Bundling and Baking

My favorite parts of winter is the celebration in the air, the Christmas baking, the outpouring of love, and the bundling up with the man who has my heart. 

Christmas treats, ready for delivery and devouring!

Flavored almonds, mint fudge, cranberry white chocolate chip cookies, 

homemade chocolate turtles,

and thin mints!

Drool!

Couple Shoot

Snider Studios did a fantastic job capturing our relationship! 

Young love

Oh gosh, I LOVE MY HUBBY! We may not be perfect, but he sure is perfect for me. :) It makes me giddy to think of all the adventures waiting ahead. He's full of facial expressions and laughs. He's thoughtful and caring. He loves me enough to humor me in all my silly endeavors. He cooks and he cleans for me when I'm having a rough day. He still holds my hand when we drive in the car. And that doesn't even scratch the surface! But, he's a pretty great person!

Date night: Wicked edition

Date night again--yay! 

Before we hit up our "main event" for the evening we found a little sandwich shop off the beaten path. It was filled with airplane paraphernalia and awesome flight photos of a certain individual. We've not confirmed it, but it looked like the owner of the little sandwich shop in his "earlier years"--pretty awesome! And then there was the food! Mercy! It was delish! I love discovering little restaurants!

Then on to the main event! 

A little over six months I was OVERJOYED to hear that the Broadway musical, Wicked, was coming to Boise. Immediately, my husband purchased them for me and I've waited excitedly ever since. Til last night! And BOY were they good seats! 😃 I had seen the musical and know the music by heart, but had never seen it live (let alone within the first five rows!). 

I'm so excited to see it again. :) 

And as though date night wasn't already fun enough!!

Good Things to Come

"Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don’t come until heaven. But for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ,they come. It will be all right in the end."

"Every one of us has times when we need to know things will get better. My declaration is that that is precisely what the gospel of Jesus Christ offers us, especially in times of need.

"Thirty years ago last month, a little family set out to cross the United States, every earthly possession they owned packed into the smallest trailer available. No money, an old car, they drove exactly 34 miles up the highway, at which point their beleaguered car erupted.

"The young father surveyed the steam, matched it with his own, then left his trusting wife and two innocent children—the youngest just three months old—to wait in the car while he walked the three miles or so to the southern Utah metropolis of Kanarraville, population then, I suppose, 65. Some water was secured at the edge of town, and a very kind citizen offered to drive back to the stranded family. The car was attended to and slowly—very slowly—driven back to St. George for inspection.

"After more than two hours of checking and rechecking, no immediate problem could be detected, so once again the journey was begun. In exactly the same amount of elapsed time at exactly the same location on that highway with exactly the same pyrotechnics from under that hood, the car exploded again. Now feeling more foolish than angry, the chagrined young father once more left his trusting loved ones and started the long walk for help once again. This time the man providing the water said, “Either you or that fellow who looks just like you ought to get a new radiator for that car.” He didn't know whether to laugh or to cry at the plight of this young family.

“How far have you come?” he said. “Thirty-four miles,” I answered. “How much farther do you have to go?” “Twenty-six hundred miles,” I said. “Well, you might make that trip, and your wife and those two little kiddies might make that trip, but none of you are going to make that trip in that car.” He proved to be prophetic on all counts.

"Just two weeks ago, I drove by that exact spot. For just an instant I thought perhaps I saw on that side road an old car with a devoted young wife and two little children. Just ahead of them I imagined that I saw a young fellow walking toward Kanarraville, the weight of a young father’s fear evident in his pace.

"In that imaginary instant, I couldn't help calling out to him: “Don’t you quit. You keep walking. You keep trying. There is help and happiness ahead.” Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don’t come until heaven. But for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ,they come. It will be all right in the end. Trust God and believe in good things to come."

LDS Mormon Messages, 

Jeffrey R. Holland

Tamales on Thursday

With all the kids on spring break a few of us decided to get together and make authentic tamales! (Thanks to a wonderful friend who grew up making authentic tamales with her mother!) No worries! I took extra detailed notes. ;)

 (My gorgeous creation) Yum!

Anniversary!

 

Wow! Two years already! It feels just like yesterday.  

As an early anniversary celebration we headed into Boise for a fun dinner date! We hit up P.F. Chang’s for some delicious food. 

After we got married, we stayed in Boise’s Anniversary Inn. Ever since, it’s been a tradition. A nice little getaway from everyday life.   (The hubby loves their complimentary pens and insists that they’re the best around…so, of course we couldn’t leave without another one!)

The next morning Cody was kind enough to take me to Janjou Pâtisserie, one of those “hidden treasures” in your own town. You know the kind, right? Well, Janjou Pâtisserie is a little French Pastry Shop right in the nooks of downtown Boise. OH MYGOSH. To DIE for. I got some perfect, handmade macaroons, and they were incredible! So flawless and delicious. We also got a delicious pastry called a Grenobleoise. It had a delicious almond butter crust with a PERFECTLY SMOOTH and delicious caramel and a gorgeous chocolate Ganache. It was not only delectable but it was pure art. YUM!

Beautiful Heartbreak

What a beautiful message and music...

Beautiful Hearbreak

by Hilary Weeks

I had it all mapped out in front of me, 

Knew just where I wanted to go; 

But life decided to change my plans, 

And I found a mountain in the middle of my road. 

I knew there was no way over it, 

So I searched for a way around; 

Brokenhearted I started climbin', 

And at the top I found... 

Every fear, every doubt, 

All the pain I went through; 

Was the price that I paid to see this view; 

And now that I'm here I would never trade... 

The grace that I feel, 

And the faith that I find; 

Through the bitter-sweet tears, 

And the sleepless nights; 

I used to pray he'd take it all away, 

But instead it became a beautiful heartbreak. 

I never dreamed my heart would make it, 

I thought about turning around; 

But heaven has shown me miracles, 

I never would have seen from the ground. 

Now I take the rain with the sunshine, 

Cause there's one thing that I know; 

He picks up the pieces, 

Along each broken road. 

Every fear, every doubt, 

All the pain I went through; 

Was the price that I paid to see this view; 

And now that I'm here I would never trade... 

The grace that I feel, 

And the faith that I find; 

Through the bitter-sweet tears, 

And the sleepless nights. 

I used to pray he'd take it all away, 

But instead it became a beautiful heartbreak. 

I would never trade... 

The grace that I feel, 

And the faith that I find; 

Through the bitter-sweet tears, 

And the sleepless nights. 

I used to pray he'd take it all away, 

But instead it became a beautiful heartbreak.

Imaginings on trials

I’m not sure where it started. Or when I first imagined this scenario…BUT, a reminder that it is ENTIRELY my imaginings and personal thoughts...

My Heavenly Father is very real. And the relationship between him and his children is a very real relationship. Being a perfect being, he must be a perfect father. In perfect father-child relationships fathers sometimes sit with their children and have personal, unguarded conversations. Especially prior to huge, pertinent, life-changing events.
I’ve always imagined that before we came to earth we sat down with our Heavenly Father and talked about what kinds of things we would experience. What we wanted to accomplish maybe. Possibly things we wanted to learn. What OUR hopes were for this earthly experience. Maybe a pep talk and words of encouragement before we left. Of course, being our all-knowing father, he knew what we would experience and the choices we would make. He knew what the earthly experience held in store and also the trials that we would experience.

Everything I’ve learned about trials has taught me that trials are necessary to teach us and stretch us to be better and more than we already are. Without trials during our earthly experience we COULD NOT return to live with our Father in heaven—we wouldn’t have the growth and experience that we needed.

(Now, back to the imaginings…) 
I imagine that while I was sitting with my Heavenly Father he told me what to expect. How hard it would be. Some of the trials I would experience. After all, once I came to earth I wouldn’t remember those things anyway. But, having choice and accountability, I believe, to some extent, that I had the option to choose whether or not I would experience the trials that I do. I imagine that after he asked me about my hopes for my “new life” and my expectations of coming to earth he explained to me how necessary my trials would be—how they were important and what I needed in order to prepare me for exaltation. But I imagine a Heavenly Father that then proceeded to ask ME what trials I thought I needed, what I was WILLING to go through.
Now, think about that….what trials do you think you need? What trials would you be WILLING to go through?
Well…knowing myself…I would think about it for a minute..but I also know that my Father knows so much more than I do—that he ultimately knew what I needed. He had answers that I didn’t have, even at that point in time. I could request small, painless trials but I knew, even then, that small trials would not make me grow if they weren’t enough to hurt. I would turn to him and quietly ask, “Well…what do you suggest? What do YOU think I need in order to grow the most?” And at that point, I imagine he smiled with tears in his eyes (because even then I was passing a test..) and told me of the trials that he felt would help me grow the most.  And I knew they would hurt, but I knew that HE knew what I needed. He told me of the trials I’m going through now. The ones I’ve overcome. The ones I have yet to discover. But that it would be OKAY. That the blessings that would come from such pain and heartache would make it all worth it. And I imagine after telling me this he asked if I was ready. If I was willing to accept those trials in this earthly life. And I said yes.
And even though these are just ideas from my own imagination, they hold bits of truth that we know (from church doctrine and leaders) is true. Truth that our father KNEW what trials we would experience. Truth that we always have some sort of choice because He has given us choice and accountability. That he is a PERFECT father. That he loves us entirely.  That I CHOSE to come to this earth and face trials that my Heavenly Father knew would make me grow the most. And I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but that if I push through my trials I will reach the blessings that will make it ALL WORTH IT. And knowing those truths make it easier to push just one more day through  my trials with a ray of hope.


"When... difficult days (and nights!) come--and they will--it will help us to remember that 'it must needs be,' that in the grand councils of heaven before the world was, we agreed to such a time of challenge and refinement."

-Jeffrey R Holland, For Times of Trouble

Saving for a rainy day

Couponing is one of my favorite things. It's just a huge game to me! It gives me the ability to find these deals for fun things that we normally wouldn't be able to afford but can afford because they're a little bit cheaper. Or free items! That's my favorite! And because of it, we've been able to build up a small food storage. Maybe that's part of the reason I enjoy it so much. It allows me to do things (decorate my home, keep a small food storage, start a small savings, create special memories, etc) that I normally wouldn't be able to afford to do because of my small budget. But when I coupon I can afford to do some of those things. With the money that I save I can store it away for a rainy day, use it towards gifts for birthdays/weddings/Christmas/etc, or use it to do other fun things. For me, it makes it all worth it when we run out of a tube of toothpaste and I can walk into the pantry and pull out a brand new tube of toothpaste and there's no stress, nothing urgent, it's just so...pleasant! Or when we're sitting at a concert/movie/show and know that it's okay, we can afford it, because we got within our budget. And when financial situations come up and money is a little tighter, knowing that we will have food on our table and hygiene items in our bathroom just gives me one less thing to worry about! 

This was tonight’s shopping trip!

SPENT: $3.17

SAVED: $14.21 

WIN!!!  

Moral of the story

You know those opportunities you get once every blue moon that scare the daylights out of you and make you feel inadequate, but build you up even higher in the end? And that is EXACTLY what it was.

It was a Thursday afternoon that I got the phone call asking if I would play the organ for a special women's fireside with Janice Kapp Perry.
(If this name is unfamiliar, Janice Kapp Perry is one of the largest, most familiar names in LDS music. WOAH!)

Keep in mind, the organ is a foreign instrument to me. It has so many buttons, keys, and pedals that I don't even understand! I've been the ward organist (in different wards) for the last 5 years. However, all of it has been "learning on the job". A.K.A, I only know what I've figured out on the "job"!

Long story short, I played a TON of prelude. Before the fireside, Brother and Sister Perry came to set up their electronics they were using during their presentations. They forgot a specific recording and so Sister Perry asked me to accompany her on one of her songs she was going to sing! (Eeek!! :D )

But playing for a musical genius that's composed SO many beautiful, inspiring songs, on an instrument that you feel unqualified to be playing is nothing short of intimidating and discouraging. But it was wonderful! After the meeting, Sister Janice Kapp Perry came over and gave me a loving pat on the back and told me that it was wonderful. That she was thoroughly impressed and that I had played the organ so well.

Moral of the story: Sometimes an opportunity will come along, whether you feel ready or not. AND if you have done all you can do, and learned all you could learn, those opportunities will be building and spectacular. I learned that you don't have to be perfect. If you want to be better, be better on your own. Do it yourself. No one else HAS to walk you through it (though it's certainly helpful sometimes). Start with what you do know and add on to it. And you will be surprised just how far you will get.

And it took a marvelous, beautiful stranger to overlook the mistakes and imperfections to help me realize that it's OK to be proud of just how far I've made it so far!

Another year wiser

Another year came and went. But it didn't leave without some fun celebration! We had a fondue evening with cheese fondue, hot oil fondue, and a tomato sauce fondue. Yum! Even Skyler bear got in on the action. 

Even "handsome" Rio got a birthday hat! (He looks anything but thrilled, doesn't he? Haha...)

My dad ordered some special cupcakes for my birthday. All of which were ADORABLE! And delicious!

And last but not least, my hubby bought me a pair of flats that I absolutely fell in love with! I love the style and the color as well as their simplicity. :) They are so me!

In a nutshell…

Hello world! Time certainly moves fast when you’re having fun!
Elder Skyler Rigby is still in Italy and is working hard to further the Lord’s work. You can visit his blog at www.elderskylerrigby.blogspot.com to see all that he’s been up to!
A lot happened with the coming of the new year. Cody started a new job working at MyBullFrog.com (a premium Verizon Wireless retailer). He enjoys his job and working sales. I always joke that because he LOVES to talk, the job fits him PERFECTLY. No, but really, sales is his thing!
With the start of a new year, we also sold Bounce. Since then I’ve been tending the house, trying to serve better, and trying to put more energy and thought into my church callings. 
It’s certainly been an adventure!