14 days of love

happy love month! this is such a fun month full of love and romance. so i thought what better way to start if off then to have a 14 days of love.  hope you go and do it!

DAY 1: write a love note to each other

DAY 2: look through old pictures of when you first started dating

DAY 3: turn on your song and slow dance together

DAY 4: do something out of the ordinary for your spouse today

DAY 5: go and do something active together as a couple or family

DAY 6: write down a list of all the positive things about your spouse and point some of them out

DAY 7: cuddle on the couch and watch a movie together

DAY 8: put away technology and spend time together just talking

DAY 9: go somewhere and watch the sunset together

DAY 10: take a selfie together

DAY 11: try to make something new together in the kitchen

DAY 12: come up with a list of goals you want to do together - go on a cruise - buy a house

DAY 13: plan a getaway for the future

DAY 14: have a datenight - stay in or go out just have fun

xo - stephanie

dear babes

dear babes,

today i am sitting here, listening to one of you sing in your crib while you fall asleep, and the other is asleep on my lap. there is something so special about the innocence that you both carry around with you today and everyday. your laughter and smiles are still going even though the world today seems dark, and dreary. i am so grateful that i get to be around this pure joy everyday.

but i can't help the thoughts of fear that keep drifting in from the back of my mind. donald trump was elected president today, and it has made people scared. that fear is turning to hatred, anger and cruelty. it makes me sad. really sad.

more than the sadness and fear that i feel, it has given me determination. determination to do my best to teach you all about love and kindness. so as you grow you will be able to have unconditional love and kindness for everyone you meet. i want you to have kindness, empathy, respect, compassion and love for everyone. it shouldn't matter their views or beliefs. just to have goodness for everyone.

i'm not saying that you can't have anger or feel fear. i think it is good for us to experience those feelings, and will help us grow. but don't let those feeling turn into cruel words, thoughts or actions. no matter what people do around you, it is up to you how you will react. choose kindness and love. anger is easy, but having love for someone who has done you wrong is hard. that love will make you happy and i want you to be happy.

every good decision you make will help you become closer to the Savior. ultimately that is my goal. to do everything i can as your mother so you will know right from wrong and want that closeness to Him. if i can teach you to love and forgive the way He did i know you will be happy. and having my children happy would be the greatest gift i could get as a mother.

so in this world that is becoming more evil and entitled everyday, don't be afraid to standout. i know it will be hard. but decide what your standards are, what you believe in and stand up for them. don't believe the mean things that people will say. because believe me, they will say mean things. but chose where you stand, who you stand with and never never let the 'mean' in. that will only bring heartache. be strong and carry goodness with you.

if everyone lived like this, i know the world would be a different place. but it isn't. so please be an example. stand up for yourself. stand up for you believes. be courageous. and emulate Christ. i'm trying to set a good example for you to follow. i know that i am not perfect, but i am trying. if you can do the best you can and teach your children the same one day, i know your influences will make an impact on the people you come in contact with.

the world needs more of this little babe innocence in it, that i am so blessed to see everyday with you. i know kindness will help bring that to others. you will never regret being kind.

love you forever,

mom

be different

"The more we devote ourselves to the pursuit of holiness and happiness the less likely we will be on a path to regrets." ~ Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Be different and do what you believe in, not what the world believes. 

happy love month

i can't believe how fast january went. we only have two months till graduation! it's crazy... but till then it is time to celebrate this happy love month!

don't forget to tell the special people in your life how much you love them! happy feburary!

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every hour

with this being our last semester in school, it has been really stressful trying to figure out what are plans are after april. and i am such a control freak, i just want to know now where we will be. but in my religion class yesterday we sang 'i need thee every hour'. i really love this song. it was such a good reminder for me that i don't have to do things one my own. heavenly father is always there willing and ready to help me. so when i found the quote it really was perfect for me. i do need him every hour no matter what is going on in my life. and i am so grateful that i know that he is there are loves me. it make me take a step back and just realize that it will wall work out, he is watching over us and will bless us where ever we end up. so, remember that he is there every hour for you too. happy friday:)

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it's been a while

You know what is sad?....  Letting so much of my life pass by and not recording any of it. I can't believe that it is already 2014 and in a few short months our time here at BYU-Idaho will be over. Rhett and I will be graduating and headed off to start our new adventure. The closer graduation is getting the more I realize how much I am going to miss this place. I look out the window today at the blizzard and don't think I will ever miss that. But this town, this school will always have a very special place in my heart. 

But before we go I still have hours and hours of homework in front of me. Sweet! Not. But I am excited to see what all I will accomplish this semester. Rhett and I both have a few challenging classes, so the struggle now is just to stay motivated... It's only 4 days in and I am already unmotivated. We will see how this goes I guess! Wish us luck! 

For a little bit of an update....

We finished out the summer in Bear Lake and were so excited to leave the trailer behind and actually be living in an apartment! It was a happy day to move into a place with a real shower. We were sad to see the summer go but glad to be moving on all at the same time! We had such a fun time this summer! 

Then fall semester came along. I was really busy all semester. I was taking really hard classes and had about 4 semester long group project and my senior project. It made for a rough time some days but I survived! 

The semester came and went without to much excitement. We went home for Thanksgiving break. My family ditched us and went to San Diego... Lame. So we stayed with Rhett's family. We had a lot of fun. And of course Rhett and his brothers had to play in the Turkey Bowl. 

After Thanksgiving we tried really hard to finish out the semester strong.... It was tough but we survived! Thank goodness! Christmas break was so wonderful! It was a much needed break. We stayed the first week at Rhett's then spent the second part at my house. It was so fun to spend time with family and get a little break so we would be ready for our LAST semester:) 

That is what is going on in our lives for right now. Nothing to exciting just living the life. But here is to 2014, and I have a feeling it will be the best year yet!

vacation?

living in the frigid tundra of rexburg, rhett and i were ready for summer and the beach a long time ago. we tossed around the idea of going on a trip at the end of the semester. we didn't know if we would have the money for it, but once we did our taxes we decided it would be a fun little trip.
so saturday we booked our hotel - two nights in leucadia (right on the beach) and three nights in newport! so much happiness. i know it won't be the warmest but i am just excited to go and have a fun little road trip with rhett:)and i am so so ready for this.

now i just have to make it through finals.....

{Favorites} this week

So my favorite thing this week is that I found out today that my dad is getting his promotion this weekend! He is just a hard worker and I am so proud of him!  So of course we are headed home Friday to go see his promotion ceremony. Did I 

mention that he is going to be a Colonel!   

He has always been there for me and I am so grateful to have him in my life! He is so supportive, loving, kind, and really amazing. I am so lucky to be able to call him dad. 

He is kind of a big deal. I can't wait to go home this weekend and celebrate with my favorite people:)