Family By Divine Design:: December 2009

11 December 2009

Merry Christmas to me! I mean us . . .

BEFORE . . .

AFTER!

Folks, these pictures represent a landmark in my life. The top picture was taken by the same camera that most of the previous pics which have appeared on this blog were taken with. The bottom picture was taken by our new Canon Rebel XSi. It's my Christmas gift to me! . . . I mean our Christmas gift to us. :D Woohoo! Get ready for much more awesome (and probably more frequent) postings of beautiful pictures. Aren't you so excited? I've no doubt that you are.

08 December 2009

Just because . . .

These flowers were mysteriously delivered to my front door within the last half hour. I put it to you, blog readers - is there a special occasion of some kind today? Did I forget something? The answer is - NO! It is neither my birthday, nor Mother's day, nor Valentine's day, nor my wedding anniversary (although that is approaching), nor did David and I get into a fight of some kind recently. Nope, these flowers were delivered pretty much "just because," and it happened very soon after David left to go to Carey (half an hour away) to work a couple of basketball games. I'm pretty sure that he delivered them himself . . . a ring and run sort of situation. I bet he's just chuckling to himself right now. It came with a sweet note in a card. And I pretty much almost burst into tears. (Ahhhhh!) How lucky am I? Pretty darn, I'd say. :D *sigh*

07 December 2009

Christmas time is here!

Anyone recognize the post title as lyrics? I love the "Peanuts" music! I really need the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack - and then I'll have all five slots in our stereo filled with only Christmas albums. Sweet! Anyway, in lieu of the upcoming holiday, a look at last year's Christmas day:

Amazing to see what transformations take place in a year isn't it? Happy Holidays everyone!

David's Bio

I grew up in southeastern Idaho moving at age one from the center of our town to the outskirts. This home had approximately ten acres and much of my youth was spent outdoors both playing and working with my grandparents on their farms. I enjoyed sports throughout my life and was active in wrestling and football throughout junior high and high school. My junior and senior years at high school a sweet young girl even convinced me to join the ballroom dance team. I graduated from high school and attended BYU where I earned my Bachelors degree in Biology in April 2007. Having been raised in the gospel it has always been an influence in my life.

Rachael's Bio

I lived in south central Idaho on a two-acre property in a three-story home until the fourth grade. We moved to Idaho's capitol where we lived until I was in eighth grade when we moved to south eastern Idaho. This move affected my life greatly. It helped me to gain and solidify my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ as well as helped me decide how accurately I was going to live the gospel. This is also where I met David who was to become my best friend and husband. After graduating from high school in 2001 I attended BYU for four and a half years and graduated with a B.A. in Modern Dance, shortly before giving birth to our first child. Through all of my experiences my faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ and my dedication to living His gospel with integrity has increased. My greatest desire is that I will be able to help my children live and love the gospel.

Our Love Story

Rachael and David met first in their ward after Rachael moved in at the age of fourteen. Rachael's family had just moved across town to a home more suited to their needs than the original duplex. Both of their families were active in the church and Rachael and David both served in leadership positions of their respective YM/YW groups. With that constant exposure to each other was added the fact that they went to the same high school and were in the same graduating class. They found each other to be attractive and dated each other quite a bit near the end of their senior year and the summer afterward. After his freshman year at BYU David went on a mission to Russia - Rachael wrote him about every month and a half, just as an "interested" friend. Rachael was at home working for the summer when David returned from his mission and immediately felt that she wanted to date him again, so she asked him to go see the Phantom of the Opera in Salt lake City; thereafter followed about six months of courtship before they were married in Logan, Utah. Now they're both "the luckiest."