Too long...

Okay, my apologies, it's been waaaaaayyyy too long since my last blog post. So here's the run down.

Tanner and I are in school! Yup! My wonderful husband gave in and he is now a student at UVU. He'll be majoring in Information Technology (IT). He hasn't missed a day of class and has been working sooooooo hard. I'm so extremely proud of him for taking this step!

I'm going to MATC to get a certificate in Medical Office Administration. It's a lot of fun and I'm enjoying having something to do!

As far as work....remember last year when I blogged about the struggles of finding a job? Well, it's been no different this year. Seriously, I applied for at LEAST 25 jobs. I got 3 interviews out of those 25 applications (2 of which I either called and asked for, or walked into the building and asked for. The other one they called for an interview 3 weeks after I'd even applied!!!) Out of those 3 interviews I got 1 job offer after literally begging for the job and selling myself like crazy!!!

As for Tanner, well he's applied for probably 15 jobs, gotten maybe 5 interviews, got 2 job offers that were then rescinded when the real hiring person finally showed up (the day's Tanner went in for what he was told would be his "first day") and said his schedule wouldn't work! Seriously?! I don't understand these places anymore. First of all, you can't apply anywhere in person. Then when you try to call after applying online, no one will connect you to the department you applied for because, "they'll look through the applications and let you know." Or they say, "Oh, we're not sure when we want to fill that position, probably in a few weeks." THEN WHY POST IT IF YOU DON'T WANT TO HIRE SOMEONE WHO IS TAKING INITIATIVE AND IS READY TO START TODAY!!!!

So...Tanner is still looking for work, if you know of anyplace or have an in, let us know. I didn't want him to work while he's in school...but...we need it.

Oh yeah, so my job I finally got is at Hobby Lobby!!! Yup, it's awesome, and I'm trying really hard to keep myself from spending my hard earned money on all the cute stuff there! I was really excited for it, but yesterday...well...it's tough. I thought it was going to be this great thing where everyone who works there loves crafts, is happy to work at such a cool place, and they all get to bounce ideas off each other and the customers. Well, from day one, all I've heard is complaints. I'm trying so hard to remain positive, but it's hard when you know the value of work, you know there are people out there who are struggling to find work like I did, and then you are surrounded by people who hate their job, the customers, and their lives...it's hard to be positive in the midst of all that. As well, a lot of people have been saying negative things about the church...and that kind of broke me last night.

On my way to work yesterday, Tanner called me and said, "turn to AM1160, the prophet is speaking". I flipped it on just in time to hear him begin. As he started talking about temple work, my eyes started to get moist. Tanner and I are almost there!!! We've been working so hard and we're so close!!! Then Pres. Monson announced the Provo tabernacle (literally half a block from our apartment) will be Provo's second temple...I lost it. I was so overjoyed! I'm going to live next door to a Temple!!! I will be 30 seconds away from a House of the Lord! I will be able to witness the groundbreaking, the building, the placing of the angel Moroni, and the dedication of this great building from my sidewalk!!! I could hardly contain myself, and I had to clock in for work!!!

I wanted to run in and tell everyone about it, but I didn't really feel like I could. From what I understand, the majority of the people I work with are not LDS and they don't like to hear about it. That was kind of the theme of the day. I entered work with a spiritual high, and throughout the course of the day, all I heard was the general complaints...then the complaints later, at the end of the night when the customers were gone...how high and mighty the mormons are, how after all major mormon events the store is a mess, because "all those women come out of their meetings and think they are better than everyone else, and their not!" My heart sunk, and I was so discouraged.

I drove up to my parents house bawling the whole way. Tanner had gone to Priesthood session with my dad, and we were spending the night. Tanner and I talked about it when I got home. I guess a lot of Saturday's talks (which I missed for work) were about standing up for the church. I know I should have, but I didn't know what to say. He also said that Satan is using other people to discourage us. He's right and it's so unfair. When we walked in my parents house they knew what was up. But they quickly helped me feel better. After one of the talks this morning, my dad paused the TV and gave us some more advise. Satan knows he's losing his grip on us. He knows how close were are to going to the temple. He is pulling out everything he can to discourage us and hurt us. He won't win, he knows that and Tanner and I know that, but he definitely wants to make it as hard as he can on us.

My heart is so full. I'm so grateful for my life. I've gone through some really bad stuff, but with the help of my family, my AMAZING husband, and this amazing Gospel I've been lucky enough to be born into...I'm rising above it. I'm going to be ok, my husband and I will be ok. I can't believe I was born into the true church. I know exactly where I'd be without it, and I am so lucky and so blessed to not have to be there. I know this church is true, I know the gospel is true, I know we have a living prophet, I know Jesus Christ atoned for me, I know my Father in heaven knows me, is aware of me, and loves me. I know my husband and I are going to be sealed for eternity and if we keep up the work we've been doing, we'll have full and plentiful lives.

Today is our 2nd anniversary! It's been a roller coaster, but we've grown so much. I love Tanner more that anything! He is so loving and forgiving. Love you Tanner! Can't wait for this next chapter in our lives!!!!

******UPDATE!!!! Just today Tanner got a job offer!!! It's just the one he wanted to. He found this place, Heritage, on craigslist and the hours were literally molded around his class schedule (sign?) He's had several interviews with them and was told they normally hire from within, so at best he'd probably get an on call position. But after a couple hours of phone tag this morning, he was offered the full-time position!!!

He will be working as a counselor for struggling youth! cool right? And extra bonus besides the full time hours. Full benefits starting right away (which we are desperate for insurance as we believe but haven't been able to confirm that Tanner has Celiac's disease) and he gets fed there! Can you say, "cheaper grocery bill?!" woot woot!

Once again, I feel so extremely blessed and that my Father in heaven is personally aware of me. I feel him putting his arm around me and saying, "you're going to be okay, you're doing good, here is how I'm going to help you."

Thank you for everyone's care and concern and support of us. Thank you for your prayers and listening ears!

Easter with Addy...

Now that my bro is home from China I have permission to blog about Easter. Well, two weeks ago while I was working at Edible Arrangements, I got a call from my brother from the airport on his way to China. He said he had a plan of action to surprise his girls on Easter Sunday (how stinking cute!)

He got the arrangement on the left, with two of the little bunnies pictured on the right.

So this was the plan, he ordered a cute little arrangement from Edible Arrangements with some super cute chocolate covered pineapple bunnies in it for Lindsay and Addy. Then he had me get some cute plastic eggs and fill them with gummies for Addy (of course as the favorite aunt I just had to go all out and got some other little surprises for the eggs). I was to hide the eggs all over the back yard, then deliver the arrangement to Lindsay at the front door and play a sweet little message that Seth left on my phone for them! So the plan was in motion!

Then I got a frantic message from Seth while he was between flights. He said Lindsay told him she will probably be heading to her parents on Saturday and spend the night there! He said to come up with a way to make her stay at least for Sacrament meeting so the surprise could be delivered early Sunday morning! He said if I could pull this off, I own it!

So know I had to come up with some reason for her NOT to go to her parents house! gah! Luckily I had some ammo, I was going to be leaving for Kansas Sunday afternoon. So I texted Lindsay and said, "Hey I'm leaving for Kansas on Sunday. Do you mind if I stop by to say goodbye to Addy on our way out of town?" She took a while to respond, I'm assuming trying to rearrange her plans a bit and then said she'd be going to her parents about 10, so come before then. Yup, I own it!

So Saturday night I brought the arrangement home. First think in the morning (8am, much to Tanner's dismay...lol) we headed down to Lindsay's and started hiding eggs in the back yard. Then came the knock on the door...Lindsay was very excited to see the arrangement she thought was from me (hehehe) and let us inside to see Addy. Once they were together I said, "well, I have a little message on my phone for the two of you" Lindsay got a very confused look on her face, then when Sethies voice came on, both Lindsay and Addy got big smiles on there faces!

It was soooooo sweet! In the message Seth let them know he left a surprise for Addy in the back yard and to grab a basket. So we got our shoes on and off we went! Addy had a blast and she was sooooooooo good at finding and picking up the eggs herself!

I just love the way she keeps her pinky and ring finger up. Such a lady :)

That's only half the eggs!

Then she opened all the eggs! She was so excited! There were gummies, (which she popped in her mouth right away!) necklaces and bracelets, hair clips and some scruchy-bow things, and even some cute little rings that had bubbles in them!!!

Here she is with all her jewelry on :)

Oh my gosh it was so cute and I was so glad I got to help with it! I love my little niece more than anything and I miss her so much already!!! Love you Addy-chicken-patty!!!

Here we are!

Well, we made it. Took the 14 hour drive from Utah to Kansas on Monday. Unfortunately, there wasn't much to look at on the drive so...i don't have any pictures for you, lol. But here we are in Liberal, Kansas.

The locals here keep telling us that Dorothy's (yes, THE Dorothy of Wizard of Oz) actually home is here in Liberal. So...at some point we may be visiting that, but I'm not gonna lie...it looks a little ghetto...

These pictures don't look all that bad, but when we drove past it those signs looked about 20 years older and the place was really run down. I'll have to take my own pictures when we go to give you the real idea. We'll see.

But we have high hopes for the summer! Wish us luck and keep us in your prayers!

Mother's Day Board Book

This is what I made my wonderful mom for Mother's Day. It's a board book. My Mother-in-law made one for me for my wedding and it was beautiful! My mom and sister-in-laws really wanted one, so this is the first of many I will do hopefully!

Front

Grandma and Grandpa Gonzalez

Grandma and Grandpa Cowles

Mom and Dad~Brother and Sister-in-law

Me and Hubby

The back, the figurines are the cake toppers my Grandma Cowles made for

her wedding and I used them at my wedding too!

Front standing

Back standing

For my wedding we collected as many of our families wedding pictures as we could. I had them all framed and on the tables as center pieces, and now they are all on display at my home. A lot of people said it looked more like I had a shrine going on, so I decided they needed to come down and I'd make a cute book! My mom wanted one too, so this is the one with all my mom and dad's families.

They are really fun and easy to make. I just got some children's board books at DI, cut the pages apart, then glued cute paper on each page with a glue stick. The most time consuming part is just deciding how and where to put the pictures and embellishments.

I thought it turned out really well and my mom loved it!

Decision Made...

Sorry it's taken a while to update for those of you who have been on the edge of your seat...lol. But I had to let my parents know before I announced it to the rest of the world. Well, here goes...I'm going out for the summer with my hubby.

It's been a struggle to make this decision and I still haven't gotten that personal confirmation that this is truly what I should be doing, but we're gonna go with it, but the council came from someone really trying to get us where we need to be.

So that's that, off to....um....who knows where we'll be. There's talk of Kansas then Alabama, then talk of Kansas and Virginia, and even talk of Canada again, (please no, I do not want to deal with that fiasco again!)

But any who, this also means that we will have a vacant apartment. We are still coming back to it in August, but if you or someone really clean and responsible you know is looking for a place to live, give me a hollar. We won't be moving our furniture out...so...it'll be fully furnished. We also may just be storing our stuff in the second room, so technically it will be a one bedroom apartment. We'll work out a deal for you!

Thanks to everyone who has worked through this with me, I so appreciate you love and concern, you know who you are ;)

In need of advice...

So...struggling with something here. Tanner is going out and selling for the summer in Kansas and Alabama. Should I stay or should I go?

I could stay here and work and go to school. For those who don't know, I am planning on starting at MATC to get a certificate in Medical Office Administration. Basically, I would be the receptionist at anything from a doctor's office to a hospital. I feel like that is right up my ally because I love office work, as I'd learned from being a Field Office Manager last summer. And I feel that being in the medical field there will always be jobs for me, great hours, and insurance is for sure. It's only a 10 month program and I can always finish faster than that because it's self paced.

I've also got two really good job prospects, I've interviewed for one and I'm waiting for a call on the other. But basically, I could stay, work, go and finish school, and that way when Tanner gets back from selling, I could support him through school. But the issue with this plan is that it will make Tanner and I be separate for the whole summer, which will suck! And I get pretty nervous in my apartment by myself, so I might need a roomie.

So, the other option is to go out and be with him and be the office manager and be with Tanner, which will be great for the summer, but then we will be in the same rut as we were last year upon coming home from selling. What I mean by this is that we will be jobless upon return and if this next return is anything like the last, it will be wicked hard to find a job again. Seriously, I haven't had a real job since we got back and it's been SUCH a struggle! I worked a few weeks and Macy's only to be let go because it was just for the Christmas season. Then I work for a few weeks as a Dish Network saleswoman, but that didn't work out. Then I worked 5 days at Edible Arrangements for the Valentine's Day rush. We just can't afford for this to happen again, especially if we are both going to be in school in the Fall.

That's the other hang up, I could be done with school by January or even by the end of summer, but if I go, I'll be putting that off till after the summer, pushing my graduation at most to next July, thus putting Tanner's school off another semester or two. I really just want us to hurry and get done with school so we can get our lives started you know, like getting into real jobs and starting a family and all. Ugh!

So I could stay and be super depressed about being without my hubby or I could go and be stressed about school, jobs, money, our futures, etc. I just don't know what to do!!! I need advice! Please!

Some Projects...

Okay, I've only done a couple projects the past month or two. So here they are!

This is a $10 writing desk that we got at DI. Here it is before:

And after:

Now it is my wonderful vanity! Didn't do anything too special, but I love it!

Next is a cute project I made for my besties little girl. We found the tutorial a Danny Sao's blog:

It's just a bird house, modge podge, and a golden book! Love it! However, I have a lot more books and no more bird houses and I can't find any good cheap ones :( So keep your eyes peale, and if you happen to see any let me know!