Recap of the end of 2009

I think Adam and I are adjusting quite nicely in our new place and in our new state. The nice part about living back east is being closer to Adam's side of the family. We have been taking advantage of that the past few holidays. For Thanksgiving, Adam and I packed up the car with the dogs and headed to Diana's place in the state of New York. Diana just bought her first home this past spring and it was so nice to go and visit her and our nephew. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend with them and took a quick day trip of to Niagara Falls. Unfortunately we didn't bring our passports so we were only able to stay on the US side of the falls. We did however catch a bite to eat at Hard Rock cafe. We are defiantly going back to the falls and visiting our family there.

Christmas has come and gone and with that was our family traditions. I ordered my supplies and had them delivered to our new place. I did attempt to make the Palmer traditional chocolates. One batch went to sugar and the rest turned into a creamy wonder. It was my first time making these at sea level and I have to say I did learn allot about doing it. The weather did affect the process of making them. But we did what we do, box them up and give them to friends. Being new to the area I was surprised how long our list was. As we had to give to all those people who welcomed us into the area. I could not afford to ship them this year as with all our friend back in CO, UT, CA so the only thing I can say about that. You need to come visit us during the holidays to get a box.

Before I knew it my house was full of people. It was great to have Diana, Alex and Adam's parents come for the week of Christmas. But before they arrived we had a huge snow storm that shut down the city a few days. We got 20 inches of snow. That may not sound like allot, but for where we are living, it is. There is just no where to put it and the city just can't keep up with that kind of snow. The week with family allowed us to go see some fun things in Downtown DC, and allowed us to learn the Metro system more.

As for New Years, I said goodbye to my sweetheart and got on a plane a few days before and flew to Germany. I rang in the new year with my sister's family. I am loving being here with her and her family. I miss my nephews and now have the joy of them for a little while. I have already enjoyed lots of yummy things here that I have been missing over the years. My german is very rusty and it will take some time to get used to hearing it when we are out on the economy.

Happy New Year

It's official 2010 has arrived. I would like to welcome the new year and all that it will bring.

I love thinking about the possibilities of a new year. It feels like a fresh start, full of hope and opportunity to make changes. But then a smart friend of mine posted this on Facebook and it got me thinking about her wise words.

"Every day is the start of a new year. There is no sense in waiting til midnight tonight to make positive changes when every day is an opportunity."

So why do I feel like January 1st is a fresh start. I guess it is because I look forward to the unknown. A full year of things that will happen unexpectedly in my life, the twist and turns that build who I am and make me stronger. I think 2010 will be a year of hope and miracles. I think no matter what comes our way, we will be where we need to be and doing what we are suppose to be doing.

2010 Bring it on!

Cake Decorating in August 2009

Better late then never to get these pictures up. I am still obsessed with cupcakes and with cake decorating. I took a class with some friend this past August. With the move across country and all the craziness that has been going on I am just getting these pictures up of the class I took. It was allot of fun and a very entertaining class with my buddies Julie and Britney in the class with me. This is from our very first class together. Our project was to make a round cake and bring to class frosted blue. Then we were to learn how to put the rainbow on the cake. It was pure craziness trying to get the cakes completed in the allotted time. We did it and our results are below. Next year when things settle down, I plan to continue through the rest of the courses.

A Wonderful Surprise!

I have a super husband and wanted to share how great he is. A few weeks ago I sat down with him and expressed my feelings about not working. I love not working, that is not the issue, but the first time in my married life I am not working, which means I am not bringing in any money for me to play with. Let me explain. I work, I pay bills and then I pull some money away and put it into a nest egg is what I like to call it.
Years ago my mother told me that every woman should have money set aside for an emergency a "nest egg". For who knows what life will bring. After that I decided I would have money put away and it would be there for those moments like, tires, a trip or just because I wanted a massage or my hair done. Since the move my little nest egg was exhausted for moving. I am not working so where will the money come to put back into my nest egg?
I expressed my feelings to Adam and he listened and we talked about options. Later that week he shows up one night with a dozen red roses and a card. Oh what a surprise to see him with roses. I read the card and it is very special and probably one of the best cards he has picked out. I open the card and money falls out. Yes he did hear me and there was a little money to put back into my nest egg. I had tears in my eyes as I thanked him and kissed him for listening to my feelings and understanding me. I am so glad that I married my best friend, and so thankful for his kind heart.

Tonight he surprised me with a box of See's chocolates. I was shocked, I asked him what the occasion was? He just smiled and said "I love you." I saw the store and thought of you and knew you would love these. So I just stopped and picked them up.

Thank you sweetheart!

Weekend away - 6 hour drive

So where can you go in six hours from our new house. Well one of the places is to Salisbury, NC where Adam's parents live. We packed up a few weekend bags, loaded the girls and away we went. Only it didn't take us 6 hours to get there. It took us about 1.5 hours just to go 40 miles on the freeway. Yes, we hit the lovely DC traffic that everyone talks about. So leaving at 430pm are arrival time to our destination was midnight. We settled in and got a night's rest. The next morning we were on a mission to grab a quick breakfast and head up to go visit with Adam's grandma. So we got in the car and mashed the peddle and found a Bojangles and picked up some breakfast biscuits. There is nothing like a flaky southern biscuit for breakfast.




After that we went back and picked up Adam's Dad and headed for Mount Airy. Yes to all the Andy Griffith fans out there, this is his home town and also where Grandma lives. She went to school with Andy and she happens to live right across the street from Andy's house that he grew up in. So we did see a few tour buses drive by during the visit. We had about 1.5 hour drive to this tiny town up north in NC.


We arrived and decided that we better get lunch. I had Snappy Lunch on my list of things to do while in town. I had a Snappy Lunch burger about 7 years ago and to this day have never had one like it and I have not stop thinking about their burgers. We walked up through the alley to hit main street. There was allot going on in the little town. We stood in line for about 30 mins waiting to get a table. I could not wait to order. I order a breaded hamburger with all the fixings. Their fixings is slaw, chili, mustard and a slice tomato. Believe me it sounds odd but it is SO GOOD! Adam order a ground steak burger and we order a pork chop sandwich to go. As Adam is half way eating his burger he signal the waitress and orders another one. He forgot how good it was.

This is Andy's house that he grew up in and it is across the street from Grandma's house.

















After lunch we drive through the city. Adam shows me his old house, we see places that his dad visited while growing up there. Adam's dad told us a story that when he was in high school he would get up early in the morning and run down main street, he would smell Snappy Lunch as he would run by.









We arrived at Grandma's and found Uncle Money there. This was my first time meeting him. He looks allot like Adam's dad. He greeted us with a warm welcome and gave hugs all around. He was very friendly and happy to see us. We then went into see grandma who was in bed. This was my first time meeting her as well. All around her house we saw pictures of her, her husband and people who where in her life. I saw pictures of her in her younger years and what a beautiful woman she is. Grandma turns 90 next month and has really gone down hill with her health this past year. She is only 75lbs right now. So frail and weak. She still has her wits though and was able to tell us stories and sing songs her mother had sung to her as a child. She was sad that she could not do more as her body just will not let her. Her mind is there and she enjoys reading.










After our visit we took a detour and went to Mount Pilot to take a look at the scenery. It was beautiful.


































On our way back we decided to hit Lexington to go to the World's famous Bar-B-qQue festival. We didn't arrive until 6pm and found out that it was over at 6pm. We did walk in and try to see and eat stuff but nothing was open and the whole thing was shutting down. On our way back we saw this awesome sand castle.







We headed back to Salisbury and was able to see Adam's brother Josh for about 10 mins. We had not seen him in seven years. He has gone from this little kid that I remember to a man.

We picked up Adam's mom and the we went to dinner. What did we go to eat. Southern Bar-B-Que of course with slaw and hush puppies on the side.

The next morning we went to church. Adam loved it, he was able to see allot of people that he knew when growing up. After church we packed out things and headed back home. We did however make it back to home in 6 hours. As traffic coming back on a Sunday night was smooth.

I wonder where our next 6 hour trip will take us. HMMMM I am thinking that one will be for Thanksgiving.

Farewell Colorado

I hate to say goodbye to Colorado and to so many good friends that we have made while living there. If the prompting to go to Virginia was not so strong we would never be leaving. We are going to truly miss our family and friends here in the west. Our home in VA will always welcome anyone who wants to venture out our way. Farwell my favorite flower from my garden, the Columbine of course.

There are so many fond memories with people that I love. I seem to meet people in odd situations and we become friends. I had one friend I met years ago who was pounding on my front door enraged because water was leaking in her house. I offered her a chocolate and calmed her down and we because the best of friends following that situation.

Another one is late at night around 11pm we see a Uhaul truck, Adam and I were coming home from getting ice cream. He insisted we stop to see if they needed help. There we found this couple who had unloaded all but the heavy stuff. Adam help with the heavy stuff and we soon found later they to be great friends of ours.

Another person invited Adam to go fishing. I remember Adam calling me up to tell me to come and meet him. So I drove over to his house with Adam giving me directions over the phone as I drove. I find them both in the back yard gutting fish they caught that morning. This was the first of many fun adventures with these friends.

There are so many other stories and memories. Of going out to dinner with friends and baking and cooking dinners together. We found our Christmas list this year to almost be too much as we had so many people make the list. I cooked and cooked to give each of our friends a little piece of us and our love for them.

Life is nothing if you have not got your family and friends around you to share your joys and pain. Thank you and we will not forget you. You will always be in our hearts.

Could this Really Happen Twice?

August 5th was a big day for us. I was so excited for Adam to get home from work. I had news to share with him. To my suprise he got- home from work early that day. He had a big suprise for me as well.

He announced to me that he was laid off from his job and I announced to him that I was pregnant again. What a day. We were going to have a baby and he was jobless. We were excited and nervous.

A few weeks later we got a call that we had been chosen again to adopt a boy who was 2 weeks old at the time. It was on a Friday that I found out. Without thought we accepted and very excited about the possibility of being parents, but not only having one but 2 kids who would be only 8 months apart. That Saturday we went to the temple. While I was in the temple a thought came to me of what this boy should be named. I leaned over to Adam to tell him.

That evening we got an email from the birth father asking us to name the baby and that they wanted the birth certificate issued on Monday. So we emailed him back right away as we had already been prompted as to what his name should be. Everything seems to be going like it should and then on that Wednesday we get a call that it is all on hold and the child is no longer up for adoption. Weeks passed and we prayed and pondered about what had happened. In the process I was receiving treatment for my pregnancy. I was able to see it before she had a heart beat and then I went in again 2 weeks later where we heard her heartbeat. Then following week I went in and that is when I found out I had miscarried again. Not only did we loose the adoption but we miscarried once again. I thought to myself who goes through this kind of stuff? What are the chances of having 2 miscarriages and 2 failed adoptions with in 5 months? I cried and cried for our lost. For the dream that was lost of being a parent. The pain was real and the trial has been never ending. This time I saw hope. Hope that it will happen again, it will just not happen today. I felt alone for quite a while. I felt that the Spirit was gone from me. I could not feel his prompting and I felt dead inside. This time I tried so hard not to let the pain consume me like before.

Adam and I visited the temple often and prayed that the Lord would direct our life. Adam had been looking for work since May as he had know something was going to happen to his employment, we just never thought it would happen this soon. Then an opportunity came from back East. We talked about it and I told him that if it worked out why not? With much prayer we decided to open the job search Nation Wide. Within 3 weeks of this choice. Adam received 4 job offers with in days of each other. One of the job offers that came in was the first job that got us even thinking about moving. We knew this was what we needed to do and went for it.

In this process I started to feel alive again. I could feel the small promptings of the spirit back in my life. I was starting to feel again. Adam and I discussed on what to do about moving our life to Virginia. So within 3 weeks we packed up our lives and moved to Virginaia.

Always More of 2009 Summer Highlights

We had a great garden that produced many vegetables, and the bushes produces berries that we enjoyed this year I took a cake decorating class and here is me with my cool apron and first cake of the class.






















We celebrated Birthdays.


We went to a Luau.



And spent the Summer with many friends.

More 2009 Summer Hightlights

2009 Will be my summer of Cupcakes, and more cupcakes. I could not get enough of the cupcakes. I tried to turn our trip to Utah in a a cupcake tour, but with lack of time I was only able to hit 1 of the 3 shops.

One of our last Summer Saturday's in Denver we went to the Farmers Market at Cherry Creek with our good friends. After the market of course we all decided to hit "My Big Fat Cupcake" for a little treat. I already miss our Farmer's Market Saturdays and our Cupcake eating buddies. We like to start them young and got Rachel interested in Cupcakes.

Summer 2009 Highlights Continued

Watching fireworks on the 4th of July with good friends. We met them at Green Valley Ranch park. We found a great spot to sit and we played Crazy 8's until the sun went down. While doing so listening to a live band in the background. It was one of those nights we will remember for a long time. The firework display was amazing.





























Adam and I going out on a date night to dinner and a movie on a warm summer eve.














I saw this shirt and almost bought it for my Dad for father's day. But we had already got him a flight lesson gift instead. Maybe next year.