res·o·lu·tion (rĕzˌə-lo͞oˈshən)

Picture from Emma Clements blog...via www.bedifferentactnormal.blogspot.com this picture made me smile so thought I'd share it.

res·o·lu·tion (rĕzˌə-lo͞oˈshən) 

noun

1. The state or quality of being resolute; firm determination.
2. A resolving to do something.
3. A course of action determined or decided on.

* thank you google for clearing up the definition for me!

After reading the definition of resolution. I pondered what I want to resolve to do this year... Last year, I had a bunch of goals. Some I achieved, some I changed and some I said what the heck was I thinking and decided to say no thank you and move on! 

Thinking about this year and what I want I thought, what is important to me?....Family, health and happiness, these are the things, I care most about. So it is decided. That is what I am going to focus on this year. I would love to do some traveling. I want to see the world and I hope to scratch a country or 2 off my list this year. hint hint babe! *coughing (Europe, Italy)! That would be nice! Or, I would love to go volunteer in Africa and bring home a cute little African baby to adopt. That would be an amazing experience. So many choices.

I hope everyone has a happy and healthy year and that is what I am going to strive for this year! I wish you the best of luck on what ever it is you resolve to do this year!

Goodbye 2010....

I'm having a little trouble saying goodbye, as I feel like I just said hello to you! Even though I feel like this year was packed full of new adventures, loss and births, it feels like it just began. Let me see where to begin.... In February we said goodbye to Galen's Auntie. She was such a special lady. I am glad I was able to meet her a couple times and see how much she loved all of their family. She was a wonderful lady and so funny. While it was an awful time for Galen and his family, I did get to meet his cousins that I had never met in the almost 8 years of being part of Galen's life. We went to Ohio for the funeral and Galen and I got to see Ohio in the winter. It was beautiful! Galen wants to buy a farm house and move there. I am ok with it as long as it is an amazing farm house and I can visit home whenever I want. Maybe 2011 will bring us closer to this dream of owning a farm in the middle of now where and just enjoying life....

In April, we took a mini vacation to Oregon to see Galen's family and celebrate their family friend Gough's birthday.  I would post pictures but just realized I don't have any on this computer...

We also celebrated Galen's birthday and my parents and I bought him a bike. We took lots of bike rides and saw lots of new places around here. One ride in particular we were on a trail that was called rock writings so of course we thought there would be "rock writings" but we road and road and could not find any, so we ditched the bikes and hiked. We walked and walked and didn't find any so we turned around. Galen was in the lead, THANK GOODNESS, and he came up on a snake. Of course he told me not to come any further and I knew right away what was going on. So me being the smart person I am got off my bike picked it up and began to run out of there! Fight or flight... Flight is what apparently took over.

During the spring I also said goodbye to one of my favorite professors as she passed away from cancer. I have never watched anyone deteriorate and actually pass away from cancer, which was tough for all of her students and I am sure it was even more tough for her and her family. While I am thankful for all I learned from her and the chance I had to know her and have her be part of my life, I still am mad or sad (not sure) that someone so great and so young was taken so early and had to suffer as she did. But I am so thankful at the same time for all that she taught me and all that I learned. I thank you Adi for being part of my life and teaching me so much.

In May Galen's mom came to visit for a weekend. We took a hike in Zion and of course I ran into a snake! What the heck is with me and snakes!?! I hate them, I hate them... Lois told me snake must be my totem and so I googled it and well it sounds very much like me so I guess that is why I must run into them all the time.

At the end of May/ beginning of June, I went home for a visit... I finally got to meet Holly's little boy and we hit it off. He loved me. In fact he loved me so much he dumped water and apple juice all over me! It was pretty funny! I got to spend a week with my mom and dad it was a blast even though it rained all but maybe 2 days. I also got to see my brother and his very pregnant wife.

June.... huh, I don't remember what happened in June. I guess it wasn't too exciting. In July we met Galen's mom at Capitol Reef National Park. None of us had ever been there and it was so amazing. It was super cold and rainy but beautiful. Galen was sick and spent the weekend at the cabin sleeping and Lois and I hiked and hiked and hiked some more. We took lots of pictures and enjoyed to outdoors.

At the end of July my niece Cassidy was born. It was totally amazing to talk to my brother and hear how happy he was and how excited to be a dad he was.

August I celebrated my 28th birthday...Can you believe I am almost 30? I am kind of depressed about it! For my birthday I got a plane ticket to go home and meet my niece. She was perfect in every way! Mostly because she looked just like me as a newborn :) When I got back we went from summer to full swing holiday at Old Navy and the rest is a blur.

At the end of October my mom, my aunt Cathy and Theresa came for a visit and to see "Thriller" at Tuachan. It was so much fun, we hiked, we, shopped, we cooked, we ate, we laughed and oh did we laugh! It was fun. I love when my mom comes to visit! I miss her so much. She is truly my best friend and I enjoy any time I get to spend with her. I love you moo!

On November 24th Galen was diagnosed with diabetes. He has responded wonderfully to the meds and change in diet and what not and is doing much better. Needless to say though Thanksgiving wasn't the best it could have been. It was Galen's last binge on junk food and day 2 of knowing he had diabetes so we were really unsure what to do, what to expect or really anything and everything.

December has flown by.... We spent Christmas in St. George with Galen's mom and dad. It was a quick visit. Mack was super excited for Christmas, he was just like a child. He woke up really early when he heard Lois out in the kitchen cooking and then ran back and forth jumping on the bed until I woke up. Then it was on like donkey kong... Once I wake up on Christmas morning there is no stopping me. Now, we are here on the last day of the year and I am thinking where did the time go???

But I am excited to see what new adventures 2011 brings. So even though I say goodbye to 2010 not knowing where you went or even when you began. I say goodbye and I say hello to 2011. I am looking forward to the new adventures and the new chapters we will write together. I am thankful for the wonderful friends and family Galen and I have.

It's the most wonderful time of the year....

This year Galen's mom and dad came to St. George and spent Christmas with us. We hung out on the 24th and then we got up bright and early Christmas morning and opened presents. Mack was so funny he heard Lois up cooking and so he had to come check things out and then it began. In and out of the room bouncing on the bed trying to get us up. I was ready though....Galen on the other hand would have rather slept all day. After breakfast we went for a hike up at Zion National Park. It was a beautiful crisp day and perfect for a nice walk. After all the flooding we have had lately there was a beautiful waterfall that I have never seen before. I took lots of pictures.

We got bamboo flooring which I will post pix when we install it and I got a macbook which I <3 it is a-maz-ing!

{Maternity}

I was able to get some maternity shots of my friend and her husband and their little bun in the oven! I love taking maternity and baby pictures everyone is just so stinkin happy! Congrats you two! 

A few of my favorite things....

While the Holiday's make me extremely homesick, this is my favorite time of the year. So I find myself sitting on my couch thinking of my favorite things.... Glitter its so pretty and I adore it. I love the smell of Christmas trees. Or in our case since Mack would eat a real Christmas tree we opt for a fake one with some Bath and Body works evergreen wallflowers. I love shopping as most of you know but what I really love is shopping for others and finding a fun gift. I also love decorating and I really love Christmas decor. Oh and of course I love to bake and eat all of the yummy foods this time of the year. I also love finding the perfect wrapping paper to wrap my gifts in and then hearing the crinkle and rip as you tear it off Christmas morning. I love when my dog lays on my feet and keeps them warm. Christmas movies are part of my list too.

I love waking up on a crisp morning and finding my slippers and a sweatshirt and cuddling up on the couch with a nice toasty drink(coffee, apple cider, hot chocolate, tea etc) and a bowel of hot oatmeal. I love that my dog waits not so calmly as I down as much oatmeal as I can and then he gets to finish it off.One of my new favorite things is waking up smelling my husband cooking breakfast for himself, this may sound silly but it makes my heart sing to know he is taking care of his diabetes and knowinng this is the most important meal of the day. So most of all my favorite things would not be complete without my family and friends.

Another chapter in our life....

Galen's bloodsugar levels are getting better and better. He is adjusting to the whole diabetes thing well. He is really postive and taking everything in stride. I am so proud of him. He told me the other day that he could let this beat him or he could beat it and he isn't the first or the last person to get diagnosed with diabetes and he wasn't going to let it get him down. I know it is going to be a journey for the next few months until we figure everything out and and even bigger journey for him until he gets everything under control but I know he will come out on top. We are blessed to have such a supportive families.

I am thankful......

So the last few days Galen hasn't been feeling well and his dad suggested he have his blood sugar checked. So he went to the doc yesterday (Tuesday) and they ran a bunch of tests and today (Wednesday) he found out he has diabetes. We won't know until the rest of his test get back if it is Type 1 or 2. So for now he has to check his blood sugar and take insulin at night. I am sure he will have to change what he eats so thank goodness we have been eating a little more healthier and it will just have to get more healthy from here. I am so thankful he actually went to the doc because normally he puts off the doc until the last minute. * I have always found this strange since his dad is a doctor and yet Galen hates going to doctors....I guess maybe it is unfamiliar since he has had his dad his entire life where I am used to seeing someone I don't know. Back to my story...He is ok, I think in shock as am I. I know his dad has always worried about that for him but I guess I felt like he is active its not like he sits on the couch and drinks beer all day, he has started eating better and but I guess it just goes to show you things like this don't discriminate and you just have to take it in stride and be thankful you have your life and you know what to do to improve it.  I am very thankful that it is something he can manage and he is going to be ok once it gets under control. I just hate the feeling of unknown and I hate that he doesn't feel good. So in honor of Thanksgiving and being thankful. I am thankful for my husband and I am thankful for our families and friends and I am thankful that we know what is wrong and it can be fixed.