This n That

To update you on our lovely life. Just so everyone is up to date, Travis has started his new job at Marketstar for two full weeks now...and he loves it! We are both pretty much home bodies. We have been blessed to have alot of homework, so we only get out once a weekend, usually with our families. Well this last week we had an opportunity to go to Trav's mission reunion in Salt Lake. It was great to meet the missionaries whom he served with. Also this week, we had our nephew, Grayson born on September 30th! He is so cute and just full of love. He so little and yet so chubby! It was fun to spend conference with Dustin and Laura and Grayson.

To continue our activities, Travis and I were able to attend the sealing of one of the families he taught on his mission. The Greenhaughl's were sealed in the Bountiful temple and we were able to witness this wonderful experience. We ended up going to dinner with their whole family and have great memories and blessings of missionary work.

Trav has been doing well in school, and I've been doing well in not cooking! We are on the up and up, because I actually cooked dinner this last week. With much support, I think I may cook again this week. Planning meals truly helps save money, however you have to cook inorder to plan meals. Today was my first learning experience of buying meat and letting it go bad :( It was in the fridge, but needed to go in the freezer, and as you would know, I'm not really good at paying attention. I've learned to take care of it right away, so then we can have hamburger when I get the urge to cook.

We're so happy in love. I wish I could tell you of all the little things Trav does to make me laugh everyday. If there's one thing that I could advise others would be to love your eternal companion for who they are, and to love them even more for what they can become. I have learned through the counsel of my stake president from before we got married, that there are some things you have to have the faith first, then the Lord will bless you. I am so grateful for a worthy priesthood holder and for a best friend who will stay by my side no matter what. Marriage truly is the road to walk side by side, remembering to never get infront, or walk behind your companion, because you've got to do it together!

Thank Heavens for Husbands!

As you have all been told, I say I have the best husband in the world...I truly believe it. However, I have to inform you of somethings to prove to you why Travis Jay Williams is the sweetest man alive.
I've been working in a cardiology clinic for a year and a half and the past few weeks, I've been so stressed, with another cardiologist starting. I have now three physician's I work for, which is unheard of...most doctors have one secretary or share with another physician. So I've been getting out of work LATE the past two weeks and feel like I'd rather not be here anymore because the stress has been way too intense. I feel bad because Trav gets to hear me when I get home and with my frustrations at work, he just listens. (At least I think he's listening)
Well, I've been extremely stressed, low self-esteem, and have been feeling like life is not worth living each day...(I'm fine...just had not recognized what I could do to help) Well, I called my mom, which is my daily routine on my way to work. My mom told me how Satan tries to get to my thoughts and he's trying to destroy my happiness. I have not been joyful, Happy-Hollie for awhile and when I realized that I do not have to be subject to him. Yes, it's okay to be stressed, however, it's not God's ways that are frustrated, it is man's. I read in my scriptures and thought all day long about David and Goliath. I could defeat the giant who was bringing me down.
I got to work one morning this week and I explained to Travis my discovery that the adversary was having ahold of my thoughts and was causing more grief than necessary. Then to my surprise, Trav sent me a text "I agree. Just pray. I love you." You do not know how much that has helped me. I have kept that message saved so I can look at it when I'm having a bad day.
Well, to top that off, last night, I got home late from school and a hair appt and just laid in Trav's arms. Travis told me, "I wanted to show you something, so I printed it out." I was so excited...I love surprises...! (I usually ruin them) I went to the printer and found his homework printed out and then...There it was...Our tickets to our date night tonight! Travis had planned our date night and surprised me with tickets to the movie I had been dying to see!! He is just so cute and really tries hard to take care of me.
Each morning when I say my prayers, I make sure to thank Heavenly Father for my Husband!
I love you Travis Jay Williams! Muah!

It Finally Happened!!!

Well, I'm just so estatic right now!! I am so happy and cannot express my love to my Heavenly Father as I'd like because I just feel so loved!!! OH MY GOODNESS! I guess I better tell you. Well, as you know, or some of you may not know, Travis has been a roofer for many years, and with our economy, has been a difficult job to work in. Also, with the desire to finish his education, it's been hard for Travis to be able really work full time and go to school full time. Well, as it would have it, he has applied everywhere for the last 14 months, and more fervently the last 9 months. Well as each interview or application would bring the result of rejection...it was hard to not get discouraged. Well, we have been talking about the things we'd like to do in order to get out of debt and work towards our family goals, and as it would have it, Travis had a job opportunity from one of his friends. He applied, and once again, it was turned down. I'm telling you, the Lord has tested our patience this whole marriage, and has taught us to rely on others, on Him, and to realize that we cannot do this all alone.
This is when our faith was put to the test. Travis' friend called him again, and told him about another opening at his work. Travis applied and two days later had a phone interview. Then had an interview with the company, and then it happened. The weeks worth of waiting to hear if this would be another denial, or a reminder that maybe we have not been in the right place at the right time. Each night we go to bed, we make sure to thank Heavenly Father for our jobs and for the opportunity to work each day. We understand there are many who do not have jobs, and we are so richly blessed. Well, as it would have it, today while I was at work, I got a text from Trav. I looked at it and could do nothing be cry. HE GOT THE JOB!!!! This was the absolute greatest day of my life. My husband can have a good job, with benefits, to go along with mine, and can focus on school. He can finish his education and we can accomplish all of those things that Heavenly Father would like us to do. I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who knows who we are. He knows Trav's needs, as well as mine, and he can test us, and can try our faith, but as it would turn out, He ALWAYS has us in mind.
I love my Heavenly Father so much, and he is the greatest Father. He has richly blessed our lives so much, and still continues to bless us! I love my husband more than anything....I love him with all my heart plus a trillion more.
It Finally Happened! It just took patience, and faith...and trust.

Put Us To Work!!!

Well this is the day before school starts, and once again, we are heading to our parents for our back to school blessings!! School begins tomorrow, and starting tomorrow, Travis and I are again tackling a full time semester on top of full time work. This is something that has an anti-social side effect, but hopefully we can master our time and allow for some fun times this semester. Well, we have finally settled in our new home as of yesterday. We have hung up all our pictures and organized pretty much everything...besides the second bedroom. We have been attending our new ward adn just love it. In response to the title of this post, I must inform you of the precise moments they were taken from. We were in our ward for one Sunday, and the next Wednesday, we got a call from our bishop to meet with him. We knew that we would be given callings and were thinking of where we would probably go to. Mind you, we had just finished teaching the 4 and 5 year old in primary, and boy did that require alot of brain stimulation to handle all 8 child's needs. So as we're talking, Travis mentioned how he liked the Young Men's...and I mentioned that I wouldn't mind being in Young Women's now. I really had to prep myself to agree to do that. Well, as we drove to the church and sat in the bishop's office, he explained he had some Callings....(NOt one, but TWO) so we were not going to be teaching together. As he looks to Trav, he extends the calling of...not Young Men's and not Primary....but yes.. that of the Gospel Docterine teacher!!! I was scared for my life to hear what they would call me too. I knew Travis could do it...he is so wonderful at teaching the principles, and I could ask him questions and help teach my class or lesson. Well, the bishop turned to me and asked me to teach the 14-15 year old Sunday School Class...not team teaching, which means, every Sunday I get to teach the youth. I have been okay teaching Primary, but the youth have yet to look to me for answers, which I do not feel qualified to answer. Well, when given a call, we respond, and in that response, we are put to work. We are going to be blessed as we turn to our Heavenly Father, who has instilled in us the ablilty to teach his children. We are definitely ready to work!!!

The Best Kind of Home

Well, Travis and I have moved one more time, but this time is the last. We have decided to call our home in Washington Terrace, the place where I grew up. We absolutely love being together and starting our marriage together reopening wedding presents again, and re organizing all our things once again. I truly believe that this is the best thing for us, because for the first time in our first year of marriage...we are now living our own boundaries! I have decided that even though we have moved so much within this last year, we have been so blessed. We have friends in every area that we have lived as well as some of our greatest memories.
How many times are we faced with inconvenience and have to make a choice to better bless our families. As I have looked back on those trials we have been faced with, I remember one of the greatest lessons in life. Remembering Heavenly Fathering is always there for you, even though we are facing difficult times, He has ALWAYS been there for me and Trav. He has NEVER forgotten us or our circumstances and He still provides. I think that our relationship has grown so much because of circumstances that may cause doubt... but the most important thing to remember is our purpose here on this earth and our goal to return to our Heavenly Home. It's not easy but it is achievable. I am so excited to finally have a home and to be able to one day raise children and to teach them about the true meaning in life, and that is to live a Christ-Centered life!

What was your most memorable day?

I was sitting at work today and was filling out a questionaire. The questions consisted of what did you eat last, what's your favorite show..and then I got to this next question. "What was your most memorable day?" ...I pondered this question for awhile.."Of course it would be my wedding day." I thought out loud, but then I had all these memories flood through my mind.
The night that I ran my face into the wall and I swear I broke my nose and ever since...it has never quite healed. Or the moment when we hung out with Jared and watched a movie and my true fears of cats came out. The time when we moved again and again....and still we've got so many places to call home. The night we sat up boxing and listening to Trav's playlist. Our drive up to Idaho for a reception for a companion, when we realized after our three hour drive that it was the following Saturday.
How can you pick which one of these moments were the most memorable? I would have to say, any day with Travis is worth writing down. We have been through alot of things our first year of marriage and yet, we still are laughing at everyday life. I have felt so much love from my husband and I know that we are grateful for each other! Travis is my most memorable day!

1 + 1 = 1 The best formula of life!

Here we are again, another point in our life where the cross roads can deviate our path. Travis and I have daily routines that can be traveled together or separately. This is a constant choice I get to choose. The greatest lesson I've learned in life that has been a strength sometimes, but sometimes has led to trouble has been that I have a choice to choose my own happiness. My choice in deciding to marry Travis was not very hard for me, where he had been my best friend and strength through so much...he has always had my best interest at hand. I have been so ever blessed to have made that decision.
Last night, Travis and I were driving to the gym TOGETHER and he asked me if I felt bad that he wasn't rich. This has filled my mind ever since he posed the question? Why would Travis even ask me that? I responded quickly..."No, because I love you the way you are." It's easy to pick out the good in other situations and to compare to others, however this is one of those destructive tools the advesary uses to destroy our marriages. I know that I made the choice to marry my best friend. I made the choice to continue down the road of being newly wedded and poor. This is just a phase in life. I can travel alone, or I can travel it with my spouse, hand in hand....with a kiss or a hug to help lighten the way. I love my Travis so much and I am so happy we are married. He has been a great strength and a great help for me! I think that Heavenly Father sent him for me!!!

Marriage is a mathematical equation: 1+1=1
By putting two lives and talents together, you become one in all things. This is the greatest decision anyone could make!!

Small and Simple Things!

Camping: Travis, Hollie, and some hotdogs and marshmellows with a good choice of chocolate!!

Here we are wrapped in eachothers arms full of love!! Camping, hiking, swimming, or doing yard work...you name it and we've done it!! We have been exposed to alot more outdoor adventures than what we have expected. We have been successful in putting in a garden and weeding our the whole back yard of Trav's parents house. We have already taken I think three trips to the dump this spring and have yet to do some more!!! As I work beside Travis, I realize how talented he truly is. He has the keen understanding of everything and then there's me who just enjoys watching him work because I love to learn from him. I have tried to help, which I am sure most times, I just set him back, but he is so wonderful at teaching me and helping understand how things work. I absolutely love working beside my husband, no matter what it is.





This week, Travis has been working early to beat the heat of the sun. One night we went to bed and I knew we'd be short on sleep because we sit up talking or watching things on our laptop in bed. Well this particular night, I just wanted to stay close to Trav and so I decided to set my alarm at the same time as his, so that I can be up with him when he goes to work. I remember growing up, my mother always got up with my dad when he'd go to work and I wanted to be there for my husband just like my mother was there for my dad. Well, I got up with him and helped him get ready....which consisted of me doing pretty much nothing. I was so excited to be up with Trav and to kiss him goodbye and to talk to him while he drove to work. I think our time together is so precious and we can gain so much strength by doing the little things.





The begging of this week, Trav had work off and he came up and visited me for lunch at work. I cannot tell you how excited I was because I've never had lunch with him before at work and I thought this was so romantic. Well, to my surprise, Trav shoes up with a bag with stuff in it. I had talked with him earlier and he said he was just looking for some things, but he never mentioned anything about what was really in the bag. He handed it to me and there, inside the bag laid two new pairs of shoes, one for working out, and another just because they were cheap. If you could understand how much my foot hurts and a good pair of shoes really could put me to tears, this simple act of love was so precious. He also got me a pair of workout capri's that were so cute!! I felt so special for my husband to bring me these things!! I am the luckiest girl in the world!!! I love Travis so much and he truly is the best thing that has ever happened to me.

One Year Down!!!

As you can see, Travis and I have completed our first year of marriage and sealed that with a vacation to Seattle. Alot of people have been asking, "Why did you choose Seattle?" To start off, Travis loves it there and secondly, he wants to move there some day. Seattle was very fun, a little rainy, but for the most part we had a blast! We purchased a GPS right before we left and it was the best thing other wise we'd probaby strangled each other from having to drive their crazy NW, SW zigzag roads. Some of our favorite moments of Seattle were 1. Pike Place Market, which is where we bought some of the best tasting fruit! 2. Anacortes ferry to the San Juan Islands. We took a ferry across the ocean to the San Juan Islands and ate at Friday Harbor. We attempted to go whale watching, but as our luck would have it, they were elswhere. We did get to see a seal. It was quite interesting as we ate on Friday Harbor. Trav got an order of fish and chips, and the 3 fish it came with were about 7 inches long! The best seafood is obviously right next to the SEA! 3. The Crab Pot. This was a travel channel reccommendation and by far the best restaurant we ate at. They brought out a HUGE bowl with crab and just dumped it on the table, which meant no plates, just fingers and our hammer to break the crab! Oh if you could have just been there you would understand how fun this meal was. 4. Gig Harbor. My fathers brother and his wife and children live about an hour south of Seattle and we spent one whole day with them. We went to lunch and went to the harbor and walked out on the docks and saw Jelly Fish!! I almost fell in trying to get close to take a picture, however Travis once again has saved me from a disaster. We cooked live crab and had shrimp and steak cabob's. It was the best meal alive. After dinner we went out to their back yard, which is a forest by the way, and we made Smores...and enjoyed being with the cousins. 5. The Seattle Acquarium. We watched a giant octopus eat a fish and it was probably the most interesting thing in Seattle next to all our advenures. We enjoyed the beautiful views of Snoqualmie Falls and all the green areas with water surrounding them. Truly Heavenly Father has created a masterpiece. One thing we will not miss about Seattle is 100% the parking. We had to pay to park everywhere and by all means it was not cheap. However, this was a great addition to our memories which we have been building as a couple. We have done alot this first year, which means.......we can do more! I think after one year of marriage I have come to grow closer to my Heavenly Father and have just fallen more in love with Travis! I appreciate him so much in all that he does for me and for his support in my life!! I truly have married the best man!!!

On the Road Again!

Well as we are facing these economic situations, even our family has been affected. Travis hours have been cut drastically, which has caused us to look for a new home. At the graciousness of Trav's parents, we are in the process of finishing the last room in their basement, where we will make our new home until we can get ourselves back on our feet.

lThis has truly been the most humbling experience of our lives. Trusting in the Lord for help and having prayers offered in desperation of new employment have been our routine for the past five months. As we continue to do those things we need to, we have come to the realization that we are needing the help and help has come. the important thing is that we are still together and are not homeless. We are so grateful for my job which has been such a blessings in our lives.

Travis has been faithful in applying and interviewing almost everywhere but I think that what has happened is what is supposed to happen. I have talked with one of my greatest friends and he expressed how he had lived with his in-laws for the first 7 years of marriage. I truly believe that family is the single unit of life that will get you far. I wanted to express my thanks to my brother Dustin who, when he found out, he offered his place as well.

In this turning point in our lives, it's easier to see the blessings that will come forth from this experience.

1. We can help Rick with things around his house.
2. Casey and Us can build a closer relationship.
3. We can save money for our future.
4. I can learn to cook and practice my continuing of my wife studies.
5. We can grow closer together by relying more on each other.
6. Our family will continue to grow off principles of love, faith, and hope.
7. Travis can go to school like he'd like and be able to work and go to school.

If I can express to you my gratitude for this experience I would just scream. Our Ben Lomond 11th Ward has been the greatest blessing in our life. Our Sunday School class has been the absolute favorite part of my life right now. I have made one of the greatest friendships of my life with my visiting teaching companion. We have much love here. We have done what we were called to do and now must move on. Life is a great adventure TOGETHER!

Top reasons of why I love Travis

1. His eyes
2. His smile
3. His sense of corny humor that makes me laugh everytime, even though I try not too.
4. His great ability to love no matter what!
5. His amazing strength!!! He'll only flex once in a blue moon. He's pretty humble about his wripped-ness
6. His amazing voice....alot of times at church I'll be quiet so I can hear him without him noticing
7. He is my BEST FRIEND!!
8. He won't let me help with the snow, he'll do it all.
9. His cooking
10. His thoughtfulness in warming up the truck for me in the mornings, or putting the truck in 4 wheel drive when we have heavy snow fall so I can make it to work okay.

Life with Us!!

It truly has been a long time without updates about our busy lives. Travis has been the highlight of our days with his great passion for life. He truly makes me laugh by those hilarious things he says. Travis is still working for Hull Construction as well as doing the house cleaning and cooking. I'm still working at McKay Dee hospital working in a Cardiology clinic and trying to tackle a fulltime semester. Our regular routine consists of work, school, hurry and cook dinner, homework, watch the news and go to bed late. On weekends we spend every saturday as our clean up as well as washing the truck and car. Sundays we spend our time teaching the 13 year olds in Sunday School and between home teaching and visiting teaching, we are doing a better job at remembering others names in our Ben Lomond 11th ward. Alot of times we are spending spare time helping others with little things, however we are grateful to have such wonderful families.

We are just happy to be alive and have jobs!! Life is great and couldn't complain about anything!

The Good Ol Days

It all began in beginning of my sophomore year, when I had my first day of choir class. About 15 minutes into the class, in walks in a bleached head, popped collard boy..."Oh and this is Travis, my TA for this semester." In the back of my mind, I was thinking, "oh man, he's hott!" That is how it all began. Despite Travis's blank stares in choir classes, I began to think he hated me, because he'd stare at me, or at least in my direction so I thought he was staring at me, but for some reason he'd never smile. Putting two and two together, I assumed he hated me and I through out the chances of being that sophomore to date that senior.
Well, as luck had it, I was able to get to know Travis alot better through one of my best friends. Through this, Travis finally asked me out a few weeks after he graduated. I was so nervous but I was so excited to go out with Travis. He was quite different from the other guys I'd been crushing on, because first of all he was so quiet. All those who know me, quietness is my greatest weakness. So from then on, Travis and I had begun our dating streak. He'd take me out like once every few weeks, and I was so amazed at what a gentleman he always was. Having me home on time for curfew, which my parents always appreciated, but also, he smelled good all the time! That's one of my favorite things about Trav was his smell!
So as time flies on, we develop the relationship of "Best Friends." Pretty much this was all my doing, because I was the one with a fear of the big C word....COMMITTMENT! As time flew on, Travis gets his mission call....His family surrounding him as he opens and reads his call. He was called to Cleveland Ohio Mission.....the same mission my father served in!! Trav and I continue to date and had to say our final goodbyes. I hated this day but also loved it so much.I hated the fact that this night when Travis would be driving me home, it would be my last time with him....OUCH. As he and I exchanged our goodbyes, of course I was crying having to look him in the eyes, even though my heart was being wripped out, I said goodbye and thanked him for everything. Yes, my Trav does get emotional and he had those heavy eyes just looking back at me, and then the favorite part, He kissed me on the cheek and said goodbye. Worst moment of my life, having to walk inside my house all alone. I have never cried that hard before. However, at this time, I'm still so dumb and cannot put my feelings together, to realize that I've been in love with Travis for so long.
Travis left on his mission on November 16, 2005. I wrote to Travis through out his whole mission and experienced some more dating while he was gone. Overcoming the fear of the C, I knew when Trav was coming home and was in fact dating some kid when he got home. Once again, me being the stupid, can't even wake up to smell my own roses, understanding the feelings I had for Travis, I was dating a boy. I knew and wanted to tell Travis when he first got home because I knew he'd understand. Well, me the chicken I was, I couldn't tell him and decided to call him and tell him over the phone. The first time I saw Travis off his mission, I knew that his love for me was so strong, and it was stronger than what I could remember. He had not once forgotten about the way he felt about me, and I was the impatient wierdo still trying to find out where my feelings were.
We'll make a short story shorter, and be and that boy were no longer. Travis was there for me before the breakup and his cute possesiveness over me as he came over to the house, reminded me and woke me up to what I was running from. I guess it could be another fear, a fear of falling in love with my best friend Travis.
We took a trip to Idaho that day after Christmas. Travis and I had the best time visiting all his relatives and finally being able to meet Grandma Jones. On that trip, I cannot tell you what it was but magic was in the air. On the ride home, I was so sick and just the care in Travis's eyes were beaming with love that I knew I could be anywhere and still live off his love solely. That ride home together, Travis expressed his love to me and told me that he's loved me and has been planning to marry me. He asked me if I didn't feel the same way to let him know so it wouldn't hurt as bad. I asked him to be patient with me....How much more patience does he need? He was telling me how he would inheret his parents piano when he moved out, and then told me, "So, you're just going to have to marry me now!" Travis proved to me he would stay by me forever and that night I decided in my heart that I wanted to marry My Travis!
Well, since the day we were together, we never missed a day of being without each other via text messaging of phone calls, or even being in each others arms. Travis asked me to marry him a while before we were officially engaged. This story I keep to myself, but our engagement was on Valentines. He had roses delivered to my house, and when I got home from work, I found them on the table. I was afraid that the ring would be in the flowers, so instead of looking at them as my family insisted, I told them "I'm going to my room." As I walked down stairs, I saw a shadow in the hallway and asked "Travis, is that you?' keep in mind, my heart was beyond racing and I thought he could hear it from upstairs. He then responded, "Ya." Me again being the clueless, speachless person I am when I'm nervous, the only think I could think of to say was, "What are you doing?' Stupid stupid stupid question to ask, because immediately he was down on one knee. He asked me to marry him and then comes the girlish screams!
We were married on May 16th 2008 in the Salt Lake Temple. It was by far the best decision I've ever made in my life. I'm so grateful to have my Travis in my life because of his patience with me. It took the poor man 4 years to actually kiss me! That's a man of true patience! We are so in love and are enjoying our first year of marriage.