In Life

In life you tend to remember important dates. Where you were when something big happened, or where you were when you found out something that would alter your life.

This is something I've been thinking a ton about lately. 

Recently at Sylvan I had the chance to reflect on where I was when I heard the news about 9/11/01. Sitting next to me at the same exact moment was someone my age who was there watching the events unfold in front of her eyes. That blew my mind at the time. How real that must continue to feel for her, and how brave I thought she was for talking about it. Not too soon after that moment came another moment. I received an email from my sister about a death of a friend to their family. It made me reflect on everyone I have ever known to die in a car accident, from illness (yes suicide is an illness), or even "old age". 

What do we do when we hear about someone dying? Where do we go? Who do we turn to?

I remember a few deaths that have happened during my life, but one stands out to me more than others. I think for me it was the turning point in how I handled death. No, my feelings don't change and some are definitely harder than others, but this one death my freshman year of high school (same year as 9/11) helped me realize grieving is good and definitely okay. 

I think another time when I realized something about death is when I myself was so close to it. In May 2015 I began to get sick. It kept getting worse, and we did not know what was wrong. Until we discovered my heart issue about a week or so before my wedding. I should have died the doctor told me. I had a heart attack. But I realized something else that day about death… there are always two choices. I could have chosen that day to give up, but I didn't. I fought. 

I think in all my rambling the most important thing is that we must be kind and love each other. Hold your loved ones a little tighter, and maybe just maybe call up that one person you haven't spoken to in years cause you never actually know when it will be the last time you speak to them in this life. 

10 years in review

So, it's taken me over a week to write this post cause life can be busy (even when it's not it is). You'll notice there are pictures of just me and then there are pictures of just Jordan. That is because over the last ten years we have only known each other for part of that. This next year will make our 4th Wedding Anniversary and in December it will make five years since we've known each other. I don't know if it was "love at first sight" for either of us, but we now know we were meant to be with each other for eternity. In the past ten years Jordan graduated from high school and went on his mission, and I graduated from college and began to start my career. As many already know we met through a mutual friend whom we both met in those ten years. Now, me being a Louisiana girl I never thought I would be living in Utah after college and marry a Utah boy, but I'm glad I did. In the few years Jordan and I have been together we found out about my heart condition, and got two dogs and a house! I wouldn't have our life any other way. Jordan is my big goober and I love adventures with him! :)

Life is not easy, but it is worth it.

So, a couple of months ago I mentioned that I had gotten a new job, and Jordan had switched to a new shift at work. Well, things for me didn't work out, and I found myself again needing a new job. I contacted my former boss at Sylvan and was immediately hired. It's not perfect, but it'll do for now. But life isn't easy, every time you turn something happens that lays you flat and it's hard, but I'm grateful for all the many blessings I have, and the opportunities that I have in life. I don't post a ton about my life these days. I also certainly don't let everyone know what is always going on, or the hurt I feel inside. People always think they understand mine and Jordan's whole not being able to have a child, but they don't. I was just speaking with my mom about this... People always turn to infertility, but my issue is definitely not that... I mean... if God allowed I could have a kid, but God doesn't allow that right now. My heart isn't strong enough, and I'm getting there, but it will take a bit. Well, I don't know what else to say, or what else I want to say. BUT I do know I'm grateful for Jordan and how much he means to me despite our troubles that we go through. Enjoy some pics of our crazy life together.

confessions of how we met

So, I don't know if I'll publish this one on facebook, but I feel like now that we've been married for 3 years, and since we will be together forever that I don't exactly mind people knowing our whole story.

A few years ago ( I don't remember exactly how many) I met this guy named Ricky Ferlin and became pretty good friends with him. Well, he knew I really loved animals, and eventually introduced me to the world of furries. Which was kinda cool, and I started to think if I was an animal what would I be? Well, then one day after Ricky and Charlotte were married Ricky tells me he's going to a furry convention. I'm thinking... okay... cool. And he started making his own furry costume. So, that's kind of how I got into all of this furry stuff...

Now at the same time Ricky was doing all this Jordan had met a kid named Brian. Brian was also a furry, and invited Jordan to go to the same convention Ricky went to. NONE of them knew each other. In the end they all started to become friends and hang out. Well, one day I see this crazy kid Jordan (or JoJo as they all called him) at Ricky and Charlotte's house. I was intrigued by him, but meh.

Well, a couple of weeks later they all came to an improv show that Ricky was in and that I was getting tickets for. Well, JoJo just couldn't stop talking to me and he wore a tail the entire time. I was REALLY intrigued by him this time and him by me. We were both acting out of the normal. Well, soon that led to both of us asking Ricky if it was okay for us to converse with each other, and soon we started talking loads and wanting to hang out with each other more and more. As soon as we had our first date we were both kinda hooked, but it wasn't until Jordan realized he didn't want to date anyone else that we really started to blossom. All in all this brings me to more about me and JoJo... because we really met due to this furry fandom it's become a part of our lives. From going to conventions and really helping with the Utah convention which Jordan is a the co-chair of. I feel that because of this we've been able to meet more people from all over the world and all walks of life.

At first I was skeptical of the entire thing, but I'm getting better and I really love everyone I've met through it. I've begun to have some really great friends again in my life, and since graduating college that's been rough. I'm truly grateful for the way Jordan and I met. It's nice to have so many things in common and I feel it keeps us close as a couple, and as our friend circles increase it is even more wonderful for us. Here are some pics from this past weekend that I took either of my dogs at home, Jordan doing lights, or just hanging out with friends. We had loads of fun, but we're glad to be home with our pups too.