Lunch with the Jone's

Saturday I went up to Sandy to have lunch with Care and her Mom and Sister Kel! We went to one of my favorite places up there called Porcupine Grille. Barb ended up spoiling us all in celebration of my graduation. We had everything from soup and salad, all the way to dessert. The Jone's have always been like my second family and in a sense I just feel a part of their family. It has been so fun to get to see Kel while she is in town with little Marsh. Thanks again for a great day!

Dev and Taycie

Hailey was super sick the day of my graduation and so she wasn't able to come.  So I went to their house to see my girlies that night!  Dev just couldn't be cuter and Taycie is an absolute doll.  Hailey gave me a darling dress and necklace for graduation- I love them.  Thanks again!

Graduation Day

Today was a really special day! I finally was able to put on that cap and gown and say good-bye to school. It really is a bitter sweet day. It was fun to say good bye to professors and collegues. Some of my family was able to come and it was nice to have them there to celebrate. I think my favorite part was during the ceremony this girl sang "The Prayer" and I just knew at that moment that my dad was there. It was the closest I have ever felt to him since he passed away. I didn't want the song to end. It was a special moment! Thanks to everyone who has supported me and encouraged me throughout my college experience.
I just can't beleive the day is finally here. After the convocation ceremony were all headed over to Magelby's at the Riverwoods for a lovely lunch. Today is a day that I will never forget!!! Congrats to everyone who graduated today... (P.S. Don't mind our squinty eyes-the sun was so bright)

Class of 2008!!!

This week has been full of finals and finally Graduation! When I got to work on Wed my office had decorated my station. It was a total suprise. We had Cafe Rio and Smart Cookies. It was so fun and I really did feel a little special. Thanks everyone for celebrating graduation with me!

Special Day

Today is a very special day for me! There are a few reasons for this. The first reason is that we got engaged two years ago today in Aberdeen Idaho at the Country Kitchen. I can just remember how nervous we both were. I got so nervous that my hands swelled up and the ring wouldn't even go on. Luke's mom had gone and set it all up for us. There was music and roses on the table. We had our own little private room and they even grilled up the steaks Luke had bought. It was a pretty special day! I also remember going and getting a shake and then we just went to this little park and swung on the swings and walked and talked. Crazy, Crazy! These past two years have been quite the ride but definitely worth every minute.
Secondly- Today was my last test I will ever take in the Testing Center and I got a 96% so I am feeling pretty good about that. I will not miss that testing center one bit! It is the most stressful place in the world. There are just rows and rows of people taking tests, it gets hot, and most the time I walk out of there with a bad grade! So YAHOO- No more!!!! Graduation is Friday and I can't wait~

Husband Tag

1. What is your husbands name? Luke James Stewart
2. Who eats more? Luke
3. Who said I love you first? I wrote him a text and said I think I love you...I just wanted to see what he would say. (SO LAME...!!!)
4. Who is taller? Luke
5. Who is smarter? Luke is by far. I am more street smart but he is really smart.
6. Who is more sensitive? I am the most sensitive person in the world. I am getting better.
7. Who does the laundry? Sad but true- Luke usually does.
8. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Luke
9. Who pays the bills? We both do but I usually take care of most of them.
10. Who cooks more? It is equal. Since I have been so crazy with school Luke has been so good at making dinner. We both cook equally as much!
11. What meals do you make together? Sometimes breakfast, but usually separately.
12. Who is more stubborn? Me
13. Who is the first to admit they are wrong? Luke...he really just is such a good guy.
14. Who is more clean? Luke. He is always doing the laundry, cleaning the kitchen floor, scrubbing the bathroom, and even vaccumms!
15. Who has more siblings? Equal. 4 kids in each family.
16. Who wears the pants in the relationship? I have one leg and he gets the other~
17. What do you like to do together? We like to snuggle, go to dinner, movies, laugh, chat, and just simply love being together.
18. Who eats more sweets? We are not big sweets people, but Luke sure loves his bowls of ice cream with chocolate and nuts on it.
19. Gulity pleasures? Avid Hunter, Sports fan, Training dogs
20. How did you meet? We got set up on a blind date through my ex-boyfriends sister.
21. Who asked who out first? Luke asked me out, first date was ok. He text me and said that he loved my laugh. I wanted to go out again but I was still dating someone else.
22. Who kissed who first? Luke- it was in front of my sister Hailey's house. I was so nervous and was talking a mile a minute!
23. Who proposed? Luke- in Aberdeen Idaho at the Country Kitchen. I think that is where I first knew that I loved lukie!
24. Best Features? He is so handsome...where do I begin? He has the cutest smile but I think that I love his little bootie. He also has some pretty smoochy puppy dog eyes. (Wow that was cheesy!!!)
25. What is his best quality? Luke has so many...he is the most honest, non judgmental person in the entire world. He is just a good guy all around. He always finds the good in the bad. He is also such a hard worker. I think it just asked for one but these are just to name a few.

I am so lucky to have such an amazing husband. He makes me so happy! I hope he knows how grateful I am for everything he does for me!

The Dreaded M-word

That word would be miscarriage. I honestly never thought in a million years that this would ever happen to me. It all started on Wed and by Friday morning my baby was gone. I can not explain the feeling of seeing the empty gestational sac on the ultrasound screen and to hear to have someone tell you that you are experiencing a miscarriage. I will never forget that day for the rest of my life. Talk about a heartbreaker. I have never really known anyone close to me that went through a miscarriage, and where I was part of that experience. So I really didn't know what to expect. I would not wish it on my worst enemy. Not only is the physical pain excruciating but emotionally and mentally as well. Here I was buying maternity clothes, getting ready to paint the nursery, and buy my stroller again. Now that all must be put on hold. I spent yesterday at the ER becasue they found out that my blood type is A- so I had to get some shots and tests done. They have put me into labor of some sort so that my body will clear out my uterus. For real? All this pain and the end result is empty arms, empty belly, and two broken hearts. I found this poem that basically explains how I feel:

Just Those Few Weeks

For those few weeks-
I had you to myself.
And that seems too short a time
to be changes so profoundly.
In those few weeks-
I came to know you...
and to love you.
You came to trust me with your life.
Oh, what a life I had planned for you!
Just those few weeks-
When I lost you.
I lost a lifetime of hopes,
plans, dreams, and aspirations...
A slice of my future simply vanished overnight.
Just those few weeks-
It wasn't enough to convince others
how special and important you were.
How odd, a truly unique person has recently died
and no one is mourning the passing.
Just a few more weeks-
And no "normal" personal would cry all night
over a tine, unfinished baby,
or get depressed and withdraw day after endless day.
No one would, so why am I?
You were those few weeks my little one
you darted in and out of my life too quickly.
But it seems that's all the time you needed
to make my life so much richer
and give me a small glimpse of eternity.
~Susan Erling

This experience has been awful to say the least. It is so hard to want something so much- and then in one day have those dreams be shattered. I know that one day that we will get to have the opportunity to raise a child here on earth but for now our hearts are broken. I know it sounds so silly but I really do feel that we have lost a child. I was in the process of preparing for my new little baby and now it all just seems like a bad dream. For those of you who have expereinced a miscarriage you know what I mean. From the words of Gordon B. Hinckley- "Everything will all work out"! I know this to be true- it will all be ok. Although this journey was short lived with this little one it gave me a short glimpse into what motherhood is going to be like someday. If I can love this unfinished baby as much as I have, I can only imagine what the real thing will be like. I look forward to the opportunity to being a Mother some day.
I am so thankful for our family and friends who have given us support through this difficult time.

So I am on the graduation countdown!!! I officially only have 15 days until I never have to worry about school for the rest of my life. I technically only have 3 more days of school and then of course finals week. (which of course I am not looking forward to!) But I think it will all go well. The idea of being done with school has not quite set in with me. I have been going to school for as long as I can remember. Here is a list of things I am not going to miss:
1. 8 am classes/ night classes
2. Research Papers
3. Reading Research Journal articles
4. Homework
5. Group Projects
6. Math classes
7. Having school consume my life
8. Never enjoying my weekends because I have homwork
9. Lame professors
10. Walking on campus in the winter/rain/snow
11. Never getting sleep/ Late nights
12. STRESS of it all

Now here is a list of things I am going to miss:
1. Learning
2. Meeting new people and friends
3. Walking on campus
4. Leaving work early so I can go to class
5. Awesome professors
6. Visiting the Bookstore
7. Trying new things
8. Accomplishing Papers, assingments, etc
9. Being around people in my same boat
10. It sort of makes me feel young instead of feeling like a total grown up!

School has been an amazing experience dont get me wrong, but on the other hand it has been a constant burden since 2003! It is full of stress, deadlines, papers, research, etc. School has taught me a lot as far as academics go but it has also taught me a lot about myself and how to succeed. It has taught me dedication, strength, faith, and determination. I have done things that I never thought I would be able to. I am so thankful for Luke for putting up with me when I am always STRESSED out! I just feel so blessed to be able to have gotten an education and hopefully it will help me to be a better wife, mother, friend, employee, etc. Thanks for everyone who has supported me through this experience!!! One last thing....YAHOO!!!! I am so excited~

General Conference

This conference was a little different for me because I just felt like someone was missing. I decided that it is going to take a minute for me to get adjusted to life without Gordon B. Hinckley. I know that President Monson is going to be a great prophet and he is such an amazing man. We are so lucky to have such wonderful prophets, seers, and revelators. This conference there were so many great talks and I am so grateful that I was able to watch all four sessions in the comfort of my own home! It is always nice to be reminded about the simple truths of our gospel.

First Doctor's Appointment

On Friday Luke and I went to our first doctor's appointment. It was a little uneventful to say the least. It was just a step on the scale, take my blood, pee in a cup, a good old pap, and a breast exam. I thought I would hear a little bit more about how my baby was doing(I guess the baby really is only the size of a kidney bean). So I asked the doctor to tell me something that would make me feel like I was pregnant and he said, "Your uterus is growing!" That was all I needed- I just said Thanks! So our next appoitment will finally feel like we are really pregnant because we will get to hear the heart beat. So for now I will just enjoy my round flubby belly!!! They did tell me that my official due date is November 9th!