a day like this.

we spent a few of our days in the past year like this

jon's favorite day of the past year.... there are hundreds of other pictures just like this one. (he was so excited)

he's not happy with me for this one... and many others....

SUCCESS!

yellowstone with friends lance and amanda

the gentlemen dinned well

jon took me, allie and brooke for a ride

FACT: jon looks dang good on a horse.

henry. he loves me. and i happen to like him just as much...

abbie and jaysie. uncle jon letting them ride alone! they love it. (riding (from left) snowy, flower (real name buck -jaysie renamed him) and frisky)

backyard fruit orchard

best friends. wilson and henry

hawaii with the fam, plus whitney and jesse. :)

the wave took out jesse. and jon enjoyed it.

cute marzie

i have really cool parents. 

what i looked like and did for most the trip...

jon making friends with the locals. Coconut was jon's favorite new friend.

most days, however, have either been spent in school (yes, i have yet to graduate.... one major highlight of the year, however, was FINALLY passing all of my required math classes. It was a highly celebrated event.) or at work. Jon quit his job working at Frank's Auto and started at his new job working as an HVAC man out at the Ogden BDO for the Boyer company (thanks Suzie). i have particularly enjoyed not having to worry about everything, including myself, from getting covered in grease, and have been keeping my eye out for a good deal on some fun sheets for our bed (now that i know they won't eventually become black.... that stuff is never fully removed no matter how much scrubbing is attempted).  i'm still working as a receptionist at my dad's pediatric office. often, that means sharing the latest cold/virus going around but my free access to children's spirits, sweet/often hilarious words and actions and to the basket full of suckers on my desk is always a nice bonus.  

a lot of other days, that were not spent at work or school, jon and i got to spend on remodeling our home...

it took 8 months but we finally moved in on the 4th of july weekend. and BIG BIG thank you to Jason and Katie for allowing us to stay with them while we tore down those walls. what a blessing that was. 

BEFORE

AFTER (still needing a few touch ups and fix ups)

BEFORE

AFTER (again, still in progress...)

the home was complete with lime-green-fake-marble counter tops and orange shag carpet before we (mainly jon) got to it. (another BIG BIG thanks to the barker/lloyd families and friends and neighbors for their help. we'd still be in jason and katie's hair without all of you.) 

  it has been a wonderful past year full of blessing after blessing for jon and i. 

i may have to make an entire new post dedicated to my thanks for these blessings and to many of the people responsible for making many of those possible...