WHY? WHY? WHY?

I have tried over and over again to write a blog post about our experience with infertility.  Unfortunately, I was unable to express a lot for the past three years so my blogging has been very minimal…okay I’ll be honest NONEXISTENT.  I have started this infertility post several times before and have never been able to effectively say what I felt I needed too.  Until today.

The emotions of going to through this trial have been so extremely hard.  More than I can put into words.  For the past three years I have struggled to find my purpose because I felt as though it was ripped away from me.  I have struggled to feel my own value.  I didn’t know what to do.  My hope was broken-BROKEN into a million pieces.  I allowed fear to consume me.  I felt lost, confused, sad, lonely, and every emotion you can imagine. 

I tried to make sense of it all for the past three years and have found no reason where I wanted it.  Its like my mind had gone in circles over and over and over again searching for the reason behind this trial.  I never asked out loud “WHY?”  Why do I have to go through this?  Why me? Why can’t I just take the easy road on this one?  WHY?  WHY? WHY? WHY?  WHY? I never did out loud but I realized my mind was craving, even STARVING, for the answer to the WHY question. 

The moment the doctor’s office called us with the test results I was in complete shock.  I felt like it was just a dream and I was having an out of body experience.  I assumed when we told our families that it would be more real…it still wasn’t. I feel like those first two years were shock driven and I was grieving the loss of my dream of having a family and yet I was still chasing the possibility of motherhood through more complicated invasive  procedures or adoption.  It complicated everything so much because the one thing I was trying to accomplish was the very thing that caused my grief!  With every disappointment, bad experience, or hard day the struggle only intensified.  Everything was too overwhelming for me.  The emotions were unbearable at times. 

A lot of people saw the Trisha who was trying to be strong and self motivated-just doing my part in helping our miracle happen.  Some people probably saw the tired and withdrawn Trisha-confused by the many emotions I had and struggling to make sense of everything.  Even fewer people saw the broken Trisha-sobbing on the floor as Jarid held me or Jarid trying to calm me during a severe anxiety attack.  I tried to put my best face forward and hide my sorrows.  I thought I was protecting myself.

However, I learned, that the more I opened up the better I felt.  The more I could handle the stresses of the ups and downs.  Thanks to loving family, friends, coworkers, an amazing counselor, the help of wonderful medical providers I have come to a place of acceptance.  I learned to love my life again for what it is and not become so preoccupied on what I thought it was supposed to be like.  I thought I had to be strong or nothing (and I mean nothing: IVF, adoption, my marriage, my life) would work out, but strength doesn’t mean I must do everything by myself or else I am weak.  Strength is still continuing forward even when you feel weak.  It is to continue to love yourself and others despite weaknesses.   It is not about hiding from your problems but facing them. 

I found my hope again not just in becoming a mother and having a family, but the hope and knowledge within me that I can have a fulfilling life-that there is still a purpose for my life and I am important.  I hope that my story can uplift others.  I am not ashamed of what I have been through or what I am going through.  I am hopeful that it is for my own good and for the good of others that I have experienced such a difficult trial. Finally being able to express my story has been so healing to me.  So what helped me to finally break through?  A song- “Middle of It All” by Debra Stillman.  Listen to the words.  Let them speak to you whatever your situation or trial may be or however hard it seems.  I know how much it can hurt.  Try to remember that there is a purpose to all things.  You are right where you belong even in the middle of it all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiaCHIJ1-ZQ

 I finally received the WHY and HOW I needed.  Not the WHY or HOW that I started with, but the WHY and HOW Heavenly Father intended me to understand.  Why?  Because I chose this life.  I trusted my Father and Savior enough to say that anything I must bare in this life will all be worth it in the end.  How?  By the grace of God. 

I have no doubt in my mind that Jarid and I will be parents.  Heavenly Father has blessed me with that promise several times though this trial.   One HUGE miracle this year is that we have been chosen by Pound the Pavement for Parenthood to hold a fundraiser for us.  For ME & JARID!  Out of MANY couples that applied we were chosen!  Our story is being written and we would love for you to be a part of it.   There are a few ways you can help and we would appreciate all the help we can get! 

First, Please come be with us at our fundraiser.  The support would mean the world to us.  Register at www.one-step-closer.org

Second, If you can’t come physically feel free to donate if you are able, every little bit counts.  Donate at www.one-step-closer.org

Third, offer your time and energy to help spread the word for our cause by:

Sharing our event on Facebook.  Here is the link to our event:

https://www.facebook.com/events/229372107256660/

And helping us to pass out flyers weekly (days to be determined).  If you are willing please contact us or comment below and I will make sure to contact you.  

Thank you all so much for the support, love, and prayers through this continuing trial.  We are so grateful for all of you and couldn't have done it without you!

Nailed It!

Jarid and I enjoy life despite life's curve balls.  We are constantly having fun together, laughing, and being super silly.  I truly did marry my best friend.  I just had to post these adorable attempts of Jarid impersonating me, with his permission of course.  I think he NAILED IT, what do you think?  

God's Simple Answer

Today as I was sitting in sacrament meeting I was caught up in deep contemplation.  I was curious to know how the family two rows ahead of us felt with their three boys, two of which are physically and mentally handicapped.  I wondered what pain the bishop's wife felt as they announced the recent passing of her father.  I wondered about the the mother sitting behind us who was struggling endlessly with her children, and questioned if the row of single elderly ladies were ever lonely or sad.  Were they all happy with their lives?  I was then drawn to the thoughts of others that have come and gone in my life and their struggles: the loss of a child, a wayward teenager, loneliness, discouragement in  find one's eternal companion, unemployment, serious addictions, financial difficulties, physical or emotional abuse, etc.  I thought to myself: "We all struggle.  That is part of life."  For some reason this simple yet profound impression hit me with great force.  I didn't ask the question "Why do we (I) have to struggle?"  Instead, I found myself asking "Why is it so hard for us to comprehend the need for suffering?"  We all struggle, it is a part of life, and it is okay.  

I assure you I am not writing this to spread my gossip everywhere, or to share what some may see as too personal of experiences, or even appear better or stronger than others around me.  I am simply writing something very personal to me because I have been inspired to do so.  I don't know yet whether this is for me or you, but never the less here it is.  

Jarid and I have been trying to start our family for about a year now.  After months and months of disappointment we decided to visit the doctor.  Last month, after some testing, we found out that Jarid has less than 2% viable sperm, and having children would not be an easy feat for us.  My heart was broken. I knew that we would have to face trails in this life, but I NEVER imagined I would have to face this one.  My shield of ignorance was removed and I felt helpless.  I was in a state of shock and denial which then turned into mourning and fear.  Many other feelings swept over me in such a short period of time it was so difficult to sort through them all.  While we were grateful for the many wonderful friends and family who were loving, supportive, and encouraging,  I still struggled.  I never asked why me, which seems rather odd not to do, but amid the storm there was also a peace unlike any I have ever felt.

Peace is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of Christ.  

After a lot of emotionally filled days and MANY prayers, I knew that no matter what happened my life was in good hands, and if my Father in Heaven felt I needed to pass through this trial then I needed to trust Him.  He has never let me down before, and He knows better than I which paths in life I should take.  I still don't know how or if Jarid and I will have children and we have not given up hope by any means, but I do know that struggling is a part of life and it's okay.  It is okay to feel hurt, lost, afraid, lonely, or sad, for without these feelings we would not be able to comprehend the love, kindness, and peace that our Savior offers.  President Henry B. Erying said, "If we have faith in Jesus Christ, the hardest as well as

the easiest times in life can be a blessing."  We must turn to our Savior in our trials for he suffered to comprehend all things and we must pray to have faith in the things we cannot comprehend. Each day still brings new experiences and feelings, both good and bad, but for now I know "It's okay."

Under Construction No More

Friends & Family

The new Trish&Jarid blogspot is finally available again.  I am very sorry for the inconvenience for the past year of "construction!"  NO we are not dead, and YES I will finally be giving an update on Jarid and I.  A BIG THANKS to Abby Olsen for helping fix the problems I created on my blog!!  YOU ROCK!  Also another BIG THANKS to Emma Vickery for chastising  me for my lack of commitment in updating my blog and her on my life.  

The Johnson Annual Gingerbread Creation-Trailer Park Style!

Every fall near Christmas time the Johnson family gets together and makes a gingerbread house.  This year we decided to use cardboard instead of the normal gingerbread houses, because the structure has increased in size year after year.  I believe my mother-in-law Karen had to 10x the recipe for last years house.  Sounds like a sweet, fun family tradition right?  WRONG!  Well I should say it is sweet because there is lots of candy involved, and it is fun because of all the twisted things you will find in these pictures...they may be disturbing so please don't read any further if you get squeamish by seeing dead cinnamon Santa Clauses.

This is like the book Where is Waldo? and you can find all the different things happening on the page.  Well do you see the car accident killing innocent candy men, dinosaurs eating cinnamon Santa candies, and the only normal pretty thing on the board my beautiful Christmas tree (it is on the lower right)?

T-Rex eating a cinnamon Santa Clause while...how should I put it...going to the bathroom.

 An army of cinnamon Santa Clauses.

Two toy trucks pulling a Santa apart.

If you are still reading, I met Jarid's whole family for the first time while participating in this family tradition.  He said he wanted to make sure I would be able to accept him and like his family for who they are.  Needless to say, I wasn't scared off! 

  

The Love of my Life!!

I call him "Bear" a lot because he is so protective, and yet so cuddly!  Love it!

(I am sure real bears are not as cuddly but you know what I mean.)

He goes golfing with his buddy and this is what he brings back.  

An Unforgettable Trip!

In February Jarid and I traveled down to AZ for the baby blessing of my newest nephew Daniel Dax Davis!

(This picture was taken by my brother-in-law Dustin who is a great photographer just check out http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fat-Lemon-Media/162286437168264 )

We left in the morning right after Jarid got off work, so I got him a little something so he could sleep better....

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

It was a joke though, and I did actually get him a more "manly" mask!  Driving down to AZ wasn't bad at all, and my Grandma Pickett came with us.  We actually got to stop and see one of my cousins, Brad, that I haven't seen since I was a very little girl!  He is now a firefighter, and he took us on a tour of his station and showed us his truck.  

I was happy to arrive in Mesa though, and I missed my family sooo much it was good to see them!!  We spent a few days in Mesa with Tamara, Dustin, and Jenae.  We went to the Zoo with them, and it was so crazy to see how much the kiddos have grown!  I wish we could be closer to see them more frequently!

Andy wrestling the alligator!

The one request from Jarid on this trip was that we eat at a Russian restaurant, so Jarid looked up a few and most of them had closed down.  He found one in Phoenix so we were off.  After about 45 mins of driving and searching for what seemed like a non-existent restaurant we found it, and it too was closed down! All of the Russian restaurants were shut down...hmmm...health code violations??  We ended up eating Indian food with Tamara, Dustin, and Grandma Pickett-it was her first time eating Indian food. 

 We eventually went down to Safford/Thatcher, AZ and got to hold and cuddle baby Daniel!!  OH HE IS SOOO ADORABLE!  We got to see Rachelle and Darren, and a lot of other family!

The funniest part of our entire trip was our hotel room.  We (Jenae my oldest sister, Jarid, and I ) decided to share a hotel room and split the pay, yet when we walked in there was a major problem-one king size bed.  Jenae quickly decided that I would be sleeping in the middle (they would not switch our rooms).  Needless to say, in the morning we all decided NOT to do that ever again for some reason or another!  I think Jarid was the only one who slept semi-well.  

Everything else went well except the trip home. We started Sunday night and were planning on driving through the night.  However, just outside of Page, Arizona I got the flu and started vomiting.  We stopped in Page for the night, and it was awful.  I had no sleep the entire night because I was violently vomiting every 5-30 minutes, and passing out afterward.  I would try to wake Jarid to help me, but he would just pat me on the back for comfort and go back to sleep.  At one point I asked him to get me some Sprite, so he got up like a faithful husband and found himself in the stairwell unsure why he was there.  The poor guy!  Wait what am I saying POOR ME!  By the morning I was delusional and extremely dehydrated, so Jarid by some miracle got me into the car and took me to the ER.  They gave me a lot of medications and fluids.   I kept going in and out of consciousness, and my loving husband extremely worried wouldn't leave my side!  With two full bags of fluids and no urine out put the nurse said I needed fluids badly.  Finally we checked out, and got home.  Unfortunately, the next 3 days I spent in bed.   

Even though I came back with the flu, the trip was worth it to see my family and celebrate baby Daniel and his lucky parents. Congrats Rachelle and Darren Davis! 

We must be just a little crazy....

One of the things that I loved about Jarid when we were dating was his LOVE for his family especially his nieces and nephews!!  He even took me on a date once to Jump on It with his oldest niece Kaitlyn and Doug.  He went on regular dates with the older kiddos, but now that he is married we went all or nothing!  It was sleep over time, and we had all 6 of our Johnson nieces and nephews over for the fun!

We had Kaitlyn, Doug, Talon, and Alec from Melissa and Jake Johnson &

Jaxon and Abigail from Angel and Jason Jonson  (ages ranging from 8 to 1 yrs old)!  

FUN CRAZY JUMPING TUMBLING FUN!  

We had a big dinner for the kids full of lots of chicken nuggets (dino shaped), homemade french fries, and of course veggies.  Then Uncle Jarid and all the kids built a large fort with Christmas lights and sheets, but we ran out of sheets so the sides suffered a little.  Afterwards we pulled all the mattresses in the living room and set up camp!  The kids all slept on our king size mattress, and Jarid and I got a full sized mattress that was not so soft and nice.  After the mattresses went down there was TONS of jumping and tumbling!

These two squirts were the wildest! Alec and Jaxon are both 2 (Alec is now 3, but 2 at the time), but they loved each other and fuel the mischievousness of the other. 

 After the fort was all built and it was getting late we all bunched up in our places to watch a movie: "Jungle Book 2."  

In the morning we woke up and Doug was missing.  I found him wedged between two other kids stealing their blankets and pillow space, and Jaxon had wiggled his way onto our bed squishing Jarid.  They all slept really well with no interruptions during the night!  THANK HEAVENS!  However, I was dying because the mattress we got was not comfortable at all!  We had a super yummy breakfast with the kids of pancakes and eggs, and then the parents came and got them all.  They were all gone as quick as they came, and yet the mess remained.   I had to work that Saturday so I left the mess and told Jarid I help would clean it when I came home.  TO MY SURPRISE...I came home to a perfectly clean house.  What an amazing husband I have and what an awesome family I married into!  

What a fun night we had!!  

  

It's Pink...like Pepto-Bismol

Ever since we started going to our ward we have told the members where we moved in and their response is, "Oh, the pink house."  I never understood...until we tore out the built in desk in the second bedroom upstairs and found this:

1) Light pink upper walls

AND   2) pattern PINK wall paper on the lower part of the walls with matching pick carpet

We have now discovered what they all meant by the pink house, because from what I have been told the WHOLE house was covered in the pink wall paper, paint, and carpet...one of her grandsons (because it was an older lady who owned the house previously) came in and told his grandma that her house looked like Pepto-Bismol.  I can now see why...

I hate PINK!

Lucky I Am!!

After today and the "awful Trisha mess up" I pulled, I had to do something to express my deepest gratitude for the amazing LUCK I have in my life-his name is Jarid!!!  I can't even begin to explain how I feel about my husband and all he does for me, but I have to try after he saved me today.  I have been swamped with work, school, house stuff, packing, and Young Women's that I simply have NO brain power right now. When I forget things at work my boss, Diana, just tells me "Its okay Trisha I understand."  She is too nice because if I don't do something right away it gets lost in the deepest darkest abyss I call my mind...she has been very helpful and reminding me of things that are important.  Unfortunately, I have slacked a little in my calling, and not kept up on things as I should have...say looking at a calendar of our scheduled events.  My husband, Jarid, and I have been making a video of compiled pictures and videos from the years activities for a big Young Women's and Excellence night where the girls, parents, and the bishopric will be in attendance.  We were working on the project on Saturday, and the computer decided to be a "jack wagon" (Jarid's new favorite word thanks to a funny commercial that will be shown at the end of this post) and crash...we didn't save the MANY changes we had made to the video, and lost a lot of the progress we had made.  We decided to go home and go to bed ,because I thought we had more time...TIME we didn't actually have...I found this out the the next morning when I got up early to catch up on some Young Women's duties.  I was making the November monthly calendar for the girls and realized that we needed the video for THIS Wednesday (3 days from now) and NOT the following Wednesday like I thought...MY BAD!  SO after my hysterical melt down, my amazing husband took action.  He spent all day working on this project missing his usual nap before going onto his night shift, he answered to my every crazed demand, and kept a perfect calm reassuring attitude toward my hysterics and the stress placed on him.  WE finished 98% of the project , and thanks to a wonderful brother in law (Jake Johnson) who is going to tweek the music...it should be 100% done before Wednesday.  We learned one big lesson....SAVE every few minutes or the computer will destroy you!! haha

I know I am lucky because.......

I have an amazing husband who is supportive and willing to do anything to lighten my load even when he has a lot to do himself.
I have an amazing husband who even with an emotionally crazed woman can stay calm and reassuring.   I AM SURE THAT IS HARD TO DO!
I have an amazing husband who will do anything to make me happy, and keep me from feeling stressed, sad, upset, or hurt.
I have an amazing husband who even though I know I can be a little crazy has never put me down or treated me with any kind of disrespect.  He treats me like I am the most important thing in his life.
I have a husband who NEVER fails to express his love for me in his actions or words.

THANKS YOU JARID FOR BEING THAT AMAZING HUSBAND!!

YOU ARE MY BEST FRIEND, and YOU MAKE ME LAUGH EVERYDAY!!!

SURPRISE, WE ARE....

NOT having a baby but we ARE BUYING A HOUSE!!  We have accepted the counter offer and started the process to make it official.  We are super excited, and hope everything goes as smooth as possible.  Its a rambler located in Orem, UT, has 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms.  We are planning on making the bottom level a  basement apartment which will be fairly simple.  Then we are going to rent it out.  I am going to miss American Fork and my ward, but I am super excited for this opportunity.  This is one of the many things that have kept me SUPER BUSY these last few months!!  House shopping is worse than car shopping...geez...   Here are a few pictures:

THIS NEXT ONE IS JARID'S FAVORITE!!!  You can't tell from the pictures but behind the book cases is a secret closet...any secret passage way or room is Jarid's favorite.  

UPDATE

I have always been bad about writing....English papers, journals, new blog entries, letters to missionaries...my name is Trisha Johnson and I am really bad at sitting down and writing anything-procrastination is my middle name when it comes to writing.  I get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, and push anything I can to the sidelines.  I am sure many of you can sympathize.  Finally I have taken the time, after a whole year, to update my blog so here is a little update of our busy life!

Jarid just got a job about a month or two ago working for IM Flash, and he is enjoying his new work.  They can't talk about a lot of their duties but I know he watches a computer that monitors machines.  He does work a night shift so it has been a new challenge to our relationship.  I find myself staying up very late at nights (like tonight) because I am so accustomed to going to bed at the same time.  He usually drags me to bed.  I don't like being home alone, and every noise seems to make things 10x worse.  I am getting used to it.  He is also attending UVU and working on his Associates degree.  This semester he is taking Biology, Ethics and Values, and a Math Class.  Next semester IM Flash will pay for his schooling so he will go full time.  This was one of the main reasons for the switch in jobs, and the night shift will make it easier for him to go to school more.  Jarid is in the scouting program in our ward.  He hasn't had to do a whole lot with it because he is teaching the pre-scouts, I don't remember what they are called.  I never had brothers, haha sorry. Between his work schedule, day time sleeping, and school we tend to miss each other a lot. He is still my constant strength, and is always trying to help me in anyway possible.  I realize, everyday, how lucky I am to have such a wonderful husband!!!!

I on the other hand am pretty much doing the same thing!  I am still working full time at a Dental Office in Orem, and going to school at UVU.  I am actually going to graduate at the end of the semester with my associates degree.  I left the worst two classes for last: English 2010 and Ethics and Values.  Writing classes, need I say more?  I am not sure what the next steps for me are...I used to have my life all figured out (boy was I silly), and since marrying Jarid I have had to become a little more flexible with my five year plan to include his goals as well.  I will probably try to apply to Dental Hygiene programs at UVU and Fortis College.  I have started working on Saturdays teaching at a Dental Assisting School, and I have enjoyed it a lot!!  There is such an incredible feeling when you share your knowledge with someone else.  I am soooo grateful for my mission that helped me develop the skills necessary to receive that feeling, because I would have died before talking to or teaching people before.  I am in the Young Women's presidency in our ward, and I love the Young Women's Program.  We have such wonderful girls in our ward and it has been so good to get to know them.  We have finally been able to start making friends since we were pulled out of the primary.  We are really beginning to love our ward!

We are busy busy people but we still love and care about all our family and friends, and hope to see and hear from you all.

CHRISTmas Choochoo

Jarid and I went on a date Thursday night after school and work.  He took me on one of his many surprise dates...usually I am really good at guessing his plans.  Boy do I know him!  However, he got me on this one.  We went to Lindon, Utah in a residential area to search for the true meaning of Christmas.  In Lindon there is the Polar Express that is put on by a couple families there.  ITS AMAZING and FREE!!  They have a railroad that goes through a few yards with tons of decorations, and an awesome train that everyone gets to sit in.  It was a really good experience.  I am not sure the story behind these people, and how they started this project but it is so inspiring.  When you first get there you check in for the Polar Express, and while you wait for your train you sit in a LARGE heated garage that has the movie playing.  When its your turn you go out to the train....ALL ABOARD!

They first take you through the tradition Christmas on an adventure to the North Pole!  Once you get to the North Pole you get to go into Santa's workshop and meet him.  (Sorry if the video makes you sick)

It was so neat all the work and people who were taking time to do this.  They had little children as elves, and women inside helping Santa.  Then Santa began to tell the real meaning of Christmas- Jesus Christ our Savior.  Then we left got back on the train and they took us through the life of the Savior from his birth on.  They had spiritual music playing, and it truly was an amazing experience.  I loved it!!

This was such a good experience to remember why we are celebrating this Christmas-rejoicing the Savior of the world, and to think of all the things we can do to make an impact on other peoples lives.  These people handed out pass along cards, had donations for organizations, and Christmas signing books for missionaries in the field.  How amazing, and what a great example.  Jarid and I were talking afterwards about how we hope to find, in our own way, how to serve those around us.  

"I wonder how many in Bethlehem knew that right there, close to them, the Savior had been born?  The Son of God, the long-awaited and promised Messiah-He was in their midst!...We who have heard the glorious message of the coming of the Son of God, we who have taken upon us His name and have covenanted to walk in His path as His disciples-we must not fail to open our hearts and minds and truly see Him.  The Christmas season is wonderful in many ways.  It is a season of charitable acts of kindness and brotherly love. It is a season of being more reflective about our own lives and about the many blessings that are ours.  It is a season of forgiving and being forgiven.  It is a season to enjoy the music and lights, parties and presents.  But the glitter of the season should never dim our sight and prevent us from truly seeing the Prince of Peace in His majesty." - President dieter F. Uchtdorf  

Gus Gus came to visit.

Well there I was relaxing after a hard days work with my beautiful wife next to me studying her brains out(literally), and suddenly there came a knock at the door.  Who was it you ask?  Why it was Santa Clause.  Not really.  Trish wanted to find some pictures of a great date that we had a couple weeks ago, and we came to the conclusion that the gremlins had thrown them away.  So she persuaded me to go out to get a few garbage bags, and bring them in so that we could find the missing pictures.  Naturally, I went out and got them.  While looking through the first bag, Trisha's natural way of multi-tasking kicked in (she got bored), and decided to go search through the other garbage bag by herself.  

As quickly as she opened the bag things started falling on the floor.  She decided to look for what had fallen out of the bag and found a great surprise.  Yup, you guessed it, Gus Gus (the mouse) came out of the bag and was hiding in the Christmas lights that were on the floor nearby.  It took her a second to figure out what it was, but when she did boy did I know it.  I swear she jumped across the room onto the counter top in a single bound, and pierced my eardrums with the shreaking.  I looked down in just enough time to see it scamper across the floor, however I did have enough time to pull out my knife and throw it at the beast -or- I might have just kicked it with my shoe.  I didn't catch it before it went under the refrigerator, but with it back there I would have enough time to formulate a plan.  After giving my steel toed boots to Trish, which was the only way I could get her off the counter to help me, we started to pull out the refrigerator.  I was worried when we pulled it out, because I couldn't see Gus Gus until Trish informed me that he was hiding like a coward in the corner afraid to come out and fight like a mouse.  We got a bowl and banged it on the floor a couple times  to get him out of the corner.  Can I just say Gus Gus is a speedy little devil, but I am quicker.

I scared the poop out of him.  Then we took him outside and said our goodbyes as i threw him across the yard into the cold and frigid snow pile.   I am king of my castle!!!!

A turturkeykey!

Jarid and I are big fans of How I Met Your Mother, and in the Thanksgiving show Ted Mosbey makes a turturkeykey, a turkey stuffed inside a turkey.  It was rather funny.  This is our How I Met Your Mother themed Thanksgiving post.  Our thanksgiving was lengend-...wait for it..and I hope you're not lactose intolerant because the second half of that word is DAIRY!

So Jarid and I spent Thanksgiving at his aunt and uncles house in Lehi, UT.  It was a normal Thanksgiving meal....and then....

Jarid's mother got whip cream in the face.  How did this happen you may be asking....Jason and Moo were getting into it with a whip cream bottle.  Jason was holding Moo against the door, and Jarid gave Jason a tip that if he wanted to succeed he would have to immobilize the arms.  Moo got away, but yelled and squirmed a lot.  Then as Jason tried again, Jarid decided (with some encouragement from his wife-me) to help his poor mother.  He took the can of whip cream and sprayed it on top of Jason's head while Jason was holding Moo.  Jason simply took it off his head and put it in Moo's face.  Not the exact plan I had in mind.

SLAPSGIVING!-Jason vs. Mom and he got slapped! 

Ted: Can we maybe scoop stuffing for a while?
Barney: You wanna scoop stuffing on your first day?
[sarcastically makes phone with his hands and holds it to his ear]
Barney: Hello, NFL, can I be quarterback next Sunday?

On our way home we saw a homeless man on the side of the road, and decided to stop and give him our plate of left overs.  This experience really opened our eyes to be grateful for the many blessings we do have, and Jarid and I were overwhelmed with gratitude.  We have been so lucky to find each other, to have a wonderful home, tons of possessions that make or lives comfortable, jobs, school, and family.  I rediscovered how awesomely awesome my life is. Peace out, hombres! 

After a lot of amazing food Jarid and I decided to take a walk instead of the traditional nap, because it is proven that if you walk after a big meal it will help increase your metabolism by 15%.  After we skyped my family in the warmth of Arizona, and we played games.  You can't spell 'game' without 'me', and 'me' has the best game.

Barney: Ted, your problem is all you do is think, think, think. I'm teaching you how to do, do, do. 

Marshall: Doo-doo! 

[laughs] 

Barney: [chuckles] Totally. 

Ted: At least someone appreciates the fact that I am doing and not thinking. 

[pause] 

Ted: And now, I don't think I won't not go to the bathroom. 

Costco Saturdays!

Saturdays are one of my favorite days of the week...go ahead ask me why...because yard sells happen on Saturdays, both my husband and I don't work, and Costco has good samples.  Jarid and I love going to Costco just to get the samples...it's like free lunch...no we don't feel bad because we usually buy a few things every now and then.  Last Saturday we coaxed Jarid's parents to go with us.  They seemed a little hesitant at first, but jumped in full throttle by the end.   Jarid and I even have a system where I will go to one station, he will wait at another, and we will get samples for each other.   Sample hogs can be vicious.  Its a cheap fun date though, try it out sometime.

I may have found the largest bag of chocolate chips I have ever seen!  Those could make a lot of yummy treats!

  

HALLOWEEN

Although I was busy studying a lot, Jarid and I did  manage to carve 8 pumpkins that we got for free from a friend of ours.  I love it when we don't have to pay for things.  It makes me smile!  Anyway we did one pumpkin eating the other, a simple haunted house, a puke pumpkin (with its insides coming out the mouth), three pumpkins that spelled EEK, and one that expressed our love T heart J.  I know cheesy but we ran out of energy,  and ideas.  It took a lot of muscle gutting them all, but it was so much fun!  We ran out of candles and had to use some of our Christmas lights.  After about a week Jarid put some smoke bombs in them, and then blew pumpkins up with one of his best friends Jesse.

Jarid's family also has a tradition to run the American Fork Halloween 5K Fun Run!  I loved this tradition, however I realized how awful I have been about running lately.  I still placed first in our family, but since we've been married we have slacked a little on the exercising.

 I had a time of 33 minutes, Jarid & my mother-in-law Karen timed at 45 minutes.  I think if I would have had a running buddy I would have done much better but I ran by myself, and then waited and cheered as everyone else came in.  Jarid and I are training for next year.  I wan't to get under a ten minute mile which I think is a realistic goal since I did about an eleven minute mile this time.  Afterward we all relaxed at Moo's and Poo's (my in-laws) and had the traditional Taco Soup.

Eternity

Jarid & I were married on June 11, 2010 in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple.  It was like a dream come true to find and have my best friend forever.  

Jarid said, "this day couldn't have gotten here sooner, and I couldn't wait any longer to take my best friend home with me for good. No more taking her back to the Jones's house.  I was just so excited.  This lady is my best friend in the whole world, and I can't see my life amounting to anything without her in it."

What a lovey snuggle he is.

The Beginning!

Jarid and I decided to start a blog, and yes it was probably all my idea. I thought this would be a good way to stay in touch with family and friends.  We don't get to share our experiences with everyone, because we get so very preoccupied with school, work, and life. Jarid and I wanted to start a memory book, and I figured a blog would help start us out. So here comes the journeys and memories of J-rod and T-dawg. (Jarid & Trisha)