one more minutes

if any of you have seen tarzan there is a favorite line that goes

'five more minutes

two more minutes

one more minutes.'

this week i have four more finals

three more days

and one more weeks...

...until we celebrate two years

...until i no longer spend weekdays away from dev

...until layton becomes my permanent residence

...until i bake my first turkey in my own little oven

...until free days are spent with loved ones

...until i sew up a storm of pillows

...until i unpack a house that i'm dying to live in

...until books are read for fun

so looking forward for one more weeks to pass

and yet still enjoying, and probably will miss these last one more minutes

photo by my sister megan.

thank you neville farms

thank you for growing a tree that now brings yuletide spirit to our new little place to celebrate our third weekend here. we introduce our christmas tree, homemade from our new little town- Lay-uhn, Utah. we were drawn to this farm because of the free hot chocolate, the first time experience to cut the tree yourself(despite the misleading picture, dev did all the hard work. it is way harder than i imagined), the cheap steals, and frankly-neville is a hard name to pass up. freshly being adorned as we speak-welcome little conifer. we're glad you fill up our home with love.

library learning

some things just resonate with your soul. this does with mine. enough to make me update a hopeless blog in the middle of a study session at the HaroldBLeeLibrary(what a lovely place to be. surrounded by TRUTH)

“It is the duty of all intelligent beings who are responsible and amenable to God for their acts, to search after truth, and to permit it to influence them and their acts and general course in life, independent of all bias or pre-conceived notions, however specious and plausible they may be.”
-President John Taylor

my grandparents have written on their headstone, "the glory of God is intelligence." hopefully i can live up to their motto.

ps. we moved in to our new little pad. plain and simple=life couldn't be more good to us.

sold!

after a series of unmatchable tender mercies that have witnessed to us the truth that God cares for our every step, we found a townhouse.

it is crazy to think that this will be ours. it all has happened so fast its hard to breathe along the way. we've had a ball picking out our colors, carpet, cabinets, lights, etc. needless to say, it has been harder than i thought.

we move in a week and a half. i told devin the first night we sleep there i am bringing my blanket and sleeping in the kitchen because i love it so.

HERE WE COME LAYTON.

...my heart is beyond full of gratitude and yet only an inch of it is a tad apprehensive. there are a few uncertanties that i must still wait on the lord to calm...

"that soul who on jesus has leaned for repose. i will not, i cannot desert to his foes, that soul though all hell should endeavor to shake, i'll never no never, i'll never no never, i'll never no never no never forsake"

Choose This Day

today had the potential to be a little frightening, and still could be, but i listened to a glimpse of elder eyring's prophetic vision Choose This Day and i feel calmed. my testimony one drop fuller. one day everything can be falling into place and the next it can be such a test. its hard to not let my emotions ride with how the day may pan out. its harder to listen to what the lord wants me to learn from the good days and the bad.

i am grateful for the tests; for keys that fall when your hands are full and your racing to the car, paint colors that just don't match, for weakness that draw me toward the source of all strength, for counting down the days till something expected happens and never knowing if it will come, for naggings in the back of your head or heart that want you to do something and the feeling you get when you don't listen, for having to choose between two goods, for wanting to be somewhere you cant, for falling short, for dead pens, for the need to 'develop maturity to stop trying to prove something and learn to be content with what you are'(marjorie pay hinckley), for doing the same thing over and over and getting the same undesirable results, and for red eyes. i am grateful for the bad because hopefully i can learn. hopefully my hope will overpower the shortcomings. hopefully i can see the inherent good in my life that should be or isn't comparable to others.

i am also grateful for the good. for bluebirds, for rainbows, for help, for smiling professors and jittery dogs, for macaroni and cheese, for my dads generosity and my moms spunk, for time alone in a car everyday to speak with my maker, for things that are sweeter than sugar, for saving a buck or two, for fostering relationships with honorary people, for lofas and sofas, for newly gained little brothers and sisters, for sympathy from someone who knows, for word from or sight of a long lost friend, for a body that makes me one step closer to being like god, for the nephi's faith and ability to receive revelation, for a hug that you don't want to release, for mommer and papa, for friends who are smarter than you, for a man that follows your heart, for dark mornings, for that post service feeling, for being creatively inspired, for dropping interest rates, for a heart that can feel sheer adoration, for counsel that works and promises that are fulfilled....

a little taste

jennica has shown me only glimpses of the power of couponing, today we found this sweet deal for a free 'like it' coldstone ice cream with brownies, carmel, and sprinkles-the best- and its all for free!!! check your local store to see if they are participating. only valid thurs sept 24 from 5-8 pm. i'll be there!

you may hear more of what i'm learning about couponing.

i loved today.

i felt rain drops on my cheeks, the kind where you feel individual drops and have time to notice and soak in each one. i felt inspired to create. i sharpened a pencil with an old fashioned mounted on the wall twisting sharpener. i saw a sunset. i cried twice. i heard from an old friend. i was responsible. i got the butterflies when talking to my one and only. i took a detour and it was pretty fun, but not necessarily pretty. i woke up earlier rather than later. i understood unclear things. i read first, and lived after. i vocalized dreams only to have them challenged so i can better rethink them.

things i want to love about tomorrow:

learn the healers art. find something freshly unique. check out a book from the Harold B. Lee Library. follow the spirit the second i hear it. spend time in nature thinking and appreciating.

hope you loved the good things that happened to you today.

us. maine. 2008.

flash back number one

i decided to post europe in flashbacks. its too overwhelming to do it all at once.

day 1-3 AMSTERDAM

one more piece softened...

my dad sent this quote to me when i was in san francisco this summer. (if you dont remember, i was always really emotional in san francisco because of all the inspiration) devin was filling up the car with gas at costco when i read this quote. of course, my beloved, somewhat inherited, water works started. i'm sure the californians thought i was crazy. devin got back in the car and i was in tears...he probably wondered if he had done something wrong, maybe i was sick, maybe he filled up the tank the wrong way. but- my explanation was the simple Spirit of God converting one more piece of my hard heart. i told him i had just read inspiring words and it probably made more sense:)

enjoy the following as much as i have.

Being Ourselves

--Patricia Holland

“Our Father in Heaven needs us as we are, as we are growing to become. He has intentionally made us different from one another so that even with our imperfections we can fulfill his purposes. My greatest misery comes when I feel I have to fit what others are doing, or what I think others expect of me. I am most happy when I am comfortable being me and trying to do what my Father in Heaven and I expect me to be.

For many years I tried to measure the oft times quiet, reflective, thoughtful Pat Holland against the robust, bubbly, talkative, and energetic Jeff Holland and others with like qualities. I have learned through several fatiguing failures that you can’t have joy in being bubbly if you are not a bubbly person. It is a contradiction in terms. I have given up seeing myself as a flawed person because my energy level is lower than Jeff’s, and I don’t talk as much as he does, nor as fast. Giving this up has freed me to embrace and rejoice in my own manner and personality in the measure of my creation. Ironically, that has allowed me to admire and enjoy Jeff’s ebullience even more.

Somewhere, somehow the Lord “blipped the message onto my screen” that my personality was created to fit precisely the mission and talents he gave me. For example, the quieter, calmer talent of playing the piano reveals much about the real Pat Holland. I would never have learned to play the piano if I hadn’t enjoyed the long hours of solitude required for its development. This same principle applies to my love of writing, reading, meditation, and especially teaching and talking with my children. Miraculously, I have found that I have untold abundant sources of energy to be myself. But the moment I indulge in imitation of my neighbor, I feel fractured and fatigued and find myself forever swimming upstream. When we frustrate God’s plan for us, we deprive this world and God’s kingdom of our unique contributions and a serious schism settles in our soul. God never gave us any task beyond our ability to accomplish it. We just have to be willing to do it our own way. We will always have enough resources for being who we are and what we can become.”

(Portraits of Eve: God’s Promises of Personal Identity, Patricia T. Holland, LDS Women’s treasury: Insights and Inspiration for Today’s Woman {Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1997}, 97-98.)

denna ar for dig dev, halvvag runt om varlden.

this is for you dev, halfway around the world. miss u

hats off to sister megan for another glorious annual glazier family photo shoot captain.

ahem....

excuse my delay. i am alive. we are alive. and kicking too. i am glad to be back and see all of you(in real life or on your blog, the first is preferrable). europe was a blast. school has started for me, and it is killer but I am loving learning. devin left to Sweden today for a two weeks for work at his new job. we have been handed some pretty remarkable blessings and we feel certain that we are been watched over, and that feeling can't be beat. it makes me keenly aware of God's power to make our lives incredible, and our ability to improve upon the things he has given us. i guess I am a grateful for you, for family, for a beautiful unfolding life with someone i love. thats all.

when upon life´s billows you are tempest tost...

... if you are discouraged cause your baggage is lost...
... count your many blessings angels will attend...
... help and comfort give you til your journeys end...

so i count my MANY blessings

we have each other and we have clothes on our backs-this is a test to see if we need much more..
we made it safe on all of our flights...
our camera battery has not yet died...
devin got a nice hotel tonight with free internet and phones (we are so spoiled at home) so we found out that our luggage is on its way- huge T.M.
i figured out how to type on these crazy Danish computers....ÆØŤ£E... ha
we slept really really really well on our overnight train
mister denmark, we shall call him (a father and his daughter from denmark were in our group of 6 sleeping cabin mates on our train last night) gave me a lovely black shirt because he knew we were out of luggage. today it kept me warm in the rain
no one smoked weed in our train cart (althought they smoked at every stop, in the halls, and mister denmark even made a joint right before my naive eyes in the sleep car. there is a first for everything right:)
i bought nutella(but it broke as we raced to make it to our train)
we made it by five minutes onto our train.
we have finished our gmat and school work so we are truly on holiday(as they call it here)
lovely parents who take care of us, lovely friends who care.
Lastly, after dreaming about it we are really here!

dont worry bout us

...all is well
...all is well

two new additions to our family

meet Nisse and Ethel-pictured below on our exursion to San Fran where we became instant friends. Nisse, in the blue, is Devins. Ethel is obviously mine.
they will be accompanying us for 25 days as we take them with us to europe on MONDAY. we cant believe it is here. hopefully Ethel can fit everything in that i want to take:) hopefully my back can handle it.

ODE to Miss Henderson

today not only do we celebrate pioneer day, but the beloved date of birth of one of the world's most couragous spirits: BECCA HENDERSON

my love for this earthly angel began almost 8 years ago when i saw her dance. i couldnt forget that. two years later i remember having a conversation in an elevator with her. as time passed, she became an aquaintance and eventually a lifelong friend. my senior year i spent a weekend at her pad in AZ for an audition. after graduation i spent the summer of 2006 as her comrade and it is there that our friendship blossomed.

we spent many a night sitting on this window sill listening to sarah.

we bought fancy clothes and played dress up.

we danced, sweat a lot, and constantly laughed. everytime i finish a conversation with her my cheeks hurt for at least 2 minutes.memories with becca consist of great restaurants...

long talks on rocks in central park...

an experience with conversion and missionary work that changed us all...

good food of course...

getting ripped off by some foreigner to ride in a buggy around central park...being there for every important event.

good summers together...the list goes on with lessons learned about scripture study, selflessness, pure creativity(probably one of the most creative people i know) health, journaling, dancing, thrift, wittyness, style and on.

i evol uoy acceb nosredneh!

we wish you well devin

my brilliant man takes the GMAT today. a lot is resting on this test-but we are glad to know we have someone perfect to help carry the weight. go get em tiger

Side note: President Hinckely said, "Women are endowed with particular qualities, divine qualities, which cause them to reach out in kindness and with love to those about them. We can encourage that outreach if we will give them opportunity to give expression to the talents and impulses that lie within them. In our old age my beloved companion said to me quietly one evening, 'You have always given me wings to fly and I have loved you for it.' "
Devin has been particularly exceptional at giving me wings to fly. I hope to do the same for him.

best of san fran ferdinand

in a nutshell here are some highlights of the past six weeks of our life.

here is some fun at yosemite national park. we took a weekend and drove out to visit for devins birthday.

we jumped in at the top of the waterfall and if devins face doesnt show you-- it was freeeeeezing.

at the top of mist trail, mt vernal

the beach on devins birthday

lombard street: the curviest street in the world.

oakland temple with misty and danielle. i feel like being in the temple with friends puts your relationship at a whole new level.

when my parents came out one of the best memories was visiting my mothers grandparents house. they lived in the sunset district right by the ocean in san francisco for many years. my great grandfather was born 100 years before i was to the day:april 26, 1888! he is a special man to me. here is his house

another treat was having my father come see me dance. i get emotional knowing that he cares to support me that much. he couldnt get enough camera time of the ocean.

and dear bev- she is the best mother, and my biggest fan.

i fell in love with the pacific heights houses in san fran. such lovely homes that line the ocean.

here is summer, the one teaching class in sandals:)

we made the best of friends and met the nicest of people

for the fourth of july we flew kites on the beach(yes that is a barbie kite:)

we attended the annual barbeque(or shall i say gourmet dinner with salmon and artichokes) on the fourth of july at summer's house on a vineyard in napa california.

here is the lovely hostess.

here is to you san fran- we'll miss you