Nature Park

When I was going to girls camp, I remember one of the leaders talking about Joseph Smith and his experience in the Sacred Grove [if you have any questions about that feel free to call or ask me]. We were out in the woods, and he said that everyone should have their own 'sacred grove'. A place to reflect on the smallest and deepest thoughts and feelings of our hearts, and place to be alone or with the people we love and God.

Through out my life, I haven't had one single place for this. I've lived several places within the past few years and every time I have found a special place to do this. Most of the times I went alone, but now that I am married I have some one I can go with.

Lately, I think we've felt a little stuck in neutral. Or at least, maybe that is just me, but I feel like right now, I can't move forward, and I can't go back. We aren't like the freshly married rose colored glasses people, wanting to either be alone 24/7 or partying it up with everyone. But we don't have kids yet, so were not quite there yet either. I don't know-its just hard to find our place.

So yesterday, after church we went for a walk at Nature Park. Lester wanted to test out his new camera, but it was nice just walking and being able to reflect on this part of our lives and where were at. Its nice to know that even though we may not relate with a ton of other people, we relate with each other and that's all we need. So we decided that we would make more time to just be the two of us, and not focus so much on having parties and hanging out with other people. This is our time, and we are just going to enjoy it to the fullest. I'm grateful for the places and times of quiet reflection in this roller coaster life of ours.

[As silly as this sounds, I had never thought about pine cones growing on pine trees. But look here are some real ones!]

[The crazy part is this is a typically a little lake/giant pond when its not frozen over!]

[See, you can see the parts where the ice isn't as thick..normally that is a little island in the middle!]

Fish

As most of you who read this blog know, my Mom is the creme de la creme of when it comes to baking and cooking. We were all blessed by this growing up. We had hot, homemade dinners a majority of the time and delicious desserts from scratch if we ate our veggies. Many of my favorite memories and life lessons were learned in the kitchen with her, with Avonlea in the background. From this, I have gained a love and talent for cooking and baking. She has made me very well prepared for all this, now that I am have a small family of my own.

However, if there is one small area in which my skills are deficient it is in the area of seafood. My Mom dislikes seafood. We never ate fish or sea life of any kind, because of this. So in this, Lester has been patient as I have experimented. Granted we live in Idaho, where sea life isn't the most abundant. But still-I've had some flops, but some major successes to. So this week when our local grocery store was having a meat sale, we bought some salmon. Last night I made an herb butter glaze for it, with a roasted garlic tomato pasta. It was delicious!

It made me think-since marrying Lester I have tried so many kinds of food I never thought I would be willing to try. Like certain filipino foods, es cargo, brazilian meats, octopus, different fruits, etc. And now fish is one of my favorite foods ever! So thanks Mom, and thanks Lester for opening my eyes up to the wonderful world of food and cuisine!

Stereotypes

A while back a friend joked to me about how before he met Lester, he thought he looked pretty intimidating. But then after he met him, and saw him with me he realized Lester is really 'a big teddy bear.' I had a teacher my last semester who told me that she thought I could probably beat her up, and I've had multiple people who hear I'm from the SF area and think that I must be really liberal then. I've heard people who think that because a person is Mormon they must be a polygamist. Or of people who assume that because they are Mormon, they are better then other people.

My point is that in general, stereotypes are dumb. I realize that often they come out of some small truth, but at the end of the day I would rather get to know a person, and then form my opinion of them then believe the often wrong stereotypes.

And in case I didn't get my point across enough with my words, here is a picture to further illustrate it.

Bdubs

This week for FHE, Lester and I decided to hook it up w some friends and go to Buffalo Wild Wings! For those of you who don't know what that is [like me last semester] you are missing out! It is obviously a wings establishment, but the best part is they have a plethora of sauces or rubs you can try. Lester and I shared a set, and my favorite by far were the traditional honey BBQ and the parmesan garlic ones. We also had a side of onion wings. All I can say is YUM! Our waitress was great, as was the company. I think that when going to a place like Bdubs, it is good to go with people you already know you like, otherwise the awkward lulls in the conversation can be extended and weird haha. But luckily, that wasn't the case, since J&R and B&B are definitely good friend/bdub company material haha. After dinner, four of us headed back home and played a game of Sequence. After that, the Morco's joined us for another few games of Sequence, and my old roomie, Alexis and her bf came over, where we finished out the night w Monopoly Deal. Then Lester and I read until we fell asleep.

I think one of the best things about getting married is that you or your significant other don't have to go home after the food, games, cuddling or curfew is up. Its just continued into this awesome, infinite family night. I LOVE IT!

Gelato

On Sunday, one of the things we talked about was the importance of little things like family night. Lester and I have been pretty good about this within the last year, but of course, there is always room for improvement...and really it shouldn't be that much hard to do that, since its only just the two of us! So this Monday, we decided to read a talk together given originally by an apostle of our church. It was good to be able to talk about our thoughts and feelings on it, and see from each others perspectives. Then, we used a recipe from a book we had gotten a while ago called Scoops. We made a Belgian Chocolate Gelato and while at first I was a little worried, it ended up turning out AMAZING. Lester said it was one of the deepest tasting chocolate gelatos/ice creams he had ever tasted! SCORE! Then we played Sequence, one of our new favorite games that my Grandparents had gotten us for Christmas. Even though it was only an hour, it was the perfect break and reminder of how blessed we are to be together and of how sweet even the small moments are!

On Sunday, one of the things we talked about was the importance of little things like family night. Lester and I have been pretty good about this within the last year, but of course, there is always room for improvement...and really it shouldn't be that much hard to do that, since its only just the two of us! So this Monday, we decided to read a talk together given originally by an apostle of our church. It was good to be able to talk about our thoughts and feelings on it, and see from each others perspectives. Then, we used a recipe from a book we had gotten a while ago called Scoops. We made a Belgian Chocolate Gelato and while at first I was a little worried, it ended up turning out AMAZING. Lester said it was one of the deepest tasting chocolate gelatos/ice creams he had ever tasted! SCORE! Then we played Sequence, one of our new favorite games that my Grandparents had gotten us for Christmas. Even though it was only an hour, it was the perfect break and reminder of how blessed we are to be together and of how sweet even the small moments are!

Nuevo

In keeping with the New Year, I am going to just share some new things goin down with Lester and I! For one, Lester got a fancy schmancy new camera..which is good news for our blog because now the pics will be better quality haha!

So then, with that new camera, he took a picture of my new hair cut! This is the shortest I've had it in ages, and most of the time I love it! Its also the first time since I think I was 16 that it has been completely my natural hair color. What do you think? Like I said I am liking it, but still getting used to it..

Another new thing we are trying is with our meal planning. It has been really difficult for me to find foods that are not only budget friendly, but also delicious and healthy. Then my Mom told me that Costco sells whole chickens for 89 cents a lb! Hello budget friendly!! The cool part is my friend Kim had blogged about how to make enough chicken for 4 meals, and also usable chicken stock from that! I have since done just this, and we have plans for chicken pot pie, chicken quesadilla soup, a chicken casserole meal, white chicken chili, chicken salad, and taquitos, which I made tonight [and are pictured below]! I'm already really excited about the effect this is having on our wallets, tastebuds and health! HOORAY!

I have also been reading a lot of good new books, per some suggestions. I am almost done with I Am The Messenger, and with shortly be starting Leviathan and The Maze Runner. After that I think I will take a hiatus from Young Adult books [although I do love that I can read stuff and then discuss it with Luke afterwards!] and go back to my roots of Sherlock Holmes, Jane Austen, LOTR and the possibly try out The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. I suppose this is life after the Hunger Games right? Haha..can't wait till march!

Other then that, a few sucky things have happened but I am not going to take the time to dwell on them. Tonight were playing volleyball with some friends, and then is back to work tomorrow morning! Hey, it may not be glamorous, but sometimes life being ordinary is exactly what makes it EXTRAORDINARY!

No More Looking Back

I know, I know, I have been a bad blogger...but we are heading back to Rexburg on Tuesday, and I will pick up a more regular routine, with blog posts and pictures galore. Especially holiday ones.

I have to admit though, in heading back to Rexburg, it is hard not to be a little sad. I will miss my family and my friends here. I will miss the weather, and the nature here, beaches and woods. Its hard when I'm in Rexburg not to think about these things, and reminisce when I here the song, 'I left my heart in San Francisco'.

But you know what? I'm done with that! My family and I watched this video and it totally put things into perspective for me! My heart is wherever Lester is, because he is my present. In talking to him about this new year, he said that all he wants is for me to happy. But I realize now that in order to do that, I can't live in the past.

Don't get me wrong-the past is important. It has made us who we are today and brought us to this present. The future is too-its exciting and scary to think about the blank slate that we have yet to write on. But if I am constantly wishing I was somewhere else, or worrying too much for the future, I won't have time to enjoy the present. And I ain't doing that no more son!

I don't want to always be looking back. I love my life and I love Lester and he is my home now. The bay area will always be a part of me, and a part of my heart will always be here, especially as long as my family is, b/c they are part of my past, present and future. But I am living in the now-this year is going to be one of the best yet because I am going to be 100% present in it, living, loving and enjoying it till this time next year.

No more looking back. 2012..its going DOWN!