Jana Gets The Credit And Taylor's First Love

Monday we celebrated our wedding anniversary. I would walk you down memory lane of the blessed event and post some pictures but why didn't anyone tell me I looked scary from 1996 to 2000? I had read all sorts of wedding magazines saying you should just be natural, look like you do everyday, don't get too fancy with your hair and makeup. Boy, were they wrong! I should have had some sort of a make-over. I look at our wedding pictures and think, "Really, Ryan thought I was marrying material?". In any event, I must pay tribute to Jana, my sister, who brought Ryan and I together. If it wasn't for her and her plotting ways, none of this would have ever happened.

I'm not sure what Jana saw in both of us all those years ago to want to bring us together or to think that it would even work, but I'm glad she pushed the issue. I will never forget the first night I met Ryan. My first impression was that he was short but nice, kind of shy. Who knows what he thought of me, we probably don't want to know. All I remember is that I was kind of flighty because I had been totally caught off guard with him showing up at my sister's house. He always reminds me that that's the night I almost killed him on the Arlington Heights road. That's a story for another time.

I also found out that Taylor has his first love. I'm not sure how I feel about this other than I finally realize that my boys are starting to get to the age where they are more into girls. Neither of them have been girl crazy at all but I can see changes in them, so I know it's prone to happen. A little bird told me that Taylor is "fake dating" or what us 90's kids know as "going out". I brought this up to Taylor and he was as nonchalant as ever. I said, "So you asked a girl out?". He said, "Yes, her name's Sarah". I said, "So what did she say?". He said, "She said, "No". I said, "So how do you feel about it?" He said, "I don't really care, there will be other girls". Great! Then he said, "Mom, am I in trouble over this?". He then went on to tell me that she's REALLY cute (his words) and that all the boys in class like her. I'm sure she thinks Taylor is mouthy in class because I know he is. Luckily, he has a teacher who likes that. He thinks it's his responsibility to be the class jokester.

The same sister who hooked Ryan and I up is also the same sister who told me that this day would come and she would sit back and laugh. Are you laughing, Jana? I'm not. I want my boys to like girls but I want them to like them when they're 30 not 11! I don't know if I'll survive the teenage years.

I love you, Ryan, even if we did reproduce children that are starting to like girls at a young age. Happy (late) Anniversary! Thanks, Jana, for all your hard work. I know it took a little convincing and a lot of planning to get us to finally meet. We will always be grateful to you for what you did.

Happy 56th Anniversary!

Our parents celebrate 56 years of marriage today! I can't believe what an accomplishment this is. Being married for that long is almost unheard of these days and when I tell people how long Mom and Dad have been married, their eyes get really big! We, as their children, have been blessed by two great examples. Examples of love, faith, struggles, heartache, joy, and enduring to the end. I'm sure Mom and Dad's marriage has not always been smooth sailing but they have pressed on somehow. They have been a true joy to us all and continue to bless our lives in every way.

Mom and Dad have loved us and have sacrificed much for us. We are eternally grateful for all they have done. There are two quick (unless I get long-winded) stories that I would like to document of Mom and Dad and their love and sacrifice for their children.

After Mom and Dad moved to Washington, in the fall Mom would drive potato truck to help bring in extra money. LaVoy and Jana were still little and not in school yet. The older siblings, mostly Marion and Barbie, recount how Mom would get up at 3:30 in the morning, make everyone's lunch that day and a batch of cookies for the older kids to take in their lunch. Then everyone would wake up to a hot breakfast that Mom had made. She would then dress LaVoy and Jana, comb everyone's hair, and head out the door with LaVoy and Jana in tow. Marion has said that she remembers Mom cleaning LaVoy and Jana's shoes every morning so their shoes would be clean for the day. Mom would then entertain LaVoy and Jana everyday in the potato truck by singing songs, telling stories, and teaching them their alphabet. At the end of the day, Mom would come home, make dinner, I'm sure do some house work, and then start all over again. Is this not a prime example of sacrifice and unconditional love?



When LaVoy was somewhere between middle school and high school, she became very interested in snow skiing. In the area we grew up in, we had the opportunity to take a bus every Saturday morning during ski season to Mission Ridge, a ski resort that was nearby, and take skiing lessons through the school. LaVoy loved skiing right away! That year for Christmas, she asked Mom and Dad for skiis. Mom told LaVoy that money was tight because there were other kids to buy for and Travis was still on his mission. LaVoy shared with me once that she was laying in bed on Christmas Eve feeling sorry for herself over the fact that she knew she would not be getting skiis for Christmas. She said that a voice told her to look out the window. She did and she saw Dad walking across the yard from the shed in the snow carrying skiis over his shoulder. LaVoy told me she had never felt so humbled in her life because she knew what Mom and Dad had to sacrifice to get her the skiis.



These are the most touching stories to me of all the stories that I know about these two wonderful people. They have taught each of us that family comes first. They have showed us that through their example.



Mom and Dad are now enjoying the retired life, spending time with their family, and working at the Columbia River Temple every Saturday. This experience has been such a blessing in their lives and the lives of their children as well. We love you Mom and Dad! Thank you for being the very best parents for us and for being even greater grandparents. We are honored to be your children and grandchildren and we hope you know on this very special day how loved you both are.

Twelve Years And Still Going Strong!

Today, Ryan and I celebrate our twelve-year anniversary! I look back over the last twelve years and wonder where the time has gone? These last twelve years have gone by really fast but as I look back, I also realize Ryan and I are really different people from who we were when we first got married. We have grown up, moved away, struggled together, worried together, raised children together, and all those many things that come with marriage.

I think moving away and learning to depend on one another has been one of the best things for our marriage. When your own parents aren't right there to fall back on, you learn to rely on one another. Ryan and I have enjoyed living away and experiencing all that comes with living somewhere new, even though at times we have really missed living closer to home!

Our struggle with getting this Les Schwab store off the ground has been another great thing for our marriage. Our marriage has grown by leaps and bounds these last four years in California. We have worked hard, cried hard, and prayed hard together! I am very proud of Ryan for sticking this out and seeing where it will take us. I admire the fight Ryan has in him. There have been times he has wondered if he is the stupidest person on earth and I have had to tell him we aren't quitters and then proceed to give him a pumping up speech. This experience with this store has been harder than anyone will ever know but it has been worth every minute for us.

We have been blessed in so many aspects of our marriage from having two great boys to the blessings beings members of the church brings! I feel very fortunate that my marriage is in a good place, it's not perfect, but it's very good and I am thankful for that. I know it brings great comfort and security to Colby and Taylor knowing they have parents who love one another and love them.

Ryan, I know you read our blog at work (that's the only place you can go and laugh at my sense of humor that you know and admit that I have) and I just want you to know how much I love and respect you! You have been the very best husband for me - patient, even-tempered, kind, affectionate, and loving. I am so grateful for these last twelve years we have had together and I look forward to the many years ahead! I love you!