Maybe...

I got this from a friend's blog and thought it applied to so many things going on right now. Thanks for the reminders Erin.
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Maybe. . . we were supposed to meet the wrong people before meeting the right one so that, when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful for that gift.

Maybe. . . when the door of happiness closes, another opens; but, often times, we look so long at the closed door that we don't even see the new one which has been opened for us.

Maybe. . . it is true that we don't know what we have until we lose it, but it is also true that we don't know what we have been missing until it arrives.

Maybe . . . the happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

Maybe . . . the brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; after all, you can't go on
successfully in life until you let go of your past mistakes, failures and heartaches.

Maybe . . . you should dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go, be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you dream of, and
want to do.

Maybe . . .there are moments in life when you miss someone -- a parent, a spouse, a friend, a child -- so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real, so
that once they are around you appreciate them more.

Maybe . . . the best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had.

Maybe . . . you should always try to put yourself in others' shoes. If you feel that something could hurt you, it probably will hurt the other person, too.

Maybe . . . you should do something nice for someone every single day, even if it is simply to leave them alone.

Maybe . . . giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they will love you back. Don't expect love in return; just wait for it to grow in their heart; but, if it doesn't, be content that it grew in yours.

Maybe . . . happiness waits for all those who cry, all those who hurt, all those who have searched, and all those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of all the people who have touched their lives.

Maybe . . . you shouldn't go for looks; they can deceive; don't go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart smile.

Maybe . . you should hope for enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to make you happy

Maybe . . . you should try to live your life to the fullest because when you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling but when you die, you can be the one who is smiling and everyone around you crying.

Maybe . . .you could send this message to those people who mean something to you, to those who have touched your life, to those who can and do make you smile when you really need it, to
those who make you see the brighter side of things when you are really down, and to all those whom you want to know that you appreciate them and their friendship.

Christmas Traditions

J.D. and I decided when we got married that we would buy a new ornament for our Christmas tree for something significant from our life during the year. This year we will be purchasing a Salt Lake Temple ornament. I love the memories- even though there are only a few so far. We plan on buying one for each of our kids to so they will have a start to their Christmas decorations when they leave home.
We also go to see the lights at Temple Square in Salt Lake. I love to see the lights. You can read more about that in the previous post.
In addition to this I'm trying to find great ideas that we can add to our traditions that will be easy to keep going once we have kids and will bring meaning to the season not just something to do. Tonight I was blog browsing and read at Viva la Vida about a tradition they started a few years ago in their family and I L-O-V-E it! (Thanks for the idea!!)
Here it is...

The three gift rule: every member gets three gifts for Christmas.

Only. Three.

Wrapped in green, gold and red these gifts symbolize and are reflective of the gifts that the Wise Men gave.

GOLD: This is the most obvious in color and significance. It's precious and worthy across all cultures and times. For us, it represents something we want.

FRANKINCENSE: Used as a holy anointing oil, its resin was derived from a tree, symbolizing gifts wrapped in green which represent something we need.

MYRRH: This is perhaps the most mysterious of the gifts. In times of old, it was a sacred substance and those whom could afford its resin used it as an incense to treat virtually every illness and disease. Since it was a reddish-brown in color our gifts are wrapped in red and represent something that will make us a better person.

Is that not the greatest idea ever? We are going to start it next year...because I am done shopping and wrapping this year.

This year we also sponsored a couple of kids in our ward and helped out with Sub for Santa at work. It was so fun and such a blessing to be able to help out and make Christmas a little brighter for someone else. That is a tradition we will keep going too.

Do you have any traditions that you love and want to share?

Blessed

I can't believe it has been over a month since I last made an entry. I have had good intentions and have started an entry on several occasions just to be pulled away for something more important or at least more pressing and wouldn't get back to it for awhile. I am letting this blog serve as my/our journal (J.D. does a great job of keeping a hand written journal of his own.) and I vow to do a better job updating it- even with the what may seem at the time "mundane" activities of daily living because this is after all our life and we are living it.
This last week I was looking through the photos on my computer and the images took me right back to the things we have done since we met and got married. It seems we are always working and don't take exotic vacations but the things we do together we love...sometimes it's just the time to relax a bit and enjoy each other. We went to Yellowstone in September 2009 (J.D.'s first time) and while we were there went to Mack's Inn Playhouse. Last night as J.D. was getting ready to sleep I played one of the quick videos I took while we were there and both of us had a chuckle and said how much fun it was...that is a definite do over trip- even if only for the playhouse portion of it. I love having and making memories like that and it seems we have a lot more than I realize until I look back at pictures and read past entries of this "journal". We are truly blessed!
J.D. is busy with work which equals job security that we are grateful for. He has been put in contact with a couple of companies or individuals that need some programming done that he can do on the side from home. I'm so grateful that he worked so hard to get his degree and more importantly that he loves what he does for a career. He was recently called to be financial clerk in our ward and he has really enjoyed what he does there too. He spent all of last Saturday at the church with the bishopric helping with tithing settlement. He serves with such a happy and willingness to do whatever is needed. I'm so grateful for him and all he teaches me.

During a break last Saturday all of the bishopric and their wives and kids had a Christmas dinner together. It was nice to get to know everyone a little better. We sat next to the Couch family and I had a good talk with Nicole. Her husband is the ward clerk. They have a 5 month old little boy. She asked if we have kids and I told her no but we hope to soon. She smiled and said "good luck it took us 8 years and four miscarriages to get this little guy." We had a long talk and she said that they never took any extra ordinary measures or went to specialists to get pregnant. It was an interesting conversation and made me realize how much more difficult our struggle could be.
On that note, I went to visit Dr. H last week. He was really happy to see how everything looked and how I am reacting to the medication he has had me on. He did an ultrasound and said the cysts on my ovaries are smaller...good news. He gave me the go ahead to start taking Femara, which if it works correctly will help me ovulate and we can do an IUI this month. We will know in the next 10 days if we are able to do the IUI or move onto the next step from here. We are hoping we get an early Christmas present and can at least attempt the IUI and an even bigger present and get pregnant on our first attempt. The timing will be perfect because we are headed to Idaho for Christmas where I can just rest and relax either way.
I have no feeling one way or the other about what may happen in the next week or two. I am however very peaceful and know that whatever happens is just part of our journey. I am so grateful I have J.D. to go through this with. He is so patient and understanding. He offers to go to every doctor appointment with me and knows just what to say to calm me when I get frustrated with the process.
Last night we went to Temple Square in Salt Lake City to see the lights. It has become a tradition for us to go and see the lights. Two years ago this week J.D. asked me to be his wife. We go back to that same spot and get a picture. We have so many great memories at Temple Square. I don't think either of us will forget last April when we were taking pictures after our sealing and the chef that gave us a treat from the Lion House because he said we looked like we were old enough to be getting married. So last night we went to the same spot and stole a kiss (or maybe two).

I love making memories with this man! When I was talking to Nicole last Saturday that is something we talked about...the men we married and how grateful we are that we married the men we did even though it took longer to find them- J.D. was worth the wait. I can't imagine going through any of the trials we have had since we have been married with anyone else. He is definitely a keeper!