swimming against the current

Devin and I have been so busy with work! I keep trying to tell myself that it will be worth it, because the money is helping us save up for a down payment on a house. So far it is working, and I've been able to just keep plugging along. Bring on more 13 hour night shifts!!

Because of the lack of excitement in our lives lately, I have nothing new to write about, but I thought I'd record some thoughts I've had. Because I missed part of general conference, I was reading through the talks and finally came to President Monson's closing remarks:

"We live at a time when many in the world have slipped from the moorings of safety found in compliance with the commandments. It is a time of permissiveness, with society in general routinely disregarding and breaking the laws of God. We often find ourselves swimming against the current, and sometimes it seems as though the current could carry us away..."

"...I am reminded of the words of the Lord found in the book of Ether in the Book of Mormon. Said the Lord, “Ye cannot cross this great deep save I prepare you against the waves of the sea, and the winds which have gone forth, and the floods which shall come.”¹ My brothers and sisters, He has prepared us. If we heed His words and live the commandments, we will survive this time of permissiveness and wickedness---a time which can be compared with the waves and the winds and the floods that can destroy. He is ever mindful of us. He loves us and will bless us as we do what is right."

I feel like I have found myself swimming against the current lately. I'm finally getting my turn to experience what it feels like to be the one who is different... even here in Utah. Although I'm definitely not perfect at it, I'm learning that I need to stand up for what's right, no matter what other people think of me.....which has been hard because, I'll admit it, I'm such a people-pleaser. I'm grateful for my husband, and good family and friends who are great examples of this, and for the little reminders that the Lord really is mindful of me.

I almost forgot, we did find time in October for a weekend trip to the Bear River Cabin and had a great time even though it was cold!

Brothers-in law Andy and Matt, and Devin with my nieces and nephew

first summer doing "wife" things

My first attempt at gardening in the very limited space we have.

I learned how to can salsa (which takes forever) and how to make freezer jam. Thanks mom and dad for all the delicious garden vegetables and yummy rasberries.

We have been house hunting. This is the home we bought!!



Okay, just kidding. We haven't bought a home yet, and we probably won't for a while longer. Looking for houses can be very time-consuming! It's such a big commitment, and there's so much to think about! But I am happy where we are at right now, I love my ward and friends here, and I feel like the Lord truly placed us where we needed to be.

Layton Family Reunion

We had a super fun family reunion in Heber over Labor Day weekend. Good food, funny people, nice weather, fun games.

We had a great team!

This picture doesn't make sense unless you know we were all trying to pass eachother on a log

We each had to go through one of these "spider web" holes without touching the strings. Definitely easier said than done.

My Dream...

Last night I had a dream that I was back in college. So all day I have been thinking about these girls...

In my dream, we were all in a band together, and Tarisa was the lead singer. And McKell was my mom. Wierd.

Concert in the Park

Come enjoy a concert in the park featuring the acoustic music of Rachel McRae, Kati Layton Barlow, and Debi Youngs. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy a relaxing night of music.


Where: Bountiful City Park Stage on the corner of 400 N and 200 W (next to the South Davis
Recreation Center).
When: Saturday, August 22nd from 7:00-8:30 pm



Check out Rachel's music here: http://www.myspace.com/rachelmcrae

Hope to see you there!

Devin G...

Right now I am sitting in Devin's office at work, waiting for him to finish up so we can go outside to the Kenny Chesney concert. While I have been emailing and looking at blogs, Devin has been flying around answering everyone's questions, talking to the bank, talking to people about financial things I don't even understand, helping people with their tickets, and meanwhile anwering his phone which rings at least once every minute. Everybody here seems to know him and respect him. I am just amazed at how hard he is willing to work.

He has worked long hours every day this week, and he has still been working like crazy today on the 24th of July. It seems like everybody is demanding his attention, and yet, he found time to take me to get some dinner, buy food for other people, and then park my car so I wouldn't have to walk a really long way to the stadium. And even though he will be exhausted tonight, I know he will come home and help me with laundry and dishes, read his scriptures, and say prayers, because that's what he does every night. I have always said that "Devin G is such a good man," but I didn't know just how good until I saw how much he consistently thinks about others, and how little he thinks about himself. He is incredible. Devin, I love you.

Time to update!

Where has the time gone? I can't believe it's already almost June. It's crazy that Devin and I have almost been married for 5 months! This is what we've been up to lately:

We love working in dad's garden!

I tried to make a cake...

The Eagles concert was rockin'

I had a GREAT birthday!

Playing games...

This is my niece Alli

And this is Heidi...aren't they adorable?

Playing in a local benefit concert

We finally got a new car! If you've seen Devin's old car, you know that it was badly needed.

Over Memorial Day weekend, we went up to the Bear River cabin. We had so much fun biking and four wheeling, and playing games with family.

Devin and my nephew, Taylor

I'm taking an online chemistry class. This is me just doing some science experiments in my kitchen. Go ahead, tell me I'm nerdy. I already know.

A benefit concert for the Multiple Sclerosis Society featuring singer/songwriters Michael Murphy, Kathryn Tingey, Jake White, Kati Barlow, Rob Callan and Hema Heimuli in a "songwriter in the round" format. Many original tunes as well as covers. If you like acoustic guitar music, you'll love this concert. All proceeds go to the MS Society. There will be a drawing for a beautiful Ibanez Exotic Wood acoustic guitar during the show and many other great prizes as well. Don't miss it! Tickets available at Murphy's Guitars, Bountiful Music, and at the door. Admission $8.00

Questions...

...Should we get a car or a computer first? Or what about a house? Can we even afford any of this? Where are we going to be in five years? ...those are the questions.
The past couple of weeks have been filled with nightly budgeting sessions. This is how it usually goes: Devin has his "Family Cash Flow" pulled up in an excel spreadsheet on his laptop. I have my planner in hand. Devin uses his accounting vocabulary to try to sound impressive, throwing out words
like, "assets," "expenditures," "financial forecasting," etc. He tries to explain to me the very basics of managing personal finances. But really, I know that we are both trying to reach the same objective, which is: increasing the amount of money we have in our bank account at the end of the year.
Before I got married, I had no idea how many expenses there would be to juggle. I didn't have any understanding of how to manage money, becuase I didn't have any! Life was simple with only enough in your bank account to get you a week's worth of groceries and a drive home. Hopefully we will get the hang of all this as time goes on!

the dreaded dry sockets

Well, somehow I developed dry sockets from the wisdom teeth extraction, even though i've been very careful. Not a fun thing. But, on the bright side, it has given me some extra time to study for my final and to do some more blogging! It also gave me a great excuse to stay home from work this weekend, which means I can watch general conference! I'm really excited, since watching it on tv in patients' rooms at the hospital while pushing IV medications is never quite the same experience.
I thought I would post some more pictures that we got from the wedding. These are the un-edited ones.