BLESSED and still surprised!!!

Have I mentioned that I have an amazing husband? Well I don't think I say it enough because he keeps outdoing himself. He threw me the BEST birthday party I have EVER had... and I have had some pretty amazing birthdays before this one. What gets me is that I just turned 29, no milestone except that this will be my last year in my 20s. Anyways let me tell you how he surprised me.

Well this birthday I didn't expect much. I just wanted to go out to eat with my family (which we did as you may have seem in a previous post). Well a couple days later on my real birthday, Andy took off of work to hang out with me which ended up being a very chill day. We just went to Villa Bella for some birthday cupcakes, we went to the mall to walk around to do something active (because it was too overcast to bring Alyeska outside), and lastly we went to Cafe Rio. It was nice and uneventful, just a good time with the two loves of my life. I also knew that I was getting an Ipad because my family chipped in so how can I expect more than all that for my 29th. So really that's how everything was thrown off. I thought that we celebrated and we were done.

However Andy calls me on Friday (4 days after my bday) while he was at work saying that he got an email from Hill AFB for last minute condo deals. I totally believed him because there are other email deals that he can get like last minute Foo Fighter concert for free and what not. So he said he would tell them he would like the deal and hopefully we will get them before the deals are gone. I was excited to do something so spontaneous (especially us having a baby and all). So he said go ahead and start packing up for the weekend. He gets home and says that the resort will call us if they have any rooms for that deal left in a few hours. So we're all packed waiting for that call. Little did I know that he was really just waiting for the call that said that everyone that was going to surprise me that night were all at the condo and ready to go. 

So we headed up to the condo and I asked Andy if we had any friends that we should invite to the condo to hang out with. He said we should go up and check out how big it was and if there was room to hang out. Well let me tell you there was A LOT of room to hang out with. In fact little did I know that Andy had been planning this with my friends for over a month and that most of them were coming to stay the day, the night or even both nights with us. My brother in law came through with a timeshare that his dad had so Andy really did get a great deal on the condo and my friends all divided up the meals and snacks... everything was delicious by the way!!! They all brought games to play and their snowshoes. The rest of the weekend was a wonderful adventure.

I am soooooooooooooooo soooooo sooooooo soooooo blessed with the best friends a girl could ever asked for. I've been friends with these girls since elementary, and junior high. I consider these friend life-long. I am so blessed that even after all of us getting married to awesome men and many of us having wonderful babies we are still able to get together to have still experience yet another adventure together with all of us and our families. My sister and brother and spouses I consider my best friends as well and were so glad that they were part of the group.
 
It was truly a dream come true! I hope for more of these adventures in the future. Thanks to my friends that love me so much! I love you all! And this weekend wouldn't have happened without my husband who I absolutely adore.

YES, I'm BLESSED and still surprised!

Selling Our Home

We found a house we want to buy in North Ogden!! Now let's see if we can sell our house in this market. Please pray that we can! We love our home in Washington Terrace but we feel like it's a time for change before our family grows bigger.

Here's our house listing (click links below for pictures):

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=19042684&cat=&lpid=1&search=Washington%20Terrace

http://www.postlets.com/repb/6976132

HAPPY BIRfday!

Happy Birfffday to me!

My birthday is actually tomorrow. Last night we went to one of my favorite restaurants with my family- ABC Mandarin in Roy... best Chinese food! The owner (I forget his name), played Yankee Doodle on a leaf for me and I got two apricots for my birthday treat. We came back to our house and played Settlers. It was a lovely night. This is my last year of being in my 20s. I better live it up because 30 will be here in no time. 

The Help

I have to brag about this book. I couldn't put it down. I love when a book wins over me being on the internet or other distractions in my life. 

A quick review: This book is set in the 60s in Mississippi during segregation between blacks and whites. It is the story of how maids were treated by their employer (both the good and bad). I loved it because the maids had fun personalities and colorful voices in the book. The situational drama is very intense and spirited and literally had me gripping my library book. It was so beautiful and made me appreciate living in the present where racism is not nearly as extreme and that I live where things have changed so much that we have a black president and where multicolored marriages are normal.

I recommend this book... it was beautiful!

Adventures of car buying!

Andy and I were so excited that we finally saved up enough money to buy a new vehicle. We wanted a reliable family vehicle that we could go on vacation with as well as have everyday use without worrying about it having problems. We also wanted a lot of room so that we could use it to get stuff from Lowes or throw the bikes, luggage and what-nots in the back. A rack on top was something we also considered since we got rid of our truck over a year ago and I wasn't able to bring my Kayak anywhere without borrowing a vehicle from someone else. Toeing capabilities and 4 wheel drive was also a wonderful commodity for Utah fun and weather.  I would much rather a SUV then a mini-van. Andy did a lot of research on SUVs and we decided to get a Toyota 4Runner. The 4Runner was not too big and not too small. It was jusssst right! :)

We were going back and forth with the idea of getting the third row seating in the very back. We decided to get the third row because we found we don't have to wait to have 3 MORE kids to use the third row. Andy's parents come to Utah once or twice a year and it would be nice to be able to use one vehicle to go have our adventures and if we have even two kids that can't happen. Also carpooling with other friends would be wonderful to have a vehicle that fit 7 instead of 5.  That made it easy for us to start looking for 4Runners. We also knew our budget and that narrowed the year down to a 2006-2009. So Andy watched all the car dealerships in Northern Utah and we also watched KSL.com for the 4Runner with third row seating, in the price range around $20,000 plus or minus a few thousand.

We found two!!! Both prices were amazing compared to other prices that we researched. They were both in Orem, Utah just a block from each other. They were almost identical. Both were silver with only about a few thousand miles of use apart. They both had third row seating. One vehicle was 2006 with a sunroof a little less miles that was selling at a dealership and was very clean, and the other was a 2007 with a DVD player that was privately owned. The privately owned vehicle was a few thousand less so we decided on that one. I admit that Andy and I were a little naive because the dealership said that the sales tax was going to be over 1,300 alone without all the other fees. We thought thought we were getting such a great deal by going with the privately owned couple. Little did we know that we had to pay about the same sells tax when we went to go get the vehicle liceanced and registered. After we heard thats why people want others to put less on the title then they actually buy it for. GEEZ! I never minded sells tax until now :)

However Andy and I still got a better deal on the privately owned vehicle than the dealership one. The only thing we didn't like as much about the private one was, it wasn't near as clean and new looking as the dealership one. The couple took off a couple of hundred so we could go get it detailed so that made the difference for us to get it from them along with it being still over $1,000 cheaper than the dealership not counting the stupid sells tax. 

I forgot to say on the way to Orem we stopped at Carmax in South Jorden to see how much they would give us for my 2002 Ford Focus. Andy and I decided it would be much easier to sell it to carmax or trade than try to sell it ourselves because the engine makes an annoying noise and the engine light is on because of a radiater problem. Carmax and the dealership both said $2,000 so we went with Carmax since we didn't buy from the dealership.

Alyeska came along on our car buying and car selling adventure and she was such a lovely baby the whole time. I'm so glad she likes riding in the car because it was a looooong day. We left before 9 am and didn't get home until 3 or 4 p.m. We went straight to go get it licensed and registered where we found out our bad news about the sells tax LOL and when we got home we got full coverage over the internet. All in a day!

I love my new 4 runner because: it doesn't make funny noises, it has an ipod hookup, I feel taller and more powerful on the road, feels safer in the snow, and it's easier to put Alyeska in the back seat. There are many many more pluses but those are the major benefits that I loved from just these first two weeks of having our new vehicle.

I always have a little connection to my vehicles that I've gotten rid of for one reason or another. I will only miss my ford focus a little. Now I am onto bigger and better!!! :) God has truly blessed us so that we could save up enough money to pay off our new vehicle with no loans.

This is our 4 runner in our garage. Not a fancy picture, just a lazy picture :)

This isn't our vehicle but it gives you an idea of the third row seating. I just didn't feel like opening the garage and taking pics. :)

Leviticus- A foreshadow of a true need for a savior

As I was reading Leviticus last week I was once again reminded of how much we need a savior. The theme of Leviticus is holiness. The term "holy" (set apart to God) is the key word of the book. Moses uses this word over and over again in Leviticus. Leviticus 19:2 is the key verse and states the theme of the book: "You shall be holy, For I the Lord your God am holy." The book is full of how to "atone" or cover sin (Exodus 30:10) and to "sanctify" (set apart to God). They used specific animal sacrifices and procedures to do this. Sacrifices were offered so the sinner might have access to God. The sacrifice was a substitute; it died in the place of the sinner.

It says in Romans 3:10 "There is no one righteous, not even one." It is impossible to be completely righteous and holy. The laws that the Israelites had were still not good enough to take sins away. In Hebrews 10:4 it says "For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take sins away."

Only one can take away the sins of the world. John 1:29 "The next day John saw Jesus coming and he said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world."

We can't pay for our salvation. I Peter 1:18  "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect."

We can't earn our salvation. Some say that you do the best you can do and then God does the rest. NOT TRUE! Don't give yourself the credit. It is fleshly and sinful to want to take pride in what we did. We can't make ourselves holy and righteous only God can. Ephesians 2:8 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God,  not by works, so that no one can boast" 

Overall I am so glad that I don't have to sacrifice animals with lots detailed steps in becoming holy enough for me to even come before God. Hebrew 10:10 "For God's will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time."

Exodus- He will have all the Glory.

               Wow! My God is an AWESOME God!

Isaiah 43:10-13 You are My witnesses, says the LORD, and My servant whom I have chosen; that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside Me there is no savior. I have declared, and have saved, and I have showed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore you are My witnesses, says the LORD, that I am God. Yes, before the day was, I am He; and there is none that can deliver out of My hand: I will work, and who shall let it?" 

I loved reading Exodus last week and seeing God's power and glory brought out over and over and over again. God is alpha and omega (begining and end) and is all knowing, however somehow people look to other idols and gods in the past and still today. I am thankful that He continues to put up with us and show us His power and Glory.

He told Abraham in Genesis that his people will be in slavery for 400 years. That is exactly what happened. God promised Abraham that his people would see the promise land... He had BIG plans for this that the people would never forget. He wanted his people, the Egyptians, and people who believe in His word today, to know that He is all powerful and the one and only God. He didn't want them to doubt his power so he hardened the Pharaohs heart over and over again just to show his glory. WOW!  I serve a powerful God! Here were his miracles to save His people and get His glory.

The First Plague (Exodus 7:14-24)
All of the water in Egypt - right from water already in buckets and jars, to ponds, canals, streams, even the Nile River - turned to blood. Then all of the fish of the river died, causing a terrible stench.

The Second Plague (Exodus 8:1-15)
Frogs miraculously multiplied in number, so many that the land was infested with the creatures. Even people's houses had them inside.

The Third Plague (Exodus 8:16-19)
Vast swarms of gnats tormented people and animals.

The Fourth Plague (Exodus 8:20-32)
Vast swarms of flies through the land, spreading disease.

The Fifth Plague (Exodus 9:1-7)
Disease on the livestock - horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep and goats - but those of the Israelites were unharmed.

The Sixth Plague (Exodus 9:8-12)
Festering boils on people and animals through the land.

The Seventh Plague (Exodus 9:13-35)
Powerful hail storms that destroyed the standing crops. The hail stones were so big that any people or animals caught outside in the storm were killed.

The Eighth Plague (Exodus 10:1-20)
Locusts in such great numbers that the ground was covered with them. They devoured everything that survived the hail storm.

The Ninth Plague (Exodus 10:21-29)
Darkness over the entire land for three days - but the Israelites had light in Goshen.

The Tenth Plague (Exodus 11:1-10, 12:1-42)
Death of the firstborn. The Passover. Pharaoh let the Israelites go. The wilderness journey began.

You would think that Pharaoh would let the slaves go by now but God still wanted more Glory so He hardened Pharaohs heart once again and Pharaoh sent his army to chase the Israelite and God split the red sea for his people to escape and the sea swallowed up the Egyptian army.

 

new noises

Alyeska just turned 9 months old and is constantly showing us her newest tricks that she seems to get over night. She does not seem to be very interested in crawling yet but all the other moms said count your blessings or some say to even push them down and enjoy not running after them (joking of course). 

Anyways we are having so much fun with her and her personality seems to blossom more and more. She is sooo unique! One thing that sets her apart from other babies is she seems so contemplative. She often gets remarks like "she is such a serious baby." She seems like she is constantly observing people and objects. Although she laughs and smiles she doesn't give them out easily. I also noticed that she uses her fine motor skills much more than her large. She really seems like she wants to know how things work. Reminds me of her daddy. I love my little unique baby girl!

Alyeska is kinda a quiet little baby and does a cute little hum when she's excited and does quiet babbles here and there that is often hard to get on camera. However she has been figuring out that she can make different noises using her hands and has also been figuring out that her voice can get louder and has different pitches all within the last week or two. It's been fun seeing her experiment.

I helped her here but she does know how to do the hand noises on her own. 

When she first screeched it surprised us because it came out of no where and it was loud and proud. Her screeches have been louder then this video but I catch what I can :)

2012

New Years resolutions were never my thing because it's kinda depressing when I hit February and see that I already failed. 
So really, I just want to 2012 to be a time where I get closer to God and really love on family, friends and others because relationship with God and his creation is the only thing that has a lasting investment. 

Our church "The Genesis Project" is going through the bible and touching on each book every Sunday in 2012. We are starting in Genesis next week. I'm excited to read through the bible with my church this year.


HOPE
 I hope I grow closer and closer to my God, get a good overview of the living word, and get constant conviction of how I should apply what the holy spirit is speaking to me to act on in my own life. I'm also excited to unite and talk about my love for God with others that are and aren't reading his word this year.

We are also doing small groups to go deeper and have fellowship. 
I am hoping Andy and I will be able to attend those small groups and or do devotions and pray together more regularly in our marriage. I hope I can look back on 2012 and see that God has truly moved forward in our lives.

I am excited for 2012 in what God has in store for us! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! 
Thank you Jesus for the opportunity to have a personal relationship with you. Thank you for helping me to Love You and Love others. I can't wait to get to know YOU more!

Please be with me, my family, my friends, and my church family this year.
  

Jesus in Genesis

Jesus in Genesis

Jesus name does not appear in Genesis.  Jesus of Nazareth would not be born for 1000s of years so why look for Him here?

I believe that Jesus Christ in my God, my King, my Lord and yes even my creator. Some may say that Jesus was a great man that did many good things and that He was even God’s son and our savior but don’t believe he is necessarily our God. Yes they believe that God the father is their God, but not Jesus. Although if you read in the bible right from the beginning in Genesis it says Jesus always was and is our God. Take Genesis 1 where it says in the plural form Gen 1:26 “Let Us make people in our image” The plural form includes God the father, God the son and God the spirit. You can also see that Jesus was here BEFORE the new testament. Take John 8:58 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" Who is I AM? Well in Exodus 3:14 it says God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM' has sent me to you." So God is I am and Jesus is I am, they are one in the same.

In Job 33:4 it says “For the Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” It includes Jesus as the our creator in Colossian 1:15,16 “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before God made anything at all and is supreme over all creation. Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven and earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see.” I don’t believe Jesus was created, he was and is the creator along with God the father and God the spirit.

I only worship ONE God. Wait didn’t I just say that I believe that Jesus, God the father and God the spirit are all God. How can I worship just ONE God?  I believe They are all one God with different attributes. And all three were always here and always will be. Not created by any other God. God says “I the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any other god” Exodus 20:4 “He is God; there is no other besides Him” Deut 4:35 

The word "trinity" is not found in the bible so I will not try to explain what I don't understand. All I know is that there is only one God so I will only worship HIM. I want to know HIM better but he is so HUGE I will never know HIM completely until I get to heaven.

The fact that God created us in his own image shows that he is a personal God. When I was little I thought that God had legs, two ears, two eyes, a head of hair, etc… because we were created in his own image. Obviously God did not create us exactly like himself because God has no physical body. Instead we are reflections of God’s glory. Some feel that some of those reflections are our reason, creativity, relational, etc. We will never totally like God because he is our supreme Creator. But we do have the ability to reflect his character in love, patience, forgiveness, kindness, and faithfulness. It’s awesome to go through the bible and see God as being the ultimate example of this, especially when this example became flesh and blood when Jesus became human as a visual image and then gave His life for us. The ultimate sacrifice and act of love.

I think it’s awesome that God created us with his characteristics and also created us with eternal spirits. That, I believe gives us self-worth. Would we really be worth anything if after we died we were gone completely? My God is a personal God to give me the freedom of choice. He didn’t create robots. Why would God place a tree in the garden and then forbid Adam to eat from it? (Gen 2:16,17). God wanted Adam to obey but God gave Adam the freedom to choose. Without choice, Adam would have been like a prisoner, and his obedience would have been hollow. The two trees (the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil) provided an exercise in choice, with rewards for choosing to obey and sad consequences for choosing to disobey. Jesus in the flesh taught the disciples that the most important choice was to help each person believe in Him to gain eternal life. John wrote, "To all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:12) Christ knew that without an individual decision to accept Him as Savior there would be no salvation. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6)

Isaiah 43:10,11

“You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD,
   “and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
   and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
   nor will there be one after me.
¹¹ I, even I, am the LORD,
   and apart from me there is no savior. 

Wow thank you God 

my Savior,

my King

my Lord

my Jesus