365 Day Project

I recently came across a history teacher's blog from somewhere in Missouri who had decided to take a photo a day and create an online photo album of his vision of the world. I've heard of it being done, but I thought this was pretty cool, so I decided to give it a try. I'm on day 2......(hehe) I'll figure out the album later. For now, I'm just enjoying exploring my own yard.

4 Years

It wasn't an eventful day, but it was spent in quiet contemplation. Four years ago today I married Earl. Life with Earl has been full of adventure, not like the adventures I had before I met him, but new adventures that have made my life so enjoyable.

Camping, fishing, hunting just to name a few. We've remodeled two kitchens, moved too many times to count (back and forth from Midvale to mom's, Midvale, Orem) okay, I can count 4, plus a four week stay at mom's again. Earl's been willing to go Shop-hopping with me and has been dragged to too many family events to count...I won't try counting those.

We've discovered Geocaching and made lots of new friends along the way. We've made it through his bachelor's degree and hopefully we will survive my masters, when I finally get around to it. I know there are many more things I could list, but the point is, it's been a wonderful four years.

I hope we have 40 more years of adventures ahead of us. I love you Earl.

The size of my Thumb...

About a year and half ago I stepped off a curb and twisted my ankle pretty good. I felt like if I went to the doctor I would get the same silly air-cast and a pat on the head, so I self medicated and didn't go.

After a year I was still sore and wrapping my ankle on occasion, so I decided I better get to the doctor. Apart from having separated the bones in my foot, I also had a cyst in my ankle. I got a lovely pair of $350 orthodics and a promise that the cyst could come out when ever, but it needed to come out. I was told at least three weeks of recovery was needed.

Not wanting to spoil summer break, I decided to have the surgery three weeks ago. The surgery was quick--I got to the hospital by noon and was home by three. The doctor came out of surgery and told me the cyst was the size of his thumb! I guess that's why I thought I had two ankle bones on one foot. I spent the first three days basically in bed, dutifully walking my five minutes every hour, icing, and staying off my feet. Gradually I have gotten back to being on my feet more. I got the stitches out last week and am wearing a compression sock for who knows how long to ensure the cyst does not redevelop.

It's crazy how we go from one pain to another. The orthodics were helping the pain associated with the bones. The surgery alleviated the aches and swelling in my ankle, but now there are new pains, mostly just soreness from the surgery and a weak ankle that gets tired much to easily. I'm grateful for this new pain, it is far less than the others, but somewhere in my head I felt like after the surgery there should be no pain. Silly me.

Now we hope that I'll get to be more mobile the better I get. I am anxious to move more, garden more, walk more, etc. Half of that depends on my ankle, the other half motivation. Is there a surgery for that?

Reminders

Over the Valentine's weekend Earl reminded me it's been two years since we were given Jonathan and then he was taken away. Feb 13th, 2008 we delivered that sweet little guy and said goodbye.

He's gone for now, but we'll have him forever.

Twilight--the real story.

The video below is not even close to what I normally blog about, but I laughed too hard not to share it!

Martin Luther King Day is a great Anniversary

Yesterday is the fourth anniversary of my first date with Earl. It is hard to believe that just four years ago I decided I was done dating, then this sweet guy calls me up and says he thinks I'd been told about him and would I be interested in meeting.

I will always be grateful to Ryan for suggesting to Earl that he call me. That first phone call lasted almost two hours. Our first date (dinner at the Stowes) was a great way to meet with little pressure. It was also fun to see Earl connect with my niece and nephews--a precursor of our life ahead.

Putting so much energy into the house these last few weeks, Earl was too tired to do much celebrating yesterday, but I did fix a nice dinner and we had a quiet evening at home.

Four years of joy. How blessed I am.

The Joy of Laundry

I never thought I'd say this, but I have enjoyed doing laundry for the last two days! After 49 days of driving our laundry over to my moms (who did way too much of it, and I am VERY grateful) I was able to finally do laundry in our own home.

Dad and Earl made some amazing changes in the basement. They took an awkward storage room and a narrow hall of a laundry room and turned it all in to finished, usable space. After moving the water heater, building new walls, scraped the old linoleum, painted (I helped there, like always) and a promise of built in shelves and a sink basin.

We purchased new front loading machines back in September. We haven't had a chance to use them yet, they were delivered and just sat in the basement waiting to be hooked up. Dad built a platform for them to sit on--exactly the right height. I don't have to bend over to load or unload and the controls are right at my finger tips. Lo-vel-y!

I even washed a huge king sized quilt today--it smells and looks April fresh!

Now, as we finish off the space we'll install cabinets and a sewing room. We'll have plenty of room for food storage and the house gets more and more enjoyable to live in.

How can I ever thank my dad enough? I love ya pops! I'll do your laundry whenever you ask. (Oh yeah, pictures coming)