all tuckered out.

it has been a long day, and even longer week. the unfortunate thing is that it's only tuesday. eek.

two peas in a pod.

it is official. dan and i are hooked...to each other! as a sign of our commitment we have taken the big leap and changed my personal blog (albeit, tiny personal blog) and made it our official "we are married and cool so we are gonna have a blog" blog. it is our goal (ok, my goal) to post something twice a month but we will definitely need encouragement. ha ha ha.

let us start by introducing our married selves.

dan: tall, dark, and handsome. rather, taller than me, darker than me, and definitely handsomer than me. he's an uber nerd and i love him for it. he loves animals and would have one of everything if i let him. smart and witty, he teaches me something new every day. he plays with his ears when he's thinking, tired, bored or just plum breathing. he has a beard that puts other beards to shame. kind and compassionate, he is possibly one of the most caring people i know. he's got a soft side that he hates to show and if it were up to him, the whole world would think he were invincible. he loves his nephews and talks about them constantly. he is a complex individual yet so simple at the same time. he makes me laugh harder than i've ever laughed before and smile bigger than i ever thought possible. he sees straight through me without effort and possibly knows me better than i know myself. he is my best friend and i love him. -jackie

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Jackie is, well, Jackie. If you know her you know that she is beyond adorable, and has a great sense of humor. I think her realism and lame jokes are what first drew me to her. She was a real person with me, never faking it, never pretending, never just telling me what I wanted to hear. If only that would've continued... ;) But really, I couldn't ask for someone that is more perfect for me. She doesn't always realize it, but she is AMAZING! She loves me just the way I am, but still manages to encourage me to be better. I find myself wanting to be better just so I can keep up with her.

And then there's her patience. ...yeah. If you know our story you know, as the scriptures would put it, how long-suffering she is. Honestly, I don't know if there is a better term for it than that. The hell I put this girl through! My goodness. I am just glad that she waited and that she said yes when I finally put myself together. I can't wait for the next ETERNITY! YEAH!! Oh, and don't count on me posting on here all that often - most of the updates will be from her. I'll be busy playing Assassin's Creed ;) -Dan

the things i know.

so, current events in my life and the lives of those i love have put me in a rather reflective mood today. on my lunch hour i hopped in my car, cranked up the keith (urban, of course) and drove through the hills of sonoma county. i'm not sure if its the music, the speed, or the simplicity of nature around me that is so therapeutic...all i know is that it just is. here are some other things i know:

- i love my life and the people i share it with.

- this year has been a year of growth. we're only half way through yet i have experienced more than ever i thought possible in such a short amount of time and know there is more sitting just out of my reach patiently waiting for me.

- growth is hard. it sucks. its painful and never any fun. however, its during those times that you learn (and re-learn) that really, you DON'T know what the heck you're talking about and all those things you thought you knew were really just preparation for the actual lesson.

- i am stronger than i think i am. there was a source of determination and will power left untapped before this year. at 25 i have already had to make decisions that most people will never have to face in their life. when left in a most vulnerable state i kept my eyes on the prize and powered through the frustration, the pain, the emotional and physical paralysis...all of it. and much to my surprise.

- i am not as strong as i would like to think. what it really boils down to is i did what i had to do. i had no other options. the only way i really got through it was because of the amazing people i have in my life: my family, my friends who are really just extended family, the rest of my friends, an amazing team of doctors and of course a father in heaven who is a never ending source of support.

- when you align your will with the will of the lord, you will always be taken care of. the things that were once problems are mere speed bumps. goals that seem daunting quickly become attainable. he is always one step ahead of you preparing the way.

- my father in heaven knows who i am. he knows my name and he hears my prayers. he hears the prayers i say and the silent ones kept deep within my heart. he likes to wait until i ask specifically about something before he gives me some light, and thats ok...most of the time. furthermore, he has a plan for me and i am living it.

- i am exactly right where i need to be. moving has indeed been one of the hardest things i've ever done and it still isn't always easy. however, i know that this is where i belong for this chapter of my life. this has been one of the best decisions i've ever made. santa rosa is where i was introduced to life. where i learned what i love and what i hate, who i want to be and what i want to do. it is where i began to really live outside of my comfort zone and trust. santa rosa gave me the opportunity to heal from the inside out. it taught me to love and it taught me to serve. santa rosa is where i met me.

why i love santa rosa.

this summer will mark three years of living in santa rosa. i relocated to this small little town to finish my degree at Sonoma State University and quickly fell in love with this place. here are some reasons why i love it so...

- the beauty. this place is amazing. the first place i lived when i got out here had redwood trees (huge ones!) in the back yard. do you know how fantastic that was? in general, there is so much "foliage" that you are literally in a whole other world.

- the farmers market. there's one every day!

- downtown. its a total of like 10 blocks. so teeny tiny, its impossible not to adore.

- post office. i went on friday @ 6pm and walked right up to the counter. this would never happen in sacramento...especially considering that was the only post office open within 25 miles.

- the beach. its only 25 minutes from my house. i hardly ever go, but if i want to its just down the road.

- drivers. there are still crazy ones, but far less than sacramento.

- the weather. half the time it rains, half the time its sunny and beautiful. win-win situation.

- the temple. its just 45 minutes away and the drive is BEAUTIFUL.

- hills and windy roads. makes driving fun. sometimes i pretend i'm a race car driver...don't hate.

- my friends. they're the best.

- my abby, joey, and jack. they make me happy.

the only thing that would make life better was if all of my loves from sacramento were closer to me.

hello.

after spending way too much time perusing all sorts of different blogs this week, i decided i would join the fun and start my own. that was the easy part. i take that back, signing up was a breeze too. all the other stuff, mind baffling. what the heck do i write about? i guess i should just start by telling you who i am. let the randomness begin.

i'm a sister, a daughter, a tia and friend. i love to laugh and hate to let people see me cry. my favorite part of work is when i get to help people with special needs. for christmas i got a kitchenaid...it was love at first mix. i could bake and cook all day long but dishes tend to ruin the fun. i look white, i talk white, but deep down inside i'm brown. my idea of "comfort food" consists of tacos, puerco asado, and maduros.

i am happy. i am grateful. i am blessed.

travel is my heart. photography too. travel + photography = bliss. i still have a LOT to learn but am eager to do so.

i have a niece and nephew for whom i'd move heaven and earth. their smiles melt my heart and their laughs are the highlight of my day.

i love my life. i love my friends. i love the temple and gospel of jesus christ.