really know? It's when you start seeing more than a few of these sides that you know he feels comfortable around you!!


D.L. Sanders:
D.L. can walk through walls. Nothing stands in his way. He is invicialbe.
This may sound far fetched but ask anyone in my family and they will vouch for Dave on this one. It's true Dave can walk through walls. ANYTIME Dave runs into a wall, something that seems to hard to overcome, he ALWAYS finds a way to over come it. Whether it be work, home, or personal. His ability allows his to walk through the wall and solve the problem. The other day my mom called me and said "Nat, I had this problem and I was really working hard to solve it and just as I was getting ready to give up I thought about Dave...and I thought, NO! I can't give up..think about Dave, what would he do..there is always a solution..there is always away around it...so I worked harder, and I did some other things and eventually I came up with a solution!" ha ha I laughed! It was cute...I obviously couldn't tell her that Dave has this special ability and that is how he is always able to come up with a solution, but I'm sure glad it gave her hope and helped her not give up! Truth is Dave ALWAYS has a solution I have no idea how its possible to solve a problem every time, but it is. So if you ever come to a problem you can't solve, no matter what it is...Dave is always on call! Its amazing. Truly a gift.

Micha Sanders:
Micha can control anything that has to do with computers and technology. He can make them do whatever he wants.
I really envy this ability. Dave has the power to do any and everything with all computers. He can fix them, he taught himself how to write code(we will contribute that to the ability), analyze the code, wiz at all the programs, graphic designer, knows all the technical lingo, and then he can do any and everything with them. That's right...he can control computers. I am sure lucky to have him, because all I can do is use a computer.

Monica Sanders:
Monica has perfect muscle memory. She can do any and everything she sees, learns, hears. I always said that I would have to marry someone that knew as much as my dad and I lucked out on that one! Dave's copy cat ability allows him to do any and everything. He is annoyingly talented. Whether is sing perfectly...play the guitar. Fix my computer, change the oil in my car, put together the new dresser, fix the sink, tile the floor, cook me dinner, teach me to iron, set up the Internet, oil paint perfectly on his first try, decorate the house, pick out a cute outfit for me better than I can...you name it he can do it. It is kinda disgusting sometimes, but I have to remind myself that its a super human ability and if I had one I could do all of those things too, and that makes me feel better! Plus its so handy to have him around!

Matt Parkman:
Matt can read minds and hear peoples thoughts.
What and amazing ability! This is something that I love about Dave! When we first started dating I thought it was just a coincident that we were always on the same page. We seemed to always be thinking the same things. We wanted to do the same activities, we always agreed on the same things, but then I learned about his ability to read my mind. It kinda bugged me at first, when I learned that he had just been reading my thoughts and agreeing with everything I had been saying and thinking. I got over it though. The truth is, its quite nice. He always knows what I'm thinking. He knows what I want, when I want it. He always refills the soap dispenser, or leaves me little notes. He knows to gives me little kisses on my forehead, and that I love it when he calls me sweetheart. He knows just when to tell me he loves me or that I look cute. Its nice to know he is listening to my thoughts and doing the little things that he knows I want him to do!

Nathan Paterlli
Nathan can fly.
It didn't take me long to figure out that Dave could fly. It was obvious from the moment I met him. He was successful in all he did. Flying through his masters at Purdue with a perfect 4.0, finding the gospel, moving out west.(His Dream!) He was truly flying. He has shared this ability with me and is helping me learn to fly..but with major supervision. And let me tell you, this flying thing has give me an entire new perspective on life....the view from up here is AMAZING!! Sometimes it even feels like I'm doing it by myself. Through all of this Dave has opened my eyes to possibilities that I thought were out of my reach. He has helped me to become someone that I never thought I could be and accomplish goals and dreams I never knew I could...some of these goals I never knew I had or even wanted!Just a few examples of some goals I have had in the past that were always so hard to accomplish: I have actually become a morning person! (you may have read this in a previous post) Who would have ever thought this to even be a possibility?? I would have bet millions upon millions of dollars that this would NEVER happen! I now LOVE to exercise..again I would have bet millions that this would have never happened. I have learned to be a positive thinker and be happy all of the time, no matter what happens. Theses are just a few of the many many things that Dave's "ability" has taught me. It literally has made me feel like I can fly. Like the sky is the limit. And I am so thankful for his dedication and patience while I am learning to spread my wings! I am just a baby bird ya know!

Peter Patrelli:
Peter absorbs others special abilities and then can use their power as his own.We have not finished watching season two so I am not sure what lies ahead for Peter, but I know that his abilities are very strong and very important. My prediction is that Peter's life has a huge purpose and he will do amazing things with his abilities and his life. Many people are relying on him to "save the world" and I believe he will. (I hope I'm right!!)

Dave has so many unbelievable "abilities" and talents. I know he will continue to share these with those around him, just as he does now. I know there are people relying on him to "save the world" in his own way... one person at a time and I know he will. He has already saved my world. He has given my life meaning, purpose. He has literally changed who I am and what I want to be. He has helped me to become a person that I never knew I could be. And I am so thankful for him. He sacrifices for us and dedicates so much for me. He does so much for those around him. He serves so faithfully in his calling and loves the young mean he works with. He is such a great example to those he works with and always sharing the gospel with those around him, being a missionary everyday. I can not express to him how grateful I am for his love and his meaning in my life. Although his "abilities" may not be "super natural" they are super hero and have saved me and my life. He is my hero and I am so incredibly grateful for ever moment of our life together. Thank you honey for giving me all your patience, guidance, understanding, and love. You are my best friend. You are my HERO!

if you read this entire post..you are either, my mom, sister, or very very bored! :) thanks for tuning in!! :)

Obedience

Two months ago the July issue of the ensign had an article by Elder M. Russel Ballard that talked about "Sharing the Gospel Using the Internet". This asked us as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to share our testimonies and thoughts about the gospel through the Internet. Now days we have infinite access to millions of people through emails, blogs, personal websites, etc. After reading his message I came away from feeling touched by the spirit, I felt great inspiration and motivation to share my testimony with those around me. I felt obligated to share the truth of the gospel with those around me. Elder Ballard expressed that it is our duty as church members to share our feelings and beliefs with those around us and those who we may come in contact with in any form (aka email forwards, blogs, etc) The article was wonderful. Now, obviously if you have been reading my petty blog post the past couple moths you will know that I have been posting on things such as: my new favorite cereal ...or my fabulous new shoes....or surprise, another post about how much I LOVE MY HUSBAND. The point is, I have not hearkened to the council of my leaders! I have not shared any gospel principals on my blog...I have not born my testimony... I have not expressed thoughts about the gospel, I have not discussed lessons from church that have sparked my interest. Shame on me. Thus the purpose for this post.

In July's Issue I felt the brethren asked us (ME) to try (NOT TO TRY BUT TO DO) and make an effort to do something (that something is, use the Internet as a positive tool to share the gospel) and up until this point, I have not done that. This morning as I was reading the First Presidency message in the September Ensign, I could not help but think back to what I was asked to do two months ago. I also felt a strong desire to share this message with any and everyone who wants to read it. Not only because I was asked to share my thoughts and testimony through the web, (AKA BLOG) but because it is my obligation to be obedient, (as you will find out from President Eyrings and Clarks message below) it is what heavenly father expects of me. Who am I to pick and choose the things that I will and won't do? These are errands from my father in heaven. These are direct requests from a heavenly father who has given me more than I can ever given back. Who am I and who are we to ever think twice about not doing any and EVERYTHING he asks of us? I received a mighty swift kick in the pants on this one after reading a WONDERFUL part of a talk that was given by President J. Ruben Clark, he warned us about being selective in what we will obey, he put it this way:

"The Lord has given us nothing that is useless or unnecessary. He has filled the Scriptures with the things which we should do in order that we may gain salvation, When we partake of the Sacrament we covenant to obey and keep his commandments. There are no exceptions. There are no distinctions, no differences."

President Eyring goes on to say, "President Clark taught that just as we repent of all sin, not just a single sin, we pledge to keep all the commandments. Hard as that sounds, it is uncomplicated. WE simply submit to the authority of the Savior and promise to be obedient to whatever he commands. Faith can turn our call as home teachers or visiting teachers into an errand from the lord. WE go for him, at his command."

This message truly touched me. It made me realize how truly important it is to completely OBEY our father in heaven and ALL his council...not just selective parts! This post is not to preach, it is me sharing my thoughts about something that I have a firm belief and testimony in. I have learned that obedience brings so much happiness and so many blessings. Heavenly father is so loving and so very kind. I am so thankful for a loving father in heaven who is watching over us and guiding our life, every second of every day. I am so thankful for a heavenly father who asks so very little of us, and in return gives so much. I am so grateful for my savior and for his incredible sacrifice for me. He went through unimaginable pain. He suffered He bled, and he died....all in hopes that I will make it back to his presence again some day. What an amazing gift he gave to me...and to all of us. I can not express the love and gratitude I have for both my savior and my father in heaven. I am so thankful for the knowledge I have of the plan of salvation. I am so thankful to know that I am sealed to my family and will live with my them forever, beyond the grave. I am so thankful to know that I am sealed to my husband for all eternity, that this earthly life is just our first estate and our journey together will continue far beyond our years here on this earth. I am so thankful to know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the one true Church. I know these are simple truths but they are the foundation and cornerstones of the gospel, and I am truly thankful for the sure knowledge of them. My life is truly blessed. To do the things I am asked of and be obedient in all things is the least I can do to repay my savior and my father in heaven for all the wonderful blessings they have bestowed upon me. Thanks for letting me share my thoughts and feelings!! I hope the message that Elder Eyring's and Clark's words will touch you the way they did me! Have a great day!! Love ya!

For more information about the LDS church or Elder Eyrings message visit the following links:
www.lds.org
www.mormon.org

ps...this invite is to any and everyone who wants to participate....regular bloggers, semi regular, once in a while bloggers, whoever... I thought it might be kinda fun to start blogging here and there about gospel topics... just a thought, a topic, and message, a quote, whatever, whenever, as little or as much as you'd like, something that we can share with each other to help keep the spirit in our life, and help lift each other up...and keep us moving in the right direction. Maybe one of us is having a bad day, maybe we need a little inspiration, maybe we are preparing a talk for the upcoming sunday, maybe we just need a little inspiration, maybe we came across something we just really want to share... maybe we just having something on our mind...if we all share something here and there with each other about the gospel, we can help strengthen each other and hopefully help strengthen others around us too! I think it can be something really great and a great way to share the gospel!! Anybody interested?? Let me know!! I'd love to hear peoples thoughts, messages, testiomonies, advice, etc... any and everything!! Let me know what you all think! :)

tagged by taggart

I was tagged on this by my cute friend Corrine "taggart"...so here ya go...

4 jobs I have had:

1. Living Scriptures

2. La Weight Loss

3. First Line

4. Freightliner

4 movies I have watched more than once:

1. Saturdays warriors (about 1 million times)

2. Encino Man (squeezin the juuuuiiiiccccee..(you will know that line if you have see this show more that once)

3. What About Bob (if you have not seen this more than once, we are no longer friends)

4. Finding Neverland (this is one of my favorites)

4 Places I have lived:

1. Laie, HA

2. Sibui, Romania

3. Provo, Utah

4. Portland, OR

4 TV shows I watch:

1. Lost (religiously)

2. Hero's (just started and I LOVE IT)

3. 24 beep beep..beep beep.. those beeps were the seconds ticking. I am forever a fan of this show, even if the last season was a bit weak. I am just gonna blame the weakness of the last season on jack's (keifer's) personal trouble with alcohol...everyone deserves a second chance though right?

4. The Hills (not a consistent watcher, but I must admit to really like it when I do watch. What is it about these girls and their perfection that makes you want to keep watching? And could Heidi and Spencer be more EVIL? I hate them so bad!! Anyone Else??

4 Places I have been:

1. Romania

2. London

3. Paris

4. Italy

4 People who text me regularly:

1. Dave (but not that often)

2. Sisters (but not really now that I think about it)

3. Mom and Dad ( but only when I text first)
I must say I'm not the biggest texter, and not that many people text me either. Am I a looser, and I am just realizing it? Since Dave and I started dating my text life has gone to pot. There was a time when I used 3700 texts in one month...now I barley use 100. Oh well I could careless. I am happy as can be with my lack of texts. Feel free to shoot me a text when you read this if you feel sorry for me and the lack of my text life, you really shouldn't feel too sorry though, I have replaced my text life with the most amazing husband in the world. I realize that my blog posts remind everyone of this day in and out...I just can't help how much I love him!!

4 of my favorite foods:

1. Doughnuts

2. Peanut Butter

3. Baked Sweets...what is my problem??

4. Blueberries

5. Cheese Puffs (did it only ask to list 4?)

4 Places I would like to visit:

1. New York City

2. New Zealand

3. Fuji

4. Spain

A few Random Questions

1. How long have you been married? 1yr 3 months

2. How old is your spouse? 27

3. Who eats more? Dave. unless its something sweet!

4. Who said I love you first? Dave

5. Who sings better? Dave..he is AMAZING, he records his own songs both singing and guitar.

6. Who is smarter? Dave again...he is a an Einstein not even kidding

7. Who controls the TV remote? usually me...if not we would be watching the history channel or something to do with aliens, jets, or NASA.

8. Whose temper is worse? neither of us have tempers

9. Who does the laundry? me, but dave is always willing to help

10. Who does the dishes? me, but Dave is really good at helping when i ask.

11. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? me.

12. Who cooks dinner? me, I wish I was a better cook though

13. Who is more stubborn? neither one of us

14. Who is the first to admit they are wrong? prob me...because I am usually the one who is wrong...darn it!

15. Whose parents do you see the most? mine. Utah is closer than Illinois.

16. Who has more siblings? me 5 to 1

17. Who wears the pants in the family? both the same...diff pants for different situations :)


thanks for reading...and tag your it... this was a fun one....take the time and do it! come on, you know you have nothing better to do!!!

Kickin It

Dave bought some new puma shoes last weekend that were so cute...and yesterday while we were out, we came across a huge sale at famous footwear...so since we LOVE to be twiners(ha, ok maybe its just me) but anyhow...I had no choice but to buy the girl version of his shoes. I also couldn't help but take a picture of our twiner kicks! Thanks for letting me copy you honey! You're so cool!

More Pics

I just got a CD in the mail from my parents with all the pictures that they took while they were here! Most of the pics are the same ones I had on my camera...but here are a few new ones!

Just Tuesday

Just another Tuesday. I don't love Tuesday. It's kinda the same as Monday. It's still so far from the weekend and you really only have Monday behind you.

1. Does anyone else LOVE peanut butter and honey??

2. I went to a spin class this morning and was very disappointed. I've decided that running is so much easier and lots more fun. You get to a point where you don't really have to think about what your doing and you just go....lucky for me running burns alot more calories than spinning! 500+/hr compared to 360/hr (stats provided by my best friend the body bugg)

3. I am one lucky wife



4. FANTASTIC NEWS! We got a massage chair! Its true! A few weeks ago we were in Brooke Stone playing around with all their fun stuff and I sat in the most comfy incredibly relaxing massage chair. It was heaven. I figured it would be outrageously expensive but to my surprise it as totally affordable. So after receiving an unbelievable back massage I was convinced that we had to get one. I told Dave and reluctantly he tried it out, it only took a few minutes of massaging and he was sold!Before we went through with the purchase we wanted to look around at other chairs to make sure we were getting what we wanted for a good price. Luckily Dave excels when it comes to spending hours on the Internet researching products and their quality, pros, cons, prices and everything under the sun. So after a week of intense Internet searching and an in depth color coded excel spreadsheet produced by Dave highlighting everything there was to know about each chair we were interested in....we came to a decision and bought one!



Best thing about it is we got a higher quality chair that was cheaper than the one at Brooke Stone! Thanks honey for your persistence in researching and Internet searching. I am sitting in this sucker right now...it feels so wonderful on my sore back! I am one happy girl! Thanks babe!

5. Dave is eating vegetables. That's right. Today his lunch includes 1 cup of broccoli and 1/2 cup of green beans. This was his idea! GO HONEY!

6. Turtle won't stop meowing, and its not a regular meow either...its a really weird sounding whine....and it's unbelievably annoying (i love her...but seriously she has to stop this madness)



I think that will do for now. Just some random thoughts and facts about the day to day. I better get back to Tuesday. Pretty soon it will be Wednesday, which is great cus the next day is Thursday and I love Thursdays because Thursdays mean the next day is Friday and that makes me very very happy!

I heart the weekend

Delicious Dinner



Marvelous Milkshakes



Eight for Eight in 2008



What a fun, chill night! Thanks for hanging Haroldsens!

I AM

I AM.......

i am: sitting next to Dave while he is playing PlayStation!!! (em, that was not planned, i just happen to be posting at the same time! too funny)
i think: that people in Portland freak out when there is any kind of change in the weather (aka today is 100 degrees, hot yes, but they act like its gonna be the death of them!)
i know: the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints is true
i want: someone to take away my back pain
i have: the nicest sexiest husband in the world
i dislike: being cold
i miss: MY FAMILY!!
i fear: being fat
i feel: incredibly blessed and happy
i hear: TV noises
i smell: cinnamon gum (yummy!)
i crave: doughnuts and pretty much anything sweet
i cry: when I get really flustered
i usually: run an hour every day
i search: for jobs because i need a new one
i wonder: if my back pain will ever go away
i regret: Not getting a degree in something that I enjoy doing
i love: Being with Dave
i care: about not hurting peoples feelings
i always: use q-tips to fix my eye liner
i am not: into video games
i remember: to put the toilet paper on the way Dave likes it
i believe: in being and staying positive
i dance: and do funny hand motions while singing to annoy Dave
i sing: in the car
i don’t always: floss my teeth
i argue: when i sometimes shouldn't
i write: to do lists
i win: the doughnut eating contest at our annual Halloween party 3yrs running
i lose: patience with turtle when she meows non stop
i wish: that my family would move to Oregon so we could all live together in an amazing place
i listen: to Music while I exercise
i don't understand: how to do any kind math that deals with fractions
i can usually be found: with dave
i am scared: of becoming fat
i need: my husband by my side
i forget: to turn off the curling iron (from Dave)
i am happy: that i get to sleep in tomorrow!

I tag, Jac, Court, (uh hello do you even blog anymore) and Erin!!

COME BACK SOON!!

Zone and Mike were here to visit the past four days and WOW we had a BLAST! We were able to do so much! This was there second time to visit Portland since we've lived here. Their first visit was right after we got married, and since we now know our way around better than the first time they were here, we were able to show the many things and places that we have come to love, and a lot of what Portland has to offer!

Dave and I unfortunately had to work 1/2 days Wednesday and Thursday since we took off two days last week with Dave's parents...so Mom and Dad woke up on Wed morning and went on a beautiful walk and did some exploring in the morning and early afternoon. We met up with them around 2:00pm and went to the Beaverton Farmers Market which was wonderful by the way! There were hundreds of fresh fruits, veggies and yummy other things! There were beautiful flowers, yummy candies, kettle corn, and tons of other vendors selling other cool things. There is also a huge fountain in the park surrounded by beautiful flowers and cute benches. After walking through the market we sat on talked, relaxed and enjoyed the wonderful weather and each others company.We ended the evening with a yummy dinner at PF Changs..yummy yummy!

Thursday Dad and Mom went on another walk and then went to the rose gardens! They then met us at work and we showed them around the water front and walk way at Freightliner and then headed off to Multnomah falls. We checked out the water fall and then hiked our bums off to the top! OUCH!




It is a pretty steep hike and once you get to the top its a beautiful view looking out over the entire Columbia River Gorge. Once we made it down and realized we burned so many calories from the long hard hike... Out back Steak house called our name!! It was so good! I love Out Back! After dinner we went back home and watched a movie. What a fun day!

Dave and I took off Friday from work..YAY!! I love not working!! So, first thing in the morning, we Drove out to Banks, OR to go Blueberry Picking! The Blueberry Farm is in the middle of no where surrounded by trees and beautiful rolling hills. It is just beautiful!




The blueberry bushes where 6-8 feet tall and were covered with blueberry's. They were literally falling off the tree/bush! It was so much fun! We ended up picking 27lbs of blueberry's! It was unbelievable!





We ate so many while we picked them. I left there sick to my stomach! We got 27lbs of blueberries for $32.00! The weather was cool and the surroundings were incredible! It was AMAZING!! It was one my most favorite things I have done in Oregon! After Blueberry picking we came home got ready and headed over to the Cheesecake Factory for an AMAZING lunch, followed by some great shopping.....and what better way to end a perfect day than with a wonderful visit to the Portland Temple!




We were pooped by the time we got home! I actually fell asleep on the floor while in attempts to make plans for the next day! Another absolutley WONDERFUL day!

Saturday Zone and Mike went Berry picking bright and early while Dave and I slept in a little. (Zone had to get more raspberry's to take home...she ended up taking two carry ons full of blueberry's and raspberries! gotta lover her!!)

Dave LUCKILY remembered Friday afternoon that the Oregon Air show was Saturday morning/afternoon... He has been waiting for the air show all year long! This was something we COULD NOT MISS! Lucky for ME my dad was here and we did a boys go to the air show, girls go to lunch and shopping!!! Me and mom went on a nice walk, came home got ready, went to lunch and did some shopping. It was so fun! I loved being able to spend some alone time talking and hanging out with my mom! She is so wonderful and I really miss not being able to be with her whenever I please!

We met up with the boys around 2:30 and headed to the Coast! The drive was beautiful as always! We visited Cannon beach, Ecoli park and Seaside! It was all of our first time at Seaside and we all loved it! We walked around the shops, enjoyed the beautiful scenery, walked by the beach, had a lovely seafood dinner at Doogers and topped it all off with yummy waffle cone ice cream! Can you say HOLY COW, CAN IT GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT...FFFFUUUUNNNN???????

























WOW...can you believe it???? Talk about a fun fun and more fun! Are we lucky or what?!!! Seriously we had so much fun with you guys! Thanks so much mom and dad for coming to visit! We enjoyed every second of you being here! It was so fun to chat, hang out, drive around,eat food, shop, and just have you here! We wish SO bad we could be with you more often and spend this kind of time with you on a regular basis! Thank you for all the dinners, lunches, treats, gifts, clothes, goodies, ETC..ETC!! You guys spoil us way to much! We are so lucky to have you!! We love and miss you already! Come back anytime...and make it soon!! We love you!!