Patience

"Be Patient with yourself... Perfection comes not in this life, but in the next. Don't demand things that are unreasonable, but demand of yourself improvement."

The other night I had work and Jenny stayed home working on homework and other things around the house. When I got home she said that she had gone over to our neighbor's house, Thomas and Kayla's, for Family Home Evening. She said they had watched a Mormon Message video titled "Men's Hearts Shall Fail Them". When I got home from work (yes I work a ton it seems like) this evening I had the chance to sit down and watch it. For those of you who haven't watched it yet, watch it here:



This video could not have come at a more appropriate time in my life. Tonight on my break Jenny and I were texting back and forth about our lives and how we need to keep on being better together. Not that we aren't happy or aren't successful in life, but we need to keep on improving daily. If one finds themselves standing still, they are not progressing. In church I remember as a kid hearing you're either moving forward or backwards, there is no standing still on the journey to God. I find this true more and more every day. Every day we have the opportunity to do things that will bring us closer to God. If we fail to do those things, we are only hurting ourselves and distancing ourselves from Him. That is not say He distances Himself from us, but rather we are choosing to pursue other things that instead could be filled drawing closer to Him.

I know that as we strive daily to find ways to improve, we can. The Savior will help us as we draw on His strength. He went through all that we have so that we can be strengthened when we need it. I know this to be true. I am grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the opportunity to live it daily in a country that allows that religious freedom. We are so fortunate to have so many blessings in this life.

This is for the Grandparents

Well Jenny has been the one that has kept this blog alive, so I figured it was my turn to blog a bit! (this is Michael if you were confused) We have sure been busy. When Jenny is busy one week, I find myself having great nights off of work, perfect to want to spend time with her. But when I have the craziest work schedule, I am also slammed with homework, and Jenny seems to have nothing to do. It's all about finding that balance right? Haha. Things sure are good and we still find time make each other laugh and feel special.
So some updates since last time we blogged (for a more comprehensive list look at Jenny's blog here...)

1. We flew home for my brother's wedding in California.
2. Halloween has come and passed
3. I had my 23rd Birthday. 
4. Daylight savings was maybe one of the best late birthday presents ever- I love sleeping in :)

So the real reason I thought of blogging tonight was at dinner. As Jenny was putting the food on the table I noticed a couple things she had set out. 

Jenny's Place at dinner-
Her vitamins that she takes each day

My plate at dinner-
The doctor ordered me to eat an Activia daily

I laughed to myself as I looked at our table and thought of eating dinner with my grandparents. I remember as a kid that immediately following the dinner prayer, both grandparents would take their medicine. I love that we are now starting that dinner tradition so early in life together- I guess it will make it easier when were old right?

Today was a great day. It was a good end to a great week and weekend. This past week I celebrated my 23rd birthday. One of the highlights is captured in this picture below

note: not my baby.

I got to hold baby Carter as everyone sang me Happy Birthday. I love that little guy. He's our neighbor's baby and is about a month old. Some of our neighbors and my sister came over to wish me a Happy Birthday. It was a ton of fun, and my cake was awesome! Jenny did such a great job. It made me excited for our own children's birthday and the themes they will all have.

Going backwards in time, Halloween was two days before that.. We carved pumpkins and had a great time. This was the first year ever that I gutted my own pumpkin. I don't know how I liked the experience. It was so mushy and gross. For those of you who don't know, textures bother me so much. If it is something I'm not used to, it makes me gag. It made me grateful for my parents and all the pumpkins they have gutted out for me. To add to it, I'm not a fan of the smell of pumpkins which also adds to the gag reflex. But we had a great time, Jenny even put on the Halloween Pandora station. It was a ton of fun.

Our pumpkins!

A couple days later, it snowed, which I love love love! Snow means a couple things- cuddling, movies, and hot chocolate. It's been great! While it wasn't a ton of snow, it was enough to get me excited for Christmas- so much in fact that our Christmas stocking are hung up and a few Christmas decorations are making their way out of boxes from our spare bedroom.

The tree outside our apartment

We are doing so well, and are so blessed with all that we are given. We are both extremely busy, but are both so amazed at how much you can love someone even when it feels like you never see them. We find the time to make it happen, and cherish the time we do have together.

My favorite picture of us that we have recently taken--

gotta love photobooth!!