An Ode to my Husband

Once upon a time, in a Midwestern liberal arts university, a farm girl met a boy who would change her life forever. They met in band. He a double reed, and she a brass player. Two different families. You would think it would be like Montague's and Caplets with the instrumentation, but true love it was and always will be.

The two completed each other. After dating a mere four months they knew they were meant to be. The double reed proposed the FIRST time to the beautiful brass player, she was thrilled. Of course it wasn't "official." They just knew they wanted to get married. The double reed player proposed probably a 100 times after that. Eventually in the following September, he actually used a ring. :P

It may be hard to believe, but this is a true story. Ha! This is an ode to my wonderful, adoring, hard working, compassionate husband, Marcus. Three years ago, we got ourselves hitched. Yep. I fell in love with this guy.

He is my everything. He completes me. His commitment to me, his patience with me (which requires a lot), his faith in the Lord, everything. I need him. He works so hard to support us as a family and he is such a wonderful father to our daughter Lydia. 

December 20, 2008 was one of the most wonderful days of my life! Probably number one of course. :P That day at 2:00 p.m. we were sealed for time and all eternity in the Winter Quarters temple in Omaha. I love knowing the fact that it isn't death do us part for us. It's a Forever thing. :) It was cold. Bitter cold. 

-10 degrees with wind chill. The roads were frozen over and our cheeks were pink. My feet froze and I had to change my shoes. It was a beautiful white winter wonderland. It was cold. It was perfect. 

We fit each other. His level headedness and the capability to think things through FIRST compliments my impulses to do things. He is more timid with things while I push him to get out there and have fun. Not that he isn't a fun guy... HE IS BLAST! But we compliment each other well. We are a team. We always tend to work on all issues together. Whether it is finances, his teaching job at school (I swear I am basically his assistant to the band. I don't mind :P), dishes, cooking, cleaning, our child, we do it all together. We get through thick and thin with each other. We always support each other in our endeavours. If we have a hard time, we always try to work those things out. 

I don't know what I would do without him. I can't even imagine my life without him. I think about my past relationships and the heartbreak I felt with them. It makes me excited that those relationships didn't workout and I was able to learn from them. Those relationships prepared me for the most perfect man I could dream of. I love him so much. It isn't even just love... it's even deeper than that! It goes so much deeper within the inner depths of my soul. He completes me. 

I don't think I could ever fully explain how much I love him. I love how he gets addicted to pointless computer games (like a killer bunny or something), how he has to show me every YouTube video that he finds humorous, how devoted he is to his music and that he needs my input on what he does with his bands, how he is like a little kid at times and doesn't clean up all the flour after making bread :P, the list goes on. How he "tolerates" my animals (even though you would find him cuddling with them...) that's a fun one. I especially love how loving he is towards our daughter. How he plays with her, speaks Spanish to her, I think I love that the most about him. Being a father. 

I can't believe how much has happened these past three years. We have lived in FOUR homes (two apartments and two houses), we have gotten a kitty, we graduated with three degrees from Nebraska Wesleyan total, we have worked a combined of 15 different part time and full time jobs, he has travelled to other countries for his Spanish degree, we got a dog, we went through 4 cars,  we lost babies, we had a beautiful baby girl, the list goes on. We have had many trials and many wonderful blessings. It is crazy and that isn't even all of it! We have been on such a wonderful adventure and I cannot wait for what eternity holds. I can't believe what we have gained from it all!

Marcus, mi cielo, mi vida, mi corazon, you are my everything and I don't think I could ever be without you. Good thing we are in this together for the long haul. I can't wait to see what eternity holds for us. I love you Marcus, and I always will.

Happy 3rd Year Anniversary!!

With love from your adoring wife,

Karin Marie

"Live Life with... Gratitude"

Why is that so hard for people to do? Live Life with Gratitude? Sister Isernhagen from church gave me a, I guess, wood thingy? That says that statement on it. I have been thinking about it a lot. It sits on the table that our TV sits on, so I see it just as much as I watch TV. So... often. :)
I have notice I have complained a lot.

I hate this house
I hate living so far away from my family
I hate being far away from my friends
I hate being poor, like really poor.
I hate how far I have to drive to church.
I hate my body.
I hate, I hate, I hate.

I really need to turn my attitude around. And it has been a struggle. I notice how much I complain to my mom, my husband, and even just people around here. Not gonna lie, I still have a hard time with some of those things, but this shouldn't be the attitude I should be having. God has blessed me with so much. Even though I don't particularly care for the house, a family went out of their way, took their house off of the market so we could rent it when we needed a house and fast. And with when it comes too living so far away from my family, it is not even a day's drive. I could go in the morning and still spend most of the day with them. I guess the draw back is the gas to get there and back, yet they help a lot with that. I miss my friends. I have made some friends here, but not like what I had in Lincoln. I haven't made a lot of friends my age, and if I did, they live at least an hour away, which is too far of a drive to go to just "hang out." It does seem to me that we are really struggling financially. We are super poor. Yet I look around, we have TV, we each have a cell phone, we have furniture, I guess I have a bad attitude. Yet, this attitude keeps coming back. I am so down in the dumps about it. I swear I am just running around in circles about this. I mean, I find these blessings, but I see what a toll they are on us. We want to get rid of TV because of the outrageous bill, but we can't get out of it without paying hundreds of dollars in termination fees. We have looked at changing our cell phones, but we are stuck in a stupid contract. Yes, we have these so called "blessings" but they are also weighing us down. We are trying to make better financial decisions, but we are just stuck.

I started writing this blog to try to change my perspective. To make my self see blessings and such. It is just not working this time I guess. So, sorry for the negative post. I usually try to stay positive.

Live Life with Gratitude.

You know, there will always things I will be grateful for. I am grateful for my amazing, hardworking husband, my beautiful little girl, my pets, my family, the friends I do have, and for the church.

I am not sure where to go from there. I guess I will just leave with this.

I am trying to Live Life with Gratitude. I guess some days are just harder than others.

Karin Marie

Through the Simplest of Times, through the Hardest of Times, I will always have my family.

The first thing that keeps coming to my head recently is why is it so hard to be thankful for things when you are really struggling. Marcus and I were talking a little about this last night. We know we are not the only ones struggling, but sometimes it sure feels like it.

We were putting up our Christmas tree last night. We find this Christmas to be really special because of a new special family member, Lydia, will be joining us. :) We finally got the tree up and we found that part of the stand was broken. Marcus Krazy glued it back hoping it would work. It kinda did... it was a little wobbly. Which made me nervous because a little girl is rolling now and I didn't want her to run into it and have it fall on her. NIGHTMARE!!! Well, we found some weights to put on it. It was a little lop sided but it would work.

We really enjoyed putting the ornaments on the tree. Going through memories. Our tradition is to give each other an ornament every year. Usually, the commemorate something that has happened that year. Well this year I gave Marcus a #1 Teacher Ornament with some music drawn on it to celebrate his first year of teaching. He gave me an ornament of a kangaroo holding a joey with Lydia and I's names on it. And of course Lydia got her first Christmas ornament from us. :)

Lydia's First Christmas Ornament from us, my ornament from Marcus, and you can't see it as well but Marcus' ornament. I drew music on it which if played is the Franklin Flyer's Fight Song.

Then 3:30 in the morning, we heard a crash. The tree fell. The star (my favorite part of the tree) landed on the dog pillow. So it wasn't broken! yay!  Put, now I am in the process of taking our tree completely apart to put in the trash can. There is no way to fix it. Not how I wanted Lydia's first Christmas to go.

The Star is Saved!!!

 

How I found our tree this morning

So, add that to the list of struggles. I know many people our age struggle financially. Of course it gets even harder during the Christmas season. Why? I don't know. I find it to be really bad timing. Anyway, I  found it to be really hard to look for blessings. Lydia sleeps in the dining room right now because there really isn't a bedroom here in this house. It is so bright that it is hard for her to sleep. I can't really turn off the lights or anything. They are not even on right now and she is crying when she should be asleep. We want to move so bad. We felt forced into this house. Yet, I need to remember that we are blessed that we even have this house. Some nice people who were selling it took it off of the market for us so we would have a place to rent since we had to move at the last minute. We have a roof over our head. We have heat, and water, and food. The most basic things, but why must it be so hard to thank our Heavenly Father for those things?

Well, there are some things I am very grateful for. A year ago today, Marcus and I discovered we were pregnant. After 40 weeks of growing my little peanut, she comes to join us in August. I was thrilled! We had some ups and downs with the pregnancy and delivery, but we have a wonderful, happy, baby girl. I will never forget how grateful I am for her. I am so thankful for her and I love her so much. She makes me so happy! She fills my life with so much joy.  I can't believe how much she has grown! Just this pass weekend she learned how to roll over. She cannot be contained anymore. :)

In the above pictures she was on the play mat. As you can see I have a little escape artist on my hands! 

I have so much to be thankful for. Sometimes, it is just hard to see those blessings. Really hard. But I couldn't be more thankful for my beautiful little girl, my adoring most wonderful husband, and my family. Without them, life would be so very hard. This next picture says it all!

So true! Everyone is Thankful for her! :)

Well, the rest of this is just a fun picture of Lydia while she was taking a nap and a video of her talking that I just want to share.

In the simplest of times, and in the hardest of times, I will always have the blessing of my little girl and my most wonderful husband. I am so very blessed.

Karin

How I found Lydia sleeping in her bassinet yesterday

Have a Wonderful Holiday Season!

Lydia having a very serious conversation with her kitty.

Happy 3 Months to my beautiful little girl!

I honestly don't even the last real post I wrote. I think it was about Gus Gus. I am just too lazy to go back and check.

Lydia is 3 months old today! It is so weird. It seems like she came an eternity ago, but yet it doesn't seem like that long ago at all! It just feels like she has always been apart of us. Probably because she always has. :) I love her to pieces! I can't believe how much you can love a little person.

She is such a happy girl!  Today while I was at school on my lunch break Marcus was making some faces at her. She thought it was hilarious! I love her little giggle! I have never heard her laugh so much! I loved it. And I am sure her daddy did too. 

The past few months I have been working as a HeadStart bus monitor. It doesn't pay much. But I can bring Lydia with me. I thought that would be great. I wouldn't have to pay for daycare. Well, it was at first. She would sleep the whole time. She was also four weeks old when we started riding the bus. Well, now she does not like being strapped in her car seat and it messes with her schedule. She can't eat or sleep when she wants too. I have to wake her from her nap before I have to leave to make sure she has a full tummy when we ride the bus. Half of the time she doesn't even eat. She isn't hungry. It is hard to feed her a bottle on the bus because I have to get up a lot to strap in kiddos. So I have to keep taking the bottle away, which makes one unhappy baby. So, I figured I would rather pay for daycare, and start subbing at Franklin. At least she would have a consistent schedule and I can even bring a little more income in. Which is a win win.

Halloween was a lot of fun. This was the very first year we have had trick or treaters. It was a beautiful night and we decided to sit out on our deck to hand out candy. Lydia was even in some skeleton pajamas that our friend, Terrie, gave her. She even gave her a little Halloween outfit. Pictures of that to follow. :) We even carved a pumpkin. It was so fun! I love this town! It was so fun seeing kiddos I know. 

Lydia in her outfit next to our first carved pumpkin!

My favorites. :)

Last weekend we had to run out to Lincoln. We stayed with my folks and I decided to ask my mom to take some informal family pictures of us. Mom took the first picture of Lydia in this blog. That was her 3 month picture. :) We tried to take some family pictures too. It took a couple tries. 

This was one of the takes. Charly was being indecent and Marcus was trying to fix her. I was laughing because Charly wouldn't cooperate. Lydia has her eyes closed. I am thinking this just might end up being our Christmas photo after all. :)

This one was the keeper.

Finally a good picture! It took a lot of shots to get this one. Even Charly is smiling! Yay! I am happy with this one. Great job, Mom! :)

Well, that is an update of our lives right now. I love my little girl and my husband so much. I couldn't ask a better family to spend eternity with. :) I am blessed to have the most wonderful husband and daughter in my life. I don't think I can ever love them as much as I do now. Even though it seems I love them more and more everyday!

Karin

Dedicated to a very special friend. Gus Gus.

I knew it was going to happen soon. I even had a phone call about it with my parents just days ago. Never a happy topic to talk about.


Saturday, my basset hound, Gus, passed away. We have had him for 11 going on 12 years. He was 13 1/2 years old. He was going down hill and fast. He just seemed to get sicker and sicker every day. The last time Marcus and I went out to see my folks, Gus whimpered because he couldn't get on the love seat. He seemed to be always getting sick, and he just looked tired and sad. I knew it was going to be soon that I would have to say goodbye.


I have a lot of memories with Mr. Gus Gus. He was a wonderful friend and companion throughout my childhood. I got him as a gift from my parents in the 7th grade. He was almost three years old. Dark brown face eventually turned grey. He would play hide and seek and even tag in our back yard. He always greeted me at the door when I came home. Even when I moved away from home, he was always happy to see me. He was even one of the first to welcome Marcus into the family. 


As I write this, I keep thinking of more and more memories of Gus. Last night I had a conversation about animals going to heaven. Marcus comforted me with some knowledge he possessed. He told me that one time, a woman lost a close pet and was upset. She went to talk to the prophet Joeseph Smith about it. He informed her that every creature that serves its purpose will live with our Heavenly Father. I know that Gus is up there. Probably just over the "Rainbow Bridge."


Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. 

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....


A friend sent me this poem and it brought me a lot of comfort. Another thing that brought me comfort was Luke 12:6, here it states that of the sparrows are sold. "not one of them is forgotten before the Lord."


Gus was never forgotten. Heavenly Father knows all of his creatures, great or small. For he created them all.


I love you Gus Gus. You were a very special friend and companion. I am still shedding tears as I write this blog. You will never be forgotten old pal. May you rest in peace and I hope you are just as loud and excited when you greet me on the other side of that "Rainbow Bridge." I will be looking forward to seeing you there. 

I will love you forever Gus Gus

Your Friend,

Karin

Lydia's Newborn Pics

30 years and Counting

September 25, 1981 a wonderful thing happened.  My father and my mother's hand, they gave their vows, and were married. My parents were young and very much in love, and 30 years later, they still are. They have been through a lot. They started a farm, raised 3 children, lost the farm to a tornado, rebuilt, started their own business, put three kids through college, and now they are grandparents. Mom and Dad have always set a wonderful example on what marriage should be about. Centered around God and they always gave 100/100 into their marriage. None of this 50/50 crap, they gave their marriage their all, and tomorrow, Sunday, September 25th, 2011, they will be celebrating 30 years of a wonderful marriage. They have been a wonderful example for Marcus and I on what marriage should be about. Both of them are amazing people and would do anything they could to help their children and also their grand-daughter. 

Mom and Dad, Marcus and I love you and are really happy for your 30 years of marriage. We wish you many more!!

Love you!

Marcus and Karin