Christmas and News Years recap!

This Christmas was spent with my family in Portland and let me tell you, it was a fabulous one!! Taylor and I, as most of you know had to come home early from Thailand, because of protests in Bangkok, so we got to spend THREE WEEKS in Portland! I soaked up every minute of it, Taylor was about done being around kids by the time we left, but he hasn't really spent a lot of time around a big family like mine, so we'll just give him time. He plays so well with my nieces and nephews, it's quite adorable to watch.

We did a bunch of really fun activities together while we were there, we went ice skating (which I dub a new family tradition), we made ginger bread houses, Lisa and I went and saw a couple movies together, which is always fun, and my favorite was going to the Temple together as a family to do baptisms for the dead. We had a few family meals together, including Joann's fabulous finger steaks, a big ham dinner (with Mom's delightful ham sauce), chimichnagas, and our traditional big breakfast on Christmas morning. Monica made some amazing tamales and peach pastries, which Taylor and I had the privilege of gorging ourselves with (I also dub a tradition, thanks Kent and Moni).

New years was another story, we spent the day before New years eve and New Years eve day sicker than dogs and driving for 24 hours to Arizona, where we will be living for the next five months while I attend school. When we got to Taylor's parent's house we crashed on the floor by the heater and then passed out just after the clock struck twelve. At least we made it right?!?! We finally recovered the day after New Years day and I have to say that it is so wonderful to be here with Taylor's family. They have been so wonderful to us by opening there houses and sharing lasagna, to treating us to a movie and an awesome turkey dinner with the works!! Natalie has introduced me to a whole new way of grocery shopping and I have gotten a lot of food for very Little money! Thanks Nat!!!

We have been spoiled rotten!!! We had so much fun crashing at your houses and watching movies (Thanks Moni and Kent) and in your beds (Thanks Mom, Dad, Lisa, and Jason), Christmas is really about all of you! Thanks to all of you family (not gonna name all of you) for everything, for sharing your food with us and making us feel so loved! We love each and every one of you to pieces!

A tribute to my Aunt Blye, my Aunt JoEllen, and my Uncle Tim... Rest in Peace

While I was in Railay, I was walking up and down the beach and listening to my ipod and this song by Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton came on and brought me to tears thinking of those I love who have passed on. I thought that I would share this song because I think anyone who has lost a loved one can take comfort from the lyrics and know that all of our loved ones are in a better place.

"When I get where I'm goin"

When I get where I'm going
On the far side of the sky
The first thing that I'm gonna do
Is spread my wings and fly

I'm gonna land beside lion
And run my fingers through his mane
Or I might find out what it's like
to ride a drop of rain

Chorus:
Yeah, when I get where I'm goin
They'll be only happy tears
I will shed the sins and struggles
I have carried all these years
And I'll leave my heart wide open
I will love and have no fear
Yeah, when I get where I'm goin
Don't cry for me down here

I'm gonna walk with my Granddaddy
And he'll match me step for step
And I'll tell him how I've missed him
Every minute since he left
And then I'll hug his neck

Chorus:
Yeah, when I get where I'm goin
They'll be only happy tears
I will shed the sins and struggles
I have carried all these years
And I'll leave my heart wide open
I will love and have no fear
Yeah, when I get where I'm goin
Don't cry for me down here

So much pain and so much darkness
This world we stumble through
All these questions I can't answer
And so much work to do

But, when I get where I'm goin
And I see my Maker's face
I'll stand forever in the light
Of his Amazing Grace!

Yeah when I get where I'm goin
But, when I get where I'm goin
They'll be only happy tears
I will love and have no fear

Chorus:
Yeah when I get where I'm goin
They'll be only happy tears
I will shed the sins and struggles
I have carried all these years
And I'll leave my heart wide open
I will love and have no fear
Yeah, when I get where I'm goin
Don't cry for me down here

Today I am grateful for...

My Husband! He is so incredible, this trip has brought us so much closer, we really enjoyed "our time," because we haven't had many oppurtunities to just be "us." Taylor is the most patient, selfless, and loving person that I have ever met, I feel so blessed to have been led to him and to have the chance to spend forever with him.

Being an American! After this vacation, I have become so aware of how lucky I am to have been born in a free Country; seeing the poverty and the things some of the people I've met have to do to survive has really opened my eyes. We are so blessed to have leaders who aren't corrupt(we'll see how it goes with Obama)and who won't wake up one day and decide to wipe out an entire race. I thank the Lord for my freedom and for all that I have, my life is truly rich.

My Thumbs!! I never realized how much I used my thumbs until that dang rock fell on one of them. Let me tell you, it really kinda sucks, because you have to figure out new ways to do very simple things like: putting pants on, putting my hair up, opening a water bottle (I had to have Taylor open them for a day or two after the accident, it was so sad!) So I'm glad that I have the use of all my limbs!!

My very close call in Reilay.

This morning, Taylor went to take a lead climbing course (which means that he was learning to set the routes for climbs, so he and I can go if we want) and I followed along to take some action shots. This is a very special occasion, because as many of you know, Taylor took a very bad fall about six years ago while lead climbing and had to have 25 stitches in his face and arms, so he was setting out to conquer his fear! I felt very proud.

I was sitting on a rock while the instructor was teaching Taylor how to tie a knot at the top of the climb and there was another instructor setting a route REALLY high up, I mean REALLY, REALLY high up and I was just minding my own business and looking down at the ground. Then there was this really loud crash and the guy that was climbing didn't holler "ROCK!" or anything and a ten our fifteen pound rock came down and hit my left thumb and then bounced down and hit my right foot. It hurt so badly, I immediately started to cry and my hand was shaking. The instructor and Taylor hurried to my side and lead me down the hill, they kept asking "are you okay??" I was crying so hard, but just kept saying, "I think so." The instructor sat me down, and his climbing assistant, Mark put some tiger balm on my foot and my thumb, which soothed it as much as it could. They brought ice down and placing my thumb into the ice was excruciating, it made me cry, I just had to remember to breath and Mark was placing ice on my foot at the same time. Mark took such good care of me, she was so attentive the entire time, I was so grateful to her. Taylor was so concerned; poor guy hasn't had good luck lead climbing. First, he gets hurt and then when he works up the courage to do it again, and his wife gets hurt. My thumb has a good size dent in it, the nail is actually down in the skin behind the nail and there is a little piece of rock inside the hole, it hurts pretty bad as a sit here and type. My foot is a little swollen, but it feels pretty okay now.

Once the pain subsided, I just started balling again, I was so grateful, I felt so lucky. I had no broken bones, and if that rock had come a foot or two back, it would have hit my head and could have killed me... I am so grateful to the Lord for watching over me and that the wounds were so minor. All part of the adventure right? I guess I can say that now, but I am so grateful. Our camera is broken, but what's a camera, when you are safe? It's replaceable and it's our last day here. Well, that's my story. Love you all!

Trip to Newport Rhode Island to tour the Newport Mansions

Here are some random photos of downtown Newport, where we hung out for a bit before we went and ate some amazing fish and chips!






This is the Marble house, and this was by far my favorite! This house is made from solid marble on the exterior and throughout the interior, and there is a room in this house made of solid gold!! It was so incredible, I loved all the rooms! This home was dreamed up by Alva Vanderbilt and her wish was her husband's command. They only lived in this home for three years after in was constructed, then Alva divorced Mr. Vanderbilt and moved down the street to her new husband's home. What a life!




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The Newport coast; this is the view from the Rosecliff Mansion



This is the Rosecliff Mansion, it had multiple owners, but it's most popular for being one of the filming sites for "The Great Gatsby."





Random shots of Taylor and I between seeing the Mansions...




This is the back of the Mansion



Another view of the home. We couldn't take pictures inside for reasons of preservation, but it was gorgeous.



138,000 square feet--not too shabby for a summer home eh?



Entrance to "The Breakers," this was Cornelius Vanderbilt II's summer home.

Halloweeny in Boston

After Taylor and I returned from Salem, Mom and I went and wondered around the Beacon Hill area in Boston to see some of the Mansions, we even saw John Kerry's house. Now that's one for the record books...NOT!

Salem is the place to be on Halloween

Walking down the main street in Salem Massachusetts and a little ditty...