Social Media and Texting

Before Marcus left for Mexico, we turned off our texting on our phones to save us some money and I could not believe how nice it is to not be constantly connected to people. My phone or Marcus' phone isn't constantly notifying us of messages. Even though I am social, highly social, I do not like being able to be contacted 24/7. Which brings me to a couple concerns of mine. 


The first one is the need to constantly needing to be connected in the first place. I am not saying I have never done this myself, so I am not perfect, but a HUGE pet peeve of mine is people who have to text and drive. I am so happy that a law passed in Nebraska that is making that illegal, just good luck to those who have to enforce it.  It is such a dangerous thing. To text AND drive, you either have to take one or both hands off the wheel, and you have to look consistently at the screen on your phone to type. And I am not posting this to be proven wrong, it is just a dangerous and irresponsible thing to do that not only puts the driver texting in danger, but other people on the road as well. 


My other concern is Facebook. Yes, I am always on Facebook and I post status updates. The status' that bother me though the  the ones that discuss being on the road driving and there was one status that made me laugh. It was discussing being behind and old lady and how slow she was and that the person (who is texting and driving) is having road rage. This made me giggle because the combination of Road Rage, Texting, AND driving. They were probably putting on mascara too just to make it interesting. 


It is just scary because research shows (http://www.caranddriver.com/features/09q2/texting_while_driving_how_dangerous_is_it_-feature) that texting while driving is like driving while intoxicated. 


Just as a concerned driver on the road, I know I struggle with things because I do talk on the phone while driving. But please, do you have to be SO connected with people that you have to update your Facebook status about life while your driving?  Can it at least wait until you reach your destination or something? Especially if you are upset?


A video.


Thank you.
Love,
Fellow Concerned Driver. 

The Right Side of the Bed

I am currently in a Masterpieces of Literature class. I am taking it as one of my Gen-Ed classes. In this class the main focus is Writing Self and Autobiographies. We had to write about a special place and be as descriptive as possible. I was not aware that this would be read to the whole class by me. Also, we had to do something similar again in class today, and again, my paper was chosen to read in front of the whole class, AGAIN! Anyway, I am kinda proud of my description.

I wake up. The sun is blaring through my bedroom window. My cat is snoozing right beside me. She is not the best cuddle buddy. The right side of the bed remains empty. I can not wait to snuggle up towards the right side of the bed and feel warmth again. I look beside my bed on the night stand where my phone is charging. I see a black and white picture of my husband and I leaning in close for a kiss.

 Right below the frame is my journal opened to the entry of our wedding day. I can just picture the chandelier  and the white and gold. There in the granite building we were married for time and all eternity. I shut my journal and climb out of bed being careful not to disturb my cat. I look towards my dresser to see a vase of flowers from my husband reminding me that he will be home soon.

Above the flowers is a large portrait of him and I. His arms wrapped around me protecting me and both of us look like we can take on the world. Kind of feeling that way right now. But soon I wont be doing it alone. And soon I will be able to wake up towards the right side of the bed and see him there. What a day that will be.


Karin Marie.

Good Things to Come

This is Nanners creeping in my covers. This is what I have been waking up to in the morning recently. Not the same as cuddling with my hubby of course. 

But...there are

Good Things to Come.

This is a great link to watch. My husband showed me this link today. I watched it and it almost brought tears to my eyes. It was so encouraging, for both Marcus and I.

This time of us being apart has not been easy. At all. I really admire our veterans who leave their families or other men and women who have to leave their families for other reasons. These weeks have been so difficult. We have dealt with more than our fair share of fraud on my bank account, which is recently being resolved, miscarriage, gaining a new car, blown tire on new car, adjusting with balancing school and work (super tired...), Marcus being sick with who knows what while in Mexico, and who else knows what. And of course I had to learn ANOTHER lesson on what doesn't go in the garbage disposal.  Thank you to Aaron, a great friend of mine, for fixing it for me. It turns out it wasn't the peas  I put down the garbage disposal, it was a dry erase marker that fell in. Woops.

But... there are good things to come.

Besides all of the stresses that has been happening these past few weeks, I am looking forward to many things. The biggest one is Marcus coming out of the gate at the airport. I can not wait to run in his arms and finally be held again. I am so looking forward to that first kiss of him being back. Also, I am looking forward to playing in the pit orchestra for White Christmas this summer. I am meeting new people and I get the wonderful opportunity to play my horn with other musicians. And it just keeps me playing. I am also done with school for the summer. I have been in the process of working on Ged Eds this summer by taking Biology, Health and Wellness, and Master Pieces of Literature. So both Marcus and I have wrapped up some major credit hours worth of school this summer. I am looking forward to having a couple days of summer this coming August. With wrapping up credit hours this summer, both Marcus and I can graduate this coming December and go out into the real world. I don't know if I am excited about that or more nervous. I guess a little of both.

I know things are challenging right now. It seems like even though he is going to be home extremely soon, it seems yet so far away. It seems that more and more challenging things just keep coming. Yet, I watched that video today and it was so encouraging. Knowing to never give up and blessings will come sooner and even some later. One for sure came today when I got to spend some quality time today with my parents and my sister.

Blessings come in so many forms. I just need to remember to keep counting them and looking for them. I also need to remember that Good Things are to Come. Including my husband getting off of that plane. That is best thing as of right now, that there is to come. Just keep going in faith and you will always make it through.
Love always,
Karin Marie

Reminders

I am learning more and more each day how twitterpatted I am with Marcus.  It is weird how you fall in love with somebody and how you have to be apart. Once they leave EVERYTHING REMINDS YOU OF THEM! Songs, people on the street, comments people say, pictures, even parts of the movie I saw tonight, Robin Hood, reminded me of Marcus. It is amazing how deep and genuine the love we have for each other is. I love my life with him and I cannot wait to have it back. He is such a blessing in my life and I am so happy and lucky that he is in my life. We were destined to find each other. Our love is so real. I don't think it can ever be broken. I really hope that people can see how much we love each other. See that we truly care no matter how stupid our spouse may be being at the time. :) (Trust me, we are both kinda stupid at some points...hence the better or for worse part of our vows. :-P ) I will say he is going to get the biggest longest hug when he gets home. I am so excited to spend the rest of my eternity with him. And it is wonderful to know that he would give up his world for me and that I would do the same for him.

I love you Marcus.
Karin Marie

Super Excited!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiTC3ozl6-s&feature=related

Okay, so I am super excited. The link above is a piece I am planning on playing for my Senior Horn Recital this coming Halloween. It is going to be stellar. I am just super stoked. After that performance I will be getting ready to audition for Graduate School. I know what I want to do when I grow up. I WANT TO PLAY! Oh my gosh would that be amazing. A dream of mine is playing for the Orchestra at Temple Square and then another orchestra. That would be the most amazing thing ever. I also just bought my recital dress today. I am really excited about it.

It is from DownEast Basics which is by far my favorite store. To bad there isn't one in Nebraska. I am getting it in black and I am so excited. And it wasn't very much money.

I am also super excited because almost all of the bills are paid for June and it is only the 3rd. And financially we are going to be just fine. That makes me super happy.

One more thing is that today I totally ordered the pictures that were taken a weekish ago or so. I am so excited to get my dress and a box full of pictures in the mail. I love getting packages in the mail.

So there is my rant. I am just super excited and I just had to tell you all.

Karin Marie

Patience, Trials, and the Blessing of the Gospel.

I love this picture of Marcus and I. Also one of my absolute favorites. I feel it really captures how we are with each other. Love struck and silly. :)
It has been an interesting week since Marcus  left. Marcus was doing well in Mexico. He has already been recruited to play piano for church. What can I say, he is talented and people notice. One of the wonderful things at church was Marcus  received a blessing from the bishop. It was ward conference and the stake president there figured out why Marcus was there and that he was having a hard time. He didn't ask Marcus if he needed a blessing, he just set up an appointment with the bishop and just told Marcus he needed a blessing and that an appointment has been made. Marcus and I found this humorous yet wonderful at the same time. Marcus did need it. It was also nice that he received a blessing because Marcus was able to give me one right before he left. It has helped so much. I cpuld dea; with Marcus being gone so much better than I was expected, especially with trials that have already happened since he had left.

When Marcus left , I was pregnant. Honestly, I wasn't that far along. Only a few weeks. But, both of us were ready and wanting this baby and so it made things even harder for Marcus to leave. Because last time I was pregnant it didn't go so well. Well, it didn't go well this time either and we lost the baby. Through loosing the baby, I really didn't know what to feel. I was really pissed off. Mostly, because Marcus and I have had a hard couple years already and would really enjoy a break and just have something go the way we wanted it. Well, that when patience comes in.

President Uchtdorf gave a talk to the men of the church during the last general conference. Today, Karen came over to visit and she brought up how wonderful his talk was. President Uchtdorf mentions on how both children and adults have a hard time with patience. Through this miscarriage AND Marcus gone, I really have to learn what patience is. I really want Marcus home. I hate going to bed by myself and coming home to an empty apartment. I missed his touch and his warmth when he is close to me. And of course I just missed kissing his face off. What can I say, I like the guy. But, from this I learned that

 "...Patience is far more than simply waiting for something to happen-...patience is active waiting and enduring even when the desires of our hears are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!"-President Uchtdorf


I don't thing that could be worded any better. It totally makes sense. My hearts desire is to be a mother. I really want a child to love and raise, and I really wanted my husband to be home to be with me. I love him and I always wanted to be near him. The thing is, Heavenly Father knows his children better than the children knows themselves. He will never EVER give you more than what you can handle. Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me if these trials of loosing a baby again and Marcus being away, is preparing me for something bigger. Maybe God is examining my reactions and how I am dealing with what I am going through right now to see if I can handle something in the future.

One thing that I know for sure, through all trials and hardships, is that I am not alone. Heavenly Father blessed me with wonderful people to take care of me, love me, and watch over me. Actually, to watch over both Marcus and I. We are always taken care of. First, we are taken care of by our families. My parents and his parents are watching over us and help us when we need. We have our friends, whom right now are making sure that I have a place to go if I am lonely. Also, we have the most wonderful blessing of the Gospel. Being able to receive blessings to provide us comfort or even healing, whether it is physically or spiritually. To be able to be comforted by the knowledge of being sealed in the temple knowing that Marcus and I will be together for time and all eternity. Marcus is truly my eternal companion and that always makes me so overfilled with joy. And most of all, what Jesus Christ did for us. Suffering in the Garden and dying for our sins and then conquering death. I mean, of all of the blessings in my life that has to be the greatest.

I just need to remember, through all trials and hardships, that I have these blessings and the thing I need to do most is show Patience.

Karin Marie

P.S. Thank you to everyone who is helping us through all of these trials. It is appreciated and admired more than you can ever know.

Finding a Blessing. Graduation!

http://brookedillon.zenfolio.com/p511151534#h1c0aee8f

*The website I posted is our pictures from Brooke Dillon who is an AMAZING photographer. If you want to look at them the password is "Love"

Marcus left for Mexico yesterday. My wonderful mother actually arrived at our apartment at 3 am to pick us up to take us to the airport because I don't like driving on the interstate and so I wouldn't have to make the trip home by myself. My mom is amazing. Marcus' flight took off at 6 am yesterday and he is studying abroad in Queretaro Mexico. (Queretaro took me forever to learn how to spell). He will be gone for a long six weeks. Yes, I am aware that military people are gone longer and that he will be home and so on and so forth. Well, 6 weeks is a stinkin long time to be away from the one you love anyway and it makes me feel really bad for the people that have to be separated longer. Cuz really, this sucks.

Any who, before Marcus left we decided to get some formal shots done. We never really had engagement pictures and I really wanted some cute pictures of us. I found Brooke Dillon and she does amazing work. The picture on top is one I could successfully copy from the website. The others were cleverly blocked so I wouldn't do such a horrible thing. :-P probably a good idea. These are just a couple of them. I can't copy my favorite one. Go check them out!

So, Marcus left yesterday to finish up some school. He is completely done with his spanish thesis (which of course I will never be able to read) and the only thing he has left is 9 hours abroad and then he will have that thousands of dollars piece of paper. I will be getting my piece of paper at the end of December. Something wonderful that has happened is that Marcus and I were able to "graduate" this month. We got empty envelopes but we had enough requirements done that we were able to do the walk across the stage. So...ALMOST THERE! But to finish I am taking another 9 credits of classes this summer and another 17 in the fall. I was also able to only take 14 credits, but of course I am a music major and have to take a full load.What ever. I am keeping busy with school and a new job. I am hoping that working full time and taking 9 credits of classes will keep me busy enough that the next 6 weeks will fly by. I do miss him tons. I mean I love Nanners, but she just isn't the same. She sure is cute though!

Another blessing is how wonderful people are being while Marcus is gone. Many people from church have already invited me over to be with them and my family is being super spectacular. :) I love all of the support from family and friends of Marcus finishing his degree and also supporting me here at home.

Well, that is the current update on what is going on. I will try to blog more and of course keep finding blessings in my life.
Love you all and thank you for all of your love and support. From both Marcus and I.
Karin Marie