Ok, I am FINALLY getting around to updating our lives! These pictures date back to April went I went to Tulsa for a conference for work, my birthday, hiking, our trip to Montana to watch my sister-in-law graduate high school (that same weekend my parents visited and I didn't get any pictures! boo.), and last weekend when we celebrated being married for 9 months!
Tulsa had a ton of amazing murals on all the walls!
everything was covered in amazing colors and cool architecture!
out on a walk I saw this man. What was he doing?
painting THIS!!
There was a little hidden chocolate shop in downtown and they made the most beautifully decorated chocolates I've ever seen! I got some toffee and ate it immediately. I meant to bring it home to share with Riker but that clearly was never going to happen....
We live in the most beautiful place on earth.
Spring time: some of the dead leaves were still hanging on.
I turned 23! I didn't get any pictures of Riker's birthday because I'm a slacker. Look at this cake though! Riker made it and frosted it all by himself!
He surprised me with it right out of the shower so nevermindIlookdisgusting. But check out the background! We have a cute little house.
We went hiking! And got a warning from the Forest Service for parking somewhere we shouldn't have. (And our car was still registered under my dad's name apparently because that's who they wrote it out to. And this will be the first he is hearing this. Sorry, dad!)
We teach primary and these are some of our kiddos. We absolutely adore them.
There are no words.
Nope, nothing.
Angelyln! My youngest sister-in-law. I just love her. We bought her that yellow stuff for her birthday...She picked it out. And then we had so much fun playing with it!
yeah, gross.
Amanda graduated!
she really really did!
I couldn't resist this one because of Riker's face...
driving through Montana
We went to the temple to celebrate having been married for...
9 months! This nice lady took some pictures of us but she wasn't the best with a camera and so....they didn't turn out like I wanted but at least we have some!
The temple always has the most gorgeous flowers!
I don't know why but I just really liked this one.
Vernal, Utah LDS temple. Learn more about temples here
1. A person who loves, supports, and defends his
or her country and its interests with devotion.
2. A person who regards himself or herself as a
defender, especially of individual rights, against presumed interference by the
federal government.
Origin:
1590–1600; < Middle French patriote
< Late Latin patriōta < Greek patriṓtēs fellow-countryman, lineage member
I define myself as a patriot. I love, support, and will defend this great country.
I believe in the individual rights that our forefathers fought for.
I have very strong opinions, values, and views.
Much of this is in part to how and where I was raised,
but I also know that I have developed these values through my own personal compass of right and wrong;
it has come from figuring out who I am and what aligns with how I feel.
Today, I felt my heart bursting with patriotism. As we drive into work every day, we are at a high enough elevation that not only do we have a gorgeous view, but we can tune into a radio station from Colorado. On days when I am too sick to get out of bed, Riker drives to work alone and a LOT earlier than when he has to wait for me so he already knew this little secret, but that radio station plays the National Anthem EVERY SINGLE MORNING. This morning it was sung by LeAnn Rimes. I have to say, though, I don't care who sings it, it brings me such joy to hear. What made it especially wonderful today was the drive.
I can't describe what it felt like to see the passing open fields with their wheel lines going, cows grazing, horses running, and the sun rising over the beautiful red rock that surrounds our little basin. I believe in this country. I believe in our military, in the Constitution, in standing up for what is right, in God, in our Freedom. I honor those that fought for us to be free, for those that are still fighting and for those that will come after whose duty it is to uphold what has been fought hard for and earned.
I may not agree with a lot of people but that is their right and I would be a hypocrite if I didn't say I support their rights, too. We may all have different opinions, but one thing we should agree on is this country. It is great, it is strong, it is freedom. We all have a duty to hold those who represent us to a higher standard because that is what this country was founded on. Higher standards.
I am proud to be American. I am proud of my husband who will one day serve, to my grandfathers, great grandfathers, cousins, uncles, aunts, friends, and foes who have or are serving. It is my hope that one day I will be able to instill in my children the love and respect I feel for the military and for this country. I do not agree with many of the things that our current administration has done, is doing, or plans to do. I do however support our government system. It was set up by inspired men and it is in each of us to be able to continue this great tradition.
Now, let me climb off my soapbox and just have you look at some pictures and think of the wonderful place this is. (photos are all mine)
Only, it isn't Georgia on my mind so much as forgiveness. For the last, well, forever, I have been thinking about that word.
FORGIVENESS.
I read a blog article today that made me contemplate once again this...word which is so much more than a word. I actually read the entire blog. I won't specify where because I don't want this individual to feel as though I am judging them. I'm not. Not even a little bit because like I said, I struggle with forgiveness as well. In this particular blog, I could feel the weight that this individual, this family, carries around for the wrongs against them. The losses they have experienced overshadow their entire existence and it makes my heart ache in an unbelievable way. Their path to forgiveness is so different than mine and yet they both start with that same word.
FORGIVENESS.
There once was a time I was hurt by someone I trusted. My gut would twist every time I thought about the experience and I would literally become sick to my stomach every time I even thought about the individual that had hurt me. The thought of seeing them was more than I could endure; my head would begin to ache, I would start to sweat, and nearly hyperventilate. And I would cry. And cry and cry and cry. I was so confused. I knew that through what I have been taught that I needed to forgive. There it was again, that word.
FORGIVENESS.
But how? How do you forgive someone who you had trusted, loved? I couldn't find the answer. I searched and searched and some days I still search. This experience had rocked me. I had never felt anything like this; I had never felt so much hurt. It was more than the hurt though, it was anger. Anger coursed through my veins like a snake slithering through me and wrapping around my heart. Being raised the way I was, my natural reaction was to turn to prayer and scriptures to move past this hurt. I read every story about forgiveness I could find. And yet...I couldn't do it. I read the definition of it, I googled the crap out of it and yet none of that helped. I talked about it to no end with all of my close friends and family. I tried to see the other person's point of view and took a walk in their shoes and still, nothing.
It haunted me. I wanted so much to move past this. I was angry with them but worse, I was angry with myself. How could I not move past these words. If I were to take them apart and dissect them they would mean absolutely nothing. Strung together they were like a bullet through my heart. I was angry that I let someone else affect the way I see myself. That I would allow someone to define me. And then one day, I read a quote.
"Keep a place in your heart for forgiveness, and when it comes, welcome it in."
I have that place. It's there, I can feel it. Some days, I feel it filling up almost all the way to the top and on others it's empty. On certain days it feels as though this anger and hurt is a rock in my stomach; the extra weight of it that I carry makes me feel off balance and sick. Other days, it is simply a cloud passing in the sky; weightless but present. I've always heard the saying, "Forgive and Forget." I have to say that I disagree. Perhaps I am wrong in thinking this way but I don't think you should ever forget all of it. The pain, the hurt, the tears? Yes, don't hold onto those feelings, they'll eat you alive. But don't you dare forget that this happened to you.
I hate feeling like I have no control. I have agency. I choose. I choose what to wear, how to do my hair, when to shower, what to eat, what to listen to, and how I will react to something. I choose how I will react to the feelings I feel in my gut and my heart. I'm choosing to leave that spot in my heart for forgiveness.
I have a bit of pent up...anger, if you will, that I will share today. I don't like to gripe and complain (on the internet) about my life and job and such but today I am making an exception.
I currently HATE my job.
I work in the Engineering Department and there is nothing wrong with the department....necessarily.
Whatever do I mean? I mean I feel like the lady lying on the couch and everyone telling me that I'm unhappy because I wanta dinkle. You see I work in a department of ALL guys and I work in a basement by myself all day erry day. My interactions with humans face to face is limited to 99% of the time just these... "men".
And then something happens to change that all.
It happened one day while I was sitting at my desk...working...or something. Anyway, one of the guys comes in and needs help with something AGAIN. I have shown him no less than 50 times in the past two weeks, and that is no exaggeration! I try to breathe calmly so I don't lose my temper and our conversation goes like this:
Me: Ok, well show me what work orders it is and I'll pull them up on my computer and see what's up.
Him (edging closer and closer): Ok, #3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,..........20, 21
[that was slightly exaggerating: it is usually only about 5. A day.]
Me: Ok, I don't see anything wrong with them. What is it showing on your iPod?
Him (suddenly breathing down my neck): Well, look! I can't find them. And I swear I didn't do anything to them. They should be here. See look I have a list with the numbers that should be here. Look.
Me: Yeah, I see it (straining my eyes to see it from 3 inches in front of my nose) I also am showing that there is nothing wrong with any of them on the computer. Try to hotsync it again and maybe they'll show.
Him: Well, there is something wrong! They aren't here! LOOK.
Me: Yeah, I looked, I'm sorry they aren't there. Try to hotsync again and maybe then they'll show.
Him: Well, this stupid thing is just broken.
Me: Ok, I'm sorry I can't come up with any other solutions so maybe if you just can hotsync again and then we can see. You do have over a hundred work orders on there so it might just have gotten lost in the mix.
Him: (Gives me a dirty look and says, "Hey! Can you help me?" to our boss as he walks in)
Me: (in my head) Awesome now I look incompetent.
Our Boss: Well, maybe try hotsyncing and it might work.
Him: Ok, I'll give that a try. Hopefully it works. I asked Chelsea and she said she didn't know.
My face was probably purple at this point but I swallowed my pride and didn't say anything. Until...
The next day:
The scene--I'm at my desk and ANOTHER employee walks in.
Him: Hey, Boss not in?
Me: No, not yet, sorry. Can I help you?
Him: Oh, nah. (Starts to walk off and pauses) So, uh, I heard you had a talk with So and So yesterday....He told me and the guys about it.
[remember the AND THE GUYS part]
Me: I did? Oh, well he had some work order problems but I couldn't figure out what was wrong with it.
Him: He said you accused him of not doing his work and attacked him for the number of work orders he had.
[klajsdofinadlgauogtinasdlfiualfdkgnads HUH?]
Him: Anyway, I was just thinking that you could, I don't know, maybe be a little nicer to him and tell him what a good job he does so he doesn't feel so down.
This is what happened next:
Maybe I sound like a baby when I say this, but after TWO FREAKING DAYS of guys (all OVER the age of 40) coming to tell me that all these other guys were complaining and trash talking me I finally went to my Boss.
And now, I sit in my office all day alone. And never see anyone. Which I can't decide if it's a good or bad thing.
What is not good is that I'm "On Probation" because I've had to miss on average 2 days a pay period because of fibro flare days....
But let it be known. I ain't no hollaback girl! And if I weren't on probation I probably would have had some choice words with my 12 year old girl coworkers.
Yesterday was Riker's birthday and I can't resist talking about him. And especially can't resist telling something embarrassing.
When we were dating we would go on drives a lot to go hiking or to lakes or anywhere that wasn't the city to keep our sanity. One night it was rather late and of course I was riding in the middle seat of his pick-up right next to him. We were dating so I'm sure you can assume that we were kissing and giggling and being in love. This is what happened:
Me: Riker (giggle) stop! Pay attention the road!
Riker: (Also giggling but in a manly way of course) What? I just love you! And I'm good at driving and I'm going under the speed limit. C'mon! Let me kiss you!
Me: (giggle giggle giggle) Ok, fine!
Suddenly...yep, red and blue flashing lights.
Me: Oh my gosh! I told you to watch the road!
The officer then slowly approached the truck.
Officer: Excuse me, son, do you know why I pulled you over? (simultaneously blinding us with his flashlight)
Riker: Uh, well....Was I weaving a little?
Officer: Yeah...kind of all over. I will need your license and registration.
Riker: Chels, can you get it out of the glove box?
Me: Sure (as I open the glove box a big fat hunting knife awkwardly falls out and I masterfully hide it under some papers)
Meanwhile, Riker is showing him his license and we are both pretty convinced that the only reason he didn't ask Riker to get out and take a sobriety test (we were both still giggling in love...) was because we are in Utah and he saw Riker's temple recommend that he so conveniently flashed to the officer.
We got off with a verbal warning but I still like to mention it. A lot. And now everyone else who knows him can also mention it. ;)
The whole reason behind this story is because I found this song today and laughed the whole time. Enjoy!
Hopefully it worked! (if not, it's Easton Corbin singing All Over the Road) And it is really just for the lyrics.
This is a post I had on my old blog that I was looking at today. What's great about this post is that it was written a few days before I met the man I married. I added one last one because I had a date the night before my first date with Riker that was at the top of my horrible list. It sure has been horrifyingly fun to look back at what my life was like before I finally found my Knight in shining armor.
"Yes, I am still alive. It's been quite sometime but I'm still
here. And I'm about to do something I did not think I ever would for fear that
people mentioned may find and read this. However, said people aren't really
important in my life so I'm doing it anyway.
This is a post to
almost all the boys I've dated and the stupid stuff they've done to me. I hope
you can laugh about them like I have and if you happen to be one of the
offenders...I'm not looking for an apology and I'm definitely not hung up on
you [and I hope you've grown from the experience and if not can learn a little
something today!]
STUPID THINGS BOYS
SHOULD NEVER DO [the following are all true experiences with the least amount
of exaggeration added and definitely not in chronological order.]
1. Don't buy me an ID bracelet. I know my
name. Just a cute piece of jewelry without my name on it is fine.
2. Don't ask me on a date to a fancy
restaurant, break your arm the day before, make me cut up all your food for you
PLUS carry your dessert from the buffet and then ask me to pay.
3. Don't be talking to me, bring up
something personal, and then say, "Oh actually my girlfriend is here right
now and I don't feel comfortable talking about it right now. Want to come over
around 11 or so tonight?"
4. Don't blow a raspberry on my neck. Or
try to on my stomach. Or my foot. I AM NOT 3.
5. Don't tell my friends that while you
don't believe I will be good at something you still think I need to do it
because I need to learn to be an adult and grow up. You tried to blow a
raspberry on my stomach!
6. Don't tell me that you've received
revelation that I need to go on a mission. (MORE THAN ONE BOY!)
7. Don't date me off and on for several
months and then show up to church with your girlfriend and make ME sit next to
her and answer the awkward question of, "so how do you know these
guys?"
8. Don't ask me for help filling out
scholarships and reading your poorly written essays, kiss me, tell me I'm
wonderful and then inform me that you'd ask your girlfriend (now wife) but she
isn't exactly the smartest.
9. Don't take me on a date and tell me
beforehand that the last girl you took here was in better shape than me and you
aren't sure if I'll be able to make it all the way.
10. Don't hint at getting my number
repeatedly, steal my phone and put it in with any of the synonyms for
"Stud" or "Hunk" and then introduce me to your fiance later
that evening.
11. Don't take me to a family get
together, insist I be in the family photo for the blog and then grab my butt as
the picture is being taken.
12. Don't date me off and on for several
months and then later inform me that you, "Never actually had any
feelings" for me.
13. Don't call me a B***h and then say you
only call me that because you love me.
14. Don't get gum stuck in my hair while
we're watching a movie and then not tell me! Do you know how hard it was to get
out!?
15. Don't take me to "the most
redneck restaurant I could find" because I wear cowboy boots and grew up
in a small town.
16. Don't squeeze my side and say,
"Vending machines?"
17. Don't tell me I've been having trouble
getting dates because, "Well, it's hard to get dates when you aren't
pretty. I'm sure you can find something else to try and make up for it. Maybe
you should wear lower cut shirts."
18. Don't ask if I lost all the weight out
of my boobs when you haven't seen me in a while and I'm skinnier.
19. Don't dump me and in the same minute
ask me where I'd like to be married.
20. Don't text me the day after you've told
me that you never had feelings for me and ask how I am and other questions
about my personal life. Once you've told someone you not only don't have
feelings for them but NEVER did, you aren't privy to their personal life.
There are so many
more but I'm tired of reliving my horrific dating life. Does anyone else have
anything horrible a guy said or did to you? Please share so I don't feel like
I'm the only "Tool Magnet!"
Love, Chelsea"
And the final date I went on before I never had to go on a date with another boy besides Riker:
21. Don't take me out on a date that lasts from 6 pm to 1 am where you proceed to tell me about how your "mommy is rooting for us to hookup", try to climb in my lap while we are watching a movie in the theater (which I can't watch to this day because it reminds me of this date!), tell me how you just "really really want to get some" because it's been "more than a year since my last date" and even longer since you last made out with anyone. (But hey! Congrats on getting married, Big Guy. Hope you are "getting some" now from your poor wife.)
Needless to say I went home in tears of disgust and frustration over that one.
I have to say that I am so lucky to be married to the man I am married to. He definitely gets a gold star.
Yes, you read that correctly. No, this is not a follow-up to any actual New Year's resolutions. In fact, I welcomed in this New Year by being asleep before 10.... I'm old and married now--it's totally allowed.
In fact, I am one year older as of today! I have lived out 23 years and am officially starting the 24th year of my life today. Which means I have some looking at my life to do and reorganizing things I dislike and improving things that are kind of there but need some working on! I hope y'all (as in mom, since you are probably one of the only people to read this) will help keep me accountable!
First things first, our big announcement. If I asked for guesses I can guarantee you would each say I'm pregnant BUUUUTTTT I'm not. Sorry to disappoint! We will be moving in July (if all goes according to plan!) to....
NORTH DAKOTA.
Wait, what? Yeah, you read that right. No April Foolin' here. I'm actually quite excited. I mean... look at this place!
The Oil field is booming so much! Those lights you see? All from the oil field at night!
Alright, so it's not most people's paradise, but I'll be there with my best friend and sexiest man I know and we'll be having a wonderful adventure!
Which means that most of my goals will be centered around this move. Currently we live in a BEAUTIFUL wonderful community. We teach a primary class (5&6 year olds) in our ward and the love that they have shown us has been truly inspiring and we feel beyond blessed. This community has welcomed us, trusted us with their children, and have been exactly the type of people that we want to be. Finally getting around to the actual goal: To be involved in our new community--get to know new people and embrace where we are.
I've decided right now to approach this move just like this man. The look of joy as he looks at his livelihood. The implications this move will have on our family are beyond comprehension.
Another amazing thing about moving to North Dakota? This girl.
Graduation day 2008! This is the most updated
(and most flattering; think middle school dances of the others...)
picture of us.
I've known this wonderful woman since we were 9! And now, we are both grown up, have long hair, married AND living (or will be living) in the same town in North Dakota. It's a LOOONNNNGGG way to come from a small middle of nowhere town in Oregon to a small middle of nowhere town in North Dakota but we couldn't be happier. On my list of resolutions: An updated photo with her and LOTS of girly time. Love you, Ibeth!
I was going to add a lot more goals but then I found the next picture and just stopped right there. Life is amazing. And naturally (just like every year) this one will be the best yet.
