Catching up on the last 7 months

This is Jeff writing this time.  It has been a very long time since we updated the blog (we will do better in the future).  We will try to hit the main points without making this post go on forever.

A lot has happened since March.  I was keeping up with the usual - school and work, while Ryan and Trisha were enjoying their time in Corpus Christi in Corpus Christi.  In June, we all went home for Jeff's sister (Robyn's) wedding.  We were very excited for Robyn and John and also enjoyed getting to see everyone.

 

Jeff's family playing rock band together

 

                                                               Ryan listens to some tunes

 

Right around that time, I was recruited by a former co-worker to go interview for a job in Houston.  I got the job, accepted it, and now we're here.  We sold our house in Corpus Christi very quickly, which was a huge blessing.  We had the offer on the house less than a week after it went up on the market.  I enjoyed my 2 weeks off while I was between jobs (it lined up exactly with the Olympics), and then we headed up to Houston.

 

Jeff and Trisha visit the Houston temple during Jeff's interview trip in Houston

 

Jeff's friend Sean (the one who recruited him for his new job) has a miniature schnouser named "Moki".  Ryan now has a new best friend.

 

Ryan enjoyed all facets of moving - especially packing.

 

I am not sure how many cities we will live in during our lifetimes, but I can say for sure that Corpus Christi will always have a special place in our hearts.  It is the longest we have lived anywhere as a married couple (2 1/2 years).  It was also where we bought our first house and where Ryan was born.  Trisha will miss the young women, and we we all will miss the beach, our house on Angelwing and our friends there.

Now it's onto the big city of Houston.  We are currently living in temporary housing while we look for a house.  Mr. Ryan has been a real trooper through this whole process.  We have taken a lot of trips between Houston, Corpus Christi and San Antonio in the last 6 weeks.  I spend a fair bit of time down "in the field" in Southcentral Texas, which means travel to San Antonio.  Fortunatley, it is a nice hotel and Ryan and Trisha are usually able to come with. 

Trisha and Ryan got an extra special treat and were able to spend a week in Utah this month.  Ryan especially enjoyed getting to see his grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins. 

Whew - that was a flyby of the last 7 months.  Now with the current stuff.  We are still looking for a house.  It is taking some time, but we have a really good realtor who is helping us out.  Trisha and I just got callings in our ward - we will be helping out in the nursery.  It may have something to do with the facts that Ryan is kind of fussy and we will probably only be in the ward for another month or two, but we are happy to help wherever we can help.

We also took our first trip today to the Cinco Ranch Alzeheimer's Center to volunteer.  We plan to make it a weekly tradition.  The people there of course loved to see Ryan and I played the piano for them.

We will get some more pictures up soon.  I realized as I was typing this that the movers packed the cord that allows the camera to attach to the computer so I wasn't able to post as many photos as I would liked to have.  Best wishes to everyone - we will do another update soon!

Laurels that I love

This is a picture of a Laurel activity "chopped" at our house (there are more Laurels - these are just the ones that could make it to the activity). The girls were so creative. It was fun!

I am so grateful that I get to work with the awesome youth in our ward! I really do feel honored to be able to interact with them often and try to teach them and be an example. Really they are the ones who teach me most of the time. :)

I was called to be Young Women President last May. I was terrified. I always thought it would not be easy for me to work with the youth. Would I be able to relate to them well? Would I understand them & what they are going through & be able to deal with all of the challenges?

But it has been a huge blessing. I am not going to lie...sometimes it is challenging. Ok, usually. But we have been so blessed! :) Ryan and daddy have been able to spend some quality time together Wednesday nights or when there are other activities - which has been a blessing for them too I think.

I have learned so much about myself - mostly recognizing my weaknesses - which is a good thing & has taught me to rely on the Lord more completely. I have gained strength from the testimonies of the young women and their faith, I have cried tears of feeling overwhelmed on multiple occassions, I have cluttered our 3rd bedroom with Young Women stuff in a matter of seconds, I have felt true love and concern for the girls, I have felt honored to be with them - feeling of their divine potential to do so much good in the Kingdom of the Lord, I have text more than I did in the past 2 years combined probably, and through it all I have tried to hug Ryan a little tighter and remember that no matter how busy it seems at times there is only 1 calling I will never be released from: wife and mother (ok - I guess that is 2). :)

It has been a rollercoaster of emotions for me. How thankful I am for a patient, loving Heavenly Father that knows my strengths and weaknesses perfectly. How thankful I am that He trusts me to raise one of His spirit children, even with all of those weaknesses. How thankful I am that He trusts me to work with the amazing youth in our ward. How thankful I am for experiences that help us to learn to rely upon the Lord and find strength in Him. How thankful I am for the programs of the church. The Young Women Program is amazing! The whole purpose of the program is to help the girls to come unto the Savior and prepare to make and keep temple covenants and prepare for their future roles as wife and mother. The church is just amazing!

There are so many evidences to me that this is truly the Church of Jesus Christ on the earth today. Mostly because I feel it in my heart when I take the time to slow down and study the scriptures, turn to Him in prayer, and go to the temple. I love Him. In the past few years with Jeff doing night school, busy callings for both of us, changes in employment for Jeff, and a busy baby/toddler - I have learned that there is no substitute for spending time with the Lord. It is so easy to get swept away in all of the good responsiblities and simply crowd out time to study the scriptures, ponder/reflect, and pray. That is when things don't go as well. That is when I feel more discouraged and overwhelmed, less at peace. I have learned that there is a difference between a quick (or sleepy) reading of a few verses of scripture & slowing down to remember why I am doing what I am doing - and trying to come to the Lord. Sometimes it doesn't even take extra time - just extra attention, perspective/focus, and a little more effort and desire.

There is so much that is so good and beautiful in the world. I am just thankful to be a part of it all. :)

A New Chair

A New Chair

This may seem like a really silly post to some of you. But for those of you who live off of garage sales, craigslist, thrift stores, and friends who upgrade...you will understand.

The first new piece of furniture we have bought (as in not used) since we have been married.

A super comfy, super-sized rocking chair recliner.
(Ryan with his friend, Brooklyn)

I was starting to feel the neck and back strain of trying to rock Ryan as he was getting bigger & bigger. He was really fighting falling asleep after we got home from Christmas in SLC. We knew we needed to do something drastic...like get a rocking chair.

And so we did. :) Jeff's grandfather is so sweet and generous; he gave us some money for Christmas that we put toward the chair. Thanks for helping to save our necks, backs, and sanity grandpa Wally!

Ryan loves the chair. When it is time for bed he falls asleep easily in it, he loves reading in it when daddy gets home from work (while mommy  makes dinner), even mommy usually takes a little snooze (not intentionally) while rocking Ryan to sleep - it is sooo comfy.

Hooray for a new chair!

 Our Anniversary

December 30, 2011

3 years ago Jeff and I were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. Best decision ever! :) We have certainly had times of bliss and times of trial - usually a little of both intertwined. How grateful I am for Jeff, he truly is my "help meet" in every sense of the word. I am looking forward to the rest of our lives together and into the eternities. I am excited to see what adventures lie ahead. And I am enjoying the adventures that we are having right now. Some day we will look back with fondness as we remember the years of night school, busy church callings, and an active toddler. Life is so good.

 

 For my Christmas present Jeff booked the hotel room where we stayed 3 years ago. So sweet of him! It was fun to reflect on the 3 years since we were there last time. I love the bookcase that opens up to a bathroom decorated as if you are looking at a view of Washington DC in the evening, from your own patio.

Thanks for watching Ryan for us grandma Gritton!

Christmas 2011

We were lucky enough to be able to go to Salt Lake City again for Christmas. Ryan actually did pretty well on the plane rides, needed a little extra TLC to sleep through the night (which is actually kind of nice to spend the time rocking him to sleep - so long as the sleep deprivation didn't last for too long for mom & it didn't). :) He had so much fun with his grandparents, cousins, aunts & uncles.

 He loves this little ball that lights up. Thanks Aunt Tara & Uncle Ben! :) He was so spoiled with gifts and love this Christmas! He got all kinds of toys that make fun noises, new books, wooden blocks & so much more. Mostly he just loved all of the attention and hugs :)

Lights on Temple Square. So beautiful! It was cold - but nothing like when we tried it in 2010 with Ryan and he was miserable! We didn't last for long in 2010. He loved it this last time; it wasn't nearly as cold and he was mesmerized by the lights.

 

Oh...the temple! How we love the temple! I have a special love for the Salt Lake Temple. I had the opportunity to volunteer there for a few months in 2008, it is where I received my endowment and it is where Jeff and I were sealed together. How I love it!

Someday we will live closer to a temple...someday. But we are thankful that we can do temple trips in a day's time (8hrs round trip, including time spent in the temple...really  not bad at all). We have truly come to love our San Antonio temple excursions. :) But I can't say that I don't dream about what it would be like for it to be down the street.

 Part of the Neeley clan...Mom (as in Trisha) isn't very good at getting pictures with the whole family...she will work on that... :) Left to Right: Grandma Neeley, Edison, Grandpa Neeley, Luke, Mom (Trisha), Ryan, Jeff, Unlce Darren, Aunt Tara, Uncle Ben

 Daddy, Ryan, and Aunt Carrie

 Grandpa and Grandma Gritton

 He loved when Grandma Gritton tickled him. :)

Mom even got to see one of her good friends, Clover. So fun! Friends are such a good thing! :) She got to see a few other friends...but once again, the picture thing. :)

Ryan's First Haircut

Ryan's First Haircut,

Christmas Eve 2011

Aunt Alison is a pro! Ryan actually held really still - I was so proud of him. I guess I should have taken a "before" picture - but just picture long enough to start curling just a little over his ears and in the back. :)

Ryan's first trip to the ER

Ryan's first trip to the ER

December 4, 2011

This isn't really my favorite post...but I'm sure that I will want to remember this someday.

Ryan was being a little too loud during the sacrament so Jeff took him out to the foyer. He was walking around out there and tripped near the entrance, hitting his forehead on the brick outcropping around the door. He hit the sharp corner of the brick, as you can tell from the pictures, which split the skin right open. It was a about an inch or so above his left eye.

We felt considerably blessed - he could have hit the back of his head or the side of his head and then there would have been much more concern and many more tears and emotions I am certain. He was playing and acting like himself again by the time we got to the ER and I there was no worry of skull fractures or anything of the like - we didn't even do x-rays. Just some dermabond (glue) and steristrips.

He does have a red scar now, but the scarring probably would have been even worse with stitches. I am just so grateful that he is ok and that Heavenly Father was watching out for us that day. It is amazing how many times I have seen His hand in protecting our family (especially little Ryan) recently...ok I was going to save those stories for another time. But when? I might as well just tell the stories now.

So we were at the grocery store about a month ago. Ryan was sitting in the cart, buckled in and would occassionally reach over and touch my arm when I wasn't looking at him & he wanted my attention. I was looking for something particular on a shelf & walked a few steps from the cart. There was no one else on the aisle & he was buckled & happy so I figured there was no harm in doing so, right? When I walked those few steps back to the cart (still looking at the shelves though) I felt him reach over and touch my arm - but this time it felt a little different. It was more like a grab my arm & I felt like I should look at him. I looked over to see him standing in the cart and arching his little body over to me. I quickly grabbed him. I still don't know if he somehow unbuckled the belt or it just hadn't snapped completely into place or what. But I feel that once again Heavenly Father was watching out for us.

Then last week at the grocery store. (Now you know why I avoid going to the store, right?). We had just finished shopping, which wears us both out since I often end up holding him for a good chunk of the time - and that is holding him while he is trying desperately to get out of my arms and down to the floor where there are toys or bright shiny things that look like so much more fun than being held. Anyway, we had just gotten back to the car after our shopping trip. I let him hold the car keys while I buckled him in. I often do this, then just take the keys as soon as he is buckled. He knows the rules - so he usually doesn't fuss about it. He was happy with the keys & I still needed to quickly load the groceries so I decided to let him hold the keys while I did so. I shut the door & quickly loaded the groceries...I know you see what is coming...but I just didn't think about it. Really. I was exhausted & the thought didn't even cross my mind...But you are right, he locked the car while playing with the keys - the only set of keys for that car. I stood on the outside of the car & immediately felt panicked and began to pray silently while looking at Ryan through the car window & telling him to keep pushing the buttons. Ryan got it after a few seconds - I wanted him to push buttons. So he kept pushing them. As soon as the doors unlocked I whipped the door open. Once again Heavenly Father was watching out for us.

Halloween 2011

Halloween 2011

We borrowed a costume from a super nice friend & neighbor of ours. He was a little Kangaroo. He loved the little Joey & couldn't get enough of it. No trick or treating this year - but we did pass out candy (until we ran out that is...we had way way way more kids come to the door than we expected).

I love you my little Kangaroo. :)

Grandpa and Grandma Neeley Visit (October 2011)

Am I really that behind on blogging? ...Yes. But 15 minutes here and there will catch me up.

My parents came to visit October 2011. I don't want to forget all of the fun times we had, and well...I'm terrible at scrapbooking. So here is to the memories of it all. :)

 They flew into San Antonio - so we got to spend the day at the riverwalk and Alamo.

The Texas State Aquarium. The dolphin show is pretty fun. We love having a membership there. Ryan loves it more and more every time we go. The last time I went with him (a few weeks ago) I brought his animal book with us. I pointed to the dolphin in the book and then the real dolphin. He was so excited! It was so fun to see.

 Whataburger by the Bay

 We took a little walk along the Bay & got to see some pretty cool fishing boats.

 Playing at the beach on Padre Island.

 The USS Lexington.

We went out to lots of restaurants while they were here too - which is always fun. Ryan was actually pretty well behaved. He loved all of the attention. Come again soon mom and dad! :)