EMULATE the SUNFLOWER

Well it has been 5 years since Ryan and I were married in Nauvoo on May 24, 2003. I always pictured the 5th anniversary to be a big one and we would go on a cruise or maybe Hawaii something exciting. The past five years of marriage we have moved three times on our anniversary. This time our move was to Phoenix. Not really a cool vacation but I guess a great start to a new part of our life together. As we drove down I was reflecting on our life together and the things that we have done in the past five years. We have been blessed in so many ways and I am so thankful. We have had the jobs that have given us the funds to afford for Ryan to go to school and also for me to get my masters and we did not need to take out any loans. We were blessed to be able to buy our own condo in Vegas. I feel that the job that Ryan took in SLC working for Firetrol gave him the skills that he needed to prepare him for the job he got in Vegas. Which then lead to this partnership and a great opprotunity for u...

Well after three years of being in Vegas we said our goodbyes and took off for our next adventure. As I write this I cant help but have tears in my eyes as I think of leaving my friends, ward and work. I have had the greatest experience here in Vegas. When we left Salt Lake City to go to Vegas the comment to us was, "You are leaving Zion and going to Sin City!!!!????" Ryan and I were never the Utah grown type being born and raised outside of Utah and honestly we were excited to hit the mission field and be around some diversity. I have to say that even though Vegas is full of so many bad things it is also full of very active strong members of the church. Our ward was amazing. I met people in our ward that will forever be apart of my life and touched me and helped me grow in the gospel. I had a wonderful bishop who could read me like a book and was there for my support with everything that I was going through. I made great friends that Ryan and I are going to miss. One family...

Today was my last Sunday at church and my last time I would teach my beautiful young women that I have been with for 2 and 1/2 years. It has been such an adventure and I feel like I have been uplifted and taught by them more than I have been able to teach them. After my lesson and all of our tears they brought out a pillow that has a group picture on it and little ones around it and then they wrote me a message on the back! Change is so hard for me and I have grown to love each and one of my girls from beehives through Laurels since we have always done EVERYTHING together due to being a smaller young womens. I am so sad to walk away from them and to let them go. I love them so much and cant imagine not seeing them. I got a picture of them individually with me and made them a photo card and then wrote them each a personal letter. I pray that we can keep in touch and when we are in Vegas we will for sure be visiting the ward!!

6 weeks ago I started blogging and talked about the count down of graduation. Well it has come and gone and I am so proud!! Family came from Chicago, Utah, Seattle, and California as they came to celebrate Ryan's graduation from UNLV ! It has been a long five years for him as he has tried to juggle providing and working full time and his school work. I am so thankful for him. At times I look back and remember my college experience and how much fun I had. I often ask Ryan if he regrets not having that type of college experience due to marring me. He said to me that he has often wondered what it would have been like to do the single college life but has no regrets and wouldn't change being married. I am so lucky to have him and so proud of him. It hasnt been easy but it sure has been worth it!! He wasnt that excited to walk at graduation and even up to getting there he was not excited. I kept telling him that once you get there and start to come in it will be worth it. After t...

Last Tuesday was my last night for YW's. The activity was suppose to be a movie night at one of the homes. I got there a little late due to not getting out of work on time. I walked through the door and all my girls jumped up and yelled, SURPRISE!! They had gotten my favorite colors and food from Ryan had decorated the whole house in streamers, ballons, and the food was all fat free dairy free so I could enjoy it!! Then we sat down and watched the "Moive" that they said we were going to do and it ended up being a video dedicated to me! They had put together pictures of camp, manti temple trip, food night and so forth. After watching a bunch of fun photos the next section started with the saying " WE ALL WALK BY FAITH BECAUSE OF YOU" then each girl had a picture and wrote me a personal note telling me of their love for me and what I had done for them and their testimony. I was shaking so hard because I was crying so hard. I often doubt myself that I have any ta...

Ryan has been student teaching this past semester for his last semester of school. He is graduating in Health Education and was assigned a High school near our house to do his student teaching. He became very close to the kids in tenth grade and is sad to say goodbye. The last day of classes he took pictures with the kids. He came home with love notes from some of his secret crushes letting him know that they will miss him. When it comes to that I am thankful for him not being a teacher anymore. With how things are now a days it is so difficult to protect yourself when you are guy teacher. He told me yesterday that he was excited to be done with school but will miss having the opportunity to help uplift and inspire kids by teaching. I am so proud of him and his accomplishments these past five years of being in school. Love you baby!! (Ryan is in the way back if you were wondering)

You know when you are true friends with someone when you dont see one another for a long time and then when you do if feels like it was only yesterday. I was afraid to move to Phoenix due to leaving my friends that I have made here in Vegas and going somewhere not knowing anyone. After starting this blog I found my dear friend Taya from Utah State on here. I then found out she also lives in Phoenix!!! This past weekend Ryan and I got to go and see Ryan, her, and her kids for a little while. It was so sweet to be with her again. I am so excited to move and live there and spend time with her again. Love you Taya!!!

We found our place to live on Friday and we were hoping to do that so we could enjoy the rest of our time having fun. We spent Sat at the Lake jet skiing. It was so much fun to be out on the water.

Well I am feeling very blessed. We found a sweet older couple to rent our place. They signed a one year lease and it was only on the MLS for two weeks!!! I set up an appointment to see the house this Friday in Phoenix. We took the tour and were sold! We are excited to be in a house and have a garage. It will also be nice to have a little bit more room. We want to rent for a year to see if this business works out and hopefully be able to buy sometime next year. The area is great (Queen Creek/Gilbert) and we are excited to call this home in three weeks!!