Good News!

Hello blogging world, it's been a while. I will update my pictures someday. But until then, I thought I'd let everyone know that Lily is going to be a big sister!! Our new little angle is due the middle of April. We are so excited to add to our family!!

New update...

Per request of a friend, Shannon J, I am finally updating. Sorry it's been so long! So we ran the Ogden 1/2 marathon and the Ragnar Wasatch Back. Both difficult, the later being equal to the difficulty and exhaustion of child birth, but, like child birth, I would definitely do both again in a heart beat. We came away with such an awesome sense of accomplishment, not to mention the health benefits. They were awesome races!!

We are now living in Washington Terrace at Woodland Cove Apts. I am one of the full time managers here. I get to bring Lily to the office with me, it's so nice. We love it here! Kevin is still going through the Management program with Buckle. He is currently in Layton but will be transfering to Newgate in Sept. He really likes it. It's challenging and the scene is always changing. Lily is now 18 mo and growing so fast! She walks and talks and signs a ton of signs. She and I have gone to nursery the last couple weeks together and she will be official next Sunday! She is coloring and singing songs and playing with the kids so well!

My sister, Alison, is getting married in October, so we will be taking a much needed vacation to Hawaii for her wedding (she lives there). We are very excited, for the vacation and for her!

That's our life in a nutshell!

An update

So for anyone who actually still looks at this, here is an update. We will be moving to South Ogden again soon (not sure when exactly). For now we are still enjoying being at my parent's house. Kevin just started a new job at Buckle in the Layton Mall. He is going through their management training program, so in a year he will run his own store somewhere in the north-western territory which includes the north west states. We think it will be a good change and hopefully a place he can stay for a while :). Kevin needed some new clothes for work so I was more than happy to help, he he. I hope to be adding a few items to my wordrobe sometime soon as well. I think I could get used to Kevin working at a nice clothing store :).

Lily is now 1 and walking. I think she's officially a toddler, I can't believe it! Her sign language vocabulary is expanding with words such as food, more, drink, all done, sleep, snacks (or treats), and more. She waves and says bye bye. A couple days ago she even tried to say all done ( ah dah), she's so smart! She says mama and dada too. She is an absolute joy in our lives! The pic is of her enjoying her birthday cake.

Kevin and I are still training away for our half marthon. It's hard work but we enjoy the challenge. I love the way it makes me feel, hopefully we can create some life long habits here.

I am still mostly staying home with Lily and doing some massages here and there. I love being able to be a stay at home mom. Definitely the best job in the world!

We are blessed!!

Just Keep Running...

So I guess it's official, Kevin and I have signed up for the Ogden Half Marathon scheduled for May 16th. EEEE!!!! Last month Kevin had a checkup and the doc ordered Kevin to start yoga for flexible and strengthening his body, especially his core. So he started Bikram yoga classes along with a gym membership. Of course I wasn't going to be left behind so I started yoga too. They are awesome classes!! Then my sister mentioned she was running/walking a half marathon. I was in, no questions. Ever since I ran a 5k (4 1/2 years ago) I've wanted to run more races, and this was the perfect opportunity. Kevin took a bit longer to be on board but, hey, it's a great motivation to get in shape. I'm excited and a little nervous at the same time. But I'm especially stoked to finally reach my fitness goals and get into the best shape I've ever been. So here's to healthy living!!

A Beautiful Lady

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! Ours was good, but with someone missing. Friday night, one week ago, Kevin's Grandma, Marie Knight, suddenly passed away from a heart attack. She died while making a quilt for a baby she would never meet. It was to be donated to Mckay Dee hospital. This was a true a symbol of the life that this beautiful daughter of God lived. She definitely lived a good long life with very little (if any) health problems and that we can be grateful for. From the day I met grandma and grandpa Knight I felt like I was one of their own, almost as if they had always been my grandparents. How wonderful it is to feel so excepted and loved. Grandma was always willing to serve and provide where needed. As a couple grandma and grandpa served 9 missions all over the world! Heavenly Father's children all over have truly been blessed by this good woman.

Grandma is so beautiful. She made all her own dresses, all unique. Everytime I saw her I thought how beautiful she always looked, it was like she had a radiating light and beauty that constantly shone from her. On most occasions I told her so. I am grateful for that. It reminds me to always tell people the good things I think about them. When I think of grandma I think of one of my favorite songs "Beautiful" by Cherie Call. The chorus goes "It's what you give that makes you beautiful. It's how you live that makes your dreams come true. Keep your faith in this world, let the light of the Lord shine through. That's what makes you beautiful."

She meant so much to so many people. Kevin even shed a few tears, he loves her so much. She will truly be missed. But oh, what a wonderful angel Heavenly Father has to bring to pass His righteousness in heaven! Her time here was done, and now she continues to serve and love on the other side. As the casket was bieng closed on the day of her funeral all of a sudden this feeling of peace and gladness filled my body. It was as if grandma was there with her spunky zest for life and positive attitude saying, "Don't be sad! We will meet again. I'm happy and His work will go on. Let's celebrate life and our creator's goodness and mercy!" Until we meet again grandma! We love you!!

This is a picture of Lily and Grandma Knight (grandpa in the background) at the 24th of July rodeo, something they loved to do. I was so glad I got it so that Lily could have a picture of her and her name sake (she is named Lily Marie after her great grandma Knight and grandma Varble).

I couldn't get the pix to stay rotated, oh well.

Our California Quest

I don't know why it has taken me so long to update but I am finally doing it. So the last few months have been CRAZY, especially the last few weeks. Kevin finally went out to Cali the first part of November to get his job taken care of so we could move there. Well, a week went by and everything we thought was promising fell through. We thought ok, there is something better for us, lets try another week, it will all work out. And then that week went by. It was stressful, but at the end of two and a half weeks we had to question if moving to CA was the right thing for us to do. We came to the conclusion that maybe it's not right now. We felt so good about selling our house and moving it doesn't make much sense to us. But things change, maybe 6 months ago it was right and now it's not. So for now we are staying in Utah. Even though I was so excited to move, it does give me a sense of relief to stay around our family and friends.

I did gain some important things from this experience like how amazingly grateful and lucky we are to live in Utah and have the family and friends that we do. I have loved having the chance to help and serve in various situations where I wouldn't have been able to if we moved. And over the past little while I have come to appreciate the little things so much more, like having a warm place to live, food to eat, clothes to wear, the things we take so much for granted. While in CA Kevin was able to stay with his aunt who lives out there that he has never gotten to know. I know he really treasures the time he got to spend with their family. They took him sight seeing and fed him things he had never tried before. He even helped them realize how grateful they are for what they have. We are truly grateful for their kindness and hospitality. Also not being with my husband for 2 1/2 weeks was hard but it brought us closer together and strengthened our marriage, which I am so thankful for.

So what's next for us? I have no idea. We are taking it one day at a time. Our life has taken a 180 degree flip and we are just wingin' it right now. There are many things in life that we don't understand but this we do know- Heavenly Father has a plan for us, and we intend to do all we can to follow it. If this is our refining fire, then bring it on, cause I can't wait 'till the other side (I hope it comes quick!)

Heavenly Father Gives Us Stones

Sometimes Heavenly Father gives us stones so that we can become more like the gems we are. Two days ago Harrison Samuel Maw was stillborn at 20 weeks to my brother Trent and his wife April. It was a tough couple days before hand, but everything turned out to be the best that it could be in this situation. I had the priveledge of seeing the precious angel that day. He was just under a pound, so tiny and perfect. It was amazing to me to see his perfect fingers, toes, ears, nose. The doctors said he was very developed for his age. We know that little Harrison's mission was to get a body and continue his work up in heaven with Heavenly Father.
I am reminded of how fragile life really is. But, once again, the power of prayer has showed itself unwavering. Even if it's not always the exact way we want it, things always turn out to be the best. I thank my Heavenly Father for His love, mercy, and lessons that He teaches to help me become my best self. Trent and April, we love you. Huddy and Ruby are so blessed to have you as their mom and dad. Our prayers will continue to be with you!!