Happy Anniversary

I was reading a friends’ blog today and realized that I never wrote about out our first year of marriage. Here are some of the highlights: Got married in the wonderful, beautiful Castle of Logan, Utah. It was a beautiful day and almost all my extended family were able to witness it. It was truly a beautiful day. So grateful I got to make promises with my bestest friend! August, 2011- Went to Portland, OR for a belated mini honeymoon/vacation. We went to Seaside, and visited Tillamook (thank you Serena for an anti-climactic event). We also drove over a four day weekend and I loved Portland. On our way back, I started feeling like we should not live in Provo anymore and that I should graduate and focus on putting Ron through school. Within two weeks, I graduated, and we moved to Pleasant Grove. October, 2011- Lived in a beautifully, spacious apartment. Ron and I were both working full-time and it was great. Felt like we should move to a less expensive place and we moved into a basement apartment about 1.5 miles from where we lived. Have loved our ward here and felt like we should settle down here until Ron was out of school. Life was great. Also, Ron graduated from Provo College with his Associates degree in Graphic and Web Design. Pretty Awesome! November 2011- Had Thanksgiving together and I got a new job! Goodbye Digis! December 2011- Went to see Oklahoma! It looks so much like where my parents live in Missouri, that I thought I was there, but it wasn’t. Ron and I got to celebrate in the traditions of the Beck Family Christmas and I LOVED LOVED LOVED it. We found out that my oldest sister in law was moving back to Utah (Hooray for us) and it was just a great time to be around family and goodness. I love my in-laws. They are a totally ‘normal’ family, with quirks and personalities that make life colorful, but I just love the spirit about them. And my husband is amazing, so I am really glad that I like my in-laws. January 2012- Got to go see Brian Reagan live. It was a great evening. I have heard some of his stuff before, but I think his live stuff was great. I was a little nervous, but this past all odds. Ron started school part-time at Utah Valley University (UVU) and it was fun. End of January, Ron lost his job and things got a little tight for a while. May 2012- Ron started his second semester at UVU and I got a new job! Goodbye crazy PcCareSupport. Pretty much, life calmed down and things could not have been better. My new job is doing accounts receivable for an insulation company. June 2012- Ron got this awesome job doing sampling. It is really flexible and even though it kind of cuts into our weekend a little, it is nice to have some extra doe! Oh and Happy Anniversary!

Did 14 hours just go by?

Work goes so much faster when I have things to do.

I was sick this past Monday and so yesterday and today (Wednesday) went by so much quicker. I have been working on an Excel file so that I can be more organized with our accounts. I hope it goes smoother this month than it did last month. I never thought that talking to people would become harder than it has, but it has. I really like emailing (never thought that would be the case) and I don't mind the phones really that much either, I just have found that people are harder to interact with since I got burned out with my previous two jobs. But it was a great day for work.

We made a super unhealthy dinner (Mac & Cheese with weenies and pork and beans). That being said, it was still really good! Then I took a wonderful nap (like an hour) and I brought my book home and I am excited because I am going to read. I just got to the section on Organic! It would be so fun to take a class from Michael Pollan.

Thoughts for the day:
I am less jealous of my friend, I really hate staring at the computer all day long; I really like reading blogs; I am grateful for "fresh" fruit (as fresh as probably GMO watermelon can come). I loved that it was cool today and I am not looking forward to summer; I am blessed with a great husband and wonderful ward.

Toodles!

Coming to myself

I have been on a new kick lately of just reading things and becoming more informed. I stumbled upon a blog and I just love reading it. It helped me find a book I had read about 2.5 years ago. I found the book in one of those BYU Bookstore clearance shelves. It helped me when I was in the stage act after my mission and before marriage. So I picked up the book and started reading it again. I also happened to watch an informative documentary: "Food, Inc." which really started opening my eyes to what is really out there and what is around me. The book and documentary led me to another book, written by one of the featured commentators in the documentary. Very enlightening. Knowledge really is power.

I also have this strong urge to write. Ron is the writer in our family, but I want to write. I want to document. I want to master a weakness (perception really, not necessarily truth). I want to prove that, even though I have hated writing for a long time (thanks in part to all of those papers in college), I can do it and that I have a mind of my own and that I make a difference.

So here is my journey of writing. We will see how it comes along......

This evening, I watched another documentary on Queen. Pretty fascinating. I wonder what Freddie is doing in heaven. We made pizza, and I am really grateful because, even though the cheese is about $5, it makes about 3 pizzas and we custom create our own deliciousness. The pizza dough is only $.50 and the chicken is about $1.50. So in total, to make the pizzas we like, it is a little less thank $4. FOR A LARGE, STUFF CRUST PIZZA! And that is not with cheese on sale. Pretty awesome.

I had to go to the doctors today (had a nasty little UTI). I felt reassured that the Nurse Practitioners knew what they were doing and that my concerns were valid. Ron wen with me and it was a good experience. I remember when I was dating another boy that he and I were worried that we would run out of things to talk about. I find that with Ron, that is never the case. He has these awesome stories from when he was in high school with his two best friends. Or I will relate what I am thinking and it almost always sparks a great conversation. I am grateful for the fact that my best friend is my husband. I know people have seen me in the past, and have even been great supports, but this is even better than that. I know that that could be taken in an instant, but for the moment, I am happy.

My Wonderful Life

(Post from Ron's Blog "ronsoccasionalthoughts.blogspot.com")
It is around 5 am and I lie in bed sleeping peacefully. I am awakened by an alarm my wife set so she could help a friend out and take her to the airport. She turns over, kisses me and tells me she loves me, then gets out of bed and is on her way. I turn over and shield myself from the cold with the covers and quickly fall back asleep.

When I awake the second time I am delighted to find my lovely wife kissing me once again. She quickly snuggles into bed and we hold to each other as the cold enters the blanket barrier I had made. As I close my eyes and genuinely tell my lady I love her, I realize how lucky I am. It dons on me that the vast majority of marriages (or perhaps even relationships) are not genuinely happy to see and hold their spouse.

What happened to our society? Why are people so determined to get what they "want" and sacrifice the very things that are important to them? With just the simplest jester of a kiss and embrace I am reminded of the simple beauty of my life. I am reminded of the true joy that comes from love and family. Why would someone throw that away just because they don't want to give up some attribute of themselves? Have we really forgotten that a relationship is work? That BOTH parties must bend?

Just a few days ago I got a message on Facebook from an friend that was just telling me how she was happy that "My dreams came true." I really thought about it at that point... Had they?

Was this really the life I have always wanted? I looked back and remembered how I felt that morning laying in bed with my wife. A smile adorned my face and I realized yes, it was. It is not ANYTHING like I imaged, but it is the life I have always wanted. And my dreams really have come true.

Shouldn't we all feel that way about our lives? And if you don't.... Why don't you? It's your choice. Be happy with the choices you've made.

Insert here (a title that is creative to encompass a lack of writing)

My dear blog,


I have neglected you, I am very sorry. I got a full time job that consumes my afternoons and evenings, and when I get the most inspiration it is at random times when I am not able to write. I was complimenting a friend of mine (Kira) on her blog one day. She stated that she wrote when she felt like she had something to write about. I guess that I am afraid sometimes to express what I really think because it might actually be okay and I won't be judged. I at least hope so.

SO here is why I am blogging so early in the morning (I have a slight case of insomnia). I was at work this afternoon when I received a text from my husband. He was reminding me of a promise we made to each other. It was super cute, but unexpected. When I came home for my dinner break I asked him to elaborate on his text. Without becoming too personal on a medium that is intended to be personal without crossing particular boundaries, I care to express one thought: Neil L. Andersen. If you are LDS and watched the Saturday Afternoon session of General Conference 2011, you will get my drift. If not, go look. It will be well worth your time.

I was impressed by many things that he said. However there were a couple of different things that stood out to me. Having children is important, if you can have them, try to have them. If that is not something in store for you, TRUST in Heavenly Father's plan for you and do what you can to experience mortality as it should be experienced. Last but not least, STOP JUDGING!!!!!!!!! You have no idea what others are going through and quite frankly, IT IS NONE OF ANYONE'S BUSINESS! That is what I got from his talk.

I know that trusting part is much easier stated than done. The older I get, the more I realize that EVERYTHING is an experience of faith. Dating, getting married, starting a family, experiencing family as it comes, experiencing the passing of a loved one, passing on ourselves.

Each one of the previous described states of expressing faith are currently affecting my life. I have incredible friends who are single, and wish to be married. I have recently married my best friend. I have friends who have started families. I have friends that have tried for years and have not been blessed with those cherished desires. I have friends that are experiencing family as it comes. and I have friends that are experiencing the passing of a loved one, and subsequently have had friends pass on. Each time I speak with those still here, I am impressed and reminded of the love of a Heavenly Father who is truly perfect and expects(HOPES) his children will trust (have FAITH in) Him and love (Charity) him despite the "unfairness" of mortality.

My dear friends that have read this post: I wish to express one thing, (and this is to myself also). Please try, with as little amount as you are possibly able to bear, to trust a perfect being who knows what he is doing and is very aware of who you are. He knows it is hard and he knows that there are going to be times where we are on the brink of loosing it, but he asks us to just try. So for his sake and mine (writing to my future self and others) try to believe him. Try to trust his plan for you. and please TRUST YOURSELF.

-Much love,
Hannah

Graduation....of all sorts

I graduated from Brigham Young University today. It is kind of crazy to think that I don't have to go to school in two weeks. All of the job interviews I have been going to have surely reminded me of the growth that comes with life milestones.


I also have another friend graduating, but not from BYU. She is one of the most kind people I have ever met in my life. When I was a little girl, I think it was 4th grade, I was really sick and she came and picked me up from school because she was the emergency contact on my records. She never did graduate from college, that I know of, but she was always learning. She has been a great influence in my life and I went to see her before my mission and after. She even came to my wedding reception, even though she has been sick with cancer. My sisters and I are planning to see her before she 'graduates'. I read two of her daughters blogs and I am amazed with how well they are preparing for the adjustment that comes after graduation. I was speaking to a good friend just the other day. She said something that really stuck out to me. "Hannah, I truly believe that the people sent to us in our lives, especially our families are here to help us, and we them, to become exalted." I witness of the truth of that statement.

I believe there is no interaction, day to day, in our very geography region, in our ecclesiastical areas, that is by mistake. We are supposed to meet everyone we come into contact with. My witnessing of this idea has grown over the years and gets stronger when I see people like my friend graduate. I love them, I miss them, and I look forward to that day when we can be reunited, not only symbolically like we are here, but literally and with full emotion.

I will miss my friend greatly and I want to become like her one day. I am grateful for truths that make me stretch and learn about the great school of my father. I am grateful for tender mercies that teach me so much and for classmates that make the curriculum bearable. I am grateful for a perfect principal who runs his university with exactness and perfection and I am grateful for being a student there.

Portland, and how much I want to live there.

I have been to the Northwest twice in my memory: once when I was 9 and visited my dad and the other a month or so after my mission (April 2008). I remember liking it from my second visit, but I didn't remember how amazing it really is.

Our first full day! Of course, we had to visit the world-famous Tillamook Cheese Factory. It was slightly anti-climactic, but still worth it.

Also, visiting the Portland Temple...A MUST!! Even if it is closed.

My husband took this picture. The temple is being worked on, but it does not diminish the beauty of being hidden in the forest. We got lost by taking a turn to early and I thought it was interesting that I couldn't even see the spires of the Temple because it was so hidden in the forest. I loved it.

Here we are at McMinneman's in Hillsboro. Again, super beautiful.

We got to see the beach while we were there. I haven't seen the ocean in three years. It was worth it, although, I miss the warm water of Florida. It was still worth it though.

It was slightly windy, but totally worth it.


Seaside is awesome. One thing that the west coast has done well at is preserving there towns and keeping them historic. Now, only if they could preserve their lives (too much smoking in that state).

(of course I had to take pictures myself)

I loved being on vacation because Ron and I just got to lounge and enjoy life. It was really good to be with close friends (adopted family really) and just enjoy the beauty of Father's creation. Ron and I are closer to the idea of being in that area than before we left. I guess it is something worth considering, maybe not.