Beautifully Inspired Marie

On February 1st I decided I would take a trip to Europe! I was sitting at work at H&R Block and talking with a coworker and just randomly decided that I would go visit a friend in Spain. As time went on I didn't know if it would be possible but I was determined. I decided I would go donate plasma to help earn money. I donated once and it was an interesting experience. The following week on Feb 9 I got a letter from them telling me I couldn't donate plasma anymore because I got a false positive for a test, so they couldn't trust my blood. I was super bummed about it, but I was still determined. I was constantly looking at flights and playing around with dates, departure cities, and arriving cities. On February 11 I found a great flight to Paris on April 24 and coming back on May 25, so round trip for only 420$! For that price I can fly to my family in GA round trip! So I pulled the money together that day and I bought it! I just made a life long dream a reality.

It has been a while since I have been on here. I didn't mean for that to happen it just did. So I have gone through a lot since the last time I posted. I wrote a short little story on my point of view and thoughts. I am not trying to point fingers or anything like that. Hope it just helps you understand a little bit of what I went through. There once was a girl who believed in princes and princesses, who believed in happily ever after. She thought she had done right and was following her heart. She fell in love with a man who in the end didn’t love her the same. He loved the idea of having a wife who took care of the things he didn’t want to anymore. He had been married before and had two beautiful children who were his world. She wasn’t the awful stepmother as the fairy tales portray. She loved them as her own. She gave them everything she was capable of. Some would say, she loved the kids first and the man second. That could very well be true since the kids were easy to love.

I can hardly believe it has been a year since returning home from my mission. Technically it is tomorrow the 29th but today a year ago I said my testimony for the last time as a full time missionary. A year ago on Christmas I officially met my husband Cody. He apparently saw something in me that when I got home to my family in Georgia he messaged me on Facebook and we started to talk. :) I never saw what has happened in that year coming. I have done a lot of things in one year that have been challenging but have made me grow as a better person and I wouldn't change them. My mother says I didn't just change my life I leaped and bounded into it. And I did and have no regrets :) I couldn't have imagined my life any better. I loved my mission and I do occasionally find myself missing aspects of it but I am happy to be living in what used to be my mission a place I fell in love with too. I am so grateful that the Lord inspired me to go on a mission. If I hadn't I w

So it's the holiday season :) I love Christmas time. At first the beginning of this month didn't feel like December yet because I was in the hospital with Austin. We are now home and I've been getting stuff for Christmas so it feels like it now. Last week was our ward Christmas party and Santa made a special visit :) it was cute watching Des wait her turn to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what she wanted for Christmas. Here are some pics   So I decided I would make a wreath for Christmas since Cody doesn't really have decorations and I've always wanted to try my hand at it. So today was my first time and I think it turned out great :)

So I didn't post a pre surgery but I'll at least do a post surgery. On Friday this week it will have been a month since I donated my kidney to my stepson, Austin. I can't believe it has only been a month. Austin is doing great! On Tuesday he got his staples out and is doing better than ever. He is happier than I've ever seen him and it is fantastic! His incision is looking good so far.So here is some news on his progress since surgery. He used to be fed through his J-port but now he is being fed through his G which is straight to his stomach. He is starting to taste food more. We found he likes salty better than sweet. Since the staples are out we are going to start putting him on his stomach so he can learn to crawl. :) We can't wait until he can start going on his own. He is also starting to say different sounds he has a new one and it is the letter "B". It is just great to see him progress when before he really couldn't. Here is what it looks li

Holidays a time usually spent with family and friends.  I've got to say I am a bit nervous about the Holidays. Nothing bad just trying to figure out how we can combine what my family did while I was growing up and adding Cody's family stuff too. For Thanksgiving I think we've got it figured out. Since my family is back in GA and just going through surgery for Austin and I we aren't going. Next year we will hopefully go for Thanksgiving or Christmas. But for Cody's big family Thanksgiving dinner I've made my moms sweet potato casserole, homemade pumpkin pie and my pecan pie. But nonetheless it will be interesting spending the Holidays with my new family. I've got to say I don't think I ever realized how much work goes into doing the Holidays lol. I am just glad I am not doing the Turkey that just seems daunting. One day I'll do it but not anytime soon. I can cook simple things, I'm still learning how to cook meals constantly for my family a