Monday, March 25, 2013

Baby Photo Shoot

Autumn Christine Dulude
4 weeks old
 
 
 






 

 



 

 








 






 
 




 
 
 

 

 






 






 

Photos courtesy of my talented sister Lisa Ward, Logan UT

Thanks Sis!

First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage...

First Comes Love....





Then Comes Marriage...



Then Comes the Baby in the Baby Carriage...





Introducing Autumn Christine Dulude
Born February 21, 2013
8:58 PM
7 lbs, 13 oz
21 in long

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Forget Not



"If we spend our days waiting for fabulous roses, we could miss the beauty and wonder of the tiny forget-me-nots that are all around us.

The happiest people I know are not those who find their golden ticket; they are those who, while in pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments. They are the ones who, thread by daily thread, weave a tapestry of gratitude and wonder throughout their lives. These are they who are truly happy.

Sisters, there is something inspiring and sublime about the little forget-me-not flower. I hope it will be a symbol of the little things that make your lives joyful and sweet. Please never forget that you must be patient and compassionate with yourselves, that some sacrifices are better than others, that you need not wait for a golden ticket to be happy. Please never forget that the “why” of the gospel of Jesus Christ will inspire and uplift you. And never forget that your Heavenly Father knows, loves, and cherishes you."

Dieter F. Uchtdorf Oct 2011

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Married People Know

Married people know that it's just as important to remain separate, individual, amazing people while at the same time being everything to and for someone else.
Married people know that being able to laugh at themselves solves more problems than anything else.
Married people know that there is always someone who they can lean on.
Married people carry each other through the harder times...both take turns carrying and being carried.
Married people know that the path they walk on isn't as straight and narrow as they used to think;
But married people also know that bumps in the road eventually even out.
Married people sometimes find that one another changes in an unexpected way, but they also know that those changes allow them to grow together.
Married people know that living to honor each other is more than a promise;
It is an act that they have to consciously do every day.
Married people look at each other with knowing glances after congratulating newly engaged couples,
Because they know that marriage is the most wonderful, most difficult journey that a couple can begin.
Married people know that as the months blend into years, keeping love fresh and alive is a daily job.
It is a wonderful, rewarding job, but one that must be done every day without fail, and that's hard.
Married people know that loving each other through the years is different than feeling in love when you first meet.
Married people can tell when each other need something and do their best to provide it.
Married people know that marriage is a marathon.  
Married people know that sometimes they have to be the first to say, "I'm sorry".
Married people know that they can trust each other to be forgiving, because there is no room in marriage for grudges.
Married people know that there is no person on earth that knows them better.

Engaged couples think they will always feel as in love as they do the day they get engaged.  Married couples know that it gets so much better.
Married people work hard to make each others' dreams come true.
Married people know that some dreams take longer to come true and do everything in their power to help them happen sooner.
Married people know that there isn't another person on the planet that will go to bat for them like their spouse.
Married people know each other well enough to calm each other down when one wants to take a bat to something else.
Married people know that taking time alone with each other sometimes is more important than any party, get together, or social event.
Married people sometimes have to laugh at how much they didn't know when they got married.
When you're single, married people seem like they know more than you.  That's because they do.
They know that you can't rush things, that finding that person you're meant to be with happens in its own time.
And when it does, it just works.
Married people don't just talk about being there for each other during hard times.
They have lived through those times and can say "Thank God we were there for each other"
Married people aren't on their best behavior like when they were dating.
Married people love each other fully, all the good and the bad and everything in between.  They laugh at it all.
-Anonymous-


My sister sent this to me after the blog post I wrote yesterday.  I liked it so I thought I would share.


Monday, February 6, 2012

Blessings and Faith- Remembering that Heavenly Father Wants Us to be Happy!

The Lord said,  "Fear not, let your hearts rejoice, be comforted yea rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks, waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Saboath, and are recorded with this seal and testament- the Lord has sworn and decreed that they will be granted.  He giveth this promise unto you with an immutable covenant that they shall be fufilled and all things, wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good and to His name's glory."  (Doctrine & Covenants 98: 1-3)

I have been commanded to fear not, to be comforted, rejoice, have patience and give thanks.  Why does this seem so hard to do sometimes?  I make decisions in my life many of which I have prayed about, discussed with  my sweet husband, have felt the peace of confirmation from the Lord that what I (we) have decided to do is right and that the Lord will support us.  Why, then do I struggle and get emotional about the consequences of our decision and the many ways our decision affects our day to day life? 

Nate and I got married in October 2010.  We have been blessed to have the same work hours for the first year or so of our marriage.  It has been wonderful to have so much precious time to spend together.  Last month, Jan 2012 Nate mentioned to me that he was thinking about going back to school to study MRI.  We discussed it over a few days and decided that Nate would apply for the MRI program.  We went to the temple with the decision in mind and both received confirmation from the Lord that getting more education is the right thing to do at this time. 

Since that day in the temple,  Nate and I have recognized many of the ways the Lord has blessed us with regards to this decision.  Nate was able to get his 3 recommendations for school, (all outstanding, I must add!  :)  )  He has also completed and submitted his application early.  The biggest blessing of all so far is that Nate was offer a job working graveyard shifts.  Many of you may ask, why is that a blessing when he already has a day job at the hospital that he loves?  Well this grave job will assure that Nate will have a job while he is attending school.  Not only that but it pays a little more and allows Nate to be able to attend church every Sunday with me instead of 2-3 times a month.  He will also have every other week off of work. 

Well Nate is just about done with his first full week of working 10 hour grave shifts.  To be honest it has been a struggle for both of us.  Nate is struggling to get enough rest during the day so he can stay up all night and I am trying to come to terms with the fact that Nate and I really won't have nearly as much time together as before.  Nate has taken the position and has already turned in his application for school.  We are committed to the decision that we have made.  There is no turning back now. 

How do we stay positive through it all even with some uncertainties still in the balance? 

We have our faith in Heavenly Father.  We count our blessings everyday.  We know that since he is "backing us" he will provide a way for us to accomplish our goals.  I believe that if it is important to us it is important to Him.

Even though some days are harder than others, not having as much time to spend together I know that the decision we have made is right.  I am so very, very grateful for Nate and his sacrifice to make our lives better in the long run.  This is only a temporary circumstance.  We will endure, loving each other through it all and continue thanking God everyday for all of our many blessings.  Life is a gift.  He knows our plans and will only make them better, "for our good and His name's glory."

Speaking of Love Clouds

Found this picture today, reminds me of Nate.  Love you babe!


Sunday, January 8, 2012

Christmas 2011

I love the Christmas season.  There is something about setting up the Christmas tree with my sweetheart and being able to enjoy that ambiance and think about Christmas from my childhood, our first Christmas together (last year) and looking forward to Christmas with our future family. 


One of my favorite things to do in Salt Lake City is to go see the lights on Temple Square.  A couple days before we went downtown I got a new digital camera.  Here are some of the pictures I took.  








  

















Hope you had a joyous Christmas Season!  I sure did!