My life is good. Not perfect. But SO good. I can’t believe that January is almost over! But December was such good month that I want to reflect back a little on it.

• I learned how to make  gourmet chocolates! The hub’s grandmother makes an assortment of different chocolates every year that are TO DIE for. So. I decided to make an attempt. On of the husband’s deciding questions on whether or not to marry me was if I would be willing to learn how to make these said chocolates. He sounds hard to please, eh? Naturally I wasn’t hard to convince.

These are homemade Almond Joys mmmm….

Isn’t she adorable?

The chocolates turned out great. I can’t wait to try more! Hopefully someday I will be able to make them as smooth and beautiful as grandmas.

• This year I discovered how much I love puzzles! Every year around Christmastime my  mom would break out the card table and we would have a puzzle out all the time. One of our Christmas presents was a card table so I couldn’t resist! Here is on of the first ones that got me going. This is a puzzel of St. Basil’s Cathedral in Russia.

Please excuse my husband’s half nakedness…

• Christmas was wonderful. My first time sharing Christmas. To be honest I was a tiny bit worried about how I would miss being with “my family” but the closer I got to it the more I realized that My husband is my family. So as long as I was with him, I would have a great Christmas. And it was great. I loved having TWO Christmases. Unfortunately I only got two pictures of our holiday.

This is our tree. Given to us from one of The husband’s old roommate’s

And this is my wise man

• Lately I have felt a great lacking of creativity in my life. So I try to take advantage wherever I can. A few Sunday’s ago my mom broke out our large stash of Legos. Who doesn’t love Legos? So I made a house. Complete with a workout room, Kitchen, Bathroom, Bedroom, Entertainment room, and pantry.

Wanna see a close up? Ok, I’ll give you 2

• Our newest adventure has been car troubles. Thus far we have been blessed with 2 vehicles. Which is not only convenient but necessary. I have a fulltime job and mike goes to school and then 3 times a week (sometimes 4) commutes to work. We had been putting money here and there into our Lexus… til finally she died. Or rather, her transmission died. Which for us meant the same thing. We are now using my brother-in-laws old car (while he’s on his mission) while we scrimp and save til we can afford another car. I’ll admit it has been a bit stressful for us both. But it has taught me a lot about trusting in myself and my husband and especially God.

With all these things I am very slowly starting to learn is to love life whatever the circumstances. Or as someone I greatly admire once said: “Come what may and love it“

Here are the ingredients:

Veggie shreds

2 c finely grated zucchini (about 2 zucchinis)
1 c grated carrots (2-3 carrots)
1 c corn kernels, (Thawed if using frozen. 1-2 ears if using fresh.)
1 white potato, grated
1/2 c prepared lentils (Or prepared wild rice or sauteed tempeh.)
1 egg
2 milk
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/8 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 c flour (I used Spelt flour.)
1/2 c fine yellow cornmeal
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 c grated  cheddar cheese
1-3 TB vegetable oil (for frying up the pancakes)

Use your hands to squeeze the excess liquid from the grated zucchini, then place the zucchini in a large bowl.  Add the carrots, corn, potatoes, and lentils and toss to combine the vegetables.

Pretty yummy. And Healthy! It was fun to try something new. We had pears on the side. And Cadbury chocolate Christmas eggs for dessert

These are just a few of my favorite pictures from the big day, My friend Macilla did my photography and did such an amazing job!! Check her out! http://ciocophotography.com/

It was quite the day. Long, but perfect really. And each day just gets better. Who new how nice marriage could be?! I am pretty lucky that I got such a good guy and that he puts up with my craziness everyday.

I am confident that the trials in my life are not over. Maybe I haven’t even tapped in to what I have been meant to learn in this life through hardships, but it is moments like these that I cherish. Where my loving Heavenly Father gives me a wee breather and I am able to notice His tender mercies. It’s moments like this that I look to when I am having a hard time and it helps me hold on just a little bit longer.

My life will never again be like my childhood spent barefoot and worry-free running around in warm rain with my friends. Where I lived off my parents income and their trust in a divine plan for all of us. But it does get better! Fuller, I guess. I have my own faith, that has been tried many times and each time I come out stronger. I still have things I don’t understand. But this thing I do understand. There IS a God. And he is my heavenly Father. And He. Loves. Me. And as I follow His planned laid out for me I will be happiest! There are times in my life that I have forgotten that. I think somehow that I know better than God.

This life is so full of times where I have to force myself to “jump” I have never been very naturally adventurous. Life scares  me. Luckily I learned at a young age that this is no way to live.

I remember when I was young being TERRIFIED of roller coasters and we went to a small theme park in Florida once and my dad MADE ME go on this roller coaster that I was sure would end my life. I probably even cried throughout the whole wait in line. Turns out… I  LOVE roller coasters! There were a lot of things like this in my childhood. I was perfectly content NOT doing all the things the other kids were doing like: riding my bike without training wheels. Luckily my parents weren’t as content with my lack of desire to progress. Again I was forced to do a scary thing.

So. What did I learn from this? Not to be scared? Unfortunately, no. I wish. Somehow I still have that weakness. BUT I did learn that I needed to not let that fear control me. It’s still hard at times. And there are moments when I drag my feet much longer than I need to… But I am getting there!

And it was memories of those times that I “jumped” into making a tough decision or into the next stage of my life that impressed me the most when I was reading in my journal yesterday. When taking that step into the unknown or scary darkness… I have come out alright! More than alright even! Heavenly Father blessed me for that act of faith. Every time!

Now if I can just remember that as I keep moving forward with my life…

First I woke up around 7:30 to go running with my mom. I went out to my car  and it looked like this:

It was stuffed full of balloons! So, first I texted my mom telling her that I might just be a little late. Luckily one of my roommates helped me clear most of it out. There were SO MANY BALLOONS! Once we cleared out some of the front, I found this on the steering wheel:

And this note is just so typical of the boy. I laughed. Then I went running and got ready for the rest of my day. My mom and I went to Ogden to do some shopping. I specifically had to pick up something for a gift that I am making for the boyfriend’s birthday. (I am SO excited about it!! I will post pictures once it is done and I have given it to him.) Then we did some more shopping. I got a new bra. Yay! And when I got home, this was on my bed:

Cute eh? and the chocolates were/are delicious!

Then I wasn’t sure what was going to happen for the rest of the night but I new we would be doing something. So the boyfriend came over around 7. And… I wasn’t there. I wanted to get my mom some daffodils for Valentines day but since we were together all day I didn’t have time til then. The boy thought he had been stood up on valentines day ha! oops… Anyway, then I got home and he was there with a beautiful bouquet of roses:

I loved them! Then we went out to eat at Texas roadhouse. Luckily we had a reservation because it was PACKED. While we were waiting briefly the boy talked to a man making rolls and he offered us a basket of rolls that just came out of the oven! (It made me grateful to be dating someone who likes talking to people ) The dinner was wonderful. The company was wonderful. Everything was perfect. We were going to go back to his house and have fondue but we were just too stuffed. So we watched a movie instead. It was a great day. I felt SO spoiled I hardly knew how to handle it!

Let me just take a moment to be a girl and talk about the boy in my life… He really is quite amazing. And not just because of my Valentines day. And not just because I think he is so dang cute! I am so lucky to know him and to be dating him. He makes me laugh every day. He is practical and silly. He makes me want to do better, and makes me feel like I’m the best. All at the same time. I haven’t known him that long really, but so far it’s been great! We’ll see how it goes!

3/4 cup butter

1 cup sugar, divided

4 eggs separated

1. Preheat oven to 300*F Melt chocolate and butter in a double boiler. Stir together half the sugar and 4 yolks; add to melted chocolate concoction.

2. Using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites; slowly add remaining 1/2 cup sugar until peaks form. Fold mixture into chocolate. Pour into a greased 9-inch cake pan.

3. Bake 40 min, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out with just a few crumbs on it. Cool 30 min before removing from pan. Dust with powdered sugar.

Servings: 12

I probably didn’t cook it long enough and I forgot to grease the pan so I didn’t even try to take the whole cake out of the pan. But oh was it delicious!! I loved it with raspberries on it. Whipped cream was good too I heard

stuffed avocado. The avocado is stuffed with tomatoes, feta cheese and parsley mixed in olive oil and red wine vinegar.

and homemade chocolate cheesecake. This is definitely a favorite that I got from a roommate of mine up in Rexburg.

2c oreo cookie crumbs rolled fine (or just use 3 already made Oreo pie crusts)

3, 8oz packages of cream cheese softened

1c sugar

3 eggs

3/4 tsp vanilla

1/3c choc syrup

1pint sour cream

3tbls sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

choc chips

Whip cream cheese in mixer bowl; gradually add sugar then one egg at a time. Stir in vanilla and chocolate syrup. Pour filling into crust. Bake at 300 degrees for 55 min. Whip sour cream; add sugar and vanilla. Spread on top of cheesecake and return to the oven. Bake 10 more min. Garnish with chocolate chips. (or even better strawberries!!) Refrigerate until ready to serve.

I filled up 2 pie crusts and then put the rest in a cupcake tin. I didn’t know it would make so much!

Monday I started at a place called Pablo’s barbershop. Not exactly where I planned on staying for long. But a job. So I was happy. Monday went alright. I made a descent amount of money. But there were some hard things about it. First, being the only one who worked there who spoke English as her first language. And second… well mostly all other issues had to do with the first things listed. It was hard for me to know what the client wanted and what my boss wanted… It was slightly exhausting. But ok.

Monday afternoon I had a second interview with a local salon just a couple blocks from my house. It was a lot more of what I was looking for. It was a salon and spa. And really the things that I love are really on the spa side of things. And especially since I am going to go back to school to get my master esthetician license. It would be best for me to start working someplace where I can do those things as well. (facials, pedicures, manicures, chemical peels, back facials etc.)

ANYWAY the salon wanted me to work there so I decided to quit my first job and accept. Here is where the frustration comes in. I have yet to start at this salon! It took me a few days to actually get a hold of the lady I am supposed to kinda train under. Then, I finally set up an appointment and couple days before I got a call from the receptionist saying that she double booked her and that they would call me when she had a free space (meanwhile, I am still paying bills and buying food and such… and NOT earning money) So… I finally today set up another appointment for wednesday… We’ll see how it goes. The more hassle this place is giving me though, the more I want to try somewhere else. I even have gotten a few calls for interviews at other salons… (sigh) I just want one job! That will get me some money! Is that too much to ask?

Blah. Sometimes I don’t like being an adult…

Then Chole and I got to go to the Ogden temple. It was wonderful. I made a goal at the beginning of this year to go to the temple 24 times this year. (twice a month) But a friend of mine who is a lot more busy than I made a goal to go every week… and it made me feel slightly guilty. Because I think it is very possible for me to do that too. This month the Logan Temple has been closed so I figured it would be a bit more difficult but somehow every week, something has worked out so that I have been able to go. And it has really been a huge blessing in my life. Especially in giving me perspective.

After the temple I came home to find flowers in my kitchen from the wonderful guy I am dating. It has been a long time since anyone has given me flowers. It made me really happy.

Probably the thing that made me happiest though was a note that I got in the mail. It was from a man in my Stake presidency. He said some really nice things. I have known him for about a year now and he always makes me feel so good, and important. Anyway, when I read it I cried a little. And as I thought about it, I realized how there have been a lot of men placed in my life to encourage me. I feel it somewhat of a compensation from Heavenly Father for not having my dad alive. And what a tender mercy!

Later that night I hung out with the boyfriend and got some Indian food. All night I just kept thinking about how blessed I am. And how even more ungrateful I am about it sometimes. So I cherish moments when I actually pay attention.

Isn’t the tree with the tire swing wonderful? And the grass? And the cobblestone path? Thank you, I think so too.

Here is the gang:

I sure have been blessed with a fun family. I love spending time with them. I am looking forward to more fun times over the Christmas break.