Singing In the Rain.....

What a glorious feeling.... I love the rain, even though it has been non-stop. I feel really bad for the folks who have experienced the flooding of their homes and the changes that come with that. It has been bad as many of you know from watching the news so make sure that when you are in your beds in your beautiful homes that you say a quick prayer for them and offer a few words of thanks for your privileges. This past week has been a long one, it seems that all we do is go-go-go! Multiple counties closed the schools on Tues so we headed to Greensboro NC with Adam for a quick 2 day trip. It was fun and mostly relaxing for me. Friday night I did a little networking at an event in Atlanta called "Champagne and Shadows". It is hosted at a makeup studio- you go and socialize/network, and get your makeup done. I looked awesome, but didn't have a camera. I know! So NOT like me. Tomorrow is Adams 35th birthday, which I can not believe! I met and married him when he was only 20 years old, just a baby! Time sure does fly by. Yesterday marked our one year anniversary of us loading up our family and beginning a new chapter in our lives by moving here to Ga. I remember thinking as we left Utah- "what is our life going to be like and where will we be a year from now?" Well- we are happy, and healthy and have met a lot of wonderful people. The mission field is amazing out here, and I have never felt like I was a part of that until we moved here. We have an amazing connection with all the missionaries who have serviced our wards and I LOVE that my husband is finally able to be very involved with his calling. I do think of what we are missing back in Utah- but I keep those thoughts silent. Makenzie still thinks of all her cousins and friends so I encourage her to think of all the great friends she has here and how she is creating a wonderful life here. Well- I am very tired but wanted to post before I headed off the bed! Love and hugs-

14 Years and Counting...

I forgot to mention on my last update that on the first of this month- we celebrated our 14th year of marriage! I know-I can't believe how fast the time has passed! I wish we could do it all over again! Read on about what a wonderful guy Adam is.... so you all know that I am in school to become an esthetician... and so while Joey (cousin) was here last week I talked him into coming in for a spa treatment. Adam has already been in for a facial and he really enjoyed it, and so I had them both in for a European facial. I worked on Adam and my friend Rosemary worked on Joey. After the treatment- Joey wanted to have his back waxed and HE talked Adam into doing it as well! Now- Joey had a sweater- meaning he had a lot of hair to remove, but Adam... had none- but still wanted some of the fine blond hairs removed. We just had 3 new students start 3 weeks ago and they needed the experience- what good sports they were!!! Last Saturday we took the kids to see the house that Adam grew up in and we also did some geo-cashing. This past week was not really eventful other than last night Makenzie was in the Young Womens talent show. She did an amazing job of singing! ( The pictures above show Adam and Joey at my school, all of us Geo-Cashing- a pretty road in Bowden, a really old grave, and a slaves grave marked with a brick, and the Falcons vs Miami Dolphins game) Hope all is well-Love and Hugs-

This past weekend, Adam had some work to do in Charleston SC and of course we all wanted to tag along. We left late on Friday night so that the kids wouldn't have to miss any school, but didn't take into account that there would be so much traffic to get out of the city. We didn't get in to Charleston until 1am! Uggh it was so hard to want to stay awake. We stayed in a sweet hotel (Embassy Suites ) in the downtown area and it was awesome! It was the Old Citadel school from 1822 till 1921 when the school was moved into a bigger facility down a few blocks. It remains the same with a few upgrades(like private bathrooms and airconditioning) but it was set up as a fort to protect Charleston from the slaves who came over from Denmark. In that time the blacks very much outnumbered the whites. In the dining room- the original gun windows that the soldiers would put the rifles thru to shoot out are still there. It was so cool to see all the old artifacts that were found when the Citadel was being turned into the hotel. We loved it there. We went to Folly beach- not one of our favorites but the kids still had fun. The waves were REALLY rough and it was super windy on Sunday, so we only stayed maybe about 3 hours which if you know us.... you know when we go to the beach, it is ALL DAY LONG! So we packed it in, and took the kids shopping and to On The Border! Ummm, when did my Taylor become such a clothes freak? My gosh- that girl tried talking us into buying her everything her heart desired. I am immune to such cuteness but alas- her dad is not! Monday Adam really wanted to go to Patriot Point which is a Museum dedicated to our War Heroes and it is on a decommissioned war ship- The Yorktown. All I have to say is... AWESOME. I am really glad we went even though I complained (a little) I even found my Great Uncles name on the wall of "Above and Beyond the Call" wall. Then I was able to pull his name and photo up inside the Fallen Heroes museum and read his story. He died in the Korean War at the age of 24 when he sustained massive wounds while distracting the enemy so that his troop could get away. Being able to see that was worth the day and it made me feel good... I always knew about him but it was so awesome to see his name... right there with all the others. In the Aviation Memorial there was a quote that read "When you go home tomorrow, tell them of us and say- For your tomorrow we gave our Today." Killed me to watch all the videos and see all the original men who were at one time serving in active duty on this huge aircraft carrier ship because I kept thinking- they were so young... some of them just boys. I wondered- did they think one day that ship would be a museum and that so many people would look at them with awe? So I guess my message tonight would be- be grateful for the many privileges and freedoms you are able to enjoy! God Bless our Troops and the USA! Love and Hugs-