Monday, December 28, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Gratitude
I’m not sure if I would call this a form of “PDA,” because in fact it is a public display of affection (thank you Carly for always making sure we’re behaving appropriately in public haha)… but the past 6 months of my life have been too incredible to not share with the world…
I can’t help but feel gratitude for meeting the most amazing person in the world to share the rest of my life with. It’s an incredible phenomenon when each individual in a relationship becomes a better form of themselves when together. That’s when you know it’s meant to be. Recently Becca and I have been through some pretty stressful and tough times… and I know had I been through such trials before I met Becca I would have handled them completely different.
Since being back in the swing of things with full-time school and part-time work for the both of us it’s been tough to squeeze in our usual carefree fun time. But even being by her side while studying like crazy for Nursing and Engineering school helps me fall deeper in love with her each day.
Now most people who know me well know that I love my Utes. On a number of occasions I have been known to throw some pretty big fits when the season doesn’t go my way, as was the case with the Utes this last weekend when the football team lost for the first time in a couple years to the Oregon Ducks. But when the Utes lost this weekend I pouted for a couple minutes, walked over to Becca, got a big hug and kiss from her, and my world was back at peace. Now that’s magical… really. Ask my family, and they’ll agree that it takes a special person to have THAT kind of effect on me.
Moral of the story: I’m more than grateful for Becca in my life, and it’s crazy to think that in less than 3 weeks I will have made the most important decision of my life. Growing up I always imagined there would be some sort of cold feet or doubt or fear or something! But since the beginning, the idea of marrying Becca has never been anything but the best decision I’ve ever made. I love you Bex and can’t wait to start forever with you!!!
-Tay
I can’t help but feel gratitude for meeting the most amazing person in the world to share the rest of my life with. It’s an incredible phenomenon when each individual in a relationship becomes a better form of themselves when together. That’s when you know it’s meant to be. Recently Becca and I have been through some pretty stressful and tough times… and I know had I been through such trials before I met Becca I would have handled them completely different.
Since being back in the swing of things with full-time school and part-time work for the both of us it’s been tough to squeeze in our usual carefree fun time. But even being by her side while studying like crazy for Nursing and Engineering school helps me fall deeper in love with her each day.
Now most people who know me well know that I love my Utes. On a number of occasions I have been known to throw some pretty big fits when the season doesn’t go my way, as was the case with the Utes this last weekend when the football team lost for the first time in a couple years to the Oregon Ducks. But when the Utes lost this weekend I pouted for a couple minutes, walked over to Becca, got a big hug and kiss from her, and my world was back at peace. Now that’s magical… really. Ask my family, and they’ll agree that it takes a special person to have THAT kind of effect on me.
Moral of the story: I’m more than grateful for Becca in my life, and it’s crazy to think that in less than 3 weeks I will have made the most important decision of my life. Growing up I always imagined there would be some sort of cold feet or doubt or fear or something! But since the beginning, the idea of marrying Becca has never been anything but the best decision I’ve ever made. I love you Bex and can’t wait to start forever with you!!!
-Tay
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Promised Update
It's been awhile since I updated the blog!
Things have been going really well! We've sent out our invites and are just finishing up on some last minute details. We're getting so close! We're now at 24 days! I can't believe it!
Both Taylor and I have started up school. It's a busy and crazy time! We now spend a majority of our nights studying together. It's a good thing we're both in school cause I don't think I'd be able to focus on homework let alone have the desire to do any! I've also begun clinicals this week. It's been a great experience so far. I have learned so much, walked many miles (literally), and gained a lot of experience. I have also had sleep deficit.
I've had fun the last couple of weekends with bridal showers. It's fun to get together with close friends, family, and those you love to celebrate such a fun/happy time! Thanks to all those who came and for the lovely gifts!
My dress is coming along! I have bridals next Wednesday (a week from today). The bottom half of my dress has been attached.. It is so beautiful! I love it... My seamstress has been hard at work going off of a picture I showed her. She's amazing! No pattern or anything!
University of Utah Football has also started! Taylor and I went to our first game 2 weeks ago... it was so much fun! It was fun to watch Taylor because he has so much passion for the game and it's good to get away from school work during those times. I'm glad he bought me season tickets for my birthday so I don't have to miss out when we're married! I would be sad if I got left home alone! We have great seats, too. We're in the 38th section (pretty close to the 50 yard line) in the 14th row.. we're in the MUSS!!! It's great to be in the student section where we're all singing and cheering during the game. It's a workout! Taylor tells me it's bad karma to sit during a game except between quarters and at half time. I listened. :)
One last thing.. I would just like to thank my future in-laws and my current family for all the support they have given Taylor and I. While I'm sad in a way to be losing my Spear name I'm so super excited to be a part of the Duncan clan. Love you guys so much!
[pictures to be added soon] xoxo
Things have been going really well! We've sent out our invites and are just finishing up on some last minute details. We're getting so close! We're now at 24 days! I can't believe it!
Both Taylor and I have started up school. It's a busy and crazy time! We now spend a majority of our nights studying together. It's a good thing we're both in school cause I don't think I'd be able to focus on homework let alone have the desire to do any! I've also begun clinicals this week. It's been a great experience so far. I have learned so much, walked many miles (literally), and gained a lot of experience. I have also had sleep deficit.
I've had fun the last couple of weekends with bridal showers. It's fun to get together with close friends, family, and those you love to celebrate such a fun/happy time! Thanks to all those who came and for the lovely gifts!
My dress is coming along! I have bridals next Wednesday (a week from today). The bottom half of my dress has been attached.. It is so beautiful! I love it... My seamstress has been hard at work going off of a picture I showed her. She's amazing! No pattern or anything!
University of Utah Football has also started! Taylor and I went to our first game 2 weeks ago... it was so much fun! It was fun to watch Taylor because he has so much passion for the game and it's good to get away from school work during those times. I'm glad he bought me season tickets for my birthday so I don't have to miss out when we're married! I would be sad if I got left home alone! We have great seats, too. We're in the 38th section (pretty close to the 50 yard line) in the 14th row.. we're in the MUSS!!! It's great to be in the student section where we're all singing and cheering during the game. It's a workout! Taylor tells me it's bad karma to sit during a game except between quarters and at half time. I listened. :)
One last thing.. I would just like to thank my future in-laws and my current family for all the support they have given Taylor and I. While I'm sad in a way to be losing my Spear name I'm so super excited to be a part of the Duncan clan. Love you guys so much!
[pictures to be added soon] xoxo
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Updates soon!!
Sorry no recent updates have been made! I'm getting all my pictures together and promise to post soon! Now that school has started, life has just gotten a little busier and crazier!
Loves xoxo
Loves xoxo
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
She is Love
Have you ever found a song that you seriously
just can't get enough of, but you know that
everyone around you is just sick and tired of it?
She is Love - Parachute. I am in love with this
song... but mostly with the girl who makes it so
applicable to my life...
I've been beaten down,
I've been kicked around,
But she takes it all for me.
And I lost my faith,
In my darkest days,
But she makes me want to believe.
They call her love, love, love, love, love.
They call her love, love, love, love, love.
She's all I need.
Well I had my ways,
They were all in vain,
And she waited patiently.
It was all the same,
All my pride and shame,
And she put me on my feet.
They call her love, love, love, love, love.
They call her love, love, love, love, love.
They call her love, love, love, love, love.
She is love, and she is all I need.
And when that world slows down, dear,
And when those stars burn out, here,
Oh she'll be there.
Yes she'll be there.
They call her love, love, love, love, love.
They call her love, love, love, love, love.
They call her love, love, love, love, love.
They call her love, love, love, love, love.
She is love, and she is all I need.
She is love, and she is all I need.
She is love, and she is all I need.
She's all I need.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
What we've been up to...
Since the engagement, life has seriously been a whirlwind. It feels like each day drags
on but in retrospect, I can't believe we've been engaged for close to a month!
We spent July 3rd with the Duncan side of the family... It was such a fun day! We went boating at Utah Lake and I attempted (and eventually succeeded!!) at getting up on a slolum (sp?) ski! The weather was perfect and it was fun to hang with the fam! Even baby Kyson (2 mo) came along on the boat! Talia (almost 2) was adorable and loved splashing around in the water and holding the flag while everyone was skiing. It was neat to finally see Taylor able to ski. I didn't get to see it in Lake Powell cause of an injury he had but he was so impressive and got some good rooster tails! 
on but in retrospect, I can't believe we've been engaged for close to a month!
We spent July 3rd with the Duncan side of the family... It was such a fun day! We went boating at Utah Lake and I attempted (and eventually succeeded!!) at getting up on a slolum (sp?) ski! The weather was perfect and it was fun to hang with the fam! Even baby Kyson (2 mo) came along on the boat! Talia (almost 2) was adorable and loved splashing around in the water and holding the flag while everyone was skiing. It was neat to finally see Taylor able to ski. I didn't get to see it in Lake Powell cause of an injury he had but he was so impressive and got some good rooster tails! That night we had dinner together as a f
amily and then did some fireworks of our own. Talia played with her "spawklers" and had the cutest reaction when they told her she could hold one all by herself! We then went and bought some fireworks of our own and put a little show on in the neighborhood. They were nothing big, but it was still a fun way to celebrate!
A couple of weeks ago, Taylor surprised me with tickets to The Fray concert. Jacques Mannequin performed as well as a band called Miece. They were nothing short of AMAZING! It was a perfect night.. still in the 90s (silly Utah weather!) but bearable enough to throw our blanket down for a great concert! The coolest part was when he did a cover for Kanye West's
"Heartless" in an acoustic version. We also had fun hanging with the newly-weds Mike and Alyssa Nelson and our engagement buddies Matt Latimer and Christine Garcia (they got engaged the same day as we did!)
amily and then did some fireworks of our own. Talia played with her "spawklers" and had the cutest reaction when they told her she could hold one all by herself! We then went and bought some fireworks of our own and put a little show on in the neighborhood. They were nothing big, but it was still a fun way to celebrate!A couple of weeks ago, Taylor surprised me with tickets to The Fray concert. Jacques Mannequin performed as well as a band called Miece. They were nothing short of AMAZING! It was a perfect night.. still in the 90s (silly Utah weather!) but bearable enough to throw our blanket down for a great concert! The coolest part was when he did a cover for Kanye West's
"Heartless" in an acoustic version. We also had fun hanging with the newly-weds Mike and Alyssa Nelson and our engagement buddies Matt Latimer and Christine Garcia (they got engaged the same day as we did!) 
For Pioneer Day weekend we went up to Grandpa Bailey's cabin (Taylor's Grandpa). We had fun horseback riding, ATVing, hiking, and hanging out with the family! At one point, Taylor and I 
were riding Bucks and Beau and my horse took off in a dead run through the forest in an effort to find Taylor's horse... apparently, their inseparable... but it scared me half to death! Luckily, I didn't fall off! Taylor then took me up Gardner's Peak on an ATV ride. The whole way up was extremely rocky, but when we got to the top there was a beautiful field full of wildflowers and it looked out over the valley.. It was gorgeous! These are pictures of Talia and Sadie my future nieces up at the cabin.. They are so cute!
were riding Bucks and Beau and my horse took off in a dead run through the forest in an effort to find Taylor's horse... apparently, their inseparable... but it scared me half to death! Luckily, I didn't fall off! Taylor then took me up Gardner's Peak on an ATV ride. The whole way up was extremely rocky, but when we got to the top there was a beautiful field full of wildflowers and it looked out over the valley.. It was gorgeous! These are pictures of Talia and Sadie my future nieces up at the cabin.. They are so cute!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
The story... Becca's Side
Since Taylor wrote about his side of the story, I figured maybe I should give my side!
To start out, I NEVER in a million years imagined the summer of 2009 turning out the way it has. I, in fact, stated out loud to my best friend that in order to get married, it would have to be this summer or never (for the next two years), thus, implying a miracle. Given the fact that I was in nursing school, I had no time to focus on serious dating relationships because school would consume all of my time and emotions. There was also another problem.. I wasn't dating anyone that I thought could have been a marriage prospect... so I for sure thought it was game over for the next two years... Oh, was I in for a HUGE surprise.
A couple of weeks before Taylor and I met, I went on a photoshoot with Michael Mangum http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Murray-UT/Michael-Mangum-Photography/78241016345?ref=ts. He decided to take me out on one of his first human-subject shoots to test his portrait taking skills. Well, needless to say, he did an amazing job. He posted a couple of pictures on his facebook album. Including this picture:
This picture is where it all began. Taylor commented on this picture saying something along the lines of, "So, Mike... when are you introducing me to Becca... haha" Harmless comment, right? I took it as a compliment from a really cute guy (from what I could see of his profile picture) and that was it.
About an hour later, I got a text from Mike saying "Hey, so did you see that comment from that guy under your picture? What do you think of going out with him?" Well, from what I could see of him I thought he was way cute, so I figured why not? Well, Mike set this whole thing up for a date. A couple of days before, Taylor and I started messaging and getting to know a little bit about each other. This was the first picture I ever saw of Taylor... cute, right?
Fast forward to date night... I have NEVER been that nervous for a date... EVER. I was a jittery mess. I tried on about 80 outfits and couldn't decide on anything. I was running around like a crazy woman. I was painting my toenails and knocked the bottle over... ALL OVER my floor, desk, and area rug. I remember thinking, WHAT is wrong with me? I was hoping to gather some semblance before I actually had to see this guy face to face.
When the doorbell rang, I walked upstairs and could see his face through the window in the door. I couldn't even believe my eyes. It was literally like a dream. He had this incredible smile when I opened the door. I invited him in and went downstairs to get my jacket. "Don't screw up" I remember thinking. We hit it off instantly and went to dinner at Cafe Rio. We probably talked in there for like 2 hours sharing funny stories and realizing we had a lot of commonalities. He could sing! This surprised me most out of anything. I was completely impressed. It kind of started to rain.. He asked me if I minded getting my hair wet. Truthfully, I didn't. I figured if this guy really wanted to like me, he would like me with my hair wet, too. What the heck? So he took me to the base of Ensign peak. It was a muddy hike and as we got to the top it started sprinkling heavier. Regardless, we sat up there for probably another hour and a half and talked overlooking the lights of Salt Lake City. Romantic? Yes. However, I was such a nervous wreck I couldn't even remember what my favorite movie was. I was pretty sure he thought I was an idiot.
We went to his house and played Candy Land. He was giving me what he refers to as "The Candy Land test". A test? On the first date? I was just hoping that whatever this test was, I was passing. Apparently all the test was testing was whether I could make a silly childhood game fun. His mother came downstairs and the first thing she said was.. Oh, she'll pass.
When I got home that night I laid in bed for an hour fretting about how the date went, wondering if he liked me, if he thought I was an idiot, if he would ever ask me out again, if his mom liked me... blah blah blah. I was a nervous wreck but smitten and twitterpated. Obviously, we went on another date, and another, and another.. It didn't take long for us to openly admit we really liked each other and not too much longer to say we loved each other.
It has been an amazing journey. I never thought I would say I could be grateful for Facebook, but I am as silly as it sounds. It ended my 2 year bout of dating mystery and has landed me someone incredible.
I am so excited for our ventures through life, marriage, kids, etc. These will all begin on October 10, 2009 in the Salt Lake Temple! Until then, it's planning like mad and getting ready for the next school year.
I got my miracle...
Suddenly life means so much :)
Monday, July 13, 2009
The story... from Tay's side
Awhile back I decided to start my own blog about my lovely college days with all the fun details to go with it. College then left me with no time to blog. Instead the blog became an out for my dating frustrations, which at the time seemed legitimate, but are now so funny to look back on. Don't get me wrong, dancing with your girlfriends still makes you look like an idiot, but I am so grateful for the events this summer that have changed my life.
As an introduction, University of Utah sports had become my life. To follow the 13-0 football team to a Sugar Bowl defeat and to watch the basketball team's dominance to a Mountain West Conference Championship, I THOUGHT had made my life complete. I had given up on females and their stupid games and decided that sports could give back 10 times more than any girlfriend could. Girls were ridiculous and my walls were built high.
Near the first of April I was sitting at work one day doing my Facebook thang. (I wouldn't call myself an "Fbook Stalker" but I got pretty professional with the etiquette.) I was checking out a photo album of my buddies', who just happens to be a photographer, when I happened upon some pics of some beautiful girls. That was the first time my eyes fell upon one Becca Spear. Now I wish that this happened some other way than through Facebook, maybe so that telling the story doesn't have to make me seem like such a creeper. You have to hear me out on this one, I am not one to find my next date on Facebook, but this time around I had to at least give it a try. I did the logical thing and commented on my favorite picture of her, making sure she was tagged so that both Mike and Becca would get the notification. "So when are you introducing me to Becca... haha." Notice the laughing gesture.
I truthfully never expected anything to come of it. Like I said before, sports meant much more to me than any girl... and gross weirdos comment on girls' pictures all the time right? And all I really did was suggest a compliment that I quite possibly was attracted enough to this girl that I might consider wanting to meet her and take her out. Harmless, right? Almost 30 minutes later I received a text from Mike with the words, "So you really wanna meet her? She's down."
On April 24th, 2009 Becca and I went on a date. She opened the front door and I almost ran out of air. I decided that no matter the outcome, at least I'd have a night to stare across the table at someone or something so gorgeous. We went to Cafe Rio, took a hike up Ensign Peak, then played a rousing game of Candyland. I couldn't get to know enough about this girl... I wanted to know everything. Usually first dates stressed me out, trying to make a great impression instead of being myself. I mean, setups were the absolute worst way to go to enjoy my weekend off from school. But the stars aligned and we hit it off. Thanks to my buddy Mike, a date 2 was in order since he sent me a copy of the Facebook chat conversation they had about how much she wanted me to ask her out again.
Almost 3 months later, without any type of stupid games or nonsense involved along the way, last week Becca accepted my proposal to marry her in the Salt Lake Temple on October 10th, 2009. She has destroyed any type of wall or barrier that I once had, and has made me happier than any other time in my entire life. We are all meant to go through crap in order to distinguish the crap from the happiness... Rascal Flatts explains it better than I ever could below. But I am so grateful that the Lord has blessed me with such an incredible girl to walk side by side with me through life. The adventures will continue, but now I'll have the love of my life to experience them with. "Suddenly life seems so much." :)
-Taylor
We're engaged!
It's been forever since I last posted.. time to update you all!
This blog is now being dubbed Taylor & Becca Duncan... You read right... That means we're getting married!! October 10, 2009 is our chosen date. We'll be getting married in the Salt Lake Temple!
This blog is now being dubbed Taylor & Becca Duncan... You read right... That means we're getting married!! October 10, 2009 is our chosen date. We'll be getting married in the Salt Lake Temple!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Power of Prayer
I was reading my Aunt's blog when I came across this story. The power and blessings of prayer have really been on my mind a lot lately. This story seemed to perfectly describe what I've been feeling.
This story was written by a doctor who worked in Central Africa .
One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died, leaving us with a tiny, premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive; as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator). We also had no special feeding facilities.
Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in. Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates).'And it is our last hot water bottle!' she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.
'All right,' I said, 'put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm.'
The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.
During prayer time, one ten-year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. 'Please, God' she prayed, 'Send us a hot water bottle today. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon.'While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, 'And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?'As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say 'Amen'? I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything; the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever, received a parcel from home Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator!
Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there on the porch was a large 22-pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly... excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box.From the top, I lifted out brightly-colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend.Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the...could it really be?I grasped it and pulled it out. Yes, a brand new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could.Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, 'If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!'Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully-dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted! Looking up at me, she asked, 'Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?'' Of course,' I replied!
That parcel had been on the way for five whole months, packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it 'that afternoon'.
This story was written by a doctor who worked in Central Africa .
One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died, leaving us with a tiny, premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive; as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator). We also had no special feeding facilities.
Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in. Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates).'And it is our last hot water bottle!' she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.
'All right,' I said, 'put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm.'
The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.
During prayer time, one ten-year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. 'Please, God' she prayed, 'Send us a hot water bottle today. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon.'While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, 'And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?'As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say 'Amen'? I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything; the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever, received a parcel from home Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator!
Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there on the porch was a large 22-pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly... excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box.From the top, I lifted out brightly-colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend.Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the...could it really be?I grasped it and pulled it out. Yes, a brand new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could.Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, 'If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!'Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully-dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted! Looking up at me, she asked, 'Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?'' Of course,' I replied!
That parcel had been on the way for five whole months, packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it 'that afternoon'.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
The happenings of 2009 til June
So, I created my blog last November because I was an avid follower of the blog "Seriously So Blessed" plus I thought it would be cool to have my own online journal. Well, it's now June of 2009 and I haven't made one post... not ONE!
Here's my first official post of the Gab - Fest blog.
I'm in nursing school at Westminster College... it has proven pretty difficult, but I enjoy the challenge. I will be starting my second semester in a couple of months. Luckily, as the semesters move on, we are getting more and depth and more specific to the departments of the hospital. For instance... This fall I will be studying Geriatrics [the elderly population] and the traditional
Med/Surge nursing. So STRESSFUL, but lots of fun and worth it in the long run :)
Also, some other exciting news... My parents have bought a house! We used to be living with my Mom's parents.
They haven't been doing well over the last year so we were staying with them and also waiting for the inflated housing market of Utah to settle down. Finally.. an answer to our prayers! They found a cute Spanish Colonial bungalow on Yale Ave right around the corner from our current location. The house really is darling and will only need a couple renovations [another plus!].
Summer, so far, has been filled with lots of fun. I got to go to Colorado to see my new cousin Jacob Paul Spear be blessed. Being able to see family and catch up was a good way
to kick off the summer... It's so fun to have a new baby in the family! Congrats to Paul & Mary! :) I also had the opportunity to go to Chicago with Jena and see the big city.. I had kind of forgotten the city life so it was fun to see all the sites and be at least [a little] closer to the east. Finally, at the beginning of June, I got to go to Lake Powell with the Duncan family! It was my first time ever in Lake Powell.. I think I can now consider myself a true Utahn... Okay, maybe not. BUT I learned how to water ski and wakeboard! I also overcame my fear of cliff jumping and took a jump off of a [20 foot] cliff! The weather was pretty decent, but we did have one bad day where there were 60 mph gusts [!]. 
A boat even capsized in the middle of the lake. We stayed over by cookie jar and got to tour some Canyons [East and Face, I think]. The boys got to do some bass fishing and the family had fun doing some crazy tubing! It was really cute to watch Austin, Taylor's 4 yo nephew learn how to water ski.. I was jealous! He even went knee-boarding.. what a good sport!
As a result of the above paragraph, I will probably not be taking any more extended vacations from work. I pretty much crammed all my summer fun into those 3 vacays! Definitely worth it, though! Now, it's just working and online schooling for me! I'm hoping to teach myself a piano piece to perform in church, too... Fantasy in D minor by Mozart. Anddd waiting to hear back from Primary Children's hospital.. I'm trying to set up a gig where I can go volu
nteer in the Emergency Department there.. Pretty exciting. Oh, and last but DEFINITELY not least.. I'm really happy to spend the rest of the summer with Tay! :)
3 days til I'm 20!!
Here's my first official post of the Gab - Fest blog.
I'm in nursing school at Westminster College... it has proven pretty difficult, but I enjoy the challenge. I will be starting my second semester in a couple of months. Luckily, as the semesters move on, we are getting more and depth and more specific to the departments of the hospital. For instance... This fall I will be studying Geriatrics [the elderly population] and the traditional
Med/Surge nursing. So STRESSFUL, but lots of fun and worth it in the long run :)Also, some other exciting news... My parents have bought a house! We used to be living with my Mom's parents.
They haven't been doing well over the last year so we were staying with them and also waiting for the inflated housing market of Utah to settle down. Finally.. an answer to our prayers! They found a cute Spanish Colonial bungalow on Yale Ave right around the corner from our current location. The house really is darling and will only need a couple renovations [another plus!]. Summer, so far, has been filled with lots of fun. I got to go to Colorado to see my new cousin Jacob Paul Spear be blessed. Being able to see family and catch up was a good way
to kick off the summer... It's so fun to have a new baby in the family! Congrats to Paul & Mary! :) I also had the opportunity to go to Chicago with Jena and see the big city.. I had kind of forgotten the city life so it was fun to see all the sites and be at least [a little] closer to the east. Finally, at the beginning of June, I got to go to Lake Powell with the Duncan family! It was my first time ever in Lake Powell.. I think I can now consider myself a true Utahn... Okay, maybe not. BUT I learned how to water ski and wakeboard! I also overcame my fear of cliff jumping and took a jump off of a [20 foot] cliff! The weather was pretty decent, but we did have one bad day where there were 60 mph gusts [!]. 
A boat even capsized in the middle of the lake. We stayed over by cookie jar and got to tour some Canyons [East and Face, I think]. The boys got to do some bass fishing and the family had fun doing some crazy tubing! It was really cute to watch Austin, Taylor's 4 yo nephew learn how to water ski.. I was jealous! He even went knee-boarding.. what a good sport! 
As a result of the above paragraph, I will probably not be taking any more extended vacations from work. I pretty much crammed all my summer fun into those 3 vacays! Definitely worth it, though! Now, it's just working and online schooling for me! I'm hoping to teach myself a piano piece to perform in church, too... Fantasy in D minor by Mozart. Anddd waiting to hear back from Primary Children's hospital.. I'm trying to set up a gig where I can go volu
nteer in the Emergency Department there.. Pretty exciting. Oh, and last but DEFINITELY not least.. I'm really happy to spend the rest of the summer with Tay! :)3 days til I'm 20!!
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