Grateful...again.

I'm trying to do better at not complaining. And to be grateful for what i do have.

1. Life. I'm alive and relatively healthy--one of the biggest blessings i could ask for.

2. The Gospel of Jesus Christ. My uncle passed on Sunday afternoon. While I grieve, I dont grieve in the way others do. Because i KNOW, without a doubt, that he is in good company and that he is happy. He lived a good, and valiant life. He taught his children to be kind, honest, sincere, loving, and so much more and they are the best people i know. He was a second father to me...someone i could always turn to in times of trouble or frustration, of happiness, and pure joy. I'm so glad my Jace got to meet Bruce before the cancer took him away from us. I know that he isnt in pain anymore, and that from time to time he'll be watching over us. Just like he did as the eldest of our family while he was with us on earth.

3. Jace. My rock. Marriage certainly has its ups and downs as you try to meld 2 lives together into 1. Its such an interesting sensation. We have our squabbles...but i know that he loves me with all his heart, just as i do him. And i know that because we are willing to compromise, our lives will be rich. Do you know, he even does the dishes for me?!

4. My mom. She has gone through so much...and it never seems to stop. But you know what?? She is so strong and courageous and good...someone i want to be like. And shes awesome because she keeps giving me stuff even though I'm married and not living at home :) My dad. He works so hard for my family...and trys to use his humor to make us feel better.

5. My brothers--(all of them, Hunt men included). They are all good men. I can say men now because Joe grew up out of no where. They all have soft hearts and I know that i can count on them when i need it. My wight brothers :) are just a little more open and vocal with the mushy gooshy stuff.

6. My sisters. In law. LOL Never having sisters, this is a unique experience for me. I have Mindy, Jamie, Jen, and soon...Melanie. Each so different...and still, i know they care.

7. A clean and organized house. ALMOST! I have tackled ALL of our extra rooms. I now just have to fold the laundry and clean the kitchen and bathroom and my house will be clean!! Yipee!

8. A new doctor. One who is much more optimistic about my condition than my last. I'm starting to feel hope again.

9. Goals. Finishing school, losing 10 lbs before April, saving for a house...having a baby.

10. Excedrin extra strength. Wonderful, wonderful medicine.

11. My Dyson vacuum. 'Nuff said.

12. Rainy days. They make everything smell good...and then make us appreciate the sunny days.

13. Soft and comfy bed sheets. MMMMM

14. A freshly shaved Jace :)

15. An adorable new swimsuit that I bought and will not reveal until almost April...

16. My brother Jeff. For being him, for asking my opinion on rings, for taking my opinion into consideration, and for making me sign up at a gym and offering to go with me.

17. Hearing baby Alyssandra coo.

18. The feeling of accomplishment (cutting Josh, Grace, and Jace's dads hair)

19. Lauren Brimley's pictures. They always make me happy.

20. For love.

Why I love what and who i love!

So i didn't go to school all last week. It started out because Jace and the boys had a show at the Glendale chocolate affair (by the way, it was way fun!!! and no...sadly i didn't get pictures, i was busy selling cd's!) Then i had some weird stomach thing going on. And then on Wednesday I got a call from my OBGYN.

For all those who didn't know, i was awaiting the results of some blood test and an ultrasound (no not because I'm prego). They called with the results. I have been diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Which was actually kind of devastating to me. It means that my hormones are so out of balance and my ovary has tiny cysts on it...it may be extremely difficult to get pregnant or we might not be able to at all.

Since you might not know this about me...Andrea fact #1. I never wanted to be a career woman. I never wanted to be a doctor. I never wanted to be a ballerina. All I've ever wanted was to be a mom. Hence, why this news was so devastating to me.

Jace came home and I told him the news. Instead of acting like it worried him or anything...he just held me and let me cry. He told me that everything was going to be okay. He told me that its in the Lord's hands and that what happens will happen. Other people were telling me that, but it wasnt until I had my eternal companion say that to me that i actually started to believe it. Now, dont get me wrong. I still tear up at the thought of not being able to get pregnant. But i have 2 special people close to me that have made the word adoption sound do-able. I don't have a picture of her...but my cousin JoyAnn's daughter Lexie was adopted and she is so meant to be a part of our family its crazy. And my niece Grace. She was adopted and she couldnt have been more perfect for Jeff and Mindy and our Hunt family. She truly is a Hunt.



So...this may be TMI but I'm going off of birth control at the end of this week. And what happens is what is supposed to happen.

In other news::

WE ARE FINALLY MOVED IN!!!!
I shouldve taken before pictures but I would be too embarrassed to post them anyways. We have 2 rooms in our house. One is actually set up as a guest bedroom, but quickly became my decoration room with all the halloween, thanksgiving, and Christmas decorations. The bed even held my wedding dress for all these months. The other room was completely empty and then when we moved in we just placed all of our worldly possessions into this room. So it was full of boxes, wedding presents, bags, and who knows what else. Well, while i was taking a mental regroup week i decided to tackle these rooms. I threw out a ton of stuff. I gathered all of our stuff and put them into clear bins that were then labeled for easy grabbing. And this was the end result:




MY DADDY SOLD THE WHITE CAR!!!
Anyone who went to High school with me should remember this car. We called it the ghost. And one person called it the Holy Hippo (long story) Anyways, its pretty much been dead SINCE i graduated 5 years ago. Not running and taking up space in front of my parents house. Its an 87 and no one in their right mind wanted it. But miracle! Jace and I stopped by a few nights ago to see some men looking at it and talking to my dad wanting to buy it!!!
I woke up the next morning and drove by my parents and saw my dad cleaning it out. The men were coming that morning to take it away!! I'm really glad i had my camera on me, seeing as I dont know if i ever have taken a picture of my high school car.


MY JACE
Is possibly the sweetest man I have ever met. I'm starting to cry just thinking about yesterday. Since we dont go out on Sunday's we celebrated our Valentines day yesterday. I wasn't really expecting much, and to my complete surprise Jace planned out a very special day. When i came home from school (tired and a little grumpy) I opened the door to this:



He had bought roses and lined our house from the garage to the bedroom where he had written me a special journal entry at the end of it telling me to get dressed up nice. :)
I jumped into 'get ready mode' and finished just time to greet him walking in the door! And what did he have in his hand as he walked in the door??? Only my favorite chocolates from Sees!
He then tells me that he made reservations at SKYE! Its a fancy restaurant where the food is excelent, you get to dress up in fancy clothes, they have a baby grand piano and people singing and there is dancing!!! It was amazing. And the most perfect valentines I could've planned myself.

I would've been completely happy had jace given me a card and a foot massage. But it warms my heart to know that he went above and beyond to try and make it a special day for me ((i think he may have been trying to cheer me up anyways from the rough week we had))

I love him!!!


GIANT COOKIE DAY!!
So apparently my in-laws have a tradition of baking giant sugar cookies with your names on them for Valentines day. Jace was so excited we rushed right over to get ours. I didnt take a picture of it...but it tasted awesome. :)

And then when we got to my parents....we found my mom making giant sugar cookies too!!! She even went above and beyond with our dinner, setting the table in red and pink, with cards and candy for us all and using her china! I think she may be excited to have Jace and Melanie with us, what do you think??

Everyone: HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! i hope its a great day!!! Enjoy!

Growl!

So...Jace and I teach the sunbeams (3-4 year olds). We've been teaching them for the last 3 months. In Nov and Dec we had a group of 12. HANDFUL. yes, yes they were.

We got a new class in Jan. There are 8 of them, but only 6 of them come most of the time.

I've noticed a pattern. In our old group i would get growled at frequently. In our new group, i've been growled at 3 times.






Is it me or 3 year olds??!!

LOL

And by the way....even though they are mad at me when they growl...i cant help but start smiling or laughing...they are too cute.