Gwen's Star Raising
9 years ago
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Did You Know....
That we are proud parents of an adorable German Short Hair Pointer named Berkley.
Im sure if you follow us on face book you do!!
Once we entered contract on our house we went puppy shopping. We knew we wanted a dog. Our requirments: 1) can be a good running exercise partner 2) A good dog for camping, hiking, etc 3) Needed to be a larger dog (no little doggies for us) 4) Trainable
Kyle really wanted a lab and I really wanted a Grey Hound (I still do). We werent really sure if we wanted a puppy or not. We thought about adoption but got nervouse that we would have to put a lot of work into helping them adapt, adjust and break bad habbits so some how a puppy it was.
We found a cute puppy and her sellers were willing to hold on to her for a few weeks tell we closed on the house. So we picked Berkley up two days before we moved (not recomended) I wish I had cute little puppy photos but for the sake of updating our blog these will have to do.
Here are some cute photos I have of dear Berkley.
Im sure if you follow us on face book you do!!
Once we entered contract on our house we went puppy shopping. We knew we wanted a dog. Our requirments: 1) can be a good running exercise partner 2) A good dog for camping, hiking, etc 3) Needed to be a larger dog (no little doggies for us) 4) Trainable
Kyle really wanted a lab and I really wanted a Grey Hound (I still do). We werent really sure if we wanted a puppy or not. We thought about adoption but got nervouse that we would have to put a lot of work into helping them adapt, adjust and break bad habbits so some how a puppy it was.
We found a cute puppy and her sellers were willing to hold on to her for a few weeks tell we closed on the house. So we picked Berkley up two days before we moved (not recomended) I wish I had cute little puppy photos but for the sake of updating our blog these will have to do.
Here are some cute photos I have of dear Berkley.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Remembering Blessing
I remember a church talk awhile back, I believe it was Elder Eyring, about tender mercies. I trully believe tender mercies are at times the blessings you have to look for in the midst of trials or things not semingly working out the way you desired. In that talk I believe he said that we should write down these blessings as we see them so we can always see how the Lord blessed us.
Well lately I have had this overwhelming feeling of peace that the Lord has and will continue to bless Kyle and I as we strive to start a family and follow his teachings.
Here are blessings I have noted sense we got engaged over a year ago. Most came during trails.
1) Our getting our sealing clearance in time for us to be able to be sealed on our wedding day. This blessing came as a result of hearts being softened for us.
2) My car breaking down on the way to Boise...How its a blessing, after we switched out cars for the SUV we continued on to Idaho to find our selves driving through some scary stormy roads...I know my car would have been a serious danger to us.
3) My being able to get a job lined up so I could work in Utah county and not work in Davis county. That one was a huge test of faith because we choose to not secure an apartment that would split our commute. We figured we could cross that bridge after we got married.
4) My car getting totalled....We were able to get a really good insurance pay out that allowed us to get more money then my car was really worth to replace it with a much more reliable car. (That one was a huge burden on me)
5) Everything we went through in our house hunting process. It amazes me how we turned down three homes when we had no clue how this one would work out. Almost had a few others but had the home owners accept a last bid after they verbally accepted ours. Having our house go in and out of short sale almost not close on it because of the sellers financial situation. To have it all work out. With us landing in a much lower monthly payment then we originally thought. And now we are in a loving neighborhood with great neighbors. Its one of those things that we know was meant to be.
6) State Farm deciding to drop us on car insurance because of a piece of metal totalling my car. We got our new car insurance lined up and will be paying for both of us what state farm would be charging for one of us!! Can beet almost paying half of what you planned to pay.
7) Jobs....Kyle accepting a job in the summer to find it was really not a good fit for him...he felt like he wasnt secure in his job or would have a good future there. He had been actively job searching and interviewing for jobs we thought would be perfect for him but to have him not get them. But in the end he ended up with a job that was a perfect fit for him. One where they offered him the job on the spot and chose him specifically because he had the computer technology knowledge combined with the construction background they were desiring. This job is going to be so great for our future.
These are just a few.
Yea the future is so uncertain and scary because of all of the unknowns and the things I cant control. Yes Ill admit I like to be able to control and plan my future. But I can see how the Lord blesses us day in and day out and comes through when he is so needed in ways that go above and beyond what we thought we needed. I truly feel converted that if I just trust him he will guide us to exactly what is needed. Even if we have to make it through the storm to get there first.
Well lately I have had this overwhelming feeling of peace that the Lord has and will continue to bless Kyle and I as we strive to start a family and follow his teachings.
Here are blessings I have noted sense we got engaged over a year ago. Most came during trails.
1) Our getting our sealing clearance in time for us to be able to be sealed on our wedding day. This blessing came as a result of hearts being softened for us.
2) My car breaking down on the way to Boise...How its a blessing, after we switched out cars for the SUV we continued on to Idaho to find our selves driving through some scary stormy roads...I know my car would have been a serious danger to us.
3) My being able to get a job lined up so I could work in Utah county and not work in Davis county. That one was a huge test of faith because we choose to not secure an apartment that would split our commute. We figured we could cross that bridge after we got married.
4) My car getting totalled....We were able to get a really good insurance pay out that allowed us to get more money then my car was really worth to replace it with a much more reliable car. (That one was a huge burden on me)
5) Everything we went through in our house hunting process. It amazes me how we turned down three homes when we had no clue how this one would work out. Almost had a few others but had the home owners accept a last bid after they verbally accepted ours. Having our house go in and out of short sale almost not close on it because of the sellers financial situation. To have it all work out. With us landing in a much lower monthly payment then we originally thought. And now we are in a loving neighborhood with great neighbors. Its one of those things that we know was meant to be.
6) State Farm deciding to drop us on car insurance because of a piece of metal totalling my car. We got our new car insurance lined up and will be paying for both of us what state farm would be charging for one of us!! Can beet almost paying half of what you planned to pay.
7) Jobs....Kyle accepting a job in the summer to find it was really not a good fit for him...he felt like he wasnt secure in his job or would have a good future there. He had been actively job searching and interviewing for jobs we thought would be perfect for him but to have him not get them. But in the end he ended up with a job that was a perfect fit for him. One where they offered him the job on the spot and chose him specifically because he had the computer technology knowledge combined with the construction background they were desiring. This job is going to be so great for our future.
These are just a few.
Yea the future is so uncertain and scary because of all of the unknowns and the things I cant control. Yes Ill admit I like to be able to control and plan my future. But I can see how the Lord blesses us day in and day out and comes through when he is so needed in ways that go above and beyond what we thought we needed. I truly feel converted that if I just trust him he will guide us to exactly what is needed. Even if we have to make it through the storm to get there first.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Updated Emergency Preparedness Blog
Ok Folks.....
I have spent hours litterly getting us ready to start preparing our 72 hour kits.
A huge portion of my time has been spent preparing our emergency/evacuation plan, our Grab and Go Folder, and first aid info. But guess what Im caught up and ready to go. Ok partial lie, I still need to make copies of important documents, put the folder together and do our home photo inventor. But at least Im organized, found all my info and am ready to go.
I have spent so much time on a project that honestly I hope I only touch when it needs updating. But I feel so blessed and at peace knowing we are prepared...well organized for an emergency. We are ready to start preparing our 72 hour kits now!!
Remember to follow along each week this coming year I will post that weeks project. By the end of the year we can all survive for 72 hours after an emergency.
I have updated my blog with links to all the info I have used. You can benefit from my hours of work and get to where I am in a matter of less then an hour. Lucky you.
Check it all out on my blog.
I have spent hours litterly getting us ready to start preparing our 72 hour kits.
A huge portion of my time has been spent preparing our emergency/evacuation plan, our Grab and Go Folder, and first aid info. But guess what Im caught up and ready to go. Ok partial lie, I still need to make copies of important documents, put the folder together and do our home photo inventor. But at least Im organized, found all my info and am ready to go.
I have spent so much time on a project that honestly I hope I only touch when it needs updating. But I feel so blessed and at peace knowing we are prepared...well organized for an emergency. We are ready to start preparing our 72 hour kits now!!
Remember to follow along each week this coming year I will post that weeks project. By the end of the year we can all survive for 72 hours after an emergency.
I have updated my blog with links to all the info I have used. You can benefit from my hours of work and get to where I am in a matter of less then an hour. Lucky you.
Check it all out on my blog.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Oh My Photos!!
Holly cow Im not even that good at posting on a regular basis yet some how I have filled my memory storage for photos on my blogg....What to do what to do?
If I didnt have family out of state I think I would stop blogging all together seeing as I am so good at it.
So questions of the day:
1) Who is actually reading our blog? If you are please comment to help me decide what to do.
2) What is a good place to save my pictures to so I can still blog with out paying for photo storage?
If I didnt have family out of state I think I would stop blogging all together seeing as I am so good at it.
So questions of the day:
1) Who is actually reading our blog? If you are please comment to help me decide what to do.
2) What is a good place to save my pictures to so I can still blog with out paying for photo storage?
Emergency Preparedness Catch Up
Wow life got crazy and I forgot to take the time to post to our blog the weeks goals for emergency preparedness.
So here is our catch up:
Week 2: Inventory your house. Take a photo home inventory and a written home inventory of your house.
Week 3: ID Kits. Put together and ID kit for all members of your family including pets.
Week 4: Put together your Document Folder
I am behind on all of this my self. By the end of the week Ill have templates and documents on the blog for you to use.
As a reminder I will be posting the rest of my emergency preparedness posts here to try and cut down on clutter on my family blog. I will also posts links on the "The Owens Ark" page of our blog.
So here is our catch up:
Week 2: Inventory your house. Take a photo home inventory and a written home inventory of your house.
Week 3: ID Kits. Put together and ID kit for all members of your family including pets.
Week 4: Put together your Document Folder
I am behind on all of this my self. By the end of the week Ill have templates and documents on the blog for you to use.
As a reminder I will be posting the rest of my emergency preparedness posts here to try and cut down on clutter on my family blog. I will also posts links on the "The Owens Ark" page of our blog.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Emergency Preparedness Week 1....Getting Organized
The goal of this week is to get organized!!!
This week:
*Take inventory of what items you all ready have and collect those items you may all ready have you can dedicated to your 72 hour kit. Here is the attachment for an excel list I created for putting together your 72 hour kit.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AjqBSVC1IlrrdHkyUjhWcWJhWElnc09BYXVJUG9aX2c
Each week we will either collect a few items for the list or perform other needed steps for prepardness.
* Locate the following document:
-Home, car, health and life insurance policies
-Social Security Cards
-Birth Certificates
-Marriage license
-Pet licences, ID and vaccine info
-Health Insurance cards
-Car registrations
-Property titles
-Check books
-Drivers licenses
-What ever else you know you might documents for
For your three month food storage:
*Go through our pantry and identify what you can move to your food storage supply for 6 meals.
This week:
*Take inventory of what items you all ready have and collect those items you may all ready have you can dedicated to your 72 hour kit. Here is the attachment for an excel list I created for putting together your 72 hour kit.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AjqBSVC1IlrrdHkyUjhWcWJhWElnc09BYXVJUG9aX2c
Each week we will either collect a few items for the list or perform other needed steps for prepardness.
* Locate the following document:
-Home, car, health and life insurance policies
-Social Security Cards
-Birth Certificates
-Marriage license
-Pet licences, ID and vaccine info
-Health Insurance cards
-Car registrations
-Property titles
-Check books
-Drivers licenses
-What ever else you know you might documents for
For your three month food storage:
*Go through our pantry and identify what you can move to your food storage supply for 6 meals.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Emergency Prepardness
I dont know if anyone else has noticed but this year has had lots of disasters. I wont say that there are more then usual, increasing in frequency, if they are just making the news more, closer to homes, the world coming to an end, etc.
I honestly dont believe in spelling out dom and glom. I remember visitng the natural history musuem in New York City of all places and speaking with a scientest there. She made an interesting point...she said "We cant necessarly rightly say that there are more desaisters or that they are growing worse or if there is simply more news and awarness of them in our technology age." (Yea I summerized what she said) Point is from that I promised I would never say this is the worst its ever been...cuase who knews over the coures of hundreds and hundreds of years. I know that the earth has cycles and things are ever changing. I know emergencies happen. I know we cant control nature or people.
What I know is that I have witnessed some amazing events these past coupld of events. Some to close to home, ok truly my soon to be home when they happened, to sit back and do nothing. For example this summer Eagle Mountain had two fires leading to manditory evacuations and Saratoga Springs had a major mud slide.
Last night as Kyle and I were watching coverage of Hurrican Sandy he turned to me and asked if we are really prepared for an emergecny and we both laughed knowing that we really only have two basic (and who knows what is in the them) 72 hour kits. We realized we have no watter stored, real food stored, or source of fuel or heat or supplies if an emergency hit and we had to make it 72 hours to a week on our own. We dont even have all our documents in order or a plan if we had to evacuate.
Add this conversation to these facts/events:
1) After we went into contract on our house the fires in Eagle Mountain started....Kyle and I said that as soon as we move in we need to start preparing for an emergency
2) We move into a ward/neighboorhood that takes emergency preparedness seriously and each house has a packet to use in case of an emergency.
3) Our ward provides the chance to purchase items for food storage each month
4) Our ward is having an emergecny drill next weekend
Kyle and I feel it is time to take emergency prepardness seriously.
We decided last night to take a weekly bite out of getting ready for an emergency. In Relief Society we were taught the importance of doing so and that it can be done 1 week at a time. Each week to accomplish one or two items to get your self prepared so that in a year you are better prepared. I look at it this way what is $5 of ones weekly grocery budget put towards emergency prepardness or evenly $10 monthly....compared to finding your self in a real emergency and not being able to fend for your self. If I lived in NYC right now and had no power Im pretty sure that gallon of icecream sacrificed each month compared to no food or water would not be a huge sacrifice.
So all that being said I have decided to tackle this project my goal is that by December 31, 2013 Kyle and I will be able to survive 72+ hours on our own, evacuate with short notice, etc. Of course as our family grows we will need to add to our supply so you can see it is ever evolving but its a start to have us ready.
I will do a weekly project/task to get us to that point and will blog it so that anyone interested in doing so can join in. I promise to do this in the most cost effective way so that we can all do it :)
Each week I will post to keep us all involved.
What this means:
1) Acutally following through and posting each week, creating a plan and doing the research.
2) Getting others involved and participating
3) Not using my 72 hours supply for my daily needs. I once built a good 72 hours kit for myself...but have used it as my main source of bandaids...that wont help me much. Nor will it help to eat ones 72 hour food...my plan there...have storage containers where the 72 hour supply goes that is off limits tell and emergecny...of course eat it if its about to expire but replace it
4) Actually blogging and folowing through...thats the only part that will be hard....I love the research, getting organized learning part.
Welcome aboard...if you are really interested in doing this with me please follow along each week.
I honestly dont believe in spelling out dom and glom. I remember visitng the natural history musuem in New York City of all places and speaking with a scientest there. She made an interesting point...she said "We cant necessarly rightly say that there are more desaisters or that they are growing worse or if there is simply more news and awarness of them in our technology age." (Yea I summerized what she said) Point is from that I promised I would never say this is the worst its ever been...cuase who knews over the coures of hundreds and hundreds of years. I know that the earth has cycles and things are ever changing. I know emergencies happen. I know we cant control nature or people.
What I know is that I have witnessed some amazing events these past coupld of events. Some to close to home, ok truly my soon to be home when they happened, to sit back and do nothing. For example this summer Eagle Mountain had two fires leading to manditory evacuations and Saratoga Springs had a major mud slide.
 |
| Eagle Mountain Dump Fire |
 |
| Southern Utah Flooding |
 |
| Hurrican Sandy |
 |
| Hurrican Sandy |
 |
| Queens New York Hurrican Sandy |
 |
| Eagle Mountain Dump Fire |
 |
| Hurrican Sandy |
 |
| Saratoa Springs Mud Slide...Effects of Dump Fire |
Last night as Kyle and I were watching coverage of Hurrican Sandy he turned to me and asked if we are really prepared for an emergecny and we both laughed knowing that we really only have two basic (and who knows what is in the them) 72 hour kits. We realized we have no watter stored, real food stored, or source of fuel or heat or supplies if an emergency hit and we had to make it 72 hours to a week on our own. We dont even have all our documents in order or a plan if we had to evacuate.
Add this conversation to these facts/events:
1) After we went into contract on our house the fires in Eagle Mountain started....Kyle and I said that as soon as we move in we need to start preparing for an emergency
2) We move into a ward/neighboorhood that takes emergency preparedness seriously and each house has a packet to use in case of an emergency.
3) Our ward provides the chance to purchase items for food storage each month
4) Our ward is having an emergecny drill next weekend
Kyle and I feel it is time to take emergency prepardness seriously.
We decided last night to take a weekly bite out of getting ready for an emergency. In Relief Society we were taught the importance of doing so and that it can be done 1 week at a time. Each week to accomplish one or two items to get your self prepared so that in a year you are better prepared. I look at it this way what is $5 of ones weekly grocery budget put towards emergency prepardness or evenly $10 monthly....compared to finding your self in a real emergency and not being able to fend for your self. If I lived in NYC right now and had no power Im pretty sure that gallon of icecream sacrificed each month compared to no food or water would not be a huge sacrifice.
So all that being said I have decided to tackle this project my goal is that by December 31, 2013 Kyle and I will be able to survive 72+ hours on our own, evacuate with short notice, etc. Of course as our family grows we will need to add to our supply so you can see it is ever evolving but its a start to have us ready.
I will do a weekly project/task to get us to that point and will blog it so that anyone interested in doing so can join in. I promise to do this in the most cost effective way so that we can all do it :)
Each week I will post to keep us all involved.
What this means:
1) Acutally following through and posting each week, creating a plan and doing the research.
2) Getting others involved and participating
3) Not using my 72 hours supply for my daily needs. I once built a good 72 hours kit for myself...but have used it as my main source of bandaids...that wont help me much. Nor will it help to eat ones 72 hour food...my plan there...have storage containers where the 72 hour supply goes that is off limits tell and emergecny...of course eat it if its about to expire but replace it
4) Actually blogging and folowing through...thats the only part that will be hard....I love the research, getting organized learning part.
Welcome aboard...if you are really interested in doing this with me please follow along each week.
Friday, October 5, 2012
Our New Home!!!
On September 14th we "Signed our Life Away" and closed on our first house!!! We moved in on September 15, 2012.
Our Address
8114 Plum Creek Circle
Eagle Mountain, UT
84005
The facts of our house:
2100 square feet.
3 floors
2 car garage
Fenced in yard
Master Bedroom and onsuit bathroom
2 extra bedrooms
1 Upstairs family bath
1 Main floor Bath
Kitchen and living room on main floor
Unfinished basement, soon to be finished.
House projects (which I will blog as completed. For two reasons: 1) Better pictures of the house 2) To brag about what amazing things my husband can do and I am learning to do!!):
1) Touch up paint from all dings, scratchs etc. (Kendra's project)
2) Paint over the chalkboard wall (which Kendra is sad to see go :( ), will be painted a nice grey color. (This weekends project for Kendra)
3) Take down the built in shelves in the living and pain the wall a nice blue (shelves are down just need to patch and pain the wall...everyones project)
4) Hang up medicine cabinet in family bath and decorate it..
5) Sod the yard and remove all weird plants the former owners were growing....that will wait tell spring
6) Paint the first bedroom and prepare it for future owners...aka kids....no no announcements yet but maybe soon.
7) Finish organizing the home office aka 3rd bedroom
8) Place hardware on kitchen cabinets and would love to stain a darker cooler.
9) One day down the road pain the master bedroom and instal wanescoating on the walls
10) Make new window finishings
11) Instal coat rack/shelve for entry way
12) The biggest project of all!!! Finish the basement......you go Kyle and Sean for taking on that project....thanks to unfor seen car issues we found the perfect way to invest in the basement :) Figure it will buy us more years in the house and add really good resale value :)
13) Lots of future projects I know we will think up
Here is to home tour. (Ill admit I stole the pictures from the online listing so I could start posting on this big event in our marriage)
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| The front of our house!!! Its a twin home condo but we still love it!! |
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| Front of House. |
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| View from the Front Door. |
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| Living Room |
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| Living Room |
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| Kitchen |
 |
| Dining Area |
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| Bedroom #1 |
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| Main Family Bath |
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| Master Bedroom |
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| Master bathroom |
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| Backyard |
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| Backyard |
Im So Behind on Posting and Neglecting Our Blog to Death
Last night my dear loving husband pointed out I havent blogged in well forever. So its time for catch up!!! And with life being so fun, full of adventures and changes I know there will be ALOT to blog about in the coming months. So I am going to catch up...or at least try and remember the good big things worthy of blogging and stay on top of it.
So here it goes.
So here it goes.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
The Adventures of an Everything Aholic....AKA Weight Loss Support Group
My sister and I decided to start a weight loss support
group!! If your interested in joining let me know!! I have set up a private blog
for this purpose. But Ill be posting on my progress on my blog to keep my self
accountable.
I will post:
*My Monthly Goals
* A weekly update/check in…I would say daily but weekly will
be pushing it…but Ill try for daily.
adventuresofaneverythingaholic.blogspot.com
So the point of this blog is to provide group support.
I know weight loss can be a personal thing and hard so I want to keep it private in the way of we dont have to list our starting weight or goal weight.
As we enter the blog for using it as support please do:
1) Provide your overall weight loss goal
2) Goal date
Each day:
1) Report your daily food log and exercise log (if needed blog it once a week...I get it we forget at times)
Each Sunday: report overall success for the week and if you want something you are really proud of that week!!!
On the first of each month set your monthly goals!!!
Together we can meet our goals!!
My goal is to lose 35 lbs!! I want to lose 1.5-2 lbs a week meeting my goal by January 11, 2013!!
I have a fitness goal of working out 5-6 times a week returning to good overall health!!
My goals for August are:
1) Lose 5 lbs by the end of August
2) Complete a 5k on August 25th
3) Work out 4 days a week
4) Be accountable to my daily calorie budget!!
Thursday, July 26, 2012
24th of July...or a 4th Repeat?...
The 24th was pretty much a 4th repeat...only difference...change in brothers...add a brother in law and a BBQ with the Dubai Princes.
And actual firework pictures...
I love Dax and his Nemo..aka "Elmo" his very favorite character and movie!!!
Sorry for the picture over load...
Side note after looking at the summer of pictures I am appalled at how I have let my self go. Time for a big time diet!!!
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