Ok...I have 10 minutes before I'm off to look at some houses...can I complete this tag in 10 minutes....let's see...
(3 hours later)
1. I can only sleep on my right side....with a body pillow...and a puffy pillow for my sweet little head. (this is not by choice (back pain)...but I would consider it quirky)
2. I tuck the top of my mouse suit into the bottom of my mouse suit (mouse suit = g's...Dave's nickname)....that's right, I'm a tucker.
3. I can not start eating dinner until the mess I created while cooking is COMPLETELY clean. All I want to do after I eat is put my dinner plate in the dishwasher and walk away.
4. I like to pop zits. In fact.. I LOVE IT. I even sometimes have dreams about pooping a really good zit. Dave lets me pop his back sometimes...its his way of showing me he loves me.
5. I am always pulling my shirt down.... :) No..silly people not like that. I'm talking about the bottom part of my shirts. I'm always tugging and pulling to make it longer...even if its a long shirt. It's something I do out of habit I guess...maybe I think it makes me look skinner if my shirt is longer...??
6. This quirk has changed in the past two weeks since living in Utah...but when I was in Portland, not a day that went by where I didn't talk to someone in my family. I just love them..
geeze louise! What a fun weekend! The whole fam was in town and we partied hard core! We went to the corn maze, tried to carv pumkins, had a surprise birthday party for my dad...had a crazy fun (jam packed) Halloween party...went to the temple, watched scary movies...chatted the nights away..and laughed our little somewhat big bums off! (the big referring to me not you sisters) It was so much fun! We also went to Tonys TWICE!! YUMM!! Since I am somehow stil really really busy...I'll leave it at that and throw in some pictures for your viewing pleasure!! Thanks mom and dad for a fun willed five days!!
We arrived into Utah almost two weekends ago..and I haven't had a spare minute to blog...I can't even believe it. I am beginning to understand how it is so hard to blog when you are not sitting in front of a computer for 8 hours a day...its very difficult to find time...its seems like everything else takes precedent....(weird). Anyhow...we are here, we are loving it...and we are BUSY! House hunting is not for the lazy folk...its takes serious looking and hard work! But we are making progress! Turtle is a bit stressed and confused...Dave Love's his job...we love Utah...life is good!
Proof that we are really here..(Rumbi Grill)mmmm mmmm good!
PS..any friends or family that I haven't called or seen yet..don't hate me.. I want to call you and play with you really soon! I really have been crazy busy.. working, looking for a job, moving, looking for a house showering...ya know all that stuff..it's our Halloween family weekend(wed-sunday non stop party)..so next week..IM FREE! (unless I have to start work..)
We can not WAIT to move to Utah. We have been working our tails off in preparation for the move and have just 1 day left! Although we couldn't be more thrilled about our move, reality is setting in and it is becoming clear that we're going to miss this place dearly! Portland is where our life together began and where all our memories up to this point reside. We've been blessed to make dear friends that have been like family to us...we have become accustomed to the mild beautiful weather...we've seen the breath taking sites....and just recently we've begun to feel that Portland was "our home"...(minus our real family). I want to dedicate this post to Portland a place we've come to love...I'm sure it will naturally shift places with Utah and become our "new" home away from home.
10 things i'll miss (in no particular order)
1. the beautiful weather
2. visits to the coast
3. the hundreds of hikes, trails, and bike paths (just outside our front door)
4. magical strawberries and berry picking
5. Nike clothes being sold everywhere for CHEAP (Shopko,Fredy's,& Ross 2 name a few)
6. low altitude runs
7. McMenamins dinner and a movie
8. friends who make you feel at home
9. wearing hoodies in the summer
10. NO TAX ON ANY PURCHASE i.e.(Diet Coke =$1.25 you pay $1.25)
I tried to create a slide show and it erased on me, so I am posting a bunch of pics our time here in Portland. (most are repeats from previous posts)
bye bye Portland. Thanks for letting us stay! We'll miss you. Be back soon!
Last night Dave gave Turtle a new name... Miss Mensie. Not sure if it was inspired by the word "Mensies" or not, either way I kinda like it. I guess I was excited about her new identity because I decided to give Dave a new name also.... I began listing every name under the sun...figuring that if said enough names aloud the right one would stand out....and it did.....Afterward I went and checked on Miss Mensie who was down stairs sleeping. I came upstairs, got in bed, then leaned over and gave Charles a kiss good night. We both slept soundly.
(I sang Charles this song to alleviate any grumbling brought on by my decision) (3 days and counting)
When my lovely niece Gracie was about 3 years old, she sent my mom a letter that my sister helped her write. My sister wrote word for word what Grace wanted to tell her "gaga" (my mom)...
the letter went something like this..
"i love you gaga, i like to play wit mom, come see me, cache is my older brother, we love when you see us, my favorite is chocolate, WHAT THE HECK IN THE WORLD. Love, Grace
We all laughed our heads off at the letter and have all taken the saying "what the heck in the world" and added it to our everyday vocab.
So can I just say "WHAT THE HECK IN THE WORLD!!" Could packing be more stressful, tiring, draining, physically painful and ANNOYING! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!
I watched this video on one of my friends blogs, and I HAD to share it with anyone who has not seen it...its too funny to keep secret! Make sure to watch the entire thing! (thanks han)
After watching Stacy's Trumpet solo, we stumbled across this video...hilarious!
This is the first time since I've been married, and maybe even in 2 years that I have been awake past 11:30pm on a weekday. Yes, its true...I am awake in the AM...this is not my dream typing...its me. After a long night of packing we got to bed pretty late by our standards(11:00pm). I tried to fall asleep but I seem to have a long list of things that need to get done and I kept adding to and reviewing this list over and over again. After an hour of reviewing in my mind, I realized that the madness would not stop until I physically put these things on paper. So here I am 1:27 am...still awake. It's crazy to think I used to go to bed between 1:00 and 3:00am on a regular basis. I felt obligated to document this event since it may be years until it happens again. Thanks for the stress Utah, I still love you and will see ya soon!
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."
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??
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."
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!!
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!
