Happy Birthday to...ME

After a glorious birthday and many thoughts of love from friends and family via facebook, as well as in person, or on the phone I got the cutest electronic card from Quynn. So I thought what better way to post about my birthday then through my husbands eyes. ;) I will make a shout out to my mom too for making me feel super special and for cooking all day to make a FANTASTIC picnic lunch! Thanks Mom! And thanks Quynn for being such a huge part of my day! XO

Chelsea Udell

Happy Birthday to my dearest true love

Wednesday, June 15, 2011 

What a great day this has been. Even though I had to spend half the day away from you, wondering what you were up to....I still enjoyed imagining you happy on your special day. Then I was super excited to be picked up by my very attractive wife at 5:00. Had a lovely stroll through Gateway Mall. Enjoyed the best egg roll of my life, and did a bit of window shopping. I know that this was YOUR big day but you made it my day too just by simply being you. I love you and look forward to every minute with you. Cheers to many birthdays to come

3 Years Ago Today...

I was eating a most glorious waffle brunch with 50 or so people. Why you ask? Because 3 Years Ago Today I married the man I love. 3 Years Ago Today I married my best friend. 3 Years Ago Today I solemnly and willingly covenanted to spend not only this life but throughout eternity with Quynn. 3 Years Ago Today I smiled more in that one day then I have in my entire life. 3 Years Ago Today I married Quynn. Happy Anniversary to the handsome, hardworking, integrity driven, patriotic, unconditional loving husband that I'm so richly blessed to be married to. Here's to 3 Years and Counting, each year a celebration!  I love you Quynn, Forever and For Always!

Oh, how I love Fridays

What a better way to start your weekend then rockin out, kid style!

 

Puppy Love

Yep, that's right I'm in love....and not just with my amazing husband but my adorable new PUPPY! Kyah is a German short hair pointer/boarder collie mix. She's got TONS of energy, lots of love, and is growing oh so fast! She's been such a happy little pooch and an awesome addition to our lives. We rescued her from the Cache Humane Society where she was 1 of 14 pups (poor momma dog). When we went up to go and get her she was covered in mud from being an outside dog at her foster parents home. Being the smallest and most clam around her puppy siblings she stayed sat and looked up at Quynn and I. They always say dogs are the ones who choose their master...either way we fell in love. She remained by the fence loving every minute of us petting and cooing over her, ok maybe that was just me. We told the foster parents we wanted her and that we would pick her up at the humane society to sign the papers. After spending butt loads of dollars on her set up for her new home with us, we went to go get her. She was clean (thanks CHS)  and sweet as ever for the drive home. She was such a cuttle bug until that night when I decided she could sleep in the bed with us. Who knew something an 1/8 of my size was such a bed hog! After a restless nights sleep I decided that was the end of  that and we bought her a kennel for her own space...SHE LOVES IT...and I can sleep! She's got quite the personality and loves to play tug-a-war. She also LOVES birds, oh boy, Quynn can't wait for pheasant huntin' season!

this is when we first brought her home, she is a good passenger in cars.

Check out her short and stubby legs...before she grew now she looks more proportionate.

Her most favorite toy, her red rope!

Sitting so patiently. Sorry about the poor quality I'm still getting used to the picture taking on my phone.

Year 2010 Brought...

Recapping the year of 2010 in one word phrases:
Nanny.Laughter.House.Joy.Hawaii.Peace.Missionary.Faith.
Friends.Sanity.Jobs.Hope.Family.Trust.Hiking.Serenity.

Looking forward to 2011!!!

AfRiCa!

The night that changed my life forever was November 9th, 2010.  My aunt Lisa had invited me to hear the story of a woman name Mariama Kallon.  She was born and lived most of her life in Sierra Leone, Africa.  For those of you who know about this place is it's known for it's....blood diamonds.
The results of this horrific experience for many was the loss of limbs usually cut off by machetes or being shot to death. Both of these things Mariama witnessed as a little girl growing up in Sierra Leone.  When the men with the machetes would come a word would be yelled out and the people in the villages would run for their lives, many not running fast enough. Upon fleeing for her life she heard gun shots and turned around to notice that both her parents had been shot and killed. Looking to her sister who stated that they couldn't turn back but needed to keep running. They did so and came across a little hut that they thought was safe. Upon morning they woke up to be surrounded by the Rebels with their machetes in hand cussing and yelling commands at the women who had taken refuge in this little hut. They did as they were commanded to do all mumbling prayers to their God. Mariama had the thought cross her mind, she knew God existed but she thought about asking God if he was really there.  Upon doing so shouts from soilders nearby had scared the Rebels off and once again the women fled to the forests.  Her sister was not as fortuante and fell into the hands of the rebels. Once in the forest she was given a humanitarian kit that was able to help 25 women for 3 weeks!! To this day Mariama still carries what's left of her humanitarian kit. A friend from school had noticed her circumstances and told her she could stay with them until she found some family members. Upon staying with them they told her that they didn't have anything to give but hope, courage, and love from their church.  Needing hope, courage, and love she decided she would go. They took her to an LDS chapel where she experienced her first 'quite' church. :) There she found what she was looking for and decided she wanted to be apart of this church and got baptized, as well as served a full time mission in the Salt Lake City temple mission. With nothing but her humanitarian kit, scriptures, the clothes on her back, and her righteous desire to serve a mission she left for Utah. During her stay in the MTC her mission president had heard about her and him and his wife took her to the bookstore where she could purchase her first set of knee highs and other clothes that were apart of the missionary life. She also recieved 3 suitcases full of clothes given to her by sister missionaries returning home. Her story continues as she recieves many more blessings through out her life and to this day travels with the church for "a time out for woman" to tell her story.  I got to meet this amazing person and my desire to help and serve in Africa increased even more so.  I recieved a contact from Mariama into an organization that will one day change my life forever. I've been accepted and if I so choose at this time to serve in Africa I'll be leaving June 7th 2011. :) Thank you Mariama for your testimony, your inspirational story, and the love in you heart! I owe my success in Africa all to you!

Our Zion

The moment for all those who have been desperately waiting to see our house, aka:Stephanie.

This is the view from the front door into our living room. 

These are our couches, in our living room, what a coincidence! ;) But do take note of the picture on the left that was my gift to Quynn it's a picture of some of our founding fathers signing the decleration, Ben franklin is crying with tears of joy.  I saw this picture and knew that my husband would appreciate it! His love for his country and the founding fathers continues to grow especially at this time. Love you Quynn!

This is our fireplace with some halloween deco on top.  One day behind the fireplace we'll have a rock wall! I'm super excited for that!

This is the other side of the living room looking into the conservatory, notice my cute witch I won at Bunko!! Yes, Bunko I LOVE bunko nights with my girlfriends in Lehi!! WOOT WOOT!

This is our conservatory room, It's a bit messy so there won't be much pictures of this! But this is our most prized possession our baby grand piano.  We're "storing" it for gma and gpa Udell, it's played ALL the time! It bring so much happiness to this home! I LOVE MUSIC!!! Especially when Quynn creates it, hopefully our kids will learn how to play on this piano!

And this is our kitchen "the heart" of every home.  Notice Quynn's beautiful job at laying down our tile! :)This is a work in progress, and will be for some time! We've got grand ideas for this room!

This is the kitchen nook, and our temporary table until we can build our own built in kitchen nook table.  The table is set for dinner with our gma and gpa Harrison and Jessica. We will be having ministrone soup, canned peaces from previous blog post, and bread.  Hope the soup turns out! And all of the wood will one day be covered in stone to give the effect of dining in Italy! 

Our Bathroom! :)

Quynn's throne!! Tee Hee!

Welcome to a touch of AFRICA!! Yes MY favorite room!! Notice my wonderful giraffe that my father in law had hoped I'd forget about. ;) The pictures that aren't very visible were chinese paintings of animals in Africa drawn by Jessica! She's amazing at art work!! 

Here's another view of Africa with our African masks and a lion carved out of wood! and again notice the beautiful giraffe to the side! :) 

Well that's all for now! Hope you've enjoyed this virtual tour of our humble abode! Our Zion!!