2016 Project Life Creative Team

This year I have been blessed to be apart of the Project Life creative team, and I am so excited for this year. 

If you are new to the blog- welcome! I am excited to see you here. For more about me make sure to check out the "our lives" section up at the top. 

I am working with the digital product, and this is my third year using project life to make my yearly scrapbook, and I really love using Project Life. 

I'll be honest with you- I am still working on finishing my 2015 book, but I know I can get it done because it's so easy to get pages knocked out with digital project life. 

Anyway, I wanted to share my love for this product and share a few of my pages I have been working on. 

The Thankful Project Day 10: A Memory

I can't believe it's already November 10th. I am having so much fun with The Thankful Project and linking up with Chasing Happy. 

Day 10: A Memory

I've been going through old photos on my computer and trying to make them a bit more organized and I found this one. I thought this would be the perfect memory to share. 

{I know the picture quality is horrible, but I had to share it with you guys.}

Here is the story behind the picture: 

Sixteen is a pretty important age in American culture. Your Sweet 16 is one of the birthdays you look forward to and dream about when you are a kid. You can drive when you're 16. You have freedom! And if you're Mormon, like me, you can start dating at 16. This is a pretty big deal... at least to Mormons. :) 

When I turned 16, my Papa took me on my first 'date'. This is one of my most cherished memories and I want to share it with you. On this particular day, my mom dropped me off at my grandparent's house. I said hello to Papa and told him I was ready to go. My mom, Abuela, and I started chatting and I didn't notice my Papa disappear. 

The doorbell rang and my Abuela told me to go answer it. I opened the door to see my Papa holding some freshly cut Magnolia flowers for me. {By freshly cut, I mean he cut them off the tree growing in their yard.}I was so surprised and touched that my Papa would really go all out on this 'Father Daughter Date'. 

For the date, my Papa took me to a .... shooting range. Not the most conventional date, but I had a blast.    To this day, I still have the shooting target from that day. My Papa wrote the date on it and I've kept it in my treasure box all this time. I must say I was not expecting to go to a shooting range, and I don't particularly like guns, but I had a fun time. Surprisingly, I'm not that bad of a shot. {Maybe Papa was just trying to scare all my future dates away by showing me how to shoot a gun.} 

After the shooting range, we went to the restaurant Killer Creek and ended the night with ice cream from Coldstone Creamery. It was a great date, and I had such fun sharing the day with my Papa. 

To this day, my date with my Papa was one of the best dates I've ever been on. I'm so thankful to have such an amazing grandfather in my life. I'm thankful to have this experience and this tradition to pass down to my children. What I great Papa I have! 

What memory are you thankful for? 

See Ya Later October: This Month's Little Moments

Happy Halloween Everyone! 

{via}

I hope you have some exciting plans for the night. I for one can't wait to see the pictures of my family back home in all their costumes. Each year my family always goes over to my Abuela and Papa's house for Chili and Trick or Treating. One of the things I hate the most about living abroad is not being home for these holidays. 

Although Matt and I are in a foreign country this year for Halloween, we have had a blast trying to bring as much Halloween spirit into our Korean lives as possible. 

This month has really been a good month. Matt and I had a lot of fun times and I thought today would be a good day to share a recap of all the little things that happened to us. 

1. We watch October's General Conference for our church. 2. I got so many wonderful care packages this month. 3. We visited an amazing temple. 4. Ate at the new McDonalds by our house. 

5. Experimented with Korean Facial Masks. 6. Watched Hocus Pocus and painted the pumpkin we got. Pumpkins are so hard to find here, and they are all short and bumpy so carving was impossible. 7. I think our pumpkin turned out great. 8. Matt and I took advantage of the Fall weather and put on our jackets and scarves. 

9. Caught up on SNL and drank Hot Coco in bed for FHE 10. Found the Bean Game here and Korea and had tons of fun playing it. 11. Went to our ward Halloween Party. The older ladies at church stuck this jacket and hat on me and made me pose on a broom. It was the funniest thing. 12. My co-workers decorated for Halloween. 

13. My mom sent my blanket and some candy corn 14. MMMM glass bottled Coke 15. I watched Ghost Busters for the first time 16. Played a lot of Skip Bo. 

And that was pretty much our month in a picture collage. It was pretty fun, but I got to say I am excited for November to be here! 

How was your October? 

Happy Thursday Y'all! 

In Remembrance

“The attacks of September 11th were intended to break our spirit. Instead we have emerged stronger and more unified. We feel renewed devotion to the principles of political, economic, and religious freedom, the rule of law and respect for human life. We are more determined than ever to live our lives in freedom.” 

-Rudolph Giuliani, former mayor of New York City

{via} 

Anniversary Celebration Recap {A Link Up}

I am linking up with Wifessionals for one last week to share in the First Year and Beyond series.  

{If you missed the last week's click here.}

This week's topic is an Anniversary Celebration Recap. 

Matt and I celebrated our first anniversary on November 26, 2011. 

{We are only 5 months away from our third anniversary!}

I blogged about our first anniversary in 2011, so if you want to skip you can go ahead and click here. 

But if you are patient, I shall recap right now. 

We had been living in Laie on the North Shore of Oahu for the past year and wanted to get out of our little town for our special day. We couldn't afford to go to a different island, so we opted for a mini-cation to Waikiki. 

We stayed here: 

{The Mona Surfrider} 

Where they gave us leis as we checked in. 

We hung out at the beach and looked at Diamond Head.

{Where we saw some awesome beach-goers.} 

We spent some time at the pool. 

{Where it got a little cold and rainy.} 

We had drinks by the pool. 

{Where we talked about our first year of marriage.} 

We went out to eat at our all time favorite restaurant: Roy's. 

{Where we stuffed our faces with delicious food.} 

We went back to the hotel and got in the comfy robes the hotel provided. 

{Where we took funny pictures.}

We toasted with Martinelli's.  

{Where we drank the whole bottle with no shame.} 

We had a great night! It was such a blessing to be able to have had a mini-cation in Waikiki. Matt and I figured we only get 1 one-year anniversary and we better celebrate with a bang. 

The next morning Matt and I ate at the hotel breakfast buffet, which was awesome, and treated ourselves to a couple's massage. It was a perfect end to our first year anniversary. 

And that's the recap of our one year anniversary. If you are curious about what we did on our second click here, and if you are wondering what we are going to do for our third... stay tuned! 

I am going to miss this series. I have enjoyed looking back on our first year and remembering all the great memories. Many thanks to Wifessionals and all the many other great bloggers for making this possible.

Unexpected Moments and Growing As a Couple: A Link Up

I am linking up again with Wifessionals to share more moments from the first year. 

If you missed last week's, click here. 

Today's topic is: What have you learned from the unexpected and How have you grown as a couple during the first year? 

When Matt and I got married we knew we were moving to Hawaii for me to finish school. Our plan was for me to finish all my undergrad courses in a year and then to move back home to student teach and for Matt to start school again. 

But that did not happen. Even though BYU H promised me I could student teach back in Georgia... That was the first unexpected moment in our marriage (and the only one I will share in this post). When we got married Matt was sure he did not want to go back to a church school, and I was okay with that. But I wanted him back in school within a year. 

We quickly had to come up with a new plan and it actually turned out really well. Matt applied to BYU H and got into the Social Work program. What I learned from this little road bump was that if you have faith and are actively seeking a new path, something will turn up. When we were engaged going back to a church school was never going to happen. And through this bump, Matt found a program that is perfect for him. 

All of this led to us becoming closer as a couple. I mentioned this a bit in the last post, but I had a hard time letting go of my mother's advice during the first little bit. (Note: I still ask for her advice, but I always talk to Matt first.) 

I really think being 4000+ miles away from our home was enough to really bring us together. We were newly weds living so far away from those that we had previously leaned on. It was this action that really made us a married couple. We were dependent on each other for meals, money management, employment, and so much more. 

Thinking back on our first year, I have realized that it was the hard moments that really brought us together. It was the stressful times of eating Ramen on the bed in our "studio" apartment that brought us together. Without the hard times and the tests that come with them, we might not have the marriage we have today. 

Matt and I have been married about two and a half years now, and I honestly can't tell you when I've been happier. Matt is my best friend, and I know that through thick and thin he is with me for eternity!

Hardest Moments From the First Year: A Link Up

I am doing another link up with Wifessionals for the segment From One Year to Beyond. If you missed last week's link up post, click HERE. 

The topic this week is: Hardest Moments From the First Year. 

{Us at our 6th month mark.} 

I don't like to look at things through Rose colored glasses, but I think overall our first year of marriage was pretty great. 

That being said, I know there were some challenges and I know there were some major adjustments. 

Here are a few of our hardest moments. 

After being married for a little over a month, Matt and I packed our bags and moved over 4000 miles away to Hawaii. I had a little over a year left in my undergrad program and we decided it would be best to move back to Hawaii for me to finish school. 

Now what you need to know is Hawaii is freaking expensive. I had lived in Hawaii as a single person and it was expensive, but I never really noticed how bad it was until I got married. 

It was very hard to live in Hawaii as students because we were literally living paycheck to paycheck and using all the financial aid we could get. For the first 6 months, Matt and I had to live off campus and we were paying $990 for a bedroom... literally a bedroom. 

It was HARD.  And it was frustrating. There's a saying like if you don't have money you can't fight over money. But I think this is really wrong. If you don't have money and you don't know how rent is going to be paid... or how you can afford groceries... uh yeah things are going to be stressful. 

Now I don't want to stress you out, Matt and I were fine. But it was hard. Everyone was telling us how awesome it was we got to live in Hawaii, meanwhile, I am taking 20 credits and working and Matt is working 50+ hours a week. We didn't have time for the beach!

Another thing that was hard was realizing that Matt and I were now dependent on each other. I think both of us were pretty independent and having to learn how to  rely on each other was difficult. I also needed to learn how to go to Matt first before talking to my mother. For the first couple of months, I would call my mom for advice and then talk to Matt! That is NOT the way to do things in a marriage!

I don't want to go all Kelly Clarkson on you but for real 'What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.' Matt and I have lived far away from family for all of our married relationship, and this distance and the hardships of Hawaii have really made us extremely closer as a couple.

Make sure to go over to Wifessionals and check out the other stories! 

Funny Moments from the First Year: A Link Up

Wifessionals is joining with 10 other bloggers for the month of June to blog about married life. 

I wanted to link up with them and the first topic is Funny Moments from the First Year. 

I thought this would be a fun way to look back at our first year of marriage. I can't believe it's already been 2 1/2 years! 

{Picture from our wedding day 11-26-10} 

Honestly, my favorite funny moment was when I 'made' Matt eat in the bathroom. I know I shared it in my Friday Flashback #5, but I wanted to reprint it for this post. 

So here it is: 

A little over a two and half years ago, Matt and I moved to Hawaii to finish school. Our first apartment was not really an apartment but a bedroom. It was such a horrible place, but we were desperate for anything until we could get into TVA (the on campus married housing- it is about $600 cheaper than other married housing). For a reminder of our first home click here.

As you can tell our kitchen was right next to our bed, so when Matt would get ready for work (at 5:00 am) I could also hear him get ready and eat breakfast. Well, as most of you know or have experienced I get a little crabby, no VERY crabby, if I am woken up. However, I never really remember this crabbiness when I wake up.

Anyway, one thing that I hated about our first 'home' was that we always ALWAYS got ants. We would just think about making food and the ants would come out to play. So one morning I was getting ready in our bathroom and I noticed all these ants running around our shower and floor! I was so confused what was bringing them there since there was no food in our bathroom. So I just assumed maybe it was the sweet smell of my shampoo or body wash. I just ignored them, but day after day they remained!

Then one day I looked in the bathroom trash... and there was a granola bar wrapper in the BATHROOM trash!!!! What the heck? That was what was bringing the ants into the bathroom, but why was the granola bar wrapper in the bathroom? So I asked Matt why he would throw the granola bar wrapper in the bathroom trash, not the kitchen. Which lead to his story:

He had been eating his breakfast at our kitchen table (which was at the foot of our bed) and apparently his noise (the noise of him opening a granola bar) was bothering me enough that I had yelled at him time and time again. So being the nice husband he is and not liking being yelled at by his rude crabby wife he started eating his breakfast in the bathroom!

IN THE BATHROOM- He would put the toilet seat down and sit on top of the cover and eat his breakfast! When I heard this I was so overcome with guilt! What type of wife was I that had lead him to eat in the bathroom (gross)? A tired one? A selfish one? I don't know, but I felt bad!

Now, I can't say I have changed too much with not being the happiest about being woken up, but Matt no longer eats in the bathroom. Although, I am now the one that wakes up early- Matt is so nice he wakes up and makes my breakfast and lunch AND walks me to the car! If I have not said it before, I am saying it now- I am one LUCKY lady. I think at times our marriage is a little one sided. Now I think all marriages go through this at times, but Matt has never made me eat my breakfast in the bathroom and for that I think I will always be a bit guilty.

For those that are reading this for a second time, I hope you enjoyed it just as much. And for those that just now read for the first time, please don't judge me too much! 

Remember Remember... The 11th of September

So yes, I did steal this title from England and Guy Fawkes day, but I can't think of anything better.

The other day I was looking at the birth dates of my students and I noticed they were born in the year 2000!!!! 2000! They were just babies when September 11, 2001 happened. Their whole lives have been in a post 9/11 world, which I think is just crazy and little bit sad.

The school I work at is unique because I have a lot of students whose parents are serving the U.S. military in some capacity or another. I had a parent teacher conference and this student's dad was on his fourth tour! For this child's whole life, her dad has consistently been in and out of a war zone and this is all she has ever known.

I was in the 8th grade when 9/11 happened (just one year older than my students are)! I saw the second plane hit and watched the first tower collapse. I watched the news and saw people jumping from the buildings. I remember being able to go up to the gate to greet a family member... I remember the Twin Towers in movies and t.v. shows. And I think it is important for us to remember. When we forget, things become to casual and eventually they are put out of our minds. This attack is an extremely important part of our history and we need to remember and we need to share our experiences and our memories with the future generations.

My students may not remember 9/11 in the ways that we do, but let me assure you they are living with the consequences every day.

Regardless, of my belief in the war, or my political beliefs, I can tell you that I have complete respect for the men and women that are serving our country.

Hawaii Times: 2007-2009

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Graduation Oh Yeah!

Last Saturday, I finally graduated from BYU Hawaii!!!! Yay! I am done- well student teaching then done done done. Matt still has about another year left and hopefully I will be able to get a job for that year. After Matt finishes we are off to the Peace Corp!

Anyway, I was lucky enough to have some of my family come out for graduation. My mom, Grandpa Henson, his girlfriend Rena, my Fahey grandparents, my dad, and his girlfriend Cathleen were all able to come in from out of town. Plus, my cousins Mike and Kathy and Matt's Obachan and Aunt Claudia were able to come. It was great to have everyone around even though I missed my siblings and my other grandparents!

The night before graduation there was a graduation banquet that we went to- here all the graduates went up and they sang Aloha Oe- a song written by Queen Lili'uokalani the last monarch of Hawaii during the Overthrow. It is beautiful and if you want to listen to a version click here!

Anyway, the next morning was graduation and it all went great. Elder Holland spoke and it such a great speech. I am glad he was there. I graduated with Summa Cum Laude, with honors and in Phi Kappa Phi, and Phi Alpha Theta!

After graduation, my family carried on the Hawaiian tradition and gave me leis. This was something I was looking forward to ever since coming to Hawaii. I told my family I wanted my head to be covered in leis... and they came through! I even received a Dr. Pepper lei from my friend Lacey! People get so creative here- I saw a potato chip lei, candy leis, and so many more funny ones!

Here are some pictures- be prepared for a whole bunch- I want to make sure my Abuela and Papa see plenty!

(Grandpa Henson and me)

(Auntie Claudia, Me, Matt, and Obachan)

(I ended up with 22 leis! Thanks everyone!)

(My friend Lacey - she made the Dr. Pepper lei!)

(Mike and Kathy)

(Dr. Murdock- one of my history professors)

(My friend and co-worker Christy)

(My friend Julie- Abuela this is the friend who invited us to dinner- so don't be worried we have friends!)

(Our friends from our ward- David also graduated and was a history major as well!)

(Dr. Chowen- one of my education professors)

I told there were a lot of pictures- but I am not done! After the ceremony and pictures we all went to eat at Breakers in Haleiwa. It all turned out okay.... not too stressful!

(Abuela the red, yellow, and green lei is the one you and papa bought for me!)