The Girls...

Just wanted to share a picture of the girls in my family. This picture was taken on the day that my mom and her high school sweetheart were married. This was a wonderful weekend...we had tons of fun! Love you girls!

Sunday Afternoon Thoughts...

There are many things on my mind this Sunday afternoon. On Friday morning I received an email from my dear friend Katie who moved with her sweet family from Indiana to Mississippi 2 years ago. At one time she had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer...she got through this trial. The email that I received told me that her cancer is back. I finally got to speak with her yesterday and she is so upbeat about life. They do not know where the cancer is right now, but she will be goin in for a CAT SCAN this coming Friday. The doctor has told her that it is a small amount and that things will be fine. As her friend, I am concerned for her...she has two little girls. One is turning 4 this summer and the other girl will be turning 1. Katie is married to a lovely man who loves her and his family so very much. Please keep this sweet family in your thoughts and prayers. As a ward Relief Sociey (even though she does not live here anymore) we are going to be making a quilt for her...to be wraped in love whenever she needs it. Many sisters today signed up for making a square even if they did not know her...my heart is amazed on how women gather together to do good for another sister in the gospel. I will be sure to post a picture of it when it is done!
My dear Aunt Sara has been gone for 20 years today. I was 12 years old when she died of cancer. My heart has been full all day. My husband and I spent time with my grandma today...we then spent time at the cemetary. I know that her spirit is not there, but I was crying while we stood there for a few quiet moments. I remember the last thing that she said to me. It was: "Kirsten, make me proud someday." I am far from perfect, but I hope the choices that I have made and will make in life makes her smile down on me and my little family. I feel very blessed to have had her in our lives before cancer took over her body.
Life is precious...and I often say that we need to take time and emjoy the simple pleasures in life. Take time to mend any wrongs with family members or friends before the time is to late. Tell them that you love them...
The flowers that are in this post are freshly cut from my grandmother's garden this afternoon. I love fresh flowers, and more than likely you will find at least one case full in my home at all times...enjoy the rest of your day...whatever you may be doing! Remember...SIMPLE PLEASURES!

More pictures...

This is the flower girl and Damon's nephew
Siblings...
View of Lake Tahoe from the 18th floor of Harrah's
Uncle and Nephew...

Nevada Adventure...

We left South Bend, Indiana at 1:50 AM on Friday morning to head to Chicago to catch a flight to Reno, Nevada for Damon's 1/2 sisters (biological) wedding. We had slept for about 2 hours and then the alarm went off. To make a long story short, I got us lost getting to the Chicago Ohare Airport. We got there...but just the long way. We stopped twice to ask for directions...and they assured us that we would get to the airport from the road we were on. I almost called my sister at 2:30 AM to have her get us on the right road...but I let her sleep. We did end up at the airport. Thank goodness for self check-in...it sure does save time...ONLY if there are more than 2 people working to get tags on luggage. We waited 20 mintues for the lady to even realixe we were there. She was more concerned about the people who had passports who were heading home to various countries. It was frustrating. I always get a bit frantic and anxious while traveling. I have this smooth trip built in my head...and when there is a qulich...it bothers me...just get me on the plane. Our flights were uneventfull...we slept almost the whole time...we had a very short connection in Phoenix.
Once we got to Reno, his family had been waiting for us...we got our rental car and went to breakfast. We are not used to driving where there are mountains. We felt like we were driving around in circles. We were so turned around...good thing we were following his mom. We went to a town Genoa (SPELLING) that was the first town where the Mormons setteled when they came to Nevada...it was all closed up...here is a picture of a sign that was there. We were thinking that the weather was going to be nice...but it was COLD!! After this we went back to his sisters new townhome that she is going to share with her new husband, and cute little boy from a previous marriage. It was nice to have lots of down time, and not be in charge of anything :)

My husband's sister was married the next day (Saturday) at the town that we visited the previous day. There is a family who owns a home there, and they open their home and yard for weddings. Here are a few pictures that we took on Friday!

Ok...I have not learned how to put pictures where I want them in the posts....UGH! So, here are some more pictures...one day I will figure out how to put them in a certain order. YIKES! Enjoy!

What a crazy few days! I guess that is what the end of the semester is all about...I had a biology lab presentation, and those who were to go yesturday chickened out...so I went first. Once I was done, it was nice to hear other classmates say, "Wow, she sure set the bar high!" Now I can sit back and enjoy the other presentations next week! This will be a busy weekend...we are having an Easter/birthday get together for mom. HOpe all is well with you all...

Snow?

Just wanted to share with you what we woke up to today...I think mother nature is a bit confused!

New Shelves...

We purchased a new bed last week...it is very nice. We put our old bed into our spare bedroom...I have been trying to organize our home office...and not doing it very well. Papa John cut us some barn wood from the Garlet's family barn. Here is a picture of them empty. I will post a picture of both rooms once they put together.

I have been sick with a cold for a week. Last Wednesday for our biology lab went down to the river in the rain...in the wind. So...I got sick. I have not been sick since Christmas with the flu...I was doing really well. Damon had his last wisdom tooth pulled this morning...he said that he was really nervous and just about got sick in the office...poor thing. He had to go right to work when he was done. I am sure he will be in pain once he gets home tonight. It is so cold here right now...I went from wearing short pants yesturday to wearing long pants and a fleece...YIKES! What is up with this CRAZY weather. Tomorrow Damon and I will have the entire day to ourselves...hopefully he will not have to work. Damon's biological mom ran into the girls at the mall...wish it was us running into them. We pray for them each day...

Great Food...

Our wedding anniverary was this week. We have been married for two years. My mom and papa John (what we call my mom's awesome husband) took Damon and I to the Tippecanoe Place for dinner. Damon had heard that one of their specials was all you could eat prime rib. It was really good. I tried to post a picture of the place here, but here is the web address: www.tippe.com

This will tell you the history of the house and other bits of information. http://www.monon.monon.org/sobend/tippecanoe.html there is another link that you could find information.

We are getting a new bed at the end of the week...it has been fun buying new linens. I wish that Ih ad lots of money to buy sheets with a high thread count. They are like sleeping on silk. I like to spend the night at my mom's house because she has WONDERFUL linens.

We have had wonderful weather today. It was a perfect day in my mind. I love seeing all of the flowers starting to pop out of the ground...I need to get out to my grandm's house to see all of her lovely daffodils and tulips while they are still nice. YOu know that Spring is here because both of my grandmas will be returning home soon. I love having them here...I can learn so much from them.

Just waiting for Damon to get home...he works so many hours. He is my hero...good thing I married someone with such a good work ethic! Enjoy!

*Remember to take time each day to enjoy the simple pleasures*

Washington State Visit

I had written this long explanation of the pics that I was going to put in this post...but I lost it. I am learning all these new things. Here are some pics from our visit to the Portland Zoo and meeting his brother Glade Hatch on the side of the road. I am slowly meeting more memebers of Damon's family. ENJOY! I also got to meet Damon's Granny on the Hatch side of the family. We forgot to take our camera...so we don't have any pictures with her...next time.

This is who we are...

Good Afternoon,

I would like to take some time to introduce our small family. We are Damon and Kirsten Hatch. We have been married for two years, and sealed for one. We were sealed in the Navuoo Temple.

Damon~

34 years old, he has just gotten a promotion at work. He is now an Assistant Manager at Rent-A Center. He is so good at what he does. His goal is to move up and someday have a store of his own. He is from Vancuuver, Washington. Damon has 3 adorable girls from a previous marriage. We do not get to see them, or talk to them...this is a sore spot in our lives.

Kirsten~

32 years old. I have gone back to school to finish up my degree in Elementary Education. This has been a VERY long process. On the days that I don't go to school, I work as a substitue teacher in the school corporation that I worked in before I went back to school. I am trying very hard to be a better homemaker and a better wife to my husband.

We live in Indiana...there are times when we would love to live somewhere else...but then we would have to deal with the questions from my family as to why...it is a long story. Not one that I want to get into here.

Brand New

Hello! I am not really sure how this is to work? I am trying...