Elder Trout's farewell

Jeremy we are so proud of you and the decision that you have made to serve The Lord for the next two years.  You have overcome a lot and have grown so much as a person in the last year. You are an amazing person and I know that you will touch the lives of so many people in Texas!  

We all love you and will support you through the next two years! 

Life Lessons

The quote that has hit me the most lately is from our dear Prophet, Thomas S. Monson.  What he said, hit me really hard.  Because lately I have not been doing what it says.  I have been prideful, OCD, disrespectful, immature, and not very understanding.  But this week I have been focusing on this quote, and really trying to apply it.  I want to be a better and more loving person to everyone... but mostly my husband, who truly does treat me better than I deserve.

-Stef

Very First Jazz Game

So in the past 7 days we have done quite a bit!  Last week Elias took me to my very first NBA game in my whole life.  I grew up being a Los Angeles Lakers fan, but once I started dating Elias I told him that the day he takes me to a Utah Jazz game I will switch my loyalty.  And that I did!  The game we went to was total spur of the moment.  Elias found 5 dollar tickets on eBay and that was perfect because we may or may not be the biggest cheap skates on the planet (we also had a free meal at Cafe Rio). 

The game we went to was against the San Antonio Spurs, which I didn't think was a big deal until Elias told me that the Jazz have had a terrible record against the Spurs for years and years.  That definitely made me more excited to see that game!

Here I am just enjoying the game, in seats that weren't ours! I learned from Elias, just walk passed the ushers while you are on your phone and act like you are in the right place and they won't stop you! ha ha.  The game really was great, it was basically a 2 point game the entire time!

Here we are so happy to be at the game!  I asked some hipster girls that were there alone to take this picture ha ha we decided they probably just wanted to go to instagram pictures of them being there!

Okay so this game ended pretty dramatically, there was 2 minutes left in the game, which I have found in basketball takes about 5 times longer than that, Jazz and Spurs were tied 96-99, the clock finally got down to about 40 seconds, Mo Williams had the ball (the whole arena was freaking out because he hadn't sunk anything all night), he held the ball, keeping everyone on the edge of our seats and yelling "shoot!!! shoot!!!" He holds the ball till the very last second, buzzer rings while the ball is in mid air and boom he sinks the 3 point shot, finishing the score at 99-96!  Seriously it was so so crazy! Confetti falling, the whole arena was on their feet, Elias and I were screaming bloody murder, I had tears in my eyes, Elias picked me up and jumped around (I almost fell into the lower bowl) it was incredible.  Such a perfect first game to go to!  :)

Thanks babe!  This will be something I will always remember :)

-Stef

Angel

You know when you just can't get a song out of your head? Today, I can't get this song out of my head.. but I am not complaining.  Elias and I danced to Angel by Jack Johnson at our wedding.  It is such a special song for us and it brings tears to my eyes everytime I hear it.  Elias really does have an old soul, he is one of the greatest people you will ever meet, has such a big heart, he's humble, has amazing understanding of gospel principals, would do anything for the people he loves.. Elias truly is my angel, and he has my heart forever

i've got an angel
he doesn't wear any wings
he wears a heart that can melt my own
he wears a smile that can make me wanna sing
he gives me presents
with his presence alone
he gives me everything i could wish for
he gives me kisses on the lips just for coming home
he could make angels..
i've seen it with my own eyes
you gotta be careful when you've got good love
cause the angels will just keep on multiplying

but you're so busy changing the world
just one smile and you can change all of mine
we share the same soul
oh oh oh ohhh
we share the same soul
oh oh oh ohhh
we share the same soul
oh oh oh ohhh
oh oh oh ohhh
mm mm mm hhhhhhmm

-Stef

November 29

I honestly cannot believe how much my husband has changed me.  It is November, there is not an inch of snow on the ground and I am legitamately upset!  He has made me a true believer that winter is the best time of the year.  I cannot wait to go skiing, make snowmen, wake up to the trees frosty and white.  Have those nights that are so still that it seems nothing could make a sound, go to Temple Square, get sopping wet and run to the car as fast as you can to get warm, kiss while snow flakes float down and land on your eye lashes I could go on for ever and ever.  I have converted to winter and i'm not sure I will ever go back! 

Also here is some inspiration for the day

The Quest For Perfect taken from "Stand a Little Taller"

(Counsel and inspiration for each day of the year)

 By Gordon B. Hinkley

And if men come unto me I will show unto them thieir weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all ment that humble themselves before me; for... then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

-Ether 12:27

None of us will become perfect in a day or a month or a year.  We will not accomplish it in a lifetime, but we can begin now, starting with our more obvious weaknesses and gradually converting them to strengths.  This quest may be a long one; in fact, will be lifelong.  I may be fraught with many mistakes, with falling down and getting back up again.  But we must not sell ourselves short.  God in supplication.  He will comfort, sustain and bless us.

As we prepare for the Christmas month, let's always remember to be humble, and charitable, also to live with the pure love of Christ.  Let's always remember to lean on the Lord for help with our weaknesses and thank him in all things!

-Stef

Homemade Date Night

My husband truly is the most amazing person at turning my frown upside down.  Seriously, he never ceases to get me to cheer up, no matter the problem!

So when the roles are reversed I always want to make my husband feel just as good as he makes me, and when I realized yesterday was one of those days I immediatly got my creative juices flowing.

We had already been planning on cooking homemade sweet and sour chicken over rice, from an INCREDIBLE recipe that I found on Pinterest. So remembering that we were making chinese food I tried thinking of some things that could go along with our meal and instantly thought of fortune cookies.  But I didn't want my husband to open some everyday ordinary fortune.  So while sitting at work waiting for 5 o'clock to roll around I typed up a little note.   

I typed 2 just so when dinner was finished and it came time for fortunes it wasn't obvious that I wanted him to take a certain one :) (tricks of the trade)

I chose this fortune to go along with the saying that is engraved on the inside of his wedding band; there it says "Agora E Para Sempre"  Which means now and forever, in Portuguese.  Portuguese is a special language for us because Elias a mission in Brazil for the LDS church.

Then I secretely went to Panda Express right after leaving work to go get the cookies (I got them for free :) ).  Then drove fast to meet Elias without him suspecting a thing. 

When we finally headed home after our 8 hours of work, teaching dance and the gym I made Elias sit down and relax while I made dinner.  Although he asked multiple times what I needed help with.  

My goal was to make this dinner romantic; I made Elias go in our bedroom and close the door so that I could get everything situated perfectly.  My vision was candle lit dinner, fire place, dim lights, delicious food and me wearing something special :)  After a failed attempt at moving our kitchen table into our living room, taking waaay longer than expected (I could practically hear Elias' stomach over the sound of the ski movie he was watching) and Almost breaking the fortune cookies while switching the fortunes our dinner was ready!

And I think it turned out pretty well :)

Putting a smile on my husband's face will forever be a goal of mine. Nothing makes me more happy then knowing that he is happy, even if it is just for a homemade date night (with a fake fireplace).  I feel so blessed to have someone as incredible as him love me like he does.  And I will always strive to never take that for granted. Sickness, Health, Wealthy, Poor, Thick or Thin.  He is mine, I am his and I will do everything I can to make us happy :)

-Stef

 

Thankful

Today I feel like I need to state some things that I am thankful for (in this Thanksgiving season and all)

Salt Lake City Temple, Fall 2012

I am thankful for this BEAUTIFUL fall season that we have.. This year I believe it has been particularly beautiful all of the trees and the lingering colors.  (Maybe because of the lack of beauty we had last year)

I am thankful for the hand that never fails to be there for me to hold.

I am thankfulfor the meals we have on our table for breakfast lunch and dinner.

I am thankful for the country that we live in,  for the freedom, safety, progression and happiness that we have here.

I am thankful for the healthy bodies and minds that my husband and I have, and for every single day that the Lord gives us to better ourselves. 

I am thankful for technology and for the opportunity it gives me to talk to my husband WHENEVER I want.

I am thankful for the amazing examples I have in my life; whether they be from my side of the family or my husbands.  (and especially my husband himself)

I am thankful for the warm embrace with a towell I get from my husband right when I get out of the shower, almost every time!

I am thankful for those perfect kisses all day everyday that make me forget about everything in the world.

I am especially thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ;  I feel so blessed to have the knowledge that I have of our Lord and Savior, for the atonement that was given to us and for the opportunity we have to be forgiven for mistakes in our lives.  I am so thankful for the knowledge that I have of prayer and for the opportunity that I have to be able to speak to heavenly father and feel his comfort in any time in my life.  I am so thankful for the Book of Mormon and for the real blessings that come from reading it,  and for the testament of Jesus Christ that it gives.  I am so thankful for my incredible husband, for the sweet spirit that he has, for the love of the gospel that I know he has and that I see so often.  I am so thankful for the opportunity that I have to sit next to my husband and be spiritually edified every sunday, I am so thankful for the living prophet we have on this earth, who converses with the Lord on our behalf and who receives inspired revelations to make our lives (and the world) so much better. 

Salt Lake City Temple, 2012 With My Love

The last thing that I have been so incredibly thankful for since I have been married is to go to the house of the Lord with my handsome Husband and to feel of the spirit, in those beautiful buildings, serve the Lord and serve those who have passed on before us.  Thank you Elias for being continually worthy, and helping me to be continually worthy to enter the house of the Lord, and also for upholding your priesthood.  You are my Prince, I am SO thankful for you, I love you! 

-Stef