Frustrated in Portland

The snow was fun at first. It reminded me of home, but a snow storm in Oregon is nothing like home. No one can drive in it.The plows only plow major roads. Our garbage has not been picked up in two weeks. It seems no one here thinks it's rude to just shovel and pile snow where ever they want. In the street or behind your parked car. So at first the snow made it feel like home, but now it just makes me miss home. I am frustrated.

Flex Those Wyoming Muscles

So Church was canceled again today. We had a real bad ice storm last night and the roads are snow then a thin layer of ice and then some more snow. Anyways my dear sweet Hubby was getting a little anxious to do what the opposite of everyone else was doing today and that is go for a drive. So he De iced the truck slowly and we piled in his four wheel drive to go for a ride. We headed down the road when he saw a fellow student stuck in a bank of snow. So he pulls over and pulls him out. We head on our way and down a few more blocks is two guys stuck. So he pulls over and pulls them out. We went on our way again and low and behold two girls stuck. So he pulls them out. Two more pull outs later and we finally headed home. So five in all and that was just down the road from us. Serious people don't drive in it if you don't know how. Devin was beaming. Can you believe he loves doing that kind of stuff. He loves snow. He loves to drive in it, shovel it and anything that has to do with it. Anyways he sure was flexing his muscles today. He even got some Cat calls from the girls when they saw him hooking up and pulling. I guess I have to give old Red some credit to. She is just used to driving down the road to school. She got to do today what she was born to do.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

So Devin took one final before school was canceled for the rest of the week.It has been crazy here. I, unlike the Portlander's, have enjoyed the snow. One of things I had a hard time adjusting to when we to moved to Oregon was the seasons. I didn't feel like they changed. It's rain or sun. So it has been nice. We are still getting snow and lot's of it. Here's some pictures from my office window from yesterday.

And this just in.....More cancelations

This week has been a trip. Devin's finals were canceled for Monday and today. School has not been in session for many schools here in the area. My work Christmas party was canceled for tonight and I am scratching my head. I guess I have always taken for granted having to learn how to drive in snow. My co-worker Matt grew up in Bountiful Utah and he said to me at work yesterday "I bet they don't cancel Christmas parties for a little bit of snow in Utah huh?" I laughed and said "no way man". We just put a good cd in the stereo, take our time and drive slow. Devin has been happy, but frustrated with the situation. He still has to take his finals, but now he will have to wait until after Christmas break to take them. He is happy for more time to prepare, but it's kinda nice to not have to think about school over breaks. He too is scratching his head. This morning the roads were perfectly fine. A little snow was falling, but no big deal. AAAAHHHHH it's so weird for us. Missing church was nice. Were taking votes on if it will happen again this weekend, because they say this weekend will be worse. Apparently an ice storm is supposed to roll through. Good luck to all our student friends traveling this weekend. Drive safe!!!!

Church Canceled?.....Are you serious?

That's right folks. We woke up to this this morning. Portland has been below freezing and our rain turned to snow. Since Portland only get's storms like this every few years they are not equip to handle them so we did not have church today! This is the view from our upstairs spare bedroom at the beginning of the storm. It snowed pretty much most of the day. It was pretty awesome.

Our back yard as the storm was at it's worst.

Super Saturday

We had super Saturday yesterday and we made so many things I was like a kid in candy store trying to decide what to make. We learned how to Etch glass which was awesome. Here is some of what I did. The top stares Modge Podge frames, Vinyl signs, and my candle holders.

Here is a better picture of my candle holders.

Movies + Lines from Movies= Memories

Ryan has been sending me movie lines to my phone that are what we refer to as Searle classics. It has been so fun to hear these movie line he finds and sends to me. It also brings a flood of memories to my mind and it has been a fun thing for him and I to share. So I thought it would be fun to have my blog readers leave a comment about movies that remind you of memory you have. I would love to hear. Searle classic include and this is just to name a few: Tommy boy Lot's of one liners, Tombstone: Val Kilmer played Doc Holiday and he had a killing of one liners we loved growing up and quoted all the time like......"I'm here Huckleberry" with his country drawl. The three Amigos:My little buttercup dance. Are you kidding..... hilarious. Kelli learned to talk watching this show I swear. She loved it.

Black Friday

Well today is about the only day I can get Devin out to shop. We are not the early birds, but we did get out early today and got some good buys. We usually look for good prices on things we need as well as gifts. We got a air mattress to go camping with for under ten dollars. Some movies for four and we always have to hit Home Depot. We also upgraded our cell phones and got an awesome deal. So we are pretty happy. Black Friday is like ultimate coupon day for us.

GRATITUDE

Well folks it's Thanksgiving week and that always brings to the front of my mind things I am thankful for. I think one of the key things in staying humble is gratitude for all we have. Here is my list. First I am thankful for my testimony and knowing that Heavenly Father knows me. I am thankful for Devin and his love for me. He puts up with me and loves me even when I don't deserve it. I am thankful for his priesthood and his worthiness to call upon the power of Heaven and give me a blessing when I need it. I am thankful for his willingness to sacrifice things he wants to do to attend school, study and learn a skill to provide for our family. I am grateful that he is my best friend. Maybe not the best girlfriend, but my best friend. He keeps me grounded, he reminds me who I am, and he calls me on all my crap pushing me gently to be better. I am thankful for my parents and the pieces of them I have in me. Dad and I share a love of history, music, movie lines and I call him to be my sounding board more now then I ever have. Mom I have my compassion for others, and the willingness to see them as they should and could be and not as they are. Mom always looks for the good in others. I am thankful for my brothers and sisters. I don't know what kind of person I would be without all of your personalities and traits rolling over into my life. I am grateful for all you do for me and the person you have helped me to become pushing me in your own way to be the sister you need and know is inside. I am grateful for the munchkins (Searle and Simpson).They make me laugh and I am thankful for that. I am thankful for Ivie and our friendship that is getting stronger since Aunt Crystal moved away. Ivie the other day I was thinking about the day you were born. I can remember your daddy bringing you out of the hospital room and I immediately tried to imagine the person you would be. You were so little as you looked at us your family for the first time I remember that I loved you instantly and I had never felt that feeling before. So I am grateful for you my oldest and wisest niece. I am grateful for my in laws. I have said it before and I will say it again. I could not have asked for a better family to marry into. I am thankful for all you do for Devin and I. I know I could call upon any of you to be here for us and you would be and I am grateful for that. I am grateful for my friends. Old and new. Some of us have been through alot together and some of us have journeys still to take, but I love you each so very much and I am grateful for you. I am grateful for music. I am grateful for this country and all it stands for. I am grateful for modern medicine and the blessings bestowed upon us through Heavenly father's guidance in Science. I am not grateful for trials, but I am grateful for the polishing of me that they render. I appreciate the person they help me to become. So this is my small gratitude list. I say small because my list really could be much longer and go on and on. What I really wanted to accomplish was to say I am grateful and I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving.

Blogs

I was looking at my list of blogs today and I had a thought I thought I would share. I love reading the stories and experiences people share and one today in particular got me thinking I wonder if I would ever hear that story if they didn't blog about it. It's such a blessing to my life. I have felt prompted to call friends and family after reading between the lines on their blog posts. I love hearing about people's happiness and triumphs and on the other hand feeling humbled as they blog about there fears, trials and disappointments. I love being able to see pictures of family and friends who are far away and hearing what they are up to. It has truly been a blessing to pull up a blog and see the faces that make me smile, particularly on hard days or getting a comment from someone that really makes me laugh. This is my life story even if it is random. Just like our thoughts and the things we are grateful for one day to the next. Today I am grateful for blogging and the wonderful Internet that keeps me seconds away from Utah and Wyoming and all the things and people I love. Miss you so much Utah and Wyoming!!!

Eight Is Great

Camille has tagged me about a hundred times and I never do them. Sorry Camille! So this time I decided I should do one just for her. Here goes.

8 Things I am obessed with right now:

1.The show CHUCK- I can't miss an episode
2.Carmel apple cider from Starbucks- Thanks to Penny and the 25$ Gift card I won from work.
3.Blogging and looking at other peoples blogs
4.Taco Bell- I have never grown sick of eating there
5.Victoria Secrets sweet sugar lotion. I bought a bunch when they were on sale
6.Getting updates on my neices and nephews
7.Polymer Clay
8.Sleep- can never have enough

8 Words or Phrases I often use:

1.DAGG NAM IT!
2.Pretty sure.....
3.Devin can you_____?
4.Oh man
5.What the?????
6.WHATEVER!
7.Stink
8.Sweet

8 Shows that I love to watch right now:

1.Chuck
2.The hills
3.Jon and Kate plus 8
4.Rock of Love charmed school ( don't judge me people)
5.Little people big world
6.Big Bang theory
7.The Office
8.Anything on the history chanel

8 Things I did yesterday:

1.painted my nails
2.Worked
3.Watched criminal minds with Devin against my better judgment. That show scares me
4.Thought about starting laundry..... that's as far as I got
5.Picked my pig skin pick em's
6.Remembered I need to mail dad's birthday present
7.Checked craigslist for Wish list item numero uno
8.Checked the family blogs like I do almost every day

8 of my Favorite places to eat:

1.Chilli's
2.Taco bell
3.Out back
4.Red Robin( just recently became a favorite for the fries yum yum)
5.Asian Thai Bistro
6.Home ( sometimes nothing beats a home cooked meal)
7.My mother in laws (She is a good cook)
8.Pretty much anywhere that I don't have to cook or clean up

8 Things I am looking forward too:

1.Seeing Devin graduate
2.Twilight the movie (next week)
3.Christmas music
4.Being a mom (someday)
5.Seeing our families again hopefully next spring
6.Having a house (also someday)
7.The end of this day
8.Sleeping in tomorrow it's friday

8 Things that are on my wish list:

1.A black chev Tahoe leather and a sunroof
2.Red Kitchen aide
3.new wardrobe
4.A raise
5.I could always use new shoes
6.A new bag
7.A new hair style
8.A personal trainer

WHAT DO POOR MORMON GRADUATE SCHOOL STUDENTS DO ON A SATURDAY NIGHT?

Answer: Rock Band party!

Devin and I

Steve, Devin , Parker, and Chad as Broken Brain Stem.

Travis on lead Guitar, Alisha on drums, me on vocals, and Nachelle on Base. We Rocked it.

Our youngest groupie Kylee.

HALLOWEEN 2008

I can't say that I care to dress up for Halloween, but this year I decided to dress up for work. Good thing I did because I won "most creative" costume and a gift card to Outback Steakhouse. WWHHHOOO for me!!! I was Sally from "The nightmare before Christmas". My family loves that movie. Seriously the nieces and nephews are obsessed. Anyways I made the costume a few years back, but did some upgrading and sewed some sleeves on it this year. I didn't have my wig on for this picture. There is only so much costume you can do when you have patients to take care of.

Kristy and me. Kristy is my co-worker and has easily become one of my very best friends. She was JUNO. She really is pregnant. I know hard to tell isn't it. She is a tiny little thing. Anyways Kristy won "funniest costume". Here are the two winners.

Our way of passing out candy. Devin's skeleton for school made a great Halloween decoration.

Devin's costume!

Things to smile about.

After the week I had I reflected today on some things that made me smile. Thought I would share. I called my good friend Emily on my way home from Spokane and she told me her four year old thinks I look like Rachel Ray. Every time Emily watches Rachel Ray Josh asks her "mom is that Crystal"?

I don't think I look anything like her, but it made me smile.

This was the second thing this week that made me smile. I got on Devin's oldest sister's blog when I got home and low and behold a post just for me.

Aunt Crystal, this one is for you!
Tom was getting ready for work this morning and Connor comes in with the most serious face you've every seen.
Connor: "Dad, who is Aunt Crystal's friend?"
Tom: "I have no idea, buddy."
C: "Yes, you do. You know that guy...he is Aunt Crystal's friend."
T: "You mean Uncle Devin?"
C: (face just beaming now) "Yeah, that's who I mean!!"
and that was the end of the conversation. just random thoughts running through his head and he could remember you and couldn't remember your "friend"!!!
It made me smile, so I thought I'd share!

Thanks C-man Aunt Crystal loves you!

Our Jounrey

It's late and I should be sleeping , but I am afraid I cannot rest until I have shared a few thoughts rambling around in my head. First I feel gratitude for a God that I know knows me and knows each us personally. I know not all my readers share my beliefs so if you haven't already stopped reading please don't. I have a story of two friends and their journey together I would like to share. It all began five years ago when I walked into my friends office and I sensed something was wrong. With great hesitation my friend shared with me that she had just hung up with her mom and that she had been given the news that her mom had been diagnosed with breast cancer. I watched her eyes fill up with tears as she said the Doctors are only giving her three to six months to live. The weeks that followed were of great sadness as my friend made the decision to move home to Washington to be near her mom. Three to six months came and went and I decided to make the road trip from Salt Lake to Spokane to see my friend. It was August and we had decided to drive to Idaho to hit some shopping. My friend saw this little cafe and decided to go inside. There was a band playing and she wanted to stop in and listen a while. As we stood there listening our attention was drawn to this man who walked in and my friend immediately recognized him. She gasped and graped my arm and then walked over to this man and exchanged a few words with him. Later she told me that the man was the Doctor who had helped save her mother's life and given her family a little more time. This Dr. through no short of inspiration was in the office on a usual day off. He looked over my friends mom's chart and realized that the course of treatment was not what needed to happen. He immediately contacted my friends family and told them of his findings and the changes in surgery that needed to take place. My friend told me of the fasting and prayers that they had pleaded to Lord to prolong there mother's life and there prayers were answered. She felt so humbled seeing this man that I first hand got to witness the exchange where she thanked him for saving her mother's life. How strange that he would be in the exact place in a completely different state and walk into the same little cafe we did. As we reflected it was not strange at all. It all goes back to God knowing us personally. My friend's life had been blessed because of this man listening to a still small voice he may not of even known was heavenly inspiration. She needed and wanted so much to thank him for what he did for her family and her mother. A year or so later I felt inspired to go on a whim to see my friend. I did my best to shake the feeling, but I could not. Married now and poor I was not sure Devin would agree to fly me all the way to Spokane, just because. He seemed to have sensed the same urgency I did and knew that once again a dark hour had come and that my friend needed me and he even booked my flight for me. It was an amazing visit to be able to hang out with her and her mom and be silly girls. That was almost two years ago. Now some may call it coincidence that I now live 5 hours away, but this may be all part of the creator's plan for me and my friend. So many conversations, treatments, frustrations, triumphs and tears later my dear friends mom passed away today. Spokane is again calling me. I have so many things going on I heard myself muttered to her today, after she said "come soon",well I can come then or there but I have to be home here or there. AAAAGGHHH Why do we do that? In the shower tonight I felt prompted to just go "just go Crystal". Devin and I have known it was coming and we are prepared to be apart for a few days. I guess I share this because I have felt first hand the love Heavenly father has for my friend because he has provided so many ways for me to be there for her. So when I reflect upon this I think if he loves her that much how much does he loves me. Then I reflect upon all the people and friends that have been blessed in my path during my darkest hours. God is aware of us. You cannot witness what I have witnessed and not know this to be true. He loves us and his tender mercies are what he uses to testify to us that he knows us. People are not perfect, but God is and so is love. I am very sad and upset right now. No 29 year old girl should have to journey to her friends side to comfort her as she goes through this. It's so hard. The words escape me, but I find comfort in the word's "just go Crystal".

The Random Corner

I ordered this book shelf a year ago before we moved to Oregon and when we were home Devin's sister Amy mentioned she was curious about how it looked. Here ya go Amy. There are two more glass shelves I don't use because my dolls wouldn't fit.

Latest Polymer clay I did a few weeks ago.

He's not finished, but he is close. Just got bored one day.

All the Simpson girls made these when I was home. Dad Simpson cuts these out for us and then we create. I didn't finish mine when we were there so Simpson girls here is my finished BOO!

None of your Buisness

What other people think of you is

none of your buisness!!!

Dear Friend

Dear friend,
I talked to you last night for a little while
What I heard through the phone sounded to me like a smile
but I know the hard truth that you soon must face
and the wish of your heart to not be in this place
I am grateful that you have found peace from above
and that you know of our father's love
for you dear friend he knows who you are
and freind............ your dearest mother will never be far.

I LOVE YOU

My Cup Runneth Over !

Our trip home was so much needed I am feeling very humbled and blessed. I feel like I have lost touch of myself living away from the people who know me best. They call me on my crap or tell me everything is going to be OK. I love laughing with brothers and sisters over inside jokes. The Searle family has movie lines we can quote and get the others laughing instantly. Sitting in church with James (our nickname for baby sister Jami) was enough to have me in stitches. Man she can make me laugh. Hearing Parker sing "keep bleeding I keep keep bleeding" with his three year old voice puts a smile on my face. Hanging out with the Simpson's with mom Simpson cooking on the table also put's a smile on my face. Having my grandma Searle who is in a nursing home dieing of Alzheimer's recognize me and remind me it had been a whole year since I have seen her( which it has) and it was about time I got there to see her brought tears to my eyes. Our trip was wonderful and my cup is now full. I hope I can draw upon it when days get rough.

Devin Rob and Devin in "little Sahari Utah"Ivie, Claire, Parker and BoPayten Mae

Long anticipated play time with Uncle DevinMe and JamiMy grandma SearleIvie

Quinn and McKenna playing on the table.

Us letting them cause it was so dang cute.Taryn, Connor and Kymora hanging out

at Grandma and Grandpa's Simpsons

Bo had to stay in Grandma's room cause he wasn't feeling so good.

29 hours before we leave and 12 hours to drive to go YIPEE

I am going home. I miss my Utah in more ways then one. Oregon is beautiful, but I can't wait to see my Utah. I am sure my eyes will get a little wet when we pull in. I am so excited I can hardly sleep.