Merry Christmas

So we had a great Christmas. It was so great that by mid-afternoon Mackenzie was completely tuckered out. We had a blast with family and we also had a great time playing with her new toys, along with watching her play with some of them. But this picture just expresses it all. Merry Christmas to all of you!

Nap time caught on camera

So here are some pictures of Mackenzie and her daddy sleeping. I couldn't resist taking these because they looked so cute. Enjoy!

New Milestone!

So as of yesterday Mackenzie started to pout and smile really big. Now this is really big for us because it is SO cute. It all started when we gave her a much needed bath. Besides pouting and giving me the biggest precious moment eyes she hugged her rubber ducky for dear life. However once I took her out of the bath and dried her off she was fine. Now she did get her revenge right after by peeing on her parents while we were trying to dress her. Then last night while her Nana and Poppa were watching her she started to smile and wouldn't you know it she gave her momma the biggest smile as she walked in the door. Now she does not have Eric's dimples but her smile it cute in its own way, partly because she wrinkles her little nose and she grins from ear to ear. I am going to have to stay strong, for right now both her pout and her smile just melt my heart. Can I just say I love being a mom.

Makenzie is one month old

So, as of Thursday Mackenzie is officially one month old. What an interesting month it has been. She is doing really well, growing bigger everyday and her hair is really starting to lighten up. She has not lost any of it and it is actually growing longer. She has also decided that she can not live without her parents. She loves to cuddle and also is very social. She is the highlight of our lives. I love how when she is ready to eat she will open her mouth and if we don't put something inside it she will start to eat her hand. Also she has decided that when we give her a bottle, she wants to feed herself already. We are really excited for this Christmas. We know she won't be able to rip the paper or completely understand but we are excited to give her the fun toys we have bought and to play with her with them. (Her parents are just big kids at heart.) Well I better go but I promise to post all the fun pictures we have taken so far this month soon. Happy Holidays!

Another Year Older

So today is my birthday. While, I woke up to a very unhappy little girl, who was hungry and constipated, it has been a great day already. Mostly because my husband wished me happy birthday and then I got to cuddle with Mackenzie for a while. For years, I thought birthdays were had to be amazing with parties and presents, but this year with everything that has happened I am just grateful everything that I do have. I have a loving husband, who works hard to take care of me and our daughter. I love being a mom. Yes, I love the dirty diapers, the spit-up, the crying and all the laundry. I never thought I would love it all, but I do. Mostly because I am able to express all the love i have for this little one. The best gift I have had today besides the two hour nap is having her smile at me and sleep peacefully. I hope that this next year of my life is as fulfilling as this year has been.

Mackenzie Maya Winslow is here!

Here is our sweet little daughter in all her glory. More pictures to come.

November is here!

I know I am pretty much stating the obvious but I am so excited for this month to be here. Mostly because it means that Mackenzie can come anytime. Of course, we are hoping for next week or so since my parents are in Phoenix right now having a wonderful holiday just the two of them. But I also know that while I can hope for a certain day it will happen when the Lord wants it to. She is doing well. She did scare the nurses at Labor and Delivery on Saturday when we went in to make sure her heart rate was good. But after we explained the situation and they talked to my amazing midwife we were able to leave. Of course this is after half a dozen of them wanted to rush me back for an emergency c-section. I have decided this is Mackenzie's Halloween Trick since she got really have any of the treats right now. Mommy is trying to control herself.

Saturday we did the home inspection and while there are a couple of things I would like to see done before we close overall it went really well. I am really excited to move into our own home and to still be in our ward. We love the people and the neighborhood is wonderful. So this is the other reason I am excited for November. The closing date is the 20th. Now if we can just figure out how to do all of this and have a baby we will be set! I know it will all work out. Partly because we have an amazing ward family and also because we have the Lord to help us. Well I will stop rambling but I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy beginning of November.

Already scaring mommy and daddy

So this morning Eric and I were in a hurry to get to my doctor's appointment. We had thought it was later than it really was, but once we got there and everything got started we were Ok. That is until our midwife tried to measure Mackenzie's heart rate and we found that she had a slight problem. Her heart would beat twice and then pause, then beat twice. So we had to go and have a non-stress test and then another ultra-sound. In the end the hear irregularity just looks to be something that will clear up after she is born and we were sent home. But for a little while it was a little unnerving not knowing what to think or whether or not they would want to deliver her today. But thankfully we can wait for a little while longer. I have to give props to Eric who stayed really calm during all of this and was right by my side the whole time. I am so grateful for sucha loving husband.

We may have a home!

So, I know it has been a little while and there is a lot to tell. First Eric is feeling much better. He still has a cough but other than that he is doing well. Next Mackenzie and I are doing fine. She is very happy with making her presence known and while it hurts sometimes I am fine with it. Finally the big news we may have our first house! Our offer was accepted today so now the work really beginning with getting the mortage and all the inspections before our closing date, which ironically is the day before my due date. So this is going to be an interesting next few weeks. However, those of you who know me know I would not want it any other way. Well other than those things there is not but more to tell. I will post pictures of the house soon along with other requested pictures. Have a great week!

Fall in all it's glory.

So things are going well. We have started to seriously look for a house in Magna, Mackenzie is healthy and Eric is doing great in school. We have just had one minor hitch. Eric has Swine Flu! Now it is not as bad as it sounds. He is on the mend and actually looks pretty cute in his mask. The hard part for me is just not being able to kiss him and also watching him wither in pain from his cough. The only other thing is that I had to replace my computer after water got spilled on it, which is partly why it has been so long between posts. But other than that Eric is doing well and so are we. Well that is all for now. I hope all of you are doing well and staying healthy. Have a great fall!

9 weeks and counting

So things are going well except for the fact that Eric and I both have had dream of Mackenzie coming into this world way to early. So of course Eric has started reminding Mackenzie to stay inside mommy for two more months. What is really funny is that I honestly think she listens to him. For example, Tuesday I had my doctor's appointment and due to Eric's homework load my mom took me. So before we left, Eric said good-bye to me and Mackenzie and told his daughter to give the heart monitor a really big kick for him and wouldn't you know she did it! It made Eric smile when I told him. Other than that things are going well. We are enjoying our childbirth class, except for the whole part of realizing what I will have to go through. Eric is doing well in his classes and my job search continues. Well not a whole lot more to report. Hope all of you are doing well and have a great rest of your week.

CountDown is on

So, as of yesterday, we are at 30 weeks in this pregnancy. This is exciting for me because the time for Mackenzie to be here is getting closer. Also I am excited because we are starting our childbirth classes tonight. (I know, I know, I am such a nerd, I even take classes for childbirth.) The only other big news right now is that Eric got another job! It is just part time after his classes, but he loves it. He is working with six grade boys at Escalate Elementary school in the Salt Lake School District. It is about 15 hours a week, which is great because it adds to what time we are still getting at the park. I am so happy for him because he is so happy right now. He talk all the time about his job and his classes. Also he is already about a day or two ahead in his classes. I guess all there is left to say is all is well. The baby shower drama has been worked out so that Eric and I can go to the ward BBQ the 19th and then the baby shower is the 25th. I think this is better anyway because it gives us time to get more familiar with Eric's new schedule of work and tutoring. Well not much more to say and hope you are all doing well. Thanks again for all the advice! Please keep it coming, I need all the help I can get.

Choosing the Better Part

So, usually I try to stay really upbeat with my posted but I just need to vent. As the time comes closer for the baby to come I am starting to have baby showers. This includes one that my mother in-law is throwing for my on September 19th. Now when I first told her this date it worked great but then Sunday we found out that our ward is having their annual chicken burn that same night. Now this would not be a big deal except for the fact that my calling in our ward is ward historian and part of my responsibility is to be at ward activities to take pictures and also document the event as a whole. Along with that Eric is apart of the Ward Mission Leadership and really feels he needs to be there too because they are inviting a lot of the less active members to come and he wants to be there to make them feel welcome. So we decided to ask his mother if we could just postpone the baby shower for a week and do it on the other date that she gave us, so that we could both magnify our callings. Well of course she said absolutely not and even made me feel as though my calling is not important at all. This hurts on more than one level. I have always tried to give my best effort in my callings and also to to all that is asked of me by the Lord. On the other hand I do not like to cause drama or to hurt others. But she is basically making me choose between her and the Lord. How can I choose? On the one hand it is the Lord who has asked me to do this for him. On the other she is apart of my extended family for all eternity. I guess this is just one of those difficult decision we have to make in our lives. It just hurts that she can't she the intents of our hearts. Oh, Lord please do not me become offended but help me find a way to do all that needs to be done. If you have any advice I would greatly appreciate it.

To School Again

So, as many of you know with the economy the way it is, Eric and I have decided that it is best for him to return to school. He is working on a second bachelor's in Parks and Recreation. And wouldn't you know it he is like a kid in a candy store. He loves his classes! I am loving listening to him talk about everything he has learned and enjoying doing his homework. For me this is an answer to a prayer because I think he has found something that he is really passionate about. I know that because he is passionate about when the time comes he will find a great job that he loves! And that is all I want for my hubby! Well report more later. The only other news is that Mackenzie has now decided that mom needs to get up at 3 am. Well at least I have more time to get stuff done right? Have a great week!

Fall Once Again

So, I know it has been a while and I am sorry for that. Our late summer schedule has been booked. We have been getting ready for Eric to go back to school and for the baby. The biggest thing has been that Eric's sister, Monique, was married in the Bountiful Temple on August 14th. We had the great opportunity to be there in the temple with her. I have to say that is was very enjoyable to watch someone else has happy has we were a little over a year ago and also to think back to that day.

Now we are just trying to get back into the sing of school along with work and trying to find another place to live. Mackenzie is doing great. She is a very strong young lady already and is starting to kick my computer off my stomach when I type while laying down. Also she getting really excited with certain hymns and also when she hears the voices of certain general authorities. I know this sound weird or surreal but I am not kidding. She was very calm and quiet Sunday until President Monson spoke at the temple dedication. Also I have decided she is either a future gymnast or dancer because she is so busy all the time.

Eric is loving he classes and as luck, or the Lord would have it, our summer job was perfect for his field. I am enjoying looking for another job and taking a couple of institute classes. I am really excited to be a mom but I am also enjoying all the quality time that Eric and I are getting right now. Well that is all for now I hope you all are doing well in your homes.

I will leave with a warning for any of you in the Salt Lake area my mother has a new car. Yes, she finally got ride of the van. It is a little red Toyota corolla. She loves it but we are all worried that her need for speed might come back.

Update

So, here is what is happening with the Winslow clan. First, the baby's corner of our bedroom and coming together. We are still in our one bedroom apartment and really don't mind. Right now we are looking for a better place along with better paying jobs. Also Eric is getting ready to start school, which I am excited for too. Mostly because he is like a kid at Christmas. I know he will be happy with the classes he is taking and is going to continue working part-time at the park. I have applied to start back at the U in the spring to work on a second BA in Medicine and then will also try to finish my MA, next fall. Other than that is has been pretty quiet, well except for Mackenzie making herself known and trying to get mom to behave. You ask for help when I can't reach something instead of trying to do it by myself. There is one more thing. I got a new calling, I am officially the Lakeridge 6th ward's Historian. Now is that not a perfect calling for me or what? In closing it is time for a funny story.

Friday evening. my parents invited Eric and I to go with them to the Mormon Tabernacle choir concert. It was great and you know what even Mackenzie got into it. The next to last song they sang was the Battle Hymn of The Republic and wouldn't you know it, she got excited she started kicking me in sync with the music. I am not kidding. It was a little uncomfortable but also funny to realize that our daughter already as a liking for good uplifting music. Well all I can say is I can't wait until she get here and we can get to know more about her personality. Hope you are all doing well. More later.

It's a Girl

So as promised here is the lasted, we are having a little girl! Mackenzie Maya is due November 21st but she might come as early as November 14th. She is very healthy and is actually about 20 weeks in development. She tried to hold on to her 

secret until the very end of the ultra sound appointment but in the end gave in. Eric is very happy and excited t

o be a daddy and I am just excited period. I honestly thought we were going to have a little boy but I am just as happy with a little girl! Here are some of the ultra sound pictures that show Mackenzie's growing personality.

Patience is a virtue we have short supply of right now

So I know it has been a while since I have update everyone. This is mostly due to very busy scheduling at work and just not much to say. But I thought I should at least give an update on our soon to be new addition. This is big news to me just because well I am pregnant. But more than that Eric is now really involved. He came with me to the doctor this last Tuesday and was able to hear the baby's heartbeat. Granted our baby was too busy for our doctor to get a good reading, but other than being difficult everything looks really good including my weight gain. That of course is due to the fact that I walk around the park all the day or at least in my site. The other big news is that the ultra-sound to discover if we are adding a little girl or boy to our family is Monday! This is in part because Eric can not wait any longer. We are nearing 19 weeks and he is ready to start picking up baby thing. Ok, ok I will admit I want to as well. So we will let you all know once we know.

To end I have to admit that my baby bump is starting to show, at least outside of pioneer clothes. For the most part I am able to hide it all under yards of fabric at work which means not unwanted tummy touching. But the weird thing is that it seems every animal at the park is pregnant or having their babies. Granted it is great company for a hormonal pregnant woman but I do feel sorry for all the guys at the livery, including my husband. He just can't get away from crazy women these days! I do have to say holding some of the new little ones in my arms is also not helping me to be patient. I can't not wait to be able to hold my own little one in my arms. I know I have a few more months to wait and more pain to go through to get there but I am so excited for November to come around.

I hope you all are doing well and I promise to do better with updates are the changes in our family. Still no new jobs for Eric but we do feel blessed to have the money coming in that we have. Lord willing something will turn up in his time. Have a great week-end everyone!

Prayers are truly answered.

So almost four months ago Eric and I found out that we were going to having a baby, and for as happy and wonderfully blessed I felt I still had this nagging feeling. You see I have this dear friend who had been trying to get pregnant for a about two years. She is the sweetest kindest young woman I know, well one of a few. So when we started trying a was praying that she would become pregnant first. And then when we found out we were pregnant I prayed that she would be pregnant too. Well wouldn't you know it, the Lord saw fit to answer my prayer. I just found out that my dear friend is expecting her first child near the end of October. I am so excited and grateful for the Lord's hand in life. For my desire was that my friend could have the desire of her heart just as much as I could have mine. I am so excited for our children to grow up together, Lord willing and to be able to get in touch with her again and see how pregnancy is treating. So if it seems as though your prayers are unanswered, you never know when, where or how that will be answered. But I know that if they are righteous desires and needs the Lord will never leave you hanging. It may take more time than you may think it should but in the end the Lord is always there. So never give up hope!

Life has its ups and downs

So this week has been interesting so far. First, Eric and I had the opportunity to help with the new temple open house and had a blast. I even had a father offer to give his son to me. But I kindly declined. Then we went to work. Work is great but there are some issues as with every job. The big one at the park is a major lack of communication. There are problems but if people would talk and listen rationally and be proactive the problems would be solved. One nice thing was I got to help put the baby animals away on Wednesday and can I just say I love the feel of a baby anything in my arms. Also one of the horses Appy, has fallen for me. Eric is none too pleased. Then we found out that my great aunt Bonita passed away. I will miss her but I am so happy that she is reunited with her husband after being separated for five years. She lived to 96 and had a full life. I just hope that I can live half that long and be happy. Finally I did have my first big cry with being pregnant. It was just all the little stresses of the last few months coming to the surface. I am doing better now and will be doing even better after a great night's sleep. All in all this week has been good and I know it will continue to be. I just have to focus on the positive and ride through the storms. 

New Milestone

So, today I went to my first midwife appointment and actually had a lot of fun. Partly because my mom went with me and also be we got to hear the baby's heart beat. Also I found out that now that I am entering the second trimester I can do more stuff like exercise and you know out around the house. Now if my body can just find the energy again. Also we are excited because in about five or six weeks we will be about have a 3-d ultra-sound picture done of our baby. Other than that all the other news is that I am officially starting to wear maternity clothes. Mostly because nothing fits! ARG! Oh, I have to say Eric is amazing he has gone clothes shopping with me more than once and seems to actually be forming an opinion of his own on women's clothing. In closing I have to tell you a cute story.

Eric is working at the Park with me this summer, well as of Saturday. This is in part because he was willing to do something that most young men would not be caught dead doing, making sloth dolls with little girls. Now the girls were pretty harsh about my husband's doll making skills. But I have to say the fact he was will to give it a major effort is more than enough. Considering he has never played with a doll let alone made one in his life. Well hope you are all doing well. Keep smiling.

An example of enduring love

Today my parents celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary and while it was hard for them to do much alone, they still found ways to express their love. I feel so grateful to have wonderful parents who have been through so much together and seem to love each other even more today. Growing up I always knew my parents loved each other. Partly because even when times looked their bleakest they were always right next to each other. I hope and pray that Eric and I can create that loving and enduring of a relationship. Again I am grateful for such a wonderful example of what eternal love really is all about. Happy Anniversary mom and dad!

Happy Birthday Eric!

So today is Eric's 28th birthday. For him it has been an experience, partly because he is freaking out that he will be 30 in two years. I tried to calm his fears to no avail. But I am so proud and grateful for him. We are back in Utah and loving it, challenges and all. I start work at the park next Saturday and will have some pictures up soon of the park and our cute little apartment. But for now I just has to say happy birthday Eric!

It all comes down to this

This morning I woke up at 7 sharp starving. So Eric got up and got me a little snack. Well here is the problem he then went to go get us some breakfast and took longer than expected. While he was gone, I was here at the house talking myself out of throwing up. As long as I concentrated really hard I did pretty well. But then he came into the bedroom with breakfast and all of a sudden..... in to the bathroom I ran and out what little I had came.

Now I know most of you are going why are you sharing this. Well because I hate throwing up and when I do I feel miserable. Also Eric say I am now officially pregnant because I have thrown up. I am not so sure about that but the funny part was that after three minutes of calming my stomach down I was able to eat breakfast. Is this normal? I mean when I feel like throwing up I don't want to eat anything. Oh, well as Dad said I guess there is a new norm and I just don't know what it is yet.

only one more week

So as of today, we only have one week until the movers come to load up our house. Then Thursday April 23rd we head back to Utah! We are both excited, except for the whole packing part. You since we have done this so many times while we were both single you would think we would have it down. But unfortunately it is still the same pain in the butt when you are married. Now you just have someone really cute to help you get it all done. So for now this is all. More updates including pregnancy news once we get back to Utah. Hope everyone is doing well. 

A Leap of Faith

OK, so as many of you know our future right now is not completely clear. We know we are going to have a baby in November and are suppose to be in Utah at least until then. But what is to come after that we do not know. There are endless possibilities. And here is where courage must take hold.

For the past month my wonderfully supportive husband has been encouraging me to look more into John Hopkins' history of medicine program. I kept telling him that I need more biology and medical background. But what he said stuck with me and now as we are getting ready to move and start over I got the very strong impression this morning to take a chance and really look into it. As I did I started to apply for the program for the 2010-2011 school year, and wouldn't you know it I have more than the requirements for admission. Now I am going to do some polishing of my credentials and also add a few more good attributes to my academic record but it is really exciting to see that I have a major chance to do this. I just hope and pray that this is what the Lord's wants for us and that I can get in. It would be a dream come true. Partly because Eric has said he will follow me to Maryland if I get in. I hope that the Lord's will is here and that I will have the courage and confidence to put my best foot forward.

What does a newly wed couple do for Easter

So since I can't really be in the kitchen very long right now, with get nauseated and throwing up. I wondered what would we do for Easter. In my family there is always a big home cooked meal. Luckily my dad has postponed this for another two Sundays. This means Easter dinner will also celebrate Eric and I being back in Utah. So with that Eric and I still had to figure out something to do for the two of us. So here it is... We decided to help our friends keep their sanity with really hyper kids. Let me explain we are friend with the Perkins family and they are great. There is just one little problem, Dad and all four kids love candy. So poor Sandy is left to fend for herself in a family of hyper active kids and husband. So we decided to help out a little. We always sit with them at church and after church we tried to get the kids to run off the energy before they went home. Sandy did ask that we come by and take all the candy out of the house but we knew that wouldn't work.

Now what about our Easter dinner, well it is something I can eat and have been craving, spaghetti! Poor Eric all I want to spaghetti and meatballs. I know he is going crazy so I have tried to make him sandwiches and have promised to make my famous mashed potatoes once we move. By then I hope to be able to look on food without gagging. It is so frustrating to have morning sickness when you love to cook and also eat what you cook. Oh well, I will just appreciate it more when I can have all again. Happy Easter and hope it was a wonderful day for each of you. I know I have enjoyed the time to remember our savior and the amazing price he paid and the gift he gave. 

Clarification

So I would like to clarify last night's post. I did not mean to demonize New Mexico. I know that there are many great and wonderful people here. I was just trying to point out that it is just not where we are suppose to be. To be honest it is easier for us to find reason to leave right now because there are many wonderful people we are leaving behind. The Lord just knows that if he does not push us, we do not like to make too big of changes once we get comfortable with something. So in the end I have to say for me, New Mexico is a great place to visit but I will leave judgement up to the rest of you. Sorry if I offended anyone. I was venting. 

Reasons to leave New Mexico

So, since Eric lost his job the Lord seems to be giving us more and more reason to leave New Mexico. The first came with the wonderful dust storms of last week and this week. This was compounded by the fact that the New Mexico Public Health officials have done nothing to help people avoid upper respiratory problems created by the dust and the micro-organisms in the dust. The next big one came tonight for me. I have been watching the news just to try and be an informed citizen, but then tonight I heard how a mother got her six year-old son taken to court and order to traffic school because he kept taking his seat belt off in the car. 

Now I don't know about all of you but for this soon to be mother this seems a little extreme and irresponsible on the mother part. I mean little kids misbehave but if the parents have a system in place the child will learn to live by it. For example in my home my mother never started the car before we were all buckled up properly. Then if any of us unbuckled while she was driving she would pull over and wait for us to re buckle. Lets just say if we did not do so quickly siblings got upset. Mostly because they were late for practices or other fun activities. This system worked even with the most stubborn of us. 

I don't care where live as long as the public health and judicial systems are responsible and our family can grow up in a productive environment. Thanks for listening. Hope you are all well. And just so you know New Mexico is a great place to visit but I wouldn't recommend living here if you have a choice. 

Words of Wisdom

So this week-end was great! My parents came down to see us and for the first time in over a week I was able to get out of bed and actually enjoy their company. It was great to be with them and to have Eric here too. We watch conference Saturday with them and then we watch Sunday conference at the house while they drove back to Utah. But their visit along with conference was the shot in the arm that we need to get started packing. We will be living with a family in my home ward for four months, while I work at the park and Eric looks for a job. We know that even though we have been hit by the economy and some of our dreams will have to wait, it will all work at in the Lord's way and time. Right now I am just grateful that I have a loving husband who has as much faith if not more faith than me. I am also grateful for great parents who are supportive and the best cheerleaders I have ever had. I will tell all of you that my next post may be from Utah. We will see how the next two and a half weeks go! Remember, there is always hope for a better tomorrow. 

Coming Back to Utah

So here is the latest. First we got the deposit back and all it took was showing a little legal muscle. So now we are working on getting packed and getting a small apartment in Salt Lake. We are excited because we know this is what we are suppose to do. I personally have been dealing with morning sickness that has be made worse by sense headaches. But little by little I am able to do all that needs to be done so that we can get out of here. Utah here we come back!

Not going down without a fight.

So major update. We have been trying to get the 10,000 dollars back we put down on the house last week. Legally we should be able to get it but Silver Ridge is avoiding us. So what are we doing? We are getting a lawyer and getting ready to fight. I am not a fighter by nature but when I see injustice of any kind it get my dander up as my mom says. So after we went to the title company and they told us what paperwork they needed we tried to give Silver Ridge the benefit of the doubt but after not getting any start answering or even any answers at all we decided it was time for the gloves to come off. We have all the paper work and have an appoint with a lawyer on Monday. I will tell you all I do not really like lawyers except for the honest ones, my brother Jonah wants to be one of those. But i know that there is a time and a place to fight and it is right now. I will not let all of the hard work that Eric has put into this be for nought just because some greedy builder is unwilling to admit when they are wrong and give us back our money. So keep us in your prayers that we will be able to stand strong in the face of this adversity.

Life is full of surprises

So this past few days have been chalk full of decision and actions. First last Friday we went up to Utah to spend the week-end with my family. It was wonderful. My parents and my brothers have been so helpful and supportive with everything. Eric was able to make some progress with getting on with Barrick (cross your finger this is what he really wants). I also have been able to get my job back at This is the Place Heritage Park for the summer, which means we also decided that at the end of April we are going back to Utah for at least the summer. 

The other big thing is we had our pre-natal ultrasound today. We are about five and half weeks pregnant, which is a lot of fun. Mostly because we say the heartbeat. Also it looks like our first baby will be sharing a birthday day month with my mom and a dear little friend of ours, (you know who you are). Finally I quit my job with the library and am spending all of my time with Eric picking and organizing for the move. We have four weeks but we want to make every minute count since we are moving back to Magna for the summer and putting most of our stuff in storage. We know this is the best way to go for the Lord confirmed it to us while we were in the temple last Friday with my dad. 

So in the end while we still don't have all the answers we do have a game plan and are starting to get things in order. We are putting our trust in the Lord and are so grateful for all of the support we have had and know we will continue to have from our friends and family. Don't worry more baby updates will be coming as we get them. Keep smiling and know that no matter what challenges we face we are smiling while facing them too. 

When one door closes...

So this morning Eric and I had a shock. He was called into work on his day off and told that he would be laid off due to the economic woes within the oil and gas field. This has diffently changed our plans. We are looking at moving back to Utah as soon as we can. This is because of the fact that even with the possible new job that I have applied for we will be unable to stay in Farmington. There are no jobs in the area for Eric. The biggest thing for me right now is to take care of him. I know the best thing for me to do is help him to face forward and move. Also I know that if I can get him back to Utah he will have a really good support group. He has not really been around a whole lot. So he does not really have a whole lot of friends here. 

So in closing if you all could keep us in your prayers that we will be able to find another job for him and be able to get back our feet would be wonderful. We are grateful that we had not gone too far on the house or other things yet. Now if we can just get moving again that would be wonderful.

There is one piece of good news, we are expecting a baby at the end of the year. There will be more on this as more information is gathered.

The importance of understanding.

OK, so I am going right up front about this and tell all of you that this post is going to be really sappy. Here is why, all my life I am had this great desire to learn and contemplate the justice or injustice done to people. But I never felt like I could share this desire with any one. I was always call morbid by my brothers and so I just kept it all to myself. But I have found something else with my wonderful husband. My passion to speak and learn the truth. Here how this revelation came about, I had found that a book I had skimmed, The Boy is the Stripped Pajamas, had been made into a movie. Well I had been wanted to see but never got a chance to when it was in the theaters. So I rented it on I-tunes. 

I was afraid to tell Eric because I was afraid that he would say the same things my brothers have always said. But when I was honest with him, he just asked to watch it with me. Well it is a heart wrenching movie that really makes you stop and think. After we finished it, instead of just saying what a sad movie and moving on we were able to talk about. And wouldn't you know this was manna to my soul. I have yearned for years to talk to someone who would understand that the reason I study the darkness of the past is to be able to appreciate the goodness of the present and the hope of the future even more. 

All my life I have hated injustice but I know that without injustice there can be no justice. I also know that without hatred and evil there can be no love and righteousness. So end the end my advice is don't be afraid to bare your whole soul to someone you love, they might surprise you how much they are like you in the end. Well that is all for now. 

I will say this those who deny evil in the world only perpetuate it. For if it is ignored or believed to never be able to happen then it can go unhindered. When recognize it we can stop it before it takes over the things that are important to us. I hope the I can be able to recognize it always in my life. 

Thanks for the support

I wanted to take a minute and thank everyone who has helped with the sorrow me and family have felt. Uncle Leonard was laid to rest today I appreciate all the kind words and notes that were left. It is hard because we will miss him but we are so grateful for all the good time we have had with him and that his is at rest. Also that even in a time of tragedy like this our family becomes stronger and more tight knit. I hope that we all can learn to cherish our families for now and in the eternities. Have a great week-end.

How quickly life changes

So yesterday, when I posted I said there was not much going on here. How little I knew at that time. First, this morning we got a call from the carpet people and when to pick out our carpet, tile and such for the floor of our new house. We are very happy with our color scheme. But then as I was getting ready to leave to head to work my father called. He sounded really down and I was worried something had happened to one my brothers or he was frustrated with work. But in reality it all this... my great-uncle Leonard had passed on suddenly in the ER in Carthage, Missouri. He had been ill the night before. When he told me a didn't know what to think or say. All day I was in a daze. I know that he had struggled with staying healthy these last few years, but it is hard to loose someone you knew really well and grew up with. Now the funeral is this Friday in Southwestern Missouri so there is no one Eric and I can be there but we are doing all we can to support my dad in making the trip.

I guess all I have to say is that I am grateful for the ordinances of the temple because the relationships that we make here do not end at death. I know that my dad, me and grandmother along with Aunt Nancy Catherine will all be with Uncle Leonard again someday. I also know that he is at rest and has been re-united with the family members that had already passed before him: his mother 

and father and his brother and sister. I just hope those of us who are left here on earth can make the most of his memory and also celebrate his life for what it was. A life full of service to his family and friends. We will miss you Uncle Leonard but look forward to a union of our own someday. 

Changes, always changes

So things for us are going pretty well. I am trying to get a better job and Eric is hurrying to finish his PowerPoint presentation before his break session in April. The big news is that he does not have to go to Grand Junction for an extended amount of time. He will just have to go up there for jobs every so often. 

Also due to the renovation of one of the ward building here, we now have a very crazy Sunday schedule. Our sacrament starts at noon and then we have thirty meets for Sunday School and Relief Society. So we shall see how it goes with teaching. Eric likes the new schedule because he only has to be away from me for thirty minutes instead of the usual hour. It just melts my heart when he says things like that. 

The thing I am most excited about this week is that I will be in Albuquerque Wednesday to meet with a professor, to finalize my thesis topic and I will be able to go to the temple. Then on Saturday, I have the day off so Eric and I are planning on going down to the temple together. I know most of you are thinking so. Well here is the thing the temple is three hours away and our schedules don't always work so that we are both available to go. And as much as I love to go the temple alone I love it even more when Eric is with me. Well that is all from us, sorry it is a little boring this week, but it has just been a normal week for us, school, work, housework, sick missionaries. Same old same old. Have a wonderful week everyone.

Changes in Life

So things have been pretty quiet here in Farmington. Of course we have had some interesting developments, like the fact that we are officially pre-approved for a mortgage loan and I am trying to get a better more permanent job. This is so we can safe more and also pay off the mortgage faster.

The greatest excitement has been the opportunities that we have had to share the gospel with those around us. Also the fact that we are getting know people in the neighborhood we will be moving into, which is just what we need. Very friendly with a lot of young families. What follows are the few pictures of the house we have so far. Granted it is just the foundation, but hey everything must start with a sure foundation right! Happy March everybody!

My Daring Adventure

So yesterday I decided that I had enough and I was going to go up to Grand Junction to see Eric. Now this was just as much for him has it was for my sanity. You see when he left on Friday he took only enough close with him to last the number of days he planned on being there, which was three days. Well he was required to stay until today so needless to say he was out of clothes as of Monday. Now this has happened once before, when he was stuck unexpectedly in Price, Utah for FIVE Days with only the clothes on his back. So as any good wife I decided that I would never let him go without clean clothes again. So Sunday after he was needing to stay until Monday I made a decision that if he was not coming home Monday I would go to him. So when he called me at work and told me that he had to stay another day I knew what I had to do. 

I came home and within thirty minutes I had enough shits, pants, underclothing and socks to last him three more days. I download my map from map quest, packed a couple changes of clothes for myself and off I went. The trip was pretty uneventful until I hit the rocky mountains. Now our car though little is very mighty and handle a lot. So when it started to snow a little I wasn't worried. But then I started in on the narrow mountain roads. At first I wasn't too concerned I just slowed down and took my time. But then came the warning signs for avalanches and falling rocks and I become more concerned. Now sign don't usually concern me but when the length of road that was within the avalanche area kept increasing with every sign I wasn't so sure what to think. Along with the fact that I could see a few boulders that had been moved off the road. 

Then the roads became more icy and snowy. So I slowed down even more. I said a silent pray and even began to sing just to help my nerves. But then came down hill curves. And won't you know it Sir Issac Newton and his law of gravity began to work against me! No matter how hard I tried I kept gaining speed. Even with all of this I was fine until the car skidded a little too close to the edge of a cliff. Then the panic rose in my chest. I had to keep repeating to myself, "Eric is worth this, and the Lord is with me." Finally after a very tense hour I came out of the mountains and was extremely grateful for the divine intervention on my nerves. But then my harrow adventure almost seemed pointless when Eric called and told me that he was coming home Tuesday and that I could just go home! 

Well I made it very clear that I was not going back through the mountains and I had come this far and was not turning back! So he admitted that he wanted to see me and so I continued my journey. I finally made to Grand Junction around eight that night and was so grateful to be with my husband again but I was also extremely exhausted. 

I have decided that while the mountains are beautiful with snow I will wait until summer to go through them again. Also I think next time I will let Eric drive and I will just enjoy the scenery. So next time you are in a pickle of a driving adventure just remember your destination is worth it, no matter what the destination is!

Separation may be here again

So, I have a little bit of bad news, Eric may be leaving me for a month. No we are separating by choice. Because the oil companies here in New Mexico have pretty much shut down for the winter, he has to head up to Grand Junction. This is so he can get all the experience he needs before his break out session the first week in April. Now it would not be so bad if it were not for the fact that I have grown really fond of having him around. That and because we are in the process of building our first home (pictures will follow soon). This is a hard prospect partly because we have already dealt with seven weeks apart. I know we can make it through three more weeks if we have to, but I really hope we don't have to. 

The old saying that distance makes the heart grow fonder is BULL. All it does is make you yearn for the person and be unable to sleep. All I can wonder is how have so many couples done it in the past. I know we are blessed to have the communication tools we do, but still it is no fun. But just like everyone else we are taking a hit too. SO if you could find the time to add us to your prayers, we would greatly appreciate it. What we need to for the weather to continue to be warm and for the economy to be a little better so the oil companies can hire Eric and his co-workers to come and measure their wells. Otherwise at least pray that I wouldn't go stir-crazy from loneliness. Have a great week-end.

Funny thing happened on the way to the dentist

So Monday Eric and I had our long waited dentist appointment. It is long awaited because Eric has reschedule it twice. So being the brilliant person I am, I made arrangements with Eric for him to pick me up at the house at 1 o'clock and we would drive over the the dentist. Now usually I try to map-quest our destination but this time Eric claimed that he knew where the dentist office was. So off we went. Now remember we have never been to the dentist here yet and I was so nervous all I could remember was the dentist's last name (that should be enough if we get lost, right?) Wrong. First the dentist office we thought was our dentist was not. Then we found out that there are three dentists in Farmington with the last name of Thompson. So after much instance and badger Eric we went home and picked up the information and use yellow pages.com on Eric's phone to find the dentist office. Well to make a very long but hilarious story a little short, all I will say is that yellow pages LIED! We were so incredibly lost, which is not hard to do here because many streets just end without warning. Well after 45 minutes of being lost I just couldn't take it any more and just started laughing. Eric did not think it was funny at all. He knew where Dustin Avenue was and he was going to find it.

Well I decided that since the direct approach was not working maybe if we just enjoyed the drive and stopped looking for the dentist maybe we would find it. Well it worked! only we were an hour late for our appointment so we had to reschedule. Now here is where I have decided my husband likes the dentist about as much as my mother (who is known to bite her dentist, they not put her to sleep for their own safety). I was ready to take the next available appointment and just get it done. NO! Eric wanted to reschedule it for his next days off, which are not until March 23rd! So we did and took the new patient paperwork home to fill out.

As we were leaving we realized that we had passed the office at least three time while being lost for it was right next to the junior high that we were debating over with it was a junior high or high school. I know, I know. We are nuts. But hey at least we are secure enough to laugh at ourselves. So the next time you get horrible lost just stop trying to get un-lost and you might surprise yourself. I know we did. 

Romantic Moments

So if you all can not tell we are back in New Mexico. I will tell you all that when we arrived home it was cold and there was snow and ice everywhere. At first we thought we were still in Utah but after a couple of days of sunshine, we realized that we were back in New Mexico. So here is the real story of what we have been doing since we got back.

First, we have been putting our finances together so that we can finally....build a house. I know, I know we last told you that we were going to buy but we found that we can get more for our money by building and we can stay in our ward! So we are working on getting started building by the first March so we can move in by August. We are so excited that our big Valentine's day even was choosing the lot that we wanted. Eric is really excited because it a nice lot in a nice neighborhood where a police officer lives down the street. I know to all of you that is not a big deal but for Eric it is wonderful. He worries about me all the time when he has to be gone for 10 hours or more on the job. Personally I think I should be the one who is worrying just because he out in the middle of no where but he says he is fine.

The other big news is that we have brand-new washer and dryer! Now for most of you again not a big deal right but if you have a washer that sounded like a train every time you tried to wash something you would want a new one too. When the guys can to install them they found that the drum of the washer was completely separated from the rest of the machine. So it was only by the grace of our heavenly father that it was still working. The new set is really nice and even play a nice little melody when the load is done. Eric thinks it is just a way to make you want to do laundry more. He may be right. The thing I love the most is that I can wash all his dirty jeans at once! Now if I could just get him to get rid of the jeans with holes. Any suggestion?

Well that is all the changes but now I have to share a really romantic moment (OK it is a romantic moment to me). So yesterday at church Brother Perkins asks Eric and I to help in Primary since the CTR 6 teachers were missing. Well we jumped at the chance. I was just sorry that I could only help for an hour. ( I had to teach Relief Society the last hour) So we went to sharing time and wouldn't you know it Eric seemed even more handsome sitting among a bunch of kids trying to keep order. When I had to leave him with six boys and one girl to teach I was afraid that would be the end of our discussion of kids. He did admit that for about two minutes after I left to go teach it was complete chaos. But he said he really enjoyed himself and still wanted to have as many kids as possible. This was a really sweet moment for me mostly because I have only ever seen him with little Brielle Webb and the Perkins kids. So is closing I just have to say I am really looking forward to the day that Eric is a father because he is going to be great! 

So I think I have amble enough. In closing I would just like to wish all of you a wonderful week and hope that you all have sweet moments that make you smile!

Divine Intervention

So yesterday we finally made the trek up to Logan to see all of our dear friends from college and housing who are still there. Granted we were unable to see everyone. (too little time and too many wonderful people to see) But we had a blast with those we did see. 

The real adventure was the drive home. I had promised I would drive all day so I had the joy of driving through the canyon back to South Ogden. Now I know all of you who have driven that stretch are think bad idea. Well you would be right. It was snowing at the mouth of the canyon and it got heavier the further in we went. But I kept calm, thanks to Eric and my heavenly father and slowly but surely we made it through. The amazing thing was we did not slide or skid very much at all. 

So then all we had to do was drive 17 miles on I-15 and then about 5 miles on I-84 and we would be back at his parents. For the most part it was rain and sleet (rain mixed with snow) on the freeway. But I still took about 20 mph slower than the speed limit, which turned out to be a good idea. Since almost every car that passed us skidded off the road or lose control for a little while. So we were the tortoise in the infamous race of the tortoise and the hare. And would you know we got home in just about the same amount of time as it usually takes! Talk about divine intervention.

I am just grateful for the Lord's hand in small things like this for we were able to make it through some of the most stressful driving I have ever done without much trauma. I will say I ached all over by the time we got home due to the tension my entire body felt. But as usual I will focus on the positive and not the negative. 

Happy winter driving and remember slow and steady will win the race!

Greetings from South Ogden

OK, so if you can't tell we got to Utah safely. It was an entertaining trip, mostly because we spent a lot of time reading The Tale of Despereaux out loud to one another. Now before you think that we were driving distracted, the passenger was reading it aloud to the driver. I have to say, I am greatly impressed with my husband's ability to do voices. I was actually scared of the villainous rats just because of the voice he supplied. But other than that it was pretty uneventful. 

So far we have seen both families (well everyone but my brothers who have extremely busy schedules) and our friends in Wyoming (Mindy and Spencer Allred) along with going through the Draper Temple. We still have friends in Logan to see and brothers to have lunch with and Olive Garden to go to with my parents. But even with this busy schedule it has been a very nice and relaxing trip. We have missed our friends and family. 

While New Mexico is now our home we still have friends and family that we really want to keep in touch with. So all of you who we have not seen yet and may not be able to see this time, please let us know and we will make sure we take a trip to where ever in the World you are and see you. For seeing and catching up with friends makes our day!

From these visits we remember why you are all so dear to us and you each help us with difficulties that we are facing or will soon face. Not only that but you just warm our hearts. I do have to say that even with all the warm fuzzy I am really cold and looking forward to going back to sunny Farmington, New Mexico. So in closing please keep in touch all of you, for you each have a special place in our hearts! 

Technology: Is it really our friend?

So Sunday Eric got a call where he had to go out on a job in the middle of the Apache reservation at 1:00pm. This meant that not only was he going to miss the Superbowl but church as well. He was really upset partly because he would not be able to sit with his little buddy Connor Perkins during sacrament. So before I had to take him to the shop we did everything we could to make sure Eric had some Sunday worship and peace. But as we were leaving Eric made a comment that he really didn't want to listen to Alex's music on the way there and back. So me being so intelligent (insert laugh here) thought it would be great for Eric to take the ipod nano with him. 

This is significant because I basically use it for work and the really long trips to Albuquerque and Utah (3 and 7 hours respectively). So Eric has not really used it, but I love LDS music and have a very wide selection on the nano. With that Eric agreed to take it. Well yesterday after I got up I saw the nano laying on the table near the door so I picked it up to take a charge it for work the next day. However when I tried to maneuver it all I got was a white screen. At first I thought I did something but it was like that from the moment that I picked it up. I tried everything to make it work charging, hooking it up to my mac, nothing. So after discussing it with Eric we decided we could afford to purchase a new nano from Apple. Eric was kind enough to say that it would be his valentine's present. So I purchased a very nice new, blue ipod nano with 8GB of memory. This one will change songs if you just shake it a bit. I was so excited. 

Well then this morning as we were getting ready for work, Eric, being his inquisitive self decided to see if he could get the old nano to work. And would you know it, the silly thing is working again. It had no charge but it was working! Well apple is so effective that the new is already being shipped. Eric asked if we should send the old one back, but I stated that it was already on its way and it had more memory. So now we have to ipods, which I think it is good because then Eric has one to take with him on jobs and I have mine for work. Meaning if one malfunctions it is the technological skill of the owner. 

Oh technology is amazing and yet full of headaches at the same time! Have a great day and remember if you are a friend to technology, it might be a friend to you.

My Husband: A chef in the making

So a while ago I purchased some easy cookbooks for Eric to use. He has not really ever cooked before. Now I know you are all wondering well how did he eat before he met you. Well it was a mixture of on-campus food at the Marketplace and the Junction and frozen delicacies that I will not allow in our home such as frozen burritos. So needless to say when we got married I was doing all the cooking, which is fine because I love to cook. But there are times I just don't feel like cooking. Usually when I am feeling exhausted from work and school or under the weather. It is a rare occurrence. However, when I feel that way I don't want Eric to starve or have to eat frozen meals again. This along with the possibility that I may be out of the country for a week this summer motivated me to teach him how to cook. But when I tried to do it from my cookbooks he looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language. In fact I was, chef or cook speak. You know, words like julienne, fold, separate, etc. Words that for him were new and very difficult. So I decided to help him learn cooking starting with the basics. I was lucky enough to find some cookbooks on the American Girl website. Now these books I got because of the fact they had recipes for things like meatloaf, carrot soup and Cincinnati chili. Things that I know Eric would like and they are books we can use later with our children or with any young children we are watching for friends.

Well tonight Eric decided to start trying to cook from scratch with Cincinnati chili. This is partly because he wants to enter the chili cook off at church. So I helped him find spices and measure things and answers questions as they came up. But overall I let him cook on his own. Well when it came time to eat it, I couldn't stop. He did an amazing job. And he is now excited to try again to make it better for the cook-off. Needless to say I think I will be eating chili a few other times this week. So if any of you are in the area please come and help me eat it, because while it delicious I can only have so much. I am mostly excited to see him enter the chili cook-off. I too will be stretching my culinary skills. I am planning on making an apple pie. So Monday evening we will be having apple pie test run one for dessert. So happy cooking to all of you and if you ever find you way to Farmington, New Mexico, please stop by the Winslow's for we will  have some good home-cookin' for y'all!

So here are some of the wedding photos I have been promising since last august. There will be even more one Eric and I choose our prints from Jaylynn Studios. We have just not gotten around to it yet.

If you can't tell we really don't see anyone around us. This shot was the idea of the photographer after my veil attacked Eric

This is my favorite photo, mostly because we were in the shade and near the water fountain.

This one is Eric's favorite. It was a lot of fun to do even though we both wanted to jump into the water.

We really enjoy this photo because the only person that could see us was Dave, the photographer and we were out of the sun.

Here we are with my new in-laws. Yes I finally have sister. We still need to get a copy of the one with my family.