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.