Patience is a Virtue! :)

So my dear sweet Mission President's wife, Sister Hacking, used to always remind us of this wonderful quote and lately I've really needed to remember this!  This is obviously something that I'm still working on since I have to be reminded of this often but I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father is so patient with us.  I wish I could say that moving to Wyoming has been easy and we just fell in love with everything about being here and the new culture we're learning about but to be honest it's been one of the hardest tests I've had in my life.  We have received numerous blessings since being here but it still doesn't change the fact that it's hard not being close to the people you love when you're in such a draining situation.  I should probably say that it's hard for ME because Raymond's always saying that all he needs is me! :) He's such a sweet husband.  But I've really been working on counting my blessings and I know that we we're meant to be here for many reasons.  I'm sure number one is so we could grow together as a couple and that part I love about us being here.  Being here is a totally different environment than I've ever been in and I've lived in a lot of new places.  But I'm learning to take one day at a time, I'm so grateful for Raymond and all the support he gives me! Thinking of all my blessings has really helped me put things into perspective and realize how much Heavenly Father truly is in our lives.  Even those little things like Spring finally coming and seeing beautiful flowers, simple but what a testimony of the love He has for us.  I have so much to be thankful for and I hope that this will someday be my biggest strength and I can look back at our time here in Fort Washakie, Wy being some of our greatest days of our lives!

We finally get a Honeymoon!

Since my dear husband had to move us to Wyoming a few days after we got married we didn't really have the chance to have a real honeymoon so I made him promise to take me somewhere after things got settled.  So it's finally booked...we're going here...

to stay here...

and go here...

I really am so excited! I have always wanted to go to San Francisco, you'd think growing up in California I would have already been but sad to say we never left SoCal. Raymond got to go right before we got married to visit a mission companion and I was jealous so I made him promise to take me! We'll be going in July and I'm already counting down the days.  I'm the most excited about seeing Wicked while we're there! Well I'll keep dreaming until we get on that plane! Can't wait! :)

"Spring" Break

Raymond & I were so excited for Spring Break and to get away from the weather! Of course we didn't have much luck going home to Utah...we were afraid that we weren't going to be able to go because they had the road closed between Evanston & Utah state line. They finally opened it and we decided to "try" to get home.  We made it through the blizzard all the way to right after Parowan...twenty mintues from my house and slid off the road. :( I love me some OnStar though because they came and saved the day! They had to winch us out and 2 hrs later we were on our way! Nothing like turning a 8 hr trip into an 11 hr trip! But it was so worth it to see our family!  We woke up the next morning to this...

We both weren't too excited to come home from break but it's good to be back in a routine...even if that means being head butted in the nose and bit on the arm by a five year old the first day back! I love my job! :)

Birthday Shout Out!

I just wanted to wish my little sis a Happy Birthday! I can't believe she's 18! But I'm so grateful to have her as my sister! She is so talented and gorgeous and I'm so excited to see what she will do in her life! We love you Britters!

Sinks Canyon

So we finally had some warm days (that didn't last too long!) and we couldn't wait to get outside so we took a drive up Sinks Canyon. It is so gorgeous up there and the pictures really don't do it much justice but these are some of the reasons why we love living up here.

If you know my husband he LOVES Charlie Brown (still a kid at heart!), so of course when he saw this tree he decided that we needed to have a Charlie Brown Christmas tree next year. Good thing we already know where one is!

Ok so these next pictures need some explaination...As we were driving home Raymond says I think I just saw an albino deer! I of course was skeptical so we turned around and this is what we see.  See that "rock" towards the right side.  So I started teasing Raymond about how it's just a rock . Then that rock lifted up its head. 

You decide...I think Raymond just has the itch to be out there since he didn't get to go hunting last year.  We are so ready for Spring Break and are excited to go home this week!

Ryan's Engaged!

Even though I'm still getting used to the idea that my little brother can get married, I'm so excited to have Aimee as a Sister-in-Law.  I always wondered what type of girl Ryan would marry and she really is perfect for him.  She has the sweetest personality and isn't she gorgeous!  They've been dating on and off for the last year but she was able to come to our wedding last year and I'm so glad that she's been part of our family for all the big things already! I love you two and it's going to be fun to have someone else join the married club in my family! :) We're so excited for the big day May 6th! CONGRATS!

Valentine's in Montana!

Raymond & I went to Billings for the weekend and it was such a great trip! I never thought I would spend a Valentine's in Montana but it was fun to see new places and to just get away! :)

I made Raymond a candy card and here he is trying to be "seductive" :)

We tried to go to the temple but it closed at four, and we got there at 4:15. I never realized how much peace being near a temple brings until we moved to Wyoming.  Even though we didn't have the opportunity to go to the temple just being able to drive by and see it lit up at night brought the spirit. I love to see the temple!

So of course we went to eat at Famous Dave's! Yummy!

We went to ZooMontana and even though it was a small zoo and FREEZING we had a good time!

Raymond was excited about the tiger, the poor thing was so bored though it just walked around in circles.

My favorite were the otters, they were so fun to watch sliding around on the snow. 

Gotta love Montana, they cant have real elephants so they put a fake one in the zoo! :)

We had to stop at Cabela's too of course!

Back in Wyoming where we live. It really is so pretty here! But we hope you all had a great Valentines! I'm so grateful for Raymond in my life and the better person he is making me into! I love you honey!