Fall Semester

Its been a while since I've posted. I'm mostly just always out of time!
I shouldn't even be posting right now but I just can't help but take a break.
I have the heaviest work load I've ever had school wise in my life!
Currently reading 3 novels for one class. Have a paper due every Wednesday for one class. A novel for another class. A text book for another, and a novel and a text book for another, and a textbook and poetry for the other. Its a LOT of reading and writing. On top of that I'm trying to finish sewing my sister's crib bedding (its taking me wayyy to long). I make super simple dinners lately. I'm literally up at 3:15 am, reading at work, going to school, coming home and doing homework until 5:00. I go to the gym at 5:00 every other day and on the days I don't I try to get dinner started. Then its back to homework or sewing for three more hours and then bed. And I still don't finish everything!!

Anyhow-- those are my complaints [: haha.
I'm working on staying positive and not overloading myself. Its really hard to stay motivated when you'd rather be cooking great dinners, cleaning your house, and all that fun wife stuff.
But the days I don't work (Tuesday and Thursday) I let myself sleep in until 5am and then I get up and give myself two hours of homework time, then two hours of clean/get ready time/catch up time before class. Those are my favorite times. They usually look like this.

 Candle burning, clean house, hot cocoa, reading British lit, and Ella Fitzgerald!
Besides all the work, I LOVE my major truly and fully. English has always been my favorite, and will always be. I especially love writing. Right now I'm working on building my skills in less formal forms of writing-- like fiction. I do well at speeches, essays, research papers, academic papers, and emotional pieces. So right now I'm focusing on the short story.
I'm also really loving having books to read that push me to understand. SO much better than the Harry Potter books I was reading over the break. (No offense fans!) They were just too surface level and simple. A great story nonetheless though.

I'm also working on trying to be healthy again. Happy to say that the strep is gone and I'm just feeling great! With the pregnancy and miscarriage it'd been almost 5 months since I REALLY ran on a treadmill. Last Thursday I started with the bike and just went 15 miles. It felt really good. By Saturday I graduated to the treadmill and ran/walked 2.5 miles, then rode 2.5 more on the bike. (I'm starting small, don't judge). Hoping to get back into lifting soon but we'll see where the time permits. Feels good to be taking care of my body, and to take that time out for me. Even if it is only every other day right now.

Garth and I are continuing to enjoy being married-- as if you wondered. We have a couple fun things coming up, but they're secrets so I'll have to share later when they're finished [:
Garth works really hard in school and I watch him study and restudy lecture notes daily. He memorizes everything. I'm grateful for such a hard working man. Did I mention he works at 4am EVERYDAY? Well besides weekends. But yeah thats not fun. He also is a sweetheart and gets up early on the weekends to help people. Last week it was to help the neighbor detail his new car. So funny. 6 am on a Saturday he's up and by 2pm he'd worked out, detailed two cars, and was starting to clean our house. (I was sewing Anna's crib bedding).
Such a great man!

Despite our heavy workloads I'm grateful for our early morning shifts. We get to study together daily and even though we don't talk a whole lot during it its nice to see each other more than last semester.


We plan to enjoy fall to the fullest and complete all the items on our fall bucket list! [:
I can't wait for winter and the holidays though. So excited.

These were amazing fall cookies. Apple Cider cookies with caramel centers. YUM

 Also since I'm obsessed with decorating here's some of the fall stuff i've added.

Just for good measure here's our little Kitchen. Its becoming my favorite room 

in the whole house so. I had to share its cuteness. 

Now here's my small rant and then I'll end this book.
I hate seeing everything about politics on facebook. Not because politics annoy me or because I'm not interested, I am. But the battles become more about what the other side is doing WRONG than what our side can do right. People are so focused on trashing and outsmarting the other side they're forgetting who we are supposed to be. It makes me so sad to hear people call anyone an "idiot" or "incompetent" or complain endlessly about the way they do things. I don't like Obama either, but I don't judge him for everything that's wrong with this country. He's just one man. And things aren't going to change instantly. I don't agree with all that he does but that doesn't give me a right to argue with those who do and act like they are foolish. I was taught to be Christlike in all things. To love ALL of god's children and to love my enemies! I think its sad that people forget that so quickly when they're speaking about someone they've never actually had to meet.
If you don't believe me read this talk!!
http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/62734/Elder-Jeffrey-R-Holland-God-is-always-calling.html

This all goes for those poor replacement officials as well [:
Sorry-- but for those of you who know me.. you know I always feel for the underdog.
Even when watching sports I generally want the team who is losing terribly to come back because I feel bad for them.
And I can't watch the players when they lose a big game it makes me want to cry even if I wanted the other team to win.
So yes. I am a loser. And proud of it.
haha.

Life Actually.

So here I am sitting in my newly cleaned house with my new favorite candle burning (Spiced Apple Toddy) listening to my fav Frank Sinatra -- and I'm just filled with so much gratitude.
Garth is currently at the gym with our neighbor and poppy seed muffins are baking awaiting his return [:
I love being able to make the house nice for my husband and I love being able to spoil him!
However, lately its more so been the other way around. That is mostly why I am filled with so much gratitude.
I've spent a lot of time being sick these 8 months we've been married, and he's spent a lot of time taking care of me.
I started out with strep that lasted way too long. They gave me medicine but after taking it it hadn't changed anything. So they had to try a different one. Then I spent a while sick with other things and on all sorts of medications, with my patient husband just loving me and caring for me. We got all moved in and started school again. School made it so we saw each other a lot less than we thought we would.
Towards the end of the semester we prayed a lot and thought a lot about Garth and his job. We came to the conclusion he should quit it, and that that was what would be best for our marriage. He quit and found another one, less hours on campus. Although it was less money we'd figured it all out and we were going to be fine...just tight.
Well a week later we discovered I was pregnant and we felt a little bummed we'd quit the job. I was super tired the first few weeks of pregnancy, and he took care of me and made sure I did everything BY THE BOOK because he loved our baby already.
It was the 7 week break and he was planning on trying to find more work and work two jobs but he was unsuccesful. He found a couple jobs that were just two day things but nothing permanent. He was a little discouraged, especially with a baby coming.
In hindsight I see what a blessing that was. Not only because we were able to make up for all the lost time during the semester and grow closer together, but also because he was here for me when I needed him.
In terms of miscarrying, I opted to do it naturally. It was a drawn out process and it was pretty hard. I was blessed to have a husband by my side through the whole thing. Even if he was just sitting outside the bathroom door wishing there was more he could do. The whole thing was hard on him, which made me really sad, but I can't imagine him having to be at work and me do it all alone.
He was able to go to every single appointment with me. He drew on my back through the pain, and made me laugh when I was sad. Had he kept his job back when we felt we got the answer he needed to quit it, he wouldn't have been there for any of it.
So I'm extremely grateful.  I always love when you can see heavenly father's hand in your life so clearly.
We were able to maintain perspective and help each other through it. I've determined to just focus on being the best wife possible and building traditions within our marriage. After all, traditions ARE what will matter to our children. We already made our fall bucket list and a cute little crafty way to display it [:

I had the opportunity to go to my brother's sealing this past week and it was just such a tender experience for me. To see him make that choice with such a wonderful girl made me so happy for him. All day I was just beaming and giddy for him! He had such a beautiful bride and she's got the best husband.
The picture of him playing football-- that moment made me so happy. All the neighborhood boys from my childhood along with my husband played football for a bit towards the end of the reception. Its maybe the last time they will, after all those long hours spent playing it in our street. It was fun to watch. I'm glad I got some pictures.
I had the opportunity to be with my family this past weekend and I just love them so much. Everyone who knows me knows I would give anything to live in Colorado again-- and its mostly just because I would love to be close to my parents.

They have taught me so much. I'm grateful for my moms perfect example of homemaking. Because of her I'm in love with decorating and cleaning. There's nothing better than a clean home with a candle burning. Because of her I decorate for seasons all too early, but it makes it feel like the holidays are around longer.
I've already put up all my fall decorations (two days ago) and brought out all the fall candles. It made me so happy I was basically bouncing around all day.
I'm still sewing the table runner and making the table setting so I still have some crafts to get through.

While in Colorado I was able to host Anna's baby shower with my mom. It was very cute and special. We had a lot of fun and Anna got a lot of good gifts for baby Paris. I'm excited for my niece to enter the world. I probably won't get to officially meet her til Christmas but it will be so great. [:

I came back to Idaho feeling really good, and then it hit me. I have strep, again.
So of course yesterday I came home from work to a clean house with a husband who told me to go to bed. Such a wonderful man.

After antibiotics I'm feeling much better. I was able to get up and disinfect every surface today to try to help Garth not to get sick. I cleaned the house and listened to much Frank Sinatra.
For those of you who don't know I'm just a little obsessed. My mom and dad went through a phase where they played him a lot in the house. I think he makes me feel like home and comfortable.
For whatever reason, I listen to him often.
I also listen to Diana Ross and the supremes. But I know why THAT is.
One time at Barnes and Noble (after shopping for my momma) my dad saw there CD and got excited. When I told him I didn't know who they were he was very disappointed. He purchased the CD determined to show me.
When we got in the car he knew all the words. He even did hand gestures to "Stop in the Name of Love". It made me laugh, and its a tender experience now. So, me being the little girl I was, I made sure I learned all the words and I fell in love with the CD. I played it often. Thats why I still do. [:

Life is going well, we're moving into Fall now and I love the noticeable change in the air.
I love the decorations all over the house and that boots are in my near future. [: