How trials turn into good

When we went through our failed adoption placement back the beginning of August of last year it was one of the toughest things both Shaileen and I have ever gone through. When we got the phone call about 12 or so hours before we were supposed to sign papers saying that she had changed her mind it was easily the toughest moments of my life and most likely Shaileens to. It felt like there was no reason to live and we held each other and bawled in the middle of the brick oven restraunt. People were probably wondering what the heck happened and what was going on. We tried to sleep but we ended up talking for a lot of the night and holding each other. I think I actually cried myself to sleep until the nightmares came. The way we were both able to make it through the insanity was because of the love, prayers and support of our family, friends, ward members and coworkers. We certainly would not have been able to make it through it without them. After the situation happened I kept telling myself that things happen for a reason and that we can and will make it and will be stronger because of it. The main reason I am writing today is to express that it is absolutely true that things happen for a reason. My favorite thing to tell people that I gained from the experience is Shaileen and I are closer and love each other even more today than we did back then. She is the rock in my life. I love her so much and she makes me a better person each and every day. Another thing as funny as it may sound is it has increased my testimony of the gospel especially the plan of salvation. I know without a shadow of a doubt that Shaileen and I will be parents one day and that we will be an eternal family. I cannot wait for the day that we get to take our child to the temple with us to be sealed for time and all eternity. The thing that has hit me the most that I truely appreciate is several people that we have met that are in the adoption community. They have made us stronger people and we love them so much. You know who are. Trials bring lots of darkness into our lives during the initial time that we are going through them but when we fight through the issues we can and will come out stronger and better people because of them. Like always I personally want to thank everyone for their love, support and kindness towards us. You really do not know how much that means to us.

CHRISTMAS PARTY WITH FRIENDS 12-13-12

Last nightw as the 2nd Annual friends Christmas party. Can I just say that we had a blast!

 

 

We had a white elephant gift exchange 

 

As you can tell it was a pajama party... I have nothing else to say about this photo!

This is the coolest game ever. Everyone brings a load of candy and then you roll the dice and if you roll the correct doubles or numbers you get to pick up a piece of candy or steal one from another person! Could life get any better? I submit that it cannot!!!

 

We also played battle of the sexes and the newlywed game

DINNER & GAMES

On Friday night we invited some friends out to Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner to get out of the house and also because the Jazz game was on. As you can see from the photos below we had a blast. When we walked in they said that the wait was 1 hour and 45 minutes but from looking at how many people were waiting in line we decided that we would chance it because there was no way the wait was that long. We waited for about 30 minutes give or take a couple and were sat down.

 

 

YUM!!!

 

After dinner Shaileen and I went over to Angela and Nathan's house to play a few games. The pulled out catch phrase. It was fun, but can I say that I absolutely suck at it! What a good start to a fun weekend.

 

 



Craft Night and Football With Some of Our Best Friends!!

Last night two of our best friends came over last night to hang out!!

 We love it when Brady and Lauren come over with their two precious little girls! We had so much fun!! We started the night by eating some yummy dinner together and then we let little miss Olivia go out to the garden to pick pumpkins for the family... she had a blast! 

We then went downstairs and started crafting away!! I painted a cute frame to go in my living room and Lauren is making the word HOME and the "O" 

is interchangeable every month with a cute holiday item! 

Brady and Kurt sat and watched the Utah vs USC game and kept the 

girls busy for us! What great guys!! 

Kurt is going to be the best daddy EVER one day... you can just see it in this picture. He sat and read book after book after book with sweet little Olivia. 

Pretty much the sweetest thing I have ever seen! 

Don't ask me why or what made her think of it but Lauren decided it would be AWESOME if we painted on mustaches!! They turned out pretty epic if I do say so myself!! That's right... when we get together it gets a little crazy!! LOL

I came upstairs to find this cuteness!! Lauren, Brady, and miss Olivia had a little fun with the IPad!! Turned out pretty cute!! 

Here is our finished products!! Lauren's above and mine below! They turned out great I think!! Hard work, Fun, and time with friends ALWAYS pays off!!

I just want to say that through all of the CRAP Kurt and I have been through in the last few months we are sure grateful for our amazing friends!! We are always having people come by and calling us just to check on how we are doing. We are so blessed with some of the best friends in the world! 

Swimming with great friends

Park City, Laser Tag, BBQ, Softball and More

This past Saturday was one of the busiest/funnest Saturdays we have ever had. Early Saturday morning I woke up for Softball practice. It was a really good practice. We were able to teach the girls a lot and they learned a bunch too. After practice William and Briana invited us up to Park City to ride the Alpine Slide and the Alpine Coaster. The Alpine Slide is a lot more fun when you don't fall and burn your knee and hand, OUCH! The Alpine Coaster on the other hand is an absolute blast and I would recommend it to anyone. About 15 minutes after we got home we had "J" (birth mother) come over to our house for a BBQ. We had a great time getting to know each other more while having some red hamburgers! haha.... After about 3-4 hours she left and said that we would see her on Monday for her Dr's Appointment. We absolutely love spending time with her. It seems as if we have known her forever. Later that night some family invited us to go to an "ironman" session of lasertag at Laserquest in Midvale. It was a blast. Shaileen had a bunch of fun too until I kept popping around corners shooting her. After the game she would not talk to me for about 10 minutes or so! I think that just means that I played the game right. HAHAHA... Check out the photos below

Thanks for inviting us William and Bri

 

Dont make fun of me too bad but in this video i crash bad! haha 

Shaileen going up the hill on the coaster

This is the coaster video! Best ride in park city!

In the waiting room for Laser tag! Shaileen was a little excited... haha

Dancing with Friends

Have you ever played the dancing game on the xbox connect? We got together with some friends last night and danced! It was pretty fun but not sure if I am really going to be happy that I posted this video! You better enjoy! haha