Holy Colee!

I really should write more often. There are so many random things in my head, but then I forget to actually get them out until there are too many. These are obviously in random order as well.

Random thought #1  I love flying over the midwest. Watching the fields out my window makes me happy. The sprinklers make the coolest crop designs. It's like a patchwork quilt on steroids.

Random thought #2 I am so thankful that I am able to go to the store and buy groceries for my family. Not everyone has that ability and I recognize it as a blessing from a loving Heavenly Father. I have been blessed with the ability to work, a job that I love (most of the time) and to live in a country where there is an abundance.

Random thought #3 I am so proud of Jonathan. Going back to school is scary, especially when your past experiences have not been very successful. He has completed all of his course work for this semester and has been doing SO well. He works hard and he deserves credit for it. We also recognize the support and love from our families and Heavenly Father in this success. One semester down, a few more to go, but starting is more than half the battle.

#4 I was picking up in the kids' room yesterday and found a handfull of chocolate wrappers. Apparently the little one has come into her chocolate tooth. It's not a sweet tooth in general, just chocolate. She has been sneaking it at home, too. Note to self, I can no longer leave chocolates around the house.

#5 Because our dryer is on its way out, for Christmas we are getting a new one. We went to pick it out at RC Willey and the salesman gave us a waiver on our delivery fee. How freaking awesome is that?!

I spent my half awake/half asleep time this morning dreaming about having to evacuate our home. Trying to decide how we could grab everything essential but still get out in the 5 minutes the emergency workers were telling us we had to get out. It was interesting (for me, at least) that in my dream, I had memorized the "evacuation list" that hangs on our fridge. The list is something we were given by our Emergency Preparedness Coordinator at church that we have filled out with what to grab, and where it is - and is based on how long we have to evacuate. Mostly in my dream I was focused on medication, which is vital, cash, which is helpful (lol, even the very little we actually have), and pictures, which are irreplaceable. The dream repeated with a few different scenarios, but those 3 things made the top of the list, every time.  Of course, when it got a little closer to wake up time, and work started invading my thoughts a bit more, I started to wonder if I should grab my work laptop ;)

For what it is worth, I am starting to think a fire proof safe for documents, might not be a bad idea.

What would YOU grab?

Today I am thankful to live in a Nation where we have a choice. Even if I don't always like the choices, it is better than not having one. I know that this is a choice, even chosen, land, and the only way for it to get screwed up is for us to do it.

Vote your conscience. And remember, if you don't vote, you have no right to complain about the outcome.

Today is our 6 monthiversary. I know that is not a real word, but we made it 6 whole months and I say that is worth celebrating :) We were supposed to be spending the day with the children, but since Jonathan has had bronchitis, the kids stayed clear of contagious dad.
I woke up early and ran to the store for blueberry muffins. Jonathan has been craving them for a while, so I figured it was a good way to start the day.  Sick husband meant the morning was pretty chillaxed.
Jonathan took me to Ruth's Diner for lunch. They have the best meatloaf you will ever eat. It's baked and then grilled.  YUM. Today we also splurged and tried the Chocolate Malt Pudding. OH MY GOODNESS. I was a little leery because of the malt, but it was super fantastic and not malty at all. Definitely worth a try - split it with your friend, because it is also super rich.
After lunch, Jonathan's sickness won the day so we came home and I finished my laundry day. I know - SUPER exciting. We got to celebrate for half the day - which makes sense for a half year celebration :)

Happy Versary, Jonathan!

We spent yesterday evening doing something that no one really ever wants to do, and yet, I am glad we were able to do it. A couple of days ago my cousin was diagnosed with a tumor in her brain, and yesterday they did the surgery to remove it. Because the surgery was done here in Salt Lake, we were able to go sit with her family while they waited. 

It was inspiring to me to see how calm and collected they appeared, even though you know very well how scared and helpless they felt. They continued to talk about how the changes that have happened in their family recently, or coincidences that happened at the hospital, or just little recent events, while seemingly unconnected, had allowed for this experience to happen the best possible way it could.

What a blessing it is to be able to be in such a scary situation, but to be able to see and feel the hand of the Lord holding your family up, not just in retrospect, but during the trial.

We stayed until the Dr came to tell them that everything in the surgery had gone smoothly. The tumor had pushed the vital things out of the way, instead of growing into them. Only one blood vessel had to be sacrificed, and it went to an area of the brain that shouldn't have an impact on her quality of life. While they will still have to keep a close eye on everything for a while (and probably forever), at this point, everything has happened in the best way possible.

Today I am thankful for capable doctors, caring nurses, amazing technology, and most of all for being brought up in a family that teaches me where these blessings come from and for knowing He will always be there, even at our most helpless times.

We love you Shelby and continue to pray for your speedy and full recovery.

There were a few things that happened in my life while I was away. Probably the most important and happiest of which is - I got married. I am no longer Nicole Hayes - I am now Nicole Reynolds. My husband, Jonathan, well, he makes me happy. He works extra hard at everything he takes on. Right now he is going back to school. I am excited for him to tackle this challenge and I am so proud of everything he is doing to be successful.

That's all :) Today I am just happy.

For the first time in 2 months, our home is finally below 70. This may not seem like a big thing, but my husband's body temperature runs just a little warmer than most and he is sweating anytime it is above 65, possibly lower. Why have you let your house be so warm then? You ask.
Well, the first part of August, our condos got new roofs. This meant that the old swamp coolers had to be replaced. They were old and they were leaking and they were ruining the roofs. OK. So we made arrangements with the man who does the upkeep on the coolers for the condo. He gave us a great deal because so many of us needed the coolers.
A great deal can be deceiving. Assuming that he knew when the roofs were going to be done, (which he did) we also assumed that he would be working on the coolers once that work was done (which he did not.) He promised the lady next door her cooler would be in by Labor Day. He told us that we were next on his list. He came by a week AFTER Labor Day to get our deposit, which I had only found out he wanted because I was talking to the neighbors. He never actually said anything about it, until he needed it. He bought the cooler and put it on the roof a couple of days later.... Last Monday I called and asked him when he was coming. He said he would be there that day. He actually showed up on Tuesday, but didn't finish. Friday he came back and called and told us he wasn't done, but we could use the cooler. Friday night, we found water in our back hallway... Yep, really. So, we shut the cooler off, made a few phone calls and got the water shut off. Promising to be back on Monday.... he showed up on Tuesday again, but forgot to tell us. Today he called and said the leak was fixed, try the cooler. You guessed it, more water. When we called, he said he was on his way back. 3 hours later, he is back on the roof, fixes 2 other issues, still more water. Finally he takes the cooler's drain tube out of the pipe that runs down inside the walls, into the sewer line, and we try again. Currently, there is no new water.
What does that mean? It means that the pipe in the wall is broken. What does that mean? Well, to be fair, I am not sure, but I am sure that it validates my theory. If there are water problems to be had - I will find them.
For what it is worth - my condo was flooded and remodeled twice in the year or so that I was neglecting my blog. My husband has promised we can start looking to run away from here as soon as he finishes school. Fingers crossed.