Ricky's Project

So for a while now Ricky has been working on rebuilding a V6 engine to put into my car, along with a few other things. He's gotten it to the point that he can finally do the swap. And this last week he officially began the swap.

My poor car with no engine.

It's gonna take a while since he's pretty much doing it all himself and can only work on the weekends and a little bit before work everyday. But he has set September as his deadline to have it completely done and running. So hopefully in a month or so I can have my car back (or he can have my car and I'll just take his).

Family Reunions

Back in March Ricky was able to take some leave and we were able to go back home together. It was the first time he was able to go back to the states in 2 years. It was a great trip! We were able to see almost all of both sides of the family, which was great! We were able to go to Disneyland in California with Ricky's Mom and Step-dad, all three brothers, and Grandma! That was a great trip! First time for several of us to go to Disneyland! We got to spend a lot of time at the beach, and Ricky even got to learn how to surf!
Ricky, Ken, Tony and their surfing instructor.

Family Photo at the resort we stayed at.

While we were in the states we really kind of splurged because shopping online isn't all it's cracked up to be. Ricky particularly loved going to auto hobby shops. All the tools and car parts… Let's just say we went to them more then I wanted to and way more then was necessary. 

He's sad that Germany doesn't have stores like this.

We also got together with my family and did a big family photo shoot so that we could surprise my mom with them for mothers day. Since Daryl was back from his mission we were able to get all of the kids and grandkids together for this first time in over 2 years. They turned out really great! 

Everyone!

Just the grownups.

All in all it was an amazing and very much needed trip!

Projects

I got the motivation to do a couple of projects in January. I needed a new church bag, and I had some extra fabric laying around so I figured I'd go on pinterest and find something I liked and make it. Luckily the one I liked ended up having a pattern I could follow. 

I really like how it turned out.

 The only thing I would do differently is add a pocket or two into to hold pens and small things.

The other thing I did was sign up for a frame making class on base. It was great and because I did it, I became certified to use the equipment unsupervised. So now I can go back and make my own frame for a small fee and the cost of the materials! 

Here's the frame I made in the class.

I want to find a better picture of my dad to put in it but this is what I had at the time, so it will have to do for now.

Christmas

We had a quiet Christmas. We did splurge on a couple of very nice things including a new German knife set for me, Apple TV and an iPad for Ricky, and several Christmas movies and Christmas books because I feel like those make it feel more like Christmas then anything else. I didn't take many pictures cause I got caught up in the excitement of it being Christmas but here are the 2 I did get.

Ricky opening a present.

 A new Christmas sweater!

Also we were kind of late taking family photos this year so we did Christmas ones.

Ricky is wearing a Christmas sweater that has dinosaurs on it (along with his bow tie and ridiculous glasses). 

 Why? I don't really know. I figured it was Christmas, let him do what he wants.

Christmas Traditions

I love Christmas! It is probably my favorite holiday, followed closely by Thanksgiving. I love many things about Christmas, including, but not limited to, the food, the decorations, the presents, and really just the feeling in the air. I love it all! But I've really enjoyed the traditions this year. It's been interesting meshing Ricky's and my traditions together, but fun. We've even started some of our own. One of which is to make ornaments every year. Slowly but surely we will have enough home made ornaments to cover our tree. We don't have all of the first ones we made cause they didn't make it more then a year or 2, but others have lasted and it is fun to remember where we were when we made them. 

Here's what we made this year!

They turned out pretty cute!

Back to Germany

The month really flew by. By the end I was torn between wishing it was longer so I could stay with family and enjoy the comforts and luxuries of the States, and shorter so I could finally be with Ricky again. But eventually time ran out and I had to fly back home. Or at least I thought so. I made it to Baltimore no issues, but got stuck there for 3 days waiting for a seat to open up so I could fly back to Germany. I thought I had timed it pretty well, but I guess that everyone, all 185 people that showed up thought the same thing. And unfortunately there were only 123 seats available. The worst part? If one other person hadn't shown up, I would have gotten on that flight. It was so frustrating being that close to making it home, and then not. 

Luckily the military has some very strong bonds that are easy to develop, and because of that I was willing to share a hotel room with 2 complete strangers for the night so that I wouldn't have to stay in the Terminal 2 nights in a row. Granted we still spent enough time there (over 24 hours) that I was starting to feel like Tom Hanks from The Terminal by the end. The next flight out came and luckily for me there were less people and more empty seats! Enough that not only me, but the 2 ladies I stayed with were able to make it on board (not without a little drama of course, it wouldn't be space-a without it). We did a little celebratory dance to celebrate! 

It wasn't a bad experience, but it did test my willingness to "be the leaf". And even though it was tough and frustrating to go through, I look back at it now and be grateful. Grateful that I am part of an amazing military community. Grateful to have only been stuck for 3 days, and not the week that one of the ladies I stayed with was. And mostly just grateful that I felt safe the entire trip. Not once did I feel scared or afraid for my safety. Talk about blessings!

Priesthood Blessing and Temple Work

I don't often share spiritual stuff on here. Ok I never share spiritual stuff on here. I don't really share it period, and that is a little sad, because I have so many amazing spiritual experiences. Granted some of them are very personal to me. Others I forget a little too quickly. But I did have one that I do want to share, at least a small part of.

While I in Idaho, I was able to receive a priesthood blessing from most of my brothers (two weren't able to be there) and can I just say how wonderful it was to know that all them were worthy and willing to give me a blessing. I felt surrounded and protected by a wall of love before the blessing was even started. And almost from the very start I could feel my dad's presence, stronger then I've ever felt him, around me. It was a beautiful blessing and I cried the entire way through it. I only wish I had thought to record it so I could hear those blessings again.

Right after my priesthood blessing, most of the family was able to go do baptisms for the dead in the Twin Falls, Idaho Temple. If you ever get a chance to go to the temple with all or most of your family, do it. The whole experience is so much more meaningful and filled with so much more love then when you're there with strangers. 

Of all the things I was able to do while home This day was my absolute favorite and most cherished of them all.